If your TV is "Smart TV", then you should read the manual how to switch to "apps", and choose "Netflix" from there.

If not, you should get a streamer (eg Roku, Amazon) supporting Netflix.



You should also check with DirectTV - a lot of cable / satellite boxes these days support "Apps" as well, so it might be just a question of providing Internet access to your box.
MBABANE  The main reason pupils fail SiSwati is negative attitudes of teachers and parents.

Senior Inspector for SiSwati Celiwe Mohammed said this yesterday.



Her preliminary analysis of the results was that the pupils performed quite well as the language was passed by over 90 per cent of the candidates.

Mohammed said she was aware of the news that some pupils had not written anything on their scripts but said this was subject to verification. I am yet to meet with my colleagues and the markers to understand what exactly was going on there based on what they came across on pupils scripts.



She insisted that there was enough time for pupils to learn because the decision to enforce the SiSwati policy was taken early in 2018, just when lessons began. We also gave ourselves time to go around the schools, especially the private schools where we tried to find out what challenges they could have regarding this and we shared tips on how best this subject could be taught.



Teachers



She said she realised that some private schools deliberately delayed the teaching of the subject for reasons unknown to her.

Mohammed said: I checked one particular school (known to this publication) in June, only to find that the teacher had not started the SiSwati lessons. The excuse she gave was that she did not know where to start.



When asked if it was easy for foreign pupils to learn the language, Mohammed responded to the affirmative.

She said the reason it appeared difficult was the attitude that some parents and teachers had towards the language. Some parents are quick to say their children will not be able to learn the language and some teachers do the same.



She said she personally taught SiSwati at Ndzevane Primary School where over half the children were foreigners. The foreign pupils performed exceptionally well when compared to some locals. It was a similar case when I went to Bahai Primary School.



When making this example, she was trying to drive the point that it was possible for non-Swati pupils to learn and master the language. Mohammed said it was a similar case when locals went to some schools outside the country; they were made to learn and master that countrys language.



Worried



She said she became worried when she learned how some private schools reacted to the issue of SiSwati and promised to pay those schools a visit when she returned from the trip she was undertaking.



Mohammed said in some private schools she noted that the management hired ordinary emaSwati to teach SiSwati yet this was not the proper way to do it. Being a liSwati does not mean you can teach SiSwati. I even made a recommendation to those schools that they hired qualified teachers of the language in order to yield positive results, she said.



President of the Swaziland Principals Association (SWAPA) Welcome Mhlanga said they were aware of the attitudes. Not only teachers and parents had a negative attitude towards this move, but also most of the pupils.

He said the cause was the fact that the policy implementation found some pupils already at an advanced stage and without the SiSwati base.



Implement



Imagine a pupil who has never learned SiSwati from Grade I, having to learn it and sit for an external examination on it. It was a good move for government to dust the policy and implement it, but it could have been done gradually starting from the lower primary school grades.



Mhlanga said it was a pity that most schools took advantage of governments laxity on monitoring the policy and decided to make the subject optional alongside French and Portuguese. This did not only affect foreign pupils, but also locals because some emaSwati pupils chose languages like French and Portuguese and had never learned SiSwati before.



He said they were hopeful that the next batch of pupils would perform better than this one, which was the first after the full enforcement of the policy.

A summary of the subjects ranking made by the Examinations Council of Eswatini reflects that only 41 pupils obtained an A mark in SiSwati while 2 553 failed.

French was the lead language with a pass percentage of 99.05 while English followed with a pass percentage of 91.26. Portuguese did not feature in the ranking even though some primary schools taught it.
MBABANE  The Kwazi Foundation has pledged to bring smiles to unhappy donors.Kwazi Masuku, the founder of the foundation, said people who feel they were robbed would be refunded.



After a number of consultations that I have been doing both locally and beyond our borders, I have taken a decision to refund anyone who feels his participation was not at all for helping emaSwati who are less privileged but had eyes only on the car, he said in a statement.



Tickets for the raffle draw cost E25 each. Masuku explained that the Win A Car project was not a competition but a charity fundraiser. When you were donating to this initiative, you stood a chance to Win A car  a Ford Ranger Wildtrack.



Charity



Each and every person that bought a ticket was made aware of the objectives and that is why most of the people who bought tickets participated saying they dont care about winning but the charity cause  not unless people were never all about charity but selling us a dummy, he said.

In addition, Masuku said those who bought tickets were made aware that there was an option of getting cash instead of the car.



He pointed out that certain people with an unknown agenda were fabricating stories so that the nation would conclude that the foundation was defrauding EmaSwati. And it is for this reason we decided to refund anyone who feels or sees this as fraud, Masuku said in his statement.

Masuku said the aggrieved participants should contact the agents they bought the tickets from for the refund.



He then stated that he was ready to die for his zeal, passion, commitment to help the needy. Even if it calls for being incarcerated, we wont be distracted by selfish people who have everything on a silver platter, Masuku lamented.



draw



When told that some people did not believe the draw was authentic, in his defence, Masuku said it was conducted in public.

Elaborating, Masuku said the draw was witnessed by a huge crowd at the Manzini Bus rank.

The MC of the day asked the ticket holders who came to witness the draw to choose a person of their choice to do the draw. A total stranger to us, a young boy, estimated to be around 10 years, was chosen and he came forward with another unidentified lady, he alleged.



He mentioned that third man was asked to ruffle the tickets before the boy and the lady were blindfolded by a police officer. The boy picked the winning ticket, Masuku said. According to their records, Masuku said the winning ticket had the name Senzo Gamedze.
Tom Reilly is the Sun Chronicle night editor. And before you call it fake news, lets see how the next few months work out, shall we. He can be reached at 508-236-0332 or treilly@thesunchronicle.com. Follow him on Twitter @Tomreillynews
Clearfield, PA (16830)

Today

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. A stray severe thunderstorm is possible. Low 54F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. A stray severe thunderstorm is possible. Low 54F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.
The stupid returned to DC Comics sadly this year but was nothing compared what irked fans with the winner.

Oh, I'm gonna get comments for posting that, won't I (literally one write-in WAS The Last Jedi)? The HATE WAS STRONG THIS YEAR. With 464 votes in total (eclipsing last year's voting) you truly were fueled with rage this year. Good. GOOD!!! That hate only fuels MORE ARTICLES! TO GIVE THIS YEARLY TRADITION LIFE!! Much like last year there were a TON of write-in votes.

And ironically enough, if they paid any mind to the fact that one of the staff, Tim Midura was an actual option on the poll this year then well, I'd be talking more about how much RAGE coursed through you to actually make him appear on this list. I mean, if you did actually vote for him. He actually would have shown up. So to those who cast these votes in:

Tim Midura ignores the forums entirely for 2 years, including error fixes and up

Which was entered THREE TIMES in the optional poll section and:

How in the bloody hell does Tim Midura still have a job here??

Whelp you only have yourselves to blame for deciding to cast your votes there instead of you know voting for the Tim Midura option I gave you. Instead, you reap what you sow.

With IDW relaunching their Transformers brand one voter threw this option in there:

IDW refocuses their Transformers brand to focus on Young Bumblebee.

Out of all the write-ins I was actually tempted to put this in. BUT-- the book might be open on this one given this is the year of the relaunch for the brand. So, we shall see.

My favorite write-in out of them all was this one:

The Outhouse acting like vindictive brats over anything that DC does.

Whelp, I think we have kind have a right to be as such. That, and if we didn't well, DC Comics the voting says otherwise. Interestingly, there were two right in votes for Scottie Young's Deadpool run.

Duggan off Deadpool. Young on. Duggan off Deadpool. Deadpool rebooted. Young on and can't write Deadpool.

Plus we got this write-in:

Star Trek:Discovery

I am very curious as to why, but someone was peeved by Star Trek: Discovery much like this person was on Daredevil:

Daredevil Season 3 completely fucks up Bullseye's characterization

But whomever that person who hated Season 3 probably is laughing given well-- more on that later. I almost want to think Judas Terror himself wrote this write-in vote for this particular moment:

"Batman Comics Still Exist." or, "Agents of SHIELD not cancelled".

But he probably didn't, and I have my suspicions on who did. And that's ALL the write-in votes. It's time for four runners-up for MOST MADDENING MOMENT OF THE YEAR 2018!!!

#5 Jon Kent is aged up to be an edgy teenager and Bat Dick destroys DC's mature Black Label line of comics. (21 Votes)

The former of this little tie isn't fully out yet. But ever since a character design of an aged Jon along with an issue of Superman confessing to his young son that he thought about killing Batman constantly the fear was planted, and this cover to Superman #9 above made readers' seethe of what was to become of the breakout new DC hero of the "Rebirth" line just three years ago. Not surprisingly THE MOMENT the new older Jon showed up in Superman #6 was released on December 12th voting for this began to increase and surpass then actually surpass writer Brian Bendis being put on both Superman comics (that got 20 votes).

Then there's the Bat-dick.

BATMAN: DAMNED #1 WON'T BE REPRINTED, #2 AND #3 DELAYED

YES, VIRGINIA, BATMAN HANGS DONG IN BATMAN: DAMNED #1

MOMENT OF THE WEEK 9/26/18 *SPOILERS*

Yes, the Bat-dick caused so much stir #2 and #3 of the comic was pushed back with well, the next new Black-Label comic THE OTHER HISTORY OF THE DC UNIVERSE #1 was pulled from it's January 30th release date. Well, THREE JOKERS and the sequel to Batman: White Knight be as heavily censored or pulled all-together? We shall see.

#4 Netflix cancels Iron Fist, Luke Cage, and Daredevil. (22 Votes)

OUTHOUSE SHOCKER: NO THIRD SEASON FOR 'MARVEL'S IRON FIST'

FIDDLE-FADDLE! NO THIRD SEASON FOR 'LUKE CAGE'

MAN WITHOUT SERIES: 'DAREDEVIL' CANCELED AT NETFLIX

The almost complete death of the Marvel heroes on Netflix (Jessica Jones Season 3 will hit sometime this year with Season 2 of the Punisher about to premiere in a few weeks) truly irked some fans. Add to the fact that Iron Fist had a surprising descent Season 2 with Luke Cage/Daredevil had some damn good seasons as well. With the Disney+ streaming service looming this year, the fate of these shows seemed all but guaranteed to be casualties due Netflix wanting to cut ties with their new rivals.

#3 DC spoils the plot of one of their most hyped stories in a New York Times article 2 days before release. - NY Times Issue #7.1.18 (25 Votes)

THE NEW YORK TIMES SPOILED BATMAN #50 THREE DAYS BEFORE RELEASE

Ah, the turning point for me when it came to Tom King's Batman run, and the EXACT moment the quality of DC Comics quality began to dip back down to "New 52" levels of bad. Oh, of course the wisen comic fan knew what was going to happen, but to those who jumped on the hype train Tom King built his Batman run on (thus far) with Bruce/Selina's relationship grew more and more, buying the various one-shots leading up to it all, and then-- nothing. Is it any wonder why Marvel made a promise to readers no shenanigans to their readers for Fantastic Four #5 (even poking fun at surprise interventions)?

But let's not forget the real moment at DC that turned fans off to them even more.

#2 Wally West, Roy Harper, and more pointless death in Heroes in Crisis. (31 Votes)

HEROES IN CRISIS #1 USHERS IN NEW ERA OF DC: REDEATH!!! *SPOILERS*

DURNKIN REVEEWZ: HEROES IN CRISIS #1

This year, the "great" event that has made fans cringe and wale in agony has been DC's Heroes in Crisis. #1 of the comic kicked that off quite simply by killing the mascot of their "Rebirth" line Wally West, and Roy Harper. Add to that MORE dead Titans (because it isn't an infamous DC event with some dead Titans), a popular Batman villain being axed, and you've got a recipe that are making fans ironically do this:

Not me though. I am on this nasty ride of a comic. No matter how bad it gets. ... I am so dead when I walk around C2E2 this year, won't I? Eh, I am prepared for whatever the higher-ups at DC throw at me. Still, this was a worthy runner-up to the #1 most Maddening Moment of the year.

Speaking of that. THE WINNER for MOST MADDENING MOMENT OF 2018 goes too...

#1 James Gunn is fired from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. (46 Votes)

JAMES GUNN FIRED FROM 'GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3'

JAMES GUNN RESPONDS TO BEING FIRED BY DISNEY

DAVID BAUTISTA & OTHER CELEBRITIES WEIGH IN ON JAMES GUNN'S FIRING!

MORE CELEBRITIES WEIGH ON JAMES GUNN FIRING!

ENTIRE CAST OF 'GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY' STAND WITH JAMES GUNN!

SCHRODINGER REVEALED TO HAVE CO-WRITTEN JAMES GUNN'S 'GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3' SCRIPT!

DISNEY REFUSING TO BACKTRACK ON JAMES GUNN FIRING

SEAN GUNN CLAIMS DISNEY WILL STILL USE JAMES GUNN'S GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY 3 SCRIPT

WARNER BROS/DC GIVING GUNN A SHOT?

DAVE BAUTISTA WANTS IN ON JAMES GUNN'S 'SUICIDE SQUAD 2'!

What else was it going to be? During day one of SDCC all hell broke loose when old tweets of Guardians of the Galaxy and Vol. 2 director James Gunn resurfaced. The very next day Disney fired the popular director from the third film and well-- we've been talking about it since.

Add to the fact the controversial person behind on how Gunn's old tweets resurfacing, Mike Cernovich, being an ultra-conservative nutball. Then you have one of the Guardians co-stars Dave Bautista roasting Disney any chance on Twitter while defending Gunn. With that sort of drama is it any wonder this was the most maddening moment of the year for us nerds?

So there you have it. These were the moments that drove you MAD in 2018. What will come about in 2019? Who knows (save Marvel and DC dropping TWO Maddening Moments this past Wednesday). I am merely a collector and watcher of what drives geekdom crazy.

Until next time folks...
Sterling Heights, MI (48312)

Today

Isolated thunderstorms early, becoming clear after midnight. Low 58F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Isolated thunderstorms early, becoming clear after midnight. Low 58F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
Keystone Pictures USA/Alamy

Convertible tiaras are often some of the most popular jewels in royal vaults, but its been quite a while since weve seen the Congo Diamond Necklace Tiara, one of the heirloom wedding tiaras of the grand ducal family of Luxembourg.

Keystone Pictures USA/Alamy

The piece dates to the middle of the twentieth century and was made by Van Cleef and Arpels using Congolese diamonds. In 1953, the necklace/tiara and its matching bracelet were given by the Belgian Congo as a wedding present to Princess Josephine Charlotte of Belgium, who was marrying Hereditary Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg.

As a sidenote: the now-Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Belgian royal family have a complicated and often tragic historical relationship. While many colonies were claimed by countries, the Congo was personally owned by Leopold II of the Belgians himself. The history of the lucrative ivory and rubber trades and the atrocities that occurred as a result have had long-lasting consequences, to say the very least.

The Belgian Congo gained its independence seven years after Josephine Charlottes wedding. Although the pieces were a gift from a then-colony, they are not, as is often stated, set with blood diamonds. Blood diamonds (or conflict diamonds), by definition, are gems mined in a war zone and sold on the black market to finance insurgencies. Although the DRC has had issues with conflict mining in more recent decades, the gems in this suite of jewelry are not conflict diamonds. They have a colonial history, which brings along many other issues, but blood diamonds theyre not.

Josephine Charlotte began a family tradition when she wore the diamond sparkler as a tiara during her religious wedding ceremony. (She changed into the Belgian Scroll Tiara for portraits afterward.) The marriage ceremony itself, however, wasnt precisely the most joyful of weddings. The bride struggled through the ceremony, appearing shaken and confused, leading the groom to inquire after her health multiple times at the altar. The press had a field day with Josephine Charlottes tears, murmuring that she was upset because the relationship had been a political arrangement. The official excuse was that she was ill; one diplomats wife even claimed that the brides new contact lenses had caused her to cry during the wedding.

Whatever the true cause, Josephine Charlotte was stressed enough that the couples honeymoon was postponed. She and Jean were eventually able to embark on their trip to Africa, and their marriage lasted for more than half a century, producing three sons and two daughters.

A generation later, both of Josephine Charlottes daughters would anchor their veils with the Congo Tiara for their religious wedding ceremonies: Princess Marie Astrid wed Archduke Carl Christian of Austria in February 1982, and Princess Margaretha (pictured above) married Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein a few weeks later.

Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The tiara was also the wedding diadem of choice when Maria Teresa Mestre y Batista married Josephine Charlottes eldest son, the future Grand Duke Henri, in Luxembourg in February 1981. Henri and Maria Teresa, who are now the reigning grand ducal couple in Luxembourg, were college sweethearts.

Although the piece has been used four times as a bridal diadem, it has generally been worn more often as a necklace than as a tiara. Above, Josephine Charlotte wears the necklace with the Belgian Scroll Tiara during a banquet held the night before the wedding of her brother, King Baudouin, in December 1960. (Shes escorted here by her husband, Grand Duke Jean, and her youngest brother, Prince Alexandre of Belgium.)

Here, for a gala event in 1967, she pairs the necklace with the grandest sparkler in the grand ducal vaults, the Luxembourg Empire Tiara.

Ron Bell/PA Images/Alamy

In November 1976, the necklace made an appearance during a state visit from Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and the Duke of Edinburgh. For this occasion, she wore the necklace with another convertible jewel, the Emerald Peacock Necklace Tiara, as well as diamond and emerald earrings from the collection of her mother, Queen Astrid of Belgium, and an emerald and diamond brooch.

Its been quite some time since weve seen the necklace/tiara worn in public, in part because the Luxembourgish grand ducal family narrowly escaped losing the sparkler entirely a few years ago. Dividing up Josephine Charlottes effects after her death in 2005 proved to be problematic, and the family quietly arranged the sale of many of her jewels, including this tiara. When the press found out about and reported on the planned auction, the public reaction was so overwhelmingly negative that it compelled the family to cancel the sale. (A significant number of jewels, however, were still quietly sold later.) But the necklace/tiara still hasnt been used on a regular basis since, and all of the familys brides in recent years have chosen to wear other tiaras, including the familys two floral tiaras.
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Letter to the Editor

The efforts been renewed to bond for a new school. . Let me state the problem Everybody, including me, wants a new school, nobody wants to ...
Click the image above to view slideshow

An unbelievable hitting blitz by Sri Lankan batsman Thisara Perera has given the Blackcaps a huge scare at the end of the second Bay Oval One Day International tonight.

The Kiwis have won the match by 21 runs after setting a sizeable target of 320, and taken the three-match series 2-0 following their win in Thursday's first encounter, but they'll be breathing a huge sigh of relief having cut short Perera's incredible onslaught which took his team within range of an extraordinary victory.

The number seven batsman came in with his side in peril at 121/5, but despite watching wickets continue to fall at the other end hit an amazing 140 off just 74 balls to take his team to 298 when he became the last man dismissed, caught by a diving Trent Boult.

Boult holds onto the catch to dismiss Kusal Perera

The visitors' cause was aided hugely by a fielding performance by the Blackcaps which fell away alarmingly, as Colin Munro, Tim Southee, Boult, Kane Williamson and Martin Guptill all dropped catches.

Best of the Kiwi bowlers was Ish Sodhi, who took 3-55 off his 10 overs.

Captain Kane makes an athletic runout attempt

Munro with 87 (off 77) and Ross Taylor with 90 (off 105) starred in the Blackcaps early batting effort after skipper Kane Williamson had for the second straight match won the toss and chosen to bat first, then Jimmy Neesham came close to repeating his heroics at the end of the innings with 64 off 37.

Thanks to his effort and a handy 22 off 17 from Tim Seifert the Blackcaps reached 319/7 off their 50 overs.

They will be happy to have set a target in excess of 300 for the second straight match, but their fielding effort will have given them plenty to work on looking ahead to the final clash in the series in Nelson on Tuesday.

Sri Lankan opener Niroshan Dickwella looks bemused at having been bowled by Tim Southee
Suzy Hansen: Exploring world chaos and American ignorance View(s):

Suzy Hansen grew up in a rather insular, conservative town in New Jersey. From that vantage point, there would have been little reason to question the glory of America or at least its role internationally.

However, as a journalist for a high-profile New York newspaper post 9/11, she found a disturbing disconnect between the chaos of world events and the response at home. She then decided to move to Istanbul to understand the Muslim world that had been reduced to scaremongering headlines at home.

What followed is told in Notes on a Foreign Country: An American Abroad in a Post-America World, a book that was a Finalist for the 2018 Pulitzer Prize in General Non-fiction and the winner of the Overseas Press Clubs Cornelius Ryan Award for Best Non-fiction Book on International Affairs.

What concerns Hansen is the ignorance of Americans living abroad. We cannot, she writes, go abroad as Americans in the 21st century and not realize that the main thing that has been terrorizing us..is our own ignorance  our blindness and subsequent discovery of all the people on whom the empire-that-was-not-an-empire had been constructed without our attention or concern.

The New York Times heralded the book as a deeply honest and brave portrait of an individual sensibility reckoning with her countrys violent role in the world. In the period between 9/11 and the election of President Donald Trump, Hansen lives in Turkey and travels to Greece, Egypt, Afghanistan, Iran and the Mississippi Delta. She uses these places, their complex histories and fraught present, as lenses through which to look at her own nation.

She asks why, given the extent to which America has shaped the modern Middle East  the lives it ended, the countries it fractured, the demons it created, its frantic and fanatical support of Israel  it did not feel or care to explore what that influence meant. The book is a political and personal memoir that negotiates the vertiginous distance that exists between what America is and what it thinks of itself.

Hisham Matar of The New York Times points out that Hansen is doing something both rare and necessary; she is tracing the ways in which we are all born into histories, into national myths and, if we are unfortunate enough, into the fantasies of an empire. She traces the ways in which Americans were in active denial of their empire even as they laid its foundations.

She is interested in and does well to expose the machinery  the propaganda, the economic authoritarianism, the military might, the manipulative diplomacy, the myriad aid agencies and NGOs  that made this possible. She also shows the ways in which America, in its anti-Communist craze, has consistently supported the religious right in the Middle East, and aided the rise of Islamic extremism. Hansen wants to uncover the lie.

But the book is not merely a gesture of despair. It is also an expression of confidence in her people. For as much as it is a lament  a study in American ignorance, it also brims with the hope that once they see what she saw and learn what she learned, her fellow Americans will also be party to the same epiphany she experienced.
A bond that blossomed for the benefit of many By Kumudini Hettiarachchi A strong partnership between the Wayamba Cancer Society Limited and the Kurunegala Teaching Hospitals Oncology Unit, has made it a home away from home for cancer patients not just from the region, but from other parts of the country too View(s): View(s):

He came from the nearby Home for the Aged and quietly handed over Rs. 5,000, not once but twice. These were monies he had put by from the donations people had pressed into his hands when they visited the home.

All these small and large donations have gone to making the Kurunegala Teaching Hospitals Oncology (Cancer) Unit, opened in 2011, what it is today  comfortable and cozy for patients, the floor tiled and the building well-furnished.

The improvements and developments have become a reality through a strong partnership between the Wayamba Cancer Society Limited and the unit, making it a home away from home for patients.

The latest donation to the unit is the Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) machine, through the good offices of the society.

The society has been the units friend and supporter throughout, lending a helping hand in both cash and kind. The beneficiaries are the patients from far and wide, accessing the units specialist doctors, other healthcare personnel and state-of-the-art facilities in the clinics and the three wards. Patients from the surroundings of Kurunegala as well as other areas including the northeast seek treatment here and the clinic has on its register nearly 300.

Personal contacts, persuasion and the example of the members of the society themselves have made the difference.

How did this bond between Kurunegalas Cancer Unit and the Wayamba Cancer Society come about, blossoming and bearing rich fruit and succour for the men and women living with cancer in the region?

It started off as a simple request from two doctors to a respected retired public servant, heavily into social work in the area.

We need help, appealed then Consultant Onco-Surgeons Dr. Priyantha Madawala and Dr. Harsha Perera, to a long-time public servant, D.M.T.B. Dasanayake whose last post had been Advisor to the Consumer Affairs Authority.

The surgeons were facing many challenges in 2011 due to the lack of equipment and Mr. Dasanayake took a deep, hard look at the situation and came to the conclusion that this was a worthy cause.

The networking, with Mr. Dasanayake as the centre-point began then. Having been a government servant of standing, many were his friends and he approached 25 at the outset, some retired like himself and others businessmen, all known for the social work they were carrying out in the community.

The 25 of us got-together at the outset with the motto Build trust and heal the mind and drew up a priority list, says Mr. Dasanayake, pointing out that the society has now grown to 172 members.

Smilingly, he says that they are a 100% non-political society and do not depend on any politician, whatever the hue and affiliation.

The first challenge for the society, of course, was finances. Set up on January 1, 2012, by March it had been able to launch the Wayamba Cancer Fund for the initial target was the collection of Rs. 1.5 million. The 25 members dug deep into their pockets, pulling out personal funds to meet this need.

Seeing those at the helm of this charity, walking the talk, the funds did flow inwith people giving generously thereafter.

Citing some of the contributions, Mr. Dasanayake says Trendy Garments owner Ms. Ramya Weerakoon donated a chemotherapy safety cabinet costing Rs. 3.5 million to store the stocks. On seeing the urgent need for an operating theatre, as the Cancer Surgeons only got the main theatre once a week, the same generous donor had channelled another Rs. 3.5 million to establish a state-of-the-art mini-theatre to aid the numerous patients who had to undergo urgent surgery.

Sophisticated equipment, meanwhile, for the mini-theatre had been donated by a former Visakhian now living in Los Angeles, America.

Next, the society had turned its benevolent focus towards improving the wards as well as the toilets. The members did not leave out even the minutest of detail  with donors providing bed sheets and mosquito-nets to each and every bed and a refrigerator for each ward.

Whenever there is a short-supply of cancer medications, we turn to the society and it is always ready and willing to help the patients, say the doctors.

Another urgent need was iodine treatment, as it was available only at the Maharagama Cancer Hospital and the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital for which the Kurunegala patients had to travel long distances and also be on waiting lists for nearly three years. Mere frustration and lack of money, made these patients ignore their dire need causing much illness.

To the fore came the society, spreading the word around about the need and an iodine unit costing Rs. 20 million had been provided by Serendipol (Pvt) Ltd., of Kuliyapitiya and commissioned in 2017.

The societys fund-raising has included walks not only to collect money but also to create awareness.

Just a few Sundays ago, the family of a teacher had donated Rs. 500,000 on her death anniversary, while another group gifted an X-ray illuminator machine as well as a set of chairs.

With hopes held high and plans on the table, the society is now setting about completing a two-storey building. The ground floor has already been built with MAS Holdings donating Rs. 4 million and the society Rs. 4.6 million; the first floor being funded with Rs. 6.5 million by the Chairman of Central Bearings, Colombo, Sudath Tennekoon and the second floor with Rs. 10 million as well as the HIPEC machine by the Director of Serendipol, Gordon Silva.

Single or groups of donors, they are well aware that every cent they provide goes to the cancer unit, says Mr. Dasanayake, adding that the societys members work on a 100% voluntary basis and there are no administrative costs involved.

It is also not just about collecting funds, but the society gives of their time by providing kola-kenda, short-eats and also a ready ear to all those who attend the clinic along with their relatives.
Two killed, one injured in pre-dawn truck accident in Jaela View(s):

Two people were killed and another seriously injured when a container truck skidded across the road and smashed into a house at Weligampitiya in Ja-Ela early yesterday, residents said. They said the truck was being driven at high speed and the driver appeared to lose control of the vehicle, resulting it veering off course towards the people outside a shop and then crashing into a nearby house. No one in the house was hurt in the incident which took place at around 2.30 a.m. yesterday on the Colombo-Negombo main road.

A pedestrian who was outside the shop was killed on the spot. He was identified as a 32-year-old resident of Morawaka. The other victim was the truck drivers assistant. His body was recovered from the wreckage last morning. The container driver suffered serious injuries and was trapped inside the mangled vehicle. Residents and passers by struggled for some time and took him out. He was rushed to the Colombo North Hospital in Ragama.
Tripitaka as world heritage document; President will appeal to UN Chief View(s):

The Government will appeal to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to declare the Tripitaka as a world heritage document to be protected by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), President Maithripala Sirisena said yesterday.

The President made this announcement at the ceremony held at the Matale Aluviharaya to declare the Tripitaka which contains the teachings of the Lord Buddha as a National Heritage. The Mahanayakes of the three chapters and about 1,500 Buddhist monks were present at the ceremony along with many other dignitaries.

The President described the declaration as the most meritorious act that he had been able to undertake during his tenure as President. He said he considered it a great blessing that he was able to initiate the process which led to the Tripitaka being declared a national heritage.

He said that in September, last year, he, along with Buddha Sasana Minister Gamini Jayawickrema Perera and the then Higher Education and Cultural Affairs Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, submitted a joint Cabinet proposal to name the Tripitaka as a national heritage.

The President said that with yesterdays declaration, the reprinting, translations and other activities related to the Tripitaka could be carried out only under the supervision of the Ministry of Buddha Sasana.

He said that generations of members of the Buddhist clergy had safeguarded the teachings of the Buddha, memorised them and later recorded them in Ola leaves so that the teachings would be handed down throughout the ages. The Tripitaka is a national heritage and is for all Sri Lankans not only the Sinhalese. We hope to make it an internationally protected document, so that the teachings of Lord Buddha will be preserved and studied worldwide, the President said.
Maize cultivation in Moneragala ruined by Sena caterpillar View(s):

The crop-destroying Sena caterpillar has been found in pods of maize being sold at temporary street-side stalls along the Chilaw-Colombo main road.

The caterpillar was discovered by officers of the Agriculture and Agrarian Service who conducted inspections of street-side stalls in the Mahawewa area. Officers found that some husks contained fully grown caterpillars while others contained larvae.

According to officials, the Mahawewa-Madampe area is home to the countrys second largest, single stretch of paddy fields covering an area of 999 acres. If the caterpillar was to find its way to this area, officials warned, the results could be catastrophic.

In an effort to prevent the spread of the caterpillar menace, officials said sellers were being instructed to burn all maize husks that were discarded when cooking the maize. Legal action will be taken against those sellers who ignore these instructions, the officials added.

Meanwhile, in the Monaragala District, awareness campaigns conducted by the Agriculture Departments field officers ensured that damage caused by the Sena caterpillar to maize cultivation in the 2018/2019 Maha season was minimal.

J. G. Sumanaratne, Monaragala District Agriculture Director, said his field officers had visited cultivators to make them aware of the danger posed by the Sena caterpillar. This had made it possible he claimed, to destroy the caterpillar and to ensure harm caused by it in the district was kept at a minimum.

Despite these afforts, maize cultivations in the Agrarian Services of Athimale, Siyambalanduwa, Okkampitiya, Madulla and Monaragala areas had been adversely affected by the caterpillar.

Mr. Sumanaratne said action would be taken to compensate farmers once an assessment of the damage was completed.
Kilinochchi floods: Questions over suspension of probe By Sandun Jayawardana View(s): View(s):

Questions are being raised about the abrupt suspension of investigations by a committee to probe whether negligent provincial irrigation officials contributed to the recent floods in Kilinochchi.The committee, appointed by former Northern Province Governor Reginald Cooray, was headed by Prof S.S. Sivakumar of the Jaffna Universitys Engineering Faculty. Other members were Northern Province Engineering Services Deputy Chief Secretary S. Shanmugananthan, and Provincial Agriculture Director S Sivakumar.

Prof. Sivakumar told the Sunday Times that in their appointment letter, the Governor had instructed them to complete the probe and submit a report within a week. Accordingly, the three members met last week at the Kilinochchi campus of the Jaffna university to finalise the modalities of the committee so that they could immediately proceed with the probe. However, about 30 minutes after the meeting ended, I got a call from the Governors Secretary telling me not to proceed with the inquiry until further notice. There has been no official communication from the Governors office since then, Prof. Sivakumar said.

The professor expressed surprise at the sudden decision from the Governors office, saying no reason had been given for suspending the probe by the committee. The committee was appointed to probe several serious allegations over the floods. These included claims that the Iranamadu tanks water level was allowed to reach 39.5 feet  3.5 feet above the stipulated maximum water level  resulting in water spilling over the structure. There were also allegations that the tanks sluice gates were then opened in full, abruptly, resulting in severe flood damage downstream.

The committee was to look into whether Provincial Irrigation Department officials were responsible for bad flood management and opening of gates, while not warning those living downstream to evacuate in time. The committee was also asked to identify those responsible, if any negligence was confirmed.

The Governors Secretary, L. Ilaangovan, confirmed that the probe had been suspended. He claimed the decision was taken as the committees chairman, Prof. Sivakumar, had made certain public comments that could be termed as prejudicial. He said a new fact-finding committee would be appointed after President Maithripala Sirisena swore in a new Governor for the Northern Province.

Meanwhile, those who had been living in welfare camps after the floods in the Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and Jaffna districts have gone back to their houses. The Disaster Management Centres Deputy Director, Pradeep Koddippili, said a valuation of damaged property was being conducted through the District Secretariats. Affected families had been given the initial compensation of Rs.10,000 each. Depending on the damage, compensation up to a maximum of Rs. 250,000 would be provided to each family to repair the damage, he added.

Total damage due to the floods in the Mullaitivu district has been estimated at Rs.3,932 million, according to figures from the Mullaitivu District Secretariat. A total of 32,561 people from 10,118 families were affected. The floods have destroyed 2,297 acres of farming land and 11,237 livestock. Further, 24 fishing boats that were anchored along the Mullaitivu coast have been swept out to sea, along with 224 fishing nets, figures show.

Meanwhile, six committees comprising 15 members each are assessing the damage in the Karachchi and Kandawalai Divisional Secretariat areas in the Kilinochchi district. The committees are to submit their reports to the District Secretary next week.
Disasters waiting to happen in mushrooming high-rises By Chrishanthi Christopher View(s): View(s):

Fears have risen over safety compliance in high-rise buildings following the recent tragic elevator crash, with concerns spreading to whether inadequate firefighting ability for tall buildings have made them fire traps.

In Colombo, where 90 per cent of the buildings are residential apartments accommodating families, questions are being raised about elevator safety as investigations continue into why a lift plunged down one floor on December 29, injuring two people and crushing to death a man who tried to jump out of the lift.

Reports said that the 30-year-old elevator at the Green Lanka tower building failed due to a lack of maintenance. Theories are also rife that the lift gave way under the weight it was carrying as too many (12) people had got in.

Construction bodies are also concerned about firefighting capacity in case of a major fire in apartment blocks.

Chamber of Construction Industry Secretary Col. Nissanaka Wijeratne said the mushrooming buildings in greater Colombo were a disaster waiting to happen.

Our firefighters are not sufficiently equipped to fight a major fire, he said, stressing the need to have aerial equipment and trained personnel to cope with conflagrations that could break out in high-rise buildings.

Major Constructors of Sri Lanka, an association of leading construction companies, agreed that Sri Lankas fire-fighting capacity is weak.

The bodys CEO, Brigadier Madura Wijewickrema, said it was necessary to have an outstanding capacity to fight massive fires in tall buildings.

Our Sri Lanka Air force has no specialised helicopters for fighting massive fires, he said.

In Colombo and its suburbs, the Urban Development Authority insists that all buildings higher than 10 storeys or 30m have a sprinkler system to prevent fires and that buildings above four storeys have a backup generator.

The Colombo Fire Brigade defended its capacity, saying its fire-fighting processes were updated in collaboration with the governments construction industry regulator, the Construction Industry Development Authority (CIDA).

Chief Fire Officer P.D.K.A. Wilson said his brigade was equipped to fight fires in buildings up to 14 floors in height. Thereafter, he said, firefighters used elevator shafts to get to higher storeys.

He said every building plan had to be sent to the Firefighting Department for approval in keeping with fire safety regulations. On completion of construction, the officials of the department carried out checks for compliance.

CIDA said there was no direct regulation governing the safety of buildings once construction was completed and Certification of Completion obtained from local authorities.

CIDA Director Savindra Amarasekera said responsibility for building safety lay with the Condominium Management Authority (CMA) in the Ministry of Housing and Construction.

CMA President Christopher Wijeweera said building owners should ensure that proper installation mechanisms were in place in relation to electricity, water, elevators and water-proof rooftops before an application was made for Certification of Completion from the local authorities such as the Urban Development Authority (UDA).

Mr. Wijeweera said the onus to maintain lifts lay completely with the owner of the building who had to sign a maintenance agreement with the relevant elevator company once a buildings construction was completed.

UDA Chairman Jagath Munasinghe said the authority relied on certification issued by construction professionals. Contractors were expected to comply with specific standards in quality and installation. The UDA went along with professional certification that these standards had been upheld.

Thereafter, he said, building developers had to enter into service agreements for maintenance of building infrastructure. He said usually, after a guarantee period, such agreements were renewed annually.

In the hotel trade, high-rise buildings are checked when they renew the licences. In apartment blocks this does not happen: a public authority needs to check this, Mr. Munasinghe said.

Following the fatality caused by the crash of the lift at the Green Lanka tower block tenants in high-rise apartment blocks fear that safety checks are not universally observed.

One concerned tenant said that in the race to build taller buildings the maintenance factor was being ignored.

He also stressed the importance of having a lift operator for those who cannot operate elevators due to unfamiliarity, illiteracy or disability.

The accident at Green Lanka Tower building could have been avoided if there was an operator in the lift who would not have allowed overloading, he said.
Colombos homeless left in the cold By Abdullah Shahnawaz View(s): View(s):

The nip in the air this time of the year is welcomed by most in Colombo city. But for the scores of homeless people camped along the citys pavements its a cold nightmare.

Next week, Colombos temperature is expected to fall to a minimum of 21 degrees at night and thundershowers, too, are predicted.

On a city tour at night, The Sunday Times saw scores of homeless men and women curled up along the pavements trying to get a few hours of sleep before the city came to life at dawn. Many of them had nothing to cover themselves with, while some used parts of cardboard boxes.

The wide pavement near the Fort Railway Station is a popular spot with dozens setting up camp. Others were seen tucked in near the entrance of closed shops with the overhanging roof providing them a little cover.

Meanwhile the city authorities dont seem to have a plan to address their plight. At the moment there is nothing planned, said M.T.M. Iqbal Colombos Deputy Mayor. There are no temporary shelters. But I will visit the places and discuss with the police, too, before deciding what can be done.

Mayor, Rosy Senanayake said she would comment on the issue next week.

Meanwhile, Minister of Labour, Trade Union Relations and Social Empowerment Daya Gamage said, I have decided to start some projects for people seeking medical treatment and a few financial empowerment programmes. But we havent thought about the homeless issue yet. It is a good point you raised. We should look into it.

The Minister said he was sure his Ministry didnt have statistics for the number of homeless people in the country and therefore before beginning to tackle the issue he would have to obtain the numbers from other branches of the government.

Most of the time when you try to get statistics, officials say they dont have them, so it will take some time, he said.

Sanath Munasinghe who runs a shelter home for the elderly called Shelter4homeless said there was a lot of paperwork and many legal requirements to look into before someone can be given shelter. He also said that, as far as he knew, Sri Lanka did not have any temporary shelter homes like other countries during the cold season.

There is very little focus on the homeless here. It is also difficult for private shelters to be set up because you have to get prior permission from the local authorities and the Department of Social Services. You cant just call people from the street to come in, he said.

The Department of Meteorology said the weather wasnt abnormally cold and that it was the usual weather one experienced this time of the year.

The cool winds that are generated in Siberia and the northern hemispheres winter is the main reason for the temperature to drop, said Anusha Warnasooriya the Met Departments Director of Forecasting.

The other reason is the lack of cloud formation due to the low rainfall, which makes it easier for the earths heat radiation to redirect upwards.

This cools the land especially at night. During the day the sun rays falling onto the land offset some of the heat radiation escaping upwards, thus giving a warmer temperature.
Elvis comes alive View(s):

Tuesday, January 8, 2019 marks the 84th Birth Anniversary of Elvis Presley when thousands of Elvis fans from around the world gather at Graceland to participate in various exciting activities arranged by Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc.

Graceland is said to be the most-visited private residence in the world, where Elvis lived like a king with its entire splendour. It is now listed in the National Register of Historical Places by the US Government. Elvis bought it in March 1957. Graceland is themed in such a way, visitors feel Elvis is still living there.

The main attraction is one of Elvis jet planes named after his daughter Lisa Marie. It has several TVs, stereo system and an electrical system that can operate any household appliance including a refrigerator that makes ice precisely in two minutes. There are hundreds of other items used by Elvis and also the famous Pink Cadillac Elvis bought as a birthday present for his mother with the proceeds from the sale of his first Gold Disc.

There are many breath-taking attractions at Graceland, including the world famous Lisa Marie jet plane, collection of his gold discs, heart-shaped swimming pool, his grand piano, Heartbreak Hotel, gift shop, Gracelands Chapel in the Woods, 24-hour Elvis movie channel, Elvis Satellite Radio station, etc.

To get a beautiful colour brochure carrying pictures of many such items, simply give a call to the President of the local Elvis Presley Fan Club, Jayaratne Perera on 2795997.

Incidentally, Nic King, Australia Ultimate Tribute Artist, Winner 2017, will be in concert backed by the Marians at Grandeeza Hotel in Negombo on February 10, 2019.
Classical and Cool reaches out to prisoners children View(s):

Classical and Cool sees baritone Gehan Cooray performing at the Lionel Wendt Theatre on January 9 at 7.30 p.m, shortly before he returns to Los Angeles where he is currently based. He will be singing for the Friends of Prisoners Children (FOPC) at their annual fundraiser.

Proceeds from this concert will go to the Friends of Prisoners Children charity, the brainchild of Rev. Sr. Mary Immaculate and Priyanthi Dissanayake. They launched the charity in 2005, when they realized that the children of prisoners are stigmatized and ostracized by society.

Many give up school due to this and the lack of financial means. The FOPC now provides an annual scholarship of Rs. 18,000 per child to over 260 children through donations from generous sponsors and fundraisers such as this.

The children are also emotionally strengthened by knowing that there are people to support them. We have had graduates and accountants from these children who are now contributing to society, said an organizer.

The concert this year, in keeping with Gehans musically diverse repertoire, will feature operatic arias by Rossini, Gounod and Handel, classical art songs by Schubert and Tosti as well as popular favourites from Broadway musicals and Hollywood films such as I Got You Under My Skin, People, Ill Be Seeing You, Sunrise Sunset, Over the Rainbow and On the Street Where You Live to name a few. Gehan will sing not only in Italian, French, Latin and English, but also in Sinhala, ensuring that everyone in the audience has something very special to look forward to.

The guest artist at the concert will be soprano Dinushka Jayawickreme. Menaka de Fonseka Sahabandu will accompany them at the piano, along with Neomal De Alwis and Soundarie David, all of whom have collaborated with both Gehan and Dinushka for years.

Tickets are priced at Rs. 3000, 2000, 1000, 500 (balcony) and the box plan is available at Jetwing Colombo 7 down Ward Place. Please contact Sithara at 0777287815 for more information.
Bumblebee Transformers back in town View(s):

The latest of the Transformers series, Bumblebee, a sci-fi action movie is now being screened in the theatres in Colombo and the outstations.

Directed by Travis Knight and written by Christina Hodson, the film stars Hailee Steinfeld, John Cena, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., John Ortiz, Jason Drucker, and Pamela Adlon, with Dylan OBrien, Angela Bassett, Justin Theroux, and Peter Cullen in voice roles.

On the run in the year 1987, Bumblebee finds refuge in a junkyard in a small Californian beach town. Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld), on the cusp of turning 18 and trying to find her place in the world, discovers Bumblebee, battle-scarred and broken. When Charlie revives him, she quickly learns this is no ordinary, yellow VW bug.

As the film begins, audiences get their first glimpse of the Bumblebee of Cybertron lore. Known as B-127, the bright yellow transformer is a fierce warrior who has fought in a centuries-long conflict between the Autobots and the Decepticons. When all seems lost for the Autobots, B-127 is dispatched to Earth with a mission: Protect the planet and its inhabitants in the hope of establishing a refuge for his comrades.

His arrival is complicated when two Decepticons, Shatter and Dropkick, follow him and launch an attack that endangers Earths inhabitants, and an American military team decides, understandably, that the alien species is a threat to mankind. Bumblebee attempts to hide from his pursuers disguised as a dilapidated yellow Volkswagen Beetle, but when a teenaged girl named Charlie decides to restore the vehicle, she inadvertently discovers his true identity.

Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura describes the film as an origin story. This is Bumblebees origin story on earth. Since the movie predates the Bay chronology we had the opportunity to do a deeper dive into his character, giving the audience even more reason to fall in love with him.

Director Travis Knight remembers playing with Transformers action figures as a child in the 1980s. An avid fan of the animated television series, he is also a devotee of classic motion pictures of the era, including Spielbergs E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and the films of John Hughes. The titans of 80s cinema approached adolescence with great sensitivity, warmth and humour, the director says. Its a universal struggle we all go through, whether to fit in and seek acceptance or to stand out and forge ones own identity. All these moments, sometimes conflicting, merge into the swirling roil of adolescence.

Knight was especially excited to enter the expansive world of the Transformers and focus on a tiny corner of that universe to tell a more intimate, character-driven and emotional story.

In Colombo Bumblebee is being shown at Scope Cinemas (CCC) ATMOS, Liberty by Scope, Empire, MC Cinemas and Liberty Lite. It is also being screened in a number of cinemas around the country.
Adding a local twist to a Japanese foody adventure By Tera Jayewardene and Sashini Rodrigo View(s): View(s):

While Japanese cuisine has made an indelible mark on the food scene of Sri Lanka with its unique flavours, some still remain unconvinced.

Fusion sushi is a phenomenon that has been cropping up all over the world and Sri Lanka is no exception. Many Japanese restaurants in Sri Lanka have begun introducing sushi with a local twist, creating dishes that are perfectly suited for the Sri Lankan palate. Places like Kuuraku, Edo Japanese Cuisine, Sushi Kai and Tsukiji Uoichi have taken up the challenge to convince even the gastronomically unadventurous to try the globally-beloved sushi, by adding a Sri Lankan touch to it.

At the Kuuraku Japanese restaurant at the Park Street Mews, the most popular dish is the Spicy Tuna Roll. Made with raw tuna, this is perfect for sushi veterans as well as newcomers as the spice levels override the raw fish. Four pieces cost Rs. 640, while eight pieces come at Rs.1,180. The Spicy Salmon Roll has a similar appeal and costs Rs. 680 for four pieces and Rs. 1,280 for eight. The Sigiriya Rock n Roll is inspired by the famous local heritage site and is a vegetarian dish with distinct garlic and miso flavours priced at Rs. 680 for eight pieces. Kuuraku is a great place for anyone to begin their sushi journey.

Edo Japanese Cuisine, created by chef Tyronne Perera, focuses on creative sushi and doing something truly unique. The fusion restaurant is open to custom-made sushi dishes, such as chicken sushi. On the menu, the SCC Roll is a clear standout, featuring sauteed shrimp with asparagus and mushrooms on California rolls. Priced at Rs. 1,640 for eight pieces, the dish is surprisingly filling, with all the elements of a full meal with a slight kick of spice and interesting contrasts in textures and flavours. The Tyro Maki, named after the chef himself, is made with tempura shrimp, cucumber and avocado with a sesame wrap, with eight pieces for Rs. 1,250. What makes it stand out as a fusion dish is Chef Tyros special sauce, adding a zing of spice to the classic Japanese flavours.

Look no further for fusion at affordable prices and great portions than at Sushi Kai. We fuse what Sri Lankans like and what their taste buds are used to in a way that theyll like it more.

We use things like karapincha and chilli mayo because we like it a little spicier usually.

Thats why the Crispy Red is one of our bestselling dishes, says Manager Vidush Peiris. Its priced at Rs. 900 for eight pieces. The spice really hits you, courtesy of the vibrantly red chilli mayo. The dish is made up of salmon, cucumber, tempura bubbles and chilli mayo  simple ingredients, but with textures and flavours that work well together.

They also offer a BBQ chicken version for Rs. 890. The Volcano Roll, costing Rs. 880 for eight pieces, is topped with a crab salad and a dab of wasabi mayo, while the sushi itself is made with avocado and bell pepper. The wasabi mayo does not overpower the other ingredients but imparts the unique flavour of horseradish. The Karapincha Dragon Roll, priced at Rs.1,050 for eight pieces, is made with tempura prawn, avocado, red bell pepper coated with fried Karapincha and Teriyaki mayo. The crispy fried karapincha gives a familiar flavour and an interesting crunch to the roll, and the teriyaki mayo is smooth. All in all Sushi Kai is certainly worthy of the hype, as the big portions and reasonable prices make it a local favourite.

Tsukiji Uoichi has a large selection of sushi for differing palates. The Crunchy Ebi Tempura Roll at Rs. 1,480 for eight pieces and Rs. 890 for four, is a safe choice.The inside out Tempura Prawn Maki coated with crispy batter comes with a touch of karapincha. The newly-introduced Chicken Teriyaki Sesame Roll at Rs. 1,480 for eight pieces and Rs. 890 for four is perfect for anybody who wants to try out sushi but doesnt eat seafood.

The highlight of the menu is the Ichimi Chilli Roll at Rs. 980 for eight pieces and Rs. 690 for four. The dish is made with cucumber and avocado, wrapped in sushi rice and coated in Japanese chilli. This vegetarian dish is surprisingly complex in both flavour and texture, with the crunch of the cucumber offset by the soft avocado, elevated by the dominating kick of chilli. A few bites and the spice really hits you, making it a perfect dish for the chillie-loving Sri Lankan tastebuds.

Their Smoked Salmon Cheese Roll, at Rs. 1,900 for eight pieces and Rs.1,140 for four, is a classically western pairing of flavours that go surprisingly well in a Japanese sushi preparation, making it clear that sushi preparation has no boundaries except the imagination of the chef.
Indian students visit Galle on exchange programme View(s):

Ten students from St Marks Senior Secondary School, New Delhi, visited Sri Lanka on a student exchange programme.

The student group visited Siridhamma College and other famous tourist attractions in Galle. The students visit is being funded by the India-Sri Lanka Foundation, New Delhi Secretariat, under its student exchange programme. The group of students performed at a cultural event held during the visit. Pic by Gamini Mahadura
In pursuit of quality education: The struggles of a less-privileged primary school in Kurunegala View(s):

Located within close proximity of the Kurunegala-Alawwa highway and Polgahawela railway station, Sapumal Kumara Vidyalaya is tucked away amidst lush greenery in Galbadagama. Established in 1926 on a piece of land donated by local philanthropist Mr Sirimal Rajapaksa, Sapumal Kumara Vidyalaya was initially known as Galbadagama Buddhist Mixed School.

Following the 1962 handover to the government, the school was renamed Galbadagama Junior School which subsequently gained momentum as an excellent centre for education.

However, during the late 1990s and early 2000s, the popularity of the school weakened; mainly due to the emergence of other popular government schools in the vicinity. From 2009 to 2012, the Acting Principals who headed Galbadagama Junior School strove to ensure its sustenance against all odds.

In 2012, a qualified Principal of the Sri Lanka Principals Service was appointed to the school as part of a wider measure to uplift the less-privileged schools around the country. When I first came to this school, there were only 17 students and 3 teachers, the Principal recalled. She noted that the Zonal Education Office and the Provincial Education Office extend their support to develop the school.

Intent on making a fresh start, the school was renamed Sapumal Kumara Vidyalaya, alongside a change in the school flag, song and uniform. Utilising funds allocated, the boundary fence was repaired. All classrooms were provided with electricity, while sanitation facilities were provided for both staff and students. The Principal gratefully acknowledged the support rendered by the Past Pupils Association to repair the school building.

At present, Sapumal Kumara Vidyalaya is a primary school which has a total student population of 43, and 6 teachers. After a lengthy hiatus, one student passed the 2018 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination while 9 out of ten students scored above 100 marks.

The school has adopted an activity-based approach to impart new knowledge and skills to students, most of whom who have no means to attend tuition classes. Numerous colourful posters adorn each classroom wall that speak volumes about the vibrant teaching-learning environment.

Likewise, the students artwork and handicrafts which are on display act as an excellent way to facilitate learning among primary learners. I believe that teaching English skills and ICT skills should commence at Grade 1, the principal reiterated. At the time of the writers visit to the school, the students were rehearsing for the Annual Concert to showcase their English skills.

Sapumal Kumara Vidyalaya has gone a long way to foster a positive classroom environment thanks to the collective efforts made by the Principal, teachers, zonal and provincial education offices, parents, students and well-wishers.

One of the biggest problems that we face is that most students come from financially-challenged backgrounds. We have to ensure that they dont drop out of school, the Principal emphasised.

Generous benefactors could help students reach their full potential. For instance, the outdoor play area has to be renovated, while the steps at the entrance of the school need to be repaired as well. Even though the school has a collection of approximately 1,050 books, childrens books are scarce.

Apart from that, Sapumal Kumara Vidyalaya does not have a computer. The students of Sapumal Kumara Vidyalaya eagerly await your support to make their big dreams come true.

The Principal can be reached at Sapumal Kumara Vidyalaya, Galbadagama, Kurunegala.

-Dishani Senaratne

(The writer is a 2018/2019 MediaCorp Fellow of the Sri Lanka Development Journalist Forum (SDJF). Her visit to the school was financially supported by this fellowship programme)
Govt. to revive project to issue tabs for students View(s):

The Government is to revive a stalled project to issue free tabs to GCE (A/L) students, an Education Ministry official said. To implement the project, Rs. 4 billion is to be allocated in the upcoming budget.

Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said they hoped to provide 195,000 tabs so that students can benefit from technology in their education. We had made preparations to enable children to use technology for certain subjects like Science, English, Mathematics and History. The plan was to have e-books for the students to easily follow their lessons, he said. He added that Sri Lankan students should be on par with international standards.

The UNP, in its election manifesto, had pledged to provide tabs to students, but this was stalled by short-term Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe who said there was no system to protect children from visiting unsuitable sites. President Maithripala Sirisena had proposed a pilot project. - Damith Wickremasekara
Delay in appointing Principals to national schools: CTU View(s):

Interviews for the Principals position in 353 national schools, stalled due to the 51-day impasse in the countrys governance, are still being delayed. The Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) said that candidates who had been requested to appear for an interview before the dissolution of the government in October are yet awaiting their appointments.

CTU General Secretary, Joseph Stalin said that around 303 vacancies exist for the post of Principal in national schools. At present, the schools are administered by Acting Principals appointed by the Education Ministry. It is learnt that in the last six years, attempts to fill Principal positions in national schools have been scuffled by authorities. In 2012, 96 appointments for the post were barred, and in 2015 the move to fill 212 vacancies was stalled.

We call on the Government to immediately continue with the interviews and fill the existing vacancies with legitimate staff, Stalin said. (CC)
President could play positive role in cohabitation View(s):

The nearly new Cabinet of President Maithripala Sirisena got off to a reasonable start for the New Year with the hope of a new beginning for the otherwise stuttering Cohabitation Government.

The President was reportedly subdued but showed no signs of unease with Ministers from a different party, and now, none from his own. The Ministers on their part conducted themselves with the political correctness due to the holder of the office of President. The only dissension had come from within the Cabinet, but that is not entirely a negative thing, as often, Cabinet papers submitted by Ministers are never read by colleagues, and the credo is; You scratch my back and I will scratch yours. Proposals are often rubber-stamped and the highfalutin principle of getting Cabinet approval to denote a studied decision taken at the highest policy and decision-making body of the Government in reality often means rubber-stamping the proposal. The only issue is that the discussions should not be instigated by malice and petty political rivalry.

Unfortunately, after the Presidential sermon following the re-induction of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, the allocation of departments under the Ministers seems to have been badly handled, but again, the signs are that these matters are being resolved.

As far as the President is concerned, it was his choice to drop the National Government because events after his October 26 misadventure did not turn out the way he wanted it. The decision has only isolated him further and his own party is disintegrating before his eyes.

Given the fact that the President is bound by the Constitution to carry on with a UNP Cabinet this whole year and until February 2020 unless Parliament is constitutionally dissolved, it would be in his own best interests to allow the UNP Cabinet to run the show as it were and hang themselves with their own rope if they fail to deliver the goods.

While the President will not want to be seen as a lame duck, neither should he be seen as an obstructionist. That means having to stomach a lot of humiliation given the sharp divide vis-a-vis the economic policies of the UNP and his own political philosophy.

The President has already provided fuel to the fire lit by anti-Executive Presidency campaigners. There is currency gaining ground that Sri Lankan politicians are incapable of handling the powers vested with an Executive President. However, this Presidents actions in stepping in during the Central Bank bond fiasco is an argument in favour of the Executive President being the upper custodian intervening in what was patently a corrupt exercise, the ghost of which is going to haunt the UNP for quite some time to come.

We publish today some work the President has engaged himself in like the Moragahakanda irrigation project (page and the Tripitaka National Heritage project (page 8). It would be best for him to be considered an achiever rather than a naysayer where this Government, at the end of its constitutional term, would have only made proposals that were disposed of by the President and wasted five years in the process.

When no news is good news

When the incidents at Digana off Kandy occurred last March following the usual traffic accident and an organised unleashing of mob violence on Muslim houses and business establishments, foreign Governments, NGOs and sections of the local and international media were quick to slam the Government for what happened; the majority community was tarred with the same brush.

It was a blot on the countrys image and when social media outlets were banned for spreading hate speech and fanning the flames of the violence, the Government got roasted again for restricting free speech.

Last week, a Bamiyan style vandalising of religious statues took place in Mawanella and the incidents spread to Naramwela, Katugastota and Kadugannawa. There were no repercussions; no reprisals. There was no news to report and no blame apportioned to the Government.

For one, the Government  and the Police, acted swiftly, unlike in the Digana incidents. Seven persons were arrested while some involved are absconding. For another, political, social and religious leaders in the area joined hands to douse the smouldering embers that could have flared into a major ethnic fire.

Another crisis so soon after the Constitutional crisis the country had just emerged from, was the last thing the country needed. Socio-religious extremism in a multi-ethnic country is a veritable tinder-box and interested parties, both local and abroad with agendas of their own are waiting to exploit just such a situation.

Sri Lanka has so far fortunately escaped the ramifications of the global Islamic sectarian strife that the West has deftly exploited and which has seen West Asia torn apart. Western countries have benefited from the split in the Islamic world. But it does not mean that the countries espousing, and exporting their beliefs and ideologies, largely from the monies accruing from oil and gas under their desert sands, have left Sri Lanka entirely alone.

A greater identification with the religion has caught on among sections of the local Islamic community. Still, the larger segment of the community live within the framework of the interwoven Lankan social fabric. The incidents at Mawanella and its surroundings indicate that extremist schools exist. The Eastern Province is a reservoir for infiltration through indoctrination. Financial inducements grease the process.

Many felt that with the ethnic extremism in the North having been quelled with a heavy hand, religious extremism in the South and the rest of the country could raise its ugly head. The incidents earlier in Beruwela and Dharga Town gave rise to these fears.

There appears to be pressure groups at work urging the President to set free those who were behind these tensions starting in the South. The courts have dealt with matters according to the law of the land, and recently even the President was reminded that no one is above the law.

This week, the country mourned the death of an American priest who dedicated his life to the upliftment of people in a part of the world far removed from his own birthplace. He battled against extremist forces during the North-East insurgency, a shining example that men of the cloth of whichever religious denomination must not exploit their robe in the pursuit of violence.
Teaching a lesson to politicians from the bench View(s):

When chastened supporters of the Rajapaksa-led Pohottuwa (lotus bud) Party bewail the December 2018 decision of the Supreme Court holding that the Presidential dissolution of Parliament was unconstitutional with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa having to step back from a contested Prime Ministerial seat and return to opposition ranks, a frequent lament is that they have no other court to appeal to, against that decision.

Rich satisfaction in seeing political imprudence reprimanded

Coupled with rude admonitions by rash Pohottuwa sidekicks seething with fury against the judges who handed down the decision, this amounts to disingenuous attempts to undermine the authority of the Court. Nonetheless, there is rich satisfaction in hearing such confessions of helplessness. These must not come easy to an authoritarian family dynasty accustomed to a cowed and intimidated judiciary.

Perhaps, and ironically so, if the 2006 Singarasa decision of ex-Chief Justice Sarath Silva (himself a vociferous defender of President Maithripala Sirisenas actions) had not ridiculed the option that Sri Lankans had to appeal to the United Nations Human Rights Committee in respect of rights violations, the disgruntled Pohottuwa members might have exercised that option

But apart from these tongue-in-cheek asides, as irresistible as they are, ominous signs portend that 2019 will be a holding year where each and every slim gain that was won during then past four years will need to be defended by an active and vigilant citizenry with its backs literally to the wall. For more disconcerting than the Pohottuwa fury are remarks made by President Sirisena impacting adversely on the judicial institution. These comprised remarks when the cases in the constitutional crisis were still pending in the superior courts that rulings by judges were similar to a head monk of a village temple dictating terms to the chief prelate of a chapter (meaning himself).

Fundamental lack of understanding of the judicial role

Quite apart from the entirely pedestrian nature of this analogy, the very fact that such a public statement was made, speaks to a fundamental lack of understanding of the judicial role. More perilously, it illustrates an executive impatience with an independent judiciary, notwithstanding boasts by the President himself that the restoration of at least a measure of judicial integrity was a notable feature of his administration. No one would grudge the President this boast, fairly speaking. But if that is the case, then it stands to reason that statements should not be made undermining that very fact.

Indeed, his more recent and mounting frustrations over judicial appointments following the Constitutional Councils rejection of his nominees is part of this troubling pattern of veiled criticism. Asserting that seniority should be adhered to in the promotion process and that career judges should be given a fair chance are two admirable sentiments on the face of it. However, this should not be used as a cover to promote financially or politically corrupt judicial officers to the apex court. There is no ground for compromise in that regard.

Mulling over the uneasy combination of Pohottuwa plus Presidential annoyance with a tentatively recovering judicial institution, I was reminded of what then United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Independence of the Judiciary, Dato Param Coomaraswamy said while addressing a law conference in Sri Lanka in 1996. His observation was that the right to an independent justice system is not that of the judges or lawyers. It is not a legal slogan to enhance the images of judges or lawyers. Instead, it is a right of all consumers of justice and a right, protective of all other human rights.

The role of a modern judiciary

In observations that hold true even today, Coomaraswamy pointed out that judges must not be traditionally isolated in Olympian splendour from public debate and opinion. His view was that modern judges do not just fold their arms and sit in chambers when the independence of the judicial institution is concerned. On the contrary, sitting and retired judges have actively participated in public discussions in regard to streamlining judicial appointments so as to strengthen appointment mechanisms from political interference.

In the United Kingdom, amidst attacks on the judiciary by the executive over decisions on applications for judicial review, the House of Lords, (at that time), discussed a motion on judicial independence and the relationship between the judiciary, the legislature and the executive, asserting the primary importance of the independence of the judiciary. Prominent English judges, both sitting and retired, participated in the five hour debate.

Australia similarly, has seen minor judges sitting on the Accident Compensation Tribunal suing the State government for compensation for loss of office when the government legislated them out of office by repealing the entire legislation creating the tribunal, arguing that when they accepted the appointment, they were assured of their security of tenure. In Canada, provincial judges have appeared as litigants in cases concerning security of tenure and independence of the judges of the lower courts.

The importance of institutional memory

In this country, executive experimentation with the judicial institution has been chequered. Judges houses were stoned when they handed down unpopular decisions and individual judicial officers had to face unprecedented pressure and intimidation long before the Rajapaksa Presidency developed this into a fine art. It is important to recognise that history so that we retain institutional memory and realise that executive and legislative annoyance with judicial restraints is not limited to a particular political era.

In fact, almost two decades ago, when the Chandrika Kumaratunga led Peoples Alliance was beginning to swerve away from its commitment towards an impartial judiciary and an independent press, a fact finding Mission of eminent jurists of the Centre for the Independence of Judges and Lawyers (CIJL), a component of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) observed that, each time that the Sri Lankan Supreme Court had asserted itself, the political backlash had cast the judicial institution into disarray. This was in the specific context of politicised judicial appointments and intemperate statements critical of the judiciary after particular judgments were delivered reprimanding the executive. These remarks were prescient of the degradation that the Court suffered in later years when the very Office of Chief Justice became compromised and the crisis of public faith in the Court increased.

More than one and a half decades later, there is is reason to be hopeful that this atrocious history will be consigned to the dustbin where it rightfully belongs. That said, the judiciary does not operate in a vacuum. Therefore civic pressure and social interest must continue in seeing an independent Bench and the law as a precious value to be protected rather than as an abstract notion which is far removed from the lives of ordinary citizens.

With all its unpleasantness and political crudities, 2018 demonstrated that Sri Lanka still has enormous civic resistance. That is something to be proud of.
Some sections wanted agreement by January 15, but Pohottuwa leaders insist that full procedures must be followed before any alliance is formed

Questions of rationale raised as President also seeks thaw with UNF and compromises on subjects given to ministers

MoD reaches defence agreement with powerful country, giving it access to Sri Lankas facilities

He has etched his name in a controversial chapter of Sri Lankas political history with mistakes that stunned a nation and faced ignominy over violating the countrys Constitution.

Now, just five days after the dawn of 2019, President Maithripala Sirisena appears set to create more records, be it for good or for worse. It comes in the backdrop of issues that have overflowed from last year. One is the hearing by the Court of Appeal (CA) of a case where the appointment of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on October 26 is being challenged. Rajapaksa, however, resigned after the Supreme Court ruled that the dissolution of Parliament was unconstitutional. This paved the way for the return of Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister. The CA, nevertheless, was set to resume hearings on January 11 but a Supreme Court (SC) order has halted it.

It was after an application in the SC challenging the CA for issuing a stay order that prevented the then Premier Rajapaksa, Cabinet Ministers, State Ministers and deputy ministers from functioning in office. The SC will hear the case further on January 16, 17 and 18. The judgment on this case will impact on actions which Sirisena took, whether they were constitutional or not. Since a new United National Front (UNF) government is now in place, the outcome will largely be academic though it is of great importance. That will reflect on Sirisenas governance in the past four years on the one hand and his political career cum future on the other. Tomorrow (Monday), the SC will hear petitions that challenge the ouster of Premier Wickremesinghe.

These aspects appear important for President Sirisena. In that midst, his actions in the past few days are riddled with contradictions. He is blowing cold sometimes and hot at other times. This facet of his political character is not unknown if one is to go by previous instances. Yet, they increasingly raise serious questions over national well-being and the countrys image.

For example, he removed Ranil Wickremesinghe as Premier and vowed not to appoint him even if 225 MPs in Parliament wanted it. He was forced to do just that. Wickremesinghe returned stronger than before and remains in a dominant position in his United National Party (UNP). If that was bad enough, the worst were what happened to his own Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) parliamentarians after the others walked into the Sri Lanka Podujana Party (SLPP). Like in a war, they suffered the political collateral damage from the exercise. They lost their portfolios and thus the perks that go with them. Their own nominees who were found positions in ministries, departments and corporations became refugees. That has seen the birth and slow growth of an anti-Sirisena group within his own Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). There are reasons to believe they are becoming vociferous.

The after-effects of his actions also reverberated in the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) which has been supporting the UNF. Its leader Rajavarothayam Sampanthan lost his position as Leader of the Opposition. At a party leaders meeting on Friday in Parliament, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya reiterated that he would continue to recognise Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Leader of the Opposition. It was just last month that the TNAs 14 MPs supported Wickremesinghe to become the Prime Minister by adding their numbers to a majority of more than0 113 in Parliament.

It is in this climate that President Sirisena, as SLFP leader, chaired a meeting of the partys Central Committee on Thursday at his Mahagamsekera Mawatha residence. It saw the replacement of Professor Rohana Luxman Piyadasa, a Mass Media don at the Kelaniya University as the partys General Secretary. Though not in any way a bad reflection on Prof. Piyadasa, historically most major political parties have had serving politicians as their General Secretaries. It was the UNP under J.R. Jayewardene which initially replaced politicians by removing joint secretaries Gamani Jayasuriya and Jinadasa Niyathapala, who were Dudley Senanayake loyalists and installed Anandatissa de Alwis, but the change-over de Alwis also went on to contest elections and Harsha Abeywardene took over. The UNP has reverted to having a serving politician as General Secretary. Since removing Anuradhapura District MP Duminda Dissanayake, known to have close affiliations with the UNP, Sirisena brought in Piyadasa in June last year. Under Sirisenas charge there have been four different General Secretaries for the SLFP in as many years.

Now, Dayasiri Jayasekera has been named as the acting General Secretary. This is after Sirisena stripped all former SLFP electoral organisers of their positions. He declared that he would appoint only suitable persons and leave out others. This has led to the formation of a caucus. They held a news conference at the Public Library on Thursday. The group is led by Attorney at Law Rajika Kodituwakku who has been functioning as Co-ordinating Secretary to the President and SLFP organiser for Kesbewa.

He has since resigned as Co-ordinating Secretary. Among those in the group are organisers for Kegalle and Beruwala, members of provincial councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas. We have explained to President Sirisena why we are opposed to his moves to form an alliance with the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), he said. The current impasse was because the SLFP Central Committee took impractical decisions which could not be implemented, said M.N.M. Amjad, former SLFP organiser for Beruwala electorate. Added G.H. Buddhadasa, onetime Chairman of Kaduwala Urban Council and former SLFP co-organiser for Kaduwela: We believed in President Sirisena and waited for three and half years. We suffered a serious setback at the local polls, he said.

Speakers at the news conference praised former President and the then SLFP leader Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, now a staunch backer of the UNP. There are fears within the Sirisena faction that Kumaratunga is engaged in behind-the-scene moves to capture power in the SLFP. This was the main reason for the closure of the SLFP headquarters before Sirisena went on a private visit to Thailand. Sections in the SLFP claim that his move to strip electoral organiser titles was also aimed at weeding out Kumaratunga loyalists. In the same way, at least one Governor among all those who resigned, was not re-appointed for the same reason. Another Governor who was already facing charges of bribery (when he took office) was not re-appointed for allegedly involving himself in irregular land transactions in the area he was Governor and for overspending. This week Sirisena appointed Azath Sally as Governor of the Western Province, though he could not even win a ward at last Februarys local polls to the Colombo Municipal Council. He was nominated councillor on the SLFP list. There were also issues with M.L.A.M. Hhisbullah who has been named Governor for the Eastern Province. In September last year he was arrested by CID detectives together with his son and produced before at the Valachenai Magistrates Court. It was on allegations that he used machinery belonging to Sri Lanka Building Construction Society to construct a private university on a fifty acre site in Punani, Batticaloa. That apart, there is more trouble brewing in the SLFP.

Why did President Sirisena hire and fire Piyadasa even before he concluded one year in office? The fact that some, if not a substantial number of his choices to positions, both in Sri Lanka and in the overseas diplomatic missions have not lasted long or are amateurs is all too well known. Examples include the office of Presidents Secretary which has seen three incumbents and the post of Defence Secretary four incumbents.

Questionable defence deals

In the case of the latter, most Sri Lankans, including UNF frontliners, are blissfully unaware that agreements have been signed with an important foreign government without proper consultation or studying the implications involved. In one such instance, practically every single security apparatus of this powerful country dealing with different defence issues have gained legitimate access to Sri Lanka. For that countrys former envoy once quipped to a friend, if we cannot win them over, let us get whatever we can get for us. That worked with only little effort.

Parliament has not been told about these defence deals. Only cursory Cabinet approval has been granted. It is no secret that most ministers do not study cabinet memoranda ahead of their being approved. They also lack the expertise and the depth to examine issues in a broader context. This is besides the gross ignorance of most over geopolitical issues. In this particular instance, the bureaucrat involved in the exercise was rewarded with stints at one of the worlds leading institutes of learning among other matters. The Sunday Times has seen the lengthy renewed document signed on behalf of the country by this bureaucrat together with related papers. If the previous one ran into a few pages, the latest is a thick volume, each defining a particular arrangement. Its far reaching implications would be felt only as time goes by and the provisions take effect one by one. That led to claims being made by another powerful country which also won its way.

In the case of overseas appointments, amateurs have been posted causing considerable embarrassment to the country. An example was about a lady appointee. Sri Lankan diplomats in this key capital said the husband used the official vehicle, with the national flag flying, to visit tourist destinations. The practice is that the flag is not posted in the vehicle when the head of mission does not travel. Only saving grace for the country has been the role of career diplomats serving as heads of missions barring one or two political appointees.

The appointment of another head of mission was a believe-it-or-not story. A Colombo District UNP parliamentarian, who has been strongly critical of his own leader, sought an appointment with Sirisena on behalf of a onetime hotelier. He was a voter in his electorate and sought a job in a diplomatic mission specifically as a first or second secretary level. He ended up receiving a head of mission appointment. The duo were pleased since the hotelier was receiving a higher position and the MP was being rewarded just because he was critical of his boss and saying so to those who matter.

Electoral arrangement with SLPP

Why did President Sirisena switch the SLFP General Secretary with the dawn of the New Year? A high ranking party member, who did not wish to be identified, explained the reason. He wants to strengthen the party at the grassroots level purely to be in a strong bargaining position with the SLPP to form an alliance before any election, he said. Working out an electoral arrangement, he declared, is our highest priority at the moment. These remarks underscore the ever growing reality that the SLFP cannot go it alone at any poll. Adding to that is an even more growing reality  should President Sirisena choose to contest as a presidential candidate, his only hope now lies with the SLPP. Will he succeed in getting the SLPPs support?

The new acting SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekera told the Sunday Times, I will try to bring unity among other parties with whom we hope to team up to contest the elections. There may be differences. For the time being, we have to forget them. He added, The former General Secretary Rohana Luxman Piyadasa resigned from his post. The President nominated me as the Acting General Secretary. It was unanimously approved at the CC meeting. The President directed that within the next four months, party organisation at the village level should be revamped. The President said he would also nominate electoral organisers to the vacancies. We hope to improve the party structure within the next four months when we could face an election. All these programmes will begin next week.

Confirming further the moves for an electoral alliance was Nishantha Muthuhettigama, the SLFPs Galle District MP who was present at the CC meeting. He told the Sunday Times, The entire meeting was focused on preparations for future elections. The party will be fully revamped during the next four months. The President said it was decided that a broad national front should be formed. The support of all possible parties should be obtained for this purpose. This programme will also be completed in four months, he said. The President also said they had no issues with the SLPP and they (SLFP) would have to contest elections with the SLPP.

The next day (Thursday) outgoing General Secretary Piyadasa told a news conference, In future, our party symbol can be changed as we forge an alliance and create a progressive, nationalistic leftist front that loves and protects the country. We are calling everyone to forget differences and join this new alliance. Acting General Secretary Jayasekera, strongly criticised TNA frontliner M.A. Sumanthiran for his remarks that a new Constitution would be presented in Parliament before February 4. He pointed out that on January 9, 2016 Premier Wickremesinghe set up a Constitutional Council. Thirty-three different points were presented as factors for a new Constitution. Now, instead of pursuing this an expert committee was trying to directly submit a draft. We are strongly opposed to it, he declared. The SLPP shared the same view and it now appears doubtful whether new Constitution could be approved by Parliament. There will be no two thirds majority.

Ahead of elections, be it provincial, presidential or parliamentary, the SLFP has pinned all its hopes on a tie-up with the newly emerging SLPP. His recent assertions notwithstanding, periodically President Sirisena has also displayed signs of thawing his relations with the UNF. Again, his subsequent actions that run counter have raised questions of rationale or reasoning. More on that later. The only certainty at present is his priority push for a tie-up with the SLPP.

However, it is a different story on the other side of the equation. SLPP and SLFP delegations met just a few days ago. The SLFP side was keen to reach accord on an agreement for an alliance before January 15. However, the SLPP was strongly opposed to the move on the grounds that procedural issues would have to be sorted out first. Both sides had agreed earlier that the name of the alliance would be Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna. The emphasis is on Podujana (Peoples) of the SLPP rather than Nidahas (Freedom) of the SLFP.

Yet, there is wrangling over many issues. The main one is that the SLPP will not negotiate with the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA). Instead, it will talk only with the SLFP. It has been made clear that talks with any other UPFA constituent partner, will be held only if it makes individual requests to the SLPP. In other words SLPPs talks will only be bilateral. SLPP delegation leader Dinesh Gunawardena made the issue clear. This led to calls by the SLFP side for a meeting with both Mahinda Rajapaksa as well as Basil Rajapaksa, the chief architect of the SLPP. The former President was not available on the dates suggested and the meeting did not materialise. The issue was further discussed at a meeting of partner leaders of the SLPP on Thursday.

On the drawing boards is a list of important demands which the SLPP wants its SLFP counterparts to fulfil. Among them is a demand that a proposed Executive Board that will run the affairs of the proposed alliance should have 51 percent SLPP or majority representation. In return, the SLPP is to assure a formidable place to the SLFP. Another is the requirement that individual parties would have to organise their branch structures since the proposed alliance will not have them. Another matter which will become critically important is the basis on which candidates will be picked from either side.

Some of the issues that have not been discussed so far are likely to surface. One is the programme which Sirisena declared ahead of the presidential election in January 2015. He has been telling confidants that as far as possible he preferred to stick by those policies. The question is how they would be juxtaposed with those of the SLPP and how much the latter would concede. The SLPP is upping the ante for a number of reasons. One is its perception, correctly, that the SLFP is now a weak party. They (SLFP) will not be able to win an election on their own. Secondly, given the circumstances, President Sirisena is left with little or no choice but to lean on the SLPP. Thirdly, SLPP seniors claim more SLFPers are now making overtures to join the SLPP ranks since they have emerged as a large political party.

In essence, the dilemma for President Sirisena in 2019 is relatively more than the political turmoil that plunged the country into chaos for 52 days last year. There, he derailed a government causing confusion, economic damage and triggering international concern. Contrary to all what he said, he was able to put it back on track though it will take weeks or months for real normalcy to be restored.

Sirisenas thaw with the UNF

It is now a different scenario where, Sirisena, the onetime General Secretary of the SLFP, has lost the partys grassroots level base. He finds himself politically isolated and sans the support of the UNP, which backed him to power. Ironically, his political future now rests in the hands of the man who he so vigorously ousted and slammed from public platforms just four years ago  Mahinda Rajapaksa. For what compensates for his weaker sides, he makes up with his Sinhala oratory from political platforms.

Whether these developments have been the cause or otherwise, President Sirisena has shown signs of somewhat thawing in his relations with the UNF. After re-instating Ranil Wickremesinghe as Premier, he was emphatic that assigning subjects to ministers would be his prerogative. He was livid with one minister who likened him to the lowest breed in the canine world in a video that went viral. Yet, he restored to him all the subjects that the particular ministry held before Wickremesinghe was removed as Premier.

Some UNPers say this was the result of the work of a broker from their party, now very close to President Sirisena, making a plea on the ministers behalf that all subjects should be given back. He is regarded as a close friend of the minister in question. Interesting enough, late last year, when the same minister was to visit an Asian country for an important conference, he could not obtain an appointment with President Sirisena to brief him. The broker phoned the President after learning of it and got the appointment pronto.

Yet, there were other signs. Premier Wickremesinghe appealed to President Sirisena this week for re-allocation of subjects, a move through which he could satisfy some disgruntled ministers. That worked. Sirisena explained that the allocations were worked out by his Secretary Udaya Seneviratne after studying previous practices. He asked Wickremesinghe to come out with his own list. One of the changes contemplated is the shifting of selected institutions from the Ministry of Plantation Industries and assigning them to Lakshman Kiriella, Minister of Public Enterprise, Kandyan Heritage and Kandy Development.

President Sirisena sat through the first ministerial meeting of the UNF cabinet on Wednesday. The focus was on raising money. There was an exchange of words between Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera and his predecessor Ravi Karunanayake. It was over a proposal by Finance Minister Samaraweera to obtain US dollars one billion from the National Savings Bank. Karunanayake, who sought the finance portfolio but failed, argued it was detrimental. The politically battle-hardened Samaraweera had a diplomatic approach. He said he was willing to consider it if Karunanayake had an alternative proposal. There was none at that time. The request was approved by ministers with only Karunanayake dissenting.

Ministers also approved a memorandum re-submitted by Samaraweera to effect further amendments to the Inland Revenue Act to provide relief and smooth implementation of tax laws introduced last year. Highlights appear in a box story on this page.

UNPs strategy for polls

It is not only the SLFP that is facing woes with just one year for scheduled presidential election. The United National Party (UNP) is on the same page but for different reasons. It has won approval at the Cabinet to launch its rural emancipation programme but there are fears of the available time frame. It is compounded by more fears that possible Provincial Council elections may turn out to be a spoiler. Yet, senior UNPers say the upcoming budget proposals will set the scene for the party. We will build on that, said one of them.

A major issue which UNP leader Wickremesinghe faces, as reported in these columns earlier, is who will be the partys candidate at the next presidential election. Opinion is building both in favour of Wickremesinghe as well as his deputy Sajith Premadasa. This no doubt portends a rift of significant proportions as the clock ticks by.

Wickremesinghe has also been deluged with requests from his party MPs for cabinet portfolios. How MPs with heartaches will react towards their leader will also be a factor. A cross section of view reflects the mood in the party. Here is what they told the Sunday Times.

L. Ananda Wijemanne (Kalutara District): We worked hard. Cabinet portfolios were given were given to thieves and others undeserving. Why cannot our leader give senior members seated in the back rows in Parliament? When I took up the matter with Premier Wickremesinghe, he said he will see about it in the future. The leaders move with people only when they seek power. Once they get it, they forget the people.

Thushara Indunil Amerasena (Kurunegala District): I wrote to the party secretary that I am also eligible to receive a ministry. I also mentioned that I am not making any demands to push the party to the wall. There are 13 deputy minister positions remaining vacant. They should be given to the deserving MPs. Corrupt persons should be left out.

Hector Appuhamy (Puttalam District): Members who are seated in the back rows had a discussion with the Prime Minister last Sunday. At the meeting we pointed out that though we were seated in the back, it did not mean we were not senior politicians. During the political turmoil I spent 50 days at Temple Trees. It was only two days I was not present there. The leader should consider us as well. We are the working elephants which draw crowds. It is unjust if working elephants are put aside. Only parading elephants are given portfolios.

Chaminda Gamage (Anuradhapura District): It is good if portfolios are given to active Parliament members who work for the people. I am also a senior politician coming from a political family.

V. Radhakrishnan (Nuwara Eliya District): I had a chat with the Prime Minister on Thursday. He said I would be getting a non-cabinet rank ministry. I may get it by next week.

Come what may, one of the criticisms both President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe face is an uncomplimentary sobriquet  that they have both dented their parties in different ways.

Highlights of major changes in tax laws The Cabinet of Ministers on Wednesday approved a memorandum re-submitted by Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera to facilitate effective implementation of tax laws that came into effect from April 1 last year. The result of post implementation review, the changes will come in the form of more amendments to the Inland Revenue Act of 2017. The changes are to take effect from year of assessment 2018/2019. Here are highlights: The cost incurred for the freehold of land or leasehold of land for not less than 33 years up to a maximum 50% of the total investments proposed to be considered as a part of investment other than investment made on land for the purpose of real estate development. In the case of mixed development projects, the cost of land will be considered on proportionate basis. Consequently, the concession granted for new investments as provided under Second Schedule will be renamed as Investment Allowance.

The investment is proposed to be completed within a maximum project implementation period of four years or commencement of commercial operations whichever comes earlier and the Investment Allowance proposed will be granted for the year of assessment on which the project implementation period is completed.

The Strategic Development Projects Act No 14 of 2008 and the Inland Revenue Act No 24 of 2017 are proposed to be amended to accommodate projects with more than US$ 1 billion of investment for a special incentive package under the Strategic Development Projects Act No 14 of 2008.

The cost of assets comprised of lands and building held by a business as at September 30, 2017 also proposed to be considered as equal to the market value as at that day, for the purpose of computation of the gains from realisation of such assets.

In order to encourage the investments in Information Technology sector, the requirement of minimum 50 employees for the eligibility to additional deduction of 35 % of the salary expense is proposed to be removed.

The gross income is proposed to be the total income excluding the investment income. Provided that, the concessionary tax rate of 14% should be applied only for the income from an activity eligible for the concessionary tax rate. The investment income of such company should be liable for income tax at the rate of 28%.

The service fee paid by a resident person who is engaged in export, to a non-resident person for the purpose of obtaining of its laboratory services/standard certification to comply with the requirements of the export market (s) is proposed to be exempted from income tax.

In the case of Human Resources Agencies the 5% WHT (withholding tax) is proposed to be applied on the amount of Commission but not on the total payment made to them. (i.e. Total Receipts  The payments made to the workers).

WHT rate applicable on the royalty payments made to residents should be reduced from 14% to 5%.

Such part of the profits and income from the manufacture and sale or import and sale of any liquor or tobacco product should only be made liable for income tax at the rate of 40%, maintaining the status quo prevailed as at March 31, 2018. Any business entity which serves or sells liquor or tobacco as part of its business shall be liable for income tax at the rate of 28%.

Agricultural income, earned by the Small Scale Agro Entrepreneurs, from the cultivation of any agricultural produce such as tea, spices, coconut, rubber, paddy, fruits, vegetables etc. to be exempted from income taxation for a period of five years.

Income tax rate and profit on processing Small and Medium Scale Industries using local agricultural commodities to be reduced from 28 % to 14 %.
Sri Lanka facing milk powder shortage View(s):

Sri Lankans are to be deprived of their morning and evening cup of milk tea as several leading milk powder importers have taken a collective decision to suspend imports due to heavy costs.

Milk powder companies cannot continue to run their business like this anymore and are left with no choice but to stop imports and also stop selling existing stocks of whole milk powder, importers claimed.

There could be a milk powder shortage soon if the government does not allow companies to increase the price of a milk powder packet, several milk powder company heads told the Business Times.

These companies are incurring a loss of Rs. 30 to 40 million per month and are now compelled not to clear the milk powder stocks from the port and not place new orders until the government grants them permission to increase milk powder price by Rs. 100, they warned.

Along with the devaluation of the rupee which is now at Rs. 184 a dollar and the increase in total taxes including Rs. 15 as Duty, 15 per cent VAT, 7.5 per cent PAL and 2 per cent, NBT to Rs. 170 from Rs. 135 per kg, the import cost of milk powder has been increased.

In addition the world market price of milk powder is now at a high level. But a few years ago government levied only Rs. 2 per kilo as duty for the milk powder as milk is an essential food item.

The cost of one metric ton of milk powder in the world market is US$ 3,250-3,350. It can go up to US$ 3,400-3,500.

Against this backdrop, milk powder companies requested the Consumer Affairs Authority and the Cost of Living Committee to allow them to increase the price of one kilo of imported milk powder by Rs.100 to cover import costs.

They pointed out that the removal of price control on milk powder and VAT removal is the only solution to this problem.
Siddhalepa to expand India operations By Sunimalee Dias View(s): View(s):

Hettigoda Industries, manufacturers of the world renowned Siddhalepa products, will be focusing on expanding its operations in India by establishing a factory.

Currently the company has a distributor network operation for sale of its range of products in India and will be increasing its presence by establishing a factory as well, Hettigoda Industries Managing Director Asoka Hettigoda said in an interview with the Business Times on Thursday at his office in Ratmalana.

Focusing on expanding their operations further into the Asian region, he noted that they were looking favourably at India and considered it to be an economy they could not ignore.

For an organisation that has been furthering its investments into countries like Germany, Russia and the Czech Republic, going forward they would be focusing on the Asian region.

Moreover, the company has also ventured into China as another market that they have identified favourably for its future operations.

This announcement comes in the wake of the recent accolade it bagged in innovation for their enhancement of the Supirivicky toothpaste with an additional herb goraka.

The International Innovation Award was won by Supirivicky toothpaste, the Ayurvedic toothpaste from the Asian Council for Innovation from the Asia Enterprise organisation that monitors various aspects of innovation in the region, Mr. Hettigoda explained.

He said that this was the first time that an Ayurvedic toothpaste had won this award for combining natural ingredients to promote total oral care.

Using the unique ingredient, goraka in toothpaste acts as an anti-bacterial property that works on gums and improves production of saliva that helps to strengthen the enamel and reduce tartar, Mr. Hettigoda explained.

Carrying out research and testing to bring out this new solution in oral care had taken a period of over two years that was created by the companys new Product Development Team that had culled ideas from the market and which the Research and Development team would then use to improve on the product, he said. A total of around 15 members were involved in the entire process.

Launched for the first time back in 1989 Supirivicky is considered the first ayurvedic toothpaste that is a brown substance upon use with patent issued by Italy.

We broke the barrier of toothpaste by looking at the many aspects of teeth like strong gums, oral cavity, regular supply of saliva that created a new concept in oral care, the companys MD said.

Tracing history, Mr. Hettigoda explained Sri Lankans were people who already had access to oral care and noted that prior to toothpaste it was a powder that was in use in the past that ensured we had strong teeth that could bite an arecanut even at 80 or 90 years.

Today charcoal tooth powder can be bought at the UKs leading pharmacy and beauty retailer, Boots in London, Mr. Hettigoda said clearly insisting that the world order is now taking to traditional Ayurveda.

The industry started by his father and founder of the company Victor Hettigoda, who speaking with the Business Times, said that he had received advice from his father that he should work well and recalled his early years that were spent in starting out small but with a vision to developing the Siddhalepa as a renowned product.

Asked about any changes that would have been brought about over the years, he noted that there were no changes made and that the traditional Ayurvedic medicinal herbs used in the manufacture of the various products under the Hettigoda company continue to stay true to age old traditions followed for generations.

Mr. Victor Hettigoda is a fifth generation Ayurvedic physician and his father, a kidney specialist, had been the first to introduce the Siddhalepa balm to the country, the formula for which he attained upon successful completion of his studies and becoming the star pupil of his teacher in India.

The MD noted that Ayurveda is individualistic therapeutic treatment that would mean that essentially a strict diagnosis would entail prescribing medication based on the customized requirements specific to each patient.

In carrying out innovations the company partners with the Sri Jayawardenapura University, the Industrial Technology Institute and the Sri Lanka Standards Institution.

Moreover, the company is also engaged in using 600 schools to participate in cultivating medicinal plants that is meant to rekindle the countrys heritage and create a new generation through knowledge share.
New policy to transform export landscape By Jayampathy Jayasinghe View(s): View(s):

Cabinet approval has been given for an initiative viz the Enterprise Innovation Scheme from 2018- 2022 that will soon get underway with the collaboration of the Export Development Board (EDB). This will change the landscape of exports in the country, said the Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade, Malik Samarawickrema at a media briefing held at the EDB in Colombo this week.

Chairperson and EDB CEO, Ms. Indira Malwatte, Additional Director General /Development, EDB, Dammika Jayawardena, Secretary General/CEO, National Chamber of Exporters, Shiham Marikar and Vice Chairman Exporters Association of Sri Lanka, Chrisso de Mel also spoke.

The Minister said the Board of Investment (BOI) is presently negotiating with foreign companies to set up a rubber and a steel oriented industry to promote exports. We have taken a lot of initiatives to promote exports and more are in the pipeline for this year. Last year was a landmark for the export sector. Many countries such as Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam have prospered by linking up with the outside world with an outward looking strategy by trading with them.

The Minister said that there is a global demand for Sri Lankan high end brands and other primary products where entrepreneurs have been successful in promoting their brands. The government has recognised their efforts and shall help to promote their products. While congratulating exporters for their efforts he also cautioned them that they are navigating through difficult global trading conditions. We need to focus on diversifying our product basket to enter new markets. He said the export target for 2018 was US$17.4 billion that includes services as well.

Deputy Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade, Nalin Bandara said that it does not resonate well when speaking on the subject of Sri Lankan exports as there is no good track record on local exports. He said the EDB fared well in 2018 and is hopeful that 2019 year will be a fruitful one. He said the government has taken the initiative to identify 2000 entrepreneurs at a district level in the country. We have already identified 500 entrepreneurs and shall provide them all assistance to develop their trade. The media has not given enough publicity to encourage entrepreneurs by not publishing articles on their success stories, he said.

EDB Deputy Director General, Ms. Jeevani Siriwardena said that the EDB will carry out a project to develop high valued mushroom product for sausage and other sandwich paste. Meanwhile new sectors will be identified to develop herbal and cosmetic products. She said that there is a demand for organic products in the world and Sri Lanka is capable of supplying and growing such products to meet that demand. A data base will be set up by the EDB in 2019 to identify areas for growing organic foods and the farmers with the collaboration of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Export Agriculture.

There is a demand for the manufacture of automobile components as well. The EDB has mapped out a programme in 2018 to develop 2000 new exporters by 2020. During 2019 we hope to develop 200 entrepreneurs and convert them to become new exporters. We also want to develop 200 women entrepreneurs to become fully fledged new exporters, she said.
JKH poised for growth under new blood By Duruthu Edirimuni Chandrasekera View(s): View(s):

As the country recovers from the nations worst political crisis in recent times, the countrys most diversified conglomerate, John Keells Holdings (JKH) PLC is gearing to partake in Sri Lankas growth story.

JKHs new Chairman, the young Krishan Balendra in an exclusive interview to the Business Times this week noted that the group is betting on tourism and MICE with Cinnamon Life, consumer growth with the new ice cream plant and new soft drinks and ice cream flavours, new convenience food products, more super markets, continued growth in demand for apartments with their latest complex -Trizen, growth in banking and life insurance, etc and growth in the port and logistics business.

He noted that tourism continues to be one of the fastest-growing and most dynamic sectors in the country, which is why they are making big investments in it.

This thinking, he says is further bolstered by the fact that almost a decade after the end of its civil war, Sri Lanka has been named the best country in the world to visit in 2019 by Lonely Planet. The country has become one of the leading destinations after it was dubbed one of the worlds greatest tourist hot spots by several international publications in recent years.

Better transport links, new hotels and a growing number of activities were cited as the reason the country was chosen for the top spot in the guidebook publishers annual Best in Travel awards.

Apart from the mega Cinnamon Life project thats coming up, JKH is re-constructing the old Bentota Beach Hotel and also the four-star hotel called Hakura Huraa in the Maldives.

When asked that some investors are concerned about JKHs growing exposure to the real estate sector as opposed to being diversified and that at times the market may not place a high price to earnings multiple for a conglomerate which is heavily into real estate, Mr. Balendra contradicted this saying that both tourism and real estate sectors in JKHs portfolio stand as important sectors in the current context with the countrys tourism sector taking off.

He stressed that the popular thinking which says Colombos hotel rooms outstrips tourist demand when compared to the region is not quite true. Based on the regional experience, demand for rooms will increase over time to absorb the new supply. He says that compared to Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Jakarta and other Asian cities, Colombo doesnt boast that many rooms.

According to latest data, Sri Lanka has 146 hotels comprising 14,800 rooms. The country offered some 5.2 million room nights in 2017.

Mr. Balendra says while Sri Lanka attracted more than 2.1 million tourists last year, there is potential for more tourists. For an example, Jakarta has recorded 14 million tourists in 2017. I feel that the potential for arrival numbers hasnt been met as yet.

He backs this argument by presenting some important data. While Colombo has about 5,000 rooms, Bangkok has 60,000 rooms, Manila has 31,719 rooms, Kuala Lumpur has over 30,000 rooms, Jakarta has 26,000 rooms and Ho Chi Minh has 9,100 rooms.

Mr. Balendra sees attracting the right mix of high spending tourists along with international hotel brands as the challenges for tourism as an industry.

With Cinnamon Life, John Keells magnum opus and Colombos most awaited integrated development, the conglomerate aims to make Sri Lanka a hub for meetings, incentives, conference is and exhibitions (MICE) tourism. Cinnamon Life will bring the ability to host conferences  large scale ones  making Sri Lanka a hub for such events. We are ideally positioned next to the worlds fastest growing large economy  India -which makes it easier for us to leverage on this opportunity, Mr. Balendra explained.

The conferencing capacity is approximately 5,000 pax at Cinnamon Life and the car park facility is 2,450 slots.

Mr. Balendra noted that almost 90 per cent of the structural construction is done despite the initial challenges they had with the piling. By 1Q next year, the two apartment towers at Cinnamon Life will be completed.

JKH owns one of the largest privately held land banks in prime city locations. The developable freehold land within the city limits includes a 9.38 acre land at Vauxhall Street, Colombo 2. The group is eyeing a possible development at this site as well. This land has unhindered views of the Beira Lake over Vauxhall Street. That is what makes it attractive since opposite Vauxhall Street is a green zone where nothing can be built blocking this view, Mr. Balendra explained. But this development will be at a future date and not immediate.

Addressing the looming question, the sale of the two city hotels  Cinnamon Grand and Cinnamon Lakeside  that JKH owns, he noted that the sale of any hotel is not imminent, putting the speculation to rest.

The group aims to introduce healthier products under their F&B sector apart from the sugar-free versions for a lot of their traditional flavours like Necto, Cream Soda, etc in addition to water, milk and tea flavoured drinks.

JKH share saw a large outflow of foreign share ownership last year. The above average selling has not been because the share has been out of favour with the foreigners, but because JKH has one of the biggest foreign shareholdings and foreign selling has been seen in most emerging markets during last year, Mr. Balendra explained.

When queried if he was concerned with the new shareholding structure, he pointed out that the group always had a wide shareholder base. We are an independent company which is a positive and one of our strengths is that we have always had a professional management team.

JKHs youngest chairman says that the main concern is the impact of the unstable political environment on business and investor sentiment.

There should be a clear focus on development and economic growth.
GRI goes Green by installing a 1.2 MW solar power system View(s):

GRI, a leading producer of Speciality Tyres in Sri Lanka, has reinforced its commitment to sustainability and environmental protection by installing one of the largest roof top solar systems in the country.

With a capacity of 1,200kW (1.2MW), the solar panels are expected to generate 136,557kWh of electricity per month.

This green initiative spans across a roof area of approximately 90,000 square feet and is expected to generate a monthly revenue of approximately Rs. 3 million once it is connected to the national electricity grid under the net plus scheme, the company said in a media release.

This environmental awareness system will help reduce over 1,100 Metric Tons of Carbon Emissions per annum, which is equivalent to more than 20,000 trees that could absorb CO2 annually. GRI has successfully taken measures to support the countrys initiative to source 100 per cent renewable generated electricity by 2050.

In addition to the solar power system, GRI employs many other green initiatives such as a bio-mass boiler for steam generation, rainwater harvesting, tree planting, natural lighting on factory sidewalls, etc. to constantly strive toward saving energy and protecting the environment for the next generation.

With offices in six countries and sales in over 50 countries around the world, GRI produces high-performance Agriculture, Construction and Material Handling Tyres. GRI has risen in the ranks of world class tyre production companies with strong business partnerships, broad global outreach, continued manufacturing excellence and an extremely compelling product portfolio. A track record of quality and innovation has made GRIs brands their customers top choice.

GRI has built a reputation in pioneering initiatives, sound innovation and high-performance speciality tyres that perform brilliantly in the most severe operating environments. GRIs Agriculture and Construction tyre factory is self-sufficient and is certified by ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015, the release said.

This plant is a testament to the spirit and values embodied by all at GRI. GRIs values of purposeful action, relentless drive, far-sighted approach coupled with a discovery mindset are evident in every aspect of this plant, noted Prabhash Subasinghe, Managing Director GRI,

Given the 31-year experience in the renewable energy industry, SunPower Renewables (Pvt) Ltd was chosen by GRI to install this state of the art solar power system. SunPower has been instrumental in introducing the Solar PV technology to Sri Lanka in 1987.
Central Bank continues to foster a vibrant, resilient and strong financial sector By Bandula Sirimanna Soon a New Banking Act View(s): View(s):

The Central Bank will continue to foster a vibrant, resilient and strong financial sector, facilitating economic growth through efficient allocation of resources while promoting dynamic and stable financial institutions along with efficient payment and settlement systems.

This was revealed by Central Bank Governor Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy when he unveiled the banks Road Map 2019 outlining monetary and financial sector policies for this year and beyond in Colombo on Wednesday.

He noted that strengthening the regulatory and supervisory frame work of the banking sector remains at the centre of the financial sector policy.

The Central Bank is now drafting a new Banking Act with a view to further strengthening the regulatory framework pertaining to licensed banks.

Elaborating this initiative, he disclosed that the overall mandate of the Act is for supervision and regulation, strengthening corporate governance, digital banking, consolidated supervision, resolution, monetary penalties/fines, ring-fencing, mergers and acquisitions.

Consolidation, subsidiarisation of foreign banks and differentiated regulatory frameworks for a tiered banking structure are the key policy aspects to be factored into the proposed Act.

In addition, the Banking Sustainability Rating Index (BSRI) will be implemented from 2019 for risk-based supervision and planning the supervisory calendar.

As banks are frequent targets for cyber-attacks and other information security threats, a Road Map and a consultation paper were issued to improve technology risk resilience in the banking sector in line with international 25 standards and best practices.

A Banking Direction in this regard will be issued in 2019. As the regulator, we believe that share ownership in banks needs to be broad-based to strengthen corporate governance and to avoid ownership concentration, dominance in the boards, conflict of interest and risks associated with related party transactions, he said.

Therefore, the existing requirements on share ownership will be reviewed and certain additional measures will be brought in, he revealed.

In addition, fit and proper assessment criteria for appointment of Directors, CEOs and Key Management Personnel of banks will be strengthened further to appoint the most suitable and qualified individuals to the top positions in banks.

The Central Bank will also formulate a crisis preparedness plan for the banking industry, to minimise the adverse impact on troubled banks and mitigate spillovers.

Amendments are being made to the Monetary Law Act and the Registered Stocks and Securities Ordinance, he disclosed.

He said that the Central Bank, assisted by legal experts from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), is in the final stages of drafting the revisions to the Monetary Law Act (MLA), which will address long standing concerns.

It will focus on non-core and quasi-fiscal activities, monetary financing as well as limits to Central Bank autonomy by way of clearly demarcating the powers and functions related to monetary policy.

Addressing a media conference after unveiling the Road Map before a large gathering of ministry secretaries, senior officials and business leaders, Dr.Coomaraswamy noted that the forensic audit initiated by the Central Bank on Treasury bond scam is expected to be completed this year.

This is a complex and time consuming procedure being conducted by audit expert firms with international expertise selected through a proper procurement process.

At least nine forensic audits should be conducted under the supervision of the Auditor General in a transparent and independent manner preventing any legal implications; he said adding that it is essential to carry out audit inspections very carefully.

The monetary authority has taken several measures to strengthen transparency and accountability in some of its operations in accordance with the recommendations of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate, Inquire and Report on the Issuance of Treasury Bonds.

He disclosed that the progress report of the forensic audit was submitted to the Presidential Secretariat on October 26, the very same day the President sacked the cabinet including Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Applications have been called from auditing firms to conduct a forensic audit of the controversial bond issuances.

Dr. Coomaraswamy noted that a committee will be appointed to carry out the audit and that the team will be headed by a foreign audit specialist.

Answering a question raised by a journalist, Senior Deputy Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said that he also attended the meeting chaired by the President convened to discuss the bond issue and there was no mention whatsoever about the financial loss by the bond scam.

A forensic audit is being conducted to find out the loss if there was any and make recommendations to prevent the reoccurrence of such scams in the future, he said denying the media reports quoting the President as saying the total loss caused was Rs. 1000 billion.

He pointed out that the 52 day political impasse has exerted an adverse impact on the countrys economy which cannot be quantified in monetary terms.
Changes to the SunCommercial's back end processing means the e-edition is getting a facelift. The biggest change is the e-edition, by default, is now presented in Text view.
Unlike the last lengthy shutdown in 2013, the Trump administration this time has opted to keep the national parks open but largely unstaffed. Private concession operators and nonprofit foundations have helped with maintenance where they can. Some states, including Arizona and New York, have dipped into their own coffers to keep parks staffed and operating  at least for a while. Many other states, including California, have not.
To be sure, opinion in the party as a whole will matter most. More revelations of wrongdoing are likely to emerge from Democratic oversight in the House of Representatives and from the investigations of special counsel Robert Mueller and other law-enforcement agencies. If, as this dismal story unfolds, Republican voters continue to rally to their calamitous president, so will many and perhaps most Republican senators. That's politics. Yet, despite everything, a leader who can help Republicans rediscover the values they used to stand for might make a difference. Romney should keep up the effort.
With a new administration and completely new players, we are ready at any time to sit down to resolve this dispute," he said. "In the meantime, as the largest AIDS organization in the nation and Florida, we will do what we do best  serve our clients.
Voter turnout of people age 18 to 21 reached 36 percent in November, significantly up from the 22 percent in the 2014 midterm election. In Leon and Alachua counties, homes to Florida State University and University of Florida, young turnout exceeded the statewide average of 55 percent for all age groups.

County Registered voters Turnout Percent turnout Leon 25,486 15,916 62% Alachua 19,933 11,844 59% Seminole 15,710 8,170 52% Orange 50,372 22,286 44% St. Johns 10,226 4,426 43% Dade 75,036 31,868 42% Duval 32,285 12,713 39% Brevard 18,964 7,426 39% Pinellas 27,503 10,746 39% Hillsborough 53,103 20,580 39% Sarasota 10,476 4,013 38% Escambia 10,303 3,918 38% Volusia 18,384 6,733 37% Pasco 16,757 5,897 35% Lee 19,218 6,444 34% Osceola 13,536 4,478 33% Marion 10,151 3,315 33% Broward 55,815 14,838 27% Polk 21,459 2,740 13% Palm Beach 41,724 4,060 10%

Source: Sun Sentinel analysis of Florida Division of Elections voter data

Counties listed had at least 10,000 registered young voters. Numbers are preliminary. Final turnout numbers are expected later this month.
She wasnt moving as fast as they were and she was getting real frustrated so she just sat down and it made me break down but I try not to break down in front of her, he said. Ill wait until shes asleep or not around and then Ill let go.
The reported behavior is abhorrent and has no place on Airbnb, a spokesman for the company said in an emailed statement. We have permanently banned this individual from our platform and have reached out to local law enforcement to offer our support.
A Coral Springs woman who had sex with her probation officer and then accused him of rape settled a civil case in federal court with the man and his former employer, the state of Florida, records show.
Seven parents of school shooting victims are on the cover of Time magazine and one of them Andrew Pollack, father of Meadow Pollack. Also included the article is Mitchell Dworet, father of 17-year-old Nicholas who was killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas
How high prices will rise, and for how long they will remain high, will depend upon unforeseen factors including the strength of the economy in 2019, the willingness of oil-producing nations to continue capping production to avoid glutting the global market, and hurricane activity in the Gulf of Mexico, where most of the nations refineries are located, according to Jenkins and Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at price-comparison website GasBuddy.com.
Milton, PA (17847)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low 56F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low 56F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.
Chahid El Hafed (Saharawi Refugee Camp), Jan 04, 2018 (SPS) - The president of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), Brahim Ghali, said Western Sahara cause has achieved remarkable progress by opening promising prospects for further victories and achievements, adding that 2019 will be marked by many challenges Western Sahara people can meet under the leadership of Sharawi people's liberation army .

At the end of the third meeting of the Saharawi liberation army staff, the president of the SADR and secretary general of the Frente POLISARIO said the year 2018 was distinguished by "the many achievements and victories of the national cause, a matter of pride for Western Sahara people after a year of heroic fighting and resistance, wherever they are, in the occupied territories, in the south of Morocco, in the liberated territories, in the camps of honor and dignity (and in all countries worldwide)."

"Western Sahara people will rise up to the challenges, as they are already united under the leadership of the Sahrawi People's Liberation Army and the Frente POLISARIO, determined to snatch independence and establish Saharawi State's sovereignty throughout its territories."

The conference has also been an opportunity for SADR's president to greet the Saharawi Liberation Army which "will, as usual, live up to the hopes and expectations of Western Sahara people." SPS

125/090/700
M r Simionov had only been living in Britain for a few weeks after arriving from Romania. It is understood that he was working at a VIP party organised by the self-styled aristocrat Lord Eddie Davenport, a convicted fraudster.

Footage of the incident shows the former boxer grappling with a number of men outside the luxury venue. One of the attackers is smashed over the head with a vase before staggering away.

Colleagues told how Mr Simionov had been stationed inside the apartment when the fracas began and came outside to protect other staff, three of whom were also stabbed during the attack.

It has also been reported that he was not due to work on New Years Eve, but had agreed to cover for someone else.

Mr Simionovs fiancee told friends she would take his body back to Romania, adding that her loss was impossible to understand.

She said on her Facebook page: My lover and the one who was going to be my husband, Tudor Simionov, was stabbed deep in the heart at work.

It's hard for me to find the right words in these moments.

The news of unexpected death has pained us all. Thank you all for your support.
Brazil troops deploy to stop criminal attacks in northern city



Rio de Janeiro, Jan 5 (AFP) Jan 05, 2019



A special deployment of Brazilian troops was fanning out in the northern city of Fortaleza Saturday with orders to stop days of violent attacks by criminal gangs against banks, buses and shops, officials said.

By the end of the weekend, 300 soldiers should be patrolling that city and other towns in Ceara state in a bid to halt the rampage, national public security secretary Guilherme Teophilo said, according to government news agency Agencia Brasil.

The intervention is the first test of new President Jair Bolsonaro's strict law-and-order platform since he took office last Tuesday.

His justice minister ordered the deployment after evaluating that Ceara police were overwhelmed. Some 50 suspects have been arrested.

The gangs terrorizing Fortaleza could be seen torching service stations in security videos aired by Brazilian media. Dozens of attacks have been registered this week, forcing residents to stay at home and leaving main roads deserted.

The trigger of the wave of violence was being investigated, but intelligence reports published by media suggested gangs were revolting against tough new measures recently imposed in the state's prisons.

The changes include cellphone signal blocker and an end to a policy of separating inmates according to gang affiliation.

Two gangs have set aside their rivalry to join forces against the government, the G1 news website reported, citing security officials.

Bolsonaro has vowed to crack down on Brazil's rampant crime by extending immunity to soldiers and police using lethal force and easing gun laws so "good" citizens can challenge armed criminals.

The far-right president, a 63-year-old former paratrooper, has made "restoring order" a centerpiece of his four-year mandate.

Much of that task falls to his justice minister, Sergio Moro, a former star judge who headed up Operation Car Wash, an investigation into Brazil's biggest-ever corruption scandal.
More than 35 attorneys from Coffee, Pike, Geneva, Dale and Covington Counties gathered at the Coffee County Courthouse in Elba on Friday, Nov. 9, to participate in a continuing education seminar focused on domestic relations matters.
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Rautahat, January 4

Nepal Police chief Sarbendra Khanal says the national police organisation has not been able to deal with some criminal cases owing to lack of sufficient technologies.

Speaking at a function organised in Gaur of Rautahat district on Friday, the Inspector General said his organisation did not have sufficient equipment to control crimes, investigate into the cases and ensure peace and security.

Khanal was of the view that police needed better technologies as criminals also began using advanced technologies of late.

The chief of national police organisation reiterated that he would not spare any official of the organisation if they were found involved in illegal and immoral activities.

In another context, he stressed the need of cooperation between police and community to better ensure peace and security in the society.
Two of Britain's largest international airports are planning to install military-grade anti-drone defense systems to avoid attacks like the one that grounded nearly 1,000 flights at London's Gatwick Airport over the Christmas holidays.

Last month, British authorities sought help from the military after a number of drone sightings over Gatwick, Britain's second-busiest airport, forced it to shut down, disrupting travel plans of tens of thousands of people just before Christmas.

British media said the military deployed technology similar to the Israeli-designed Drone Dome system, which can detect and disable a drone by jamming its communication frequencies.

Airport security officials worldwide are studying the issue.
Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/04/2019 -- Passenger Airlines (Airlines whose primary business is the transport of passengers) market has evolved dramatically in the recent years.



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ISLAMABAD, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Pakistani army has inducted a locally manufactured rocket in the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) of its corps of artillery, which has a range of 100 kilometers, the military said on Friday.

The A-100 Rocket has been indigenously developed by Pakistani scientists and engineers, an army statement said.

"With over 100 kilometers range the Rocket is highly effective and potent for interdiction that can effectively disrupt enemy's mobilization and assembly," the statement from the army's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations said.

Pakistani army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa witnessed the induction of the rocket at a ceremony. He said that the rocket "shall augment the existing conventional fire power capabilities of the Pakistan Army."
As police in riot gear stood outside, dozens of Central American caravan members refused on Friday to leave a private warehouse near the U.S. border where they have camped out since mid-December.

Members of the group defied orders by Mexican authorities to vacate the premises of the shelter they call Contra Viento y Marea  Against Wind and Tide  saying they wanted to remain near the U.S. border and had been told they could continue to use the shelter through Jan. 24.

Federal health authorities said there was no such agreement, and ordered migrants to leave the warehouse. At noon, officials from the Mexican federal health agency known as COFEPRIS posted official notifications that the shelter was closed.

Inspectors determined that there are no conditions to guarantee health, said Salvador Morales Riubi, a federal health official. People are at grave risk, he said, especially with dropping temperatures.

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Throughout the day, uncertainty prevailed inside the shelter, and it was not always clear who was leading the group. One spokesman was Amsi Nunez, a nurse from San Pedro Sula, Honduras. This warehouse has been our hope, he said, adding that residents have made efforts to keep the facility clean and in order.

The shelter was opened in the middle of last month to accommodate hundreds of members of the Central American caravan that brought close to 6,000 people to Tijuana in November. The group had refused to leave the Zona Norte, preferring to remain camped out in the street rather than move to a shelter in eastern Tijuana, known as El Barretal.

Our dream is not El Barretal, said Nunez.

The opening of the warehouse provided a temporary solution, allowing a smaller group of migrants to pitch their tents and store their belongings inside a borrowed warehouse. Some said they were staying to remain closer to the San Ysidro Port of Entry, where they are preparing to seek asylum. Others said they wanted to be nearer to their jobs.

In recent days, the population of the Contra Viento y Marea shelter has fallen dramatically, and migrants said there were about 160 still remaining in the warehouse as of Friday. The standoff continued into the early evening.

The migrants were offered transportation to El Barretal but it was unclear whether any had taken up the offer as of late Friday afternoon. An evangelical pastor, Alberto Rivera, also said he could accommodate about 50 migrants at Agape AC, a community center he runs near Playas de Tijuana.

Early in the day, the scene inside the shelter grew tense, as Federal Police with loudspeakers urged the migrants to move. A man burst into tears following an argument with a woman. Residents shouted in protest when authorities blocked a food delivery, then cheered when they backed down.

But as the hours passed, police blocked entry into the shelter.

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The dispute was closely watched by both Mexican and international journalists. Also present was a group of more than a dozen English-speaking activists, many in their 20s, who would not identify themselves and pulled up bandannas to hide their faces.

News photographers on Friday said that several of the activists had also been present during a confrontation early New Years Day by the border fence that involved some 150 migrants.

The activists were organizing the Central Americans, and passing out kits to combat the effects of tear gas fired by U.S. authorities, the photographers said,.

Juan Moran, the Mexican Federal Police commander negotiating with the migrants, said a woman was removed from the shelter after she was passing out a flyer from the group known as BAMN, or By Any Means Necessary. The group has been encouraging migrants to march to the border.

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sandra.dibble@sduniontribune.com

@sandradibble
When Poway incorporated as a city in 1980, the new City Council, of which I was a member, faced a lot of pressing matters. Among them were hiring a permanent staff, combining the operations of the water and sewer districts, contracting for law enforcement and dealing with the not-always-benign neglect we had received from San Diego County government.

Mary Shepardson

Less critical, but of considerable interest, was picking a logo that would capture the spirit of our new city.

The logos of the two districts that had been absorbed by the city  Poway Municipal Water District (water, fire and parks) and Pomerado Municipal Water District (sewer)  werent much help. The formers logo, originally a water tower with Twin Peaks in the background, had evolved into stylized stripes of blue, red and green for their three services. The latters was an embarrassing cartoon of a Native American boy holding a plunger.

The Poway Chamber of Commerce logo, avocado and citrus fruits in front of Twin Peaks was closer to the mark, although the nod to agriculture reflected the past more than the future.

As a stopgap measure, a clip-art picture of an oak tree would appear on letterheads and other city documents.

Suzanne Emery, the widow of then-Councilmember Bob Emery, recalls sketching a prototype logo on a placemat at a League of California Cities event. The tree in the illustration was the Poway Oak, located east of Espola on the climb from Twin Peaks Road to Poway Road.

Vern Marston, president of the chamber and a tireless booster of things Poway, came up with a motto, Poway. The City in the Country.

The council took up the matter at a meeting in August 1981, in our temporary quarters in the former water district offices next to U-Haul on Poway Road. There was agreement that the logo should incorporate both Twin Peaks and the oak trees for which Poway was also known.

Diana Weiss, a local graphic artist, would be commissioned to produce a camera-ready version, which was adopted by the council.

Everyone seemed happy. Until, that is, a lawsuit was filed shortly thereafter by graphic artist Virginia Gonzales.

The trial, since it involved copyright, would be held in federal court in San Diego. If she won, she could be in line to collect thousands of dollars for claimed copyright infringement, loss of income and loss of future royalties.

She claimed that City Manager Jim Bowersox and Emery had both told her in late October/early November she had an inside track on the logo design and then appropriated her ideas to create the logo. They remembered it quite differently.

About the design elements, Bowersox testified that the image she presented to him had a one-humped mountain and a tree. He had suggested to her that Twin Peaks would be more appropriate.

Both Emerys testified, as did Marston.

I would take the stand as a councilmember who had participated in the meetings. My preparations were definitely low-tech in a time before Photoshop and instant video recordings.

I went to the city offices and painstaking transcribed the portion of the meeting that related to the city seal. Bob Emery had not specifically used the word oval for the shape, but had said, like a circle, only flat. The shape, Suzanne recalled, had been inspired by the horizontal shape of that paper placemat.

It wasnt hard to recognize the scene that had originally inspired Gonzalez. I drove to the top of Poway Road, just before its intersection with Highway Hwy. 67. Looking north, there was the slope of Mt. Woodson, the foothills in the foreground and a tall, distinctive eucalyptus. I took a black-and-white photo of the scene and manually cut out an oval to represent what I had seen in the Bowersox meeting.

City Attorney Jean Harris closing arguments included a slideshow of the widely varying ways that famed artists had portrayed a basket of fruit.

The jury deliberated a day and a half before reaching a verdict. The interested parties received notice so we could go to the courthouse to hear the results. We warily eyed a group in the same courtroom awaiting the outcome of their trial. The menacing-looking individuals were there for the results of a racketeering trial stemming from a deadly feud between the Hells Angels and Mongols motorcycle gangs.

The jury, by a unanimous vote, found for the city. Dont believe it went as well for the bikers in their trial.

The Poway Oak, alas, died some years ago, an apparent victim of the widening of Espola Road. It lives on, however, in the city seal, emblazoned on everything from legal notices to signage and all sorts of vehicles.
The Supreme Court will review highly partisan election maps drawn by Republicans in North Carolina and Democrats in Maryland, and decide whether such political gerrymandering violates voters rights to a fair election.

In North Carolina, the states Republican leaders drew the congressional districts to lock in a 10-3 advantage for their candidates, even when the states votes were evenly split.

In Maryland, Democratic leaders shifted more than 100,000 voters to transform a safe Republican district into a reliably Democratic one. As a result, seven of its eight seats are held by Democrats.

The high court agreed Friday to review the cases. Rulings, due by June, will probably determine whether there will be legal checks on the state politicians who will redraw election districts following the 2020 census. The court said it would hear arguments in March in two cases: Rucho vs. Common Cause and Benisek vs. Lamone.

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Partisan gerrymandering is not a new problem, and the challengers face an uphill fight because of the retirement of Justice Anthony M. Kennedy. The high court has never struck down an election map as unfairly political, but Kennedy  a conservative who sometimes sided with the courts liberals  had left the door open to ruling that an extremely skewed map might violate the 1st Amendment.

Last year, the court considered two partisan gerrymander cases  from Wisconsin and Maryland  but cited procedural grounds for not issuing definitive rulings.

In the past, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. has suggested judges have no role to play in policing the drawing of election districts. And now that Kennedy has been replaced by the more conservative Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, the chief justice may well have a majority to rule that drawing voting districts is an inherently political task to be decided solely by state lawmakers, not judges.

Such a ruling could backfire on Republicans, however. The GOP won big victories in a 2010 midterm wave election and took full control of state governments including those in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan and North Carolina. Republicans used their power to draw election maps that virtually guaranteed their party would win about three-fourths of the seats throughout the decade.

In 2016, for example, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan had 48 seats in the U.S. House, and they sent 34 Republicans and 14 Democrats to Washington.

But 2020 is a presidential election year, and Democrats are likely to fare much better then, building on the state victories they racked up in November. If so, Democrats are likely to take as much advantage as possible when the election districts are redrawn with new census data, especially if the high court gives its approval to partisan line-drawing.

Critics of partisan gerrymandering say they hope the high court will end the practice.

Voters nationwide are ready for a ruling from the Supreme Court that finally declares that they come first, not self-interested politicians, said Paul Smith, a lawyer for the Campaign Legal Center. If the Supreme Court fails to set limits on this undemocratic practice, we will see a festival of copycat gerrymandering in 2020 the likes of which the country has never seen before.

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Opponents of partisan gerrymandering in North Carolina and Maryland have unusually strong cases because the political leaders in those states candidly admitted they were drawing the maps for political advantage. But they emphasized that they were not gerrymandering by race, which the high court had ruled is unconstitutional.

Im making clear that our intent is to use the political data we have for partisan advantage, said North Carolina state Rep. David Lewis, a Republican, when lawmakers there met in a special session in Raleigh two years ago to revise the congressional districts.

Lewis announced he would go as far as possible to benefit Republicans. I propose that we draw the maps to give a partisan advantage of 10 Republicans and three Democrats because I do not believe its possible to draw a map with 11 Republicans and two Democrats, he said.

Voters who leaned in favor of Democrats were concentrated in three districts, while 10 districts were drawn to give Republicans safe but not overwhelming margins.

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In November, the plan worked as intended. North Carolinas voters were closely split in statewide tallies, with Republicans holding a 51%-49% edge. But the GOP again won 10 of the 13 House seats  although one race remains in doubt because of allegations of fraud in the handling of absentee ballots.

Lawyers for Common Cause and the League of Women Voters had sued, alleging this partisan manipulation of the districts violates the voters rights to a fair election and an equal vote.

Twice they won before a three-judge federal district court, which called the election map discriminatory in its intent and its effect. The judges said the politically tilted map violated the 1st Amendment because it diluted the votes of some voters based on their political views, and it denied them equal protection of the laws.

But the Supreme Court set aside the first ruling in June, so this election could proceed with the GOP-drawn map.

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In their appeal, lawyers for the North Carolina Republicans said there was no manageable standard for a court to decide when politics play too large a role in drawing district lines. They also said voters do not have a right to proportional representation in the number of seats won based on statewide results.

In past cases, Roberts has said the Constitution leaves the redistricting power to state legislatures. He has pointed to a provision that says: The times, places and manner of holding elections for senators and representatives shall be prescribed in each state by the Legislature.

Four years ago, he would have struck down the voter-approved independent commissions in California, Arizona and several other states on the grounds that this map-drawing power resided with the state legislatures. But he lost in a 5-4 decision when the now-retired Kennedy joined the four liberals in a case from Arizona.

The chief justice recently spoke for the court in overturning an anti-gerrymandering ruling from a three-judge federal court in Wisconsin, but he did so based on procedural grounds. The district judges said the state map was drawn to entrench one party in power for at least a decade. However, Roberts said the plaintiffs who voted in local elections did not have standing to challenge the statewide election map.

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Last month, the politically drawn map allowed Wisconsins Republicans to retain a supermajority of 63 of the 99 seats in the state Assembly, despite winning only 46% of the statewide vote. Democrats won the statewide races in Wisconsin, including for governor and attorney general, but the voters shift toward the Democrats had no impact on political makeup of the state Legislature.

The latest from Washington 

More stories from David G. Savage 

david.savage@latimes.com

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Twitter: DavidGSavage
The Supreme Court once again will take up unresolved constitutional questions about partisan gerrymandering, agreeing Friday to consider rulings from two lower courts that found congressional maps in North Carolina and Maryland so extreme that they violated the rights of voters.

The North Carolina map was drawn by Republicans, the Maryland districts by the states dominant Democrats.

While the Supreme Court regularly scrutinizes electoral districts for racial gerrymandering, the justices have never found a states redistricting map so infected with politics that it violates the Constitution. Such a decision would mark a dramatic change for how the nations political maps are drawn.

The court passed up the chance last term to settle the issue of whether courts have a role in policing partisan gerrymandering, sending back on technical rulings challenges to a Republican-drawn plan in Wisconsin and the challenged Maryland map.

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In oral arguments last term, conservative justices generally seemed uncomfortable with judges getting involved in what some consider a political matter between voters and their representatives. Liberal justices seemed to think that partisan redistricting was thwarting the will of voters and that the situation will get worse as technology provides lawmakers with pinpoint accuracy in identifying which party voters support.

But a reconfigured court will consider the issue in March. Justice Anthony Kennedy, who had held out the belief that some gerrymandering could be so political as to be unconstitutional, has been replaced with Justice Brett Kavanaugh. The new justice is generally more conservative but has not ruled on the issue in the past.

The Supreme Court had little choice but to accept the cases, as it is required to either affirm or reverse lower-court decisions on such political matters.

While last terms outcomes did not favor them, opponents of partisan gerrymandering said they hoped the Supreme Court could be persuaded to find a role for the judiciary in the matter.

Voters nationwide are ready for a ruling from the Supreme Court that finally declares that they come first, not self-interested politicians, said Paul Smith, vice president of the Campaign Legal Center.

Adam Kincaid, executive director of the National Republican Redistricting Trust, said that maps that follow traditional redistricting criteria should be free from challenges in federal court.

In June, the justices said the Maryland case was not ready for them and sent it back. In November, a unanimous three-judge panel found that Democrats had unconstitutionally targeted Republican voters in the 6th Congressional District because of their political affiliation. The legislature had redrawn the district, which previously stretched across the top of the state, to dip down into Democratic strongholds in the Washington suburbs.

After the 2011 redistricting, a Democrat won the seat previously held by a Republican. There was an open election in the district in November, when Democrat David Trone defeated Republican Amie Hoeber by a wide margin.

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The massive and unnecessary reshuffling of the Sixth District, involving one-half of its population and dictated by party affiliation and voting history, had no other cause than the intended actions of the controlling Democratic officials to burden Republican voters by converting the district into a Democratic one wrote Judge Paul Niemeyer of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit. He was joined by U.S. District Judge George Russell III.

Chief U.S. District Judge James Bredar wrote a separate opinion agreeing with the overall judgment and declaring partisan gerrymandering a cancer on our democracy.

Rather than redraw the map, as the federal judges had ordered, Democratic Attorney General Brian Frosh decided to appeal to the Supreme Court. That put him at odds with the states Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, who also won reelection in November and has pushed three times for a constitutional amendment that would have an independent commission redraw boundaries.

Its outrageous that the attorney general and legislative leaders are continuing to fight against free and fair elections, even in the wake of a unanimous federal court ruling, said Hogan spokeswoman Amelia Chasse.

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The Supreme Court had also sent back the North Carolina case last term, telling a special panel of three federal judges to decide whether challengers in that state had the legal standing to bring the challenge. The judges said they did, and also found that the legislatures efforts violated constitutional protections of equal protection and free speech.

The North Carolina legislature drew a plan designed to subordinate the interests of non-Republican voters not because they believe doing so advances any democratic, constitutional, or public interest, but because, as the chief legislative mapdrawer openly acknowledged, the General Assemblys Republican majority think[s] electing Republicans is better than electing Democrats,  wrote Judge James Wynn Jr. of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit.

But that is not a choice the Constitution allows legislative mapdrawers to make.

Wynn was referring to comments from a legislative leader after a previous map was struck down as an example of racial gerrymandering that made clear politics was at the heart of the new map.

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I think electing Republicans is better than electing Democrats, said Rep. David Lewis, a Republican member of the North Carolina General Assembly, addressing fellow legislators when they passed the plan in 2016. So I drew this map to help foster what I think is better for the country.

He added: I propose that we draw the maps to give a partisan advantage to 10 Republicans and three Democrats because I do not believe its possible to draw a map with 11 Republicans and two Democrats.

When voters went to the polls that fall, the 10-3 outcome was exactly as Lewis had predicted, even though Republican candidates won just 53 percent of the statewide vote. The trend continued in Novembers elections, although one of those district results is being challenged because of allegations of ballot fraud.

The three-judge panel in its August decision had considered ordering new congressional districts for the 2018 elections. But even challengers agreed there would not be enough time to draw new maps, and the panel put its ruling on hold to await Supreme Court review.

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First published by The Washington Post
A federal grand jury in Washington, District of Columbia., working with special counsel Robert Mueller IIIs investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election has been extended, officials said, but it is not clear for how long.

The grand jury, empaneled July 5, 2017, had been set to end Saturday after an 18-month term. Chief U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell of the District, who oversees grand jury activities, said she approved the extension.

Howell declined to comment on how much longer the grand jury could sit. Under federal rules of criminal procedure, a grand jury may serve more than 18 months only if a judge finds an extension is in the public interest, and then generally for no more than six additional months.

The extension comes amid suggestions the Mueller probe might be drawing to an end.

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Since Muellers appointment in March 2017, the special counsels investigation has led to charges against 33 people, including 26 Russians.

Five aides to now President Donald Trump have pleaded guilty to various charges stemming from the wide-ranging probe, most recently his former personal attorney Michael Cohen in November. The others include former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, his deputy, Rick Gates, and former national security adviser Michael Flynn and campaign aide George Papadopoulos.

Muellers probe became a lightning rod for criticism by the White House and its Republican supporters.

The future of Muellers investigation was also thrown into question after Novembers midterm congressional elections, after Trump ousted Attorney General Jeff Sessions and elevated Matthew Whitaker to oversee the probe.

Whitaker did not adopt a conclusion by a senior Justice Department ethics official that he should recuse himself from overseeing the investigation because of his past criticism of it and friendship with a witness. Advisers to Whitaker recommended the opposite, people familiar with the matter said.

In one of their first moves upon taking control of the U.S. House of Representatives this week, Democratic lawmakers reintroduced legislation Thursday to protect Mueller if Trump attempts to fire him, by permitting Mueller to appeal such an order to a panel of judges.

First published in The Washington Post
Sheriffs officials on Friday identified two people found shot inside a Vista home last week in an apparent homicide and attempted suicide.

Xiongvang Thao, 51, was pronounced dead from a gunshot wound Dec. 29 at the scene of the shooting on Hartwright Road north of Buena Creek Road, sheriffs homicide Lt. Rich Williams said in a statement. She was identified as the victim.

The suspect in the slaying, who also suffered a severe gunshot wound, was identified Friday as 53-year-old Bouavang Thao, Williams said. He was taken to a hospital that morning with what authorities described as an unknown prognosis.

His condition as of Friday was unknown.

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Bouavang Thao has been arrested and is currently under guard at a local hospital where he is being treated for a gunshot wound, Williams said in a statement. Bouavang Thao is being held without bail for one count of murder.

Sheriffs officials did not disclose the relationship between the suspect and victim.

The shooting was reported around 6:40 a.m. Dec. 29 when a 911 caller said two people had been shot inside a Vista home, and one of the victims wasnt breathing, Williams said.

When deputies arrived, the woman later identified as Xiongvang Thao was pronounced dead, and homicide detectives launched an investigation.

Twitter: @Alex_Riggins

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A 27-year-old man was arrested Friday night for allegedly stabbing, punching and choking a man who intervened in a fight between the suspect and a woman in University City, police said.

It happened around 7:10 p.m. at a residence on Charmant Drive near La Jolla Colony Drive, San Diego police Officer Robert Heims said.

According to police, the suspect and a 20-year-old woman were fighting inside the residence when a 53-year-old man tried to break up the skirmish.

The suspect grabbed a knife and stabbed the victim in the head by the ear, Heims said in a statement. Then he punched the victim several times and strangled him with both hands.

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The victim never lost consciousness while being choked, and the suspect fled before officers showed up, Heims said.

Police did not disclose the relationship between the two men because the incident was related to a domestic violence issue, Sgt. Michael Tansey said.

Medics took the victim to a hospital for treatment of injuries not thought to be life-threatening, Heims said. While officers were still at the scene investigating the violence, the suspect returned and was arrested on suspicion of attempted homicide.

Twitter: @Alex_Riggins

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alex.riggins@sduniontribune.com
A man police said pointed a loaded gun at four off-duty officers outside a Grantville bar last year continues to dispute that version of events, and on Friday his civil attorney shared video clips he said bolster his case.

Jonathan Felix, 29, faces felony weapons charges and a misdemeanor drug charge stemming from the Nov. 7 incident.

Police and prosecutors have said the officers disarmed and detained Felix that night because he aimed a weapon at them outside McGregors Ale House on San Diego Mission Road. But Felix contends that the officers, who had been drinking, attacked and beat him without provocation.

Felix said he suffered a fractured vertebrae, fractured hand, a cut to the back of his head requiring three staples, and lots of bruises and cuts on the face.

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A preliminary hearing on the criminal charges against Felix was scheduled to start Friday in San Diego Superior Court, but was postponed until Wednesday. After hearing from witnesses in the case, a judge will determine whether enough evidence exists for the case to go to trial.

Civil attorney Doug Gilliland said at a Friday news conference that one of the video clips, from a security camera on a nearby dental office, shows the off-duty lawmen surrounding Felix with their guns drawn, then kicking, punching and choking him unconscious.

 Off-duty San Diego police officers confront Jonathan Felix on Nov. 7, 2018 outside McGregors Ale House in Grantville

San Diego police released a statement Friday saying the department has opened an internal investigation.

As in any situation where there are allegations of misconduct, the San Diego Police Department has initiated an internal investigation, Sgt. Michael Stirk said. If found, any misconduct will be handled accordingly.

In the statement, Stirk alleged Felix pulled a gun on four off-duty police officers, but said he is entitled to the presumption of innocence and the full facts of this case will be litigated as the criminal case proceeds.

Felix was booked into jail the morning of the incident on charges including assault and battery on police officers.

But at his arraignment a few days later, he was not charged with assaulting the officers. He was charged with felony counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and being a felon in possession of ammunition, and a misdemeanor count of possessing cocaine for personal use.

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Felix denies pointing a gun at the officers and says he didnt know that the men, who were in plainclothes, were police officers because they appeared to be drunk and rowdy.

When Felix was arraigned on Nov. 9, Deputy District Attorney Michael Runyon said four off-duty officers were hanging out in McGregors parking lot after the bar closed and noticed Felix driving a car out of the lot and back in, then riding a bicycle in and out of the lot over a 40-minute period.

One officer went over to talk to Felix, thinking he might be casing vehicles, Runyon said.

It is alleged by the officers that the defendant pulled a firearm and pointed it at them, Runyon said, adding the officers drew their own weapons and detained Felix until on-duty officers got there.

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Felix, a chef at Greystone Prime Steak & Seafood in the Gaslamp Quarter, said he got off of a 16-hour shift and parked in the shared business parking ot where McGregors is located, as he often does after work because spaces fill up at his nearby apartment complex.

He said he drank a beer so he could get parking validation, and was waiting around the lot for others to leave because he was worried about expensive kitchen knives being stolen from his vehicle. He said he was riding his bicycle because some nights he needed it when hed have to park more than a mile from his apartment.

Felixs defense attorney in the criminal case, Alicia Freeze, said in an interview that she has viewed hours of surveillance camera footage from outside McGregors. She said the relevant footage, showing the off-duty officers kicking and punching her client, is pretty disturbing.

Gilliland said the case is concerning not only for the allegations of excessive force, but also because the officers were armed while drinking.

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Police Chief David Nisleit said the department would not release the names of the officers because they are victims of an alleged crime.

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pauline.repard@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @pdrepard

Twitter: @Alex_Riggins

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alex.riggins@sduniontribune.com
A San Diego teenager in a stolen vehicle was shot and injured during a traffic stop by Hemet police on Wednesday, authorities said Saturday.

The 17-year-old boy was expected to survive and was released to the custody of his guardian after being treated at a hospital.

Police provided few details about the circumstances of the officer-involved shooting.

Detectives from the Crime Suppression Unit spotted the vehicle about 9:45 p.m. on San Jacinto Street and for an unknown reason decided to pull it over. The detectives transitioned to protocol for a high-risk stop once a records check determined the vehicle was reported stolen out of San Diego County, said Lt. Jeff Davis.

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For unknown reasons, the teen was shot during the stop. He suffered a single gunshot wound.

No officers were injured.

It was unclear if the teen had been driving the vehicle or if he was alone. His name was not released because of his age.

kristina.davis@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @kristinadavis
San Diego County will pay $2.5 million to a woman who sued after an altercation at her Bonita home where she was hit with a Taser by a sheriffs deputy, arrested and jailed for 17 days before charges were dropped.

The suit from Alma Rosa Godinez stemmed from a bizarre incident nearly four years ago on Feb. 2, 2015, and went through two separate trials in federal court last year. The first ended with a jury deadlocked 6-2 in favor of the county.

But the case was retried in the fall and a jury decided unanimously in favor of Godinez on Nov. 2  and awarded her $2.4 million in damages. Both sides averted another phase to determine punitive damages by agreeing after the trial to settle the case for $2.5 million, including all legal fees. The case was formally dismissed on Wednesday.

The lawsuit centered on the actions of Deputy Jorge Maleno Huerta. He and a second deputy responded to a call from Kevin Thornton, who said he needed to get his possessions out of Godinezs home on Sweetwater Road. Thornton said he lived there, which Godinez disputed. Court records show that Godinez was the only name on the lease. She had worked for Thorntons mobile bartending business but had decided to quit days before.

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Thornton had asked her to store some possessions for him at her house and told deputies he needed to get them out as well as get his truck. He also said Godinez was using his credit cards without permission. At the time, records say, Thornton was in work furlough for a probation violation. He was a registered sex offender due to a 2003 conviction for raping an unconscious person, according to filings in the case.

Maleno and a second deputy went to the home and knocked on the door, but did not get a response. Maleno told Thornton that while deputies could not break into the home, as a resident Thornton could break in and get his stuff.

The judge in the case later faulted Maleno for never checking to see if Thornton actually lived at the home, neither asking for identification verifying the address nor checking with dispatchers to see if they had an address for Thornton. Had the deputy done so, Judge Cynthia Bashant said, Thorntons address listed in the sex offender database would have appeared and shown he did not reside with Godinez.

Thornton tried to enter the residence, forcing open a locked back door with his shoulder. Godinez was on the other side of the door when it burst open  striking her on the head and knocking her to the ground.

What happened next was a matter of great dispute. Maleno came in behind Thornton and said Godinez, who had been knocked down, picked up a bat and moved to hit him with it. Maleno then used his Taser on her.

Godinez said she was already on the ground, and when Maleno entered the small alcove-like room she began crab-walking back toward a kitchen. Thats when Maleno fired the Taser.

Godinez was charged with assault on a peace officer and taken to jail where she spent 17 days. While a judge determined there was enough evidence to hold her for trial, the San Diego County District Attorney later dropped all charges against her.

Godinez sued alleging wrongful arrest and other grounds. Her lawyer, Todd Burns, contended that Maleno had lied about Godinez threatening him with a bat and had changed his account of events in order to justify both the use of force and her subsequent arrest. In a statement, Burns said both the deputy and the county should have acknowledged they erred.

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Early on, the county, and Deputy Maleno, should have apologized and tried to make things right, he said in a statement. That would have been the morally correct and humanly decent thing to do, and it would have limited the countys liability substantially.

James Chapin, senior deputy county counsel, noted that the first trial ended with jurors largely siding with the county against Godinez. But verdicts have to be unanimous in federal court, he said, necessitating a second trial. We tried it again with a different jury, and we got a different result, he said.

A spokeswoman for the Sheriffs Department said Maleno continues working as a patrol deputy.

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greg.moran@sduniontribune.com
A federal appeals court in Washington sided with the Trump administration Friday, saying restrictions on transgender men and women serving in the military can stand.

The decision lifted an injunction that had barred the government from limiting their service.

The unsigned order from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has no immediate impact on transgender troops because federal judges in three other cases have temporarily prevented the administration from implementing its policy.

The Defense Department is continuing to abide by the other court orders that allow transgender men and women to enlist and serve, the Pentagon said Friday.

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Even so, the five-page ruling was a blow to the civil rights and gay rights organizations challenging the policy nationwide. In reversing a lower-court ruling, the appeals court wrote, the District Court made an erroneous finding that the [administrations policy] was the equivalent of a blanket ban on transgender service.

The appeals court order came after oral argument last month before Judges Thomas Griffith, Robert Wilkins and Stephen Williams.

The court noted that its order was not a final ruling on the merits of the challenge, but that judges must give deference to military leaders when it comes to policy decisions about standards for service.

Attorney Jennifer Levi, director of GLADs transgender rights project, said the decision is based on the absurd idea that forcing transgender people to suppress who they are in order to serve is not a ban. It ignores the reality of transgender peoples lives, with devastating consequences, and rests on a complete failure to understand who transgender people are.

President Donald Trump initially announced a sweeping ban on transgender military service via Twitter in July 2017, citing what he viewed as the tremendous medical costs and disruption. The administrations order reversed President Barack Obamas policy of allowing transgender men and women to serve openly and receive funding for sex-reassignment surgery.

Attorneys for active-duty service members went to court to block the policy shift, which could subject current transgender service members to discharge and deny them certain medical care.

The court rulings were met with another policy revision this year from then-Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, who issued a plan to bar men and women from the military who identify with a gender different from their birth gender and who are seeking to transition. The new plan makes exceptions, for instance, for about 900 transgender individuals who are already serving openly and for others who would serve in accordance with their birth gender.

The order Friday said the lower-court erred by not giving sufficient weight to the administrations effort to revise its policy in response to the initial court ruling. The appeals court specifically mentioned the creation of a panel of military and medical experts for input.

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It was clear error to say there was no significant change, on the administrations part, the appeals court said.

The government took substantial steps to cure the procedural deficiencies the court identified, according to the order. Although the Mattis Plan continues to bar many transgender persons from joining or serving in the military, the record indicates that the plan allows some transgender persons previously barred to join and serve.

The policy is not a blanket ban, the court concluded, because not all transgender persons seek to transition to their preferred gender or have gender dysphoria.

Shannon Minter, legal director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, called the decision cursory and misinformed and said it rests on the utter fiction that this ban is not a ban. Every other court has immediately understood that when you say you can serve only if you serve in your birth sex, that is a ban. It is dangerous and irresponsible.

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Pentagon spokeswoman Jessica Maxwell said Friday the department would continue to press our case in the courts.

As always, we treat all transgender persons with respect and dignity, she said in a statement. It is critical that the Department be permitted to formulate personnel policies that it determines are necessary to ensure the most lethal and combat effective fighting force in the world.

The administration has separately asked the Supreme Court to intervene to allow the government to have the policy take effect. The high court has not yet acted on the administrations request.

The Washington Posts Paul Sonne contributed to this report.

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First published in The Washington Post
The City of San Diego has proposed using a former juvenile detention facility in Alpine known as Camp Barrett as a migrant shelter.

The proposal, requested Friday in a letter to the state, comes after nonprofits working to support arriving asylum-seeking families have called repeatedly for help from local and state governments.

The San Diego Rapid Response Network established a temporary shelter after federal officials implemented a policy change that means migrant families receive little assistance navigating to their final destinations once theyre released from custody.

That shelter, at its fifth location since the policy began in late October, has been frequently at capacity and has operated through private donations and a large network of volunteers.

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While federal immigration officials drop off some asylum seekers at the shelter directly, they take others to bus stations around the county.

People who live and work near the bus stations have learned to call the networks hotline to report groups of migrant families in need of food and shelter for the night.

Volunteers drive to the stations and help families call their sponsors to purchase bus tickets. Those who arent able to get same-day buses end up at the shelter.

In recent weeks, the shelter has frequently had to use a secondary location as an overflow space because there were more people released than the shelter was authorized to hold.

That approach is not sustainable, shelter leaders have said.

Weve been patching this thing together minute by minute, said Kevin Malone, executive director of the San Diego Organizing Project, one of the organizations spearheading the network. Everyone is really stretched.

Volunteers have worked around the clock, even over the recent holidays, to ensure that families are screened, fed and connected with transportation to their sponsors cities.

A slew of local politicians are among those who gave their time in recent weeks, including Chula Vista Mayor Mary Salas, Rep. Scott Peters, state Sen. Toni Atkins, Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, County Supervisor-elect Nathan Fletcher, County Supervisor Greg Cox and city Councilwoman Barbara Bry, according to a post on the networks Facebook page.

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Even if Camp Barrett, a juvenile correctional facility that the city closed last year, is approved as a shelter, it may take time before its ready to take in families.

At this time, this is only a proposed option, said Ashley Bailey, spokeswoman for Mayor Kevin Faulconer. There would still need to be assessments done to the property and discussions between all stakeholders about any necessary adaptations the site would need, who would be in charge of operating the facility and what resources other agencies can provide before anyone can move onto the site.

Alliance Healthcare Foundation has agreed to fund the endeavor, according to the citys letter to the state. The organization did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication.

Camp Barrett, owned by the city of San Diego, closed at the beginning of last summer after more than 20 years of housing boys who were considered wards of the juvenile court. Based on a Grand Jury report released in the year before the camp closed, the site may need considerable work to reopen as a shelter.

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The report called Camp Barrett an unsuitable, deteriorating and aging facility.

The physical condition of the offices, classrooms, and dormitories is clearly substandard and in need of major repairs, the report says. The dormitory buildings are concrete. They are outfitted with bunk beds and a common restroom area with no doors for privacy.

The camps capacity is 125, according to the report. Rapid Response Network leaders have called for a shelter that can house about 250 to account for variation in the daily releases.

Families helped by the shelter include those who asked for asylum at ports of entry and those who made the request after crossing the border illegally. All have made asylum requests.

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Each of the adults is fitted with an ankle monitor, and each family is given a court date in the immigration court closest to their destination city before being released from federal custody.

Federal immigration officials used to provide more assistance to families before releasing them to wait for their court hearings, but that changed in late October when officials said they could no longer assist migrants with connecting to their sponsors to get bus or plane tickets to their final destinations because of the number of arrivals.

The city of San Diego has been meeting with regional partners since late November about the issue, Bailey said.

The city of San Diego, joined by Chula Vista, National City and the County of San Diego, previously sent a letter to the state requesting that it open National Guard armories as migrant shelters, similar to 2016 when an influx of Haitians arrived at the San Diego border from Brazil. The Office of Emergency Services responded that the National City armory was not able to be used, and the San Diego mayors office said it has not yet heard whether other armories might be made available.

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At the county level, Fletcher and Cox also hope to offer up potential shelter sites if they can get enough votes to approve several asylum seeker-related actions the two plan to present on Tuesday.

On top of authorizing the county to identify potential facilities, they hope to create a working group with state and local government officials as well as advocates to put together a longer-term plan to support asylum seekers who arrive at the San Diego border.

Nonprofit and advocacy groups have performed a heroic task thus far. They should be applauded for what they have been able to pull together, Fletcher said. Its time for the rest of us to step up to help them.

He hoped that, if the board approves, he and Cox can begin touring facilities that same week.

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Immigration Videos On Now New developments in family separation case 9:53 On Now A San Diego woman volunteered as a medic in Texas helping migrant families 2:35 On Now Immigration policy protests in Carlsbad nearly cancelled after permit issue 1:38 On Now When children are separated from their parents at the border, here is where they go next On Now Prospects of a deal for 'Dreamers' may hinge on separating Trump from hard-liners on his staff On Now What is DACA? On Now Border wall prototype contractors selected On Now Video: Ukrainian boxer wins asylum in U.S. On Now 30 apprehended after Border Patrol agents discover tunnel On Now Video: Kurdish diaspora prepare to vote on independence

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kate.morrissey@sduniontribune.com, @bgirledukate on Twitter
The California Attorney Generals Office has declared that charter schools should be required to follow transparency and integrity laws as other public entities are.

The freedom and flexibility that the state gives to charter schools do not apply to issues of public disclosure or transparency, Attorney General Xavier Becerras office wrote in a non-legally binding opinion published last month.

Seeing that corporate charter schools are licensed and paid to participate in the essential public function of providing a mandatory free education to Californias children, we conclude that they are bound by all of the public-integrity laws that we examine here, the attorney generals opinion stated.

Specifically, the opinion stated that charter schools should be required to follow the Brown Act, which requires that board meetings and materials be open to the public; the California Public Records Act, which requires public access to certain records; and state laws that prohibit financial and other conflicts of interest among public officials. The opinion also said that charter school records should be open to review by a grand jury.

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Charter schools are schools that receive public funding to operate and are granted freedom from some educational laws that govern traditional district schools. In exchange for that freedom, they are expected to provide an innovative and better-performing alternative to district schools.

In a statement, a spokeswoman for the California Charter Schools Association said the vast majority of charter schools already comply with these transparency and public integrity laws.

The California Charter Schools Association has supported charter schools operating in a transparent manner consistent with these laws and has been actively engaged in legislative discussions over these issues, spokeswoman Brittany Parmley said in the statement.

But the association said it is concerned that, if legislators do end up requiring that charter schools follow conflict of interest laws, it will prohibit teachers from serving on school boards and board members from donating resources to their charter schools.

The charter school association believes that some modifications to these laws may be necessary to ensure effective implementation consistent with the intent of charter schools, Parmley said in the statement.

While many charter schools do comply with the transparency laws, some charter schools in San Diego County fail to post on their websites basic public information such as the dates and location of board meetings, board meeting agendas and materials or names and contact information of school officers and board members.

The issue of whether or not charter schools are bound to these transparency and public integrity laws has been so unclear that legislators have proposed multiple bills to clarify that they are. Such bills were also spurred by reports of financial mismanagement among some charter schools across California.

Gov. Jerry Brown, known for supporting charter schools, aroused controversy for twice vetoing bills that would have made charter schools follow the the transparency laws. Brown said then that he thought the bills went too far in dictating the operations of charter schools.

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Some are expecting to see more restrictions on charter schools starting this year, now that governor-elect Gavin Newsom will take Browns place. California voters also narrowly elected a new state superintendent, Tony Thurmond, who was heavily backed by teacher unions and other advocates of traditional public schools.

A spokesman for California School Boards Association, which has for years called for charter schools to be held to the transparency laws, said it was validating to see the attorney general reach the same conclusion.

This should not be viewed as an attack on charter schools in any way. Its merely an effort to ensure that charter schools, as public schools, are abiding by the same rules on transparency and governance as other public schools, spokesman Troy Flint said. Its a common-sense approach that will benefit everyone.

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Kristen Taketa

Email: kristen.taketa@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @Kristen_Taketa
A former high school employee who pleaded guilty this week to embezzling nearly $350,000 from her workplace over 16 years was sentenced to five years probation, and she will have to wear an ankle bracelet for the next six months.

Deneen Kuhlman, who worked as a financial clerk for Desert Hot Springs High School from 1997 until December 2017, when she resigned, was ordered to pay back the full amount she stole with payments of $300 per month, said John Hall, a spokesman with the Riverside County district attorneys office. Kuhlman must find new employment and return to court in six months, when her payment is expected to increase, Hall said. She already has paid back about $20,000.

Her attorney, David Greenberg, said hes happy his client wont spend time behind bars.

Shes relieved its over, he said, and shes thrilled that she gets to stay at home and continue to support her family the best way that she can, including her child, who has special needs.

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The theft came to light in late 2017 after a routine audit by the Palm Springs Unified School District found accounting discrepancies, the district said in a statement. The Desert Hot Springs Police Department was then asked to investigate.

During that time, Kuhlman confessed the crime in a letter to the schools principal, Greenberg said. After writing the letter, she was hospitalized after a suicide attempt, her lawyer said.

At some point, the guilt was so overwhelming  this is coming from a woman with no records whatsoever, who is loved and respected in the community  and she decided to confess what she had done, Greenberg said.

Kuhlman embezzled the money by printing out numbers in a font similar to ones used on bank statements. She then would cut them out, tape them onto the statements she handled and make photocopies, which she submitted to school officials, police told the Desert Sun.

Greenberg said his client struggled financially and spent the money on necessities, including groceries and medical bills. According to Transparent California, which documents government employees pay, Kuhlmans salary was $46,564 in 2016.

Joan Boiko, a spokeswoman for Palm Springs schools, said the district would continue to take measures to prevent such incidents.

Something like this should never have happened, and the district has a zero tolerance for any illegal behavior by our employees, schools Supt. Sandra Lyon said in a statement after the theft was discovered. We are appalled that this type of egregious fraud could have occurred, and the missing funds will be replaced by the district.

Lyon said the district filed a claim with its insurance company to recover the stolen money.

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alejandra.reyesvelarde@latimes.com

Twitter: @r_valejandra
Los Angeles mayors do not control the L.A. Unified School District, but that hasnt stopped some of them from trying to use their highly visible office to assert authority over the sprawling system.

In the 1990s, Mayor Richard Riordan tried to elect school board members who would run the district more like a business, with mixed results. Then, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa launched an audacious if unsuccessful takeover bid.

Since taking office in 2013, however, Mayor Eric Garcetti has maintained a hands-off approach to the nations second-largest school district. Next week, that may no longer be possible, as a looming teachers strike threatens to disrupt the families of half a million students.

The planned strike comes just as Garcetti is expected to say whether he will run for president in 2020.

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Members of United Teachers Los Angeles, the union representing 31,000 teachers, counselors, librarians and nurses, plan to strike Thursday if no contract deal is reached.

Launching a presidential bid while thousands of chanting, sign-toting teachers take to the streets would seem to be a non-starter. A strike could force Garcetti to push back any presidential announcement, as better-known rivals enter the race, soak up media attention and begin fundraising.

On Friday, Garcetti said his mayoral duties were paramount.

Im focused on it because its too important, he said of a potential strike. As for when he might announce a decision on running for president, he said, One thing doesnt affect the other.

The labor strife could give Garcetti the chance to play hero, if he is able  through the bully pulpit or mediation  to bring the two sides together and avert a strike, or keep it brief. Last-ditch talks between the two parties are tentatively scheduled for Monday.

Garcetti isnt directly involved in contract negotiations but has been talking to all parties involved, as well as community leaders, he said in an interview Friday. He hasnt been asked to come to the table, he added.

What surprises me here is how few back channels there are between the union and the district, and how long this has gone on and how few trusted messengers there are in between, he said. I want to help build a bridge.

Garcetti said that if he has seemed distant from the situation, it is only because he concluded that an aggressively open and public intervention would do more harm than good.

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Forceful action would run counter to Garcettis long-standing political reputation for avoiding confrontation.

Observers of the mayor, including some supporters, are not convinced he is pulling out all the stops.

Whats disappointed me is that I think he has a lot more to offer than what the public is seeing, said Pedro Noguera, a professor of education at UCLA who counts himself as a Garcetti admirer.

Garcetti has an obligation as the citys leader to use his bully pulpit to call on both sides to come together and work something out, Noguera said.

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L.A. Unified is a major employer in Los Angeles, Noguera added, and just from that point of view, the mayor should be involved and bring to bear the same forcefulness he used to secure the 2028 Olympics.

On Thursday, Garcetti offered space at City Hall for district leaders and representatives of United Teachers Los Angeles to negotiate. He made a similar offer in August. The mayor also said the city would do what it could to support families in the event of a strike by adding staffing to parks and libraries.

But a lot of focus has been on Garcetti himself and what he could do personally, especially given his positive relationship with the teachers union. The union endorsed Garcetti in 2013, even as the citys major labor groups lined up behind Wendy Greuel, his runoff opponent.

Supporters within the teachers union say they like Garcetti in part because he hasnt overstepped his authority by trying to control L.A. Unified.

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Hes supportive but hasnt really done anything positive or negative, said Scott Mandel, a teacher at Pacoima Middle School Film/Media Performing Arts Magnet and a member of the unions board of directors. After some of the mayors weve had, thats not bad.

United Teachers Los Angeles and the California Teachers Assn. could be powerful allies for Garcetti in future political campaigns. Statewide, teachers unions spent heavily in last years governors race to defeat Villaraigosa, a onetime labor organizer who angered unions by siding with charter school supporters. Teachers unions also play a major role in the Democratic Party nationally.

Meanwhile, potential presidential rivals are jumping in.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts this week announced plans to head to Iowa following her formation of a presidential exploratory committee. But if Garcetti were to announce his candidacy and head to the Midwest during a strike, hes asking for the L.A. media market to go nuts on him and have every paper editorialize about where he is, said Los Angeles-based political consultant Michael Trujillo.

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The mayor could also face questions about whether he and his advisors have been as involved as they could have been. United Teachers Los Angeles has been threatening to strike for months. On Thursday, Garcetti called the strike all but inevitable.

Union leader Alex Caputo-Pearl, however, suggested there was some cause for optimism.

We certainly dont think a strike is inevitable, he said Friday. Were going into Monday hopefully.

L.A. schools Supt. Austin Beutner said he felt the mayor could play a helpful role.

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We welcome his involvement as well as the involvement of other civic and community leaders, Beutner said. Theres lots of work to do, and the kids are counting on us to solve this.

dakota.smith@latimes.com

Twitter: @dakotacdsmith

howard.blume@latimes.com

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Twitter: @howardblume
Several sites in Death Valley National Park are closing Friday because of health and safety concerns over human waste, trash, vandalism and damage to park resources, officials said.

Meanwhile, an investigation into the Christmas Day death of a man at Yosemite National Park is being delayed by the partial government shutdown, a park spokesman said.

Yosemite officials received a 911 call reporting a man with a head injury in the Silver Apron area on the Merced River above Nevada Fall and rangers arrived in less than an hour, National Park Service spokesman Andrew Munoz said Friday. The man was removed from the water and received medical treatment, but he died from his injuries.

We arent releasing more detail because the incident remains under investigation, which is taking longer than usual because of the shutdown, Munoz said in an email. A news release wasnt issued because of the shutdown.

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The man was not in a restricted area, Munoz said.

Outside magazine first reported the death Friday morning.

In Death Valley, the Furnace Creek and Texas Springs campgrounds will close Friday, along with access roads to Natural Bridge, Dantes View and Keane Wonder Mine. The road to Salt Creek is also closed.

At national parks in California and beyond, the two-week shutdown has taken a toll. Reports of vandalism and illegal camping and off-road driving have led access restrictions.

Campgrounds at Joshua Tree closed at noon Wednesday, officials said, citing health and safety concerns over vault toilets that are near capacity. The waterless bathrooms in which visitors can relieve themselves into a sealed container buried underground had remained open. But with no workers on duty to pump out the waste, those are being closed now as well.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks went a step further, closing entirely to visitors.

Reports continue to trickle in from volunteers about Champagne bottles being left strewn about in Joshua Tree and human waste piling up on roads leading into Yosemite. In Texas Big Bend National Park, a hiker reportedly broke his leg and was carried out by fellow visitors.

Diane Regas, chief executive of the Trust for Public Land, a nonprofit park advocacy organization, wrote a letter to President Trump on Thursday calling for an immediate closure of all of the countrys national parks for the duration of the shutdown, to protect visitors and park resources.

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Allowing access to national parks without taking care to steward those resources is irresponsible and could result in irreversible damage and loss, she wrote.

javier.panzar@latimes.com

@jpanzar
A general court martial began Friday in a San Diego military courtroom where a U.S. Navy SEAL, accused of multiple war crimes, was formally arraigned on charges he killed a wounded Islamic State group combatant and shot civilians during a 2017 deployment to Mosul, Iraq.

The most serious charge against Chief Special Warfare Operator Edward R. Gallagher, 39, originally from Ft. Wayne, Indiana, is premeditated murder. Prosecutors say Gallagher killed a wounded teenage IS fighter by stabbing him in the neck with his knife. Gallagher, who is a medic, was treating the fighter at the time.

The charge carries a mandatory life sentence under the military justice system.

Gallagher was also charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, charges linked to the shooting of two civilians. The charge sheet produced by Navy prosecutors described the civilians as a male and a female, and attorneys have referred to the pair as an old man and a girl.

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Other charges levied against the decorated Navy SEAL stem from allegations he shot at civilians on several occasions during the deployment and, once back in the United States, that he attempted to intimidate witnesses when he learned they were cooperating with Navy investigators in the case.

Attorneys for Gallagher told reporters after the hearing that the SEALs actions that day in Iraq did not the cause the fighters death.

The question in what hes being charged with is, Did he murder anyone? said Colby Vokey, one of Gallaghers attorneys. No, he didnt murder anyone.

Neither Vokey nor Gallaghers other civilian attorney, Phillip Stackhouse, would comment on whether Gallagher stabbed the fighter in the neck, only saying he did not murder him.

Attorneys filed a motion to release Gallagher from the Naval Consolidated Brig Miramar, where he has been confined since his arrest Sept. 11, but a ruling is not expected until early next week.

The trial is scheduled to begin Feb. 19.

The defense called several witnesses Friday in an attempt to convince the judge, Navy Capt. Aaron Rugh, that Gallagher was not a flight risk, nor was he a threat to obstruct justice by attempting to intimidate witnesses.

Navy prosecutors submitted 1,700 pages of text messages and eyewitness statements, then declined to discuss evidence with reporters.

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Gallaghers defense attorneys, who also declined to discuss certain aspects of the case, conceded that some of those text messages might appear to indicate that, during the summer of 2018, Gallagher attempted to enlist the help of friends in and around the SEAL community to publicize the names of the SEALs who were cooperating with Navy investigators.

They said Gallagher figured out who was cooperating because a search warrant, provided to Gallagher when his home at Lincoln Military Housing at Liberty Station was raided, included the initials of those witnesses.

There are text messages that we have been provided that indicate that Eddie might have sent some text messages out saying that these individuals who are making the allegations against him are lying...and people should know they are lying, Vokey said after the hearing.

Stackhouse said that these text messages were what lead authorities to keep Gallagher in the brig while awaiting trial.

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Navy Cmdr. Paul Sargent, the site director for the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury site at Navy Hospital Camp Pendleton, testified via telephone regarding treatment Gallagher was receiving for mild traumatic brain injury at the time of his arrest.

According to Sargent, Gallagher had sustained 18 concussions before and during his time in the Navy, and that this might affect his impulse control. He also said Gallagher would be welcomed back into the program were he to be released from the brig.

Colleagues of Gallagher from the San Diego SEAL community also testified on his behalf. Three SEALS  two of them master chiefs, the other a senior chief  and a senior chief ordnance disposal technician each told the judge Gallagher was of outstanding character and that he was not a flight risk.

His wife, Andrea Gallagher, also took the stand. She told the judge shed known Gallagher since she was 16 and he was 17, and that the couple reconnected years later, marrying in 2007.

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Gallagher had about a dozen supporters in attendance.

Congressman Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, also expressed his support for Gallagher Friday.

During the hearing, the congressmen released a statement calling the Navys prosecution of Gallagher another example of the over-aggressiveness of the Navy JAG Corp (sic) showing its bias against our warfighters.

Hunter also called on President Trump to intervene.

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Due to verifiable political nature of the Navys justice system, I believe that Chief Gallaghers matter needs to be taken away from the Navy, Hunters statement said, and President Trump himself needs to personally review and dismiss this case, taking an American hero out of a prison cell and back on the front lines where he belongs.

A Pentagon spokeswoman was not able to comment Friday on the authority of the president to take action in this or any case. Hunter has offered similar criticism of the civilian Department of Justice, which is prosecuting Hunter on charges of stealing $250,000 in campaign funds along with his wife and former campaign manager, Margaret. Both have pleaded not guilty.

Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
Everyones heard of multiple sclerosis, which most know as a progressive disease of the central nervous system. But many dont realize that this unpredictable, often disabling disease afflicts more than 400,000 Americans, and strikes women more often than men. Initial symptoms of tingling and numbness typically appear in victims aged about 20 to 50  but progress, severity, and symptoms vary dramatically and may include blindness or paralysis.

MS remains shrouded in mystery, but scientists believe its triggered by unidentified environmental factors in genetically predisposed individuals. The bodys own immune system attacks the myelin sheath that surrounds and protects nerve fibers, causing progressive degeneration. Several new drugs show promise, but theres no cure as yet. Envisioning an MS-free future, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society helps raise funding for critically-needed research, facilitates professional education, and provides programs and services to help people affected by MS live their best lives.

Rajam and Dianne Agarwal, Doug and Denise Regnier, Karen and Alain Matingou (Vincent Andrunas)

Nearly 450 guests attended the MS Societys 32nd annual Dinner Auction, titled Havana Nights and held at the Loews Coronado Bay Resort. Strategically positioned early in the holiday season, it offered buying opportunities for gifts  or for ones self. Over 500 silent auction items totaling $144,000 were sold.

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Event guests enjoyed sparkling wine and creative specialty cocktails while browsing rooms displaying nine categories of silent auction items. Later, as they entered the ballroom, The Heroes played and Cuban-costumed dancers gave a performance. Emcee and NBC-7 anchor Steven Luke welcomed everyone, and a video detailed the MS Societys efforts.

The four-course Cuban-themed gourmet dinner included both soup and salad, a grilled beef filet and sea bass entree, and white chocolate mousse dessert. MS sufferer Tim Loun, a highly talented and entertaining speaker, delivered an inspiring address before introducing the live auction, which raised nearly $50,000. Paddle-raise donation pledges came next, and approached $100,000.

San Diego chapter president Rich Israel followed, both in person and on video. He presented the National MS Societys Impact Award to San Diego County Credit Union for being a longstanding partner whose considerable philanthropic activities strengthen the community at large. SDCCU vice presidents David Schmidt and Sarah Bilyeu accepted. Dr. Jody Corey-Bloom, whos worked with MS patients for 30 years and has been very active with the San Diego Chapter, then received the National MS Societys Hope Award. Accepting humbly, she declared that the real heroes were the patients and their families who struggle and deal with MS every day.

The evening concluded with dancing. Total proceeds  about $360,000  will fund important research, wellness programs, scholarships, and efforts toward finding a cure for MS.
A federal judge has rejected an attempt by Los Angeles school district officials to limit or prevent a teachers strike.

The districts legal maneuver was based on its responsibility under federal law to provide services to students with disabilities. The district is under additional legal restrictions based on a settlement that is under the supervision of a federal judge.

Those combined obligations should have compelled the court to prevent or limit a strike, the district argued in papers filed this week. But U.S. District Judge Ronald S.W. Lew disagreed, taking only one day to issue an order denying the districts suit.

The L.A. Unified School District is attempting, prematurely, to bring an unrelated party into a long-settled dispute without any explanation as to how [the teachers union] would be legally liable under the settlement or special education laws, Lew wrote in his decision.

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The judge acknowledged that a strike could burden L.A. Unifieds efforts to provide services to students, but he said the districts court filing is a new and independent claim that would inject facts and legal issues that have nothing to do with claims that were settled  over fifteen years ago.

Lew held open the possibility that the district could file a claim later but said it would have to be after the start of a strike and was likely to involve a more time-consuming process.

United Teachers Los Angeles hailed the ruling in a news release late Friday night.

The courts swift and decisive action shows just how desperate a move this was, said union President Alex Caputo-Pearl.

The action was a novel approach, essentially using legal protections for students under federal law in an attempt to forestall a strike carried out under provisions of state law.

An L.A. Unified spokeswoman said the judge did not foreclose all legal avenues.

The court decided that under the applicable court rules it made more sense for the claim to be filed as a separate lawsuit, said Shannon Haber.

She did not say whether the district would do so.

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The district is committed to resolving the contract issues with UTLA in an amicable manner, but will take all steps necessary to protect the health, safety, and educational rights of students with disabilities, as well as of all students, including the filing of legal actions, Haber said.

The two sides have scheduled a last-ditch negotiation session for Monday morning, tentatively scheduled to take place at City Hall at the invitation of Mayor Eric Garcetti.

Garcetti told The Times on Friday that so far he had not been invited into the room with the parties but that he was prepared to participate in any way that would be helpful.

The contract talks would be the first since mediation efforts broke down in early October.

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Many observers see a strike as almost inevitable.

The districts legal filing was based in part on the terms of a long-running settlement called the Chanda Smith Modified Consent Decree. Chanda Smith was an L.A. student who received a deficient education, according to a 1993 lawsuit, because she was deprived of services that were legally required under federal law. District officials ultimately agreed to sweeping and costly measures to assist all students with disabilities, all under the supervision of a court-appointed monitor. That agreement holds to this day.

For years, L.A. Unified has tried to get out from under the settlement, arguing that it has fixed its problems. Some parents and advocates have argued otherwise.

On Thursday, attorneys for L.A. Unified cited the settlement as reason to limit a walkout, saying the district could not satisfy its terms if employees who work with disabled students went on strike. They wanted a court order to keep those workers on the job. Such an order could have affected teachers as well as nurses, counselors and psychiatric social workers, who also are part of the union.

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L.A. Unified has about 60,000 disabled students, more than 12% of overall enrollment, district officials said.

The district has offered teachers a 6% raise spread over the first two years of a three-year contract. The union wants a 6.5% raise that would take effect all at once and a year sooner.

But the issues that the union is pressing for go well beyond wages. UTLA also is demanding a significant reduction in class sizes and the hiring of enough nurses, librarians and counselors to fully staff campuses across the nations second-largest school system. Union leaders have framed their activism as a fight for the future of public education.

Beutner has said that some of the unions proposals are worthy but that, if accepted, they would immediately push the school district into insolvency.

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The superintendent wants as narrow a focus as possible in contract talks. Unlike the teachers, he doesnt want to deliberate over whether there is too much standardized testing or too little control over privately run charter schools that operate on district-owned campuses.

howard.blume@latimes.com

Twitter: @howardblume
After growing increasingly diverse and larger over the past 16 years in New York, the Festival of New Trumpet Music is ready to expand across the country for the first time.

Welcome, please, the Festival of New Trumpet Music West, which will take place at eight San Diego area venues between Jan. 20 and Jan. 27. All of the events are all-ages. Four of them are free. And two are part of the San Diego Symphonys month-long Hearing the Future festival.

The trumpet festival is very similar to what the symphony is doing, where they announce a theme and invite people to participate, except our theme is new trumpet music, said Daniel Atkinson, the director of Public Programs for UC San Diegos Extended Studies & Public Programs.

The Festival of New Trumpet Music West will include concerts in large and small venues, along with film screenings and a jam session. It is designed to trumpet the trumpet by showcasing both well-known and under-represented artists, especially those taking the instrument in vital new directions. Confirmed performers range from San Diegos Gilbert Castellanos and Curtis Taylor to former Pat Metheny Group member Cuong Vu, who is flying here from Vietnam.

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The festival is not genre-specific to jazz or contemporary music  its all about highlighting progressive musicians trying to do something new, with the unifying concept being they all play trumpet, said Canadian-born trumpeter and UC San Diego music professor Stephanie Richards, who has been a driving curatorial force behind the Festival of New Trumpet Music in New York since 2012.

The New York festival was founded in 2002 by trumpeter Dave Douglas. Richards first New York performance was at the 2008 edition and it helped raise her Big Apple profile significantly. Shortly after moving to San Diego in 2017, she met Atkinson  the veteran jazz program coordinator for the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library  at an Athenaeum at TSRI Auditorium concert by frequent Douglas collaborator Joe Lovano.

When I found out she was co-director of the Festival of New Trumpet Music, it sparked the idea that maybe we could do the festival here, Atkinson recalled.

Its totally a dream come true, Richards said. And its so much fun to highlight West Coast trumpet players, which we dont get to with the festival in New York. What I especially love is that we are in a different San Diego venue each day for a week, so people can go and have a different experience each day. We dig a little deeper to find musicians who may not have the spotlight, but are really doing progressive and interesting music.

The idea this year is to get a buzz going on and really create something special in the middle of January thats adventurous and exciting for the San Diego community. Dan is already emailing me with ideas for next year!

The festival here serves a dual purpose for UC San Diegos Extended Studies & Public Programs, which is playing a key organizational role and co-presenting the free, festival-concluding Brass Band Blast-off concert at downtowns Quartyard.

That outdoor concert venue is located just one block from the now-under construction UC San Diego Urban, the universitys four-story, 66,000-square-foot facility, which will be operated by UC San Diego Extension.

We are actively preparing to open Urban in downtowns East Village in the spring of 2021, Atkinson said. The fact that Stephanie is a faculty member at UCSD is, in part, an example of what we expect to be doing at Urban, by providing a venue for faculty and student projects in a place where the greater community can have access and be introduced to their work.

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Festival of New Trumpet Music West

7:30 p.m. Jan. 20: Cuong Vu Trio. Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. $23-$28. (858) 454-5872. ljathenaeum.org.

Noon Jan. 21: Curtis Taylor Trio. Athenaeum mini-concert series at the Lyceum Theatre, 79 Horton Plaza, downtown. Free. (858) 454-5872. ljathenaeum.org/mini-concerts.

6 and 8 p.m., Jan. 21 and 22: Film screenings of the Clark Terry documentary Keep On Keepin On and the feature film A Man Called Adam, starring Sammy Davis Jr., Louis Armstrong and Frank Sinatra. The Digital Gym Cinema, 2921 El Cajon Blvd., North Park. $8.50-$11. (619) 230-1938. digitalgym.org/category/cinema/

6 p.m. Jan. 23: Young Lions + Gilbert Castellanos. A five-hour outdoor and indoor concert featuring an opening set by local high school jazz musicians, followed by Castellanos band, with special guest Curtis Taylor, and a concluding jam session. Panama 66, 1450 El Prado. Balboa Park. Free. (619) 696-1966 panama66.com/

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7 p.m. Jan. 24: Trumpet and Electronics, featuring the Ivan Trujillo Ensemble and Peter Evans/Sam Pluta. The Loft @ UCSD, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. Free for UC San Diego students and faculty, $10 for general public. (619) 696-1966. theloft.ucsd.edu.

7:30 p.m. Jan. 25: Stephanie Richards Take the Neon Lights, featuring Joshua White, Mark Dresser, Brian Walsh and Andrew Munsey. Fresh Sound at White Box, 2590 Truxton Road, No. 205, Liberty Station. (619) 987-6214. $10-$20. freshsoundmusic.com.

8 p.m. Jan. 26: San Diego Symphony Jazz at the Jacobs, Generation Next, featuring trumpeter Josh Evans, with the San Diego Jazz Conservancy Ensemble. Jacobs Music Centers Copley Symphony Hall, 750 B St., downtown. (619) 235-0804. sandiegosymphony.org.

2 p.m. Jan. 27: Brass Band Blast-Off, presented by UC San Diego Urban and Quartyard. Featuring Euphoria Brass Band, the Daniel Rosenboom Octet and a performance of Gilbert Castellanos Dia de los Muertos Suite. Quartyard, 1301 Market St., East Village. Free, but online reservations are required: extension.ucsd.edu/fontwest.

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Twitter @georgevarga

george.varga@sduniontribune.com
Many migrants released from federal custody are in poor health and have not had access to medical care, according to doctors treating them in San Diegos emergency shelter.

We can tell that they have not necessarily had care anywhere along the road, said Maria Carriedo-Ceniceros, chief medical officer for San Ysidro Health Center.

Most of the migrants arrive to the emergency shelter with weakened immune systems. They suffer mostly from communicable diseases like the flu, cold, and respiratory infections  illnesses associated with living in close confinement for long periods of time.

Additionally, doctors have treated pregnant women who have not been given prenatal vitamins, children with cavities, adults with tooth infections and several cases of rashes, scabies, and fungus.

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Although some young children with high fevers have been taken to local hospitals, none of the migrants treated by San Ysidro Health Center providers have had to be hospitalized for extended periods of time.

The federal governments treatment of migrant children attracted national attention in December, after two Guatemalan minors died while in federal custody. An 8-year-old boy was had previously been diagnosed with a cold and fever died on Christmas Day.

Even before the childrens death, doctors in San Diego were aware of the potentially fatal diseases some of the migrants have.

Its always on my mind, said Carriedo-Ceniceros. people forget that the common flu can be serious. People die from it.

In response to the boys death, U.S. Customs and Border Protection ordered medical checks on every child in its custody.

However, local doctors have not noticed that migrants leaving federal custody are in any better condition.

Its probably too early to tell, Carriedo-Ceniceros said. I havent heard of any difference yet.

The migrants in San Diegos emergency shelter usually stay less than 48 hours. If they are given permission to live with relatives in the United States, they are released from federal custody until their immigration cases are resolved. The migrants stay in the San Diegos emergency shelter until they can make travel arrangements to be with their families, most of which live east of the Mississippi, advocates said.

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This dynamic presents healthcare providers with unique challenges. Specifically, doctors wont always have the opportunity to do a follow up and they rarely know a patients medical history.

Doctors and nurses have to diagnose and immediately treat ailments while making sure the patients are safe enough to travel.

In one recent case, doctors struggled to find Amoxicillin for a boy with an ear infection who was going to be on a five-day bus ride to New Orleans the next day.

Sometimes, the migrants are healthy but not fully prepared for their trip. One Central American women destined for the Northeast refused to accept free coats until a doctor explained to her frigid the temperature can get on the East Coast.

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One of our physicians said put your hands in cold water with ice. That is going to be how you feel, said Ana Melgoza, vice president of external affairs for San Ysidro Health Center.

The woman ended up taking several coats after putting her hands in the cold water.

In another instance, a little girl bound for Philadelphia had never seen mittens before in her life.

Shes two years old, I dont think she knows what Philadelphia is, Melgoza said.

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There are limitations to the care and travel advice doctors can provide. When it comes to mental health, providers cannot address some of the issues associated with the journey from Central America to the United States or the underlying issues of why migrants fled home in the first place.

That is an area where we probably need more, Carriedo-Ceniceros said. We are not providing mental health at this point but that is an area that they are going to need. Long-term, with what theyve been through, they will probably have some effect.

Migrants being treated at the shelter operated by the Rapid Response Network are not part of the migrant caravan that has dominated the headlines in recent months.

They are people who left their countries to request asylum in the United States. Thousands of such migrants were in Tijuana before the caravan arrived and more have continued to arrive since then.

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While migrants in the caravan have access to medical care, including dental care and pharmacies that distribute medicine and antibiotics, the majority of non-caravan migrants do not. Many enter federal custody with already weakened immune systems from their long journey to the U.S.-Mexico border.

Advocates and doctors treating migrants on the U.S. side of the border continue to struggle to keep up with demand. Theyve asked state, county and local officials to help them find a shelter with enough capacity for more than 200 people.

On Friday, the city said it had potentially located a property for a shelter and county supervisors on Jan. 8 will also consider identifying some county land for a shelter. The county wants to establish a working group of of federal, state, county and local stakeholders to address long-term solutions.

Due to lack of space, the Rapid Response Network has had to relocate their emergency shelter five times in the last nine weeks.

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Independent of what city, county or state agencies do, migrants will continue to come to San Diego, experts said.

We expect this is going to continue for an extended period of time, Melgoza said. We expect that we will move more than once. We hope that at some point it will be recognized as an emergency. I dont see an immediate end in sight right now.

Contact Gustavo Solis via Email or Twitter
A dated downtown skyscraper is getting a major facelift courtesy of local developer Hammer Ventures, which expects to debut its high-end office product at 1st Avenue and Broadway later this year.

Dubbed Tower 180, the project consists of a 25-story tower and low-rise annex, spanning a total of 360,000 square feet, including some ground-floor retail, at 180 Broadway Ave.

The building, originally constructed in 1963, was purchased by Hammer Ventures in June 2016 for $54.4 million. The privately held real estate investment firm declined to share how much its spending on improvements, but the firm took out an $82 million loan to finance the acquisition and renovations, according to information from real estate tracker CoStar.

Construction, which started in the summer of 2017, is ongoing with the exterior of the eight-story annex complete. The project is expected to be ready for occupancy by summer, said Lawrence Howard, the director of development at Hammer.

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Building upgrades include floor-to-ceiling glass windows, a 13,000-square-foot full-service gym and a large rooftop deck. When completed, the renovated, Class A towers will also offer tenants a host of amenities, including panoramic views of the waterfront, valet parking, electric charging stations and outdoor WiFi-enabled areas.

Howard boasts that Tower 180 has a distinctive look, which he characterized as bold and progressive.

(The look is) intended to bring a world class design to this exceptional location, complemented with extensive outdoor space, amenities, and curated retail aimed at redefining the working lifestyle, Howard wrote in an email.

Started in 2000, Hammer Ventures specializes in acquiring and renovating properties across Southern California. The firms recently completed Muse La Jolla project at 1020 Prospect St. turned a 36,636-square-foot office building into 16 high-priced condos. The developer also owns the vacant Midway postal complex and has outlined plans to build The Post, or an urban-meets-coast campus with 230,000 square feet of office space.

Hammers pricey downtown office redo will presumably compete for elite tenants with a number of in-progress and recently completed buildings, most notably neighboring projects The Campus at Horton and Manchester Pacific Gateway.

The latter development will introduce more than 1 million square feet of all new office stock as part of Manchester Financial Groups $1.5 billion mixed-use project along Pacific Highway, with space currently being leased and ready for occupancy in 2020. Meanwhile, real estate investor Stockdale Capital Partners has proposed turning Horton Plazas 900,000-square-foot retail center into a campus for top tech firms. That endeavor will require city approval, but the developer would like to turn it around for occupancy in around two years.

Tower 180s ocean views, high ceilings and outdoor space will set it apart, Howard said, adding that the building should appeal to traditional tenants such as law firms and professional services companies, as well as technology firms. The project is currently 15 percent leased.

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jennifer.vangrove@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1840 Twitter: @jbruin
Bradley J. Fikes writes about biotechnology and life science for the Union-Tribune.

In todays Back Story, Fikes offers more insight into his Page One article about an impending test of an Alzheimers drug meant to protect the brain against aging.

Q: How did you come to learn about this research?

A: Ive been following the work of Salk Institute researcher Dave Schubert since 2005. In 2011, he and other Salk scientists reported the discovery of a compound that in mice protected against the effects of aging on cognition. This was tested both in normal mice and mouse models of Alzheimers disease.

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Ever since then, Ive watched the research progress, as the scientists developed more of an understanding of how the drug worked. I also observed the struggle to find a biomedical company willing to invest the money to test the drug in people.

Q: A drug for Alzheimers that affects brain aging seems like a roundabout method, and perhaps overly ambitious. Why not just treat the root cause of Alzheimers directly?

A: Thats what scientists and doctors have been trying to do for decades, with very little to show for it. Research suggests that a buildup of toxic brain proteins called beta amyloid and tau are fundamental to Alzheimers. But numerous tests of amyloid drugs have all failed so far. (Tau drugs are in earlier stages of development.)

So Salk Institute researchers Schubert and Pamela Maher say a less specialized approach is needed; that is, to provide general protection against brain aging. In theory, that should also stave off Alzheimers, which is an aging-associated disease.

Q: Did you get the sense from researchers that theyre frustrated they cant find a direct treatment or cure for Alzheimers?

A: They are very frustrated but channel their frustration into more research to find anything that can help. They are more appreciative now of just what a gigantic challenge that is.

Q: Have you talked to patients in the early stages of dementia or family members about their own quests to treat the disease?

A: Ive talked with researchers whose family members have gone through Alzheimers. And philanthropist Darlene Shiley lost her husband, Dr. Donald Shiley, to dementia in 2010. She said the most devastating part of that experience was the day that her husband didnt know her.

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So while thinking of Alzheimers disease or other dementias, I keep in mind there are many more harmed than just the patients. Caregivers experience tremendous stress over a prolonged period of time. This is harmful to their own health, and even to their cognition. And in economic terms, the annual cost from Alzheimers and other dementias totals $277 billion, according to the Alzheimers Association.

Q: How was J147 discovered?

A: Schubert and Maher looked for compounds that protected brain cells, without regard to how they acted. They examined the curry spice turmeric, long sold as a nutritional supplement.

They found that a component called curcumin appeared to have neuroprotective properties. Curcumin also protects against inflammation. In lab tests, it appears to help against certain cancers.

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The scientists devised synthetic variations of curcumin and tested them in mice. The most promising was J147. After identifying the compound, Schubert and colleagues worked backward, to find out what the drug did. He reported discovery of J147s molecular target in January 2018.

Q: So how can I get J147?

A: Youll have to wait a while. First, the drug is undergoing safety testing by San Diego biotech Abrexa in about 60 healthy volunteers. Abrexa has licensed the drug from the Salk Institute, handing it off from basic research to the clinical development stage.

If the drug passes that initial step, the drug can then be given more extensive testing to search for signs of effectiveness. That will take a while, because Alzheimers develops slowly. Also, Abrexa will need to raise money for further testing.

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Q: Where can I look for more information?

A: You can email Abrexa at abrexa@abrexa.net. And Schuberts lab can be found at the Salk Institutes website at www.salk.edu/scientist/dave-schubert.

Q: What can I do in the meantime to protect myself against Alzheimers and other forms of dementia?

A: Keep your brain active by learning new things, doing crosswords or Sudoku. Brains possess neuroplasticity, meaning they can adapt and change with the environment. Some research indicates that those who keep their brains active develop a higher cognitive reserve that can compensate to a certain extent for declining brain function.

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Read more about cognitive reserve at j.mp/cogreserve.

Science Playlist  On Now In a first, scientists rid human embryos of a potentially fatal gene mutation by editing their DNA On Now Space station flyovers visible from San Diego this week 0:55 On Now UCSD's 'ghost drivers' begin testing people's reaction seemingly empty cars 1:29 On Now 10 interesting facts about Mars On Now Kids can add years to your life On Now LA 90: SpaceX launches recycled rocket On Now Big passions, big giving: Malin Burnham 2:30 On Now Big passions, big giving: Darlene Shiley 2:40 On Now Big passions, big giving: Joan and Irwin Jacobs 2:45 On Now Ocean temperatures warming at rapid rate, study finds

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bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com

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Think a minuteThis is a true story about an American president you probably have never heard of. In March, 1849, President James Polk was finishing his term as the U.S. president. The newly elected president, Zachary Taylor, was scheduled to start his term on 4 March. But 4 March, 1849 was a Sunday, and Zachary Taylor was a religious man, so he refused to take his oath of office on a Sunday. But according to the U.S. constitution, President Polk could not remain in office even one day longer than his four-year term.

So who would be the president for that one day? The U.S. constitution instructed that the head of the Senate would temporarily be president until the new president could take his oath of office. The head of the Senate at that time was David Atchison. So for those 24 hoursfrom 12:00 noon on 4 March until 12:00 noon on 5 March, 1849David Atchison was the legal president of the United Statesand the American President you likely have never heard of. But thats not the whole story.

President Polks last week in office was a very busy one. Senator David Atchison did not miss a day of workbut neither did he miss all the farewell celebrations and parties for President Polk. So when Senator Atchison finally went to sleep late on Saturday night, 3 March, he was so exhausted he told his landlady not to awaken him for any reason at all. She faithfully followed his instructions not to wake him, not even in time for him to publicly take office as the president! In fact, Senator Atchison was so tired that he slept all day Sunday through noon on Monday, 5 March. David Atchison, President of the United States, actually slept through his entire term of office! What a record and legacy!

Sadly, some of us almost sleep through our life. Not physically, of course. But we sleepwalk through life by simply going through the motions and routine of surviving from one day to the next. This is tragic since we are made to live a fully purposeful and satisfying life that makes a difference in the world. Today, wont you ask Jesus to take full charge of your life? He will give you your real purpose and passion He created you for, plus the power you need to daily live it. His way is the only way you will not have to sleepwalk through one more day of your life. Just think a minute
Some businesses in Samoa have begun the transition to reusable plastic bags, in order to comply with the Governments ban on single-use plastics.

The nationwide ban on single-use plastic bags goes into effect January 30, 2019  giving local firms over three weeks to consider alternatives.

Apia-based businesses Farmers, Hankys and Samoa Stationery and Books (SSAB) told the Samoa Observer that they support the ban and have begun the transition.

Farmers supervisor, Siliilagi Saolotoga, said their shop is ready for the change and their cargo of reusable plastic bags arrived in Samoa before the New Year.

This regulation is for the benefit of our nation and the environment and we support the cause, Siliilagi said.

The shop already has reusable bags on the counters, ready for their customers.

Lani Fomai, a supervisor at Hankys, said Samoa is making a difference in environment conservation by going down that path, but it cannot be successful without the support of customers.

This is the first time Samoa will be switching to reusable bags and businesses will not be able to push through without the help of committed customers as well, Lani added.

SSAB expressed similar sentiments and added that they have put out reusable grocery bags for their customers.

It is understood plastic bags are still available but at an extra cost ranging from one to two tala. But will not be available when the ban goes into effect at the end of this month. Food items are exempted for necessary plastic packaging for food safety.

Monitoring and inspections in line with the ban will be implemented by the relevant government agencies from January 30. Retailers failing to comply with the Government ban will be convicted and fined.
More awareness needs to be done in Samoa on the dangers of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes.

That is the view of Dr. Xiaokun Gang, who specialises in endocrinology and works at the Motootua Hospital, as part of an agreement between the Governments of Samoa and China on the provision of medical aid and expertise.

Speaking to the Samoa Observer, Dr. Gang said she has been working at the Motootua Hospital in the last five months and she sees the need for more awareness.

In Samoa, there is a great need of doctors and because there are a higher number of patients with diabetes, I felt that there needs to be more awareness so that people can watch what they eat.

Firstly, people diagnosed with diabetes need to realize that this particular disease is a big problem.

They need to control it through the right eating habits, regular exercise, and it is important for everyone to have a full body examination just in case they might not be aware that they are sick like blood tests, she said.

Junk food such as Coke, chips or fried chicken should be avoided by diabetics, the doctor added, to reduce the risks of being diagnosed with diabetes.

All over the world there are so many people suffering from diabetes and it is everyone responsibility to take charge and be the change they need in their life so that they can have a healthy lifestyle.

And speaking of my time here in Samoa, most of the time I worked in the rounds, meaning making my way around the ward and checking on the patients in my area of expertise.

I am happy to say that the treatment I administered for the patients are convenient and effective for them, she added.

Dr. Gang also acknowledged the work of their local colleagues, saying their partnership opened the door for the exchange of knowledge and education.

We acknowledge the work done by doctors here in Samoa because they have no choice but to work with limited resources, in terms of equipment and medicine, and it was also a good opportunity for us and local doctors to exchange knowledge and experience.

So that we can both improve the services we provide and because we are only here for a limited time we wanted to leave something behind with them, she added.

According to the International Diabetes Federation, 425 million adults (20-79 years) live with diabetes and this is expected to increase to 629 million people by 2045. Samoa is among the top 10 obese countries in the world.

Dr. Gang is part of the medical team from China through the signed agreement of the Memorandum of Understanding between Samoa and China.
Member of Parliament, Leatinuu Wayne Sooialo, is fuming as a reckless driver has left him with a $10,000 damage bill.

The Parliamentarian took to social media to express his frustration at the driver of a Toyota Hilux Double Cab Lic#05**, which damaged his vehicle outside a Frankie supermarket before the New Year.

We know who you are and Police are still waiting for you to come forward. My truck (Ford Ranger) is insured but you have to own up sir, he posted on Facebook.

Responding to questions from the Samoa Observer, Leatinuu said the Police are waiting for the vehicle and its owner to come forward.

The quote for the damages left on my car is between $8000 and $10,000 to repair it, he added.

This newspaper contacted Superintendent Soloi Iosefa Tuimaunei, who is in charge of traffic division, but he referred the questions to the Commissioner of Police Fuiavailiili Egon Keil.

Emails sent to the Police Commissioner and his Secretary did not get a response at the time of going to press.
Sixty-one-year-old Panoama Va Felafoaina from Luatuanuu has not given up hope on finding her son alive as the search enters its fourth day.

Va Tua, 40, went missing on Thursday after a swimming incident, which has left one dead and another fighting for his life at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital.

My son is like my favorite pillow I always take with me because he never leaves my side. When he was here, it never bothered me if he doesnt do any chores in and around our house, as long as he is always beside me, she said, as she fought back tears when talking about him.

The Ministry of Police has been coordinating a search and rescue operation around the waters of Luatuanuu, with the villagers also joining in the search since the disappearance of the three men last Thursday.

Mrs. Felafoaina said her son was not only her favourite but a devoted churchgoer despite his shortcomings.

I always drag my children to church as a parent would always do, especially Va because he is always lazy, which is more of the reasons why I miss him so much and want him to come back home already.

My son is now in his 40s but I still consider him my baby because not only he has always been on my side, but he always finds a way to make up for his wrong-doings, whenever he has done something wrong. I would always wait for him when hes away with his friends, she added.

Having gone through this experience with the loss of her son, Mrs. Felafoaina cautioned the public to be mindful of curfew hours, which ensured there was time for family evening services and guarded against mishaps involving family members.
Malfunctioning airport runway lights triggered by a burnt out fuse led to the cancellation of two flights from New Zealand on Friday night.

This is according to the Samoa Airports Authoritys Acting Airport Manager, Silimana'i Ueta Solomona, in an interview with the Sunday Samoan.

The runway lights were out as of Friday morning and because we could not resource it locally, we had to inform Air New Zealand.

We did get the part from Fiji in the afternoon, and the problem has been resolved, he said.

Samoa Airways does not have night flights with only Air New Zealand affected as they operated night services, he added.

Questioned on whether the problem could re-occur, Silimana'i said the Samoa Airport Authority did not anticipate having problems with the runway light fuses.

To be honest, we did not anticipate this would happen. However, now that this has happened, we have ordered more fuses to ensure this does not occur anymore. We got the fuse and the spares yesterday (Friday) afternoon from Fiji and that was the only early flight.

The Acting Manager also used the opportunity to apologise to the travelling public, who were affected by the flight cancellation from New Zealand.

Again we did not anticipate this would happen and this occurred out of the blue and we sincerely apologise for the disruption of flights for Air New Zealand. And that action has been taken to assure that parts are stocked up to avoid the cancellation of flights.

He said the airport is well aware of the impact of flight cancellations but this does not happen all the time and this was just one flight (to and from) Samoa that had to be cancelled.

And so we are negotiating with Air New Zealand, but for the time being, the airport will not pay any fee to the airline for the cancelled flights, he added.

An Airport engineer, who did not want to be named, said it would be impossible for any aircraft to land at night  without the runway edge lighting working.

It is for safety purposes and so the passengers should be assured their safety is paramount to us than anything else.

So you see at airports, where there is a control tower, the tower will manage the lights to account for visibility and pilot preference and again without these lights, landing is impossible, said the engineer.

According to the engineer, the faulty runway lights were repaired in the afternoon, but the airline went ahead and cancelled its flights.

The airline was informed ahead of time of what has occurred and we had to make sure we get the parts and the issue is resolved, before we can officially inform the airlines. Again by the time the airline was informed, that matter had been resolved, they had already cancelled their flights.

The Sunday Samoan visited the airport yesterday and spoke to several passengers who were affected and they said they were advised prior to the flight.
Saudi-led mercenaries shell several areas in Hodeidah [05/January/2019] HODEIDAH, Jan. 5 (Saba)  The mercenaries of US-backed Saudi-led aggression coalition militiamen shelled on Friday several areas in Hodeidah province, a security official said.



The artillery's militiamen fired 30 shells and their machine guns at Mahl al-Shaikh, Bani Maghari villages in Kilo 16, Kilo 7 areas, Yemen mobile round, al-Khukha, Hais districts lines, citizens and their farms in Tuhayta and Duraihmy districts , the official added.





AA

Saba
Canadian shares ended on a buoyant note on Friday, mirroring the trend in the U.S. and European , on optimism about U.S.-China trade talks scheduled to be held next week.

Rising crude oil prices, encouraging services sector data from China and strong U.S. and Canadian jobs reports aided sentiment.

Energy, information , consumer discretionary and financial shares led the market higher. The Capped Energy Index jumped more than 3%, the Technology Index advanced by 2.7%, the Consumer Discretionary index advanced by about 2.4% and the Financial Index ended 1.53% up. Industrials and healthcare stocks too ended notably higher.

The benchmark S&P/TSX Computer Index ended up 213.87 points, or 1.5%, at 14,426.62, slightly off the day's high of 14,438.60.



On Thursday, the index ended down 134.41 points, or 0.94%, at 14,212.75 after scaling a low of 14,155.27 and a high of 14,297.89 in the session.

Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ.TO), Suncor Energy Inc. (SU.TO), Imperial Oil (IMO.TO), Encana Corporation (ECA.TO), Vermilion Energy Inc. (VET.TO), Husky Energy Inc. (HSE.TO), PrairieSky Royalty (PSK.TO) and Seven Generations Energy (VII.TO) gained 2 to 4%. Tourmaline Oil Corp. (TOU.TO) gained about 1.3%, while Cenovus Energy Inc. (CVE.TO) rose by more than 5.5%.

Among bank stocks, Royal Bank of Canada (RY.TO), Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD.TO), Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS.TO), Bank of Montreal (BMO.TO) and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM.TO) gained 1 to 1.7%, while National Bank of Canada edged up marginally.

In the technology space, CGI Group Inc. (GIB.A.TO), Open Text Corporation (OTEX.TO), Constellation Software Inc (CSU.TO), Kinaxis Inc. (KXS.TO) and Enghouse Systems (ENGH.TO) ended higher by 1 to 2%.

Shopify Inc. (SHOP.TO) jumped 5.8%, BlackBerry (BB.TO) gained 4.1%, Descartes Systems Group Inc. (DSG.TO) added 3.5% and Sierra Wireless Inc. (SW.TO) gained about 3%.

Among materials shares, Nutrien (NTR.TO) climbed up nearly 4%, Teck Resources (TECK.B.T) jumped 5% and First Quantum Minerals (FM.TO) soared 7.4%.

Franco-Nevada Corporation (FNV.TO) declined by 3.4%, Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM.TO) shed 2.4%, Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. (WPM.TO) ended 4.2% down, Goldcorp Inc. (G.TO) declined by 2.7% and Kirkland Lake Gold (KL.TO) shed 3.7%.

Bombardier Inc. (BBD.B.TO), Aurora Cannabis Inc. (ACB.TO), Enbridge Inc. (ENB.TO), Baytex Energy Corp. (BTE.TO), Shaw Communications (SJR.B.TO), Lundin Mining Corporation (LUN.TO), Kelt Exploration (KEL.TO) and Maxar Technologies (MAXR.TO) rose sharply.

Hudson's Bay soared nearly 16%. Rupert of the Rhine LLC, An entity controlled by Richard A. Baker, has entered into an agreement to acquire 17.95 million common shares of Hudson's Bay Company from a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board, at a price of C$9.45 per share, representing 115% of the market price.

On the economic front, the Canadian added 9,300 jobs in December. The Canadian unemployment rate also held steady at 5.6%. Economists had expected an increase of 5,500 jobs and an unemployment rate of 5.7%.

Industrial Product Price Index decreased 0.8% in November, mainly due to lower prices for energy and petroleum products. The Raw Materials Price Index fell 11.7%, largely reflecting lower prices for crude energy products.

In U.S., Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell noted the central bank "will be patient" with monetary policy as it watches the economy evolve.

The Fed chief said the central bank is always prepared to significantly shift the stance of monetary policy if incoming economic data does not meet expectations.

The Labor Department's report showed a much stronger than expected job growth in the U.S. in the month of December. The report said non-farm payroll employment soared by 312,000 jobs in December after climbing by an upwardly revised 176,000 jobs in November.

Economists had expected employment to increase by about 177,000 jobs compared to the addition of 155,000 jobs originally reported for the previous month.

China's commerce ministry said that China and the United States would hold vice ministerial level trade talks in Beijing on January 7-8 in a bid to defuse trade tensions.

Data relesed by Markit said growth in China's services sector edged higher in December. The Caixin/Markit services PMI rose to a six-month high of 53.9 in December from 53.8 in November.

Asian stocks ended mixed on Friday, with solid services sector data and hopes of trade talks lifting Chinese stocks sharply higher, while Japanese shares succumbed to heavy selling as trading resumed after a long week of holidays.

The European markets ended sharply higher, reacting to positive Chinese data, news about upcoming U.S.-China trade talks and strong U.S. employment data.

In commodities, crude oil futures for February ended up $0.87, or 1.9%, at $47.96 a barrel, extending gains to a fifth successive session.

Gold futures for February ended down $9.00, or 0.7%, at $1,285.80 an ounce.

Silver futures for March ended at $15.786 an ounce, down $0.011 from previous close. Copper futures for March settled at $2.647 per pound, gaining $0.079 for the session.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Crude oil prices ended sharply higher on Friday, extending gains to a fifth successive session, after stronger than expected U.S. jobs data and an encouraging report on Chinese services sector activity eased concerns about global growth and energy demand prospects.

Hopes that output reductions by major oil producers like Saudi Arabia and Russia would help ease concerns about excess supply in the market contributed as well to oil's uptick.

Oil output from OPEC fell by 530,000 barrels a day to 32.6 million a day last month, a Reuters survey found, marking the sharpest pullback since January 2017 as top exporter Saudi Arabia throttled back production.

Meanwhile, data released by the Energy Information Administration today showed crude inventories in the U.S. rose by 7,000 barrels in the week to December 28, beating expectations for a drop of more than 3 million barrels.

Distillate stockpiles were up by 9.5 million barrels last week, the biggest weekly jump in two years. Gasoline stocks rose by 6.9 million barrels, more than thrice the expected increase.

American Petroleum Institute reported yesterday that U.S. crude inventories fell by 4.5 million barrels during the week ended December 28.

Crude oil futures for February ended up $0.87, or 1.9%, at $47.96 a barrel, extending gains to a fifth successive session.

On Thursday, crude oil futures ended up $0.55, or 1.2%, at $47.09 a barrel. For the week, oil futures gained about 5.8%, the best weekly returns in about 17 months.

China's commerce ministry said that China and the United States would hold vice ministerial level trade talks in Beijing on January 7-8 in a bid to defuse trade tensions.

Data released by Markit said growth in China's services sector edged higher in December. The Caixin/Markit services PMI rose to a six-month high of 53.9 in December from 53.8 in November.

The Labor Department's report showed a much stronger than expected job growth in the U.S. in the month of December. The report said non-farm payroll employment soared by 312,000 jobs in December after climbing by an upwardly revised 176,000 jobs in November.

Economists had expected employment to increase by about 177,000 jobs compared to the addition of 155,000 jobs originally reported for the previous month.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Market Analysis
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Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 71F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph..

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Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 71F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.
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US Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas): I understand from whats been testified to the Forest Service and the BLM [Bureau of Land Management], you want very much to work on the issue of climate change. We know theres been significant solar flare activity, and so  is there anything that the National Forest Service or BLM can do to change the course of the moons orbit, or the Earths orbit around the sun? Obviously that would have profound effects on our climate.

Jennifer Eberlein, associate deputy chief for the National Forest System, responded that she would have to follow up with you on that one, after a brief pause.

Gohmert: Well, if you figure out a way that you in the Forest Service can make that change, Id like to know.
The bodys immune system is incredibly complex and keeping it well-regulated relies on many factors  including diet, exercise and sleep. How much alcohol an individual consumes is also a factor. When the body processes alcohol, multiple organs are affected in different ways  all of which have negative impacts on the immune system. As more and more people turn to alcohol to cope with the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic, its important to understand the potential harmful impacts of alcohol on the bodys ability to fight off diseases.
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KAMPALA  Opposition lynchpin Col (Rtd) Dr Kizza Besigye has said President Museveni and his NRM government are responsible for the current problems facing the energy sector in the country.

In a statement issued on Friday evening, Dr Besigye said that Ugandans will continue paying high power bills because of what he described as dysfunctional government systems and policies in the energy sector.

He said because of lack of a comprehensive energy policy for the country, the government has ended up mortgaging the energy sector to foreign companies.

Theft/ corruption and dysfunctional government systems and institutions in the Energy sector are responsible for the power crisis in Uganda. Mr Museveni/ State Houses hand is pervasive in all the project scandals. The Ugandan people are, and will continue, paying heavily for the mega scandals in the Energy sector, Dr Besigye said.

This is clearly one of the most disempowering and impoverishing failures/ betrayals of the Museveni regime. Less than 5% of the population has access to electricity due to the high cost and a very tiny distribution network. Theres no end in sight to the power crisis in Uganda unless a more accountable, transparent and patriotic government takes charge, he added.

The four-time presidential candidate explained that apart from hydroelectric power and biomass, Uganda has vast renewable energy resources in the form of solar, geothermal and wind.

However, he said, unfortunately, up to now, no evaluation of these resources has been done.

By 2011, Kenya was already harnessing 280MW of geothermal power- far more than the famed Bujagali dam. What is more, Kenyas geothermal output is expected to grow to 800MW by 2018.

Dr Besigye gave an example of Bujagali power project which he said its mismanagement will forever hurt the economy.

Te Bujagali dam project was a total fiasco, the epitome of NRM regimes corruption and incompetence. The country will bleed from its effects for very many years. The project was conceived around 1994 as a public (government)-private partnership (PPP). In February 1996, government awarded and signed a contract with AES Nile Power Ltd without competitive bidding, with the project cost of $450 million. As usual, Mr Museveni was central in negotiating the deal.

The contract included a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) that committed Uganda government to buy all the power to be produced at an agreed price. These agreements were a tightly guarded secret between government and AES Nile Power Ltd. All efforts by civil society organisations and Parliament to gain access to these agreements were rejected by government.

AES Nile Power then embarked on mobilising the necessary funding for the project. Meantime, in December 1996, AES Nile Power adjusted the contract sum upwards to US$530 million, to which the Uganda government agreed. Right from the award of the contract, many local and international environmental NGOs presented serious concerns to the government, worried about the negative impact of the project. The following were their main concerns:

The environmental cost was too high. This included the dangers of over draining Lake Victoria, absence of a cumulative impact assessment of the cascade of dams, especially since no environmental impact assessment was done for the second power project, destruction of the unique cascading Bujagali falls that was a national treasure for tourism among others, and destruction of habitats for fish and birds, with a serious impact on River Nile fisheries.

Nalubaale (Owen falls) dam posed a potent threat to the proposed Bujagali dam because its projected life span had expired and it was known to be heavily cracked. A company of UK divers were contracted to assess the dams safety but the report was kept secret. If Nalubaale collapsed, the boulders and water released would wipe out the nearby Bujagali dam down the river.

Neglect of other sources of energy- the bloated project had the effect of stifling development of viable renewable energy options. Lack of a cost-benefit analysis- generation of power at any cost cannot be Ugandas pursuit. Some observed that Bujagali dam was a costly white elephant; that increased the nations debt load and produced little power that few Ugandans could afford.

See full statement below



HOW MUSEVENI HAS SABOTAGED THE ENERGY SECTOR.

BY DR KIZZA-BESIGYE

This write-up has been prompted by repeated misinformation and blame-game by Mr Museveni on Ugandas chronic energy crisis. This has been, especially, in an attempt to explain the very long delay in completing the Bujagali dam project. Its important, however, to look at the whole energy sector because this is the heart of a countrys economic growth.

The sector has had major problems, both at the policy and the implementation levels. There was no energy policy at all between 1986 and 2002! Government only depended on annual policy statements made by the minister to accompany budget estimates. The renewable energy policy that encompasses our most vital resources was only made in 2007. This is the policy that deals with river dams, solar, biomass (agriculture and forestry products), underground heat (geothermal), wind, and peat (accumulation of partially decayed vegetation). For 20 years, there was no policy!!

The energy policy of 2002 and the renewable energy policy 2007 are themselves significantly deficient in some parts and quite misdirected in others. However, I have no intention of delving into that now. The power sector was fundamentally reformed and largely privatised under the Electricity Act 1999 before there was any form of energy policy!

This, of course, has been the standard practice of the cart pulling the horse. This was the law that facilitated the government to hand over the power sector to foreign government bodies, under the guise of privatisation. It is noteworthy that this colossal government failure occurred at a time when there was no political opposition in Parliament; when for most part, the president was the executive and speaker of Parliament.

The biggest failure and sabotage of the energy sector, however, was in the conception/ misconception and implementation of power projects. The subversion and corruption evidenced in this sector vividly display Mr Museveni and his regimes unpatriotic and perfidious intentions.

Ugandas energy resource

Apart from hydroelectric power and biomass, Uganda has vast renewable energy resources in the form of solar, geothermal and wind. These also happen to be the most environmentally friendly sources of energy.

Unfortunately, up to now, no evaluation of these resources has been done! By 2011, Kenya was already harnessing 280MW of geothermal power- far more than the famed Bujagali dam. What is more, Kenyas geothermal output is expected to grow to 800MW by 2018.

Power projects

Owen falls/ Nalubaale dam was the first power project. It was commissioned progressively from 1954 to 1968; when 10 units had been installed with a total capacity of 150MW. The project cost at the time was estimated at $63 million.

This was at a time when Ugandas population was only six million. Over the turbulent years, output of the dam collapsed from the initial 150MW to about 60MW!

The second power project constituted the rehabilitation of the Owen falls dam, up-rating its capacity from the original 150MW to 180MW, rehabilitation of the transmission and distribution lines; and capacity building for the defunct UEB. The project was approved in March 1985 and the project cost was $73.4 million. This is the project that was undertaken during the first years of the NRM regime.

There is very little information regarding the implementation of this project, save for the fact that its reported to have been completed ten years later in 1996. The third project was initiated under the NRM regime. It had three main objectives, namely: improving the safety of the existing Owen Falls Dam/ Nalubaale, expanding power generation by building another dam (1km from the Owen Falls Dam) with a capacity of 102MW, later changed to 200MW and capacity building for Uganda Electricity Board (UEB).

The planned project cost was $300 million and the project was launched in 1991. An appraisal that was undertaken before the project was started showed that there was a critical risk to the project from low water levels of Lake Victoria.

This was tragically ignored! Government minister Hilary Onek [while Energy minister] has also publically stated that he advised government about the water level risk and the advice was ignored.

Gibbs Company, who designed the Owen Falls Dam (1948), and a British Aid agency, Kennedy and Donkin, all advised that the extension of the project was not economically justified because of the low water levels. Its worth noting that a firm, Acres of Canada, which did the feasibility, detailed engineering and construction supervision of the project didnt go through competitive bidding. It was another bedroom appointment!

In spite of all the concerns expressed about the low lake water levels, the original design of installing four turbines of 34MW each (total of 102MW) was changed to five turbines of 40MW each (total 200MW)! Eventually, only three out of the planned five (40MW) turbines were installed (financed by Norway). Due to the low water levels, only two of the three installed turbines were commissioned. The third is being used as a transformer for a private Jinja thermal plant.

A company, SIETCO from China, which was potentially unqualified, and had presented easily verifiable false information, was awarded the tender to do the construction (civil) work. The firm didnt have money or technical competence to do the work. This was eventually terminated. The re-bidding process resulted in a four-year delay of the project and an additional expenditure of $26 million.

The project was based on a plan to increase the price of electricity to levels that were clearly unrealistic for the market to bear. Electricity price was supposed to be doubled immediately (1991) to $4.8 cents/unit, to be trebled to $7.2 cents/Unit by January 1993. Thereafter it was supposed to increase 5% per year from 1994 till a price of $ 15 cents/Unit!!

Between 1991 and 1993, the price of electricity for a typical consumer increased from Shs 10 per unit to Shs 86 per unit, because of the changed rate and the fluctuating dollar price. The government of Uganda signed onto these conditions, well-knowing that its citizens were among the poorest human beings on earth and that power was vital for human and economic development.

As a result, by 1994, less than 25% of all the UEB bills were paid for. Between 1991 and 1997, unpaid electricity bills accumulated to Shs 71 billion ($6 m at the time). This spelt doom for UEB and provided the justification for winding it up. In spite of increasing electricity prices eight times and getting government capitalization of US$40 million, UEB could not meet its debt servicing!

Under the 1999 Electricity Act that restructured the power sector, UEB was divided into three companies for power generation. There was the Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL) for generating power, the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) for transmission and the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) for distribution.

Eskom, a South African government company, leased the asserts of UEGCL for 20 years; with a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) that compels the only Uganda government-owned company UETCL to purchase all power supplied by Eskom, irrespective of the Lake Victoria water levels. Eskom, together with a UK company, formed the company known as Umeme.

Umeme has since entered into dubious agreements with government that have already caused a loss of hundreds of millions of dollars to Uganda since their takeover. The net effect of the third project was the following: That out of the 380MW capacity developed at Nalubaale/Owen (180MW) and Kiira dams (200MW), the actual power output of the two dams, now managed by a foreign company, is less than 100MW!! This means that the Kiira dam investment was a disastrous waste.

Lake Victoria water levels have fallen to disastrous levels.

The meteoric rise in the price of electricity to levels that is unaffordable by most people. An independent evaluation group of the World Bank (main funder) carried out in 2008 concluded that the outcome of the project (implemented over a 10- year period) was rated as UNSATISFACTORY, the second poorest rating. The winding up of UEB and handing over the strategic power sector to foreign control.

The low power output at Nalubaale and Kiira dams led to a high shortage of electricity that prompted the contracting of thermal power (diesel engine generators) companies. This caused a further rise in the price of electricity. The rise was so high that government had to subsidise consumers from taxpayers money.

It is estimated that government subsidy has been about $100 million per year although about 5% of the population consumes electricity. This is a direct contribution to growth of poverty. Foreign companies that took over electricity generation and distribution (sales) employ experts from their countries; undermining the development of domestic expertise.

Mr Museveni blames opposition MPs for the countrys energy problems; saying they delayed the implementation of the Bujagali dam project. Before moving on to Bujagali, can Mr Museveni or anyone in government inform Ugandans who was responsible for the above disastrous developments and what action was taken on them?

Bujagali dam project

The Bujagali dam project was a total fiasco, the epitome of NRM regimes corruption and incompetence. The country will bleed from its effects for very many years. The project was conceived around 1994 as a public (government)-private partnership (PPP). In February 1996, government awarded and signed a contract with AES Nile Power Ltd without competitive bidding, with the project cost of $450 million. As usual, Mr Museveni was central in negotiating the deal.

The contract included a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) that committed Uganda government to buy all the power to be produced at an agreed price. These agreements were a tightly guarded secret between government and AES Nile Power Ltd. All efforts by civil society organisations and Parliament to gain access to these agreements were rejected by government.

AES Nile Power then embarked on mobilising the necessary funding for the project. Meantime, in December 1996, AES Nile Power adjusted the contract sum upwards to US$530 million, to which the Uganda government agreed. Right from the award of the contract, many local and international environmental NGOs presented serious concerns to the government, worried about the negative impact of the project. The following were their main concerns:

The environmental cost was too high. This included the dangers of over draining Lake Victoria, absence of a cumulative impact assessment of the cascade of dams, especially since no environmental impact assessment was done for the second power project, destruction of the unique cascading Bujagali falls that was a national treasure for tourism among others, and destruction of habitats for fish and birds, with a serious impact on River Nile fisheries.

Nalubaale (Owen falls) dam posed a potent threat to the proposed Bujagali dam because its projected life span had expired and it was known to be heavily cracked. A company of UK divers were contracted to assess the dams safety but the report was kept secret. If Nalubaale collapsed, the boulders and water released would wipe out the nearby Bujagali dam down the river.

Neglect of other sources of energy- the bloated project had the effect of stifling development of viable renewable energy options. Lack of cost-benefit analysis- generation of power at any cost cannot be Ugandas pursuit. Some observed that Bujagali dam was a costly white elephant; that increased the nations debt load and produced little power that few Ugandans could afford.

The PPA between Uganda and AES Nile Power Ltd was a closely-guarded secret. Again, this made it difficult to ascertain the impact of the dam on Ugandas economy. It is these NGOs concerns that attracted the attention and involvement of MPs, whom Mr Museveni has been aggressively and incessantly blaming for Ugandas power crisis.

It ought to be clearly understood, however, that the involvement of the MPs didnt at all occasion the delay of the Bujagali dam project. Three developments caused the delay of Bujagali dam, namely: In 2002, a corruption/ bribery scandal broke out, where AES Nile Power Ltd officials were alleged to have corruptly influenced government officials.

This led to an investigation by the US Justice Department (based on US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act) and the World Bank Fraud and Corruption Unit. The World Bank financing was withheld from mid-2002 pending the outcome of the corruption investigations. Consequently, dam construction was suspended.

In June 2003, two construction firms on the project, Veidekke and Skanska pulled out, citing bribery and environmental controversies. As the problems in Uganda were ongoing, AES Corp, the main shareholder of AES Nile Power, developed problems leading to a drastic collapse of its share value.

In August 2003, AES Corp announced that it was discontinuing the construction and development of AES Nile Power project in Uganda. AES wrote off $75 million that it had already invested in Bujagali project. In June 2002, World Banks independent investigative unit found that the Bujagali project violated five operational policies of the bank!

In November 2002, after the suspension of the project, the High court made a historic ruling which declared the PPA a public document and forced the government to make it public. An independent review of the PPA between Uganda government and AES Nile Power Ltd was carried out (after the forced release) by Prayas Energy Group.

The review determined that the project cost was inflated more than double. The agreement would make the Ugandan people pay $20-40 million extra per year compared to similar projects in other parts of the world. The 2003 pull-out of the project by AES was, therefore, a blessing for Uganda- short-lived as it turned out to be. Bujagali dam was re-bidded in 2005.

A consortium led by Industrial Promotions Services (IPS), a holding company of the Aga Khan was awarded the contract, ahead of three other consortia. It was reported that IPS lagged behind the others at the technical evaluation. Mr Museveni and State House were again very involved in deciding the contract award

The project partners, IPS, Sithe Global Power (USA) and the government set up a new company- Bujagali Energy Ltd (BEL) to operate and run the project. IPS and BEL signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) and an Implementation Agreement with government (UEGCL) respectively. These agreements were signed before Parliament approved the governments obligation as required by law. The project cost was put at $860 million!!

The government advanced BEL $90 million to kick-start the project. The project also inherited the $75million asserts forfeited by defunct AES Nile Power Ltd. Construction work resumed in 2007 and was planned to be completed in three years. The Bujagali Power Project was inaugurated in October 2012, 16 years after the initial contract was signed!!

At the inauguration, Mr Nazir Juma, the chairman of BEL, reported that the total project cost was $902 million! The investigation by a parliamentary ad-hoc committee on energy, chaired by Bududa South Jacob Oboth-Oboth showed that the actual cost of the dam project was $1.3 billion. The committee recommended a forensic audit of the project. Bujagali dam, even at the official $902 million, is the most expensive dam in the world today [given its limited power capacity]!

Construction of hydropower plants in Africa and other continents cost between $1.0- 1.7 per MW capacity. Bujagali, at the officially declared project cost stands at $3.6 per MW. If the parliamentary committee findings are correct, this will go up to $5.2 per MW!

Worse still, whereas the installed capacity of Bujagali dam is 250MW, due to the low water levels that were known to obtain, the actual output of the dam since inauguration has not exceeded 130MW on average! The total power generated by the three dams today is just a little more than what the upgraded Nalubaale/ Owen falls dam produced, yet its ten times more expensive and the country is saddled with debts from the white elephant projects.

This is the latest scandal, whose extent is still unfolding. Karuma dam project is supposed to generate 600MW of power. It was conceived in the mid-1990s and has been on the drawing board since. Corruption allegations started even as the project was being drawn up. It may be recalled that a Norwegian company that had interest in getting the Karuma contract allegedly paid a Ugandan senior government official a $10,000 bribe.

Karuma dam

The bids for Karuma dam were eventually invited in August 2010. Eight major bidders were shortlisted. All the others except three companies (two Chinese and one Iranian) were eliminated at the pre-qualification stage. Immediately after this, allegations of bribery started. They were first published in The East African newspaper. It was alleged that the contracts evaluation committee received $1.2 million from the Chinese.

Since then, court injunctions, official investigations, court cancellation and repetition of the evaluation process have crippled the procurement process. In March 2013, the IGG recommended (and government has accepted) that the project should be re-tendered! Nearly three years on, no contractor has been selected.

In a Daily Monitor story of April 15, 2013, Mr Museveni is reported to have informed his cabinet that some of his ministers were demanding for a $200 million bribe from a Chinese firm aspiring to win the Karuma power dam construction contract. It has also been reported that Mr Museveni has now personally taken over the procurement process to fast-track it. Yes, hold your breath!!

Conclusion

Theft/ corruption and dysfunctional government systems and institutions in the Energy sector are responsible for the power crisis in Uganda. Mr Museveni/ State Houses hand is pervasive in all the project scandals. The Ugandan people are, and will continue, paying heavily for the mega scandals in the Energy sector.

This is clearly one of the most disempowering and impoverishing failures/ betrayals of the Museveni regime. Less than 5% of the population has access to electricity due to the high cost and a very tiny distribution network. Theres no end in sight to the power crisis in Uganda unless a more accountable, transparent and patriotic government takes charge

What is presented here regarding the energy sector is certainly replicated in all sectors of government. This is why roads in Uganda are the most expensive to construct and take forever to complete yet they disintegrate in a very short time. This is why Uganda Railways collapsed, ICT development is poorest in the region; water dam reservoirs for dry areas of Uganda remain a fantasy. This is why, in spite of being in government for nearly 30 years and uncountable money spent, all social services are in shambles, agriculture has collapsed, Ugandans have no national IDs; etc.

Recommendations

Accordingly, recommendations need to target the pervasive failures, theft and corruption, subversion, and dysfunction of government and those that have colluded and abated its crimes. The following measures are recommended: Parliament should urgently institute a formal and public inquiry into the grave and glaring cases of corruption, abuse of office and misconduct in the implementation of the power projects in Uganda.

The Auditor General should carry out a forensic audit of all the power projects. Parliament should initiate a probe into the role of the World Bank and associated institutions in supporting dubious projects that enslave Ugandans to paying huge debt burdens. Where these lenders have acted imprudently or illegally, a case should be made for non-payment of their loans.

MPs should revive the impeachment proceedings against the president under Article 107 (a) and (b). They should start by drawing up the many, very clear, and incontrovertible charges of abuse of office and misconduct (including acts of commission and omission) as provided for in the constitution. Unless the mafia-like network in government is completely purged, the misery of Ugandans can only intensify.

Let all Ugandans who are informed rally other citizens to say that ENOUGH IS ENOUGH and to demand a better government.

Comments
A first-generation farmer and Nuffield Scholar, Chris Fogden owns and manages 950 outdoor sows on 40ha of rented land within the rotation of a large Norfolk arable estate.

Every day at this time of the year starts with a quick look at the medium-range weather forecast, which is pretty accurate up to a fortnight away.

The main fear, of course, is prolonged frosty spells and the increased workload when days are short, people want days off and there is already a lot more bedding up to do. Our good fortune in the UK was highlighted to those of us from the Norfolk and Suffolk Pig Discussion groups, plus a few others to add strength, who went to Denmark in early December. Frosts had already set in every night and there will be little let up there until well into next March.

The main focus of our trip was the Agromek show at Herning, a mixed arable and livestock equipment show, all under cover  thank goodness. There were plenty of very expensive things on display, some not yet available in the UK. I managed to miss some of the better ones, including a novel way of finishing pigs on straw bedding and a high-tech bird scarer.

We also visited the main Danish pig genetics company, DanBred, a farm and the huge abattoir at Horsens. The farm was a five-year- old, 1,200-sow breeding unit where production is squarely aimed at the UK market, with side opening farrowing pens and straw bedding (fully automated, naturally).

Productivity was, as expected, huge  above the Danish average of 33 weaned/sow/year. Most pigs are finished at other farms in the same ownership and, as one of the 2,000 producers supplying finished pigs to Danish Crown, he is, in effect, one of the co-owners of the operation, including the UK operations of Tulip, Dalehead and BQP. He was uncompromising in his take on the way that things had been turning out financially at Danish Crown.

His pigs go to the abattoir at Horsens, which kills 20,000 pigs per day and 100,000 per week.

Aside from the efficiency and automation on show, the most notable feature is how they cater for visitors, with nine dedicated staff and a glass viewing gallery over the top of the plant enabling visitors to see operations from the lairage onwards.

They very regularly host school parties  our guide felt the younger, the better to learn where their favourite meat comes from.

We really need to be able to do this in the UK to counter the amount of misinformation that youngsters receive from the other direction. With 2.23 head of pigs per person in Denmark compared with 0.07 in the UK, it is just as well that the sector appears to be highly valued.

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DARBY (AP)  Police say a man with a loaded handgun was buzzed into an elementary school near Philadelphia and was later arrested after trying to get inside neighborhood houses.

Darby Borough Police Chief Robert Smythe said the man, 21-year-old Nazher Sabree, was recognized as a former student by an office employee and allowed into Park Lane School in Darby on Friday. Sabree told the principal he was looking for a bag hed lost and she escorted him out of the building.

He was then allegedly seen trying to get inside nearby houses, and police were notified. Smythe said Sabree threatened officers with the gun before he was arrested.

Smythe said Sabree had been acting erratically outside the school earlier in the day and never should have been let inside.

No one was harmed.

Messages seeking comment from the school district and principal were not immediately returned Friday.
The turning point in the life of Dorothy Beam and the spark to her activism came after a landlord informed the retired Philadelphia guidance counselor that her only child had died.

With her grief in 1988 came many questions. She was proud that Joseph Beam had edited In the Life, the first anthology of black gay mens writing, and that he was working on a second. But he hadnt told her that he was HIV-positive, and she hadnt fully understood his literary significance.

In her sons well-organized correspondence were letters to black gay writers, including Audre Lorde, but also letters to people who were incarcerated. His files included interviews with organizer Bayard Rustin and poet Pat Parker, notes and manuscripts from his journalism and gay-rights work, among other writings. His network had been international.

What she found was a world that she wasnt aware of, said Steven G. Fullwood, an archivist and documentarian who co-edited the anthology Black Gay Genius: Answering Joe Beams Call. She knew that his post-life was as valuable as his embodiment.

Bereaved but determined, she famously vowed to bring the second anthology to fruition. She reached out to a friend of her son, the poet Essex Hemphill, to join her in carrying out Josephs vision. She invited Hemphill to move into her home in Overbrook so they could finish the project. Hemphill handled the editing, while Mrs. Beam worked as a project coordinator behind the scenes. The result, Brother to Brother: New Writings by Black Gay Men, was published in 1991.

My reason for finishing the book is that my son worked hard to finish it, she told the Inquirer in 1992, later adding: My son knew Im a worker, Im a go-getter. ... In his heart, my son knows I would finish his book. If there is a heaven, hes there and hes smiling.

The 94-year-old activist died Dec. 26, from advanced colon cancer, according to her great-niece, Vaneeda Days.

She had been spending the winter of her life in Renaissance Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in West Philadelphia, with the effects of her dementia clouding her memory, but still sharing her characteristic sweetness. In the work she undertook to preserve the legacy of her son, a beacon in black gay literature, Mrs. Beam became a symbol for a mothers love.

Guy Weston, a writer and genealogist, knew Joseph Beam, and remembers seeing Mrs. Beam at a reading at Giovannis Room for In the Life. It was December of 1986. He was gobsmacked to see her with her husband, Sun Beam, he said, because parents typically wouldnt attend gay events at that time. He recalls seeing the pride in Mrs. Beams eyes.

The Inquirer visited Mrs. Beam as she was preparing to donate her sons papers to the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York. Her donation planted a seed in a way, Fullwood explained Wednesday, inspiring him as he founded and curated the Schomburgs In the Life archive, dedicated to black LGBTQ experiences.

In 1991, then-Philadelphia Mayor Wilson Goode proclaimed Dec. 28 as Joe Beam Day. Marcus Borton, a Philly-based writer and sex educator, revived the day with friends in 2017. Borton thinks of the sacrifice it must have been for Mrs. Beam to donate the papers of a deceased child. Having access to the archives, he said, fleshed out his perception of Joseph Beam, someone, Borton said, who had been nearly deified.

Asked why Mrs. Beams story mattered so much, Borton spoke carefully. He didnt want to put aside that many queer youths arent embraced. But Mrs. Beam challenged notions that black mothers cant adore gay sons.

I think Dorothy represents a beautiful and necessary narrative that exists that we dont always see in the mainstream, Borton said.

Days, her great-niece, said the mention of Josephs name would make his mothers face light up without fail. Mrs. Beam, she said, was a people person who loved children, laughter, and reminiscing over family photographs. She also loved sewing and excelled at quilting.

Perhaps she refined her skills with a sewing needle as a teenager. Dorothy Beam, nee Saunders, the child of Arthur Jenkins and Adeline Kinnard, was born in Statesboro-Bulloch County, Ga. When she was a young child, the family migrated to Philadelphia, where she was reared with her sister, Margaret. According to the Inquirer and Washington Post, her mother had a stroke that led the young Dorothy to leave high school and earn money as a seamstress for the Army to help their family.

She went to night school, then worked her way through Cheyney University, earning a degree. She went on to Temple, where she got her masters degree in education. She married Sun Beam in her early 30s, according to the family. In 1954, she gave birth to Joseph, who was raised in West Philadelphia and sent to Catholic school in the suburbs.

Loved ones remember Mrs. Beam as a wellspring of support.

Growing up and also experiencing her as an adult, [she was] definitely someone who loved people as they were, Days said. Super grounded and loving."

Joann Frasier Dasent met Mrs. Beam when Frasier Dasent had given a quilting presentation in 2005. Mrs. Beam told her she had something for her and invited her back to her apartment. Inside, Frasier Dasent became taken with the quilts that Mrs. Beam had crafted for babies with HIV.

Mrs. Beam pulled out a bag of neckties she had been collecting, and gave them to Frasier Dasent for material. Frasier Dasent was baffled, but had been raised to never turn away gifts. So she marinated on it. Eventually, with her friend Dorothy in mind, she started a quilting camp for girls and put the neckties to good use. She still wonders why Mrs. Beam had been saving them:

What happens to a dream deferred? She had to have a dream of what she wanted to do with the ties, Frasier Dasent said, then added through tears, and she passed it on to me, and she passed it on to the girls.

Quilting holds power, Frasier Dasent observed, because its therapeutic. Theres a peace in the process, and in a quilting circle, conversation flows. The craft is all about connection. The image of the quilts that Mrs. Beam made for babies with HIV still stays with her. They were beautiful, colorful, and gave her a different kind of feeling.

They looked healing, Frasier Dasent said. There was something about what Ms. Dorothy did that had a special touch to it. Thats the only way I can explain.

The service for Mrs. Beam is scheduled for 11 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 9, at Vine Memorial Baptist Church, 5600 W. Girard Ave.
Boss stepping down from Pirate football Perryville football will have a new boss on the sideline this fall.Thats because the current one is moving on.Blane Boss, the Pirate football coach for the previous four seasons, 

Piranha boys win opening meet of the year, girls finish third The Perryville Piranhas kicked their first meet off with a bang Saturday.The boys earned first overall with 254 team points finishing ahead of the Ste. Genevieve Stingrays who finished with 214 
Mrs Gifty Eugenia Kusi, Deputy Western Regional Minister, has appealed to cabinet to develop the region since it contributes significantly to the growth of the national economy.



She said the Western Region had the bulk of the country's natural resources, solid minerals and hydrocarbons and provides the bulk of foreign exchange earnings.



Delivering the welcome address, at the Ghana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GHEITI) stakeholders engagement on mining, oil, gas and commodity trading report for 2015 and 2016 in Tarkwa, Mrs. Kusi said the Bank of Ghana figures show that the total revenue Ghana collected for exports stood at 13.8 billion dollars.



She said a breakdown showed that gold contributed about 5.8 billion dollars, while oil and cocoa was 3.1 billion and 2.7 billion dollars respectively.



"If these figures are anything to go by, then we in the Western Region are really carrying the whole Ghana on our shoulders" she said.



Mrs. Kusi explained that the conditions in mining, oil and gas communities do not measure up to the huge resources that had over the years been extracted by the companies operating in those areas.



When mining, oil and gas activities comes to an area, it attracts a large workforce, which mounts pressure on social amenities that the assemblies provide, she said.



"The mining, oil and gas communities continue to suffer from the negative effects of the extractive of this finite resources and most of these communities happened to be among the deprived communities in the country, lacking tangible infrastructural facilities such as portable water, good health and educational facilities" she added.



Mrs. Kusi pointed out that the royalties that goes to the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies was not adequate to solve their problems.



According to her, initiatives like the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) which provides opportunity for public disclosure of revenues by extractive companies and government, would go a long way to complement existing structures of good governance and transparency in the country and put them on their toes.



"We believe making the people aware of revenue generated from the activities of extractive industries like mining, oil and gas, would engender citizens participation in the decision making process at the three local levels and help to promote local economic development and poverty reduction" she indicated.



She commended the EITI for the good work and urged participants to take the dissemination of the reports seriously and also share the knowledge they had acquired with their colleagues.







Source: GNA









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Police have arrested one of the suspects caught on video vandalising the Glorious Word and Power Ministries International founded by Pastor Isaac Owusu Bempah at Odorkor in Accra.



The suspect who was grabbed on Wednesday by the Accra Regional Police Command is assisting Police in investigations.



A statement issued in Accra and signed by Mr David Eklu, Director-General of the Ghana Police Service and copied to the Ghana News Agency did not name the suspect but believed he was among the youth caught on tape in the destructive act on the churches premises.



The statement said the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters have taken over the investigations to bring the perpetrators of the act to book.



Mr Eklu disclosed that the suspect is on police enquiry bail to be reporting to the CID for further investigations.



The Director-General expressed reservations over the spate of prophecies lately by some religious leaders about deaths of certain individuals which has the tendency of causing fear and panic.



He said some of these prophets should be mindful of the security implications of such utterances.



The statement condemned all those who would want to take the law into their own hands in retaliation to such pronouncements and warned them against causing harm, unlawful damage to peoples property, rioting, threat of death, as offences against the law which would not be countenanced.



The statement urged the media to be circumspect in their reportage on such issues and exercise discretion to ensure they are not used to aid the breach of the peace.



The statement called on the public to report actions likely to breach national peace to the police for the law to take its cause.

Source: GNA









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The Bolin Lana, Abdulai Mahamadu, has commended President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his bold vision for Dagbon.



He also thanked the President for his exemplary leadership in helping to bring the Dagbon crisis to an end.



According to the Bolin Lana, the people of Dagbon have suffered from the age-old, debilitating Abudu-Andani conflict, and has resulted in the under-development of the area.



It turned brothers against brothers, sisters against sisters, fathers against children, and, indeed, converted friends into foes. Mr President, this conflict, over the years, has damaged properties in all parts of Dagbon. It compromised our culture and eroded our dignity as a people. It has cost us lots of precious lives, he said.



Bolin Lana Abdulai Mahamadu continued, This conflict has outlived numerous Presidents and Governments. Mr President, this afternoon, we are here to thank you. Your Excellency, we thank you for your courage. We thank you for your sense of fairness. We thank you for your bold vision for Dagbon and Ghana. We are truly grateful for your distinguished exemplary leadership.



The Bolin Lana made this known on Friday, January 4, 2019, when he paid a courtesy call on President Akufo-Addo at Jubilee House, following the performance of the funeral of the late Ya Naa, Mahamadu Abdulai.



He noted that the performance of the funeral of the late Na Mahamadu Abdulai has lifted the dark clouds that have been hanging over Dagbon and Dagombas everywhere.



The performance of the funeral, he added, will bring true, lasting and enduring peace to Dagbon, and remained confident that unity and genuine reconciliation will follow.



The Bolin Lana assured President Akufo-Addo that We are committed to achieving this peace and we continue to offer a hand of brotherhood and friendship to our brothers the Andanis. This funeral marks a significant milestone in the effort towards finding a lasting peace for the good people of Dagbon.



He also expressed his gratitude to the Committee of Eminent Chiefs, led by the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Nayiri, Naa Bohagu Abdulai Mahami Sheriga, and the Yagbonwura, Tuntumba Boresa I, for their relentless efforts in helping in finding lasting peace to the Dagbon conflict.



He also expressed appreciation to all former Presidents of the 4th Republic, the Northern Regional Minister, Honourable Salifu Saeed, members of REGSEC, the Yendi Municipal Chief Executive, amongst others, for their resilience and unflinching commitment to the peace and reconciliation of Dagbon.



Mr. President, we wish to assure you that we stand for peace, unity, genuine reconciliation, development and advancement of Dagbon and we stand in readiness to support your government towards finding a lasting peace in Dagbon, the Bolin Lana added.



On his part, President Akufo-Addo was very happy about the visit, and thanked the Almighty that the funeral of Na Mahamadu Abdulai has been duly performed, with all the customary rights that are due to him as a Ya Na.



President Akufo-Addo thanked the Committee of Eminent Chiefs for the work done, persistence and tenacity in bringing about this conclusion, and saluted the Bolin Lana for his sense of statesmanship, patriotism and commitment to the peace and welfare of Dagbon.







Source: JFM/Ghana









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The Founder and Leader of the Glorious Word Ministry International, Rev. Owusu Bempah has stated that the largest opposition party the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has planned to assassinate him.



According to the controversial Prophet, the NDC party has contracted an assassin from Salaga in the Northern Region to take his life.



Prophet Isaac Owusu Bempah has come under heavy attack after he prophesied during the 31st December watch night service in his church that the some past and current leaders of the country including ex President J.A Kufuor and his wife, ex President John Mahama, current Vice President Dr. Bawumia and the National Chief Imam, Sheik Osman Nuhu Sharabutu will die this year, 2019.



His doom prophesy led to some Muslim youth storming his church a day after vandalizing properties worth thousands of cedis.



Speaking on Asempa FM Friday, Prophet Owusu Bempah revealed that the NDCs hired assassin from Salaga has travelled down to Accra and currently lodging in a hotel strategizing to kill him.



He also accused the NDC of being behind the attack on his church not Muslim Youth.



I have no qualms with the Chief Imam and God forbid that I speak against such a good man who loves me. The attack on my church was not by Muslims, it was by a political party, Im telling you its by the NDC. They did so because I said theyll lose the 2020 elections. Those behind this attack we know them, why will they send someone from Salaga to Accra to kill me? As I speak the person is lodging in a hotel here in Accra.



Asked by the host if hes reported the impending attack on his life, the man of God replied in the negative.



God revealed it me, if God gives a revelation to me I cant go to the Police station to report the matter that God has given me a vision that someone want to kill me. But I want to warn the person, his pay masters to be very careful. I know the Almighty is with me and that if Hes has not given anybody to go ahead no one can ever kill me.

Source: kasapafmonline.com









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The influential Catholic Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo says there was a clear winner of Sunday's presidential election based on results it had seen.



Bishops urged the authorities to be truthful and announce the results soon.



The Church had thousands of election monitors and some had reported irregularities.



The electoral commission said the announcement of the result, expected on Sunday, could be delayed.



The head of the commission, Corneille Nangaa, said counting centres were still waiting for more than 80% of voting tallies to be submitted by local polling stations.



The opposition has also complained of irregularities in the election to find a successor to President Joseph Kabila.



He is stepping down after 17 years in office and has promised DR Congo's first orderly transfer of power since it gained independence from Belgium in 1960.



The National Episcopal Conference of Congo (Cenco) did not say who it thought had won.



The Church had been vocal in its opposition to the extension of President Kabila's rule. He was supposed to have stepped down in 2016.



Media crackdown



As the wait for outcome continues, the government has blocked the signal of a TV station owned by an opposition politician.



Government spokesman Lambert Mende accused Canal Congo of declaring election results before the official announcement.



This comes days after the internet was shut down nationwide.



Canal Congo is owned by former rebel leader and acquitted war crimes suspect Jean Pierre-Bemba.



He was barred from running for the presidency because of his conviction by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for bribing witnesses during his war crimes trial.



He is backing businessman Martin Fayulu in the presidential race.



Along with blocking Canal Congo, the authorities have also cut the broadcasts of Radio France Internationale (RFI) and withdrawn the accreditation of one of its journalists, Florence Morice, accusing her of violating electoral law.



"We are not going to let a radio station throw petrol on the flames at a time when we are waiting for the compilation of the provisional results," Mr Mende told AFP news agency.



RFI has denied the accusation and defended its journalist.

Source: BBC









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Management of defunct GN Bank has explained that its decision to operate as a savings and loans company was because it still wants to operate as a Ghanaian institution aimed at promoting financial inclusion and serving the needs of ordinary Ghanaians.



The Bank of Ghana (BoG) on Friday announced that the bank had opted to operate as a savings and loans company after it failed to meet the minimum capital of GH400 million by December 31, 2018.



Following that, a statement signed by the Head of GN Corporate Affairs, Frank Owusu-Ofori, explained that the decision of the bank stemmed from conditions laid down by foreign investors at the time that they were searching for additional capital to meet the GH400 million capital requirement.



It is necessary for us point out that in the process of looking for additional capital, we made a conscious decision not to sell our bank to mostly foreign interests. These investors wanted the retail network we have built, but with the intention to abandon our vision of promoting financial inclusion and serving the needs of ordinary Ghanaians. We have been honest about who we are - a Main Street Bank and not a High Street Bank, the statement said.



Nonetheless, the statement added that they have started the transition process in order to deliver products and services beyond excellence as a savings and loans company.



Below is the full statement





GN Bank Will Remain Ghanaian, With A National Retail Network, To Promote Financial Inclusion.



The Shareholders, Directors and Management of GN Bank wish to inform our cherished customers and the general public that we have elected to continue our operations as a Savings & Loan Institution. This means that our doors will remain open for business as usual in January, 2019 and beyond. We have started the transition process. Our immediate objective is to find the liquidity needed to service the needs of our customers.



This means that as a licensed deposit taking institution, customer funds remain safe with us. The decision allows us to concentrate on ensuring maximum liquidity to sustain the business, instead of raising funds for additional capital as a universal bank. We operated in the recent past successfully as a Savings and Loan Company for eight years, so we can assure our customers that with our attention back to managing the business, instead of combing the world for additional capital, we are poised to deliver products and services beyond excellence.



It is necessary for us to also point out that in the process of looking for additional capital, we made a conscious decision not to sell our bank to mostly foreign interests. These investors wanted the retail network we have built, but with the intention to abandon our vision of promoting financial inclusion and serving the needs of ordinary Ghanaians. We have been honest about who we are - a Main Street Bank and not a High Street Bank.



We formed the company and started looking for a license in 1997 to create a national bank for all Ghanaians wherever they may live, capable of ensuring financial inclusion and bringing the unbanked into the formal sector. It took the founding shareholder, Coconut Grove Beach Resort, nine years and a lot of effort, to obtain a license from the Bank of Ghana on May 8, 2006 to operate as a Savings and Loan Company under the brand name, First National Savings & Loans Company Limited. Coconut Grove was joined by another Ghanaian shareholder, BB Acquisitions. Other shareholders have subsequently invested in the company.



Our financial institution has two intertwined branches - traditional banking and Micro-Enterprise business. The power of the two makes us unique and special. It took hard work to be where we are, with 1.2 million customers and 20% of the Ghanaian banking retail outlets in Ghana



We invested heavily in opening offices in all the ten regions of Ghana. When we opened our doors, the unbanked population was 80%. Today, it has fallen to 55%. Our continued existence will ensure that the percent of the population that is unbanked will reduce further.



From the very beginning, Our Vision has been, To be a truly National Bank for the Ordinary person namely; Farmers, Professionals, Students, Workers, and Small and Medium Scale Entrepreneurs in Ghana.



We will continue to be a financial institution with a difference - go where others are not willing to go, to bring banking to people currently excluded from the formal banking sector throughout the country.



Signed



Frank Owusu-Ofori



Head, GN Corporate Affairsin a press statement









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Iran: Details Surface Of Khamenei's 2009 Meeting With Mousavi

01/04/19

Source: Radio Farda

More details have been revealed about the last meeting between Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the leader of Iran's Green Movement, Mir Hossein Mousavi. The meeting took place a day after the 2009 controversial election that officially led to the victory of incumbent President Mahmud Ahmadinejad.



Mir Hossein Mousavi

(photo by kaleme website)

In the meeting Mousavi asked asked Khamenei to appoint an impartial party to review the voting process and count the votes to decide if the official election result was correct, according to Mousavi's former aide.



Mousavi, Ahmadinejad's main challenger, had dismissed the official results as engineered and rigged and had called for the vote to be nullified. Khamenei firmly stood by Ahmadinejad and rejected Mousavi's claims.



Immediately after the hasty announcement of the official results, tens of thousands of people in Tehran poured into the streets in support of Mousavi, chanting, "Where is my vote?"



In attempt to rein in Mousavi, Khamenei arranged a meeting with him, which was taped.

However, the meeting was a non-starter. More people rallied behind Mousavi, kicking off five months of anti-Khamenei demonstrations across Iran.



The protests, branded "sedition" by Khamenei, were brutally suppressed, and Mousavi and his wife, Zahra Rahnavard, as well as another challenger, former speaker of the parliament Mehdi Karroubi, were extrajudicially confined to their houses after they called for demonstrations in solidarity with the so-called Arab Spring.



Khamenei and his close allies insisted that the 2009 election had been fair and transparent and accused Mousavi, Rahnavard, and Karroubi of sedition and rebellion against the Islamic establishment.



In a recent development, timed with the publication of a new book about the 2009 controversial presidential election, Khamenei's office circulated a two-minute footage on its website of the supreme leader at a gathering of clergymen on July 20, 2009, in the midst of protests against Ahmadinejad's re-election.



In the meeting Khamenei mocked Mousavi's stance on the election results. He also accused him of inciting people to revolt.



The circulation of the allegedly doctored footage was immediately challenged by Mousavi, who called on Khamenei to publish the uncensored footage of the meeting in full.



Mousavi stopped short of revealing the details of his meeting with Khamenei.



Radio Farda's Noushin Seyyed Hosseini talked with Mousavi's former adviser, Ardeshir Amir-Arjmand, who currently lives in exile in Europe.



"A day after the election, on Sunday, the meeting was held to assess Mr. Mousavi's comments on the 'rigged results' and Khamenei's remarks defending it," Amir-Arjmand said.



"Mr. Mousavi proposed a body or person picked by Khamenei be assigned to look into the election procedure and count votes in a transparent way. If it was decided that the election was rigged, Mr. Mousavi demanded, it should be nullified and held again."



Amir-Arjmand said Mousavi even insisted that if Khamenei had personal reservations about him, he would voluntarily bow out of the competition.



Mousavi also maintained that the priority was to protect electoral principles, said Amir-Arjmand. "Nevertheless, Mr. Khamenei had not attended the meeting to address the problem alongside Mr. Mousavi. He was there to 'dictate' a solution to the problem. Therefore, the meeting was not constructive," he added.



According to Amir-Arjmand, Khamenei said the Guardian Council (GC) would look into the election's validity. "But the GC, not being impartial (supporting the incumbent), was itself a part of the problem," he said.



"Khamenei had arranged the meeting merely to caution Mr. Mousavi and impose his will on him," he added.



Amir-Arjmand said the only way to prove who is right is the publication of the uncensored footage of the meeting in its entirety. Kept in the archives of the supreme leader's office, it has remained unpublished "for nine long years simply because they do not have a valid response to the public opinion and people's demands."



It remains to be seen whether Khamenei will accept Mousavi's request. "The next step will be decided by Mousavi," Amir-Arjmand said. "Khamenei should also release the uncensored footage of his meeting with representatives of the 2009 presidential candidates" -- a meeting that Amir-Arjmand attended as Mousavi's representative.
Comments from Brazil's new right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro that he would be open to the United States operating a military base on Brazilian soil have not been well received by the country's armed forces, a senior army officer told Reuters on Saturday.

Bolsonaro, who took office on Jan. 1, said in a television interview on Thursday he might be willing to allow a U.S. base in Brazil as a way to counter Russian influence in Venezuela, a move that would mark a sharp shift in direction for Brazilian foreign policy.

Brazil's military would be against a U.S. base in the country, the officer said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he has not been authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

He added that the possibility of ceding territory for a base took officers by surprise in the Brazilian military, which has traditionally been a zealous guardian of national sovereignty.

The Ministry of Defense said on Saturday it has not been informed of such a proposal by Bolsonaro, a former Army officer turned politician who has appointed retired generals to his cabinet.

"The president has not discussed this with the defense minister," said Major Sylvia Martins, a spokeswoman for the ministry.

Bolsonaro, an admirer of U.S. President Donald Trump, has quickly moved to align Brazil more closely with the Trump administration, which was represented by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at his swearing in on Tuesday.

Pompeo told reporters on Wednesday that the United States and Brazil had "an opportunity to work alongside each other against authoritarian regimes" in the region, naming Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua.

Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo confirmed Bolsonaro's willingness to allow a U.S. base in comments to reporters in Lima on Friday during a meeting of the Lima Group of 13 countries monitoring Venezuela's political and economic crisis.

Araujo said Bolsonaro would discuss the base offer with Trump during an expected visit to Washington in March, the Estado de S. Paulo newspaper reported.

The Lima Group of Latin American nations plus Canada said on Friday that last year's elections in Venezuela were not democratic and they would not recognize the legitimacy of leftist President Nicolas Maduro's new term starting Jan. 10.

Bolsonaro said in the television interview that he is worried about Russia's closeness with Maduro, the most significant U.S. foe in Latin America.

A visit to Venezuela by two Russian nuclear-capable strategic bombers in December angered the U.S. government.

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I could see the whole side of the school and I had binoculars, he later said in a sworn statement. So, if he was anywhere in that school, on the stairwells, I could, you know, get vision of it and I can advise on the radio.
Several more swastikas were painted along Collegiate Way and Alafaya Trail: on another apartment building and businesses like Habaneros Mexican grill, Tires Plus and 4 Rivers, according to an incident report.
Germany's BSI cyber defence agency on Saturday defended its role in responding to a far-reaching data breach, saying it could not have connected individual cases it was aware of last year until the entire data release became public.

The government said on Friday that personal data and documents from hundreds of German politicians and public figures including Chancellor Angela Merkel had been published online, in what appeared to be one of Germany's biggest data breaches.

The incident has shocked the establishment and prompted calls for security agencies to clarify whether any security deficiencies they were aware of had been exploited, and if they could have acted sooner to head off the breach.

The BSI said in a statement that it was contacted by a lawmaker in early December about suspicious activity on their private email and social media accounts.

"Only by becoming aware of the release of the data sets via the Twitter account 'G0d' on Jan. 3, 2019, could the BSI in a further analysis on Jan. 4, 2019 connect this case and four other cases that the BSI became aware of during 2018," it said.

"At the beginning of December 2018, it was not foreseeable that there would be more cases."

The BSI said on Friday all but one of the seven parties in the lower house had been affected. German media said that party was the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Last year, lawmakers said a powerful cyber attack had breached the foreign ministry's computer network.

Security officials have blamed most previous breaches of data security on a Russian hacking group, while the Kremlin has consistently denied involvement in such incidents.

After the latest data breach, Justice Minister Katarina Barley said she was considering stricter security requirements for software makers and Internet platform operators.

"We are examining the extent to which stricter legal provisions are useful and necessary here," she told weekly newspaper Welt am Sonntag, according to a pre-released article.

Authorities were investigating all possibilities, including espionage, one government source said on Friday, adding that it was unlikely any single person could have compiled the massive amounts of data that had been released.

The BSI said investigations so far had showed the data breaches predominantly concerned private and personal accounts, but that it is responsible for the operational protection of government networks.

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But what AOC has in PR savvy, she lacks in policy chops or even the basics of governance. Ocasio-Cortez has at times struggled to articulate in interviews, when pressed, how to fund and implement her more lofty progressive policy objectives. Her fallback is that nobody ever makes Republicans explain how they intend to pay for wars, so they should not similarly scrutinize domestic priorities. Her constitutional knowledge is, at best, Trumpian. Nor is she above threatening private citizens with the might of government.
Russia demanded an explanation from the United States on Saturday over the arrest of one of its nationals, amid tensions between the two countries after Moscow held a US citizen for alleged espionage.

FBI agents arrested Dmitry Makarenko on December 29 on Saipan, the largest of the Northern Mariana Islands, a US commonwealth in the Western Pacific. A federal arrest warrant indicates he has since been taken to Florida.

While still a fugitive, Makarenko was indicted in June 2017 along with fellow Russian national Vladimir Nevidomy for money laundering and attempting to export defense-restricted goods -- military grade night-vision rifle scopes, monoculars and ammunition primers -- without obtaining the necessary licenses.

Nevidomy has since been tried and convicted. He was sentenced to 26 months in prison with three years of supervised released.

The Russian foreign ministry said US authorities had failed to provide information about Makarenko's arrest to Moscow, which only found out from his family.

Meanwhile, a top Russian diplomat said the case of Paul Whelan, the US national detained in Moscow, was very serious.

Whelan, a security official at a US auto parts company and former US Marine, was arrested on December 28 "while carrying out an act of espionage," the FSB security service announced.

"The situation around Mr Whelan is very serious," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told RIA Novosti news agency.

"He came to Russia, as we understand, to take measures to carry out intelligence activities in violation of Russian law," he said, indicating that Whelan had not yet been formally charged.

But Whelan's lawyer Vladimir Zherebenkov told RIA Novosti on Thursday that his client had been charged -- with espionage.

Whelan's family said he was visiting Moscow for a friend's wedding and US security experts have raised doubts that he was a spy, given a reportedly chequered history in the US military.

Some observers say his arrest came in retaliation for last year's arrest in the United States of a Russian woman named Maria Butina.

Butina was indicted and pleaded guilty to acting as an unregistered agent of the Russian government -- a legal charge sometimes used against foreign intelligence agents.

Analysts have speculated that Moscow might be hoping to swap Whelan for Butina or another Russian held by the United States.

Ryabkov said that given the fact that Whelan has not yet been charged, it was too early to talk about his possible release in a spy swap.

Although Whelan entered Russia on his US passport, he also holds British, Irish and Canadian citizenships.

Ryabkov said the question of which country's diplomats would have access to Whelan would be decided on a case-by-case basis, based on conventions on consular relations.

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Rockaway Beach: Thank you, Robert Dominguez, for your great article Hustling In Cuba (Jan. 2) and the prior article. For more than 50 years the Cuban people were held hostage by a government, military and police that are well paid while 12 million people suffer with no initiative to thrive but to survive. This form of slavery is based on the bogus sharing of wealth while the military and politicians live the lives of kings in beautiful homes surrounded by nice cars, plenty of food, family and hookers. Thats half the story. The scary part is how brain-washed and forgetful the world has been of the atrocities and murders committed by the Castros and the serial killer Che, who is adored by many useful idiots. A perfect point of reference are two books by Humberto Fontova  The Truth About Che & the Useful Idiots That Adore him and The Longest Romance. These well-researched factual books put into full perspective how over time we all forget how this happened, how many died and how the media help spread the false propaganda. I was born there. At 5 I saw them parade some poor dead neighbor through the streets and also saw a Jeep pull up with Castros tools looking for my father. I was lucky to have parents who saw through the lies and got us out. I urge you to write about that. Thank you. Jesus Linares
But the single most serious set of potential misdeeds, those that may or may not emerge from Special Counsel Robert Muellers in-depth investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and possible Trump campaign collusion, are as yet unknown. House oversight into other shenanigans is just beginning.
The grand jury, which has already delivered high-profile indictments against former Trump campaign officials Paul Manafort and Rick Gates as well as dozens of Russian operatives and companies, was set to pack up on Saturday, when its standard 18-month term expired.
There is almost no chance that the Republican-controlled Senate will pass the package, but Democrats could pass it or something very similar if they win races in 2020. The proposal is likely to be a frequent talking point in both local and presidential contests next year.
"Americans are going to be sitting there saying, 'What should I do with my taxes? Should I pay? Is anyone watching me? Why am I paying taxes if the federal government is closed? Light said. "There's nothing like news that the IRS is closed to get people to rethink their obligation to pay taxes.
Now a cooperating witness after striking two plea deals with federal prosecutors, Zambada-Niebla was a prince and heir-apparent of the powerful cartel before his 2009 arrest in Mexico City and decision to ultimately betray his fugitive father for a reduced sentence and possible U.S. visa.
His attorneys claimed the puppy didnt suffer, while prosecutors contended the dog may have had a chance to live, according to CBS News. Among those who testified during the trial were students who said they saw the puppy fed to the reptile.
In 2012, Washington was one of the first states to approve legalizing marijuana for recreational use. In 2018, Michigan became the 10th state to legalize marijuana for recreational use, and more than 30 states have approved the use of cannabis for medical purposes.
Jirdon's guilty plea came nearly a year to the day that he and his then 17-year-old girlfriend, Alexandria Heath, beat and stabbed 58-year-old Thomas Heath to death inside his apartment.
Susan Segal, the school districts lawyer, responded to the ACLU by arguing Pickett is wearing red ID because she lacks the necessary credits to be classified an 11th-grader. The attorney added a students grade level is considered directory information and is valid under academic privacy statutes.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday the United States had detained a Russian citizen, days after Moscow arrested the former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan on suspicion of spying.

Whelan was arrested by Russia's Federal Security Service on Dec. 28. His family have said he is innocent and that he was in Moscow to attend a wedding.

The ministry said the United States detained Russian citizen Dmitry Makarenko on the Northern Mariana Islands on Dec. 29 and had moved him to Florida.

"... Makarenko, born in 1979, has arrived on Saipan Island with his wife, underage children and elderly parents. He was detained by FBI personnel at the airport right after his arrival," the ministry said.

The U.S. Embassy in Moscow could not immediately be reached for comment.

The accusations from both sides could further complicate a strained relationship between Moscow and Washington, despite the professed desire of Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to build a personal rapport.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said this week Washington had asked Moscow to explain Whelan's arrest and would demand his immediate return if it determined his detention is inappropriate.

Britain cautioned Russia on Friday that individuals should not be used as diplomatic pawns. Whelan also holds a British passport.

The Russian ministry said in its statement Moscow diplomats had not been able to reach Makarenko in Florida and said Washington had yet to explain his detention.

Before Moscow gave details of Makarenko's detention, experts had speculated that Moscow could exchange Whelan for Russian nationals held by Washington.

Commenting on that possibility, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Saturday:

"I see no reasons to raise this issue in context of exchanges. We should undergo all the procedures needed in this situation," Interfax news agency quoted Ryabkov as saying.

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According to Burke Ramseys lawsuit, which was filed three months after the program aired, the focus of the documentary was that Burke Ramsey killed his 6-year-old sister, and that such a claim is false and defamatory per se and Burke Ramsey did not kill his sister and had no involvement in her brutal murder.
According to the suit, obtained by KOAA, Frazee acted as either the perpetrator or accessory to the murder of Kelsey Berreth and in turn, breached the duty of care with which a reasonable person should conduct himself toward another human being, and such breach was the direct and proximate cause of the death of Kelsey Berreth.
Renee Ayesh and her daughter, Jenan Ayesh were visiting Reunion tower with several other family members around 7:30 p.m. Sunday when the incident unfolded. They were sporting hijabs at the time and waiting to be picked up when a woman leaving the building told them to move. (CBS)
During their investigation, police recovered surveillance footage that showed Rabinka buying the gasoline that was ultimately used in the fire. Police found a piece of a plastic gas can she purchased near her body, officials said.
Anyone who has suffered a harm at the hands of another knows that healing from that harm involves personal transformation, the articles abstract reads. On special occasions a person who has suffered a harm at the hands of another heals and then reaches out to the person who was the source of the harm, thereby becoming a transformer of his or her life.
Members of the NYPDs Regional Fugitive Task Force grabbed Isiah McGill, 36, at the Brooklyn home of an acquaintance about 6:30 a.m., and took him to a hospital briefly for an evaluation, officials said.
The seven-week trial featured numerous examples of gifts Reichberg and his former friend and fellow cop-briber, Jona Rechnitz, lavished on police with the expectation theyd get official favors in return. One of their primary goals, Rechnitz said, was coveted parking placards allowing them to park in off-limits places and avoid tickets. Police are loathe to enforce parking rules on vehicles with the placards.
But on that date, Dec. 21, Jackson claimed his broken foot made it impossible to appear in court. In written notes, he told Ward he need four to six weeks to heal from his injury.
Our voices need to be heard because at the end of the day were the ones going through the system, said Tiffani Torres, 16, junior at Pace High School in Brooklyn and a member of the group Teens Take Charge.
Gaza authorities arrested five Palestinians on Saturday on suspicion of ransacking the offices of official Palestine Television station, Hamas's interior ministry said.

On Friday, assailants destroyed cameras, editing and broadcasting equipment in the Gaza office of the station, part of the Palestinian Broadcast Corporation (PBC), which broadcasts material supportive of President Mahmoud Abbas. Station officials immediately blamed Hamas for the attack.

The incident underscored tensions between Abbas's Palestinian Authority, based in the occupied West Bank, and Hamas, the Islamist group that rules Gaza.

But Hamas on Saturday said all five suspects men were former employees of the Palestinian Authority, whose salaries were recently suspended. There was no immediate response from the Palestinian Authority.

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Rome, GA (30161)

Today

Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 67F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 67F. Winds light and variable.
Scooters Coffee will be hold its Puppuccino Super Hero Pet Day, Saturday, Jan. 19, from 9 a.m .to 2 p.m. at the coffee house on Del Prado Boulevard.

The public is invited to bring their pup for an afternoon of fun, photos and to participate in a costume contest. The Cape Coral Animal Shelter will be the beneficiary of event donations and raffle proceeds.

The super hero doggy costume contest will be held and awarded at 2 p.m. Other activities will include pet grooming, a gift basket raffle, animal massage, PEMF Therapy demonstrations, and a K-9 unit visit.

Scooters Coffee has been a continual supporter of the Cape Coral Animal Shelter with similar dog friendly events.

The coffee house is at 1014 Del Prado Blvd., S in Cape Coral.

About Cape Coral Animal Shelter: The Cape Coral Animal Shelter, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, no-kill animal shelter, will be located at 325 S.W. 2nd Ave., a 4.6-acre site next to Sun Splash Family Waterpark. As a non-profit, no-kill animal shelter, the organization is dedicated to engaging a special bond between people and animals by means of adoption services, medical care, education and training for the prevention of cruelty and abandonment. The shelter will provide a safe place where animals will receive the care they need and remain until they are placed in a qualified, forever home. More information on the Shelter can be found at www.capecoralanimalshelter.com.
Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation, on Friday declared that President Muhammadu Buhari will be disgraced like the Biblica...





Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation, on Friday declared that President Muhammadu Buhari will be disgraced like the Biblical Nebudchadnezzar.





The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain said Buhari will be brought to his knees and disgraced out of office in 2019.





Fani-Kayode, a fierce critic of the Buhari-led Federal Government, said this via his Twitter handle.





According to him: Bible says touch not my annointed and do my prophets no harm.

Scripture cannot be broken.Gods word shall stand.The vision is for an appointed time: though it tarry it shall not prove false.




Emotion betrayed many while tears flowed freely in Oju when the eight members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who died in a ghastly...

Emotion betrayed many while tears flowed freely in Oju when the eight members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who died in a ghastly motor accident last Friday, on their way to the Benue south senatorial campaign flag-off in Agatu were laid to rest.Party stalwarts as well as bereaved family members could not hold back tears as they took turns to give funeral orations at the combined church service for the deceased politicians.Governor Samuel Ortom in a funeral oration, described the deaths as tragic and painful, the deceased died when their services were most needed in the build-up to the 2019 general elections.The Governor while praying God to grant their souls eternal rest and their family members the fortitude to bear the irreparable losses, directed the immediate employment of a member of each of the bereaved families to give them succour.Former Senate President, Senator David Mark and the partys Benue south senatorial candidate in the coming elections, Comrade Abba Moro, in separate orations, said they were heartbroken by the unfortunate incident.They prayed God to grant their fallen heroes and heroine eternal rest, describing their deaths as tragic and traumatising. Lawmaker representing Oju/Obi federal constituency at the National Assembly, Mr. Samson Okwu, who could not hold back tears said I lost key members of my campaign team in the accident, it was indeed a dark day for the Igede nation.The Bishop Methodist Church in Oju, Rt. Reverend Odeh Ocheke, in his sermon urged the congregation to prepare for the last day as no one knew his or her final day on earth.
With the growing rate at which female pants are stolen and reportedly used for rituals, Zone 2 police PRO, Dolapo Badmos has said. ...

With the growing rate at which female pants are stolen and reportedly used for rituals, Zone 2 police PRO, Dolapo Badmos has said.





She wrote: 'henceforth anyone caught stealing pants might not be charged for stealing but attempted murder'.




The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, on Friday said former President Olusegun Obasanjo...





said former President Olusegun Obasanjo would not escape prosecution if President Muhammadu Buhari decides to probe the power sector. The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, on Fridaysaid former President Olusegun Obasanjo would not escape prosecution if President Muhammadu Buhari decides to probe the power sector.





Governor Simon Lalongs reelection campaign at the Rwang Pam Stadium. The former governor of Edo State spoke in Jos during the opening of Plateau StateGovernor Simon Lalongs reelection campaign at the Rwang PamStadium.





Obasanjo said in 1999 that if he was elected President with his Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, he would fix the power sector in six months and that there would be electricity supply all over Nigeria. Many years later, we realised what he meant. He said,Obasanjo said in 1999 that if he was elected President with his Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, he would fix the power sector in six months and that there would be electricity supply all over Nigeria. Many years later, we realised what he meant.





He and his Vice-President spent $16bn on power sector, after eight years there was more darkness in Nigeria than when they assumed office. So when President Muhammadu Buhari took over in 2015, he asked a question: where is the power? If Mr President pursues the answer to that question to its logical conclusion, he must put Obasanjo on trial.

Oshiomhole expressed regrets that those he said supervised the collapse of the power sector and other sectors of the economy had regrouped to return to power.





He urged Nigerians to reject them in the forthcoming general elections to enable the country to move forward.





Atiku is from the customs and (Peter) Obi is a trader. Their ticket is part of Obasanjos PDP. They can never change their colours. Already, Atiku has said he would sell the NNPC if elected. If given the chance, Im sure he would sell the country. So, Nigerians should not vote them during the next election. He said,Atiku is from the customs and(Peter)Obi is a trader. Their ticket is part of Obasanjos PDP. They can never change their colours.Already, Atiku has said he would sell the NNPC if elected. If given the chance, Im sure he would sell the country. So,Nigerians should not vote them during the next election.





who presented the APCs flag to Lalong commended his administrations performance in the last three and half years, especially for restoring peace to the state. Oshiomhole,who presented the APCs flag to Lalong commended his administrations performance in the last three and half years,especially for restoring peace to the state.





He urged the people to support his re-election bid.





Buhari Campaign Organisation and former governor of Rivers State, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, said Buhari meant well for the country. Also speaking on the occasion, the Director-General of theBuhari Campaign Organisation and former governor of Rivers State, Mr Rotimi Amaechi,saidBuhari meant well for the country.





Lalong expressed confidence that the APC would win all elections in the state and at the national level.




The UN envoy for Yemen arrived in the capital Sanaa on Saturday for talks to shore up a ceasefire in the country's lifeline port city of Hodeida, an AFP photographer said.

Martin Griffiths is scheduled to hold talks in Sanaa with Houthi rebel leaders and will later travel to the Saudi capital Riyadh to meet Yemeni government officials.

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Negotiation between the Federal Government and organized labour on the N30,000 minimum wage remained inconclusive at the end of another ro...

Negotiation between the Federal Government and organized labour on the N30,000 minimum wage remained inconclusive at the end of another round of meeting last night in Abuja.Both sides are scheduled to reconvene on Monday to take a final decision on the grey areas.Labour Minister, Chris Ngige, told reporters at the end of a five -hour long meeting yesterday that substantial progress had been made in the discussion and that all that is left is a final resolution.Ngige said there was no deadlock as the two sides agreed on most of the issues tabled for discussion and only adjourned to allow for further consultations.He said President Muhammadu Buhari wanted the issue thrashed out and he would not have set up the tripartite committee on the minimum wage if he was not interested in the matter in the first place.Also speaking, NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, dismissed any idea that the meeting was deadlocked.His words: The meeting decided to adjourn and reconvene on Monday for us to do further consultations before the issues are concluded. We have discussed all the issues and all the grey areas, particularly how we can ensure that the issue is put behind us.That is why we took such a long time, including having a timeout to consult. But we have not been able to conclude and we have agreed to reconvene to tidy up the process.The issue at stake is to make sure that the bill is transmitted and also other auxiliary issues that government says they are trying to put together. We also want to see how the money gets into the pocket of our workers because a lot of economic factors have affected the current wage.But the major issue is that we have been able to have a meaningful social dialogue. But the process is not conclusive and will reconvene on Monday.Monday is not too far from now since today is Friday.He said the outcome of Mondays meeting would determine whether labour would proceed with its planned rallies on Tueday.Continuing, he said: Part of the report that was submitted is all inclusive of the main report and draft bill. But those processes which they need to ensure that a clean bill is transmitted to the National Assembly and what they now termed some physical issues are what we will tidy up on Monday. So, let us wait for that Monday.The meeting started at about 12.50 pm with several breaks in between to allow for consultations with stakeholders including President Buhari.NE gathered that the labour leaders insisted on a definite date when the government will transmit the minimum wage bill to the National Assembly, a decision the three ministers present could not take on their own.Addressing the meeting earlier, Ngige said the President was committed to giving Nigerian workers a new minimum wage.He said however that in addressing the issue, the government wanted to ensure that the new minimum wage was sustainable.He said I do realise that this is still part of the Christmas period and that people are still on holiday. You can see the two ministers in charge of government resources. The Minister of Budget and National Planning and the Minister of Finance. Mr. President specifically asked them to be part of this meeting. We had to cut short our vacation because of the need for us to discuss.You know that people can go to war when there is lack of information and in the process, people can misconstrue and speculate. We called this meeting as a result of the communique issued by the Joint Labour Centres after your executive meeting in Lagos when you informed government that you are not happy with the implementation processes of the report of the tripartite committee.President of the NLC, Comrade Aruba Wabba said the organised labour has always wanted all issues of industrial relations resolved through dialogue, adding that the issue on ground has nothing to do with money, but the process leading to the final outcome.Wabba said Clearly, we have always believed in social dialogue in resolving industrial relations issues. From the beginning of the issue of this new national minimum wage which was legally due in 2016, labour has demonstrated enough patience and understanding and has followed all the processes to make sure that we are able to dispense with this issue.
An orange seller who offers POS option, was recently spotted plying his trade at Dugbe market, Ibadan, Oyo State. The orange seller cl...

An orange seller who offers POS option, was recently spotted plying his trade at Dugbe market, Ibadan, Oyo State.The orange seller clearly had a sheet tagged to his cart, which reads POS is available.This is coming after Local media in China, shared news of mobile-savvy beggars in the city of Jinan, in Chinas Shandong province. They gather in areas popular with tourists, holding begging bowls that contain a QR code printout. Anyone with Alipay, WeChat Wallet, or some other mobile payment app can scan the code and make a donation.One of the beggars who caught the medias attention was reportedly a man with mental problems and the QR code he had was made by his family to help him. However, it also appeared that QR code begging serves other purposes besides generating income for people down on their luck. According to digital marketing company China Channel, many beggars in Beijing receive payment from local businesses for every QR code scanned by passers-by. The enterprises use these scans to collect peoples data from WeChat profiles, then sell the IDs for quite a pretty penny to small businesses. The latter use the information to bombard the users with unsolicited in-app advertisements.
Umar Abdulmalik, a suspected Boko Haram commander, has told of how the group carried out attacks across the country. According to ...





Umar Abdulmalik, a suspected Boko Haram commander, has told of how the group carried out attacks across the country.





According to The Nation, he also admitted being actively involved in the explosions that rocked Nyanya and Kuje in Abuja, in 2015.





The 30-year-old reportedly said he was recruited into Boko Haram by an Islamic cleric who also indoctrinated him.





He was quoted as saying: I joined one of the Boko Haram cells in Okene headed by one Zeeidi and we carried out several bombings within Kaduna, Kano and Abuja.





Zeedi was the person providing the bombs and my job then was to take them to our target locations. After a while, the Department of State Security infiltrated our cell and they started arresting members of our group and Mallam Mustapha was arrested and his mosque was demolished.





Zeedi also brought the idea of bank robbery  and he suggested we should attack the Kotonkarfe Prison in Kogi State, so we could free our members who were detained there.





The attack on the prison was successful and we freed a lot of our members and immediately attacked some banks in Okene and emptied all the money therein.





He was further quoted as saying the monies from the bank robbery were used to buy advanced explosives.





Then I moved to Abuja with the bombs we produced and I formed a new cell in 2014 and we carried out several bombings, including those at Banex Plaza, Nyanya and Kuje areas of Abuja, he reportedly said.





But unfortunately, our gang was busted and five of our gang members were arrested and our bombs, including the non-metallic and the materials we were using in making them, were recovered.





Abdulmalik said he escaped and went underground for two years but returned to Abuja with a new gang and we went into full blown armed robbery.





Operatives of the inspector-general of police special intelligence response team (IRT) arrested Abdulmalik in Lagos last week.




The Nigerian foreign reserve, in 2019, has recorded the highest opening in six years! According to the latest figures from the Cen...





The Nigerian foreign reserve, in 2019, has recorded the highest opening in six years!





According to the latest figures from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), as collated by TheCable, the countrys reserves opened at $43,075,740,908 on Tuesday to break a six-year record.





The last time Nigerias reserves opened above $42 billion was in 2013, when it opened the new year at above $45 billion.





For 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018, the reserves stood at $40.6 billion, $34.2 billion, $28.2 billion, 27.9 billion, $38.9 billion and $43.1 billion respectively.





The reserves, which currently stands at $43,057,191,024, was at $43,116,863,593 on December 31, 2018.





Despite shedding $18.55 million between the last trading day of 2018 and the first trading day of 2019, the forex reserve still stands at the highest January figure in six years.

In 2018, Godwin Emefiele, governor of the central bank made it clear that the apex bank, under his leadership, will prioritise defending the naira over building reserves.





Speaking in Bali, Indonesia in October 2018, Emefiele said Nigeria has a choice to make between building reserve buffers or defending the naira.





We are going to need to build buffers but unfortunately I must say that we are in a period where it is difficult to talk about building reserves, he had said.





You can only build reserve buffers if you want to hold on to the reserves while allowing your currency to go and wherever it goes is something else.





It is a choice we have to make and at this time, the choice for Nigeria is to maintain a stable exchange rate so that businesses can plan and we dont create problems in the banking system.





In October, after defending the naira proved to be very expensive as the nations reserves shed over $2 billion in a month  the biggest monthly drop since June 2015.





Lukman Otunuga, FXTM research analyst, also said in 2018 that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) may find it hard to defend the naira against an appreciating dollar.





Defending the Naira has sent the nations foreign exchange reserves slipping to an 8-month low. With Oil prices briefly entering a bear market last week, it may become a headache for the Central Bank of Nigeria to defend the Naira against an appreciating Dollar, he had said.





Emefiele, however, believes that the slight instability in the Nigerian foreign exchange market was the handwork of speculators.





At the 53rd annual bankers dinner in Lagos in November, the CBN governor said speculators will regret their actions.





I can say that we are seeing that some of our friends at the other side are rearing their heads, and I want to assure them that they are going to lick their wounds this time again, Emefiele said after the naira slipped to 371 per dollar.




A middle-aged woman, Folashade Komolafe, has been arrested by the police for allegedly killing her husband, John Oloye. The deceased...





A middle-aged woman, Folashade Komolafe, has been arrested by the police for allegedly killing her husband, John Oloye.

The deceaseds family accused Komolafe of hitting him over the head with an object following an altercation between them on December 30, 2018 at their residence on Bunmi Ajakaye Street, Ilemba Hausa, Lagos State.

Oloyes elder brother, Felix, who spoke for the family, told City Round that the deceased had called him around 11.30pm the previous day, informing him that he and his wife were at a police post because of an issue. Oloyes elder brother, Felix, who spoke for the family, told City Round that the deceased had called him around 11.30pm the previous day, informing him that he and his wife were at a police post because of an issue.

Felix explained that he spoke to a policeman at the police post and the couple were asked to go home after the matter was resolved.

Felix said he got a call around 4am on December 30 from a friend of Oloye, who broke the news of the 38-year-old drivers death to him.

He said, At 11.30pm on December 29, my younger brother called me and said he had an issue with his wife and that they were at a police post near their place. He said he was having too much problem with the woman and that he could not resist it. I have never seen the woman before, but I learnt she was way older than my brother.

They left the police post about 45 minutes after. Surprisingly around 4am, I received a call from his friend, Promise, that he (Oloye) was dead. He said he bled seriously from his mouth and nose.

Our correspondent learnt that Oloye was rushed to a private hospital in the community, but was rejected. He reportedly died on the way to the Idimu General Hospital.

Felix added, I asked Promise to take the corpse and the woman to the police post they went to the previous day. On getting there, the police said they could not detain the woman at the post. She was taken to the Ilemba Hausa Police Station. My greatest surprise is that the woman has not been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba, since the incident occurred. I dont know the cause of the delay.

The investigating police officer said the woman was denying the crime. There was a sign that he had been violently hit in his head. The woman hit him in the head and he died. Both of them left the station at the same time and went home. After some hours, he died and there was blood everywhere inside their room. Did robbers attack them? I dont understand what the police are doing. If the police refused to say the truth regarding this issue, I believe the Divisional Police Officer will find himself to blame.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, CSP Chike Oti, said the Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, had directed that the case be transferred to the SCIID for further investigation. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, CSP Chike Oti, said the Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, had directed that the case be transferred to the SCIID for further investigation.

Oti stated that Oloyes corpse had been taken to the Badagry General Hospital for autopsy.

The PPRO said preliminary investigation revealed that Oloye and the suspect had a history of recurring domestic violence, adding that the head of the deceased was found smashed.

He said, We are investigating a murder case involving the woman and the CP has directed that the matter be transferred to the homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba, for detailed investigation.
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved N161 billion for the 2019 Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Intervention activities in N...





President Muhammadu Buhari has approved N161 billion for the 2019 Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Intervention activities in Nigerian universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.





The Executive Secretary, TETFund, Dr Abdullahi Baffa, made the disclosure in Abuja on Friday at a news conference with journalists.





Baffa explained that the approval of TETFund 2018 Intervention Guidelines of N161 billion represented the education tax collection for 2017, which was a boost to the higher education institutions in the country.





Baffa explained that each public university would get an allocation of N785,832,700, while each polytechnic would be given N536,703,502 from the N161 billion.





He also noted that each college of education would get N510,084,900 of the amount.





The approval of the 2018 Intervention by President Muhammadu Buhari in December 2018 heralds the commencement of the 2019 TETFund Intervention activities.





The approved N161 billion has been allocated to eligible institutions for 2019 Intervention activities in accordance with the provisions of the TETFund Act 2011.





Consequently, each public university will get an allocation of N785,832,700; each public polytechnic N536,703,502; and each college of education will get an allocation of N510,084,900 respectively, he said.





Baffa added that detailed breakdown of the allocations would be released after the fund would have communicated the allocation letters to the institutions.





He, therefore, called on all institutions that are entitled to come to the Funds head office to collect their allocation letters from Monday, Jan. 7.





The executive secretary further said the fund would focus on providing essential physical infrastructure for teaching and learning, providing support research and publication and instructional materials and equipment.





He said other area of focus was funding to support academic staff training and development, as well as funding to support the maintenance of educational standards in the institutions.





In 2018, the fund fully implemented the 2017 Revised Guidelines for accessing Intervention funds by beneficiary institutions to ease the processes of submission and approval of projects proposals for the various Intervention lines of the fund.





This contributed significantly to beneficiary institutions delivering their 2017 Intervention projects within the specified project cycles.





The internal controls introduced by the fund in 2017 resulted to high level of compliance with the guidelines for accessing funds by beneficiary institutions throughout 2018, he stressed.




Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says Nigeria needs a president who can travel to any par...





Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says Nigeria needs a president who can travel to any part of the world.





NAN reports that the former governor of Edo state on Friday alleged that Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), can only travel to Dubai.





He said President Muhammadu Buharis integrity cannot be faulted anywhere in the world, hence the need for Nigerians to vote him again.





Oshiomhole made the remark in Jos during the flag-off of the re-election bid of Simon Lalong, Plateau state governor.

The APC chairman said: We have a president whose integrity cannot be faulted anywhere in the world, but the PDP has a presidential candidate who can only travel to Dubai.





We know our developmental partners. They are not only in Dubai and so we must vote a president that can travel to any part of the world to lure investors into the country.





Contrary to the assertion of the APC chairman, the PDP presidential candidate visited the UK in April 2018, where he spoke at Chatham House.




The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has agreed to participate in the forthcoming general election. The agreement was r...





The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has agreed to participate in the forthcoming general election.





The agreement was reached at a meeting between the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and officials of the union in Abuja.





At the end of the meeting, Biodun Ogunyemi. president of ASUU, said the union would not stop its members from participating in the exercise.





We had a good meeting with the INEC team. We placed on record that our relationship with INEC dated back to 2010 when the former ASUU president, Attahiru Jega was chairman, he said.





Even though we are not in the position now to do everything we were doing that time, we have assured them that we will not stand in the way of our members participating in the election as ad-hoc staff.





The decision of our union as at the last time we met was that our members are free as citizens to participate in the electoral process as ad-hoc staff and we have restated that today that we are not going to stop any of our members who wishes to serve in that capacity.





On our own part, we will continue to support them with research because our strike as of today is about academic activities, we have not stopped conducting research, we have not stopped conducting community services.





Participating in election is part of community service, we as patriots we will do everything to support the process that will further institutionalise the democratisation of our entire nation. So we are working at that level.





The development comes after the University of Ibadan (UI) chapter of ASUU told INEC not to depend on students and lecturers for the general election.




Aare Gani Adams-led members of the Oodua Peoples Congress,( OPC), has dissociated itself from the recent move by the late Fredrick Fashe...

Aare Gani Adams-led members of the Oodua Peoples Congress,( OPC), has dissociated itself from the recent move by the late Fredrick Fasheun-led members of the group, to endorse the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mr. Babajide Sanw-olu.





Sanwo-Olu will slug it out with Jimi Agbaje of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)





Speaking on Friday, Lagos state coordinator of OPC, Alhaji Mutair Adesina, said the group was yet to decide on the candidates the group will support in the forthcoming elections, both in the state or at the national level.





Adesina also declared that OPC was yet to announce its position in the contest between President Muhammadu Buhari and Atiku Abubakar.





Our leader has the final say, and we are yet to hear from him. The APC candidate is yet to meet with our leader, or even pay him a courtesy call.





So as a group that is poised to promote the cultural identity of the Yoruba race, our core values are strengthen by our beliefs in restructuring, as it has been promoted always by our amiable leader, and the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams.





We have our template and structure firmly rooted both in Nigeria and outside the shores of this country. Members of our group are scattered across the country, and in 84 countries across the world.





Our core values and ideologies are enshrined in all our programmes. So, before we make up our minds we must consider so many things, and key among them is our position on restructuring.





Therefore, we will definitely bare our minds very soon and at the same time throw our weight behind any candidate that is ready to restructure Nigeria
The 2019 General Elections will be between the rich and the poor, the Director-General, Buhari /Osinbajo Campaign Organisation, Mr Roti...

The 2019 General Elections will be between the rich and the poor, the Director-General, Buhari /Osinbajo Campaign Organisation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, has said.Amaechi made the comment in Ilorin on Friday while inaugurating 1,872 election canvassers for the APC in Kwara State.Amaechi, who is the minister of transportation, said, We are gathered here today to peacefully take over power from the rich and hand over to the poor. That is what APC stands for.We join the poor to say we must take power from the rich. We join the poor to say enough is enough.The elite and the thieves have ganged-up against the APC. But they dont have the power because they dont have the number. The number is with the poor and the poor must rise to vote on that day.Amaechi said, When the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, was handing over, he left $58bn, where is the money now? How much did state governments collect? How much did the Federal Government collect? What did they do with the money?He said although there were big men in all political parties, the difference between other parties and ours is that the big men in our party are all progressives. Other parties dont care; they want to even collect what the poor is eating from them.In his address, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, saidthe gathering was a demonstration of the peoples resolve to rescue the state from those who have held it by the jugular, those who have pauperised our people, the pathologically-dishonest ones who govern by deceit.Mohammed said, We are inaugurating an army of well-recruited, tested and trustedcanvassers, who will go from house to house in each of the 1,872 polling units to tell our people why they must vote for President Muhammadu Buhari and all the candidates of the APC right here in Kwara State in the 2019 General Elections.He assured all the candidates of the party that they would carry the partys flag in the 2019 elections, despite litigations.
The United Nations Security Council is divided over how to react to Democratic Republic of Congo's tumultuous presidential election, according to an internal report seen by Reuters.

The United States also condemned a lack of transparency in last Sunday's contest, while China, a major investor, lauded the process.

The election to pick a successor to President Joseph Kabila, who has ruled the country of 80 million people since his father was assassinated in 2001, should mark the first democratic transition of power since independence from Belgium in 1960.

But tensions have risen since the vote after observers reported a litany of irregularities that the opposition says is part of the ruling party's effort to steal it.

Worried that the dispute could spark the kind of violence seen after the 2006 and 2011 elections, the Security Council met on Friday to discuss how to react.

"Tensions were mounting while the CENI tabulated the results, notably in light of posturing by parties and candidates," Leila Zerrougui, head of the UN Stabilization Mission in Democratic Republic of Congo, told the meeting, according to the internal report.

But the 15 council members "differed in their appreciation of the problems that beset the process and were divided over the question of whether the Council should issue a press statement," the report went on to say.

A negative or cautionary international reaction could be problematic for Kabila whose government has defended the election's organisation, and could weaken the legitimacy of Kabila's hand picked successor, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, should he be declared winner.

In Saturday's meeting, France pushed for the publication of a statement that recognised that Congo's election allowed people to exercise their democratic right and called for calm, but criticised the government's decision to cut access to the Internet and some media outlets.

The United States, which has threatened to impose sanctions against those who undermine the election process and has deployed troops to Gabon in case its citizens need rescuing from any violence, backed the statement, alongside Britain, Ivory Coast, Belgium and others.

South Africa, long a Kabila ally, said the statement could "inflame" the situation if issued before the results, the report said. Russia said it could be seen as an attempt to skew public opinion. China "lauded the manner in which elections were conducted", the report said, and said a statement should not be published before the results.

Initial results were expected on Sunday but the electoral board (CENI) said they could be delayed because vote counts were slow in arriving.

The opposition, represented by its two main candidates Martin Fayulu and Felix Tshisekedi, and the ruling coalition say their candidates have won.

Congo's Catholic church body, CENCO, said this week that it had identified the victor based on its own tallies collected by 40,000 observers, though it did not name the winner. The declaration was widely seen as a warning to authorities against rigging the vote.

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Funding tip

I have a thought on the border funding. Why cant we at each one of the border crossings charge a fee like $5 a day for cars coming into the United States? We could make a lot of money charging people to come into the United States at the borders alone. I do think we need a wall. I just think there is a way we can fund this without having to break the bank.

Check on power

Now that Democrats are in control of the House there will finally be checks and balances on this president and his administration, which Republicans failed and refused to do the last two years. They certainly did not do the job they were paid to do. Their behavior was a joke and an embarrassment to this country to let this administration get away with so much.

Change of tune

How noble of people in Missouri to advocate for open borders. Some in the Show-Me State dont understand the problems caused by illegal immigrants in border states. The poverty and crime cost millions. If these immigrants were put on a train at the border and shipped straight into St. Joseph, I bet these people would change their tune.

Shovel not ready

Again we had another meeting with the hotel/motel tax committee. They are meeting with residents of St. Joseph and there has been another holdup  another summer and nothing happening on the riverfront. I doubt if any of the men who have been picked for this committee have ever been in a boat on any river, let alone the Missouri River. There is money to be made out there. It has been 10 years and we still havent got a shovel in the ground. What is the holdup?

Common factor

I am calling about the one thing that is always there when there is a shooting in St. Joseph and that is guns. We need to do something about it.

Stamped out

Happy new year. Regarding the article in the paper about Donald Trump wanting to cut back on food stamps, well, it happened. I got a big $25 raise in Social Security and yesterday the report came in the mail that my food stamps have been cut quite a bit. So what good did our raise do? We all have to spend it on food.

Another one

I just had to turn the news off because it sickened my stomach to listen to that Nancy Pelosi look the American people in the eye and tell them lies. The only thing they are going to try to do is destroy Trump.

Radio silence

Why doesnt the tea party speak out like they used to against government spending? Why dont they say $5 billion is too much for a wall?

Trumps man

I see where Rep. Sam Graves voted to keep the government shut down. I think everyone in the area should understand that he stands behind Trump no matter what.
A north Texas man will serve 40 years in prison for sexually abusing a female child victim in Buchanan County in 2017.

Hector Escamilla, 57, received the sentence Friday afternoon from Judge Patrick Robb. He had been charged with one count of felony first-degree sodomy and two counts each of first-degree felony rape.

A jury found Escamilla guilty of all three charges during a trial in early November. Jurors determined that he had sexual contact with a 12-year-old victim on three separate days during a visit to St. Joseph in May 2017. She was taken to a hospital, where medical professionals found injuries consistent with sexual abuse.

Escamilla reportedly told family members he would leave if she was in the hospital because of something he did and then returned to Texas, where he was arrested and later returned to St. Joseph.

Prior to the sentencing, Robb denied a motion filed by defense attorney Mitchel Jenkins for Escamillas acquittal.

Jenkins told the judge he had discussed a sentence assessment report with his client, who he said cant read English.

Assistant Prosecutor Monica Morrey cited Escamillas decision to flee the state to avoid arrest as a factor that he not be considered for the probation requested by the defense, but rather receive a lengthy prison term. Morrey added Escamilla has never shown any sense of remorse or responsibility for the offenses.

This has been a very traumatic experience for the child victim, she told Robb, adding that Escamilla should be regarded as a danger to the community.

The victim was present for the sentencing but chose not to address the court.

Jenkins said his client maintains his innocence, saying he never even touched the victim. Escamilla chose not to speak when given the opportunity by Robb.

Its hard to understand where a person like that comes from, the judge told him before announcing the sentence, noting the circumstance that the victim is a family member.

The sodomy charge carries a 20-year sentence, while each of the rape charges have 10-year sentences attached. Robb said the terms will be served consecutively.
The St. Kolbe-Puckett Center for Healing has seen a steady increase in people seeking treatment over the five months it has been open, and a second doctor now has joined the organization.

The addiction treatment center is expected to reach 100 patients next week. Co-founder and physician Dustin Smith said given the current opioid addiction crisis, the response didnt come as a surprise. Still, theres something he didnt see coming.

I didnt expect us to have this much support this quickly, Smith said. I hoped that we would have even more, but part of me believed this is really going to be a struggle to grow for a while. But thankfully, this is the Show-Me State and people like to see results.

Kolbe-Puckett has expanded services to include grief counseling, employment classes and Nar-Anon meetings and added staff members without state or federal funding. Despite some close calls, the clinic continues to prosper thanks to community support, Smith said.

Youre on a shoestring budget, and youre wondering what the next week or month is going to hold. But this really has been a mission of faith. And we tell the patients all the time, if you show up, well show up, he said.

Physician Robert Corder recently joined the staff as a volunteer and treats patients several days a week, which comes as a relief for Smith, who lives in St. Louis and commutes to St. Joseph along with working with patients via telehealth services.

Corder retired from Mosaic Life Care a year and a half ago, and having been involved with many other volunteer opportunities, he didnt hesitate long to join Kolbe-Puckett.

Probably the most rewarding thing in medicine is to save somebodys life, and thats what were doing here  were saving peoples lives. Thats very, very rewarding, Corder said.

Smith is hopeful Kolbe-Puckett soon will receive a grant and has plans to use the money for a potential second location in Livingston County.

We are approaching Livingston County because they are, like many communities in the United States, struggling with the effects of addiction on the community, Smith said. A community starting today from scratch is 18 months behind us. What were going to be doing is taking that formula of what weve done, how we interact with the community, and were going to give them that recipe, and its going to grow from there.

Both Smith and Corder said its the communities themselves that need to take care of members struggling with addiction.

Thats the only way to do it, Corder said. The government is not going to just come in and give us doctors, just going to come in and give us nurses. We have to do some stuff ourselves.
This month the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is turning its eye on the issue of cervical cancer, advocating for women to get pelvic exams as well as looking into a cancer-preventing vaccine.

According to Connie Werner, the clinic supervisor for the City of St. Joseph Heather Department, the human papillomavirus, has been found to be linked to cervical cancer, and getting vaccinated prevents coming into contact with the disease.

This particular vaccine has been found to block nine types of HPV, Werner said. There are many, many more types of HPV, and most of them dont do harm; they go in your body they resolve themselves, they move on and you never knew you had it.

Werner said that despite the number of HPV types, you cannot pick which you come across in life, and the nine strains are not only linked to cervical cancer but also anal cancer, penile cancer and throat cancer.

While the HPV vaccine does bring sexually transmitted infections to mind, Werner said it is important for parents to vaccinate their children early, around age 10 or 11 when it is most effective. Werner said the sexual nature of the vaccine can make it hard for some to consider the procedure, but it could save a life.

Some people say, I dont want my daughter to think shes free to have sex, but Im not telling her to have sex; Im not changing her morals or her choices, Werner said. Im just giving the protection in the future, before that exposure.

Though the vaccine is recommended for children around the age of 10, it can be administered to adults up to the age of 26 in Missouri. Werner said that regardless of sex or sexual orientation, the HPV vaccine is something everyone should consider.

Dont be afraid to have that conversation, because this vaccine can save a life, Werner said. To say that we have a vaccine that can prevent cancer is an amazing statement. So dont be afraid because of the topic to have that conversation with your parent, with your spouse, with your loved one, with your doctor  whoever it is you feel you need to have that conversation with, have a frank, open medically based discussion  and then based on the information given, you make the choice best for you.
Hart considering hosting Oscars

NEW YORK | Prodded by Ellen DeGeneres, comic Kevin Hart said hell reconsider his decision to step down as host of the Academy Awards.

Hart had backed away two days after being named host last month when some homophobic tweets he had made a decade ago resurfaced. But DeGeneres urged him to host the show during an interview that aired Friday on her talk show.

You have grown, DeGeneres told him. You have apologized. Youre apologizing again right now. Youve done it. Dont let these people win. Host the Oscars.

Hart told her that you have put a lot of things on my mind and that he would think about their conversation.

Spears takes indefinite break

Britney Spears is taking an indefinite work hiatus to focus on her fathers recovery from a recent life-threatening illness, her publicist said Friday.

She also suspended her Domination show in Las Vegas.

Jamie Spears colon spontaneously ruptured two months ago, sending him to immediate surgery and putting him in the hospital for 28 days, according to a statement.

He is expected to make a full recovery, though the 37-year-old entertainer will devote all of her time to her family and their efforts to care for her father.

Spears confirmed the news on Twitter, calling it so tough.

Tysons StarTalk season on hold

The current season of the science-based talk show StarTalk is on hold following recent sexual misconduct allegations made against host Neil deGrasse Tyson.

The National Geographic channel will not air any new episodes of StarTalk until the investigation into the astrophysicist is completed, the Times has confirmed.

In order to allow the investigation to occur unimpeded we chose to hold new episodes of Star Talk until it is complete, the network told Variety on Thursday.

Netflix pulls episode of Patriot Act

Netflix subscribers in Saudi Arabia will no longer be able to view an episode of the comedy variety series Patriot Act after the streaming service pulled the installment that contained references to the killing of Jamal Khashoggi.

While the move drew a sharp rebuke from free speech proponents, Netflix said it made the decision to comply with local laws.

Patriot Act host Hasan Minhaj made the references in an episode of the series titled Saudi Arabia, in which the American comedian criticized the kingdoms conflicting explanations of Khashoggis death.
The arrested driver of a car that plowed into a New Year crowd in Tokyo's Harajuku district has said he was planning to spray kerosene at people at a popular Shinto shrine and set them ablaze, investigative sources said Friday.

In the rented minicar used in the attack, police found a 20-liter tank of kerosene and a high-pressure water sprayer with an ignition tool attached that the 21-year-old suspect Kazuhiro Kusakabe says he bought to carry out the plan.

"I was going to use the sprayer and kerosene to set fire to crowds at Meiji Shrine," Kusakabe, identified by the police as a resident of Osaka Prefecture, was quoted as saying, adding he drove into the pedestrians after "things didn't go well."

He also said he wanted to "target areas where there were many people" and had considered Osaka as well as Tokyo, according to the sources.

Kusakabe was arrested on New Year's Day on suspicion of attempted murder, after ramming his car into pedestrians on a busy shopping street in Harajuku, a center of Japanese youth culture and fashion.

Eight people were injured, including a 19-year-old university student living in Tokyo who remains unconscious due to a serious head injury.
After only a year in business, startup Luckin Coffee said Thursday it will open 2,500 stores this year to dislodge Starbucks and become Chinas largest coffee chain. The company said it plans to have more than 4,500 stores in China by the end of 2019, taking it past the US coffee giant, which has over 3,600 stores across the country. China is Starbucks second biggest market after the United States.

Luckin has challenged the US coffee chains dominance in the country by appealing to tech-savvy youth who prefer to order coffee using their smartphones and have it delivered. It is also relying on heavy discounts to poach consumers, a tactic used by other homegrown startups such as Didi-Chuxing, a ride-hailing service that dislodged Uber from the market. What we want at the moment is scale and speed, Luckins chief marketing officer, Yang Fei, told reporters on Thursday.

Theres no point talking about profit, he said, adding that the company will continue to offer subsidies to attract customers over the next few years. Chinas thirst for coffee has increased in recent years -- a trend fuelled by young people who have studied or worked abroad. In 2017, Chinas coffee shop sales reached some 30 billion yuan (around US$ 4.4 billion), and are expected to reach 1 trillion yuan by 2025.
A police officer was killed on Saturday while trying to defuse an improvised explosive device (IED) that was found in a Cairo slum area, a security source said.

The IED, which was put in a bag, was placed on a building's roof in Ezzbet El-Hagana.

According to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the police officer was a bomb disposal expert at Cairo Security Directorate.

The explosion comes as Egypt has tightened security in the weeks leading up to the Coptic Christmas celebrations on 7 January.

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Egyptian police killed 40 alleged terrorists in a crackdown yesterday after a roadside bomb hit a tour bus claiming the lives of three Vietnamese holidaymakers and an Egyptian guide. The suspects were killed in separate raids in the Giza governorate, home to Egypts famed pyramids and the scene of Fridays deadly bombing, and in the restive Sinai Peninsula, the interior ministry said. Two raids in the Giza governorate killed 30 terrorists, while the remaining 10 were killed in the North Sinai, the ministry said in a statement.

It said authorities acted after receiving information the suspects were preparing a spate of attacks against state and tourist institutions and churches. Information was received by the national security that a group of terrorists were planning to carry out a series of aggressive attacks targeting state institutions, particularly economic ones, as well as tourism, armed forces, police and Christian places of worship, the statement said.

Early on Friday evening, a roadside bomb hit a tour bus in the Al-Haram district near the Giza pyramids, killing the three Vietnamese holidaymakers and their Egyptian guide, officials said. A statement from the public prosecutors office said 11 other tourists from Vietnam and an Egyptian bus driver were wounded.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the bombing, the first attack to target tourists since 2017. Saigon Tourist, the tour company that organised the trip, said the Vietnamese tourists were on their way to a restaurant for dinner when the bomb exploded.
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(Newser)  Think 65,000 unwanted text messages constitute stalking? Try 159,000, with threats to bootat least according to police documents. Jacqueline Ades has already been charged with stalking and criminal trespassing for allegedly hounding a man she dated once after meeting him on a dating website for millionaires called Luxy, per the Arizona Republic. But newly obtained documents and body-cam footage from police in Paradise Valley, Arizona, are adding to the portrait of a woman on the edge. "Why is this happening to me?" Ades said as she was arrested in April 2018 for apparently bathing in the man's house while he was away. "I guess that I made up a whole scenario in my head where I live here, so I came here and pretended that's what was happening."

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Arrested a month later for ducking court hearings, she told officers a "story of love" involving the theory of relativity and trumpeted various conspiracy theories she said she learned from her one-time date. "He said to me, 'Go away,' for the last 16 months," said Ades, an esthetician from Florida, when she wasn't hyperventilating or wailing. "And I couldn't, because the more I loved him, the more I learned [about] the secrets of the universe." Police also say she sent him 159,000 texts over nearly 10 months, far higher than the original count of 65,000, per Fox News. And those texts included threats and anti-Semitic remarks. Asked if she thought such texts were normal, she said, "No, I don't think anything I say is normal. I understand now." Ades' trial is set for Feb. 5; she is pleading not guilty. (Read more Arizona stories.)
(Newser)  Ellen DeGeneres made big celebrity headlines Friday when she pushed for Kevin Hart to host the Oscars after all. And after a furious backlash, she doesn't appear to be changing her mind, reports E! Online. "However you feel about this, the only positive way through it is to talk about it," she tweeted amid the uproar, adding the hashtag "@KevinHart4real." Last month, the actor pulled out of the Oscars gig after old jokes and tweets of his seen as homophobic emerged. During her interview with Hart on Friday, DeGeneres revealed that she had called the Academy on his behalf to appeal for a second chance, and Hart said he was reconsidering his decision. DeGeneres is not only a former Oscars host herself, but a gay comedian. She maintained that a "small group" of "haters" had gone after Hart, and many, inside and outside of the LGBT community, took issue with that.

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They included BuzzFeed reporter Adam B. Vary, one of those who first reported on Hart's history. "It wasn't a mob of of people out to get Kevin Hart," he wrote in a series of tweets. "It was a group of people who wanted to understand Hart's thinking about those hurtful tweets & his stand-up jokes." Joining the criticism was Don Lemon of CNN, who objected to Hart's assertion that he had long ago apologized for his comments. If Hart did, Lemon can't find it. For many in the gay community, but especially in the black community (Lemon is a member of both), the Twitter apologies or explanations on Ellen have fallen flat," said Lemon, per the Daily Beast. "To many, they seem insincere, and that he has somehow turned himself into a victim instead of acknowledging the real victims of violent and sometimes deadly homophobia. Kevin, if anything, this is the time to hear people out. (Read more Ellen DeGeneres stories.)
Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi will inaugurate the countrys largest cathedral on Sunday, which marks Coptic Christmas Eve, Coptic Orthodox Church spokesman Father Boules Halim told Ahram Online.

The Nativity of Christ Cathedral in Egypt's new administrative capital occupies 30 percent of the 4.14-acre site allocated to the complex. The cathedral can accommodate 8,200 worshippers and the complex has been designed around a large central square.

It includes a papal residence, a reception hall, meeting rooms and offices.

Halim said that the preparations for the inauguration ceremony had been organised by the Egyptian presidency.

Pope Tawadros I will be in attendance, and diplomatic delegations from different countries will also attend, he said.

It will be followed by a mass held by the pope, he said.

El-Sisi commissioned the building of the cathedral in January 2017.

It is expected that the president will also inaugurate the new administrative capitals El-Fattah El-Alim Mosque on Sunday, said Halim.

Pope Tawadros is expected to give a speech at the mosque after its inauguration, Anba Morqos, the bishop of Shubra El-Kheima, told CBC Extra News on Saturday evening.

The newly constructed mosque can hold more than 17,000 worshippers and is expected to be one of the largest mosques in the Middle East.

The mosque is located on the Middle Ring Road in the New Administrative Capital.

The Nativity of Christ Cathedral was partially opened in 2018 with Pope Tawadros II and El-Sisi entering hand-in-hand, and the pope conducted Christmas Eve mass for the first time in the cathedral.

The attendees applauded, and Copts, who make up about 10 percent of the population, heralded El-Sisis appearance there as a milestone.

It has been El-Sisis habit to visit Coptic churches during Christmas Eve since he took office in 2014.

Coptic Christmas, which falls on 7 January, is a paid holiday for employees of the countrys private and public sectors.

In recent years, Copts have been victims of several deadly attacks against churches by Islamist terrorists during major holidays.

In response, the country has tightened security near churches, particularly during Christmas celebrations.

The new administrative capital, set to be completed in 2020, is part of the governments plan to expand urban areas to deal with the country's rapid population growth and improve the nation's infrastructure.

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(Newser)  The mastermind behind the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole is apparently dead. A US administration official tells CNN that an American airstrike in Yemen on Tuesday killed al-Qaeda commander Jamel Ahmed Mohammed Ali Al-Badawi, CNN reports. Officially, US Central Command says Al-Badawi was targeted in "precision strike" but "US forces are still assessing the results." The unnamed official says Al-Badawi was hit while driving by himself and no one else was killed. The attack on the USS Coletriggered by a boat filled with 400 to 700 pounds of explosives, per Newsweekkilled 17 US sailors and wounded another 39 on October 12, 2000. (One Army chief says there's a threat far worse than Islamic terror.)
(Newser)  Facing high suicide rates, Chicago police have decided to make a change. The fifth Chicago police suicide over the past six monthsanother self-inflicted gunshot wound on Tuesdayonly reinforced the need for officers to have access to better psychological counseling and support, NBC News reports. "Police officers think, 'I'm the person that people go to when they're having issues, so how am I supposed to call somebody else for myself?'" says Carrie Steiner, a clinical psychologist and former officer who owns the First Responders Wellness Center. "But they need to understand that it's OK to get help for themselves, too." Along those lines, the city says it will hire six extra counselors for police (to make 11 in all), enlarge a peer support program, and bring more clergy into the chaplains' ministry.

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The move follows years of awareness that Chicago police face a tough ride. A 2017 Department of Justice report found Chicago officers were 60% more likely to commit suicide than other cities' police, at a time when the force had only three counselors for a force of roughly 13,500 (Dallas has the same number for a staff of about 3,500). Add to that Chicago's high violence rates, negative police portrayals in the media, and the recent conviction of a city cop for killing black teenager Laquan McDonald, and Steiner says you have low morale. Then come the suicides: "No one knows with certainty why someone makes such a tragic decision," said the Fraternal Order of Police after Chicago Officer Dane Anthony Smith, 36, killed himself Tuesday, per CBS News Chicago. "We are all left with a gaping hole in our lives." (Read more police stories.)
Dr Law (third left) meets children during a music practice session at the Music Children Foundation office.

Secretary for Labour & Welfare Dr Law Chi-kwong (second left) tours an exhibition in the Heritage of Mei Ho House museum.

Secretary for Labour & Welfare Dr Law Chi-kwong today toured a youth hostel and a music education organisation in Sham Shui Po.

He first visited YHA Mei Ho House Youth Hostel.

The revitalised Mei Ho House invited past residents to contribute to exhibitions about the building and has introduced life in old estates to students.

Dr Law said he appreciated that students could learn more about the essence of neighbourhood with a deeper understanding of social capital from these activities.

He then went to the Music Children Foundation, an organisation receiving a grant in the First Round Application of the Dedicated Portion of the Partnership Fund for the Disadvantaged for implementing after-school learning and support programmes.

The foundation has provided free music training for underprivileged children since April 2016 with both its business partner's sponsorship and the Government's matching grant.

Dr Law said he was glad to know that upon completion of the project supported by the fund, the foundation obtained sponsorship from other charitable organisations to extend the project to other districts.

He also met District Councillors to discuss labour and welfare issues.
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).
Pikeville, KY (41501)

Today

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
Egypt seeks to intensify coordination with Tunisia over issues of common interest in Africa in the coming period, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi told Tunisian Foreign Minister Khemaies Jhinaoui during a meeting in Cairo on Saturday.

In an official statement, El-Sisis spokesman Bassam Rady said El-Sisi expressed to Jhinaoui Egypts wish for more coordination with Tunisia, especially in issues related to the development and maintenance of security and stability in Africa.

He expressed Egypts keenness on a continued boost in the common African process during Egypts chairmanship of the African Union this year.

Jhinaoui delivered a message from Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi to El-Sisi where he invited the Egyptian president to participate in the upcoming Arab Summit in Tunisia in March.

The meeting also discussions on bilateral issues, including boosting cooperation framework between the two countries in various fields, and the security coordination and exchange of information in counter-terrorism.

Libya was also on the table of discussion, where both El-Sisi and Jhinaoui praised the tripartite mechanism between the foreign ministers of Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria in coordinating stances towards the Libyan crisis.

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By Express News Service

KANNUR: The violence that erupted in Kannur on the hartal day continued unabated on Saturday too with both the CPM and BJP-RSS workers attacking enemy camps and even the houses of party leaders. With bombs hurled at houses of AN Shamseer MLA, former CPM district secretary P Sasi and the ancestral house of V Muralidharan MP and the situation going out of control on Friday night, the police have strengthened their security in sensitive areas including Thalasserry.

ALSO READ | 'Bank accounts of Kerala hartal hooligans will be frozen'

Kannur SP G Shiva Vikram has asked the policemen on leave to report back at the earliest. A big posse of police have been stationed at many centres and SP Shiva Vikram and Collector Mir Muhammad Ali are giving instruction regarding the peacekeeping at volatile places. More forces have been deployed at various places in the district due to the continued violence. The armed force which reached Thalasserry on Saturday morning took out a route march through the town.

In light of the tension prevailing in the district, DGP Loknath Behera has asked the police to act tough on the perpetrators of violence. As the houses of political leaders were attacked, police have provided security for the houses of other prominent leaders in the district. The party offices are also being given protection.

ALSO READ | Kerala hartal: 1,718 arrested for violence

A BJP worker was taken into custody in connection with the incident in which DYFI worker, Vysakh, was hacked by alleged BJP workers on Friday night. A case has been registered for an attempt to murder against five other BJP workers also.

Violence continued in other parts of the district also. The BJP office at Cheruthazham was set ablaze by an unidentified gang on Saturday morning. A BJP leader's house was attacked at Pappinisserry. It was the house of BJP leader Biju Thuthi, which was attacked around 3.30 am on Saturday by a bike-borne gang. They threw stones at the house and broke the window panes, the police said. Biju was not in the house during the time of the attack. This is the fourth time that the leader's house is being attacked by political rivals.

ALSO READ | Kerala violence: Now, get ready for repercussions, BJP threatens Kerala CM

So far, the police have registered 143 cases in connection with various incidents of violence in the district in the last two days alone. They have arrested 260 persons and detained 19 persons.

DGP Behera has ordered the Kannur SP to take strict action against those involved in the attack against the leaders of political parties in the district. He has also directed to take steps to keep law and order situation under control. Three DySPs and one ASP have been given the charge to keep things under check.

The police have strengthened the security at the house of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at Pandyala Mukku at Pinarayi. An additional team of 15 policemen under the ASI of Pinarayi police station has been posted near the CM's house.

Meanwhile, 27 persons were arrested in connection with the violent incidents at Thalasserry and nearby areas. Eight platoons of armed forces were also deployed in these areas to put an end to the violence which shook up the district after a long time.
It is an early Saturday morning in late December 2018 and a little before the 6 January evening Mass that heralds the advent of Coptic Christmas in Egypt.

Mounir Fam, a leading architect, is standing in the entrance of a truly monumental building he designed a little under three years ago. It is the Nativity Cathedral, the new heart of Egypts Coptic community in the countrys New Administrative Capital and the marker of some 2,000 years of the Christian presence in Egypt.

President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi is expected to keep his habit, observed since he came to power in 2014, of making an appearance at Christmas Mass on 6 January. This Christmas, as during the past couple of years, the head of the Coptic Church, Pope Tawadros II, will lead the Christmas Mass in the new Nativity Cathedral.

In 2018, the cathedral was still under construction. For Christmas in early 2019, however, Fam has promised that the construction work will have come to an end or almost, as there are a very few things remaining, but we are almost done, he says.

Fam is a prominent name in constructing and reconstructing churches in Egypt. However, the Nativity Cathedral is his largest-ever project, and he is proud of this monumental building built on over 8,000 square metres of land and surrounded by over 1,000 square metres of landscaped green space in the New Administrative Capital where it has been under construction for close to four years.

The interior of the building speaks of the talent of this architect who has used no columns in order to allow close to 8,000 people to attend prayers without visual boundaries between them.

This was one of the things I was very keen on, because in St Marks Cathedral in Abbasiya in Cairo there are so many columns that at certain points they block the vision of those who attend mass, Fam said.

Obviously, he added, the design of the new cathedral was made with the help of new technology that was not available when prominent architect Michel Bakhoum built St Marks Cathedral. In November 2018, the cathedral celebrated the 50th anniversary of its opening.

Until 1964, members of Egypts Coptic Orthodox Church who represent the majority of Egypts Christians had their cathedral in the heart of Cairos Azbakiya district, where St Marys Cathedral, built in the early 19th century after a decree issued by the Ottoman sultan in 1800, once stood.

In 1965, former president Gamal Abdel-Nasser joined Pope Kirollos VI and the then emperor of Ethiopia, which follows the Coptic Orthodox Church, to lay the foundation for the new St Marks Cathedral that was inaugurated in November 1968 in Abbasiya in the east of the capital.

Fifty years later, the new Nativity Cathedral is being readied for its opening while St Marks has undergone renovation that has seen it covered with paintings and icons.

It was a parallel job, to build the new Nativity Cathedral and to refurbish St Marks, Fam said. In both cases, it was essential to stick to the spirit and style of the rich Coptic designs, he added.

For the Nativity Cathedral, Fam took his inspiration from a sixth-century church in Marioutiya near Alexandria. For St Marks Cathedral, he worked on preserving the original design of the interior, while allowing for divisions to be made for artists to contribute new paintings and icons.

Samuel Mettias, coordinator of the renovation project, said that Pope Tawadros had declined the idea of recruiting Italian or Greek artists to contribute to the interior of the cathedral. He wanted the work to be done by Egyptian artists. He felt it would be better not just for the artists or for the church of Egypt, but also for the country as a whole, Mettias said.

The artists were selected through a competition organised by the church, and their work was coordinated to make sure they produced a harmonious style. The preparation for the work was a very detailed process, said tacwni (deacon) Sawsan, who oversaw a committee put together to manage the artwork now covering the otherwise grey walls of St Marks.

We drew up a plan of the items we wished to have, and we put down parameters that we asked all the artists to observe. We also made sure that we had provided the artists with all the material required to make sure we did not end up with a confused palate or unsyncronised textures, she said.

There was also a need to repair the infrastructure. Everything has been redone. It has been 50 years since the cathedral was built, and we needed new lighting and sound systems. We also needed to install modern security systems and so on, Mettias explained.

For the last two years, Pope Tawadros has led the Easter Mass that is still held at Abbasiya and that is not attended by the president given sensitivities in the Muslim and Christian creed about the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Meanwhile, construction work has been underway inside and outside the cathedral and in its adjoining residences of the patriarch, its service centres, and its centres for Coptic Christian learning.

By Easter 2019, the entire renovation job should be finished, Mettias said. We are almost there, and we might even be done before Easter, he said.

Mettias is confident that despite debates over the renovation and the need for it to be done, the vast majority of worshippers will be thrilled to see their cathedral so beautifully restored.

I realise that some thought we should not have done it, but in all honesty given the importance, the weight, and the history of the Coptic Orthodox Church, and even though we have a new cathedral in the New Administrative Capital, it was still important for this cathedral to be restored, he said.

More than one Debate

Some Copts are rejoicing over the renovation work. Hala is a civil servant in her late 40s who lives near the cathedral in Abbasiya. A committed churchgoer, she said she was very happy with the new artwork and renovation.

For me, it is not just that it looks brighter and more beautiful. It also reflects the fact that we are still here and that we are able, with the helping hand of God, to keep our imprint in this land, Hala said.

She did not wish to comment on arguments about the cost of the project, never announced by the church. I dont know the details, but I trust Pope Tawadros and it is as simple as that, she said.

Saniya, a housewife in her late 60s, also said that she was happy with the renovation work because the cathedral now has icons. However, her grandson Abadir, a student of commerce, was not so happy not because it does not look good  that is not the point but because this is not just renovation. It was important to keep the cathedral the way it was with its bare and grey walls because it stood as a witness to its own history and the era it was built in, just like the older churches in Egypt, he said.

Prominent artist Adel Nassif said in remarks on his Facebook page that the quality of the artwork could have been better, and he suggested that even if the purpose had been to give the cathedral a facelift, the job had gone astray from an artistic point of view.

In remarks shared on his Facebook page, commentator Robert Al-Fares took the debate further and threw in questions about the alleged lack of financial transparency in the management of state resources at a time when many Copts, like the vast majority of Egyptians, are forced to deal with various economic challenges.

Over the past few months, Al-Fares writings have focused on the need for more transparency from the church on issues of interest to its followers. He has been particularly critical of the lack of information on the killing of bishop Epiphanius in late July in the Saint Macarius Monastery northwest of Cairo.

Charges have been levelled against a monk. Another monk, who committed suicide at the same monastery a few weeks following the killing, is suspected of having been an accomplice in the crime. A court case is currently in process, and the next hearing is due for the third week of January.

Ishak Ibrahim, a senior researcher at the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, an NGO, said that the case was both convoluted and telling. It was convoluted, he said, because the investigations so far have failed to offer a clear scenario for what really happened and because there were allegations relating to the financial conduct and spiritual commitment of the monks.

We have established facts relating to reprimands that the murdered bishop, as head of the monastery, made of the attitude of some of the monks, including those who are suspected of having been associated with his death, Ibrahim said. But we dont have facts released by the church about this debate.

Ibrahim argued that the Epiphanius case was telling of a more consequential issue because it had brought to the surface and to the attention of followers of the Coptic Church sometimes overlooked questions about the conduct of the clergy.

Clearly, this is a very sensitive issue that the church would not have liked to see coming out into the open  nor for that matter would most Copts who may feel that this episode has brought them scorn from society at large, he added.

Mariam, a 35-year-old teacher, said she was shocked and dismayed by the Epiphanius case, and not just because it included killing and a suicide among the clergy who are supposed to be exemplary in their spirituality. She said she was not bothered by silly remarks by some who have asked why the Copts complain about attacks when their clergy are plotting against one another.

I can live with these silly remarks because there is hatred in this world unfortunately, but what is really bothering me is the attitude of the church. It is as if the church does not owe us an explanation, and it just wants the story to be hushed up, she said.

For Mariam, the Epiphanius case is just part of a larger attitude that the church adopts when handling anything without sharing with the people. This includes everything from relations with the state, the security bodies, and other churches. It is disappointing, as this is not my idea of the spiritual leadership of the church, she stressed.

The State and the Church

Rami Atta, an instructor at a private university in Egypt, is a member of the Committee for Citizenship and Human Rights that has been established by the Higher Council for Culture.

He is not disturbed in his assessment of the role of the church on managing its affairs. I think it makes sense that the affairs of the clergy should be examined within the due context and by the due committees, because otherwise it would be confusing for the followers of the church, he said.

He also accepts the argument offered by the church that the restoration work on the cathedral was financed by donations for this purpose.

What concerns Atta is the involvement of the church in politics. The church should have nothing to do with politics. It should not assume that it can decide for its followers their political preferences, nor that it can promise the state the collective political conduct of all the Copts in Egypt. This goes way beyond its spiritual role, he said.

Over the past few years, Amir, an engineer in his mid-30s, said that the church had often tried to influence him and others in deciding on political choices. In the early days of the 25 January Revolution, for example, which Amir and many other Coptic young men and women joined, his Heliopolis church had tried to discourage him from going to Tahrir Square.

In the 2012 presidential elections, the church offered guidance on voting in the first and second rounds, and there was a dedicated appeal for everyone to join the 30 June demonstrations, to say yes to the 2014 constitution, and to vote for Al-Sisi, he said.

In all the above cases, Amir acted upon his own decisions and declined any advice, either from the bishop of the church or the priest at the Sunday School he attended. He agrees that declining the guidance of the church on politics did not strain the bond with his clergy or his Sunday School.

But what I feel is that they should not be doing this. I feel that the pope should not interfere in politics. His status is much higher than that, he said.

Sinout Delwar, also an engineer, but in his late 50s, argues that it is unfair to suggest that Pope Tawadros has been acting to please the head of the executive. I think there are three things that need to be taken into consideration. First, Pope Tawadros likes President Al-Sisi and feels that the president is trying to reach out to the Copts and appreciates this. Then there is the fact that for decades, the state has chosen to deal with the head of the church as the representative of the Coptic community; and third in some cases the leaders of the church happen to have opinions that some people do not agree with, he said.

Delwar chose to join the 25 January Revolution despite the scepticism demonstrated by then Pope Shenouda, who was not necessarily acting to win the favour of [ousted former president Hosni] Mubarak, but rather out of apprehension about who was really behind the protests, he said.

Before and after January 2011, Delwar said that he had made his own choices. I was close to Pope Shenouda, and I am also close to Pope Tawadros, but I claim to act upon my own and that this has not hampered the good relations I have with the patriarch of the church, he said.

Delwar argued that the construction of both St Marks Cathedral and the Nativity Cathedral had been on the initiative of the head of the executive towards the head of the church.

In 1964, when the Copts were angered by the attack of some radicals against one of their churches in Aswan, Gamal Abdel-Nasser upon the advice of his confidant Mohamed Hassanein Heikal to start the construction of the cathedral in Abbasiya, and the news was conveyed to Pope Kirollos VI. Fifty years later, President Al-Sisi told Pope Tawadros II during Christmas Mass that a new Coptic Cathedral would be built in the New Administrative Capital, he said, that too was after a series of attacks on Coptic churches.

In both cases, the patriarchs and the Copts at large rejoiced.

Three Patriarchs

Some Copts, who would not wish to challenge the authority of the church or its representation of the Copts of Egypt, might still contest some of the stances of Pope Tawadros, however.

This would not be on the basis of the strict separation of church and state, but instead would be on the basis of comparing the choices of the current head of the Coptic Church to his two predecessors, Pope Kirollos VI, who was head of the church from 1959 to 1971, and Pope Shenouda III, who was head from 1971 to 2012.

They argue that both previous patriarchs managed to keep a more balanced agreement in force with the state such that channels of communication were generally smooth, but without having the church come across as too aligned with the policies of the head of the state.

In the words of Maguida, an elderly Coptic lady who lives in Zamalek, with the exception of the falling out between Pope Shenouda and [former president] Anwar Al-Sadat towards the end of his rule when he was getting very sensitive, the relationship between the church and state was always amicable but not too close. This is important because the head of the church has a very high spiritual status, she said.

Maguida said she was really grateful for all President Al-Sisi has done, not just in ordering the construction of the new cathedral, but also in the many renovations of many of the churches that were burnt or attacked after the events of January 2011.

The state has also granted licences for the operation of many churches in many parts of the country, and this is all very good, but it should not make the church speak about politics or suggest anything to its followers, she added.

Atta is of the same opinion. He argued that the state has certain obligations towards the Copts, who are citizens of the country, and that when the state observes its duties towards these citizens it should not be perceived as a favour that needs to be reciprocated.

What matters most for the Copts is not to have a sympathetic president but to be treated as equal citizens in their own country, he added.

According to Ayman Karam, a vicar of the Coptic Church, there is no comparison between Pope Tawadros and his two predecessors, not even taking into consideration the episode of the falling out between Pope Shenouda III and President Al-Sadat.

Pope Tawadros II was elected as patriarch at a crucial moment in the history of this country when the radical groups were targeting the Copts and the whole future of the country seemed to be in the balance, Karam said. He added that this situation did not compare to the rise of the Islamists during the second part of the rule of Anwar Al-Sadat because unlike in the 1970s in 2012 the Islamists were in office and some of them did attack the cathedral in Abbasiya in an act of sectarianism.

He argued that it was not right to compare Pope Tawadros II to Pope Kirollos VI, given that the former patriarch had kept a low profile and the current patriarch is living in the age of social media.

Ibrahim argued that Pope Shenouda, who had been for years before his election as patriarch the bishop in charge of education, which meant he was party to the decision-making processes of the church and was based in Cairo, was unlike his successor Pope Tawadros II who was responsible for years for the Copts of Beheira, a governorate with a smaller Coptic community.

He added, however, that unlike Pope Shenouda, Pope Tawadros was more open to a closer relation between the Coptic Orthodox Church and other churches and also less concerned to centralise matters of marriage and divorce.

This debate on the character of the patriarch brings in the debate over the influence of the church over its members, particularly young people. Some younger Coptic men and women today argue that despite his openness on matters of the creed, Pope Tawadros has the same approach as Pope Shenouda in aiming to keep the youth inside the walls of the church.

They want us to go back to what it used to be like before the 25 January Revolution. But you cannot put back the clock. We were part of the January events, and we have been present in many things afterwards. Perhaps the real gain we have made over the years since 2011 is that we now have more of a visible presence, said George, a Coptic student from Shoubra.

There is a debate about whether the Coptic Church has acted to restrain its followers in public space. There is a parallel debate about whether this happened at the wish of the church or by the act of the state.

Karam likes to argue that this was the act of the state. It started in the wake of the 1952 Revolution, he said, which acted to sideline the Copts even in the midst of its fight against the Muslim Brotherhood in the 1950s and 1960s. It was impossible for anyone, not just the Copts, to cut through the blockade that Nasser put on public space. There were no political parties and no civil society. It was inevitable that the Copts would resort to the church, he said.

Shenouda is also of the opinion that this was the act of the state, but he attributes it to Sadat rather than Nasser. After the 1973 War when Sadat wished to eliminate the left and resorted to giving the Islamists a higher influence in society and aligned himself with Islamic regimes, he excluded the Copts in Egypt, he argued.

The falling out between Sadat and Pope Shenouda III took place when the president took the extraordinary measure of expelling a patriarch whose election has to be endorsed by the head of the executive. It was a very scary moment, and it was impossible for anyone in the entire Coptic community not to be fearful, Shenouda added.

With the assassination of Sadat and the election of Hosni Mubarak in 1981 as the new head of state, the new president acted promptly to reinstate the patriarch of the Coptic Church, though he also refrained from upgrading the relationship between the head of the executive and the head of the church.

This situation lasted for 30 years, during which the Copts gradually received more rights. For some decades, the church was the only space in which the Copts could express themselves. Even when they wished to protest, as they did in the early days of January 2011 just a few days before the 25 January Revolution against the massacre at the Two Saints Church in Alexandria, they protested within the walls of the cathedral in Cairo.

During these decades, Sunday Schools were the main venue where the vast majority of Coptic youth found space for social activism alongside spiritual guidance.

Church and Sunday School

The beginning of the Sunday Schools of the Coptic Church came 100 years ago. It is the legacy of Habib Girgis, a pious man who wished to grant generations of Copts a better knowledge of their religion, said preist Bassilious of the Coptic Church.

It was a time when the Institute for Coptic Studies had just been established, and most of the clergy outside the big cities lacked sufficient education on matters of religion. It was also a time when the public schools had not incorporated the teaching of Christianity, as was the case with Islam, so Habib Girgis decided to start the Sunday Schools to give all Copts a chance to learn and to teach, Bassilious added.

He insists that at no point in its century-old tradition in Egypt did the Sunday Schools create a collective social or political creed for the Copts.

According to Talaat Daniel, a leading figure in the schools, the programmes are based on the creed and they differed from one place in the country to another. I know that some who dont know the schools think that they are about indoctrination, but they really arent. We refrain from discussing politics, and we work on religion and behaviour and social matters, he said.

In 1907, the authorities agreed to allow Christianity to be taught to school children by a knowledgeable Christian teacher. Twelve years later, after the 1919 Revolution and only one year after the launch of the Sunday Schools, the first Christianity curriculum was introduced.

It was very primitive at the time, and it was not geographically comprehensive because there were not enough schools across the country and of course not enough Sunday Schools either, Bassilious said.

According to Shenouda, who has long been associated with the Sunday Schools and who was on a committee celebrating their centenary in 2018, the expansion of the Sunday Schools was an organic process. Today, he said, these schools cover the country to provide education and services for all those who are interested, but it is about 90 per cent children and young adults who commit to attend and serve.

Magdi Naguib, a retired civil servant in his late 60s, has had a lifetimes association with the Sunday Schools in Cairo. He argues that the evolution of the schools has been associated with changes in lifestyles in Egypt.

Nothing is the same today as it used to be 100 years ago. Religion is the same, of course, but society is not. There are so many things that have come up and have forced the introduction of new topics in the creed and also new teaching styles, Naguib said. It is also important to note that some issues might not be discussed in the Sunday Schools in Egypt, but would be discussed in the schools overseas, like in Australia, Canada or the US.

According to Mona Wadie, a woman in her 50s who also serves in the Sunday Schools in Cairo, we cannot ignore the exposure of young men and women to values that might not be compatible with our society, nor can we ignore the attacks on churches. We realise that almost everyone has access to social media and that they can come across information, so we think we had better pick up the discussion with them, she said.

Both Naguib and Wadie insist that for the most part the role of the Sunday Schools is complementary to the role of the church in fortifying the creed, however.

But according to some critics among those who have attended the Sunday Schools, the church is also keen to fortify its control of the schools.

I used to attend regularly, but I stopped because there is hardly any difference between what I hear in the Sunday School and what I hear at church. It is all the same, argued Abanob, a high school student from Ain Shams.

According to Atta, there was a moment when the church did not like the idea of the Sunday schools and felt they could take control of the Coptic population away from the reins of the church. This changed down the road, he said.

Good relations between the church and Sunday Schools founder Girgis allowed for the fears of the clergy to be dispelled. A committee to run the schools was first set up in 1918 with a majority of non-clergy. A few decades down the road this changed to allow for more clergy than non-clergy. When Pope Shenouda III was made patriarch he allowed the first-ever non-clergy committee to run the Sunday Schools.

He wished to benefit education. This was obvious given the fact that he himself was the bishop responsible for education and he had attended and taught at the Sunday Schools, Shenouda said.

However, this was a short-lived experiment, as it upset clergy now in control of the Sunday Schools. Bassilious argues that the matter was not one of control but instead one of securing a teaching programme committed to the precepts of the Coptic Orthodox creed.

According to Abanob, the sensitivity between the Coptic Church and the other churches is an obsession that has transpired among most of the clergy and even some of the servants of the Sunday Schools. And it is really annoying, he added.

Abanob was born to a Coptic Orthodox father and a Catholic mother. He used to attend the Sunday Schools of the Catholic Church, but then his father insisted on moving him to an Orthodox school. For a millennial like Abanob, this feud between the churches was quite disturbing. The extremists that attack Christians do not inspect the church they follow; they just go for a busy one, he said.

Nabil Bekhit, a leading figure in the Evangelical Sunday Schools in Egypt, and Father Boulos of the Catholic Church both acknowledge such sensitivities, but they suggest that their churches first saw the introduction of the Sunday Schools. Each has a narrative to back his point of view.

Both men, along with Bishop Bassilious, also agree that there are no common activities among the Sunday Schools of the three Churches. We work in parallel. We dont fight or compete, but we also dont meet, Boulos agreed.

According to Ibrahim, the failure of these three leading churches in Egypt to start a process of dialogue is not just about the wish of each to stay away from the other for fear of change. It is, he said, more about an inherited fear of challenging the status quo that continues to haunt the Christian presence in Egypt, no matter that new churches are being built and the states discourse has improved.

Yet, as Boulos says, we, the Christians of Egypt, will continue to celebrate our presence in this land and will continue to be here to celebrate Christmas on 25 December, as the Catholics of Lower Egypt do, or on 7 January as the Catholics of Upper Egypt do, to join the majority of the Coptic Orthodox and Evangelical Churches there. And we will continue to pray for peace on earth together.

There is no clear census of the number of Christians in Egypt, with accounts varying between five and 12 million, making them one of the largest Christian communities in the Middle East.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 3 January, 2019 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: 2018: A year in waiting

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By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has topped the list of ministries which rejected RTI applications, according to the annual report of the Chief Information Commission (CIC).The MHA rejected 15 per cent of RTI applications filed by the public to get information under the Act. This is almost thrice the average of RTI rejections by other Union ministries.

The Finance Ministry attains the second position in rejecting RTI applications. The Delhi High Court too rejected RTI applications. Interestingly, the defence ministry rejected only 5 per cent of RTI applications filed by the public. The Ministry of Home Affairs received almost 57,000 RTI applications, out of which 8,700 were rejected. Similarly, the defence ministry received 80,000 RT applications but rejected only 4,000 requests seeking disclosure of information.

The finance ministry received the maximum number of RTI requests, out of which 28,000 were rejected under various sections of RTI. According to the report, in 51 per cent cases of rejection, the reason for rejecting disclosure of information in Section 8(1), citing sovereignty and integrity of the country as also its security and strategic, scientific or economic interest, commercial confidence, trade secrets, or intellectual property as reasons for refusal to part with the information.

The railway ministry and the ministry of housing and urban affairs rejected the fewest requests under the RTI Act. The report also highlighted that in 2018, more than 14 lakh RTI applications were filed, in comparison with 2017, when government offices had received almost 11 lakh RTI requests.

The CIC disposed of 29,005 Second Appeals and Complaints cases in 2017-18, which is the second highest disposal by the Commission since its inception. A total of 25,815 cases were registered during the same period. At the end of the year the Commission had 23,541 cases pending before it.

The Commission imposed penalties to the tune of `33.62 lakhs during 2017-18.
Egypt's Court of Cassation on Saturday upheld a ruling to acquit former president Hosni Mubarak's chief of staff Zakaria Azmy of charges of illicit gains.

The case dates back to 2012 when a criminal court first sentenced Mubarak's former chief of staff to seven years in jail on corruption charges.

Azmy was then fined EGP 36.5 million (worth approx. $6 million in 2012) after being found guilty of making illicit profits of some EGP 44 million.

In February 2017, a Cairo criminal court released Azmy after he was found innocent of the charges.

The Court of Cassation turned down a prosecution appeal against the acquittal.

Saturday's court decision is final and cannot be appealed.

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By PTI

BENGALURU: Announcing his foray into politics, critically-acclaimed actor Prakash Raj Saturday said he will be contesting the coming Lok Sabha elections from the Bengaluru Central constituency as an independent candidate.

The National Award-winning actor made the declaration in a tweet.

"#2019 parliament elections. Thank you for the warm n encouraging response to my new journey..will be contesting from Bengaluru central constituency#Karnataka as an Independent.. "Will share the details with the media in few days.. #citizensvoice #justasking in parliament too...," the Bengaluru-born Raj said on Twitter.

#2019 PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS.Thank you for the warm n encouraging response to my new journey.. I will be contesting from BENGALURU CENTRAL constituency #KARNATAKA as an INDEPENDENT..will share the Details with the media in few days..#citizensvoice #justasking in parliament too... pic.twitter.com/wJN4WaHlZP  Prakash Raj (@prakashraaj) 5 January 2019

Welcoming his decision, the Aam Aadmi party extended support, saying all good people should come into politics.

"Renowned Actor @prakashraaj plans to contest Lok Sabha elections, @AamAadmiParty offers open support to him. In a party meeting in Bangalore, Dy CM @msisodia welcomes the decision, says all good ppl (sic) are welcome in politics."

Raj thanked the party for the support.

"Thank you @AamAadmiParty Dy CM @msisodia and to every single cadre for the assuring support to my political journey..." the actor tweeted.

Thank you @AamAadmiParty Dy CM @msisodia and to every single cadre for the assuring support to my political journey. ... #citizensvoice #justasking in parliament too.. https://t.co/9PH8K9Ujv2  Prakash Raj (@prakashraaj) 4 January 2019

Prakash Raj has been vocal about his views on the current BJP-led government at the Centre.

He has also been one of those seeking justice for his friend and journalist Gauri Lankesh, who was shot outside her residence in September 2017.

The actor earlier claimed that Bollywood filmmakers stopped offering him roles as he has been critical of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government.

Raj is the latest celebrity to join politics from south after veterans Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan.
Egypt's Defence Minister Mohamed Zaki greeted Coptic Pope Tawadros II on the occasion of Christmas, according to a statement by military spokesman Tamer El-Refai on Saturday.

Coptic Orthodox Christians, who make up a substantial majority of all Christians in the country, celebrate Christmas on 7 January, following the Julian calendar.

"It is my pleasure to greet you on the anniversary of the blessed birth of Jesus Christ, and I ask God to restore it to your holiness and the Copts of the nation with health, goodness and blessings," the statement read.

Zaki also expressed his and the armed forces' pride at Tawadross strong national position, which affirm that the people of Egypt, with its Muslims and Copts, are united in one nation and one hope for the building of Egypt and its glorious history.

"On this occasion, I also pay tribute to the sacrifices of the Coptic armed forces members and their loyalty to the tasks and responsibilities they carry," Zaki said.

Lieutenant General Mohamed Farid, chief of staff of the Armed Forces, also greeted Tawadros II in the same statement.

Zaki issued a directive to congratulate all commanders, officers, non-commissioned officers, military personnel, Coptic soldiers and civil servants on the occasion of the glorious Christmas celebration, as well as the brave Copts of North and Central Sinai.

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New Castle, PA (16103)

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Spiegel Online, citing official documents, reported on January 2, 2019, that the German Federal Security Council has approved the export of a Meko 200 frigate to the Egyptian Navy. The frigate, produced by ThyssenKrupp, likely costs around 500 million euros, sources told the publication. Spiegel noted that Egypt may buy another frigate from the manufacturer in addition to the one it is approved for.

Spiegel Online, citing official documents, reported on January 2, 2019, that the German Federal Security Council has approved the export of a Meko 200 frigate to the Egyptian Navy. The frigate, produced by ThyssenKrupp, likely costs around 500 million euros, sources told the publication. Spiegel noted that Egypt may buy another frigate from the manufacturer in addition to the one it is approved for.

MEKO 200 frigate (Valour class MEKO A-200SAN of the South African Navy) (Picture source: ThyssenKrupp Marine)

Over the last few years, Egypt has considered a new surface vessel buy, looking primarily at French and German products. The Egyptian Navy operates Gowind 2500 corvettes and a FREMM frigate purchased recently from France, but has evidently favored the German Meko 200 for its new purchase.

In November 2018, La Tribune reported that a deal between Egypt and Germany for four Meko 200s -- worth up to 2 billion euros -- had been inked two months prior. The publication noted that the Egyptian government was initially looking to purchase two Meko 200s, both to be built in Germany, but later adjusted its requirement to four vessels, one to be built in Egypt.

However, the deal was frozen soon after signing, according to La Tribune, stemming from Saudi pressure. The deterioration of Saudi-German relations, particularly after Saudi Arabia's killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, reportedly led to Riyadh putting a hold on providing funding for Egypt's purchase. Even so, Handelsblatt reported later in the month in November that a deal for two frigates at one billion euros had been finalized and a contract awarded for ThyssenKrupp.
Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., on Friday joined a group of fellow Democrats re-introducing legislation that would require President Donald Trump  and his successors in the White House  to release their federal tax returns.

Presidents and presidential candidates have routinely disclosed their tax returns since the 1970s, but Trump has bucked that tradition by refusing to release his.

Murphy and the other co-sponsors of the legislation say the public needs to know about the presidents financial ties.

Presidents have a lot of powerthey can unilaterally change federal contracts, influence foreign governments, and impose sanctions, Murphy said in a statement. Americans deserve to know if the foreign policy decisions presidents make are based on the best interests of the country or made to benefit the presidents pocketbook.

Murphy also said, President Trumps bizarre history of nonsensical foreign policy decisions could easily be explained by his or the Trump Organizations financial ties to countries like Russia and Saudi Arabia.

The Presidential Tax Transparency Act would require sitting presidents to release their most recent three years of tax returns to the Office of Government Ethics (OGE). It also requires that, within 15 days of becoming the nominee at the party convention, presidential nominees release their most recent 3 years of tax returns to the Federal Election Commission (FEC). Should the sitting president or future candidates refuse to comply, the bill would require the U.S. Treasury to provide the tax returns directly to the OGE or FEC, respectively, for public release.

The bill is likely to stall again in the newly convened 116th Congress, as it did last year, because Republicans have the majority vote in the Senate.

But the House is now controlled by Democrats and chair all committees, including the Ways and Means Committee that has the legal authority to make a formal request to obtain years of Trumps tax returns.

The Presidential Tax Transparency Act has more than 20 Democratic sponsors and was introduced by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee.

This story originally appeared on the website of The Connecticut Mirror, www.ctmirror.org.
The field of candidates for the 5th state Senate District narrowed Friday when West Hartford Democrat Jillian Gilchrest decided against a run.

Gilchrest, who was elected this past November to her first term representing the 18th Assembly District in the House of Representatives, was considering a run for the Senate earlier this week when incumbent Beth Bye, D-West Hartford, announced she would not be sworn in with the new term starts Jan. 9.

Bye, who has represented West Hartford, Farmington, Burlington and a portion of Bloomfield in the Senate since 2011, instead will become commissioner of the state Office of Early Childhood under Gov.-elect Ned Lamonts administration.

The people of the 18th (Assembly) District elected me because our state has real problems and they expect me to help fix them, Gilchrest said Friday. If I decided to run for the Senate, Id be taking my eye off the ball. There are currently three great candidates for the 5th district Senate seat.

State Rep. Derek Slap, D-West Hartford, who represents the 19th Assembly District, has said he will run for Byes seat. Two other West Hartford Democrats, Deputy Mayor Beth Kerrigan and attorney Janee Woods Weber, director of organizational culture for the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Foundation, both said they are considering a run.

Secretary of the State Denise W. Merrill is expected to schedule a special election for Byes seat later this month.

Unlike in a regular election, though, there is no option for a primary to settle the major parties nominations in a special election. That means the decision rests with party insiders from the four communities in the 5th Senate District.

Gilchrest added she will be one of West Hartfords delegates to the Democratic nominating convention in the 5th District.

I plan to take the next few weeks before the convention to vet these candidates thoroughly and to give each one of them an equal opportunity to make their case, she said.

No Republicans have yet declared their candidacy for the 5th District seat.

Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano, R-North Haven, said this week he expects the GOP will field a candidate, adding more details should be forthcoming in the next few weeks.

Gilchrest, who will be teaching psychology and social welfare policy at St. Josephs University in West Hartford this spring, had been director of health professional outreach at the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence. She also was a senior policy analyst for the Permanent State Commission on the Status of Women.
Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly met on Friday with officials from El-Sewedy Electric and Arab Contractors consortium, after the two companies won a bid to establish a dam on Tanzania's Rufiji River to generate hydroelectric power.

The meeting comes within the framework of the premiers keenness to follow up work progress in the Tanzanian dam, with Madbouly noting that President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi attaches great importance to the project, cabinet spokesman Nader Saad said in a statement.

The consortiums officials said they started surveys and conducted studies about the topographical nature of the dams site.

Some 5,000 workers are set to take part in the project, the spokesman quoted the officials as saying.

In December, the prime minister visited Tanzania on top of a high-level delegation to attend the signing of the dam's contract.

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NORTH HAVEN  The Board of Education has appointed Ridge Road Elementary School principal Patrick A. Stirk to be the next superintendent of North Haven Public Schools.

We feel that North Haven has been doing a great job, school board Chairwoman Anita Anderson said during Thursdays meeting. Dr. (Robert) Cronin has led us on the path to excellence and we feel that (Stirk) will be able to continue on that path for us.

Cronin announced his retirement in August.

Stirk is expected to start full-time March 4, with Cronin working part time until then.

It's still a little surreal for me, but I feel very blessed..., Stirk said after his appointment. (To) my Ridge Road folks: Im immensely grateful for being a part of your community the past few years. Thank goodness I'm only going down the road a little bit.

An interim principal will be named at Ridge Road School.

Stirk, an Orange resident, has been principal at Ridge Road since 2015. Hes excited to start a looking and listening tour of the district soon.

The appointment comes after a five-month search process with guidance from Joseph Erardi, of JE Consulting. Input from community members, parents and school district staff was collected through multiple forums, surveys and meetings.

Very rarely is there a consensus endorsement enthusiastically and that's what you had this evening, so terrific work on the hiring committee, Erardi said.

Anderson said the community surveys were a big part of the final decision.

From looking at some of those surveys, (Stirk) encompasses everything, Anderson said. He's not just (focused) on education  that's the main thing  but he's looking at the arts, he's looking at sports, he's looking to find a way to bring everything together and ensure that we have the budget for everything that we want and everything that we need.

Anderson said a contract has not been finalized, but Stirk is expected to earn about $170,000 a year, as well as a benefits package.

Stirk was also formerly assistant principal at Stratford Academy/Eli Whitney School in Stratford in 2015 and a first grade teacher for 10 years prior, in Bridgeport. He has a bachelors degree from the State University of New York at New Paltz and a masters and sixth year degree from Southern Connecticut State University.

bwright@record-journal.com

203-317-2316

Twitter: @baileyfaywright
MERIDEN  Police are preparing to honor police Lt. Lawrence Guidobono this morning with a ceremonial procession from Wethersfield to Meriden.

The procession is scheduled to begin about 10:30 a.m., after a funeral at DEsopo Funeral Home, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield.

From there, police will follow a route down the Berlin Turnpike to Broad Street, and will arrive at Sacred Heart Cemetery, 250 Gypsy Lane, about 11 a.m.

Meriden police will be assisted by other police departments along the route to help limit and direct traffic. A fire truck with an American flag will recognize the life of the 33-year police veteran who died on Christmas after a recent illness.

He was just very well respected, took the job very seriously, the men and women of this department truly respected him, Sgt. John Mennone said. He will be sorely missed.

Guidobono was hired in 1985. He joined the SWAT team in 1988, becoming part of the units sniper team. In 1997 he was promoted to sergeant and supervised community police patrols near Griswold Street and Hicks Avenue. In 2001, he moved to internal affairs and later managed the department's accreditation process. He was promoted to lieutenant in 2003, and was a patrol division shift commander at the time of his passing.

Thirty-three years of distinguished service is something amazing, said Deputy Mayor Michael Cardona, chairman of the City Councils Public Safety Committee. Hes dedicated to the City of Meriden. Its a huge loss to the city of Meriden, to his family and to the department.

rchichester@record-journal.com

203-317-2231

Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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President Donald Trump has told Apple to make its products in the US instead of China. It comes shortly after the Silicon Valley giants lowered revenue forecast crashed the market, but Trump says hes not concerned about it.

Apple makes its product in China. I told [Apple CEO] Tim Cook, whos a friend of mine, who I like a lot, Make your product in the United States, Trump told reporters near the White House on Friday. He added that the tech giant should build those big, beautiful plants in America, as China is currently its biggest beneficiary, hosting most of the production.

I want Apple to make their iPhones and all the great things they make in the United States and that will take place, the US leader concluded.

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However, the iPhone maker earlier insisted that some components for its devices are actually made in the US, but people only focus on where the final product is assembled. Cook told media in March that many companies produce components in a variety of countries, stressing that it is a misunderstanding that they just see where the final product is assembled and say, oh, that is not done in the US.

On Thursday, the US telecom giant and once trillion-dollar company lost billions dollars of its value and crashed the US market after it slashed its revenue forecast earlier this week. The announcement does not bother Trump, however. He told reporters that the company is going to be fine and added that it went up hundreds of percent since he took office. Apple stock has indeed risen since January 2017, but its growth was around 20 percent.

As talks about a trade deal between US and Chinese delegations loom, the American leadership is confident that its position is stronger. However, the tit-for-tat tariff war put pressure on many US companies and big industrial stocks have gone down, Boom Busts Bart Chilton  a former commissioner at the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)  explained to RT America.

The Chinese are hitting us where it hurts and thats in our pocketbooks, he told host Rick Sanchez.

Despite Apple saying that sales in China went down partly because of the trade war, the company itself made mistakes on the Chinese market and lots of lost revenue is actually Apples fault, the analyst believes.

An average person there [in China] makes $10,000 a year, so youre selling them a $1,200, $1,500 iPhone... when they could get a Huawei phone, thats Chinese manufacturing, for 500 bucks with all the same bells and whistles that an iPhone can have, what do you expect?

For more stories on economy & finance visit RT's business section
The Palestinian cause is always a priority of Egypts foreign policy, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi told his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas in a meeting in Cairo on Saturday.

In an official statement, El-Sisis spokesman Bassam Rady said El-Sisi stressed to Abbas Egypts continued efforts in retrieving Palestinians legitimate rights within international accords.

He affirmed Egypts striving with Palestinian sides to achieve national reconciliation, as well as working on overcoming all obstacles which might obstruct efforts to achieve the unity of the Palestinians.

Abbas stressed his appreciation of Egyptian efforts in achieving reconciliation between Palestinian factions, adding his keenness to continue consultations and coordination with Egypt on different issues of common interest.

Both presidents agreed on extensive coordination and consultation on next steps regarding Palestinian unity to contribute in achieving Palestinians hopes in ending division.

The meeting was attended by Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, Egypt's intelligence chief Abbas Kamel, and the Palestinian envoy to Cairo.

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A state-of-the-art pistol, nicknamed Udav may soon become a new sidearm of the Russian military, which is hastily seeking a proper replacement to its time-proven but aging Makarovs weapon.

The newest pistol successfully withstood all trials held by the weapons manufacturer and the Russian Defense Ministry, the arms producer, the Central Research Institute for Precision Machine Engineering, said in a statement. Udav (Russian for Boa) was tested for reliability in harsh weather conditions and performed very well in both frost and heat, the statement said.

Also on rt.com From hypersonic glider to nuke subs: Meet Russian arms on brink of deployment (PHOTO, VIDEO)

The trials have proven the pistols high functional capabilities, its durability and [demonstrated] its functional performance in extreme conditions, the weapons manufacturer pointed out. Udav is fed by 921mm cartridges and its detachable box magazine can carry as many as 18 rounds.

It also said the pistol was pushed to its limits during a series of separate tests carried out by the military last year. Udav was recommended for adoption by the military, a Defense Ministry official told TASS.

The exact features and detailed layout of the new weapon remain classified. However, judging by an image published by Kalashnikov.ru website, there is nothing unconventional in its shape or design.

Also on rt.com Russiaa top-notch Avangard hypersonic glider can travel at whopping 30,000km/h  deputy PM

At a glance, Udav looks similar to foreign analogues, such as the German-made Heckler & Koch USP  a popular side weapon adopted by the US and other militaries. Being a 21st-century pistol, Udav features a short rail enabling mounting a laser or a tactical flashlight under the barrel.

Russian media said the weapon is the likeliest candidate to replace the famous Makarov pistol. The PM / PMM, which is a Russian abbreviation for the pistol, was designed as early as 1951. Back then, it became a standard-issue support weapon in military and police forces in Russia and dozens of other countries.

Army and police users around the world appreciate Makarovs small size and weight but do complain about its powerful, over-the-top blowback and insufficient firepower. The PM family is widely regarded as a well-balanced weapon due to its simple and reliable design.

However, it became less suitable for modern warfare in which a sidearm should be powerful enough against armor-protected targets.

This is not the first effort to phase out the legendary PM. Other Russian-made 9mm pistols have been considered in the past, including the GSh-18 and Yarygin pistols, but all potential successors either had reliability issues or had a too complicated design.

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Robert Beausoleil, an acolyte of cult leader and mass murderer Charles Manson, has been recommended for parole after serving nearly 50 years in prison for murder  a decision that has infuriated a relative of his victim.

A California parole board said on Thursday that Beausoleil, 71, was suitable for release. He is currently serving a life sentence for his participation in the sadistic 1969 murder of musician Gary Hinman, who was tortured for three days before being killed. The convicted killer has previously been denied parole 18 times.

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Beausoleils attorney insisted that his client was a changed man.

In my view, [he] hasnt been dangerous in decades, Jason Campbell told CNN. He described Beausoleil as a very conscientious, thoughtful, and introspective person who has spent the last 50 years gradually growing and improving himself.

Not everyone is rooting for Beausoleils release, however.

Hinmans cousin expressed disappointment over the decision.

I don't understand why you would let someone out who has committed such a gruesome crime. Do you want him walking down the street next to you? This is a matter of public safety, Kay Hinman Martley said.

There are still two major hurdles that Beausoleil must overcome before he can secure his release. The Board of Parole Hearings staff still need to review his case. If they sign off on his parole, the final decision rests with California Governor Gavin Newsom.

In the late 1960s, Manson and his followers were responsible for a string of brutal murders as part of a plot to ignite a race war.

Beausoleil, however, was not involved in the groups notorious murder of pregnant actress Sharon Tate and six others.

Manson died in prison in November 2017.

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Despite biting US sanctions and pressure on other countries, Tehran has found partners to buy its oil, and the number of such clients has actually increased, according to Irans deputy oil minister.

After the US pulled out of the landmark nuclear deal and re-imposed sanctions on the Islamic Republic, several nations were temporarily allowed to buy its oil, including India, South Korea and China. However, even those clients are under financial pressure from Washington, and are therefore very cautious about dealing with Tehran, one of the top Iranian oil officials, Amir Hossein Zamaninia, revealed.

China, India, South Korea and all other countries, which the US granted waivers to buy oil from Iran, would not even buy an additional one barrel of oil from Iran, he was quoted as saying by the Oil Ministrys Shana news agency on Saturday.

Also on rt.com Indias purchases of sanctioned Iranian crude to eclipse last years level

While there is little hope that the 180-day US waivers for those countries will be extended after they expire in May, Tehran says it has found new ways to support its oil market.

Regardless of US pressure, the number of potential buyers of Irans oil has increased due to the competitive nature of the market and growing cupidity for more profitability, Zamaninia stated without revealing the identity of those buyers.

In 2018, US President Donald Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), citing its supposed flaws. The historic document was signed in 2015 between Iran and the UK, the US, France, Germany, Russia, China, and the EU. All other parties condemned the US withdrawal.

Also on rt.com EU will soon establish alternative payment channel allowing Iran to bypass US sanctions  Mogherini

Washington not only resumed anti-Iranian penalties that were in force before the agreement, but pushed its allies to reduce imports of Iranian oil to zero, threatening to introduce punitive measures against all states that violated the embargo.

Meanwhile, Brussels has been trying to maintain the deal without Washington. The EU is also working to create a so-called special purpose vehicle (SPV) to facilitate financial transactions between the bloc and Iran to bypass US sanctions. In December, the EUs foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, announced that the system will be ready in the near future.

For more stories on economy & finance visit RT's business section
TOKYO, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Japan will announce its new era name on April 1, one month before the abdication of Emperor Akihito, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said in New Year's press conference in Ise on Friday.

The new "genko," which means "era name," will be signed off at a Cabinet meeting on April 1 before the emperor abdicates on April 30 and Crown Prince Naruhito ascends the imperial throne on May 1, Abe said.

He said in the press conference that the government plans to reveal the new name in advance this time in order to reduce the influence of the change on people's lives.

"The government will make all-out efforts to prepare for the historic imperial succession so that people can celebrate altogether," Abe said.

Emperor Akihito, 85, in a rare nationally-televised address in August 2016, expressed his desire to relinquish his duties as emperor owing to concerns about his age, health and ability to carry out his formal duties.

No living emperor in Japan has abdicated the throne in around 200 years.

The current era is called "Heisei", which means "achieving peace". The current era began on Jan. 8, 1989 following the death of Emperor Showa, better known as Emperor Hirohito, father of Emperor Akihito.

While modern Japan tends to use the Gregorian calendar, a new era name is important for Japanese people as it will hold a particular meaning. The new era name will also be used on official documents.
These questions might seem one and the same. But they're not. The furor over Tlaib's profane call for a constitutional reckoning touches the intersection of two fights: There's the objection to speaking of impeaching the president at all. Then there's the objection to speaking of it - or anything else about him - so foully.
The supplement pathway has led to a number of disasters, such as one involving Medtronic's Sprint Fidelis defibrillators, which are implanted in the chest to shock the heart if it goes into a deadly rhythm known as ventricular fibrillation. The company told the FDA in 2003 that it had updated the device to use thinner electrical leads into the heart. But the new wires were prone to fracture, hitting some patients repeatedly with shocks when their hearts were fine, and not delivering shocks to others who needed them.
"Don't you ever, ever, let anybody take away your roots, your culture, who you are. Ever," Tlaib told the crowd in the packed space. "Because when you [hang onto those things], people love you and you win. And when your son looks at you and says, 'Mama, look. You won. Bullies don't win.'
A: The way I always approached that, most people would say, Im too busy, Ive got these other priorities, so dont look for me to be at a board meeting or come to a fundraising event during tax season. And my approach always was thats a better time for me to be there. In many cases, my competition isnt there because theyre too busy. So if youre trying to develop new business or relationships, how can I not go to an event? What am I going to say, Well Im too busy? Are you willing to bring me your work if Im too busy?
Due to its limited size, patients often wait for four to six weeks for an appointment, she said. The new site will allow us to provide access for more members of our community.
The earliest time for the launch of the long-awaited Shanghai-London Stock Connect scheme might be the second half of this month, according to people who have the knowledge of the matter.

One of the major reasons has to do with the United Kingdom's impending exit from the European Union, and probably the earliest time people can expect might be in the second half of this month, according to a source who has the knowledge of the matter.

"We still need to see how the Brexit process proceeds," the source said.

Another source said late last month that negotiations on rules on regulating capital flows also played a role in the delay of the launch of the trading scheme, as the State Administration of Foreign Exchange has been concerned about possible turbulence on currency exchanges.

Overall preparation for the conversion system for trading stocks has been done, as China's securities companies have conducted tests three times, according to the source.

China's senior financial officials had said the long-awaited scheme was expected to be launched by the end of 2018.

Under the scheme, Chinese companies listed in the A-share market will be able to raise money in London, while British companies can be purchased by Chinese investors through the scheme, but they cannot raise fresh funds.

Earlier last year, Huatai Securities said the company is expected to become the first Chinese company to raise funds via the imminent stock connect scheme linking the Shanghai and London exchanges. HSBC said the bank is studying the proposed framework for the listing of Chinese Depositary Receipts under the Shanghai-London Stock Connect.

A number of companies listed in the separate markets have expressed their interest in joining the scheme, but Huatai and HSBC might be the only two of the very first batch of companies expected to be traded after the scheme goes into operation, according to people involved in the preparations.

As the fresh new scheme takes time to be tested, only a handful of companies will have IPOs in London and China in the short-term, according to Stanislas Beneteau, regional head of financial intermediaries and corporate clients at BNP Paribas Securities Services.

"This is a big deal for the UK, but don't expect the trading screens to show huge volumes on day one. Success should be measured over several years, given the moving parts: primary issuance and supporting market conditions, secondary market mechanics, as well as rules and regulations evolving over time," Beneteau wrote in a research note.
Melinda "Mindy" Kaye (Tweet) Tarleton, age 52, of Budapest, Hungary, originally of Leota, MN, graduated to heaven on June 12, 2021 in Mankato, MN. Funeral service will be 9 a.m. on Thursday, June 17, 2021 at Hosanna Lutheran Church in Mankato, lunch following. Visitation and concurrent memor
Arkansas State Police Cpl. Clayton McWilliams is being treated for injuries that resulted from an automobile accident on Thursday.
Darrell Jones, 55, has been missing from the TexARKana area since December 27.
Venezuelas opposition-controlled congress opened its first session of the year Saturday, installing a fresh-faced leader who struck a defiant tone and vowed to take up the battle against socialist President Nicolas Maduro.

Juan Guaido, 35, assumes the presidency of a National Assembly stripped of power by Maduro, whose government is blamed for leading the once-wealthy oil nation into a historic political and humanitarian crisis.

Speaking to legislators, Guaido named several opposition politicians and opponents of Maduros government who have been jailed, driven into exile or killed. He said desperation has forced masses of citizens to flee abroad looking for work.

We are under an oppressive system, he said. Its not just that  it is miserable.

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Tall and youthful, Guaido represents the next generation of Venezuelan political opposition, taking up the assemblys leadership following 74-year-old Omar Barboza.

Guaido is an industrial engineer and former student leader from the same political party as Leopoldo Lopez, Venezuelas most popular opposition leader, who is under house arrest. Government opponents consider him a political prisoner.

Guaido called Maduro a dictator whose legitimacy has run out. Venezuela is living a dark but transitional moment of its history, he said, adding that among its first acts congress will create a transitional body to restore constitutional order, but he offered no details.

He addressed a hall filled only with opposition lawmakers as the government loyalists have long boycotted any sessions, saying the National Assembly has itself overstepped its authority.

However, roughly 20 foreign diplomats from the United States, Canada, Japan, Italy and Germany attended the assemblys inaugural session in a show of solidarity.

It opened days before Maduros inauguration to a second, six-year term widely condemned as illegitimate after he declared victory in the May 20 election that many foreign powers considered a sham.

Venezuelas socialist party boss Diosdado Cabello said Saturday that Maduro will be sworn in on Jan. 10 before the Supreme Court, which is stacked with government loyalists. This defies the Venezuelan Constitution, which requires a president to take the oath before the National Assembly.

As international pressure mounts, a dozen Latin American countries and Canada on Friday urged Maduro to cede power and hand it over to congress until a valid president is elected.

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Venezuelan officials accuse the coalition of taking orders directly from President Trump, who they frequently accuse of spearheading an economic war against Venezuela.

Those of us here are fighting every day to restore democracy, Guaido said. We want the protection of the rule of law. We want the Venezuelans to be protected, because we believe in life.
Russia downplayed the possibility of swapping a detained American held on espionage charges for a Russian national behind bars in the United States.

The remarks by Russias Foreign Ministry Saturday came after the disclosure of the arrest of a Russian citizen in the Northern Mariana Islands by U.S. officials and his transfer to Florida, deepening the complexity surrounding the mysterious arrest of Paul Whelan, an American, last week in Moscow.

An FBI spokeswoman declined to comment on the arrest of Dmitry Makarenko on Dec. 29, which Russias Foreign Ministry disclosed Saturday.

U.S. court records show Makarenko, who lives in Russia, was indicted in Miami in 2017 on charges that he broke American laws against exporting military equipment. He was also charged with money laundering.

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There has been widespread speculation that the 48-year-old Whelan, who was arrested Dec. 28 under the relatively broad charge of espionage with zero details on what he is accused of doing, would be exchanged for a Russian citizen.

To speak about any kind of swaps [at] this stage is inappropriate and wrong, Russias Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Rybakov told the state-run RIA news agency.

Whelans arrest came weeks after Russian national Maria Butina, 30, pleaded guilty in a U.S. court to acting as an agent for the Kremlin in conspiring with a senior Russian official to infiltrate conservative American circles ahead of the 2016 presidential campaign.

Whelans case, which continues to zigzag as details about his past emerges, has further heightened tensions between Washington and Moscow: The United States and Russia are at loggerheads over a range of issues from election meddling to the crises in Syria and Ukraine.

Whelan, a Michigan resident who served in the Marines, was court-martialed and discharged for trying to steal thousands of dollars from the U.S. government. He also owns British, Canadian and Irish citizenships.

The Russian Embassy in Washington found out about Makarenkos detention from those close to him, and not the U.S. government, violating the Vienna convention of giving notification within 72 hours of a foreign nationals arrest. This is not the first time the U.S. does this, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The United States neglect of its international obligations has become the norm.

Four days passed before Whelan was visited by U.S. government officials. The U.S. ambassador to Russia, Jon Huntsman Jr., met with Whelan on Wednesday in his cell at a Moscow detention facility. Neither Washington nor Moscow have provided a reason for the delay in that meeting.

Russias security services arrested Whelan when he was in Moscow on a personal visit, his family and company have said.

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U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Washington would demand his release if his detention is deemed inappropriate, while London has said its citizens should not be used as pawns.

Ferris-Rotman writes for the Washington Post.
On the eve of the first expected results of Congos long-delayed presidential election, President Trump said U.S. military personnel had deployed to Central Africa to protect American assets from possible violent demonstrations, while the countrys powerful Catholic church warned of a popular uprising if false results are announced.

Congo faces what could be its first democratic, peaceful transfer of power since independence from Belgium in 1960, but election observers and the opposition have raised numerous concerns about voting irregularities as the country chooses a successor to longtime President Joseph Kabila.

The first results are expected on Sunday, and the United States and the African Union, among others, have urged Congo to release results that reflect the true will of the people. The U.S. has threatened sanctions against those who undermine the democratic process. Western election observers were not invited to witness the vote.

While Congo has been largely calm on and after the Dec. 30 vote, Trumps letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) said about 80 military personnel and appropriate combat equipment had deployed to nearby Gabon to support the security of U.S. citizens and staffers and diplomatic facilities. More will deploy as needed to Gabon, Congo or the neighboring Republic of Congo, he wrote.

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The U.S. ahead of the vote ordered non-emergency government employees and family members to leave the country.

The Catholic church, an influential voice in the heavily Catholic nation, caused surprise on Thursday by announcing that reports from its 40,000 election observers deployed in all polling stations indicated there was a clear winner. Under law, only the electoral commission can announce election results, so the church did not announce a name.

The electoral commission responded by saying the announcement could incite an uprising. In a letter to the commission on Saturday, seen by the Associated Press, the Catholic church dismissed the accusation that it acted illegally, saying its goal was to make the electoral process credible and stabilize the country.

Congos ruling party, which backs Kabilas preferred candidate, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, called the churchs attitude irresponsible and anarchist.

Leading opposition candidate Martin Fayulu, a businessman and lawmaker, has accused Congolese authorities of impeding his campaign. His campaign manager, Pierre Lumbi, on Saturday accused the electoral commission of being in the process of postponing the publication of the results.

At stake is a vast country rich in the minerals that power the worlds mobile phones and laptops, yet desperately underdeveloped. Some 40 million people were registered to vote, though at the last minute some 1 million voters were barred as the electoral commission cited a deadly Ebola virus outbreak. Critics said that undermines the elections credibility.

The vote took place more than two years behind schedule, while a court ruled that Kabila could stay in office until the vote was held. The delay led to sometimes deadly violence as authorities cracked down on protests, and Shadary is now under European Union sanctions for his role in the crackdown as interior minister at the time.

Kabila, who took office in 2001 after his father was assassinated, is barred from serving three consecutive terms but has hinted that he could run again in 2023. That has led many Congolese to suspect that he will rule from the shadows if Shadary takes office.

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Internet and text messaging services were cut off the day after the election in an apparent effort by the government to prevent social media speculation about the results. The United States has urged that internet service be restored, and a United Nations human rights spokeswoman has warned that these efforts to silence dissent could backfire considerably when the results are announced.
Authorities are investigating what led a Glendale officer to fire four shots at a robbery suspect on Wednesday in the parking lot of an Eagle Rock mall.

The incident began around 1:50 p.m. when an officer from the Glendale Police Department was responding to a cellphone robbery that reportedly took place in front of the Target store in Eagle Rock Plaza.

Someone at the mall pointed out the suspect to the officer who soon chased after the man.

Sgt. Dan Suttles, a department spokesman, said surveillance camera footage from the mall showed the suspect getting into a parked vehicle, which then backed out at a high rate of speed at our officer.

The officer fired four shots at the vehicle. However, they did not strike the suspect or anyone else in the vicinity.

The officer has since been placed on a temporary administrative assignment. Suttles declined to say how long the officer has been with the department.

He added that the officer hasnt been interviewed since the day of the shooting beyond giving a public-safety statement to investigators.

He was asked how many rounds were fired, in what direction were they fired and was anyone injured.

Suttles added that more in-depth questioning will take place during an administrative investigation into the incident.

He also said officers can use deadly force if they feel that their life or the lives of others are in danger, but he couldnt say for certain if that applied to Wednesdays shooting.

Suttles also said that officers are trained to be mindful of their environment and nearby civilians when considering deadly force.

Although the mall is located in the Los Angeles Police Departments jurisdiction, Suttles said the 911 call was routed to Glendale police instead.

The suspect was able to flee the mall despite being shot at, and his vehicle was found abandoned near the 2 Freeway at York Boulevard.

Suttles said police later received a call from someone in Eagle Rock saying a relative had come home saying the cops had shot at him.

We went over to that house and negotiated a peaceful surrender with the man, Suttles said.

The man was identified as 28-year-old Joseph Vincent Esposito Jr. of Los Angeles.

He was arrested on suspicion of robbery and was released several hours later after posting $50,000 bail.

The police activity caused a portion of the malls parking lot to be closed off for several hours, stranding many shoppers.

Stephen Sulzberger said he had gone to Target around 2 p.m. for what was supposed to be a quick trip to buy batteries.

When he came out of the store, police had not yet cordoned off the area.

When I went over to my vehicle and put my stuff in, I saw a big yellow police line go across my trunk, he said. Then an officer told me to get back to the store.

Sulzberger said he spent the next several hours wandering the mall to kill time.

Police did allow families with young children and people with medical conditions to access their cars and leave the area.

I only have a load of laundry waiting for me, Sulzberger said.

andy.nguyen@latimes.com

Twitter: @Andy_Truc
To the editor: Post-traumatic stress disorder has medical components that are factual and require treatment, but there is one component that the Department of Veterans Affairs has difficulty measuring for effectiveness: affiliation, or group membership. (Veterans protest the gutting of West L.A. PTSD therapy groups, Dec. 29)

The military trains its men and women in units, and when veterans return from conflict, there is an assumption that if we reduce the symptoms of PTSD, they will automatically know how to affiliate with their families, colleagues, friends and others. We assume that they will know how to be a member of the civilian unit again.

But many veterans have difficulty. This is where groups are crucial in creating the supportive bridge to a civilian life. How do we measure the effectiveness of these groups? They do not fit the models of time-based programs that are designed to show improvement on specific symptoms at the conclusion of treatment. Measuring healthy membership in the civilian world requires both observational and personal feedback from the veteran. It requires more labor.

The crucial question for those managing PTSD programs is whether symptom reduction is their goal, or whether they want to focus more broadly on integrating veterans back into the civilian world with healthy bodies, emotions, minds and even spirits.

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At the nonprofit organization where I am board president, we made the decision to treat symptom relief and provide for affiliation and membership transitioning. This requires both the skill of clinicians and the guidance of trained group therapists. We believe our veterans deserve relief from symptoms and guidance in becoming part of the civilian world again. We owe our women and men full-service treatment.

Clifford K. Ishigaki, Rancho Santa Margarita

The writer, a retired U.S. Marine captain and Vietnam War veteran, is board president of Wellness Works for Veterans in Glendale. He is also a recovering PTSD patient.

..

To the editor: Several years ago, a group of fellow veterans and I at the Long Beach VA found ourselves in a situation similar to patients at the West Los Angeles VA.

A PTSD support group for combat medics and Navy hospital corpsmen met weekly until funding was cut off. The group was important enough that we continued to meet as peers at the VA until the head of the mental health department found out about our plight.

The weekly meeting was reinstated, with the head of mental health becoming our group leader.

VA Secretary Robert Wilkie wrote in a letter, There is no strong evidence that this modality is an effective treatment. Going to our weekly group meeting is like going in for medication. Wilkie should come to any of our groups and see for himself adult men cry and heal.

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Victor Bravo, Huntington Beach

..

To the editor: For citizens who support the VA gutting this successful therapy support program, I have one suggestion: Read War and the Soul, by psychotherapist Edward Tick.

Families with the experience of living with combat veterans and veterans of military service know and appreciate how difficult it is for most veterans to share their invisible wounds.

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Shame on the VA and the Department of Defense for their ignorance and indifference toward the suffering of those who have served, and that includes families and friends who do their best to provide healing support to their loved ones for the rest of their lives.

I speak from experience.

Mary Lu Coughlin, Los Angeles

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday warned Iran's planned space rocket launches as defiance of a UN Security Council resolution, demanding Iran to cease the related activities.

In a statement issued by the State Department, Pompeo warned that Iran's plans to launch three Space Launch Vehicles in the coming months would demonstrate Iran's defiance of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2231.

Pompeo said that the resolution calls upon Iran not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, claiming the planned space launches would incorporate technology "virtually identical" that used in ballistic missiles.

"We advise the regime to reconsider these provocative launches and cease all activities related to ballistic missiles in order to avoid deeper economic and diplomatic isolation," Pompeo said.

On the same day, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif rejected Pompeo's warning, saying Iran's space launches and missile tests were not in violation of the resolution.

The United States is in material breach of the resolution, Zarif said via the Twitter account of Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"Iran's launch of space vehicles -- &missile tests -- are NOT in violation of Res 2231. The US is in material breach of same &as such it is in no position to lecture anyone on it," Zarif tweeted.

UNSCR 2231 endorsed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), or the 2015 deal on nuclear program of Iran.

The United States pulled out of the multilateral deal in May last year and reimposed sanctions on Tehran.
Looking only at the budget numbers, one cannot argue with the statement that Gov. Jerry Brown will leave office Monday with California better off than when he started in 2011. But it wasnt always so for Brown, who first relinquished the governorship in 1983 with a political career ahead of him that seemed unpromising and a legacy for California that was at best mixed.

Most of the letters to the editor weve received this week assessing Browns service have been positive (several will be published in the coming days). But in January 1983, readers expressed polarized opinions on Brown in letters published in the Los Angeles Times. Here is a look back at some of the reviews of our outgoing governors first two  and what at the time seemed like his only two  terms in office.

A letter from Jan. 6, 1983, rebutted the idea that Brown was fun:

Sure, Jerry was fun. It was fun when his failure to solve the vexing taxation problem severely impacting the middle class led to the passage of Proposition 13, and the consequent deterioration of the school system, the state mental hospital system, and the Medi-Cal system.

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It was lots of fun to watch him belittle the faculty of the University of California at the (extremely few, but far too many) regents meetings he attended.

It sure will be fun watching him solve the problems of the galaxy and the universe when hes president.

A letter from Jan. 20, 1983, responded to an editorial that praised Brown for doing it his way:

He certainly did do it his way, which was to take a state from a 4-to-5-billion-dollar excess, to a 1 1/2-to-2-billion deficit. He took us from a AAA bond rating to where we may not have only a B rating and cant sell our bonds.

He surely did it his way  he spent it all  he was fiscally irresponsible.

Another letter published that same day was more positive, and mirrors some of the assessments written today:

Brown sought public office to serve. We never heard any hint that he used his office for personal profit. He has integrity, intelligence, honesty, creativity.

In a world ridden with conflicts and confusion we need mavericks, people not afraid of new ideas, new methods, new horizons. We need Brown and more like him.

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One reader predicted Brown was destined for higher office.

Generally speaking, Jerry Brown reflects much that is the relatively advanced and New Age way of life that is experienced by many in California.

He is trying to bring a culturally enlightened approach to practical politics. As such, he is a rare politician. But, let California make a sacrifice: The nation will eventually need Jerry for president.

Another said Browns time had passed and criticized his supporters:

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Well, Jerry has been out in space and has also come crashing down. Rejected on both the national level and by his own state, one can only wonder how far out of step with the times is The Times. Lets leave Jerry to the ages.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook
To the editor: Reading your editorial on states passing flagrantly unconstitutional antiabortion laws, I thought that for one to have a voice regarding abortion, he or she must meet some simple requirements.

First and foremost, you must be female. You should also have adopted a child or be raising one that is the product of rape. You must also be mentally, physically and financially capable of raising a child (just for the basics, it costs more than $230,000).

A child needs to be loved and nurtured, and yet anyone of questionable character or mental capacity can freely produce offspring. So, who ends up suffering in the long run?

Unless antiabortion advocates  including judges, politicians and activists  meet at least one of the criteria above, they should politely keep their opinions to themselves.

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Patty Easton, Los Angeles

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To the editor: Bowers vs. Hardwick, Lawrence vs. Texas  why doesnt the Los Angeles Times editorial board cite these cases and acknowledge the elephant in the room in the Roe vs. Wade debate?

Simple: Then readers would know that their precious constitutional right to an abortion can be overturned by a single vote by an unelected federal court. If Bowers wasnt settled law (it was overturned by Lawrence), then Roe vs. Wade is also vulnerable.

I have no problem with Californias pro-abortion amendment or any other states constitutional legislation that allows abortion. The legislative process provides a measure of protection for the rights of the citizens in those states.

But I will continue to fight for Roe to be overturned, because judicial overreach is a true hazard to the republic.

David Pohlod, Oak Park

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook
You are now just a smartphone app away from knowing within seconds  if youre lucky, tens of seconds  when an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.0 or higher is about to rattle Los Angeles County.

ShakeAlertLA, an app commissioned by the city of L.A. for use in the entire county of Los Angeles, can now be downloaded  for free!  to Android and Apple devices. A network of ground sensors, operated by the U.S. Geological Survey, detects the earliest indications of shaking. The app then sends an immediate message that an earthquake is on the way and the kind of shaking to be expected (light, moderate, or severe). It might not be perfect  there could be false alarms, or, conversely, failures to detect a quake. But the technology has been used, mostly successfully, in other countries and should work here as well. It is the first such warning system in the United States and a tool to help us deal with the inevitable big one.

Kudos to the L.A. city government for rolling it out and taking care of the kinks along the way. When there wasnt enough federal money for all the necessary ground sensors in southern California, Mayor Eric Garcetti found $6 million to finish putting them in. When the city needed $300,000 to create the technology for the app, it got grants and hired AT&T.

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But shouldnt there be an alert system for the rest of California and the West Coast? The state and federal governments should be financing the necessary expansion of the ground sensor network along the entire coast. With sensors in place, other West Coast municipalities or, better yet, the state itself, could set up quake alert apps. Or there could be some kind of wireless emergency alert system (like the Amber Alerts) that reaches all phones unless you opt out. The technology in the Amber Alert system is too slow right now to make it useful as an earthquake warning system. But it could be improved.

And meanwhile, lets get on with retrofitting buildings to better withstand quakes. The city made a good start by mandating retrofitting of vulnerable wood and concrete structures. But concrete retrofitting, in particular, is expensive and proceeding at a glacial pace. Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian (D-North Hollywood) may re-introduce a 30% seismic retrofit tax credit that was vetoed in 2015. Thats an investment worth considering.

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If history concludes that Jerry Brown was among Californias most important governors  as very likely it will  that will have much to do with the fact that he had more time in the job than any of his counterparts. When he hands power to Gavin Newsom on Monday, Brown will have served four terms as governor, more than anyone else has (or will in the future, unless term limits laws are changed).

The extraordinary length of his tenure, spanning more than four decades with a 28-year break between his second and third terms, gave Brown a long view that other governors lacked, and allowed the public time to catch up to his progressive ideas on issues such as diversity on the bench, renewable energy and water security. Had he not returned for another two terms, Brown might have forever been remembered as Gov. Moonbeam, the hip, young politician who dated a rock star and had some strange ideas about harnessing the power of the sun. Instead, he leaves office this week as the idiosyncratic but sagacious senior statesmen whose deep understanding of the states unique political landscape and shrewd tactical skills made him the governor California needed at this crucial point in its history.

It wasnt just age that improved him; he also expanded his political resume between gubernatorial stints, serving as chairman of the state Democratic Party, as mayor of Oakland (which no doubt gave him an appreciation of how state policies and funding decisions effect real people in their communities) and as Californias Attorney General.

Brown was a strong and steady champion of fiscal stability, working diligently to transform the irresponsible culture of budgeting and spending in Sacramento.

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Brown was not a perfect governor. He has blind spots and character flaws, and, like any public official, he has stumbled on occasion. Some of his backroom deals, such as the one he cut with the beverage industry in 2018 on soda taxes, struck us as cynical. He paid insufficient attention to certain issues, such as poverty and housing, leaving them for future governors and legislators to sort out. He devoted much of his political capital (and much of the states actual capital) over the course of his four terms to a water project and a high-speed rail enterprise that may have been prescient  but may also prove quixotic. He vetoed some bills we thought he should sign, and signed others he should have vetoed.

But when taken in full measure, he deserves a heartfelt thanks for leaving the state in much better condition than when he found it. There have already been many articles written about his accomplishments, so we wont belabor the details, but here are a few areas in which Brown deserves special appreciation before he heads off to his Colusa County ranch.

He was a strong and steady champion of fiscal stability, working diligently to transform the irresponsible culture of budgeting and spending in Sacramento. With the economy still growing and an expected $15 billion state budget surplus this year, its easy to forget how bleak the financial picture looked in January 2011 when Brown was sworn in for his third term. Services had been slashed, and still the state was facing a $28 billion hole in its operating budget; only a year and a half earlier, a cover story in the Economist magazine had declared California to be ungovernable.

When the Legislature, controlled by his fellow Democrats, brought him a budget that he thought relied on gimmicks and wishful thinking, Brown vetoed it. That set the tone for the next seven years. In a remarkable political triumph, Brown persuaded voters to vote for a package of temporary tax increases in 2012 (some of which later became permanent) to close a yawning deficit and then pushed through Proposition 2 in 2014, reinvigorating the states rainy day fund. Even when the economy rebounded and the states finances were back in the black, Brown never stopped preaching fiscal responsibility, warning that the next downturn was coming. We hope the message will not be forgotten.

Brown took important steps to ease the crisis in the states overcrowded prisons with the realignment policy that gave counties more responsibility for felons; he followed up with the controversial but important criminal justice reforms in Proposition 57. (In part, Brown was making up for signing the Uniform Determinate Sentencing Act in 1976, which he later told the Los Angeles Times editorial board was his biggest political regret.) He also diversified the states judicial branch dramatically by appointing a significant number of women, people of color and non-prosecutors to the bench. That will reshape the delivery of justice in California for decades to come.

His final gift in the criminal justice arena was a signature on a bill ending cash bail, an imperfect but important step toward equity and fairness.

Brown fought for  and eventually signed into law  the Local Control Funding Formula, which drove additional dollars to school districts with high concentrations of poverty, English language learners and foster youth. He also persuaded the Legislature to pass a fuel tax to pay for highway repairs and transportation infrastructure improvements.

And of course Brown stood up to the bully in Washington, D.C., in his inimitable way. When President Trump retreated on climate change and adopted draconian immigration policies, Brown kept California on the right side of history.

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It remains to be seen what will be the future of the high speed rail project for which Brown has been an enormous and articulate proponent. He supported the concept beginning in the 1970s, and although he wasnt responsible for the 2008 ballot measure that authorized its construction, he remained a resolute champion of the project even as its price tag soared and public and political enthusiasm waned. In a 2018 conversation with The Times, Brown said the project was in the spirit of the great governors of California and that to turn tail and join with the naysayers would be a tragedy. Were going to complete it, oh you of little faith, he said.

Gov. Brown was a political wheeler-dealer and a canny deal-cutter who understood that compromise was at the heart of politics, but he was also a big-picture thinker able to articulate a broader vision for California. Like his father, Gov. Edmund Brown Sr., who built the University of California system and the state water project, Jerry Brown fought for a bullet train many others couldnt imagine (and many still cant), for the multi-billion-dollar Delta tunnels, and for laws that put California at the forefront of the war against climate change, ahead of most nations. He saw California as a promised land, capable of anything, progressive in the best sense of the word.

Thanks for everything, Gov. Brown. There are many ways to be a good governor. Yours was the right approach for this state at this moment in history.

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In the spring of 2014, Kristen Biel had just been diagnosed with breast cancer and needed time off from her teaching job at St. James Catholic School in Torrance for a double mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

She asked the schools principal, Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, for a leave of absence during the upcoming fall semester. A few weeks later, she was fired, according to court documents.

Now, Biel can sue the school in federal court for discrimination  a right she was granted last month when an appeals court overturned a lower court decision ruling that Biel was effectively a minister and, therefore, constitutionally barred from suing the church-operated school.

To be considered a minister under the law and, therefore, not protected and to be able to be fired with this cancer diagnosis is pretty unbelievable, said Cathryn Fund, an attorney representing Biel.

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The case is another black eye for St. James School and for Kreuper, who, along with another nun, has been accused of stealing from students tuition checks, fees and fundraisers for more than a decade, school officials recently announced.

Kreuper, 77, and her vice principal, Sister Lana Chang, 67, diverted hundreds of thousands of dollars into a long-overlooked church bank account that they used for personal expenses, school officials and church auditors told parents at a raucous meeting in Redondo Beach last month. Parents said the nuns spoke openly about gambling trips to Las Vegas and vacations in Lake Tahoe, claiming that Chang had wealthy relatives who provided for them.

Auditors working with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles said the nuns stole at least $500,000 but that the figure probably will rise as the investigation continues. The archdiocese initially said it would handle the investigation internally and not press charges, but later reversed course, saying it was cooperating with police and planned to become a complaining party in a criminal case.

Neither the nuns order, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, nor the church dispute that the pair took the money. Kreuper and Chang, who retired from St. James School last spring, could not be reached for comment.

Sgt. Ronald Harris, a spokesman for the Torrance Police Department, said Friday that a criminal complaint had not yet been filed and that a police investigation is ongoing. Authorities have been asking parents for copies of old tuition checks and details about cash donations.

Our detectives want to be sure we do a thorough investigation, but anything involving a potential theft of funds, just by its nature, can be extensive, Harris said.

Biel, 53, of Redondo Beach, began working at St. James in March 2013 as a long-term substitute teacher and was hired as the schools full-time fifth-grade teacher at the end of the school year, according to court records.

She received one formal, positive evaluation from Kreuper in which the principal praised Biels very good work promoting a safe and caring learning environment, court documents state. Kreuper also mentioned areas for improvement, noting that some of Biels students had cluttered desks and that two students were coloring in their books.

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Biel was diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2014 and told Kreuper she would begin treatments the next month.

A few weeks later, Kreuper said she would not renew Biels contract, claiming it would be unfair for students to accommodate her leave by having two teachers in one year, according to court documents. Kreuper also accused Biel of not running a strict classroom.

Biel filed a federal suit against St. James in 2015, alleging discrimination, retaliation and wrongful termination in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The school, she alleged, terminated her employment because of her cancer and because it did not want to accommodate her finite leave of absence for no legitimate reason.

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In January 2017, U.S. District Judge Terry J. Hatter Jr. sided with St. James, ruling that Biel was barred from suing the school under the ADA because of a ministerial exception that broadly shields religious organizations from civil rights claims involving its ministers.

Because some of Biels teaching duties involved conveying Catholic doctrine, including a 30-minute religion class four days a week, she was considered a minister under the law, Hatter ruled.

It was a surprise, Biel told The Times on Friday. Ive never been called a minister, ever.

On Dec. 17, in a 2-1 decision, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the lower courts decision, saying Biel could not be considered a minister. She had no training in Catholic pedagogy when she was hired, the school had no religious requirements for the position, and her title was that of a teacher, not a minister, the court ruled.

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Biels role in Catholic religious education was limited to teaching religion from a book required by the school and incorporating religious themes into her other lessons, Judge Michelle T. Friedland wrote in ruling.

Biel, who is still fighting cancer, said she was very, very happy with the appeals court decision.

The archdiocese indicated that it intends to contest the ruling.

The Supreme Court has already unanimously said that churches, synagogues, and temples  not the government  ought to choose who teaches the faith in religious schools, Eric Rassbach, vice president and senior counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which represents the archdiocese, said in a statement. Given these principles, the Archdiocese will continue to advocate for the ability to operate schools in a manner that is consistent with Catholic values and teachings.

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Adrian Marquez Alarcon, a spokeswoman for the archdiocese, said the mounting legal fees associated with the theft and Biels case will be borne by the archdiocese, not the small K-8 school.

Fund, Biels attorney, said that the recent revelations about Kreupers alleged theft from the school could factor into her clients case.

What this case comes down to is the credibility of Ms. Biel and the credibility of Sister Mary Margaret, Fund said.

She added: When youre involved in a huge scandal like this in the same time period that you made these employment decisions, its certainly relevant to the case.

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Jack Alexander, a Redondo Beach real estate appraiser whose three children attended St. James from 2003 to 2016, said the schools reputation has been dragged through the mud recently and that there are rumors that enrollment will decline.

Weve had a series of bad situations, Alexander said. It is a bad stigma, especially for people still trying to put kids through school and go to the church.

hailey.branson@latimes.com

Twitter: @haileybranson
A sea of blue lined the pews facing the flag-draped casket inside CrossPoint Community Church.

Hundreds of law enforcement officers from across the country turned out Saturday to pay tribute to Newman Police Cpl. Ronil Singh, 33, who was fatally shot during a traffic stop in Stanislaus County last month by a man authorities say was in the country illegally.

Newman Police Chief Randy Richardson grew emotional as he talked about Singh, his first hire in 2011 in what would become an 11-officer department.

Singh, born in Fiji, immigrated to the United States as a teenager in 2003 and was proud to be an American, friends and family said.

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He told me he came to this country with one purpose, and that purpose was to become a police officer, Richardson said.

Amid somber reflections were memories that captured Singhs jovial spirit and prompted the room to break out in laughter.

Singh was able to bring a smile to the faces of even those he arrested, Richardson said.

We will say goodbye today, but you will always be in our hearts, the chief said. I love you.

When Singhs brother, Reggie, took the stage, bathed in blue light, he thanked the officers who had arrested the suspected gunman, Gustavo Perez Arriaga, 32, who police said has known gang ties and had been arrested twice on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Police believe Arriaga was driving drunk when Singh stopped him in the early morning hours of Dec. 26.

Someone had tipped off the corporal to an intoxicated man in a silver pickup. A short time later, Singh radioed that he was pulling over a vehicle.

Police officers salute family members of slain Newman Police Cpl. Ronil Singh. (Stephen Lam / Getty Images)

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Minutes later, he called out shots fired. The officers who responded found Singh had been wounded, and the driver he stopped had fled. The corporal was taken to a hospital, where he died.

His was the first death in the line of duty for the Newman Police Department.

The motive in the shooting is not clear.

After a four-day manhunt, authorities arrested Arriaga in the Lamont, Calif., area. Police believe he was trying to flee to his native Mexico.

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Arriagas previous brushes with the law and his subsequent release by law enforcement prompted angry comments from Stanislaus County Sheriff Adam Christianson about Senate Bill 54, the states so-called sanctuary law. The law, which took effect in 2018, prohibits state and local police agencies from notifying federal officials in many cases when immigrants potentially subject to deportation are about to be released from custody.

This is a criminal illegal alien with prior criminal activity that should have been reported to ICE, Christianson said. Law enforcement was prohibited because of sanctuary laws, and that led to the encounter with Officer Singh.

President Trump, who has made immigration enforcement one of his top priorities, took to Twitter to comment on the case: Time to get tough on Border Security. Build the Wall!

This week, Trump called Singhs wife, Amanika Mika Chand-Singh, Richardson and Christianson, praising Singhs service and offering condolences.

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At the funeral service, Reggie Singh recounted that when his family first got their television, his older brother began watching the reality show Cops.

He always wanted to become [a] law enforcement [officer] in America, Reggie Singh said.

Ronil Singh began his career as a volunteer with the Modesto Police Department in 2005. He then worked as a cadet for the Turlock Police Department and later as a reserve deputy for the Merced County Sheriffs Department.

He was hired by the Newman Police Department in 2011.

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Ronil was very proud to become a police officer and deeply loyal to his department, said Modesto Police Det. Ra Pouv, a longtime friend of Singhs.

Outside the church, blue bows were tied to lampposts and trees. The general public watched the proceedings in a chapel across the street.

Among them was Gopal Ramaiya, a family friend who wore a beanie with a blue-line flag on it.

Ramaiyas family is also from Fiji, and his son is a Walnut police officer.

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Its heartbreaking what happened here, he said.

Others did not know Singh but wanted to attend to show their support and appreciation for law enforcement.

My heart really goes out to them. Theyre the ones who run in when we run out, said Barbara Harmony, who grew teary-eyed as she spoke. Its senseless.

Inside the church, a tribute video flashed across the screen, in which Newman officers and others from across the county recounted memories of Singh.

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Throughout the service, the corporals 5-month-old son cooed in his mothers arms. A family video showed the babys feet balanced on his fathers as the two walked together. Singh had been teaching his son to walk and talk.

He was looking forward to hearing his son call him papa.

brittny.mejia@latimes.com

Twitter: @Brittny_Mejia
When David Lamfrom drove into Joshua Tree National Park last week during the first days of the partial government shutdown, he was startled by the chaos.

He saw park visitors hiking off marked trails and driving their vehicles off paved roads, trampling and running over vegetation on the desert floor.

Lamfrom, the director of the California desert and national wildlife programs for the National Parks Conservation Assn., was concerned about the destruction of the delicate fungus, bacteria and rock that make up the so-called biological soil crust that plants rely on for growth.

Deserts are really unique systems. Plant life is ancient there, he said. The impacts being caused could take hundreds of years to recover from.

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As the shutdown of the federal government drags into a third week, worries about the long-term damage being done to the nations parks and disruptions to wildlife, including bears, are growing.

Diane Regas, chief executive of the Trust for Public Land, a nonprofit park advocacy organization, wrote a letter to President Trump on Thursday, calling for the immediate closure of every national park in the country for the duration of the shutdown to protect visitors and park resources.

Allowing access to national parks without taking care to steward those resources is irresponsible and could result in irreversible damage and loss, she wrote.

Unlike the government shutdown in 2013, the Trump administration has kept national parks open with limited staff in place. But, as bathrooms and other services have become overloaded, more and more campgrounds are closing at parks across California on a largely ad hoc basis.

The latest example is Death Valley National Park, where several campsites closed Friday because of health and safety concerns over human waste, trash, vandalism and damage to park resources, the parks chief of interpretation and education, Patrick Taylor, said in a news release.

Reports continue to trickle in from volunteers about champagne bottles left strewn about in Joshua Tree and human waste piling up on roads leading into Yosemite. In Texas Big Bend National Park, a hiker reportedly broke his leg and was carried out by fellow visitors.

It is a delicate balance between conservation and recreation, said Steve Blumenshine, a professor of biology at Fresno State who spent time in Yosemite this week. In a shutdown, we take that to extremes.

Regas said advocating for closing parks completely, rather than just campgrounds, is a very unusual stance for her organization, which works to increase access to parks and has donated land to expand them, including Yosemite National Park.

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But we are not taking this lightly, she said in an interview. This is urgent.

Whether to shut an area of a park is up to each parks superintendent. He or she can bar visitors if resources vulnerable to destruction, looting, or other damage cannot be adequately protected by the law enforcement officers who remain on duty during the shutdown, according to the National Park Services contingency plan for a lapse in federal funding.

Campgrounds at Joshua Tree closed at noon Wednesday, officials said, citing health and safety concerns over vault toilets that were near capacity. The waterless bathrooms, in which visitors can relieve themselves into a sealed container buried underground, had remained open. But no workers are around to pump out the waste.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks went a step further, closing entirely to visitors this week.

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Meanwhile, an investigation into the Christmas Day death of a man at Yosemite is being delayed by the shutdown, National Park Service spokesman Andrew Munoz said Friday.

Yosemite officials received a 911 call reporting a man with a head injury in the Silver Apron area on the Merced River above Nevada Fall and rangers arrived in less than an hour, Munoz said. The man was removed from the water and received medical treatment, but he died from his injuries. He was not in a restricted area.

We arent releasing more detail because the incident remains under investigation, which is taking longer than usual because of the shutdown, Munoz said in an email. A news release wasnt issued because of the shutdown.

There also is a new wave of concern over another perennial issue at Yosemite: how humans interact with bears.

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The trash that visitors have left and is piling up could attract wildlife to populated areas, increasing the risk of dangerous encounters.

Munoz said there were one or two bears active in the Upper Pines Campground in Yosemite this week. The bears did not get any food, but campers reported bears pushing on cars and trailers, and one bear did get into some trash one night last week in Yosemite Valley, he said.

It is too early to tell what the long-term impacts may be, Munoz said in an email. However, bears and other wildlife becoming habituated to human food and trash is a huge concern.

The shutdown is shining a light on one of the inherent tensions of the national park system: how to protect the ecology of parks while opening them to visitors, said Jeffrey Jenkins, an assistant professor of public lands and protected areas at UC Merced. And without staffers around to monitor the parks, that tension can become untenable.

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It is putting an undue burden on the parks, he said. At some point, it becomes a tragedy of the commons.

Lamfrom, the director at the National Parks Conservation Assn., said the toll from the shutdown wont be known until park staff returns to work.

We dont have a true reckoning of what the impacts are yet, he said.
At Ws party Friday to celebrate the Golden Globes and the launch of the magazines best performances portfolio insert, editor in chief Stefano Tonchi called Nicole Kidman one of our great, great collaborators, given her appearance on so many covers over the years, including one of the seven for the upcoming issue.

A Golden Globe nominee for Destroyer, in which Kidman is barely recognizable, the actress chatted with fellow guests with a sense of glamour thats a far cry from her look in the haunting film.

Im a mess, Kidman said with a laugh, referring to the guilt-ridden, disturbed police officer she plays. Im still carrying the weight on my back.

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Emma Stone with W editor in chief Stefano Tonchi. (Donato Sardella / Getty Images for W Magazine)

The event

Tonchi and editor at large Lynn Hirschberg hosted the celebration at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood, where A-list guests got their first glimpse of the Best Performances portfolio.

The insert in W magazine features actors chosen for their exceptional performances in 2018 films.

Amy Adams at W Magazines Best Performances Portfolio party. (Donato Sardella / Getty Images for W Magazine)

The scene

Golden Globes contender Amy Adams, nominated for the film Vice and the HBO limited series Sharp Objects, navigated the narrow hallway to the suite overlooking Sunset Boulevard, passing by a phalanx of servers proffering Perrier Jouet in Belle Epoque Champagne flutes.

To those offering good wishes at the upcoming awards show, Adams said, It feels like weve already won. Weve had such a great response.

Willem Dafoe (At Eternitys Gate), Henry Winkler (Barry) and other nominees also accepted congratulations as they joined the steady stream of arriving stars. Winkler took time to introduce his son, director Max Winkler (Flower).

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A burst of flashbulbs heralded the arrival of Dree Hemingway, a standout as she swept into the room, her hair in a dramatic buzz cut. The actress and model explained that she sheared her tresses for her role in the upcoming Run With the Hunted, adding, Its so easy that I decided to keep it this way.

Kathryn Hahn, left, Lynn Hirschberg, Connie Britton and Patricia Clarkson at the W party. (Donato Sardella / Getty Images for W Magazine)

The crowd

Partygoers featured in the portfolio included Kidman, Adams, Dafoe, Michael B. Jordan for Black Panther, Kathryn Hahn for Private Life, Kiki Layne for If Beale Street Could Talk, Elsie Fisher for Eighth Grade, Yalitza Aparicio and Marina de Tavira for Roma, Amandla Stenberg for The Hate U Give, Troye Sivan for Boy Erased, Joanna Kulig for Cold War, Steven Yeun for Burning, Thomasin McKenzie for Leave No Trace, and Lakeith Stanfield for Sorry to Bother You.

Also at the gathering: Emma Stone, Connie Britton, Tracee Ellis Ross, Kate Beckinsale, Patricia Clarkson, Rumer Willis, Sarah Hyland, Jon Voight, Jimmi Simpson and Craig DiFrancia.

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Sorry to Bother You actor Lakeith Stanfield, left, and Burning actor Steven Yeun. (Donato Sardella / Getty Images for W Magazine)

The quotes

How to explain the impressive turnout of stars?

They trust us, Tonchi said. Thats why they do these kinds of covers and thats why they like to be here for us.  This party is not about the paparazzi. Its not about the red carpet. Its not about the dresses. Its about who they are and their performances.  In this time when so much is happening, trust is the most important value.

Said Hirschberg, This is a real party. Its like the parties I read about as a girl.

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Ellen Olivier is the founder of Society News LA.

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Bearing only a mahogany guitar  a Martin & Co. instrument that had survived the Great Depression  and a pocketful of songs, Jeff Tweedy opened a loose, playful first of four nights at Largo in West Hollywood by rolling through much of his intimate new solo album, Warm, dotting a 17-song set with the most durable works he wrote for his first band, Uncle Tupelo, and sing-along gems from his long-running concern Wilco.

The result was an exercise in contrasts: an entertaining guy seemingly in a good mood standing alone on a stage often occupied by comedians  but playing oft-brutally sad music.

Joking that he hadnt rehearsed much lately, Tweedy nearly bailed after the first song, teasing to the adoring sold-out crowd that this first gig was more of a practice session for the next nights performance anyway. As if he were playing for a bunch of dear friends, he tossed loving barbs, bragged about his haircut, shot down a fan who dared to request a song and begrudgingly told the story of how he gained possession of his guitar.

In between the banter, though, Tweedy delivered devastating lines and songs that pierced the atmosphere. Some birds just sit useless, like fists, he sang, as if dead-eyed, in the new Some Birds, noting countrysides that are so full of suicide. On Dont Forget, he noted willows bending by the graves.

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Last year the Chicago-based Tweedy published a memoir, Lets Go Back (So We Can Get Back), and you could feel its retrospective presence in the stuff from Warm. Eleven folkish works that skitter dangerously close to his Uncle Tupelo roots, the new songs find him in reflection mode and exploring his twang-ish side.

Nick Offerman performs at Largo at the Coronet in West Hollywood on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

He introduced this idea during Bombs Above, the opening song on the new record and the first song he played Thursday:

I leave behind a trail of songs / From the darkest gloom to the brightest sun, he sang. Ive lost my way but its hard to say / What Ive been through should matter to you.

That trail led back to some of Tweedys first best songs, those he wrote alongside musician Jay Farrar in the Belleville, Ill., country-punk band Uncle Tupelo. New Madrid, an unshakable song about infatuation, earthquake prognosticators and a particularly deep Southern Missouri fault line, begat a whispered group sing-along.

Closing song Acuff-Rose name-checked the famous country music publishing company. Passenger Side, from Wilcos debut album, is sung from the perspective of a sweet freeloader who lost his drivers license. Ive got a court date coming this June / Ill be driving soon, Tweedy promised.

Earlier in his career, Tweedy told me that one of the hardest things about Uncle Tupelos success was looking out at the crowd and realizing that a lot of the bands devotees werent his type of people. He seemed sincerely bummed about it.

With Wilco, he set about fixing the dilemma by chasing his muse at the expense of the Tupelo traditionalists. Songs such as Im the Man Who Loves You, Jesus, Etc. and I Am Trying to Break Your Heart, all of which he played Thursday, offered Tweedy the opportunity to adapt these more structurally striking songs.

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As the decades have passed, Tweedy has seemed to revel in the distance between artist and fan base, joking with his people with warm familiarity. At one point while looking out at the crowd between songs, he confessed that hed probably want to be real-world friends with only about four or five of you.

When he shot down that one dudes unprompted song request, Tweedy added that he hoped his encore wouldnt feature any songs that fan wanted to hear. A little harsh? Yes, hilariously so.

The setting made it magical. Largos strict policy banning electronic devices, coupled with an audience that respected the rule and the artist by shutting up during and between songs, resulted in a typically easy-going, and rapt, environment.

It didnt hurt that Tweedys surprise opener was the actor Nick Offerman. Wearing a wondrously bushy beard he said he grew for his character in the upcoming FX series Devs, the former Parks and Recreation star stood onstage with a soprano ukulele that hed crafted himself, told a few stories, and sang a protest song about politics, betrayal  and his ukulele.

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As he was departing, he assured the crowd that his friend Tweedy would be performing soon. First, though, Offerman was required to go backstage and give Tweedy a deep tissue massage.

It must have been brief: A few minutes later Tweedy stepped up to the mic, a grin on his face, his Martin in his hand, relaxed as could be.

For tips, records, snapshots and stories on Los Angeles music culture, follow Randall Roberts on Twitter and Instagram: @liledit. Email: randall.roberts@latimes.com.
U.S. national Paul Whelan, who was detained last week in Moscow on suspicion of espionage, also has British citizenship, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Friday.

Paul Whelan, a U.S. citizen detained in Russia for suspected spying, appears in a photo provided by the Whelan family on January 1, 2019. [File photo: Xinhua]

Britain has asked for a consular visit to Whelan and both sides are working on it, Zakharova confirmed, after the British embassy in Russia said it has made such a request.

U.S. Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman has visited Whelan in a detention facility and expressed support for him.

The Russian Federal Security Service said on Dec. 31 that it detained Whelan in Moscow for spying three days earlier and has initiated a criminal case against him.

According to media reports, the 48-year-old Whelan was a U.S. Marine and his family said he traveled to Moscow only to attend a friend's wedding.

The incident came after Russian citizen Maria Butina pleaded guilty in a Washington court on Dec. 13 to one conspiracy charge, admitting that she acted as an unregistered foreign agent to advance Moscow's interests.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Butina has no ties to Russian intelligence services and the whole case against her was unfounded.
maybe Berlin-based choreographer and dancer Shade Theret presents this site-specific work in collaboration with the artist Lukas Panek; part of the third annual Dance at the Odyssey festival. Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West L.A. Sun., 2 p.m. $25. (310) 477-2055.

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago & Third Coast Percussion The ensembles join forces for a program that includes West Coast premieres by Emma Portner and Teddy Forance. Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Bram Goldsmith Theater, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills. Thu.-Sat., 7:30 p.m. $35-$105. (310) 746-4000.

Be Seen This work from Acts of Matter artistic director Rebecca Lemme examines the lives of those on the margins of society; part of the third annual Dance at the Odyssey festival. Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West L.A. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m. $25. (310) 477-2055.

The Great Tamer: A Work by Dimitris Papaioannou CAP UCLA presents the U.S. premiere of this surrealist dance-theater work that explores the mysteries of existence. Royce Hall, UCLA, 10745 Dickson Court, Westwood. Fri., 8 p.m. $29-$79. (310) 825-2101.

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I fall, I flow, I melt L.A. Dance Project presents the U.S. premiere of company founder Benjamin Millepieds full-length work, staged in the round and set to music by Bach and David Lang performed by violinist Etienne Gara. L.A. Dance Project Studios, 2245 E. Washington Blvd., L.A. Sat.-next Sun., 8 p.m.; ends Jan. 20. $40. (213) 622-5995.
Reviews by Leah Ollman (L.O.).

Openings

Lasting Impressions: Selections from the Scripps College Permanent Collection Exhibition of more than forty objects include works by Laura Andreson, Robert Arneson and others. American Museum of Ceramic Art, 399 N. Garey Ave., Pomona. Opens Sat.; ends April 17. Closed Mon.-Tue. $5, $7; 12 and under, free. (909) 865-3146.

Richard Diebenkorn: Beginnings, 19421955 Survey of the American artists earliest work includes rarely seen paintings and drawings. Frederick R. Weisman Museum, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu. Starts Sat.; ends March 31. Closed Mon. Free. (310) 506-4851.

Dora: Discovery and Despair Traveling exhibit spotlights a WWII-era underground rocket factory in Nazi Germany that was built by and run on slave labor. Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust, 100 S. The Grove Drive, L.A. Starts next Sun.; ends April 5. Open seven days. Free. (323) 651-3704.

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The Incongruous Body Humor and the human body serve as brackets loosely containing the sculptural work in this 14-person show. Not all here is comic, and not everything manages to muster heat from the rub of expectation against direct experience  curator Tim Bergs organizing principle  but the show has enough radiant moments to redeem the whole. Standouts include works by Kim Tucker, Kristen Morgin, Jeremy Brooks, Elana Mann and Robert Arneson. (L.O.) American Museum of Ceramic Art, 399 N. Garey Ave., Pomona. Open Wed.-Sat. Ends Jan. 20. $5, $7; 12 and under, free. (909) 865-3146.
The Los Angeles city attorneys office alleges in a lawsuit that a subsidiary of IBM deceptively mined the private location data of users of the Weather Channel app and sold it to advertising and marketing companies.

When users download the app, a prompt asks them to grant access to their location so the app can provide personalized local weather data, alerts and forecasts. The app then tracks the users movements, allowing the Weather Company, which operates the app independent of the Weather Channel and uses its data to fuel IBMs Watson Advertising products, to sell that information to hedge funds, advertising firms and corporate clients like McDonalds and Subway.

The suit filed Thursday alleges that the disconnect between that prompt and the companys ultimate use of the data constitutes fraudulent and deceptive business practices. The suit seeks an injunction against the company, which would require it to stop the practices, and civil penalties of up to $2,500 for each violation in California.

Think how Orwellian it feels to live in a world where a private company is tracking potentially every place you go, every minute of every day, Los Angeles City Atty. Mike Feuer said at a news conference Friday. If you want to sacrifice to that company that information, you sure ought to be doing it with clear and advanced notice of precisely whats at stake.

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The Weather Channel app has 45 million monthly users, and the companys suite of weather apps have been downloaded more than 200 million times, according to the company.

The Weather Company has always been transparent with use of location data, said Saswato Das, an IBM spokesperson. The disclosures are fully appropriate, and we will defend them vigorously.

The suit cited an investigation by the New York Times last month that found at least 75 companies that collected precise location data via smartphone apps  in one case pinging a users location 14,000 times in one day  then used it to fuel consumer insight research and the $21-billion location-based advertising industry.

We zeroed in on the Weather Channel app because this app touches all demographics, Feuer said. This is not an ideologically driven app, its not a geographically driven app  it touches all of us.

Feuer said his office also chose to target the Weather Company because its app seems to be benign and innocuous, but engages in what we have alleged are affirmative misstatements to users about how their location data will be used. Since the New York Times investigation was published in December, IBM said that it had stopped offering location data to hedge funds, but Feuer noted that the company had not changed its data-use disclosure practices.

Users of the Weather Channel app are able to find some indication that their location data is being monetized in the apps privacy agreement, but Feuer notes that it is buried in the smartphones settings menu.

California law says that fine print alone cant make good what otherwise has been made obscure, Feuer said. The bottom line here is that no American should be held to the standard of having to pore through a 10,000-word privacy policy.

The practice of collecting and monetizing location data is widespread across mobile apps. Google and Facebook are leaders in the location-based advertising industry, using data from their own suite of mobile products.

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A recent study by the British privacy advocacy group Privacy International found that the Weather Channel app for Android also shares private user data with Facebook  even if the users dont have a Facebook account  along with other popular Android apps.

Feuers office used the same Unfair Competition Law to go after Wells Fargo in 2015 for opening unauthorized accounts, which resulted in a $50-million settlement. The city attorneys office has pursued technology companies in the past, suing Uber in 2017 for failing to promptly report a data breach that exposed the personal data of millions of drivers and riders.

But seeking penalties for an ongoing and common business practice marks a new approach to protecting consumer privacy, and comes at a time when tech companies are facing increasing scrutiny and regulation over their collection and use of data.

The last year was marked by scandals regarding corporate handling of private user data. Millions of users private information was compromised in data breaches at companies like Google, Facebook and Marriott. Facebook faced congressional inquiries over its sharing of data with political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica, which accessed the data of 87 million users without their consent.

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The European Union put strict regulations on transparency and reporting in place in May 2018, when the General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, went into effect. Under that law, companies found in violation can be fined up to 4% of their worldwide annual revenue.

A new California data privacy law, passed last year and set to go into effect in January 2020, requires companies to be more transparent about their use of user data, gives users more control over the use and storage of their private information, and will make it easier for consumers to sue companies found violating the law.

In response, tech giants that deal in personal data such as IBM, Google, Facebook and Amazon are lobbying in Washington for federal data privacy legislation that would nullify Californias regulations and replace them with voluntary guidelines.

sam.dean@latimes.com

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Follow me on Twitter: @samaugustdean
WALWORTH  A village trustee who has clashed with Village President Tom Connelly is challenging Connelly's bid for re-election.

Trustee LeRoy Nordmeyer has declared his candidacy for village president in a race to be decided by voters in April.

Connelly is seeking his second term as village president in the community of about 3,000 people.

The two clashed recently when Connelly moved to replace Nordmeyer as chairman of the village board public works committee. Nordmeyer is a former village fire chief.

The deadline was Tuesday for candidates throughout the Lake Geneva region to register in a variety of local elections on the ballot April 2.

Many incumbents in the region are running unopposed, including three members of the Lake Geneva City Council.

In the village of Bloomfield, the registration deadline to run for village president has been extended until Monday, because incumbent Gary Grolle did not file a statement of non-candidacy after declaring he would not seek another term. Village Trustee Susan Bernstein so far is the only declared candidate to succeed Grolle.
Coffeehouses are one of many changes that time-traveling La Jollans from the 20th century would notice about their hometown today.

While the notion of flavoring coffee goes back several centuries, in America, coffee was something that mostly came in four varieties until the 1990s: 1) black; 2) with cream; 3) with sugar, and the fancy-schmancy version; 4) with cream and sugar.

Sure, there were coffee shops then, as there still are now. (We love you, Harrys Coffee Shop and Coffee Cup!) But this is a guide only to establishments with coffee menus bigger their food menus  and smaller stores and chains without a green mermaid logo.

Bird Rock Coffee Roasters introduced direct-trade coffee to San Diego in 2002. (COREY LEVITAN)

Bird Rock Coffee Roasters

5627 La Jolla Blvd.

(619) 272-0203

6 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 6:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

birdrockcoffee.com

Since 2002, Bird Rock Coffee Roasters (BRCR) has offered dizzying array of java in stone-and-wood digs with giant windows.

Thanks to the direct ties it maintains to farmers in developing countries, BRCR has also defined itself as the farm-to-cup choice in La Jolla. One of its most celebrated finds was its Geisha varietal from the Esmeralda Estate in Panama, a coffee named one of only three California winners of a 2016 Good Food Award. (Since coffee is seasonal, the closest they currently sell is the Geisha from Panamas Auromar Estate, a washed varietal from the same producer described as having notes of honeysuckle, vanilla and lychee. It runs $11 a cup or $60 an eight-ounce bag.)

BRCRs flagship shop has a hipster vibe that seems invited by its art cooperative  a space next door that features local artists on the wall and local musicians on the stage during weekends.

The bell in front of Brick & Bell was originally intended to be a train whistle, which the owner reportedly couldnt make happen. (COREY LEVITAN)

Brick & Bell

928 Silverado St.

(858) 551-0928

4:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, 6 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

Peter Schumacher is a former truck driver who slept in his rig to save money to open his dream, this tiny European-looking coffee shop, in 2003. Ever since, its been packed with loyal locals. In fact, there are usually many more waiting in line than there are seats for them on the patio. (There are no seats inside.)

Brick & Bells coffee rings customer bells, but the scones are the signature item. The shop claims to move more than 100,000 each year. (Business got so good, a second, bigger location opened at 2216 Avenida De La Playa in La Jolla Shores.)

La Clochette du Coin translates from French as the bell on the corner. (COREY LEVITAN)

La Clochette du Coin

6830 La Jolla Blvd. #101

(858) 291-8071

6:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday., 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday

laclochetteducoin.com

The French name  which translates as the bell on the corner  isnt just aspirational. Brother-and-sister owners Willy and Karine Wu Jye Hwa grew up in French Madagascar, where they learned everything about French coffee. (Lesson 1: Its strong.)

Featured in their European-style cafe, which they opened in 2015, are Cafe Virtuosos signature Virtuoso and single-origin Yirgacheffe espressos, in addition to other artisan coffee drinks and French pastries.

The Living Room is the only La Jolla coffeehouse with a nightlfe. (COREY LEVITAN)

The Living Room

1010 Prospect St.

(858) 459-1187

7 a.m.-1 a.m. Sunday-Thursday, 7 a.m.-2 a.m. Friday and Saturday

livingroomcafe.com

This two-story spot with a patio is the only La Jolla coffeehouse with a nightlife. Of course, its the only one open late, so that helps. But so does the full bar and the brands origins on the campus of San Diego State University in 1991. (Its La Jolla location  opened two years later  continues the party tradition.)

Situated right above Kellogg Park and the ocean, the Living Room also has the best views of any coffeehouse on our list, plus Mediterranean cuisine and upstairs wine/cigar/hookah bars to boot.

The Pannikin traces its La Jolla origins back to 1968. (COREY LEVITAN)

Pannikin Coffee and Tea

7467 Girard Ave.

(858) 454-5433

6 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 6:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

pannikinlajolla.com

In 1968, late Pannikin founder Bob Sinclair began perfecting his many roasted blends at the Green Dragon Artist Colony. While the Pannikins coffee still draws raves, as does its brunch, probably the biggest reason three generations of La Jollans have gravitated here is because it just feels like a home. Some people grab a cozy couch corner, or a seat by the crackling fireplace, with a Chai tea and chill for hours or telecommute via their laptop.

The Pannikin actually was someones home before 1971, when Sinclair convinced Dennis Wills of D.G. Wills Books to take over and split the property with him. And the friendly, longtime staff enhance the homey feel by engaging in genuine, funny conversations with customers instead of sticking to corporate scripts.

The Parakeet is the newest house on the La Jolla coffee block. (COREY LEVITAN)

Parakeet Cafe

927 Silverado St.

(858) 412-5627

6 a.m.-7 p.m. daily

parakeetcafe.com

To open a coffee shop directly across from the original Brick & Bell takes chutzpah. But husband-and-wife owners Carol Roizen and Jonathan Goldwasser were so confident in their new brand, its name doesnt even appear on its storefront. (Theres only a pink line drawing of a parakeet.)

The Parakeet, which debuted in July 2017 on the site of La Tavernia, serves an assortment of hot and iced coffees including espresso, Nitro cold brew on tap, and flavored lattes. And the coffee and food is organic and health-minded. (One of the latte flavors is turmeric!)

Roizen and Goldwasser hail from Mexico City, where she was an attorney and he ran an optical business. When their second daughter was born with a rare disease, they relocated to the U.S. and dedicated their life to healthy eating. (Before the Parakeet, they opened a string of Juice Crafters, including La Jollas.)

The owners of Pinpoint Cafe worked at Brick & Bell for seven years. (COREY LEVITAN)

Pinpoint Cafe

7855 Ivanhoe Ave.

(858) 519-6635

7 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-noon Saturday

pinpointcafe.com

For seven years, Aline and Caroline Comenale worked at Brick & Bell, which is where the sisters say they developed a passion for working with coffee and people. For the past two years, they have owned the coffee kiosk near the La Jolla Post Office.

The smoothies and Acai bowls they added to the menu of the former Latte by the Sea  as well as pastries from VG Donuts in Cardiff  have proven a big hit. They also added a lending library that encourages patrons to take a book and, if possible, replace it with a different book.
By Jacco Zwetsloot





Working at Korea.net involved mainly improving government press releases rewritten in English or finessing the texts of my Korean colleagues who wrote original articles on recycled themes about growth in Korea's exports, aspects of its culture, that month's festivals and so on. Of course, the tired trope of Korea's having "four distinct seasons" raised its ugly head more than once.



Under President Lee, the overseas promotion of Korean cuisine (branded hansik) was a priority. We wrote about Korean state-owned (or at least state-funded) restaurants abroad, and lots of pieces about "court cuisine." I cannot recall how many articles included a paragraph or two on the dish "sinseollo." I polled my Korean colleagues, none of whom had tried it. To this day I don't know any Koreans who eat it regularly, nor could I find a restaurant that served it without resorting to an internet or app search. All I know is it is apparently quintessentially Korean.



When late President Roh Moo-hyun tragically took his own life, our technical team turned the entire front page of Korea.net black and white as a sign of mourning, while the writing team added a mourning banner to the center of the screen. The text was in both Korean and English, and offered a standard expression of grief and hope for repose of the soul. In the English version I used the adjective "untimely," which seemed appropriate. However, somebody outside our office read it and called the culture minister or someone high up to complain that this word was a reference to his suicide. That Roh had made the ultimate decision was true, but we were not supposed to make any mention of that on the government's website. I didn't (and still don't) think "untimely" necessarily meant suicide, but that was not an argument that stood up on the day. Heat was being applied from above, and all other work stopped in order to have a meeting to make sure the manner got changed. There were a couple of times something like this happened, and it gave an insight into how the things that we were doing, which I sometimes thought nobody else looked at, could sometimes become a Very Big Deal once someone high up paid attention.



One of the more interesting and fun parts of working on Korea's official website was the chance it gave me to research and write some stories of my own. Sometimes this meant a little field trip outside the office, which I enjoyed very much. Once I went to sit in on a social integration course, a program that was just starting to be offered to foreign citizens who wanted to obtain either permanent residency or Korean citizenship. The attendees of the class I visited were almost all ethnically Korean Chinese citizens working in nearby factories. They worked night shifts, so the only class they could take was during weekdays, and while they wanted to have a permanent residence visa in Korea for now, most saw their homes as being back in Northeast China. They had some sharp words to say about Korea and their treatment and place in it, but of course these did not make the final article, which was all good news about how the government was helping migrants to settle in to their new lives here.



Not all field trips ended successfully. I had long wanted to visit the residence of former President Yun Posun, whose family has long owned a magnificent hanok compound in the neigborhood north of Anguk Station. One man in the KOCIS office was not part of the Korea.net team but, as the ranking public servant (rather than a contract worker, as we were), had some degree of oversight over us. He offered to help me set up an appointment at the house. At least, that's what I thought he had said. I walked over to the Yun property one hot summer afternoon and rang the buzzer at the gate. A young man's voice asked through the intercom who I was, and I explained my name and business in my best Korean. Confused, he went and got an old woman, for all I know President Yun's widow, who explained that she knew naught whereof I spoke and that no such appointment had been made. Embarrassed and frustrated, I called the man at KOCIS to ask what had gone wrong. He informed me that that it wasn't the Yun residence he had arranged for me to visit, but some other place I had only vaguely heard of.



Somehow between his awkward communication style and my imperfect Korean (he appeared to possess no conversational English ability) a miscommunication had arisen. I trudged away, defeated, and found solace in a cool drink at one of the few extant Japanese colonial commercial buildings close by. I never did get inside the Yun residence. This same public servant later came to assume even more of a day-to-day leadership role over Korea.net, despite a paucity of proficiency in English, a fact whose irony was not lost on me.



One of my favorite stories was one about the four large city gates and what remains of the old city wall of Seoul. It involved a lot of research in both English and Korean to get the facts together. This was before Jongno-gu Office published its very nice walking map of the wall and the gates. Writing that piece and others like it gave me a newfound interest in the historical neighborhoods and buildings of Seoul and wider Korea.



Some articles I wrote explained new services or websites that foreigners would find interesting, such as a webpage that showed bus routes and helped you plot a journey from A to B. Another was a site to help you find the new street address from the old system address. One more was on a feature of a map website that enabled you to virtually walk your way around city streets and look at buildings as they would appear from the road. All this was in the era before mobile phone applications had really taken off, so websites were all that people had to get such information.


The main entrance gate to the fortress. Summer 2017



By Robert Neff



In the first week of November 1884, George Foulk, an American naval officer, traveled to Gongju and recorded his experiences in his diary or journal. These entries provide a rare view of Gongju and its fortress.



Foulk arrived on the evening of November 4 and was housed in the government quarters. His mood seems to have been rather foul  perhaps due to the hard journey and his loneliness. Before going to sleep, he bitterly recorded in his diary: "There appears to be nothing worth special inspection about Kongju."



The following morning brought a change to Foulk's disposition. He got up at 8 a.m. and dressed in his military uniform, met the military commander of the region and then called on the governor.



It was a successful meeting. Foulk managed to make the governor laugh and in return the governor agreed to assist him. A fine meal was provided, which included "vermicelli and beef, cold roast beef, fried chicken, poached eggs, sliced pears, chestnuts and persimmons, all prepared well enough to suit any foreigner  a little hungry." But, one dish that shook him: "raw tripe with small slices of raw lights on top."



A common complaint of Foulk's was lack of privacy. As he was eating his meal he was surrounded by a crowd of the governor's staff  "venerable men with snowy white hair and beards"  who watched every move the foreigner made. They were so close that Foulk could have reached out and touched them.





Looking down from the gate. Summer 2017.



After his meeting with the governor, Foulk decided to visit the city and then call on the commanding officer at the nearby fortress. In his journal he described the city as:



"There are only two streets in the town, these formed by the road running north and south through it, and one branching to southwards from it in the middle of town, leading to the Yongmun, which is on the west edge. These streets are about fifteen to twenty feet wide at most, irregular, but were swept fairly clean. No open gutters as at Seoul, and one drain was covered roughly.



The houses are much like those everywhere else in Korea, but many were higher than those in Seoul, and had their roofs projecting out say four or five feet from the house wall and supported by square posts, and were straightly erect buildings. In the fronts often were pieces of lattice work running the whole length of the house, and some whole fronts were of wood, fairly dressed.



The interiors of house compounds were larger than at Seoul and swept well. About a dozen homes were brand new, built after a recent fire. They were made mainly, at least in front, of dressed timber and were high, the best town houses I've seen in Korea. The general arrangement of homes, the placing of pots for boiling rice, joinery, doors &c., showed more artisan skill than about Seoul."





The view from the gate. Summer 2017.



There were not as many shops as he had expected. Gongju was well-known for its candles  which were especially prized in Seoul  and paper. Paper was found in great quantities as well as "combs, silk ponchos, cord, flax cotton and gauze stuff in piles, and English cottons were in each. There were also painted and lacquered trunks and boxes and many paper articles, some very gaily colored, also odds and ends of Korean dress  the whole considerable variety."



There were also grain stores, and shops that sold iron pots. There were also butcher shops where the entrails of the butchered animals were hung up for sale. Foulk declared them to be "very repulsive places."



Of course, taverns were numerous and large and, although he did not comment on it, they were probably well-patronized.











One of the structures found in the fortress. Summer 2017.



He also noticed that there a number of Chinese goods on sale in the market, so he assumed that Chinese traders had visited the city recently.



Foulk was fairly impressed with the commanding officer of the fortress, whom he described as being "a rather nice fellow," of about 30 years of age who was handsome and gorgeously dressed, "but didn't know one single thing about foreigners." The Korean officer guided him to a pavilion nearby where they ate and talked. Foulk spoke about the marvels of the United States and the Korean officer seemed truly interested in learning as much as he could, prompting the American to note in his diary that his talk had been "very profitable" for the Korean officer.



Afterwards the American was given a tour of the fortress.





Another gate in the fortress. Summer 2017.



"The [fortress] is a small enclosure wall, old and crenulated, about a curved hill, steep and high (about 150 feet) along the side towards [Gonju]. The four gates (east, west, south, and north) are wooden roofed structures  no arches  in gaps in the wall. There are one or two watch towers, a Buddhist military temple, and a structure filled with grain for war, small arms and powder. Structure and a village of about 30 poor houses are about the north gate. The wall is low and poor on the north or river side. The whole sung is small, weak and magnificent as compared with others I've seen. It is a hill blocking the entrance to [Gongju] valley  which runs north and south  from the river."



The commander was quite pleased with his fortress and declared that he had 6,000 soldiers in Gongju and that his fortifications were "very powerful." Despite the number of men, the commander admitted it was "unhand to apply fire to a gun to make it go off."



After the tour, the commander invited Foulk to see his residence. It was here that he noticed "beating paddles and pikes in a large pile, and nearby two beating boards by which people are tied to be walloped. They looked old and full of honorable service."





A pavilion in the fortress. Summer 2017.



Foulk was quite familiar with the Korean-style of punishment  having witnessed them in Seoul. But in Gongju, beatings seemed to be administered more readily than in Seoul because the local authorities believed "flogging must be done to make people move  and flog it is, all the time." Foulk disagreed and sanctimoniously declared in his diary that "Answers only come with kindness or words alone."



Foulk returned to his quarters and left Gongju the following day. He had a long journey ahead. One of his final observations of Gongju, which he seemed quite sure of, was:



"If an insurrection breaks out in Seoul, the country at large would hardly be disturbed at all. Here no one seems to know or care what is going on there, or has been going on for years. This is evidence in favor of my theory that central national life in Korea is weak. The nation is one part removed from being tribal."





At the edge of the Geum River. Summer 2017.





The view of Gongju in the distance. Summer 2017.
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen delivers a speech during the New Year press conference in Taipei, Taiwan, Jan. 1. Taiwan's leader said the people of the island want to maintain self-rule despite recent electoral gains by the Beijing-friendly opposition party. Taiwanese officials should not enter into any secret dialogue with China, President Tsai warned in a New Year's speech. AP



Taiwan's leader said Tuesday the people of the island want to maintain self-rule despite recent electoral gains by the Beijing-friendly opposition party.

Taiwanese officials should not enter into any secret dialogue with China, President Tsai Ing-wen warned in a New Year's speech.

The opposition Nationalist Party won 15 of 22 major seats in local elections last month, reversing the advantage held by Tsai's Democratic Progressive Party. She has resigned as party head.

Beijing could woo China-friendly election victors ahead of the next presidential election in 2020. China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has sought to isolate Tsai over her refusal to endorse the ''one China'' principle that designates Taiwan as a part of China.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to speak about Taiwan on Wednesday at a gathering in Beijing to mark the 40th anniversary of a statement issued by China to open talks with the government in Taipei. (AP)




By Park Si-soo







Moon Chung-in, a special adviser to President Moon Jae-in, took a soft jab at the United States for the stalled denuclearization talks with North Korea, saying, "The U.S. is not always right."





He made the remark during a

talk show "Alileo," aired from midnight Friday, with liberal politician-turned-star writer Rhyu Si-min as host.







Speaking of a negotiation deadlock between the U.S. and the North, Moon said, "The U.S. is holding hegemony, so it believes things should be done on its own terms. From South Korea's perspective, however, the U.S. is not always right."







He added, "There are issues that can be settled smoothly when South Korea takes the initiative. But the U.S. doesn't accept this, which a point of discontent for us."







He noted that "lack of trust" between Washington and Pyongyang was a main problem behind the negotiation deadlock.







"The U.S. says it will lift U.N. sanctions and its own only when North Korea's complete denuclearization is confirmed, while the North's position is different: we didn't surrender, so the deal should be done in a way that the two countries exchange denuclearization and sanctions lifting simultaneously," the adviser said.







He went on, "From North Korea's perspective, with its hostility against the U.S. still alive, it's impossible to give up what it has first and take rewards afterward  Everything has stemmed from distrust."







For the stalled talks to move forward, he called on the North take "bold action" and the U.S. to "partially lift sanctions" in return.







Moon voiced optimism about North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's visit to Seoul, but did not elaborate.







He denied rumors that Kim postponed his Seoul visit in December due to his aides' collective opposition. Rather he pointed to "realistic problems" that could not be settled under the current political/diplomatic climate.







Recollecting his conversation with Kim's key aide during a banquet in Pyongyang on Sept 19, Moon said, "He told me Chairman Kim had decided to visit Seoul despite the opposition of his aides, including Kim Yong-chol, vice-chairman of the Party Central Committee."


North Korea will never give up its nuclear arsenal and is seeking recognition as a nuclear power while manipulating U.S. President Donald Trump, former U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said Friday.



North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said in his New Year's address that he is committed to complete denuclearization and ready to meet Trump at any time for a second summit.



Trump told reporters Wednesday that he is looking forward to the meeting, which will be set up in the "not-too-distant future."



"Kim Jong-un is in the driver's seat here," Clapper told CNN. "He's figured out how to appeal to President Trump, mainly through ego, writing him an occasional love letter and agreeing to photo op summits.



"And in the meantime, de facto -- every day goes by, de facto -- North Korea is a nuclear power and that's what they want to be recognized as," added the former U.S. intelligence chief.



"And I think that has a lot to do with the temperate behavior of late, which is a good thing."



North Korea did not test any nuclear weapons or ballistic missiles last year while Kim held a series of historic summits with Trump -- in Singapore in June -- and with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Chinese President Xi Jinping.



At the Singapore summit, Trump and Kim agreed to "work toward" complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in exchange for security guarantees from the U.S.



There has been little tangible progress in implementing the deal.



A second summit will "probably not" serve any purpose, according to Clapper, but it could "reinforce in the president's mind that he and Kim Jong-un are getting along great, which makes it hard, I think, to be very strict with and coercive with the North Koreans."



"They haven't done anything towards denuclearization and it's my belief -- long-held belief -- they never will," he said. "And why should they denuclearize and give up all the leverage that they have -- what little they have?" (Yonhap)




China will support Africa to achieve economic autonomy and sustainable development, visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi told a joint press conference on Thursday.

The Chinese foreign minister made the remarks following a meeting with his Ethiopian counterpart Workneh Gebeyehu in Addis Ababa, capital of the East African country.

Wang reiterated that China-Africa cooperation has always been a model not only for South-South cooperation but also for international cooperation with Africa.

China is dedicated to helping Africa to develop and bringing benefits to the African people, the Chinese foreign minister said.

According to him, during the past few decades, China has helped Africa build more than 10,000 km of highways, more than 6,000 km of railways and hundreds of airports, ports and power stations.

Besides, many more hospitals, schools and other projects concerning people's livelihood have been built across many African countries with financial assistance from China, Wang said, adding that China has sent more than 20,000 medical workers to Africa who have treated more than 200 million local patients.

China has also invested heavily in manpower and material resources in order to help Africa train thousands of professional and technical personnel in various fields, Wang said.

Noting that China's aid and cooperation to Africa has played an irreplaceable role in helping Africa's economic and social development and the improvements of the welfare of African people, Wang emphasized that China's efforts has been appreciated and welcomed by many African countries.

However, there remains rumor that financial problems including national debts which African countries face are the result of their cooperation with China.

While stressing that the allegations are untrue, Wang said such rumors are an attempt to discredit China's sincere support, to which the allegations have been refuted by many African countries.

He affirmed that the China-Africa cooperation will not be distracted by the rumors, adding that China is very much concerned about the difficulties.

China and Africa are close friends and good brothers who have shared weal and woes and China is willing to lend a helping hand to the African people to tide over difficult times.

China has always respected the needs of the African people and the interests of African countries, Wang said, adding that the assistance and cooperation China offered have no political strings attached.

China sincerely upholds openness and transparency and strictly follows local laws and market rules of different countries. It never allows and will never tolerate any black-box operations and corrupt practices, the foreign minister stressed.

Wang further underscored the importance of enabling Africa to achieve economic autonomy and sustainable development as a solution to the debt problem across the continent.

China will step up efforts to implement the results of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and push forward the "eight major initiatives" that fits the urgent needs of African countries so as to further elevate the vitality of Africa's economy.

Wang also called on the international community to increase its attention and step up investment in Africa, urging all parties to work together to help the African continent.

He said helping the African continent is not only a continuous endeavor China has taken on as a comprehensive strategic partner of Africa, but also an obligation of other countries, especially the developed ones.




U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday again voiced optimism that a second United States-North Korea summit would take place soon but said he doubted it would seal a landmark deal.







U.S. President Donald Trump, who held a historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in June in Singapore, on Tuesday revealed that he had received a "great letter" from Mr Kim, and boasted of their relationship.







"Lots of work that is left to be done, but I am confident that in the next short period of time President Trump and Chairman Kim will get the chance to meet again," Mr Pompeo told Fox News host Sean Hannity, a prominent supporter of Mr Trump.







He said the summit would work to "truly create a much better, safer America with less threat of not only nuclear weapons being launched at us but nuclear proliferation as well".







But asked if the next summit would lead to a lasting deal, Mr Pompeo said: "I'd be surprised if we get all the way home in this meeting, although it would be fantastic if we did."







Mr Trump and Mr Kim, in the first summit between the longtime adversaries, agreed to work towards the Korean peninsula's denuclearisation, but with little apparent agreement on what that means.







The US has been pressing for North Korea to get rid of its nuclear weapons before any easing of economic pressure.







Mr Kim, whose family has ruled North Korea with an iron fist for 70 years, wants immediate economic benefits and a formal end to the 1950-53 Korean War. (AFP)


A banner announcing unionized workers' general strike is put up at the KB Kookmin Bank's head branch on Yeouido, Seoul, Dec. 28. Of the bank's 11,990 unionized workers, 11,511 voted for a strike schedule on Jan. 8. / Yonhap

By Jhoo Dong-chan



KB Kookmin Bank and its unionized workers are still in a stalemate failing to narrow gaps about various issues, including the bank's wage peak system and incentives. Unionized workers said they will stage a general strike on Jan. 8 if management does not comply with their demands.



If they do, it will be the bank's first general strike in 19 years.



According to KB Kookmin Bank, Friday, Vice CEO Kim Nam-il urged workers not to stage a rally during the three-minute-long in-house broadcasting Thursday. Along with Kim, 10 bank executives also joined the in-house broadcasting.



"We should not demolish our position of the nation's lead bank by ourselves. Thirty million KB Kookmin Bank customers are at stake here," Kim said during the broadcasting.



"General strike is a must not. Let's set distrust aside. Come to the table and discuss further to narrow our differences."



Management also posted a Q&A banner regarding the wage negotiation at the bank's intranet. Executives are also meeting each employee to explain the bank's position.



KB Kookmin Bank labor union head Park Hong-bae, however, denounced management's approach as "appealing only to workers' emotions but neglecting the real issues."



KB Kookmin Bank CEO Hur Yin and Park met each other for two hours after New Year's Day, but failed to establish any middle ground. Talks have since halted.



"We believe there is still room to reach a settlement," said a KB Kookmin Bank official. "We can't reveal details about the negotiation, but KB Kookmin Bank and workers will continue the negotiation over the weekend."



The labor union and management have failed to reach an agreement on key issues, including rules on the amount of bonuses and the introduction of a wage peak system. The two sides have held negotiations 12 times since Sept. 18, but failed to reach an agreement despite arbitration attempts by the National Labor Relations Commission.



For incentives, the union is demanding the bank pay 300 percent of normal wages, whereas management insists a payment adjustment is needed because they failed to meet its management goal this year.



Management proposed to define the amount of bonuses in tandem with the bank's return on equity to prevent a conflict from the lack of standards for incentives, but the union refused the proposal.


ASHLAND  Kristen Haley Theriot of Baton Rouge, La., flew more than 1,000 miles one-way from Louisiana to Ashland, in order to receive her Associate of Arts degree as part of Ashland Universitys Winter Commencement ceremony on Dec. 15.

To say earning a degree through Ashland was a goal, would be cutting the credit in half," Haley said. "Its more than a degree, it surpasses any dream that I had for myself. Earning my G.E.D. was a dream, but to travel more than 1,000 miles and walk across the Ashland stage is like getting married or the birth of a child.

Theriot took online classes while she was in prison in Louisiana.

Theriot was 26 years old when she began her educational journey. After obtaining her G.E.D at Ascension Parish Prison and a diploma in Upholstery Technology and a National Construction Center Education and Research certification through Baton Rouge Community College, she worked for almost two years to get her Associates Degree in General Studies through Ashland University.

My entire five years of imprisonment consisted of education and struggles, she said. This moment for me is more than an opportunity to be recognized for my degree. This is the moment that breaks a cycle for the next generation. Its the day I display strength, perseverance, long-suffering and hope for my five children, my heart, my family, my friends, my supporters, those who encouraged and prayed even those who discouraged and never believed in me.

"They now have the chance to see a miracle, change and growth. And they are able to witness me going from cursed to blessed. This is the moment where Christ shows His strength in all my weaknesses.

Theriot said that Ashland University has given her an entire life of opportunity, a new perspective and understanding in every aspect of her life.

Things such as growth in myself, the ability to communicate effectively, openly and honestly. It has given me strength, courage, long-suffering and it has taught me the value and rewards of commitment, she said. I use the knowledge Ashland gave me in my everyday life, and I share what Ashland gave me  hope.

Theriot described her favorite aspects of the Ashland educational experience as being the knowledge she received, the online tablets used in the educational process, and the people who genuinely believed in her. Though I was the one taking the courses, I built a family of friends who refused to let me give up. And I experienced the communication and connection with people who are there simply because they care, she said.

Now that Theriot has her Associates Degree, she plans to start working toward earning her Bachelors Degree.

I live in Baton Rouge, La., and am in a one-year program called Connections for Life designed to help me rebuild my life, she said. The struggles have been many, but my long-suffering and my ability to commit are stronger than ever because of what Ashland has provided me with  tools.

I am taking this one step at a time. I would like to help other individuals like myself, especially parents that are in and outside of prison fighting for their children and who need someone to believe in them as well as being a voice of reason and hope.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Mainly clear. Low around 65F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear. Low around 65F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.
By 1939, nearly every Lutheran pastor in Russia had been exiled or murdered and Lutheran congregations ceased to exist. It wasnt until the 1970s that small groups of Lutherans began gathering to worship again. In 1998, the SELC formally approached the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and in 2010, it was determined that the two church bodies shared doctrinal unity.

Bringing Lytkin to Messiah Lutheran is an important facet of growing the overall mission, explained Roemke.

When supporting any kind of mission work, it is good to have a face to go with the place. Missions is not just throwing money at problems far away and feeling good about ourselves, mission work is the body of Christ, the life we share together and confess together and the mercy that grows from that shared life and confession of our Lord Jesus Christ, he said. The church is never just one island, alone and separated by time, space, language or culture. It is always beneficial to recognize our mission work as being first and foremost service to our neighbor, wherever he or she may be in need.

While he has never visited Siberia, Roemke said he hopes to one day visit some of the SELC parishes.
Iran says to send naval fleet to Atlantic for 5-month mission

TEHRAN, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- The deputy commander of Iran's Navy said an Iranian naval fleet will be sent to the Atlantic Ocean for a five-month mission in early 2019, official IRNA news agency reported Friday.

"The Atlantic Ocean is a long route, and it is likely that the mission would take five months to complete," Touraj Hassnai Moqaddam told IRNA.

"Iranian Sahand destroyer will accompany the fleet," he added, without providing more details.

On Dec. 1, 2018, the Iranian navy launched the domestically-built Sahand destroyer in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas.

With radar-evading stealth properties, the military vessel can embark on voyages for five months without re-supply.

It has a flight deck for helicopters, torpedo launchers, as well as anti-aircraft and anti-ship guns.

The destroyer also has surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles, capable of engaging in electronic warfare.
Ghanaian international child actor, Abraham Attah, has landed his first major movie in the year 2019.

The Beasts of No Nation star actor has been listed for a Nigerian drama film on immigrants titled Tasmanian Devil.

The Spirit Award-winner, who starred in Sonys Spider-Man: Homecoming movie, will star in Tasmanian Devil, a feature debut from writer/director, Solomon Onita, Jr. Adepero Oduye (Central Park Five and Pariah).

READ ALSO: Michael Essien shows off new 2019 look (Photo)

Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine (The Chi, Queen of Katwe), and Kwesi Boakye (Claws, Flight) will also co-star in the coming of age tale, which will shoot some time this year in Dallas, Texas.

The timely story follows a 19-year-old Nigerian immigrant (Attah) who, after moving to the US, struggles to bond with his estranged father (Mwine) who abandoned him and his mother (Oduye), in Nigeria, to chase his own calling of becoming a missionary.

When he finds acceptance in his process of joining a college fraternity, its challenged by his strict and religious father, leaving him searching for his own moral ground.

READ ALSO: I do not use occultic powers - Owusu Bempah

Tricia Woodgett of TigerEye Films is producing the project, while Benny Boom (All Eyez On Me) and Gerald Rawles (Next Day Air) will serve as executive producers.

Abraham Attah got his big break in the movie industry when he played Agu in war movie, Beast of no Nation.

The actor received many international awards for his role. He is also the ambassador for the NPP governments flagship program, Free Senior High School which has started in earnest.

READ ALSO: Huawei demotes two staff for embarrassing tweet from iPhone

Watch: Ghana News Today: Highlights from Rapperholic 2018 | #Yencomgh

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A 73-year-old Nigerian woman, Mrs Cecilia Attah, has been killed by her son at Nru, Nsukka, Enugu State, reports indicate.

According to a report in the Vanguard Newspaper, Mrs Attah was killed, on Wednesday, by her son who used a plank to hit her on the head.

The woman had attempted to separate a fight between two of her sons but was accidentally hit with the plank by one of them.

The late Mrs Cecilia Attah Photo source: Instagram/Instablog9ja

Source: Instagram

READ ALSO: Bank of Ghana downgrades Nduom's GN Bank to savings and loans company

Shortly after killing his mother, the suspect ran to the nearby Nsukka Police Station to report that his brother wanted to kill him. .

The deceased is said to be the mother of a priest, Rev Fr. Nobert, who is currently on sabbatical in the U.S, with Athanasius Igwenagum Attah, 54, as the eldest. .

Athanasius, a panelbeater, was seen at Nsukka Police Station, yesterday, making a statement over the issue. .

A senior police officer said that the death was accidental, as Mrs Attah was trying to separate two of her sons, who were quarrelling, when one of them killed her.

Ghana News Today: Samini Rocks Fans at Saminifest| #Yencomgh:

READ ALSO: Wendy Shay mistakenly shows her 'tonga' during wild performance on stage (Photo)

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Source: Yen.com.gh
Today

Partly cloudy early with increasing clouds overnight. Low near 80F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Partly cloudy early with increasing clouds overnight. Low near 80F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.

Tomorrow

Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. Very hot. High 118F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Venice, FL (34285)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. Low around 80F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

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Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. Low around 80F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
YORKBryan Luna and Consuelo Sanchez are the proud parents of the first baby of the New Year in York County.

Zariah Rose [pronounced Rose-AY] Luna was delivered via C-section January 2 at York General Hospital. Dr. Andrew Pohlmeier delivered Zariah. The little baby girl weighed 7.8 pounds and was 18  inches long.

The delivery went smoothly, according to both mom and doc; it was the journey to York that almost ended up a calamity. Luna and Sanchez traveled home to York from Des Moines, Iowa, when they ran into car trouble -- only ten miles from York.

We could see the lights [of York], Sanchez said. Those beckoning lights shined good fortune on the family, as they quickly resolved their car troubles and made it to York General Hospital for Zariahs arrival.

Zariah will be welcomed home by a brother  Leonardo Sanchez, age 7. Leonardo, the couple said, might need a little time to warm up to his new baby sister. Luna described him as both excited and jealous.

It seems like he was excited when I was pregnant. Then he saw her, Sanchez said with a laugh.
This past year, I have paid close attention to our neighbor east of Grand Island. Being the former Mayor of Grand Island, Ive spent the last four years battling a budget issue just like yours, only larger.

When I took over, we immediately received a glowing report from our auditor, just like you, from the same auditor. When I promptly stated that we were headed towards financial dire straits, it raised some eyebrows. One of the first questions I asked my team after being sworn in was to share with me the financial model that was being used to project cash positions in the future  and not for just the next budget year  I wanted to see the projections for five years from now. Those models didnt exist.

I explained if our expense growth rate was projected at 6 percent, but our revenue growth rate was less than 2 percent, at some point we would run out of money. It wasnt complicated, it just had never been the focus so long as there were cash reserves to draw from when needed. Soon our newly created models were guiding our budget policy and while painful at times, we have enjoyed two straight years of a balanced budget. Cuts were made, revenue was increased, and our cash position has been stabilized.
The Shin Bet domestic security service and the Israel Police arrested Saturday a fourth Jewish minor from the West Bank as part of a far-reaching investigation into Jewish terrorism in Israel.
The White House has sent National Security Adviser John Bolton on a mission to allay Israel's concerns about President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria.

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The pullout announced before Christmas was initially expected to be completed within weeks, but the timetable has slowed as the president acceded to requests from aides, allies and members of Congress for a more orderly drawdown.

Bolton planned to meet with Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and other officials on Sunday before traveling to Turkey. Israeli officials have expressed alarm that a swift withdrawal of the roughly 2,000 troops could enable Iran to expand its influence and presence in Syria, wracked by a yearslong civil war and the Islamic State militancy.

National Security Adviser John Bolton and Prime Minister Netanyahu (Photo: Amos Ben Gershom GPO)

Trump's move has raised fears about clearing the way for a Turkish assault on Kurdish fighters in Syria who have fought alongside American troops against IS extremists. Turkey considers the Kurdish People's Protection Units, or YPG, a terrorist group linked to an insurgency within its own borders.

A Trump administration official told reporters traveling with Bolton that Bolton intended to discuss the pace of the drawdown, as well as American troop levels in the region. Bolton was expected to explain that some U.S. troops based in Syria to fight IS will shift to Iraq with the same mission and that some American forces may remain at a key military outpost in al-Tanf, in southern Syria, to counter growing Iranian activity in the region.

Bolton's also was to convey the message that the United States will be "very supportive" of Israeli strikes against Iranian targets in Syria, according to the official, who was not authorized to publicly discuss Bolton's plans before the meetings and spoke on condition of anonymity to preview the talks.

Bolton warned Syria's president, Bashar al-Assad, not to use the U.S. drawdown as a pretext to use chemical weapons against Syrians, saying there is "no change" to the U.S. position that their use is a "red line." Trump has twice carried out airstrikes in Syria in response to apparent chemical attacks, with the intention of deterring Assad.

Just landed in is Israel. Looking forward to meeting with Israeli senior officials tomorrow to discuss a range of shared priorities between the United States and Israel, including the enduring U.S. commitment to Israels security.  John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) January 5, 2019

"We've tried twice through the use of military force to demonstrate to the Assad regime the use of chemical weapons is not acceptable," Bolton said while en route to Israel. "And if they don't heed the lessons of those two strikes, the next one will be more telling."

Trump's announcement about the intended troop withdrawal was greeted by surprise and condemnation from many U.S. lawmakers and allies, and prompted the resignation of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and the U.S. special envoy for the anti-IS coalition in protest.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is following Bolton to the Mideast this coming week for an eight-country tour of Arab allies to shore up support for the administration's partners in the region.

Mike Pompeo (Photo: Reuters)

Before leaving for the Mideast, Pompeo was interviewed by Fox News. He said that them the administration has cultivated a relationship between Arab states and Israel in order to ensure a coalition to secure American security.

According to Pompeo, the previous administration decided that the biggest terror supporter in the world, Iran, would be its partner in the Middle East. We have categorically changed that. We know that it is a threat to the world and to America.

Asked about the possibility of peace in the region, Pompeo said: We have created a situation in the Middle East whereby these nations work together on many fronts. You heard the presidents declaration about the withdrawal from Syria, but with the help of our partners we will still be able to effectively combat the ISIS threat in the region and do it without the presence of 2,000 troops on the ground.

While in Israel, Bolton planned to encourage officials to take a tougher stance against Chinese electronics manufacturers ZTE and Huawei. The U.S. has expressed concerns about potential cyber-penetration by those companies.

Joining Bolton in Turkey will be the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Joseph Dunford. In meetings with Turkey's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and other officials, they are expected to warn against an offensive targeting the Kurdish fighters in Syria.
U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton has warned the Syrian government it should not see the impending U.S. military withdrawal from the country as an invitation to use chemical weapons.

"There is absolutely no change in the U.S. position against the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime and absolutely no change in our position that any use of chemical weapons would be met by a very strong response, as we've done twice before," Bolton told reporters on his plane shortly before landing in Tel Aviv, Israel.

U.S. President Donald Trump said in December that U.S. troops had succeeded in their mission to defeat Islamic State militants and were no longer needed in the country.
The United States has no timeline to withdraw troops from Syria but does not plan to stay indefinitely, a senior State Department official said on Friday, a strong signal that forces could stay until the fight against Islamic State militants ends.

U.S.-backed forces are still retaking territory from Islamic State in Syria, Pentagon officials said on Friday, two weeks after Washington said it would withdraw its roughly 2,000 troops there. At the time, President Donald Trump said the troops had succeeded in their mission and were no longer needed there.
Artist Dov Or-Ner, a Holocaust survivor born in 1927, began painting Adolf Hitler a few years ago. The Nazi dictator, who was responsible for the murder of Or-Ner's parents during the Holocaust, started featuring heavily in the veteran artist's works, taking over them. "I simply purged Hitler from myself," he says.

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Even for Or-Ner, who is considered an outsider in the Israeli art scene and whose creations have always been described as unusual, this was extreme. It was so extreme that in 2006, when he had an exhibition at a Tel Aviv gallery titled "My friend Hitler," the police showed up and ordered him to close up shop. "Well, in the end we worked it out and the exhibition went on," he says with a smile.

The police raid didn't stop Or-Ner. Nothing could prevent him from continuing to create to his heart's desirea desire that hasn't always been fully understood.

Holocaust survivor Dov Or-Ner dresses up like Hitler

Shortly after that, he created the character of "Bud Ranrua" (an anagram of his name in Hebrew), which resembles a grotesque and ridiculous version of Hitler. To get into the role, the 92-year-old Or-Ner paints his bald head black and draws a small moustache under his nose, and in this getup he goes out into the world.

"I once walked around like this at the Tel Aviv Central Bus Station, but to my surprise there was no reaction," he says. "Sometimes I walk around like that at Kibbutz Hatzor, where I live. At first people didn't recognize me. Even my wife, who has since passed away, didn't recognize me the first time she saw me in costume."

Did you get reactions from people who were against this, who were outraged?

"There are no violent reactions. Normally people talk to me and ask me why I'm doing this thing, and what does it mean."

And why are you doing this thing? What does it mean?

"Even I don't really know how to explain it. It's a character that lives with me, and we get along mostly. When I'm in this character I feel good, 50 years younger."

This unusual relationship between Or-Ner and Hitler hit a new high last week when "Bud Ranrua" appeared for the first time at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, one of the central institutions of Israel's art scene, as part of the exhibition "Kibbutz Buchenwald" by Gil Yefman, who won the Rappaport Prize for young artists.

Yefman collaborated with Or-Ner on one of the works in the exhibition, both of them dressing up as their alter-egosin Yefman's case, it's Penelope, a colorful and joyful African womanand taking pictures with the Buchenwald concentration camp as the backdrop. In this manner, they are bringing Hitler back to the scene of the crime, but in a manner that can be seen as a bad joke.

It turns out the name of the exhibition, which could be seen as provocative in and of itself, refers to something that actually existed: Kibbutz Buchenwald, which was founded by Holocaust survivors near Ness Ziona in 1948, but after much opposition was renamed Netzer Sereni and exists to this very day. As part of the exhibition, Bud Ranrua and Penelope were photographed walking the kibbutz's paths.

The outsider

Despite being a very pleasant person, Or-Ner has never been easy to understand. We meet at his studio in Kibbutz Hatzor. Photos of him dressed like Hitler are on the walls, alongside countless sketches, paintings and statues he created. Even at his age, he still rides his bicycle here every morning.

"I have a hearing problem, sometimes you might have to repeat the question," Or-Ner says apologetically at the beginning of our conversation.

His voice is weak and shaky, but what's left of his French accent can still easily be detected. "We were French, I barely knew we were Jews," he says.

All of that changed in September 1939, when the young Or-Ner returned home to find his parents listening to the radio. To this day, 80 years later, he clearly remembers the strange sounds coming out of the radio, the likes of which he had not heard before. "It sounded like the barking of a wounded dog," he says.

Holocaust survivor Dov Or-Ner dresses up like Hitler

Later he would learn these strange sounds were the voice of Adolf Hitler, who was making a speech after the Nazi occupation of Polandthe move that launched the Second World War and with it the Holocaust. "This voice remained within me for years. It really bothered me, physically. It was hard for me to speak," he says.

Hitler's terrible barking accompanied Or-Ner when he escaped Paris with his parents to a distant village, and when his mother and father were arrested and sent to an extermination camp, never to return. This devil wouldn't let go of him even as he survived the war alone on the street, when he returned to Paris and stayed at a shelter for orphans, when he made Aliyah to Israel, and when he joined Kibbutz Hatzor and became one of the unique figures in the Israeli art scene.

"But about 15 years ago, something happened," Or-Ner says. "Hitler's voice started coming out."

Holocaust survivor Dov Or-Ner

Hitler may be taboo to most of us, but to Or-Ner he has become a sort of a friend in recent years. It would not be an exaggeration to say that his almost obsessive occupation with Hitler brings a sort of comfort to the Holocaust survivor.

Either way, his work caught the eye of Gil Yefman, a young artist who started visiting Or-Ner's studio and struck up a friendship with him. "A year and a half ago, Gil sat right here, where you're sitting now, and asked me if I've ever heard of Kibbutz Buchenwald," Or-Ner says. "When I heard this, I looked at him wide-eyed. Kibbutz? Buchenwald? It didn't add up. This is where the entire process began."

The connection between the young Yefman and the older Or-Ner is now at the basis of the exhibition that opened last week at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, which deals with the memory of the Holocaust in a considerably unusual manner. For the first time, Or-Ner is being embraced by the Israeli art scene after decades of solely cold shoulders.

Or-Ner may indeed have been part of the most important Israeli art exhibitions of the 1970s, represented Israel in the 1972 Paris Biennale and the 1980 Sao Paulo Biennial, and even won the National Education Award in 1996, but he always preferred working away from the media's watchful eye and steered clear of the artistic cliques. Even though he is one of the most productive veteran artists in Israel, who influenced many artists and collaborated with dozens of creators, he has never gotten his own exhibition at a museum.

Now, Or-Ner is coming in through the back door to the very heart of the mainstream thanks to his collaboration with Yefman.

"It doesn't matter to me if I'm in or out. The most important thing is that I could do my things, things I love," he says. "Normally that means being here, in the studio, working and creating. Sometimes my things come out, other times I bury them; that happens too. What I mostly love is collaborations with other, young artists."
When Mahmoud Othman tried to figure a way to save his cafe business in the Gaza Strip, he was amazed by online videos of tourists in Turkey getting fish pedicures. That got him thinking and a unique idea was born: his coffee shop now offers a new service  fish pedicures.

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After getting Israeli approval, he recently imported hundreds of Garra rufa fish, a species of small freshwater fish nicknamed doctor fish, from Turkey and added a fish spa section to his hookah bar and cafe in Gaza.

Palestinians soak their feet in tank stocked with fish at a cafe in Gaza City, December 26, 2018

The fish, which feed off the top layers of the toughened, dead skin of the feet, have been used in spas as a peeling method for years around the world.

We wanted to introduce a new idea and service at the cafe, Othman said. Doctor fish has remedial and recreational sides.

Among the benefits, he believes the treatment helps the body get rid of negative energy.

A 30-minute session costs NIS 30 (about $8), a hefty sum for most of Gazas 2 million inhabitants.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has made it difficult to import many goods into the Strip. Othman said it took him three attempts and over a month to get the necessary permits to bring the fish into Gaza.

He didnt know what to expect but business has been surprisingly brisk  despite unemployment soaring over 50 percent and half of Gaza residents living under the poverty line.

Othman said he gets 30 to 40 customers a day. Many of them see the service not only as good for the health, but also as a small luxury and temporary escape from the difficult situation around them.

For four years, Mohammed al-Omari, 25, has suffered from warts that made it hard for him to wear shoes. Upon an advice from a friend, he tried the fish treatment and now believes it works for his condition.

The first time I tried it, I had a very beautiful feeling. I came for a second, third and today a fourth time, he said after drying his feet and putting on socks. When I find something to relieve the pain and improve my mentality, 30 shekels becomes nothing.

A man soaks his feet in tank stocked with fish at a cafe in Gaza City, December 26, 2018

On a recent evening, seven young men sat in a room lit by blue neon lights, pants rolled to the knee and feet dipped into glass tubs. As the tiny fish clustered around their toes, the customers chatted or touched and swiped their smartphones.

Its a beautiful thing, said Mahmoud al-Dairi, who came for the leisure factor.

Many of those frequenting the cafe are unaware of widespread health warnings over fish pedicures  especially the high possibility of infections. Several U.S. states and Canadian provinces consider the practice unsanitary and some animal rights groups denounce it altogether.

But Othman is aware of the pitfalls. He said he has a strict set of procedures to sanitize the 16 tubs by giving the fish a respite of half an hour after every session and obliging the customers to wash their feet twice and apply sterilizers before dunking them into the water.
It appears Arab MK Hanin Zoabi will not serve in the next Knesset. The members of her Balad party's central commitee are fed up with her. Balad leader Jamal Zahalka will likely also not return to the parliament following the elections, because his party's constitution sets a very high bar for those who wish to be elected for the fifth time, and he has decided to give up. The leadership in Balad can be replaced in a democratic manner, something that cannot be said for several other political parties in Israel.

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When news emerged that Zoabi would not return to the Israeli legislature, Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel of Jewish Home publically rejoiced, tweeting: "Take your friends, and go straight to Ramallah." And when it transpired that Zahalka would not fight to remain at the helm of his party, MK Avigdor Lieberman of Yisrael Beytenu tweeted: "I hope this lovely pair not only retires from the Knesset, but also from the State of Israel, and move to its rightful placeGaza and Damascus."

It's doubtful the MKs from Balad saw these tweets, and so one must wonder why the Jewish politicians even bothered to write texts that offer nothing more than an expression of loathing to their Arab colleagues.

Balad MKs Jamal Zahalka and Hanin Zoabi (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

The reason, I believe, is similar to the motives of a suitor who charters a plane to fly over the city dragging behind it a sign that says "Ruth, marry me!" The loud young man could've simply knelt down in front of his beloved and asked for her hand in marriage, serenaded her under the window of her apartment, or written her a poem. But this would not have achieved his goal, which is not winning the girl's heart, but rather making a spectacle for the world to see the greatness of his love, to be impressed by the strength of his feelings and to cheer on his virtue.

The grandiose gesture by the suitor requires a lot more effort than writing nasty comments on Twitter, but there are great similarities between the motivations of the two. The mean-spirited tweets are not meant to offend their subject, they are written for the general public to see. After all, if the tweet writer had truly wanted to shock his target, he would've been better off launching a barrage of abuse in text messages, which are not limited in the number of characters, or by accosting their target as they passed one another in the Knesset's hallways. Both Ariel and Lieberman, like their supporters, don't keep their emotions bottled up. They say whatever's on their minds. They're authentic folks.

And to my great disappointment, so does Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelsteina well-mannered and restrained man. "I waged battles with no consideration for the coalition, the opposition, the religious, the secular, the Jews or the Arabs," he said in some interviews, describing his efforts to ensure manners are maintained in the institution he runs. "All for the sake of the Knesset's image, for decency in the Knesset, to serve an example."

Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein (Photo: TPS)

His loyalty to these values expired when it came to Balad. When he heard about the two MKs' retirement from the Knesset, he thanked the Lord for His grace. "Thank G-d, no more Balad! The party contributes nothing to the Knesset. On the contrary, it hurts the entire Israeli public." Edelstein has the right to think so, but expressing this opinion is inappropriate within the context of his position.

An estimated 100,000 Balad supporters voted for the Joint List factionwhich is made up of Balad, Hadash, Islamic Movement, and UAL-Taalincluding 1,000 Israeli Jews. They, at least, don't think this party hurts "the entire Israeli public."

I wonder if the kippah-wearing Knesset Speaker will publicly recite Birkat HaGomel (the blessing of thanksgiving) if several punks and upstarts from his own partythe public knows whoare tossed from Likud's Knesset list in the upcoming elections. But perhaps God only listens to thanksgiving over the departure of Arab MKs.
Before leaving his IDF base, 21-year-old Corporal Bilal Taha removes his military uniform and changes into civilian clothing; only then does he board the bus home to his Galilee village of Deir al-Asad, where service in the IDF is unusual, to say the least. Taha is a rare phenomenon, an Israeli Arab who chose to serve in the army.

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There are many who are not happy with my being a soldier, he says, and I dont know what their reaction would be if I entered the town in uniform.

Bilal Taha

Is it dangerous?

No, it isnt, but its a little strange, he responds. I will give you an example: I heard that when immodestly dressed women enter Beit Shemesh people react negatively. So it is with us: people wouldnt react violently, but it is unusual.

Most of my friends chose to study and not enlist, and sometimes they laugh at me and say: you will go to Gaza? To war? It's dangerous, just forget about it. One uncle told me that the IDF does all sorts of things to the Arabs. Jews dont understand me; they think Im a loser. But I nonetheless chose to enlist, he says.

Before enlisting in the IDF in 2017, Taha spent a year volunteering at the Federation of Young Students and Workers, a left-wing youth movement in Israel, where he says he made up his mind to enlist. During this year, he visited friends across the country, witnessing different lifestyles. This led him to the conclusion that there exist more commonalities than differences between Jews and Arabs in Israel.

We spent a week at a Safed Yeshiva (seminary), a month at the Ofra settlement and we also visited my village, he says. We observed the differences and similarities between all those places.

How is Ofra different than Deir al-Asad?

There is no difference; only the location, language and the residents religion. Judaism and Islam are very similar. A Jerusalem household welcomes you the same way as one in Deir al-Asad.

As a West Bank settlement, was it not strange for you to visit Ofra?

When we were there, I saw children talking about our group and how one member is an Arab, so I turned to them and said I am an Arab. I understood that for them it was strange to host an Arab in Ofra. They expressed interest in me. There was an attack there shortly before; it is sad to hear about such events we are all just human beings.

His first position in the IDF was in the department that encourages minorities to enlist and supports them throughout their service. After a short while, however, he sought a more active role as a combat soldier.

But the process was far from smooth. As an only son, he needed his parents approval to serve in a combat unit, from which his mother tried to discourage him. But he was insistent and managed to convince her to sign the necessary forms. His father, he said, was supportive from the start, and wanted him to become an officer.

Bilal now serves in the Tavor Battalion of the Home Front Command. Sometimes he finds himself in the midst of complicated situations. Currently he is stationed in the northern West Bank where his unit guards settlements.

Do your neighbors express interest in your service?

Yes, they ask about my activities and if I shot anyone  a legitimate question from people who only know the military from internet videos. They also ask why I left my administrative position close to home to serve in combat But I have only become more confident in my decision. I live here, this is my country, I pay taxes, respect the flag and the anthem and serve in the IDF.

All his fellow service members are Jewish and he is considerate of their customs. He doesnt eat cheese and schnitzel in their presence in the dining room (Jews are not allowed to eat meat and dairy products together) and he stands during the Shabbat Kiddush and Havdala ceremonies.

Bilal conducts his Islamic prayers at a discreet location on the base so as not to attract undue attention. I prefer that people ask me questions than talk behind my back. Some ask about the 'Allahu Akbar' (God is great) phrase they hear from the mosque loudspeakers, and about suicide bombers who use the expression. I tell them that it is mere stupidity.

He believes that an increasing number of Israeli Arabs will enlist in the IDF in the future. I know that many in Deir al-Asad want to help and participate. Perhaps they fear change, but many will serve and don the uniform. There is a villager who is trying out for the paratroopers soon, he consulted with me and I assisted and supported him. The point isnt whether he gets in, but that he wants to join.
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CARACAS, Venezuela (AP)  Venezuela's opposition-controlled congress opened its first session of the year Saturday, installing a fresh-faced leader who struck a defiant tone and vowed to take up the battle against socialist President Nicolas Maduro.

Juan Guaido, 35, assumes the presidency of a National Assembly stripped of power by Maduro, whose government is blamed for leading the once-wealthy oil nation into a historic political and humanitarian crisis.

Speaking to legislators, Guaido named off several opposition politicians and opponents of Maduro's government who have been jailed, driven into exile or killed. He said desperation has forced masses of citizens to flee abroad looking for work.

"We are under an oppressive system," he said. "It's not just that  it is miserable."

Tall and youthful, Guaido represents the next generation of Venezuelan political opposition, taking up the assembly's leadership following 74-year-old Omar Barboza.

Guaido is an industrial engineer and former student leader from the same political party as Leopoldo Lopez, Venezuela's most popular opposition leader under house arrest. Government opponents consider him a political prisoner.

Guaido called Maduro a dictator whose legitimacy has run out. Venezuela is living a "dark but transitional" moment of its history, he said, adding that among its first acts congress will create a transitional body to restore constitutional order, but he offered no details.

He addressed a hall filled only with opposition lawmakers as the government loyalists have long boycotted any sessions, saying the National Assembly has itself overstepped its authority.

However, roughly 20 foreign diplomats from the United States, Canada, Japan, Italy and Germany attended the assembly's inaugural session in a show of solidarity.

"The National Assembly should inspire hope in the Venezuelan people for a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic future, even as the corrupt and authoritarian Maduro regime and its allies seek to deny Venezuelans that right," the State Department said in a statement. It added: "Every nation must take strong action to help the Venezuelan people reclaim their democracy."

Story continues

The assembly opened days before Maduro's inauguration to a second, six-year term widely condemned as illegitimate after he declared victory in the May 20 election that many foreign powers considered a sham.

Venezuela's socialist party boss Diosdado Cabello said Saturday that Maduro will be sworn in on Jan. 10 before the Supreme Court, which is stacked with government loyalists. This defies the constitution that requires a president take the oath before the National Assembly.

As international pressure mounts, a dozen Latin American countries and Canada on Friday urged Maduro to cede power and hand it over to congress until a valid president is elected.

Venezuelan officials accuse the coalition of taking orders directly from U.S. President Donald Trump, who they frequently accuse of spearheading an economic war against Venezuela.

"Those of us here are fighting every day to restore democracy," Guaido said. "We want the protection of the rule of law. We want the Venezuelans to be protected, because we believe in life."
LONDON (Reuters) - British foreign minister Jeremy Hunt said on Thursday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will remain in place for "a while" thanks to support from Russia, even though Britain's position was still that he remains a block to lasting peace. "The British long-standing position is that we won't have lasting peace in Syria with that (Assad-led) regime, but regretfully, we do think he's going to be around for a while," Hunt told Sky News. Nearly eight years into a war that has displaced millions of Syrians, Assad has recovered control of most of the country with support from Russia, Iran, and Iranian-backed Shi'ite Muslim groups such as Lebanon's Hezbollah. Last week, the United Arab Emirates reopened its embassy in Damascus, marking a diplomatic boost for Assad from a U.S.-allied Arab state that once backed rebels fighting him. (Reporting by William James; editing by Stephen Addison)
By Lesley Wroughton and Phil Stewart WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has no timeline to withdraw troops from Syria but does not plan to stay indefinitely, a senior State Department official said on Friday, a strong signal that forces could stay until the fight against Islamic State militants ends. U.S.-backed forces are still retaking territory from Islamic State in Syria, Pentagon officials said on Friday, two weeks after Washington said it would withdraw its roughly 2,000 troops there. At the time, President Donald Trump said the troops had succeeded in their mission and were no longer needed there. The administration's abrupt announcement last month, which took officials in Washington and allies by surprise, contributed to Jim Mattis' decision to resign as U.S. defense secretary and prompted concern that Islamic State could stage a comeback. The State Department official, briefing reporters before a visit to the Middle East next week by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, appeared to be seeking to allay that concern. "We have no timeline for our military forces to withdraw from Syria," said the official, who asked not to be identified. "It will be done in such a way that we and our allies and partners maintain pressure on ISIS throughout and we do not open up any vacuums for terrorists." The United States did not intend to have an indefinite military presence in Syria, the official added. U.S. officials have told Reuters a withdrawal could take several months, potentially giving time for U.S.-backed forces to deal parting blows to the militant group that once held broad swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria. But a senior administration official traveling with White House national security adviser John Bolton on a trip to the Middle East said Trump had received assurances from his military commanders that their mission "can be done in weeks." Trump said on Wednesday the United States would get out of Syria slowly "over a period of time" and would protect U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters in the country as Washington draws down troops. "Bolton will travel to Israel and Turkey to discuss the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Syria, and how the U.S. will work with allies and partners to prevent the resurgence of ISIS, stand fast with those who fought with us against ISIS, and counter Iranian malign behavior in the region," Garrett Marquis, a spokesman for the National Security Council, said. Marquis said Bolton would be joined in Turkey by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford and U.S. special Syria envoy James Jeffrey. Separately, the State Department said Jeffrey would be taking on the additional role of the special envoy for the coalition to defeat Islamic State. Jeffrey will be involved in negotiations on a political process and also assumes the diplomatic role of coordinating with allies and partners on the fight against Islamic State. Brett McGurk, the previous special envoy for the global coalition to defeat Islamic State, quit last month over Trump's decision to pull U.S. troops out of Syria. 'FINAL BLOWS' The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, which include Kurdish fighters, captured the Syrian town of Kashmah on Jan. 2 after retaking the town of Hajin on Dec. 25, Pentagon spokesman Navy Commander Sean Robertson told Reuters. The capture came the same day that Trump stated during a cabinet meeting his strong desire to gradually withdraw from Syria, calling it a place of "sand and death." Trump also said it was up to other countries to fight Islamic State, including Russia and Iran, adding that Islamic State was down to its last remaining bits of territory in Syria. "We're hitting the hell out of them, the ISIS people," Trump said, using an acronym to refer to Islamic State, adding, "We're down to final blows." Separately on Friday, the U.S.-led coalition said it carried out 469 strikes in Syria between Dec. 16 and Dec. 29 that destroyed nearly 300 fighting positions, more than 150 staging areas, and a number of supply routes, oil lubricant storage facilities and equipment. Islamic State retains control of just a "sprinkle of villages" near the Euphrates river, said Aaron Stein, the Middle East program director at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. "(ISIS) will simply revert to a diffused rural insurgency where it could use just the tyranny of space - the desert is very big - to sort of hide out and be able to launch raiding attacks," he added. The Pentagon spokesman said coalition forces, which Washington coordinates, were continuing to assist the SDF with close air support and artillery strikes in the Middle Euphrates River Valley. "We will continue to work with the coalition and regional partners toward an enduring defeat of ISIS," Robertson said. He called the capture of Hajin significant. "This was a milestone, since it was among the largest of the last remaining ISIS strongholds in the Middle Euphrates River Valley."Islamic State declared its "caliphate" in 2014 after seizing large swathes of Syria and Iraq. The hardline Islamist group established its de facto capital in the Syrian city of Raqqa, using it as a base to plot attacks in Europe. Much of the U.S. campaign in Syria has been waged by warplanes flying out of Qatar and other locations in the Middle East. (Additional reporting by Arshad Mohammed and Steve Holland in Washington; Writing by Idrees Ali; Editing by Mary Milliken, Frances Kerry and Daniel Wallis)
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By Sonam Rai and Ben Klayman

(Reuters) - Tesla Inc <TSLA.O> on Friday named Oracle Corp <ORCL.N> co-founder Larry Ellison, a shareholder and self-described close friend of Chief Executive Elon Musk, to its board to provide the independent oversight demanded by U.S. regulators after Musk tweeted about taking the electric carmaker private.

Tesla said Ellison and Walgreens Boots Alliance's <WBA.O> global head of human resources, Kathleen Wilson-Thompson, joined the board as independent directors, effective Dec. 27. (https://bit.ly/2SqAbJm)

Musk on Aug. 7 tweeted that he was considering taking the company private and had secured funding. The SEC subsequently filed fraud charges against him, citing what it said were his "false and misleading" tweets.

Under a court-approved agreement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Musk agreed to pay a $20 million fine and step aside as Tesla's chairman for three years to settle charges that could have forced his exit. Tesla also agreed to pay a $20 million fine.

Tesla further consented to the appointment of an independent chairman, two independent directors and a board committee to control Musk's communications.

Prior to his Tesla appointment, Ellison did not sit on boards other than Oracle's. But he served as a director at Apple <AAPL.O> at a critical time for that company  in the five years after Steve Jobs returned to the helm of the then struggling computer maker in 1997, helping oversee one the greatest turnarounds in corporate history.

DOUBTS

Some analysts welcomed the addition of Ellison, but Charles Elson, director of the corporate governance centre at the University of Delaware, questioned adding a friend of Musk's and another director with no experience at an industrial company like Tesla.

"Why would you put a friend (on the board) if the idea of the two independent directors were to be objective," Elson said. "Investors who were hoping for two newly objective directors who could stand up to Mr. Musk would be rather disappointed by the choice.

Story continues

One analyst, though, viewed Ellison's appointment as a positive. "Larry Ellison obviously has a tremendous presence in Silicon Valley ... with maverick type CEO traits very similar to Elon Musk, so he brings a level of understanding because he has gone from a startup to a successful company similar to Tesla," Tigress Financial Partners analyst Ivan Feinseth said in an email.

"I don't believe he would let friendship get in the way of good judgment," Feinseth added about Ellison.

Ellison bought 3 million shares of Tesla earlier this year. Through a spokeswoman, he declined to comment.

Tesla's shares were up 4.8 percent at $331.49 in Friday afternoon trading.

Musk on Friday afternoon tweeted his welcome: "Excited to have Larry Ellison & Kathleen Wilson-Thompson join the Tesla board!"

In November, Tesla named director Robyn Denholm as board chair, fulfilling one of the demands. Denholm, who joined Tesla as an independent director in 2014 and agreed to step down as finance chief of Australian telecoms firm Telstra Corp Ltd <TLS.AX>, spent 11 years as a senior vice president at Sun Microsystems, a unit of Oracle.

Tesla said it conducted a "thorough, expansive" search process for the directors, calling Ellison a "preeminent entrepreneur" and Wilson-Thompson "a human resources leader" and said both had a passion for sustainable energy. They bring the Tesla board count to 11 people.

The larger-than-life Ellison, like Musk, is known for making bombastic, brash public comments. He went on a diatribe attacking cloud computing at a 2008 analyst conference, which only served to highlight Oracles slow move into the space. He undermined Oracles business relationship with Hewlett Packard in 2010 in an email to the New York Times that chastised the board for firing its CEO and his friend, Mark Hurd, after a sexual harassment inquiry.

He rarely interacts with journalists or blogs, and has only Tweeted once - a 2012 message promoting Oracles cloud products.

"VERY CLOSE FRIENDS"

Ellison, said by Forbes magazine to be worth $55 billion, has in the past defended Musk.

"I'm very close friends with Elon Musk, and I'm a big investor in Tesla," Ellison, 74, said on a Oct. 26 conference call with analysts.

"This guy is landing rockets," Ellison added about Musk, referring to his leadership of SpaceX. "He's landing rockets on robot drone rafts in the ocean, and you're saying he doesn't know what he's doing. Well, who else is landing a rocket?"

Wilson-Thompson, who could not be immediately reached for comment, spent 17 years at Kellogg Co <K.N> before joining Walgreens, and serves on the boards of two U.S.-based manufacturing companies.

Musk has gained fans for his bold approach to business and technology, using his almost 24 million Twitter followers to promote Tesla, SpaceX and tunnel venture Boring Co.

But the August claim that he had the funding to take Tesla private, and a subsequent U-turn, stunned Wall Street and came as Musk was filmed briefly smoking marijuana during a live Web show and when he called a British diver in the Thai cave rescue a "pedo."

Tesla's market cap exceeds that of traditional, established U.S. automakers that make millions of vehicles and billions of dollars in profits annually, and the company has garnered legions of fans despite repeated production issues.

(Additional reporting by Jim Finkle, Katanga Johnson and Akanksha Rana; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila and Steve Orlofsky)
Belgrade (AFP) - Several thousand people marched Saturday in the Serbian capital, the fifth consecutive weekend rally against the rule of President Aleksandar Vucic whom they accuse of authoritarianism.

The protests represent the biggest challenge to Vucic's rule so far, and were first called by opposition parties after one of their leaders was beaten ahead of a political gathering in central Serbia in November.

The opposition Alliance for Serbia (SZS), an umbrella of parties from across the political spectrum, accused the attackers of being supporters of Vucic's ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), a claim the authorities denied.

"Serbia is slowly rising, entire towns are rising ... and our numbers will grow," actor and one of the movement's leader Branislav Trifunovic told the crowd in Belgrade on Saturday, quoted by N1 television.

Several hundred people also protested in the southern town of Kragujevac and some 50 in Novi Sad in the north, Beta news agency reported.

Since the first protest on December 8, the rallies were joined by students and public figures, notably artists.

The demonstrators gathered in front of the faculty of philosophy and marched through Belgrade behind a large banner reading: "1 in 5 million."

It was a reference to Vucic's earlier statement that he would not meet opposition demands for free media and fair elections "even if there were five million people in the street".

Vucic, a hardline nationalist-turned-European, is accused by the opposition and civil society of having established autocratic rule and total control over the media, using it to campaign against opponents.

Commenting earlier on the protests Vucic said he was "ready to listen to the citizens who are demonstrating but not to opposition liars."

Vucic was elected president in 2017 after holding the post of prime minister.
By Maxim Rodionov and Barbara Goldberg MOSCOW/NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday the United States had detained a Russian citizen, a day after Moscow arrested the former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan on suspicion of spying. Whelan was taken into custody by Russia's Federal Security Service on Dec. 28. His family have said he is innocent and that he was in Moscow to attend a wedding. The ministry said the United States detained Russian citizen Dmitry Makarenko on Dec. 29 on the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. commonwealth in the Pacific Ocean, and had transferred him to Florida. "... Makarenko, born in 1979, has arrived on Saipan Island with his wife, underage children and elderly parents. He was detained by FBI personnel at the airport right after his arrival," the ministry said. The U.S. Embassy in Moscow could not immediately be reached for comment. A State Department spokesman in Washington referred a request for comment to the Department of Justice, which did not immediately respond. Papers filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida show Makarenko was accused in June 2017 by federal prosecutors of conspiring with another man, Vladimir Nevidomy, to export defense articles including night-vision scopes from the United States to Russia without U.S. approval. Makarenko, who was listed as a resident of Vladivostok, was declared a fugitive from U.S. justice in Jan. 2018. Nevidomy, a resident of Hallandale Beach, Florida, pleaded guilty in June 2018 and was sentenced to 26 months in prison, the court papers showed. The accusations from both sides could further complicate a strained relationship between Moscow and Washington, despite the professed desire of Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to build a personal rapport. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said this week that Washington had asked Moscow to explain Whelan's arrest and would demand his immediate return if it determined his detention is inappropriate. Britain cautioned Russia on Friday that individuals should not be used as diplomatic pawns. Whelan also holds a British passport. The Russian ministry said in its statement that Moscow diplomats had not been able to reach Makarenko in Florida and said Washington had yet to explain his detention. Before Moscow gave details of Makarenko's detention, experts had speculated that Moscow could exchange Whelan for Russian nationals held by Washington. Commenting on that possibility, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Saturday: "I see no reasons to raise this issue in context of exchanges. We should undergo all the procedures needed in this situation," Interfax news agency quoted Ryabkov as saying. Whelan's Toronto-based twin brother David Whelan told Reuters on Saturday that U.S. embassy officials met with his sibling on Wednesday and would visit him again next week. "He seemed as well as can be expected in a Russian jail. He was missing a lot of personal necessities, like toilet paper, that aren't provided," David Whelan said in a telephone interview. "So the State Department has helped us set up an account ... so that he can buy the supplies that he needs." (Reporting by Maxim Rodionov in Moscow and Barbara Goldberg in New York; Additional reporting by Yeganeh Torbati in Washington; Editing by Alison Williams and Diane Craft)
Moscow (AFP) - Russia's space agency on Saturday demanded an explanation after NASA put off a planned visit to the United States by Russia's controversial space chief.

Dmitry Rogozin, a firebrand nationalist politician known for his anti-Western rhetoric, was set to visit the US in February but NASA said Friday that it was postponing his visit indefinitely.

Rogozin, appointed by President Vladimir Putin in May last year and previously a deputy prime minister, is blacklisted and under US sanctions over Russia's actions in Ukraine.

Russia's Roscosmos space agency said in a statement that "it expects official explanations of NASA's position" and stressed that Rogozin's visit was planned "in accordance with an invitation received earlier."

It added a veiled warning that preparations for talks on cooperation with the US on the ISS programme and deep space exploration are "so far not suspended."

The row comes as space exploration remains one of the few areas where Washington and Moscow continue active cooperation despite political tensions. The US needs Russia to ferry astronauts to the International Space Station.

NASA said in a statement Friday it had told Roscosmos that Rogozin's visit would "need to be postponed" and a new date "has not been identified," USA Today reported.

Plans for Rogozin to visit NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston had prompted protests from US senators.

Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen said in a statement Wednesday that NASA's invitation to Rogozin "undercuts our message and undermines the United States' core national security objectives."

The rescinded invitation came after NASA chief Jim Bridenstine visited Russia in October, his first trip after he took up his post.

He observed the failed launch of a Soyuz rocket carrying two Russian and NASA astronauts who managed to make an emergency landing.

He told TASS state news agency at the time that NASA had managed to temporarily lift US sanctions on Rogozin to allow him to visit.

Rogozin has clashed with the US, suggesting American astronauts should use trampolines instead of Russian rockets to reach the ISS after Washington imposed sanctions over Moscow's 2014 annexation of Crimea.

He recently joked Russia would send a mission to the Moon to "verify" whether NASA lunar landings ever took place.
Abuja (AFP) - Nigeria's opposition has objected to the appointment of President Muhammadu Buhari's niece to the election commission ahead of presidential elections in February, when he will seek a second term.

The People's Democratic Party (PDP) claimed the appointment Thursday of Amina Zakari to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was an attempt to rig the vote in Buhari's favour.

Zakari, who has worked at INEC in other roles, will head a branch of the commission involved in collating the election results.

The PDP said in a statement: "for us to have a peaceful election, Mrs Amina Zakari should not be seen anywhere near any of the 2019 election processes, not to talk of being involved in the collation of presidential (vote) results."

Buhari spokesman Garba Shehu dismissed the claim as baseless. The president was not a blood relation of Zakari, as the PDP alleged, but was related to her by marriage only, Shehu insisted.

"An inter-marriage occurred in their extended families, so the imputation of blood relationship between the president and the electoral commissioner is a simple lie," he added.

INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu also dismissed the opposition allegations, insisting the buck stops with him.

"I am absolutely responsible for the coordination of the secretariat for the collation of results," he said.

"But somebody has to prepare the venue for the conduct of the election, the internet service that we have to provide, accreditation of international observers and the media," he added.
THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP)  For about 200 passengers, the flight from London to Thessaloniki in northern Greece took almost 24 hours.

Foggy conditions in Thessaloniki airport led Ryanair to divert the flight from London Stansted Airport to the city of Timisoara in western Romania, late Friday.

Many passengers, already grumbling that the diversion was not made to an airport closer to their destination were outraged when the company offered buses to take them the 770-kilometer (480-mile) distance in freezing weather.

Ryanair has scheduled flights to Timisoara, as well as Athens, Greece, and some passengers felt that the decision to divert to the Romanian city was made on the basis of minimizing costs.

"They could have landed us at a Greek airport," flight passenger Sakis Papadopoulos, 36, told The Associated Press.

"Our flight was already delayed and then, around 10:30 p.m. (Friday), they informed us we would be landing at Timisoara instead of Thessaloniki," Papadopoulos said.

A total of 89 refused to take up the offer of buses, despite what they said was pressure from airport authorities, who kept them in the baggage area overnight.

Papadopoulos, who had traveled to London for the holidays, said that the passengers were finally offered a hotel stay at 8 a.m. Saturday but they refused, saying they would stay put until a plane arrived to take them to Greece.

"Some of us contacted Greek media," Papadopoulos said.

Informed of the passengers' plight, the Greek government arranged with Greek carrier Aegean Airlines to send a plane to Timisoara. Transport Minister Christos Spirtzis weighed in against what he said were "low cost, low social responsibility" airlines.

The 89 passengers arrived in Thessaloniki around 5 p.m. Saturday. The flight normally would have taken around 3.5 hours.

Ryanair issued an apology for the diversion, saying that it was "beyond our control."

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Demetris Nellas contributed to this report from Athens, Greece.

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Follow Costas Kantouris on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CostasKantouris
Istanbul (AFP) - The Istanbul-based Orthodox patriarch on Saturday signed the formal decree confirming the creation of an independent Ukrainian church, marking a break with the Russian church that has angered Moscow.

The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, the leading authority in Orthodox Christianity, signed the decree known as Tomos at a ceremony in Istanbul.

Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko and former Ukrainian president Viktor Yushchenko were on hand to witness the ceremony.

"Dear Ukrainians, this is a historic event! This is a great day!" Poroshenko said as he thanked the Orthodox patriarch.

"Once more, words of great gratitude in the name of the Ukrainian people, in the name of our nation to Your Holiness... It took us a very long time to get here."

The Ecumenical Patriarchate first agreed to recognise the independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in October. Then in December a historic council of Orthodox bishops in Kiev created the independent body.

The Russian Orthodox Church cut ties with the Constantinople Patriarchate in protest at the move, which dealt a huge blow to Moscow's spiritual authority in the Orthodox world.

Vladimir Legoida, a spokesman for the Moscow church, denounced the decree as "a document that is the result of irrepressible political and personal ambitions".

It had been "signed in violation of the canons and therefore not possessing any canonical force," Legoida added in a statement.

Nikolai Balashov, another senior official for the Russian Orthodox Church, hit out at Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, saying he had "ended the global Orthodox fraternity and permanently lost the right to be called a spiritual leader".

The Ukrainian church's new leader is Metropolitan Yepifaniy.

Yepifaniy, whose secular name is Sergiy Dumenko, has been a critic of Moscow's religious influence in Ukraine and has supported Kiev's army against pro-Russian rebels.

Story continues

Ukraine and Russia have been at loggerheads since 2014, when Kiev street protests urging Ukrainian integration with Europe led to the ousting of pro-Moscow president Viktor Yanukovych.

Russia subsequently annexed Crimea and has supported Russian-speaking separatists in Ukraine's east, in a conflict that has claimed the lives of more than 10,000 people.

Regina Elsner, a research fellow at the Centre for East European and International Studies in Berlin, said recognition of the Ukrainian church's independence was only the "first step on a long road".

"We will have to see which Ukrainian bishops will join the new church and which other Orthodox churches will recognise it," she added.

burs-raz/jj
DAHLONEGA, Ga. (AP)  The Latest on storms moving across the South (all times local):

6:10 p.m.

Rescue workers in north Georgia used a ladder and ropes to get to a woman and baby stranded in a pickup truck inundated by rising waters.

Dramatic video posted to Facebook showed crews working to reach the truck Friday as water reached the vehicle's windshield.

The rescue occurred near Dahlonega amid a storm that dumped several inches of rain across the region.

Crews used a ladder and ropes to get a rescue worker onto the bed of the truck, before helping the woman put on a life jacket and crawl back across the ladder.

A spokesman for Lumpkin County Emergency Services said the pair were in stable condition when they were dropped off at an area hospital.

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9:15 a.m.

The head of emergency management in a southwestern Mississippi County says they had an "extreme flash flooding event" following heavy rains that hit the area.

Glen Moore says authorities have had to rescue residents from about 25 area homes. He says they received more than nine inches (23 centimeters) of rain starting from around 3 p.m. Thursday to 3 a.m. Friday.

He's asking people to stay away from roads that are barricaded.

He says they had to rescue one man whose car was swept away after he went around a barricade intended to keep people from passing through a flooded road.

Moore says the man was able to get out of the car and hold onto a tree until authorities could get a boat to rescue him.

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7:45 a.m.

Teams are heading out to determine the extent of damage in Mississippi after a line of storms moved across the South.

Glenn Flynn with the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency said in an email Friday morning that no deaths or serious injuries had been reported from the storms.

Officials had opened three emergency shelters in Forrest and Jones counties, but Flynn said only a few people were there early Friday.

The National Weather Service planned to check the Vicksburg area for evidence of a tornado. Forecaster Mike Edmunston said there had been at least two dozen water rescues in the Hattiesburg area.

Story continues

The storm dumped up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) of rain in Louisiana and Mississippi.

The storms were moving in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and western North Carolina on Friday.

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6:45 a.m.

A storm that dumped up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) of rain in Louisiana and Mississippi moved into Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and western North Carolina on Friday.

The National Weather Service posted flash flood watches and warnings for much of the South.

The storm system was blamed for a death in Louisiana earlier this week when a tree fell on a camper. Forecasters planned to check Friday on a possible tornado near Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Forecasters said up to 5 inches (13 centimeters) of rain were possible in northern Alabama and central and north Georgia. A flood warning was also issued for Asheville, North Carolina.

Water flooded more than a dozen homes in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana, and more than two dozen water rescues were reported in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, because of the rain.
Kano (Nigeria) (AFP) - Nigeria's Islamic State West Africa Province, a faction of Boko Haram affiliated to the Islamic State militant group, has intensified attacks against the army in the northeast of the country at an alarming rate, and the military appears to be struggling. Here are the principal reasons:

Better-armed jihadists

Fighters from the Islamic State-affiliated group, known by its acronym ISWAP, have managed to assemble a potent arsenal thanks to raids on military bases and capturing weapons in attacks, but also through arms smuggling from other African countries.

On December 27, the jihadists showed their force again during a brief takeover of Baga town: In just a few hours, the militants had routed around 500 soldiers from the multi-national MNJTF force comprising of soldiers from Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon.

As with many attacks, after the soldiers fled, the militants took advantage to captured weapons, ammunition and vehicles at the strategic base on the shores of Lake Chad.

"The truth of the matter is that Boko Haram are better equipped than soldiers which is why they keep attacking and forcing soldiers out of military bases," Sanda Kime, a pro-government militiaman in the Lake Chad region, told AFP.

"There is a paucity of arms and ammunitions for our fighting troops. It is a serious problem," said Amaechi Nwokolo, a security analyst with the Roman Institute of Security Studies in Abuja.

There are increasingly more voices from within the ranks of the military decrying the poor state of their equipment, such as bullet supplies that are incompatible with the army's standard rifles.

The increase in arms-trafficking in sub-Saharan African has also allowed ISWAP to acquire "more sophisticated" equipment, most notable from the Horn of Africa and the Middle East via Sudan, according to Yan St Pierre, a counter-terrorism expert with MOSECON, a Berlin-based security consultancy.

Story continues

Demoralised army

Nigeria's security situation has deteriorated rapidly in the last few years, forcing the army to deploy on numerous fronts in several parts of the country.

"The morale of troops is low. They have been pushed to breaking limit," said Abuja analyst Nwokolo.

In August, hundreds of soldiers invaded the runway of Maiduguri airport, in Borno state, firing their weapons in the air to express their exhaustion after four years on the frontline without much leave from the fight against jihadists to see their families.

The army managed to make important military progress against jihadists at the end of 2015 chasing the militants out of areas under their control but since then the fighters have adopted guerrilla tactics that are more complex to counter.

"The soldiers are fatigued. Sometimes they withdraw when Boko Haram attack their base after a brief encounter or without putting a fight at all," said one Nigerian security source who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to reporters.

Militant recruitment

In his New Year's message, Nigeria's Air Force Chief of Staff Marshal Sadique Abubakar said jihadists had added experienced IS foreign fighters to their ranks.

"In the fight against Boko Haram, we saw the emergence of new tactics as well as the introduction of highly experienced and skilled fighters and technology, as ISIS elements, dislodged from Syria, relocated to the North East of our country," he said.

Rumours about Boko Haram bringing foreign fighters into its ranks are not new, but in recent months several witnesses and experts have added weight to reports of such recruitment.

For security expert St Pierre, IS military defeats in Iraq and Syria, and the group's expansion in the Sahel region and the Sahara, has "considerably" improved the mobility of militant fighters in Africa.

The analyst said ISWAP has conducted an intensive recruitment campaign in Nigeria and in neighbouring countries such as Niger and Chad for six months, where its radical imams present the jihadist group as a "credible and legitimate" alternative to government.

On Christmas Eve, ISWAP militants stormed a military base in Kukareta, Yobe State in the northwest Nigeria, killing 17 soldiers. One local chief said the fighters were likely Chadians by their physical appearance and the language they spoke.

Militant change in strategy

One Boko Haram faction led by Abubakar Shekau used suicide bombings and mass horde attacks in assaults that nowadays seem like tactics from another era.

Boko Haram split into two -- Shekau's faction and the ISWAP -- in mid-2016 over ideological differences.

Shekau pledged allegiance to IS leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, but the IS group gave its formal backing only to ISWAP.

ISWAP disagreed with Shekau's indiscriminate use of violence against civilians and vowed to only hit "hard" military or government targets.

In 2016, Islamic State named a new local leader Abou Mussab al Barnaoui who looked to attract more support from the local population.

"ISWAP fighters have focussed on military bases and what they consider to be the symbols of oppression and government repression," security consultant St Pierre said.

As a result, civilians are often locked up in camps for displaced people in areas under tight army control, but a semblance of normal life has returned in areas under Islamist militant influence.

"Where the army ordered the markets shut down and supply lines cut, they have restructured trade" in fishing and farming, which are the principal sources of revenues for the region, the MOSECON consultant said.

The new strategy of winning support of local populations is much more dangerous than militant chief Shekau's old tactics in the face of the Nigeria's army's impotence, he said.
Pak Army 8 Medium Regiment Artillery Job 2019 in Lahore

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Note: Beware of Fraudulent Recruiting Activities. If the employer asks you to pay money for any purpose including processing to shortlisting, do not pay at all and report us using our contact us form. Apply as per instuctions & dates mentioned in official job ad. Govt jobs cannot be applied online here. Error & omissions excepted.
Cairo (AFP) - A policeman was killed while trying to dismantle an explosive device outside a Coptic church in Egypt on Saturday, a security source said.

Two other officers were also wounded in the explosion as security personnel attempted to defuse the device in Nasr City on the edge of Cairo, the source added.

It had been hidden inside a bag that was searched by police. The policeman who was killed, Mustafa Abid, was a specialist in mine clearance.

Coptic Christians, who account for around 10 percent of Egypt's population, have been targeted in a string of attacks by the Islamic State group in recent years.

The latest attack comes ahead of Christmas mass on Sunday when President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is due to inaugurate the Cathedral of Nativity in Egypt's New Administrative Capital, 45 kilometres (28 miles) east of Cairo.

Security has been reinforced in the capital in recent weeks ahead of Christmas, which Egypt's minority Coptic Christians will celebrate on January 7.

The country's leader since 2014, Sisi often presents himself as a defender of Christians against extremists.

But activists and some analysts accuse the state of discriminating against them and not providing enough protection.

More than 100 Copts have been killed in jihadist attacks since December 2016.

IS claimed an assault in early November which killed six Copts and one Anglican in the central province of Minya.

The police later said 19 suspected jihadists linked to the attack had been killed in a shootout.

IS also killed more than 40 people in twin church bombings in April 2017, and an IS gunman in December that year killed nine people in an attack on a church in a south Cairo suburb.

Hundreds of police and soldiers have also been killed in attacks, and last week three Vietnamese tourists and their Egyptian guide died when a homemade bomb exploded on their bus on the outskirts of Cairo.

The country has been under a state of emergency since April 2017.
HARBIN, China (Reuters) - Swimming enthusiast Yu Hongtao, 50, trained for months in the freezing water of the Songhua river to compete in a winter ice swimming tournament held annually in China's northern city of Harbin, known for its bitterly cold weather. "You have to start swimming from autumn so that the body can conquer the sudden icy impact on one's cardio-vascular system," said Yu, a Harbin resident. "The feeling of diving into the water is very cool." More than 300 men and women, wearing just ordinary trunks and swimsuits, on Saturday braved the bitter cold waters in the ice swimming meet, part of Harbin's annual winter festival, among the biggest in the northern hemisphere. Temperatures can plunge as low as 35 degrees Celsius below zero (minus 31 F) in the city in China's Heilongjiang province. The festival, which began on Saturday, has drawn millions of visitors from around the world every year since its inception in the early 1980s. Highlights include sled rides on the Songhua river, mass weddings, and towering sculptures of ice and snow carved by thousands of artists and workers. Visitors marvel at the mini ice replicas of the Colosseum and of the Milan Cathedral, particularly in the long evenings when soft, colored lights illuminate the sculptures. The festival also attracts hordes of domestic tourists. "The ice castles and sculptures made by workers are very impressive," said Lin Renlong, who was visiting with his girlfriend. "It's like Disneyland, Disneyland in winter," said the 22-year-old from the northern province of Hebei. (Reporting by Joyce Zhou and Ryan Woo; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
Thiruvananthapuram (India) (AFP) - Britain on Saturday warned tourists visiting the southern Indian state of Kerala after sporadic violence in recent days over the admission of women to one of Hinduism's holiest temples.

In updated travel advice, London advised UK nationals in Kerala, popular with tourists particularly at this time of year, to "monitor media reports closely, remain vigilant and avoid large public gatherings".

The Sabarimala temple has been at the centre of a prolonged showdown between traditionalists and authorities since September, when India's top court overturned a ban on women of menstruating age -- deemed as those aged 10 to 50 -- setting foot inside.

After several weeks of hardliners preventing women from accessing the hilltop temple, at times violently, earlier this week two women managed to sneak inside before dawn and become the first to worship there since the landmark ruling.

A third woman from Sri Lanka said she entered the temple on Thursday night but this was disputed by the temple authorities, who performed a "purification" ritual after the two other women made their way into the shrine.

The entry of the women has sparked days of clashes across Kerala involving enraged Hindu devotees, riot police using tear gas and water cannon, and activists from Kerala's leftist state government -- which supports the entry of women.

One man died and almost 300 people have been injured including more than 100 police officers and some 10 journalists, police say. More than 3,000 protesters have either been arrested or taken into preventive custody.

Police said Saturday that unidentified attackers hurled a homemade bomb at the home of a politician from the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and set ablaze the office the hardline Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) group.

Both are opposed to the court's order to allow women inside the temple.

No injuries were reported in the blast or the fire, police said.

Story continues

The fresh attacks came hours after unknown attackers bombed the house of a politician linked to the state's ruling Communist Party, which has vowed to implement the court order.

- Political violence -

Kerala has a history of political violence between Hindu and the left-leaning parties.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the Hindu nationalist BJP has joined calls by his party and the RSS for a statewide shutdown to protest the women's entrance.

Modi's party accuses the state government of backing "anti-religious" groups to violate Hindu traditions.

Hindu groups believe that women of menstruating age should not enter the temple because they are "impure" and the temple deity, Ayyappa, was celibate.

The Communist Party has accused the BJP and RSS of inciting violence in the state.

Women are barred from a handful of Hindu temples in India, including Sabarimala, where it was considered a taboo for centuries before the ban was given legal force by Kerala High Court in 1991.

But the Supreme Court in a landmark judgement in September overturned the Kerala court's ruling after six women lawyers petitioned it in 2006, challenging a ban they said violated their fundamental rights.
Rio de Janeiro (AFP) - A special deployment of Brazilian troops began fanning out in the northern city of Fortaleza Saturday with orders to stop a spike in violent attacks by criminal gangs against banks, buses and shops, officials said.

By the end of the weekend, 300 soldiers will be patrolling that city and other towns in Ceara state in a bid to halt the rampage, national public security secretary Guilherme Teophilo said, according to government news agency Agencia Brasil.

The intervention is the first test of new President Jair Bolsonaro's strict law-and-order platform since he took office last Tuesday.

His justice minister ordered the deployment after concluding that Ceara police were overwhelmed. Some 50 suspects have been arrested.

The gangs terrorizing Fortaleza could be seen torching service stations in security videos aired by Brazilian media. Dozens of attacks have been registered this week, forcing residents to stay at home and leaving main roads deserted.

In one attack, explosives badly damaged a pillar supporting a flyover road in the town of Caucaia, just to the west of Fortaleza.

The triggers for the wave of violence were being investigated, but intelligence reports published by media suggested gangs were revolting against tough new measures recently imposed in the state's prisons.

The changes include blocks on cellphone signals and an end to a policy of separating inmates according to gang affiliation.

Two gangs have set aside their rivalry to join forces against the government, the G1 news website reported, citing security officials.

Bolsonaro has vowed to crack down on Brazil's rampant crime by extending immunity to soldiers and police using lethal force and easing gun laws so "good" citizens can challenge armed criminals.

The far-right president, a 63-year-old former paratrooper, has made "restoring order" a centerpiece of his four-year mandate.

- 'Rapid and effective' -

Story continues

Much of that task falls to his justice minister, Sergio Moro, a former star judge who headed up Operation Car Wash, an investigation into Brazil's biggest-ever corruption scandal.

Bolsonaro on Friday praised Moro's decision to send in troops as "apt, rapid and effective."

Ceara's governor belongs to the leftwing Workers Party which was driven into opposition by the election of Bolsonaro and his ultraconservative allies.

Brazil has the third biggest prison population in the world, behind the United States and China, with nearly 730,000 inmates as of 2016. Penitentiaries are overcrowded and prey to gangs that often viciously turn on each other.

The three gangs active in Ceara are the Red Command (CV by its initials in Portuguese) that grew out of organized criminal activity in Rio de Janeiro, the First Command of the Capital (PCC) based in Sao Paulo, and a group called the Guardians of the State (GDE).

Of those, the CV and the PCC are said to have sealed a "non-aggression" pact against each other in Ceara to focus against the government forces.

The 300 troops sent to reinforce state security forces will have a big task. Nearly 80 attacks have been reported in towns across Ceara state this week. The Brazilian state is larger than Costa Rica or Croatia.
Asian Markets Fall On Apple Downgrade

Markets in Asia were down across the board following a guidance update from tech giant Apple. The companys CEO Tim Cook says 4th quarter revenue is going to fall short of previous guidance by more than 6% as weak sales of iPhones and slowing in China weighs on outlook. The news, not surprising given the weakness in economic data over the past month, was not well received by the market. Shares of Apple fell nearly -9.0% in the US after-hours session.

Losses in the region were minimal compared to what is happening in other markets. The Korean Kospi fell hardest, shedding -0.81%, as it is most exposed to Apples supply chain. The Nikkie posted the next largest decline, about -0.30%, while the Heng Seng and Shang Hai Composites fell -0.26% and -0.04% respectively.

Australia was the one market to buck the trend in tech as it is more heavily exposed to resources, energy, and materials. The ASX was able to post a gain near 1.25% on strength in energy fueled by Wednesdays rally in oil.

Europe Dragged Lower By Apple Supply Chain

Indices in the EU were hit much harder by Apples profit warning falling more than -1.0% in most cases. The German DAX led the way with a loss of -1.25% at midday, followed by a -1.15% decline in the CAC and a more modest -0.36% decline in the UK FTSE.

Tech led the declines in Europe as traders flee the Apple-trade. Suppliers from chip-makers to components suppliers and assemblers fell hard on the Apple downgrade. Shares of Austrian chip-maker AMS fell the hardest, down nearly -20% in early trading, with shares of STMicroelectronics and others down around -10%.

In the UK markets were buoyed by better than expected holiday sales from retailer Next. Next reports stronger than expected comp sales, stronger than expected online sales, and stronger than expected net revenue for the holiday period and sent shares up about 5.0%. On the Brexit-front, a German policymaker says the Brexit poses an element of economic risk but it wont have too much impact on German activity.

Story continues

US Equities Resume Slide, No End To Government Shutdown In Sight

US equities were indicated to open lower in Thursday trading as Apple woe and fear of Chinas slowing economy and growing economic troubles weigh on sentiment. Traders should expect to see tech lead the market lower in Thursday trading.

In governmental news, the Democrats had been prepared to submit two plans for funding the government without giving money to Trumps wall but no deal has been reached. President Trump has doubled-down on his pledge to keep the government closed until wall funding is secured.

The indices were looking at losses near -2.0% in the earliest hours of the pre-open session but those losses were lessened after the release of key employment data. The ADP employment report shows the US economy added more than 270,000 new jobs in the last month, more than 100K above expectations. The news is contradictory to evidence of slowing global economics and points to ongoing strength in US business activity. The next major market-moving data is due out tomorrow, the NFP and unemployment figures.

This article was originally posted on FX Empire

More From FXEMPIRE:
The sister of a 14-year-old boy who was killed in a fiery collision involving a church van on its way to Disney World says that her brother was so excited to go on the trip.

Jeremiah Warren, of Marksville, Louisiana, was in the eighth grade, went to church to participate in their youth group three times a week and was a child of God, says his sister, Kayla Warren.

It was his first time going to Disney, Kayla tells PEOPLE. He never got to go on vacation. He grew up in a single-parent home.

Jeremiah was one of seven people who were killed on Thursday afternoon after two semi-trucks and two passenger vehicles  a passenger van and a mid-size sedan  were involved in the deadly wreck on 1-75 in Florida. The collision caused nearly 50 gallons of diesel fuel to catch fire.

Of the seven people killed, five were children who ranged in age from 9 to 14-years-old, the Florida Highway Patrol confirmed on Friday.

A fundraising page has been created to help raise money for the victims and their families.

RELATED: 5 Children Killed in Church Van Crash on Way to Disney Saved Their Money to Make Trip, Says Friend

Kayla remembers her younger brother as a very quiet and to himself kind of person who loved to dance and had aspirations to become a lawyer.

The siblings younger sister  who is 9 years old  wanted to go on the trip with her older brother, but all children under the age of 10 needed to be accompanied by a chaperon, and the childrens father, Michael Warren, couldnt attend. Kayla says Michael is now in Florida.

Im thankful that she didnt go, says Kayla, but its so terrible that we lost him.

She added: Were at a loss for words. Were heartbroken and devastated.

Candice Lemoine, a friend of the family, tells PEOPLE: Its just tragic when the kids saved their money to make this special trip and never made it there.

She added that several organizations have come forward to help pay for everything from caskets to medical bills. Lemoine knew two of the children who died in the crash, including 14-year-old Jeremiah.

Story continues

On Friday afternoon, the United Pentecostal Church organization spoke on behalf of the Avoyelles House of Mercy in Marksville about the crash.

In a Facebook post, they confirmed that Sister Karen Descant, who is the wife of the churchs pastor, Eric Descant, and two other women were injured in the crash.

Sister Karen Descant has seven broken ribs, a broken collarbone, multiple bruises, cuts, etc. Pastor Descants words were, She is pretty banged up. One of the ladies is pregnant and pretty banged up, but doctors have been able to keep her and her unborn baby stabilized. The other lady is not as severely injured, but is still in the hospital. The four children all have injuries, but the medical staff feel that all of them will heal and recover.

Although Lemoine wasnt a member of the church, she says that the churchs youth members raised money for the trip as a little treat while the kids were out of school.

On Thursday afternoon, one of the semi-trucks that was traveling northbound on the highway collided with a passenger vehicle, sending both vehicles through the guardrail and into the southbound lanes. The vehicles then collided with the church van and another semi-truck.

A helicopter helped search for victims who may have been in nearby woods after being ejected from the van, which overturned in the collision. Both semi-trucks caught on fire.
On her first full day on the Iowa campaign trail, presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren could not escape the issue that has haunted her since President Donald Trump gave her the racist nickname Pocahontas  her decision to take a DNA test in an attempt to prove her Native American ancestry.

At a rally in Sioux City, a questioner asked Warren, Senator Warren  Why did you undergo the DNA testing and give Donald Trump more fodder to be a bully?

Related Video: Trump Takes Jab At Elizabeth Warren's Native American Heritage

Trump has frequently ridiculed Warren for taking the test and most recently tweeted out a fake bumper sticker mocking Warrens claims of American Indian heritage.

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I am not a person of color, Warren responded. I am not a citizen of a tribe. Tribal citizenship is very different from ancestry. Tribes  and only tribes  determine tribal citizenship, and I respect that difference.

Speaking about why she chose to take the test, which drew criticism from Native Americans, Warren said she was acting in the interest of transparency. A lot of racial slurs and a lot of ugly stuff, and my decision was Im just going to put it all out there. All my hiring records. Including the DNA test. Its out there. Its online. Anybody can look at it, she said.

As for whether her actions emboldened Trump, Warren said, I cant stop Donald Trump from what hes going to do. I cant stop him from hurling racial insults. I dont have the power to do that.

The candidate then turned the conversation to the crux of her campaign message: What I can do is I can be in this fight for all of our families. What I think 2020 is going to be about is not my family, its about the tens of millions of families across this country who just want a level playing field.
Former governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose has asked Amina Zakari, a commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Zakaris appointment as head of collation centres for the 2019 general elections, stirred heavy criticisms from Nigerians, over allegations that she is a niece to president Muhammadu Buhari.

According to Fayose, Zakari should reject the position because many Nigerians are thinking that there is real likelihood of her being bias.

The former governor made this known while speaking via Twitter on Saturday. Fayose said she should reject the position especially because she isnt the only INEC Commissioner.

He wrote:

Even if Amina Zakari can be as impartial as she can be, nevertheless, now that Nigerians are thinking that there is real likelihood of her being bias, she should excuse herself. More so that she is not the only national commissioner in INEC.
Clarksburg, WV (26301)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 57F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 57F. Winds light and variable.
Morgantown, WV (26505)

Today

A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 57F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 57F. Winds light and variable.
Senator Shehu Sani representing Kaduna Central, has warned Kadi Kaduna state governors wife to stop talking about his afro.

The senator said that the Governor Nasir el-Rufais wife was found of talking about his hair, wherever she goes for campaign.

It will be recalled that the lawmaker, was in the same party, All Progressives Congress, APC, with the Governor until things went sour between them, that led to his exclusion of his name from the partys list of candidates for senate  And eventually led to him, leaving the APC.

In a tweet in Saturday, the lawmaker threatened to report Mrs el-Rufai to Dr Gummi or Council of Imams if she doesnt stop.

He wrote:

I appeal to Mr Governor to caution his wife to stop talking about my hair everywhere she goes on campaigns. Everywhere she goes its all about my hair.

Its not my fault if her man is not blessed with hair.

I consider it as hate speech. I will report her to Dr Gummi or Council of Imams if she doesnt stop. Haba Jammaa.
Vanguard

Emotion betrayed many while tears flowed freely in Oju when the eight members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who died in a ghastly motor accident last Friday, on their way to the Benue south senatorial campaign flag-off in Agatu were laid to rest.

Thisday

The Katsina State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Salisu Yusuf Majigiri, yesterday, accused the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC) government in the state of spending billions of naira without securing the lives and property of the citizenry.

The Sun

Factional leader of Afenifere, a pan-Yoruba group, which has made known its support for President Muhammadu Buharis re-election bid, Akin Fasae, has said that their support for the President is a matter of principle and a way to repay him for his admirable performance in office.

Daily Trust

Nuruddeen Nyako is the governorship candidate of Green Party of Nigeria (GPN) in Adamawa State

The Nation

Two persons have been reportedly killed and property worth millions of naira destroyed following an outbreak of violence in Kornya , Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State.

Tribune

Members of the 8th Senate have agreed to put aside their differences and work in harmony for the progress of Nigeria, former Majority Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, (APC-Borno South), has said.

Leadership

New studies have foundthat medwakh and shisha tobacco contain more nickel, chromium, copper and zinc than cigarettes which causes cancer.
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For more suggestions of new books being released in 2019, ask our staff at the Kanawha County Public Library and well help you find a new book to add to your To Be Read stack.
On Wednesday, the New York Times published a lengthy front-page article alleging that Bernie Sanders 2016 campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination was rife with sexism and discrimination against female campaign staffers. The article, headlined For Bernie Sanders, Claims of Sexism in 2016 Campaign Hang Over 2020 Bid, has all the earmarks of a politically motivated fabrication.

It is an amalgam of vague and unsubstantiated accusations, none of them alleging sexual assault or any other form of criminal behavior. For the most part, the actions described are at worst boorish. The accused who are named all deny the charges, making it impossible for the reader to determine the truth of the allegations.

Timed to coincide with the opening of the campaign for the 2020 Democratic nomination, the article represents an effort by the Times, which speaks for the dominant factions of the Democratic Party and the forces on Wall Street and in the military/intelligence establishment with which the Democrats are allied, to torpedo a potential presidential run by the Vermont senator. With this piece of yellow journalism, the Times is employing the methods it has honed in spearheading the right-wing #MeToo sex witch hunt for the purpose of manipulating the 2020 election campaign in accordance with its reactionary political agenda.

The World Socialist Web Site gives no political support to Sanders, a fake socialist demagogue whose activities are devoted to channeling working-class opposition to social inequality and war back behind the Democratic Party. However, the Times article is an attack on Sanders from the right. It is motivated by fear of the growth of working-class struggles and the development of class-conscious opposition to the entire political establishment and capitalism.

In the 2016 election, Sanders won mass support by presenting himself as a socialist and basing his primary campaign on an appeal to class issueswages, jobs and hatred of the corporate-financial oligarchy. While Sanders' aim from the start was to serve as a lightning rod for growing anti-capitalist sentiment and prevent it from breaking free of the two-party system, summed up by his endorsement of the favored candidate of Wall Street and the CIA, Hillary Clinton, the ruling class was shocked and horrified by the scale of Sanders' popular support, as was Sanders himself.

Under conditions today of a convergence of economic and geopolitical crises and the greatest crisis of class rule in the US since the Civil Warand amidst a resurgence of the class struggle in the United States and internationallythe Times is determined to banish anything from the 2020 campaign that might arouse the seething anger of workers and young people. It wants the next Democratic campaign, like the last, to be dominated by the politics of gender, race and sexnot class. In this it reflects the concerns that dominate the right-wing, affluent, upper-middle-class layers that constitute its broader constituency beyond the corporate oligarchy and the military/intelligence apparatus.

Hence the attack on Sanders, utilizing the witch-hunting methods of #MeToo that have been employed against dozens of film and television celebrities, actors, artists, musicians and politicians.

The article follows a by now familiar pattern. It begins by citing one specific incidentthe only concrete example of sexual misconduct in the entire piecearound which it attempts to construct a picture of pervasive sexual harassment and discrimination.

It cites an interview with the Times in which Giulianna Di Lauro, a Latino outreach strategist for the Sanders campaign, relates that a campaign surrogate for Sanders harassed her while the two were driving to events ahead of the Nevada Democratic primary in February 2016. The surrogate asked to touch her hair, the newspaper reports. She consented, but she said he ran his hand through her hair in a sexual way and continued to grab, touch and push my boundaries for the rest of the day.

Di Lauro complains that a manager on the Latino outreach team laughed off the incident when she reported it to him and did nothing about it, a charge the manager denies. Her own politics are indicated by a post on her Facebook page in which she refers to the much-publicized White House meeting of Democratic congressional leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer with Trump last month and calls it infuriating that Trump spoke over Pelosi but let Shumer [sic] speak.

The Times then writes that Accounts like Ms. Di Laurosdescribing such incidents as well as pay disparity in Sanders 2016 campaignhave circulated in recent weeks in emails, online comments and private discussions among former supporters. This indicates that the newspaper has been compiling such stories and preparing to publish its anti-Sanders hit piece for some time.

Sanders perceived failure to address this issue has damaged his progressive bona fides, delegates and nearly a dozen former state and national staff members said in interviews over the last month, the article asserts, adding, And it has raised questions among them about whether he can adequately fight for the interests of women, who have increasingly defined the Democratic Party in the Trump era, if he runs for the presidential nomination in 2020.

Only three other former Sanders campaign staffers who claim to have been mistreated are named in the article, but virtually no specifics are given about the harassment or sexism they claim to have endured. One of them cites as sexual harassment having to stay in a run-down house in Chicago in March 2016 and being told to sleep in a room with three men she did not know.

The article makes clear that the Times is extending the #MeToo campaign to the 2020 election campaign. It states: Allegations of sexism surfaced during Mr. Sanders campaign in 2016, when many of his male fans were derogatorily dubbed [by whom?] Bernie Bros for their aggressive online attacks against female reporters and supporters of Hillary Clinton. But they did not overshadow the electrifying nature of his insurgent challenge.

Circumstances have changed since then. Mr. Sanders is no longer an outsider, but an established leader who will be held to a higher standard. And regarding the treatment of women, he must now grapple with the effects of the #MeToo movement.

Indeed, the Democratic Party and the Times laid the groundwork for the #MeToo campaign and its extension to the 2020 elections during the 2016 presidential campaign, when they repeatedly sought to inject identity politics issues into the Democratic primaries in order to change the subject from the issues of social inequality being raised with such dramatic effect by Sanders.

Thus, in mid-May, when Sanders was attracting tens of thousands of mostly young people to his rallies and defeating Clinton in the Democratic primaries in Michigan and Indiana, the Obama administration issued an executive order requiring all public school districts in the country to permit transgender students to use the bathrooms of their choice. The Times immediately seized on this issuea serious democratic question but one far overshadowed by the growing danger of world war and the brutal social conditions affecting hundreds of millions of working peopleand sought to present it as the single most critical issue of the day.

The following month, after Clinton won the California primary and declared herself the Democratic nominee, the Times devoted issue after issue and page after page to promoting the right-wing campaign against the judge who sentenced the Stanford student convicted of sexual assault, Brock Turner, to only six months in prison. In an extraordinary and entirely inappropriate intervention by the White House into the judicial process, Vice President Joe Biden publicly solidarized himself with the victim and the campaign to punish the judge and impose a harsher sentence against Turner.

And throughout the campaign, Clinton and the Times promoted the pro-Democratic Party, racialist Black Lives Matter group as a counterweight to Sanders' rhetoric against the billionaire class.

For their part, the Sanders organization and the senator himself issued ignominious apologies in response to the Times hit piece, once again exposing the fraud of their socialist and antiestablishment pretensions.

Jeff Weaver, Sanders 2016 campaign manager and current top adviser, told the Times: Was it [Sanders 2016 campaign] too male? Yes. Was it too white? Yes. Would this be a priority to remedy on any future campaign? Definitely, and we share deeply in the urgency for all of us to make change.

Sanders, interviewed Wednesday evening on CNN, told moderator Anderson Cooper: I'm not going to sit here and tell you that we did everything right in terms of human resources, in terms of addressing the needs that I'm hearing from now that women felt disrespected, that there was sexual harassment which was not dealt with as effectively as possible So I certainly apologize to any woman who felt that she was not treated appropriately. And, of course, if I run, we will do better next time.
In a significant legal victory for Mumia Abu-Jamal, a ruling by a Pennsylvania Superior Court judge on December 27 gives the long-imprisoned activist and journalist a new chance to appeal his 1982 conviction for the murder of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner. Abu-Jamal, a former Black Panther who spent nearly 30 years on death row before prosecutors agreed in 2011 to a sentence of life imprisonment without parole, has steadfastly maintained his innocence.

Justice Leon Tucker issued a 37-page opinion last week that concluded, as reported by the Associated Press, that former Justice Ronald Castille of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court should have recused himself from a 2012 appeal rejecting Abu-Jamals final appeal. Tucker, pointing to numerous statements made by Castille when he was Philadelphia District Attorney between 1986 and 1991, advocating the death penalty in cases of killing of police officers, cited the appearance of bias.

At the same time, however, Tucker rejected other arguments presented by Abu-Jamals attorneysthat Castille had played a significant role, when he was DA, in the appeal of the original conviction, before going on to rule on the appeal as a judge.

Castille had received campaign contributions from the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), which had loudly dismissed all claims that the defendant had not received a fair trial and had pushed for Abu-Jamals execution. Tucker relied on a US Supreme Court ruling in 2016 that Castille should have recused himself in a similar case. It was this decision that spurred the latest effort by Abu-Jamals attorneys. Tucker, in his opinion, said Abu-Jamal should be given another chance to argue his innocence in front of the states high court, now that Castille is no longer a sitting judge.

Abu-Jamal, now 63 years old, has spent well over half his life behind bars after his conviction and sentencing in the 37-year-old case, which Amnesty International, among numerous other advocates and observers, has charged was tainted by unfairness and racial bias.

A national and international campaign has been waged on behalf of Abu-Jamal, who became a focus of attention and opposition to the outrages that characterize the criminal justice system in the US, especially in the application of the death penalty. It was reinstated in 1976, part of the rapid shift to the right by the political and judicial authorities after the labor, civil rights and antiwar struggles of the 1960s and the defeat of US imperialism in Vietnam.

The original trial of Abu-Jamal took place in the early years of the Reagan administration, amid a law-and-order frenzy that would soon lead to the highest rate of mass incarceration in the world. Defense attorneys have brought forward evidence of many instances of flagrant misconduct in Abu-Jamals case, including an affidavit of a court stenographer that the trial judge in the case, Albert Sabo, had declared, Yeah, Im going to help em fry the nigger. Sabo presided over a trial in which important eyewitness testimony was excluded, confessions were fabricated, and the defendant himself was excluded from most trial proceedings.

It was not until 2008 that Abu-Jamals original death sentence was thrown out, with an appeals court ruling that found that jury instructions in 1982 had been fundamentally flawed. Abu-Jamal remained on death row, however, after the US Supreme Court overturned the appeals court in 2010. Amidst continuing litigation, prosecutors finally agreed to reduce the penalty to the life sentence several years later.

During his long stretch of imprisonment, Abu-Jamal has continued to write as well as to speak on Prison Radio. He attracted attention with his 1995 book Live From Death Row. His latest book was published in 2017 and has a foreword by well-known journalist Chris Hedges.

Abu-Jamal has also suffered from severe health problems, exacerbated by neglect and inadequate treatment in prison. A recent Democracy Now radio program reported that he was diagnosed with hepatitis C and had obtained the necessary treatment only after a successful lawsuit.

The police union, prominently assisted by Maureen Faulkner, the widow of the slain officer, has kept up a vitriolic campaign against Abu-Jamal, and has received bipartisan support in this campaign from the political establishment in Pennsylvania. In 2014 the state legislature went so far as to pass a revictimization law, in response to a recorded commencement speech that Abu-Jamal had delivered at a Vermont college. The bill forbade prisoners, even in some cases those not yet convicted, from speaking or acting in ways that would re-traumatize victims of crimes. A state judge threw out the law in 2015 as manifestly unconstitutional.

Civil rights lawyer David Rudovsky, who worked on an early Abu-Jamal appeal, was quoted by the Associated Press on various elements of the Abu-Jamal case that point to ongoing police and prosecutorial wrongdoing and discrimination.

The race bias, the judicial bias, the questions of identification and prosecutorial commentary or misconductwere still struggling with them, said Rudovsky, a University of Pennsylvania law professor.

Abu-Jamals attorneys have 30 days within which to file a notice of appeal to reargue his original conviction before the states highest court. At the same time, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner must make a decision on whether to appeal Judge Tuckers decision. Krasner was elected in 2017 as a liberal, promising various criminal justice reforms. He has stopped requiring cash bail for most misdemeanors and nonviolent felony charges.
Netflixs six-episode documentary, The Innocent Man, is based on bestselling novelist John Grishams only non-fiction effort, The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town, published in 2006. The series, released in December, is directed (and co-created) by Clay Tweel, with Grisham serving as an executive producer.

In the early 1980s, two young women were murdered in the small town of Ada, Oklahoma. In the midst of the Reagan-era law-and-order hysteria, four men were railroaded into prison for the killings. The new miniseries blends interviews with the families of the victims and those of the wrongfully incarcerated men, as well as presenting damning archival footage and testimony from legal experts. Grisham is also one of the central commentators. If I wrote The Innocent Man as a novel, fiction, folks probably wouldnt believe it, he tells the camera.

Grishams book opens with a brief portrait of the town: There are rigs scattered through the farmland around Ada, an old oil town of sixteen thousand [now 17,000] with a college and a county courthouse. The rigs are idle, thoughthe oil is gone. Money is now made in Ada by the hour in factories and feed mills and on pecan farms.

With sixteen thousand people, Ada is considered large for rural Oklahoma, and it attracts factories and discount stores. Workers and shoppers make the drive from several counties. It is eighty miles south and east of Oklahoma City, and three hours north of Dallas.

The miniseries opens with the brutal December 1982 murder of 21-year-old Debbie Carter. Two years later, 24-year-old Denice Haraway was abducted from the convenience store where she worked and later killed. Investigating police officer Dennis Smith, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) agent Gary Rogers and District Attorney Bill Peterson are the key figures in both cases.

In each incident, two men were arrested and convicted of the crime. The pair found guilty of Debbies killing, Ron Williamson and Dennis Fritz, have since been exonerated by DNA evidence. However, Tommy Ward and Karl Fontenot, convicted of Denices murder, remain in prison, despite overwhelming evidence suggesting they are innocent.

Defense attorneys and legal experts compile a chilling picture of how either prosecutors or law enforcement officials, or both, withheld a large quantity of exculpatory evidence, including Williamsons mothers journal that provided an alibi for her son on the night of Debbies slaying.

In Wards case, attorney Cheryl Pilate and private investigator Dan Clark were obliged to hunt through 60 boxes of documents. Throughout this case, we see a persistent pattern where exculpatory evidence is hidden, buried, concealed, and not turned over to the prosecutor and, therefore, had not been turned over to the defense in the case, asserts Pilate.

Out of the more than 800 pages of evidence, Wards attorneys only received 146, a clear constitutional violation. Furthermore, a career criminal, Terri Holland, was a snitch for the prosecutor in both cases. In one moving scene, Hollands ex-husband and son describe how women like Terri are compelled to have sex with the local authorities, becoming pawns to be used at will.

In Ada, if youre poor, youre nothing, a group of Ada residents tell the camera, describing how police treat impoverished people like Tommy Ward. For the record, all the crime and frame-up victims in this case are white.

False confessions expert Richard Leo adamantly contends that the confessions of Ward and Fontenot were coerced. He points to evidence of the suspects being fed lines and rehearsing a script. Both confessions ran counter to the forensic evidence.

After 12 years behind bars, Dennis Fritz contacted the Innocence Project, a non-profit group dedicated to clearing wrongfully convicted prisoners through DNA evidence (Grisham is a member of the organizations board of directors). In 1999, Fritz and Williamson were cleared of the homicide charges.

Upon release, in an emotional scene, Fritz hugs his daughter, Elizabeth, who earlier in the series recounted how her mother was shot and killed by the nephew of the familys landlord (after the nephew had been chastised for inappropriately touching toddler Elizabeth).

Williamson shockingly tells reporters he had once been five days away from being executed. Untreated in prison for serious mental illness, Williamson was so damaged that he tragically drank himself to death a few years after being freed.

Writes Grisham: Oklahoma is very serious about its death penalty. When the U.S. Supreme Court approved the resumption of executions in 1976, the Oklahoma state legislature rushed into a special session for the sole purpose of enacting death penalty statutes. The following year, the lawmakers debated the innovative idea of death by lethal injection, as opposed to going back to Old Sparky, the states dependable electric chair. The rationale was that chemicals were more merciful; thus, less likely to attract constitutional attacks of cruel and inhuman punishment; thus, more likely to speed along executions.

Thirteen long years passed without an execution. Finally, in 1990, the waiting ended, and the death chamber was used once again. Once the dam broke, the flood came. Since 1990, Oklahoma has executed more convicts on a per capita basis than any other state. No place, not even Texas, comes close.

In his notes at the end of his book, Grisham writes: The journey also exposed me to the world of wrongful convictions, something that I, even as a former lawyer, had never spent much time thinking about. This is not a problem peculiar to Oklahoma, far from it. Wrongful convictions occur every month in every state in this country, and the reasons are all varied and all the samebad police work, junk science, faulty eyewitness identifications, bad defense lawyers, lazy prosecutors, arrogant prosecutors

Tommy Ward and Karl Fontenot are now serving life terms. Tommy might one day be eligible for parole, but, through a procedural quirk, Karl will never be. They cannot be saved by DNA because there is no biological evidence. The killer or killers of Denice Haraway will never be found, not by the police anyway.

Since 1989, according to the National Registry of Exonerations, some 20,645 years have been lost in the lives of the 2,363 people exonerated, a staggering destruction of life.

Overall, The Innocent Man presents a damning indictment of the judicial system in rural towns like Ada, quasi-dictatorial set-ups where the police and authorities run roughshod over democratic rights. The population is at the mercy of backward, reactionary forcesfilthy representatives of the American capitalist order.
Tens of millions of workers are expected to participate in a two-day, India-wide protest strike next Tuesday and Wednesday (January 8 and 9), to voice their opposition to the pro-investor reforms of the Hindu supremacist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government, and to demand an increase in the minimum wage, and job-creation measures.

Led by Narendra Modi, the four-and-a-half year-old BJP government has promoted communal reaction, expanded Indias military-strategic alliance with US imperialism, and intensified the ruling class drive to make India a cheap-labor haven for global capitalism. This has included: measures that promote the further casualization of the workforce and gut work and environmental standards; a fire sale of government-owned infrastructure and other Public Sector Units or businesses; cuts to the minimal benefits provided workers such as provident funds; and brutal social spending cuts and tax changes aimed at placing the burden of the governments fiscal crisis on working people, while maintaining ultra-low tax rates for big business and the rich.

Broad and diverse sections of the working class are expected to participate in the January 8-9 protest strike, including longshoremen, coal miners, central government workers, bank employees, and in some cities and towns, auto-rickshaw drivers and beedi-makers.

There is, however, a fundamental dichotomy between the aspirations and interests of the workers and youth who will join next weeks general strike, and the cynical and reactionary political aims of the trade unions and political parties that have called or are backing it. The latter are sponsoring next weeks action not to further the independent political mobilization of the working class against the hated BJP government and the Indian bourgeoisie, but to suppress it.

The strike call was initiated by Indias central trade union federations at a National Convention of Workers last September, with only the BJP-aligned Bharatiya Mazadoor Sangh (BMS) standing apart. It has since been endorsed by numerous individual unions. But the political perspective that underlies the protest strike and its call for the Indian bourgeoisie to adopt pro-people policies has been provided by the principal Stalinist parliamentary parties, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the smaller, older Communist Party of India (CPI), and their respective union affiliates, the Center of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC).

The Stalinists have functioned as an integral part of Indias political establishment for decades. From 1991 through 2008 they propped up a succession of Indian governments, most of them led by the Congress Partythe Indian bourgeoisies traditional governing partythat implemented neo-liberal reform and pursued close ties with Washington. In those states where they have formed the government, West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura, the Stalinists have enacted what they themselves describe as pro-investor policies, while dismissing socialism, to use the words of the longtime Communist Party of India (Marxist) Chief Minister of West Bengal Jyoti Basu, as a far off cry.

For the Stalinists, next weeks protest is a political maneuver aimed at containing mounting social opposition within the working class and rural poor, and diverting it behind the push of sections of the bourgeoisie to bring to power an alternate rightwing government following the April-May general election.

As they have for the past three decades, the Stalinists point to the crimes of the BJP and its Hindu right allies not to indict Indian capitalism and alert the working class to the ruling class embrace of reaction and the malignancy of Indian democracy; but rather as a phony justification for their systematic subordination of the working class to the Congress and a host of rightwing regional and caste-based parties.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPM, the CITU, the smaller parties that participate in the CPM-led Left Front, and their various union affiliates are all promoting the general strike as a means of building the popular unity needed to oust the BJP in the coming elections.

That the Stalinists view next weeks strike as part of their campaign to ensure the defeat of the BJP at the polls and the forming of an alternative government, most likely Congress-led, is spelled out in black and white in the editorial of the December 30 issue of the CPMs English-language weekly, Peoples Democracy. Headlined 2019: Big Battle Ahead, the editorial hails the recent defeat of the BJP at the hands of the Congress Party in state elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, adding that a protest movement among farmers that was politically led by the CPM helped to channelise the popular discontent against the BJP. It goes on to argue next weeks protest strike must play a like role. As we enter the new year, declares Peoples Democracy, all efforts must be directed towards building a strong unity of the people to fight the BJP and to defeat the Modi government. The two-day general strike call by the Central Trade Unions on January 8-9, 2019 will be an important step in this direction.

The strike is being organized in close cooperation with the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), the trade union affiliate of the big business Congress Party, and the Labour Progressive Front, the trade union of the DMK, a rightwing regional party based in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. The DMK has previously participated in BJP-led governments. Today, however, it is one of the most important and closest allies of the Congress Party.

The Stalinists are also seeking to use next weeks protest strike to burnish their much tattered leftist credentials. As a result of their rightwing policies, electoral support for the CPM and CPI has hemorrhaged over the last decade. The Left Front, which was the third largest force in parliament as recently as 2009, now holds less than a dozen seats. By demonstrating to the bourgeoisie their utility in taming and dissipating social opposition, the Stalinists hope to regain political influence within the establishment.

As around the world, the recent period has been marked by the growth of working class opposition, including strikes by auto workers in Tamil Nadu and transport workers in Delhi and Haryana. There has also been a wave of popular protests against agrarian distress and environmental devastation. In May, police savagely suppressed a demonstration against the Sterlite copper smelter in Tuticorin, shooting down 13 protesters in cold blood.

These struggles are being fueled not only by opposition to the BJP government but to the social devastation wrought by three decades of Indias new economic policythe unbridled free market agenda that the Indian bourgeoisie adopted following the shipwreck of its post-independence state-led capitalist development project.

While the number of Indian billionaires has soared from 2 in the mid-1990s to some 130 today, giving it the fourth largest total in the world, 70 percent of Indias 1.3 billion people eke out their existence on less than $2 per day. When canvassing for foreign investments, Modi boasts that wages in India are no more than a quarter of those in China. According to a recent report, 46 million Indian children are stunted due to malnutrition and a further 25 million are wasted. In pursuit of the Indian bourgeoisies great power ambitions, India now has the fourth largest military budget in the world, even as it spends a miniscule 1.15 percent of GDP on health care and 2.7 percent on education.

Needless to say, the Congress Party, which did much of the heavy-lifting in implementing the policies that have produced this social catastrophe, recognizes that any protest strike under the political control of the Stalinists and the pro-capitalist unions, including its own INTUC, is harmless.

According to INTUC President and former Congress parliamentarian G. Sanjeeva Reddy, Rahul Gandhi, the dynastic heir to the Congress party leadership, has extended wholehearted support for the strike. Shamelessly exploiting the political cover and support the Stalinists are providing the INTUC and thereby its master, the Congress Party, Reddy went on to stump for votes: We will ask workers to elect a progressive government at the Center, which will address the problems of workers.

The unbridgeable class gulf between the tens millions of workers and young people who will join next weeks strike and the organizations sponsoring it is exemplified by the striking contract between the unions total silence on the frame-up of the Maruti Suzuki workers and the vehemence with which they are demanding the revival of dialogue with the government and the tripartite (union-state-big business) Indian Labour Conference (ILC).

Nowhere in the strike demands or propaganda does the fight for the freedom of the 13 Maruti Suzuki workers figure. Yet these workers have been jailed for life on frame-up charges for leading resistance to contract labour and sweatshop working conditions.

On the other hand, the unions, with the Stalinist CITU and AITUC leading the chorus, are adamant that the INTUC be restored to its traditional place on various corporatist bodies and that the BJP government call the ILC into session for the first time since 2015.
The bodies of 15 workers have remain trapped inside an illegal rat-hole coal mine at Ksan village in the northeastern Indian state of Meghalaya since water from the nearby Lytein River gushed into the 370-foot-deep mine on December 13.

While such mining is officially banned in Meghalaya state it continues because coal seams are close to the surface in this part of India. The mining involves clearing ground vegetation and digging down to find a coal seam. Horizontal shafts are then created that follow the seam. These shafts are so small that miners, including women and children, have to crawl on their knees and use pickaxes to extract the coal, which is carried out in baskets and winched to the surface.

According to media reports, only five of the 20 people working in the Ksan mine, located in the states East Jaintia Hills District, escaped.

Sahib Ali, one survivor, said he was inside the mine, pulling a cart full of coal, when the flooding occurred. For some unknown reasons, I could feel a breeze inside the mine, which was unusual, he told reporters. What followed was the loud sound of water gushing in. I barely made it to the opening of the pit. There is no way the trapped men will be alive. How long can a person hold his breath underwater?

Rescue efforts have been hampered by inadequate equipment and the total indifference of Indias central and state government authorities.

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Navy rescue teams have been unable to fully pump out the flooded mine. S.K. Shastri, who is heading the NDRF operations at the mine, told the media late last month that at least ten pumping machines with 100-horsepower capacity were needed. The operation only had two pumps with 25-horse power, he said, calling on the central government to supply the required equipment.

The East Jaintia Hills District deputy commissioner also called on the state government to supply high-powered pumps and other equipment.

These urgent appeals have been ignored by the Meghalaya state administration and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government.

More than three weeks after the disaster, Indias Supreme Court, in response to a public interest litigation submission, criticised the state governments reaction to the mine disaster. We pray that all people trapped in mines are alive. They should have been rescued by now, the court said. Legal counsel for the state administration responded by insisting that authorities had taken adequate steps in the rescue operation.

Rescue operation divers have reported a foul smell coming from inside the mine and suspect it was from the decomposing bodies of victims.

One person, Krip Chullet, who was allegedly involved in hiring the labourers and sending them down the Meghalaya mine shaft, has been arrested. The mine owner, however, has reportedly fled.

In an attempt to pacify the victims families and deflect widespread anger, the state government announced a 100,000-rupee ($US1,438) interim relief payment to each trapped miners family.

Rat-hole mines were banned in Meghalaya in 2014 by the Supreme Court in response to a petition filed by the National Green Tribunal. The ban, however, largely has been ignored, not just by mine owners in Meghalaya. Tens of thousands of mines throughout India operate without even rudimentary safety procedures.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma admitted to the media that illegal mining was continuing. He cynically declared that his government would take action. In fact, the state government opposed the 2014 ban, declaring that it would cut 7 billion rupees (about $US100 million) per year from the mining industry in the state.

Like their counterparts in Meghalaya state, the more than one million workers employed in Indian mines are largely recruited from poverty-stricken remote villages with endemic unemployment.

A November 2016 report by Abhinav Publications noted that the socio-economic conditions of unorganised coal miners in India were extremely deplorable. They were usually subject to indebtedness and bondage because their income was so low.

Mine worker Abdul Hussain recently explained to NDTV: We are uneducated, unskilled and poor. If we take up daily wage jobs in Guwahati (capital of neighbouring Assam state) we dont earn more than 300 rupees a day. But in rat-hole mines, the pay starts at 1,000 rupees and goes up to 2,000 rupees per day. So in order to make sure that our kids have a better life, we do this work.

Abdul Alim, who narrowly escaped from the Ksan mine accident, told the BBC about conditions in the mine: Once we went down the mine, there was hardly any light streaming in from above. The mines Id worked in previously were only about 30 feet (9 metres) deep but this one [370 feet deep] was far more dangerous.

Alim explained that about 8 to 10 men would climb into a metal container suspended by a crane, which lowered them into the pit. Once we touched the bottom of the mine, the shafts spread out in different directions. Each of us would crawl into one and go as far as 30 feet.

Alim said the shafts were about two feet high. We lie on our sides and chip the coal with a gaaithi [pickaxe]. I put my pushcart just under my legs, so that the coal would fall into it. Once it filled up, I would drag it and bring it to the central assembly point.

The BBC report said the workers were paid according to the amount of coal they mined.

According to Indias Mines Safety Directorate, there were 752 documented fatalities in state and privately-owned mines between 2009 and 2013. Data submitted to the national parliament last week revealed that the death toll is continuing, with 377 workers killed between 2015 and 2017.

The opposition Indian Congress criticized Modis BJP-led government over its slow response to the Ksan mine disaster. Congress President Rahul Gandhi criticised Modi for strutting about on Assams newly-opened Bogibeel Bridge and posing for cameras while the bodies of 15 miners remained inside the rat-hole mine.

Gandhis criticisms are utterly hypocritical. Congress, whether in government or opposition, defends big business profits and is equally responsible for the mining deaths and dangerous working conditions confronting workers throughout India.
Gov. Charlie Baker gives a short speech highlighting the success of Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing on Friday.

Gov. Baker Highlights Success of Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing



Following the tour of the facility, Baker has lunch with company officials, interns, and local elected officials. The governor was sworn into his second term of office on Thursday and was leaving to attend events in Holyoke, Springfield and Worcester. LEE, Mass.  Gov. Charlie Baker blitzed the commonwealth this week as he kicks off his second term in the corner office.

On Friday, Baker visited Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing where the state had played a role in helping the company both expand and bring on interns.

Baker toured the facility, met with the interns, heard from company officials about future plans, and highlighted it as an example of the good work his administration has done while citing the need to continue building.

The trip the day after his inauguration was to spotlight elements of his "Moving Massachusetts Forward" that included economic development and housing.

"There is a lot of great stuff going on here and we hope we have an opportunity over the next four years to go forward on a lot of it and to build on the successes and the platform that had been developed over the last few," Baker said.

Berkshire Sterile recently secured a loan from MassDevelopment to expand the facility and has participated in the Massachusetts Life Sciences Initiative internship program to help train a younger generation. The company, which formed in 2014, has been continually growing.

"We've enjoyed great success with the help and support of many, including the state of Massachusetts, MassDevelopment, Mass Life Science Initiative, Berkshire Bank, all of our employees, suppliers, and more," CEO Shawn Kinney said. "Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing has been a significant contributor to the local community."

The company specializes in manufacturing small-scale injectable drugs for clinical trials and does so with an isolator that ups the quality of the clean-room product. Kinney said the company contributes greatly to the local economy.

He said Berkshire Sterile has a $5.6 million payroll, provides 90 high-paying jobs, has spent $2.5 million with local trades on the build-out of the facility, made a $12.6 million capital investment into the building, brings customers into the area who stay in hotels and eat at restaurants, had 14 employees purchase homes, hired 25 recent graduates keeping young people here, and donated 10,000 square-feet of space to the Lee Youth Association for day-care programs. Kinney jokingly said the employees are also helping the declining population with eight babies born or soon to be born in the last two years.

State Sen. Adam Hinds remarked that Berkshire Sterile is a great example of taking an idea and turning it into something that actually stimulates the economy.

"We have to thank the governor and the administration for investing in a company like this," Hinds said.

Berkshire Sterile already has further expansion in mind.

"2019 is set to be a great year for Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing and what better way to start it off than hosting a very special guest today," Kinney said.

Baker said if Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing chooses to expand again in a couple years, the administration will be available to help.

"They've exceeded most of the aspirations and goals established when the MassWorks program got involved and MassDevelopment and Berkshire Bank got involved. Because of that, they expect and anticipate they will be looking to do some expansion again in a couple years from now. If they head down that road, I'm sure we'll hear from them and we'll be looking for ways to partner with them," Baker said.

Baker said his trip focused on three objectives. First, he wanted to learn more about the company and check in with how the state's investment is panning out. And he said he wasn't disappointed with Berkshire Sterile's progress.

He also wanted to hear from those in the internship program and he said those interns were enthusiastic about the experience and feel like they are going on the right road.

And finally, Baker wanted to use the company as an example that the life science industry has a stronghold throughout Massachusetts that can be built upon.

"There is a lot of technology and a lot of science all over Massachusetts. It doesn't all exist within four square blocks in Cambridge," Baker said.

In all, Baker believes the focus on life sciences and technology is going well. But, he believes there is still more work to be done.

Baker had last been to the Berkshires for the groundbreaking of the Berkshire Innovation Center and he said there is still work there to get that up and running. He also mentioned Wayfair, which received a state tax incentive to expand and which will lead to a new service center in Pittsfield with 300 new jobs. Baker said he wants Wayfair to get involved with the BIC.



CEO Shawn Kinney already has further expansion in mind. "I think there is still work to do with some of the stuff we already have moving forward. We are obviously going to seek opportunities to partner with both local communities and businesses here," Baker said.

Baker also reaffirmed his support for expanding broadband, calling it an "unfinished element" of his first term.

"It was stalled when we took office and we got it kickstarted again. But we still have a bunch of communities out here that don't have a fundamental part of infrastructure that is going to be necessary to play and thrive and compete in a 21st-century economy," Baker said.

His top priority for the Berkshires remains employment. He said the state's help comes in a number of forms, from transportation to education to programs like that offered to Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing.

"The No. 1 priority is employment. There are a lot of pathways to that. There are public-private partnerships like this, there are voc-tech investments to build skills, there are opportunities to invest in community colleges and other academic programs so they can expand programs that seem to be a success," Baker said.

Joining Baker on the visit were Secretary of Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Mike Kennealy, Hinds, state Reps. John Barrett, Tricia Farley-Bouvier, and William "Smitty" Pignatelli, Mass Life Sciences Center President Travis McCready, Pittsfield Mayor Linda Tyer, North Adams Mayor Thomas Bernard, and Sheriff Thomas Bowler.
Aided by the complicity of the opposition Labor Party, Australias unstable Liberal-National Coalition government began the political new year by revoking the citizenship of an Australian-born young man, Neil Prakash, 27, even though he lacks citizenship rights anywhere else. That annulment can be extended to his three infant children, reportedly born in Syria.

Prakash, still awaiting trial in Turkey on terrorism-related charges, has become the 12th person to be stripped of Australian citizenship since the Labor Party backed the introduction of new arbitrary revocation powers in 2015. His case has set a further far-reaching precedent because the government has proceeded despite authorities in Fiji rejecting Canberras declaration that Prakash is a Fijian citizen on the basis that his father was Fijian.

Once again, the fraudulent war on terrorism declared by the US and its allies in 2001 has been invoked to overturn fundamental democratic rightsin this case, the right to citizenship itself, which carries with it essential civil and social rights such as voting, residence and access to healthcare and welfare. Without any kind of trial or due process, Prakash has been rendered stateless, in violation of international treaties.

When the Coalition and Labor pushed the draconian amendments to the Australian Citizenship Act through parliament in 2015, they claimed that the provisions were restricted to dual citizensthose who were a national or citizen of a country other than Australia. That itself posed a potential threat to an estimated six million dual citizensabout a quarter of the countrys population.

By revoking Prakashs citizenship, the Australian government has taken a lead in an anti-democratic drive that has implications far beyond the supposed fight against terrorism. Similar powers have been introduced in the allied countries, including the US, Britain, Canada and New Zealand, that fuelled the rise of terrorism by invading and laying waste to Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton this week defended the cancellation of Prakashs citizenship after the director of Fijis Immigration Department, Nemani Vuniwaqa, declared that Prakash was not, as claimed by Dutton, a Fijian citizen. Interviewed by the Fiji Sun, Vuniwaqa confirmed Prakash had never entered the country or applied for citizenship. Nor had his father applied on his behalf.

Nevertheless, Dutton insisted the revocation of Prakashs citizenship was legally sound, while refusing to detail the governments legal advice. In a display of contempt for legal rights, including Prakashs prospect of a fair trial in Turkey, Dutton declared he would do whatever I can neutralise that threat of terrorists returning to Australia and Prakash should rot in jail in Turkey.

Every aspect of the Prakash case highlights the reactionary and politically-driven character of the citizenship-stripping powers. Dutton announced the move on December 29, as part of a fresh government scare-mongering offensive on the issues of national security and anti-refugee border protection. Yet the Australian reported that the decision was actually made in August and Prakash was notified in late December, more than four months later.

This secrecy underscores the trashing of basic legal rights involved in the citizenship revocation process. Without any hearing, due process or even notice to the citizen, the government simply announces the decision, acting on a recommendation of a shadowy Citizenship Loss Board, made on the basis of unreliable material supplied by intelligence agencies. No appeal is permitted, except to the High Court or Federal Court after the decision has been made already, and then only on the legality of the process, not the facts or evidence. For someone in Prakashs situation, locked in a Turkish prison cell, such an appeal is virtually impossible.

Prakash, who appeared in Islamic State (IS) propaganda videos, has been accused of going to Syria to fight with IS, of being an IS member and of being involved in two alleged terrorist plots in Australia. How unreliable the intelligence allegations are likely to be, however, is highlighted by the fact that the US and Australian agencies twice celebrated killing Prakash. In May 2016, then Attorney-General George Brandis said US officials had confirmed that a US bomb strike killed Prakash in Mosul. Two months later, the US Central Command said four civilians had died in a strike targeting Prakash during April of that year.

As for the Citizenship Loss Board, it is not even mentioned in the legislation. It operates without any legal power or regulation. No protections against arbitrary government power, such as jury trials, the presumption of innocence and procedural fairness, apply. Even the boards membership remained secret until a Guardian freedom of information application revealed limited details.

As of 2016, the members included seven senior officials of the immigration department (now the home affairs department), plus the prime ministers counter-terrorism coordinator, and high-ranking officials from the foreign affairs and attorney-generals departments, and the Australian Crime Commission. They were joined by unnamed representatives of the defence department, Australian Federal Police, the Australian Security Intelligence Service (ASIS) and Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO).

Until 2015, no ones citizenship could be revoked, unless it was obtained by proven fraud. Now, governments can unilaterally cancel citizenships in three ways, via sections 33 to 36 of the Australian Citizenship Act.

First, a person is deemed to renounce by conduct their citizenship if the home affairs minister is satisfied they participated in certain terrorist-linked or hostile activity overseas. Second, an individual ceases to be a citizen by fighting for or being in the service of any organisation listed by government decree as terrorist.

Third, a person ceases to be a citizen if jailed for more than six years for any of a long list of terrorism and politically-motivated offences, including advocating terrorism, assisting an enemy of Australia, foreign incursions and recruitment and leaking security information. The list also includes offences that were redefined and expanded in last years foreign interference legislationtreason, treachery, sabotage and espionage, and foreign incursions and recruitment.

Because of the sweeping definition of terrorism in the post-9/11 laws, a person could lose their citizenship, for example, for supporting the right of individuals, whether in Syria or any other country, to resist a US-led invasion. And the extended foreign interference crimes could affect anti-war and anti-government activists.

While defending the Prakash decision, Dutton foreshadowed further such actions. He said the government was working with Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the US to get evidence or intelligence on others.

News of Prakashs annulment came after the government, supported by the Labor Party, unveiled further amendments last November to make it even easier to revoke citizenship. Ramping up the governments nationalist propaganda against violent radical Islam, Prime Minister Scott Morrison declared that extremists would be stripped of citizenship and deported, regardless of their status in any other country. If no other country would take them, they would be detained indefinitely.

The new provisions would apply regardless of whether a person is actually entitled to another citizenship. The home affairs minister would only have to be reasonably satisfied that the person was a national of another state. In addition, the requirement of a six-year prison sentence would be removed from most of the offences for which citizenship automatically ceases.

After the Fijian objection to the Prakash edict, the Labor Party accused Dutton of proceeding rashly in a manner that could undercut the 2015 legislation. Labors immigration spokesman, Shayne Neumann, stated: National security is too important an issue to be played with flippantly, and Labor supports the right of any government to strip dual nationals of their Australian citizenship to protect the Australian people.

This is consistent with Labors record of supporting every measure since 2001 to bolster the powers of the state apparatus.

Throughout the media coverage of Prakashs plight there has been no mention of the fact that IS is largely a creation of the US-led wars in the Middle East, the real aim of which is to ensure US control over the resource-rich region and the entire Eurasian landmass, where Washington confronts Russia and China.

Likewise, there has been no reference to the economic and social conditions that enable Islamic fundamentalists to recruit vulnerable youth. In Australias working-class suburbs, young people from immigrant backgrounds face high levels of unemployment, poor educational and social facilities and constant police harassment.

Prakash grew up in the Melbourne southeast suburb of Springvale South, largely raised by his Cambodian mother, who suffered mental illness. He did not finish school, nor a mechanics apprenticeship. He reportedly became involved in youth gangs before exploring Buddhism and then Islam.

Now the political establishment that created those conditions is stripping him of all rights and setting a dangerous precedent for use against others.

The author also recommends:

Australian Labor Party helps disintegrating government impose repressive laws

[1 December 2018]

Citizenship and the assault on democratic rights

[13 June 2015]
On Wednesday, the United Auto Workers filed a lawsuit in US District Court in Ohio against General Motors, alleging the company was violating a memorandum of understanding it signed with the union by employing temporary part-time (TPT) workers at the Fort Wayne Assembly Plant, instead of offering positions to laid-off Lordstown Assembly workers.

The UAW in effect is calling for the termination of some 700 Fort Wayne TPT workers to make way for former Lordstown, Ohio GM workers. In a statement posted on the UAW website, Terry Dittes, UAW Vice President for GM, said: UAW members negotiated a binding agreement and we expect General Motors to follow the contract they agreed to and GM members ratified.

The lawsuit is a reactionary maneuver by the UAW aimed at covering up its refusal to defend the jobs of GM workers at plants slated for closure. In November GM announced plans to axe 15,000 salaried and hourly jobs and close five plants in the US and Canada, including its Oshawa, Ontario factory, the Lordstown, Ohio Assembly Plant and the Detroit-Hamtramck facility.

The UAWs response to the closures has included prayer vigils, letter writing campaigns and appeals to the Trump administration and Democratic politicians. This has been accompanied by the spewing of anti-Mexican and anti-Chinese nationalism.

The filing of the lawsuit by the UAW has had the immediate effect of pitting GM workers facing layoff against TPT workers, many of whom have been slaving for years at Fort Wayne and other factories with few benefits, without holidays and without basic contract protections.

The UAW had previously requested that GM eliminate the TPT workers at Fort Wayne by the end of December 2018 to make way for laid-off workers. According to the UAW, GM responded with a proposal to keep the TPT workers until the end of May.

At no point did the UAW demand that the TPT workers be made full-time with full benefits and rights.

The 2015 sellout contract signed by the UAW permitted the vast expansion of TPT workers in the auto factories, at a huge cost savings to the corporations. The use of these workers has played a role in facilitating layoffs since these workers cannot claim supplemental unemployment benefits and have no recall or transfer rights.

There is broad sympathy for TPT workers in the auto plants, who hate the brutal treatment meted out to these workers with the sanction of the UAW. The tragic death of Jacoby Hennings in 2017 at the Ford Woodhaven Assembly Plant shed a spotlight on the treatment of these workers, who the companies systematically pit against full-time employees.

The latest action by the UAW demonstrates its complete contempt for the younger generation of the working class. It further underscores the necessity of autoworkers organizing resistance to plant closures and layoffs independently of this rotten organization.

The UAW did not lift a finger to oppose the earlier layoff of thousands of workers at the Lordstown and Detroit-Hamtramck plants. Many of these workers were forced to relocate to plants hundreds of miles away or face permanent unemployment. The offer of jobs in Fort Wayne, Indiana to Lordstown workers is an insult, forcing workers to uproot families and move more than 250 miles to face a precarious future.

A veteran worker at the General Motors Fort Wayne Assembly Plant spoke to the World Socialist Web Site Autoworker Newsletter about the announced UAW lawsuit. The temps are scared to death, he said. It is a toxic environment. It is ugly.

They want to get temps and full-time workers to fight against each other. What are the temps supposed to say when they are let go?

When you have tiers it divides the workers. It is a rigged system against the workers.

A laid off in progression worker at the Lordstown Assembly Plant said, About 200 workers here have transferred to Tennessee (GM Spring Hill). It is kind of BS. For some it is their second or third plant.

Is that something I really want to do? What if I go to Spring Hill and in a few months Im sent to Texas? For me its a little easier since I dont have a family, but with a family its harder. What if your spouse has a good job? You are kind of stuck.

Some people will take an apartment and only see their family on the weekend.

He opposed the efforts by the UAW as well as Democratic and Republican politicians to pit American autoworkers against autoworkers in China and Mexico as well as within the factories themselves.

They are trying to divide us across borders, he said. They are also creating animosity inside the plants. I am doing harder jobs for less pay. They bring in temps and they are never hired full-time.

I was lucky, I got hired in. Some work there for years and never get hired in. They get laid off and come back with no seniority.

Even the workers who transfer from other plants face animosity because they may take the place of temps who workers liked. It was like that in Lordstown when workers came in from Detroit and Wisconsin.

The Lordstown worker said that the company was making a systematic effort to drive out higher seniority workers. They make it as hard as they can for you to stay until you retire. Your body gets beat up. There is more work and fewer workers. The easier jobs are being outsourced.

They use new technology against us, instead of making our jobs easier. If a machine can do more, it means they can add more work. In some areas you are doing three or four jobs.

GM workers should take a further warning. There is a history of the UAW using lawsuits as part of legal maneuvers aimed at stripping workers of their rights. In order to establish control over the multibillion-dollar retiree health care benefits under the VEBA (Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association) the UAW joined GM in a legal action against retirees who challenged reductions in health care benefits. It did this to prevent workers from challenging the unions legal right to negotiate concessions.

The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter reject the attempt to pit full-time and TPT workers against each other in a scramble for a dwindling number of jobs. We insist on the necessity for a common struggle by all autoworkers in the US and globally to defend all jobs and oppose all plant shutdowns and layoffs.

The December 9 conference of workers called by the SEP to oppose plant closings voted to initiate the formation of rank-and-file action committees independent of the UAW to organize opposition to the plant closures and to establish lines of communication between workers in the auto plants as well as with workers at Amazon, teachers, workers in Canada and internationally.

The WSWS Autoworker Newsletter urges all Lordstown and Fort Wayne workers and all autoworkers to contact us and join in organizing this fight.
William Arkin, a veteran reporter and security consultant for NBC News, resigned last week with a scathing and lengthy email exposing the role of the network and the broader corporate media as stenographers and apologists for Washingtons vast military and intelligence apparatus under conditions of endless war.

Describing himself as completely out of sync with the network, being neither a day-to-day reporter nor interested in the Trump circus, Akin said, I also found myself the lone voice that was anti-nuclear and anti-military.

He clarified that anti-military for him meant opinionated but also highly knowledgeable, somewhat akin to a movie critic, loving my subject but also not shy about making judgements regarding the flops and the losers.

Arkin recounts that he had argued endlessly with MSNBC about all things national security for years. He is a military veteran who served in US Army intelligence in the 1970s and went on to become a military consultant for both Greenpeace International and Human Rights Watch. He also worked as a lecturer at the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies for US Air Force officers and advised the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the CIA, the Defense Intelligence Agency and other military and intelligence agencies.

In the early 1980s, he authored a book titled Nuclear Battlefields that revealed the locations where US and Soviet missiles were deployed, leading the Reagan administration to seek its suppression on secrecy grounds.

In 2003, working for NBC and the Los Angeles Times, Arkin exposed the bigoted anti-Muslim remarks made by a top military intelligence commander, General William Jerry Boykin, who publicly cast the war on terrorism as a religious war between Christianity and a Satanic Islam.

In 2012, he co-authored with Dana Priest of the Washington Post a series titled Top Secret America, an investigative report into the massive growth of a police state domestic intelligence apparatus in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.

In his resignation letter, Arkin says that at NBC he found himself in the peculiar position of being a mere civilian among THE GENERALS, the ex-military commanders that it and all of the broadcast and cable networks hired as their talking heads to spout out the official position on multiple US wars. He may well have added that the other prominent civilian employed as an expert commentator by NBC was the former director of the CIA, John Brennan.

Expressing barely concealed contempt for the military command and the generals venerated as indisputable experts and heroes on national television, he wrote:

Despite being at war, no great wartime leaders or visionaries are emerging. There is not a soul in Washington who can say that they have won or stopped any conflict. And though there might be the beloved perfumed princes in the form of the Petraeus and Wes Clarks, or the so-called warrior monks like Mattis and McMaster, weve had more than a generation of national security leaders who sadly and fraudulently [have] done little of consequence. And yet we (and others) embrace them, even the highly partisan formers who masquerade as analysts. We do so ignoring the empirical truth of what they have wrought: There is not one country in the Middle East that is safer today than it was 18 years ago. Indeed the world becomes ever more polarized and dangerous.

He continued: I find it disheartening that we do not report the failures of the generals and national security leaders. I find it shocking that we essentially condone continued American bumbling in the Middle East and now Africa through our ho-hum reporting.

Reflecting on his years at NBC, poking at the conventional wisdom, Arkin acknowledged, I feel like Ive failed to convey this larger truth about the hopelessness of our way of doing things, especially disheartened to watch NBC and much of the rest of the news media somehow become a defender of Washington and the system.

Particularly incisive in the email is Arkins critique of the role played by NBC and the rest of the corporate media after the election of Donald Trump: expressing outrage at the semi-criminal real estate speculator-turned presidents outrageous tweets, while either ignoring or justifying the real crimes of American imperialism.

Instead of conducting independent reporting and investigations, he writes, it got sucked into the tweeting vortex, increasingly lost in a directionless adrenaline rush, the national security and political version of leading the broadcast with every snow storm. And I would assert that in many ways NBC just began emulating the national security state itselfbusy and profitable. No wars won but the ball is kept in play.

While no admirer of Trump, whom he describes as an ignorant and incompetent imposter, Arkin makes the case that the criticism of the presidentlike the supposed opposition of the Democratic Partyhas been that of a defender of the government against Trump. As a result, he argues, the national security establishment not only hasnt missed a beat but indeed has gained dangerous strength. Now it is ever more autonomous and practically impervious to criticism.

Arkin pointed to the medias denunciations of Trumps various bumbling intuitions: his desire to improve relations with Russia, to denuclearize North Korea, to get out of the Middle East, to question why we are fighting in Africa, even in his attacks on the intelligence community and the FBI.

The reaction of NBC, he charged, was to mechanically argue the contrary, to be in favor of policies that just spell more conflict and more war.

Really? he continued. We shouldnt get out of Syria? We shouldnt go for the bold move of denuclearizing the Korean peninsula? Even on Russia, though we should be concerned about the brittleness of our democracy that it is so vulnerable to manipulation, do we really [y]earn for the Cold War? And dont even get me started with the FBI: What? We now lionize this historically destructive institution?

Arkins resignation is one more milestone in the transformation of the media into a more-or-less open propaganda arm of the US military and intelligence complex. This is a process that has been accelerating over the past quarter-century of uninterrupted US wars of aggression, which has seen corporate medias driving out of journalists whose reporting cut across the interests of the military and intelligence establishment.

These have included Peter Arnett, fired for a 1998 report exposing the US use of nerve gas during the Vietnam War; Dan Rather, driven off the air after 44 years at CBS for a report exposing George W. Bushs privileged treatment by the Texas Air National Guard, assuring his evasion of combat in Vietnam; and Phil Donahue, who was fired by MSNBC for opposing the invasion of Iraq. The embedding of journalists with the US military in the US war against Iraq set the standard for subsequent reporting, in which the corporate media is relied upon to function as an arm of the Pentagon and the CIA.

Arkins email provides a damning indictment of the present state of the US media, straight from the horses mouth. His anger and disgust over the practices of his employers no doubt express the sentiments of wider layers of journalists, artists and intellectuals, alienated by the lies and criminality that pervade American capitalist society.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), delivers a speech at a CMC meeting held in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 4, 2019. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

BEIJING, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping Friday ordered the Chinese armed forces to enhance their combat readiness from a new starting point and open new ground for developing a strong military.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), made the instruction at a CMC meeting held in Beijing.

Hailing the landmark, pioneering and historic military achievements since the 18th CPC National Congress, Xi said the armed forces had resolutely safeguarded national sovereignty, security and development interests and withstood complex situations and severe struggles.

"The world is facing a period of major changes never seen in a century, and China is still in an important period of strategic opportunity for development," he said, warning that various risks and challenges were on the rise.

The entire armed forces should have a correct understanding of China's security and development trends, enhance their awareness of danger, crisis and war, and make solid efforts on combat preparations in order to accomplish the tasks assigned by the Party and the people, Xi said.

Regarding combat capability as the only and fundamental criterion, Xi ordered all work, forces and resources to focus on military preparedness and ensure a marked progress in this regard.

Xi stressed the armed forces' ability to respond quickly and effectively to contingencies, asking them to upgrade commanding capability of joint operations, foster new combat forces, and improve military training under combat conditions.

Party and government departments and agencies at the central and local levels are required to support the defense and military development.

Xu Qiliang, a CMC vice chairman, presided over the meeting, and Zhang Youxia, the other CMC vice chairman, announced the decision to give awards to 10 model units and 20 model individuals. They received awards from leaders, including Xi.

Xi also signed a mobilization order for the training of the armed forces, the CMC's first order in 2019.
The Prime Meridian is an imaginary south/north longitude line that divides the planet into two. The Prime Meridian stretches from the South Pole and passes through Greenwichs Royal Observatory in England to the North Pole. The most commonly used meridian is the International Reference Meridian. There are eight nations located on the Prime Meridian: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Spain, Togo, and the United Kingdom.

Countries on the Prime Meridian

Algeria

Algeria is a northwest African state situated in the Maghreb area. Algeria is the worlds tenth biggest nation and it occupies an area of about 919,595 square miles. Algeria became the biggest African state after the separation of South Sudan and Sudan in 2011. It is surrounded by Niger, Mali, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Mauritius, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Western Saharan territory. It is a semi-presidential republic made up of 1,541 communes and 48 provinces. Algeria has the biggest defence budget in Africa and one of the largest militaries on the continent.

Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso is a West African landlocked state that occupies an area of about 105,900 square miles. Burkina Faso is bordered by Ghana, Ivory Coast, Togo, Benin, Niger, and Mali. The state was renamed Burkina Faso by President Thomas Sankara on August 4, 1984. It is a francophone nation with their business and government language being French. The locals are referred to as the Burkinabes and the country has a population of over 20.1 million residents.

The United Kingdom

The United Kingdom (UK), commonly known as Britain, is a sovereign state that lies off the northwestern coast of the European mainland. The UK is made up of Great Britain Island, northeastern parts of Ireland and numerous other smaller islands. The only land boundary the country has is with Ireland. The United Kingdom has the worlds twelfth longest coastline which includes the Celtic Sea, English Channel, North Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean. It is the seventy-eighth biggest state in the world which occupies an area of about 93,600 square miles. The largest and capital city of Britain is London. London is UKs financial center and global city with over 10.3 million residents.

France

The Prime Meridian passes through France from Villers-sur-Mer to Gavarnie. Villers-sur-Mer, a resort town, has a monument that recognizes the placement of the Prime Meridian.

Spain

Spain is on the Iberian Peninsula with its territory including two archipelagoes: the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands. The Melilla and Ceuta enclaves make the Kingdom of Spain the only state with a physical boundary with an African country (Morocco). Mainland Spain is bordered by Portugal, Andorra, France, Bay of Biscay, Gibraltar, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea. Spain is the biggest state in Southern Europe which occupies an area of about 195,360 square miles. Spain has a population of over 46.7 million residents.

When Was Greenwich Selected to Host the Prime Meridian?

The International Meridian Conference decided that Greenwich should be the Prime Meridian in 1884. Forty-one delegates from twenty-five countries met in Washington D.C. to vote for the adoption of the Greenwich in 1884. Twenty-two states voted in favor of the Greenwich becoming a Prime Meridian while France argued for a neutral line like the Bering Strait and the Azores, but they used the Paris Meridian until 1911.
Los efectos secundarios de una segunda inyeccion de la vacuna COVID-19 son una senal de que esta proporcionando una proteccion mas vigorosa y duradera contra el coronavirus.
Cumberland Mayor William S. Murray, left, is pictured with Sister Jacqueline Marie Kieslich, RSM, president of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Northeast Community, Gov. Gina Raimondo, and Janet Coit, director of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, with a framed commemorative photograph of Mercy Woods, in this photo taken last June following a dedication ceremony. Mayor Murray presented each of the partners involved in the agreement to purchase 229 acres of open space with a framed picture during the ceremony.
LEBANON, Ind. (WLFI)  A 560,000 square foot international packaging company broke ground in Lebanon Friday.



DS Smith is Lebanon's largest economic development to date.



News 18 sat down with the Lebanon Mayor Matt Gentry to discuss the role the company will play in the community.

"I think DS Smith saw this as a place where they can grow and keep succeeding as a company," said Gentry.



DS Smith is a company that is almost worth 5 billion dollars.

It found its home in Lebanon, Indiana.



DS Smith focuses on manufacturing paper products and speciality packaging.



"They provide these packaging services for companies large and small so a big part of them locating in Lebanon too was they wanted to be near their customers," said Gentry. "They are a big name in Europe. They are really working on developing their North American footprint."



This footprint is a first if its kind in the U.S.



It's the first DS Smith being built from the ground up. The company had its choice between Lebanon and an undisclosed city in Ohio. It ended up choosing the one just southeast of Lafayette.



"I'm really excited to see now that it's actually going to become a reality," said Gentry. "Up until you actually put the shovels in the dirt and show that the idea is becoming a reality then people are really excited about it."



The community and Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb are excited about the 140 jobs it will bring in the fall of 2020.



Gentry says Governor Holcomb knows the company is a good fit.



"I think Governor Holcomb is excited about what's happening in Indiana right now," said Gentry. "We are on a great path and we are adding jobs like crazy."



The highly automated facility is a $105 million investment. DS Smith operates in 37 countries and employs over 28,000 people.

Gentry knows the business will thrive.

"They are a very innovative and forward thinking company," said Gentry. "Something that's also attractive to me about them is that even in a recession people need packaging so it's more recession proof."

Gentry adds that the Lebanon Business Park is proof that DS Smith picked the right city.

DS Smith not only broke ground in Lebanon today, but construction also started. It will be fully under construction the first week of February.
LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI)  The Lafayette Fire Department has a new years resolution for the community to have no house fire injuries this year.

Lafayette Fire inspector, Todd Trent believes it can happen with correct prevention and preparation.

As temperatures drop you may be tempted to pull out the space heater. Trent said it's a major cause of house fires this time of year with nearly 500,000 structure fires annually, space heaters create 12% of those at about 15,000 annually across the nation.

A space heater fire often starts from objects being too close to the box, or electrical issues with the outlet. Trent said these fires can be prevented if you take preventive measures before using.

You wanna make sure they're three feet away from any clothes any type of combustible material and we want to make sure that we plug them directly into the main outlet, said Trent.

If you have a fireplace, there's a procedure to prevent fires from catching in the chimney.

You wanna make sure that your chimney had been maintained and swept annually or to the manufacture guidelines and also as you discard your ashes that they get discarded into a metal can with a lid, said Trent. And before you take that outside make sure you douce that in water, we don't want you setting that on any type of wooden deck and make sure you get it away frm your structure or your dwelling."

There were nearly 23-hundred deadly house fires across the country last year, 72 of them in Indiana. Trent said the best way to prepare for a house fire is knowing your escape routes and more importantly having working smoke alarms.

According to Trent, early notification from smoke alarms can typically give you two extra minutes to get out. He said you should replace the batteries in your smoke detector every time change.

Within the last 20 years, Trent says he's noticed homes being built with more flammable materials so a new home doesn't necessarily mean better safety.

You might have the safest house but at the end of the day, the only way that you're gonna get early notification is the alarms and to get out in a safe manner, said Trent.

Although the alarm going off after accidentally over cooking your food may be annoying, Trent said it's never wise to take the batteries out or remove the alarm.

We can make sure that everybody's educated and to get every tool possible but they have to take responsibility to make sure that they understand that fire is a very dangerous business, said Trent.

Trent said he's challenging the community to be prepared now, rather than sorry later.
This is a nice end to the work week. We have some high & mid clouds coming through, but still dim sun around.

The clouds have given us a beautiful sunset! This band of cloudiness looks like the paint strokes of a Bob Ross painting. I still watch reruns of his "Joy of Painting" show on Netflix!

Clouds will decrease tonight, followed by calm winds, heavy frost & some patchy fog with patchy black ice. Lows of 26-29 are likely.

Tomorrow looks nice with only a few patches of high clouds at times & a few patches of stratocumulus clouds in the northeast perhaps.

Highs of 48-52 are likely with west winds at 9-12 mph.

Sunday is one of the changes to the 7-day forecast. Saturday looks great. Sunday is a bit so-so.

It appears that back door cold front will come in from the northeast in response to system over Ontario & Quebec tracking a little farther southwestward.

So, some low clouds will come in from the northeast, while increasing & thickening high & mid clouds will stream in from the southwest. This will all result in lots of clouds with some sun. Winds will run 10-15 mph from the northeast, then east. Highs should run 41-47 with the coolest temperatures in our northeastern & eastern counties.

This 41-47 is a drop from the projected 49-53 up yesterday with mostly sunny skies for Sunday.

The front will move back northward as a warm front, so winds should go back southerly to southwesterly (15-25 mph) for Monday with highs 51-55 as rain moves in. The initial thought was 0.40-0.60" of rainfall from this system, but thinking more & more it will be more like 0.28-0.40".

Tuesday looks pretty good with sunshine & some cumulus/stratocumulus clouds (partly cloudy) with highs 46-50. It looks like a windy day from the west, however. Winds of 20-35 mph are possible.

Secondary cold front should be dry & usher in colder weather for Wednesday with highs 30-36 & northwest winds at 15-25 mph. The southwestern half of the area looks mostly sunny, but mostly cloudy skies may remain in the northeast half as stratus/stratocumulus clouds pivot into that area from the northwest. The warmest temperatures Wednesday will be in the southwest.

Another forecast change is regarding the temperatures Thursday-Friday. At first this week I was not sold on 40s to 50 those days, but I felt so much pressure to this mild weather that has been consistent (since mid-December) to raise the temperature Thursday & Friday to the 40s to 50.

Today, models are going back to what my original thinking was. That is, colder weather & it looks like a sign the models are beginning to pick up on the stair-step downward to much colder & eventually snowy weather ahead.

I went for 33-38 Thursday with partly cloudy skies & 35-40 Friday with scattered rain & snow showers possible.

The GFS-FV3 is a bit more aggressive with snow & ice Friday. I am not going that aggressive with widespread iciness & snow yet.
ONEONTA, N.Y. -- Friends, family and a grateful community paid final respects to a former Oneonta firefighter who died in a fire last weekend. And while mourners attended John Heller's funeral, witnesses testified at a hearing right up the street, for the man accused of starting the fire that killed him.

Cameras weren't allowed in the courtroom, but NewsChannel 2s Joleen Ferris was, and she learned many new details.

A fire investigator testified that the fire was started outside a second-floor apartment, at the bottom of the stairs to the third-floor apartment.

John Heller, who died in the fire last Saturday, lived in the third-floor apartment.

A civilian testified that as he went to Stewarts for coffee, like he does every morning at 4:15 a.m., he saw the fire. And thats when suspect Terrence Truitt tapped on his car window and told him he thought his brother was in the burning house.

The witness said Truitt smelled like smoke and that once he got in his car to go find a cell phone to report the fire, the whole car smelled like smoke too.

In his continued testimony, he said that a black, sooty stain was left on the passenger arm rest of his car after Truitt got out.

No decision was made Friday in Oneonta City Court, the defense wants to see the notes of the state fire investigator, who also testified.

The hearing will continue Monday.

The felony hearing happened at the same time, and very close to the Heller's funeral service.

His service was held at the Foothills Performing Arts Center to accommodate hundreds of people.

Family, friends, and some who never met Heller, but wanted to pay their respects to the hero were in attendance.

He saved his nephews and fiancee from the fire on Walling Avenue.

Heller was a firefighter for Oneonta from 2003 to 2009.
UTICA, N.Y. -- State money totaling $11 million went into renovating the Jeffrey Hardware apartments in Utica, now owned by Christopher Community, but tenants are voicing their concerns.

Ever since move-in day this past summer, some tenants have voiced concerns with the living conditions. It wasnt until the incident this past week, where some tenants say they had enough.

NewsChannel 2 received reports of water damage inside of the building. After some research, WKTV found the cause of the damage was an overflowing toilet coming from the third floor of the building.

The issue caused water damage to the second floor, which subsequently caused tenants to have to relocate to the Best Western on North Genesee Street.

"We're not allowed to go back there, we are not supposed to. I'm going to have to find myself going back there because there are things that I need, and we were rushed out of there. I reached out to Catholic Charities and if I go there now, then they will give me a $30 voucher for Price Chopper. But they are really the only agency that has reached out to help. Everywhere else I go, they say it's the building managers who are responsible," said one of the tenants, who requested not to be shown on camera.

Water damage is now being added to the list of alleged problems with the building. Some tenants say there is no insulation inside of the building. They alsp claim that cold air is seeping through the walls, and outlet sockets.

The Christopher Community has been in touch with the tenants throughout the process, but they still feel they are being treated unfairly.

Since the tenants allegedly had no reasonable time to pack belongings before leaving, some have to resort to local charities to be able to eat. They feel that building management should be helping more than they say they are.

"You put us up for two days, then you tell me that there is an additional two to three days -- just to dry my apartment before you make the repairs. So, we are going out now maybe a week. Where am I supposed to stay? What am I supposed to eat, you know? Its not fair," the same tenant said.

The tenants question whether the building was up to code. NewsChannel 2 reached out the the citys codes department to look into the inspection process. The Christopher Community had no comment on the matter.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) - Authorities say a New York state trooper suspended after being charged with forcible touching is now facing additional charges.

State police say Friday that 39-year-old Trooper Jason Sears has been charged with two additional counts of forcible touching stemming from an incident that occurred in 2017.

Sears pleaded not guilty in November after being charged for the first time with forcible touching. He's accused of groping a receptionist at a Rochester-area garage that works on state police vehicles.

WHEC-TV reports Sears was off duty when he went to the garage to pick up his personal vehicle when the alleged incidents occurred.

Sears remains suspended without pay as the investigation continues.

He's due back in Rochester City Court on Jan. 22 to answer to all the charges.

A message seeking comment from his lawyer wasn't returned.

(Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
UTICA, N.Y. -- Salute to outstanding women! Dianne Stancato, from the YWCA of the Mohawk Valley joined Kristen Copeland for NewsTalk about the nomination process of this years 31st annual Salute to Outstanding Women awards.

Salute to Outstanding Women 2019 Nominations

YWCA MV is currently accepting nominations for the 31st Annual Salute to Outstanding Women awards.

About Salute 2019:

Salute 2019 will honor the spirit of the suffragettes who fought for women's right to vote and for women's equality and empowerment for nearly 70 years.

2019 marks the 100th birthday of the 19th Amendment

Honorees represent YWCA MV's mission and are champions of positive change

We will be returning to our luncheon format

To Nominate:

Nominations are open online at ywcamv.org/Salute

To have a form sent to you, please email events@ywcamv.org

Nominations are due back to us by close of business on Tuesday, January 15

Nominees must be 18 years of age or older*, and live and/or work in Oneida or Herkimer county

*Outstanding Youth nominees must be 17 years of age or under who deserve recognition for school-related achievements or community contributions

Salute to Outstanding Women:

May 9, 2019 at Hart's Hill Inn

Luncheon celebration and awards ceremony

Official induction of 2019 honorees to Salute Academy

Academy numbering 248 Outstanding Women

2019 Nomination Categories:

1.Education

2.Entrepreneur

3.Healthcare

4.Human and Public Service

5.Outstanding Youth

6.Professions/Business and Industry

7.Social Justice

8.STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math

9.Unsung Heroine

They will announce the 2019 Slate of Honorees at the Salute Reveal: March 7, 2019 at Valentino's Banquet Hall

Announcement of 2019 Salute Honorees for each category

Sponsored by Valentino's Banquet Hall

Time to be Announced

About YWCA MV:

Salute is not only a chance for us to honor trailblazing women in our community, but also our largest fundraiser, benefiting all programs and services of our agency.

Our work is critical, as we are the only provider of domestic and sexual violence crisis services in Oneida County.

We are the only providers of sexual violence and child sexual violence crisis services in Herkimer County.

We reach out over 15,000 times annually to provide shelter, client advocacy services, counseling, referrals, and prevention education.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) - A former middle school principal in upstate New York who sexually abused a 15-year-old boy has been sentenced to 10 years of probation.

Syracuse.com says 42-year-old Mark Trabucco of Clay, who was sentenced on Thursday, will be on the sex offender registry for 20 years.

Trabucco was the former principal for the Adirondack Central School District in Boonville in Oneida County. The boy was not a student there.

Police say he contacted the teen through a classified ad on Craigslist in April 2017.

Prosecutors say the two exchanged messages in which the boy claimed to be 18.

The teen reported the sex acts to a family member.

Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
President Donald Trump claims his administration is "doing very well in negotiations with China," but the US team heading to Beijing this week is starting almost from scratch.

While China has made some pre-emptive concessions in the weeks since Trump met with his counterpart Xi Jinping in Argentina, including lowering auto tariffs and restarting purchases of American soybeans, little concrete progress has been made toward developing a comprehensive trade agreement between Beijing and Washington.

Instead, the meeting of deputy-level negotiators will give each side a chance to take stock and serve as a litmus test for whether a deal can be achieved before March 1, when Trump has threatened to impose another round of tariffs and to raise duties on imports to 25% from 10%.

"Next week's negotiations are important because they will establish expectations," said Myron Brilliant, executive vice president and head of international affairs at the US Chamber of Commerce. "However, we shouldn't expect major breakthroughs next week."

A planned visit by the Chinese delegation to the US before the Argentina encounter was scrapped in November amid a volley of threats between Xi and Trump. The two leaders spoke by phone in late December, but there's been little headway in terms of hammering out specific language.

Negotiators will meet face-to-face in Beijing on Monday for what is expected to be two days of talks on the "important agreements" reached by the two leaders in Argentina, China's Commerce Ministry announced Friday.

The delegation will be led by Jeff Gerrish, deputy to US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, according to a statement from the USTR.

In addition to Gerrish, the official delegation will also include David Malpass, the Treasury Department's undersecretary for international affairs. Also set to travel are USTR's chief agricultural negotiator Gregg Doud; the Department of Agriculture's undersecretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs Ted McKinney; Commerce Department undersecretary for international trade Gilbert Kaplan and the Energy Department's assistant secretary for fossil energy Steven Winberg.

"They're going to test each other's limits in more ways than one to try to resolve these differences," said Craig Allen, president of the US-China Business Council. And it'll be clear very quickly, he said, if negotiators can't break a stalemate.

The talks come amid growing concerns about an economic slowdown in China and concurrent volatility in US markets, led in part by problems at tech giant Apple, which blamed lower quarterly revenues on "deceleration" in China.

White House Council of Economic Advisers chairman Kevin Hassett said in an interview with CNN's Poppy Harlow on Thursday that "a heck of a lot" of US companies will have the same problem unless a deal is struck to lift tariffs imposed by both sides last year.

Former trade negotiators said such commentary from top advisors for the President could be misconstrued as an opportunity for China to gain leverage over US negotiators.

"Quite frankly, I would prefer not to have Hassett, or Mnuchin making those kinds of comments, sending a signal that the Chinese could take to mean that the US really needs a deal now," said a former US trade official. "These comments wind up hurting your leverage as a negotiator. Or mislead the Chinese into thinking you can take a lesser deal."

Trump said on Friday during a Rose Garden appearance that he wasn't concerned about Apple's problems.

"I want Apple to make their iPhones and all of the great things that they make in the United States," he said.

The President, an avid market-watcher who has complained to aides for weeks about the falling Dow, nevertheless crowed in the Rose Garden about the Chinese slowdown, suggesting it will help him close a trade deal.

"I will tell you, China is not doing well now, and it puts us in a very strong position," Trump said.

China's stock market has fallen by about 25% in the last year, dragged down by concerns about the impact of the trade war on China's economy, which has lost momentum in the last year as the government has tried to curb risky lending. An escalating trade war would make the situation even worse.

A new strain in the US-China relationship emerged in December when Canada announced it had carried out a US request to arrest the chief financial officer of Huawei, one of China's top tech companies. The US government is seeking the extradition of the executive, Meng Wanzhou, over alleged violations of sanctions on Iran.

The arrest highlighted the intensifying clash between the world's top two economies over technology. Huawei is key to China's efforts to become a global tech powerhouse and lead the introduction of 5G wireless technology around the world.

While Trump has lately sounded optimistic about the prospects of the deal, saying talks were "moving along very well" and "big progress" was being made, he's also left the door open for talks to falter, if all of his concerns aren't addressed.

"If made, it will be very comprehensive, covering all subjects, areas and points of dispute," Trump tweeted after his pre-New Year's call with Xi.
Since 2016, Teeka Tiwari has trumped the stock market. His investment recommendations have each averaged 281%. Thats 17 times the S&P. And 112 times the average investor, according to JPMorgan! However, one investment Teeka just uncovered could top them all It involves former President Biden, billions of dollars, several large banks, and a super-rich family. As well as a MAJOR potential upgrade to our credit cards. Teeka, who ended up correctly picking the last investment of the decade, is declaring this his top pick for the 2020s.

China Telecom Corporation Limited, together with its subsidiaries, provides wireline and mobile telecommunications services primarily in the People's Republic of China. It offers wireline voice services, including local wireline telephone services and long distance wireline services; CDMA mobile voice services, such as local calls, domestic and international long distance calls, intra-provincial roaming, and inter-provincial roaming and international roaming; wireline Internet access services comprising dial-up and broadband services; wireless Internet access services; and wireline, Internet, and mobile value-added services. The company also provides Best Tone information services; and information technology-based integrated solutions, such as system integration and consulting, outsourcing, special advisory, information application, knowledge, and software development services. In addition, it offers managed data services that include digital data network, frame relay, and asynchronous transfer mode services for government agencies, large corporations, and institutions; and leased line services, as well as sells, repairs, and maintains customer-end equipment. Further, the company provides international telecommunications services, including network, Internet access and transit, Internet data center, and mobile virtual network services in various countries, including the Asia Pacific, Europe, Africa, South America, and North America; and music production and related information, instant messenger, finance leasing, capital and financial management, and e-commerce services, as well as sells telecommunications terminals. As of December 31, 2019, it had approximately 336 million mobile subscribers; 153 million wireline broadband subscribers; and 111 million access lines in service. The company was incorporated in 2002 and is based in Wanchai, Hong Kong. China Telecom Corporation Limited is a subsidiary of China Telecommunications Corporation.

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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.
Since 2016, Teeka Tiwari has trumped the stock market. His investment recommendations have each averaged 281%. Thats 17 times the S&P. And 112 times the average investor, according to JPMorgan! However, one investment Teeka just uncovered could top them all It involves former President Biden, billions of dollars, several large banks, and a super-rich family. As well as a MAJOR potential upgrade to our credit cards. Teeka, who ended up correctly picking the last investment of the decade, is declaring this his top pick for the 2020s.

ResMed Inc. develops, manufactures, distributes, and markets medical devices and cloud-based software applications that diagnose, treat, and manage respiratory disorders comprising sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, neuromuscular disease, and other chronic diseases. The company operates in two segments, Sleep and Respiratory Care, and Software as a Service. It offers various products and solutions for a range of respiratory disorders, including technologies to be applied in medical and consumer products, ventilation devices, diagnostic products, mask systems for use in the hospital and home, headgear and other accessories, dental devices, portable oxygen concentrators, and cloud-based software informatics solutions to manage patient outcomes, as well as provides customer and business processes. The company also provides U-Sleep, which enables automated patient coaching through a text, email, or interactive voice phone call; AirView that enables remote monitoring, over-the-air trouble shooting, and changing of device settings; and myAir, a patient engagement application that offers sleep data and a daily score based on their previous night's data, as well as connectivity module and propeller solutions. In addition, it provides business management software and services to out-of-hospital providers, home medical equipment, pharmacy, home infusion, orthotics, and prosthetics; and HEALTHCAREfirst and MatrixCare solutions. The company markets its products to sleep clinics, home healthcare dealers, patients, hospitals, physicians, and third-party payers through a network of distributors and direct sales force in approximately 140 countries. ResMed Inc. was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.

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The Westaim Corporation is a private equity firm specializing in direct and indirect investments through acquisitions, joint ventures, secondary investments both direct and indirect, fund of fund investments, and other arrangements. For direct investments, the firm invests in early venture, mid venture, late venture, middle market, later stage, mature, emerging growth, PIPEs, and buyout transactions. For fund of fund investments, it seeks to invest in private equity funds, venture capital funds, and hedge funds. The firm seeks to provide long term capital to businesses operating in the global financial services industry. It typically acquires controlling interests in businesses. The firm seeks to acquire debt, equity, or derivative securities of both public and private companies. It invests with the objective of providing its shareholders with capital appreciation and real wealth preservation. The firm seeks to provide its portfolio companies with advisory services including, but not limited to, advice on capital allocation, financing strategy, performance measurement and merger and acquisition support. It also seeks to partner with like-minded providers of third party capital to help supplement the firm's own capital, when completing acquisitions. The firm generally seeks to hold its investments for seven to 15 years. The Westaim Corporation was founded in 1996 and is based in Toronto, Canada.

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National Bank of Canada provides various financial products and services to retail, commercial, corporate, and institutional clients in Canada and internationally. It operates through four segments: Personal and Commercial, Wealth Management, Financial Markets, and U.S. Specialty Finance and International. The Personal and Commercial segment offers personal banking services, including transaction solutions, mortgage loans and home equity lines of credit, consumer loans, payment solutions, savings and investment solutions; various insurance products; and commercial banking services, such as credit, and deposit and investment solutions, as well as international trade, foreign exchange transactions, payroll, cash management, insurance, electronic transactions, and complimentary services. The Wealth Management segment provides investment solutions, trust and estate services, banking services, lending services, guaranteed investment certificates, mutual funds, notes, structured products, and other wealth management solutions through internal and third-party distribution networks. The Financial Markets segment offers risk management products and services; and debt and equity underwriting; advisory services in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, and financing. The U.S. Specialty Finance and International segment provides specialty finance expertise; financial products and services to individuals and businesses in Cambodia; and the activities of targeted investments in certain emerging markets. The company also offers credit cards. It provides its services through a network of 483 branches and 1,573 banking machines. The company was founded in 1859 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada.

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Since 2016, Teeka Tiwari has trumped the stock market. His investment recommendations have each averaged 281%. Thats 17 times the S&P. And 112 times the average investor, according to JPMorgan! However, one investment Teeka just uncovered could top them all It involves former President Biden, billions of dollars, several large banks, and a super-rich family. As well as a MAJOR potential upgrade to our credit cards. Teeka, who ended up correctly picking the last investment of the decade, is declaring this his top pick for the 2020s.

Penske Automotive Group, Inc., a diversified transportation services company, operates automotive and commercial truck dealerships. The company operates through four segments: Retail Automotive, Retail Commercial Truck, Other, and Non-Automotive Investments. It operates dealerships under franchise agreements with various automotive manufacturers and distributors. The company engages in the sale of new and used motor vehicles, and related products and services comprise vehicle and collision repair services, as well as placement of finance and lease contracts, third-party insurance products, and other aftermarket products; and wholesale of parts. It also operates a heavy and medium duty truck dealership, which offers Freightliner and Western Star branded trucks, as well as a range of used trucks, and maintenance and repair services. In addition, it imports and distributes Western Star heavy-duty trucks, MAN heavy and medium duty trucks, buses, and Dennis Eagle refuse collection vehicles with associated parts in Australia, New Zealand, and portions of the Pacific. Further, the company distributes diesel and gas engines, and power systems. The company operates 304 retail automotive franchises, including 142 franchises located in the United States and 162 franchises located outside of the United States; 17 used vehicle supercenters in the United States and the United Kingdom; and 25 commercial truck dealerships in Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Georgia, Utah, and Idaho, the United States, as well as Canada. Penske Automotive Group, Inc. was incorporated in 1990 and is headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

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The following companies are subsidiares of The 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..
First BanCorp. operates as the bank holding company for FirstBank Puerto Rico that provides a range of financial products and services to retail, commercial, and institutional clients. The company operates in six segments: Commercial and Corporate Banking, Mortgage Banking, Consumer (Retail) Banking, Treasury and Investments, United States Operations, and Virgin Islands Operations. The Commercial and Corporate Banking segment offers commercial real estate and construction loans, floor plan financing, and cash and business management services. The Mortgage Banking segment engages in the origination, sale, and servicing of various residential mortgage loan products and related hedging activities; and acquisition and sale of mortgages in the secondary markets. The Consumer (Retail) Banking segment provides auto, boat, and personal loans; credit cards; lines of credit; deposit products comprising interest bearing and non-interest bearing checking and savings accounts, individual retirement accounts, and retail certificates of deposit (CDs); finance leasing and insurance services. The Treasury and Investments segment engages in the treasury and investment management activities, such as funding and liquidity management. The United States Operations segment offers savings, checking, and money market accounts, as well as retail CDs; and residential mortgages, home equity loans, lines of credit, and term loans, as well as Internet banking, cash management, remote data capture, and automated clearing house transaction services. The Virgin Islands Operations segment is involved in the consumer, commercial lending, and deposit-taking activities. As of December 31, 2020, the company operated 73 branches in Puerto Rico, 11 branches in the U.S. Virgin Islands and British Virgin Islands, and 10 branches in the state of Florida. First BanCorp. was founded in 1948 and is headquartered in Santurce, Puerto Rico.

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(TNS)  Missouri's Adair County E-911 Joint Services Board continued its long, slow march toward deciding on a new funding mechanism at a Thursday special meeting.The Board met to once again consider the question of how to increase funding for the Adair County E-911 Center, which has declined due to an increasingly low number of people using landline phones. The Board originally voted to endorse a $1 monthly fee on all devices capable of calling 911, but the Adair County Commission declined to place the measure on the ballot. Instead, the Board was asked to reach an unanimous consensus on whether the fee or a sales tax aimed at fully funding the center would be preferable.Ultimately, the board concluded Wednesday that it would still like to proceed with the $1 fee and place it on the April ballot. The details of the proposal and whether the Adair County Commission will agree to place in on the ballot remain unclear. The Commission has the ultimate authority on what to place before Adair County voters; the Board has no legal authority to do so, and the Commission does not need the Board's permission.The Board plans to draft ballot language specifying that the fee would be the first step in a process that would also include creating a subcommittee to study which funding mechanism would be the best long-term solution. Members plan to finalize the language and present it to the Commission Jan. 9.County Commissioners Mark Shahan and Bill King attended the meeting. The Commission recommended the alternative method of placing both the fee and the sales tax on the ballot, in a similar manner to the multiple measures legalizing medical marijuana placed on the statewide November ballot. Shahan said if both measures passed, the Commission would be able to choose which one to enforce. In the case of the marijuana measures, the proposal which received the most votes would have taken effect if more than one passed.Board members said the idea would likely raise too many legal questions. Truman State University representative Sara Holzmeier also said that if both questions were on the ballot, Truman would support the $1 fee.Adair County Ambulance District representative Larry Burton said putting both measures on the ballot would be a bad idea."We should come to an agreement about what is best for Adair County," Burton said.Board member and Kirksville Police and Fire Chief Jim Hughes said the Board was in agreement that the sales tax would likely provide more funding, but he thought voters might reject the idea of paying a new tax for something that is already funded by tax revenue."If all agree that sales tax is better for us but it's less likely to pass, that complicates things," Hughes said.A half-cent sales tax increase would raise the total in the City of Kirksville to 8.85 cents per dollar. A $1 monthly fee would cost $12 per year for each device that can be used to call 911.Kirksville City Manager Mari Macomber said fully funding the center through a sales tax would raise other questions, such as whether the center would be still be housed in Kirksville's City Hall and what the makeup of the Board would be.Macomber said the Board had been anticipated a law allowing them to impose a $1 cell phone fee for many years, and it was only once that law had been passed that the idea of a sales tax was raised.Kirksville Fire Department representative Jon Cook said passing a sales tax would require a communications campaign that emphasized what taxing entities would do with the money they currently use to fund the 911 Center. Hughes said the sales tax also has the potential problem of being vulnerable to economic downturn.Board chairman Don Crosby said the Board should keep in mind that there is not a crisis at the E-911 Center. He said the center only needs additional funds to expand its operations and purchase new technology."The funding is sustainable," Crosby said.Board member Dave Hurt, who represents the Adair County Sheriff's Office, said the additional funds that could come from a sales tax could be used to create a joint emergency operations center for the county. He proposed a center that would include "an underground bunker-type situation" for defense against natural disasters and said the county could also hire an emergency operations director and raise funds for other staff.Holzmeier said advocating for something like that would be impractical without concrete plans."I think we need to start small and go big," Holzmeier said. "I don't think we're ready to go there right now."Board members decided instead on an option they have discussed previously: moving ahead with the $1 fee option, but including ballot language which states they will form a subcommittee to study which funding mechanism is the best long-term solution.The deadline to place a measure on the April ballot is Jan. 22. Crosby asked Board members to email him their suggestions for what the ballot language should be. The Board will then meet to finalize that language before presenting it again to the County Commission.King said he did not know yet whether the Commission would approve that ballot measure, saying it would need to research the issue further.
Equifax Inc. provides information solutions and human resources business process outsourcing services for businesses, governments, and consumers. The company operates through four segments: U.S. Information Solutions (USIS), Workforce Solutions, International, and Global Consumer Solutions. The USIS segment offers consumer and commercial information services, such as credit information and credit scoring, credit modeling and portfolio analytics, locate, fraud detection and prevention, identity verification, and other consulting; mortgage services; financial marketing; and identity management services. The Workforce Solutions segment provides employment, income, and social security number verification services, as well as payroll-based transaction and employment tax management services. The International segment provides information service products, which include consumer and commercial services, such as credit and financial information, and credit scoring and modeling; and credit and other marketing products and services, as well as offers information, technology, and other services to support debt collections and recovery management. The Global Consumer Solutions segment offers credit information, credit monitoring, and identity theft protection products directly to consumers through internet. The company serves customers in financial service, mortgage, employers, consumer, commercial, telecommunication, retail, automotive, utility, brokerage, healthcare, and insurance industries, as well as state, federal, and local governments. It operates in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Brazil, the Republic of Ireland, Russia, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates. Equifax Inc. was founded in 1899 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

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Companhia Brasileira de DistribuiAAo engages in the retail of food, clothing, home appliances, electronics, and other products through its chain of hypermarkets, supermarkets, specialized stores, and department stores in Brazil. The company operates in Food Retail, and Cash and Carry segments. The Food Retail segment sells non-perishables, beverages, fruits, vegetables, meat, breads, cold cuts, dairy products, cleaning products, disposable products, and personal care products; and home appliances and other non-food products, such as clothing and baby items, shoes and accessories, household articles, books, magazines, CDs and DVDs, stationery, toys, sports and camping gears, furniture, mobile phones, mattresses, pet products, and gardening equipment and tools, as well as electronic products, including personal computers, software, computer accessories, and sound and image systems. This segment also offers medications and cosmetics at its drugstores; and non-food products at gas stations, as well as rents commercial spaces. It operates its supermarkets under the banners of PAo de AAAcar, Extra Supermercado, Mercado Extra, and Compre Bem; hypermarkets under the banner of Extra Hiper; and proximity stores under the banners of Mini Extra, Minuto PAo de AAAcar, PAo de AAAcar Adega, and Aliados Minimercado; and gas stations and drugstores under the banners of Extra and PAo de AAAcar, as well as sells its products through its Websites, paodeacucar.com and clubeextra.com.br. The Cash and Carry segment sells grocery, food, perishable, beverage, wrapping, hygiene and cleaning products, and other products through the AssaA banner. As of December 31, 2019, the company operated 881 stores, 72 gas stations, and 123 drugstores in 20 Brazilian states and the Federal District, as well as 22 distribution centers and warehouses across Brazil. The company was founded in 1948 and is headquartered in SAo Paulo, Brazil.

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Since 2016, Teeka Tiwari has trumped the stock market. His investment recommendations have each averaged 281%. Thats 17 times the S&P. And 112 times the average investor, according to JPMorgan! However, one investment Teeka just uncovered could top them all It involves former President Biden, billions of dollars, several large banks, and a super-rich family. As well as a MAJOR potential upgrade to our credit cards. Teeka, who ended up correctly picking the last investment of the decade, is declaring this his top pick for the 2020s.

The Charles Schwab Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services. The Investor Services segment provides retail brokerage and banking services, retirement plan services, and other corporate brokerage services; equity compensation plan sponsors full-service recordkeeping for stock plans, stock options, restricted stock, performance shares, and stock appreciation rights; and retail investor, retirement plan, and mutual fund clearing services. The Advisor Services segment offers custodial, trading, banking, and support services; and retirement business and corporate brokerage retirement services. This segment provides brokerage accounts with cash management capabilities; third-party mutual funds, as well as proprietary mutual funds, plus mutual fund trading, and clearing services to broker-dealers; and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), including proprietary and third-party ETFs. It also offers advice solutions, such as managed portfolios of proprietary and third-party mutual funds and ETFs, separately managed accounts, customized personal advice for tailored portfolios, and specialized planning and portfolio management. In addition, this segment provides banking products and services, including checking and savings accounts, first lien residential real estate mortgage loans, home equity lines of credit, and pledged asset lines; and trust services comprising trust custody services, personal trust reporting services, and administrative trustee services. The company serves individuals and institutional clients in the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and Singapore. The Charles Schwab Corporation was incorporated in 1971 and is headquartered in Westlake, Texas.

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SolarWinds Corporation provides information technology (IT) infrastructure management software products in the United States and internationally. It offers products to monitor and manage network, system, desktop, application, storage, database, and website infrastructures, whether on-premise, in the public or private cloud, or in a hybrid IT infrastructure. It provides a suite of network management software that provides real-time visibility into network utilization and bandwidth, as well as the ability to detect, diagnose, and resolve network performance problems; and a suite of infrastructure management products, which monitor and analyze the performance of applications and their supporting infrastructure. It also offers suite of application performance management software that enable visibility into log data, cloud infrastructure metrics, applications, tracing, and web performance management; and service management software. In addition, the company provides cloud-based software solutions to enable managed service providers (MSPs) to support digital transformation and growth in small and medium-sized enterprises; and service management software that provides ITIL-compliant service desk solutions for various companies. Further, it offers remote monitoring and management solutions for the performance of networks and devices, and automation of policies and workflows; security and data protection products for network and systems infrastructure, applications, and end user devices; and business management solutions for professional services automation, and password and documentation management. The company markets and sells its products directly to network and systems engineers, database administrators, storage administrators, DevOps professionals, and managed service providers. The company was formerly known as SolarWinds Parent, Inc. and changed its name to SolarWinds Corporation in May 2018. The company was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Austin, Texas.

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(TNS)  In a time when it seems like everyone is getting a drone, Mid Michigan College is offering professionals and hobbyists alike an opportunity to learn more about the devices and how they can changing everyday business practices.According to the college website, its "Drone Training" program is designed to teach drone-piloting skills, address the types of drone systems on the market, identify potential uses and industry applications for drones and prepare students to pass the remote pilot knowledge test required for Federal Aviation Administration certification.All sessions will be taught by Mid Michigan College adjunct faculty member Robert Giuliani."The drone field is just exploding  it's becoming a multi-billionaire business," Giuliani said. "It's amazing what's happening in this field."Giuliani points towards several examples of drone use revolutionizing business practices across the world, like businesses in New Zealand using drones to deliver pizza, and doctors in Missouri developing emergency first-aid kits that can be dropped into areas where emergency crews would not otherwise be able to access.A highly focused, all-day course developed to prepare participants for the FAA certification test will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 6 at the Morey Technical Education Center in Mount Pleasant. The cost is $495."Pretty much anybody can fly a drone nowadays, but do they really understand all of the ramifications, like weather conditions and the restrictions the FAA has produced as far as flying goes," Giuliani said.He points to the recent incident in Great Britain where Gatwick Airport  the country's second largest airport  had to delay flights for hours on both Dec. 19 and Dec. 21 because people were flying drones close by.The first session to be offered is titled "Intro to Drones for Public Safety Personnel." The cost of attendance is $1,980. The 24-hour course will take place 6-10 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning Jan. 31 and continuing Feb. 5, 7, 12, 14 and 19. Classes will take place at the Morey Tech Center. The course will be offered again with classes taking place March 26 and 28, April 2, 4, 9 and 11 at the DTE Renewable Energy Center in Bad Axe.Giuliani said the session is designed mostly for first-responders and other public safety personnel, and will cover the basics of drone flight and safety, while including additional information regarding how drones can be used in the public safety field  such as searching for someone who is lost, or a suspect who is hiding."All these 911 and emergency organizations are buying drones knowing nothing about them and thinking, 'Huh, maybe we should have investigated this a little bit more,'" Giuliani said. "That's what the class partly does  help [firefighters and police departments] decide what kind of drones they should get initially, and also what they're going to use it for."A shorter, 18-hour course titled "Intro to Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Drones" could potentially begin in February. Giuliani said Mid Michigan College will finalize a schedule in the near future. The course will teach the basics of drone flight, as well as the laws and regulations surrounding it. Dates will be announced on Mid Michigan College's website, and the cost of attendance is $1,490.Both courses will implement a "training drone" to teach participants how to fly without using a GPS system.Giuliani also said Mid Michigan College is looking to offer more drone-based courses in the future.
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, and markets biopharmaceutical products worldwide. The company offers products in hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, and immunology therapeutic classes. Its products include Revlimid, an oral immunomodulatory drug for the treatment of multiple myeloma; Opdivo for anti-cancer indications; Eliquis, an oral inhibitor indicated for the reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in NVAF, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; and Orencia for adult patients with active RA and psoriatic arthritis, as well as reducing signs and symptoms in pediatric patients with active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis. The company also provides Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia; Yervoy for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma; Abraxane, a solvent-free protein-bound chemotherapy product; mpliciti for the treatment of multiple myeloma; and Reblozyl for the treatment of anemia in adult patients with beta thalassemia. In addition, it offers Onureg for the continued treatment of adult patients with AML; Zeposia to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis; Vidaza for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome subtypes; Baraclude, an oral antiviral agent for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B; and Breyanzi, a CD19-directed genetically modified autologous T cell immunotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma. The company sells products to wholesalers, distributors, pharmacies, retailers, hospitals, clinics, and government agencies. It has collaboration agreements with Pfizer, Inc.; Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.; Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.; Nektar Therapeutics; AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Huyabio; and DarwinHealth, Inc. The company was formerly known as Bristol-Myers Company. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company was founded in 1887 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

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* Democrat Nancy Pelosi was elected on January 3 to be the new speaker of the US House of Representatives as her party took majority control of the chamber following its election victory last November 6.

* China and the United States will hold vice ministerial level trade talks in Beijing on January 7-8, as the two sides look to end a dispute that is inflicting increasing pain on both economies and roiling global financial markets.

* Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on January 4 he intends to push forward towards a World War Two peace treaty with Russia, which has been stymied for decades by a territorial row, during a summit in Russia later this month.

* British Prime Minister Theresa May's bid to push her Brexit plans through parliament was dealt another blow on January 4 (January 4) when a survey showed most of her own party's members oppose the agreement and would prefer to leave the EU without a deal.



* The Iranian navy will send warships to deploy in the Atlantic from March, a top commander said on January 4, as the Islamic Republic seeks to increase the operating range of its naval forces to the backyard of the United States, its arch foe.

* The US House of Representatives, where Democrats now hold a majority, approved legislation on January 3 to end a partial government shutdown that began nearly two weeks ago at several federal agencies and fund the Department of Homeland Security through February 8.

* Brazilan president Jair Bolsonaro said in a TV interview on January 3 that he is open to discussing the possibility of hosting a United States military base.

* The Trump administration is considering Jim Webb, a former Democratic senator who also served as Navy secretary under Republican President Ronald Reagan, to be the next defense secretary, the New York Times reported on January 3.

* About 1,000 police officers from Scotland and England will start training for deployment in Northern Ireland in the event of disorder arising from a no-deal Brexit, the Guardian newspaper reported late on January 3.

* The United States issued a pre-emptive warning to Iran on January 3 against pursuing three planned space rocket launches that it said would violate a UN Security Council resolution because they use ballistic missile technology. Iran rejected the warning, issued by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, saying its space vehicle launches and missile tests were not violations.

* The United Nations said on January 3 it feared for the safety of Syrians barred from entering Algeria from the south, saying some of those turned back were refugees left stranded in the desert and not suspected militants as Algiers maintains.

* Montenegro has launched a programme offering citizenship to up to 2,000 foreigners in return for investment over the next three years to help speed up its economic development, the government said on January 3.

* Democratic Republic of Congo's Catholic bishops conference (CENCO) said on January 3 that results from Sunday (December 30)'s presidential election in its possession show that one candidate has clearly won, but did not say which one.

* Five women and three men died in the train accident on a bridge linking Denmark's two main islands, and they were probably all Danes, police said on January 3.
Wall Street analysts have given iShares Global Energy ETF a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but iShares Global Energy ETF wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys.

View MarketBeat's top stock picks here.
MacFarlane Road and West Oneida Street: Police on Jan. 1 at 6:56 p.m. responded to a vehicle accident and stopped a suspect vehicle in a possible hit-and-run that had damaged a street sign. Police cited Nicole Kukla, 32, of Portage, for a hit-and-run and driving too fast for conditions.

Franklin Street: Police on Jan. 2 at 6:34 p.m. responded to a possible physical domestic dispute at an upstairs apartment. A man answered the door and did not allow officers to enter. Officers made forced entry and arrested Carissa Longo, 29, of Portage for a suspected domestic dispute and bail jumping. Jack D. Krausse, 32, of Endeavor, was cited for disorderly conduct.

Collins Street: Police on Jan. 3 at 3:31 a.m. arrested Portage residents Harley P. Schrank, 23, on suspicion of theft and Sala M. Marchand, 19, on suspicion of theft valuing less than $2,500 and on violation of probation.

New Pinery Road: Police on Jan. 3 at 7:52 a.m. cited Kelly A. Pellett, 29, of Portage, for a second offense of operation after suspension. An officer stopped the vehicle after scanning the license plate for details.
Clements said now that the restaurant is better established, he feels he has more time to refine and expand the menu. Hopefully this year I will try to incorporate more ingredients, Clements said. A seasons freshest kind of menu it just takes a lot of time because Im the one that goes out and picks that stuff.

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The ever popular mushroom pizza made with local log-grown mushrooms will be returning to the menu as a regular special in 2019.

Clements said he believes more business development will take place on State Street, even to the point of having no vacant buildings.

I think well get there at some point, Clements said.

Mauston Mayor Brian McGuire is also optimistic about development on State Street.

The city can encourage development, but in this case you have to give credit to the people that are coming in, McGuire said.

McGuire said hes had good experiences at State Street Tap.

My wife and I have eaten there, McGuire said. We enjoyed it very much. Its very friendly and the food was excellent.
One of Walkers early blunders was his insistence that Wisconsin not take federal money to expand passenger rail at a time when economic development and the need for public transportation were expanding. Denying public transportation to the working poor only exacerbates the inequality so prevalent in the state.

Meanwhile, we no longer rank among the very best in our public schools and universities. The flagship University of Wisconsin-Madison has fallen a couple of notches in attracting research money, and state universities are having to cut majors and being forced to lay off faculty to make ends meet. Our prisons and correction facilities rank 44th in the country.

Whats worse, though, is how far the state has fallen in protecting whats crucial to the future of Wisconsin  its natural resources. For the past eight years, Walkers record on the environment has been awful  the first time that can be said in Wisconsin since John Muir, Aldo Leopold, Warren Knowles and Gaylord Nelson led the way to preserve our beauty, protect our water and air, and write rules for responsible development.

Under Walker, Wisconsin government made the crucial decision that encouraging unfettered development is more important than protecting the environment and that the interests of business supersede the need to preserve the state for generations to come.
Kohlman, also 55, said funding is the main issue for almost all Wisconsin schools, including Baraboo. While fixing the root of the problem may be out of his reach, he noted as a board member he can help by being a responsible steward of the funds that we do have.

He wants to be re-elected because I strongly believe in our public education system. His three years of experience on the board will allow him to have a greater impact than someone new, he added.

Ive raised two boys  one is still in high school and the other is now in college  that have gone through the Baraboo system, and I want to give back to the community that has provided a good education for my boys, Kohlman said.

With his wife, Karin Jo, Kohlman has two sons, Cooper, a junior in college and Baraboo High School graduate, and Josef, a BHS junior.

Kohlman owns and operates Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants. He has an MBA from the University of Chicago and a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

He serves on the KFC Franchisee Association board and the technology committee of KFC Corp. He used to sit on the UW-Baraboo/Sauk County Friends of the Campus board, but said he resigned due to the time commitment required for the Baraboo School Board.
Daley Farms cleared a major hurdle in its quest to expand its dairy operation Friday after it received the green light from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

The decision came after MPCA Commissioner John Linc Stine determined that the farm did not require an environmental impact statement.

Ben Daley, a fifth-generation farmer whose family has run the Lewiston dairy for more than 100 years, said he was pleased that the MPCAs findings reflected science and facts and not popular opinion.

We knew it would be a lengthy process, but we are in the practice of doing farming the right way, he said.

Barb Sogn-Frank of the Land Stewardship Project, however, called the decision disastrous.

The MPCA is ruling on the side of industrial ag over the clear needs of neighboring farmers and rural residents, she said. Commissioner Stine is failing to protect Minnesota citizens.

Daley Farms, the largest feedlot in Winona County, plans to increase its herd from 1,728 cows and calves to 4,628. This amounts to an increase from 2,275 to 5,968 animal units, the measurement used by the MPCA and other state agencies to equalize manure output from different animals.
In yet another turn in the legal battles concerning the closure of two Winona elementary schools, the Save Our Schools committee Thursday filed a motion to dismiss the slander of title lawsuit that the school district brought upon them in December.

That lawsuit alleges that Save Our Schools did not have legal grounds to attach a notice of pending litigation to the titles of Rollingstone and Madison schools, which were sold in September and December, respectively. The notice served to alert potential buyers of the original open case on the school closures, which Save Our Schools filed with the state Court of Appeals in May 2018.

After WAPS initiates lawsuit against Save Our Schools, parties disagree on potential impact After the Winona public school board voted last week to authorize legal action against Save 

The new motion to dismiss, which will be heard by Judge Lisa Hayne on March 18, argues that the school district did not have standing on which to bring the lawsuit, and that it failed to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, according to the official motion.

Under Minnesota law, the elements of slander of title say the plaintiff must prove that the publication of the false statement  in this case, the notice of pending litigation  caused the plaintiff a loss in the form of special damages. In his Dec. 20 complaint, WAPS attorney Joseph Langel alleged that those damages are incurred in the form of attorney fees for the suit.
It was one of the biggest construction jobs in North America  a $4.7-billion project that took five years to build  with the laudable goal of increasing the security of Manitobans' power supply.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 4/1/2019 (892 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It was one of the biggest construction jobs in North America  a $4.7-billion project that took five years to build  with the laudable goal of increasing the security of Manitobans' power supply.

But there was no public fanfare when Manitoba Hydro flicked the switch to turn on its Bipole III transmission line July 4.

Bipole III Click to Expand Length: 1,384 kilometres Total cost: $4.7 billion Construction start: August 2013 Project completion: July 4, 2018 Number of towers: 3,076 Number of converter transformers: 20 Person-years of employment: 5,194 Added transmission capacity: 2,000 megawatts Source: Manitoba Hydro

A story alerting staff was posted on the Crown corporation's internal website. But there was no press release, no ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring beaming politicians and proud corporate executives.

In October, a newsletter distributed to Manitobans along with their Hydro bills heralded the completion of the massive project, which had long been criticized as an NDP "boondoggle" by opponents because of the previous government's controversial decision to alter the transmission line's route and the huge cost increases that accompanied it.

At Manitoba Hydro, those entrusted with keeping the lights turned on in the province celebrated. Until six months ago, more than 70 per cent of the power generated in the province travelled from northern generating stations down two parallel lines in close proximity to each other to the Dorsey converter station in the south.

With only two transmission lines, the security of the province's power supply was always vulnerable to severe weather, forest fires or human error.

If either or both of those lines  or the converter station  had gone out of service for a considerable period of time, Manitobans would have faced a major disruption in their day-to-day lives.

"As soon as Bipole III came into service in July, a number of engineers were doing cartwheels," company spokesman Bruce Owen said Friday, on the six-month anniversary of the line's launch.

THE CANADIAN PRESS/PAUL CHIASSON Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister called Bipole III "the biggest boondoggle in the history of Manitoba" while he was leader of the opposition in 2014.

For decades, Manitoba Hydro had considered the construction of a third transmission line to be essential to the long-term security of the province's power supply, regardless of future dam construction or exports. The Keeyask Generating Station  still under construction  would simply have increased the need for greater transmission capacity that was required in any case, Owen said.

Several incidents in recent years have underscored the need for a third line, the latest occurring two years ago when a farmer near Lundar, picking up hay bales, inadvertently backed his tractor into a Bipole II tower, knocking it off its base.

"Fortunately, it was a mild day in February and Manitobans didn't notice," Owen said. Natural gas-fired generating stations in Brandon and Selkirk kicked into service, supplemented by electricity imports, to fill the breach until the line was repaired.

Bipole history Bipole III increases reliability by adding a third transmission line and two new converter stations. The following are major events from the past few decades that affected power service: click to read more Bipole III increases reliability by adding a third transmission line and two new converter stations. The following are major events from the past few decades that affected power service: 1996: Wind event, 19 towers down knocking out both bipoles for four days; power flowed from U.S. instantaneously. For the first time in history, Manitobans were asked to reduce their non-essential power consumption while Manitoba Hydro worked to fix towers. They did, reducing consumption by eight per cent. 2007: Tornado event  the worst tornado in Canadian history hit the town of Elie, less than 35 kilometres from the Dorsey converter station; loss of Dorsey could mean loss of connection to northern generation for up to three years. 2008: Bipoles I and II tripped out of service because of heavy smoke from forest fires north of Grand Rapids. The outage lasted approximately one hour and isolated 2,000 megawatts (MW) of generation. 2011: Ice event  Bipole I and Bipole II lines were subject to severe icing risk in the northern remote areas due to high river flow conditions causing significant overland flooding. Water froze, lifting towers off their base pins. There were eight broken anchors in the initial assessment. Fifty sites over 112 kilometres were monitored and had ice removed from both the foundations and anchor locations to ensure the reliability of the lines. Both Selkirk and Brandon generating stations were placed on line in order to cover for the reduction in HVDC loading. 2017: A farm tractor backed into a Bipole II tower knocking it off its base. Fortunately, the incident happened during a warm break in February and Manitoba Hydro was able to pick up power from Selkirk and Brandon generating stations and imports. A new tower was installed within two days and connection reestablished. Source: Manitoba Hydro Close

Bipole III adds about 2,000 megawatts to Manitoba Hydro's high-voltage, direct current (HVDC) transmission capacity. Each of the three transmission lines generally carry about a third of the load at any one time, Owen said. Variations occur based on power demand, line maintenance and other factors. On Friday morning, Bipole 1 was carrying 1,164 megawatts, Bipole II 1,024 megawatts and Bipole III 805 megawatts.

Unlike its two siblings, which travel a relatively direct route through the Interlake, Bipole III meanders for close to 1,400 kilometres, skirting to the west of Lake Manitoba before slicing through southern Manitoba on its way to the Riel converter station east of Winnipeg.

The longer route was imposed on Hydro by the former NDP government, which refused to allow the corporation to run its line down a far shorter path on the east side of Lake Winnipeg because it was supporting communities that wanted the area declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. The government's decision sparked a firestorm of protest from affected farmers whose land would be expropriated to erect transmission-line towers, and by many others who saw the longer route as a waste of money.

Then-Opposition leader Brian Pallister called it "the biggest boondoggle in the history of Manitoba." In 2014, he said if he were premier he would "pull the plug" on the project. This past fall, Pallister hired former British Columbia premier Gordon Campbell to conduct a major economic review of Bipole III and the Keeyask Generating Station.

Perhaps it's not surprising, then, that there was no hype accompanying the launch of the new transmission line in July.

"No event (to mark the line's opening) is forthcoming," a government spokesman told the Free Press Friday in an email.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca
OTTAWA  Canada is in the midst of a politically charged debate over oil and the environment, one that will likely dominate this years federal election campaign.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 4/1/2019 (892 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA  Canada is in the midst of a politically charged debate over oil and the environment, one that will likely dominate this years federal election campaign.

But while the battle rages over carbon taxes and how best to send Albertas bottlenecked bitumen overseas, there is a de facto pipeline in the heart of the country. It operates in plain view of regulators, who do far more paper audits of safety plans than actual site inspections.

There have been no hearings into this pipeline, one that carries millions of barrels of highly flammable oil each month through the Prairies in railway tanker cars. There have been no protests about the safety concerns posed by the convoy of crude that winds its way daily through Winnipegs downtown, despite the explosive history lesson offered by the 2013 Lac-Megantic disaster.

National data show Canada sent 10 million barrels of crude oil on rail cars to the U.S. in October alone. Charles Hatt, a lawyer with Ecojustice, said hardly anyones noticed that staggering amount.

"Its just an aggregation of small decisions, here, there and everywhere, that amount to us now transporting" such high amounts, he said. "Its more diffuse (than pipelines)."

Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus cabinet is well aware of this regulatory anomaly, with trains carrying crude every day through the riding of Jim Carr, the Manitoba minister who used to handle the energy portfolio, and is now in charge of helping sell Canadas oil in foreign markets.

"Certainly, people have raised the issue with us," Carr said recently. "A small number.

"I understand why, in the contemporary environment, people would  I would hope  prefer that oil is moved by pipeline, which is a safer way to move it."

Premier Brian Pallister said hes thankful Manitoba sits on flat terrain.

"Since Lac-Megantic, I think everybodys concerned about oil by rail," he told the Free Press.

He said Albertas "crisis situation" justified that provinces bid to put more oil on the rails. "But its not, I think, perceived by most to be the best long-term solution."

Welcome to Winnipeg, home of a unique carbon footprint in this national debate, one that is growing because the citys history makes it the main east-west conduit for an ever-lengthening line of oil-filled train cars.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Trains pulling tanker cars have become a common daily sight in Winnipeg.

Black cars snake along the CN main line as it crosses over Pembina Highway from Grant Park and into Lord Roberts. Bev Pike sees trains passing through her neighbourhood every day, often with tank cars idling next to new condos.

"You can reach out and touch those trains; its very poorly planned," said Pike, a co-ordinator with the South Osborne Residents Group.

Members of this community group have long opposed densification, claiming larger buildings undercut locals property values and access to parking spots. But recently, the uptick in heavy trains carrying oil has taken up most of the groups attention.

"Houses are getting wrecked by extra transportation vibrations," Pike said. "Peoples doors wont shut anymore; their foundations have big cracks."

Pike and others suspect more oil is passing through the city. Data suggests thats the case.

In November, the National Energy Board published data showing a staggering increase in Canadas crude-by-rail exports, with the daily number of barrels crossing the U.S. border doubling between September 2017 and September 2018.

The amount of crude passing through the Prairies is accelerating even faster.

Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows the amount of crude oil sent from Canada to Midwest states doubled in September, compared with just a month prior.

The agency reports 849,000 barrels made that crossing in August, before jumping the next month to two million barrels, and then in October to 2,468,000 barrels  the highest month on record since the EIA started collecting this data in 2012.

The data includes rail lines running south from Winnipeg and tracks that run east of the city before crossing from northwest Ontario into Minnesota. It also includes one Saskatchewan line into North Dakota; industry analysts believe all three routes are being used to transport oil.

Analysts say the remaining two Ontario routes into midwestern states are far less likely used for oil; those two routes connect Windsor to Detroit and Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., with the Michigan town with the same name.

Pikes neighbours believe theyre seeing an uptick of these oil cars, and that data suggests theyre correct. But no one will tell Winnipeggers whether thats the case. Railway companies provide first responders with information on the materials moving through their cities, almost none of which is shared publicly.

The companies insist they prioritize safety, but she cant take them at their word after last springs series of brush fires along CNs rail lines. The company denied it was at fault; the city produced video evidence.

Meanwhile, Pike suspects the condos being built near the Fort Rouge rail yard are breaching the citys mandated buffer zone for new builds, meant to lower the risk of rail-related catastrophes.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Bev Pike, co-ordinator with the South Osborne Residents Group, says the organization is concerned with the increase of tanker cars rolling through the Lord Roberts neighbourhood and the proximity of new condos to the rail line.

"What some people joke about in Lord Roberts is: Well, if those things get built they will act as a buffer, between the next rail disaster and the neighbourhood, so the fireballs will hit the new condos," she said. "Those concerns are all top-of-mind."

"Lac-Megantic was the collateral damage of a series of political decisions," says Bruce Campbell, a York University environment professor. "It was a question of not if, but when."

In his new book, The Lac-Megantic Rail Disaster: Public Betrayal, Justice Denied, Campbell examines the build-up to the explosive 2013 derailment that killed 47 people and destroyed more than 30 buildings in the Quebec towns centre.

He said the train involved was one part of "a pipeline on wheels," and the result of railways evading the scrutiny faced by conventional pipelines.

"What Ive seen in my research is that the door is still open to a repeat of history," said Campbell, the former executive director of the left-leaning Canadian Centre of Policy Alternatives.

He cites a "systematic erosion" of federal rules dating back to the late 1980s and what he deems to be regulators too heavily relying on industry to follow its rules. For him, the problem culminated in the the 2001 introduction of Safety Management System regulations, where railways form their own safety rules and Transport Canada inspects them.

Most of those inspections are done at office desks.

PAUL CHIASSON / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES In 2013, a derailment explosion killed 47 people and destroyed 30 buildings in Lac-Megantic, Que.

Documents obtained by Quebec NDP MP Robert Aubin show Transport Canada had just 25 inspectors qualified to inspect railways safety measures as of April 2018 out of a team of oversight personnel that numbered 141 in November 2017.

"That means the others are doing paperwork inspections, and thats not what we need  we need people on the ground who can assess things," Aubin said.

Transport Minister Marc Garneau insists rail safety is his No. 1 priority, and his department says its made Canadas rail system safer in the five years since Lac-Megantic.

"We will ensure the maximum safety possible for the transportation of this crude oil," he told the Free Press. "We always focus on safety."

In the past five years, Ottawa has forbidden companies from staffing single-person trains and phased out the tank cars that are most vulnerable to exploding. After months of debate, the government has implemented mandatory video and voice recorders that investigators can access after safety breaches.

In October, the Transportation Safety Board  an arms-length watchdog that probes systematic risks  removed from its watch list the transportation of flammable liquids by rail. The agency cited this progress, by both government and industry.

"We felt that they had responded the way that we asked them to back in 2016," TSB rail specialist Faye Ackermans said. "The railways have implemented additional risk-control measures."

Yet over the summer, the TSB warned rail workers arent getting sufficient training after probing a 2016 incident just north of Toronto involving a runaway train with diesel fuel and gasoline aboard, travelling at speeds of up to 48 km/h for nearly five kilometres.

Ackermans told reporters then there are "gaps between what is mandated by the regulations and what is required for some employees to do the job safely."

The incident took place on the CN York Subdivision track, which is one of the countrys busiest lines.

"Over the last five years the number of these uncontrolled movements has been on the rise," she warned. "Some railway employees working in key positions may lack the training or experience to safely perform their duties."

A maxed-out rail system Alberta Premier Rachel Notley recently announced plans to buy 7,000 rail cars, in the hopes of boosting the amount of oil being sent on trains by half. But Toronto activist Helen Vassilakos group Safe Rail Communities wants to make it harder to get those trains filled. click to read more Alberta Premier Rachel Notley recently announced plans to buy 7,000 rail cars, in the hopes of boosting the amount of oil being sent on trains by half. But Toronto activist Helen Vassilakos group Safe Rail Communities wants to make it harder to get those trains filled. In January 2016, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency ordered its first-ever assessment of a planned oil-by-rail terminal. Shortly after, the company scrapped its plans for the facility in Albertas oil sands. The CEAA made that decision after law firm Ecojustice, arguing on behalf of Safe Rail Communities, raised a technicality. Railyard projects trigger an environmental review only when they reach a certain length or number of tracks, regardless of what commodity is being moved. While case lawyer Charles Hatt was able to flag the project due to its size, he argues environmental reviews ought to instead focus on whether oil-by-rail terminals take measures that lower the risks for rail-side communities across Canada. They should also consider the spill risks on the environment and to communities, because we do know that there can be a danger here; Lac-Megantic is the leading example, said Hatt, who has unsuccessfully tried persuading Ottawa to use that criteria. An NDP bill tabled two years ago proposed enforcing that standard, but it got scant support. Patrick DeRochie, a manager with Environmental Defence, argues that more oil cars will only put more pressure on a maxed-out rail system. Coal miners, grain farmers and forestry workers have been warning that Canada doesnt have enough rail lines and locomotives to get their commodities to market. Last falls bumper crop in the Prairies hit numerous snags in getting enough cars to ship grains abroad. Canada has a pretty antiquated rail system compared with other countries, said DeRochie, who is skeptical of public concerns around crude being transported by rail, because oil companies have cited rail-safety risks to bolster their case for making pipelines. Theyre actually using oil-by-rail disasters like Lac-Megantic as a back-door argument for new pipelines. But its based on falsehoods, he said. I dont want to minimize these concerns about rail safety that the public has, but I think theyre being manipulated, to scare people into supporting pipelines, which are just as risky. He believes hysteria in the media about oil-by-rail volumes increasing ignores the fact that rail accounts for less than seven per cent of Canadas oil production capacity, and distracts from broader environmental questions. But that issue hardly registers on the radar of Winnipeggers who have spent years studying the citys rail infrastructure. Local activist Sel Burrows led a push three years ago to have the railyard under the Arlington Street bridge relocated out of the city, primarily to remove the psychological barrier between central Winnipeg and the North End. He said campaigners occasionally heard citizens wanting to move the risk of oil shipments out of the city, but that ranked far below concerns about class barriers and the possibilities for parks or more housing. In any case, hes been told that moving the yard would take at least four years, never mind the rest of the tracks located throughout Winnipeg. In the short term, were going to have quite a lot of bitumen, Burrows said. Were lucky the Prairies are flat and we dont have hills like Lac-Megantic. Regardless, DeRochie believes the more that tanker cars become visible, the more that ordinary citizens in Winnipeg and elsewhere will start asking questions. I wouldnt be surprised if, as we see the exports of oil by rail increase, that there will be local campaigns that will pop up to stop it.  Dylan Robertson Close

According to the TSBs monthly statistics, there were 77 main-track train derailments between January and August 2018, up from 60 during the same months in 2017.

And 14 of those derailments involved trains moving dangerous goods, compared with five the previous year. The average number of cars involved in individual train derailments is also rising.

Part of the problem could be railways under pressure to hire staff. Last winter saw bottlenecks along rail lines that nearly repeated the disastrous 2013 harvest, which saw a lucrative bumper crop threatened by an inability to get grain moving. The railways, however, insist the need to add workers doesnt mean theyre short-changing on safety training.

A handful of derailments and safety breaches within Winnipeg are probed each year by the Canadian Railway Office of Arbitration, a tribunal the railway companies formed 50 years ago.

Last spring, CP was ordered to reinstate a conductor after two breaches in the yard near the Old Exhibition Grounds in September 2016. The conductor had run a train too quickly for its emergency brakes to stop it from side-swiping another train, which derailed. In a second incident, he left another train sitting in the yard after forgetting to set its brakes.

Human error by railway employees is a key vulnerability for the sector, according to an external panel that reviewed the federal Railway Safety Act several months ago.

The panel reported to Parliament in May, and suggested more automation and data analytics could better prepare Canada for an expected uptick in rail traffic. "The current rail safety regime is not sufficient to address persistent issues and the evolving challenges and opportunities for safety in the near future," the report reads.+

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Railway tracks in Winnipeg on Monday, Dec. 31, 2018.

But Aubin argues the first step to improving rail safety is to make the industry more transparent.

In September, a conductor on The Pas-Churchill line died after a derailment near Thompson that sent diesel leaking into a local river.

The TSB is still investigating, but believes the incident was the result of a beaver dam that caused a washout along the Hudson Bay Railway.

The rail workers union claims former railway owner Omnitrax had cancelled its beaver-control program three years prior; the government has not said whether it was notified of such a change before the derailment.

Incidents like that one leave Aubin feeling companies and the federal government are eluding responsibility by limiting the information needed to property scrutinize them.

"We lack the evidence to know what state the (rail) network is in, while the minister endlessly repeats that security is the first of his priorities," Aubin said.

The tankers roll through The Forks, taking a turn along the curve of Shaw Park before crossing over the Red River into St. Boniface.

Nearly every day, Andre Vermette spots at least one of the cars with the red hazard placard 1267  the regulatory sign for petroleum crude oil  down the street from his home.

"I have major concerns about the amount of hazardous material that passes through," said Vermette, who follows various municipal issues but began to focus on rail safety after the Lac-Megantic disaster.

He argues the city is allowing development too close to railways, contrary to 2013 guidelines established by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, in conjunction with the Railway Association of Canada, an industry group.

GRAEME BRUCE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Federation of Canadian Municipalities guidelines stipulate a main rail line should have a 30-metre buffer from any new build.

The guidelines aim to mitigate safety risk, noise and vibrations by having new buildings constructed at a distance from railways with crash walls and berms for trains making turns and running on bridges.

St. Boniface city councillor Matt Allard convinced his colleagues to endorse the FCM guidelines in February 2015. The federal review last spring recommended they become law across Canada.

Those guidelines say main railway lines should have a 30-metre buffer to any new buildings, starting at the railways property line, and 300 metres from rail yards.

Phil Hossack / Winnipeg Free Press Some are questioning the wisdom of Railside at The Forks, a mixed-use development that is slated to be built alongside the CN line that runs through downtown Winnipeg.

Vermette has raised issues about the condominiums proposed for 825 Tache Ave., a project that has also been tied up in a land dispute. The condo would sit 38 metres from the railway, with a planned transitway serving as a buffer.

Thats an extra eight metres of space, but the line sits on a hill; Vermettes reading of the guidelines suggests the need for construction of a berm to catch derailing trains.

"It doesnt take an engineer, I dont think, to figure out that if theres a railway on an elevated berm, theres a greater risk to the neighbourhood," he said. "Its a concern for me, but I dont really have a voice; it doesnt seem like anybody seems to have the same concerns I do."

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS One St. Boniface resident is questioning whether the buffer zone for a Tache condo project is adequate.

Vermette raised a similar issue with Railside at The Forks. The project aims to convert 12 acres of mostly parking lots into 1,200 low-rise apartments, with street-level storefronts. Winnipeg city planners measured the setback at the railroad itself, and not the railways right-of-way.

The company argued there was little space left downtown to develop, and that implementing a lower speed limit was, according to their engineering assessment, "in keeping with the spirit and intent of the FCM/RAC guidelines."

Vermette said he feels that cedes "atrocious" leeway to developers. "All this oil is passing through our city, and any derailment would be catastrophic, just as it was in Lac-Megantic," he said.

In January 2016, CBC published an analysis of existing Winnipeg properties that would fall short of the FCM guidelines, if they applied to more than just new builds.

The broadcaster identified nearly 15,000 parcels of land either partially or completely within the buffer zone, especially in Transcona, Fort-Rouge, River Heights, the North-End and St. Boniface.

In Toronto, Helen Vassilakos echoes many of Vermettes points. She co-founded the advocacy group Safe Rail Communities in the aftermath of the Lac-Megantic disaster.

A year earlier, her neighbours noticed "these really ominous-looking trains" passing behind their houses, something theyd never detected in the 24 years shed lived next to a rail line.

Her group has had scant success in trying to access the risk assessments that railways submit to Ottawa, and to get Canada to follow the U.S. in strengthening its regulations. Instead, shes received heavily redacted freedom-of-information requests and pushback from the industry.

"The issue isnt being addressed in (any) sort of a holistic manner," she said.

For example, her group has pushed Ottawa to have railway companies publish the types of goods theyre moving through communities, data that they hold in real time.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Rail companies provide real-time data on content only to local emergency services. The information is not made public for security reasons.

Instead, Garneau issued a decree in April 2016 that compels rail companies to give municipalities a breakdown of what types of hazardous good have recently been shipped through their jurisdictions.

Both of the countrys major rail companies publish the percentage of types of goods they transport through each province, but only on an annual basis. And they dont include the size of those shipments.

In 2017, CN reported seven per cent of its Manitoba shipments involved dangerous goods, while CP reported 11 per cent of its shipments nationwide involved dangerous goods; each said a third of those shipments are crude oil.

The companies provide real-time data only to local emergency services through the Ask Rail app, which lists the contents of any rail car next to its serial number.

"Its not made public for security reasons, which is obvious," CN vice-president Sean Finn told Winnipeg media in July, while insisting the city is safe.

Garneau agrees with that approach:

"For security reasons, you dont want to let the whole world know what materials you are carrying on a train; sometimes its company-confidential," he said. "But also, it can have safety implications if theres certain, dangerous materials that are being carried.

"The reality in this country is that we move a great deal by train, and some of those products are very useful products, like chlorine that we use in a number of applications, but it has to be treated as a dangerous material. And thats why we have the safety measures."

"Essentially the governments tinkering with a system that needs a complete overhaul."  Helen Vassilakos, cofounder of Safe Rail Communities

RAC spokesman Michael Gullo said railways also provide municipal emergency-planning officials with "a substantial database" of information on seasonal traffic, and the top 10 dangerous goods transported through the municipality in the last calendar year.

"Each jurisdictions designated emergency planning official has the discretion" to make that information public, he wrote. But the large railways restrict how much information cities can share.

Gullo also said his association runs a "safety-culture initiative" that polls railway employees on how well their company respects safety protocols, which they use to improve training.

Vassilakos said the industry could go much further.

"Essentially the governments tinkering with a system that needs a complete overhaul," she said, listing the numerous safety measures her group has called for.

DAVID LIPNOWSKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Tanker cars along Donald Street.

Safe Rail Communities wants Canadian companies to follow their American counterparts in implementing automated oversight, which can halt runaway trains or slow those breaking speed limits. Such systems are already in use in municipal light-rail systems to override fatigued or confused conductors.

In the wake of the Lac-Megantic disaster, the TSB asked railways to implement "risk-based route planning" for transporting dangerous goods, such as using alternative routes. Others have asked companies to build new railroads in rural areas. Railways responded by reducing the speed of dangerous-good shipments in urban areas.

Further, Vassilakos wants Ottawa to give financial incentives for rail companies to carry more stable forms of Albertas crude oil, which requires diluents to reduce its viscosity in order to be put into tank cars. Shed prefer more expensive diluent agents that reduce instead of increasing oil volatility, or mixing bitumen with a plastic-like polymer, creating pucks that can float upon water. CN recently said it plans to pilot the puck idea within three years, without any federal help.

After asking for tougher regulations and cash to support risk-mitigation measures, her group has instead secured funding from Transport Canada to publish a guide for Canadians living near railways to craft contingency plans for rail disasters. Shes thrilled by the support, but cant help seeing it as the government conceding authority to a risky rail system.

"All we know is that we expect our government to do everything they can to make it as safe as possible  and theyre not doing it."

For the former head of the Arlington rail yards, the lack of any major incident along Winnipegs 780 kilometres of track suggests the current system is safe.

"Theres a lot of checks and balances, in terms of everything that they do. They have electronic scanners located every (100 kilometres) along the track, which can detect any defective equipment, or anything that could potentially lead to a derailment," said Neil Greenslade, who served as assistant superintendent with Canadian Pacific for three decades, ending in 2016.

Railways do recurring audits and constant risk assessments when they change operations or routes, Greenslade said. "I really cant emphasize enough how much scrutiny they put on their employees, in terms of operating safely," he said.

He said he left the industry with a feeling it was in good hands, with employees and managers held to account for mistakes. "Ive just seen huge strides over the past 30 years in terms of safety protocols."

If anything, Greenslade is most concerned about how easily Winnipeggers can get onto railway tracks, an issue flagged in last springs review of federal railway laws.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Neil Greenslade, who served as assistant superintendent with Canadian Pacific for three decades, says the lack of any major incident in Winnipeg speaks volumes to the overall safety of rail lines.

Regardless, that same review found that few Canadians trust the rail system.

"Statistics show that overall, Canadas rail transportation system is safe. However, many Canadians remain unconvinced," the report reads.

"Transport Canada has remained under sustained and intense scrutiny for the past several years. In this environment, the governments assurances are often not enough to convince the public that rail transportation is safe and secure, despite a general downward trend in major rail accidents."

The review warned public concerns around rail could match the uproar over pipelines, which has bungled major projects:

"A loss of trust can result in public opposition and ultimately limit industry operations, as has been the case in recent years on a number of resource development projects, preventing some from moving forward altogether."

Vassilakos has helped foment some of that opposition in cities such as Winnipeg. "There are communities across Canada that are dealing with this and that are affected," she said.

Shed like a more collaborative relationship with government and the railways. But she doesnt imagine that will happen until people take notice of just how much oil is passing through their neighbourhoods and get vocal about it.

"Its just shocking that a huge increase in dangerous goods was allowed to be shipped, without any risk assessments done, without any increase in safeguards put in place," she said, sounding exasperated.

"Were not ready for it."

Download NDP documents on number of Transport Canada rail-safety inspectors

This is the first instalment in a three-part series examining safety issues along Winnipegs rail lines in light of a historic rise in oil being shipped by rail.
MONTREAL - A Quebec woman who was travelling in Burkina Faso with a friend hasn't been heard from in three weeks and is feared missing, her family said Saturday.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 5/1/2019 (891 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Luca Tacchetto and Edith Blais are seen in this undated handout photo from the Facebook page "Edith Blais et Luca Tacchetto : disparition au Burkina Faso." A Quebec woman who was travelling in Burkina Faso with a friend hasn't been heard from in three weeks and is feared missing, her family said Saturday. Sherbrooke native Edith Blais and her Italian friend Luca Tacchetto were travelling in the West African nation when all communication with their families "abruptly stopped" on Dec. 15, her sister Melanie Bergeron Blais said. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Facebook

MONTREAL - A Quebec woman who was travelling in Burkina Faso with a friend hasn't been heard from in three weeks and is feared missing, her family said Saturday.

Sherbrooke native Edith Blais and her Italian friend Luca Tacchetto were travelling in the West African nation when all communication with their families "abruptly stopped" on Dec. 15, her sister Melanie Bergeron Blais said.

"There was no more communication with anyone, no more financial transactions either from her account since Dec. 11," she said in a phone interview.

"She didn't spend to eat, for a hotel, there's nothing at all," she said. "They've completely disappeared into the void."

The pair were last seen in the city of Bobo-Dioulasso, in the country's southwest, and had planned to drive to the capital of Ouagadougou before crossing into neighbouring Togo, the family said.

However, there's no indication that the pair applied for visas or crossed the border into either Ghana or Togo, Bergeron Blais said.

Bergeron Blais described her 34-year-old sister as an adventurous and experienced traveller.

She said both Blais and Tacchetto, 30, were in the habit of checking in with the families every couple of days.

"At first we gave her a little slack, telling ourselves 'she's a traveller, she's a bit bohemian,' and it's possible that she just didn't give us news for a few days," Bergeron Blais said.

"But by (Dec) 29th or 30th, we knew something wasn't right."

The government of Canada's website recommends avoiding all non-essential travel to the country due to the threat of terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.

Blais' family has started a Facebook page and are grateful for the help they've received so far, including from a Quebecer in Burkina Faso who is travelling in person to different border crossings to ask about Blais.

Global Affairs Canada said consular officials are reaching out to local authorities in Burkina Faso to follow up on reports of a missing Canadian.

Bergeron Blais, however, said she hasn't yet been contacted by the Canadian government, and that Italian authorities appear to be working much more quickly to locate the pair.
Is Winnipeg ready for a store that offers 50 different designs of chopsticks and other Asian-style products?

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 4/1/2019 (891 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Is Winnipeg ready for a store that offers 50 different designs of chopsticks and other Asian-style products?

Japanese variety chain store Oomomo (pronounced oo-MO-mo) thinks so and is preparing to open in St. Vital Centre later this year.

Oomomo stores are described as high-end "dollar stores" with a Japanese sensibility. They are spotless and beautifully laid out with products typically priced in the $3 range. It promises regular updates with new and trending product from Japan.

St. Vital Centre posted the impending arrival of Oomomo on Facebook on Friday.

"When theres a first-to-market store, were going to go there and plead our case for St. Vital, and we had a space that met the size parameters they were looking for," said St. Vital Shopping Centre manager Kyle Waterman.

Its a good-sized retail space of about 7,000 square feet. Oomomo means "big peach" in Japanese, a symbol of good blessing.

"Most of our items are imported from Japan. Most are $3, a little expensive compared to (dollar stores) but better quality," said Aoi Doi, supervisor of the Oomomo store in West Edmonton Mall, who is helping launch other stores across the country.

It carries many items similar to Daiso and Seria stores, popular discount brands in Japan. "You can find Daiso everywhere in Japan," Doi said.

The stores contain more than 8,000 Japanese products including cleaning products, stationery, cosmetics, household goods like Asian-style dishes, toys and snacks.

"If I say maybe a small Walmart? We have everything for your life," Doi said.

They are strong in stationery and offer up to 50 different pens, Doi said. As for the 50 different chopsticks? "There are some like for cooking, for guests, for special occasions..." as well as training chopsticks for kids.

Dishware includes teapots and teacups and little dishes used with sushi. It stocks baking tools and moulds, as well as unique Japanese cookware like the makisu, a rolling mat woven from bamboo.

Store clerks are on hand to interpret packaging when it comes printed in Japanese only.

Oomomo stores are spreading fast. The first store opened in West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton on Canada Day in 2017. Three more stores opened last month: a second Edmonton store and one each in Vancouver and Toronto. Second stores are slated to open shortly in Vancouver and Toronto.

"We still have a lot of problems were trying to figure out, little by little," Doi said. That includes what products Canadians like best, she said.

Waterman said the space at St. Vital Centre is still being prepared and he doesnt expect Oomomo to open until this summer.

"Oomomo has definitely been accelerating its presence in the Canadian market. Theyve been gaining a lot of positive attention," he said.

St. Vital Centre has 160 retailers spread over nearly one million square feet and has annual traffic of about eight million shoppers

bill.redekop@freepress.mb.ca
In naming organic foods one of its Tops of 2018, global analytics company Nielsen ends any debate over whether the industry now worth US$90 billion worldwide is a fad or a trend.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 5/1/2019 (891 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

In naming organic foods one of its "Tops of 2018," global analytics company Nielsen ends any debate over whether the industry now worth US$90 billion worldwide is a fad or a trend.

"Organic appears to be an age-old growth driver thats here to stay," the company said in an online article posted this week.

In fact, sales growth continues to outpace previous years. In the U.S., one of the largest organic markets, sales increased last year by nine per cent in value and eight per cent by volume. "At a time when the FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) industry overall has experienced flat volume consumption, this growth is huge," Nielsen said.

Statistics released by the Canadian Organic Trade Association last year indicate the total Canadian organic market is worth $5.4 billion, up more than 50 per cent over 2012.

"Today, organics have hit the mainstream," Nielsen said. "Not only are organic products boosting our industrys top line, they are being purchased more by all generational and age cohorts." Purchases by the coveted millennials are leading that growth with an increase of 14 per cent year over year.

The report affirms what industry insiders have known for years. Demand for organic products continues to exceed the available supply, a problem mainstream agriculture would love to have, but also one that brings on its own set of sobering challenges.

Michael Sligh, a U.S. organic leader who has worked to develop global organic standards over the past three decades, warns the industry must work harder than ever before if it is to keep up with its heady growth.

"We are not on the fringe now. We are fully susceptible to all of the macro ag trends that are wreaking havoc in industrial agriculture today," he said.

Sligh told an organic farmers meeting in Saskatoon late last year the industry must carefully guard the "trusting connection" it has achieved with consumers. Giving consumers what they want, backed up by transparent and enforceable standards based on good farming principles, is why the sector succeeds, he said.

However, protecting its relationship with consumers cant come at the expense of alienating non-organic farmers, because, quite simply, the sector needs to attract more farmers if it is to continue to grow. "We need to recognize that we have a supply-demand gap, and that we need to be very thoughtful in the way we reach out to this next tier of farmers," Sligh said.

"They are not going to wander around and figure this out on their own like many of us did," he said. "They need to see a concrete road map."

At the same time, the industry must ward off some of the downward pressures, including fraud, that threaten to undermine consumer confidence as new entrants seek to gain faster or larger access to the marketplace. A Missouri farmer was recently convicted of fraud in a US$140-million scheme to market conventionally grown grains he purchased from other farmers as organic.

Sligh said regulatory enforcement resources have not kept pace with the industrys growth, which leaves the industry vulnerable to fraudsters cashing in on organic premiums.

Sligh said now is also the time to expand the definition of organic to include commitments to soil health, fair treatment of people and enhanced animal welfare.

As well, there is a need for full-cost accounting in the food system, he said. Currently, the higher upfront costs for organic food are frequently compared to the lower grocery store cost of conventionally farmed products.

"All the consumer sees is cheap food and thinks its great," he said. In fact, he said, consumers are paying for that food four ways: at the store, through their taxes, through their health and the environment. "If they had to internalize all of the industrial model, it would not sustain itself," he said.

Its a tall order for a sector still wrapped in a fringe identity. Sligh urged organic proponents to see themselves as part of the solution  rather than simply not part of the problem.

"Our future will be determined by how successfully we can navigate around these macro challenges during this next period of time," Sligh said.

Laura Rance is editorial director at Glacier FarmMedia. She can be reached at lrance@farmmedia.com.


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Parents of students at a New York high school are wondering how a 32-year-old woman managed to enroll at the school and take classes alongside their teenagers.

Police say the woman pretended to be 15 years old in order to attend Cairo Durham High School.
Williston Public School District No. 1 is asking voters to OK two measures to help fund new schools. The election will be at the Williston ARC
The staff and students of the Wexford School of Ballet and Performing Arts are taking a well-earned break after their production of Tchaikovsky's 'Swan Lake' went down a treat at the National Opera House.

The students performed to a sold-out O'Reilly Theatre, bringing the audience through the magical ballet favourite.

A clever fusion of classical ballet and contemporary dance, the production was the brainchild of Suzanne O'Leary, school principal and teacher. She took on the classical white swan corps while she handed over the responsibility of the black swan corps to new teacher Sorcha O'Connor.

Sorcha is a former pupil of the school. She trained in London's Laban College and was awarded her BA honours degree.

The splitting of the corps between two choreographers helped to create great contrast between the graceful lines of the white swans and the dynamic and powerful black swan corp.

The lead roles were entrusted to two young dancers in the school. The lead part of Odette/Odile was danced by 15-year-old Abby Ormond, while 17-year-old Alex Saunders danced the role of Prince Siegfried. Alex is currently preparing to audition for dance colleges in London.

The cygnet dancers were Emma Kirwan, Beth Miller, Sadhbh Neville and Aobhin McGrath. The two graceful white swans were danced by Holly Johnston and Sarah Moran, who faced off against the brilliant Caitlin Carty and Eimear O'Donnegain as the lead black swans.

The Queen was portrayed by Eilish Coady with Louis Pinaqui and Evan Farrell as her pages. The evil Rothbart was danced menacingly by Jonny Smith.

The group is on a break now until the New Year when they will face into examinations, a musical theatre show in May, and their end of year performance in June, both of which will be in the National Opera House. A group is also scheduled to perform in Disneyland Paris in August.
Six local charities will benefit from funds raised by Rev Arthur Minion and Fr Aodhan Marken as part of their four-day fast in the run-up to Christmas.

While a final figure has not been confirmed, it is estimated that over 46,000 was raised.

Rev Minion was taking part in his seventh fast while Fr Marken was embarking on his fourth.

Rev Minion thanked the people of Wexford who, he said, had been extremely generous as always, pointing out that they'd had some donations of 200 and 300, as well as a cheque for 2,000.

The weather, he added, played a big part in how the event went.

'The first and second day, we had great weather and the donations were excellent. But the third day and Christmas Eve morning were wet days and the donations were down because people were hurrying from A to B as quickly as they could.'

The fast concluded with a well-attended service in St Iberius Church on Christmas Eve. The nine lessons were read by representatives from the benefiting charities as well as the Mayor, Cllr Tony Dempsey, Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin, and Garda Chief Superintendent Patrick McMenamin.

Music also played a part in the event with two solo pieces; Cllr George Lawlor sang 'A Child Is Born', accompanied by his daughter Ruth, while Aoife Clancy Caulfield sang 'O Holy Night', accompanied by organist John O'Brien.

Following the service, Rev Minion and Fr Aodhan enjoyed a mixed grill, whipped up by Rosanne Byrne, at the Presbytery.

Over the course of the four days, the two clerics received great support. Church of Ireland Bishop Michael Burrows dropped by on day one while Bishop Denis Brennan visited on Christmas Eve and stayed chatting to them for so long that people thought he was fasting with them!

Rev Minion said: 'We want to thank the people of Wexford for their generous donations; the support they give us every year is wonderful.'
For years I believed it was women who were the real hypochondriacs  the ones who sat around discussing their favorite diseases du jour. Sickness was not a guy thing ... until I met Marvin.

Marvin fell into my life without warning. He was housesitting next door for a few months, during which time I learned more about medicine than I did reading the Merck Manual. Marvin was a walking medical encyclopedia, who took illness to a new level. We first met when he knocked on my door asking if I had any Advil.

I might have some Tylenol, I said.

No, he replied. I never use products with acetaminophen.

It was then I knew that Marvin and I were destined to be friends.

My fascination for medicine dates back to my adolescence when I would lock myself in my cousin Edwins bathroom, poring through his medical books, examining the glossy photos depicting in graphic detail every anatomical orifice. While other girls my age were hooked on Nancy Drew mysteries, I got my kicks reading texts on the reproductive system. Now, years later, when Marvin came calling, I knew I had found a soul mate.

Marvin had the answers to all medical questions. When my friend stopped by complaining of lower back pain, Marvin  who was in my kitchen whipping me up a glass of carrot and beet juice puree  paused to lend advice.

The spine, he told her, is made up of 26-bones, stacked like blocks, and separated by a shock absorber or intervertebral discs. These vertebrae are divided into areas of the body, five of which are the lumbar spine. Thats where all hell breaks loose.

My friend stood spellbound. So, what should I do?

Go home immediately, and take a hot bath with three glasses of red wine.

Should I pour the wine into the tub? she asked.

No, sip each glass slowly and consecutively. After 15-minutes you should feel no pain. But, make sure its a good Cabernet. The cheap stuff will only give you a headache, although I do have remedies for headaches, but why look for trouble?

When I complained to Marvin about my clogged nasal passages, he immediately came to my rescue. A nose is nothing to sneeze at. This can be serious.

I have a common cold, I said.

Dont kid yourself. What you have is swelling of the mucous membranes. If left untreated, rhinitis medicamentosa may develop. Mix warm soy milk with an egg yolk, sugar and a dollop of vanilla followed by three finely-ground vitamin C tablets, and make sure you dont blow your nose. Blowing is an irritant.

Thank you, Marvin, I said, emitting a loud sneeze.

And watch that sneezing. Sneezing can give you an inguinal hernia. The best thing to do when you feel a sneeze coming on is to hold your groin.

There was no doubt that Marvin knew his stuff. For the rest of the summer, he and I exchanged medical minutiae. We analyzed the nervous system, ophthalmic ailments and kidney disorders. Marvin could even turn appendicitis into an art form. Baffling diagnostic symptoms took on new meaning. But, his favorite area of expertise was modern clinical psychiatry.

One particular morning, I was feeling somewhat glum, and told Marvin.

Glum my foot. What youve got here is a full-blown mental disorder resulting from an advanced case of borderline malfunction of a neurotic syndrome. In other words: something is eating you.

You are, Marvin, I yelled.

By late December, Marvin and I had cornered the market on all varieties of illnesses. Not once did I need to consult my own physician. I had Marvin, the neighborhood MD. who enjoyed practicing medicine without a license. When it was time for him to pack up and go back to Manhattan, I felt uneasy.

Keep calm, he said. I do phone consultations.

A few weeks after Marvin left, I phoned him complaining of flu-like symptoms.

Stand over a boiling kettle and inhale deeply. Then take some Echinacea with Goldenseal.

Thank you, Marvin, I said, sneezing into the receiver.

You are holding your groin when you sneeze, arent you? he asked.

How long should I hold it?

Until I return to Connecticut, Marvin said. Sometime around Valentines Day.

Westporter Judith Marks-White shares her humorous views monthly in the Westport News. She can be reached via email at joodth@snet.net or at judithmarks-white.com.
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The millions of Syrians who have fled their country since the war began in 2011 have bent Europe's politics out of shape, driven the rise of far-right and anti-immigration politics, and contributed to the foul public mood that brought about Brexit.

She lives in a tent in a camp in Lebanons Bekaa valley and works for the Lebanese landowner. She's paid less than a dollar an hour, a fraction of the local minimum wage. Its not quite enough to buy food and pay the rent for her leaky tent.

Hala is 18, a former law student, a child of the Syrian middle class, and a refugee.

Hala spots the camera and her eyes come alive. Toiling head-covered in a field, her eyes are all that's visible of her face. She stands up, tilts her hip and poses like a model, holding a cucumber aloft. Then she dissolves into laughter.

Expectation is building that the Syrians will return home, resume their lives and begin to rebuild their country.

And, after seven years, local populations hosting millions of refugees are growing impatient with the burden.

But the hot war has wound down and a ceasefire has been in place since late last year. Donald Trump has announced that Islamic State is defeated, and he will withdraw American troops. Aid from Western donors is drying up (the Australian government must decide in the budget if it will replace its $220 million, three-year humanitarian funding).

A woman stands in front of a temporary shelter as she watches children playing in an unofficial camp in the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon. Credit:Kate Geraghty

In Syria itself, the situation remains complex and dangerous, with the regime as well as Turkey, Iran, Russia, Israel and the United States  and their proxies  all embroiled in a battle for land or strategic position.

Between them, these relatively unstable nations still host 5.4 million registered refugees, and an unknown number of people who are unregistered.

Germany made a one-off intake of a million people. Australia took 12,000 as a special measure and the United States absorbed 14,000. But the vast burden has been borne by the poor countries that neighbour Syria: Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan and Iraq.

Drinking water comes from plastic tanks supplied by non-government organisations, in this case Oxfam. Waste water from washing lies in small cesspits that dot the camp. About 20 days before our visit, a little girl drowned in one of these pits. She was two years old.

A woman sits with her grandson and other children in front of the temporary shelters in Saideh camp in the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon. Credit:Kate Geraghty

It's safe but they live, winter and summer, in a tent. Lebanese authorities allow the refugees nothing permanent  no fences for security or piped water or sewerage systems. Lebanese soldiers patrol, looking for transgressions. They have been known to break up concrete slabs under tents.

Hala came to this Lebanese field from Deir al-Zor, the scene of a bloody, years-long siege by Islamic State. Last year, her family was blasted out, their rural house destroyed. They walked for 12 days and ended up in a flimsy camp in Bekaa.

Hala, left, and her sister Fatima do backbreaking work for whatever pay they can get. Credit:Kate Geraghty

On the ground in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Iraq, though, the refugees themselves are adamant: returning is either an impossible dream or a nightmare they cannot face.

But, one afternoon, IS bombarded his school in Maskana with rocket-propelled grenades. Now in Lebanon, he starts work at 6am on a construction site, earning about $US7 per day.

At the nearby camp, Mohammad, 14, displays his dusty, blistered hands. "I liked school," he says of his old life in Syria. "I want to be a dentist.

Mohammad, 14, sits with his father Abdelmeneim Moustafa, 54, in Saideh camp after a day shift at a construction site. Credit:Kate Geraghty

"It's really frustrating. I feel like I want to cry."

"I have education and could do more and I'm just wasting my time working in this field," she says, stretching her back painfully between vines.

Hala is desperate to tell us about her life, but must squeeze in an interview as she picks cucumbers, her Lebanese supervisor shouting at her to keep moving. He wants the whole field cleared this afternoon.

For all this, the refugees must pay $US200 ($290) per year in rent to the farmers. The farmers get cheap labour and no trouble. For the refugees, the wages are barely enough to buy food.

"I feel lost here," says "Abir," who asked that we not use her real name.

Abir (second from right) talks to her husband Mahmoud, 70, inside their temporary shelter in the Bekaa Valley. Credit:Kate Geraghty

"I knew people who went back. They couldn't survive five days and had to leave again."

"The sand in your country is worth a lot to you," he says, "but there's no water or electricity there, and our life is in war.

"I prepare the cement and carry the big stones and give it to the men. The stones are 30kg and the cement bags are 50kg. I carry them by myself."

"The Lebanese beat us, spy on us, insult us and don't pay us the money they owe. We are always nervous, always angry. We go to work for $US3 per day and nobody pays us. If we complain, nobody hears us because we're Syrians."

Lebanese people accuse Syrians of undercutting wages and stealing jobs. They are blamed for crime and traffic and the disruption of phone lines. Official harassment is also increasing.

The barely disguised intention is to force the refugees home.

While Lebanon officially adheres to the United Nations view that returns to Syria must be voluntary, safe and dignified, it enthusiastically endorsed a failed Russian proposal earlier this year to move people back.

"The circumstances in Syria have changed and many areas are safe and, for that reason, there is no reason for the refugees to stay," said Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, a supporter of the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad.

Abdelmeneim Moustafa, 54, in front of the temporary shelter he calls home in Saideh camp. Credit:Kate Geraghty

Rebuked by the international community, the Lebanese government has shown no sign since those comments in August of forcing people back. But in the camps, the push factors are obvious.

As miserable as their lives are, though, none of the Syrians we meet at this camp feel it's possible to return. They fear the war, or arrest, or conscription into Assad's army. Or they simply have nothing left to go home to.

"Back in Syria we had a house ... but I had to sell it, with all my belongings," says Moustafa.

"Everything I collected for 40 years [I] had to sell in two years, and now I have nothing."

Children in the streets of Ain al-Hilweh, the Palestinian camp in Sidon, Lebanon. Credit:Kate Geraghty

Forty minutes south of Beirut, in the town of Sidon, is a "camp" that explains the Lebanese government's fear of allowing permanence. Ain al-Hilweh was first settled 70 years ago to house Palestinian refugees who fled in 1948 from the land that is now Israel. The grandchildren and great-grandchildren of those people now live there.

It's a walled compound. It has streets, shops, apartment buildings, schools and community facilities.

It's better for me to die of a bomb than to die of oppression ... Here, I feel like a body without a soul. Abdul Hamid al-Deraai

But Palestinians are still not welcome to settle permanently in Lebanon in case they upset the tenuous balance of religions and ethnicities baked into the countrys constitution. Their movements are restricted, they can only do certain jobs, and they will remain non-citizens.

The Palestinian "problem" means the Lebanese are determined not to allow the Syrian refugees to put down roots: hence the open cesspits and tents, plastic water tanks, broken concrete and bullying.

In Ain al-Hilweh, we meet the only Syrian we can find who intends to return home. But it's not hope that drives him.

Syrian refugees Mohammad al-Deraai, 13, watched by his ill uncle Sobhi al-Deraai in the family apartment in Ain al-Hilweh. Credit:Kate Geraghty

Abdul Hamid al-Deraai, 45, arrived from the Syrian city of Idlib in 2012 and has been unable to find work. His children have been kicked out of the Lebanese school  they believe its because they are Syrian.

The family's only income is from his son, Mohammad, 13, who sells soap in the streets of the camp. Aid funding has also been cut because, Deraai was told, international donors were pulling out.

"Without him I'd be lost". Hear Khitam al-Ramadan talk about her son.

Without money for rent, his family, including his painfully disabled uncle, Sobhi, face being evicted from their apartment. Deraai blames discrimination.

"Going back to Idlib and living under shelling is easier than being here," Deraai says as his wife, Khitam al-Ramadan, weeps.

"It's better for me to die of a bomb than to die of oppression ... It's my job to look after the family. Here, I feel like a body without a soul."

Jordan: 'Why did we allow you to enter?'

Samiha al-Kelani leans over another woman, Safana, and gently directs her hands on the sewing machine. A burst of power and another few stitches are added to the tote bag they will sell for cash.

The bags they are sewing in Oxfam's aid project are made from the blue-and-white, UN-printed canvas from the tents where these women once lived. In Jordan's Zaatari camp, the almost 60,000 residents were moved from tents into caravans in 2014, freeing up plenty of fabric.

Unlike the temporary camps in Lebanon, Zaatari has paved roads, including a well-stocked shopping street (known, jokingly, as the Shams Elysee), organised assistance from international organisations, drainage and government-supplied security. Some refugees have work permits allowing them to go outside the camp for employment.

Samiha al-Kelani in the shop in the annex of her tent at Zaatari camp. Credit:Kate Geraghty

The Jordanian authorities surveil people physically and electronically but, so far, they are much more accommodating than Lebanon's.

Back in the relative comfort of her caravan, Samiha feeds us meat parcels called kibbe while her son, Mohammad, serves chips and lollies to children who come to the little convenience store in the annex. Samiha wants to go back to Syria, she says, when it's safe.

But that day is a long way off.

The "Shams Elysee" shopping street in Zaatari Camp in Jordan. Credit:Kate Geraghty

Meanwhile, she says she has never felt discrimination in Jordan.

"I don't feel that the authorities at the camp or the Jordanian people are pushing for us to go back.

But pressures are building. In July last year, after a spate of heavy conflict, more than 60,000 Syrians came to the Jordanian border. The government refused to let them in, saying it had already done enough. Ordinary Jordanians rebelled. #OpenTheBorders trended on Twitter, and the government partially relented.

The vast majority, about 80 per cent, of the Syrian refugees in Jordan live in cities and towns, not camps. On the streets, there was open-hearted hospitality at first. Recently, though, the tension has started to mount.

Nour Abdel-Jaleel Othman, 21, from Daraa, Syria, now living in an apartment in Irbid, Jordan, as a refugee. Credit:Kate Geraghty

Nour Abdel-Jaleel Othman, 21, lives in the northern city of Irbid.

"They are racist when you go for a job," she says. "The employer pays half the salary, and people say 'You Syrians are like Palestinians. Why did we allow you to enter Jordan?"

Her answer is not to return to Syria, however. Its to attempt to get to France.

Lara Shaheen founded her own local training business, the Jasmine Foundation, to help her fellow female refugees get skills to support themselves. She too has felt the hostility.

"There are rights for women": hear Huda Jaber on life in Jordan.

"When I was doing my registration [for a business permit], I felt like Jordanians didn't want Syrians to work and make money. It took six months to finish. For Jordanians it's a couple of days.

"There is discrimination ... [from] the government. They feel like, 'We don't need Syrians to work here, you should go back home'."

Shaheen and her mother, Hasna'a al-Beesh, 56, say that will never happen. They say they are on one of the Assad regime's notorious, multimillion-name blacklists.

In 2012, Shaheen, a savvy, urbane resident of Damascus, was arrested and interrogated for helping internally displaced people whom the regime defined as terrorists. She fled.

Lara Shaheen, 36, (left) talks with her mother, Hasnaa al-Beesh, 56, in the sewing room at Jasmine Foundation in Irbid, Jordan. Credit:Kate Geraghty

The following year, her beloved fiance, a freelance journalist, was in his home town preparing for their wedding when he was kidnapped by Islamic State for making YouTube videos critical of them. Then he was killed.

"I still wait for him," Shaheen says, tears filling her eyes. "I feel like he's waiting for me somewhere. He's a very, very funny man. I'm still waiting for him."

Shaheen has been brutalised by both sides of the Syrian conflict. And if they return to Damascus, she and her mother say the regime would finish the job.

"Not only would we be detained," says Beesh, "we'd be executed."

For them, the dream is to move to Turkey - the country that has taken 3.6 million people, the vast bulk of those who've left Syria.

Abdalrahman, 18, from Mosul in Iraq, watches Najm Alden, from Aleppo in Syria, 50, try out his new prosthetic leg. Credit:Kate Geraghty

A new life in Turkey: 'What would I do in Syria?'

Abdalrahman, 18, crosses the two short stumps that are all that's left of his legs, leans his elbows on his knees and peers curiously into a neighbouring room. There an older man, Najm Alden is trying out his new prosthetic leg.

Abdalrahman, who is from Mosul, allows us to take photographs as he practices walking again, but when asked a question about his story, he is almost monosyllabic in response. "I'm ashamed," he says.

The much older Najm Alden has no such qualms. "It's like freedom" he says as he hobbles around the room, "like being a bird in a cage, then someone opens the door and it can fly away."

"Faith and patience": hear Najm Alden on coping as an amputee.

Najm Alden lost his legs four years ago when he was hit by a bomb walking the streets of Damascus. He has no idea who dropped it. Now he's in a clinic in Istanbul in Turkey learning to walk again.

He chuckles when asked if he might return.

"Turkish people like us and accept us and we like them," he says. "Besides, my story, my history, my home, my possessions: all these things are gone. What would I do in Syria?"

He hopes to open a building supplies shop in Istanbul. There is nothing that would stop him. Turkey allows him to work.

'I am ashamed': Abdalrahman tries out his new legs. Credit:Kate Geraghty

The Syrian war has created more amputees than any other in history, says Mustafa Agtas, the executive director of the Kuwait Istanbul Orthotic Prosthetic Centre, largely because the Assad regime packed electrical wire into its barrel bombs, which sliced through flesh and bone. About 175,000 people lost limbs. Many lost two. Some lost three.

It's like being a bird in a cage, then someone opens the door and it can fly away. Najm Alden

Ninety-four per cent of Syrian refugees in Turkey live in the cities or suburbs. The numbers are huge, and the unrest among ordinary Turks is growing.

One widely-shared Facebook meme says "Ten Syrians are leaving six Turks unemployed. The privileges that are given to migrants arent given to Turkish citizens". Another complains that Turkish soldiers are being "martyred" fighting in Syria while refugees are "living the high life" in safety.

Turkish strongman President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a mild admonition during the last election: We want our refugee brothers and sisters to return to their country. Apart from that, he has encouraged his country people to extend Islamic hospitality to their neighbours.

"[Erdogan] never allowed it to become a political discussion. He wouldn't let it," says Izzet Sahin, who is in charge of humanitarian diplomacy at Turkish NGO IHH.

And as long as they stay, the Syrians in Turkey have access to public healthcare, education and a small stipend.

Wafa Gourani, 47, a dessert chef from Aleppo and now an amputee living in Istanbul, negotiates the steps from his apartment followed by his two youngest sons Hamza, 6, and Abdullah, 8. Credit:Kate Geraghty

In another inner city suburb, at the top of a long staircase in a house halfway down a steep Istanbul hill, Wafa Gourani, 47, from Aleppo is also trying to make a life with just one leg. His older sons work and provide the familys living.

He carefully puts on the layers of sleeves between stump and leg with the help of one of his sons, Abdullah, eight, then stands and puffs down the stairs. It's frustrating, he says. The leg rubs, so Gourani only goes out once every 15 days.

He is adamant he will not go back to Syria "as long as Assad is still in office". Apart from the trauma of his injury, he fears his fighting-aged sons will be conscripted.

Still, he is an optimistic man. Despite his one leg, his three children and the hilly landscape, his wife is newly pregnant with twins. "We are already five people, and soon we'll end up as seven!" he grins.

As winter approaches, Mustafa, 10, and Ahmed, 7, warm their hands over a barbecue at a kebab shop in Basirma refugee camp in Iraqi Kurdistan. Credit:Kate Geraghty

Iraq: the most solid camps

It's the aeroplanes that frighten Ahmed Jalal the most. He's safe now, in a brick cottage in a refugee camp in Iraq. He and his family are Syrian Kurds living under the protection of Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish government, and it shows. It's the most solid camp we've seen in four countries. The huts have solar panels, air conditioners, lockable doors and windows, even wheelie bins in the paved streets.

Ahmed has spent half his 12 years here, but he can't shake the trauma of the conflict he left behind, and the air strike that drove them out of Syria.

Syrian refugees Manal Hussein (second from right) holding two-month-old Omar Jalal. Ahmed, 12, is far right, in their brick shelter at Darashakran camp, Iraqi Kurdistan. Credit:Kate Geraghty

"The sound was really weird ... I'm afraid of aeroplanes the most. I know when they are coming, they are coming to fight. They are coming to bombard."

His mother, Manal Hussein, is frightened if they go back that you Ahmed will be conscripted to Bashar Assad's army.

"If the kid is smart enough, they'll fill up their gaps with kids," she says.

Issa Abdulqadir has children too, and tried going back to Syria from the Basirma camp, also in Iraq. He was one of just 40,000 people in 2018 who returned, from all the millions who fled.

Hes not sure which group was in charge in his home town of al-Hasakah, but whoever it was, they were brutal.

"I went back because I wanted to move back. But they're still kidnapping. They'll kidnap you, get money from your family  $US20,000 or $30,000  and once you have paid the money, they'd still behead you," he says, sucking deeply on a shisha pipe and shaking his head.

Pastry cook Issa Abdulqadir with his six year old son Hozen (right) his brother Daham Abdulqadir (left) and his son Mohammad in Basirma refugee camp in Iraq. Credit:Kate Geraghty

"I saw with my own eyes a guy throw a grenade into a house and two girls died. The girls were sleeping and the grenade came into the room where they were sleeping and killed them."

Abdulqadir lasted a matter of weeks before he fled for a second time to Iraq to the sweet shop in the refugee camp where he makes baklawa for his poor neighbours.

There is no punishment there. If they don't like you, they'll kill you. Issa Abdulqadir

It gives him little money, but plenty of time to think and worry about what to do next. Move to the city to find work? Get a boat across the smuggler route to Europe? With small children, neither is a good option.

He has tried to get legal passage to Sweden through the United Nations: "I did the interview, but nothing has happened. It's a common complaint of people across the region, as demand for places vastly exceeds the supply.

Peshmerga soldiers in the back of a ute wait to start their night patrol of the border between Iraqi Kurdistan and Syria. Credit:Kate Geraghty

Meanwhile, on the Syria-Iraq border, Kurdish Peshmerga forces patrol every night. People are still crossing  many are families fleeing Afrin and Kobane, directed by people smugglers from these still brutal places. The stories they emerge with are of rapes, kidnappings, unemployment and endless war.

Abdulqadir has given up on Syria.

"There is no punishment there. If they don't like you, they'll kill you. At the moment there are seven rulers: IS, the regime, Russia, Iran, the Kurdish military, Hezbollah, Turkey.

"We want just one."

Michael Bachelard travelled with the assistance of Oxfam. To support Oxfams work go to oxfam.org.au/my/donate/syria-crisis
Brian Gregory Robling of Washington, 23, passed away Monday, June 7, 2021. Brian was born July 11, 1997, in Washington, to Amber (Robling) Whiteman and Michael Bernard. He graduated from Washington High School in 2016. Brian is survived by his parents; his son, Zyler Mehrer of Washington; da
Count me as one of the skeptics that this going to amount to more than theater and rhetoric, said Michael Shifter, president of the Inter-American Dialogue, a D.C.-based think tank. They may do a lot of posturing and grandstanding together that will make them feel good and tough and like powerful guys. But what does that amount to in the end? I dont know that this is the kind of romance that leads to anything concrete.
When the government launched Canadas official recreational-pot market on Oct. 17, it was banking on the idea that many users would prefer to buy legally and that the black market would quickly begin to fade. It says things seem on track, with early reports of a 65 percent reduction for illegally sourced products, according to a spokeswoman for the minister in charge of the cannabis file.
The Russian Embassy in Washington found out about Makarenkos detention from those close to him, not the U.S. government, violating the Vienna convention of giving notification within 72 hours of a foreign nationals arrest. This is not the first time the US does this, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The United States neglect of its international obligations has become the norm.
Turkey considers the YPG a subsidiary of the Turkish Kurdistan Workers Party, which both Ankara and Washington have designated a terrorist organization. It has objected from the start to the U.S. use of the Syrian Kurdish fighters as the primary ground force in the U.S. efforts against the Islamic State. Turkeys complaints have grown as territory cleared of the militants has been left in the hands of the YPG, which has declared a Kurdish enclave along the Turkish border.
In recent weeks, so many parents with children have been among the 2,000 unauthorized migrants who are being taken into federal custody each day that authorities have resorted to mass releases of families onto the streets of El Paso and other border cities. U.S. agents are bringing dozens of migrants coughing and feverish each day to clinics and hospitals after stays in jam-packed holding cells where children sleep on concrete floors and huddle in plastic sheets for warmth.
Netanyahu has said that he will not quit if he is indicted. Under the law, he is not explicitly required to do so unless convicted. And if he makes it to the election and wins a new term, his fifth, he could argue that he has been given a new mandate by the public despite the cases, refuse to step down and perhaps even try to push through a change to the law that prevents the indictment of a sitting prime minister.
Tep Ngorn, heading a high-ranking Cambodian delegation, is visiting Vietnam to attend a ceremony marking the 40th anniversary of the victory of the southwest border defence war and the joint victory of Vietnam and Cambodia over the Pol Pot genocidal regime (January 7).

At the reception, the top legislator lauded the participation of the delegation at the ceremony, which was held earlier the same day.

She noted the participation carries Cambodians sentiment of closeness, friendship and solidarity with Vietnamese people, particularly volunteer soldiers and experts who once carried out international missions in the country during the years of difficulties and sacrifices.

Ngan said following the success of Prime Minister Hun Sens official visit to Vietnam, the current visit by the high-ranking delegation further consolidates and enhances the neighbourliness, as well as comprehensive and long-standing cooperation between the two countries and their law-making bodies.

The NA leader stressed Vietnam is always attentive and supportive to, and happy at the significant socio-economic achievements by the Cambodian Government and people.

She said she believed that under the leadership of the Senate, parliament, and Royal Government with the CPP at its core, Cambodia can maintain its momentum of development and stability, while its people can achieve more in building the country towards prosperity and better position in the region and in the world.

For his part, Tep Ngorn said the ceremony had been organised solemnly, with film excerpts screened at the events moving the audience and reflecting the true bond and shared feeling between Cambodian people and Vietnamese volunteer soldiers when Cambodia faced its most difficult time.

Cambodia also marked the 40th anniversary of its victory against the Pol Pot genocidal regime on the same occasion, he said.

The official underscored that it is an important time for both nations to carry out extended communications activities targeting their people, particularly youths, helping them gain righteous understanding on a historical period when the two nations fought shoulder-by-shoulder amid various difficulties.

He said the sound collaboration between Vietnam and Cambodia not only exists over the past four decades but also dates back many years before that.

He took the occasion to inform his host of Cambodias current socio-economic situation and its preparation for the 27th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) in Siem Reap in mid-January.

Ngan said the Vietnamese National Assembly supports the Cambodian parliaments hosting of the 27th APPF. She stated that Vietnam will take an active part in the event and is willing to share its experience and collaborate with Cambodia to help the country successfully organise the annual meeting.

Praising close attention paid by Cambodian leaders on matters related to the people of the Vietnamese origin, the top legislator said she expected the Cambodian Senate will continue creating favourable conditions for the community so that they can contribute to the host countrys development and the friendship it shares with Vietnam.
Orban has cast himself as the patriotic defender of Hungary against an invading tide of migrants, even though immigration to the country is negligible. With European parliamentary elections coming up in May, he has sought to transform the campaign into a struggle between his brand of illiberal democracy and the tolerant and open societies advocated by Soros.
I am not a person of color; I am not a citizen of a tribe, she said. Tribal citizenship is very different from ancestry. Tribes, and only tribes, determine tribal citizenship, and I respect that difference. I grew up in Oklahoma, and like a lot of folks in Oklahoma, we heard stories about our ancestry. When I first ran for public office, Republicans homed in on this part of my history, and thought they could make a lot of hay out of it. A lot of racial slurs, and a lot of ugly stuff. And so my decision was: Im just gonna put it all out there. Took a while, but just put it all out there.
Outside his bubble, Santana wondered why so many around him were gripped by fear. Why be fearful of losing a way of life, he wondered. Most around him were foreign-born and had already lost their way of life. Why be fearful about having to leave a job and learning a new skill? Many of his friends parents were professionals in other countries and opted to slug it out in America instead.
The Republican agenda is working. Just look at the results. As the news about employment and wages on Friday confirmed, over the past two years, the United States has undergone an astonishing economic turnaround. The economy is growing at twice the rate it did under President Barack Obama. More than 4.4 million new jobs were created in 2017 and 2018 . Middle-class income is at an all-time high. Overall unemployment is the lowest in 50 years, and African American, Hispanic and Asian American unemployment is at historically low levels.
A million erroneous citations notwithstanding, Albert Einstein never said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. But wherever it came from, Trump proves the maxim daily. He keeps spouting off, keeps improvising impulsively, keeps spurning those who could help him and antagonizing those who can hurt him, huddles ever closer to the dying embers of his demoralized base  yet seems surprised that things keep going wrong.
Mr. Huseynov used Facebook and YouTube effectively to hold Azerbaijans rulers to account. Among his probing and revelatory reports, in late 2016 he posted videos showing that while ordinary Azerbaijanis were hurting economically, government ministers were building themselves opulent palaces. He was detained Jan. 9, 2017, and the next day told a judge that police had beaten him in the station, put a plastic bag over his head and used a stun gun, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Ms. Ismayilova said his face was bruised and his shirt was covered in blood when he was released from the courthouse that day. Instead of an investigation into his treatment, which a judge ordered, Mr. Huseynov was prosecuted for defamation of the same police station that had tormented him. He was sentenced to two years in prison. He has been there since March 3, 2017.
U.N. calls on Yemen's rebels to stop aid theft: The U.N. food agency demanded that Yemen's Houthi rebels put an "immediate end" to food diversion and hold accountable those responsible for food theft, but said it is not clear how much if its aid is actually reaching Yemenis. The latest remarks come shortly after an investigation by the Associated Press found that across Yemen, factions on both sides have blocked food aid from reaching groups suspected of disloyalty, diverting it instead to front-line combat units or selling it at a profit on the black market.
In his ruling referring the matter to the county prosecutor, Euclid Municipal Judge Patrick Gallagher did point out that the petitioners fail to claim any personal knowledge of Mr. Hubbards injuries. Had they done so, he could have taken more drastic action, the judge seemed to imply. Under Ohio law, Gallagher also could have used the citizens petition to circumvent the prosecutors office and issue an arrest warrant for Amiott.
About 40 percent of the 84 items were under-labeled, meaning they had significantly more CBD than indicated. In addition, approximately a quarter were over-labeled, meaning consumers not only are paying good money for an ingredient they are not getting but also may not be getting a large enough dose to achieve any potential therapeutic benefit. More concerning, Bonn-Miller says, is that some CBD products may contain THC in amounts that could make you intoxicated or impaired
Shah and Ioffe have data to support screening in a recently published paper for Urology Times. Looking at tissue from nearly 2,900 biopsies, they found that after the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force  the federally appointed panel that weighs in on the need for PSA tests  said routine PSA screening was unnecessary in 2012, fewer biopsies were performed. But more of those biopsies revealed cancer, suggesting that some cases are being diagnosed later than they could have been.
The doctors reasoning: women under 35 had more babies overall and account for 80 percent of countrys 6,000 annual Down births, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She explained that the test was more accurate than the current standard of care for younger women, which can include other blood tests and an ultrasound to measure the fluid at the base of the fetuss neck that can signal the presence of Down. Plus, the parents could learn the gender during the first trimester if they wanted, rather than wait to see the babys anatomy on the 20-week ultrasound.
DeVos has surgery after bike accident: Education Secretary Betsy DeVos was recovering Friday from surgery to repair a broken bone after a biking accident, a department spokeswoman said. DeVos underwent surgery Thursday and planned to rest at home for a few days. She is expected to make "a full recovery," said spokeswoman Liz Hill. She added that DeVos will remain in daily contact with the department. Hill did not respond to further questions about the injury or where it happened.
 The Extreme Risk Protective Order, sponsored by Del. Richard C. Rip Sullivan Jr. (D-Fairfax) and Sen. George L. Barker (D-Alexandria), which would allow a court to temporarily prohibit someone from access to his firearms if the person has been found to pose a danger to himself or others. In response to concerns raised by Republicans last year that such power could be misused, the proposal specifies that any removal order would have to be brought by law enforcement and approved by a judge or magistrate.
Advocates say they welcome the stepped-up efforts, but want the city to take even bolder steps to ensure the safety of all road users. More people are walking and riding bikes in the nations capital, and the mix of road users continues to change with the addition of new modes of transportation, from ride booking to dockless bikes and scooters. Advocates say instead of focusing on creating 20 mph zones, for example, the District should lower its default speed limit to 20 from 25 mph, and that the no-turn-on-red rule should be citywide.
She was found dead at the scene and was believed to be running in the area when she was hit, according to police.
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The arrest affidavit says that Wrice was on Kennedy Street when he saw a man with whom he had been beefing over stolen money. He told police that he saw the man reach toward his waistband and that he took out his own gun and fired four or five shots. He told police he ran and did not know anyone had been hit.
Officers searched one man after seeing a bulge in his shirt and found a pellet gun. Another man was searched as he sat in a chair. One officer wrongly told the group that everyone could be searched because one person in the group had a weapon, which helped fuel a rumor that the person with the fake gun was a police informant there to provide a pretext to search others. Newsham has denied that the man worked for police.
Bellamys attorneys, Steven Kiersh and Kevin McCants, asked Judge Juliet McKenna for leniency, reminding the judge that Bellamy was a teenager at the time of the shootings. They said Bellamy was remorseful for the killing of the youth at the Metro station, and they maintained that it was one of Bellamys friends, not him, who pulled the trigger during the robbery of the Secret Service officer. McCants argued that his client could be rehabilitated through counseling and maturity.
A new circle had been created when Interstate 66 was driven underneath what had been a regular intersection. (The official name for the short stretch of road under the circle is the Potomac River Freeway. It marks the eastern end of I-66.) Because it was a new circle, it had no name. (In fact, there are no signs there now denoting it as Juarez Circle.)
Its not as though January was going to be our best season anyway, but thats why we really rely on the zoo even more than in other months, because people arent sending gifts and throwing parties as much as they do in December or February, Krigman said. But people still go to the zoo  when its open.
The students, from the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, filed a complaint with the federal government in June 2017 alleging the Wolf Point School District deprives them of basic rights to which they are entitled in school. The discrimination included dozens of instances of bullying, racial slurs and disproportionate discipline of students who are not white, according to the complaint.
You will wish you had a medical degree on those nights when a rash shows up and you have no idea whether you should rush to the emergency room or pull out the calamine lotion. You will wish you had taken a child psychology class instead of Zen Buddhism in college when your kid starts asking about death. You will spend hours researching the benefits of Montessori programs versus language-immersion ones versus traditional schooling and then still feel you know nothing. This is true whether you have a PhD or GED.
Our relatives who live out of state were slighted that there wasn't a wedding as well. While many acquaintances and not-close family members posted congratulations on social media, none of the immediate aunts and uncles acknowledged their wedding with a phone call or even a card. I'm upset with my sisters and brothers and in-laws that such an important day in the life of someone they claim to love so much went by without even a phone call within the month following.
The Seattle Times reports that the Center for Whale Researchs founding director, Ken Balcomb, said that photos taken of a southern resident orca known as J17 on New Years Eve showed that the 42-year-old female has whats called peanut head  a misshapen head and neck caused by starvation. In addition, a 27-year-old male known as K25 is failing, also from lack of sufficient food. He lost his mother, K13, in 2017 and is not successfully foraging on his own.
Federated Investors fired at least two employees for unprofessional conduct last month during a Bloomberg Television interview of one of the firm's money managers. "We apologize to anyone who was offended," Meghan McAndrew, a spokeswoman for the asset manager, said in an email. The incidents occurred Dec. 20 as Linda Duessel, a senior equities strategist, was being interviewed from the company's Pittsburgh offices. As she spoke, a man behind her made an "OK" hand gesture that has been linked to far-right political groups, including white supremacists. Later, an image of a shirtless Russian President Vladimir Putin on horseback appeared on a computer screen. Duessel was unaware of the activities. McAndrew said those involved "are no longer with the firm."
Rome mayor bans costumed centurions from Colosseum until March.

Rome's costumed centurions have been banned from operating around the Colosseum and the historic centre following legislation introduced by the city's mayor Virginia Raggi on 4 January.

Effective until 31 March 2019, the new ban prohibits the dressing up in "historical clothing (such as centurions)" and seeking to be photographed or filmed "even without requesting cash."

The order covers the city's centro storico, recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, and is part of a raft of measures approved by the city council last November.

The city said the ban is to protect Rome's "artistic, historical and monumental heritage" as well as ensuring decorum and improving the visitor experience of tourists.

Photo Sky TG24
As 2019 begins, the federal government remains partially shut down. Proposals are still surfacing and meetings are still being arranged, but as I write this it looks like it could go on for a while. One of the central points of disagreement is funding for the border wall, which is a highly controversial sticking point. It will be difficult to reach an agreement, and the longer the shutdown goes on, the more the economic costs will mount.

Even if the shutdown has already ended by the time youre reading this, it has once again highlighted a very serious problem in our federal government: an inability to agree on a budget (or much of anything else). Its not the first time weve been here, and it wont be the last. Maintaining basic budget authority to keep the doors open should not be that difficult, and the repeated failures are symptomatic of a lack of ability to tackle many more complex and important problems.

The shutdown is a tremendous hardship to many of the 800,000 people and their families who are directly affected. They are either working without pay if their jobs are considered essential (such as airport security staff) or on leave without pay. Even though they will probably be compensated when the situation is resolved, the human cost is very real particularly given the timing.
The Mayborn Museums Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition is sailing on to its next destination, with two days left in the blockbuster show that is leaving organizers with smiles.

The exhibit, which tells the story of the 1912 sinking of the passenger liner RMS Titanic through 150 items recovered from the sea floor, drew some 50,000 visitors and boosted overall museum attendance during its seven-month run, the Mayborns longest time to host a national touring exhibit.

That increase and the expanded attention to the museum during the Titanics stay rewarded the extra expense, logistics and manpower needed for the show, museum Director Charlie Walter said.

It was an outstanding experience for us and for our visitors, Walter said. You do something like this every three to five years because its hard on your institution and staff, but it shows the community what you can do.

Museum spokesperson Rebecca Nall said anyone wanting a last-minute visit Saturday or Sunday should buy tickets online in advance or come early. The exhibits last entry time is 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
U.S. Rep. Bill Flores, R-Bryan, said President Donald Trump is correct to demand $5 billion for border security, including a border wall, in negotiations to end the partial federal government shutdown that has lasted two weeks so far.

Flores, who on Thursday started his fifth term representing Waco, said Friday morning he was hopeful that congressional leaders would reach a deal with Trump. But after leaders met with Trump, the president threatened the shutdown could last months, or even years if the wall is not funded.

Flores said he believes Democrats are simply looking to fight the president, because they have supported border security measures in the past.

I think one of the challenges is the president refers to border security as the wall, Flores said. Im not in his head. Heres my thinking on that. My hypothesis is that, one, it keeps his base engaged. The second thing is I think it irritates the Democrats.

He said an uptick in attempted illegal border crossings shows the need for a package that would include a physical barrier, technology to help border agents and more boots on the ground.
Johnsons father, Derwood Johnson, served 25 years as judge of 74th State District Court.

In other expected changes, 19th State District Judge Ralph Strother, 75, will retire at the end of his current term in December 2020. Strother was appointed to the court in 1999 after longtime Judge Bill Logue was forced to retire when he turned 75 in January 1999.

Strother has benefited from a change in the law since then that allows state district judges who turn 75 in the middle of a four-year term to complete their term before stepping down.

When Logue retired, he was the longest-tenured state judge in Texas, serving since 1960. Before that, he also served as county judge.

Thomas West, who worked as a McLennan County prosecutor for almost 10 years, said he plans to run for Strothers seat and will file the paperwork indicating his intent to run in the coming week. West, 54, is a partner with the Waco law firm Dunnam and Dunnam, where he has worked for the past 18 years. He is certified in criminal law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Also, Jim Meyer, 68, is starting his fifth, four-term as judge of 170th State District Court. He said he might consider retirement at the end of his term, when he will be 72 and would have held the position for 20 years.
The WAAY 31 I-Team is digging deeper into proposed changes for Alabama's parole board and what victims' family members say is double talk.

Today, the board was still trying to clarify parts of a 70-page corrective action plan it released last week. The board wrote quote, "victim and law enforcement notification of hearings has not been problematic." Victims' family members call that a bold face lie.

We called the Assistant Executive Director of the parole board, Darrell Morgan, and asked him about the statement in the action plan that said victim notification hasn't been problematic. He said, "The victim notification there has been issues with that all along. I'd be surprised that they would say there wasn't any issues with that."

Morgan said he would speak with executive leadership and clear this up. We called him hours later and he said, "As far as actual mandatory or statutory requirements for notification, that traditionally has not been an issue unless we have bad information."

Jimmy Spencer's victim from Franklin County, who shot him during a robbery, was notified in 2008 and 2013 about Spencer's parole hearing, but he was not notified in 2017. Spencer was paroled and is now charged with killing three people in Guntersville. Morgan said the board misinterpreted the law in that case and that they have since made adjustments. He said they will have a new automatic victim notification system in the future.

"It will help everybody concerned about who gets notified and what manner they get notified, and victims will have a lot more say so," said Morgan.

Tonia Bass, whose brother, Bryan Hutto, was murdered in 2010, told WAAY 31 her family has had problems being notified.

"They notified my husband, who I was not married to when all of this happened. They notified him through an email. He gets the email at 3 o'clock at work. He doesn't know what it is. He can't answer it at work. I get the email late that night when he gets home. I'm furious, because I was suppose to be notified. My mother was supposed to be notified," said Bass.

Bass said she was disappointed the board doesn't see victim notification as problematic.

"That is such lie. They are boldfaced liars," said Bass.

Bass said she felt like the board's second corrective action plan pointed fingers and blamed others for the parole board's issues.

"They do not say anything about what they've done wrong," said Bass. "Time for the drawing board is done. Action needs to be taken. As Alabamians were watching, we want change and we demand change."

Board member accountability is also an issue Governor Kay Ivey highlighted late last year. She strongly recommended making personnel changes to the parole board. Members say that's not needed.

The Governor and Attorney General will meet in the coming weeks to discuss the parole board's second corrective action plan. WAAY 31 will keep you updated with their response.
Greetings, No doubt, there is a lot to be concerned about this year; however, 2020 has also been quite a year for recorded music. Let u...
A beef over fifteen bucks and a cell phone has led to an attempted murder charge in Limestone County.

Limestone Sheriffs investigators tell WAAY 31 theyve charged Kevin Dewayne Jordan with attempted murder. They say the 35-year-old Rogersville man shot a man in the 20,000 block of Tillman Mill Road Saturday morning.

The shooting victim was taken to Huntsville Hospital. His condition is unknown, according to investigators, but his family and friends told WAAY 31 on Saturday that he was in intensive care.

The trouble apparently stemmed from Jordan loaning the victim his cell phone. There was also an issue over a missing $15. Jordan went to the victims home and confronted him. The dispute ramped up to Jordan allegedly shooting the man several times with a handgun.

Neighbors, who asked to remain anonymous, said that the two had been friends for a long time. A neighbor said she heard the argument around 3 a.m. Saturday morning and that Jordan and the victim got in a physical fight before gunshots were heard.

"Next thing I know, all you can hear is gunshots going off," one neighbor said.

Saturday, another neighbor told WAAY 31, "if they just left when we told them to leave, this wouldn't have happened and then there wouldn't be a man fighting for his life and there wouldn't be a man in jail and they could both be here sitting with their kids."

Athens Police stopped Jordan when they spotted his vehicle. He is in jail charged with attempted murder.
In ten days, Marshall County will have a new sheriff, Phil Sims.

Sims said he will face problems with "manpower, additional deputies, (and) shortfalls in ... budget right now, especially in overtime." Even with the controversy at the sheriff's office, the sheriff-elect said he's ready for it.

"I'm ready to go to work. That's it," Sims said. "We'll get the problems solved."

Sims said 60 percent of the overtime budget has already been used, and in September, the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation opened an investigation into theft at the sheriff's office.

In October, the department accidentally spent $22,000 on toilet paper. The budget for all supplies for the whole year is $15,000. Sims said this has been resolved.

He said he'll get creative to fund his goals by "finding extra money through grants and so forth to help make up the difference."

Sims said he plans to get better equipment for the drug task force, be in contact with the county commission and hire more school resource officers. He said he also has a plan for the jail but that he can't say what it is just yet.

"When we go into office on the 14th, we'll be putting a plan in motion," Sims said.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) - A federal judge has turned down a request for an expedited hearing on the Tennessee Valley Authority's decision not to sell its unfinished Bellefonte nuclear power plant to a developer.

The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports TVA was given more time to respond to developer Franklin L. Haney's claim that TVA improperly canceled the sale.

The ruling against an expedited hearing came in a lawsuit filed by Haney's Nuclear Development LLC, which wants to buy the plant in Hollywood, Alabama.

Haney was top bidder for the plant site with a $111 million purchase offer.

TVA informed Haney before the scheduled closing that TVA couldn't sell Bellefonte as a nuclear plant unless federal regulators approved the transfer of the deferred construction permit first granted to TVA nearly 45 years ago to start work on the plant.
Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

If you thought Lady Gagas 100 people in a room awards season anecdote was getting a little too well-worn at this point, at least it has some sincere heart and soul behind it. Because in a new Financial Times profile, Goop maestro Gwyneth Paltrow decided to revisit whats become her new favorite story to tell journalists about her burgeoning wellness empire, and its just  not particularly warm and fuzzy, is it? Is it now? I had this funny experience the other day where I went to a yoga studio in LA and the beautiful 22-year-old girl behind the counter was like, Have you ever done yoga before?  she recalled. And I was like: Bitch, you have this job because Ive done yoga before.  If youre a Goop groupie, you can probably recall Paltrow used the same story in a WSJ. Magazine profile last month, just with slightly different wording:

Forgive me if this comes out wrong, but I went to do a yoga class in L.A. recently and the 22-year-old girl behind the counter was like, Have you ever done yoga before? And literally I turned to my friend, and I was like, You have this job because Ive done yoga before.

And, months before that, she tried the lil tale out on a group of fashion and beauty reporters at a private dinner reception. Per Fashion Magazine:

[S]he recounted how the other day she went to yoga, a discipline shes been practicing since the 90s. While she was getting her mat, the 20-something girl working at the studio asked Paltrow if shed ever done the exercise before. And I was like Bitch you have this job because Ive done yoga before! she said jokingly. I didnt really say that to her.

Were going to need to mull this over with some green juices and vaginal eggs. And with a yoga mat made out of the finest polyurethane, we guess.
"Apologizing and moving on does not make the world a better place for people who are gay or people who are transgender, being an ally does," says CNN's @DonLemon, reacting to the Oscars' openness to Kevin Hart's return https://t.co/ITGU3Uj2ez pic.twitter.com/4u48sfBF0U  CNN Tonight (@CNNTonight) January 5, 2019

Don Lemon is not feeling Kevin Harts non-apology. On CNN Tonight, Lemon took a moment to address the many ways Harts half measures have damaged the black queer community. Lemon cited Vultures investigation, and said that the CNN fact checkers also werent able to find one time Kevin Hart actually said or wrote the words Im sorry about his homophobic material. Lemon also dismantled the common objection that we shouldnt care so much about things that are just jokes. Speaking on Harts dollhouse tweet, Lemon said That is a joke to Kevin. But the truth is, that is a reality for many little boys in the United States. Somewhere, a black dad is beating his black son. For example, Lee Daniels was thrown into a trash can by his own father for being gay, an event he dramatized in Empire. One fact CNN was able to find: queer and trans black are disproportionately affected by homelessness. Apologizing and moving on does not make the world a better place for people who are gay or people who are transgender, Lemon concluded. Being an ally does.
Photo: Aqute Media

American Hangman is college-level death penalty discourse, appropriately armed with what appears to be a college-level production budget. By college-level discourse, I mean something fairly specific: theres a working understanding of the intricacies and contradictions and consequences of an issue as morally complex as the death penalty, but its not yet a ripened understanding, and the nuts and bolts are still new ideas being played with, divorced from any human interest (or, usually, any real human experience). Its the kind of thing anti-fans of Black Mirror accuse our modern-day Twilight Zone of dealing in, but I think theres plenty of proof that Charlie Brooker can have a heart when he wants to. American Hangman, a bar thought experiment turned into a film every bit as simple and bad-taste-leaving as that would imply, only has use for humans as sock puppets.

Its premise does resemble the notorious first episode of Brookers show, at least at the outset. Two men are brought into a grimy basement in an undisclosed location, where a brooding young man (Vincent Kartheiser) has brought them before a set of live-streaming cameras for a trial of sorts. Ron (Paul Braunstein) is promptly handcuffed, hooded, and tased, while the other man (Donald Sutherland) is placed behind a mock witness stand to watch him suffer. It takes over 30 minutes of this miserable, familiar scenario (the Saw comparisons are not just suggested but spoken out loud) before Ron is unceremoniously offed by his captor and the real nature of the livestream is revealed: trying Sutherlands retired judge for having sentenced the wrong man to death for the kidnapping and murder of a young girl. Kartheiser is the prosecutor, and the growing online audience is the judge.

American Hangman is basically the yet you choose to participate in society  curious! of movies. We periodically flash to a bar where nameless average Joes and Janes eat crispy chicken sandwiches and drink white wine while watching the trial unfold on their phones and TVs. When Kartheiser begins polling the streaming audience to determine whether to uphold objections or, say, sentence Judge Straight to death, they dutifully chime in on social media, and seem to be curious at worst about what is obviously going to turn into a livestreamed snuff tape. Meanwhile, a hacker who appears to be working out at a yoga retreat, an ambitious anchor at USCN Cable News, and the team at Metro Police (this is the kind of movie where phrases like the state and Triboro area are thrown around so as to avoid naming a specific setting  making the drama even more vague and hollow) crack open the cold case of the girls murder, and try to figure out where the livestream is coming from.

There is potentially a way to execute the concept of this film without coming off like a freshman-year philosophy student, home for winter break, yelling at his parents about determinism. But in all its wide swath of players, writer-director Wilson Coneybeare has placed the guy executing people on camera more or less at the top of the enlightenment hierarchy  and thats a problem! In this wannabe-incisive indictment of trial by social media and how justice itself is shaped by media narratives and groupthink, Kartheisers character seems to sit outside those dynamics, where he is able to see the world for what it really is, man. But what creates a murderous introvert with a penchant for online showboating and #disruption? Isnt he also a product of all the things he condemns? Coneybeare doesnt seem interested in this question  even though he is bad and a murderer, the film seems to imply he has the most clear-eyed view of society.

As for the mystifying involvement of its two leads, Sutherland plays sad and doddering well enough, but one can never quite believe the sophomoric dialogue coming out of his mouth. Kartheiser, on the other hand  what made Mad Mens Pete Campbell a compelling character was the sense that he was one trust-fund deposit away from being a basement-dwelling creep. He may have had a comparable suit budget to his colleagues, but his hairline betrayed him and a deeper anxiety rotting away at his core. Of the shows core cast, he certainly would have been the most likely to murder someone. But theres a certain deflating effect to casting Kartheiser as an actual basement-dwelling creep  greasing his hair and combing it down over his eyebrows, outfitting him with the khakis and glasses de rigueur for your average tiki-torch wielder. Kartheiser is quite good at playing someone with enough unearned braggadocio to not realize how mismanaged his priorities are. Hes not someone you want in charge of your films galaxy brain.
LOS ANGELES - People relied on the most popular mobile weather app to track forecasts that determined whether they chose jeans over shorts and packed a parka or umbrella, but its owners used it to track their every step and profit off that information, Los Angeles prosecutors said Friday.

The operator of The Weather Channel mobile app misled users who agreed to share their location information in exchange for personalized forecasts and alerts, and they instead unwittingly surrendered personal privacy when the company sold their data to third parties, City Attorney Michael Feuer said.



Feuer sued the apps operator in Los Angeles County Superior Court to stop the practice. He said 80 percent of users agreed to allow access to their locations because disclosures on how the app uses geolocation data were buried within a 10,000-word privacy policy and not revealed when they downloaded the app.

Think how Orwellian it feels to live in a world where a private company is tracking potentially every place you go, every minute of every day, Feuer said. If you want to sacrifice to that company that information, you sure ought to be doing it with clear advanced notice of whats at stake.

App defends practices

A spokesman for IBM Corp., which owns the app, said it has always been clear about the use of location data collected from users and will vigorously defend its fully appropriate disclosures.

A mobile phone with The Weather Channel app locati A mobile phone with The Weather Channel app location preference page is seen Jan. 4, 2019. A mobile phone with The Weather Channel app location preference page is seen Jan. 4, 2019.

Feuer said the apps operators, TWC Product and Technology LLC, sold data to at least a dozen websites for targeted ads and to hedge funds that used the information to analyze consumer behavior.

The lawsuit seeks to stop the company from the practice it calls unfair and fraudulent and seeks penalties of up to $2,500 for each violation. Any court decision would only apply to California.



Marketed as the worlds most downloaded weather app, The Weather Channel app claims approximately 45 million users a month, the lawsuit said.



Users who download the free app are asked whether to allow access to their location to get personalized local weather data, alerts and forecasts. It does not say how the company benefits from the information.



While disclosures may be included in the privacy policy, state law says fine print alone cant make good what otherwise has been made obscure, Feuer said.

He said he learned about the sale of the private data from an article in The New York Times.

Personal data

The lawsuit comes as companies, most notably Facebook and Google, are increasingly under fire for how they use peoples personal data. Both companies faced congressional hearings last year on privacy issues, which are likely to remain on lawmakers and regulators minds both nationally and in California.

In June, California lawmakers approved what experts are calling the countrys most far-reaching law to give people more control over their personal data online. That law doesnt take effect until next year.

Feuer said he hopes the case inspires other lawsuits and legislation to curb data-sharing practices.



IBM bought the app along with the digital assets of The Weather Company in 2015 for $2 billion but did not acquire The Weather Channel seen on TV, which is owned by another company.
A federal appeals court has ruled in favor of a Trump administration policy of restricting transgender people from serving in the military.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled Friday that a lower court judge was wrong to block the Pentagon from implementing its plan to limit transgender people in the military.

The lower-court judge had ruled the Trump policy most likely violated the constitutional rights of transgender recruits and service members.

Pentagon pleased with decision

However, in ruling for the Trump administration's position, the appeals court said Friday that the military policy "appears to permit some transgender individuals to serve in the military.'' It also said the plan relied on the "considered professional judgment" of "appropriate military officials."

Pentagon spokeswoman Jessica Maxwell told VOA that the Department of Defense was "pleased with the D.C. Circuit's decision."

"As always, we treat all transgender persons with respect and dignity. It is critical that the department be permitted to formulate personnel policies that it determines are necessary to ensure the most lethal and combat-effective fighting force in the world," Maxwell said.

Friday's ruling will not allow the Pentagon to implement its policy immediately, because other judges have issued rulings blocking the administration's policy in similar cases.

The Trump administration has already asked the Supreme Court to take up the case.

The Department of Defense "is consulting with the Department of Justice on next steps in the litigation. We look forward to continuing to press our case in the courts," Maxwell said.

Trump reverses policy

The Pentagon changed its policy regarding transgender people in 2016 under then-President Barack Obama, allowing them to serve openly in the military. But when President Donald Trump came to power, his administration reversed the policy and reinstated a ban on transgender troops.

Several courts ruled against that ban, leading the Trump administration to modify its policy, which now states that most transgender troops are banned from serving in the military except under limited circumstances, including individuals who serve "in their biological sex'' and who "do not seek to undergo gender transition."

Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb contributed to this report.
ISTANBUL - An independent Ukrainian Orthodox church was created at a signing ceremony in Turkey on Saturday, formalizing a split with the Russian church it had been tied to since 1686.

The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, signed the Tomos in Istanbul in front of clerics and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, forming the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

It forces Ukrainian clerics to pick sides between the Moscow-backed Ukrainian churches and the new church as fighting persists in eastern Ukraine between government forces and Russia-backed rebels.

The pious Ukrainian people have awaited this blessed day for seven entire centuries, Bartholomew I said in his address.

Ukraine Orthodox Leaders Approve Break With Russian Church Ukrainian Orthodox leaders on Saturday approved the creation of a unified church independent of the Moscow Patriarchate and elected a leader to head the new church, officials said. The leader of the new autocephalous Ukrainian Orthodox Church will be Metropolitan Epiphanius, a 39-year-old bishop from the Kyiv Patriarchate. A new head of an independent Ukrainian church, MetA new head of an independent Ukrainian church, Metropolitan of Kyiv Epiphanius Ukrainian Orthodox leaders on Saturday approved the creation of a unified church independent of the Moscow Patriarchate and elected a leader to head the new church, officials said. The leader of the new autocephalous Ukrainian Orthodox Church will be Metropolitan Epiphanius, a 39-year-old bishop from the Kyiv Patriarchate. A new head of an independent Ukrainian church, MetA new head of an independent Ukrainian church, Metropolitan of Kyiv Epiphanius

The patriarch, considered first among equals in Orthodox Christianity, said Ukrainians could now enjoy the sacred gift of emancipation, independence and self-governance, becoming free from every external reliance and intervention.

Poroshenko thanked Bartholomew I for the courage to make this historic decision and said that among the 15 stars of the Orthodox churches of the world a Ukrainian star has appeared, referring to the updated number of churches that dont answer to an external authority.

Last month, Ukrainian Orthodox leaders approved the creation of a new, unified church split from the Moscow Patriarchate and elected 39-year-old Metropolitan Epiphanius I to lead it.

Ukraine Orthodox Leaders Approve Break With Russian Church Ukrainian Orthodox leaders on Saturday approved the creation of a unified church independent of the Moscow Patriarchate and elected a leader to head the new church, officials said. The leader of the new autocephalous Ukrainian Orthodox Church will be Metropolitan Epiphanius, a 39-year-old bishop from the Kyiv Patriarchate. A new head of an independent Ukrainian church, MetA new head of an independent Ukrainian church, Metropolitan of Kyiv Epiphanius Ukrainian Orthodox leaders on Saturday approved the creation of a unified church independent of the Moscow Patriarchate and elected a leader to head the new church, officials said. The leader of the new autocephalous Ukrainian Orthodox Church will be Metropolitan Epiphanius, a 39-year-old bishop from the Kyiv Patriarchate. A new head of an independent Ukrainian church, MetA new head of an independent Ukrainian church, Metropolitan of Kyiv Epiphanius

Bartholomew Is decision in October to grant the Ukrainian church autocephaly, or independence, infuriated Moscow and the Russian church severed ties with Istanbul, the center of the Orthodox world.

Criticism continued Saturday when a spokesman for the Russia-affiliated church in Ukraine, Vasily Anisimov, said, We consider these actions to be anti-canonical ... This action will not bring anything to Ukraine except trouble, separation and sin, according to Russian state news agency RIA-Novosti.

Kiev has been pushing for a church free from Moscows influence, which intensified after Russias 2014 annexation of Crimea and amid the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, second fr Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, second from left, his wife Emine Erdogan, left, Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko and his wife Maryna Proshenko pose for a photo before a meeting, in Istanbul, Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, second from left, his wife Emine Erdogan, left, Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko and his wife Maryna Proshenko pose for a photo before a meeting, in Istanbul, Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019.

Poroshenko, president since 2014, has pushed for the creation of the church as he campaigns for a March 31 election. Though the church is not formally part of the state, it is closely tied. Recent opinion polls suggest he is in second or third place in the race.

Poroshenko met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan before the ceremony.
CAPITOL HILL - U.S. congressional staff members and White House officials met Saturday in Washington in an effort to end a partial government shutdown that was in its 15th day, but ended discussions a few hours later. They planned to meet again Sunday.

An impasse over President Donald Trump's demand for $5.6 billion for his proposed wall on the U.S.-Mexico border led to the shutdown.

Vice President Mike Pence, who met with House and Senate leaders, described the discussions in a tweet:

Productive discussion w/ Congressional leadership staff at @WhiteHouse. @SecNielsen gave a full presentation on crisis along Southern Border. We reaffirmed @POTUS commitment to secure the border, build the wall, keep Americans safe & reopen govt. Discussions continue tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/C7k9Sg8guY  Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) January 5, 2019

But the talks ended with no breakthrough.

Trump tweeted shortly after Pence:

V.P. Mike Pence and team just left the White House. Briefed me on their meeting with the Schumer/Pelosi representatives. Not much headway made today. Second meeting set for tomorrow. After so many decades, must finally and permanently fix the problems on the Southern Border!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2019

?House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement released Saturday, "The senseless uncertainty and chaos of the Trump Shutdown must end, now."

Her statement said that next week, Democrats would "begin passing individual appropriations bills to reopen all government agencies, starting with the appropriations bill that covers the Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service. This action is necessary so that the American people can receive their tax refunds on schedule."

Senior White House adviser and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen also were involved in Saturday's talks, with Nielsen briefing those in attendance on border security.

FILE - Vehicles roll into the Gateway National Rec FILE - Vehicles roll into the Gateway National Recreation Area-Sandy Hook near a sign at the entrance warning visitors of limited services such as closed restrooms during the partial government shutdown in Highlands, N.J., Jan. 3, 2019. FILE - Vehicles roll into the Gateway National Recreation Area-Sandy Hook near a sign at the entrance warning visitors of limited services such as closed restrooms during the partial government shutdown in Highlands, N.J., Jan. 3, 2019.

About 800,000 federal workers have been furloughed or are working without pay during the shutdown, which is now the fourth-longest stoppage, partial or full, in the past 40 years.

Late Thursday, the Democrat-controlled House passed legislation to reopen the federal government and fund the Department of Homeland Security until early February. The measure did not, however, include the money Trump has demanded for the wall.

The Senate passed an identical bill last month, while Republicans still controlled both chambers of Congress.



Earlier this week, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he would not put legislation to a vote in the Senate unless Trump supported it. He called the House plan to end the shutdown "political theater."

Trump has said he will not sign legislation unless it includes funding for the border wall, while Democrats have said they will discuss border security only once the government has reopened.

Trump, who was not part of the negotiations, spent Saturday morning tweeting about the partial shutdown and border wall:

The Democrats could solve the Shutdown problem in a very short period of time. All they have to do is approve REAL Border Security (including a Wall), something which everyone, other than drug dealers, human traffickers and criminals, want very badly! This would be so easy to do!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2019

He also tweeted, without providing evidence:

I dont care that most of the workers not getting paid are Democrats, I want to stop the Shutdown as soon as we are in agreement on Strong Border Security! I am in the White House ready to go, where are the Dems?  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2019

?Democrats have said flat out that there will be no funding in any deal to end the shutdown for the wall.

During a news conference in the Rose Garden on Friday, after meeting with congressional leaders, Trump said he was willing to drag out negotiations "for months or even years" until he got the wall funds. He also threatened to bypass Congress and declare a national emergency in order to get the wall built.

Trump said, again without providing evidence, that the 800,000 federal workers affected by the shutdown wanted him to "keep going" for border security.

When asked Friday about how unpaid workers were expected to manage without a financial safety net, the president replied: "The safety net is going to be having a strong border because we're going to be safe."

While Trump declared Friday's meeting as "very productive," Democratic congressional leaders characterized the White House meeting differently.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., speak FILE - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., speaks to reporters after meeting with President Donald Trump about border security in the Situation Room of the White House, Jan. 4, 2019. FILE - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., speaks to reporters after meeting with President Donald Trump about border security in the Situation Room of the White House, Jan. 4, 2019.

Pelosi, who assumed leadership of the newly sworn in House Democratic majority Thursday, called the almost two-hour meeting "contentious." She continued her oft-repeated assertion that agreement on the wall's funding "cannot be resolved until we open up the government."

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer told reporters the president threatened to keep the government closed for "a very long period of time."

Despite comments from the Democratic lawmakers that little progress was made, Trump said that "we're on the same path" to reopen the government. He touted the benefits of "a solid steel or concrete structure" along the border.

VOA's Katherine Gypson contributed to this report.
CAPITOL HILL - A partial U.S. government shutdown showed no sign of ending soon Friday as White House and congressional aides prepared to work through the weekend to try to resolve a stalemate over funding for U.S. President Donald Trump's proposed U.S.-Mexico border wall.

Trump said he'd had a "very productive" meeting with congressional leaders to try to end the shutdown, which was triggered by disagreement over $5.6 billion in funding to build the wall.

But Democratic congressional leaders characterized the White House meeting differently.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., speak House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., speaks to reporters after meeting with President Donald Trump about border security in the Situation Room of the White House, Jan. 4, 2019. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., speaks to reporters after meeting with President Donald Trump about border security in the Situation Room of the White House, Jan. 4, 2019.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who assumed leadership of the newly sworn in House Democratic majority Thursday, called the almost two-hour meeting "contentious." She continued her oft-repeated assertion that agreement on the wall's funding "cannot be resolved until we open up the government."

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer told reporters the president threatened to keep the government closed for "a very long period of time, months or even years."

Despite comments from the Democratic lawmakers that little progress was made, Trump said that "we're on the same path" to reopen the government. He touted the benefits of "a solid steel or concrete structure" along the border.

The White House said talks on the funding impasse with House and Senate staff members were set for 11 a.m. EST Saturday.

Vice President Mike Pence, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and adviser Jared Kushner have been chosen to work with the congressional delegation.

WATCH: Trump, Lawmakers Again Fail to End Shutdown

'We're not doing a wall'

The House passed a bill Thursday to reopen shuttered federal government agencies. The measure did not, however, include the $5.6 billion the president has demanded for the wall.

"We're not doing a wall," Pelosi vowed Thursday. She suggested that the money could better be used for improving border security technology and hiring more border agents.

FILE - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell FILE - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is surrounded by reporters as he returns from meeting with President Donald Trump and Democratic leaders at the White House, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 2, 2019. FILE - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is surrounded by reporters as he returns from meeting with President Donald Trump and Democratic leaders at the White House, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 2, 2019.

However, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called the House plan to end the shutdown "political theater."

The Senate passed an identical bill last month, while Republicans still controlled both chambers of Congress.

The legislation passed Thursday in the House called for the reopening of the federal government and the funding of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) until early February.

While Trump himself has not used the word "veto," other White House officials have. One official said the president told Democratic leaders he would "look foolish" if he ended the shutdown.

Trump is blaming Democrats for the current situation after insisting on Dec. 11 he would be "proud" to shut down the government if his demand for wall funding was not met.

On Friday, in response to a reporter's question, Trump defended that comment. "I'm very proud of what I'm doing," he said. "I don't call it a shutdown."

But he confirmed that he'd told Democrats a shutdown could go on for months or a year or longer.

Federal contractor Chris Erickson paints his bathr Federal contractor Chris Erickson paints his bathroom, Jan., 4, 2019, in North Salt Lake, Utah. Erickson says he'll run out of vacation days if the shutdown continues. The father of three from Salt Lake City will then crack into his savings, and he'll likely postpone a 14th wedding anniversary trip with his wife to a cabin. Erickson said he likely won't get the chance for reimbursement for the lost days because he's a contractor. Federal contractor Chris Erickson paints his bathroom, Jan., 4, 2019, in North Salt Lake, Utah. Erickson says he'll run out of vacation days if the shutdown continues. The father of three from Salt Lake City will then crack into his savings, and he'll likely postpone a 14th wedding anniversary trip with his wife to a cabin. Erickson said he likely won't get the chance for reimbursement for the lost days because he's a contractor.

"I don't think it will, but I am prepared and I think I can speak for Republicans in the House and Republicans in the Senate. They feel very strongly about having a safe country, having a border that makes sense," he said.

DHS seeks help

Also Friday, the Pentagon said it had received a request from DHS for additional help securing the U.S. southern border.

A defense official told VOA that the Pentagon was reviewing the request for "additional capabilities at the border." The official would not elaborate on what specific capabilities DHS requested.

DHS is among the government agencies left unfunded because of the shutdown, but Congress has funded the Defense Department through Sept. 30, 2019.

About 800,000 federal workers have been furloughed or are working without pay. As of Friday, the partial shutdown had been in effect for 14 days. This is the fourth-longest government shutdown, partial or full, in the last 40 years.



A Reuters/IPSOS poll conducted mostly after the shutdown began found that 47 percent of adults held Trump responsible for the stoppage, while 33 percent blamed congressional Democrats and 7 percent blamed congressional Republicans.

Carla Babb at the Pentagon and VOA's Wayne Lee contributed to this report. ?
Health care officials in Sweden say a patient who was admitted to a hospital with a suspected case of Ebola was found not to be suffering from the highly infectious and potentially deadly disease after all.

The male patient, whose identity has not been revealed, had recently returned to Sweden from a trip to Burundi and was exhibiting symptoms of hemorrhagic fever.

He was originally admitted to the emergency ward of a hospital in Enkoping, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of Stockholm, but was later transferred to the larger Uppsala University Hospital.

Ebola, other diseases ruled out

Health officials said Friday that the man's condition had improved and that tests had ruled out Ebola as well as other diseases such as Marburg and dengue fever. They said they would continue to run further tests to figure out what the man was suffering from.

Health officials said people in contact with the patient who had been kept in isolation were now free to go home.

There is currently no known Ebola outbreak in Burundi, but the country borders the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has been battling an Ebola outbreak for almost six months. More than 350 people have died in that outbreak.

Ebola is a hemorrhagic fever that causes internal bleeding and potentially death. It is rapidly spread via contact with the bodily fluids of those infected.
"You break it, you own it," Colin Powell once warned in referring to U.S. military interventions overseas and the possible fallout that comes with those decisions.

The retired general and former secretary of state invoked his old rule in 2015 to explain his reluctance about the United States becoming too involved in the civil war in Syria. Powell, who served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under President George H.W. Bush, highlighted the painful consequences of previous interventions elsewhere, including in Iraq and Libya.

It is a rule that some analysts say could apply to Russia as Moscow deepens its involvement in Syria.

After having intervened to save Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from being toppled, swinging the war definitively against the rebels just as his government appeared to be heading for defeat, the Kremlin has become more entrenched in Syria and owns the problem, say analysts.

If the Kremlin fails to secure a lasting peace, or is unable at least to stabilize the war-wracked country, still being buffeted by several micro-conflicts, then entrenchment risks turning into a potentially expensive entanglement that would undermine Russia's new regional clout.

And one of the biggest challenges Moscow will face, if the U.S. does withdraw ground troops from the country's northeast, as President Donald Trump has pledged, will be how to prevent a military clash developing between Syria and Turkey, they say.

FILE - This Dec. 11, 2017 file photo, Russian Pres FILE - Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad watch troops marching at the Hemeimeem air base in Syria, Dec. 11, 2017. FILE - Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad watch troops marching at the Hemeimeem air base in Syria, Dec. 11, 2017.

?Contradictory interests

According to analyst Aron Lund, Russia is balancing contradictory interests in Syria. The Kremlin wants to restore the central government and expand the writ of its client Assad across the country, including over the Kurdish-controlled northeast and an arc of territory from Afrin to al-Bab in the northwest now occupied by Turkish troops and rebel Sunni Muslim allies.

Turkey, a NATO member Moscow has been assiduously wooing, has its own designs on Syria, although they are as yet unclear. It has now threatened to cross east of the Euphrates River to attack Syrian Kurdish forces, which it says are aligned with Turkish Kurdish separatists. And Ankara shows no sign of being prepared either to give up its large position south of its border or to rethink its animosity toward the Syrian Kurds.

Western diplomats in Turkey's capital say Turkish officials have been lobbying the Kremlin to allow Turkish warplanes to use Syrian airspace, now under the control of the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State terror group, when the U.S. finally withdraws from the northeast.

"Turkey has never clearly defined its plans for the area, and Turkey shows no sign of wanting to relinquish the Afrin and al-Bab regions, and is working to shore up its hold on Idlib," Lund argues in a policy paper written for the Swedish Defense Research Agency. "Pulling NATO member Turkey out of America's embrace is a goal of major geopolitical significance to Russia. Putin's desire to court [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan may in the end outweigh Assad's desire to retake outlying border regions now under Turkish control."

Erdogan has never made an explicit claim on northwestern Syria, but he has said Turkish troops and their Syrian Sunni allies, former anti-Assad rebels, will remain until Syria has conducted an election.

With peace talks stalled, and few signs of much progress toward a political settlement to the war, that in effect would delay for the foreseeable future Ankara's having to make any withdrawal decision. And in the meantime, the Turks are consolidating their grasp on the northwest  rebuilding schools, entrenching their own NGOs in the region and setting up municipal authorities.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan speaks during an FILE - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks in Istanbul, Dec. 23, 2018. FILE - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks in Istanbul, Dec. 23, 2018.

?What's next?

The question is whether Assad will remain patient. And if Assad seeks to shield Syrian Kurdish forces from Turkish attack, how restrained will Erdogan be in response?

On Tuesday, Erdogan invoked Turkey's Ottoman past when highlighting his military buildup. In a televised call to military commanders on the border as they stood outside the tomb of medieval Ottoman forebear Suleyman Shah, the president pledged to crush Turkey's enemies  Syrian Kurds and IS militants  and underscored his ambition to retain Syrian land under Turkish control, something that not only frustrates Damascus but Assad's other foreign backer, Iran.

Suleyman Shah's tomb was inside Syria but transferred closer to the Turkish border in 2015 after Islamic State militants threatened to destroy it. Erdogan has promised to return the tomb to its original site and said midweek that will be "an important harbinger." But of what he was not entirely clear. He added, "I believe your faith will bring many more victories. You've walked to the martyrdom and you are walking again. Allah will give us victory."

For weeks, the Turks have been amassing more military hardware along the border, including tanks, howitzers and armored personnel carriers. And inside Syria, Turkish-backed forces have moved closer to the strategic town of Manbij, controlled by Kurdish fighters, who until now have felt protected by the presence of U.S. ground troops. This past week, the Kurds turned to Damascus for protection, calling in Assad's forces into Manbij to deter a Turkish attack.

Juggling the interests and demands of both Damascus and Ankara while keeping Tehran satisfied is going to be a challenge for Russian President Vladimir Putin. He's also trying to prevent a potential clash between Israel, another Western-allied power he has been courting, and Iran in the south and west of the country.

FILE - Hulusi Akar, Turkey's defense minister and FILE - Hulusi Akar, Turkey's defense minister and former chief of staff, speaks with soldiers during a visit to Turkish troops stationed at the border with Syria, in Kilis, Turkey, Dec. 31, 2018. Russian and Turkish foreign and defense ministers met in Moscow two days earlier to discuss northern Syria as U.S. forces prepare to withdraw and Turkey threatens to launch a military operation against U.S.-backed Kurdish forces controlling nearly a third of the country. FILE - Hulusi Akar, Turkey's defense minister and former chief of staff, speaks with soldiers during a visit to Turkish troops stationed at the border with Syria, in Kilis, Turkey, Dec. 31, 2018. Russian and Turkish foreign and defense ministers met in Moscow two days earlier to discuss northern Syria as U.S. forces prepare to withdraw and Turkey threatens to launch a military operation against U.S.-backed Kurdish forces controlling nearly a third of the country.

?Moscow's control

"Moscow's permission for Ankara to use Syrian airspace enables Russia to set the pace and duration of Turkish military operations inside Syria," according to Metin Gurcan, a Turkish military analyst. Writing for the Al-Monitor news site, he said Moscow was able to control the pace in March of Turkey's assault on Afrin, closing down Turkish air operations for a week to allow Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) to withdraw from the border town without being targeted by the Turkish air force.

"Would Turkey dare use airspace in northeast Syria despite opposition by Moscow? No," said Gurcan. Otherwise it would not have sent a high-ranking Turkish delegation to Moscow last month to lobby for permission, he maintained.

Being the regional power-broker, as Russia now in effect has become, will test Moscow's juggling skills in a highly volatile corner of the world, say other analysts. Moscow could end up trapped in a quagmire.

"Though this new phase of the war has all the trappings of an endgame, some aspects of it may endure for the foreseeable future," said Lund. He added, "With external powers now dominating spheres of influence from which Assad cannot easily oust them, Syria's unsettled state may be turning into a frozen conflict where intermittent skirmishing and negotiations emerge as a new normal, and cease-fire lines gain permanency even in the absence of formal recognition."
The U.S. Defense Department is denying a media report the U.S. is planning to reduce its operations in Somalia.

Pentagon spokeswoman Navy Commander Candice Tresch told VOA Friday: There have been no recent policy changes regarding U.S. operations in Somalia. We continue to support the Federal Government of Somalias efforts to degrade al-Shabab.

NBC News reported Friday the U.S. is planning to scale back its operations in Somalia because U.S. airstrikes have taken out a number of the militant groups senior operatives.

The Pentagon says the U.S. conducted 47 precision airstrikes in 2018 against al-Shabab militants. In 2017, the U.S. conducted 35 air strikes and in 2016, conducted 15 air strikes. The first U.S.-led air strike of 2019 occurred Jan. 2 to diminish al-Shababs freedom of movement and to increase pressure on the terrorist network in the area.

U.S. military officials say there are and estimated 3,000 to 7,000 al-Shabab fighters and 70 to 250 ISIS-Somalia fighters in Somalia as of August 2018.

There are about 500 U.S. Department of Defense personnel in Somalia.
WASHINGTON - A U.S. federal judge in Maryland has ruled that pharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb, Johns Hopkins University and the Rockefeller Foundation must face a $1 billion lawsuit over their roles in a 1940s medical experiment that saw hundreds of Guatemalans infected with syphilis.

About 775 Guatemalan victims and relatives in 2015 launched a civil suit over the U.S.-led experiment, which aimed to find out if penicillin could be used to prevent sexually transmitted diseases.

They claimed the experiment subjected them or their family members to medical experiments in Guatemala without their knowledge or consent during the 1940s and 1950s.

Judge rules in Maryland

U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang, in a decision Thursday, rejected arguments from the defense that a recent Supreme Court decision protecting foreign companies from U.S. lawsuits over human rights abuses abroad also applied to domestic firms.

The judge said allowing the case to move forward would promote harmony by giving the foreign plaintiffs the opportunity to seek justice in U.S. courts.

Experiments discovered

The unethical experiment was revealed by Dr. Susan Reverby, a professor at Wellesley College in the U.S.

She came across the work while researching notes left by John Charles Cutler, a public health services sexual disease specialist who headed up the experiment, following his death in 2003.

Cutler and his fellow researchers enrolled soldiers, mental patients, prostitutes, convicts and others in Guatemala for the study.

Former U.S. president Barack Obama apologized for the experiments in 2010, while his Secretary of State Hillary Clinton described the experiments as clearly unethical.
GENEVA - Thousands of Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, now have safe drinking water thanks to a combination of green technology and sunlight.

Cox's Bazar has plenty of refugees. More than 900,000. Most have arrived in Bangladesh since August 2017, when violence and persecution by the Myanmar military triggered a mass exodus of Rohingya refugees.



The refugees are living in squalid conditions across 36 different locations in Cox's Bazar. Water is scarce in most locations. But sunshine is plentiful. Over the past six months, the U.N. refugee agency and partners have been putting into operation solar-powered safe water systems.

Project Launched to Repel Insects Damaging Rohingya Shelters in Cox's Bazar The International Organization for Migration has launched a project to exterminate insects that are attacking and damaging the bamboo structures sheltering hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. Sorry, but your browser cannot support embedded video of this type, you can download this video to view it offline. Download File 360p | 9 MB 480p | 13 MB  The International Organization for Migration has launched a project to exterminate insects that are attacking and damaging the bamboo structures sheltering hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. Sorry, but your browser cannot support embedded video of this type, you can download this video to view it offline. Download File 360p | 9 MB 480p | 13 MB 

The UNHCR reports the first five systems are now running at full capacity. It says the new safe water systems run entirely on electricity generated through solar panels. UNHCR spokesman, Andrej Mahecic, says this new network is providing safe water to more than 40,000 refugees.



"Using the solar energy has allowed the humanitarian community to reduce the energy costs and emissions," said Mahecic. "So, there is a clear environmental impact of this. Chlorination is also a life-saver in refugee sites of this scale. The recent tests revealed that most contamination of drinking water occurs during collection, transport and storage at the household level."

Mahecic notes chlorinated water is safe for drinking and also eliminates the risk of the spread of disease.



The UNHCR along with its partner agencies are hoping to install nine more solar-powered water networks across the refugee camp in the coming year. The project, which is funded by the agency, will cost $10 million. It will benefit an additional 55,000 Rohingya refugees.



The UNHCR says its ultimate aim is to provide 20 liters of safe water to every single refugee on a daily basis. It says this will be done by piping in the solar powered water to collective taps strategically installed throughout the Kutupalog-Balukhali refugee site.
Egypt does not want the CBS news program 60 Minutes to broadcast an interview conducted with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

CBS said in a statement the Egyptian embassy contacted the news show shortly after the interview and requested that it not be aired.

The interview, conducted by Scott Pelley, will air Sunday night.

The president confirmed in the interview that the Egyptian military has been working closely with its archenemy Israel.

That is correct, el-Sisi says in the interview. We have a wide range of cooperation with the Israelis.

Egypt and Israel have coordinated attacks on ISIS terrorists in the Sinai Peninsula.

Pelley also questioned the Egyptian leader about the 60,000 political prisoners that Human Rights Watch says Egypt holds.

I dont know where they got that figure, the president said. I said there are no political prisoners in Egypt. Whenever there is a minority trying to impose their extremist ideology we have to intervene regardless of their numbers.

A 60 Minutes producer says in a video posted on the shows Twitter account shows that we understood that he wanted to be on the show. He wanted to be a figure up there with the powerful leaders in the Middle East and so we pitched this to him that those powerful leaders come on 60 Minutes.
Edward Gallagher, a decorated Navy veteran, has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges of war crimes while serving in Iraq.

Gallagher entered his plea at an arraignment Friday at Naval Base San Diego.

Military prosecutors say Gallagher, a Navy SEAL, was on his eighth tour of duty, serving in Mosul, Iraq, in 2017 when he snapped.

They accuse Gallagher of indiscriminately shooting at Iraqi civilians and stabbing to death a captured Islamic State teenage fighter while a U.S. medic was working to save his life.

Took pictures of corpse

After killing the Islamic State fighter, prosecutors allege, Gallagher took photos of himself with the corpse.

Gallagher is accused of shooting an elderly man carrying a water jug in Mosul in June 2017 and a girl walking in the same area a month later.

Investigators say some SEALs were so concerned about Gallagher's actions that they tampered with his rifle to make it less accurate.

Presented Bronze Star twice

During his previous tours of duty, Gallagher was awarded the Bronze Star twice. If convicted, the 19-year Navy veteran faces life in prison.

The military court Friday scheduled Gallagher's trial to begin on Feb. 19. Authorities say a decision will be made next week on whether Gallagher can be released from prison ahead of his trial.

An attorney for Gallagher has said his client is being falsely accused by disgruntled SEALs who wanted to get rid of a demanding platoon leader.
TEL AVIV - U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton warned the Syrian government that it should not see the impending U.S. military withdrawal from the country as an invitation to use chemical weapons. US Eyeing 'Conditions-Based' Approach to Syrian Exit More than two weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump declared victory over the Islamic State terror group in Syria and announced the withdrawal of U.S. forces, military planners are insisting the pullout be based on conditions on the ground and not an arbitrary timeline. "Any plan we implement is going to be conditions-based," a U.S. More than two weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump declared victory over the Islamic State terror group in Syria and announced the withdrawal of U.S. forces, military planners are insisting the pullout be based on conditions on the ground and not an arbitrary timeline. "Any plan we implement is going to be conditions-based," a U.S.

"There is absolutely no change in the U.S. position against the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime and absolutely no change in our position that any use of chemical weapons would be met by a very strong response, as we've done twice before," Bolton told reporters on his plane shortly before landing in Tel Aviv, Israel.



"So the regime, the Assad regime should be under no illusions on that question."



Bolton added: "As we elaborate how the withdrawal is going to occur and the circumstances, we don't want the Assad regime to see what we do as representing any diminution in our opposition to the use of weapons of mass destruction."
SYDNEY - Two of Australias nine high-security immigration detention centers are being closed in what the government says is a vindication of its tough border protection policies.

Ministers say the facilities are no longer needed because they have stopped asylum-seekers, who often risk their lives on unseaworthy vessels, from trying to reach Australia by sea.

But the network of detention centers also has a troubled history, including escapes and hunger strikes.

September riots

In September last year, riots broke out at an immigration facility 95 kilometers east of Perth after a suicide attempt by a detainee.

However, the Perth center isnt being closed. The government is closing a high-security center in Melbourne, and another in Sydney will shut later this year.

Milestone or deception?

The center-right government says the closures are a milestone in its efforts to protect Australias borders, unlike the opposition Labor Party when it was last in power.

These immigration detention centers have been closed and are able to be closed because this government has got Australias borders under control, said Immigration Minister David Coleman. Labor opened 17 detention centers. We have closed 19.

But Noosheen Mogadam from the Asylum Seeker Resource Center insists the government is being deceptive by simply transferring detainees and increasing capacity at other facilities.

It seems as though people will be shuffled along to other detention centers. It is not solving any problems, Mogadam said.

Since 2013, the Australian navy has been ordered to turn back migrant boats, a policy that critics say is illegal under international law. Asylum-seekers arriving by sea have also been warned that they will never be allowed to settle in Australia.

Hundreds still held

About 1,250 detainees are currently held in Australias mainland immigration camps. Most are from Iran, New Zealand and Vietnam. In 2013, there were 10,000 detainees.

Several hundred migrants remain in an offshore camp funded by Canberra on the Pacific island of Nauru.

The mandatory detention of asylum-seekers without valid visas was introduced in Australia in 1992 in response to a wave of boat arrivals from Southeast Asia.
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WASHINGTON - President Donald Trumps comments about Afghanistan this week devolved into a history lesson gone awry and an embrace of the former Soviet Unions decision to invade the country in the 1970s.

Trump argued that the Soviets foray into Afghanistan was the right thing to do, even though he said it bankrupted Moscow and led to the demise of the Soviet Union. He said the invasion targeted terrorists who were flowing into the Soviet Union.

Actually, the Soviets were trying to bolster communists in Afghanistan and possibly expand their influence against the United States and the West.

A look at some of the presidents statements Wednesday during a Cabinet meeting:

Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

Trump: The reason Russia was in Afghanistan was because terrorists were going into Russia. They were right to be there.

The facts: His assertion that the Soviets were experiencing a terrorist influx from Afghanistan is out of step with history.

While Trump might personally agree with Russias decision to invade Afghanistan in 1979, the United States at the time did not. The U.S. boycotted the 1980 Olympics in Moscow in protest and the U.N. General Assembly voted 104-18 deploring the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan.

At the time the U.S. supported the anti-communist rebels, known as mujahedeen, whom President Ronald Reagan called freedom fighters. The U.S. believed that the Soviet Union wanted to strengthen the communists but also that it wanted access to a warm water port through Afghanistan to the Arabian Sea.

Maybe the terrorists Trump was talking about were the Afghan insurgents who were rebelling against a communist-led party that staged a coup inside Afghanistan in 1978. The Soviet Union was trying to bolster that party and subsequently sent in 100,000 troops to occupy the country and fight insurgents.

FILE - Mujahedeen guerrillas sit atop a captured R FILE - Mujahedeen guerrillas sit atop a captured Russian T-55 tank in 1987. The U.S. supported the anti-communists rebels against the Soviets. FILE - Mujahedeen guerrillas sit atop a captured Russian T-55 tank in 1987. The U.S. supported the anti-communists rebels against the Soviets.

The United States actually took the side of Afghans fighting against Soviet forces, providing them with shoulder-fired rockets that allowed them to shoot down Soviet helicopters and planes. That further burdened the Soviets and increased their human and military losses. The Soviets pulled out of Afghanistan in 1989, the same year that the Berlin Wall fell. The Soviet Union crumbled in 1991.

Praising Soviet invasion of #Afghanistan is an insult to the anti-communist struggle, tweeted Husain Haqqani, a former Pakistani ambassador to the United States.

Revisionist Russia

Trumps comments come as Russian lawmakers weigh historical revisionism on Afghanistan.

Before Feb. 15, the 30th anniversary of the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan, Russias legislature is to vote on a resolution stating that the invasion was conducted according to the norms of international law. This would nullify a resolution passed in 1989 that condemned the invasion.

Trump: Russia used to be the Soviet Union. Afghanistan made it Russia, because they went bankrupt fighting in Afghanistan.

The problem is it was a tough fight. And literally, they went bankrupt. They went into being called Russia again, as opposed to the Soviet Union. You know, a lot these places youre reading about now are no longer a part of Russia because of Afghanistan.

The facts: Thats an oversimplification. Its true that the money the former Soviet Union spent on military and weapons in its competition with the West to wield influence around the world, including in Afghanistan, accelerated its demise. But Russias intervention in Afghanistan was far from the sole reason for the breakup. The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 occurred in a time of ethnic and political troubles, economic woes and a series of revolutions that led Soviet republics to seek their independence.

President Donald Trump speaks during a Cabinet mee President Donald Trump speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Jan. 2, 2019, in Washington. President Donald Trump speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Jan. 2, 2019, in Washington.

?Islamic State group in Afghanistan

Trump: You do have terrorists, mostly Taliban, but ISIS. I mean, Ill give you an example. So, Taliban is our enemy. ISIS is our enemy. ... Taliban is here, ISIS is here, and theyre fighting each other. I said, Why dont you let them fight? Why are we getting in the middle of it? I said, Let them fight. Theyre both our enemies. Let them fight.

Its the craziest thing Ive ever seen. I think I wouldve been a good general, but who knows. But you know what? These are two enemies that are fighting against each other, and we end up going in and fighting. And what are we doing?

The facts: Its true that IS militants are fighting the Taliban for influence in some parts of Afghanistan, but keeping Afghanistan from becoming a safe place for extremists was the very reason the U.S. intervened in the country.

The U.S. intervention was a response to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The Afghan Taliban had given al-Qaida militants a place to train and embolden its forces to launch attacks on the United States and other targets.

The U.S. continues to keep 14,000 American servicemen and women in Afghanistan to execute counterterrorism missions against extremists to prevent a repeat of 9/11 and train and advise Afghan security forces, which are leading the fight against the Taliban.
Host Heather Maxwell brings us into the new year right with this special edition of Music Time in Africa! She takes us on a thrilling ride through some of Africa's greatest hits from 2018, brings fresh news from the continent on what's trending right now, such as Nyaruach's song "Gatluak" and introduces vocalist extraordinaire, Gino Sitson, who joins her in the studio. Don't miss it! Music Time in Africa.
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Pabuk is the first tropical storm in decades to strike Thailand during the peak holiday season. (Photo" AFP/Madaree Tohlala)

Boats were recalled to shore across the Gulf of Thailand, while three key southern airports were shut until Saturday, leaving tourists who remain on islands now cut off from the mainland.

"Ten thousand tourists are still on Koh Phangan," said Krikkrai Songthanee, district chief of the island which neighbours Samui and is famed for its full-moon parties.

Meteorologists said Pabuk, the first tropical storm in decades to strike during the peak holiday season, made landfall in southern Thailand on Friday afternoon.

The eye of the storm passed over Nakhon Si Thammarat, sparing the tourist islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao to the north from a direct hit.

But it caused damage along coastal areas and a power blackout in large swathes of Nakhon Si Thammarat and Surat Thani provinces, authorities said, as electricity poles toppled over in high winds and power lines were cut by falling trees.

Hundreds of people packed into evacuation centres after storm surges flooded low-lying areas while high winds of up to 75 kilometres an hour (45 miles) whipped through deserted streets.

"I'm worried because my house was flooded," Preecha Kongthep told AFP late Friday from a shelter in the town of Nakhon Si Thammarat.

"I don't know what it's like now," he added, as the rains outside slackened.

Earlier as Pabuk churned through the Gulf of Thailand, it stirred huge waves up to five metres high (16 feet).

Social media videos showed oil rigs being battered by waves, and tankers navigating terrifying walls of water.

EMPTY SHOPS, BEACHES

A fisherman in Pattani province, near the Malaysia border, died after waves smashed into his boat before dawn on Friday as it returned to dock. Another crew member is missing.

They join the only other confirmed fatality from Pabuk so far - a Russian man who drowned off Koh Samui on Wednesday after ignoring warnings not to go into the sea.

By late Friday Pabuk - which means giant catfish in Lao - lost steam as it edged across the narrow neck of land between the Gulf of Thailand and into the Andaman Sea, home to the tourist resorts of Phuket and the Similan National Park, a diving paradise.

Tens of thousands of tourists had already fled the southern zone.

"It's very empty ... the beaches are deserted," Pui Suriwan, a Koh Phangan resident, told AFP.

On neighbouring Koh Tao, one of Southeast Asia's most popular dive spots, tourists and residents saw out a bracing 24 hours with limited supplies.

"There's no gas anywhere on the island, 7/11 is already running out of things," a Spanish dive instructor told AFP.

Holidaymakers on Koh Samui, whose airport was set to reopen on Saturday, shared videos on Twitter of waves licking the steps to beachside bungalows as the wind speeds picked up.

The storm is bad news for Thailand's lucrative peak holiday season.

The economy is heavily reliant on tourism, with latest figures for 2017 showing the kingdom made nearly US$60 billion from the sector.

Tourism was hit hard by a boat accident in Phuket in July last year, when scores of Chinese tourists died as their overcrowded vessel capsized in heavy seas.

Visitor numbers from China, Thailand's biggest market, slumped after the accident. Still, around 40 million people are expected to visit Thailand this year.
To grab opportunities from international integration, Vietnam is making great efforts to improve its education quality

Vietnam, through the economic and political reforms that took place from 1986 under doi moi, has been able to transform from one of the worlds least-developed nations to a lower middle-income country, all within the space of three decades. However, to sustain this momentum on growth and propel the country further, future investments must be focussed on the development of human capital in order to utilise the full potential of the nations economic prowess.

Doi moi has created a stable and attractive platform for significant inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) since 1987. Strategies based on offering progressive government policies, fiscal and land incentives, as well as low-cost labour have worked well over the past few decades in attracting manufacturing and infrastructural investments into the country. However, with the variety, velocity and volume of changes that are impacting ASEAN, new socio-economic strategies are needed.

Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, along with the on-going trade clash between the US and China, is shifting trade and production patterns in favour of Vietnam. The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, and EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, once ratified and put into action, will open up even more channels of trade. These agreements will translate into new opportunities for Vietnam, bringing with them the advent of Industry 4.0 into the economic base.

Industry 4.0 refers to a collective of advanced manufacturing that includes digitalisation, the Internet of Things, automation, robotisation, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. It promises to bring with it tremendous wealth creation for countries that are able to embrace it; but conversely it threatens to disrupt conventional economic structures that are slow or resistant to adopting it.

As the Vietnamese government tries enthusiastically to attract more foreign investors, the same investors are increasingly questioning whether they have access to the skilled labour needed. While the government might invest more in higher education, it is becoming increasingly challenging to make graduates more employable and stay relevant longer when faced with ever-changing industrial evolutions. The mismatch between academic achievements and the skills that industries are asking for is getting wider. It is not surprising that so many companies set up their own training centres to meet their skills needs.

Vietnam is going through rapid demographic and social changes. From a population of 60 million in 1986, steady economic growth has been fuelling population growth to its current level of 95 million. The figure is projected to reach 120 million by 2050, before plateauing. While 70 per cent of the population is currently below 35 years old, it is also rapidly aging.

Vietnam therefore has a small window of about three decades to tap into its huge social capital, and benefit from Industry 4.0. A nationwide skills eco-system is paramount to empowering the nations relatively young human capital and ride the wave that can launch them into becoming a higher-middle income country.

Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, along with the on-going trade clash between the US and China, is shifting trade and production patterns in favour of Vietnam. The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, and EU-Vietnam FTA, once ratified and put into action, will open up even more channels of trade.  Anderson Tan Chairman of SkillsSG Ventures

A national skills eco-system typically consists of the following components:

-Skills development agencies from government sectors such as the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, and the Ministry of Education and Training;

-Skills institutions such as universities and vocational colleges;

-Skills structures, like councils, continuing skills qualification systems, funding policies and structures;

-Skills operators (for example private training providers; in-house training teams; auxiliary skills vendors such as EdTech providers); and

-Skills consumers, for example enterprises and employment agencies.

The Vietnamese government has been able to achieve a level of high literacy and numeracy from its educational investments, evidence of which can be seen by the most recent Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results, in which the performance of Vietnamese students even exceeded that of many countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). However, a structured continuing education and training (CET) eco-system has not yet been adequately established in Vietnam. To develop such an eco-system, the government would be required to invest significant resources in matching the various components of the skills eco-system with certain national objectives.

There are some key advantages and benefits of having a CET eco-system.

The first is upskilling - with the inflow of FDI, there will almost always be a skill mismatch between what the FDI need, and what the educational system can produce. This is especially true for higher-value Industry 4.0 FDI. A CET eco-system could help to bridge the skills gap.

The second factor is reskilling. Industry 4.0 is often characterised by a very high turnover of technologies and business models, often resulting in some skills rapidly becoming obsolete.

The Vietnamese government mostly leaves it down to enterprises to reskill their own employees when changing business needs, although this may not always work, particularly when there is large-scale structured retrenchment due to technological or business disruption.

A CET eco-system could provide the mechanism to shift the affected workforce away from enterprises that have left the scene, to emerging economic opportunities.

Third is future-proofing - when coupled with a forward-planning mechanism, the CET eco-system has the potential to equip the workforce with emerging skill-sets that are aligned with the new economic drivers that the country is attracting. While this alignment of skills projection and economic planning is a challenging task, it remains much easier with the CET eco-system rather than the cumbersome educational system.

Lastly, a social safety net is of benefit. Climate threats, disease epidemics, and natural disasters can result in short-term but widespread disruption for businesses. Many employers that are caught in such business downturns may resort to retrenching their staff, which would then result in an immediate drop in productivity whilst the business environment takes time to recover.

A CET eco-system can be deployed in such situations to support employers in retaining their staff within the organisation, by providing subsidies to companies to retrain their employees.

This eco-system goes beyond the simple notion of skills development. For the Vietnamese economy to be more resilient and attractive to high-quality FDI, the governments investments in developing a robust eco-system is paramount.

SkillsSG Ventures, a joint-venture company from Singapore, is happy to be given the opportunity to invest in developing the skills system across the north-central province of Thanh Hoa alongside the Thanh Hoa Peoples Committee. We hope to support Thanh Hoa to develop into the skills capital of Vietnam.
Simon Matthews, country manager of ManpowerGroup Vietnam, Thailand, and the Middle East

Along with more job opportunities, the Vietnamese workforce is foreseen to face serious skills challenges. Currently, only 11 per cent of the total workforce in Vietnam is highly skilled, leaving the remainder as either medium-skilled or non-skilled. Due to this shortage, Vietnam can hardly meet the requirements of enterprises operating in the country. Competition is even harsher because the workforces productivity is far lower than neighbouring countries like Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.

Globally, nearly one-third of employers say the main reason they cannot fill roles is a lack of applicants, according to ManpowerGroups Talent Shortage Survey 2018. A solid 20 per cent of employers say candidates lack the necessary experience. As companies become more digitalised, finding candidates with the right blend of technical skills and human strengths is more important than ever, yet 27 per cent of employers say applicants lack either the hard skills or the human strengths, for example traditional soft skills such as communications, collaboration, and problem solving.

Given that background, employers are struggling in seeking the right talent. In the digital age, the best blend is a mix of technical skills and soft skills. While employers are looking for those with this right mix, most of the Vietnamese workforce lacks necessary soft skills.

Future labour demands

By signing international deals like the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and other free trade agreements (FTAs), the ASEAN will require millions of new jobs to be created by 2025. Importantly, job opportunities are predicted to increase in positions at all levels.

For high-level positions, digital banking roles are particularly attracting a lot of people, as this is a key element in the competitiveness of every bank in the digital age. Regarding IT positions like chief information officer, especially in the fields of e-commerce, technology and parts of the sharing economy, the domestic pool cannot meet the requirements of employers who need to source talent from outside of Vietnam. In addition, the number of start-up companies is also increasing, resulting in the sharp increase of the recruitment demand.

In 2019, the hottest highly-skilled sectors that will increase salaries to attract the right talent include IT (14 per cent), construction and real estate (8 per cent), retail (10 per cent), and education (8 per cent).

The non-skilled labour market is especially bustling. In the north, the general labour market becomes hotter by year end with recruitment at electronics enterprises strongly increasing, followed by motorbike assembly, real estate, and food production businesses due to the festive season. Each month, these businesses expect to increase about 100 workers for their factories.

In the south, the workforce in electronics businesses that ManpowerGroup Vietnam provides staffing and outsourcing services increased strongly by the end of 2018. The figure is forecasted to climb by 1,000 to 1,500 workers in 2019.

Free labour flows within the ASEAN

Free workforce flows within the ASEAN due to international agreements will raise the number of Vietnamese workforce going abroad, and this will also attract more expats to Vietnam. Lets look at Japan as an example. Since the end of 2016, Japan has adopted a new immigration policy, creating more opportunities for foreign workers. Accordingly, Japan has extended the length of stay for trainees in nursing to five years. Moreover, Vietnamese trainees have been allowed to work in almost all industries, from construction, mechanics, agriculture, and food processing to textiles. Previously, Japan only allowed trainees working in mechanics, electronics, and textiles.

In addition, the number of highly-skilled Vietnamese labour to work abroad will increase in the coming time. Currently, there are eight sector roles in the ASEAN that are free to move among countries in the region based on equivalent skills recognition agreements, including accountants, architects, dentists, doctors and engineers among others. However, with the low numbers of highly-skilled workers, Vietnam should prepare for upcoming opportunities. As employers are looking for the mix of technical and soft skills, the Vietnamese government, schools and businesses should work together to level-up the future workforce.

ManpowerGroup Vietnam has joined the local workforce development effort by announcing our Vietnam Annual Scholarship Programme aimed at giving students a bright future. The scholarship provides financial support, soft skills training and career orientation to students having good academic results despite difficult economic conditions.

We have co-operated with the International Training and Education Centre at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Science, along with Eastern Saigon Vocational School, Hanoi Open University, Hanoi University of Technology, and more. These scholarships are expected to expand to other schools across Vietnam in the future.

Solutions for the future

ManpowerGroups Talent Shortage Survey 2018 shows that more than half of 39,195 surveyed employers across 43 countries provide additional training to existing staff to address the shortage. Therefore, employers should provide necessary training programmes for existing employees. They should also seek collaborations with vocational schools, colleges and universities to help them train the future workforce.

Besides investment in employee training, to win in the digital age, employers should have an effective talent strategy including the four foundations of building, buying, borrowing and bridging. This means build the talent pipeline, buy skills where necessary, borrow from external talent sources, and bridge people with adjacent skills from one role to another to complement existing skills.
Sheba Medical Center, Tel HaShomer and venture capital firm Triventures have formed a partnership to fund young doctors innovative ideas to accelerate the pace of innovations and solve significant healthcare challenges.

Triventures ARC, the venture capital arm of the ARC Innovation Center, will be managed by Triventures, a global multi-stage venture capital fund.

The Press Release

Israels Largest Hospital Sheba Medical Center and Venture Capital Fund Triventures Partner to Accelerate Healthcare Innovations

Sheba Medical Center and Triventures are pleased to announce the launch of Triventures ARC to accelerate innovation and transform the healthcare experience. This is the first partnership of its kind between an Israeli healthcare system and a venture capital fund.

RAMAT GAN, ISRAEL (PRWEB) JANUARY 03, 2019

Sheba Medical Center, Tel HaShomer and venture capital fund Triventures have formed a historic partnership to fund young doctors breakthrough ideas to accelerate the pace of innovations and solve significant healthcare challenges.

Triventures ARC, is the venture capital arm of the ARC Innovation Center, and will be managed by Triventures, a global multi-stage venture capital fund.

The ARC Innovation Center is a one-of-a-kind platform fusing together startups with novel healthcare solutions, academia, patient data, industry players and investors at Sheba Medical Center.

Triventures ARC is targeting a $45M fund dedicated to seed investments in data-driven transformational health solutions in areas such as personalized healthcare, accessibility and the virtual hospital, big data and artificial intelligence, smart medical devices, lifestyle, operation management and cyber security for healthcare.

Triventures ARC is unique because of:

Access to data

Positioning in Silicon Valley and Israel

Collaboration with strategic partners

About Triventures:

Triventures is a venture capital fund investing in medical devices and transformational health spanning from life sciences to lifestyle. Launched in 2010, the fund was the first to invest in digital health in Israel. The fund is strategically located in the top two geographical clusters of innovation in the world: Silicon Valley and Israel and reviews more than 500 venture deals per year. With $130M under management to date, the fund invests in data driven innovations in genomics, cyber security for healthcare, e-commerce health services, wellness, robotics, decision support, and disruptive medical devices and diagnostics.

Triventures is led by Michal Geva, Dr. Peter Fitzgerald and Netalie Nadiviand together with Co-Founder and Venture Partner, Dr. Marty Leon, is comprised of key opinion leaders in healthcare, entrepreneurship, venturing, FDA advisory and corporate business development with decades of accumulated industry experience and relationships. Collectively, they have transitioned nearly 30 companies to 17 buyers and in 4 IPOs. Triventures has worked with hundreds of healthcare technologies around the globe from ideation, clinical and regulatory set-up, commercialization and exit. The team holds C-level advisory roles with Samsung, Livongo, Edwards Life Science, Novartis, Cardinal Health and Verb (Google) and has over 25 years advisory experience with the FDA.

About Sheba Medical Center

Sheba Medical Center at Tel HaShomer is the largest and most comprehensive medical center in Israel and in fact, the entire Middle East. In incorporates six major facilities (Acute Care Hospital, Rehabilitation Hospital, Childrens Hospital, Maternity Center, Cancer Center and Heart Center); a vast medical research complex and a medical education and academic campus. It employs over 9,000 health professionals. Sheba is home to numerous national health institutions such as the Center for Newborn Screening, the Center for Medical Simulation and the Center for Health Policy and Epidemiology.

Sheba has been a critical hub for basic and applied medical research. Today, one-third of all clinical trials in Israel are conducted at Sheba, focusing on the development of novel drugs, new medical technologies and cutting edge health innovation. Sheba is led by Prof. Yitshak Kreiss, former Surgeon General of the Israel Defense Force, who has established innovation as one of Shebas primary objectives. Dr. Eyal Zimlichman, Deputy Director General, Chief Medical Officer and Chief Innovation Officer at Sheba Medical Center, is the driving force behind the ARC platform.

A New Frontier for Healthcare Innovation and Investment

The healthcare industry is ripe for disruption and data is shaping the future of healthcare. Data-driven solutions are developing to impact outcomes, healthcare economics and revolutionize the way in which we experience and receive care.

Sheba Medical Center is Israels largest healthcare system, and houses one of the most comprehensive data records in the world- covering 25 years of data for millions of lives. The partnership will allow start-ups to access Shebas extensive data infrastructure, a beta-site for product development and investments from Triventures.

Traditionally, start-ups seeking access to data face many barriers including finding centralized data sources, time and financial resources. Triventures ARC start-ups will have extensive access to data infrastructure and the largest medical data collection in Israel. They will gain access to 25 years of longitudinal, patient data for millions of lives through Shebas unique enterprise data warehouse. Streamlined, simplified access to quality data will help our start-ups expedite development processes and reach minimally viable products in record time. If in the traditional oil economy, an oil rig was needed to generate value, in todays data economy, one needs a data rig to derive and drive value  Sheba offers healthcare the much-needed data rig to transform healthcare.

With Triventures ARC start-ups gain a one-stop beta site to accelerate development. In addition to data, they gain access to resources and stakeholders such as clinicians, researchers, patients, and clinical support. Triventures ARC is designed to allow for significant acceleration of proof of concept by linking product development to medical and clinical needs in a real-time care environment.

Positioning in Silicon Valley and Israel

Joining Silicon Valley, Israel is emerging as the new global hub for healthcare innovation.

Israel is home to over 6,000 start-ups with approximately 600 added annually, has one start-up per every 1,400 people, compared to one per every 20,000 in Europe. Over 300 multinational companies operate R&D centers. In a country that lacks natural resources, Israel built its economy on innovation, its biggest export that accounted for $45 billion in 2017. Israels has a unique advantage in healthcare stemming from several factors including:

Data in a Centralized Healthcare System: Israel holds one of the most advanced and extensive medical data reservoirs in the world being the first to completely transition to electronic medical records over 25 years ago. Israels 8 million citizens receive care via one of four HMOs so rather than highly siloed data across numerous providers, Israels retains concentrated, longitudinal, digital data from cradle to grave in one system.

Cross-Sector Experience: Israeli healthcare start-ups benefit from cross-sector expertise and technologies. Increasingly, founders with non-medical backgrounds bring exceptional skill-sets in AI, machine learning, deep learning, optics, sensing and more into the healthcare vertical.

Government Support: Israel has a long history of governmental support to accelerate innovation and create a business-friendly environment. The Israeli government actively encourages R&D activities through numerous incentive programs for companies and entrepreneurs in the ecosystem.

Investment Outlook: Israel holds over 1,400 life science companies and experienced an 81% growth over the past decade with more than 130 companies being founded every year.The data-driven transformational healthcare sector in Israel continues to expand with 500 active companies as of year-end 2017 (source: Startup Nation Central).

Collaboration with Strategic Partners

A fundamental pillar of Triventures strategy to date rests on close interaction with the industry. Triventures ARC combines the respective networks of Triventures and Sheba Medical Center, offering an unmatched network of industry leaders, healthcare systems and technology companies.

Triventures strongly believes in the value of strategic partnerships and is proud to name among its Limited Partners industry leaders such as Medtronic, Abbott, Cardinal Health, Philips, St. Jude Medical, Johnson & Johnson, Boston Scientific, Intermountain Healthcare, Edmond De Rothschild, Samsung and Nikon.

A fundamental pillar of Triventures strategy to date rests on close interaction with the industry. Triventures ARC combines the respective networks of Triventures and Sheba Medical Center, offering an unmatched network of industry leaders, healthcare systems and technology companies.

Sheba has developed strategic partnerships with global stakeholders such as Google, Novartis, Janssen, Philips and Deloitte. Shebas Network of relationships with leading healthcare systems in the U.S. includes Mount Sinai, Mayo Clinic Health System, Sunnybrook Health Science Center, Stanford Health Care, Jefferson, Intermountain Healthcare, McGill University Health Center, Henry Ford Health System and Massachusetts General Hospital.
The PM made the remark at a ceremony held in Hanoi on January 4 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the victory of Vietnams Southwest border defence war and the joint victory of Vietnam and Cambodia over the genocidal regime (January 7, 1979-2019).

The event was attended by Party General Secretary and President of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong, former Party General Secretary Le Kha Phieu, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Permanent Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Tong Thi Phong, Permanent member of the Party Central Committees Secretariat Tran Quoc Vuong, and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Tran Thanh Man.

The guest side included a high-ranking Cambodian delegation, headed by Tep Ngorn, member of the Standing Committee of the Cambodian Peoples Party Central Committee and Vice President of the Senate of Cambodia, and representatives from embassies of Southeast Asian nations and the United Nations.

Party General Secretary and President of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong and Vietnamese Heroic Mothers at the event. (Photo: VGP)

Addressing the ceremony, PM Phuc emphasised that the historic victory on January 7, 1979 was a common triumph of the Vietnamese and Cambodian people as well as that of progressive humanity around the world. As for Vietnam, the victory of the Southwest border defence war affirmed the strong will and bravery of the Vietnamese people, while demonstrating the noble international spirit, the traditional, close, faithful and long-term neighbourliness, and the pure and sincere support of the Party, State, Army and people of Vietnam towards the people of Cambodia. The January 7, 1979 victory worked to completely eliminate the genocide regime, revive the Cambodian people, and open a new era of development in independence, freedom, peace, neutrality and prosperity.

Building on the solidarity tradition of the triumph on January 7, 1979, Vietnam and Cambodia have been accelerating bilateral relations with the motto of fine neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term sustainability, the leader said, adding that the economic, trade, investment and tourism ties between the two sides are also thriving vigorously.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc addresses the ceremony. (Photo: VGP)

The Vietnam-Cambodia border area, which was heavily devastated in the past war, has now become a border area of peace, friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation. The authorised forces of the two nations have been working closely together to effectively manage the border line and have completed 84% of the border demarcation and land marker planting work, he stated.

For his part, Vice President of the Cambodian Senate Tep Ngorn emphasised that Vietnam and Cambodia are good friends, brothers, neighbors and partners with a tradition of fighting and solidarity through many difficult and arduous periods.

On behalf of the Parliament, Senate, Government, Front and people of Cambodia, he extended his most sincere and profound gratitude for the huge unforgettable sacrifices of the Vietnamese Party, State, Front, army and people in helping to liberate and rescue the Cambodian people from the brutal genocidal disaster, contributing to the process of seeking peace for the country.

Tep Ngorn highly appreciated the significance of the anniversary ceremony in fostering peace, friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia, affirming that the event will be memorised as specific evidence contributing to fostering and enhancing the traditional relations, solidarity, friendship and fine cooperation between the two countries.
President of sushi restaurant chain Sushi-Zanmai, Kiyoshi Kimura (R), displays a 278kg bluefin tuna at his main restaurant in Tokyo on Jan 5, 2019. (Photo: AFP/Kazuhiro Nogi)

Bidding stopped at a whopping 333.6 million for the enormous 278kg fish - an endangered species - that was caught off Japan's northern coast.

Self-styled "Tuna King" Kiyoshi Kimura paid the top price, which doubled the previous record of 155 million also paid by him in 2013.

"It's the best tuna. I was able to buy a delicious, super fresh tuna," the sushi restaurant chain owner proudly told reporters.

"The price was higher than originally thought, but I hope our customers will eat this excellent tuna," Kimura said after the auction.

Tsukiji - the world's biggest fish market and a popular tourist attraction in an area packed with restaurants and shops - moved in October to Toyosu, a former gas plant a bit further east.

Opened in 1935, Tsukiji was best known for its pre-dawn daily auctions of tuna, caught from all corners of the world, for use by everyone from top Michelin-star sushi chefs to ordinary grocery stores.

Especially at the first auction of the new year, wholesalers and sushi tycoons have been known to pay eye-watering prices for the biggest and best fish.

Despite the relocation, the auction ritual remained intact: Before dawn, buyers in rubber boots were inspecting the quality of the giant fresh and frozen tunas by examining the neatly cut tail end with flashlights and rubbing slices between their fingers.

At 5.10am, handbells rang to signal the auction was underway and the air filled with the sound of auctioneers yelling prices at buyers, who raised fingers to indicate interest.

In a roar of wholesalers surrounding the day's best tuna, an auctioneer hammered the top price as the Kimura side outbid his rival wholesaler in a thrilling head-to-head battle.

"BLACK DIAMOND"

Japan consumes a large portion of the global bluefin catch, a highly prized sushi ingredient known in Japan as "kuro maguro" (black tuna) and dubbed by sushi connoisseurs as the "black diamond" because of its scarcity.

A single piece of "otoro", or the fish's fatty underbelly, can cost dozens of dollars at high-end Tokyo restaurants.

The new market has already opened its auction warehouse to visitors to witness the organised pre-dawn chaos from a balcony, hoping to take over a must-see spot for tourists from Tsukiji.

"Finally, the first New Year auction was held at Toyosu market," said Yoshihiko Otaki, a market official.

"We have a lot of tuna here like we did in Tsukiji," he said.

Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike, wearing white rubber boots, said: "I sincerely hope this market will be loved by many people."

The relocation was a lengthy and controversial process.

Few would contest the fact that Tsukiji was past its prime, and there were concerns about outdated fire regulations and hygiene controls.

In contrast, the new market, located around 2km to the east at Toyosu, boasts state-of-the-art refrigeration facilities and is nearly twice as big again as Tsukiji.

But Toyosu is located on the site of a former gas plant and the soil was found to be contaminated, forcing local authorities to spend millions of dollars to clean it up and delaying the move.
Miguel Macedo was forced to resign as interior minister after the scandal broke in late 2014. (Photo: AFP/Fadel Senna)

Out of 17 indictments for charges including corruption, money-laundering and influence-peddling, two people were given suspended sentences and two Chinese nationals were fined.

But the most high-profile defendant - Miguel Macedo, who was forced to resign as interior minister from the previous centre-right government in November 2014 - was among those acquitted of bribery and influence-peddling charges.

"The acquittal is the logical result from the lack of evidence to support a baseless accusation," said his lawyer Alfredo Castanheira Neves.

The Lisbon court also cleared former border police director Manuel Jarmela Palos, who was accused of running a network which profited from the granting of the residency permits to foreign investors.

Cash-strapped Portugal in late 2012 began offering the "golden" visas to wealthy foreigners willing to invest 500,000 (US$570,000) in property, make a capital transfer of one million euros or create 10 jobs.

The country handed out 6,800 such permits to investors and 11,600 more to their family members in exchange for 4.15 billion in investments, most of it in real estate.

China was the country with the largest number of beneficiaries of the scheme followed by Brazil.

'A PERVERSE SCHEME'

A number of European governments offer passports or residency rights in exchange for investments.

In analysing the schemes in Cyprus, Malta and Portugal for a recent report, Transparency International and Global Witness noted "the ways in which insufficient due diligence, wide discretionary powers and conflicts of interest can open Europe's door to the corrupt".

One of the most critical voices of the practice in Portugal, Socialist MEP Ana Gomes said she was "disappointed but not surprised" by Friday's ruling and blamed the prosecutors office for making a weak case.

"It is a perverse scheme and a prostitution of citizenship which... fuels corruption by feeding a whole network of intermediaries," Portuguese Socialist MEP Ana Gomes told AFP.

"It is intolerable to hear some security discourses about migrants and refugees, and then to see that the discourse changes completely when it concerns wealthy foreigners," she added.

'A GROWING INDUSTRY'

In their report published last October, Transparency International and Global Witness said four EU countries - Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Malta - "sell" passports to wealthy investors, while 12 offer them residency rights.

Spain tops the list of countries in terms of the number of visas issued and the amount of capital received - an average of 976 million annually.

In total, European countries pulled in 25 billion from 6,000 new citizens and some 100,000 residents over the last 10 years, the report from the two NGOs said.

"Just like a luxury good, European Union citizenship and residency rights can be bought," it said.

"There are many buyers, and there is no shortage of suppliers, which explains why investment migration is a growing, multi-billion-euro industry."

As part of an effort to combat money-laundering, the European Commission is to present a report early this year on national schemes granting EU citizenship or residency to investors.
A migrant is rescued with buoys and a rope, after he dived in the Mediterranean off Malta's coast from the Dutch-flagged Sea-Watch 3 rescue vessel. (Photo: AFP/Federico Scoppa)

ROME: Rights activists accused European countries on Friday (Jan 4) of a new "record of shame" for refusing to open ports to migrant children and families stranded at sea in the Mediterranean for two weeks.

Thirty-two migrants rescued off Malta by a Sea-Watch rescue boat on Dec 22 remain at sea after being denied entry to European ports.

"It's now been 14 days left alone at sea. A new record of shame," the Mediterranea collective of aid groups and associations said on Twitter.

A one-year-old baby and two children, six and seven, "are vomiting continuously and are at risk of hypothermia and dehydration," said Alessandro Metz of Mediterranea, which aims to protect migrant rights at sea.

Three unaccompanied teenagers and four women from Nigeria, Libya and Ivory Coast were among those onboard.

The boat was given permission by Malta on Wednesday to shelter off its coast due to a storm and fierce winds - but not to land.

"The migrants sleep on the floor. We have hygiene problems. The situation is increasingly difficult psychologically," Philip Hahn, head of mission on the Sea-Watch 3, told Radio 24.

MAN OVERBOARD

Mediterranea and Sea-Watch launched two boats on Friday to deliver supplies, including fresh water, to Sea-Watch 3, the Dutch-flagged vessel which took in the migrants.

The help party included fresh crew members and German members of parliament.

As the help party arrived, "one of the migrants threw himself into the water in an attempt to swim to Malta", said an onboard freelance photographer, Federico Scoppa.

"After a few meters, he gave up because of the cold and the current, and was dragged back to the ship using a lifebuoy," Scoppa told AFP.

The row over the Sea-Watch 3 is the latest in a series of incidents about sea rescues that has thrown a spotlight on the deadlock between EU countries over sharing responsibility for migrant and refugee arrivals.

The German NGO Sea-Eye also has a ship stranded in the Mediterranean with 17 migrants on board.

Italy, Malta, Spain and the Netherlands initially refused to take in migrants from either of the boats.

But Germany and The Netherlands later said they would allow some in - on condition that other nations did the same.

'PATHETIC'

Several German and Italian cities have since offered to host them, with the mayor of Naples defying Italy's hardline interior minister by saying he would lead the operation to disembark them himself if they approached the coast.

"EU ministers continue to bargain over 32 human beings. We might look miserable, but they are pathetic," German charity Sea-Watch said.

In a joint statement with Mediterranea, it said Friday's aid mission aimed to "put pressure on Berlin, which has yet to give a positive answer to the dozens of German cities willing to take in those rescued".

It also urged "European countries, beginning with Italy and Malta, to offer a safe port, as required under international law".

Doctors Without Borders (MSF Sea) said there was "no justification for this degrading treatment".

Migrants rescued by ships have frequently been left in limbo since Italy's populist anti-immigration government began turning them away last summer.

Since coming to power more than six months ago, the Italian government has been demanding greater solidarity from reluctant fellow EU states.

But EU members have failed to agree on a permanent mechanism to relocate migrants who reach Europe's shores, even though arrivals have dropped sharply since a peak more than three years ago.

Some 113,482 migrants crossed the Mediterranean to reach Europe last year, according to the UN refugee agency, which said 2,262 people lost their lives or went missing making the perilous journey.
The Ministry of Construction is urged to pay attention to social housing development to meet market demand.-Photo vneconomy.vn

Dung was speaking at a conference on Friday to review results achieved by the ministry in 2018 and raise orientations for 2019.

Dung said that the market demand for social housing projects remained high while supply was limited, stressing that the ministry needed breakthrough policies to boost social housing development.

The management on urban development, industrial and economic zones must also be enhanced to ensure the appropriateness to the urban housing development programme, Dung said.

In addition, the ministry should focus on coordinating with relevant ministries and agencies to develop solutions for treating ash released by thermopower and fertiliser plants into building materials, Dung said, adding that it was important for environmental protection.

Minister of Construction Pham Hong Ha said that the huge volume of ash released from thermopower and fertiliser production was posing threats to the environment.

Ha said that in January, three ministries, including those of industry and trade, construction and natural resources and environment would meet to develop solutions to promote the use of ash in producing building materials.

Ha also said the Ministry of Construction would develop an action plan to implement the Governments resolutions about socio-economic development targets and improving the business environment and national competitiveness.

According to Deputy Minister of Construction Le Quang Hung, the sector had a good year in 2018.

The ministrys report pointed out that the production value of the construction sector grew 9.2 per cent in 2018, meeting the target set for the full year and contributing significantly to socio-economic development.

Hung said the ministry in 2018 also focused on administrative reforms to create favourable conditions for construction businesses with 41.3 per cent of administrative procedures eliminated and 47.3 per cent simplified out of 215 business prerequisites.

The ministry also completed three law compilation projects in 2018, including the Law on Architecture, the Law on Urban Development and Management and project of amending the laws on construction, housing, real estate business and urban planning.

He said Viet Nam ranked 20th out of 190 economies by the score of dealing with construction permits by the World Banks report on the ease of doing business.

The real estate and building material markets had seen stable development, Hung said.

The ministrys report said that housing prices did not see considerable fluctuations in 2018 compared to the previous year.

Real estate inventories totalled VND22.8 trillion (US$980.4 billion) as of December 20, a drop of 82.24 per cent against the peak recorded in the first quarter of 2013.

A total of 58 million sq.m of housing area was completed in 2018. Some 5,800 homes for low-income earners were completed with a total area of 290,000sq.m. Average housing area per person now reached 24sq.m.

The building material market met domestic demand while the focus was also placed on developing new, environmentally-friendly materials, the report said, adding that 55 out of 63 provinces and cities have already developed plans to eliminate baked bricks and use unbaked bricks. As of November, unbaked bricks were estimated at 8 billion units, accounted for 30 per cent of the total brick output.

Hung said construction management was also enhanced nationwide with planning of 58 out of 63 provinces and cities approved to ensure sustainable urban development. There were 828 urban areas throughout the country, statistics showed.

The ministrys appraisal of construction investment also helped cut costs by 2.6 per cent, equivalent to US$1.6 billion, according to the ministrys report.
Huawei's Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Canada and faces extradition to the United States AFP/MANDEL NGAN

Ottawa - Thirteen Canadians have been detained in China following the arrest on December 1 of a senior executive from Chinese telecoms equipment giant Huawei, Ottawa said Thursday, with eight subsequently released.

Global Affairs Canada spokesperson Guillaume Berube confirmed the detentions to AFP, adding the figures excluded Hong Kong.

The thirteen include former diplomat Michael Kovrig and consultant Michael Spavor, arrested on December 10, for activities said to threaten national security, as well as Sarah McIver, who was subsequently freed and returned to Canada.

There are approximately 200 Canadians overall who have been detained in China for a variety of alleged infractions and continue to face ongoing legal proceedings, and the number has remained relatively stable in recent years.

By way of comparison, there are almost 900 Canadians in a similar situation in the US.

Some observers believe the detentions of Kovrig, who works for the International Crisis Group, and Spavor, who is frequently consulted on matters linked to North Korea, were retaliatory actions following the arrest in Vancouver of Huawei's Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou, who faces extradition to the United States.

Washington has accused her of fraud for helping evade US sanctions against Iran. She was later released on bail pending her extradition hearing.

Backed by the US and several European countries, Canada's foreign minister Chrystia Freeland has repeated called for the immediate release of Kovrig and Spavor, whose arrests Ottawa has termed arbitrary.


TREVI Italian Restaurant, located in The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, will welcome attendees of the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) with a featured dish, short rib and Maine lobster ravioli, from Tuesday, Jan. 8 through Friday, Jan. 11 (Pictured: TREVI Italian Restaurant Short Rib and Maine Lobster Ravioli Doppio).

Executive Chef Jose Navarro will prepare short rib and Maine lobster ravioli doppio, an Italian twist on surf and turf. House-made pasta will be filled with tender 12-hour braised short rib and Maine lobster, glazed with lobster sauce and braising jus, paired with a glass of selected wine, priced at $36.
Several hundred German politicians, including Chancellor Angela Merkel, have had personal details stolen and published on the internet.

By Nathan Morley

As the news of the data breach spread quickly across Germany, it became clear the few people in public life had been omitted from the attention of hackers.

Sensitive data belonging to hundreds of German politicians  including the Chancellor - has been leaked onto the internet via a Twitter account. The data hack also exposed the personal information of well-known celebrities such as Sido and Jan Bohmermann.

According to RBB, the regional broadcaster in Berlin, the huge cache of documents includes credit card details, identity card numbers, internet chat transcripts, emails and private phone numbers. Members of the European parliament, German parliament and regional parliaments have all had data stolen.

The hack, which was discovered this week, is the largest ever reported in Germany, but where the data originally comes from or why it was stolen and made public, is currently unclear.

Leaked data concerning Chancellor Angela Merkel included a fax number, an e-mail address and several pieces of correspondence, but there was "no sensitive data", neither from the Chancellery nor specifically to the Chancellor according to the government.

Germany's Ministry of Defence has confirmed they were not affected by the alleged hacking.

It is not clear when the hacks happened, but it is being reported much of the information appears to have been stolen in October 2018.
On December 27, Fr. Anand was ordained a priest of the Order of Friars Minor and his sister, Anjali, pronounced her final vows as a member of the Society of Saint Anne of Luzern. The two are survivors of Indias 2008 anti-Christian violence in Odisha state.

In 2018, Christians in eastern Indias Odisha state marked the 10th anniversary of the terrible massacre and atrocities inflicted on them by Hindu extremists. The year ended with the grace and blessing of the Lord when two siblings who survived the persecution, offered themselves to the Lord in consecrated life.

They are Fr. Anand Pradhan and Sr. Anjali Pradhan, brother and sister, who 10 years ago had to flee to save their lives from Hindu zealots who destroyed their home in Odishas Kandhamal district, the epicentre of the anti-Christian violence.

The two have another sister, Sr. Jitima Pradhan, a member of the Congregation of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.

On December 27, Fr. Anand was ordained a priest of the Order of Friars Minor and his sister, Anjali, pronounced her final vows as a member of the Society of Saint Anne of Luzern. A reception was held in Mundakanga on December 29th in which more than 1,500 people, 15 priests and five nuns were present. Among them were also 7 Christian families and 80 local Hindus who felicitated the siblings donating fruit and other gifts, according to the custom of their religion.

Flight and reconciliation

It was on August 25, 2008, that hell broke loose on the Christians of Kandhamal, with the extremists attacking them for the August 23 murder of Hindu leader Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati, even though Maoist rebels claimed the assassination.

The Pradhan brother and sister who escaped were prevented by Hindu families from returning and rebuilding their home in Mundakanga. It was here that the two returned for a ceremony of reconciliation and thanksgiving, in which the entire village joined the celebration.



Speaking during the ceremony, Fr. Anand Pradhan urged for reconciliation. "We are Indians citizens of one country, of one state, of one family. God created us in his image and likeness to live in unity, peace and prosperity. Reconciliation is the great virtue of the Catholic faith," the Franciscan friar said.

Fr Anand entered the Arundaya Capuchin Ashram Minor Seminary in Barakhoma in 2006, after finishing high school. He trained in the Idukki district of Kerala and then continued his philosophy and theology studies in Andhra Pradesh. He took final vows in 2017.

His sister, Sr. Anjali joined the Society of St. Ann, Luzern in 2010. She completed her novitiate in Vishakapatnam and made her first profession of faith on 21 November 2016.

Archbishop John Barwa of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar and the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) marked the 10th anniversary of the 2008 massacre with a solemn Mass on August 25, 2018, in the state capital, Bhubaneswar, and appealed for secularism, democracy, justice and peace and brotherhood.

Once more, as has been evident through the centuries, the ordeal of the Pradhan siblings prove how true the words of the 2nd century Church Father, Tertullian are: The blood of martyrs is the seed of Christianity. (Source: AsiaNews)
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Mongolia's capital Ulan Bator city has declared 2019 as citizen participation-development year, the mayor's press office said Thursday.

ULAN BATOR, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd Jan, 2019 ) :Mongolia's capital Ulan Bator city has declared 2019 as citizen participation-development year, the mayor's press office said Thursday.

"The year 2019 is a special year for Ulan Bator.

This year marks the 380th anniversary of the establishment of the city," Jantsan Batbayasgalan, acting mayor of the capital city, said at the first meeting of Ulan Bator City Council in 2019 on Thursday.

"We need to listen to the voices of our residents in order to intensify the development and prosperity of the city, and solve the pressing issues, including traffic jam and air pollution. So, we declared 2019 as citizen participation-development year," the acting mayor said.

Ulan Bator is home to more than half of the country's population of 3.2 million.
DAMASCUS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 05th January, 2019) Russian servicemen brought 500 food kits to a Syrian camp inhabited by people, who had been evacuated from the Kefarya town located in the militant-held Idlib province, Eduard Titov, a representative of the Russian Defense Ministry's Center for Syrian Reconciliation, said.

"We have arrived in the Khirjila camp and brought 500 food kits, each of them including a kilogram [2.2 pounds] of rice, sugar and flour; four cans of meat and 30 grams of tea," Titov told reporters.

The residents of Kefarya had been evacuated from the town last July. While they were living in the town, occupied by terrorists, they often faced shellings and had no access to medical aid and pure water.
Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus Metropolitan Paul, the leader of the Belarusian Orthodox Church, has said that he believed autocephaly was in fact foisted on Ukrainian Orthodox believers.

MINSK (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 05th January, 2019) Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus Metropolitan Paul, the leader of the Belarusian Orthodox Church , has said that he believed autocephaly was in fact foisted on Ukrainian Orthodox believers.

"This is a political gamble ... In fact, this is the only situation in the history of the Orthodox church when Orthodox Christians do not want autocephaly but are given it. It is foisted on them," Paul told Belarusian STB tv channel on Friday.

He qualified granting autocephaly to the newly established Ukrainian church as a "pan-Orthodoxy tragedy."

"Just look what in fact is happening. Schismatics and dissenters are united, while there are no Orthodox Christians. Only two people out of the entire membership of the episcopate have decided to move there [to the newly established church]. All the others a huge number of people, including 90 bishops, Orthodox believers, and Orthodox priests do not want it. They want the church to be united," Paul added.

The exarch specified that Belarus did not seek autocephaly.

"I should say it frankly: this is a dreadful tragedy for Ukraine, but if this happens in Belarus, this will mean the death of the Belarusian Orthodox Church. The Belarusian Orthodox Church will be doomed to elimination," Paul said.

He emphasized that both the head of the state and the government were doing everything possible to ensure peace in the country.

"This in an important question: who needs this? Those who want division, antagonism, and hatred. So let us hope this won't happen in Belarus," he said.

Earlier in the day, Constantinople Patriarch Bartholomew signed the tomos granting autocephaly to the "new church" of Ukraine. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate has slammed granting tomos of autocephaly to the new church as a non-canonical move that will bring to Ukraine "trouble, division, and sin."
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 05th January, 2019) Hackers from the Anonymous group published a new batch of leaked documents on the activities of the UK state-funded Integrity Initiative project in Armenia, including a list of disloyal journalists, publications timetable, contacts' list and payment documents.

Late on Friday, the group published documents and invoices, which it claims are the evidence showing that the Integrity Initiative project carries out analysis of the activities of the UK opposition Labour Party and its leader Jeremy Corbyn, as well as the RT broadcaster, with the use of UK taxpayers' money. The documents, particularly, concern the coverage of the Salisbury poisoning incident and the situation in the middle East, namely in Syria. The UK Foreign Office has recognized the authenticity of the documents, which were released by Anonymous last year, concerning London's interference in EU countries' affairs and waging an information war against Russia. The documents include reports on RT's activities and invoices for writing them for Integrity Initiative.

The documents, revealed by Anonymous late on Friday, include a timetable of activities of the Institute for Statecraft, which funds Integrity Initiative, for March-June 2016, including a list of media publications on Russia and its alleged negative role in the world. The batch also featured an article by a researcher, Eduard Abrahamyan, on the recent protests in Armenia, called "Moscow Worries Armenian 'Velvet Revolution' Could Lessen Its Leverage Over Yerevan."

The hackers also published an invoice for the payment of 250 Pounds ($329) to this researcher, which reads that he has "briefed the audience about the ongoing dynamics of Armenia's domestic and foreign policy."

Notably, the Production Timetable of the Institute for Statecraft, published by the hackers, includes "eight complaints forwarded to [UK media watchdog] Ofcom on RT's failure to ensure due impartiality with request to launch a formal investigation."

On December 20, Ofcom said that RT had breached the regulator's broadcast rules by failing to provide impartial news coverage in seven programs aired in March and April, a decision at which RT, in turn, has expressed its disappointment, suggesting that the regulator had not taken its reasoning into account.

Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of RT, noted that the watchdog had found the violations six months after UK Prime Minister Theresa May said she would "expel the Russian propaganda as she calls it."

Documents, subsequently revealed by the hackers, showed that the complaints had been written by an employee of the Institute for Statecraft, Ben Nimmo, who is in charge of the Integrity Initiative project, with UK taxpayers' money.

One of the documents, released by Anonymous on Friday, is a report on the coverage of the recent protests in Armenia, showing that the Integrity Initiative's staff emphasized Russia's alleged negative role in them. Moreover, comments and examples of the publications include their criticism toward journalists who covered the protests from the pro-Russian point of view.

The hackers also leaked a list of "activists in Armenia that contribute Russian interests, propaganding and promoting Russia's official posture and intensions, meantime positioning themselves as 'analysts', 'experts', 'politics'."

The hacktivist group published the first batch of documents on the activities of the Integrity Initiative project, funded by the Institute for Statecraft, in November. Anonymous said that the program, launched in 2015, was financed by the UK government, as well as NATO, Facebook and the US State Department. The hacktivist group described the program as a "large-scale information secret service" created by London to "counteract Russian propaganda."

Anonymous also claimed that the Integrity Initiative included covert structures to interfere in domestic affairs of several European countries such as France, Germany, Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Norway, Serbia, Spain, and Montenegro.

According to the hackers, the program of the Institute for Statecraft has not been renewed since 2017 while there was no information on its employees and contact details in the public domain. The source code of its online publications allows assuming that they have been issued automatically, according to the hackers.
A new police post has been established in Defence Housing Authority (DHA) Phase-11 Islamabad to ensure elaborate security arrangements in the area and keep high vigilance against the criminal elements.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Jan, 2019 ) :A new police post has been established in Defence Housing Authority (DHA) Phase-11 Islamabad to ensure elaborate security arrangements in the area and keep high vigilance against the criminal elements.

This new check post has been established following the directions of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad Muhammad Aamir Zulfiqar in coordination with administration of DHA. It was formally inaugurated by Superintendent of Police (Rural)) Muhammad Umer while the inaugural ceremony was attended among others by Sub-Divisional Police Officer Sihala, ASP Muhammad Essa Khan, Station House Officer Sihala Malik Basheer Ahmed, representatives of DHA administration, notables of the area and other police officials.

Policemen would be deputed at this check post in various shifts round the clock and to rush to the site in case of any untoward incident there.

The residents of DHA have appreciated this step of Islamabad police and said that it would help to increase the coordination of police with citizens to curb crime.

The residents of the area can give information to the police personnel deputed there in case of any untoward or crime incident following which prompt action would be taken.

Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent of Police (Operations) Waqar Uddin Syed reviewed the security arrangements throughout the district including Sihala area. He directed all SHOs to ensure effective security and effective patrolling in their respective areas.

The SSP ordered high vigilance against those supporting criminals and to ensure their arrests. He said that it is the prime responsibility of the police to ensure protection to the lives and property of the citizens and no sluggish attitude would be tolerated in this regard.
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Despite the popular belief in the 1990s, that with the collapse of the USSR, the practice of sending agents to Western media outlets was over, Russian intelligence services did not recall their agents, and with a high probability continued building up their own capabilities there.

The exposure of a journalist of the German magazine, Der Spiegel, Claas Relotius, who falsified stories for his reports, was a real shocker, and sharply raised the issue of developing more effective tools for curbing disinformation in the media community.

In the early 1960s, the magazine published a series of investigations by journalist Conrad Ahlers, who severely criticized and accused the then German Defense Minister Franz Josef Strauss of unprofessionalism and corruption. The consequences of the scandal, known as Spiegel-Affare, led to the reformation of the parliamentary coalition and Strauss resignation, International Policy Digest recalls.

According to the Soviet Foreign Intelligence Officer, Ilya Dzhirkvelov, who defected to the West, the conflict between Strauss and Der Spiegel was part of a Soviet special operation aimed at discrediting Strauss, who might have become the next chancellor of West Germany.

This case was not unique. The USSR consistently sought opportunities to penetrate Western media that were urgently needed for effective influence operations in the so-called active measures. In the KGB, there was even a special department engaged in recruitment and infiltration of the media created in the West by Russian and Soviet immigrants. However, the main priority of the Soviet special services, according to the former head of the Soviet foreign intelligence, General Oleg Kalugin, was the infiltration of Radio Liberty.

A large number of exposed Soviet agents alone among journalists of Radio Liberty, testifies to the industrial scale of this infiltration. The most successful of them Oleg Tumanov, who until 1986 worked as the editor-in-chief of the Russian service of Radio Liberty and had a direct impact not only on the editorial policy but also on the personnel matters. His wife, Olga Tumanova, a former BBC journalist who later became a Russian language teacher at a U.S. intelligence school in Europe, also worked for the Soviet secret services.

It is noteworthy that Oleg Tumanov as well as another Soviet agent, Yuri Marin, who was also an employee of Radio Liberty, was not disclosed by American counterintelligence, and their cooperation with the KGB was disclosed only after their escape to the USSR.

Infiltration of Radio Liberty involved intelligence services of other member states of the Warsaw Bloc. Among the well-known Soviet assets on the radio were Andrzej Chekhovich, Pavel Menarzhyk, and Khristn Khristov, who worked respectively on Soviet intelligence in Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Bulgaria, should be especially noted. After returning to the Soviet bloc countries, their testimony describing the spying and manipulative nature of Radio Libertys activity became the basis for a broad international campaign to discredit the Radio.

Despite the popular belief in the 1990s, that with the collapse of the USSR, the practice of sending agents to Radio Liberty and other Western media was over, Russian intelligence services did not recall their agents, and with a high probability continued building up their own capabilities there.

Read alsoNot all quiet on EU's "eastern front" as Russia seeks to split unity - media

There were many scandals associated with the sudden "U-turns" by journalists in the Western media in former Soviet countries. For example, Anna Herman, the former head of Radio Libertys bureau in Kyiv, unexpectedly joined the authoritarian pro-Russian camp of the then-president Viktor Yanukovych, where she quickly became one of the leaders. Today the Russian journalist, Andriy Babitsky, has been working with Radio Svoboda since 1989, and since 2009 he has been the editor of Echo of the Caucasus (Russian-language Radio Liberty project broadcast in Georgia). The Echo of the Caucasus soon became the subject of sharp criticism for the use of Russian narratives in assessing Georgian-Ossetian and Georgian-Abkhazian conflicts, as well as Russian aggression against Georgia in 2008.

Despite this, Andriy Babitsky continued working there and was fired from Radio Svoboda only in 2014 after publicly supporting Russian aggression against Ukraine. After his dismissal, Babitsky helped to create a television channel in the territory of Russia-occupied Donbas and then began working on the infamous Russian propaganda channel LIFE.

Of course, some may consider all these cases can be considered coincidences. However, in the context of hybrid warfare, when respectable and trusted Western mass media are so critical for generating public opinion, the importance of the infiltration of media, the recruitment of journalists, editors and publishers cannot be neglected.

The main issue today should not be the violation of the standards of journalism by Claas Relotius, but his motivation to violate them, as well as the motivation of jury members of various journalistic awards to appreciate his fake news so highly. Of course, the jury of such awards, as a rule, includes honored and well-known journalists. However, Relotius was respected until he was exposed.
"Americas message to the Kremlin should be unequivocal: actions have consequences," said Sen. Shaheen.

Following mounting pressure, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine has indefinitely rescinded a planned visit by his Russian counterpart, a former deputy prime minister whom the U.S. government sanctioned for his role in Moscow's 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

NASA has informed the Russian space agency, Roscosmos, that the proposed visit of Roscosmos Director General, Dr. Dimitry Rogozin (sic), currently planned for February 2019 will need to be postponed," Megan Powers, a spokeswoman for Bridenstine, said in a statement released Friday afternoon, according to USA Today.

"A new date for the visit has not been identified," she said.

Critics of Rogozin's potential visit included Democrat senators Mark Warner and Jeanne Shaheen, the latter being a top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations subcommittee which funds NASA.

Read alsoMore "clever" Russian aggression in Ukraine, possibly Baltics in 2019  expert forecast

Americas message to the Kremlin should be unequivocal: actions have consequences, Shaheen said earlier this week. "Administrator Bridenstines invitation to Dmitry Rogozin, one of the leading architects of the Kremlins campaign of aggression towards its neighbors, undercuts our message and undermines the United States core national security objectives."

Rogozin had been one of scores of Russians sanctioned by the Obama administration for involvement in the Crimean annexation. The sanctions included a ban on travel to the U.S., and a freeze on some assets held in U.S. banks.

Bridenstine's invitation to Rogozin was coordinated in advance and a waiver allowing Rogozin to visit the U.S. was granted by the Department of Treasury in June, according to NASA.
Restrictions on freedom of movement, access denials, and other impmediments have been recorded.

Russian occupation forces in Donbas prohibit OSCE Special Monitoring Mission observers from entering the facilities and territories under their control, Joint Forces Operation HQ wrote, citing information from the Ukrainian side to the Joint Control and Coordination Center.

The Ukrainian side to the JCCC informs that the armed forces of the Russian Federation and their mercenaries in Donbas prohibit OSCE SMM observers from entering objects and territories they control, thereby hampering the missions activities, the report says.

According to the report of the OSCE mission, the facts of restriction of freedom of movement, access denial, and other impediments have been recorded.

Read alsoNew OSCE Chairperson-in-Office to visit Donbas in two weeks  Klimkin

In particular, at the checkpoint near Izvaryne, one of the militants ordered the mission patrol to leave the area. At the roadblock located at the northern entrance to Novoazovske, five militants did not allow the mission patrol to drive to the city center and eastward.

"The Ukrainian side to the JCCC considers inadmissible such aggressive actions of the Russian occupation troops, which have acquired a systemic nature, leading to an escalation of tensions both on the line of demarcation and generally in the area of the Joint Forces Operation," the JCCC said.
At the same time, the enemy did not employ weapons banned by Minsk accords.

Over the past day, the militants that are part of Russian occupation forces in the Donbas warzone three times violated the ceasefire agreement, the press center of the Joint Forces Operation wrote on Facebook Saturday morning.

Ukraine has not recorded any incidents with the use of weapons banned by Minsk accords.

"Over the past day, no soldiers of the Joint Forces were wounded," the Headquarters reported.

"The strongholds of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were fired upon from grenade launchers of various systems, large-caliber machine guns, and small arms near the Vilnyi village on the Luhansk line and twice outside the village of Vodiane on the Mariupol line," reads the statement.

Read alsoDonbas tensions subside on Friday as Russian proxies violate truce only once  JFO HQ

"In response to enemy provocations, units of the Joint Forces returned fire," the headquarters stressed.

From day-start, the enemy did not open fire.

According to Ukrainian intelligence, two militants were killed and one was wounded.
"The completion of one stage marks the beginning of another."

The Orthodox Church of Ukraine obtaining autocephaly will spark resistance of anti-Ukrainian forces, which will only intensify their efforts aimed against the new Church, according to Archbishop of Chernihiv and Nizhyn Yevstratiy Zorya.

First of all, there's a sense of satisfaction that great amount of work that has been done over the many recent years  this is not a few months, it's years  has achieved success," Yevstratiy Zorya told Pryamyi TV channel.

At the same time, it is obvious, he added, that the completion of one stage marks the beginning of another.

Read alsoHistory is made: Bartholomew signs tomos of autocephaly for Orthodox Church of Ukraine

"Just as in 1991 the end of dependence and proclamation of independence of Ukraine faced new challenges for the Ukrainian people and the state, so did the tomos of autocephaly, the pan-Orthodox proclamation of independence of the Ukrainian church becomes a challenge, and a lot of work lies ahead, Zorya said.

And we should not forget that back in 1991, there were many opposing forces that, despite the declaration of independence, did not stop counteracting and opposing the Ukrainian state, which eventually resulted in the hybrid war that they had openly launched against Ukrainian statehood five years ago, leaving hope to destroy it in another way. Obviously, all these challenges Ukraine and the Ukrainian Church will be facing in the church issue. That's because the opposing forces have not stopped, they are not asleep, they understand the significance of what has happened and what will happen. And so we need to be ready for this. A lot of work, responsible labor lies ahead," said the Archbishop.
As reported earlier, the Constantinople Patriarchate will hold a ceremony in Istanbul on January 5 for the signing of a tomos of autocephaly for the newly-established Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko met with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during an Istanbul visit on Saturday, Jan 6.

During the talks, the two leaders discussed ways to strengthen strategic partnership and enhance coordination of cooperation in the international arena. They also discussed prospects of concluding a bilateral agreement on a free trade area, according to the presidential administration's website.

The Head of Ukrainian State highly appreciated Turkey's continued support of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and separately thanked for co-sponsoring the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly approved in December 2018 concerning the condemnation of the militarization by the Russian side of Crimea and the Sea of Azov.

Interlocutors paid special attention to measures aimed to release illegally imprisoned Ukrainians from Russian prisons, as well as to ensure the rights of Ukrainian citizens, including Crimean Tatars, on the territory of the Russian-occupied Crimea.

Read alsoBartholomew calls on leaders of autocephalous churches to recognize Orthodox Church of Ukraine

The presidents of the two countries noted positive dynamics of trade, economic and investment cooperation, as well as the growth of mutual tourist flows.

As reported earlier, the Constantinople Patriarchate will hold a ceremony in Istanbul on January 5 for the signing of a tomos of autocephaly for the newly-established Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

The president is set to attend the ceremony and deliver a statement.

The tomos will be handed over to OCU head, Metropolitan Epifaniy, on January 6.
Romania has provided Ukrainian students with 85 educational grants for studying at Romanian higher education institutions, the Education and Science Ministry of Ukraine has reported on its website.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania and the Ministry of National Education of Romania provided 85 scholarships for study at higher education institutions. Scholars will be able to get a master's or bachelor's degree and to study for a PhD," the report reads.

The study programme is held in the Romanian language. Students who do not speak the language well should undergo a preparatory course during a year. After that, they take a test at higher education institution or provide a certificate of the Romanian language proficiency (at least B1 level) in accordance with the European recommendations for language education.

The deadline for submission of documents is February 28, 2019.

Detailed information on the competition and a list of required documents is available on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania.
The Public Council of International Experts (PCIE) has initiated a veto on the first eight candidates for Ukraine's High Anti-Corruption Court.

Such a decision was made at the first meeting of the PCIE on January 4, according to the Anti-Corruption Action Center.

According to the report, these candidates include Oksana Holub, Anatoliy Kviatkovsky, Anatoliy Zahorodniy, Ihor Shtulman, Yuriy Kulinich, Dmytro Tishko, Taras Zayets and Yevhen Martynov.

"According to international experts, there are reasonable doubts regarding the compliance of these candidates with the criteria for selecting judges for the future High Anti-Corruption Court," the report said.

It noted that the PCIE should now contact the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine (HQCJ) to hold a joint meeting to invite the candidates and conduct a vote on their meeting the criteria for integrity and professionalism.

"If nine HQCJ members and three of the six PCIE members do not confirm a candidate's suitability, he or she will not be able to qualify for a judge's post," the center said.

The report notes that the first meeting of the PCIE was attended by its chairpersons Sir Anthony Hooper, Flemming Christian Denker and Aurelijus Gutauskas, while Ted Zarzeczny, Mirjana Lazarova Trajkovska and Lorna Harris joined the communication via a web conference.

The center recalled that at the end of December the HQCJ had published a list of candidates for the High Ant-Corruption Court who successfully passed the exams.

The Public Council of International Experts has the time until January 26 to veto doubtful candidates.

The High Qualification Commission of Judges will, at its discretion, select the winners of the competition among the remaining candidates.

According to paragraph 1, Article 9, of the law of Ukraine on the High Anti-Corruption Court, the PCIE is formed for the period of six years by the HQCJ to assist it with the preparation of decisions on the appointment of judges of the High Anti-Corruption Court and is considered a subsidiary body of the HQCJ.
Oklahomas largest tribes have, so far, weathered the stoppage in federal funds from a partial government shutdown but are unsure how long they can continue doing so.

By treaty, the U.S. government has a federal trust responsibility to federally recognized tribes, and that obligation isnt being met during government shutdowns, said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker.

The shutdown enters its 15th day Saturday as President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats remain at loggerheads over border security funding. Most Bureau of Indian Affairs employees have been furloughed, along with workers at other federal agencies that assist tribes  assistance that was promised in decades-old treaties.

At the Cherokee Nation, a food distribution program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture is still delivering healthy food to citizens; supplies are still reaching mothers through the Women, Infants and Children program; and tribal health care programs are still operational.
Additionally, the chief said the bill does not require any type of reporting to be provided to his office or the National Council. He believes entities funded by the tribe should be required to send a quarterly report describing their activities and accomplishments.

The council may override the veto with support from at least two-thirds of its members.

Floyd has maintained that Mvskoke Media remains independent despite being in his control. The tribe issued a news release Friday evening stating that while Floyd supports free press rights, he also wants to ensure departmental accountability and efficiency.

I have remained dedicated to upholding the rights of Mvskoke Medias free press, Floyd said in the release. I have not intervened in the daily operations of news reporting or restricted the independence of Mvskoke Media to pursue and report any news story.

Despite this, Cosper said the situations optics undermine the media outlets credibility regardless of whether there is actual interference.

They can insist all they want, but if (Mvskoke Media) is set up under the chief its just inherently not true, Cosper said. I just cant believe they continue to push that line. I mean, we wouldnt accept that as Americans with another media outlet, I wouldnt think.  They can now fire people. Thats the thing you need to understand. They couldnt do that when we had the (Free Press Law) and that was a key part of it, government officials firing journalists.

Kyle Hinchey 918-581-8451 kyle.hinchey@tulsaworld.com Twitter: @kylehinchey
He also released several letters of support from Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum, Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John Doak and others who addressed the issues raised by the ABA.

Still, OConnors nomination, along with several others, stalled after Trump nominated Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court, and that confirmation process turned into a headline-grabbing hearing that not only pushed all other nominations aside but further politicized the environment inside and outside the Senate.

Those nominations languished, and then became embroiled in an unrelated controversy that led retiring Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., to serve notice he would vote against every nomination, which essentially spelled the end of the road for them.

OConnors nomination got something of a boost from the November elections.

With the new partisan split in the Senate, the Judiciary Committee will be divided with 12 Republicans and 10 Democrats. That is a one-seat cushion his nomination did not have in the last Congress.

Two Republican women, Sens. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and Joni Ernst of Iowa, will join the committee, a goal Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky had set for himself.

Democrats have had four women on the panel, including Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, the ranking member.
Lankford has for some time been pressing for changes in the budgeting process, which he says is largely responsible for the frequent government shutdowns and continuing resolutions of recent years.

There is no reason for the shutdown to continue, Lankford wrote on his Facebook page earlier this week. The current budget process is broken.

Last year, Lankford served on a joint committee for budget reform that failed to get a final vote in the Senate. Among the changes he proposed or supported were consequences for failing to produce a budget in orderly fashion and reducing the power of the filibuster while increasing from 51 to 60 the number of votes needed to pass a budget.

Lankford has maintained the nations growing deficit and debt are the result of spending rather than last years 10-year, $2 trillion tax cut, which he and other Republicans say will pay for itself in the long run.

In the move to the Finance Committee, Lankford will give up his Intelligence seat while remaining on Appropriations, Homeland Security and Government Affairs and Indian Affairs.

Randy Krehbiel 918-581-8365 randy.krehbiel@tulsaworld.com Twitter: @rkrehbiel

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It is my job as an elected official to seek out economic development opportunities for my community, she said.

Hall-Harper was a member of the Greenwood Chamber but left over disagreements with how the organization was being run. In early 2018, she helped establish the Black Wall Street Chamber with former Greenwood Chamber President Sherry Gamble Smith.

The larger issue, Eason McIntyre said, is that the competing factions in north Tulsa need to begin working together.

Our community is the last community that needs this kind of division, she said.

Eason McIntyre said she would like to see Hall-Harper and other Black Wall Street Chamber officials meet with the Greenwood Chamber to resolve their differences.

There has not been any effort to say, Lets sit down and see where we can find common ground,  she said. Us fighting ourselves over crumbs isnt going to get us anywhere.  It serves no one in our community or the community at large for this kind of situation to continue.

In her Facebook post, Hall-Harper says she has tried to reach out to the Greenwood Chamber.
USA Today has named Gathering Place one of the 20 best new attractions in the nation, and the public can vote through 11 a.m. Monday on which site should get top honors.

Tony Moore, Gathering Places executive director, said being considered one of the nations best is quite a distinction.

Were just honored to be a part of this voting and to be nationally recognized among a lot of what I would call astute entities, Moore said. Were honored that Tulsa is able to get some national attention here.

When youre from the East and West Coast, you see the big names, but to put Tulsa on the map in this regard is awesome.

This years list includes the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, New York, the Gateway Arch Museum and Visitor Center in St. Louis and the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center, among others.

Go to bit.ly/votegatheringplace10best to vote.

The winner will be announced Jan. 18.
OKLAHOMA CITY  An Oklahoma woman said she was recently assaulted in Dallas because she wore a head scarf identifying her as Muslim.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations-Oklahoma Chapter has asked that the Dallas Police Department investigate the incident as a hate crime.

Jenan Ayesh, an Enid resident who works in Oklahoma City, said the violent encounter occurred Dec. 29 when she and her mother were waiting for a ride outside Reunion Tower. Ayesh said a woman began speaking to her mother in a rude manner as they were standing in front of a door that she wanted to use to exit the building.

She got really agitated with us and told me to go back to my country, Ayesh said, describing the incident at a CAIR-Oklahoma news conference Friday in Oklahoma City.
editorial@tribune.com

Dehradun, January 4

BJP president Amit Shah will visit Dehradun on February 2 to enthuse party cadres in view of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, a party functionary said on Friday.

Shah will address the BJPs Trishakti Sammelan here on February 2 to gear up party workers at the booth level for the General elections, state BJP president Ajay Bhatt said.

His visit will definitely enthuse the cadres and inspire them to do their best to ensure that the party repeats its performances in the Lok Sabha and Assembly poll, Bhatt said.

Shahs visit to Uttarakhand comes after the BJP faced defeat in three of its bastions  Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.

The BJP faces the challenge of retaining all five Lok Sabha seats in the poll, which is likely to be a high-stakes battle for the party that swept to power in Uttarakhand in 2017, winning 57 out of a total of 70 Assembly seats. PTI
singhking99@yahoo.com

Ankur Grover

COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and asthma account for the second largest number of deaths in India. There are 93.5 million chronic respiratory disease patients in India, which is 15.69 per cent of the global prevalence. The country ranks second in the world as far as the prevalence of asthma is concerned. Nearly 500 persons may be dying of asthma every day. Uttar Pradesh accounts for the maximum number of deaths, nearly 48,000, from asthma in India. And many of these can be prevented by the use of right preventive measures. This makes awareness about the use of inhalers very important, as was highlighted at a health conference organised by Heal Foundation in New Delhi recently. Dr Jaideep Gogtay, global chief medical officer, Cipla, explained that in an asthmatic person, the muscles of the bronchial tubes lighten and thicken, and the air passages become inflamed and mucus-filled, making it difficult for air to move.

Treatment and hurdles

Advanced research and latest guidelines recommend the use of inhalers for the treatment of asthma. However, only eight per cent patients are currently using inhalers in India. The use of inhalation therapy and controller medication, in particular, stays low.

The key reasons for poor use of inhalation therapy in India are: lack of awareness; stigma; often spoken, though without much reason, the difficulty in using and handling of inhalers; myths about the disease  it should be opted as the last resort, it is habit forming; availability of alternative forms of therapy; it has side effects and so on and so forth.

Time to junk myths

Like many other diseases, asthmatics also hesitate to publically accept their condition. The stigma attached to some health conditions makes it difficult for patients to come out candidly in the public.

Some other myths that surround inhalers include that these can lead to a childs stunted growth; asthmatics should avoid exercising; inhalers can be addictive; and to use inhalers secretively are junked.

Doctors recommend the use of inhalers instead of other medicines, as these have lower dosage as compared to pills and capsules and the medicine reaches the lungs directly.

The bottom line is that asthmatics can live a normal, happy and fulfilling life and can do everything that others do if the medical condition is considered no big deal and best treatment available is opted for.

Celebrity endorsements may help

The Indian star, who is making waves in Hollywood, Priyanka Chopra has lived with asthma for nearly three decades now, and it hasn't stopped from going milestones to milestones. In a recent tweet, the global icon shared, Those who know me well know that I'm an asthmatic. I mean, what's to hide? I knew that I had to control my asthma before it controlled me. As long as I've got my inhaler, asthma can't stop me from achieving my goals and living a 'Berok Zindagi'. She has also recently appeared an ad in which she accepts that she has asthma and does away with apprehensions and myths that shroud the disease and its social perception.
editorial@tribune.com

Bindu Gopal Rao

From being a journalist by profession to switching to cooking by passion, Garima Arora has come a long way. And with her restaurant, Gaa, in Bangkok receiving its first Michelin star, it seems the start of all things good for this 32 year old.

Past perfect

Born and brought up in Mumbai, Garima graduated in mass media from Jai Hind College. She covered pharmaceuticals for a while, but always felt something was not right. I have watched my father whip up culinary creations ever since I was a child. He would travel a lot, and when he came home, he would recreate the dishes he had sampled abroad. Seeing his passion, I too developed interest in cooking, she shares.

She too was to come home and dish up her experiences. After graduating from college and before taking up a job in journalism, I took a trip to Singapore. When I returned, I gathered the family and cooked them a big hotpot. It was such a fun evening. I realised what I really wanted to do was talk to people through the medium of food. While I did take up a job in journalism, six months later, I knew it was time to make the switch. I joined Le Cordon Bleu Paris shortly after.

Culinary cues

Over the last decade, Garima has worked with several world-renowned chefs, including Gordon Ramsay in 2011 and Rene Redzepi from 2013 to 2015. In the fall of 2015, she moved to Bangkok and joined the Gaggan group.

I have been very lucky to work with some of the most important names in the industry. Under Rene, I learnt how to think of food intellectually, and not just as a physical task. My take away from my time with him was that food should be meaningful. My experience with Ramsay is what I describe as the best first job I could have asked for. There, I learned to leave my ego at the door and really become a team player. At Gaggans, I was taught the beauty of Asian hospitality. In my opinion, it really is the best service in the world.

In what was probably a case of serendipity, Garima was supposed to head Gaggans Mumbai restaurant when it opened, but the deal fell through. However, when the brand decided to go ahead and open a restaurant in Bangkok, they chose her to helm it and Gaa was launched in April 2017.

At Gaa, we offer two menus  a 10-course and a 14-course menu. Through this, we strive to find a connection between India, where I am from, and Thailand. There are so many dishes on the menu that stand out, like our corn dish, which was also the first dish to make its way to Gaas menu when we opened. This dish is inspired by the Mumbai bhutta. We take young corns (not to be confused with baby corns), cook them on the grill and season with the same spice rub we use on the streets of Mumbai.

On her menu, these corns are paired with corn milk. The idea, she says, is to elevate that warm fuzzy feeling of eating bhutta during the Mumbai monsoon to a fine-dining experience. Another one that really deserves a special mention is our jackfruit dish. We grill unripe jackfruit until it is tender and juicy, much like meat. It is then served with roti, which has ripe jackfruit in it. This dish not only combines techniques and flavours, but also cultures, she says.

Local connect

Garima is clear that using local flavours is very important. She believes these render authenticity to her food. Also, there is nothing better than using seasonal and local produce. Gaas menu is a great example of how well Thai and Indian culinary cultures can come together. I think what is most surprising about the food here is how Indian and Thai food are more alike than one would imagine. The Michelin Star, she acknowledges, is an incredible honour.

Ask her what the future holds and Garima says she will go ahead with a business-as-usual attitude. The Michelin star (by the Michelin Guide Thailand) has definitely given wind to our sails, but there is so much more to do, and we have just begun. I think it is very important that everything I do paves way for the next generation to do better. I want my work to make it easier for Indian chefs to get on the world platform and that is what means more to my career, she signs off.
Rosenberg, TX (77471)

Today

A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 74F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 74F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.
editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, January 4

A 55-year-old farmer allegedly committed suicide after consuming poison in his fields on Friday noon.

The deceased has been identified as Nachattar Singh, resident of Ramgarh Bhunder village in Rampura tehsil here.

Investigating Officer Gursahib Singh of the Kotfatta police station said, In his statement Shaminder Singh, son of the deceased said his father had been in depression for a long time as he could not repay a loan of Rs 4 lakh. Today, he went to the fields and consumed poison.

The IO said, When Shaminder carried tea to the fields, he saw his father lying unconscious there. He informed his family members who reached the spot and took Nachhatar to the Civil Hospital in Bathinda. When his condition deteriorated, he was referred to a private hospital in Ludhiana, but he died on the way.

The body has been brought to the Civil Hospital, Bathinda, for a post-mortem examination.
editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 4

Describing the Prime Minister as a master of deceit and disinformation, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Friday challenged Narendra Modi to show even one instance of a promise fulfilled by his government in the past five years, which had witnessed India plunging into utter ruin and devastation under his anti-people and divisive policies.

Taking Modi head-on over the statement made by him from the dais in Gurdaspur yesterday, Captain Amarinder said the jumlebaaz Prime Minister had brought the nation to its nadir with his deceptions and fabrications, and was staring at his moment of judgment at the hands of the people, who were set to throw him out of power for good.

Disputing every single statement made by Modi in Gurdaspur, the Chief Minister said the Prime Minister was misleading the people in the face of his imminent defeat in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Modi once again lied on every issue, from the 1984 riots and Kartarpur corridor to the farm debt waiver, said Capt Amarinder Singh.

Questioning Modis silence on the BJP/RSS workers named in the Tilak Marg police station FIR related to the 1984 riots, the Chief Minister said he desperately trying to drag the Gandhi family into the matter even though no fingers had been pointed at them.

And what about the 1992 riots in Gujarat which happened right under your nose and in which your own party members were squarely blamed and named? Captain Amarinder asked Modi, demanding to know why the Prime Minister continued to remain silent on the issue.

Captain Amarinder also lambasted the Prime Minister for trying to seize credit for the Kartarpur corridor, which the Congress had been actively pursuing since the days of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, right down to Dr Manmohan Singh. He himself had been taking up the issue with Pakistan for years, said the Chief Minister, asking Modi to reveal what he had done to get the project going.

You have not even given a single paisa so far for the celebration of the 550th Parkash Utsav of Guru Nanak despite our repeated pleas and requests and yet you claim to be the guardian of the Sikhs and their religion, asserted the Chief Minister, pinning Modi down on the issue.
editorial@tribune.com

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, January 4

Despite the fact that a few days are left for the annual festival of Maghi, the monuments built in the memory of 40 Muktas (liberated ones) and Mai Bhago are in an utter state of neglect.

The Mai Bhago Park, where a scene from the war between the Mughals and Sikhs has been depicted, is in a dilapidated condition. It is proving to be a safe haven for drug addicts and drunkards. During a visit to this park on Friday, some empty bottles of liquor and used syringes were found.

Besides, some tiles have fallen off the walls. Statues too require a fresh coat of paint. The staircase is damaged and garbage is littered in every nook and corner. Toilets too are in a poor condition. Some shopkeepers said the administration had never spent money on the maintenance of the park. There is still time for the Maghi day, i.e. January 14. The administration should carry out repair work, said a shopkeeper.

Meanwhile, it was observed that the welcome gates of the town, which have been dedicated to 40 Muktas, were defaced by posters and needed repair.

The condition of Mukt-e-Minar, having the worlds tallest khanda (double-edged sword) with girdled rings is also poor. Besides, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) had laid the foundation stone of a martyrs memorial (dedicated to Mai Bhago and 40 Muktas) on the Tibbi Sahib Road here on May 4, 2005, but not even a single brick has been laid to date.

ADC (General) Dr Richa held a meeting with the officials of various departments on Thursday, directed them to ensure cleanliness of the town during the mela, and divided the town in some sectors for better management.

Dont hold POLITICAL rallies at mela: CM
editorial@tribune.com

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Phagwara, January 4

Nobel Prize winner in physics Ferderick Duncan Michael Haldane on Friday said India needs to emulate China to reverse brain drain.

The physicist, who bagged the 2016 Nobel Prize along with David J Thouless and John Michael Kosterlitz, said while science could only warn about global warming, it was only the politicians who could play a part in solving it.

Asking the young to be numerically literate, he said India needed an environment where scientific innovation was encouraged through experimental work  an area where China was leading the way.

He said, India has to be a part of the technological developments of the future and China is investing a lot of money in this... Thats what Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also talking about. He wanted to encourage the state universities. I think you also need to prevent researchers going out. You want to keep funding top institutions and make it possible for productive people to stay, you need to think experimental. What China has done is, it has put a lot of money into experimental physics and material science. They have been quite successful in reversing the brain drain.

Asked whether India needs to follow the example of China, he said, It has to. The key is to identify excellent people. And setting up world-class centres of excellence for a better scientific culture.

Questioned whether science was disturbing nature, he said, Scientists or science is not disturbing nature. Its the technologists. We need to reverse some of the bad effects of our technological advances too.

Responding to a query on the failure of recent climate change summits in resolving the global warming crisis and whether scientists could find a solution to it, he said, Through science, we are trying to learn about global warming. In some countries it has been paid heed to. I think we have a duty to tell the facts like they are. In science things are not really a matter of opinion. Scientists could just tell it like it is, but the politicians are the people who run society. We cant make them do something.

Meanwhile, Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani and Law and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad will visit the Lovely Professional University campus on the third day of the Science Congress on Saturday.

Time capsule buried for posterity

To remind the future generation about scientific advancements and civilisation progress, a time capsule with 100 items representing a cross-section of contemporary technology and countrys scientific prowess was buried at Lovely Professional University by two visiting Nobel laureates on the occasion of the 106th Indian Science Congress

Israeli biochemist Avram Hershko and American physicist F Duncan M Haldane along with the Chancellor of the institute buried it at the university. The capsule was buried at a depth of 10 feet

Objects in container
editorial@tribune.com

ibune News Service

Chandigarh, January 4

Governor VP Singh Badnore today called upon the town planners to check disposal of sewerage waste into water bodies while adhering to the futuristic needs of people, such as housing, transport, security, parking and road infrastructure.

Inaugurating the three-day 67th National Congress of the Institute of Town Planners of India here, Bandore said todays biggest challenge was increasing pressure on urbanisation due to migration from smaller towns to bigger towns.

He asked the planners to focus on the concept of developing green cities while envisioning the master plans for the cities and towns to tackle the ever-growing problem of pollution, which he termed as the biggest threat to planet earth. He pointed to maximum utilisation of solar energy while planning new cities.

Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Punjab Minister for Urban and Rural Development, said valuable outcome of the congress would be incorporated for better urban development in the state. He batted for the equal representation and participation of women in the planning sector.

Balbir Singh Sidhu, Minister for Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development, exhorted the planners to take note of important parameters of planning so as to ensure that the development of illegal colonies could be checked at the very initial stage.

Vini Mahajan, Additional Chief Secretary Urban Development and Housing, Punjab, said new technologies for preparation of master plans, such as drone surveys and satellite surveys, should be used to the maximum extent for better planning in future. She extended full support and cooperation to the Institute of Town Planners for the success of the congress.

President of the ITPI Dr DS Meshram delivered a keynote address and introduced the theme of the congress, titled Land Policies and City Planning.

Pardeep Kapoor, secretary general, ITPI, and Gurpreet Singh, vice-president, ITPI, Punjab, welcomed the guests and divulged that more than 500 delegates from different parts of the country were participating in the congress.
monicakchauhan@gmail.com

New Delhi, January 5

Alleged middleman Christian Michel, arrested in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case, received money from other defence deals as well which was to be probed, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday told a Delhi court, which sent the accused to judicial custody.

The agency told special judge Arvind Kumar that Michel had received 24.25 million euros and 1,60,96,245 pounds from the AgustaWestland deal.

During the interrogation, it was observed that he had also received money from other defence deals, which the ED will enquire, it said.

The EDs special public prosecutors, D P Singh and N K Matta, also told the court that the accused has also routed money through hawala operators for acquiring cash and for the purchase of property.

The ED produced Michel before the court on the expiry of his 14-day custodial interrogation and requested the court to send him to judicial custody, claiming that he might flee from justice if left free.

The accused is a British national and has no roots in India. There is every likelihood that he may abscond from India and evade the process of law, especially in the light of his past conduct.

He has been brought to this court through rigorous extradition proceedings. His fleeing away from justice again cannot be ruled out, the ED said.

The application was allowed by the court, which sent Michel to judicial custody till February 26.

In the CBI case related to the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal, the court sent Michel to judicial custody till February 27.

Michel, who was extradited from Dubai recently, was arrested by the ED on December 22 and since then was in the agencys custody on a court order.

The ED told the court that it had identified Michels properties purchased with the proceeds of crime.

He has given contradictory answers to various questions and he was not able to explain the contradiction, it said.

The agency told the court that the audit report submitted during the trial in an Italian court was appearing to be factually incorrect.

Hence, it is required to be seen whether the Italian court had based its decision on the said audit report, it said.

The ED added that it had investigated how cash was transferred through hawala and multiple bank accounts. We have found information about other defence deals. We need to investigate the money flowing there as well. We have documents to show that they misled the Italian court.

The court had earlier imposed restrictions on Michel meeting his lawyers in ED custody after the agency said he was misusing legal access by passing chits to the advocates, asking them how to tackle questions on Mrs Gandhi.

In its application seeking extension of Michels remand, the agency also claimed that during questioning, he had spoken about the son of an Italian lady and how he was going to become the next prime minister of the country.

We also need to decipher who the big man referred to as R is in the communications between Michel and other people, the ED told the court.

It sought that Michel be barred from meeting his lawyers in custody, alleging that he was being tutored from outside through his lawyers.

The ED told the court that Michel had made a reference to Mrs Gandhi during his interrogation on December 27.

During his medical examination, the accused had handed over a folded paper to his lawyer, Aljo K Joseph, which was noticed by the ED officials.

After the perusal of the paper, it was revealed that it pertained to a set of follow-up questions on Mrs Gandhi, the ED said.

The agency told the court that it was clear that there was a conspiracy to shield or tamper with the evidence that could be brought forth from the questioning of the accused.

It said it had discovered fresh evidence relating to new entities used for laundering the proceeds of crime and that Michels custodial interrogation was needed for confronting his Indian connections identified till date.

Michel is among the three alleged middlemen being probed in the case by the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The others are Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa.

The ED, in its remand application on Saturday, said the probe had revealed that Michel was the key middleman for AgustaWestland, pursuing the deal at different levels, and was instrumental in the circulation of sensitive information and eventual payment of kickbacks.

The key issues being investigated by the ED include the modus operandi adopted by the accused to eliminate TATA and HAL from competition in an Italian deal and the steps undertaken to mask the present deal as a British deal, instead of an Italian deal, to gain advantage in Light Observation Helicopters.

The agency is also probing the modus operandi adopted in influencing the German deal and how the accused misused information, leading to actions under the Official Secrets Act, and to determine if there were any more kickbacks, leading to the proceeds of crime linked with these activities.

The ED, in its chargesheet filed against Michel in June 2016, had alleged that he had received 30 million euros (about Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland.

The CBI, in its chargesheet, has alleged an estimated loss of 398.21 million euros (about Rs 2,666 crore) to the exchequer in the deal that was signed on February 8, 2010 for the supply of VVIP choppers worth 556.262 million euros. PTI
rchopra@tribunemail.com

United Nations, January 5

The UN refugee agency has expressed regret over Indias decision to repatriate a group of Rohingyas to Myanmar, saying it has sought clarification from India on the circumstances under which the asylum seekers were sent back, voicing concern over the unconducive conditions for such returns.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Friday that it regrets Indias decision to repatriate a family of Rohingya asylum seekers to Myanmar, the second such return in three months, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General, Farhan Haq told reporters at the daily press briefing.

The UN refugee agency said a family of Rohingya asylum-seekers from Rakhine State, registered with UNHCR in India, was sent back to Myanmar on Thursday after being detained in Assam, where they had been serving a prison term since 2013 for illegal entry into India.

The agency said despite repeated requests, it did not receive a response from the authorities in India regarding requests for access to individuals in detention to ascertain their circumstances and to assess the voluntariness of their decision to return.

Noting that this was the second such incident since October 2018, when India returned seven Rohingya men to Rakhine State in Myanmar, the agency said conditions are not conducive for return of Rohingyas to Myanmar.

UNHCR continues to request access and seek clarification on the circumstances under which the return has taken place, the agency added.

There are an estimated 18,000 Rohingya refugees and asylum-seekers registered with UNHCR in India, living across different locations.

Responding to a question on the Rohingyas being returned to Myanmar, Haq said the UN wanted to ensure that whenever any family is returned, the nature of the return was voluntary. And UNHCR was not able to assess the voluntary nature of that return, and so they are very concerned about this, he said.

When asked if the Secretary-General intends to talk directly to India over the issue since the UN refugee agency has failed, Haq replied, I wouldnt say that UNHCR has failed. What I would say is that theres movement on the ground about which they are concerned, but they are in charge of this particular file, and well see how it goes with their efforts.

Assam Additional Director General of Police (Border) Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta has said in Guwahati that the five members of the Rohingya family were handed over to the Myanmarese authorities along the International Border in Manipur.

They were apprehended about five years ago without any travel document and were booked for violating the Foreigners Act, Mahanta has said. PTI
monicakchauhan@gmail.com

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 5

Former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit is leading the race for presidentship of the state Congress unit after her long time rival in the party Ajay Maken quit on Friday.

Dikshit led the Congress government in Delhi for three terms until AAP demolished the party in the 2015 state elections routing it completely.

Dikshit was also the one who favoured baking the AAP government in Delhi in 2013, a decision which in the hindsight cost the party hugely.

Once again, parleys are on between the Congress and AAP for the 2019 Lok Sabha seat arrangement in Delhi with talks not proceeding well right now.

The Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP is seeking a lions share in Delhis seven LS seats with the Congress unwilling to cede too much space.

Within the Congress outgoing Delhi chief Ajay Maken was against an alliance with the AAP although sections in the party feel it would be important to reach an agreement with Kejriwal to prevent divisions of non-BJP votes.

Dikshit was earlier named the Congress chief ministerial face in UP for 2017 but Rahul Gandhi suddenly changes tack and decided to ally with SP at the last minute.
laxmi@tribune.com

Kathmandu, January 4

The Nepal Government is set to introduce a law which makes it mandatory for the children to deposit 5 to 10 per of their income into the bank accounts of parents to ensure their well-being.

According to the Prime Ministers press adviser Kundan Aryal, a Cabinet meeting has decided to present a Bill on amendment to the Senior Citizen Act-2006.

The main objective is to ensure the security of senior citizens, Aryal said.

There have been reports that people who are rich have been neglecting their parents. We are introducing the law to discourage the practice and ensure security for elderly people, Aryal said.

According to the Senior Citizen Act-2006, people aged above 60 years have been defined as senior citizens.

Those failing to adhere to these provisions will face a penalty. It will be deposited in the accounts of the parents concerned, he said.  PTI
pardeepdhull@gmail.com

Shahira Naim

Tribune News Service

Lucknow, January 5

With Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav meeting in New Delhi and reaching a broad agreement on seat-sharing, the suspense over a BSP-Samajwadi Party alliance in Uttar Pradesh for the Lok Sabha elections is over.

Sources said SP national president Akhilesh Yadav had a two-hour meeting with BSP chief Mayawati at her residence on Friday, where it was agreed that the two parties would contest 37 seats each.

Of the remaining six seats, two were kept for Rashtriya Lok Dal and two for a likely partner, such as Om Prakash Rajbhars Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party.

It was decided that no candidate would be fielded from Amethi, represented by AICC president Rahul Gandhi, and Rae Bareli, the seat held by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. If others such as Peace Party and Nishad Party joined the gathbandhan, the SP would allot seats to them from its own quota.

The division of seats and names of candidates have largely been decided, said a leader. SP spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhury said a formal announcement was expected later this month.

UP Congress chief Raj Babbar refused to comment, arguing Akhilesh and Mayawati had not issued any joint statement.

Prior to the meeting, a series of closed-door meetings were held over the past several months, said sources.

The SP-BSP alliance assumes significance as Uttar Pradesh sends 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha. In 2014, the BJP and ally Apna Dal had won 73 seats. However, the BJP lost three crucial byelections in 2018. This encouraged regional parties to stitch a state-level alliance.
pardeepdhull@gmail.com

Agartala, January 5

BJP president Amit Shah on Saturday said that the party would fight the coming general election on the issues like development, defence and self-respect of the country.

He expressed confidence that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would come back to power with the BJP winning more than 300 seats.

The saffron party had won 282 seats in the 2014 poll, more than the magic number required for forming a government.

Development, defence and self-respect of the country are the main issues in the next general elections with which the BJP will go into the poll. Prime Minister Narendra Modi would come back to power by winning more than 300 seats, Shah told a press conference

When asked about building of Ram temple at Ayodhya, he said, So far the issue of Ram Mandir is concerned, Congress does not want the case is settled fast. According to the announcement of the BJP, we want Ram Mandir is built, but remaining within the structure of law.

He said, there would be drastic changes in the poll scenario in the West Bengal where BJP would win more than 23 seats out of a total of 42 seats.

He also claimed that his party would also win 21 seats out of 25 in the northeastern region of the country.

Coming down heavily on efforts of the anti-BJP parties to come together, Shah said, the mahagatbandhan of Congress can give a helpless (Majbur) government and BJP can give a strong (Majbut) government under the leadership of Modiji.

The Modi government has conducted huge developmental works throughout the country, but what is remarkable is strengthening the security and defence of the country, He said.

Shah said, when enemies attack soldiers of America or Israel, they immediately retaliate. After the two countries, India is now the third country in the world which also retaliates after formation of the BJP government in 2014.

The BJP Chief also claimed that Prime Minister Modi has set a precedent of a strong India by holding surgical strike inside Pakistan after terrorist attacks on Indian Army base at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir in 2016.

Earlier, Shaha kicked off election campaign at the Swami Vivekananda Maidan here by addressing 50,000 Panna Promukhs and other party workers.

During his address, Amit Shah Saturday appealed people of Tripura to ensure victory with huge margin in two Lok Sabha seats from the state.

Prime Minister Modi works 18 hours a day. He comes from a poor family and works tirelessly for the country. After five years in the office of PM, nobody can raise a single allegation against him. Only he can lead a majboot sarkar (strong government), Shah said.

He launched a scathing attack against the Congress-led alliance saying they have neither policy, nor leader or any sort of promise.

What is the neeti (policy) of this alliance? Who is its neta (leader)? Who will run their government? So, build close coordination with every single person in the state and make sure that both Lok Sabha seats from Tripura are gifted to Narendra Modiji in 2019, he said.

Among others, BJP General Secretary, Ram Madhab, and state in-charge Sunil Deodhar and Chief Minister Biplab Kumar also spoke in the meeting. PTI
pardeepdhull@gmail.com

Shiv Kumar



Tribune News Service



Mumbai, January 5

The Maharashtra government has ordered the police to file criminal charges against directors and officials of sugar factories in cases where farmers commit suicide over non-receipt of payment for their crops.



The first case was filed earlier this week against the officials of New Phaltan Sugar Ltd, a private sugar mill in Maharashtras Satara district after a sugarcane farmer, Bhagwan Shinde, committed suicide.

The police said Shinde (83) was to have received Rs 80,000 from sugarcane he supplied to the factory last year.



In his suicide note, Shinde said attempts by him to get his dues cleared were rebuffed by the factory officials.



Reports saythe factory owes around Rs 48 crore to farmers in the area.



Though suicides are rampant among cultivators of food crops in Maharashtra distress is spreading among those growing cash crops like sugarcane this year, according to Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana. The body has been agitating for sugar mills to clear payments to sugarcane

farmers in one go.



According to information put out by the Sugar Commissioners office here, 188 sugar factories in the state owe more than Rs 3,500 crore to sugarcane farmers for the crushing season which began after the last monsoons.



Sugar mills are citing falling prices caused by a huge surplus of sugar stocks for their inability to pay sugarcane farmers.



Officials say sugar factories in western Maharashtra have defaulted on payment to sugarcane farmers for the first time this year. Sugar mills, most of which are in the co-operative sector, are demanding financial assistance from the state government to make payments to farmers.
pardeepdhull@gmail.com

New Delhi, January 5

Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and another senior Samajwadi Party leader are likely to be summoned by the CBI which conducted searches on Saturday at 14 locations in connection with an illegal sand mining case, officials said.

Among the prominent people whose premises were searched included 2008-batch IAS officer B Chandrakala, who became famous on social media for her alleged anti-corruption crusade. Her videos on social networking sites lashing government officials earned her a title of Lady Dabang (daring).

The searches were spread across multiple districts, including Jalaun, Hamirpur, Lucknow and also in the National Capital, they added.

Besides Yadav, the CBI is likely to question Gayatri Prajapati, who was arrested in 2017 following a complaint of rape by a woman residing in Chitrakoot.

It is alleged that the public servants allowed illegal mining during 2012-16 and illegally renewed licences despite a ban by National Green Tribunal on mining. It is alleged that the officers allowed theft of minerals, extort money from lease holders, extort money from drivers.

In 2016, on the directions of the Allahabad High Court to probe the case of illegal mining of minor minerals, the CBI had filed seven preliminary enquiries.

The FIR has been registered under various sections of Indian Penal Code against 11 individuals, unknown persons and public servants. PTI
editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Jammu/Srinagar, January 4

Heavy snowfall in Kashmir and mountainous districts of the Jammu region disrupted the road and air connectivity to the Valley on Friday. The weather department has predicted disruptions till Saturday.

The authorities said the traffic on the vital Jammu-Srinagar national highway was crawling and it was restricted to one way from Srinagar to Jammu on Friday afternoon in view of slippery conditions.

Leaving the passengers in the lurch, four flights from Jammu were cancelled and one remained stuck in Srinagar on Friday after Kashmir experienced heavy snowfall.

Jammu airport officials said four flights, including GoAir-287, IndiGo-559, SpiceJet-964 and Vistara-612, were cancelled, while AirIndia-822 remained stuck in Srinagar.

The road connectivity to the Valley was also affected. The movement on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, which is already confined to one-way traffic, remained disrupted throughout the day at different places.

The traffic movement is very slow due to snow. The traffic will be allowed to move from Jammu to Srinagar on Saturday only if the weather suitable, said the traffic control room at Ramban.

Baseer Ahmad Khan, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, has issued a fresh avalanche warning in Anantnag, Kulgam, Budgam, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Ganderbal, Kargil and Leh districts.

Tourists make a beeline for Bhaderwah

Bhaderwah: Bhaderwah, popularly known as mini Kashmir, received fresh snowfall in the upper reaches and rainfall in the plains on Friday. Tourists, who had flocked to Bhaderwah, were awaiting a snowfall. "We were in Bhaderwah for the past two days and were waiting for a snowfall. Finally, our wait has ended and it has snowed. It's cold here but we are enjoying our holiday," said a tourist, who had come along with his family and friends from Jammu. Another tourist said: "We are here to enjoy the serenity of the place but the snowfall and rain are an icing on the cake, making our short trip to this beautiful valley memorable." Meanwhile, the Bhaderwah Development Authority (BDA) has made all necessary arrangements for the tourists. It is planning to host a two-day winter carnival to attract more tourists. OC

4 flights cancelled
editorial@tribune.com

Azhar Qadri

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, January 4

Kashmirs major separatist leaders made a show of strength inside the regions largest mosque, Jamia Masjid, as they vowed on Friday to protect the separatist movement from global jihadism and also pushed to reclaim their lost space.

A large section of regions political, social and religious organisations rallied behind the separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to denounce the radical Islamist ideologies. Mirwaiz is the traditional custodian of Kashmirs largest mosque where he delivers a weekly sermon.

The show of strength came in response to the unfurling of the Islamist black flag, popularised by global jihadist groups Al-Qaida and the self-declared Islamic State, at Jamia Masjid last Friday, when masked protesters also shouted slogans in favour of Islamic State chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

The separatist leaders have faced serious incursions into the spaces they once dominated by the Al-Qaida-inspired Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind.

Mirwaiz, who in the past has had absolute control of the mosque which also served as his political base, had responded almost instantly to the unfurling of the flag and shouting of slogans from one of the two pulpits of Jamia Masjid and described it as an act of sacrilege.

On Friday, Mirwaiz along with several other top-tier separatist leaders addressed hundreds of people who had come to offer midday congregational prayer. He said the emotions of the people had been hurt by the incident last week and such acts would not be tolerated.

We have to understand the motive of our struggle  the government has conspired to divert this movement and they are working to connect it with global terrorism, he said.

Mirwaiz said the separatist movement was an indigenous struggle and had no global agenda. He said youth would be provided a full chance to put forward their opinions and concerns and also urged them to control their emotions.

The gathering was also addressed by Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front chief Yasin Malik and Jamaat-e-Islami spokesman Zahid Ali while senior separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani spoke telephonically.

Malik maintained a conciliatory tone, saying that we need to show to the world that we are oppressed, that we are facing oppression. The world has a unanimous consensus that wherever this name (Islamic State) is found, bomb them. Will that be a right thing? he said, urging youth to come forward and have a discussion with the leadership.

Geelani in his telephonic address said the separatist struggle was a local movement without any global agenda and said the unfurling of black flags would give New Delhi the opportunity to paint it as global terrorism.

New Delhi never invited us for talks

Two key separatist leaders on Friday said they were never officially invited for talks by New Delhi and rejected the statement of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh that an unconditional offer had been made. Statements were issued by Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who head different factions of the separatist amalgam Hurriyat Conference, in a response to Union Home Ministers remark made on Thursday that New Delhi had offered unconditional talks to the separatists. The Indian Government never invited us officially but blames us for rejecting it. It is not only shameful, but also speaks volumes about their truthfulness, sincerity and clarity, Geelani said in a statement.
editorial@tribune.com

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Mandi, January 4

Ignoring the Met Departments warning of heavy snowfall in the higher reaches till January 6, tourists have been venturing into Kullu hilltops, putting their lives at risk.

The Kullu administration has sounded an alert, still visitors are going on treks.

On Thursday, a group of six tourists going towards Bijli Mahadev lost their way. The district administration had to launch a rescue operation and managed to trace them with the help of locals after hours of struggle.

All tourists were from Kangra. It was not the first time that tourists had ignored Met warning and risked their lives. Often, youngsters dont give two hoots to weather alerts and proceed with their treks. In the past, several such incidents have been reported in the district. Tourists enter the high-altitude areas, get trapped and then wait for help for days together.

For the safety of trekkers, the district administration has started a website gokullu.com, where one can register online, but only a few take the trouble to do so.

The tourists neither register themselves at police stations nor do they do it online, making things difficult for the police, who are unable to lend timely help in case of any emergency.

Kullu Superintendent of Police Shalini Agnihotri said: We continue asking the tourists visiting here to follow instructions of the district administration. Venturing into high-altitude areas during winter may prove fatal as most are not accustomed to such harsh weather conditiond.

Those visiting the area are advised to get themselves registered at nearby police stations and also spell out their itinerary. They should seek help from local guides, who are aware of the topography of the area. During winter, there is always a risk of heavy snowfall, so one must be careful, she said.

Kullu Deputy Commissioner Yunus Khan said the people had been advised to take precautions. The website is for their safety and registeration is a must in case one needs timely help, he added.

Heavy snow, rain alert

Shimla: The Met office has predicted snow, hailstorm and rain in the state till January 7 due to a fresh western disturbance.

According to the weather report issued here on Friday, Keylong in Lahaul-Spiti continues to the coldest place with the minimum temperature of -10.8C, followed by Kalpa in Kinnuar -6C and Manali -3.2C. Shimla recorded the minimum temperature of 2.5C.

Seobagh in Kullu recorded -2C, Bhuntar and Kufri -1C, Solan 0.6C, Chamba and Dalhousie 1C and Dharamsala recorded 4.6C.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has sounded an orange warning of heavy snowfall and rain in Himachal from January 4 to 6.

The IMD has also predicted isolated to scattered precipitation in the state from January 8 onwards.

The State Disaster Management Authority said it was prepared to deal with any eventuality. TNS

Mandi admn gives snow kits to rescuers
editorial@tribune.com

Sunit Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, January 4

State Indian National Students Organisation (INSO) president Pradeep Deswal, a close confidant of Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) leader Dushyant Chautala, was injured in an attack by a group of youths in Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) here today.

The attack is said to be the fallout of a recent clash between members of the INSO and the National Students Union of India, the student wing of the Congress.

The INSO-JJP group alleged Deswal was hit in the head with a lathi or sharp-edged weapon. He was also shot at.

Inspector Garima, the SHO of the PGIMS police station, said Deswal had suffered injuries in the head and other parts of the body. Any gunshot wound was yet to be confirmed, she said.

The incident is fallout of a rivalry between student groups. The police are getting Deswals statement recorded. A case will be registered on his complaint, she said.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Mohammed Jamal said the police had put the two students groups under observation so as to avert any further clash.

Deswal was allegedly attacked with lathis near the Department of Law on the MDU campus. The assailants allegedly snatched a revolver of Deswals brother during the brawl. His car was damaged in the attack.

Deswal was rushed to the PGIMS, and admitted at the trauma centre.

The JJP patron, Ajay Singh Chautala, visited Deswal in the PGIMS and demanded strict action against the attackers. Addressing a workers meeting here, Ajay said the incident had exposed the goonda raj in the state. He blamed BJP and Congress leaders for the attack.

INSO president Digvijay Chautala, in a statement, alleged a political conspiracy against the JJP. He claimed attackers were linked to a former Chief Minister and demanded an investigation into the matter.

Balram Makrauli, JJP spokesperson, said the MDU gates remained opened even after the attack and university security officials did not make any effort to nab the attackers, who, he alleged, were members of the NSUI.
editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Hisar, January 4

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Friday that senior advocate HS Phoolka, who had resigned from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), was not willing to remain active in politics anymore.

Interacting with mediapersons on the sidelines of an event in Charkhi Dadri, the Delhi Chief Minister said Phoolka had met him in Delhi recently and expressed the desire to quit politics.

Phoolka revealed to me the reasons behind his decision to stay away from politics, Kejriwal said, refusing to talk further on the matter.

The AAP chief handed over a cheque for Rs 1 crore to the family of Delhi Police personnel Ravinder Chahar of Rudhdol village in Charkhi Dadri district.

He had died during duty in Delhi in September last year. Kejriwal said he had come to honour a martyr on a non-political stage and not to indulge in politics.
editorial@tribune.com

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 4

Eleven persons are in the race for the BJP ticket even as no paper was received on the Day 2 of the filing of the nomination for the January 28 Jind bypoll on Friday.

Haryana Agriculture Minister OP Dhankar and BJPs national secretary Sudha Yadav, who were on Thursday appointed observers by the partys state election committee for the selection of candidates, met ticket aspirants and their supporters in Jind.

Over a thousand supporters of 11 BJP leaders, who are aspiring for the ticket, met the observers and demanded ticket for their respective leaders.

Former Minister Surender Barwala, Dr Krishan Midha, son of late MLA Hari Chand Midha, whose death has necessitated the poll, head of Kandela Khap Tek Ram Kandela, Jawahar Saini, Master Narendra Gogal, Rajesh Goyal, Lila Dhar Mittal, Sajjan Garg, Balkar Dhola, Om Prakash Pehal and Ram Phal Sharma are BJP leaders who met the observers and staked their claim to the BJP ticket.

We will submit our report to the state election committee on Saturday and a decision on the ticket will be taken after that, Dhankar said when The Tribune contacted him on phone.

Meanwhile, no nomination paper was received by the Returning Officer Virender Singh Sehrawat on the second day of filing of nomination papers.

Jind DCcumDistrict Electoral Officer Amit Khatri earmarked sites for holding of rallies and installing of hoardings, posters, banners, wall paintings etc by the political parties.

Khatri said rallies would be allowed only in the new stadium ground on Haibatpur road, on the ground near the new bus stand, at new Kath Mandi on Rohtak road, on the HUDA ground opposite the BSNL building, Old Grain Market, new grain market, Rohtak road, Sector 8 HUDA ground near Polyclinic and Saini Ramlila Ground of Jind town.

For the installation of hoardings and publicity material seven sites  from Hansi Road Canal Bypass to Hansi Road Chowk, Bhiwani Road Bypass Chowk, Gohana Road Bypass near the District Jail, Rohtak Road Bypass, Safidon Road Bypass, from Saini Dharamshala to Chowk, Patiala Chowk Triangular Park and Bhiwani Road Chowk  have been earmarked, said the DC.

Khatri, however, clarified that the political parties and the candidates would have to obtain permission for the rallies and hoardings etc from the Returning Officer.
ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM

The Sabarimala stir, on a slow boil since last year, came alive after two women of menstruating age entered the shrine as soon as the annual pilgrimage season began. The women, it later transpired, had reasons other than faith to make the trek to the hilltop shrine. The devotees, functioning at times as vigilantes against the entry of women in the 10-50 age group, are driven more by the political opening it provides while the Kerala CMs brinkmanship is a cynical gambit to consolidate the Lefts present lead by pushing some Congress voters towards the BJP that has emerged as the protagonist in the protests. What began as a contest between tradition and womens rights before the Supreme Court has now entered the divisive domain of political gerrymandering. The only saving grace is that the situation has not taken a communal turn.

The Kerala Government cannot but comply with the reformist impulse of the Supreme Court which had held restrictions on the entry of women of menstruating age in the shrine as unconstitutional. The Left also justifies the firmness from its political standpoint of opposing prevailing patriarchy that is inevitably camouflaged, in this case it says, as faith: that the deity Lord Ayyappa is a Naishtika Brahmachari (eternal celibate). But the journey by Bindu and Kanaka Durga would have been interpreted by the faithful as atheistic insolence and not nonconformist behaviour.

The Supreme Courts decision to hear all review petitions on January 22 should be the last word on the subject. In the end, it will be the people of Kerala who can achieve closure. Devotees must neither be visiting a shrine in riot gear nor should there be mobs dissuading some of the faithful. But mediation and conciliation can be effective only if all sides refrain from pandering to vote-bank politics. The mosque that sits in the shadow of the shrine is emblematic of Keralas social harmony. While the Supreme Court takes a call, it is essential for the state to be seen as an enabler of constitutional provisions rather than a provocateur.
rchopra@tribunemail.com

New York, January 5

Funeral services will be held in California on Saturday for Indian-origin police officer Ronil Singh, shot dead allegedly by an illegal immigrant last week, as several police personnel and civilians paid their respects to the fallen officer.

The first of several services for Singh took place on Friday morning. Crowds lined up on side of the road to pay their last respects as Singhs body travelled from Modesto to Newman in California. An Honour Guard Viewing was also held.

Photos and flowers lined the aisles of the theatre in downtown Newman with Singhs flag-draped casket at the front, ABC7News reported.

Singh, of the Newman Police Department was shot and killed at a traffic stop on December 26 by an illegal immigrant named Gustavo Perez Arriaga when he was planning to flee to his native Mexico.

Just hours before the incident, the 33-year-old officer had been home celebrating Christmas with his wife and five-month-old son before starting his night shift.

Singh, who was a native of Fiji and joined the force in July 2011, had called off on a traffic stop in Newman and a few moments later he called out shots fired over the radio.

Multiple agencies responded to assist and Singh was found at the scene with gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

California police arrested the suspect last week at a Bakersfield, California home.

Perez Arriaga had crossed into the US illegally and at a news conference last week, Stanislaus County Sheriff Adam Christianson had said that the killing could have been prevented if Californias sanctuary law hadnt prevented local authorities from reporting Perez Arriagawho had gang affiliationsto immigration officials after two previous arrests.

President Donald Trump spoke with Singhs widow and colleagues on Thursday.

Singh was a more than seven-year veteran of the Newman Police Department and was assigned as a canine officer. Prior to joining the Newman Police Department, he served with the Merced County Sheriffs Department.

He is survived by wife Anamika and a five-month-old son.

Tributes and condolence messages for Singh poured in from police departments and officials across the country.

California Governor Edmund Brown extended his condolences to Singhs wife, their young son and colleagues. 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.

In honour of Singh, Capitol flags in California were flown at half-staff. PTI
Vivek Katju

Vivek Katju

Former secretary, Ministry of External affairs

In an interview to a Russian news agency last April, Khurram Dastigir Khan, the then Pakistans defence minister, expressed his countrys desire to acquire a wide range of Russian weapons technology. He particularly focused on T-90 tanks and said it is not going to be a one-time purchase but it is going to be a long-term commitment. Eight months later, Indian military and intelligence sources told PTI that Pakistan has drawn up a mega plan to procure more than 600 modern battle tanks. While 220 tanks would be made in Pakistan with Chinese help, 360 tanks, including the T-90, would be purchased from leading global manufacturers.

Clearly, one of the purposes of the military and intelligence sources was to draw attention to the modernisation of the Armys armoured corps moving ahead only at a snails pace. By comparing it with Pakistans ambitious plans, the sources obviously hope that the powers that be will impart greater energy in fulfilling the Armys needs so that Indias superiority in conventional force levels with Pakistan is maintained. Other important implications of these reports relate to growing Pakistan-Russia ties, including in the defence sector, and their potential impact on India. Should Indian security managers be concerned? Before that query is addressed, a quick look at what has occurred in the Pakistan-Russia relationship over the past few years.

Pakistan-Russia ties have moved ahead in a positive direction from 2012 when a gradual but intensifying process of regular and serious political and military interaction began between the two countries. It has included the foreign ministers and the army chiefs of both countries. The intensification of bilateral ties in the economic and military sectors led Russia to overcome its previous inhibitions in the area of defence equipment supplies to Pakistan. Consequently, it sold four MI-35 Hind attack helicopters to the Pakistan army. In view of Indias decades-long and close defence relationship with Russia, this was a significant move; Russia would have obviously factored in Indian unhappiness at the development.

Apart from bilateral ties, Pakistan and Russia have been discussing the Afghanistan situation and over the past couple of years have found common ground. This constitutes a dramatic reversal in the positions of the two countries, all through the 1980s, Pakistan, as the staging ground for the Afghan jihad, was a principal factor in the Soviet Unions defeat in Afghanistan. Later, in the 1990s, Russias view on the Taliban and its expansion was at odds with that of Pakistan. Indeed, Russia materially supported the anti-Taliban forces. Now both countries have similar views on the Afghanistan issue. Russian officials are publicly asserting that Pakistan is playing a positive role in Afghan affairs. There are also credible reports of Russia helping the Taliban. All this is supposedly out of fear of ISIS growing footprint in Afghanistan.

At this stage of its domestic development and when it has begun to be counted as an emerging global power, despite its numerous problems, Indias national interests demand that it meaningfully engages all major powers but not be influenced by any. It is in this light that India needs to evaluate its ties with each of these powers. Hence, the need to make it clear that their mutual quarrels, including the imposition of mutual sanctions, will be disregarded in Indias decision-making. Naturally, the application of this principle would require agile diplomatic navigation and management of contradictions.

Indian interests require a continuing and vibrant relationship with Russia in the critical areas of defence, space and civil nuclear energy. There are also important economic sectors such as hydrocarbons, where cooperation with Russia is in line with Indias interests. The recent agreement for the purchase of S-400 air defence systems, despite the threat of US sanctions, is a step in the right direction. Naturally, Russia has also to understand that India would acquire high technology and its products, including in sectors where it sources some of them from Russia, from any country it deems fit. It cannot be tied to any one country.

The desire of Russia to sell defence equipment to Pakistan is an attempt to get more buyers for its defence products. As defence supplies have strategic aspects and are not ordinary sales, it would be appropriate for India to indicate strategic and security difficulties which may arise for India from Russian sales of some defence products to Pakistan. This is obviously because of Pakistani adversarial postures against India. In such cases, it would be natural for India to expect Russia to take Indian concerns into account.

Indias superiority over Pakistan in conventional forces is substantial. (The Pakistani challenge comes from terrorism.) It should not be therefore overly concerned by Pakistan getting defence systems from Russia that it can source from other countries. In any event, its main defence and strategic partner is China and this will continue to be so. The Sino-Pak nexus, getting stronger with CPEC, is the main source of Indias strategic difficulties.

At the global level, the convergence between China and Russia is getting strengthened. India is keeping its links open with the group, as was witnessed during the India-China-Russia summit on the margins of the G-20 meeting in Argentina. India is also associated with the two countries in BRICS and SCO groupings. At the same time, the first India-US-Japan summit, also on the margins of the G-20 meeting in Buenos Aires, was a significant indication of Indias growing importance in the Indo-Pacific region. The major powers want to make India part of their respective groups indicating its emerging status. In such a situation, it should not get provoked by Pakistani conventional defence acquisitions; that country is no longer in its league.
editorial@tribune.com

Bhartesh Singh Thakur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 4

For using plastic material, a Panjab University (PU) panel today fined six shops at the Student Centre Rs 2,000 each. Yesterday, plastic plates, cups, glasses and other material were seized in a raid.

The shops which have been fined are Guru Snacks and Shakes, Fresh Bite, Acme India Taste Point, Pakwan Meal, Raj Eatery and Mamma Mia. It was only Mona Refreshment where no plastic material was found during the raid.

Earlier too, Raj Eatery was fined Rs 2,500 on December 18, 2018, after a worm was found in the food.

The panel which conducted the raid was headed by Prof RK Singla, chairperson of the Department of Computer Science and Applications, and comprised the Dean Students Welfare (DSW), Prof Emanuel Nahar, and the DSW (Women), Prof Neena Caplash.

Prof Nahar said, We have fined the shops. In future, these shops will have to give an undertaking regarding following all rules and regulations implemented by the university failing which the owners will have to vacate the premises. We cannot take any chance with the health of the students.

In a letter, dated May 18, 2018, to all universities, the University Grants Commission (UGC) had directed that for reducing the use of plastic, the HRD Ministry has desired that the students be encouraged to refuse, reduce and re-use plastic products in their daily use.

It had asked the universities to restrict single-use plastic water bottle and encourage the use of refillable bottles instead.

It had also directed to ban take-away coffee cups, lunch wrapped in disposable plastic packaging, plastic bags, disposable food service cups, plates and containers made in polystyrene foam and plastic straws.

The shop owners have also been asked to maintain overall cleanliness and stop the discharge of wastewater near AC Joshi Library.

Plastic disposables were banned on June 12 last

On June 5, 2018, when World Environment Day falls, the Punjab Eco Friendly Association wrote to the PU VC for banning plastic on the campus. In response, the DSW office, on June 12, 2018, banned plastic disposables at the Student Centre, shops, hostels and departmental canteens for serving eatables or drinks.
editorial@tribune.com

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 4

Education Secretary BL Sharma on Friday welcomed the passage of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Bill, 2019, in Parliament. The Rajya Sabha on Thursday passed the bill that does away with the no-detention policy.

The bill seeks to scrap the no detention policy for Classes V and VIII for improving learning outcomes. The bill empowers the state governments to either scrap the no-detention policy or keep it intact.

Students performance will be assessed in Classes V and VIII and if any child is not able to perform well in exams, he/she will be provided remedial classes for two months and then again the child will appear for the exam. The government may allow schools to hold back the child in Class V or in Class VIII or in both cases. The re-examination will be taken in the school itself and not by any examining body.

BL Sharma said, We will able to respond and plan only after we receive a blueprint in this regard. No detention is, of course, a very detrimental policy. It was not in the interest of competitiveness and spirit to excel. We should have a system of incentives and disincentives. Children after reaching Class IX used to find themselves in doldrums due to the policy.

Sharma said, We should try our best to educate the child. If the child is not able to perform, he/she should not be promoted just for the sake of it. As and when any communication comes to the department, an action will be taken subsequently.

The policy

Section 16 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, stipulates that No child admitted in a school shall be held back in any class or expelled from school till the completion of elementary education.

Rise in dropout rate

In Chandigarh, there have been zero dropouts at primary and upper primary level due to no-detention policy. However, after detention coming into force, the dropout rose to 3% at the secondary level and 6% at the senior secondary level.

Decline in pass percentage

Last year, of more than 15,000 students, who had appeared in Class IX exams, 4,187 failed. The school heads of government schools had blamed no-detention policy for poor results.

Officialspeak
rchopra@tribunemail.com

New Delhi, January 5

A Delhi court on Saturday issued open-ended non-bailable warrants (NBWs) against four directors of a Gujarat pharma firm in a Rs 8,100-crore money laundering probe case.

Additional Sessions Judge Satish Kumar Arora allowed the Enforcement Directorates plea seeking issuance of NBW against Sterling Biotech Ltd (SBL) directors Nitin Jayantilal Sandesara, Chetankumar Jayantilal Sandesara, Dipti Chetan Sandesara and Hiteshkumar Narendrabhai Patel.

The ED has registered the alleged bank fraud case against the firm SBL under sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The accused are also being probed by the ED for allegedly bribing senior income tax department officials as part of an earlier criminal complaint. PTI
ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM

Vijay C Roy

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 4

With subdued passenger vehicle sales in December despite lucrative offers, carmakers and dealers have extended the discounts and offers till January 15 to clear inventories.

According to industry, though the situation has improved as compared to the festival season, the inventory is still 15-20% higher as compared to January last year.

According to dealers, overall increase in cost of ownership, including car loans and hike in insurance costs, deterred customers from buying cars.

Since carmakers in India report wholesale dispatches made from factories and not actual sales to consumers, the actual sale is always less than the reported figures. According to sources, to correct the mismatch between demand and supply, many companies curtailed their dispatches to dealers in December.

The automobile dealers are saddled with high inventory following a weak demand in the festive season and tepid response in December. Overall, the inventory with dealers in January is 15-20% more than the corresponding month of last year. So many automakers have extended the December benefits till January 15, said Joshi Autozone managing director Deepak Joshi.

Now customers have an opportunity to buy the vehicles at old prices till January 15 even though the companies have already announced hike in prices from January 1. To liquidate stocks ahead of the New Year, the companies had offered discounts, exchange offers and corporate benefits ranging from Rs 15,000 to Rs 20 lakh. The discount is spread across all categories right from entry-level cars to luxury sedans.

We have high inventories of popular models and that is why we are offering the same discounts even now, said a senior sales executive with Maruti Suzuki dealer in Ludhiana.

Echoing similar sentiments, Sandeep Singh, AGM at M&M dealership, said they are offering the same discounts which were offered in December last to clear the inventory.

One of the major reasons for this aggressive move is the companies want to clear the old stock before 2019 models arrive in the market. Sales executives working at the dealerships said the dealers may extend more benefits in the coming days from their own to push the sales before the new stock arrives. The new models will come with revised prices.

The northern region comprising Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, Himachal, J&K, including Delhi, UP, Rajasthan, contributes 30% of the total sales in the country. The average monthly sale of passenger cars in India is between 2.10 lakh and 2.25 lakh units.

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Sterling, VA (20165)

Today

Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low 61F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low 61F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%.
@IsaacAvilucea on Twitter

Isaac Avilucea is The Trentonians main municipal scribe. A two-time prior restraint winner and testicular cancer survivor, he relishes his reputation as the "Mean Girls" reporter that followed his 18-day stay at the now-defunct North Adams Transcript.
Teen sentenced in 2015 stabbing death of Lee's Summit woman A teenager was sentenced Friday in the 2015 slaying of a Lee's Summit woman. Trevon Henry, 18, was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences and 50 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of Tanya Chamberlain at a Lee's Summit car wash. Henry pleaded guilty in October to first-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action and robbery.

The detail they keep leaving out of this case is that, according to court dox, the youngsters drove around with this poor lady's dead body for more than an hour after she was brutally ambushed at a late night car wash. Read more:
Long overdue and it's a shame Kansas City Conservatives have taken so long to jump on the bandwagon of what is probably one of the most influential shows in the nation . . . After, the talker's daily diatribe turns up in this cowtown and Kansas City is finally able to tune it to this next level right wing talk after years of online denizens (and big money donors) have supported his efforts.Real talk . . . Ben Shapiro shares ideas that are far more disciplined, brilliant and intellectual than most Conservative chatter and he's also not a Trump apologist when it comes to the MAGA-KING's off-putting personal behavior whilst still supporting the Prez in terms of policy.Here's a preview:
Nvidia RTX 2080 & 2080 TI

According to a new report from a Japanese news source, Nvidia will manufacture its 2020 GPUs using Samsungs 7nm EUV process. Late last month we also learned that IBM intends to build its 7nm Power processors on the same Samsung process.

Last October, Samsung announced that it started risk production of 7nm EUV chips. The risk production seems to be ahead of schedule as it was initially scheduled to start early 2019.

Nvidia is currently using TSMCs 12nm process for its latest GPU cards. In a previous report by DigiTimes, Nvidia was rumored to use TSMCs non-EUV 7nm process for its cards in 2019, but that may no longer be the case if Nvidia plans to use Samsungs 7nm EUV process in 2020.

Its possible Nvidia could use TSMCs 7nm process in 2019 for some of its products and Samsungs 7nm EUV for others in 2020, but that may not make too much practical sense, as it would make its product line-up complicated to design.

Nvidia may also feel that its position wont be threatened that much if it sticks to 12nm in 2019. AMD's Navi GPU architecture is rumored to launch on TSMCs 7nm process in 2019, but only the mid-range GPU cards are planned for this year. If AMD doesnt have a 7nm high-end GPU planned for this year, then Nvidia has little reason to switch from the 12nm process at the high-end competition-wise.

Samsung was the first company to bet on the EUV lithography process, and it looks like it will also be the one to reap the most benefits early on, as competitors, such as TSMC and Intel, delay their switch to EUV.
I'm a big fan of new year's resolutions and I'm constantly having trouble keeping my attention focused, so I thought I had my iPhone notifications under control. Surprise, dear reader, I was wrong.

We're only a week or so into the new year, and my most rewarding decision so far came as I decided to ban Netflix from sending notifications. That's right, if you weren't aware: Netflix loves to blow up your lock screen with stuff to watch.

Even as I'm writing this, it sent me a notification for some show called Derry Girls. Netflix, really? It wasn't even after 5pm when you sent that notification, do you think I'm just gonna drop my work and watch some random thing you recommended?

How to Stop Netflix's Nagging

If you too are an iPhone user, tired of Netflix bothering you when it's not appropriate, open Settings, tap Notifications, tap Netflix and turn Notifications to Off. Use Android? We've got tips for how to disable Android notifications here.

To pull back the perspective, Netflix isn't even the biggest notification offender these days. Apple earned minor ire for a notification its TV app sent, pushing news of Apple's massively ignored version of Carpool Karaoke. Ironically, I found that notification hilarious and minor.

Personally, I let things slide after the first Netflix notification I'd gotten in a while, because Avengers: Infinity War isn't too far from my interests.

MORE: The Best Shows on Netflix - A Guide to What to Watch Now

The last straw, though, came when I got a notification for "Top Pick for You: Stand Up and Away! with Brian Regan"  a comedy special by the dull, banal and basic comedian Brian Regan. I don't know why Netflix is so gung ho about this original special of theirs  they may value it highly because Jerry Seinfeld produced it  but I'm not biting.

I may come off as a snob here, but this is where every recommendation-based system risks falling flat on its face and alienating people. When you push an exceptionally irrelevant notification, you wind up sending peeved user in search of the notifications settings.

Credit: Tom's Guide
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc addresses the ceremony in Hanoi on January 4th (Photo: VNA)



The event was organised by the Party Central Committee, the National Assembly, the State, and the Government in conjunction with the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee.

Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc affirmed that the historic victory on January 7th, 1979 was a joint victory of the peoples of both countries, as well as of the progressive people across the world.

For Vietnam, the victory of the southwest border defence war once again affirmed the will and strength of the Vietnamese people, while demonstrating the noble international spirit, the traditional fraternal and time-honoured relationship, and the pure and wholehearted help from the Vietnamese Party, State, armies and people to the Cambodian people.

The joint victory on January 7th, 1979 completely eliminated the genocidal regime, helping revive the Cambodian nation and people as well as opening up a new era of independence, freedom, peace, reconciliation, development, and prosperity for Cambodia, he said.

PM Phuc noted that after years at trial with hundreds of thousands of collected documents and pieces of evidence, on November 16th, 2018, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) under the auspices of the United Nations officially sentenced the two most senior surviving leaders of the former Polpot regime to life in prison for committing genocide.

The judgment returns justice to innocent victims who were massacred by the Polpot regime, and affirmed the bright just as well as impartial and pure support of the Vietnamese volunteer soldiers in Cambodia, he stressed.

Many monuments commemorating Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts and Cambodian soldiers and people were built by the two Governments in both Vietnam and Cambodia, PM Phuc said, adding that they have become beautiful symbols of the close and unshakable friendship between the two nations.

The Vietnamese Government leader said he is pleased to see Cambodia as one of the few countries in the world that have risen to a point of total self-reliance, able to defend and develop itself after it had been supported by other countries.

By now, under the reign of the Cambodian King and the leadership of Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP), the country has remained strong with political security, social order, and safety well maintained and its economy growing ceaselessly. Cambodias role and position has been constantly improved in the region and the world.

Vietnam and Cambodia are promoting their relationship under the motto of good neighbours, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability. The political relations between the two countries have been constantly strengthened, while their economic, trade, investment, and tourism ties have also been growing over time.

Other fields of cooperation - such as people-to-people exchange and culture, education-training, and health collaboration - have also witnessed active development.

According to PM Phuc, the border areas of the two countries which were heavily devastated in past wars have now become those of peace, friendship, cooperation, and mutual development.

Authorities of the two countries have worked closely to strictly manage the border line, and finished 84 percent of the land border demarcation and marker planting. They are determined to finalise the work as soon as possible.

Addressing the event, Standing Member of the CPP Central Committee and Vice President of the Senate of Cambodia Tep Ngorn emphasised that his country and Vietnam are good friends, neighbours, and partners.

The two countries have stepped into a new history by regaining independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, peace, freedom, and progress; thus contributing to peace and security, cooperation, prosperity, economic development in the region and the world, he said.

The Cambodian official expressed his sincere gratitude to the Party, State, the VFF, the army and the people of Vietnam for their great sacrifices to save Cambodian people from genocide, contributing to the quest of peace for the country.

According to him, Vietnams great, timely and effective support has helped turn Cambodia from a country immersed in war, sufferings and devastation into a country of complete peace, national unity, and development in all areas.

He highlighted the significance of the exchange of the state-level and official visits between the two countries leaders in recent years, stating that they have contributed to deepening the traditional solidarity, friendship, and cooperation.

The bilateral relations are represented by achievements in all fields, from politics and military to economic, social, cultural, and scientific cooperation, he said.

The trade, investment, and tourism cooperation between the two countries are increasingly promoted; while the two sides have devised many effective solutions to border-related issues, especially as the work in border demarcation and marker planting is nearly finished, Tep Ngorn said.

These factors have helped create a good environment for maintaining peace and stability, while promoting economic growth and poverty reduction in both nations, he affirmed.

He took the occasion to thank the Vietnamese Party, State, Front and people who have always given their physical and ideological support to the development of human resources and infrastructure construction in Cambodia.

He affirmed that the event is very significant in further promoting the solidarity, friendship, and cooperation between his country and Vietnam./.
The year of 5G is finally upon us. The question is, will consumers notice?

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

If they don't, it certainly won't be for lack of hype for the new wireless connectivity standard that promises faster speeds and lower latency. Wireless carriers have already begun touting their 5G efforts, with AT&T already touting its 5G network in TV ads, even though its 5G service is only available in a dozen cities and there aren't any 5G-capable phones out yet.

5G also figures to be a big talking point at the upcoming CES trade show, where 5G modem maker Qualcomm is hosting a press event and Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg is slated to deliver a 5G-focused keynote next Tuesday (Jan. 8).

"It's almost like the lottery. Are you lucky enough to be in an area where 5G is going to be deployed this year?"  Jason Leigh, IDC

So expect to hear plenty about 5G's benefits both this month and next, when February's Mobile World Congress will shine a spotlight on the 5G efforts of even more device makers and network operators. As for actually experience those benefits, though, you may be in for a bit of a wait.

"It's almost like the lottery," said Jason Leigh, senior research analyst for mobility at market research firm IDC when I asked him if consumers are likely to be impacted by 5G this year. "Are you lucky enough to be in an area where 5G is going to be deployed this year?"

MORE: 5G  Whats Coming in 2019

No one would dispute that 2019 is going to be a big year for 5G. But even as 5G services come online and 5G-capable phones and other devices start appearing, we'll still be in the early stages of the transition to the new networking standard. Here are a few things to keep in mind as the switch to 5G picks up steam.

5G networks are launching, but gradually

"5G will be there in 2019," Ignacio Contreras, Qualcomm's director of marketing for 5G, told me last month at that company's annual tech summit. "It will be there across several regions  North America, Europe, South Korea, Japan, Australia, China. So it's a very different set of scale versus what we've seen before [with the transition to 4G] and what we were expecting a few years ago."

In the U.S., AT&T has already made good on its pledge to turn on 5G service in 12 cities, though at the moment, the only way to connect to the network's faster speeds is through a 5G hotspot built by Netgear. The plan is to add 19 more 5G cities this year.

Verizon has launched a 5G home broadband service in five cities, and plans to launch its mobile 5G network this year. Expect to hear more details about Verizon's rollout plans shortly. Sprint has circled 2019 on its calendar, too, with 5G rolling out to nine markets during the first half of the year.

T-Mobile spent 2018 building out its 5G network in 30 cities, with an eye flipping the switch in New York, Los Angeles, Dallas and Las Vegas this year as 5G phones become available. The Uncarrier is looking at 2020 for nationwide 5G service.

That 2020 date is noteworthy, as it may be a more realistic date for when smartphone users will have a better chance of jumping on high-speed 5G networks. "Even as some of these [2019] deployments come online, it's going to be in pockets of cities," Leigh said.

MORE: I Just Tried 5G for the First Time: Here's What It Lets You Do

In other words, 5G may be coming this year, but not necessarily to where you're living. And even if it does, it may be a little bit longer before networks are fully available.

5G phones are coming, but when?

Getting a 5G network up and running is just one step. You also need devices that can connect with 5G. Right now, in addition to Netgear's Nighthawk 5G mobile hotspot for AT&T's fledgling network, Inseego is making a 5G hotspot for Verizon. D-Link just announced a 5G router that replaces your cable line with 5G connectivity, but that's not arriving until much later in 2019.

As for 5G-ready smartphones, it's pretty easy to summarize availability at the moment  they're aren't any.

The good news is that figures to change fairly quickly. Last month, Qualcomm unveiled its Snapdragon 855 mobile platform, which includes the X50 5G modem. (You'll also find an LTE modem capable of delivering 2 Gbps speeds for those times when 5G connectivity is nowhere to be found.)

OnePlus has already committed to making a 5G phone that uses the Snapdragon 855, and both AT&T and Verizon say they're working with Samsung on 5G phones for the first half of 2019, which presumably will use the Snapdragon 855 chipset, too. LG and Sprint have a 5G phone of their own in the works. And an already announced add-on for the Moto Z3 will let owners of that Verizon-exclusive phone add 5G connectivity just by snapping the Moto Mod onto the back of their device.

"5G will be one of those guideposts signalling flagship devices in 2019," Qualcomm's Contreras said. "It comes with a set of experiences and expectations on what a premium device is."

OnePlus CEO Pete Lau told at least one media outlet that his company's 5G phone might cost $200 to $300 more than current flagships.

That means a premium price tag, too. OnePlus CEO Pete Lau told at least one media outlet that his company's 5G phone might cost $200 to $300 more than current OnePlus flagships. OnePlus's 5G device may also be a separate offering from the company's standard flagships, suggesting that phone makers might treat 5G-ready phones as niche devices, at least for this year.



MORE: These Are the First 5G Hotspots Coming Your Way

OnePlus might not be the only phone maker taking that approach. Samsung hasn't commented officially, but rumors surrounding its upcoming Galaxy S10 device suggest that 5G connectivity will only be available on one version of the phone  and that device will ship later than other S10 models.

And one of the biggest phone makers may skip 5G entirely in 2019. According to reports, Apple is going to wait until 2020 to come out with a 5G-ready iPhone, just as it delayed releasing a 4G version of its smartphone back in the day. Apple is also reportedly turning to Intel for its 5G modem as a result of its ongoing legal tussle with Qualcomm, and those chips may not be ready until 2020.

5G's most compelling benefits go beyond mobile

There's no doubt 5G will mean faster speeds and lower latency for your next-generation smartphone. That's a big benefit if you play a lot real-time games or need to download big files in a jiffy. It will likely mean smoother cloud experiences, too.

"When you upload your photos, your videos, it will be exceedingly smoother versus what we have today," Contreras said. "Basically, it feels like the cloud is in your device. Longer term, it becomes less distinguishable what's running on your device and what's running on the cloud. It might not even matter."

"If someone's a consumer and they do a lot of streaming, they'll see a benefit," agreed Leigh, though he added those may be the least interesting changes that 5G brings about. Instead, the lower latency of 5G figures to have an impact on areas such as automation, telepresence and connected devices.

"When you upload your photos, your videos, it will be exceedingly smoother versus what we have today. Basically, it feels like the cloud is in your device.  Ignacio Contreras, Qualcomm

"The most interesting things will be on the enterprise side," Leigh said. And not all of those benefits are likely to materialize the moment 5G comes online in 2019 anyhow.

When I had a chance to see some 5G demos last month, the most compelling experience I saw illustrated how doctors could use the fast speeds and lower latency of the new network to remote manage physical therapy for patients. It's an impressive use of technology, but not one most of us will take advantage of whenever we take the plunge on that 5G-ready smartphone.

And from the CES 2019 chatter, it seems a lot of the demos at this week's show will focus on 5G's bigger picture use. We're talking about ways the faster networking standard will impact digital medicine, smart cities and self-driving cars.

4G will get better, too

There is one benefit to 5G that should benefit everyone as carriers launch their new networks this year and into next. As mobile users migrate to 5G, that will mean less congestion  and faster speeds  on LTE.

"For cities where millimeter wave and 5G are going to be deployed, you'll see an increase overall in the capacity of the network," Contreras said. "So many users, those with 5G devices... will get the benefits of 5G speeds and the new spectrum. But even those that stay in 4G will see a benefit."

Credit: Tom's Guide
[January 05, 2019] Internet Society and Inuvialuit Regional Corporation: It's Time To Invest: Canada's Economic Future Relies on Universal Broadband

The following is attributed to Duane Ningaqsiq Smith, Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and Mark Buell, Chief, North American Regional Bureau, Internet Society RESTON, Va., Jan. 5, 2019 /CNW/ -- As we start to make good on those 2019 New Year's resolutions, we hope the federal government will put a 10-year plan to bring Canada online at the top of its list. A quarter century has passed since the Speech from the Throne where former Prime Minister Jean Chretien said Canada was creating a strategy to pave the 'information highway' about to revolutionize communications and economies worldwide. Today about two million Canadians are still without fast, affordable, and reliable Internet access. When there is a growing worry from the business community about Canada's ability to stay competitive in an uncertain world, that's two million households we simply cannot afford to lose. But like many of our New Year's resolutions, closing Canada's digital divide will take time and it will require an investment. Just last October the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) called for the federal government to commit $4 billion over 10 years to get all Canadians up to speed. While $400 million per year over 10 years is a big price tag, it's worth it. And it needs to start this year. In a report to Parliament entitled Connectivity in Rural and Remote Areas last November, Auditor General Michael Ferguson said the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)'s reluctance to create a broadband plan also means people lack critical onlin services such as education, banking, and healthcare.



The newly-released 2018 Indigenous Connectivity Summit (ICS) Community Report shows how these connectivity challenges are not only accurate, but disproportionately affect Indigenous communities throughout Canada. The $4 billion the FCM says is needed is a solid number based on Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) estimates that bringing underserved regions to its universal service target will cost $5 billion for rural areas and $2 billion for the North. FCM hopes provincial and private contributions would get Ottawa's commitment closer to the full $7 billion required.

The 2018 ICS report highlights some of the huge barriers like geography to overcome, particularly in remote northern communities where it is difficult to achieve economies of scale. The Internet has always thrived because it was founded on principals of openness and accessibility. The Internet is for everyone, because only everyone can make the global network of networks. Similarly, the only way to create an economy for all Canadians is by making sure everyone has access. If millions of people are left behind this won't work. In Northwest Territories, for instance, Internet connectivity is a prerequisite to economic growth and both renewable and non-renewable resource development. Companies increasingly rely on connectivity for their daily operations. For the region to be competitive and attract prospectors, explorers and tourists  that service must be available. Education, business, research and health support in remote communities are also heavily dependent on access to broadband. Thanks to a distance learning program, three students in the remote Arctic hamlet of Ulukhaktok, NT, were the first to graduate high school within their community and were later accepted to university last year. Before then, students would either have to move away or pursue independent study to get the credits needed for admission to post-secondary schooling. By the way, Northwestel's fastest Internet package available in Ulukhaktok will get you 45 GB of data at 5Mbps/1Mbps for a whopping $229.95 per month. It's a far cry from CRTC's universal service target of 50Mbps/10Mbps with an unlimited data option. To truly close the digital divide, we need to aim for infrastructure solutions so that every household can keep up to a rapidly changing world of communications technology and products requiring speeds 100 to 1,000 times faster than what our best-connected regions already get. We also need to ensure Indigenous voices are included in the solutions. The 2018 ICS Report offers several recommendations for the federal government to consider in developing a national broadband strategy. They include ongoing consultation with Indigenous communities and more funding opportunities for community networks, which are local solutions that empower communities to address connectivity gaps on their own terms. The federal investment would also go a long way to support economic growth, self-determination, language and cultural revitalization, and improving education and health outcomes in Indigenous communities. These are all Truth and Reconciliation Commission calls to action. The Inuvialuit Regional Corporation recently launched an online eLearning component of the IFA-101 initiative to provide a new generation of Inuvialuit and Canadians a greater understanding of the Inuvialuit Final Agreement, and the history of the land claim agreement. Without access to adequate broadband, Inuvialuit would be hard-pressed to find educational tools with such important cultural significance. And let's face it  two million households with voters who can't access fast, affordable and sustainable Internet can't be ignored. Developing a broadband strategy is a critical part of the solution, but we simply can't succeed without the adequate funds to finish the job. While ISED's $500 million Connect to Innovate program and the CRTC's $750 million Broadband Fund are steps in the right direction, piecemeal funding isn't enough. Committing the initial $400 million to fund universal connectivity in the 2019-20 budget will take political courage and leadership from the governing Liberals as we head into an election year. But it's critical. The only way to build an economy that is truly for everyone is by making a bold investment to ensure Indigenous voices are included in the future of the Internet. SOURCE Internet Society

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[January 04, 2019] JOHNSON & JOHNSON INVESTIGATION INITIATED by Former Louisiana Attorney General: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Investigates the Officers and Directors of Johnson & Johnson - JNJ

Former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq., a partner at the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF"), announces that KSF has commenced an investigation into Johnson & Johnson ("J&J") (NYSE: JNJ). The Company has been embroiled in significant litigation by over 11,000 consumers claiming that its iconic talc powder products contained asbestos that caused cancer. Some cases have resulted in massive verdicts against J&J including a $417 million award to one California plaintiff in August 2017 and a $4.7 billion award in Missouri to 22 plaintiffs in July 2018. Further, a Mississippi state court recently denied J&J's request to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the state's Attorney General over its failure to disclose the risk, allowing that case to proceed. Recently, news reports based on internal company documents obtained in the litigation revealed extensive evidence indicating that for many decades Company executives knew that its talc samples had tested positive for asbestos and took various measures to conceal the information from the public. The Company has been exposed to signficant financial losses as well as a securities class action lawsuit for failing to disclose material information to investors, violating federal securities laws, which is ongoing.



KSF's investigation is focusing on whether J&J's officers and/or directors breached their fiduciary duties to its shareholders or otherwise violated state or federal laws. If you have information that would assist KSF in its investigation, or have been a long-term holder of J&J shares and would like to discuss your legal rights, you may, without obligation or cost to you, call toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or email KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-jnj/ to learn more.

About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, whose partners include Former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is a law firm focused on securities, antitrust and consumer class actions, along with merger & acquisition and breach of fiduciary litigation against publicly traded companies on behalf of shareholders. The firm has offices in New York, California and Louisiana. To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190104005530/en/

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[January 04, 2019] MACQUARIE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTIGATION INITIATED by Former Louisiana Attorney General: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Investigates the Officers and Directors of Macquarie Infrastructure Corporation - MIC

Former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq., a partner at the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF"), announces that KSF has commenced an investigation into Macquarie Infrastructure Corporation (NYSE: MIC). Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Company continually touted the stability and strong performance of its IMTT segment, which provided a significant portion of the Company's revenue, and downplayed its risk exposure. On February 21, 2018, the Company disclosed a wide range of shocking fourth quarter results, including earnings per share well below analysts' estimates and a substantial dividend cut, attributing the dismal performance to declining demand in heavy residual oils; however, the Company had never disclosed to investors that the IMTT segment's performance depended on demand for such petroleum products. When the information was made public, the Company's market capitalization plunged more than 41% erasing more than $2.2 billion in market capitalization in a single day. KSF's investigatin is focusing on whether Macquarie's officers and/or directors breached their fiduciary duties to Macquarie's shareholders or otherwise violated state or federal laws.



If you have information that would assist KSF in its investigation, or have been a long-term holder of Macquarie shares and would like to discuss your legal rights, you may, without obligation or cost to you, call toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or email KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-mic/ to learn more. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

KSF, whose partners include the Former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is a law firm focused on securities, antitrust and consumer class actions, along with merger & acquisition and breach of fiduciary litigation against publicly traded companies on behalf of shareholders. The firm has offices in New York, California and Louisiana. To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190104005527/en/

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[January 04, 2019] NISSAN MOTOR SHAREHOLDER ALERT by Former Louisiana Attorney General: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Reminds Investors with Losses in Excess of $100,000 of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuit against Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. - NSANY

Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until February 8, 2019 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (OTC: NSANY), if they purchased the Company's American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs") between December 10, 2013 and November 16, 2018, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. What You May Do If you purchased ADRs of Nissan and would like to discuss your legal rights and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/otc-nsany/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by February 8, 2019.



About the Lawsuit Nissan and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On November 19, 2018, news reports revealed Nissan CEO and Chairman, Carlos Ghosn and former Board member and Senior Vice President, Greg Kelly, had been arrested by Japanese authorities for financial crimes. The Company later disclosed that its internal investigation over the past several months uncovered numerous wrongful acts by both spanning many years, including improperly reporting expenses and personal use of company assets. On this news, the price of Nissan's ADRs plummeted. The case is Jackson County Employees' Retirement System v. Ghosn, et al., 18-cv-01368. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is a law firm focused on securities, antitrust and consumer class actions, along with merger & acquisition and breach of fiduciary litigation against publicly traded companies on behalf of shareholders. The firm has offices in New York, California and Louisiana. To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190104005047/en/

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[January 04, 2019] GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP INVESTIGATION UPDATE by Former Louisiana Attorney General: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Continues to Investigate the Officers and Directors of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. - GS

Former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq., a partner at the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF"), announces that KSF continues its investigation into The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE: GS). An investigation by the U.S. Justice Department dating back to at least 2016 into the Company's role as the primary bond underwriter in a multibillion-dollar fraud and money-laundering scheme involving a Malaysian government fund, 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) culminated with former Southeast Asia Chairman, Tim Leissner, pleading guilty to money laundering conspiracy and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act charges committed "as an employee and agent of Goldman Sachs." Indictments were also unsealed against a former managing director of the Company, Roger Ng, and Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho, relating to the probe. Recently, the Malaysian government filed a criminal action against the Company, announcing that it is seeking $7.5 billion in reparations, and the Company was sued in a securities class action lawsuit in the U.S. for failing to disclose material information, violating federal scurities laws. The Company has also been sued by Abu Dhabi sovereign funds that guaranteed $3.5B in bonds to 1MDB over the Company's role in the scheme.



KSF's investigation is focusing on whether Goldman's officers and/or directors breached their fiduciary duties to Goldman's shareholders or otherwise violated state or federal laws. If you have information that would assist KSF in its investigation, or have been a long-term holder of Goldman Sachs shares and would like to discuss your legal rights, you may, without obligation or cost to you, call toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or email KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-gs/ to learn more.

About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, whose partners include Former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is a law firm focused on securities, antitrust and consumer class actions, along with merger & acquisition and breach of fiduciary litigation against publicly traded companies on behalf of shareholders. The firm has offices in New York, California and Louisiana. To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190104005507/en/

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[January 04, 2019] PG&E INVESTIGATION INITIATED by Former Louisiana Attorney General: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Investigates the Officers and Directors of PG&E Corporation - PCG

Former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq., a partner at the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF"), announces that KSF has commenced an investigation into PG&E (News - Alert) Corporation (NYSE: PCG). In October 2017, eighteen wildfires devastated Northern California, seventeen of which investigators found were caused by the Company's equipment with eleven showing safety regulation violations. Then, on November 8, 2018, another wildfire began in the town of Pulga, California, becoming the deadliest and the most destructive wildfire in California history, killing at least 79 people with approximately 700 missing. The Company subsequently filed two incident reports for occurrences the morning of November 8th, the first citing an outage near Pulga, the second, a failed circuit in Concow. Notably, the second report was not filed until the day after investigators announced a possible second origin of the fire, in Concow. The Company has been exposed to significant financial losses for the 2017-2018 fires, including as much as $30 billion in liabilities, a securities class action lawsuit for failing to disclose aterial information to investors relating to the 2017 wildfires in violation of federal securities laws, a class action lawsuit by fire victims, and recently, lawsuits filed by several insurance companies.



KSF's investigation is focusing on whether PG&E's officers and/or directors breached their fiduciary duties to PG&E's shareholders or otherwise violated state or federal laws. If you have information that would assist KSF in its investigation, or have been a long-term holder of PG&E shares and would like to discuss your legal rights, you may, without obligation or cost to you, call toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or email KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-pcg/ to learn more.

About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, whose partners include Former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is a law firm focused on securities, antitrust and consumer class actions, along with merger & acquisition and breach of fiduciary litigation against publicly traded companies on behalf of shareholders. The firm has offices in New York, California and Louisiana. To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190104005500/en/

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Fianna Fail T.D. Deputy Jackie Cahill has said he is disappointed and angry that An Bord Pleanala has refused permission for the Upperchurch Wind Farm development to proceed.

Planning permission had been submitted for the wind farm in recent months and the expectation was that significant employment could have been created in the construction phase, while quite a number of landowners would have benefitted from the farm.

The proposal would have seen up to fifty landowners in the area benefit from a development where significant investment had been made to bring it to this stage. The economic impact of this development in a rural community like Upperchurch could not be over estimated. It would have been like bringing a major investment into the area with the spin off benefits. This is a huge blow for a rural part of Mid Tipperary and is further evidence of the disconnect there is in Dublin when it comes to Rural Ireland, an angry Deputy Cahill told The Tipperary Star this week.

The former President of the ICMSA and member of Tipperary County Council, prior to being elected TD for Tipperary, went on to say that this Dublin centric Government as he classed it, is doing nothing to force the bureaucrats in the capitol to make their decisions rural friendly.

We must work to our strengths here in Tipperary and this is what this development was all about. It was using land which is categorized as disadvantaged to produce green energy and bring the economic benefit of it right in to the heart of the community. I will be making immediate contacts at the highest level to force a rethink of this decision, concluded Deputy Cahill.
The chamber of the House of Representatives is seen before convening for the first day of the 116th Congress, with Democrats holding the majority, at the Capitol in Washington, on Jan. 3, 2019.
News Reporter

Eddie Trizzino has been a reporter with the Times West Virginian since August of 2017, covering the entertainment, business and health beats. He spends most of his time listening to records, going to the movies and strolling through the town.
Nellie Grace Spragg, 78, of Hundred, WV died Thursday, June 10, 2021 at her residence. She was born October 9, 1942 at Hundred, a daughter of the late James Herbert Strope and Iva Haines Strope. Nellie worked many years ago at Oneacre Drug Store and the Bank of Hundred. She loved her animals
Buenos Aires, Argentina

The Vatican has confirmed that an Argentine bishop, who resigned suddenly in 2017 for stated health reasons and then landed a top administrative job at the Holy See, is under preliminary investigation after priests accused him of sexual abuse and other misconduct.

In a statement to The Associated Press, Vatican spokesman Alessandro Gisotti stressed that the allegations against Bishop Gustavo Zanchetta only emerged in recent months, nearly a year after Pope Francis created the new position for him as "assessor" of the Holy See's office of financial administration.

At the time of his July 2017 resignation, Zanchetta had only asked Francis to let him leave the northern Argentine diocese of Oran because he had difficult relations with its priests and was "unable to govern the clergy," Gisotti said. Pending the preliminary investigation into allegations of sexual abuse underway in Argentina, the 54-year-old Zanchetta will abstain from work at the Vatican, he said.

But the case could become yet another problem for Francis, who is already battling to gain trust from the Catholic flock over his handling of sex abuse and sexual misconduct, stemming in particular from the scandal of ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick.
TROY  An East Greenbush man was sentenced in Rensselaer County Court Friday to five years in prison for possession of about 20 pounds of marijuana, District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly said.

In addition to the five-year sentence, Ricky G. Durham, 50, will also have three years post-release supervision under the sentence imposed by County Court Judge Debra Young.
COHOES  Two families were displaced from a two-story apartment building in Cohoes Friday night after an electrical fire broke out in the attic.

Cohoes Fire Chief Joseph Fahd said the call came in at 9 p.m. for a fire at 74 Jackson Ave. It was doused quickly and caused minimal damage, he said, but the structure is unable to be occupied until the electrical system is repaired and inspected.
ALBANY  Albany police have arrested a 27-year-old city man in connection with a Dec. 29 stabbing on Delaware Avenue.

Police say that Jay Rodwell stabbed a 34-year-old man during a fight last Saturday around 8:35 p.m. near the intersection of Delaware and Second avenues. The victim was treated at Albany Medical Center Hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

During an investigation, police found a loaded .380 caliber handgun that had been reported stolen more than four years ago in the town of Niskayuna on Oct. 10, 2014.

Rodwell was charged with assault, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of stolen property. He was arraigned Saturday morning and sent to the Albany County jail.
SCHENECTADY  While Electric City Taxi's Phil Gibbs rattled off a variety of reasons the city should raise cab fares, he said it boils down to basic economics.

"If you're not taking in more money than you're spending (and) paying people, then you can't stay in business," he said Friday, noting the increases over the last few years in the minimum wage. "How can we afford to give our employees the pay raise to meet minimum wage if we're locked into a wage that we don't have any control over?"

Lela Seecheran, whose husband Bhaskar Parsan runs Midway Taxi in the city, said a fare hike is sorely needed.

"We are small companies that are struggling," she said. Midway has a fleet of 11 cabs.

She and Gibbs cited the growing popularityof Uber and Lyft and how those ride-sharing services have hurt them.

For those two companies, Rivers Casino at Mohawk Harbor was the second most popular drop off and pick up destination for fares last year, said City Council President Ed Kosiur. He and Councilwoman Leesa Perazzo are set to meet Friday, Jan. 11, to explore the issue with Capital District Transportation Authority Chief Executive Director Carm Basile.

Councilman Vince Riggi said businesses should be entitled to make up for shortfalls when their expenses are increasing, and that smaller taxi companies face more regulations than Uber and Lyft.

Kosiur said the governing body still must pass a resolution to cede oversight of the taxi cab business to the CDTA.

"I really want to discuss with CDTA about what can we impose on Uber and Lyft," he said, noting that some municipalities have resorted to adding a surcharge for fares to the ride-sharing services. "It's something that we certainly need to address to keep our small business taxi cab ownership in place so we can provide that ridership to our residents."

Currently the meter starts at $4 for riders, with that number going up by 25 cents after a half-mile and then every 1/8-mile after that. The flat fare is $5 after 6 p.m. and on weekends and national holidays.

Gibbs, who oversees the day to day operations at Electric City Taxi, said Friday that he would like to see the starting rates across the board increase by $1.

He recalled that about two years ago the city increased cab fares by 50 cents, but then doubled the fee for the medallions the companies need to operate.

Cab fares in Schenectady are the "lowest by far" in the region but noted that the clientele by and large is different in places like Saratoga and even Albany tend to be more professionals and business types, said Kosiur.

"Our folks are really relying on their cab service to take them from their home to shopping and Price Chopper or to go on medical calls," he added. "We certainly feel for our small taxi cab companies but at the same time we have to feel the need for and concerns for our residents to make sure the cabs are still affordable."

Kosiur also said times are so tough that Capitaland Taxi, based in the Woodlawn neighborhood where he lives, is now only handling medical calls.

Down the road, Gibbs with Electric City Cab, said he plans to petition the city to amend its charter to allow the companies to regulate themselves.

Kosiur said that the plan right now is to discuss the proposed fare hikes at the Jan. 21 City Council Committee meeting.
Cresaptown, MD (21502)

Today

Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to mainly clear skies after midnight. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low 58F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to mainly clear skies after midnight. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low 58F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%.
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The following companies are subsidiares of BP: 200 PS Overseas Holdings Inc., 563916 Alberta Ltd., ACP (Malaysia) Inc., AE Cedar Creek Holdings LLC, AE Goshen II Holdings LLC, AE Goshen II Wind Farm LLC, AE Power Services LLC, AE Wind PartsCo LLC, AM/PM International Inc., ARCO, ARCO British International, ARCO British Limited, ARCO Coal Australia Inc., ARCO El-Djazair Holdings Inc., ARCO Environmental Remediation L.L.C., ARCO Exploration Inc., ARCO Gaviota Company, ARCO International Investments Inc., ARCO International Services Inc., ARCO Midcon LLC, ARCO Oil Company Nigeria Unlimited, ARCO Oman Inc, ARCO Resources Limited, ARCO Trinidad Exploration and Production Company Limited, ARCO Unimar Holdings LLC, Actomat B.V., Advance Petroleum Holdings Pty Ltd, Advance Petroleum Pty Ltd, Air BP Albania SHA, Air BP Brasil Ltda., Air BP Canada LLC, Air BP Croatia d.o.o., Air BP Finland Oy, Air BP Iceland, Air BP Limited, Air BP Norway AS, Air BP Sales Romania S.R.L., Air BP Sweden AB, Air Refuel Pty Ltd, Allgreen Pty Ltd, AmProp Finance Company, American Oil Company, Amoco (Fiddich) Limited, Amoco (U.K.) Exploration Company LLC., Amoco Bolivia Petroleum Company, Amoco Bolivia Services Company Inc., Amoco Canada International Holdings B.V., Amoco Capline Pipeline Company, Amoco Chemical (Europe) S.A., Amoco Chemicals (FSC) B.V., Amoco Cypress Pipeline Company, Amoco Destin Pipeline Company, Amoco Environmental Services Company, Amoco Exploration Holdings B.V., Amoco Guatemala Petroleum Company, Amoco International Finance Corporation, Amoco International Petroleum Company, Amoco Leasing Corporation, Amoco Louisiana Fractionator Company, Amoco MB Fractionation Company, Amoco MBF Company, Amoco Main Pass Gathering Company, Amoco Marketing Environmental Services Company, Amoco Netherlands Petroleum Company, Amoco Nigeria Exploration Company Limited, Amoco Nigeria Oil Company Limited, Amoco Nigeria Petroleum Company, Amoco Nigeria Petroleum Company Limited, Amoco Norway Oil Company, Amoco Oil Holding Company, Amoco Olefins Corporation, Amoco Overseas Exploration Company, Amoco Pipeline Asset Company, Amoco Pipeline Holding Company, Amoco Properties Incorporated, Amoco Remediation Management Services Corporation, Amoco Research Operating Company, Amoco Rio Grande Pipeline Company, Amoco Somalia Petroleum Company, Amoco Sulfur Recovery Company, Amoco Tri-States NGL Pipeline Company, Amoco Trinidad Gas B.V., Amoco U.K. Petroleum Limited, Amprop Illinois I Limited, Amprop Inc., Anaconda Arizona Inc., Arabian Production And Marketing Lubricants, Aral Aktiengesellschaft, Aral Luxembourg S.A., Aral Services Luxembourg Sarl, Aral Tankstellen Services Sarl, Arco Mediterraneo Inversiones S.L., Areas Noriega S.L., Areas Singulares Reyes S.L., Aspac Lubricants (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Atlantic 2/3 UK Holdings Limited, Atlantic Richfield Company, Atlantic Richfield Companyd, Autino Holdings Limited, Autino Limited, Auwahi Wind Energy Holdings LLC, B2Mobility GmbH, BASS Management Pty Ltd, BP (Abu Dhabi) Limited, BP (Barbados) Holding SRL, BP (Barbican) Limited, BP (China) Holdings Limited, BP (China) Industrial Lubricants Limited, BP (GTA Mauritania) Finance Limited, BP (GTA Senegal) Finance Limited, BP (Gibraltar) Limited, BP (Guangzhou) Advanced Mobility Limited, BP (Hunan) Petroleum Company Limited, BP (Indian Agencies) Limited, BP (Shandong) Petroleum Co. Ltd, BP (Shanghai) Trading Limited, BP - Castrol (Thailand) Limited, BP AMI Leasing Inc., BP Absheron Limited, BP Advanced Mobility Limited, BP Africa Limited, BP Africa Oil Limited, BP Akaryakit Ortakligi, BP Alaska LNG LLC, BP Alternative Energy Holdings Limited, BP Alternative Energy Investments Limited, BP Alternative Energy North America Inc., BP Alternative Energy Trinidad and Tobago Limited, BP America Chembel Holding LLC, BP America Chemicals Company, BP America Foreign Investments Inc., BP America Inc, BP America Inc., BP America Limited, BP America Production Company, BP Amoco Chemical Company, BP Amoco Chemical Holding Company, BP Amoco Chemical Indonesia Limited, BP Amoco Chemical Malaysia Holding Company, BP Amoco Exploration (Faroes) Limited, BP Amoco Exploration (In Amenas) Limited, BP Andaman II Ltd, BP Angola (Block 18) B.V., BP Argentina Exploration Company, BP Argentina Holdings LLC, BP Aromatics Holdings Limited, BP Aromatics Limited, BP Asia Limited, BP Asia Pacific (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., BP Asia Pacific Holdings Limited, BP Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, BP Australia Capital Markets Limited, BP Australia Employee Share Plan Proprietary Limited, BP Australia Group Pty Ltde, BP Australia Investments Pty Ltd, BP Australia Nominees Proprietary Limited, BP Australia Pty Ltd, BP Australia Shipping Pty Ltd, BP Australia Swaps Management Limited, BP Aviation A/S, BP Benevolent Fund Trustees Limited, BP Berau Ltd., BP Biocombustiveis S.A., BP Bioenergia Campina Verde Ltda., BP Bioenergia Ituiutaba Ltda., BP Bioenergia Itumbiara S.A., BP Bioenergia Tropical S.A., BP Biofuels Advanced Technology Inc., BP Biofuels Brazil Investments Limited, BP Biofuels Louisiana LLC, BP Biofuels North America LLC, BP Biofuels Trading Comercio Exportacao Ltda., BP Bomberai Ltd., BP Brasil Ltda., BP Brazil Tracking L.L.C., BP Bulwer Island Pty Ltd, BP Business Service Centre Asia Sdn Bhd, BP Business Service Centre KFT, BP CIV Pty Ltd, BP Canada Energy Development Company, BP Canada Energy Group ULC, BP Canada Energy Marketing Corp., BP Canada International Holdings B.V., BP Canada Investments Inc., BP Capellen Sarl, BP Capital Markets, BP Capital Markets America, BP Capital Markets America Inc., BP Capital Markets p.l.c., BP Car Fleet Limited, BP Caribbean Company, BP Castrol KK, BP Castrol Lubricants (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., BP Central Pipelines LLC, BP Chembel, BP Chemicals (Korea) Limited, BP Chemicals East China Investments Limited, BP Chemicals Investments Limited, BP Chemicals Limited, BP China Exploration and Production Company, BP Comercializadora de Energia Ltda., BP Commodities Trading Limited, BP Commodity Supply B.V., BP Company North America, BP Company North America Inc., BP Containment Response Limited, BP Containment Response System Holdings LLC, BP Continental Holdings Limited, BP Corporate Holdings, BP Corporate Holdings Limited, BP Corporation North America, BP Corporation North America Inc., BP D-B Pipeline Company LLC, BP D230 Limited, BP Danmark A/S, BP Developments Australia Pty. Ltd., BP Dogal Gaz Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, BP East Kalimantan CBM Limited, BP Eastern Mediterranean Limited, BP Egypt Company, BP Egypt East Delta Marine Corporation, BP Egypt East Tanka B.V., BP Egypt Production B.V., BP Egypt Ras El Barr B.V., BP Egypt West Mediterranean (Block B) B.V., BP Energy Asia Pte. Limited, BP Energy Colombia Limited, BP Energy Company, BP Energy Europe Limited, BP Energy Solutions B.V., BP Energy do Brasil Ltda., BP Energia Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., BP Espana S.A. Unipersonal, BP Estaciones y Servicios Energeticos Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, BP Europa SE, BP Exploracion de Venezuela S.A., BP Exploration & Production Inc., BP Exploration (Absheron) Limited, BP Exploration (Alaska), BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc., BP Exploration (Algeria) Limited, BP Exploration (Alpha), BP Exploration (Alpha) Limited, BP Exploration (Angola), BP Exploration (Angola) Limited, BP Exploration (Azerbaijan), BP Exploration (Azerbaijan) Limited, BP Exploration (Canada) Limited, BP Exploration (Caspian Sea), BP Exploration (Caspian Sea) Limited, BP Exploration (D230) Limited, BP Exploration (Delta), BP Exploration (Delta) Limited, BP Exploration (El Djazair) Limited, BP Exploration (Epsilon) Limited, BP Exploration (Gambia) Limited, BP Exploration (Greenland) Limited, BP Exploration (Madagascar) Limited, BP Exploration (Morocco) Limited, BP Exploration (Namibia) Limited, BP Exploration (Nigeria Finance) Limited, BP Exploration (Nigeria) Limited, BP Exploration (Psi) Limited, BP Exploration (STP) Limited, BP Exploration (Shafag-Asiman) Limited, BP Exploration (Shah Deniz) Limited, BP Exploration (South Atlantic) Limited, BP Exploration (Xazar) Pte. Ltd., BP Exploration Angola (Kwanza Benguela) Limited, BP Exploration Argentina Limited, BP Exploration Australia Pty Ltd Level 15, BP Exploration Beta Limited, BP Exploration China Limited, BP Exploration Company (Middle East) Limited, BP Exploration Company Limited, BP Exploration Indonesia Limited, BP Exploration Libya Limited, BP Exploration Mexico Limited, BP Exploration Mexico S.A. De C.V., BP Exploration North Africa Limited, BP Exploration Operating Company, BP Exploration Operating Company Limited, BP Exploration Orinoco Limited, BP Exploration Personnel Company Limited, BP Exploration Peru Limited, BP Express Shopping Limited, BP Finance Australia Pty Ltd, BP Finance p.l.c., BP Foundation Incorporated, BP France, BP Fuels & Lubricants AS, BP Fuels Deutschland GmbH, BP GOM Logistics LLC, BP Gas & Power Investments Limited, BP Gas Europe S.A.U., BP Gas Marketing Limited, BP Gas Supply (Angola) LLC, BP Ghana Limited, BP Global Investments, BP Global Investments Limited, BP Global Investments Salalah & Co LLC, BP Global West Africa Limited, BP Greece Limited, BP Guangdong Limited, BP High Density Polyethylene - France, BP Holdings (Thailand) Limited, BP Holdings B.V., BP Holdings Canada, BP Holdings Canada Limited, BP Holdings International B.V., BP Holdings North America, BP Holdings North America Limited, BP Hong Kong Limited, BP India Private Limited, BP Indonesia Investment Limited, BP International, BP International Limited, BP International Services Company, BP Investment Management Limited, BP Investments Asia Limited, BP Iran Limited, BP Iraq N.V., BP Italia SpA, BP Japan K.K., BP Korea Limited, BP Kuwait Limited, BP LNG Shipping Limited, BP Latin America LLC, BP Latin America Upstream Services Inc., BP Lubricants KK, BP Lubricants USA Inc., BP Luxembourg S.A., BP Malaysia Holdings Sdn. Bhd., BP Management International B.V., BP Management Netherlands B.V., BP Marine Limited, BP Mariner Holding Company LLC, BP Maritime Services (Singapore) Pte. Limited, BP Marketing Egypt LLC, BP Mauritania Investments Limited, BP Mauritius Limited (in liquidation), BP Middle East Enterprises Corporation, BP Middle East LLC, BP Middle East Limited, BP Midstream Partners GP LLC, BP Midstream Partners Holdings LLC, BP Midstream Partners LP, BP Midwest Product Pipelines Holdings LLC, BP Mocambique Limitada, BP Mocambique Limited, BP Muturi Holdings B.V., BP Nederland Holdings BV, BP Netherlands Upstream B.V., BP New Ventures Middle East Limited, BP New Zealand Holdings Limited, BP New Zealand Share Scheme Limited, BP Nutrition Inc., BP Offshore Gathering Systems Inc., BP Offshore Pipelines Company LLC, BP Offshore Response Company LLC, BP Oil (Thailand) Limited, BP Oil Australia Pty Ltd, BP Oil Espana S.A., BP Oil Hellenic S.A., BP Oil International, BP Oil International Limited, BP Oil Kent Refinery Limited (in liquidation), BP Oil Llandarcy Refinery Limited, BP Oil Logistics UK Limited, BP Oil New Zealand Limited, BP Oil Pipeline Company, BP Oil Senegal S.A., BP Oil Shipping Company, BP Oil UK Limited, BP Oil Venezuela Limited, BP Oil Vietnam Limited, BP Oil Yemen Limited, BP Olex Fanal Mineralol GmbH, BP One Pipeline Company LLC, BP Pacific Investments Ltd, BP Pakistan (Badin) Inc., BP Pakistan Exploration and Production Inc., BP Pension Escrow Limited, BP Pension Trustees Limited, BP Pensions (Overseas) Limited, BP Pensions Limited, BP Petrochemicals India Investments Limited, BP Petroleo y Gas S.A., BP Petrolleri Anonim Sirketi, BP Pipelines (Alaska) Inc., BP Pipelines (BTC) Limited, BP Pipelines (North America) Inc., BP Pipelines (SCP) Limited, BP Pipelines (TANAP) Limited, BP Pipelines TAP Limited, BP Polska Services Sp. z o.o. Ul., BP Portugal -Comercio de Combustiveis e Lubrificantes SA, BP Poseidon Limited, BP Products North America, BP Products North America Inc., BP Properties Limited, BP Raffinaderij Rotterdam B.V., BP Refinery (Kwinana) Proprietary Limited, BP Regional Australasia Holdings Pty Ltd, BP River Rouge Pipeline Company LLC, BP Russian Investments Limited, BP Russian Ventures Limited, BP SC Holdings LLC, BP Scale Up Factory Limited, BP Senegal Investments Limited, BP Services International Limited, BP Servicios de Combustibles S.A. de C.V., BP Servicios territoriales S.A., BP Shafag-Asiman Limited, BP Shipping Limited, BP Singapore Pte. Limited, BP Solar Energy North America LLC, BP Solar Espana S.A., BP Solar International Inc., BP Solar Pty Ltd, BP South America Holdings Ltd, BP Southern Africa Proprietary Limited, BP Southern Cone Company, BP Subsea Well Response (Brazil) Limited, BP Subsea Well Response Limited, BP Taiwan Marketing Limited, BP Technology Ventures Inc., BP Technology Ventures Limited, BP Train 2/3 Holding SRL, BP Transportation (Alaska) Inc., BP Trinidad Processing Limited, BP Trinidad and Tobago, BP Trinidad and Tobago LLC, BP Turkey Refining Limited, BP Two Pipeline Company LLC, BP UK Retained Holdings Limited, BP Venezuela Investments B.V., BP West Aru I Limited, BP West Aru II Limited, BP West Papua I Limited, BP West Papua III Limited, BP Wind Energy North America Inc., BP Wiriagar Ltd., BP World-Wide Technical Services Limited, BP Zhuhai Chemical Company Limited, BP+Amoco International Limited, BP-AIOC Exploration (TISA) LLC, BPA Investment Holding Company, BPNE International B.V., BPRY Caribbean Ventures LLC, BPX (Eagle Ford) Gathering LLC, BPX (KCS Resources) LLC, BPX (Karnes) Gathering LLC, BPX (Permian) Gathering LLC, BPX (WSF Operating) Inc., BPX Energy Inc., BPX Midstream LLC, BPX Operating Company, BPX Production Company, BPX Properties (GP) LLC, BPX Properties (LP) LLC, BPX Properties (NA) LP, BTC Pipeline Holding Company Limited, BXL Plastics Limitedv, Bahia de Bizkaia Electridad S.L., Baltimore Ennis Land Company Inc., Black Lake Pipe Line Company, Brian Jasper Nominees Pty Ltd, Britannic Energy Trading Limited, Britannic Investments Iraq Limited, Britannic Marketing Limited, Britannic Strategies Limited, Britannic Trading Limited, Britoil Limited, Burmah Castrol, Burmah Castrol Australia Pty Ltd, Burmah Castrol Holdings Inc., Burmah Castrol PLC, Burmah Castrol South Africa (Pty) Limited, Burmah Chile SpA, Butamax Advanced Biofuels, CASTROL Austria GmbHb, CH-Twenty Inc., CNAA, Cadman DBP Limited, Casitas Pipeline Company, Castrol (China) Limited, Castrol (Ireland) Limited, Castrol (Shanghai) Management Co. Ltd., Castrol (Shenzhen) Company Limited, Castrol (Tianjin) Lubricants Co. Ltd., Castrol (U.K.) Limited, Castrol Australia Pty. Limited, Castrol B.V., Castrol BP Petco Limited Liability Company, Castrol Brasil Ltda., Castrol Caribbean & Central America Inc., Castrol Colombia Ltda., Castrol Del Peru S.A., Castrol Egypt Lubricants S.A.E., Castrol India Limited, Castrol Industrie und Service GmbH, Castrol KK, Castrol Limited, Castrol Lubricants RO S.R.L, Castrol Mexico S.A., Castrol Namibia (Pty) Limited, Castrol Offshore Limited, Castrol Pakistan (Private) Limited, Castrol Philippines Inc., Castrol Servicos Ltda., Castrol Ukraine LLC, Castrol Zimbabwe (Private) Limited, Centrel Pty Ltd, Charge Your Car Limitedc, Chargemaster, Chargemaster (Europe) GmbH, Chargemaster Limited, Charging Solutions Limited, Clarisse Holdings Pty Ltd, Coastwise Trading Company Inc., Consolidada de Energia y Lubricantes (CENERLUB) C.A., Conti Cross Keys Inn Inc., Coro Trading NZ Limited, Cuyama Pipeline Company, DHC Solvent Chemie GmbH, Dermody Developments Pty Ltd, Dermody Holdings Pty Ltd, Dermody Investments Pty Ltd, Dermody Petroleum Pty. Ltd., Dome Beaufort Petroleum Limited, Dome Wallis (1980) Limited Partnership, ECM Markets SA (Pty) Ltd, Elektromotive Limited, Elite Customer Solutions Pty Ltd, Elm Holdings Inc., Energy Global Investments (USA) Inc., Enstar LLC, Estacion de Servicio Alto Campoo S.L., Estacion de Servicio Ganzo 10 S.L., Estacion de Servicio Reocin 9 S.L., Estacion de Servicio Santillana II S.L., Estacion de Servicio Sardinero S.L., Estonian Aviation Fuelling Services, Europa Oil NZ Limited, Exomet Inc., Expandite Contract Services Limited, Exploration (Luderitz Basin) Limited, Exploration Service Company Limited, FWK (2017) Limited, FWK Holdings (2017) LTD, Finite Carbon, Flat Ridge 2 Holdings LLC, Flat Ridge Wind Energy LLC, Foseco Holding Inc., Foseco Holding International B.V., Foseco Inc., Fosroc Expandite Limited, Fotech Solutions Ltd, Fowler Ridge Holdings LLC, Fowler Ridge I Land Investments LLC, Fowler Ridge II Holdings LLC, Fowler Ridge III Wind Farm LLC, FreeBees B.V., Fuel & Retail Aviat ion Sweden AB, Fuelplane- Sociedade Abastecedora De Aeronaves Unipessoal Lda, GOAM 1 C.I S. A .S, Gardena Holdings Inc., Gelsenkirchen Raffinerie Netz GmbH, Grampian Aviation Fuelling Services Limited, Guangdong Investments Limited, Highlands Ethanol LLC, Hosteleria Noriega S.L., IGI Resources Inc., Insight Analytics Solutions Holdings Limited, Insight Analytics Solutions Limited, Insight Analytics Solutions USA Inc., International Bunker Supplies Pty Ltd, Iraq Petroleum Company Limited, Jupiter Insurance Limited, Ken-Chas Reserve Company, Kenilworth Oil Company Limited, Kingbook Inversiones Socimi S.A., Latin Energy Argentina S.A., Lebanese Aviation Technical Services S.A.L., Limited Liability Company BP Toplivnaya Kompania, Limited liability company Setra Lubricants, Lubricants UK Limited, Lytt Limited, Manormaker (Nominee No. 1) Limited, Manormaker (Nominee No. 2) Limited, Manormaker GP Limited (99.90%) 11 Black Horse Lane, Mardi Gras Transportation System Company LLC, Markoil S.A., Masana Petroleum Solutions (Pty) Ltd, Mayaro Initiative for Private Enterprise Development, Mehoopany Holdings LLC, Mes Tecnologia En Servicios Y Energia S.A., Minza Pty. Ltd., Mountain City Remediation LLC, No. 1 Riverside Quay Proprietary Limited, Nordic Lubricants A/S, Nordic Lubricants AB, North America Funding Company, OMD87 Inc., OOO BP STL, Omega Oil Company, OnSight Analytics Solutions India Private Ltd., Orion Delaware Mountain Wind Farm LP, Orion Energy Holdings LLC, Orion Energy L.L.C.b, Orion Post Land Investments LLC, Oyambre 1 S.L., PRODUITS METALLURGIE DOITTAU, PT BP Petrochemicals, PT Castrol Indonesia, PT Castrol Manufacturing Indonesia, PT Jasatama Petroindo, Pacroy (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Peaks America Inc., Pearl River Delta Investments Limited, Petrocorner Retail S.L.U., Phoenix Petroleum Services Limited, Pozuelo 4 S.L., Prospect International C.A. (In liquidation), Puente Arce 4 S.L., Remediation Management Services Company, Richfield Oil Corporation, Rio Corvo 2 S.L., Rolling Thunder I Power Partners LLC, Romax Insight Korea Ltd., Ropemaker Deansgate Limited, Ropemaker Properties Limited, Ruhr Oel GmbH, Rusdene GSS Limited, SOFAST Limited, SRHP, Saturn Insurance Inc., Sherbino I Holdings LLC, Sherbino Mesa I Land Investments LLC, Sociedade de Promocao Imobiliaria Quinta do Loureiro SA, Societe de Gestion de Depots d'Hydrocarbures - GDH, South Texas Shale LLC, Southeast Texas Biofuels LLC, Southern Ridge Pipeline Holding Company, Southern Ridge Pipeline LP LLC, Sp/f Decision3 (GreenSteam) Company, Standard Oil Company, Standard Oil Company Inc., Standard Oil of Ohio, Stryde Limited, Sunrise Oil Sands Partnership, TISA Education Complex LLC, TJKK, Taradadis Pty. Ltd., Telcom General Corporation, Terre de Grace Partnership, The Anaconda Company, The BP Share Plans Trustees Limited, The Burmah Oil Company (Pakistan Trading) Limited, The Standard Oil Company, Toledo Refinery Holding Company LLC, Torrelavega 7 S.L., Union Texas International Corporation, Vastar Pipeline LLC, Veba Oel AG Veba Oel, Verenium, Viceroy Investments Limited, Villacarriedo 8 S.L., Warrenville Development Limited, Water Way Trading and Petroleum Services LLC, Welchem Inc., West Kimberley Fuels Pty Ltd, Westlake Houston Development LLC, Whiting Clean Energy Inc., Windpark Energy Nederland B.V., and Winwell Resources L.L.C.
The following companies are subsidiares of Accenture: 2nd Road, 2nd Road Pty Ltd., ?What If!, ?What If! China Holdings Ltd, ?What If! Holdings Limited, ?What If! Innovation Singapore Holdings Pte, ?What If! Limited, ?What If! Shanghai Co. Ltd, ?What If! USA LLC, ACN Consulting Co Ltd, AD Dialeto Agencia de Publicidade SA, AD.Dialeto (Digital Agency acquired by Accenture), AGS Business and Technology Services Limited, ASM Research Inc., ASM Research LLC, ATAN, Accenture (Beijing) Mobile Technology Co Ltd, Accenture (Botswana) (Proprietary) Limited, Accenture (China) Co Ltd, Accenture (Shenzhen) Technology Co. Ltd., Accenture (South Africa) (Proprietary) Limited, Accenture (South Africa) Pty Limited, Accenture (UK) Ltd, Accenture 2 Business Process Services S.A., Accenture 2 LLC, Accenture A/S, Accenture AB, Accenture AG, Accenture AS, Accenture Africa Pty Ltd, Accenture Australia Holding B.V., Accenture Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, Accenture Australia Pty Ltd, Accenture Azerbaijan Ltd, Accenture BPM Operations Support Services S.A., Accenture BPM S.C.R.L., Accenture BV, Accenture Branch Holdings B.V., Accenture Bulgaria EOOD, Accenture Business Services for Utilities Inc, Accenture Business Services of British Columbia Limited Partnership, Accenture Business and Technology Services LLC, Accenture C.A, Accenture CAS GmbH, Accenture Canada Holdings Inc., Accenture Capital DAC, Accenture Capital Inc, Accenture Central Europe B.V., Accenture Chile Asesorias y Servicios Ltda, Accenture Cloud Services GmbH, Accenture Cloud Software Solutions Ltd, Accenture Cloud Solutions Australia Pty Ltd, Accenture Cloud Solutions LLC, Accenture Cloud Solutions Ltd, Accenture Cloud Solutions Pty Ltd, Accenture Co Ltd, Accenture Co Ltd., Accenture Communications Infrastructure Solutions Ltd, Accenture Company Ltd, Accenture Consulting Services Ltd Tanzania, Accenture Consultores de Gestao S.A., Accenture Consultoria de Industria e Consumo Ltda, Accenture Consultoria de Recursos Naturais Ltda, Accenture Credit Services LLC, Accenture Customer Services Distribution SAS, Accenture Customer Services Limited, Accenture Danismanlik Limited Sirketi, Accenture Defined Benefit Pension Plan Trustees Ltd, Accenture Defined Contribution Pension Plan Trustees Ltd, Accenture Delivery Poland sp. z o.o., Accenture Dienstleistungen GmbH, Accenture Digital France Holdings SA, Accenture Digital Holdings GmbH, Accenture East Africa Limited, Accenture Ecuador S.A., Accenture Egypt LLC, Accenture Enterprise Development (Shanghai) Co Ltd., Accenture Federal Services LLC, Accenture Finance (Gibraltar) III Ltd, Accenture Finance GmbH, Accenture Finance GmbH in liquidation, Accenture Finance II GmbH, Accenture Finance II GmbH in liquidation, Accenture Finance II Ltd, Accenture Finance Limited, Accenture Finance and Accounting BPO Services S.p.A., Accenture Finance and Accounting Services Srl, Accenture Flex LLC, Accenture GP LLC, Accenture Ghana Limited, Accenture Global Holdings Ltd., Accenture Global Services Ltd, Accenture Global Solutions Ltd, Accenture GmbH, Accenture HR Services Ltd, Accenture HR Services S.p.A., Accenture Healthcare Processing Inc., Accenture Holding GmbH, Accenture Holding GmbH & Co. KG, Accenture Holding GmbH in liquidation, Accenture Holdings (Iberia) S.L., Accenture Holdings B.V., Accenture Holdings France SAS, Accenture Holdings plc, Accenture Hungary Holdings Kft, Accenture Inc, Accenture Industrial Software Limited Liability Company (Accenture Endustriyel Yazylym Cozumleri Limited irketi), Accenture Industrial Software Limited Liability Company (Accenture Endustriyel Yazlm Cozumleri Limited Sirketi), Accenture Industrial Software Solutions Kft, Accenture Industrial Software Solutions SA, Accenture Insurance Services LLC, Accenture Insurance Services SAS, Accenture Insurance Services SpA, Accenture International BV, Accenture International Capital SCA, Accenture International LLC, Accenture International Limited, Accenture International Sarl, Accenture Japan Ltd, Accenture Korea BV, Accenture LLC, Accenture LLP, Accenture Lanka (Private) Ltd, Accenture Limited, Accenture Ltd, Accenture Ltda, Accenture Maghreb S.a.r.l., Accenture Managed Services SRL, Accenture Managed Services SpA, Accenture Management GmbH, Accenture Middle East B.V, Accenture Middle East BV, Accenture Minority I BV, Accenture Minority III Ltd, Accenture Mozambique Limitada, Accenture Mzansi (Pty) Ltd, Accenture NV/SA, Accenture NZ Limited, Accenture Newco LLC, Accenture Nova Scotia Unlimited Liability Co., Accenture OOO, Accenture Operations Sp. z o.o., Accenture Outsourcing SRL, Accenture Outsourcing Services, Accenture Outsourcing Services S.A., Accenture Oy, Accenture Panama Inc, Accenture Participations BV, Accenture Participations II Limited, Accenture Peru S.R.L, Accenture Peru S.R.L., Accenture Post Trade Processing SAS, Accenture Post-Trade Processing Limited, Accenture Process Ltd, Accenture Product Lifecycle Services, Accenture Properties, Accenture Pte Ltd, Accenture Puerto Rico LLC, Accenture S.A., Accenture S.C., Accenture S.L., Accenture S.R.L., Accenture SAS, Accenture SG Services Pte Ltd, Accenture SRL, Accenture Saudi Arabia Limited, Accenture Sendirian Berhad, Accenture Service Center SRL, Accenture Services (Mauritius) Ltd, Accenture Services AB, Accenture Services AG, Accenture Services AS, Accenture Services GmbH, Accenture Services Ltd, Accenture Services Morocco SA, Accenture Services Oy, Accenture Services Pty Ltd, Accenture Services S.r.l., Accenture Services SRL, Accenture Services Sp. z o.o., Accenture Services Sp. z.o.o., Accenture Services and Technology Srl, Accenture Services fur Kreditinstitute GmbH, Accenture Services s.r.o., Accenture Servicos Administrativos Ltda, Accenture Servicos de Suporte de Negocios Ltda, Accenture Solutions Co Ltd, Accenture Solutions Private Limited, Accenture Solutions Pte Ltd, Accenture Solutions Pty Ltd, Accenture Solutions Sdn Bhd, Accenture Sp. z o.o., Accenture Sp. z.o.o., Accenture SpA, Accenture State Healthcare Services LLC, Accenture Sub II Inc., Accenture Sub Inc, Accenture Sub LLC, Accenture Systems Integration Limited, Accenture Sarl, Accenture Tanacsado Kolatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Accenture Tanacsado Kolatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag KFT, Accenture Technologia, Accenture Technologia Consultoria e Outsourcing S.A., Accenture Technology Infrastructure Services Pty Ltd, Accenture Technology Solutions (Dalian) Co Ltd, Accenture Technology Solutions (HK) Co. Ltd., Accenture Technology Solutions (Thailand) Co. Ltd, Accenture Technology Solutions - Solucoes Informaticas Integradas, Accenture Technology Solutions - Solucoes Informaticas Integradas S.A., Accenture Technology Solutions GmbH, Accenture Technology Solutions Oy, Accenture Technology Solutions Pty Ltd, Accenture Technology Solutions S.A. de C.V., Accenture Technology Solutions SAS, Accenture Technology Solutions SRL, Accenture Technology Solutions Sdn. Bhd., Accenture Technology Solutions Slovakia s.r.o., Accenture Technology Ventures BV, Accenture Technology Ventures S.P.R.L., Accenture Uruguay SRL, Accenture Vietnam Co., Accenture Vietnam Co. LTD, Accenture Zambia Limited, Accenture do Brasil Limitada, Accenture plc, Accenture s.r.o., Acceria, Acquity Customer Insight Limited, Acquity Group, Adaptly LLC, Adaptly UK Limited, AddVal Technology, Adqptly, Advantium Inc., Agave Consultants Limited, Agilex Technologies Inc., Allen International, Allen International Consulting Group Ltd, Alnova Technologies Corporation S.L., AlphaBeta Advisors, Altima, Altima Asia Ltd., Altima SAS, Altitude, Altitude LLC, Analytics 8 LP, Analytics 8 Pty Ltd, Analytics8, Aorui Advertising (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Apis, Appaloosa Technology SAS, Arca, Ariba - BPO, Arismore, Aspiro Solutions (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Avanade, Avanade (Guangzhou) Computer Technology Development Co. Ltd., Avanade (Thailand) Co Ltd, Avanade Asia Pte Ltd, Avanade Australia Pty Ltd, Avanade Belgium SPRL, Avanade Canada Inc., Avanade Denmark A/S, Avanade Denmark ApS, Avanade Deutschland GmbH, Avanade Europe Holdings Ltd, Avanade Europe Services Ltd, Avanade Federal Services LLC, Avanade Finland Oy, Avanade France SAS, Avanade GZ Computer Technology Development Co. Ltd. (SH), Avanade Guangzhou, Avanade Holdings LLC, Avanade Hong Kong Ltd, Avanade International Corporation, Avanade Ireland Limited, Avanade Italy SRL, Avanade KK, Avanade Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avanade Netherlands BV, Avanade Norway AS, Avanade Poland Sp. z o.o., Avanade Poland Sp. z.o.o., Avanade Schweiz GmbH, Avanade South Africa, Avanade South Africa Pty Ltd, Avanade Spain SL, Avanade Sweden AB, Avanade UK Ltd, Avanade do Brasil Limitada, Avanade Osterreich GmbH, AvantBiz Consulting Limited, Avenai, Axia Ltd., BABCN LLC, BCT Solutions, BCT Solutions Pty Ltd, BPO Servicos Administrativos Ltda, BRIDGE Energy Group, Beacon Consulting Group Inc., Beijing Genesis Interactive Technology Co. Ltd., Boomerang Pharmaceutical Communications, Boomerang Pharmaceuticals Communications Ireland Limited, Bow & Arrow, Brand Learning, Brand Learning Group Limited, Brand Learning LLC, Brand Learning Ltd, Brand Learning Partners Limited, Brand Learning Pte Limited, Bridge Energy Group LLC, Brightstep AB, Byte Prophecy, CAS, CRMWaypoint, CadenceQuest Inc., Capable Marketer Limited, Capgemini - North American health practice, Capital Consultancy Services Inc., Certus Solutions Consulting Services Ltd, Certus Solutions Ltd, ChangeTrack Research Pty Ltd., Chaotic Moon Studios, Chengdu Mensa Advertising Co. Ltd., Cimation, Cimation UK Limited, Cirruseo, Cirruseo SAS, Clarity Insights, Clearhead, Clearhead Group, Clearhead Group LLC, ClientHouse GmbH, Cloud Sherpas, Cloud Sherpas (GA) LLC, Cloud Sherpas (SN) (PTE.) Limited, Cloud Sherpas New Zealand Ltd., Cloud Talent Limited, Cloudsherpas, Cloudsherpas Inc., Codagenic Pty. Ltd., Computer Research and Telecommunications LLC, Concrete Desenvolvimento de Sistemas Ltda., Concrete Solutions, Concrete Solutions Ltda., Context Information Security, Coritel S.A., Corliant Inc., CreativeDrive, CustomerWorks Europe SL, Cutting Edge Solutions Ltd, D5 Global Holdings LLC, DAZ Systems Inc, DAZ Systems LLC, DAZSI Systems (India) Pvt. Ltd., DMA Solutions Limited, Davies Consulting, DayNine Consulting, DayNine Consulting (Australia) PTY LTD, DayNine Consulting (Deutschland) GmbH, DayNine Consulting (New Zealand) Limited, DayNine Consulting France SAS, DayNine Consulting Japan K.K., DayNine Consulting LLC, Declarative Holdings, Declarative Holdings LLC, Defense Point Security, Deja vu Security, Design Strategy and Research de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Designaffairs LLC, Digiplug S.A.S., Digiplug SAS, Digital Consulting & Software Services LLC, Droga5, Droga5 LLC, Droga5 Studios LLC, Droga5 UK Ltd., Duck Creek Technologies, Duck Creek Technologies LLC, Deja Vu Security LLC, ESR Labs, Elcurator SAS, Enaxis Consulting, Enaxis Consulting L.P., End-to-End Analytics, Energuia Web, Energuia Web S.A., Energy Management Brokers Ltd., Energy Quote Private Ltd., EnergyQuote JHA, EnergyQuote JHA Ltd., EnergyQuote Trading Ltd., Enimbos, Enkitec, Enterprise System Partners, Enterprise System Partners B.V. , Enterprise System Partners Bilisim Danismanlik Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, Enterprise System Partners Global Corporation, Enterprise System Partners Limited, Enterprise System Partners PR LLC, Enterprise System Partners S.A.S., Epylon, Evopro Group, Exactside Limited, 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., Global Public Firm S.L., GlobalView SAS, GoodFilm GmbH Filmproduktion Stuttgart, H.B. Maynard and Co. Inc., 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, 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., 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, 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., SALT Solutions GmbH, SEC Servizi, SEC Servizi S.p.A., SOPIA Corp., Sagacious Consultants, Sagacious Consultants LLC, 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 AG, SinnerSchrader Commerce GmbH, SinnerSchrader Content GmbH, SinnerSchrader Deutschland GmbH, SinnerSchrader Praha s.r.o., SinnerSchrader Swipe GmbH, Sinnerschrader, 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, 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., Weblinc Pty Ltd, Wire Stone, Wire Stone LLC, Wire Stone Sarl, Wolox, 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.
The following companies are subsidiares of American International Group: AGC Life Insurance Company, AIG APAC HOLDINGS PTE. LTD., AIG Advisors S.r.l., AIG Aerospace Insurance Services Inc., AIG Asia Pacific Insurance Pte. Ltd., AIG Asset Management (Europe) Limited, AIG Asset Management (U.S.) LLC, AIG Assurance Company, AIG Australia Limited, AIG Brazil Holding I LLC, AIG CIS Investments LLC, AIG Canada Holdings Inc., AIG Capital Corporation, AIG Capital Services Inc., AIG Claims Inc., AIG Egypt Insurance Company S.A.E., AIG Employee Services Inc., AIG Europe (Services) Limited, AIG Europe Holdings S.a.rl., AIG Europe S.A., AIG Federal Savings Bank, AIG Financial Products Corp., AIG General Insurance Co. Ltd., AIG Global Asset Management Holdings Corp., AIG Global Real Estate Investment Corp., AIG Global Reinsurance Operations, AIG Holdings Europe Limited, AIG Insurance (Thailand) Public Company Limited, AIG Insurance Company China Limited, AIG Insurance Company JSC, AIG Insurance Company of Canada, AIG Insurance Company-Puerto Rico, AIG Insurance Hong Kong Limited, AIG Insurance Limited, AIG Insurance Management Services Inc., AIG Insurance New Zealand Limited, AIG International Holdings GmbH, AIG Investments UK Limited, AIG Israel Insurance Company Ltd, AIG Japan Holdings Kabushiki Kaisha, AIG Kenya Insurance Company Limited, AIG Korea Inc., AIG Latin America I.I., AIG Latin America Investments S.L., AIG Lebanon SAL, AIG Life Holdings Inc., AIG Life Insurance Company (Switzerland) Ltd, AIG Life Limited, AIG Life South Africa Limited, AIG Life of Bermuda Ltd., AIG MEA Holdings Limited, AIG MEA Limited, AIG Malaysia Insurance Berhad, AIG Markets Inc., AIG Matched Funding Corp., AIG PC Global Services Inc., AIG Philippines Insurance Inc., AIG Property Casualty Company, AIG Property Casualty Inc., AIG Property Casualty International LLC, AIG Property Casualty U.S. Inc., AIG Re-Takaful (L) Berhad, AIG Resseguros Brasil S.A., AIG Seguros Brasil S.A., AIG Seguros Mexico S.A. de C.V., AIG Shared Services Corporation, AIG South Africa Limited, AIG Specialty Insurance Company, AIG Technologies Inc., AIG Travel Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., AIG Travel Assist Inc., AIG Travel Assist Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., AIG Travel EMEA Limited, AIG Travel Inc., AIG Uganda Limited, AIG Vietnam Insurance Company Limited, AIG WarrantyGuard Inc., AIG-FP Pinestead Holdings Corp., AIG-Metropolitana Cia. de Seguros y Reaseguros S.A., AIGGRE EOLA LLC, AIGGRE Europe Real Estate Fund I GP S.a r.l., AIGGRE U.S. Real Estate Fund I GP LLC, AIGGRE U.S. Real Estate Fund I LP, AIGGRE U.S. Real Estate Fund II GP LLC, AIU Insurance Company, AM Holdings LLC, Ageas Protect, AlphaCat Managers Ltd., American General Corporation, American General Life Insurance Company, American Home Assurance Co. Ltd., American Home Assurance Company, American Home Assurance Company Escritorio de Representacao no Brasil Ltda., American International Group Inc., American International Group UK Limited, American International Overseas Association, American International Overseas Limited, American International Realty Corp., American International Reinsurance Company Ltd., American International Underwriters del Ecuador-Holding S.A., American Security Life Insurance Company Limited, Arthur J. Glatfelter Agency Inc., Avondhu Limited, Blackboard Customer Care Insurance Services LLC, Blackboard Insurance Company, Blackboard Services LLC, Blackboard Specialty Insurance Company, Blackboard U.S. Holdings Inc., Chartis Takaful Enaya B.S.C. (c), Commerce and Industry Insurance Company, Crop Risk Services Inc., Eaglestone Reinsurance Company, Ellipse, Fortitude Group Holdings LLC, Fortitude Life & Annuity Solutions Inc., Fortitude Reinsurance Company Ltd., Franklin Life Insurance Company, Fuji Fire and Marine, Glatfelter Insurance Group, Globe and Rutgers Insurance Group, Grand Isle SAC Limited, Granite State Insurance Company, Group Risk Services Limited, Group Risk Technologies Limited, Illinois National Insurance Co., Jefferson Eola Venture LLC, Johannesburg Insurance Holdings (Proprietary) Limited, Laya Healthcare Limited, Lexington Insurance Company, MG Reinsurance Limited, Mt. Mansfield Company Inc., National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh Pa., National Union Fire Insurance Company of Vermont, New Hampshire Insurance Company, PT AIG Insurance Indonesia, Pine Street Real Estate Holdings Corp., Private Joint-Stock Company AIG Ukraine Insurance Company, Risk Specialists Companies Insurance Agency Inc., SA Affordable Housing LLC, SAFG Retirement Services Inc., Service Net Warranty LLC, Stratford Insurance Company, SunAmerica Affordable Housing Partners Inc., SunAmerica Asset Management LLC, Talbot Holdings Ltd., Talbot Underwriting Holdings Ltd., Talbot Underwriting Ltd., Thai CIT Holding Company Limited, The Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania, The United States Life Insurance Company in the City of New York, The Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company, Travel Guard, Travel Guard Group Canada Inc./Groupe Garde Voyage du Canada Inc., Travel Guard Group Inc., Tudor Insurance Company, VALIC Financial Advisors Inc., Valic Retirement Services Company, Validus Holdings, Validus Holdings (UK) Ltd., Validus Holdings Ltd., Validus Reinsurance (Switzerland) Ltd, Validus Reinsurance Ltd., Validus Ventures Ltd., Volunteer Firemen's Insurance Services Inc., Western World Insurance Company, and Western World Insurance Group Inc..
One year ago the City broker Barclays Capital took a look at Whitbread and asked: 'What if it sells its Costa Coffee business?'

Well, as we know, American drinks giant Coca-Cola swept in and paid what appeared to be a frothy 3.9billion for the chain.

Twelve months on and Barclays analysts are once again wondering out loud just how certain scenarios might play out for Whitbread.

The major driver could be the company's attempt to replicate its UK success with the budget hotel chain Premier Inn in Germany. Barclays believes the operation could generate underlying earnings of 100million, worth up to 975p on the share price.

Barclays believes attempting to replicate the UK success of budget hotel chain Premier Inn in Germany could generate underlying earnings of 100m, worth up to 975p on the share price

Currently, Germany is factored into Whitbread's market valuation at zero. Moving its stance to 'overweight' on Whitbread stock, Barclays also hiked its price target by 200p a share to 5200p.

Shares rose 2.1 per cent, or 95p, to 4680p.

A more fundamental re-rating may be triggered in the aftermath of the Whitbread capital markets day next month at which chief executive Alison Brittain is expected to pull the trigger on a 2.5billion share buyback.

A roller-coaster start to the new trading year ended on a high with the FTSE 100 up 144.76 points at 6837.42, with sentiment buoyed by strong US jobs data.

Stock Watch - Lightwave RF Lightwave RF enjoyed a rare day in the sun, up 11.9 per cent, or 0.85p, to 8p, after a robust update to trading as it said it was one of the few online success stories on Black Friday. It specialises in smart home devices to control your electrics, heating and power. There is still some way to go for investors who bought a year ago at close to 20p. Upbeat boss Jason Elliott said: 'I'm confident we can maintain this momentum by focusing on channels and products that are performing well.'

However, the canaries in the coal mine remain poor. Manufacturing data from the US and China  the world's two biggest economies were released earlier this week, along with a shock profits warning from Apple.

Analysts believe all three events could be linked to the Sino-US trade stand-off and hint at the potentially recessionary impact it is having.

The only other real large-cap feature of note was the demise of Sainsbury's ahead of the grocer's Christmas trading statement next week, with broker HSBC cutting its recommendation to 'reduce' while hacking back its valuation by 70p to 230p a share.

Recovering from its session low, Sainsbury's ended down 1.1 per cent, or 3p, at 260p.

The major movements of note were among the small-caps and one of the stand-outs was instrument retailer Gear4Music, which was playing absolutely the wrong tune.

While it had seen strong sales in the final four months of 2018, demand outstripped its UK capacity, hitting earnings. It lost half its value with stock falling 52.9 per cent, or 270p, to 240p.

Also on the decline was Circassia, which develops and sells inhalers for chronic lung disease.

Its shares dropped 9.1 per cent, or 5p, to 50p, after its trading update failed to pass muster.

While it has around 40million of cash in its coffers, it must find 95million in delayed payments for a product it has added to its medicine cabinet.

Having a much better start to the year was Anglo African Oil & Gas, which has soared 65 per cent in the last three trading days to 16.55p after reinstating production at a well in the Republic of Congo.

The 'go figure' moment came from Metals Exploration, which owns a gold project in the Philippines.

Its shares have more than doubled in the past week to 0.85p after the appointment of chief executive Darren Bowden.

He has a track record of mining success, so perhaps he can breathe new life into the company and the share price, which was 3.5p a year ago.

Looking ahead, two stories in the oil sector will be tracked closely. Cabot Energy, the driller hit by the woes afflicting the Canadian extraction sector, requires a cash injection.

And DNO's hostile bid for Faroe Petroleum is likely to rumble on. It has 31 per cent of the oil explorer and commitments from a further 13 per cent of the investor base for a deal.
Mike Lynch has stepped down from the board of Sophia Genetics

LYNCH GOES Swiss medical-tech company Sophia Genetics has bagged 61million from investors after under-fire entrepreneur Mike Lynch, 53, stepped down from its board.

He co-founded and led software firm Autonomy before it was sold to Hewlett Packard in 2011 for 8.5billion, in a deal that soured a year later.

He has since been charged with fraud in the US. Lynch denies wrongdoing.

Data-driven health company Sophia has raised 111million from investors in total.

SHOPPING DEAL Shopping centre owner Intu has appointed engineering firm Sir Robert McAlpine for the 86million transformation of its Broadmarsh shopping centre in Nottingham.

CHRISTMAS BOOM Slug and Lettuce owner Stonegate toasted buoyant festive sales, booking like-for-like sales growth of 7.8 per cent in the month to January 1.

COURT DATE Scandal-hit former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn is to make his first public appearance next week since he was arrested on November 19 for alleged financial wrongdoing, a Japanese court said.

M&S MAN man Retailer Marks & Spencer has hired the former Tesco clubcard boss Andrew Mann as head of insight and customer loyalty.

EMISSIONS CASH Car maker Volvo is setting aside 616million to cover potential costs related to its admission in October last year that its trucks could be emitting higher levels of poisonous nitrogen oxide gases than the legal limit.

BANKER OFF The chief executive of Sainsburys Bank, Peter Griffiths, steps down next year from a role he has held since 2012.

CO-OP EXPANDS The Co-op is opening 100 stores this year in a 200million store investment scheme.

CHIEF ROLE Convenience store chain McColls has appointed former Welcome Break chief executive Robbie Bell as chief financial officer.
Investors are betting on a disappointing Christmas at Marks & Spencer as vulture hedge funds close in.

The High Street retailer is being targeted by short-sellers hoping to profit from its struggles as it prepares to post a disappointing set of festive sales figures.

A total of 11.5 per cent of M&S's shares have been snapped up by short-sellers betting on a further fall in its share price.

A total of 11.5 per cent of M&S's shares have been snapped up by short sellers betting on a further fall in its share price

The shares have already fallen almost 19 per cent since the end of November amid warnings about the dire state of the retail sector.

Sports Direct tycoon Mike Ashley claimed that November was the worst on record for shops.

Analysts are preparing for M&S to slip out a profit warning alongside a trading statement on Thursday which is predicted to reveal sales sliding up to 3 per cent.

The update is expected to be in contrast to those published by supermarket rivals Tesco, Sainsbury's and Asda.

James Anstead, a retail analyst at Barclays, said the supermarkets are likely to have benefited from the lack of weather disruption of a year ago.

But critics said a major store closure programme at M&S means festive sales are likely to have been hit.

It is closing 100 stores to cut costs, and slashing prices.

George Salmon, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: 'That will inevitably mean total sales are lower this Christmas.'

Jefferies analysts said: 'As the importance of online increases, M&S's strategy to pursue less, but more profitable, clothing space is the appropriate one.'

M&S's house broker Shore Capital has forecast a sales decline of up to 3 per cent at the clothing and home and food divisions.

Some experts think more woe is coming. Bryan Roberts, global insights director at TCC Global, told Retail Week: 'It remains tremendously inconsistent, with popular items hard to track down while stores remain awash with duff designs and colours.

'It is telling that M&S has only this month launched its range of vegan items, languishing in the wake of the big four and others like Iceland and Waitrose.

'Even I, a devoted carnivore, twigged the plant-based trend ages ago: this is worryingly slow out of the blocks for M&S.'
WHAT DOES IT DO? Temple Bar, managed by Alastair Mundy, aims to increase the value of investors' capital and provide them with an income.

It has been recognised as one of the few trusts that has increased its dividend payouts for more than 20 consecutive years.

WHAT DOES THE MANAGER INVEST IN? Mundy is well-known for being a contrarian.

He picks stocks that are cheap and unloved by other investors, hoping they return to popularity. Temple Bar invests mostly in UK companies, in the FTSE 350.

WHAT DO THE EXPERTS LIKE? Tom Stevenson, of Fidelity Personal Investing, says the portfolio is full of shares with a high dividend yield that have fallen out of favour, such as companies in the oil and gas, pharmaceutical and banking sectors.

'If the Brexit fog clears and the UK market rallies, these shares will do well,' he says.

ANY DOWNSIDES? The UK market is being shunned by overseas investors worried that a chaotic Brexit could harm the economy.

If it does, Temple Bar's exposure to British companies could leave it vulnerable.
RA International operates in sectors from construction to mining to humanitarian aid

WHO IS IT? RA International began trading on London's junior market AIM last year, and supports workers in barren landscapes.

It operates in sectors from construction to mining to humanitarian aid, developing supply chains and looking after their staff.

WHAT'S THE LATEST? RA International said it plans to grab larger contracts and expand into new territories and sectors. Profits are due to be slightly behind expectations for 2018.

But over the year, it was awarded new contracts by the likes of the United Nations.

WHO BACKS IT? Chief executive Soraya Narfeldt has a 55.2 per cent stake. A British citizen, she founded RA in 2003.

Her husband Lars, RA's chief operating officer, has 24.2 per cent. Major fund managers, such as Blackrock and Jupiter, feature in the top ten shareholders.

WHY YOU SHOULD INVEST...

Helal Miah, at The Share Centre, says RA has a strong balance sheet with little debt and large cash balances.

AND WHY YOU SHOULDN'T

It's not for the faint-hearted. 'It operates in high political risk environments,' Miah says. Most contracts are in Sudan and the Central African Republic.
On Thursday, Apple's shares plunged 10%, knocking nearly 60bn off the market value

Apple has been one of the most consistent, fast-growing technology stocks on the planet. Customers had a seemingly insatiable appetite for its latest gadgets.

On the stock market, its value almost doubled in five years and last year it became the first trillion-dollar company, albeit briefly.

Which is why the iPhone maker's dramatic fall from grace this week created such profound shockwaves.

On Thursday, its shares plunged 10 per cent, knocking nearly 60billion off the market value, after it warned sales of iPhones and other devices were falling below expectations.

But the big question for investors now is whether this is an opportunity to snap up shares in Apple for less  or whether there is worse to come.

Chief executive Tim Cook blamed an economic slowdown in China for the disappointing sales.

That left shareholders wondering whether they can still rely on the tech titan to add money to their savings.

Their ranks include many small UK investors who have bought shares directly or through an investment fund.

As Cook suggested, luxury goods companies including Apple rely increasingly on China's middle class to buy their products.

His warning that this audience might be tightening the purse strings wiped billions of pounds off companies such as Burberry and Kering, which owns Gucci.

Nasty surprise though it was to many, Cook's bombshell did not come completely out of the blue.

Apple had warned its revenues for the first quarter would be about 70billion, lower than expected. On Thursday, that fell to 67billion.

Some saw it coming. HSBC analyst Erwan Rambourg had downgraded Apple from 'buy' to 'hold'.

He said: 'Nearly 35 years after Apple's 1984 hardware revolution, another one is needed'. In his view, it is 'too late to sell, too early to buy', as it is changing from a fast-growth business to one with stable or even low revenue growth.

But some think the drop in the shares could present investors with a canny buying opportunity.

Atlantic Equities analyst James Cordwell says Apple appears to have indicated to shareholders that although the iPhone has driven stellar growth for a decade, that has ended.

But he added: 'Consumers are not abandoning Apple's ecosystem, just upgrading phones less often. This creates the opportunity for a new chapter in the growth story, focused on selling services to its loyal customers.'

POPULAR SHARES: Marks and Spencer There's only one reason to like Marks & Spencer as an investment now, and thats the fact the price is pretty bombed out, so shares are cheaper. But like items in the sale, a low price doesnt always equate to good value. High Street footfall is declining as more of us turn to our mobile phone to make purchases rather than the nearest shopping centre, and M&S was late to recognise the importance of a strong digital offering. Until recently, declining sales in the clothing and home division had been offset by strong performance from the M&S food business, but now thats gone into reverse too. As well as traditional rivals such as Tesco and Sainsburys, M&S Food is up against a new breed of online competitors such as Hello Fresh, Deliveroo and Just Eat. These providers present a particular threat to M&S, seeing as many of its customers are buying a quick meal for that night, rather than a full weekly shop. Management recognises the issues but it looks like a long road to recovery. On the way, the retailer has to fend off competitive pressures and hope Brexit doesnt deliver a hefty blow to UK consumers. The share price already reflects a weak and uncertain outlook, but investors who see M&S as a bargain buy will still need strong nerves and an awareness things might get worse before they get better. LAITH KHALAF senior analyst Hargreaves Lansdown

He envisages a possibly volatile ride in the short term as the company shifts emphasis from selling iPhones to focus on sales of music and cloud storage.

He added: 'We believe the company will ultimately successfully reorientate, bringing rewards for shareholders with the patience to stick with their investment through the transition.'

Apple has 187billion of cash in reserves. Excited observers have speculated some of this could be returned to investors through special dividends or share buybacks. It announced a 79billion buyback last year and upped its dividend 16 per cent to 73 cents per share.

But with critics calling for a ground-breaking new invention, the Silicon Valley darling may have more urgent projects.

Founded by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in 1977, Apple overtook computer firm Microsoft by value in 2010.

It released the first iPhone in 2007, and last February announced there were 1.3bn active users  17 per cent of the world population.

Apart from China, another factor depressing growth may be that customers cannot afford to upgrade their iPhones or buy into the brand if they don't already own a device. Apple's most expensive iPhone, the XS Max, now sells for a whopping 1449.

Toni Sacconaghi, from investment firm Bernstein, wrote to clients: 'iPhone prices are nearly five times higher than the average non-Apple smartphone.

'Perhaps Apple failed to acknowledge the possibility that current iPhone prices are simply too high.' This isn't the first time Apple has suffered due to scepticism over its growth prospects.

In January 2013, the stock fell more than 10 per cent amid evidence that demand for its products was slowing.

Sacconaghi thinks it may not yet be time to buy since the shares have historically only stopped falling once analysts' estimates have all reached rock-bottom.

Estimates may be revised lower as Apple prepares to release results later in January.

British investors may be best off sitting on their hands.
Fund manager Steve Eisman got rich shorting the market during the financial crisis

Should Steve Eisman have harboured any doubts that something was deeply rotten about America's mortgage market circa 2006, they were swiftly dispelled when he received a panicked telephone call from one of his children's old nannies.

She'd landed in the soup over some property she owned in Queen's, New York, and was unable to make the repayments on her loans.

At first Eisman was surprised his former employee, who could barely have earned more than minimum wage, had been able to buy a home in the first place.

Imagine his shock when the nanny, 'a lovely woman from Jamaica', revealed her lender had encouraged her to borrow enough money to buy five.

Thanks to Michael Lewis's brilliant book on the cause of the 2008 financial crisis, The Big Short, such horrifying tales charting the lunacy of America's sub-prime mortgage sector  that's to say loans made to those with poor credit ratings  are well known.

So too are the antics of prescient financiers like Eisman who got rich shorting the market.

If you caught the equally excellent film adaptation, in which Eisman is portrayed as a strange and remote character by comic actor Steve Carell, you will know he's hardly one of life's charmers.

He can be emotionally detached to the point of obnoxious in person. During meetings, he often adopts the persona of a truculent child. 'Now explain it to me in English,' he's wont to say during presentations.

Bankers refuse to be in the same room as him. In his brief spells away from his work, Eisman retains an interest in superhero comics some might consider unhealthy for a man in his fifties.

Appearance-wise, he's a pig's breakfast. His clothes hang awkwardly from his squarish frame as though he's just got changed in a hedge, while his hair looks suspiciously like a DIY job.

Eisman's recent announcement that he's taken short positions in two British banks, RBS and Lloyds, has sent a chill wind through London's financial district

As Lewis points out, his mouth hangs permanently half open, as though he's about to say something of the utmost importance.

Such is his reputation since the crash, when Eisman speaks investors listen. So his recent announcement that he's taken short positions in two British banks, RBS and Lloyds, has sent a chill wind through London's financial district.

A Jeremy Corbyn government is his primary concern. 'You don't want to be invested in the UK if a Trotskyite is Prime Minister,' he declared. The Tories should put it on their campaign posters.

Born and raised in New York City, after attending the local Jewish day school Eisman took a degree at Harvard Law.

He worked inititally as a corporate lawyer until he was 30 when he arrived at the considered opinion that he hated it.

His banker parents got him a job at Oppenheimer & Co where he bounced around for a decade or so.

Rejecting his wife Valerie's determination to move out of the City to open a bed and breakfast, he joined hedge fund Front Point in 2004. His suspicions about the housing market had been long-standing.

This prompted him to travel from state to state, speaking to everyone in the supply chain, from the mortgage cowboys handing out money to penniless schmucks with no means to repay it, to the deluded credit agencies giving their rancid loans 'AAA' status.

After witnessing the horrors he was certain were about to unfold, Eisman shorted them all. Sure enough, the housing market began to head south two years later.

By the time the crunch hit in 2008, Front Point's fund had doubled in size from $700million to $1.5billion. Eisman's cut was in the tens of millions. His career post-crisis has been unremarkable.

He left Front Point in 2011, setting up his own fund, Emrys, which barely lasted two years before he decided to shut it down.

These days, he manages his own fund at Neuberger Berman, the investment firm run by his parents.

Life has not always been kind. Not long after joining Front Point, a night nurse in his employ rolled over in her sleep onto his baby son, Max, smothering him to death.

Such a ghastly, life-changing experience taught Eisman terrible things can happen at any time.

He called it right in 2008. Is he about to do it again?
MARISSA BERGEL, Wheeler softball, senior: Bergel hit a two-out, two-run single in the seventh inning to lift Wheeler past Holy Cross, 9-7, in the Class S state tournament. The hit was part of a five-run rally in the inning.

JOEY GUARNIERI, Westerly track & field, senior: Guarnieri placed first in two sprints at the Southern Division championships. He won the 100 (11.19) and the 200 (22.73).

JOSH MOONEY, Stonington track & field, sophomore: Mooney placed first in the 110 hurdles at the Class M state meet in 14.65. He also finished second in the 300 hurdles (39.87) and second in the javelin (160-0).

MARGARET WEEDEN, Chariho track & field, junior: Weeden finished first in the high jump at the Southern Division championships. Weeden cleared 5-1 and also placed sixth in the triple jump at 31-5.

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Ghaziabad, Jan 5 (PTI) A man was seriously injured after he was allegedly set ablaze by his friend following a dispute over mobile phone, police said.

SP City Shlok Kumar said the incident took place in Gagan Vihar colony of the Sahibabad area.

Shivam, 23, snatched the mobile phone of his friend Salman Friday night and it stopped functioning after that. He assured him that he will get it repaired. But the duo had a heated argument over it, the SP said.

On Saturday morning, Salman, along with two others, called Shivam out from his house. They took petrol from their bike and poured it over Shivam and set him on fire, he said.

Shivam was rushed to a hospital in serious condition, police said.

An FIR has been lodged against Rajesh Pandit, Munna and Salman, they said. PTI corr AQS
New Delhi, Jan 5 (PTI) Two men were shot dead on Saturday by unidentified assailants in separate incidents in Delhi, police said.

In the first incident, the 28-year Anil Maan, a resident of Kheda Khurd village, was allegedly fired upon by unidentified persons in Rohini's KN Katju area, police said.

The incident took place at 6 pm when Maan was coming out of his restaurant along with three of his friends, they said.

He was sitting next to the driver in his car, when a Baleno car came and intercepted them, police said. Some assailant from the car fired on him.

Mann was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead, Rajneesh Gupta, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Rohini), said.

A case has been registered but the accused are yet to be arrested, he said.

Maan had recently opened the restaurant in partnership with a friend. He himself had two cases registered against him including that of an attempt to murder, police said, adding further probe is underway.

In another case, a 35-year-old man was shot dead by unidentified persons in the Jhilmil Industrial area of Shadara.

The deceased has been identified as Hariom Sharma, a resident of Gokulpuri, they said.

Investigations revealed that Sharma was a supervisor in a factory at friends colony, police said.

Police are examining CCTV footage to identify the accused and ascertain the exact sequence of event, a senior police officer said.

A case has been registered and the matter is being probed, the officer said. PTI AMP AQS TIR

TIR
New Delhi, Jan 5 (PTI) A 42-year-old man was arrested Saturday for reportedly shooting to death his minor son during a celebratory firing in northeast Delhi's New Usmanpur, police said.

The accused has been identified as Yasin, they said.

The incident comes days after a woman architect died when a former JD(U) MLA fired celebratory shots in the air during a New Year's eve party at his farm house in Fatehpur Beri.

On December 31, New Usmanpur police station was informed that a person was shot in the area, police said.

Rehan (8) was hit by a bullet on his right cheek during the celebratory firing, a senior police officer said.

The child was rushed to a hospital where he was declared brought dead, the officer said.

Subsequently, a case was registered, he said.

"During the investigation, Yasin, father of the deceased, emerged as the prime suspect," Atul Kumar Thakur, Deputy Commissioner of Police (northeast), said.

The accused later confessed that he took the firearm from one Ravi Kashyap (21), a resident of Loni in Uttar Pradesh. He fired in the air and the bullet accidentally hit his son who was present at the celebration, the officer said.

Kashyap has also been arrested, police said, adding the weapon has been found.

PTI AMP SRY
New Delhi, Jan 5 (PTI) A three-year-old girl was killed after she allegedly came under an e-rickshaw in the Dwarka North area on Saturday, police said.

The Dwarka North police station was informed about the accident opposite Adarsh Apartments at around 3 pm. An information was also received from a private hospital regarding admission of the victim who was declared brought dead, they said.

The girl has been identified as Ikra, a resident of Dwarka's Adarsh Apartments in sector 16, police said.

Investigations revealed that Ikra came out of the colony gate and was walking towards the road when the e-rickshaw approached. The driver applied brakes immediately due to which the rickshaw overturned and the girl came under it, causing fatal injuries to her, Anto Alphonse, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka), said.

A case on charges of rash and negligent driving and causing death due to negligence has been registered against the driver and he has been arrested, the officer said.

The vehicle has also been impounded, he added.

The driver has been identified as Ankit, 23, a resident of Bharat Vihar's JJ Colony, police said. PTI AMP AMP AQS

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Srinagar, Jan 5 (PTI) Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti Saturday welcomed the Supreme Court's decision to constitute a three-member bench for hearing the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land title dispute case.

She said punishment must be served to those who demolished the mosque.

"Honourable SC's decision to constitute a bench for Babri Masjid/Mandir issue is a welcome step. There is also need to ensure punishment is meted out to those who demolished the Babri Masjid so that such acts are not repeated in the future," Mehbooba wrote on Twitter.

The PDP president also said the country would not have witnessed "massacres" had the culprits responsible for 1984 anti-Sikh riots been punished.

"Had the culprits responsible for 84 Sikh riots been punished , the country wouldn't have witnessed the Bombay, Meerut, Gujarat and other infamous massacres," she said.

The Supreme Court Friday said an "appropriate bench" on January 10 will fix the date of hearing in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land title dispute case.

"Further orders in the matter will be passed on January 10 by the appropriate Bench, as may be constituted," said a bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice S K Kaul.

A three-member bench is to be set up for hearing the matter on a batch of petitions. PTI SSB AQS
Jaunpur, Jan 5 (PTI) Two persons were killed and five others injured in a collision between two cars in Uttar Pradesh's Fatehgarh town on Saturday, police said.

The accident took place at the Rae Bareli-Jaunpur highway in Fatehganj at around 6 am, they said.

"The deceased have been identified as Sandeep Srivastava (38) and his wife Meenakshi (34), who were returning to Azamgarh from Lucknow along with their six-year-old son," Additional Superintendent of Police (City) Anil Kumar Pandey said.

The minor boy sustained injuries in the collision.

Four occupants of the other car were also injured, Pandey said.

All the injured were admitted to the district hospital, he added.

The bodies of the deceased have been sent for a post mortem examination, the police said. PTI CORR NAV DIV

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Sabarimala violence: Politically sensitive Kannur boils over

(Eds: Adds details about Guv briefing Centre)

Kannur, Jan 5 (PTI) Violence involving BJP-RSS and

ruling CPI(M) rocked parts of Kerala, particularly Kannur

district, Saturday with several houses and shops of rival

leaders and workers being attacked over the Sabarimala issue.

Amid incidents of vandalism, Governor P Sathasivam

briefed Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh about the law and

order situation in the southern state.

Raj Bhavan sources told PTI that the Governor, who is

now in Chennai, briefed Singh about the situation over phone.

Besides Kannur, Perambra in neighbouring Kozhikode,

Malappuram and Adoor in Pathanamthitta, where the Ayyappa

shrine is located, also witnessed a series of similar attacks

and vandalism Friday night and in the early hours Saturday.

Bombs were hurled at several places, including at the

houses of CPI(M) MLA A N Shamseer in Madapeedikayil, BJP

leader and Rajya Sabha member V Muraleedharan at Vadiyil

Peedikia and former Kannur district secretary of CPI(M) P Sasi

at Thalassery in Kannur district past midnight, police said.

No one was injured in the attacks.

As police struggled to control the situation, Chief

Minister Pinarayi Vijayan lashed out at the RSS, saying the

Sangh Parivar was trying to create fear in people's minds.

The Opposition Congress hit out, asking why the left

government failed to stop the RSS from creating trouble.

In another development, a peace meeting called by the

Revenue Divisional Officer at Adoor in Pathanamthitta district

was boycotted by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

BJP claimed that they decided to stay away as the police

failed to arrest the accused in connection with the death of

Chandran Unnithan, a 'Sabarimala Karma Samiti' member who,

they alleged, was killed in stone-pelting on January 3.

Talking tough, Vijayan said "State will deal with the RSS

violence sternly.

They are trying to destroy the peace and tranquility of

the state. We will take stong action against it. It's the RSS

agenda to create fear in the minds of the people," Vijayan

told reporters here, adding that it will not be allowed.

He said people of the state have shown restraint.

"The RSS workers were attacking houses of MLAs, and

other leaders. Their only aim and route is violence. The law

and order system of the state will take care of it," he said.

Senior congress leader Ramesh Chennithala alleged the

state police had failed to maintain law and order.

"DGP himself has accepted this.Why has government failed

to stop the BJP from creating violence?" Chennithala asked.

State minister and CPI(M) leader G Sudhakaran courted

controversy calling Sabarimala temple's Tantri (chief priest),

a "Brahmin monster" for conducting a 'purification' ceremony

after two women in the menstrual age group entered the shrine.

Two women, Kanakadurga (44) and Bindu (42), entered the

shrine and offered prayers on Wednesday, breaking a

centuries-old tradition.

Following this, the tantri, Kandaru Rajeevaru, closed

the sanctum sanctorum to perform the 'purification' ceremony.

In Delhi, BJP national spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao

hit out at the CPI(M) state leadership and said the violence

around the hill shrine was unleashed by the LDF government,

which, instead of dealing with it in a sensible way, wreaked

havoc, resulting in devotees being hurt and even killed.

Meanwhile, Pathanamthitta district collector has

extended prohibitory orders at Sabarimala till 'Makaravilakku'

festival on January 14.

As violence erupted, V Muraleedharan's ancestral home

was attacked hours after bombs were thrown at the homes of

Shamseer and Sasi when leaders of the Marxist party and

BJP-RSS were attending a peace meeting here.

The attacks, which disrupted normal life, marked return

of political violence on large-scale after a gap of over a

year in the sensitive district.

Kerala has been rocked by violent protests by BJP-RSS and

right wing outfits after two women of menstruating age offered

prayers at the Ayyappa temple on January 2.

As violence continued to disrupt life in Kannur and other

places, state police chief Loknath Behera sounded a state-wide

alert and gave direction to take stern action against those

responsible for attacks on houses of party leaders.

According to Behara, 1286 cases have been registered till

tonight and 3282 people arrested in connection with the

violent incidents since the January 3 hartal called against

the entry of two women into the hill temple. Of the arrested,

487 have been remanded and 2,795 granted bail.

A police release said patrolling and raids had been

intensified across Kannur.

Police said stone pelting incidents were reported against

a march taken out by DYFI and BJP office in Kannur district

this evening, but none was injured.

It has been decided that no marches would be allowed to be

taken out tonight and tomorrow, according to police.

In another incident, miscreants set fire to an office of

the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Pariyaram area in the

morning, police told PTI.

A CPI(M) worker was attacked at Perumbara in Iritty in

the district last night while RSS leader K Chandrasekharan was

assaulted in Thalassery and his house ransacked allegedly by

around 25 Marxist workers.

With the tension continuing, the CPI(M) and BJP-RSS

leaderships blamed each other for the violent attacks.

CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan told

reporters in Thiruvananthapuram that the RSS was trying to

trigger riot in the state and sabotage peace talks.

The RSS-BJP combine was turning temples and educational

institutions managed by them as "armoury", he alleged, adding

the ruling party would take the initiative to restore peace in

violence-hit areas.

Countering the charges, V Muraleedharan said the

incidents of violence were the tactics of the ruling CPI(M) to

divert attention from the controversies and protests over the

violation of the traditional customs at the Sabarimala temple.

The entry of two women into the hill shrine on Wednesday,

the first time since the Supreme Court in September last year

lifted the age-linked ban on the entry of women devotees, has

triggered massive protests in Kerala.

Located in north Kerala, Kannur has been the hotbed of

political violence especially between the CPI(M) and BJP and

witnessed bloody clashes and killings over the years.

In Kannur district, 169 cases have been registered and 230

people arrested, while in Palakkad 166 cases have been

registered and 298 people held,police said.PTI RRT LGK UD BN

BN BN
IT raids on top Kannada actors end, but producers continue to

face heat

Bengaluru, Jan 5 (PTI) The Income Tax raids on four

top Kannada film actors concluded Saturday but the taxmen

continued to grill three producers on the third day of their

swoop down on the state movie industry bigwigs.

In a massive operation, simultaneous raids were being

carried out on actors Shiva Rajkumar, Puneeth Rajkumar, Sudeep

and Yash and film producers C R Manohar, 'Rockline' Venkatesh

and Vijay Kirigandur since Thursday.

The actors heaved a sigh of relief but there was no

respite for the producers and in all likelihood, their

grilling may continue Sunday as well, I-T department sources

hinted.

Sources said 'Rockline' Venkatesh was taken to the

income tax office for questioning.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy

Saturday said it was wrong to see political motives behind

theIncome Tax raids and asserted that the taxmen were only

doing their duty, based on the inputs they receive.

Kumaraswamy said the raids were going on everywhere

and it happens only when the I-T officials come to know about

tax evasion.

"Instead of saying they (raids) are politically

motivated, we should say that the I-T officials are doing

their duty. What choice do they have if the information is

correct?," he told reporters in Hubballi.

The chief minister said film actors and producers

"are not something special" and everybody has to function

within the legal framework of the country.

"Whenever there is information about the violations,

legal procedure is followed," the chief minister said, adding

that it holds good not only for the I-T department, but all

the government departments.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said

he has no objection if the raids were impartial, but it

shouldnot be something related to any political party.

He was replying to a question from reporters whether

he thought there was any political motive to the raids.

Nicknamed 'Hattrick star', Shivarajkumar and Puneeth

Rajkumar are the sons of Kannada thespian late Rajkumar.

Both actors have delivered blockbuster movies.

Sudeep, who anchored the Kannada version of "Big

Boss", was hailed for his role in the movie 'Eega' - 'Makkhi'

inHindi - and the multi-lingual 'Baahubali', which broke new

grounds in Indian cinema and created records in box-office

collections.

'Rockline' Venkatesh had co-produced the Hindi movie

"Bajrangi Bhaijaan."

Vijay is the producer of the latest blockbuster movie

"KGF", starring Yash, Srinidhi Shetty and Anant Nag.

The film hit 2,460 screens all over the country on

December 21 and is reportedly a box-office hit, not only in

Kannada, but also in the Hindi and Tamil versions.

C R Manohar has his own production house called"Tanvi

Films."

He has produced Kannada and Telugu movies.

His latest movie was "The Villain," starring Shiva

Rajkumar, Sudeep and Mithun Chakraborty. PTI GMS RA

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New Delhi, Jan 5 (PTI) A Delhi court Saturday issued open-ended non-bailable warrants (NBWs) against four directors of a Gujarat pharma firm in a Rs 8,100-crore money laundering probe case.

Additional Sessions Judge Satish Kumar Arora allowed the Enforcement Directorate's plea seeking issuance of NBW against Sterling Biotech Ltd (SBL) directors Nitin Jayantilal Sandesara, Chetankumar Jayantilal Sandesara, Dipti Chetan Sandesara and Hiteshkumar Narendrabhai Patel.

The ED has registered the alleged bank fraud case against the firm SBL under sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The accused are also being probed by the ED for allegedly bribing senior income tax department officials as part of an earlier criminal complaint. PTI UK URD GVS
New Delhi, Jan 5 (PTI) Over 50 bonded labourers, including women and children, who were rescued in Karnataka's Hassan district recently were subjected to frequent beating and given tobacco and alcohol to suppress the pain, the National Commission for Women said Saturday.

As many as 52 bonded labourers, 17 women and four children among them, hailing from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were rescued in Hassan district in December.

The matter came to light recently when one of the workers, who toiled for 20 days, escaped from the clutches of the gang by scaling the fence, and informed the police about it.

The workers were allegedly held captive in sheds, taken to the fields for work and were beaten up when they demanded their wages.

NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma had constituted a three-member inquiry committee, led by herself, to look into circumstances leading to the workers being held in captivity.

They were rescued from a plantation near Savankanahalli village in Hassan district.

The committee visited Hassan district on Friday and met the district officials concerned, including the deputy commissioner, the superintendent of police, the additional superintendent of police, the assistant labour commissioner and officials of the WCD department.

They also met two women, as many children and four men who were rescued from the plantation to ascertain the facts and circumstances.

The key findings of the Inquiry Committee included that no missing complaints were filed by the families of the labourers.

"The men and the women were beaten up on a regular basis. Meals were provided only twice a day to the labourers; the first at 4 am and the second at 10 pm -11 pm," the inspection team said in a report Saturday.

It also said that tobacco and alcohol were given to the labourers between their meals to suppress their restlessness and the pain endured from the beating.

"No proper medical tests for the women labourers were conducted after they were rescued," the team said.

It was also stated that a 13-year-old girl was found to be working on the plantation and many girls were not going to school, they said.

The inspection team gave a set of recommendations that included opening bank accounts for the rescued labourers and ensuring compensation mandated for them is released by the Centre.

The team said that rehabilitation including housing, vocational training and employment opportunities should be provided by the state government. PTI UZM TIR

TIR
New Delhi, Jan 5 (PTI) Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel on Saturday accused the Modi government of "squandering" the assets of public sector undertakings such as HAL and ONGC to "favour a select few".

"HAL is borrowing Rs 1000 cr because it can't even pay salaries?" Patel tweeted.

His tweet came after a media report claimed defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, grappling with low finances, has been forced to borrow money to pay salaries to its employees.

"Not just HAL; be it ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation), LIC (Life Insurance Corporation), HPCL (Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited), GSPC (Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation) or any other PSU this Government has squandered their assets to favour a select few," the senior Congress leader said.

The Congress has also been alleging that the government favoured Anil Ambani's firm over HAL in the Rafale aircraft deal. The government as well as Ambani have rejected all such allegations. PTI ASK

GVS
New Delhi, Jan 5 (PTI) The controversy over the Rafale deal refused to die even after the government's defence on it in the Lok Sabha, with the Congress Saturday accusing Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her senior colleagues of spinning a "web of lies" to hide the prime minister's "falsehood".

Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera levelled the allegation at a press conference held at the party's headquarters here, a day after Sitharaman rebutted the Congress' charges on the deal, and accused the rival party of spreading "falsehood" on the issue.

"The ministers in the court of this 'king' are lying, to hide the falsehood of the 'king'. The defence minister said lies. It is not her fault.. her fault is that she's a minister in a court of a 'king', who has uttered such a huge lie. And to hide that lie, the entire cabinet is lying," he alleged, a day after the government's defence in the Lok Sabha.

"And, lying inside Parliament, can there be a bigger crime than that," Khera said.

The Congress has been targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the deal alleging that price of each aircraft was sharply hiked from around Rs 526 crore, negotiated under deal during UPA, to Rs 1,600 crore and that the contract will help Anil Ambani get Rs 30,000 crore benefit through offset contract.

Vehemently rejecting the charges of corruption in the Rs 58,000 crore deal for procurement of 36 Rafale jets from France, Sitharaman, in a "point-by-point" rebuttal to opposition's allegations, Friday said, "Defence Ministry has been functioning without dalals (middlemen) during five years of (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi. Rafale is a decision in national interest."

She also said the Bofors scam brought the Congress down, while Rafale will help Prime Minister Narendra Modi retain power.

Khera said Modi had bowed before entering Parliament, as if he was entering a temple. "And, there he and his ministers say lies," he alleged.

"The first lie she said was that HAL and Dassault have no contract. On March 13, 2014 a workshare agrement was signed, was she not aware of this? She is a well-read person, so cannot say she was not aware of it. I cannot accept it. It is an attempt to add another layer of falsehood to his (Modi's) lie," Khera alleged.

The Congress spokesperson, during the press conference, also flashed old media reports on visit of French defence minister in October 2017, to buttress his claim that Sitharaman was "lying about not knowing the offset partner of Dassault (the maker of Rafale aircraft)".

"In October 2017, French Defence Minster came to India, paid floral tribute to Amar Jawan Jyoti, and then held bilateral consultation with her Indian counterpart. She then visited Nagpur, where she participated in the foundation stone-laying ceremony of Dassault Reliance Aerospace Limited, the joint venture project. The Maharashtra CM was present, and other BJP ministers were there too," Khera said, quoting media reports.

"So, they are speaking lies after lies," he claimed.

Countering the Congress' charge in Parliament, Sitharaman had Friday said that it was the Indian Air Force which suggested that the government buy two squadrons or 36 Rafale jets in fly-away condition instead of 18, as was planned to be purchased under the Congress-led UPA government.

She had also accused the Congress of compromising with national security in the interest of the party's "treasury" while deciding on buying 126 fighter jets.

Under the deal finalised by the NDA government, the delivery of first Rafale will happen in 2019, while the last of 36 jets will be delivered in 2022, the minister informed the House.

"The BJP is getting entangled in its web of lies. They have lied in court, while filing affidavit," he alleged.

"If they had dealt with Rafale issue in a straight forward manner... but, don't know if they would be be able to extricate themselves out of this web, they have spun around them," he claimed.

Asked to respond on this allegation, Khera said, "They say their lies loud and repeatedly. So, we will tell truth loud and repeatedly."

Asked if Congress would bring privilege motion against Sitharaman, he only, said, "We believe in due process and parliamentary process."

"The number of aircraft was reduced from 126 to 36, HAL was kicked out and Anil Ambani's firm was brought in," he alleged, and claimed, "they cannot hide behind the veil of national security".

The Congress Saturday hit back at the BJP also over its claim that it had acted against economic offenders such as Vijay Mallya, saying its government is claiming credit for everything as if those happened after it assumed office in 2014.

In response to a question while addressing the press conference, Khera said that going by the BJP's "credit seeking" claims, India would be celebrating its fifth birthday on May 26, 2019. PTI KND ASG SKC ASG AQS

AQS
(Eds: Incorporates related stories of Rahul's criticism of Modi govt)

New Delhi, Jan 5 (PTI) Congress president Rahul Gandhi Saturday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over demonetisation, farm distress and job losses, alleging the PM was an "incompetent man who listens to nobody".

In a series of tweets and Facebook posts, Gandhi cited various media reports to allege that the country was grappling with issues such as massive job losses and farm distress, while its growth story had been destroyed with steps like demonetisation and 'bad implementation' of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

The prime minister while speaking in Jharkhand Saturday took a dig at the Congress for "misleading" farmers in the name of loan waiver, in spite of considering them as merely a "vote bank".

During another rally in Odisha, Modi again targeted the opposition party for "working at the behest of middlemen in the defence sector instead of running a government for the people during the UPA rule".

In his most scathing criticism, Gandhi cited a media report which claimed that demonetisation and GST were headed to look like bigger failures.

"Congress built the India growth story. Modi has used Demonetisation and the Gabbar Singh Tax to completely destroy it. He's an incompetent man who listens to nobody," he tweeted.

In a Facebook post earlier in the day, the Congress president hit out at Modi over clashes in a Gujarat village between the police and farmers, saying farmers were "distressed" under the BJP's rule.

Gandhi's remarks came after clashes broke out on Wednesday between the police and farmers protesting against limestone mining by a private firm near a village in Gujarat's Bhavnagar district, leaving several policemen and agitators injured.

"Modiji is beating his chest over the Congress's loan waiver. He has said for the Congress, farmers are a vote bank. Now see the condition of farmers in Gujarat. Under the BJP's rule, farmers are in distress," he said in his post in Hindi.

The farmers of Bhavnagar were protesting against mining due to the adverse effects on irrigation and agriculture, so the Gujarat police did this to them, he added.

From Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh to Bhavnagar in Gujarat, the "anti-farmer character" of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is out in the open, Gandhi said.

In another Facebook post, the Congress leader attacked Modi over reported job losses last year, saying the prime minister who had promised two crore jobs every year was still singing the "tune of rhetoric".

Gandhi hit out at Modi citing media reports which claimed that the employment scenario turned bleak in the past year with almost 11 million Indians losing their jobs. The report cited data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE).

"Breaking! 1 crore 10 lakh jobs were lost in 2018. The prime minister, who promised two crore jobs to the youth every year, is still singing 'Raag Jumla' (tune of rhetoric)," Gandhi said in the Facebook post in Hindi.

"If Modi ji had worked for the country instead of helping Anil Ambani steal, then the future of the youth would not have been so insecure," he added.

The Congress has accused the government of favouring Anil Ambani's firm in the Rafale fighter aircraft deal. However, the government, as well as Ambani, have rejected all the allegations.

The Congress president had earlier attacked the prime minister over the condition of farmers, alleging that on one hand, Modi was not waiving their loans and on the other, he was giving "license of loot" to his "suit-boot friends".

PTI ASK SRY
Jaipur, Jan 5 (PTI) Congress president Rahul Gandhi will address a farmers rally in Rajasthan on January 9 and also launch the party's campaign for the upcoming Lok sabha polls.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting here, PCC president and Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot said, "Congress president Rahul Gandhi had promised loan waiver on coming to power in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and all the three governments fulfilled that promise".

Gandhi has been invited to the state to express gratitude, he said.

"The Congress national president will address a farmers rally on January 9," Pilot said.

The party's in charge for political affairs in Rajasthan, Avinash Pande said it will also be an "occasion for the party to launch its election campaign for the upcoming Lok sabha elections".

He said the party workers and leaders were working with full confidence in all the 25 Lok sabha constituencies of the state.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Pilot and other leaders of the party discussed details of the farmers rally in the meeting.

PTI SDA SRY
New Delhi, Jan 5 (PTI) The Congress on Saturday hit back at the BJP over its claim that it had acted against economic offenders such as Vijay Mallya, saying its government is claiming credit for everything as if those happened after it assumed office in 2014.

In response to a question while speaking at a press conference, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said that going by the BJP's "credit seeking" claims, India would be celebrating its fifth birthday on May 26, 2019.

The party leader also alleged that Vijay Mallya met Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and sought his permission before fleeing the country.

"If BJP is taking credit for declaring Mallya a FEO (fugitive economic offender), then let them take credit as they are taking credit for everything from Mangalyaan, Chandrayan, Pokhran one to Pokhran 2 (nuclear tests)...we should be celebrating India's 5th birthday on May 26, 2019. BJP feels that everything happened after its government came to power in 2014," he said.

In a press briefing earlier in the day, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra had said the law was brought in by the present NDA government to ensure that absconders such as Mallya are brought to justice.

Khera alleged that BJP had taken credit for everything since it took oath in 2014.

A special court in Mumbai Saturday declared absconding liquor baron Vijay Mallya a fugitive economic offender on a plea of the Enforcement Directorate.

"Mallya met a minister, sought his blessings and permission and left for London. I am sure they were getting updates on it. We all know...what happened and how it happened. In fact, a certain BJP minister recently even said that Mallya was not a fugitive and not committed any fraud.

"When Mallya himself said that he left after meeting Arun Jaitley, sought his permission, so what else is there to say," said Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera.

Mallya has become the first businessman to be declared an FEO under the provisions of the new Fugitive Economic Offenders Act which came into existence in August last year.

The ED had requested the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court that Mallya, who is currently in the UK, be declared a fugitive and his properties be confiscated and brought under the control of the Union government as per the provisions of the new FEO Act.

Special judge MS Azmi declared Mallya an FEO under Section 12 of the Act after hearing extensive arguments from the lawyer of Mallya and the ED counsel.

Mallya, accused of defaulting on loan repayments and money laundering, had left India in March 2016. PTI KND ASG SKC SMN
New Delhi, Jan 5 (PTI) The BJP Saturday alleged that the violence around the Sabarimala temple in Kerala was unleashed by the LDF government in the state, which, instead of dealing with it in a sensible way, wreaked havoc, resulting in devotees being hurt and even killed.

The saffron party also said the Sabarimala issue was about Hindus and not about the ruling party.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao in a press conference claimed that Kannur, from where Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan hails, had become the "epicentre" of the violence and this revealed the state government's complicity in it.

Violence involving BJP-RSS and ruling CPM workers rocked politically volatile Kannur district in north Kerala on Saturday with a number of houses and shops of rival leaders and workers being attacked.

Bombs were hurled at several places, including at the houses of CPI(M) MLA A N Shamseer in Madapeedikayil, BJP leader and Rajya Sabha member V Muraleedharan at Vadiyil Peedikia and former Kannur district secretary of CPI(M) P Sasi at Thalassery past midnight, police said.

No one was injured in the attacks.

"All this has been done by the CPI(M) goons with the full authority and support of the state government. The CPI(M) has a history of unleashing violence against the RSS-BJP cadre, but today, they are not even sparing the devotees," Rao alleged.

"The state government is using the cadres of the DYFI, the SDPI and this is state-sponsored violence being unleashed. A devotee was killed two days ago and a bomb was hurled at the ancestral home of one of our MPs," he said.

The BJP leader said the agitations at the Sabarimala temple were not political in nature, but peaceful protests to uphold the traditions of the shrine.

"This is an issue of devotees, not an issue of the BJP. This is an issue concerning the Hindu society," Rao added.

He alleged that the Kerala chief minister himself was responsible for the violence in the state, where so far, over 1,700 people have been arrested.

"Pinarayi Vijayan's conspiracy in this matter is clearly visible. We condemn the fact that he has politicised the issue and is using it for political gains," he alleged.

Rao appealed to the media to not see this issue from only a gender perspective. He said gender equality was an issue close to the BJP, however, this was a matter of tradition, culture, emotions and beliefs.

"Any government trying to thrust any actions on the devotees will only have negative reactions. The Supreme Court is likely to hear review petitions and I appeal to the media to see it in its complete perspective and not to get swayed by the Leftist narrative. Their narrative is for their vote bank politics," he said.

He also said the Sabarimala issue, the triple talaq case and the Ram Mandir issue were three separate issues and should not be seen from a similar perspective.

"It's not a question of having different standards. Sabarimala is about worship of god which falls under the broad perspective of religious issue. Triple talaq is about rights of husband and wife. If it was so integral to religion why would other Islamic countries ban it.

"Ram Mandir is a great emotive issue and we are certainly in favour of building a grand temple in Ayodhya but the case in court is about a title suit. While this is also a matter of religion, but for the court it is a civil dispute. So these are three different issues," he said. PTI ASG KR AAR
Indonesian trade team arrives in Port Blair with goods

Port Blair, Jan 5 (PTI) A trade expedition team from

Banda Aceh in Indonesia arrived here Saturday with goods and

material, to enhance bi-lateral relation between the two

countries.

The Indonesian team's ship KM Aceh Millennium with

goods and materials arrived here from Malahayati Port in Banda

Aceh.

The ship has brought 80 items including construction

materials, like cement, wood, crushed stone, fruits and

vegetables, officials said.

Some of the materials will be exhibited for promotion

of trade at the auditorium here on January 6 which will be

inaugurated by Sidharto R Suriyadipuro, Indonesia's Ambassador

to India.

The Industries secretary of Andaman and Nicobar

administration, Indu Shekhar Mishra described the trade

expedition as a very important step towards developing trade

between Andaman and Indonesia.

Welcoming the Indonesian trade team at a function at

the passenger terminal at Haddo Wharf here, he said it is

"right time that Indonesia has taken steps to start trade and

A&N Islands will also be taking steps very soon to move

forward in this direction."

Mishra further said that the A&N administration will

hold a meeting with the Andaman Chamber of Commerce and

Industry (ACCI) and would then decide the next step so that a

very healthy and good business partnership with Indonesia is

established.

The deputy chief of mission, Indonesia, FM Suebu

speaking at the function expressed gratitude to the Government

of India, A&N administration and ACCI for the successful

expedition.

This year, India and Indonesia commemorate 70th

anniversary of full diplomatic relations. This pioneer trade

expedition is good start to celebrate the year, she said.

As next step, Indonesia will continue its work to

collaborate with India towards enhancing connectivity between

the two islands, opening up more opportunity for deeper

co-operation, she said.

The president of ACCI, Girish Arora said this

expedition was possible due to the signing of MoU between ACCI

and Aceh, Indonesia Chamber of Industry to promote development

and bilateral economic relations. PTI COR

RG RG
Six of family killed in accident on Pune-Bengaluru highway

Kolhapur (Maha), Jan 5 (PTI) Six members of a family

from Kolhapur in Maharashtra were killed in an accident near

Tavandi on Pune-Bengaluru highway Saturday evening, police

said.

The victims hailed from Murgud in Kagal tehsil of

Kolhapur district and were heading for Belgaum in Karnataka in

a car, an official of Nipani police station said.

Around 5 pm, a truck, going in the same direction,

swerved around after its tyre burst and hit the victims' car,

the official said.

Dilavar Bapusaheb Jamadar (64), his wife Rehana (58),

son Junaid (29), one Mohasin, daughter-in-law Aafrin and

grandson Ayan (7) were killed on the spot, he said

The truck driver was also seriously injured and

undergoing treatment, the official added. PTI CORR

KRK KRK
Considering insurance cover for Kumbh Mela attendees: UP Dy CM

Bhopal, Jan 5 (PTI) The Uttar Pradesh government is

considering insurance cover for devotees attending the Kumbh

Mela scheduled to begin from January 15 at Prayagraj

(Allahabad), the northern state's Deputy Chief Minister Keshav

Prasad Maurya said here Saturday.

He was here to promote the Kumbh Mela and informed

that he had extended an invite to Madhya Pradesh Chief

Minister Kamal Nath to attend the 49-day event, widely

recognised as the largest congregation of pilgrims in the

world.

In reply to a question, Maurya said invitations had

also been sent to Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, UPA chairperson

Sonia Gandhi among others.

Queried on insurance cover for the several million

devotees expected to attend the mela, Maurya said, "We are

considering in the direction to insure (the lives of devotees

visiting Kumbh Mela)."

"I have seen several Kumbh Melas at Prayagraj. I have

full faith that nobody will be even get a minor injury given

the preparations made this time. There would be no discomfort

to the visitors. All should come there with their families,'

he added.

Maurya said MP CM Nath had expressed a desire to set

up an exhibition of the state during the Kumbh Mela, adding

that people from 192 countries are expected to attend.

He informed that more than 1.20 lakh toilets were

being constructed for the event.

The UP government had arranged Rs 4,300 crore to

organise the Kumbh Mela, he said.

Asked about the construction of Ram temple, Maurya

reiterated the BJP's stand and said a grand temple will soon

be built at Lord Ram's birthplace.

"The court's decision is awaited. Instead of hampering

the judicial process, all parties should cooperate," he added.

PTI ADU

BNM BNM
NCP, Cong attack Maha govt for calendar's Ambedkar, Phule

oversight

Mumbai, Jan 5 (PTI) A Maharashtra government calender

for year 2019 has skipped the mention of death anniversaries

of Dalit icon B R Ambedkar and 19th century social reformer

Mahatma Jyotiba Phule.

The development Saturday prompted the NCP to seek an

apology from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis while the

Congress asked him to own "moral responsibility" for the

"glaring mistakes".

The calender, published by the Directorate General of

Information and Public Relations (DGIPR), has no mention of

the death anniversaries of Phule and Ambedkar, which fall on

November 28 and December 6 respectively.

Meanwhile, a DGIPR statement Saturday said that, as

per a decision taken in 2013, only birth anniversaries are

celebrated at the government level, and hence, only birth

anniversaries are mentioned in the government calender and not

death anniversaries.

It added that, earlier, birth anniversaries of

national icons were mentioned in the calender only in case it

was a public holiday.

Later, the statement informed, a mention of all birth

anniversaries celebrated at the government level was made in

the calender.

The calender has mention of birth anniversaries of

Mahatma Phule and Babasaheb Ambedkar, it pointed out.

Meanwhile, state unit NCP president Jayant Patil

claimed even the dates of Mahavir Jayanti and Buddha Purnima

are mentioned incorrectly in the calender.

"The government wants to win elections using names of

great icons and (at the same time) wants to ensure that they

get wiped out of public memory," he alleged.

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council

Dhananjay Munde (NCP) wondered if the oversight was

deliberate.

Munde said he had sent a letter to Chief Minister

Devendra Fadnavis condemning the mistakes in the calender. He

also called for fixing responsibility and demanded the CM's

apology.

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly

Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil of Congress said the BJP-led

government uses the names of great icons only for political

reasons.

"This year, the calender has no mention that December

6 and November 28 are the death anniversaries of Ambedkar

and Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, respectively," Vikhe Patil said,

adding that the mistakes are glaring.

"Has the government forgotten the heroes and are they

being remembered only for political purpose?" Vikhe Patil

asked. PTI MR NSK

BNM BNM
New Delhi, Jan 5 (PTI) Following are the top foreign stories at 1700 hours:



FGN8 UN-SABARIMALA

UN encourages all to respect rule of law: UN chief's spokesperson on Sabarimala row

United Nations: Noting that the Supreme Court in India has ruled on the issue of women entering the Sabarimala temple in Kerala, a spokesperson for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has said the world body encourages all to respect the rule of law. By Yoshita Singh.



FGN7 UN-INDIA-ROHINGYA

UNHCR seeks clarification from India over repatriation of Rohingya to Myanmar

United Nations: The UN refugee agency has expressed regret over India's decision to repatriate a group of Rohingya to Myanmar, saying it has sought clarification from India on the circumstances under which the asylum seekers were sent back, voicing concern over the unconducive conditions for such returns. By Yoshita Singh.



FGN13 US-TRUMP-LDALL SHUTDOWN

Trump threatens to declare national emergency to get fund for border wall

Washington: President Donald Trump warned on Friday that he could keep the US government partly closed for "months or even years" and declare a national emergency if the Congress refused to provide USD 5.6 billion funding for a wall along the Mexico border. By Lalit K Jha.



FGN6 US-TRUMP-STUDENTS

Foreign students from top US colleges should stay on to help American firms grow: Trump

Washington: Ruing that talented foreign students are leaving the United States after studying in the country's best educational institutions, President Donald Trump has said he wants people with merit to stay in America and help the growth of companies here. By Lalit K Jha.



FGN11 CHINA-XI-PLA

Xi orders Chinese military to be combat-ready; says risks and challenges on rise

Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered the army to enhance its combat readiness to make sure it is always ready for a battle, saying risks and challenges are on the rise as the world is facing a period of major changes never seen in a century, state media reported Saturday. By K J M Varma.



FGN9 US-CHINA-LD TRADE

US, China dealing trade negotiations at highest levels: Trump

Washington: The US and China are dealing the trade negotiations at the highest levels, President Donald Trump said, claiming that America's steel industry has come "roaring back" following the last year's tariff hikes. By Lalit K Jha.



FGN12 US-LD SHOOTING

'Multiple victims' in shooting near Los Angeles: police

Washington: Police in California on Saturday said they were responding to a shooting with "multiple victims" at a bowling alley near Los Angeles. (AFP)



FGN2 US-SAUDI-KHASHOGGI

US says Saudis still lack credible account of Khashoggi murder

Washington: Saudi Arabia's investigation and handling of the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi still lacks full credibility and accountability, a senior US official said Friday. (AFP)

RUP
Mumbai, Jan 5 (PTI) An IndiGo Airbus A320neo plane suffered a mid-air engine failure with a "loud bang" on Thursday and the civil aviation ministry has taken serious note of the incident, sources said.

The latest incident involving another Pratt & Whitney engine happened when the aircraft was flying to Kolkata from Chennai on January 3. The plane returned mid-way to Chennai and has been grounded there since then due to damaged engine blades, they said.

While sources said the engine of the aircraft stalled mid-air with a "loud bang", an IndiGo spokesperson said in a statement that its crew took note of a "technical caution" and decided to return the flight to Chennai.

"Ministry has taken serious note (of the incident) and we will review it on Tuesday," Civil Aviation Secretary R N Choubey said in response to a PTI query.

He was asked whether the ministry will direct the aircraft maker Airbus and US-based engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney to stop deliveries unless all issues are fixed.

"One of the P&W engines of IndiGo neo aircraft operating on Chennai-Kolkata route on January 3 stalled mid-air followed by a loud bang and sparks from it and smoke, leading to heavy vibration," a source said.

The incident forced the A320neo aircraft to return to Chennai under emergency conditions, he added. The number of people on board the flight could not be ascertained.

"This was for the first time that that an A320neo faced multiple problems -- smoke, heavy vibration, loud bang and engine stalled -- in one single flight," the source added.

IndiGo, which is facing such issues in the A320neo planes powered by P&W engines since their induction in the fleet in 2016 and has received compensation from both Airbus and the engine maker for each grounding, said the aircraft returned to Chennai due to "technical caution" noted by the crew.

"An IndiGo flight 6E 923 (Neo) operating Chennai-Kolkata route on January 3 returned to Chennai after take-off due to a technical caution noted by the crew.

"The crew followed the normal operating procedures and asked for a priority landing. There was no engine shutdown and no emergency landing was declared as per the report," IndiGo said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the government's apex aircraft investigation body AAIB has rushed a team to Chennai to assess the incident and take a call on the probe.

"As per settled practice, we have sent a team. We are awaiting details," a senior official of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) told PTI.

The official, however, said it was not yet decided whether AAIB will probe the incident or the aviation regulator DGCA.

The bureau, which investigates serious incidents and accidents involving Indian registered aircraft, is already probing IndiGo Jaipur-Kolkta flight smoke incident on December 10.

Queries sent to Pratt & Whitney remained unanswered.

Airbus evaded a detailed response to PTI queries and only said that it was "working closely with the engine maker to minimise disruptions".

In India, two budget carriers IndiGo and GoAir operate P&W engine-powered Airbus A320 planes, while Air India and Vistara, which also operate these latest single-aisle planes, have CFM engines.

However, the P&W engines-run aircraft have been facing glitches every now and then since their induction in the fleet by the two operators in 2016, with several instances of mid-air engine shutdowns. However, the engine maker has failed to come up with any tangible solution to fix these issues so far despite frequent grounding of these planes and passengers safety at risk. PTI IAS RAM ABM

ABM
When the Burkinabe government declared a state of emergency in the country for the second time in five years on December 31, thanks to the terrorist attacks by jihadist outfits, the country became the host to a future war on terror.

Burkina Faso and its fellow west African states have long had to deal with the menace of the African division of Al Qaeda, known as Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). As security forces face death against the deadly terrorist organisation, Burkina Faso might have to call upon its former colonial master for assistance.

Burkina Faso is a landlocked francophone country with strong ties to France in various aspects. Known as French Upper Volta prior to 1960, it had been a colony of the French administered west Africa. France has listed Burkina Faso as one of their most prioritised countries in need of development assistance. They have assisted the Burkinabe with agriculture and food security issues, human development, cultural cooperation and governance. But despite Frances efforts to help, the entire west African region has largely been neglected from economic and societal development plans. Burkina Faso turning out to be a new breeding ground for religious fundamentalism and extremism is a result of this neglect by the West.

When President Blaise Compaores 27-year-long rule came to an end in 2014, Lt. Col. Isaac Zida, a close aide of the former president, took over political and defence duties. The sudden end of a stern regime and an unsuccessful coup attempt in 2015 meant Burkina Faso had let its guard down, at least temporarily. AQIM and various other jihadist groups have capitalised on this opportunity and have started plotting and carrying out various attacks since then. France, whose liberal ideologies have spread throughout west Africa due to their strong cultural and economic clout, has always been seen as a threat to the existence and beliefs of the AQIM.

Jihadist groups view France, Spain, the United States, and other western influencers in the continent as harbingers of anti-Muslim rhetoric and have sought to dispel them from the continent for years. The AQIMs primary aim is to overthrow the Algerian government and establish an Islamic Caliphate in the region. Apart from Algeria, the AQIM launches attacks on neighbouring countries that they deem un-Islamic. But unlike its parent organisation al-Qaeda, the AQIM views France and, less significantly Spain, as its bigger enemy and targets local governments to achieve their goals. The AQIM has promised to reclaim parts of Spain and the Iberian Peninsula, which they view as lost Muslim land. They had declared Frances ban on the hijab in public spheres as an insult to Islam. French intervention against AQIM in Mali in the Northern Mali conflict in 2013, although has not led to them attacking Europe, has definitely intensified hostilities between the two and it is just a matter of time before they begin doing so.

With the terror threat on constant rise, France and the European Union have allotted 1.3 billion euros as anti-terror aid for Africa. The French have deployed their Barkhane anti-terror force in neighbouring Mali, with training being given in Burkina Faso. Furthermore, Paris has stationed troops in Oagadougou for years and has sent said troops to intervene in threats to the French mission.
'You can put your head in sand like an ostrich, we will not': HC tells Centre
With each passing day the future of saffron alliance looks bleak in Maharashtra as neither Shiv Sena nor the BJP are in a mood to start seat sharing talks. While the Congress and the NCP have almost finalised their seat sharing arrangements, national president of the BJP, Amit Shah, recently told BJP MPs from Maharashtra to be ready to fight elections alone.

A BJP leader told THE WEEK that reports that the BJP had given ultimatum to Shiv Sena on the issue of alliance are not entirely true. "We want the alliance to remain in tact. Shiv Sena too wants it. Sanjay Raut's statement that Shiv Sena hasn't received any proposal from the BJP is a clear indication that they too want the alliance. Had they not wanted the alliance, Raut would have clearly stated that Shiv Sena has decided to fight elections on its own. But he didn't say it. But one thing is clear, we want to go by the same formula for seat sharing as in 2014. BJP will contest 26 seats, Sena will get 22. If Sena expects us to give up seats like we did in Bihar, it is clearly not happening. At the most, we are ready to exchange a few seats," said the leader requesting anonymity.

In order to assess the party's strength on the ground, Amit Shah will be traveling to three regions in Maharashtra in January. He will be in Latur on January 6 to take stock of Marathwada region. Then in mid-January he will be in Nagpur to interact with party leaders in Vidarbha region, and finally, at the end of the month, he will visit Sangli to assess the situation in Western Maharashtra. Maharashtra has 48 Lok Sabha seats. BJP-Sena alliance had won 42 of them in 2014 elections. In the light of recent electoral defeat in MP, Rajasthan and Chhatisgadh the BJP is trying its best to minimize damage in Maharashtra and wants the alliance with Sena to continue.

Shiv Sena, however, is in no mood to listen or discuss seat sharing. Recently, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray went to the extent of criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi by repeating Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's chant 'Pehredar chor hai'. Uddhav's statement caused a lot of heartburn in the BJP and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis responded by saying that criticising the prime minister was like spitting at the sun. Everyone knows where the spit falls if you spit at the sun, Fadnavis remarked.

A Shiv Sena insider told THE WEEK that Shiv Sena is firm on its position of contesting election alone. "So far there is no change in our stand. Uddhav ji has not indicated anything to that effect to the party. He is the only decision maker in our party. An ordinance on Ram Temple by the central government could have opened a way for realignment of both parties but the prime minister clearly said in the recent interview that government will not issue an ordinance. Our party has given a call for 'Pehle mandir fir sarkar ( Temple first, government later)'. We strongly feel that Ram Temple is an emotional issue for Hindus and 80 per cent Hindus will support the government which constructs the temple. BJP has wasted that last opportunity when PM said that ordinance will not be issued. Had the PM said that he would issue an ordinance our party would have been forced to continue the alliance. Since that is not the case, chances of an alliance are very bleak right now," he said.
Director Aditya Dhar says the intention of his directorial debut Uri: The Surgical Strike is not to show Pakistan in the bad light but to focus on the issue of terrorism.

The film is based on the 2016 Indian Army's surgical strikes on terror launch pads in Pakistan as a retaliation for the Uri attack that claimed the lives of 17 army personnel. "The film is about how Indian Army fought terrorism. Our focus in the film is about how to fight against terrorism. There is nothing anti-Pakistan. We are not fighting against any individual or country, we are fighting against the cross-border terrorism that is happening. We have shown a balanced perspective," said Aditya.

Despite a ban on Indian films in the neighbouring country, the director says he would have loved to show his movie in Pakistan. "Any sane or logical person be it Indian or Pakistani will understand that the film is about fighting terrorism."

Aditya said his debut film Raabta was set to feature Pakistani actor Fawad Khan and Katrina Kaif in the lead but Khan had to exit the project after Pakistani artistes were banned from working in India in the aftermath of the Uri attacks. "I was figuring out how to recast for the film and who to approach. But within 10 days surgical strikes happened."

The retaliation by the Indian side piqued his interest and Aditya said he started to research about the surgical strikes and its planning process. He went through news articles, met journalists and retired army officers to research the project but a friend told him someone was already planning a film on the topic.

"I panicked and I started writing the screenplay and in 12 days the first draft was ready. It is a sensitive topic and we had to take permission from the Army. I shared my story with Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADDPI), PR division of army and they loved it.

"They told us 12 producers from Bollywood have approached them to make a film on surgical strikes but they did not have any story." The director said he was aware of the responsibility that lies on the makers to represent the Indian Army on screen in the most accurate way.

"We wanted to stay as true as possible. We did not exaggerate anything. We stayed real. After all, army men are normal people. Vicky Kaushal and other actors trained for about six months to understand their daily routine and mannerisms," he added. Aditya was convinced Vicky was the only actor who could pull off the role of Major Vihaan Shergill, the officer who leads the surgical strikes in the film.

"At that time he had started shooting for Raazi and none of his films like Sanju, Manmarziyaan or Lust Stories had released. He has done an incredible job in the film."

Also starring Paresh Rawal, Yami Gautam and Mohit Raina, the film is set to be released on January 11.

-PTI
Producer Bhushan Kumar Friday announced that the release of his upcoming production Cheat India has been preponed to January 18 to avoid a clash with Thackeray.

Cheat India was earlier scheduled to come out on January 25 alongside Thackeray, which features Nawazuddin Siddiqui as late Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray.

Kumar made the announcement at a press conference here. He denied that there was any pressure from the party to move the film from its initial release date of January 25 and said the decision was taken out of respect towards Bal Thackeray.

"There was no pressure. We have not shifted the release date due to any pressure or out of any ego. We did it because it made business sense and out of respect for Balasaheb Thackeray," Kumar told reporters here at the press conference of Cheat India. The producer was accompanied by actor Emraan Hashmi and Shiv Sena leaders Sanjay Raut and Aditya Thackeray.

"From producer's point of view, I feel we should not keep any ego. We had shifted 'Hindi Medium' and we had preponed Aashiqui 2 by two weeks. We did it because we wanted to give justice to our film. We did not want to fight. "We are confident about our upcoming film. It is a content-driven film. To give the film its due it needed a clear week," Kumar said. Emraan said he was aware of media reports regarding the decision to prepone the release.

"We had a release date for our film 'Cheat India' as January 25 and we have decided to prepone it to January 18. There are a couple of reasons for it. We felt our film is very special film, it is a high-concept film. It is a subject never done before," the actor said.

Aditya Thackeray, who also has been associated with the makers of "Cheat India" in providing inputs for the film, says he is attached with both the movies. "I'm a friend of producer Atul Kasbekar. He had decided earlier there will be no clash between the two films. Both are content-driven stories, they are true stories," Aditya said.

Kangana Ranaut starrer Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi is also releasing on January 25 and when asked if its release will affect Thackeray, Raut said, "I have not thought about it. I feel the name Thackeray is enough. Everyone has right to show their own film. We have not told anyone to change the date."

When Emraan was asked to comment on the controversy surrounding veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah, who had recently said that the death of a cow was being given importance over the killing of a policeman, he said, "What I am thinking right now I can say. I think there is freedom of speech in our country."

"I am a bit ignorant... I don't know about the entire controversy. So to talk about it will be a bit irresponsible. When I am informed myself about it then I can have conversation," he added.
Twenty-seven defaulting businessmen and economic offenders have fled the country in the last five years, Parliament was informed on Friday.

Interpol has been approached to issue red corner notices (RCNs) against 20 persons out of these 27, Minister of State for Finance Shiv Pratap Shukla said in a written reply in Lok Sabha.

He further said Interpol has already issued RCN against eight persons who have fled the country and extradition requests have been sent in case of six.

As per the Directorate of Enforcement (ED), applications under Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 have been filed against seven persons out of these 27, the minister said.

Shukla informed the House that Westminster Magistrates' Court in London has recommended extradition of Vijay Mallya from the UK to India.

The government, he said, has also advised the public sector banks to obtain a certified copy of passport of promoters/directors and other authorised signatories of companies availing loan facilities of more than Rs 50 crore.


Apart from Chulbul, his brother Makkhi, Rajjo will also be part of animated version
Campaigning in the 2007 Gujarat assembly polls, Sonia Gandhi described Narendra Modi as maut ki saudagar, or merchant of death. Tut, tut, tut, exclaimed the genteel people of India. That was quite unladylike.

Modi used the below-the-belt hit to the hilt. He went around with a look of injured innocence, and asked his people, kya mein maut ka saudagar hoon? (Do I look like a merchant of death?) And then postured to Sonia, Sonia-behen, mein toh mat ka saudagar hoon. (Sister Sonia, I am a merchant of ideas).

Illustration: Jairaj T.G.

Look at the phraseology. Even when being maligned, Modi showed mellowed restraint. Verily gentlemanly, especially to a lady! He called her behen, a term used by good and decent Gujaratis when they address or speak of any woman of good repute.

Modi won that election. Positivity won that election. Genteelness won that election.

In 2014, the two sides began being evenly matched in malice, but soon the Congress took a lead in being low. If Modi mocked at Manmohans love letters to Nawaz Sharif, Mani Shankar Aiyar mocked at Modis teaboy teenhood. Modi again played the injured innocent, launched a shrewd chai-pe-charcha (teatime talk) campaign, and went on to win the polls hands down.

Sonia seems to have learnt her lesson. Her electoral discourse has since been dignified, and her political conduct restrainedmuch like a quiet Calpurnia if she were in the middle of a Roman mob.

The shoe is now on the other foot. Modi, quite contrary, has since been ranting and raging. Sonia is no longer behen to him, but one to be mocked at as Madam-ji. In one election speech in Rajasthan he even made fun of her widowhood. Her son is pappu (simpleton), shahzada (crown prince), or naamdaar (dynast)terms that draw laughter from the lumpen, but will not draw votes from the decent folk.

Indeed, one statement or an odd foul phrase would not win or lose an election. But the amount of vitriol that is pumped into the air can make or unmake a campaign. In 1989, Rajiv Gandhi called the opposition limpets and traitors (Raja Jaichands and Mir Jaffer), and painted them in advertisements as serpents and scorpions. He roundly lost the polls.

Modis campaign managers are making the same mistake. As THE WEEK reported two weeks ago, the entire tone of Modi and company in the just-concluded polls to the three assemblies in Madhya Bharat had been one of political arrogance and rhetorical sarcasm, directed not just against the withering-and-ageing Congress and its immature pretender of a crown prince, but even at the revered national icons of India that is Bharat. A sarcasm that outraged many a voting Indian soul, steeped in ancient Indian values of humility and self-denial. Pride and hate, they told their netas through their vote, are not values cherished by this ancient civilisation.

Yet no one seems to have learnt any lesson. The tone for the 2019 round is now being set, and it seems to be laden with the lead of vitriol. The Congress continues on its chowkidar chor hai line without showing proof of any chori by Modi. From the BJP front, Modi and Amit Shah are leading the war of viciousness. Having nabbed alleged arms dealer Christian Michel, Modi is calling him the Gandhi familys raazdaar (confidant), and dropping innuendos about Quattrocchi mama and Christian Michel uncle whose diary, he says, contains Sonias name. Shah has discovered that Michels notes from custody to his lawyer were meant for Sonia, when even his interrogators have not found how.

Netas, ladies and gentlemen, the Indian voter is a decent soul. He abhors vitriol.

prasannan@theweek.in












































TheAccountantwillcontributetothedevelopmentandimplementationofthedepartment Accountingsystems, policies and procedures.He /she will support the department through the collection, processing, recording,reconciliation, analyzing and reporting of financial data, verifying thevalidity completeness and accuracy of the source documentation. TheAccountantis responsibleforensuringallpaymentstobothserviceprovidersandstaffs areprocessedtimely and with the required source documents movementofcashattheheadoffice.S/he will be expected to maintain completeand proper records of revenue, expenditure, assets and liabilities and ensuresthe accuracy and integrity of financial information.
National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and Tep Ngorn, Standing Member of the Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) Central Committee, Senate Vice President, in Hanoi on January 4th. (Photo: VNA)



Tep Ngorn, heading a high-ranking Cambodian delegation, is visiting Vietnam to attend a ceremony marking the 40th anniversary of the victory of the southwest border defence war and the joint victory of Vietnam and Cambodia over the Pol Pot genocidal regime (January 7th).

At the reception, the top legislator lauded the participation of the delegation at the ceremony, which was held earlier the same day.

She noted the participation carries Cambodians sentiment of closeness, friendship and solidarity with Vietnamese people, particularly volunteer soldiers and experts who once carried out international missions in the country during the years of difficulties and sacrifices.

Ngan said following the success of Prime Minister Hun Sens official visit to Vietnam, the current visit by the high-ranking delegation further consolidates and enhances the neighbourliness, as well as comprehensive and long-standing cooperation between the two countries and their law-making bodies.

The NA leader stressed Vietnam is always attentive and supportive to, and happy at the significant socio-economic achievements by the Cambodian Government and people.

She said she believed that under the leadership of the Senate, parliament, and Royal Government with the CPP at its core, Cambodia can maintain its momentum of development and stability, while its people can achieve more in building the country towards prosperity and better position in the region and in the world.

For his part, Tep Ngorn said the ceremony had been organised solemnly, with film excerpts screened at the events moving the audience and reflecting the true bond and shared feeling between Cambodian people and Vietnamese volunteer soldiers when Cambodia faced its most difficult time.

Cambodia also marked the 40th anniversary of its victory against the Pol Pot genocidal regime on the same occasion, he said.

The official underscored that it is an important time for both nations to carry out extended communications activities targeting their people, particularly youths, helping them gain righteous understanding on a historical period when the two nations fought shoulder-by-shoulder amid various difficulties.

He said the sound collaboration between Vietnam and Cambodia not only exists over the past four decades but also dates back many years before that.

He took the occasion to inform his host of Cambodias current socio-economic situation and its preparation for the 27th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) in Siem Reap in mid-January.

Ngan said the Vietnamese National Assembly supports the Cambodian parliaments hosting of the 27th APPF. She stated that Vietnam will take an active part in the event and is willing to share its experience and collaborate with Cambodia to help the country successfully organise the annual meeting.

Praising close attention paid by Cambodian leaders on matters related to the people of the Vietnamese origin, the top legislator said she expected the Cambodian Senate will continue creating favorable conditions for the community so that they can contribute to the host countrys development and the friendship it shares with Vietnam./.
Timothy Seth Bryant Pennington was born on January 30, 1988 in Corbin, Ky. He departed this life on June 3, 2021 to be with his Lord and Savior, whom he accepted as a young boy at his church, West Corbin Baptist. Seth was assured of his salvation and knew where he would spend his eternity. S
The League of Women Voters of Morgan County will have its State of the City, Village and County meeting on Wednesday to give the public a chance to hear Morgan County officials thoughts on how things are going for the community.

Officials from Jacksonville, South Jacksonville and Morgan County will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday at South Jacksonville Village Hall to reflect on 2018 and give their insight on whats to come in 2019.

Jim Ringle, treasurer for the League of Women Voters, said the meeting will benefit anyone looking to stay informed about whats going on in their local municipalities.

One of our goals, our missions, as the League is to keep the public informed and this is one way to keep the public informed of whats happening in the village, county, and city, Ringle said. They need to know if theres a project  be it water or street or a building project or the expansion of the police or fire departments  anything that might be going on at the time.

Speakers will include Jacksonville Mayor Andy Ezard, South Jacksonville President Harry Jennings and Morgan County Board of Commissioners Chairman Brad Zeller.

The meeting is intended to be an informal presentation and its content will depend on what the officials want to talk about, Ringle said.

Theres no preparation to this, he said. They come in and they make their presentation on their part of government and what they experienced in 2018 and then share if theres anything coming in 2019 that theyd like to share with us.

Following the officials presentation, they will be asked to take questions directly from the audience.

The meeting is free and open to the public.

Nick Draper can be reached at 217-245-6121, ext. 1223, or on Twitter @nick_draper.
EDWARDSVILLE  Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Friends of Theater and Dance (FOTAD) will host a trivia night to increase support for theater and dance student travel.

The trivia night will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2 at The American Legion, 190 S. Main St. in Glen Carbon. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.
EAST ST. LOUIS  A Belleville man is in serious condition after being struck by a MetroBus early Friday in East St. Louis, before an Illinois State Police squad car blocking traffic from the scene was rear-ended by a Jeep.

The driver of that vehicle was arrested and charged with driving under the influence.
EDWARDSVILLE  A Cottage Hills woman was charged with multiple felony charges Friday after leading Alton police on a long car chase.

Jennifer D. Howard, 30, of the first block of Rose Street, Cottage Hills, was charged Jan. 4 with two counts of forgery, both Class three felonies; and two counts of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, both Class 4 felonies.

The incident started at about 9:30 a.m. Jan. 3 with a call from an employee at TheBANK of Edwardsville on Martin Luther King Boulevard for an attempted forgery at the drive through. An Alton police sergeant approached the vehicle, a silver Chevrolet Equinox, on foot, but the driver, later identified as Howard, sped away.

Multiple Alton police officers chased the vehicle along Piasa Street and attempted to use spike sticks to stop the vehicle. However, it continued to where it continued to East Broadway and then the Great River Road into Jersey County.

During the chase, which eventually involved officers from multiple departments, the vehicle reached speeds of more than 100 miles per hour and officers observed items being thrown out the passenger side window.

The chase finally ended on Illinois Route 16 near Illinois Route 100 approaching Hardin. Both Howard and a male passenger were taken into custody. No felony charges have been filed against the passenger as of Friday.

After the chase Alton police circled back to collect possible evidence on and near the roadway.

The forgery charges stem from Howards attempt to cash the check, written for $215 according to court documents.

The aggravated fleeing charges stem from her fleeing after disobeying orders to stop by the Alton sergeant. One charge states that Howard fled at more than 21 miles per hour over the posted speed limit, while the second charge states she disobeyed more than two traffic control devices.

Bail was set at $30,000.

The Madison County States Attorneys Office also filed a fugitive from justice complaint, stemming from a St. Charles, Missouri charge of failure to appear on charges of possession of controlled substance.

Jersey County States Attorney Ben Goetten confirmed Friday that his office would not be filing any charges in the case.

Reach reporter Scott Cousins at 618-208-6447.
BRIGHTON  Altonized Community Federal Credit Union recently announced they will soon have a second location to serve the area.

The new Altonized Branch will be located at 200 North Main St.in Brighton. The new facility will have a walk-up ATM, two-lane drive-up and full-service lobby.
Ontarios post-secondary institutions have ushered in free-speech policies, meeting a provincially imposed Jan. 1 deadline to tackle an issue that has polarized students in this province and beyond.

It strikes a balance ... It will give people some guidance, said Linda Franklin, president of Colleges Ontario, of the new standard policy adopted in mid-December by all publicly-funded colleges.

It gives administrators the right to say We have to think about safety on campus and hate speech   which remains prohibited  but also doesnt silence those with opinions that are unpopular, she said.

Those on campus have to know there are speakers that you may not like or who support your world view, but open dialogue is essential, Franklin added.

Were committed to the open discussion of diverse ideas and respecting everyones rights to express their opinions.

Last August, after incidents on campuses across North America where speakers faced protests, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities Merrilee Fullerton told colleges and universities they needed to implement free-speech policies and have them in place for the New Year.

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In Ontario, protests  and even arrests  have followed controversial speakers such as University of Toronto professor Jordan Peterson and Lindsay Shepherd, a Wilfrid Laurier graduate student and teaching assistant.

Shepherd was disciplined after showing her students a video of Peterson, who has gained notoriety for his public fight against the use of gender-neutral pronouns.

Institutions will be monitored and have been told they could face funding cuts for failing to comply with principles outlined by the province.

These include ensuring that universities and colleges are places for open discussion and free inquiry, that they should not attempt to shield students from ideas or opinions that (those students) disagree with or find offensive; and that members of the university/college ... may not obstruct or interfere with the freedom of others to express their views.

Before the holiday break, Fullerton told reporters she was pleased colleges met the deadline, and was expecting universities would as well.

I think what (the free speech policy) will do is create some certainly around expectations, and we want to make sure that theres an environment of respect, of open debate, respectful dialogue and thats really the foundation, said Fullerton.

We dont want to see hate speech  we will not tolerate hate speech  that is not permitted. Anything that is against the law already, there will be repercussions.

However, Fullerton added, the government was constantly hearing that free speech was being stifled on Ontario campuses.

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We heard that from students, we heard that from faculty  it was a message that we heard consistently during the campaign and after. So we know (it was an issue), she added.

What do you think?

The Ontario colleges policy  modelled on a well-regarded one developed by the University of Chicago  aims to strike a balance between promoting free speech while protecting against hate speech.

Colleges Ontario has come under fire from the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, which said more input was needed and claimed no faculty members were included.

This so-called free-speech policy is anything but. In fact, a better name would be gag-order policy, OPSEU president Warren Smokey Thomas said in a release.

It accuses the Ford government of trampling the democratic rights of the people of Ontario because the policies are more aimed at avoiding protests than protecting freedom of speech.

But Franklin said a group of college leaders, as well as a representative from the College Student Alliance and legal experts, all took part in its creation, and that it will be reviewed in a year.

She said campuses around the world have dealt with protests and disruptions over speakers who students have objected to for various reasons.

The Ontario colleges policy states, in part, Freedom of expression, which means the right to speak, write, listen, challenge and learn, must be protected as it is essential to discovery, critical assessment and the effective dissemination of knowledge and ideas and leads to social and economic advancement.

Colleges, it adds, must be places that allow for open discussion and free inquiry where diverse voices can be heard and ideas and viewpoints can be explored and discussed freely and debated openly without fear of reprisal, even if these are considered to be controversial or conflict with the views of some members of the college community ... it is not the role of colleges to shield members of the college community from ideas and opinions that they may find disagreeable or offensive.

The University of Toronto has a free-speech policy that has been in place for more than 25 years.

Among those universities approving new policies, Queens in Kingston did so Dec. 18, stating that the failure to explore or confront ideas with which we disagree through disciplined and respectful dialogue, debate, and argument, does society a disservice, weakens our intellectual integrity, and threatens the very core of the university.
Men and women see the world differently. Women know this. It is not clear to me that men do, even well-meaning ones. Take the Netflix film Roma, which is easily as entrancing as male reviewers say it is  women will not be permitted to review movies in any numbers until the film industry finally goes over the cliff  and has me fully in its grip.

The Roma I saw is not the Roma these men saw. Its as if I saw it in Spanish and they came out glutinously praising its handling of the German demotic.

Thanks to director Alfonso Cuarons panoramic Antonioni-tribute camera work, I cannot now cross a room without imagining the entire house as my frame and the world in black-and-white. Roma is that good. It lures you into seeing stairs, bookshelves, gates and floors as carefully lit backdrops that constrict the human.

The protagonist, Cleodegaria Gutierrez, known as Cleo, is a live-in nanny of Mixtec origin working in a 1970s suburban Mexico City household.

She is always in motion, mopping, carrying, scrubbing, cooking, supervising four children, answering doors, washing clothes, cleaning plates, sitting on the floor while the family sits in chairs, getting up to bring the doctor tea, and singing to toddlers at bedtime. But thanks to Cuarons photorealistic portrait lighting, we see her daily life with a light-and-shade majesty that would have given Ansel Adams pause.

The character of Cleo is based on Cuarons own beloved childhood nanny, and played by Yalitza Aparicio, who has never acted before. The family comprises the frazzled mother Sofia, the children, and a ghost of a father, an ugly snappish clod who is having an affair and secretly dumps them, leaving them unaware and penniless.

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Cleo is seeing a mean young man devoted to unemployment and martial arts. After sex, he swings his penis over and around her, performing martial arts moves with a shower curtain rod to impress her while recounting the story of his sad life and glorious future. Him, him, him, its all about him.

When she tells him on a date that she is pregnant, he leaves the movie theatre and never comes back. When she finds him, he says hell beat the shit out of you and your little one and threatens her with a weapon.

While Cleo is terrified of being fired, a wretched Sofia is being sexually assaulted by her husbands friend. Both women worry about money and fear for the children they love. Then comes the moment. Sofia slumps down on the stairs with Cleo and says with great intensity, We are alone. No matter what they tell you, we women are always alone.

There are many things going on in Roma, including class conflict, rural dangers vs. urban ones, tyrannical government, a massacre of student demonstrators, Cleos medical care, racial classification, isolation, the secret knowledge of small children, and Cuarons gorgeous visual games with straight lines, with water.

But it is a story of women. I keep thinking of Stieg Larssons Men Who Hate Women, the original title of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo but the publisher didnt like it. Roma could just as easily have Larssons original title.

But men did not see that. One Canadian commentator  a pompous guy, a fine fellow as I call them  summed up Roma on Twitter as the story of a domestic servant working for the family of a Mexico City doctor. But the doctor, complaining about dog crap in the driveway, is the smallest person in the film. Why mention him?

The critic mentions indigeneity  but not femininity  in Roma and cartoonishly compares it to Get Out because Get Out has a black actor. He deplores films about rich whites, praises a film about poor men, and never mentions Cleo again, not her fears, her pregnancy, the terrible childbirth, or the terrifying scene at the end.

The world is so big! There is so much to know about it! Why do we keep the lens on the same kind of people all the time? he asks. Because of men like him who seem not to see women.

Did this fine fellow really miss the scene where the leaping young psychopath swings his penis over and about Cleo, a dance of triumph? Poor Cuaron is laying it on with a trowel for the clueless sector of the audience.

A New Yorker critic says, Do not look to Roma for the bristle of agony or dread. Really? Cleos life was packed with both; I was nailed to my seat. A Guardian review mentions almost nothing about Cleo and Sofias destruction at the hands of men. Variety calls Roma a snapshot Marxist adventure told from a family-eye view and Ill just leave it there.

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Do men really not notice when a director presents them for ridicule? Trumps male cabinet, hauled in to praise him on camera for posterity, must be self-medicating to get through it.

But maybe these men arent on Adderall. Maybe theyre just fine fellows all.

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Canada is calling for the immediate release of two Canadians arbitrarily held in China. And Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland is trying to get our allies to put pressure on China about the worrying precedent it has set by imprisoning Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor in retaliation for the arrest of a Chinese tech executive in Vancouver.

So what on earth is a delegation of Canadian parliamentarians doing jetting off to China prepared to deliver a softly-softly message about how relations between the two countries are really just fine?

Two senators and four members of Parliament, including both Conservatives and Liberals, are off to Shanghai this weekend and their leader says the plight of the imprisoned Canadians is not on the agenda.

However, Liberal Senator Joseph Day adds helpfully, it may well come up.

Thats nice. But lets be clear: if Canada is trying to speak with a strong voice on this issue, as it should, it is decidedly unhelpful (to use diplomatic language) for a group of parliamentarians to go off on an official trip with a message that by all indications will undercut the urgency that our own Global Affairs department wants to get across.

A better, and more consistent, message would be conveyed by simply cancelling or postponing the trip. Why should senators and MPs be conducting a routine trip to promote mutual understanding and mutual benefit, in Days words, at a time when Canada is attempting to make clear how seriously it takes the arbitrary detention of its citizens?

Michael Cooper, the lone Conservative MP on the trip, said the group got the go-ahead from Global Affairs to make the trip. But CBC News reports that an official in Freelands office says it was up to the senators and MPs themselves whether to go.

Regardless, going on a business-as-usual junket at this point is the wrong decision. There may be nothing the government can do to stop the two senators, Day and Conservative Victor Oh, and Cooper from doing what they want.

But it should have made it clear to the three Liberal MPs on the trip  Geng Tan, Majid Jowhari and Chandra Arya  that this is a bad idea. Long-term relations with China are important, but no one can pretend this is the time for routine exchanges.

This is especially true at a moment when Canada is conspicuously isolated, caught between China and the United States, which requested the extradition of telecom executive Meng Wanzhou.

It would help if our friends and allies spoke up forcefully to demand the release of the detained Canadians. But so far those who have spoken out, including the European Union, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Australia, have followed the diplomacy 101 dictum: speak softly.

As a result, they have restricted themselves, in public at least, to expressing concern.

Its time for them to stop pussyfooting around and use stronger diplomatic language that says: We mean business. That means demanding the immediate release of the Canadians

So far, only the U.S. has gone that far in a statement from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. But his demand was undermined by President Donald Trump, who suggested Mengs fate might be tied to a better trade deal with China, rather than the rule of law under which Canada arrested her.

Trumps clumsy intervention only supported Chinas contention that Canada had kidnapped Meng for political purposes, though that is patently not the case.

Its understandable that other countries are reluctant to poke an economic giant like China in the eye. But its in everyones interests to stand up to it.

All western countries have many citizens living and working in China. Canada may be singled out this time, but next time it could well be your citizens who find themselves in Chinas so-called black jails, without access to lawyers or diplomatic support.

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Countries that believe in the rule of law should present a strong united front on this point. And the last thing Canadas own parliamentarians should be doing is watering down that message.

Correction  Jan. 5, 2019: This article has been updated from a previous version that mistakenly identified Joseph Day as a Conservative Senator.

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Jeanne Calment died in 1997 in the southern French town in which she was born, and her death drew a flurry of attention.

At 122, an age that had been certified by the Guinness World Records as well as public health researchers, she was the oldest documented person to ever have lived.

But a Russian mathematician is casting doubt on her record. Nikolay Zak, of the Moscow Center For Continuous Mathematical Education, said in a report that he believes that Calment was actually Yvonne Calment, Jeannes daughter, who had assumed her mothers identity to avoid inheritance taxes in the 1930s. That would have made her 99 when she died.

The evidence produced by Zak in a paper published recently on the portal ResearchGate is not definitive.

He points to studies that showed that Calment had lost less than an inch of her height by the time she was well into her hundreds, significantly less than what would have been expected; Yvonne was also taller than Jeanne, he says. A passport for Jeanne in the 1930s lists different eye colours for her than she had later in life. And he raises questions about other physical discrepancies in her forehead and chin. He also claims that Calment had destroyed photographs and other family documents when she had been requested to send them to the archives in Arles.

The study has caused a global stir since it was issued. It has been covered by news media organizations around the world. Sample headline: Jeanne Calment cheater? France Inter radio asked.

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But it has been denounced by some scientists, including the Jean-Marie Robine, who validated Calments age and wrote a book about her around the time of her death.

All of this is incredibly shaky and rests on nothing, Robine told Le Parisien.

According to Smithsonian magazine, he said Jeanne answered questions when he interviewed her that only she would have known the answer to, like the name of her math teacher and housekeepers in her building at the time.

Her daughter couldnt have known that, he said. And he said that the whole town of Arles would have been in on the ruse.

Can you imagine how many people would have lied? Overnight, Fernand Calment [Jeannes husband] would have passed his daughter for his wife and everyone would have kept silent? Robine said. It is staggering.

Michel Vauzelle, who was the mayor of Arles when Calment died, has said the Russians theory is completely impossible and ridiculous.

Nicolas Brouard, research director at Frances National Demographics Studies Institute said that there are some in the research community who do favour of exhuming the bodies of Jeanne and Yvonne Calment because of Zaks study, according to French public radio broadcaster RFI. He also said that DNA testing could settle the debate.

In an email, Zak told the Washington Post that he became convinced that Calments age was suspicious in February while studying mortality patterns of people older then 105.

He said he started to investigate her life in September.

I funded the work myself, it was a fascinating detective story in front of me, he said. Those who criticize my work heavily are those who have a huge conflict of interest or those who didnt read it.

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He called critics of his report dishonest, and released a document where he sought to rebut their rebuttals point by point.

Still, he admitted to Reuters that he does not have cast-iron proof.

I reviewed the whole situation, he said. There are lots of small pieces of evidence.

Guinness World Records said that it was aware of the report.

Extensive research is performed for every oldest person record title we verify, which is led by experts in the gerontology field, and they have been notified of the current situation, it said in a statement distributed by spokeswoman Rachel Gluck.

Robine did not respond to a request for comment.

A Washington Post story about Calments 120th birthday describes the broad contours of her life. She was born in Arles, in southern France, on Feb. 21, 1875, before the invention of the lightbulb. She grew up to marry Fernand Calment at 21.

She dabbled in painting, played the piano in her parlour, rode her bicycle around town, hiked and hunted, reporter Dana Thomas wrote, buoyed by the success of her husbands fabric shop.

She said she met Vincent van Gogh as a teacher when he came to Arles to paint in 1888, saying she found him very ugly, ungracious, impolite, sick.

Pardon me, but we called him the madman. she said. She outlived much of her family. Yvonne died at 36 of pleurisy, Thomas wrote. Fernand died in 1942 at the age of 72 from eating tainted cherries. And her only grandchild, Frederic was killed in a car accident at 36 in 1963.

Questions about age-related records are not uncommon. Shigechiyo Izumi, of Japan, was dubbed the worlds oldest man when he died in 1986 at what was believed to be 120 years old. But research that came out later claimed that he was around 105. Others claiming ages as high as 125 and up have lacked the required documentation to prove their ages.

And the secrets of an exceptionally long life remain elusive. Obituaries about Calment noted that she was known for her love of chocolate  she reportedly ate two pounds a week  treated her skin with olive oil and rode a bicycle until she was 100. She had only quit her two cigarettes a day habit a few years before her death  not for health, but because she could no longer light her own cigarette without asking for help, the Washington Post wrote.

Under an obscure French system called viager, where a buyer purchases a home from an older person and begins paying its mortgage, and are only able to move in after they die, Calment had a man paying her mortgage for more than 30 years, The Post reported. She had signed the deal with him when she was 90.

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TAIPEI, TAIWANPresident Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan on Saturday called for domestic and international support of the islands de facto independence, days after Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, warned that unification with China was inevitable.

It is impossible for me or, in my view, any responsible politician in Taiwan to accept President Xi Jinpings recent remarks without betraying the trust and the will of the people of Taiwan, Tsai said in a briefing for foreign reporters.

We hope the international community will pay attention and combine efforts to speak out on our behalf, she said.

Xis speech, his first major address on Taiwan, has given Tsai a chance to position herself as the young democracys defender, both to the outside world and to voters who will decide next year whether she stays in office. Her party was battered in local elections in November, but since Xis address, there has been a groundswell of support for her on social media and even in publications that tend to oppose her.

Tensions between Taiwan and Beijing, which claims the self-governing island as part of Chinese territory, have emerged as one of the regions flash points. Xi, the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao, reiterated in his speech that Beijing would use force if necessary to prevent Taiwan from seeking formal independence.

Xi has been ramping up pressure on Tsais administration over her refusal to accept the so-called 1992 consensus  a vague notion, accepted by Tsais predecessor, that posits that Taiwan and China are part of the same country, with each side allowed its own interpretation of what that China is.

Read more:

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President Tsai says Taiwanese want to maintain self-rule

In his speech, Xi urged Taiwan to avoid a dead end and accept his offer of the one country, two systems framework under which Hong Kong has operated since Britain returned it to Chinese rule in 1997.

But many people in Hong Kong and elsewhere  not least in Taiwan  believe that Hong Kongs promised freedoms have been eroding under Xis rule.

I myself expect all of Taiwans political parties to clearly state, We reject one country, two systems, Tsai said Saturday.

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WASHINGTONSecretary of State Mike Pompeo will press Saudi Arabias leaders this month on diplomatic conclusions that the kingdom has failed to sufficiently answer for the October killing of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a senior U.S. official said Friday.

Turkish officials have said Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist who lived in Virginia, was beaten and dismembered when he visited the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul to get documents for his wedding. After his death, Saudi Arabia removed a few senior officials from their posts, and on Thursday a Saudi court held the first session in the trial of 11 suspects charged with Khashoggis death.

The U.S. official spoke as part of a briefing organized for journalists by the State Department to preview Pompeos visits to eight Arab nations in the Middle East from Jan. 8 to Jan. 15. Four senior officials spoke on the call on the condition of anonymity, which the State Department demands for such briefings.

Separately, the department announced that a senior diplomat, James F. Jeffrey, is the new special envoy co-ordinating efforts to fight Daesh (also known as Islamic State or ISIS). Jeffrey will also continue as a special representative on Syria. The previous envoy, Brett McGurk, resigned last month after President Donald Trump announced he was withdrawing all 2,000 U.S. troops from Syria. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis had resigned in protest two days earlier.

The officials at Fridays briefing said that a main theme of Pompeos trip would be to discuss strategies to contain Iran, a Persian and predominantly Shiite state that is seen as a nemesis not only by most of the regions predominantly Sunni Arab nations, but also by Israel and the Trump administration.

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In recent months, Pompeo and John Bolton, the White House National Security Adviser, have stressed ways in which the United States is pushing back against what they call Iranian aggression. They include imposing strict economic sanctions after Trumps withdrawal from a nuclear arms agreement that world powers reached with Iran in 2015.

But the case of Khashoggi, and growing opposition among U.S. politicians to the Saudi-led bombing campaign in Yemen and the humanitarian crisis it created, underscore the complexities of Pompeos trip  and of the administrations focus on containing Iran.

Trump has come under intense criticism for failing to hold Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia accountable for Khashoggis death.

On Friday, the officials said the State Department had concluded that Saudi leaders had neither taken sufficient responsibility for Khashoggis death nor given a convincing account of what happened inside the consulate. Earlier, a CIA assessment found that Crown Prince Mohammed, the main power in Saudi Arabia, was responsible for the killing in Istanbul through his close ties to the hit team that carried it out.

In a remarkable announcement in November, Trump said the United States was maintaining its warm relationship with Saudi Arabia, even if the crown prince may have had knowledge of this tragic event.

Trump has not spoken out about the Saudi-led coalitions war against the Houthis in Yemen. Last month, in a rare move that amounted to a strong rebuke to the president, the Republican-led Senate voted 56-41 to end U.S. aid to the coalition. The Senate also passed a separate resolution blaming Crown Prince Mohammed for Khashoggis death.

Inside the White House, Jared Kushner, the presidents son-in-law and main Middle East adviser, has developed close ties to Crown Prince Mohammed and has urged Trump to continue the relationship with Riyadh. And at the State Department, Pompeo has voiced his support for Trumps approach.

Pompeo made an emergency visit to Riyadh after news of the Oct. 2 killing of Khashoggi, and photographs of him smiling in a meeting with Prince Mohammed fuelled widespread criticism of his trip.

During Fridays briefing, the State Department officials did not directly address Crown Prince Mohammeds culpability in the death of Khashoggi when asked. One official did say, however, that the removal of senior Saudi officials from posts did not amount to holding them responsible for the killing.

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One of those Saudi officials was Saud al-Qahtani, a close ally of the crown prince who was removed from his post as the kingdoms social media czar after Khashoggi was killed. Al-Qahtani was not among those arrested in October in Saudi Arabia after the death became a diplomatic crisis.

The State Department official said Pompeo also planned to speak with Saudi officials about last months peace talks in Sweden that aimed to end the Yemen war. And he is expected to discuss the Saudi-led blockade of Qatar, where the United States has a military base.

On Friday, a representative of the top U.N. human rights office told reporters in Geneva that the trial of the 11 suspects in Saudi Arabia was not sufficient. The representative, Ravina Shamdasani, also said the UN office objected to the Saudi prosecutors seeking the death penalty for five of the 11 suspects.

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WASHINGTONSpecial Counsel Robert Muellers grand jury has more time to complete its work.

Beryl Howell, chief judge of the U.S. District Court in Washington, where the panel convenes to hear evidence in secret, extended its term, court spokeswoman Lisa Klem said on Friday. The grand jury began hearing evidence in July 2017, two months after Mueller was appointed to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 presidential elections and potential ties to President Donald Trumps campaign.

While Klem declined to say how much longer the jurors may sit, federal rules of criminal procedure allow for a six-month extension upon a court finding that its in the public interest.

Among those the panel has indicted: former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort; the presidents first national security adviser, Michael Flynn; three Russian businesses and 13 individuals who allegedly conspired to roil the U.S. prior to the election using social media; and a dozen Russian intelligence agents accused of hacking Democrats computers.

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Trumps attorney general nominee criticized Russia investigation

Judge's rebuke of Flynn upends sentencing, prolongs case

Over my dead body will Mueller interview Trump, presidents lawyer Giuliani says

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Several people have seen this sign at the corner of U.S. Highway 51 and License Drive, south of Starlanding Road in Nesbit, and believe the building directly at the corner is the License Testing Station, when in fact that building is the new home for the DeSoto Times-Tribune. The License Testing Station is actually at the end of License Drive.
WASHINGTONThe 2016 Democratic presidential primary: a coronation. The 2020 primary: a battle royale.

Four years after almost every possible candidate conceded the nomination to a dominant Hillary Clinton, the party is about to have an unpredictable everybody-into-the-pool scrap to be chosen as the candidate to challenge Donald Trump.

And its starting already.

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren announced this week that she was launching an exploratory committee, which allows her to raise money and hire staff. Former housing secretary Julian Castro has scheduled an announcement for Jan. 12.

Over the next few months, they will be joined by a mix of the partys whos-who and whos-that. The first debate, scheduled for June, will almost certainly have to be split into two debates to accommodate the large field.

That field will likely be the most personally diverse ever to seek the presidency, featuring multiple women and people of colour. On policy, the candidates will tend toward the unabashed liberalism now favoured by much of the partys base  though there will be significant differences in their choices of issue emphasis, in the ways they depart from progressive orthodoxy and in how they approach President Donald Trump.

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The best-known hypothetical candidates are former vice-president Joe Biden and Clintons main challenger, democratic socialist Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, both of whom have been unsubtly laying groundwork. Beto ORourke, the charismatic Texas congressman who gained national attention during his unsuccessful Senate run against Ted Cruz, is also mulling a run.

So are  deep breath now  California Sen. Kamala Harris, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, former Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe, and former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg

among others. Former attorney general Eric Holder, wealthy environmentalist Tom Steyer, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley and California Rep. Eric Swalwell have all expressed interest.

After two years of relative party unity in fighting Trumps initiatives, members of the grassroots resistance will have to choose an affirmative party identity. They could go any number of ways. The list of prospects includes people known for fiery oratory and for low-key affability, for ideological rigidity and for shape-shifting, for focusing on economic injustice and on racial injustice. It includes champions and skeptics of free trade, advocates and opponents of free college tuition, billionaires and critics of the billionaire class, Washington veterans and relative newcomers.

The leaders in extremely-early opinion polls  which should be treated mostly as measures of how widely the candidates names are currently known  are Biden and Sanders. Both have devout fans. But as white men of age 76 and 77, they will be challenged by what seems to be a desire in much of the party base for fresh faces.

I think the country is looking for excitement. I think theyre looking for someone who is not a part of the Washington conversation. And I think theyre looking for new ideas, said Democratic strategist Jennifer Holdsworth. People that most of the country has never heard of, she said, are ultimately going to be much closer to the top than people think.

In the 2018 midterm elections, Democrats elected a record number of women and people of colour to Congress. I think that the Democratic electorate is hungry for either a woman or a person of colour, said Kate Maeder, a party strategist in California.

I think we just kind of need to clean house with the old white male guard, said Lori Goldstein, party chair in Adams County, Colorado. And we need to keep our younger folks invested in all of this, and I think weve lost a lot of them because of the old white male guard.

The first voting is 13 months away. Mayra Rivera-Vazquez, Democratic chair in Beaufort County, South Carolina, said local party members want diverse candidates but will reserve judgment until the candidates make their pitches.

You hear the common names, but probably there are probably going to be other names too. So we dont know. Well see, she said. We have a spectrum of all thinkers there. Its too early to decide what type of presidential candidate the Democrats want. Lets see when they come here: what are going to be the issues, what are they going to offer, what is the message?

Californias move of its primary to March, from the traditional June, will require candidates to change the way they approach the early months. The nations most populous state has long been an afterthought because of how late it came in the process. Now, its racially diverse Democratic electorate will begin casting ballots in early voting on the same February day as the first caucuses are held in the small, heavily white state of Iowa.

Candidates will have to figure out how to establish national personas in a media environment dominated by Trump. And they will have to decide how to navigate the uncompromising mood of an increasingly left-leaning party base while also retaining their viability among the moderates who may decide the general election  and while convincing the base that they are best positioned to beat Trump.

So far, it has been full-speed ahead to the left. Harris, Booker, Gillibrand, Warren and Sanders have all endorsed the idea of a federal jobs guarantee. In 2016, Sanderss endorsement of single-payer health care, Medicare for All, made him a left-wing novelty. In 2020, that position is expected to be a Democratic standard.

Sanders has already won one early victory. After furious complaints from him and his allies, the party voted this summer to sharply limit the power of superdelegates, the party elites who previously got to vote for whichever candidate they wanted no matter what regular voters decided.

10 potential Democratic candidates

Joe Biden, former vice-president

Strengths in the primary: Personal fondness of most Democrats, reputation for connecting with white working class, association with Barack Obama.

Weaknesses in the primary: Age, error-prone campaign past, past conservative votes, handling of Anita Hill hearing.

Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts senator

Strengths: Anti-Wall St. credibility, reputation for unyielding liberalism.

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Weaknesses: Low approval ratings with broader public, decision to take DNA test to prove claim to Native American heritage.

Bernie Sanders, independent Vermont senator

Strengths: Perceived authenticity, progressive record, voter loyalty established in 2016.

Weaknesses: Age, unpopularity among some Clinton devotees, weakness with Black voters, distance from the Democratic party.

Sherrod Brown, Ohio senator

Strengths: Record of electoral success with white working class.

Weaknesses: Support for Trumps trade policy, past allegation of 1980s domestic abuse (by ex-wife who now supports him).

Kamala Harris, California senator

Strengths: Lawyerly eloquence, varied personal background, popularity in California.

Weaknesses: Centrist decisions as a prosecutor.

Cory Booker, New Jersey senator

Strengths: Powerful oratory, focus on racial inequality.

Weaknesses: History of Wall St. ties, mixed results as Newark mayor.

Julian Castro, former housing secretary

Strengths: Service in Obama administration, Latino identity.

Weaknesses: Never elected to office higher than mayor, non-fluency in Spanish.

Michael Bloomberg, former New York City mayor

Strengths: Wealth, leadership on gun control.

Weaknesses: Wealth, conservative positions.

Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota senator

Strengths: Minnesota nice likability, broad appeal in Midwestern states.

Weaknesses: Low national profile, relatively conservative voting record.

Beto ORourke, Texas congressman

Strengths: Charisma, fundraising prowess, youth.

Weaknesses: Never held office higher than the House, relatively conservative voting record.

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Turkey wants the United States to disarm Syrian Kurdish forces it has trained and supplied for the fight against Daesh (also known as Islamic State), and to provide air and logistical support for Turkish troops and allied Syrian opposition forces who plan to pick up the antimilitant battle after a U.S. withdrawal.

The list of Turkeys concerns and expectations will be conveyed next week to White House National Security Adviser John Bolton when he visits Ankara to explain the still-unspecified U.S. plan for a withdrawal from Syria, according to Turkish officials.

Boltons trip comes as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is also heading to the region to try to persuade Arab partners and allies that the United States is not leaving the Middle East. Despite reports to the contrary and false narratives surrounding the Syria decision, we are not going anywhere, a senior administration official said Friday in a briefing for reporters.

U.S. strategy was thrown into confusion last month, when President Donald Trump announced the immediate withdrawal of some 2,000 U.S. troops from Syria. For the past three years, those forces have advised and directed Syrian Kurdish fighters who, with the aid of U.S. airstrikes, have driven Daesh out of most of its Syrian strongholds.

Trumps decision followed a Dec. 14 telephone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in which they agreed that Turkey should take charge of the anti-Islamic State fight and management of territory seized from the militants.

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Leaving Syria isnt a pullout  its an American surrender

Bolton subsequently enshrined the new policy in a classified memo directing the departure of U.S. military forces from Syria and shifting of responsibility to Turkey, said a person familiar with the process. That person, along with several U.S. and foreign officials, spoke about the still-unsettled situation on the condition of anonymity.

Whether U.S. airstrikes in Syria will continue at their current pace, in the absence of direct American guidance to ground forces of the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units, or YPG, is one of a number of unresolved issues.

In an update issued Friday, the U.S. Central Command listed a total of 469 strikes conducted against Daesh in Syria between Dec. 16 and 29. For now, our policy remains the same, a military official said, although adjustments are expected as the troop withdrawal is undertaken.

Bolton will be accompanied to Turkey by Gen. Joseph Dunford Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and James Jeffrey.

Jeffrey, a former diplomat who last summer was appointed special administration representative for Syria engagement, was named Friday to replace Brett McGurk as the envoy to the global anti-Daesh coalition. McGurk and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis announced their resignations last month in protest of Trumps Syria withdrawal decision.

Pentagon and State Department officials are skeptical that Turkish forces are capable of combating Daesh, whose reduced forces are now far into southern Syria near the Iraqi border, or that Turkey will prioritize the militants over its stated desire to eliminate the Kurdish YPG forces.

Turkey considers the YPG a subsidiary of the Turkish Kurdistan Workers Party, which both Ankara and Washington have designated a terrorist organization. It has objected from the start to the U.S. use of the Syrian Kurdish fighters as the primary ground force in the U.S. efforts against Daesh. Turkeys complaints have grown as territory cleared of the militants has been left in the hands of the YPG, which has declared a Kurdish enclave along the Turkish border.

Last month, even as he was negotiating with Trump, Erdogan said Turkish troops and their Syrian opposition allies were mobilized along the northeastern Syrian border and ready to attack if the United States did not disarm and remove the Kurds.

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The threatened invasion has been postponed, Turkish officials said, until departing U.S. troops get out of the way. Erdogan expects to learn the timetable for their withdrawal during Boltons visit.

While Trump has been said to have extended his initial 30-day deadline to four months, we have no timeline for our forces to withdraw from Syria, said one of four senior administration officials who participated in the briefing for reporters Friday. They spoke on the condition of anonymity under White House rules for the briefing.

The president has made the decision that we will withdraw, and we are formulating the plans to do that right now ... in a deliberate and heavily co-ordinated way, but we will be leaving.

Trumps agreement with Erdogan comes as the administration is seeking to resolve a number of issues with Turkey, a NATO ally. Late last month, the United States approved a $3.5 billion sale of Patriot surface-to-air missiles to Turkey, hoping to head off Ankaras purchase of a Russian air defence system.

Meanwhile, Pompeos trip to the region will take him to at least eight countries, including all six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council  Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman  as well as Egypt and Jordan.

Asked about reports from the region that the administration hopes to have Arab troops go to Syria, a senior administration official said that were exploring a variety of options  I wont go into details on those  but we dont have any plans right now to facilitate Arab forces going into Syria.

In addition to clarifying U.S. staying power in the region, an official said that Pompeo would continue his work on galvanizing our regional partners and allies to counter the [Iranian] regimes destabilizing activities.

Officials said Pompeo also plans in Saudi Arabia to bring up the case of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was killed by Saudi agents inside that countrys consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2. Trump has resisted U.S. intelligence conclusions that the killing was likely ordered by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto Saudi ruler.

Saudi officials said this week that 11 people, who have not been identified, are on trial in Riyadh for the killing, and that the death penalty is being sought for five of them.

In Egypt, Pompeo plans to deliver a speech on administration policy in the Middle East. While declining to provide details, an official said that the secretarys going to speak about America as a force for good in the region.

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Its been a tough 21st century so far for Medecins Sans Frontieres. Theyve been blown up, bombed out, pushed back and  at moments when they sounded the first warnings on outbreaks of Ebola  almost entirely ignored.

But MSF, a.k.a. Doctors Without Borders, remains as dedicated as ever to their humanitarian roots, even in a changing global landscape where so often the old rules of engagement no longer apply.

Canadas Dr. Joanne Liu, who will end two terms as international president of MSF later this year, recently sat down to explain the lessons learned during her watch, overseeing a global workforce of 45,000 in 71 countries. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

How has life changed for humanitarian organizations like MSF? And what, over your time as president, has it taught you about the future of global health?

This is a 200-per-cent type of job. Its always busy. But to summarize my six years, my two mandates, I would say it boils down to three words  Ebola, Kunduz (Afghanistan, where an MSF hospital was destroyed by U.S. airstrikes in 2015) and migration.

With Ebola, we got a glimpse of what the 21st century of global health could look like.

And that glimpse showed us how ill-prepared we were collectively; we realized we needed to do better. It gave us a reality check, that we needed to have a bigger, more meaningful role and now we can see how things are different with the current, latest Ebola epidemic.

You mean the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa versus the current outbreak now in the Democratic Republic of Congo. How is the response different now versus four years ago?

For six months in 2014, MSF said, Theres an Ebola outbreak in West Africa and nobody paid attention. It was one of those distant areas of the world, countries that most people couldnt place on the map. Nobody had really heard about Ebola.

And then, at the end of July 2014, two people were repatriated to the United States and all of a sudden people started paying attention, realizing, Whoa, this is in my backyard.

And that was an election year in the States. Fear of Ebola became part of the midterm election landscape, right?

Yes. People felt threatened somehow. But people also realized they werent prepared to deal with it. When we had two nurses infected in a hospital in Texas the response was, Oh my God, were not as prepared as we thought  even if were a first-world country.

So everybody got a reality-check and it changed the trigger for response. People understood, maybe I shouldnt wait for this to be knocking on my back door. Maybe I should take upstream action. It gave birth to a strengthened response. We saw a similar response after the SARS crisis in 2003  we saw strengthened international health regulations but the resolve faded, over time people forgot about it and they moved on. But the 2014 Ebola crisis revived that effort  and that has been good, in some ways. Our issue, as a medical humanitarian organization, is to look at a health emergency through the lens of security. Our concern is the trigger shouldnt be that you feel threatened, but instead you feel what we are seeing now  the will to help a nation, a community, somewhere else.

The basic lesson is this: if we are to have a healthier world in the interconnected 21st century, then making all of us healthier starts with making each of us heathier, regardless of where you are.

The current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is the second-largest Ebola outbreak in history. Has the world learned its lesson and is the response in the DRC what it needs to be?

The good thing is that were in a much better place on Ebola than we were in 2014-15. We are using vaccine now (the V920 vaccine, first engineered at the Canadian National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg, is being deployed under compassionate use though it is not yet commercially licenced). We have vaccinated close to 15,000 people, including the health care workers in the field.

Its been three years since the blow MSF suffered in Kunduz, when U.S. airstrikes destroyed your trauma centre in Afghanistan, killing 42 people. Take us through the aftermath. Has what happened in Kunduz triggered any long-term change in how you are able to operate in zones of conflict?

For MSF, Oct. 3, 2015, is a black day in our history. Weve been under attack before. But a sustained attack of five airstrikes in one hour and 10 minutes is something that had never happened before. We are drifting away from the common, most basic understanding that you dont bomb a fully functioning hospital, be it St. Michaels in Toronto or our facility in Kunduz, Afghanistan.

People understand that if you are fighting for your life, the last thing you need to worry about is being bombed. The world was  like us  very upset. We thank the public for standing with us. We gained support at the United Nations, Canada and more than 80 other countries stood strongly with us on Resolution 2286. But I would say words are cheap.

But what is the legacy of 2286? Full impunity is not happening, at least. In the past, people would bomb us and they wouldnt even acknowledge it. Now they will say, Oops, we made a mistake. We never got the independent investigation we demanded on Kunduz. We never got the full answers.

And you saw it up close, the actual scene in Kunduz?

I went back for the ceremony 40 days after the attack. Forty-two people died and 14 of them were our staff. And I remember two stories that will stay with me forever.

One, I met all our surviving staff, some quite wounded. One of our ER nurses lost an arm. He said to me, Dr. Liu, you told us this was a safe place. We believed you so much we even moved our families into the basement of the hospital, so they would be safe. Tears were running down his face. Then he asked me, Dr. Liu  did you know that we would be bombed?

I understand why he asked me. It was the Afghan staff that lost their lives  no international staff died, even though they were there, but they were not in the main building when the bombing happened. It was 1 oclock in the morning. It was just by chance. But the only ones killed were Afghans.

When I visited the hospital, the surviving staff wanted to do the ward rounds with me one more time. I think it was part of the healing process. And the staff told me the story of every single patient.

One of stories was of a child, a 6-year-old child, who had head trauma. And the parents came the evening of the attack and they wanted to bring their child home. And they were told, lets keep her one more night, just to be safe and make sure  this was just a few hours before the attack. In the end, the family came back to pick up the ashes.

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I tell that because I want people to understand what it means to bomb a hospital. It means you are bombing patients who are fighting for their lives. You are depriving a full community of access to health care when they need it the most. Its not about war; its about survival.

What lessons did you take from it all?

The main lesson is that the war on terror has made us all drift from our collective commitment to international humanitarian law. It has allowed the so-called fog of war and the rule of proportion and the rules of engagement for the military  all of it mixed together has created a blur, a kind of licence to kill.

Its important to fight back, even with our limited leverage.

How does that reality compare to the rules that used to exist?

I really think, looking back, that the 20th century was the century of humanitarianism. After the Second World War  the shared trauma of that war  gave rise to the United Nations. And from that flowed the Declaration of Human Rights. And the Refugee Convention in 1951. We addressed the rights of children. And after that, we created the International Criminal Court. All in the 20th century.

The 21st century, for me, has become the century of fear. It started with 9/11 and it has tainted the way we see the world right now. Fear is everywhere and it translates into a security mindset  and the security mindset, the fear factor, controls how you address Ebola, how you wage war and lastly, how you welcome migrants and deal with refugee and migration issues across the world.

So looking at people on the move through the lens of security, you get portrayals of migrants as invaders, as we see with the caravan in Central America, when what we really should see is that so many of them are families and parents looking for opportunity for their children.

Lets talk about migration. We have a new document, the Global Compact for Migration, prepared by the UN and trying to bring order to the chaos  and also considerable criticism of the document. Do you have hope that the world will get a better handle on the crisis?

The lesson I draw is that pressure works. It takes a long time. But eventually creates a tipping point, you get an alignment of the planets and things happen. We were ignored on Ebola at first, but eventually the message got through. We were attacked in Kunduz but eventually, collectively, we got UN Resolution 2286. And I think the same will be true on migration.

The Global Compact, though an imperfect document, restates three important basic principals. One is that a migrant doesnt lose their rights because they have crossed a border  the Declaration of Human Rights still applies. They are not a subhuman, they are still entitled to dignity and humanity. Secondly, a migrant will not be prosecuted because he is a migrant. And thirdly, we will not criminalize people who deliver humanitarian aid to migrants.

For us, those are key basic concepts that needed to be re-established, especially in light of the rhetoric of fear that has taken hold. It sets the focus on safe, orderly and regular migration. The reality, even if we dont want to address it, is happening. There are 68 million people in forced displacement right now. And 240 million migrants in the world  I am one, because I am a Canadian working and based in Switzerland.

Ive been along the migrant route in Europe and Ive just returned from Central America. And what I tell people is that I cannot believe were living in a time where some people want to make us believe that it is illegal to save lives. This goes against our basic humanity. If you see someone drowning, your basic human instinct is to help. Thats all were trying to do.

Youve spoken about the fear factor in the migration debate  but what were seeing now is more than that, its an impulse to disentangle from internationalism. From Brexit in the U.K. to hostility toward multilateralism in other countries, the idea that we all cant be greater together is on the table and is taking hold in new ways. Do we need to do more than restate the humanitarian arguments of the 20th century when the 21st century is so preoccupied with building walls?

I could probably write a PhD on this question. But still, what it all comes down to is we cannot succumb to fear. Fear can be a good servant but a bad master. Migration is a fact  it is a phenomenon that is happening. Its happening because people are fleeing something. In Central America they are fleeing a world of violence.

Nobodys goal in life is to be in a rubber dingy on the Mediterranean. Their goal is a future. To be able to live in peace. And the rational argument against people who fear invasion is that you cannot be invaded by people who represent in total 0.2 per cent of the population of Europe. But the rational argument is not working because fear is irrational  so we need to respond to the fear. We need to confront the fear and work harder so we can all understand what is driving it.

And when the rational arguments dont work, the last answer is what I call emotional diplomacy  remind people of the fact that the motivation of parents to seek out a future for their children is unbeatable. And its universal. We have it here in Toronto, and we have it there in Yemen. And we have it in Central America. There will never be a wall tall enough to prevent a parent from looking for a future for their children.

Mitch Potter is a reporter and feature writer based in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: is a reporter and feature writer based in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @MPwrites

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Most people are buried along with their spouses, their children, perhaps even the family dog. But when Pauline Chorna, Annie Hrynchak, Anna Baran and Nellie Handiak died over the span of three decades, they did not waver in their plan. The four women are exactly where they wanted to be, buried shoulder-to-shoulder under a pink granite tombstone that lists their names beneath a single word: FRIENDS.

Under the shade of a white oak, the unexpected inscription has become a landmark of sorts for the joggers and dog walkers who frequent Prospect Cemetery, a reason to pause and contemplate the stories buried beneath their feet.

While the women are far from Prospects most famous residents  the cemetery is the eternal home of the Group of Sevens J.E.H. MacDonald, after all  they represent one of its more unusual interments and, arguably, Torontos most enduring friendship.

Their communal gravestone is also a mystery to be solved. Friends  these seven letters explain the connection but reveal so little about the four women who chose to be forever defined by this word.

For passersby who lean close to study the inscription, the questions are always the same: Who were these women and why did they decide to spend eternity together?

For the Golden Girls of Prospect Cemetery, their stories began more than 7,500 kilometres outside of Toronto, in the pastoral villages that dot the verdant foothills of the Carpathian Mountains.

The mountain range begins in western Slovakia and arcs through Poland and Ukraine before tapering off in Romania. Canadians who have never heard of the region would at least recognize its most famous son; when Andy Warhol used to say I come from nowhere, the truth was his family  the Varholas  hailed from Mikova, a Carpathian hamlet located in present-day Slovakia.

People from Warhols nowhere might call themselves Ruthenians, Rusyns, Carpatho-Rusyns, or Carpatho-Russians and in the early 20th century, there was a mass migration to North America, spurred by bleak economic conditions back home. Between the early 1920s and the Great Depression, some 15,000 to 20,000 immigrants from the Carpathian Mountains settled in Canada, with the vast majority in southern Ontario, according to University of Toronto historian Paul Robert Magocsi.

Most came from the Lemko region that was then part of Poland, including a young Anna Baran. Back then, she was still Anna Hulik and passed her days tending her fathers sheep in their tiny village. When she decided to pursue a better life in North America, her father likely went to a moneylender to borrow the $300 or $400 needed for the overseas journey, according to her son, William Baran, who is now 86.

Baran doesnt know when or where his mother first met the three women with whom she would eventually share a grave. Hes heard that maybe they met on the same ship bound for Canada but Nellie Handiaks daughter, Jeannie Lindo, is skeptical of this theory.

As far as she knows, her mother was sponsored by her brother to come to Canada in 1929, landing in Kapuskasing before relocating to Winnipeg, where she married her first husband. They had two children and eventually settled on a 14-acre fruit farm near Hamilton.

But when Lindo was 5 or so, her father suffered severe heat stroke from which he never recovered and died a decade later. Handiak continued running the farm single-handedly, even after she remarried in 1954 and moved to Toronto.

For a couple of years before she sold it, she used to go there every weekend to work, Lindo recalls. She made me what I am today, independent as heck. She was a very strong woman.

The four friends were all made from strong stock. We used to say about baba: strong like bull, recalls Barans granddaughter, Jo-Ann.

Baran once described how Lemko immigrants were driven overseas by extreme economic hardship, only to arrive in Canada on the cusp of the Great Depression, where they struggled with unemployment and rampant racist discrimination.

Coming to Canada we did not find what we all hoped for at all  work, money and a better life, she wrote in a 1964 article excerpted in a book called From the Carpathian Mountains to Canada. It was very hard for our immigrants to cope with this situation in a foreign country.

She described how Lemko girls became servants in homes with very little compensation and workers organized strikes or protests that occasionally erupted into riots, where police beat up the marchers viciously. The most desperate among them travelled across Canada by jumping onto the roofs of freight trains, in search of better work. Our men called them riding the rabbits, Baran wrote.

For Baran, her own difficulties came to a head in 1938. She had married Matthew Baran in Saskatchewan, a man who loved cars so much he started a taxi business when they moved to Toronto. Matthew opened an office near Queen St. W. and Bathurst St., where he set up a cot, his son recalls; when the phone rang, he would dash into the night and pick up his fare.

On April 1, 1938, Baran was driving his taxi on Lakeshore Rd. when he crashed into a lamppost and the steering wheel crushed his chest, breaking his ribs and likely puncturing his lungs. Police charged him with reckless driving but he died a week later at the age of 39.

Anna Baran found herself widowed and the single mother of two children under 5. Her husband had been driving two passengers when he crashed and they decided to sue. She had nothing, her son recalls. They cleaned everything out.

He remembers this as an impoverished time of eating a lot of macaroni and milk. His mother eventually found work cleaning boxcars at the CN railyard and he remembers spotting her occasionally on his way to Fort York, where he and his friends played cops and robbers. Leaning over the Bathurst St. bridge, he would see his mother below, her pushcart filled with brooms and Annie Hrynchak by her side  the same woman who would eventually be buried next to his mother at Prospect Cemetery.

Baran says his mother was the godmother of Hrynchaks only son, Bill, who died in 2014. The Star couldnt reach Hrynchaks surviving relatives but Baran remembers a woman every bit as strong and stern as his mother. Lindo, who knew Hrynchak later in life, recalls a refined woman always dressed to the nines  full makeup, earrings, everything.

Neither Baran nor Lindo remember much about Pauline Chorna, the fourth woman buried with their mothers. According to the tombstone inscriptions, Chorna was the first to die in 1977; she was also the oldest of the four women, born in 1900.

Her obituary said she had one son, Walter, and two grandsons. One of them, Steven Kobelyk, said his father died last year and he personally doesnt know much about his baba, though he believes she immigrated to Canada in the 30s with her husband, Frank.

In Canada, Frank met another woman so the couple split. But Frank had a friend named Mike Tychanych, who worked in the upholstery business and took a shine to Pauline. He asked his permission (to date her), Kobelyk says. And then it was OK.

So Pauline and her new beau moved in together at 615 Dufferin St., a house they eventually shared with Chornas son and his French-Canadian partner, Cecile.

Cecile Kobelyk, 91, remembers her former mother-in-law as very tiny and cute. Baba was a good woman, she says. She was as sweet as can be.

But even though they lived together for years, the two women barely talked; Chorna only spoke her mother tongue, which Kobelyk believes to be Ukrainian. She said my name, Cece, but she never spoke English, she remembers.We just looked at each other and knew what the other was saying.

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Kobelyk had broken up with Walter by the time Chorna died but she knows her former mother-in-law was buried in Prospect Cemetery with three other women. The reasoning behind the unusual decision is a mystery to her, however.

She never knew Chornas friends, just that she had a community she clearly cared about. When Kobelyk thinks back to life with her former mother-in-law, she pictures an aproned Chorna in the kitchen, bent over a pot of boiling water. Every Saturday, Chorna made endless pierogies stuffed with cheese and mashed potato, while Kobelyk sat at the kitchen table and closed each one, pinching and pinching until her thumbs were sore.

But most of this food was taken elsewhere to be eaten, by people Kobelyk didnt know. Their home at 615 Dufferin was never the epicentre of Chornas social scene; that would have been another building, which Kobelyk never visited herself.

There wasnt many people coming to the house, she says. They always met at the hall.

The hall was tucked inside a three-storey building most Torontonians have likely passed on their travels downtown, without realizing it was once the bustling cultural home for an obscure Central European community.

Built in 1881, the original ground-floor tenant of 280 Queen St. W. was Maras Groceries and Liquors, the first store to display its wares behind plate-glass windows, according to Toronto Architecture: A City Guide. The ornate Queen Anne-style building has since housed a menswear store, bookstore, the production team behind the CBC drama Street Legal and  according to the book, Haunted Toronto  a ghost so malicious and evil it caused four tenants to flee their upper-floor apartments.

Today, 280 Queen is home to one of the 60-plus locations of fashion retailer Aritzia, a bona fide success story of Canadian capitalism that reported a net revenue of $743.3 million in the 2018 fiscal year. But the building is currently owned by a fervently communist society, the kind that once hung portraits of Stalin and Lenin on its walls and hosted dignitaries from the former Soviet Union in its ballroom.

Around the corner from Aritzias gleaming window displays, there is a side door with a sign that reads Friendship House. A directory lists several tenants, including the Canadian Friends of Soviet People, but property records show the building is owned by the Alexander Duchnovych Society of Carpatho-Russian Canadians.

According to the book From the Carpathian Mountains to Canada, which was published by the Alexander Duchnovych Society, the organization was incorporated in 1982 by a dozen executive members. They include three of the four friends buried together at Prospect Cemetery  Anna Baran, Annie Hrynchak and Nellie Handiak (who, at that point, went by her married surname, Drotarowska)  and Mike Tychanych, the partner of Pauline Chorna.

The books author is still alive, but his son, Michael Lucas Jr.  one of the societys current directors, according to corporate records  declined interview requests on his fathers behalf.

But in his book, Lucas explains the society went through several iterations and locations before it was decided they needed a cultural home specifically for Carpatho-Russians. According to records at the City of Toronto Archives, they took ownership of 280 Queen in 1950, when the property value was assessed at $20,250. Suffice to say, the building has since appreciated considerably; a much smaller building down the street recently sold for $7.8 million.

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The society once boasted 247 members and 38 per cent belonged to the Communist Party, Lucas wrote. While his book covers a lot of ground  from the history of Carpatho-Russians to descriptions of the societys cultural activities  a prominent theme is a love for the former U.S.S.R.

Lucas describes the breakup of the Soviet Union as temporary and refers to Mikhail Gorbachev, the countrys final leader, as the second coming of Judas. Socialism is and will be the future for all the human race! he wrote in one section.

On a webpage dedicated to Lucas 80th birthday, a magazine called Northstar Compass described a celebration at 280 Queen where birthday greetings were read aloud by Lucas, including from then-prime minister Steven (sic) Harper, former Mississauga mayor Hazel McCallion and Vladimir Putin.

We highly appreciate your sincere contribution to the promotion of friendship, mutual understanding and bringing together of people of our two countries, reads the message signed by Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation.

The Carpatho-Russian identity is one that is deeply complex and divided along religious, national and political lines, according to historian Magocsi, who chairs U of Ts Ukrainian Studies department and is of Carpatho-Rusyn heritage.

While Carpatho-Russians speak a language related to Ukrainian, and come from an area Ukrainians consider within their ethnolinguistic boundaries, many actively reject identification as Ukrainians, Magocsi wrote in his 1999 book, Of the Making of Nationalities There is No End. Their poverty-stricken conditions in Canada also led to strong anti-clerical left-wing political and social attitudes, he wrote, as well as an affinity for the Soviet Union, the worlds first workers state.

For their part, many Ukrainian-Canadians and other immigrants from the region regarded the politics of these Soviet-loving Carpathians with disdain. In his book, Lucas recalls how he was closing up the Queen St. hall one night when he spotted a tall man sitting alone.

Before I could duck, he threw a chair at me breaking my sax and violin to pieces, yelling I shall kill you, you communist bastard! Lucas wrote, later complaining the man was only reprimanded with 30 hours of community work because the judge understood why this Polish patriot would want to fight against communism.

For some, this communist orientation was alienating and younger Carpatho-Russians turned away from the community. When it comes to the four friends of Prospect Cemetery, their children who spoke to the Star all identified as Ukrainian.

Some also distanced their mothers from the societys communist leanings. Lindo says her mothers main attraction to the hall was its many concerts, dances and social gatherings  and, of course, her friends. I often said to my mother, What are you doing in a communist place? she recalls. She said its not a communist place, its a social club.

According to Lucas book, Anna Baran appears to have been the most politically active at the society, where she was the head of the womens section. Her granddaughter remembers how her baba loved vacationing in Cuba and had a fondness for Fidel Castro, but says she also used to bristle whenever she was teased for being a red. Shed get mad. Dont call me red! Jo-Ann Baran laughs.

When asked about his mothers political leanings, William Baran says one story springs to mind. In the winter after his father died, the family was living on welfare with no coal to heat the furnace of their Denison Ave. row house. His mother begged several politicians for help but only one came through.

He remembers hearing a loud noise one day and running to the basement, where coal was pouring in through the window. She had asked Tim Buck of the Communist Party and told him the problem, he says. And he sent the coal in.

Baran agrees, however, that his mothers main attraction to 280 Queen was the community she found there. She and her friends spent every Saturday at the hall, first cooking up a feast of pierogies, cabbage rolls and meat-on-a-stick, and then dancing into the wee hours of the night.

Whenever the women came over, the house would fill with their raucous laughter and occasional bickering over whose village back home was superior. They liked fun, I could tell you that, he says. Theyd always be singing; I guess it made them feel like they were back in the old country. We even had an old dog called Blackie and he would howl when they were all singing together.

They were best friends.

In the late 60s, Lindo was living in Bermuda when her mother called and broke the news.

She said, You dont have to worry about paying for my funeral, she recalls. She told me they went to Prospect Cemetery, her, Annie, Anna Baran, and Pauline, and they bought a cemetery plot.

I said, Youve got to be kidding. What about the headstone? And she goes, Oh, we got that too. Were gonna be friends.

When Lindo asked why, her mothers answer was: cards. Aside from their dances at the hall, the womens favourite activity was playing cards together, especially a game called hola. It was like a rummy game, because theyd go bang bang bang bang bang bang then someone would lose, Baran recalls.

They loved playing cards so much, in fact, they never wanted to stop  so when they died, they would be buried together and continue playing in the afterlife.

Lindo found this hilarious. I was quite taken aback, she says. My mother was old-fashioned to a point. Where did she come up with this? Its usually all family, family, family, right?

But they were so forward thinking that they decided to forget their children and grandchildren and whatever, she continued. They said, Were just gonna do this, and they did.

Lindo doesnt know which of the four came up with the crazy idea but suspects her mother  and according to cemetery records, shes right. On Oct. 9, 1968, Nellie Handiak purchased a plot at Prospect Cemetery for herself and three other women, with the specific request they be buried side by side, not stacked on top of each other like in other shared graves.

But only nine years passed before the plot received its first interment, Pauline Chorna, who died on Jan. 30, 1977. Annie Hrynchak was next, passing away on Feb. 6, 1993, followed by Anna Baran, on Feb. 6, 1996. Nellie Handiak was the last to go, spending a full decade without her friends before dying on June 22, 2006, at the age of 97.

Nearly four decades had gone by since Handiak bought the plot with her three best friends. It was lonely (towards the end), because all her friends were gone, Lindo says.

As radical as it was for the times, nobody in the family was upset by the womens decision to be buried together, William Baran says. They went through a hard time in life and they relied on one another to help each other, to make life more livable, he says. And they decided to maintain that relationship through death.

To find the women today, pass through the cemeterys white gates on the north side of Rogers Rd. and follow the gentle curve of the road to section 21, where theyre wedged between the Mills and Wasendas.

There, they will always be, four friends playing cards. Before the final burial of these forever friends of Prospect Cemetery, Handiaks daughter fulfilled one of her mothers last requests: She slipped a deck of cards into her casket.

Correction  January 7, 2019: This article was edited from a previous version that mistakenly referred to the unusual internment instead of interment.
EDMONTONIf personal growth is one of your goals for 2019, the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission has good news for you.

The AGLC is finally offering cannabis seeds for sale, months after legalization.

A shipment came in last week from Ontario-based company Tweed, allowing anyone over 18 to buy a pack of four seeds online through the commissions website. The site offers two strains  Bakerstreet and Argyle, but the latter was already sold out by Thursday afternoon.

Its been a long-awaited product, so I expect that were going to continue to have some shipments, AGLC spokesperson Heather Holmen said.

Almost every week we get product in, so hopefully well see those come back up into inventory.

Since recreational pot became legal in October, along with the ability to grow four plants per household, would-be gardeners have been seeking out licensed medical growers willing to give away seeds or plants, or buying online illegally as no producers were selling seeds legally.

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One medically licensed Spruce Grove homegrower told StarMetro in November hed been approached by hundreds of frustrated people looking for seeds, and had been gifting them when he was able, which is legal under the Cannabis Act.

A medical grower in Ardrossan launched a website in November called Home Grown Connect where cannabis users can access seeds, clones and cannabis through gifting or trading.

Jordan Sinclair, a spokesperson for Tweeds Ontario-based parent company Canopy Growth, said the company initially planned to wait until spring to sell seeds for outdoor growing.

It really was just something where we noticed that there was a demand, and we just responded to that demand a little quicker than we had originally planned, he said.

Sinclair said the low-potency Argyle and high-potency Bakerstreet are two of the companys most well-known strains.

Cannabis plants take several months to grow but can potentially yield hundreds of grams of product. Sinclair said a job well done, grown indoors, will yield about 200 grams per plant.

There is no guarantee that all the seeds will sprout, but Canopy has a customer support troubleshooting service customers can call for guidance.

Holmen said she expects seeds will soon make their way into retail stores across the province, though at this point, none of the other licensed producers working with AGLC have plans to sell their own strains.

Holmen said the AGLC currently has no plans to sell live plants, as moisture and lighting requirements make transportation tricky.

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It definitely puts (Canopy) in a bit of a niche market in Alberta right now, which is advantageous for them, Holmen said.

Four-packs are going for $60 apiece on the AGLC site, which is within the range of prices for cannabis on sites that are not government-sanctioned.

In July, one Edmonton head shop was selling seeds in prices ranging from $40 for a pack of five, to $150 for a pack of three, depending on the strain. However, while head shops have openly sold cannabis seeds in Alberta in the past, that was technically illegal.

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OTTAWAPolice say a 62-year-old Ottawa man is facing charges after he allegedly brought child pornography back to Canada following a mission trip to an orphanage in Nepal.

Police say the suspect was stopped by Canada Border Services Agency officers in mid-December when he returned to Canada after the mission.

They say the officers found evidence of suspected child pornography, as well communications where the man allegedly sought to have sexual relations with five Nepalese boys under the age of 16.

The Ottawa Police Internet Child Exploitation Unit says it carried out an investigation and the suspect was arrested Friday at Torontos Pearson International Airport, where he was escorted off a plane bound for Panama City.

A search warrant was simultaneously executed at the suspects Ottawa residence where police say additional electronic devices containing images of child pornography were seized.

They say Paul McCarthy was charged with possession of child pornography, luring a child under 18 and importing child pornography, and was set to appear in court on Saturday.

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The voice thundering through the speakers warns of suffering, disease and financial ruin, as yellow-vested devotees respond with chants of No surrender! and We will resist!

This is not a sermon predicting the end of days or a fired-up militia preparing for war.

Its a Dec. 15 rally of the yellow vest movement, which came to Canada a couple weeks before. The rallies have taken place at the Alberta Legislature and Churchill Square in Edmonton every Saturday for the last month. And it looks like its not going anywhere any time soon, with another rally planned for this Saturday at Churchill Square.

The movement originated in France in November with rallies and marches in some cases erupting into large-scale riots and arrests. It has since has spread globally and is gaining traction in Canada.

While it started in Europe as a labour movement protesting income inequality, business-friendly economic reform and a high cost of living, here it has expanded beyond economic concerns, delving into anti-globalism, nationalism, anti-government sentiment and xenophobia.

The crowd fluctuates in size but easily attracts hundreds each week. The rallies have at times been tense, with counterprotesters accusing the yellow vesters of being racist, with several shouting matches resulting in fist fights.

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The yellow vesters call for building pipelines, demand a clampdown on illegal immigration and decry Canada signing the UN Migration Pact, a non-binding treaty that aims to improve global co-operation on international migration.

This is a blatant attack on our national sovereignty and our individual freedoms as a nation state, a speaker bellows to an excitable crowd at the Alberta Legislature grounds.

You are going to pay! You are going to suffer a reduction in the quality of the taxpayer-funded services!

Week to week, the crowd is fairly homogenous: mostly white, young or middle-aged men but theres also a sizable number of women. The signs slamming Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Alberta Premier Rachel Notley are legion, showing an eagerness to attack personalities as well as policy.

People like Carman Doan said they attend to support pipeline construction and Canadian oil but also to defend Canadas sovereign borders.

We fought for that in two world wars and were just going to hand it over to a (foreign) body? Im totally for immigration; we need immigration in Canada  but we want it done properly, Doan told StarMetro. We dont want to just open our borders wide because were not even a country then.

Among everyone StarMetro spoke with, there was a prevailing sense that the country is changing and its working-class Canadians who will be left behind. Thats at the heart of Canadas yellow vest movement, says Jared Wesley, a political scientist at the University of Alberta.

One core element thats present in a lot of these movements, particularly in North America, is this sense of perceived status loss, Wesley said. There are certain people in society that feel like theyre falling behind other people in society who dont look like or arent like them.

Wesley emphasizes the word perceived. While older, white men no longer have as big a piece of the power pie as they once did, they still dominate the top of most institutions, Wesley said.

In Alberta, the movement has seen a lot of traction because of the oil recession, the federal governments inability to build a pipeline and the province imposing a carbon tax. But according to Wesley, many Albertans also feel threatened by the provinces changing demographics.

You cant ignore how the social aspects and that whole political element of being left behind is much more complex than just a paycheque, Wesley said.

Although some yellow vest members denounce extremists in their midst, the movement, intentionally or not, is providing a platform to individuals and groups with extreme views. The Wolves of Odin  an Edmonton-based splinter group of the Soldiers of Odin who insist theyre only against radical Islam but have posted blatantly Islamophobic remarks on social media  have attended every yellow vest protest in Edmonton.

The Yellow Vest Canada Facebook page, which has more than 100,000 members, is particularly toxic, said Canadian Anti-Hate Network director Evan Balgord, a researcher who has been tracking the yellow vest movement nationwide.

If you go through it at any given moment, youre going to find anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, youre going to find death threats, youre going to find other calls to violence, racism directed to Muslims  and it doesnt take very long, Balgord said. I found my first death threat in five minutes.

Within five minutes of browsing the page, StarMetro found comments about Nostradamus predicting a race war, conspiracy theories about how the Rothschild family of bankers (who are Jewish) rule the world and one commentator saying they hope a plane carrying the prime minister would crash.

A profile under the name Jess Derouin posts about how sharia law, an Islamic form of governing, would be implemented in Canada in 5-10 years tops if we dont act now.

This isnt just about pipelines and the economy and taxes. This is about preserving our values and way of life, the post states.

Another profile under the name Marcus Aurelius posted: Multiculturalism is merely acceptance of the destruction of your culture.

The movement has no clear leadership, but at least some of the national and local organizers have anti-globalist views.

The Yellow Vests Canada Facebook page lists a Tyler Malenfant as its administrator. The same Facebook profile was used to post comments on an Al Jazeera news article about a Jewish conspiracy to destroy Christianity and replace North Americas white majority through a concerted effort of mass migration.

When asked about his comments on the news article, the user of the profile deleted the comments and denied they ever existed. The user said the screenshots StarMetro took were fake.

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Stephen Garvey, who has organized at least one of Edmontons yellow vest rallies, is leader of the Calgary-based National Citizens Alliance, a group that has been banned from festivals for spreading controversial views on immigration and multiculturalism.

There are some yellow vesters who feel the movement is being misrepresented by fringe groups, and the economic message is being lost.

Really the message is right in the middle, Terry Wiley told StarMetro at a Dec. 22 rally. And its sort of undermined by everyone trying to shout over each other.

Yellow vester Gil Whyte is also frustrated with how the media focuses on the attendance of groups such as Wolves of Odin.

We are not pro-Soldiers of Odin  Wed rather they just didnt show up, Whyte said. We also think that we cant stop them from coming out and having their voice (heard).

Irfan Chaudhry, director of MacEwan Universitys office of human rights, diversity and equity and an instructor who has researched hate crimes in Canada, said that while many yellow vest protesters have legitimate concerns with the economy and the government, its evident there is racism and xenophobia simmering beneath the surface.

You might be there for one reason, but the ideology or the motive or the grievance thats being fuelled by lot of the groups that go there is connected to some of that xenophobic rhetoric thats being spread, he said.

Its fuelled with rhetoric around being welcoming and inclusive up to a certain point. And I think thats where these conversations get really interesting. People will say, Im not racist, I just want this kind of person in here, Chaudhry added.

The movement seems to have found fertile ground in Alberta. Balgord, who is based in Toronto, said the protests in Alberta appear larger and more sustained than in other parts of the country.

The fact that this is like a very western-driven thing is also a bit of a shift, Balgord said.

Theres also the recurring idea that the rest of the country doesnt acknowledge or respect Albertas contribution to the national economy, Wesley said.

Balgord has observed the yellow vest movement in Alberta bringing together what he calls the vanilla far right  a 35-plus group that is anti-government and suspicious of Islam  with a new wave of younger, more web-savvy white nationalists who have their own symbols and interact in their own circles.

A unique facet about it in here in Canada is its kind of serving as a lightning rod  The yellow vest movement is proving to be a meeting ground for all of the far right. It is at the moment acting like a unite the right kind of thing here in Canada, Balgord said.

A confluence of factors have contributed to a rise in Islamophobia in Canada, he said. First, the federal Liberals anti-Islamophobia motion, M-103, was seen as stifling to free speech.

Then there was the wave of Syrian refugees, followed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeting a welcome to people fleeing war and persecution, in a perceived rebuke to Trumps border wall. That made migration from non-white and non-Christian countries the face of Canadas immigration program, Wesley said.

That hasnt happened in previous generations, he said.

For Chaudhry, the fact that the larger movement has provided a cover for some of the more insidious elements in its midst is a major concern.

Most people will come together and protest, which is absolutely fine, but you also have small offshoots who say protesting is not enough. Weve got to do something  and thats where you might see places (of worship) being defaced or vandalized, he said.

I think theres real impact in terms of how those false narratives fuel these fears.

Wiley, one of the protesters, said youll always find a minority with extreme views in any group. And while he acknowledged some peoples anger might take an uglier form, he insists at the end of the day, the yellow vest movement is simply about people who are concerned with the countrys future  and their pocketbooks.

Its hard to worry about the end of the world when you cant get past the end of the month.

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Off a dirt road outside Kingston, Jamaica, 300 marijuana plants sit in manicured rows overseen by a Rastafarian grow master who goes by the name Bob on the Job.

As Canadian pot producer Aphria Inc. tells it, the farm is part of its growing portfolio of international assets. For two U.S. short sellers, its one of the catalysts for an offensive that sent Aphria shares plunging in December. Hindenburg Research and Quintessential Capital Management questioned the farms existence and said Aphria overpaid for largely worthless assets in a three-country deal.

The truth, as uncovered by a tour of the Jamaican countryside and the back streets of Buenos Aires by Bloomberg, is more nuanced. In the nascent world of global pot investing, assets can be hard to document and even harder to value, though first-mover advantage may hold big rewards.

Aphria acquired LATAM Holdings Inc. in a September deal that the Leamington, Ontario-based company valued at $193 million when it was announced and SOL Global Investments Corp., the seller, said was worth $298 million when it closed. The assets include Marigold Projects, a licensed Jamaican grower, a pharmaceutical distribution warehouse in Argentina and licensed farmland in Colombia.

Huge opportunity

In mid-December, black and yellow plastic tubs brimming with medical-grade marijuana were stacked inside an old shipping container on the Marigold farm. The haul is the product of 2,500 kilograms (5,500 pounds) of weed it harvested from 10 acres of former sugar cane-growing land leased from the government, proof Aphria says, the assets have value.

Theres been so much interest in Jamaicas medical marijuana that there were companies coming from all over to the island to assess the situation, Lloyd Tomlinson, Marigolds founder, said at his office in Kingston. In the country made famous by the ganja-smoking reggae star Bob Marley, thats a huge opportunity.

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Hindenburg and New York-based hedge fund Quintessential called the acquisitions part of a shell game to funnel money to insiders at an inflated price. The Dec. 3 report sent Aphrias stock down by about half in three days, wiping out $1.4 billion in market value.

Aphria called the report malicious, false and defamatory, and said the deals were backed by a fairness opinion from Cormark Securities Inc., a Toronto investment bank. It has appointed a special committee to review the acquisitions and named Irwin Simon as an independent chairman, replacing Vic Neufeld who remains chief executive officer.

New twist

The emerging cannabis markets in Latin America and the Caribbean are in various early stages of developing a robust medical cannabis regime, like we have in Canada, Aphria said in a Dec. 17 emailed response to questions about the short report. They also represent significant opportunities to realize new demand and establish important, low-cost regional cultivation for domestic use and international export.

The controversy took a new twist when smaller U.S. cannabis retailer Green Growth Brands Ltd. announced a proposed hostile takeover offer on Dec. 27 that valued Aphria at almost $2.8 billion. Aphrias shares jumped 13 per cent the day after the bid, erasing some of the losses from the report. Hindenburg called the bid non-credible and raised questions about connections between the two companies while Aphria said the offer significantly undervalues the company.

Aphria is scheduled to report earnings for its fiscal second quarter on Jan. 11.

Armed guards

The Jamaica farm is the most obvious proof that Aphria bought a functioning business in Latin America. Quintessential said its researcher was unable to find the operation, despite much searching, and was therefore unable to confirm its existence.

Located an hours drive from Kingston in St. Catherine parish, the farm is tucked about 250 metres off the road, surrounded by a chain-link fence, patrolled by armed guards, and monitored by dozens of security cameras. Tomlinson, a lanky, bald Jamaica native, said he started the operation in 2015 after obtaining a renewable, 25-year lease from the government. He declined to say how much he paid for the lease.

About 4,100 plants were being grown when Aphria bought the business on Sept. 27, according to a copy of an inventory seen by Bloomberg. On the day Bloomberg visited, workers were moving month-old plants from a covered nursery to the growing fields, including a strain the company developed called Marigold.

Production potential

The October-November harvest is the largest, according to the company, but the climate can support as many as three harvests a year. Tomlinson said the farm has the capacity to increase its production substantially to 16,000 kilograms a year. Hes never been contacted by Quintessential, he said.

Aphria said it received a Tier 3 license for the farm, allowing it to cultivate five acres or more.

In an emailed response to questions, Quintessential stood by its research and said the farm is of little importance for the purpose of valuing the assets of the company because Marigold leases the land, instead of owning it. It also doubted the 2,500 kilogram output claim.

The only asset that Aphria appears to have purchased is a Tier 3 cannabis license, Quintessential said.

Retail outlets

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Aphria cant yet export its Jamaican weed, as the country currently doesnt allow it. The government plans to introduce a bill to parliament early this year that would allow for commercial shipments abroad, according to the Cannabis Licensing Authority. Initially, the company plans to focus on the local market, selling to the 2.9 million residents and the more than 4 million tourists who visit annually.

Quintessential also raised doubts about the existence of a Kingston retail shop, called Sensi Medical Cannabis House. The hedge fund said it visited the address in a small shopping centre in Jamaicas capital in October and couldnt find the business, coming to the conclusion that Marigolds Unit 51 didnt exist.

Bloomberg found the store well marked on the second floor, above a pizza-by-the-slice and Jamaican beef-patty joint. Inside, the store was built out, but shelves and display cases were empty. A second room, in which a leather couch sat, was built for smoking on the premises. A sales manager who asked not to be identified said they plan to have a medical doctor on site who can write prescriptions to some of the 3,000 customers they expect each week.

Argentina operations

Marigold has three other retail sites that arent yet open, according to copies of the approvals seen by Bloomberg.

Quintessential, in response to questions, said it couldnt locate the business because Aphria had published the wrong address for Sensi.

In Argentina, Aphrias subsidiary ABP SA is remodelling a warehouse in the residential Parque Patricios neighbourhood of Buenos Aires. The four-story building is not operational, according to three construction workers who asked not to be named. The entrance hall has an empty reception desk, four waiting chairs and eight official authorizations posted on the wall granted by local regulatory bodies.

ABP also runs a drug store called Farmacia & Perfumeria. Aphria said ABP also distributes to a network of pharmacies, clinics and hospitals and that its delivered 1,500 bottles of an oil derived from cannabis for use in clinical studies on treating refractory epilepsy in children.

Valuation discrepancy

The LATAM deal was funded by the issuance of 15.7 million common Aphria shares plus the assumption of $1 million (U.S.) in debt. Quintessential and Hindenburg said in their Dec. 3 report that this amounts to about $280 million based on Aphrias share price when the deal closed, and the Jamaican assets made up $145 million of that total. Aphria said the deal was worth $193 million when it was announced in July and the seller of the assets said it received approximately $298 million when the deal closed in September. Neither Aphria nor the seller gave a value for the Jamaican assets.

Aphria paid 15-20x more for its Jamaican operations than competitors, Nathan Anderson, founder of Hindenburg, said in an email on Saturday. A small farm connected by a dirt road does not justify the egregious acquisition price.

Aphria said the price paid was comparable to similar acquisitions made by other Canadian cannabis producers.

Bank of Nova Scotia analysts Oliver Rowe and Ben Isaacson said the $193 million price given by Aphria at the time of the announcement was more appropriate, as this was the value management had control over when they entered the deal. They estimated the Jamaican assets to be worth about $45 million and pointed to similar deals done by Canopy Growth Corp. and Aurora Cannabis Inc.

Canopy agreed to pay an initial $34.8 million in shares for Spectrum Cannabis Colombia S.A.S, giving it 42 licensed hectares of production capacity. Aurora paid $290 million to acquire ICC Labs Inc., which gave them two greenhouse facilities, three outdoor grow sites and two under-construction facilities in Uruguay and Colombia.

Colombia Farmland

In Colombia, Aphria purchased a 90 per cent stake in Colcanna, which it said has an office and 34 acres of farmland in a coffee-growing region about 200 miles west of Bogota.

These transactions indicate to us that Aphrias purchase price of $193 million for Colombia, Argentina and Jamaica is, at the very least, rational and perhaps even relatively inexpensive, the Scotiabank analysts wrote in a note.

Ultimately, the LATAM acquisition is a small part of Aphrias total assets, which include Canadian production capacity thats expected to reach 255,000 kilograms annually in 2019, $314 million of cash on its balance sheet and supply agreements with all the Canadian provinces.

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DES MOINES, IOWAThe U.S. Department of Agriculture says it must delay the release of key crop reports due to the partial government shutdown.

The announcement Friday left investors and farmers without vital information during an already tumultuous time for agricultural markets. The USDA planned to release the reports Jan. 11 but said that even if the shutdown ended immediately, the agency wouldnt have time to release the reports as scheduled.

Grain market analyst Todd Hultman says the situation will worsen if the shutdown continues.

The lack of information comes amid the uncertainty of trade with China, where tariffs led to an abrupt drop in U.S. exports to the country. There were indications that China was beginning to resume purchases of U.S. crops, but because of the government shutdown its unclear whats happening.

Read More:

Farmers fear another hit as Trump shutdown threatens income

Trump threatens he could extend shutdown for months or even years

Pence, top Trump appointees to get raises as federal workers go without pay during shutdown

Read more about:
Canadian stocks closed at their highest level in three weeks, buoyed by strength south of the border, while the loonie and bond yields jumped despite a slowdown in hiring.

The S&P/TSX Composite Index rose 1.5 per cent to 14,426.62 Friday amid strong jobs growth in the U.S., bringing its gain for the holiday-shortened week to 1.4 per cent.

Technology stocks led the way, rising 2.7 per cent after losing 5.1 per cent in the previous two sessions. Shopify Inc. added 5.8 per cent.

The energy sector jumped 2.5 per cent as crude prices closed out their best week since June. Torc Oil & Gas Ltd. posted the biggest gain, adding 7.4 per cent.

In other moves:

Stocks

Hudsons Bay Co. jumped 16 per cent, the most since early 2015. Chairman Richard Baker bought a 9.8 per cent stake in the retailer from a Canadian pension fund at a 29 per cent premium from Thursdays close.

Lundin Mining Corp. added 8.4 per cent as a trifecta of good news on the economy, interest rates and trade tensions boosted investor confidence in industrial metals.

Quarterhill Inc. rose 8.9 per cent. A U.S. federal judge declined to overturn a jury verdict that Apple infringed two patents, but lowered the damages.

Commodities

Western Canada Select crude oil traded at a $12.60 discount to WTIGold fell 0.7 per cent to $1,285.80 an ounce.

FX/Bonds

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The Canadian dollar strengthened 0.7 per cent to C$1.3394 per U.S. dollar.

The Canada 10-year government bond yield rose 10 basis points to 1.93 per cent, the biggest gain since mid-2017.
Staff reports

Watertown Public Opinion

Terry Helland was about 21-years-old in 1983 when he discovered the Goss Opera House at the corner of Kemp Avenue and Maple Street in downtown Watertown.

I had heard about it for years, he said. I believe one day the metal doors on the Maple Street side were just open. Being an inquisitive individual, I just went in and explored.

There he found a beautiful forgotten theater that was a grand downtown gathering place when Charles Goss first opened it in Spring 1889.

I got really excited about it and set out to find out who owned it. I was president of the community theater, the Town Players.

Helland, the son of the late Watertown Realtor Betty Helland, and a 1980 Watertown High School graduate understood the significance of this diamond in the rough. He has been involved in theatrical productions for nearly 40 years.

Now living in San Diego, he was thrilled to hear that the Friends of the Goss Opera House, Inc., a non-profit organization, purchased the building early this week.

Shortly after discovering the Goss in 1983, Helland set out to save it. He gathered a group who were featured in a Sept. 8, 1983, Watertown Public Opinion feature story.

The story reports that Helland signed a 35-year-lease with then building owner Jim Rogers of Rapid City, for a dollar per year. The lease was for the second and third floors, which hosts the theater. The lease required the space to be used for cultural events.

The lease required that $100,000 in improvements had to be made in a five-year period.

Helland recruited Art Conners, Barbara Miller, Jan Holzwarth, Gail Ries, Linda Marquardt and Joanita Fisher to a volunteer board.

Early financial support came from the late Dr. Gerald Tracy, Helland said. We had a good relationship and he helped with about $5,000 to get us running.

That money was used to get electricity into the hall along with rudimentary lighting.

It was just filthy, he said in a Thursday night phone interview. But during that summer we got it pretty well cleaned up.

We held rehearsals on the stage for the Town Players performance of The Corn is Green, he said. The actual performances could not be held in the building because it was not up to code.

Fundraising was difficult, he said, because an effort was underway to build a new Boys and Girls Club. It was an uphill battle.

About 18 months later, Helland moved to Brookings and the effort died for a lack of financial support.

Still, Helland said it was worth the effort.

It is a really cool place. I gave tours to people from all over the state. It had the best acoustics imaginable.

Incredible acoustics is a description given by musicians from around the world who have played in the theater in the past 10 years.

Helland said his tours always ended in the balcony. He would leave the group, walk down along the box seats on the third floor and continue talking. He then took a hidden ladder down to the stage where he continued to talk in quieter tones.

Eventually, I would be whispering and they could still hear me, he said.

Back in 1983, when the group was working to save it, the Public Opinion story said, The stage, the six box-seats and the gracefully curved balcony will need some restoration work, but there seems to be no reason to believe that the theater cannot be restored to its former grandeur and used for various art events in Watertown.

Significant work since has been done and more is needed, but the Goss appears to have a long-term future as an active part of Watertowns community.

Helland said he was thrilled to hear that news as he believes the Goss can be a key to the citys future.

Watertown is just an under-developed tourism place, he said. It is so beautiful and charming, and the Goss is a great asset.

He said he looks forward to returning home once the Goss roof repair is finished and the theater is reopened.

Send me an invitation to the grand opening, he said.

Brad Johnson is a Watertown businessman and journalist who is active in state and local affairs.
Sarah Mearhoff

Forum News Service

PIERRE  If you ask Republican Gov. Dennis Daugaards colleagues to describe him, youll often hear the same few adjectives, no matter their political leanings: Thoughtful, deliberate, hard-working, humble.

Its a legacy that Daugaard, 65, has built for himself over the past eight years as South Dakotas governor without very much trying for just that, a legacy. In interviews, he shrugs off the question, saying he didnt enter politics to create a name for himself.

Daugaards chief of staff and son-in-law Tony Venhuizen said Daugaard has never been concerned with his popularity, if he would be reelected or how he would be remembered. In an interview, Venhuizen said, (Daugaard) sees the idea of a legacy as kind of a selfish or self-centered concept.

Hes really just focused on: Did we make the state better? Are we in a better position than we were? he said. There are a lot of previous governors who 50 years later, 100 years later, no one really remembers. But they did things that made South Dakota better.

Its this attitude that has led Daugaard, who was raised on a family farm near Garretson near the Minnesota border, to make some famously unpopular decisions  sometimes going against his own partys interests  for what he saw as the best option for the state. He hit the ground running with a hard sell when he entered office in 2011, immediately proposing in his first budget that the state cut spending by 10 percent across all departments in an attempt to mend the still-aching economy following the Great Recession.

Sitting in the office hed be vacating in a few short weeks one December afternoon, Daugaard said despite pushback, his office stayed firm on their demands and was able to successfully balance the budget his first year in office, even after federal stimulus dollars ran dry. In the years since, South Dakota has had budget surpluses every year.

When hes asked what he thinks his greatest achievement in office was, improving the fiscal health of the state is his immediate response, as if you tapped his knee with the hammer at his yearly physical.

And on the opposite end of the fiscal spectrum, under Daugaards watch, the state twice approved spending hikes to raise teacher pay and to increase funding for roads and bridges.

Those were heavy lifts because they required two-thirds votes to raise taxes, and thats not a popular thing, Daugaard said. But he said his task force approach of consulting stakeholders and building consensus amongst legislators helped him push through controversial measures.

It was a hard lesson for him to learn. Daugaard clasps his hands on his desk and sighs as he freely admits to what he calls his legislative failures, like his proposed merit-based teacher pay. The proposal was ultimately passed by the legislature but later rejected in a statewide ballot vote in 2012. From that blemish early on in his first term, Daugaard said he learned to listen to all sides of an issue and always do his homework.

Daugaards former chief of staff and Republican U.S. Rep.-elect Dusty Johnson said Daugaards work ethic is something I dont know the people of South Dakota can fully appreciate, with him routinely being the first to get to the office in the morning and doing his own research rather than blindly taking staff recommendations.

So much of the modern political world wants us to develop opinions quickly and to shout them out at the world, Johnson said. From Twitter to cable news, we are constantly told that that is what a politician is supposed to look like. From him, I learned that there is a better, more mature way to be a decision maker.

Though Venhuizen said Daugaard didnt necessarily set out to make a name for himself as a bipartisan governor, its also this maturity that seems to have shaped Daugaards method of reaching across the aisle. In Daugaards words, he [tries] to be more adult than to hold political grudges or to launch personal attacks against those with whom he disagrees.

In the deeply red South Dakota, Daugaard, in theory, didnt have to work with the opposite party to get his agenda accomplished; he had the help of a supermajority in both the House and Senate for that. But he said, That doesnt mean that only Republicans have good ideas. And there will be ideas that Republicans have that I dont like.

2018 Democratic gubernatorial candidate and former Senate Minority Leader Billie Sutton said he definitely, absolutely felt respected and listened to during his time working with Daugaard in Pierre.

Even though didnt agree on everything, we found places to agree, Sutton said. I think you see that deteriorating across the country. We have to work together to get things done. I think Daugaard did a good job of that, even when sometimes he didnt have to.

Johnson echoed Suttons sentiments, calling Daugaard an increasingly rare creature on the political landscape amidst a time of intense political polarization throughout the country.

I think there are more than maybe we realize, but we certainly dont have enough of them, Johnson said.

When asked how he has worked to unite his legislature and citizens in this politically charged time, Daugaard said simply, Lead by example.

If you want people to be civil to each other, I need to set that example and be civil to my opponents in elections and in debates and hopefully people will see that as the example they should follow.

Theres more Daugaard said he wishes he could have accomplished during his two terms: finding a solution to better protect the states surface waters  but I really dont know what the solution to that is  and he said he doesnt think he fully appreciated how significant the growth in methamphetamine use has been the last couple of years in the state.

While weve done pretty good  in fact, I think weve done very good  work on improving opportunities for treatment of addicts rather than simply imprisoning addicts, that attacks the problem after it exists, Daugaard said. We need to attack the problem before it arises in terms of prevention. Once they get addicted, it just takes them over. So thats an area I regret.

But even in the face of a drug epidemic or the litany of other issues South Dakota faces going forward, Daugaard said he is hopeful for the state after he leaves office. He said South Dakota is unique because of the challenges it faces as a rural state, with limited access to commodities like mass transit or broadband that more populated states have.

Those shortfalls force South Dakotans to be more adaptive and more self-reliant than others who really have never been challenged. Challenges build character.

Im very optimistic about our state. Whatever the challenges may be in the future, Im confident we will rise to them.
Donus Roberts

Book Look

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Signet Classics, 352 pages, 1757, $5.95.

There are dozens of issues of this classic biography, but I have recommended the Signet Classic edition because it contains additional essays and articles that illuminate the mind of this common-man genius.

Franklins autobiography was published in 1757, 33 years before he died and nearly 20 years before the American colonies exerted their right to freedom from Great Britain. My favorite copy of Franklins Autobiography is a very common and unexceptional edition published by The Spencer Press in 1936.

Over the last 250 years, Ben Franklin has become the prototype for the often cited addage, American Exceptionalism, loosely defined as a common man who creates uncommon opportunities for himself and his neighbors because he has the freedom to do so.

In the opening of his autobiography, Franklin writes, From the poverty and obscurity in which I was born and in which I passed my earliest years, I have raised myself to a state of affluence and some degree of celebrity in the world. As constant good fortune has accompanied me even to an advanced period of my life (Franklins age at the time, ...., was already the average lifetime, although Franklins greatest contributions to the United States were still decades ahead) my posterity will perhaps be desirous of learning the means which I employed, and which, thanks to Providence, so well succeeded with me. They may also deem them fit to be imitated, should any of them find themselves in similar circumstances.

Most school-children learn about Franklins discoveries and theories about electricity, the invention of the lightening rod, the invention of bifocals, the development of the Franklin stove and the list goes on, including author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, inventor, humorist, civic activist, statesman, diplomat and founding father.

Faced with such a wide plain of achievements, I am left speechless, but I did commit to a column. So here goes.

I was reminded of Franklin when I wrote about the great Los Angeles Library Fire a month ago. We know from his autobiography how much Franklin favored libraries. Although he did know it at the time, Franklin did indeed invent the modern library.

It all commenced with the Junto Society, a group of like-minded aspiring artisans and tradesman who hoped to improve themselves while they improved their community. All over America there are still versions of the Junto concept. One such group in Watertown comes to mind, with the 19-40 young leaders, and to make the fit tighter, they even have a book club.

In order for the Junto members to advance, they needed books, but books were rare and expensive. So rather than each trying to accumulate a personal library, Junto members, led by Franklin, accumulated a group library which they shared amongst themselves.

Extending off this idea, Franklin created the idea of a subscription library, which led to the creation of the Library Company of Philadelphia. Its charter was composed by Franklin in 1731, and the following year Franklin hired the first American Librarian, Louis Timothees. Franklins genius was always that common sense and hard work will trump the need for money to be successful.

Franklins first trade while growing up was apprentice printer for his brother. After abandoning the trade for several years, Franklin returned with a new vision. He saw the printing press as a way to link the diverse colonies of America together. Thus he invented the first newspaper chain in order to provide information about each other (the concept being that we have much more to join us together than to divide us.) He also believed strongly that newspapers should provide a public service and serve as a check to excesses of government, in this case the government of King George III. All this Franklin accomplished by age 30.

Next, Franklin, always in the hunt for unity, pondered how to circulate ideas, personal letters, business correspondence, and newspapers. This first led to small mail and letter delivery services that used stamps as paid currency. More and more he brought these small units together into a colonial postal group. During the Revolutionary War, the communication links between the New England Colonies and the Southern Colonies helped to keep the fledgling nation together.

When the war was over and the United States emerged, a national postal system became a priority, and we still benefit every day from that Franklin vision.

Franklin did not have the academic knowledge to write the Declaration of Independence; so even when asked, he said, I have a better idea, Thomas Jefferson. He did not have the world history knowledge that enabled Madison, Mason, Hamilton and others to write the Constitution, but he had common sense to bring the ideas down to the level of the public.

Most of us have read snippets of Franklins Autobiography. Depending upon font size, the original book is fewer than 250 pages. Thank goodness we still have Ben Franklins among us, people who join common sense, hard work, and humility. These people conceptualize and build the better mousetraps, which is crucial, but to be like Franklin one must continue to build better mousetraps; focus on the invention, not the money.

I will close with one of my favorite addages from Poor Richards Almanac, which is usually attached to Franklins Autobiography: Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for thats the stuff life is made of.

In February, I will review Ruta Sepetys novel, Ashes in the Snow, which has also been made into a movie.

Donus Roberts is a former teacher, current advisor to the ABC BOOK Club, an avid reader/collector of books and owner of ddrbooks. He invites reader feedback at ddrbooks@wat.midco.net.
Write Now: Meet the Phuket Island Writers

What do you get when you mix multiple nationalities and personalities on a paradise island and a boatload of creative ideas? For one eclectic (or someone may say eccentric) band of scribes, it is The Phuket Writers Group (PWG).

Community

By Jill N Wells

Saturday 5 January 2019, 12:56PM

PWG is a rather small group, on Facebook it shows merely 24 members. Past and present members include authors from Romania, Russia, Germany, Serbia, Indonesia, China, Finland, Thailand, South Africa, as well as Canada, US, UK and Australia.

According to PWG chairman Paul, People in Phuket come and go. The aim of our small group is to collaborate, to encourage, and to inspire each other to write. All you need is the spark of an idea and the effort to stick with it. Our main achievement has been to publish three books in four years, which is practically the speed of light  especially since running a writers group is much like herding cats.

PWGs founder, Anne OConnell, a Canadian writer established this group in 2014 when she moved to Phuket and didnt find any similar group to get involved.

She says, Once our group began to gel, it also became a social gathering and eventually a foodie group as well. PWG combined three of my favourite things: writing, good friends and good food.

For Anne, she shared her writings and got solid, constructive feedback. She could also share her experience and expertise as a long-time writer and editor. It was a win-win. When the group decided to publish its first anthology, it became a wonderful group project where everyone pitched in toward the goal. For some PWG members it was their first time being published. It was very rewarding.

Over the years, with sincere and passionate peer support, some members have published their own books. Monthly collaboration resulted in three self-published anthologies in English. Paul tells me, Volume I in 2014: An Anthology of Short Stories, Volume II in 2016: All over The Map short stories from the Phuket Island Writers, and Volume III in 2018: Observations on Modern Life with themes on love, death, music, food, and health.

Tales are both fiction and non-fiction. Each story is filled with emotions and introspection that will keep you turning the pages. I hope that if books do have the power to bring people together, this one may work its magic.

More important than the books is how their members are inspired from this group.

Carol Taylor, a lovely British lady, an early member of PWG, told me, I met great people and PWG gave me the inspiration to believe in myself and write.

Over the monthly meetings, Carol received a lot great encouraging peer feedback. I loved the writing exercises we did at each meeting and the round-robin feedback. It gave me confidence in my writing skills. And publishing the books was a great idea and again gave us local writers a platform.

Though she moved to northern Thailand, she keeps her habit of writing. Currently, I have a successful blog whose readership is growing, a regular weekly cooking column. My novel is in progress and I have a cookery book soon to be published this year.

Carol believes success is to find the right thing to do and stick to it. If it wasn't for the group's encouragement I would not be writing today. I would encourage anyone who loves to write to join a group like PWG. Youll find a great mix of people with various skills who are happy to help and encourage you to become a better writer.

During monthly meetings, PWG discuss subjects like writing styles, genres, plot creating, character designing and building, to how to choose a publishing agent. They do rotation writing practice, appointed subject writing, theme writing, distillation/reduction writing (write the same story with 500 words, then reduce to 100, 50, until 10 words). One could never imagine where an idea may lead. They also share and recommend books which change each members reading outlook.

AL Seth is an energetic Phuketian. He says, I joined PWG to find like-minded aspiring writers and I got exactly that. I've spent over 10 years writing short stories, poetry and finished writing a novel alone. When I found out PWG exists (through Facebook search), I immediately jumped at the opportunity and was accepted right away. AL says, Being a PWG member quite literally changed my life. Having met fellow writers from all walks of life, I fell into great company, each of whom has great stories to tell, factual and fictitious. I found a real home among the PWG members. For the first time in my writing career, I found validation in my writing in the form of constructive criticism from my peers.

After being a member for nearly two years, AL says he benefited greatly from PWG. Writing, critiquing, discussions, exchange of ideas, blogging, presenting writing techniques, experimenting with themes and circumstances, challenging a writing genre, to name a few... each of which has allowed us to experiment and sharpen our writing and storytelling skills. There is no right or wrong answer, just a series of improvements within your own voice. AL says By presenting my Lovecraftian-horror stories to PWG and receiving critiques, I discovered where I could improve. I wouldnt have improved without PWG. I owe them so much.

AL went back to university in 2017, but being a prominent member of PWG, AL has never been more confident in experimenting with his writing. He believes its never too late to start writing and every moment is the right moment to write.

After all, as Mark Twain once said, Writing is easy. All you have to do is to cross out the wrong words.

Upon joining PWG, all members like to ask the new blood whether they can cook. Once a year, all members have a wonderful potluck to share and celebrate.

New members are always welcome at the monthly meetings.

Contact the Phuket Writers Group by amil at PhuketPenAndPan@gmail.com. All three of their books are available on Amazon.
Phuket boats clear to leave port as Pabuk passes

PHUKET: Phuket Marine Office Acting Director Wiwat Chitchertwong has confirmed that the ban on boats from leaving shore for safety reasons due to the weather fallout from tropical storm Pabuk will be lifted, effective midnight tonight.

tourismtransportweathermarineSafety

By The Phuket News

Saturday 5 January 2019, 07:02PM

Phuket Marine Office Acting Director Wiwat Chitchertwong (left) announced that the ban will be lifted at midnight tonight. Photo: PR Dept

The decision to not extend ban, initially set in force from Wednesday through today (Jan 3-5), was made at a meeting at the disaster command centre set up at Phuket Provincial Hall this afternoon. Presiding over the meeting was Phuket Vice Governor Supoj Rotreuang Na Nongkhai.

The decision also follows Pabyuk being downgraded to a tropical depression and passing over the southwest coast to over the Andaman Sea earlier today (Jan 5).

The ban be lifted from 00:01 hours Jan 6, Mr Wiwat confirmed.

We have been closely monitoring the weather and the ban was in force through January 4-5, but at the meeting at 23pm today the decision was made to lift the ban, he said.

Fishing boats and commercial boats will be allowed to the Andaman Sea tomorrow, he added.

However, Mr Wiwat stressed that marine officials and Royal Thai Navy personnel will continue to monitor boats departing the 24 major piers in Phuket to ensure that safety standards are still adhered to.

This is to ensure that all ships are safe and not affected by weather conditions, he said.

Mr Wiwat also stressed for all people to keep updated on weather reports and forecasts.

Weather warnings can be found at the Thai Meteorological Department website (click here) or by calling the 24-hour weather forecast hotline 1182, he added.
Pabuk to cross Phuket

PHUKET: The centre of tropical storm Pabuk is forecast to cross Phuket later today (Jan 5), after cross Ao Leuk in Krabi overnight.

tourismweatherSafety

By The Phuket News

Saturday 5 January 2019, 11:25AM

Royal Thai Navy ship RTN Hua Hin returned to the Deep Sea Port in Phuket at about 7pm last night with tourists from Phi Phi Island safely on board. Photo: Royal Thai Navy

Royal Thai Navy ship RTN Hua Hin returned to the Deep Sea Port in Phuket at about 7pm last night with tourists from Phi Phi Island safely on board. Photo: Royal Thai Navy

Royal Thai Navy ship RTN Hua Hin returned to the Deep Sea Port in Phuket at about 7pm last night with tourists from Phi Phi Island safely on board. Photo: Royal Thai Navy

Royal Thai Navy ship RTN Hua Hin returned to the Deep Sea Port in Phuket at about 7pm last night with tourists from Phi Phi Island safely on board. Photo: Royal Thai Navy

Royal Thai Navy ship RTN Hua Hin returned to the Deep Sea Port in Phuket at about 7pm last night with tourists from Phi Phi Island safely on board. Photo: Royal Thai Navy

Royal Thai Navy ship RTN Hua Hin returned to the Deep Sea Port in Phuket at about 7pm last night with tourists from Phi Phi Island safely on board. Photo: Royal Thai Navy

Royal Thai Navy ship RTN Hua Hin returned to the Deep Sea Port in Phuket at about 7pm last night with tourists from Phi Phi Island safely on board. Photo: Royal Thai Navy

Royal Thai Navy ship RTN Hua Hin returned to the Deep Sea Port in Phuket at about 7pm last night with tourists from Phi Phi Island safely on board. Photo: Royal Thai Navy

Royal Thai Navy ship RTN Hua Hin returned to the Deep Sea Port in Phuket at about 7pm last night with tourists from Phi Phi Island safely on board. Photo: Royal Thai Navy

Royal Thai Navy ship RTN Hua Hin returned to the Deep Sea Port in Phuket at about 7pm last night with tourists from Phi Phi Island safely on board. Photo: Royal Thai Navy

CCTV images were presented confirming that no tour boats were at the usually busy major piers. Photo: PR Dept

All present at the disaster command centre this morning were ordered to remain alert and co-ordinate their work with relevant agencies. Photo: PR Dept

All present at the disaster command centre this morning were ordered to remain alert and co-ordinate their work with relevant agencies. Photo: PR Dept

All present at the disaster command centre this morning were ordered to remain alert and co-ordinate their work with relevant agencies. Photo: PR Dept

All present at the disaster command centre this morning were ordered to remain alert and co-ordinate their work with relevant agencies. Photo: PR Dept

The weather warning for Phuket remains in force, with all boats banned from leaving shore and emergency services still on standby.

Pabuk so far has very little impact on Phuket, Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana was informed at 8am this morning at a meeting held at a disaster command centre set up at Phuket Provincial Hall.

The weather station at Phuket International Airport yesterday recorded 54.9mm of rainfall and wind speeds of up to only 14.8km/h, while the weather station in Phuket Town recorded rainfall of 22.6mm but with winds gusting up to 35.2km/h.

The forecast for Phuket today is much of the same, with overcast skies and more rain predicted, and waves reaching up to two to three metres high.

However, the weather has already affected 18 flights at Phuket International Airport, with 17 flights delayed and one China Southern Airlines flight from China to Phuket cancelled, the meeting was told.

Checks on the commercial fishing fleet have confirmed that 85 boats have not returned to port in Phuket, but it has been confirmed that those 85 vessels have all taken shelter behind various islands in the region instead of risking returning to port on the open water, the meeting was told.

The Royal Thai Navy ship RTN Hua Hin returned to the Deep Sea Port with at least one other large ferry from a private operator at 7pm last night with 232 tourists from Phi Phi Island brought safely back to Phuket.

Governor Phakaphong along with Rear Admiral Vithanarat Kochaseni, Chief of Staff at the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command based in Phuket, were both on hand to welcome the tourists.

The remainder of the estimated 500 tourists stranded on Phi Phi Island by the boat safety ban (see story here) were taken back to the mainland in Krabi by a large private ferry, confirmed the Krabi office of the Public Relations Department.

The Royal Thai Navy boat RTN Tor 991 earlier yesterday had brought safely back to Phuket a total of 124 tourists who were stranded on Racha Yai Island, some 25 kilometres south of Phuket, a Navy spokesman reported.

Regardless, Governor Phakaphong this morning ordered all relevant agencies to remain on alert and to monitor the weather situation closely, and for local municipalities to do what they can to clear any clogged canals immediately to help prevent any flooding from heavy rainfall.

In this operation, to be prepared and to monitor the progress of the storm Pabuk, all sectors must be fully integrated in their work and they must make continual announcements to the public so the people are aware of the storms movement and are alert (to any danger), he said.

For the government to be prepared is a good thing, so please use the Phuket Model format as a work guide for coping with all kinds of disasters and future events as well, which requires the integration of the work of all sectors in order to help the people and for tourists to have maximum security, he added.

The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) in its weather warning issued this morning noted that eye of the Pabuk storm was expected to centre on Ao Leuk in Krabi today, with wind speeds near the centre reaching up to 65km/h.

This storm is moving west slightly northward at a speed of 10km/h, the warning said.

It is expected to move to the Andaman Sea today (5 Jan 62), the TMD noted.

This will causes heavy rain in many areas. Strong gusts of wind will affect Phetchaburi Province Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Sri Thammarat, Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket and Krabi for another one day.

People should beware of the severe conditions that cause forest runoffs and flash floods are possible, the warning noted.
Pabuk downgraded to tropical depression, passes into Andaman Sea

PHUKET: Pabuk has lost speed and moved across land to the Andaman Sea, leaving behind a trail of homes damaged by fallen trees or blown-off roofs and disrupted power networks on the mainland.

weather

By The Phuket News

Saturday 5 January 2019, 02:27PM

Nothing more than grey skies and scattered heavy showers across Phuket this morning (Jan 5). Photo: Khao Phuket

The first tropical storm to hit Thailand in 30 years turned into a depression earlier today with the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) by 11am reporting that the centre was over in Thap Put, Phang Nga, north of Phuket.

Heavy to torrential rain has continued in several areas, with gusty winds still forecast for Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket and Krabi.

The weather pattern will continue for another day, cautioned the TMD in its warning issued at 11am (see here), while still warning people in affected areas of flash floods and forest runoff.

Waves in the Andaman Sea are still expected to reach two to three metres high.

People on Southern Thailand's eastern coast have been cautioned about dangers caused by strong winds and waves ashore. Fishermen are advised to stay ashore for another day, the TMD announcement said.

The International surf Lifesaving Association has issued a High Surf Watch for Phukets west coast, which has been extended until 6pm today. (See post here.)

Flights have resumed to the southern provinces, after closures of Nakhon Sri Thammarat and Surat Thani airports, reported The Bangkok Post. (See story here.)

Bangkok Airways, which has a monopoly at Koh Samui airport, resumed normal operations early today and added extra flights to assist stranded passengers.

The airports at Nakhon Sri Thammarat and Surat Thani also resumed operations at midday.

Most ferry services to Thailand's southern holiday islands have resumed following a suspension for the storm, the rpoert added.

Over the past few days, more than 28,000 people have been evacuated into shelters across seven provinces, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation said in a daily tally on Saturday.

Authorities have recorded just one death, after a fishing boat capsized in strong winds near the coast of Pattani province, leaving another of the crew missing, though four more were safe.

PTT Exploration and Production Plc, a unit of state-owned PTT Plc, said it expected to resume operations of oil rigs at Bongkot and Erawan, two of the countrys biggest gas fields in the Gulf of Thailand, on Sunday.

It had suspended operations there since Monday and brought staff inland.
Industries take cover for Pabuk

BANGKOK: As tropical storm Pabuk assails Southern Thailands east coast on the Gulf of Thailand, authorities evacuated tens of thousands, put first responders on high alert while businesses and related authorities raced against the clock to brace for the decades worst storm.

weatherSafetyeconomics

By Bangkok Post

Saturday 5 January 2019, 11:51AM

Ferry services to Koh Samui and Koh Pha-ngan are looking to resume as soon as the ban on leaving port is lifted after tropical storm Pabuk leaves the Gulf of Thailand today (Jan 5). Photo: Bangkok Post

Energy officials are juggling resources while banks shut down in affected areas and evacuations continued.

The Energy Ministry forecasts a temporary shutdown of offshore petroleum production in the Gulf of Thailand, with the expectation of resuming normal activity on Monday after Pabuk leaves the Gulf tomorrow (Jan 6).

The countrys offshore petroleum production stopped on Wednesday, led by major gas resources in Erawan and Bongkot.

Ministry of Energy Permanent Secretary Kulit Sombatsiri said gas output has dropped by 25% to 1,800 million standard cubic feet per day during the tropical storm from 2,400 MMSCFD under normal circumstances.

Crude oil production is down 27% from 100,000 barrels a day.

But there have been no reports of damage or injuries at offshore drilling platforms or gas pipelines during the storm, and no interruptions to petroleum supply and power transmission.

Some 2,635 offshore staff from nine oil and gas drilling companies have been evacuated from platforms, while 246 need to stay at storm-hit locations.

It was fortunate that many companies did not run at full capacity, as the New Year period normally demands lower electricity than a normal working day, Mr Kulit said.

He said the full inventory of liquefied natural gas (LNG) run by PTT Plc will support power generation for five days after offshore gas production is suspended.

Diesel and bunker oil have yet to be used because of higher generation costs, so the tropical storm is unlikely to affect electricity tariffs for the next round from May to September.

The state-run Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) is ready to use oil as a supply reserve to generate power once the gas supply is depleted.

Energy officials will not import additional power supply from Laos and Malaysia.

Egats affiliated firm, Electricity Generating Plc (Egco), said Khanom Electricity Generating Co in Nakhon Si Thammarat has continuously followed up and collaborated with the government and relevant units regarding the situation.

The power plant has prepared plans to handle possible impacts.

Egco is operating normally while cooperating with PTT and Egat. PTT, the provider of natural gas for the power plant, confirms that it can provide gas uninterrupted.

If PTT cannot provide gas as promised, the power plant has enough diesel in reserve to fuel full generation for 3 days, said Egco president Jakgrich Pibulpairoj.

He said the power plant was designed and built for protection against wind, storms and floods. The plants foundation is elevated to three metres above sea level.

The landscape of the power plant is surrounded by two mountains that act as shields, protecting the power plant from storms.

"In the event of heavy downpours, Egco has prepared machines, equipment and staff members to drain flooding to the sea while waste disposal will be well managed," Mr Jakgrich said. "The power plant has an evacuation plan to relocate staff members from residential areas to the head office and cooperate with municipal migration units to help communities surrounding the power plant."

FERRY SERVICE HALTED

Raja Ferry Port is set to resume services once Pabuk moves past and the situation returns to normal, said Puttipong Wimolphan, deputy managing director of the company.

Ferry service at the Raja Ferry pier for Donsak-Koh Samui has been halted as strong winds and heavy rains persist in Surat Thani and many provinces in the South.

We have monitored the situation closely, and if the situation return to normal and the holdup order is lifted, we may resume the service after 10am [today], Mr Puttipong said.

Raja Ferry provides two ferry routes, from Donsak to Koh Samui and from Donsak to Koh Pha-ngan.

FOOD SUPPLY RAMPED

Commerce Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong said he assigned ministry officials in the affected provinces to work closely with the Internal Trade Department and with leading product manufacturers and suppliers to accelerate raising inventory to ensure adequate supply for consumers who are hoarding consumer goods to cope with the storm.

The Commerce Ministry has also ordered all related units to speed up aid preparations to help affected victims once the storm ends.

Thanavath Phonvichai, vice-president for research at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said the storm is unlikely to affect overall tourism and economic growth in the southern region.

But he acknowledged that economic activity in the affected areas will have to stop for three to five days. Damage is estimated to reach B3-5 billion.

AID BUDGET PREPARED

The Comptroller-General's Department has provided advance payments worth 20 million baht to each province expected to be battered by Pabuk, with further funds to be granted upon request and as deemed necessary, said director-general Suttirat Rattanachot.

We have always prepared financial instruments to handle disasters," she said. "For Pabuk, the affected provinces can use advance money to help residents immediately. To be eligible to draw down the money, provincial governors must declare their provinces disaster areas. In cases where initial funds are not sufficient, governors can request additional amounts and the department will respond in a timely manner."

The department has prepared relaxed measures for construction and procurement in these provinces because the storm thwarts timely completion, Ms Suttirat said, adding that these measures will be implemented after the disaster.

BANK BRANCHES CLOSED

The four largest banks  Bangkok Bank (BBL), Siam Commercial Bank (SCB), Kasikornbank (KBank) and Krungthai Bank (KTB)  temporarily closed more than 40 branches in provinces hit by the storm.

BBL closed 11 branches yesterday, most located in Nakhon Sri Thammarat province and a handful in Songkhla and Surat Thani.

SCB temporarily shuttered 20 branches in Nakhon Si Thammarat, KBank closed eight branches, and KTB closed four.

Sarut Ruttanaporn, SCB's senior executive vice-president and head of the retail segment and branch network, said the bank would monitor the situation and close further branches as needed.

The banks priority is the security of staff and customers, Mr Sarut said.

Thanachart Bank, the country's sixth-largest bank by assets, closed 12 branches in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani and Songkhla.

Bank of Ayudhya closed four branches in Nakhon Si Thammarat, and CIMB Thai Bank closed two branches in Nakhon Sri Thammarat and Surat Thani.

24-HOUR TELECOMS

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) yesterday ordered the top three major mobile operators to provide round-the-clock call centre services as an alternative to state emergency services to facilitate customers in areas affected by Pabuk.

The operators must also maintain capacity for networks and cell sites, including providing emergency teams for repairs until the crisis passes.

Takorn Tantasith, the NBTC's secretary-general, said the latest moves will ease congestion in the state emergency call centres.

Mobile operators will let customers call emergency numbers even if their credit runs out.

Adisak Prasongsup, chief of network operations at True Corporation Plc, said the company set up a war room to monitor the overall situation in real time in 16 provinces, especially in areas expected to be hit hard by Pabuk such as Bang Saphan district in Prachuap Khiri Khan; Chumphon; Surat Thani; Pak Phanang district in Nakhon Si Thammarat; Phatthalung; and Hat Yai in Songkhla.

Mr Adisak said Trues 1242 call centre is open 24 hours to assist customers and provide service status reports, as requested by the NBTC.

Wilai Keangpradoo, head of the public relations office at Advanced Info Service, said AIS has been monitoring its mobile network and equipment. Staff are fully prepared for the storm and emergency assistance is at hand, she said.

Read original story here.
The Well at Lewisburg Pastor Corey Truett, in front of the welcome sign of the church on Byhalia Road in Lewisburg, looks forward to the Charter Service for the church plant to become a full-fledged congregation on Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
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In this 29 September 2017 file photo, then Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke speaks on the Trump Administrations energy policy at the Heritage Foundation in Washington. As former U.S. Interior Secretary Zinke departs Trumps Cabinet amid a cloud of investigations, he says hes lived up to the conservation ideals of Teddy Roosevelt and insists the myriad allegations against him are unfounded. Zinke told The Associated Press that he quit President Donald Trumps Cabinet on his own terms, despite indications he was pressured by the White House to resign effective Wednesday, 2 January 2019. Photo: Andrew Harnik / AP Photo

BILLINGS, Montana, 4 January 2019 (AP)  Former U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke says National Park visitors should grab a trash bag and take some trash out as garbage bins at some parks overflow during the government shutdown.

With many government workers furloughed as the partial shutdown entered its 14th day on Friday, garbage has piled up at sites including Californias Joshua Tree National Park.

Zinke, who resigned effective Wednesday, told The Associated Press he sought to keep the parks open during the shutdown so that the public wasnt penalized for the political feud centered on President Donald Trumps border wall.

Some park advocates have called for all national parks to be closed to protect them from possible harm.

But Zinke says visitors can help keep them open if they pitch in, grab a trash bag and take some trash out.

The White House is seen in the background, as trash lays uncollected on the National Mall due to the partial shutdown of the US government on 2 January 2019 in Washington, D.C. Photo: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP / Getty Images

As former U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke exits Washington amid a cloud of unresolved ethics investigations, he says he has lived up to the conservation ideals of Teddy Roosevelt and insists the myriad allegations against him will be proven untrue.

The former Montana congressman told The Associated Press that he quit President Donald Trumps Cabinet on his own terms, despite indications he was pressured by the White House to resign. [more]

The Latest: Zinke: Park visitors should grab a trash bag
Isabella County

Mt. Pleasant police cite three employees for selling vape products to minors
An early-November fundraiser raised support for Gratiot County Hope House and Toys For Tots. The county's first homeless shelter is set to open next month and is seeking volunteers.
Billed as one of the largest auto shows in the nation, the San Diego International Auto Show occupied more than 525,000 square feet in the San Diego Convention Center. It ranks second in California only to the Los Angeles Auto Show , which draws a large international audience to see its many vehicle debuts and press conferences.

The San Diego Auto Show is presented by the New Car Dealers Association of San Diego County. This year it offered its many visitors the opportunity to see and learn about more than 400 new model vehicles, nearly 100 of which  from 11 different brands  were also available to test drive, but without any of the sales pressure one might experience at a car dealership.

Visitors enjoying a thrilling ride at Camp Jeep Jan Wagner

Since I am in the market for a new car, I especially appreciated this opportunity to take a close look at what the various manufacturers offer, all in one convenient location. What I have been looking for is a plug-in hybrid, mid-size SUV with a decent amount of cargo capacity to carry my stuff, at least 25 to 30 miles of all-electric range and, when it is running only on gasoline, at least 40 mpg. Unfortunately, no such vehicle exists  yet, but Hyundai just introduced something else which is a very interesting alternative.

The 2019 Hyundai NEXO fuel cell SUV is not a plug-in hybrid. It is an electric vehicle that generates its electricity from a process that uses hydrogen. It emits only water.

Unlike most plug-in EVs, the NEXO gets great range: 354 miles in the Limited model, and a very impressive 380 miles in the Blue model.

Test drives were available. Jan Wagner

According to Hyundai, and unlike all rechargeable EVs, the NEXOs refueling time can be achieved in as little as five minutes, allowing a consumer lifestyle very similar to a comparable gasoline-powered SUV in terms of range and refueling speed.

The Hyundai NEXO is a technological tour de force. Depending upon model choice, convenience and safety features may include: Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA), which enables NEXO to either autonomously park or retrieve itself from either a parallel or perpendicular parking space with or without a driver in the vehicle; the new Lane Following Assist (LFA), which automatically helps assist steering to help keep NEXO more precisely centered in its current lane of travel  between zero and 90 mph on both highways and city streets; and Blind-spot View Monitor (BVM) and Surround-view Monitors (SVM), which projects the side views of NEXO in the center cluster to the driver using cameras while changing lanes with the turn signal on.

The system uses wide-angle Surround View Monitors (SVM) on each side of the vehicle to monitor areas that cannot be seen by a traditional rearview mirror and create various exterior vehicle perspective views. Blind-spot Collision-Avoidance Assist and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist utilize sensor technologies to help alert the NEXO driver of approaching vehicles in its intended path, whether changing lanes or when backing out of a parking spot. Blind-spot Collision-Avoidance also helps provide steering correction when the turn signal is on and the system detects a vehicle in the blind spot area of the NEXO.

2019 Hyundai NEXO fuel cell SUV Photo courtesy Hyundai

So far, this all sounds wonderful. The NEXO is a zero-emission vehicle with true state-of-the-art safety and convenience technologies. There are, however, several significant caveats. While fuel cell technology has been in use in industrial settings for years, it has a long way to go before the infrastructure can be in place to enable hydrogen to seriously challenge gasoline for widespread, large scale availability.

In the U.S., for now, only California has enough hydrogen refueling stations for relatively worry-free, long distance travel. As reported by the California Energy Commission and the California Air Resources Board for 2018, more than 5,000 fuel cell EVs are registered in California. Also, hydrogen is expensive.

VW Beetle wheel Jan Wagner

Both of these problems will likely be reduced over time, but for now Hyundai is offering generous perks to help mitigate the cost and limited infrastructure. Since the NEXO can be leased, that might be the way to go if a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle interests you.

The Nexo is available in limited quantities, for sale or lease from a few select Hyundai dealers in California. For more information, visit www.hyundaiusa.com, click on Vehicles and scroll down to Future Vehicles.

For additional photos, visit www.drivetribe.com and enter AutoMatters & More #571 in their search bar. As always, please send comments and suggestions to AutoMatters@gmail.com.
The following companies are subsidiares of Molina Healthcare: Aetna & Humana - Medicare Advantage, Affinity Health Plan, AmericanWork Inc., Better Health Network, Camelot Care Centers Inc, Children's Behavioral Health Inc., Choices Group Inc., College Community Services, Dockside Services Inc, Family Preservation Services Inc., Family Preservation Services of Florida Inc., Family Preservation Services of North Carolina Inc., Family Preservation Services of Washington D.C. Inc., Family Preservation Services of West Virginia Inc., Florida NetPASS LLC, Hclb Inc., Magellan Complete Care, Maple Star Nevada Inc., Maple Star Oregon Inc., Mercy CarePlus, Molina Clinical Services LLC, Molina Healthcare Data Center Inc., Molina Healthcare of Arizona Inc., Molina Healthcare of California, Molina Healthcare of Florida Inc., Molina Healthcare of Georgia Inc., Molina Healthcare of Illinois Inc., Molina Healthcare of Iowa Inc., Molina Healthcare of Louisiana Inc., Molina Healthcare of Maryland Inc., Molina Healthcare of Michigan Inc., Molina Healthcare of Mississippi Inc., Molina Healthcare of Nevada Inc., Molina Healthcare of New Mexico Inc., Molina Healthcare of New York Inc., Molina Healthcare of North Carolina Inc., Molina Healthcare of Ohio Inc., Molina Healthcare of Oklahoma Inc., Molina Healthcare of Pennsylvania Inc., Molina Healthcare of Puerto Rico Inc., Molina Healthcare of South Carolina LLC, Molina Healthcare of Texas Inc., Molina Healthcare of Texas Insurance Company, Molina Healthcare of Utah Inc., Molina Healthcare of Virginia Inc., Molina Healthcare of Washington Inc., Molina Healthcare of Wisconsin Inc., Molina Holdings Corporation, Molina Hospital Management LLC, Molina Information Systems LLC dba Molina Medicaid Solutions, Molina Medical Management Inc., Molina Pathways LLC, Molina Pathways of Texas Inc., Molina Youth Academy, NextLevel Health Illinois, Pathways Community Corrections Inc., Pathways Community Services LLC, Pathways Community Support of Texas Inc., Pathways Health and Community Support LLC, Pathways Human Services LLC., Pathways of Arizona Inc., Pathways of Delaware Inc., Pathways of Idaho LLC, Pathways of Maine Inc., Pathways of Massachusetts LLC, Pathways of Oklahoma Inc., Pathways of Washington Inc., Providence Community Services, Providence Human Services, Raystown Developmental Services Inc., The Game of Work LLC, The RedCo Group Inc., Total Care Medicaid plan, Transitional Family Services Inc., Unisys -Health Information Management, and YourCare Health Plan.
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To Any American Who Owns a Cell Phone

If you own a cell phone, then mobile service providers hope you never get to see this video that could soon go viral. His experiment could strike a bad chord with mobile phone companies. But youve got to see what this man discovered and what it means for phone users in the weeks ahead.
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Citizens Bank, National Association that provides retail and commercial banking products and services in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Consumer Banking and Commercial Banking. The Consumer Banking segment offers traditional banking products and services, including checking and savings accounts, home and education loans, credit cards, business loans, mortgage and home equity lending, and unsecured product finance and personal loans, as well as wealth management and investment services to retail customers and small businesses. This segment also provides indirect auto finance for new and used vehicles through auto dealerships. The Commercial Banking segment offers various financial products and solutions, such as loans and leasing, trade finance, deposit and treasury management, cash management, and foreign exchange and interest rate risk management solutions; and loan syndications, corporate finance, merger and acquisition, and debt and equity capital markets capabilities. It serves government banking, not-for-profit, healthcare, technology, professionals, oil and gas, asset finance, franchise finance, asset-based lending, commercial real estate, private equity, and sponsor finance industries. Citizens Financial Group, Inc. operates approximately 2,700 ATMs and 1,000 branches in 11 states in the New England, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest regions, as well as through online, telephone, and mobile banking services; and maintains approximately 130 retail and commercial non-branch offices. The company was formerly known as RBS Citizens Financial Group, Inc. and changed its name to Citizens Financial Group, Inc. in April 2014. Citizens Financial Group, Inc. was founded in 1828 and is headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island.

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I got to thinking about the retirement calculators that automatically pop up when I check my retirement account balances. In my case, I always get a message that says, "You are XX% on track toward your retirement goals." When you check out an online calculator, you can use them, but remember that a retirement calculator could miss the boat
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I got to thinking about the retirement calculators that automatically pop up when I check my retirement account balances. In my case, I always get a message that says, "You are XX% on track toward your retirement goals." When you check out an online calculator, you can use them, but remember that a retirement calculator could miss the boat
Swarthmore, PA (19081)

Today

Thunderstorms this evening will give way to steady rain overnight. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low 63F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms this evening will give way to steady rain overnight. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low 63F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
All passengers and crew of a Royal Brunei Airlines (RB) flight where a power bank reportedly exploded mid-flight are unharmed, the Bruneian national carrier confirmed in a statement on Thursday evening.

The incident was first made known to the public when a post by a Facebook user showing videos and images from the incident was shared over 4,400 times.

The videos and images showed the flight cabin filled with mild smoke and passengers covering their noses and faces as flight attendants calmly extinguished the cause of the small fire.

In the post, Facebook user Francis Ngu Hown Hua also praised RB crew members for their professionalism and composure while handling the situation.

The RB flight BI636 was en route from Hong Kong to Bandar Seri Begawan and landed at its destination safely and as scheduled.

Read also: Carrying power banks on airplane cabin now regulated

"Our cabin crew are trained to follow standard operating procedures to handle such incidents professionally and to ensure the safety of our guests at all times. We carry the recommended safety equipment on board at all times," said the airlines in a statement.

The airline also highlighted the importance of the safety of its guests and issued a reminder to observe the Guide to Dangerous Goods for checked or carry-on baggage in accordance with the International Air Transport Association's Dangerous Goods Regulations at www.flyroyalbrunei.com for the safety and security of all on board RB flights.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, January 5, 2019 18:33 891 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e58e03f 4 City hazardous-and-toxic-waste,North-Jakarta,waste,environment Free

Several soil mounds containing hazardous and toxic (B3) waste have been found near the Marunda low-cost apartments in Cilincing, North Jakarta.

The Jakarta Environment Agency conducted tests to verify that the mounds contained waste following reports from the public.

After we checked, [the soil] was similar to spent bleaching earth, which is classified as category 2 B3 waste, Rusliyanto, the agency's head of the reports and dispute settlements unit, said on Friday as reported by kompas.com.

Spent bleaching earth is a chemical derived from bleaching crude palm oil.

He explained that, according to a 2014 government regulation on the management of hazardous and toxic waste, category 2 waste is defined as having a delayed and indirect effect on humans and the environment.

The mounds look like regular soil mounds. However, their soil is more crumbly and clay-like and they emit a pungent smell.

Rusliyanto urged local residents to keep their distance from the mounds as the waste could bring in unwanted health impacts. He also called for residents to not use the soil for any purposes.

The agency is still looking for the perpetrators who dumped the waste in the area. A sample of the soil was brought to the agencys lab for further testing.

Mahmudin, the environment task force head in Cilincing district, said local residents began to notice the presence of the mounds in recent months and had been complaining about a foul smell.
Companies have long been aware that sick children have an impact on the professional lives of parents, who are obliged to take time off or work from home, which may then affect their efficiency. But is the converse also true?

In a recent study, a team of researchers set out to assess the impact of parents' work-related stress on the health of their children.

The study, published in the the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, suggests that parents who have a sense of control over their professional lives are less exposed to work stress and the children in their homes are less likely to be sick.

The research team collected health data for two groups of parents and children, one low-income group and one more affluent one, living in Lagos, Nigeria.

One interesting aspect of their findings was that this difference in the level of income between the two groups did not directly correlate to higher levels of parental work stress or poorer children's health. Analysis of the results showed that economic resources had no incidence on either of these.

Read also: Parental pressure: A fine line between caring and caring too much

What did have an impact, however, was the degree of autonomy parents enjoyed in their professional lives. Those without much control were more vulnerable to work-related stress and also less likely to exercise enough self-control as parents, which in turn can negatively affect children's health.

The study showed that this phenomenon was amplified by demanding jobs with with very low levels of autonomy. As the study's co-author and Professor of Industrial Organizational Psychology at the University of Houston, Christiane Spitzmueller, explains, "If you can decide how you are going to do your job, rather than having that imposed on you, it is better for children."
On Dec. 26, the Kediri Military Command confiscated a number of books on the defunct Indonesian Communist Party (PKI), including Komunisme ala Aidit (Communism a la Aidit), The Missing Link G30S, Siapa Dalang G30S (Whos Behind G30S) and Kabut G30S (The Mist of G30S).

The books were considered communist propaganda, and their confiscation has prompted various reactions, including from a number of academics.

Hutri Agustino, a teacher at the Social and Political Sciences Department of Muhammadiyah University Malang (UMM), said he deemed the militarys action a joke. This is the Reform Era, in which we need to put forward educational and literacy traits, he said in a statement released by the university on Friday. Civil society needs to be respected through the transparency of public information.



According to Hutri, the development of literacy in Indonesia must be accompanied by the freedom to acquire books, while educating people on those books could be performed through official institutions. How would the public know that communism is dangerous when such information is banned? he added.

Read also: 'Unmarked Graves': The injustice that won't die

Hutri, who also heads Malangs Public Literacy Movement (GPMB), said Indonesia needed to act fairly in protecting the country from any ideology that might harm the state ideology of Pancasila. He pointed as an example to the banning of Chinese cultural symbols in the New Order, which were viewed as related to communism. If the country wants to take action against symbols, it should also take note of capitalism in the form of significant products that seem to rule Indonesia, he said.

Hutri expressed his hope for clear regulations on the banning of ideologies deemed to contradict Pancasila values, as well as government support for a literacy movement.

Banning books is wrong. In the future, there should be a way for every Indonesian citizen to thoroughly learn about ideologies that might be in conflict with Pancasila, he said. (wng)
After Apple Inc.s shock profit warning, investors were quick to make the connection: if Chinese consumers are cutting back on iPhones, Louis Vuitton handbags could be next.

Apples sales revision cascaded through global markets, hitting suppliers and rivals, but also a raft of luxury-goods companies that rely on the same clientele that likes to splurge on Apples latest products. Gucci-parent Kering SA, LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, Burberry Group Plc and Richemont, the parent of jeweler Cartier, all declined in the wake of Apples shortfall.

Its going to become significantly more challenging to do well in China because the market is tightening up, said David Roth, chief executive of WPP Plcs The Store global retail practice. This is a challenging signal that people need to button down and understand China better and prepare.

Apple cut its quarterly revenue outlook to $84 billion from as much as $93 billion, blaming it in part on a pullback in demand within China. That set off warning bells throughout the luxury industry, as Chinese consumers account for about 30 percent of the $1 trillion in luxury-goods spending worldwide, according Euromonitor International.

Kering SA fell 5.5 percent, the most since October, while LVMH dropped 3.8 percent, and Burberry tumbled 5.9 percent.

Read also: Vying for Vuitton: China's e-commerce rivals seek luxury stranglehold

Demand dented

For years, companies from LVMH to Tiffany & Co. have targeted Chinas wealthy tourists, who sought out pricey handbags, jewelry and other luxury items while on vacation in Paris to Dubai. Investors are worried that sliding yuan, Chinas trade war-hit economy and a government crackdown on overseas purchases could dent demand.

Richemont, which lost 2.8 percent, has already been feeling the heat. The Swiss watch and jewelry-goods maker signaled in November that Chinese sales growth has slowed.

Others have maintained a more bullish tone, with both LVMH and Kering citing robust China sales in October and saying they welcome as shift to domestic sales.

A key test for retailers will come with Chinas celebration of the Year of the Pig, which begins on Feb. 5. The week-long Chinese New Year holiday is traditionally a major occasion for shoppers from China to splurge. About two-thirds of those sales take place outside the country as tourists open their wallets while traveling abroad, taking advantage of better selection and cheaper prices than available at home.

Domestic shift

But with the U.S. trade war weighing on Chinas stocks and currency, and President Xi Jinpings government trying to bolster a faltering economy, more mainlanders are choosing to do their shopping inside China rather than on overseas trips.

Theres clearly a shift that has started to happen in the consumption pattern: Chinese people are buying more in China, said Pascal Martin, a partner in Hong Kong with OC&C Strategy Consultants.

Taxes on imported clothing, which had been as high as 25 percent, are now just 7.1 percent. A recent crackdown by Chinese officials on travelers returning home with undeclared goods is also encouraging local consumption.

The gap between Chinese overseas and domestic spending on luxury is shrinking and a 50/50 balance is in sight,, according to an HSBC report last month.

Companies are scrambling to adjust, opening more stores in China or partnering with local online outlets such as Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.s Tmall. Ermenegildo Zegna, which has stores in 35 Chinese cities, in December opened a flagship store on Tmall Luxury Pavilion, following a similar move by Italian fashion house Valentino in November.

Its much healthier to have Chinese consumers consuming your product in their own country, in terms of repeat business and loyalty, said Thibaud Andre, research director at Daxue Consulting.

Read also: Apple's bombshell and the trillion-dollar question

Retailers headache

The change in consumption patterns is creating headaches for retailers like Tiffany, which has long counted on Chinese shoppers going to Fifth Avenue or Rodeo Drive. In November, Tiffany reported weaker-than-expected sales and highlighted a clear pattern of Chinese shoppers cutting back on spending when theyre overseas. Sales in China itself, however, remained strong.

One of the key strategies the companies have is to focus on tech-savvy millennials and the younger Generation Z. The sub-group of shoppers is expected to make up 55 percent of total global personal luxury goods purchases by 2025, a Bain & Co. report said in November.

Retailers and investors are watching to see whether that spending holds up.

Luxury brands still benefit from a formidable capacity to recruit new consumers in China, HSBC analysts led by Erwan Rambourg said in the December note, but while managers are preparing for a moderation of growth, most investors we met with in Hong Kong have more dire predictions.
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Linkedin Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, January 5, 2019 08:51 891 75e76da2d15e495661b6357e2e57ba71 1 Editorial nationalism,minority-rights,intolerance,Jokowi,Pancasila Free

Increasingly speechless is one reaction to the latest desecration of graves. At least 19 cross-shaped grave markers were vandalized in three cemeteries in Magelang, Central Java, as we reported on Friday. Although the graves of three Muslims were also vandalized, the crime is nevertheless yet another stab not only to Javas heart, but also to the peaceful coexistence of Indonesias diverse faiths, particularly in highly plural areas. It was likely inspired by the earlier shocking case of locals sawing off the top of a cross of a recently deceased Catholic man in a Yogyakarta cemetery.



Such incidences should never be accepted as local crimes perpetrated by thugs;  we should see it as attacks on our efforts to remain a plural and peaceful nation. Although targeting graves might be unprecedented, evidently conditions have become more and more conducive to intolerance, regardless of the motives behind the latest incident.



This increasing conduciveness to barbaric intolerance should be curbed by our leaders, especially President Joko Jokowi Widodo. He cannot afford to continue the off-handed approach of his predecessor, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who blamed local authorities for failing to manage local conflicts. Jokowis Nawacita program pledged that the state would be present to protect citizens.



Such a promise faces a stern test, especially when it relates to the marginalized and minorities  a test that the state has failed too often. Witness, for instance, entire families being kicked out of their homes and allowed to return only if they come back to true Islam. As people cannot easily dump their faith, the Ahmadis of Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, and the Shiites of Madura, East Java, have remained refugees in their own country for years.



Following the Yogyakarta incident just before Christmas, public figures issued the Jakarta Treatise, which was submitted to Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin. They urged the government to take a more active role in bolstering religious moderation, to overcome the threat of conservatism morphing into religious exclusivism and extremism and becoming a tool for political interests.



The public is still waiting for the results of the Magelang investigation. We cannot be expected to accept outrageous explanations like those offered after the Yogyakarta incident  the plot was supposedly earmarked for Muslims and that was why they sawed off the top of the cross-shaped grave marker. The criminals in the last case might not even be trying to seek justification because the nation is becoming a previously unthinkable haven for tyrants claiming to speak and act for the majority. After all, they can freely cite the Blasphemy Law with tacit support or inaction by law enforcement officials  the vague law that the Jakarta Treatise is urging to revoke.



Many among the Muslim majority have long voiced disgust, though clearly not loudly enough, at those claiming to represent them through exclusivism, extremism and even permissiveness to incite violence against minorities. Sure, many feel dislocated as the treatise cited, in this era of disruption. The foundations in the Constitution and state ideology Pancasila must remain our guidelines in managing our differences, precisely because of rapid changes.
EDWARDSVILLE  Adam Ohms didnt always plan on becoming a veterinarian, but 14 years after graduating college hes now operating his own practice and is the new director of Madison County Animal Care and Control.

I think that Im different from most veterinarians because I did not always know I wanted to be one, Ohms said.

Ohms grew up in Scales Mound, a small town in northern Illinois near the Wisconsin border. The town has a population of around 350, and Ohms graduated high school with a class of 21.

Ohms said although he always had pets growing up  a dog, ferret, hamsters, chameleons and a turtle  as well as bottle-raising four Angus heifers  Anabelle, Jezzabelle, Lullabelle and Taco Belle  he didnt come to realize his current path until his first year of undergraduate studies at Western Illinois University.

One afternoon I was working cattle with a local veterinarian and my employer suggested I pursue that career, he said. It was just like something clicked and I never looked back.

Ohms graduated WIU with a Bachelor of Science degree, where he majored in zoology and double minored in animal science and chemistry. He started his veterinary career working as an associate veterinarian in Galena, Illinois.

In 2011, Ohms moved to Edwardsville when he began working at Hawthorne Animal Hospital in Glen Carbon. Hes also worked as an associate veterinarian for Rosewood Pet Hospital in Rosewood Heights, Bethalto Animal Clinic, Animal Emergency Center in Collinsville as well Metro East Humane Society in Edwardsville.

In 2018, Ohms opened Heartland Veterinary Hospital in Edwardsville.

I have worked on the private practice side of veterinary medicine for the past 10 years and Im looking forward to the new challenges that Madison County will offer as I continue to dedicate myself to my profession, Ohms said.

Ohms started in his new role on Jan. 1. The County Board approved his appointment in December. He replacing Dr. Ryan Jacob, who resigned on Dec. 31 to take a position at a veterinary clinic in Southern Illinois.

Ohms said he loves the diversity in what he does and is constantly continuing his education. In May 2009, Ohms received his doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of Illinois.

He said hes happy to discuss everything from primary wellness to doing orthopedic surgery to fix a torn cruciate ligament to surgery on soft tissue removing a parathyroid gland to managing a diabetic all in the same day.

I get to enjoy every facet of medicine across multiple species, he said. The hard part is discussing the cost associated with healthcare  every veterinarian will tell you this.

He said taking on his new role at animal control would be a challenge, especially trying to balance public resources with animal care needs.

I am looking forward to being a part of the good work in reducing the number of animals that are euthanized and working with the animal rescue groups, Ohms said.

Chairman Kurt Prenzler said hes looking forward to working with Ohms, especially in ways to reducing the euthanasia rates for dogs and cats and finding all healthy animals a loving home.
EDWARDSVILLE  Madison County Animal Care and Control is starting off the new year with some changes.

Among the biggest differences is the animal control facility will no longer be open on Saturday.

Its unfortunate that we will no longer be open, but due to budget cuts its a decision we had to make, Katherine Conder, animal control manager, said. We have adjusted our scheduling to allow for it.

The facility will be open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, with the exception of the holidays.

Regardless of the schedule, Conder said anyone who needs assistance outside of the facility hours can call ahead and make arrangement to come to animal control.

We understand this may be an inconvenience for some, but the facility was only open for a few hours on Saturday, she said.

Conder said the new schedule will make it easier for staff to arrange time off and reduce overtime. Animal control staff will continue to take care of the animals seven days a week.

Despite the challenges, Conder said the staff at animal control are working to make a difference.

I feel confident in saying, over the past year, we at animal control have made some adjustments so that we are providing a higher level of customer service and animal care, she said. We are reducing costs, but not sacrificing animal care.

Another change includes the appointment of the Veterinarian Adam Ohms. Ohms replaced Dr. Ryan Jacob who left the facility on Dec. 31 to take a new position at an veterinary clinic in Southern Illinois.

We are looking forward to working with Dr. Ohms, County Chairman Kurt Prenzler said. Prenzler said there is a lot happening at animal control and its all exciting.

Conder said the department had a new logo created, which incorporated the animals into it. She said before it was just printed words with no art.

The facility also put in a new multipurpose room for animals. Conder said the room will allow a place for long-term cats to be spayed and neutered and a live a cage-free existence until they are pulled by rescues.

The room could also be used for dogs that might need some down or quiet time, she said.

The room can also be used for pet quarantines for animals with a possible contagious illness. Animal Control is also looking for donations of items that can be used in the room such as scratching posts, toys or anything the animals can play with or occupy themselves.

Looking ahead, Conder said animal control will put more resources into communication with the public and public education efforts.

Over the next year I think were going to continue to grow our outreach for finding homes for the dogs and cats in our community, she said.

For more information, check out the Animal Care and Controls monthly newsletter on the Madison County website at https://www.co.madison.il.us/departments/animal_control/index.php.
EDWARDSVILLE  Requests for special use permits for solar farms near Hamel, Marine, and St. Jacob were denied by the Madison County Planning & Development Committee Thursday.

The sites are among six proposed by SRE Solar Origination 1 LLC, also known as Summit Ridge Energy on land owned by William Drake. Three other sites have already been approved.

A number of residents and elected officials spoke at the meeting, asking the board to deny the requests. Among concerns cited were the aesthetics of the solar farms, impact on traffic, and impact on development.

The Worden site, located on Staunton Road, had been approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals but final action had been postponed at the request of Summit Ridge Energy. The other two sites, on Illinois State Route 157 near Hamel and on Ellis Road near St. Jacob, had previously been denied and were set to be voted on by the full County Board, but had been pulled from the County Boards agenda at the request of the company.

The projects are among a number of solar farm proposals that have come before the ZBA, Planning & Development Committee and full County Board in recent months. Most have been approved.

There has been increased interest in solar projects throughout the state because of the Illinois Future Energy Jobs Act. As part of the law, the Illinois Power Commission will hold a lottery to determine which projects will be able to move forward. There are expected to be approximately 1,400 projects vying for those slots.

The projects are community solar projects, which allow citizens to purchase power from the companies. The power is transmitted through the local power provider, in Madison County that would be Illinois Power. The projects are limited to two megawatts each, which would provide power for approximately 350 homes.

In other business the committee approved a request for a special use permit by M&M Services Co., to allow a new tank for anhydrous ammonia for agricultural use at a facility near Marine. The property itself is half in the village and half in the county.

Residents objected to the proposal and submitted a petition with 60 names against it. After extensive discussion, it was approved, with the stipulation that security cameras be installed.

Also approved was a request for a variance by Michael McCartney at 1600 California Ave., Collinsville, to allow an accessory structure to be built in the front yard setback of residentially-owned land. The structure would replace one recently demolished.

The committee also approved a request for a zoning map amendment to allow a zoning change on property at 3425 Missouri Ave. to be rezoned to B-4 wholesale business district from M-2 general manufacturing district.

All decisions must be voted on by the full County Board.
EDWARDSVILLE  The Edwardsville Parks Department would like to invite the community to enjoy some Celtic music and Irish dancers as Father Son and Friends come to the Wildey Theatre for the third installment in the Winter Concert Series.

The concert is on Friday, Jan. 18, 2019 at 7 p.m. A pre-concert reception featuring heavy appetizers will be available, while they last, starting at 5:45 p.m.
Government service not easy

We also salute all the Hall County and city of Grand Island officials who have now left office.

With the swearing in of county officials on Thursday, three Hall County supervisors have completed their service, Steve Schuppan, Scott Arnold and Doug Lanfear. Also leaving office were Jerry Watson, after 20 years as Hall County sheriff, and Sarah Carstensen, who has served as interim county attorney since February.

All of these county officials have served the countys citizens to the best of their abilities and deserve a big thank-you for their willingness to serve.

In December, Linna Dee Donaldson retired from the Grand Island City Council and Jeremy Jensen stepped down from the mayors office when the new city officials were sworn in.
KEARNEY  The Archway will be closed Monday through Friday for scheduled, annual maintenance.

The attraction will reopen on Jan. 12 and resume its regular business hours which are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

Visitors may plan their trip to The Archway at archway.org.

Located near the spot where the Oregon, Mormon and California trails converged, The Archway celebrates Central Nebraskas 175-year role in the story of the building of America.

Visitors can walk pioneer trails, see the Pony Express, experience the Transcontinental Railroad, see the Lincoln Highway and learn about fiber optic cables spanning the United States.
NORWALK  A power struggle at the citys only mosque has led to the attempted ousting of its president, a complaint of a death threat and a lawsuit in state Superior Court.

Al Madany Islamic Centers board of directors is embroiled in a legal battle over leadership of the mosque, which opened in 2016 at 1 Union Park St. Those involved and their lawyers would not discuss the case, but court records and a police report shed light on the divisions.

A July 2018 lawsuit filed by Niloy Shah, Khan Khursheet, Vikar Vahora, Aamir Kadri, Sheikh Kemal Cecunjanin (all board members) and Al Madany Islamic Center of Norwalk pits the five-member majority group against fellow board members Azra Assadudin, Mushter Moin, Irfan Vahora and Khalid Belhabib. The suit alleges the minority group broke Al Madanys bylaws by ousting Shah and the other plaintiffs after learning a month after Shah was elected president in June 2018 that he had a criminal history.

According to a police report filed after a confrontation following Shahs ousting, a complainant (whose name was redacted) describes a group of board members who felt the election of Shah was unfair. Doubting Shahs character, the complainant researched the new presidents background and found several convictions, according to the police report.

Judicial records state Shah had a 2014 conviction for third-degree larceny, a felony (he issued a bad check), and four separate arrests related to motor vehicle charges (reckless driving, failure to appear in court and three instances of illegal operation of a vehicle under suspension).

Certain board members were alerted to Shahs felony conviction in July and several special meetings were called by the minority group, the lawsuit states. The legitimacy of the meetings were questioned in the suit because none of the organizers were officers.

Asaduddin said in an email, according to the suit, if a quorum is not met the meeting will be held at the same time and at the same venue the following day and every day thereafter until quorum is met.

The plaintiffs argued in the lawsuit that the mosques bylaws dont afford Asaduddin the right to call special meetings. The minority group held the special meetings and, citing another bylaw that considers three meetings missed consecutively by any board member a de facto resignation, ousted the other members. New members were appointed and the name of Vikar Vahora, who was elected treasurer at the same time Shah became president, was removed from the mosques bank account, the lawsuit states.

After the ousting, Shahs father, Kamal Shah, confronted the unnamed complainant  who first learned about Shahs felony conviction  in the mosque on July 17 during prayer, according to the police report. The report states that Shah and the complainant took the argument outside, so as not to disturb the others praying, at which point Shah told the complainant, I see you, I know where you live, Im going to kill you, and then made a gesture as if he would strangle the complainant, which was captured on the mosques security cameras.

Police arrested the older Shah July 22 and charged with second-degree threatening and second-degree breach of peace. Hes expected to enter his plea Jan. 10 in Norwalk Superior Court.

As for the lawsuit, a judge in December ordered that all the ousted board members, including Shah and the treasurer, be reinstated while the case is heard.

Infighting among church leadership is not unheard of in Connecticut. The lay leadership of St. Pauls Episcopal Church in Darien changed the locks on the church to keep out the Rev. Canon George Kovoor, with whom the vestry had been arguing. A lawsuit was filed July 6, 2018, claiming Kovoor obtained his job by providing false credentials. Ultimately, the Episcopal Archdiocese of Connecticut was forced to intervene, and the positions of all parish leaders and rectors were dissolved in October.

Al Madanys growing pains come just a few years after a protracted battle with the city over the location of the mosque. Early attempts to open the facility at 127 Fillow St. were met with strong pushback from neighbors, who said the residential neighborhood was not fit to house a mosque. The debate resulted in a 2014 lawsuit by Al Madany, alleging discrimination on the part of the city. Eventually, Al Madany purchased the 1 Union Park St. location from Grace Episcopal Church in 2015 for $1.65 million and has used the building for religious services and as a community center since 2016.

justin.papp@scni.com; @justinjpapp1; 203-842-2586
NORWALK  In August 2017, Fernando Santiago organized a hair and makeup trip for a group of fathers, all eager to put their cosmetology skills to the test.

The men looked on as an Oxford Academy of Hair Design employee led the demonstration and each father followed along, practicing on his own child. The goal of the trip, Santiago said, was to not only promote bonding between fathers and their children  but to help the men complete the future daily task with ease.

One man took it and ran with it, Santiago said, and he learned how to Cornrow his daughters hair. He calls himself the Cornrow Pro now.

Thats one example of how Family & Childrens Agency has worked in the past to develop services for fathers in Connecticut.

According to staff, fathers are often overlooked when it comes to services for new parents.

To combat that, FCA added a clause in its strategic operating plan about helping fathers participate more in their childrens lives. We will be increasing this work in the coming years to help more fathers stay connected to their children, the nonprofits annual report says.

Its newest eight-week program for dads starts Jan. 16. It helps fathers reflect on how they were raised and how they want to parent their own children, staff said.

The group is based on attachment theory and the understanding that children look to their caregivers to be the secure base to help them explore out into the world, said Meg Woglom, manager of child and family development. This is an opportunity for dads to come together  just them  and connect with one another. Fathers with children younger than six are eligible for the group.

Santiago is co-leading the bilingual group with coworker Patricia Santos. Staff members are hoping to receive enough interested fathers for a Spanish-speaking group and a separate English-speaking group.

Santiago has worked for FCA for eight years and in that time, hes rarely, if ever, seen similar organizations advertise supports for new fathers, he said. He recalls seeing brochures with women holding babies but rarely any supports for men aside from domestic violence counseling or anger management, he said. That can be discouraging to a man.

The Circle of Life fatherhood group changes the tone from positive to negative, Santiago said.

While fathers participate in sessions, food and on-site childcare will be provided.

Dexter Bryant, 49, has a 2-year-old son and plans to attend each meeting. He moved to Norwalk from New York a few years ago wanting a better living environment for his two children. When Bryant was injured in a car crash before moving here, he became disabled and the primary caregiver for his kids.

Santiago described Bryant as insightful and outspoken man and predicted hell add a different perspective to the group that might consist of mostly younger dads, he said.

Bryant said although his grandmother gave him advice on how to parent, he realizes not all men have that. He said the group would help him focus on being the best father he can be while offering him a sense of camaraderie.

A lot of guys are having kids and theyre still the kid, he said. Thats part of being a good person. Take care of your responsibilities.

FCA already has a Circle of Security mothers group and staff said they hope the sense of emotional support the women give to each other will occur in the mens group.

Down the road, staffers to see reduced social isolation among new fathers.

Being a parent no matter your income or demographic is really hard, said Lindsay Perry, FCAs communications manager. Im hoping the fathers group will be able to do the same thing, that theyll find friendship and carry that outside of the group.
Barney Waters, the former marketing chair of Puma and the current President of K-Swiss, discusses the current aspirations of the next generation of entrepreneurs as well as the role that brand integrity plays in marketing efforts.



According to Waters and host David Meltzer, tapping into the emotion of a market requires messaging that is "authentic and meaningful," as well as differentiating itself from the efforts of competitors. Waters shows the next group of entrepreneurs how to be different from the pack, whether through pricing, distribution, features or functions. Understanding the hopes and dreams of your target market is what enables you to build a brand that consumers will believe in.

Related: How to Find Your Drive and Persevere Through Difficult Times
Elizabeth Warrens announcement that she will enter the 2020 presidential race evokes both hope and dread  hope that the campaign will deliver a better president than the incumbent and dread at the lengthy political ordeal that lies before us.

The prospect is something like preparing for knee replacement surgery. It may deliver joy in time, but only after months of pain and tedium. As with knee replacements, a happy outcome is not guaranteed.

Warren has assets that may serve her well, being a sharp-witted populist and a woman in a party whose voters are mostly women. Its easy to make the case that shes as likely a nominee as anyone.

But when The Hill opened the new year with a rundown titled The Top Ten Democrats for 2020, holding down the No. 1 spot was someone no one had heard of two years ago and whose claim to fame is not losing by much to an unappealing opponent in a blue year: Beto ORourke. Betting on him is the equivalent of investing in a tech startup, with a slim shot at a bonanza and a good chance of a complete bust.
Its both necessary and healthy for the 116th Congress to have a full debate on defense funding. Unfortunately, its a near certainty that some members of Congress will muddle that debate by trotting out the following timeworn arguments in an attempt to slash the Pentagons budget. Lets hope our leaders see these assertions for what they truly are: myths.

 Myth 1  The U.S. spends more on defense than the next seven countries combined.

Sure, its an irrelevant argument. After all, what a nation spends on defense should be driven by its unique geopolitical challenges, not by someone elses budget.

And this irrelevant argument is also inaccurate. When adjusted for purchasing power parity (an internationally recognized measure of what different countries currencies can buy of a defined basket of goods), U.S. defense spending only just exceeds what China and Russia spend on their militaries. And Chinas defense spending increases every year, at a rate much greater than Americas.

 Myth 2  Were spending more on defense than at any time in our history.

In fact, the share of the federal budget devoted to defense (14.8 percent) stands at an historic low. As recently as 1974, that number was 30 percent.
With the broad shutdown at all of those agencies, certainly there is plenty of NEPA work that has slowed or been halted, and it will affect the timing of decisions, said Ann Navaro, a Bracewell LLP partner who previously worked at the Interior and Justice departments. If the shutdown continues into next week or longer, I would think we would start to see a pretty significant impact in terms of slowing analyses and other decisions.

Offshore energy: The shutdown appears to have ensnared Interior Department permits authorizing seismic surveys to help locate oil under the Atlantic Ocean. Five companies, including TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Co. ASA, Schlumberger Ltd. subsidiary WesternGeco Ltd., and a unit of ION Geophysical Co., were on the verge of getting those approvals before funding lapsed.

For now, many other energy-related permits are still flowing out of the Interior Department, which has taken steps to ensure the government shutdown doesnt mean an oil industry shutdown.

But broader work to accelerate offshore energy development has hit a snag. For instance, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management was putting the final touches on a plan for selling offshore drilling leases in U.S. waters before the shutdown. That work has stopped now.
"God gave us two ears and only one mouth," Coatney said. "I'm going to listen to the needs of our employees and connect those to the needs of the customers. ... I'm going to make sure [first responders] have what they need to do their jobs safely and return home at the end of their deployments."

A press release from TEEX quotes A&M System Chancellor John Sharp:

"The work of Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, which oversees Texas A&M Task Force 1, is the best kept secret of The Texas A&M University System, from workforce training to rescuing thousands from disasters and teaching the rest of the nation how to rescue people. I am confident David Coatney will continue to improve upon the agency's great tradition of public service."

Before serving the city of Dallas, Coatney served as fire chief of the Round Rock Fire Department. He has 25 years of experience with the San Antonio Fire Department.
Two local teens have been arrested after authorities say they burglarized a College Station home just days before Christmas. According to College Station police, residents of a home on Richards Street called police about a burglary. Video surveillance footage had recorded the burglary in progress and showed two people entering the home through an unlocked window and stealing video game systems, an Apple iPad and a cellphone.

After the victims shared the footage with KBTX-TV, several people in the community contacted police and identified the two as Marquise Rashad Shields, 17, and Jabori Trevant Woods, 18, both of Bryan. On Dec. 31, police said, Shields called authorities and asked to meet in order to return the stolen items. Police met with Shields, who gave them a bag of electronics and said he had seen the footage and wanted to confess. He identified Woods as his accomplice, police said.

Woods was arrested Thursday and Shields on Friday. Both are charged with burglary of a habitation, a second-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and $10,000 in fines. They are both being held in the Brazos County Jail on $15,000 bond.
Bryan and College Station firefighters worked together Wednesday to rescue a family's dog from flames during a house fire.

According to Bryan Fire Marshal Chris Searles, at around 6:30 p.m. firefighters responded to a home on Meadowbrook Drive in the Wheeler Ridge Neighborhood. A resident had sat a bag and groceries on a kitchen stove top and inadvertently hit a knob to ignite a burner. A fire started in the kitchen and spread through the home's living room and dining area. All adults and children in the home safely evacuated, but a dog remained inside.

Bryan firefighters entered the burning home to rescue a large spotted dog, who suffered from smoke inhalation. Colleagues with the College Station Fire Department arrived on scene in an ambulance and treated the animal with oxygen, using a special mask designed to fit the snouts of dogs and cats. According to a Facebook post from the Bryan Firefighters Association, the dog was transported to a local veterinarian and is recovering.

The fire was extinguished in less than 30 minutes, Searles said. Though the home is salvageable, it is not habitable. Residents are staying with family members.
According to Sgt. Stephen Woodard with the Department of Public Safety, Kenneth Spence was riding a bicycle northbound on the access road of Texas 6 near the intersection of the Peach Creek Cutoff around 4 p.m. when he was hit from behind by a Chevrolet Suburban. The driver of the Suburban told authorities of being blinded by the sun.
JEFFERSON - Howard F. Schrumpf, 92, of Jefferson, went home to meet his savior he loved and served so faithfully on June 12, 2021, at the Valley View Manor Nursing Home of Norwich. Howard was born in Pennsauken, New Jersey, on Jan. 13, 1929, the son of Foster and Myrtle (Walker) Schrumpf. Fo
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Sao Paulo: Brazil is open to hosting a US military base to counter Russian influence in the region, the South American country's new president said.

Jair Bolsonaro, who took office on Tuesday, is a fan of US President Donald Trump and a fierce critic of Venezuela's socialist President Nicolas Maduro.

In a television interview, Bolsonaro said he is worried about Russia's closeness with Venezuela. In December, the two countries held a joint training mission in Venezuela that was criticised by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

"My approximation with the United States is economic, but it could also be warlike," said Bolsonaro, adding the base would be "symbolic" since American military power can reach any part of the globe.
A huge new sperm market emerges Monash IVFs Professor Robert McLachlan said previously donor sperm was used only by heterosexual men whose fertility was impaired, perhaps through cancer treatments. But in 2010, a law change allowed single people and lesbian couples to access reproductive treatment using donor sperm for the first time. Now heterosexual couples make up just a fraction of the market (15 per cent), with the majority of the demand coming from single women forging families on their own (52 per cent) and lesbian couples (33 per cent).

The mismatch of donors with the growing pool of recipients is stark. There were 1172 people treated with donated sperm last financial year but that sperm came from just 424 donors. It is a constant source of anxiety for the clinics, said Professor McLachlan. We have sperm available and there is no waiting list, but one is always looking at the reservoir . and thinking well I hope we get some more donors this month. It also means a scarcity of choice for prospective parents. One sperm donor recipient said she only had about eight donors to pick from when she and her partner conceived a daughter seven years ago and when they returned two years ago later hoping to have another child there were even fewer options.

None were acceptable, she said. In the end we gave up. Professor McLachlan said the problem was magnified for some ethnic groups, who may only have a couple of donors to choose from if they want a donor who would credibly be the genetic father in the social context. Shortage creates risk and compromise Health lawyer Michael Gorton is leading Victorias ongoing review into the fertility industry and is concerned about some of the side-effects of the shortage. Sperm is now being sourced from the US by at least one clinic, and although the overseas providers have to comply with local laws which allow children the right to know the identity of their donors, Mr Gorton said he was worried the resulting children may find it harder to track down their biological relatives.

A review led by health lawyer Michael Gorton could prompt significant reform of the assisted reproduction industry. Older sperm also pose an issue. While Mr Gorton said there was nothing wrong with it from a health point of view, he was troubled that some donors might be in their 70s or 80s by the time their donor offspring reached adulthood. So the likelihood of them even being around is an issue, he said. Theres also the risk that hopeful parents may try to find a donors using potentially dangerous informal arrangements. Theres no shortage of private sperm donors to be found online but websites often read more like dating ads, with men expressing their desire to pass on their genes, or to have sex with sperm recipients.

On one of the sites, a 19-year-old man from Victoria writes that he is willing to inseminate a willing future mother that is struggling to become pregnant  doing so via natural-sex means. If people receive treatment at a clinic then sperm donors arent granted any parenting rights, but those protections are thrown out the window when casual arrangements were made, warned Louise Johnson, chief executive of the Victorian Assisted Reproductive Authority. Advertisements for prospective sperm donors on the coparents.com website. Legally, its risky, she said. From a health perspective, there isnt the same screening from infections, diseases or other matters. People are not really aware of this.

A shortage of screened donors has been blamed on a range of factors, including strict restrictions on cash reimbursements for donors and on advertising, plus laws that scrapped a donor's right to anonymity, allowing children to find out the identity of their donor at 18 or earlier. Victoria's laws also prevent men from providing donor sperm to more than 10 women, as a way to limit the chance of donor offspring accidentally having relationships with their genetic half siblings. But many experts argue the sperm shortage mostly comes down to the public not knowing the problem exists. People are not really aware of this unless they have been touched by it in their personal life, said Monash IVFs manager of counselling services, Rita Alesi. Women are very good at networking and talking about their stories, but how often do you find a heterosexual man that will openly talk about his need for a sperm donor?

It doesnt happen. The ongoing review into Victorias fertility services is considering the establishment of a public egg and sperm bank, which Mr Gorton said would be much more active in recruiting potential donors than the commercial clinics. Nick with his two teenagers and twins conceived as a result of his sperm donation in 1996. Its been a brilliant experience Highlighting the profound impact of a donation, Nick has been very recently contacted for the first time by three of his donor offspring, the child born in 1999 (now a woman aged 19) and her younger twin sisters.
It's foolish, or deceptive in the extreme, to suggest that euthanasia can be made "safe" in any way. The Alfred hospital may keep them under lock and key but once they are dispensed, there's no control or safe method of keeping them. And reaction to these drugs is often unpredictable. Further, the claimed motivation for the legislation being for a "dignified" death is also a nonsense. There's nothing dignified about suicide, or when the drugs don't work as they should and the person suffers more. For all the talk about "safeguards", it's only a matter of time before the criteria for eligibility is relaxed, first for one, then another, then, just as in some countries, it's open to anyone who wants it or, even sometimes, doesn't want it. I'd like to know what the real motivation was: was it to free up beds in overloaded hospitals or nursing homes and ease pressure on the health system? What Victorians deserve is more good palliative care. Helen Leach, Bendigo No fuss or protests It is wonderful to see the Victorian state government quietly and calmly going about setting up the voluntary assisted dying scheme without there being any fuss or protests.

Reg Murray, Glen Iris THE FORUM A place for repair Peter McNicol (Opinion, The Sunday Age, 30/12) is right when he says we should include people on the margins in coming up with solutions to social issues. Responses to disadvantage should be place-based, with communities themselves empowered to develop and deliver local solutions to address their needs. This holds true regardless of the site.

In Victoria, Jesuit Social Services research shows 6 per cent of postcodes are responsible for 50 per cent of the prison population. These postcodes perform poorly on other indicators, such as unemployment, child maltreatment, low family income, family violence and mental health admissions. The nature of this web of disadvantage is various risk factors overlap and reinforce one another, trapping people and communities, often for generations, unless tailored, co-ordinated, long-term interventions are put in place. Place-based approaches focus on the causes of disadvantage, embracing prevention and early intervention and are co-ordinated across community, business and public sectors. The Neighbourhood Renewal program, launched in 2002, was an example of a positive place-based initiative that combined social investment, service co-ordination and community involvement in decisions. Given the program's successes, it's difficult to understand why it was stopped. Across Australia there is a renewed interest in place-based initiatives. This time, let's get it right  involving communities and being there for the long haul. Julie Edwards, CEO, Jesuit Social Services, Richmond

Put risk to test Once more, politicians put young people's lives in danger by refusing pill testing. Has it not occurred to them the prescribed pills we take almost daily are subjected to years of laboratory testing before they are allowed to be prescribed to us and still have a list of dangers accompanying the packaging. Yet these politicians would prefer young people be put at risk of death by denying testing of pills that will be taken whether we like it or not because young people are risk takers. Vaughan Greenberg, Chewton Beyond the barriers

A swimmer, clad in the teenage cloak of invincibility, chooses to swim 100 metres outside the flagged area at the beach. When s/he gets into difficulty what action should the nearby lifesavers take? Do they respond to someone in need of assistance and save a life? Or do they do they let the situation unfurl as it will because individuals who do not follow the rules are responsible for the consequences? ("Simple: Don't do drugs", "Personal responsibility", Letters, 5/1) Elaine Hill, Warrnambool Darkest of days While it is great that motorists' lives are being saved by the installation of flexible barriers along Victorian regional highways, ("Barriers hailed as road toll plunges", The Sunday Age, 30/12), there is a potentially deadly lack of accessible locations for crossing the median strip in times of emergency.

A fast-moving grass fire in January 1969 saw 17 motorists perish on Geelong Road close to Avalon as high winds drove a wall of flames across the dual carriageways and median strip in one terrifying moment. I saw those high flames jump the road as ours was the next car back from those that had driven into the smoke ahead. My father, and drivers behind, made emergency U-turns across the median strip, then we spent the best part of the day in Werribee waiting for the road to reopen. I will never forget the images of that day: the wall of flames, the acrid smoke, farmers on tractors breaking fences with flying wedges of animals behind, and as we resumed our journey late in the day the desolate, burnt-out wrecks that had been transporting now deceased people who had been only seconds ahead of us. Looking at the new barriers I do not see enough emergency crossovers and cannot help but reflect on the capacity to make those U-turns, which I believe saved many lives on that tragic day. Ray Griffiths, Paynesville Fairness for all

Long-term camping is unfair in the opinion of Ian Kerr (Letters, 5/1). His suggestion that return campers to Walkerville could rent or buy a property instead is thoughtless. Camping in the same spot annually has long been the affordable "worker's paradise" for many families and friends. Surely a mix of long-term and new campers a fair option too. It recognises loyal investment in an area as well as the importance of this form of community connection. Glenda Johnston, Queenscliff Not the first After camping in the same spot for decades some people are upset that they might lose their spot. I hope they realise others in the past camped there for 40, 000 years and saw it all come to an end. John Rawson, Mernda

The Liberal problem The lack of women standing and being selected as Liberal candidates for election is an increasing problem that will not just go away. As Jenna Price's article ("Liberal women suffering Stockholm syndrome", 4/1) demonstrates, the few women at present representing the party either deny there's a problem, or refuse to accept that quotas will fix it if it does exist. More than anything, these current members provide stark evidence that the Liberal version of merit-based selection is not working too well at all. Jenifer Nicholls, Armadale

Focus on policy, please Time and time again I read Scott Morrison, Kelly O'Dwyer and other Liberal and National party people are focused on "beating Bill Shorten" at the next election. They talk about Bill Shorten far more than they talk about their policies and plans for the future. This is unacceptable. Mr Shorten is indeed a leader, but he's not standing for president, he's leading a political party. It's Labor's policies ScoMo and co should be focused on, not Shorten the man. The Liberals either have no policies worth publicising, or they think that the people in Mr Shorten's electorate are the only ones worth talking to. Do they need to be reminded that the vast majority of voters have no say over Mr Shorten's leadership position, or Mr Morrison's for that matter, and will vote for policies on election day, not for the chaps who currently lead the parties? Start treating us like grown-ups, Mr Morrison and colleagues. We're waiting to have our say on your policies, not just you and Mr Shorten.

Jill Dumsday, Ashburton Those who self-serve Elizabeth O'Connor (Letters, 5/1) is on the mark to remember the lack of response from the women Liberal members of Parliament when so many disgusting things were written about Australia's then prime minister Julia Gillard. Where was their outrage at the appalling things, said and written, about our first female prime minister? Where was support for her during the very sad days when she lost her beloved father and right-wing political commentator Alan Jones said he had "died of shame?" I do not see the women of the Liberal Party as feminists who would further the cause of women in society in general, but as self-serving women who would continue to espouse the conservative, right-wing agenda that was set by men many years ago.

And I should mention, I just looked at my fruit bowl, and it's empty (just like Julia's)! Carol Reed, Newport Gang of charity Three youths of "African appearance" in our street. What are they up to? Oh. Collecting for CARE Australia. Margaret Brennan, Yarraville

One person's threat  When Americans land spacecraft on the moon it's a giant leap for mankind. When the Chinese do so it's a military threat. And you wonder why people claim media bias. Mark Freeman, Macleod Seeing and believing Matt Wade's article ("The harsh reality of voter perception", The Sunday Age, 30/12) offers fascinating insights into our national psyche. He rattles our comfort zone in reminding us of our collective ignorance.

On many significant issues the gap between reality and perception is massive, e.g., we think we're 17 per cent Muslim whereas we're only 3 per cent. While recognising we are often misled by unbalanced media reports and populist politicians, Wade wisely suggests "our own internal biases are crucial". The Ipsos Perils of Perception survey exposes a systematic pattern to our errors: we're pessimistic, we overrate negatives and underrate positives. A non-expert life observer such as I would suggest we all have blind spots, blinkered vision and even ideological prejudices, which mean we're strongly inclined to see and believe what we want to see and believe. Our report card seemed bad enough, but then Wade states we're doing better than many others on the international "Misperceptions Index". Kevin Burke, Eltham
It was, from a collective perspective, a stun of mullets.

There were young mullets, ranga mullets, luxurious mullets and curly mullets, the participants bonded by the common credo of "business at the front, party at the back".

Bonded by mullets were Adam Bezzina from Blacktown in Sydney and James Barraclough from Griffith. Credit:Sitthixay Ditthavong

Summernats co-owner Andy Lopez couldn't have been more delighted at the turnout for inaugural mullet gathering, celebrating a hairstyle which emerged in the 1970s and has somehow survived the vagarities of follicle fashion ever since.

Rarely does a common hairstyle bond a group of strangers but out in the blazing sun of the main arena of Exhibition Park, there were handshakes all round and friendly banter between rival mullet-wearers.
The first exposure Italian mandolin virtuoso Carlo Aonzo had to the instrument was as a child when his father would play he and his sister to sleep.

Now Mr Aonzo, who hails from Savona overlooking the Ligurian Sea in Italy's north, performs and teaches aspiring mandolinists the world over.

Italian mandolin maestro Carlo Aonzo is in Canberra to teach Australian and New Zealand mandolinists as part of Australia's largest mandolin festival. Credit:Elesa Kurtz

He is in Canberra for a week-long mandolin festival hosted by the Federation of Australasian Mandolin Ensembles, where he will work with more than 60 Australian and New Zealand mandolinists.

Mr Aonzo said it was a thrill to see the mandolin increase in popularity since his childhood.
Bruce Scoggin can remember it well: On a breezy, sunny day like Friday, his father would sit on the porch swing of his Henry Clay Avenue home and chuckle at the number of drivers who would speed past the posted 25 mph limit.

The elderly man would then predict just how many cars would get snapped by the traffic camera across the street.

May he rest in peace, but thats what he did, Scoggin said. He would sit down on that swing, and he could tell you whos gonna get it and who isnt.

But fewer cars could be subjected to the family tradition today under a policy change made by Mayor LaToya Cantrell that went into effect this week.

As of Jan. 1, 20 of the city's 31 traffic cameras outside of school zones, including the riverbound one in front of Scoggins home, were shut off, a boon for motorists who have long complained about being ticketed there on their way to work or school.

But the city's most lucrative non-school-zone cameras are still operating. Also still rolling are dozens of cameras in about 50 school zones, though they have been adjusted to issue tickets only during school-zone hours.

The changes balance the need for safety with the mayors desire to remove a financial burden on motorists, said Gilbert Montano, Cantrells chief administrative officer.

We took the cameras that were providing the least amount of tickets and turned those off, he said Friday. The 11 that remain on were ones where we still need a little bit of help from the public in obeying traffic laws.

Because many residents have said they support using cameras as a deterrent to speeders in school zones, those cameras will remain up, but their reduced operating hours are expected to provide less revenue than the city is used to seeing, Montano added.

All told, the city expects to bring in $4 million less this year  money that officials say has already been replaced by other funding sources. It still expects to take in $25.2 million annually from the devices.

The changes are a shift from Cantrells original pledge to pull down all traffic cameras and stop nickel-and-diming residents, but came after a team of advisers and some residents said they wouldnt mind if some cameras kept rolling.

Though most people surveyed by the University of New Orleans last year said they disliked the cameras generally, three out of four said they were needed in school zones during school hours.

Officials have long claimed the devices are intended to increase public safety, not to make money, but the city has increasingly relied on the cameras as a revenue source.

The 20 cameras that were completely shut off this week generated less than 6 percent of the total tickets issued in the first half of last year, according to an analysis by The Advocate.

Those cameras are located near heavily traveled intersections in some cases. But some of them are near other profitable cameras the city is leaving on, meaning that drivers traveling down one side of a street could be snapped while drivers on the other side would not.

In those cases, the signs that advise drivers their speed is being recorded will remain posted in all directions.

Unaffected cameras include the ones on the northbound side of South Carrollton Avenue at Palmetto Street, near Costco, and on the riverbound side of Canal Street at Carrollton. The lakebound side camera on Henry Clay Avenue at Coliseum Street, near Scoggin's home, will also stay on.

Those cameras have churned out more than 345,000 tickets in the past decade, placing them among the five most lucrative in the city.

The other two most profitable cameras were near Christian Brothers School on Canal Street. They have issued over 236,000 tickets in the past 10 years but will be far less productive under the new restrictions.

The top five cameras account for nearly a quarter of the 2.4 million tickets the program has issued since it began.

Before the new rules went into effect, those cameras could snap pictures of drivers going faster than 26 mph during school zone times, but also if drivers exceeded regular speed limits outside school hours.

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They will now issue tickets only between 7 and 9 a.m. and between 2:45 and 4:45 p.m.

Meanwhile, the non-school-zone cameras deactivated under the rules will likely be relocated to new school zones, Montano said. Although those locations havent been determined, he said the city is considering placing more cameras near high schools; most cameras now are near schools with younger children.

The new school-zone camera placements could replace some or all of the revenue the city is losing by removing the cameras from non-school locations.

The citys mobile traffic cameras remain unaffected by the new policy.

In the short run, the money the city will be losing has largely been replaced by revenue from the French Market Corp. and an affiliated board that runs the Upper Pontalba Building.

Although the cameras had become a bit of game for Scoggin's father, he himself has been dogged by their presence. It took six weeks to get a ticket scrubbed from his record after the camera near his house snapped his parked car instead of the speeding car that had set off its shutter, he said.

He was nabbed once more while driving near City Park, and another time near the Academy of the Sacred Heart on St. Charles Avenue. He said he was at fault in those instances.

"To be consistent, (Cantrell) oughta do away with all of them," Scoggin said. "But I do understand the ones in the school zones."

DEACTIVATED CAMERAS:

 St. Charles Avenue at Louisiana Avenue (both directions)

 St. Charles Avenue at Washington Avenue (eastbound)

 St. Charles Avenue at Martin Luther King Boulevard (southbound)

 St. Charles Avenue at Melpomene Street (northbound)

 N. Rampart Street at Esplanade Avenue (southbound)

 Annunciation Street at Second Street (westbound)

 Florida Boulevard at Rosemary Place (eastbound)

 Toledano Street at Galvez Street (both directions)

 Chartres Street at Gallier Street (both directions)

 Poydras Street at Magazine Street (westbound)

 S. Carrollton Avenue at Palmetto Street (southbound)

 S. Carrollton Avenue at Earhart Boulevard (northbound)

 Henry Clay Avenue at Coliseum Street (southbound)

 City Park Avenue at Canal Street (westbound)

 Wisner Boulevard at Harrison Avenue (both directions)

 Harrison Avenue at Marconi Drive (westbound)
Drag performers will return to lead monthly story time events at Bywater's Alvar Library in 2019, starting this month.

Drag Queen Story Hour events began to take shape in 2015 and similar events have emerged around the U.S., finding a natural home among New Orleans' costumed characters and pounds of glitter and sequins and the city's thriving drag performance scene. Algiers' Hubbell Library and the Children's Resource Library on Napoleon Avenue also hosted Drag Queen Story Hour events. The Alvar branch hosts draq queen story time on the third Saturday of every month.

In Lafayette, a similar event led to the resignation of the library board's president and a lawsuit, in which the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana argued the policy infringes on patrons' constitutionally protected right to freedom of speech. Lafayette Mayor-President Joel Robideaux's threats to shut down the event made national headlines, and after it moved to another location, it was postponed indefinitely  meanwhile, the New Orleans events drew crowds of families of young children, eager to listen.

+13 'Nobody bats an eyelash' as drag queens read stories to kids at Bywater library On Saturday afternoon, the Alvar Library in New Orleans was packed with gung-ho little patrons who listened to drag queens Vanessa Carr and Bl

On Jan. 3, Lafayette Public Library officials agreed to lift the ban on drag queen story time events following the ACLU's challenge of the suit from conservative Christian groups Warriors for Christ and Special Forces of Liberty. The library also will stop requiring patrons to sign a pledge that they won't use the library to host similar events.

The library's unjust and discriminatory ban targeted LGBTQ Louisianans and violated our clients First Amendment rights, said ACLU of Louisiana legal director Katie Schwartzmann in a statement. This is welcome news for our clients and everyone in Lafayette who will once again be able to use library facilities without being unfairly interrogated or censored by library officials.

Drag queen story time returns to the Alvar Library (913 Alvar St.) starting at 1 p.m. Jan. 19, then returns March 16, April 20, May 18, June 22, July 20, Aug. 24, Sept. 21, Oct. 19, Nov. 23 and Dec. 21.

+3 Lafayette in front lines of culture war as uproar continues over Drag Queen Story Time The rift among the factions on either side the Drag Queen Story Time controversy was laid bare this week, and it looks irreconcilable.
This photo shows a set of small binoculars believed to have been carried by President Abraham Lincoln on the night he was assassinated at Ford's Theatre, Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018 in New Orleans. The opera glasses are said to have fallen from the mortally wounded Lincolns body as he was carried from Fords Theatre in 1865. A captain with the Washington City Guard picked them up from the street. They were handed down in his family for generations before being matched in 1968 to a case found in the balcony after Lincoln was shot. (AP Photo/Kevin McGill)
"It has to have a bad effect on the fish, even if it's just bad stress," he said. "At any speed more than the water's current, they're killing these fish, I'm sure. They're just not built to have more water than normal. It's basically drowning them. A culled fish in that situation isn't just swimming off. It's swimming to the bottom and it might be dying.
The town of Clinton has two weeks to make serious headway on its troubled water system or it could face fines from the Louisiana Department of Health, exacerbating problems for the cash-strapped East Feliciana Parish seat.

The community lacks a budget for 2019, which is forcing a major slash in its expenditures. Board of Aldermen members Mary Dunaway and Mark Kemp both said Friday they have requested that water- and budget-related items be placed on the agenda for the regular town meeting Tuesday, but as of Friday afternoon they had not received confirmation those matters will come up.

The towns water issues have steadily bubbled up since September, when the Health Department notified Mayor Lori Ann Bell of numerous deficiencies in how the community water system was managed and operated. The state gave 90 days to remedy the deficiencies, but Dunaway and Kemp said the deadline came and went without notice to the board.

+2 Clinton mayor under investigation again, this time over the town's water system woes CLINTON  The Clinton mayor is again under investigation by the East Feliciana Sheriff's Office and Louisiana State Police for her response, o

Bell then asked for a six-month extension of the deadline, but it was denied.

The Health Department has now issued a drop dead order, giving Clinton until Jan. 17 to fix water problems or face consequences that could range from the imposition of fines to the naming of an interim water system operator, according to the agency's chief lawyer, Stephen Russo. Bell told the Health Department that some repairs had been made, but agency officials said Friday they couldn't verify the improvements until inspectors go out.

Separately, the towns water operator, Jeff Johnson, submitted his resignation Thursday in a brief letter that did not give reason for his departure.

As of today, Jan. 3, 2019, I will no longer be the water operator for the town of Clinton, the letter reads. I apologize for any inconvenience I may have caused and thank you for your time.

Kemp said he feels as though the Board of Aldermen wasn't given a fair chance to address the water woes before it reached this crisis point.

A well on Pine Ridge Street is the town's primary water source, but the Health Department says it isn't enough. Inspectors also said the system leaks, and that exposed wiring and improperly stored chlorine gas endangers workers.

If the little well goes out, then Clinton cannot function, there would be no water to fight fires, no water to flush your toilet, to bathe, to drink or anything, Kemp said. He added that if fines were imposed on the towns already stretched finances, they would be near impossible to pay.

You cant get blood out of a turnip, he said.

In addition to the water issues, Clinton is operating without an approved 2019 budget.

Bell published a notice in December saying the proposed budget document would be available for public view before a hearing Dec. 11. Several community members said it wasnt, and the board took no action at that meeting.

It was never completed so there was nothing to look at, Kemp said. When we had the meeting on Dec. 11 the (board) didnt get a copy until the night of the meeting, so we had no opportunity to study it or even review it. We didnt think things were going right and we chose not to do anything with it.

The board has not met since then, meaning Tuesday will be the first chance to address the budget, or lack thereof. Louisiana statutes say that if a budget hasnt been completed by the start of the next fiscal year, governing bodies are limited to spending 50 percent of the previous years appropriations until theres a resolution. Clintons 2018 budget totaled $2,556,919.68, according to the clerks office.

I feel like shes holding us in the dark and hindering our chance to progress, and with it shes holding the whole town hostage, Dunaway said, adding that she felt Bell had stalled and stalled with the budget.

Town attorney Charles Griffin could not be reached for comment Friday.

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The mayor already is the subject of multiple investigations amid allegations of misappropriation. Bell and former police chief Fred Dunn were arrested in October, accused of illegally entering into a contract to lease four police vehicles in 2016, leaving the town with more than $200,000 in debt, according to court filings.

Clinton's Mayor's Court may have overcharged residents, documents in malfeasance investigation show A probe into allegations of malfeasance by the town of Clinton's leaders has expanded to the Mayor's Court, where documents show investigators

Clinton mayor arrested for second time, accused of misusing police funds Clinton Mayor Lori Ann Bell was arrested again on Thursday, this time on allegations of spending the town's police funds on a tent and banner 

Court docs: Investigators believe Clinton mayor, clerk illegally moved almost $100K of town funds Investigators have further extended the probe into financial misconduct in Clinton, now searching for further evidence that the town mayor and

Bell was arrested again in November on counts of theft and malfeasance in office, accused of using town funds to buy a tent and banner embossed with her name.

The East Feliciana Sheriffs Office and Louisiana State Police are now jointly investigating Bell to determine whether shes in violation of state law for how she responded to critical information from the Health Department about the towns water system.

Russo, the health departments lawyer, said he doesnt think the issue will reach the point of town water being dangerous for Clinton residents to consume, but he did say that maintaining safe drinking water is the agency's primary objective in the case.

The concern has spurred the East Feliciana Police Jury to consider adding a secondary rural water line to the parishs jail in case Clinton's water system fails. The item is set for discussion Monday.

Sheriff Jeff Travis said having a backup water source for the jail has long been a goal of his in the case of any major incidents, but hes become more aggressive with the request since hearing of the deficiencies within Clinton's water system.

The problems that have occurred in Clinton have, in my opinion, made it a more-critical issue and made it clear time is of the essence to get this done, he said.

If the jails singular water supply was to run out, Travis said he would be forced to bring in bottled water or relocate inmates to neighboring facilities, which would end up costly for the police jury.

He said he doesnt yet have an estimate for the cost of running an additional water line to the facility.

As the faulty infrastructure lingers and threatens what Dunaway described as an impending crisis, she said a company representative  whom she didnt name  had contacted her asking to be present at Tuesdays meeting to present a bid to remedy the deficiencies.

She said shes not hopeful the myriad problems can be remedied by Jan. 17, but hearing a potential solution is a step in the right direction.

We have no idea when the current well could run out because its running 24 hours a day, seven days a week and of course everyone knows weve had many breakages in the lines, weve had leaks, boil advisories, yes its feasible (the well could fail), she said. When is the day going to be that we just wake up and the town doesnt have water?

+3 Probe into Clinton's misuse of funds, abuse of office expands to East Feliciana School Board, court docs show The probe into the abuse of public office and money in Clinton has expanded to the East Feliciana Parish School Board, where investigators bel

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that the Pine Ridge Street well is the Town of Clinton's only working well as of Jan. 10, 2019.
The developer of a massive methanol production plant in St. James Parish that was announced in 2013 but not built said it is trying to partner with a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia-based SABIC in an effort to rekindle the project.

'Many reasons to be optimistic': New Orleans economy expected to expand in 2019, 2020 While New Orleans economy began to expand again this year, big wins in the technology and industrial construction sectors will help that grow

The revised plans by South Louisiana Methanol nearly doubles the original capital investment from $1.3 billion to $2.2 billion, the company and Gov. John Bel Edwards administration announced Friday.

The deal is subject to successful negotiations with SABIC as a joint venture partner. It would create 75 permanent jobs, according to Louisiana Economic Development, and would be one of the worlds largest methanol production sites.

Barry Williamson, president of South Louisiana Methanol, said he hopes to close the deal with SABIC toward the end of the second quarter of this year.

If the project moves forward, the company could begin construction later this year on the 1,500-acre site on the west bank of the Mississippi River, eight miles south of the Sunshine Bridge.

South Louisiana Methanol originally announced the $1.3 billion plant along with former Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration, and said it would be completed by mid-2016. Despite landing state permission to build from state environmental regulators a year later, the facility was never built.

Williamson said market conditions  including the falling prices of methanol, which tracks closely with oil prices  "turned against us pretty strongly" after announcing the deal.

Since then, Williamson said the company has redesigned the plant technology and increased the production capacity to 2 million metric tons per year.

"We took that time to redesign the plant, make it more efficient  and to bring on a partner," he said, adding the plant has most major permits secured.

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Originally a partnership between New Zealand-based Todd Corp. and Texas-based Zero Emissions Energy Plants Ltd., or ZEEP, the company is now majority-owned by Todd Corp., according to LED. It will pursue the joint-venture project with a Houston subsidiary of Saudi Arabia-based SABIC.

This agreement represents part of SABICs strategy to focus on the geographic diversification of its business, to reach new global markets and enable the company to access raw materials at competitive prices, said Mohammed Al-Wakeel, SABIC US Methanol president and CEO. The Port of South Louisiana and in-place transportation infrastructure make St. James Parish a great location.

LED also renegotiated the incentive package the company will receive, and said the firm has not yet received any incentives from the state for the project. The company will still be eligible for the $5 million performance-based grant it was originally promised, with $1.5 million payable once the company spends $150 million on the project. The remaining $3.5 million would be payable once the plant begins operations, and no earlier than 2022.

The company will also take advantage of the states Industrial Tax Exemption Program, a controversial tax break for manufacturers, along with its Quality Jobs and FastStart workforce training programs.

St. James Parish has seen a rush of industrial investment in recent years, including high-profile announcements from foreign companies like Wanhua Chemical and Yuhuang Chemical of China and the Taiwanese Formosa Plastics.

Residents and advocacy groups have protested the increasing air pollution and other environmental effects of the activity. Recently, residents and environmentalists filed an appeal of the land use approval for Formosas planned $9.4 billion facility, but it received conditional approval from the St. James Parish Council.

The billions in industrial spending have also heightened concerns about the need for evacuation routes in the event of a chemical incident.

South Louisiana Methanol would be the latest entrant into the methanol market, seeking to take advantage of cheap natural gas from the U.S. shale boom. Methanol is used in plastics, polyester fibers and fabrics, fuels, pharmaceuticals and more.

'Reevaluating' a billion dollar Louisiana manufacturing complex as new tariffs take hold Last spring, Louisiana officials unveiled a major foreign investment project in the state: A $1.12 billion manufacturing complex by Chinese ch
Black Spring Break organizers expect a large crowd for the April 13-15 event at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum, but one hip-hop star says hes not coming.

In fact, hes boycotting the popular urban festival all together.

Baton Rouge rapper Boosie Badazz (formerly Lil Boosie), whose real name is Torence Hatch, made a post on his Instagram account Thursday, March 22, 2018, that said, No Black Beach 2018. He also used the hastags #theydiduswrong, #notsupporting, #dowhatsrightnpayme, #whycantishop and #becarefulifyougo.

Boosie made a scheduled appearance at an after-party event last year, and was on the Coast shopping at a Biloxi store on the last day of the three-day festival.

Three people who Biloxi police said were associates of Boosie also were arrested April 9 on charges of simple assault on a police officer, a felony, and simple assault on the security officer: Ivy Givens, 19, of Baton Rouge; Sedale Coleman, 32, of Tucker, Georgia; Patrick Tolbert, 26, of Mobile. Two juveniles were also arrested.

Lil Boosie lawsuit says Biloxi officer used racial slur, pepper-sprayed pregnant woman Baton Rouge rapper Torrence Boosie Badazz Hatch filed a complaint Tuesday in Harrison County Circuit Court over being pepper-sprayed in Dill

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Boosie was not arrested, but he did claim that Biloxi police stole more than $1 million in jewels.

Biloxi Police Chief John Miller denied Boosies accusations. The jewelry was later returned to Boosies tour manager.

A few days after the pepper-spraying incident, the Baton Rouge native took to social media to show his displeasure with Biloxi and Black Spring Break 2017.

The video post ended with the hashtag #nobiloxinomore.

For the original story from The Sun Herald, click here.
The five children killed in a fiery Florida highway crash on their way to Walt Disney World have been identified along with the two truck driv
Baton Rouge rapper Torrence Boosie Badazz Hatch filed a complaint Tuesday in Harrison County Circuit Court over being pepper-sprayed in Dillards at Edgewater Mall in Biloxi during spring break earlier this year.

The complaint is against Dillards, Weiser Security Services, Biloxi Police Department, Jim Wilson & Associates, and an unnamed Biloxi officer.

The complaint says an unknown officer pepper-sprayed Boosie as well as Larry Anderson and Hatchs cousin, Tyeon Givens. Givens was pregnant with twins at the time, and gave birth prematurely after being pepper-sprayed.

Can't see the video below? Click here.

An officer also called all three of them the N-word during the altercation, the complaint says.

Listed as Little Boosie, he says he was shopping with friends and relatives in the Polo section of Dillards on April 9, the day after he performed at the Coast Coliseum during Biloxi Black Beach Weekend.

He wanted to engage his local fans and supporters, and purchase goods in support of the local community, the complaint says.

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A plain clothes Biloxi Police Department officer working as an employee of the defendants approached Boosie, Anderson and the entourage. The officer eventually demanded they leave the store and sprayed both mens faces and upper bodies with Mace. The officer also referred to them in derogatory terms, including the N-word.

This story originally appeared on SunHerald.com

Givens was at a perfume counter when an officer approached her and tapped her on the shoulder, the complaint says. When she turned around, the officer sprayed her in the eyes and mouth, which caused her to fall to the ground. She was helped up by a family member and forced to leave the store, all while being subjected to derogatory comments, including the N-word.

Givens was pregnant with twins, and began having contractions after the incident, the complaint says. She gave birth prematurely, at 27 weeks, and both children suffer from cardiac, respiratory and other issues proximately related to the assault.

The lawsuit claims negligence, infliction of emotional distress, premises liability and failure to properly train and supervise.

The Sun Herald talked to a woman who filmed the incident in April, Crystal Whitmore. She said a large crowd of fans followed Boosie into the store, and a security guard asked them repeatedly to leave before spraying Mace. A uniformed Biloxi officer also was there, she said.

Biloxi police Lt. Chris De Back said in April that the Dillards security officer followed the crowd outside, where he was aggressively approached and responded with pepper spray. De Back said a Biloxi police officer stepped in. He said the police officer was assaulted, too. They suffered minor injuries.

Click here for the original story from SunHerald.com
BILOXI  The dispute between hip-hop star Boosie (Lil Boosie, Boosie Badazz) and promoters of Biloxi Black Beach Weekend heated up over the weekend on social media.

The feud began after the Baton Rouge rapper was sprayed with pepper spray by a security guard while shopping at Dillard's at Edgewater Mall after performing during the 2017 Spring Fest concert at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. Several members of his entourage also were pepper-sprayed, and three people who Biloxi police said were associates of Boosie's were arrested April 9 on charges of simple assault on a police officer, a felony, and simple assault on the security officer.

Here's why Baton Rouge rapper Boosie is saying #NoBiloxiNoMore, boycotting Mississippi festival Black Spring Break organizers expect a large crowd for the April 13-15 event at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum, but one hip-hop star says hes

Boosie was not arrested, but he did claim that Biloxi police stole more than $1 million in jewelry. Biloxi Police Chief John Miller disputed the theft claims, and the rapper's jewelry was returned to a member of Boosie's team.

In March, the rapper made a post on his Instagram account that said, No Black Beach 2018. He also used the hashtags #theydiduswrong, #notsupporting, #dowhatsrightnpayme, #whycantishop and #becarefulifyougo.

Sun Herald: Lil Boosie claims 'million' in jewelry stolen; Biloxi PD: Come pick it up BILOXI  The Biloxi Police Department is waiting for a representative of Boosie BadAzz to come pick up the jewelry he claimed was stolen.

A few days ago, Boosie made more "No Biloxi Black Beach" posts on his social media platforms, even claiming the water in Biloxi has "got stingrays everywhere."

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But this time, Biloxi Black Beach Weekend promoters Derrian Burns and Maurice Bryant responded with their own boycott.

In a post made April 7, the promoters said that while they didn't support what had happened to the rapper during last year's festival, they would not be playing his music at any "official events."

They made a post on Instagram with the #NoBoosie hashtag, saying Coast promoters had booked and supported the artist for many years.

"Black Businesses and the black community on the MS Coast are directly affected and offended," the post said. "Boosie your fight is not with Black Beach Weekend, your fight is with Dillard's and the city of Biloxi."

For the original story from The Sun Herald, click here.
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Steve Ripley, leader of the country-rock band The Tractors, died peacefully at his home Thursday, in Pawnee at the age of 69, surrounded by his family.
There's nothing like a ringing in the new year with a tech blunder that puts the reputation of one company in hilarious jeopardy.

Chinese phone manufacturer Huawei sent out a tweet over the New Year's holiday wishing everyone a happy 2019. The problem? Many social media users noticed that Huawei's tweet had been sent from an iPhone.

Huawei Uses An iPhone To Tweet

It doesn't take a genius to realize just how bad that mistake is. There's the fact that Apple is Huawei's fiercest competitor. While certainly funny, using a competitor's product to promote one's brand is potentially damaging to business. Huawei certainly thinks so. In fact, reports say it's going to punish employees responsible for the mishap, according to Reuters.

On Jan. 3, Huawei apparently distributed an internal memo that the wee incident had "caused damage to the Huawei brand." The social media team in charge of Huawei's Twitter feed, managed by international PR firm Sapient, claimed to have experienced "VPN problems" on their desktop computers at the time and had to use a mobile phone to send out the tweet. To be fair, many sites including Twitter are indeed blocked in China, causing many people to use VPNs to bypass the country's pervasive firewalls.

Huawei Demotes Employees Responsible For The New Year's Mishap

In the memo, Huawei said the mishap showed procedural incompliance and management oversight.

It goes on to reveal that the employees have been demoted and that their monthly salaries have been reduced by roughly $720. Additionally, the pay rank of Huawei's digital marketing director will be frozen for an entire year, as per the memo.

Huawei didn't say how much money the employees had been making before the incident.

Huawei, which recently overtook Apple as the world's second-largest smartphone manufacturer by volume in the January to September period, refused to comment on the alleged memo. Sapient has yet to comment on the incident, either.

This is not the first time Huawei has been at the center of embarrassing blunders online. Back in April 2018, Wonder Woman actress Gal Gadot was mocked by Netizens for promoting the company's latest phone on Twitter via an iPhone. As always, the backlash was swift. Gadot later explained that she does not use an iPhone and "love[s] her Huawei P20 and Mate10 Pro."

"Sometimes I rely on help from my team to post larger videos. And that is what happened here," Gadot said at the time.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Hell hath no fury like the internet scorned. An Australian Fortnite streamer with the username MrDeadMoth  real name Luke Munday  has been banned from Twitch one again after the streaming platform briefly let him back.

Twitch had suspended MrDeadMoth after being caught on video allegedly assaulting his wife. The incident occurred earlier this December, just as Munday was streaming to thousands of viewers, where he could be heard suspectedly assaulting his partner.

Assault Recorded During Fortnite Stream On Twitch

"How many times do I have to tell you?" Munday asked her, as the livestreamed audio of the incident reveals. Munday's children could be heard crying in the background. In a subsequent report from The Washington Post, the woman said Munday hit her in the face. Authorities arrested and charged Munday with common assault hours later.

He was also banned from Twitch shortly thereafter following a public outcry. On Dec. 30, however, Munday posted a tweet promoting his new stream. Backlash soon ensued. Although Munday was able to resume streaming, his feed was inundated with an army of denizens confronting him about the assault, to which he responded by swatting them away.

As Dexerto reports, "[u]sers in his chat who referenced the December 9 incident were banned or timed out from chatting."

Twitch has since removed the MrDeadMoth channel completely.

To note, the Dec. 9 incident isn't the first time Munday has been accused of assault. In 2011, he was charged with "malicious damage" and "common assault," as news.com.au reports.

Twitch Ban

Twitch refuses to say how long Munday's ban is going to last. It did, however, provided a statement saying it values the "integrity of our community."

"We want everyone on Twitch to have a safe and positive experience and work constantly toward that goal," the streaming platform said, as The Verge reports. "Part of that work includes examining our policies and practices when we find they don't properly address specific incidents to ensure we're adapting as the Twitch community grows."

In February 2018, Twitch renewed its policies around online harassment while promising to enforce stricter rules around hateful behavior, both on- and off-site. Which is why it's odd that it would let Munday come back after the incident, especially with the tensioned backlash surrounding it.

Critics say Twitch choosing to remain mum on the issue makes it hard to take its commitment to community policies seriously.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Authorities have confirmed two measles cases in the Rochester area in New York as well as in the Portland area in Oregon. There is so far no greater risk to the public in both cases.

Measles In Oregon

Authorities in Oregon confirmed a measles case in an individual who might have spent time in The Dalles and Hood River between Dec. 26 and Dec. 31, 2018, when the individual was still infectious. Evidently, the individual was admitted to a hospital in the Portland area last Jan. 2, and measles was confirmed by the next day, Jan. 3.

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) as well as local health authorities are monitoring the case, although for the time being they see no further threat relating to this case. They further state that most Oregonians are fortunately immunized against measles, so the risk is particularly low except for unvaccinated individuals. Others who may be more at risk are pregnant, infants below 12 months old, and those who have compromised immune systems.

The specific locations and times of possible exposure are listed in the OHA website.

Measles In Rochester

Similarly, authorities in the Rochester area also confirmed the measles case of an unvaccinated toddler who likely got the illness from a recent international travel. As a result, family members who may have been exposed to the child have already been vaccinated.

Furthermore, authorities are confident that they have already reached out to anyone who may have come in contact with the child, including the staff at the urgent care facility in which the child was diagnosed.

Measles In The United States

Measles was actually considered eradicated in the United States in 2002. However, it is still brought into the country through unvaccinated American and foreign travelers. In fact, there were 292 measles cases in the United States in the first 10 months of 2018, which is a significant increase from the 120 cases in 2017, and the 86 cases in 2016.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The beginning of 2019 will be marked with a Super Blood Wolf Moon, a rare phenomenon that will see a supermoon coincide with a total lunar eclipse.

The event will begin late Jan. 20, Sunday, and end in the early hours of Jan. 21, Monday. The Super Blood Wolf Moon will be visible in North and South America and Western Europe  if the weather permits.

What Happens During A Super Blood Wolf Moon

While it sounds rather menacing, a Super Blood Wolf Moon is actually a perfectly normal occurrence. It got its name from two astronomical events: a supermoon and a lunar eclipse.

A supermoon occurs when the full moon is at its closest point of orbit (perigee), making it appear larger and brighter than normal. According to NASA, during a supermoon event, the moon is 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter than when the moon is at the farthest point of its orbit (apogee).

This month's supermoon will only be the first of the three in 2019. The next supermoon will happen on Feb. 19 while the third will take place on Mar. 21.

The first full moon of the year is also often referred to as the Wolf Moon. It is also sometimes called Old Moon, Ice Moon, and Snow Moon although some cultures attribute this name to a February full moon. The Old Farmer's Almanac explains that during the early Colonial times, wolves howled during the Full Wolf Moon.

As for the Blood Moon, expect to see the moon bathed in red. During a lunar eclipse, the sun, Earth, and the moon line up in space. While the moon will directly be in Earth's shadow, some indirect sunlight will still get to the moon, passing through the atmosphere which filters the blue light. When this happens, the moon turns into a reddish copper color.

How To Watch The January 2019 Super Blood Wolf Moon

This month's total lunar eclipse will be the last for a while. The next total lunar eclipse will not happen until May 26, 2022.

Skywatchers are advised to look up at 9:36 p.m. on Jan. 20 to see the "little notch is sort of taken out of the moon" as it passes through the Earth's shadow. The full eclipse begins at 12:12 a.m. on Jan. 21 and, that is when the moon will appear to be in a reddish copper color. The full eclipse ends at 12:43 a.m.

During the event, Brian Murphy from the Holcomb Observatory & Planetarium said that the stars will also become brighter and more visible.

Unlike a total solar eclipse, people do not need a special device to witness the spectacular event. They simply need to look up to see the rare Super Blood Wolf Moon.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Scientists are now looking at roundworms to get a better grasp of humanity's long quest for longevity and understand the process of aging.

Researchers from the University of Michigan Life Sciences Institute used Caenorhabditis elegans or roundworms as a genetic model organism for studying aging. Interestingly, they found the cause of the decline in physiological function in tiny aging worms and figured out how to delay the process.

The new study was published in the journal Science Advances on Jan. 2.

Cause Of Physiological Functional Decline

Humans and animals get older over time, resulting in a progressive deterioration of their motor functions. Roundworms or nematodes, which are about a millimeter long, show almost exact aging patterns to other animals.

"We previously observed that as worms age, they gradually lose physiological functions," said Shawn Xu, the senior author of the study. "Sometime around the middle of their adulthood, their motor function begins to decline."

But what actually caused the decline? In their study, the researchers discovered a molecule known as SLO-1, which stands for "slowpoke potassium channel family member 1." This molecule is mainly responsible for inhibiting the neurons' activity that causes a declining motor function.

According to their findings, a genetic knockdown or pharmacological inhibition of SLO-1 in an old worm can hamper the molecule's function, thereby promoting better healthspan and lifespan.

Genetic Knockdown Or Pharmacological Inhibition

The scientists manipulated SLO-1 either by genetic knockdown or pharmacological inhibition. First, they initially utilize genetic tools and second, they use the drug paxilline.

Both cases show significant effects on roundworms. The research team found that the worms were able to keep an improved motor function later in life. The nematodes also indicated a longer lifespan compared to normal roundworms.

A longer lifespan is not essentially ideal in the absence of improvements in health or strength, explained Xu, who is also a professor at LSI. However, he and his colleagues found that these interventions improved both health and strength and the worms became healthier and lived longer.

The findings further demonstrate that the timing of the intervention is significant. Although the manipulation in the activity of SLO-1 resulted in an improved motor function and lifespan in mid-adult worms, it caused a detrimental effect on the motor function in young worms.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Something to look forward to: Notoriously reliable leaker Evan Blass has revealed the Samsung Galaxy S10 in glorious detail. Surprising no one, its functionally bezel-less and has the Infinity-O hole punch that will likely take the notchs role for 2019.

For the unaware, Blass leaks the next Galaxy S phone shortly before its launch at Mobile World Congress in February. Hes been dead right for the last few years, making this leak about the most reliable you can get. That being said, there are some interesting things going on in the picture below.

For one, there are no virtual buttons at the bottom of the phone, just three straight lines. This is something weve seen before from other manufacturers and third party apps where each line corresponds with a button, but most people have criticized that kind of interface for being clunky. It would be surprising to see the new Android 9 Pie button configuration not enabled by default.

However, the phone has been substantially changed from any default settings: the background is not something Samsung would launch with, the app icons are arranged in what looks like a 5x7 grid, and the phone looking icon in the bottom left corner is different from Samsungs One UI design. In One UI and Samsungs recent icon releases, the phone logo has always been within a block shape.

Once the phone's tilt is corrected for, the aspect ratio of the phone seems to be about in-between the 18.5:9 the S9 had and the 19:9 the S10 is rumored to have, so its hard to draw a conclusion there. Intriguingly the case the phone seems to be in has gaps along the whole width of the bottom and the top  could it be the first phone with top and bottom-mounted stereo speakers? Thatd be pretty awesome.

Examining the cases other leakers have put out yields a bit of a different story, however. In those leaks, there havent been openings for speakers at the top or bottom, just for the headphone jack and USB-C port. Samsungs own cases for the S9 leave an opening for the speaker, while iPhone X cases tend to leave that opening at the bottom for the Home gesture which swipes from the bottom upwards.

Galaxy S10 Lite leaked cases have openings for the power button while the Bixby button and volume rockers have been covered, which suggests it will employ a side mounted fingerprint scanner to save on costs.

Galaxy S10 fans be like pic.twitter.com/cXPlQoHw6Y  Quinn Nelson (@SnazzyQ) January 3, 2019

The S10 and S10+ cases have no openings for the side buttons or for the fingerprint scanner on the back, which is consistent with rumors that the S10 will be the first phone to feature Qualcomms newly announced 3D Sonic Sensor for an under-screen fingerprint scanner.

Previous leaks show the S10 Lite coming with a flat 5.8 screen, the S10 with a curved 6.1 screen and the S10+ with a curved 6.4 screen; all of which will have holes for the camera. Well have to wait for the launch at Mobile World Congress in late February to see a confirmation and the real thing in the flesh.


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Selling location data collected by mobile phones has become a lucrative business, The New York Times reported Monday.

Location advertising sales are expected to reach US$21 billion this year, according to the article. At least 75 companies receive anonymous, precise location data from applications with the location services feature activated.

Several of those outfits claim to track 200 million mobile devices in the United States -- about half of all devices in the country, the Times reported.

The data is very accurate, coming within a few yards of a person's whereabouts at a point in time, and is updated often -- as frequently as 14,000 times a day, the paper noted.

With that kind of accuracy and frequency, calling the data "anonymous" is a bit misleading.

"If you are collecting a person's location over time, and it's tied to a unique identifier, it's disingenuous to call that anonymous," said Natasha Duarte, a policy analyst with the Center for Democracy & Technology in Washington, D.C.

"If you have information about where people are going and where people live, you can build the story of who that location data belongs to," she told TechNewsWorld.

Someone can learn a lot about you from your location, said French Caldwell, CFO of The Analyst Syndicate, an IT research and analysis group.

"They can tell what your interests are and who you're meeting with," he told TechNewsWorld. "Your location data tells more about you than your Social Security number."

Not So Anonymous

Businesses that collect consumer data typically say they're not interested in individuals but in patterns. Data collected on individuals is "anonymized" by attaching it to an ID number. However, that ID doesn't even have the cover of a fig leaf for anyone with access to raw location data.

Those people, who include employees or customers of the data collector, still could identify individuals without their consent, as the Times did in compiling its report.

Not surprisingly, the leaders in location-based advertising are Google and Facebook. Both companies offer mobile apps that they use to collect location data. They say they don't sell it but use it only internally, to personalize services, sell targeted ads online, and determine if the ads lead to sales in the physical world.

Google did not respond to a request for comment for this story. Facebook, through spokesperson Jay Nancarrow, declined to comment.

Some large companies have started to get in front of the location data issue before it becomes a problem for them. For example, Verizon and AT&T announced during the summer that they would stop selling their customers' location data to data brokers.

Deceptive Omissions

Most mobile apps request permission to use a device's location services before accessing them, but the Times found that process could be misleading. An app might ask for location services access for one purpose but use the information for multiple purposes.

"Not all app notices are perfectly clear as to what location data is being used for," CDT's Duarte said.

"Often the app will ask, 'Do you want us to use your location to provide you with local weather information, or personalize your experience, or improve the accuracy of the maps that you're using?' They don't list all the other purposes the data will be used for -- like advertising and sales to third parties," she pointed out.

Some 1,400 popular applications contain code to share location information, the Times reported. About 1,200 were written for Android phones and 200 for Apple models.

In a sample of 17 apps sending precise location data, three Apple iOS programs and one Android offering mentioned that location data could be used for advertising while seeking permission to access the service, the Times found.

Creepiness Factor

Understanding what's done with location data can be an onerous task for a consumer. It requires reading user agreements and privacy policies, and changing settings for all the apps on a phone.

"That can be incredibly time-consuming," Duarte said. "No individual has the capacity to do that properly, and it's not a burden we should be placing on individuals to depend on location-based services."

How concerned are consumers about possible abuse of their location information?

"Most consumers don't care, but there's a creepiness factor that bothers them a little bit," said The Analyst Syndicate's Caldwell.

"We've all been on the Web and looked at a new pair of shoes or something, and all of sudden all you see in your browser for hours are ads for those things," he continued.

"The same kind of thing is happening with your physical location," Caldwell pointed out. "Stores are tracking your location and will start pushing suggestions to you based on where you went in that store. There's a creepiness factor there."

Legislation Needed

Consumers are very concerned about what's being done with their location data, maintained Duarte.

"The problem isn't that consumers are not concerned," she said.

"It's that even if you're very concerned, it's impossible for anyone to have the capacity and time to understand all the things companies are doing with your data, and then go into your settings and make the choices that align perfectly with your personal privacy interests," Duarte explained.

"What really needs to happen is for our laws to recognize that location privacy in a commercial context has to be built into any service," she suggested.

Congress should pass a commercial privacy law, "which would include limits on how companies can collect and use location information," Duarte said.

Such a law might include provisions already adopted in Europe's General Data Protection Regulation, which allow people to access information companies have collected about them, correct information if it's used to make important decisions about them, and delete information.

One area where U.S. lawmakers may want to depart from the GDPR is in consent. The European rule allows data to be collected if consent is given by the owner of the data.

"Some uses of information shouldn't be allowed even with consent," Duarte said. "One of those uses might be repurposing of location information -- collecting the information for a location-based service, then reusing it for something completely unrelated -- like location-based advertising -- or selling it to a data broker."

John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.


Seminole, FL (33772)

Today

Mostly cloudy this evening. Scattered thunderstorms developing after midnight. Low 78F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy this evening. Scattered thunderstorms developing after midnight. Low 78F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Elizabeth City, NC (27909)

Today

A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 72F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 72F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.
NEW YORK (AP)  The federal agency tasked with guaranteeing U.S. airport security acknowledged an increase in the number of its employees calling off work during the partial government shutdown .

Employees of the Transportation Security Administration are expected to work without pay during the shutdown because their jobs are considered essential.

The TSA said in a statement Friday that call outs that began over the holiday period have increased. The agency did not say how many of its employees have called out, but it said the call outs have had "minimal impact given that there are 51,739 employees supporting the screening process." The statement said wait times "may be affected" but so far "remain well within TSA standards."

"TSA is closely monitoring the situation," the agency statement said. "Security effectiveness will not be compromised."

The Department of Homeland Security and President Donald Trump pushed back Saturday on suggestions that the absences represented a "sickout" that was having significant consequences on U.S. air travel. White House officials and congressional aides were in talks Saturday to end the shutdown, which entered its 15th day. Negotiations are at an impasse over Trump's demands for $5.6 billion to fund a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border.

TSA spokesman Michael Bilello tweeted that 5.5 percent of the TSA workforce at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport called out Friday, compared with 3.5 percent on a normal day. He said wait times "may be affected" but that all passengers would be screened as normal.

Hydrick Thomas, president of the national TSA employee union, told CNN that up to 170 TSA employees at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport have called out each day this week.

Airport officials said there no screening delays at JFK, Chicago's O'Hare and Midway airports, or Miami International Airport.

Union officials did not return requests for comment.
With the lack of snow, snowmobiling in most of Upstate New York is on hiatus going into this weekend, according to a New York State Snowmobile Association official.

Apart from some isolated trails in the Tug Hill and Adirondacks, theres not much going on, said Jim Rolf, trail coordinator for the statewide group.

With the sun coming out today and melting what little snow we got last night, nothing has frozen up, he said. There are areas of open water and mud holes in a number of areas, he added.

Rolf said many snowmobilers will use this coming weekend to stay at home to catch up on family time, job responsibilities and honey-do lists. Those snowmobile club members who do get out, he added, will most likely concentrate on clearing trails of fallen trees, branches and signs that fell down during the wind storm that blew during the early morning hours of New Years Day.

Meanwhile, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced recently that the states snowmobile clubs will be getting $4.2 million for trail maintenance and grooming this year  a 5 percent increase from last year.

The grant program is funded by snowmobile registration fees collected by the state Department of Motor Vehicles and deposited into the Snowmobile Trail and Maintenance Fund. County and municipal governments distribute the grants to about 230 snowmobile clubs across the state, which in turn groom and maintain the trails. See a breakdown of how much money is going to each county.

Snowmobilers are required by law to register their sleds. Rolf noted that those sledders who dont belong to a snowmobile club are required to pay $100 for an annual registration fee, $95 of which goes into the trail and maintenance fund. Those snowmobilers who below to clubs pay $45 per year, with $40 going into the trail fund.

The state snowmobile association on its website recently began posting an interactive , statewide map showing which snowmobile trails are open or closed, in addition to noting points of interest (gas stations, restaurants, places to stay, park and ride lots, etc.). The individual snowmobile clubs are charged with adding their information and keeping things updated.

Rolf said the map at this point is a work in progress with about half the clubs participating.
ROME, N.Y. -- A 30-year-old Utica man was charged Friday with rape and assault in the city of Rome, according to Rome police.

Wallis A. Flagg, also known as Keem Flagg, was charged with first-degree rape, a felony. Flagg was also charged with third-degree assault and petit larceny, both misdemeanors, police said.

Flagg is accused of physically assaulting a female victim over several hours beginning on Wednesday evening and continuing into the early morning hours of Thursday. During the course of the assault it is alleged that Flagg had unwanted sexual intercourse with the victim, police said.

Flagg was processed at the Rome Police Department and transported to the Oneida County Jail, where he is being held without bail, police said.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A 16-year-old boy is accused of pointed a gun at a store employee Friday evening at a Gifford Street market, according to Syracuse police.

The teen, who was not identified due to his age, was charged with second-degree menacing, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a firearm, according to Sgt. Julie Shulsky, a spokeswoman for the city police department.

Police officers were called to SafeWay Market at 504 Gifford St., at about 6:21 p.m. Friday regarding a menacing investigation. Upon arrival, officers met with an employee who reported a male pointed a handgun at him, Shulsky said.

The employee told officers, he had asked a group of males to leave the market. The group began to argue with him and one of the males pointed a handgun at him and threatened to shoot him, Shulsky said.

Police Officer Adam Rachjel relayed a description of the suspect to other officers in the area. Officers located a boy matching the suspect description in the parking lot of 338 Gifford St. As Officer Nicholas Voggel approached the boy, the boy ran away. Voggel pursued the suspect and was able to take him into custody in the 400 block of Gifford Street, Shulsky said.

Officers located a Cobra Arms .380 handgun and a loaded Cobra Arms magazine in close proximity to where the suspect was taken into custody, Shulsky said.

The 16-year-old boy was arrested and taken to the Hillbrook Juvenile Detention Facility. His booking photo was not released.
A North Syracuse contractor has been arrested and charged with grand larceny after stealing $7,900 for projects he started but never completed, according to New York State police.

Travis J. Carter, 39, of North Syracuse, was charged with third-degree grand larceny, police said.

Carter started several projects on a complainants house but Carter never completed the projects, police said.

He has been arraigned in Centralized Arraignment Court and was remanded to the Onondaga County Justice Center in lieu of $5,000 cash or $10,000 bond.
FULTON, N.Y. -- An Oswego County man is accused of assaulting a 18-month-old baby, according to New York State Police.

Matthew A. Perry, of Fulton, was charged Friday with felony second-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor, troopers said.

Perry is accused of picking up the girl from her crib and throwing her to the ground, troopers said. The child was treated and released from Upstate University Hospital.

Perry was arraigned in Volney Town Court and released to the Oswego County Pre-Trial Release Program. He is due back in court Monday evening, troopers said.
A Marion man who suffered knife wounds in a New Years Eve scuffle will now face charges in Smyth County courts.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Smyth County General District Court, deputies responded to the reported stabbing in the 4000 block of Lee Highway, where they found 33-year-old Gill Santiago bleeding heavily.

Sheriff Chip Shuler said Santiago had gone to his neighbors home to find out why his girlfriend had come there to report him for an assault against her. After a brief argument with his neighbors, Santiago assaulted them, Shuler said.

According to the complaint, one of the neighbors pulled out a knife and cut Santiago.

Santiago, who was highly intoxicated, the complaint said, was taken to Smyth County Community Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
The Norwood Inn at 12920 Aldrich Ave. S in Burnsville was surrounded by yellow tape and keep out signs on Jan. 1 following the health departments orders to close.
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She said the CSCU investigators found that my account was completely credible, and my attacker admitted most of what he did. She added that she waited about six months to complain because I feared the consequences of reporting, due to the known toxic workplace that exists at the college and the fact that Charter Oak has a known boys club atmosphere. ... And my attacker is quite friendly with Charter Oaks President Klonoski. So, I decided not to report for fear that my situation would only get worse. And in hindsight, I was 100% correct. My life has become a living hell since reporting this.
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Danas idea was to use the new power of computer databases to test a theory that sounded obvious but had never been proven: that the powers that be in Illinois government routinely handed out their hundreds of millions of dollars in state government contracts based not on who could best do the job, but on who had best greased the skids by donating campaign money to politicians.

Dana put together a team, me and three other reporters. My job was to get the data into a consistent form so our computers (feather quills, compared to what Im typing on now) could analyze the records and spit out a list of people who gave fat donations to politicians and then got fatter state contracts in return from those same politicians.

While researching how to do this, I sat down with a state technician who assured me it couldnt be done. The number of records was too great, their condition too inconsistent. Cowed by the technicians expertise, I glumly reported to Dana that we were wasting our time.

He laughed dismissively, and used some language to describe the technician that I wont use here, and then told me to get back to work.
The work is being done by the state Department of Transportation, which will swap out an overlay panel with Lamonts name on six interstate welcome signs that currently bear the name of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy. The departing incumbent opted to use his formal name and middle initial on the signs, in contrast to Lamont.
Republicans took solace when some Democrats dismissed Ocasio-Cortez as a flash-in-the-pan who will not be a long-term force in party politics once her 15 minutes of fame is over.

Claire McCaskill, the former Missouri Democratic senator, described her in a CNN interview as a "shiny object" for Democrats. She took a shot at Ocasio-Cortez in her exit interview with The Daily podcast, when she warned, "I hope she listens to people who defeated Republicans, because it's the people who defeated Republicans, in this election, that we need to be emulating, not the people who defeated Democrats in primaries."

But all of these attacks will likely backfire. They will only help to accelerate her rise to power, making her one of the most prominent voices on the national scene.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a 29-year-old democratic socialist, upset a 10-term incumbent in the primaries. She is the youngest member of the 116th Congress.

Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez proposed taxing the wealthy as high as 70% to fund a climate change plan she's pushing called the "Green New Deal."

"There's an element where, yeah, people are going to have to start paying their fair share in taxes," the freshman New York lawmaker said in an interview with Anderson Cooper that's slated to air Sunday on CBS' "60 Minutes."

In a clip of the interview that was released on Friday, Cooper asked Ocasio-Cortez about the specifics of the "Green New Deal," a plan that calls for reducing carbon emissions to zero and moving the country off of fossil fuels in 10 years.

"Once you get to the tippie-tops, on your $10 millionth dollar, sometimes you see tax rates as high as 60% or 70%. That doesn't mean all $10 million dollars are taxed at an extremely high rate. But it means that as you climb up this ladder, you should be contributing more," Ocasio-Cortez said.

She also acknowledged that her goal is "ambitious."

"It's going to require a lot of rapid change that we don't even conceive as possible right now," she told Cooper. "What is the problem with trying to push our technological capacities to the furthest extent possible?"
Special counsel Robert Mueller's federal grand jury has been extended so it may continue to meet and vote on criminal indictments for up to six more months. The grand jury, based in Washington, DC, was seated for an 18-month term that began in July 2017 and was set to expire in the coming da

Special counsel Robert Mueller's federal grand jury has been extended so it may continue to meet and vote on criminal indictments for up to six more months.

The grand jury's initial 18-month term was set to expire over the weekend.

The extension is the surest sign yet that the Russia investigation isn't finished. It means, broadly, that Mueller may continue pursuing alleged criminal activity related to the Russian government's interference in the 2016 presidential election, and that more indictments may be coming.

Mueller is given authority by the Justice Department to prosecute individuals as he sees fit if they fall within his commissioned task -- but in practice his team must ask the secret group of up to 23 citizens from DC to approve criminal indictments.

This grand jury, based in Washington, DC, and apparently dedicated to Mueller's probe, began meeting in July 2017.
Financial pain and complications carry over to the low-income people their work helps.

"We help a lot of people in rural areas find houses and keep them," said Vincent Cuenca, an insurance claims specialist for the USDA. "We handle people who can't get loans through regular banks. We're a lender of last resort."

But he says those wide-ranging loans the office provides are now on hold, complicating everything from nationwide housing construction projects to rebuilding efforts in hurricane-damaged areas like the Carolinas, Florida Panhandle, and Puerto Rico.

"We'll do everything we can to mitigate the effects of this, but inevitably there are follow-along consequences," Cuenca said. "There can be lasting scars to credit scores."

Rhetoric out of Washington, though, makes it sound as if the standstill will continue, with President Donald Trump demanding funding for a wall along the country's southern border.

Some of the protesters Friday expressed a desire for "leadership" instead of a continued "tantrum" at the national level of politics, said Donna Rogers, a USDA accounting technician. Others gave reasons for why the wall wouldn't be an effective means of meeting its supposed objective of cutting down on illegal immigration.
But he added we believe the highest and best use of the rear two-thirds of the property is met by the storage and parking uses being proposed and we believe the highest and best use of the frontage is retail. He asked that the city approve the project.

John Hughes, an alderman in Huntleigh, said he also supported the plan, and we prefer this to more intensive uses such as high-rise buildings.

Brad Boessen, of Flanders Drive in Warson Woods, praised the project as a much-needed buffer between his neighborhood and retail uses close to Manchester.

However, some council members were concerned with proposed changes to city codes that would allow self storage uses in other, similarly-zoned areas.

Spouses Wayne and Ruth Baldwin, of Timbercrest Road in the Huntleigh Hills neighborhood, were split on the plan.

I'm not sure you want more retail on Manchester Road, and light pollution and more traffic would be problems  I'd say tear the building down, and make the site a park, Wayne Baldwin said.

But Ruth Baldwin insisted this would be a creative use on property that will be difficult to redevelop. I don't want to see a vacant lot, and, overall, this is a good plan.

Karen Giesler, of Sylvan Place and across Manchester from the Shop 'n Save site, said she feared a lot more traffic than indicated as well as additional lighting from the proposal.
CLAYTON  Supporters of President Donald Trump rallied Saturday in support of the president and his wall on the Mexican border.

Holding Trump 2016 and 2020 signs, along with others saying the Wall is Moral and Make America Garrisoned Again, the crowd of at least 150 joined in chants of Build That Wall and applauded a series of speakers.

Were here. Were citizens. And we want our voices to be heard, said Jim Hoft, one of the organizers and the founder of the Gateway Pundit website.

Hoft said he and others planned the rally in the last week on a shoestring budget.

Hoft said he supported Trump but warned that Trump would lose half of his base if he gave in to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

Several speakers stressed that they did not oppose legal immigration.

Incoming Missouri Rep. Dottie Bailey, R-Eureka, told the crowd that the rally was not against those who want to come to this country legally, but she railed against those who had been gathered from Honduras and other countries by globalists to be used as human capital.
Its been more than 140 years since St. Louis opted to split from St. Louis County, and so far, every attempt to merge the two has either failed to get off the ground or has been rejected by voters. As the nonprofit group Better Together prepares to unveil a plan that would ask Missouri voters to force the city of St. Louis and St. Louis County back together, heres a look at earlier efforts at reunification.

1876

The Great Divorce was actually defeated at the polls, but victory came following a court challenge that led to more than 5,000 ballots being thrown out, most of them no votes.

St. Louis decision to separate from St. Louis County under a home rule charter would prove difficult to reverse, leading to unforeseen consequences in the decades to come.

1926

Following the split, St. Louis enjoyed a period of immense growth. The 1900 census ranked the city as the nations fourth largest, behind only New York, Chicago and Philadelphia.

But other cities began to catch up. The 1920 federal census demoted St. Louis to sixth place.
UPDATED at 10:15 p.m. with the identity of the victim.

ST. ANN  A man managing a St. Ann auto store was shot in the face and died of his injuries Friday, police say.

Talmadge Smith, 32, of the 1200 block of Stoneridge Drive in Black Jack, was taken to a hospital after the shooting about 9 a.m. inside T&R PitStop at St. Charles Rock Road and Geraldine Avenue, St. Ann Police Chief Aaron Jimenez said.

Smith was pronounced dead Friday afternoon.

Officers were called to the shooting by an employee of the auto shop, Jimenez said. The employee told police he was in a back room when he heard a loud popping sound and then walked into the store lobby to find the manager wounded on the floor.

Police believe the shooter fled in a vehicle he stole from the store lot after shooting Smith, Jimenez said. Investigators found a bullet casing inside the store.

Police had taped off the intersection and were interviewing residents of an apartment building across the street, Jimenez said.
CLAYTON  New St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell said Friday that his office was moving toward prosecuting child support cases as civil  not criminal  matters to bring the county more in line with the rest of the state.

Its a move he says will help offenders have better chances at getting jobs, resulting in better chances at paying for their childrens care.

The new approach isnt a free pass to skip out on child support payments, Bell said. In civil court, someone who refuses to pay could be held in contempt of court and ordered jailed, he said.

In the most egregious cases, Bell said he might pursue criminal charges, but his office is still working out how those cases would be defined.

When you have two people applying for a job who are similarly situated, and one has a felony conviction even if its just for child support, wed be lying if we said that didnt hurt peoples chances of being successful at getting a job, he said. And most people I talk to, single moms or single dads, they just want the support for their family.
First off, before the case reached a jury, the district court judge should have analyzed whether Glaub's actions were speech on their own terms - objectively, not subjectively. The answer would have been yes. The sending of the bills with the "Thank you for paying" note could not have been understood by any reasonable person to constitute a claim of any kind. It shouldn't matter if Glaub thought the government should pay his debts - neither he nor anyone else could have expected that to happen, so the documents were inherently a protest.
WENTZVILLE  A suspected robber was anything but stealthy Wednesday when he was caught sitting on the curb of the Wentzville police station with $100 bills in his pocket after a credit union robbery across the street, police say.

Police say Karsten Hardeman, 20, of Dayton, Ohio, was spotted just before 5 p.m., shortly after 1st Financial Federal Credit Union at 1232 Wentzville Parkway reported a man had taken cash and ran , according to Wentzville police.

The credit union can be seen from the police station.

An officer in the station decided to respond to the robbery on foot Wednesday, but when he opened the station door he immediately spotted a man matching the description of the robber, police said.

The officer approached and ordered Hardeman, 20, to show his hands, causing several $100 bills to fall out of a sweatshirt pocket, according to police.

I have no idea what he was thinking or why he decided that would be a good place to go, Officer Jacob Schmidt said.

Hardeman had been released from the jail inside the police station just 50 minutes before the robbery. He had been taken into custody at a towing company and charged with a misdemeanor drug offense.
Joe Arpaio. Sheriff Joe.

Arpaio was gold to my old newspaper colleagues in Phoenix. As sheriff of Maricopa County, he liked to do and say outrageous things. Nothing was out of bounds. He served prisoners green bologna sandwiches. He made them wear pink underwear. He made them live in tents in the summer heat.

More than a few died under Arpaios watch. Maricopa County paid more than $150 million in settlements for various lawsuits.

Not all the payouts were about wrongful death cases. Two of my friends cashed in. Jim Larkin and Mike Lacey  then the publisher and editor of the New Times, respectively  received a $3.7 million settlement after Arpaios men arrested them in late-night raids at their homes. Their paper had long been critical of Arpaio, and the arrests were so bogus and so malicious that even the conservative Goldwater Institute released a statement: There is only one place for friends of freedom to stand at this moment  shoulder to shoulder with the New Times.

Larkin and Lacey, who eventually left the alternative newspaper business and got into online personal ads, are currently facing charges involving sex trafficking and money laundering. But know this: They donated their $3.7 million to charity.
Credit author Doyle Suit of St. Charles for having the pluck to put himself inside the mind of a grade-school girl in the Nazi-occupied Alsace region of France during World War II. Then give Suit extra credit for making that first-person narration work.

True, unless youre an 80-something woman who grew up in Alsace, youll never know whether Suit gets it right in Innocent Eyes. But he makes it seem right, which will keep you turning the pages.

Suit lets readers know right away that his heroine survived those awful years  and, in fact, that she became an American by marrying a GI. But in the years of Nazi occupation, survival seemed iffy at best.

Early in the book, the young girl, named Irene Reeb, eavesdrops as her parents discuss the draft notice sent by the French army to her father.

From my bed in the corner, I watched and listened to their conversation. Why did Papa have to go? Who would look after our house in Kaschel? What if he got hurt in the army?

You could be killed, Mama said. France and Germany have declared war. The fighting could start any time.

Papa lifted his hands in frustration. We could all be killed at home. A bomb doesnt care where it falls.
She was seen as this sexy girl who somehow got Seymour Lawrence to publish her book, her agent recalled. (The fact she was sleeping with Lawrence didnt help her credibility.)

More books followed: the superb essays collected in Slow Days, Fast Company: The World, the Flesh, and L.A., considered her masterwork. The novels L.A. Woman and Sex and Rage, both of which fictionalized much of the same material as Eves Hollywood. Black Swans, a collection of autobiographical stories written after Babitz got sober. A book on tango and another on the Fiorucci fashion house. Then, in 1997, a horrific freak accident derailed her life  her clothing caught on fire and left Babitz with third-degree burns on much of her body, skin grafts and months of recovery. The spotlight-seeker became a recluse.

The appearance of Anoliks new book is part of a mini Babitz renaissance. Last year a new edition of Black Swans was published, Emma Roberts chose Sex and Rage as her book-club choice this summer, and Hulu is developing a series based on L.A. Woman. Babitz is a popular subject of millennial Instagramming. But readers looking for new revelations about Babitzs famously fractious life will have to wait.
The U.S. Internal Revenue Service is closed, thanks to the government shutdown, but your taxes are still due on April 15 and that is why individuals need to proceed through tax season as if nothing is amiss, experts say.

The opening day of e-filing traditionally occurs during the third week in January. This year, however, there is still a lot of unfinished business because of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

One of the most complex changes in the legislation is how to calculate income for self-employed individuals or those with partnerships. Filers need to figure out something called qualified business income and run an algorithm for a new 20 percent deduction on this income, which has a lot of phase-outs and special qualifications.

It is way more complicated than first blush would make it seem, said tax preparer David Tolleth in Holmdel, N.J.

When Tolleth looks at 2018 forms in his professional software, they are all still marked draft, including the main 1040 form. In prior years plagued by filing delays, Tolleth prepared returns and then sent them once the system was online.

Im hoping that will happen this year, but I dont know, he said.
We have learned in the 50 years that LRA was created that this is the time that is needed for people to clear up issues in the family as far as the property is concerned, said Deputy Collector Tom Vollmer. I get it. We just walk this tightrope because you dont want to take property away from individuals, but yet you have to make quality of life for the rest of the people living there attractive.

The lag time in the citys system to process abandoned property has been cited in two reports examining St. Louis vacancy problem, in a 2016 Center for Community Progress report and the next year in an Asakura Robinson report on the LRA.

The report from the Center for Community Progress, which studies vacancy in American cities, recommended reducing the time initiating delinquent tax enforcement actions.
The Romanian Police ordered checks into the security of the Bucharest above-ground and Metro traffic light systems following the recent tampering with the traffic management program in a Bucharest quarter, authorized sources said according to Agerpres

The Capital Police is looking at the way the Local Police of the Bucharest Municipality ensures the security of the above-ground traffic light system, while the Transport Police performs controls at the Metro signaling system.

On December 31, the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism took action in the recent case of the illegal access of the traffic light cabinets, opening an in rem criminal case for the offenses of unauthorized access to a computer system and altering the integrity of computer data.On December 29 the Bucharest City Hall filed a complaint regarding the unauthorized accessing of the traffic light cabinets at the pedestrian crossing in front of the Titan Polyclinic, with the change of the authorized red- and green-light times. The City Hall said that had the response teams not promptly remedied the situation, the consequences could have been extremely grave.
Nebraska's current tax break for retired veterans, passed in 2014, met immediate criticism that it was too little, too confusing and excluded too many military retirees. The state has sought, in recent years, better incentives for retired military members to remain in or relocate to Nebraska, particularly those with high-tech experience who worked at Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha.

The current tax break applies only to veterans who retired after July 18, 2012, and required veterans to choose, within two years of leaving the military, whether to immediately take an income tax break that lasted for seven years, or wait until age 67 to tax a break that lasted for the rest of their lives. The immediate tax break reduced the taxable portion of a military pension by 40 percent; the later tax break provided a 15 percent reduction for life.

Under Ricketts' new proposal, all retired veterans, National Guard members and military reservists would be allowed a 50 percent reduction in the taxable portion of their pension.

"What this does, it makes it easy," the governor said. It also eliminates what Ricketts called "the injustice" of excluding many veterans who retired prior to mid-2012.
Young and Tisdol were riding with Dowdell when several police cars converged on the Toyota Paseo he was driving. The car was wanted in connection with a string of increasingly violent carjackings. Smriga concluded that police were justified in firing 28 shots at the car; police dashboard camera videos show several officers hurrying out of the way when the Paseo went up on a sidewalk to get around police cars.
10:30 p.m.  In the 400 block of South Beltline Highway, officers observed a pick up truck with a non-functioning headlight and a traffic stop was initiated. Bradley Bigsby, 54, was arrested on a Scotts Bluff County warrant.

10:38 p.m.  In the 100 block of South Beltline Highway, officers stopped Erika Savala, 28, after she allegedly failed to stop at Fifth Avenue and South Beltline Highway. Savala was arrested on charges of driving under the influence, second offense.

Dec. 15

1:19 a.m.  Officers were on patrol in the 500 block of East 20th Street and observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed, eastbound on 20th Street. The driver, Jacob Gompert, 19, was cited on a charge of driving under suspension.

Scotts Bluff County Court

Dec. 7

Draven Steele, 19, was fined $349 on a charge of possession of marijuana.

Dec. 10

Crystal Buscher, 23, was sentenced to five days in jail and fined $250 on a charge of disturbing the peace.

Dec. 11
SCOTTSBLUFF  After providing free, hands-on Stop the Bleed training to the staff at local schools, Regional West is also providing free Stop the Bleed kits to the schools, thanks to a grant from Regional West Foundation.

Last year, Regional West Health Services joined a national effort to train citizens in all walks of life to control life-threatening bleeding in emergency and crisis situations. Since then, staff at Scottsbluff, Gering and Mitchell public schools has received Stop the Bleed training from a team of Regional West health care professionals.

We really appreciated the training because it was provided directly by physicians and other health care providers. And while were always excited to have things to make our buildings more safe, were also grateful because this training may be valuable for an emergency outside of the schools  at work or at our homes, said Gering Superintendent Bob Hastings.

James Todd, Safety and Security Coordinator at Scottsbluff Public Schools, said the district had been looking into purchasing Stop the Bleed kits for classrooms when Dr. Hughes surprised them by offering free training and kits for every classroom.
Carissa Smith of Firefighter Ministry said the family of five was displaced from their home in the 2100 block of 21st Avenue Friday morning.

Smith said the home was destroyed. The ministry has assisted the family with all of their immediate needs, she said. Any updates on needs of the family will be posted to the Firefighter Ministry Facebook page.
Weve depleted the rainy-day fund to a point to where its not serving as much of an economic cushion, Stinner said. With so many unknowns in todays economy, the need for that cushion becomes greater and greater.

In past years, the rainy-day fund has been used for renovations to the state prisons, a levee around the Strategic Air Command base and $50 million to start the infrastructure bank.

The rainy-day fund has a dual purpose because the state cant borrow money, Stinner said. Many times we have projects and initiatives when we need to have the fund available. About 54 percent of the spend-down in the rainy-day fund was for one-time projects. Building it back up will be a high priority.

Stinner said that during the 90-day legislative session, much of the time will be taken up putting together a new biennium budget.

This wont be a robust budget, Stinner said. Medicaid expansion will cost about $50 million, so I dont expect to see any bills that require new funding to be passed. Thats four years in a row where we dont have funding for new projects.
To view the leakage report, visit kimballne.org and click on economic development.

Sapp also said the city has discussed having an entreprenuer workshop along the Colorado front range to talk about the opportunities in Kimball and the Nebraska Panhandle. Based upon real estate sales, most of the people moving to Kimball come from Colorado, Sapp said.

With the closure of Shopko just over a month away, Dean said the loss of Shopko has an impact.

Well it will impact the community, but we dont know specifically how much because thats proprietary information. Were not privy to it but obviously, its going to have an impact, he said.

The city sent a letter to Shopko asking the company to reconsider closing the doors. There has been no correspondence from Shopkos corporate management to date.

We did send a letter to Shopko asking them to reconsider and how important it was to the community, Dean said.

The community is also fighting to keep the stores doors open. Nicole Sanneh started a petition on change.org for Keep Kimball, NE Shopko Hometown store open. The petition link was emailed to Shopkos co-CEOs Rodger Krouse and Marc Leder.
HARTFORD  After two days of deliberations, a jury found Monday that two Plainville police officers were negligent in their handling of Tiana Notice's complaints against her ex-boyfriend, James Carter, who fatally stabbed her in 2009.

The jury awarded $10 million to Notice's estate, which is administered by her father, Alvin Notice.

"Like I said when the [criminal] trial was over, another burden has been taken off my shoulders," said Notice, who has become active in the fight against domestic violence.

Carter was sentenced in 2012 to 60 years in prison for murder and violation of a restraining order.

Two Waterbury officers, Officer Victor Leon and Sgt. David Sheehan, who had dealt with Notice the day before she died, also were found negligent, said one of Notice's lawyers, Thomas J. Murphy. But the city of Waterbury settled out of court before the trial began and will not have to contribute to the award. The amount of the settlement was not disclosed.

Plainville Officer Mark Connoy  who called Carter the night Notice died, inadvertently tipping him off that she had reported him to police for sending an email  was found negligent, as was his boss, Sgt. Richard Marques, Murphy said. Marques didn't bother to read the email, he said.

"We are pleased with the verdict," Murphy said. "We believe it shows that the jury carefully considered the facts and applied the law to reach an appropriate verdict that vindicates the decision to bring this lawsuit in the first place.

"We view it as justice for Tiana and her family."

The Plainville officers are part of a larger group of police officers from three towns who were sued before Carter was found guilty of murder. In addition to Plainville and Waterbury, Bloomfield  where Carter lived  was named in the suit, but the judge found that Bloomfield police were not culpable.

Carter stabbed the 25-year-old graduate student on Feb. 14, 2009, outside her apartment.

According to the lawsuit, "For the five weeks between the issuance of the restraining order and her murder, Tiana did everything in her power to persuade the police to protect her from Carter based on his persistent, threatening conduct."

Testimony began April 1 in Superior Court. The jury began deliberating late Thursday afternoon.

Scott Karsten, one of two lawyers who represented Plainville, said the town is confident the verdict will be overturned.

"Attorney [Russell] Jarem and I were not shocked by the verdict," he said in a written statement. "There was no one in the courtroom throughout the trial, including we counsel for the defendants, who didn't feel terribly for the murder of Tiana Notice, and for her entire family. ..."

However, he said, "In our opinion, the officers should be insulated from liability by the doctrine of governmental immunity, which is a question of pure law that is designed in part to prevent the officers from being second-guessed for the hard and consequential decisions they have to make on a routine basis. Connecticut police officers, and their municipal employers, simply cannot be required to be absolute protectors of every potential victim of crime, however uncertain the commission of that crime may be."

Although the officers were sued as individuals, Plainville would pay the award, Murphy said.

During closing arguments Thursday, Murphy told the jury that police "failed to protect" Notice.

Police officers also didn't go far enough in investigating Notice's complaint that Carter had slashed her car tires two weeks before her death, Murphy said. An officer tried to determine if police had seen Carter's car in town that night, but when he found that no one had run Carter's license plate, he closed the case.

"We're not saying there was probable cause to arrest," Murphy said. But "somebody needed to intervene."

In January 2009, the month before her death, Notice received emails Murphy described as threatening.

They came from an account with the name "Jessica Banderas" on it, and Notice believed that Banderas was Carter's new girlfriend, police said at the time. Police proved Banderas didn't exist after Notice died. Banderas was invented by Carter as a way to harass Notice without appearing to violate the restraining order.

Police suspected that Carter's new "girlfriend" wasn't real, but didn't take action, even after Carter admitted that the emails came from his account, Murphy said. Carter had told police that his "girlfriend" had written them on her laptop by connecting to his Wi-Fi.

On Feb. 13, 2009, the day before Notice died, there was a "flurry of activity," including calls to Notice in which Carter identified himself, Murphy said.

Plainville police Sgt. Dean Cyr was concerned enough that he made extra patrols around her apartment that night, according to testimony. But he didn't work the next day, Murphy said, and he failed to make sure someone else conducted the special patrol.

"If that risk wasn't foreseeable, why was Sgt. Cyr patrolling her apartment on the night of the 13th?" Murphy asked.

The day before Carter killed Notice, he wrote her emails in which he desperately begged her to call him. She brought them to the police the next day, and Cpl. William Buden  who was not named as a defendant  saw that Carter had urged Notice not to tell police about the emails.

Buden knew the significance of that, Murphy said, and referred to the emails as "apocalyptic." He also said "something bad is going to happen," according to testimony.

Police didn't check Carter's criminal record until after Notice was killed, Murphy said.

Karsten told the jurors to avoid hindsight, and urged them to consider the limited information police had at the time. Calling Carter a "pathological, sick individual" and a "monster," Karsten noted how calm he was in a conversation with Connoy, who called Carter to follow up on Notice's Feb. 14 complaint about his email.

He also noted that "there was never a complaint of any physical violence or abuse" by Carter, and that the fictitious Jessica Banderas was the only one who made what he called "veiled threats."

Karsten told the jury that although Connoy was faulted for calling Carter the night of Notice's death, another officer was faulted for failing to call Carter about the slashed tires.

As far as the allegation that police should have checked Carter's record earlier, Karsten said "past behavior can't predict future violence. People sometimes learn from their mistakes."

Courant staff writer Hilda Munoz contributed to this story.
Ogden jazz icon Joe McQueen may be gone, but his memory and legacy live on. One physical reminder of his life, McQueen's lifelong home at 3158 Grant Ave., has now become available for sale. The house received extensive remodeling, but as investor Richard Casperson has said, "Joe's energy is 
D onald Trump is visiting Camp David to discuss his administrations priorities for 2019, with his vice president in charge of handling government shutdown negotiations while he is away.

The US president will attend the compound for a staff retreat over the weekend, with senior White House staff making plans for the year ahead.

Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said President Trump will lead meetings on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Mike Pence, senior adviser Jared Kushner and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen will be meeting with House and Senate leadership staff to try cease the shutdown deadlock.

Mike Pence will be attempting to resolve the stalemante / EPA

The US government has been in a partial shutdown in recent weeks, as conflict over President Trumps much-derided border wall plan continues.

He has persisted in his demand for $5billion to fund the massive barrier between the US and Mexico, with opponents constantly batting back the request.

On Friday, Democrats reported that President said he would prepared to see the shutdown, which is directly affecting around 800,000 workers, continue for months or even years.

Nancy Pelosi, the speaker for the House of Representatives, has said the wall will not be funded / EPA

"We won't be opening until it's solved," President Trump said. "I don't call it a shutdown. I call it doing what you have to do for the benefit and the safety of our country."

He also confirmed he privately told Democrats the shutdown could drag on for months or years, though he said: "I hope it doesn't go on even beyond a few more days."

He met with congressional leaders from both parties as the shutdown hit the two-week mark.

A stop sign near the White House during a government shutdown in Washington / AFP/Getty Images

Democrats emerged from the meeting, which both sides agreed was contentious at times, to report little progress.

Opposing politicians continued to call on President Trump to reopen the government while negotiations continue. Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said: "It's very hard to see how progress will be made unless they open up the government."

House Democrats muscled through legislation Thursday night to fund the government but not President Trump's proposed wall.

Despite this, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said those measures are non-starters on his side of the Capitol without the president's support.

Schumer said that if McConnell and Senate Republicans stay on the sidelines, "Trump can keep the government shut down for a long time."
F aulty wiring has been identified by firefighters as the cause of a horror blaze at an escape room in Poland that left five teenage girls dead.

The victims, all 15, were found inside a room at he venue in Koszalin in northern Poland on Friday.

It is believed they were celebrating one of the girls' birthdays. One man, thought to be one of the girls' fathers, was seriously injured.

Polish firefighters have now said they believe poor electrical wiring and lax safety procedures were the cause of the blaze at the escape room.

A cordon was put in place at the scene / AFP/Getty Images

Asphyxiation has been deemed the probable cause of the deaths, officials said.

Poland's firefighting chief, Leszek Suski, said electrical wiring at the location was makeshift and too close to flammable materials.

A man was also injured in the incident / REUTERS

He added that the man in charge was probably not there when the fire broke out.

The Escape Room game sees players locked inside a room or building, which they must find get out of by finding clues.

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has sent condolences to the victims' families.

In the aftermath, country's interior minister Joachim Brudzinski ordered fire safety controls in all Escape Rooms, which are very popular with teenagers across Poland.
F resh violence erupted on the streets of Paris this afternoon as Yellow Vest protesters set fires and clashed with police.

French demonstrators marched through the capital and other cities on Saturday in protest against high living costs.

In Paris, protests began peacefully but turned chaotic in the afternoon as protesters hurled missiles at riot police barricading bridges over the Seine river.

Rubbish bins were also torched, in scenes similar to protests last year.

A protester on top of burning bins in Paris / AFP/Getty Images

Officers fired tear gas to prevent hundreds of demonstrators crossing the river and reaching the National Assembly.

One riverboat restaurant was also set on fire and a policeman was wounded when he was struck by a bicycle hurled from a street above the riverbank.

Protesters gather on a street in Rouen, north-western France / AFP/Getty Images

Some confrontations between police and protesters took place in other cities around France, with tear gas fired in Bordeaux in the southwest and in Rouen in Normandy.

Several hundred protesters gathered on the Champs Elysees in central Paris / AFP/Getty Images

No official figures have been issued for the number of protesters who turned out around France or in Paris.

Protester Francois Cordier said: "We're fed up with having to pay out the whole time, we've had enough of this slavery, we should be able to live on our salaries."

The protests follow on from initial Yellow Vest protests in Paris and across the country which started two months ago.

French riot police officers stand by motorbikes set on fire / EPA

The finance minister for France had previously claimed the violent protests staged in the country were an economic catastrophe.

Bruno Le Maire also said the Yellow Vest protests have also been a crisis for democracy and society.
A mass shooting at a California bowling alley which has left three men dead and four more injured.

Police in Torrance confirmed shots had rang out at Gable House Bowl.

They found seven men with gunshot wounds and pronounced three dead at the scene.

According to witnesses a fight inside the bar escalated which led to the shooting.

Police at the scene / REUTERS

Wes Hamad, a 29-year-old Torrance resident, was at the bowling alley with his 13-year-old niece and cousin when what he called a "huge fight" broke out.

He said the brawl which lasted about five minutes devolved into "complete chaos."

A journalist for the LA Times reported a man told him their 31-year-old brother had been shot in the chest while celebrating a birthday at the scene.

Seven men were found with gunshot wounds at the scene / REUTERS

Witness D Ryon Thomas posted horrific video on Facebook in the aftermath of the shooting which showed one bloodied victim lying on the floor of the bowling alley.

He wrote online: "Gunshot fired. I'm okay just my few scraping on my legs. I heard ppl died n injured. I was distance away but people ran in our room. The women weeping and wailing in the background makes me sad."

Witness Dana Scott, whose bowling league was meeting Friday night, told CNN: "A lot of people ran back into the bar area - behind the seats and onto the floor, under the benches. People were crying. It was not comfortable."

Audio of police officers discussing the shooting detailed them calling it a "major incident".

They spoke of "multiple callers", "multiple people shot" and "gunshot wounds".

Forensics officers investigate after the incident / REUTERS/Ringo Chiu

One voice on the call said: "This is an active shooter situation.

"We have multiple subjects down inside and outside Gable House."

An officer also said there had been a shooting in the parking lot and three people were said to be "hiding in the bathroom".

Police are at the scene / Google

Gable House Bowl patron Jesus Perez told the Los Angeles Times: "We just ran right into the bar and took cover. All we heard was just, like two people got shot," he told the newspaper.

An LA Times journalist shared videos of people weeping outside the alley, with one shouting "we're here" as they embraced another.

A cordon was in place and people urged to stay away from the area / REUTERS

As the incident unfolded. Torrance police tweeted: "Reports of shots fired with multiple victims down. T P D is on scene. Investigation is ongoing."

Police urged people to "stay away from the area" near the bowling alley.

The bowling alley is based on Hawthorne Boulevard, with people warned away from there and nearby Sepulveda Boulevard in particular.

Gable House is described on its website as a gaming venue that offers bowling, laser tag and a full arcade.

Torrance, California, is a coastal city about 20 miles from Los Angeles.

A woman living near to the bowling alley, writing on Twitter, said: "I live in Redondo Beach & drive by Gable House all the time. Its been there since I was a child.

"Its an institution. This is heartbreaking. People think shootings only happen in other towns. They can happen anywhere. Its time to talk about commonsense gun laws"

Two of the four injured men were taken to hospital while the other pair "opted to seek their own medical attention".
I nvestors are remaining positive about Bitcoin as it marks its 10-year anniversary, despite a worrying drop in value in recent months.

The cryptocurrency has come a long way since the bitcoin blockchain was created on January 3, 2009.

At one point, it was considered so worthless that, in May 2010, Florida-based programmer Laszlo Hanyecz bought two pizzas for 10,000 Bitcoin, valued at the time at $30.

Had he kept the currency, it would have been worth more than $38 million, according to The Verge.

However, over the past year, Bitcoin has lost around 80 per cent in value.

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Clem Chambers, an author on Trading Cryptocurrencies, told the Standard that he invested between $1,000 and $2,500 on most of his initial Bitcoins and sold them at $18,000.

He predicts another boom for the cryptocurrency in the future.

Bitcoin will boom again in a year and blockchain/cryptocurrencies and other applications will define the next 25 years in the same way as online/dotcom has defined the last 25," he said.

Bitcoin is the tip of the spear and the tip of the iceberg. In both cases you want to be at the right end of it and you dont want to have the wrong positioning as it emerges.

Bitcoin is marking its 10th anniversary / AFP/Getty Images

Stephen Morrison also invested in the cryptocurrency and believes that they are here to stay.

He told the Standard: In hindsight I would have sold in January and bought back in now. I would have more diligently researched coins and projects and relied less on my emotions to make my decisions, but I would most definitely invest my money and my time in Bitcoin and the blackchain again and I believe in the blockchain.

Mr Morrison noted that there are projects involving Bitcoin to make many financial transactions, faster, fairer and less expensive".

He added: Bitcoin and the blockchain have their faults, but they are here to stay. It is moving more and more into our media, our movies and our stores. Major financial institutions are investing and more and more people from all walks of life are getting on board.
B rits are set for the recent chilly weather to continue in the first weekend of 2019.

The Met Office said the high pressure that caused temperatures to plummet during the week will continue overnight into Saturday morning.

But conditions wont be quite as bitterly cold as they were during the week. Forecasters, meanwhile, are expecting dry and cloudy weather across the UK.

Meteorologist John West told the Standard: We have been experiencing the effects of high pressure over the past couple of days and that will be very much in place as we go into the weekend.

A jogger running next to the Serpentine in London's Hyde Park as temperatures across the UK plummeted / Jonathan Brady/PA

It has been quite dry, cloudy and rather cold  and that will be the case across the UK through Saturday and Sunday.

But in terms of temperatures, things will be a little less cold into the weekend.

Some north-west parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland will see rain and drizzle, but there will be plenty of dry weather for much of England and Wales."

The sun rises above the Pewsey downs, near to Marlborough in Wiltshire, as temperatures across parts of Britain dropped / Andrew Matthews/PA

For London and the south-east, Mr West added there is a chance of overnight frost in some areas.

He said: It will be very cloudy and quite a cold start on Saturday for London and the south-east. There may even be a few bits of frost in places like west London.

Temperatures are not going to be amazing at all, at about 5C. Its going to be dry  but a chilly one.

Rowers on the River Thames near Henley as temperatures across parts of Britain dropped / Steve Parsons/PA

On Sunday, the clouds will remain, though it looks like the temperatures will creep up to about 9C or 10C.

This weeks cold snap saw emergency homeless shelters open across the capital as temperatures plummeted below zero.

Severe weather shelters will be available through the weekend.
A father-of-one stabbed to death in front of his 14-year-old son on a train heading to London had taken his boy on a trip to the capital for "some quality time" together, his devastated family said today.

Lee Pomeroy, 51, was identified today as being the victim of the attack on the train in Surrey. yesterday afternoon.

Relatives said in a statement that Mr Pomeroy was stabbed to death a day before his 52nd birthday.

Lee took his son on a trip to London hoping to spend some quality time with him which was cut short by horrific and pointless attack," his family said.

Lee would have had his birthday today but did not get to see his presents.

Train stabbing suspect arrested

"He was an honest, bright person, who loved music very much, he knew history and art and he was a bachelor of science in Maths.

"He was devoted family man and did everything for his family. He was an honourable man and would always help somebody who was in trouble. He was a loving husband and father, he will be deeply missed by all his family.

A forensics officer removes items at Horsley station near Guildford, Surrey, after a murder inquiry was launched following the stabbing of a man on board a train / Steve Parsons/PA

Mr Pomeroy was stabbed to death in what police said was a three to four minute "altercation" on board the 12.58 service between Guildford and London Waterloo on Friday.

The victim boarded the train at around 1pm at London Road station in Guildford with his son.

He was stabbed multiple times, according to police.

Detective Chief Inspector Sam Blackburn said officers were "confident to say that this is not believed to be a random assault.

"In the moments leading to the violent killing, both men appeared to be involved in an altercation lasting three minutes.

A forensics officer aboard a train at Horsley station near Guildford, Surrey, following the fatal stabbing / Steve Parsons/PA

"Nothing justified the extraordinary violence that followed and we are concentrating our efforts on the on-going investigation."

The victim's family have issued a statement paying tribute / PA

Mr Pomeroy's son and family members are being assisted by specially trained officers, police said.

Earlier, police said a 35-year-old man was arrested at an address in the Farnham area on suspicion of murder.

The scene at Horsley station near Guildford, Surrey, after a man was stabbed to death on a train / PA

A 27-year-old woman was also taken into custody on suspicion of assisting an offender.

BTP Assistant Chief Constable Sean O'Callaghan said no-one else was being sought in connection with killing.

He said: "We now know from inquiries we've been doing overnight and from witnesses that the two men were involved in a verbal discussion, that discussion lasted three to four minutes, it moved through one carriage from where they first boarded into another carriage, and that argument escalated to the unprovoked violent attack that sadly resulted in the death."

Philip Herrington, the Rector of St Mary's Church , West Horsley, visited Horsley train station on the afternoon of the attack and the following morning.

Flowers including the message left by Rector Herrington at Horsley station / PA

"I thought I'd come and bring some flowers because you don't really expect anything like this to happen generally, not in a place like this, not on a midday train," Mr Herrington said.

"It's totally lamentable what happened and particularly for the young son to have witnessed what he witnessed."

Mr Herrington spoke to British Transport Police at the scene of the incident on Friday and offered assistance to passengers.

Police officers at Horsley station near Guildford, Surrey, after a train passenger was stabbed to death / PA

He said: "British Transport Police officers were pretty shocked at what they'd seen as well."

The pair of arrests are understood to have taken place at a flat in Farnham on Saturday morning.

Witnesses described police guarding a flat since the early hours of Saturday.

Estate agent Wendie Thompson, who lives nearby, said she was shocked to learn this was related to the train stabbing.

She said: "The officers were here when I woke at 8am. Police have been active all day - on guard outside the flats.
James Carter Jr. was looking right at his ex-girlfriend, Tiana Notice, when he stabbed her some 20 times, killing her, on Valentine's Day 2009, Judge Frank D'Addabbo said Friday in Superior Court.

But when it was time to look at the judge and at Notice's family during his sentencing, Carter decided to stay out of the courtroom.

That decision played into D'Addabbo's sentence of 60 years in prison, the maximum for the charge of murder. Carter, 31, also got a concurrent sentence of five years for violating a restraining order.

"You were inches from her, looking at her while you were stabbing her and causing her death," the judge said as Carter listened in a separate room.

Carter had no comment on the sentence, his public defender, Christopher Eddy, said outside the courtroom. Eddy called the sentence "unnecessarily harsh." No one from Carter's family was present.

Struggling to speak to someone who wasn't standing before him, D'Addabbo told Carter, "You have problems with authority," citing an outburst by Carter the day of closing arguments. A jury found Carter guilty of the charges Nov. 1.

The judge also talked about something that couldn't be brought up during the trial: Carter's criminal record. Carter was convicted of assaults in 2002 and 2006, at least one of which involved domestic violence. He was convicted of violating probation in 2008 and had six pending charges of harassment and violation of a restraining order when Notice died, D'Addabbo said.

Even after his arrest on the murder charge, when he was in jail, Carter boasted about what he had done and demeaned Notice, D'Addabbo said. The judge was referring to letters Carter wrote to relatives and others calling Notice a "bitch" and saying, "I don't regret what I did."

The letters also insulted Notice's family, saying they "must be taught a lesson."

More than 40 of Notice's family members and friends attended the sentencing, some of them wearing her favorite color, purple.

Members of statewide victim advocacy groups also were there, as were co-workers of Notice's father from the Massachusetts prison system, where Alvin Notice is deputy superintendent of security. Since his daughter's death, Notice has been an activist in the fight against domestic violence.

Family members quietly celebrated D'Addabbo's sentence, saying, "Yes!" when he announced it.

Outside the courtroom, Tiana Notice's brother, Christian Muriel, 20, said of the sentence: "I believe justice was served, both for my sister and for the family.  She can rest in peace now."

Of Carter, Rose A. Lewis, Tiana Notice's aunt, said, "Part of me wants to forgive him. At this point, I'm struggling."

Kathy Lewis, Tiana Notice's mother, called the sentence "awesome" and said it was exactly what she had been praying for "so he wouldn't be able to hurt anyone else."

Alvin Notice said, "Carter said he was going to teach the Notice family a lesson, but I'm telling you today, Carter is being taught a lesson by the Notices."

"This guy had no remorse whatever," Notice said. Holding up a Nov. 2 letter of apology from Carter, Notice questioned its sincerity, noting that it says at the bottom, "Please accept my APOLOGY?" with a question mark.

On Feb. 14, 2009, the jury found, Carter took a knife, drove to 25-year-old Tiana Notice's Plainville apartment and called locksmiths in a failed attempt to get in. He then waited outside, chased her down when she arrived, stabbed her repeatedly and left.

The amount of evidence in the trial was overwhelming. Part of the murder was captured by a surveillance camera Alvin Notice had installed after his daughter's car tires were slashed. A 911 tape captured her anguished screams as she lay dying on a deck.

Notice told both the police and her neighbors that Carter had just stabbed her. The neighbors saw his car, a PT Cruiser, leave the scene.

A forensic scientist testified that Notice's blood was on Carter's pants. Carter's own brother testified against him, saying Carter called him that night and told him he had stabbed Tiana. Carter did not confess, however, and the knife was never found.

After prosecutor Paul Rotiroti rested his case, Eddy presented evidence that portrayed Carter as desperate, depressed and perhaps suicidal. A psychologist testified that Carter is "psychologically fragile" and susceptible to losing control when under pressure.

Carter became emotional the day his brother was on the witness stand and had to be escorted from the courtroom. During closing arguments, he leaped to his feet and cried out, and he declined to be in the courtroom when the guilty verdict was read.

When Carter once again refused to sit in court Friday, "it shows how he still refuses to deal with the ramifications of his actions," said Lucy Eloi, Tiana Notice's aunt. "It shows a lack of character."

It also shows he's a "coward," Kathy Lewis said.

Lewis told the court about her daughter, who was a graduate student at the University of Hartford.

From the minute she was born, Tiana was attentive, Lewis said, and "turned her head around at every noise. She hated to sleep because she hated to miss anything."

As she got older, she loved to dance and act, Lewis said. One of her nicknames was "Hollywood," she said.

"Her most alluring trait was her smile," Lewis said. "She was charming, witty, funny, compassionate, sensitive, caring and smart," she said, and always sought to fix what is wrong.

Tiana trusted people easily and was "always looking for the good in them," she said.

She also was a very good student who graduated early from high school and "almost single-handedly" founded a university think-tank that teaches students about government, Lewis said.

"It feels like my heart is gone," Lewis said.

The last months of Tiana's life were "horrendous," Lewis said, as her daughter went from "police station to station" to complain that Carter was bothering her. Notice had met him online and dated him for about a year before breaking up with him in late 2008 or early 2009.

Police had "dismissive attitudes and lack of empathy," Lewis said. Notice's family has filed lawsuits against the Plainville, Waterbury and Bloomfield police departments, saying they failed to protect Notice.

Alvin Notice spoke of his many efforts to stop domestic violence in Connecticut and in his home state of Massachusetts. He helped pass domestic violence laws, one of which allowed the use of GPS to track domestic violence offenders. He also installed cameras at the homes of domestic violence victims in Massachusetts and is looking for volunteers to help with installations in Connecticut.
T heresa May's Brexit deal was today described as "dying" by staunch EU supporter Ken Clarke.

It comes ahead of a renewed battle for the Prime Minister's deal next week when MPs return to Westminster.

Mrs May has been warned by both European Union supporters and Eurosceptics that her deal is unlikely to be passed.

Pro-EU veteran Ken Clarke said Mrs May's deal, which has been signed off by the EU 27 and he would support, is "dying".

He said he would be "amazed" if MPs had changed their views over the Christmas break and called for Brexit to be delayed until a way forward can be found.

Ken Clarke said he does not think the deal will pass Parliament / PA

Stating "we need more time" to agree on how to proceed, he told the BBC: "Nobody can deal with us on the continent until the British have agreed amongst themselves on some sort of consensus."

Meanwhile a significant number of Conservative Brexiteers remain opposed to the Withdrawal Agreement, appearing relaxed about the prospect of a no-deal scenario.

Former Cabinet minister Sir John Redwood said a no-deal Brexit "will work just fine".

John Redwood said no-deal would be "fine" / PA

He blasted what he called "idiotic" warnings about potential shortages of food and medicines.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme he said: "Many of us in the country just want to move on and talk about something else, we want to be out and we know it will work just fine."

In December, the Prime Minister delayed a vote on her Brexit deal with MPs set to resume debate on it on Wednesday.

This is ahead of a vote expected the following week.

Theresa May and Jean-Claude Juncker have been discussing the deal / AFP/Getty Images

She is thought to be considering offering MPs further safeguards about the contentious Irish backstop - the measure aimed at preventing a hard border on the island of Ireland.

Critics fear this could leave the UK indefinitely bound into a customs union with the EU and prevent future trade deals with countries around the world.

On Friday, Mrs May had a "friendly" call with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker.

The pair are expected to keep in touch next week, furthering speculation about efforts to win further concessions from Brussels ahead of the Commons vote, widely expected to be on January 15.

Officials are reportedly drawing up a possible Commons amendment to the Brexit vote allowing Parliament the right to serve notice to the EU of an intention to quit the backstop after 12 months, should Brussels fails to agree a trade deal with the UK that would resolve the issue.

Mrs May is also seeking a written guarantee from the EU a trade deal can be agreed within 12 months of the transition period ending.
P olice have arrested a man on suspicion of murder following the fatal stabbing of a passenger on a London Waterloo-bound train on Friday.

The suspect was detained at an address in the Farnham area while a 27-year-old woman was also taken into custody on suspicion of assisting an offender.

DCI Sam Blackburn from British Transport Police said: "This is a fast moving investigation and I am pleased that overnight we were able to arrest a man following a huge amount of police enquiries.

The investigation is moving with good progress and we are now confident to say that this is not believed to be a random assault.

A forensics officer on board the train after the stabbing / PA

"In the moments leading to the violent killing, both men appeared to be involved in an altercation lasting three minutes.

Nothing justified the extraordinary violence that followed, and we are concentrating our efforts on the on-going investigation.

A train at the platform at Horsley station after a murder investigation was launched / PA

The attack in question happened on the 12.58pm service travelling between Guildford and London Waterloo stations on Friday.

It left a 51-year-old dead, whose family is now being supported by specialist police officers in the aftermath.

His 14-year-old son witnessed the horrific events, which police were called to in Horsley, Surrey, at around 1.15pm.

Assistant Chief Constable Sean O'Callaghan described the sequence of events detectives know to have taken place on the train, speaking on BBC Breakfast.

The scene at Horsley station near Guildford, Surrey, after a man was stabbed to death on a train / PA

He told the BBC: "We now know from enquiries we've been doing overnight and from witnesses that the two men were involved in a verbal discussion, that discussion lasted three to four minutes, it moved through one carriage from where they first boarded into another carriage, and that argument escalated to the unprovoked violent attack that sadly resulted in the death.

"This is, as far as we can see at this moment in time, an incident that has occurred when two men have been talking to one another, opposed to a random attack on a train.

"Travelling on the train is still an extremely safe thing to do. Very few crimes actually occur on the train itself.

"In terms of violent offences, it's one violent offence for approximately one million passenger journeys, so the chances of being a victim of violence on a train in England, Scotland and Wales is still extremely low."

Mr O'Callaghan said detectives are confident with the arrests made and no-one else was being sought in connection with killing at this time.

Witnesses described the attack as "incredibly frightening" and one claimed there was "blood everywhere".

Trains between Guildford and Effingham Junction were blocked for several hours in the aftermath of the incident.

British Transport Police is continuing to seek information following these arrests.

DCI Blackburn, added: We are continuing our appeal for information and I would urge anyone who was on board the train to contact us as soon as possible. Even if you did not witness the assault, it is vitally important we speak with you. Likewise, if you have any dashcam footage of the Clandon area after 1pm yesterday afternoon, we would like to hear from you.

Anyone with information should contact BTP by sending a text to 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40  quoting reference 210 of 04/01/19.
A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a mother-of-one on New Year's Day.

Charlotte Huggins, 33, is believed to have been the first person killed in London in 2019 when she was stabbed in Camberwell, south-east London, early on January 1.

Michael Rolle, 34, of Dulwich, south-east London, spoke only to confirm his details when he appeared at Camberwell Green Magistrates' Court on Saturday morning.

District judge Susan Green ordered Rolle to next appear in custody at the Old Bailey on Tuesday. A February 1 date was set for a trial preparation hearing.

Ms Huggins was found at a property in John Ruskin Street at around 4.20am.

Paramedics tried to save her, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

A post-mortem examination showed she had suffered a single stab wound.

Friends paid tribute on her Facebook page, describing Ms Huggins as "one of the truly decent people" and "a lovely, bubbly, happy, beautiful girl with a pure soul".

The Metropolitan Police said a second man, who was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, has been released under investigation.
A young man is fighting for life in hospital after being repeatedly knifed in broad daylight in east London, police said.

Police and the London Ambulance Service raced to Field Road, Forest Gate, at about 2.15pm to reports of a stabbing.

The victim, a 26-year-old man, was rushed to hospital where he remains in a critical condition, police said.

Officers confirmed a man was arrested on suspicion of GBH at the scene and he is in custody at hospital.

The stabbing is the latest knife related offence in the last two days, after a 51-year-old father was fatally stabbed in front of his son on a train to London from Guildford.

Lee Pomeroy had been heading to the capital for some quality time with his son, devastated relatives said.

A 35-year-old man was arrested at an address in the Farnham area on suspicion of murder, the British Transport Police (BTP) said.
F our people including a 13-year-old girl were arrested today during a yellow vest pro-Brexit march in central London.

Around 100 people in yellow vests marched through Westminster for the protest towards Trafalgar Square, causing disruption and setting off smoke bombs.

Police said a girl aged 13 had been arrested on suspicion of assaulting police.

Three men were also arrested on suspicion of public order offences, police said.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "Four arrests have been made following protests on Westminster Bridge, SW1 at approximately 11am today.

"Three men were arrested on suspicion of public order offences.

"A 13-year-old girl was also arrested on suspicion of assault on police."

Videos showed people sitting down in the road to stop traffic while other video footage posted online captured smoke bombs being let off.

As well as this confrontations with police were also recorded and shared online.

Earlier in the day Transport for London warned people there would be disruption caused by the protest.

Alongside a picture on Twitter, transport official said: We have very little details on the demo but expect further traffic holds and delays in the Westminster area.

There were traffic delays in Westminster and towards the Regent Street and Piccadilly Circus areas.

The groups yellow vest outfits are similar to those worn by protesters in France during recent demonstrations.
A former soldier shot dead in Coventry by police in an intelligence-led police raid posed no threat and was a very, very good guy, according to a friend.

Sean Fitzgerald, 31, was shot dead yesterday evening at an address in the West Midlands.

The police watchdog has opened an investigation into the shooting that followed the execution of a warrant at about 6.20pm.

One friend paid tribute to the young man, who is said to have lived locally.

The friend, who gave his name as Ali, said he had been with the "very, very good guy" shortly before he visited the home in Burnaby Road where he was killed.

Ali said he believed his friend presented "no threat or danger", and added: "He's served for all of us - the police, everybody - in the Army up until last year."

A family member wrote online that she was "absolutely gutted" by the death of Mr Fitzgerald, who another friend described as a "one of a kind" who "would be there for anyone".

Investigators from the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) will examine footage from cameras being worn by the officers involved as well as local CCTV.

A man was shot dead during the police raid in Coventry / PA

Announcing the incident, West Midlands Police said: "One man was shot and pronounced dead at the scene while two other men were detained by officers."

The force later added that the two 26-year-old men remained in custody on suspicion of involvement in the production of cannabis.

Fire engineer Karl Lolley, a father-of-two who lives behind the police cordon, said he heard "four or five" gunshots after witnessing officers descend on the home.

"I saw three or four armed police cars turn up. Five to six armed officers got out and they went in the front door. There was some gunshots," the 39-year-old told the Press Association.

"The next thing you know there's more police arriving and they cordon off the area.

"They carry a person out on a stretcher, they put him in an ambulance - the lights on the ambulance were flashing for about half an hour as they were working on him.

"Then they turned the lights off and they drove off slowly. Obviously they pronounced him dead."

A large number of police cars, along with emergency service vehicles, were reported in the area of Burnaby Road, a largely residential street north of the city centre, in the wake of the incident.

Locals were told to go indoors as a section of the street was closed and "over 17 police cars (and) armed police" arrived.
The Kennedy family has long fascinated onlookers. Stylish and influential, the political dynasty is close as it gets to royalty in the US.

But much like the British Royal family, the Kennedys have also been plagued at times by tragedy and scandal - what has been dubbed the "Kennedy Curse."

John F Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy with Caroline Kennedy / Nina Leen/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

John F. Kennedy's only surviving child, Caroline Kennedy, married Edwin Schlossberg in 1986. Now, their three children are making their own way in the world.

Caroline Kennedy and Edwin Schlossberg after their wedding / Getty Images

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The Schlossberg side of the family includes daughters Rose and Tatiana and son Jack. While they might not be as instantly recognizable as their cousins the Schwarzeneggers or the Cuomos, Caroline Kennedy's three children are busy making strides in everything from journalism to (dare we say it) politics. In fact, Congressman Joseph Kennedy III is currently running for Senate in Massachusetts. And Jack recently made waves when he appeared at the Democratic National Convention.

Now, Joe Kennedy is calling for the creation of a fund that would compensate families of essential workers who died during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, providing $250,000 and $100,000 each for every spouse and child of a deceased worker.

He's not the only family member getting involved. Caroline Kennedy and her son Jack Schlossberg are accepting nominations for the Profile in COVID Courage Award, which recognizes and celebrates those who have shown courage.

Here's what you need to know about the young Kennedy/Schlossberg generation...

Tatiana Schlossberg, Jack Schlossberg, Rose Schlossberg, Edwin Schlossberg and Caroline Kennedy attend the 50th anniversary of the visit by US President John F Kennedy ceremony / Getty Images

Rose Schlossberg

Rose Schlossberg / REX/Shutterstock

30-year-old Rose is Caroline Kennedys oldest daughter and bears a resemblance to her grandmother Jackie Kennedy. She received her master's degree from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.

The Harvard graduate is an aspiring actress whos created the web series End Time Girls Club, from Above Average Productions, which is part of Lorne Michaels' Broadway Video.

It came up as a response to seeing the way that New York responded to Hurricane Sandy, and how people were grossly underprepared - specifically, girls in damsel in distress mode," Schlossberg told Mashable in 2016. "I thought it would be interesting to create this world where girls have to be survivalists without compromising their cute factor."

The Jackie O lookalike also appeared in a video paying homage to her grandfather to celebrate what would have been his 100th birthday. "I'm inspired by [his] sense of equality, his courage in naming the injustices in American society and his call for action," she said in the 2017 video. Since releasing her web show, the aspiring comedian has stayed largely under the radar. The Jewish actress was commissioned to make original videos for Dover Street Market in Los Angeles when the store opened. She's currently living and working in LA, where she co-wrote Time: The Kalief Browder Story for Spike TV.

Tatiana Schlossberg

Tatiana Schlossberg speaks during a memorial service / Getty Images

JFKs granddaughter and Caroline Kennedys younger daughter Tatiana is officially off the market. The 28-year-old journalist tied the knot in 2017 and (somewhat controversially) her cousins the Shrivers and Patrick Schwarzenegger both skipped the wedding.

She married George Moran on the Kennedy familys estate in Marthas Vineyard. The couple met when they attended Yale University together. They currently live in New York, where Tatiana is a freelance environmental reporter.

It's about the unseen ways the things we do and use all the time affect the environment, why fighting climate change and pollution is so hard, but why it's crucial that we do, ASAP, she tweeted.

Jack Schlossberg

Jack Schlossberg / Getty Images

Since graduating from Yale in 2015, John Bouvier Kennedy Schlossberg, better known as Jack, has been following in his familys footsteps. Hes at Harvard Law School and pursuing an MBA, which led to rumors of political aspirations, although nothing has been confirmed.

The 27-year-old received attention when he criticized Vice President Mike Pence's Wall Street Journal op-ed, in which he cited former President Kennedy's book Profiles in Courage to urge Senate Democrats to break with their party and oppose the articles of impeachment brought against President Donald Trump. Schlossberg responded on Twitter, calling Pence's remarks, "a total perversion of JFK's legacy and the meaning of courage."

Schlossberg appeared on The Today Show in 2018, discussing President Kennedys legacy. Im optimistic about it...people are taking it upon themselves, young people especially, organizing around the country to do what they think is right for our national interest and to choose good leadership, Jack said about the current political climate.

That wasnt his only TV appearance - he also had a cameo on Blue Bloods as Officer Jack Hammer on the CBS procedural, although he insists acting is not on the cards for him.

On Instagram, he's not averse to sharing a shirtless shot. At one point, he was rumored to be dating Pete Davidsons ex-girlfriend, Cazzie David.

Cazzie David with her dad, Larry David / Getty Images

And in a true twist, Cazzie's dad, Larry David, starred on Curb Your Enthusiasm alongside Cheryl Hines, who was married to Robert F. Kennedy. Now that would be a power pairing.

In a Vogue article, the eligible bachelor was said to be eyeing Kendall Jenner, although nothing ever came of it.

Jack said on The Today Show that he's been "trying to stay healthy and positive" throughout the coronavirus pandemic and he's currently accepting nominations for #CovidCourage and posting about the endeavor on Instagram.

He also made waves when he appeared at the DNC alongside his mother, setting Twitter aflame with his appearance. After he endorsed Joe Biden for President, the internet went wild, with people calling him "JFK Jr. incarnate."

Joseph Kennedy III

Getty Images

Joseph, 38, is the grandnephew of President John F. Kennedy and the grandson of US attorney general Robert F. Kennedy. The Stanford and Harvard Law School alum previously served as the Massachusetts Assistant District Attorney but stepped down in 2012 to pursue a role in public office. He later won a seat in the House of Representatives in Massachusetts' fourth district. He also served in the Peace Corps in his youth.

He's currently running for Senate. He's also calling for the creation of a coronavirus pandemic relief fund as well as checking in on local coronavirus relief efforts throughout the state.

Katherine Schwarzenegger

Getty / Jonathan Leibson / Stringer

JFK's grandniece, Katherine Schwarzenegger, comes from an illustrious background. Her grandmother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, was JFK's younger sister, who later gave birth to Katherine's mother, acclaimed journalist Maria Shriver. Maria went on to marry Hollywood actor and eventual Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Although Katherine studied communications and journalism at the University of Southern California, she opted not to follow in her mother's footsteps as a journalist. Instead, the 30-year-old found success as an author and lifestyle blogger. With a couple of self-help guides and a children's novel under her belt, she blogs about everything from cooking to beauty tips.

She married Avengers actor Chris Pratt, who she met at church. They got engaged on January 14, 2019. They welcomed their first child together, a baby girl named Lyla, in early August.

Her siblings include producer Christina Schwarzenegger, actor Patrick Schwarzenegger, University of Michigan student Christopher Schwarzenegger and half-brother Joseph Baena.
It was the first time that the Bridgeport diocese had given an overview of how much the priest-abuse scandal cost. Like many others, the diocese had been criticized for keeping secret many of the claims against its priests and for protecting priests who faced multiple abuse claims. One of its most notorious priests, Laurence Brett, fled the country and hid for years, while others were moved to other churches in the diocese with impunity.
Much has been said about millennials recently, most often focusing on how their habits have changed traditions and products.

Branding agency Moosylvania has been studying millennial consumers for five years. Each year, the company asks members of the cohort how they view themselves, how they connect with brands and what emotions their favorite brands evoked during a recent 30-day span.




Are you looking for a new show with movie-level production values, acting, and writing? Are you intrigued by UFOs and their history?premieres on January 8, 2019 on History. The series is based on the real-life Project Blue Book that details investigations into UFO encounters and unexplained phenomenon. The show is listed as an historical period drama and science fiction  so make of that what you will!Aidan Gillen plays historical figure Josef Allen Hynek  a physicist who became a ufologist. The show begins by saying its inspired by Hyneks investigations and the cases are based on real events. The show also stars Michael Malarkey as Captain Michael Quinn, whose character is based on Edward J Ruppelt, a United States Air Force officer who was also involved with Project Blue Book. Rounding out the cast are Laura Mennell as Mimi Hynek, Michael Harney as General Hugh Valentine, and Ksenia Solo as Susie Miller. Neal McDonough plays Quinns superior, General James Harding. Robert Zemeckis, David OLeary, who created the show, and Sean Jablonski executive produce and the production was filmed in Vancouver.The Fuller Dogfight was directed by Robert Stromberg and was written by David OLeary. Early lessons? Dont try to outsmart a genius. Dont shoot at things when you dont know what they are. Crazy and eccentric arent the same thing. The detail in the show to the period is uncompromising and luscious. The special effects are terrific. The show also highlights the growing concern over nuclear war of the period.The episode begins in Fargo, North Dakota. Its the Truman era. The government isnt happy with Hollywoods depiction of aliens, but the military has a different take on it. Get ready for a realvibe  but early and not the comic episodes. Theres a different sort of balance between Hynek and Quinn than there was between Mulder  the believer  and Scully  the science-based intellect, but there are a lot of shady players  think Deep Throat and the Smoking Man. Its also shot with the same dark palette. Theres pie and coffee in a diner that had me thinkingtoo!Aiden Gillen is delightful. Hynek is not a shrinking violet. Malarkey does a wonderful job creating a toe-the-line-square-shoulders military man. Theres lots of action and tension set in motion in this first episode. Its definitely not completely clear who the good guys are and who the bad guys are  with a couple of exceptions.And more than that I wont say  but youll definitely want to give this show a chance! Dont forget to tune in onThis is a chance to show the world the truth.I need to make some calculations.I never said they were lying. Just misinformed.You sure youre not the alien?I have three conditions.Stop indulging his bullshit.When I first met you, I knew you were special.Is that his plane? What are they doing to it?Well speak the same language.Logically, thats not possible.This is a new science were creating here. It needs its own terminology.
China's historic robotic mission to the moon's far side could just be a preview of some unprecedented human exploration of Earth's nearest neighbor a few years down the road.

Chinese officials have voiced a desire to send astronauts to the moon. And the nation's leadership places a premium on doing space-related things that have never been done before  such as landing on the mysterious lunar far side, which the Chang'e 4 mission pulled off Wednesday (Jan. 2), and building the world's largest radio telescope. Chang'e 4 deployed a rover called Yutu 2 on the moon's far side, too.

It's therefore likely that China has serious crewed lunar ambitions that don't involve simply retracing the steps of NASA's Apollo astronauts, experts say. [China's Chang'e 4 Farside Moon Landing in Pictures]

"I think what we will see will be either more people, a more extended stay, or maybe landing at a pole  something that'll make people say, 'Wow! That's not just replicating what other people have done,'" Dean Cheng, a senior research fellow at The Heritage Foundation who's an expert on China's space program, told Space.com.

"I could imagine a manned landing on the far side of the moon, though that's really risky," Cheng said.

Another very real possibility, he added: Sending a woman to the lunar surface. All 12 of the Apollo astronauts who walked on the moon between 1969 and 1972 were men. And none of them stayed on the lunar surface for more than 75 hours.

Prowess and persistence

The first Chinese satellite didn't reach orbit until 1970, 13 years after the Soviet Union kicked off the space age with the launch of Sputnik 1. But China has steadily improved its off-Earth expertise over the decades and is now a major space power.

For example, in 2003, China became just the third nation to launch astronauts into orbit, after the Soviet Union and the United States. Since then, China has launched  and sent people to  two separate Tiangong "space labs," to help lay the groundwork for a full-on orbital outpost that China aims to have up and running by 2022 or so.

And then there's the uncrewed side of things.

Since 2007, the Chang'e program has delivered two robotic spacecraft to lunar orbit (Chang'e 1 and 2), dropped two rover-lander duos onto the moon's surface (Chang'e 3 and 4), placed a relay satellite in a stable Lagrange point beyond the moon (called Queqiao) and sent a prototype capsule on an eight-day, roundtrip mission around the moon (Chang'e 5 T1). That capsule is the forerunner of a container that will house lunar material on the Chang'e 5 sample-return mission, which may launch as early as this year. (There hasn't been a successful lunar sample-return effort since 1976, when the Soviet Union's Luna 24 mission brought some moon dirt down to Earth.) [China's Moon Missions Explained (Infographic)]

To provide a little more perspective on China's rise: In 2018, the nation conducted 39 orbital launches, more than any other country. The United States was second, with 31.

So there's little reason to doubt China's ability to pull off a crewed moon mission. Indeed, China could well do it before NASA (which has said it aims to return astronauts to the lunar surface by the late 2020s), according to Joan Johnson-Freese, a professor of national security affairs at the Naval War College in Newport, R.I.

American space technology and innovation are superior, Johnson-Freese told Space.com, but China has one key advantage: political will.

Political will is tough to maintain in the United States, which features frequent handovers of power. As a result, NASAs major goals have changed often over the decades. For example, President George W. Bush directed the agency to work to get astronauts back to the moon by 2020, spawning a program known as Constellation. But in 2010, President Barack Obama cancelled Constellation, shifting the human-spaceflight focus to a near-Earth asteroid. And President Donald Trump recently made the moon the target once again. (The relatively near-term target, that is; the long-term destination for NASA's human-spaceflight program has remained Mars throughout.)

Such volatility does not plague the space program of authoritarian China, which has been ruled by the Communist Party since 1949.

"We are capable, but the Chinese are persistent, and it's going to pay off for them," Johnson-Freese said.

Not official, and not a race

Chinese space officials have discussed building a crewed "lunar palace," perhaps near the moon's south pole, and eventually sending astronauts all the way to Mars. The country has already performed a one-year mock moon mission called Lunar Palace 1 as part of its work. However, such goals remain unofficial at the moment.

"The Chinese still work according to five-year plans," Cheng said. "And we've seen no indication that the next five-year plan  2021 to 2025  has a manned [lunar] mission involved."

Chinese boots therefore probably won't hit the gray lunar dirt until the 2026 to 2030 timeframe at the earliest, said Cheng, who added that he views 2031 to 2035 as more realistic.

And China is in no great rush. The country isn't racing to beat the United States or anyone else, Cheng stressed, but rather is embarked on a long-term program of sustainable development.

Chinese space officials "have said they are building a program built on infrastructure, rather than 'been there, done that, let's go home,'" Johnson-Freese said.

And in case you were wondering: Significant collaboration between the United States and China on a crewed lunar mission, or any other major space endeavor, is unlikely without new legislation. Since 2011, NASA and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy have been barred from cooperating with their Chinese counterparts on space-related activities, unless advance congressional approval has been secured. This prohibition is known as the Wolf Amendment after its champion, former Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Virginia).

Mike Wall's book about the search for alien life, "Out There" (Grand Central Publishing, 2018; illustrated by Karl Tate) is out now. Follow him on Twitter @michaeldwall. Follow us @Spacedotcom or Facebook. Originally published on Space.com.
Rick Searfoss, XCOR chief test pilot (at right), with SpaceShipOne and XCOR test pilot Brian Binnie in XCOR's hangar in 2014.

After waiting several years and paying hundreds of thousands of dollars for a presale suborbital flight ticket, the dreams of many aspiring XCOR space tourists have been grounded  and now they want their money back, the Los Angeles Times reported Dec. 30.

The space tourism firm XCOR Aerospace Inc. announced plans in 2008 to launch its private two-seat Lynx space plane. Lynx was expected to fly paying space tourists to an altitude of about 38 miles above Earth, where passengers would experience 90 seconds of weightlessness.

The company first estimated flight tests would begin in 2010, with private flights to follow soon after. Many space tourists bought into XCOR's Lynx model for the chance to briefly experience weightlessness at the edge of space. [Ex-Space Plane: Inside the Hangar at Bankrupt XCOR Aerospace (Photos)]

Having paid XCOR $100,000 for a ticket, customer Nael Hamameh thought his flight would come as early as 2011, according to the Los Angeles Times report. However, that date quickly slipped to 2015, and in 2016 the company shifted its focus from the Lynx space plane to building an upper-stage rocket engine for United Launch Alliance as a source of revenue.

Due to the lack of progress made in developing Lynx, Hamameh pushed the company for a refund. Instead, the company said that they would try to resell his ticket by the end of 2017. Hamameh was also assured he would receive at least $35,000  which was the portion of each ticket-holder's deposit that the company had said was being kept in a separate escrow account and would be refunded in the event of an incident such as bankruptcy, the Los Angeles Times reported.

However, in November 2017, hopes of flying aboard the Lynx space plane were diminished when XCOR filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

"I was very disappointed, but not because of the money," Hamameh, the chief executive of a French internet startup, told the Los Angeles Times. Rather, "because of the dream that will never come true." [Meet Lynx: XCOR Aerospace's Winged Space Plane (Gallery)]

The Los Angeles Times cited Crunchbase, a platform that tracks fundraising, to say that XCOR reportedly raised at least $19.2 million for their Lynx space plane. While some XCOR customers paid $100,000 upfront to be one of the first 100 people to ride the Lynx space plane, others chose to pay for their flight in installments.

Now, Hamameh is one of 282 estimated XCOR ticket holders who have been left wondering whether they'll get any kind of refund.

Following XCOR's bankruptcy announcement, ticket-holder Steve Jones applied to be a creditor in the case. After being told he wouldn't receive any refund, Jones hired lawyer David Keesling, who has said that there is a chance that some funds could be recovered, but the number of entities involved in the case makes the process more complicated, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The canceled XCOR flight was also devastating for ticket-holder Cyril Bennis, who has dreamed of going to space since meeting NASA astronaut John Glenn as a child. Bennis had even prepared himself for the suborbital flight by visiting the National Aerospace Training and Research Center in Southampton, Pennsylvania.

"The vision XCOR had at that time, obviously on paper, looked very good," Bennis told the Los Angeles Times. "There was never any doubt in our minds  any inkling that there was a problem within the company."

Compared to other private space companies, such as Virgin Galactic or Blue Origin, XCOR's Lynx space plane was designed to blast into space under its own power. However, the company underestimated the complexity of the plane's design and the funding needed to build the vehicle.

"I think we had a really good ship," Dale Amon, a former senior engineer at XCOR, who was responsible for working on the electronics, data and software in the Lynx's cockpit, told the Los Angeles Times. "Things always take longer and cost more than you expect, so you have to keep fundraising until you're done."

There are many more details in the Los Angeles Times story. You can read the whole thing here.

Follow Samantha Mathewson @Sam_Ashley13. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
WASHINGTON  The ongoing partial government shutdown has led one company to delay an upcoming launch and could affect other commercial launches in the near future, including a key commercial crew mission.

Exos Aerospace had planned to launch its SARGE suborbital rocket Jan. 5 from Spaceport America in New Mexico. That launch has been delayed to Feb. 9, John Quinn, chief operating officer of the company, said Jan. 2.

Quinn said a major reason for the delay was the inability of the company to get its existing launch license from the Federal Aviation Administration's Office of Commercial Space Transportation modified. The company was seeking to modify the license to change wind-related safety calculations in order to reduce the chance of a launch scrub. [Space Events to Watch in 2019!]

"FAA was not supporting license modifications during the shutdown, so we delayed for the potential to decrease the probability of a scrub based on the wind placard restriction in our license," he said.

The FAA, part of the Department of Transportation, is one of the government agencies affected by the partial government shutdown that started Dec. 22 when a continuing resolution funding those agencies expired. The FAA announced Dec. 22 that only "exempt" activities would continue during the shutdown. That includes "commercial space launch oversight," according to the department's shutdown plan, but no other activities related to commercial space transportation.

Quinn said that, had Exos decided to go ahead with the launch, the FAA would have assigned personnel to support it. However, the company decided to delay the launch to buy more time to get its license modified. A factor in that, he said, was limited supplies and high costs of helium, used to pressurize the vehicle's propulsion system; delaying the launch reduces the chance that helium would be wasted on a wind-related launch scrub.

The launch will be the second for SARGE, a reusable sounding rocket developed by Exos for flying payloads to the edge of space. The rocket, on its first launch Aug. 25, suffered a problem with its GPS receiver that triggered an early shutdown of its main engine. The rocket reached a peak altitude of 28 kilometers  far less than the planned 80 kilometers  before gliding back to a landing near the launch site. Had the GPS receiver not malfunctioned, the company said the rocket could have flown to nearly 90 kilometers.

Other commercial launches are proceeding as planned despite the shutdown. SpaceX is preparing its first Falcon 9 launch of the year Jan. 8, launching the final batch of Iridium Next satellites from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. That launch remains on track despite the shutdown as the company has an existing license for such launches.

The next launch of Blue Origin's New Shepard suborbital vehicle, previously planned for mid-December, was pushed back to "early 2019" after a series of technical issues and poor weather at its West Texas launch site. The company has an FAA license for such launches, but it's uncertain if the shutdown will have any effect on payloads the launch would carry through NASA's Flight Opportunities program, as NASA is also affected by the shutdown. A company spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment about its launch plans Jan. 2.

The impact of the shutdown on NASA may delay another SpaceX launch. Prior to the shutdown, SpaceX was scheduled to launch its first commercial crew demonstration mission, DM-1, Jan. 17. That mission will send a Crew Dragon to the International Space Station, but with no astronauts on board.

SpaceX rolled out the Falcon 9 rocket, with the Crew Dragon spacecraft on top, to Launch Complex 39A early Jan. 3 for a series of tests on the pad. However, with the shutdown ongoing, NASA personnel needed to support the flight, such as for reviews prior to launch, have been furloughed, according to industry sources. That would likely delay the launch, even if the spacecraft and launch vehicle are ready.

SpaceX may also need a new or modified FAA launch license for the mission. An existing launch license covers launches of cargo version of the Dragon spacecraft from Launch Complex 39A, but it's not clear if that license can also be used for a Crew Dragon spacecraft. A SpaceX spokesperson said Jan. 3 said the company was looking into any shutdown-related issues that could affect upcoming launches.

This story was provided by SpaceNews, dedicated to covering all aspects of the space industry.
After multiple sexual misconduct allegations against famed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson arose, National Geographic Channel has put his interview-based show "StarTalk" on hiatus, according to a report from Variety Jan. 3. The show will remain off the air as Fox Networks Group, which produces and distributes content for the National Geographic Channel, investigates the claims against Tyson, Variety reported yesterday (Jan 3). Additionally, Tyson has canceled several live talks that he'd planned to give in January.

Only three episodes of "StarTalk's" fifth season ran this past November before the show was initially suspended following the allegations. While the series was originally scheduled to run for 20 episodes, it has not been on the air since Nov. 26, 2018. Now, the decision has been made to keep the show off the air until the network's investigation reaches a conclusion.

"In order to allow the investigation to occur unimpeded, we chose to hold new episodes of 'Star Talk' until it [the investigation] is complete. We expect that to happen in the next few weeks, at which time we'll make a final decision," a Nat Geo representative said to Variety.

The allegations against Tyson stem all the way back to 1984, when he was accused of rape by a fellow student, Tchiya Amet, while the two studied at the University of Texas at Austin. In November of last year, allegations about that incident as well as more-recent misconduct were published on the website Patheos. In these most recent allegations, Tyson was accused of inappropriate behavior toward Katelyn Allers, a Bucknell University professor, and Ashley Watson, who was Tyson's production assistant at the time of the alleged misconduct.

Tyson has so far denied the accusations against him and welcomed an investigation. He addressed the matter publicly in a Facebook post entitled, "On Being Accused," which he posted Dec 1.

After the allegations appeared, Fox and National Geographic released a joint statement, saying, "We have only just become aware of the recent allegations regarding Neil deGrasse Tyson. We take these matters very seriously, and we are reviewing the recent reports."

"StarTalk" producers added in last month's statement that they "are committed to a thorough investigation of this matter and to act accordingly as soon as it is concluded."

You can read the full story at Variety.

Follow Chelsea Gohd on Twitter @chelsea_gohd. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
Georgetown, SC (29440)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening. Scattered thunderstorms developing after midnight. Low around 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening. Scattered thunderstorms developing after midnight. Low around 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
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Both Viewpoint and Voice of the People submissions are subject to editing. All submissions must include the writer's full name, which will be printed.

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Letters may be mailed to the Editorial Department, South Bend Tribune, 635 S. Lafayette Blvd., Suite 138, South Bend IN 46601; emailed to vop@sbtinfo.com, faxed to 574-236-1765, or submitted through our online form here.

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South Bend Tribune Report

South Bend Tribune

A 46-year-old St. Joseph, Mich. man is facing murder and child abuse charges after being accused of breaking the back of a 2-year-old girl in Dowagiac in October 2016.

Lance A. Reeves was arraigned Friday in Cass County District Court. He is charges with murder and three counts of child abuse. Cass County District Judge Stacey Rentfrow entered a not guilty plea on Friday. Bond was denied for Reeves, and he was scheduled for a probable cause hearing on Jan. 17.

Michigan State Police investigators said in court documents that a witness accused Reeves of breaking the back of Savannah Gardner, 2, at 29485 Yaw St., on Oct. 19, 2016. One of the child abuse charges alleges Reeves "repeatedly and violently" shook Savannah, which resulted in her back breaking.

Charges were authorized on Dec. 21 by the Cass County Prosecutor's office, and Reeves was taken into custody Thursday at a home on Rush Lake near Hartford, Mich. by the 5th District Michigan State Police Fugitive Apprehension Team.
Christian Sheckler

South Bend Tribune

ELKHART  Elkhart Mayor Tim Neese on Friday named a new police chief  a 21-year veteran of the citys police department  to replace Ed Windbigler, who resigned last month amid controversies over his handling of misconduct in the department.

The new chief, Chris Snyder, served previously as a sergeant, a lieutenant, as the departments spokesman under two different chiefs and, most recently, as a detective assigned to the Elkhart County Homicide Unit.

Chris is well-known and respected throughout the community for his professionalism and transparency, Neese said in a news release posted late Friday afternoon on the citys website. During his years of service to the department, he has also earned the trust of his colleagues and other city staff.

Neese said 16 candidates, including some from outside the city police department, applied and interviewed for the job.

For the past two months, Elkhart has been dealing with questions about the behavior, supervision and oversight of its police force, eventually leading to former chief Windbiglers resignation Dec. 10.

In November, the South Bend Tribune, working with ProPublica, obtained a copy of a video showing two Elkhart police officers officers repeatedly punching a handcuffed man in the face.

If you spit again, were gonna party, one of the officers said minutes before the beating. In June, then-chief Windbigler issued reprimands to the two officers involved in the beating. While notifying a civilian oversight commission, he made no mention of the punches thrown.

After the Tribune requested a copy of the video through a public records request, the two officers were charged in November with misdemeanor battery and placed on administrative leave. Those charges are still pending. The two officers have pleaded not guilty.

Neese suspended Windbigler for 30 days on Nov. 14 for failing to promptly notify the mayors office of the videotaped beating and for understating the severity of the officers misconduct to the oversight panel.

Weeks later, The Tribune and ProPublica reported on another case in which Windbigler provided the oversight commission with inaccurate or incomplete information about an officers misconduct. The officer in that case had been accused of drunken driving, a charge to which he later pleaded guilty.

Days after that story was published, Neese asked for Windbiglers resignation.

The Tribune and ProPublica also found that disciplinary actions against Elkhart police officers appeared to plummet after Windbigler took over as chief. At the same time, Windbigler promoted 18 supervisors who had disciplinary records. One officer he made a sergeant had been disciplined at least 27 times, including 11 suspensions, according to personnel records.

In all, 28 of the departments 34 supervisors had disciplinary records, The Tribune and ProPublica reported in November. Fifteen supervisors had been suspended, including Windbigler, the assistant chief and the patrol captain.

After reporting by The Tribune and ProPublica, Neese said he would seek an independent investigation of the police department. Neither the Indiana State Police nor the U.S. Department of Justice agreed to conduct an investigation after requests by Neese, but the mayor has since said he would continue to seek an outside review.
Somerset, KY (42501)

Today

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 58F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 58F. Winds light and variable.
Cul de Sac:--- Despite the challenges St. Maarten Academy faces, the school continued its tradition of giving through the annual service project, Project HOPE. The students and staff of the school donated grocery baskets with turkeys and ham to twenty-four (24) families of less fortunate students and friends during one months drive for charity. The theme for this years Project HOPE was Extending Hands, Extending Hearts.

Under the guidance of Mrs. Joe-President, Head of the Department of Student Care of the Academy, this is the seventeenth year of this well-supported venture. The students, staff, parents, management, and Board of the St. Maarten Academy had been donating canned goods, non-perishable food items and cash to bring cheer and assistance to some families who have face difficult economic challenges that arose in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.

Principal, drs. Tallulah Baly-Vanterpool shared, The St. Maarten Academy is not only in the business of academic excellence, but we are also about shaping character though the development of the whole child. It is how we are teaching this next generation that they have the power to make a difference, and the responsibility of service.

Students and staff volunteered to sort the items and pack the baskets with much love and care. Staff gave their time in making personal deliveries to the homes of these families in several communities across the island  from St. Peters to Cole Bay/Cay bay to Philipsburg to Dutch Quarter to French Quarter, and anywhere between that we could meet the need.

The Board of the Foundation for Academic and Vocational Education (FAVE) under which the school falls also extended its benevolence to the school bus drivers who have been going beyond the call of duty to safely transport the students to and from school under the shift schedule.

Some drivers work all day on the regular route and although they may be tired, they still accommodate our evening schedule without complaints, one official of the school stated. It is for this reason that FAVE felt it necessary to say thank you to the hardworking bus drivers by giving them turkeys and ham for the holiday. It may not be much, but we want them to know that we really, really do appreciate what they have done and continue to do for our students.
PHILIPSBURG:---Its back to school for 2019. Teacher Judiths class at The Bethesda Dutch School in Maryland is set to hear from St. Martins author Gerard van Veen.

It all started when Teacher Judith heard of my book, Schoolboy in Wartime, just when she was planning to speak to her class of 10- and 11-year-olds about the Netherlands during World War II, said Van Veen.

The Dutch language teacher then used material from Schoolboy in Wartime in her classroom. She also contacted the author with much enthusiasm and told him, that the children were listening to her with ears and mouth open! She asked them to write down, in Dutch, some questions for me to answer, said Van Veen.

One little guy had eight questions! said the author. Some things that were extremely interesting for them: Is he your uncle? Is he still alive? What does he look like? When Van Veen finished writing his answers the December holiday-break had set in and the children would have to wait until their Dutch lessons resumed in January.

Schoolboy in Wartime  Memories of My Early Years is autobiographical. The writing, in English, is mostly about Gerard van Veens childhood. His familys experiences during World War II (1939 to 1945) in his native Alkmaar, during the German occupation of the Netherlands, are also highlighted.

Im happy that Teacher Judith, her students, and The Bethesda Dutch School are sharing the experiences of worlds away through Mr. Van Veens book, which was published in St. Martin, said Jacqueline Sample of House of Nehesi Publishers (HNP).

Since its launch at the St. Martin Book Fair last June, HNP and Van Veen have been promoting the book on-island and abroad as unique reading for adults and children.

In Schoolboy in Wartime senior citizens can get a clearer idea about writing their own life-changing childhood experiences. Children who experience war, major accidents, or natural disasters like hurricanes Irma and Maria, can see that theyre not alone. With this book, boys and girls can also feel for or empathize with children on their island and in other parts of the world who go through such hardships, said Sample.

As for meeting with students from Maryland, USA, through their written questions and language lessons, Gerard van Veen said, The human being is always searching and discovering.
Washington: A federal judge in Washington has extended the term of a grand jury hearing evidence uncovered by special counsel Robert Mueller in his investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential race and the Trump campaign.

The jurors, impaneled in July 2017, will continue to meet for up to six months. Beryl A. Howell, chief judge of the US District Court in Washington, approved the extension before the scheduled expiration of the grand jury's term this week.

The extension underscores that Mueller's team continues to pursue leads about Russia's covert effort to influence the results of the 2016 election, and whether anyone in the Trump campaign conspired with Moscow to help Donald Trump triumph over Hillary Clinton.

The prosecutors working for Mueller are believed to be writing a report for senior Justice Department officials summarising their findings, but it is unclear how detailed it will be or how or whether it will be made public, including whether the White House could interfere with its release. Democratic Representative Jerrold Nadler, the new chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, told CNN on Friday, "We will make sure it is public."
Washington: The United States has no timeline for the withdrawal of American troops from Syria but does not plan to stay indefinitely, a senior State Department official has said, sending a strong signal that US forces could stay until the fight against Islamic State militants is over.

US-backed forces are still retaking territory from Islamic State in Syria, Pentagon officials said on Friday, two weeks after Washington said it would withdraw the roughly 2000 U.S. troops in Syria. President Donald Trump said at the time that the troops had succeeded in their mission and were no longer needed there.

The administration's abrupt announcement last month, which took officials in Washington and allies by surprise, contributed to Jim Mattis' decision to resign as US defence secretary and prompted concern that Islamic State could stage a comeback.

The State Department official, briefing reporters before a visit to the Middle East next week by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, apparently sought to allay that concern.
Kochi: A woman aged 46 has become the third to enter the Sabarimala Hindu temple in south India in defiance of an ancient ban on females of menstruating age, according to the office of the chief minister of Kerala state.

It was not immediately clear how the woman, a Sri Lankan, had got in, and the temple management denied that she had in fact entered.

The hill temple, which pays homage to the celibate god Ayyappan and draws millions of worshippers a year, is one of a few in India that bar entry to girls and women between the ages of 10 and 50, saying that menstruating women are impure.

Opposition Congress party activists burn an effigy of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reacting to reports of two women of menstruating age entering the Sabarimala temple, one of the world's largest Hindu pilgrimage sites, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. Credit:AP

Conservative Hindu groups shut businesses and halted transport across Kerala on Thursday with a protest strike against the communist state government, which backs a Supreme Court ruling in September that ordered the lifting of the ban.
Hassan Rizk, the 24-year-old plumber who was stabbed after he tried to stop a man from endangering others in Rockdale on Friday, was recovering at St George Hospital on Saturday night following emergency surgery.

A hospital spokesperson said Mr Rizk's condition had improved, and that he was now stable.

Hassan Rizk, left, is being described as a good Samaritan. On the right, the moment he was stabbed. The dash cam footage was supplied to the Herald by a witness. Credit:

Mr Rizk had finished training at Fitness First in Rockdale when he confronted a Greenacre man identified as Ayman Fakah, also 24, who had rammed a police car in a four-wheel drive with no number plates and stolen a delivery truck earlier in the afternoon.

Well-wishers paid tribute to Mr Rizk's bravery on social media while his family visited his bedside on Saturday.
LNP candidate for Herbert Phillip Thompson has come clean and expressed his shame for writing social media posts in 2012 that implied he would shoot Muslims.

The 2018 Queensland Young Australian of the Year was an ex-serviceman who was discharged due to physical injuries and mental health issues the same year he made the controversial comments.

LNP candidate for Herbert Phillip Thompson apologises for any distress he may have caused. Credit:Seven News

According to News Corp, the posts on Mr Thompsons private Facebook account were in response to violent protests in Sydney triggered by a US film, Innocence of Muslims, which portrayed the prophet Muhammad as a womaniser and a paedophile.

The posts included the lines "...a sign said behead all those who insult the profit (sic) i know what im (sic) doing this week getting my GUN licence", followed by "give me a M4 and send to Sydney and I'll do the dishes".
Fremantle Detectives have laid charges against two teenage boys after 14 reports of rocks being thrown at cars on the Kwinana Freeway on Friday night, one rock smashing a windscreen and hitting a passenger in the chest.

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Around 11.30pm police received reports of vehicles travelling north near Berrigan Drive, Cockburn Central, being hit by rocks thrown from the western side of the carriageway. This lasted for 15 minutes.

One rock, the size of a large football, smashed the windscreen of a Toyota Camry, striking a 55-year-old man in the front passenger seat in the chest. He was taken by ambulance to Fiona Stanley Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Inspector Dean Snashall said the man has been released from hospital. He suffered grazes and bruising.
A Perth couple have been left stranded in Bali and $900 out of pocket after they booked their accommodation through a travel site that cancelled their hotel room at the last minute.

After a delayed flight out of Perth on Friday evening, Natasha Thomas landed in Bali with her partner at 1.30am, intending to spend a quiet eight nights in the tropical paradise.

Ms Thomas paid for her booking upfront.

But when she arrived at her Kuta hotel, she said she was left in disbelief.

I gave them my name, and they said, 'no, we don't have that reservation'  so they asked for my reservation details, she said.
Billed as having the worlds whitest sand, Hyams Beach has become a bucket list destination for Sydney day-trippers, overseas tourists and millennials in pursuit of the perfect Instagram shot.

But thousands of disgruntled drivers have been turned away at the border of the south coast village over the past fortnight, as traffic controllers informed them it was at capacity and there were plenty of other good beaches to choose from.

Hyams Beach has been promoted as having some of the world's whitest sand, but has become a victim of its own success. Credit:Louise Kennerley

Shoalhaven Council has taken the extraordinary step as new figures show the number of vehicles queuing to enter the village has soared to record highs.

The council is consulting with residents as it searches for a permanent solution  including parking meters or a shuttle bus service  to deal with the beachs exploding popularity.
Some protesters made Nazi salutes. Credit:Darrian Traynor

Hundreds of police occupied the St Kilda foreshore to maintain the peace as close to 100 far-right activists clashed with 200 anti-racism protesters throughout the afternoon on Saturday.

By 4pm, three people had been arrested and one man treated by parademics after he was affected by capsicum spray, but the hostile stand-off never escalated into a riot.

An 18-year-old man from Sunbury was arrested for possessing a dangerous article, reportedly several large fishing sinkers or weights, and an 18-year-old man from Maroondah was arrested for possessing a drug of dependence.

A third man was taken in for breaching the terms of his bail.
Firefighters will use a brief reprieve from the hot weather to try to get on top of a major bushfire in Gippsland  before temperatures start to rise again.

The bushfire at Rosedale, suspected to be deliberately lit, ripped through more than 10,000 hectares of scrub and forest before it was brought under control about 2.30am Saturday.

After a cool change following one of the hottest days in years on Friday, the mercury is forecast to rise to 31 degrees on Tuesday. Another cool front will bring relief Wednesday and Thursday with temperatures of 23 and 25 degrees.

But the fire, which is burning through a state park and pine plantation, could take weeks to extinguish. Gippsland will get a week of cool weather, before the temperature starts to get into the 30s next weekend. Firefighters hope to have it well under control by then.

"We have a window of opportunity here. Heading into next weekend there will be some quite hot weather, and then probably the Monday after that will be the real test when we get to another day with that combination of hot weather and winds, incident controller Peter West told a town meeting at Longford on Saturday.
Somehow ABC Radio news bulletins on New Years Day managed to juxtapose a soul-tingling item about the exploration of deep, deep space with a soul-stupefying item about shallow politics.

The news from space was to do with the spellbinding success of NASAs New Horizons spacecraft in taking a cosmic stickybeak, four billion miles from Earth, at Ultima Thule. An earthling had to be tragically thrillproof or perhaps even clinically dead not to be left tingling by the news of the New Horizons achievement. Our species has never before had a good ogle at anything so very far away.

This illustration provided by NASA shows the New Horizons spacecraft. NASA launched the probe in 2006; it's about the size of a baby grand piano. Credit:NASA

At his and her best, what a piece of work is man! What a mystery it is that the USA can somehow at the same time nurture a NASA of such flair and genius and a White House of such imbecility.

But in news bulletins that triumphant item was cheek by jowl with an item reporting NSW Labor leader Michael Daley reminding us of why we increasingly view party politics with scorn and think of party politicians as scum. Daley was trying to take party advantage of some Sydney railway hiccups.
Pictured from left is the Honorable Mayor of Coronado, Richard Bailey, followed by Bonnie Van Vugt, Lisa Alves, Sharon Blongiewicz, Roger Clapp, Pat Robitaille, Sharon Shelton, and Carol Dobi. Not pictured are Lisa Storey and Jean Bauer.
Sydneys councils are struggling to keep up with the cost of upgrading the citys ageing swimming pools, with another pool forced to close over the summer.

The 50-metre outdoor pool at Lane Cove was due to start being replaced next year, but after the discovery of a rapid decline in the structure of the pool, council staff decided to close the pool late last month.

The closure comes as Parramatta remains without a pool  after the state government demolished the council-owned pool for an expanded Parramatta Stadium  while other councils wrestle with how to revamp their ageing facilities.

Lane Cove Acquatic Centre, where the council has recently had to close its 50-metre outdoor pool. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

Pools are so expensive, said Pam Palmer, the mayor of Lane Cove.
Two 15-year-old Sydney boys, Orlando Read and Milo Taylor-Westermann, couldn't be further from the average teenager who, a study found, can't boil an egg or bake a potato.

Even worse, only one in five teenagers had the kitchen skills to pour milk on cereal, according to the survey of more than 1000 parents of 12- to 18-year-olds by Pureprofile.

One of Orlando Read's creations. Credit:Brendan Read

In contrast, Orlando spends most weekends baking one-off towering cakes for special occasions that sell for anywhere from $150 to $200 each.

Milo has a more diversified range, making and selling products from lemon aioli and wasabi mayo to almond, raspberry and peach cake and mini sticky date puddings to family and friends.
Jess Buxton must have had some inkling that her tatts would have blotted her copybook ("Regrets, we have a few too many tattoos", December 30). - Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook

Jess Buxton, a tattoo artist in training, has wanted to be inked ever since she was a child. Credit:Christopher Pearce

More pay, better teachers

Teaching will continue to attract students with low ATARs while teacher pay rates are low and conditions of their employment are poor ("Low ATAR students in teaching on rise", December 30).

If Rob Stokes is serious about attracting the right people into teaching and raising teacher educational standards, and school educational outcomes, he will back up his "quality control" measure of psychometric testing of teachers entering state schools.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The wind fills the sails of the Anna Kristina and the 100-year-old ship flies across the warm waters of Hervey Bay, timbers groaning, chasing the pods. As they approach, Wally Franklin furls the sails, slowing the Kristina to a gentle glide. The mother whale and her calf watch with silent curiosity as the vessel settles alongside them. Then Wally gently mimics their movements from behind the wheel, until the whales forget they are there. Trish and Wally Franklin. Only then does Trish Franklin lean over the side and whisper to them. Youre beautiful, she says. Then she takes her photos. Hundreds and hundreds of photos, her camera clicking over and over again. These photos  there are now half a million of them, taken over 30 years by two people who started this research project with little formal training in marine biology  form one of the most comprehensive databases of whale identity, movement and behaviour in existence. Using them, Trish and Wally were able to uncover the secret of Hervey Bay. They think this place might have helped save the southern humpback whale.

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But the photos also record an entire relationship, a marriage, children, love and devotion. A man, a woman and the whales, all intertwined. The shallow waters of Hervey Bay are that shade of light aquamarine that you see on postcards. The sea floor is lined with sand, gradually deposited here from around the world over hundreds of thousands of years. Dig through it and you might find a grain from the vast mountain ranges that once formed Antarctica. The bay is formed by the overlapping dunes of Fraser Island to the east, which absorbs the blows from the wild Pacific. The whales first discovered this place in the '80s, it is said. Hear Trish and Wally's recordings of whales here: Southern humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, embark on one of natures great migrations every autumn, swimming thousands of kilometres from their feeding grounds in Antarctica through the deep ocean to a secret lagoon in the Great Barrier Reef, where waters are warmer and they can mate, breed and give birth. As they swim, they sing, all singing the same tune, the haunting melodies carried by the water for hundreds of kilometres.

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In the '60s we hunted them almost to extinction. Soviet whalers discovered their migratory routes, harpooned the mothers and children and dragged them up on deck to bleed out. At the species nadir, there were maybe 200 eastern Australian humpbacks left. That, Trish thinks, is about when the whales discovered Hervey Bay. As they migrate down from the Reef to Antarctica between August and October, a few mothers will quietly sneak their children 40 kilometres across a shallow pass to get into the bay, where they will stay for a couple of weeks, away from the males, who like to remain out in deeper ocean. In the early seasons, only a few came. But that number has swelled and swelled and now as many as 11,000 enter every year. The bay's shallow waters allowed young whales to get some sea miles up without running afoul of whalers or the deep oceans many other hazards. With the species numbers dwindling, a nursery that dramatically increased the survival chances of the remaining humpbacks in the wild was vital. Certainly the species appears to have recovered far faster in the Pacific than the Atlantic. Id hate to even contemplate what would have happened if they hadnt discovered it, Trish says.

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Under the shallow waters, mother bonds with child. She swims slow and close, the calf frolicking in the slipstream her bulk creates or, if it gets nervous, hiding safely under her vast belly. Humpbacks have thick blubber that helps them maintain neutral buoyancy in the water; to a 15-tonne whale, swimming in water is like playing in zero gravity. Mother whale uses her huge head to nudge her child into the shallows, right up to the shore, teaching him how to edge close to the sand without beaching. She allows him to suckle from her breast. Calves can easily drink 600 litres of milk a day. Young whales dont know the way their species has been mistreated. They are naturally curious and will swim right up to boats, whether whaler or researcher. They rely on their mothers to teach them when its safe and when it is not. Thats what Hervey Bay is used for. On the wooden decks of the Anna Kristina, Trish is focused and Wally is everywhere. He works with the crew to shift the rigging, getting the boat running at just the right speed to fall in with the whales. Too close, or too fast, and the mother can spook and flee  or slap her great tail, flooding the Kristina instantly. Youve got to be really gentle with them," says Trish. They know what youre doing. I think they can pick up your energies. Trish and Wally on Moon Dancer in 2002. In the relationship and on the boat - where they spend 10 weeks every year - Trish is in charge. She hollers course corrections to Wally in the ships bridge, having him bring the boat closer for a picture of a whales tail as it breaches, or shouting at him when the pod doubles back towards them. But she usually does not need to say much. Wally and Trish have been doing this dance together for so long - 60 years together, 30 on the boat, three children now grown - that the steps are muscle memory. The patterns on a tail, known as a fluke, are unique to each whale. This is what Trishs camera lens is hunting for. By looking at the bumps and nicks along the flukes trailing edge, the width of the notch in the centre, and the pattern of blue-and-white dots and dashes, Trish can identify every individual whale that comes here.

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Trish calls the flukes a whales fingerprint. I think they look more like Rorschach ink-blots. "Read into us what you like," they seem to be saying, "but our mysteries are our own." The patterns on a tail, known as a fluke, are unique to each whale. Trish Franklin can identify every individual humpback whale that comes to Hervey Bay. Credit:Trish Franklin Trish will snap hundreds of photos of the flukes, 15,000 in the 10 weeks between August and October that she and Wally spend in the bay each year. Volunteers on the boat will record their behaviour using a special code Trish designed herself. BSTR (bubble streaming), they write, or LOG NUR DTC (logging, nurturing, down time with calf). TR and SNG  trumpeting and singing - are my favourites. Oh, the singing is beautiful. When youve got the engines off, you can feel the vibration of the singing through the vessel, says Trish. In the ships bathroom, the sound comes humming up through the pipes and out the toilet bowl. Whales are very sensitive to vibration. Thats how they hear each others songs underwater. They are living in a world of sounds, says Trish. When one comes close, she leans out over the wooden edges and talks softly, murmuring in her soft Lancashire brogue. She gives each one a name: Little Bear, Salem, Nala, Zipper. She has watched some of them grow up, says Wally. You do get emotionally attached. Trish and Wally Franklin marry in 1961.

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The low entrance requirement for a teaching degree is worrying policymakers. Credit:Sean Davey

As if parents preparing for the school year didn't have enough on their plate. They certainly don't want to think that their children are being taught by someone who took teaching only as a path to a tertiary education in the first place.

Last week The Sun-Herald reported that far more students with ATARs in the lowest bands are being admitted into teaching degrees than other fields.

The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership found that the proportion of students with an ATAR of 70 or lower being admitted to teaching degrees rose sharply to 40 per cent in 2016, despite concerns being raised at the state and federal level about the quality of graduates. One NSW university had offered places on an ATAR cut-off of 48.25, excluding adjustment factors, for its bachelor of education (primary).

NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes has pledged a credit average requirement and a new psychometric test for teaching graduates before they can apply for jobs in NSW government schools.
There are fears stage one of Canberra's light rail network could become a $939 million "white elephant", with electricians concerned high-voltage cables are installed too close to the surface.

Workers and their union representatives say issues with the depth of the cables might prevent the network receiving the independent approvals it needs before trams can start moving passengers on the 12-kilometre track between Gungahlin and the city centre.

A pit near the intersection of the Federal Highway and Flemington Road in Canberra, where electrical cables appear to be installed just a few millimetres below ground level. Credit:Sunday Canberra Times

But a Transport Canberra and City Services spokesman says the ACT government directorate "fully expects" the project to achieve certification against all relevant Australian standards.

Photos of electrical conduits in a pit near the intersection of the Federal Highway and Flemington Road appear to show some cables installed just a few millimetres below ground level.
A tribunal has dismissed an ACT government contractor's claim that she was sexually harassed by a co-worker and found the man's description of himself as a "perve" to be irrelevant to the case.

In a written decision, ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal senior member Heidi Robinson detailed three sexual harassment allegations made by the complainant, who was engaged in May 2017 by Manpower Services Australia to work with a division of the government's Transport Canberra and City Services directorate.

The decision says the complainant's manager "rather informally" delegated responsibility for much of the complainant's training and induction to an experienced employee, who is referred to as Mr X.

The complainant alleged that less than two weeks into her placement, Mr X pushed his crotch into her elbow and breathed on her neck while showing her how to use a computer.

The complainant said that on later occasions, Mr X sat on her lap while she was sitting in his chair, and that he pretended to trip and fall in a confined space in an attempt to kiss or hug her.
In the early days of January, March seems light years away but autumn, and the Melbourne Fashion Festival, will be here before you know it. The runways will include a special gala show by veteran designer Carla Zampatti, as well as the return of Akira and Martin Grant to the VAMFF catwalk. If you're in Brisbane, be sure to check out the Easton Pearson show at the Museum of Brisbane (until April 29), and Sydney's Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences has Akira's 25-year retrospective until June 30. Bow ties The idea of a bow might smack of the saccharine but, on the catwalks, designers are pushing the motif miles away from any Little Bo Peep associations. At Miu Miu, large black satin bows smartened up blue denim; at Erdem, they added texture to party coats. Emilia Wickstead dabbled with bows large and small. Put a Saturday afternoon trip to Spotlight or Lincraft in your diary, stat. Big hat energy

Get yourself a boiler suit but make it fashion. Credit:PA Following the spectacular hats of last year's royal weddings, it's no surprise that the hat is back, from jauntily-angled saucers at Moschino to veiled-verging-on-beekeeper at Erdem and Simone Rocha. But the beret doesn't stop there: the everyday hat is making a comeback. Ease yourself in with a headband: the Duchess of Cambridge has a growing collection, which she wears in lieu of a tiara. And if you haven't yet, use the summer sales to invest in an oversized straw hat  just make sure you can get in and out of the car in it. Also expect the tiny glasses trend to wane, especially once Balenciaga launches its first range of sunnies. Sun protection never looked so chic. Boiling point Why has it taken fashion designers so long to realise that women like pockets? And not just "show" pockets but ones that you can fit an iPhone and a tissue and a bank card in? At Fendi, there were pockets on jackets, handbags, even dangling from utility belts: it seems that Karl Lagerfeld has been stockpiling pockets for the past few years and is now giving them to us all at once. For the ultimate in "utility chic", buy a boiler suit and wear it with sandals and a singlet in summer and sneakers in autumn. Because one-garment dressing will save you 15 minutes each morning for sleep. No-fuss flats

The trainer trend is still going strong, but in 2019 there's a contender for the goes-with-everything shoe throne: the ballet pump. Ballet pumps look good with jeans or skirts of any length, and they're more flattering on the calf than trainers. Leave the overtly ballerina-inspired styles and go for something more solid, such as Repetto, as thin cardboard ones can be agony on your shins. The ballet flat is making a comeback. Department store (cold) wars February is traditionally the month in which we see the department stores' directions for the year and never have they been more divergent. From Myer's announcement that Toni Maticevski was leaving (curiously made in the week between Christmas and New Year), to David Jones holding its forthcoming winter launch in Tasmania, there are plenty of blank spaces yet to fill. Myer has promised a suite of new brands to align with new CEO John King's strategy, so watch this space. Sustainable style
Elaine Cassidy (we've seen her here in the underrated No Offence) is Sarah Manning, former high flyer in the pharmaceutical industry. She's married to Lee, a super sales rep with the same company, who is in Canada awaiting a meeting with "the Minister" when he's (minor spoiler) murdered.

Irish, but with a distinct feel of Scandi-noir about its slate-grey palette and moody, techno soundtrack, Acceptable Risk makes its binge-worthy debut on Stan this Friday.

So we know that this is international: it's politics, it's big pharma, it's high stakes. What's not to love? We don't see a lot of it here, but homegrown Irish television has been burgeoning in the last decade and this is a polished, confident production with a distinctive, slightly laid-back vibe.

It hits all the right notes without trying too hard  or being too predictable. On the contrary, it does a great job of keeping us guessing, and the slower pace  along with smart writing from showrunner Ron Hutchinson  mean there's the space and time for three-dimensional individuals to emerge as this moves smoothly between character drama and corporate thriller.

The cast is also uniformly solid, with Angeline Ball particularly good as the Irish copper charged with solving a murder that's occurred on the other side of the world.
Moving at a comparatively glacial pace is The Kimberley Cruise: Australia's Last Great Wilderness (January 13, 7.30pm, SBS Viceland). For those looking to test the limits of their capacity for mindfulness, 18-hour versions of both will be available on SBS Viceland and SBS On Demand the following week. Under the umbrella "Slow Summer", there is also a repeat screening of The Ghan, the UK's All Aboard! The Canal Trip, and from New Zealand, North to South.

Encouraged by the success of its "slow TV" experiment  The Ghan, three hours of the Adelaide-to-Darwin railway trip watched by 600,000 people last January  SBS commissioned two more programs in this intriguing genre. The Indian Pacific: Australia's Longest Train Journey is more meditative footage of outback beauty augmented by historical and topographical text factoids.

When producer Adam Kay from Mint Pictures (Streets of Your Town, ABC) talks about "the journey" encapsulated in his latest project, he is not referring to the reality TV trope of a participant being pushed out of their "comfort zone". Rather, he's referring to a literal journey  a three-day one, on a train.

Kay took all of the trips himself (three times in the case of The Ghan) before boarding with his crew. Endless time was spent in the editing suite and he had to unlearn everything he knew about making television.

"With reality shows, there's music and voiceover telling you what you should be thinking," he says. "I was adamant that there shouldn't be any voiceover. We should let the viewer take it in in their own way. There's no music, just the natural sounds of the environment."

In many reality and documentary programs, a single shot typically lasts three to five seconds. In stark contrast, "there's no shot in any of these programs that's under 30 seconds", Kay says.

Susie Jones, SBS' commissioning editor of documentaries, fought some internal resistance to greenlight The Ghan and recalls her nerves when it went to air. She had gambled on local audiences taking to the concept, which started in Norway in the late 2000s as an antidote to hectic modern life.

"It was a great unknown in Australia," Jones says. "But we were thrilled with the buzz that it created. It seemed to capture something in the zeitgeist. It can take you a while to lull into a place where you're comfortable to sit and relax. At about the half-hour mark, you start to get into the rhythm of it."
Nicole Kidman has won an Australian Academy Cinema Television Arts international supporting actress award in what could be an omen ahead of the Golden Globes.

Kidman won for her performance in Boy Erased and paid tribute to the film's Australian director Joel Edgerton.

Nicole Kidman poses with the AACTA International Award for Best Supporting Actress. Credit:Getty Images

"He called me up and said, 'Nicole, I know we've never worked together before, but I have something for you,'" Kidman told the ceremony, nicknamed the Aussie Oscars, at the Mondrian Hotel's Skybar in West Hollywood on Friday.

Kidman is a dual threat this Hollywood awards season with Boy Erased and her stunning lead performance in Destroyer receiving nods at numerous awards shows.
Phoebe Burgess may be staying tight-lipped about her split from her rugby league star husband, Sam Burgess, but it seems the blonde WAG has made a very public statement on social media. Two days after being noticeably absent from the Burgess family Christmas lunch at Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel, the mum of two changed her Facebook profile pic  the first time in almost three years.

The Burgess family on Christmas day without Phoebe and children. Credit:Instagram

Coincidence? Not likely. She replaced a wedding day shot of her and Sam walking down the aisle hand in hand with an image of her sporting a trendy new cropped haircut solo. Whilst people change their social media images on a regular basis it's the first time Phoebe posted an image without Sam alongside her since June 2015. Maybe she just really likes her new haircut?

The former couple walking down the aisle at their lavish Bowral wedding. Credit:facebook
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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The planned modernization project at Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC) just received a major boost in funding.

The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) announced Wednesday the Build NYC boards approval of $132 million in tax-exempt bonds toward the project.

Were making investments across Staten Island to create new jobs and improve the quality of life for residents, said NYCEDC president and CEO James Patchett. Our investment in Richmond University Medical Center will deliver critical medical services to the borough, and were proud to work with our partners in Borough President Oddos Office and the New York City Council to help fund this important project.

NEW EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

The project, part of a long-term improvement plan for RUMC, begins with a new emergency department, set to begin construction in spring 2019.

The 35,000-square-foot emergency department will include increased private treatment rooms, state-of-the-art trauma bays, additional support space and specialty areas for urgent and pediatric care.

We assist over 60,000 people a year in our Level 1 Adult Trauma emergency department. Increasing our capacity is critical to ensuring that residents of Staten Island continue to receive the highest level of emergency care during their moments of greatest need," said Daniel Messina, RUMC president and CEO.

ADDITIONAL UPGRADES

Following the construction of the new emergency department, RUMC will focus on the future expansion of its operating suites, energy infrastructure enhancements and other modernization upgrades.

In 2019, RUMC will also begin construction of its new co-generation power plant that will supply cleaner, more cost-efficient energy to the hospital. Once operational, the power plant is expected to provide over 3,000 kilowatts of electricity, in addition to heating and air conditioning, on a daily basis.

FUNDING FROM VARIOUS SOURCES

The project has already received funding from Borough President James Oddo, Councilman Steven Matteo (R-Mid-Island), Councilwoman Debi Rose (D-North Shore) and other local stakeholders.

Staten Islanders want and deserve state-of-the-art healthcare, and allowing RUMC to continue its mission to deliver a new Emergency Department facility is critically important to our borough. This has very much been a team effort to this point, and we welcome and appreciate the Build NYC Board for their work to help complete RUMCs expansion and renovation project," said Oddo.

Matteo said: Updating RUMCs emergency department and modernizing its other facilities is critical to the long-term viability of Staten Islands two-hospital healthcare system, and thus critical to the quality of life of our residents. That is why I worked with Borough President Oddo, Speaker Johnson and my colleagues to secure unprecedented capital funding for the hospital over the previous few years. I am very pleased the Build NYC Board has approved additional tax-free bonding to help fill the financing gap for this important project, to ensure it moves forward as planned."

Rose said: Richmond University Medical Center is a critical component of our Staten Island health care infrastructure. In the absence of a city hospital in our borough, Staten Islands health care system has been severely underfunded for decades. The approval of these tax-exempt bonds, combined with funding from the City Council, take us a significant step toward providing Staten Islanders with the state-of-the-art health care facility we need and deserve, one that will not only meet our current needs, but also carry us well into the future."
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Police are searching backyards on Sharon Street in West Brighton where money taken during a burglary that occurred at a bar earlier Friday could have been dumped, according to an area resident.

The crime occurred inside the Liberty Tavern Grill at 382 Forest Ave., around 4:30 a.m., according to the establishments owner.

The perpetrator broke into the rear of the building and made off with an unknown amount of money, an NYPD spokesman said.

The suspect fled on foot and there is no definitive description of the individual at this time, police said.

Brian Morris, owner of the bar, told the Advance that he saw the suspect on his surveillance camera fleeing from the back of the building toward Sharon Street.

Morris said the thief tried to make off with the safe, but was unable to get it up the stairs. The burglar broke into an ATM, he said.

Cops set up caution tape in front of homes on Sharon Street near Revere Street, where, according to emergency radio transmissions, money was found.

A large police presence was seen searching the area for the burglar.

Police officials said that the investigation is still ongoing.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Police are asking the publics assistance locating a missing West Brighton teen who was last seen in the confines of the 120th Precinct.

Julia Nelson, 15, was last seen on Wednesday, Jan. 2 at approximately 7:45 a.m. inside her home on the 500 block of Delafield Avenue, police said.

Nelson is described as a black female, approximately 5-feet-1-inch tall, 165 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

It is not known what clothing she was wearing at the time of her disappearance.

Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

All calls are strictly confidential.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Police are asking the publics help to identify at least three men sought for questioning in connection with a spree of violent robberies reported in St. George, Tompkinsville and Stapleton in December.

The five incidents in the 120th Precinct robbery pattern identified by police each involved groups of men who allegedly beat and robbed a lone man walking down a street early in the morning. Some of the incidents occurred on busy streets and at last one was near a train station.

The first crime was reported on Dec. 1 at about 2 a.m. on the 100 block of Bay Street in St. George, according to a written statement from the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.

A 54-year-old man was walking toward the Tompkinsville train station when an unidentified man allegedly approached and punched him in the face, causing a cut to the victims lip, the statement said. The culprit went through the victims pockets, but no property was taken, according to cops. The suspect then fled in an unknown direction.

The individual sought for questioning in that incident is described by police as a black man, about 20 years old.

The second incident reportedly occurred on Dec. 15 at about 3:30 a.m. at the corner of Victory Boulevard and St Pauls Avenue in Tompkinsville. A 23-year-old man was walking home when five unidentified men approached him from behind, pushed him to the ground and began punching and kicking his body, the police statement said. The perpetrators then snatched $80 cash and an iPhone 5S from the victim before fleeing in an unknown direction, according to cops. The victim had bruising to his chest and face and refused medical attention for his minor injuries.

Police described each of the five men sought for questioning as:

Hispanic with a light complexion, about 21 years old, standing about 55 tall and weighing about 150 pounds; Black, standing about 58 tall; Hispanic with a light complexion, standing about 60 tall and weighing about 180 pounds; Hispanic with a light complexion and about 21 years old; Hispanic with a light complexion and about 21 years old.

On Dec. 23, at about 3:30 a.m. on Broad Street near Wright Street in Stapleton, a 27-year-old man was walking home when three unidentified men approached him from behind, pushed him to the ground and punched and kicked his body, causing bruising to his face, the police statement said. The suspects then allegedly stole $40 from the victim before they were last seen in the vicinity of Canal and Bay streets. EMS responded to the scene and transported the victim to Richmond University Medical Center, where he was treated and released.

Police described the three men sought for questioning as:

About 25 years old, standing about 55 tall and weighing about 150 pounds; Hispanic, about 25 years old, standing about 55 tall and weighing about 150 pounds; Hispanic, standing about 60 tall and weighing about 180 pounds.

About a half-hour later on Dec. 23 at 4:05 a.m. on Monroe Avenue in Tompkinsville, a 36-year-old male victim was walking home when three unidentified men allegedly approached him from behind, pushed him to the ground and punched and kicked his body, causing a cut to the face. The suspects then forcibly removed the victims Samsung cell phone and $200 before fleeing in an unknown direction, the police statement said. The victim sustained minor injuries, but refused medical attention.

Police described the men sought for questioning as:

Hispanic with a light complexion and slim build, standing about 57 tall, with short black hair, wearing a blue-and-red jacket, a black-hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and black sneakers. Hispanic with a light complexion and slim build, standing about 58 tall with glasses, wearing a blue jacket, blue hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, black sneakers and a backpack. Black, dark complexion, 180 pounds, standing about 60 tall, weighing about 180 pounds, wearing a blue jacket, gray pants, black sneakers, and blue knit cap.

The fifth incident occurred on Dec. 28 at about 2 a.m. on Montgomery Avenue between Victory Boulevard and Fort Place in Tompkinsville. A 30-year-old man was walking when three unidentified men allegedly approached him from behind, pushed him to the ground and began punching and kicking his body, causing a cut to his face, the NYPD statement said. The individuals then stole the victims shoes before fleeing the scene in an unknown direction. The victim sustained minor injuries, but refused medical attention.

Police described the men sought for questioning as:

Hispanic with a light complexion; Hispanic with a light complexion; Hispanic with a light complexion.

The photos and video supplied by police are from the surveillance cameras in the vicinity of Monroe Avenue regarding the incident on Dec. 23.

People with information are encouraged to contact the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-8477 (TIPS) or for Spanish, 1-888-577-4782 (PISTA). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.
You are now listening to the sounds of the New Generation. A podcast created for those who desire a new way of gaining information rather than reading a traditional newspaper. In our show we will discuss everything from sports, pop culture, politics, and local news. To stay up to date on our latest episodes every week be sure to follow us on your favorite podcast service. And dont worry, we keep it short.
ISTANBUL  An independent Ukrainian Orthodox church was created at a signing ceremony in Turkey on Saturday, formalizing a split with the Russian church it had been tied to since 1686.

The ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, signed the Tomos in Istanbul in front of clerics and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, forming the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

It forces Ukrainian clerics to pick sides between the Moscow-backed Ukrainian churches and the new church as fighting persists in eastern Ukraine between government forces and Russia-supported rebels.

The pious Ukrainian people have awaited this blessed day for seven entire centuries, Bartholomew I said in his address.

The patriarch, considered first among equals in Orthodox Christianity, said Ukrainians could now enjoy the sacred gift of emancipation, independence and self-governance, becoming free from every external reliance and intervention.

Poroshenko thanked Bartholomew I for the courage to make this historic decision and said that among the 15 stars of the Orthodox churches of the world a Ukrainian star has appeared, referring to the updated number of churches that dont answer to an external authority.

Last month, Ukrainian Orthodox leaders approved the creation of a new, unified church split from the Moscow Patriarchate and elected 39-year-old Metropolitan Epiphanius I to lead it.

Bartholomew Is decision in October to grant the Ukrainian church autocephaly, or independence, infuriated Moscow, and the Russian church severed ties with Istanbul, the center of the Orthodox world.

Criticism continued Saturday when a spokesman for the Russia-affiliated church in Ukraine, Vasily Anisimov, said, We consider these actions to be anti-canonical. ... This action will not bring anything to Ukraine except trouble, separation and sin, according to Russian state news agency RIA-Novosti.

Kiev has been pushing for a church free from Moscows influence, which intensified after Russias 2014 annexation of Crimea and amid the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Poroshenko, president since 2014, led the push as he campaigns for a March 31 election. Though the church is not formally part of the state, it is closely tied. Recent opinion polls suggest he is trailing in the race.

Ayse Wieting and Zeynep Bilginsoy are Associated Press writers.
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TEL AVIV  The White House has sent national security adviser John Bolton on a mission to allay Israels concerns about President Trumps decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria.

The pullout announced before Christmas was initially expected to be completed within weeks, but the timetable has slowed as the president acceded to requests from aides, allies and members of Congress for a more orderly draw-down.

Bolton planned to meet with Israels prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and other officials on Sunday before traveling to Turkey. Israeli officials have expressed alarm that a swift withdrawal of the roughly 2,000 troops could enable Iran to expand its influence and presence in Syria, which has been consumed by a years-long civil war and the Islamic State militancy.

Trumps move has raised fears about clearing the way for a Turkish assault on Kurdish fighters in Syria who have fought alongside American troops against Islamic State extremists. Turkey considers the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units, or YPG, a terrorist group linked to an insurgency within its own borders.

A Trump administration official told reporters traveling with Bolton that Bolton intended to discuss the pace of the draw-down, as well as American troop levels in the region. Bolton was expected to explain that some U.S. troops based in Syria to fight Islamic State will shift to Iraq with the same mission and that some American forces may remain at a key military outpost in al-Tanf, in southern Syria, to counter growing Iranian activity in the region.

Bolton also was to convey the message that the United States will be very supportive of Israeli strikes against Iranian targets in Syria, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to preview the talks.

Bolton warned Syrias president, Bashar al-Assad, not to use the U.S. draw-down as a pretext to use chemical weapons against Syrians. Trump has twice carried out air strikes in Syria in response to apparent chemical attacks, with the intention of deterring Assad.

Weve tried twice through the use of military force to demonstrate to the Assad regime the use of chemical weapons is not acceptable, Bolton said while en route to Israel. And if they dont heed the lessons of those two strikes, the next one will be more telling.

Trumps announcement about the troop withdrawal was greeted by condemnation from many U.S. lawmakers and allies, and prompted the resignation of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and the U.S. special envoy for the anti-Islamic State coalition in protest.

Zeke Miller is an Associated Press writer.
CAIRO  Egypts president has told CBS that his country and Israel, with whom it fought four wars, are cooperating against Islamic militants in the Sinai Peninsula, a startling and potentially damaging acknowledgment that could explain the Egyptian governments request that the network not air the interview.

Excerpts from the interview released by CBS over the weekend also quoted President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi as denying there are political prisoners in Egypt, where he has overseen one of the broadest crackdowns on dissent in the countrys modern history since the ouster by the military, then led by him, of an Islamist but divisive president.

CBS, which is due to air the interview Sunday on its program 60 Minutes, said it has rejected a request by the Egyptian government not to show it. It did not say which part of the presidents comments the Cairo government objected to, but the cooperation with Israel, with whom Egypt has a 1979 peace treaty, appears to be the most contentious part.

Egypts military last year denied press reports that Egypt and Israel were cooperating against the militants in northern Sinai, a rugged region of mountains and desert bordering Israel and the Gaza Strip where Egyptian security forces have for years battled the extremists, now led by the Islamic State group.

According to the excerpts, el-Sissi was asked if his countrys cooperation with Israel was the closest ever between the two countries. That is correct. ... We have a wide range of cooperation with the Israelis, he responded.

Israeli officials have publicly praised security cooperation with el-Sissis Egypt, which has successfully secured Israels permission to deploy troops, armor and helicopter gunships close to the Israeli border to fight the militants in contravention of the peace treatys limitations on the number or troops and weapons Egypt can have in the region.

Since taking office in 2014, el-Sissi has met at least twice with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Their meetings have received little media attention in Egypt, a country where most people still view their neighbor as their sworn enemy and where trade unions and most political parties are vehemently opposed to the normalization of relations with Israel.

In the interview, el-Sissi questioned a recent Human Rights Watch report that Egypt was detaining 60,000 political prisoners.

I dont know where they got that figure. I said there are no political prisoners in Egypt. Whenever there is a minority trying to impose their extremist ideology we have to intervene regardless of their numbers, he told CBS, according to the excerpts.

El-Sissi has in the past claimed that everyone in detention is facing legal proceedings for a specific crime committed, but rights activists complain of long detentions without charges  as long as two years or more in some cases  trials that dont observe the letter or the spirit of the law, and judges more concerned with protecting the state than enforcing the law.

Hamza Hendawi is an Associated Press writer.
MOSCOW  The American former Marine who is being held in Moscow on spying charges also holds British, Irish and Canadian citizenship, officials said, and Britains foreign secretary charged Friday that Russia is trying to use him as a pawn in its geopolitical games.

Both Ireland and Britain have asked that their diplomats be allowed to visit Paul Whelan.

The news that Whelan holds citizenship in four countries adds complexity to an already-murky case, and brings international pressure on Russia from several fronts.

Whelan, the 48-year-old global security director for a U.S. auto parts company, was arrested a week ago in Moscow. At the time, he was identified only as an American.

Russian authorities have released no information about the charges against Whelan, who could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted of spying. Russian media reported Thursday that Whelan had been formally indicted for spying, and the Interfax news agency said he denied the allegation.

Whelans family says he was in Russia to attend a friends wedding. A Russian lawmaker, meanwhile, hinted Friday that the detainee could possibly be swapped for a Russian woman who has pleaded guilty to trying to influence U.S. politics.

Whelans arrest came two weeks after Russian gun-rights activist Maria Butina pleaded guilty in the United States to conspiring to act as a foreign agent by trying to infiltrate conservative circles and the National Rifle Association to influence U.S. politics.

Butina has become a cause celebre for Russia  her face is being used as the profile picture on the Foreign Ministrys Facebook page  and the timing of Whelans arrest has led to suggestions that he is being seen as a potential swap for her.

Whelan, a former staff sergeant with the Marines in Iraq, has visited Russia since at least 2007. He is the global security director for the Auburn Hills, Mich.-based BorgWarner, an auto parts supplier.

British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said his government was helping Whelan.

We are giving him every support we that we can, but we dont agree with individuals being used in diplomatic chess games, Hunt said Friday on Sky News.

Jim Heintz and Gregory Katz are Associated Press writers.
TravelSkills on SFGate is brought to you by Visa

An increasingly widespread "sick out" by Transportation Security Administration screeners is not affecting security wait times at the Bay Area's three major airports: San Francisco International, Mineta San Jose International or Oakland International.

We contacted spokespersons at all three airports at 6 pm on Friday, and none reported any impact on security wait times or lines. At San Jose and Oakland, where screeners are federal employees, spokespersons were not aware of any delays.

At SFO, spokesperson Doug Yakel explained: "It's important to note that SFO operates under the Screening Partnership Program, in which the TSA contracts security screening services to qualified private companies. The current contractor for the TSA here is Covenant Aviation Security. Those employees continue to be paid, so no impact here."

However, a windy, wet storm is blowing across the area today, and flight delays at SFO are already approaching three hours. So be sure to contact your airline for flight status before heading out to SFO. Oakland and San Jose airports are not experiencing the severe delays seen at SFO on Saturday morning.

You can read more here about the TSA sick out, which apparently is affecting airports in the New York City and Dallas areas.

The silver lining to these dark clouds? We are now entering one of the slowest times of year for air travel. Fewer travelers means shorter lines, less waiting, and best of all, cheaper fares and lots of last minute deals. Find out more about that in our 2019 Bargain Hunters' Guide to Cheap Travel.

Read all recent TravelSkills posts here

Get twice-per-week updates from TravelSkills via email! Sign up here

Chris McGinnis is the founder of TravelSkills.com. The author is solely responsible for the content above, and it is used here by permission. You can reach Chris at chris@travelskills.com or on Twitter @cjmcginnis.
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Dog owners, Recology staff and two congressional representatives will volunteer Saturday afternoon to clean up trash at Ocean Beach and Lands End because park service workers are furloughed, organizers said.



Volunteers will meet at 2:30 p.m. at stairwells 20 and 21 along the promenade and on the beach at Ocean Beach.



Two of the expected volunteers are Reps. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo, and Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael.



Other expected volunteers include members of the San Francisco Dog Owners Group. Recology will provide a truck to recycle and haul away trash.







Three men are dead following a shooting in West Oakland, police said.



The shooting occurred just before 9 p.m. Friday in the 1000 block of Center Street.







An onslaught of rain and high winds will hit the Bay Area Saturday morning and the bad weather will continue all weekend and into next week, according to the National Weather Service.



Light rain is expected to start shortly after midnight Friday along the coast and then will become heavier as it moves inland. Higher elevations could get some snow.



The rain will taper off Saturday night but will return Sunday and won't let up until Monday, according to weather officials. More storms are expected next week.



Urban areas could see up to an inch of rain, while the North Bay could get as much as three inches over the weekend.







The city of Napa and Napa County are paying a combined $5 million to a 3-year-old girl's family who accused them of not doing enough to prevent her death.



The high-profile killing occurred in 2014, when officers performing a welfare check found 3-year-old Kayleigh Slusher dead in a suitcase on a bed at her mom's house. Investigators say she had been beaten and sexually assaulted before her body was stuffed in a freezer.



Her mom, Sara Lynn Krueger, and her mom's boyfriend, Ryan Scott Warner, were both convicted in Kayleigh's killing and are serving life sentences in prison.



But attorneys for Kayleigh's dad, Jason Slusher, and grandmother, Robin Slusher, say police and child welfare workers were also at fault.



"It took a village to kill Kayleigh," Julia Sherwin, one of the Slushers' attorneys, said in a statement. "Two of the people responsible for her death were held accountable in the criminal courts. We filed this case to bring reform and accountability to the rest of the people who caused Kayleigh's death."







Police at the East Bay Regional Park District have arrested a woman who allegedly assaulted a jogger after her dog attacked the victim.



The attack and assault occurred Thursday.



Police said the jogger was first attacked by the dog in Anthony Chabot Regional Park at 10:25 a.m. and used pepper spray to defend herself.



The dog's owner later "accosted" her at Goldenrod Trail between the Chabot Equestrian Center and the Oakland City Stables in Oakland, according to police.



The suspect tackled and punched the victim multiple times, police said, and the victim suffered significant injuries after being bitten on the forearm by the suspect.



An Alameda County judge issued a warrant Friday and police made an arrest. The suspect was interviewed by police and she was booked into the Santa Rita Jail.



Police identified the suspect as 19-year-old Oakland resident Alma Cadwalader.







A man has been charged with murder and attempted murder after being arrested on suspicion of stabbing two people after they both tried to call the police on him Wednesday in San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood.



Arthur Finch, 49, made his first appearance in court Friday afternoon in connection with the stabbings, which injured a 50-year-old man and killed 61-year-old Veronica Soliz.



In addition to murder and attempted murder, the San Francisco District Attorney's Office has also charged Finch with torture with the use of a deadly weapon, dissuading a witness with a deadly weapon, assault with a deadly weapon causing great bodily injury, domestic violence and assault with force, among other charges.



Finch did not enter a plea Friday and his arraignment was continued to Monday morning.



According to prosecutors, Finch is on parole for a 2009 rape conviction and if convicted on the new charges, he could face life in prison without the possibility of parole.







Authorities have begun an investigation after a woman was found dead in a fire behind a grocery store in the Rodeo-area of unincorporated Contra Costa County.



Firefighters were called around 3:15 a.m. Friday to reports of pallets or debris on fire in the Safeway parking lot on the 600 block of Parker Avenue, according to Rodeo-Hercules Fire District Capt. Jerry Short.



Short said firefighters had put out the blaze within five minutes, but one of the firefighters then noticed a woman's burned body amid the debris.



The Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office responded and the coroner's division took the woman's body to confirm her cause of death, according to deputy Jay Gonzales. He said deputies couldn't immediately identify her because they couldn't get fingerprints from her body.



Short said the fire was near a utility box, but it didn't appear that the fire was electrical in nature.







A residential structure fire has caused an estimated $100,000 in damage to a home in the Pebble Beach area of unincorporated Monterey County, according to Cal Fire.



The fire was reported just before 1:15 a.m. Friday in the 1000 block of Spyglass Woods Drive not far from Forest Lake.



Cal Fire crews responded with multiple fire engines and received assistance from the Cypress Fire Protection District, Monterey Fire Department and the Pebble Beach Community Services District.



Firefighters found a bedroom on fire on the second floor and contained it to that room. No injuries were reported. Investigators believe an overloaded electrical outlet was to blame.





















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BELMONT (BCN)



Police in Belmont on Thursday arrested four people in connection with an identity theft crime.



Nicole Boyer, 36, of Missouri, was arrested on suspicion of identity theft, fraudulent use of a credit card and burglary.



Jennifer Felix, 35, of Concord, was arrested on suspicion of theft, possession of burglary tools and possession of a controlled substance.



Jordan Anderson, 29, of Concord, was arrested on an outstanding arrest warrant for narcotics-related offenses.



Tyler Goforth, 35, of Antioch, was arrested on multiple outstanding warrants for theft, burglary, identity theft and narcotics related offenses.



On Thursday at approximately 12:45 p.m., a Redwood City woman called Belmont police after she received a fraud alert from her bank her credit card was being used at a Motel 6 on Shoreway Road.



Officers responded to the motel and made contact with five suspects in a room that had been rented using the victim's credit card.



Investigators located hundreds of pieces of stolen mail, several credit cards and a handgun in the room.



Four of the suspects were arrested, and a fifth man, identified as a 35-year-old from Bay Point, was interviewed by police and ultimately released.



Police are working to contact people associated with the recovered mail, which investigators said appears to have been taken from locations around the Bay Area.





Copyright  2019 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
SANTA CLARA (BCN)



Police in Santa Clara shot and killed a person inside a gas station convenience store early Saturday morning, authorities said.



The person, whose name has not been released, was fatally shot by officers at 5:42 a.m. at the Rotten Robbie store, 3471 Lafayette St., according to Santa Clara police Capt. Wahid Kazem.



No other injuries were reported. Police have not released information on what led to the shooting.









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OAKLAND (BCN)



A man who was shot while he was driving his car in East Oakland on Monday afternoon was pronounced dead at Highland Hospital on Friday morning, police said.



Charleston Turner, 22, of Oakland was found shot inside his vehicle at about 1:35 p.m. on Monday after it crashed into a fire hydrant at 60th Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard, according to police.

WOMAN BITES JOGGER: Woman bites jogger during East Bay dog attack, police say



Turner was taken to Highland Hospital to be treated for his injuries and was pronounced dead at 8 a.m. today.
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)



A man has been charged with murder and attempted murder after being arrested on suspicion of stabbing two people after they both tried to call the police on him Wednesday in San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood.



Arthur Finch, 49, made his first appearance in court Friday afternoon in connection with the stabbings, which injured a 50-year-old man and killed 61-year-old Veronica Soliz.



In addition to murder and attempted murder, the San Francisco District Attorney's Office has also charged Finch with torture with the use of a deadly weapon, dissuading a witness with a deadly weapon, assault with a deadly weapon causing great bodily injury, domestic violence and assault with force, among other charges.



Finch did not enter a plea Friday and his arraignment was continued to Monday morning.



According to prosecutors, Finch is on parole for a 2009 rape conviction and if convicted on the new charges, he could face life in prison without the possibility of parole.



Court documents revealed that the Wednesday killing unfolded just before noon in the 400 block of Ellis Street, outside of the nonprofit organization Mercy Housing.



Finch allegedly pushed his girlfriend against a wall and produced a knife.



The victim then allegedly told a witness, the organization's janitor, to call police.



Upon seeing the janitor pull out his phone, Finch allegedly chased him into the middle of the intersection of Ellis and Leavenworth streets and stabbed him.



After witnessing the attacks, a woman later identified as Soliz then called 911 and yelled at Finch to stop. Finch allegedly walked toward his girlfriend's car in an attempt to flee and Soliz took a picture of the vehicle, according to court documents.



Finch then allegedly yelled at Soliz, "Stop filming me," and began chasing her.



At this point, Soliz was on the phone with a 911 operator and began screaming, "Now he's coming toward me!" The chase ended when Finch allegedly stabbed Soliz in the head, causing her to fall on the ground.



Afterward, Finch walked away saying to himself, "I'm a bad man," before fleeing in his girlfriend's car, court documents allege.



Soliz was taken to a hospital where she was pronounced dead. The 50-year-old male victim took himself to the hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, police said.



Based on witness descriptions, officers were able to apprehend Finch in the first block of Brookdale Avenue in the city's Visitacion Valley neighborhood, where they arrested him, police said.



Finch is being held without bail.



Soliz's killing is the city's first homicide of 2019.





Copyright  2019 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
DALY CITY (BCN)



A cat, a married couple and law enforcement worked together to nab a suspect who invaded the couple's Daly City home, stealing the husband's wallet, police said.



A man's cat began acting like "something was wrong" around 11 p.m. Dec. 28 in the home in the 300 block of Innisfree Drive, police said. That alerted the resident and he found a suspect ransacking his home office.



The 56-year-old man grabbed the intruder and threw him against the wall. The man's wife also tried to restrain the suspect, but the intruder fled with the man's wallet and a garage door opener, the couple told police.



The husband told police he scratched the suspect's face during the struggle, and that he had noticed a red older model sedan parked in the apartment complex that left immediately after the contretemps.



The officers couldn't find the car, but around 9:40 p.m. the next day, an officer found an unoccupied vehicle in St. Francis Square that matched the description, police said.



When the suspect returned to the car, police arrested the 29-year-old Vallejo man on suspicion of robbery, vehicle theft, receiving stolen property and possessing burglary tools.





Copyright  2019 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
PARIS  French security forces fired tear gas after a march through central Paris went from peaceful to provocative Saturday as several thousand protesters staged the yellow vest movements first action of 2019 to keep up pressure on President Emmanuel Macron.

A river boat restaurant moored below the clashes on the Left Bank of the Seine River caught fire. Tear gas wafted above the Orsay Museum and the gold dome of the French Academy as riot police, nearly invisible at the start of the demonstration, moved to the front when protesters deviated from an officially approved path.

Police boats patrolled the river while beyond the Seine, motorcycles and a car were set on fire on the Boulevard Saint Germain, a main Left Bank thoroughfare. Riot police and firefighters moved in as barricades erected in the street also glowed in flames.

Protesters made their way to the Champs-Elysees Avenue, the famed boulevard at the center of previous yellow vest demonstrations, many removing their distinctive vests and mixing with shoppers.

Riot police moved in with a water cannon to evacuate the avenue. A line of parked cars burned on a nearby street.

In a first, the building housing the office of the French government spokesman was attacked. Spokesman Benjamin Griveaux was evacuated from his Left Bank office at the Ministry for Parliamentary Relations after the front door of the building was partially destroyed.

It wasnt me who was attacked ... It was the institutions, the democratic form of government, Griveaux said.

It was the first such attack on government property since the yellow vest movement began weekly protests eight Saturdays ago, in mid-November. Protesters have tried to reach the presidential Elysee Palace, which is protected like a bunker.

Saturdays march had been declared in advance and approved, in contrast to some illegal December demonstrations that degenerated into vandalism, looting and chaos.

The latest demonstration was a sort of test of the movements staying power after proposals by Macron to address concerns of French citizens, including canceling fuel tax hikes. The rallies have swelled with broader anger over Macrons economic policies, deemed to favor the rich.

Interior Minister Christophe Castaner estimated that about 50,000 people participated in protests around France on Saturday.

Milos Krivokapic and Elaine Ganley are Associated Press writers.
WASHINGTON  The Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether North Carolinas election map is an example of unconstitutional partisan gerrymandering or a legal effort by the states Republican leaders to lock in a 10-to-3 advantage in its congressional delegation.

The court will also decide whether Maryland Democrats violated the Constitution by redistricting tens of thousands of voters to turn a safe Republican district into a reliably Democratic one.

Rulings in the cases, due in the first half of next year, will likely determine whether there will be legal checks on the politicians who redraw election districts following the 2020 census.

The court said Friday it will hear arguments in March in the two cases: Rucho vs. Common Cause and Lamone vs. Benisek.

The justices have never struck down an election map on the grounds that politicians went too far in giving their partys candidates an advantage. But the challengers in North Carolina and Maryland have unusually strong cases because the political leaders candidly admitted they were drawing the map for political advantage. They emphasized their actions were not motivated by racial gerrymandering, which the high court had ruled is unconstitutional.

Im making clear that our intent is to use the political data we have for partisan advantage, said North Carolina state Rep. David Lewis, when state lawmakers met in a special session in Raleigh two years ago to revise the congressional districts.

Lewis announced he would go as far as possible to benefit Republicans. I propose that we draw the maps to give a partisan advantage of 10 Republicans and three Democrats because I do not believe its possible to draw a map with 11 Republicans and two Democrats, he said.

Voters who leaned in favor of Democrats were concentrated in three districts, while 10 districts were drawn to give Republicans a safe but not overwhelming margin.

In November, the plan worked. North Carolinas voters were closely split in statewide tallies, with Republicans holding a 51 percent to 49 percent edge. But the GOP again won 10 of the 13 House seats, although one race remains in doubt because of allegations of fraud in the handling of absentee ballots.

Lawyers for Common Cause and the League of Women Voters sued, alleging this partisan manipulation of the districts violates the voters rights to a fair election and an equal vote.

Lawyers for the North Carolina Republicans said there is no manageable standard for a court to decide when politics played too large a rule in drawing district lines. They also said voters do not have a right to proportional representation in the number of seats won based on statewide results.

David G. Savage is a Los Angeles Times writer.
A California police officer who was killed in the line of duty was hailed Saturday as a Fiji-born American hero who made the ultimate sacrifice for his adopted country.

At a funeral held for Cpl. Ronil Singh, mourners remembered the 33-year-old officer as a hardworking immigrant who worked his way up to become an officer in the small Stanislaus County town of Newman.

He stood so much for what is right in our world and yet unfortunately was taken too soon from us by what is wrong in our world, Modesto police Officer Jeff Harmon said at the service in a Modesto church.

He probably more than anything else wanted to be home on Christmas night with his wife and his young son, but instead made a selfless choice to serve all of his community knowing that there are many more than just his own family that needed his protection that night.

Singh was shot to death in the early hours of Dec. 26 after he pulled over a suspected drunken driver. The gunman fled, and a two-day-long manhunt led to the arrest of a man who authorities said was in the country illegally and was preparing to flee to Mexico. Gustavo Arriaga Perez, 33, has since been charged with murder.

The case has rekindled a debate over Californias sanctuary law that limits cooperation by local authorities with federal immigration authorities. President Trump has cited Singhs killing to call for tougher border security amid a fight with congressional Democrats over funding for a border wall. The impasse has forced a partial government shutdown.

At his funeral, however, Singhs brother and colleagues focused on his achievements and playful personality. He grew up in a farming town and emigrated to Central California in 2003. He joined the 12-member Newman police department in 2011 after attending the police academy and serving as a volunteer, animal control officer and code enforcement officer at other agencies in the region.

He told me he came to this country with one purpose, and that purpose was to become a police officer, Newman Police Chief Randy Richardson said. He told me about all the pride he had in America, and how much it meant to get this opportunity.

Fijis ambassador to the United States, Naivakarurubalavu Solo Mara, said Singh made his mark in his adopted country and called him a Fiji-born American hero.

Daisy Nguyen is an Associated Press writer.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.  He became the first Dreamer to win the prestigious Rhodes scholarship, but for recent Harvard University graduate Jin Park, the joy of that achievement has given way to uncertainty.

The 22-year-old, who lives in New York City, risks not being allowed back in the country if he enrolls at the University of Oxford in England in the fall.

President Trumps administration rescinded the option for overseas travel for those with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status, or DACA, when he moved to phase out the Obama-era program in 2017.

But travel abroad, which was allowed under limited circumstances such as academic study during the Obama administration, should still be permitted because the federal courts have upheld the program for now, argue Park and his supporters.

If I leave, theres a very real possibility that I wont be able to come back. Thats the biggest fear, said Park, whose family came to the U.S. from South Korea when he was 7 years old. I havent really thought about what thats going to mean if Im not allowed back.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which administers DACA, didnt respond to emails seeking comment.

DACA recipients, commonly called Dreamers because of never-passed proposals in Congress called the DREAM Act, are protected from deportation because they were brought into the country illegally at a young age.

Discussing the risks has been a delicate topic to broach with his parents, who cried out of joy when he won the scholarship, Park said.

Ive been avoiding that question, he said days after graduating last month. This was especially meaningful for them. It was like a validation of the sacrifices theyve made for me.

Nearly 700,000 individuals are currently on DACA, which was created in 2012 and can be renewed every two years. To qualify, immigrants must have entered the country by 2007 and been under age 16 when they arrived.

The Trump administration issued an order winding down the program in 2017, but federal judges in New York, California and Washington ruled against those efforts last year and have effectively kept the program running. The administration is now seeking a Supreme Court review.

Park could turn down the scholarship but has decided against that route. He wants to continue to be a voice in the immigration debate and believes the benefits of going to Oxford outweigh the risks.

Philip Marcelo is an Associated Press writer.
Police in Phoenix have opened an investigation into allegations that a woman in a vegetative state at a private nursing facility was sexually assaulted and gave birth to a child last month, authorities said.

Sgt. Tommy Thompson, a spokesman at the Phoenix Police Department, said detectives were looking into the case at the facility, which provides long-term care for people with intellectual disabilities. Thompson declined to elaborate on how long the investigation had been open or other specifics about it. The woman has not been publicly named.
WASHINGTON  White House officials and congressional aides emerged from talks to end a partial government shutdown over President Trumps demands for border wall funding without a breakthrough Saturday, though they planned to return to the table Sunday.

Trump tweeted: Not much headway made today. Democrats agreed there had been little movement, saying the White House did not budge on the demand for $5.6 billion.

The White House said wall funding was not discussed in depth, but the administration was clear it was necessary.

Accusations flew after the more than two-hour session led by Vice President Mike Pence. Acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, in an interview on CNN, accused Democrats of being there to stall. Democrats familiar with the meeting said the White House position was untenable.

A White House official also said the meeting included a briefing on border security by Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. Democrats sought written details from the Department of Homeland Security on their budget needs, which the White House said it would provide.

With talks stalled, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that House Democrats plan to start approving individual bills to reopen shuttered departments starting with Treasury to ensure Americans receive their tax refunds.

Trump, who did not attend the discussions, spent the morning tweeting about border security.

Showing little empathy for the hundreds of thousands of federal workers furloughed or working without pay, Trump declared  without citing evidence  that most are Democrats. He also asserted: I want to stop the Shutdown as soon as we are in agreement on Strong Border Security! I am in the White House ready to go, where are the Dems?

One Democrat, Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen, said in his partys weekly radio address that the shutdown is part of a larger pattern of a president who puts his personal whims and his effort to score political points before the needs of the American people.

In calling on Trump to reopen government while negotiations on border security continue, Democrats have emphasized families unable to pay bills without paychecks. But Trump has repeatedly said he will not budge without money for the wall.

Trump asserted Friday that he could declare a national emergency to build the wall without congressional approval, but would first try a negotiated process.

Catherine Lucey and Lisa Mascaro are Associated Press writers.
WASHINGTON  The chief federal judge in Washington, D.C., has extended the term of the grand jury used by special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation.

A court spokeswoman who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed the move to the Associated Press.
TORRANCE, Los Angeles County  Three men were fatally shot and four injured when a brawl at a popular bowling alley and karaoke bar erupted into gunfire that had terrified patrons running for their lives.

Police in Torrance responded shortly after midnight Friday to calls of shots fired at the Gable House Bowl. They found seven people with gunshot wounds.

Three men were pronounced dead at the scene, and two were hospitalized, Sgt. Ronald Harris said. Two other men were struck by gunfire but opted to seek their own medical attention.

Authorities did not release details about what led to the shooting, but witnesses said it stemmed from a fight between two large groups. Investigators remained at the scene Saturday.

Dwayne Edwards, 60, of Los Angeles, said he received a call from his nephew that his son Astin Edwards, 28, was one of those killed. His nephew told him his son was attempting to break up the fight.

Im thinking this is a dream and Ill wake up, Edwards told the Orange County Register. He was a good kid. I dont understand it.

A grieving mother told KABC-7 that her 28-year-old son, Robert Meekins, was among the victims killed. And the third victim was Michael Radford, 20, his sister Latrice Dumas told the Torrance Daily Breeze.

Wes Hamad, a 29-year-old Torrance resident, was at the bowling alley with his niece and cousin when he saw a huge fight break out. Hamad said the brawl blocked the entrance and spiraled into complete chaos.

I grabbed my niece and started running toward the far end of the bowling alley, he said. As we were running, we heard 15 shots.

Scott Fain and Sophia Rosenbaum are Associated Press writer.
More people took one-way U-Haul trips to Sacramento and Roseville than any other area last year, according to the moving company.

Arrivals to the region, measured by U-Haul rentals, rose by 7 percent in 2018, while departures rose just 1 percent. U-Haul named Sacramento/Roseville  which the company combined due to their proximity  the top "Growth City" of the year, using data compiled from more than 2 million one-way U-Haul transactions.

According to the vehicle rental company, "U-Haul growth data is an effective gauge of how well states and cities are attracting and maintaining residents," though it does not directly correlate to population or economic growth.

In the case of Sacramento, it might. Sacramento grew faster than the 10 largest cities in California in 2017, data from the California Department of Finance shows. About 7,000 people moved to the state capital that year, plumping the population over 500,000 for the first time ever.

Expansion brings growing pains. Over the past year, the average cost of a one-bedroom apartment in the city has swelled by 8.7 percent  the biggest increase in any major U.S. metropolitan area, according to a study by rental site HotPads.

It's not entirely clear where Sacramento's newest residents are moving from, but some experts suspect a noteworthy amount are coming from the Bay Area, where the median home price is about four times that of Sacramento's.

"This market is an attractive option for those who have been priced out of the Bay Area," said Aaron Anderson, president of the U-Haul Company of East Sacramento, in a statement.

Various studies confirm Anderson's hypothesis, though it depends on the out-mover's income. Low-income Bay Area out-migrants  those whose households earn less than $50,000  tended to stay in California when they left the Bay Area, a study by BuildZoom and the UC Berkeley Terner Center found. Low-income people tended to move to affordable markets in the greater Sacramento and Central Valley regions. Wealthier out-migrants generally left the region for other expensive coastal hubs, like New York and Los Angeles.

Then there's the U-Haul evidence. At the beginning of 2018, a viral SFGATE story reported on a study by economist Mark J. Perry, a professor at the University of Michigan, who found the apparent spike of people leaving the Bay Area was jacking up the price of U-Hauls in the area. Even leaving the area is pricy.

Read Michelle Robertson's latest stories and send her news tips at mrobertson@sfchronicle.com.

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Behind Apples disconcerting news of weak iPhone sales lies a more sobering truth: The tech industry has hit Peak Smartphone, a tipping point when everyone who can afford one already owns one and no breakthroughs are compelling them to upgrade as frequently as they once did.

Some manufacturers have boosted prices to keep up profit. But Apples problem highlights the limits of that strategy. The company said demand for iPhones is waning and revenue for the last quarter of 2018 will fall well below projections, a decrease traced mainly to China.

Apples news is a wake-up call for the industry, said analyst Dan Ives of research firm Wedbush Securities.

And its not just Apple. Demand has been lackluster across the board, Ives said. Samsung, long the leading seller of smartphones, has been hit even harder, as its phone shipments dropped 8 percent during the 12 months ending in September.

The smartphone industry is going through significant headwinds, Ives said. Smartphone makers used to be like teenagers, and the industry was on fire. Now it feels like theyre more like senior citizens in terms of maturity.

Tech innovations in phones grew in leaps and bounds earlier in the 2010s, with dramatic improvements in screen size, resolution, battery life, cameras and processor speed every year.

But the industry is a victim of its own success. Innovation began to slow down around 2014, once Apple boosted the screen size with the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus models. While phones kept improving, new features tended to be incremental, such as a new flash technique to already excellent phone cameras. Its the stuff consumers wont typically notice  or want to shell out for.

Since the iPhone 6 youve seen it has been tough to innovate to continue to raise the bar, Ives said.

Apple customers now upgrade every 33 months on average, longer than the 24 or 25 months three years ago, he said.

Apples diminished growth projections, fueled by plummeting sales in China, have reinforced fears the worlds second-largest economy is losing steam. Its $1,000 iPhone is a tough sell to Chinese consumers unnerved by an economic slump and the trade war with the U.S. They also have a slew of cheaper smartphones from homegrown competitors such as Huawei, Xiaomi and Oppo to choose from.

The fact that even Apples iPhone juggernaut is suffering cements a larger trend for all major smartphone makers. After a steady rise for a decade, worldwide smartphone shipments fell 3 percent to 1.42 billion in 2018, the first annual drop, according to International Data Corp., which tracks such movements. IDC estimates that shipments will rebound 3 percent in 2019 to 1.46 billion, but that still falls short of 2017 levels.

It doesnt help that top phones come with four-digit price tags  $1,100 for the iPhone XS Max and $1,000 for Samsunga Galaxy Note 9. The top-end Max model sells for $1,450 in the U.S.

IDC analyst Ramon Llamas said the cycle might bottom out and start growing again in 2021 or 2022, when peoples current phones start reaching the end of their useful life. People will still replace their phones. Its going to happen eventually, he said.

Foldable smartphones, with screens that unfold like a wallet to increase display size, are one thing that could spur excitement, but theyre expensive and not due out until at least the end of the year.

Another thing that might spur growth: 5G, the next-generation that telecom companies are currently in the process of building, expected to be faster and more reliable than the current 4G network. The first 5G compatible phones are due out this year.

Mae Anderson is an Associated Press writer.
A police officer on the late shift in an Ohio town recently received an unusual call from Facebook.

That day, a woman wrote a Facebook post saying she was walking home and intended to kill herself when she got there, according to a police report on the case. Facebook called to warn the Police Department about the suicide threat.

The officer quickly located the woman, but she denied having suicidal thoughts, the police report said. Even so, the officer believed she might harm herself and told the woman that she must go to a hospital  either voluntarily or in police custody. He ultimately drove her to a hospital for a mental health checkup, an evaluation prompted by Facebooks intervention. (Some details of the case have been withheld for privacy reasons.)

Police stations from Massachusetts to Mumbai have received similar alerts from Facebook over the past 18 months as part of what is most likely the worlds largest suicide threat screening and alert program. The social network increased the effort after several people live-streamed their suicides on Facebook Live in early 2017. It now utilizes both algorithms and user reports to flag possible suicide threats.

Facebooks rise as a global arbiter of mental distress puts the social network in a tricky position at a time when it is under investigation for privacy lapses by regulators in the United States, Canada and the European Union  as well as facing heightened scrutiny for failing to respond quickly to election interference and ethnic hatred campaigns on its site. Even as CEO Mark Zuckerberg has apologized for improper harvesting of user data, the Menlo Park company grappled recently with fresh revelations about special data-sharing deals with tech companies.

The anti-suicide campaign gives Facebook an opportunity to frame its work as a good-news story. Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among people ages 15 to 29 worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. Some mental health experts and police officials said Facebook had aided officers in locating and stopping people who were clearly about to harm themselves.

Facebook has algorithms that scan the posts, comments and videos of users in the United States and other countries for indications of immediate suicide risk. When a post is flagged, by the technology or a user, it moves to human reviewers at the company, who can call local law enforcement.

In the last year, weve helped first responders quickly reach around 3,500 people globally who needed help, Zuckerberg wrote in a November post.

But other mental health experts said Facebooks calls to police could also cause harm  such as unintentionally precipitating suicide, compelling nonsuicidal people to undergo psychiatric evaluations, or prompting arrests or shootings.

If you need help If you have thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or go to www.speakingofsuicide.com/resources. See More Collapse

And, they said, it is unclear whether the companys approach is accurate, effective or safe. Facebook said that, for privacy reasons, it did not track the outcomes of its calls to police. And it has not disclosed exactly how its reviewers decide whether to call emergency responders. Facebook, critics said, has assumed the authority of a public health agency while protecting its process as if it were a corporate secret.

Its hard to know what Facebook is actually picking up on, what they are actually acting on, and are they giving the appropriate response to the appropriate risk, said Dr. John Torous, director of the digital psychiatry division at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. Its black box medicine.

Facebook said it worked with suicide prevention experts to develop a comprehensive program to quickly connect users in distress with friends and send them contact information for help lines. It said experts also helped train dedicated Facebook teams, who have experience in law enforcement and crisis response, to review the most urgent cases. Those reviewers contact emergency services only in a minority of cases, when users appear at imminent risk of serious self-harm, the company said.

While our efforts are not perfect, we have decided to err on the side of providing people who need help with resources as soon as possible, Emily Cain, a Facebook spokeswoman, said in a statement.

In a September post, Facebook described how it had developed a pattern recognition system to automatically score certain user posts and comments for likelihood of suicidal thoughts. The system automatically escalates high-scoring posts, as well as posts submitted by concerned users, to specially trained reviewers.

Facebook has always been way ahead of the pack, said John Draper, director of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, not only in suicide prevention, but in taking an extra step toward innovation and engaging us with really intelligent and forward-thinking approaches. (Vibrant Emotional Health, the nonprofit group administering the Lifeline, has advised and received funding from Facebook.)

Facebook said its suicide risk scoring system worked worldwide in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Arabic  except for in the European Union, where data protection laws restrict the collection of personal details like health information. To opt out, people can stop posting on Facebook or delete their Facebook accounts.

A review of four police reports, obtained by the Times under Freedom of Information Act requests, suggests that Facebooks approach has had mixed results. Except for the Ohio case, police departments redacted the names of the people flagged by Facebook.

In one case in May, a Facebook representative helped police officers in Rock Hill, S.C., locate a man who was streaming a suicide attempt on Facebook Live. On a recording of the call to the police station, the Facebook representative described the background in the video  trees, a street sign  to a police operator and provided the latitude and longitude of the mans phone.

The Police Department credited Facebook with helping officers track down the man, who tried to flee and was taken to a hospital.

Two people called the police that night, but they couldnt tell us where he was, said Courtney Davis, a Rock Hill police telecommunications operator, who fielded the call from Facebook. Facebook could.

The Police Department in Mashpee, Mass., had a different experience. Just before 5:16 a.m. Aug. 23, 2017, a Mashpee police dispatcher received a call from a neighboring Police Department about a man who was streaming his suicide on Facebook Live. Officers arrived at the mans home a few minutes later, but by the time they got to him, he no longer had a pulse, according to police records.

At 6:09 a.m., the report said, a Facebook representative called to alert police to the suicide threat.

Scott W. Carline, chief of the Mashpee Police Department, declined to comment. But he said of Facebook, Id like to see them improve upon the suicide prevention tools they have in place to identify warning signs that could potentially become fatal.

Facebooks Cain said that, in some cases, help unfortunately did not arrive in time. We really feel for those people and their loved ones when that occurs, she said.

The fourth case, in May 2017, involved a teenager in Macon, Ga., who was streaming a suicide attempt. Facebook called police after officers had already found the teenager at her home, a spokeswoman for the Bibb County sheriffs office said. The teen survived the attempt.

Some health researchers are also trying to predict suicide risk, but they are using more transparent methodology and collecting evidence on the results.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has developed a suicide risk prediction program that uses AI to scan veterans medical records for certain medicines and illnesses. If the system identifies a veteran as high risk, the VA offers mental health appointments and other services. Preliminary findings from a VA study reported fewer deaths overall among veterans in the program compared with nonparticipating veterans.

In a forthcoming article in a Yale law journal, Mason Marks, a health law scholar, argues that Facebooks suicide risk scoring software, along with its calls to police that may lead to mandatory psychiatric evaluations, constitutes the practice of medicine. He says government agencies should regulate the program, requiring Facebook to produce safety and effectiveness evidence.

In this climate in which trust in Facebook is really eroding, it concerns me that Facebook is just saying, Trust us here, said Marks, a fellow at Yale Law School and New York University School of Law.

Facebooks Cain disagreed that the program amounted to health screening. These are complex issues, she said, which is why we have been working closely with experts.

Natasha Singer is a New York Times writer.
A common belief among tech industry insiders is that Silicon Valley has dominated the internet because much of the worldwide network was designed and built by Americans.

Now a growing number of those insiders are worried that proposed export restrictions could short-circuit the preeminence of U.S. companies in the next big thing to hit their industry: artificial intelligence.

In November, the Commerce Department released a list of technologies, including artificial intelligence, that are under consideration for new export rules because of their importance to national security.

Technology experts worry that blocking the export of AI to other countries, or tying it up in red tape, will help AI industries flourish in those nations  China, in particular  and compete with U.S. companies.

The number of cases where exports can be sufficiently controlled are very, very, very small, and the chance of making an error is quite large, said Jack Clark, head of policy at OpenAI, an artificial intelligence lab in San Francisco. If this goes wrong, it could do real damage to the AI community.

The export controls are being considered as the United States and China engage in a trade war. The Trump administration has been critical of the way China deals with U.S. companies, often requiring the transfer of technology to Chinese partners as the cost of doing business in the country. And federal officials are making an aggressive argument that China has stolen U.S. technology through hacking and industrial espionage.

Tech companies, academics and policymakers are calling on the Commerce Department to take a light hand with AI export rules before a deadline this week for public comment. Their argument has three main points: Restrictions could harm companies in the United States and help international competitors. They could stifle technology improvements. And they may not make much of a difference.

In August, Congress passed the Export Controls Act of 2018, which added export restrictions to emerging and foundational technologies. In mid-November, the Commerce Department, which oversees the restrictions, published a list of technologies for consideration, including several categories of AI like computer vision, speech recognition and natural language understanding.

The restrictions would affect the export of technology to certain countries. Though it does not specify which ones, the Commerce Department proposal points to countries that have faced trade and arms embargoes in the past. Those include China, Russia and Iran.

The Commerce Department declined to comment on the proposed restrictions. After taking public comments, the department will draft a formal plan. It could result in anything from new licensing rules for AI exports to outright bans.

Enforcing export controls on artificial intelligence would present an unusual challenge for regulators.

AI is something policymakers call a dual-use technology. It has innocuous commercial applications, like helping to steer your car or ask your phone a question. It also has important military uses, like helping a weaponized drone find its targets.

Defense planners believe AI represents the next notable change in military weapons, akin to the tactical targeting of smart bombs a generation ago or nuclear weapons before that. AI can also aid surveillance systems and even disinformation campaigns through software that can produce fake photos and videos.

But trying to draw a line between what is military and what is commercial is exceedingly difficult, said R. David Edelman, a technology policy researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It may be impossible.

It is difficult to put a made in America label on artificial intelligence. Research on the technology is often done collaboratively by scientists and engineers all over the world.

Companies rarely hold on to the details of their AI work, as if it were a secret recipe. Instead, they share what they learn, in hopes that other researchers can build on it. One companys breakthrough is often the latest iteration of what many researchers at private companies and universities have been working on.

A lot of the computer code for AI is published on sites like Arxiv.org, a repository of academic and corporate research. So, many policy experts believe that if the United States restricts the export of AI products and services, it will have little effect on the progress of AI in China and other countries.

The core of these technologies is international and freely available, said Edelman, who was a special assistant for economic and technology policy under President Barack Obama. No country  the U.S. or China  has a monopoly on that.

Federal regulations exempt publicly available information from export control. That means that the government is unlikely to bar companies and universities from publishing fundamental AI research. But it could establish controls that restrict foreign access to that information, said Greg Jaeger, a lawyer at firm Stroock & Stroock & Lavan who deals with export controls.

Overly restrictive rules that prevent foreign nationals from working on certain technologies in the United States could also push researchers and companies into other countries.

It might be easier for people to just do this stuff in Europe, said Jason Waite, a lawyer with the firm Alston & Bird who specializes in international trade.

Cade Metz is a New York Times writer.
HONG KONG  With the Chinese economy beginning the new year on a decidedly downbeat note, Beijings leaders are injecting more than $200 billion into its financial system to ease lending.

The Peoples Bank of China on Friday said it would cut the amount of cash that banks must hold as reserves by one percentage point. The move will essentially free up about $218 billion for an economy experiencing weaker factory output and consumer confidence while it weathers a trade war with the United States.

The cut is not unusual for Chinas central bank, but it comes amid uncertainty about how Beijing will manage slower growth. Chinas slowdown has contributed to shaky global financial markets and could pinch the worlds growth. On Wednesday, underscoring the broad impact, Apple unexpectedly cut its sales forecast for its latest quarter, citing disappointing iPhone sales in China, once one of its most vibrant markets.

Chinese officials last month pledged to step up support of the economy, and they are facing new urgency, said Mark Williams, chief Asia economist for Capital Economics, a research firm. Retail and auto sales are down, and Chinas latest manufacturing data showed that factory activity in China shrank in December. While monthly data released Friday showed improvement in Chinas services sector, the overall picture has become more concerning.

The consistently downbeat tone of the data released since then will only have underlined the strains the economy is facing, Williams said.

This month, China will report economic growth figures for the last three months of 2018. While Chinas headline growth figure is widely seen as unreliable, it dipped in the third quarter to 6.5 percent, marking the lowest level since the aftermath of the global financial crisis.

The move by the central bank Friday appeared to be part of a coordinated effort to cheer the economy along. Earlier Friday, Li Keqiang, the countrys premier, said China would move to shore up the economy through measures that included cutting bank reserve requirement ratios and lowering taxes.

The central bank said it would cut its reserve requirement ratio  a measure of how much cash from deposits that lenders need to keep  by half a percentage point Jan. 15 and another half a point by Jan. 25.

The move will give banks more leeway to lend money, though analysts noted the net amount of money flowing into the system would be roughly half the $218 billion headline figure, as the central bank shuts off other sources of funds. It also comes roughly a month before Chinas Lunar New Year holiday, when Chinese households sometimes strain the monetary system by spending more and by giving cash as gifts.

China has traditionally used its state-controlled banking system to flood the economy with money when growth slows. Last year, China cut the reserve ratio four times.

Alexandra Stevenson is a New York Times writer.
Posted Friday, January 4, 2019 6:53 pm

A couple of weeks ago, while at the Lewis County Gospel Mission dropping off some things, I was informed by staff that the mission was in dire need of feminine products.

I posted on Facebook about the needs at the Chehalis-based mission. Within 10 minutes, I got a phone call from a local gentleman who had a crisp $100 bill to go toward the cause.

It was a moving thing, for a male community member to be willing to quickly meet that need. While it is obviously not a glamorous topic, its a basic need that some women struggle desperately with, but hesitate to discuss.

The $100 at Grocery Outlet in Chehalis was enough to purchase more than 750 Maxi Pads. While that sounds like a lot, when you consider that most women will need 10 or more feminine products per cycle, its easy to see that 750 will not last the Lewis County Gospel Mission very long.

Its just one more need you think about next time youre at the grocery store or making that Costco run. Adding one extra item for your favorite local non-profit can go a long ways.

Speaking of feminine products, theres been a lot of news coming out of California and other places in regards to how womens hygiene, specifically, is handled within jail and prison settings.

In some states, women have to pay money for feminine products and sometimes those products are only available during a limited window of time. Additionally, some women are not afforded reasonable accommodation in their choice of products. In some jails and prisons, the institution-issued undergarments are paper and inadequate to hold necessary feminine products in place.

Just out of curiosity, I emailed the Lewis County Jail this week to inquire about their practices. Turns out theyre much more progressive. According to jail staff, they provide feminine products to female inmates for free, provide options, and allow them to keep personal undergarments that they arrive at the jail with.

Nice to see that Lewis County really is more progressive (and decent) than California in some ways.

Coming full circle, heres another shelter snippet.

Recently, some friends and I pooled some money through Facebook, PayPal and Venmo (all digital / mobile payment technologies) to deliver pizza to the Hub City Missions severe weather shelter at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds.

In fact, we ended up raising about $120 in an hour, so we were able to coordinate two pizza delivery nights. Our second delivery night served as the dinner for the New Years Eve severe weather shelter patrons.

If its in your heart to feed 20-30 people on any given night, I encourage you to give the Hub City Mission a call or message them through their Facebook page. Its a great way to make sure some of our most vulnerable community members go to bed with warm food in the bellies.

Last thing: Dont forget about sending mylar blankets to The Chronicle!

January is often the coldest month of the year here in Lewis County, so if you havent sent in mylar emergency thermal blankets yet, this is a great month to do it.

You can order single or bulk packs of mylar blankets  the foil looking space blankets  on Amazon.com and have them shipped directly to: The Chronicle, ATTN: Blankets, 321 N. Pearl Street, Centralia, Washington. The Chronicles customer service staff coordinate with me to make sure the blankets go out directly to local organizations who serve our most vulnerable homeless individuals. Mylar blankets trap heat and help keep people dry.

Additionally, you can also purchase individual mylar blankets at Sunbird Shopping Center in Chehalis and drop them off at The Chronicle, or deliver them to your favorite local organization.



Brittany Voie is a columnist for The Chronicle. She lives south of Chehalis with her husband and two young sons. She welcomes correspondence from the community at voiedevelopment@comcast.net.
This story originally appeared on KCRA.com.

Gov.-Elect Gavin Newsom and his family will be moving into the Governor's Mansion in downtown Sacramento on Monday, a spokesperson for Newsom said.

Newsom, his wife, four children, two dogs and their rabbit will be making the move, Nathan Click said.

The decision ends speculation about whether the new first family would take up residence in the recently remodeled governor's mansion a few blocks from the state Capitol. Newsom and wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, had equivocated about whether to move, citing concerns about uprooting their young children. The family currently lives in Marin County near San Francisco.

"Like any parents balancing the modern demands of work and family, the Governor-elect and incoming First Partner have spent a significant amount of time over the last few weeks considering where to reside as a family, balancing the unique full-time responsibilities of their jobs with the best interests of their four young children.

"To best serve the people of California while also maximizing family time together, the Newsoms have therefore decided to move to Sacramento," Click said in a statement.

Gov. Jerry Brown moved out of his office and the mansion on Friday.

The decision ends speculation about whether the new first family would take up residence in the recently remodeled governor's mansion a few blocks from the state Capitol. Newsom and wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, had equivocated about whether to move, citing concerns about uprooting their young children. The family currently lives in Marin County near San Francisco.

The historic Governor's Mansion is located near 15th and H streets.

The white building constructed in 1877 features a swimming pool and was used as the backdrop to Brown's re-election victory in 2014. Brown moved into the mansion in October 2015.

Before Brown's move, the mansion was used as a state park.

The mansion housed 13 California governors until Ronald and Nancy Reagan moved out.

"(The Newsoms) look forward to getting to know their new neighbors and becoming an active part of the larger Sacramento community. They also thank Governor Brown and Anne Gust Brown for their immeasurable support and generosity during this transition," Click said.

Newsom's four children will be the first gubernatorial kids to live in the mansion since Brown's sister, Kathleen, lived there as a teenager during the administration of their father, Pat Brown, in the 1960s.

This story originally appeared on KCRA.com.
The president of the Berkeley school board and her wife were hospitalized in critical condition after they were hit by a car while crossing a street early Saturday, officials said.

School Board President Judy Appel and attorney Alison Bernstein were walking across Martin Luther King Jr. Way near Stuart Street in South Berkeley when a man driving north crashed into them, police and school officials said. The collision happened just after midnight Friday.

The driver, 81, remained at the scene and was cooperating with investigators, according to Berkeley police Lt. Dave Lindenau.

There is a crosswalk at the intersection but no stop sign or traffic lights, Lindenau said. It wasnt immediately clear where Appel and Bernstein were when they were struck.

The crash happened a block away from their South Berkeley home, according to Berkeleyside, which first reported the incident.

Superintendent Donald Evans said in a statement that school officials are deeply distressed by the news.

We will be offering whatever support and assistance we can to the Appel-Bernstein family and invite the community to join with us in hopes and prayers for their recovery, Evans said.

Appel, a longtime school board member, finished fourth in the June primary for the Assembly District 15 seat. She was a co-founding board member of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights and served as executive director of Our Family Coalition, which supports LGBT families.

Bernstein, a lawyer in the state public defenders office, has been a lecturer at the Berkeley Law School and a member of the Berkeley Police Review Commission.

Kimberly Veklerov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kveklerov
President Trumps businesses have a demonstrated penchant for going out of business, and he appears determined to run the federal government the same way.

Although both houses of Congress have now passed, with bipartisan support, legislation to reopen federal agencies, Trumps shutdown of about a quarter of the government in the name of funding for his fatuous border wall is entering its third week Saturday. If it lingers through the weekend, it will become the longest such standstill in more than 20 years. Worse, Trump said he was prepared to hold much of the government hostage for months or years, and a key Republican senator offered a similarly disheartening forecast.

About 800,000 federal employees around the country are going unpaid as a result of the shutdown, though the president has hardly mentioned them other than to disparage them as likely Democrats  and therefore, apparently, undeserving of timely compensation for their labor. Nearly half those employees have been furloughed, which means taxpayers are ultimately likely to pay them for not working. Thousands of federal contract workers, meanwhile, are in worse straits, losing wages that they probably will not recover.

National parks have gone unstaffed as a result while trash and worse accumulate, museums and monuments have closed, and Native American services have been hobbled. Tax refunds, court operations and fisheries could face consequences soon. The likely cost of the shutdown in back pay, lost services and economic disruption is already presumed to be in the billions.

The country will take those losses even though the Republican-controlled Senate easily passed a bill to fund federal agencies a few weeks ago. The outgoing House Republican majority and the president were expected to follow suit until Trump reversed course amid a right-wing media outcry.

Upon being sworn in Thursday, the new Democratic House majority under Speaker Nancy Pelosi passed legislation similar to the Senate bill. But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, apparently unmoved by Pelosis constitutionally accurate vision of Congress as a coequal branch, said he would not allow a vote on legislation that Trump had threatened to veto.

The president went astonishingly further Friday, suggesting he could bypass Congress altogether by using his emergency powers to build a border wall. Never mind that with illegal border crossings at an ebb  despite Trumps unfounded claims of a terrorist invasion via Tijuana  there is no emergency.

Even Republicans in Congress are beginning to tire of serving as Trumps apprentices. Seven Republican representatives voted with Democrats this week to reopen the Homeland Security Department, and two Republican senators expressed support for funding the government immediately. Such defections are likely to mount as the shutdowns impact grows.

Despite the lack of public and political support for Trumps means and ends, however, his idea of negotiating so far appears to be offering to build a steel barrier in lieu of the concrete wall he endlessly promised his rally audiences. He has yet to make the slightest concession on his demand for a $5 billion down payment on the wall, much less on other immigration issues that could give Democrats a legitimate reason to spend more on his vain monument to xenophobia. The presidents recalcitrance suggests he has yet to grasp the weakness of his position.

This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters.
Posted Friday, January 4, 2019 6:55 pm

For Christs love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

When The Chronicle named my pastor, Kyle Rasmussen, as its Person of the Year, the article cited his stewardship of our churchs many community service and outreach projects.

While those are certainly noteworthy, what I think of as a longtime attendee at Bethel Church is Rasmussen as servant-leader. Hes willing to stand in front to rally us, but hes most eager to give glory to God and thanks to the many volunteers and other leaders who show up and work hard to make these projects succeed.

As often as I see him preaching, I also see him playing piano in the background or the side of the stage, watching to see how he can support and add harmony to the songs of others.

I talked with him about the Person of the Year recognition, and he repeated that he was uneasy to receive the attention. He was anxious to push credit upward to God and outward to the volunteers and church members whose selflessness, he said, leave him humbled and grateful every day.

He pointed to the story of the apostle Paul, who bragged about the generosity of the Macedonian church. They gave, not out of abundance, but out of their lack and need. Thats how Rasmussen sees the people of Bethel who are serving the community.

How could I take any credit when I want to boast about the people who have so little and give so much for the Kingdom, for the gospel, for the sake of Jesus? he told me.

Rasmussen, 56, has been singing and preaching for God literally since he was a baby.

His family spent years as traveling Christian evangelists when he was a child, presenting Bible-themed puppet shows and musical acts at churches, camps and other venues.

The family had their own theme song they would sing to introduce themselves: Were traveling all across the country and we bring good news to you / We are the Rasmussen family and we work for Jesus, too.

Rasmussen remembers his first time singing a solo on stage  he was 2 years old, and the solo was called Little Joes Prayer.

His parents steeped the family in music and service, even as they lived with very few material resources, owning nothing but what they carried in the 33-foot trailer in which they traveled across western Canada and the northwestern United States.

That childhood, and the joyful sacrifice of his parents, continues to shape Rasmussen today.

It was such a powerful upbringing, he said. We didnt have much. We were really poor, yet they gave us a life of what it looked like to be engaged in giving the gospel away. My parents sacrificed every day of their life for the sake of the gospel.

Rasmussen has been lead pastor at Bethel for 14 years, but being the top pastor was never in his plans. He was a music and worship leader at a church in Texas when former Bethel lead pastor Don Detrick called him. Detrick, who was planning to leave the church for a job at the regional level of the Assemblies of God denomination, had a dream that Rasmussen would take over the top job.

Although Rasmussens wife, Joanne, was from Chehalis, Rasmussen himself had no ties to the area  although he does have one unusual connection.

In 1964, when he was just a young child, he and his family spent a week in Napavine at what they called a Family Crusade. It happened to be during that years mammoth earthquake, based in Anchorage, which shook the Pacific Northwest.

During that time, Rasmussens mother, Marilyn, gave birth at the hospital then in Chehalis to Rasmussens younger brother Phillip. She was back playing piano at the church the next day.

The dedication of his parents continues to shape the spirit he brings to Bethel Church and our community.

It was a great model for me as a kid to observe what Jesus meant when he says life is better when you give it away, Rasmussen said. I love what Jesus says: When you give your life away, you gain your life. The way to go up is to go down, to serve. That was modeled to me so well. Im so grateful for it.



Brian Mittge is a (fairly) regular attendee of Bethel Church in Chehalis, and writes this column from that perspective. Drop him a line at brianmittge@hotmail.com.
The death of a hiker in Yosemite after an apparent fall on Christmas Day serves as a stark reminder of the danger that exists in a national park wilderness area with or without a government shutdown.

The man, whose name was not released, was pronounced dead after he was found with a head wound in the Silver Apron area, a sloping slab of granite above Emerald Pool next to Vernal Fall, officials said Friday.

The accident was reported to a park dispatcher in the afternoon of Dec. 25, and a rescue crew arrived within an hour, said Andrew Munoz, the National Park Services acting chief of public and congressional affairs. The victim was removed from the water and medical workers attempted to revive him, but he died from his injuries, Munoz said.

Investigators are trying to figure out what happened, but Munoz said the probe is taking longer than usual because of the federal shutdown, which began Dec. 22 after President Trump and congressional Democrats failed to reach an agreement on funding for a border wall between the United States and Mexico.

Yosemite officials announced Friday that the John Muir and Mist trails leading to Vernal and Nevada falls, where the accident occurred, would be closed starting Saturday for safety and human waste reasons.

No additional information was available on Friday, but the victim joins a long list of people who lost their lives in the park. At least 11 people died in the park in 2018, seven of whom fell to their deaths.

The fatal falls included Tomer Frankfurter, an 18-year-old tourist from Jerusalem, who plummeted 820 feet off Nevada Fall while trying to take a selfie Sept. 5.

In October, the bodies of Vishnu Viswanath, 29, and Meenakshi Moorthy, 30, were recovered 800 feet or so below Taft Point, a famous cliff in the park, after they also fell while trying to take a snapshot. Their camera was found on a tripod near the edge of the cliff.

Victims also included a 29-year-old man who tumbled from the climbing cables on Half Dome in May and two veteran rock climbers who fell from El Capitan in June after apparently failing to attach their rope to an anchor bolt.

People have been tumbling off waterfalls and ledges, hurtling off cliffs and getting killed in Yosemite since records began in 1851. Since then, close to 800 people have died in accidents in the park, according to records kept by the Yosemite search-and-rescue team.

It isnt clear what happened in the latest accident, but park officials said a disturbingly large number of the fatalities have occurred because somebody got too close to the edge while trying to take a photograph.

Peter Fimrite is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: pfimrite@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @pfimrite
The Market is in the midst of an ambitious expansion that will increase the Market Street grocery store and food halls space by 50 percent while doubling  maybe even tripling  the number of food vendors. Though partner Chris Foley is staying mum on specifics, he teases that eight to 15 new tenants will feature ramen, Korean food and burgers, and there might even be a vegan deli. When they open, the newcomers will join the lineup of poke, pizza, a juice bar, Blue Bottle Coffee and organic fried chicken sandwiches at the San Francisco site.

Welcome to the modern Bay Area food hall, a business model that, thanks to a confluence of financial factors and consumer behavior, is gaining momentum everywhere from the Tenderloin to Castro Valley.

Its kind of an evolution of the food truck, said Craig Semmelmeyer of San Francisco real estate company Main Street Property Services, who is currently transforming a long vacant East Bay department store into the Castro Valley Marketplace.

The food hall concept is anything but new  look at long-standing Bay Area places like San Franciscos Ferry Building, Napas Oxbow Public Market and Rockridges Market Hall. But a new generation is coming. In addition to the Markets expansion and the Castro Valley Marketplace, theres a 7,000-square-foot project from La Cocina in San Franciscos Tenderloin neighborhood under construction. One65, a Union Square multistory French food haven from chef Claude Le Tohic will feature restaurants, bakeries and more. This culturally specific food hall follows in the footsteps of 2017s China Live, the $20 million dollar Chinatown food emporium that combines a retail shop, restaurants and a cocktail bar.

According to a 2018 report from real estate developer Cushman & Wakefield, food halls are cropping up around the country at lightning speed. At the current rate, by 2020, the number of such enterprises will have tripled in five years.

Despite those rosy-looking stats, it wasnt an easy first few years for the Market. When it opened in 2015, it was likened to a Bi-Rite Market on steroids and struggled to attract customers.

However, while its neighborhood tenants in the Market Square complex  commonly known as the Twitter building  like Bon Marche Brasserie and Dirty Water closed after a few years of business, the Market is not only alive and kicking, it seems to be thriving.

It took us a long time to figure out how to make it work, Foley said.

Over the years, the Market has scaled back its grocery store aspect in favor of offering a greater variety of prepared foods, incorporating more of what they call lifestyle items, and even introducing a drink while you shop program.

Now, having taken over the former Bon Marche and Dirty Water spaces, the Market team is ready to expand its existing 22,000-square-foot space into a 35,000-square-foot food hall named Market Square Food Hall.

The business model relies on attracting a broader range of retailers, and then serving as a launchpad for them.

The other, less visible key to the Markets successful evolution: streamlining back-of-house infrastructure and operations. That means that the Market handles everything from trash, dishes, general common area maintenance and even construction. This has allowed existing vendors  whether its Malaysian food stall Azalinas, chicken sandwich shop Organic Coup or Filipino fast food joint Manila Bowl  to focus simply on making great food and building their brands.

We have 17 years on our lease. What weve realized ... is that by bringing in more partners and us just giving them the infrastructure, we can have a much more interesting platform, said Foley.

Its an approach that the Market team believes will continue prove attractive to smaller, less established vendors trying to succeed in a city that is notoriously challenging for independent food businesses. Their goal is to ensure their vendors are successful, because if the businesses they bring in prove profitable, they take a percentage of the profits.

They make money, we make money, said Foleys business partner Michael Cohen.

Bay Area market halls and food halls Alameda Marketplace: 1650 Park St., Alameda. 510-865-1500 or www.alamedamarketplace.com China Live: 644 Broadway, San Francisco. 415-788-8188 or https://chinalivesf.com Ferry Building Marketplace: One Ferry Building, San Francisco. 415-983-8000 or www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com Epicurious Garden: 1511 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. http://epicuriousgarden.com Rockridge Market Hall: 5655 College Ave., Oakland. 510-250-6000 or https://rockridgemarkethall.com The Market/Market Square: 1355 Market St., San Francisco. 415-767-5130. www.visitthemarket.com Oxbow Public Market: 610 First St., Napa. http://oxbowpublicmarket.com The Public Market: 5959 Shellmound St., Emeryville. 510-652-5852 or https://publicmarketemeryville.com Swan's Market: 538 9th St., Oakland. 510-287-5353 or http://swansmarket.com In the works Castro Valley Marketplace: 3295 Castro Valley Blvd., Castro Valley. https://castrovalleymarketplace.com La Cocina's marketplace: 101 Hyde St., San Francisco. www.lacocinasf.org One65: 165 O'Farrell St., San Francisco. https://one65sf.com Further afield The Bank: 629 J St., Sacramento. 916-557-9910 or www.thebank629j.com Milagro Centre: 6241 Fair Oaks Blvd., Carmichael. https://milagrocentre.com Sofa Market: 387 South First St., San Jose. 408-642-5270 or www.sofamarketsj.com See More Collapse

As for whats driving this market hall boom: Many cite changing consumer demand.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

People are not willing to come down to Mid-Market for a $25 hamburger and a sit-down lunch for an hour, Cohen said.

Donna Layburn opened Alameda Marketplace 17 years ago, modeling it after Market Hall in Rockridge. She said she believes that food halls can serve as gathering spaces for the communities they serve.

People do want home delivery, but they also want a place to go where its fun to shop and fun to experience community. I dont think thats ever going to go away, Layburn said.

Layburn, who also owns Alameda Natural Grocery, is opening a grocery store in the Castro Valley Marketplace. The massive marketplace  three stories and approximately 39,000 square feet  will include a cooking school, commercial kitchen and Castro Valleys first dedicated co-working space. It will also feature assorted food stalls from vendors like Barons Meats, Seven Hills Bakery, a wine shop and a full-service restaurant and cocktail lounge from the team behind Oaklands Gogi Time.

Architect Sudish Mohindroo of San Franciscos SZFM Design Studio, who is working on the Castro Valley Marketplace, said he believes its about opening up the enclosed, bunker-like department store to create a vibrant hub with the ultimate goal of creating vitality in a downtown area.

In the case of the Market, that idea has meant not only taking over the leases for defunct restaurants, but also looking for ways to make those spaces into a hub for community activity, like movie nights and a fall harvest fair.

These young people, thats what they want, Foley said. They want to come in, they want a great experience, they want a bunch of different food and they want to leave. Have a nice day. They dont want to go to big restaurants. Big restaurants are dead.

Sarah Fritsche is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sfritsche@sfchronicle.com Twitter/Instagram: @foodcentric
January is here, which means its time to prognosticate about the new year  and specifically, how we in the Bay Area will be eating over the next 12 months and beyond. We dont need to look into a crystal ball to see the future. All it takes is a long look at local market shelves  and maybe a little bit of analysis from the pros  to realize what we will be seeing in the coming year.

1. Convenience, convenience, convenience.

When it comes to how we shop, dine and cook, to paraphrase Freddie Mercury, we want it all and we want it now. This on-demand attitude is influencing nearly every aspect of the food industry and will have the largest effect on how the Bay Area eats in 2019.

First, theres the food delivery market. which is projected to grow over 630 percent by 2020. In September, Chicago-based Grubhub agreed to acquire San Francisco's college food ordering service Tapingo for $150 million. Nipping at GrubHubs heels are UberEats, Caviar and Postmates, all based in San Francisco and trying to make online delivery more commonplace.

In terms of retail, San Francisco now boasts two AmazonGo locations  cashierless stores that sell everything from gum to prepared lunch. More are undoubtedly coming to the Bay Area, as the company plans to open 3,000 more around the country by 2021. As consumers demand more quick and convenient fare, look for more prepared-meal options in grocery stores. Food halls are cropping up around the country at lightning speed, according to a report released by real estate developers Cushman & Wakefield. By 2020, the marketplace is expected to triple in size from just five years ago.

On the home cooking front, the popularity of Instant Pot wont slow anytime soon. The ultimate in quick, no-fuss home cooking gadgetry, its fans are legion. The Instant Pot has given the multicooker appliance category a massive jolt and for the past two years has been one of the fastest-growing product categories in the retail sector. Beyond the Instant Pot, more convenience-focused smart appliances have hit the market, like a countertop pizza oven from Breville that produces Neapolitan-style pizzas in two minutes and the Brava Home smart oven that uses infrared energy to cook food faster.

Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

2. Faux meat is here to stay.

About 18 months ago, The Chronicle explored the future of meat and how the Bay Area has become a global hub for meat alternatives. The movement has only intensified. While plant-based meats are proliferating through American restaurants and supermarkets, cell-based or cultured meats are quickly approaching legalization and public consumption as well.

Redwood Citys plant-based Impossible Burger, a.k.a. the veggie burger that bleeds, has hit the mainstream and can now be found in thousands of restaurants around the United States, including chains like Applebees and the Cheesecake Factory. Earlier this fall, Impossibles major competitor, Southern California-based Beyond Meat, announced its intent to go public and file for an IPO.

On a more basic level, a growing number of chefs are experimenting with plant-based alternatives to meat, from tomato lox and watermelon ham to smoked pulled jackfruit and coconut bacon.

Given the shift from consumers toward reducing meat consumption  whether for personal health, concerns over animal welfare or environmental reasons  we expect the popularity of meat alternatives to snowball in 2019.

3. Who gives a cluck about chicken? We all do, apparently.

The number of chicken restaurants in San Francisco seems to have exploded in recent years. In a way, it makes sense; we are the home of the famous Zuni Cafe chicken after all.

When it comes to chicken dinner, rotisserie chicken joints have boomed the past couple of years. 2018 saw Piri Pica and Isla Vida join the 2017 class that included Tacolicious delivery-only spinoff, MF Chicken, and Rich Table sister restaurant RT Rotisserie. For consumers, rotisserie chicken is an easy, affordable way to get a decent meal on the table. And for restaurant operators, these kinds of chicken-centric restaurants are appealing because of their streamlined menus and operating systems.

Then, of course, theres the Southeast Asian chicken and rice dish, khao mun gai. In addition to established Thai restaurants like Kin Khao and Hawker Fare serving their own versions of Hainanese chicken rice, there are now fast-casual joints dedicated to the dish. Syhabout opened Hawking Bird in Oakland, and theres also What the Cluck on Haight Street and multiple locations of Rooster & Rice.

With this kind of abundance, its easy to believe National Chicken Council stats that chicken is the No. 1 one protein consumed in the U.S., and that Americans consume more chicken than anywhere else in the world (more than 92 pounds per capita in 2017).

To keep up with demand, Costco  home of the $4.99 rotisserie chickens that grace many a family table across the country  broke ground on a massive poultry plant outside of Omaha, Neb., in June. The plant will process more that 2 million chickens a week, supplying as much as 43 percent of its rotisserie birds and a third of the raw chickens on the retailers shelves. Its a move that, according to sustainable agriculture website Civil Eats, will allow the national retailer to gain independence from poultry manufacturing titans like Tyson and Pilgrims Pride by raising and processing its own birds  and could serve as a watershed moment for the relationship between retailers and the larger food chain.

Liz Moughon / The Chronicle

4. Green light for matcha.

We saw matcha everywhere in 2018. Matcha-centric cafes like Stonemill Matcha on Valencia Street and Japantowns Matcha Cafe Maiko upped the Bay Areas matcha game. Meanwhile, San Francisco sweets shops U:Dessert Story and Sues Kitchen made matcha desserts fun. This winter, Chinese chain Amausaan Uji Matcha, which has shops around the globe, will open its first U.S. outpost in Berkeley.

According to a study released in December by marketing firm Future Market Insights, consumer demand for matcha is anticipated to experience a meteoric rise. Between 2018 and 2028, the global market for matcha is expected to register growth of 10 percent in terms of value. Organic certified matcha is projected to experience 12.3 percent growth in revenue.

Dont be surprised if even more matcha specialty shops appear on the horizon. Its a tasty alternative to coffee, and in the age of Instagram, it makes a stunningly photogenic latte.

Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle

5. Drink up the booze-free booze.

According to Pinterests 2019 trends report, searches for sober living are up 746 percent. Meanwhile, searches for infused waters have seen a 353 percent increase. As young people  Millennials and Generation Z  are reported to be drinking less, theres a growing movement toward bars that serve cocktails sans alcohol. Though the Bay Area has yet to see any completely booze-free bars of note, a number of cocktail destinations, like the Interval at Long Now and ABV, have quietly been offering a range of teetotaling and zero-proof menu options.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

The movement is gaining traction. In the media push for Sebastopols Fern Bar, which opened in December, free-spirited cocktails were given equal billing with higher octane drinks. Fern Bars zero-proof cocktails are made with Seedlip, a nonalcoholic spirit from the United Kingdom, which is made by distilling herbs, spices and other aromatics inspired by remedies found in a 17th century book called The Art of Distillation. Youll now find the spirit-free spirit used at bars around town, like Mourad, Bon Voyage and True Laurel.

There are a growing number of retail options, too. Dutch beer brand Heineken is set to release a nonalcoholic version of its namesake beer this year, and Anheuser-Busch InBev hopes to have low-alcohol and nonalcohol business represent 20 percent of global sales by 2025, per data tracker CB Insights.

Mason Trinca / Special to The Chronicle

6. Yes we can-nabis.

Teas, candies, cocktails, you name it, we predict CBD, hemp and cannabis-infused products will rule the food and drink categories (in states where its legal) in 2019 and gain strength in subsequent years.

Bridging the gap with the previous category, Petaluma brewery Lagunitas, which is owned by Heineken, announced it was launching a nonalcoholic IPA-inspired hopped sparkling water infused with THC called HiFi Hops. It will join a CBD-infused version in the Lagunitas lineup.

Earlier this year, Constellation Brands spent more than $4 billion to increase its holdings in Canadian cannabis company Canopy. Also hopping on the Canadian nonalcoholic/cannabis-infused beverage train, Molson Coors.

In the coming months, Napa Valleys women-run company House of Saka will release what is dubbed the worlds first luxury line of cannabis-infused, alcohol-free sparkling brut and still rose wines.

One can now find CBD-spiked lotions, teas and candies with greater ease, whether at upscale markets or at cannabis shops.

In California, CBD derived from regulated and taxed cannabis is legal. However, Congress voted to legalize industrial hemp as part of its farm bill in December. Though the bill only deals with hemp and wont legalize pot for recreational or medical uses, some expect that this will give the already booming CBD industry even more of a boost.

Sarah Fritsche is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sfritsche@sfchronicle.com. Twitter/Instagram: @foodcentric
Posted Friday, January 4, 2019 6:56 pm

I am responding to the recent letter by John Cramer about climate change, which says only the sun is responsible (the TSI theory).

After reading this letter, I Googled, is TSI the cause of global warming. I certainly found articles that support this theory, but I also found many articles refuting it. I would suggest people read the article entitled, Probing the Role of the Sun In an Era of Global Warming, by Michael Lemonick.

It was printed in 2011 on the site called e360.yale.edu (Yale University). I am not going to summarize the article because it is quite long and technical, but it addresses many of the statements made in Cramers letter.

The article explains how the TSI theory alone does not explain climate change. One point I found particularly interesting is that if the sun was the only cause of global warming, then the upper atmosphere would be heating up, as well as the Earths atmosphere.

The upper atmosphere, however, has actually been cooling. The Earths atmosphere is heating up because something is trapping the heat and not allowing it to escape  such as greenhouse gases.

NASAs website, as well as many others, acknowledge that the vast majority of scientists on the Earth agree that climate change is real and is caused by greenhouse gases largely attributed to human activity. It also lists numerous agencies and groups that agree with this assessment.

Cramer acknowledges the instability of our climate and says it makes it more likely we will have a flood much worse than our flood in 2007, but he attributes this all to the sun. Why completely disregard the theories of the vast majority of scientists, with extensive data supporting them? Perhaps there is room for the TSI theory and the carbon dioxide theory together?

Disregarding the theory of the vast majority of scientists is a bit like playing Russian roulette. If nine of 10 people in the room told you not to pull the trigger because there was a bullet in the chamber, but one person disagreed, whose advice would you follow and why?

With scientists telling us that human activity is contributing to climate change, why wouldnt we want to do something to attempt to slow the process?

Here is another way to think about the issue. Your cars tires are always in the process of wearing down as you drive. If you perform jack-rabbit starts (squealing your tires) and slam on your brakes to stop suddenly, you will be wearing your tires down at a faster rate.

If you want your tires to last longer, there is something you can do  you can drive more moderately. Why wouldnt you want to give that a try? Dont the odds encourage us to try to do something to slow the process of climate change?

Susan Miller

Onalaska
One of the most rollicking characters in San Francisco during the Gold Rush years was David G. Doc Robinson, a man whose wild career could only have taken place in the instant city.

Robinson made his initial stake in an only-in-San-Francisco venture, was the most versatile and beloved figure of its early theater scene, was elected a city councilman and became the citys first satirical commentator.

Robinson was born in Maine and graduated from Yale, picking up some experience in theater on the East Coast before making his way to San Francisco in 1849. Looking for ways to make money, Robinson realized that eggs, like many foodstuffs, were extremely expensive in San Francisco. He hatched the cracked scheme of sailing to the desolate Farallon Islands, 28 miles outside the Golden Gate, and collecting eggs laid by the murres that nested there.

He and a partner gathered as many eggs as their boat could carry, hauled them back to San Francisco and sold them to restaurants. Despite losing half the eggs in rough seas, Robinson made enough money to open a pharmacy on Portsmouth Square, earning him the nickname Doc.

But Robinsons real love was theater, and he began doing impersonations of his fellow New Englanders on the side, thus acquiring his other nickname, Yankee. As Edmond M. Gagey writes in The San Francisco Stage: A History, Robinson and a partner opened one of the first theaters in the city on the Fourth of July in 1850, the 280-seat Dramatic Museum on California Street.

The theater, featuring topical satires that Robinson wrote and in which he performed, immediately became popular for its free-wheeling atmosphere. Audience members bantered with Robinson and joined in the musical numbers.

Robinsons first production was a play called Seeing the Elephant, whose title referred to gaining experience at a high cost. The musical farce had been staged in New York in 1848 without any allusion to the Gold Rush, but Robinson rewrote it to mock the Forty-Niners. As Misha Berson notes in The San Francisco Stage: From Gold Rush to California Spike, 1849-1869, it was San Franciscos first grassroots hit, and may have been the first eyewitness play about the Gold Rush. The Argonauts ate it up.

Robinson had a gift for quick-turnaround satires and sketches and began spoofing everything in San Francisco he could think of. According to the 1855 book Annals of San Francisco, Robinson gained considerable popularity by a series of doggerel, random rhymes which he gave on his own stage, in which almost every municipal man of mark was hit off, and sometimes pretty hardly too. Robinson was so popular he was elected alderman and was considered a leading mayoral candidate in 1852, although in the end he didnt run.

Robinsons topical satires filled an essential need in Gold Rush San Francisco: They held up a jesting mirror to a young, high-spirited city that liked to laugh at itself. Robinson tweaked everyone and everything from local notables to grand opera to disreputable politicians to Hamlet, although that one bombed: San Francisco audiences worshiped the Bard and would not tolerate any irreverence toward him.

Trivia time Previous trivia question: Where was the first steam bath in San Francisco and when was it built? Answer: In the early 1840s, Indians working for William Richardson built a temescal, or sweat lodge, at the water's edge near a stream at what is now Sacramento and Montgomery streets. This week's trivia question: What San Francisco restaurant featured 100 different kinds of hamburger? Editor's note Every corner in San Francisco has an astonishing story to tell. Gary Kamiya's Portals of the Past tells those lost stories, using a specific location to illuminate San Francisco's extraordinary history - from the days when giant mammoths wandered through what is now North Beach to the Gold Rush delirium, the dot-com madness and beyond. His column appears every other Saturday, alternating with Peter Hartlaub's OurSF. Dig deep into Chronicle Vault Like what you're reading? Subscribe to the Chronicle Vault newsletter and get classic archive stories in your inbox twice a week. Read hundreds of historical stories, see thousands of archive photos and sort through 153 years of classic Chronicle front pages at SFChronicle.com/vault. See More Collapse

When the infamous Lola Montez blasted into town with her salacious Spider Dance, Robinson penned a farce called Whos Got the Countess. It was a smash hit, although Robinson was chided by the press for being too hard on the bighearted diva.

Not all the targets of Robinsons pen took it well. A satirical history of San Francisco titled, The Past, the Present and Future of San Francisco so enraged a newspaperman named Wells that he attacked Robinson on the street with his rattan cane. Unfazed, Robinson offered to furnish a hundred dollars worth of champagne and pay the necessary carriage hire for a party out to the Mission if Mr. Wells will go out to the Mission and fight him, the Alta California reported. The fight never came off.

Robinsons personal life was nothing if not flamboyant. He lived in a house at 9 Calhoun St. (now Calhoun Terrace), on the eastern face of Telegraph Hill. The house, which still stands, is one of the oldest in the city. According to Doris Muscatine in Old San Francisco, Robinsons home was the center of a lively colony of actors. Among their other exploits, they liked to water their jointly owned horse on champagne out of a silver server.

More from the Archive The Vault Home of the San Francisco Chronicle's archive and more than 150 years of journalism covering the Bay Area and beyond.

The actor June Booth, son of the famous tragedian Junius and brother of another great actor, Edwin, lived next door at 5 Calhoun. (Another of Junius Booths sons, John Wilkes, would become the most famous of them all.)

The Dramatic Museum burned down within a year in one of the citys great fires, but Robinson bounced back and built the Adelphi in 1851, which staged the citys first opera, and in 1852 the American, which Berson describes as an elegant arena for serious drama. Well, mostly serious: while Doc Robinson was in charge, even the weepiest tragedy would likely be followed with a romping spoof of the local scene.

Constructed at the waters edge, on opening night the 2,000-seat American subsided 2 inches under the weight of the audience.

During the citys first few years, Robinson was one of the best-known men in town. In 1851, after the First Committee of Vigilance lynched two men, he was one of the notables who addressed the crowd.

But by the mid-1850s Robinson had been supplanted as the citys leading theater impresario by another colorful, scrappy figure, a former New York City hack man named Tom Maguire.

Vanquished but unbowed, Robinson decided in 1856 to return to the East Coast in search of greener theatrical pastures. On his way to New York, he contracted a fever in Alabama and died, lowering the curtain on one of the citys most original, and endearing, characters.

Gary Kamiya is the author of the best-selling book Cool Gray City of Love: 49 Views of San Francisco, awarded the Northern California Book Award in creative nonfiction. All the material in Portals of the Past is original for The San Francisco Chronicle. To read earlier Portals of the Past, go to sfchronicle.com/portals. For more features from 150 years of The Chronicles archives, go to sfchronicle.com/vault. Email: metro@sfchronicle.com
The parent company of Pacific Gas and Electric Co. may be considering bold moves, including a bankruptcy filing or a sale of its natural gas business, amid extreme financial and public pressure due to the recent devastating California wildfires.

National Public Radio reported Friday that PG&E Corp. is envisioning a sale this spring of its natural gas division. The move could help pay for liabilities from wildfires that have put the utilitys future in doubt and prompted regulators and lawmakers to consider whether the company should be restructured.

PG&Es gas operations have had their own problems unrelated to wildfires. The 2010 San Bruno pipeline explosion and its aftermath led to the utilitys criminal conviction on obstruction and other charges, and in more recent allegations, regulators have accused the utility of falsifying gas-safety records for years afterward.

Separately, Reuters reported Friday that the company was preparing a potential bankruptcy filing to seek protection from its financial liabilities. PG&E shares dropped 19.3 percent Friday to $19.70 in after-hours trading. Its shares are down almost 60 percent since the Camp Fire broke out in November, wiping out more than $15 billion in value.

In a statement Friday, the utilitys parent company, PG&E Corp., did not expressly confirm or deny the reports.

PG&Es board and management are working diligently to assess the companys potential liabilities as a result of the wildfires and the options for addressing those liabilities, company spokesman Andy Castagnola wrote in an email. We recognize the need to balance the interests of many stakeholders while maintaining safe, reliable and affordable services for our customers, which is always our top priority.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. had previously filed for bankruptcy after Californias energy crisis of 2000-01. The threat of a new bankruptcy could be a tactic to put pressure on state politicians to provide more financial relief, Reuters reported, citing sources familiar with the matter.

PG&E also said Friday it is seeking new directors at both the parent company and the utility subsidiary, the first time it has aired such a specific step. PG&E wants new board members who provide fresh perspectives to enhance the boards existing expertise in safety, operations and other critical areas, the company said. Several candidates are already being interviewed.

Divorcing the companys core operations would be a fundamental change for PG&E, Californias largest investor-owned utility, which provides natural gas and electricity to 16 million people across a 70,000-square-mile service area.

But regulators have already put the idea on the table. The California Public Utilities Commission announced last month it would consider whether PG&E should split its gas and electric operations into separate companies, along with other major changes such as becoming a publicly owned utility or ousting board members or top executives.

According to NPR, PG&E began planning the gas-division sale after the 2017 Wine Country fires, many of which investigators have said were sparked by the utilitys equipment.

PG&E did not tell lawmakers it was considering selling the gas division, even as the Legislature debated a bill that allowed the utility to pass certain 2017 wildfire costs along to its customers. Gov. Jerry Brown signed that bill, SB901, into law in September.

The revelation did not sit well with state Sen. Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, a persistent PG&E critic.

Their narrative in Sacramento was bankruptcy or bailout  those were the choices, Hill said. The Legislature never looked at this option. They chose bailout.

But Hill, whose district includes San Bruno, said he thought selling the gas side of PG&E was a great idea  albeit long overdue.

And the author of SB901, Napa state Sen. Bill Dodd, was not bothered that PG&E had not told lawmakers it was exploring a sale of its gas division.

I dont think theres any smoking gun there. I think theyve got to be looking at all options, Dodd said in an interview.

Dodd noted his bill requires regulators to approve PG&Es plan to use bonds its customers would pay off, and the utility would first have to show how much of the costs it can absorb before taking that step.

From my vantage point, they dont get any state money unless they cant do it on their own, Dodd said. Part of 901 is a complete fiscal scrub of their books, trying to understand where all their cash is, how much money they can come up with before they go over the edge, which would be terrible for victims and ratepayers.

PG&E has been under intense scrutiny from regulators, lawmakers, Wall Street and the public since the Camp Fire ignited Nov. 8 in Butte County.

The inferno killed 86 people and incinerated nearly 19,000 structures, making it both the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history. While the cause is still under investigation, PG&E has told regulators one of its transmission towers near the reported origin point malfunctioned just before the fire started and another distribution line had problems shortly after.

Interactive California Fire Tracker This interactive map provides information on wildfires burning across California and lets you explore coverage of past fire seasons.

Separately, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, has pinned 17 Northern California wildfires from 2017 on PG&E equipment. The cause of the worst of those fires, the Tubbs Fire, which devastated parts of Sonoma County, is still under investigation.

PG&E has also been exploring a potential sale of its downtown San Francisco headquarters and moving elsewhere in the Bay Area, real estate industry sources said. The company said in February, months before the Camp Fire, that it was evaluating its real estate holdings and had made no decisions.

The company issued a request for proposals from real estate companies to study options for its San Francisco headquarters, including a potential sale, according to sources with knowledge of the process.

Chris Foley, founder of brokerage Ground Matrix, said 77 Beales value would shoot up if PG&E vacated the building.

Its an incredible asset, an incredible location, he said. The real question is, does PG&E stay on as a tenant? If they move out of San Francisco, its a huge opportunity for a large group. Where do you get 1 million-plus square feet of vacant office in San Francisco? Its worth a ton of money.

The company owns two major office buildings at 215-245 Market St. and 77 Beale St., next to Embarcadero BART Station, according to property records. Foley said the two buildings could be worth more than $1 billion.

Kyle Kovac, a broker with CBRE who isnt involved in the buildings, agreed the property would be desirable if PG&E decided to sell.

Theres a premium to be on Market Street, more today than ever, given the proximity to public transit, he said. If it were to come to market, there would be a lot of interest.

Google and Salesforce have been adding to their real estate holdings in the area amid a hiring boom in the city.

Separately, a federal monitor overseeing PG&Es probation after its conviction on charges stemming from the 2010 San Bruno explosion filed a response, made public Friday, to the judge overseeing the case. The monitor, Mark Filip, wrote that he had expanded his work to include the utilitys electric operations after the 2017 fires, and had worked to push and drive PG&E to become a safer organization.

J.D. Morris and Roland Li are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: jd.morris@sfchronicle.com, roland.li@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @thejdmorris, @rolandlisf
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Posted Friday, January 4, 2019 6:57 pm

By Rachel Wood

M.D., MPH, Lewis County Health Officer

Its the time of year when people tend to get sick. Few of us are lucky enough to get through the whole winter without having to fight off what weve come to call seasonal illnesses. For most of the population, getting sick is more of an inconvenience than anything else, but there are good reasons to take precautions, and to take steps that protect others.

For the very young, for the elderly, and for people who are already ill or immune-suppressed, even an ordinary cold can develop into serious illness. The Centers for Disease Control has expert information for people at high risk of developing serious flu-related complications at https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/high_risk.htm.

Two common illnesses this time of year are breathing problems such as pneumonia, and stomach or bowel upset. Both of these illnesses can be contagious. Pneumonia and stomach or bowel upsets can be caused by either bacteria or viruses. While they can be prevented in the same ways, there are differences in how they can be treated once a person becomes ill.

The best ways to prevent illness are easy and free.

Wash your hands with warm, soapy water often, especially before eating. Teach kids to do the same.

Use the crook of your elbow to cover sneezes and coughs. This is more likely to prevent the spread of germs than using your hand to cover your mouth, or not covering your mouth or nose at all.

Clean high-use surfaces such as door knobs, light switches, and faucet handles frequently.

If youre sick, stay home. Remember, there are people in your community for whom a cold can develop into serious illness requiring hospitalization.

Get vaccinated to protect against influenza virus. The influenza virus adapts and changes every year. Getting vaccinated can help prevent, or lessen the severity of an influenza infection. The Washington State Department of Health has information on this years flu vaccine and a Flu Vaccine Finder tool you can search by zip code at https://www.doh.wa.gov/YouandYourFamily/IllnessandDisease/Flu.

Most illnesses, whether caused by a virus or by a bacteria, last roughly two weeks. Some stomach flus can be as short-lived as a few days. For either variety of illness, there are simple, and important steps to take in order to support a return to good health.

Get lots of rest. Its hard in this day and age to stop multi-tasking and just rest, but its very important to do so. Not resting can mean being ill for much longer as your body struggles to get well again.

Drink lots of water. Keeping your body hydrated helps the healing process. Avoid soda, caffeine and alcohol if you can.

Feed yourself with healthy food. Sometimes being sick means we cant or dont want to eat, but unless the illness is stomach-related, do your best to give your body the fuel it needs to fight off illness.

If over-the-counter medications are helpful, take them. Being comfortable (resting) is a key part of getting well. Be sure to follow the directions on the container, and if you have any concerns about taking something, or interactions between drugs, talk to a health care provider or pharmacist.

Monitor your health closely. If you need to talk to a health care provider, do so. Use urgent care thoughtfully, only if necessary, and help keep emergency rooms functioning as intended by only using them in true emergencies.

Regardless of whether youre traveling, visiting, or hunkering down by the fire with a good book this winter, take steps to keep yourself and your community in good health now and throughout the year. For more healthy living tips, follow us on Twitter @LCPHSS.
Sometimes things that were known slip into the deep background of our collective consciousness, where they go unnoticed or unremembered for decades ... until someone changes a few light bulbs.

Such was the case Monday when Greg Johnson, who runs the private Skunk Bay Weather station in Hansville, Wash., realized he was actually puzzled by a series of bright red lights showing up in a stationary weather camera pointed north-east across Puget Sound. He remembered noticing them before and had joked with others that they were UFOs, but then they did seem new in some way.

So, he did what we all do now when we discover a little mystery: He posted it on Facebook, writing ...

"I was with an avid ham radio operator over the weekend who lives in Everett. I asked him about the lights and right away he said that it must be Jim Creek . It is a very sophisticated low frequency radio transmitter that is used to communicate with submerged submarines in the Pacific."

Then he got out his iPhone and did some latitude and longitude plotting and sure enough, the location of the lights were about 32 miles away where the U.S. Navy's Jim Creek Naval Radio Station is situated.

The radio station is considered one of the most powerful transmitters on the planet.

"The primary mission of this radio site is to provide (very low frequency) radio transmitting capabilities for the Pacific submarine fleet," as a spokesperson from Naval Station Everett told us.

But, why did the nearly dozen lights on the distant horizon in a near-flying-v formation suddenly jump out at him and what are they for? When I asked Johnson that question, he wrote me: "I think they upgraded their lights about 2 years ago. I honestly don't remember seeing anything like that prior. That is almost 32 miles away. They are bright."

I contacted the Navy for confirmation and turns out, his guess was right ... mostly.

Kristin Ching with the Navy's public affairs office at Everett called up to the station, which is staffed around the clock all year, and reported back that, yes, the staff had changed the towers' bulbs to new LED lights, which are much brighter, within the past six months. Oh, and the lights do blink on and off to warn off airplanes. So some reports of UFOs in the area might just be them.

(Check out photos of the station in the gallery above.)

Simple story. The really cool thing is I, and I'm sure many people, don't know about the station or what it does. There are very few stories about it ... and it's pretty damn cool:

... and a little scary for some.

For instance, the very long radio waves pumped out by this 1.2 million watt transmitter built in 1953 are informing military submarines about what's for dinner (ha!) ... deep under the surface of the ocean. And that makes one more military target in our neck of the woods, should push come to shove in a terribly global way.

As Joseph Osmundson wrote in an essay about growing up in Arlington for the online magazine "The Rumpus":

"I remember my mom saying that if a war came we would be one of the first places hit. I remember her saying we were probably already on a list somewhere, that any enemy would want to take out communications with the Pacific subs, that they would bomb Jim Creek."

Popular Mechanics did notice the station when it was being built, but very few other stories have been penned about this powerhouse of a military asset spanning Wheeler mountain and Blue mountain among the foothills of the northern Cascades.

"Beaming messages to ships in the farthest reaches of the Pacific Ocean, a new Navy radio station at Jim Creek Valley, Wash., will soon go on the air. One million watts will power the station to make it the most potent in the world, according to the Navy, which hopes to maintain constant contact with Navy vessels by means of low-frequency, high-power wave."

The magazine waxed on:

"Six 200-foot antenna towers were erected along the crest of each mountain ridge to support the 30 miles of antenna cable which would cross and recross the 1 1/2 mile valley span. ... Radio waves from the transmitter travel along a transmission trunk supported by 13 145-foot towers the side of Blue Mountain and are carried to the down-leads by diagonal feeder lines. Guy wires anchored to counterweight structures on facing Wheeler Mountain prevent damage by high winds and icing."

And so it goes. A major piece of American military prowess that's been in round-the-clock operation for decades rediscovered (for us anyway) because of the installation of super-bright, energy-efficient LED light bulbs flashing at night to ward off airplanes. Fantastic.

Jake Ellison can be reached at 206-448-8334 or jakeellison@seattlepi.com. Follow Jake on Twitter at twitter.com/Jake_News. Also, swing by and *LIKE* his page on Facebook. If Google Plus is your thing, check out our science coverage here.
A federal bankruptcy judge has given a green light for Attorney General Bob Ferguson to go ahead with his civil suits against initiative promoter Tim Eyman, despite Eyman's recent filing for bankruptcy.

Judge Marc Barreca ruled that the AG's suit against Eyman, including its claim he took $308,000 in kickbacks from a signature gathering firm, is exempt from provisions of the federal regulatory code that halt civil actions against persons who file for bankruptcy.

"Mr. Eyman has engaged in a pattern of seeking to avoid accountability," Ferguson said in a statement released by his office.

"From refusing to fully cooperate with our investigation, repeatedly failing to comply with court orders, not answering questions under oath and now using bankruptcy process in a bad faith effort to delay our case, Mr. Eyman continued to engage in a pattern of stall tactics to avoid accountability to the people and the state for his misdeeds. It's not going to work."

RELATED: A bankrupt Tim Eyman is back in business with $30 car tab initiative

Eyman has charged he is a victim of political persecution, and continued to charge ahead with his initiatives.

Eyman and a supporting cast this week filed signatures on his latest $30 car tabs initiative, which would roll back voter-approved money for Sound Transit light rail expansion, and take back city transit funding.

The Attorney General's office had to pause in its ongoing investigative work after Eyman filed for bankruptcy on the last day of November.

Judge Becerra heard arguments from the Attorney General's office and Eyman's legal council, and then let the AG resume work on the case. He cited a federal statute that provides an exception for exercise of "police or regulatory power."

The state Public Disclosure Commission compiled a 76-page investigative report on Eyman's activities involving two initiatives he was sponsoring in 2012.

It found that the initiative promoter violated state campaign finance laws. The report detailed how donations were shifted from one initiative account to the other. It also reported that a signature gathering firm kicked money back to Eyman for his personal use.

The PDC report went to AG Ferguson, who last year filed a $1.8 million civil suit against Eyman.

The Attorney General's office has repeatedly hauled Eyman co-defendants into Thurston County Superior Court, arguing that Eyman has not fully supplied bank records. The AG is looking at transactions dating back to 2009.

Eyman and codefendants have been ordered to pay $101,000 in fines for contempt, and been hit with a $35,000 bill for state investigation and legal costs.

Earlier: Eyman lawsuit contempt fines doubled to $1,000 a day

Eyman has claimed, in fundraising appeals, that he is being "persecuted" by Ferguson, and is the victim of a political "jihad."

Ferguson has been ferociously bipartisan in enforcing state campaign finance laws, recently collecting a settlement from Spokane County Democrats, bring action against labor groups, and getting a seven-figure settlement against the Grocery Manufacturers Assn., over money laundering in a 2013 initiative campaign.

Andrew Villeneuve of the Northwest Progressive Institute, a decade long Eyman critic, on Friday compared the initiative promoter to a "slippery eel" but said Eyman is running out of room to wiggle.

"He's in a lot of trouble and is up against a lawman who is just as tough as he is," wrote Villeneuve in his blog.
Posted Friday, January 4, 2019 12:59 pm

Ruth Elizabeth Mounts Smoots, 66, passed away at her home in Mossyrock, Wash., Dec. 28, 2018. She was the daughter of Lester E. Mounts Sr. and Norma J. Hubble Mounts. Ruth was born at Fort Warden Wash., Sept. 28, 1952.

Being the daughter of a career military man, Ruth traveled to Germany, Illinois, Texas and California. When her father retired from the military, they made their home in Tacoma. She graduated from Lakes High School in 1971.

Ruth later moved to Auburn and met her future husband, Stanley Bushnell. Ruth and Stanley were married Feb. 14, 1981. Stanley started working for the Mayfield Dam and they made their home in Mossyrock, Wash. Ruth and Stan were married for 35 years, until his death in 2011.

She met a wonderful and caring man, Donald Smoots at the church she was attending. Donald and Ruth started dating and decided to get married. Ruth and Don were married May 12 2013. Don and Ruth had five wonderful years together until his sudden death February of 2018. Ruth was a homemaker and a loving wife. She enjoyed teaching Sunday School to the young children and their children.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, Lester and Norma Mounts; husbands, Stanley Bushnell and Donald Smoots.

Survivors include sister, Alice Mounts Preston of Seaside, Ore.; brothers, Lester E. Mounts Jr. (Edward) of Peoria, Ariz., Darrell G. Mounts (Jocelyn) of Peoria, Ariz.; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held Monday, Jan. 7, 2019, 11 a.m., at the First Church of God, Morton, Wash. A potluck friendship meal will be held after the service.
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Posted Friday, January 4, 2019 6:48 pm

Kaiser Permanente is entangled in a legal battle against some of its employees that could reach trial in March.

Even though Kaiser settled contract negotiations with some labor unions in November, disagreement continues between Kaiser and the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, which consists of 11 labor unions in California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Hawaii, Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia.

About 20 unions that used to be part of the coalition split from it last spring, and finalized their contract with Kaiser.

The coalition filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board in May, saying that Kaiser repeatedly canceled contract negotiations with the coalition. The coalitions national agreement expired with Kaiser on Sept. 30 -- Kaiser has negotiated contracts with the coalition since 1997. A legal hearing with the NLRB has been scheduled to begin on March 19 in Oakland, Calif.

While contract negotiations have stalled, there has been no work stoppage.

Meg Niemi, the president of SEIU United Healthcare Workers West Local 49, said shes hopeful Kaiser will return to the negotiating table before the trial; she said she believes Kaiser has broken the law, and that the NLRB will agree with her.

SEIU Local 49 represents 500 Kaiser health care workers in Southwest Washington, which includes licensed practical nurses, registration representatives, medical assistants, physical therapy aides, dental aides among other job classifications.

Kaiser, in a press release last month, said it has been doing everything possible to be constructive and make progress, referencing the other unions it has settled with.

As we have said in the past, our preference is to be in partnership with the unions who represent our employees, but for unions who prefer a traditional union-employer relationship to a partnership, we will continue to work fairly and constructively, the press release states. We will continue to bargain with each union in good faith, and we look forward to resolving the issues raised in the NLRB matter.

In response to a coalition press release that claimed the federal government had indicted Kaiser, John Nelson, vice president of communications with Kaiser Permanente, gave the following statement through email: The announcement is misleading and inaccurate. There has been no indictment and no decision. The NLRB is following its routine process to set an evidentiary hearing, as already announced in December.

Jacy LaPlante has worked at Kaisers Cascade Park clinic since 2001, and has clocked close to two decades with the company. He lives in Vancouver and serves on the bargaining committee as part of SEIU Local 49.

LaPlante said, Its always a pleasure to fight the good fight, but mentioned that these negotiations, or lack thereof, have been very trying.

Im always hopeful that Kaiser will come back to the table, he said.

LaPlante said that in his almost 18 years with Kaiser, he feels like the companys priorities have shifted.

It used to feel like it was a mission to take care of patients, and now it feels like its a mission to take care of profits, LaPlante said.
Rutland, VT (05701)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 56F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 56F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
The American President even asserted that he had the power to declare a national emergency to build the wall without Congress. He claimed without offering evidence that previous presidents have told him they wished they had built a wall themselves. Mr Trump sustained that most workers support the shutdown and that the safety net is going to be having a strong border because were going to be safe. For workers who wont be able to pay their rent, Trump suggested that landlords would work with them. Just five House GOP lawmakers voted with Democrats on a spending bill that would operate the Department of Homeland Security until Feb. 8, and seven Republicans supported separate legislation that would reopen the rest of the federal government through Sept. 30. Some influential Republicans have struggled to stay aligned behind Trump in the face of the shutdown.

Trump said he had formed a Pence-led working group that would be meeting with Hill staff over the weekend to come up with a solution to the impasse. Elizabeth Goitein, the co-director of the Liberty and National Security program at the Brennan Center, said Trump could theoretically use the National Emergencies Act of 1976 to declare a national emergency. That would allow the Pentagon to reprogram funds from Army civil works projects to any Army national defense project, including the wall.
DANVILLE  A Danville grand jury indicted Brenda Ann Gomez-Lazarski, 33, on counts of felony homicide and abuse and neglect of an incapacitated adult in connection to the death of her 71-year-old grandmother, Dorothy Jean George.

Police officers were dispatched to a Park Avenue home in Danville on Aug. 11 on a report of a woman not conscious or breathing and found George dead in an in-home hospital bed, suffering from obvious severe sores on her body, according to search warrants filed in Danville Circuit Court.

George had been in ill health, necessitating open-heart surgery, a regimen of medication and regular medical care, according to multiple affidavits. George was unable to take care of herself and an insulin-dependant diabetic, the affidavits acknowledged. As such, her granddaughter took responsibility of her finances and daily care, records show.

In the course of the months-long investigation, police obtained search warrants for Georges medical records at Virginia Commonwealth University Hospital in Richmond, blood glucose monitors, her finances and myriad other sources of information. Those searches revealed that all Georges scheduled medical appointments in 2017 had been canceled, and that George had not received regular care from a physician in a year. Her sores also were untreated, according to multiple warrants.

The Roanoke Medical Examiners Office confirmed that Georges cause of death was due to complications of cardiovascular diseases and decubitus ulcers  also known as bedsores.
Giles County authorities are searching for two men who escaped from custody and stole a vehicle on Saturday morning.

Just before 9 a.m., two inmates escaped from a work detail in the 300 block of Thomas Drive in Pearisburg, according to a news release from the Giles County Sheriffs Office. John Kenneth Haynes and Ronald Eugene Dalton II are believed to have stolen a vehicle in the vicinity of the detail and left the area, the release said.

Haynes, 45, is from Cana. He has black hair and brown eyes and is about 6 feet tall and 160 pounds and has a prosthetic leg.

Dalton is a 36-year-old man from Dugspur. He has brown hair and blue eyes and is about 6 feet 2 inches tall and 160 pounds.

Both were last seen wearing Carhartt-style work overalls and Carhartt-style coats, the release said. Haynes and Dalton are currently wanted for grand larceny and escape, according to the sheriffs office.

Authorities said the stolen vehicle is a silver 2006 Ford Taurus with tinted windows bearing Virginia license plates 140540L.

The sheriffs office asks that anyone who comes into contact with the two men is advised to use caution and contact 911.
Posted Friday, January 4, 2019 6:47 pm

A former Olympia School District bus driver accused of sexually assaulting a student has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and will not serve any more time in jail.

Jimmy W. Wall, 52, was charged in 2016 with four counts of first-degree rape of a child and two counts of first-degree child molestation. He was accused of sexually assaulting a boy who attended Madison Elementary School, starting in the 2007-08 school year.

Wall went on trial in November 2017. That ended in a mistrial after the jury failed to reach a unanimous decision, according to Olympian archives.

Wall was scheduled to go back on trial later this month. Instead, he pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree assault of a child on Friday and was sentenced to eight months in jail with credit for time served.

Wall also was ordered to have no contact with the victim in this case or children in general, except supervised contact with his grandchildren.

In court documents, Wall maintained that he was innocent of the original charges.

At trial, Walls attorney argued that the case was about money and greed, according to archives. The victims mother previously filed a $2.5 million claim on her sons behalf against the Olympia School District that referenced sexual abuse by another former bus driver, Gary D. Shafer, according to archives.

Shafer, 40, who was Walls roommate at one time, was already behind bars after pleading guilty to child molestation and child pornography charges in 2011. The school district faced multiple civil suits related to Shafer.

After the victim in Walls case accused Shafer of sexually assaulting him, Shafer was charged with first-degree rape of a child. In December 2017, he pleaded guilty to first-degree rendering criminal assistance and was sentenced to seven years on top of his previous sentence.
Am I the only one who has fix-it projects fail but only if I button everything up prior to testing? As an example, when I was a computer technician I would frequently open up computers to replace parts for newer parts or sometimes to replace a broken part.
New and returning city commissioners, along with newly sworn Mayor Robert Blythe, pose after they were all sworn in Friday evening at a ceremony at Richmond City Hall. From left to right; New city commissioner, Ed McDaniel, former commissioner Mike Brewer, Mayor Robert Blythe, new commissioner, Jacob Grant and returning commissioner, Jacob Morgan.

Taylor Six/The Register
Sometimes, repurposing a historic building can feel a little like an archeological project. For the mixed-use development known as The Trolley at Main & Vine, it entailed tearing away an appendage of a 1950s warehouse to reveal the front elevation of the last surviving horsecar barn in Richmond.

From 1865 to the early 1900s, horsecars  basically, streetcars pulled by horses or sometimes mules  carried passengers around Richmond. They were replaced, in time, by electric streetcars, which helped extend Richmonds suburbs.

Built in 1887 when the City Railway Co. extended its horsecar line, the horsecar barn at the corner of West Main and North Vine streets was in operation until 1901, said Kim Chen, an architectural historian who was the historic tax credit consultant for the Trolley at Main & Vine development. (Today, Chen is principal planner with Richmonds Division of Planning and Preservation.)

Richmond Power and Passenger Co. repurposed the barn, using it as a maintenance garage for its electric streetcars. (Streetcars rode a spur line through large arches at the front of the building and exited through large arches at the back, Chen said.) The streetcar line ran until 1931.
Military vets criticize Trump out of concern

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

Retired Army Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal chose to offer his personal opinion on the performance of Donald Trump as president of the United States. Like every other American protected by the U.S. Constitution, McChrystal is entitled to his opinion about the performance of elected officials.

Now under attack by President Trump, McChrystal has chosen not to enter in to a war of words with an enemy who is woefully unprepared. McChrystal is a graduate of the United States Military Academy, has received 29 awards and decorations, including a Ranger tab and a Bronze Star. Not to slight the Boy Scouts of America, but if Trump searches through his closet perhaps he can locate one of his Boy Scout merit badges.

Trump chooses to attack members of the military, both active duty and retired, whenever his decisions are questioned. Surely, he should recognize that no member of our armed forces speaks out for personal gain, but for concern over the future of our nation. These individuals speak out in order to maintain U. S. security while not risking lives over decisions by politicians who do not comprehend the gravity of their actions.

Thomas McGrath.
This is the time of year for making New Years resolutions, and of course reporters ask presidents for theirs. When Fox News asked Trump his personal resolution for 2019, he replied: Success, prosperity, and the health of our country.

You wouldnt expect Trump to admit he needs to change anything, would you?

Few presidents are like Jimmy Carter, who conceded after his first year in office hed underestimated Congress and would try harder in the New Year.

President George W. Bush said at the end of 2001, after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, All in all, its been a fabulous year for Laura and me. He also said he didnt regret even one of the decisions hed made.

To be fair, Bush enjoyed an approval rating of nearly 90 percent at the time.

But Bush also came forth with a personal resolution: Eat fewer cheeseburgers.

Fields says: Ninety-three percent of New Years resolutions fail because they are based on frustration. Tell a person he must no longer eat pomegranates, and hell be a nervous wreck until he does eat them.
They also raised money for the victims of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and for the Tree of Life Synagogue Victims & Families Fund in the aftermath of the mass shooting this fall.

All of these only touch the tip of the iceberg of the philanthropic work this one lodge does, with many of the new members having first walked through the lodge doors on Banjo Night, looking for a place that could become a second home of sorts, a place to connect with people they were somehow missing in their lives.

Too often people think that to make significant change in the world they have to get involved in global issues or lobbying the central government. What they miss is that most things that improve the world begin in a small community civic organization like this Elks  even something like helping homeless veterans get a free haircut, interview clothing, and housing until they get on their feet.

That vet or the kid who gets a scholarship through the Elks will in turn keep alive the notion of service and go on to improve the world in his or her own way.

Ray Link, the young exalted ruler of this lodge, says there are a dozen or so new members about to be sworn in to this Elks beginning in 2019. Even the mayor of Pittsburgh, Bill Peduto, has been a member in good standing for a couple of years.

Joining has been something Americans have been doing for centuries. In the past decade, weve sadly replaced our participation in churches and civic organizations with a heavy participation in politics and social media, neither of which really does much for us or our communities.
Posted Friday, January 4, 2019 6:39 pm

Anyone can freely visit Aberdeens riverfront homeless camp during certain hours each day, now that a judge has approved new policies as part of a federal lawsuit against the city for its management of the camp.

The policies  drafted and agreed upon by both parties in the lawsuit  eliminate the citys controversial visitor permit system for the homeless encampment, where over 100 people are living in tents, vehicles and makeshift shacks between railroad tracks and the Chehalis River.

Under the new rules, visitors can enter the riverfront property any time between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. for non-emergencies, and no longer need permission from the city to enter. U.S. District Judge Ronald Leighton approved the changes in a proposed motion Wednesday.

In place of the permit system, there are new time, manner and place restrictions for the homeless camp. But its a major win for the three people suing the city, as the signed order makes it clear that the city shall not require any visitor who wishes to enter the River Street property to obtain any permit, or any advance permission or authority to do so.

The Rev. Sarah Monroe, who organized the lawsuit after she was denied access to the camps to provide service, said shes glad the city agreed to the changes.

Im happy the city agreed to drop an unconstitutional permit system for visitors and recognized my constitutional and moral right to visit my people, said Monroe.

Aberdeen Mayor Erik Larson said in a press release that the the city will continue to allow access to the camps until such time as the property is entirely closed to the public and added there are no plans to immediately close the property to all access. When the lawsuit was filed in November, Larson said if the judge sided with the plaintiffs, the city would pursue our other rights to remove individuals from the property.

The city also agreed to allow vehicle access to the camps for those delivering food, clothing, firewood, fuel or hygiene and health supplies to the encampment at the following times: Tuesdays between 2:30 and 4:30 p.m., and Thursdays between 9 and 11 a.m. Several months ago, the city installed a metal gate to prevent vehicle access to the city. The motion states that the city will have staff at the gate to allow delivery vehicles in and out of the site.

The three plaintiffs in the federal suit  Monroe, Tacoma businessman Tim Quigg and Aberdeen resident Apryl Boling  sued the city following its restrictions to the homeless camp in September. Mayor Erik Larson and other city officials installed a permit system, overseen by the Public Works Department, that restricts which service providers, family and other visitors can enter the camps without fear of arrest. Monroe, an Episcopal priest who has served as a pastor and service provider at the encampment for five years, was denied access for not providing a detailed schedule.

Quigg has been a homeless activist and has visited the camp often to bring supplies, and Boling has relatives who live there she visits often.

The plaintiffs said the permit system violated their First Amendment rights of freedom of speech and religion by restricting them from the camps, while Larson said the city needs to restrict access for health and safety reasons.

The judge sided with the plaintiffs at a hearing Dec. 12 in Tacoma, and said the city was running the encampment like a jail. Leighton told both parties attorneys to craft a replacement for the permit system, and that if they dont, Ill come up with something on my own.

The new policies satisfy and removes the plaintiffs request for a temporary restraining order against the city, the motion states.

Other than the visiting hours, the motion specifies that emergency visits can still be made after 8 p.m. It describes emergency visits as those where the risk of death or serious injury or sickness to a person on the property appears imminent.

It adds that during an emergency situation, visitors need to immediately call 911 for response, and that all public safety agencies will have unrestricted access through the locked gate.

In terms of place restrictions, the motion says entrance to the property should only be through the northeast of the property, at the entrance by H Street.

Finally, there are some manner of restrictions, stating that visitors will not bring alcohol or weapons onto the property. It also says visitors will not bring drugs onto the property unless theres a prescription for visitors or someone living on the property.

Some city officials say they are concerned with giving free access back to those wishing to visit the camps. City Council President Tawni Andrews said she worries the unrestricted access will lead to increased crime at the site.

I understand there are people who want to help the individuals like pastors, but Im concerned about the other people who want to go onto the property to do illegal activity.

Others providing service, however, were glad they could more freely enter now to help the homeless.

Theyre so isolated already, making them more isolated from the community doesnt help, said Skye Clayton, who was delivering food to the camps with her mom on Wednesday. We need to integrate people into the community, not push them further away.
Another potential crisis facing the U.S. is a rising China. Eager to gain hegemony in the western Pacific (not to mention in space), Beijing would love to push the U.S. military out of the region. On Dec. 20, Chinese Rear Admiral Lou Yuan, deputy head of the Chinese Academy of Military Sciences, announced that sinking two of Americas aircraft carriers would result in the loss of 10,000 U.S. lives. He claims that if China did that, the U.S. would quickly surrender, predicting: Well see then how frightened America is. While those comments are concerning, we tend to wonder about his plan to sink U.S. warships so as to frighten Americans into submission. Didnt the Japanese already try that?

But China is on a mission for world power. In a speech on Jan. 2, Chinese President Xi Jinping said China wants the inevitable reunification of Taiwan and he is willing to resort to all necessary means to ensure that happens. He made the announcement on the 40th anniversary of a 1979 message Beijing sent to Taiwan calling for unification. Xi says the issue cant be left for future generations to deal with. He considers Taiwan part of China. Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen, however, considers Taiwan a sovereign state. Of late, relations have been especially strained. If China were to invade the island, most military experts say that Beijing would easily overwhelm Taiwanese forces unless the United States came to its aid. Should the unlikely happen, we wonder what Washingtons reaction would be. In the past, Trump has postured on both Beijings and Taipeis behalf.
On a drizzly Friday afternoon, a white van pulled up to the Virginia Capitol building. A team of six men carefully unloaded a relic from the van, covered it with a tarp and carried it up the front steps.

Their precious cargo?

A chair.

A throne-like chair thats nearly 300 years old.

The speakers chair, made in the 1730s and used in Virginias Colonial House of Burgesses, returned to Richmond on Friday for the first time in more than 80 years. Since the 1930s, the chair has been on a long-term loan to Colonial Williamsburg.

House of Delegates Clerk G. Paul Nardo orchestrated the return to mark the 400th anniversary of the Virginia legislature, Americas oldest continuous legislative body. The chair will be on display in the Capitols Old House Chamber until late March.

The chair was too big to fit in the Capitol elevators. But the movers got it safely up the steps and into the building. It will be roped off to prevent tourists from sitting on it.

It is a monumental chair, Nardo said. It is very high and large and ornate.
CHARLOTTESVILLE  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed that a Charlottesville woman died from rabies in 2017.

A report from the CDC on Friday discussed the womans exposure to the virus in India and the treatment she received. It also cautioned travelers to get the rabies vaccine before trips abroad.

According to the report, the 65-year-old woman was bitten on the hand by a dog during a yoga retreat in India. Six weeks later, she began experiencing pain in her right arm. She made several hospital trips in the U.S. as her symptoms worsened and eventually was admitted to a hospital.

Rabies infects the central nervous system, and the report details the womans agitation, lack of coordination and chest pain. As her symptoms worsened, hospital staff tested her for rabies. The test was positive, and they learned that she had never been vaccinated against the virus.

An experimental treatment for rabies failed and the woman died on May 21, 2017, nearly two weeks after she was admitted to the hospital.

According to the report, 72 health care providers were exposed to the virus during the womans treatment. Their treatment cost $235,000.

The report did not identify the woman.
A man charged with filming a teenage girl in the dressing room of a Fairfax County mall is believed to have filmed more than 60 other victims and created more than 100 videos in shopping center fitting rooms, police said Thursday.

Fairfax police asked the public for help in identifying the girls and women seen on the recordings, which police say were taken by Mumtaz Rauf, 39, of Alexandria, at multiple shopping centers during the holiday season.

Police said the victims could be from across the D.C. area, or from other states. The videos were taken between Dec. 15 and Dec. 24 in fitting rooms at Forever 21, H&M and Old Navy at the Fair Oaks and Fair Lakes malls, as well as possibly at dressing rooms in Tysons Corner Center. Other shopping centers may be involved as well, police said.

In addition, police said, Rauf made an older series of videos shot up womens skirts.

This is a massive case, Fairfax police Maj. Ed OCarroll said.

Rauf was arrested on Christmas Eve after a young woman reported seeing a black device pointing down at her in the dressing room of a Forever 21 at Fair Oaks Mall about 4 p.m., police said.
A Colonial Heights man has been charged with multiple sexual crimes in connection with a series of incidents that happened in Richmonds Fan District in 2018.

Justin A. Harvey, 26, of the 400 block of Cloverhill Avenue in Colonial Heights, was charged with sexual battery, rape, aggravated sexual battery, malicious wounding and simple assault, as well as two counts each of statutory burglary and unlawful videoing, police said.

Harvey was arrested on Sept. 27 by Richmond and Virginia Commonwealth University police officers after he allegedly lifted the skirts of two female students in separate assaults in the Fan. The incidents happened on Sept. 21 on South Harrison Street and on the next night on South Brunswick Street. After his arrest in September, police said VCU surveillance cameras helped to identify Harvey.

He also has been charged in three other attacks:

In March, a female reported that a male suspect attacked her in the 1800 block of Grove Avenue.

On May 5, a female was sexually assaulted by a male who broke into an apartment in the 1000 block of Park Avenue.

On May 6, a female was sexually assaulted after a man broke into her apartment in the 2000 block of Grove Avenue.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople has signed a decree granting autocephaly, or independence, to the Orthodox Church in Ukraine, ending more than 330 years of Russian religious control in Ukraine.

The ceremony on January 5 in Istanbul, which is considered the spiritual headquarters of Orthodox Christianity, was attended by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.

The decree, or "tomos," will now be handed over to the head of the new Ukrainian church, Metropolitan Epifaniy, on January 6, completing the two-day spiritual ceremony.

Bartholomew said Ukrainians could now enjoy "the sacred gift of emancipation, independence, and self-governance, becoming free from every external reliance and intervention."

Historic Decision

Poroshenko thanked the patriarch "for the courage to make this historic decision" and said it was "a great day" for Ukrainians.

Vladimir Legoida, a Russian Orthodox Church spokesman, denounced the decree as "a document that is the result of irrepressible political and personal ambitions."

It had been "signed in violation of the canons and therefore not possessing any canonical force," Legoida said in a statement on January 5.

"It is a great honor for me to visit Istanbul, where a long-awaited event will take place tomorrow," Poroshenko wrote on Facebook, referring to the official handover of the decree.

Poroshenko predicted that the move will open a "new era in Orthodox history."

"We pray for peace and unity," he added.

Bartholomew announced the decision to recognize Ukraine's request for an autocephalous church in October.

In December, Ukrainian Orthodox leaders agreed on the creation of a new national Orthodox church and elected the 39-year-old Epifaniy to head that church.

Russia long opposed such efforts by the Ukrainians for an independent church, which intensified after Russia seized Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in March 2014 and began supporting separatists shortly thereafter in Ukraine's eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.

The announcement by Bartholomew, who is considered the leader of the 300-million-strong worldwide Orthodox community, came amid deepening tension over efforts by Ukrainian Orthodox churches to formally break away from Russias orbit.

It also prompted the Russian Orthodox Church to announce days later that it was ending its relationship with the Ecumenical Patriarchate in protest.
Posted Friday, January 4, 2019 7:15 pm

Tenino mayor Wayne Fournier plans to nominate Rachel Davidson at Tuesdays city council meeting to fill the open councilor position left previously held by Susan Copeland, who resigned last month to focus on her career.

Davidson applied to fill the seat and interviewed with Fournier as part of the selection process. The four sitting councilors will have the option Tuesday of voting to confirm her appointment, reject her application or defer their decision until the next council meeting on Jan. 22.

If confirmed, she would be sworn in and take her seat for the remainder of the meeting Tuesday. Davidson would serve out the remainder of Copelands term, which is set to expire at the end of the year. She did not respond to a request for comment by press time.

Im not going to assume anything, Fournier said. Ive been through a couple of these where the person wasnt confirmed, and I want to ensure the council has a chance to deliberate and consider her. My hope is the council will confirm (Davidson) and shell get right to work.

Davidson and her husband James own and operate Point Blank Targets in Tenino. They manufacture self-healing shooting targets out of vulcanized rubber. According to a Chronicle story published in April 2017 about the company, James Davidson took Rachel shooting on their first date.

Fournier cited Rachel Davidsons community involvement as a reason why he thinks she would be a positive addition to the council. He singled out her having helped children from the Cornerstone Community Church organize a gift tree at the Western Company & Cafe for families in need.

He also noted the timing is right to add a new city council member, because the Association of Washington Cities will be holding weekend workshops for people elected to public office back in November.

The system that educates those new elected officials starts up right about now, since there are so many new ones, Fournier said. Its nice to appoint someone and then right away, they can go to an AWC workshop where they go over public meetings laws, records retention and other general conduct things. Theyll get to sit in front of a panel of elected officials and pick their brains.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople signed a decree on January 5 granting autocephaly, or independence, to the Orthodox Church in Ukraine, ending more than 330 years of Russian religious control in Ukraine. The ceremony in Istanbul, which is considered the spiritual headquarters of Orthodox Christianity, was attended by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
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At a ceremony in Istanbul on January 5, the spiritual leader of Orthodox Christianity, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople signed a decree granting autocephaly, or independence, to the Orthodox Church in Ukraine.
Thousands of people marched in the cold and snow through Belgrade to protest against Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and demand an end to attacks against journalists and opposition figures.

An estimated 15,000 protesters blew whistles, chanted "Vucic, thief," and waved banners that read "Stop the treason, Defend the constitution and back the people."

The antigovernment protest on January 5 was the fifth in as many weeks.

The Beta news agency reported that smaller protests were held in other areas, including the southern town of Kragujevac and the northern city of Novi Sad.

The demonstrations were triggered last month when a gang of thugs beat up opposition politician Borko Stefanovic.

Opposition parties and organizations have accused Vucic of being an autocrat and his ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) of being corrupt. Vucic denies the claims.

Officially, the president in Serbia plays a largely ceremonial role, but Vucic's Progressive Party has dominated the legislature since 2012.

Vucic was elected to a five-year term as president in 2017 after holding the post of prime minister.

A former nationalist, Vucic is now guiding Serbia toward membership of the European Union. He has also sought to maintain ties with traditional ally Russia and to develop relations with China.

Vucic has said he will not give in to opposition demands for electoral reform and increased media freedom regardless of the number of protesters on the streets, although he has suggested he might call a snap vote to demonstrate his partys strength

According to survey a conducted in October by the CESID election watchdog, Vucics SNS has 53.3 percent support, far ahead of other parties.

The poll indicated that if the leading opposition parties ran as an alliance, they would receive only about 15 percent of the vote.

Many opposition leaders said they would boycott a vote, saying they would not be free or fair.

With reporting by Reuters and dpa
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and national-security adviser John Bolton are heading off on trips to the Middle East as Washington looks to boost relations to help it deal with mounting hot spots in the region.



The State Department said on January 4 that Pompeo will visit eight countries -- Jordan, Egypt, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Kuwait  on a trip that starts on January 8.



A senior State Department official who briefed reporters said one of Pompeo's main messages would be that "the United States is not leaving the Middle East."



While in Saudi Arabia, another U.S. official said, Pompeo would raise the case of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi and continue to push for accountability and credibility from the Saudi leadership in the matter.



Bolton is leaving for the region on January 5 and is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before moving on to Turkey, where he will be joined by General Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.



They will be accompanied in Turkey by veteran diplomat James Jeffrey, the current special representative for Syrian engagement who has just taken on the role of special envoy to the global coalition fighting the Islamic State (IS) terror group.



They are expected to pressure Turkish officials not to launch an offensive targeting Kurdish fighters in Syria.



The United States announced plans to pull out its 2,000 troops from Syria, where they have been supporting an alliance of Arab and Kurdish forces fighting IS.



Ankara accuses the Syrian Kurdish fighters of having links to Kurdish insurgents operating in Turkey and has vowed to drive them out of the Turkish-Syrian border area.

Based on reporting by dpa and AP
Days after Moscow arrested the former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan on spying charges, Russia has accused the United States of detaining a Russian citizen.

In a statement quoted by Russian media on January 5, the Russian Foreign Ministry said the United States detained Dmitry Makarenko on the Northern Mariana Islands on December 29 and moved him to Florida.

The ministry did not reveal the accusations against him but said U.S. authorities had failed to inform them of his arrest and they had only found out from his family.

The U.S. Embassy in Moscow has yet to provide comment. The U.S. State Department also has also not commented.

Papers filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida show Makarenko was accused in June 2017 by federal prosecutors of conspiring with another man, Vladimir Nevidomy, to export defense articles including night-vision scopes from the United States to Russia without U.S. approval.



Makarenko, who was listed as a resident of Vladivostok, was declared a fugitive from U.S. justice in Jan. 2018. Nevidomy, a resident of Hallandale Beach, Florida, pleaded guilty in June 2018 and was sentenced to 26 months in prison, the court papers showed.

Whelan was arrested by Russias Federal Security Service on December 28, although it was only announced on December 31.

His family have said he is innocent and that he was in Moscow to attend a wedding.

In a Washington Post op-ed published on January 4, Whelan's twin brother, David, urged the U.S. government to pressure Russia to release him.



"Paul is a kind and considerate brother, son and uncle, and a generous and loyal friend," he wrote. "He travels as often as he can, both for work and pleasure. He is many things to many people, but he is not a spy."

Relations between Russia and the United States are already strained over issues ranging from Moscows alleged interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, and its annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula and support for separatists in eastern Ukraine, to the poisoning of a double agent.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said this week that Washington had asked Moscow to explain Whelan's arrest and would demand his immediate return if it determined his detention was inappropriate.

Britain cautioned Russia on January 4 that individuals should not be used as diplomatic pawns.

Whelan also holds Canadian, British, and Irish citizenship.

The detention of Whelan comes weeks after Russian Maria Butina pleaded guilty in a U.S. court to acting as an agent for the Kremlin.

The Kremlin has denied that Butina is a Russian agent and has organized a social-media campaign to secure her release.

In the past, Russia has sometimes arrested foreigners with the aim of trading prisoners with other countries.

Commenting on that possibility, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on January 5: "I see no reasons to raise this issue in the context of exchanges. We should undergo all the procedures needed in this situation."

With reporting by AFP, Reuters, and TASS
Pirates seized a cargo ship off the coast of the West African country of Benin, robbing crew members and sailors and abducting six hostages before fleeing, Russias Interfax and marine news websites report.

Interfax said on January 5 that the assault took place in the early hours of January 2 and that Russian diplomats were informed of the incident by Benins navy.

The report said 26 people were aboard the ship carrying Russians, Ukrainians, and Georgians, although the numbers varied slightly in differing reports.

"As we've been told by the chief of staff of Benin's navy, a ship was seized overnight on January 1-2 near Benin's territorial waters," the Russian state-run TASS news agency quoted an official from Moscow's embassy in the African country as saying.

"There were 26 people on board: two Georgians, four Ukrainians, and 20 Russians. Six people were kidnapped," the official added.

The Russian Embassy in Benin later said all six kidnapped sailors were Russian nationals, TASS reported.

The ship is now in Nigerian territorial waters, TASS said.

The Maritime Bulletin reported, without citing sources, that seven to nine pirates boarded the MSC Mandy cargo ship armed with AK-47 rifles and machetes.

It said the ship was traveling from Lome, Togo, to Lagos when attacked.

MarineTraffic.com lists the 37,000-ton ship as being Panama-flagged and says it was built in 1993.

The website also reported the attack, citing Ambrey Intelligence, a marine security firm.

Based on reporting by Interfax, TASS, and The Maritime Bulletin
WASHINGTON -- Russias space agency says it is demanding an explanation after NASA called off the planned visit to the United States by Dmitry Rogozin, the chief of Roskosmos who is subject to U.S. and European Union sanctions.



In a statement cited by the state-run TASS news agency on January 5, Roskosmos said that "it expects official explanations of NASA's position" and stressed that Rogozin's visit was planned "in accordance with an invitation received earlier."



Roskosmos added that planned talks on possible cooperation with the United States on the International Space Station (ISS) are "so far not suspended."



Earlier, Roskosmos said it had not received notification from NASA that the visit had been postponed.



NASA made the announcement on January 4, following critical press reports and calls by U.S. lawmakers to cancel the visit.

"NASA has informed the Russian space agency, Roskosmos, that [Rogozins visit] currently planned for February 2019 will need to be postponed," NASA spokeswoman Megan Powers said in a statement on January 4.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, a former Republican congressman, told TASS in October that he had invited Rogozin to visit the NASA headquarters and that he would seek a waiver to travel a ban against him. The invitation was not widely reported in the United States at the time.

After a story on January 1 in Politico brought the visit to light, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen called on NASA the following day to withdraw the invitation "before Congress is forced to act."

"Administrator Bridenstines invitation to Dmitry Rogozin, one of the leading architects of the Kremlins campaign of aggression towards its neighbors, undercuts our message and undermines the United States' core national security objectives," she said in a statement.

'The Wrong Message'

Shaheen, a Democrat from New Hampshire, has been a leading critic in the Senate against Russia's alleged meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and has pressed for the United States to "send a strong message to the Kremlin."

Senator Mark Warner (Democrat-Virginia) said that it "absolutely sends the wrong message to lift sanctions, even temporarily, for the purpose of inviting him to speak to students at one of our nations premier universities."

NASA and Roskosmos have cooperated for more than two decades. In 2011, the agencies grew closer than ever when the United States retired its Space Shuttle fleet, making Russian Soyuz rockets the only way to shuttle people and equipment to and from the International Space Station (ISS), and resulting in NASA paying Roskosmos some $2.5 billion for its services since.

Rogozin was deputy prime minister in charge of Russias defense industry when he was first subjected to Western sanctions over his public support for MOscow's illegal annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014. Under those sanctions, he is banned from entering EU countries.

He served as Russias ambassador to NATO from 2008 to 2011.

He became director-general of Roskosmos in May 2018.

With reporting by USA Today and Politico
The Iranian Navy will send warships to the Atlantic Ocean after March, a top commander said.



Iran is looking to increase the operating range of its naval forces in the Atlantic, close to the waters of the United States, its arch enemy.



Tehran sees the presence of U.S. aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf, along Irans coast, as a security concern and its navy has looked to counter that by showing its naval presence near U.S. waters.



"The Atlantic Ocean is far and the operation of the Iranian naval flotilla might take five months," the official IRNA news agency quoted Rear-Admiral Touraj Hassani, Iran's naval deputy commander, as saying.



Hassani said the move was intended to thwart Iranophobia plots and "secure shipping routes."



He said Sahand, a newly-built destroyer, would be one of the warships deployed.



Sahand has a flight deck for helicopters and Iran says it is equipped with antiaircraft and anti-ship guns, surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles, and also has electronic warfare capabilities.



The vessels are expected to dock in a friendly South American country such as Venezuela, Iran's Fars news agency reported.



Hassani said in December that Iran would soon send two to three vessels on a mission to Venezuela, an ally.



Iran's navy has extended its reach in recent years, launching vessels in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden to protect Iranian ships from Somali pirates.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP


Tehran has approved an anti-money-laundering bill, local media reported, in a move that is seen as a major step toward reforms that would bring Iran into line with global norms and could facilitate foreign trade in the face of U.S sanctions.

The bill was approved on January 5 by the Expediency Council, an advisory body that mediates disputes between the parliament and the Guardians Council, a powerful vetting body.

The decision by the Expediency Council came after parliament approved the bill last year but the conservative-dominated Guardians Council rejected it.

Iranian hardliners had opposed the bill because it could restrict Iranian financial support for allies such as Lebanons Hizballah, which the United States lists as a terrorist organization.

Iran has been trying to implement standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an intergovernmental organization that underpins the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing.

Iran's compliance with FATF standards and its removal from the organizations black list is seen as essential to attracting foreign investment investment, especially after the reimposition of U.S. sanctions on Tehran last year.

U.S. sanctions on Irans banking and energy sectors have hit the Iranian economy and its currency hard.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP
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Residents of Banja Luka have defied a ban and lit candles to honor a 21-year-old student whose unresolved death has fueled months of protests alleging a police cover-up. Dozens of people gathered outside an Orthodox Christian church in the Bosnian Serb capital amid a heavy police presence on January 4.
Posted Friday, January 4, 2019 7:20 pm

Centralia College and the Centralia College Foundation will take over services previously offered by the volunteer organization Our Literacy Council. Centralia College will offer tutoring services through its campus Tutoring Center and the Centralia College Foundation will offer scholarships to cover GED test fees.

The only difference students will see is where they go for help, said Kelli Bloomstrom, dean of Transitional Education in a press release from the Centralia College Foundation. Instead of the campus library, theyll come to the Transitional Services Building to start their process of learning basic skills or earning a high school diploma or GED. Our goal is for students to receive the same level of support, only from a slightly different source.

Students may now submit applications for scholarships to cover the GED testing fee through the Centralia College Foundations Eric M. Shriver Memorial Scholarship. Centralia College Foundation also has other fee waivers available for students that involve GED test prep.

Our Literacy Council was a volunteer literacy organization that began in Centralia in the early 1970s. The organization began with volunteers who wanted to assist immigrants from Southeast Asia in learning English. Later, the volunteers also focused on Spanish speakers and Eastern European immigrants. In 1986, the organization entered into an informal partnership with Centralia College.

For more information on literacy classes as well as earning a high school diploma or GED, people may visit the Odegaard Phoenix Center inside the Transitional Services Building or call 360-623-8957. For people who would like to donate to scholarships for students working to obtain their GED, contact the Centralia College Foundation at 360-623-8942.
Afghan special forces have rescued 12 people from a Taliban prison in the country's south on the same day that the militants kidnapped a group of 15 government employees in the west, officials said.

The National Directorate of Security (NDS), the country's main intelligence agency, said in a statement that special forces stormed a Taliban prison in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand Province and rescued 12 people who had been held hostage.

The NDS did not provide any further details on the raid in Helmand, a Taliban stronghold that is the center of the country's opium production.

The statement came as officials in the western province of Farah said Taliban militants kidnapped a group of government employees.

Provincial council members Khair Mohammad Norzai and Dadullah Qaneh told the dpa news agency that the workers were kidnapped as they were heading to their offices on the outskirts of Farah city, the provincial capital.

Farah, located along the border with Iran, has been the scene of fierce clashes between government forces and the Taliban in recent months.

Based on reporting by dpa and Khaama
Militants have attacked a checkpoint in Afghanistans southern Kandahar Province, killing seven border guards, officials said on January 5.

Four others were wounded in the attack on January 4 in the Spin Bolduk district, a spokesman for the provincial governor said.

In an later gun battle on the same day, 16 insurgents were killed and 11 wounded, the spokesman, Aziz Ahmad Azizi, added.

No one claimed responsibility for the attack.

It comes amid nearly daily attacks by the Taliban targeting Afghan forces.

The uptick in violence has occurred despite increased efforts by the United States to negotiate an end to Afghanistans 17-year war.

Based on reporting by dpa and AP
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TORRINGTON  State Rep. Michelle Cook, D-Torrington has been reappointed as Deputy Speaker by Speaker of the House Joe Aresimowicz (D-Berlin/Southington).

She will also serve as a member of the Education Committee, Human Services Committee, Joint Committee on Legislative Management, and Public Health Committee.

Cook will be sworn in to serve her sixth term and take on these leadership roles when the General Assembly convenes on Wednesday, Jan. 9.

I am excited to continue serving in this role to promote legislation that benefits residents and businesses in Torrington, and continues moving Connecticut forward, said Cook. I look forward to continuing the legislatures work and creating and supporting new policies to improve the quality of life for residents and make the state more conducive to small business.

This will be Cooks second term as Deputy Speaker, working closely with the Speaker of the House and Majority Leader Matthew Ritter (D-Hartford) to review and analyze legislation, as well as gaining support to pass legislation.

In 2018, Cook was the recipient of the 2019 American Association of Nurse Practitioners State Advocate Award for her devotion to the issues affecting the health and wellbeing of Connecticuts residents, particularly for her support of Public Act 14-12, which expanded the scope of practice for advanced practice for advanced practical registered nurses.

She was also recognized by the Radiological Society of Connecticut for her advocacy on behalf of patients for legislation that will encourage women to have life-saving breast cancer screenings.
TORRINGTON  Fridays arraignment of a Salisbury woman charged with two felony counts in a fatal crash in Kent in May, was continued to Jan. 15 at in state Superior Court in Torrington.

Shelby Roger, 26, who was arrested in late December, appeared with her attorney David Moraghan, who said after the proceedings that We will likely enter a not guilty plea, at the next court appearance.

Roger is also charged with driving under the influence and three other counts in a two-car collision after her vehicle hit another car on Skiff Mountain Road.

A passenger in Rogers car, 22-year-old Deanna Lynn Silvernail, was ejected from the vehicle and died. The felony counts against Roger are manslaughter in the second degree with a motor vehicle and assault in the second degree with a motor vehicle.

At Fridays appearance, Moraghan filed a motion with the court for a return of property from State Troop L Barracks in Litchfield.

This is her livelihood, he told the court. The property is in the back of her SUV, which is being stored at the barracks, he said.

There is a saddle and riding equipment. It has nothing to do with the accident, Moraghan continued. Its probably been destroyed by the weather, he told the court. The windows are all broken. But, he added, his client wants to retrieve her property.

Judge Paul Matasavage, approved the motion and told Moraghan and States Attorney David Shepack to discuss how to handle the request.

Asked about the property listed in the motion, Moraghan said, There is a list of 15 things. She is an equestrian. She teaches riding and breaks horses.

Roger was accompanied to the court with her mother, who also met with her daughters attorney.
Posted Friday, January 4, 2019 7:26 pm

For the first time since 2004, the Lewis County Prosecutors Office filed more than 1,000 felony cases within a yearlong span  a number indicative of a steadily climbing workload that puts pressure on other realms within the local criminal justice system.

On Monday, Dec. 31, 2018, the prosecutors office filed its last case of the year, bringing the final tally to 1,046 cases. In 2004, 1,012 cases were filed.

Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer acknowledged there are likely a number of contributing factor to the steady incline. Among them, he said, are fuller-staffed local law enforcement agencies, allowing more officers on patrol to catch more suspects. Another is recidivism, with people convicted of crimes being released and committing more offenses  or at least being charged in the commission of crimes.

But perhaps the biggest contributor is also the most obvious: drugs.

Even if an offender isnt busted on a drug possession charge, said Meyer, illicit narcotics are tied to any number of other offenses as the fuel fanning the flames. Often times, he added, its seen in property crimes like theft, burglary or vehicle prowl, but is also seen as a contributor to sex or violent crimes.

Theyre either trying to support their habit, or its such a disinhibitor, that all of the sudden it seems like thats a good idea, said Meyer.

Meyer said he couldnt say why 2004 saw such a high number of felony cases, adding that he was a defense attorney during that time.

The final count of 2018 felony cases didnt come as a surprise, with Meyer noting that halfway through the year, it had already been noted the county that was on pace to cross the dubious mile marker.

In September there had been a 40 percent increase in felony cases since September 2015, 37 percent since that same time in 2016 and 18 percent since 2017.

The prosecutors office has picked up three new deputy prosecutors in past months. One was hired to replace someone moved to another position in the office, another to replace one that left and the final was an approved hire from the board of commissioners.

And while one deputy prosecutor can handle as many as 80 felony drug possession cases at a time, said Meyer, not all felonies are created equal. A homicide or complicated financial crime, like embezzlement, can consume all of a deputys duties for weeks at a time.

While maintaining a full staff is in some ways a reactive response, Meyer said the office also works to be proactive, by taking part in crime-prevention programs in schools and the community.

My goal every year is the same, and thats basically to work myself out of a job.  Were never going to achieve it, but if we keep  trying to figure out ways to reduce crimes in our community  and sometimes the answer is putting people away. Sometimes the answer is directing them to some type of treatment whether its drug court, (Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative), (Special Sex Offender Sentencing Alternatives) for sex offenders, mental health alternatives, he said.

Meanwhile, the Lewis County Jail is singing a similar song.

Lewis County Sheriffs Office Corrections Chief Chris Sweet said the average jail population has climbed to 228 inmates from 206 at the end of 2017. A few times in recent months, the jail has gone on restrictive booking, meaning people charged with certain low-level misdemeanors wouldnt be booked. That happens any time the jail population hits 250, said Sweet, and remains in effect until the number can be whittled down.

Currently, the jail is operating with a full staff  56 full-time employees. But that number comes with a caveat, said Sweet. In 2008, seven positions were cut at the jail, in response to a harsh economic climate. At that same time, the average daily population was 109 inmates. The staff size has remained the same ever since, said Sweet.

As a result, staffers were moved to more vital areas, and certain jail programs were cut or left in fewer hands.

The jail recently asked for two additional corrections deputies, but the request was denied by county officials, said Sweet. Funding for an additional nurse has been approved.

Were basically status quo. We are not into the reserve tank yet. We are basically going to continue operations as it is going right now, and we can successfully do this. This is just the indication, and basically a warning,  if we continue to increase, were going to have to look at our (full time employees) and the resources we have for our facility right now, because as the inmate population increases we will have to increase our infrastructure as well, said Sweet.

Sweet said hes been clear that hell request additional positions in the future. Currently, there arent enough corrections deputies to fulfill a certain national standard relating to jail tower staffing. In the future, he said, the standard may become a requirement. Before that time hits, jail staff strive to boost their numbers to meet any upcoming national requirements.

Thats the  reason that we asked for the two deputies, not only for the increased population, but were at that time now that have to start asking for more (full time employees) to try to rebuild that seven that we lost, he said.
Beckley, WV (25801)

Today

Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 59F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 59F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
January 05, 2019 09:51 IST

American journalist Mark Scialla was deported after he was found covering the Sterlite agitation in Tuticorin while on a tourist visa.

Sterlite Copper has been operating in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, for over two decades. Last year, after Sterlite announced it was doubling its capacity, protests broke out in the area.

On May 22, 2018, 15 people were killed in police firing on protestors after which the Tamil Nadu government ordered the plant's closure.

Subsequently, Sterlite successfully challenged the closure order before the National Green Tribunal, but the government obtained a stay order on the NGT ruling from the high court.

Given these developments, and given that Sterlite is owned by the London-based Anil Agarwal of the Vedanta group, there has been intense media focus on the plant, including by foreign journalists.

A controversy broke out last week when American journalist Mark Scialla was picked up by the Tuticorin police and questioned for speaking to people affected by the May 22 police firing on the protestors as well as locals about the pollution generated by the Sterlite plant.

Scialla was served with a 'Leave India Notice', ordering him to leave the country within 48 hours.

The people he interacted with in Tuticorin -- Fatima Babu, Raja, Regan and Prince Cardoza, all known members of the anti-Sterlite movement which has numerous organisations affiliated to it -- were also called in for questioning.

"I was sitting with Fatima Babu madam when this journalist came and met her. He was asking her about Sterlite and we were replying to him," Regan tells Rediff.com's A Ganesh Nadar.

"Is talking to a journalist a crime? Are we living in a democracy? I don't know what their problem is, but I have been called for an inquiry," Regan adds.

"Fatima Babu told me to go with the reporter as he does not know Tamil. He spoke to one boy who was shot in the leg during the police firing," says Prince Cardoza.

"We then went to Pandarapatti village and met a man who has cancer. We met a 65-year-old woman who was working in her field."

"Then we visited and photographed one well which provided drinking water for this village some 10 years back. Now they cannot drink the same well water," Cardoza adds.

"We also saw a Sintex tank that was being fed from a borewell. This water is meant only for washing and is not fit for drinking or even cooking. We also met another old man who was bed-ridden."

"After that we had parottas which Tuticorin is famous for. I then dropped him off at the hotel where he was staying and went home."

"At 10.15 in the night," Cardoza reveals, "the police called me for an inquiry. They did not take me to any police station, but spoke to me in an open space on the way to the harbour. I told them everything. They wanted it all in writing."

"So I gave it to them in writing and came back home. Next day I heard they had picked up the journalist too for questioning."

"While they were taking me from my house, my son was shooting a video on his phone. They tried to take the mobile phone away, but my son refused saying it was his phone and he was filming his dad, what was your problem?" says Cardoza.

"When we came back home they took a letter from my wife saying I had been taken for questioning and also brought back safely."

IMAGE: Mark Scialla. Photograph: Kind courtesy Mark Scialla's Facebook page.
Source:

Last updated on: January 05, 2019 18:26 IST

Alleged middleman Christian Michel, arrested in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case, received money from other defence deals as well which was to be probed, the Enforcement Directorate on Saturday told a Delhi court, which sent the accused to judicial custody.

The agency told special judge Arvind Kumar that Michel had received 24.25 million and 1,60,96,245 pounds from the AgustaWestland deal.

During the interrogation, it was observed that he had also received money from other defence deals, which the ED will enquire, it said.

The EDs special public prosecutors, D P Singh and N K Matta, also told the court that the accused has also routed money through hawala operators for acquiring cash and for the purchase of property.

The ED produced Michel before the court on the expiry of his 14-day custodial interrogation and requested the court to send him to judicial custody, claiming that he might flee from justice if left free.

The accused is a British national and has no roots in India. There is every likelihood that he may abscond from India and evade the process of law, especially in the light of his past conduct.

He has been brought to this court through rigorous extradition proceedings. His fleeing away from justice again cannot be ruled out, the ED said.

The application was allowed by the court, which sent Michel to judicial custody till February 26.

In the CBI case related to the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal, the court sent Michel to judicial custody till February 27.

Michel, who was extradited from Dubai recently, was arrested by the ED on December 22 and since then was in the agencys custody on a court order.

The ED told the court that it had identified Michels properties purchased with the proceeds of crime.

He has given contradictory answers to various questions and he was not able to explain the contradiction, it said.

The agency told the court that the audit report submitted during the trial in an Italian court was appearing to be factually incorrect.

Hence, it is required to be seen whether the Italian court had based its decision on the said audit report, it said.

The ED added that it had investigated how cash was transferred through hawala and multiple bank accounts. We have found information about other defence deals. We need to investigate the money flowing there as well. We have documents to show that they misled the Italian court.

The court had earlier imposed restrictions on Michel meeting his lawyers in ED custody after the agency said he was misusing legal access by passing chits to the advocates, asking them how to tackle questions on Mrs Gandhi.

In its application seeking extension of Michels remand, the agency also claimed that during questioning, he had spoken about the son of an Italian lady and how he was going to become the next prime minister of the country.

We also need to decipher who the big man referred to as R is in the communications between Michel and other people, the ED told the court.

It sought that Michel be barred from meeting his lawyers in custody, alleging that he was being tutored from outside through his lawyers.

The ED told the court that Michel had made a reference to Mrs Gandhi during his interrogation on December 27.

During his medical examination, the accused had handed over a folded paper to his lawyer, Aljo K Joseph, which was noticed by the ED officials.

After the perusal of the paper, it was revealed that it pertained to a set of follow-up questions on Mrs Gandhi, the ED said.

The agency told the court that it was clear that there was a conspiracy to shield or tamper with the evidence that could be brought forth from the questioning of the accused.

It said it had discovered fresh evidence relating to new entities used for laundering the proceeds of crime and that Michels custodial interrogation was needed for confronting his Indian connections identified till date.

Michel is among the three alleged middlemen being probed in the case by the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation. The others are Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa.

The ED, in its remand application on Saturday, said the probe had revealed that Michel was the key middleman for AgustaWestland, pursuing the deal at different levels, and was instrumental in the circulation of sensitive information and eventual payment of kickbacks.

The key issues being investigated by the ED include the modus operandi adopted by the accused to eliminate TATA and HAL from competition in an Italian deal and the steps undertaken to mask the present deal as a British deal, instead of an Italian deal, to gain advantage in Light Observation Helicopters.

The agency is also probing the modus operandi adopted in influencing the German deal and how the accused misused information, leading to actions under the Official Secrets Act, and to determine if there were any more kickbacks, leading to the proceeds of crime linked with these activities.

The ED, in its chargesheet filed against Michel in June 2016, had alleged that he had received 30 million (about Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland.

The CBI, in its chargesheet, has alleged an estimated loss of 398.21 million (about Rs 2,666 crore) to the exchequer in the deal that was signed on February 8, 2010 for the supply of VVIP choppers worth 556.262 million.
Source:

Last updated on: January 05, 2019 20:33 IST

Violence involving Bharatiya Janata Party-Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist rocked parts of Kerala, particularly Kannur district, on Saturday with several houses and shops of rival leaders and workers being attacked over the Sabarimala issue.

Besides Kannur, Perambra in neighbouring Kozhikode, Malappuram and Adoor in Pathanamthitta, where the Ayyappa shrine is located, also witnessed a series of similar attacks and vandalism on Friday night and in the early hours Saturday.

IMAGE: The residence of Thalassery MLA A N Shamseer in Kannur. Photograph: ANI

Bombs were hurled at several places, including at the houses of CPI-M MLA A N Shamseer in Madapeedikayil, BJP leader and Rajya Sabha member V Muraleedharan at Vadiyil Peedikia and former Kannur district secretary of CPI-M P Sasi at Thalassery in Kannur district past midnight, police said.

No one was injured in the attacks.

As police struggled to control the situation, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan lashed out at the RSS, saying the Sangh Parivar was trying to create fear in peoples minds.

The Congress hit out, asking why the Left government failed to stop the RSS from creating trouble.

In another development, a peace meeting called by the Revenue Divisional Officer at Adoor in Pathanamthitta district was boycotted by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

BJP claimed that they decided to stay away as the police failed to arrest the accused in connection with the death of Chandran Unnithan, a Sabarimala Karma Samiti member who, they alleged, was killed in stone-pelting on January 3.

Talking tough, Vijayan said, State will deal with the RSS violence sternly. They are trying to destroy the peace and tranquility of the state. We will take strong action against it. Its the RSS agenda to create fear in the minds of the people, Vijayan told reporters, adding that it will not be allowed.

He said people of the state have shown restraint.

The RSS workers were attacking houses of MLAs, and other leaders. Their only aim and route is violence. The law and order system of the state will take care of it, he said.

Senior congress leader Ramesh Chennithala alleged the state police had failed to maintain law and order.

DGP himself has accepted this. Why has government failed to stop the BJP from creating violence? Chennithala asked.

State minister and CPI-M leader G Sudhakaran courted controversy calling Sabarimala temples Tantri (chief priest), a Brahmin monster for conducting a purification ceremony after two women in the menstrual age group entered the shrine.

Two women, Kanakadurga, 44, and Bindu, 42, entered the shrine and offered prayers on Wednesday, breaking a centuries-old tradition.

Following this, the tantri, Kandaru Rajeevaru, closed the sanctum sanctorum to perform the purification ceremony.

IMAGE: Protesters scuffle with police during a protest against state government for allowing two women to defy an ancient ban and enter the Sabarimala temple. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

In Delhi, BJP national spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao hit out at the CPI-M state leadership and said the violence around the hill shrine was unleashed by the LDF government, which, instead of dealing with it in a sensible way, wreaked havoc, resulting in devotees being hurt and even killed.

Meanwhile, Pathanamthitta district collector has extended prohibitory orders at Sabarimla till Makaravilakku festival on January 14. Prohibitory orders were already imposed at various places in the state including Nedumangadu, Adoor, Pandalam, and Kodumon.

As violence erupted, V Muraleedharans ancestral home was attacked hours after bombs were thrown at the homes of Shamseer and Sasi when leaders of the Marxist party and BJP-RSS were attending a peace meeting here.

The attacks, which disrupted normal life, marked return of political violence on large-scale after a gap of over a year in the sensitive district.

Kerala has been rocked by violent protests by BJP-RSS and right wing outfits after two women of menstruating age offered prayers at the Ayyappa temple on January 2.

As violence continued to disrupt life in Kannur and other places, state police chief Loknath Behera sounded a state-wide alert and gave direction to take stern action against those responsible for attacks on houses of party leaders.

According to Behara, 1286 cases have been registered till Saturday night and 3282 people arrested in connection with the violent incidents since the Januaury 3 hartal called against the entry of two women into the hill temple. Of the arrested, 487 have been remanded and 2,795 granted bail.

A police release said patrolling and raids had been intensified across Kannur. Police carried out a route march on Saturday morning in Thalassery, where 19 people had been arrested and 33 taken into preventive custody.

Police said stone pelting incidents were reported against a march taken out by DYFI and BJP office in Kannur district on Saturday evening, but none was injured.

It has been decided that no marches would be allowed to be taken out on Saturday night and Sunday, according to police. In another incident, miscreants set fire to an office of the RSS in Pariyaram area in the morning, police said.

A CPI-M worker was attacked at Perumbara in Iritty in the district on Friday night while RSS leader K Chandrasekharan was assaulted in Thalassery and his house ransacked allegedly by around 25 Marxist workers.

With the tension continuing, the CPI-M and BJP-RSS leaderships blamed each other for the violent attacks.

CPI-M state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram that the RSS was trying to trigger riot in the state and sabotage peace talks.

The RSS-BJP combine was turning temples and educational institutions managed by them as armoury, he alleged, adding the ruling party would take the initiative to restore peace in violence-hit areas.

Countering the charges, V Muraleedharan said the incidents of violence were the tactics of the ruling CPI-M to divert attention from the controversies and protests over the violation of the traditional customs at the Sabarimala temple.

The entry of two women into the hill shrine on Wednesday, the first time since the Supreme Court in September last year lifted the age-linked ban on the entry of women devotees, has triggered massive protests in Kerala.

Located in north Kerala, Kannur has been the hotbed of political violence especially between the CPI-M and BJP and witnessed bloody clashes and killings over the years.

In Kannur district, 169 cases have been registered and 230 people arrested, while in Palakkad 166 cases have been registered and 298 people held, police said.
Source:

January 05, 2019 20:13 IST

Fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi, a prime accused in the Punjab National Bank fraud case, told a court on Saturday that Punjab National Bank gave colour of criminality to usual civil banking transactions to hide its own poor performance.

Modis lawyer filed his reply to the Enforcement Directorates plea seeking to declare the diamond merchant a fugitive under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act before a special court.

Even though it has been attempted to be portrayed that a grave act has been committed by the accused, in reality, the same is a usual civil banking transaction, having been given a colour of criminality, the reply said.

It can be said that the motivation for the prosecution by the PNB is the desire of the bank to avoid its liability towards its co-bankers and put the blame to avoid any criticism regarding poor financial performance by PNB, it alleged.

Modi also reiterated that he cannot return to India due to safety concerns and also because his case has been politicised.

He feared for his safety given the violent threats made against him as illustrated by the burning of his effigies, the reply said.

Statements made by politicians from all parties showed that they had prejudged the issue of his guilt and his case was being used for political purposes, it added.

While he left the country long before a case was registered against him, the ED tried to falsely implicate him for offences backed by shallow claims, Modis reply said.

The fugitive diamond merchant also claimed to have duly replied to the EDs summons.

According to the ED, Modi failed to respond to its summons thrice, after which it filed the plea under the FEOA.

The ED did not mention that he had stated in his reply that he could not travel as his passport had been revoked, Modi said.

According to the Central Bureau of Investigation, Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi cheated Punjab National Bank of Rs 14,000 crore by fraudulently securing Letters of Undertaking to obtain credit overseas.
January 05, 2019 12:25 IST

'We have had 27 years of liberalisation and in the same period Korea and Japan and China transformed themselves forever,' says Aakar Patel.

IMAGE: The Ebisubashi bridge and the crowded streets near the Dontonbori shopping plaza in Tokyo. Photographs: Siddarth Rajawade

I am writing this from Japan and Korea, both ancient Asian cultures like ours and it gives one the opportunity to compare them with us.

Today Korea has a per capita income of six times that of India's and Japan has a per capita income which is seven times that of India's.

As many readers will know, the difference between us and them was not that great a few decades ago.

Seoul, the capital of South Korea, got its first elevator in a building in 1968. Mumbai had elevators for many years before that.

The Jongno area in Seoul was where their industrial growth began, with small machine tooling shops that still exist.

In the 1980s they took off and followed the classic path to becoming a developed economy. They first did light manufacturing and textiles, which are high-employment but low margin businesses.

When I joined my family's polyester yarn business in Surat, the imports were often from Korea.

Then they got into heavy industries, and finally they got into the highest end of electronics.

Today Samsung makes the screens that even Apple products use. Traditional and small Korean companies became global giants in this period.

The company Lucky Goldstar, which made television sets, renamed itself LG and today is a brand recognised around the world along with Hyundai and other Korean firms.

Japan followed the same path slightly earlier. It has already the capacity to make large warships and advanced aeroplanes about 90 years ago.

After its defeat in 1945 following the use of atom bombs by American president Harry S Truman, the Japanese decided to give up their militarism and focus on their economy.

They originally made cheap cars which were copies and were laughed at in the West. Today the number one and number two best selling four door cars in the United States are Toyota and Honda.

Japanese-made guitars and pianos, once very cheaply made, are today the best in the world.

IMAGE: Victoria's Secret model Bella Hadid goofing in Seoul, South Korea. Photograph: Kind courtesy Bella Hadid

Like India and Pakistan, Korea and Japan hated each other. Japan occupied Korea for many years till 1945.

Japanese soldiers abused tens of thousands of Korean women (many who are still alive) in this period.

Korea itself is partitioned like India into two countries, which have a dangerous border and the threat of nuclear weapons, just like ours.

But South Korea and China (which was also occupied by Japan around the same period) made peace with Japan. Today the majority of tourists in Japan are Chinese and Korean.

The differences exist, but they have been set aside to ensure the economic progress of their populations.

The other interesting thing is how they did it. Both Japan and Korea leaned on their own culture. Almost nobody speaks English in Japan but that does not stop it from being modern.

Their effort at improving themselves through their own culture is by focusing on the internal positives. The Japanese way of manufacturing and quality control is today borrowed by the Western world.

They have changed their nationalism, and turned away from hating their neighbours and their minorities. Large numbers of Koreans live in Tokyo today and Osaka today.

Both had a limited engagement with the West and were occupied by America for a few years after 1945. We were occupied by the British for much longer.

The Koreans and the Japanese learned from this engagement and used it to improve themselves by refining their own culture. Their elites don't speak English. Their nationalism has not focused on hating and harming their minorities.

We should examine our history and see what we did differently to land up in the space we have compared to our Asian neighbours.

Korea has become a big economic power only in the last 30 years. India's prime minster blames Nehru, who died in 1964. We have had 27 years of liberalisation and in the same period Korea and Japan and China transformed themselves forever.

How much of our nationalism is focused on refining our culture?

To answer that, ask yourself how often our nationalist party talks about Indian music and literature and Indian architecture and art and what is done to use it to improve our lives.

India's nationalism has focused on its religious minorities. This has produced two results.

The first is that it produces continuous internal strife of high order. The results are in the media daily.

Second that it doesn't address the primary challenge of engaging with modernity through our own culture.

It is negative and not positive. It seeks to disrupt the lives of Indian citizens and not improve them.

This is why we remain where we are, despite having as rich a history and culture as all of those Asian nations that have succeeded in delivering a better and more prosperous life for their citizens.

Aakar Patel -- winner of the 2018 Prem Bhatia Award for Political Reporting -- is Executive Director, Amnesty International India. The views expressed here are his own.
January 05, 2019 14:11 IST

How can a chief minister shrug off his responsibility not just for the illegality taking place under his nose but also for the lives that are likely lost? asks Aditi Phadnis.

IMAGE: NDRF personnel at the disaster site. Photograph: Anuwar Hazarika/Reuters

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has said that he has always been aware that illegal mining has been going on in his state and while everything was being done to extricate miners trapped in one of the many 'rat-hole/ mines in the state, it wasn't anyone's fault: The situation was just too difficult.

This is fit to take your breath away. How can a chief minister simply shrug off his responsibility: Not just for the illegality taking place under his nose that he admits to knowing about but also for the lives that are likely lost?

But then Meghalaya, the tiny state, makes for high stake politics.

Research by the Delhi-based Association for Democratic Reforms reveals that of a total 370 candidates who contested the 2018 Meghalaya assembly elections, only 4 per cent filed income tax returns.

Forty one per cent of the candidates reported they had assets of Rs 10 million and above. And just by way of illustration, Ngaitlang Dhar contested as a Congress candidate in 2013 and reported movable assets amounting Rs 250 million.

In 2018, he contested from the National People's Party and his movable assets amounted to Rs 720 million.

Presumably illegal mining on which no taxes are paid, no permissions are necessary and everyone is involved, is one source of income. This is probably why politics, a major source of influence, is such a lucrative profession in the state.

But what is the politics of Meghalaya about, apart from income?

The principal rivalry is between the Khasi and Garo tribes, with those from the Lushai Hills coming in the way.

The first is represented by the now retired D D Lapang, the second by the Sangma clan and the third by gentleman politician P R Kyndiah till he died in 2015.

The tension between these three regions constitutes the politics in the state.

The most famous Meghalaya politician would have to be Purno Aitok Sangma, former Speaker of the Lok Sabha, who was with the Congress until Sharad Pawar of the Nationalist Congress Party plucked him out from there.

In 2012, friends and some enemies egged on Purno Sangma to contest the post of President of India. His daughter Agatha had contested the Lok Sabha seat he had vacated in 2004 and won it. She was quickly sworn in as minister of state for rural development in the Manmohan Singh government.

When Sangma decided to contest against the Congress candidate, Agatha had to resign -- the NCP was part of the UPA and committed to backing Pranab Mukherjee, the man who finally became President of India.

Sangma himself quit the NCP to float the National People's Party.

Before he died in 2016, Sangma had launched his two sons Conrad and James -- 40 and 42 -- in politics. In 2008, as dynasties go, the Sangma dynasty had done pretty well for itself.

Between P A Sangma, Conrad and James, the Sangma family controlled 5% of the 60-member Assembly. Conrad was thought to be the well-spoken, highly ambitious, son of a famous father in the area.

In 2018, the NPP won 19 seats in the 60-member Meghalaya assembly. Conrad fashioned an alliance of other smaller parties including two BJP MLAs. This is in power now, but party loyalties in Meghalaya are ephemeral and crossing the floor takes no effort at all.

So what happens now?

Does the BJP, admittedly as only a minor ally, accept its responsibility in sending innocents to their death?

Will the central government intervene to ask Conrad to come down on illegal mining with a heavy hand?

What if he chooses to ignore the advice and simply changes alliance partners?

Then what happens to the Meghalaya leg of the BJPs bigger project in the North East?

Right now, subtle power play is going on.

Conrad Sangma has let it generally be known that he had kept the Centre in the loop on the mining 'accident' by seeking help from Kiren Rijiju, minister of state for home affairs, also from the north east (Arunachal Pradesh).

So in a sense, the blame game has begun.

The chances are the BJP will be patient for the moment: Too many alliance partners are walking out for comfort. And it is in everyone's political interests to see the end to the current crisis.

As to the structural problem of illegal mining -- no doubt, that will be considered some other time.
Posted Friday, January 4, 2019 7:08 pm

Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia

Committees:

 Ranking member: Ways and Means

 Labor and Commerce

 Financial Institutions

 Economic Development and Trade

Q: What are your top priorities for this legislative session?

A: Improve mental health care and treatment. In 2019 we need to make the investments and policy changes necessary to correct our states failure to provide effective mental health treatment and care. Funding or policy changes alone will not solve these problems and patients and taxpayers must know that more money is tied to a long-term plan, clear goals, and accountability.

 Provide ample and accessible special education funding. In recent years, the Legislature has made significant progress by resuming its role as sole provider for basic education. But there is more we must do to ensure the state is paying the right amount of the cost to provide a high-quality education to all special education students. We also must remove existing barriers for school districts to receive the funds they need for especially high-needs students.

 Reject calls for billions of dollars in higher taxes. The governor proposed raising state taxes by $5.4 billion per two-year budget and advocated for a $2.1 billion increase in local education property taxes. This comes at a time when the state budget is already set to grow by 9 percent without new taxes, by using the billions of dollars already coming into the state due to strong economic growth. It is clear we can fund our priorities without raising taxes on Washington residents and employers.

Q: Are you planning on sponsoring any specific bills?

A: I am still working with community members, stakeholders, and staff on specific legislation addressing a variety of issues including mental health treatment, flood protection, special education, financial sustainability, tax reduction, and more. Once these are finalized over the next few months I will submit these bills for consideration by the full Legislature. Also, as the ranking Republican on the Senate Ways and Means Committee, much of my work goes into advocating for the best use of existing revenue and building a sustainable operating budget without adding additional taxes.

Q: State Growth Management Act: Is there anything in the current law you would like to see changed? Conversely, is there anything of note you want to keep the status quo in the Act?

A: Reforms to the states Growth Management Act, ranging from very small to comprehensive, have been discussed quite a bit in recent years with little action. As with any law that is more than 25 years old, I agree we should revisit it to see if the intended goals are being met and if not, make necessary changes. This is especially important given the many changes in our state since 1990.

I would also like to implement reforms that provide more predictability for builders in order to reduce the cost of constructing housing and job centers.

Q: Local taxpayers were hit hard with new property levies this year. Given its a budgetary session in 2019, what do you feel deserves more statewide funding and what could use a little less?

A: Washington state is going through a significant transition in how we pay for public schools, including the use of education property tax levies. In 2017, the Legislature passed a bipartisan overhaul that transitioned our state from an overreliance on local levies to a more equitable system. Because of negotiations with legislative Democrats this meant an increase in the state education property tax rate in 2018 before local levies are capped in 2019. The long term result of this plan is that more than 70 percent of state residents are already slated to see a net education property tax reduction beginning in 2019. While this property tax reform will serve Washington well in the long term due to more equitable school funding and tax rates, I remain disappointed we did not take advantage of our strong economic growth to avoid the one-year increase in property taxes. I believe the one-year increase in property taxes was unnecessary and I sponsored legislation to prevent it.

The investments we made in education already put us on track to significantly increase overall investments in schools this year, but there are smaller areas like special education that still need to be addressed. Additionally, mental health treatment and the facilities to provide care will also need more statewide funding in the upcoming years. I will also be working on ways to have the state make more investments in flood protection and water projects that are important to our 20th District community.

There are hundreds of areas inside the operating budget, which will likely exceed $50 billion dollars for the 2019-21 budget cycle, where we can bend the cost curve and demand better efficiency from our state government. This will require tedious, long term study of our current budget and agency proposals, but is necessary to ensure we maximize the use of taxpayer dollars. I remain hopeful that the current Senate and House majorities will be open to the careful preparation process we have used over the last three biennium to build a sustainable budget that does not require additional taxes.

Q: Last year the Legislature tried to rush through a bill that to many would have hindered transparency within state government. What steps can or will you take in order to promote transparency and trust between Olympia and the taxpaying public?

A: The bill passed during the 2018 legislative session, which was subsequently vetoed by the governor, followed a 2017 lawsuit by a coalition of media members attempting to determine if state legislators were subject to the Public Records Act. For decades, legal counsel for the Legislature advised members of the Senate and House they were not subject to the requirements originally passed by voters in 1972.

However, a 2018 superior court ruling indicated that lawmakers are subject to the requirements and the case is currently under appeal to the state Supreme Court. Members of the media  the plaintiffs  are currently in the process of filing briefs with the Court after which representatives of the Legislature  the defendant  will have a chance to respond. Once that process is complete, the state Supreme Court will set a date to hear oral arguments before ultimately deciding the outcome.

While I believe the bill we passed defining what records would be made publicly available was better than the existing practice of providing nothing, I share the publics concern that the process  which Senate Republicans had no control over  was incredibly flawed. Regardless of the outcome of the court case, residents of our state made it clear they want their state lawmakers to be more transparent.

Q: One of the biggest concerns among locals is keeping a particular aesthetic in Clark County while still pursuing economic avenues that promote or keep the regions independence. Is there anything at the state level that can be done in order to maintain a balance between rural charm and more urban, industrial development?

A: I do not believe there is a legislative solution to this challenge. On principle I believe the best we can do is provide as much local authority as possible and in doing so allow local governments the flexibility to build the type of community their citizens desire.

Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama

Committees:

 Ranking member: Finance

 Agriculture and Natural Resources

 Transportation

Q: What are your top priorities for this legislative session?

A:  Balance the operating budget with existing revenues.

 Fight against any new or increased taxes on individuals, families, and employers.

 Protect natural resources industries.

 Expand manufacturing jobs.

 Explore options for local transportation solutions.

Q: Are you planning on sponsoring any specific bills?

A: Yes. I am in the process of working with my policy staff on ideas and bill-drafting. Please stay tuned.

Q: State Growth Management Act: Is there anything in the current law you would like to see changed? Conversely, is there anything of note you want to keep the status quo in the Act?

A: I am hoping the majority party is open to reforming the Growth Management Act in meaningful ways. Its long overdue. We have seen implementation problems with the GMA, as some try to prevent growth rather than manage growth. This has prevented rural economic development and affordable housing in many areas of our state. I plan to work with my colleagues to improve economic development in rural areas and protect private property rights.

Q: Local taxpayers were hit hard with new property levies this year. Given its a budgetary session in 2019, what do you feel deserves more statewide funding and what could use a little less?

A: The good news is, local levies are scheduled to drop in 2019 to offset the increase in the state levy. Our mental health system, special education, and wildfire prevention and response deserve more funding in the operating budget. As for reductions, we should go line-by-line in the operating budget to determine the effectiveness and efficiency of state programs and services. The results of this effort should guide our budget-reduction decisions.

Q: Last year the Legislature tried to rush through a bill that to many would have hindered transparency within state government. What steps can or will you take in order to promote transparency and trust between Olympia and the taxpaying public?

A: My door is always open to meet with constituents. I try to respond to every phone call, email and letter I receive from those I represent. Anyone can sign up for my email updates, watch my video updates or listen to my radio appearances on my legislative website. TVW (our states equivalent to C-SPAN) offers comprehensive coverage of committee hearings, House and Senate floor action, and other activities involving the Legislature. The Legislatures website also offers all kinds of information related to the House and Senate, laws and agency rules, bill information, agendas and schedules, committees, legislative agencies, and civic education. There are many windows into our citizen Legislature.

I voted for a bill last year that would have required state lawmakers to provide their calendars, communications with lobbyists and final disciplinary actions taken by the Legislature. The governor vetoed it. I will carefully consider any open-records legislation that comes before me next year. Im committed to more transparency, without sacrificing constituent privacy.

Q: One of the biggest concerns among locals is keeping a particular aesthetic in Clark County while still pursuing economic avenues that promote or keep the regions independence. Is there anything at the state level that can be done in order to maintain a balance between rural charm and more urban, industrial development?

A: I believe diversifying Clark Countys economy and creating new jobs continue to be important goals. I also understand why its important to preserve the rural charm of the region. Ultimately, its up to local governments and local leaders  with direct input from residents  to find the right balance. The Legislature and state agencies should help enable  not create barriers for  these local decisions. One way to preserve the rural charm of Clark County and other areas of our state is to allow private landowners to continue to farm and manage timber  and not regulate them out of their ability to do so.

Rep. Richard DeBolt, R-Chehalis

Committees:

 Ranking member: House Capital Budget Committee

 House Environment and Energy

 Health Care and Wellness

Q: What are your top priorities for this legislative session? Are you planning on sponsoring any specific bills?

A: There is a well-known digital divide between rural and urban areas when it comes to broadband access. We need to eliminate the gap. For the upcoming 2019 session, Im drafting a bill that would help rural areas get better internet connectivity, more capacity and better speeds. For residents living in rural regions, this would help meet a crucial need. Faster broadband also benefits businesses, enabling them to grow and create more jobs for our communities.

Democrats want a cost-increasing, job-killing carbon tax. Individuals and families shouldnt be forced to bear the burden of our states clean energy future. Im drafting a solution, similar to last years House Bill 2283, that offers a carrot instead of a hammer. Instead of forcing businesses to pay even more in taxes, my proposal provides incentives for reducing carbon emissions. It encourages investments in carbon reduction  including electric vehicle charging stations and forest health management. All new energy resources and production would need to be 100 percent clean. It also would keep energy and utility costs low.

Finally, Im continuing to focus on finding solutions for water: how to store it, where we use it, and how to prevent flooding.

Q: State Growth Management Act: Is there anything in the current law you would like to see changed? Conversely, is there anything of note you want to keep the status quo in the Act?

A: Id like to see a bill approved that allows counties with a population of less than 150,000 to be able to opt-out of the state Growth Management Act.

Q: Local taxpayers were hit hard with new property levies this year. Given its a budgetary session in 2019, what do you feel deserves more statewide funding and what could use a little less?

A: Despite record revenue collections, the governor is asking for $3.7 billion in new taxes. Instead of taking more money from hard working individuals and families, we should be looking at a way to give them a break on their property taxes.

Next, before approving any other appropriations, the Legislature should be required to pass a K-12 education budget. The concept is simple, but effective. By funding education first, its elevated to the highest priority in the budget process  ensuring it gets properly funded each budget cycle.

Finally, there needs to be a better commitment to quality and broadened access to frontline mental health services. We need to make significant investments into mental healthcare and community facilities.

Q: One of the biggest concerns among locals is keeping a particular aesthetic in Clark County while still pursuing economic avenues that promote or keep the regions independence. Is there anything at the state level that can be done in order to maintain a balance between rural charm and more urban, industrial development?

A: Its true, urban area growth is encroaching on more rural areas of Clark County. While we need to protect this beautiful region, nothing dampens the aesthetic charm more than not being able to work and provide for your family. People need family-wage jobs. Although some people may disagree with me, I believe we can diversify and grow the economy while still pursuing best practices in caring for the environment and protecting our rural way of life.
January 05, 2019 09:00 IST

Realising that international shoppers are a good source of business, a few big international retailers have tied up with logistics companies to offer lower shipping and handling charges.

Here's a quick guide to navigating and ordering from global websites.

Shop in Paris, London, New York, Hong Kong... from Mumbai. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/Reuters.

Early adopters and trendsetters often want to buy products that are not available in India yet.

One option for them is to purchase them during a trip abroad, or ask someone to get it for them when coming to India.

Those who dont want to wait also have the option of buying from well-known international e-commerce websites and getting the goods shipped to them.





A courier man out with Christmas deliveries. Photograph: Carlo Allegri/Reuters.

During the Cyber Monday sales that ended recently, Abhishek Sharma saw a smartwatch that was yet to be launched in India. It was available at a discount on the Amazon US site, ie, Amazon.com. After confirming that it comes with an international warranty, he ordered the smartwatch. The total cost Sharma paid, including shipping and customs, came to $199.

The price is lower than what I would pay in India. Also, I got it months before its launch here, says Sharma.



In most cases, however, shopping on global e-commerce websites doesnt work out to be cheaper than buying a similar product in India. Individuals nonetheless do so either because the product is unavailable here or they want to be sure about its genuineness.

According to a DHL report on cross-border shopping titled The 21st century spice trade, Indians are increasingly shopping on international e-commerce platforms because they find better quality products there, theres an attractive offer, the product range is more comprehensive, or they trust the website more than other sellers.



Many prefer to shop during sales, like Cyber Monday, to save on costs. During the December holiday season, online retailers run pre- and post-Christmas sales in countries such as the US, the UK, and several other popular destinations for global shopping.

Only a few international online shopping websites charge delivery costs, along with customs duty upfront, as Amazon.com did in Sharma's case. On others, a shopper may struggle to find the shipping charges, customs duty, and currency conversion rate. Understanding all these elements will help you make smarter purchases during the upcoming sales.



Shop more, reduce shipping bill

Realising that international shoppers are a good source of business, a few big international retailers have tied up with logistics companies to offer lower shipping and handling charges. But many popular retailers like Walmart or Best Buy ship only locally. Using the services of a package forwarding company, a shopper can still get the products shipped to his home country .





The conveyor belt at Amazon's logistics centre in Graben near Augsburg, Germany. Photograph: Michaela Rehle/Reuters.

A package forwarding company gives shoppers a local address, where they can get multiple products delivered. The address is usually of a logistic companys warehouse. The package forwarding company will verify the items, re-pack them to save space, and ship it to your address. Most package forwarding companies require shoppers to sign up with them. They charge an annual fee to provide a local address.



These package forwarding companies, too, have tie-ups with courier companies for shipping products. Irrespective of the actual weight of the parcel, individuals are charged a minimum weight. You may be sending 200 grams but you will be charged for 1 kg or 5 kg, depending on what the package forwarding company has negotiated with the courier company. So, whether a shopper sends one item or five, there will be minimum shipping charges. It, therefore, makes sense to shop more, consolidate all the items, and then get them shipped.

Say, you are sending a smartwatch from the US to India using a popular service like Viabox.com. The billable weight they charge is for 5 kg even if you want only one item of 300 gm shipped. It offers courier services from five players starting at $123.38. These companies do offer cheaper options but those take more time to deliver and dont offer parcel tracking facility.



Mind the charges

If you have bought just one or two items, opt for the shipping options offered by the e-commerce websites. Use package forwarding companies only when you have four or five items. Also, check the various charges that the company may levy. There is a registration fee, membership fee, fee for services such as assisted purchase in case your online retailer doesnt accept international cards, consolidation fee, repackaging fee, and so on.

Some companies may also charge extra for insurance of the products. Kavita Krishnan learned this the hard way. She ordered two items for $34.07 from a US website. The courier charged her $24.60 for shipping. Then, there was customs charge of about $26. She ended up paying more in shipping and other charges than the cost of the item.



Using the services of these companies makes sense only if you are a regular shopper on global websites. One-time purchases will be costly.

Another option for shoppers is to get together with friends and split the costs. Most websites have calculators that compute the cost of shipping so an individual can get an idea of the total charges they would need to pay. Go to popular package forwarding companies websites such as Viabox.com, Shipito.com, Borderlinx.com, 1grandtrunk.com, Parcl.com, and Shopandship.com to compare shipping as well as other charges.





Fedex planes move millions of packages of international online shopping, especially in December. Photograph: Lance Murphey/Reuters.

Customs can be complex

If you are importing goods into the country, you have to pay customs duty. A few package forwarding companies display the customs charges upfront and let you pay for it. Most usually deliver the parcel to your house and ask you to pay up the customs duty. Many buyers get shocked on seeing the amount. Understanding how customs duty is levied will save you from nasty surprises later.

Explains Bipin Sapra, partnerindirect taxes, EY: Customs duty has two components -- basic customs duty and integrated goods and services tax. Items imported for personal use attract 10 per cent BCD, which is calculated on the landing cost.

Landing cost includes the price of the product, shipping charges and insurance. If the product costs Rs 1,000 and shipping and insurance is Rs 700, the BCD will be 10 per cent of Rs 1,700, or Rs 170. IGST is levied on the landed cost plus BCD taken together. In the example, it will be levied on Rs 1,870 (Rs 1,700+170).
January 05, 2019 11:45 IST

The National Highways Authority of India will this year witness the highest ever growth out of the last decade.

But Gadkari himself admits his biggest failure as India's roads minister has been his inability to curb loss of life in road accidents.

Megha Manchanda reports.

When Nitin Gadkari rolled up his sleeves in 2014 to get down to building world class highways, he found inspiration in John F Kennedy's quote that 'American roads are not good because America is rich, but America is rich because American roads are good'. That quotation, framed, hangs on the wall of his fifth floor office at Transport Bhawan in the capital.

Since taking charge of the road transport and highways ministry, how has the MP from Nagpur fared?

The answer seems to be 'not too bad'. Compared to the tenure of the three road ministers in the second term of the UPA government who preceded him -- Oscar Fernandes, C P Joshi and Kamal Nath -- Gadkari's performance is a shade better.

The official statistics show that the total length of highways stood at 130,000 km in September 2018, up from 97,300 km when the BJP came to power.

The pace of road construction in 2017-2018 grew to 28 km daily or 70 per cent of Gadkari's target of 41 km, largely on account of timely clearances.

According to official data, the construction pace was sustained during the first quarter of 2018-2019 when it hovered around 26 km.

Perhaps Gadkari's prior experience helped. He executed the Mumbai-Pune Expressway in his capacity as the PWD minister in the Maharashtra government from 1996-1999.

Whatever it was, the National Highways Authority of India will this year witness the highest ever growth out of the last decade (FY2010-FY2019) on execution, credit rating agency ICRA said in a recent report.

The majority of NHAI projects which have been awarded in the past three years are on track and have not encountered any land acquisition challenges, added the report.

"Typically, the physical progress in the first 12 months, post the construction start date, ranges between 20% to 25% and the execution peaks thereafter in the second year in the range of 50% to 75%, with the balance execution in the third year, depending on the construction period and the complexity or scope of a particular project," says Shubham Jain, vice-president & group head, corporate ratings, ICRA.

The notion of setting daily construction targets has to be credited to Kamal Nath, who is now Madhya Pradesh chief minister. Nath's own target was to build 20 km a day. He failed. Around 6 to 8 km of highways were built every day during his tenure.

Joshi kept the same daily target of 20 km, but managed only 10 to 12 km.

Fernandes, who followed, managed to get this up to 17 km a day when he held the portfolio for less than a year from 2013 to 2014.

"The sector's performance was messed up with aggressive bidding by private sector companies, delays in land acquisition on the part of NHAI and banks not doing proper due diligence," says Kushal Kumar Singh, partner, Deloitte India.

"In 2015, only about 1 to 2 companies were financially stable and others were bleeding. This scenario improved as now there are about 15-odd companies which are doing well," Singh adds.

The revival happened after the introduction of the hybrid-annuity model under which the government pumps in 40% equity in the project and the remaining amount has to be arranged by the concessionaire.

Gadkari was also successful in ironing out some of the issues in the sector, for example, the introduction of the quadricycle, which had been planned in 2013, but was delayed over concerns raised by some auto companies such as Tata Motors, TVS, and Maruti Suzuki.

On November 23, Gadkari notified the insertion of the item 'quadricycle' as a 'non-transport' vehicle under the Motor Vehicles Act 1988.

Till then, quadricycle vehicles were only allowed for transport under the Act, but the notification will now allow them to be used as a non-transport or passenger vehicles a view to providing a safe and cheap mode for last mile connectivity.

One area where Gadkari has had less success is reducing the daily carnage on Indian roads. Three persons died every ten minutes in road accidents across India in 2017.

In terms of road categories, the national highways accounted for 30.4% of total road accidents and 36% of deaths in 2017.

Accidents on state highways and other roads constituted 25% and 44.6% respectively.

The Motor Vehicles Bill 2016 was meant to update the 1988 Act by reducing accidents and fatalities by 50%.

It provides for heavier penalties for traffic violations, ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 1 lakh, rationalising third-party insurance, holding parents accountable for juvenile drivers' actions, and setting out clear liability norms for automotive producers in the case of vehicle defects.

But Gadkari has been unable to forge a consensus in Parliament and the bill continues to hang fire. Sources say the key stumbling block is opposition from state governments who fear the bill will dilute their powers.

Gadkari has himself admitted that his biggest failure as India's roads minister has been his inability to curb this loss of life.
he suspect was arrested on April 9 and booked in the Gwinnett County Jail. According to the press release, he was charged with two counts of concealing the death of another and two counts of participating in criminal gang activity.
Sheriff Mike Boudreaux gets sworn in and takes the Oath of Office Thursday, Jan. 3, at Headquarters. The Honorable Gary Paden presided.
Posted Friday, January 4, 2019 7:29 pm

As Twin Transit officials await a ruling by the state Public Disclosure Commission on alleged misuse of public funds in conjunction with the failed ballot initiative to expand its taxing district, emails obtained by The Chronicle show one local official made his opinion known months before the election.

Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer sent an email to County Commissioner Bobby Jackson on Aug. 15 of last year to voice his concerns regarding a website and literature paid for by Twin Transit. State law allows public agencies to create informational materials related to a campaign, but Meyer believed they crossed that line.

After review, this appears as though it may be considered campaign type literature, Meyer wrote. Certainly, although it presents both sides, it does not appear to be informational only. Rather, it seems to be advocating for the passage of the proposed tax.

Meyer sent the email in response to one Jackson sent to numerous government officials and community leaders earlier that day. Derrick Wojcik-Damers, general manager of Twin Transit, had asked Jackson to pass along an email from consulting firm Nelson/Nygaard with links to the informational website and printed materials it created at the behest of Twin Transit.

Jackson said Thursday that he did not agree with Meyers unsolicited opinion and that he took no action as a result of the email. Twin Transit board chair Chad Taylor was unaware of the exchange until asked about it on Wednesday. Wojcik-Damers said he would not be able to comment on an exchange that he was not a part of.

Certain communications between a county prosecutor and county commissioner are protected from public disclosure under attorney-client privilege. Meyer told The Chronicle that while it is arguable the email is privileged, he did not object to its disclosure.

Im not going to get into more detail, because it gets into eventual legal advice I may have given, Meyer said. But, the email says what the email says. I have no reason to think  certainly I didnt put anything I would consider inaccurate in that email.

Meyer said he had not talked to the PDC about his email as of press time.

When provided a copy of the email, PDC Communications Manager Kim Bradford said the agency had not seen the email before and that it she shared it with the compliance officer in charge of the investigation.

Winlock resident Mark Obtinario filed the complaint against Twin Transit on Oct. 24 of last year alleging the materials dissemination by Twin Transit were intended to advocate for passage of a tax measure that would have funded expansion of the transit agency.

Twin Transit attorney Janean Parker submitted a response to the PDC complaint in November that states The materials that are the subject of this complaint were produced by and for Twin Transit and contain an objective and fair presentation of the facts concerning the impact of the ballot measure.

The PDC has 90 days from the date a complaint is filed to make an initial finding. It can determine the issue raised to be unfounded, a minor violation, appropriate for further investigation or warranting referral to the state attorney general.

Bradford said the PDC has until Jan. 22 to make a determination.
Traverse City, MI (49684)

Today

A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Some clouds. Low near 55F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Some clouds. Low near 55F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
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By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 01/04/2019



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

star Ashley Martson has clarified when and where her wedding to Jay Smith took place.There has been some confusion over when Ashley and Jay actually tied the knot, with rumors swirling online about three possible occasions.While 's sixth season showed the couple canceling their big local wedding and deciding to elope in Las Vegas, a marriage certificate could not be found in Nevada records.In addition, photos had surfaced online from what appeared to be a wedding ceremony showing Ashley and Jay posing with the ocean and palm trees in the background -- a setting which certainly didn't look like the Las Vegas landscape."I know there are some rumors, so I spoke with TLC they would like me to clarify: We scheduled our original wedding on the 88th day after Jay arrived to America," Ashley wrote Thursday on Instagram, sharing a copy of her marriage license."Due to canceling our original wedding plans so last minute (as you saw on the show during the wedding registry incident) and having my kids that weekend, we could not go to Vegas before the 90 days were up."The "wedding registry incident" was when the couple's wedding website was bombarded with racist comments about their interracial union and threats of violence.Fearing for their safety, Ashley determined she wanted to marry Jay in private, in a way where no one could ruin their special day."Jay and I went to City Hall in Harrisburg, PA, said our vows, then flew out to Vegas for an actual ceremony a week later," Ashley continued in her post."This is why no one can find a public certificate in the Vegas records. I hope this gives you all some clarification! Please don't mind my kids juice box spill on the certificate! #momlife #married #90dayfiance #tlc #receipts."Ashley's marriage certificate reads that "on May 16, 2018, at Upper Allen Township Conroy St Christopher Smith and Ashley Elizabeth Martson were by [retired district justice Ronald E. Klair] united in marriage, in accordance with the license issued by the Clerk of the Orphans' Court Division of the Court of Common Pleas of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania."As for the photos that appeared to show the couple getting married a tropical wedding, Jay also previously posted an Instagram explanation that the pair participated in a 2017 commitment ceremony in his native country of Jamaica so his family and friends could attend.The ceremony, however, was more of a spiritual and emotional event, not a legally-binding marriage.couple Eric Rosenbrook and Leida Margaretha had a similar commitment ceremony in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2017. Fans speculated the couple had gotten married before Leida's arrival in the United States, but Eric assured fans the ceremony was strictly for "symbolic" purposes.Ashley, Jay, Eric and Leida starred on Season 6 of , and the show's reunion special is set to air on Sunday, January 6 on TLC.Ashley and Jay's relationship has been on the rocks ever since Ashley discovered Jay had been active on Tinder, looking for other women and communicating with them.While Ashley was completely devastated over Jay's cheating and thought about leaving him entirely, it's unclear what exactly the status of their relationship is now.Ashley has declined to directly confirm the couple's current status, however based on their recent social-media activity the couple appears to have split just before Christmas.
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WASHINGTON (AP)  Cheering Democrats returned Nancy Pelosi to the House speakers post Thursday as the 116th Congress ushered in a historically diverse freshman class eager to confront President Donald Trump in a new era of divided government.

Pelosi, elected speaker 220-192, took the gavel saying U.S. voters demanded a new dawn in the November election that swept the Democrats to a House majority and are looking to the beauty of our Constitution to provide checks and balances on power. She faced 15 dissenting votes from fellow Democrats.

For a few hours, the promise of a new era was the order of the day. The new speaker invited scores of lawmakers kids to join her on the dais as she was sworn in, calling the House to order on behalf of all of Americas children.

Even Trump congratulated her during a rare appearance at the White House briefing room, saying her election by House colleagues was a tremendous, tremendous achievement. The president has tangled often with Pelosi and is sure to do so again with Democrats controlling the House, but he said, I think itll be a little bit different than a lot of people are thinking.

As night fell, the House quickly got to work on the partial government shutdown, which was winding up Day 13 with Trump demanding billions in Mexican border wall funding to bring it to an end. Democrats approved legislation to re-open the government  but without the $5.6 billion in wall money, which means it has no chance in the Republican Senate.

The new Congress is like none other. There are more women than ever before, and a new generation of Muslims, Latinos, Native Americans and African-Americans is creating a House more aligned with the population of the United States. However, the Republican side in the House is still made up mostly of white men, and in the Senate Republicans bolstered their ranks in the majority.

In a nod to the moment, Pelosi, the first female speaker who reclaimed the post she lost to the GOP in 2011, broadly pledged to make Congress work for all Americans  addressing kitchen table issues at a time of deep economic churn  even as her party readies to challenge Trump with investigations and subpoena powers that threaten the White House agenda.

Pelosi promised to restore integrity to government and outlined an agenda to lower health costs and prescription drug prices and protect people with pre-existing medical conditions; to increase paychecks by rebuilding America with green and modern infrastructure from sea to shining sea.

The day unfolded as one of both celebration and impatience. Newly elected lawmakers arrived, often with friends and families in tow, to take the oath of office and pose for ceremonial photos. Then they swiftly turned to the shutdown.

Vice President Mike Pence swore in newly elected senators, but Senate Republicans under Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had no plans to consider the House bills unless Trump agreed to sign them into law. That ensured the shutdown would continue, clouding the first days of the new session.

McConnell said that Republicans have shown the Senate is fertile soil for big, bipartisan accomplishments, but that the question is whether House Democrats will engage in good governance or political performance art.

Its a time of stark national political division that some analysts say is on par with the Civil War era. Battle lines are drawn not just between Democrats and Republicans but within the parties themselves, splintered by their left and right flanks.

Pelosi defied history in returning to the speakers office after eight years in the minority, overcoming internal opposition from Democrats demanding a new generation of leaders. She will be the first to regain the gavel since Sam Rayburn of Texas in 1955.

Putting Pelosis name forward for nomination, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the incoming Democratic caucus chair, recounted her previous accomplishments  passing the Affordable Care Act, helping the country out of the Great Recession  as preludes to her next ones. He called her leadership unparalleled in modern American history.

One Democrat, Rep. Brenda Lawrence of Michigan, cast her vote for Pelosi on the shoulders of women who marched 100 years ago for womens suffrage. Newly elected Rep. Lucy McBath of Georgia, an anti-gun violence advocate, dedicated hers to her slain teenage son, Jordan Davis.

As speaker, Pelosi will face challenges from the partys robust wing of liberal newcomers, including 29-year-old New Yorker Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who has risen to such prominence she is already known around the Capitol  and on her prolific social media accounts  by the nickname AOC. California Rep. Brad Sherman introduced articles of impeachment against Trump, though for now the measures are largely symbolic.

Republicans face their own internal battles as they decide how closely to tie their political fortunes to Trump. House GOP leader Kevin McCarthys name was put into nomination for speaker by his partys caucus chair, Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, the daughter of the former vice president. He faced six no votes from his now-shrunken GOP minority.

As McCarthy passed the gavel to Pelosi he said voters wonder if Congress is still capable of solving problems, and said this period of divided government is no excuse for gridlock.

One office remains disputed as the House refused to seat Republican Mark Harris of North Carolina amid an investigation by state election officials of irregularities in absentee ballots from the November election.

Many GOP senators are up for re-election in 2020 in states where voters have mixed views of Trumps performance in the White House.

Trump, whose own bid for 2020 already is underway, faces potential challenges from the ranks of Senate Democrats under Chuck Schumer.

The halls of the Capitol were bustling with arrivals, children in the arms of many new lawmakers. Visitor galleries included crooner Tony Bennett and rock legend Mickey Hart, both guests of Pelosi. Incoming White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, a former congressman, sat with Republican leaders.

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., opened the House prayer asking at a time fraught with tribalism at home and turbulence abroad that lawmakers become the architects of a kindlier nation.

Overnight, Democratic Rep-elect Ilhan Omar of Minnesota tweeted a picture with her family at the airport. The House rules were being changed to allow Omar, who is Muslim, to wear a head scarf on the chamber floor. She wrote, 23 years ago, from a refugee camp in Kenya, my father and I arrived at an airport in Washington DC. Today, we return to that same airport on the eve of my swearing in as the first Somali-American in Congress.

___

Associated Press writers Jill Colvin, Matthew Daly, Alan Fram, Kevin Freking, Mary Clare Jalonick, Laurie Kellman and Zeke J. Miller contributed to this report.
We all need a bit of magic from time to time, Maud Gage Baum says to the young Judy Garland in Elizabeth Lettss new novel, Finding Dorothy (Ballantine, Feb.). Maudthe widow of Wizard of Oz creator L. Frank Baum and the indefatigable central character of Lettss storyis a woman profoundly familiar with both the importance of magic and the endless challenges of creating it. Warm, articulate, and fiercely intelligent, Letts feels as vibrantly present as if she were sitting across the table, though our conversation is being conducted remotelyLetts in her California home, me in North Carolina.

As a fiction writer, Letts is of course a magic maker. But like Maud Baum, she has a practical side. Though she was a passionate reader who knew from the age of seven or so that she would write a book some day, she honed her skills at other endeavors first. After graduating from college, she taught English in a Moroccan high school as a Peace Corps volunteer, then attended the Yale School of Nursing and became a certified nurse-midwife. Her literary aspirations came back into focus when an old friend mentioned that she had written a book. Wait, Letts remembers thinking, thats my dream, too! In her 40s by that timecoincidentally, the same decade of life in which Baum wrote The Wonderful Wizard of Ozshe realized it was now or never.

Letts happened upon the story at the heart of her first nonfiction book, The Eighty-Dollar Champion (2011), when she came across a memorable image of the award-winning show horse Snowman. As a passionate equestrian herself, she was no stranger to the world of horses. The detailed research involved in writing historical nonfiction was familiar as well: Letts had majored in history during her undergraduate years at Yale, and her professional work had shaped her ability to master complex bodies of information. The process of writing narrative nonfiction, however, felt a bit daunting at first. Your reader wants a fascinating story, but youre stuck within the context of what really happened, she says. It felt like taking an old newspaper, tearing it up into thousands of tiny pieces, and then trying to reassemble them in a fresh yet still accurate way.

Nonfiction offered Letts much satisfactionbut fiction, she says, opened a whole new door. I took a lot of inspiration from Frank Baum when I was writing Finding Dorothy, she says. He believed that there was only a flimsy veil between other worlds and our own. Fiction allows me to push aside that veil. Rather than merely telling readers about my characters, I can step into an imaginary world and inhabit it right beside them.

As a child experiencing Oz through Baums book and the classic MGM film it inspired, Letts counted Dorothy as an invisible friend. Decades later, she was reading the book aloud to her son when its unusual depiction of female characters captured her attention. Dorothy, though only a young girl, was wiser and more whole than the male characters sharing her journey through the Emerald City; whether for good or ill, even the witches were striking in their power. Knowing almost nothing about Baum, Letts found herself wondering how a man who lived much of his life in the 19th century came to imagine such forceful and even subversive figures.

One answer, Letts found in her research, lay in Baums wife. Maud Gage Baum, whom he married in 1882 and to whom the first of his 14 Oz books is dedicated, was the daughter of Matilda Joslyn Gage, an author and suffragist who fought for female enfranchisement alongside Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony. As she researched more, Letts was struck by how prescient Matilda Gages writings were, offering perspectives that still feel strikingly modern today. Though Maud didnt share her mothers activist spirit, she had a formidable strength of her own. Looking at these women, I began to understand how Frank Baum wrote such remarkable female characters. A really new way of thinking about womens roles was percolating in the Baum household, and you can see reflections of it in Oz once you know to look for them.

Matilda, Maud, and Baum himself were all extraordinary characters, but Letts still didnt see a book in the material. That changed when she came across a photograph of Maud on the MGM studio lot with the teenage Judy Garland. Letts discovered that Maud, widowed and in her 70s by that time, served as a consultant during the filming of the movie. But despite the myriad volumes devoted to Oz and its creator, virtually all of which she eventually read, Letts could find almost nothing about Mauds time on set or her relationship with Garland. I wanted to know what happened, she recalls, and the only pathway to knowing what happened was through fiction.

Lettss novel moves fluidly between two phases of Maud Baums life: her long relationship with Frank Baum (from their meeting in 1880 through the completion of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in 1899) and the adaptation of the book into film two decades after Franks death. The larger-than-life Bauma ferociously inventive, optimistic, and talented man who failed in theatrical, publishing, and retailing ventures before Oz became a bestseller in 1900comes effervescently to life in Lettss pages, and his creative vision forges the most obvious link between her novels two narratives. Yet its a chain of female mentorship that forms the most memorable connections in the novel. As the younger Maud raises four sons and keeps her family afloat amid endless financial vicissitudes, she feels a deep bond with Magdalena, her sister Julia Carpenters daughter and one possible inspiration for the character of Dorothy. The Carpenters homesteaded in Dakota Territory, where the Baums also lived for a time. Julia Carpenters diary offered me so many small useful details, and Im grateful to have had the chance to explore the area where they lived myself, Letts says. When I visited the library in Aberdeen, where Frank opened a short-lived store, the staff let me sit and look through boxes of Baum family memorabilia spanning decades of their lives. Mauds lace and stationery, lots of family photographs: it was touching those things, and seeing those places, that really brought the story to life for me.

Decades later, on the bustling set of Oz, Maud attempts to persuade the filmmakers to stay true to her husbands vision and forms a friendship with the young Judy Garland. Unlike Garlands own mother, whose driving ambition precluded maternal succor, Maud appreciates Garlands vulnerability, as well as her gifts. Giving rich voice to Over the Rainbow with a profound and uncannily adult yearning even as she was manipulated by the adults around her, Garland represents a kind of longing Maud recognizes. Garland never really got out from under the pain of her early life. Yet at only 15 or 16, she made immortal a song that really embodies the spirit of hope. That was an incredible achievement, and something that I really wanted to understand in writing about her.

Though its publication coincides with the 80th anniversary of the 1939 Oz film release, Finding Dorothy is timely for another reason. Letts had finished the novel by the time #MeToo hit the headlines, but it presages some of the movements themes, from the predation of powerful film studio executives to the healing available in female support. As our conversation ends, I tell Letts that for me, the books chief women seem to be providing sustenance to daughters both seen and unseen, present and future, related by blood or just by spirit. Thats what we do, Letts says. Nineteenth-century women reformers, those of us todaywe just kind of kick the ball down the field, trying to make a difference for the next generations. This issue, of how the women before us affect our lives, helped draw me to Mauds story. Im glad to find that comes across in my book, and Im hoping this will be a moment when we really move forward as women.
In Merchants of Truth (S&S, Feb. 5), former New York Times executive editor Jill Abramson examines how print newspapers have adapted for online audiences.

The New York Times was facing serious business problems after the financial crisis with the withering of print media. What turned things around?

The key was the decision to do digital subscriptions, to ask readers online to pay. All the so-called smart thinkers said the Times was foolish, that news on the web has to be free. The Times was really the first general-interest newspaper to gain significant revenue from digital readers. It was a gutsy decision.

You oversaw the Timess shift into digital journalism. Was that a clash of civilizations?

Most of the journalists had spent their careers on newspaper rhythms, so writing news stories the instant they happened for social media was a lot to absorb. The web people were called the web people, and some people didnt consider them real journalists.

What did the Times learn from Buzzfeed and Vice?

After you get the story up on the website, you had to promote it on social media platforms, which were becoming giant publishers. Vice was using YouTube and Buzzfeed Facebook to grow huge audiences. At Times news meetings people started talking about clicks or how stories were trending on Chartbeat. Metrics began to influence where stories were placed and how long they stayed up.

To make money, advertising has infiltrated the journalism side. You fought that, didnt you?

They call it native advertising, which mimics news stories. Vice and Buzzfeed were earliest and biggest into native ads. I fought it at the Times, then I was told, stop fighting it, its coming. The Times now has an in-house advertising agency; its called T Studio and its very large. My misgivings have lessened because now subscriptions are the biggest part of revenue, so advertising is not as important.

You write about Buzzfeed and Vice moving into prestige journalism. Given that they started with such radically different models, why did they do that?

One, their leaders grew up. They wanted to class up their brands by doing serious news like the Times and the Washington Post. Two, they needed to keep growing and raising more venture capital.

But the Times and the [Washington] Post are going strong whereas Buzzfeed and Vice seem to be struggling. Why did the dinosaurs beat the upstarts?

Serious journalism is expensive, digital media has grown colder, and raising new venture capital is hard. Buzzfeed and Vice dont make a nickel off news. A point of my book is that if the Times and the Post went away, Buzzfeed and Vice would not be prepared to take their place.
Posted Friday, January 4, 2019 7:19 pm

A driver fled from a Centralia police officer Thursday afternoon before striking a building and taking off on foot, managing to elude capture.

Police have possible information on the suspect, said Sgt. Buddy Croy, who added police hope to stick the suspect with a charge of eluding a police officer and other traffic offenses.

Croy said an officer was on South Pearl Street at around 2:10 p.m., investigating a report of a suspicious person. The cop was driving behind another vehicle, trying to identify the driver, when it sped away from the officer at a high rate of speed. The officer activated his cruisers emergency lights and followed the car, but never caught up, said Croy.

The driver was observed taking a couple of turns other side streets. Shortly after, there was a report of a vehicle striking a building near Umpqua Bank. The suspects vehicle was found in an alley near Iron and Pine streets, said Croy. It had struck a metal building, dealing minor damage. The car was either stuck or stalled, and the driver had run away.

Police looked around the area for the next 30 to 45 minutes, but couldnt find the suspect. A couple people in the area said they saw him on the move, and pointed out which direction he had gone.

Croy said its an ongoing investigation, and theyre following up on possible information on the suspects identity. If identified, he said, they plan to refer him to the Lewis County prosecutors office on a charge of eluding a police officer and for various reckless driving charges.
A grounding component at Western is to give back to our people and community... Were appreciative to Adopt a Highway for the opportunity to assist in keeping our community looking clean and prestigious.

In an industry that lacks a personalized approach, Western International makes it a company goal to tailor their advice to the unique needs of each company they serve. As a business that cares for others, they felt it was an excellent opportunity to join forces with Adopt A Highway Maintenance Corporation.

Andrew Kuo, Managing Director, stated, A grounding component at Western is to give back to our people and community. Weve been fortunate to be in a position where we can help give back to the environment and to communities where we work and live. This includes financial support to programs close to the hearts of our own team members that advocate for and assist veterans, those with special needs, women, children, animals, spiritual and research communities. Were appreciative to Adopt a Highway for the opportunity to assist in keeping our community looking clean and prestigious.

Sponsoring two segments of highway in the California Sponsor A Highway Program shows Western International Securities, Inc.s desire to keep the drivers in Pasadena safe from dangerous roadway obstructions. Maintaining clean roads not only improves highway safety, but it also provides significant benefits to the environment by enhancing sustainability efforts as well.

Western International Securities, Inc. was founded in 1995 with the goal of offering their clients financial advisement while providing a personal touch to the process. Their team is passionate about helping their clients reach commercial success. They have access to some of the most highly regarded research and market analysis that allows them to give their clients the best personalized financial suggestions.

For more information about Western International Securities, Inc. visit: http://www.wisdirect.com

For more information about the California Adopt A Highway Program visit: http://www.adoptahighway.com


Our team is very pleased to complete this transaction, bringing The Redstone Group into the Trinity family of companies. Redstones expertise in chemical risk management and reporting dovetails nicely with Trinitys environmental and life sciences focus."

Trinity Consultants, Inc. (Trinity), an international environmental, health, and safety consulting firm, announces that it has acquired The Redstone Group (Redstone), a specialty consulting firm headquartered in Dublin, Ohio. Redstone is a leading U.S. provider of chemical regulatory advisory services including registration and compliance with the European Unions REACH initiative, the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), the U.S. Toxic Substance Control Act, and compliance with international chemical control laws. Redstone also supports clients EHS initiatives related to compliance and permitting, operational assessments, auditing, and mergers and acquisitions.

Redstone was founded in 2004 by Mark Vagasky and Glenn Hammer (retired), former EHS executives from the chemical industry. Additional professionals at Redstone include industry veterans and experts with advanced degrees in engineering, animal sciences, chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, environmental sciences, toxicology, genetics, zoology, biology, business, and law. Following the acquisition, Mr. Vagasky will remain on board in a leadership position, facilitating the integration of Redstone with Trinitys environmental consulting and life sciences practices.

Paul Greywall, Trinitys Director of Business Development/Corporate Development, commented on the transaction. Our team is very pleased to complete this transaction, bringing The Redstone Group into the Trinity family of companies. Redstones expertise in chemical risk management and reporting dovetails nicely with Trinitys environmental and life sciences focus. We have great respect for the business built by Mark and his team, and look forward to working together in expanding it further.

Redstones Vagasky added, We at The Redstone Group are very excited to join the Trinity family. Trinity Consultants has a great reputation and service offerings. We look forward to adding to those service offerings and contributing to the firms continued growth.

Redstone will continue to operate out of its headquarters in Dublin, Ohio.

Background on Trinity Consultants

Founded in 1974 in Dallas, Texas, Trinity operates in locations across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., China, and the Middle East. Trinity assists industrial facilities with environmental regulatory permitting and compliance, specializing in air quality issues. In addition to EHS consulting, Trinity provides clients with life sciences consulting and engineering expertise through SafeBridge Consultants, TRS, and Advent Engineering.
Merriewold, Highland Parks newest luxury rental community, is offering two months free rent, plus an additional $150 off the total rent for 2019 on all new lease agreements signed throughout January. Those interested can choose from a versatile selection of floorplans filled with highly sought-after designer features, as well as access to an expertly designed clubhouse and state-of-the-art fitness center," said Kaplan.

Merriewold, Highland Parks newest luxury rental community from Kaplan Companies, is now offering two months free rent, plus an additional $150 off the total rent for 2019 on all new lease agreements signed throughout January. Merriewold will also unveil two new buildings that will be ready for a March move-in. To learn more or to schedule a tour with a leasing professional, call 732-253-8575.

Merriewold is our premier rental community in Highland Park, said Jason Kaplan, President of Kaplan Companies. Those interested can choose from a versatile selection of floorplans filled with highly sought-after designer features, as well as access to an expertly designed clubhouse and state-of-the-art fitness center.

This award-winning community features 196 units with one- to three-bedrooms and up to 2,346 sq. ft. of living space. Other highlights include gourmet kitchens with stainless steel appliances and quartz countertops; wood flooring in the main living areas; Berber carpeting in the bedrooms; a full-size washer and dryer in each unit; cable television; air conditioner; balcony; alarm system; additional storage, and car port.

All residents have access to a clubhouse with lounge, fitness center, outdoor saltwater resort style pool, fire pits and tot lot. Families can make memories by our outdoor kitchen and BBQ area, Kaplan added. We also know that your pets are also part of your family, so be sure to take advantage of our doggie day spa with a lavish bath.

Nestled between Edison and New Brunswick, Merriewold offers close proximity to Routes 1, 18 and 27, with easy access to fine dining, shopping, cultural arts and outdoor recreation. Merriewold offers complimentary shuttle bus service to the New Brunswick NJ Transit Train Station, making travel to New York City easy and convenient.

Merriewold is located at 433 River Road, Ste 5000, Highland Park, NJ. The Leasing office is open Monday through Thursday from 9am to 5:30pm; Friday from 9am to 5pm, and Saturday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm. To learn more, visit merriewoldhp.com or call 732-253-8575.

About Kaplan Companies

Kaplan Companies began in 1952 with a dream to create beautiful neighborhoods built for lasting value. Now, more than four decades and 25,000 homes later, the Kaplan name has become synonymous with top-quality homes and long-term value in todays residential market. Few companies in the industry can match the level of service, integrity and professionalism that Kaplan Companies provides. Today, Kaplan Companies is dedicated to making the dream of home ownership a reality for you and your family. To learn more, visit ThinkKaplan.com.
Platinum Fades Sponsor Sign I chose to be a highway sponsor because its a great way to advertise, but I really like keeping Texas clean. If everyone does their part in keeping this beautiful planet clean, then I'm sure Texas will stay nice forever!

Becoming a highway sponsor is beneficial to the community, as it funds highway litter-removal efforts in Austin. By promoting these efforts, Platinum Fades is offering the ability of safe travel for the entire community.

As CEO, Randy Franzetti stated, I chose to be a highway sponsor because its a great way to advertise, but I really like keeping Texas clean. If everyone does their part in keeping this beautiful planet clean, then I'm sure Texas will stay nice forever! While Randys goal is to offer exceptional service for all customers, he feels it is equally essential to provide the Austin community with the ability of safe travel.

By supporting the Sponsor A Highway Program, Randys goal is to spark change and encourage other businesses to become highway sponsors as well. Becoming a sponsor in the Texas Sponsor A Highway Program offers the ability to give back to the customers that have supported Platinum Fades. Being a highway sponsor supports litter-removal efforts that will benefit the entire community.

Platinum Fades is an authentic barbershop specializing in mens hairstyles. Men of all ages visit Randy and his entire team of skilled barbers to keep their hair looking sharp and clean-cut. With a 4.7 Google rating, you can imagine that their 230 Google reviews are glowing! Platinum Fades caters to men of all ages by hiring only skilled barbers who take the time to ensure their customers leave happy.

For more information about Platinum Fades call (512) 968 - 4446

For more information about the Texas Sponsor A Highway Program visit http://www.adoptahighway.com
Meridian Senior Living, LLC is pleased to open two new communities: Chapel Hill and Smithfield Woods in northern Rhode Island on December 20, 2018. In partnership with investors GMF Capital, Meridian Senior Living is managing these newly acquired senior communities. Chapel Hill, located on 10 Old Diamond Hill Road in Cumberland, offers 108 Assisted Living beds and 30 skilled nursing beds. Smithfield Woods, located on 171 Pleasant View Avenue in Smithfield, offers 41 assisted living beds, 33 memory care beds, and 60 skilled nursing beds.

These new communities offer a wealth of amenities such as activity rooms, salon, elegant restaurant-style dining room, chef-prepared fresh meals, fireside living rooms, as well as special interest and wellness programs to keep seniors active and involved, both physically and socially. Chapel Hills offerings include a new heated indoor pool with skylight, pool deck, and Jacuzzi spa. Smithfield Woods offers beautifully landscaped grounds and courtyards with a lakeside view. Meridians highly acclaimed Montessori Moments In Time Program will be available to Dementia and Alzheimers patients at Smithfield Senior Living.

For more information regarding Chapel Hill and Smithfield Woods Senior Living communities, please visit meridiansenior.com/chapelhill and meridiansenior.com/smithfieldwoods.

About Meridian Senior Living:

Meridian Senior Living, LLC, a privately held company, owns and operates senior housing communities across the United States. With more than 7,000 beds, Meridian is currently the eighteenth largest senior housing operator in the United States. Meridian prides itself on providing the highest quality care and affordable living options to residents in their own communities. Although large in scale, Meridian focuses its growth effort on building state-of-the-art properties in cities outside major markets. For more information on Meridian Senior Living, visit us online at http://www.meridiansenior.com.
Lerner and Rowe Gives Back GiGi's Playhouse holds a special place in our hearts. Through events like this, the community is able to help GiGi's provide wonderful free services to those who truly need them. We can't pass up the opportunity to help in our own way.

Lerner and Rowe Gives Back proudly announces another year as sponsors of GiGis Playhouse annual gala. The event will take place on January 12, 2019 at the Westin Kierland in Scottsdale, AZ.

GiGis playhouse remains the only network of Down Syndrome Achievement Centers. Their mission is to provide essential programs for those with Down Syndrome for absolutely no charge.

GiGis operates in 38 locations across the country and Mexico. They currently serve over 500 Valley area families with over 6000 program hours. These programs not only help people, but empower them, their families, and communities.

Kevin Rowe says, "GiGi's Playhouse holds a special place in our hearts. Through events like this, the community is able to help GiGi's provide wonderful free services to those who truly need them. We can't pass up the opportunity to help in our own way."

The event includes a sit down dinner and silent and live auctions. Javier Soto from 3TV will be hosting. Leticia Frye will be auctioneer. A special surprise celebrity guest will arrive too. Of course, children and adults from GiGis will be attendance.

For more information, visit http://www.gigisplayhouse.org/phoenix.

More About Lerner and Rowe Gives Back

Lerner and Rowe Gives Back is excited to promote such a wonderful event. For more details about the many community partners we support, please visit lernerandrowegivesback.com.

For additional information about Lerner and Rowes Phoenix personal injury attorneys, contact us today at (602) 977-1900. To connect with the law firm socially, follow Lerner and Rowe on Twitter, or become a fan of their Facebook page. If you are looking for help filing for Social Security, contact the law firms other legal partners at Social Security Disability Advocates online at socialsecuritydisabilityadvocatesusa.com.
As the Lake Trust Foundation enters our eighth year of offering scholarships, we have been impressed by the goals and drive of our recipients, said David Snodgrass, President and CEO of Lake Trust Credit Union.

The Lake Trust Foundation announced today that scholarship applications will begin being accepted on Monday, January 7, 2019, for Michigan residents who wish to pursue skilled trade technical education programs or realize their dream of being an entrepreneur who makes a community impact. Prospective students may submit applications on the Foundations website at https://www.laketrust.org/Foundation/Scholarships for either one of four New Beginnings Scholarships worth up to $2,500 or one of five full-tuition Community Impact Scholarships.

The New Beginnings Scholarship addresses the need for skilled trade workers, and recipients will use funds for tuition costs and related items like professional fees or dues in attending a career technical education program or trade school in the next 12 months.

The Lake Trust Foundations Community Impact Scholarships support community-oriented entrepreneurial talent through Lake Trust Credit Unions relationship with Cleary University. Five full-tuition Cleary scholarships are available for undergraduate or postgraduate tuition at Cleary, either online or at its locations in Howell, Detroit or Ann Arbor.

As the Lake Trust Foundation enters our eighth year of offering scholarships, we have been impressed by the goals and drive of our recipients, said David Snodgrass, President and CEO of Lake Trust Credit Union. Lake Trust acts where we see a need in our communities, not only through the Foundation but as the states largest Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) for 2018 we seek to serve disadvantaged businesses and low-income communities in Michigan.

Through partnerships, outreach programs, grants, financial assistance and support for underserved people, the Foundation helps to build and sustain stronger communities. Since 2012, it has awarded scholarships, contributed tens of thousands of meals to local food banks and provided funds in community grants and donations.

Were proud to offer these opportunities, especially working with a valued partner like Cleary, added Mr. Snodgrass. We see education as a seed that will provide long-lasting benefits beyond an individual to our neighbors and communities.

The Lake Trust Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to make a difference in all the Michigan counties Lake Trust Credit Union serves across the state. Contributors to the Foundation are people who help fund support for local causes focusing on education, basic needs, health and wellness, the environment and more. Through partnerships, outreach programs, grants, financial assistance and support for a communitys underserved people, the Foundation helps to build and sustain stronger communities. For more information, visit https://www.laketrust.org/foundation/. For information on Lake Trusts Moved By Good initiative, see https://laketrust.org/moved-by-good/. Follow @movedbygood on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Lake Trust Credit Union has more than $1.8 billion in assets and ranks fourth-largest in Michigan in number of member accounts. With federally NCUA-insured branches located in counties across the state of Michigan, Lake Trust is committed to creating stronger Michigan communities. Membership is open to anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in the state of Michigan. For more information, visit laketrust.org and follow @LakeTrustCreditUnion on Facebook and @laketrust on Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.


Hennessy Lexus of Atlanta joined Adopt A Highway because we feel that our name associated with clean roads and highways is a very good and positive thing..."

Partnering with the Georgia Sponsor A Highway Program is beneficial to both Hennessy Lexus of Atlanta, as well as the community at large. By becoming a highway sponsor, Hennessy Lexus of Atlanta can offer all those traveling on Georgias highways a safe and scenic drive.

The General Sales Manager, Steve Burroughs stated, Hennessy Lexus of Atlanta joined Adopt A Highway because we feel that our name associated with clean roads and highways is a very good and positive thing. We also look at it as another avenue of getting our name out there and people seeing our name many times every day, week, and month as they drive by.

Deciding to sponsor a highway requires compassion for not only the safety of the community but for the environment as well. Partnering with Adopt A Highway Maintenance Corporation shows Hennessy Lexus of Atlantas desire to promote litter-removal efforts that will encourage sustainability while increasing highway safety.

For all those driving in the Atlanta area, please take note of the highway sponsorship panels for Hennessy Lexus of Atlanta. These panels serve as a commitment by the entire team to support sustainability, as well as promote a safer and green community for all to enjoy.

As the only family owned and managed Lexus Dealer in Atlanta, the entire Hennessy family is highly involved in the happenings of their community. They are well-respected for their efforts towards helping the city, along with providing safe, reliable, and luxurious cars sold by knowledgeable team members.

For more information about Hennessy Lexus of Atlanta visit: http://www.lexusatlanta.com

For more information about the Atlanta Sponsor A Highway Program visit http://www.adoptahighway.com


Grand Canyon University Sponsor Sign Sponsoring seven signs with Adopt A Highway Maintenance Corporation is a clear indication to the Arizona community, that driving safely is vital to GCU.

By supporting the Arizona Adopt A Highway Program, GCU is pledging to help their students travel safely. In a world where giving back has become a corporate responsibility, Adopt A Highway Maintenance Corporation is grateful that GCU is devoted to keeping roadways litter-free.

The team of administrators at GCU strive to offer their students a well-rounded education while continuing to lead a movement of service in a Christian setting. While its admirable to teach their students to serve their community, it speaks volumes that the school is also choosing to lead by the example.

Sponsoring seven signs with Adopt A Highway Maintenance Corporation is a clear indication to the Arizona community, that driving safely is vital to GCU. Being a highway sponsor shows the students, that giving back to the community, as well as the environment, can begin with small acts that leave a significant impact.

Grand Canyon University has been molding minds for over 65 years and has continuously earned regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1968. While academics are of great importance, GCU also believes in the necessity of giving back to the community. By operating as a non-profit organization, both faculty members and students alike have an increased opportunity to give back to the community.

For more information about Grand Canyon University visit: http://www.gcu.edu

For more information about the Arizona Sponsor A Highway Program visit: http://www.adoptahighway.com


Becoming a sponsor in the New York Adopt A Highway Program allows Fisher Capital Investments to give back to their community while encouraging better sustainability efforts for future generations to follow.

Joining Adopt A Highway Program is both beneficial to the community, as well as the environment. By sponsoring two highways signs, Fisher Capital Investments is providing the opportunity to drive safely on litter-free roads.

Along with promoting safe travel, being a sponsor in Adopt A Highway allows Fisher Capital Investments to be a leader in the movement toward a more sustainable future. In a world that is becoming more mindful of ways to improve the ecosystem, it is increasingly vital to participate in an organization that will enhance the environment.

Becoming a sponsor in the New York Adopt A Highway Program allows Fisher Capital Investments to give back to their community while encouraging better sustainability efforts for future generations to follow.

As a financial investment firm, it is Fisher Capital Investments mission to select start-ups and growth stage ventures that will positively impact the world. With a century of experience in this industry, Fisher Capital is well equipped to handle any challenge that may arise.

For more information about Fisher Capital Investments Imaging visit: http://www.fishercapitalinvestments.com

For more information about the New York Adopt A Highway Program visit: http://www.adoptahighway.com


Posted Friday, January 4, 2019 7:23 pm

A Centralia woman who pleaded guilty last year to altering checks and wrongfully taking money from a man she cared for, now faces disciplinary action from the Washington State Department of Health.

Cynthia Xiomara Essert, who is also listed in court documents as going by the name Cynthia Skogen, 46, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted forgery and a single count of third-degree theft  all gross misdemeanors  in October 2018, and was subsequently handed a sentence of 364 days, with 334 days suspended.

Following the conviction, the Department of Health released a press release, saying the Nursing Assistant Program has charged Essert with unprofessional conduct. State law describes unprofessional conduct as: any act involving moral turpitude, dishonesty, or corruption relating to the practice of the persons profession.

Essert has been a certified nursing assistant since 2003. The charge filed against her by the Nursing Assistant Program is separate from the criminal charges filed in Lewis County Superior Court. The latest charge regards the legality of her nursing license.

State law also says that upon conviction of a crime the judgment and sentence is conclusive evidence at the ensuing disciplinary hearing of the guilt of the license holder of the crime described in the indictment or information, and the persons violation of the statute on which it is based.

A statement of charges filed with the state DOH on Dec. 14, 2018, indicates Essert is given the option to defend herself against the charge, and faces disciplinary action if she fails to do so.

According to court documents filed in Lewis County Superior Court, in May 2018, a Chehalis man and his daughter told Lewis County deputies that Essert, who was employed as the victims caretaker, had altered checks and taken money.

The victim would give Essert checks to purchase groceries and on two occasions, she made the checks payable to herself  the total loss of those two checks to the tune of $650.

On other occasions, the victim gave Essert checks for her to cash out, with the intention of using the cash for purchases. Essert altered numbers on the checks to up the total cash received.

Other checks were forged as well, making the total amount of money that Essert wrongfully took to be $1,550, according to court documents court documents.

Documents also state Essert took an Alford plea, meaning she pleaded guilty though maintained her innocence, admitting that evidence would likely result in a conviction.

Though initially charged with three felonies, she was sentenced to three gross misdemeanors.
Marlee Hobgood I intend to teach my children, and the influence I have on my generation through marketing and volunteering, that the love of God is selfless, and he died on the cross as a sacrifice for us so that we could love unconditionally.

Corporate Chaplains of America (CCA) has announced that Marlee Hobgood from Lawrenceville, Georgia has been awarded the organizations 10:27 Scholarship.

Marlee attends Georgia Gwinnett College and she plans to major in Business with a concentration in Marketing. She is the daughter of Kimberly and Chris Hobgood. Her father has served as a chaplain with CCA for 18 years.

CCAs 10:27 Scholarship  a grant of $2,500  is awarded to a student who has shown dedicated commitment to the command to love God and others laid out in Luke 10:27. It is also intended to be a blessing to a CCA chaplain by helping provide for the cost of their childrens higher education.

Jesus says in Luke 10:27, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.

In her essay, Marlee explains, Luke 10:27 describes the manner in which we should be loving others and Jesus himself. This verse has been one of my favorite for quite some time. I intend to teach my children, and the influence I have on my generation through marketing and volunteering, that the love of God is selfless, and he died on the cross as a sacrifice for us so that we could love unconditionally.

Larry Griffith, CCAs Chief Executive Officer, recognized Hobgood for her academic achievements, volunteer work, and involvement in the church and community.

The 10:27 Scholarship is open for applications by dependent children of full-time CCA chaplains. Students must be US residents in their final year of high school or actively enrolled on a full-time basis and in good standing in an accredited community college or 4-year institution. Scholarships are one-time awards.

Corporate Chaplains of America is a 501(c)(3) non-profit ministry and the nations leading provider of full-time chaplain services for companies and their employees. CCA chaplains are available 24/7/365 to provide permission-based, confidential help in times of crisis.

CCA serves over 1,500 work locations in 42 different states. We have more full-time chaplains than any other organization in the country. What sets our chaplains apart is the long-term relationship that is built between employees and their chaplain over the years. Many employees describe their chaplain as a part of their family or a close friend.

For more information about Corporate Chaplains of America, visit our website at http://www.chaplain.org.

Contact:

Kelly Morton

919-570-0700
Tampa Bay-based Benzer Pharmacy proudly announces the opening of another storefront in the companys systemthis one situated closer to home than mostnestled approximately 25 minutes south of company headquarters in the small, picturesque suburb of Lithia, Florida.

Slated to open next Tuesday, January 8th, the new Benzer Pharmacy represents the 32nd franchise location for the organization and the first of potentially dozens of new acquisitions currently in the works for 2019.

The latest introduction marks a point of pride for Benzer Pharmacy President Alpesh Patel, who praised the hard-won efforts of Benzer Pharmacy Franchise as a wholeand its leadership in particularfor doing the heavy lifting necessary to expand acceptance of the brand in places across the country, as well as those right around the corner.

As Benzers growth continues at such a rapid pace, there are moments when the activity around it almost blurs perspective on the greater mission, Patel said. But our people do a tremendous job working with our franchise partners to meld the past and present together in a way that keeps current customers happy while attracting new ones.

In Patels estimation, the value proposition for independents looking to join the Benzer system revolves around the strength of the companys corporate structureone that includes nearly 70 corporate-owned locations.

Thats a lot of buying power that translates into more competitive prices, Patel reasoned. The big-box stores no longer have the market corneredeven though it seems like you can find one on every corner.

Better, not bigger?

Thats the idea, Patel said. Of course, every new location is still worth celebrating.

The more, the merrier!

The new Benzer Pharmacy Franchise, located at 5603 Skytop Drive in Lithia, FL 33547, opens for business January 8, 2019. Store hours are 9am to 5pm on weekdays; and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays.

To reach the pharmacy, call 813-278-5111 (Fax: 813-278-8025).

For details on the closest Benzer Pharmacy near you, visit http://www.benzerpharmacy.com/locations.

About Benzer Pharmacy.

Founded in 2009, Benzer Pharmacy is a chain of independent retail pharmacies specializing in compounding and specialty medication. Currently, there are 66 corporate-owned and 32 franchise locations situated throughout 23 states, including Florida, Michigan, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Georgia, Nevada, Louisiana, New York, Missouri, Mississippi, Maryland, Ohio, Indiana, and Idaho. Projections call for continued rapid growth as the organization seeks to substantially increase its customer base, while ensuring experiences match expectations at every touchpoint.

Benzer Pharmacy has made four straight appearances on Inc. 5,000 list of the fastest growing private companies in America from 2015-2018; correspondingly, the company earned 39th place on the 2015 Florida Fast 100 list, while concurrently placing 67th on the 2015 TBBJ 200 list of Tampa Bays largest private companies. Benzer was also voted favorite pharmacy in the 2015 Best of Fuquay Varina in North Carolina, and achieved PCAB compounding accreditation with Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC). All Benzer Pharmacy medications require a doctor's prescription.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BenzerPharmacy

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/benzerpharmacy

SOURCE: Benzer Pharmacy
Get Cheaper Car Insurance Online Getting online car insurance quotes may seem really simple. However, there are numerous mistakes that can be done during the process. Our website will help you understand the process better and avoid costly mistakes, said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company.

Cheapquotesautoinsurance.com has launched a new blog post that presents what mistakes are likely to be done when requesting car insurance quotes online.

Filling out an online questionnaire may seem simple and straightforward. However, drivers should not be tricked by the simplicity of a form. There is plenty of room for errors that will prevent drivers from getting cheaper car insurance quotes. This blog post highlights the most common mistakes and how to avoid them.

Ignoring discounts is a common mistake. There are a few reasons why this happens. First of all, some people are negligent when filling forms and do not check all options that may give them discounts. Or they are unaware. For example, a questionnaire may ask if the car has ABS. The driver may say it does not have ABS, even though the manufacturer has installed one.

Avoiding to pay the policy in full is another common, and quite costly, mistake. Drivers should, at least, preview how much they can save when paying everything in a single lump sum. Online tools usually inform drivers about this option. Read more on this blog post to find out how much can drivers save on car insurance.

Letting the deductibles set on a default value can also be considered a mistake. Drivers have to set deductibles when choosing coverage. Many websites set deductibles to $500 for both comprehensive and collision coverage. Drivers should be aware that by choosing higher values, they will lower the premiums.

For more car insurance info, money-saving tips and free online quotes, please visit http://cheapquotesautoinsurance.com

Cheapquotesautoinsurance.com is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc.


QUEENS, N.Y., Jan. 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Q-East, Queens, New York apartments at an affordable price are coming soon to East Jamaica, Queens! These new studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments are pet-friendly and feature an array of incredible amenities for residents. Q-East is the perfect place for those seeking a pet-friendly apartment and a dynamic lifestyle at an unparalleled price.

Your dog is your best friend, so why leave them at home when you go out to explore your neighborhood and the city? From your pet-friendly Q-East apartment to surrounding local businesses, explore and visit your new neighborhood 's dog-friendly locations.

Q-East's Dog Play Area: Residents of Q-East will delight in a variety of extraordinary amenities including an upscale, landscaped outdoor lifestyle terrace with plenty of comfortable seating and dining areas, a resident's clubroom where you can gather for a movie or game night with friends, a dog play area and much more! Q-East residents will love having the option of a puppy play date without having to leave home. Bring your pup down to the play area so you can both spend some time socializing with friends and neighbors.

Grab a cup of coffee: There are a number of dog-friendly cafes in the city, and any dog who is in a carrier can ride the subway. Q-East residents can easily hop on the F-Train, conveniently located right outside their door, and grab a treat with Fido. The Bean, Chateau Le Woof and Intellegencia Coffee are all dog-friendly cafes where guests can get a bite to eat, enjoy a delicious cup of coffee, and meet up with friends and their pets.

Enjoy a night on the town: Both Queens and New York City are home to an variety of dog-friendly bars and breweries. There's no reason to leave your furry best friend at home when they can enjoy a night on the town by your side. Visit Fifth Hammer Brewing Company, Do or Dive, or The Barking Dog and get to know other dogs and dog lovers over a drink.

About Q-East

Q-East Queens Luxury Apartments are located in East Jamaica, Queens and feature studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments and amenities such as a clubroom, pet area, outdoor terrace, and fitness center. The F-train entrance is located in front of the building and residents are directly connected to Manhattan and Nassau County. Q-EastRental Life Well-Connected. Media Contact: Desiree Freeman, fishbat Media, 855-347-4228, [email protected]

SOURCE Q-East

Related Links

http://q-east.com


GLENDALE, Calif., Jan. 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- California Credit Union has announced that it will offer special relief programs to support members whose pay has been affected by the current government shutdown. Programs include:

Loan Payment Assistance : Members may skip a payment, with all fees waived, on their consumer loan account (excluding Home Equity Lines of Credit).

: Members may skip a payment, with all fees waived, on their consumer loan account (excluding Home Equity Lines of Credit). Penalty-Free Certificate Withdrawals : Members with certificate accounts may request early withdrawal to cover expenses with no fees or penalties.

: Members with certificate accounts may request early withdrawal to cover expenses with no fees or penalties. Reduced Rate (APR) Signature Loans: Members may apply for a signature loan at a 4.00% lower rate than the current lowest rate offered by the credit union. Members may receive up to two times their most recent net paycheck, up to $3,000 .

"In light of the current government shutdown, we want our members to know that we're here to help. California Credit Union members can rest assured we will provide them with a variety of special assistance programs to help alleviate some of the financial stress this situation may cause them," said California Credit Union CEO Steve O'Connell. "We hope these programs will support our members in what may be a difficult time, and invite any member who may be impacted to contact us with questions or concerns about their finances."

For more information, members should contact California Credit Union at 800.334.8788, visit any credit union branch, or go to ccu.com.

About California Credit Union

California Credit Union is a federally insured, state chartered credit union founded in 1933 that serves public or private school employees, community members and businesses across California. With more than 165,000 members and assets of $3 billion, California Credit Union has 24 branches throughout Los Angeles and San Diego counties. The credit union operates in San Diego County as North Island Credit Union, a division of California Credit Union. California Credit Union offers a full suite of consumer, business and investment products and services, including comprehensive consumer checking and loan options, personalized financial planning, business banking, and leading-edge online and mobile banking. Please visit ccu.com for more information, or follow the credit union on Instagram or Facebook @CaliforniaCreditUnion.

SOURCE California Credit Union

Related Links

http://www.ccu.com


PARSIPPANY, N.J., Jan. 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- PBF Logistics LP (NYSE: PBFX) announced today that the partnership's management will be participating in meetings with institutional investors at the UBS MLP One-on-One Conference on January 14-15, 2019.

The company's meeting materials will be available on the Investor Relations section of the PBF Logistics LP website at www.pbflogistics.com.

PBF Logistics LP

PBF Logistics LP, headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey, is a fee-based, growth-oriented master limited partnership formed by PBF Energy to own or lease, operate, develop and acquire crude oil and refined petroleum products terminals, pipelines, storage facilities and similar logistics assets.

SOURCE PBF Logistics LP

Related Links

http://www.pbflogistics.com


YORBA LINDA, Calif., Jan. 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- DRONEKILLER, a handheld Software Defined Radio created by IXI EW that can be used anywhere in the counter UAS kill-chain, participated in a NATO non-lethal technology exercise of counter-UAS at the Marine Corps Base Quantico. Over ten countries and United States Marine officials including Commandant Neller attended NNTEX-18C. During this week-long event, the DRONEKILLER showcased its abilities to defeat multiple drones in various scenarios. It was successful in disabling drones out to one thousand meters away.

IXI EW

Because of the results of this event, the Ukraine has invited IXI EW to demonstrate the DRONEKILLER in front of its Ministry of Defense in support of its efforts against Russia.

Headquartered in Yorba Linda, California, IXI EW is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business that excels in the design, manufacture and support of Counter UAS solutions for military and government.

Media Contact:

Janet Pippins

Phone: 714-221-5000

Email: [email protected]

Related Images

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DRONEKILLER

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SOURCE IXI EW

Related Links

http://ixiew.com


WALL, N.J., Jan. 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Adelphia Gateway, LLC today announced the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Staff issued its Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Adelphia Gateway Pipeline Project (Project) recommending that the FERC Certificate Order for the Project contain a finding of no significant environmental impact.

"Adelphia Gateway is an important project that will deliver clean, low cost natural gas to constrained markets in the Greater Philadelphia region," said Steve Westhoven, president and chief operating officer of New Jersey Resources, the parent company of Adelphia Gateway. "We are pleased FERC Staff issued the Environmental Assessment and confirmed the project will have no significant environmental impact as it converts an existing pipeline to natural gas. We look forward to continuing to work with regulators and local communities to place Adelphia Gateway into service."

The EA process is designed to independently analyze Adelphia Gateway's proposed conversion of an existing oil pipeline to natural gas and assess potential environmental impacts of the construction and operation of the Project. Following receipt of a FERC Certificate Order and all other necessary regulatory approvals, Adelphia Gateway expects the Project to be placed into service in 2019.

The Adelphia Gateway Project will convert 50 miles of an existing 84-mile pipeline  spanning portions of Delaware, Chester, Bucks, Montgomery and Northampton counties  from oil to natural gas. The northern 34 miles of the pipeline, which extends from western Bucks County to the Martins Creek terminal in Northampton County, has delivered natural gas since 1996. The Project also involves construction of compressor station facilities in West Rockhill Township and Lower Chichester Township and approximately 4.7 miles of new laterals in Delaware County, Pennsylvania and New Castle County, Delaware.

When commissioned, the Adelphia Gateway Project will deliver natural gas to serve customers in the Greater Philadelphia region. The additional supply is anticipated to benefit Philadelphia consumers through energy market savings and resulting economic benefits of approximately $677 million over the first 15 years that Adelphia Gateway is in service.

About New Jersey Resources

New Jersey Resources (NYSE: NJR) is a Fortune 1000 company that, through its subsidiaries, provides safe and reliable natural gas and clean energy services, including transportation, distribution, asset management and home services. NJR is composed of five primary businesses:

New Jersey Natural Gas , NJR's principal subsidiary, operates and maintains over 7,400 miles of natural gas transportation and distribution infrastructure to serve over half a million customers in New Jersey's Monmouth , Ocean and parts of Morris , Middlesex and Burlington counties.

, NJR's principal subsidiary, operates and maintains over 7,400 miles of natural gas transportation and distribution infrastructure to serve over half a million customers in , and parts of , and counties. NJR Clean Energy Ventures invests in, owns and operates solar projects with a total capacity of more than 231 megawatts, providing residential and commercial customers with low-carbon solutions.

invests in, owns and operates solar projects with a total capacity of more than 231 megawatts, providing residential and commercial customers with low-carbon solutions. NJR Energy Services manages a diversified portfolio of natural gas transportation and storage assets, and provides physical natural gas services and customized energy solutions to its customers across North America .

manages a diversified portfolio of natural gas transportation and storage assets, and provides physical natural gas services and customized energy solutions to its customers across . NJR Midstream serves customers from local distributors and producers to electric generators and wholesale marketers through its 50 percent equity ownership in the Steckman Ridge natural gas storage facility and its 20 percent equity interest in the PennEast Pipeline Project.

serves customers from local distributors and producers to electric generators and wholesale marketers through its 50 percent equity ownership in the Steckman Ridge natural gas storage facility and its 20 percent equity interest in the PennEast Pipeline Project. NJR Home Services provides service contracts as well as heating, central air conditioning, water heaters, standby generators, solar and other indoor and outdoor comfort products to residential homes throughout New Jersey .

NJR and its more than 1,000 employees are committed to helping customers save energy and money by promoting conservation and encouraging efficiency through Conserve to Preserve and initiatives such as The SAVEGREEN Project and The Sunlight Advantage.

For more information about NJR:

Visit www.njresources.com

Follow us on Twitter @NJNaturalGas

Like us on facebook.com/NewJerseyNaturalGas

Download our free NJR investor relations app for iPad, iPhone and Android

For more information about Adelphia Gateway:

Visit www.adelphiagateway.com

Follow us on Twitter @AdelphiaGateway

Contact: Katelyn Howard

[email protected]

Phone: 717-712-5702

SOURCE Adelphia Gateway, LLC

Related Links

http://www.adelphiagateway.com


Zero Hedge

January 5, 2019

On Friday China unveiled video from a successful test of its most powerful non-nuclear weapon, dubbed the Mother of All Bombs in reference to a weapon previously used by US forces in Afghanistan.

The official Xinhua news agency published details of the weapon for the first time while calling it the Chinese version of the Mother of all Bombs'.

It is reportedly 5-6 meters long and its massive weight means the delivery vehicle, in this case Chinas H-6K long range nuclear capable bomber, can only carry one at a time.

While China has denied that it is a thermobaric bomb  an explosive that uses oxygen in the surrounding air to generate a high-temperature explosion  its incredible size mimics the 22,000-pound GBU-43 Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb that US forces dropped in Afghanistans Nangarhar province targeting a jihadist hideout tunnel complex in April of 2017.

Still frame from official test footage of the Chinese MOAB

While the Chinese bomb is long, it actually reportedly weighs less than the American version, according to military analyst Wei Dongxu, who was quoted by the semi-official Global Times further as saying, The massive explosion that was generated would easily wipe out land fortifications.

The short video of the test was published to the website of state arms manufacturer Norinco and shows the bomb producing a massive ball of fire and black smoke over a nondescript plain.

Chinese media gave no details as to the date, location or range of the bomb blast, but the video was first released on Chinese social media on Wednesday, Jan. 2.

It remains, however, the US is the only military that has ever actually used such an oversized non-nuclear device in battle.

In 2017, following the April 13 MOAB blast in Afghanistan, US Central Command (CENTCOM) released aerial video confirming the bomb was used against ISIS in Afghanistan.

This article was posted: Saturday, January 5, 2019 at 7:07 am

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Southbury, CT (06488)

Today

Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
Posted Friday, January 4, 2019 7:11 pm

A Centralia mans multi-year search for a new kidney reached a promising conclusion this week.

Devon Beesley underwent successful kidney transplant surgery Wednesday at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle.

A person unknown to him or his wife Paige donated the organ as part of a five-person chain of healthy donors who essentially agreed to trade their kidney donation to a compatible person in exchange for one donated to the loved one they initially signed up to help.

Paige Beesleys sister was determined to be a match for Devon in October, but her smaller stature  Devon stands 6 feet tall  became an issue, so she signed on to donate to a stranger as part of the chain crafted by UWMC staff. The Beesleys were informed in November that a donor for Devon had been found.

Basically, that person donates to someone else who needs a kidney, has a healthy donor, but isnt a perfect match, Paige Beesley said. That person donates as long as their person still gets a kidney. At some point, well get to meet (Devons donor), the doctors just want to make sure the kidney is good and make sure there isnt a conflict if it doesnt.

The Beesleys ordeal began in Oct. 2016 when Devon first became ill. That December, he spent more than two weeks first in Providence Centralia Hospital, then PeaceHealth Southwest in Vancouver where he underwent numerous blood transfusions, plasma exchanges and dialysis for his kidneys that had lost 80 percent of their normal function.

The Chronicle spoke with Paige Beesley on Friday while Devon slept following a physical therapy session. Hes been up and walking around the transplant wing of the hospital since Thursday. The surgeon told Beesley after the four-hour procedure wrapped up Wednesday afternoon that it looked like his new kidney was performing well before he left the operating room.

Following a brief stint in the intensive care unit early Thursday morning to address abnormalities in some test results, Beesley expects her husband to be discharged sometime early next week. Theyll be renting a condo near UWMC so Devon can attend near-daily medical appointments for about a month.

The doctors are pretty positive right now that (the kidney) is a good match, Beesley said. His test results for toxins in his body are going down every day, so theyre pretty positive it took well to his system.

Health insurance paid for most of the medical costs related to the transplant surgery, but the Beesleys will still face significant out-of-pocket expenses during the months it will take Devon to fully recover and beyond.

Immunosuppressant medication can run patients up to $1,000 a month. Devon will need to take those drugs for the rest of his life. Paige Beesley said theyve had many family members chip in, as well as members of their local church.

She encourages anyone interested in becoming a donor to visit uwmedicine.org for more information. Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland has a similar program.

Anyone can become a donor for someone else, Beesley said. You dont need someone close to you to be sick. There are a ton of people waiting on transplant lists.
#Fixthecountry case adjourned to June 21 An Accra High Court presided over by Justice Ruby Aryeetey has adjourned a case

CIMG admits 104 new members The Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana (CIMG), has admitted 104 new
Court to hear case against #fixthecountry convenors today The Criminal Division of the Accra High Court presided over by Justice Ruby

CIMG admits 104 new members The Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana (CIMG), has admitted 104 new
71, of Adams Drive, Plattsburgh, died on June 12, 2021. Mass of Christian burial will be on June 18, 2021, at 10 at St. John's Church; interment will be at St. Peter's Cemetery. Arrangements by Brown Funeral Home.
No plea reached for last Kauffman co-defendant Pagano MAYS LANDING  The last co-defendant charged in the alleged opioid ring run out of Dr. James

Peruto had argued in court that Pagano had retired from the Pagans outlaw motorcycle gang in Atlantic County several years ago and didnt help Kauffman sell prescription opioids.

Peruto had also said in court there was little evidence that Pagano did anything with drugs other than obtain and use them.

DeLury said previously that most of the evidence against Pagano appeared to be inferential and circumstantial.

Pagano did not testify during the trial of Ferdinand Freddy Augello, 62, of Upper Township, who was found guilty in October of April Kauffmans murder, the conspiracy to murder her husband, James Kauffman, and leading a drug ring. Augello was sentenced to life plus 30 years in prison in December.

James Kauffman was found hanged in his jail cell in January 2018.

Besides Pagano, the other co-defendants charged with racketeering, distribution of drugs and conspiracy to distribute drugs were Cheryl Pizza, 37, of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina; Tabitha Chapman, 35, of Absecon; Beverly Augello, 48, of Summerland Key, Florida; Glenn Seeler, 38, of Sanford, North Carolina; and Joseph Mulholland, 52, of the Villas section of Lower Township.
BRIDGETON  One of the four city men charged in the July 17 murder of 9-year-old Jennifer Trejo pleaded not guilty Friday.

Zahmere McKoy, 19, of Atlantic Street, entered the plea at a post-indictment arraignment in Cumberland County Superior Court, court records show.

McKoy, along with Michael L. Elliot, 26, of North Laurel Street; Leroy Frazier III, 20, of Irving Avenue; and Charles Gamble, 18, of Clarke Road, were indicted in the murder last month.

Charges include conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder and weapons offenses in the shooting, in which a stray bullet pierced Jennifers bedroom wall, fatally wounding her as she slept.

+4 Four Bridgeton men indicted in 9-year-old's murder BRIDGETON  The four city men charged in the July 17 murder of 9-year-old Jennifer Trejo hav

If convicted, all four men could face life in prison.

Senior Prosecutor Elizabeth Vogelsong, who represents the state in the case, said at a previous court appearance that Jennifers death was a result of a volley of gunshots set off by the four men moments after they had walked onto the first block of Elmer Street early that morning. Vogelsong said people were in the street and on the porch of a home when four men began firing.

Jennifers home was only a block away.
ATLANTIC CITY  A citizen complaint and search of a residence led to seven arrests on drug charges, police said.

On Thursday, detectives conducted a surveillance operation in the first block of South Florida Avenue. Police said they had received citizen complains about drug dealing in the area. During the operation, four men and one woman were arrested.

The following day, authorities searched a home on the same block and arrested Donald Schaffer, 26, and Jonte Queen, 29, both of Atlantic City. Schaeffer was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession with intent to distribute and possession with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school zone.

Queen was charged with contempt of court.

Police recovered more than 140 bags of heroin, 1.5 ounces of cocaine, drug paraphernalia and $4,500 in cash believed to be from drug sales during the two-day bust.

Natqwan Cameron, 40, and Francis Schwartz III, 51, both of Atlantic City, were each charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession with intent to distribute and possession with intent to distribute within 500 feet of a public zone.
Posted Friday, January 4, 2019 6:49 pm

CENTRALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT

Police Find Drugs During Warrant Arrest

 At 10:15 a.m. Wednesday, police responded to the 1000 block of North Scheuber Road and arrested Justin L. Emery, 30, of Centralia on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance. Emery was also arrested on a Department of Corrections warrant. Officers allege they found narcotics on Emery while arresting him on the warrant.

Stolen Car Found in Parking Lot

 At 10:58 a.m. Wednesday, police responded to the 700 block of North Tower Avenue, where a caller advised their car had been stolen sometime between 1 and 10:30 a.m. The car was later found in a parking lot.

Suspects Arrested for Criminal Trespass

 At 11:53 a.m. Wednesday, police responded to the 1200 block of Mellen Street and arrested Shannon K. Kilgore, 50, of Centralia on suspicion of first-degree criminal trespass. Kilgore allegedly went to a business where he had been previously trespassed.

 At 5:19 p.m. Wednesday, police responded to the 900 block of South Scheuber Road and arrested Juan A. Ramirez-Gonzalez, 32, of Cutler, California on suspicion of first-degree criminal trespass. Ramirez-Gonzalez allegedly refused to leave a business where he had previously been placed on trespass.

 At 9:17 a.m. Thursday, police responded to the 1100 block of Long Road and cited and released a 32-year-old Toledo resident on suspicion of criminal trespass. The person was allegedly found inside a building with posted no trespassing signs.

Police Book Mischief Suspect

 At 2:37 p.m. Wednesday, police responded to the 100 block of South King Street and arrested David E. Pejrano-Knutz, 29, of Centralia on suspicion of third-degree malicious mischief. Pejrano-Knutz allegedly damaged another persons vehicle and was also booked on several warrants.

Driver Cited, Released for Suspended License

 At 3:56 p.m. Wednesday, police responded to the 1500 block of North Pearl Street and cited a 23-year-old Centralia resident on suspicion of third-degree driving with a suspended license.

Officers Investigate Vehicle Theft

 At 5:50 p.m. Wednesday, police responded to the 400 block of West Plum Street, where a caller advised their vehicle had been stolen. It was last spotted parked on the street outside the victims residence.

Caller Discovers Identity Theft

 At 8:45 a.m. Thursday, a caller in the 1300 block of Crescent Avenue reported someone used their information to open a credit account.

Man Booked for Violating Protection Order

 At 1:12 p.m. Thursday, police responded to Alder and Yew streets and arrested Martin W. Gallagher, 62, of Onalaska on suspicion of violating a protection order for allegedly getting into a dispute with a protected person. He was also booked for third-degree driving on a suspended license.

Pedestrians Hurt During Collision

 At 1:16 p.m. Thursday, a vehicle struck a parked boat trailer in the 500 block of South Tower Avenue. The impact caused the trailer to strike nearby pedestrians who had minor injuries.

Suspect Booked For Suspended License, Warrants

 At 9:19 p.m. Thursday, police responded to the 1100 block of Alexander Street and arrested Jennifer C. Lantau, 34, of Chehalis on suspicion of third-degree driving with a suspended license and for two misdemeanor warrants. Lantau was arrested during a traffic stop.

Fake Bill Passed At Local Business

 At 2:24 a.m. Friday, a female customer passed a fake $100 bill at a business in the 1000 block of Belmont Avenue.

Suspect Booked for Suspended License

 At 3:11 a.m. Friday, police responded to the 1200 block of Harrison Avenue and arrested Christian E. Meadors, 32, of Olympia on suspicion of third-degree driving with a suspended license. Meadors matched the description of a suspect spotted looking into vehicles with a flashlight in a businesss parking lot.

CHEHALIS POLICE DEPARTMENT

Suspect Booked For Unlawful Imprisonment

 At 9:02 p.m. Wednesday, police responded to the 300 block of Southwest Third Street and arrested Matthew E. Norman, 35, of Chehalis on suspicion of unlawful imprisonment, fourth-degree assault  domestic violence and interfering with reporting domestic violence.

Man Walks Down Street, Yells About Drugs

 At 11 p.m. Wednesday, police were requested in the 300 block of Northwest Chehalis Avenue, where a man was seen walking toward Centralia yelling: Who wants to get high?

Caller Reports Trespasser

 At 8:58 a.m. Thursday, a caller in the 700 block of North National Avenue reported a trespasser sleeping on their property.

Person Spotted Drinking in Public

 At 9:37 a.m. Thursday, someone in the 1500 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue reported a male subject was behind a building drinking a beer.

Caller Reports Home Burglary

 At 7:43 p.m. Thursday, a caller in the 500 block of Northwest Ohio Avenue reported there were items missing in his home, and whoever did it left some other items behind.

LEWIS COUNTY JAIL STATISTICS

 As of Friday morning, the Lewis County Jail had a total system population of 228 inmates, with 194 in general population, 32 in the work ethic and restitution center and two on work release. Of general population inmates, 157 were male and 37 were female and of WERC inmates, 29 were male and three were female. A total of 29 inmates were booked through contracts outside Lewis County.



By The Chronicle Staff

Please call news reporter Cody Neuenschwander with news tips. He can be reached at 807-8208 or cneuenschwander@chronline.com
Kerrville, TX (78028)

Today

Isolated thunderstorms during the evening. Mainly clear skies after midnight. Low around 70F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Isolated thunderstorms during the evening. Mainly clear skies after midnight. Low around 70F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
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LOWER TOWNSHIP  A Villas woman was killed in a house fire early Friday morning, police said.

About 6:45 a.m., police responded to the structure fire in the 200 block of East Florida Avenue, according to a news release from the Police Department.

When they arrived, the man who owned the home was outside with neighbors, police said. He had sustained smoke inhalation and other minor injuries.

His wife did not make it out of the house, police said, and was found in the upstairs bedroom likely overcome by smoke.

The identity of the woman was not released.

The home did not have working smoke alarms, police said.

The Villas, Erma and Town Bank fire departments extinguished the fire.

The Cape May County Fire Marshals Office, the township Police Department and the Cape May County Prosecutors Office are investigating.

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There was a little mayhem, he said, with not enough seats for everyone there. Many members had their spouses and children with them, including Van Drew, whose wife, daughter and grandson were there.

There were people standing and kids squeezed in. I think we can do a little better when we have a new freshman class in two years. We could make more room for people, bring in some chairs, Van Drew said.

There is no assigned seating on the House floor, he said, unlike in New Jerseys Senate and Assembly.

Van Drew did not have his ceremonial swearing-in photo taken with Pelosi. That wasnt because of any bad feelings between them, he said. It was because he was spending as much time with visitors as possible.

She congratulated him after the swearing-in, he said.

I think its an important thing in politics, to let others know what you are going to do, to not blindside them, he said.

Van Drew planned to spend this weekend making what will be an extremely familiar trip home to South Jersey for an event he has long supported, to benefit a program to encourage young people to join the Air Force.
The move to hold homeowners more accountable for unruly activity came just five days before a shooting broke out at one such property on New Years Eve.

A 26-year-old visitor from Hillside, Union County, was injured at a 12-bedroom home on Vassar Square Avenue that was listed on Airbnb as an ocean-block mansion. There were almost 100 people in the home for a party that night, police Chief Doug Biagi said.

Biagi said the property had parking violations and two noise complaints months apart last year, but, like many rentals in the city, had no serious incidents before.

+13 Airbnb-style rentals on the rise in South Jersey Roz Altman started renting summer homes 10 years ago in Ventnor, so her entire immediate fam

For these people coming in for one night, a weekend or a week, the few are spoiling it for the masses, he said.

Before the ordinance, Ventnor had no way to keep track of hosts using the online platform and file their contact information.

I think the ordinance is the first step on trying to get a handle and at least give the city and the police the knowledge of who is renting and who is using Airbnb, Holtzman said.

Airbnb said it recognizes the need for common-sense regulation of home-sharing and has worked with more than 400 municipalities to craft policy that fits both the needs of local government and those of local hosts.
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The two officials of Emure local Government Area of Ekiti State, kidnapped last week have regained their freedom.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the police command in the state on Saturday confirmed the release of the two victims.

The two council staff, Pastor A. Onaade and Dr O. Fashina, were kidnapped along Ikere Ekiti- Ise-Emure road on Wednesday evening while returning to Ado Ekiti, the state capital.

However, another victim, Abayomi Ajayi, who reportedly conveyed other occupants in his car was killed.

One of the victims, Mr Onaade is an accountant while Mr Fashina is in charge of Primary Health Care in the council.

The gunmen, after killing Mr Ajayi, had seized Messrs Onaade and Fashina and demanded N10m ransom each from their families.

It was however not clear if any ransom was eventually paid to secure their release.

Speaking on the development in Ado Ekiti, the Commands Public Relations Officer, Caleb Ikechukwu, a deputy superintendent of police, said the captives were freed by the police.

Mr Ikechukwu said the newly posted Commissioner of police, Asuquo Amba, had also visited the kidnapped victims in their respective homes.

The Commissioner of police has visited them, they are in good shape.

It is the duty of the police to ensure that everybody is safe and that we have done, and will continue to do, he said.

NAN reports that he however declined to mention the actual location where the victims regained their freedom.

On the issue of ransom, Mr Ikechukwu said: The victims never brought this to our notice. They didnt tell us they paid anything.

All we did was to do our work and ensure that they returned home safe and in good health.

(NAN)
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The authorities of BOWEN University, Iwo, Osun State, have announced the expulsion of 29 and indefinite suspension of 26 of its students.

In a statement, the Registrar of the school, K.A Ogunleye, published the names of the expelled and suspended students, with their matriculation numbers.

This is to inform the University Community and the general public that the underlisted students have been expelled from the University, he announced, without giving reasons for the expulsion.

In another section of the university website, it was stated that the expelled and suspended students were not allowed within the university premises as the school resumed a new academic session on Saturday.

Meanwhile, in a telephone conversation with PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday, Mr Ogunleye didnt state the exact offence (s) of the students that led to the disciplinary action but explained that the decision was reached by a panel set up by the school.

We have the reasons with us but we cant put it on the website and the public. Theyve all faced a disciplinary committee, having infringed on the rules and regulations of the university, as contained in the students handbook.

He said those suspended are yet to face the panel or hearing has not been conducted into their cases.

While justifying the decision of the management, he added that the offences of students determine the disciplinary action to be taken by the committee.

The offences warranted expulsion, thats why the panel expelled them.
A non-governmental organisation, Child Protection Network (CPN), has petitioned the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Odude, over what it described as a poor way of handling an alleged sexual abuse of a seven-year old girl by a 65-year old man in Ibadan.

CPN, the umbrella body and coalition of registered NGOs and CSOs established by UNICEF as a social intervention body, under the auspices of the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community Development and Social Welfare, said that it was embarrassed by the way the DPO of Ogbere Police Division, Janet Talatu, handled the matter by releasing the suspect, identified as Adetunji.

The NGO, in a statement signed by CPN Coordinator in the state, Ebunlomo Walker, chairperson of FIDA in the state, Folake Ajayi, Kehinde Akinyemi of Child Growth Concern Initiative, A. A. Ibitara of JDPC, Oyo State, Yakub Fadare of the Nigeria Bar Association, Airat Ogungbenro of FOMWAN, I. G Yusuf of the Child Development and Concern Foundation, Ibukunoluwa Otesile of Hope for Second Chance Foundation, Chinyere Adeyemo of Chiyemo Global Impact Initiative, argued that a case of rape or sexual assault against a minor is a serious crime under the law, hence there is a need for the police to punish the perpetrator, according to the law of the land.

The petitioners in the petition addressed to Odude titled, Strong petition against gross professional misconduct and injustice on a child sexual abuse (CSA) offence case of a 7 year old girl by a 65 year old man Mr Adetunji in Ibadan, a copy which was made available to PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday, accused the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the state police command, Adekunle Ajisebutu for what they considered as unprofessional and least expected from a senior police officer of PPROs calibre who the society looks forward to as our hope for redress of societal ills and protection of the rights of children.

CPN, in the petition copies which were also sent to the speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Attorney General of Oyo State, Commissioner for Women Affairs, Community Development and Social Welfare, Oyo State, UNICEF, Zone B, Lagos, National Human Rights Commission, NHRC and the chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists Oyo State Council, requested further that cases of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) reported at any police station be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Iyaganku, Ibadan for thorough investigations and subsequent prosecution of the offenders and suspects by the police in accordance with the Penal Code and in order to ensure justice for the victims.

The petition partly reads, Our attention was recently drawn to a case of a 7 year old girl sexually abused by a 65 year old man (One Mr. Adetunji) on or about the 7th day of December, 2018 at Ifelodun Community, Elebolo Street, Lagbele Area, Ogbere, Orita Merin ti oya, Ibadan. The crime was reported at Ogbere Police Division by the Mother of the Victim, one Mrs. Tayo Ladipo.

According to the victims mother, she confirmed that the result of medical examination conducted in two different hospitals indicated that the 65 years old man, Mr. Adetunji, actually committed the offence of Sexual Assault on the said 7 year old innocent girl, Victoria.

We were most embarrassed by the way the DPO at Ogbere Police Division handled the matter by releasing the perpetrator on the flimsy excuse that the man did not penetrate, hence the DPO arranged a settlement which resulted into the perpetrator paying the mother of the victim 12,000 to finally settle the case, thus the mother told the Police that she did not want to prosecute the matter anymore.

We wish to point out the fact that a case of Rape or Sexual Assault against a Minor is a serious crime under the law. See Sections 33 and 34 of the Child Rights Laws of Oyo State, 2000 and as such,  (it) is a state case and not one that the victims mother can decide to withdraw. Such withdrawal will only encourage more offenders to continue their advancement in crime.

It might interest you sir, that when our organisation reported the matter to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Adekunle Ajisebutu, who we believe will do justice to the case and protect the interest and rights of the child. But to our dismay, the PPRO, Mr. Adekunle Ajisebutu, turned around to accuse the Child Rights Activist of Crying more than the bereaved.

Our organisation is committed to protecting the rights of these vulnerable children whom by reason of their tender ages cannot defend themselves. We are of the firm opinion and believe that all hands must be on deck to eradicate this social menace.

It is therefore based on the foregoing that we appeal to you, Sir to use your good offices in ensuring that the perpetrator of the crime, One Mr. Adetunji is arrested and arraigned before the appropriate court forthwith in the interest of justice.

We request further that cases of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) reported at any Police Station should be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Iyaganku, Ibadan for thorough investigations and subsequent prosecution of the offenders/ suspects by the Police in accordance with the Penal Code and in order to ensure justice for the victims. Kindly treat as urgent.

Efforts made by PREMIUM TIMES to get the reaction of the PPRO to react to the allegations were unsuccessful as calls put to his telephone line were not answered.

But, the DPO of Ogbere Police Division, Janet Talatu while reacting, declared that contrary to the NGOs claim, the man did not rape the girl.

Ms Talatu argued that the allegations are not true.

What they are telling you is a lie. There was no case of rape. No case of rape. Any case of rape, I normally transfer to state CID. Because I am a mother and I have a daughter too, even when the parties said they are ready to settle out of court, I will transfer to the state CID.

This case was reported. I think they are living in the same house, this face me I face you house. The mother of the girl was not around. She came back from school, but because of the relationship they have among themselves, one woman living in the house said, you can stay in our room. That girl slept on the bed.

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I think the man, according to the girl, removed her cloth but did not do anything. The man did not penetrate, nothing, nothing.

So, it was after, I think ten days that the girl now told the mother that the man removed her cloth and during the process, someone came in. That was why the man could not do anything with the girl.

Despite that, the man was arrested and I detained the man for three days. We took the girl to three hospitals, doctors confirmed that he has not defiled the girl. No case of rape, no penetration and the girl is still a virgin. And the mother now said that the landlord association chairman pleaded with her to withdraw the case. Despite that, I said when we transfer the case to state CID, you can now withdraw.

Based on that, the woman on her own, went to court, brought a sworn affidavit  that she was not interested in the case. Based on that, the man was released on bail. There was nothing. They went to the PRO at the Eleyele headquarters, the woman said that she was not the one that invited the NGO.

I dont compromise. Me? I am surprised, I dont know what they are looking for. I was surprised that they went on air. I am surprised that they went to meet the PRO. After they interviewed the parties, they still went to write petition again.
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Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has said the elites in Kaduna are not happy with his style of stewardship because he channelled Kadunas resources to improve healthcare and education for the poor and making the state great again, instead of sharing it with them.

The governor, who featured in a Hausa programme of Radio Nigeria Kaduna FRCN, on Saturday, disclosed that some elites, who assumed they owned the state and must dictate how it is run, were unhappy that he had focused on the needs of the ordinary citizens.

He said he was determined that the resources of Kaduna State must be used for the health care, security, education and economic development of ordinary citizens who have lost access to basic infrastructure for decades.

The barrier to progress erected by the elite and a few individuals must be broken. And we will not be intimidated or distracted from putting the ordinary citizen first by mundane and divisive politics.

Our trust is in God. This gives us the confidence that the ordinary citizens of Kaduna State see and appreciate what we are doing, and will support us to victory.

Mr El-Rufai also decried the manipulation of religion and ethnicity for political interests, saying that it is holding back the progress of Nigeria.

On the choice of Hadiza Balarabe as his running mate, the governor said it was influenced by considerations of competence, developing the state and pulling the talents of the women.

Mr El-Rufai said people in their business, travel and daily live and look for who can give them results, not the faith of that person.

If you are sick and in dire need of life, when you are rushed to hospital, what do you need? Life or religion of the doctor? Life is what you need and you will not waste time on the religion and ethnicity of the doctor. When you are flying, do you care about the religion or ethnicity of the pilot or a safe flight?

Its the same thing with business and investment. You hire those who can make your investment profitable. But when it comes to public service, some people will not be concerned about real development but will start talking of religion and ethnicity. This is a serious problem and is part of the reasons for Nigerias retrogression.

Our action was not predicated on religion or ethnicity but getting a deputy governor (who) suits our quest for a better Kaduna State.
Kano State witnessed an epic and historic medical breakthrough as the first Brain Surgery was conducted in the state on Thursday, at Muhammadu Buhari Specialist Hospital, Giginyu, Kano, on Ali Iliyasu, who was suffering from brain ailment in the last 26 years, after an accident.

A statement by the chief press secretary to the governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, quoted the leader of the surgeons who conducted the surgery, Shuaibu Dambatta, a Consultant Neuro-Surgeon as saying that, The patient had an eleven (11) Months appointment with another different facility before he came to us and we accepted to conduct the open brain surgery on him.

Mr Dambatta hinted that, the team of the surgeons included Atiku, Musa, Hassan and Musbahu, who are all from Kano State.

This is the first brain surgery done in Kano, in the history of the medical profession in the state.

We were contacted within the shortest period of time and we accepted to conduct the surgery. As you can see, the patient talking to you now, in less than 24 hours after the surgery, you know it is a successful exercise. He goes to rest room on his feet, just within 24 hours after the surgery. We all thank Allah for this all-important breakthrough in this Specialist Hospital, Mr Dambatta said.

He disclosed that the patient is from Dala local government, in Kano. All members of the team that we participated together in the surgery are also from Kano. We are all from Kano State, he said.

According to Mr Dambatta, the surgery was conducted free of charge. His family are only left with the purchase of the prescribed drugs. So we are all happy that we conducted the first open brain surgery in Kano. And it was very successful. Alhamdulillah, he said.

Mr Dambatta explained that the development became possible through the process followed by the state government in making the management of the hospital function under Public Private Partnership (PPP), which helps in no small measure to have the state-of-the-art Medical equipment that made dream a reality.

Mr Ganduje has visited the patient and wished him a quick recovery. We are delighted and very much impressed with this development. This proves clearly that when government is serious about anything, that thing can be achieved successfully.

We are ever thankful to Almighty Allah for making our dream comes true. When President Muhammadu Buhari was commissioning this giant Specialist Hospital, we revealed to the hearing of all, that, it would not be run solely by government. We wanted to make it under Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, where there will be no strike from the staff and the management would tally with the global best practice. This is the result of our people-centred thinking, Mr Ganduje said.

He added that this development is a pride to the state in the areas of effective and efficient health care delivery system, adding that, We are thankful to President Muhammadu Buhari for creating the enabling environment for the health sector to thrive in the country.

The patient, Iliyasu, while recounting his ordeals, as to the history of the ailment, said I had been suffering from this problem for the past 26 years, when I had an accident. Since that time my brain was not the same again.

My family and I suffered a lot by going from one place to another, in search of effective Medical attention and intervention. But all to no avail. The last place we went to, (they) gave me an 11-month appointment, after which a surgery would be conducted on me.

We decided to contact this Muhammadu Buhari Specialist Hospital. Within the shortest period of time, I was invited and after, surgical procedures were carried out, then the surgery was conducted. Not only conducted, it was successfully conducted. Alhamdulillah.

He added that, Before now I found it very difficult to sleep. But look at me now, after the surgery I slept continuously, for more than seven or eight hours straight.

His mother and wife, Furera Ali and Sadiya Abubakar, both commended Mr Ganduje.

Mr Ganduje also inspected Kano Cancer Centre, to see the progress of the work after few weeks for the approval of the establishment of the Centre.

The Centre, according to him, was first thought of, when he visited one of the best world Cancer Centres in Australia, few weeks back. There and then, I talked to them to come to Kano and help us in establishing one, he said.

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When completed, it will be one of the best in Africa. All we are saying is, as we promised during our campaign periods, we will deliver to the people. Most importantly the issue of health is not something to toy about with. We are determined to do our best, Mr Ganduje said.
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The Borno chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has constituted a 50-member campaign committee to drum up support for its candidates in the forthcoming general election.

Muhammad Imam, the governorship candidate of the party, who spoke at the inauguration of the committee, said membership of the committee was drawn among the candidates and elders of the party.

Mr Imam disclosed that the committee would be under his stewardship while Muhammad Kaka-Bolori would serve as the director general.

He listed other members to include 41 candidates of the senatorial, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly as well as leadership and elders of the party in the state.

Mr Imam added that candidates for the State House of Assembly would serve as campaign coordinators in the 27 local government areas of the state.

He explained that the committee was mandated to come up with effective campaign strategies and work to ensure success of all the candidates in the coming elections.

The governorship hopeful tasked members of the committee to be dedicated and work to ensure the party sweeps the polls.

Also, Mr Kaka-Bolori, assured of their commitments to serve diligently and mobilise support for all the partys candidates to win elections at all levels.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exercise was attended by Abba Aji, the senatorial candidate for the Borno-Central, other candidates and leaders of the party.

(NAN)
Posted Friday, January 4, 2019 12:53 pm

A 29-year-old Packwood woman was killed just past midnight Friday after she was ejected from a vehicle she was riding in as a passenger.

The name of the woman has not been released, according to Chief Bruce Kimsey with the Lewis County Sheriffs Office, who indicated the county coroners office would later release that information.

According to Kimsey, in an email, at 12:04 a.m., deputies responded to the 100 block of Cannon Road in Packwood. The driver of a 2000 Jeep  a 22-year-old Packwood man  told deputies he was driving northbound on Cannon Road when the jeep had some sort of mechanical issue and went off the roadway.

The conditions were wet and rainy at the time.

The jeep rolled multiple times, and the vehicles passenger was ejected, causing fatal injuries.

The driver was not injured.

Deputies and Washington State Patrol trooper investigated the incident, and the case is pending blood results from the driver, Kimsey indicated in the email.
The poor structure of the Act establishing Nigerias Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is the major cause of various crises that have trailed the scheme over the years, the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, has said.

The minister also linked the inability of the scheme to cover majority of Nigerians, more than a decade after its establishment, to loopholes in Act. He insisted the Act should have made health insurance compulsory for all Nigerians.

The Act made insurance voluntary and that is why we are supporting National Assembly to repel the Act and put in place a comprehensive package. Let it be comprehensive because it cannot be voluntary. There is need for review of the Act and it is (ongoing), Mr Adewole, a professor, said during an exclusive interview with PREMIUM TIMES.

I can tell you today that no Executive Secretary of NHIS has completed a full term in office without being sacked or suspended, apart from Mohammed Dogo, the pioneer ES, so its not just about this administration.

Social media has made information readily accessible and available. It made things look as if it is only now that these things are happening, it used to happen before. We are asking the presidential panel to take a more holistic look at the NHIS, to review the Act of the scheme. The Act seems to have given so much power to the governing board, Mr Adewole noted.

The NHIS has been a cesspool of fraud, corruption and controversies even before the current embattled Executive Secretary of the scheme, Usman Yusuf took over.

Nigerias president, Muhammadu Buhari, had in July 2016, appointed Mr Yusuf, to quell the storm in the scheme but his reign stoked even more crises, which has further heated the tension at the agency.

Mr Yusuf, a professor of Haematology-Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant, was last October, sent on an indefinite suspension by the governing board over allegations of fraud and infractions.

It was his second over similar allegations since he assumed office.

Rather than obey the sanction, Mr Yusuf stormed the NHIS head office with a contingent of about 50 police officers, broke a barricade mounted by angry workers and forced his way into his office. He maintained that the governing council had no powers to sanction him.

Activities remained grounded at the agency, with workers and management pitched against each other until Mr Buhari ordered the controversial official to proceed on an administrative leave.

The president deployed Ben Omogo, a Director of Administration in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, to oversee the affairs of the Scheme, temporarily.

The Act governing the NHIS is not very clear on the issue of suspension of the Executive Secretary.

The word, suspension, does not appear anywhere in its laws, much less in relation to the head of the agency.

Meanwhile, the Part 3 section 8 (3) of the Act states that the Executive Secretary is subject to the general direction of the Council.

Perhaps, this is the part that the council has latched on to draw the power to suspend the executive secretary.

The governing council, by that Act, was given the power to do whatever is necessary to keep the scheme running. If the council now thinks it is important to do anything to keep the scheme running, nobody can say no, Mr Adewole highlighted, during the interview.

That is why we say the Act needs to be revised and be more specific. If you look closely, it is as if the council does almost everything there. The Act is one of the major issues with the scheme. Why NHIS has not covered majority of Nigerians, is because it is voluntary.

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When it is voluntary, it makes people not take it seriously. Our disposition- as Nigerians, (is that) we dont take our health critical. We dont even treat our body the way we treat our car. When we wake up in the morning, you have a car you clean it up, you test the engine oil, you test the water level etc. Many people dont treat their body as well as they treat their cars.

When it comes to health, nobody wants to pay for health. We all want it free and that is why, for us to make it free, somebody has to pay for it. In the UK, the health insurance is there but its being funded, essentially, by taxation. What we need to look at in NHIS is  how do we put more money in health, put more resources together, to take care of every body and ensure maximum coverage?

While millions of Nigerians remain uncovered, the few enrolled under the scheme are complaining of inadequate service delivery.

Since its establishment 13 years ago, a majority of Nigerians are yet to be covered under the scheme. Mr Yusuf said last year that over 90 per cent of Nigerians are not captured under the NHIS.

Many have traced the relative poor coverage to the structure of the scheme, which has been tainted with financial irregularities gone unchecked.

The governing board of NHIS, last October, raised an alarm that the agency is near a tipping point and may collapse within the next three years, unless urgent measures are taken.

With a new Act, practitioners in the health sector believe a more efficient way the scheme should function, will be clearly stated.
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The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has declared January 10 as a national day of prayers for the success of the forthcoming general elections.

In a statement on Saturday, the association said the praise and worship session is also to ask God for the release of Leah Sharibu and others in the captivity of the Boko Haram terrorists.

Although the statement was signed by Adebayo Oladeji, the special assistant to the CAN President, Samson Ayokunle, the CAN statement indicated the directive was given by its acting general secretary, Joseph Daramola.

The association, in the statement, called on all churches and Christians across the country to participate in the programme.

The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has declared January 10 as a National Day of Prayers for peaceful, free, fair and credible election and freedom for Leah Sharibu and others in the captivity of the Boko Haram terrorists.

The prayer meeting is to be organised in Abuja and all the State capitals nationwide between 11:00am and 2:00pm prompt with a view to asking God to prevent violence, manipulation, intimidation of voters and other electoral crimes with a view to having credible election.

Christian politicians especially those contesting for elective offices or their representatives are also invited as they will be prayed for to be good Ambassadors of Christ before, during and after the election, it said.

We are to pray for all Christians contesting for one post or the other for the will of God to be done concerning their ambition. That the powerful in our nation will not be able to manipulate the election and edge them out, the statement added.

CAN also asked all bloc leaders and their secretaries, all zonal chairmen, state chairmen and all denominational leaders to organise their church members to assemble at the National Christian Centre, Abuja.

All churches in the country are urged to participate in the programme to usher the country into a new era of peace, unity, safety and all round prosperity.
The Tertiary Education Fund (TETFund) has said it disbursed N134 billion to universities, polytechnics and colleges of education as intervention funds in 2018.

The funds allocated to tertiary schools nearly doubled the N69 billion it disbursed in 2017.

As part of its end of the year review, the Executive Secretary to the fund, Abdullahi Baffa, disclosed this at a media briefing, on Friday.

He said the funds, in various amounts, were disbursed to the schools to aid developmental projects.

The Fund reaped the benefits of its 2017 projects proposal in defence and access clinics for Institutions in 2018 with about 49 per cent increase in access of intervention funds by the beneficiary institutions from N69.18 billion in 2017 to N133.84 billion in 2018, he said.

He also gave a breakdown.

The Fund disbursement for the period January- December 2018 across the various intervention lines was N133.84 billion. The distribution across the three levels are Universities- N66.93 billion, Polytechnics- N32.37 billion, College of Education -N32.65 billion while others were N1.89 billion, he said.

The report revealed that in 2018, the board of trustees of the Fund approved the enlistment of 16 new beneficiary institutions after they met all requirements.

The schools include: Nigerian Army University, Biu; Ondo State University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa; First Technical University, Ibadan; Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna; Binyaminu Usman Polytechnic, Hadejia.

Others are: College of Education Billiri Gombe State; College of Education Kangere, Bauchi State; College of Education Lanlate Oyo State; Federal Polytechnic, Ukana, Akwa Ibom; Gateway Polytechnic, Sapaade, Ogun State.

It included: Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki, Oyo State; The Ibarapa Polytechnic, Eruwa, Oyo State; University of Medical Science, Ondo State and Enugu State Polytechnic, Iwollo, Enugu State.

The report also showed a significant increase by 25.47 per cent in the Funds Education Tax Collection. As of November 2018, it said it generated N200 billion compared to N154.9 billion in 2017.

The official explained that the growth shows the country has recovered from its recession, adding that the increase would aid it allocate more to institutions to enable carry out projects, fund scholarships, and research.

The growth in the education tax collection is a clear confirmation that Nigerias economy has recovered from the avoidable recession it was plunged into by the previous administration, Mr Baffa said.

The increased allocation will obviously translate to a bigger allocation for public tertiary institutions and therefore more projects, more scholarships, more research funds in the institutions, he added.

Abdullahi Baffa, Executive secretary TETFUND Abdullahi Baffa, Executive secretary TETFUND Abdullahi Baffa, Executive secretary TETFUND Abdullahi Baffa, Executive secretary TETFUND

Also at the briefing, Mr Baffa said in 2018, the agency granted approval for the commencement of 226 new projects in tertiary institutions, with a total of 189 physical infrastructure projects having been completed while 112 are at various levels of completion.

2019 In View

Meanwhile, the agency has said N161 billion has been approved for interventions in Nigerian institutions in the 2019 budget.

The approved N161 billion has been allocated to eligible institutions for 2019 Intervention activities in accordance with the provisions of the TETFund Act 2011, Mr Baffa said.

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The approval of the 2018 Intervention by President Muhammadu Buhari in December 2018 heralds the commencement of the 2019 TETFund Intervention activities, he said.

Consequently, each public university will get an allocation of N785.8 million; each public polytechnic N536.7 milliom; and each college of education will get an allocation of N510 million respectively, he added.
Kola Shittu did not match the picture the reporter expected to see. It was the second day of the new year and the Kwara State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was calm and all smiles as he ushered party officials into and out of his office in his expansive home in the old GRA, Ilorin.

Could Mr Shittu be unaware of the higher-than-usual excitement in the state over the coming general elections, driven by the resurgence of the opposition in the state? At street junctions and on almost every wall in Ilorin, even around Mr Shittus house, bright billboards and posters screamed the message: Oto Ge! meaning Enough is Enough in Yoruba.

It is the battle cry of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and it is echoing even in the most unexpected places in Ilorin and other parts of Kwara. It refers to the long dominance of the politics of the 51-year-old state by the Saraki family.

Place a table by the roadside anywhere in Ilorin, shout Oto Ge! and see the reaction of people, Iyiola Oyedepo told PREMIUM TIMES.

Mr Oyedepo was the state chairman of the PDP until last July when he fled to the APC to avoid sharing the same camp with Bukola Saraki, the Senate president.

Mr Saraki, the current leader of the Saraki political family, had that month made a grand return to the PDP from the APC, followed by the state governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, and all the elected office holders from the state.

When Mr Saraki moved from the PDP in a similar fashion in 2014, he flipped the state to the APC, which went on to win every election there in 2015. But Mr Oyedepo said the tide has turned.

The people are resolute that enough is enough and you can feel it in the air everywhere in Kwara, he said.

Ilorin on knifes edge

Two recent events in the state give an indication of a changing political canvass.

Usually on Christmas Day, the predominantly Muslim indigenes gathered under their umbrella, Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union at the palace of their revered emir. At the gathering, they would raise fund for the development of the emirate and review public issues that affect the people within and outside Kwara. It was a key event in the socio-political calendar of the people and everyone turned up gaily dressed. In 2017, the Senate President as the chief donor announced a donation of N10 million.

At the event, however, last December, the unusual happened. As Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, the APC governorship candidate, was called to the podium, a band of rednecks sprang to their feet chanting Sai Bukky, the slogan of supporters of the Senate President in the state. They were immediately countered with chants of Oto Ge!

The ensuing commotion overwhelmed the organisers who called an end to the event after the emir, Sulu-Gambari, hurried out of the scene in embarrassment. The next day, the president of the IEDPU announced his resignation.

The PDP supporters accused the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, of orchestrating the tumult at the event, alleging it was the reason he had the NTA broadcast the event live.

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed [Photo: Daily Trust]

Mr Mohammed, an indigene of Oro about 100 kilometres away in the southern senatorial district of the state, denied the allegation. He said he had no foreknowledge of the event and could not have arranged its coverage by national television. Still, it was significant that a group would stand toe to toe against Mr Sarakis supporters at such a grand event in the very heart of Ilorin, his hometown.

Political Fortress

The Sarakis control the politics of Kwara from their political fortress in Ilorin and buttress their hold by using it for negotiation at the federal level. This means that they not only control the resources of the state, but also those accruing from Abuja, including political and public service appointments.

The emirate, covering the entirety of Kwara Central Senatorial District and a small part of Kwara North, has about 55 per cent of the voting population of the state.

Because the Sarakis have always enjoyed solid support in Ilorin, other parts of the state consider it politically suicidal to stand against them in the Nigerian winner takes all politics where 50.01 percent is equal to 100 percent. Thus, any support the Sarakis draw from outside their home fortress has been based on the pragmatism of the giver. A substantial erosion of the support in Ilorin is thus nunc dimitis to the hegemony.

But in the last eight years, Mr Saraki has faced a rising opposition in Ilorin, indicated especially by the desertion of key allies. Some of these include Gani Cook-Olododo, Yinka Aluko and Moshood Mustapha who served him either as chief of staff, commissioner or special adviser when he was governor and were commanders of the foot soldiers at elections.

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Abdulraheem Oba, a professor and former vice chancellor of the University of Ilorin, is also an influential indigene of Ilorin who has deserted the Saraki camp. Other young Turks never beholden to the Sarakis are also emerging and marking out turfs across the emirate. The fact is that Mr Saraki has not managed to win the adulation his father enjoyed among the Ilorin people.

In other parts of Kwara too, many old allies have jumped ship. Many of these are in Kwara South, but there are prominent cases like Ibrahim Bio, a former member of the House of Representatives, speaker of the State House of Assembly and minister; and Ahmed Ahmed, a former senator from Kwara North.

One reason that he Sarakis have survived all seasons is because they are adept at forecasting the political weather of Nigeria. In 2003, their timely movement into the PDP helped them in kicking out Governor Lawal of the then ANPP, an indigene of Ilorin who had a strong base there. They enjoyed that advantage of federal might until 2015 when they took a ride on the Buhari train.

President Muhammadu Buhari

But now that he is shorn of federal might and has no big sentiment to cling to, Mr Saraki for the first time has to run solely on his own steam. Mr Oyedepo said that steam will not take him far.

We long realized that you no longer need the Sarakis to win an election in Kwara. But each time I said this to our leaders in our former party (the PDP) in Abuja, they looked at me as if I were some clown, he said.

The opposition are scenting blood especially after their victory at last years by-election in Kwara South senatorial district.

Funke Adedoyin, a member of the House of Representatives, died shortly after following Mr Saraki from APC to PDP. In the by-election at the Irepodun/Isin/Ekiti/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency in Kwara South to fill her seat, the candidate of the APC was returned as the winner. It was the first time that Mr Saraki would lead a party to defeat in Kwara. His political family had made a clean sweep of every general election in the state since 1999, under three different parties. And the winning streak extended much further back.

Of the six governors the state has elected since 1979, only one was not handpicked by a Saraki. Even in that odd case in 1983, Cornelius Adebayo of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria got a helping hand from Olusola Saraki to breast the tape.

That time, the father of the current Senate President was the Senate Leader. He had fallen out with Adamu Attah, the first elected governor of the state who he installed in 1979. When their ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN) sided with the governor and renominated him, Mr Saraki vowed to unhorse him anyway.

He asked a protege to run on the ticket of the Nigerian Peoples Party but soon realised that it would take the combined force of the opposition in the state to stop the federal might of the NPN from returning Mr Attah. He then asked his supporters to vote Mr Adebayo.

The Second Republic quickly ended with the military coup of December 1983. But the 13 years military interregnum that followed did not weaken the hold of Mr Saraki on Kwara politics. In the short-lived Third Republic, he installed Shaaba Lafiagi, now a senator, as governor. When the Fourth Republic arrived in 1999, he again handpicked Mohammed Lawal, a former Navy admiral, as governor on the platform of the now defunct All Peoples Party.

After his incubus of falling out with his anointed king made a reappearance, Mr Saraki decided to put himself up for governor but was advised by his new suitors in the PDP to instead field his then 40-year-old son, Bukola, a medical doctor who had run the familys now defunct Societe Generale Bank.

The younger Saraki would become the first governor to be reelected in the state. But by the end of his second term in 2011, he too was at odds with his father. This time, it was over the fathers insistence on his daughter, Gbemisola, succeeding his son as governor.

The face-off with his son ended the political career of the patriarch with a comprehensive defeat in the 2011 elections. He had taken Gbemisola to the fringe National Congress Party of Nigeria. She not only returned a distant third in the governorship election, none of the candidates Mr Saraki put up for other seats across the state fared better.

Gbemisola Saraki. [Photo credit: Facebook page of Gbemisola Saraki]

Unlike his father, Bukola has managed to retain the loyalty of the governor he installed, Abdulfatah Ahmed, through two terms. However, the new kingmaker has developed a dangerous passion of his own  fighting his friends at the federal level where he became a star player.

After leading a rebellion in the then ruling PDP in 2014 as a first time senator, he defected to the newly formed APC. Last July, he returned to the PDP as Senate President after three years of cat and mouse game in the party he helped push to power. Again, the governor, all federal lawmakers from Kwara and all but one of the 24 members of the State House of Assembly were in his tow.

However, the current buzz even in Ilorin and the result of the by-election in Kwara South suggest Mr Saraki has on his hands a tougher battle than in 2015 to keep Kwara under the umbrella of the party he has returned to.

But Mr Shittu urged against attaching too much significance to the outcome of the by-election.

One, that election was not democratic enough because the true result of the election was not allowed to come out, he said. There was rigging in that election where APC used the force of incumbency to change electoral figures and to thumbprint at collation centres.  PDP actually won that election.

But to APC supporters in the state, the by-election result is credible and is a harbinger of what will come at the general elections.

People have realised that development cannot come to the state until it is freed from dynastic rule, Mr Oyedepo said. Kwarans now want to elect their leaders based on merit, not by attachment to a godfather.

According to the opposition and other critics, the development of the state has been arrested under the Sarakis suzerainty, especially in the last 16 years when the Senate President served two terms as governor and handed over to his protege, Mr Ahmed, who is completing his own second term next May. They cite alleged rampant corruption and privatization of state resources, the poor network of roads in the state, collapse of public water works, poor and irregular salaries of teachers as well as state and local government workers, neglect of pensioners and the poor states of the health and education sectors in the state.

But Mr Sarakis supporters say the critics are unfair, citing to his credit the reform of the revenue system of the state and projects such as the Shonga Commercial Farm under which Mr Saraki in 2004 brought in 13 White Zimbabwean farmers to establish large farms in the state, Kwara State University, Kwara College of Aviation, Kwara Diagnostic Centre, Kwara Vocational Centre (established in Ajasse-Ipo by the succeeding administration of Governor Ahmed), and the attraction into the state of big businesses such as Shoprite and the Dangote Flour Mill.

According to the unflappable Mr Shittu, the PDP is so proud of the record of the Saraki leadership of Kwara that it built its message to the voters on it.

Our central message is continuity  we want the development of the state to continue uninterrupted, in line with the continuity we have run since the Bukola Saraki governorship, he said.

Flying that flag of continuity as the PDP governorship candidate is Razak Atunwa, a Britain-trained lawyer who since returning to Kwara in 2005 has held several cabinet positions under Mr Saraki, served as Speaker of the State House of Assembly from 2011 to 2015 and is currently a member of the House of Representatives.

Razak Atunwa.

Our chances are very bright; in fact, we intend to win all the elections in the state  the presidential, governorship, all the National Assembly and State House of Assembly seats. Everything, Mr Shittu said.

Game of Subterfuge

Mr Shittu, understandably, would not disclose how his party plans to neutralise the federal might and the Oto Ge! storm behind the sail of the APC in the state. But it is clear from other things playing out that both protagonists and antagonists consider all, including subterfuge, to be fair in war.

The APC was firmly under the control of Mr Saraki until he moved out of the party last year. He had installed a long time follower from Ilorin, Ishola Balogun-Fulani, as the state chairman and picked all the members of the state executive committee. In July, Mr Balogun-Fulani told journalists at a press conference in Ilorin that the leaders and members of the APC in the state wanted Mr Saraki to take them into another party, in protest over his alleged maltreatment by the President Buhari administration and the national leadership of the APC.

Ostensibly heeding his followers call, Mr Saraki a few days later moved back into the PDP. However, Mr Balogun-Fulani and members of his exco curiously decided to stay put in the APC and retain their positions. The national secretariat of the party swiftly expelled Mr Balogun-Fulani and replaced the state exco with a caretaker committee before announcing a new exco headed by Bashir Bolarinwa. Mr Balogun-Fulani reacted by heading to court.

On December 19, Justice T.S Umar of the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin delivered judgment on Mr Balogun-Fulanis application and granted all the reliefs sought by the claimants.

One of the 13 reliefs Mr Umar granted states: A declaration be and it is hereby made that the claimants as the duly elected and duly constituted members of the Kwara State Committee of the 3rd defendant (The APC) in Kwara State are entitled to exercise all the powers and functions specified for members of the State Executive Committee of the 3rd defendant in the Constitution, Guidelines and Regulations of the 3rddefendant pertaining to the conduct of primary elections or other processes for the nomination of candidates to occupy party posts or contest elections for the posts of Local Government Council Chairman and Councillors, State House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, Governors and President on the platform of the 3rd defendant from Kwara State during the four (4) years tenure of the claimants as a members (sic) of the Kwara State Executive Committee commencing from 6th day of June, 2018.

By this declaration of the court, the nominees of the Balogun-Fulani exco, will be on the ballot as candidates of the APC for the general elections, including Abdulwahab Omotose, a former Majority Leader of the State House of Assembly, as the governorship candidate.

Mr Omotose was one of the representatives from Kwara at the formal introduction in Abuja of the Buba Galadima-led Reformed APC (R-APC) formed by those who would the following month in July leave the APC for the PDP. He was, in fact, announced at that event as the interim National Treasurer of the R-APC.

Did Mr Balogun-Fulani have a Damascus road conversion that led to his abrupt decision to stay put in the APC after encouraging those who took him there to leave?

It is true that I called on him to go to another party. But specifically, I did not mention which party. When they defected to PDP, it did not go down well with me and my executives. So, I decided to stay with APC. And I wish to refer you to other people who had done same thing like myself, including Senator Shehu Sani, Mr Balogun-Fulani explained the curious development.

The APC described Mr Balogun-Fulanis action and the courts judgment he obtained as the hand of Esau but the voice of Jacob.

According to Mr Oyedepo, Ishola Balogun-Fulani is a tool in the hand of Saraki to disrupt the process of APC in Kwara State. He is a lackey always at Sarakis becks and calls. It is clear to everyone that he was left behind to disturb us and cause confusion.

Saraki wants to have the two major parties in the state in his pocket in Kwara. But fortunately, the National Working Committee of the APC was smarter by dissolving the Balogun-Fulani Exco on July 39, 2018. He was also expelled from the party.

A lot has taken place after his expulsion. Another registration of members was done and it was the new register that was used for the congresses. People like us who moved in from the PDP were not in the register with Balogun-Fulani.

We did a direct primary to elect our candidates. The electoral officers came from Abuja to conduct the primaries. It was not a delegates-based election where the party leaders would have elected the candidates, party members across the state elected the candidates.

Mr Oyedepo, who is a lawyer, said the APC has appealed and also asked the Court of Appeal to arrest the court judgment. By and large, we are confident that Balogun-Fulani and those who sent him on errand are wasting their time.

But Mr Shittu of the PDP saw nothing strange in Mr Balogun-Fulanis flip-flop.

In politics, 24 hours is a long time. Somebody can take a decision today and change it tomorrow. It is not strange. May be as a Fulani man, he wants to stay with his fellow Fulani, Buhari (President Muhammadu, who is the APC presidential candidate).

However, he agreed that the development and the court judgment are playing out in favour of his party.

As of today, you are aware that the faction of Lai Mohammed APC led by Bolarinwa has no candidates to field for the elections from the court judgment, he said to underscore his optimism over his partys chances in the general elections. It is the faction of Balogun-Fulani that has candidates to field, and that is another thing. They are already in disarray now. They will end up like Rivers and Zamfara states ended up. They will have no candidates to field. All these things are working in our favour.

Mr Saraki is a political strategist and dogged fighter. He demonstrated this on the national stage when he outwitted the APC leadership to seize the Senate presidency, the source of his woes in the party. Since the defeat at the Kwara South by-election, he has taken steps to improve his fortunes in the area. The governor, Mr Ahmed, sacrificed his senatorial ticket so that the incumbent, Rafiu Ibrahim, can seek reelection. Mr Ibrahim is from Ojoku in Oyun Local Government and can draw votes away from Lola Ashiru, an indigene of Offa who is running on the ticket of the APC.

Due to a series of developments climaxed by the bank robbery last year, Offa is virtually a no-go for Mr Saraki and his party. But with votes from Oyun and if Mr Ahmed can help draw votes from his Ifelodun Local Government Area, the PDP may not need to write off its chances in Kwara South.

The state government has also upgraded many chiefs in the area, apparently to historically temper hostility in the area.

What is clear is that the next two months will be very interesting in this multi-ethnic and multi-religious state of about 3 million people that has always punched above its weight in the politics of Nigeria.
At 11:39 on January 2nd, a handle on Twitter, @LadiSpeaks posted a tweet claiming that convicted former governor of Plateau State, Joshua Dariye, made donations to the Buhari campaign.

BREAKING: Convicted former Plateau State Governor, Senator Joshua Dariye donates 25 Buses, N50m to Buhari Campaign!

It Seems APC members are trying to outdo themselves on who donates more buses to Buharis Campaign, the tweet read.

As at the time of this report, the tweet has had 804 retweets, 747 likes and 86 comments since it was posted.

@LadiSpeaks is a verified twitter account with the name: African giant-Ladi. In his Twitter bio he described himself as the Publisher of @PidginBlogNG, and a Google Digital Skills Trainer. The account has over 62,500 followers.

@LadiSpeaks did not provide any pictorial evidence of the buses donated by Mr Dariye neither did he provide a link to a credible newspaper with the report.

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) reached out to @LadiSpeaks for pictorial and other proof of the alleged donation, he has not responded to the enquiry as at the time of publication.

CDD asked the Buhari Campaign Organisation (BCO) if it received any donation from Mr Dariye.

Festus Keyamo, the Director of Media and Publicity of BCO, said he was unaware if the alleged donation was made and could neither confirm or deny if any donation was received from the disgraced ex-governor.

I am not in a position to confirm or deny that, because I am not the Director General, I am not the Director of logistics, Donations goes to the DG and Director of Logistics. Am not aware of anything and you cannot confirm or deny, he said.

Festus Keyamo

Similarly, Israel Ibeleme, a spokesperson for Rotimi Amaechi, the Director General of BCO, also denied receiving any donation from Mr Dariye.

I have spoken to the DG, he said no donation was received from Dariye. It is fake news, he said during a telephone chat.

CDD also spoke to the spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress in Plateau, Chindo Dafat, who said he was not aware that any donation was made to the Buhari campaign by Dariye.

I have contacted about three people who are close to the family and none of them confirmed to me the story. They are telling me that they are not aware of the news. I think its fake. Those I contacted are serious people but none could confirm it is true, he said.

Though CDD cannot independently verify the claims of those it spoke to, coupled with the reluctance of the original publisher of the tweet to provide evidence of the alleged donations, our verdict of the news of the alleged donation is LIKELY FALSE.

Donation Galore

So, what is the likely motive behind the news of the alleged donation?

Since the commencement of the campaign toward the forthcoming general elections, governors and other politicians in the APC have been making donations to the re-election campaign.

In December, Abdulmumin Jibrin, the House of Representative member for Kiru/Bebeji Local Governments tweeted that he is donating 150 vehicles for the 2019 campaign of President Buhari, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State and the APC.

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Similarly, Umar Bago of the APC in Niger State claimed he donated 11 vehicles to President Buharis re-election campaign.

In the same vein, the Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, announced he was donating buses to mobilise members for the re-election of President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

Why Dariye?

In June 2018, Mr Dariye was convicted for money laundering related offences and sentenced to 14 years imprisonment (which was later reduced to 10 years by the Appeal Court). Since his conviction, there have been speculations over his involvement in politics. There have been speculations over alleged donations he made to President Muhammadu Buharis re-election bid.

Previous Claims

In November, the Daily Trust newspaper reported that Mr Dariye, who is the senator representing Plateau Central Senatorial District made a plea to his supporters from jail to vote for President Buhari and incumbent Governor Simon Lalong in the 2019 general elections.

Later it was widely reported that he had procured a nomination form for re-election to represent Plateau Central. But his party, the All Progressives Congress denied it.

(Beware of Fake News. Dont Peddle it! Dont Spread it!)

(The fake news project of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), an independent and non-partisan organisation, is to counter electoral misinformation and promote peaceful elections in 2019.)
The year 2018 may have ended on a bleak note for all six General Managers of Addax Petroleum Development Nigeria Limited, as they voluntarily disengaged their services from the firm.

Although their disengagement is yet to be announced officially by management, a source close to the company in Abuja told PREMIUM TIMES the top officials were forced against their will to take the decision.

It was not clear why the management of the company decided to ease out the top officials.

According to the source, who requested not to be named to avoid being victimised, Addax Petroleum Nigeria had announced a Voluntary Separation Programme (VSP) for all staff last November.

The VSP is a programme usually implemented every three years by the management of the company to encourage all categories of staff to take advantage of an enhanced remuneration package as benefits to voluntarily disengage from the company.

To benefit from the programme, staff are usually encouraged to apply to management to request approval to voluntarily exit from the company ahead of their retirement date.

In 2012 and 2015, the programme, referred to as Voluntary Severance Package, saw many staff of the company take advantage of the attractive offer to take early retirement.

In November 2018, the source said following managements rollout of the VSP, all interested staff were given one month to submit applications to voluntarily leave the service of Addax Petroleum.

PREMIUM TIMES learned the announcement came with a proviso that management reserved the final right to decide which application it would want to accept or reject.

At the end of the deadline for the submission of applications, the source said, although several applications were received from other staff, none of the six General Managers submitted any request indicating interest to voluntarily bow out of the company.

While some of the requests were accepted, the source told our reporter that many from people the management believe still have a future in the company were rejected and asked to return to work.

Earlier this week, the source said, a new organogram introduced by management effectively phased out the general managers positions, leaving them redundant, with no functional role in the operations of the company.

Under the new management structure in the company, the highest managerial positions became senior managers to replace the general managers.

The action was said to have taken the six general managers by surprise, as Managing Director of the company, Younghong Chen, feigned ignorance of what was going on.

Mr Chen was said to have told some of the affected general managers who went to seek clarification from him that the decision was beyond his authority.

Consequently, the affected general managers were said to have been left with no option than to put in their applications to request for the voluntary separation package.

As I speak to you, all six general managers are out of the Addax Petroleum system effective December 31, 2018, the source said on Friday.

What that means is that every staff who applied and his or her application was accepted by management will cease to be a staff of Addax Petroleum by December 31, 2018, the source added.

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PREMIUM TIMES learned those affected included the General Managers in charge of External and Government Affairs; Exploration and Production (E&P); Human Resources (HR); Health Safety and Environment (HSE); Supply Chain Management, and Drilling.

The General Manager, External and Government Affairs, Dorothy Atake, in response to a text message, said the exit was voluntary.

Call Yinka Adeyemi. Hes now the media manager. No one was sacked. The company offered a voluntary severance package to all its regular staff. It was open to all regular staff. Those who applied for the Voluntary Severance Package were paid off. So, its not a sack, Ms Atake, one of those affected said in her text message.

When our reporter contacted the companys new Manager, External Affairs, Adeyinka Adeyemi, he refused to confirm or deny the development.

Can you call someone else? I dont know who gave you this number. I am out of Lagos. You can hear its very noisy in the background where I am. I cant talk right now. You can call me on Monday, Mr Adeyemi said on the telephone.

Pressed further to confirm the development, Mr Adeyemi insisted he could not talk, as he was out of Lagos. When I am back in Lagos, we can have a conversation on Monday on this. Thank you, he said.

Addax Petroleum, which began operations in Nigeria in 1998, is the operator of some Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The company, which operates 11 oil concessions with about 80 production wells in OMLs123, 124 and 126, is now owned by the Chinese state firm, Sinopec International Petroleum Exploration and Production Corporation (SIPC).
X-by-Wire Market: Throttle-by-Wire Technology to Lead with Maximum Penetration During the Forecast Period: Global Industry Analysis (2012 - 2016) and Opportunity Assessment (2017 - 2027)

X-by-Wire Market

PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-05 11:35:11

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U.S. Office616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWeb: https://www.futuremarketinsights.comManager+1 03479183531

According to a new report published by Future Market Insights titled X-by-Wire Market: Global Industry Analysis (2012  2016) and Opportunity Assessment (2017  2027), the global x-by-wire is in the growing stage and is expected to show potential growth signs by the end of 2027. The demand for x-by-wire systems is increasing with every passing day as their installation is increasing in the military vehicles as well as construction equipment. Automotive companies are also focusing on installing x-by-wire systems in economy cars as well. Electric and hybrid vehicles manufacturers, on the other hand, are looking forward to adopt brake-by-wire in the vehicles, thus making it a feasible option for the consumers. The global x-by-wire market is expected to witness a volume CAGR of 13.8% and is likely to reach a volume of over 395,000 000 units by the end of 2027.Request to Sample of Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-6324 Rising Demand for Automotive Components to Trigger Adoption of X-by-WireThe global automotive components market is expected to rise at a healthy rate over the forecast period owing to the substantial rise in the global demand for light vehicles. As a result of this, the sales of x-by-wire is expected to increase by almost 40%. Furthermore, the sales are supported by the stable demand arising from Asia Pacific and Europe. The sales are likely to constant in developing regions but slower growth is likely to be witnessed in emerging markets, especially China. Along with the luxury and premium vehicles sector; mid-sized and economical cars are also featuring advanced systems in their vehicle models in order to remain competitive in the market. These factors are expected to fuel growth of the x-by-wire technologies such as throttle-by-wire, shift-by-wire and brake-by-wire. The global automotive production rate is expected to have a high impact on the x-by wire market. The passenger cars sector, in particular, is anticipated to witness high growth over the forecast period. It has been projected that there will be a rather sound automotive production rate in developed economies such as Europe and the U.S. with the key emphasis being on sedan and luxury car sectors owing to changing consumer preference and lifestyle.Asia Pacific Excluding Japan to Emerge as a Leading Region in Terms of Number of DeploymentsThe market for x-by-wire in APAC is expected to witness a volume CAGR of 16.3% from 2017 and 2027 owing to the high penetration of automotive in the region. China is on the forefront at present and is expected to stay the same by the end of the forecast period. In spite of an unstable economy in the last couple of years, the automotive industry has performed quite well, thus increasing the sales of automotive, both passenger and commercial in the region. In addition, the production of automotive is anticipated to be comparatively high in the developing regions as compared to the developed ones. Factors such as shifting customer preferences towards luxury vehicles, developing infrastructure, as well as rising disposable income of consumers in the region are likely to support the automotive industry in the region, thus supplementing the sales of x-by-wire in return.Need more information about Report Methodology @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-6324 Partnerships to be the Core Strategy of Key Market PlayersStrategic partnerships of auto component manufacturers with technology providers is likely to be the core focus of companies. The companies operating in the x-by-wire market are Continental AG, Kongsberg Automotive, Curtiss-Wright Corporation, ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH, SKF AB, Denso Corporation, and Ficosa International SA, among others.
PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-05 10:44:15

In order to meet the residential, commercial and industrial energy requirements and ensure a smooth operation of power supply transformer plays an important role. During transformer operation, transformers dissipate heat which can damage the system if not controlled. In order to achieve seamless operation of transformer by preventing from heat damage the oil are used. Transformer oil is used in oil-filled and submersible transformers to maintain temperature of transformer. Application of transformer oil can also be seen in high-voltagecircuit breakers and switches. Since the oil is in constant contact with components it is therefore susceptible to chemical interaction. It is therefore essential to check for the quality of transformer oil at regular intervals since with continuous reaction the chemical composition of the oil may change and this may render it unfit for use.Request For Report Sample @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1105 The market for transformer oil is subjected to the demands of the various end-use industries such as chemicals and automotive, and the type of transformer used. The oil used in transformers is hydrocarbon mineral oil. There are two major types of transformer oil used in the industry; naphthenic and paraffinic based. Though bio based transformer oil have gained attention due to stringent environmental issues but their usage is restricted due to limited advantage. The market of transformer oil will be driven by the expanding energy demand and growing installation of power grids in urban scenario. Due to growing population, the power grid companies needs to expand and upgrade their existing capacities causing penetration of transformers to increase which in turn fuel the market for transformer oil. The transition towards renewable sources of energy, strict environmental laws and shift towards organic oils may restraint the market of mineral based transformer oil.Asia is one of the largest consumer of transformer oils followed by North America, South America and Europe. For the forecasted years Asia-pacific transformer oil market will continue to lead in terms of consumption. The demand for transformer oil in Asia Pacific is rapidly growing for emerging markets of India and China. This demand is transformer oil is attributed to the increasing focus on rural and urban development in infrastructure. This involves a shift in focus from high capacity transformer to small and mid-segment transformers for domestic and agricultural uses. The transformer oil markets of China, India and also Brazil will dominate owing to the government initiative for the electricity accessibility to the countrys population. The demand for in the mineral based is anticipated to stabilize due to the shift towards green (bio based) alternatives. The demand for transformer oil in regions of Americas and Europe is related to high capacity industrial transformers. The demand for transformer oil in these regions is anticipated to be slower than those in Asia Pacific owing to the significant development of renewable sources of energy and reduced dependability on conventional sources of energy.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC): https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1105 Transformer Oil Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players identified in the transformer oil market are Hydrodec Group PLC, Nynas AB, Calumet Specialty Products Partners, Valvoline,APAR Industries, Sinopec Corporation, Engen Petroleum Limited.
Social Media Engagement Applications Market

PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-05 06:47:22

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Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: www.futuremarketinsights.comManager3479183531

Social Media Engagement Applications allows different kinds of users to exchange data which can be in the form of text, image, video, audio etc. via social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn etc. Because of variety of features and advantages offered by these media services, their user base have grown exponentially and is still growing.A lot of established companies have their business model based on social media applications such as Facebook, WhatsApp, LinkedIn etc., while there are other companies who are attracting huge traffic from these social media applications which ultimately reflects as sales conversion.With the advent of smartphone and its increasing penetration among the users, mobile applications now contributes major chunk of the revenue for social media companies. Even government organizations are actively participating in social media platforms either to advertise about their works, or to provide information about a particular topic to users or for opinion polls. Increasing penetration among social media users have enabled many advertisement agencies, PR firms, mobile apps and service provider companies whose business model is based on social media engagement applications and this trend is expected to continue.Social Media Engagement Applications Market SegmentationOn the basis of platforms:Social Networks-applications which allow users to connect with each other via a profile or group of profiles. Most common social networking sites are Facebook, LinkedIn etc.Media Sharing- media sharing platforms allows users to upload and exchange different sorts of media such as video, pictures etc. YouTube, Instagram are the most common platforms for media sharing.Microblogging microblogging platforms allows users to exchange content in the form of comments, images, video links etc. Twitter is a famous microblogging platform.Blog Forums  blog forums allows users to exchange ideas with each other in the form of blogs and posts. Wordpress is one such famous blogging platform and there are several others.Get Sample Copy of Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1969 Social New - websites and their mobile apps publishing news articles or information comes under this category. Some of the famous social news platform are Digg, Reddit, etc.Others - lots of other social media platforms have come in the market such as location based services, social bookmarking, aggregators, collaboration tools, broadcasting tools etc.There are other sub segments of social media engagement applications market. Some of them are:Sub segment on the basis of device usage:Desktop - users accessing social media applications from desktopsSmartphone Web  smartphoneusers accessing social media from websites but not mobile applicationsSmartphone App - smartphoneusers accessing social media from mobile applications but not websiteTablet Web - tabletusers accessing social media from websites but not mobile applicationsTablet App - tabletusers accessing social media from mobile applications but not websitesSub segment on the basis of users:Individual  individual users using social media for personal usageCorporates - corporate entities using social media for advertisement, ad sales or other purposesGovernment Agencies - government agencies using social media platforms for advertisement or to provide public domain informationOther - lots of other users such as NGOs, communities, organizations etc.Sub segment on the basis of demography:Gender - usage of social media applications is relatively high in males than femalesAge  according to age, social media users can be segmented into age brackets such as < 15, 15-30, 30-50, 50 >Profession  by profession market can be segmented into professional and personal usersOthersSegmentation of social media engagement applications market on the basis of geography:North America (U.S., Canada)Latin America (Mexico. Brazil)Western Europe (Germany, Italy, France, U.K, Spain, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg)Eastern Europe (Poland, Russia)Asia Pacific (China, India, ASEAN, Australia & New Zealand)JapanMiddle East and Africa (GCC, S. Africa, N. Africa)Buy Full Report Now @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/checkout/1969 Regional OverviewRegional usage of social media platform depends highly on regions population and accessibility of the internet and smartphone devices, which is why largest percentage of users are located in APAC regions followed by European, American and other regions. With increasing accessibility of the technology and supporting devices to poorer nations, distribution of usage of social media platforms will solely rely upon population of regions.Increasing internet usage, smartphone penetration will be the major drivers for global social media engagement application market. Other drivers which will contribute in market growth are increasing awareness among non-users, decreasing cost of broadband and data tariffs, increasing benefits offered through applications etc.Difficult to use GUIs, social and economic factors, accessibility issues will restrain the growth of social media engagement application market. Government regulation also restrict social media usage for example China has blocked social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube etc. and thus deprive a huge chunk of worlds population away from the benefits of social media.Major social media engagements applications are Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google Plus, Instagram etc. Business model may differ from company to company but the underlying structure of these companies is based upon usage of social media engagement applications traffic.
PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-05 10:43:51

Emulsion can be well-defined as the process of mixing of two liquids with difference in their densities (oil-water).Polymer emulsion is done by the process of emulsion polymerization in which the emulsification of a monomer is done in the presence of water and a surfactant, especially sodium stearate. The most common monomers used in the process of emulsion polymerization are styrene, acrylonitrile, butadiene, acrylate ester and methacrylate ester. Polymer emulsions are the specialty polymers which are used in the manufacturing of specialty chemicals such as adhesives, paints and coatings, offset inks, paper & paperboards, textiles, and construction chemicals. Polymer emulsion production process is an environmental friendly process which produces polymers with high molecular weight and very lean volatile organic compounds. Polyvinyl acetate based polymer emulsion products have a significant impact on the industries such as adhesives, paints and coatings.Global Polymer Emulsion Market: Drivers & RestraintsThe growth in global polymer emulsion market is primarily driven by factors such as the rise in the number of industrial applications of polymer emulsion such as paints and coatings, adhesives, paper and textile. From the economical and safety point of view the polymer emulsion based paintings and coatings are flame resistant and is likely to propel the global polymer emulsion market over the forecast period. The regulatory norms of the government for the protection of environment is another driving force which will boost the global polymer emulsion market by the end of 2025. Considering the fact that the polymer emulsion polymers comply with the regulatory norms set by the government, global polymer emulsion market is set to accelerate. Low capital requirement for setting up manufacturing units is one of the parameter driving the global polymer emulsion market. On the other hand, increasing cost of raw material is acting as a restraint in the growth of global polymer emulsion market throughout the forecast period..Request For Report Sample @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1146 Global Polymer Emulsion Market: SegmentationOn the basis of product type, the global polymer emulsion market is segmented intoAcrylicStyrene Butadiene LatexVinyl Acetate PolymersPolyurethane DispersionsOthers (hybrid epoxy, silicon etc.)On the basis of application,the global polymer emulsion market is segmented intoAdhesive & SealantsPaints & CoatingsPaper & PaperboardOthersOn the basis of end use industry,the global polymer emulsion market is segmented intoBuilding & ConstructionChemicalsAutomotiveTextile & CoatingsOthersGlobal Polymer Emulsion Market: Region-wise OutlookThe global polymer emulsion market is geographically distributed into seven key regions which include North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific, Japan and Middle East & Africa. Increasing demand from the end use industries like building & construction, paints and coatings and automotive in emerging economies of Asia-Pacific regions like China, India and Indonesia will fuel the global polymer emulsion market throughout the forecast period. Among developed Western Europe countries such as Germany, painting and coating along with adhesive application had the highest consumption of polymer emulsion in 2014. Eastern Europe region for polymer emulsion is anticipated to grow at a healthy CAGR in the next few years. In North America, the U.S. dominated the global polymer emulsion market. Rapid growth in automotive industry coupled with construction sector in the Latin American region will favour the polymer emulsion market growth by the end of 2025. Middle East & Africa is anticipated to witness a steady CAGR in the global polymer emulsion market. The upsurge in the number of industries coupled with increasing initiative in infrastructure development in this regions is likely to fuel the growth of polymer emulsion market during the forecasted period.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC): https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1146 Global Polymer Emulsion Market: Key PlayersKey players in the global polymer emulsion market include 3M, The Dow Chemical Company, BASF SE, H.B. Fuller, Scott Bader Company Ltd., Celanese Corporation and Apotex industries Ltd amongst others.
Posted Friday, January 4, 2019 5:53 pm

Lewis County officials will appoint a new commissioner in tiny Fire District 17, replacing a current member of the commission who was deemed to have been appointed illegally.

Civil deputy prosecutor Cullen Gatten told Lewis County commissioners Wednesday that the prosecutors office had found that Mike Leach was not appointed at an open public meeting by the fire districts other two commissioners. Leach had been selected to fill the position that became vacant last January when incumbent Paul Nerge died.

State law requires the districts commissioners to appoint a replacement within 90 days, but its unclear when they asked Leach to join the panel. Leach did not become a registered voter in the district until December of 2018.

It wasnt statutorily appropriate, Gatten said.

As a result, Lewis County commissioners are planning to notify the district that Leachs appointment was illegitimate. Since the 90-day window has passed for the district to fill the position, county commissioners will assume that responsibility as well.

Well advertise, send that out, get the applicants and schedule interviews, said commissioner Edna Fund. It should be coming out soon. We need to fill that position.

Fire District 17, located just outside the entrance to Mount Rainier National Park near Ashford, has only 137 registered voters in its 8 1/2 square miles. With only one volunteer firefighter, the district mainly exists to give the area a legal foothold to maintain a service-sharing agreement with Pierce County Fire District 23  the neighboring district that handles much of the service in District 17.

Were 5 minutes from Station 23, but yet in Lewis County were 40 minutes from the closest town of Packwood, Dennis Day, District 17s firefighter said in an interview last month. You can understand how this little pocket really depends on the folks over in 23.

With the status of Leach and another commissioner in doubt, Day approached Lewis County leaders in December about the issue. Day and local landowner Ridge Horton told county commissioners that they were concerned with the legitimacy of the districts leaders, and the pending expiration of the interlocal agreement with District 23.

Ultimately, District 23 opted soon after that discussion to provide services to 17 for another year, with a longer-term contract on hold until the legality of 17s commissioners is determined, Day said.

After Lewis County officials looked into the matter, they determined that Leach had been appointed illegally, but Charles Mitchell  whose status had also been called into question  was in good standing to be a commissioner. Phil Farcy is the districts longest-serving commissioner, and was involved in appointing both Mitchell and Leach.

Gatten said he has had informal conversations with Farcy, and has the impression hes working in good faith to correct an honest mistake. Its not uncommon for tiny special purpose districts to find themselves out of compliance with the nuances of state law, he added.

I think hes been active in trying to correct the different things that he didnt know, Gatten said. Its really just people trying to do whats right for their community, though they may not have understood exactly what they were doing.

Its unclear if Leachs lack of standing will delegitimize any decisions that were made when he took votes on the commission.

Thats a tough one, Gatten said. Its hard for me to say.

Any votes in which Farcy and Mitchell voted in favor would stand, he added.

According to Gatten, Day said several people in the district had expressed interest in serving on the commission. All three commission seats in the fire district are up for reelection this November, in staggered terms of 2, 4 and 6 years.

This wont be the first time county commissioners have had to step in after localities failed to appoint members within the 90-day window. In 2017, the commission appointed three members to the Napavine city council; last year, they selected a commissioner for Water-Sewer District 5.
N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone (NMP) Market: Improved Safety to Become Top Priority in Various Application Areas: Global Industry Analysis 2013 - 2017 and Opportunity Assessment 2018 - 2028

N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone (NMP) Market

PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-05 11:48:04

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U.S. Office616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWeb: https://www.futuremarketinsights.comManager+1 03479183531

NMP or N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone is a hygroscopic, highly polar compound with great thermal and chemical stability. It is slowly oxidised by air and easily purified by fractional distillation. NMP is used for many applications, and is highly prevalent in the industry as it is biodegradable and recyclable. A new research report by Future Market Insights projects the market scenario of NMP for the years ahead. According to this comprehensive research report titled N-Methyl Pyrrolidone (NMP) Market: Global Industry Analysis 2013  2017 and Opportunity Assessment 2018  2028, the global NMP market is expected to reach a value of over US$ 1,200 Mn by the end of 2028, growing at a CAGR of 4.6% during the forecast period.Request to Sample of Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-625 N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone Market: SnapshotWith the rise in demand for NMP in the global market, many companies are adopting the strategy of innovating their product offerings. There are various companies moving strong in the market, and are forced to come up with innovative products in order to compete efficiently in the market. Innovation and sustainability initiatives are anticipated to be major factors responsible for competiveness. Consumers do not mind paying a premium for green chemistry and environmental preservation initiatives. This, along with more stringent regulatory constraints, may further increase the importance of innovation in this market. Regional expansion is another strategic move undertaken by top manufacturers to efficiently cater to consumer demands. Manufacturers are also expanding their production plants in different regions with improved capacity levels. These moves also serve as a driver for the global NMP market, boosting product supply and demand.Some of the key players in the market include companies such as LyondellBasell Industries Holdings, Ashland, Eastman Chemical Company, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Hefei TNJ Chemical Industry Co., Ltd, Shandong Qingyun Changxin Chemical Science-Tech Co., Ltd, Zhejiang Realsun Chemical Co., Ltd, Puyang,, Guangming Chemicals Co., Ltd, Abtonsmart Chemicals (Group) Co., Ltd, Balaji Amines, Binzhou Yuneng Chemical Co., Ltd, Binzhou City Zhanhua District Ruian Chemical Co., Ltd. All these companies play a crucial role in influencing the dynamics of the global NMP market.NMP Market Anticipated to Face Growth Restrictions in North America and Europe Due to New Regulatory FrameworkAccording to the market analysis for the years 2018-2028, China is expected to record the highest consumption of NMP in excess of 120,000 MT by the end of 2028. However, in terms of growth rate, the SEA & Pacific region is expected to witness good growth during the forecast period. North America also holds a lucrative position with a high market value estimated by the end of 2028.Need more information about Report Methodology @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-625 The report also highlights the fact that the application of NMP in industrial cleaners and paints or coatings will decline exceptionally in Europe and North America, due to a stringent regulatory framework. In Europe, the use of NMP in consumer products is expected to decline owing to its entry in Annex VI of the CLP Regulation including Repr. 1B H360D with a specific concentration level (SCL) of 5% (current consumer product limit). If this is applied, it will confine the use of NMP in consumer applications to less than 0.3% and would thereby prohibit NMP from being used in such products as NMP would have no functionality at this level in the current consumer applications.
PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-05 14:06:17

KAYSER, a major family brand of underwear, sleepwear, lingerie, hosiery, home goods who design / manufacturer/ marketing house and distribution in 44 countries announces a search campaign for an exclusive agent, distribution, partner in the Middle East, Dubai, Cairo, Iran and surrounding countries.Los Angeles, CA / ACCESSWIRE / January 5, 2019 / KAYSER, a major underwear, intimates, sleepwear, home and hosiery manufacturer announced today the launch of the search for brand distribution partners in the UAE, Middle East Countries. The company focus is to tie up distribution out of Dubai, Cairo, Casablanca, Algiers, Tehran, Kabul, Manama with exclusive partners. The company commits to training and provide everything needed to be a successful business.Having sold over 7 billion garments since the company began in 1880, KAYSER is now on the lookout for an exclusive agent, distribution partner in the Middle East which includes exclusive rights to sell KAYSER products, with full support offered to set up, run and support a profitable business. There are no upfront, franchise or licensing fees required.More information is available at The KAYSER Global Initiative Website.Currently, there are 130 KAYSER boutiques globally. KAYSER Boutiques est 62-years ago has perfected their boutique model. KAYSER provides all agents, distribution partners with merchandise and marketing for establishing outstanding boutiques, online, wholesale business serving middle to lower income families with a wonderful empowering message and brand.KAYSER Online - agents, distributors, partners are invited to join KAYSERShop.com to offer direct to the consumer products from our award-winning website. All digital images, video content and marketing are provided, along with an Amazon affiliation for greater business development. Visit The KAYSER Shop award winning Omni-Channel ecommerce business.KAYSER designs are fun and vibrant and reflect current fashion trends. Family Pajamas, Children's Underwear, Mens Bamboo Boxers, Women's lingerie, millennials intimates, teenagers, designed by KAYSER. Fabrics include, cotton, bamboo, moisture wicking and microfiber fabrics for better hygiene. KAYSER executes expert distribution with perfect fitting apparel designed in Chile, at the company's headquarters. Manufacturing of the merchandise then occurs from their Hong Kong Division, with finished products shipped from mainland China to KAYSER distributors around the world.Requirements to become a KAYSER partner include selling the company's merchandise either in a traditional store environment, wholesale or online. While KAYSER doesn't request any upfront fees or royalties on their products, the agreement stipulates that all merchandise purchases occur in their factories. To see a full list of the partnership terms and conditions, please visit this link to review the requirements to become an exclusive distribution partner.KAYSER began in New York in 1880, when Julius KAYSER founded the company. By 1908, KAYSER was well known for its infamous silk gloves and black silk hosiery and began to increase its reach and product line. KAYSER became a global brand. The KAYSER trademark mark was transferred to the current owners in Chile in 1960.When asked about the opportunity, a representative of the company said, "We are known for our outstanding quality and affordable price points. KAYSER's culture is quality first from the ground up. Anyone selected as an agent for the brand will visit our headquarters in Chile. They will meet our very experienced team and learn everything they need to know.When we engage in business, we find a way to do more for others than anyone else. We find a way to truly serve. To care for people in a way that no one else can.We are given the gift of trust and influence.Businessallows us to make the invisible visible.Businessallows us to be the creator. Our focus is to do more for others than anyone else. To add massive value to the world. Business allows us to gain resources, connections and influence. And, with that, we can impact the entire planet for good." To learn more about the KAYSER Global Initiative partnership opportunity in the UAE, Middle East, Egypt, South Asia, Iran, Afghanistan, Bahrain, please use the contact us' link on the website listed above at https://KAYSERGlobal.com . Website visitors can also review the terms and conditions of partnerships and view the product range on https://KAYSERShop.com Contact:Sherwin "Ace" RossThe KAYSER Global Strike ForceThe KAYSER Global Initiative213/ 884-8448Contact Info:Name: Sherwin "Ace" RossEmail: Send EmailOrganization: KAYSER Underwear / Intimates / Sleepwear / HosieryAddress: 110 E 9th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90079, United StatesPhone: +1-213-884-8448Website: https://kayserglobal.com SOURCE: KAYSER
Liquid Silicone Rubber Market - Global industry segment analysis, regional outlook, share, growth; Liquid Silicone Rubber Market 2017 to 2027 by future market insights

Liquid Silicone Rubber Market

PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-05 11:47:04

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As molding processes gain grounds in the manufacturing sector, injection materials such as liquid silicone rubber are witnessing a sharp increase in terms of demand. Versatile characteristics and unique properties of liquid silicone rubber is driving its value in the elastomer industry, wherein a wide spectrum of consumer products, medical devices and industrial goods are being manufactured by injecting liquid silicone rubber into mold cavities. Future Market Insights estimates that by the end of 2026, the global market for liquid silicone rubber will touch a valuation of US$ 7.9 billion.The study foresees a moderate growth for the expansion of global liquid silicone rubber market during the period, 2017-2026. It has been estimated that the global liquid silicone rubber market will register a value CAGR of 4.5% over the forecast period. High carbon footprint of producing liquid silicone rubber at large scale, limitations to the reuse and recyclability of such elastomers and disposability challenges are set to deter the use of liquid silicone rubbers in the near future.Request to Sample of Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-5736 Industrial Grade Liquid Silicone Rubber to Reflect Global Market Value Share of 45% through 2026Molding capabilities of liquid silicone rubbers will drive their use across several industrial applications. It has been observed that industrial grade liquid silicone rubber will showcase robust growth in demand in the coming years. Through 2026, nearly half of the global liquid silicone rubber market value will be accounted by sales of industrial grade elastomers. The report also foresees that liquid injection molding technology will be a sought-after in the global liquid silicone rubber market. In 2017, more than US$ 3.2 billion worth of liquid silicone rubbers will be used by liquid injection molding systems across the globe.Lucrative End-use Industries for Liquid Silicone RubbersThe study has identified key industries that will drive the end-use of liquid silicone rubber in the near future. Consumer goods industry will reflect highest profitability in the end-use of liquid silicone rubber for manufacturing fast-selling products such as buttons and rubber gaskets. By the end of 2026, US$ 1.76 billion worth of liquid silicone rubber will be used in the production of consumer goods worldwide. Furthermore, healthcare landscape will also exhibit fast-growing end-use of liquid silicone rubber over the forecast period. Liquid silicone rubber manufacturers will find lucrative profit margins will selling these elastomers in the production of expensive medical devices such as lung catheters. The report also observes the automotive industry as a lucrative end-user of liquid silicone rubbers. Over the forecast period, automotive end-use of liquid silicone rubber will reflect highest value CAGR of 5.4% in the global market.Liquid Silicone Rubber Manufacturing to Remain Concentered in AsiaChina National Chemical Corporation, Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., KCC Corporation, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation, and Zhejiang Xinan Chemical Industrial Group Co., Ltd. are among the prominent manufacturers of liquid silicon rubber based in Japan, China, Korea and other parts of the Asia-Pacific region. The report estimates that in 2018 and beyond, the Asia-Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) region will represent largest marketplace for liquid silicone rubber, reflecting a weighted 35% share on global market value.Need more information about Report Methodology @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-5736 Other key players in the global liquid silicone rubber market, namely Dow Corning Corporation, Momentive Performance Materials, Inc., Evonik Industries AG, Bluestar Silicones International, SiVance, LLC, NuSil Technology LLC, Simtec Silicone Parts, LLC, Wacker Chemie AG, Stockwell Elastomerics Inc., and Xinapse Systems Ltd. are also expected to bolster their presence across the APEJ region in the foreseeable future.
Lining Market: Polymer Lining to Gain Significant Traction Among All Product Types: Global Industry Analysis 2013-2017 and Opportunity Assessment 2018-2028

Lining Market

PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-05 08:30:58

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Global lining market prospects are likely to be significantly influenced by the increasing investments in oil and gas exploration activities and augmenting production capacities of refineries. Moreover, surging demand for trade through marine ports coupled with growing shipbuilding industry and frequent repair and maintenance of linings in shipping are some key factors favoring the growth of global lining market. The global lining market is estimated to be valued at US$ 3,958.7 Mn by 2018 end. Expanding at a modest CAGR of 3.9%, the global lining market is anticipated to reach a valuation of US$ 5,820.8 Mn, over the forecast period of 2018-2028, as per a recent study by Future Market Insights.Request to Sample of Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-7246 Marine Trade and Shipbuilding Activities Offering Potential Opportunities for Lining AdoptionMarine routes are major conveyance option for goods in the form of containers, dry and liquid bulk and roll on-roll off (Ro-Ro) type of cargos. Cost effective transfer of heavy and bulk materials in a single go fueling marine trade. Shipbuilding, too is contributing to the growth of global lining market. Availability of all necessary resources in Asia Pacific is found to be a key factor responsible for the growth of the shipbuilding industry in the region. Moreover, low labor cost and indulgent legislations are accelerating the shipbuilding industry, further pushing the demand for marine linings over the forecast period.Polymer Lining to Remain Most Preferred Across Industries Through 2028; Demand for Eco-Friendly Products to Induce Novelties in Lining MarketSegmented into polymer lining, rubber lining, ceramic and carbon brick lining, and tile lining, the global lining market will witness significant revenue contribution from the polymer lining variant. The polymer lining segment is projected to hold a dominant share in terms of both market value and CAGR index. Growing demand for linings across the globe as well as environmental regulations in developed regions are the major factors driving the lining market. Moreover, increasing demand from marine, oil and gas, automotive, and chemicals industries is likely to drive the adoption of polymer lining in the global lining market. Epoxy resins are likely to dominant the global polymer lining market, owing to its excellent resistance to numerous chemicals couple with other technological advancements.Although solvent borne linings are likely to hold a significant share of the global lining market, considering increasing adoption of ecofriendly lining products in developed countries would propel the adoption of waterborne and powder linings. Stringent Government regulations and adoption of lining products with low-VOC content are key factors pushing the demand for waterborne and powder linings. Manufacturers in the global linings market are constantly investing in R&D activities to introduce new products and technologies for product differentiation, further driving the lining market.However, volatile prices of raw materials including epoxy and polyurethane and stringent government directives regarding VOC emissions across various regions are key restrainers impacting the overall growth of global lining market.China followed by Western Europe and North America, are likely to showcase increased adoption of linings. Fast-paced industrial growth in China is significantly contributing to sales of lining products in the region, which is expected to hold nearly 35% of the market, by 2028.Need more information about Report Methodology @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-7246 Major global suppliers of linings are channelizing efforts towards developing partnerships with end users in order to better address the demand for specific requirements. Product customization is likely to remain a key differentiation strategy among key manufacturers in the global lining market. Top players in the global linings market are The Sherwin Williams Company, PPG Industries, Inc, Akzo Nobel N.V., Hempel A/S, The Jotun Group, Solvay SA, Teknos Group, and STEULER-KCH GmBH.
Lead Acid Battery Market: Asia Pacific, Latin America, Japan, Middle East & Africa Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth and Forecast to 2020 by Future Market Insights

Lead Acid Battery Market

PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-05 11:21:54

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Future Market Insights, in its latest report titled,Lead Acid Battery Market: Asia Pacific, Latin America, Japan, Middle East & Africa Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2014 - 2020, states that the target regions lead acid battery market accounted for US$ 24,210.5 Million in 2014, and is expected to reach US$ 31,708.4 Million at a CAGR of 4.6% during the forecast period. Asia Pacific, which accounted for the major chunk in the target regions lead acid battery market, is expected to expand at an estimated CAGR of 4.5% during the forecast period.By application type, the target regions lead acid battery market is segmented as transportation, stationary industrial, motive industrial, commercial, residential, and grid storage. Transportation and stationary industrial collectively contributed to around 82.4% of market revenue in 2014. Transportation was the largest end-use application in the target regions lead acid battery market in 2014, and is anticipated to continue its dominance through 2020. Stationary industrial is the second largest contributor to the target regions lead acid battery market, and is expected to register the fastest CAGR of 8.5% during the forecast period.Request to Sample of Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-430 The report finds that grid storage is one of the smallest end-use application segments in the target regions lead acid battery market, but is anticipated to register the fastest CAGR of 7.2% during the forecast period.Lead acid batteries are predominantly used in passenger cars, commercial vehicles and two wheelers. In addition to that, demand for lead acid battery has also surged due to the increasing adoption of UPS, owing to rapid urbanisation and industrialisation. Adoption of grid storage technology in developing countries such as India and China is expected to fuel the target regions lead acid battery market. In addition to that, an increase in the demand for electric vehicles is expected to further accelerate the expansion of the lead acid battery market globally.Moreover, key challenges in the lead acid battery market are raw material price volatility and stringent emission regulations. Lead is the essential raw material used in the manufacturing of lead acid batteries. Lead prices account for approximately 49% of the overall cost of the lead acid batteries. Any fluctuations in lead prices affect the overall profitability of lead acid battery manufacturers.Region-wise, Asia Pacific is the largest contributor in the target regions lead acid battery market, and is expected to continue its dominance till 2020. Currently, the Asia Pacific lead acid battery market is valued at US$ 15,995 Million and is expected to reach US$ 19,881 Million by 2020. Latin America and Japan are other major markets contributing 14.4% and 14.1% respectively, to the target regions lead acid battery revenue. Middle East & Africa accounted for the lowest contribution in terms of revenue in 2014, but is expected to register a significant growth at a CAGR of 4.9% over the forecast period.Need more information about Report Methodology @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-430 The degree of competition in the target regions lead acid battery market has been analysed in the report, which also presents the comparative view of the key strategies and financial outlook of major companies operating in target regions lead acid battery market. These include Johnson Controls INC, Exide Technologies, GS Yuasa Corporation, EnerSys and Yokohama Industries.
Kidney Fibrosis Treatment Market

PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-05 05:06:44

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Fibrosis refers to a phenomenon of development of excessive connective tissue as a result of some injury or some disease. It results in formation of a layer around an organ in a repetitive manner which results in improper working of that organ. It often leads to scarring. Fibrosis occurs in various organs and is named according to its location. For instance, fibrosis in lungs is known as pulmonary fibrosis, whereas, fibrosis in liver is known as cirrhosis. Kidney fibrosis may be caused due to disease in kidney. It may be any stage from chronic kidney disease (CKD) to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). In this condition, kidneys stop working and gradually require transplantation. Various medications that are available in the market for treatment of kidney fibrosis are Renin inhibitors, Vasopeptidase inhibitors, Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and Pirfenidones. Increasing prevalence of kidney diseases and no other alternative treatment available is driving the market for kidney fibrosis treatment.Request Sample Report@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3102 North America, followed by the Europe, dominates the global market for kidney fibrosis due to large number of aging population and better healthcare facilities available in the region. In addition, there is high prevalence of kidney diseases in the region. According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a public health institute in 2014, in the U.S., it is estimated that more than 20 million people are suffering from chronic kidney disease. Asia is expected to show high growth rate in the next few years in global kidney fibrosis treatment market. China and India are expected to be the fastest kidney fibrosis market in Asia region. Some of the key driving forces for kidney fibrosis market in emerging countries are increasing R&D investment, large pool of patients, rising government funding and growing level of awareness.Diseases such as obesity accelerate the incidence of kidney fibrosis. In addition, habits such smoking also adds to increment in incidence of kidney fibrosis. Increasing patient pool, rising awareness about treatment of kidney diseases and government funding are some of the key factors driving the kidney fibrosis market. In addition, introduction of safer and effective therapeutics for the treatment of kidney fibrosis is driving the market. However, high cost involved and no success for all the cases is restraining the kidney fibrosis market.Request Report TOC@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/methodology/3102 Introduction of the concept of personalized medicines, mono-therapeutic approaches or combination of therapies are expected to offer good opportunities for kidney fibrosis market. In addition, introduction statins for, which are related to lowering of lipid content, thus expected to be an efficient treatment for kidney scarring. Growing demographics and economies in the developing countries such as India and China in Asia and other countries in South East Asia, Latin America and Middle East are expected to offer high growth in kidney fibrosis treatment market. One of the major trends that have been observed in kidney fibrosis treatment market includes various pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies involved in R&D of some novel medications for the treatment of kidney fibrosis. Some of the key companies dealing in kidney fibrosis treatment market are F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Pfizer, Inc, La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company, Merck & Co., InterMune, Inc. and Galectin Therapeutics, Inc. Other companies dealing the kidney fibrosis treatment market which have significant presence are Genzyme Corporation, ProMetic Life Sciences Inc. and BioLineRx, Ltd.
Non-Invasive Brain Trauma Monitoring Devices Market

PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-05 05:06:05

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Neurological devices industry is growing at a significant rate due to increase in the prevalence of neurological injuries and diseases. Neurological devices may be invasive in nature such as intracranial pressure monitors, which are used in serious cases. Non-invasive brain trauma monitoring devices refer to the devices that help to monitor neural and electrical activity and pressure enclosing the brain. In case of brain death, trauma brain injury, epilepsy and other such conditions, non-invasive brain trauma monitoring devices help to analyze the rate of flow of blood in arteries and veins in the brain. Non-invasive brain trauma monitoring devices market is growing at a significant rate due to increasing awareness and improvement in healthcare facilities. In addition, non-invasive brain trauma monitoring devices have made it possible for neurologists to measure brain health without being invasive. Non-invasive brain trauma monitoring devices help to get results fast and safely. In addition, they are easy to use and give accurate results.North America dominates the global market for non-invasive brain trauma monitoring devices due high incidence of brain disorders and technological advancements in the region. Europe, followed by the Asia, is expected to show high growth rates in the next five years in global non-invasive brain trauma monitoring devices market. China and India are expected to be the fastest growing non-invasive brain trauma monitoring devices markets in Asian region. Some of the key driving forces for non-invasive brain trauma monitoring devices market in emerging countries are large pool of patients, rising government funding and increasing R&D investment.Request Sample Report@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3269 Factors such as growing incidence of diseases, technological advancement and increasing awareness of neurological disorders and their treatment have been driving the non-invasive brain trauma monitoring devices market. In addition, lower costs as compared to invasive procedures, no requirement of operation and small size of devices have been driving the non-invasive brain trauma monitoring devices market. However, stringent government regulations in some countries and lack of experience medical professionals have been restraining the non-invasive brain trauma monitoring devices market.Standardization in the procedure for brain monitoring, increasing number of clinical trials for neuro-cognitive diseases are expected to offer good opportunity for non-invasive brain trauma monitoring devices market. Some of the recent trends that have been observed in the non-invasive brain trauma monitoring devices market include companies involved in partnerships and collaborations. In addition, companies are focussing on production of digitalized devices such as mobile devices and wireless technology for easy and fast processing. Some of the major companies dealing in non-invasive brain trauma monitoring devices market are Covidien, PLC, Compumedics, Ltd., Natus Medical, Inc., Nihon Kohden Corporation, Integra Life Sciences Corporation, CAS Medical Systems, and Advanced Brain Monitoring Inc. and others.Request Report TOC@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/methodology/3269
Photochromic Lenses Market

PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-05 04:23:24

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Ophthalmology market is growing at a stable rate from past few years. This is due to increase in aging population, large patient pool for eye diseases and increasing awareness about eye diseases. Photochromic lenses refer to the eye lenses that when exposed to ultraviolet radiations in sunlight, darken automatically. They return to lighten shade when no longer exposed to ultraviolet radiations. Photochromic lenses may be made of glass or plastic. Glass photochromic lenses have an embedding of microcrystalline silver halides molecules in glass substrate, whereas plastic photochromic lenses are made of organic photochromic molecules. Market for photochromic lenses is growing due the increasing levels of ultraviolet radiations in the atmosphere resulting in increased prevalence of eye diseases.Request Sample Report@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3067 North America, followed by Europe, dominates the global market for photochromic lenses, due to high level of awareness among people and technological advancement in the region. Asia is expected to experience high growth rate in the next few years in global photochromic lenses market. Countries with large population base, such as China and India, are expected to have the fastest growing photochromic lenses markets in the Asia region. Some of the key driving forces for photochromic lenses market in emerging countries are growing awareness and increase in the disposable incomes.Increasing prevalence of eye diseases, introduction of photochromic lenses with improved quality, reduced costs and increasing awareness among people are driving the global photochromic lenses market. However, discomfort and other drawbacks associated with the use of photochromic lenses and economic slowdown are restraining the global photochromic lenses market. In addition, advanced technology in alternatives available such as dedicated sunwears restrain the photochromic lenses market.Request Report TOC@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/methodology/3067 Growing popularity and innovation of products with more advanced technology are expected to offer good opportunities for photochromic lenses market. Some of the major trends that have been observed in the photochromic lenses market include involvement of companies in R&D of new variety of lenses by use of different technologies. For instance, drivewear lenses have been developed by use of photochromic lenses and nupolar polarization technology. Some of the major companies dealing in photochromic lenses market are Transitions Optical, Inc., Corning, Inc., Rodenstock GmbH, SEIKO Optical Europe GmbH and Carl Zeiss AG. Other companies with significant presence in photochromic market include Essilor international, Vision Ease Lens, Younger Optics, Inc, Optical Dynamics and Signet Armorlite, Inc.
Digital Pathology Systems Market

PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-05 05:05:11

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Digital pathology refers to the process of using computer technology to convert an analog microscopic image into a digital image. A digital pathology system is an image based healthcare information system which creates, manages, stores, shares, analyzes and interprets the digital image through glass slides by using computer technology. Digital pathology helps in accurate diagnosis by standardizing test interpretation and workflow. Digital pathology systems are used in hospitals, research institutions, medical universities and government organizations. The application based market of digital pathology includes human and animal pathology. Digital pathology systems can be integrated with laboratory information system that help to capture, store, manage, share and display patients related information such as patients case history, case reports and other related documents for the treatment of patients. A digital pathology system helps to reducing laboratory expenses and improving patients care through integration.North America, followed by Europe, has the largest market for digital pathology systems due to reimbursement policies, rise in incidence of chronic diseases and increasing adoption of digital pathology systems in pharmaceutical and biotechnological companies in the region. Asia is expected to show high growth rate in the digital pathology systems market in next few years due to government initiatives and rise in awareness about digital pathology and its benefits in the region.Request Sample Report@ www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3101 Technological advancement, government initiatives to use of digital pathology to improve the quality of cancer diagnosis, rise in incidence of chronic diseases and increasing development of personalized medicines are some of the key factors driving the global digital pathology systems market. In addition, increasing demand for quality healthcare services and improvement in operational efficiency and productivity are expected to drive the market for digital pathology. However, strict government regulations and high implementation cost involved are some of the key factors restraining the growth for global digital pathology systems market.Growing demographics and economies in the developing countries such as India and China are expected to offer good opportunities for digital pathology systems market in Asia. In addition, increasing demand for powerful IT systems is expected to offer new opportunity to global digital pathology systems market. However, standardization and interoperability issue is a challenge for digital pathology systems market. Shifting focus towards patient-centric approach is one of the major trends that have been observed for global digital pathology systems market.Request TOC@ www.persistencemarketresearch.com/methodology/3101 Some of the major companies operating in the global digital pathology systems market are 3DHISTECH Ltd., Hamamatsu Photonics K.K., Leica Microsystems, Ventana Medical Systems, Inc., Definiens, Indica Labs, Mikroscan Technologies, Inc., Visiopharm, Corista and Nikon Instruments Inc.
PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-05 00:36:54

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE/ January 04, 2019 / Viridium Pacific Group Ltd. ("Viridium" or the "Company")(TSXV: VIR) (OTCPink: VIRFF) is pleased to announce that Experion BiotechnologiesInc. ("Experion"), a wholly owned subsidiary, will be hosting a booth as an Exhibitorat the Lift & Co Cannabis Expo taking place January 11 to 13, 2019, at the VancouverConvention Center, Left Wing in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Experion team willbe located at Booth 544 in the Main Conference Hall.The Lift Cannabis Expo is one of the leading cannabis industryevents in Canada. The conference and expo will feature key speakers and exhibitorsfocusing on industry and consumers. Networking opportunities will include growingand cultivation companies, health and wellness, finance, policy and regulations,marketing and branding, research and development, product engineering, patient care,retail distribution, government, legal, and media. As an exhibitor, the trade showwill be an opportunity for Experion to meet shareholders, talk to existing and newinvestors, liaise with industry experts, as well as, exhibit our services and brandsfor the medical, wellness and non-medical retail cannabis market.About ViridiumViridium Pacific Group Ltd. is a consumer wellness and biotechinnovation company based in British Columbia, and the parent company of operatingsubsidiaries involved in horticultural production, (Experion Biotechologies Inc.)property development (Fish Trap Ventures Ltd.), and human resource management (StaveLake Services Ltd.) Experion Biotechnologies Inc., is a Health Canada licensed producerof cannabis, which operates in an 8,300 square-foot indoor facility outside of Mission,BC.More information about Viridium can be found under the Company'sprofile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com For further information:Viridium Pacific GroupLtd.Renmark Financial CommunicationsInc.Melanie Barbeau: mbarbeau@ renmarkfinancial.com Tel: (416) 644-2020 or (514) 939-3989DisclosureThispress release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadiansecurities laws. Although the Company believes that such information is reasonable,it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.Forwardlooking information is typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate,intend, estimate, forecast, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which,by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that anyforward-looking information provided by the Company are not guarantees of futureresults or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from thosein forward looking information as a result of various factors, including, but notlimited to: the state of the financial markets for the Company's equity securities;recent market volatility; the Company's ability to raise the necessary capital orto be fully able to implement its business strategies; the risks identified in theFiling Statement, and other risks and factors that the Company is unaware of atthis time. The reader is referred to the Filing Statement dated September 25, 2017and/or the most recent annual and interim Management's Discussion and Analysis fora more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects, copiesof which may be accessed through the Company page on SEDAR at www.sedar.com SOURCE: Viridium Pacific GroupLtd.
Searching for best Urology Surgery? Dr. Mohan Keshavamurthy has an extensive experience in Robotic Minimal Invasive Surgery, and is one of the most leading ROBOTIC UROLOGIST, Uro-Oncologist and Andrologist in India. Get a FREE CONSULTATION with the best urologist in India visit us at India laparoscopy surgery site.

PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-05 15:44:24

As a leader in surgical innovation, Dr. Mohan Keshavamurthy best urologist in India has brought the latest in robotic technology to India with the brand new da Vinci Xi surgical systems at tremendous robotics expansion at Fortis Hospital at Banerghatta Road in Bengaluru. He is proud to be at the forefront of robotic technology in medicine across India. With the addition of the new da Vinci Xi robots, his patients have access to the best in minimally invasive surgery. The da Vinci Xi is the next frontier for minimally invasive surgery optimized for highly complex, multi-quadrant surgery and simpler, single-quadrant surgery. A nationally recognized authority on minimally invasive urologic surgery, he serves as Director at Fortis Hospital at Banerghatta Road in Bengaluru which combines clinical instruction with didactic and laboratory teaching.He offers one of the top three best robotic surgery programs in India, added three new Xi robots to the main operating rooms to bring the total number of da Vinci Surgical System robots to six. He will now be able to offer robotic surgical options on an outpatient basis, making Fortis Hospital in Bengaluru the only hospital in India to offer robotic options for outpatient procedures. He has been performing state-of-the-art minimally invasive robotic urology surgery for more than a decade and has upgraded to the da Vinci Xi model for urological surgeries.He is known for performing even the most difficult nephrectomies without making the typical 8-to-12 inch incision required for 'open' surgery; approximately 95 percent of both partial and radical nephrectomies at Fortis Hospital are performed laparoscopically using small portals, while around the country the number is more typically 50 percent for radical nephrectomies and 10 percent for partial nephrectomies. He is also the first urologic surgeon in the region to adopt the tools of robotic surgery for surgical treatment of prostate cancer. He is caught on and the team recently performed their 1,150th robotic prostatectomy. He offers one of the five largest such programs in the country.He is joined the Fortis Hospital in 2002, as Associate Professor of Surgery and was promoted to Professor in 2006. In the last few years as the Director of Fortis Hospital 's Minimally Invasive Urology (MIU) Program and Fellowship, he has developed what Dr. Mohan Keshavamurthy calls "one of the most prominent laparoscopic and robotic surgery programs in India and has became one of the national leaders in MIU for the management of urologic malignancies." "This volume bodes well Fortis Hospitals patients as studies show clinical outcomes are linked to how frequently certain procedures are performed," says Dr. Mohan Keshavamurthy.While in India, Dr. Mohan Keshavamurthy says he and his team have shed light on medicine's understanding of the effects of renal ischemia (deficiency of blood in one or both kidneys) and ways to avoid its related damage. He now collaborates with researchers from the National Laboratories to develop ice slurry to protect the kidney during laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. He also conducts extensive clinical outcome studies on MIS management of cancer and benign urologic disease.
Data Management Platforms Market

PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-05 06:39:20

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Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: www.futuremarketinsights.comManager3479183531

Data Management Platform is a data warehouse that collects large amount of data, sorts it according to various verticals and stores it and finally releases information in a way which is useful for marketers, publishers and other businesses. They harbor and manage any form of information. For a marketer, DMPs usually manage cookie IDs which are used to generate various audience segments, which are in turn used to target online ads to specific set of users.Due to the rise of ad technology, advertisers now buy media across a vast array of sites and through various middlemen. The advantage of a Data Management Platform is that it can link all the advertisers activity with audience data and resulting campaign into one consolidated location and use that data to optimize future media buys and ad creative. Hence Data Management Platform is the most beneficial to marketers, agencies and publishers. But one of the drawback of a DMP is without being linked to another technology, it single-handedly cannot do much. Therefore usually the information of a DMP is fed into a Demand Side Platform (DSP) which helps to inform ad buying decisions.The work of a DMP can be divided into a three step process:Import data: Collects data through various sources and organizes it at customer levelFind segments/cluster: Consumers whom to target the messages. The segments can be manually made by the user or the DMP can make it automatically make it for you.Send instructions: Whom to send it, through which channel/medium and what message to sendThere are various channels through which data can be integrated in a DMP, they are:1st party data integration: integrated with ad servers, demand side platforms and supply side platform2nd party data integration: combines data from 1st party users with data of strategic partners3rd party integration: standard integration with 3rd party data providers like social media platformsOffline data integration: integrate data from offline sourcesMobile data integration: integrate data from mobile devicesData export tools: can extract data from a DMP in bulkGet Sample Copy of Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1933 Marketers can make use of Data Management Platform for the following:Import dataMatch customer IDsCollect new dataHelp define groupsProvide access to data vendorsEstimate price and reachSuggest new groups of people to targetUse above information to buy advertisingGenerate reportsData Management Platforms Market: Drivers and ChallengesThe presence of digital marketing plays a vital role in the growth of data management platforms market. The marketing and advertising agencies have grown more competitive over the past few years, also personalization of ads to various target markets has increased which has led to many agencies adopting DMPs. DMPs can easily unify data from multiple sources and also segment the users to different categories based on their behavior pattern. This intuitiveness has driven many marketers to shift to DMPs.Also, there are new sources of first party data which are emerging such as TV set-top boxes, data collected from automobile and wearable technology. Hence, Internet of Things is one of the major driving factors of marketers adopting DMPs.The challenges that are being faced are that sometimes based on the information available from a DMP, a marketer may come up with some strategy, but it becomes counterproductive if the user has already purchased that item from somewhere else. Also, many a times it happens that users just browse through websites to check out a certain product, but never end up purchasing it. In that case the time and resource invested in formulating a strategy for such kind of users will go to vain.Personalization is one more method by which marketers target their audience, but this can again act in a negative way because it might happen that multiple users will be making use of same device, in that case the marketer is unsure whether the advertisement was displayed to the correct end user.One more challenge is that the mobile platform behaves differently than other technologies. Quite frequently there are no cookies available in a mobile device. Hence, picking up data by default will not work on such devices. Therefore data management platforms have to function beyond cookies to be really effective.Data Management Platforms Market: SegmentationSegmentation On The Basis Of Type:Open Data Management Platforms: The access to data is more open for third party agencies. The data which is collected via Open DMPs is related to demographic and audience data, website information and other advertising related data.Private Data Management Platforms: They can be either used along with open DMPs or can be used as a standalone platform. This data includes information on user profiles and client purchases.Segmentation On The Basis Of End-User:Advertisers: Can segment their customers and also target new customersPublishers: Can sell their specific solutions for target audience to advertisersBuy Full Report Now @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/checkout/1933 Key Market PlayersThe major players present in the Data Management Platforms Market are Adobe Systems, Inc., Oracle BlueKai, IgnitionOne, Inc., Rocket Fuel, Inc., NeuStar, Inc., MediaMath Inc., V12 Group Inc. and Lotame Solutions Inc.Regional OverviewCurrently North America is dominating the Data Management Platforms market due to maximum advancement in technology. Asia Pacific is gradually rising in this market, as it is directly related to the population of a place. Hence over the years, APAC market will gradually rise.
PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-05 12:14:54

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Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Website: www.futuremarketinsights.com



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Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Website: www.futuremarketinsights.comAnalyst+1 03479183531

The certified organic cocoa market represents a very small share of the total cocoa market, estimated around 0.5% of total production. However, the demand for organic cocoa products are growing at a very strong pace, the supply side faces a strong challenge to meet the demand of organic cocoa. Since, farmers are paying ample amount for producing organic cocoa, production of organic cocoa is more in least developed countries. Organic cocoa has many nutritional benefits such as more fiber, iron, magnesium, copper, manganese and many other minerals. Moreover it also contains antioxidants, which helps to protect skin. Organic cocoa also helps to improve blood flow and lower blood pressure.Demand for organic cocoa products are very high in U.S, U.K and Germany, hence organic cocoa are supplied to developed economies of North America and Western Europe to manufacture organic cocoa products. Currently, Dominican Republic is dominating the organic cocoa market in terms of production that holds around 70 percent of the total market share; Peru, Ecuador and Mexico together hold around 20 percent of the market share in terms of production; rest around 10 percent is held by Bolivia, Ghana, Brazil and others.Organic Cocoa Market Segmentation, Market Dynamics, Key Player:On the basis of product type the organic cocoa market is segmented into cocoa powder, cocoa paste, cocoa butter, cocoa beans and others (products containing cocoa). Products containing cocoa holds the highest market share in terms of value followed by cocoa beans and cocoa butter. On the basis of application organic cocoa market is segmented into confectionaries, bakery, functional food, health drinks, home cooking use and others (pharmaceuticals, ointments, and toiletries). Organic cocoa is majorly used in food industry as a main ingredient of chocolate.Buy This Report@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/checkout/1058 Geographically, Organic cocoa market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Japan and Middle East & Africa (MEA). Latin America is dominating worldwide followed by Middle East and Africa (MEA) in terms of organic cocoa production. Majority of organic cocoa is exported to Western Europe followed by North America. U.K and U.S are the largest manufacturing countries of organic cocoa products in the world, since organic chocolate is more popular in U.K, U.S and Germany and consumers from those countries owe a significant inclination towards organic chocolates irrespective of high pricing of organic products.Chocolate is the main application of organic cocoa which is the main growth driver of organic cocoa market. Also, the organic cocoa market is expected to be largely driven by the health consciousness among consumers. However, lack of proper supply of organic cocoa restrains the global organic cocoa market which also leads to increase in price of organic cocoa. There is a huge opportunity in the North America and Western Europe and Japan. Asia Pacific excluding Japan is an untapped market which is also a potential market for organic cocoa. This is attributed to increasing inclination of consumers towards organic products, rapid urbanisation, strengthening supply chain for organic cocoa and rising health consciousness among consumers.Some of the leading players are Kraft Foods Inc., Cargill Incorporated, Tradin Organic Agriculture B.V., Ciranda, Blommer Chocolate Company, Artisan Confections Company, PASCHA Company, InterNatural Foods LLC and Wilmor Publishing Corp.Request For Report Sample: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1058
Cloud ELN Service Market

PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-05 06:49:45

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Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: www.futuremarketinsights.comManager3479183531

Electronic lab notebook (ELN) are computer applications which performs functions of laboratory notebooks digitally. With the help of ELN, data is captured and recorded with better accessibility and security. It helps to achieve better efficiency with lower costs. ELN services are been offered on premise and are preferred by many organizations because the data is kept within their own firewall and is been considered more secured mode for data storage.Many ELN supplier are now providing ELN services hosted as Software as a Service (SaaS) through cloud where the service is offered on a subscription model by the vendors and can be accessed by any device from any location by the user. The market is in its infancy stage but growing number of engineers, technicians and scientists have started using the application and is expected to attract more number of users because of its advantages over on premise ELN services where various functionalities are been managed by vendors such as performing periodic system backups, software up gradation, server support etc. Access to data is allowed to allotted user where the data can be encrypted by signatures and passwords so as to make portability of the service more convenient without compromising on the security of the data.Cloud ELN Market SegmentationSegmentation of cloud ELN market on the basis of mode of deployment:Public Cloud:Public cloud supports multiple users with single code basis and since many clients can be supported by the same systems, these services are cost effective because the overall costs are been distributed over larger set of users. Also since there is no requirement for hardwares such as servers and networking devices, the service requires no investment.Although public cloud hosted ELN services are suffered by certain drawbacks such as lack of customization for individual users, high risk on data security etc. but will be in demand from medium and small scale organizations, research firms, individual doctors, scientists, technicians etc.Get Sample Copy of Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1984 Private or Hosted Cloud:In private or hosted cloud, service providers hosts the application for limited number of users where the applications are been supported individually and no other user share the same code. The host manages other operations such as backup and data security. Private clouds although suffer by performance issues because the same hardware supports all the clients on distributed systems, corporate organization are expected to choose private over public cloud because of customized applications and better data security.Segmentation of cloud ELN market on the basis of usage in different industries:PharmaceuticalsChemicalsLife ScienceResearch LabsAcademic InstitutionsOthersOn the basis of usage cloud ELN can be segment into corporate, academics & research, government and other sectors. Corporate, academic and research usages are expected to contribute maximum because these sectors are expected to use the technology in its nascent stage as they are been considered early adaptors compared to government sector who are expected to use cloud based ELN services at a later stage because this sector is more hesitant in using any new technology offered in the market and normally follows any technology only after it has been adopted by the corporate sector.Regional OverviewOn the basis of geography, global cloud ELN market can be segmented into four key markets namely North America, Europe, Asia and rest of the world. North America is expected to dominate market for cloud ELN among all the regions. USA in particular is expected to account for largest share in cloud ELN market and is expected to grow at highest CAGR. Europe market for cloud ELN trails behind the North American market. With increasing healthcare, research and IT developments, Asia-Pacific provides lucrative opportunities for the cloud ELN market. In rest of the world, countries belonging to Latin America and East Asia are expected to contribute more because of increasing healthcare and IT industry.Increasing adoption of cloud computing services in healthcare and research fields will motivate more users to move towards ELN and cloud ELN because of their latent advantages over paper based lab notebooks such as data security, portability, accuracy of the data, cost effectiveness etc. In todays scenario where most of the records in the fields of healthcare and research are been stored on servers instead of traditional paper based storage systems, more and more users will be attracted towards benefits offered by cloud based ELN services. ELN offered as public cloud is expected to attract more individual users because of its cost effectiveness which is expected to come down further with increasing number of users for the same shared service.Buy Full Report Now @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/checkout/1984 Acceptance of SaaS for keeping confidential data such as patent related information in the cloud can be challenging task for the users who will fear from data security issues and can be a major restrain for cloud based ELN services. Although the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks but data security is one such fear which will be difficult to overcome for the users. Resistance to change can be a restrain for the market as users have been using paper lab notebooks from a long time and may show reluctance in using cloud ELN. Even on premise based ELN services can be a substitute for cloud ELN and will be preferred by corporate and government agencies who are quite critical about data security.Some of the major companies offering Cloud ELN services are PerkinElmer, Dassault Systemes, Core Informatics, Arxspan and Biovia. Many a companies are offering on premise ELN as well as cloud supported ELN both so as to meet the demands of varying set of customers. Cloud ELN being in its nascent stage is expected to drive the demand more after few years compared to on premise ELN.
PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-05 10:44:24

Plasticizers are compounds incorporated in a polymer matrix to increase its flexibility and improve the chemical properties of the plastic product. Addition of a plasticizer can lower the glass transition temperature, melt viscosity and elastic modulus of the polymer. Earlier phthalate-based plasticizer represented 85% of the total plasticizers market. However, stringent government regulations and rising health concerns of the consumers, stimulated the demand of bio-plasticizers. In order to assure sustainability, end users are looking for safe, bio-degradable and non-phthalate-based plasticizers.Bio-based plasticizers are widely used as additives in PVCs. They are used in PVC resins, PVC cables, vinyl flooring, wire jacketing, automobile parts etc. The use of bio-plasticizers for wire applications can enable cable manufacturers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) reduce carbon gas emission by up to 40%. Also, plasticizers are the most commonly used additives used in plastic industries. Bio-based plasticizers are produced from vegetable raw materials and are used as an alternative of petroleum based plasticizers. The raw material used for production of bio-plasticizers are castor oil, soybean oil, palm oil and starch. Epoxidized Soybean Oil (ESBO) are the most commonly used bio-plasticizer. ESBO is manufactured from soybean oil through a process of epoxidation. ESBO is one of the most preferred additives in PVC gasket used particularly in food packaging.Request For Report Sample @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1108 Bio-Plasticizers Market: Drivers & RestraintsGrowth in end user industries in developing nations such as India, China, Brazil etc. are expected to drive the bio-plasticizers market during the forecasted period. Tight supply of harmful phthalate such as BBP, DEP, DBP, DOP and increasing consumer awareness are driving the growth of bio-plasticizers. Ban on phthalate-based plasticizers in consumer goods, food packaging material and medical products have led to the development of eco-friendly bio-based plasticizers. Higher cost of bio-plasticizers as compared to phthalate-based plasticizers is a key challenge faced by bio-plasticizers market. These bio-plasticizers, when used for cable manufacturing, offer various advantages in terms of electrical and temperature performance as compared to traditional plasticizers.Bio-Plasticizers Market: SegmentationOn the basis of product type, the global Bio-Plasticizers market is segmented intoEpoxidized Soybean Oil(ESBO)CitratesCastor OilSuccinic AcidOn the basis of application, the global Bio-Plasticizers market is segmented intoPackage MaterialsMedical DevicesConsumer GoodsWire & CablesBuilding & ConstructionAutomotiveBio-Plasticizers Market: Region-wise OutlookCurrent, North America serves as a largest market for bio-plasticizers due to flourishing sectors such as medical devices, chemicals and consumer goods. Europe is estimated to be matured markets. North America and Europe account for a larger share in the market due to growth in manufacturing and healthcare industry. Various efforts made by different regulatory authorities to promote environmental friendly products have led to increase in the demand of bio-plasticizers in developed regions. Middle East & Africa bio-plasticizers market are still at a nascent stage. However, emerging countries such as UAE and Brazil are expected to have a significant market share in the near future. Asia Pacific (excluding Japan) is estimated to be the fastest growing market in terms of market share by value, particularly in medical, wires & cables, and packaging materials applications.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC): https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1108 Bio-Plasticizers Market: Key PlayersSome of the key market participants in the global Bio-Plasticizers market are The Dow Chemical Company, Bioamber Inc., Vertellus Specialties Inc., Danisco Us Inc., Solvay S.A., Dow Chemical Company, Polyone Corporation, Emery Oleochemicals Llc, Myriant Corporation, Evonik Industries, Matrica Spa, Lanxess Ag
PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-05 10:47:10

There has been a paradigm shift in automotive technologies that has given rise to the extensive development of electronic and safety components in automobiles. The dependence of vehicles on electronic components and safety devices has increased rapidly over the past few years, resulting in an increased use of electronic components in vehicles. Optoelectronic components possess the capability to source, detect and control light in an automotive. Electronic components majorly are used in powertrain systems to improve their function and efficiency. These components assists powertrain systems of an automobile to exchange messages, sense signals and control their operations. There are various types of sensors that are used in powertrain systems such as turbine speed sensor, transmission fluid temperature sensor and throttle position sensor.Optoelectronics are increasingly being used in new cars to automate the vehicle functions such as brake lights and headlights. Optoelectronics is gradually being integrated with automotive safety systems such as night vision where infrared sensors and lens detect objects in low light. Extensive use of electronic components in automobiles has resulted in a considerable dependence on optoelectronics in almost every vehicle manufactured today. The global automotive optoelectronics market is anticipated to witness a healthy growth rate over the forecast period with the increasing penetration rate of image sensors and high capacity batteries in cars coupled with energy efficient LEDs. Regulation supporting the use of LEDs expected to immensely benefit the automotive optoelectronics market over the forecast period. The global automotive optoelectronics market is likely to accelerate with greater use of electronic and hybrid vehicles. Optoelectronics are widely used to isolate the on-board batteries and high-voltage components in vehicles.Request For Report Sample @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1138 Global Automotive Optoelectronics Market: Drivers & RestraintsIncreasing production of automobiles globally to drive the growth of global automotive optoelectronics market over the forecast period. Most of the luxury car manufacturers offer advanced safety options to their customers along with options for customization which ultimately fuels the demand for global automotive optoelectronics market. The increase in demand for luxury cars from emerging economies such as Brazil, China and India will contribute to market growth during the forecast period.Apart from this increase adoption of automotive safety systems globally to fuel the demand for global automotive optoelectronics market over the forecast period. Moreover the cost of LED have also increased due to high cost of raw materials such as steel, aluminium, electronic components, automotive plastics and other resin material. This acts as a major restraint to the growth of global automotive optoelectronic market. Moreover, inorganic compound semiconductors offer superior mechanical, optical and electrical properties and are fostering better prospects for global automotive optoelectronics market.Global Automotive Optoelectronic Market: SegmentationOn the basis of vehicle type, the global automotive optoelectronic market is segmented intoPassenger VehicleLight Commercial Vehicle (LCV)Heavy Commercial Vehicle (HCV)On the basis of product type,the global automotive optoelectronic market is segmented intoLEDsInfrared componentImage sensorsLaser DiodesOptocouplersOn the basis of application, the global automotive optoelectronic market is segmented intoPosition sensorsBacklight controlConvenience and safetyOn the basis of channel type, the global automotive optoelectronic market is segmented intoOEMsAftermarketGlobal Automotive Optoelectronic Market: Region-wise OutlookIn terms of geography, the global automotive optoelectronic market has been divided in to seven key regions including North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan, Middle East & Africa and Japan. The global automotive optoelectronic market is anticipated to witness a double digit CAGR over the forecast period. Asia Pacific to be the most attractive market for automotive optoelectronic due to increase in demand for luxury vehicles and rising awareness of safety systems among customer. Western Europe followed by North America are other prominent regions to showcase promising future for automotive optoelectronics by the end of 2025.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC): https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1138 Global Automotive Optoelectronics Market: Key PlayersKey players in the global automotive optoelectronics market include Avago Technologies, Osram Licht AG, Sharp Corporation, Koninklijke Philips N.V. Texas Instrument Inc, Autoliv Inc, Foryard Optolectronics Co, FOSP Optoelectronics Co Ltd, OSI Optolectronics AS and Vishay Intertechnology
PR-Inside.com: 2019-01-05 10:45:06

Hidden inside the car, actuation parts are often considered as safety critical parts. Automotive actuators are used in the actuation of various systems such as power seats and brake systems of the vehicle. One of the important system is brake actuation system which is small mechanically operated device used to ensure that the front and rear brakes are applied at the same instance. In a front wheel drive car, approximately 60% weight is over the front wheels, in order to avoid skid developed from imbalance equalization system is achieved using brake actuation systems. Automotive brake actuation system does not only prevent wheel lock during braking but also control behavior of the car under serious driving conditions by supporting various system such as electronic brake force distribution (EBD) traction control system (TC), hydraulic brake assist (HBA) or cornering brake control (CBC). As the concern over safety is growing across the globe such systems are gaining increasing traction among the OEMs and users.Automotive Brake Actuation Systems Market: Drivers & RestraintsThe global automotive brake actuation system market is increasing rapidly due to various factors such as stringent government norms related to safety and consumer preferences shifting to new technology advancement and active safety features. Also, rising concern over fuel economy, stringent government laws towards controlling vehicular emission and growing vehicles in operations are some of the major drivers along with macroeconomic factors such as growing GDP are fuelling the growth of the global automotive brake actuation systems market. However high cost of implementation and slower adoption rate of newer technology can pose a major challenge towards the growth of the global automotive brake actuation systems market.Request For Report Sample @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1143 Automotive Brake Actuation Systems Market: SegmentationGlobal Automotive Brake Actuation system market is segmented on the basis of geography, vehicle type and by components. Component segment of the global automotive brake actuation systems market includes following segmentBrake boosterTandem master cylinder (TMCs)Brake fluid reservoirOn the other hand vehicle type segment is further segmented into following three categories;Passenger VehicleLight Commercial VehicleHeavy Commercial VehicleAutomotive Brake Actuation Systems Market: OverviewThe global automotive brake actuation system market is expected to grow with significant rate over the forecast period from 2015 to 2025. Developed economies such as U.S. and U.K. is anticipated to play major role in first half of forecast period 2015  2020 while during the second half of the forecast period emerging economies such as India, China and Brazil is forecast to surge the demand for automotive brake actuation systems market. Among the vehicle type segment, passenger vehicle segment dominated the global automotive brake actuation system market in 2014, and is projected to expand at highest CAGR over the forecast period.Automotive Brake Actuation Systems Market: Region-wise OutlookThe global automotive brake actuation systems market is geographically segmented into seven key regions which are, North America, South America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan and Middle East & Africa. As of 2014, Asia Pacific dominated the global automotive brake actuation system market followed by North America and Europe. On the other hand BRIC countries are expected to grow at higher CAGR when compared to other countries in their respective regions.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC): https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1143 Automotive Brake Actuation Systems Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players identified in global automotive brake actuation systems market are Continental AG, ZF TRW, MICO, Inc., Delphi Automotive PLC, Magneti Marelli S.P.A, and Valeo S.A.
Gallup reports that a record number of Americans want to leave the U.S. But its poll results dont support this statement. The results show only that more Americans say they want to leave the U.S. than during the earlier part of this century.

Gallup found that 16 percent of Americans say they would like to move permanently to another country. Thats up from 11 percent when George W. Bush was president and 10 percent when Barack Obama held the office. Virtually all of the increase is driven by women.

But during the Bush and Obama years, emigration by U.S. citizens born in America was negligible  nothing like 10 percent  and, as Gallup acknowledges, theres only been a small uptick since Trump took office.

During the Nixon years, almost half the young people I knew made utterances about leaving America for Canada. That might have been fine with the silent majority, some of whom used to say, in frustration, American, love it our leave it. Fortunately, the only people I knew who actually moved to Canada were were draft dodgers.

As in Nixons time, the alleged desire to leave America is strongest among young people. 30 percent of Americans younger than age-30 told Gallup they would like to leave. But, as Gallup seems to acknowledge, the number who actually intend to leave, or make a real effort to do so, is much, much smaller. The poll tells little if anything about impending emigration.

What it does tell us is that a great many young Americans hold their country in low esteem, just as many of us did in the Nixon years. We had an excuse  the Vietnam war and then-virulent discrimination against blacks.

Todays young Americans have an excuse too  what they are taught about America in school.
@montcocourtnews on Twitter

Carl Hessler Jr. is a multi-media reporter who writes about crime and justice from the Montgomery County Courthouse for 21st Century Media Newspapers Greater Philadelphia area publications. Follow Carl on Twitter: @MontcoCourtNews
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Everywhere you go, there are signs that local government has neglected to put even the most basic upkeep of our public roads is on its to-do list. Read more
H as anyone ever offered you a piece of advice? "Take it for what its worth."

A suggestion is simply that, a suggestion; an offering of advice, a tip, a recommendation or a proposal. We can take it or leave it; consider it, act on it, or ignore it. A suggestion is not written in stone.

A suggestion, by its very nature, is fluid. God gave us two ears and one mouth. Perhaps we should heed the suggestion.

Some people refer to the Ten Commandments as the ten suggestions. Are the Ten Commandments open to individual, autonomous consideration, or are they mandates issued by Almighty God for universal human obedience? Are the Ten Commandments optional or compulsory; outdated and in need of revision, or timeless and universal?

Am I free to filter the Commandments through my personal biases and opinions? Or am I obligated to "thank and praise, serve and obey God," and obliged to "be His own, live under Him in His kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence and blessedness"?

When asked about inheriting eternal life, Jesus replied, "You know the Commandments." The whole law is summed up in one word: "Love! Love the Lord your God with all your being and your neighbor as yourself."

I personally find the commandment prohibiting false witness to be "most challenging" in my life. "Do not bear false witness against your neighbor." What does this mean for us? Martin Luther explained it thus: "We are to fear and love God so that we do not despise, anger, or lie about our neighbor. But defend them, speak well of them and explain their actions in the kindest way." Easier said than done.

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus emphatically declared, "I came not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it." The Commandments and our obedience cant save us. Only the free grace of God, given in Jesus Christ, can save us.

The Ten Commandments were given to free people after their deliverance from Egypt. The Commandments dont make us free. Free people keep the Commandments as a treasured keepsake. The Commandments are not rules intended to make us righteous. The Commandments dont make us better people, but by the grace of God they do lead us and our neighbors to better lives. The Commandments civilize us.

In John 15, Jesus spoke these words: "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Fathers commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."

If I may humbly offer a suggestion: Confess that Jesus is Lord. Believe that God raised Him from the dead. Keep His Commandments. Abide in Gods love!
One of my favorite television shows of 2018 is the 2015 French dramedy "Call My Agent!" (called "Dix pour cent," or "10 Percent," in the original), about a Parisian talent agency. I was slow to find it, but a friend, an ordinary, TV nonprofessional friend, told me about it. (Thanks, Nina.) I find that interesting in itself and part of what seems to be a trend: American TV viewers are increasingly watching foreign-language series and talking about them.

You may have lately watched, discussed or read about HBOs "My Brilliant Friend," co-produced with a pair of Italian networks, much of it played in an antique Neapolitan dialect that required subtitling even in Italy. Or "Babylon Berlin," a Weimar Republic crime drama picked up by Netflix from Sky Deutschland.

As with all waves, it had been building for awhile before it broke, but this does feel like the year American television went global. Indeed, it is easily possible now to watch way too much television  even too much good television  and never hear a word of English.

This is good news for us and everybody. The seemingly ineluctable one-way flow of American pop culture to the world, at least since the movies came in, could not but help swell the size of our national head.

International internet

Its not just television: For years, outside of the occasional novelty song, music from outside the English-speaking world rarely made it over the border. (It is true too that we are less familiar with the outside worlds contemporary novelists, directors, playwrights and painters, and in no particular rush to be.)

Even as the world convulses in fits of chauvinism, parochialism, populism and xenophobia, television in its various delivery systems has never been more cosmopolitan and international. Netflix, which rules the streaming world, is everywhere (except mainland China, Syria, North Korea and Crimea) and, according to one report, consumes 15 percent of global internet bandwidth. (Indeed, the streamers first excursion into "exclusive content" was the Norwegian comedy "Lilyhammer," with Steven Van Zandt as a mobster in exile.) Amazon Prime  where you can watch the German innocent-man thriller "You Are Wanted," the Japanese comedy "Businessmen vs. Aliens" (what it sounds like) and Indias "The Remix," a musical reality show involving Bollywood songs  is also a global player.

Hulu, the other big streamer, lacks the reach of Netflix and Amazon, though that is likely to change. Disney will own 60 percent of Hulu once its acquisition of Fox goes through, and Chief Executive-Chairman Bob Iger recently spoke to investors of investigating "opportunities  in terms of both global growth and investing more in content."

Meanwhile, Hulu is the home of the Swedish sci-fi drama "Real Humans," the Israeli spy drama "False Flag" and the German high-finance drama "Bad Banks."

"Whats in the back and front of my mind is sharing the worlds best content, whether thats Japanese anime, Turkish telenovelas, the film noir of the Nordics," Netflix Chief Executive Reed Hastings told the Financial Times in October. "Ive never been very Hollywood-centric."

Time to fill

American television was slow to look abroad  British series began creeping into view in the late 1960s, mostly as prime-time summer replacements, in syndication or what used to be called "educational" (now "public") television  "The Avengers," "The Prisoner," "Monty Pythons Flying Circus," "The Six Wives of Henry VIII," "Benny Hill." In the 1970s, "SCTV" came from Canada; nothing I can think of came from Australia in those years, even though we speak roughly the same language.

Now, with the 2017 launch of Acorn, an early niche streamer with a British bent (whose success seems to have inspired the BBC- and ITV-backed Britbox), the increasing licensing (and co-production) of British series by the big streamers, plus basic cables BBC America, not to mention the continuing importation of British programming by public television, we may be getting everything British of note, along with a growing number of Australian series.

Its true that American Spanish-language networks Telemundo (a branch of NBCUniversal) and Univision, which broadcasts on what Angelenos with long memories will know as Channel 34, have been around for a while, as have dedicated cable and satellite stations like the Francophone TV5MONDE, TV Japan and the Cantonese TVB. But as a rule, foreign language series, though sometimes remade for American television, never made the crossing; indeed, they have yet to crack broadcast prime time.
Political Reporter

Caitlin Byrd is a political reporter at The Post and Courier and author of the Palmetto Politics newsletter. Before moving to Charleston in 2016, her byline appeared in the Asheville Citizen-Times. To date, Byrd has won 17 awards for her work.
FILE--In this photo file taken Monday, May 7, 2018, solar panels are seen on the rooftop on a home in a new housing project in Sacramento, Calif. California is the first state in the nation to require homes built in 2020 and later be solar powered. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, file)
Because the moon appears to turn orange or red during a total lunar eclipse, the event popularly is called a "blood moon." A total eclipse to be visible over South Carolina takes place Jan. 20. Brian Day/NASA Ames Research Center
MULLINS  Two Horry County sheriffs deputies transporting mental health patients drove through "miles" of floodwaters and disregarded an alternate route before water submerged their vehicle and drowned the two women on board, authorities said Friday.

New information surfaced as the State Law Enforcement Division leveled manslaughter charges against Stephen William Flood and Joshua Dean Bishop, alleging the law enforcement officers ignored warnings to avoid clearly dangerous floodwaters in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence in September.

Nicolette Green, a 43-year-old Myrtle Beach resident, and Wendy Newton, 45, of Shallotte, N.C., had no criminal histories and were being committed to hospitals to get evaluations.

Locked in a cage in the back of the sheriffs van, the women drowned when the vehicle was swept off a road and sank into a large hole from a washout outside the Pee Dee town of Nichols.

Their deaths horrified the public and prompted state lawmakers to review how mental health patients are treated in South Carolina.

Flood, 66, of Marshwood Drive in Myrtle Beach, and Bishop, 29, of Leatherman Road in Conway, are each charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter, punishable by up to five years in prison.

Flood, who drove the van, also faces two counts of reckless homicide, an offense that carries up to 10 years behind bars.

The men, who were fired for their actions last year, appeared in a Marion County courtroom for a bond hearing Friday.

Linda Green, Nicolette Greens mother, fought back tears as she blamed her daughter's death on the "stupidity and selfishness" of the deputies. She and Newtons loved ones asked a judge to ensure that Flood and Bishop remained in jail as they awaited trial.

"They killed her," Green said of her daughter. "Now there is no amount of justice to heal my heart."

Tragedy is an understatement

Wearing orange jail jumpsuits, Flood and Bishop listened in silence to the families pleas and sobs.

Their attorneys asked the judge to consider the former deputies' reputations and standings in the community.

Floods attorney, Allie Argoe, called her client the "nicest, gentlest man."

Argoe went on to call the deaths a "horrible accident."

Bert von Herrmann, the attorney for Bishop, said his client comes from a long line of public service.

Bishop, who worked for six years as a detention deputy for the Sheriffs Office, and Flood, a 10-year veteran, were fired Oct. 24 for misconduct.

"To say that this is a tragedy is an understatement," Magistrate Cheryl Graham said after she set bail at $30,000 for Flood and $10,000 for Bishop.

Both men were released Friday after posting bail, court records show.

Deputies were warned

On Sept. 18, the day of the drownings, Newton went to a hospital in Loris after suffering schizophrenia symptoms, Tommy Brittain, an attorney for her family testified during a Senate hearing in November. A decision was made to transfer her to a hospital in Darlington.

Green also sought help that day. She visited a mental health clinic where a counselor moved to get an order to commit her for evaluation. She was taken to a detention center and then to a hospital in Loris, where staff decided to send her to another facility, her sister said previously.

Doctors had ordered emergency care for the women. State law requires officers to take such patients to hospitals in most situations. A 2016 revision in the law allows emergency medical technicians or family members to take certain patients to the hospital, but law enforcement officers usually do the job.

Flood and Bishop were tasked with transporting the women outside of Horry County for treatment.

Floodwaters from Hurricane Florence had inundated parts of the region. West of Nichols, the Little Pee Dee River spilled over its banks. Downstream in Galivants Ferry, the river would eventually crest at 17.21 feet, well above its flood stage of 9 feet.

Supervisors provided a safe route before Flood and Bishop left the jail. A fellow transport officer warned them that the route through Nichols would not be passable, affidavits said.

But Bishop and Flood took the flooded road anyway, authorities said. Testimony from the Senate hearing indicated the pair passed at least two points where they could have turned around: a barricade and an S.C. National Guard checkpoint.

The Horry County Sheriffs Office has said that National Guardsmen, acting on orders to let law enforcement around barriers, waved the van through a checkpoint on U.S. Highway 76 near Nichols.

Maj. Gen. Robert E. Livingston Jr., South Carolina's adjutant general, said in a statement provided Friday he was "neither aware of any wrongdoing by any members of the National Guard nor aware of anything we did that contributed to this horrible accident."

A SLED spokesman declined to comment Friday while the case is open.

The van continued through shallow floodwaters that covered Highway 76, but the water got deeper. Then the van stalled out and water swept it across the road.

The vehicle came to rest against a guardrail as water rushed by.

Bishop escaped the van and helped Flood, who couldnt get out on his own.

Green and Newton were not in restraints, but they were locked in a transport cage in the back of the van and couldnt open it from the inside.

Bishop attempted several times to help the women get free from the metal compartment, according to affidavits. Brittain, the attorney for Newton's family, testified in November that the deputies opened a back door but did not have a key to unlock the cage.

With Green and Newton trapped inside, the van sank into a large hole formed from the washout in the road.

Rescuers reached the deputies by boat.

Divers recovered the victims bodies the next day. Authorities were unable to recover the van until nearly a week after the drownings.

Proposed changes

Authorities allege that Flood and Bishop acted with criminal negligence and a reckless disregard for the patients safety.

Both men ignored a "visible and dangerous situation, 12th Circuit Solicitor Ed Clements said in court.

While Bishop wasn't behind the wheel, Clements said he "had a duty" to stop his colleague before they drove through the floodwaters.

As for Flood, Clements said the deputy made the decision to drive through "miles of water" with the two women locked in the back of the vehicle.

"He just ignored all of that," Clements said of Flood.

In firing the deputies, Horry County sheriff's officials also said Flood made a conscious decision to drive around a barricade after supervisors provided a safe route, according to termination records. Officials faulted Bishop for not making a conscious and conspicuous effort to stop Flood.

In the aftermath of the deaths, state lawmakers are drafting legislation to prevent this avoidable tragedy from happening again, said Sen. Marlon Kimpson, a Charleston Democrat leading the effort.

The Senate subcommittee is considering increasing the training requirements for law enforcement officers who transport patients  a common practice in the Palmetto State. Theyre also weighing whether to make it easier for family members to transport people seeking treatment.

Mental illness is not a law enforcement issue, Kimpson said in a statement Friday. Its a health issue, and thats where our focus needs to be.

The criminal charges filed Friday may provide some solace to Greens and Newton's families, but their loved ones said they are still confronted with horrors daily.

"Her feelings, her horror, her screaming will never leave my mind's eye, Linda Green said of her daughter.
Food editor and chief critic

Eating all of the chicken livers just as fast as I can.
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[Update: This story has been updated with new information and context from an assistant professor of criminology and expert on violent crime and homicide in Russia. The verdict is unchanged. This story was originally published January 5, 2019].

Following the December 28, 2018 arrest in Moscow of Paul Whelan, an American citizen charged with espionage, former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul tweeted:

I often get asked if its safe to travel to Russia as a tourist or student. I always used to say yes, and with enthusiasm. After Whelan arrest, however, I will change my advice.

This tweet elicited a strong reaction from Danielle Ryan, a Dublin-based freelance journalist.

Writing for RT, the Russian state media outlet, Ryan attacked McFaul for changing his position on the safety of traveling to Russia in the wake of the Whelan arrest: Miraculously, the arrest of one American seems to have changed everything. It is unlikely, however, that McFaul issued similar advice to his Russian friends after the arrest of Russian citizen Maria Butina, who last year was accused of acting as a foreign agent in the United States without proper registration.

Ryan writes that the assumption would never be made that the U.S. is unsafe for Russian tourists based on Butinas arrest, adding that is not because the U.S. is a crime-free paradise where justice reigns supreme.

No, its because of endless and tiresome double standards imposed on Russia by both US officials and the media, she wrote. Its always one assumption for the US and another for Russia; Whelan is an American arrested in Moscow, so he must be innocent (and Russia must be dangerous), but Butina was a Russian arrested in Washington DC, so she must be guilty (and the US is simply seeking justice). Facts and evidence become irrelevant in the rush to compound the correct narrative.

Butina, in fact, pleaded guilty on December 13, 2018 to conspiracy and acting under the direction of the Russian government.

In her plea deal, Butina admitted to conspiring with a Russian official and two Americans to infiltrate the National Rifle Association to create unofficial lines of communication between Russian officials and U.S. conservatives, with the goal of advancing Russias interests. As part of her plea deal, one count of acting as a covert foreign agent was dropped. She faces a maximum of five years in prison and the prospect of deportation upon completing her sentence.

The case surrounding Whelan, a Canadian-born former U.S. Marine and security executive who has British and Irish citizenship, is unclear.

A security source told the Russian news agency Rosbalt that Whelan was caught red-handed in his Metropol hotel room receiving a flash drive with a list of employees of a Russian security agency.

Rosbalt is run by Natalia Cherkesova, the wife of Viktor Cherkesov, a Putin associate, former first deputy director of the Federal Security Service and former head of Russias Federal Drug Control Service.

Regarding the thumb drive, Journalist Julia Ioffe tweeted that Russian police and secret services are notorious for planting evidence on suspects. She added: Doesn't mean that Whelan is not a spy, but just something to keep in mind.

John Sipher, who ran the CIAs operations in Russia, told the Washington Post the agency would almost never send someone to Russia without diplomatic immunity.

Given the laxity of Russian laws and the aggressiveness of their espionage apparatus, we could not guarantee the safety of someone traveling under unofficial cover, Sipher said.

Journalist Julia Davis said that Whelan's lawyer, Vladimir Zherebenkov, who has represented numerous senior Russian government officials, has already floated the idea of an exchange for Butina.

This is a long process, Davis quoted Zherebenkov as saying. I myself hope that we can rescue and bring home one Russian soul. -- to which McFaul commented: Sounds like Zherebenkov is representing Butina, not Whelan.

If convicted, Whelan faces 20 years in prison, which would make him the first U.S. citizen sentenced in Russia on espionage charges since the conviction of Edmond Pope in 2000.

In response to Ryan, McFaul wrote that a regime that arbitrarily arrests foreigners is a dangerous one. But regarding Whelans guilt or innocence, he added: If Im wrong about Whelan, Ill delete tweet. (sic)

McFaul later tweeted that the State Department had issued a travel advisory saying exactly the same thing as he had written: [E]xercise increased caution due to terrorism, harassment, and the arbitrary enforcement of local laws.

The State Department further said that U.S. citizens visiting or residing in Russia have been arbitrarily interrogated or detained by Russian officials and may become victims of harassment, mistreatment, and extortion.

It further notes that terrorist attacks and risk of civil unrest continue throughout the North Caucasus region, including in Chechnya, North Ossetia, Ingushetia, Dagestan, Stavropol, Karachayevo-Cherkessiya, and Kabardino-Balkariya. Local gangs have kidnapped U.S. citizens and other foreigners for ransom.

Ryan also wrote that Russia is as safe for American tourists (or any other tourists, for that matter) as any other European country is, adding that the fact that a former official who really should know better is perpetuating the myth of deep, dark, dangerous Russia is utterly ridiculous.

We judge Ryans op-ed to be misleading at best, and major elements of her argument to be simply untrue.

It is true that the U.S. State Department lists Russia at a Level 2 travel advisory -- the same as Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Netherlands, Serbia, Spain, Britain, Italy, Ukraine and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The State Department updated its judgment on Russia in mid-December, before the Whelan arrest.

Consider, also, information gleaned from the United Nations.

Citing the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Alexandra Lysova of Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Candadaand Nikolay Shchitov of the Far Eastern Federal University, Russia, noted that as of 2014, Russias homicide rate was the highest in Europe and one of the highest in the world.

That figure has dropped significantly, from a peak of 33 per 100,000 people in 1994 to 10.82 per 100,000 or 15,561 intentional homicides in 2016, according to the UNODC.

Lysova told Polygraph.info that while improved quality of life and political stability in Russia in the 2000s could potentially explain the declining murder rate, a so-called decivilizing process, characterized by rampant corruption, predatory policing, political repression, state violence against businesses, rising xenophobia and apathy, could likewise be expected to be associated with a less precipitous decline in homicide or stable homicide rate in this period.

Lysova, assistant professor in the School of Criminology at Simon Fraser University and once a professor in Vladivostok, Russia said she shares the concerns of other Russian criminologists who doubt that murder rates dropped as precipitously as the statistics show.

By considering legal mechanisms alone, the more accurate homicide rate may be at least 1.6 times higher than that reported by the police and reprinted in the UNODC Global Study on Homicide 2013. Sergey Inshakov in his book on a dark figure of crime in Russia (2011) also suggested that there was no a precipitous decline in murder rates and that the real murder rates were much higher than those reported by the police in the 2000s.

Although Ryan felt safer walking in Moscow after dark than Washington D.C. or Budapest, nationwide, Russia has a higher per capita homicide rate than Hungary or the United States.

For 2016, the UNODC registered 17,250 intentional homicides in the United States or 5.35 per 100,000 people  roughly half the level in Russia.

The rate in Hungary was 2.07 per 100,000 or 202 intentional homicides.

Statistically, however, Moscow is a much safer city than Washington D.C. in terms of intentional homicide.

According to the Russian Federal State Statistics Service, Moscow city itself registered 2.5 murders per 100,000 people, while Moscow region registered 6.9 murders per 100,000 people.

In Washington D.C., there were 116 homicides in 2017 or 17 per 100,000 residents, making it Americas 16th most dangerous city, according to an analysis conducted by USA Today.

Homicide statistics for Budapest that year were unavailable.

But as Lysova noted, the statistics in Russias case do not tell the entire story.

And it is not just homicide. Lysova said a quick scan of police statistics for showed that there had only been 3,900 reported rapes for all of 2015.

I think its reasonable to expect that the number of rapes, including attempts, should exceed the number of homicides, including attempts, she said. Some unofficial estimates of 10,000 people who became victims of rape in Russia in 2015 seem more realistic. Organizations that help female victims of sexual abuse in Russia provide estimates that only 10-12% of rape victims actually report incidents to the police in Russia. Victims are ashamed and afraid they will not be treated by the police fairly and with respect. Moreover, even if victims decide to report the incidents to the police, only one in about five incidents would be accepted and investigated by the police.

It is currently too early to determine if the cases of Whelan and Butina are commensurate. Any conclusions (or comparisons) at this point would be purely speculative.

But Polygraph.info finds that Ryans claim that Russia is as safe for American tourists as any other European country is misleading.
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Donald Trump has a pretty simple message for the hundreds of thousands of workers feeling the pain of his government shutdown: I dont care.

In a Saturday morning tantrum tweet, the president said, I dont care that most of the workers not getting paid are Democrats.

I am in the White House ready to go, where are the Dems? Trump added.

I dont care that most of the workers not getting paid are Democrats, I want to stop the Shutdown as soon as we are in agreement on Strong Border Security! I am in the White House ready to go, where are the Dems?  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2019

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Hundreds of thousands of workers are being squeezed

While the president continues to play politics over a border wall that nobody wants, hundreds of thousands of workers are hurting.

To the out-of-touch billionaire president, this might be a fun reality TV stunt, but to hundreds of thousands of Americans working without pay, it could mean they dont have enough money to feed their families or keep a roof over their head.

To them, there is nothing fun about this Trump-created shutdown.

The political affiliation of government workers is irrelevant

Donald Trump has offered no evidence  surprise!  to back up his claim that most federal workers are Democrats, but what hes missing is how irrelevant that would be, if true.

American workers dont have their party affiliation marked on their paychecks. When they use the money to pay the bills, feed their family and support their loved ones, they arent thinking about politics.

If Trump treated governing the country the same way, he wouldnt be holding the government hostage right now.

Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook.
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A new Gallup Poll shows that 16% of all Americans, including 20% of U.S. women, would like to leave the United States, primarily because of the policies of President Donald Trump.

As Trump and his racist supporters have captured headlines with their demands to build a border wall and keep out immigrants, the truth is that more people want to leave the country than come in to it.

Gallups numbers indicate that the number of people wanting to leave the United States is at a record high. The 16% of Americans overall who said in 2018 that they would like to permanently move to another country if they could is higher than the average levels during either the George W. Bush (11%) or Barack Obama administration (10%).

Gallups World Poll did not ask people about their political leanings, so we dont know the exact breakdown between Democrats, Republicans and Independents. However, there is evidence that the recent increase in the number of Americans with a desire to move to another country has come primarily from groups that lean Democratic. It is these people who most disapprove of Trumps job performance. The groups who most want to leave the country are women, younger Americans, and individuals in lower income brackets.

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After the first two years of the Trump presidency, a record-high one in five U.S. women now say they would like to move to another country permanently if they were able to do so. This is twice the average for women during the Obama (10%) or Bush years (11%) and almost double the level among men (13%) under Trump.

Before the Trump years, there was no difference between mens and womens desires to move. This is more strong evidence of how Donald Trump has widened the gender gap in American politics, and has alienated women, who comprise over half of American voters.

Donald Trump is the most unpopular president among women in American history. Women were the primary cause of the Blue Wave in last Novembers midterm elections, and they will continue to vote for Democrats and shun the Republican Party of Donald Trump.

The truth is that most women are disgusted by just about everything Donald Trump says and does, and the Gallup Poll proves this. The good news is that most of the people who detest Trump will not actually move to other countries but will stay and fight to take back the country and kick Trump and his Republican enablers out of office.
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A top Democrat said on Friday that the House Intelligence Committee will soon open an in-depth investigation into the finances of President Donald Trump. This committee probe will involve a detailed look into the long history of alleged criminal money laundering activities which may have provided a substantial part of the presidents fortune and real estate empire.

Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., a member of both the House intelligence and judiciary committees, and a former prosecutor expressed his belief that there is already probable cause to believe Trumps business was involved in illegal money laundering activities dating back to the early 2000s. The evidence points to the president having worked with individuals representing Russian oligarchs and Russian organized crime figures closely aligned with Vladimir Putin.

We will open up a money-laundering inquiry as to whether the Russians were laundering money through the Trump organization, Swalwell told Yahoo News.

To use a prosecutors phrase, I think we have probable cause to do that, based on the Trump familys own admissions that they had money coming in from Russia, he added.

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These comments give insight into how Democrats on the intelligence committee, chaired by Rep. Adam Schiff of California, plan to restart the Russia investigation that was cut off by Republican leaders last year.

Swalwell said he has previously discussed these matters with Schiff and he is confident about the direction the committee will go with their probe into Trumps relationships with Russia.

Many people believe that Trumps financial dealings with Putin and other Russians have provided them ammunition to blackmail the U.S. president and influence Americas foreign policies.

Swalwell said the committee will start with letters to the Trump Organization and Deutsche Bank, a major lender to Trump, asking them to voluntarily turn over records. After that they will move to subpoenas if the letters do not get the desired results.

Swalwell also admitted that the probe could be a prolonged one marked by White House resistance and even litigation over the subpoenas, saying:

As far as how many years back does it go, we know that you have evidence in the early 2000s of  Trump properties being purchased by Russians, so the Trump interest in Russia and the Russia interest in Trump does go back decades. From my perspective, I would want to know where did the financial compromise begin.

Youre talking about years of records, years of relationships that the Trump family has had.

I think we want to have a comprehensive picture of whether or not the president is financially compromised by the Russians.

Swalwell said that the probe into Trumps finances will not be limited to the presidents Russia dealings. They will also investigate the Trump Organizations ties to Saudi Arabia which booked hundreds of hotel rooms at the new Trump Hotel in Washington after the presidents election.

As to whether the committee would investigate Trumps relationship with the Saudis, Swalwell said: What I would like to know is, again  and you could see this through his tax returns, you could see this through bank records  whether there is an ongoing relationship financially with the Saudis.

In support of Swalwells statements, a spokesperson for Schiff pointed to remarks he recently made to the New Yorker magazine where he said:

The American people have a right to know that their President is working on their behalf, not his familys financial interests. Right now, I dont think any of us can have the confidence that thats the case.

During the Yahoo interview Swalwell said he was considering running for president in 2020.

I think I can make a difference, but I also think I can win. Most importantly, I want to see our country come together, Swalwell said when asked about his 2020 chances.
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New House Budget Committee Chairman John Yarmuth (D-Ky.) said on Friday that some amount of money for border security in exchange for legal protections for Dreamers, or young immigrants brought to the country illegally as children, could be the way to agreement for Democrats and Republicans to end the ongoing partial government shutdown.

Theres a lot of pride right now thats probably adversely affecting a settlement on both sides, and nobody wants to cave, Yarmuth told Hill.TV.

But I think a deal where theres at least temporary working permits for Dreamers for several years, that kind of a relationship if youre not going to solve the Dreamer problem for us, some amount of money for border security is an easy deal to make, Yarmuth continued.

The Budget Committee Chairmans comments were made as the partial government shutdown reached the end of its second week. Both Democrats and Republicans have dug in on the negotiations. Neither side has indicated they are ready to give in or compromise on the issue of providing $5 billion for President Trumps proposed border wall with Mexico.

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Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a close ally and confidante of the presidents discussed a concession with Trump this week. He suggested a compromise that would involve tying border funding to work permits for Dreamers under the DACA program. Graham said Trump indicated he might be open to the idea, but other congressional Republicans seemed to show little interest in Grahams plan.

Leaders of Democratic activist groups have told House and Senate Democratic leaders that there will be a severe backlash from the partys progressive base of supporters if they give in to Trump on the wall without getting a major concession in return.

Democratic leaders such as Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer have not indicated they will give Trump any funding for the border wall, however.

The new Democratic-controlled House on Thursday passed legislation to put an end to the shutdown in a major first step. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said the measure would not pass the Senate, however, because it does not include Trumps demanded $5 billion in border wall funding.

Trump on Friday sent a letter to lawmakers in both parties demanding a border wall ahead of talks with congressional leaders.

In the letter Trump again made demands for funding for a physical wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, and said that the need for a tangible barrier was absolutely critical. He also said that Democrats opposition to the wall is hypocritical.

Walls work, Trump wrote. Thats why rich, powerful, and successful people build them around their homes. All Americans deserve the same protection.
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Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) explained that Congress appropriates the funds, even in an emergency, so Trump cant get any money for his wall without congressional approval.

James Lankford said on MSNBCs MTP Daily, Im going to have to see where that authority is coming from. Obviously congress delegates those funds and appropriates funds specifically for specific purposes. The president does have some reprogramming authority. That typically has to come back to Congress to get additional approval on. He is very passionate about this as an emergency, this needs to be resolved.

Video:

Trump can't declare a national emergency and build his wall because Congress would still need to appropriate the funds. https://t.co/R8QZl3cDd2 pic.twitter.com/HlkdR5wdjF  PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) January 4, 2019

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Contrary to what Trump wants to believe, he doesnt have unilateral authority to declare a national emergency and build his wall. Congress still has to appropriate the funds. If Congress wont appropriate the funds, Trump still cant build his wall. Trumps authority to move money around within the federal government is also limited. If he wanted to move funds for the wall, he would need congressional approval.

The governmental system of the United States is set up so that no president can act like a king. Trump cant decree a national emergency and build his wall. If Trump declared a national emergency tomorrow, he still wouldnt have the money for his wall.

The wall isnt happening.

When even Republican members of Congress are pointing out that Trump may lack both the authority to declare a national emergency and the ability to get funds for the wall, the idea is DOA.

Trumps attempt to gut our system of governance because Mexico wont pay for the wall is destined to fail.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

Follow Jason Easley on Facebook.
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(Reuters)  The term of the grand jury being used by U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller in his investigation of possible collusion between Russia and President Donald Trumps 2016 election campaign has been extended, an aide to the judge overseeing it said on Friday.

The extension is a sign that Mueller is not done presenting evidence before the grand jury in his investigation of U.S. allegations of Russian interference in the election and any possible coordination between Moscow and Trumps campaign.

The grand jury was impaneled by the U.S. District Court in Washington in July 2017 for an 18-month term, the limit under federal rules. The term can be extended if the court determines it to be in the public interest to do so.

The Chief Judge has confirmed that the term of Grand Jury 17-01 has been extended, Lisa Klem, special assistant to Chief Judge Beryl Howell said in a statement.

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Howell did not confirm any length of the extension, Klem said.

A spokesman for Mueller declined to comment.

A number of Trumps allies, including his lawyer Rudy Giuliani, have repeatedly called on Mueller to wrap up his investigation.

Trump has called the investigation a witch hunt and has denied collusion with Moscow. Russia has denied meddling in the election, contrary to the conclusion of U.S. intelligence agencies that have said Moscow used hacking and propaganda to try to sow discord in the United States and boost Republican Trumps chances against Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

Muellers investigation and other inquiries have clouded Trumps two years in office. Mueller has secured more than 30 indictments and guilty pleas and has spawned at least four federal probes.

(reporting by Nathan Layne in New York; editing by Grant McCool)
The SEDA-COG Natural Gas Cooperative and Mifflintown-based Empire Kosher are discussing whether it's feasible to push natural gas out to local farms that supply the food processing company.

Frank Campbell

"They're receptive to the idea, but we're just working through it with them and how to make it feasible," said Frank Campbell, one of Perry County's representatives on the cooperative's board.

Messages left at Empire's offices seeking comment were not returned.

Empire became a poster company for natural gas in this region when it switched its facility over to route-based natural gas delivery several years ago. The company not only processes chicken, but also controls the raising of animals on local farms.

The cooperative has been working on the expansion of commercial, industrial and residential natural gas uses since it was formed in 2016. Perry and Juniata counties have joined the effort.

The proposal came up recently in Perry County commissioners' meetings.

Campbell said the idea would be for Empire, which has liquified natural gas (LNG) at its main facility, to make that available to supplier farms in Juniata and Perry counties as part of the route-based delivery.

Ideally, the farms would save money in the long-run because natural gas is cheaper than other forms of energy. That's in part because of the vast quantities of natural gas being extracted in Pennsylvania.

But the changeover to natural gas requires a large up-front investment in new equipment, Campbell said. That's why discussions with Empire are important. There's possibility the company could help supplier farms with that investment.

It's still very early in discussions, Campbell stressed.

"Projects are fluid and as they become more feasible, they bubble to the top in priority," he said.

Some people oppose the extension of natural gas because they are concerned over pollution, pipelines, and safety.

"I've been opposed to gas in the county and running trucks all over the county," said Melanie Wertz.

The Perry resident said she worked with the state Department of Environmental Protection for 20 years cleaning up spills from oil and natural gas. The experience soured her to the industry.

"I've seen horrible pollution and I don't want that here," she said.

She's concerned that trucked natural gas will generate a critical mass of users, spur the switch to pipelines, and possible problems.

"And then you have the issue of stream crossings and eminent domain," she said. "I don't want any of it."

Don Kiel, executive director of the SEDA-COG Natural Gas Cooperative, said it is working on grant funding for natural gas projects, such as a wider area for the route-based delivery.

But that process is slow.

The other is to develop natural gas "islands" through a depot station, then pipe it out to nearby businesses in an industrial park. This is sometimes known as a "virtual pipeline."

But at this point, Kiel said, no announcements are coming about natural gas in Perry County.

"We're still in a holding pattern," he said.

Jim T. Ryan can be reached via e-mail at jtryan@perrycountytimes.com
Harrisburgs new financial oversight board is nearly complete after House Republicans on Friday announced they had selected local developer Ralph Vartan as a member.

Vartans appointment to the Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority, or ICA, fills the fourth seat on the five-member board. Vartan, as CEO of the Vartan Group, is one of the largest private landholders in the capital city.

The Senate Republicans have yet to announce their pick. Other legislative leaders previously announced Kathy Speaker MacNett, Tina Nixon and Audry Carter as ICA members.

The creation of the ICA was among the conditions lawmakers insisted upon late last year when approving House bill 2557, which allowed Harrisburg to keep its currently taxing authority for five more years. The extra taxing authority from a 2-percent earned income tax on residents and a $156 annual local-services-tax on people who work in the city generates an additional $12 million for the city.

The board is supposed to approve a financial plan for Harrisburg and ensure the city follows it and provide annual reports on the citys financial condition to legislators.

Board members must live in the city, or have their primary place of employment in the city but not work for state government or hold an elected office.

Board members also are forbidden to have any contract or agreement with the authority or city to avoid conflicts of interest.

In recent months, a proposal by Vartans development company to vacate some paper alleys came before city council and became controversial. Vartan sought to remove the alleys from the citys map so he could consolidate lots and sell the property to AutoZone. City Council later granted the proposal, over objections from Mayor Eric Papenfuse to tie the proposal to actual development plans to ensure the project would meet the citys approval.

City Council President Wanda Williams also publicly complained at a November meeting that city officials had declined to support a proposal for an apartment building by the Vartan Group that would have brought much-needed affordable housing to the city. City officials later said that Vartan wanted a letter of support for a tax credit development proposal but had not submitted a formal proposal with development plans that they could review before issuing their support.

Vartan was selected for the ICA by House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) upon recommendations by people in Dauphin County and Harrisburg circles, according to a spokesman for Turzai. Spokesman Neal Lesher said Vartan meets all of the criteria to be an ICA member.

Under the law, board members may not be a party to any contract, directly or indirectly, with the city, Lesher said. To our knowledge Ralph is not. They also may not use their position to directly benefit themselves financially. We have no reason to believe that Mr. Vartan will do that.

Instead, Lesher said Vartan has lived in the city for the past 10 years and that Vartans only interest is in seeing the city succeed and climb out of Act 47 status. (Act 47 is the states program for financially-struggling municipalities.) Pittsburgh has a similar ICA, and a real estate developer is seated on that board.

Ralphs interest in seeing Harrisburg succeed is no different than any other member of the board, and no different than elected officials in the city who reside, and in some cases, own businesses in the city, Lesher said. We believe his business acumen along with his community spirit will serve the ICA board well.

For his part, Vartan said he was honored to have the opportunity to serve his community.

As a young person who lives in the city and loves it very much," Vartan said, "I am looking forward to working alongside the other members of the board and supporting the citys financial recovery and successful exit from Act 47.

Once the Senate Republicans fill out the final volunteer seat on the ICA, the board will select a chairperson and then hire a paid executive director.

The group will then negotiate a working agreement with the city. Once that agreement is finalized, the city can exit the states Act 47 program for financially struggling cities. That is expected to happen in the spring.
If youre planning on heading out for the opening day of the Pennsylvania Farm Show, make sure to add a few minutes to contend with the traffic.

A combination of heavy and stop-and-go traffic is reported on North Cameron Street from Maclay Street extending beyond Wildwood Park Drive and Elmerton Avenue toward Interstate 81, according to 511PA.com.

The Farm Show is held at the Pennsylvania State Farm Show Complex & Expo Center at North Cameron and Maclay streets. The event runs from Jan. 5-12. Hours will be 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Jan. 5-11, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 12.

According to a tweet by the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex, the Main and Agriculture parking lots are closed, but some handicap spots are still available in the Main Lot.

The Main Lot and Agriculture Lot are closed, however handicap spots are still open in the Main Lot.



HACC and Elmerton Lots are open with shuttle service.#PAFS19 pic.twitter.com/rzJj700H3X  PA Farm Show Complex (@FarmShowComplex) January 5, 2019
Workers with Transportation Security Administration have been on the job without pay since the partial government shutdown started in December.

All the while, more and more workers have been calling out sick, The New York Times reports.

More than 150 workers, many of which are responsible for screening passengers, called in sick on Friday at Kennedy International Airport in New York, a union official told the news agency.

Another official told CNN call-offs have increased by up to 300 percent at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, where typically, about 25 to 30 TSA employees call out from an average shift.

A federal official speaking anonymously to The New York Times said the call-outs seemed to be part of a coordinated protest, but a TSA spokesman said an increase in call-outs is typical during the holidays and flu season.

TSA took to Twitter to release a statement on the situation.

Statement on nationwide sick out as reported by CNNs Rene Marsh and Gregory Wallace. #News pic.twitter.com/RK0wiFLRJt  TSA (@TSA) January 4, 2019

Officials at Harrisburg International Airport told PennLive on Friday that they had not seen or heard any issues with TSA officials calling out sick.

Officials at Philadelphia International Airport and Baltimore-Washington International Airport also said they have not heard of any issues a result of TSA call-offs.
By Ryan Bizzarro

The passion that politics ignites on both sides of the aisle, ironically, also unites us in some ways. Regardless of which way we lean on the issues, as Pennsylvanians were passionate about our right to speak our minds and express our opinions at the ballot box.

Unfortunately, our states antiquated voter registration law  rather than harnessing this enthusiasm by making it easier for residents to vote  perpetuates an outdated system that restricts access and discourages participation.

The law, which requires residents to register at least 30 days before an election in order to vote in that election, creates unnecessary obstacles for residents already juggling the demands of working, parenting and caring for aging parents. Its time to jettison the old law for a proposal I recently reintroduced that would allow for same-day voter registration.

Under my H.B. 101, any qualified resident would be able to go to the polls or an election officials office on Election Day, register to vote that day and then cast a ballot. The process would be quick and easy, allowing residents to get back to the demands of daily life.

In addition to streamlining the process, a same-day system would help ensure prospective voters arent shut out from participating during the time theyre most engaged: the critical weeks leading up to an election, when debate and news coverage bring the issues to the forefront of voters minds. Under existing law, by the time new voters are energized to head to the polls, the clock is already running out on their time to register.

Tried and tested

With new leadership of the House State Government Committee, Im hopeful that my newly reintroduced bill  which previously languished in committee  will regain traction. Of the various voter reform bills proposed over the years, this bill is the most realistic and, in a hyper-partisan legislature, has the best chance at making it out of committee, getting a vote in the House and passing.

This is especially true because the new system the bill seeks to put in place has been tried and tested in other states, with excellent results. At least 15 states and the District of Columbia have enacted same-day voter registration. Not surprisingly, those states have experienced higher voter turnout. The downsides are hard to find.

Although in the past, critics of same-day voter registration have cited concerns about potential voter fraud, states with same-day registration have experienced no such problems.

Just to be safe, however, H.B. 101 would add the following safeguards against fraud:

 A prospective voter would be required to present acceptable identification along with his or her completed voter registration application form.

 A judge at the polling place would be required to certify the prospective voters eligibility before issuing a provisional ballot.

 The Department of State would have to approve or deny the voter registration application within 10 days of the election.

 The provisional ballot would not be counted until the department approved the voter registration application.

Its hard to find a good reason to stick with a burdensome voter registration law that simply makes voting more complicated and less accessible. Its time for Pennsylvania to join the other states that have already turned to a smarter, more efficient system. The results are clear: Making it easier to vote brings more people to the polls and adds more voices to our electorate.

For a representative democracy, isnt that the goal?

State Rep. Ryan Bizzarro, a Democrat, represents the Erie-based 3rd House District. He writes from Harrisburg.
Ahmadinejad and His Men: Embodiments of Fraud and Corruption.

[ comment ] There is no doubt in the minds of many Iranians, including the author, that Tehran's hardliners committed fraud on a vast scale to steal the presidential election of June 12, 2009, and deny victory to Mir Hossein Mousavi. The rigging of the election, the hardliners' violent crackdown on peaceful demonstrators, the jailing of thousands of people, the systematic murder, rape, and sodomy of dozens or more, the Stalinist show trials--these acts have plunged Iran into a crisis with no end in sight. Superficially, the country is calm, but even the most minor event may trigger a huge national explosion at any moment.

Rigging the June election was by no means the first time that the hardliners resorted to fraud and cheating to maintain their hold on power. Such acts have been going on ever since the 1979 Revolution (echoing, of course, the behavior of the preceding monarchy), and they have become ever more widespread since Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was appointed Supreme Leader in 1989. Because he had neither Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's charisma and popular base of support, nor the religious credentials expected of the man who would replace him, Ayatollah Khamenei has always had to rely on the security, intelligence, and military forces, as well as the minority of Iranian clerics in the conservative and reactionary camps, in order to consolidate his control of the nation. The result has been the never ending growth of economic corruption and the looting of national resources by a small group, widespread political and social repression, and a culture of institutionalized criminality that has provided fertile grounds for electoral fraud. Indeed, the commission of political crimes is an essential tool used by the hardliners to maintain power.

At the same time, with the partial exception of the first three years of Mohammad Khatami's presidency, Ayatollah Khamenei has never allowed a free press to flourish in Iran. There is no independent news media that can act as a watchdog of the state and reveal the depth of corruption and political crimes that the hardliners have been committing.

The purpose of this article is not to discuss all the crimes for which the hardliners have been responsible over the past three decades. There are enough to fill several books. I have described some of them, such as the infamous Chain Murders, and the execution of thousands of political prisoners in the 1980s, in previous articles. The intention here is to provide an overview of the various economic and political crimes, as well as intellectual frauds, that have been committed by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the administrations that he has run at every level, and the people close to him.

Ahmadinejad's Academic Degrees

Everything associated with Ahmadinejad is complex, contradictory, shrouded in secrecy. He was born on October 28, 1956, in Aradan, a village near Garmsar, a town about 80 km southeast of Tehran. His family moved to Tehran when he was very young. After finishing high school, Ahmadinejad took Iran's national university entrance examinations in 1976. He claims to have ranked 132nd out of 400,000 participants that year, but he enrolled in what is now the Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST) as an undergraduate student of civil engineering. That is strange.

In the mid-1970s, the school did not even have university status. It was a daaneshkadeh -- roughly, "college." Someone ranked as high as Ahmadinejad would have easily gained admittance to one of the three premier engineering schools in Iran: the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Tehran and Aryamehr University (now Sharif University) at the top, followed by Tehran Polytechnic (now Amir Kabir University of Technology). The IUST was considered among the country's second tier of engineering schools, as it still is.

At the time, participants in the national entrance examinations had to identify their top ten choices before taking the test. Almost all those who wished to study engineering would place the three premier schools at the top of their list, and then less distinguished institutions lower down as their "plan B." One of Ahmadinejad's hallmarks has been his utter confidence in his own ability, mixed with extreme arrogance. There is thus every reason to believe that he would have identified his desired schools in just such an order. Given his supposed examination rank, he should therefore have been accepted to a first-tier school. The evidence clearly indicates that he ranked nowhere close to the position he claims.

The Basij militia was formed in November 1979 on the orders of Ayatollah Khomeini. In September 1980, Iraq's army invaded Iran. It is believed that after the invasion Ahmadinejad joined the Basij militia and later worked in the intelligence apparatus. At the same time, he held a number of administrative posts in the province of West Azerbaijan in northwestern Iran, including the governorships of the towns of Maku and Khoy. Later, he was an advisor to the governor-general of Kurdistan province in western Iran. But he was also accepted to the Master of Science program at the IUST in 1986 and received his degree three years later. How did he manage to attain this degree while he was employed far from Tehran?

In 1993, Ahmadinejad was appointed governor-general of Ardabil province, which used to be part of East Azerbaijan province. But he was also a Ph.D. student in transportation and planning at the IUST. He always claimed that he was working 18 hours a day for the people of the province. Perhaps he did, but then when did he find the time to work on his doctoral dissertation? After Khatami was elected president in 1997, his first interior minister, Abdollah Nouri, immediately removed Ahmadinejad from his post.

That same year, Ahmadinejad received his Ph.D. It has been reported that on the day he was supposed to defend his dissertation, his thesis advisor, Hamid Behbahani, told the dissertation committee, "You all know Mr. Ahmadinejad and how pious he is. Thus, say salavvat [salutation to the Prophet Muhammad and his family] and accept his thesis." It seems that Ahmadinejad never actually defended his dissertation. In any case, "Dr." Ahmadinejad joined the faculty of the IUST.

Mayor of Tehran

In early 2003, the Khatami administration held perhaps the most democratic elections in Iran's history for the city councils around the country. Unlike the presidential and parliamentary elections, city council candidates are not vetted by the ultra-reactionary Guardian Council. Practically anyone who wanted to run was allowed. With many members of the Nationalist-Religious Coalition (led by Ezzatollah Sahabi) and the Freedom Movement (led by Dr. Ebrahim Yazdi) running for the Tehran council, Ayatollah Khamenei left the city so that he would not have to vote. He grew angry enough to imply that he would order the cancellation of the elections.

As it turned out, Ayatollah Khamenei did not have to cancel any elections. Frustrated by the slow pace of reform under Khatami -- who later said that during his two terms the hardliners created a crisis for the country every nine days -- and particularly by the infighting among the members of the Tehran council, which was dominated by the reformists, large numbers of people in Iran's large cities boycotted the elections. In Tehran, only 12 percent of eligible voters took part, and the vast majority of those were supporters of the Islamic fundamentalists, who refer to themselves as "principlists."

A heretofore unknown fundamentalist group, Abaadgaraan-e Iran-e Eslami, or Developers of Islamic Iran (DII), swept the Tehran elections and all 16 seats on its city council. The 17th highest vote getter was former deputy Interior Minister Mostafa Tajzadeh. Jailed right after last June's rigged presidential election, he was recently released for Nowruz, the celebration of the new Iranian year.

The DII was actually a front for Jameiyat-e Isaargaraan-e Eslami, or the Society of Islamic Revolution Devotees (SIRD). Its members began their political activities in March 1995, and the group was formally founded in February 1997. In Iran, the SIRD is known simply as the Isaargaraan. Isaar is an Arabic word for altruism, and an isaargar is someone willing to selflessly sacrifice for a sacred cause. The SIRD consists mainly of former Basij members and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps veterans of the Iran-Iraq war. Its secretary-general is Hossein Fadai, who was jailed during the Shah's reign for his political activities and worked with the Revolutionary Guards during the war as a combat engineer. He has repeatedly accused the reformists of being supported by the United States. Ahmadinejad himself was a founding member. Fadai and another leading member of the SIRD, Ali Reza Zakani, are very close to Ahmadinejad. The organization was fiercely opposed to Khatami and issued many statements against him and his administration, criticizing practically every one of his policies.

The DII was led by Mehdi Chamran, the ultraconservative brother of the Berkeley-educated Dr. Mostafa Chamran (19321981), Iran's first minister of defense after the Revolution, who was killed in the war with Iraq. The group nominated Ahmadinejad, then an obscure politician, for the position of Tehran's mayor. Such appointments must be approved by the minister of interior. But Abdolvahed Mousavi Lari, the reformist cleric who then held the office under Khatami, refused to approve the nomination for several weeks, due to Ahmadinehjad's record as Ardabil governor-general (discussed in more detail below). Eventually, due to intense pressure from Ayatollah Khamenei, Mousavi Lari relented and approved the appointment, starting Ahmadinejad's rise in the Iranian political galaxy.

As Tehran's mayor, Ahmadinejad reversed changes made by the previous reformist mayors, Morteza Alviri and Mohammad Hassan Malekmadani. He transformed the city's cultural centers, founded by Alviri and Malekmadani, into religious ones, demanded separate elevators for men and women in municipal offices, and ordered the remains of those killed in the Iran-Iraq War to be buried in the city's major squares.

From the moment he took office, Ahmadinejad also advocated the construction of a new monorail system, though work on a Tehran subway system was already under way, led by Mohsen Hashemi, son of former president Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. Because the DII, Ahmadinejad, and other hardliners despise Rafsanjani, they wanted to set up a rival public transportation system, defying all economic sense. Huge sums of money were spent on the project, but it never took off.

Election Fraud

As Tehran's mayor, Ahmadinejad put together a coalition of some of the Revolutionary Guard and Basij commanders, ultra-reactionary clerics led by Ayatollah Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi, and his allies in the DII, and announced his candidacy for the presidential elections of 2005. He was given very little chance of winning. It was widely believed that Ayatollah Khamenei's initial choice was Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, a brigadier general, pilot, and former commander of the Revolutionary Guards' air force, who was much more polished than Ahmadinejad. Most people believed that Rafsanjani and Mehdi Karroubi, the reformist candidates, would make it to the second round of the elections (Iran's presidential election system requires a runoff if no candidate wins over 50 percent of the vote in the initial round).

Ayatollah Khamenei apparently changed his mind at the last moment and switched his support to Ahmadinejad. It is widely believed that he did so at the urging of his son Mojtaba, an ally of Ahmadinejad's. Both are close to Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi. It is also widely believed that a large number of votes were changed to allow Ahmadinejad to make it to the runoff with Rafsanjani.

During the campaign's second round, Ahmadinejad's humble background and lifestyle, along with his promises to root out corruption and maximize oil revenues, attracted many poor and lower-class people. In contrast, Rafsanjani was considered by many as a symbol of corruption. There is also credible evidence that Ayatollah Khamenei directed the Revolutionary Guards and the Basij commanders to order their members to vote for Ahmadinejad, and to take with them to the voting stations as many family members and friends as possible. As a result, Ahmadinejad was elected. Complaining about the irregularities in the vote, Rafsanjani said, "I will leave it to God to judge what has happened."

Once in office, Ahmadinejad began a sweeping purge of the bureaucracy. He installed many allies in positions of authority, indicating the extent of his secret network around the country. As a key ally, Brigadier General Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr -- a hardliner in the Revolutionary Guards -- declared, Ahmadinejad's election "was not an accident. It was a result of two years of complex, multifaceted planning." It has been reported that even Ayatollah Khamenei was surprised by the extent and depth of Ahmadinejed's network.

In 2006, simultaneous elections were supposed to be held for the city councils, as well as for the Assembly of Experts, the constitutional body that appoints the Supreme Leader and is supposed to monitor his performance. The reformists forged an alliance and put up 16 credible candidates for Tehran's city council. Ahmadinejad's sister, Parvin Ahmadinejad, also ran for a seat on the council. For months, she accompanied her brother everywhere. Ahmadinejad claimed that she would receive the highest number of votes because he was highly popular and the people wanted another Ahmadinejad.

By then, Ahmadinejad had formed a new political group, the Sweet Scent (SS) of Service. (There is no entirely satisfactory English translation for the group's name. Although it might make little sense in English, it is an unexceptional phrase in Persian.) Most of its members are former commanders of the Revolutionary Guards. Its secretary-general is Mohammad Ali Ramin, a close ally of Ahmadinejad who used to work at Kayhan, the daily that serves as the mouthpiece of the hardliners and is run by Hossein Shariatmadari. Ramin is currently deputy minister of culture and Islamic guidance and responsible for the press. In the short time that he has held the position, he has ordered the closure of scores of newspapers, weeklies, and other publications. Ramin lived in Germany for many years and is rumored to have associated with the neo-Nazis and the far right there. He is believed to be the prime mover behind Ahmadinejad's rhetoric about Israel and the Holocaust, and was the secretary of the Holocaust conference that was held in Tehran in 2006.

Despite its use of public resources, the SS of Service was defeated badly in the elections for the city council, with its candidates receiving only 4 percent of the votes. The Tehran election results were not announced by Ahmadinejad's Interior Ministry for quite some time. All indications were that at least ten reformists had been elected, and that Parvin Ahmadinejad was not even among the top 30 vote getters. It was widely reported that Ayatollah Khamenei had said that no more than four seats should be given to the reformists, and so, after considerable alterations of the votes, it came to pass. Parvin Ahmadinejad was declared the 15th-place vote getter and was thus "elected." Even then, only three of the SS of Service candidates for Tehran made it onto the council. Around the country, the reformists received 60 percent of the votes cast in city council elections.

The same thing happened in the elections for the Assembly of Experts. Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi, Ahmadinejad's spiritual mentor, and the hardline clerics around him nominated many younger, relatively unknown clerics. Mesbah Yazdi himself ran for a seat as a representative of Tehran province, and it was claimed by the hardline clerics that he would receive the largest number of votes. But the pragmatists and relatively moderate clerics allied with Rafsanjani, who was also running for a Tehran seat in the Assembly.

Once again, the results were not announced by Ahmadinejad's Interior Ministry for sometime as Mesbah Yazdi did extremely poorly, while Rafsanjani led the balloting. Once again, the votes were altered. For example, Gholamreza Mesbahi Moghaddam, a relatively moderate conservative cleric, was also running for a seat as a representative of Tehran province. It was reported widely, and implicitly confirmed by Mesbahi Moghaddam, that all his votes were counted for Mesbah Yazdi. Rafsanjani was ultimately declared the largest vote getter -- though with a reduced number of votes -- and Mesbah Yazdi was announced as the eighth-ranked candidate.

Then came the 2008 elections for the Eighth Majles, the Iranian parliament. The reformists lined up a strong slate of candidates, particularly for Tehran. They nominated many former ministers and high-ranking officials that had served in the government for years, believing that the Guardian Council would not dare disqualify them. However, the local councils, which carry out the preliminary review of candidates' qualifications and had been appointed by Ahmadinejad's Interior Ministry, eliminated the vast majority of reformist candidates. Only about 100 reformists, most of them little known, were allowed to run for about 100 seats, out of a total of 290. Even then, they did well -- 50 of them won their elections, along with 25 "independents" who were, in fact, also quietly reformist.

There is, of course, no need to detail here what happened in the 2009 presidential election. It was completely rigged.

Economic Corruption and Crimes

On behalf of the 1997 presidential election campaign of Ali Akbar Nategh Nouri, Khatami's main conservative rival, Ahmadinejad as governor-general of Ardabil province spent 3 billion toumans (about $5 million at the time) of the provincial budget. Khatami's first minister of the interior, Abdollah Nouri, fired Ahmadinejad and referred his involvement in Nategh Nouri's campaign and the illegal use of government funds to the courts. The case is apparently still open, although it has been inactive for 13 years.

As governor-general, Ahmadinejad also made arrangements for his close friend Sadegh Mahsouli to have exclusive rights to the oil swaps then taking place between Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan. Mahsouli made at least $7 million, which put him well on his way to acquiring his nickname: "Billionaire Minister."

During Ahmadinejad's tenure as Tehran's mayor, 350 billion toumans (about $430 million) in municipal funds went unaccounted. No one knows what has happened to the money. Ahmadinejad's supporters claim that it was spent partly on research and preparation for the monorail project and partly on addressing Tehran's heavy traffic jam problems, but there is no documentation to support these assertions.

Almost immediately after he was elected president in 2005, Ahmadinejad asked the Majles to allow him to withdraw and spend about $400 million from Iran's foreign currency reserves for the Basij militia. He received permission, but again there is no accounting of how the money was spent.

Ahmadinejad's friend Sadegh Mahsouli is the embodiment of corruption. As minister of the interior, he delivered the "victory" to Ahmadinejad in the rigged election of last year. The "Billionaire Minister" estimates his own wealth at $160 million. How did he amass it? In addition to being helped by Ahmadinejad in the oil swaps with the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mahsouli used his Revolutionary Guard connections to purchase thousands of square meters of lands in some of the best neighborhoods of Tehran at a small fraction of their market price. He then turned around and sold the lands at their real value, making an astronomical profit. Now minister of welfare and social security, he surely possesses a unique perspective on the lives of the poor.

Over the past five years, the Ahmadinejad administration has awarded nearly $10 billion in contracts to Guard-controlled companies, most often without any formal bidding. They include large projects in the oil and natural gas industry, the petrochemical industry, and railroad and dam construction. The contracts have been so rich that Rostam Ghassemi, head of Khatam-ol-Anbia (KA), the engineering arm of the Guards that is currently under UN Security Council sanctions, recently announced that his company will no longer participate in "small and medium-size projects."

With KA receiving most of the large projects, many private companies have either gone bankrupt, or have been forced to work as subcontractors for the Revolutionary Guards. Since KA does not have the required expertise to carry out many of the projects it controls, it keeps a significant fraction of the profit and then contracts out the actual work to the private sector. Delays, inferior performance, and cost overruns are the frequent result.

No-bid contracts and KA's involvement in most large projects harm Iran's national interests in at least two other important ways. First, KA's involvement with Iran's oil and natural gas industry makes it extremely vulnerable to sanctions by the United States and its allies. Given that oil and natural gas are the most important sources of energy in Iran, as well as the most important sources of foreign currency, any large-scale sanction against the industry is extremely harmful to the vast majority of Iranian citizens. The industry is already suffering from the lack of significant investments by the European and American oil giants, while other major oil producers have raidly been developing their reserves. If these trends continue, Iran's loss of market share will likely be severe.

The Iranian economy has also been harmed by the way that KA, in alliance with Ahmadinejad, has been allowed to raid the treasury with impunity, in the absence of any supervision by the Majles. An example is the Persian Gulf's South Pars/North Dome field, the largest natural gas reservoir in the world, which Iran shares with Qatar. The field covers 9,700 square kilometers: the South Pars, comprising approximately 3,700 square kilometers, is in Iran's territorial waters; the North Dome, comprising the remainder, is in Qatar's territorial waters. In terms of fossil energy content, the field is also the largest in the world.

The Ministry of Oil intends to develop the South Pars in 28 phases. Phases 15 and 16 have been granted to KA. But mismanagement and other factors shrouded in secrecy have delayed the work. In addition, Ghassemi, the KA head, announced in early January that "to remedy the financial difficulties that KA was experiencing" and to complete the project, the Revolutionary Guards were planning to withdraw $1 billion from Iran's reserved foreign currency. Ghassemi blamed the National Iranian Oil Company for the problem.

This withdrawal is, of course, illegal. Any such use of funds must be approved by the Economics Council, the Foreign Reserves Funds' Board of Trustees, and the Majles. But Ahmadinejad has completely bypassed all of them. He stripped the council of its powers and brought it under his own control. He also removed the Board of Trustees. And he never asked the Majles for permission.

Article 44 of Iran's Constitution stipulates that most national industries must be privatized. Under Rafsanjani, the Assembly of Experts developed a plan for privatization. But the Ahmadinejad administration has been conducting a fire sale of some of the most important national assets, selling them at a small fraction of their actual value to quasi-private corporations controlled by the Revolutionary Guards; to several bonyaads, or foundations, run by hardliners that already control vast assets; and to companies controlled by high-ranking clerics loyal to the hardliners. The result has been a vast looting of the nation's resources. In a future article, I will probe this issue in depth.

In August 2008, Ahmadinejad introduced Ali Kordan to the Majles as his new minister of the interior. His predecessor, Mostafa Pourmohammadi, was sacked after he submitted a report to Ayatollah Khamenei concerning the 2008 Majles elections and its many irregularities without informing Ahmadinejad. During his confirmation hearings in the Majles, Kordan claimed that he has an "honorary" doctorate from the University of Oxford. He was confirmed by a very slim majority, but his supposed doctoral degree opened up new venues for Ahmadinejad's critics to probe. By late October 2008, it had become clear that not only did Kordan not have a doctoral degree, but that he did not even have a bachelor's. The Majles voted to impeach him.

Mohammad Abbasi, who headed the government's liaison office to the Majles, tried to bribe the Majles deputies to prevent Kordan's impeachment, handing out checks for 5 millions toumans (about $5,000). A physical confrontation ensued between one deputy and Abbasi. Ali Larijani, the parliament's speaker, called Abbasi's efforts "indecent" and forbade him from entering the Majles. Kordan was impeached and removed from office. He recently passed away.

In February 2009, the National Audit Office reported that $1 billion was missing from Iran's foreign currency reserves.

Ahmadinejad claimed that it was an accounting error, but even many conservative Majles deputies dispute that. The matter is still unresolved.

Several weeks ago, there were widely credited rumors that two of Iran's most important banks were going bankrupt, which caused a panic and led many people to withdraw their money. The rumors were so persistent and the flight of money out of the banks so swift that the government barred withdrawals of more than 15 million toumans ($15,000) at a time. Mahmoud Bahmani, governor of Iran's Central Bank, ultimately admitted that the banks had given $47 billion in loans to 300 people, but had succeeded in collecting only about $7 billion. The rest is essentially in default. In one case, an unnamed prominent man had taken a loan of $210 million, an unheard-of amount in Iran. The hardliners essentially treat Iran and its resources as their own private property.

The corruption is on such a great scale, the Revolutionary Guards' power is so vast, and the remaining press is so incapable of probing the endemic fraud and deceit that even the unexplained disappearance of $1 billion from the national treasury, the illegal withdrawal of another $1 billion, and $40 billion of loans in default does no harm to Ahmadinejad, a man whose claim to piety and incorruptibility is one of his hallmarks. Talk about a "Teflon president."

Academic Fraud

Ahmadinejad and his cohort have even badly damaged the credibility of Iranian academics. In addition to the unanswered questions about his own advanced degrees, many of his close aides and cabinet members have been caught cheating and lying about their records.

In addition to Kordan, Kamran Daneshjoo, Ahmadinejad's minister of science, research, and technology, responsible for overseeing the universities, has also not received the degrees he has claimed. Daneshjoo was in charge of supervising the rigged 2009 election and certifying it.

In his page on the website of the IUST, where he is a faculty member, Daneshjoo claimed to have received a Ph.D. from the Imperial College of London. When questions were raised, the name of the institution was changed to "Manchester Imperial Institute of Science and Technology," which does not exist. He also claimed that he had received his bachelor's degree from "Queen Mary," presumably meaning Queen Mary's College.

The fact is that Daneshjoo was expelled from the Imperial College for his political activities. In early 1989, Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa against Salman Rushdie for his book The Satanic Verses, declaring that the author should be killed. There were demonstrations in London and elsewhere in Britain against Rushdie, in which Daneshjoo participated. Britain decided to expel him and several others. He never finished his studies before he was obliged to return to Iran. A university professor in Tehran who is very familiar with what happened told me that, after Daneshjoo's return, a thesis was put together for him to "defend." Most academics stayed away from it. The "defense" was held at Amir Kabir University, and Daneshjoo was awarded an "equivalent Ph.D. degree."

That was not the end of the fiasco. On September 20, 2009, Declan Butler of Nature, perhaps the most prestigious science journal in the world, asked me to compare two scientific papers, one published by Daneshjoo and his student, Majid Shahravi, and a second one published by a Korean group.

Nature wanted to know whether Daneshjoo and Shahravi had plagiarized the Korean paper. After reading the two papers, I realized that not only had Daneshjoo and his student copied about 70 percent of the text of their paper, word for word, from the Korean piece, but that many of the purported results were virtually identical. Some of their figures precisely mirrored ones in the Korean paper, while others were simply replots of the Koreans' results. Butler publicized the story.

Nature identified similar copying in other papers by Daneshjoo and Shahravi in a paper in the Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, in the Taiwanese Journal of Mechanics (25, 117 [2009]), and even in the Iranian Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Journal. Shahravi attributed it to a plot by "Zionist agents." No satisfactory explanation was ever offered by Daneshjoo, who told the Majles that he had not even read the papers on which his name appeared as coauthor. All the foreign journals have retracted the papers.

Then there is Hamid Behbahani, minister of roads and transportation, the man who asked Ahmadinejad's Ph.D. dissertation committee to say salavaat and accept the thesis. Nature examined a paper, co-authored by him, Hassan Ziari, his deputy and the head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways, and Mohammed Khabiri, then an IUST Ph.D. candidate, that was published in the Ukrainian journal Transport (XXI, 207 [2006]). Much of its text and results were copied from previously published papers (see here and here).

These discoveries have damaged the credibility of the Iranian scientists who have achieved remarkable success under the most difficult conditions. A recent survey published by New Scientist indicated that scientific output has grown faster in Iran than in any other country, 11 times faster than the world average. A group of Iranian scientists, both inside and outside the country, has set up a website to expose scientific frauds, identify low-quality journals, and report on related issues.

Another member of Ahmadinejad's cabinet guilty of intellectual fabrication is his nephew, Ali Akbar Mehrabian, minister of industries and mines. In July 2009, an appeals court upheld his conviction on charges of scientific fraud. Farzan Salimi, a researcher in Tehran, had proposed and developed an idea for an "earthquake saferoom" -- a residential fortified space. He had presented his design to Tehran's municipal Department of Crisis Management in 2003, when Ahmadinejad was mayor. In a book published two years later, Mehrabian and an associate, Mousa Mazloom, described the details of the design and claimed it as their own invention. Ahmadinejad's name was also on the book as a coauthor.

Mohammad Reza Rahimi, Ahmadinejad's first vice president (the Iranian government has eight), claims to have a Ph.D., though it is not clear in what field. It is widely believed that his degree, like Kordan's, is fake. One thing is for sure: He is a master of pleasing his masters; perhaps his Ph.D. is in this area. At a ceremony in which Ahmadinejad was present, Rahimi claimed that during a trip to Syria a man had approached him and declared, "If God were to send a prophet after Prophet Muhammad, it would be Mahmoud Ahmadinejad!" The judiciary recently announced the discovery of a major case of financial fraud involving "high government officials." There is persistent speculation that the "high official" is Rahimi. It has been reported that the judiciary chief, Sadegh Larijani, phoned Ahmadinejad and asked him to fire Rahimi, but was rebuffed.

Ahmadinejad's first minister of science, research, and technology, Mohammad Mehdi Zahedi, who received his Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Kerman, was the "mathematics genius" of the cabinet. Zahedi has always claimed to be a member of the New York Academy of Sciences, which the organization has flatly denied. In 2005, when he was introduced to the Majles as a cabinet nominee, he claimed to have been called "one of the most prominent mathematicians of the century" by the American Mathematical Society. As it turned out, he was simply a member of the Society for a while. Zahedi has been dispatched to Malaysia as Iran's ambassador.

The cases surveyed in this article represent just the tip of the iceberg. Only when Iran is a true democracy with a free press will we learn the full extent of the crimes, corruption, and fraud perpetrated by the hardliners.

Cartoon of Sadegh Mahsouli being led to Majlies by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. By Nikahang Kowsar for Roozonline.

Copyright  2010 Tehran Bureau


Apple's CEO Tim Cook basically tried to blame the lower iPhone sales in China on the US-China trade tensions in an interview with CNBC that we covered in a report yesterday, instead of acknowledging that there's now stronger local smartphone competition in China taking market share away from them. Nice scapegoating.

Earlier today President Trump's reply indirectly to Cook was that he doesn't fear the impact of Apples stock on the U.S. economy because Apple mostly makes its products in China. He further stated that "China is the biggest beneficiary of Apple, more than us. Because they build their products mostly in China."



Earlier today Bloomberg interviewed Larry Kudlow, National Economic Council Director in the Trump administration, to talk about the blowout good news with the December Jobs report while touching on Apple in respect to China.

Kudlow said that one the key points in the US-Trade talks is about China's ongoing IP theft. "That may be a part of the Apple issue. I don't want to surmise too much here, but Apple technology may have been picked off by China and now China is becoming very competitive with Apple. You have to have a rule of law." You can hear Kudlow on Apple starting roughly at the 10:24 mark of the Bloomberg video.

UPDATE JAN. 7, 2018: Commerce Secretary Ross on CNBC earlier this morning denies Apple's revenue warning tied to China. You can hear is comments on this starting around the 1: 45 mark of the video below.
100 years ago

Jan. 5, 1919: Sheriff Ralph Spafford led a combined force of city police and his own deputies as they raided a suspected gambling house on South Barker Street. Fifteen men were arrested. The house, which was not being used as a residence, is just outside the city limits.

75 years ago

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Jan. 5, 1944: The Altons Red Trains are back. After operating in the blue shades of the parent Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, the first to return to the red colors are the Abraham Lincoln and Ann Rutledge. Others, such as the Alton Limited, will follow.

50 years ago

Jan. 5, 1969: Sunday Udoh was reunited with her husband (name not given) after a two-year separation. Hes a junior at ISU, and shes a civil war refugee in Biafra, or East Nigeria. They have two daughters in Nigeria, whom they hope to bring over when they can afford to.

25 years ago

Jan. 5, 1994: With a brand new building in the works, City Bank is merging with the First National Bank of Springfield. Richard Barclay will remain in place as president and CEO of the new operation. The new Eastland Drive facility should be ready to occupy later this month.

Compiled by Jack Keefe; jkeefe@coldwellhomes.com.
BLOOMINGTON  Central Illinois congressmen say compromise is needed to end the partial government shutdown but emphasized that border security is essential.

What it's going to take is the Democrats coming to the table and agreeing to do something on border security, U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, a Republican from Dunlap, said Friday. Border security has been a bipartisan issue in the past. It's unfortunate it's become partisan.

U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis said Friday, It's going to take leadership from all sides.  There has to be principled compromise.

Referring to Democrats, Davis, a Republican from Taylorville, said, We've heard what they're against. They haven't told us what they're for.

U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger said Friday, Both sides are going to have to give on something to end the shutdown. However, the Republican from Channahon noted, while the president is willing to give some on funding, newly elected House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said in interviews there will be nothing for the wall, a stance he labeled as "unreasonable."

Davis said of Pelosi's apparent unwillingness to compromise: That's not fair.  She's going to have to show leadership and I haven't seen that yet.

Following a border security briefing Wednesday, Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, a Democrat from Springfield, said: Let me be clear: Democrats support strong, effective border security. The type of border security that Democrats have long supported  including increased funding for technology  is what experts have said is needed and actually works. What doesn't work is an ineffective, expensive medieval wall.

But Davis said a wall does work, noting that the wall separating San Diego from Tijuana has reduced illegal immigration there by 90 percent.

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Border security is a national security issue, said LaHood, and whether it relates to drug trafficking, health concerns, terrorism or immigration laws, we have to secure our southern border.

Kinzinger said, In my mind, it doesn't have to be a sea-to-shining-sea wall but border security is essential.

In a series of tweets,U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat from Hoffman Estates, said, The new House majority is offering a bipartisan solution to end this #TrumpShutdown by bringing four funding bills to the House floor that already passed the Senate on a bipartisan vote.

LaHood was disappointed that Congress adjourned on Friday and said, I think it's ridiculous that we're not in session to resolve the partial government shutdown.

If he had his way, the president and congressional leaders would be put in a room and (told) don't come out until it's resolved, said LaHood.

Kinzinger is optimistic that the shutdown can be resolved in the next week or so, but said, in the past, 87 percent of my optimism is wrong.

The longer the shutdown continues, the more problematic it will be, according to LaHood.

Davis is concerned by the lack of funding for the Agriculture Department to get money to farmers for programs that were just approved in the farm bill.

He added, I'm worried about federal workers who are going to miss paychecks, which is not fair to them.

Kinzinger is also concerned about the impact the shutdown is having on the national park system.

Contact Lenore Sobota at (309) 820-3240. Follow her on Twitter: @Pg_Sobota

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BLOOMINGTON  Bloomington police have no new information about a report of gunshots fired Saturday morning in the 700 block of East Market Street.

No one was injured. Officers continue to investigate the incident.

A police statement said gunshots were reported by multiple callers at 6 a.m. Anyone with information is asked to call Bloomington police at 309-820-8888 or McLean County Crime Stoppers at 309-828-1111.

Police investigated almost 20 incidents in 2018 in which gunshots were confirmed to have been fired.

Eleven people were listed as homicide victims in the Twin Cities in 2018. Nine were killed by gunfire, two were stabbed.

Following are the 2018 gunfire incidents:

Feb. 3, 2100 block of North Veterans Parkway, Bloomington. Witnesses said a man fired a gun at a vehicle occupied by a woman, man and child in a parking lot, but no one was injured. Shomari J. Givihan, 21, was charged with two counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm into an occupied vehicle and possessing a firearm without a proper firearm owner's identification card. He remains jailed in lieu of posting $10,035. He is due in court on Oct. 29.

Feb. 20, 900 block of West Olive Street, Bloomington. At 3:09 a.m. police discovered several rounds had been fired into a residence. There were no injuries and no arrests.

April 4, 2100 and 2200 blocks of Rainbow Avenue, Bloomington. At 9:31 p.m. police were called for a report of gunfire and later found a man had been shot in the leg. A handgun and multiple shell casings were found at the scene. No arrests have been made.

April 25, 1444 E. College Ave., Normal. Joseph Gardner, 20, and Reginald Hart Jr., 19, both of Bloomington, were shot to death in a hallway at Lancaster Heights apartments. Christopher Harrison, 17, remains in McLean County jail in lieu of posting $250,035 on six counts of first-degree murder and other weapons and drug charges. He is scheduled for a court appearance on Friday.

May 7, 311 Riley Drive, Bloomington. Police were called when a car's rear window was shot out about 8:35 p.m. in the parking lot behind it. A 16-year-old was apprehended shortly after the incident with a stolen handgun.

June 4, Monroe and McLean streets, Bloomington. Police reported two 19-year-old men were injured about 1:14 a.m. when the car they were in was shot at near the intersection. Police say one man was injured by gunfire and was transported to a local hospital. No arrests have been made in that case.

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June 10, 1200 block of Orchard Road, Bloomington. Taneshiea A. Brown, 20, and Steven C. Alexander Jr., 18, both of Bloomington, were pronounced dead of gunshot wounds at 1:17 a.m. at the scene outside an apartment building where they reportedly were attending a party, authorities said. Kenleia Sims and Tyree Jones also were shot, but they survived gunshot wounds to their legs. Hammet Brown, 26, of Bloomington is awaiting trial on murder charges and is scheduled for a status update on Dec. 7.

June 18, Nate Pena and Corey Jackson, both 22, and Juan Carlos Perez, 33, were killed in a shooting at 311 Riley Dr., in Bloomington. Also, a 4-year-old boy was injured. Sydney T. Mays Jr., 25, has been arrested and is awaiting extradition to Bloomington from Milwaukee, where he was arrested on drug charges.

June 27, 1700 block of School Street, Normal. One man was wounded by gunfire about 9:30 p.m. Witnesses told police several shots were fired and a man in dark clothing was seen fleeing the area on foot and entered a light-colored vehicle west of an apartment complex. The injuries were not life-threatening. There have been no arrests in that case.

July 3, 600 block of West Jefferson Street, Bloomington. One man suffered non-life-threatening injuries about 1:12 a.m. Witnesses reported hearing a single gunshot and a man yelling that he had been shot. The investigation is continuing.

July 29, 1300 block of West Jackson Street, Bloomington. At 11:47 p.m., police were called for a report of shots being fired. Several shell casings were discovered, and officers found damage to a vehicle. There were no injuries and no arrests.

Sept. 25, 300 block of South Western Avenue, Bloomington. At 7:12 a.m., residents reported hearing at least five shots and police found several shell casings. One man was transported to a local hospital for gunshot injuries, but was treated and released. No arrests have been made.

Sept. 30, 1900 block of Tracy Drive, Bloomington. At 7:30 p.m., police were called following reports of gunshots after an argument in an apartment complex parking lot. Spent shell casings were found at the scene, but no arrests have been made.

Oct. 1, 700 block of West Monroe Street, Bloomington. Neighbors reported several males fighting in the intersection of Monroe and Mason Street about 10:51 p.m. Police responded but the group had dispersed. About 20 minutes later, police were called back to the scene after witnesses reported several gunshots. Officers found multiple shell casings and a small amount of blood. There were no reported injuries or arrests.

Oct. 20, 800 block of South Fell Avenue, Normal. Police said they were called to the scene at about 4:40 a.m. after residents heard gunfire. There were no injuries and no arrests. Police believe it was an isolated incident.

Oct. 28, 300 block of West Willow, Normal. Police said at about 3:20 a.m., they received a report of a fight in progress and one of the people involved was possibly armed. After responding to the call, officers heard gunshots and found evidence a handgun had been discharged. There were no injuries and no arrests.

Oct. 30, 1300 block of North Oak Street, Bloomington. In what was the 10th homicide in the Twin Cities this year, police were called to the 1300 block of North Oak Street at about 8:40 p.m. and found a man on the sidewalk, suffering from gunshot wounds. He was transported to a hospital, but died. There have been no arrests.

Nov. 17, 800 block of Douglas Street, Bloomington. Police were dispatched at 8:17 p.m. to the 800 block of Douglas to investigate a shooting. Officers made contact with four juveniles, including one who was struck in the leg, who said a male approached them and fired multiple shots without provocation, police said.

Dec. 5, 800 block of West Jefferson Street, Bloomington. Police investigating the shooting death Egerton Dover, 20, who was pronounced dead at the scene near his home.
Q: I've been reading a lot lately about something called RSV, which acts like a cold but turns out to be way worse, especially in kids. What is it, and how is a parent supposed to know the difference?

A: You're referring to respiratory syncytial virus, which is often shortened to its initials, RSV. It's both very common and quite contagious. In fact, most children will have had a case of it by age 2.

The virus, which infects the respiratory epithelium, the specialized layer of cells that line the nasal and lung passages, causes inflammation. You're correct that the initial symptoms are just like those of a cold. Often, you'll also see a noticeable drop in the child's appetite, and he or she may run a fever as well. The symptoms come on slowly, appearing in stages. Parents report that first they'll notice their child becoming increasingly fussy, and then gradually listless. As you pointed out in your question, this all lines up with the symptoms and onset of a typical cold.

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The good news is that for most children, infection with RSV stays within the parameters of a bad cold. In those cases, the symptoms can be managed with over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen to relieve pain and bring down the fever. During the week or two that it takes to recover from a typical bout with the virus, it's also important to make sure the child stays hydrated.

But for some babies, particularly those younger than 6 months old, and those born prematurely, the virus can be life-threatening. Also at heightened risk are babies and children with Down syndrome, people with suppressed immune systems and the elderly. For that reason, it's vital to monitor RSV symptoms and act quickly if they escalate.

The danger arises from the degree of inflammation the virus causes in some individuals, as well as the increase in mucus production. Both make it increasingly difficult to breathe. RSV can also lead to pneumonia and bronchiolitis, an acute lower respiratory infection. As soon as you realize that a case of RSV has moved into dangerous territory, it's vital to see your primary care physician. Although there is no specific medication that targets the virus at this time, your doctor will know whether hospitalization is the next necessary step. In the hospital, the medical staff can initiate interventions to help with the patient's breathing and hydration, as well as provide close monitoring of the progress of the virus. In the majority of cases, hospitalization lasts only a day or two.

Up to one-third of all hospitalizations for respiratory viruses each year are due to severe cases of RSV  approximately 57,000 children younger than 5, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All of which makes the recent announcement from Canadian researchers that they have identified a promising antiviral compound to target RSV welcome news. It is said to be similarly effective against the mosquito-borne Zika virus, which is responsible for severe defects in the unborn children of women who become infected while pregnant. The researchers say that drug development of this antiviral is now underway.

Dr. Eve Glazier, MBA, is an internist and associate professor of medicine at UCLA Health. Dr. Elizabeth Ko is an internist and assistant professor of medicine at UCLA Health.

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Terry A. Skaro, 71, of Elkhart went to be with his heavenly Father on Friday, June 11, 2021. He passed away at Trinity Mother Frances in Tyler, Texas. Terry was born in Denver, Colorado on December 17, 1949. His parents Ed and Mary Skaro. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Elkhart, T
To the editor:

I would like to welcome Betten Baker to our Midland community. Thank you for supporting veterans and their dependents. Your generous donation (along with the donation from Midland High School graduating reunion classes of 1964, 1965, 1966 and 1967; along with assistance from the Sanford Food Center) provided Christmas and holiday joy to over 35 veterans and their families. In addition, we would like to thank you for employing veterans and their family members.

The 2018 holiday season marks the 38th year for this program. Berryhill American Legion Post 165 of Midland has delivered 35 to 45 Christmas/sustainment baskets every year to veterans and their families. With smaller families, or a veteran or a dependent without a family, we have altered our Christmas/sustainment baskets. The recipients of these baskets receive many Christmas meals out of one donation. This has helped the veterans and their dependent(s) save and pay for prescriptions, utilities or whatever their need is at that time.

As commander of Berryhill Post 165 of Midland, I would like to express my gratitude to all that donate. I would also like to recognize the volunteers who deliver these Christmas baskets. Some of the volunteers drive more than three hours to Midland to participate in this program. It is with great respect that I thank you all for taking your time out of your day to make this program possible.

Thanks to all of you, we can provide Christmas and holiday joy to many families in our community. All of you are a credit to this program and community.

Here's to a positive 2019.

JAMES E. CHERRY JR.

American Legion Berryhill

Post 165 Commander

Midland
To the editor:

We transferred our son Ryan to Michigan Great Lakes Virtual Academy (MGLVA), an online school that helped Ryan not only attend school but also continue his busy career as a champion dirt bike racer. You see, Ryan has what it takes to go pro, but we will not sacrifice the quality of his education. MGLVA allows Ryan to manage his intense training schedule and stay competitive as school too.

Ryan takes his laptop anywhere in the country, logs on, attends live classes with accredited teachers, completes school work, and works in small groups. MGLVA has helped Ryan mature as a student and develop important management skills.

We want Michigan to protect school choice for our own son and for the many families out there that need something beyond the four walls of a school building.

PENNY HARMS

Midland
Over the course of the past year, the Daily News has reported on a wide variety of stories. The residents of Midland County have seen victory, defeat, joy and loss. Featured here are some of our favorite photographs captured throughout 2018. For a full slideshow of photos from the past year, go to www.ourmidland.com.
Between 110 House representatives and 38 senators, Michigan lawmakers missed a total of 1,671 roll call votes in 2018, according to a report complied by MichiganVotes.org.

Gary Glenn, R-Williams Township, former state representative for the 98th House District, was among the 82 representatives who did not miss a single vote out of 1,045 last year.

Serving as representative from 2015 until 2018, Glenn has not missed a single vote in his four years as state representative, including during the period of five months he underwent chemotherapy following his diagnosis with stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer. During that time, his wife, Annette Glenn, would drive him to Lansing when he was unable drive himself.

"I was entrusted with the responsibility of representing 90,000 citizens of Bay and Midland counties, and in four years as state representative, never missed a vote or committee meeting," Glenn said. "I'm proud of that, and grateful to Annette for the sacrifices she made to allow me to fulfill the responsibilities of the job to which I was elected. We both took very seriously the duty of ensuring the people of our district were represented on each and every vote."

Annette Glenn succeeded her husband as representative for the 98th House District, having won the general election on Nov. 6, 2018.

Representative for the 99th House District Roger Hauck, R-Union Township, serving part of Midland County also missed zero votes in 2018.

According to a press release from the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, the 1,671 missed votes in 2018 marks a noticeable increase from 2017, when lawmakers missed a total of 1,153 votes.

The 2018 amount was severely skewed by Rep. Bettie Cook Scott, D-Detroit, who missed 599 votes.

Scott stopped attending legislative sessions after losing her bid for a Michigan Senate seat in the August primary election, essentially leaving the 2nd House District unrepresented during the remainder of the year. According to the press release, MichiganVotes.org is unable to recall a situation similar to Scott's in the past 25 years.

With the exception of purely procedural votes, the Senate voted 1,043 times and the House voted 1,045 times in 2018 for a total of 2,088 roll call votes by the entire Legislature.

Sen. Jim Stamas, R-Midland, was among the senators with the lowest amount of missed votes in the Senate, missing only one vote in 2018.
The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriff's Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Mitchell Kukulka.

Thursday. Jan. 3

10:10 p.m. -- A deputy was dispatched to a Warren Township residence after a 37-year-old woman reported her 16-year-old daughter had walked away from home after an argument and had not returned. The deputy searched the area.

5:20 p.m. -- Deputies were dispatched to a Mills Township residence in reference to a 77-year woman who stated she and her 75-year-old husband were arguing. Deputies and EMS made contact with the woman and her 51-year-old daughter. The daughter stated her mother was suffering from dementia, and not taking her medications.

3:58 p.m. -- A 25-year-old Warren Township man came to the Law Enforcement Center to report that he is receiving threatening messages from an extended family member concerning money that was loaned. The man did not want the Sheriff's Office to contact the family member, though deputies did offer suggestions on how to handle the situation.

3:03 p.m. -- Deputies were dispatched to a Lee Township residence in reference to a possible domestic assault. The caller reported they heard a man and woman yelling at each other. Contact was made with a 27-year-old woman and 29-year-old man. Both parties said the argument was about "normal couple" fights, and there had been no assault.

10:58 a.m. -- A deputy was dispatched to a Lee Township location in reference to a delayed crash. It was reported that a vehicle appeared to have gone off of the road, though a ditch and across two driveways. The vehicle left the scene and its damage is unknown. The caller didn't want a formal report and just wanted law enforcement to be aware.

1:10 a.m. -- Following a traffic stop in Lee Township, a 49-year-old Porter Township man was arrested for failing to identify himself to a police officer upon a traffic stop and having no valid operator's license. The man was also cited for having open intoxicants in his vehicle and two other minor traffic violations. He was transported to the Midland County Jail and lodged. The report was forwarded to the Prosecutor's Office.

12:39 a.m. -- A deputy was dispatched to a vehicle in a ditch in Porter Township on Laporte Road at the intersection of Eight Mile Road. There was nobody around and the only damage to the vehicle did not appear to have occurred during the crash. The vehicle had slid off the roadway on the ice and was stuck on the edge of the ditch. The vehicle was marked with yellow caution tape and the owner called a short time later and said he planned to remove it the following day.

Wednesday, Jan. 2

10:46 p.m. -- Officers reported to the 700 Block of Village East Drive for a suspicious situation.

9:06 p.m. -- A deputy was dispatched to a Lee Township residence for a report of breaking and entering. A 26-year-old woman at the residence reported $200 missing from her home. There was nothing else missing and no damage was reported. There are no suspects at this time.

8:51 p.m. -- A deputy was dispatched to Homer Township near Pine River Road just north of Gordonville Road for a vehicle in a ditch. There did not appear to be any damage, but the vehicle was stuck. The deputy attempted to make contact with the registered owner by phone and at his residence, to no success. A message was left with the owner and the vehicle was marked with yellow caution tape.

8:50 p.m. -- Officers were dispatched to the intersection of Townsend and East Hines streets for a vehicle crash into a fire hydrant. There were no injuries.

7:45 p.m. -- A 59-year-old Larkin Township woman reported her wedding ring, worth about $10,000, was stolen. It was discovered that a 20-year-old man, a member of the residence's cleaning crew, had stolen it. The ring was recovered from the 20-year-old, who admitted to stealing it because he intended to sell it for money. The victim requested no formal charges against the suspect.

7:40 p.m. -- Officers responded to the intersection of Eastman Avenue and Commerce Drive for a vehicle crash with a pole that resulted in an injury.

6:39 p.m. -- Officers were dispatched to the 1000 Block of South Saginaw Road for a suspicious situation.

5:51 p.m. -- Officers were dispatched to the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and Vail Street for a traffic stop that resulted in a warrant arrest.

5:28 p.m. -- Officers were dispatched to the intersection of Waldo Avenue and Bay City Road for a vehicle crash resulting in an injury.

5:12 p.m. -- Officers were dispatched to the 900 Block of West Wheeler Road for a report of loud music.

4:37 p.m. -- Officers were dispatched to the 3300 Block of Boston Street for a suspicious situation.

4:13 p.m. -- A deputy was dispatched to an Edenville Township roadway location for a report of a vehicle in a ditch. The deputy made contact with the driver, a 17-year-old boy, who was uninjured. The boy said he slid into the ditch due to another vehicle throwing heavy slush in front of his vehicle. The boy's father pulled the vehicle out of the ditch. There was no damage.

3:02 p.m. -- Officers were dispatched to the 1300 Block of Jay Street for a suspicious situation.

2:47 p.m. -- Animal Control received a complaint of an ongoing loose dog problem in Homer Township. The dogs were unable to be located, and the owner is currently unknown.

1:46 p.m. -- Officers were dispatched to the intersection of Saginaw Road and Discovery Way for a vehicle crash resulting in property damage.

12:09 p.m. -- Animal control was dispatched to Urgent Care for a Sanford resident who was bitten by a stray cat. The cat has been secured and an isolation notice was issued.

11:45 a.m. -- A 30-year-old Mount Pleasant man pumped $10 worth of gas from a Greendale Township gas station and left without paying for it. Isabella County left a message for the man to return to the gas station and pay for his gas.

11:21 a.m. -- Officers were dispatched to the 900 Block of Joe Mann Boulevard for a suspicious situation.

10:55 a.m. -- A deputy was dispatched to a location in the City of Coleman for a breaking and entering complaint. A construction site trailer was broken into and about $6,800 worth of tools were stolen. The complaint is currently under investigation.

5:07 a.m. -- Deputies responded to a Lincoln Township parking lot for a subject slumped over his steering wheel. The 28-year-old Bay City man had gotten tired while driving and decided to stop and sleep.

Tuesday, Jan. 1

1:22 p.m. -- A deputy was dispatched to the area of eastbound U.S. 10 near North Coleman Road for a report of a single-vehicle crash. A report was completed and the at-fault driver was issued a citation for violation of the basic speed law.

4:21 a.m. -- A deputy investigated a delayed assault occurring in Hope Township. None of the parties -- including a 20-year-old Hope Township man, his 60-year-old father and a 21-year-old Midland man -- wished to pursue charges regarding the incident.

1:29 a.m. -- A 23-year-old Mount Pleasant woman was stopped at a Lee Township location. The vehicle's Michigan registration was improper and the vehicle did not have valid insurance. The vehicle was impounded, and a report was forwarded to the Prosecuting Attorney's Office for review.
The Great Lakes Bay Regional Census Hub was recently established to ensure the region gets an accurate count in the upcoming 2020 census.

Midland, Saginaw, Bay City and Mount Pleasant community foundations are partnering together on the project. The Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance, located in Freeland, will house the census hub.

The work of the census hub is supported by the statewide Census 2020 Michigan Nonprofits Count Campaign, managed by the Michigan Nonprofit Association in partnership with the Council of Michigan Foundations.

Data collected in the U.S. Census determines the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives and is also used to distribute billions in federal funds to local communities. According to community foundation officials, making sure the Great Lakes Bay Region is accurately counted in the 2020 Census is incredibly important.

"There are many state and federal programs that utilize census counts to determine funding that comes to the Great Lakes Bay Region," said Sharon Mortensen, president and CEO of the Midland Area Community Foundation. "It's estimated that for every person not counted, we miss out on approximately $1,800 of government funding. We're partnering with other community foundations in the region to make sure we get a complete picture of our communities."

Chloe Updegraff is the newly-appointed coordinator for the Great Lakes Bay Regional Census Hub. A graduate of the University of Michigan School of Public Health, she has experience working with underserved populations.

"We face some challenges as we look toward the census," Updegraff said. "With an increasingly older and more diverse population, several communities with limited access to technology, and a segment of the population uncomfortable engaging with the government, we have to make sure we start early and have a plan in place for an accurate count."

The U.S. Census Bureau counts each resident in the country every 10 years. Compared with the 2010 census, regional and local census offices are being reduced by 50 percent, and door-to-door outreach will also be scaled back in favor of an online-first model -- a move that could hinder the response rate of lower-income populations that have limited access to the internet.

"We'll be working with nonprofits throughout the region, providing trainings and tools on how to effectively do outreach to the residents they serve," Updegraff said. "It's also important for us to work closely with government officials to help enhance their communication and outreach efforts."

Community foundation officials say that without government funding, communities turn to philanthropic efforts, straining the nonprofit community.

"Ensuring an accurate count is just good stewardship," said Renee Johnston, president and CEO of the Saginaw Community Foundation. "Our local nonprofits do amazing work, but the reality is that many of them rely on government funding to help them serve those in need.

Missing people in the census could hurt their bottom line."

For more details, Census Hub Coordinator Chloe Updegraff can be reached at 989-695-6100 or cupdegraff@greatlakesbay.org.
Goose Creek, SC (29445)

Today

Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 72F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 72F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.
Portland NAACP leaders, renters rights groups and music advocates are sounding the alarm over what they say is a stealth attempt to undermine local property owners who live or work in older brick buildings.

The groups held a news conference outside City Hall on Saturday morning to demand the city rescind an ordinance, which affects about 1,600 unreinforced masonry buildings, requiring owners post a sign warning of the buildings dangers in the event of a major earthquake.

The Rev. E.D. Mondaine, president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Peoples Portland chapter and pastor at Celebration Tabernacle Church in Kenton, tied what the city maintains is just a requirement to help notify the public to the regions long history of racist policies that have led to gentrification and displacement for African Americans.

Mondaine said the black community in Portland has been told many times in the past not to worry.

We will no longer allow the same tactics, Mondaine said, citing Oregons explicit policy at its origin excluding blacks from living here, the Portland areas assurances to black residents ahead of the Vanport flood and the long history of red-lining and discrimination in housing policies in inner North and Northeast Portland. We will no longer allow the same principles that have driven us out again, he said, with a crowd of supporters behind him, We will no longer allow these things to remove us from our community. We want action. 

The City Council in October approved the ordinance, which Bureau of Development Services officials say is just about providing better awareness for tenants, visitors and occupants at the buildings.

Public buildings affected by the rules were to install signage by this week. Nonprofit organizations, like churches, have until 2020 to comply. Most other building owners have until March 1 to comply.

Speakers at the Saturday rally railed against the citys ordinance, calling it a secret lien that would force landowners to ultimately sell to well-heeled private developers and lose out on loans or other financial services which would allow them to update their building to meet safety requirements.

Alex Cousins, a spokesman for the citys Bureau of Development Services, said nothing in the ordinance attaches an encumbrance or lien to the buildings title.

The declaration is not a lien and does not compel any retrofitting on the part of the building owner, he said in an email.

Meara McLaughlin, executive director of the MusicPortland advocacy group, cautioned the ordinance threatens the existence of bars like Kellys Olympian and the McMenamins White Eagle, which often cater to hip-hop artists.

The advocates agreed with the city that the ordinance doesnt explicitly mention a lien, but they said the city theres a separate non-negotiable and compulsory agreement that puts an encumbrance on the land owners title.

Without a lawyer in the room you wont even get a semblance of whats being done, Mondaine said in an interview after the news conference, its so convoluted and its gone in so many different directions that it doesnt have a real shape or form anymore. Its like a runaway train. They argue the policy will force artificially low sales prices for properties in gentrifying parts of town and lead to businesses being devalued. It will make it more difficult to refinance, get a loan or lease the building, they argue, likening it to a Scarlet Letter>

The city said its database of unreinforced masonry buildings has existed since 1995 and has been known to building owners, lenders and insurers for over two decades.

The city said its Bureaus of Emergency Management and Development Services will set up an advisory committee this year to work with the Portland NAACP and other stakeholders on collaborative ways to implement the retrofitting program in the city We look forward to working with community members and building owners to make our city safer in the event of a large earthquake.

Mondaine said the city has made some attempts that perhaps are promising to engage the black community, but he is still calling for the ordinance to be rescinded.

-- Andrew Theen

atheen@oregonian.com

503-294-4026

@andrewtheen

Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox.
The third person in a trio linked to the 2017 killing of a 17-year-old boy in a Northeast Portland park while trying to rob him of his Louis Vuitton belt at gunpoint was sentenced Friday to 13 years and nine months in prison.

Miguel Thompson, 20, pleaded guilty Nov. 30 in Multnomah County Circuit Court to second-degree manslaughter and first-degree robbery in the fatal shooting of Shawn Scott Jr.

Thompsons guilty plea came four days after 20-year-old Kole Jones was sentenced to 19 years in prison for shooting Scott. Jones was convicted of first-degree manslaughter and attempted first-degree robbery in the killing.

A third man, Malique Kinnerly-Hicks, 19, pleaded guilty in October to second-degree manslaughter and first-degree robbery. He was sentenced to seven and a half years in a state youth correctional facility for robbery and is scheduled to be sentenced for manslaughter Jan. 22, court records show.

According to court documents, surveillance video showed that before the shooting, Jones, Kinnerly-Hicks and Thompson walked up to Scott as he stood near a tree in the park around 4:30 p.m. Scott appeared to sell Thompson a bottle of alcohol. The trio walked away from Scott, then came back and surroundedhim.

Jones pulled out a handgun and pointed the barrel in Scott's back as Scott appeared to question what was happening, court records show. Jones then hit Scott in the head with his hand holding the gun, and the gun discharged in the process. Scott was shot in the head. Jones, Kinnerly-Hicks and Thompson ran away and were later arrested.

Jones attorney told a judge during his sentencing that Jones wasnt intending to shoot Scott when the gun fired.

Scott, a junior at Union High School in Vancouver, died at the scene.

-- Everton Bailey Jr.

ebailey@oregonian.com | 503-221-8343 |@EvertonBailey

Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox.
Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek said Friday she regretted telling Sen. Sara Gelser that other lawmakers found her unlikable during a conversation about Koteks decision not to call publicly for then-Sen. Jeff Kruse to resign over sexual harassment allegations.

Multiple other women have complained that Kruse physically and verbally harassed them since that winter 2017 conversation.

It was Koteks second statement within 24 hours on a report released Thursday by Oregons Bureau of Labor and Industries, which found legislative leaders knew about sexual harassment at the Capitol but did not do enough to stop it.

In a statement on Facebook, Kotek did not second-guess the underlying message she sought to convey to Gelser about the political ramifications of not calling for Kruse to resign. Rather, Kotek expressed regret for how she delivered that message.

I deeply regret that I hurt Senator Gelser or made her feel less supported, Kotek wrote. I wish I had done a better job articulating the dynamics that I thought she needed to be aware of.

Publicly, Gelser is known as a longtime advocate for some of Oregons most vulnerable residents, including children in the foster care system and people with developmental disabilities. At the Capitol, she has grilled child welfare officials in hearings and privately over failures to protect children and frequently discussed her concerns with reporters.

Kotek pointed out that she called for Kruse to resign after an investigation commissioned by the Legislature concluded Kruse had harassed multiple women at the Capitol, including other lawmakers, legislative staffers and a lobbyist.

In an interview with state labor investigators, Gelser recounted a conversation with Kotek on whether the speaker would issue a statement about Kruse.

[Koteks] like, People dont like you and I was talking to a Republican and theyre, like, you know, this would be a problem but shes just not very likable, Gelser said. And [Kotek] says, So, you know, the way this has unfolded youve made it all about yourself. And I was like, Well, thats exactly what Im not trying to do, but everybody else is afraid to talk and are, you know, uncomfortable.

Gelser said she ended the conversation but then called Kotek back to say she hoped the speaker told the other lawmakers that it was irrelevant whether they liked Gelser. That is something that I have heard a lot from leadership, that I am unlikable, that Im disliked, that Im unfriendly, grandstanding, media hungry, Gelser told investigators.

Kotek said Friday that, I understand the pain of having your likability questioned and would never intentionally put someone in that position. Leadership is not about likability.

Read the rest of Koteks statement here:

I want to take a moment to address yesterdays report filed by the outgoing Labor Commissioner. I have encouraged,... Posted by Tina Kotek on Friday, January 4, 2019

An earlier version of this story stated that House Speaker Tina Kotek told Sen. Sara Gelser that it would be difficult for her to publicly call on then-Sen. Jeff Kruse to resign over sexual harassment allegations because other lawmakers considered Gelser unlikable. Though Koteks spokesman, Danny Moran, acknowledged the likability issue came up during the conversation, he said it was not the reason the speaker decided against issuing a public call for Kruses ouster.

 Hillary Borrud | hborrud@oregonian.com | 503-294-4034
By Adrian Brijbassi

When two employees at the DoubleTree Portland hotel decided they had the authority to remove a guest for loitering in a public area, they not only obliterated their propertys reputation but also demonstrated why tourism to the United States is on the decline.

In the era of Donald Trump, America is not only perceived as unwelcoming, its no longer seen as cool. That diminution in status is clearly affecting its brand.

Destinations such as Spain, which saw its share of foreign tourism arrivals increase 32.7 percent in 2017, according to statistics from the U.S. Travel Association, are perceived as far more attractive. In fact, of the leading destinations in the world, only two countries saw a decline in their share of international tourism in 2017: the United States and Turkey. The decline in Turkey is largely attributable to a response from the travel industry following terror attacks that spurred many cruise companies to drop the nation from their itineraries.

In 2015, a record 77.7 million people entered the U.S. as tourists. Tourism, which is the countrys second-largest export industry, dropped by 1.8 percent in 2016 and held steady in 2017. That shrinkage equates to tens of billions of dollars in lost revenue.

The episode last month at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Portland wont help reverse the trend. News reports of a black man who was a paying guest being escorted out of the hotel by police, while under the threat of arrest, has again put racism in America in the headlines. The 34-year-old man, Jermaine Massey, posted a video on Instagram of his ordeal. Not surprisingly, the images of a gangly white security guard named Earl Meyers hovering over Massey while he was trying to have a cellphone conversation with his mother exploded on social media.

The incident irrevocably taints that particular hotel. But its ramifications reach further. Hilton Hotels, the parent of DoubleTree, has also endured a social-media backlash because of the actions of Meyers and a front-desk employee. Portland, a city that has successfully branded itself as less-American (re: more liberal and eccentric) than other places, takes a hit, too.

Inevitably, several people watching Masseys video will conclude Portland is just like anywhere else in the U.S., and thats a deeply damaging outcome for a destination that has worked to distinguish itself in a crowded tourism marketplace. And, in the larger picture, the images of white men in uniform looking down at a black man as they confront him without explaining why theyre doing so will pin America as out of step with the times.

Some parts of the world are moving toward post-racial societies: Urban environments where a heterogenous mix leads to collaborations with a textured perspective and cultural sharing that inspires fresh art, cuisine and music. Too often, America seems stuck in the mid-20th century. The world watches and shakes its head as more viral videos are posted of black men and women being harassed simply because their skin color makes a few of those who are less dark skittish and fearful.

I visited the U.S. twice this year. Once to New York, where I lived for 10 years and maintain connections, and once to Oregon, where I explored the states exceptional wine country. I also spent a day in downtown Portland, enjoying the eclectic public market and funky shops.

Masseys video wont deter me from returning, because Ive experienced Portland and know its character doesnt align with the behavior of the two DoubleTree employees. But others who havent visited will certainly question whether its the place for their next vacation. And when I think about my future travel plans, I resist the lure of the U.S. -- no matter how close it is to my home in Vancouver, B.C., or what incentives are presented to tempt Canadian travelers to venture south.

Like many others who have been making their vacation decisions in recent years, I ask the same question Massey did on the night of Dec. 22, Why?

He wanted to know why he was harassed. After seeing what he endured, potential travelers to the U.S. like me are likely to query, Why would I want to go to a place like that?

Many millions around the globe are saying, I wouldnt.

-- Adrian Brijbassi is a travel journalist based in Vancouver, B.C.
The 39-year-old white woman who made national headlines after she was caught on video Dec. 24 calling an African American couple the n-word while holding a knife at a McMinnville strip mall said Friday shes not a racist.

Amber Rose Rocco said she had never used the n-word before an African American woman, who was one of the targets of her Christmas Eve tirade, caught it on her cellphone and shared the video with media.

I do 100 percent from the bottom of my heart regret saying that word, Rocco said. Ive never in my life used that word. I have a very mixed family and I love them. I love everybody equally.

She said shell never use the racial epithet in the future. She yelled it then because she felt threatened, she said.

I would never use that word ever again, Rocco said. It takes a deep amount of rage for anybody to have to say something like that.

Moments before Rocco spoke to reporters, she appeared in Yamhill County Circuit Court to be arraigned on the charges against her. Rocco has been accused of three felonies and seven misdemeanors, including second-degree intimidation under the states hate crime law.

Rocco was arrested Dec. 28 after the African American couple said she spat on the mans chest, slapped him in the face, held a knife up to him and slammed a car door on the womans ankle. They said she also threatened to use the knife, exclaiming Ill stab you, Ill kill you (n-word), according to new details released in a police report.

Keysuan Goodyear told police the confrontation began after Rocco complained about the parking job of the car he and his girlfriend, Emora Roberson, took to the strip mall along Oregon 99. While Roberson was inside Gandalfs Smoke & Vape Shop with a relative who had driven the couple there, Goodyear waited in the car.

According to the police report, Goodyear couldnt make out what Rocco said immediately after she drove up, parked next to them and headed into a nearby Dominos Pizza, but a bystander told him that Rocco was unhappy about the parking job and called him the n-word.

When Rocco came out of Dominos, the violent encounter unfolded, Goodyear said.

By then, Roberson also was back at the car. The couple told police that while Roberson was sitting in the front passenger seat with the door open, Rocco tried to slam the door shut on her ankle. On a scale of 0 to 10, Roberson said the pain in her ankle was a 7.

10 Amber Rocco makes court appearance in Yamhill County

Roberson told The Oregonian/OregonLive that the commotion upset her 15-month-old baby, who was in the back of the car and started crying her head off.

In the video, Rocco appears to call both Roberson and Goodyear the racial slur. Roberson tells her boyfriend not to retaliate.

Nah, its not worth it, babe, she says. Were in a white-ass town.

On Friday, Rocco disputed the couples version of what happened.

She claimed she didnt start the dispute and that she said nothing to the couple before she stepped out of Dominos with some food. She said upon returning to her car, a gentleman -- apparently referring to Goodyear -- slapped her. She said she suffered a blood blister behind her ear. She responded by pulling out the knife, she said.

When I went to defend myself -- and thats exactly what I did, I defended myself as a human being -- it got blown way out of proportion, Rocco said.

She said the weapon that I was holding in my hand was facing backwards.

Rocco said the only person she had spoken to moments earlier, when she first left her car, was her husband, who was sitting in the passenger seat.

They freaked out and was accusing me of screaming when it had nothing to do with them in the first place, Rocco said. Nothing. They verbally started attacking me.

Rocco continued: He was calling me a crackhead and a meth head. Im like, Really?

Rocco said she called 911, but McMinnville police were unhelpful. Then, police questioned her a few days later. She denied wrongdoing, according to the report.

Ms. Rocco told me she was only defending herself and is not racist at all, wrote a police officer in the report.

Rocco was booked into Yamhill County Jail on Dec. 29 and was released three days later on Tuesday after posting $4,000 bail, according to jail records.

Rocco lives in Willamina, a town of 2,200 residents about 20 miles southwest of McMinnville.

A grand jury indicted her this week on two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, fourth-degree assault, two counts of second-degree intimidation, two counts of menacing and three counts of harassment.

She is due in court again Jan. 31. No trial date has been set yet.

-- Aimee Green and Beth Nakamura

agreen@oregonian.com

o_aimee
More than 1,200 city of Portland employees have had their pay frozen because their salaries are higher than what human resources officials determined are justified.

Among them are more than a dozen bureau directors, including the citys human resources director and Police Chief Danielle Outlaw.

Affected employees were notified by email Thursday. Many of them said they are confused, upset or both.

Were hearing frustration and disappointment with how information is being rolled out, said Sonia Schmanski, chief of staff for Commissioner Nick Fish. People are getting emails they dont understand, and they have both concerns and questions.

The pay freeze for roughly 70 percent of the citys non-unionized workers  meaning theyll get no merit or cost-of-living raises until further notice  is one of the first consequences of a new state law mandating greater pay equity.

The gist of the law, which took effect January 1, is that employees with similar backgrounds who do similar work have to be paid equally or they can recover outsized legal damages. The law is intended to protect women, minorities and other groups that have historically been found to get smaller salaries than others doing similar jobs.

To fix any inequities, employers may only raise the pay of workers found to be underpaid, not dole out pay cuts to those on the high side.

As a result, the city notified more than 500 employees Thursday that they will receive a raise. The increases in hourly pay ranged from as little as 1 cent to $16.32.

The city also froze the pay of about 850 workers at the level they were paid in 2018.

And, for about 350 workers, it did both. They got a raise -- and at the same time were notified they had been pushed above the justified pay range, meaning a raise and pay freeze all at once.

The messages caused outrage among managers citywide and anxiety in the ranks, according to several city employees who witnessed bosses and coworkers fretting over the notices.

Officials never intended to imply that people are overpaid, said Serilda Summers-McGee, director of the Bureau of Human Resources. (Summers-McGee was one of the bureau directors whose pay was deemed above what is justified and subsequently frozen.)

That is the way that some folks are interpreting that language, she said, and it is something that the city of Portland is going to have to remedy in communications moving forward.

High-ranking managers called out as being paid more than is justified include the citys deputy chief administrative officer, the city economist, the spokespeople for numerous city bureaus and two of the assistant police chiefs, among many others.

Human resources officials will meet with the City Council on Tuesday to discuss the pay equity law, Summers-McGee said. Its unclear what actions, if any, the council may be considering.

Its also an open question how the pay equity law will affect the city budget, said Jessica Kinard, interim City Budget Office director.

-- Gordon R. Friedman

GFriedman@Oregonian.com; 503-221-8209
A case of measles has led health authorities to a select group of people in Hood River and The Dalles.

The person with measles visited the OHSU Hospital emergency room in Portland on Wednesday. The virus was confirmed Thursday.

The infected person traveled from out of the county to Hood River and The Dalles. Since diagnosis, the person has taken recommended precautions not to continue to spread the highly contagious virus.

Two separate measles outbreaks over the summer affected at least four people.

While there have been no related cases of measles reported yet, the Oregon Health Authority has issued a warning to people who were in the emergency room from 9 a.m. to noon and who visited the following places at the end of December:

The Discovery Center in The Dalles between 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. Dec. 29;

Fred Meyer in The Dalles from 5 to 6 p.m. Dec. 31;

Doppio Cafe in Hood River from noon to 1 p.m. on Dec. 30;

Goodwill in Hood River from noon to 1 p.m. on Dec. 30;

Full Sail Brewery in Hood River from 1 to 2 p.m. Dec. 30.

The infection takes about two weeks to develop, so people who have measles can spread the virus before showing symptoms, the agency said. The virus can linger in the air after an infected person has left the area.

It spreads through the air after someone who's infected coughs or sneezes, the agency said. Most people in the area have been vaccinated and have a low risk, the Health Authority said. The agency said unvaccinated people who were in the below locations may have higher risk.

Symptoms include coughing, fever, runny nose and a rash that typically appears first on the head and spreads to the rest of the body.

The virus can lead to ear and lung infections, diarrhea and possibly brain swelling if it isn't treated.

If you think you are infected, call a doctor or emergency room first before visiting to avoid exposing people in the waiting room to the virus. Questions about the virus can be referred to local county health departments.

Multnomah County (503-988-3406)

North Central Public Health District for Wasco, Sherman and Gilliam counties (541-506-2600)

Hood River County Health Department (541-386-1115)

Meanwhile, in a separate case, authorities in Clark County are investigating a confirmed case of measles in a child.

Clark County Public Health said Friday that the child, whose immunization status is unverified, traveled to Clark County from outside of the country in late December.

People who visited PeaceHealth Urgent Care - Memorial in Vancouver from noon to 5:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 31, may have been exposed.

Clark County Public Health is advising anyone who believes they have symptoms of measles to call their health care provider prior to visiting the medical office to make a plan that avoids exposing others in the waiting room.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
A veteran Portland firefighter arrested last month after a traffic stop entered not guilty pleas Friday to a three-count indictment charging him with possessing a short-barreled rifle and possession of heroin and methamphetamine.

David Nick Lloyd, 44, an 18-year veteran of the Portland Fire Bureau, has been placed on unpaid leave from his job, bureau spokesman Lt. Rich Chatman said Friday.

Lloyd most recently worked at Fire Station 22 in the St. Johns neighborhood, on North Alta Avenue. He was off-duty at the time of his arrest.

About 2 p.m. on Dec. 20, East Precinct officers stopped a car in the area of Southeast 81st Avenue and Stark Street after observing the occupants engage in what appeared to be a drug transaction in a nearby parking lot, according to a probable cause affidavit.

An officer had seen two cars pull into the parking lot and park nose-to-nose, as two men near a Chrysler got into a Cadillac and after 30 seconds, get out and walk back to the Chrysler.

The officer kept watch on the cars and stopped the Chrysler. Lloyd was at the wheel, according to police and prosecutors.

The officer was nearly overwhelmed by the odor of what he believed to be the stench of heroin coming from the Chrysler, the affidavit says.

The officer searched the Chrysler and found a black semi-automatic pistol in a bag on the passenger floorboard. A police dog responded and hit on the center console of the car, where officers discovered over 2 grams of methamphetamine, a bag of heroin and a bag of pills identified as Suboxone. Suboxone is often used to treat opiate addiction.

In the Chryslers trunk, police found a small sawed-off .22-caliber rifle with a pistol grip, Multnomah County deputy district attorney Kelly Burris wrote in the affidavit.

Lloyd said the rifle was his, but denied knowing about the pistol or drugs, the affidavit says.

A passenger in the car, Jacob Allen Lieberman, 35, was arrested on a county hold.

Lloyd has prior Multnomah County convictions in 2007 for fourth-degree assault, driving under the influence of intoxicants and recklessly endangering another person. He also faced a domestic violence restraining order that year, according to court records.

Lloyd is out of custody on pretrial supervision following his arrest last month and is represented by attorney Paul M. Ferder.

A settlement conference before Multnomah County Judge Andrew M. Lavin is scheduled for Feb. 28.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian

Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox.
It happened at a strip mall in McMinnville. At a hotel in Portland. At a chamber of commerce meeting.

Three racially charged incidents sparked outrage in the week before Christmas, underscoring how bigotry seeps into every level of civic life in the Portland area  from a confrontation in a shopping centers parking lot to a meeting of powerful city business leaders.

The pervasiveness of smartphones coupled with the multiplier of social media make it plain that such incidents remain common and traumatic, and visible to people who might never have experienced overt prejudice themselves.

As Jermaine Massey said in an Instagram video after being kicked out of the DoubleTree Portland, Judging someone based on the color of their skin, you never know how it feels until youve been there.

Though there is little year-over-year tracking of racist incidents beyond headlines, Portland Public Schools officials said they saw more bullying and harassment of racial and ethnic minorities after the 2016 election. Initiatives like ProPublicas Documenting Hate project have started to quantify such encounters, tallying 1,200 nationwide in its first year.

The Christmastime episodes are the latest to cast Portland in the national news for all the wrong reasons:

Still, the string of incidents generated little surprise within the citys diverse communities.

I think if you interviewed people of color, they would say, thats just Tuesday, said Stephen Green, a leader in Portlands entrepreneurial community and director of WeWorks new Portland startup incubator.

Thats not out of the norm, said Green, who is black. Its out of the norm that it got recorded.

For example, someone reported African-American state Rep. Janelle Bynum to police in July while she was canvassing in a Clackamas neighborhood. The incident made national news.

In April, the states largest business association, Oregon Business & Industry, fired its chief executive after he made a racist joke about a state lawmaker.

In August, a Portland State University student posted a video of a driver spewing racist invectives after a traffic incident downtown.

Advocates for equity and inclusion say such episodes are unavoidable in a predominately white city that has pushed its diverse populations, especially African-Americans, to the fringes. Though the proportion of Asians and Latinos in Portland has grown in the past decade, the black population has decreased.

Isaac Dixon, a Portland State adjunct faculty member, who is an expert on human relations after working for companies such as Nike and in the public sector, has lived in Portland for 40 years. He said hes seen a cycle develop that ties all three incidents together.

African-Americans grow up or move to Portland for job opportunities but soon become alienated by the corporate cultures, Dixon said. He cited a city of Portland study that found that black managers last only 36 months, on average, in the city, compared to much longer tenures for white people.

Often that is because of incidents like the one at the Portland Business Alliance, where the racist comments of a white man were not challenged and shut down immediately.

These are all educated people. These are all people of tremendous power and privilege, and it took minutes before someone spoke up, Dixon said. Its that absence of action on the part of people who are smart, responsible and powerful.

Women and minorities have avoided the Portland Business Alliance for years because of attitudes like Herings, Dixon claimed.

But even when a companys internal culture isnt the problem, black people often feel the pressure of being among the few  sometimes only  people of color in a room. They are singled out in public, like Massey, for innocuous reasons or fear they cant have a bad day because of the attention it might bring, Dixon said.

Their kids are among the few black children at school or in the neighborhood. Oregon is 87 percent white, 11 points higher than the nation as a whole. Just 2 percent of the states residents are African-American, one-sixth the national average.

It can be isolating, Dixon said. So black people leave for other jobs, the community they created is pushed beyond city limits through gentrification and the problem continues.

Dixon said he counsels his students and the companies he works with the same way he has advocated within the black community in Portland: The only way to solve the problem is to make diversity part of the fabric of a company and place.

There is now an opening on the Portland Business Alliance board, Dixon pointed out. Why not fill it and other spots with people of color, women and younger people?

The city of Portland created an office to do just that.

Since it was founded in 2012, the citys share of diverse employees has climbed from 12 percent to 18 percent, said Koffi Dessou, director of the office of equity and human rights.

That might not seem like much, but Dessou said it takes years  sometimes decades  to undo the hundreds of years of a systemic racism.

Dessou said that he has run up against bigotry nearly every day  or if not him, then his family and community. But he sees a path to change  even among government institutions such as the city.

All city employees are required to undergo training and create plans to ensure equity is addressed in every policy, budget or conversation. That has now been extended to organizations that contract with the city.

Mayor Ted Wheeler reflected part of that mindset in his response to the Portland Business Alliance, when he said that not only were the racist comments unacceptable, but condemned that it took so long for anyone to rebut them.

Dessou, though, said that even within city government, it is hard for people of color to speak up against racism, especially to superiors. That means that white people must speak up when they witness less overt instances of prejudice.

That will make me feel I live here, I belong here, I can contribute to the society of this city that is my home now, Dessou said.

As institutions such as the civic-minded City Club and governmental bodies like the citys development agency Prosper Portland grapple with institutionalized inequities, Portland has already earned a reputation in popular culture.

Racist incidents in Portland consistently make national news, from white nationalist rallies downtown to the deadly 2017 attack on a MAX light-rail train in which a man directed a racist rant at two teenage girls, then stabbed three people who tried to intervene.

When last months DoubleTree incident made national headlines, Green said, it reinforced stereotypes about Portland being the whitest big city in America.

But Green said those stories overlook how rapidly the city is changing. Portland-area schools are far more diverse today than in the past  a reflection of how the city will look in the years to come.

When he was an Aloha High School student in the 1990s, Green said he was among a handful of African-Americans in his graduating class. When he visits the school west of Beaverton today, Green said, he sees students from myriad backgrounds.

Though Portland itself remains overwhelmingly white, its schools look more like the nation as a whole. More than 16 percent of its students are Latino  on par with the national population. And more than 8.9 percent are African-American  compared with just 5.7 percent for all city residents.

The district is led by Guadalupe Guerrero, who is Latino. African-American women serve as the Portlands police chief and on the city council. Green said theyre emblematic of a community that is, haltingly, growing more inclusive and understanding  a story that often gets lost in the national view of Portland.

You have a greatly diversifying city, he said.

Though its true Portland is becoming more diverse, that by itself wont stamp out disparate treatment, said Hanif Fazal, chief executive of the Center for Equity & Inclusion, a Portland business that trains people and organizations to foster diverse, welcoming work environments.

Were not built to be inclusive. Were built to say we are, but Portlands history, Oregons history, is one thats based in exclusion, Fazal said.

In the 19th century, Oregon law first banned African-Americans from the territory, and then from the state. And while a more diverse population arrived in the 1940s for wartime work, scores left after the Vanport flood wiped out the north Portland community where many lived. Some left because they couldnt find jobs or were discriminated against by property owners and the police, historians say. Others were segregated into a few areas in North and Northeast Portland.

Todays institutions were formed by a white, homogenous population that Fazal said has never done the hard work of assessing what it takes to nurture a more inclusive city.

Every decision made by a school board, chamber of commerce or business either promotes inclusion or perpetuates disparities, according to Fazal. He said that making decisions to promote more equitable treatment requires listening to underrepresented communities, giving those voices priority and making a commitment to respond to their needs.

Were going to have to believe that communities of color know whats best for communities of color, Fazal said.

Social media and smartphone video are highlighting an epidemic of incidents like the one at the DoubleTree, said E.D. Mondaine, president of the NAACPs Portland chapter and pastor at Celebration Tabernacle Church.

When we turn on the light in a filthy kitchen, we understand we have roaches, Mondaine said.

The NAACP contacted DoubleTree executives after last months incident and  after the hotel chains initial public equivocation  Mondaine said the company has been responsive to his requests.

DoubleTree fired the two employees responsible for the incident, apologized, and pledged to educate its staff.

Thats just one incident, though, and Mondaine said stamping out racial profiling requires a concerted effort across the city and across the country. The first step, he said, is acknowledging the problem.

Portland then needs an open dialogue on where, and why, its falling short, he said. Mondaine called on companies to establish formal rules against racial profiling and procedures to promote diversity and inclusion.

We have to come and reason together and say we have an opportunity to show what can be done through communication, Mondaine said.

Though the city falls short in many ways, Mondaine said, it has been a great place for him and his family. And he wants to see it do better.

I think its worth making Portland right, he said, because there are some good people here.

 Molly Harbarger and Mike Rogoway
Cloud Computing Market Rising Demand and Changing Trends | Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys Limited

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HTF Market Intelligence released a new research report of 126 pages on title 'Cloud Computing Market in India 2014 with detailed analysis, forecast and strategies. The study covers key regions that includes and important players such as Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys Limited., Wipro Limited., Cipher Cloud., CtrlS Datacenters Ltd.Request a sample report @SummaryHTF ' latest market research report titled Cloud Computing Market in China 2014 captures the current scenario of the Cloud Computing Market in China. Government initiatives and investments coupled with major foreign players entering into strategic partnerships with the domestic vendor is propelling the market in China. Additionally, dramatic cost reduction along with increased speed and flexibility and widespread use of internet is helping the cloud industry to grow significantly. As the cloud market in China is still in the growth stage, major foreign players like IBM and Microsoft are aiming to capture a lion's share of the market.Make an enquiry before buying this Report @Increased investment by the Chinese government and increased inflow of cloud-related venture capital funds are further contributing to the growth of this industry. The Chinese government's 12th 5-year plan includes investing significantly in creating new cloud platforms, and building and deployment of cloud datacenters across the country. China has jumped on cloud computing bandwagon as it makes way for huge developments in cloud computing aimed at servicing government and industry needs. In most cases China is also looking to boost its own complete data center supply chain with regional hubs creating local product and service delivery methods.View Detailed Table of Content @China's cloud computing market, however, is faced with many challenges. Concerns for data sovereignty and privacy, cloud reliability and after-sales service, bandwidth issue, among others are preventing Chinese users from using cloud services more widely. Currently the market size of the cloud industry in China is around 3 percent of the global cloud market.The cloud computing industry has sensed the need for mobile cloud owing to the rapid growth of mobile devices applications in China. Also, the industry is witnessing a shift in trend towards hybrid cloud which combines the benefits of both public and private cloud. Though China's market is lagging behind that of the US and the UK, the future of cloud computing in China looks good as the government is working hard on product and service innovations, data security and privacy protection and encouraging more customers to use cloud service.Slide 1: Executive SummaryIntroductionSlide 2: Cloud Computing Market - IntroductionSlide 3: Evolution of Cloud ComputingSlide 4-5: Traditional IT Ecosystem vs. Cloud EcosystemSlide 6: Structure of Cloud ComputingSlide 7: Cloud computing - CategoriesSlide 8: Cloud service products - ChinaSlide 9: Types of deployment of cloud computingSlide 10: Characteristics and type of cloud computingSlide 11: Demand and supply model of cloud servicesBuy this report @HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.Contact US :Craig Francis (PR & Marketing Manager)HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJNe
Bath Bomb Market to witness astonishing growth with Yumscents, Village Naturals, LUSH, Aromatherapy

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Talks with China will not help says USA NSA on situation on Ladakh

US, China to hold key trade talks on January 7-8

International

oi-Shubham Ghosh

Beijing, Jan 5: After a tough 2018 when they mostly targeted and counter-targeted each other, the world's two largest economies - US and China - are looking at more reconciliation in the trade arena in 2019. The two sides are set to hold vice-ministerial level negotiations on January 7 and 8, China's Ministry of Commerce said on Friday, January 4.

The ministry said in a statement on its website that a working team led by Deputy US Trade Representative Jeffrey Gerrish will arrive in China to have "positive and constructive discussions" with his Chinese counterparts.

China creates history, lands spacecraft on far side of the Moon for the first time

This will be the first one-to-one talks since US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping agreed to a 90-day truce in trade war on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Buenos Aires in Argentina in December.

The US and China face a March deadline for talks to end the trade war or the former could go ahead with a sharp hike in US tariffs on Chinese goods that were originally set for January 1 with Beijing retaliating against it, Reuters reported.

Chinese op-ed welcomes Trump-Xi talks but also suspects US's actual intention

The US president said the talks towards the deal are going well though it is unclear whether Beijing would yield to key American demands over trade imbalances, market access and alleged abuses of intellectual property by the Chinese.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Saturday, January 5, 2019, 15:05 [IST]
With Ajay Makens resignation as DPCC chief, Congress-AAP alliance likely in Delhi

India

oi-Vinod Kumar Shukla

New Delhi, Jan 5: Senior Congress leaders and former Union minister Ajay Maken resigned from the post of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) president and Congress president Rahul Gandhi has accepted his resignation. With this the resignation saga of Maken has come to an end but why the matter has lingered on so much and finally it was accepted. Because this will now pave the way of the Congress' alliance with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi.

Actually former DPCC chief wanted to resign from the post of president from very long but Rahul Gandhi did not want him to let go as he was doing very well in the city but there was one issue on which Rahul Gandhi and Ajay Maken had different views. Maken was not ready to have any relations with Aam Aadmi Party for 2019 Lok Sabha elections while Rahul wants and alliance in Delhi.

Ajay Maken resigns as Delhi Congress chief, thanks party workers, Rahul for support

The Congress leadership wanted him to agree on this but Maken was of the view that this may help the alliance defeating the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections but will also destroy the party in the state as it had been the case in many other states.

This is to tell that the Congress and AAP wanted to contest Lok Sabha elections in Delhi as an alliance partner with the Congress contesting on three seats while the AAP on four seats. The AAP was preparing in this manner as some of its leaders are in touch with the Congress leadership.

Both the parties feel that in a triangular contest, the Bharatiya Janata Party might manage to win all seven seats. So knowing the fact, leaders of both the parties planned to forge an alliance for which Maken was the biggest hurdle. So when Maken realised that now it is not possible for him to stall this alliance, he decided to resign.

Delhi BJP issues show-cause notice to Bidhuri; central leadership has many complaints against him

However, when the Congress president did not accept resignation of Maken last time, AAP declared in-charge on all the seven seats of Delhi who later will be turned into candidates. Now the negotiation for seats will start as the Congress president wants to stop the BJP coming to power at the Centre at any cost.

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Story first published: Saturday, January 5, 2019, 10:48 [IST]
Will Sanjay Joshi be given some important assignment in the BJP after Gordhan Zadafia?

India

oi-Vinod Kumar Shukla

New Delhi, Jan 5: After former minister of state for home in the Gujarat government Gordhan Zadafia has been made in-charge of Uttar Pradesh for 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) now wants one of its most favourite leaders and former organising secretary of the party Sanjay Joshi to be given some responsibility in the party which the prime minister Narendra Modi has always opposed to.

Sources said that the matter has been discussed in the RSS and has been communicated to the central leadership of the party. Sources further said that the matter has been communicated to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as the final decision on this issue will be taken only by him.

Pact between Mayawati and Akhilesh firming up ahead of 2019 polls

Actually surveys conducted by the party in Uttar Pradesh has not been very positive. The popularity of the BJP in the state is going down. This could be one of the reasons for the RSS asking the BJP leadership to employ him in the state as he has very good influence over the party workers all across. He can once again rejuvenate the party workers there.

BJP national president Amit Shah has this idea that the condition of party is getting deteriorated by the day so he is looking for some ways for damage control. Sanjay Joshi has become untouchable in the party after his differences with Narendra surfaced. He is living a life of political exile from very long.

If the PM decides to forgive Sanjay Joshi, he might be given some important assignment in Uttar Pradesh. The BJP has an arduous task of repeating its performance in the state which had won 73 Lok Sabha seats out of 80 in 2014 Lok Sabha elections along with its alliance.

Sources are saying that the issue of Sanjay Joshi was also discussed when PM visited Uttar Pradesh last Saturday. Joshi has the reputation of a very good leader for the organisation purposes. He is also considered to be an expert in micro management of elections.

Role of about a dozen smaller parties very crucial in Uttar Pradesh for LS polls

Sources said that Joshi has already visited the state for several times and meeting with the party workers. Gordhan Zadhapia had also some differences with the PM and had contested against the BJP in 2012 Gujarat Assembly elections but now he is with the BJP. The RSS has been trying from very long for the comeback of Joshi but the final call will be from the PM only.

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Story first published: Saturday, January 5, 2019, 11:40 [IST]
Why did two Nobel laureates say PM Modi has better approach to science and tech?

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar P

New Delhi, Jan 4: Two Nobel laureates who held a brief informal meeting with PM Narendra Modi after the inauguration of 106th Indian Science Congress in Phagwara, hailed Indian Prime Minister's understanding the importance of science for a country's development and vision for its promotion.

In an exclusive interview to Indian Express, Nobel laureate Israeli biochemist Avram Hershko, said, "Unlike US president Donald Trump, who thinks science and research is waste of money, Modi does not think that way. That is what I gauged after meeting him today."

German-American Thomas C Sudhof, who was given the Nobel Prize in 2013 in physiology and medicine, said that the Trump-led government in the US is not spending enough to promote science and research, whereas Modi's approach in this regard looks promising.

The Nobel laureates observation make sense with the Budget allocation to development of science and technology and new initiatives by the Ministry. It may be recalled that in the 2018 Budget Modi government proposed to hike the allocation for science ministries and departments between 5 and 17 per cent, with the Department of Atomic Energy and the Department of Space placed on the opposite extremes of the allocation chain. The Union Budget earmarked Rs 13,971.41 crore for the Department of Atomic Energy, which is mandated to generate nuclear power in India. The allocation is 5.76 per cent more than what was allocated to the DAE in the previous Budget.

The budget for the Ministry of Science and Technology was proposed to be hiked by 6.11 per cent - from Rs 11,612.11 crore in the previous Budget to Rs 12,322.28 crore in the Budget 2018-19.

What are the major initiatives in four years of Modi rule?



Mission Innovation Smart Grids Workshop - Mission Innovation challenge on Smart Grids is collectively working to enable future smart grids powered by renewables. 20 participating countries with India, Italy and China as Co-lead are working together to realise this aspiration. An international workshop was organised during 16-19th November 2017 at New Delhi to define research priorities and develop action plan for time-bound action for the realisation of these objectives.

Interdisciplinary Centre for Cyber Security and Cyber Defence of Critical Infrastructures: An Interdisciplinary Centre for Cyber Security and Cyber Defence of Critical Infrastructures at IIT Kanpur has been funded with a total cost of around Rs.15 crores to create India's first such research centre under a dynamic young professor. The mission of this Centre is to promote research, education, training, and spawn start-ups to create tech

Quantum Information Science & Technology (QIST): This new program initiated by DST aims at developing next generation and futuristic computation, communication and cryptography systems.

Materials on Energy Storage (MES): A new programme on the Materials on Energy Storage (MES) to support R&D activities aimed at innovative materials for energy storage, and to build energy storage device with enhanced output for multifunctional applications was launched during the year. Aiming the efficient use and further increase of renewable energy, and demonstrating its value in terms of flexibility in the energy systems are the prime objective of the initiative. 130 proposals were received and 18 were approved for funding.

Complete Online Processing of INSPIRE: Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) program which has 5 components and enrols nearly 1.5 lakhs students every year. It is a completely ONLINE process right from submission of an application to release of scholarships/ fellowships etc. to every student under the scheme through web-based system. For the last 3-4 years, it is functioning in a complete paperless mode. Students from across the country use this web-based ONLINE system and get the benefits of this scheme.

Greater Access of High-end Equipment/Facilities: A common web portal is being developed which will be populated with the name of high-end equipment and facilities available with the institutions/ universities and their online booking and use in a transparent way. This will facilitate researchers/ students access to these facilities. The portal will be launched with full functionality by the end of 2017.

India S&T Portal: Development of an ambitious India S&T Portal has been initiated with the objective to provide one-stop information centre to school students, scientists and the society at large on various schemes and programmes/activities and major achievements in S&T. This would be a 360-degree view and connect to all the stakeholders and activities of S&T in India. An internet-TV channel on S&T is also in the advanced stages of planning and execution. Currently, systems are being set up for production of contents.

(With PTI inputs)

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Story first published: Saturday, January 5, 2019, 4:00 [IST]
What is the Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill: Explainer

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 5: Former liquor baron Vijay Mallya became the first person to be named as a fugitive economic offender. The court was hearing an application filed by the Enforcement Directorate seeking to declared him a fugitive economic offender.

The Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, 2018 was passed by the Rajya Sabha with a voice vote. The Lok Sabha had cleared the measure on July 19.

What is the bill all about. We break it down for you.

Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill:

The Bill is primarily aimed at stopping economic offenders who leave the country to avoid legal process. Offences involving amounts of Rs 100 crore and above fall under the purview of this law. These offences are those defined under the Indian Penal Code, SEBI Act, Customs Act, Companies Act, Prevention of Corruption Act, Limited Liability Partnership Act, and the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code.

Vijay Mallya becomes India's first fugitive economic offender

Definition of a fugitive economic offender:

Section 4 of the law, states that a 'fugitive economic offender' is "any individual against whom a warrant for arrest in relation to a scheduled offence has been issued by any court in India, who:

(i) leaves or has left India so as to avoid criminal prosecution; or

(ii) refuses to return to India to face criminal prosecution."

How is a person declared an economic offender:

The Central government through a director appointed by it will have to file an application before a special court to declare a person as fugitive economic offender. Once the following conditions are fulfilled the director has the right to seize or attach the properties of the offender.

Under Clause (2) of Section 6, the application must contain the following:

(a) reason/s for the belief that an individual is a fugitive economic offender;

(b) any information available as to the whereabouts of the fugitive economic offender;

(c) a list of properties or the value of such properties believed to be the proceeds of crime, including any such property outside India for which confiscation is sought;

(d) a list of properties owned by the person in India for which confiscation is sought;

(e) a list of persons who may have an interest in any of the properties listed under sub-clauses (c) and (d)."

The process:

Once an application is moved, the court would issue notice to the person concerned. The accused would have to present himself before the court within six weeks of the notice being issued. In case he or she fails to be present, the court would declare the person a fugitive economic offender, following which the properties as listed would be confiscated.

Under Section 11, the person declared a fugitive economic offender loses the right to file a civil claim in court.

Confiscating properties:

The court would then appoint an administrator to oversee the confiscated property. The administrator would be responsible for disposing off the property, following which the amount would be used to satisfy a creditor's claim.

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Story first published: Saturday, January 5, 2019, 15:26 [IST]
Vinta Nanda rape case: Actor Alok Nath gets bail

India

oi-Deepika S

Mumbai, Jan 5: A Mumbai court on Saturday allowed the anticipatory bail plea of Bollywood actor Aloknath in the rape case. The court directed him to not leave India without court's permission.

Vinta in a Facebook post on October 8, had accused Alok Nath of raping her at her residence after allegedly drugging her. two decades ago.

Nanda was the writer and producer of television serial Tara where Nath was the lead actor. She shared her ordeal in a detailed FB post amidst the ongoing #MeToo movement and subsequently took the legal route.

Alok Nath had rubbished Nanda's claims while talking to Aaj Tak. "In the current situation, if a woman accuses a man, no one will consider listening to a man's version so it's useless to react. I have known her. I would not like to comment on it. She has the right to put forward her thoughts. Right now, I am trying to come to terms with the whole thing. Will comment later."

Alok Nath files defamation case against Vinta Nanda

Following Vinta's allegations, Sandhya Mridul, Deepika Amin also opened up on his alleged sexual misconduct with them. Alia Bhatt's mother Soni Razdan, Himani Shivpuri were among those who spoke about witnessing his misbehaviour multiple times.

On November 21, a rape case was registered against Nath by the Mumbai Police, based on a complaint filed by the writer-producer, who accused him of raping her 19 years ago. The FIR was booked under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

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Story first published: Saturday, January 5, 2019, 14:29 [IST]
We need to make more political films, says on-screen Sanjaya Baru Akshaye Khanna

India

oi-Shubham Ghosh

Mumbai, Jan 5: Seasoned actor Akshaye Khanna feels there is a need to make political films in the country and it is a "tragedy" that India does not see enough of films of that genre despite being the a "vibrant and colourful democracy" and a "political country".

Khanna plays the role of Sanjaya Baru, former prime minister Manmohan Singh's former media advisor who penned the book "The Accidental Prime Minister: The Making and Unmaking of Manmohan Singh" which was released in April 2014, in the film by the name of 'The Accidental Prime Minister' this month.

The film, which features veteran actor Anupam Kher portraying the role of the former premier, has sparked a controversy with the Opposition accusing it as one which shows the Congress in a bad light by the means of showing Singh in a bad light, ahead of the Lok Sabha election.

The Accidental Prime Minister: The man behind the insider account

Speaking to Quint, Khanna said he was never apprehensive of the film and did it because he thinks such types of films were not made before. He said the Indian audience has remained deprived of the opportunity to witness such films while those open doors for more such films. "If the Indian society chooses to see such films, they should be allowed to watch it," he said.

He told Quint while we choose to side with one politician or another in other mediums like books, articles and newspapers, the same opportunity is not there when it comes to films.

Khanna said Singh had given permission to Baru to write his book but after he read it, he did not talk to him ever again. "It is a cute story of two good friends," the son of late actor-politician Vinod Khanna, who was an MP from Gurdaspur, said.

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Story first published: Saturday, January 5, 2019, 14:43 [IST]
SP-BSP pact: Cong looks to join as Akhilesh seeks more smaller parties

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 5: An SP-BSP combine to take on the BJP in Uttar Pradesh is soon becoming a reality. Mayawati of the BSP and Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party are said to have met in Delhi to discuss the alliance.

The two parties have however remained silent over the development. A final decision on the alliance is expected on January 15. Sources say that the SPi is in favour of including more regional players.

Pact between Mayawati and Akhilesh firming up ahead of 2019 polls

The Congress on the other hand wants to be part of the alliance and has even spoken with the SP about the same. The BSP is however not in favour of the Congress being part of the alliance.

Before finalising the alliance, Yadav is scheduled to meet K Chandrashekar Rao of the TRS and discuss setting up an anti-BJP front.

On Friday, Mayawati and Yadav are said to have discussed a possible tie up ahead of the elections. Following the meeting, Yadav met with Rajya Sabha member Ram Gopal Yadav in the presence of the BSP's Satish Mishra.

While the two leaders discussed the possible tie up and the seat sharing formula, there was no mention of the Congress. The talks focused on equally distributing the Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh between them. It may be recalled that the two parties had earlier decided that there would be no candidate fielded by either of them from Amethi and Rae Bareli.

Role of about a dozen smaller parties very crucial in Uttar Pradesh for LS polls

Mayawati is learnt to have emphasised on her party contesting in more seats. She also said that the RLD be accommodated in the coalition. Both sides have however ruled out the Congress being part of the coalition.

It may be recalled that the SP and BSP had come together and defeated the BJP in the by-polls held to three Lok Sabha constituencies in UP.

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Story first published: Saturday, January 5, 2019, 14:53 [IST]
Will enact law to protect Sabarimala Ayyappa temple's customs if voted to power: UDF

Sabarimala issue pending in Supreme Court, nothing to be debated now: CM Pinarayi Vijayan

Sabarimala row: Crude bombs hurled at houses of Left leaders in Kerala

India

oi-PTI

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 5: Violence erupted across Kerala Friday night with bombs hurled at the house of Thalassery MLA and CPI(M) leader A N Shamseer among other places.

Unidentified persons riding a bike hurled a bomb at Shamseer's house at Madapeedikayil near Thalassery in Kannur district of northern Kerala at around 10.15 pm, police told PTI.

Sabarimala temple entry under cover of darkness an act of cowardice: Ex-ISRO Chief

"This was an RSS conspiracy to instigate violence in the state. They intend to create violence and destroy the peaceful atmosphere of the state," Shamseer told media.

The attack happened when the Left leader was attending a peace meeting organised at Thalassery after widespread violence had hit the state following the hartal declared by right-wing groups over the entry of women in Sabarimala.

Bombs were also hurled at CPI(M) leader and former Kannur district secretary of CPI(M) P Sasi's house at Thalassery and a CPI(M) activist Vishak attacked at Iritty, a place in Kannur district.

In another development, prohibitory orders have been issued at Pandalam, Adoor and Kodumon police station areas in Pathanamthitta district for seven days.

Two shops and the house of a CPI(M) local leader at Adoor were also attacked with bombs on Friday. Seven persons were injured in these attacks.

Pathanamthitta has witnessed widespread violence over the entry of women into the hill-top shrine of Sabarimala resulting in the death of a Sabarimala Karma Samiti member Chandran Unnithan at Pandalam.

Purification rituals at Sabarimala after women entry leaves TDB fuming

Kerala has been marred with violence since the afternoon of January 2 after two women of menstruating age managed to enter Sabarimala temple.

The southern state has been witnessing massive protests from the right-wing organisations since the Left-led state government decided to implement the September 28 order of the Supreme Court allowing women of all ages to enter the centuries-old temple.

PTI

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Story first published: Saturday, January 5, 2019, 10:57 [IST]
Sabarimala protests: UK updates travel advisory to India

India

oi-Vikas SV

London, Jan 5: Amid violent protests in Kerala over the issue of women entering the Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala, the UK government has updated its travel advisory to India, warning British citizens to remain vigilant and avoid large public gatherings.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), which regularly updates its advice for travel to different parts of the world, said on Friday that any British citizens planning to travel to Kerala should monitor media reports.

"There have been violent protests in some towns and cities in Kerala over the issue of women accessing the Sabarimala temple. Some public services have been disrupted in the wake of clashes between police and protesters," the FCO advisory said.

"If you are in Kerala or due to travel there, you should monitor media reports closely, remain vigilant and avoid large public gatherings," it noted.

The rest of the travel advisory remains broadly unchanged, advising visitors to India to "avoid protests or large gatherings", follow the advice of the local authorities and monitor the local media and any curfew restrictions that may be in place.

[Sabarimala Temple reopens after purification]

It added, "Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in India. Recent attacks have targeted public places including those visited by foreigners. There have been recent media reports suggesting Daesh (Islamic State) may have an interest in attacking targets in India. There may be an increased threat to places visited by British nationals such as religious sites, markets, festival venues and beaches. You should be vigilant at this time, monitor local media and take all precautions for your safety."

Kerala has been rocked by protests by right-wing groups after two women of "menstruating age" offered prayers at the Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala on January 2. Hundreds of people have been arrested so far in connection with the violence over the last few days.

OneIndia News with PTI inputs

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Story first published: Saturday, January 5, 2019, 21:04 [IST]
Faulty ventilators will have to be replaced; won't allow experiments on patients: Bombay high court

Rules of online sale of medicines to be finalised by Jan 31

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Mumbai, Jan 5: The Union government informed the Bombay High Court Friday that it was likely to finalise draft rules for regulation of online sale of medicines by January end.

Union government's lawyer D P Singh told a bench of Chief Justice Naresh Patil and Justice N M Jamdar that in compliance with an order of the Madras High Court, the government has "already framed draft rules, and conducted a series of meetings with experts".

The Union government is in the process of finalising the draft rules under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, and they will be notified soon, Singh added.

Reason behind shortage of Vitamin C tablets in market

The bench was hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by a college professor from the city in 2015, demanding that online sale of medicines, including 'schedule H' drugs which can not be sold without doctor's prescription, be regulated.

The bench noted the issue was "crucial" as it concerns public health, and asked the Centre and the Maharashtra government about the steps being taken to ensure that medicines are sold only through licensed chemist shops.

In 2017, another bench of the Bombay High Court had appointed an amicus curiae (an expert to assist the court) in the matter.

The bench asked the amicus, advocate Zal Andhyarujina, for suggestions.

Why are chemists protesting online sale of medicines

Advocate Singh then informed the judges that the Madras High Court had directed the Union government in December 2018 to notify the rules regarding online sale of medicines by January 31.

The judges said they will wait for the Union government to take appropriate action, and adjourned the hearing to February 4.

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Story first published: Saturday, January 5, 2019, 6:32 [IST]
Prakash Raj to contest 2019 elections from Bengaluru Central

India

oi-Vikas SV

Bengaluru, Jan 5: Actor Prakash Raj, who has decided to take a plunge into politics, will contest Lok Sabha Elections 2019 from Bengaluru Central as an independent candidate.

Raj had on January 1 said that he will be contesting in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls as an independent candidate, but he had not revealed the seat from which he would contest.

Today, the actor took to Twitter to reveal the seat from where he will contest the 2019 general elections.

In Bengaluru Central, Raj could be up against BJP's PC Mohan, who had defeated the Congress candidate with over 40,000 votes in 2014. Mohan has held this seat since 2009 when Bangaluru central was carved out from Bengaluru north and south after the delimitation process.

"#2019 PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS.Thank you for the warm n encouraging response to my new journey.. I will be contesting from BENGALURU CENTRAL constituency #KARNATAKA as an INDEPENDENT..will share the Details with the media in few days..#citizensvoice #justasking in parliament too...," Raj tweeted today.

#2019 PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS.Thank you for the warm n encouraging response to my new journey.. I will be contesting from BENGALURU CENTRAL constituency #KARNATAKA as an INDEPENDENT..will share the Details with the media in few days..#citizensvoice #justasking in parliament too... pic.twitter.com/wJN4WaHlZP  Prakash Raj (@prakashraaj) January 5, 2019

Soon after Raj announced his entry to politics, several netizens replied positively congratulating the actor and wishing him luck in the new phase. Raj has been a vocal critic of divisive politics and Modi government. In fact, the gruesome murder of his friend Gauri Lankesh made him a more outspoken critic against the current ruling dispensation.

[Prakash Raj takes political plunge, to contest Lok Sabha polls]

The actor has also extended his support to several politicians including Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and his plans for a 'Federal Front', which would include a consortium of regional parties. In April this year, Prakash Raj was part of a meeting that included KCR and former PM Deve Gowda at the latter's home.

Prakash Raj had also actively campaigned during the Karnataka elections of 2018 and started trending questions under the hashtag 'just asking' (#justasking). Raj's foray into politics comes close on heels to that of other prominent south Indian actors such as Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan.

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Story first published: Saturday, January 5, 2019, 20:49 [IST]
Plea moved in Delhi HC against trailer of The Accidental Prime Minister'

India

oi-Vikas SV

New Delhi, Jan 5: A plea was moved in the Delhi High Court demanding a ban on screening of trailer of 'The Accidental Prime Minister', a film on Manmohan Singh's tenure as the prime minister.

The plea states that facts have been twisted to malign the image of the former prime minister Manmohan Singh. The plea reportedly requests that the trailer and promos should not be aired. The plea says that the post of the Prime Minister is a constitutional one and the trailer maligns the image of former PM, as well as the image of the country.

The Delhi High Court will hear the plea on Monday (January 7).

Furthermore, the plea also alleged that the trailer is spoiling relations with foreign countries and affects the sovereignty and integrity of India.

The Congress in Maharashtra has objected to the trailer of the movie, 'The Accidental Prime Minister', claiming that it shows the party leaders in a 'disparaging' manner. The film is based on the 2014 book written by former prime minister Manmohan Singh's media adviser Sanjaya Baru. It covers Singh's tenure from 2004 to 2014 as the prime minister.

['Accidental Prime Minister': 'More they protest, more publicity they will give', says Anupam Kher]

Actor Anupam Kher plays Manmohan Singh in the film, while German actor Suzanne Bernert will be seen as Sonia Gandhi. Aahana Kumar, who was last seen in web series Rangbaaz, will be playing the role of Priyanka Gandhi, while Arjun Mathur essays the role of Rahul Gandhi. The film is helmed by debutant Vijay Ratnakar Gutte.

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Story first published: Saturday, January 5, 2019, 18:55 [IST]
Rahul Gandhi stoking fear on vaccine, all will be vaccinate by December: Union Minister

Is the Modi govt fighting for blue tick or against pandemic: Rahul Gandhi

If vaccines are free, why should private hospitals charge for them: Rahul to PM Modi

Ayodhya land deal: Rahul Gandhi slams BJP, says betrayal in name of Lord Ram is unrighteous

Let every Indian ask PM, his ministers questions I asked on Rafale: Rahul

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Jan 5: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday urged all Indians to ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ministers the questions he posed in Parliament on the fighter jet agreement with France.

"RM (Raksha Marti) spoke for 2 hrs in Parliament, but she couldn't answer the 2 simple questions I asked her," Gandhi tweeted. He also posted a video of the two questions he posed to the defence minister in Parliament.

Bofors brought Congress down, Rafale will bring Modi back: Nirmala Sitharaman

Gandhi had asked who gave the offset contract to Anil Ambani and whether the defence ministry officials had raised an objection when the prime minister carried out a "bypass surgery" for the deal.

He had asked Sitharaman to reply in a yes or no.

Posting the video on his Twitter account, Gandhi said: "Watch & SHARE this video. Let every Indian ask the PM & his Ministers these questions."

With his tweet, Gandhi used the hashtag "2SawalDoJawab".

Why did government change old Rafale deal, asks Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha

The Congress has alleged irregularities in the deal for 36 aircraft and claimed that the Narendra Modi government is buying them at a price much higher than the one that was being negotiated by the previous government.

The party has also been accusing the government of favouring Anil Ambani's firm in the deal. However, the government, as well as Ambani, have rejected all the allegations.

PTI

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Story first published: Saturday, January 5, 2019, 13:58 [IST]
Traffic jam returns to haunt commuters as Bengaluru unlocks from today

'Gone too early': Sorrowful condolences pour in for Kannada actor Sanchari Vijay

Karnataka: Social welfare minister denies link with Rs 25 lakh seized in Vidha Soudha

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar P

Bengaluru, Jan 5: Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy said the government would not interfere in police investigations into Rs 25.76 lakh unaccounted cash seized from a typist employed in Vidhan Soudha and assured that action will be taken after the completion of police probe.

In a high drama that was witnessed at the Vidhana Soudha premises on Friday Mohan (52) tried to escape from the police on his two-wheeler carrying Rs 25.76 lakh in unaccounted cash.

Police said Mohan (52) works in the office of Backward Classes Welfare minister C Puttaranga Shetty.

Converting an anti-corruption movement into political party a mistake: Phoolka

Bengaluru Police issued a notice to Minister Puttaranga Shetty's aide Mohan to appear before them for questioning.

However, Social Welfare Minister Puttaranga Shetty denied links with the cash, saying he is ready for a probe.

Meanwhile, Home Minister MB Patil said one can't blame Minister Puttaranga Shetty for seizing money from his employee.
Pakistan train accident: Death toll rises to 65 as two passenger trains collide in Sindh's Ghotki district

Pakistan passes Bill to give right of appeal to Kulbhushan Jadhav

Can men get arrested for sporting long hair: Apparently in Pakistan YES!

J&K: Pakistan army shells forward areas in Poonch for 3rd consecutive day

India

oi-Deepika S

Srinagar, Jan 5:The Pakistan army has been violating ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district intermittently, since last 48 hours.

Indian troops retaliated, the officials said, adding that no casualty or damage was reported. There were 1,591 incidents of ceasefire violations by Pakistan till October-end in 2018, the highest in a year so far, they added.

The areas hit twice in intermittent shelling and firing on Thursday were Gulpur and Khari Karmara in Poonch district, where some shells hit a shop, a house and a cowshed.

Pakistani troops had violated ceasefire on Tuesday and Wednesday also firing at forward areas along the LoC in Poonch.

Despite repeated calls for restraint and adherence to the ceasefire pact of 2003 for maintaining peace and tranquillity, Pakistani troops have been resorting to unprovoked ceasefire violations along the LoC and the International Border in J&K, the officials said.

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Story first published: Saturday, January 5, 2019, 9:15 [IST]
In last 5 years, 27 economic defaulters have fled the country

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 5: Twenty-seven defaulting businessmen and economic offenders have fled the country in the last five years, Parliament was informed.

Interpol has been approached to issue red corner notices (RCNs) against 20 persons out of these 27, Minister of State for Finance Shiv Pratap Shukla said in a written reply in Lok Sabha.

He further said Interpol has already issued RCN against eight persons who have fled the country and extradition requests have been sent in case of six.

Mumbai special court rejects Mallya's plea seeking stay on declaring him fugitive

As per the Directorate of Enforcement (ED), applications under Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 have been filed against seven persons out of these 27, the minister said.

Shukla informed the House that Westminster Magistrates' Court in London has recommended extradition of Vijay Mallya from the UK to India.

The government, he said, has also advised the public sector banks to obtain a certified copy of passport of promoters/directors and other authorised signatories of companies availing loan facilities of more than Rs 50 crore.

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Story first published: Saturday, January 5, 2019, 5:56 [IST]
Fuel price rise in Karnataka: Amit Shah trains gun at Kumaraswamy govt

India

oi-Vikas SV

New Delhi, Jan 5: Asserting that the people of Karnataka are paying a heavy price for "corruption and inefficiency of the state government", BJP president Amit Shah lashed out at the HD Kumaraswamy-led Congress-JD(S) dispensation after it hiked the tax on petrol and diesel.

"Under the present state government in Karnataka, farmers are dying. Dalits are being enslaved. Common man is being oppressed with taxes. Why should the people of Karnataka pay such a heavy price for the corruption and inefficiency of the state government?" Shah said in a tweet.

[Petrol, diesel price set to go up in Karnataka]

The BJP chief's comments came a day after the Congress-JD(S) government in Karnataka raised tax rates on petrol and diesel to 32 per cent and 21 per cent respectively, citing adverse impact on the state revenue collection due to continuous fall in prices of crude oil in international market.

Shah had earlier also attacked the government over the issue of farmers suicide and a case of Dalits being allegedly enslaved.

OneIndia News with PTI inputs

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Story first published: Saturday, January 5, 2019, 19:36 [IST]
Lockdown without aid package is inhuman and will cause huge suffering and damage: AAP

Converting an anti-corruption movement into political party a mistake: Phoolka

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Jan 5: Targeting the Aam Aadmi Party, senior advocate H S Phoolka, who resigned from the party, said converting an anti-corruption movement into a political party in 2012 was "wrong", while ruling out contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha election.

Addressing reporters, Phoolka said there is a need to form a movement like the one started by activist Anna Hazare in 2012 and that many who have left the AAP and others, including lawyers and doctors, need to unite to form an organisation parallel to political parties.

"Converting anti-corruption movement into political party in 2012 was wrong," he said, adding, "I will not contest Lok Sabha election although after the conviction of Sajjan Kumar, people in Punjab said I could easily win from any seat."

Phoolka has been fighting the legal battle for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots victims. Congress leader Jindal was last month convicted in a riot case.

HS Phoolka resigns from AAP

Congress leaders Kamal Nath and Jagdish Tytler are yet to be brought to book and this battle will be fought through a common platform, the former AAP leader said.

He said his resignation as MLA has not been accepted by the Speaker of Punjab Assembly.

"We should raise a movement like Anna Hazare. Many who have left AAP and others including lawyers, doctors need to unite to form an organisation parallel to political parties," he said, adding, "We will form a big organisation within six months."

The AAP was formed by Arvind Kejriwal and others following the anti-corruption movement led by Anna Hazare.

Phoolka's resignation from the AAP had come amid speculation of a possible alliance between the Congress and the AAP for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

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Story first published: Saturday, January 5, 2019, 6:19 [IST]
Andhra Pradesh HC hands over Jagan Mohan Reddy attack case to NIA

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar P

New Delhi, Jan 5: Andhra Pradesh High Court Friday handed over the investigation of the attack on YSR Congress Party chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy to National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Ministry of Home Affairs had passed an order on December 31 directing NIA to investigate the surgical blade attack of Oct 25, 2018. YSR Congress chief had suffered a minor injury when a man slashed at him with a small knife at Visakhapatnam airport.

However, a top police official told PTI that the knife attack on Jagan Mohan Reddy had been carried out by the accused for becoming 'famous' and there was no conspiracy, said on Wednesday.

NIA arrests main arms supplier in ISIS inspired module case

J Srinivasa Rao (30), the assailant employed as a chef at a restaurant at the airport here, was suffering from "split personality syndrome" and had no other motive, Police Commissioner Mahesh Chandra Laddha said.

At a press conference in Visakhapatnam, he cited the findings of the Special Investigation Team which probed the October 25 attack and said Rao had well planned for it and he wanted to become famous throughout the country.

(WIth PTI inputs)

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Story first published: Saturday, January 5, 2019, 9:01 [IST]
Triple talaq bill in Rajya Sabha: Vijay Goel reaches out to all parties for support

AAP-Cong colluding with each other, may forge alliance for Delhi Assembly polls

After quitting AAP, HS Phoolka meets BJP leader Vijay Goel

India

oi-Vikas SV

New Delhi, Jan 5: Two days after resigning from the Aam Aadmi Party, HS Phoolka met Bharatiya Janata Party leader Vijay Goel on Saturday to greet the Union minister on his birthday.

Goel called Phoolka a "good friend" and lauded his legal battle for the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

"He quit AAP recently. Better late than never," Goel said.

Sources said it was the second meeting between Goel and Phoolka in the past few days. He had also met the BJP leader before resigning from the AAP on Thursday, they claimed. Phoolka has avoided giving any reason behind quitting the AAP and expressed his desire to float a non-political outfit in Punjab to fight the drug menace and the perceived politicisation of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).

[Converting an anti-corruption movement into political party a mistake: Phoolka]

He, however, was averse to any alliance between the AAP and the Congress. A pre-poll tie-up between the two parties is taking rounds, with none of them denying it officially.

Sources claimed Phoolka was also annoyed over the AAP's stand on the demand to strip former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi of the Bharat Ratna for "justifying" the anti-Sikh riots. Phoolka had said that the conversion of Anna Hazare's anti-corruption movement into a political party in 2012 was a wrong step.

He has not declared his future political move, although he has announced that he would not contest the upcoming Lok Sabha election.

OneIndia News with PTI inputs

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Story first published: Saturday, January 5, 2019, 23:18 [IST]
Maharashtra unlock 2.0: Despite remaining in level 1 category, some Covid lockdown curbs to remain in Nagpur

A Maharashtrian PM? Why not, says Fadnavis

India

oi-Deepika S

Mumbai, Jan 5: Responding to a question on the possibility of a Marathi becoming Prime Minister by 2050, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said"Marathis have ruled the length and breadth of the country, up to Attock, in different periods of history. I am sure they stand the chance of prime ministership too."

He was speaking during a public interview at the inaugural session of the 16th Jagatik Marathi Sammelan (global Marathi convention) here. No Maharashtrian leader has become prime minister of the country yet.

Union Minister and Nagpur MP Nitin Gadkari too attended the conference but had left the venue when Fadnavis made the remark. Congress leader and former Union Minister Sushilkumar Shinde was the chief guest.

The chief minister was asked whether India will see a Maharashtrian prime minister by 2050. No Maharashtrian leader has become prime minister of the country yet.

"Why not, of course we will see...If anyone has really ruled India, the entire India, in real sense, it is the Maharashtrians, and we have the capability to reach Attock," he said.

Attock, now in Pakistan, was briefly conquered by Maratha armies in the 18th century.

"Hence I fully believe that by 2050 we will see not one but more than one Maharashtrians in the highest post in the country," he said.

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Story first published: Saturday, January 5, 2019, 8:43 [IST]
22 mental patients of Badaun asylum handed over to family members

India

pti-PTI

Badaun (UP), Jan 5: Following the displeasure shown by the Supreme Court over the chaining of mentally-ill persons in a faith-based mental asylum here, the district administration freed 22 persons on Saturday and handed them over to their family members.

Senior Superintendent of Police Ashok Kumar said, "In pursuance of the recent Supreme Court observations, the district administration and police reached the faith-based mental asylum on Friday night and freed 22 mentally-ill patients who were kept in chains.

They were then handed over to their family members." Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Sadar) Paras Nath Maurya said, "In accordance with local belief, a number of mentally-ill patients reach here. The patients (in the name of divine treatment) are kept in chains, so that they cannot run away." On January 3, the Supreme Court said chaining of mentally-ill people could not be allowed and termed it as "atrocious" and "inhuman".

Uttar Pradesh: Hundreds of mentally challenged patients chained like animals in Badaun

A bench comprising justices AK Sikri and S Abdul Nazeer said chaining people with mental illness was violative of their rights under Article 21 of the Constitution, which dealt with life and personal liberty, adding that their dignity could not be compromised.

It made the observations while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal, who had alleged that persons with mental illness were kept chained in a faith-based mental asylum in Badaun district of Uttar Pradesh, in violation of the provisions of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017.

The court perused the photographs of the patients who had been chained and said it was a matter of great concern.

"These are mentally challenged persons. You (petitioner) have placed the photographs and they all are chained. It is atrocious," the bench observed, adding that "something has to be done immediately for these poor people".

The court asked the petitioner to call a law officer of the Centre so that appropriate interim orders could be passed.

PTI
2019 Lok Sabha elections: Congress, NCP to share equal number of seats in Maharashtra?

India

oi-Deepika S

Mumbai, Jan 5: The Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress have finalised a seat-sharing arrangement for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

As per senior NCP leader Praful Patel, the Rahul Gandhi- and Sharad Pawar-led parties have each agreed to contest 20 seats each out of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra. On the remaining eight seats, a decision is yet to be taken.

The NCP leader also exuded confidence that the alliance with like-minded parties would get "great success" in the election. "We are always of the opinion that like-minded parties should come together. I am sure that the alliance will achieve great success," he said.

Patel's remarks come at a time when NCP chief Sharad Pawar held a meeting with key leaders to discuss the party's preparation for Lok Sabha polls. "We want to bring parties which believe in (chief Constitution maker) BR Ambedkar's ideology together," Patel said.

A Maharashtrian PM? Why not, says Fadnavis

Maharashtra has 48 Lok Sabha seats, the second highest after Uttar Pradesh's 80.

The two parties are currently holding discussions with like-minded parties on sharing the seats, he added.

"The Congress and the NCP have made progress in their discussions on seat-sharing in Maharashtra for the upcoming 2019 Lok Sabha election.

"We are always of the opinion that like-minded parties should come together. I am sure that the alliance will achieve great success," he told reporters.

As per reports, the NCP is likely to field former Maharashtra minister Sunil Tatkare from Raigad Lok Sabha seat, where another party leader Bhaskar Jadhav had staked claim. It may also field Dhananjay Mahadik from Kolhapur again.

The NCP at present has four Lok Sabha MPs from the state: Supriya Sule from Baramati, Dhananjay Mahadik from Kolhapur, Udayanraje Bhosale from Satara and Vijaysinh Mohite Patil from Madha.

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Story first published: Saturday, January 5, 2019, 10:00 [IST]
Submitted Photo

Wreaths adorn the grave markers at Sackets Harbor Military Cemetery. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, an average of 20 veterans die by suicide every day, six of whom are nominally under Veteran Health Administration care and 14 who are not.
All of my adult career has been spent around one central question  whats happening to working families in America? Why has Americas middle class been hollowed out? she asked the crowd. The answer is not that people dont work hard.

The senator mentioned money as a corrupting on public policy, pointing to prescription drug costs, student loan debt and unfettered drilling for oil among the examples. Warren said the government as it currently operates works for those moneyed interests.

Its on the side of big drug companies, not people who are trying to fill a prescription. Its on the side of big financial institutions, not peoples whose social security number was stolen, she said in the interview. When government is on the side of giant corporations and not the people, day by day, inch by inch it gets harder for working families to have security.

Warren told the crowd, We have to remember in this room, theres a whole lot more of us than there is of them.
Sasse explained the jump at the time in part by stressing the power the Armed Services Committee wields in crafting its annual defense authorization legislation.

Sasse declined a World-Herald interview request Friday about his latest switch.

Other senators also are making committee moves in the new year.

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, will join the Senate Judiciary Committee along with incoming Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn. They are the first two GOP women to serve on the panel.

The lack of women on the Republican side of the committee was particularly problematic for party leaders last year as the panel wrestled with sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

Ernst also will hold seats on the Agriculture Committee and the Environment and Public Works Committee, along with the Armed Services and Small Business Committees.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, is taking the gavel of the powerful Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over trade issues, the tax code and many areas of health policy.
Fred Zwonechek, who just retired after years of leading the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety, had a remarkable ability for effortlessly quoting statistics. But a colleague said he never forgot that every number or percentage point represents real people.

Fred always pointed out that there were people behind the numbers, said Eric Koeppe, president and chief executive officer of the Omaha-based National Safety Council of Nebraska. Wed talk a lot about (traffic) fatalities and the number of people injured. Fred would say, There are families and friends behind those numbers. Victims that are hurting. 

Zwonechek, 71, retired Dec. 31 after 44 years, including 37 years as administrator of the office. Hes leaving the job but not the mission to save lives on Nebraska roads.

I will still be involved in traffic safety, but from the outside, because its been my lifes work, Zwonechek said. I still think that I can contribute my knowledge and experience on a number of issues.

You have to be passionate about this subject because you talk to the victims and realize that theres a lot that can be prevented.
The 62-year-old Catholic priest in central Nebraska insisted that a woman conduct a business meeting on Thanksgiving Day at his place, a church rectory where he lived in Ord.

He insisted on pouring her an alcoholic drink. And when she awoke hours later with his face in her genitals, the priest she hardly knew but still trusted, a man three decades older, insisted on this: that he loved her.

This is according to a protection order that the woman, who is in her early 30s, sought and received Nov. 27, several days after that Nov. 22 visit to the rectory. Her account led authorities to arrest and charge the priest with first-degree sexual assault.

Its a charge that carries a penalty of up to 50 years in prison.

Now that priest, the Rev. John Kakkuzhiyil, is being held at the Valley County Jail in Ord. Bail was set Friday at $150,000. Kakkuzhiyil would have to post 10 percent, or $15,000, to be released.

On Friday, the priests attorney, Mark Porto, of Grand Island, said he doubted that Kakkuzhiyil would be able to do that. An initial court appearance has been scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Valley County Courthouse.

Porto noted that his client turned himself into the Nebraska State Patrol on Wednesday.
After Dominique Hanks fired shots at a Miller Park home in March, he yelled, Go, go, go to his getaway driver, prosecutors said Friday.

Hanks, driver Brittany Kelley and passenger Brianna Kelley appeared in court for the first time Friday in connection with the March 12 slaying of Michael Streich.

Another man, Brandon Shepherd, 23, is in custody out of state and faces extradition to Nebraska on first-degree murder and weapon charges.

Hanks, 24, who is charged with first-degree murder and two weapon charges, couldnt stop talking at the Friday hearing.

The audience in the gallery couldnt hear him because the podium where prisoners stand doesnt have a microphone. But it was clear his lips kept moving.

Douglas County Judge Marcena Hendrix cut the hearing short and moved on to the next inmate.
Dr. Bradley Britigan, a Childrens board member and dean of the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, said Puccioni and Miller continue to see patients at Nebraska Medicine, the hospital partner of UNMC.

Britigan said he wants to make sure the matters in question dont affect patient care and physician training at Nebraska Medicine and Childrens, and they have not.

UNMC and Childrens Hospital have close ties and a formal partnership.

The lawsuit also alleges that Childrens Hospital harmed the doctors reputations and used the wrongful suspensions to misdirect and mislead their patients into thinking they had retired or moved away or were otherwise unavailable to treat them.

Several mothers of children who are or have been patients of the two doctors told The World-Herald that some families werent notified that the physicians were no longer with the hospital.

Miller said in a statement that the doctors are saddened about the situation and we care dearly for our patients, our families and our community.
Yeah, its 2019. We dont know how it happened, either, but its here, and (reportedly) its gonna stick around for a whole dang year. So steel yourselves and settle in, etc., etc. Because 2019.

Despite the countless anxieties that come with being a human that lives on this planet, there are still plenty of things to look forward to this year. In the areas of eating and drinking (both pleasant things!), and in the areas of music, nightlife, movies and theater. May the following serve as a balm to all the ways 2019 burns you.

 Micah Mertes

* * *

THEATER

Return to Niobrara

When: Jan. 25 to Feb. 10

Where: Rose Theater, 2001 Farnam St.

Mary Kathryn Nagle, a member of the Cherokee Nation, wrote this drama about a native American boy and his battle with school officials over cutting his hair. Hes the grandson of Chief Standing Bear, who, 180 years ago, demanded that a federal judge recognize that Indians are persons.

The Woodzman
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Ninety percent of Americans think technology companies such as Google, Facebook, Apple and Verizon should make a better effort in terms of self-regulating how they collect and share consumers online personal data, according to a recent online privacy survey from cybersecurity firm ExpressVPN.

Illustrating how important the issue of online privacy has become, ExpressVPNs survey found that 35 percent said they would return an electronic device theyd purchased to the store and/or ask for a refund if they discovered that device could be used to actively monitor their private conversations.

When it comes to who Americans think should be responsible for deciding whether tech companies can share their online personal data without their permission, however, Americans seem somewhat divided. 19 percent said this responsibility lies solely with Congress, while 12 percent said this should be a task for the tech companies themselves. More than a third (34 percent) said it should be a shared effort between Congress and tech companies, though more (36 percent) said this responsibility lies with neither party.

This implies most consumers feel that they should be the ultimate authority in determining how their data is handled online. In fact, the survey discovered that 89 percent of Americans think they should now be able to choose whether tech companies can share their online personal data.

The survey comes as the incoming 116th Congress sets its sights on several new privacy bills such as the Data Care Act, which would establish a series of mandates that tech companies must abide by in order to protect the user data they collect (including names, Social Security numbers, identification numbers, financial account numbers and biometric data) and would also bar that information from being sold or disclosed without users consent.

Introduced in December by Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) and co-sponsored by a group of 14 Senators, the Data Care Act would give the Federal Trade Commission the power to enforce these rules and would penalize companies that dont adequately safeguard user data.

According to the survey, 82 percent of Americans think Congress should do more this year to regulate how tech companies collect and handle their online personal data. In fact, 47 percent think online privacy should take precedence in Congress over immigration matters, 46 percent think it should be more of a priority than foreign policy issues, 35 percent think it should be more of a priority than healthcare and 25 percent think it should be more of a priority than tax reform legislation.

However, only 40 percent said they believe Congress will actually do anything to address consumer data issues in 2019.

The ExpressVPN online privacy survey polled more than 1,000 U.S. adults online in late November. The survey was conducted by market research company Propeller Insights.
Thinking back to early October, Crystal Goss remembers the eerie feeling of hiding with her husband in a closet underneath the main level staircase of their home from Hurricane Michael as it passed over the Florida panhandle.

When we were in that closet, there was a time where you felt pressure over you and then your ears popped, Goss said.

Their home was in the outskirts of the county area of Panama City. It wasnt within a flood zone area  which is why they stayed during the hurricane  but it still wasnt safe from storm damage.

The home was a complete loss.

In the days following Hurricane Michael, the couple took what they could and came to Lee County, where they are staying with Goss' parents until they can find a place of their own in the local area.

Her children, ages 14 and 18, stayed with their father in a different part of town. His brick home had minor damage during the storm and her teenagers are living with him instead of relocating to Alabama, she said.
A tentative deal reached on Monday to prevent another federal shutdown would include 55 miles of fencing along the United States border with Mexico. As of January, no new miles of barriers had been built so far under President Trump, though some construction is expected to begin this month.

UNITED STATES NEW MEXICO NORTH TEXAS CALIF. ARIZONA U.S.-Mexico border 1,954 miles MEXICO UNITED STATES NEW MEXICO TEXAS NORTH CALIF. ARIZONA U.S.-Mexico border 1,954 miles MEXICO UNITED STATES NEW MEXICO TEXAS NORTH CALIF. ARIZONA U.S.-Mexico border 1,954 miles MEXICO UNITED STATES NORTH N.M. TEX. ARIZ. CALIF. U.S.-Mexico border 1,954 miles MEXICO 1,954 mi. U.S.-Mexico border 1,954 mi. U.S.-Mexico border 1,954 mi. U.S.-Mexico border 1,954 mi. U.S.-Mexico border 1,954 mi. U.S.-Mexico border 1,000 mi. Trumps proposed wall Note: Illustrations of wall types are diagrammatic and not to scale. 1,954 mi. U.S.-Mexico border 1,000 mi. Trumps proposed wall Note: Illustrations of wall types are diagrammatic and not to scale. 1,954 mi. U.S.-Mexico border 1,000 mi. Trumps proposed wall Note: Illustrations of wall types are diagrammatic and not to scale. 1,954 mi. U.S.-Mexico border 1,000 mi. Trumps proposed wall 1,954 mi. U.S.-Mexico border 1,000 mi. Trumps proposed wall 0 mi. Built based on prototypes 1,954 mi. U.S.-Mexico border 1,000 mi. Trumps proposed wall 0 mi. Built based on prototypes 1,954 mi. U.S.-Mexico border 1,000 mi. Trumps proposed wall 0 mi. Built based on prototypes 1,954 mi. U.S.-Mexico border 1,000 mi. Trumps proposed wall 0 mi. Built based on prototypes 1,954 mi. U.S.-Mexico border 1,000 mi. Trumps proposed wall 0 mi. Built based on prototypes 654 mi. Existing barriers 1,954 mi. U.S.-Mexico border 1,000 mi. Trumps proposed wall 0 mi. Built based on prototypes 654 mi. Existing barriers 1,954 mi. U.S.-Mexico border 1,000 mi. Trumps proposed wall 0 mi. Built based on prototypes 654 mi. Existing barriers 1,954 mi. U.S.-Mexico border 1,000 mi. Trumps proposed wall 0 mi. Built based on prototypes 654 mi. Existing barriers 1,954 mi. U.S.-Mexico border 1,000 mi. Trumps proposed wall 0 mi. Built based on prototypes 654 mi. Existing barriers 0 mi. New barriers as of January 1,954 mi. U.S.-Mexico border 1,000 mi. Trumps proposed wall 0 mi. Built based on prototypes 654 mi. Existing barriers 0 mi. New barriers as of January 1,954 mi. U.S.-Mexico border 1,000 mi. Trumps proposed wall 0 mi. Built based on prototypes 654 mi. Existing barriers 0 mi. New barriers as of January 1,954 mi. U.S.-Mexico border 1,000 mi. Trumps proposed wall 0 mi. Built based on prototypes 654 mi. Existing barriers 0 mi. New barriers as of January 1,954 mi. U.S.-Mexico border 1,000 mi. Trumps proposed wall 0 mi. Built based on prototypes 654 mi. Existing barriers 0 mi. New barriers as of January 124 mi. Approved new or replacement 1,954 mi. U.S.-Mexico border 1,000 mi. Trumps proposed wall 0 mi. Built based on prototypes 654 mi. Existing barriers 0 mi. New barriers as of January 124 mi. Approved new or replacement 1,954 mi. U.S.-Mexico border 1,000 mi. Trumps proposed wall 0 mi. Built based on prototypes 654 mi. Existing barriers 0 mi. New barriers as of January 124 mi. Approved new or replacement 1,954 mi. U.S.-Mexico border 1,000 mi. Trumps proposed wall 0 mi. Built based on prototypes 654 mi. Existing barriers 0 mi. New barriers as of January 124 mi. Approved new or replacement 1,954 mi. U.S.-Mexico border 1,000 mi. Trumps proposed wall 0 mi. Built based on prototypes 654 mi. Existing barriers 0 mi. New barriers as of January 124 mi. Approved new or replacement 40 mi. Replacement done or started 1,954 mi. U.S.-Mexico border 1,000 mi. Trumps proposed wall 0 mi. Built based on prototypes 654 mi. Existing barriers 0 mi. New barriers as of January 124 mi. Approved new or replacement 40 mi. Replacement done or started 1,954 mi. U.S.-Mexico border 1,000 mi. Trumps proposed wall 0 mi. Built based on prototypes 654 mi. Existing barriers 0 mi. New barriers as of January 124 mi. Approved new or replacement 40 mi. Replacement done or started 1,954 mi. U.S.-Mexico border 1,000 mi. Trumps proposed wall 0 mi. Built based on prototypes 654 mi. Existing barriers 0 mi. New barriers as of January 124 mi. Approved new or replacement 40 mi. Replacement done or started 1,954 mi. U.S.-Mexico border 1,000 mi. Trumps proposed wall 0 mi. Built based on prototypes 654 mi. Existing barriers 0 mi. New barriers as of January 124 mi. Approved new or replacement 40 mi. Replacement done or started 55 mi. Proposed barriers 1,954 mi. U.S.-Mexico border 1,000 mi. Trumps proposed wall 0 mi. Built based on prototypes 654 mi. Existing barriers 0 mi. New barriers as of January 124 mi. Approved new or replacement 40 mi. Replacement done or started 55 mi. Proposed barriers 1,954 mi. U.S.-Mexico border 1,000 mi. Trumps proposed wall 0 mi. Built based on prototypes 654 mi. Existing barriers 0 mi. New barriers as of January 124 mi. Approved new or replacement 40 mi. Replacement done or started 55 mi. Proposed barriers 1,954 mi. U.S.-Mexico border 1,000 mi. Trumps proposed wall 0 mi. Built based on prototypes 654 mi. Existing barriers 0 mi. New barriers as of January 124 mi. Approved new or replacement 40 mi. Replacement done or started 55 mi. Proposed barriers















Heres a look at what has actually been constructed on the U.S.-Mexico border in the past year. The U.S.-Mexico border is 1,954 miles long... President Trump has said he wants a 1,000-mile wall made of concrete or steel. He commissioned eight prototypes. No border walls based on these prototypes have been built or funded by Congress. Before Mr. Trump, there were 654 miles of a variety of barriers. As of January, no new miles of barriers had been built under Mr. Trump. Some existing barriers have been replaced. Before this year, Congress had approved 124 miles of new and replacement barriers, using designs already in place, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Of the approved barriers, 40 miles of replacement barriers have been built or started. Officials expect to break ground on an additional 61 miles in 2019. Congressional negotiators proposed on Monday to add 55 miles of fencing as part of a broader immigration deal.

Construction is slated to begin on 14 miles of new barriers in February, which would be the first extension of the current barriers.

Mr. Trump has said several times that the United States has constructed new walls. In January, he said that the administration had built a brand new wall in San Diego. While several replacement barriers are being installed in Southern California, Customs and Border Protection had not announced any extensions of the current barriers there at the time.

So far, the most common design for recent construction on the border is steel slats that are 18- to 30-feet tall. This is often taller than the barriers they are replacing, which are also sometimes in disrepair. Mr. Trump has varied on his vision for the wall. In December, he promoted the steel slat-style barrier, while also saying parts of the wall would be all concrete.

A barrier in place in the El Paso sector of the U.S. border with Mexico. A replacement barrier made of steel slats being installed in Naco, Ariz. This concrete wall is one prototype commissioned by Mr. Trump. A barrier in place in the El Paso sector of the U.S. border with Mexico. This concrete wall is one prototype commissioned by Mr. Trump. A replacement barrier made of steel slats being installed in Naco, Ariz. A barrier in place in the El Paso sector of the U.S. border with Mexico. A replacement barrier made of steel slats being installed in Naco, Ariz. This concrete wall is one prototype commissioned by Mr. Trump. Photos by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Josh Haner/The New York Times
JERUSALEM  With elections a few months away, it is political fratricide season in Israel: From left to right, candidates are sticking knives in the ribs of their natural allies in hopes of elevating their own chances of succeeding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

This week, the Zionist Union, a four-year-old liberal alliance, blew itself up as the Labor Party chief, Avi Gabbay, humiliated the veteran politician Tzipi Livni by abruptly breaking with her and her boutique party Hatnuah (The Movement) while television cameras rolled.

The popular ministers Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked abandoned their right-wing party, the Jewish Home, to form a new one  the New Right  that they vowed would be less beholden to religious leaders but would still push to settle the West Bank and oppose a Palestinian state.

And a former army chief of staff, Benny Gantz, barged into the political center with a vague-sounding new party  Israel Resilience  and a still-to-be-announced set of ideas. It instantly threatened to siphon off support from more established moderate contenders like Yair Lapid and Moshe Kahlon, as well as another former chief of staff, Moshe Yaalon.
PARIS  The first Yellow Vest demonstration of the new year reached a new level of violence on Saturday as a government ministry building was attacked and the minister evacuated out the back door. What started two months ago as a protest over gas taxes has turned into a more general attack on the French government.

The minister, the chief government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux, told French television that Yellow Vest protesters and men dressed in black  the so-called casseurs, or breakers, who have latched onto the movement  commandeered a construction vehicle and broke down the door of the Left Bank building. They then entered a courtyard and broke several windows, he said.
Whats not to like about this building? said Klavdia G. Kiselyova, 78, who moved in when the high-rise opened. Standing on her stoop bundled in furs and watching dump trucks cart away debris, she mused aloud. Its an amazing house.

Judging by a sign on an entryway near the collapse, it looked as if they were getting their way. Dear Residents! it read. An inspection found residing in apartments in entryway 10 is allowed. The collapse had occurred in entryway seven.

Yet, others were more skeptical about moving back in. Yulia V. Skalvysh, an accountant at the steel mill, said she was told she would have to return to her two-room apartment a few yards away from the collapse. The authorities were apparently unconcerned about a crack in the tiled wall of her kitchen that she said was growing longer each day.

They say, Its safe, you can return, but I dont want to, she said. I want to live in safety.

For some, the close call reinforced their belief in God. Vera D. Saravarova, 59, who lived next door to an apartment that collapsed into the void, attributed her survival to having remained in church the day before for the entire two-hour sermon, even though she had wanted to duck out.

Russian Orthodox churches have no pews, she said, and her feet were beginning to hurt. But a friend told her, You have to stay until the priests wrap it up, and she did. It was a miracle, she said. We were protected by God.
LONDON  President Trumps push for a border wall hints at a problem that populist leaders are facing across the Western world.

After a year of setbacks, populist leaders and parties are trying to rejuvenate their fortunes by revitalizing the sense of crisis on which they thrive. But as with Mr. Trumps demand for a border wall  which has brought a two-week government shutdown  this may say more about populisms weakness than its strength.

Immigration and terrorism crises, which aided populisms world-shaking rise in 2016, have waned. Populists have faced disappointing election results in Germany, the United States and even Poland, shattering the image of the movements inevitability and its claims to represent true popular will.

The Wests populist leaders and parties have grown defensive, retreating into ever-starker messages of us-versus-them. The approach excites their most dedicated followers. But it can be risky, forcing voters to pick sides at a moment when the populist right holds declining appeal.
BUDAPEST  Gyula Radics is not easily angered. When Prime Minister Viktor Orban rewrote the Constitution to give his party greater power, he stayed on the sidelines. When the party took over state media, he was silent. And when the government forced the internationally renowned Central European University out of Hungary, he did not join the protests.

But after Mr. Orban pushed through legislation compelling employees to work hundreds of hours of overtime without full or immediate compensation, he had enough.

Orban destroys lives and families, Mr. Radics said as he prepared to march with thousands of protesters Saturday afternoon. A 39-year-old steelworker with five children, he traveled from Veszprem, an hour outside of Budapest.

This is all we have left, he said.

By this, he meant the streets.

Over the past eight years, Mr. Orban has steadily used the instruments of a democratic state to undermine nearly all checks on his power.
Jean-Michel Blanquer, the education minister, says he wants to give Arabic prestige, as it is a great literary language.

While the ministry wants to promote the study of Arabic and make classes more readily available, it has not provided many details about the plan, other than to say that Arabic teaching will be strengthened alongside that of Russian and Chinese.

And most French schools will have to start their Arabic programs from scratch.

Only 0.2 percent of students in public middle and high schools in France took Arabic classes in the 2017-2018 school year, putting the language far behind the widely taught English, Spanish and German.

In addition to the pedagogical challenges of jump-starting Arabic programs in public schools, there are social and political obstacles, as well.

Rime Abdel Nabi, who teaches Arabic at two public high schools, as well as at Sorbonne University in Paris, said public school principals were reluctant to open classes, saying, No, we dont have enough Arabs here, or No, we dont want to attract Arabs.

The ministrys plans is causing particular alarm on the political right. Luc Ferry, a former education minister, suggested that the measure was tantamount to allowing Islamism in public schools.
But slaughter by Muslim halal and Jewish kosher rules requires that an animal be in perfect health  which religious authorities say rules out stunning it first  and be killed with a single cut to the neck that severs critical blood vessels. The animal loses consciousness in seconds, and advocates say it may cause less suffering than other methods, not more.

Most countries and the European Union allow religious exceptions to the stunning requirement, though in some places  like the Netherlands, where a new law took effect last year, and Germany  the exceptions are very narrow. Belgium is joining Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark and Slovenia among the nations that do not provide for any exceptions.

Ann De Greef, director of Global Action in the Interest of Animals, a Belgian animal rights group, insisted that stunning does not conflict with kosher and halal doctrine, and they could still consider it ritual slaughtering, but the religious authorities refuse to accept that.

They want to keep living in the Middle Ages and continue to slaughter without stunning  as the technique didnt yet exist back then  without having to answer to the law, she said. Well, Im sorry, in Belgium the law is above religion and that will stay like that.

Belgium, with a population of about 11 million, is home to roughly 500,000 Muslims and over 30,000 Jews. Those who adhere to their religious rules will soon be forced to order their meat from abroad, which community members say will mean paying more, and could even lead to food shortages.
Vanuatu turns the Corner LETS USE THIS AS A SPRINGBOARD FOR THE FUTURE
TAIPEI, Taiwan  President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan called on Saturday for domestic and international support of the islands de facto independence, days after Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, warned that unification with China was inevitable.

It is impossible for me or, in my view, any responsible politician in Taiwan to accept President Xi Jinpings recent remarks without betraying the trust and the will of the people of Taiwan, Ms. Tsai said in a briefing for foreign reporters in Taipei, Taiwans capital.

We hope the international community will pay attention and combine efforts to speak out on our behalf, she said.

Mr. Xis speech, his first major address on Taiwan, has given Ms. Tsai a chance to position herself as the young democracys defender, both to the outside world and to voters who will decide next year whether she stays in office. Her party was battered in local elections in November, but since Mr. Xis address there has been a groundswell of support for her on Taiwan social media and even, to some degree, in publications that tend to oppose her.
ISTANBUL  As a writer and magazine editor, Qurban Mamut promoted the culture and history of his people, the Uighurs, and that of other Turkic minority groups who live in far western China. He did so within the strict confines of censorship imposed by the Chinese authorities, who are ever wary of ethnic separatism and Islamic extremism among the predominantly Muslim peoples of the region.

It was a line that Mr. Mamut navigated successfully for 26 years, eventually rising to become editor in chief of the Communist Party-controlled magazine Xinjiang Civilization before retiring in 2011.

My father is very smart; he knows what is the red line, and if you cross it you are taken to jail, said his son, Bahram Sintash, who now lives in Virginia. You work very close to the red line to teach people the culture. You have to be smart and careful with your words.

Then last year, the red line moved. Suddenly, Mr. Mamut and more than a hundred other Uighur intellectuals who had successfully navigated the worlds of academia, art and journalism became the latest targets of a sweeping crackdown in the region of Xinjiang that has ensnared as many as one million Muslims in indoctrination camps.
The logical thing to do to maximize safety and minimize waste of public funds would not be to immediately shut down an enormous number of shelters, Ms. Cancian said. The best course of action would be to figure out a plan for transitioning those facilities and transitioning those personnel.

The Office of Refugee Resettlement, the agency that oversees migrant shelters as part of the Administration for Children and Families, declined to speculate on Southwest Keys grants. In response to a question asking if the agency had a plan if the charity were to lose its grants, a spokeswoman said the agency was always planning for unforeseen events.

A Southwest Key spokesman, Jeff Eller, said the charity had had no discussions about losing its grants with the Office of Refugee Resettlement or about its shelter licenses with officials from Texas, Arizona or California. He said the charity was focused on providing the best care possible for children.

Last year, the government cut off the contracts of another major shelter provider, International Educational Services, over suspected financial improprieties. Juan Sanchez, who founded Southwest Key and still runs it, also helped establish I.E.S., although he has not had a role there for decades.

The closing of I.E.S. facilities was carried out haphazardly, straining the system for months. As many as 620 children needed to be rehoused; most landed in Southwest Key facilities.

Comprehensive Health Services, a for-profit company based in Florida that ran one of the temporary shelters, leased three former I.E.S. shelters, all in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, and then received a new government contract. Many original staff members were rehired.
The year of the woman and the midterm gains that followed electrified Democrats, who have eagerly promoted themselves as the party of diversity. That success has inspired some of the most powerful women in politics to consider running for president. And it has boosted expectations that the political calculus for women has changed in the last two years, and that gender could become an asset, even in a presidential contest. Mrs. Clinton, after all, won the popular vote by almost three million.

Yet at a time of ascendancy for women in the party, theres a lingering doubt in some quarters about whether there is a risk involved in nominating a woman to take on President Trump, whom Democrats fervently want to unseat.

The specter of Mrs. Clintons defeat in 2016 still haunts some Democratic officials, voters and activists. There is widespread recognition that women in politics are held to a different standard than men on qualities like likability and toughness, and that voters have traditionally been more reluctant to elect women as executives than as legislators.

Some women see bias in the excitement surrounding a potential presidential run by Beto ORourke, the Texan who energized the left in a losing Senate bid, while Stacey Abrams is not mentioned as a possibility even though she had a much narrower loss for governor of Georgia.

Theres a real tension, said Neera Tanden, the president of the Center for American Progress and a former policy adviser to Mrs. Clinton. On one hand, women are leading the resistance and deserve representation. But on the other side, theres a fear that if misogyny beat Clinton, it can beat other women.
A shutdown has these cascading effects on the scientific work of the organization, said Daniel M. Ashe, a former director of the Fish and Wildlife Service. Theyre hard to foresee or predict right now, but theyre crippling, really, and they affect the organization not for three or four weeks, but for the rest of the year because of all of this complex orchestration of field work.

The Fish and Wildlife Service declined to comment beyond its published contingency plan, an eight-page document covering nearly 8,400 employees.

The effects could soon reach beyond government workers and labs, and scientists who are not on Washingtons direct payroll have been fretting over how the shutdown might interrupt the flow of grant money to researchers across the United States. The National Science Foundation, which underwrites billions of dollars in research each year, will cancel dozens of proposal review panel meetings this month if the government remains closed. Other agencies that dole out research money have also effectively put their plans for future spending on hold.

Having that review process literally shut down now, plus also having the budget year truncated, puts a ton of pressure in terms of getting money out to the states and these federal-state partnerships in order to do science, said Dr. W. Russell Callender, the director of Washington Sea Grant, which receives money from NOAA and is based at the University of Washington.

You need the feds as a partner in order to be able to conduct the science the states need, said Dr. Callender, a former NOAA official, and to be able to get the money the states need.

The turmoil also spread elsewhere in higher education. Andrew Dessler, a professor of atmospheric sciences at Texas A&M University, wrote on Twitter on Friday that he would not accept any new graduate students because he had proposals pending with NASA and the National Science Foundation.

I dont want to accept a student and then find out I dont have funding for them, he wrote.

Stopgap solutions, scientists said, will prove unworkable if the shutdown lasts for months or even years, as Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader, said President Trump threatened on Friday.
He did not even want to be Hector anymore, said Jose Disla, a close friend and fellow Xtrava who Hector eventually decided was his biological cousin. He wanted to be grandfather.

Also: He loved hearing regularly that he looked great for his age.

To earn money, he continued to work retail jobs, scraping together spare coins for balls and lending assistance to Xtravaganzas like Manuel Torres, whom he helped transition from pornography to nursing.

Even when money got tight and Hector moved to a smaller place in the Bronx, he exuded sunshine and optimism. A pier queen Dr. Seuss, his pearls of wisdom included dont treat a peep like a punk from the street and dont read the child, teach the child.

The man could barely contain his excitement when he was asked two years ago to consult on Pose.

His motto on set, said Jennie Livingston, who also worked as a consultant on Pose, was let me help the kids, and let me promote the scene, and let me not get into a lot of gossip and drama that obviously attends the whole world but the ball world in some very particular ways.

It was hard to completely avoid it. His disinclination toward conflict could frustrate the Xtravaganzas current father, Mr. Gutierez, especially when Hector sat on a judges panel at a ball and didnt stand up forcefully for a house kid who got chopped.

In November 2018, shortly after Hector and the Xtravaganzas were profiled in New York, Hector was honored at an AIDS benefit and was incorrectly credited as the founder of the House of Xtravaganza.
For the countrys sake, there is only one acceptable outcome, just as there was after Americans realized in 1974 that a criminal was occupying the Oval Office. The president must go.

Achieving this outcome wont be easy. It will require honorable people who have served in the Trump administration to share, publicly, what they have seen and what they believe. (At this point, anonymous leaks are not sufficient.) It will require congressional Republicans to acknowledge that they let a con man take over their party and then defended that con man. It will require Democrats and progressive activists to understand that a rushed impeachment may actually help Trump remain in office.

But if removing him will not be easy, its not as unlikely as it may sometimes seem. From the beginning, Trump has been an unusually weak president, as political scientists have pointed out. Although members of Congress have not done nearly enough to constrain him, no other recent president has faced nearly so much public criticism or private disdain from his own party.

Since the midterm election showed the political costs that Trump inflicts on Republicans, this criticism seems to be growing. They have broken with him on foreign policy (in Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Syria) and are anxious about the government shutdown. Trump is vulnerable to any erosion in his already weak approval rating, be it from an economic downturn, more Russia revelations or simply the defection of a few key allies. When support for an unpopular leader starts to crack, it can crumble.

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Before we get to the how of Trumps removal, though, I want to spend a little more time on the why  because even talking about the ouster of an elected president should happen only under extreme circumstances. Unfortunately, the country is now so polarized that such talk instead occurs with every president. Both George W. Bush and Barack Obama were subjected to reckless calls for their impeachment, from members of Congress no less.

So lets be clear. Trumps ideology is not an impeachable offense. However much you may disagree with Trumps tax policy  and I disagree vehemently  it is not a reason to remove him from office. Nor are his efforts to cut government health insurance or to deport undocumented immigrants. Such issues, among others, are legitimate matters of democratic struggle, to be decided by elections, legislative debates, protests and the other normal tools of democracy. These issues are not the treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors that the founders intended impeachment to address.
Secrecy about income and money is defeatist. Anat Shenker-Osorio, a messaging expert, discovered that in focus groups which included middle-class people, she heard a lot of expressions of self-loathing. Between refrains about the cost of living and remarks like I cant get the kids to college, participants made statements that conveyed their deeply held belief that not making it meant they were not working hard enough.

They have imbibed this idea that your economic well-being is traceable principally to your own efforts, Ms. Shenker-Osorio said.

As a result, what the electorate doesnt need to hear are Horatio Alger stories of how candidates worked their way up from humble origins, with the implied moral that anyone can make it in America with enough hard work. These kinds of tales can insidiously lead middle-class people today to blame themselves more for not flourishing.

Instead, the new Congress and candidates of the future should tell voters that its O.K. to be mad about being in debt, that this is a savage society we now live in. They could talk about their own experience of debt, be it student or medical, or the debt of someone in their family. (What makes this a bit harder is how unrelatabl e, and depressing, the wealth of our Congress still is: in 2015, it was majority millionaire.)

To win the anxious middle-class vote, politicians must offer real solutions for the challenges in the lives of these voters, especially on health care and education. One example of this is the scholarship program that Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York put in place: 940,000 middle-class families and individuals making up to $125,000 per year will qualify to attend tuition-free at colleges in the New York State and New York City public university systems. Though not perfect, its a step in the right direction.

It is important to get these voters beyond the shame of debt, perhaps by allowing student debtors to be able to declare bankruptcy related to student loans, something that is nearly impossible to do now, and obtain debt forgiveness.

An actual Medicare for all proposal would get at the heart of what is a real challenge for many. Michele Lamont, a sociologist at Harvard who specializes in culture and inequality, told me that her work found that when candidates promote a policy like Medicare for all, even if it doesnt come to fruition they are signaling that they understand voters need for solidarity and give voice to their hopes and difficulties by making them visible .
In the odious 2018 film Peppermint, Jennifer Garner acts out a Trumpian fantasy. As a suburban mom whose husband and daughter were killed by Latino drug dealers, she becomes a one-woman vigilante army, killing a series of Latino assassins and destroying a pinata warehouse that doubles as a drug lords secret headquarters. The New Yorker called it a racist film that reflects the current strain of anti-immigrant politics and its paranoid focus on MS-13.

Like the drug dealers in Peppermint, the bad guys in Latino drug war films are often a mishmash of tropes and stereotypes. The cartel operatives in SEAL Team resemble an Islamic State army as they launch a Benghazi-style attack on the shows heroes. The Americans take refuge in a Mexican church and summon other Navy SEALS to rescue them. The show aired not long after Mr. Trump sent troops to the Mexican border to stop a caravan of Central Americans.

Hollywood has become addicted to the narco narrative because it offers a tried-and-true tale of good and evil on an epic scale.

The new Netflix series Narcos: Mexico features an excellent, nuanced performance by Diego Luna as a smart, enterprising and deeply flawed man. But watching Mr. Luna build his empire, I longed to see a Latino actor play a big Hollywood role without seeing him leave the usual trail of cocaine and severed heads in his wake.

In The Mule, Mr. Eastwood plays an older man filled with regrets after a lifetime of alienating his wife and daughter. The drug dealers are really just stand-ins for forces that are eating away at many American families: rampant gun violence and the cruel logic of capitalism. The bad guys in narco films are always ruthless hyper-entrepreneurs, and in The Mule they tell Mr. Eastwoods character, We own your ass. In The Mule, as in countless films of lesser quality, Latino stereotypes become symbols of a white mans powerlessness and his unchecked desires. For his role in Ozark, Jason Bateman earned a Golden Globe nomination as yet another ordinary gringo caught up in the machinations of a Mexican cartel.

Meanwhile, in real life, Latinos are acting out their own human foibles, and trying to build their own private empires, in fields that dont involve criminal activity. They manage your local Walmart, study law, get divorced, attend cosplay conventions, and do all sorts of things you rarely see them do in mainstream American television and film.

The dominant story among the more than 57 million Latino people in the United States is not the drug war: Its inequality, immigrant ambition and the wounds caused by the separation of extended families. These themes await a treatment as virtuosic as There Will Be Blood, or as smart and cutting as Get Out.
[Never be uninteresting. Read the most thought-provoking, funny, delightful and raw stories from The New York Times Opinion section.]

All your senses are heightened at night; everything is amplified. When you hear rustling leaves, it is as if you can pick out each individual flutter. The scurrying of small mammals offers a complex, scratchboard choreography. Listen hard along an internal register, and you sometimes pick up the pounding thud of your heart, or a mysterious whooshing that swirls through your ears like a miniature mistral. The cognitive realms of insomnia frequently resemble the dippy altered states induced by psychotropic drugs. (And of course, like a bad trip, the night can be full of terror: hypnagogic hallucinations causing mysterious shadows to sway before your open eyes or inducing furniture to hulk and loom.)

Just as artists, writers and seekers have used drugs to expand their minds, so have many sleepless souls wondered at one time or other if the insomniac mind, pushed to its lateral limits, might not yield insights as well as torments. Might there be some small comfort amid the suffering?

After all, once in a while, an unexpectedly profound thought will suddenly coalesce out of the dying remnants of a dream  and then I chase it down, all my insomniac energy bent on its capture. Again, I am reminded of Nabokov, delighting in the way his insomnia would explode in a sunburst, filling his head with ideas and fancies to feed his creative soul. The challenge involved, as Walt Whitman saw it, is to see the sparkles of starshine on the icy and pallid earth and then sweat the night into words, as the poet Bernard Spencer more practically put it in his poem Night-Time: Starting to Write.

Maybe insomnia itself is a portal that encourages trafficking between the conscious and unconscious minds. On the one hand, as Alice Robb argues in her new book, Why We Dream, you can train yourself into lucid dreaming, exerting directorial control over the night brains filmic productions. Think of it, perhaps, as a form of scenario planning. Flip the direction of travel, though, and you become alert to the process Freud described when he wrote that during the day we drive shafts into our fresh chains of thought, and these shafts make contact with dream thoughts. This is how night and day fertilize each other. This  Ive come to believe  is how creativity is born.

As ever, Freuds grasp of the minds quirks proved prescient. Sleep scientists now speak of states in which the brain is neither awake nor sleeping, but both. According to Rubin Naiman at the Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, parts of the brain can drift into sleep during the day, effectively making sleepwalkers of us all, or shut down entirely, producing a flash sleep that endures for milliseconds and is experienced merely as a fractional slip of attention or momentary blackout. Perhaps, after all, sleep, not wakefulness, constitutes the minds default mode. And if that is the case, then perhaps insomnia is consciousnesss determined revenge.

Marina Benjamin (@marinab52) is the author, most recently, of Insomnia.
WASHINGTON  Lucky theres no Saturday detention at the Capitol.

Republicans  and some Democrats  would certainly make like Mr. Vernon, the Breakfast Club disciplinarian, and lock down the irrepressible Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Shes only been in town a moment and has already, in this city of acronyms, become famous enough to supersede the shorthand for the Architect of the Capitol.

A.O.C. now simply signifies the congresswoman from the Bronx and Queens.

No longer content with Nancy Pelosi, the right craves a new she-devil. Republicans have mocked Ocasio-Cortezs hardscrabble story, howled at her proposal to soak the rich with a 70 percent tax, scrutinized her clothes and booed her at Pelosis swearing-in. A.O.C. saucily tweeted back, Dont hate me cause you aint me, fellas.

The frenzy reached new absurdity when a tweet popped up with a video of her with friends at Boston University doing a dance from The Breakfast Club, with this slam: Here is Americas favorite commie know-it-all acting like the clueless nitwit she is. Holy Footloose.

It is unsurprising to me that Republicans would think having fun should be disqualifying or illegal, she told The Hill.
President Trump on Friday said that he was considering the declaration of a national emergency along the border with Mexico, which he apparently believes would allow him to divert funds from the military budget to pay for a wall, and to use military personnel to build it.

While it is hard to know exactly what the president has in mind, or whether he has any conception about what it would entail, one thing is clear: Not only would such an action be illegal, but if members of the armed forces obeyed his command, they would be committing a federal crime.

Begin with the basics. From the founding onward, the American constitutional tradition has profoundly opposed the presidents use of the military to enforce domestic law. A key provision, rooted in an 1878 statute and added to the law in 1956, declares that whoever willfully uses any part of the Army or the Air Force to execute a law domestically shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years  except when expressly authorized by the Constitution or Act of Congress.

Another provision, grounded in a statute from 1807 and added to the law in 1981, requires the secretary of defense to ensure that any activity (including the provision of any equipment or facility or the assignment or detail of any personnel) must not include or permit direct participation by a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps in a search, seizure, arrest, or other similar activity unless participation in such activity by such member is otherwise authorized by law.
Harold Brown, a brilliant scientist who helped develop Americas nuclear arsenal and negotiate its first strategic arms control treaty, and who was President Jimmy Carters secretary of defense in an era of rising Soviet challenges, died on Friday at his home in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. He was 91.

His daughter Deborah Brown said the cause was pancreatic cancer.

As defense secretary from 1977 to 1981, Mr. Brown presided over the most formidable power in history: legions of intercontinental ballistic missiles and fleets of world-ranging bombers and nuclear submarines, with enough warheads to wipe out Soviet society many times over. But that was hardly the question.

In an age that imperiled humanity with nuclear Armageddon, the issue was whether America could keep pace with Soviet strategic capabilities, maintaining the balance of terror  an assurance of mutual destruction, with hundreds of millions killed outright  that had dominated the nuclear arms race and strategic planning throughout the postwar era.

In those days, Dr. Strangelove, Stanley Kubricks 1964 black comedy film about the doctrine of mutually assured destruction, shaded debates over nuclear strategy because the concept of deterrence was based on the dubious assumption that if the Russians launched a surprise nuclear attack, America could survive and retaliate, devastating Soviet cities and strategic targets, although millions would die.
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Inside a police station house in Queens about a year ago, St. Clair Steward insisted he had not been involved in a recent shooting. Mr. Steward told the police he had been resting at home.

Investigators did not believe him. The motive behind the shooting was a mystery, but the victim had combed through pictures of people with past arrests and identified Mr. Steward, a father of eight, as the assailant.

To the detectives involved, the shooting in January 2018 was just the latest in a long line of crimes solved by asking a victim to search through mug shots, an investigative technique used in New York City for more than 150 years. Detectives enter a description of the perpetrator into a database, which then spits out dozens or even hundreds of matching photos. The witness scrolls through, in hopes of recognizing the culprit.

But these open-ended photo searches also increase the likelihood of ensnaring an innocent person, according to studies and experts in eyewitness identification. The method has few safeguards to protect against a false identification and can lead police to focus on the wrong person from the outset of an investigation.
Mr. Guevara returned to El Salvador about once a year to see his wife. After she became pregnant, the distance between them took on new poignancy.

It was a very emotional time, Ms. Ayala, 35, recalled, through an interpreter. I was so happy to finally become a mother, but, of course, it was difficult because you want your husband to be there to support you.

Image Isaac playing with his sisters feet. Credit... Gabriella Angotti-Jones/The New York Times

In 2013, Ms. Ayala gave birth to a son, Isaac, while Mr. Guevara, 3,000 miles away, waited for news. During their nightly chats, Ms. Ayala would put the phone to Isaacs ear so he could hear his fathers voice. She sent photos and videos each day. When Isaac was 9 months old, Mr. Guevara traveled to El Salvador to meet his son, holding his hands as the child took his first toddling steps along the beach.

When Mr. Guevara returned to Maryland, he began researching ways to bring his wife and child to his new home. He turned to the International Rescue Committee, one of the eight organizations supported by The New York Times Neediest Cases Fund.

A caseworker told him about the Central American Minors program, begun in 2014, which allowed the children of parents with temporary protected status to apply for permanent residency as refugees. As Isaacs mother and Mr. Guevaras wife, Ms. Ayala was also eligible.
An 11-year-old boy who died on New Years Day after visiting family members in Brooklyn may have had a fatal reaction to fish proteins released into the air while his relatives cooked.

The sixth grader, Cameron Jean-Pierre, had asthma and was allergic to fish and peanuts, his father, Steven Jean-Pierre, said on Thursday in an interview with WABC.

They had been visiting Camerons grandmother in the Canarsie neighborhood of Brooklyn, where one of his relatives was making fish, and Cameron had an asthma attack, Mr. Jean-Pierre said.

Camerons father treated his son with a nebulizer, a device they had used many times in the past to deliver medicine to the boys lungs.
Elizabeth Patricia Frei and Benjamin Franklin Duchek were married Dec. 31. The Rev. William H. Gurnee III officiated at St. Josephs on Capitol Hill, a Roman Catholic church in Washington, where he is the pastor.

Mrs. Duchek, 30, is a special assistant to the assistant secretary for strategy, planning, analysis and risk at the Department of Homeland Security in Washington. She graduated from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul.

She is a daughter of Tracey Wold Frei and Thomas A. Frei of Fargo, N.D.

Mr. Duchek, 40, joined the United States Army in 2008, and is now a captain in the Army Reserve, serving as a civil affairs officer at the Southern Command, in Doral, Fla. He was an artillery officer while on active duty, and did two tours in Afghanistan. He is also now developing a consultancy specializing in technology in emerging markets, and working in Washington. He graduated from the University of Maryland and received a masters degree in public administration from N.Y.U.

He is a son of Barbara Ruzicka Duchek and John R. Duchek of Oakville, Mo.

The couple connected through Tinder, the dating app, in late December 2016, but didnt meet in person until the following March. He was stationed at the time at Fort Dix, in New Jersey, but his position as a major generals aide brought him regularly to Washington, where Ms. Frei lives.
Love blossoms through the cold in Winter Castle, and sink your teeth into Twilight.

Whats on TV

WINTER CASTLE 8 p.m. on Hallmark. When Jenny (Emilie Ullerup) gets the chance to travel to an ice hotel for her sisters destination wedding, she finds herself enchanted not only by the winter wonderland, but by the best man, Craig (Kevin McGarry), too. It seems as if its a match made in heaven, until his plus one, Lana (Meghan Heffern), shows up and sloshes Jennys romantic dreams. But when Jenny and Craig find themselves together, they cant help but feel a connection, and they wonder if there might just be something worth exploring.

SAY YES TO THE DRESS 8 p.m. on TLC. The hunt for the perfect wedding dress returns to New Yorks very own Kleinfeld Bridal for the shows 17th season premiere. Randy Fenoli, whose eponymous bridal collection has debuted, stars.

Whats Streaming
WASHINGTON  Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will press Saudi Arabias leaders this month on diplomatic conclusions that the kingdom has failed to sufficiently answer for the October killing of the dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a senior American official said on Friday.

Turkish officials have said Mr. Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist who lived in Virginia, was beaten and dismembered when he visited the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul to get documents for his wedding. After his death, Saudi Arabia removed a few senior officials from their posts, and on Thursday a Saudi court held the first session in the trial of 11 suspects charged with Mr. Khashoggis death.

The American official spoke as part of a briefing organized for journalists by the State Department to preview Mr. Pompeos visits to eight Arab nations in the Middle East from Jan. 8 to Jan. 15. Four senior officials spoke on the call on the condition of anonymity, which the State Department demands for such briefings.

Separately, the department announced that a senior diplomat, James F. Jeffrey, is the new special envoy coordinating efforts to fight the Islamic State. Mr. Jeffrey will also continue as a special representative on Syria. The previous envoy, Brett McGurk, resigned last month after President Trump announced he was withdrawing all 2,000 American troops from Syria. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis had resigned in protest two days earlier.
Misconduct in the federal prison system is widespread, tolerated and routinely covered up or ignored, including among senior officials, according to a congressional report released this week.

The report, by the House Subcommittee on National Security, found that a permissive environment in the Bureau of Prisons had often made lower-ranking employees targets of abuse  including sexual assault and harassment  by prisoners and staff members.

Inmates can easily exploit that culture of permissiveness, the report said. If they know that an employee will get little support from management if harassed, that employee becomes a target.

The study underscores a New York Times investigation of federal prisons last year that found rampant sexual harassment, retaliation for those who spoke out and few consequences for those responsible.
WASHINGTON  The Trump administration announced late Friday night that it would freeze a pay raise for Vice President Mike Pence, members of the cabinet and other high-ranking political appointees in light of the partial government shutdown.

The high-level officials were positioned to receive a raise of about $10,000 a year  which was to go into effect on Saturday  as 800,000 federal employees were entering their third week without pay.

The increases were the result of Congresss failure to renew a longstanding freeze on raises for high-ranking officials and political appointees. An extension of the freeze was included in the spending bills funding multiple government agencies that were not acted on before the expiration on Thursday of the 115th Congress.

But on Friday night, the Office of Personnel Management announced that it would be prudent for agencies to continue to pay these senior political officials at the frozen rate until appropriations legislation is enacted that would clarify the status of the freeze.
Transportation Security Administration workers at several major airports around the country, working without pay since the partial government shutdown began on Dec. 22, have been calling in sick in heightened numbers, according to union and airport management officials.

More than 150 T.S.A. employees, many of them responsible for screening passengers, called in on Friday morning at Kennedy International Airport in New York to say they were ill or otherwise unable to work their shifts, according to a union official with knowledge of the situation.

The staffing gap was covered by other officers, who are also working without pay, the person said.

The so-called call-outs have spiked to three times their normal level at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, where an average of 25 T.S.A. employees usually call in sick per shift, a local official of the agency told CNN, which first reported on the story.

The shutdown has left 800,000 federal workers either on furlough or working without pay because their jobs are deemed essential.
WASHINGTON  Congress is reviewing the Trump administrations decision to lift sanctions on companies owned by Oleg V. Deripaska, an influential Russian oligarch with close ties to President Vladimir V. Putin, Democrats said on Friday.

The reviews could fuel a congressional effort to block the administrations decision, which came after an aggressive lobbying and legal campaign against the sanctions by Mr. Deripaskas corporate empire.

Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader, laid the groundwork to block the lifting of the sanctions on Friday, filing a congressional resolution disapproving of the move by the Treasury Department.

In a statement accompanying the resolution, Mr. Schumer said that critical questions remained unanswered about the agreement to lift the sanctions between the Treasury Department and Mr. Deripaskas companies, including the aluminum giant Rusal.
WASHINGTON  A federal judge in Washington has extended the term of a grand jury hearing evidence uncovered by the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, in his investigation into Russias interference in the 2016 presidential race and the Trump campaign.

The jurors, impaneled in July 2017, will continue to meet for up to six months. Beryl A. Howell, the chief judge of the Federal District Court in Washington, approved the extension ahead of the scheduled expiration of the grand jurys term this week.

The extension underscores that Mr. Muellers team continues to pursue leads about Russias covert effort to influence the results of the 2016 election, and whether anyone in the Trump campaign conspired with Moscow to help Donald J. Trump triumph over Hillary Clinton.

The prosecutors working for Mr. Mueller are believed to be writing a report for senior Justice Department officials summarizing their findings, but it is unclear how detailed it will be or how or whether it will be made public, including whether the White House could interfere with its release. Representative Jerrold Nadler, Democrat of New York and the new chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, told CNN on Friday, We will make sure it is public.
All of us, together, raising our voices  thats whats going to make real change, she said. And Iowa is going to have a big part of determining where we go next.

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The event not only kicked off Ms. Warrens campaign, but marked the starting point to what figures to be a long and grueling Democratic primary season. Dozens of candidates, including governors, senators and big-city mayors  many of whom will be new to the national stage  are considering joining the race in the coming months.

Some have characterized the 2020 Democratic nomination process as perhaps the most wide open since 1992: The party has no single leader, no obvious front-runner to challenge President Trump in 2020, and no broadly unifying ideology as it moves away from a quarter-century of dominance by the Clintons and Barack Obama.

Ms. Warren, who will be among the top-tier candidates no matter who else runs, has staked out a position as one of the partys most resolute voices on the left. Before she took questions from the audience, she laid out her overarching premise of Americas ills: too much corporate money in the political system, a retrenchment from government regulation in the market and even overt discrimination that has affected racial minorities.

It is an America right now who works for the rich and powerful. And we need to call it out for what it is: corruption pure and simple, Ms. Warren said. Whats happening to opportunity in this country? Why is the path so rocky for many  and why is it so much rockier for people of color?
For 70 years, women arriving at Marine Corps boot camp have learned to fire rifles, slide down ropes, and sprint through obstacle courses while separated from male counterparts. But now, for the first time, a platoon of women has been integrated into one of the all-male training groups.

The platoon of 50 women, training at Marine Recruit Depot Parris Island in South Carolina, will still perform most exercises apart from the men, but they will join together for larger training missions.

Its a small step  and one that would be a step backward for other military branches  but is a notable advance in integration for the Marine Corps, which has the lowest percentage of women of any military branch and for years has resisted efforts to integrate its fighting forces.

The rest of the military is already completely integrated when it comes to basic training. In Army infantry training, for example, women and men have been tramping through the woods in mixed squads for nearly two years. But the Marines have said that too much mixing would distract recruits, and perhaps intimidate female Marines.
Ive heard the Oscar season feels like a political campaign. Has that been your experience?

Yeah, its a political campaign with better fashion, I would say. Theres a whole lot of shaking hands and kissing babies, for sure. And a lot of selfie taking.

Why is it like that?

There are a lot of different reasons. There are smaller movies that have to rely on award-season attention, if they hope to stand out. Theres so much content out there, so much pop culture, and if youre in the Oscar conversation, it can be the difference between getting lost and having everybody know the name of your movie.

Also, for many people in Hollywood, winning an Oscar is something that theyve been rehearsing in a mirror since they were likely very young. So it provides them a critical canonization that maybe theyve long desired or wanted.

What can you learn from watching the publicity machine at work?

There are a lot of things you can parse. The more you do it, the more you can tell how confident a studio is in their campaign by simply looking at the restaurants they book or the stars or directors they get to co-host the party.

How do you think growing up in Southern California has impacted how you look at Hollywood?

I grew up just outside Los Angeles, which probably helps give me the right amount of distance but kept me close enough to understand how this system works.
FRONT PAGE

An article on Friday about Paul N. Whelans arrest in Russia described incorrectly his university education. Mr. Whelan attended Northern Michigan University from the fall semester of 1988 until the fall semester of 1990 but did not complete his bachelors degree, according to the school; he did not graduate from the University of Michigan. (The information came from Mr. Whelans Russian social media account, where he said he studied at the University of Michigan.)

NATIONAL

An article on Wednesday about how Native Americans have been affected by the government shutdown, using information from an Interior Department report from January 2018, gave outdated figures for the number of employees set to be furloughed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. It is 2,295 of 4,057, not 2,662 of 4,490.

BUSINESS

The Wheels column on Friday about high-end sound systems for cars misidentified an Acura model in reference to sound profiles. The RLX has a sound profile different from the hybrid versions, not the RDX.

WEEKEND ARTS

An article on Friday about recommended winter TV series misstated the premiere date for the third season of High Maintenance. It will debut on Jan. 20, not Jan. 19.
Granted, its a strange way to run a subway.

After three years of planning, and of anxiety for thousands of Brooklyn residents, a plan to shut the L train tunnel under the East River in April for 15 months of repairs jerked to a halt on Thursday. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that outside engineering experts, taking a fresh look at the tunnel, had come up with a way to make the repairs without immiserating commuters. Only night and weekend service would be disrupted or delayed, he said.

The news was greeted with great relief by many, skepticism by some, and the word duh by still others, who, while perhaps not experts on mass transit, found themselves wondering why such a seemingly obvious idea hadnt surfaced much earlier.

Why, some asked, was the governor getting involved so late? Why hadnt the Metropolitan Transportation Authority considered this innovative technique years ago? How could the M.T.A. have any credibility with its long-suffering customers after this?

These are good questions, maybe less about the new proposal than about the system as a whole, which, apparently, requires a bolt out of the blue, or Albany, to shake things up. To respond to them in reverse order: Did the M.T.A. have much credibility to begin with? Is it any surprise that it hadnt considered a simpler alternative given its record of delays and fiascos? And does it make any difference why Mr. Cuomo got involved so late if it turns out that he has now come up with a better solution?
Reaffirming that much progress remains to be made  in moving the nation toward a more integrated society, Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in a 5-4 Supreme Court decision in 2015 that it was appropriate for the Fair Housing Act of 1968 to let discrimination be measured by its disparate impact on minorities even if there was not proof of intentional discrimination.

The reason, as he noted , is that discrimination doesnt just happen overtly, that governments and private actors sometimes take actions that fall hardest  or have a disparate impact  on people of color or other groups .

But the Trump administration, which has already rolled back Justice Department oversight of police departments and Education Department protections for transgender students, may be targeting the principle of disparate impact in its latest effort to undermine civil rights enforcement, according to a report in The Washington Post.

Of course, some trial balloons floated out of the Trump administration vanish into the ether without becoming policy. May this be one of them. The reported changes would be a major shift in the way the executive branch has enforced civil rights laws for the past few decades.
Napoleon is said to have remarked that if he had been killed in 1812 as he entered Moscow in triumph, he would have gone down in history as the greatest general who ever lived. Then came the retreat, the long limp back to France, and unspeakable loss.

Good timing in death, as in any departure, is important. I have been thinking about this in relation to the passing last month of Amos Oz, the great Israeli novelist whom I counted as a friend. He was the conscience of Israel, true to the founding ideals of the nation and to Judaism itself, and he went as every idea he had stood for  peace, compromise, dignity, decency and human rights  is being trampled in the Holy Land and beyond.

Oz, at least, will be spared the spectacle of Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, fawning over an American president, Donald Trump, whose notion of peace in the Middle East seems to be a dismissal of every Palestinian claim. He will be spared the littleness of the leaders of Israel and Palestine. He will be spared their cowardice. He will be spared the farce of Jared Kushners ideas about peace, should they ever issue from His Languidness. History is spinning backward.

I would meet Oz at his Tel Aviv apartment. He was an early riser. His best working hours were between 5:30 and 8:30 a.m. You have to work very hard for your readers not to note a single false note, he told me. That is the business of three-quarters-of-a-million decisions. He told me, with that twinkling smile of his, about receiving a literary prize from China and telling a crowd in Beijing how honored he was because between them the Chinese and the Jews represented close to 20 percent of humanity.
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In 2007, an unlikely figure vowed to leave the Sinaloa drug cartel: Vicente Zambada Niebla, a son of one of its leaders and the groups heir apparent.

As strange as it was that a cartel prince wanted to quit the empire that he had been groomed to run, Mr. Zambadas plan to escape the enterprise was even more unusual: His fathers partner, Joaquin Guzman Loera, the crime lord known as El Chapo, offered to put him in touch with federal drug agents in the United States, he said.

While many of the details of Mr. Zambadas departure from the drug trade are still shrouded in secrecy, he talked about some of them for first time Friday on the witness stand at Mr. Guzmans drug trial in New York.

At 32, Mr. Zambada told the jurors, he had grown weary of the narco life and asked his father, Ismael Zambada Garcia, for permission to retire. It was then, he said, that Mr. Guzman made an astonishing proposal: He offered to reach out to his contacts in the Drug Enforcement Administration and see if they would meet with the young man.
WASHINGTON  The Food and Drug Administration is accusing Juul and Altria of reneging on promises they made to the government to keep e-cigarettes away from minors.

Dr. Scott Gottlieb, the agencys commissioner, is drafting letters to both companies that will criticize them for publicly pledging to remove nicotine flavor pods from store shelves, while secretly negotiating a financial partnership that seems to do the opposite. He plans to summon top executives of the companies to F.D.A. headquarters to explain how they will stick to their agreements given their new arrangement.

Dr. Gottlieb was disconcerted by the commitments the companies made in the deal announced Dec. 19, under which Altria, the nations largest maker of traditional cigarettes, agreed to purchase a 35 percent  $13 billion  stake in Juul, the rapidly growing e-cigarette start-up whose products have become hugely popular with teenagers. Public health officials, as well as teachers and parents, fear that e-cigarettes have created a new generation of nicotine addicts.

Juul and Altria made very specific assertions in their letters and statements to the F.D.A. about the drivers of the youth epidemic, Dr. Gottlieb said in an interview. Their recent actions and statements appear to be inconsistent with those commitments.
In repeated e-mail discussions I had with Mr. Bollinger and other administrators, they justified inviting Mr. Ahmadinejad to speak at our campus because he would be engaged in debate and asked hard questions. Yet Mr. Bollinger admitted at the conclusion of his remarks that he did not expect Mr. Ahmadinejad to answer any of his hard questions.

Columbias Middle East studies faculty owes it to the students to invite more credible representatives of Iranian culture and politics. In my field of biomedical sciences, a scholar of such low repute would not be invited to speak at Columbia University. This theater of the absurd was staged by a tiny minority of faculty whose political agenda supersedes the academic standards that Columbia University should stand for.

Andrew R. Marks, M.D.

New York, Sept. 25, 2007

The writer is professor and chairman, department of physiology and cellular biophysics at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.



To the Editor:

Lee C. Bollingers speech before President Mahmoud Ahmadinejads showing at Columbia was another display of Americas foreign policy of late: If we dont like your policies or your president, we insult, we bully and, just maybe, we bomb. Then, as Mr. Bollinger did, we applaud ourselves and our actions because we support freedom. Constructive dialogue: never heard of it. If Mr. Bollinger didnt really want to open dialogue, as was clear from his speech, he shouldnt have extended the invitation.

Iran isnt a naughty child who needs to be beaten into cooperating; history and Iraq show that this strategy rarely works in the long term. By attacking and vilifying Mr. Ahmadinejad, an invited guest to Columbia, Mr. Bollinger distracted from and tainted what could have been a different showing from Mr. Ahmadinejad and effectively dashed any hopes of the lectures being a constructive one  and one that could have perhaps been the beginning of substantive dialogue with Iran. Reem Ali Abu-Libdeh
U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Gary, will make his way through Northwest Indiana in upcoming town forums.

I am looking forward to the 2019 Town Forums and hearing directly from residents about their issues of concern and how I can best serve and represent their interests this coming year in the 116th Congress, Visclosky said in a news release.

The forums will take place Jan. 18 and 19 throughout Indianas 1st Congressional District.

Town forums on Jan. 18 are as follows:

10 a.m., Michigan City, City Hall, 100 E. Michigan Blvd.

Noon, Porter County Government Center, 155 Indiana Ave., Valparaiso

2 p.m., Woodland Park, 2100 Willowcreek Road, Portage

4 p.m., Purdue University Northwest, Student Union Library Building Room with a View, 2200 169th St., Hammond

6 p.m., Dyer Town Hall, 1 Town Square

Town forums on Jan. 19 are as follows:

11 a.m., Crown Point Civic Center, 101 S. East St.

1 p.m., The Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster
The newly approved rules take discretion away from the agency's director for grants above $2,500, and instead require review and approval by the commission, which is appointed by the governor. Under the rules, only veterans whose gross household income is no more than twice the federal poverty guideline may receive help. That's a limit of $24,120 for an individual or $49,200 for a household of four.

"There was discretion before and perhaps there weren't the best decisions made, but this rule will take care of any ambiguity," said Commission Chairman Erika Steuterman, a retired Air Force major general.

Lawmakers required the commission to establish rules for the program in 2016, but veteran advocates had long expressed concerns about potential abuse. The commission began the rule-making process in 2016, but it stalled for more than a year before pressure from veteran advocates forced that work to begin again last May.

Democratic Rep. Karlee Macer of Indianapolis said it's embarrassing that it took so long to get the rules in place.

"It's taken almost three years to get accomplished and we've had a lot of shenanigans in between then," she said. "It's embarrassing to veterans and it's embarrassing to our state."

Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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SCHERERVILLE  Auditions for Indiana Youth Ballets Peter Pan, a storybook ballet, will be held Jan. 13 and Jan. 20.

Come at the appropriate time according to child's age and experience. All ages and ablility levels are welcome.

Jan. 13

1:30 p.m. ages 5-6, all levels

2 p.m. ages 7-8, all levels

2:30 p.m. all tumblers/ages 9 and over with 3 years of dance training

3 p.m. ages 9-10, more than 3 years of dance training

3:30 p.m. ages 11-12, more than 3 years of dance training

4:30 p.m. ages 13 & older, more than 3 years of dance training

Jan. 20

1:30 p.m. ages 5-8

2 p.m. ages 9 & older

3 p.m. callbacks

4:30 p.m. mandatory parent meeting

Note: It is highly recommended that children attend the audition on Jan. 13. If you are unable to attend that audition, you may attend the secondary audition on Jan. 20.

Auditions will be held at St. John Township Community Center, 1515 W. Lincoln Highway. Peter Pan will be performed April 25-28.

For audition details and more information on Indiana Youth Ballets productions, visit IYBs website at www.indianayouthballet.com or contact Artistic Director Elizabeth Bathurst at admin@indianayouthballet.com.

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INDIANAPOLIS  Twice in the past two decades, and five times in the history of the United States, a presidential candidate has won the White House despite his opponent receiving more votes from the American people.

State Sen. Karen Tallian, D-Ogden Dunes, wants to change that, so the will of the voters is superior to the quirks of the Electoral College.

Tallian is proposing in Senate Bill 212 that Indiana join Illinois and the 11 other states that have signed on to the National Popular Vote Compact.

Under the compact, which is authorized by the U.S. Constitution's provision for interstate agreements, Indiana's electoral votes automatically would be awarded to the national popular vote winner, regardless of which presidential candidate got the most votes in Indiana.

The compact is due to take effect once its state members have 270 electoral votes, the minimum needed to elect a president.

States that already have joined the compact hold 172 electoral votes. Adding Indiana's 11 votes would leave just 87 electoral votes to go.

"The idea is to get past that stranglehold that the Electoral College has on our popular vote," Tallian said.
She became like a family member, that's how close we ended up getting, Frassinone said.

Bennett received the maximum six years, but two of those years were suspended, for a total of four years to be served with the Indiana Department of Corrections, according to Judge Salvador Vasquez's office.

How do you do that to somebody's child and how do you never take accountability for what you've done to someone's family? Frassinone said. It's a really hard situation and I hope no one has to go through it, but unfortunately it's common nowadays. We are just glad we could put away one person who should have no contact with children by any means, for any reason.

Now that the three-year-long case has come to a close, Frassinone said it's as if a weight has been lifted off of the family's shoulders. The mother said she and her husband are focused on making sure Gio gets the medical care he needs and helping him grow and overcome developmental delays.
Up to five witnesses spoke with police, including a woman who said she was sleeping on the couch when she was awoken by a gunshot. She told officers she saw Givens at the kitchen table with a gun in his hand sitting across from victim, according to court documents.

The woman woke up the other people who were asleep in the house. Another witness said he took the gun from Givens and handed it to his father, who removed the magazine.

One witness said Givens had arrived at the residence around 11 p.m. Wednesday to speak with a man at the residence but was unable to because the man was already asleep, the document said.

The witness said Givens left the residence shortly after he arrived, but returned around 2 a.m. and had drinks with the victim. The witness said Givens later asked the victim to drive him to a gas station, and the two returned shortly after.

In a recorded statement with police, Givens said he had arrived at the residence Wednesday, left to go to a strip club, and then returned to talk with the victim, who gave him a ride.

Givens also told police that he was carrying a gun even though he is a felon and cannot be carrying a weapon. He told police he had the gun in his jacket, which he placed on the kitchen table.
BEVERLY SHORES  The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore has identified a man who allegedly battered a woman at 9:25 a.m. Friday in the parking lot at Kemil Beach, according to a news release.

The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore has not yet released the man's identity.

A 47-year-old Michigan City woman told park rangers she was punched by a male subject. The male was described as 6 feet tall, white, with a gray mustache and beard. He was also wearing a black cap, mirrored sunglasses and a green vest.

The man also had a black Labrador mix with him named Lucky, the release states.

The incident allegedly was the result of a road rage spat on east State Park Boundary Road, the release states.

Images of the male's vehicle were captured on video where the alleged battery took place. The vehicle was described as a mustard Jeep Wrangler Rubicon with Ohio license plates, the release states.

Any information on the suspect or for additional inquiries, please contact the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Dispatch center at 219-395-1008 or email richard_eshenaur@nps.gov.

Check back at nwi.com for updates.

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Inside, black serves as a narrative thread for large design elements including a floating fireplace, a stained pinewood wall in the master suite, and a glass wall in the shower. Punctuation is added with black cowhide rugs; curvy Bibendum chairs by Eileen Gray; and Eero Saarinen Womb chairs.

"Black has properties that make it ideal for interior design: It's calming to the eye, it's elegant and it underscores organic beauty," says Mark Zeff.

"Some may think white is a more 'natural' choice, but it's actually much starker in comparison to black when blended with an environment. Because of the use of black, our home appears to hunker down and stay closer to the earth, like a natural landmark."

Adds Kristen Zeff: "We also like that black can paradoxically open up a smaller space when applied as a paint, to make a room feel much larger than if white is used. The illusion is achieved by tricking the eye into not knowing where a room ends, by disguising the edges."

She says they painted pine wood with Benjamin Moore's Black Jack. "The grain comes through, to develop a texture that deepens the shade."

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On Oct. 1, Wyndham Grand's five U.S. resorts began offering prime spots by the pool, free snacks and the chance to win return visits when guests put their phone in a soft, locked pouch. The phones stay with the guests, but only hotel staff can unlock the pouches.

Wyndham says 250 people have used the pouches so far at resorts in Florida and Texas. The program will be found at more Wyndham hotels next year.

Wyndham Grand resorts also give families a 5 percent discount on their stay if they put their phones in a timed lockbox. The hotel provides supplies for a pillow fort, s'mores, a bedtime book and an instant camera for adults and kids who don't know what to do with all the newfound time on their hands.

That appeals to Matthew Cannata, who heads public relations for the New Britain, Connecticut, schools. He worries about the impact of technology on his two young children, and he tries to keep devices out of sight during family meals.

"Any chance I can get to put the phone away is great. Sometimes, people need to be forced to do things to start a thought process and then create a habit," he said.

Myriad strategies employed
WASHINGTON  A year defined by the political power of women is ending with men enjoying much of the attention.

Outgoing Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke, former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders have emerged as early favorites in the opening phase of the 2020 campaign. All the attention on the presidential prospects of this white male trio might seem to miss the message of the midterm elections, in which a record number of women were elected to public office across the country.

The dynamic puts Democrats in an awkward position weeks after the midterm victories, with Rep. Nancy Pelosi having regained the speaker's gavel as the highest-ranking woman in Washington.

And it raises an uncomfortable question for the party: Two years after Hillary Clinton fell short of the presidency, are Democrats ready to nominate another woman to take on President Donald Trump?

"Women voters and women activists are feeling much more empowered than they ever have," Cecile Richards, who led Planned Parenthood for more than a decade, said in an interview.

"I don't know whether it will be in the first place or the second place. But I cannot imagine a woman not being on this ticket, because women are going to demand it."
San Francisco-based Imperfect Produce plans to launch its subscription service for "ugly" fruits and vegetables in Northwest Indiana.

The company will start selling Region subscribers boxes of malformed produce that otherwise would have gone to waste on Jan. 14.

"One in five fruits and vegetables grown in the U.S. dont meet the strict cosmetic standards of grocery stores, usually causing them to go to waste on the farm," the company said in a press release. "The curvy carrot, the miniature cherry and the oddly-shaped orange are all delicious and nutritious but are often left to rot in fields or sent to the local landfill. Imperfect is on a social mission to eliminate food waste, help farmers benefit from a full harvest and make healthy fruits and vegetables more accessible and affordable."

The three-year-old company said it already has recovered more than 26 million pounds of produce across the United States.

Founders Ben Simon, Ben Chesler and Aleks Strub started the company in 2015 after Simon's Food Recovery Network nonprofit, aimed at reducing waste in college cafeterias, spread from the University of Maryland to more than 180 university campuses across the country.
BAYSE  Lauren Whitzke had an ideal life that steadily slipped away as she became engulfed in the throes of drug addiction.
NPPD states that the Southwest Power Pool would have another entity build the project if NPPD doesnt and that Nebraskans would rather that NPPD build it. The power pool wants NPPD to build it because NPPD has eminent domain  almost unlimited condemnation authority leaving landowners with significant line-related liability and minimal options. After five years of efforts at easement acquisition, more than 80 miles remain to be acquired. NPPD says most easements are obtained voluntarily. There is nothing voluntary about eminent domain. NPPD ignores this truth.

Siting of the R-Project through the Sandhills is not necessary to achieve enhanced reliability, congestion relief and weather protection. The only goal is wind energy development in the Sandhills.Other siting options are available. NPPD ignores this truth.

NPPD spoon-feeds its elected board members. They know what NPPD wants them to know, but the board has poorly represented constituents. NPPD ignores this truth.

The R-Project is $5.5 million over budget for the pre-construction phase and projected to be $50 million to $100 million over budget for its construction. NPPD and other Nebraska utilities already produce energy in excess of our states needs. Tax dollars could be better spent. NPPD ignores this truth.
The longtime 4-H educator for Lincoln, Logan and McPherson counties is transitioning to a new position with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension.

Brenda Aufdenkamp, who has been 4-H educator in the area since 1998, will continue to be based in North Platte. Her new focus is food, nutrition and health education, and her coverage area has expanded to include Keith, Perkins and Arthur counties.

The university is accepting applications for the 4-H educator position.

Aufdenkamp said she will provide educational programs to area schools, youth in the universitys 4-H program and adults. She will teach ServSafe certification classes for restaurant managers and employees, too, relieving some of the load of educators who have come from outside the area to provide the service.

This new position will increase opportunities for people in the area to receive this type of education, Aufdenkamp said. She will coordinate her activities with the universitys Nutrition Education Program but will not be limited to schools or audiences in low-income areas. She will reach out to schools that have not had such opportunities in the past.
An official Huawei Twitter account (@Huawei) has been caught sending its celebratory New Year's message from an iPhone. It was quickly picked up by the vlogger MKBHD on his own Twitter feed. A Reuters report claims that the employees responsible for this mishap had been fined and sanctioned by the company, as it "damaged the Huawei brand".

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@Huawei, an official company Twitter account, send a message wishing its followers a "Happy #2019" from the electronics OEM. A charming little display of corporate goodwill, perhaps; however, it quickly went wrong for the firm, especially for the employees who approved the message. It quickly became apparent that they had not used an own-brand device to send the Tweet, but had in fact used an iPhone instead. This message, sent at 23:31 on December 31, was quickly spotted for what it was by the YouTuber MKBHD.

Huawei is now an international brand, and probably benefits from communicating in international terms. However, it is also still a Chinese company, and as such needs VPNs to gain access to equally global platforms, Twitter included. Huawei has indicated to Reuters reporters that its outsourced social media service, Sapient, had lost access to its own VPN at the time the Tweet was sent. Therefore, this organization resorted to using an iPhone with a roaming-enabled SIM to get it sent on time.

Nevertheless, this mis-step resulted in punitive action against two employees deemed responsible for it. Both staff members were reportedly demoted by one rank within the firm, and have had their salaries reduced by about US$728 (or 5000 yuan) per month. The company announced that it has also barred one of the employees, a digital marketing director, from any possible pay increases for a year.

The Twitter account's New Year's message subsequently re-appeared on its timeline in the course of January 1, minus the offending client tag. This is not the first time Huawei has been caught using content created on off-brand devices, but may be the first time the consequences for individual employees was made so public. Presumably, everyone in the company will be more careful about the devices they use for their official work in the future.
Napoleon, OH (43545)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Mainly clear skies after midnight. Low 57F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Mainly clear skies after midnight. Low 57F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
The following incidents that occurred in Lycoming County were compiled from faxed reports received since December 27, 2018 from Pennsylvania State Police in Montoursville:

Harassment Communication - 1/1/19 at 4:31 p.m. at Pepper Street, Muncy Creek Township. PSP Montoursville responded to a report of two individuals having issues with each other. Upon arrival, it was found the defendant, a 27-year-old man of Danville, sent disturbing/threatening messages to a woman's phone after getting into an argument with her. Charges of harassment were filed at the office of District Magistrate Jon E. Kemp. Police did not name the individuals.

Harassment Physical Contact - 12/31/18 at 7:02 p.m. at E. Third Street, Loyalsock Township. PSP Montoursville responded to a report of a domestic in progress. Upon arrival, it was reported that a woman slapped a male victim in the face with an open hand leaving a red mark above his left eye. Charges were filed at the office of District Magistrate Gary A. Whiteman. Police did not name the individuals.

Drug Possession - 12/29/18 at 3:21 p.m. at 200 block of Middle Road, Limestone Township. Stephanie Emig, 40, and Robert Schell, 36, both of Jersey Shore, were found unresponsive in their vehicle. Multiple packets of a controlled substance were allegedly found in their possession and they were transported to Jersey Shore Hospital for medical treatment. Charges are pending.

PFA Violation - 12/23/18 at Loop Hill Road, Penn Township. On 12/24/18 at approximately 10:46 a.m. PSP investigated reports of a protection from abuse order. Further investigation indicated a PFA violation occurred. Brian Musser, 36, of Muncy, was taken into custody and was released after receiving unsecured bail.

Criminal Mischief - 12/23/18 at 2:45 a.m. at Denny's, 1716 E. Third St., Loyalsock Township. Three unidentified white males got into an altercation in the parking lot and caused damage to a victim's 2016 Kia Soul. Damage consisted of multiple scratches and a dent on the rear passenger side door. The men fled the scene. Anyone with information should call PSP at 570 368-5700 reference incident PA2018-1515674.

Harassment Threatening Physical Contact - 12/18/18 at 8:45 p.m. at Randall Circle, Loyalsock Township. Sabrina Williamson, 36, of Williamsport, and a 17-year-old girl were allegedly involved in a threatening verbal altercation. Charges are pending.

DUI - 12/17/18 at 1:39 a.m. at 500 block of Elm Drive, Wolf Township. Michael Irion, 36, of Muncy, was contacted for allegedly causing a disturbance. Upon further investigation, it was determined that Irion operated a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. He was placed into custody. Charges will be filed at the office of District Magistrate Jon E. Kemp.

Criminal Mischief - 12/16/18 at 7 p.m. and 12/17/18 at 7 a.m. at Elwood Road, Loyalsock Township. A white pickup truck and a light pole were vandalized. Anyone with information is asked to call PSP Montoursville at 570 368-5700.

DUI - 12/15/18 at 3:29 a.m. at Old Montgomery Pike Road/U.S. Highway 15. Karrie Hickman, 24, of Watsontown, was contacted on the highway with fresh damage to her vehicle. Upon further investigation, Hickman was determined to be under the influence of alcohol and was placed into custody for driving under the influence. Charges will be filed.

Harassment Physical Contact - 12/15/18 at 6:24 p.m. at Odell Road, Fairfield Township. Barry Sanders, 55, of Muncy, engaged in an argument with a woman that became physical when he allegedly threw a remote at the victim. He then allegedly proceeded to grab the victim from behind, grabbed her hair and then threw her to the ground. Charges were filed at the office of District Magistrate Gary A. Whiteman.

Public Drunkenness - 12/9/18 at 1:53 a.m. at Sheetz, 330 Westminster Drive, Loyalsock Township. Alexander Bullock, 26, allegedly was highly intoxicated in public and caused a disturbance after attempting to purchase alcohol and being refused. He was cited for public drunkenness and disorderly conduct.

Drug Possession - 11/23/18 at 8:10 p.m. at N. Route 220 Highway/Front Street, Woodward Township. Police stopped Aiham Aburahmeh, 29, of Raleigh, N.C., for a traffic violation. He was found to be in possession of narcotics and related paraphernalia. He was taken into custody and housed in Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $2,500 bail.

Drug Possession - 11/10/18 at 1:42 a.m. at U.S. 15 North/Market Street, City of Williamsport. Aleesha McBryan, 29, of Williamsport, was pulled over for a traffic violation and was found to be in possession of marijuana. Charges were filed at the office of District Magistrate Allen P. Page III.

DUI Crash Alcohol - 11/6/18 at 5:23 p.m. at 300 block of Route 118, Wolf Township. Steven Klein, 53, of Muncy, was charged with suspicion of DUI in relation to a two-vehicle accident he was involved in.
AP File Photo / Michael Conroy

Soybeans are offloaded from a combine during the harvest Sept. 21 in Brownsburg, Indiana. China's government says American envoys will visit Beijing on Monday for talks over a tariff fight that threatens to hobble global economic growth.
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Toward that end, she said, she supported Democratic legislation passed Thursday night by the House that would reopen the government while temporarily putting off the question of border wall funding.

Put government back to work but keep the door open to work on the border and national security issues, Axne said. I think its a win-win.

Axne said that President Donald Trumps unpredictability translates into some hectic days but that she has experience working with a wide range of people.

Women are multitaskers, she said. Were problem-solvers.

Axne participated in weeks of orientation after the election to prepare to serve, along with other incoming members. She described that as a good opportunity to connect with her new colleagues on both sides of the aisle.

For example, she discussed working on expanding rural broadband with a newly elected Republican congressman from South Dakota.

Shes been assembling a staff, which includes top campaign aides: Joe Diver will serve as her chief of staff, and Madeleine Russak will be her deputy chief of staff and communications director.
Officials at CHI Health Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs will host a retirement tea for Dr. Joseph Hoagbin Thursday from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the hospitals dining center.

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Hoagbin, chief medical officer for CHI Health Mercy Hospital has been with Mercy for 43 years.

A graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School, he did his post-graduate training at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and joined the Mercy staff in 1976 as an emergency physician.

 Nonpareil reporter Jon Leu can be reached at 712-325-5728 or by email at jleu@nonpareilonline.com.
Kmart employees gathered in the break room on a recent Wednesday morning to contemplate their options after the big-box retailer closes its doors for good later this month.

Theyre likely joined by many other residents across southwest Iowa receiving Iowa Western Community Colleges continuing education catalog in the mail early this month. Anyone looking for a job, looking to make a career change or just learn a new skill could benefit from short-term programs at the college.

The major focus of what we do is really career enhancement, said Lisa Walker, director of continuing education at Iowa Western.

Denise Norman, continuing education coordinator, said the catalog covers classes starting soon through August. The time commitments can be as little as one hour to a few months. A limited selection of personal development classes are offered by Iowa Western, too, but most are targeting the needs of employers in the seven-county region served by the community college.

The focus on training for jobs that exist and are growing in the area  not those in struggling industries or whose long-term prospects are dubious or bleak  is part of what sets Iowa Western apart for those looking to take the next step toward a future career.
Its not the best of times, nor is it the worst of times for Louisianas coastal anglers, and its different for the guys fishing the Pontchartrain and Barataria basins and the Terrebonne Parish marshes bays, bayous and lakes.
New Orleans recorded 146 murders in 2018, the citys lowest tally since 1971. There were 116 people murdered in that year, and until 2018, every year since then there had been at least 150 people in New Orleans whose lives were criminally ended by another. Over the last few years, as weve seen some modest decreases in the number of people killed, weve had more reason to compare ourselves to the New Orleans of the 1970s.

Theres an obvious problem, though, in the comparison. The citys population is much smaller now. So even if our numbers dipped below a murder tally from almost 50 years ago, wed still be confronted with the ugly reality that our murder rate is significantly higher.

Consider, in 1971, the New Orleans population was more than 593,000. A total of 116 murders in a city with that population equals a murder rate of 19.5 killed per 100,000 residents. In 2018, New Orleans had about 417,000 people. A total of 146 murders gives us a murder rate of 35 per killed per 100,000 residents. Even though the number of murders is the lowest its been since 1971, the murder rate is a whopping 79 percent higher.

Assuming our population remained the same as it is today, wed have to make it through a year with 81 murders to get as low as the murder rate was in 1971.

That higher murder rate is one of the reasons we shouldnt be satisfied with last years numbers. Another reason is the apparent dissatisfaction and alarm New Orleanians were feeling during that period in the 1970s when the murder numbers began spiking.

Over the first three months of 1971, there was a 100 percent increase in the number of murders from that same time the year before. So we can assume that New Orleanians werent happy that year ended with 116 murders. So theres no way we should be pleased with 146.

New Orleans gun violence in 2018: Who, where, when and how many

In July 1971, there were 13 criminal homicides in New Orleans, an 86 percent increase over the seven criminal homicides in 1970. Clarence B. Giarrusso, then the police superintendent, suggested that the New Orleans Police Department had been hampered that month because the Tactical Unit had been sent over to Criminal District Court to provide security during the trial of 12 members of the Black Panther Party who were eventually acquitted of attempted murder. Crime on our city streets can be reduced when the police department can place more operational personnel on the street, Giaurrusso said in an Aug. 12, 1971, story in The Times-Picayune. This administration is dedicated to placing more police officers in line positions with the intent of decreasing crime.

However, when the Police Department was trying to explain the even more dramatic spike of homicides (48.4 percent) that were recorded in January 1972, its official line was that murder is different. A spokesperson for NOPD put murder in the category of passion crimes, and said they cant be prevented no matter how great the police presence is.

Those stories from 1971 and 1972 reflect the same contradictions many New Orleanians embrace today. An increased number of police officers is held out as a solution to our problems, and then when murders continue apace or get worse, some of those same people say that murder isnt one of those crimes that can be prevented by the police.

If you go back to the 1970s and read the citys newspaper reports of crime stats, youll probably be struck at the editorial decisions to begin those stories with numbers about crime in general and then move on to the specifics. Today, we generally lead off with how many murders weve had and then provide information about the more general crime rate, but in those old stories, a reader would typically have to get many paragraphs into the story before learning if the number of murders the previous month was higher or lower than the same month the year before.

For the most part, when The Times-Picayune and the New Orleans States-Item wrote stories that focused on a dramatic increase in the number of homicides, they were writing about New York City. There were 1,117 homicides in New York City in 1970 and 1,466 in 1971, and the local papers ran several wire stories about New York the year that 31 percent increase in homicides was happening.

It seems from reading those stories that New York of the 1970s was the Chicago of the modern age. Many people today use the word Chicago as a virtual synonym for gun violence. But the whole time people have been pointing fingers at Chicago, the murder rate in New Orleans has been significantly worse. Chicago has 2,716,000 people and recorded 561 homicides in 2018. Thats a murder rate of 20.66 people per 100,000 residents.

For New Orleans to be as good as Chicago, we couldnt have had any more than 86 homicides.

Back in 1971, that super disturbing New York murder rate was 18.6 per 100,000 people, that is, lower than New Orleans.

It wasnt good then. It isnt good now. Lets hope though, that it will  someway, somehow  be better in the future.

Jarvis DeBerry is a columnist on the Latitude team at NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. Latitude is a place to share opinions about the challenges facing Louisiana. Follow @LatitudeNOLA on Facebook and Twitter. Write Jarvis at jdeberry@nola.com or @jarvisdeberry.
Infants born at Touro Infirmarys Family Birthing Center this year will go home with a pre-made swaddle called a sleep sack, designed to help them sleep safely.

The pre-made swaddle places the infant in a set position that will stop them from rolling over in their sleep while also keeping them warm, explained Josh Friedmann, the manager of the Touro Infirmary Foundation.

The Birthing Centers Safe Sleep program received a Community Assistance Fund Grant from the Junior League of New Orleans to fund the sleep sack through 2019.

Although Louisiana has improved its standing in recent years, it continues to have one of the highest infant mortality rates in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Louisiana had the fourth highest infant mortality rate in the country between 2014-2016, according to the Louisiana Department of Health. Every year an average of 98 infant deaths in Louisiana are classified as Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths, which occur primarily where the baby sleeps.

In addition to providing new infants born at Touro with the sleep sack this year, Friedmann said that the Safe Sleep program will also offer tips for new parents on how to create a safe sleep environment for their babies.

The recommendations are based on guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and include:
The lower Mississippi River was reopened to traffic Friday (Jan. 4) following the removal of a grounded shipping vessel, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

The Anglo-Alexandria, an 837-foot deep-draft vessel, grounded near mile marker 3.5.

Traffic from Mississippi River mile marker 2 to mile marker 4 is open only to seagoing vessels with freshwater drafts of 42 feet or below until further notice.

The Anglo-Alexandria has since been moved from the channel, the Coast Guard said Friday night.

Friday afternoon, over 50 vessels were waiting in line to get in or out of the river. The Coast Guard said in a press release that river traffic was heavier than normal Friday because dense fog over the past week had caused previous delays.

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No injuries or pollution have been reported and the incident is under investigation.

Laura McKnight covers crime and breaking news for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune.

NOLA.com | The Times-Picayunes Maria Clark contributed to this report.

Update: This story was updated Saturday afternoon (Jan. 5) to reflect the correct river restrictions.

Grounded vessel stalls traffic in the lower Mississippi River Friday
The completion of a $36 million project to restore and nourish wetlands on the northern edges of Lost Lake in Terrebonne Parish was announced Friday (Jan. 4) by Gov. John Bel Edwards.

Weeks Marine Inc., based in New Jersey, but with several locations in Louisiana, was in charge of the dredging operation, which used sediment from the lake interior to build new wetlands in some open water locations, construct wetland terraces that block waves and surge and collect sediment in other locations, and to spray sediment atop some wetlands as nourishment.

The project also included construction of five water control structures along Bayous Carencro and Rice. In all, the project is estimated to benefit 1,158 acres in the south central part of the parish.

16 ways people fought to save Louisiana's coast in 2018

From the time I took office, coastal protection and restoration has been a priority for my administration, and this is what progress looks like," Edwards said in a news release announcing the projects completion. "Were looking forward to several coastal restoration projects that are slated to get underway this year, all of which will benefit our communities and our people in both the long and short terms.

The project was built under the federal-state Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act program, which underwrites small and moderate size restoration project. The state is required to cover 15 percent of the cost, but state officials said a part of that cost share was in the form of state services, rather than money. The Louisiana Department of Natural Resources provided $1.8 million of the cost, and the Louisiana Oil Spill Control Office added $972,000 from revenue it collected as mitigation for oil spills.

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The federal sponsor of the project is the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

The 30,000 linear feet of earthen terraces cover 22 acres north of Bayou DeCade, and are designed to break up wave energy to lessen erosion, adding protection to wetlands farther inland, and adding habitat for fish and wildlife, state officials said. The variable and fix-crested weirs that make up the water control structures will help maintain areas that have been either fresher or more salty in the past. The weirs can be adjusted according to seasonal or other conditions.

It was clear we needed to take action in an area of high loss, said interim CPRA Chairman Chip Kline in the news release. And to benefit an area the size of 178 Superdomes in partnership with the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act , U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, La. Dept. of Natural Resources, and La. Oil Spill Coordinators Office is a good way to kick off a new year.

Lake Pagie and Bayou Decade were essentially merging and indistinguishable because of marsh loss, said CPRA project manager Kenneth Bahlinger in the news release. Also, northeast of Lost Lake, the marsh had deteriorated into large areas of open water where wind and wave energy were causing even more marsh breakup. Add to that the damage caused by higher salinity water held in these areas during storm events. It was imperative we take action to regulate proper seasonal balances of fresh and salt water.

Terrebonne Parish President Gordon Dove said the project will work well with other restoration efforts recently completed in the same area.

Combined with the earlier CPRA North Lake Mechant Land Bridge project, Lost Lakes 1,100 acre restoration will have a huge effect in controlling high salinity and water levels," Dove said in the news release. "That means a lot to Terrebonne Parish and its people.
Two days after the Livingston Parish Sheriffs Office seized his property in Holden, Dukes of Hazzard actor John Schneider is addressing his recent financial difficulties - and appealing to his fans for help.

"Everything you've heard and youve been hearing is true, and I want to get right down to it," Schneider said in a characteristically folksy video posted late Friday (Jan. 4) to Facebook. "First of all: This is not the sheriff's doing -- not the sheriff's doing at all. This is my doing. The sheriff is not the one that couldn't pay the mortgage. The sheriff is not the one who got himself in trouble.

Im the one that got myself in trouble. His department is great. They are all doing their job. This problem is my problem, my doing.

Schneider said his John Schneider Studios, which he opened in 2014 on the 57-acre property to make movies and music and to stage live shows, has been struggling since suffering extensive damage in the Louisiana Flood of 2016. What makes matters worse, he said, is that Im a storyteller and not under any circumstances a businessman.

'If Beale Street Could Talk,' it would say, 'Go see this movie'

Although he didnt address it in the video, which runs more than 7 minutes, Schneider has also been weathering the financial fallout of his 2014 divorce from Elvira Castle. In June, he was ordered to serve three days in jail in Los Angeles after failing to meet a court-set deadline to pay more than $150,000 in delinquent spousal support and to satisfy tax liens. He turned himself into authorities in that case and was released after five hours.

Schneiders financial difficulties again came to a head this week when sheriffs deputies, acting on a 21st Judicial District Court order from a judge overseeing a lawsuit filed by First Guaranty Bank, seized the Holden property for nonpayment of what is said to be more than $200,000 in debts. The property is scheduled to be auctioned Jan. 16 at the Livingston courthouse.

The actor said he has until Jan. 14 to settle as much of his debt as he can. That prompted him in his Friday video -- which he titled The ONLY way I know how!, a reference to lyrics from the Dukes of Hazzard theme song -- to appeal to his fans. He asked them to visit his online store at the John Schneider Studios website.

"I know there's somebody out there saying, 'He's only using this to try and sell more of his movies, music and merchandising.' Well, to that person I say, 'Sir or Madam, you are absolutely dead-on right,'" Schneider said. "But as the saying goes, I was always taught this, when life hands you lemons, you make lemonade."

He added: "This dream is a dream I am not going to give up on. Ive had it since I was 8 years old, and Im going to continue having it until the day I achieve it or the day I die.  Come hell or high water -- and believe me, we've been through both -- we are going to get through this or die trying."

Schneider, who starred as Bo Duke from 1979 to 1985 on the CBS television series The Dukes of Hazzard and who performed in fall 2018 on the competition series Dancing with the Stars, is scheduled to make a public appearance Saturday at Wizard World Comic-Con in New Orleans.

Mike Scott covers movies and TV for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. He can be reached at mscott@nola.com.
New Orleans area residents are used to hearing loud noises along the Mississippi River. The ones expected Saturday morning (Jan. 5) wont originate from ships or barges, however.

A 13-shot cannon salute was planned at Washington Artillery Park in the French Quarter to commemorate the Battle of New Orleans, City Hall said. The anniversary of the 1815 battle is Tuesday.

Local government steps in to keep Battle of New Orleans events going

The cannon salute was scheduled to take place between 10:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m., after a test shot at 9 a.m. The Louisiana National Guards 141 Field Artillery unit, headquartered at Jackson Barracks, is conducting it.

A repeat salute is scheduled Tuesday at the same times.

. . . . . . .

Drew Broach covers Jefferson Parish politics and education, plus other odds and ends, for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. Email: dbroach@nola.com. Facebook: Drew Broach TP. Twitter: drewbroach1. Google+: Drew Broach.
After placing two new property taxes on the ballot to generate $98.3 million a year for employee pay raises and construction, some Jefferson Parish School Board members are getting cold feet. Theyre moving to shelve the construction tax and focus on increasing pay for teachers and other workers.

We would be jeopardizing, maybe, the teacher raise if we went for it all at once, board member Larry Dale said Friday (Jan. 4). We have to give the superintendent time to show he is improving the system.

In the last meeting of its four-year term, the School Board decided Dec. 13 to ask voters to raise property taxes by 7.9 mills for employee pay adjustments in Louisianas largest public school system and 8.31 mills to build nine new schools and expand or renovate 10 more. Both referendums were to be held May 4.

Tax hike would boost starting Jefferson teacher pay close to regions highest

The board taking office this month has new members in four of its nine seats, however, and Dale said they deserve a chance to weigh in. He said improvements to school buildings are needed but less of a priority than raising teacher pay.

Board member TIffany Kuhn agreed: First and foremost is the pay raises. We dont want to do anything to jeopardize that," she said Friday. "With two millages, its hard to pass.

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Starting pay for a Jefferson teacher, now seventh highest of nine public school systems in southeast Louisiana, would vault to second place if voters approve the salary tax. The construction tax was designed to erect new schools and modernize others in a system where the average building is 54 years old.

These 20 teachers are advising Jefferson's schools superintendent

The School Board plans to assemble twice this month to consider Dales proposal. In a special meeting Wednesday, it is scheduled to introduce the measure to postpone the construction tax indefinitely. In its regular meeting Thursday, it may vote on doing so.

. . . . . . .

Drew Broach covers Jefferson Parish politics and education, plus other odds and ends, for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. Email: dbroach@nola.com. Facebook: Drew Broach TP. Twitter: drewbroach1. Google+: Drew Broach.
The Orleans Parish School Board on Friday (Jan. 4) announced a new partnership designed to address gaps in mental health support for New Orleans public school students.

The OPSB will work with the Center for Resilience, previously known as the New Orleans Therapeutic Day Program, to expand mental health services to children in grades 9-12, according to a news release. The agencies will also explore the feasibility of launching a residential group home to serve students, the release said.

This partnership really addresses one of our most pressing, yet unmet needs, OPSB Superintendent Henderson Lewis Jr. said in the statement. More importantly, as we work to educate every child here in New Orleans we recognize that part of meeting that need means providing a space that is safe and tailored to their specific needs.

The Center for Resilience offers academic and mental health services for children in Orleans Parish in grades K-8 diagnosed with moderate-to-significant behavioral health disabilities. Schools rely on the center to provide additional support to children who struggle in a traditional school setting even after multiple school-level interventions.

New Orleans City Council urges schools to address trauma in student lives

Research suggests 60 percent of New Orleans children suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and are 4.5 times more likely than their peers nationwide to show signs of serious Emotional Disturbance, which is characterized by hyperactivity, aggression and social withdrawal, according to statistics shared by the Center for Resilience. With that in mind, the center was first launched in 2015 as an innovative partnership among the Louisiana Recovery School District, the OPSB, and Tulane Medical Schools Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

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The center has currently reduced the rates of crisis hospitalization by 75 percent, based on pre-referral data, as compared with hospitalizations for behavioral crises while in the program, the OPSB stated. The center has also seen a 69 percent decrease in the number of behavioral crises on-site over time.

"We actively work to balance academic, clinical, and medical perspectives into our program to help children build the skills necessary to successfully transition back to their schools," according to Elizabeth Marcell, the centers chief executive officer, in a released statement.

The centers mission is to address existing gaps in child and adolescent mental health care by providing individualized services and placement to students whose needs cannot be met in a traditional school setting, the OPSB stated. The centers clinical treatment services range from individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy and psychological assessments.

"For children, parents, and families, we can offer educational services, counseling, therapy services, and medication management and support at a single location, Marcell stated.

Louisiana gets $9 million to improve student mental health services

Wilborn P. Nobles III is an education reporter based in New Orleans. He can be reached at wnobles@nola.com or on Twitter at @WilNobles.
The New Orleans police officer has been released from the hospital after being shot twice in the chest  his vest protecting him  during a shootout with a civilian in Treme late Friday (Jan. 4), according to police. The civilian was killed after being shot more than once by officers.

Officers responded to an attempted suicide call in the 2300 block of Orleans Avenue when a man fired at one of the officers and struck him in his protective vest, authorities said. Police returned fire and struck the shooter more than once. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. The injured officer suffered bruising due to the force of the bullets that struck his vest. He was in stable condition Friday night and NOPD announced his release from the hospital Saturday afternoon (Jan. 5).

Speaking as someone who lives and works in New Orleans and a former NOPD officer, I am proud of the courage these officers exhibited in the face of such extreme danger and I am grateful these officers, and others like them, are patrolling our streets day in and day out, said Donovan Livaccari, an attorney with the Fraternity Order of Police, who is representing the injured officer, as well as four others.

NOPD officer in stable condition after being shot, civilian dead: police superintendent

NOPD declined to release the name of the injured officers, but said he joined the force in 2017. In accordance with NOPD protocol for officer-involved shootings, the fatal shooting is under internal investigation by the departments Force Investigation Team, part of the NOPDs Public Integrity Bureau. As a result, the three officers who also responded to the scene have been reassigned while the investigation is ongoing. The names of those three officers were also not released.

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At a press conference following the shooting, NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison said investigators believe the shooting was captured on multiple body-worn cameras. The NOPD has seven days to review the footage and then another two days to determine when and how to release any pertinent video, a decision that would involve the city attorney, district attorneys office and U.S. Attorneys office, Harrison said.

Fortunately, this incident was captured on several body worn cameras from start to finish and from different angles. There isnt any guesswork involved. The videos will show exactly what happened in this unfortunate situation. While we want the NOPD to conduct a thorough investigation, there is no reason these officers should be sidelined. The community should have these officers back to patrolling our neighborhoods as quickly as possible, said Livaccari.

The name of the civilian killed in the incident has also not been released.

Staff reporter Laura McKnight contributed to this story.
A New Orleans police officer was in good condition after being shot twice in the chest  his body armor stopping the bullets  and a civilian was fatally shot when officers responded to an attempted suicide call late Friday (Jan. 4) in the Treme neighborhood, according to the NOPD.

NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison said police received "a call of what we believe was an attempted suicide about 10 p.m. in the 2300 block of Orleans Avenue.

Upon arrival, a man fired at one of the officers, who was struck in his protective vest, Harrison said. Four officers then fired at the unidentified man, who was struck more than once. The man was taken to University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead from his wounds, Harrison said.

Harrison and New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, who was also at the scene of the officer-involved shooting, said the NOPD officer was taken to University Medical Center, where he was surrounded by family and remained in good condition and good spirits. The officer suffered from bruising due to the force of the bullets that struck his vest, the NOPD said in a tweet late Friday.

Thank God hes OK, Harrison said. It just speaks to the dangers of the work and certainly to the kind of help we need with mental health crises, giving people the help they need who are in crisis."

Officials did not identify the wounded officer or the fatally shot man, or give their ages. It was not clear who made the initial call to police or how many people were at the Orleans Avenue address when the shooting occurred.

In accordance with NOPD protocol for officer-involved shootings, the fatal shooting is under internal investigation by the the Force Investigation Team, part of the NOPDs Public Integrity Bureau, Harrison said. The New Orleans Independent Police Monitor and members of the NOPD consent decree monitoring team were notified of the shooting, he said.

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Investigators believe the shooting was captured on multiple body-worn cameras, footage of which was under review late Friday, Harrison said. The NOPD has seven days to review the footage and then another two days to determine when and how to release any pertinent video, a decision that would involve the city attorney, district attorneys office and U.S. Attorneys office, he said.

A robust, fair and impartial investigation is underway, he said at the scene.

Dozens of NOPD officers, including a number of other top NOPD officials, were at the scene on Orleans Avenue, which stretched from North Galvez Street to North Tonti Street. Emergency vehicles filled the intersection at Orleans Avenue and North Miro Street.

As investigators processed the scene, a woman and young girl ran past police tape, the woman screaming. Officers restrained her as she began sobbing and started to collapse onto the neutral ground.

We dont know who it is, an officer told her as several officers lifted her back to her feet from the grass.

The woman and child later drove off.

Laura McKnight covers crime and breaking news for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune.
A Bogalusa-area store clerk who was shot during a Dec. 28 robbery has died, and three suspects who were returned to Washington Parish on Friday (Jan. 4) will be booked with first-degree murder, authorities said.

Abdulraham Alaquir Taleb, 53, of Bogalusa, died at University Medical Center in New Orleans on Sunday, two days after being hit with a shotgun blast at the J and Z Quik Stop on Louisiana 21 outside the Bogalusa city limits, the Washington Parish Sheriffs Office said.

Three suspects who were captured in Alabama will be booked with the murder charge and armed robbery at the Washington Parish Jail in Franklinton, the Sheriffs Office said. They are: Lance Hunter Rouse, 24, of Picayune, Mississippi; Levi Austin Lee, 17, of Carriere, Mississippi; and Melissa Michelle Smith, 29, of Tylertown, Mississippi.

Authorities said video evidence showed Taleb outside the business doing his daily routine as the suspects vehicle pulled into the parking lot. Two armed suspects got out of the vehicle carrying shotguns and confronted him, the Sheriffs Office said. An altercation occurred, and Taleb was shot with a shotgun blast, the department said.

The suspects walked past the wounded employee, went into the store and took cash and merchandise from the business before driving away, according to the Sheriffs Office.

The three were captured after a deputy with the Montgomery County, Alabama, Sheriffs Office spotted the suspects vehicle on Interstate 65 south of Montgomery and gave chase.

3 in custody in robbery, shooting of Bogalusa store clerk
Breaux Mart is closing its store on Lapalco Boulevard in Gretna. The stores final day will be Jan. 13.

The grocery retailer announced the closure Friday (Jan. 4) in a Facebook post, which described the decision as a very difficult, but necessary decision to make. The post thanked the customers that supported the store over the years, and urged them to visit Breaux Marts four remaining New Orleans locations.

We appreciate your business, your understanding, and hope to see you again soon, the post said.

The Gretna store is Breaux Marts last remaining store on the West Bank. The company had an Algiers store prior to Hurricane Katrina, but it was never reopened after the storm. Breaux Marts four remaining locations include its Magazine Street store in New Orleans and stores in Metairie, Chalmette and River Ridge.

Its not immediately clear what specifically prompted the closure or what the future of the property at 605 Lapalco Blvd. will be. The Lapalco store was directing all questions to Breaux Marts corporate office, which closes at 11:45 a.m. on Fridays. The company did not immediately respond to phone and social media messages.

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The Gretna store will remain open for business until closing day, though shelves may not be fully stocked, according to the Facebook post. However, the store will continue to offer a fresh selection of meat and dairy, something we have proudly always been known for, the post said.

It was not immediately clear whether Breaux Mart was planning any close-out sales to move items off the shelves.

The Gretna store will close Jan. 13, 2019.



Jennifer Larino covers residential real estate, retail and consumer news, travel and cruises, weather and other aspects of life in New Orleans for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. Reach her at jlarino@nola.com or 504-239-1424. Follow her on Twitter @jenlarino.
Prosecutors in Union County are investigating a Plainfield schools music teacher on allegations he inappropriately touched two students dating back to 2015.

Donnie Harrell, 53, made his first court appearance Friday after being charged via summons on two counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child.

Harrell inappropriately touched two children, both who were under the age of 13, during separate incidents in 2015 and 2016, Assistant Union County Prosecutor Jessica Kahn, head of the offices Special Victims Unit, alleged in a statement.

The incidents took place during class and during after-school tutoring session at Clinton Elementary School on West Fourth Street, in Plainfield, Kahn said.

Plainfield schools currently list Harrell as working at the Dewitt D. Barlow Elementary School. State records show hes been an educator for over 25 years and currently earns an annual salary of $80,288.

A spokesperson for Plainfield schools did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

The Union County Prosecutors Office asks that anyone with further information about Harrell contact Special Victims Unit Sgt. Brian OMalley at 908-220-4323.

Taylor Tiamoyo Harris may be reached at tharris@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @ladytiamoyo.
Get ready for some train pain. PATH riders will lose the World Trade Center line for two years on weekends for major construction work, starting Saturday.

PATH officials dont plan to offer added train service, although ferries will be shuttling riders for free to and from the Brookfield Place ferry terminal, near the World Trade Center. Extra trains will only be added to the 33rd Street line during the overnight period when ferries arent running.

PATH is not running additional weekend trains on the JSQ-33rd Street line via Hoboken while the ferries are in service from Exchange Place to New York, said Scott Ladd, a Port Authority spokesman. We do not anticipate there will be any overcrowding issues as a result of the start of the weekend Sandy work. We will continue to monitor and review our operations this weekend and for the duration of the program.

Jersey City Mayor Stephen Fulop and transit experts worry the remaining line will be overwhelmed with passengers. Weekend trains can arrive in Hoboken close to or at capacity with riders during the day.

The Mayor has expressed to the Port Authority board, both publicly and privately, his concerns and the need for better service, said Ashely Manz, a Jersey City spokeswoman. The issue is compounded by the issues surrounding NJ Transit at the state levelwhen those trains fail, they (riders) further overflow the PATH.

Beginning tomorrow (Sat 1/5/19), PATH World Trade Center Station will be closed weekends from 12:01AM Sat-5AM Mon (except major holidays), to replace equipment damaged during Superstorm Sandy. Free transfer to ferry svc will be available. Learn more at https://t.co/hLfcVPWq8T. pic.twitter.com/EBN7QYZNYq  PATH Train (@PATHTrain) January 4, 2019

During the 33rd Street line shut down on weekends last year, PATH gave riders three options to and from World Trade Center instead of the typical one train on Saturday and Sunday.

A former Long Island Rail Road planner questioned why PATH cant do the same this year.

It sounds like they need to beef up Journal Square-Hoboken-33rd Street service, said Joseph Clift, a transit advocate. "At the minimum, they need to run more frequent service.

The current non-overnight Saturday-Sunday service sounds like its not enough and that trains could be overcapacity, he said.

The public should not have to bear the burden, he said.

Riders who want to travel to and from lower Manhattan during the two-year weekend shutdown should get acquainted with their new friend, the ferry.

During this shut down, PATH riders can get a free transfer to a NY Waterway ferry at Exchange Place. Riders will need to get a paper round-trip ferry transfer before they leave the station and walk to to the nearby ferry pier at Harborside. Ferries run on 20 minute intervals and are scheduled to depart every 10 to 12 minutes after a PATH train arrives in Exchange Place.

Passengers who normally take PATH trains to World Trade Center from Exchange Place will pay their regular PATH fare in the station and then be given a round-trip ferry transfer by a PATH employee.

Once in Manhattan, the ferry will leave passengers at the Brookfield Place ferry terminal. A half-mile walk will take them to The World Trade Center transportation hub and to NYC subway lines. Ferries run between 7 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, according to PATH.

The weekend WTC line shutdown is being done to replace train tracks and the structure they are supported by in addition to electrical systems that were permanently damaged by salt and chemicals in flood waters driven by Hurricane Sandy in October 2012. Rehabilitation that was done after the hurricane was temporary work to reopen the WTC line.

Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @commutinglarry. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
WASHINGTON  Freshman Rep. Andy Kim is already facing political blowback for his decision to support Nancy Pelosi for House speaker after calling for new leadership during his campaign.

The Congressional Leadership Fund, a super political action committee aligned with House Republican leadership, said it would begin running digital ads against Kim, D-3rd Dist., and five other House freshmen who backed Pelosi.

The super PAC spent $8.1 million on behalf of House Republican candidates in New Jersey, more than any other interest group. It spent $3.4 million to support Rep. Tom MacArthur, R-3rd Dist., who lost his bid for a third term in Washington to Kim. That made the PAC the biggest outside spender in the 3rd Congressional District.

Newly elected Democrats told voters things would be different in Washington, but with their very first vote they caved to party bosses and supported Nancy Pelosi for speaker, said Dan Conston, president of the super PAC. While it takes some politicians years to sell out, it took these Democratic members just one day to break their bond with voters back home."

Some of the Congressional Leadership Funds anti-Kim ads during the 2016 campaign, which included efforts to tie the Democratic nominee to Pelosi, were criticized as misleading.

For example, an ad accused Kim of opposing a middle-class tax cut because he was against the Republican tax bill that primarily enriched corporations and the wealthy and took away a middle-class benefit by capping the federal deduction for state and local taxes.

Unlike two other New Jersey freshmen, Reps. Jeff Van Drew, D-2nd Dist., and Mikie Sherrill, D-11th Dist., Kim never specifically pledged to oppose Pelosi. Still, he did call for new leadership and he voted against nominating Pelosi for speaker in the Democratic caucus.

Kim said he voted for Pelosi on the House floor since she would be better for his district than the only other candidate, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy of California, who championed the tax bill that targeted New Jersey and other high-tax states. He said that his call for new leadership was met by the ascension of Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York to the post of Democratic caucus chair.

A former national security aide, Kim is the only New Jersey lawmaker currently rated in a tossup race for 2020 by the Cook Political Report, a Washington-based publication that tracks congressional races. The other 11 incumbents are favored to be re-elected.

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.
By Jeff Tittel

We are heading into a climate crisis if we are not already there. It is happening globally and in New Jersey. While this is happening, our state is getting overrun with fossil-fuel infrastructure. We will never be able to achieve our 100 percent clean-energy goals and reduce greenhouse gases as long as we keep building new power plants and pipelines.

Gov. Phil Murphy talks about climate change but has been silent when it comes to fossil fuels.

Thats why we have joined more than 56 community, faith-based and progressive organizations in a campaign to call on Murphy to put a moratorium on all new fossil-fuel projects. There currently are proposals for five natural gas power plants and seven pipelines in New Jersey. We need to stop these projects until we can regulate and reduce our emissions across the whole sector and have a program and rules in place to get to 100 percent clean energy.

International and national climate reports show that climate change impacts are worse and happening faster. We are seeing the damage of climate change through droughts, wildfires and hurricanes. New Jersey is already seeing more flooding and more health impacts such as a rise in Lyme disease and asthma attacks. Hurricane Sandy had a cost of $30 billion in New Jersey, and now we are 17 times more likely to be victimized again.

New Jersey has a history of putting in place moratoriums in order to deal with an environment problem until the issue is resolved. Gov. Brendan Byrne put a stop on all development in the Pinelands until the Pinelands Act was passed. Gov. Tom Kean put a moratorium on filling in freshwater wetlands to protect us from flooding until a wetlands protection law was passed. Kean also put a moratorium on development projects until sewer plants were upgraded to protect clean water. Gov. Jim Florio put a moratorium on all new incinerators and stopped them under construction to protect our air quality from toxic emissions.

New Jersey needs to take decisive action on climate change, and thats why Murphy needs to put in place a moratorium on all fossil-fuel infrastructure. We need a timeout to put in place programs to reduce greenhouse gases and get to 100 percent renewable.

We will never get to these goals or reduce air pollution if these fossil-fuel projects are built. It will block offshore wind and make the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative  aka RGGI  meaningless. New Jersey is exporting more than 20 percent of its electricity, and three power plants are designed to sell power to New York. A moratorium gives the state Department of Environmental Protection the time to regulate and set standards for CO2 and greenhouse gases through all sectors, such as powerplants, pipelines, mobile sources and fugitive emissions.

In 2005, New Jersey declared CO2 an air pollutant. State officials had the power to regulate it and they didnt act. Now they must act. As we increase our renewable energy, we should be ratcheting down on fossil fuels so that when we get to 100 percent renewable, we will also be carbon-free. The Murphy administration took a step in the right direction by rejoining RGGI, however the cap at 18 million metric tons is too weak.

New Jersey needs to focus on renewable energy such as solar and wind. We should pursue new technology for renewable energy, too. In order to lead on climate change, Murphy has to lead on stopping fossil-fuel infrastructure.

A coalition of 57 environmental, citizen, faith, and progressive groups are launching a campaign called Empower NJ: Stop Fossil Fuel Campaign. Groups include: NJ Sierra Club, Green Faith, Indivisbles, Blue Wave, People Over Pipelines, Central Jersey Environmental Defenders, UU Faith Action NJ, Environment NJ, Delaware Riverkeeper Network, Clean Ocean Action, Surfider Foundation.

Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.
A man made off with a New York City police scooter and made it all the way into Paterson, New Jersey, before being busted Friday morning, cops say.

Richard Raphael Lopez, 43, of Manhattan, was arrested by Paterson police after leading them on a 40-mile per hour chase, according to Paterson Police Director Jerry Speziale.

New York authorities first learned the scooter was missing when they received a call from a citizen who saw the vehicle traveling west on Route 4 in Elmwood Park, Speziale said.

New York police then used their automatic vehicle locator system to determine the scooter had been taken from a parking lot next to the Central Park precinct at around 4:30 a.m., according to Speziale.

None of the keys for the NYPDs scooters were missing from the Central Park precinct, but they do operate on universal key system that is available through similar vehicles, according to authorities.

Paterson police received a call from NYPD asking them to intercept the scooter. Officers caught up to the vehicle on Trenton Avenue at 11:26 a.m., Speziale said.

Lopez briefly tried to evade officers but he was quickly captured along with scooter, according to Speziale.

Lopez has been charged with possession of stolen property and resisting arrest by Paterson police and faces grand larceny auto charge by New York police, officials said. Lopez also has pending arrest warrants in Fort Lee, Speziale said.

Olivia Rizzo may be reached at orizzo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @LivRizz. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
An Egg Harbor Township man pled guilty Friday to murdering his girlfriend with a hammer while she slept, officials said.

Lashawn Smith, 36, admitted that he killed 28-year-old Sarah Phillips by striking her in the head with a hammer four times at a home on South Zion Road in Egg Harbor Township on Nov. 3, 2017, according to a release from the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office.

Phillips was pronounced dead after Egg Harbor Township police arrived at the home just after 5 a.m. after receiving a 9-1-1 call, authorities said.

An autopsy of Phillips was completed and the cause of death was determined to be multiple blunt and sharp force injuries.

Police investigated, and arrested and charged Smith one day after his girlfriends body was found.

Phillips, a mother of four, grew up in Galloway before moving to Egg Harbor Township in 2016, according to her obituary.

As part of Smiths plea, state Superior Court Judge Bernard E. DeLury entered a non-negotiated agreement for a 40-year sentence where 85-percent of the sentence must be served before he is eligible for parole.

Smith was being held in the Atlantic County Jail and was scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 22.

Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Former Toys R Us employees left jobless and without severance pay after the famous retailer liquidated last June have started to receive checks from a $20 million hardship fund, according to a report Friday.

The chains private equity owners, KKR and Bain Capital, announced the fund in November in an effort to help about 30,000 former Toys R Us employees nationwide.

The confluence of the disruption in retail, the push by the companys secured creditors to liquidate the companys U.S. operations, and the fact that we have never experienced something like this in the history of either firm, led us to try and find a way to provide some financial relief for former employees, KKR and Bain Capital said in a November joint statement.

About 1,500 New Jersey-based employees lost their jobs after the chain went bankrupt. It was not immediately if any former local workers of the Wayne-based toy chain have received payouts from the fund yet. Representatives for the firms did not respond to messages.

A former Toys R Us employee in Texas told the New York Post she recently received a $4,000 check after two decades with the retailer.

After six months, my husband was able to go back to work, the ex-employee, MJ Williams, told the newspaper. But we are still struggling and this check will pay my rent this month. I am able to pay a few bills and breathe for a moment.

Another former employee told the paper she received a $735 check after seven years working for Toys R Us.

Payouts range from $200 to $12,000, according to the Post. U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker, and U.S. Rep Bill Pascrell, Jr. in June called on the private equity firms to provide support for the jobless workers. The lawmakers rallied outside a Totowa Toys R Us to demand the ex-employees be treated fairly.

Nationwide, workers groups and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders criticized the chain for not giving severance packages to rank-and-file employees.

WE DID THIS. "The fight of Toys R Us retail workers became a national story about the working class battling against... Posted by Rise Up Retail on Wednesday, January 2, 2019

In New Jersey, workers called for the state to end pension investment with a hedge fund they blame for the toy chains collapse.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
One of Hunterdon Countys most iconic businesses is closing its Flemington location.

Flemington Furs announced this week that it is closing its flagship store. Customers were notified via a letter.

After 98 years of being a family held business, we will be closing our doors and liquidating our entire inventory, the letter reads.

The store was originally expected to be a part of the Flemington Courthouse Square project that includes the Union Hotel.

"We were informed last year that they changed their intention to be a tenant. Since we downsized the retail space from the original plan of 50,000 sq ft to the current plan of 30,000 square feet it had no impact to our development, said developer Jack Cust.

Flemington Furs has other stores located in Manalapan and White Plains, New York. It is unclear if those stores will also be closing. A spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment at the time of publishing.

According to the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce, Flemington Furs was founded in the 1920s in the same location where the store stands today.

Originally only a fur factory, a showroom was added in the 1950s by Sid Benjamin. The storefront drew in customers from around New Jersey and New York.

Benjamin passed away on Jan 2. His obituary states he and his wife returned to New Jersey for a six-month trial in assisting his father with the fur factory, and they never left.

Sids contributions not only to our Business Community but throughout Hunterdon County, have made a difference in the lives of many. His heartfelt love and genuine desire to serve others is something we will all miss, said Christopher Phelan, president of the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce.

Benjamin, according to his obituary, used newspaper, radio and billboard advertising to promote Flemington Furs, turning the business into a household name throughout the region, and helping transform Flemington into a destination place.

On social media members of the community have shared their memories of Flemington Furs, from working at the store as first job during high school to the charismatic customer service by the employees.

Funeral services will be held on Monday at 11 a.m. in the Flemington Presbyterian Church, 147 Main St., Flemington, Memorial contributions can be made to the Hunterdon County Special Olympics, C/O Kathy Creveling, 213 County Road 513, Glen Gardner, NJ 08826.

Olivia Rizzo may be reached at orizzo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @LivRizz. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Two people were killed in a fire that gutted a East Hanover home Friday night, officials said.

East Hanover Police Chief Christopher Cannizzo told CBS in an interview that firefighters found two people dead inside the home on Kimble Place.

Authorities were called to the home around 7:45 p.m. after receiving multiple 911 calls and found the 2-story house engulfed in enormous flames, Cannizzo said.

An officer kicked down the door and was thrown back about five feet by the flames, Cannizzo said.

Firefighters found one person dead inside the home and a few minutes later, another body was discovered, the chief said.

At this time we do believe it is the homeowners, he said in the interview.

#EXCLUSIVE @EHPoliceDept Chief gives new details on Friday nights fatal fire at home on 12 Kimble Place in @easthanover_nj . Says the two found dead inside are believed to be the homeowners @CBSNewYork pic.twitter.com/qVywZjgarr  Lisa Rozner (@LisaRoznerTV) January 5, 2019

Morris County Prosecutors Office Public Information Officer Peter DiGennaro said there was a active investigation" into the blaze, but said could not share any other details.

The fire was under investigation by the East Hanover Police, Morris County Prosecutors Office and the Morris County Sheriffs Department.

Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook.
After a federal appellate court in November reversed some of the charges against them in the Bridgegate scandal, but left their convictions largely intact, two one-time aides to former Gov. Chris Christie have split over whats next in the high-profile corruption drama.

In a new court filing, attorneys for Bill Baroni, the former deputy executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey  who was part of the ill-fated scheme of political retribution  said he has decided to back off on his ongoing appeal efforts.

In light of the courts ruling, and after considering his options, defendant-appellant William E. Baroni, Jr. believes it would be best for his case to be returned to the District Court as promptly as possible so that the District Court can impose a new sentence and Mr. Baroni can begin serving that sentence, wrote the attorneys in a Friday night filing to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Philadelphia.

They said Baroni is still deciding whether to seek review by the Supreme Court, but said such a move would not interfere with his desire to obtain a new sentence and to begin serving it.

Meanwhile, his co-defendant, Bridget Anne Kelly, who served as Christies deputy chief of staff, continues to separately pursue a further legal challenge before the appellate court  ultimately one her attorney has pledged to take all the way to the Supreme Court, if necessary.

In a filing last month, attorneys for Kelly said the conviction and the recent appellate panel decision that left most of that conviction intact was at odds with previous Supreme Court rulings involving allegations of corruption. They asked for a rehearing by the full appellate court.

The panels decision is dangerous and untenable. Taken seriously, it would allow any federal, state, or local official to be indicted based on nothing more than the (ubiquitous) allegation that she lied in claiming to act in the public interest, wrote Kellys attorneys.

In that petition, defense lawyers Yaakov Roth and Michael Critchley argued said the Supreme Court for over three decades has repeatedly warned against using vague federal criminal laws to impose standards of ... good government on local and state officials. They said that prosecutors in the Bridgegate case advanced and the panel adopted a theory of political fraud so incredibly potent that it undoesin one fell swoopthe restrictions the Supreme Court imposed in all those decisions.

They also called that strategy a veritable playbook for how to prosecute ones political opponents, and transforms the federal judiciary into a Ministry of Truth for political spin.

The U.S. Attorneys office has yet to respond to the petition.

Baroni and Kelly were found guilty in November 2016 of plotting the unauthorized shutdown of several local access lanes to the toll plaza of the George Washington Bridge in September 2013. Federal prosecutors said the lane shutdowns was part of a orchestrated scheme to to cause massive traffic jams in Fort Lee as payback against Mayor Mark Sokolich, after he retreated from an expected endorsement during Christies 2013 re-election campaign for governor.

Those convictions were for the most part upheld this past November in a ruling by a three-judge appellate panel In its ruling, the panel found that federal prosecutors presented evidence sufficient to prove that the two fraudulently obtained the labor of public employees, and in a harsh rebuke, said there was no legitimate justification for the conduct of Baroni and Kelly.

However, the panel did throw out a part of the case dealing with civil rights violations against the two focusing on whether there was a right to intrastate travel, and sent the case back to U.S. District Judge Susan Wigenton, who presided over the trial, for resentencing on the remaining charges.

Both have remained free on bail since their convictions. Baroni, 46, was originally sentenced to 24 months in prison. Kelly, 45, was sentenced to a term of 18 months.

Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL. Facebook: @TedSherman.reporter. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
EDITORS NOTE: Are you interested in the N.J. cannabis industry? Subscribe here for exclusive insider information from NJ Cannabis Insider.

As New Jersey inches toward legalizing adult-use weed, a state university has launched a group aimed at helping lawmakers and towns grapple with the implications of marijuana legalization.

William Paterson University has established a Cannabis Institute, made up of professors and staff, to provide both scientific and economic information on marijuana, opioids and other drugs, according to the school.

The possible legalization of marijuana in New Jersey has significant public policy, economic, and public health implications that require in-depth research and analysis, says Richard Helldobler, president of William Paterson University. We formed this institute so that our highly qualified faculty who study cannabis and other related topics can serve as a resource to help inform policy and practice based on their research and expertise, and to serve as an incubator for collaborative research projects and curriculum.

The Cannabis Institute expects to advise state lawmakers and local officials on both medical and recreational marijuana, as well as share studies and data on the impact of legal weed.

New Jersey universities figure to play a substantial role under legalization, both in research and in incubation, and William Paterson University is the latest school to stake its place in the potential industry.

Stockton University launched its medical marijuana program this fall, with students taking a course in cannabis law, becoming one of the first institutions in the state to embrace marijuana. Rutgers University offers students a course in medical marijuana and will likely expand its offerings if the state legalizes marijuana.

Lawmakers couldnt get it done last year, despite both the governor and legislative leadership in favor of legalization. Gov. Phil Murphy and legislators will restart negotiations this month. If they can reach a deal, they could legalize marijuana by later this month.

A number of differences still separate the governor and legislative leaders on legal weed, including both regulation of a potential industry and taxes, making it unclear when the state could get legal weed. Should it pass, though, William Paterson and other schools will likely embrace an important place in the industry.

Are you interested in the N.J. cannabis industry? Subscribe here for exclusive insider information from NJ Cannabis Insider.

Payton Guion may be reached at PGuion@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @PaytonGuion. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
JERSEY CITY -- When members of the citys fire department went to a home on the call of a water leak, they were met with a much more serious situation.

A woman was found at 73 Van Reypen St. on Saturday afternoon with multiple cuts on her throat and abrasions on her face, according to police radio transmissions.

The woman was taken to Jersey City Medical Center and is in critical condition, police said over the radio.

The fire department was hosing down belongings of the victim due to the amount of blood at the scene, according to police radio transmissions.

Additional information on the investigation were not immediately available. City spokeswoman Ashely Manz said the investigation is ongoing and did not provide any details on the incident.
Former Gov. Jim McGreeveys nearly six-year tenure as the head of Jersey Citys prisoner re-entry program may come to an end as soon as Monday, with McGreevey scheduled to face a hostile board of directors that may determine his fate.

McGreevey, the embattled chief of the nonprofit Jersey City Employment and Training Program, has been told its nine-member board may discuss actions that could adversely impact his employment, sources with knowledge of the communication have told The Jersey Journal. Thats a sign that suspension or termination for the ex-governor may be on the horizon.

The sources said Sudhan Thomas, the JCETP chair, warned McGreevey about the potential action on Friday in a Rice notice, which public entities must send employees if they plan to discuss their employment.

The notice came one day after McGreeveys attorney, Michael Critchley, told Mayor Steve Fulop in a letter that if McGreevey is fired at the mayors direction, the former governor will sue. Critchley alleges that Fulop is punishing McGreevey for firing one of the mayors political operatives last year, an allegation Fulop has denied.

Fulop does not technically control JCETP, a federally funded nonprofit that provides job training and prisoner re-entry services, but he appoints its board members.

Fulops planned jettisoning of McGreevey represents a dramatic collapse of their relationship. Three years ago, Fulop called McGreeveys work with ex-prisoners amazing. Today, the mayor accuses him of financial malfeasance.

Reached by phone, McGreevey said, Every day, I find great purpose and meaning in this service and this is what I believe I was called to do and will continue to do, he said.

Thomas declined to say whether McGreeveys employment is in jeopardy. But he said McGreeveys decision to act as a JCETP lawyer instead of hiring one  the ex-governor does not have an active law license  is obviously disturbing and concerning and a huge exposure to Jersey City.

The board will look to appoint a real general counsel on Monday in addition to a forensic auditor to review all aspects of the JCETP and review HR and vendor contracts, Thomas said by text.

McGreevey told The Jersey Journal he has acted in the capacity of a lawyer to save JCETP money so we could put our clients first."

Fulop and McGreevey formed an alliance back when Fulop was hiring Democrats with statewide influence in advance of an anticipated run for governor. In 2013, Fulop installed McGreevey as executive director of JCETP and directed the former governor to expand its services to include a prisoner re-entry program.

The move was splashy for the then-new mayor, garnering national headlines and helping Fulop burnish his liberal bona fides as he waded into the crowded pool of Democrats seeking to succeed Chris Christie. But it also chafed some of Fulops longest supporters, who viewed the mayor as a political reformer, not someone who would buddy up with a man who had resigned as governor in 2004 under a cloud of scandal.

Fulop and McGreevey have not spoken in years. Sources tell The Jersey Journal the dispute dates to Fulops decision in 2016 not to run for governor.

Last year the Fulop administration began exerting more control over JCETP.

Fulop started adding close allies to the nonprofits board, including one of his chief political operatives, his former corporation counsel, the citys municipal prosecutor, and one of the mayors drivers. Thomas, a Fulop ally, took over as chair in August, replacing someone close to McGreevey.

In October, the city told JCETP it would receive nothing from a pot of federal money the city controls (JCETP received $154,400 from the fund three years ago). City Business Administrator Brian Platt defended the withdrawal of financial support in an Oct. 10 memo that says JCETP was "non-compliant" with rules on spending the cash, did not provide "proper and adequate job placement" for its clients, skipped required reporting and more.

Fulop said on Twitter Thursday that Critchleys letter is McGreeveys attempt to deflect from accusations of misappropriating funds." McGreevey has denied all claims of financial mismanagement and demanded Fulop retract them.

The Rice notice Thomas sent McGreevey allows McGreevey to decide whether the conversation about his employment is done in public or behind closed doors. McGreevey told Thomas Saturday that he wants the meeting open to the public. On Sunday, McGreevey emailed his supporters inviting them to the meeting.

The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday at JCETPs headquarters, 398 MLK Dr.

Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Mackenzie Blackwood, Kyle Palmieri, Nico Hischier, Sami Vatanen and the New Jersey Devils will continue with game two of their four-game road trip to open 2019 when they visit the Arizona Coyotes at 9 p.m. Eastern on Friday at Gila River Arena.

Forward Blake Pietila will make his season debut, subbing in for John Quenneville. Blackwood will make his fifth straight start in goal.

Join NJ.com's live chat in the comment section, and follow along with live updates in the box above.

Here is everything you need to know about the home game:

What: New Jersey Devils (15-17-7) vs. Arizona Coyotes (17-21-2)

When: 9 p.m. EST, Friday, Jan. 4, 2019

Where: Gila River Arena, Glendale, Arizona

TV: MSG+

Live stream: MSG Go
More than two months after the remains of a toddler were found in a trash-strewn Camden alleyway, authorities have identified the child as 20-month-old Jahvi Brown.

At a press conference in Camden Friday afternoon, Bill Townsend, chief of detectives for the Camden County Prosecutors Office, said the toddler was recently identified after the New Jersey State Police Lab conducted testing.

A passerby found Jahvis severely decomposed body on Oct. 11 near the 800 block of Mount Ephraim Avenue, Townsend said. The manner of his death is pending, and is considered a suspicious death.

It wasnt until Dec. 6 that Jahvis father, 25-year-old Anthony Burnett, of Camden, reported the toddler missing when he came to the Bellmawr Police Department regarding a custody dispute with Jahvis mother, Tynaizha Brown, 23, of Bellmawr, according to authorities.

No charges have been filed in Jahvis death.

The fact that neither parent reported the child missing until weeks later causes us a little concern, Townsend said, noting one of Jahvis parents has obtained a lawyer.

Jahvi was last seen alive in Bellmawr on Aug. 20 by a representative of a state agency, Townsend said. He declined to identify the agency.

Authorities with the Camden County Prosecutor's Office, Camden County Police Department and Bellmawr Police Department announced Jah'vi Brown's identity at a press conference Friday, Jan. 4. (Amanda Hoover | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

The alleyway where Jahvi was found is close to his fathers Camden residence, Townsend said.

While Townsend declined to comment on any weapons found at the scene or what clothing Jahvi was found in, he did say the young boy "did not get there by his own will.

Authorities have spoken to some of Jahvis other relatives, and are searching for others who may know more about his death. Townsend said he the boy had two half-siblings, but could not comment as to whether or not the other young children were removed from the parents custody as a result of the investigation.

Anyone who may have seen Jahvi alive after Aug. 20 or who has information about his death is urged to contact the Camden County Prosecutors Office at 856-225-5166.

Camden County Police and Bellmawr Police are also involved in the investigation.

Amanda Hoover can be reached at ahoover@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @amandahoovernj. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
A Philadelphia man is facing charges for two shootings in Atlantic City Friday, including one that claimed the life of a city resident, authorities said.

The accused, Avery Bracey, 36, was arrested on charges including murder and robbery, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office.

Avery Bracey

Around 8:44 p.m., police responded 911 call about a shooting at the Sunset Inn.

They found the victim, 21-year-old KyLee Haynes, and transported him to AtlantiCare Medical Center City Campus Trauma Center where he later died.

Next, police were alerted to a shooting near North Florida Ave.

In that incident, a victim walked into AtlantiCare Medical Center City Campus Trauma Center with a gunshot wound to the leg and told police the shooting happened on Florida Avenue.

Police concluded the description of the suspect from both shootings matched, according to prosecutors.

SWAT and Atlantic City Police found and arrested Bracey, who matched the description and had a gun on him, according to authorities.

Braceys charges include felony murder, robbery, aggravated assault, two counts of unlawful possession of a handgun and two counts of unlawful use of a handgun.

He is awaiting a court appearance in Atlantic County Justice Facility.
David Lapp, 77, of the Town of Niagara, entered into eternal rest on December 13, 2020 at Niagara Hospice. Born in Niagara Falls, he was the son of Evelyn and John Lapp. Mr. Lapp was a CPA at his own firm in Niagara Falls. He had been Vice President of Finance for Sattler's Department Store 
James Neiss/staff photographerFamous local artist Paul Hanover ended the 2015 art festival season by winning Best Of Show with his painting "Contentment" and First Place Oil Painting with his piece depicting a historic view of the Lewiston Queenston Bridge at the Alden Art Festival and First Place Painting at this year's Quaker Art Festival also with his work "Contentment." Hanover died Dec. 29 at the age of 65 from complications from diabetes. His life will be celebrated in a Mass of Christian Burial today.
GUILFORD  The Board of Selectmen in a meeting Monday will decide whether to move forward with a proposal from the Guilford Human Rights Advocates seeking to establish a Human Rights Commission within town government.

During summer 2017, April DAmato of Guilford, now GHRA co-chairwoman, found herself commenting on a Facebook post in the group Simply Guilford. The post itself concerned the recent white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., but in the comment section, Guilford residents discussed recent incidents in their own town that worried them, including vandalized Welcome Neighbor signs, DAmato said.

The residents wondered how town leaders were responding to the incidents, said DAmato, who answered their queries by suggesting that it was the residents job to tell leaders how to respond. Guilford resident Judith Keogh said she saw the comment and invited DAmato, along with several others, over to her house.

The gathering marked the first meeting of the GHRA with Keogh, DAmato and Clarice Yasuhara as co-chairwomen. During the past year-and-a-half, the three of them have advocated for the commission, along with a revolving team of some 100 volunteers, they said.

The group last spring submitted a proposal to the Board of Selectmen, and now is hoping for further action from selectmen at next weeks meeting. According to the agenda for Jan. 7, selectmen will decide whether to set a public hearing about the commission for Feb. 4.

Education and Advocacy

The GHRAs proposal mentions Guilfords growing minority population and envisions a commission to help see that such individuals feel welcomed and supported in the community.

The issue is especially pressing for Yasuhara, who hails from Brazil and whose husband immigrated from Japan, she said. Her preschool-aged son is biracial, and she was especially worried for him after anti-Asian graffiti was painted on houses in 2017, she said.

Through advocacy and education, the commission would ensure that all of its (Guilfords) visitors and residents are able to enjoy equitable treatment, tolerance, and respect, the GHRA proposal states.

A nine-member body, the Guilford Human Rights Commission would assume a variety of duties in pursuance of its goals. Tasks would include implementing educational programs and directing residents to important resources.

The proposal describes a commission that will direct complaints involving discrimination to appropriate agencies, including the police department and Board of Selectmen. Though the commission will not have any enforcement capabilities, First Selectman Matthew Matt Hoey III said the commission will help direct people to resources to address such incidents.

The commissions educational programming could look something like Guilfords Building a Community of Compassion program, which was organized by the Guilford Foundation and the Anti-Defamation League. The workshop, held in November of 2017, taught community leaders about addressing hatred and discrimination, and the GHRA hopes the Human Rights Commission will expand upon its work.

Looking Ahead

DAmato, Keogh and Yasuhara all say they feel optimistic about Mondays meeting and the path forward. Though working toward the commission has been a long process, community leaders like Hoey have been very supportive, DAmato said.

Other towns have approached the three co-chairwomen for advice on creating their own such commissions, DAmato added.

Keogh said though they have received a small amount of resistance, most of those pushing back have worried the project will make big changes to the town. But the HCRAs aim is to preserve the goodness that drew her and others to Guilford, she added.

All three co-chairwomen said they hope to see people get involved in the commission, adding they may seek seats on the commission themselves, though ultimately the Board of Selectman would appoint the electors.

Its a lot of work, said DAmato, who is also a small business owner. But its a labor of love in a lot of ways, she added.

The next Board of Selectmen meeting will be held Jan. 7 at 8:30 a.m. at the Guilford Community Center, 32 Church St.

Editors note: This story has been updated to reflect the Guilford Human Rights Advocates did not help organize Building a Community of Compassion. It was organized by the Guilford Foundation and the Anti-Defamation League.
WEST HAVEN  The great West Haven ramen desert is a desert no longer: Iishin Ramen Bar, the citys first purveyor of tasty, steamy Japanese ramen noodle soup, has opened on Captain Thomas Boulevard near the beach.

The restaurant features many key ingredients they make from scratch in-house  including house-made dumplings and their own tofu and soy sauce. It is located in the high-visibility spot that once was Savin Rock Roasting Co.

So far, West Haveners are slurping it up.

Partners Johnny Chen, Penny Gao and Andy Xu  all young Chinese Americans with a strong appreciation for Japanese food and culture  opened the renovated restaurant at 291 Capt. Thomas Blvd. about four weeks ago, said Chen on Friday.

Why?

We love Japanese culture, said Chen, the restaurants head chef, who was born in the Fujian province of southern China. He grew up since age 11 in Brooklyn, N.Y., and moved to West Haven about two years ago.

There are several ramen restaurants in neighboring communities, including Midnight Ramen (Anaya Sushi & Ramen), Mecha Noodle Bar, Kuro Shiro in New Haven, Noodle House in both Orange and the Amity section of New Haven, and Hokkaido Ramen in Orange.

And in West Haven, I dont see anything (Japanese) besides the sushi, he said, making references to Sushi X  located across the street in the Savin Rock Parkade shopping center  and Daiko Japanese Restaurant & Jerry-Sans Sushi Bar on Derby Avenue.

Sushi X is owned by members of Gaos family, Chen said.

Savin Rock Roasting Co. remains open in its new location just west of Iishin at 305 Captain Thomas Blvd.

Among the things that attracted the partners to the Captain Thomas Boulevard location was the fact that its by the beach, said Chen. He said they hope to have outdoor seating in the summer, just as Savin Rock Roasting Co. used to.

The partners are proud of what theyve done so far, but are still seeking opinions from diners to see if anything could be tweaked or improved.

Chen, who runs Iishins kitchen, and Gao, who runs the front of the house, both went to Tokyo and spent two years working in a ramen restaurant there to learn about the business and get ready to open Iishin, said Chen.

In Japan ... when people have ramen, they feel warm and happy, Chen said. Thats what I try to do here.

At Iishin, almost everything is homemade, said Gao.

Iishins menu is built around tasty appetizers and big, steamy black ceramic bowls of ramen noodle soup made with several different broths.

They include Signature Iishin Ramen made with straight noodles swimming in Tonkotsu pork bone broth simmered for more than 24 hours and topped with marinated chashu pork, wood ear mushrooms, seasoned bamboo shoots, scallions, nori dried seaweed and marinated boiled egg.

Iishin also served Tonkatsu Spicy, Tonkatsu Black made with a homemade black garlic oil and both spicy and less-spicy Miso Ramen, as well as Shoyu Ramen and Shio Ramen, both made with a chicken broth, and vegetarian Shoyu and Shio ramen. The latter four are served with wavy noodles.

Iishin also offers several rice bowls  including Unadon (barbecued eel.)

Its appetizers range from edamame (steamed green soybeans with sea salt) and homemade yaki gyoza pan fried pork and chives dumplings to Brussels sprouts tempura, Chicken Karaage (Japanese fried chicken), pan-fried Shishito peppers with yuzu salt and a spinach, avocado and seaweed green salad.

It also offers a full bar with some inventive cocktails, including a Soho Lychee Martini, an Espresso Martini, a Sake Cosmo and a Tequila Kiwi Smash

West Haveners  many of whom have been watching and waiting for Iishin to open since its sign went up more than six months ago  have responded warmly to it so far. Social media posts on sites such as the West Haven  The Way It Is Facebook page, have been trending almost universally positive.

My husband and I went to the new noodle house where Savin (Rock) Roasters used to be. The food was absolutely delicious, the staff friendly and the atmosphere was awesome, wrote one poster on West Haven  The Way It Is. We definitely will be back. A nice, different addition to West Haven.

A commenter on another post about Iishin said, This restaurant is awesome! Good enjoyable environment.

Thursday night, Iishin got an informal visit from no less of a ramen-slurper than Mayor Nancy Rossi.

I have to tell you, everything was wonderful  from the cleanliness and beauty to the service, said Rossi, who went to Iishin for dinner with her husband, Arthur.

The food was good and the service top notch, said Rossi, who expects to do a grand opening ribbon-cutting at Iishin at some point.

It was very, very nice, she said.

mark.zaretsky@hearstmediact.com
NEW HAVEN  Call a design meeting and they will come.

To help the state understand the seriousness of New Havens disappointment with the design of  or, for that matter, the need for  a second large garage at Union Station, the New Haven Urban Design League called together residents Friday for input on options at that site.

About 50 people came over a two-hour period to the Ives Main Library, where some of the planning documents for the 1,015-space, seven-level garage, as well as those for the Hill to Downtown proposal and a sustainable approach to development at Long Wharf, were available for review.

The general theme was that a second garage  at a cost of $60 million  is outdated and the funds, approved as the Malloy administration closes up shop, could be put to better use.

Downtown resident Ed Pikaart, like others, said there already is congestion in the area. The net addition of 688 more cars onto Union Avenue is not something he wants to see. A total of 260 spaces on the surface lot where the garage would be built will be lost when, and if, the garage is built.

There are too many cars, Pikaart said.

Pikaart votes for more trees and greenery, bike paths and generally a more pedestrian-friendly area .

He and his family lived in the suburbs for 30 years before moving downtown on the Green. They are the kind of people New Haven wants to see more of as part of transit-oriented development.

We easily walk to Union Station to take the train to New York and fly out of LaGuardia, Pikaart said of plans that go beyond day-to-day living in the city. There are more and more people moving downtown. There are opportunities for more residences near Union Station.

Kevin McCarthys first observation was that the men and women who attended the session did not reflect the citys demographics and it would be better if there were representatives from all ethnicities as the city tries to get a better project next to Union Station.

Beyond that, McCarthy wondered how the city could balance the three large projects in the wings: development of the former Coliseum site, Union Station and Church Street South, which alone is proposed to feature about 1,000 apartments, as well as retail.

Major recent changes that also were not part of the equation when the initial plans for the garage were being considered by the Connecticut Department of Transportation include: Uber, Lyft and the Hartford-Springfield train connection. In the future there could be self-driving cars.

He said a fair question to ConnDOT is whether it has updated its economic model.

A local architect said it was important to consider comprehensively the larger scope of transportation, such as the connection to Tweed New Haven Airport and the harbor, as well as access to central New Haven and Yale University. She said easy and frequent access to the neighborhoods through shuttles could greatly increase ridership.

She said the station should also acknowledge the natural landscape of the area. The states proposed garage is enormous, which creates a cavernous environment that competes with downtown. She suggested a different scale garage as a better fit for the people who will live and work in the area.

Alex Marathas of Northside Development, like Pikaart, also was worried about congestion in the area with another garage.

You obviate the ability to do any kind of mixed-use project on the site, which is really terrible for long-term growth of the city, he said. I prefer to have off-site parking with a monorail running down Water Street to East Haven going to a surface lot over I-95 to Tweed New Haven Airport  solve all the problems at once.

The session was day one of a two-part review during which a group of architects and other professionals will offer their ideas continuing on Saturday based on the suggestions left on Friday. Saturdays portion will be open to the public at the library from 3 to 6 p.m.

mary.oleary@hearstmediact.com; 203-641-2577
NEW HAVEN  Marijuana growers and dispensaries can only sell their products for cash and need a financial institution where the money can be deposited.

Small state-chartered banks and credit unions are always on the lookout for new accounts to expand their businesses.

Both industries are composed of highly regulated, complex organizations, and their relationship is complicated by the fact that cannabis is listed on the federal level as a Schedule I illegal drug, along with cocaine, heroin and LSD.

But a startup company, Green Check Verified, based  for now  at 5 Science Park, is offering a way for marijuana companies and banks and credit unions to conduct business together in a secure, high-tech environment.

We have these people on both sides, the cannabis industry and the financial industry, and theyve not been able to communicate effectively, said Paul Dunford, director of customer experience for Green Check Verified. This is about bringing them together using technology.

The technology is key, because both the cannabis and financial companies will use the same cloud-based platform and must comply with a myriad of laws, regulations and rules that vary from state to state. So, as founder and president Kevin Hart said, weve been in stealth mode here since September 2015, filing for three patents, designing the platform and planning to expand the team and the thinking, and thats all before we wrote the first line of code.

In July 2017, the company incorporated in Delaware and Connecticut and in December signed up its first customers  two dispensaries and a financial institution  as it launched a pilot program, Hart said. He is in active conversations with companies in 13 states, which happens to be the number of employees Green Check has on its payroll.

Interstate commerce in cannabis is illegal, which is why marijuana dispensaries and growers cant use credit cards and why Green Check is only working with state-chartered banks and credit unions, not federally chartered banks such as Bank of America or Wells Fargo.

Dunford said the companies are allowed to conduct business within states because of an amendment in the fiscal 2015 federal budget, which prohibited federal enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act in states that have a medical marijuana program. In the federal budgets you cannot use federal funds to prosecute these businesses in states where its legal, Dunford said.

In 2013, an Obama administration ruling, called the Cole Memo, named for then-Deputy Attorney General James Cole, had covered any state-approved marijuana program. Both rulings said federal prosecutors should only focus on sales to minors, those involving criminal activity and on sales from a state where cannabis is legal to one where it is not.

Then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinded the Cole Memo in January 2018, but Hart said it was merely guidance; its not law, and that President Donald Trump has come out in favor of medical marijuana. While Sessions had opposed recreational marijuana for adults, Hart said that position caused a lot of rhetoric and a lot of hysteria but nothing ever came of it.

Interstate commerce is illegal but everything that happens within the states is legal, he said. It is a misconception that it is illegal and that has been an unfortunate hard stop for people in the financial services industry. In fact, the Financial Crime Enforcement Network, a division of the U.S. Treasury Department, has issued guidelines about banking in the cannabis industry, Hart said.

There are more protections in place, Dunford said. No one person at this point could turn the clock back but people dont know that.

Solving the problem of cash

The real issue for marijuana businesses is how to deal with the large amounts of cash from customers. Banks, at the same time, want to make sure their transactions are legal and that the cannabis businesses are operating within the law. The challenge is to establish a true and trusted relationship between those two entities, Hart said.

Its a fascinating problem set because, on one side, you have these local community financial institutions [that] are struggling to find new deposits, said Mike Kennedy, director of product strategy. From the banks perspective, you have this $10 billion industry thats largely unbanked or underbanked and that solves their problem.

From the cannabis industry side, you have these businesses that are relatively young, and they have operational challenges and are being forced to run multimillion-dollar businesses without access to the financial system, he said. The financial institutions are under obligation to manage their own risk exposure. They are responsible for preventing instances of fraud, money laundering and other illegal activity from occurring within the financial system.

Its a big problem, Hart said. Nobody can walk into a bank with bags of cash today and say, I want to open an account. Banks will ask them a lot of questions and turn them away, he said.

At Green Check Verified, Were solving the cash problem, Hart said. Instead of them showing up with the bag of cash, the bank will know in advance how each sale was verified and how those sales have complied to up-to-date rules and regulations.

Kennedy added the bank staff will know that there was a corresponding amount of compliant cannabis sales that correspond with that deposit.

Because both sides of the transaction are using Green Check Verified, in which each sale is recorded, including the type of marijuana sold, the amount and other details, the cannabis business can say, in effect, You dont have to trust us. You have compliant visibility into that sale, Dunford said.

From the banks and credit unions point of view, They need low-cost deposit dollars, Hart said. Credit unions, community banks  they struggle with big-bank competition. Credit unions have the charter of working within the communities that they serve. This gives them the opportunity.

This is a big reason why we were endorsed by the Credit Union League of Connecticut for their member unions to enter the cannabis business, he said. We call it a welcome dependency.

Hart said he is in conversation with one credit union in Connecticut, but that its executive wasnt ready to divulge its identity. Hes also talked with legislators, the state departments of Consumer Protection, Revenue Services and Banking and the lieutenant governors office, he said.

More states legalizing marijuana

Medical marijuana is legal in 33 states and the District of Columbia, and recreational weed (what Hart calls adult marijuana) is legal in 10 states and D.C., according to Governing magazine. Hart said five more are poised to legalize cannabis.

Connecticut, which permits medical marijuana and recently doubled the number of dispensaries to 18, will take up recreational cannabis in the upcoming session, with Gov.-elect Ned Lamonts and many legislators support. It appears that they will have the votes, Hart said.

Kennedy said regulations get more complicated when a state legalizes recreational marijuana in addition to a medical cannabis program. Its like bowling with the bumpers up and then putting them down, he said. It becomes a more complex regulatory environment. One big difference is that medical marijuana is not taxed while recreational pot is.

You have to be able to segregate those tax dollars, Kennedy said. Consumption rules change as well. In every state weve seen so far, a medical program has higher consumption limits than an adult program, Dunford said. Green Checks platform can tell you what your limit is. It can tell you if youre approaching your limit.

With marijuana sold as smokable flowers, oils and edible brownies, You may not know that those three things add up to more than 2.5 [ounces] because of how the product is packaged, Hart said. The system will help them identify that. Connecticut allows a patient 2.5 ounces of medical marijuana per month.

If all dispensaries were using Green Checks system, the state could relax its rule that requires patients to choose one dispensary in order to keep them from buying more than the limit. Each dispensary would have access to the same information, much like all CVS pharmacies having your prescription information.

With each state having its own laws, possession limits and other regulations, the bank would want to know that the dispensary was adhering to each before it accepted a deposit. Laws and regulations change, and they carry pretty substantial risk if you fall outside of them, Kennedy said.

Green Check ensures compliance in each jurisdiction. Compliance is expensive, Hart said. Its difficult. Tech can actually lessen those burdens dramatically.

It will also help states like Connecticut that hope to raise revenue by taxing marijuana. Hart said that in California, for example, they rolled these programs out with the expectation that they can collect tax dollars and they never can collect the tax dollars because the businesses arent banked. A small-town tax collector is not set up to take duffel bags of cash, which they have to do now, Kennedy said.

Its also dangerous for the dispensary to keep large amounts of cash on hand. In November, Southern Connecticut Wellness Center, a dispensary in Milford, had its safe stolen. Two people broke in and didnt steal any product. They stole the money, Kennedy said.

Hart said the company is talking with marijuana dispensaries and that hell approach growers in the future. Other companies solve a small sliver of the problem, he said. To date we are the only company  and other people have attested to this  that have taken the approach of working within the banking industry, not around it.

Drawing talent from New Haven

Green Check is making efforts to support New Haven and hire from the area. Hart attended Southern Connecticut State University, and Kennedy graduated from there, and they have just hired a Southern grad, Jessica Boe, whom they took on last year as a paid intern. They have brought on another intern and are working with a junior computer science student, Tiffanie Edwards, who is using mock transaction data from Green Check to work on her honors thesis.

I owe my four decades of computer software career to Southern, Hart said. The New Haven community has been really great. Theres a very vibrant tech community in New Haven. One company, Checkmate Digital, helped design the platform, he said.

Boe said she had interviewed at another company at Science Park but didnt get the job. I got an email from Kevin a couple days later, she said. The next day, I got the job as a software intern.

Originally from Wellsville in southwestern New York state, Boe has lived in Connecticut for seven years and worked at Green Check before she graduated from Southern. I was taking six classes my last semester and they [the Green Check staff] were wonderful, Boe said. They basically said, Come in when you can. They were great.

She said shes working on automation testing, which has to do with a web app filling out forms by itself. I love Green Check. I love all the people that I work with. Theyre all very positive and funny, she said.

Edwards, who is from Bridgeport, is going to be using machine-learning techniques to cluster or categorize the data. What I decide to cluster them by is up to me, she said.

A form of artificial intelligence, machine learning is using neural networks from a computer that work like human neural networks, Edwards said. It has to have a set topic that its learning. Once it learns the topic it will be able to perform many decisions on its own, based on that learned topic.

Lisa Lancor, chairwoman of Southerns Computer Science Department, said she began reaching out to New Haven companies because there was this disconnect that I thought was definitely solvable.

On one hand, she was being told there wasnt any tech talent in Connecticut in the New Haven area and I was hearing from my students that there [werent] any jobs in Connecticut and they were leaving the state. The problem was that Connecticut companies were asking for three years experience or more. Companies in New York, Boston and Silicon Valley, California, were taking new graduates.

She calls the internship program a four-win: the student has experience to put on a resume, Lancor gets feedback on how to modify her program, the companies tend to hire the interns, and its good for Connecticut. Were keeping the talent in the state, she said.

She said there is a national crisis of women in computers and minorities also are underrepresented. She said Hart was very excited about the diversity of students that we have at Southern and that when Green Check took on Boe as an intern they loved her right away. They were very impressed with the skill set she had and her last day of finals they gave her a full-time offer.

Hart said the companys growth plans means theyll be leaving 5 Science Park, off Winchester Avenue, for new quarters. Weve been here for four years and, sadly, were moving, he said.

He said Green Check is positioning itself at the largest part of the funnel of opportunity. The cannabis industry is viewed as the largest-growing consumer goods sector nationally. We want to be at the front of that in little old New Haven, Connecticut.

This story was edited to clarify that medical marijuana patients may purchase 2.5 ounces of marijuana per month.

edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com; 203-680-9382.
Connecticuts real estate market was in flux for much of 2018, especially when compared to the other New England states, according to a new report from RE/MAX INTEGRA, New England.

RE/MAX INTEGRA, New England is based in Boston and is the worlds largest real estate sub-franchisor and according to its recently released market report for 2018 in the region, Connecticut suffered the steepest decline of any state when it came to average sales prices.

The average sale price fell by 4.19 percent or $12,068 in value in 2018 when compared to 2017, according to the RE/MAX report. Average sales prices for 2017 were $288,177, according to the report, and at $276,109 last year.

Massachusetts was the only other New England state where average sale prices decline, according to RE/MAX data. The average sale price of a Massachusetts home fell by 2.6 percent or $15,849 when comparing 2018 to 2017.

Maine was New Englands hot real estate market, both in terms of average sale prices and the average amount of time properties were on the market before selling.

The average sale price of a Maine home that sold in 2018 was $266,956, an increase of 12.12 percent or $28,859. The average number of says a Maine home remained on the market before being sold was 84 days in 2018, a decrease of 11.77 percent from a year earlier.

Like Maine, Connecticut saw a dramatic decrease on the average amount of days a home had to be on the market in 2018 before it sold. The average time on the market for Connecticut homes to sell in 2018 was 75 days, down 11.80 percent from the same period a year.

As the New England markets start to shift, our agents work hard to stay informed, said Fiona Petrie, executive vice president & managing director of U.S. Operations for RE/MAX INTEGRA, New England.

Within Connecticut, most of REMaxs regions saw average sale prices fall. Only the Hartford region and the Tolland area saw an increase in average sale prices. The Hartford area saw average sale prices rise 4.25 percent in 2018 to $238,124, an increase of $9,715.

The Tolland area saw a 3.64 percent increase in average sale prices last year. That represents $8,369 increase to an average sale price of $238.547.

The Middlesex County area had the highest decrease in average sales price in Connecticut, down about 11.11 percent or $38,416 to finish 2018 $307,488.

Craig Milton is a broker with RE/MAX Valley Shore in Old Saybrook. The agencys primary selling area is the lower Connecticut River Valley, which includes southern Middlesex County.

We saw a lot of good activity, Milton said. We had buyers who were motivated to buy and we had a low inventory of homes for sale.

The average number of days that homes were on the market in the Middlesex County area was down 5.56 percent in 2018 to 89 days.

Virtually all of the home sale activity handled by RE/MAX Valley Shore was existing homes, Milton said.

Theres just not that much new construction out there, he said. The prices you can sell a new home for now arent high enough to cover the costs of land acquisition and building materials and still allow the builder to make a profit.

Milton said one reason the average number of days on the market didnt show a steeper drop might have been seller with unrealistic expectations about the price their home will fetch.

Theres a fair number of over-priced homes out there, he said. In order for a home not to linger on the market, the seller has to be realistic and price their home competitively.

Fairfield County had the second largest number of home sales last year, with a total of 949 changing hands, according to the RE/MAX data. And the average number of days homes were on the market in Fairfield County decreased by 13.11 percent from 97 to 84 days.

Fairfield County had the highest average sale price in 2018 at $480,751. But that average price was down 9.21 percent or $48,777 from where it had been in 2017.

luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com
DANBURY - For a man prone to alcohol abuse, street belligerence and fights with the law, Paul Arbitelles violent death at the hands of city police on Dec. 29 seems as though it closes the book on a life of trouble.

But this is more than a crime story.

As the probe into polices fatal shooting of 45-year-old Arbitelle and the serious wounding of his mother enters its second week, family and friends are waiting for investigators to determine exactly what happened in the final moment of his life, as he confronted two officers with a knife.

If Arbitelles long arrest record is any guide, his confrontation with two police officers in front of his mothers apartment that Saturday night was part of a lifelong pattern with the law that involved alcohol, agitation and aggression.

You see his history and his behavior, and I dont know the root cause of it, said Patrick Callahan, a chief probation officer in Danbury who supervised Arbitelles probation cases. Its a sad thing when anyone loses a life, but I just dont know what happened with this man.

Whether the two Danbury officers responding on Dec. 29 to a 911 call of a man with a knife recognized Arbitelle as the ex-convict who had done combat with city officers twice in the last six years, investigators have not said. In fact, investigators have released few details about the fatal shooting, including the officers names.

Arbitelle was certainly easy enough to recognize, however - with a serpent tattooed under his right eye and a skull tattooed on the left side of his face. He also had swastikas and white power tattooed on his body.

Although city officials and police have said they are withholding key information to be sure all the details are accurate as part of the investigation report, they have already said the use of deadly force was justified.

Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton suggested that investigators from the state police Western District Major Crime Squad would determine that the shooting was in self-defense.

Where the conclusion of the police investigation will leave Danbury is unclear. The city has not had an on-duty police officer fire a gun at a suspect in 20 years, as far as anyone can recall.

The family has declined to say anything publicly about the death of Paul Arbitelle or the shooting of his mother, 74-year-old Linda Arbitelle, except through a lawyer.

Attorney Robert Berke filed notice that the mother will sue the city for damages. The attorney said he is working with Arbirtelles daughter because Arbitelle herself remains in critical condition at Danbury Hospital.

Meanwhile, the family is grieving the loss of a combative son, who had a considerate side that surfaced in court, according to one attorney who represented him.

I remember that serpent tattoo, and I remember him as a delightful gentleman, said Angelica Papastavros, now an assistant public defender in New Haven, who represented Arbitelle in 2011, when he was convicted of a racially motivated assault on a black man in Danbury. He would say, Yes, Angelica, no Angelica, and I was able to have cordial conversation with him.

Constant conflict

Arbitelles life was punctuated and defined by his fights with the law.

His paper trail of arrests, court appearances and convictions tells a story that is heavy on criminal activity. As a man who was on probation five times in 10 years and who was released from the maximum security MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution in October, there is little evidence in publicly available records about his work life.

I dont know what his issue was or why he kept getting arrested, said Callahan, the chief probation officer.

Nor is there much record of a social life. Arbitelle is listed as a member of the Danbury High School class of 1992, but there is no sign of him in his senior yearbook.

A cryptic entry under the title of News Of The Weird that appeared in The Chicago Tribune in 1992 notes that a 17-year-old Paul Arbitelle in Danbury was accused of attempting to kill his mother with a hatchet after she failed to properly toast his bagel.

After that, Arbitelles name appears frequently in court filings and criminal history search records, showing 11 arrests and 10 guilty pleas, ranging from larceny, harassment and assault convictions to resisting arrest, interfering with law enforcement, and assaulting a police officer.

In particular, Arbitelle was found guilty of assaulting a Danbury police officer in 2016, and assaulting two Danbury police officers in 2011.

In the older case, he was accused of fighting with officers who were taking him into custody after he attacked a black man in Danbury. Arbitelles lawyer told the judge that Arbitelle was completely drunk, off his medications, and was really embarrassed by this.

The attorney also told the judge that the white supremacist tattoos on Arbitelles body were old marks that didnt represent his feelings anymore.

Several tattoo artists in Danbury said they did not recognize Arbitelles tattoos coming from any of the citys reputable shops. One artist said Arbitelles tattoos looked like prison tattoos.

The final fight

Arbitelle was out of prison only two months when he fought with police for the last time.

Police have said little about the exact circumstances of the 9:30 p.m. shooting outside the Glen Apartments senior housing complex on Memorial Drive, except for a one-paragraph release.

But neighbors say a family argument escalated quickly into a tense showdown with officers.

The yelling might have started inside the apartment and spilled onto the lawn between the apartments, neighbors said. When officers arrived, they saw Arbitelle appearing intoxicated and wielding a knife.

Police said one officer fired a stun gun, but it did not stop Arbitelles advance. Another officer fired multiple shots at him, striking him at least once.

Linda Arbitelle also was struck, but it is unclear whether it was by a separate bullet or a piece of the one that hit her son, police said.

Neighbor Alberta Peterson heard it all out of her back window.

I heard the yelling, but thats typical around here, she said. I heard five pops right in a row, so fast that I could tell it wasnt fireworks.

A moment later, paramedics were rushing the mother and son to the hospital, where Paul Arbitelle was pronounced dead.

rryser@newstimes.com 203-731-3342
NEW HAVEN  Friday was an eventful day for artisan bread maker Chabaso Bakery.

The New Haven-based bakery, which has been in business for more than 30 years, launched a rebranding campaign and debuted its first-ever e-commerce platform on the same day. The rebranding campaign includes a name change, a new tagline and a new website.

The bakery will now be simply known as Chabaso. And with the new name will come a new logo, according to company officials.

Chabasos new tagline is, Bakers for a better world, which will be featured on all packaging used by the bakery.

Its always time for reinvention and challenging ourselves to come up with something even better than the best Ciabatta in production, Charles Negaro, founder and chairman of the bakery, said in a statement.

Negaro said the changes at Chabaso are being spearheaded by Trish Karter, who joined the company in 2017 as chief executive officer. Before she joined Chabaso, Karter was co-founder of the Boston-based Dancing Deer Baking Co.

One of the reasons I said yes to Charless invitation to help him reinvent Chabaso was his already significantly philanthropic and innovative history, she said. I saw an opportunity to take this wonderful company and do much more with it on the social impact front while expanding its track record in product excellence and market leadership.

The e-commerce platform is initially offering five gift bundles for shipping nationwide. And later this year, fans of Chabasos product line will be able to order samples of new baked goods the company is developing.

What were thinking right now is that they would be able to buy these samples online at a very, very, very low price, Karter said. We want to do this so we can get some feedback about what were doing from some of our best customers.

Karter said she sees the companys new website and e-commerce platform as a way of welcoming the consumers inside our bakery in a virtual way. To insure the bread ordered online arrives as fresh as possible, Chabaso promises to deliver products overnight if ordered by noon Mondays through Thursdays.

You could eat it right out of the box, but its really better to stick it in the oven or toaster for five minutes, she said. Youll have something that is fresher and better than if you visited the bakery yourself.

Prices for the online order from Chabaso start at $25 plus shipping. Initial online offerings include:

A gift box of the four original Ciabatta flavors.

An Energy Grain Bundle, that features all whole-grain products.

, A collection of slightly sweet breads, including Chocolate and Fig & Oats.

Outside of the realm of e-commerce, Chabasos breads and artisan-baked products are shipped to stores along the East Coast, Karter said. The companys core market is from Baltimore to Boston, she said.

When I was working in Boston, Chabaso was a brand I knew well, Karter said.

Chabaso is a family-owned bakery founded by Negaro when he started baking breads for his Atticus Bookstore Cafe. Chabaso uses carefully sourced non-genetically modified organism ingredients and spends more than 20 hours fermenting all of its breads, then hand-finishing them and cooking them in traditional hearth ovens.

luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com
Destination Moon was a 1950 film, which won the Academy Award for Visual Effects. The rocket ship in the movie looks very similar to the planned SpaceX Super Heavy Starship.

The films premise is that U.S. private industry will mobilize, finance, and manufacture the first spacecraft to the Moon, while making the assumption that the U.S. government will then be forced to purchase or lease this new technology to remain the dominant power in space and on the Moon. Industrialists are shown cooperating to support the private venture. In the final scene, as the crew approaches the Earth, the traditional The End title card heralds the dawn of the coming Space Age: This is THE ENDof the Beginning.

Space development was stalled for many years after the Apollo missions. We had the space shuttle and the space station but there was a long plateau in capability. SpaceX is giving a private industry rebirth. SpaceX will send the next major manned mission around the moon.

The SpaceX Super Heavy Starship will now be made of mirror polished stainless steel and will have tripod legs. The real SpaceX vehicle looks very similar to what is in Destination Moon. The real-life story of a return to the moon has parallels to the fictional story.

The first private passenger to fly around the Moon aboard SpaceX Super Heavy Starship is fashion innovator, billonaire and globally recognized art curator Yusaku Maezawa.

More Destination Moon

The plot of Destination Moon is when their latest rocket test fails and government funding collapses, rocket scientist Dr. Charles Cargraves and space enthusiast General Thayer enlist the aid of aircraft magnate Jim Barnes. With the necessary millions raised privately from a group of patriotic U.S. industrialists, Cargraves, Warner and Barnes build an advanced single-stage-to-orbit atomic powered spaceship, named Luna.

The story was written by Robert Heinlein, James OHanlon and Rip Van Ronkel.

The Man Who Sold the Moon and Requiem

Although the science fiction film Destination Moon is generally described as being based on Heinleins novel Rocket Ship Galileo, the story is closer to The Man Who Sold the Moon. The Man Who Sold the Moon has a multi-staged rocket. Destination Moon uses a single-stage-to-orbit spaceship that takes off and lands vertically, both on Earth and the Moon.

Delos David Harriman, the last of the Robber Barons, is obsessed with being the first to travel toand possessthe moon. The technical problems are solvable with money and talent. To solve the tougher financial problems, Harriman exploits commercial and political rivalries. He implies to the Moka-Coka company that rival soft drink maker plans to turn the Moon into a massive billboard, using a rocket to scatter black dust on the surface in patterns.

Requiem is a short story by American writer Robert A. Heinlein, a sequel to his science fiction novella The Man Who Sold the Moon.

The story centers around Delos David Harriman, the lead character of The Man Who Sold the Moon. Harriman, a tycoon and latter-day robber baron, had always dreamed of going to the Moon, and had spent much of his career and resources making space flight a practical commercial enterprise. His business partners prevented him from taking the early flights because they could not risk the public face of their company.

He is now too old to pass the medical examination needed for space travel. Harriman bribes two spacemen to help him get to the Moon on their old ship.

The three of them fight many obstacles. Harriman finally makes it to the Moon and dies soon after landing. His body is left there, with his epitaph scrawled on the tag from an oxygen bottle. It is Robert Louis Stevensons Requiem, which is inscribed on his own headstone in Samoa.

Under the wide and starry sky

Dig the grave and let me lie:

Glad did I live and gladly die,

And I laid me down with a will!

This be the verse you grave for me:

Here he lies where he longed to be;

Home is the sailor, home from sea,

And the hunter home from the hill.
Ridgefielder John Frey is heading back to the state House of Representatives after narrowly staving off a challenge from Democratic nominee Aimee Berger-Girvalo this past November.

Top priorities include the state budget, unfunded mandates, unfunded state pension obligations, and the states outstanding debt of about $80 billion.

Those are all the elephants in the room, Frey, R-111, said.

Unfunded mandates are nothing new, said the 11-term incumbent.

In my 20 years in the legislature, every Board of Education has asked me to oppose unfunded mandates, so thats where I come down, said Frey. As far as Im concerned the best decisions are made close to the people.

As for pension obligations, Frey said some reforms are needed.

If youre a (police) sergeant and you make $85,000 a year, your pension is based on that and not your overtime and your uniform and meal reimbursement, Frey said.

Affordable housing

Frey said he also plans to take another look at the states 8-30g affordable housing law.

This session he will be on the legislatures housing committee. That deals with 8-30g, thats such a hot-button issue in Ridgefield I wanted to get on that committee, he said.

The law allows developers to get around most local zoning restrictions  including size and housing density rules  as long as the developer can prove the project wont negatively impact public health. In exchange, the developer agrees to set aside 30 percent of the housing units built as part of the project as affordable housing.

Ridgefield had a four-year moratorium on 8-30g, which expired in October.

Id like to get rid of [8-30g] but were not going to do that, said Frey.

He has hopes to extend the length of a moratorium from four years to five, and lower the threshold for towns to apply to something thats more attainable, Frey said.

He would also propose limiting development in watershed areas to one unit per acre.

Im all for affordable housing  I think that everybody is  but the fact that they dont have to abide by planning and zoning rules has a negative impact for communities like ours, Frey said.

Tolls

Ridgefields state representative for the 111th District is also concerned about Governor-elect Ned Lamonts proposal to add tolls to state roads.

Lamont has proposed tolls that would apply only to large commercial trucks. Well see if thats legal or not, said Frey.

Rhode Island currently has a truck-only tolls  the state uses an array of license-plate cameras over sections of I-95 for billing. But those tolls are currently the subject of a lawsuit by the American Trucking Association, which says the tolls discriminate against trucking companies.

Frey said he is worried that allowing tolls on trucks in Connecticut will be letting the camel under the tent for more tolls in the future.

Hes also concerned the tolls will push more traffic through town.

Its not hypothetical, we see that when the weigh station is open in Danbury, he said.

While Frey said he has no problem with adding usage tolls to bridges in need of repair, he balked at the number of tolling gantries Lamont has proposed.

Eighty-two toll stations would be more than any other state in the country  and were the smallest geographically, he said. It doesnt make sense.

Crossing the aisle

When he heads back to Hartford, Frey will be working with a state House of Representatives and Senate that are firmly in Democratic hands.

Freys Republican colleague for a decade, state Sen. Toni Boucher lost her seat serving the 26th District to Democratic challenger Will Haskell, a 22-year-old from Westport.

Toni Boucher is really a loss for the district, Frey noted.

He recently met with Haskell to talk about the upcoming session.

The election is behind us and we need to govern, and my expectation is were going to do that, Frey said. Will certainly brings the enthusiasm of a young person and that perspective  Im optimistic that were going to work together just fine.

Both Frey and Haskell have supported stronger gun laws  Frey helped pass stricter gun laws in the state in the wake of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012.

Were pretty much there, weve got the second strongest gun laws in the country, Frey said.

He said he was glad to see that the federal government had stepped in to issue a ban on bump-stocks  devices that allow a semi-automatic gun to fire nearly as fast as a fully-automatic machine gun.

Frey announced support for a state bill that would have banned the devices in Connecticut in March.

Closing businesses

Closer to home, Frey acknowledged the town is seeing a glut of closing businesses and falling home values.

Six businesses closed or announced they would be closing in the new year during the month of December.

Thats a large number of vacancies on Main Street  its disconcerting, said Frey.

He noted that in some cases, home values have dropped by as much as 50 percent in town.

We need to get back to making the state more corporate friendly, to attract home buyers, he said. Eliminating the corporate tax would be a step in the right direction.
The Brookfield Volunteer Fire Department Candlewood Company announced the death of a life member on Thursday.

William Bill Gleissner was born on Sept. 7, 1932, in Danbury. He died in his home on Wednesday, according to his obituary. He was 86.

He graduated from Henry Abbott Tech. He retired from Southern New England Telephone in 1987. He served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was a life member of Brookfield Volunteer Fire Department Candlewood Company.

The fire company said Gleissner joined the ranks in 1965. He became a life member in 1993. During his time with the Candlewood company, he served as the president, a member on the executive board, fire police and as a firefighter.

Bill loved the comradery of the firehouse so much that he and his family hosted many summer picnics for members of the department over the years, the fire company said. Bill will be missed but his legacy, dedication and leadership at Candlewood company will not be forgotten.

Bill loved boating on Candlewood Lake and was a member of the Danbury Mad Hatters Barbershop Chorus, the St. Joseph Mens Club, a volunteer driver for the American Cancer Society and played cards at the Brookfield Senior Center, the obituary said.

Gleissner, of Brookfield, was married to Annellen (Otto) Gleissner for 56 years.

He is survived by his three children, his two sister, his grandson and several nieces and nephews.

There will be a ceremony on Monday at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Church in Brookfield, followed by full military honors at St. Peter Mausoleum. The family will receive friends at the Cornell Memorial Home, 247 White St. in Danbury, on Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Contributions in his memory can be made to Regional Hospice and Palliative Care, 30 Milestone Road in Danbury; or to the Brookfield Volunteer Fire Department Candlewood Company, PO Box 296 in Brookfield.
NEW BRITAIN  Efforts by a San Jose, Calif.-based utility to acquire Connecticut Water Co. received a serious setback Friday when utility regulators rejected a request to extend hearings on the proposed deal.

As part of the decision rejecting the extension, commissioners with the Connecticut Public Utility Regulatory Authority gave officials with Clinton-based Connecticut Water and the SJW Group until the close of business on Wednesday to file any objections. If the companies elect not to file any objections, then PURAs Dec. 4 draft decision rejecting the merger will take effect on Jan. 16.

Dan Meaney, a spokesman for Connecticut Water, said officials with both companies are still assessing PURAs rejection of the request to extend the hearing. Officials with SJW Group released a statement in which company officials said they were disappointed that our motion to reopen the record to consider additional evidence was denied by PURA.

We continue to believe that the transaction is in the public interest and will provide significant benefits to all stakeholders, including employees, customers and local service area communities throughout Connecticut, the statement said in part.

The original timetable for the hearing had called for a final ruling in the case before the end of 2018. But shortly after PURA tentatively reject the deal, the two utility companies filed a request to reopen and extend the hearing process.

In their tentative rejection of SJW Groups proposed acquisition of Connecticut Water, PURA commissioners expressed concern about how the deal would affect local ratepayers. Shareholders of Connecticut Water approved the deal in a special meeting in mid-November.

The draft ruling raised a number of concerns about the deal, including:

A lack of Connecticut-based representation on SJW Groups board of directors, which regulators said gives up any local control.

SJW Groups failure to show how it would protect Connecticut Water ratepayers from potential rate increases to fund acquisitions of other utilities going forward.

The potential for SJW Group not making adequate levels of capital improvements to Connecticut Waters infrastructure going forward.

SJW Groups lack of permanent financing to pay for the deal. The California-based company has arranged with JP Morgan to provide interim financing for the deal in the form of a bridge loan.

The proposed deal was announced on March 15, 2018.

Connecticut Water Service is a holding company that is the corporate parent for Connecticut Water Co., The Maine Water Co., The Avon Water Co. and The Heritage Village Water Co. These subsidiaries provide water service to more than 450,000 people in Connecticut and Maine, and wastewater service to more than 10,000 people in Connecticut.

The utility serves customers in Beacon Falls, Bethany, Clinton, Deep River, Guilford, Killingworth, Madison, Old Saybrook and Westbrook in the New Haven area.

SJW serves more than one million customers in Texas and California.

luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com
New Delhi:

Chinese President Xi Jinping has asked the countrys Army to strengthen their sense of urgency and be battle ready, saying the world is facing a period of major changes never seen in a century. During a meeting with top military authority, the Chinese president told the countrys armed forces that China was facing increased risks and challenges, therefore, they must be ready for to do everything to prepare for battle to secure its development needs, according to news agency Xinhua. Xi, who is also chairman of the Central Military Commission, said the armed forces need to develop strategies for the new era and take on responsibilities for preparing and waging war.

"The world is facing a period of major changes never seen in a century, and China is still in an important period of strategic opportunity for development," news agency Xinhua quoted the Chinese president as saying.

Also Read | China develops its own 'Mother of All Bombs': Report

This war-preparation directions from the Chinese president came following his remarks that China still reserves the right to use force against Taiwan. China claims Taiwan (Chinese Taipei) is its territory. However, US President Donald Trump recently signed the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act into law to reaffirm US commitment to the security of the Island nation.

The development also came a day after reports that India is planning to deploy Rafale fighter jets at the base camps near China and Pakistan, a move many see as the countrys big leap forward towards preparing itself for a possible two-front war. As part of a change in the current structure, the Indian Air Force will deploy Rafale squadrons at Haryanas Ambala and West Bengals Hashimpura bases, respectively.

Also Read | Indian Air Force to deploy Rafale fighter jets near Pakistan and China

After India signed the multi-billion fighter jet deal, the Indian Air Force has been planning to replace the aging fighter jets. The strategic deployment will help India in protecting her Western and Eastern front. With Pakistan in the West and China in the East, the Rafale deployment will help India in achieving a formidable position. To protect its skies, India has so far been relying on the Sukhoi-30MKIs. However, the Indian Air Force regards Rafale higher than the current lot of fighter jets.



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New Delhi:

A special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court is Saturday expected to announce its verdict on the Enforcement Directorates plea seeking to declare Vijay Mallya a 'fugitive economic offender'. Earlier the order, which was scheduled to be pronounced on December 26, 2018, had been adjourned till January five as the judge was not ready with his order. If declared 'fugitive economic offender' under the newly formed Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, Mallya would lose all his properties as the agency will be able to confiscate all of them irrespective of the time period, they were bought in.

This law will help the agency confiscate all properties of Vijay Mallya whether they are within the proceeds of crime or outside and will be disposed off. This will be an added advantage for extradition matter which is pending before the UK ministry, India Today quoted ED counsel Hiten Venegaonkar as saying.

Also Read | Bombay HC dismisses Vijay Mallya's plea on removal of 'fugitive' tag

Under the Section 2F of the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, people who have fled the country after committing the crime and have refused to face the trial or those against whom non-bailable warrants (NBA) have been issued but cant be executed as they are not in the country, could be declared a 'fugitive economic offender'.

Business tycoon Vijay Mallya is absconding the country in a loan default case. He is accused of defrauding Indian banks to the tune of Rs 9,000 crore. He fled the country on March 2, 2016 after banks initiated legal proceedings to recover the outstanding loan amount. For the last two and half years, he has been residing in the UK.

Recently, he lost an extradition case filed by India. On December 11, the Westminster Magistrates Court in London had pronounced its verdict in the case and ordered authorities to extradite Vijay Mallya to India to face the trail.

The liquor tycoon has long been pleading before the Indian authorities to accept his payback offer. Days before the extradition case verdict, Mallya had requested banks to accept his offer, saying that he contributed thousands of crores to the State exchequers through his alcoholic beverage group and now defunct Kingfisher Airlines.

Also Read | Vijay Mallya begs banks to accept his 100 per cent payback offer

For three decades running Indias largest alcoholic beverage group, we contributed thousands of crores to the State exchequers. Kingfisher Airlines also contributed handsomely to the States. Sad loss of the finest Airline but still I offer to pay Banks so no loss. Please take it, he had said.

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New Delhi:

Sometimes in October last year, Sub-Inspector Manoj Kumar became a national hero sorts when his thain-thain encounter clip went viral. Cut to 2019, Kumar is in news again, but this time situation is serious unlike the viral video. The Uttar Pradesh police officer was injured in an encounter in Sambhal district on Friday. Giving details about the encounter, Sambhal Superintendent of Police Yamuna Prasad said, Two bike-borne miscreants fired at police during which Sub-Inspector Manoj Kumar got injured. During counter-firing, a criminal was also injured. One criminal absconding. Injured have been taken to hospital."

Kumar shot to fame after the on-camera encounter showed him shouting thain-thain to scare off the criminals. The clip was tweeted by news agency ANI on October 12 last year. In the viral video, Kumar along with another policeman are seen shouting thain-thain and maaro, maaro.

#WATCH: Police personnel shouts 'thain thain' to scare criminals during an encounter in Sambhal after his revolver got jammed. ASP says, 'words like 'maaro & ghero' are said to create mental pressure on criminals. Cartridges being stuck in revolver is a technical fault'. (12.10) pic.twitter.com/NKyEnPZukh  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 13, 2018

Later, explaining the situation, a senior official said that Kumar saved the day with exemplary presence of mind. Kumars gun had jammed and he was unable to fire. To create mental pressure on the criminals, the cops resorted to the unique vocal solution. Some policemen said that this was not new and cops have been using such techniques. "This was due to a technical glitch in the weapon that the officer was carrying. Such things are not new and might happen at times," a senior police official was quoted as saying by news agency ANI at that time.

While social media was full of memes and jokes, ANI reported that a criminal, who was wanted in a number of robbery cases and carried a reward of Rs 25 lakh, was arrested after being shot. One policeman was also injured during the encounter.

In fact, all jokes notwithstanding, the Uttar Pradesh Police also awarded Kumar for his valour. Kumars name was recommended for an award to the DGP, Up Police. Unfazed by all the memes, the thain-thain cop had said that he wasnt embarrassed and that this was a technique to save the cops during the encounter. I wanted to send out a message to the criminal that he was surrounded from all sides, Kumar was quoted as saying.

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New Delhi:

It was the meeting the followers of RJD leaders Tej Pratap Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav have been waiting for a long time. It finally happened when the two sons of Lalu Prasad met in Patna on Saturday. After the meeting, younger brother Tejashwi reiterated that he saw Tej Pratap as "Arjuna", whom he would assist like Lord Krishna, in winning the electoral battle in Bihar.

Donning a 'Kurta-pyjama' and a waistcoat with a muffler wrapped around his neck, Tej Pratap Yadav drove to Tejashwi's bungalow at 5, Desh Ratna Marg. Tejashwi Yadav greeted his elder brother by touching his feet and Tej Pratap responded by placing a hand on his younger brother's head.

Saturday's meeting took place four days after Tej Pratap met their mother Rabri Devi. Tejashwi was in Delhi at that time.

The elder brother had remained estranged from his family members for a long time since they refused to back him in his decision to seek divorce from his wife, just six months after their marriage.

Emerging after the nearly 45-minute long meeting, Tej Pratap Yadav told reporters, "We held only political discussions. Things like how to make our party stronger and take Lalu's dream forward. Tejashwi is my Arjuna and I will see to it that he occupies the throne."

Speculations have been rife that the elder brother has been uneasy over the growing clout of the younger one within the party, who was named as the RJD's chief ministerial candidate, more than a year ago.

On Thursday, Tej Pratap Yadav had also announced, out of turn, the candidature of his sister Misa Bharti from Pataliputra Lok Sabha constituency.

However, on Friday Tejashwi made it clear that any party candidate would be finalized by the party's parliamentary board after due approval from Lalu Prasad the national president, who is at present in Ranchi serving sentences in a number of fodder scam cases.

The point made by the younger brother was, later, grudgingly acknowledged by Tej Pratap Yadav.

(With PTI inputs)

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New Delhi:

Days after senior Congress leader Ajay Maken resigned as the partys Delhi unit chief, sources privy to the development claim that former chief minister Sheila Dikshit is leading the race for presidentship of the state Congress unit. As per the reports, the Congress is considering her name because of her stand on the party high command's decision on the possibility of sealing an alliance with the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the national capital. "The party will decide, the high command, Rahul Gandhi and all will decide and whatever they decide will be acceptable to all of us," Dikshit had told ANI.

Some reports suggest that Congress leaders Yoganand Shastri, Rajkumar Chauhan, Haroon Yusuf, and Chatar Singh could also be considered as Maken's replacement.

On the other hand, Maken  who was appointed the Congress's Delhi unit chief after partys debacle in 2015 Assembly Elections - was strongly opposed to any tie-up with the AAP. But he has insisted that he has tendered his resignation on health grounds which was long pending. Meanwhile, some reports suggest that he wanted to return to national politics and may contest upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Earlier in September, there rumours about his Makens resignation in political corridors. However, at that time, the Congress had come forward and dismissed as "rumours" reports about Makens resignation. At that time, the party had said that he had gone for a medical checkup abroad and continues holding the post.

Maken had informed Congress president Rahul Gandhi and in-charge of the party's Delhi unit, PC Chacko, about his trip, party leaders had said.

"Maken has not resigned and will continue to be the Delhi Congress chief," Chacko was quoted as saying by PTI.

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New Delhi:

The violence in Kerala that erupted after the entry of two menstruating women of the banned age into the Sabarimala Temple took a deadlier turn on Friday as bike-borne assailants hurled crude bombs at houses of Thalassery MLA and CPI(M) leader AN Shamseer among other places. Reacting to the attack, the CPI(M) leader alleged Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) hand, saying they intend to destroy the peaceful atmosphere of the state. "This was an RSS conspiracy to instigate violence in the state. They intend to create violence and destroy the peaceful atmosphere of the state," Shamseer told reporters after the attack.

The bomb was hurled when Shamseer was attending a peace meeting organised at his Thalassery constituency after the long spell of violence by right-wing groups in the state following the entry of women of the bleeding age inside the Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala.

Also Read | Sabarimala Row: Kerala tense as Hindu outfits call for statewide shutdown today

Apart from Shamseer, bombs were also hurled at the houses of CPI(M) leader and former Kannur district secretary of CPI(M) P Sasi at Thalassery and a CPI(M) activist Vishak in Kannur district.

Violent protests erupted across Kerala as soon as the news of two women sneaking into the Sabarimala temple spread. Agitated right-wing activists, including the BJP workers, rampaged through the cities and towns of the state blocking highways and forcing the closure of the shops and markets.

Media personnel, including women, who were covering the protests and incidents of hooliganism were allegedly harassed and attacked by the BJP and Yuva Morcha activists. Police were prompted to use stun grenades, tear gas shells and water cannons to disperse the protesters.

Announcing the dawn-to-dusk shutdown on behalf of the Sabarimala Karma Samiti, its leader KP Sasikala said the government has betrayed devotees. The Samiti is spearheading protests against the Supreme Court's September 28 verdict allowing women of all age groups to offer prayers at the hill shrine in Kerala.

Must Watch: Priests sprinkle holy water, carry out purification inside Sabarimala temple

Their demands include the resignation of Pinarayi Vijayan as the chief minister of the state. This is the seventh shutdown called by right-wing groups in a span of just three months over the issue of women's entry into the holy shrine of Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala.

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New Delhi:

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "weakening" the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to help his "suit-boot" friend. His allegation came after a media report claimed that the defence Public Sector Undertaking Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), grappling with low finances, for the first time in years, has been forced to borrow money to pay salaries to its employees.

"HAL does not have money to even pay salaries should not come as a surprise to anyone," Gandhi said in a Facebook post in Hindi. Rafale had been taken away from HAL, and "now to complete the job, the suit-boot friend needs people who are in HAL. Without weakening HAL, this work cannot be done?" he said.

"Chowkidar? (watchman)" is being true to his friendship, "he has nothing to do with the country's good or bad", he said. The friendship should continue, the Congress chief said. Earlier, Congress leaders accused the Modi government of "squandering" the assets of public sector undertakings such as HAL and ONGC to "favour a select few".

"HAL is borrowing Rs 1000 cr because it can't even pay salaries?" senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel tweeted.

HAL is borrowing Rs 1000 cr because it cant even pay salaries?



Not just HAL; be it ONGC,LIC, HPCL,GSPC or any other PSU this Government has squandered their assets to favour a select few  Ahmed Patel (@ahmedpatel) January 5, 2019

"Not just HAL; be it ONGC, LIC, HPCL, GSPC or any other PSU, this government has squandered their assets to favour a select few," Patel alleged.

Citing the media report, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "Under Modiji, India's largest public sector defence unit, HAL, does not even have enough cash to pay salaries to its employees. For the first time in 70 years, they were forced to borrow Rs 1000 crore".

"Despite that, no Rafale contract for them Apathetic!" he tweeted.

The Congress has been alleging that the government favoured Anil Ambani's firm over HAL in the Rafale jet deal. The government as well as Ambani have rejected all such allegations.

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New Delhi:

Days after announcing his formal entry into politics, actor-turned-politician Prakash Raj on Saturday said that he will be contesting upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Bengaluru Central constituency. "#2019 PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS. Thank you for the warm n encouraging response to my new journey.. I will be contesting from BENGALURU CENTRAL constituency #KARNATAKA as an INDEPENDENT..will share the Details with the media in few days..#citizensvoice #justasking in parliament too... (sic)," the actor tweeted.

#2019 PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS.Thank you for the warm n encouraging response to my new journey.. I will be contesting from BENGALURU CENTRAL constituency #KARNATAKA as an INDEPENDENT..will share the Details with the media in few days..#citizensvoice #justasking in parliament too... pic.twitter.com/wJN4WaHlZP  Prakash Raj (@prakashraaj) January 5, 2019

Raj would be fighting against BJP's PC Mohan, who defeated the Congress candidate with over 40,000 votes in 2014. The BJP leader has held Bangaluru central's seat ever since it was carved out from Bengaluru north and south after the delimitation process in 2019.

Earlier, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said that it has offered open support to Raj who would be contesting the upcoming 2019 Lok Sabha Elections as an independent candidate.

READ MORE: AAP offers open support to actor Prakash Raj who plans to contest 2019 Lok Sabha elections

The announcement was made during a Aam Aadmi Party meeting in Bangalore which was attended by Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and other party leaders. The actor, who was present at the meeting, took to Twitter to thank the deputy chief minister and party cadres for extending support to his political journey.

Raj is considered to have an anti-BJP stance and has criticised PM Narendra Modi government on many occasions. He became vocal after his friend and senior journalist Gauri Lankesh was murdered.

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New Delhi:

Parts of Kerala, particularly Kannur district, witnessed a massive violence on Saturday with several houses and shops of BJP-RSS and ruling CPI(M) leaders and workers being attacked over the Sabarimala issue. Apart from Kannur, Perambra in neighbouring Kozhikode, Malappuram and Adoor in Pathanamthitta, where the Ayyappa shrine is located, also witnessed a series of similar attacks and vandalism on Friday night and in the early hours of Saturday.

According to the police, bombs were hurled at several places, including at the houses of CPI(M) MLA AN Shamseer in Madapeedikayil, BJP leader and Rajya Sabha member V Muraleedharan at Vadiyil Peedikia and former Kannur district secretary of CPI(M) P Sasi at Thalassery in Kannur district past midnight. However, no one was injured in the attacks.

Blaming the RSS for the violence, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan lashed out at the ideological mentor of the Bharatiya Janata Party, saying the Sangh Parivar was trying to create fear in people's minds.

Meanwhile, a peace meeting called by the Revenue Divisional Officer at Adoor in Pathanamthitta district was boycotted by the BJP, slamming the police for failing to arrest the accused in connection with the death of Chandran Unnithan, a 'Sabarimala Karma Samiti' member who, the party alleged, was killed in stone-pelting on January 3.

Vijayan said "the state will deal with the RSS violence sternly. They are trying to destroy the peace and tranquility of the state. We will take stong action against it. It's the RSS agenda to create fear in the minds of the people," Vijayan told reporters, adding that it will not be allowed.

He said people of the state have shown restraint. "The RSS workers were attacking houses of MLAs, and other leaders. Their only aim and route is violence. The law and order system of the state will take care of it," he said.

The Opposition Congress also hit out Vijayan, asking why the left government failed to stop the RSS from creating trouble.

Senior congress leader Ramesh Chennithala alleged the state police had failed to maintain law and order.

"The DGP himself has accepted this. Why has the government failed to stop the BJP from creating violence?" Chennithala asked.

Sabarimala temple's Tantri a Brahmin monster

State minister and CPI(M) leader G Sudhakaran sparked a controversy calling Sabarimala temple's Tantri (chief priest), a "Brahmin monster" for conducting a 'purification' ceremony after two women in the menstrual age group entered the shrine.

"The tantri is a symbol of caste devil. He is not a Brahmin. He is a Brahmin monster. If a Brahmin becomes a monster, he will be a terror," he told reporters."He is not a 'shuddha (pure) Brahmin'. He does not have any love, respect and allegiance towards Lord Ayyappa," the minister alleged.

On Wednesday, two women, Kanakadurga, 44, and Bindu, 42, had entered the shrine and offered prayers, breaking a centuries-old tradition.

Following this, the tantri, Kandaru Rajeevaru, closed the sanctum sanctorum to perform the 'purification' ceremony.

Since then Kerala has been rocked by violent protests by BJP-RSS and right wing outfits.

As violence continued to disrupt life in Kannur and other places, state police chief Loknath Behera sounded a state-wide alert and gave direction to take stern action against those responsible for attacks on houses of party leaders.

According to Behara, 1,286 cases have been registered till Saturday night and 3,282 people have been arrested in connection with the violent incidents since the January 3. Of the arrested, 487 have been remanded and 2,795 granted bail.

(With PTI inputs)

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New Delhi:

Away from the political slugfest, the Indian Air Force is planning to deploy Rafale fighter jets at strategic air bases near Pakistan and China, News Nation has learnt. As part of change in the current structure, the Indian Air Force will deploy Rafale squadrons at Haryanas Ambala and West Bengals Hashimpura bases respectively. At present, the number 3 Cobra squadron of MiG-21 Bison fighter jets has been deployed in Ambala since 1997. But with Rafale taking over the fighter base in next two years, the Cobra squadron will be shifted to Rajasthans Nal air base.

The air force has almost completed the shifting process soon Ambala skies wont see the famous MiG-21 fighter jets. The air force has also confirmed the development.

Also Read | Bofors brought Congress government down, Rafale will bring PM Modi back, says Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament

"The first Rafale would be handed over to the Indian Air Force in September 2019 but it would be required to undergo intensive 1,500 hours of testing to validate the India Specific Enhancements on it. So, the first batch of the four Rafale fighter planes would arrive at Ambala around May 2020," senior air force officials were quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

After India signed the multi-billion fighter jet deal, the Indian Air Force has been planning to replace the aging fighter jets. The strategic deployment will help India in protecting her Western and Eastern front. With Pakistan in the West and China in the East, the Rafale deployment will help India in achieving a formidable position. To protect its skies, India has so far been relying on the Sukhoi-30MKIs. However, the Indian Air Force regards Rafale higher than the current lot of fighter jets.

Defence experts have highlighted the worrying trend of depleting squadrons. The air force has seen a steady decline in its fighter squadrons. With two more squadrons due to be phased out by March this year, the strength will be down to just 29 as against the sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons.

Also Read | Rahul Gandhi on Rafale: Congress will launch investigation if voted to power in 2019

In a related development, the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has been given the nod to manufacture weaponised version of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas for the Indian Air Force and the first such aircraft is expected to be out by the year-end, according to a company spokesperson. The Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) has given the green signal to start manufacturing of Tejas Mk1 under Final Operational Clearance (FOC) configuration, he said. "The actual final operational clearance, however, will take place only after extensive tests and trial," the HAL spokesperson was quoted as saying by the PTI.

To get the final operational clearance, the aircraft must have battle-time capabilities of mid-air refuelling, AESA radar, electronic warfare suites, a variety of bombs and weapons, among others, he said. The CEMILAC had accepted the design documents submitted by Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), which had designed and developed Tejas, he added.

(With agency inputs)

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New Delhi:

Former Bihar legislator and BJP leader Raju Singh was questioned for close to 10 hours on Friday and confessed to being under the influence of liquor during the celebratory-firing incident that killed a woman, sources said. Sources said Raju Singh was initially not cooperating and was claiming that he did not fire any bullets during the New Year's Eve party at his farmhouse in south Delhi. The former Janata Dal (United) MLA said he had fled from the spot out of fear, but later admitted that he had fired shots from a rifle and pistol.

Singh reportedly drank for an hour on the blood-covered dance floor, the eyewitnesses said. According to a report in The Hindustan Times, two DJs who were playing that night at Singhs farmhouse, have come forward and given the statement. The eyewitnesses accounts have been recorded in front of a magistrate, which means it is admissible in the court.

Raju Singh told police that he was drunk and, around midnight when the countdown began, he first fired from a pistol, then a rifle and the pistol again, the bullet of which hit 42-year-old architect Archana Gupta in the head. Police said the bloodstained clothes of the accused's driver, Hari Singh, are yet to be recovered. The former lawmaker told police that the clothes were dumped somewhere in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, the place from where he was detained along with his driver and later arrested.

He will be taken to Kushinagar in a day or two to find where he had dumped the clothes and search some of the empty cartridges that he had taken while fleeing from the farmhouse, sources said. Raju Singh had plans to flee to his village in Bihar, but was nabbed before he could do so, the sources added.

Archana's husband had said they were at the farmhouse on Monday night to celebrate the New Year. Around midnight, two-three rounds were fired by Raju Singh. Immediately, he noticed that his wife had fallen down and was bleeding. She succumbed to injuries on Thursday.

Raju Singh was booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Arms Act, police said, adding that he had five other cases registered against him. The police have added IPC Section 302, which pertains to punishment for murder, and punishable with a maximum term of life imprisonment or death sentence.

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New Delhi:

Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) minister Javed Mustafa Mir resigned from the party on on Saturday. Mir said he will decide the future course after consulting his followers. "I have decided to quit from the basic membership of the PDP and will forward my resignation to the party on Sunday morning," Mir told a local news house.

Jammu & Kashmir: Former PDP minister Javed Mustafa Mir has resigned from the party. (file pic) pic.twitter.com/l7X8tq51DK  ANI (@ANI) January 5, 2019

Mir resignation came after Maulana Imran Ansari, Abid Ansari, Haseeb Drabu and Basharat Bukhari decided to quit the party.

Mir contested from the Chadura assembly constituency in 2002 as a PDP candidate and won the election, in the 2008 and 2014 assembly elections too, Mir retained the seat.

Mirs father was Mustafa Mir, a veteran political leader who was shot dead by terrorists in 1990s.

Besides five MLAs, several senior leaders, including Raja Aijaz, Mehboob Iqbal, Runiyal and Peer Mohammad Hussain, resigned from the party recently.

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New Delhi:

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday carried out searches at 14 locations in Uttar Pradesh, including Jalao, Hamirpur, Noida, Lucknow and Kanpur, as well as in Delhi in connection with illegal sand mining case, sources said. Sources added that the roles of all forrmer ministers, including former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav, between 2012 and 2013 will be investigated. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav was the mining minister during that period. He was also the chief minister from 2012 to 2017.

Another former minister Gayatri Prasad Prajapati, who held the portfolio of the mining department, is also likely to be summoned by the CBI in the case, they said. The residences of senior officers, including IAS officer B Chandrakala, who is famous on social media for her anti-corruption crusade, were also raided in connection with the case, the sources said. The investigating agency had taken up the case on the instructions of the Allahabad High Court.

The CBI sources said 11 people, including government officials, are involved in the case. The sources said for a limited period, there was a ban on the mining, however, the government officials allowed mining even during the ban period. Besides Chandrakala, then mining officer Moinuddin, SP MLC Ramesh Mishra and his brother, mining clerk Ram Ashray Prajapati, Ambika Tiwari (Hamirpur), mining clerk Ram Avatar Singh and his relative and former zila pachayat chairman Sanjeev Dixit are accused in the case, according to ANI.

Despite the NGTs prohibition, the illegal mining continued in the Uttar Pradesh. The CBI had been conducting investigations in seven places. On July 5, 2012, a tender was issued by the UP government, but it wasnt issued through an e-tender. Therefore, the Allahabad High Court had asked the CBI to begin an investigation into the matter.





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Shimla:

Seven people, including six school children, were killed and several others injured when a school bus skidded off the road and rolled down a deep gorge in Himachal Pradesh's Sirmaur district. According to reports, the incident happened when a private bus ferrying students of DAV School fell into a gorge near Renukaji, a famous Hindu shrine about 150 km from the state capital.

The accident occurred in Sangrah town on Saturday morning. Seven people - six school children and the bus driver - were killed, Superintendent of Police, Sirmaur, Rohit Malpani said. All the injured have been shifted to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. The condition of some of them is critical, he said.

Prima facie the accident happened due to the negligence of the bus driver, the police said. According to eyewitnesses, the local administration had a tough time extricating the victims from the badly-mangled bus.

Further details are awaited.

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New Delhi:

Actor Alok Nath was granted anticipatory bail on Saturday after an FIR was registered against him by screenwriter and producer Vinta Nanda alleging rape 19 years after the incident.

The court directed him to not leave India without the court's permission.

Vinta Nanda, writer and producer of television serial Tara accused Nath, who was the lead actor in the show, of drugging and raping her. She shared her ordeal in a detailed FB post amidst the ongoing #MeToo movement.

A rape case was registered against Nath by the Mumbai Police on November 21 based on a complaint filed by the writer-producer who accused him, in a social media post, of raping her 19 years ago.

However, Nath refuted the allegations and filed a civil suit against the complainant, seeking Re 1 as damages for defaming him. Though Nanda did not name Nath in the post, the complainant referred to him as the actor who is known as the most Sanskari person.

Later, the Cine and TV Artists Association (CINTAA) also expelled the veteran actor from the association.

Alok Nath is popularly known for playing characters endorsing moral values or sanskar in Bollywood films such as Maine Pyaar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hain Koun!, Hum Saath Saath Hain and Vivah.

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New Delhi:

Chirag Paswan, leader of the Lok Janshakti Party, a BJP ally in Bihar, on Saturday said contentious issues such as the Ram Temple and triple talaq, which are being raised ahead of the Lok Sabha elections could harm the NDA. Addressing a press conference in Bihars Sheikpura district, the LJP parliamentary board chairman said: "Development should be the poll plank for the NDA, which, I am confident, will help the coalition win more than 35 of the 40 seats in Bihar. I am hopeful that the election will be fought on the issue of development and contentious issues like the Ram Temple and triple talaq will be kept at bay. These may harm the coalition's prospects," he said.

Chirag, the son of Union minister and the LJP's founding president Ram Vilas Paswan, had expressed similar concerns last month after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost power in three of its strongholds -- Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

Earlier also, Chirag had sent a strong message to the ruling BJP by making it clear that the Ram Temple was an agenda of the BJP and not the NDA. After the debacle of the BJP in the recent Assembly elections in three heartland states, Chirag had said it was time the saffron party went for a course correction. The LJP leader said the issue of Ram Temple had dominated the actual issues and mangled the agenda of development on which the saffron party had won in 2014.

Paswan's statement came at a time when the issue of triple talaq has thrown Parliament into a turmoil and another BJP ally in the state, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U), has refused to vote in favour of the bill in the Rajya Sabha after having abstained in the Lok Sabha.

Moreover, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's contention that an ordinance on the Ram Temple will not be brought ahead of the Supreme Court verdict on the issue and the delay in a decision on the title suit in the apex court are being resented by the hardliners within the BJP and the Sangh Parivar.

Replying to another query, Chirag said the LJP's claim over the Munger Lok Sabha seat stood as of now.

"Neither of our allies (BJP and JDU) has approached us, expressing the desire to contest the seat. But if we are asked to give up our claim on the seat and offered some other constituency, it will be duly considered," he added.

Notably, Munger is represented in the Lok Sabha by Veena Devi, wife of mafia don-turned-politician Suraj Bhan Singh who is a national vice-president of the LJP.

Singh has been fielding his wife in elections following his conviction in the murder case of former Bihar minister Brij Bihari Prasad in 2008.

Speculation has been rife that the Janata Dal (United) may insist on the seat for Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, a minister in the Nitish Kumar cabinet, who had won the seat for his party in 2009, but had lost it to Veena Devi five years later.

The JD(U), which had fought the 2014 Lok Sabha polls separately, returned to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in 2017.

(With PTI inputs)
New Delhi:

Vijay Mallya, the embattled billionaire, has been declared as a fugitive economic offender by a Special Court in Mumbai on Saturday. Now, the Indian government will be able to confiscate Mallyas properties. Special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court announced its verdict on the Enforcement Directorates plea. The order, which was scheduled to be pronounced on December 26, 2018, had been adjourned till January 5 as the judge was not ready with his ruling. This law will help the agency confiscate all properties of Vijay Mallya whether they are within the proceeds of crime or outside and will be disposed off. This will be an added advantage for extradition matter which is pending before the UK ministry, India Today quoted ED counsel Hiten Venegaonkar as saying.

Under the Section 2F of the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, people who have fled the country after committing the crime and have refused to face the trial or those against whom non-bailable warrants (NBA) have been issued but cant be executed as they are not in the country, could be declared a 'fugitive economic offender'.

Also Read | Vijay Mallya left country in `normal course', his lawyer tells court

Business tycoon Vijay Mallya is absconding the country in a loan default case. He is accused of defrauding Indian banks to the tune of Rs 9,000 crore. He fled the country on March 2, 2016 after banks initiated legal proceedings to recover the outstanding loan amount. For the last two and half years, he has been residing in the UK.

Recently, he lost an extradition case filed by India. On December 11, the Westminster Magistrates Court in London had pronounced its verdict in the case and ordered authorities to extradite Vijay Mallya to India to face the trail.

Also Read | CBI refutes Rahul Gandhis allegation that its officer helped Vijay Mallya escape

The liquor tycoon has long been pleading before the Indian authorities to accept his payback offer. Days before the extradition case verdict, Mallya had requested banks to accept his offer, saying that he contributed thousands of crores to the State exchequers through his alcoholic beverage group and now defunct Kingfisher Airlines.

For three decades running Indias largest alcoholic beverage group, we contributed thousands of crores to the State exchequers. Kingfisher Airlines also contributed handsomely to the States. Sad loss of the finest Airline but still I offer to pay Banks so no loss. Please take it, he had said.

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New Delhi:

Banking services are likely to be affected on January 8 and 9 as a section of PSU bank employees would go on a two-day strike in support of the nationwide strike call given by 10 central trade unions against the government's alleged anti-worker policy. The All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) and Bank Employees Federation of India has informed the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) of the two-day nationwide strike on January 8 and 9, 2019, IDBI Bank said in a filing to the BSE.

In a stock exchange filing, the Allahabad Bank said the issues and demands are of industry level and strike call is also given at industry level.

"Therefore, if the strike takes place, the functioning of branches of the bank may be affected. The bank is taking all the necessary steps in terms of the existing guidelines for smooth functioning of bank's branches/offices on the day of strike(s), in the event the strike materialises," it said.

Public-sector Bank of Baroda said "in the event of AlBEA and BEFI proceeding on strike on January 8 and 9, 2019, the functioning of bank's branches/offices in some of the zones may be affected".

Private sector Karur Vysya Bank said if the strike call materialises, "the workmen of our bank may take part in the proposed strike on the said date, in which occasion the normal working of the branches/offices of the Bank may get affected during the day".

Ten central trade unions -- INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, AICCTU, UTUC, TUCC, LPF and SEWA -- have also called for a nationwide general strike on January 8 and 9 against what they call "anti-people" policies of the Centre and have placed a charter of 12 demands before the central government.

Earlier on December 26, 2018, nine bank unions or close to 1 million employees of various banks, including private lenders, had observed a one-day strike to protest against the proposed amalgamation of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank with Bank of Baroda.

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Shamokin, PA (17872)

Today

A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 55F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 55F. Winds light and variable.
A Canadian man who took up two seats on a rescue plane as he was evacuated from one of Alberta's worst wildfires has lost an astounding 151 kilograms.

At his heaviest, Tony Bussey, 43, weighed 257 kilograms and couldn't reach over his stomach to put on his socks.

He was evacuated during the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfires and his evacuation was the push he needed to lose weight.

"The evacuation was my 'enough' moment," he told CTV News Canada.

"When they put us on the bus I was spilling over into the next seat, so much so that they couldn't even put a person next to me.

"You've got a line-up of people waiting to come on the bus and they couldn't get on because I'm taking up two seats. And then when I get on the plane, same thing."

Mr Bussey told CTV News he cut out processed sugar, breads, pasta and eating late at night.

Looking back at pictures of him at his heaviest, Mr Bussey said he saw despair and sadness.

"All the years of being overweight, bad decisions, bad eating, bad habits of basically just lying on a couch, wasting my life away, I had enough.

"Life is too beautiful to be wasted on a couch. At that size you're eating yourself into an early grave."

Mr Bussey said by sharing his story he hoped to inspire others.

Newshub.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) says strong vegetation growth in Canterbury could soon pose a fire risk.

It comes on the back of a Metservice forecast that suggests January will be very hot and dry for much of the country.

Canterbury authorities are bracing themselves for a potentially busy fire season.

"In another month's time if it keeps drying all of this will be brown and you'll have some very significant fire potential," FENZ Manager Darrin Woods says.

He says a mild winter followed by a wet spring has seen vegetation growth across the east coast take off at levels not seen in 30 years.

And it's places like Port Hills that worry fire officers as the wet start to summer has seen the vegetation explode.

Mr Woods says with forecasters predicting the weather in the South Island to be very hot and dry by mid-January, FENZ is imploring property owners to mow long grass and vegetation.

"Now is the time to act while it's still got a bit of green in it. It's important that people do what they can to reduce the fuel load around their properties, particularly around their structures and their fence lines."

It's these actions that could save properties as the country heads in to the driest time of the year.

Further south, gusty northwest winds and arcing power lines are being blamed for a scrub fire that broke out near Lumsden, Southland.

Saturday has proved to be busy for Southland fire crews.

"It's very hot and dry now things are drying out," Lumsden Station Officer Owen Patterson says.

"We've had a lot of high winds here now [and we've] got to be very careful [as] things are getting very dry."

The fire tore through a forestry block and was brought under control by crews from around the district.

Newshub.
A crash in Terrace Tunnel on Thursday had Wellington holding its breath as a man involved stood above the motorway, armed with a knife and bleeding for 10 hours.

He refused food and water from police and was seen pacing the pole above the northbound entrance of the motorway.

At around 5pm, a trio of double decker buses were called in to help get him down safely, positioning themselves underneath him.

Kevin Snelgrove, the transport and operations director for Tranzit Group, told Newshub the event was "definitely surprising".

"I've been in the bus industry for 40 years and we are always prepared to turn out and help assist our local community in any adverse event," he said.

"We assisted the police operation by providing part of our double decker bus fleet and were happy to do so."

The man eventually came down at 10:30pm, after an incredible 10 hours above the motorway. Police have confirmed his injuries were self-inflicted.

The man is still in police custody and is receving health treatment. Police say they will not be providing any more details, for privacy reasons.

He has been charged with dangerous driving causing injury and possession of an offensive weapon, and is due to appear in Wellington District Court at a later date.

Newshub.
Lisa Livingston takes a moment to herself while having her last cup of coffee before heading out to Paoli for her sentencing in March. "I'm at peace", said Livingston when asked how she was feeling the morning of her court date.
Laura Josephine (Conrad) Wilson, 94, of New Albany, Indiana, passed away on Saturday, June 12, 2021. Laura was a member of Grace Lutheran Church and the New Albany VFW Posts 1693 and 3281 Ladies' Auxillary. She was born on November 10, 1926 in English, Indiana to the late John and Stella (Un
I stood at the high school entrance with my sister as we awaited the arrival of her eighth-grade students, all of whom she would greet by name. Before they showed up, we were swarmed by high schoolers jockeying for attention  from my sister. I was the invisible bystander.

What a glorious sight, all those high school students shouting Ms. Schultz! as they swept in to hug her and share stories of their day. Every exchange felt like the continuation of a conversation shed been having with them for years. My sister has never been a mother, but she has raised hundreds of children as her own.

She had required her eighth-graders to know about my writing career before my arrival, so we dived right in. So many questions in 47 minutes: How do you work through writers block? When do you know you have a good story? How do you work up the nerve to interview a stranger?

Ten minutes into it, I realized we were talking about more than just writing. We were exploring what it means to live in a small town with big dreams pounding in our hearts.

Have I ever felt lonely as a writer? Are people surprised that I came from Ashtabula?

How did I find the confidence to believe that people everywhere would care about the writing of a girl from nowhere?
To reach her destination, she flew from the Roanoke Regional Airport to Atlanta, then two stops in Argentina. The cruise ship, National Geographic Explorer, transported Painter and about 200 other passengers, including the staff and crew for a two-day trek starting Dec. 18.

The most memorable portion of the journey to and from Antarctica was undoubtedly traveling through the Drake Passage, Painter said. The stretch between Cape Horn in South America and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica can be a rough crossing, to put it mildly.

Imagine you have the stomach flu, said Painter. Then someone takes you on a back country road around the mountains. Youre going up and down hills. At the same time, the car is being swung side to side like a swing set, she said.

Most of the passengers were still reeling from the experience after arrival near a small Chilean research base, Painter said.

Then they gained their footing, and the real quest began. Painter spent much of her first day hiking, breathing in the cold, foggy air and listening to the falling sleet beating against the massive sheets of ice. The shoreline was rocky, Painter said, explaining that most of the peninsula is volcanic in origin.
BRISTOL, Va.  The Way Ahead, the political action committee of Gov. Ralph Northam, has received $25,000 from backers of the Bristol Resort and Casino project.

At the same time, more companies and groups in Virginia are getting into the political influence game ahead of a legislative session than they have in past years.

Clyde Stacy and the United Company each wrote checks for $12,500 to Northams PAC on Dec. 21, according to the Virginia Public Access Project website. Stacy and Jim McGlothlin, chairman of United, are partners in the proposed Bristol Resort and Casino planned for the Bristol Mall site.

Those are the most recent contributions made by the two, their companies, family members and associates, in advance of the Virginia General Assemblys upcoming session, which starts next week. For the casino to proceed, legislation must be approved by the House and Senate and signed by the governor. The bill, which will be carried by Sen. Bill Carrico, R-Galax, and Del. Israel OQuinn, R-Bristol, would then require a public referendum of the voters in Bristol, Virginia.

To date, all associated with the project have contributed $550,000 to an array of committees.
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U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is set to visit eight Middle East countries in the following weeks, a trip scheduled amid rising uncertainty and complexity in the region following the decision of U.S. troop withdrawal from Syria.





Pompeo was expected to use the opportunity to assure the allies about U.S. commitment in the region, a mission not easy to fulfill.





"NOT GOING ANYWHERE"





Pompeo will kick off his eight-day trip on Monday to visit Jordan, Egypt, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait, said the U.S. State Department in a statement on Friday.





The visit will center on two "themes," which were reinforcing commitment to the region after its Syria decision and countering Iran's "destabilizing activities," senior State Department officials told reporters at a telephone briefing Friday.





"We are not going anywhere," said one official, who talked on the condition of anonymity.





The Trump administration announced in late December that it had started returning the U.S. troops home from Syria after claiming a victory in the fight against the Islamic State (IS), a move rattling its allies and partners in the Middle East and leading to the departure of key administration officials.





Following the abrupt announcement, no detailed timetable about the withdrawal has been exposed to public, while U.S. President Donald Trump himself later changed his tone on the issue, claiming a slow retreat "over a period of time."





"We have no timeline for our military forces to withdraw from Syria," said another official during the briefing, adding that it will be done "in a deliberate, heavily coordinated way."





Meanwhile, the officials shunned away from the much discussed possibility of the United States organizing groups of troops from Arab countries to go to Syria, saying that they have no plans "right now" about that.





The officials also revealed that Pompeo will raise the case of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi during his talks with Saudi leaders, seeking "accountability and credibility."





Khashoggi was murdered inside the Saudi consulate in Turkey in October 2018 and a number of top Saudi officials were arrested over the case.





INFLUENCING GULF COUNTRIES





It has been noticed that Pompeo covers all the six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in one trip, an itinerary described as "highly unusual" by the officials.





Washington has long hoped to end the rift among the GCC countries, comprising Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar, and form a unity against Iran, which the Unites States declared as a "key threat" in the region.





Pompeo's trip will work to "build confidence among the blockading countries and Qatar," said the officials.





Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt have been imposing a diplomatic and economic boycott on Qatar since June 2017 over allegations that the gas-rich Gulf country supports terrorism and interferes in their domestic affairs, which Doha has repeatedly denied.





Little sign of reconciliation has been seen among the conflicting sides.





Pompeo will convene two strategic dialogues throughout the trip, one in Doha, the capital city of Qatar, and one in Kuwait, according to the officials.




Brown, who has served as sheriff since 1996, made the announcement in a brief news release late Friday afternoon. He will retire on Dec. 31 after six terms in office.

The election to succeed Brown will be held in November. As of Friday, no candidates had announced their entry into the race.

Brown, a native of Bedford County, began his half-century career in law enforcement at the Bedford County Sheriffs Office. He has served as a special agent for the U.S. Treasury Department, a police consultant and instructor for the U.S. Department of Justice, a staff support specialist for the Central Intelligence Agency, and a tactical officer for the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C.

As sheriff, Brown has brought in millions of dollars in state and federal grant money to the county, and has led the effort to expand the school systems resource officer staff. But his tenure has largely been defined by the creation of the Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which was formed in 1998 to find and prosecute internet predators.
Engaging in repetitive and ritualistic behaviors is part of typical child development. However, behaviors that develop into obsessive and compulsive symptoms (OCS) may represent a red flag for serious psychiatric conditions. Researchers at the Lifespan Brain Institute (LiBI) of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania found children and young adults with OCS who also admitted to having bad thoughts were more likely to also experience psychopathology, including depression and suicide. This is the first and largest study examining OCS in more than 7,000 participants aged 11 to 21.

The findings were published online Nov. 23, 2018 in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Researchers divided OCS into four categories: bad thoughts, repeating/checking, symmetry, and cleaning/contamination. More than 20 percent of youth admitted to having bad intrusive thoughts, which included thoughts about harming oneself or others, picturing violent images, or fear that one would do something bad without intending to. These children were more likely to develop serious psychopathology beyond obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), including depression and suicide.

"Our hope is that these results will propel both mental health professionals and non-mental health practitioners, such as pediatricians, to probe for these symptoms during their patients' visits," said the study's principal investigator Raquel Gur, MD, PhD, director of the LiBI and a professor of Psychiatry, Neurology and Radiology in the Perelman School of Medicine. "These symptoms may be vital for identifying adolescents who are on a potentially debilitating psychiatric trajectory."

"Repetitive actions are common in young children, and are in fact a healthy part of development," says lead author of the study Ran Barzilay, MD, PhD, child and adolescent psychiatrist and research scientist at LiBI. "It's when these symptoms continue into adolescence and start to interfere with day-to-day activities that we really need to examine the cause and treatments available."

OCS were common in individuals who did not seek mental health treatments (38.2 percent). Only three percent met the threshold for OCD. OCS were more common in females and after puberty. The researchers suggest OCS may be a window for clinicians to probe and identify serious psychiatric conditions.
In the current issue of Family Medicine and Community Health (Volume 6,Number 4, 2018; DOI: https://doi.org/10.15212/FMCH.2018.0118: , Somayeh Zare, Mehdi Kargar, Jeyran Ostovarfar, Mohammad Hossein Kaveh of the Department of the Health Education and Promotion, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran discuss how studies show that suitable design of educational programs can affect prisoners' awareness of AIDS.

However, it is not easy to study their effectiveness. So the authors posed the question of whether these programs affect significantly the decrease of HIV transmission among prisoners. Counseling and diagnostic testing are not considered as the final goals of these programs, but they help to diagnose and treat AIDS and also provide supportive programs for prisoners and decrease the risk of HIV transmission to them. Condom provision programs have been used effectively in several countries. The studies reviewed indicate that these programs have been supported more than before by officials and prisoners. They also showed if prisoners have access to condoms, they use them in their sexual contacts. The investigations illustrated the importance of NSPs whenever AIDS is prevalent. They lead to lessening of the risk of HIV transmission and also extra expenses for disease therapy. The investigations showed the effectiveness of medical therapy programs related to AIDS. MMT, as one of the most preventive and AIDS control therapies, can be effective whenever it is given appropriately. MMT can diminish the frequency of medicine use and also use of a common syringe. Principally, effective and accessible therapies influence health and safety in prisons. However, few studies have been conducted to determine the impact of decontaminant provision and safe tattooing programs in prisons, so it is not easy to evaluate their effectiveness.
SeaDream II sailing, from $5,999 per person for seven days

Passage through Egypt sailing with Lindblad Expeditions/National Geographic on the Oberoi Philae, from $8,480 (top suites from $13,260) for 13 days
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State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi countered criticism on Thursday alleging that Chinese aid had contributed to a massive increase in African countries' debt. On the contrary, he said, China is helping the continent seek independent and sustainable economic growth.





Wang spoke at a joint news conference with Ethiopian Foreign Minister Workneh Gebeyehu in Addis Ababa during his visit to Ethiopia, the first stop of his five-day Africa trip, which started on Wednesday and will also take him to Burkina Faso, Gambia and Senegal.





Debt in Africa has been a stubborn issue left over from history, Wang said, noting that it didn't just suddenly appear, and it was not caused by China.





China has paid great attention to the financial difficulties in which some African countries have found themselves and is willing to offer assistance within its capacity to help them solve temporary problems, he added.





US National Security Adviser John Bolton accused China of making "strategic use of debt to hold states in Africa captive to Beijing's wishes and demands". Bolton's criticism came as the United States unveiled its new Africa strategy last month.





Wang said criticism of China and hyping of African debt don't conform to the facts and are not acceptable to African countries.





No one knows better than the African people the major cause of their countries' debt issues, he said, adding that attempts to discredit China will not affect cooperation between China and Africa.





Wang said China's investment and financing partnership with Africa follows the principles of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith. He said the country has been respectful of the wishes of the African people, and has based cooperation on their demands and needs with no strings or political conditions attached or political benefits sought.





When working on related projects, China has always strictly abided by the laws of the countries involved and by market rules, and it has followed the principle of openness and transparency and never allowed backroom deals or corruption, Wang said.





He said resolving African countries' debt issues depends on those countries' independent and sustainable economic development.





To that end, China will step up implementation of the decisions made at the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation as well as the eight major initiatives that are urgently needed by African countries to strengthen the internal growth drivers of their economies, he said.





President Xi Jinping announced the eight major initiatives at the Beijing summit to bolster cooperation with African countries in such fields as industrial promotion, infrastructure connectivity, trade facilitation and green development.





Wang's visit is a continuation of the tradition of Chinese foreign ministers, since 1991, to choose Africa for their first overseas trip of the year. He also visited the headquarters of African Union in Addis Ababa on Friday.





Wang said China's practical actions prove that Africa holds an important place in its diplomacy.




Stephanie Stewart, left, 36, of Akron, speaks to her defense attorney Kimberly Corral before her sentencing hearing Jan. 4 in Geauga County Common Pleas Court.
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Whippany, NJ (07981)

Today

Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 59F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 59F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
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U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday dismissed a New York Times report that he is considering former Democratic Senator Jim Webb to be the next Pentagon chief, calling the story "fake news."

"I'm sure he is a fine man, but I don't know Jim, and never met him," Trump tweeted Friday afternoon. "Patrick Shanahan, who is Acting Secretary of Defense, is doing a great job!"

The Times reported earlier in the day that the White House is looking at Webb, who had also served as secretary of the Navy under former Republican President Ronald Reagan, as the new defense secretary of the Trump administration.

A former senator from Virginia, Webb, 72, is a war veteran and a critic of the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq as well as an Emmy Award winning journalist, a filmmaker, and the author of ten books.

Shanahan took over the Pentagon earlier this week as acting secretary of defense.

His predecessor, Jim Mattis, resigned last month over policy disagreements with Trump, including whether to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria.

A 68-year-old former Marine Corps general, Mattis had planned to leave at the end of this February but Trump named Shanahan as the acting Pentagon chief before Christmas, forcing Mattis out earlier.

Shanahan, 56, became deputy secretary of defense in July 2017.

The former longtime Boeing executive reportedly has strong relationships with both Trump and Vice President Mike Pence but is expected to face questions over his lack of foreign policy or government experience in his new role.

"Under the direction of President Trump, the Department of Defense remains focused on safeguarding our nation," Shanahan said in a statement on New Year's Day.

"As acting secretary of defense, I now look forward to working with President Trump to carry out his vision alongside strong leaders including the service secretaries, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the combatant commanders, and senior personnel in the Office of the Secretary of Defense," he added.
GREENWICH  Principal Barbara Riccio helped build the new New Lebanon School, and as she looks toward her retirement this June, it stands as her proudest accomplishment.

She was there when the Byram Archibald Community Center took in her kindergartners because the school was too small.

She was there when the conditions at the school reached a tipping point and the town started fighting for a building that every child could learn in.

She broke ground on the new building in December 2017 and helped top off the steel skeleton in August 2018.

And now, with the children eager to move in after February break, her work is done.

Riccio, who has worked in the Greenwich Public Schools for 25 years, announced her retirement on Friday, Jan. 4. It is effective June 30. An educator for more than 35 years, Riccio spent the majority of her career with the Greenwich Public Schools, and has served as the principal of New Lebanon since 2011.

This outstanding building will serve these fine families for generations to come, Riccio said in a statement released Friday.

Clare Kilgallen, a member of the New Lebanon building committee and former PTA co-president, has never known another principal.

She has worked so hard to make the new school a reality, so Im glad that shes going to be around for the opening day and the unveiling, because its a testament to the work she did, Kilgallen said.

State Rep. Michael Bocchino, R-150, worked closely with Riccio for years to get state reimbursement for the new school building. Bocchino, who is also a parent of students there and a former PTA co-president, praised her as an amazing leader for New Lebanon and a great partner.

She is amazing, Bocchino said. Shes been our rock weve gone to in times of uncertainty. We wish her the very best. Shes been a teacher and an administrator and in the education system for years. And now were right on the verge of moving into this beautiful new school building with her. I hope shes able to spend a lot of time with family and friends when she does retire. Were going to miss her.

Riccio had done a lot for the school and the community, Bocchino said, especially in recent years with the new school building nearly complete for the New Lebanon community.

When Riccio opens the new building in February, it will enhance the positive climate she has cultivated, Interim Superintendent Ralph Mayo said in a statement Friday.

Barbara and her staff should also be commended for their support for and patience with the construction of a new New Lebanon School, Mayo said. Barbara should be congratulated for her efforts and on behalf of the Greenwich Board of Education, we wish her a very long and happy retirement.

Her 25 years with the district enriched her professional, personal and philosophical views as an educator and as a person, Riccio said.

The strong relationships I have developed with colleagues, students and families will remain in my heart long after my service to Greenwich is complete, she said.

Riccio led her school community through a self-evaluation of its International Baccalaureate theme, a process that took more than a year and culminated with the Director of IB World Schools reauthorizing New Lebanon as an IB magnet school.

Mayo, who spent 40 years in the district as an educator and principal, said he has had the pleasure of working with Riccio for many years.

The dedication that she has demonstrated to the children of our school district is nothing short of outstanding, Mayo said.

Everything Riccio does values the child, Kilgallen said.

If youve ever watched her in an assembly, she takes the time to get feedback from children, ask questions of them, and not just talk at them, but involve them, she said. Every action she takes at school is whats best for the children. Thats the epitome of what a great principal is.

jo.kroeker@hearst

mediact.com
GREENWICH  A lawsuit over an old cemetery in Byram has formally been withdrawn.

The official withdrawal of the suit filed by Jeffrey and Andrea Stewart against the town of Greenwich was entered late last month in Superior Court, ending extensive litigation.

Now the town, the Stewarts and the descendants of the people buried in the cemetery will work to enact an agreement that was reached between the parties, one that will mark and memorialize a burial ground believed to contain the remains of early black and Native American residents of Greenwich.

There will be additional signs and landscaping at a small section of the burial ground, known historically as the Colored Cemetery, below the larger Byram Cemetery.

The lawsuit arose when the town declared in 2017 its intention to take over the Byram Cemetery and declare the small part of land near the Stewarts house as part of the larger cemetery, under public ownership. The Stewarts sued the town over the move, citing concerns that substantial changes to the access by car to their property that could have followed. A group of descendants was later allowed by a judge to take part in the legal discussions.

According to the stipulation that the parties agreed to in the fall, the town will be officially recognized as the owner of the cemetery property. The Stewarts are allowed to maintain a driveway on their property, and it will be marked off with a low stone wall.

A plaque paid for by the town commemorating the Byram African American cemetery will be placed on the stone wall or a boulder located on the Byram African American cemetery property, according to the stipulation.

A descendant of the Lyon family whose members were interred there, Teresa Vega, said she was looking forward to having the site commemorated.

With this settlement, our extended Lyon-Green-Merritt family now looks forward to telling the hidden history of abolitionism and the Underground Railroad in Greenwich, Westchester, New York City and New Jersey as well as paying tribute to the men and women who are buried in all parts of the Byram Cemetery, including the Colored Cemetery section, she wrote in an email.

The cemetery at Byram Shore Road had fallen into disrepair in recent years. Town officials said public ownership will help ensure proper maintenance.

The Byram Cemetery is one of the oldest in the area. Members of one of the first European families to settle in Greenwich, the Lyon family, were interred there, along with Revolutionary War soldiers. The interment of slaves associated with the Lyon family also took place in the 1700s.

Edward Marcus, a lawyer for the Stewart family, characterized the deal as a good deal.

rmarchant@greenwichtime.com
At prices between 50 percent and 80 percent off the clearance sales were well under way heading into the first weekend after the 2018 holiday shopping season.

It was evident at malls like Danbury Fair and Stamford Town Center or chains like the the Christmas Tree Shops and Target.

Just off Ridgefields main drag dotted with discounters like Kohls and boutiques like Talbots, Paul Breitenbach oversees teams of programmers at his r4 Technologies who are working to help retailers avoid those steep discounts by helping them better deduce what it is their consumers want to buy  with Amazon-like precision.

Outside of the hedge-fund sector, fewer Connecticut companies have maintained as stealthy a profile as r4 Technologies, which has grown to more than 100 employees at a modest office park just off Danbury Road in Ridgefield.

R4 provides a cloud-based, artificial intelligence platform to help companies act on customer information in their possession to improve their revenues  for instance helping retailers better deduce what customers want to buy, and so reduce the odds of overstocking that result in items having to be marked down at clearance prices, eating into the bottom line.

It is perhaps the oldest problem in retail, and one that Breitenbach believes his company is helping traditional consumer companies solve, giving them tools Amazon has mastered to steer shoppers to stuff they want to buy on its websites. In addition to overstocking, r4s systems can help eliminate scenarios in which companies run out of stock to sell due to unanticipated demand.

Out-of-stock is  a $1 trillion problem for all retail, Breitenbach told Hearst Connecticut Media. We can now match a person to a product to a place, with great precision. You add all that up, and now all of a sudden you know exactly what should be there  what shape, what size, what flavor and what quantity, and also what you should price it at, and how you should merchandise and promote it.

Recipes and myths

After attending Cornell University, Breitenbach met Priceline founder Jay Walker through mutual friends and became among the earliest employees of the company, also working for Walker Digital in Stamford where he is listed on several patents for vending machine innovations.

Breitenbach created r4 in 2010 on that simple simple idea, helping companies tap mountains of intelligence at their fingertips to create a highly personalized experience for shoppers, so that what buyers is at their own fingertips as they peruse aisles. R4s systems apply artificial intelligence to predict inventory needs for specific products  referenced in retail parlance as stock-keeping units or SKUs  and in what quantities.

I hate to really even call us an AI company  because AI is a misunderstood thing, Breitenbach said. Its broader than algorithms -- its almost like recipes, because one math equation doesnt solve anything anymore. You can have thousands of SKUs, and you need different math for every single SKU to do it the right way.

All retailers have the data required to capitalize on r4s system, he said, whether culled from receipts generated at checkout or other information gleaned from shoppers online and other channels.

The myth is that somehow these retailers are unable to do this, Breitenbach said. People call it different things, but its the concept of personalizing everything about the consumer experience  from what products theyre interested in, to how they want to be talked to about it, to how they engage with a product, and then how to promote and price it to maximize customer lifetime value.

A supply and demand issue

The company has since expanded the scope of its platform to help businesses assess job candidates, with r4 itself in growth mode these days.

Last spring, r4 registered $20 million in new capital from outside investors, which would rank among the larger rounds in Connecticut in the past few years. R4s financiers have included the New York City-based Pilot Growth Equity and the state-backed Connecticut Innovations venture fund.

Breitenbach is trying to build a company where people will want to work, encouraging parents to bring their kids there after school for tutoring and to spend time on causes of importance in their lives.

One of his own causes is education, whether grade school or in university research, with r4 announcing late last year an applied artificial intelligence initiative with Breitenbachs alma mater Cornell.

Another personal cause is cutting the amount of food that ends up in dumpsters behind markets and restaurants  something that also plays into his quest with r4.

We have the ability to reduce a half a trillion dollars in food waste by applying this technology, Breitenbach said. Again, its a supply and demand issue.

Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman
Lawrence - Madeleine "Maddy" (Waye Descoteaux Brown), 87, passed away on April 5, 2020. Maddy was born to Irene and Charles Waye in Nashua, N.H., on December 17, 1932. She was predeceased by her parents; a brother Charles Waye; and husbands, Louis G. Descoteaux of Nashua, N.H., and George Br
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According to German public broadcaster RBB, hackers have published personal data from hundreds of German politicians and political parties.

A spokesperson of German Chancellor Angela Merkel described the hacking attack as a "very, very serious incident."

The German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) and the Federal Prosecutor General have launched investigations. "According to the current state of knowledge, the governmental networks are not affected," the BSI announced on Twitter.

The attack affected all political parties represented in the German parliament (Bundestag) except the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). Data records of politicians like Chancellor Merkel and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and also of journalists, musicians and television presenters have been posted online by the hackers.

According to RBB, the stolen data had already been published last year via an anonymous Twitter account belonging to a platform whose operator is said to be based in Hamburg. "Why nobody took note of the leaks until Thursday evening is puzzling," said Michael Goetschenberg, the responsible journalist at RBB.

The published data included mobile phone numbers and addresses as well as very personal data like identity card numbers, credit card information, holiday pictures or internal documents of political parties.

According to Goetschenberg, "everything that hackers have been able to get their hands on seems to have been put on the internet."

German Justice Minister Katarina Barley said it was a "serious attack," adding that the perpetrators "want to damage confidence in our democracy and institutions."
A Massachusetts woman who stabbed her boyfriend 21 times then waited hours before calling police has been sentenced to life in prison.

Stephanie Cruz, who was sentenced Thursday, will be eligible for parole after 22 years. She pleaded guilty in November to second-degree murder.

The 31-year-old Leominster woman was originally charged with first-degree murder in the June 2015 death of 37-year-old Cedric Taylor in the home they shared.

She told police she and Taylor had been drinking and he "lunged" at her, so she locked herself in the bathroom. She emerged and stabbed him, then waited until the next day to call police, telling them she waited because she "did not want to get in trouble."

Attorneys say the couple had been involved in domestic violence previously.
U.S. Rep. Jared Golden of Maine is among 15 Democrats who voted against returning Nancy Pelosi to the House speaker's office.

A spokesman says Golden kept his campaign vow that he would not support Pelosi for speaker. Instead, he voted for Rep. Cheri Bustos of Illinois for the leadership position.

Golden was in the news daily during an election battle he won, thanks to ranked-choice voting. Now he's part of a freshman class that's making history for a record number of women and becoming the most racially and ethnically diverse. Republicans gained seats in the Senate; Democrats took control of the House.

Two members of Maine's delegation who were re-elected in November also were sworn in on Thursday: independent Sen. Angus King and Democratic U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree.
President Donald Trump said Monday that he'd "certainly meet" with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, and without preconditions, if the Iranian leader were willing.

Speaking during a joint news conference with Italy's premier, Trump said he would meet with the Iranians "anytime they want to."

"I'll meet with anybody," he said. "There's nothing wrong with meeting."

The overture comes as Trump and the Iranians have been escalating their rhetoric after Trump's May withdrawal from the landmark nuclear accord. The United States has also vowed to boost sanctions until Iran changes its regional policies, including its support for regional militant groups.

It's unclear whether Rouhani has any interest in meeting with Trump. Rouhani's chief of staff claimed earlier this month in Iran's state-owned newspaper that Rouhani had rejected eight requests from Trump for one-on-one talks last year.

Rouhani recently warned the U.S. that "war with Iran is the mother of all wars," prompting an all-caps retort from Trump.

"To Iranian President Rouhani," he wrote on Twitter. "NEVER, EVER THREATEN THE UNITED STATES AGAIN OR YOU WILL SUFFER CONSEQUENCES THE LIKES OF WHICH FEW THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE EVER SUFFERED BEFORE. WE ARE NO LONGER A COUNTRY THAT WILL STAND FOR YOUR DEMENTED WORDS OF VIOLENCE & DEATH."

He ended the message with a warning: "BE CAUTIOUS!"

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif fired back with his own message that began, "COLOR US UNIMPRESSED."

Trump tempered his threatening rhetoric two days later when he said his administration stands ready for Iran to come back to the negotiating table.

"We're ready to make a real deal, not the deal that was done by the previous administration, which was a disaster," he said.

Trump has long cast himself as a master negotiator who is most effective when he meets with his counterparts face-to-face. He pointed to his recent one-on-ones with North Korea's Kim Jong Un and Russia's Vladimir Putin as examples of the benefits of such get-togethers.

"I believe in meeting," he said, talking up the benefits of "speaking to other people, especially when you're talking about potentials of war and death and famine and lots of other things."

Asked whether he would set any preconditions for the meetings, Trump was clear.

"No preconditions, no. If they want to meet, I'll meet anytime they want, anytime they want," he said. "Good for the country, good for them, good for us and good for the world. No preconditions. If they want to meet, I'll meet."

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told CNBC on Monday that he was onboard with the president's invitation, saying Trump "wants to meet with folks to solve problems"

"If the Iranians demonstrate a commitment to make fundamental changes in how they treat their own people, reduce their maligned behavior, can agree that it's worthwhile to enter in a nuclear agreement that actually prevents proliferation, then the president said he's prepared to sit down and have a conversation with him," he said.

Garrett Marquis, a spokesman for the president's National Security Council, later said in a statement that the U.S. would not be lifting any sanctions or re-establishing diplomatic and commercial relations until "there are tangible, demonstrated, and sustained shifts in Tehran's policies."

"Until then," he said, "the sting of sanctions will only grow more painful if the regime does not change course."

Reaction on Capitol Hill was mixed, with Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., who is often critical of Trump, telling reporters: "I actually think that's a good idea."

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker, R-Tenn., characterized the overture as "fine," but only "as long as they are willing to talk about being a normal country in the future."

Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., a frequent Trump critic, was more skeptical, calling it "another recipe for bad outcomes."

"It's the same as North Korea," he said. "No preconditions, no preparation. And what do we have? We have Kim Jong Un was elevated from an international pariah to someone who seems like a legitimate statesman."

Trump made the comments as he gave a joint news conference with the prime minister of Italy. Trump had endorsed how the country handled immigration issues as he welcomed the new premier to the White House for talks on trade and the military.

Trump said at the start of his meeting with Italy's Giuseppe Conte that the country's new populist government "has taken a very firm stance on the border." The president said other European countries should follow Italy's lead on migration issues.

"I agree very much what you're doing with respect to migration, illegal immigration and even legal immigration," Trump told Conte in the Oval Office.

Italy under Conte's new government has pushed for the European Union to accept tens of thousands of migrants coming across the Mediterranean Sea every year. The meeting follows a recent standoff over a private aid boat carrying more than 200 people who were rescued at sea. Italy, Malta and France all refused to let the vessel disembark.

Trump welcomed the prime minister to the White House for the first time since the Italian leader came to power in June, bringing together two outsider leaders who have emerged from populist waves within their countries.

Conte leads the euroskeptic coalition of the 5-Star Movement, which considers itself anti-establishment, and the right-wing, north-based League party.

Trump last week avoided escalating a trade dispute with the European Union and his administration is expected to begin negotiations quickly on avoiding tariffs on automobiles and removing trade barriers.

The U.S. president noted the U.S. trade deficit with Italy, a member of the EU, and said he was certain "we'll straighten that out pretty quickly."

The White House has noted that Italy is an important NATO ally and a key partner to U.S. forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Conte, in brief remarks, thanked Trump for his "warm hospitality." Trump told him "you'll always be treated warmly."
What to Know President Donald Trump had vowed to reverse his predecessor's move easing rules barring service by transgender people

A federal appeals court sided with the Trump administration Friday in a case about the Pentagon's effort to restrict military service by transgender people, but the ruling won't change who can serve or enlist at this point.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled Friday that a lower court judge was wrong to block the Pentagon from implementing plans to restrict the service of transgender individuals. The unsigned ruling will not allow the Pentagon to implement its policy, however, because other judges have entered orders blocking the administration in similar cases.

The administration has already asked the Supreme Court to weigh in. The high court could announce as early as this month if it will do so.

The appeals court ruling said the military's plan appears to rely on the "considered professional judgment" of "appropriate military officials." It noted that the plan "appears to permit some transgender individuals to serve in the military."

Military policy until a few years ago had barred service by transgender individuals. That changed under President Barack Obama's administration. The military announced in 2016 that transgender individuals already serving in the military would be allowed to serve openly. And the military set July 1, 2017, as the date when transgender individuals would be allowed to enlist.

But President Donald Trump's administration delayed the enlistment date, saying the issue needed further study. While that study was ongoing, the president tweeted in late July 2017 that the government would not allow "Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military." He later directed the military to return to its policy before the Obama administration changes.

Groups representing transgender individuals responded by suing the administration in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Washington state and California. The Trump administration lost early rounds in those cases, with courts issuing nationwide injunctions barring the administration from altering course. As a result, transgender individuals continue to serve openly and transgender individuals have been allowed to enlist in the military since Jan. 1, 2018.

In March 2018, the Trump administration announced that after studying the issue it was revising its policy. The new policy generally bars transgender individuals from serving or enlisting unless they serve "in their biological sex" and "do not seek to undergo gender transition." An exception allows the service of transgender service members who previously relied on the Obama-era rule. Groups representing transgender individuals have responded by arguing that the policy is essentially a ban on the service by transgender individuals.

The lawsuit in the District of Columbia was filed by the National Center for Lesbian Rights and GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders. NCLR Legal Director Shannon Minter called Friday's decision "a devastating slap in the face to transgender service members."

Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said the administration was "pleased with the decision."

Two of the three judges who ruled in the case were nominated by Republican presidents. Judge Thomas Griffith was nominated by George W. Bush and Judge Stephen Williams was nominated by Ronald Reagan. The third judge, Robert Wilkins, was nominated by President Barack Obama.
The latest plunge in oil prices has dealt a heavy blow to Iraq's stagnating economy, threatening the new government's ability to rebuild after the war with the Islamic State group and provide basic services to areas roiled by recent protests.

Brent crude oil, used to price international purchases, briefly rose above $85 a barrel in October but has since plummeted to less than $55  a nightmare for a country like Iraq that derives 95 percent of its revenue from oil exports.

A $111.9 billion draft budget sent to parliament in October projects crude exports of 3.8 million barrels per day to be sold at $56 per barrel. The bill, which includes a 23 percent increase in spending, would leave a deficit of $22.8 billion.

But that won't even begin to address the colossal challenge of reconstruction after years of war. Some 1.8 million people have yet to return to their homes, according to the United Nations. Mosul, the country's second largest city, lies partly in ruins, as do many other cities, towns and villages once held by IS militants.

Iraq's Planning Ministry estimates the country needs approximately $88 billion for reconstruction. In February, donors at a Kuwait summit pledged $30 billion in loans and investments to finance a portion of the bill, but little progress has been made to fulfill the pledges.

In Iraq's oil-rich south, meanwhile, which was spared from the war's devastation, protests have erupted in recent months over unemployment and poor public services. Rolling power outages have been a nationwide problem going back to the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, and in the south the tap water is undrinkable.

"We were surprised by the plunging oil prices and we have fallen into a big problem," said lawmaker Haneen al-Qado, who chairs parliament's Economy Committee. "The government is not in an enviable position."

Iraqis elected a new government earlier in 2018, but it is dominated by the same bickering political factions that have governed the country for the last 15 years. Lawmakers have rejected the draft budget, calling for a new one that would estimate an even lower oil price and allocate even more funds for public investments.

Qado says they may not be able to approve a budget until sometime in the first quarter of next year. Until then, the government can only spend one-twelfth of the previous year's allocation each month.

While international attention has been focused on the devastation in northern and western Iraq, and the protests in the south, the budget crisis has also taken a heavy toll on Iraqis living in more stable areas. Construction projects across Baghdad have been stalled for years, with half-finished buildings turned into neighborhood garbage dumps.

Kadhim Nima Khudair's construction company signed contracts in 2014 to build four schools at a cost of $5 million. By the following year, three of them were 80 percent complete, but then public funds dried up as the government launched the costly war against IS. When oil prices started to recover in 2017, the government began paying installments again, but only for the projects that were mostly completed. Now the payments have stopped again pending the budget negotiations.

None of the schools have been completed, and Khudair has fallen deeply into debt, forcing him to lay off some 500 workers and sell family homes and cars.

"I don't want any profit now, I only want my capital back," Khudair said. "We have been struggling all these years. People are still knocking on my door, asking for their money."

Sami al-Araji, the head of the National Investment Commission, told an economic conference in December that hundreds of projects worth an estimated $54 billion are delayed. He called for a major overhaul of the economy that would promote investment and lessen the country's reliance on oil. "We have to think of all alternatives," he said. "The country has promising opportunities."

That's easier said than done. Efforts to diversify the economy have been stymied by political infighting and corruption going all the way back to 2003, fueling cycles of war and instability.

"Our fate is attached to oil," Khudair said. "When it's down, our blood pressure rises."
House Democrats on Friday unveiled a comprehensive elections and ethics reform package that targets what they call a "culture of corruption in Washington" and aims to reduce the role of money in politics.

The bill, among the first to be considered as Democrats take control of the House after eight years, would make it easier for citizens to register and vote, tighten election security and require presidents to disclose their tax returns.

Dubbed the "For the People Act," the legislation marks an effort by Democrats to set a tone of good government as they take the majority following historic gains in the midterm elections.

Democrats used the full force of their new majority as they announced the plan Friday at a packed news conference that included dozens of new and returning lawmakers. While the bill includes a range of reforms, some Democrats made clear that one of their chief targets is President Donald Trump.

Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings, the new chairman of the House Oversight Committee, said Trump had "set the tone from the top in his administration that behaving ethically and complying with the law is optional. Ladies and gentlemen, we are better than that."

In a nod to Trump's resistance to releasing his tax returns, the bill would require presidents to release at least 10 years' worth of returns. The bill also would ban executive-branch officials from lobbying their old agency for two years after they leave government and reauthorize and enhance the Office of Government Ethics, which has clashed with Trump.

Rep. John Sarbanes, a Maryland Democrat who is leading the reform effort, said Democrats were "responding directly to the American people and what they want to see in our democracy," as shown by the election results.

Calling the bill "transformative," Sarbanes said it will "strengthen our democracy and return political power to the people by making it easier, not harder, to vote, ending the dominance of big money in our politics and ensuring that public officials actually serve the public."

While some elements of the bill have bipartisan support, the overall package faces opposition in the Republican-controlled Senate and from Trump.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, has pronounced the reform measure dead on arrival in the Senate, a claim Sarbanes embraced as a badge of honor.

"You could stamp on this thing 'McConnell-rejected,' and it would immediately give it more credibility," Sarbanes said. The legislation was not built for McConnell or any lawmaker, Sarbanes added: "This was built for the public."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also touted the bill, saying it would "restore integrity to government, so that people can have confidence that government works for the public interest, not the special interests."

The bill would create automatic national voter registration while expanding access to early and online registration. It also would increase federal support for state voter systems, including paper ballots to prevent fraud, and restore voting rights for ex-prisoners.

The measure also would restore protections included in the 1965 Voting Rights Act and guard against efforts by state officials to purge voting rolls.

Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., a veteran of the civil rights movement, called voting "the most powerful, non-violent instrument of transformation we have in our democracy," and said efforts to make it easier to vote  not harder  were crucial.

"I truly believe deep in my heart that the way votes were not counted and purged in Georgia and Florida and other states changed the outcome of the last election" to harm Democrats, Lewis said. "That must never happen again."

Besides election provisions, the bill would set up a public financing system for House races and require political groups to disclose donors. Social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter would be required to disclose who paid for online ads, similar to existing rules for television and other media.

In a move designed to reduce partisan gerrymandering, the bill calls for states to establish independent redistricting commissions to draw boundaries for future congressional districts.

A section of the bill also voices support for statehood for Washington, D.C., where 700,000 citizens, mostly registered as Democrats, have no voting members in either chamber of Congress.

"District of Columbia residents deserve full congressional voting rights and self-government, which only statehood can provide," a section of the bill would read, according to D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton. Norton said in a statement that Maryland congressman Elijah Cummings committed to holding a House Committee on Oversight and Reform hearing on a separate bill, H.R. 51, that would grant statehood.

On ethics, members of Congress would be barred from serving on corporate boards and could not use taxpayer dollars to settle employment discrimination cases.

Sarbanes and other supporters said the election security measures are particularly important as the 2020 election nears.

Predicting "historic turnout," Sarbanes said officials must not only encourage increased participation, but guard against attempts at sabotage from foreign and domestic adversaries.

"If we're not ready for that in all the ways (the legislation) seeks to ensure, then we could end up with a train wreck," he said.
Authorities say a man accused of directing his 5-year-old daughter to steal a package from the porch of a Maryland home has been arrested.

The Harford County Sheriff's Office announced Friday that 46-year-old Gary Smith of Abingdon was arrested in neighboring Baltimore County on New Year's Day and transferred to Harford County on Thursday.

Officials say Smith directed his daughter to steal the package from the porch of a Bel Air home on Nov. 30. A pair of boots was inside.

The little girl was caught on camera running up to the front door of a home on Inez Court. In the video, the girl can be seen looking back briefly before grabbing a box off the porch.

After surveillance video of the theft was posted online, officials say a tipster identified the girl and that led investigators to Smith.

Smith is charged with theft under $100, conspiracy and contributing to the condition of a child. Officials say he's being held pending a bail review.
A medical marijuana facility in Washington, D.C., went up in smoke Saturday.

D.C. Fire and EMS responded to a fire at a two-story warehouse in the 1800 block of Fenwick Street NE about 2 p.m.

Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze and contained it to one room on the first floor of the building that's used as a medical marijuana facility.

Update Working Fire 1800 block Fenwick St NE. Fire on 1st floor 2 story commercial structure. Fire being knocked down. No reported injuries. pic.twitter.com/9vOQg0P960  DC Fire and EMS (@dcfireems) January 5, 2019

One firefighter went to the hospital with a minor injury, the department said.

Investigators are still working on finding a cause.

Stay with News4 and NBCWashington.com for updates to this developing story.
Three local police officers whose certifications were questioned in a Maryland audit will remain on active patrol for the foreseeable future.

District Heights Mayor Eddie Martin told the News4 I-Team the city had planned on placing the officers on desk duty amid questions about their background checks.

A state audit revealed two officers failed psychological evaluations and were not recommended for hiring. The report noted a third officer admitted during his polygraph that he'd smoked marijuana during the hiring process. The officer later said he was around someone who was smoking marijuana.

The city initially considered removing the three from active patrol, thinking the cases were scheduled for review by the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commissions Jan. 8. However the state confirms there are no District Heights cases on that agenda. The next meeting is scheduled for April.

District Heights city commissioners voted last week to place Police Chief Elliott Gibson Sr. on paid administrative leave, pending an independent review of his hiring practices.

The state gave the city 60 days to submit further documentation regarding the officers' background checks and other problematic issues, including missing officer training records. Gibson told the I-Team he has already provided that documentation and adjusted internal policies to improve the city's recordkeeping.

The mayor said the city will wait to take any action regarding the officers mentioned in the audit until after the final report from the state is issued. The training commission's deputy director told the I-Team that could take several weeks.
What to Know Polls conducted around the midterm elections suggest more voters are choosing climate change as their top priority.

A corps of young people are demanding action from politicians.

Even among Republican millennials, a third say the Earth is warming because of human activity.

Going into the midterm elections, few candidates made the warming planet a keystone of their campaigns despite devastating fires and storms that scientists say have been worsened by carbon pollution. Climate change has typically been low on voters lists of priorities.

But as a new Congress comes into power in January, that indifference could be changing. Surveys conducted for the midterms found that between 7 and 9 percent of the electorate named climate change or the environment as the top issue facing the country. Typically, the number lags around 2 percent, environmentalists say.

Thats a green wave, said Nathaniel Stinnett, the founder of the Environmental Voter Project, a three-year-old organization that is dedicated to getting environmentalists to vote.

Americans continue to voice more concern about health care, immigration, the economy and jobs, and depending on the poll, gun policy or federal taxes and spending. But with a record 113 million people voting in this years elections where Democrats retook control of the House, that could mean that up to 9 million named the environment their primary concern.

Thats an enormously powerful constituency and I think youre going to see more and more politicians trying to appeal to these environmental voters, especially among those running in the [2020] Democratic presidential primary, Stinnett said.

The surveys -- one around Election Day called AP VoteCast and two conducted for NPR and PBS NewsHour by the Marist Poll, in October and after the election -- are just one indication that climate change is taking on urgency with voters, particularly young voters. Also pointing to the increased seriousness with which the issue is being treated: differences between millennials and older Americans, demands from newly elected politicians and worry about the damage that climate change is already doing to communities from Miami to Los Angeles.

A confluence of factors is driving the new attention to the devastation threatening the environment. Repeated natural disasters have brought havoc to parts of the United States, from deadly fires in California to destructive hurricanes sweeping over Puerto Rico, Florida, Texas and the Carolinas. Warnings about the worlds need to curb the use of fossil fuels come as younger people more convinced of the scientific consensus on climate change become old enough to vote. Going into the New Year, there will be more pressure on Congress to tackle the greenhouse gases that are raising temperatures.

Heres a breakdown of the polls. AP VoteCast found that more of the electorate, 26 percent, choose health care as the number one issue facing the country than any other issue while 7 percent picked the environment. The Marist Poll in October recorded 7 percent of registered voters choosing climate change as the most important factor in deciding their vote and earlier this month, 9 percent saying that it should be Congress' top priority. Economy and jobs was the most important for the most voters, with 20 percent in October and 17 percent this month.

Stinnett said that how much change was occuring would become clearer as more data becomes available about voters and the midterm elections.

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Youth Demand Action on the Environment

Young people are particularly engaged in confronting climate change, a crisis that has gathered momentum throughout their lives and which threatens to leave the Earth a much less hospitable place in the coming years.

A pre-election survey from Tufts University that focused on young people and politics found that 59 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds support or are an active part of the environmental movement, up from 42 percent in 2016. Numbers were even higher among Democrats, and particularly those who said they were likely to vote, according to the September poll by the universitys CIRCLE, or The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement.

The polls director, Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg, said political engagement was more common among young people now than two years ago, with triple the number saying they attend marches and demonstrations  up from 5 percent to 15 percent. Part of the change can be traced to the activism of students from Parkland, Florida, which encouraged other young people to be a part of political causes, including the environmental movement, she said.

It wasnt drowned out by gun violence, for example, which is a big player this year, but just as many people if not more young people said, Its a really important issue that Im actively engaged in, she said.

The Sunrise Movement is a corps of young people working to make climate change an urgent priority across the country. As they prepared to launch, a core challenge was how to make climate change an urgent priority in the United States. They helped Democrats to take the House and now are determined to keep the issue at the top of lawmakers agendas. In November, 150 members of the Sunrise Movement and Justice Democrats held a sit-in at House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosis office on Capitol Hill to demand action on climate change. They were joined by newly elected Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, who has been pushing for a Green New Deal to promote green energy and jobs and cut carbon emissions.

"She was elected as part of the movement, she intends to govern as part of the movement," Corbin Trent, a spokesman for Ocasio-Cortez, said at the time. She thinks there is no other priority that we should be focused on and supports the Sunrise Movements call for Democrats to create a plan to transition the economy to a zero carbon economy so we have that ready to go when we take back the presidency in 2020."

The activists were criticized for targeting Democrats, who support taking on climate change, but they say they know that if they do not push Democrats they will not get the action they need.

We targeted the Democrats because we believe in them, said a spokesman for the group, Stephen OHanlon. We dont think were going to get anywhere by calling on Donald Trump to stand up to fossil fuel lobbyists.

They believe that as young people they have leverage over Democrats because it was young people turning out in record numbers that helped Democrats win the House majority. If Democrats are to win the presidency and the Senate in 2020, they will need young people again to turn out in record numbers, OHanlon said.

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So many politicians and especially establishment politicians think about the range of political options as whats currently politically possible and oftentimes with climate and a lot of other issues too thats just radically from what we need to give our generation a livable future, he said. And we made the choice when we launched to push for solutions that are actually in line with what we need.

Generational Divide in GOP

Republicans have been the most resistant to believing that climate change presents a critical danger. A Pew Research Center poll done before the midterms found that 72 percent of registered voters supporting Democrats thought climate change was a very big problem compared to only 11 percent of those backing Republicans.

But other Pew surveys found wide differences within the GOP. About a third of Republican millennials say the Earth is warming because of human activity, double the share of Baby Boomers and older, according to a May survey. Forty-five percent of millennials say they are seeing some effects of global climate change in their communities, compared with a third of older Republicans. But they also are in agreement with older party members that policies aimed at reducing climate change effects would make no difference.

Sara Blazevic, a co-founder and managing director of the Sunrise Movement, said the organization was made up of young people angry and frustrated after having watched a lifetime of political inaction, of witnessing hurricanes and other disasters getting worse but the environmental movement stagnating.

Looking at some of the data a few years back we called this the urgency gap, she said. Because there actually are a super majority of Americans who understand that climate change is happening, is real, believe that its happening already because they can see with their own eyes and want something to be done about it.

Other Pew research ranks the publics policy priorities for the president and Congress. Protecting the environment has risen from 44 percent in January 2010 to 62 percent at the beginning of this year. Dealing with climate change similarly rose from 28 percent to 46 percent.

In December, nearly 200 countries met in Poland for the U.N.s 24th annual climate change conference and agreed to rules for curbing greenhouse emissions, but delayed a decision on creating a market in carbon credits. The meeting follows a series of reports, among them the National Climate Assessment and one from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, warning of irreversible environmental damage absent quick action to rein in carbon emissions.

Environment Gains Prominence in the Midterms

During the midterm elections, ads highlighting global warming began appearing in races across the country, a phenomenon that was new. The League of Conservation Voters through its Victory Fund was among environmental groups that spent heavily to elect green candidates, in its case $80 million. Pete Maysmith, its senior vice president of campaigns, said that the more environmental issues were localized, the more voters responded.

So were talking about environmental issues that are directly impacting peoples lives, and doing that in the context of the election, he said. It motivates them and it impacts their vote choice.

In southern New Jersey, the organization matched environmental concerns with what it knew would be the top issue of the elections, health care, then targeted what it viewed as an important bloc of swing voters, suburban women. In a tight race, Democrat Andy Kim, a former national security aide in the Obama administration, defeated two-term Republican Rep. Tom MacArthur, who had tried to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

When you pair the issue of pollution, whether its water or air pollution  so youre talking about healthy drinking water, youre talking about concerns around asthma and other illnesses, other disease  and then link that into the health care debate, that again is a very powerful motivator, he said.

The League of Conservation Voters Victory Fund and the Environmental Defense Fund Action connected the health impact of MacArthurs record of gutting environmental protections and allowing more toxic pollution into our air to his efforts to eliminate protections for people with pre-existing conditions, according to post-election analysis.

In another race in California, the League teamed up with Michael Bloombergs Independence USA PAC to defeat 30-year congressman, Dana Rohrabacher. One ad juxtaposed Rohrabachers statement that global warming is a fraud with black smoke and wildfires in the background. Democrat Harley Rouda, who called out Republican leaders for denying the threat of man-made climate change, ousted Rohrabacher

Maysmiths colleague, Tiernan Sittenfeld, the senior vice president of government affairs, said of the 62 new members of the House of Representatives, 55 of them have committed to trying to bring about 100 percent clean energy by 2050. She said the organization was looking at opportunities for a green infrastructure package from the Democrat-dominated House and oversight as the Trump administration tries to roll back public health and environmental protections.

Its especially exciting because there are so many of these new members for whom the environment and addressing the climate crisis is really an enormous priority and central to who they are and in many case part of why they decided to run, she said.

The AP VoteCast survey replaced exit polling that The Associated Press had participated in with the television networks. It was conducted for the AP and Fox News by the non-partisan research organization NORC at the University of Chicago. The AP VoteCast also found that significant numbers were concerned about the effects of climate: 70 percent of all voters were very or somewhat concerned versus 29 percent who were not too or not at all concerned. Democrats were more worried than Republicans.

This years exit polling, which NBC and other networks continued separately, did not ask voters across the country to rate the environment among their top issues, but it did ask voters in Florida about climate change as it had done in 2016 and in both years, 66 percent said climate change was a serious problem.

Over the last decade, the environment has historically ranked low among voters priorities. Polling that the Environmental Voter Project did of likely voters in the 2016 presidential election found that only 2 percent listed the environment as their top priority, with another 2 percent setting it as their second highest priority.

'Politicians Go Where the Votes Are'

This is why its so hard to get politicians to lead on climate and lead on environmental issues, Stinnett said. Because politicians go where the votes are, thats what they do. Politicians are in the business of winning elections and if voters dont deeply care about a set of issues, its really hard to get politicians to care about those issues.

The Environmental Voter Project targets environmentalists who dont vote or who seldom vote to convince them to change their behavior. It focuses on the 18- to 24-year-olds and to a lesser extent 25- to 29-year-olds who are disproportionately likely to care deeply about environmental issues. Blacks and Hispanics and those who make less than $50,000 a year  and who have a higher chance of being victims of environmental racism  are also in their sights.

Stinnett estimates that the non-profit has turned more than 100,000 non-voting environmentalists into consistent voters since it started. It began in Massachusetts, in 2017 moved into Georgia, Colorado, Florida, Nevada and Pennsylvania and expects to expand further into about 20 states where it has identified large populations of non voting environmentalists. It does not spend money on changing minds, just getting people to the polls.

Politicians care about winning elections and so theyre going to follow the voters, Stinnett said. I think this change will happen very quickly once environmentalists start voting. I just cant tell you when that number in the electorate will get big enough that it forces change. But its getting bigger, its definitely getting bigger.

This electorate might not force change as quickly as we want it to, but somethings happening, something is absolutely happening and politicians are beginning to pay attention, Stinnett said.
 Flash

U.S. national Paul Whelan, who was detained last week in Moscow on suspicion of espionage, also has British citizenship, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Friday.

Paul Whelan, a U.S. citizen detained in Russia for suspected spying, appears in a photo provided by the Whelan family on January 1, 2019. [File photo: Xinhua]

Britain has asked for a consular visit to Whelan and both sides are working on it, Zakharova confirmed, after the British embassy in Russia said it has made such a request.

U.S. Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman has visited Whelan in a detention facility and expressed support for him.

The Russian Federal Security Service said on Dec. 31 that it detained Whelan in Moscow for spying three days earlier and has initiated a criminal case against him.

According to media reports, the 48-year-old Whelan was a U.S. Marine and his family said he traveled to Moscow only to attend a friend's wedding.

The incident came after Russian citizen Maria Butina pleaded guilty in a Washington court on Dec. 13 to one conspiracy charge, admitting that she acted as an unregistered foreign agent to advance Moscow's interests.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Butina has no ties to Russian intelligence services and the whole case against her was unfounded.
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Jah'vi Brown was last seen in August 2018, according to police investigators, yet he wasn't reported missing by his parents  or anyone else, for that matter  until early December.

That's when his father came to the Bellmawr Township Police Department "regarding a custody issue" of Jah'vi, the Camden County Prosecutor's Office said in a statement released Friday.

What happened in the time between Aug. 20, when Jah'vi was last officially seen, until Dec. 6 when his father walked into Bellmawr's police department, was a mystery  until now.

Jah'vi's story has a tragic ending: the 1-year-old boy has been identified as the child found dead Oct. 11 in a Camden alleyway, the prosecutor's office said.

"A known DNA sample of the missing boy was compared to the remains and his identity was confirmed to be Jah'vi Brown," the prosecutor's office said in the statement.

Jah'vi's "badly decomposed" body was found in the 800 block of Mount Ephraim Avenue.

No arrests have been made as investigators try to determine how and when the little boy died. The boy's parents, Anthony Burnett, 25, of Camden, and Tynaizaha Brown, 23, of Bellmawr, have been interviewed by detectives.

The child's death has not been ruled a homicide, police said.
With tax season fast approaching, filers seeking money back on their 2018 income taxes could see delayed refunds if the federal government shutdown continues.

According to an Internal Revenue Service operational plan for the shutdown, issuing refunds is listed under "non-excepted" activities that would be furloughed during the stalemate. The agency is operating with just 12 percent of its workforce, mainly focused on technology and security.

Jenny Brown, head of the union representing IRS employees in Ogden, Utah, told The Standard-Examiner that Ogden serves as a support center for income tax inquiries from the general public.

Brown, who's president of Local 67 of the National Treasury Employees Union, said with minimal IRS staffing, those with questions are "not going to get through" on IRS phone lines or they're going to have much longer waits than usual.

Tax season normally kicks off toward the end of January. Last year, the IRS began accepting returns on Jan. 29, CNBC reported. Within days, the IRS has received more than 18 million returns and processed over 6.1 million refunds averaging $2,899 each, according to CNBC.

The IRS plan only outlines how it would handle a shutdown in the first five days, but with Congress and President Donald Trump at an impasse over funding for wall at the U.S.-Mexico border, the agency may have to revise their procedures and force employees to report to work without pay.

Additionally, taxpayers are about to file for the first time under the new tax code, which took effect in 2017. Implementing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act "requires creating or revising hundreds of tax products including worksheets and tax forms, form instructions and publications as well as changes to current IRS policies and procedures." That work is likely to be stalled by the shutdown.

Taxpayers tend to receive many of the forms they need to file, including the W-2 and 1099 in January. For those still wanting to file as soon as possible, tax prep service providers say they are ready to receive early returns.

"Filers can prepare their tax returns now and beginning Jan. 4, TurboTax will securely store completed returns for transmission to the IRS and states once they begin accepting e-file," TurboTax said in a statement.

The company, along with others, also offers refund advances  short-term loans that you can receive within days of the IRS accepting your return. You would then use your tax refund proceeds to pay off the loan.
What to Know Police have arrested a Long Island middle school teacher on charges he had an unlawful sexual relationship with a 16-year-old former student

Thomas Barton was arrested Friday at his home in Medford on charges including rape and endangering the welfare of a child

Brentwood schools superintendent Richard Loeschner said Barton has been reassigned and is prohibited from entering school grounds

Police have arrested a Long Island middle school teacher on charges he had an unlawful sexual relationship with a 16-year-old former student.

Thomas Barton was arrested Friday at his home in Medford on charges including rape and endangering the welfare of a child.

Newsday reports that the 54-year-old Barton is a physical education teacher who has worked at the Brentwood school district for about 30 years.

Brentwood schools superintendent Richard Loeschner said Barton has been reassigned and is prohibited from entering school grounds.

Barton was awaiting arraignment Saturday. Information on his attorney was not immediately available.

The age of consent in New York is 17.
President Donald Trump exposed the faces of members of U.S. Navy SEAL Team 5 during his surprise trip to Iraq this week, and one expert said it could possibly put them in danger, NBC News reported.

During his post-Christmas visit to troops in Iraq, his first trip to a combat zone since he was sworn in last year, the president and first lady Melania Trump met with about 100 troops at a dining hall at the Al-Asad base west of Baghdad Wednesday.

U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Kyu Lee told Trump he is the chaplain for SEAL Team 5. Lee later said Trump told him, "Hey, in that case, lets take a picture."

Retired U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Malcolm Nance, an intelligence consultant for U.S. special operations forces, said by email that the presence of SEAL Team 5 members should not have been revealed.

"The fact is they are a special operations force in a combat zone with a combat role," said Nance, who has also served as a counter-terrorism analyst for NBC News and MSNBC. "The reason their identities are protected is in case of capture."

The office of the secretary of defense said in a statement no rules were violated by the ensuing photos and video.
Move over Mob Wives -- the Cartel Crew is here.

The docuseries is making its debut Monday at 9 p.m. on VH1, and the entire series will be set right here in the Magic City.

The premise of the program takes a deep look into the lives of eight individuals, all descendants of drug cartel bosses, who live in Miami. One of them is Michael Corleone Blanco, the youngest son of Griselda Blanco, also known as the "Black Widow." The narco-trafficking queen from Colombia ruled during the Miami Drug War of the 70s and 80s right here in South Florida.

My family ran the cocaine business, my mother invented the modern-day cocaine trade industry as we know it, Blanco said.

The series shot all over Miami and South Beach, with some portions in Medellin, Colombia that is centered around Blanco, who for 33 years, led a criminal lifestyle much like his mother, but quit after his mothers assassination in 2012.

Blanco created Pure Blanco a personal clothing brand to prove to the world that he could lead a legal business life.

My mother taught me life lessons, she was a savvy businesswoman so she was not only my council and my first true love but she was my mentor in business, Blanco said. Im doing it for my family, Im doing it for everybody who always said that I couldnt be anything but a drug dealer.

Life after narcos isn't easy -- take it from the #CartelCrew.  See what it's all about MONDAY JAN 7 at 9/8c on @VH1. pic.twitter.com/GCamj5GOvf  Cartel Crew (@CartelCrewVH1) January 3, 2019

As Blanco and his close circle of friends including Katherine Flores, Nicole Zavala, Carlos Oliveros, Dayana Castellanos, Stephanie Acevedo and Marie Ramirez-DAriano navigate through adulthood and life in South Florida, the series highlights how these children of the drug cartel now live under the effects and legacy of their upbringing.

You can catch Cartel Crew next Monday, Jan. 7 at 9 p.m. on VH1.
Heres a look at some of the stories that were trending on NBC6.com this week:

Opa-locka Business Owner Accused of Luring Man to Murder Him

An Opa-locka man is facing an attempted murder charge after being accused of luring a man into his business to kill him, according to police. Police said Gomez told the victim to come to his business to collect the $200 he owed him. When the victim arrived, he followed Gomez into the office area, where Gomez pulled out a revolver and shot him point blank in the chest, according to an arrest affidavit. Click here for the full story.

Opa-locka police arrested Alejandro Gomez, who they first thought was a robbery victim but is now a prime suspect in an attempted murder. NBC 6 anchor Johnny Archer reports.

Its Not Fair: South Florida Student Refutes SAT Cheating Allegation

A South Florida student is speaking out to defend her SAT Score after testing officials say a 300-plus point increase could be evidence of cheating. In the span of seven months, Dr. Michael Krop Senior High School student Kamilah Campbell took her score of 900 and turned it into a 1230 in hopes of attending Florida State University this fall. To her, its evidence of her hard work, but the Educational Testing Service, which administers the SAT, is skeptical of its validity. Click here to hear more from the student.

Kamilah Campbell is speaking out to defend her SAT score after officials say her 300-point increase could be evidence of cheating. NBC 6 anchor Dan Grossman reports.

Record Number of Florida Manatees Killed by Boaters: State

Florida boaters killed a record number of manatees in 2019 and the state reported a near-record of manatee deaths overall. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission recorded 119 manatees killed by a boat strike last year, breaking the record of 106 set in 2016 and tied in 2018, TCPalm.com reported. Overall, 804 manatees died in Florida waters, just shy of the recorded 830 in 2013. Click here for the full report.

The numbers were larger than the last two years and among over 800 deaths of the animal in the state last year.

Some Customers in Limbo Ahead of Service America Closure

Some homeowners called NBC 6 Responds after they were left in limbo when a local home warranty company announced it will be closing down after 43 years. Service America announced it will shut down both its Fort Lauderdale and Clearwater offices. But one person called NBC6 after waiting months for Service America to fix his fridge. Click here to see how NBC6 Responds was able to help the man.

Homeowners reached out to NBC 6 Responds after waiting months for home warranty company Service America to follow up and make repairs.

Woman Assaults Parents For Not Taking Her To Outback: Police

A woman in Palm Beach County was arrested after allegedly assaulting her parents when they refused to take her to an Outback restaurant. Deana Seltzer, 28, was charged with a laundry list of charges when she allegedly punched her parents, destroyed furniture and threatened to kill her father, all because they wouldnt take her to Outback. Click here to find out what she told police when she was arrested.

A woman allegedly physically assaulted her parents and threatened her dad with a knife after they refused to take her to Outback Steakhouse, according to reports.
Here are the six things you need to know for Saturday, January 5th.

Weather wise, a cold front is arriving in South Florida. We can expect some scattered showers this morning, cloudy skies in the afternoon and clear skies this evening. This cold front is not expected to have a significant impact on temperatures.

No. 1  South Florida Teacher Accused of Having Sex With Student

A South Florida teacher is behind bars, accused of having sexual relations with his 14-year-old student. Diego Guzman, 30, is a teacher at Dr. Michael Krop Senior High. The two were found at an AirBnB in Wilton Manors.

No. 2  Flu Season

Flu season is starting to ramp up and health officials are urging people to get their flu shots if they havent already. 13 children have died from flu-related complications this season.

No. 3  Government Shutdown

The government continues to be partially shut down a day after President Trump met with congressional leaders. The impacts can be felt from Capitol Hill all the way to Florida. President Trump said the shutdown for months.

No. 4  3 Dead, 4 Injured in Shooting at California Bowling Alley

Three men died and four others were injured at a shooting at a bowling alley in California. Police responded to calls of shots fired in Torrance, California at around midnight on Saturday and found multiple people injured with gunshot wounds.

No. 5  Miami Party Boat Owner Sentenced After Running Illegal Charters

The No Rules II is finding there are rules after all. The one-time party boat and its owner are now paying the price. Seth Gissen, the boats owner, was sentenced Friday after pleading guilty to a federal charge for disobeying a direct order not to operate a charter boat.

No. 6  Ban on Smoking on Beaches?

A Florida Senator is proposing a bill that would make it illegal to smoke on beaches statewide. If passed, it would take place in July.
 Flash

Japan will announce its new era name on April 1, one month before the abdication of Emperor Akihito, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said in New Year's press conference in Ise on Friday.





The new "genko," which means "era name," will be signed off at a Cabinet meeting on April 1 before the emperor abdicates on April 30 and Crown Prince Naruhito ascends the imperial throne on May 1, Abe said.





He said in the press conference that the government plans to reveal the new name in advance this time in order to reduce the influence of the change on people's lives.





"The government will make all-out efforts to prepare for the historic imperial succession so that people can celebrate altogether," Abe said.





Emperor Akihito, 85, in a rare nationally-televised address in August 2016, expressed his desire to relinquish his duties as emperor owing to concerns about his age, health and ability to carry out his formal duties.





No living emperor in Japan has abdicated the throne in around 200 years.





The current era is called "Heisei", which means "achieving peace". The current era began on Jan. 8, 1989 following the death of Emperor Showa, better known as Emperor Hirohito, father of Emperor Akihito.





While modern Japan tends to use the Gregorian calendar, a new era name is important for Japanese people as it will hold a particular meaning. The new era name will also be used on official documents.








Mexican authorities began removing migrants from a shelter on the north side of Tijuana Friday, taking them to another shelter located further from the U.S.-Mexico border.

Migrants staying in the Contra Viento y Marea shelter located at Calle Michoacan 581-1557 in Tijuana's northern zone were transported by officials approximately 15 miles southeast to the El Barretal shelter.

Buses arrived to transport the migrants, Telemundo 20 reported.

They come and try to push out, one migrant told Telemundo 20. The people is scared, you know?

Officials said the conditions were not ideal for the migrants which, in part, may have prompted the move, according to Telemundo 20.

Its an excuse, said the migrant. [The shelter is] not too bad.

Migrants said officials previously told them they had until Jan. 24 to leave the shelter but then Friday were told to evacuate before noon.

I want to stay here. Nobody wants to move to the Barretal, the migrant said.

Federal police, National Institute of Migration, and the Federal Commission for the Protection Against Sanitary Risk in Mexico were at the scene to assist in the move.

No other information was available.

Please refresh this page for updates on this story. Details may change as more information becomes available.
The partial government shutdown is delaying the long-awaited launch of TEXRail train service

Were disappointed the start date for TEXRails passenger service is being delayed," said Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price. "We will remain in close communication with Trinity Metro as they coordinate full clearance for service with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and announce a new start date.

Service between downtown Fort Worth and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport was to begin Saturday -- now it's unclear when passengers can use the line.

The problem? A key inspection is still needed by the FRA before the full service can launch. Furloughs have resulted in skeleton crews for the FRA, which has led to some strains in completing inspections before deadline.

Officials with Trinity Metro said Friday afternoon they were unable to get clearance for the entire 27-mile corridor and that they will launch passenger service as soon as they obtain full clearance from the FRA to operate the entire railroad.

The section of track still needing an inspection is under Spur 280 in Fort Worth, east of the Intermodal Transportation Center, where two freight railroad lines were relocated, supports were moved and two new bridges were built.

"We got it done. Every inch of track is open. Weve just got to get it inspected," said Paul Ballard, CEO and president of Trinity Metro.

It's not clear when the FRA will be able to inspect the final section.

NBC 5's Larry Collins contributed to this report.
Matthew Herrick, a restaurant worker and aspiring actor in New York, claimed that for months an ex-boyfriend used the dating app Grindr to harass him.

His former partner created fake profiles on the app to impersonate Herrick and then direct men to show up at Herricks home and the restaurant where he worked asking for sex, sometimes more than a dozen times per day. Herrick took action against his ex, filing 14 police reports. The alleged harassment continued for months, even after Herrick obtained a temporary restraining order against Grindr that required the company to disable the impersonating profiles.

Herrick is pursuing an unusual legal theory as he continues to push back against Grindr, arguing that tech companies should face greater accountability for what happens on their platforms, NBC News reported. His lawsuit alleges that the software developers who write code for Grindr have been negligent, producing an app thats defective in its design and that is fundamentally unsafe and unreasonably dangerous  echoing language thats more typically used in lawsuits about, say, a faulty kitchen appliance or a defective car part.

If successful, the lawsuit could bring about a significant legal change to the risks tech companies face for what happens on their platforms, adding to growing public and political pressure for change.
A Texas state senator accused of sending sexually explicit text messages to a University of Texas graduate student is giving up control of the chamber's powerful Health and Human Services Committee.

The Austin American-Statesman reports that Republican Charles Schwertner wrote to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who oversees the Senate, on Friday and asked to relinquish his chairmanship. Schwertner was re-elected in November.

He wrote: "I have asked not to serve in that capacity this session" to focus on district policy issues and "spend more time with my family." The legislative session begins Tuesday.

The move comes after the university closed an investigation into the matter last month, saying that Schwertner blamed the messages on someone else and wouldn't cooporate.

The messages included a nude photo with the face cropped out.
Two weeks of the partial government shutdown could lead to some delays in the long-awaited launch of TEXRail train service connecting downtown Fort Worth and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

A key inspection is still needed by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) before the full service can launch. Furloughs have resulted in skeleton crews for the FRA, which has led to some strains in completing inspections before deadline.

"The FRA has pledged to do their best in spite of the government shutdown to get someone out to do the inspection," said Paul Ballard, president and chief executive officer of Trinity Metro.

As of Friday morning, the inspection wasnt completed, but Ballard said the train can launch Saturday morning as planned with or without the inspection.

We are going to be running from the airport and we believe we will be going all the way to downtown Fort Worth to the TMP, however we have to wait and see, Ballard said.

The stretch of track still requiring inspection is under Spur 280 in Fort Worth.

This was probably the most challenging part of the whole project and this is an area just east of the Intermodal Transportation Center where we relocated two freight railroad lines, built two new bridges, moved the supports under 280, Ballard explained. We got it done. Every inch of track is open. Weve just got to get it inspected.

Ballard said until the last inspection is complete, the train will only travel through the approved tracks. Only the last two stops would be affected, but there is a plan to accommodate affected riders.

There is bus service that connects downtown right to 28th Street right there, Ballard explained.

Trinity Metro will know by the close of business Friday if the inspection is complete.

If FRA cannot do the inspection, its going to be for a day or two. Theyll be out shortly, Ballard said. So, its one small segment for a couple of days at worst.
Three men died and four were injured after a brawl turned into a shooting at a bowling alley in Torrance, California late Friday night.

Police responded to calls of shots fired at Gable House Bowl on Hawthorne Boulevard early Saturday morning and found multiple people injured with gunshot wounds.

Police say they have not yet identified the suspect or suspects and are reviewing surveillance footage. No arrests or suspect information was immediately available.

The three people killed in the shooting were identified by their families on Saturday.

One of the dead men was identified as 28-year-old Astin Edwards, who was at the bowling alley with his cousin and some friends when the brawl escalated.

"He was trying to break up the fight. Girls and this guy came out of nowhere and started shooting," his father, Dwayne Edwards said.

Another victim was identified as 28-year-old Robert Meekins, who leaves behind a 5-year-old son.

"When I go home and tell him that his daddy's not coming back, it's going to break his heart because he's a daddy's boy, always has been," Meekins' mother Anglean Hubbard said. "And I wonder the person that sat up here and took all of these people's lives, how is he sleeping? How is he dealing with that? He done took somebody's father, somebody's son. I just want justice for my son and all the people that was in there."

The third victim, 20-year-old Michael Radford, was also a father. He leaves behind an 8-month-old daughter, according to his sister.

Wes Hamad, a 29-year-old Torrance resident, said he was at the bowling alley with his 13-year-old niece and cousin when he saw a huge fight break out. Hamad said the brawl, which lasted about five minutes, blocked the entrance of Gable House Bowl and devolved into "complete chaos."

"I grabbed my niece and started running towards the far end of the bowling alley," he said. "As we were running, we heard 15 shots."

As he was leaving, Hamad said, he saw a woman weeping over a man who was riddled with multiple gunshot wounds in his head and neck.

Associated Press contributed to this report.
Families are calling for justice on Saturday after five New Britain Police officers were cleared of any wrongdoing after shooting a 20-year-old man to death.

They gathered at the very spot where the shooting occurred.

On Thursday, the Fairfield State's Attorney's Office released its report regarding the incident that happened on December 14, 2017. It said the five New Britain Police officers had reason to fear for their lives.

"Watching the videos was, it was horrific. It sickened me to my stomach and I don't even see where any of these officers were in any immediate danger. I saw a young man, who was scared and he was just trying to get away. I don't think that, I don't think that driving away in fear justifies an officer pointing a handgun directly on the side, on the driver's side of this vehicle and shooting right into it," said Gwen Cordero, whose son was involved in the shooting.

The mother of one of the teens involved in the officer-involved shooting in New Britain spoke out on Saturday and demanded justice.

"I don't care what the State's Attorney's conclusion is, these officers are not innocent. Okay, they're not innocent. They murdered a young man, they shot at my son and his friend," Cordero added.

According to the report, in 10 seconds, the officers fired 28 shots at a car with three men. They hit and killed the driver, 20-year-old Zoe Dowdell. An 18-year-old was also injured and a 15-year-old in the car was not hurt.

The two teens were both charged in connection with the incident.

Families are calling for justice on Saturday after five New Britain Police officers were cleared of any wrongdoing after shooting a 20-year-old man to death.

The report said police were following the vehicle for its alleged involvement in several carjackings and robberies in the city.

Video showed the seconds when police fired into the car after it didn't stop.

Dowdell was shot four times in the head, neck and legs.

New Britain Police said the five officers are still employed, but are on restricted duty while the department conducts an internal investigation.

"The New Britain Police Department's own internal administrative investigation will proceed upon receipt and full review of the State Police investigation reports, in addition to the now released report of Fairfield State's Attorney's investigation," New Britain Police said in a statement released Saturday.

"We just feel that the exoneration of all five officers, at least I do, was a little bit too much and when we looked at the videos of the shootings, that the force used was excessive," said Cornell Lewis, an activist representing two of the families whose children were involved in the shooting.

New Britain Police said in the statement that since the external investigation is complete, they are working with the city attorneys for the full and immediate release of all additional information that is legally disclosable.

The Connecticut ACLU, which represents Dowdell's father, claims all the evidence hasn't been released.
Many people have been feeling sneezy or sick to their stomach this winter and theyre not alone.

Illnesses are spreading fast in Connecticut, including the flu.

In the most recent data from the Connecticut Department of Public Health released Friday, there were more than 200 newly confirmed flu cases for the week ended Dec. 29, 2018.

The new report shows that another person has died from flu-related illness, too, bringing the total to four reported flu-related deaths. Three occurred in people over the age of 65; one was in a person between 50 to 64 years old.

Chief Medical Officer Dr. Oliver Mayorga at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital said his staff is seeing the spike.

Im about to start my shift in the emergency room and Im going to go see some patients who probably have the flu, Mayorga said.

At L+M facilities in New London and Groton, staff reported three confirmed flu cases from Dec. 2 to Dec. 10; nine confirmed flu cases the week of Dec. 18 to Dec. 24; and from Christmas to New Years Eve, the number more than doubled to 23 confirmed flu cases.

Mayorga said this is typical for this time of year. Plus, people can have the flu and possibly not know it.

The flu test is not 100 percent sensitive so you can certainly have the flu and your test could be negative, Mayorga said.

I had a fever for about five days, runny nose, my eyes watered so much they got swollen, I threw up constantly, I could barely eat, said Selena Baker of Waterford.

The college student battled the flu last year. This year, she hasnt been immune to other viruses.

I caught a few cold viruses. You know, just regular stuff, the coughing, the sniffling, the chills, not feeling good, fever, Baker said.

In the winter we begin to see a lot of things circulate, said Ledge Light Health District Epidemiologist Russell Melmed.

Flu activity is elevated across the state and in New London County, Melmed said.

Roughly 10 to 10.5 percent of all the cases coming into the emergency room in our area are for flu-like symptoms. So that tells us theres a lot of flu going around right now, according to Melmed.

Statistics from the Connecticut Department of Public Health through the week ending Dec. 29 show that flu activity remains widespread and has rapidly increased the last two weeks of 2018. Emergency Department visits were up 2.3 percent from the previous week, according to those statistics.

And between Aug. 26 and Dec. 29, 268 patients have been hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza.

Its not too late to get a flu shot. Last year, around late February/early March there were tremendous numbers of flu cases, according to Melmed.

There are many other illnesses going around this winter, too. A common cold and norovirus are both prevalent.

Norovirus makes people very, very sick when they get it, Melmed said. Nauseous, vomiting, diarrhea, it comes on very suddenly.

Theresa Grimm has had family members come down with norovirus this season.

Its awful because its just 24 hours where they cant eat and youre trying to keep fluids in them, Grimm said.

To keep others in the house healthy, she took extra steps to try to keep the house clean.

Its bleach and then everybody washes their hands and washing the sheets and the pillows and the pillow cases, Grimm said.

Doctors orders: if you get the flu or any other winter illness, rest, hydration and symptom control are key.
Two teenage boys have been charged in connection with an attack in which dozens of teenagers beat three people last week on a Red Line platform on the Near North Side.

The boys, ages 15 and 16, were each charged with felony aggravated battery and mob action for the Dec. 29 attack at the State/Chicago Red Line station, according to Chicago police and a statement from Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd).

The younger boy was charged early Thursday and appeared in juvenile court shortly after. Police said he was observed delivering multiple punches and kicks to two of the victims, along with eight to ten other offenders.

The 16-year-old, who was identified to police by an anonymous tipster, was charged later Thursday and was scheduled to appear in court Friday, police said. Neither boy was identified because they are juveniles.

The victims were waiting for a train about 7:30 p.m. at the station, 800 N. State St., when the group of teens stepped onto the platform, police said. One of the people in the group asked a 26-year-old man if he was recording them, which he denied.

The horde of teens then approached the man, a 29-year-old woman and her 28-year-old boyfriend and started punching them, according to police and the victims, who asked not to be named.

All three were treated at the scene for bruising and lacerations, according to Chicago Fire Media Affairs.

The 28-year-old, who has lived in Chicago for three years, said he later went to University of Illinois Hospital, where he learned that his eye socket was fractured.

In the days following the attack, authorities released surveillance photos of multiple suspects.

Hopkins said additional arrests in the case were anticipated.

Police did not immediately release additional information about the charges Thursday night.
Police in Arizona are investigating a long-term care facility after a report, based on a single anonymous source, that a woman who has been in a vegetative state for at least a decade gave birth.

Phoenix police would only say that "the matter is currently under investigation," when asked about the report of a patient in a vegetative state at Hacienda HealthCare facility giving birth to a baby boy on Dec. 29.

A unidentified source told local station KTVK that caretakers weren't aware the woman was pregnant until shortly before she gave birth, and a nurse only realized that the patient was in labor when she started to moan. The source, said by KTVK to be someone "familiar with the situation," said the baby is healthy.

The source also said the patient has been in a vegetative state and at the facility for about 10 years after a near-drowning incident.
 Flash





Hundreds of Palestinian demonstrators reached on Friday afternoon the eastern area of the Gaza Strip, close to the fence of the border with Israel to join the 41st Friday of the "Great March of Return."





The highest commission of the marches of return had earlier called on the Gaza Strip populations to join the protests. The commission called it this time "Friday of resisting normalization."





Eyewitnesses and field paramedics said that clashes broke out in eastern Gaza Strip between dozens of demonstrators and Israeli soldiers stationed at the border area, adding that the soldiers fired tear gas and live gunshots at the demonstrators, according to local radio station al-Sha'b.





They said that 10 protesters, including a young girl, had been shot and wounded by Israeli soldiers gunfire and were immediately referred to the hospital.





Ashraf al Qedra, spokesman for the Health Ministry in Gaza, told reporters that at least ten protesters were injured by Israeli soldiers' gunfire, including a female child and one paramedic, adding that dozens suffered suffocation after inhaling Israeli tear gas.





Eyewitnesses said that three arson balloons were released from the area into southern Israel, while several demonstrators cut the barbed wire of the fence of the border and went into Israel and then returned back into Gaza area, according to local media reports.





Ismail Redwan, a senior Hamas movement's official, who joined the marches of return in eastern Gaza, told reporters that the marches of return will go on until the Israeli siege imposed on the Gaza Strip for 12 years will be lifted.





Meanwhile, the health ministry in Gaza said in an emailed press statement that it condemned the Israeli soldiers' aggressive and hostile manner of opening fire at peaceful demonstrators.





Al Qedra has earlier stated that since the beginning of the marches of return and breaking the siege in March 30, the Israeli army has shot and killed more than 240 Palestinians and wounded more than 25,000 others.




The San Francisco DMV field office experienced technical problems Saturday afternoon, according to the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

"The office is unable to process vehicle registration and driver license/ID transactions," CA DMV said on social media. The issues were resolved an hour later, officials said.

Daly City field office was honoring appointments while the San Francisco office was down, CA DMV said.

DMV offices around the Bay Area and the state started to open on Saturdays last year in June to compensate for longer wait time.

Click here to find the list of other DMV locations.
The parent company of California's largest utility is assessing its finances and structure in the wake of wildfires blamed on its equipment that could cost it billions of dollars in liability.

PG&E announced the assessment Friday in a news release, citing "the growing wildfire threat."

It said its board of directors is engaging outside experts for advice on wildfire safety, but it did not identify any potential plans to address liability or safety.

"We want to tap fresh perspectives and additional expertise to help address the changing nature of PG&E's business and the challenges it faces now and in the future," the board said in a statement.

National Public Radio, citing an anonymous company official and a former employee, reported that PG&E is exploring selling off its natural gas division  a major part of the company  to set up a fund for potential wildfire claims.

It is also looking into selling real estate assets, including its San Francisco headquarters, NPR reported.

The utility is facing numerous lawsuits involving wildfire losses and scrutiny of its power line safety by a U.S. judge overseeing a separate criminal case against it.

State fire investigators blamed the utility's power lines for causing several wildfires in October 2017.

Investigators have not determined the cause of a massive wildfire that destroyed the town of Paradise in November. PG&E reported an outage around the time and place that the fire ignited.

The fire killed at least 86 people and was the deadliest in California history.
A California police officer who was killed in the line of duty was hailed Saturday as a "Fiji-born American hero" who made the ultimate sacrifice for his adopted country.

At a funeral held for Cpl. Ronil Singh, mourners remembered the 33-year-old as a hard-working immigrant who worked his way up to become an officer in the small town of Newman.

He "stood so much for what is right in our world and yet unfortunately was taken too soon from us by what is wrong in our world," Modesto police Officer Jeff Harmon said at the service in a Modesto church.

He "probably more than anything else wanted to be home on Christmas night with his wife and his young son, but instead made a selfless choice to serve all of his community knowing that there are many more than just his own family that needed his protection that night."

Singh was shot to death in the early hours of Dec. 26 after he pulled over a suspected drunk driver. The gunman fled, and a two-day-long manhunt led to the arrest of a man who authorities said was in the country illegally and was preparing to flee to Mexico.

Gustavo Arriaga Perez, also 33, has since been charged with murder.

The case has rekindled a debate over California's sanctuary law that limits cooperation by local authorities with federal immigration authorities. President Donald Trump has cited Singh's killing to call for tougher border security amid a fight with congressional Democrats over funding for a border wall. The impasse has forced a partial government shutdown that entered a 15th day Saturday.

At his funeral, however, Singh's brother and colleagues focused on his achievements and playful personality.

Singh grew up in a Fijian farming town and emigrated to central California in 2003. He joined the 12-member Newman police department in 2011 after attending police academy and serving as a volunteer, animal control officer and code enforcement officer at other agencies in the region.

"He told me he came to this country with one purpose, and that purpose was to become a police officer," Newman Police Chief Randy Richardson said. "He told me about all the pride he had in America, and how much it meant to get this opportunity."

Singh served as a K-9 officer before being promoted to a corporal at the Newman police department. He earned a bachelor's degree in administration of justice two years ago with the goal of becoming a sergeant, said his friend, Modesto police Detective Ra Pouv.

"Ronil and I are both immigrants to a country we truly love, and we both view serving our country and community through law enforcement as important to who we are," said Pouv, who is from Cambodia. "It is our way of giving back to a country that embraced us and our family."

The Fijian ambassador to the United States, Naivakarurubalavu Solo Mara, said Singh made his mark in his adopted country and called him a "Fiji-born American hero."

Singh's widow, Anamika Singh, was at the funeral but did not address mourners; his 5-month-old son can be heard cooing during the service. A slideshow shown during service featured photos of the smiling officer posing for Christmas photos with his family, hanging out with fellow officers and cuddling Sam, his black Labrador K-9 dog.

On Friday, his casket was draped in an American flag and driven about 25 miles in a procession from Modesto into a theater in the small town of Newman for a viewing. People lined up along the streets to honor the fallen officer.

After Saturday's funeral, Singh's body was taken on a procession to its final resting place at Lakewood Memorial Park in the nearby town of Hughson.
The state is threatening to shut down the San Francisco city-run elder care facility where a woman went missing and was later found dead nearby, after regulators found eight serious violations there during the last five years, NBC Bay Areas Investigative Unit has learned.

The states Community Care Licensing Division made that threat against the citys Residential Care Facility for the Elderly in October, following an investigation triggered by the death of Ruby Lee Andersen. Andersen, 75, went missing from there in mid-May of 2018 and was found dead in a nearby hospital power plant stairwell ten days later. She died of apparent kidney failure.

Although Andersen was diagnosed with dementia and was hearing voices, the facilitys sign out sheet shows she was allowed to leave unescorted  something the familys attorney says was negligent.

Ruby Lee Andersen should still be alive, said Haig Harris, the lawyer for the Andersen family. Harris recently filed a claim against the city of San Francisco, the first step toward suing for wrongful death.

The state licensing authority put the Residential Care for the Elderly facility, which is part of the citys Behavioral Health Center on the grounds of San Francisco General Hospital, on notice after finding eight serious violations there in five years.

Licensee has been advised that failure to complete the above agreed upon actions could lead to possible administrator decertification or license revocation, the report said.

Harris, shown the findings by NBC Bay Area, said the message was clear: If they dont clean up their act, they are at risk of losing that license.

Harris pointed to a key finding in the investigation  that five months after Andersens doctor recommended she be transferred to a skilled nursing facility because of dementia, she was still at the care center on Potrero Avenue.

Thats a damning indictment of the care that Ruby Lee Andersen didnt get -- or the care that she did get -- which was deficient, which resulted in her death.

Among the conditions set by the licensing division in October, was a ban on accepting dementia patients. Regulators also called for beefed up training and resident health monitoring. The report stresses that for two years, the center will be subjected to rigorous and frequent inspections.

The city Public Health Department said in a statement that the facility provides a safe and appropriate setting for residents there. But at the same time, it has accepted the compliance plan set up by the state and believes these changes improve the high level of care that is provided to residents at the facility.

Pat McGinnis, a nursing home reform advocate based in San Francisco, said the intervention by the state is clearly warranted, given findings that include one resident suffered severely overgrown fingernails and toenails, and another went without medicine for 18 days in a dispute over Medicare.

I think that most alarming is the fact that it is a 59-bed facility, that it is run by the city and county of San Francisco. We have medical professionals, she said, its right next to San Francisco General Hospital  one would think you would have the medical expertise to know better.

For McGinnis, the Andersen violations were inexcusable.

You cant justify that behavior, she said. Theres nothing you can say that can justify what happened to that woman

McGinnis says understaffed regulators have to at least trust providers to get the basics right  something she says didnt happen with the city run facility.

You rely, somewhat, on the professional expertise of the people who are running these facilities to know they cant take someone with dementia without a dementia plan of operation. That a person might wander out of the facility and get killed. Which is what happened.

The public health department said it could not comment on details involving the Andersen case, citing privacy concerns. But in its statement, it said the facility provided a compliance plan to regulators to address their concerns and the licensing division accepted it. The plan specifies the facility will not take patients with a dementia diagnosis, will monitor residents for changes in their medical condition and take appropriate steps when a residents condition changes, and includes staff education and training on facility requirements.
(Natural News) A Pennsylvania doctor with no criminal record was denied his right to own a firearm only because he possesses a legal medical cannabis card. Unable to properly defend himself, the 33-year-old doctor has filed a lawsuit against the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). The case will impact millions of medical marijuana users and gun owners across the United States.

Dr. Matthew Romans story began one afternoon in April of 2018. He and a friend were headed to a Philadelphia gun store named Firing Lane to shop for a pistol for home defense purposes. Dr. Roman was interested in a Smith and Wesson 638  a .38 special, double action revolver. When he went to purchase the small six-shooter, the gun shop clerk asked Roman to answer a few questions to comply with the ATFs 4473 form. On line 11e of the form, the buyer is asked whether he or she possesses a medical cannabis card.

After confirming he has no criminal history or history of violence, Dr. Roman answered truthfully about his medical prescription for cannabis, which is legal in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The gun store clerk told Dr. Roman that he couldnt purchase the firearm because of his legal marijuana use.

By November, Dr. Roman sued the FBI and ATF. He claims that the government agencies are denying individuals the right to lawfully purchase firearms without providing any due process. Dr. Roman argues that this strict, rigid, blanket prohibition violates the fundamental constitutional rights of tens of thousands of non-violent, law-abiding citizens, and thus violates the Second and Fifth Amendments of the Constitution.

Dr. Roman uses medical cannabis to help deal with traumatic experiences from the past. PTSD is a popular diagnosis that allows individuals access to legal medical marijuana. Dr. Roman also prescribes legal medical cannabis for people suffering from traumatic experiences.

There is no substantial evidence linking medical cannabis use to violence, yet marijuana users are continually denied the fundamental right to own a firearm and protect themselves. Ironically, individuals can purchase a firearm and still abuse alcohol. Worse yet, individuals can take prescription drugs that have violent side effects and still enjoy legal access to firearms.

Dr. Romans battle challenges longstanding laws on gun control and prohibition of marijuana

Now that states are legalizing medical cannabis, individuals who want to purchase a firearm are forced into self incrimination on the ATFs 4473 form. This violates the fifth amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Republican Congressman Thomas Massie has vowed to introduce legislation in 2019 that would remove the question from the ATF form and restore legal cannabis users right to own a firearm.

Still, Dr. Roman faces an uphill battle. In 2016, a woman filed suit after she was barred from purchasing a firearm because she possessed a medical marijuana license in the state of Nevada. The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ultimately backed the ATFs policy which asserts,[T]here are no exceptions in federal law for marijuana purportedly used for medicinal purposes, even if such use is sanctioned by state law. Because of the flawed and outdated 1968 Gun Control Act, cannabis is still a schedule one, federally prohibited substance, and the ATF asserts that no one is allowed to own a firearm if they use the drug, legally or illegally.

The violence that is associated with marijuana is derived from the federal governments war on marijuana, which caused the rise of drug cartel power and the ensuring crime needed to maintain that power. By legalizing cannabis, the power is taken from the cartels. Cannabis legalization has proven to reduce violence, and the plants medical applications are promising.

Dr. Romans battle with the FBI and ATF could fundamentally challenge longstanding laws, as he seeks to restore his privilege to receive medical cannabis and own a firearm.

For more on gun rights, visit SecondAmendment.News.

Sources include:

Fee.org

NaturalNews.com
You are here: World

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The deputy commander of Iran's Navy said an Iranian naval fleet will be sent to the Atlantic Ocean for a five-month mission in early 2019, official IRNA news agency reported Friday.





"The Atlantic Ocean is a long route, and it is likely that the mission would take five months to complete," Touraj Hassnai Moqaddam told IRNA.





"Iranian Sahand destroyer will accompany the fleet," he added, without providing more details.





On Dec. 1, 2018, the Iranian navy launched the domestically-built Sahand destroyer in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas.





With radar-evading stealth properties, the military vessel can embark on voyages for five months without re-supply.





It has a flight deck for helicopters, torpedo launchers, as well as anti-aircraft and anti-ship guns.





The destroyer also has surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles, capable of engaging in electronic warfare.




Oh-ho! Elephant tusk trinkets in Cambodia are actually woolly mammoth! PhysOrg (Lance N)

AI-Equipped Cameras Will Help Spot Wildlife Poachers Before They Can Kill The Verge

Once considered outlandish, the idea that plants help their relatives is taking root AAAS (Dr. Kevin)

Data mining adds evidence that war is baked into the structure of society MIT Technology Review (Dr. Kevin, David L)

PepsiCo is rolling out a fleet of robots to bring snacks to college students The Verge. Resilc: Just what we all need, junk on demand.

Link Between Social Media and Depression Stronger In Teen Girls Than Boys, Study Says CNN

The Best Skin-Care Trick Is Being Rich The Atlantic (Dr. Kevin)

China?

Asia stumbles into year of the currency war Asia Times (resilc)

Brexit

Bolsonaro and the Rainforest LobeLog (resilc)

New Cold War

Syraqistan

Big Brother is Watching You Watch

Trump Transition

The US Government Has Always Been a Tool of Greedy Corporations VICE (resilc)

The $9 Billion Upcharge: How Insurers Kept Extra Cash From Medicare Wall Street Journal. Important original reporting.

Six-Year-Old Moira Is One of the Sickest People in America. So Why Is North Carolina Trying to Gut Her Health Care?  Mother Jones. Resilc: The GOP stopped caring when she stopped being a fetus.

Clinton Crony Says Bernie Supporters Must Be Silenced For 2020 Primaries Caitlin Johnstone (furzy)

Dont Underestimate Elizabeth Warren and Her Populist Message New Yorker (resilc)

Pelosi Burns Republicans To The Ground By Invoking Reagan During Speech Marking New Session Of Congress The United States Blues (resilc)

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: Attempt to smear congresswoman with clip of her dancing backfires Sky News (Kevin W). Following up on Lamberts coverage: Right. Its OK for Theresa May to embarrass herself by dancing horribly in South Africa and then unironically doing a cringe-making mini-reprise at a Tory party conference but not for a young woman to have some really good dance clips from college..long before she was in public life (if think that dancing is Too Unserious to be caught doing it, or even worse, to do it well).

Powell stokes market rally with promise of patience Financial Times

The lies Comcast allegedly told customers to hide full cost of service ars technica

Robinhood Checking Moved Fast and Broke Bloomberg (UserFriendly)

Apple has way bigger problems than China, analysts say Business Insider

Devastating Wildfires Force Californias Largest Utility To Plan Sale Of Gas Assets NPR (David L)

Class Warfare

Antidote du jour (Tracie H):

And a bonus antidote (martha r):

Mother quokka and her baby pic.twitter.com/sdYcVKQBzd  Welcome To Nature (@welcomet0nature) January 3, 2019

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
By Michal Bauer, Associate Professor of Economics, CERGE-EI and Charles University; Jana Cahlikova, Senior Research Fellow, Max Planck Institute for Tax Law and Public Finance; Dagmara Celik Katreniak, Assistant Professor, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow; Julie Chytilova, Associate Professor of Economics, Charles University; Researcher, CERGE-EI; Lubomir Cingl, Assistant Professor, University of Economics, Prague; and Tomas Zelinsky, Associate Professor, Technical University of Kosice. Originally published at VoxEU

The economic consensus is that groups behave in a more self-regarding way than individuals, which affects their members decision-making. This column describes new evidence from experiments in Slovakia and Uganda that supports an alternative hypothesis from social psychology that simply being a member of a group makes us more anti-social to outsiders. Within-group cohesion in organisations may also have a dark side, fostering hostility to outsiders.

Plato wrote about the limits of democracy, as did the founding fathers of the American constitution. More recently, social scientists have also worried about the dynamics of group decision-making, speculating that being part of a group may increase the motivation to harm outsiders and destroy social welfare. The causal effect of group membership on decision-making has been prominent on the research agenda in behavioural economics in the past 20 years, partly because so many political, military, and business decisions are made by groups rather than individuals.

Across many laboratory experiments, a pattern has emerged. Group decisions are less pro-social and cooperative than individual decisions. Groups are less willing to sacrifice their resources to increase social welfare, or to achieve a fair allocation. The consensus interpretation is that groups behave in a more self-regarding way. They are more likely to maximise a group payoff, and disregard the welfare of others (Charness and Sutter 2012, Kugler et al. 2012).

It is usually assumed that group members communicate among themselves, helping them to recognise a profit-maximising strategy. This interpretation suggests that group decisions can be modelled as more rational and less behavioural than individual decisions, an important implication for economic theory.

Why Are Groups Less Cooperative Than Individuals?

Our recent paper (Bauer et al. 2018) uses an alternative explanation for the difference in cooperative behaviour of groups, compared to individuals. Social psychologists have a long-standing hypothesis that simply being a member of a group may inspire aggressively competitive anti-social behaviour (Durlauf 1999, Hewstone et al. 2002, Sambanis et al. 2012).

This hypothesis implies that groups do not cooperate less because they are self-regarding, but because they are more inclined to cause harm to outsiders  even at a cost to themselves. We define anti-social behaviour as non-strategic destructive behaviour that is costly for the decision maker, reduces welfare of others, and is not a response to inequality or a hostile behaviour of a counterpart. Experiments in previous research, including the Prisoners Dilemma game, Trust game, and Dictator game, were designed to measure the positive side of human social behaviour. They do not, however, distinguish whether a lack of willingness to cooperate or share has been caused by greater selfishness, or by this anti-social behaviour.

These distinctions matter if one wants to predict willingness to engage in self-destructive conflict:

Being anti-social is very different from being self-regarding. Economic agents motivated purely by self-interest will destroy the resources of others only when they stand to gain. But there is much more scope for harming others if they also derive utility from relative status or feel pleasure from beating an opponent. It is also important to understand whether simply being placed into a group creates an us versus them psychology that influences behaviour of group members, or whether the behavioural difference is an outcome of deliberation. If the mere fact of deciding in a group makes an individual more willing to cause harm, a broad range of situations may create an increased tendency to behave anti-socially.

Measuring Anti-Social Behaviour

Our experiments were conducted among large and diverse samples of adolescents in two very different settings  Uganda (N=1,679) and Slovakia (N=630)  using a comparable design. We compare the (anti-)social behaviour of individuals, and the team decision of groups made up of three randomly selected individuals.

The experiment is designed to distinguish self-regarding from anti-social motivations, and also to decompose the overall group effect into the effect of group decision-making, and the effect of the group context on individual behaviour.

To do so, we complement the prisoners dilemma game, a standard experiment to measure willingness to cooperate, with the joy of destruction game, an experiment that uncovers anti-social behaviour.

In the prisoners dilemma game , two players receive the same endowment and simultaneously decide whether to take away 50% of their counterparts payoff in order to increase their own payoff by 25% (non-cooperative choice) or whether to keep the payoffs unchanged (cooperative choice).

, two players receive the same endowment and simultaneously decide whether to take away 50% of their counterparts payoff in order to increase their own payoff by 25% (non-cooperative choice) or whether to keep the payoffs unchanged (cooperative choice). In the joy of destruction game, two players receive the same endowment and simultaneously make a choice whether to keep the payoffs as they are, or whether to sacrifice 10% of own payoff in order to reduce the payoff of the other player by 50%. In this case, choosing to reduce other persons payoff is costly for the decision-maker and thus purely self-regarding individuals should not engage in the destructive behaviour (Abbink and Herrmann 2011, Abbink and Sadrieh 2009).

Also, to separate the effects of group context on individual behaviour and the effect of group deliberation and decision-making, we elicit individual choices made in isolation, preferences of individual group members for group decisions before a group deliberation, and the ultimate group decisions.

Groups Behave More Anti-Socially Than Individual Decision-Makers

Groups are less likely than individuals to cooperate in the prisoners dilemma game, in line with findings in previous experiments. Importantly, however, they are also more likely to harm opponents in the joy of destruction game, in which the dominant strategy for self-regarding agents is not to engage in destructive behaviour. This is primarily due to a greater prevalence of anti-social behaviour among groups.

The stronger anti-social behaviour of groups as compared to individuals cannot be explained by differences in beliefs, reciprocal motives, inequality aversion or diffusion of individual responsibility. Groups are more willing than individuals to pay to cause harm even when they respond to a kind act from an experimental counterpart, and when destroying resources increases inequality.

Furthermore, anti-social behaviour in a group setting is elevated simultaneously with willingness to enter competition with outsiders, as measured in the competitiveness game in Uganda (Niederle and Vesterlund 2007). Together, these findings indicate that individuals in groups are more aggressively competitive.

Decomposing the overall group effects shows that both the group context as well as deliberation among group members matter. Group context makes individuals more willing to engage in anti-social behaviour and to compete, whereas the group decision-making slightly increases the prevalence of self-regarding choices.

All these effects are strikingly similar across the Slovak (Figure 1) and Ugandan (Figure 2) samples, suggesting that the preference for competing aggressively when deciding in a group is a deeply rooted response.

Figure 1 Slovakia: The effect of group decision-making on choices in the joy of destruction game and the prisoners dilemma game

Source: Bauer et al. (2018).

Figure 2 Uganda: The effect of group decision-making on choices in the joy of destruction game and the prisoners dilemma game

Source: Bauer et al. (2018).

Concluding Remarks

Earlier research on identity has shown that creating coherent teams fosters efficiency in military and business-oriented organisations (Akerlof and Kranton 2005, Goette et al. 2006, Costa and Kahn 2001), by making in-group cooperation easier. Our results suggest that this may come at the expense of aggressive competitiveness against members of other groups.

This may help to explain the ubiquity of inter-group violence (Blattman and Miguel 2014) or mutually destructive competition within and across firms. It also strengthens the case for policies to counteract narrow group identities.

Competitiveness also has an import role when determining individual career choices. Economists are attempting to identify factors which may foster competitiveness in individuals (Gneezy et al. 2009, Andersen et al. 2013, Almas et al. 2015) and design institutions that help to close gender gaps in willingness to compete (Sutter et al. 2016, Niederle et al. 2013, Balafoutas and Sutter 2012). Our findings show that the factor that increases willingness to enter competitive environment also raises anti-social behaviour, and thus suggests there is a potential trade-off. Competitive environments may lead to efficiency gains in some settings, but also to more socially harmful behaviour.

See original post for references
Yves here. The scolding tone of this post IMHO undermines its impact. This itemization of the damage done by the shutdown is compelling; the layering on Trump outrage comes off as overegging the pudding.

By Matthew Chapman is a video game designer, science fiction author, and political activist from Texas. He can be found on Twitter @fawfulfan. Originally published at Alternet

We are now two weeks into President Donald Trumps petulant gambit to shut down the federal government until Congress gives him his border wall. He has even threatened to keep the government closed for months or years. And while not everyone is immediately feeling the effects, for many it is profound: some 800,000 federal workershave either been furloughed or are being made to work without pay. All of this has serious consequences.

Here are just some of the consequences of the ongoing shutdown:

Families in public housing are facing risks to their health and safety.

If you live in public housing funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, you might be having a lot of trouble getting in touch with anyone for help. Thats because, according to NBC News, HUD workers have largely been furloughed as the agencys funding has dried up:

The Department of Housing and Urban Development is one of the seven agencies most directly affected by the standoff between President Donald Trump, who is demanding $5 billion in border wall funding, and congressional Democrats, who want to reopen the government without it. Since Dec. 22, the vast majority of federal housing employees have been forced to stay home without pay  prohibited from doing any work, including responding to emails. Most of HUDs routine enforcement activities have been suspended, including mandatory health and safety inspections of housing for low-income families, the elderly and people with disabilities, according to the shutdown contingency plan that HUD posted on its website.

And it could soon get a lot worse. If the shutdown lasts much longer, HUDs rental assistance subsidies and affordable housing grants to state and local governments could run out, potentially threatening the housing of millions of people.

Our national parks are in chaos.

With the government shut down, national parks are unattended, and garbage is accumulating. The National Park Service is getting some assistance with D.C. sites it manages as local crews pick up the slack, but that arrangement isnt enough to take care of everything properly. Experts warn that even once the government reopens and park employees clear away the trash, the environmental damage could be permanent in some places.

As if that werent bad enough, Trumps Interior Department decided to keep the parks open even with no one to man them, with the result that people visiting  and some people are getting killed, according to the Washington Post:

Three days after most of the federal workforce was furloughed on Dec. 21, a 14-year-old girl fell 700 feet to her death at the Horseshoe Bend Overlook, part of the Glen Canyon Recreation Area in Arizona. The following day, Christmas, a man died at Yosemite National Park in California after suffering a head injury from a fall. On Dec. 27, a woman was killed by a falling tree at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which straddles the borders of North Carolina and Tennessee.

Its not clear if these deaths would have been prevented absent a shutdown, but former officials told the Post that the furloughing of employees does pose serious risks.

TSA agents are allegedly blowing off work.

According to CNN, hundreds of TSA agents faced with demands to work without pay are calling in sick to get off work. While some may be doing so to protest the loss of pay, others may simply have no choice: a union official has said that many of the officers calling in sick need to look after their children now that they have no money to afford daycare, or else are working side jobs to get through the shutdown.

For the record, Homeland Security spokesman Tyler Houlton denied the reports in a combative statement, calling them fake news:

More #FakeNews from @CNN. Security operations at airports have not been impacted by a non-existent sick out. CNN has the cell numbers of multiple @TSA public affairs professionals, but rather than validate statistics, they grossly misrepresented them. https://t.co/PzVeoIBt5R  Tyler Q. Houlton (@SpoxDHS) January 4, 2019

You might have problems getting your tax refund.



A Washington Post report suggests that the Internal Revenue Service, which has furloughed about 90 percent of its workforce, will not issue tax refunds during the shutdown, as it drags into tax season:

From late January through March 2 of 2018, the IRS paid out $147.6 billion in tax refunds to 48.5 million households. That money could be frozen within the IRS if the refunds are stalled. Early last year, as part of its contingency planning for possible government shutdowns, the IRS said it would not issue any tax refunds during a shutdown. Treasury and IRS officials have not said they will completely suspend all tax refunds next month, but a senior administration official said such disbursements would be severely affected and likely slowed if they are paid.

This confusion will come on top of the fact that many people dont know whether they are getting a refund at all this year due to the GOPs 2017 tax bill, which threw withholding rates into confusion around the country.

Food stamps are at risk.



The same Washington Post report also said that, if the shutdown drags into February, the Department of Agriculture might not have enough funds to fully administer the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP):

Congress has not allocated funding for SNAP beyond January, and the programs emergency reserves would not cover even two-thirds of Februarys payments, according to past disbursements. Last September, the most recent month for which data is available, SNAP disbursed $4.7 billion in benefits to recipients across every U.S. state. Lawmakers last year appropriated $3 billion into a contingency fund for SNAP. USDA officials would not comment on the status of the $3 billion, but if all of that money is still available, it would cover 64 percent of Februarys obligations.

Mike Pence gets a raise!

There are a few people who might actually benefit from the shutdown: Vice President Mike Pence and members of Trumps Cabinet.

Since 2013, Congress has staved off automatic, scheduled raises for senior executive officials. But ironically, with Congress unable to pass a continuing resolution that Trump will sign, those automatic raises will retroactively go into effect this month. Pence himself stands to make about $10,000 from the increase  although the vice president has stated he will refuse the extra pay during the shutdown.
Beer drinkers may now need to think twice before downing the so-called wise waters.

This follows the steep increase in the price of clear beer  by more than 100 percent  hours after Delta Corporation Limited was forced to reverse its decision to sell its products in hard currency.

A survey by the Daily News yesterday showed that a number of retail outlets have hiked prices of lager beers with 375ml bottles now retailing at $3, 50 from $1, 50, while a 750ml bottle which was initially pegged at $2, 50, is now selling at between $6 and $8.

Even though most retailers are now selling at these new prices, Delta insisted yesterday that its wholesale prices have not changed.

Our prices remain the same. We are still selling at the same price we provided in our circular, Delta company secretary Alex Makamure said.

The Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed behemoth is principally the largest producer of lager beer, traditional beer, Coca-Cola franchised sparkling and alternative non-alcoholic beverages.

It has investments in associate companies whose activities are in cordials and juice drinks, wines and spirits.

On Wednesday, the company issued a circular to its customers announcing its decision to sell its products in the elusive US dollars (USDs).

In terms of the circular, the wholesale price for a 375ml bottle of beer fetched 80 cents, while a 750ml bottle should sell at $1, 50.

Delta had made it clear that the issue of unavailability of foreign currency was threatening its operations with the company struggling to meet orders and in the case of soft drinks, being out of stock for prolonged periods.

However, government intervened, resulting in Delta withdrawing its notice to sell exclusively in hard currency following a tense meeting with Acting President Constantino Chiwenga.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) will endeavour to provide the foreign currency required to ensure that Delta continues to trade on the current basis, a joint statement by Delta and the apex bank reads in part.

The Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) confirmed the increases yesterday saying retailers hiked beer prices in anticipation of USD prices from Delta.

What we discovered is that when Delta made the announcement that it will start selling its products in hard currency the market was left in shock and increased prices so that they can be able to restock, said CZR president Denford Mutashu.

The market was responding to these changes and was working with the parallel market exchange rate. Since the decision has been reversed, we believe the prices are also going to go down, said Mutashu.

Mutashu said some retailers were still unsettled by the latest developments and are doubtful if the RBZ would be able to make available the promised foreign currency to Delta to enable the conglomerate to bring in imported raw materials for production.

We are hopeful that if the situation normalises, the prices too will fall, Mutashu said.

Beer supplies have been going down in recent months, as producers are struggling to get foreign currency to sustain their operations.

As the prices of beer continue to increase there are fears that people will turn to illicit drugs in a bid to get drunk.

Already, the Zimbabwean youths are at the centre of controversy over a record abuse of illicit drugs, which many have attributed to lack of employment.

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ZIMBABWES restive civil servants have managed to nudge government into negotiations after they threatened to embark on a nationwide strike starting next week in protest over their poor salaries and the deteriorating economic situation in the country.

President Emmerson Mnangagwas government, in a bid to avert a crippling strike, yesterday invited all heads of civil servants unions to a crisis meeting in Harare on Monday to address their welfare, amid threats by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and the opposition MDC to join the industrial action.

Labour and Social Welfare acting minister July Moyo said all union leaders must attend without fail.

The meeting is part of the commitment of government to engage with all its employees in pursuit of developing common positions in relation to the improvement of employee salaries and generally resolve any matters that impact their conditions of service, he said in a statement.

Government workers, particularly teachers, had threatened to down tools on schools opening day on Tuesday if government failed to pay them in hard currency or increase their salaries to at least $3 000.

Moyo said besides union leaders, the meeting would also be attended by Labour, Finance, Primary and Secondary Education, Higher and Tertiary Education ministers and the chairperson of the Public Service Commission.

The meeting comes at a time government has failed to resolve the doctors month-long strike over similar grievances.

Zimbabwe Teachers Association chief executive officer Sifiso Ndlovu said his union was already consulting structures to come up with a common position ahead of the Monday meeting.

We are consulting and ready to talk with the employer on issues that affect our membership. We are ready for that important meeting, he said.

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Takavafira Zhou said although they had not yet been officially invited to the meeting, they viewed it as an attempt to stop the imminent strike.

We wonder why the employer had to wait until the 11th hour to attend to our issues, when it is very clear that we raised these issues long back? Zhou said.

It is an attempt to stop the strike or any industrial action. But we will see how the issue pans out. If they invite us under Apex Council, we will not attend the meeting. That Apex thing is a useless thing, which has a tendency to massage the employer. But if we are called as independent teacher unions, we will attend.

Apex Council chairperson, Cecilia Alexander was not reachable for comment last night.

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POLICE have launched a manhunt for gun toting robbers who pounced on passengers in a Beitbridge-bound bus from Masvingo on Monday and got away with R10 900, $2 225 (bonds) and cellphones.

The three robbers got onto the bus pretending to be ordinary passengers and when the bus had travelled some distance, one of the robbers shot at the drivers window and ordered him to stop. The trio then demanded money and cellphones from the terrified passengers who were on board the Reg Step Bus.

National police spokesperson, Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed the incident yesterday, saying the criminals are still at large and nothing has been recovered yet.

Travellers aboard a Beitbridge-bound bus were robbed on December 31, 2018, at about 4.30PM. One of the passengers approached the driver near Madhamuli turn-off at the 274km peg along Masvingo-Beitbridge highway and drew a pistol before firing at the drivers window.

He ordered the driver to stop and together with his two accomplices, who were also passengers in the same bus, they instructed the passengers to look down and moved collecting cash and cellphones from the passengers, said Snr Asst Comm Charamba.

She said total cash stolen was R10 900 and $2 225 (bonds) and nothing has been recovered. She urged bus crews to be more careful and make sure they record identity particulars of their passengers

This is the second time that armed criminals have targeted buses in December 2018. Bus crews need to be very alert and employ mechanisms of obtaining identities of persons boarding their buses.

Police are hunting for these criminals and I would like to appeal to anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of the robbers to contact any nearest police station, said Snr Asst Comm Charamba.

Cross border traders travelling from different parts of the country to South Africa are being targeted by robbers who know they will be carrying cash to buy goods in the neighbouring country.

On December 16, last year, one person was killed while three others were injured when a Smart bus they were travelling in was attacked by two armed robbers, 10km before Beitbridge town.

Sometime back three buses, Intercape, Intercity and Mzansi carrying Zimbabwean passengers were robbed at gunpoint along the Musina -Johannesburg highway in a space of two days.

Two years ago a robber was shot dead after his weapon discharged as he wrestled with a Zimbabwean passenger, who had refused to hand over cash during a robbery in a Mzansi Tours bus that had stopped at a fuel station in Musina on its way to Johannesburg.

One of the hijackers later shot the passenger on the shoulder as they fled from the scene with R22 100, $80 and cellphones.

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The one thing our government, our country, is supposed to be based on is equal rights. Take it away and were nothing. But you think we have equal rights?

No, we dont  at least not in Texas, as one reporter laid bare how a family lost a family legend farm to pipeline pollution  with no legal recourse. But not you, right?

One morning my phone rang, and I started getting an education. The gas line from the Permian Basin wanted to begin surveying my land. No prior notice, just the phone call. I told them where to put their survey. I now have lawyers who tell me to play nice.

The pipeline got eminent domain from some judge  no one knows. Was I there? No. Did I get any notice, any summons? No.

I looked up eminent domain and found it, in both the U.S Constitution and that of Texas. It cannot be granted to take away any citizens land unless for the public good.

I pointed out to our lawyer that the pipeline that goes from the Permian Basin to a wharf on the Gulf for sales to foreign markets serves no public good to me. He then sent me how that issue has been defined in the Texas Supreme Court, in violation of the U.S. Constitution, redefining the public good to the satisfaction of the oil companies.

They will come into 26 acres of pristine Hill Country property with a terrific view, under wildlife protection, having been granted a 100- to 200-foot easement, and plow a 6-foot-wide trench. I will be rewarded the value of that trench by a judge, and again I will receive no notice, no summons  but again, I will not be in court.

Equal rights, my (expletive).

Russ Hauenstein, Blanco

Slavery the issue

Re: Plaque should stay, Your Turn, Dec. 29:

Richard Brewers rebuttal to Michael Woods op-ed about the pro-Confederate plaque in Austin has a number of mistakes. I address some of them in order.

As has been frequently pointed out, every Confederate state, including Texas, passed a resolution of secession giving slavery as the primary issue. These resolutions are posted on the internet. Most historians agree that the Southern insistence on creating new slave states was the specific breaking point. High tariffs had already been abolished, and all other issues were negotiable without bloodshed.

The United States stood alone among First World countries in supporting slavery until the time of the Civil War.

The U.S. Army did not fire the first shots. That honor belongs to South Carolina, which fired on and captured a U.S. island fort that had done nothing to provoke the attack except attempt to be resupplied. The First Battle of Bull Run was a limited response to that attack, not an unprovoked invasion.

White Southern men had to join the Confederate army  they were drafted. The Confederate Congress passed a national conscription act on April 16, 1862. Of course, major slave owners were exempt from the draft. Almost all African-Americans in the Confederate army did nothing but cook and wash. Even legally free African-Americans captured by Confederate soldiers were dragged off and sold into slavery.

My bottom line is that the slavery plaque at our Texas Capitol perpetuates a deliberate and insulting falsehood, is much too recent to be of any historic value, and needs to go now.

Michael Gershman

Wall pointless

President Donald Trump was not offered $1.3 billion or $1.6 billion for his border wall. Those sums were offered for border security, which is not the wall. Border security appropriations can include dozens of kinds of personnel, technology, facilities and support. How the money is spent matters at least as much as the total amount.

We need personnel to process refugees asylum claims as required by U.S. and international law. We need personnel and facilities to ensure the health and safety of refugees, immigrants and detainees. Our biggest illegal immigration problem is people overstaying their visas, which the wall would not help because theyre already in this country.

Trump assumes that his supporters are too stupid to understand anything more complicated than wall. Whether hes right or wrong, his supporters make up less than 40 percent of the electorate, so they wont be the ones to decide this issue.

Building the wall would be provocative, wasteful, destructive and pointless. Most American voters oppose it.

John Maxstadt, Laredo

Other borders?

The wall on the south sounds good for keeping out undocumented immigrants. Even better, it keeps those from fleeing the law.

What about the other three corners? Other ethnic groups just fly in and stay forever because agencies are only worried about those from Central America. Ive never heard nor seen on the news of other groups of people being detained or locked up waiting to be sent back where they came from.

Cant catch a rolling stone, especially when youre not trying.

Fred Machado

Scooter misbehavior

Re: Scooters undo ADA, Your Turn, Dec. 30:

I like scooters. However, there have to be regulations enforced by cities where they operate.

That the operator or any user would leave a scooter in a wheelchair-accessible crosswalk sets back all the progress of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The operator should face fines as severe as those for parking in a disabled-designated parking space.

Jeff Stief, Spring Branch

Sage words

I was given this reminder years ago. All editorial pages could publish it every so often for people like me:

The folly of mistaking a paradox for a discovery, a metaphor for a proof, a torrent of verbiage for a spring of capital truths, and oneself for an oracle is inborn in us.

Jim Douglas
Last year, San Antonio received a gift that seemingly keeps giving  scooters. They arrived and we began to loosely regulate them  and they keep arriving.

The proliferation of scooters has to be addressed to accommodate them while protecting the people of San Antonio, as well as the nature and character of our neighborhoods and city. I believe the last three months of the pilot program provides an opportunity to try new layers of strategies.

Parking and riding scooters on sidewalks has proven problematic, dangerous and disruptive to pedestrians. It is time to create a framework, where none now exists, and pilot some ideas that can work in San Antonio.

Here are some suggestions we can implement quickly:

Parking zones

We should look at existing on-street infrastructure, like No Parking/No Standing areas, or a dedicated public parking space, in which an exclusive dockless parking area can be created. We know what one unit of parking costs per day, and we can easily calculate the value of such spaces. Scooters can be deployed with more attention to detail, and we can clean up the visual and spatial clutter, mitigate accessibility issues and show riders the types of places where parking is acceptable.

Scooter parking areas must not impede sidewalks and should be placed away from pedestrian travel, especially in areas that have accessibility components  like ADA ramps and bus stops. We must leverage data that scooter companies collect have about rides to identify designated public/private parking spaces as pick-up and drop-off zones, located in easily identifiable areas distributed throughout the city  downtown and neighborhoods. This will reduce the clusters of scooters on sidewalks and establish a network of designated scooter parking areas.

Centro partnership

Private partnerships can help the city deploy this effort quickly and effectively. Our downtown public improvement district  Centro  can help the city of San Antonio partner with private property owners to designate areas for scooter parking on their properties. Centro ambassadors can help marshal busy intersections while engaging and informing the public of scooter rules with support from the San Antonio Police Department.

311SA app

Our newly revamped 311 system was created to easily report problems and issues. By adding a section for scooters to the app, we can create a bridge of communication between residents, the city of San Antonio and scooter companies through data sharing. Citizen input should help shape policy. Better reporting means better response.

Innovation and Technology Committee

Although scooters are a form of transportation overseen by the Transportation Committee, they are also a product of innovation and technology. The newly formed Innovation and Technology Committee is made up of council members and residents from technology fields, and can help review issues and concerns during the pilot period. Both committees should be informed by city briefings and involved in decisions moving forward.

Pedestrian mobility officer

The citys new pedestrian mobility officer, or PMO, position recognizes the growing need for one or more staff positions specifically charged with ensuring policies, codes and projects that impact pedestrians are consistent with city policies. The city of San Antonio will implement projects according to national and international best practices in land-use planning and street design. The issues we face with scooters demonstrate the need for new expertise and accountability as cities continue to experience disruptive technologies and business models.

The city and council should immediately task the newly hired PMO with providing data on the safety implications of allowing individuals to ride scooters on sidewalks. This has been a contentious issue for residents, and our decision needs to be reflective of what is best for public safety.

Sidewalk master plan

We must complete the in-progress sidewalk master plan with an emphasis on cultivating a non-automobile centric focus. The lack of bike lanes and incomplete network of sidewalks demonstrate that we have prioritized cars at the expense of people. As residents rediscover the urban core of our city as a vital and vibrant place to live and visit, this automobile-oriented focus exposes the weaknesses of our infrastructure and lack of preparation for other modes of transit.

Going forward, our priority must be to harmoniously and safely balance the interaction of pedestrians, cyclists, scooters and those using other vehicles by meaningfully connecting all modes of transportation without sacrificing safety or accessibility. We have multimodal needs that must replace the choices of our past planning.

I am aware the city is increasing its efforts to respond to concerns about scooters. However, I would like to see the ideas Ive outlined explored as quickly as possible.

During the remaining three months of our pilot program, lets not only be creative about how we continue to regulate scooters, but also responsive to the public. That is the purpose of the pilot program. New and alternative modes of transportation provide our city more options for getting around, but we must ensure we accommodate these options with smart planning that emphasizes safety, accessibility and sensibility.

Thoughtfully building useful infrastructure is the key to solving the challenges of today and tomorrow, but we must evolve more than just our infrastructure. We must evolve our way of thinking.

I will work with residents, Centro and the Center City Development Office to make adjustments in the first weeks of the new year, including advocating for the Innovation and Technology Committee to discuss dockless vehicles in our January meeting.

Lets remember that scooters are a last-mile transportation option, they dont need to be a last 3 feet option. Accessibility and safety must coexist with innovation. By adopting some commonsense adjustments to the pilot program, we will be in a stronger position to craft permanent regulations that will work for residents and the city when the pilot program ends.

Roberto Trevino represents San Antonio City Council District 1, which includes downtown.
Donald Trump pledged during his presidential campaign to build a wall on the southern border of the U.S. that would stop illegal immigration from Mexico and Central America, and also block the entry of drugs. He told his supporters that Mexico would pay for the wall.

Now he states that the U.S., not Mexico, will pay for the wall. Trump is asking Congress for more than $5 billion to build part of it. But the wall in total will cost over $21.6 billion and take as long as three years to build.

But Trumps wall wont work. It wont reduce the number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. and could well have the opposite effect. Plus, it wont stop drugs and contraband from entering the U.S.

Let me tell you why.

Almost one-quarter of the 44 million people living in the U.S. who were born in another country, or about 10.7 million people, are undocumented immigrants. These are the immigrants Trump wants deported. But he apparently doesnt know that more than two-fths of these undocumented immigrants, or almost 4.5 million, are visa overstayers. They entered the U.S. with legal passports and legal visas but either stayed past their visa expiration dates or otherwise violated the terms of their admission into the U.S., perhaps by accepting employment.

Most ew in legally from Asia, Europe and other continents, and entered at major airports in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Houston and elsewhere. Trumps wall wont be high enough to keep them out.

There is no plan to address the issue of visa overstayers. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security does not match entry and exit records of people coming into and leaving the U.S.

Congress mandated an electronic entry-exit system more than 20 years ago, but it has not been implemented because of objections from the tourism industry and other groups. A biometric entry-exit system would keep tabs on most of the people entering and exiting the U.S. and would reduce the number of visa overstayers. But the implementation of such a system is not in Trumps plans. He only wants a wall.

The 5 million to 6 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. who are not visa overstayers are formally referred to by demographers and immigration ocials as EWIs, persons who entered without inspection. They entered the U.S. without detection or used fraudulent documents when crossing the border. Almost all of them entered at the U.S.-Mexico border, and until recently most of them were from Mexico. Now, most are from Central America.

Demographers have conducted extensive research about EWIs. They are not criminals, and they dont take jobs from U.S.-born Americans. Almost all EWIs end up doing work Americans dont want to do. Demographers have found little, if any, evidence that EWIs harm or suppress the employment or wages of local people.

In his first address in 2017 to a joint session of Congress, Trump stated that EWIs cost the U.S. billions of dollars a year. But this is not true. About half of EWIs pay taxes. Millions of them file tax returns every year, paying for benefits theyre not permitted to use. In 2015, the IRS received more than 4 million tax returns from workers who dont have Social Security numbers, and many of them are EWIs. They paid almost $24 billion in income taxes. And they wont get any of it back in Social Security and Medicare payments.

What about the wall stopping violent criminals from entering the U.S? Trump stated in 2015 that his wall will keep criminals, drug dealers and rapists from entering the U.S. Extensive criminological research has shown time and time again that foreign-born people have considerably lower crime rates than do the U.S.-born.

Why wont a border wall keep out EWIs? Only the strongest and most advantaged people attempt the crossing. Demographers have studied the selectivity of migration. Theyve shown that with Trumps wall, the journey to the U.S. will become more dangerous, and many migrants will fail. But eventually most will succeed. Trumps wall will not keep this strong-willed, motivated and talented population out of this country. Trumps wall will cause the migrants to settle and stay in the U.S., and not return to their home countries.

Drugs? This is an easy argument to dismiss because most illicit drugs dont enter the U.S. via people sneaking across the border. Researchers at the Brookings Institute have shown that most drugs smuggled into the U.S. do not arrive on the backs of those who cross illegally. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration reported in a 2015 assessment that Mexican drug cartels bring the bulk of their drugs over the southern border through ports of entry via trucks, passenger vehicles and tractor-trailers.

Trump states his wall will work because border walls have worked elsewhere. He has noted that Chinas Great Wall is an example of the success of a physical barrier. No. Chinas wall  actually a series of walls  took almost 2,000 years to build at a cost of hundreds of thousands of lives. But Chinas walls did not keep out foreigners. The Mongols entered China despite the walls and ruled China in the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368), and the Manchu entered China around the walls and ruled China in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Indeed, virtually all the famous walls in the world did not/do not work.

I predict that if Trumps wall is built, within 10 years there will be at least as many EWIs as now (6 to 7 million), maybe several million more. This means that along with the 5 million visa overstayers, there will be more than 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S., most of whom will become part of a permanently settled population of residents.

Thus, a $23 billion investment intended to wall people out of the United States will keep people in the United States. Trumps wall simply wont work.

Dudley L. Poston Jr. is a sociology and demography professor at Texas A&M University in College Station. He lives in San Antonio.
 Flash

China's foreign ministry on Friday refuted a travel advisory issued by the United States, and said China always welcomes foreign citizens and protects their lawful rights.

The remarks came after the U.S. State Department updated a travel advisory warning, saying visitors to China are at risk that the Chinese government may take exit bans to prohibit them from leaving the country.

"China always welcomes foreign citizens, including U.S. citizens, to visit China, and protects their security and legal rights, including freedom of entry and exit," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang told a press briefing.

"Of course, foreign citizens in China should also respect and abide by Chinese laws," Lu said.

Regarding a very slight number of foreigners suspected of violating laws and committing crimes in China, the Chinese authorities have always impartially handled cases in accordance with the law, and safeguarded their legal rights and interests, he added.

"Frankly speaking, the travel advisory issued by the United States does not hold water," Lu said.

From January to November 2018, 2.3 million people traveled from the United States to China, said the spokesperson, adding that this meant 70 out of every 10,000 Americans visited China.

"This outnumbers the proportion of Chinese people visiting the United States," Lu said. He said such figures could answer the question of whether China was safe for foreigners.

"We hope the U.S. side will make more efforts to promote exchanges and mutual trust between Chinese and U.S. people rather than the opposite," he said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently announced that life expectancy has decreased for the second consecutive year. Experts attribute the decrease in life expectancy to drug addiction. An epidemic of substance abuse and despair is ravaging our community, and we must continue to act.

Congress recently adopted and President Donald Trump signed a comprehensive bill focused on tackling the opioid crisis. The Texas House of Representatives Select Committee on Opioids and Substance Abuse issued its interim report last month.

Bexar County was ahead of the curve on the opioid crisis. I had the privilege of coordinating the Joint Opioid Task Force, which was convened by the Bexar County Commissioners Court and co-chaired by Dr. Colleen Bridger, director of Metro Health, and Dr. Bryan Alsip, executive vice president of University Health System.

For a year, we engaged with 65 professionals from every level of government, the private sector, law enforcement and the medical community, and treatment providers and educators.

The task force developed a national model for local response to the crisis and reported our progress and recommendations to the Bexar County Commissioners Court, San Antonio City Council and University Health System board of managers. A bipartisan effort by our congressional delegation helped our community attract $20 million in federal grants last year.

We still have work to do. In that spirit, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff asked me to chair an implementation task force that will allow us to sustain our momentum. The task force will have five objectives:

1. Develop and implement a stigma reduction campaign in partnership with local media outlets and the San Antonio Council on Alcohol and Drug Awareness.

The stigma surrounding substance abuse is a barrier to treatment. There are even reports that stigmatization of substance abuse makes bystanders less likely to call 911 after witnessing an overdose. Reducing stigma will improve care and save lives.

2. Increase buprenorphine training by Bexar County physicians in partnership with the Long School of Medicine at UT Health-San Antonio.

Buprenorphine is a form of medication-assisted treatment that allows individuals to live healthy, happy and productive lives as they recover from substance use disorder. Millions of Americans have found nicotine gum helpful in their efforts to quit smoking. Buprenorphine operates similarly. Patients take one pill per day and are able to function normally. Physicians must complete certain training to obtain the ability to prescribe buprenorphine. Every time a physician receives this training, Bexar County has closed a gap in care.

3. Implement an overdose mapping program, which assists the Drug Enforcement Administration in its ongoing efforts to block fentanyl smuggling.

The San Antonio Fire Department administered 1,700 doses of the overdose reversal agent Narcan last year. The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area mapping tool gives the DEA real-time data about where overdoses are occurring. The DEA uses this data to quickly identify the sources of illegal fentanyl shipments.

4. Develop partnerships with educational institutions and the private sector that provide information about the dangers of prescription pill misuse to students.

Prevention is more effective and less costly than intervention, treatment or recovery. The San Antonio Council on Alcohol and Drug Awareness produced video advertisements focused on youth prevention that were seen by 600,000 Bexar County residents in 2018. We can sustain this momentum by formalizing our prevention programs in partnership with school districts, institutions of higher education, nonprofits and the private sector.

5. Develop a community education strategy to reduce the prevalence of neonatal abstinence syndrome in partnership with the Bexar County NAS Collaborative.

Bexar County has the highest rates of neonatal abstinence syndrome, which occurs when a baby is born with opioid withdrawal symptoms. Neonatal abstinence syndrome is most prevalent in the 78207 ZIP code. The Joint Opioid Task Force worked with the UT Health School of Nursing and the Bexar County NAS Collaborative to improve recovery services. It is time to focus on prevention.

The opioid crisis is just one piece of a larger puzzle of substance abuse and despair. The Bexar County Implementation Task Force is another step in the right direction.

T.J. Mayes is Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolffs former chief of staff and will chair an implementation task force to continue the countys efforts on opioid addiction.
The new year is getting off the ground with a change for the better where our nations heart is concerned, particularly in California.

The reason? A law that targets high-volume dog-breeding facilities known as puppy mills.

Californias Pet Rescue and Adoption Act, which passed in October 2017 and went into effect Tuesday, requires pet stores offering dogs, cats or rabbits for sale to get those animals from an animal shelter or a rescue group. Under this law, stores offering animals for sale would be required to provide records of origin for those animals.

Potential pet owners still will be able to buy from breeders, but stores wont be allowed to do so.

Although there are federal guidelines regulating dog breeders and dog-breeding operations, and mandating licensing and inspections from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, many of those regulations seem weirdly out of place in a society that also boasts pet resorts and outfits for dogs.

In a fact sheet put out by the state of California in support of the Pet Rescue and Adoption Act, the state points out that a cage at a breeding facility only needs to be 6 inches taller than the animal it contains. Further, the cage only needs to be cleaned once a week.

Think abut that  once a week.

And those are the ones who follow all the rules knowing that the Ag Department isnt going to come by for an inspection every single day. In the more unscrupulous operations, animals are reduced to breeding entities.

According to the Humane Society of America, there are 10,000 puppy mills operating across the nation, with more than 165,000 dogs kept solely for the purpose of creating more puppies. The group estimates more than 2 million puppies are sold each year from puppy mills, which is why it targets this practice as one of its big fights.

Under the new law, animals from shelters will have a bigger chance at a better life. Stores that cater to animal lovers will showcase shelter animals, which would otherwise be housed, fed and cared for at taxpayer expense.

PetSmart Charities reports that the public greatly underestimates the number of animals that end up in animal shelters. Of the 8 million animals that enter shelters in the U.S. every year, 4 million are euthanized. Many of those are healthy pets that nobody wanted, pets that couldnt find a home.

In San Antonio in January 2018 alone, 2,079 dogs were taken in to Animal Care Services, according to statistics posted on its website. That includes animals that were picked up and those that were surrendered. Of those animals, 80 dogs that were considered healthy  which means they probably would have made excellent companion animals  were euthanized. Even with the groups 96 percent live release rate, thats a lot of potential pets. Giving them more chances to find a family who could love them might have improved their odds, as well as the finances involved.

Thats why laws such as the ones in California are important; they make a difference.

In April, Maryland became the second state in America to pass a law prohibiting the sale of puppy mill dogs in pet stores.

If the way we treat the smallest and most vulnerable among us defines who we are, then this is the kind of legislation we want to get behind as we move forward.

It wont solve all our problems, but it can do a little to heal us. And that is a start.

mariaanglinwrites@gmail.com
UPDATE: 6:20 p.m.

The FBI is now assisting in the investigation into the disappearance of 8-month-old King Jay Davila, according to a news release.

"As always, we are extremely grateful for their willingness to assist our department when needed," San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said. "It's even more appreciated that these agents are volunteering their time and expertise to help us find King, despite them not being paid during the current government shutdown. Together, we will work tirelessly to find baby King."

UPDATE: 5 p.m.

San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said Saturday evening that 8-month-old King Jay Davila remains missing during a news conference where a video of the abduction was shown.

"Detectives have been working around the clock since this happened last night and they continue to work as we speak," McManus said.

Police have focused on the father, Christopher Davila, 34, since the start of the investigation. Davila is charged with child endangerment in connection to the abduction.

"As you can see," McManus explained, "from her walking up, there is no hesitation, no looking around, no wondering if she's going to get in this car or not. She knows where she going and what she's doing."

He said events in the video were just "seconds" after the father left the vehicle. He also noted that the child's family has not offered help.

"The family is not cooperating, as is the father Christopher Davila, not cooperating," McManus said. "We continue to hope that the father will start to be cooperative and the family members will help us in this. But right now they're uncooperative, much to our dismay."

UPDATE: 11:30 a.m.

Images of a woman suspected of abducting 8-month-old King Jay Davila were released by officials late Saturday morning. San Antonio police say the images were taken in close proximity to where the child was abducted. The suspect is a thin white or Hispanic female in her 20s or 30s who was last seen in a grey hoodie and tan/brown pants.

The two images show the suspect carrying an infant car seat. Police said they are working on releasing enhanced images and possibly a video of the suspect.

ORIGINAL STORY CONTINUES:

San Antonio police say 8-month-old King Jay Davila remains missing after being abducted Friday night from a West Side convenience store.

The father, Christopher Davila, 34, was arrested and charged with child endangerment, according to a police report Saturday morning.

Read the breaking story: Baby abducted from convenience store, father questioned

Davila, who was wearing a blue onesie and has a scratch over his left eye, was left inside a Dodge Dart at 7 p.m. at the Friends Food Mart, 351 Enrique Barrera Parkway, with the door open and engine running, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said Friday.

A white or Hispanic woman wearing a light colored hoodie and tan/brown pants was seen entering the vehicle and driving away while the father was in the store, according to police.

The father called police moments after the abduction, police said. But as investigators questioned the father they immediately noticed discrepancies in his story.

McManus said Friday night that police believe the father knows the woman who took the baby and that the abduction was planned.

The vehicle was later found at Elmer and Arvil near Rodriguez Park, but the child was not inside.

FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox

McManus said that the mother and father are estranged from one another. Investigators believe the child is in danger because of the way the child went missing.

Police are asking anyone with information about Davila's abduction to call 911.

"We're asking anyone, if they know where that child is or if they have that child to call 911 and turn that baby back in to the mother," McManus said Friday. "If you don't do that, then you may very well implicate yourself into this kidnapping."

Staff writers Jacob Beltran and Madison Iszler contributed to this story.
San Antonio police say one man was hospitalized after being shot in the leg following an argument Friday night.

The victim was on his bike on the 2200 block of W.W. Road about 10:45 p.m. when another man showed up with a shotgun, according to police at the scene.
A man killed during a shootout with police was identified Friday evening by the Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office.

Samuel Garcia, 39, was pronounced dead from multiple gunshot wounds at 9:27 a.m. Thursday, according to the medical examiner.

Police said that Garcia was indiscriminately shooting at people and police on the South Side at about 8:45 a.m. as he walked south on Pleasanton Road near Harlandale High School.

RELATED: Man arrested over shootout with store clerk on East Side

At one point, Garcia aimed at a passing bicyclist, who had to duck for cover behind a VIA bus, police said.

Detective Nicholas Valera and Officer Miguel Saucedo, both 21-year veterans, were two of three nearby officers who responded to the scene.

Garcia fired at one of the cars, striking the windshield and sending glass shards into the officers eye, police said. Another bullet is believed to have punctured another cars tire.

Valera and Saucedo, both 21-year veterans of the force, rushed toward Garcia and fired, striking him in the upper torso.

Garcia was taken to an area hospital where he died.

Police Chief William McManus said it was important for Garcia to be stopped quickly because of the potential for someone else to be shot.

RELATED: SAPD identifies officers who fatally shot 2 within 24 hours

The officers displayed a lot of courage by closing the distance on him to try to bring this to an end, McManus said Thursday. And they put themselves in danger by doing so.

The two officers were placed on administrative duty, as is customary.

Garcias criminal record includes offenses such as unauthorized use of a vehicle and aggravated robbery.
Boaters, anglers and even wildlife recently have been living well at Caddo Lake, where the water has been at its cleanest in years thanks to an unusually low presence of giant salvinia, an invasive water fern that reduces flow and oxygen levels in the water.

Salvinia has been a notable presence on the Texas side of Caddo since 2006, hurting the water quality and affecting boat mobility, said Texas Parks & Wildlife District Fisheries Biologist Tim Bister. Since then, he said the plant has covered up to 6,000 acres of the total 12,000 acres around the only natural lake in Texas.

RELATED: Boaters key to slowing invasive species

But the salvinia, which dies in cold weather and thrives in warm, took a major hit from last year's winter. And ongoing herbicide treatment in the area has kept salvinia's current coverage to around 1,300 acres, he said.

"We sprayed about 7,000 acres worth of salvinia from March up until the end of the year," Bister said. "We really did a good job to stay on top of it and keep the area from getting out of control."

Bister gave most of the credit for the decrease in salvinia to the cold weather and subsequent high water in 2017. That combination almost completely washed away the entire salvinia population before some grew back, he said.

In addition to the herbicide treatment, he said giant salvinia weevils, which feed on the plant, were able to re-establish their presence at the lake.

"The benefit of the weevil is you can put them in backwaters... where they start doing some control of their own," he said.

With a beautiful weather in the forecast for the upcoming weekend, he encouraged fishermen to come out and enjoy the waters. He also said people should still be mindful of other invasive plants.

"Fishing has always been good. So come and fish Caddo, but be aware that there's still some salvinia or other invasive species like hydrilla...that could be on a boat ramp," Bister said. "So make sure folks clean drain and dry their boat trailer and equipment before they go to a different lake."

Julian Gill is a digital reporter in Houston. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | julian.gill@chron.com | Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message
Texas Monthly has released its 2019 Bum Steer Awards  "Texas' most ridiculous and idiotic endeavors"  and Odessa landed a spot on the "dishonorable mentions" list.

The 20-year-old former waiter at the Odessa Saltgrass who posted on Facebook about a patron leaving a racist message instead of a tip and then admitted it was fabricated? He made the list.
Snow In Sierra View Photos

The Winter Storm Warning issued for the Sierra Nevada above 4,000 feet, has been extended until noon today.

Additional snow accumulations will range from one to three inches, above the 4,000 foot elevation.

The snow and wind will be decreasing during these morning hours.

A Winter Storm Warning means there will be snow covered roads and limited visibilities. Travel is not recommended while the warning is in effect. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.
Sonora Area Foundation Office View Photos

Sonora, CA  Sonora Area Foundation Executive Director Darrell Slocum has reviewed 2018 and reports it was a record setting year for grants. The foundation issued a total of 652 grant checks with the total 2018 amount awarded exceeding $2 million.

Slocum says the amount surpassed the previous annual total handily. An overview by Slocum is posted as the myMotherLode blog Millions Given In 2018 Grants here.

As detailed here in December Jerry Baker, founder and chairman of Tuolumne Trails, a camp primarily for individuals with special medical needs outside of Groveland, was presented a $40,000 check by SAF Board members Dana Mayo and Bob Ozbirn.

In July we reported on the Sonora Area Foundations $8,000 grant to the shower bus as detailed here.

Also in July, the Sonora Area Foundation, reported granting 236 scholarship awards totaling $571,350 which is an increase of more than 52 percent from 2017 as detailed here.

In May the Amador Tuolumne Community Action Agency (ATCAA) was given $50,000 by the foundation for their Food Bank Program. The money was to help keep it open and running while ATCAA sought alternative funding. Details are here.

At the end of November the foundation donated another $20,000 to ATCAAs nonprofit Jamestown Food Bank. The donation was spurred by a $10,000 matching gift as detailed in a blog by Slocum here.

In 2018 Sonora Area Foundation also made a $24,000 donation to Interfaith through our Cash Drive for Interfaith which was detailed here. A longer list of what local groups were awarded and how to contact the Sonora Area Foundation is in Slocums newest blog here.
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Mildred Lee, 84, of Oberlin, was named a 2018 Citizen Deputy Sheriff in December 2018 from the United States Deputy Sheriff's Association in Kansas for her service toward law enforcement. Lee has performed and continues to perform a number of services to many local and non-local organizations.
Courts

Former county employee gets five years
President Donald Trump began the new year with characteristic bombast, blaming others for perceived failures, taking credit for non-achievements or those accomplished despite him, and dispensing misinformation like candy on Halloween. In his first Cabinet meeting, the president riffed for an hour and a half on his petty grievances rather than do the business of setting the agenda for the year with his appointees, several of whom are in an acting position because their predecessors resigned or were pushed out the door.

Seeing as the president seems unable to come up with a plan to actually govern in 2019, here are a couple of items on my wish list  a list that reasonable conservatives and some liberals might even be able to agree on.

Let's start with infrastructure. It seems like eons ago when the president stood in the lobby of Trump Tower to announce his "$1 trillion" infrastructure plan, but Trump's controversial comments on the deadly alt-right protests in Charlottesville, Virginia, the previous weekend eclipsed the Aug. 15, 2017, announcement. In 2018, Trump released an even bigger plan, $1.5 trillion, but to date, not much has been accomplished. With Democrats in control of the House, infrastructure will gain traction, but the trick will be doing something that makes sense, doesn't bust the budget and largely pays for itself.
A local road has been shut down while first responders work to clear a wreck that left the driver trapped inside.

The single-vehicle wreck occurred Friday around 6:30 p.m. on Antioch Road when the vehicle flipped on its side. The driver had to be cut from the vehicle by emergency responders but was able to walk away from the wreck, according to a reporter on scene. It's unclear if the driver sustained any injuries at this time.

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Antioch Road has been shut down near the entrance to Antioch Speedway while emergency crews attend to the driver and clear the scene.

Along with the N.C. Highway Patrol and Burke County EMS, Chesterfield Rescue Squad and REACT are on scene of the wreck.

More information will be published as it becomes available.
January 05, 2019 Syria - Turkey Fails In Idleb, Is Unwilling To Take The Northeast The neoconservatives in the Trump administration, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, National Security Advisor John Bolton and the Syria envoy James Jeffery, are scrambling to save their plans for Syria that President Trump disposed of when he ordered a complete retreat. Those plans were for a permanent U.S. occupation of northeast Syria, the reduction of Iranian influence within the government held parts of Syria and an eventual disposal of the Syrian government under President Assad through negotiations. These were unicorn aims that had no chance to ever be achieved. Moreover Trump had never signed off on these ideas. Back in April he had announced that he wanted U.S. troops out of Syria. He gave his staff six month to achieve that. But instead of following those orders Pompeo and Bolton tried to implement their own plans: Late last year, some of the presidents hawkish advisers drafted a memo committing the United States to a longer-term presence in Syria that included goals of an enduring defeat of the Islamic State, a political transition and the expulsion of Iran, officials said. The president has not signed the memo, which was presented to him weeks ago. In fact, Trump had warned his aides for months that he wanted out of Syria in short order.

...

Boltons Iran plan never really took effect at the Pentagon, where officials were not officially tasked with any new mission in addition to the operation against the Islamic State. Military officials likewise viewed Irans expansion into Syria as problematic, but they were skeptical about the lack of a clear legal justification that would be required for offensive military action against Iranian-backed forces. Trump recognized that those plans were nonsense and ordered to end them. In that process he came up with a likewise unicorn idea - to hand northeast Syria to Turkey to fight the already defeated Islamic State. Turkey does not want northeast Syria. It does not want to risk a bloody war against the Kurds that would be required to sustain such an occupation.

bigger The only appropriate solution is to hand control of northeast Syria (yellow) back to the Syrian government (red). Damascus would disarm the Kurds or integrate them within its national army. They would be under control and no longer a threat to Turkey. Everyone could live with such an easy solution. Everyone but the neocons. Today National Security Advisor Bolton is on his way to Israel to cook up new plans: A Trump administration official told reporters traveling with Bolton that Bolton intended to discuss the pace of the drawdown, as well as American troop levels in the region. Bolton was expected to explain that some U.S. troops based in Syria to fight IS will shift to Iraq with the same mission and that some American forces may remain at a key military outpost in al-Tanf, in southern Syria, to counter growing Iranian activity in the region. Boltons also was to convey the message that the United States will be very supportive of Israeli strikes against Iranian targets in Syria, ... I bet that neither of those points was signed off by Trump. The publication of these ideas is another attempt by Bolton to push his personal policies to the front. Erdogan, asked by Trump to take northeast Syria but unwilling to do so, raised demands that the U.S. is unlikely to fulfill: Turkey is asking the U.S. to provide substantial military support, including airstrikes, transport and logistics, to allow Turkish forces to assume the main responsibility for fighting Islamic State militants in Syria, senior U.S. officials say. The Turkish requests are so extensive that, if fully met, the American military might be deepening its involvement in Syria instead of reducing it, the officials added. Bolton will later fly to Ankara and discuss the Turkish plans: Participants will include White House national security adviser John Bolton; Gen. Joe Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs; and James Jeffrey, the State Department envoy for Syria. One U.S. official said the administration is unlikely to provide all of the military support the Turks are seeking, especially on air support. Without U.S. air support Erdogan can not attack northeast Syria. The Turkish air force is weak. Many of its experienced pilots were fired for alleged support and involvement in the coup against Erdogan. The airforce is unable to provide the necessary 24/7 support its soldiers would need. There is also strife within the Turkish army command. If he would order an attack, Erdogan would only go for the Kurdish areas along the northern border, not for the Islamic State. That again is something the U.S. does not want at all: Many experts and officials also fear the Turks may target Kurdish fighters who have long provided the U.S. with solid support in the campaign against Islamic State militants and endured considerable loss of life. To try to mitigate these risks, Mr. Jeffrey, the State Department envoy, is seeking to forge an arrangement with the Turks that would allow them to enter northern Syria while avoiding largely Kurdish areas, say U.S. officials familiar with the plans. Mr. Jeffrey and his State Department team have created a color-coded map of northeastern Syria in an attempt to negotiate a power-sharing plan that could avert a costly Turkish-Kurdish fight in the area. ... One former U.S. official described the map as Sykes-Picot on acid, ... The idea is delusional. There are no borders between Kurds, Arabs and other ethnicities in northwest Syria. The populations is mixed. Only the ethnic percentages vary from town to town. Implementing the idea would lead to ethic cleansing and an everlasting war. The Kurds are no longer willing to follow the U.S. lead. Mr. Jeffrey has asked Gen. Mazloum Abdi, the Kurdish commander of Syrian fighters, to hold off on making any deals with President Bashar al-Assads government while the Trump administration tries to develop its strategy. "F*ck you," said General Abdi, as the Kurds continue to negotiate: Syrian Kurdish leaders aim to secure a Russian-mediated political deal with President Bashar Assad's government regardless of U.S. plans to withdraw from their region, a senior Kurdish official told Reuters. The Kurdish-led administration that runs much of northern Syria presented a road map for an agreement with Assad during recent meetings in Russia and is awaiting Moscow's response, Badran Jia Kurd, who attended, said. A deal between the Kurds and the Syrian government "is inevitable" says a senior Kurdish military official. The U.S. proved again to be unreliable and the Kurds have nowhere else to go. None of the new plans and ideas Bolton presents make any sense. They are unlikely to have Trump's blessing. While the U.S. retreat from northeast Syria may be delayed another month or two, it will likely proceed.

The last week saw new developments in Idleb governorate. Idelb is largely ruled by the al-Qaeda organization Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), the former Jabhat al-Nusra. There are also many other groups under Turkish control. But Turkey had recently transferred many of those fighters to attack the U.S.-Kurdish held Manbij at the Euphrates. That attack was stopped when the Syrian army took control of the area. While the Turkish supported groups in Idleb were weakened, HTS used the occasion to reinforce its control. On Monday HTS (grey) attack the areas west of Aleppo which were held by Nour al-Din al-Zenki. The once CIA supported Zenki became 'famous' when in 2016 some of its fighters published a video in which they beheaded a sick ten year old boy for no discernible reason.

bigger During the last five days at least 130 people were killed in the Idleb fighting. Zenki was eliminated from the area it held (stripped grey) and its remaining fighters fled to the northern Afrin canton which is under Turkish army control. HTS took control of Zenki's heavy weapons including four tanks. HTS now controls all areas next to Turkey and the Turkish controlled Afrin. It sent ultimatums to other groups in Idleb and demanded additional control over the towns Maarat al-Numan and Ariha in the south of the governorate. As none of the other groups can withstand HTS it will likely soon control these towns. Taking them gives HTS full control over the M4 and M5 highways. Control of the highways can be used to generate money and as an asset in future negotiations. The Astana agreement between Russia and Turkey over Idleb stipulated that HTS would be pushed back 15 miles from the government held areas. The M4 and M5 highways would be reopened to traffic for government traffic. Turkey was supposed to implement and guarantee those points. Not one of these points has been achieved. The Turkish soldiers stationed in six observation posts around Idleb governorate are hostages to HTS. As Turkey failed to deliver on its promises Syria and Russia have all rights to ignore the agreement, attack HTS and to liberate Idleb. That Turkey failed in Idleb makes it more likely that it will refrain from invading northeast Syria. Its army positions in Syria are already in trouble. Why add new ones to the mess? Posted by b on January 5, 2019 at 19:20 UTC | Permalink Comments next page  next page 
There were large-scale protests against the construction of a nuclear power plant in Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu. The government of the day believed that foreign funders and social organisations were behind these protests and cancelled the foreign contribution (regulation) act (FCRA) licences of three main organisations involved in the protests, despite claims by some that they had not received any funds from abroad. The government froze banks accounts of organisations such as Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF), citing that their work was against public interest, as specified in the FCRA.

Another example is that of Navsarjan Trust, Gujarats oldest Dalit-rights organisation, which believes its protest in Una may have been the immediate provocation for the government to cancel its FCRA license. Navsarjan had to let go of its 80-member strong staff and shut down the three primary schools it ran. Its work in over 3,000 villages of Gujarat is currently under stress.

The government claimed, Navsarjan Trust has come to adverse notice for its undesirable activities aimed to affect prejudicially harmony between religious, racial, social, linguistic, regional groups, castes or communities, as mentioned in a statement issued by the ministry of home affairs (MHA).

Navsarjan maintains that no evidence of prejudicial activities has been provided by the government, and believes that the organisation is a victim of selective targeting.

What do these things mean to professionals in the social sector? A study within the sector finds out.

This study reviewed the changing trends in the funding of the non-profit sector in India, particularly in the recent context of the Indian governments heightened attention on inflows from international donors. It examined the impact of these trends on local civil society organisations in India, on organisations that focus on rights and advocacy work as well as those that enable service delivery. The research was a qualitative exercise, which complemented the quantitative analysis conducted by Centre for Social Impact and Philanthropy (CSIP) and How India Lives on foreign funding flows.

The CSIP at Ashoka University is India's first academic centre focused on enabling a strategic and robust philanthropic ecosystem geared towards greater social impact. It informs sector strategy through credible research and data, convenes platforms for norm-setting and collaborative learning, and offers programmes that strengthen civil society capability and sustainability.

Over 30 interviews were conducted with Indian philanthropists, foreign funders, social organisations, and legal, financial and technical experts to bring in multiple perspectives on the topic. The interviews were aimed to understand both personal experiences as well as the broader trends in the sector.

The report discusses significant areas of opportunities that have been identified for Indian philanthropists to play a larger enabling role in the non-profit sector, particularly by supporting certain kinds of rights and advocacy work that have a structural, longer-term impact. The end goal of the study has been to support decision making by providing perspectives from multiple stakeholders on what lies ahead for the Indian social sector, as well as their hopes and expectations for the future of Indian philanthropy.

This research comes at an extremely crucial moment, when the role of civil society is increasingly being contested by powerful interests. While civil society is hailed as the social basis of democracy encompassing diverse groups, networks and movements that play myriad roles in strengthening the common good, the space for democratic dissent is shrinking, especially for those who work to promote, protect and strengthen human rights and advocate for policies that challenge exclusion, observes Ingrid Srinath, Director, Centre for Social Impact and Philanthropy, Ashoka University.

Rights and advocacy work is almost always supported through Indian or foreign private wealth  philanthropists, family foundations or individuals  because private funding has fewer legal restrictions on how it can be used, unlike government or CSR funding. The funder has the ability to take a long-term view, unlike an elected official or a company that has to regularly report to shareholders about CSR. Ideally, the funders giving can be viewed as separate from their business or professional interests, thus enabling the funder to support riskier work, points out the study.

While there are many complaints in the field from recipients of foreign donations due the strictness of the FCRA legislation, largely, those who are continuing to do their work and are receiving foreign donations are happy with the greater transparency in the system.

There is also caution among those who have been chastened by the government action. Funders and social sector leaders also spoke of a growing fear in the social sector that has impacted the way social organisations, donors and institutions engage with each other. Several interviewees used the phrase chilling effect to describe how the use of FCRA by the government was leading to self-censorship among social organisations. Importantly, funders and organisations had redesigned programmes to drop certain critical interventions, rather than risk facing an FCRA denial.

Two quotes on the general air of caution:

In this environment of self-censorship and fear, NGOs (non-governmental organisations) are unwilling to support each other on even issues they think might be contentious. - Leader of a Social Organisation.

Many NGOs, even those who still have their FCRAs, have also begun to change the way they describe their projects and programmes - Leader of a Social Organisation that is concerned about losing FCRA.

Relationships between banks and social organisations were spoken of as a major casualty, as financial scrutiny is at the centre of the FCRA law. However, the issue was described as being broader than access to foreign funds. There was an increased reluctance on the part of banks to even want social organisations as their customers, which places a significant hurdle in their functioning. Banks consider NGOs high-risk customers now and do not want their business, says an expert in the social sector.

Some philanthropists hesitate to step up and fill the funding gaps created by FCRA de-registration; possibly because of the widespread apprehension about being seen as supporting organisations against which the government has taken action. The few philanthropists who do pitch in to help are often loath to publicise their efforts, because of similar apprehensions, points out the study report.

Several interviewees mentioned that Indian philanthropists have a low risk appetite. The tendency to give safe grants is speculated to be governed by how closely businesses are still linked to philanthropy, by reputational risk, the possibility of legal backlash, as well as the risk to other grantees or partners, the study report said.

With the scarcity of donors and funds being as it is, an expert in the social sector observes that channelling of donations has become skewed for the purpose for which it is utilised. Retail funding happens for movements or events but not for NGOs and their work because it is hard to explain to the individual donors what NGOs actually do with that money. No one wants to pay for the salaries of a field worker, they want to pay for something more tangible, observes the expert.

A passionate CSIP, which wants funds allocated for rights and advocacy, points out in its study: Interviewees strongly recommended that Indian philanthropists take some time to do research on rights and advocacy issues and reimagine their grant-giving strategies. However, immediate (within 6 month) and short-term (6-18 month) measures could be implemented to provide relief to rights and advocacy organisations that have lost foreign funding.

CSIP wants philanthropists to be outspoken in their views and not make anonymous donations. The study report observes, It was believed uniformly that Indian philanthropists would have to take a more proactive role not just through their grants but also through their voice, platforms, and influence. Many interviewees spoke about the far-reaching effect that this would have on the sector.

Finally, we make a plea for building a strong human resource base of staff in the social sector and NGOs, and philanthropists should not shy away from salaries funded through donations  both domestic and foreign.
Market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has issued attachment orders against Lokmangal Agro Industries and seven of the company directors for failing to refund Rs74.82 crore to investors. The Lokmangal Group is associated with Maharashtras minister for cooperative, Subhash Deshmukh, whose wife Smita is one of the directors against whom SEBI has passed the order.

Earlier on 16 May 2018, SEBI had asked Lokmangal Agro and its directors, Smita Subhash Deskhmukh, Vaijnath Nagappa Lature, Audumber Sandipan Deshmukh, Shahaji Gulchand Pawar, Gurrana Apparao Teli, Mahesh Satishchandra Deshmukh and Parag Suresh Patil to refund funds worth Rs74.82 crore collected from investors with an interest of 15%. However, the company and its directors failed to refund the money to investors and did not furnish any report of repayment.

In its recovery proceeding orders issued on 3 January 2019, Jai Sebastian, deputy general manager and recovery officer of SEBI, says, Till date, the defaulters have not replied and field any asset details. In these circumstances and as per the conduct of the defaulters, there is likelihood that the defaulter/s may take out the funds or securities from their bank or demat accountin order to protect the assets from any sort of alienation, it is necessary to attach the bank, demat and mutual fund accounts to prevent the defaults from removing or concealing the same.

Lokmangal was banned from the securities market for at least four years. The funds were raised in contravention of the provisions of the Companies Act and Issue of Capital and Disclosure Requirements (ICDR) Regulations, the regulator said.

Lokmangal group from Solapur was headed by minister Deshkumkh, however after he was inducted in the state cabinet, he handed over the reins of the group to his son. However, the Lokmangal group has been under the regulatory lens of various authorities.

Besides the notice from SEBI, earlier in November 2018, Maharashtra government had asked the district dairy development officer from Solapur to file a first information report (FIR) against Lokmangal Multistate Cooperative Society, headed by Mr Deshmukh. This was result of cancellation of Rs24 crore contract given to the society by the department.
White House

The United States has no timeline to withdraw troops from Syria but does not plan to stay indefinitely, a senior State Department official said on January 5, a strong signal that forces could stay until the fight against Islamic State militants ends.

US-backed forces are still retaking territory from Islamic State in Syria, Pentagon officials said on January 4, two weeks after Washington said it would withdraw its roughly 2,000 troops there. At the time, President Donald Trump said the troops had succeeded in their mission and were no longer needed there.

The administration's abrupt announcement last month, which took officials in Washington and allies by surprise, contributed to Jim Mattis' decision to resign as US defense secretary and prompted concern that Islamic State could stage a comeback.

The State Department official, briefing reporters before a visit to the Middle East next week by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, appeared to be seeking to allay that concern.

"We have no timeline for our military forces to withdraw from Syria," said the official, who asked not to be identified.

"It will be done in such a way that we and our allies and partners maintain pressure on ISIS throughout and we do not open up any vacuums for terrorists."

The United States did not intend to have an indefinite military presence in Syria, the official added.

US officials have told Reuters a withdrawal could take several months, potentially giving time for US-backed forces to deal parting blows to the militant group that once held broad swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria.

But a senior administration official traveling with White House national security adviser John Bolton on a trip to the Middle East said Trump had received assurances from his military commanders that their mission "can be done in weeks."

Trump said on January 2 the United States would get out of Syria slowly "over a period of time" and would protect US-backed Kurdish fighters in the country as Washington draws down troops.

"Bolton will travel to Israel and Turkey to discuss the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Syria, and how the US will work with allies and partners to prevent the resurgence of ISIS, stand fast with those who fought with us against ISIS, and counter Iranian malign behavior in the region," Garrett Marquis, a spokesman for the National Security Council, said.

Marquis said Bolton would be joined in Turkey by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford and US special Syria envoy James Jeffrey.

Separately, the State Department said Jeffrey would be taking on the additional role of the special envoy for the coalition to defeat Islamic State.

Jeffrey will be involved in negotiations on a political process and also assumes the diplomatic role of coordinating with allies and partners on the fight against Islamic State.

Brett McGurk, the previous special envoy for the global coalition to defeat Islamic State, quit last month over Trump's decision to pull US troops out of Syria.

'FINAL BLOWS'

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, which include Kurdish fighters, captured the Syrian town of Kashmah on January 2 after retaking the town of Hajin on December 25, Pentagon spokesman Navy Commander Sean Robertson told Reuters.

The capture came the same day that Trump stated during a cabinet meeting his strong desire to gradually withdraw from Syria, calling it a place of "sand and death."

Trump also said it was up to other countries to fight Islamic State, including Russia and Iran, adding that Islamic State was down to its last remaining bits of territory in Syria.

"We're hitting the hell out of them, the ISIS people," Trump said, using an acronym to refer to Islamic State, adding, "We're down to final blows."

Separately on Friday, the U.S.-led coalition said it carried out 469 strikes in Syria between December 16 and December 29 that destroyed nearly 300 fighting positions, more than 150 staging areas, and a number of supply routes, oil lubricant storage facilities and equipment.

Islamic State retains control of just a "sprinkle of villages" near the Euphrates river, said Aaron Stein, the Middle East program director at the Foreign Policy Research Institute.

"(ISIS) will simply revert to a diffused rural insurgency where it could use just the tyranny of space - the desert is very big - to sort of hide out and be able to launch raiding attacks," he added.

The Pentagon spokesman said coalition forces, which Washington coordinates, were continuing to assist the SDF with close air support and artillery strikes in the Middle Euphrates River Valley.

"We will continue to work with the coalition and regional partners toward an enduring defeat of ISIS," Robertson said.

He called the capture of Hajin significant.

"This was a milestone, since it was among the largest of the last remaining ISIS strongholds in the Middle Euphrates River Valley."Islamic State declared its "caliphate" in 2014 after seizing large swathes of Syria and Iraq. The hardline Islamist group established its de facto capital in the Syrian city of Raqqa, using it as a base to plot attacks in Europe.

Much of the US campaign in Syria has been waged by warplanes flying out of Qatar and other locations in the Middle East.
Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at the Congress on January 5, accusing the opposition party of working at the behest of middlemen in the defence sector, instead of running a government for the people, during the UPA rule.

Addressing a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rally, Modi alleged that there was a conspiracy to weaken the country's defence forces during 2004-2014 and the revelation of facts was now "paining" the Congress leaders.

"Therefore, they want to remove the chowkidar (watchman) from their path at any cost. Be it the society or factories, thieves always try and conspire to remove the chowkidar to make their task easy. As long as the chowkidar remains, they are unable to operate," he said.

"This also pains them (Congress leaders) because their secrecy is now coming to the fore," Modi said, adding that there were reports that a letter of the middleman in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam, Christian Michel, who has recently been brought to India from Dubai, had revealed that they had close ties with top Congress leaders and ministers.

The middleman was aware of the movement of files in the Prime Minister's Office and even the details of deliberations of the Cabinet Committee on Defence, he claimed, adding that Michel had information of every movement of files.

"Perhaps, middlemen had more information than the prime minister himself," he said.

The middleman was also passing on crucial information related to defence, security and weapons procurement abroad, Modi said.

"I cannot understand whether the Congress was running a government or the durbar of its own Michel mama," Modi said, while asserting that a thorough probe would be conducted into these matters.

"I want to make it clear that the role of people in protecting the interest of middlemen at the cost of the country will thoroughly be probed by agencies and the people of the country. The Centre always takes hard decisions for the country's security," he said, while asking the crowd whether the Congress should be allowed to do what it was doing during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) rule.
The BJP on January 5 appointed Union ministers J P Nadda and Piyush Goyal as Lok Sabha election in-charge for Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu respectively, days after it made similar appointments for 17 states.

Party sources also clarified that Gordhan Zadaphia, a Gujarat leader who was a critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi before returning to the BJP, would be one of the six co-incharges for the state, adding that a big state like UP needs several co-incharges.

It was earlier reported that Zadaphia would be the Uttar Pradesh in-charge. So far, the BJP has appointed three co-incharges for the state.

A BJP statement said Nadda, who enjoys the trust of Modi and party president Amit Shah, will be overall in-charge for the state that sends 80 members, more than any other state, to the Lok Sabha.

Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman will be in-charge for Delhi, former minister Kalraj Mishra for Haryana. Avinash Rai Khanna has been roped in for Tripura, and Jammu and Kashmir but the party may appoint a more senior leaders as in-charge for these states, sources said.

Goyal has been given the responsibility for Puducherry, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

BJP general secretary Muralidhar Rao will be the Lok Sabha election in-charge for Karnataka, the statement said.
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The interim budget will be presented on February 1 and there is already a clamour from the automotive industry. Demanding a cut in GST on the back of a poor buying season during the last three months, companies are looking to the Finance Minister for some relief. There is more to this development in the copy below, but here is the list of all the major automotive developments of the week:

BMW bike twins outsell TVS bike

Despite sharing the same platform and having a much heavier price tag, two premium bikes by BMW Motorrad have outsold their sister TVS bike.

The German heavyweight said it sold 1,640 units of the G 310 R and G 310 GS since their launch in July (deliveries commenced in August). TVS Motor Company is believed to have sold less than 1,500 units of the Apache RR 310 during August-December period.

Revised axle load norms snuff out growth from CV

The new axle load norms approved by the government in the middle of last year has proved to be one of the main reasons behind the poor performance of commercial vehicles during the past few months.

Sales of medium and heavy commercial vehicles (MHCV), especially in the cargo segment, saw a 22 percent fall for Indias top four truck and bus manufacturers: Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland, VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV) and Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M).

Bike, scooter demand skid in December

Demand for new motorcycles and scooters slowed down significantly in December as three of the top five companies posted flat to negative growth in sales.

The four brands that announced their December sales numbers  Hero Motocorp, TVS Motor Company, Bajaj Auto and Royal Enfield  clocked only two percent growth at 8.77 lakh as against 8.59 lakh sold in the same month a year earlier. These companies control nearly 70 percent of the domestic two-wheeler market.

New car demand also skids in December

Indias four biggest car makers  Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Mahindra & Mahindra and Tata Motors  posted two percent growth in sales during December as dealers struggled to convert enquiries into confirmed bookings. The four companies control over 80 percent of the domestic car market.

Tight liquidity, increased lending rates, poor buyer sentiment and lack of new model launches impacted sales during December. This is despite a steady decline in fuel rates and unusually high discounts offered by all automakers and their dealers to get rid of inventory before entering 2019

Toyota wants to sell India-made Suzuki cars to the world

Worlds largest car maker Toyota Motor Corporation is learning the tricks of the trade from one of the minnows and the learning is based majorly on the fastest growing automotive market in the world  India.

Toyota, which has collaborated with Suzuki for selling cars in India, intends to take the fruits of the partnership beyond Indian shores, into Africa and other similar markets.

Hero Motocorp demands reduction in GST on bikes

The country's largest two-wheeler maker, Hero Motocorp, called for reduction in Goods and Services Tax (GST) on bikes and scooters to 18 percent from the current rate of 28 percent.

The company, which ended last year with record sales of over 80 lakh units, said the reduction in tax would provide much-needed relief to two-wheeler customers across the country.

In a press release, company chairman Pawan Munjal even went to the extent of calling the two-wheeler "a lifeline for the cost-sensitive consumer". The release also highlighted the four percent drop in Hero Motocorp sales during December, the biggest drop amongst all (except Honda who is yet to announce its numbers) two-wheeler manufacturers.

A significant cut in GST is a must for the cost-sensitive buyer if the company wants to avoid a complete meltdown of that market. These buyers make up majority of the buying class of Hero Motocorp products.

Heros top-selling products such as Dawn and Splendor (both 100cc) are marketed to the economically weaker states of the country such as Rajasthan, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa. Rural buyers form nearly half of Heros sales bouquet.

The automotive industry will brace for more than one upward revision in price over the next 15 months. These will be as a result of the new safety norms from April 1 this year and the new emission standard norms from April 1, 2020. A combination of these will likely result in an increase of a minimum of Rs 8,000 (almost 20 percent jump) in prices of budget (100cc) two-wheelers.

The budget bike segment is shrinking and, with that, the market share of Hero Motocorp too. One part of the market is shifting towards the premium bike segment (150cc and above), while the other is moving towards scooters. Hero Motocorp is weak in both segments despite several years of efforts to revive fortunes.

Therefore, Munjals plea for a GST cut has not resonated well with Heros peers.

Bajaj Auto is the leader in the premium bike segment where an added cost charge wont drive buyers away. Similarly, Honda has been the unchallenged leader of the scooter segment. It believes that there is a long way to go before India reaches saturation in scooter demand, thereby assuring a constant flow of new demand.

It is true that tax on two-wheelers in India is one of the highest in the world. But with annual sales of more than 20 million without a GST cut, will the Finance Minister listen to Mr Munjal?
Tata Harrier

Carrying forward the legacy of its mighty ancestor, the Tata Sumo, the Harrier is set to make its mark on the Indian market by 2019. Powered with a 2.0L engine, and pumping out a massive 170 BHP and 350 Nm torque, it is expected to be a fierce competition among the segment.

Nissan Kicks

The new Nissan Kicks is an upcoming SUV, which aims at redefining the SUV experience for drivers. It is based on the same Renault Duster/Captur or Nissan Terrano platform underneath but has an equal amount of grace and natural charm to it.

Kia SP based SUV

Recently, Kia released a teaser ahead of its entry in India, which hints at an upcoming Kia Sportage based SUV for the Indian markets. With a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the Andhra Pradesh government to set up a plant, Kia could be expected to begin their marketing by late 2019. It is expected to be named Tusker.

Renault Duster

The new Renault Duster is a refreshing makeover to the successful, yet outdated SUV. While being mostly cosmetic, they add modern appeal to the car. There have been many additions to the exterior of the vehicle, to make it look more aggressive and committed. The steering wheel too is different and a bit similar to the one on the Captur. There's a bit of chrome on the dashboard, and the touchscreen infotainment system also seems to have undergone an update.

Suzuki Jimny

Suzukis latest iteration of the 50-year-old Jimny is not just an attempt to cling on to old fame. The Jimny aims to claim the title of the best utility vehicle in India, and it is preparing for it seriously. Armed with a 660cc RA06 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine producing 64PS and 95Nm, it has gained enough power to lock horns with the likes of Mercedes Benz G-Class, among other UVs, regarding off-road credentials.

Which UV will come up tops in 2019?
BSP supremo Mayawati and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav moved closer to finalise the seat-sharing formula ahead of the Lok Sabha polls this year.

Sources in the Samajwadi Party (SP) said Yadav met Mayawati in New Delhi to discuss the final nitty-gritties of the proposed alliance.

Though there was no official word from both the parties, the sources claimed that two Uttar Pradesh-based political outfits will contest 37 Lok Sabha seats each.

The northern state has 80 Lok Sabha seats.

They added the remaining seats would be left for the Congress, Rashtriya Lok Dal and other smaller parties.
Vijay Mallya

The Special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court has declared Vijay Mallya a fugitive economic offender. His properties can now be confiscated by the government.

He is the first person to be declared a fugitive economic offender under the newly enacted Fugitive Economic Offenders' Act, 2018.

The court has also refused Mallya's application to stay the order to give him some time to appeal.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had earlier filed an application before the

special PMLA court requesting it that Mallya, facing charges of financial irregularities, be declared a fugitive under the new law.

Earlier, a UK court had ordered Mallya's extradition. After the UK court's extradition order on December 10, the External Affairs Ministry on December 20 said the Indian mission there is in "active touch" with British authorities regarding the case.

Calling the court's order extraditing back to India as unfortunate, formerliquor baron Vijay Mallya had said he would take the next step after

reviewing the order, and analyzing all legal options.

On December 5, Mallya 'humbly' offered to pay back banks the entire principal loan amount. The offer came hours after Christian James Michel, the alleged middleman in the politically sensitive Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland chopper deal, was extradited to India from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on December 4.

Fugitive billionaire and owner of the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines, Vijay

Mallya left India in March 2016. Mallya faces serious charges of loan defaults and money laundering. The Indian government and various government agencies have been tracking Mallya's movements and trying to extradite him to face trial in Indian courts.

The ED has revealed that Mallya left India with as many as 300 bags. Mallya has been legally contesting the Indian governments request for his extradition back in the UK.
Representative purpose

Increased trade, foreign direct investment (FDI) and skills exchange programme between India and South Africa will be the main focus of a senior South African minister visiting India from January 6 to participate at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi.

The Raisina Dialogue, which will take place from January 8-10, is India's flagship conference of geopolitics and geo-economics and annually attracts high-level participants from all over the world. The theme for the 2019 edition of the conference will be: "A World Reorder: New Geometries, Fluid Partnerships, Uncertain Outcomes."

South African Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Reginah Mhaule will attend the Raisina Dialogue, as well as meet several other top Indian dignitaries, to promote fields of mutual interests between India and South Africa, officials said.

The meetings will focus on issues such as enhancing the trade and commercial relationship between the two nations, foreign direct investment, and partnering in areas beneficial for both countries, such as skills exchange, they said.

Mhaule will also meet her Indian counterpart, Minister of State for External Affairs General Dr VK Singh and discuss a range of global issues.

She will also have high-level meetings with Indian investors and Think Tanks in Mumbai to promote South Africa as a destination for trade, investment and tourism.

Since the African Continent is expected to receive significant focus during the Raisina conference, Mhaule will use the platform to highlight key issues at the heart of South Africa's foreign policy, including advancing the African agenda, regional integration and conflict prevention and peace building, officials said.

South Africa and India enjoy a strategic partnership and bilateral relations are anchored by a shared history of friendship and solidarity.
Vijay Mallya

The BJP on January 5 said the absconding Vijay Mallya being declared a fugitive economic offender by a Mumbai court has come as a feather in the ruling party's cap in its fight against corruption.

Mallya, accused of defaulting on loan repayments and money laundering, is the first businessman to be declared an FEO under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act which came into existence in August last year.

Speaking at a press conference, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said the law was brought in by the present NDA government to ensure that absconders  like Mallya  are brought to justice.

Also read: Vijay Mallya is India's first Fugitive Economic Offender -Timeline of the tycoon's fall

"Mallya grew under the patronage of the Congress government. Despite him being bankrupt, he was given loans and his loans were even restructured. He fled with Rs 9,000 crore of the country's money.

"It is a feather in the cap for BJP's fight against corruption," he said.

The ED had requested the Prevention of Money Laundering Act court in Mumbai that Mallya, who is currently in the UK, be declared a fugitive and his properties be confiscated and brought under the control of the Union government.

Special judge M S Azmi declared Mallya an FEO under Section 12 of the Act after hearing extensive arguments from Mallya's lawyer and the ED counsel.

Mallya had left India in March 2016.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court on January 4 summarily dismissed a public interest litigation against the farm-loan waiver announced by the state government.

A division bench of Chief Justice S K Seth and Justice V K Shukla dismissed the PIL filed by lawyer Mohit Kumar due to lack of merit, calling it a "publicity manoeuvre".

"The petitioner could not satisfy us regarding the breach of any fundamental or legal rights (because of the loan waiver)," the bench said.

On December 17, the newly-elected Congress government had issued an order to waive short-term farm loans up to Rs 2 lakh. The petition claimed that loan waivers might ruin the national economy.

The court in its order noted that when the petitioner was asked whether he had studied economics, he evaded the question.
The Centre has sanctioned projects worth Rs 66,300 crore in the Rs 80,068 crore special package for Jammu and Kashmir announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, officials said on January 4.

They said there are 63 projects in the package covering various sectors namely Road, Power, Renewal Energy, Health, Education, Water Resources and Tourism among others.

"Till date, an amount of Rs 66,300 crore has been sanctioned. Thirteen projects have already been completed, 44 are under implementation and six very complex projects are under various stages of processing," an official said.

The major projects cleared by the Centre include two AIIMS like institutions at an estimated cost of Rs 4,000 crore, an IIT and IIM at an estimated cost of Rs 2,000 crore, construction of Zojila tunnel connecting Srinagar with Leh at an estimated cost of Rs 9,000 crore, Jammu-Akhnoor-Poonch Road at an estimated cost of Rs 5,100 crore, construction of tunnels at Lachulunga pass and Tanglang pass at an estimated cost of Rs 5,000 crore.

"In addition to PM's Development Package, many other important projects such as Shahpurkandi and Ujh Dam Project for irrigation and Hydro power, Ratle Hydro power, Dal Lake Rejuvenation have also been sanctioned," the official said.

In March last year, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, headed by senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, in a report tabled in the Rajya Sabha, had said the progress on implementing the Prime Minister's development package had been slow and a "poor outcome" had been achieved in the past 12 months.

The committee found that out of the Rs 80,068 crore Prime Minister's Development Package for Jammu and Kashmir, projects of Rs 67,046 crore have been sanctioned and Rs 17,913 crore have been released to the state government.

The committee had noted that most of the projects, including that for creation of jobs, transit accommodations, one-time settlement of 36,384 families from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Chhamb displaced persons, and raising of India Reserve Battalions, were still under progress and "little outcome was achieved".

The prime minister had on November 7, 2015, during his visit to Srinagar, announced Rs 80,000 crore development package for the state. Later, more aid was announced.
Kingfisher Airlines Chairman Vijay Mallya speaks during a news conference about the new Kingfisher Airlines service between London and Bangalore in southern India, in London September 4, 2008. Photo: REUTERS

A special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court has declared Vijay Mallya a fugitive economic offender.

Mallya's properties can now be confiscated by the government. He is the first person to be declared a fugitive economic offender under the newly enacted Fugitive Economic Offenders' Act, 2018.

Here's a round-up of events on what has happened to the liquor baron so far. Of late, it was clear that Mallya's time is up:

January 5, 2019: A special PMLA court declares Vijay Mallya a fugitive economic offender. Mallya becomes the first person to be declared a fugitive economic offender under the new law.

December 10, 2018: UK court orders extradition of Vijay Mallya.

December 5, 2018: Mallya 'humbly' offers to pay back banks the entire principal loan amount. The offer came hours after Christian James Michel, the alleged middleman in the politically sensitive Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland chopper deal, was extradited to India from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on December 4.

November 2018: 13 Indian banks secure a favourable order from UK court to use information disclosed in court as part of a worldwide freezing order against the 62-year-old businessman in a case involving the sale of a luxury super yacht.

October 2018: London court orders that six of Mallya's luxury cars to be sold to recover dues. Reports said the six cars include a 2012 Maybach 62, a 2006 Ferrari F430 and a Porsche Cayenne with James Bond number plates. The cars had the signature 'VJM'.

September 2018: After questioning the condition of Mumbai's Arthur Jail, where he would be staying if extradited, Mallya sees a video of the jail later in September and calls it 'impressive'.

June 2018: Files application with Karnataka High Court to sell assets worth Rs 13,900 crore. Adds that he is tired of the 'relentless pursuit' to recover dues from him.

May 2018: In a ruling in favour of banks, a UK high court refuses to overturn an Indian court's worldwide order for freezing of Mallya's assets.

March 2018: UK court says it is obvious that Indian banks broke rules to lend to Kingfisher Airlines.

October 2017: Mallya once again arrested in London following an Enforcement Directorate (ED) affidavit.

April 2017: Mallya arrested in London on India's request for extradition.

April 2016: Enforcement Directorate approaches special court to issue non-bailable arrest warrant against Mallya.

April 2016: Ministry of External Affairs revokes Vijay Mallyas passport.

April 2016: Hyderabad court convicts Vijay Mallya in case filed by GMR Hyderabad International Airport for bounced cheque.

April 2016: Banks reject Mallyas offers for payment of dues worth Rs 9,000 crore.

March 2016: Mallya offers to pay Rs 4,000 crore by September to banks.

March 2016: On March 9, Mallya leaves India.

March 2016: Vijay Mallya in discussion with banks to settle debt.

February 2016: SBI-led consortium moves debt recovery tribunal (DRT) to attach Vijay Mallyas passport.

December 2015: CBI questions Vijay Mallya in Rs 900 crore IDBI Banks loan.

October 2015: CBI conducts raids on Vijay Mallyas offices in connection with Rs 950 crore loan provided by IDBI Bank.

April 2015: United Spirits Limited (USL) asked Vijay Mallya to step down as chairman and director of fund on alleged fund diversion.

February 2015: SBI led bank consortium takes possession of Kingfisher House in Vile Parle.

December 2014: United India Bank recognises UBHL, guarantor of Kingfisher Airlines as wilful defaulter.

March 2013: Kingfisher Airlines net worth falls to negative of Rs 13,000 crore.

February 2013: UBHL seeks shareholders approval for Rs 450 crore for Kingfisher Airlines.

2012: Mallya gives guarantees of Rs 5,904 crore for carriers loan.

2011: 11 bank accounts were suspended by service tax department for non-payment of Rs 70 crore.

2011: Airline accumulated losses reach more than 50 percent of its net worth.

2009: Airline debt reaches Rs 7,000 crore.

March 2008: Kingfisher Airlines debt touches Rs 934 crore due to spike in oil prices.

2008: UBHL paid Rs 550 crore for a 26 percent stake in Air Deccan.

June 2007: Kingfisher Airlines decides to purchase debt-ridden Air Deccan.

Vijay Mallya sets up Kingfisher Airlines to cater to the premium segment.
A senior executive of Nissan Motor Co Ltd, Jose Munoz, has taken a leave of absence in a sudden management shake-up as the Japanese automaker deals with the aftermath of the arrest of former chairman Carlos Ghosn.

Munoz's absence comes as Ghosn has been held in a detention centre since his November 19 arrest on allegations of financial misconduct, which was followed by re-arrests over further allegations.

In a statement on January 5, Nissan said that Munoz has taken a leave of absence "to allow him to assist the company by concentrating on special tasks arising from recent events."

As a result, his planned appearance at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next week would be cancelled, a Nissan spokesman said.

Reuters could not immediately reach Munoz for comment.

Munoz is considered by many in the company to be a close ally of Ghosn, whose arrest has rocked the auto industry and strained Nissan's ties with French partner Renault SA where he still remains chairman and chief executive.

It has prompted some soul searching at the Japanese automaker, which has acknowledged that too much power was concentrated with Ghosn after he oversaw the turnaround of the struggling automaker two decades ago following its rescue from the brink by Renault.

After stripping Ghosn of his chairman position following his arrest, Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa has called for changes to weaken the clout of controlling shareholder Renault.

Munoz, who serves as Nissan's chief performance officer, joined the automaker in 2004 in Europe, and led its ambitious expansion in North America after the global financial crisis.

Since then, Nissan has succeeded in raising its market share in the United States, but profitability in the region has plummetted in the past few years due to heavy discounting on its vehicles, an issue that Saikawa has pledged to reverse.

Earlier this year Nissan tapped Munoz to oversee its operations in China, where it plans to ramp up sales over the next few years. Since then, the world's largest auto market has been showing signs of a slowdown, prompting the automaker to cut local production plans in the coming months.
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A section of market participants considers Mr Modi as Virat Kohli of politics who can deliver for the economy in a better fashion than others, Mazhar Mohammad, Chief Strategist  Technical Research & Trading Advisory, Chartviewindia.in, said in an interview with Moneycontrols Kshitij Anand.

Q) It looks like market started on a fairly muted note with the Nifty50 falling below its crucial long-term as well as short-term moving averages? Do you think it is time to go 'short' or wait for a breakdown below 10533-10500 levels?

A) At this juncture, the technical picture is looking somewhat mixed with both positive and negative signs. If you closely observe the data of the last two months then it seems that the market is roughly moving in a range of 10,950 on the upside and 10300 levels on the downside.

Last November was a good month which witnessed a strong up move from the lows of 10,341  10,923. Interestingly, December tested the lows of November but recouped all the intra month losses only to close near to its monthly high of 10,985.

This kind of range-bound price behaviour is only pointing towards a consolidation range thereby negating 'sell' signals which we are getting on the long-term charts that got generated in the month of last October.

Hence, there may not be a multi-week positional trading opportunity on the short side but short-term trade may remain on both sides.

Unless the market breaches 10,280 levels on the long-term charts there may not be a bigger cut below 10,000 kinds of levels.

Right now, it can be the indecisive nature rather nervousness of market participants ahead of the big political showdown which is creating this kind of trading large trading range.

Upsides look capped around 11,000 and once the said hurdle is conquered then we may see a slightly higher target of 11,400.

Recently, there was almost a consensus among analyst fraternity that market will go down towards 9,500 kinds of levels and seldom gets such consensus adhered to by the market.

Q) Do you think nervousness of market participants ahead of a political event like general elections is capping upsides? Can such worries be justified?

A) A section of market participants considers Mr Modi as Virat Kohli of politics who can deliver for the economy in a better fashion than others.

Hence, they fear that a coalition government without proper majority may derail reforms and hence stock market rally too. But, to some extent these fears may not be true as pointed out by historical data.

For instance, P Chidambaram's budget in 1997 under the coalition government headed by Deve Gowda won the accolades of the industry as Dream budget.

Similarly, best reforms were introduced by Dr Manmohan Singh under a minority government led by PV Narasimha Rao.

So these fears to some extent cant be justified as a non-BJP government need not necessarily lead to gloom and doom kind of situation for the markets.

Yet times coalition governments may help the country by discovering new leaders or hidden talent as seasoned bureaucrat like Dr Manmohan Singh was transformed into an able political leader and went on to become Prime Minister for 10 years.

Q) Where is market heading in January ahead of events like Vote on Account?

A) Technically speaking, the markets shall remain range bound between 11,000  10,500 in the month of January unless a breakout or breakdown is witnessed going forward.

Events like Vote On Account may not majorly influence market direction as it mainly accounts for expenditure side of government for the next couple of months before the election without scope for announcing big-ticket reforms as priorities differ from one government to other.

Q) What are charts of Bank Nifty suggesting?

A) Surprisingly, Bank Nifty has shown a greater amount of resilience as it managed to sustain above its medium to long-term critical moving averages.

In fact this strength may be partly responsible for keeping Nifty too in a larger range without breaking down.

This kind of strength can be expected to continue in this index as long as RBI keeps some sort of carrot dangling in front of financials with all positive noises and we will not be surprised even if this index moves towards 28,000 kinds of levels before the political event. On the flips side, for time being, 26,000 looks like a worst in case of a normal correction.

Q) What is your call on the small & midcap? What does the trading behavior tell you?

A) Sense and sanity appear to be back in mid and small-cap space as their participation in recent times has improved on the back of positive chart formations.

They can remain market performers and selectively few can outperform going forward. Hence, long-term investment can be considered in quality names from this space as worst appears to be over.

Q) Top three trading strategies for the coming week with an investment horizon of 1 month?

A) Vedanta: Buy| LTP: Rs 193| Target: Rs 203| Stop Loss: Rs 183| Upside 5%

After the recent fall, this counter made a bullish reversal formation as it registered a 'Piercing' pattern in the last session from around its critical support of Rs 190.

Hence, as long it trades above 187 kinds of levels, one should initiate long positions in this counter for a target of Rs 203 with a stop of Rs 185.

Bharti Infratel: Buy| LTP: Rs 284| Target: Rs 320| Stop Loss: Rs 270| Return 12%

This counter appears to have registered a consolidation breakout after a prolonged fall from the highs of 481. Besides, it decisively closed above its 100-days moving average (DMA) which in the past, suppressed its pullback attempts suggesting the possibility of a sustained short-term rally.

Hence, traders can adopt a two-pronged strategy and buy now and on declines around 275 for a target of 320 and a stop below 270 on a closing basis.

Bajaj Auto: Buy| LTP: Rs 2,734| Target: Rs 2,830| Stop Loss: Rs 2,690| Return 3%

Price patterns of Bajaj Auto are quite interesting as this counter has not participated in the recent fall and appears to have made a decent base around Rs 2700 levels.

On the pullback attempts from the said base, it can easily head towards Rs 2,830 kind of levels. Positional traders should buy into this counter for a target of 2,830 with a stop below 2690 on a closing basis.

Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment expert on moneycontrol.com are his own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
Answer: GE, because General Electric was the only surviving company from the original Dow Jones index. (Image: Reuters)

Private equity firm Apollo Global Management LLC is working on an offer to acquire General Electric Co's aircraft leasing operations, which are worth as much as $40 billion, people familiar with the matter said on January 4.

Apollo's bid comes as GE's new chief executive officer, Larry Culp, is battling to restore profits and slash debt after the industrial conglomerate lost $22.8 billion in the third quarter, mostly from its ailing power unit.

GE is already pressing on with divesting several assets, including spinning off its healthcare unit and shedding its stake in oilfield services company Baker Hughes . Apollo's offer could put pressure on GE to also sell the aircraft unit, known as GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS).

Apollo is looking at financing its bid partly through debt and equity provided by Athene Holding Ltd , the annuity provider for which it provides asset management services, the sources said. Apollo's private equity funds, co-investment from Apollo's investors, and debt financing from banks will also help fund the deal, the sources added.

In addition, Apollo is open to exploring a transaction for GE's long-term-care insurance business, whose liabilities have emerged as a significant burden, according to the sources.

GE has not yet agreed to a deal with Apollo, the sources said. The company could decide to explore a deal with other buyers or not sell GECAS at all, the sources added, asking not to be identified because the matter is confidential.

Apollo and GE declined to comment. Bloomberg News first reported on Apollo's offer.

GECAS has a fleet of more than 1,900 planes, which it provides to airlines under long-term leases. Consolidation in the sector has intensified in the last few years, as Asian competitors chip away at the market shares of GECAS and its rival AerCap Holdings NV .

GECAS is a unit of GE Capital, which GE has been trimming since the 2008 financial crisis. In 2015, it clinched a deal to sell most of GE Capital's real estate assets to Blackstone Group LP and Wells Fargo & Co for $23 billion.

Apollo has done several deals with GE. In October, Apollo agreed to buy a portfolio of $1 billion in energy investments from GE Capital. In 2015, Mubadala GE Capital, a joint venture between Abu Dhabi state fund Mubadala and GE Capital, agreed to sell a $3.6 billion portfolio of corporate and real estate loans in the United States and Europe to Apollo.
Joginder Tuteja

2018 wasn't really a year of romcoms as only one film made a dash towards the 100-crore club -- Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety. In fact, there were not many films made either in this genre and the ones that did, their release turned out to be flops. Loveyatri, Namaste England, Dil Juunglee and 5 Weddings are some such examples.

Hence, one looks forward to the trend reversing in 2019. Not just quite a few films belonging to the romcom genre are arriving in the New Year, many stars are featuring in them as well. Here are 10 such romcoms that could make hearts beat in 2019.

Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga - 1st February

On its announcement, Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga had seemed like a conventional family comedy-drama that would feature Sonam Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao as a pair and Anil Kapoor-Juhi Chawla as the elderly 'jodi'. However, the promo threw a surprise as there were clear indications that the film primarily had Sonam Kapoor as the central protagonist with everyone else rallying around. Moreover, the 'raaz ki baat' made quite a few heads turn. Soon enough it was revealed that the film is primarily about same gender love with Regina Cassandra playing Sonam Kapoor's love interest.

Luka Chuppi - 1st March

Kartik Aryan was the star of romcom in Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety in 2019. On the other hand, Kriti Sanon has delivered a romcom success in Bareilly Ki Barfi. Now the two would be pairing up for Luka Chuppi which is produced by Dinesh Vijan who had backed Stree last. The film is said to be a fun affair and its shooting has already been completed. The film also marks the Bollywood directorial debut of notable cinematographer Laxman Utekar who has shot films like Blue, English Vinglish, Tevar, Hindi Medium and 102 Not Out amongst others.

Sandeep aur Pinky Faraar - 1st March

Dibakar Banerjee is dabbling in this genre for the first time ever. Though the film's title suggests Bunty aur Babli redux, insiders suggest that Sandeep aur Pinky Faroor is far away from that. Arjun Kapoor and Parineeti Chopra pair up again for this Yash Raj production after Ishaqzaade and Namaste England. The film was originally slated for release last year but was then pushed ahead. Audiences didn't really queue up for Namaste England and hence makers would hope that the response to be far better with Sandeep aur Pinky Faroor

De De Pyaar De - 15th March

Luv Ranjan has been famous for films like Pyaar Ka Punchnama series and Sonu Ki Titu Ki Sweety and has often been accused of being pro-men. Well, with Tabu pairing up with Ajay Devgn in De De Pyaar De, one waits to see how does this mature drama play up on the big screen. This isn't all as there is a younger love interest too in the form of Rakul Preet Singh who was last seen in Aiyaary. The film marks the directorial debut of editor Akiv Ali who has to his credit romcoms like Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, I Hate Luv Storys and of course Luv Ranajn's films.

Mental Hai Kya - 29th March

The very title makes one crackle up in a big way. Time and again one does refer to this phrase in real life and hence it is expected that Kangana Ranaut and Rajkummar Rao would fire all cylinders with this romcom affair, Mental Hai Kya. The film's first look posters did bring in the fun element and now one waits to see how director Prakash Rao Kovelamudi from down South would treat this one for an all-India audience.

Arjun Patiala - 3rd May

Producer Dinesh Vijan is on fire in 2019 with multiple films gearing up for release. Arjun Patiala is one such film that has Diljit Dosanjh playing a cop. Kriti Sanon, who has a huge supporter in Dinesh Vijan [Raabta, Luka Chuppi, special song-n-dance appearance in Stree], is the leading lady here while Varun Sharma would also be seen in a full-on comic avtar. Diljit has played a Punjab-based character in each of his Hindi films so far [Udta Punjab, Phillauri, Soorma, Welcome to New York] and with Arjun Patiala his origin is pretty much signified in the title itself.

Student of the Year 2 - 10th May

This one is set to be the biggest of them all when it arrives in May. Earlier, there were plans to bring Student of the Year 2 in 2018 itself. However, producer Karan Johar decided to give the film a good breathing space. Led by Tiger Shroff, the film also marks the big screen debut of Tara Sutaria and Ananya Panday. One waits to see how careers are built with this film since the first installment shot Varun Dhawan, Alia Bhatt and Sidharth Malhotra to overnight fame. Moreover, director Punit Malhotra is also expected to deliver goods yet again after I Hate Luv Storys.

Jabariya Jodi - 17th May

Meanwhile, Sidharth Malhotra would be back on the big screen with Ekta Kapoor's Jabariya Jodi that pairs up him with Parineeti Chopra. A romcom about forced marriages, this one marks the directorial debut of Prashant Singh. The first look poster of the film promises good fun and it looks like a laugh entertainer in the offering. 2019 is going to be the year of reckoning for both Sidharth and Parineeti, and they would indeed be hoping that their pair in Jabariya Jodi (after Hasee Toh Phasee) is expected well.

Dream Girl - Summer 2019 (exact date yet to be decided)

Talk Ayushmann Khurrana and you know for sure that the film with his name attached won't be conventional by any means. That indeed seems to be the case with Dream Girl as well where the first look poster featured Ayushmann draped in a saree. Looks like Ayushmann himself is a 'dream girl' in the story with Nushrat Bharucha as the leading lady. Yet another Ekta Kapoor production, the film is an outing for debutant director Raaj Shaandilyaa who has written films like Welcome Back, Freaky Ali, Bhoomi and Bhaiyaji Superhit in the past.

Made In China - 30th August

(Joginder Tuteja is a trade expert and film critic, and loves to talk and write about anything that is related to films. Views are personal)

Rajkummar Rao brought quite some laughs in Stree even though it was more of a horror-com than romcom. Now he would be seen in an altogether different kind of a stage, setting and get-up (as per insiders, he is playing a pot-bellied man in the film) for Made In China. The film is produced by Dinesh Vijan who is repeating his Stree hero in this fun affair. On the other hand, a lot is expected out of Mouni Roy who did make her Bollywood debut with Gold but is now expected to have a far more substantial part in this film, directed by debutant Mikhil Musale.
Beijing's environmental watchdog has vowed to further bolster cross-regional control of air pollution and to better manage pollution sources at a more detailed level as the capital saw continuous improvement of its air quality in 2018.

The capital saw the average density of PM2.5 particulate matter drop by about 12 percent year-on-year to 51 micrograms per cubic meter in 2018, said Liu Baoxian, deputy head of the environmental monitoring center at the Beijing Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau. Liu spoke at a news conference on Friday.

Other major air pollutants also decreased. The concentration of sulfur dioxide, for example, stood at 6 mg per cubic meter, down by 25 percent from 2017. Its density remained below 10 mg/cu m, even during the cold months when the increased need for heating can drive up pollution, Liu said.

The number of days with heavy pollution in the capital dropped from 58 in 2013 to only 15 last year. The past year also saw 195 consecutive days without heavy air pollution, 108 more than 2013.

Shi Aijun, deputy head of Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Environmental Protection, said PM2.5 density in the capital peaked at 244 mg/cu m in 2018, down by 46 percent year-on-year.

Xing Jia, associate professor from the School of Environment, Tsinghua University, said their research and calculations showed about half of the capital's air quality improvement in the past five years came from reduction of local emissions.

While favorable meteorological conditions contributed 30 percent of the improvement, decrease of pollutant discharges in nearby regions also helped, Xing said.

In Hebei province, the PM2.5 concentration dropped 12.5 percent last year, according to preliminary results from the provincial environmental authority.

Almost 1.8 million households in the province turned to natural gas and electricity as heating sources instead of highly polluting coal. Almost 6,500 coal-burning boilers with a capacity of about 12,700 metric tons of steam energy were eliminated in 2018.

In Beijing, about a third of air pollutants in 2018 were from outside the city, according the Beijing bureau. Among the locally generated pollutants, emissions from vehicles, dust and industrial emissions contributed about 45, 16 and 12 percent, respectively.

Though diesel trucks represent only about 4 percent of total internal combustion engines in Beijing, they contributed 90 percent of the particular matter from such engines.

Bureau officials said they have taken tailored measures based on their research. While establishing a monitoring network that targets dust, they also are better managing diesel trucks. They say they have weeded out 47,000 such trucks and established a database that includes 145,000 trucks with excessive emissions.

Li Kunsheng, head of vehicle emission management, said trucks in the database that are registered in other regions will be forbidden from entering the capital.

Li said his department will carry out surprise inspections of those with local plates to ensure owners rectify their violations.

Li Xiang, the Beijing authority's director of air pollution management, said that during three decades, the biggest part of their work was reducing coal consumption and shutting down small polluting enterprises. With most of that work completed, Beijing now has to turn to more detailed management to further cut pollution.
A 28-year-old carpool driver pleaded guilty on Friday to raping and killing a passenger, ending a high-profile case that triggered a safety overhaul of the country's hitch carpooling service.

Zhong Yuan, the 28-year-old defendant, pleaded guilty in court to raping and murdering a 20-year-old woman who booked a hitch carpooling service from Didi Chuxing on Aug 24 in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, according to a release from the Wenzhou Intermediate People's Court.

Zhong, a native of Sichuan province, had owed debts from online peer-to-peer lending platforms due to gambling, and deliberately planned in advance on robbing female passengers while working as a hitch driver for Didi Chuxing, the nation's largest car-hailing company, prosecutors said.

On Aug 23, Zhong sought to rob a female passenger during a ride, but his efforts failed. On the following day, he raped and killed another female passenger surnamed Zhao with a knife in Yueqing county of Wenzhou. Zhao was scheduled to meet her friends in Yongjia, also part of Wenzhou, to attend a classmate's birthday party.

Zhong was seized by local police shortly after and was charged with homicide, rape and robbery, according to the court release.

The trial was not open to the public due to privacy concerns. The court said a verdict would be given at a later date.

The homicide case in Wenzhou came after a similar murder in Zhengzhou, Henan province. A 21-year-old flight assistant was killed on May 6 after hailing a car from Didi Chuxing. The suspect, surnamed Liu, abandoned his vehicle and drowned himself in a river after allegedly killing the passenger, according to local police.

These cases stirred up a national outcry for effectively strengthening passengers' personal safety during online car-hailing rides, prompting the Ministry of Transport to announce plans to enhance regulation of the car-hailing industry.

Didi also suspended its hitch services and adopted measures, such as making it easier for passengers to contact police in case of emergency and launching audio and video recording functions during rides, in a bid to better ensure passengers' safety.

The move, however, also sparked heated discussion on whether the surveillance measure will help boost the safety of passengers or could infringe personal privacy.
You are here: China

A number of core instruments onboard the Gaofen-5 satellite recently passed the on-orbit test, marking a breakthrough for China in monitoring air pollutants, greenhouse gases and aerosols.

The three payloads -- an Environment Monitoring Instrument, Greenhouse-gases Monitoring Instrument and Directional Polarization Camera -- were developed by Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics (AIOFM).

Experts say the technologies can help reduce China's dependence on foreign satellite data on the atmospheric environment. Apart from obtaining accurate atmospheric data, the instruments can analyze the formation and development of pollution sources on the Earth's surface.

The Gaofen-5, used for environmental monitoring, was launched in May 2018 in northern China.

The AIOFM team still faces a number of related tasks, such as developing an ultraviolet hyper-spectral pollution-gas monitor on a high-precision greenhouse gas exploration satellite.
Lunar rover Yutu-2 has been driving on the far side of the moon after separating from the lander and scientific devices on both the lander and rover are currently gathering data, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) said late Friday.



At 17:00 local time in Beijing, the three 5-meter antennas of the low-frequency radio spectrometer on the lander have fully spread out, said the CNSA in a statement.

Meanwhile, Germany's lunar neutron and radiation detector was turned on for testing. The ground control has been receiving geographic and geomorphic images of the moon's far side.

The Yutu-2 rover, equipped with a data transmission link to relay with the Queqiao satellite, completed environment perception and route planning. It has been driving on the lunar surface on schedule and arrived at preset location A to carry out observations.

The radar and panorama camera on the rover have been operating smoothly and other devices will begin operation according to schedule.

According to the CNSA, in the following days, Yutu-2 and the lander will face the challenge of extremely high temperatures in the lunar day. Yutu-2 will enter a "napping" mode at an appropriate time and is expected to resume moving next Thursday.

The moon rotates on its axis once every 28 days, so every part of the moon has a day-and-night pattern. Temperatures on the moon vary between extremes of some 200 Celsius degrees and minus 200 degrees.

Launched on Dec. 8, 2018, China's Chang'e-4 lunar probe, comprising a lander and a rover, landed on the far side of the moon Thursday morning.

Yutu-2, atop the probe, extended its solar panel, stretched out its mast and started to slowly fly to the lunar surface Thursday night.
Lindsay Lohan's new show "Lindsay Lohan's Beach Club" is finally here, and the reviews are mixed. Lohan, formally known as "LiLo" is now the proud owner of a beach club in Mykonos, Greece. The new show follows the club owner, and the staff as drama and hookups inevitably occur. Many are comparing Lohan to Lisa Vanderpump due to the venture. Some also say the show is a "Vanderpump Rules" knockoff and Lohan is a joke. Are you watching "Lindsay Lohan's Beach Club"?

PERSPECTIVES

What's it like to work at Lindsay Lohan's club? Preview the series here.

Critics are not speaking highly of Lohan's "comeback."

Lindsay Lohan thinks shes a brand & these other people have worked their way up from the bottom to become...hosts & hostesses. Bro, please. @MTV #LindsayLohansBeachClub  Jessica Diatalevi (@JessDiatalevi) January 2, 2019

Am I the only one who thinks this is probably scripted and not a real club? I want to give her the benefit of the doubt, but hows she going to run a business when shes so notorious for being late? I wish her success, but Im just a little skeptical. #LindsayLohansBeachClub  Nola Salazar Barnes (@salazar_barnes) January 1, 2019

But Lohan's fans are ready to go all in and support the series.

If I could go to any club, it would def be - hands down #LindsayLohansBeachClub @lindsaylohan yassss love a good come back and so rooting for you. . Watch out Lisa vanderpump. Lindsay is coming for your crown!  hopesaprincess (@hopesaprincess) December 16, 2018

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SAGINAW, MI  A man police say stabbed his roommate to death in his rural Saginaw County home has been found psychologically unfit for future court proceedings.

Saginaw County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Mark J. Gaertner and defense attorney James F. Piazza stipulated on Dec. 19 that based on a report from the Center for Forensic Psychiatry in Ypsilanti, 43-year-old defendant Morgan D. Notestine was incompetent to stand trial.

Notestine is charged with open murder, which includes both first- and second-degree murder, stemming from the death of Wayne E. McComb. Gaertner has said the two men lived together at 1085 W. Moore Road in Spaulding Township.

Notestine will now undergo treatment in efforts to make him competent and will be reassessed in six months.

This graphic illustrates the process of dealing with a defendant's mental health in the Michigan court system.

Saginaw County District Judge David D. Hoffman on Nov. 19 ordered Notestine sent to the Ypsilanti center for staff there to assess his competency and criminal responsibility.

Gauging competency means determining if a defendant's current mental or emotional state is fit enough for trial, to the extent he or she understands the charges against them and their constitutional rights. Criminal responsibility assesses if a defendant should be deemed responsible or not for the alleged crime based on their mental or emotional state when the offense occurred.

Two days after that, Notestine was petitioned in Saginaw County Probate Court, which saw Judge Patrick J. McGraw finding Notestine mentally ill. The judge ordered Notestine be sent to the Forensic Center at the earliest opportunity. McGraw also ordered Notestine receive medication while in custody.

On the morning of Nov. 4, Michigan State Police troopers responded to the Spaulding Township house after an acquaintance of McCombs found his body. The acquaintance had visited McCombs place after not having heard from him for several days.

Investigators believe Notestine killed McComb at least one day before his body was found, Gaertner has said. They also believe a dispute erupted between the two men, culminating in Notestine stabbing McComb in his heart, Gaertner said.

Gaertner said on Nov. 20 that it's still unknown what the dispute was about or what Notestine's motive might have been.

After remaining at the home for a period of time, Notestine left in a vehicle. He later abandoned the vehicle near Detroit.

Notestine then went to a nearby bus station, where he was refused service, Gaertner said. Notestine then got in front of a moving bus, which stopped, though it's not clear what his intent was, Gaertner said.

Police took Notestine to a Detroit-area hospital, where he was identified. Once hospital staff cleared Notestine, police arrested him.

According to his obituary, McComb was "an affable, kind soul" and an avid musician.

"Wayne was a career musician, a brilliant drummer, gigging around the U.S. for many years and a staple in local music scenes for decades. As would seem fitting, his final gig was at his son's backyard wedding reception.

"If you were fortunate enough to have known him," the obituary continues, "you knew a talented musician, a well-traveled map-lover, a diehard Tigers fan, a GM retiree, and a man with many years of proud sobriety."

McComb also had a love for all things fast and loud, yet also the library and reading, by way of which he accumulated an intimate knowledge of many subjects.
You are here: Business

Chinese airlines could help boost East Africa's economic growth, a Nairobi-based aviation industry insider said on Friday.

Sanjeev Gadhia, CEO of cargo airline Astral Aviation, told journalists in Nairobi that currently it takes between 60 days and 90 days for cargo to move from China to East Africa by sea, leading to delays of critical supply of goods.

"Chinese airlines could provide affordable air transport that could link East Africa to global supply chains in a fast and timely manner and help to boost East Africa's economic growth," Gadhia said.

He noted that China has emerged as a top bilateral trade partner of East Africa, hence the need for closer air links.

Astral Aviation has already signed a partnership with China Southern Airlines to distribute China Southern Airlines' cargo from the Nairobi aviation hub to Uganda, Rwanda, Somalia and South Sudan.

Gadhia said that it mostly handles engineering, mining equipment as well as e-commerce goods imported from China to the East Africa region and in return consolidates seafood that is sourced from East Africa and exported to China by China Southern Airlines.

Currently, China Southern Airlines is the only Chinese carrier that flies to Kenya.

"We would like more Chinese airlines to fly to Kenya so that they can improve connectivity between China and East Africa," he added.

Gadhia observed that Kenya Airways flies daily to Guangzhou through Bangkok in Thailand which takes almost 13 hours.

He called for direct flights between major Chinese cities, such as Beijing and Shanghai, and Nairobi in order to reduce flight times between the two countries.
ALPENA TWP, MI  A Linwood woman has died after crashing a snowmobile through a frozen lake in northern Michigan.

Around 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 4, 60-year-old Lynne Bever called Alpena County Central Dispatch to request help in escaping the waters of Long Lake in Alpena Township, Michigan State Police report.

An MSP trooper who was about three miles away immediately drove to the scene. Upon arrival, he found Bever in the water about 200 yards from shore. Bevers boyfriend was nearby, attempting to reach her on his snowmobile.

The trooper tried crossing the ice to Bever, but found it was too thin to support him.

Additional responding troopers and Alpena Township firefighters donned anti-exposure suits, held onto lifeline ropes, and began belly-crawling to Bever. As they did so, Bevers boyfriend, his snowmobile, and two first responders also fell through the ice. The responders managed to rescue the boyfriend and bring him to shore.

Those in the anti-exposure suits reached Bever but were unable to extract her from the ice. They tried rendering aid to keep her alive as they awaited additional resources.

East Grand Lake firefighters arrived shortly thereafter with an airboat and managed to pull Bever from the water. By that time, she had gone into cardiac arrest. She was transported to Mid-Michigan Medical Center-Alpena where staff pronounced her deceased.

An autopsy indicated Bever had drowned, troopers report.
KALAMAZOO, MI  The defense attorney for accused mass murderer Jason Dalton wont use the insanity defense at his trial.

Eusebio Solis said Friday, Jan. 4, he plans to withdraw a motion to use the insanity defense he filed in June 2016. Solis said an independent forensic evaluation he requested of Dalton at the time did not differ from an opinion delivered after an evaluation from the state Center for Forensic Psychiatry. Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Getting has said the result of the state evaluation will be revealed at trial.

The evaluation determines criminal responsibility  whether or not Dalton was mentally ill the night of the alleged shootings and whether, as a result of that illness, he was able to act according to the law or if he was unable to understand that his alleged actions were wrong, Getting said in June 2016 when Solis filed an intent to use the defense.

Dalton, an Uber driver, is charged with a shooting rampage that left six people dead and two seriously injured Feb. 20 at three locations in Kalamazoo County. Dalton, 48, of Cooper Township, faces six counts of murder, two counts of assault with intent to commit murder and eight felony firearm counts. He was found competent to stand trial in April 2016 and was ordered to stand trial in May 2016.

Getting said Friday he does not expect any more delays in the trial after a lengthy jury selection delayed voir dire one day. Jury selection in the case started Thursday, Jan. 3. Just over 200 prospective jurors were summoned in two waves with a screening process happening in a closed courtroom Thursday and Friday.

Voir dire, when both the prosecutor and defense attorney question potential jurors, is expected to happen Monday instead of Friday as originally scheduled.

Opening statements and testimony are expected to start Tuesday, Jan. 8.

Police say Dalton shot Tiana Carruthers, 25, in the parking lot of the Meadows town home complex, 5066 Meadows Blvd,, just before 6 p.m. on Feb. 20, 2016. Dalton allegedly shot and killed father and son Rich, 53, and Tyler Smith, 17, in the parking lot of Seelye Kia on Stadium Drive just after 10 p.m. that same evening. Police say he then shot four women and a 14-year-old girl in the parking lot of Cracker Barrel, 5581 S. 9th St. in Texas Township.

Mary Lou Nye, 62, of Baroda; Mary Jo Nye, 60, Dorothy Judy Brown, 74, and Barbara Hawthorne, 68, all of Battle Creek, were killed and the 14-year-old girl, Abigail Kopf, survived but was critically injured.

Dalton allegedly drove erratically that afternoon, picking up Uber fares between the shootings.
ALPENA, MI -- When a woman riding a snowmobile fell through the ice on an Alpena area lake, she called 911 for help.

Rescuers rushed to the scene Friday, Jan. 4 but were unable to pull the woman from the icy waters before she went into cardiac arrest and died, state police said.

She was identified as 60-year-old Lynne Bever of Linwood north of Bay City.

The woman called 911 about 10:30 a.m. after the machine went through ice on Long Lake. A state police trooper was about three miles away at the time and hurried to the area.

The trooper found that the woman was in the water about 200 yards off shore and her boyfriend, who also had been riding a snowmobile, was nearby and trying to reach her.

The trooper then tried to cross the ice but discovered it was too weak to hold him. Soon after, other rescuers donned anti-exposure suits and began crawling toward the woman but they ended up falling into the water along with the boyfriend and his machine.

Those rescuers managed to pull the boyfriend from the water. Rescuers then reached the woman, but could not get her out of the water and were forced to wait for an airboat from East Grand Lake Fire Department to pull her out.

She was rushed to Mid-Michigan Medical Center in Alpena but pronounced dead. A medical examiner and doctors determined she died from drowning.
FLINT, MI -- Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy says she isnt taking over Flint water prosecutions -- not yet anyway -- but will evaluate the cases for Attorney General Dana Nessel.

In a statement issued Friday, Jan. 4, Worthy confirmed Nessel asked her office to perform an independent evaluation of nine active criminal prosecutions by the Attorney Generals Office related to Flint water.

A decision will be made at a later time addressing what entity will continue these prosecutions, Worthys statement says. The (Wayne County Prosecutors Office) will not be making any public statements and will provide the attorney general with a full report when this assessment is completed.

Earlier Friday, Nessel issued a news release, saying she had provided Worthy, a member of her transition team, with the relevant materials related to the cases and has requested that her office take over the prosecution of the criminal cases on her behalf.

Nessel is looking for a replacement for Todd Flood, who served in the role under former Attorney General Bill Schuette.

As a candidate for office earlier this year, Nessel criticized the Schuette prosecutions as politically charged show trials but didnt say for certain if Flood would be replaced.

Kelly Rossman-McKinney, a spokeswoman for Nessel, said Friday that the current attorney general understands Worthy wont complete her review or make her decision about replacing Flood immediately. For now, Flood will continue to move forward with the cases still pending in district and circuit court, according to Rossman-McKinney.

Two cases -- continuations of preliminary examinations for Liane Shekter-Smith and Patrick Cook, former and current employees of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality -- are scheduled to restart Monday, Dec. 7 in Genesee District Court.

The exams remained on the Genesee District Court docket Friday after Nessel announced her request to have Worthy look at the cases.

Flint Mayor Karen Weaver declined to comment on Fridays shakeup, but Councilman Eric Mays said hes concerned by any plan that leaves Flood on the sideline.

I dont think Worthy can sort through some of that stuff without the assistance of Todd Flood or his staff, said Mays, whos watched some of the courtroom proceedings in person as theyve unfolded. I would never take that guy out of it totally.

Flood, a former assistant prosecutor in Wayne County, has been involved in the 15 criminal Flint water cases since former Attorney General Bill Schuette launched his investigation into Flint water in 2016.

MLive-The Flint Journal could not reach Flood for comment Friday, but he said last month that he expected to remain on the job well into 2019.

Six of the cases Flood has pursued resulted in plea agreements, but the former and current state and city employees who accepted the deals received no jail sentences or fines.

Three cases -- against Department of Health and Human Services Director Nick Lyon, former Chief Medical Executive Dr. Eden Wells and former emergency manager Gerald Ambrose -- have been bound over to Genesee Circuit Court for jury trials.

Just this week, oral arguments in the Lyon case were pushed off Fridays court calendar to next month without explanation.

Six other preliminary examinations are at various stages of completion in Genesee District Court.

Nessels announcement was cheered by state Rep.'s Sheldon Neeley and John Cherry, both Flint Democrats.

Prosecutor Kym Worthy is an experienced attorney who has shown time and again that she is willing to fight to protect the public," Cherry said in a statement released by his office. "I am confident that the referral of the Flint water investigation by Attorney General Nessel is in the best interest of the Flint residents who were harmed in the water crisis, and I appreciate the urgency with which Attorney General Nessel has addressed this issue. I look forward to the results of this review, and the prompt pursuit of justice.

Neeley called Nessels action refreshing and said her announcement helps to ensure the community receives the support and resources they deserve.
FLINT, MI -- Appellate court judges on Friday ruled that a federal water crisis lawsuit could continue against the city of Flint and several current and former state officials.

Judges with the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals voted 2-1 to deny dismissing certain state and city officials from the lawsuit alleging they violated Flint residents Shari Guertin, her minor child, and Diogenes Muse-Clevelands bodily integrity by exposing them to lead-contaminated water and hiding it.

Judge Richard Griffin wrote the majority opinion. He was joined by Judge Helene White. Senior Judge David W. McKeague wrote a separate opinion concurring in part and dissenting in part.

The panel of judges ultimately denied an appeal to dismiss claims against city and state officials including former Flint Department of Public Works Director Howard Croft, former emergency managers Darnell Earley and Gerald Ambrose and former DEQ officials Liane Shekter-Smith, Stephen Busch, Michael Prysby and Bradley Wurfel.

While the suit will continue against those officials, the judges decision dismissed claims against five state employees including former director of Department of Environmental Quality Daniel Wyant, Department of Health and Human Services Director Nick Lyon, former Chief Medical Executive Eden Wells and DHHS staffers Nancy Peeler and Robert Scott.

Griffin wrote they were dismissed because plaintiffs complaint alleges mere negligence and not a constitutional violation against them," according to court records.

Plaintiffs' lawyers for a similar case Theodore J. Leopold of Cohen Milstein and Michael Pitt stated The courts decision is clear, the city of Flint does not get a free pass for reckless behavior and violating the constitutional rights of the citizens of Flint. This is another victory for the people of Flint who have suffered and been ignored long enough by city and state officials."

The city of Flint claimed it should be exempt from litigation under the 11th Amendment, which grants a state immunity from being sued in federal court by individuals. The city argued it was an arm of the state because it was under the control of state-appointed emergency managers when the water supply was switched.

The court ruled the city has no such immunity and was acting as its own body during the water crisis.

In his opinion, Griffin stated the plaintiffs made a plausible due process argument about the violation of bodily integrity regarding some of the defendants.

Sam Bagenstos, a civil rights lawyer who has worked on the case, said he considers Griffin a conservative judge and that his wording shows the court recognizes the plaintiffs argument and alleging are clear and concise.

The courts ruling will allow the suit to continue in the United States district court, Bagenstos said.

This decision basically said were not stopping this case, he said. It allows this case to move a step forward, but theres still a long way to go.
Editors note: This story has been updated to correctly reflect the victims town of residence.

YPSILANTI, MI - Police have revealed the identity of a 38-year-old man fatally shot in December in Ypsilanti.

Robert E. Powell of Ypsilanti Township was found fatally wounded about 10:40 p.m. Dec. 21, 2018, in the 400 block of Second Avenue after police were called to the area for a report of shots fired, Ypsilanti police Lt. Brent Yuchasz said in an email.

Its believed Powell had an altercation with another man, Yuchasz previously said. The incident is still being investigated as a homicide.

Police declined to release further information.

Anyone with information on the shooting are asked to contact the Ypsilanti Police Department at 734-483-9510.
UPDATE: This crash was cleared as of 4:50 p.m.

GREEN OAK TOWNSHIP, MI - A crash snarled traffic on U.S. 23 north of Ann Arbor ahead of the evening commute Friday, Jan. 4.

The crash, reported about 3:50 p.m., was blocking all lanes of northbound U.S. 23 at Eight Mile Road, exit 53, in Livingston Countys Green Oak Township as of 4:20 p.m., according the Michigan Department of Transportation.

Traffic appeared to backed up to North Territorial Road.

Further information was not immediately available.
MARQUETTE COUNTY, MI  A Michigan man was killed when he was hit by a car in the Upper Peninsula.

The incident occurred on US-41 near Brickyard Road in Marquette County around 5:50 a.m. on Friday when a Chevrolet pickup driven by 51-year-old male from Ishpeming struck a 36-year-old pedestrian from Skandia.

Troopers from the Michigan State Police Negaunee Post responded to the scene. The pedestrian was severely injured and succumbed to the injuries at the scene.

US-41 was closed in both directions until approximately 9 a.m. as troopers investigated the incident. The names of those involved are being withheld at this time pending family notification and further investigation.

Troopers were assisted in their investigation by Marquette Police Department, the Marquette County Sherriffs Office, Marquette Twp. Fire, and UP Health Systems- Marquette.
Less than a month after sentencing, the convicted ringleader of an online child porn ring was beaten to death behind bars, federal prison officials say.

Christian Maire, 40, died of injuries he suffered during a fight involving seven inmates on Jan. 2 in Milans federal prison, which is located about 15 miles south of Ann Arbor.

Additionally, three inmates and two guards were treated for non-fatal injuries suffered in the altercation.

U.S. District Judge Stephen J. Murphy III, per a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorneys Office, sentenced Maire to 40 years in prison on Dec. 7, although hed been detained in the Milan prison since May 29, while he awaited resolution of his case.

Maire led a group of seven men located throughout the U.S. and Canada, who preyed on vulnerable underage girls from behind computer screens, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin M. Mulcahy said in a sentencing memorandum filed in Maires criminal case.

Investigators dubbed the group of men the Bored Group, because the aliases they used in online chat rooms, for unknown reasons, often contained the word bored."

The group of men used lies, manipulation and fake profiles -- usually posing as teenage boys -- to lure girls as young as 10 into private online video chat rooms, where the girls would be asked to strip, masturbate or commit other sex acts on camera, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. The videos were then distributed to members of the group.

They hunted" and lied to more than 100 victims between 2012 and 2017, Mulcahy wrote in the sentencing memorandum, in which the government originally requested a life prison sentence for Maire.

All identified participants in the ring have been convicted and sentenced to federal prison.

Maire, a married father of two from Port Dickinson, New York, worked in high-tech computer businesses and graduated from the University of Southhampton in England, according to the Binghampton Press & Sun Bulletin.

The FBI is currently investigating the inmates involved in the beating that led to Maires death and is expected to turn its findings over to the U.S. Attorneys office for possible criminal charges upon completion.

Daniel A. Clore Jr., a spokesman for the Milan prison, didnt immediately know when the last inmate homicide occurred there.

The prison and adjacent detention center house an estimated 1,370 offenders.

U.S. Attorneys Office sentencing memo in Maires criminal case:
LIME ISLAND, MI  A dog who went missing on Christmas while visiting family on a Canadian island ultimately became stranded on another, smaller island near the Upper Peninsula. It was there that he was spotted nine days later by a U.S. Coast Guard cutter crew that had been motoring up the St. Marys River.

Concerned about the dog, the Coast Guard crew was able to lure him in with macaroni and rescue him. He was due to pull into port with the crew in Cheboygan by this evening, where hes to be reunited with his very excited owners, relatives said.

Its an unusual rescue story that has dog lovers cheering on both sides of the border.

Thank you so much to the US Coast Guard and the crew of the USCGC Mackinaw, Andy Selin wrote on Facebook. Logan the dog belongs to his daughter, Lydia, and her boyfriend, Kailaan Walker. Sounds like this dog is the star attraction on the ship with a crew of 50.

The husky was lost on Christmas Day while Lydia Selin and Walker, who are from southern Ontario, were visiting her family on St. Joseph Island. The large island is in northwest Lake Huron, just across the border from the U. S., and north of our Drummond Island.

Logan had a collar on with a phone number. The couple posted Logans picture on social media, but hadnt heard anything until this Thursday. Thats when Lydia Selin got a call from the crew aboard the Mackinaw, a 240-foot ice breaker.

The told her that on Wednesday, they noticed a dog on the ice of the St. Marys River. They saw it break through the ice, then struggle to shoreline of Lime Island, a small island on the U.S. side, just southwest of St. Joseph Island.

Lime Island is a state park area, and mostly uninhabited in the winter, except for the occasional bear, according to reports.

The ship sent out a landing party of 20 to comb the island in search of the dog, but apparently could not talk the frightened animal into coming to their calls, Andy Selin said. They set a fire on the shore of the island and left out macaroni.

The pasta did the trick. On Thursday, the Mackinaw crew against passed Lime Island and found the dog sitting there, along with the empty bowl.

The crew picked Logan up and brought him aboard the ship. Medical staff on board tended to his wounds, Selin said. Photos being shared by a crew member show Logan with bandaged feet.

Logans owners believe he was on a quest, heading south back to his home farm.

Guess the dog felt the ice was the shortest route. Thanks to the U.S. coast guard, his trip home will be so much more enjoyable, Selin said.

He said the Mackinaw was expected to pull into its home port this evening. Thats where his daughter and her boyfriend will be waiting to be reunited with Logan.

The drama is still unfolding, Selin told MLive. Lydia and Kailaan just made Cheboygan and are waiting for the USSCG Mackinaw to dock. From the posts, sounds like the crew is as excited at Lydia and Kailaan are.
Professor Mikhail agreed that the class was saying on task, and added that teamwork and creative thinking also are skills that are developed within the camp experience, and these will take them far in their career choice.
The Dodgers have signed outfielder Paulo Orlando to a minor league deal, MetsMerizeds Michael Mayer reports (Twitter link). Orlando will receive an invitation to the Dodgers big league Spring Training camp, the Southern California News Groups J.P. Hoornstra adds (via Twitter).

Orlando broke into the majors with the Royals in 2015, receiving 251 plate appearances for the eventual world champions and becoming the first Brazilian-born player to ever appear in a World Series game. He was a part-time outfielder in his first two seasons, and batted .302/.329/.405 over 484 PA in 2016, though a .380 BABIP played a big role in that production. After that solid start to his career, however, Orlando has struggled over the last two seasons, appearing in just 64 total games and batting only .182/.209/.250, shuttling up and down to the minors and also dealing with some injuries.

Orlando was something of a late bloomer in the big leagues and turned 33 in November, though hell give L.A. some additional outfield depth at all three positions. Between signing Orlando and Shane Peterson to minors deals in recent days, the Dodgers are restocking their outfield depth (albeit at a lower level) after trading Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp to the Reds.
U.S. forces have continued air and artillery strikes in Syria against Islamic State targets and will conduct them indefinitely despite President Donald Trump's announcement Dec. 19 that U.S. troops would withdraw from the country, the U.S. military regional command said Friday.

In a release, Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) said that U.S. and coalition forces conducted 469 strikes with either air or artillery in Syria between Dec.16 and Dec. 29 against a range of ISIS targets and in support of the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northeastern Syria.

The strikes were carried out using a variety of platforms, including fighters, attack aircraft, bombers, rotary-wing and remotely piloted aircraft, rocket-propelled artillery and ground-based tactical artillery, the task force said.

There is no immediate cutoff date for the air and artillery strikes, CJTF-OIR said.

U.S. forces "will continue to target ISIS" and "will remain committed to the enduring defeat of ISIS to improve conditions for peace and stability in the region," the release stated.

In addition to the U.S. and coalition strikes, Iraqi fighter aircraft have also attacked ISIS targets inside Syria in recent days.

Iraq's Joint Operations Command in Baghdad said Monday that Iraqi F-16s hit a house near the Iraqi border that was being used for meetings by ISIS leaders. The attack Monday came a day after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said he had no objections to Iraqi cross-border strikes that were limited to the remnants of ISIS in eastern Syria.

Commanders of the SDF, which has driven ISIS out of most of eastern Syria, initially charged that Trump's withdrawal announcement amounted to a betrayal that would leave them prey to threatened attack by Turkey, but SDF fighters have continued to press the offensive against ISIS near the Iraqi border, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group.

Turkey considers the Kurdish YPG (People's Protection Units), the main fighting force within the SDF, to be linked to the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party), which has been labeled a terrorist group by the U.S., Turkey and the European Union.

In another sign that the U.S. is continuing to support the SDF, the Observatory said Friday that U.S. troops were conducting patrols in the flashpoint town of Manbij in northeastern Syria near the Turkish border. Turkey has demanded that elements of the SDF in Manbij leave the town and withdraw east of the Euphrates River.

Since his withdrawal announcement, which prompted the resignation of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, Trump has repeatedly backed up his intention to bring home U.S. troops from Syria, but said the withdrawal would be "slow and coordinated."

At a White House Cabinet meeting Wednesday, Trump said, "We've had a tremendous success in Syria and "we're slowly bringing people back."

He added, "We are doing something that, frankly, if I would have told you two years [ago], when we first came into office, that we would have had that kind of success, nobody would have believed it."

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.
Army veteran and Florida Rep. Brian Mast tweeted a photo Thursday marking the swearing-in ceremony of fellow wounded veterans and Republican congressmen Jim Baird and Dan Crenshaw.

"5 eyes. 5 arms. 4 legs. All American," Mast captioned the image in a post on Twitter. "Welcome to Congress, @ElectJimBaird and @DanCrenshawTX."

The tweet cheekily paid homage to the congressmen's sacrifices during their military service.

Mast lost both legs in 2010 while clearing improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan; Baird, R-Ind., lost an arm while serving in the Vietnam War with the Army; and Crenshaw, R-Texas, lost an eye in a 2012 IED blast while serving in the Navy SEALs in Afghanistan.

Each of the congressmen have received Purple Hearts and Bronze Stars.

Crenshaw gained notoriety last fall when comedian Pete Davidson mocked the veteran's eye patch in a poorly received "Saturday Night Live" sketch saying he looked "like a hitman in a porno movie."

"I'm sorry, I know he lost his eye in war or whatever," Davidson added after the joke.

After facing outrage over the comment, Davidson apologized on the following SNL episode.

"The man is a war hero and he deserves all the respect in the world," he said.

After Davidson joked in the sketch that Republicans and Democrats alike could agree the comedian was a jerk, Crenshaw joined the actor in a cameo appearance.

"There's a lot of lessons to learn here, not just that the left and right can still agree on some things, but also this: Americans can forgive one another," Crenshaw said on the show.

The 116th Congress convened Thursday with Baird and Crenshaw serving for the first time at the congressional level. Mast has served in Congress since January 2017.
Military Wants to Use Rockets to Deliver Cargo Anywhere in the World in Less Than an Hour

The Air Force announced that "Rocket Cargo" will be the fourth experiment under its Vanguard program.
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.
Saffron has been treasured by populations around the globe for nearly 4,000 years of cultivation and use. Spanning the Far East to the Persian Empire to the Ancient Greeks and Romans as well as throughout Europe, saffron has many mentions in history books, especially about its importance embraced by both trade merchants and royalty. Cleopatra even makes mention of saffron as vital when used in her warm water soaking baths, as well as praising its value as an aphrodisiac.
WASHINGTON  Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., on Friday joined a group of fellow Democrats re-introducing legislation that would require President Donald Trump - and his successors in the White House - to release their federal tax returns.

Presidents and presidential candidates have routinely disclosed their tax returns since the 1970s, but Trump has bucked that tradition by refusing to release his.

Murphy and the other co-sponsors of the legislation say the public needs to know about the presidents financial ties.

Presidents have a lot of powerthey can unilaterally change federal contracts, influence foreign governments, and impose sanctions, Murphy said in a statement. Americans deserve to know if the foreign policy decisions presidents make are based on the best interests of the country or made to benefit the presidents pocketbook.

Murphy also said, President Trumps bizarre history of nonsensical foreign policy decisions could easily be explained by his or the Trump Organizations financial ties to countries like Russia and Saudi Arabia.

The Presidential Tax Transparency Act would require sitting presidents to release their most recent three years of tax returns to the Office of Government Ethics (OGE). It also requires that, within 15 days of becoming the nominee at the party convention, presidential nominees release their most recent 3 years of tax returns to the Federal Election Commission (FEC). Should the sitting president or future candidates refuse to comply, the bill would require the U.S. Treasury to provide the tax returns directly to the OGE or FEC, respectively, for public release.

The bill is likely to stall again in the newly convened 116th Congress, as it did last year, because Republicans have the majority vote in the Senate.

But the House is now controlled by Democrats and chair all committees, including the Ways and Means Committee that has the legal authority to make a formal request to obtain years of Trumps tax returns.

The Presidential Tax Transparency Act has more than 20 Democratic sponsors and was introduced by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee.
HARTFORD  Stemming population loss, fixing the states deteriorating highways and tackling the multi-billion dollar issue of the teachers retirement system were the top issues a panel of experts listed Friday as ways to right Connecticuts fiscal ship.

The panelists spoke at the Connecticut Business and Industry Association / MetroHartford Alliance Economic Summit + Outlook 2019 conference at the downtown Hartford Marriott attended by hundreds of businesspeople and politicians.

The panel was moderated by David Griggs, president and CEO of the MetroHartford Alliance. The panelists included Peter Gioia, chief economist of PGEcon.com; Emily Mandel, an economist for Moodys Analytics; Manisha Srivastava, a budget specialist for the state Office of Policy & Management; and Susan Coleman, professor of finance at the University of Hartford.

Mandel stated the obvious: Connecticut clearly has had a slower recovery than the rest of the country.

She said: Connecticut has really struggled with financial services and population losses. Those population losses, she went on, are mostly younger people.

The result, Mandel said, Is Connecticuts population is older which is hurting the housing market.

She said as a comparison, one of the other states she tracks in her job is Colorado and young people are flocking to that state.

Younger and middle age people bring more wealth, she told the audience. She added that Colorado has also seen a boon in international immigration.

Gioia picked up on that theme, stating people need to understand that there is a big difference between illegal immigrants and legal immigration.

This area of the country benefits enormously from skilled immigration from around the world, Gioia said. We need to encourage students who come here to study to stay here.

Briggs, Srivastava and Gioia all said they have been encouraged, in recent months, by the number of start-up companies that have come to call to Connecticut home.

Briggs specifically mentioned Infosys, a global leader in consulting, technology and next-generation services, which recently opened its next technology and innovation hub in Hartford, and plans to have 1,000 workers in the state by 2022.

But Gioia added a warning that while its good that Hartford, New Haven and other cities are attracting start-up companies to come to Connecticut that: Lets make sure we have the kind of policies in place that keep them here years down the road.

He said the danger is the start-ups will eventually find bigger cities such as New York, Boston or Raleigh more attractive if Connecticut doesnt continue to make itself a business friendly environment.

Predictability in the state budget was also a recurring theme mentioned both by the panel and other speakers during morning session.

Srivastava said one of the issues that Gov.-elect Ned Lamont and the new legislature will face is tackling the Teachers Retirement Fund.

The annual contribution to the Teachers Retirement System is about $1.3 billion, but it could top $3.25 billion to $6.2 billion by 2032, depending on different experts, because of years of underfunding. Connecticut didnt start setting aside money to pay for teachers retirements until around 1982.

Outgoing Gov. Dannel P. Malloy tried to shift some of the costs of the program to the towns but was unsuccessful in the last legislature.

Srivastava said perhaps Lamont and the new legislature can try the approach with the teachers that worked with state workers - namely lengthening the payment period for the unfunded liabilities over a longer period of time or explore an option suggested by State Treasurer Denise Nappier to issue lottery-backed revenue bonds sufficient to generate cash proceeds of approximately $1.5 billion for deposit into the Teachers Retirement Fund.

Of course no discussion about fixing Connecticuts struggling economy could go without some conversation about the states roads and highways - and tolls.

Gioia said nothing would help Connecticut businesses - and the Connecticut economy - more than finding a way to get to New York City quicker.

We need to get the roads unclogged, he said, adding if the highways werent worked, Were looking at another Mianus River in the next 10 years.

The Mianus River bridge over I-95 in Greenwich collapsed in 1983, killing three motorists.

Asked by an audience member whether he was in favor of tolls, Gioia said he was, but only on interstates 91 and 84.

He said, If you boosted travel speeds significantly, once thats done people wouldnt mind paying a modest toll to keep traffic moving. He said over time he believes people would prefer that than being continually stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Moodys Mandel agreed with Gioia, stating she thought the recent Hartford-to-New Haven additional train line was a good first step.

She said while Connecticut has made some baby steps in improving the business climate over the past year, its not Boston, its not New York.

Increasing travel speed for commuters would be a big key in attracting businesses and new workers, Mandel said.
HURON COUNTY  The 59th Huron County Picnic will take place Jan. 25 at Sun-n-Fun Resort, 7125 Fruitville Road in Sarasota, Florida.

To get there, use exit 210 off of I-75 then go one mile east.

Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. in Woodland Hall. A buffet potluck will be at noon. Coffee and ice tea will be furnished.

Please bring your own table service and a dish to pass.
KIRTLAND, New Mexico  Angela Messing received some very exciting news while visiting her parents in Harbor Beach during the holidays.

The United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel learned she was promoted to Squadron Commander of the 705 Combat Training Squadron.

Not only was she promoted to Squadron Commander, but she is the first woman to ever hold that position at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico.

Messing is the daughter of Allen and Shirley Messing of Harbor Beach. She was a 1989 graduate of Harbor Beach High School.

"I enlisted in the Air Force right out of high school," Messing said.

She continued her education while serving, and received a Bachelor of Science degree from Wayland Baptist University.

Messing has made the best of her career. Not only did she finish college, she went to officers training school and graduated as second lieutenant.

The lieutenant colonel has been stationed at numerous bases across the United States. These include bases in California, Texas, Alabama, Florida, and others. In addition, she has had several deployments outside the U.S.

While discussing deployments outside this country, Messing said she had served a year at Osan Air Force Base in Korea.

I enjoyed it, she said. It was a good assignment.

She was also deployed twice to desert operations in Southwest Asia as Air Battle Manager.

Due to confidentially concerns, she was unwilling to discuss the exact locations of these duty stations.

She did say her job was  ... basically to control aircraft in the area.

As far as her career is concerned, the lieutenant colonel has several future plans. One is to finish her command in New Mexico.

I'd like to get back to the east coast," she said. Ill keep using my expertise to move the ball down the field.

She was then asked what were the chances of her making general.

Its definitely a possibility, she said. Theres definitely a chance for me to make general, but first Ive got to make colonel.

Unfortunately, Messings visit to Huron County was short lived. She wished she could have spent more time with her family in Harbor Beach, but she had command duties to care for back at Kirkland.

I have a whole other family Im responsible for," she said.
The report stated that the man approached the Chicago resident at 12:32 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 3, in the 100 block of Madison Street in Oak Park. After requesting change and a cigarette, the man then grabbed the Chicago resident and displayed a black handgun before taking cash, a bank card and a bank receipt, according to police. The total loss, police said, was $703.
Since Saddlewood was annexed to Naperville in 2006, it has been home to Star 7 Liquor and Tobacco. Though Naperville prohibits liquor stores in centers like Saddlewood that are less than 60,000 square feet, Star 7 was allowed to stay in business through April 30, 2019, as part of the annexation agreement.
Vape 58 sells a wide variety of flavored vape juice, which have been the target of a proposed ban by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration because of their appeal to teens. E-cigarette use increased 78 percent among high school students, from 12 percent in 2017 to 21 percent in 2018, the FDA website says. Nearly 90 percent of adults who use nicotine products started before the age of 18 and 95 percent by age 21, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb has said.
V. SKOURIS: We have Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Katrougalos on the phone with us. Minister, good morning and Happy New Year!

G. KATROUGALOS: Happy New Year! Good morning to your listeners, also.

V. SKOURIS: What do you respond to Mr. Cavusoglu who implicates the Greek Minister of Defence in a possible heated incident in the Aegean?

G. KATROUGALOS: We all know the politics of both countries. From our part we are a peace-loving country and our rights are based on International Law. Therefore, for us there is no need for a bellicose rhetoric, nor for attacks, even less so with personal attacks and we expect the other side as well to act accordingly. As we are well aware that it bears a stamp of revisionism in its politics, which is precisely due to the calling into question of International Law on its part, it is often pushed to make similar moves and statements.

But I shall remind that such actions lead to isolation. The US Assistant Secretary of State, during a recent interview, said that, especially regarding issues related to exclusive economic zones, Turkey is isolated in a minority of one. And, naturally, I think that such a position is obviously a weak position, not a strong one.

V. SKOURIS: But does this perhaps also render it more dangerous? For example, do you fear a heated incident in the Aegean? And indeed a heated incident in order for the Prespa Agreement not to come before the Hellenic Parliament, as was recently rumoured?

G. KATROUGALOS: These two things are in no way related. I have said many times that we fear nothing, while we always remain vigilant. Why? On the one hand we have managed for our country to currently enjoy the strongest international standing that it has ever had on the international scene. We have a significant deterrent force, which are our Armed Forces. On the other hand, I dont believe that the other side has a heated incident in mind at all, because it is well aware that a war in the Aegean is a lose-lose situation; it cannot be won.

Precisely for this reason, I dont believe that we will have a heated incident. But this does not mean that we must not exhibit the necessary vigilance at all times, though accompanied by sobriety.

V. SKOURIS: Do your fear the Aegean being turned into a grey zone, which many insist is Turkey's objective? Does this concern you? Do you see something like this being promoted?

G. KATROUGALOS: The revisionism I spoke about is related to an effort to turn certain regions of the Aegean into grey zones. But when you are a minority of one, to revisit the phrase of the American Officer, it is obvious that you fail in your efforts. I therefore believe that it is exactly this that we have succeeded in obtaining through systematic diplomatic effort on both a multilateral and trilateral level - and I watched carefully the very interesting interview with my friend, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides. When you have developed this whole network of diplomatic efforts, you have done so because you clearly wish to stabilise the region and to stand out as a country which is a stabilising factor, as well as to render useless the efforts of others to turn into grey zones what International Law has demarcated with bright colours and safeguarded in our region, and especially the Aegean.

V. SKOURIS: Since we mentioned Mr. Christodoulides interview, with regard to the Cyprus issue, do you feel that talks can in fact resume in this coming year? And which are the red lines for Athens?

G. KATROUGALOS: It is our objective to resolve the Cyprus issue. And what we succeeded in doing last year, and I wish again to refer to that which is self-evident, to the leading role that the previous Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Kotzias, played, is precisely to present the Cyprus issue in its true dimensions, its international dimensions, as a problem of illegal invasion and occupation troops. For Greece the crucial thing, therefore, is for the issue of guarantees and security to be highlighted, and, on this, we concur, as you have heard, with the Republic of Cyprus.

We feel that this completely anachronistic system of guarantees must end, which grants interventional rights to one country against another one, which is indeed a sovereign country and a member of the European Union, and also for a clear timetable to exist for the definitive withdrawal of all foreign troops. This is the institutional acquis from the previous period, and we wish to continue it, and we feel that in order for the Cyprus issue to be resolved, a forceful response must exist to this end.

V. SKOURIS: But you have heard the counterarguments, Minister. That it is preferable for the situation to remain as it stands, as opposed to providing a solution that does not benefit the Greek Cypriots.

G. KATROUGALOS: Obviously we are not seeking just any solution. We seek a solution to the Cyprus issue that will satisfy the parameters I outlined to you as regards its international dimension - which is the only one about which Greece is negotiating - and clearly its domestic dimension as well. We can neither have an ungoverned state nor a downgrading of its rights and European acquis.

V. SKOURIS: You are correct, because I did not phrase the question properly. I mean to say that there are certain people who believe that it is preferable for the Cyprus issue not to be resolved.

G. KATROUGALOS: This means acceptance, on our part, of the status quo, of invasion and division, for de facto division to become de jure division. I dont think this represents a solution.

V. SKOURIS: Now, Minister, is Mr. Stoltenberg indeed asking for ratification of the Agreement and the Protocol of Accession of fYROM to NATO, provided that the problem is resolved, by 15 February?

G. KATROUGALOS: I have received no such letter. It is self-evident that we seek immediate ratification of the Prespa Agreement, as is our contractual obligation arising from the Agreement, but also because we believe that it is beneficial on a national level as well.

V. SKOURIS: As part of a different voting procedure than for ratification itself?

G. KATROUGALOS: Obviously. These are two different things. In other words, from the day after completion of the constitutional process in the neighbouring country and when - as it seems - this constitutional process is completed as we wish, a period commences within which we too must ratify the Agreement, from the following day, as you have heard many times, until March.

And immediately after, because this is a condition for ratification of the Agreement, the issue of accession of the neighbouring country to NATO will also come to the Hellenic Parliament. And this has always been, at least since Bucharest, the position that was supported by the vast array of political parties: First the solution with regard to the name - we provided a broader solution, not only for the name, but on the whole, as regards irredentist issues - and then accession to international organisations.

V. SKOURIS: But many say that you are holding two different voting procedures in order to make it difficult for New Democracy. Because what will this party say, which is in favour of accession, in favour of Euroatlantic Institutions? For the neighbouring country not to enter NATO? Is that what you are seeking for?

G. KATROUGALOS: But in any case, New Democracy has won a prize for regression with regard to the Macedonia issue. Werent they always in favour of the compound name erga omnes? Ms. Bakoyianni is still saying it. Others who believe this dont say it loudly, but it is common knowledge that this was New Democracy's position until January 2018. Thankfully ours is a digital age and Statements are recorded, especially the statements of the leadership of New Democracy, where oftentimes they are interesting to note.

Moreover, how is it possible for a vote to take place at the same time if we are talking about two separate things, and mainly if the Agreement must first be ratified in order to be able to have a Protocol of Accession? This is the main acquis that we have achieved, one of the main acquis, the procedural matter, that a Protocol of Accession cannot exist, that the process of accession to NATO cannot commence if the Agreement has not been fully ratified. Which means that the other side must have fully undertaken the obligations arising from it.

V. SKOURIS: I would like to ask you about with regard to this topic, does ratification of the Prespa Agreement require a majority for you - 151 votes - on a political level always? Because institutionally you can achieve it with much fewer votes than those present.

G. KATROUGALOS: Constitutionally, I have told you, we have already had this discussion, an absolute majority is not required.

V. SKOURIS: We have resolved this. I mean, politically, are 151 votes required?

G. KATROUGALOS: Politically, I feel that such a major issue needs to have an absolute majority.

V. SKOURIS: Otherwise?

G. KATROUGALOS: Otherwise, those MPs who have stated in the past that they support the Agreement and have failed to show the required posture of national responsibility and personal dignity shall have a very serious problem.

V. SKOURIS: In what way? I mean, will you ratify it or not? So that we are in agreement with regard to reliability. Will you ratify it or not?

G. KATROUGALOS: Not in agreement with regard to reliability, reliability is in fact the main issue.

V. SKOURIS: We shall not discuss that, we shall go beyond it. I consider that to be self-evident. Therefore, you will not ratify it with less than 151 votes.

G. KATROUGALOS: I told you that constitutionally, ratification does not require more than 151 votes.

V. SKOURIS: I concur, but I asked what it is you will do?

G. KATROUGALOS: I am telling you that I am not willing to even discuss this issue because I am certain that we shall have more than 151 votes. In other words, this does not only result from the real data; everyone knows that political parties exist, let us refer to them by name: POTAMI which, first of all, has a positive take with regard to the Agreement. And so that I am again open and clear, I was referring to it when I spoke of the need for their reliability to be safeguarded, as well as the responsibility that we must show, all MPs, with regard to national issues. But I am also certain that it will be passed because it is a beneficial agreement on a national level, and I am certain that Parliament will not abandon a historic opportunity to end this conflict which has lasted for decades, and which could have been resolved in 1990 if Mr Samaras had not undermined Konstantinos Mitsotakis.

V. SKOURIS: With regard to this issue, yesterday, Mr Tzanakopoulos told us that if Mr Kammenos leaves the government, as well as ANEL, we shall be led to a minority government, like in Spain. Ms Spyraki says that this cannot exist, that this cannot occur, and that the government needs to seek a vote of confidence. The Prime Minister must seek a vote of confidence from Parliament if ANEL leave.

G. KATROUGALOS: What matters is what the Constitution says. The government continues to have the Parliament's confidence, except if the Government withdraws its confidence and, if New Democracy indeed believe this, it possesses, according to the Constitution, the weapon to impose it with a motion of no confidence. I say, let them try.

V. SKOURIS: You seem certain that it is a motion of no confidence that cannot be passed by the Parliament. I imagine that you also heard Mr Koutsoumpas, who said yesterday that this is a ridiculous issue. But the question is, can a motion for a vote of confidence be passed by the current Parliament? Is this required first of all in order for the government to be consolidated?

G. KATROUGALOS: Clearly a motion of confidence is not required when we have a change in Ministers. During previous reshuffles, did we have votes of confidence? No difference exists from a constitutional point of view. Politically, there is a difference. We shall discuss that shortly.

V. SKOURIS: At the same time, Mr Kammenos says that he will not vote for a motion for a vote of confidence and says that he is abandoning the parliamentary majority.

G. KATROUGALOS: We shall see what he will do in the event that a motion of no confidence is submitted, because at that stage of our discussion, we will be speaking about the Constitution, and not about politics. Of course, I shall also answer political questions, but I am telling you that, constitutionally, a government in which a Minister resigns, even if he is an important Minister, even if he is a Minister who is a leader of a minor party in a coalition government, is not required to proceed with a vote of confidence. A vote of confidence is required when there is a change of Prime Minister, not when the Prime Minister changes his Ministers.

V. SKOURIS: Indeed. And politically now: can a government remain in power until the end of the four-year period - and certain people are wondering until May even - without a vote of confidence?

G. KATROUGALOS: This depends on the government's ability to govern, and I assure you that we have displayed this ability of ours given very difficult conditions. There is a precedent where countries, such as Spain, can govern without an absolute majority in the Parliament, and indeed with much less power than SYRIZA has at the moment.

V. SKOURIS: Now back to our topic, the topic of the Prespa Agreement, which we shall find before us. Has what Mr Zaev has done to date with the Constitutional Revision fully satisfied you? If more actions are required for political parties such as POTAMI to be convinced, will you take them?

G. KATROUGALOS: To date, as regards implementation of the Agreement, we feel that the constitutional amendments respond to the obligation that the other side had. Beyond that, both governments wish to do everything possible to make it clear to our peoples that this is a mutually beneficial agreement. This will not cease at the moment of ratification but, during the entire course of its implementation, we shall display this diligence.

V. SKOURIS: Agreed, but I asked if something will be required until it is ratified by the Hellenic Parliament.

G. KATROUGALOS: I dont understand the question. I told you that we shall do everything possible on both sides, not only for it to be passed by Parliament - I consider this to be a given - but for all citizens to be convinced that it is something that is correct, something that is good for both countries.

V. SKOURIS: Indeed. Now, territorial waters: Is what Mr Kotzias said at the time of his departure still valid, that we will have an extension to 12 miles?

G. KATROUGALOS: Of course it is valid. I announced it to the National Council on Foreign Policy, starting from the Ionian Sea.

V. SKOURIS: Should we expect this during 2019?

G. KATROUGALOS: Yes, obviously, during 2019. During the present government term.

V. SKOURIS: In other words, by summer.

G. KATROUGALOS: By October.

V. SKOURIS: I cant get a direct answer to this, either. Let me ask you about the issue of Albania. The Minister of Foreign Affairs has changed. What does this signify?

G. KATROUGALOS: Listen, our approach with that country had advanced a great deal on all issues open to negotiation. And indeed, when we expected to reach the pinnacle of this great progress, the celebration for the 28th of October, when essentially, beyond the National Holiday, we would also honour those fallen on the Albanian front who, for the first time, had found peace, had been buried, we had the very sad Katsifas incident.

Beyond that, for reasons relating mainly to the domestic political scene of the neighbouring country, in my opinion, we had a chilling of the climate, which I feel is fully reversible, though. Our effort is precisely to bring the level of talks back up to the point they were at, and to proceed with definitive settlement of the issues.

V. SKOURIS: A short while ago, the Greek EU Commissioner, Mr Dimitris Avramopoulos, speaking here on our station, declared that Europe must withstand the European elections. He said that if the forces of populism dominate in the European Parliament and, by extension, in national political issues, then I am afraid that soon Europe will return to its negative past, and he requested that the democratic pro-European powers find a way to reach an understanding. I would like your comment on that.

G. KATROUGALOS: The Commissioner is absolutely right about that. I would add of course, to the aspect of democracy and the need for us to protect the open society which we have in Europe, I would also add the dimension that we also protect social rights and the identity of citizens against the attack by neoliberalism. But this year is crucial with regard to all aspects.

And for me to link this to the previous topic which we were discussing, that of Albania, for example, we are in favour of the European perspective of all Western Balkan countries. But on what condition? That they will precisely respect that European acquis that we wish to also protect for old Europe.

For Albania, this does not just mean changes in its rule of law, it also means protection of our Minority. Subsequently, phenomena such as the recent one, essentially confiscation of the property of our nationals in the Himare region, are some of the things that the neighbouring country must again take a look at.

It is obvious that, in Europe, a negative front is taking shape at the moment, a strange marriage between neoliberalism and the far right. To counter this negative front, a coalition must indeed exist, of Europeans who wish for Europe to retain its soul. Freedoms, rights, as well as the social state constitute the soul of Europe.

V. SKOURIS: Before concluding, Minister, I would like to ask you if you have any news with regard to what happened with the Greek consul in Venezuela?

G. KATROUGALOS: You are well informed. To date this does not seem to be a matter of criminal activity, but one cannot proceed with final statements or determinations until we have the final report by the authorities.

V. SKOURIS: Thank you very much.

G. KATROUGALOS: Thank you.
LIBBY TOWNSHIP Board of Canvass The Board of Canvass of Libby Township will meet on Monday, Nov. 12th, 2018 at 1:00 pm at the Palisade Community Center to certify the results of the township election. Jane Grimsbo Jewett Clerk, Libby Township Published in the Aitkin Independent Age November 7, 2018 876564

Ad details LIBBY TOWNSHIP BOARD OF CANVASS The Board of Canvass of Libby Township will meet on Monday, Nov. 12th, 2018 at 1:00 pm at the Palisade Community Center to certify the results of the township election. Jane Grimsbo Jewett Clerk, Libby Township Published in the Aitkin Independent Age November 7, 2018 876564
Services for Bonita Deweese will be held on Monday, June 14, 2021, at 15th Avenue Baptist Church, at 10:30 am. Visitation will be Sunday, 4-6 p.m., at Webb Funeral Home. View the obituary at www.jamesfwebb.com.
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Robert Kramer, 93, of Cochranton, passed away June 10, 2021 at Wesbury United Methodist Retirement Community. He was born June 25, 1927, in Meadville; a son of Irvin and Mabel Moyer Kramer. Robert attended Cochranton High School and then enlisted in the United States Army on September 12, 19
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Hundreds of teens navigated through five aisles of some 50 area employers. Nearly 300 people had walked through the doors within the first hour or so, organizers said. Several retirees looking for work to fill their free time arrived early as well, organizers said. A career center was set up where people could practice their interviewing skills and get tips for writing a resume.
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Nathan Neufeld, DO, is the chief of the Division of Pain Management at Cancer Treatment Centers of America, as well as medical director of Pain Services and Supportive Therapies and an interventional pain management specialist at CTCA Atlanta. Neil Seeley, MD, is the chief of the Division of Anesthesia at Cancer Treatment Centers of America and medical director of anesthesiology at CTCA Atlanta.
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In addition to Naperville Ribfest, which is held by the Exchange Club of Naperville as a fundraiser for its charities, the new field will also displace the annual India Day Celebration held at Knoch Park. In just four years, the August event celebrating Indias independence from the British Empire has become one of the largest such gatherings in the United States, drawing as many as 30,000 people, organizers say.
Viola Caudill, 85, a resident of the Gowen Community passed away Thursday June 10, 2021 at home. A Graveside service will be held a 11:00 AM Monday June 14, 2021 in the Pavilion at Bache-Red Oak Cemetery. There will be a family and friends visitation on Sunday June 13, 2021 from 5:00pm to 7:
President Donald Trump turned his focus to U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren Thursday, offering his latest criticism of the Massachusetts Democrat, who recently unveiled her 2020 presidential ambitions.

The president, who has repeatedly sparred with the senator in recent years, tweeted an image depicting a fake presidential campaign logo stating "Warren, 1/2020th" -- an apparent reference to the Democrat's potential White House run, as well as her claims of Native American ancestry.

Warren, who announced Monday that she had formed an exploratory committee to look at a 2020 presidential bid, has faced criticism from Trump and others over her October decision to release the results of DNA test backing up her claims of Native American heritage.

The test results suggested that Warren had a Native American ancestor in her family six to 10 generations back.

Trump and his supporters, who had mocked Warren's ancestry claims and referred to her as "Pocahontas," jumped on the DNA test's findings, arguing that it shows she has between 1/64 and 1/1,024 Native American genes.

The president's tweet came just hours after Warren offered supporters a preview of her 2020 stump speech during a swearing-in ceremony gathering on Capitol Hill.

The senator called on federal lawmakers Thursday to use the newly convened 116th Congress to pursue "structural changes" to American politics and support economic policies that ensure the government works for the people and not just wealthy.

In response to the president's tweet, Warren told NBC News Thursday that she believes Trump should focus more of ending the government shutdown.

"We're now in the 13th day of the shutdown, we have hundreds of thousands of federal employees not getting their paychecks and work that's not being done all around this country," she reportedly said. "Those are the issues we need to worry about, and that's where we need to focus."
BOSTON - A Newton man was taken into custody Friday after a road rage incident turned violent.

Police say Nicholas Franco, 66, attacked an 86-year-old cab driver after the two got into an argument near the Logan Airport Friday morning.

Franco, who is now facing charges, was driving his Mercedes in the vicinity of Harborside Drive when he pulled in front of a white taxi cab and stopped, according to police.

Surveillance footage and statements from witnesses show Franco stepped out of his car and proceeded to get in an argument with the elderly driver of the cab. The argument led to Franco pulling the driver's glasses off of his face before shoving him to the ground and striking him, police said.

The cab driver was later taken to Massachusetts General Hospital for medical evaluation and Franco was arrested shortly thereafter in East Boston.

Franco is now facing charges for assault and battery upon an elderly person over 60 or disabled person with injury. He was scheduled to appear in East Boston District Court Friday afternoon.
SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Charlie Baker, as part of a statewide inaugural celebration to kick off his second four-year term, made himself at home at the Student Prince Cafe and Fort Restaurant on Friday, lauding past successes and future hopes.

Baker, joined by Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, arrived to cheers and applause at the Fort, as part of a series of stops in the state that began in Lee and was to end in Worcester one day after their Boston inauguration event.

Baker and Polito said they have enjoyed a great friendship and partnership with Springfield and the region, and pledged that will continue in the new term.

I cant think of a better place for us to be the day after the inauguration than right back here in Springfield in the Fort and recognizing and understanding that this story right here is a great story about Springfield and about possibility and hope as well, Baker said.

Local officials including Mayor Domenic J. Sarno praised Baker and his administration for focusing attention on Springfield, with Sarno referring to Baker as a "great friend and partner" of the city.

Baker recalled visiting Sarno at the mayors office the day after his first election as governor, wanting to send the signal there were no hard feelings that Sarno supported Bakers opponent then, Martha Coakley.

Baker and Polito have made numerous visits to Springfield and other communities over the past four years.

"A great commonwealth is 351 cities and towns where everybody feels like the pedal is to the metal and things are heading in the right direction," Baker said. "And that's going to be what we focus on."

Baker cited the experience of himself and Polito as former local officials, and said that a big part of his administration is to help communities be great. That effort needs to be assisted by the state and in partnership with local government, he said.

"Not just communities here or here, but like all of them," Baker said. "I think in many ways one of the most important things for state government to do is to help local communities succeed. But on the ground in those communities, if you create momentum and you create positivity and you create possibility, you create hope."

Baker said the coming term will continue to focus on issues including transportation, education, community development, economic development, and resiliency and climate change.

But it also about issues such as culverts in need of repair, Baker said. City Councilor Kateri Walsh joined Sarno in praising Baker as a friend of Springfield, and cited the example of Baker approving a $3 million grant for the future repair of a culvert at Forest Park.

Sarno and Walsh also praised Baker for working in a bipartisan way to get things done in government.

I think Washington, D.C., could learn a little about that, Sarno said.
A Dracut man is in custody for allegedly driving under the influence of narcotics and leading Massachusetts State Police troopers on a vehicle pursuit down Interstate 95 Friday afternoon.

State police say Dracut resident Daniel Gentile, 58, was driving erratically on I-95 southbound around 4:30 p.m. on Friday. A witness reported that Gentile, who was driving a white Dodge RAM 1500 in the area of Stoneham, was all over the road and almost hit other vehicles, according to state police.

An adult female passenger and dog were also in the truck with Gentile, who has been charged with operating under the influence of drugs twice before, state police said.

State Police Trooper Daniel Katz located the suspect driving in the area of Exit 32 in Burlington. Gentile refused to stop and a police pursuit was authorized by the Troop A Headquarters of the Mass. State Police.

Gentile was eventually caught on I-95 in Lexington thanks to a tire deflation trap set by another state police trooper near Exit 29, where I-95 meets Route 2. The tires of the Dodge truck struck the stop sticks device and deflated, forcing Gentile to a stop.

The Dracut man was uncooperative during his arrest and state police troopers determined he was under the influence of narcotics.

Gentile faces a number of charges, including his third offense of operating under the influence of drugs, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, resisting arrest, failure to stop for police, and a marked lanes violation. On Friday he was booked at the Danvers State Police Barracks and held on $7,500 cash bail.

The woman in the car with Gentile was suspected of also being under the influence of drugs, police said. She was transported to an area hospital. The dog in the truck was taken to an area humane society.
Y.A.s boyfriend called her names, pulled her hair, and punched her. He took her bank card and only let her use it in his presence, then emptied her bank account, so Y.A. couldnt pay rent. Finally, after the man choked Y.A. to prevent her from leaving the house, she broke up with him.

Y.A. told her landlord at the Boston Housing Authority about the abuse and asked for time to make her payments. But Y.A. had by that time negotiated multiple payment plans with the Housing Authority. The Housing Authority moved to evict her, and a Housing Court judge ruled that the authority could go ahead.

The federal Violence Against Women Act protects domestic violence victims from eviction, if their inability to pay rent is due to the abuse. The Supreme Judicial Court will hear arguments on Monday in the case Boston Housing Authority vs. Y.A. about the extent to which these protections apply, and how the federal protections interact with state law.

The court will decide whether Y.A., who has two children, can stay in her home. The case could also clarify how public housing landlords and housing courts must treat domestic violence victims who struggle to pay rent.

For victims trying to leave a domestic violence situation, the ability to have safe housing is critical, said Jamie Sabino, an attorney with the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute who filed an amicus brief with other domestic violence advocates in support of Y.A. Were she not to be able to stay in her apartment  and have to try to find a home for herself and her children, there might be a possibility of having to go back to the abuser at some point.

Y.A. is the pseudonym for the woman used in court documents.

According to court briefs filed by Y.A. and the Boston Housing Authority, Y.A. has lived in the public housing apartment since October 2013. In 2014, she entered a relationship with an abusive man. The abuse, and the mans control of her finances, directly impacted her ability to pay rent.

The Boston Housing Authority entered into five payment agreements with Y.A. between 2014 and 2017, but Y.A. did not pay the money. By 2017, she owed more than $7,000 in rent.

In October 2017, after freeing herself from the relationship, Y.A. told the Housing Authority about the abuse.

A Housing Court judge in January 2018 ruled that despite the abuse, the Boston Housing Authority had given Y.A. multiple chances and could proceed with eviction.

Y.A. still lives in the apartment pending the appeal.

Y.A.'s attorneys will argue before the states highest court that the Violence Against Women Act protects her from eviction, since her nonpayment of rent was due to domestic violence. She says the Housing Authority could have taken additional steps, including accepting a payment she offered them in January 2018, to stop the eviction.

The Boston Housing Authority argues that it acted reasonably by offering Y.A. five payment plans in less than five years, and Y.A. continually failed to pay her rent. The authority says years of missed payments go beyond the temporary failure to pay rent protected by the Violence Against Women Act.

The case applies to public housing because it is federally funded, so the Violence Against Women Act applies.

A group of Massachusetts advocates who provide services to domestic violence victims and a separate group of state and national domestic violence groups have filed court briefs in support of Y.A.

The Massachusetts groups, which include Jane Doe, the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center, Casa Myrna, the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute and others, said there is a clear connection between domestic violence and homelessness in Massachusetts. Some victims must leave their homes to escape an abuser; others cannot pay rent because of the abuse.

Here, Y.A. ended an abusive relationship, which drastically impacted her ability to pay rent, the advocacy groups wrote. Now, she must rebuild her life. ... Faulting her, or any other survivor, for taking time to do so is not only inappropriate, it is against the stated goal and core protections of VAWA.
A meet-up to sell sneakers turned violent on Thursday after the expected buyer, 19-year-old Dequan Hagen of Nashua, New Hampshire, allegedly robbed and stabbed the seller at his home in Tyngsborough.

Tyngsborough Police say Hagen turned himself in sometime on Friday after authorities announced him as a main suspect in a stabbing, robbery and home invasion case.

In a statement, Tyngsborough Police Chief Richard D. Howe said officers were dispatched to a home on Frost Road around 8:13 p.m. Thursday, where they learned a 17-year-old male had been stabbed.

Police say Hagen had visited the victims home to purchase a pair of sneakers, and an altercation occurred when the Nashua teen tried to leave without paying.

Hagen allegedly fled to his car, a silver sedan, and returned with a knife to force his way into the home and stab the seller in the abdomen. Officers observed blood on the floor as well as physical damage to a door and the garage.

The victim was transported to a Boston-area hospital by helicopter. Police say he is in stable condition. Authorities released a wanted poster of Hagen on Friday before the suspect turned himself in.

Tyngsborough Police say Hagen faces charges of armed robbery, home invasion, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a dangerous weapon, and malicious destruction of property over $1,200.

In a statement, Chief Howe assured the Tyngsborough community that the alleged assault was not random: We have no reason to believe that the public is in danger, and we are working aggressively with our law enforcement partners in the area to locate and arrest this suspect as soon as possible."
CHICOPEE  Big Y has opened a Big Y Express Gas Station and Convenience Store at 1177 Granby Road.

The new location is the ninth Big Y Express and the eighth in Massachusetts. Others are in Lee, Pittsfield, Hadley, Longmeadow, Wilbraham, South Hadley and Springfield and Stafford Springs, Connecticut, according to a news release issued Friday.

Big Y opened its first Express location in Lee in 2013.

The store sells Green Mountain Coffee, milk, bread, cold beverages, candy, snacks, tobacco products, lottery and ice.

The Chicopee store has eight employees, and Big Y is looking to hire two more.

Big Y operates 81 locations in Massachusetts and Connecticut, including 70 supermarkets, Fresh Acres Market, Table & Vine Fine Wines and Liquors and the nine Big Y Express gas and convenience locations.
The purpose of the state law, which took effect in 2003, is to encourage counties and municipalities to incorporate affordable housing within their housing stock sufficient to meet the needs of their county or community, according to the statute. Further, affordable housing developers who believe that they have been unfairly treated due to the fact that the development contains affordable housing may seek relief from local ordinances and regulations that may inhibit the construction of affordable housing needed to serve low-income and moderate-income households in this State.
In this Dec. 22, 2018 file photo, the U.S. Capitol is seen on the first morning of a partial government shutdown in Washington. As the governments partial shutdown threatens to drag into a third week, hundreds of thousands of federal workers are feeling the financial pinch. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
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Police shot and killed John Richard Camacho, 27, of Canyon Lake, Friday after they say he reached for a pellet gun that looked like a pistol during a traffic stop, San Marcos Police Department Chief Chase Stapp said at a news conference Saturday.

Officers responded to a report of a man shooting a handgun at a car around 9:30 p.m. on the 100 block of South LBJ Drive. A witness told police the shooter got into a car and fled, authorities later located a car matching the description and initiated a traffic stop.

RELATED: San Antonio police continue to search for missing 8-month-old, father charged

The front passenger, Camacho, who police say matched a description of the suspect they were searching for, got out of the car and confronted two officers. Initially, police say he complied with their commands but then lowered his hands and reached for his waistband, grabbing a pistol "manufactured to look identical to a semi-automatic handgun," according to a news release.

Officials said police then opened fire when Camacho started to "pull upward on the pistol." Camacho died at the scene.

The driver of the car was not injured and is cooperating with the investigation. Police said Camacho was on parole and had an extensive criminal history that included weapons-related and violent offences. They did not specify for what Camacho was on parole.

RELATED: SAPD identifies officers who fatally shot 2 armed suspects within 24-hour span

"The San Marcos Police Department values the sanctity of human life above all things, and any time we are forced to take a life in the course of our duties, we will do our best to provide as much information as we can as quickly as we can to our community," Stapp said Saturday. "I want to extend my thoughts to everyone affected by this incident."

The San Marcos Police Department Criminal Investigation Division and the Texas Rangers are investigating the incident.
A San Antonio man charged with producing child pornography decided Friday not to challenge probable cause for his arrest or to seek bail.

Bobby Dominguez, 31, who is accused of sending an undercover law officer pictures of himself molesting a 6-year-old girl, agreed to waive his preliminary hearing over a charge of production of child pornography and a separate hearing to determine if he should continue being detained.

In unrelated cases, Tommy Ray Garcia, 23, pleaded guilty this week to producing child pornography, while Sonan Joseph Holyfield, 37, pleaded guilty to possessing child porn.

The three capped off a week of busy federal court in San Antonio amid a partial government shutdown in which criminal cases keep going, but civil cases involving the United States as a party were put on hold, beginning Dec. 22.

With the waivers, Dominguez will remain in jail and avoided having more damaging details about his case being made public.

A criminal complaint affidavit filed last week by an FBI task force officer alleges that Dominguez was part of a group on the social media application Kik that exchanged child porn images.

The affidavit alleges Dominguez sent explicit messages to an undercover agent and photos showing a child being sexually assaulted. After getting an emergency subpoeana, the task force accessed a Kik account registered to Dominguez, raided the West Side home where he was staying and arrested him on Dec. 27.

Dominguez told agents he assaulted the child at a home, but changed his story to say it was at a motel, the affidavit said.

Garcia, meanwhile, admitted that he also had used Kik to upload and distribute images of child pornography  pictures of him molesting an 18-month-old toddler. Agents with Homeland Security Investigations raided his home on Jan. 31, 2018 and arrested him.

He faces 15 to 30 years in federal prison when hes sentenced later this year.

Holyfield was snared in another Homeland Security investigation originating in Phoenix, Arizona, in 2016. He admitted streaming to other individuals a video of a child being sexually exploited and viewed many child exploitation videos after his San Antonio home was raided on July 31, 2017, his plea deal shows.

Holyfield faces up to 20 years in prison when hes sentenced later this year.

Guillermo Contreras covers federal court and immigration news in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | gcontreras@express-news.net | Twitter: @gmaninfedland
Since that time, Burkland said the village and the quarry operator have had an agreement that stormwater from the pipe could go into the quarry. They were in discussions about using the quarry to handle very heavy rains, known as 100-year-floods, when the lawsuit was filed.
Walking the halls of Congress in recent weeks, Rep. Jennifer Wexton, D-Va., noticed that in addition to flags honoring the U.S. and their home states, many members displayed a third one outside their offices.

Some waved the rainbow gay pride banner; others the solemn black and white flag of prisoners of war.

Wexton, the newly elected congresswoman representing northern Virginia's 10th District, decided to pay tribute to the transgender community by flying the transgender pride flag.

"Given that that community has been under attack and for me it's personal, it was kind of an easy call to raise awareness and show my solidarity," she said in a phone interview Friday.

Wexton said her transgender niece, 19, and the teen's mother were touched by the gesture.

The newly sworn-in congresswoman is also close to Virginia Del. Danica Roem, D-Prince William, one of the nation's first openly transgender elected officials.

Wexton, a former state senator, served in the Virginia General Assembly with Roem in 2018.

As news of the flag - which features five horizontal stripes: two light blue, two pink and one white - spread Friday, people made pilgrimages to Wexton's Longworth office to see it and drop off notes of thanks. Staff members were flooded with phone calls and emails.

The National Center for Transgender Equality filmed a 23-minute-long Facebook Live in the hallway beside the flag.

"The response has been overwhelmingly positive," Wexton said. "There have been some haters, but they're in the small minority."
When Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom presents his first budget on Thursday, it will call for the state to make a second year of community college free to thousands of California students by waiving the $46-a-credit fee for two years instead of the current single year, according to a source close to the transition team.

The plan would cost an additional $40 million, on top of the $46 million allocated by Gov. Jerry Brown for the states one-year program, which began in the fall. Only first-time college students who enroll full time would qualify for the fee waiver under Newsoms proposal  thats about 28,000 students.

Last month, Democratic lawmakers, including Assemblyman David Chiu, D-San Francisco, introduced AB2, to extend the California College Promise law to two years. Newsoms plan mirrors that legislation.

And its just similar enough to San Franciscos Free City program, which waives City College of San Francisco fees for all city residents, to raise questions about the fate of the popular city program if the state pays for a two-year program of its own.

San Franciscos Free City, which is funded by a transfer tax on buildings that sell for at least $5 million, expires this year. On Dec. 18, city supervisors voted 7-1 to place a charter amendment on the November ballot to extend Free City for 10 years and set aside at least $15 million a year from the tax to pay for it. The tax raised about $28 million last year.

Asked if San Francisco should pull the charter amendment off the ballot and save its money if the state extends its program, several local politicians, college trustees and faculty members spoke as one: No.

I dont think there is an incompatibility between whatever may happen with the (governor-elects) proposal and continuing to pursue the charter amendment, said Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, a former president of the City College Board of Trustees.

Thats because the programs are somewhat different: The states college subsidy is only for first-time, full-time students, while San Franciscos covers all city residents, no matter how many classes they take.

Also, the city program covers books and supplies, as well as school transportation, if the state waives students college fees. For years, the state has waived fees for low-income students who maintain a 2.0 grade point average, and about 42 percent of community college students statewide paid no fee even before College Promise became law.

There are other reasons Free City remains relevant, said Jenny Worley, president of the City College faculty union.

We never know whats going to happen (financially) at the state level from year to year, Worley said, noting that the purpose of asking voters to extend Free City for the next decade is to stabilize the program so students know it will always be there.

Alex Randolph, vice president of the City College Board of Trustees, called both programs very important investments in higher education (that) complement each other.

Not everyone agrees. Supervisor Catherine Stefani  the lone vote against the Free City ballot measure last month  said that if the state is willing to spend more on college fee waivers, San Francisco should revisit the need to set aside money for a similar purpose.

Stefani opposed the ballot measure because taxpayers end up paying students fees even when the students dont bother to apply for state and federal financial aid and because the charter amendment would create San Franciscos 20th budget set-aside, which mandates how money is spent.

I am strongly supportive of increasing higher education opportunities for all Californians and am excited to see Gov.-elect Newsoms plan, she said. As I examine the details of the plan and how it impacts City College, I hope to revisit the proposed charter amendment for a Free City College set-aside to determine if this is the best path forward for Free City College.

She has previously called set-asides a fiscally irresponsible practice that limits our ability to effectively run the government.

Mayor London Breed is negotiating a memorandum of understanding with City College on how the Free City program could be funded through other means. The Board of Supervisors could still amend or pull the ballot measure in the coming months.

Meanwhile, an unintended side effect of the states College Promise law is that the state will end up paying for some students college costs that the federal government would otherwise pick up.

Many students can recover college fees by claiming the American Opportunity tax credit on their federal tax returns, for up to $2,500 a year spent on tuition, fees and books. Full-time community college fees are about $2,200 a year.

But if a student accepts a state fee waiver, that tax credit no longer applies.

Chronicle staff writer John Wildermuth contributed to this story.

Trisha Thadani and Nanette Asimov are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: tthadani@sfchronicle.com, nasimov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TrishaThadani, @NanetteAsimov
WASHINGTON - Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., made history Thursday afternoon for being the first Palestinian American woman sworn into Congress.

Hours later, she made headlines for swearing at a bar - in comments that would continue to reverberate in Washington the next day.

At a reception Thursday night for the progressive group MoveOn.org, Tlaib vowed that the new Democrat-controlled House would be focusing on ousting President Donald Trump from office.

"Don't you ever, ever, let anybody take away your roots, your culture, who you are. Ever," Tlaib told the crowd in the packed space. "Because when you [hang onto those things], people love you and you win. And when your son looks at you and says, 'Mama, look. You won. Bullies don't win.'

"And I said, 'Baby, they don't,' because we're gonna go in there and we're gonna impeach the m-----------."

The crowd inside the State Room bar, near the Capitol, responded to Tlaib's remarks with applause, cheers and shouts of approval, according to a widely shared video taken by immigration activist Nestor Ruiz.

Online, Tlaib's comments were met with divided responses: Many of her supporters said Tlaib had successfully channeled their own political frustration, though some expressed dismay at her choice of words.

On the right, there was outrage. In a pair of tweets, former Trump special assistant Boris Epshteyn called Tlaib's comments "disgusting" and "sad."

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders blasted the remarks as proof Democrats had "no solutions for America" and suggested Tlaib was simply trying to boost her own political career.

"Look, you're not going to impeach this president when he's had two of the most successful years that any president has had in modern history," Sanders said Friday morning on "Fox & Friends." "The only reason they want to come after this president is because they know they can't beat him."

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., criticized Tlaib's language.

"Look at the brand-new elected congresswoman and her language of what she says to her son in a rally that she thought was private last night," McCarthy said on Fox. "Their whole focus here is to try and attack this president when we're trying to move America forward."

It's not clear if Tlaib thought the MoveOn reception was private. Several journalists were in attendance and multiple activists were filming her. Representatives for MoveOn did not respond to a request for comment.

Regardless, the congresswoman seemed to shrug off judgments about her speech the following morning.

"I will always speak truth to power," Tlaib tweeted Friday, adding the hashtag #unapologeticallyMe.

In a subsequent tweet, she added: "This is not just about Donald Trump. This is about all of us. In the face of this constitutional crisis, we must rise."

Tlaib mostly avoided reporters' questions at the Capitol Friday morning.

When asked to respond at the taping of an MSNBC town hall Friday morning, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., acknowledged "legitimate" outrage over Trump but said it was premature to be talking about impeachment. Pelosi has often said lawmakers need to let special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election play out.

"It's about the facts and the law, and where that takes you," Pelosi told MSNBC's Joy Ann Reid.

Pelosi also said she didn't like Tlaib's language but was "not in the censorship business" - and suggested there wouldn't have been so much hand-wringing over Tlaib's comments if she were a man.

"What she said is less offensive than what President Trump said about John McCain," Pelosi told Reid. (It's unclear exactly which instance Pelosi was referencing, as the president insulted and snubbed the late senator multiple times during their years-long feud.)

Several of Tlaib's new Democratic colleagues, called upon Friday to respond to the comments, cautioned against talking about impeachment before there was evidence to support it. Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., said it was "too early to talk about that intelligently." Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., characterized the speech as "inappropriate" and potentially distracting and counterproductive for Democrats.

"Well, passions are running high. Let's just leave it at that, okay?" Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., said on CNN, before echoing Pelosi in saying they needed to wait for Mueller to finish his investigation. "Then we'll take it from there."

Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., was careful to emphasize Tlaib was but one member of a large caucus.

"The House of Representatives is representative of the people of the United States of America. [Tlaib] represents a group of people that have strong feelings. She had strong feelings and she expressed it," Dingell said. "But that's what great about our caucus. We're diverse but we all come together when we've got to get things done."

Several other Democrats said they disapproved of Tlaib's language - while also being quick to point out Trump had not been a shining example of verbal decorum while campaigning and in office. (By Friday afternoon, video of Trump using the same profanity in a 2011 speech about China had resurfaced online.)

"Nobody has heightened [partisan conflict] more than the president of the United States with the rhetoric he has used over the last two or three years," Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said Friday.

Tlaib made the remarks Thursday night shortly after the House's late-night votes, at a reception for new members sponsored by MoveOn.

She was mobbed when she arrived; an emcee had to ask the crowd to clear out the hallway, as a wave of selfie-cravers had clogged it up.

It was a raucous event before that, with a dance floor and open bar. Earlier, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., gave some brief, uncontroversial remarks.

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The Washington Post's David Weigel, John Wagner and Elise Viebeck contributed to this report.

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Video: Hours after being sworn in on Jan. 3, Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) used profanity when describing possible impeachment proceedings against President Trump.(Adriana Usero/The Washington Post)

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HONG KONG - The 50-year-old software engineer was tapping away at his computer in November when state security officials filed into his office on mainland China.

They had an unusual - and nonnegotiable - request.

Delete these tweets, they said.

The agents handed over a printout of 60 posts the engineer had fired off to his 48,000 followers. The topics ranged from U.S.-China trade relations to the plight of underground Christians in his coastal province in southeast China.

When the engineer didn't comply after 24 hours, he discovered that someone had hacked into his Twitter account - @hesuoge - and deleted its entire history of 11,000 tweets.

"If the authorities hack you, what can you do?" said the engineer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of landing in deeper trouble with authorities. "I felt completely drained."

In Beijing and other cities across China, prominent Twitter users confirmed in interviews to The Washington Post that authorities are sharply escalating a Twitter crackdown. It suggests a wave of new and more aggressive tactics by state censors and cyber-watchers trying to control the Internet.

Twitter is banned in China - as are other non-Chinese sites such as Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. But they are accessed by workarounds such as a virtual private network, or VPN, software that bypasses state-imposed firewalls.

While Chinese authorities block almost all foreign social media sites, they rarely have taken direct action against citizens who use them, preferring instead to quietly monitor what the Chinese are saying.

But recently, Internet monitors and activists have tallied at least 40 cases of Chinese authorities pressuring users to delete tweets through a decidedly low-tech method: showing up at their doorsteps.

Even for a country accustomed to censorship, a crackdown on Twitter is surprising because the service, like Google and Facebook, is used by a relatively small number of people, at least by Chinese standards.

An estimated 10 million Chinese use Twitter, according to some tech industry watchers. (Twitter does not issue statistics on China.) That's still a minuscule figure compared with those on government-approved messaging and app sites: 1 billion for WeChat and hundreds of millions on Weibo, according to state figures.

But in the past two years, as the space for political speech has all but vanished in President Xi Jinping's China, Twitter has played an increased role. It has become a cyber-window to the outside world, a release valve for the disaffected, a virtual teahouse for politically minded Chinese at home and abroad.

Bankrupt mom-and-pop investors fume about the lack of financial regulations. Disgruntled farmers pass around videos of land seizures or police thuggery. Muslims from China's far west share pictures of loved ones locked away in state-operated reeducation centers.

It has begun to resemble the freewheeling twitterscape in other tightly controlled nations such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

And to the Chinese Communist Party, that means it is a rising threat.

"Twitter is the fastest, simplest, most important gathering place if you care about Chinese politics. It's extremely hot right now," said Ho Pin, the New York-based publisher of the Mirror Media Group, a leading purveyor of sensitive Chinese political news.

In late November, the wife of renowned photographer Lu Guang took to Twitter to seek help for her missing husband, believed to be detained by police. (His name is censored on the Weibo service.)

Last summer, when the Chinese government tried to break up a nationwide labor movement, tech-savvy student supporters informed the world via Twitter.

An elite class of businesspeople with ties to the upper echelons of the Communist Party as well as media professionals are increasingly sneaking peeks at the banned service, according to Ho.

"They all read it," he said. "For the government, the threat exceeds that of anything else. Twitter has become their biggest target to take down."

That's precisely what's happening now.

He Jiangbing, a financial commentator, said police came to his Beijing living room to warn about his tweets.

Days earlier, officials visited the Guangzhou home of Ye Du, a well-known writer and supporter of the late Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo, to hand him a printout of 802 tweets he needed to delete, Ye said in an interview.

Meanwhile, all 30,000 tweets from the account of Wu Gan, an activist serving an eight-year prison sentence, were deleted in November, which suggested a government hack, said Yaxue Cao, a Washington-based activist.

Cui Haoxin, a Muslim poet, was taken to a police station and interrogated last this week - partly because of his tweets calling attention to Islamophobia in China.

"They not only violated my personal freedom of speech, but they're effectively violating a foreign company and a foreign country's Internet sovereignty," Cui said.

Interest among Chinese users skyrocketed in early 2017 after the fugitive billionaire Guo Wengui began using Twitter and YouTube to air sensational - and largely unsubstantiated - allegations of corruption against Chinese leaders.

The campaign would have been unthinkable on Chinese social media. But it played out dramatically over several months on Twitter, drawing in a new generation of Chinese users.

For months, Guo and his supporters shared corporate records and satellite images of California mansions allegedly linked to senior Communist Party officials.

It would have been unthinkable on Chinese social media. But it played out dramatically over several months on Twitter, drawing in a new generation of Chinese users.

"We tend to see cycles of tightening and relaxing, and China is clearly in a tightening phase currently as the economy slows down and domestic and intentional challenges loom large," said Dali Yang, an expert on Chinese politics.

The Ministry of Public Security and the Cyberspace Administration of China, the Internet regulator, did not respond to requests for comment.

The first time Chinese state security actively sought out Twitter users was in 2011, when Chinese dissidents, inspired by the wave of uprisings in the Arab world, tried to use the platform to mobilize protests, said Yaqiu Wang, a China researcher at Human Rights Watch.

After that movement fizzled, Chinese authorities have kept an eye on the platform but, until recently, rarely intervened. That helped cultivate Twitter's reputation as a safe space for an improbable and colorful cast of Chinese voices.

The veteran journalist Gao Yu, for one, tweets prodigiously despite living under house arrest after being charged with leaking state secrets in 2015. Bao Tong, a purged 86-year old Communist Party official and former top aide to Chinese leader Zhao Ziyang, set up an account last year and hurls daily criticism of the Xi administration to 137,000 followers. (Calls by foreign journalists to Bao's home are frequently cut off, but his access to Twitter appears to be rarely interrupted.)

He, the Beijing-based columnist, said there are fears that a full-scale crackdown on Twitter would choke off the last online venue in China for open intellectual debate.

Last year, He wrote pointed comments on Weibo and WeChat urging the Chinese central bank to lower reserve requirements for lenders because, in his estimation, the Chinese economy was struggling.

"I never touched politics. I'm not a dissident, and I'm not a celebrity," he said. "They still took away my voice."

When police visited him last month to warn him about tweeting, He did not promise to stop. He's not sure he could.

"We go to Twitter because we have no choice," He said. "For people like us, if you have to hold in your thoughts, it feels like dying."

- - - The Washington Post's Luna Lin in Beijing contributed to this report.
From why Rice Krispies snap, crackle and pop, to foods that explode when microwaved, to the number of licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop, here are 36 fun food facts you have no reason to know but will enjoy knowing anyway. (Kaitlin Miller and Bianca Sanchez, The Daily Meal)
Turkey wants the United States to disarm Syrian Kurdish forces it has trained and supplied for the fight against the Islamic State, and to provide air and logistical support for Turkish troops and allied Syrian opposition forces who plan to pick up the anti-militant battle after a U.S. withdrawal.

The list of Turkey's "concerns and expectations" will be conveyed next week to White House national security adviser John Bolton when he visits Ankara to explain the still-unspecified U.S. plan for a withdrawal from Syria, according to Turkish officials.

Bolton's trip comes as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is also heading to the region to try to persuade Arab partners and allies that "the United States is not leaving the Middle East. Despite reports to the contrary and false narratives surrounding the Syria decision, we are not going anywhere," a senior administration official said Friday in a briefing for reporters.

U.S. strategy was thrown into confusion last month, when President Donald Trump announced the immediate withdrawal of some 2,000 U.S. troops from Syria. For the past three years, those forces have advised and directed Syrian Kurdish fighters who, with the aid of U.S. airstrikes, have driven the Islamic State out of most of its Syrian strongholds.

Trump's decision followed a Dec. 14 telephone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in which they agreed that Turkey should take charge of the anti-Islamic State fight and management of territory seized from the militants.

Bolton subsequently enshrined the new policy in a classified memo directing the departure of U.S. military forces from Syria and shifting of responsibility to Turkey, said a person familiar with the process. That person, along with several U.S. and foreign officials, spoke about the still-unsettled situation on the condition of anonymity.

Whether U.S. airstrikes in Syria will continue at their current pace, in the absence of direct American guidance to ground forces of the Kurdish People's Protection Units, or YPG, is one of a number of unresolved issues.

In an update issued Friday, the U.S. Central Command listed a total of 469 strikes conducted against the Islamic State in Syria between Dec. 16 and 29. For now, "our policy remains the same," a military official said, although "adjustments" are expected as the troop withdrawal is undertaken.

Bolton will be accompanied to Turkey by Gen. Joseph Dunford Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and James Jeffrey.

Jeffrey, a former diplomat who last summer was appointed special administration representative for "Syria engagement," was named Friday to replace Brett McGurk as the envoy to the global anti-Islamic State coalition. McGurk and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis announced their resignations last month in protest of Trump's Syria withdrawal decision.

Pentagon and State Department officials are skeptical that Turkish forces are capable of combating the Islamic State, whose reduced forces are now far into southern Syria near the Iraqi border, or that Turkey will prioritize the militants over its stated desire to eliminate the Kurdish YPG forces.

Turkey considers the YPG a subsidiary of the Turkish Kurdistan Workers' Party, which both Ankara and Washington have designated a terrorist organization. It has objected from the start to the U.S. use of the Syrian Kurdish fighters as the primary ground force in the U.S. efforts against the Islamic State. Turkey's complaints have grown as territory cleared of the militants has been left in the hands of the YPG, which has declared a Kurdish enclave along the Turkish border.

Last month, even as he was negotiating with Trump, Erdogan said Turkish troops and their Syrian opposition allies were mobilized along the northeastern Syrian border and ready to attack if the United States did not disarm and remove the Kurds.

The threatened invasion has been postponed, Turkish officials said, until departing U.S. troops get out of the way. Erdogan expects to learn the timetable for their withdrawal during Bolton's visit.

While Trump has been said to have extended his initial 30-day deadline to four months, "we have no timeline for our forces to withdraw from Syria," said one of four senior administration officials who participated in the briefing for reporters Friday. They spoke on the condition of anonymity under White House rules for the briefing.

"The president has made the decision that we will withdraw, and we are formulating the plans to do that right now . . . in a deliberate and heavily coordinated way, but we will be leaving."

Trump's agreement with Erdogan comes as the administration is seeking to resolve a number of issues with Turkey, a NATO ally. Late last month, the United States approved a $3.5 billion sale of Patriot surface-to-air missiles to Turkey, hoping to head off Ankara's purchase of a Russian air defense system.

Meanwhile, Pompeo's trip to the region will take him to at least eight countries, including all six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council - Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman - as well as Egypt and Jordan.

Asked about reports from the region that the administration hopes to have Arab troops go to Syria, a senior administration official said that "we're exploring a variety of options - I won't go into details on those - but we don't have any plans right now to facilitate Arab forces going into Syria."

In addition to clarifying U.S. staying power in the region, an official said that Pompeo would "continue his work on galvanizing our regional partners and allies to counter the [Iranian] regime's destabilizing activities."

Officials said Pompeo also plans in Saudi Arabia to bring up the case of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was killed by Saudi agents inside that country's consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2. Trump has resisted U.S. intelligence conclusions that the killing was likely ordered by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto Saudi ruler.

Saudi officials said this week that 11 people, who have not been identified, are on trial in Riyadh for the killing, and that the death penalty is being sought for five of them.

In Egypt, Pompeo plans to deliver a speech on administration policy in the Middle East. While declining to provide details, an official said that "the secretary's going to speak about America as a force for good in the region."

- - -

The Washington Post's John Hudson contributed to this report.
In 2015, the year President Donald Trump launched his White House bid with a promise to build a wall on the Mexico border, illegal migration to the United States plunged 31 percent, falling near its lowest level in 50 years.

Security experts saw a success, but Trump looked at the border and saw something ominous: "rapists," "criminals" and other predators lurking on the other side.

In 2017, Trump's first year in office, he continued to insist on the urgent need for a border wall, even as illegal crossings dropped further.

With parts of the federal government shut down over what has morphed into the defining symbol of Trump's presidency, administration officials are clamoring louder than ever. Only this time, they face a bona fide emergency on the border, and they're struggling to make the case there's truly a problem.

Record numbers of migrant families are streaming into the United States, overwhelming border agents and leaving holding cells dangerously overcrowded with children, many of whom are falling sick. Two Guatemalan children taken into U.S. custody died in December.

In a letter to lawmakers Friday, the White House and the Department of Homeland Security made a fresh appeal to amend immigration laws they denounce as "legal loopholes" and blame for creating a "border security and humanitarian crisis." But the chance of reaching consensus for such technical fixes to U.S. immigration statutes is growing more remote, buried by the pitched battle over a structure new House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., calls "immoral."

With both sides entrenched, there has been little bipartisan urgency to examine the relatively narrow set of legal and administrative changes that could potentially make a difference in slowing illegal migration or improving conditions for families who arrive at the border.

"There are places that need better fences or better walls; no one denies that," said Anthony Earl Wayne, a U.S. diplomat who served as ambassador to Mexico from 2011 to 2015. "But I don't know how you get to that, while explaining to the public that we need to increase border security while meeting the human needs that are there."

Instead, the policy debate has been overshadowed by an engineering project imbued with partisan emotion, with Trump fighting for billions of dollars in taxpayer funding and threatening to invoke emergency powers to build a wall without congressional approval. After failing to reach a deal with Democratic leaders, Trump seesawed Friday between characterizing the current border crisis as a "dangerous horrible disaster" and warning that the shutdown could stretch for "months or years."

Democratic leaders, pressed by liberal groups and immigrant rights activists, have dug in against Trump, accusing the president of pursuing a xenophobic agenda and throwing a "temper tantrum," in the words of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York.

The risk of a prolonged stalemate is increasing as the wall fight becomes a referendum on the president, leaving little space to negotiate changes to the lesser-known statutes some administration officials see as the key to stanching the border surge.

"This is the triumph of symbolism over policy solutions," said Tamar Jacoby, a conservative who serves as president of ImmigrationWorks, a federation of small businesses that advocates for immigration reform.

"To find the balance between a humanitarian approach and an approach that encourages people to come in responsibly is not easy. It has to be handled carefully, thoughtfully and delicately," she said. "But the debate going on is one of cartoon characters jousting when what we need are brain surgeons."

The impasse marks Washington's latest failure in over nearly three decades of trying to reach consensus on a comprehensive overhaul of a massive immigration system that both political parties agree is largely broken. There are an estimated 10.7 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States, according to a recent estimate from Pew Research Center, and there is no political consensus over their future.

Trump's most recent predecessors, Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Barack Obama, supported unsuccessful bipartisan legislative efforts.

Current White House aides acknowledge privately that a wall will not adequately address the record surge of immigrant families at the border - most of whom surrender to authorities in hopes of winning asylum protections.

Last year, the Trump administration opposed and helped defeat a bipartisan Senate plan that would have provided $25 billion for the wall in exchange for a path to citizenship for up to 1.7 million young undocumented immigrants.

The president put his support behind a more conservative bill that would have amended "loopholes" in immigration law, allowing the administration to detain families for longer periods and speed up the huge backlog of asylum cases. But that plan, which also included massive cuts to legal immigration programs, was soundly defeated, as Democrats opposed rolling back protections for immigrant families.

Since then, Trump has attempted to use executive powers to tighten immigration rules, but during the summer he ended his administration's policy of separating migrant children from their parents amid political backlash. Federal courts have blocked other hard-line measures from the administration, prompting Trump to focus on the border wall.

During a news conference Friday, Trump discussed ways to seize private land for the project, waxed on about the merits of a barrier made of steel instead of concrete, asserted falsely that Mexico would pay for it through a new trade agreement and repeated his warnings of terrorists at the border.

But he only briefly alluded to the humanitarian crisis, suggesting a wall would be the solution by dissuading women and children from attempting a dangerous journey.

If they "know they can't get through because we have a great border wall or fence or barrier, they're not going to come up and you're not going to have the problem," Trump said.

In recent weeks, so many parents with children have been among the 2,000 unauthorized migrants who are being taken into federal custody each day that authorities have resorted to mass releases of families onto the streets of El Paso and other border cities. U.S. agents are bringing dozens of migrants coughing and feverish each day to clinics and hospitals after stays in jam-packed holding cells where children sleep on concrete floors and huddle in plastic sheets for warmth.

A group of Democratic lawmakers led by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus will travel to New Mexico on Monday to the Border Patrol station where 8-year-old Felipe Alonso Gomez was detained before he died on Christmas Eve with flulike symptoms. But Democrats critical of the administration's treatment of migrant families have offered few solutions to stem the unprecedented influx of parents with children that is buckling the U.S. immigration system.

The government shutdown has made the strains worse. Many immigration judges have been furloughed, deepening dysfunction in a court system crippled by a backlog of nearly 1 million cases. Along the border, U.S. agents and officers are being forced to work indefinitely without pay. "Morale is down in the dumps," said one border agent in South Texas who was not authorized to speak on the record.

Yet in Washington, the president has continued to sound the alarm for a border wall, appearing at the White House on Thursday with representatives of the Border Patrol union to make another pitch to reporters.

Adam Isacson, a security analyst at the Washington Office on Latin America, said there appears to be little political incentive for conservatives to hash out a deal if it doesn't deliver on Trump's signature issue. With Trump eyeing a re-election bid amid increasing pressure from his conservative base, the debate over the wall could dominate Washington for the foreseeable future.

"They are stuck on this wall thing because of its emotional appeal," he said.
With 2018 in the rearview mirror, officials with The Woodlands Township now turn their attention to 2019 when the focus of the ongoing incorporation studies will narrow significantly, a new adventure park will open and the township board elections will have the three seats held by incumbents up for election.

Incorporation study narrowed

After a 2018 dominated by numerous studies, tens of thousands of pages of documents dozens of meetings, the incorporation planning process in the township will be significantly lessened as officials hone in on the important financial model part of the studies.

In early December, the township board voted to change several elements of the incorporation studies, including terminating the contract with one of the two incorporation consulting firms, Matrix Consulting Group, and choosing to retain the other firm that had been involved, the Novak Consulting Group of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Officials with Novak had wowed the board with their interactive, online financial model tool and the firm will assist with intensive, wide-ranging financial model analysis and information gathering for the potential new city of The Woodlands if incorporation is approved at some point in the future.

Along with reducing the number of consulting firms being used in the incorporation study, the township will have fewer meetings devoted to the incorporation planning process. Instead of the two-a-month that were hosted by the township for most of 2018, the process will be the subject of only one meeting per month in early 2019 with a possibility of other incorporation sessions possibly determined at a later date.

The board approved three pre-scheduled incorporation planning meetings: Wednesday, Jan. 23 at 6 p.m.; Thursday, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. and Thursday, March 21 at 6 p.m. Each of the three incorporation planning sessions will be preceeded by a 4 p.m. regular meeting.

The other major change to the incorporation process was focused on the three-member incorporation task force, which will have a new face on it in 2019. Former task force member John McMullan was removed from the task force and replaced by Director Bruce Rieser, who joins original members Director Ann Snyder and township board Chairman Gordy Bunch. The task force was intend to help guide the incorporation studies process along outside of official board meetings, but will only continue for the first three months of 2019.

There is not much left for the task force to take on, Bunch said in December, noting that the majority of the incorporation studies work was completed in 2018.

Adventure course set to open

Local residents, visitors to The Woodlands and thrill-seeking adventure buffs will have a new reason to visit Rob Fleming Park in 2019: Texas TreeVentures, a high-ropes tree-top adventure course set to open in the spring.

Officials with Visit The Woodlands has proposed several possible names in October, 2018, and officials on the board voted to name the course Texas TreeVentures. Construction on the park officially started in Oct. 1, according to township officials, and is being completed by a specialty construction firm from North Carolina.

Located deep in the forested areas of Rob Fleming Park in The Village of Creekside Park, the aerial adventure park has a complex high-ropes, tree-based obstacle course with more than 60 features that include rock climbing, beams and bridges, cable traverses, barrels, kayaks and other challenges.

Employees and guides for the park are being recruited, interviewed and hired in the next few months, and once the staff is hired, all workers at the park will undergo a several week safety course in order to ensure users of the course are properly locked into harnesses and attached to safety cables with ropes and carabiners.

There has been no official opening date set, but township officials believe the park should be ready for the public by May or June.

It's suitable for all levels of adventure depending on how ambitious you want to be on it, said Nick Wolda, director of community relations for The Woodlands Township. It's a unique design, a unique course that is going to be unique to the greater Houston area and really to Texas as well.

Township board candidates

The 2019 Board of Directors election will feature open seats for three current incumbents: Position 5 Director John McMullan; Position 6 Director Ann Snyder; and Position 7 Director Carol Stromatt.

The candidate filing period for the 2019 election is scheduled for mid-summer, hence none of the three incumbents have made any announcements about possibly running for re-election or not. In the 2017 election, McMullan and Snyder ran unopposed while Stromatt defeated then-incumbent Laura K. Fillault.

There was some speculation that McMullan may not seek another term in office after a local man spoke during a public comment period over the summer, claiming he was aware McMullan may not seek another two-years in office. However, after those comments were made to the board and public, McMullan told The Villager that he was fully vested in the board seat he holds and that he had not made any decisions about his future in 2019 at the time.

The 2019 election will be the first with newly changed guidelines for candidates applying to run for a seat on the Board of Directors. The changes, which merely create a more enhanced policy of notification to a candidate applying for the election and add more scrutiny to applications submitted, came after a candidate was removed from the 2018 ballot due to leaving portions of his application blank.

Luis Granados was the candidate who was removed, marking the first time in the history of The Woodlands Township elections that a candidate was removed from the ballot. Granados, a 30-year resident of The Woodlands who had previously sought a position on the Lone Star College System Board of Trustees, did not fill in the mandatory boxes on his candidate filing form asking for length of residency in Texas and The Woodlands.

Granados appealed the decision to remove him  made by officials at the Texas Secretary of State Office  but had his appeal rejected in November.

jeff.forward@chron.com
A man has been arrested for allegedly breaking into a home and threatening a person with a knife, Laredo police said.

READ MORE: Search on for Laredo woman accused of vehicle thefts, police said

Pascual Cruz, 29, was served with an arrest warrant that charged him with burglary of a habitation with intent to commit aggravated assault on Friday in the 1900 block of San Bernardo Avenue.

On Dec. 2, a burglary was reported in the 3400 block of Santa Cleotilde Avenue. Responding officers learned that Cruz had kicked open the door while displaying a knife and asked for a person who did not live there, according to police.

The homeowner got into a struggle with Cruz, punching him several times until Cruz dropped his knife, LPD said. Cruz then left the residence, but police caught up to him in the 2200 block of Baltimore Street. Due to injuries to his face, paramedics took him to Laredo Medical Center. He was later airlifted to the San Antonio hospital.

READ MORE: Man who fled from hit-and-run arrested after filing stolen vehicle report, LPD reports

An assistant district attorney later approved the issuance of a warrant for Cruz's arrest.
A man allegedly reported his vehicle stolen, but police later found out he had abandoned it after he got involved in a hit-and-run crash.

James Varela, 36, was served with an arrest warrant Wednesday. He was charged with making a false report to police.

READ MORE: Texas Monthly includes Laredo in its 2019 Bum Steer Awards

At about 2:46 p.m. Dec. 8, police officers responded to a vehicle theft report in the 7600 block of Laguna del Mar Court. A complainant, Varela, stated to police that his red Jeep Wrangler was stolen from outside his house. The initial report was transferred to the auto-theft task force.

Investigators soon discovered that there was an abandoned vehicle report made on Dec. 11 in the 4400 block of East Del Mar Boulevard.

Authorities said the abandoned vehicle matched the one reported as stolen. Police recovered the vehicle and returned it to Varela.

Further investigation revealed Varela was now wanted by LPD in connection with a hit-and-run. Detectives learned that the crash occurred at about 1:30 a.m. Dec. 8 at the intersection of Sinatra Parkway and Bob Bullock Loop.

The crash report had listed the suspect vehicle as a red Jeep Wrangler with license plates matching the ones of the recovered vehicle.

READ MORE: Laredo police charge man with criminal trespassing after he's found in woman's backyard

On Dec. 22, Varela was served with an arrest warrant that charged him with accident involving damages.

Then, an auto-theft investigator contacted the officer spearheading the hit-and-run investigation. Authorities discovered that Varela waived his rights and provided a statement indicating he was the driver of the Jeep. He told police he fled the scene out of "shock," according to LPD.
Kimberly Naujock has an idea for a New Year's Eve celebration that involved no drinking, no revelry and was so sweetly gentle, its only risk might seem getting squeezed too hard in a group hug. Yet it's still growing in popularity.

She is an organizer of Peace Fires; 2018 was its third year with more than 25 nations participating and sites all across America including Saratoga Springs and the Vermont border.

"Friends could gather around a bonfire, or a blazing hearth or just light a candle alone on New Year's Eve," she explained. "As each person gazes into the flames, he thinks about what he can do to make the world more peaceful and loving."

She chats about a few steps to world peace that can begin anywhere: Building friendships across divisive lines, supporting nonprofits who care for people in war zones, learning more about the conflicts across the globe.

On her first Peace Fires website, she was pleased a woman from a Middle Eastern country  an American ally  put a pin on the map. She wanted to pray for peace and love at her fire.

"She contacted us a bit later, urgently, and asked us to remove her name and location from the map because she was afraid her country would misunderstand her intention and be angry at her," Naujock said. "We removed all her information immediately."

She organizes global Peace Fires online every full moon through June 21, the Summer Solstice. It goes dark from then until New Year's Eve. The next Peace Fire will be Jan. 20.

Naujock knows skeptics may dismiss Peace Fires as new age-y.

"But I really believe people are comforted by the thought that all over the world good people are sharing the same wish, thinking of ways to make it come true," she said.

The map is scattered with pins indicating everywhere a Peace Fire candle or campfire was lit including Russia, Malaysia, India and cities across Europe. There are two pins on the African continent: Cape Town, South Africa and the Republic of the Congo, a nation resettling refugees fleeing the neighboring DRC, where violence from one of the world's most brutal wars still lingers.

On New Year's Eve, someone in the Congo's Pointe Noir lit a candle and imagined peace.
El Kosheh, Egypt

This Coptic Christian village about 280 miles south of Cairo calls itself "Little Jerusalem."

"We make our own papier-mache scenes of the Grotto of Christmas as a symbol of the holy infant who was born poor in a cave," said Ne'mat al-Qumos, 52, a vice principal at El Kosheh's public high school.

Egypt's 20 million Copts portray Jesus born in a cave, not a stable.

They follow the Julian calendar which marks Christmas Day on Jan. 7. The festivities arrive after a harrowing year of terrorist attacks.

In December, rogue security guards shot two Christians outside their church in Minya.

According to The Economist, "the victims were not militants. They were local Copts, a father and son who had a dispute with the cops over a parking space."

The magazine noted that Coptic Christians are still not allowed to have senior jobs in the government or be in the security forces.

Consequently, when Egypt's president appoints more security guards to churches on high holy days, the Copts don't always feel that as a comforting gesture.

In November, militants ambushed three buses carrying pilgrims on their way to a remote desert monastery, killing seven people and wounding 19.

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the 2018 attack and for a 2017 massacre on the same road that killed 28 Copts.

On Palm Sunday 2017, an Alexandria cathedral and smaller church were bombed and 45 killed.

Little El-Kosheh was the site of a Jan. 2000 massacre in which 21 Copts were killed, some crucified, their homes burned and businesses looted.

So much sorrow might make festivities seem incongruous. But vibrantly colored plastic trees from China are ubiquitous in the village. (Fir trees don't grow in the Nile Valley, a landscape of sugar cane, wheat, cotton fields and date palms.)

"We needed joy after the bitter grief we lived, and the beautiful lights and adornments of Christmas trees helped us," al-Qumos said.

A 9-foot-tall Christmas tree and the biggest nativity grotto decorates the Church of the Martyrs, largest of the village's 10 congregations.

In 2015,President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi attended Christmas Mass in Cairo and became the first Egyptian president to attend Christmas celebrations in his own country. He has attended Christmas Mass every year since.

El-Sissi gave Coptic civil servants the same paid leave to make pilgrimages to Jerusalem as their Muslim peers receive to make the hajj to Mecca.

It is interesting to see what an ancient land regards as a new or old tradition.

"The tree is a new phenomenon, as is Santa Claus," said homemaker Angel Marcus. "But I stick to my grandma's holiday recipes of grilled Nile tilapia and mackerel, even though many neighbors started making meat dishes like roast beef and turkey."

Church historians agree that the original Saint Nicholas was born in Asia Minor in 280. Legend holds that Nicholas unexpectedly visited Egypt when a storm threw his Holy Land-bound ship into Alexandria's Mediterranean port.

Alexandria is now the official seat of Coptic popes.

"In eastern churches, Nicholas' miraculous rescue earned him the title of the patron saint of sailors," said Yousra El Gendi, an author of scholarly books on the community. "The red-robed Santa Claus is a new bit of iconography in Egypt."

"These things were not seen in Egypt until the British effectively occupied the country in the late 19th century and French Jesuits and Italian Franciscans built hospitals and schools," he added.

Now El Kosheh's townsfolk are also discussing controversial proposals to move the date of their nativity feast.

Two years ago, Roman Catholic and Copt officials started exploring steps toward mutual recognition of baptism rituals and pilgrimage sites.

"Modern transport and technology is erasing the difference between the countryside and cities and even between Egypt and Europe," said truck driver Malam Allam. 31, who hauls Christmas trees from a trading post 40 miles away.
John B. Alexander High School faculty and students recently participated in the campus' fifth annual Meet In The Middle Parade.

RELATED: Peek inside Alexander High School's brand new 9th Grade campus

They were joined in celebration by local law enforcement, Sames Auto Group, civic organizations and clubs, local media and community partners. The mission of the yearly occasion is to demonstrate campus unity and to promote acceptance and inclusion of all students regardless of their abilities and backgrounds.

Prior to the start of the parade, Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina proclaimed the day as an opportunity to communicate acceptance of all people through action and example.

"I am very honored to participate in this event again. All of us must unite as a community and country to perpetuate a message of kindness and acceptance. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity," Tijerina said.

READ MORE: Laredo-area high schools with the best teachers, according to Niche

The event was coordinated and directed by campus librarian Carmen Escamilla and ninth-grade AP teacher Raquel Lirio.
Elmwood Park police said he was charged with aggravated assault with a vehicle and aggravated fleeing and eluding  both felonies. Police said the shots were fired at the vehicle after an attempt at a second traffic stop in Elmwood Park, when the vehicle was put in reverse and then driven forward toward an officer. Franklin Park police said he also has been charged with aggravated fleeing and eluding in the incident in that village.
The most distant celestial object ever explored may well have moons, and astronomers are trying hard to find them.

In the wee hours of Jan. 1, NASA's New Horizons spacecraft zoomed past the small, frigid object Ultima Thule, which lies more than 4 billion miles (6.4 billion kilometers) from Earth. The probe has beamed home just a tiny fraction of its flyby data so far, but mission team members are already starting to get the goods on the far-flung rock.

For example, scientists now know that the 21-mile-long (33 km) Ultima Thule is composed of two roughly spherical lobes, which apparently began their lives as independent, free-flying objects. The duo quickly spiraled closer and closer together, joining up in the solar system's earliest days to form a reddish "snowman." [New Horizons at Ultima Thule: Full Coverage]

Modeling work suggests that the two constituent bodies, dubbed "Ultima" and "Thule," likely completed one rotation every 3 or 4 hours around the time when they hooked up, mission team members said. But New Horizons' observations show that the present-day Ultima Thule takes about 15 hours to make a full spin.

"So, how did they slow down? Well, the best way to understand that is if there were another moon, or two or three, orbiting this system," Mark Showalter, a New Horizons co-investigator from the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) Institute in Mountain View, California, said during a news conference Thursday (Jan. 3).

"Essentially, what those moons would do is put the brakes on the two bodies in the middle  slow them down" by carrying away the duo's angular momentum, he added.

So the hunt for Ultima Thule satellites  which began in earnest a while back, when the mission team was investigating potential hazards that could complicate the epic New Year's Day flyby  is hardly a lark.

The mission team has ruled out the existence of any sizable moons at least 500 miles (800 km) away from Ultima Thule, or within 100 miles (160 km) of the object, Showalter said. But that middle zone is a big question mark and will remain so until late January, when New Horizons beams home observations covering the region.

And, crucially, that in-between zone is the most likely place for satellites to exist in the system, Showalter said.

He and his colleagues are really hoping they turn up at least one moon, for such a find would help them tease out key details about Ultima Thule that they'll be hard-pressed to determine any other way.

"Any moon at all, on any orbit at all, will tell us the mass and the density to pretty decent usable precision," Showalter said. "And so were very, very excited about that prospect."

Even if the search ultimately comes up empty, that doesn't mean Ultima Thule  which is officially known as 2014 MU69  never hosted moons, he added. As "braking" satellites carry away angular momentum from their systems' central bodies, these moons move farther and farther out into space. So, it's possible that Ultima Thule once had such satellites, but these moons moved so far away that they were eventually lost.

The $700 million New Horizons mission launched in January 2006, tasked with returning the first up-close images of Pluto. The mission aced this goal when it cruised past the dwarf planet in July 2015, revealing Pluto to be a world of stunning beauty and geological diversity.

The Ultima Thule flyby is the centerpiece of New Horizons' extended mission, which runs through 2021. The spacecraft has enough fuel and power, and is in good enough health, to potentially fly past a third object, if NASA grants another mission extension, team members have said.

Mike Wall's book about the search for alien life, "Out There" (Grand Central Publishing, 2018; illustrated by Karl Tate) is out now. Follow him on Twitter @michaeldwall. Follow us @Spacedotcom or Facebook. Originally published on Space.com.

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But if such a deliberation were to occur now, an astronomer could easily put an end to it by declaring that neither Bugs nor Daffy is correct.

For, in truth ... right now, it's eclipse season! [Solar Eclipse Guide: When, Where & How to See Them]

More on this in a moment, but first let me tell you that during this first month of the new year we will have two eclipses, one of the sun and one of the moon. The lunar eclipse will be total, well-publicized and visible (weather permitting) to literally billions of skywatchers.

The sun eclipse, due to occur this upcoming weekend, is another story.

Partial obscuration, but unusual circumstances

A map of the partial solar eclipse on Jan. 5-6, 2019 (Image credit: Fred Espenak/NASA/GSFC)

Total solar eclipses can be seen only when the dark shadow cone of the moon, called the umbra, touches Earth's surface. For this upcoming eclipse, that cone will completely miss the Earth, passing approximately 560 miles (900 kilometers) above the North Pole. But the moon's outer shadow, or penumbra, will scrape a part of the Northern Hemisphere, resulting in a partial eclipse that will be visible to varying extents from Eastern Asia  most notably over Siberia, much of Mongolia, northeast China, Japan and Korea. Around the time of local sunset, the penumbra will also sweep a large swath of the North Pacific Ocean, as well as southwest Alaska, including the Aleutian Island chain.

The moon will block part of the sun during a partial solar eclipse on Jan. 5-6, 2019 during the first new moon of 2019. The partial solar eclipse will be primarily visible from East Asia and parts of Alaska. (Image credit: Starry Night software)

As this shadow progresses east over the Earth's surface, it will pass across the international date line, resulting in a change in calendar date for the eclipse. To the west of the date line, over eastern Asia, the eclipse will happen on the morning of Sunday, Jan. 6. But to the east of the date line, over Alaska, the eclipse will happen during the afternoon of Saturday, Jan. 5.

So, on a worldwide basis, this eclipse will end the day before it begins!

Best views from East Asia

How Solar Eclipses Work: When the moon covers up the sun, skywatchers delight in the opportunity to see a rare spectacle. See how solar eclipses occur in this Space.com infographic (Image credit: Karl Tate, SPACE.com Contributor)

The greatest eclipse will take place over Siberia, in the Srednekolymsk District in the Sakha Republic of Russia (population 3,525), a region whose economy largely relies on fishing, farming of reindeer and hunting for pelts. Here, the very low winter sun only barely clears the southern horizon and is visible for just 2 hours a day. But on Sunday, five-sevenths of the sun's diameter will be hidden behind the moon at midday. The normally thick haze near the horizon could somewhat attenuate and redden the sun's light, making the sun look like a slice of cantaloupe.

From other locations, the moon will appear to take a much smaller bite out of the sun. Over East Asia this will be a mid- to late Sunday morning event. Tokyo will see 30 percent coverage; Seoul, South Korea, will get 24 percent, and Beijing 20 will see percent. Meanwhile, Taipei, Taiwan, will see barely any eclipse: Less than 2 percent of the disk area of the sun will be obscured as seen from there.

A list of local circumstances for these and other cities in China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan has been compiled here, courtesy of astronomer Fred Espenak of eclipsewise.com.

It's now "prime time" for eclipses!

So, what is an eclipse season? It is a span of about a month during which eclipses are possible at both new and full moons, because the line of the nodes of the moon's orbit are pointed near enough to the sun. The moon's orbit is tilted to the orbit of the Earth at an angle of just over 5 degrees; the nodes are the two points at which the planes of the two orbits intersect  that is, the two points at which the moon appears to cross going either up or down through that imaginary line in the sky called the ecliptic.

More often than not, at new moon, the moon will pass either above or below the sun, so no solar eclipse takes place. Similarly, at full moon, the moon will glide either above or below the shadow cast by Earth, so no lunar eclipse occurs. But when the times of new and full moon occur at or close to a nodal crossing point, an eclipse is possible.

On Monday, Jan. 7, at 0008 GMT (7:08 p.m. EST), the moon will arrive at the descending node of its orbit  it will cross the ecliptic heading south. But new moon will occur 22 hours and 39 minutes before the nodal crossing. That's close enough to the node to produce an eclipse of the sun but far enough from the node that only a part of the sun will be covered.

Later this month

After the eclipse, the moon will continue on its way in its orbit around the Earth. On Sunday, Jan. 20, at 2244 GMT (5:44 p.m. EST), the moon will arrive at its other (ascending) node and cross the ecliptic while heading north. Just 6 and one-half hours later, the moon will turn full. And that full moon will be not only close enough to the node to enter the Earth's shadow, but also close enough to pass completely into the shadow and produce a dramatic total eclipse. This event will strongly favor the Western Hemisphere: North and South America will be facing directly toward the moon when totality occurs. Europe, too, will get a look just prior to moonset, early on Monday morning, Jan. 21.

Space.com will provide all the details of this spectacular sky show in the coming days, so stay tuned!

Editor's note: If you snap an amazing photo of the January 2019 solar eclipse that you'd like to share with Space.com and our news partners for a possible story or image gallery, send comments and images in to: spacephotos@space.com.

Joe Rao serves as an instructor and guest lecturer at New York's Hayden Planetarium. He writes about astronomy for Natural History magazine, the Farmers' Almanac and other publications, and he is also an on-camera meteorologist for Verizon FiOS1 News in New York's lower Hudson Valley. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook. Original article on Space.com.
ONE LIMERICK hurling fan has shown what the All-Ireland victory meant to him by getting a huge tattoo to commemorate the historic win.

Seanie Kelly, 31, got the tattoo, which consists of the Limerick county coat of arms and the words All-Ireland Champions 2018, following Limerick's epic win on August 19.

The Bruree native has been living in London for the past five years. He explained his decision to get the tattoo.

We were heading to an Irish bar in London to watch the quarter-final against Kilkenny. I had a gut feeling we were going to beat them. I was ready to book my flights to head home for the semi-final, explained Seanie.

I said to my girlfriend if we win this year, Im getting a tattoo. The minute the final whistle blew I booked my flights for the semi-final, he added.

Seanie says he has no regrets and has described the final as the best day of his life.

I knew this was our year, being there in Cusack stand at the All-Ireland final was the best day of my life, he said.

Ill never forget that day or the year. I booked in with the tattoo artist for when I got home for Christmas. I made sure to put 2018 on its own so I can add on to it when we win again. Hopefully, Ill be adding 2019 to it next year, Seanie continued.

Seanie, who is a sub-contractor in Heathrow airport, waited until he was back in Limerick for Christmas to get the tattoo with local artist, Ross Nagle.

The tattoo only took an hour, Ross is the best in the business so I wanted to wait until I got home to Limerick for him to do it, he said.

Ross said that he expected a lot of people coming in after the all Ireland final looking for a tattoo but I was the first to have it done, he added.

Seanie has been a huge fan of hurling since he was a child and says he was brought up with the sport.

Ive played hurling all my life. Youre just brought up to love hurling where Im from. Since moving to London, its rare I get to have a puck around but I try to watch as many games as I can in our local Irish bar, he said.
LIMERICK retailers must focus on reinventing their businesses, diversifying and creating good experiences for shoppers in order to compete with an influx of online shopping.

Thats according to Liam Croke, financial advisor with Harmonics, who believes the massive increase in shopping online has contributed directly to decreased footfall for local businesses.

The Limerick Leader financial columnists advice follows the news that a leading city centre trader believes the January sales rush did not materialise for him, and urged people to shop local, rather than take to the internet.

The amount of people who are buying online has risen massively, Mr Croke, who writes Making Cents for the Leader, said. They are doing it because they dont have the time, its convenient, and because it is cheaper.

If we were to replicate what is going on in the UK, retailers here will be under serious pressure. Its very difficult to compete with. The challenge for retailers is how to get people to think to go into the shop, how to get people into the shops and start walking around the place. That is their challenge.

Retailers are up against people being time-poor, they are up against people being more tech-savvy and price savvy.

Theyve got to look at their business. Retailers need to ask their clients whats most important to them, is it customer experience, is it price only? Mr Croke added.

Michael Gleeson, who runs his family shoe shop in William Street in the city, reported that takings for the traditionally very popular post-Christmas period are actually down on last year.

Even though the weather has been exceptionally mild, something which should have bucked up business big time, our takings and the footfall is still behind last year, he said.

Mr Gleeson believes the main reason for this is online shopping.

Its still eating into traditional retailing. But we need to be positive, and we just have to hope that next year is going to be positive, he said.

Mr Gleeson said his shop was offering genuine reductions of up to 50% on mens, ladies and childrens shoes.

Independent retailers are in particular having a very difficult time. Thats not alone in Limerick, Im familiar with whats happening with Cork, Dublin city centre and Galway. Its no different in retailing in any other cities, he added.

Another city centre retailer also believes the pre-Christmas mayhem of the Black Friday sales has lessened the effect on post-Christmas shopping.

Noelle Connolly, of Connolly Men in Patrick Street, said: Between Black Friday, ongoing promotions, the January Sale mayhem that used to exist ten years ago, its just not around anymore. 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.
SIX social enterprises in Limerick are set to share in a 210,000 funding boost, thanks to Dormant Account Funding.

The money, welcomed by local Senator Kieran ODonnell, include the Northside Family Resource Centre, which will get 20,000 to buy kitchen equipment to maximise the impact of its meals on wheels service.

Ballyhoura Rural Services is getting 74,000 to fund farm and training equipment for the social farm project at Doon.

Down Syndrome Ireland is getting 30,000 for improvements to its facilities at Castletroy.

Some 29,175 is going to the Learning Hub Limerick at the New Road in Kileely.

This will enable the firm to develop its Health Hub into a central resource for physical and mental health, nutrition and personal development for all members of the community.

Carebright in Bruff gets 20,000 for a functional sensory room.

And 35,057 is going to the Limerick Youth Service, to fund the refurbishment of its existing facilities.

Mr ODonnell said: The main aim of the funding is to increase the impact of social enterprises by enhancing their capacity to delivery services and generate traded income through the provision of small capital grants. Social enterprises are hugely important in towns and cities across Limerick. They drive job creation, deliver essential services, bring social benefits and breathe life into communities.

This new funding will allow them all to provide an improved service to all who depend on them.
SEVEN companies and inviduals from across Limerick city and county have been honoured at the All-Ireland Business Foundations awards ceremony.

Leading the way was Mallow Street businessman John MacNamara, who received the foundations lifetime achievement and awards for his contribution to industry and commerce in Ireland, at Mallow Streets business cost management.

And Hospital-based Ecostraws, won the One to Watch Award for their work on reducing the proliferation of plastic.

Meanwhile, five local firms also became the first recipients of a new quality mark which signifies they meet the highest standards of service and trust at the Croke Park event.

They were all awarded the coveted All-Ireland Business All-Star accreditation  an independently verified standard mark for indigenous businesses, based on rigorous selection criteria.

The companies included Castletroys Roselawn House Office Services, Newcastle West-based the Happy Candle and Wise Celt Candle range and Data and Storage Management of Annacotty.

Also accredited were Limerick health food producer Juspy and All-Star hurler Ollie Morans Financial Services company.

The awards and accreditation are overseen by the All-Ireland Business Foundation, whose adjudication panel is chaired by Dr Briga Hynes of the Kemmy Business School at the University of Limerick and Kieran Ring, CEO of the Global Institute of Logistics.

Dr Hynes said the accreditation, which is now held by 200 firms, is needed by the thousands of small and medium businesses out there who operate to their own standards, but have nothing to measure them by.

It provides very important credible and transparent benchmarking that hasnt been available up to now, allowing companies to very clearly understand where they are versus their competitors, she said.

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.

The business goes through at least two interviews and is scored on every part of the process against set metrics.

Internally, this process gives confidence to the organisation, allows them to leverage their advantages and identify areas that they need to improve in, particularly in innovation and product development.

The All-Ireland Business Foundation will be responsible for identifying and accrediting best-in-class Irish businesses, overseeing both the awards and ongoing accreditation and promoting peer dialogue.
THE FINALISTS in the Sunway Holidays Most Stylish Lady competition at Limerick Racecourse were from as far as away as America but a Limerick woman was first past the post.

Carita Conway, from Castleconnell, won a holiday for two to the Algarve.

She mixed bespoke pieces from boutiques with high street fashion in her stunning ensemble. Carita, an office manager, wowed in a black and gold suit from Willow Boutique in Galway. Her black headpiece was by Marc Millinery and her look was accessorized with a fur stole from Dunnes Stores, shoes from Penneys and gloves by Ted Baker.

The second prize was a luxury overnight stay for two in a junior suite in the Savoy Hotel Limerick to include dinner and a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Champagne.

Third place was a VIP day at Limerick Racecourse for four people in 2019.

The 10 finalists  including Stephanie Weimer from Boston  each received a 50 voucher for Phoenix V Boutique. Judge, Asta Lee, a model, agent and a director of the Holman Lee Agency, said: I was very impressed with the style and the effort that the ladies made - well done to all!

The competition capped off a memorable four days in Greenmount Park for the Mr Binman Limerick Christmas Racing Festival. Favourable weather conditions, the top class racing and superb facilities helped swell the overall attendance to 40,426. It is up from 40,072 in 2017.

Everybody went home happy and especially Carita.
The number of volunteers that assist the museum has increased over the last few months, Bennett said. Prior to the break-in, they had two or three people assisting with operations. The number is now a dozen, with one coming from as far away as Minneapolis.
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A Portarlington man described as a chronic heroin addict who is appealing a prison sentence for a number of shoplifting offences has been warned that unless he pays full compensation, he will have to pack his bags for a spell in prison.

Before Portlaoise Circuit Court was Kamil Cruk (26), 9 Ballymorris Manor, Portarlington, appealing a six-month sentence imposed in the district court.

When he appeared in the district court, States evidence outlined that on May 23 this year, Cruk entered Lidl, Portlaoise, and stole meat to a total value of 94. The property was not recovered.

Then on June 21, he again went into Lidl and stole various meats to a value of 178.21. This property was recovered.

In separate matters, he was charged with theft from Tesco, and theft from Dealz, on February 20.

On the charges of theft from Dealz and Tesco, the total value of goods stolen from both stores was 119.45 and the property was recovered.

The accused had a number of previous convictions, including convictions for drugs and the possession of knives.

Judge Catherine Staines said she had every sympathy for him as he was a chronic heroin addict, but she had to protect the public until he got himself sorted out.

The judge imposed six months in prison.

Appealing this sentence at the circuit court, barrister, Ms Louise Troy said that the appellant had a drug addiction.

She said he is attending with addiction services and making progress to get well, and he is on a waiting list for a methadone clinic.

Judge Keenan Johnson asked had he made any restitution, to which Ms Troy replied that he had not.

Wouldnt that be a basic thing to do? asked Judge Johnson.

The judge adjourned the matter to December 20 for full compensation, and for the appellant to make a contribution to the Block Project.

When the case returned to court on that date, Ms Troy said that unfortunately the accused had no money with him as he had only 50 left for Christmas.

State solicitor, Mr Donal Dunne confirmed that the outstanding amount was 391.

Judge Johnson said the appellant had made absolutely no attempt to make restitution.

You knew from day one you were caught, the judge told the appellant.

Adjourning the case for one final time to March 20 next year, Judge Johnson told the appellant to have the full amount of compensation on that date.

If its not paid, have your bags packed because you wont be leaving the court, Judge Johnson warned the appellant. You cant just go in and steal stuff.
TROPHIES

The board of the Karl Stirner Arts Trail is looking to buy an adjacent junkyard property along the Bushkill Creek in Easton. The board wants to prevent another scrap business from buying the land, but first the trail board needs an environmental assessment to see what pollutants might have to be removed. An attorney for the family trust that owns the property said the owners are willing to sell the property. If the sale works out, the land could be used to stage events such as fundraisers or workshops with scouts, the Boys and Girls Club of Easton or the Nurture Nature Center, according to board member Jim Toia. An abandoned railroad trestle over the creek could be restored to connect the scrapyard property to the trail.

The Bushkill Stream Conservancy has received $80,000 to help restore a stretch of the Bushkill Creek in Northampton County. The grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection will be used place boulder structures and rocks in the creek to provide a better habitat for aquatic life. Riparian buffers will be installed along 1.5 miles of the banks in Tatamy and Palmer Township to allow for better water flow. Although the Bushkill is classified as a high-quality cold water stream, it is considered impaired in this section because of pathogens in the water and sediment. The conservancy also won a grant from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and is working with the local Trout Unlimited chapter, which is contributing funding to the project.

John Decando, the chief animal control officer for Paterson, N.J., was so moved by the escape of a cow on Interstate 80 en route to a meat processing plant that he is asking legislators to outlaw the slaughter of pregnant cows. At about 2:45 a.m. Dec. 27, authorities said, Brianna the cow kicked her way out of the upper tier of a truck and fell about eight feet onto the highway. The cow was captured without incident, mostly because traffic was light at that hour. The cow was taken to Skylands Animal Sanctuary and Rescue in Wantage and gave birth to a female calf three days later. The pair will be allowed to live out their lives at the sanctuary. Decando said he views the escape as an expression of motherly instinct. Hes asking lawmakers to require that animals be tested for pregnancy before being sent to slaughter, and to ban the killing of pregnant ones.

TURKEYS

The art of the scam is alive and well in the Lehigh Valley and Warren County. Authorities are warning people to be aware of bogus pitches via phone, email and text messages.
Editor's note: A Calabar-based analyst, Richards Murphy writes in the recent report by the International Strategic Studies Association (ISSA) over attacks by the Boko Haram terrorists' group.

According to Murphy the ISSA report is all wrong in its entity.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Legit.ng.

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In the numerous years, I have been a researcher; I havent come across a disjointed research work as the one released by the International Strategic Studies Association, ISSA on how corruption among the top brass of the military is fueling Boko Haram war.

The report was more of conjectures than facts. Its conclusions were also legendarily defective. And to put succinctly, it was indeed an abysmal job, both in plot and execution.

I recall I took the pain to peruse the report for fresh insights into the Boko Haram insurgency given the fact that I have written extensively on the phenomena and gaining more insight into it would not have been a bad idea.

But I was disappointed so much so that I had to pen this article to raise concerns on why the relevant authorities in Nigeria should not allow organizations or individuals to make a mess of the psychology of Nigerians.

As mentioned earlier, the ISSA report falls short of a quality research work and also capable of misleading members of the unsuspecting public. I think the report was released ostensibly to cause disaffection among Nigerians in the build-up to the general elections.

And what I found curious was the attempt by the writers to paint the Muhammadu Buhari administration in a bad light by making a string of accusation on the death of Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh and Major General Alkali. They also touched on former NSA Sambo Dasuki. It was such a weak plot in my opinion.

I stand to be corrected; there is more than meets the eyes in that report released by the ISSA. There is every reason to believe it was a hatchet work by those that are desirous of seeing to the disintegration of Nigeria.

Just as I have mentioned in numerous forums, the Boko Haram dynamics has transcended the borders of Nigeria. The level of external support it garners is mind-boggling. And one of such external support is in the deployment of propaganda.

The ISSA report can thus be classified as propaganda for Boko Haram. I drew this conclusion because, in the opening paragraphs, it stated thus The present situation is that the Nigerian Government has completely and comprehensively lost control of the engagement with Boko Haram and can show no instance when the Government presently has tactical, theatre, strategic, or information dominance of any aspect of the conflict.

Moreover, the insurgent groups grow stronger, and the government forces grow weaker and more beset by morale collapse.

I could not come to terms with such and wondered how the ISSA could be privy to such information. Some questions needed answers in my mind. Questions such as do they have an office in Nigeria? Do they have researchers on the ground in nortgeast Nigeria? How qualified are these researchers if any?

And how long did it take for the ISSA to put the report together? Needless I add that the report which was released on 28th December 2018, quoted an incident that happened the previous days. Yes, it was that bad a report.

This is a disaster Nigeria must avoid in its totality. Nigeria as a fact must rise against such agents of destabilization. If this is not the case, I wonder what else should be the case when organizations hide under the umbrella of for the good of humanity to perpetuate evil.

I think some of these organizations that pride themselves as international organizations have outlived their usefulness. They have also lost focus and made itself available to agents of destructions in return for monetary gains.

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The ISSA is a disaster Nigeria must avoid as there is no iota of truth in what was published as a report. The insinuations, the half-truths, the hastiness, the lack of coherence, the poor execution of the plot, the missing links, and the plenty question marks all point to the fact there is an ulterior motive. The ISSA is no any different for the likes of Amnesty International that has continued to spread falsehood in Nigeria especially about the Boko Haram war.

As it stands, it seems the easiest way for some of these organizations to get funding for their activities, is when they create a narrative on Boko Haram that negates the gains recorded by the Muhammadu Buhari administration since it came on board in 2015.

To make matters worse, the report by ISSA didnt have footnotes or references. What it had were quotes lifted from some newspapers. And this is supposed to be a report by an international organisation. Is this what Nigerians should take seriously?

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Doesnt it further state the obvious that it might be one of those hatchet jobs? Whichever way we look at it, the truth remains that the report was very uncharitable and of poor taste meant to discredit the present administration as well as the hierarchy of the Nigeria military, and also in a way dampen the morale of the troops fighting Boko Haram terrorist in North East Nigeria.

As it stands, it behoves on all well-meaning Nigerians to resist such groups from destabilizing our country. Members of the fifth estate of the realm must also play a part by refusing to do the bidding of these organization by promoting their propaganda against Nigeria.

And not just that, they should also go the extra mile by exposing some of the half-truths contained in the report. Nigeria is home, and there is nowhere else to go, and as such we must remain and salvage it together.

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Can Nigerian Soldiers really not deal with Boko Haram fighters?| Legit.ng TV

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- Opposition parties have threatened to pull out of the peace accord signed with National Peace Committee if Amina Zakari is not relieved of her new appointment at INEC

- The parties, speaking under the umbrella of CUPP, IPAC and others, demand that Zakari be removed for sake of fairness and transparency

- The presidency on Friday, January 4 strongly denied any family relationship between President Buhari and Zakari

Several opposition parties under the umbrella of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and other stakeholders have threatened to pull out of the Peace Accord initiated by the Gen Abdusalami Abubakar-led National Peace Committee.

The parties and stakeholders said they wanted appointment of Amina Bala-Zakari as head of collation centres for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the oncoming general elections reversed.

READ ALSO: NANS reacts alleged N150m bribery from presidency

Punch reports that the coalition included the threat in a statement by its first national spokesperson, Imo Ugochinyere, on Thursday, January 3.

Ugochinyere said: The desperation of the President must be reined in now before it is too late. We categorically reject this appointment and will consider very drastic measures including pulling out of the peace accord which does not repose a commensurate responsibility of the President to allow INEC conduct credible, free and fair elections."

IPAC, the body officially recognised by INEC to speak on behalf of all political parties in the country, also called on INEC to immediately reverse the appointment of Zakari as the chairperson of the committee on National Collation Centre.

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The President of IPAC, Peter Ameh, on Friday, January 4, urged INEC to remove Zakari for the sake of transparency and fairness.

Legit.ng had reported that INEC said that it had no plans to remove Amina Zakari as head of the collation centre committee for the forthcoming polls.

INEC also refuted reports that Zakari, virtue of her office, will take part in the collation of results after the elections.

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Zakari was appointed the head of the committee on Thursday, January 3, when it inaugurated key committees for the polls, a move which the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) bitterly objected to.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng also reported that the presidency denied that President Muhammadu Buhari and Zakari, a commissioner with INEC share a family relationship as being speculated by the Peoples Democratic Party.

Malam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, said in a statement in Abuja on Friday that the imputation of blood relationship between the President and the electoral commissioner was `a simple lie.

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Buhari, Atiku, Sowore, Ezekwesili? Who will win if election is held today? - on Legit TV

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- Suleman Dahun has been appointed as the new director of information of the Nigerian Navy

- Dahun has served in all the operations commands of the Nigerian Navy

The Nigerian Navy has appointed Commodore Suleman Dahun as its new director of information.

This was contained in a statement sent to Legit.ng on Friday, January 4, by the Naval director of plans, Rear Adm. O. Daji.

Dahun attended the University of Maiduguri where he graduated with a B.A degree in Mass Communication. He also attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria graduating with a Masters Degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy.

The senior officer has attended several military and professional courses both within and outside Nigeria. Some of these include junior and senior staff courses at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji.

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Commodore Dahun was a member of the Senior Executive Course 40 at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru, Jos.

He also attended the Deputy Spokesmans Course at the Joint Information Activities Group (JIAG), Royal Airforce Base, Halton, United Kingdom (2016), the Journalist Protection in Conflict Zones Course at the Hellenic Multi-National PSOs Training Centre, Kilkis, Greece (2016) and the Joint Information Operations Course at JIAG, RAF, Halton (2017). Suleman is an associate member, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations.

"Amongst his previous appointments, Commodore Suleman Dahun has served in all the operations commands of the Nigerian Navy and was one time Acting Director of Information, Naval Headquarters," the statement added.

Some months ago, the Nigerian Navy appointed new Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) and Flag Officers Commanding (FOCs) to head various commands in the country.

Some of the affected officers were Rear Admiral U.B. Onyia for Logistics Command, Oghara, Delta state, Rear Adm. D.A. Adeniran for Eastern Naval Command, Calabar, Cross River state.

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Rear Adm. A. H. Yusuf was appointed as the director of medical services, while Rear Adm. S. A. G Abbah was appointed to take over as the Chief of Defence Administration at the Defence Headquarters.

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- The Nigerian foreign reserve, has recorded the highest opening in six years

- The countrys reserves opened at $43,075,740,908 on January 1, 2019

According to the latest figures from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigerian Foreign reserves has reportedly opened at $43,075,740,908 on Tuesday, January 1, 2019 to break a six-year record, The Cable reports.

The Nigerias reserves opened at $45 billion in 2013 but has declined every year since then.

In 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018, the reserves opened at $40.6 billion, $34.2 billion, $28.2 billion, 27.9 billion, $38.9 billion and $43.1 billion respectively.

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that the latest data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has shown that the nation's foreign exchange reserves have fallen by $990.98m in August.

The Punch reports that data from CBN's website on Sunday, August 26, showed that the external reserves, which stood at $47.11bn at the end of July, declined to $46.128bn on August 23.

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The CBN noted that the evolution of the forex market in the country had been influenced by a number of factors such as the changing pattern of international trade, institutional changes in the economy and structural shifts in production.

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Buhari, Atiku, Sowore, Ezekwesili? Who will win if election is held today? | Legit TV

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- Senator George Akume said Makudi, the capital city of Benue state, is the dirtiest place in Nigeria

- Akume, vice chairman of Buhari/Osinbajo campaign organisation for north, made this claim on Friday, January 4

- Director general of the Buhari/Osinbajo campaign organisation, Rotimi Amaechi said the key to good governance is knowing that poverty is one of the problems that must be addressed

Senator George Akume, the vice chairman of Buhari/Osinbajo campaign organisation for the north, on Friday, January 4, described Makudi, the capital city of Benue state, as the dirties capital in the country.

Daily Trust reports that Akume, who is from Benue, made this known at the official flag-off of the re-election campaign of Governor Simon Bako Lalong of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Rwang Pam stadium in Jos.

Akume told a gathering of supporters that, I will bring my governor to Plateau sate so that Governor Lalong can go to Benue. Do you know that Makurdi, the capital of Benue is today, the dirtiest state capital in the country?

READ ALSO: What we plan to do now that Melaye has surrendered - Police

with the developmental strides of the governor of Plateau state, will someone like Lalong be rejected by the people? I doubt. He is qualified to return as governor, so protect your PVC so that you can vote for the next level.

On his part, director general of the Buhari/Osinbajo campaign organisation, Rotimi Amaechi said the key to good governance is knowing that poverty is one of the problems that must be addressed, adding that to address poverty, human capital development must be addressed.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom, disclosed that Senator George Akume told him not to assent to the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment law.

Governor Ortom made the disclosure on Tuesday, November 27, at Government House, Makurdi during a joint courtesy call on him by some cultural groups and associations.

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The governor explained that when he gathered Benue stakeholders in May 2017 to sign the ranching law in their presence, Senator George Akume called him aside and asked him not to assent to the law without giving any convincing reason.

NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We keep evolving to serve our readers better.

Nigeria Latest News: Buhari vs Atiku - 2019 Elections On Legit.ng TV:

Source: Legit.ng
Eligible and patriotic Nigerians have been invited to apply for the Nigerian Air Force Trade and Non-Trades recruitment exercise for the year 2019.

The online application starts on January 12, 2019 and closes on February 23, 2019.

Some of the requirements are:

Applicant must be a Nigerian citizen by birth.

Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 22 years non-tradesmen/women, 18 and 25 years for tradesmen/women by 31 December 2019. Those applying as assistant chaplains/assistant imams and drivers must be between the ages of 18 and 28 years.

All applicants must be single.

Minimum height is 1.66 meters or 5.4ft for males and 1.63 meters or 5.3ft for females.

All applicants must be medically fit and meet the Nigerian Air Force medical and employment standards.

READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda

Academic/professional qualification

Non-Tradesmen/women:

Applicants must possess a minimum of 5 credits including Mathematics and English Language in SSCE/NECO/GCE/NABTEB. In addition, applicants are also required to possess their schools testimonials.

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Tradesmen/women:

Applicants must possess ND (with minimum of Lower Credit), NABTEB, RN/RM/NCE or City & Guild Certificate.

Candidates with only Trade Test Certificate (including Drivers) are required to also have a minimum of 2 passes in GCE/SSCE/NECO including English Language.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force recently lost one of its helicopters used in its aerial support in the fight against insurgency.

Legit.ng earlier reported that in a series of tweet from the official page of the Nigerian Air Force, it was revealed that the incident happened in the evening of Wednesday, January 2, in Damasak.

According to the information provided, the operation is part of the Nigerian troops effort to combat insurgency in the northeast.

NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We keep evolving to serve our readers better

Nigerian Air Force vows to apprehend Badeh's killers On Legit TV

Source: Legit Newspaper
- A top commander of the Boko Haram, Umar Abdulmalik, who was arrested by the operatives of the IGP admitted that his gang lunched an attack on a prison in Kogi state

- He disclosed how he met one Mallam Mustapha who recruited him into the deadly sect in 2009

- Abdulmalik also admitted killing over 200 persons before he was arrested by the operatives

Umar Abdulmalik, a suspected member of the dreaded Boko Haram, who was arrested by operatives of the Inspector General of Police, Intelligence Response Team, disclosed his involvement in carrying out several bombings in many states.

Vanguard reports Abdulmalik also revealed how he and his gang plotted the 2014 Nyanya bomb blast, as well as the attack on a prison in Kogi state where members of the sect were serving jail terms.

He admitted leading other members of the sect in several attacks on banks, robberies and killings in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Owo in Ondo state and in Lokoja, Kogi state.

READ ALSO: Rigging will be a difficult task for APC - Ex-governor Aliyu

The 30-year-old Abdulmalik who hails from Okene in Kogi State, admitted killing over 200 persons before he was arrested. He disclosed how he met one Mallam Mustapha who recruited him into the deadly sect in 2009.

He said: I joined one of the Boko Haram cells in Okene headed by one Zeeidi and we carried out several bombings in Kaduna, Kano and Abuja. Zeeidi was the person providing the bombs while my job then was to take them to our target locations. After a while, the Department of State Security (DSS) infiltrated our cell and started arresting members of our group and Mallam Mustapha was arrested and his mosque demolished.

The idea of robbing banks came in later when we realised that we were running out of cash. He brought some guns and suggested we should attack the Koton Karfe Prison in Kogi State to free our members who were detained there. The attack on the prison was successful and we freed a lot of our members. While we were leaving we attacked some banks in Okene.

Then we moved to Owo and attacked some of the banks there with dynamites and carted away large sums of money. We used some of the money to buy additional explosives, including materials we could use in producing none-metallic bombs.

Later, a lot of our members, including Zeedi, were arrested after the bank robberies and the attack on the prison.

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''We later moved to Abuja with the bombs we produced and I formed a new cell in 2014 and we carried out several bombings, including those at Banex Plaza, Nyanya and Kuje areas of Abuja, but unfortunately, our gang was busted and five of our members were arrested and our bombs, including the none-metallic, were recovered.

''I escaped and fled to Kano and went underground for two years before I returned to Abuja and formed a new gang and we went into full armed robbery.

The suspect further claimed that a dismissed policeman, known as Apin Iron, later joined the gang with two Ak-47 rifles and a pistol.

We normally visited his place to buy and smoke drugs and we became friends. In one of our visits, he told us that he knew several rich people that we could rob.

''He gave us information of a man who we robbed of N5m and we gave him N2.5m as his share. He also gave us several other jobs before I had an accident and damaged one of my eyes.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that about seven million Nigerians were displaced and were in need of humanitarian assistance as a result of the protracted activities of the Boko Haram insurgents, in northeastern Nigeria, according to a report by the UN.

The UN humanitarian coordination office, OCHA, released the report as it prepares to provide life-saving emergency assistance to the most vulnerable people in conflict-affected areas.

NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better.

Can Nigerian Soldiers really not deal with Boko Haram fighters?| - on Legit TV:

Source: Legit
Illinois legislators, it seems, could have done a better job, at times, writing election rules that are clear and easy to follow. Judges, instead of lawmakers, seem to determine many of the rules. Disputes over interpretations of the Election Code often lead to lawsuits. Attorneys for candidates and objectors often cite case law to argue on behalf of a position.
Love, they say is something that knows no bounds, and there have been many happy ending stories about a love that many thought was impossible to prove this right.

A couple has set the internet on fire with cute pre-wedding photos and traditional wedding photos. These adorable photos have got a lot of Nigerians talking about the beautiful couple who seem so in love.

Many have even referred to their union as true love. It could be assumed that people found their love so inspiring due to the chemistry between the couple in the beautiful photos they shared on social media.

The couple released both their pre-wedding and traditional wedding photos at the same time, which somehow contributed more buzz and admiration for them.

READ ALSO: Lady gets arrested for concealing hard substance in meat stew for her jailed boyfriend (video)

In the pre-wedding photos, the groom-to-be and wife-to-be were spotted rocking similar black t-shirts paired with matching blue jeans and sneakers.

Another photo showed them rocking a cute matching cream and brown ankara which were styled beautifully.

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Some photos from their traditional wedding showed the couple with their family celebrating the union.

The groom was seen in his traditional attire of cream and blue lace paired with a black hat and traditional accessories. Bride was also spotted in her blue lace also paired with traditional accessories.

PAY ATTENTION: Get your daily relationship tips and advice on Africa Love Aid group

READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had earlier reported that a Swiss blogger who married a Nigerian man has taken to social media to celebrate her wedding anniversary. The beautiful lady also talked about how many did not believe their love was real.

NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better

Top-4 Nigerian Celebrities and Politician Weddings - on Legit TV

Source: Legit
Erich Mandel, a diesel mechanic from Palatine, claims in the suit that he tried in August to end his union membership and cease paying dues in the wake of the June decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in Janus v. AFSCME, a case with Illinois roots that determined public sector workers could no longer be required to pay dues to a union as a condition of employment.
Milledgeville, GA (31061)

Today

Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 70F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 70F. Winds light and variable.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 5)  The death toll from Tropical Depression Usman has risen to 126, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported on Saturday.

Four reported deaths were added to the 122 recorded on Thursday. The casualties were in the regions of Bicol, MIMAROPA and Eastern Samar. The number of injured individuals rose to 75 from 60 on Saturday. Twenty six persons are still missing.

During a situation briefing attended by President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, NDRRMC officials attributed most of the deaths to flooding and landslides, and recommended the relocation and resettlement of residents in landslide-prone areas.

Over 13,000 families or about 58,000 individuals are still in evacuation centers, more than a week after Usman entered the country on Christmas Day. A total of 300,000 fled their homes, as Usman brought heavy rains that triggered deadly landslides.

A state of calamity had been declared in several provinces, including Northern Samar, Albay, Sorsogon and Camarines Sur, and some municipalities in Oriental Mindoro. This will allow the release of calamity funds.

Usman also dealt a blow to the agriculture sector, leaving damage worth 801 million as of Thursday evening, Agriculture Secretary Manny Pinol said.

The NDRRMC said over P47 million worth of assistance has been provided to affected regions. It said a total of 140,000 families or 600,000 individuals were affected by the weather disturbance.
"We are going to be running at just about full capacity again this year after the pandemic last year," said Director of Idaho Falls Parks and Recreation PJ Holm. Read more
Michaelann Goodrich, 32, of Cairo, NY, is facing charges after police said she posed as a homeless teen and tried to enroll in high school classes.
This undated booking photo provided by Maricopa County (Ariz.) Sheriffs Office shows Jacqueline Claire Ades. Authorities say the Phoenix woman became obsessed with a man she met after only one date, sending him more than 65,000 text messages and breaking into his home. Ades remained jailed Friday, May 11, 2018, on charges of stalking, threatening and harassment by communication. (Maricopa County Sheriffs Office via AP)
Vice President Mike Pence said Thursday that "if there's no wall, there's no deal" to end the partial government shutdown that's wrapping up its second week, just hours after newly elected Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said House Democrats would not give President Donald Trump funding for his border wall.
Preckwinkles campaign confirmed the donor was Shoukat Dhanani, the CEO of Tri City Foods, which owns the Burger King franchise in Burkes ward in addition to hundreds of other fast-food locations across the country. The campaign said it received a $10,000 contribution from Dhanani, but returned the entire amount because it was over the state contribution limit of $5,600 for an individual. On Thursday, the campaign said records from its bank, software company and internal database all showed the entire $10,000 had been returned, but declined to make the records public.
There is little evidence that screen time is in itself harmful to a child's health, says new guidance published by British pediatricians, which avoids setting limits on screen time use for children of all ages.
Marc Thiessen has now published his 10 worst Trump things, to balance his list of the 10 best things. They are:

His pullout of all U.S. troops in Syria will take Americas boot off of the terrorists necks. His planned withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan is a gift to the Taliban and al-Qaeda. His policy to separate migrant children from their families at the southern border was an avoidable tragedy. His news conference with Vladimir Putin in Helsinki was an embarrassment. His handling of Jamal Khashoggis murder harmed Americas moral standing. His graceless handling of Sen. John McCains funeral was a new low. He drove away suburban voters and caused the GOP to lose control of the House. His misuse of power turned critics into martyrs. His offensive tweets continued to undermine his presidency. His comment about shhole countries blew up negotiations for a deal that would have given Trump his border wall.

Thiessen notes:

It is notable that, with the exception of troop withdrawals and family separations, most of the items on this list were transgressions of style rather than substance. With the mute button on, the Trump presidency is pretty good from a conservative policy perspective. And yet Trumps approval rating at years end is just 39 percent  because most Americans dont follow politics with the sound off.

No President has ever got re-elected with such a low approval rating. However the Democrats may select someone who will allow Trump to pull it off.

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AUSTIN, Minn.  A man accused of abducting a woman is going to prison.

Joseph Henry Mallan, 35 of Austin, pleaded guilty to felony domestic assault and escape from custody. He was arrested in April 2018 after Austin police said he kidnapped a woman and held her captive during a car chase that reached speeds of up to 80 miles per hour.

Mallan reached a plea deal with Mower County prosecutors in August 2018 and charges of kidnapping, false imprisonment, and felling a peace officer in a motor vehicle were dismissed.

Mallan was sentenced Friday to three years in prison, with credit for 264 days already served.
And OConnor said much of his time will be taken up with helping turn workers compensation over to the Finance Department. This isnt flipping a light switch. You cant take the files from one office to another and say, Im done, he said. We need to make sure people who are getting services keep getting them, and that we set this thing up following best practices for the long term. The goal would be to have it in place for the next mayor in May.
ROCHESTER, Minn. -

Some Rochester residents we spoke with understand why fewer young people are interested in wearing a badge. Law enforcement is more scrutinized and criticized than ever before.

"I think it's the lack of trust that's out there right now across the nation as far as just trusting the police in general, so there's a divide between the community and those in authority right now," Branden Patten said.

The timing does not work out since the city could get thousands of new residents by 2040. Olmsted County Sheriff Kevin Torgerson knows the only way to match that growth is with manpower.

"Our growth is gonna be on courtroom security, they are gonna need more courtrooms, potentially more detention deputies, potentially more people doing the civil papers and the warrants and the things like that," Torgerson said.

Torgerson is keenly aware they need to work on their brand.

"There's no question the perceptions and what the broader community sees is something we have to work with," Torgerson said.

But he is optimistic because he believes in the good work he and his deputies do.

"Helping the community, helping where you live, it can be very exciting," Torgerson said.

Patten believes the key is communication.

"Holding those open forums and just discussing things and problems that are amongst the community, I think that's gonna be huge," Patten said.
MASON CITY, Iowa - Industrial production of hemp was legalized in the recent federal Farm Bill, and with a little more than a week before the start of the 2019 legislative session in Iowa, we are hearing if hemp will be on the state agenda.

Last year, the Iowa Senate introduced a bill that would allow industrial hemp production, but it died in the House. New legislation is expected to be introduced this year.

Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller and state agriculture officials are set to meet later this month to discuss what regulations should be put in place.

State Senator Waylon Brown says that if lawmakers pass a hemp production law, there are some concerns he would like to see addressed.

"The way hemp gets harvested versus corn is different, so there's going to be some equipment costs for farmers. Also where are the markets going to be and are those established?"

While he hasn't heard much from farmers in his district about taking an interest in growing hemp, it's all the buzz among his constituents.

"I know some of the other Senators have had more interest than I've had in North Iowa, but...it's fresh and it happened right before the holidays, and you have to take that into consideration, too. I expect that we're going to have more buzz about it once we get back down into session."

Depending on what action is taken, Brown says farmers may be looking to start planting hemp crops as early as 2020.
ST. PAUL, Minn. - We're learning new details about three officers who fired their weapons during an officer-involved shooting Thursday, in Albert Lea. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension released the following information late Friday evening.

These are the officers involved: Lieutenant Darin Palmer discharged his firearm. He has been with the Albert Lea Police Department for 18 years.

Officer Jesus Cantu discharged his firearm. He has been with the department for 20 years.

Officer Jason Taylor deployed a Taser and a chemical irritant. He has been with the department for 18 years.

Officer Taylor received a minor sharp force injury during the incident. Officer Taylor was treated for his injury by Gold Cross Ambulance personnel.

In addition, the Ramsey County Medical Examiners Office has identified the man who was fatally shot during the incident. Joseph Alan Roberts, 27, of Albert Lea, died of multiple gunshot wounds.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) is investigating the incident at the request of the Albert Lea Police Department.

Officers responded to a 911 call of a disturbance involving an individual, now identified as Roberts, at the home at 317 Court Street in Albert Lea. By the time officers arrived, Roberts had fled the home. Officers subsequently pursued Roberts on foot. The pursuit ended in the north-south section of the alley between Court and West College streets.

At one point during the encounter with Roberts, Officer Taylor sustained the sharp force injury. He also deployed a chemical irritant and his Taser. Lieutenant Palmer and Officer Cantu discharged their firearms. Roberts was struck and pronounced deceased at the scene.

BCA crime scene personnel recovered a knife at the scene where the shooting occurred.

The officers were not wearing body cameras. Squad cameras were operating at the time and captured portions of the incident.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Congressional auditors say about 30 million people  21 percent of U.S. taxpayers  will have to come up with more money to pay their 2018 taxes next year because their employers withheld too little from their paychecks under government tables keyed to the new tax law.

New tax withholding tables for employers were put together by the government early this year. About 30 million workers received pay that was "under-withheld"  making their paychecks bigger this year but bringing a larger bill at tax time next spring, according to the Government Accountability Office's report.

About 27 million taxpayers would have been affected even if the new law hadn't been enacted. The changes, however, added an estimated 3 million to that number.

Millions of American workers started getting fatter paychecks early this year, as employers withheld less money in anticipation of lower income taxes under the law. According to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, a middle-income household should on average get a $930 tax cut this year, lifting its after-tax income by 1.6 percent.

But many taxpayers will end up paying more, because of complications in the new tax law that may not have been taken into account by employers in estimating workers' tax obligations.

The Treasury Department and the IRS are responsible for updating the tax withholding tables each year. Highlighting the importance of accurate tables, the GAO said Treasury and the IRS currently don't lay out in writing their roles and responsibilities for annual updates. The auditors recommended that they do so, in accordance with federal standards for internal controls.

Treasury and the IRS agreed with that recommendation, the report said.

Treasury and the IRS "worked to update withholding tables, worksheets and instructions," Jeffrey Tribiano, IRS deputy commissioner for operations support, said in a letter to the GAO responding to the report. He noted the "tight time constraints" that the agencies worked under.

The report by the independent auditors was requested in January by the senior Democrats on the Senate and House tax-writing committees, Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts. They asked the GAO to analyze the withholding tables under the new Republican tax law to make sure workers' paychecks weren't being widely under-withheld.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, speaking at a White House press briefing early this year, dismissed that notion as "ridiculous."

Wyden on Tuesday called the GAO report "an alarm bell for the nearly 30 million households that are expected to owe more money come tax time this spring."

"Withholding tables directly affect the size of paychecks earned by Americans all across the country, and millions of American taxpayers have gotten bad advice under this administration on how much to withhold," Wyden said in a statement.

He said the lack of written documents on Treasury and IRS roles "is an opening for future abuse."

Tax experts suggest that all taxpayers look at the online tax withholding calculator issued by the IRS in February, to ensure they are having the correct amount withheld. Taxpayers also should update the information on their W-4 forms, experts say.

The IRS has said the new withholding tables should produce an accurate withholding amount for people with simpler tax situations. But experts say those who will still itemize under the new law, or have larger families or more complicated tax situations may want to take a closer look.

The GAO's assessment came as news emerged that the Trump administration is considering bypassing Congress to give a big tax break to wealthy Americans by reducing taxes levied on capital gains. Administration officials said no decision has been made on whether to proceed.

Cutting capital gains taxes was one of only a few items on the wish list of conservatives and Republicans that didn't make it into the massive tax law hustled through Congress late last year by Republicans, which became President Donald Trump's signature legislative achievement. The $1.5 trillion package provides generous tax cuts for corporations and wealthy Americans while offering more modest reductions for most low- and middle-income individuals and families. No Democrats voted for the legislation.

House Republicans last week launched an effort to expand the tax law, aiming to make permanent the individual tax cuts and small-business income deductions now set to expire in 2026. The solid Republican majority in the House nearly ensures passage of the proposals before the November elections, but Senate passage is considered unlikely.
SPOKANE, Wash. - Former Spokane Chapter NAACP President Rachel Dolezal is now facing legal trouble that could land her behind bars. KHQ has confirmed that Dolezal, who legally changed her name to Nkechi Diallo in 2016, is accused of 1st Degree Theft by Welfare Fraud, Perjury in the 2nd Degree, and False Verification for Public Assistance. Her potential punishment under RCW 74.08.331 could include up to 15 years in prison.
UPDATE: A hearing for Nkechi Diallo aka Rachel Dolezal was taken off the docket last minute Friday morning. According to the court, she is cur
About 2:30 a.m., the officers were westbound in the 3200 block of West Irving Park Road when a black 2000 Honda Accord that was headed south on Spaulding Avenue stuck their vehicle, police said.
SALEM, Ore. (AP) -- The Oregon Government Ethics Commission has accused former Oregon First Lady Cylvia Hayes of using her bankruptcy proceeding to drag out a resolution of her ethics case months longer than needed.

The Statesman Journal reports that Carolyn Wade, a senior assistant attorney general representing the commission, made the claim in a Dec. 31 filing in Hayes' bankruptcy proceeding. Hayes filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy in July 2018.

In addition to up to $110,000 in possible civil penalties from 22 ethics violations, Hayes has a more than $124,000 judgment against her for a public records lawsuit The Oregonian won.

Wade said the bankruptcy proceeding is meritless.

The ethics commission ruled in January 2018 -- six months before Hayes filed for bankruptcy -- that she violated state ethics laws by using her position for the financial benefit of herself and her business.
The personal data and documents of hundreds of politicians and public figures in Germany have been exposed online, a government spokeswoman said Friday.

Martina Fietz told reporters that German lawmakers at all levels, including from the European parliament, German parliament, and local politicians, had been impacted.

The data included credit card details, phone numbers and email addresses, one political party told CNN.

Several German media outlets reported that German Chancellor Angela Merkel was affected by the breach, but Fietz said no sensitive information from Merkel's office had been published.

"The federal government takes these incidents very seriously," Fietz told a news conference Friday. "The authorities are working flat out to determine the extent and background of the incident and to provide assistance to those affected."

Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said "data may have been obtained through the misuse of access data to cloud services, e-mail accounts or social networks."

Journalists and artists have also fallen victim to the data leak, Seehofer said in a statement on Friday afternoon.

It appeared that all parties in the Bundestag -- Germany's federal parliament -- had been affected, interior ministry spokesman Soren Schmidt said during the same news conference.

A Twitter account, registered to a user claiming to be in Hamburg, published the private information daily in the style of an advent calendar in the lead up to Christmas, Schmidt said. The Twitter account used to spread the personal data has since been deleted.

Hamburg's data protection authority said in a statement Friday that it had asked Twitter to remove a list of short links to other platforms where the data still exists, but had not received an answer from the social network. The agency said it was working with Irish data protection authorities to stop the further dissemination of the data.

Schmidt added the German Chancellery was made aware of the leak on Thursday night and as a result the country's National Cyber Defense Center convened a crisis meeting on Friday.

"Germany's government network is not affected but we are still investigating," he said.

Earlier Friday, a spokeswoman for Germany's Left Party told CNN around 100 of its politicians had "been affected by a hacking incident."

Arne Schonbohm, president of the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), told CNN affiliate RTL that one political party was not affected, but didn't name the party.

BSI believes data from about 1,000 people was involved, Schonbohm said, adding that a "high two-digit number of attacks were carried out successfully," whereby accounts were infiltrated and documents, information and data such as ID cards were extracted.

The armed forces were unaffected by the leak, the defense ministry said.

A spokesman for the German state broadcaster ARD told CNN it was "examining whether and to what extent individual employees are affected.''

This is not the first time German politicians have been targeted.

A cyber attack targeted parts of the German government network, including the foreign ministry, early last year, Reuters reported.

And in 2015, pro-Russian hackers claimed responsibility for a series of cyberattacks that brought down government websites.

On Friday, Fietz told reporters that it was "too early at this stage to compare this incident to that in previous years."
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Wide open spaces. Fresh, clean air. No people for miles around.

The advantages of rural living are plentiful, but there are disadvantages, too, especially when it comes to health care; being way out in the country likely means the choices for doctors, clinics and hospitals are severely limited.

According to the National Rural Health Association (NRHA), more than 25 percent of the U.S. population lives in rural areas, yet less than 10 percent of the countrys doctors practice there. This could be because of the many obstacles that doctors in a rural setting face, including a lack of access to resources and medical technology, the absence of a defined work schedule and possibly a lower salary than their urban counterparts.

But the same factors that draw residents to a rural area (and keep them there) are the same ones that might entice a doctor to practice there  like the slower pace, feeling of safety, lack of traffic and pollution, short (or no) commute and lower cost of living.

The challenges are many, but so are the rewards, says Stephen Kliewer, M.S., MDiv, DMin, a rural mental health therapist who practices at Winding Waters Clinic in Enterprise, Oregon, a tiny town of fewer than 2,000 people in a county of fewer than 7,200. Kliewer and other doctors from Winding Waters Clinic were featured in the not-for-profit 2018 documentary The New Country Doctor: Living and Practicing in Rural America, produced and directed by Carl Davis.

Being in rural medicine takes the best of the best, Kliewer says in the film. The scope of what youre being asked to do is wider, and the depth of knowledge you need to have is deeper.

We recently chatted with Kliewer and asked him to tell us more about the pros and cons of practicing medicine in a rural setting. Hes the son of a rural doctor, several of his other relatives are rural doctors, and he conducted extensive research into the dynamics of rural medicine during his more than ten years teaching in the Department of Family Medicine at Oregon Health Sciences University. If youre thinking of accepting any health care position in an isolated area  or if youve already said yes and are preparing to relocate  read on for Kliewers tips for happiness and success. Although these tips are directed at doctors, they apply to all health care professionals working in a rural area, including PAs, nurses, therapists, and dentists.

1. Be willing to go out on a limb. When youre the only doctor for miles, you have to be ready to address the full spectrum of medicine  from pediatrics and obstetrics to cardiology, oncology, and triage. Youll be expected to know a fairly good amount about almost every aspect of medicine, Kliewer says. Youre also likely to see injuries in the country that youd rarely see in the city, like those caused by farming equipment or encounters with wildlife.

2. Adopt a new set of professional rules. Country life is quite different than city life, Kliewer cautions. You will be friends with your patients. You will run into them in the grocery store, at social events, on the street, at church. The key, he says, is to learn to be comfortable seeing your patients in those settings, and be ready to have people casually mention an issue they are having. You have to respond, but you cant over-respond, he says. Try dealing with the comments gently, like, That sounds like something we should look into. Lets get you on my schedule.

3. Draw personal boundaries  and stick to them whenever possible. Unlike with a medical practice in the city, it wont always be possible to make a clean break from your designated work hours, but Kliewer advises rural doctors to at least try. If you have a good backup in place, and you go hiking, dont answer your phone. There may be exceptions, though, when you really want to stay in the loop.

4. Be flexible. Rural patients  with fewer health care options, little or no insurance and sunup-to-sundown farm chores  might not always obey doctors orders regarding follow-up appointments, medications, post-op instructions, and home care. Be innovative in finding alternative ways to treat certain patients, like offering evening or weekend appointments or making an occasional house call.

5. Preach preventive care. See above. During an illness or after an injury, rural patients might wait longer to seek medical attention. When you do get them into the office, gently remind them about preventive measures they can take to help avoid illnesses.

6. Advocate for technology. Funds may be tight at a rural practice, but be ready to insist on at least the basics, like the ability to teleconference with specialists when you need advice or testing equipment that will help patients avoid hours-long drives to far-flung facilities.

7. Connect with community resources. In our county, a primary care physician needs to be close with mental health resources, the domestic violence program, community connections for housing, transportation, and food, the VA program, and local veterans programs, Kliewer says. Be ready to assist vulnerable patients who may need help getting a ride to an appointment or who may have significant housing or family issues.

8. Connect with medical resources, too. Establish a network of medical professionals you can call on when you need advice. Rely on medical-school friends and mentors, and physicians at the nearest hospital or clinic, and dont be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

9. Keep studying and learning. Getting out of the area, going to where you connect, discuss and vent with other doctors, is gold, says Kliewer. Youll gain important encouragement and perspective. Travel to conferences and workshops whenever possible to improve your skill set and keep up on the newest information and technology. Online education is good, too, he adds.

10. Support your spouse/partner. In a recent study on rural retention conducted by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health, it was reported that one of the most important factors for a physician who wants to succeed in a rural setting is to pay attention to establishing a new work and social life for your spouse or partner. Help them find meaningful work, either volunteer or paid, Kliewer advises.

11. Dont neglect your own social network. Find friends who do things that you like to do, says Kliewer. Look in a church community, a music community, wherever. It doesnt matter where.

Lisa Truesdale is a writer, Careers by KevinMD.com.

Find jobs at Careers by KevinMD.com. Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.
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One time, I applied for an emergency department (ED) nurse manager position. I thought I had the job locked up until I was asked during the interview how I would enforce metrics.

Enforce.

My holistic, qualitative research-based response to this authoritarian-style question was: Ill find more organic ways to achieve your metrics without shoving numbers down their throats.

I didnt get the job. Someone told me I wasnt MBA enough.

Yet, I stand by the concept and would say it again (maybe with a different word choice). Why does it matter? Because, health care leaders, youre completely missing why nurses are leaving. Worse yet, perhaps you do know but you keep perpetuating it anyway. The MBA part of health care management is a big part of the problem of nurse burnout by metrics. Too much numbers management and not enough human leadership. The metrics youre shoving down our throats are asphyxiating us. In the midst of a nursing shortage, more focus is on tedium ad nauseam than taking care of the members of the clinical team who help you reach your goals. The only way for us to breathe again  to escape the suffocation  is to leave.

Health care executives, directors, and managers: Does nurse turnover burn through your budget? According to Nursing Solutions Inc.s 2016 National Healthcare Retention & RN Staffing Report, the average cost of one nurse turnover can exceed $58,000, with the annual hospital loss of up to $8.1 million.

Health care managers and leaders, do you feel the need to hide your nurse turnover rate behind things like magnet status? Healthcare Finance News reported as far back as 2010 that Magnet facilities dont really affect nursing work conditions. Our work conditions include tedious, maladaptive, counterproductive systems that add more work for us in order to make your jobs easier. Whatever youre doing to retain nurses clearly isnt working. Not only are nurses suffering, but, worse, our patients suffer.

Basic root cause analysis (RCA) would help you identify the exorbitant focus on metrics as one reason for nurse turnover. The goal of RCA is to identify and directly treat the problem, rather than react to symptoms. Why not apply RCA here? Is it because nurses dont generate revenue? Because were viewed as disposable commodities rather than necessary members of the team that help you meet your goals? Would it cost too much to invest in nurses in truly human ways? If so, would it cost more than what youre losing in turnover?

I have spent time over the years asking ED nurses what causes undue stress, burnout and ultimately walking away. The answers resoundingly fall into four categories, but today the focus is on metrics.

What kind of metrics? Heres a non-exhaustive list of metrics were consistently peppered with. Usually, the focus is on failure to meet pre-determined standards:

Medication scan rates, time to pain medication administration, HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) scores, patient (even non-urgent) wait times in lobby, HPPV (hours per patient visit) staffing calculator, time for provider to see patient, time to admit or discharge patients, timed core measures, door-to-EKG time 

Im not saying these numbers and standards arent important or that they shouldnt be considered in daily operations. What I am saying is that shoving them down our throats is part of whats making us leave because none of these data consider the human aspect of nursing, nor do they acknowledge the intangibles of our profession. I assure you theres a better leadership method to achieving goals while simultaneously placing value on the ones who do the work.

Mandating metrics-based health care creates a fear-based environment sold to us behind a veil of patient-centered rhetoric. Fear-based management makes managers say things like what I heard very recently: No ones asking your opinion. Youre killing me. This stuff is simple  just do it. This managers condescending tone and threats to micromanage metric attainment made staff want to work against her rather than for her. Comments like hers are unfortunately part of canned management methods straight out of the corporate health care handbook of values determined by executives who are out of touch with our profession.

Nursing leaders: ask yourselves why you went into supervision, management, directorship, or the C-suite. Was it so you could get out of clinical nursing? If so, why did you want out of clinical nursing? Did you want to be an admirable leader? What changes did you want to see? Are you working to remedy those things or are you falling into the same canned corporate expectations? Are you bold enough to be a disruptor? Are you courageous enough to be a real advocate for nurses?

You can only add just one more little thing to our growing list of little things until time and resources are taken away from what really matters. When nurses are repeatedly told weve failed to meet metrics-based goals, no responsibility is placed on supervisors, managers, directors or the C-suite for failing to recognize the impact of the requirements that hinder us in our work. Metrics are stifling us.

Nurses handle all these things because were awesome. Also, because we dont hold any power to say no. Lip service telling us to create balance, be empowered to say no, or to pace ourselves is useless when none of those things are supported, encouraged or accepted. Nurses, please share whats happened when you tried saying no or tried advocating for yourself at work!

We can only handle the pressure of metrics so long. Were burning out. Every day.

Solutions: Start asking staff nurses what the best ways are to meet patient care standards. Stop soliciting opinions from non-clinical people. Examine your leadership. Invite us to your board meetings. Help us; dont hinder us  ask us how. Stop paying lip service and make your actions match your words. Give us a reason to want to stay instead of reasons why we need to escape suffocation. Maybe you dont care about us as humans, but you might care to know youll profit by focusing on our needs.

Sarah E. Jorgenson is a nurse.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
In court, prosecutors said the incident happened Dec. 28, after she logged into her workstation and computer. Two witnesses saw her send the email, which indicated a male co-worker had a gun and was going to bring it to the office and was planning a mass shooting.
So whether you can get health insurance now depends on your bosss credit card?

As a physician, I first began writing about the inefficiencies and disparities I was seeing in American health care more than 30 years ago. At that time, conventional wisdom held that our health care was the best in the world, our outcomes were superior and every country that offered universal health care would soon collapse.

Earlier this year, amid much fanfare, the Koch-funded Mercatus Institute at George Mason University released a 24-page analysis of Medicare for all and declared that it would add $28 trillion to the federal budget during the next 10 years. This news was splashed all across conservative media outlets.

Then, just as suddenly, the discussion went radio silent.

What happened? Buried in the study was this inconvenient truth  under Medicare for all, not only would all Americans gain insurance coverage, but total health care spending would actually drop by $2 trillion over 10 years.

In other words, that $28 trillion that made such headlines? The truth is, we already are paying those costs through high premiums, co-pays, deductibles and uncovered expenses. Medicare for all simply would spend the same money more effectively.
A Catholic priest who lives in Ord has been placed under arrest by the Nebraska State Patrol in Grand Island and charged with first-degree sexual assault of an adult.

The Rev. John Kakkuzhiyil, 63, is a priest of the Diocese of Grand Island. His accuser is a woman who lives in Ord.

Kakkuzhiyils arrest was announced Wednesday by Bishop Joseph Hanefeldt on the dioceses website. Hanefeldt wrote that he had learned of the arrest on Wednesday.

Most recently Fr. Kakkuzhiyil served as pastor of our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Ord and Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Burwell, Hanefeldt wrote. On December 1, 2018, Bishop Hanefeldt offered Mass in Ord and Burwell asking the parishioners to pray for Father Kakkuzhiyil for his continuing struggles with depression and alcoholism.

The statement noted that Kakkuzhiyil entered the CHI St. Francis Drug and Alcohol Treatment Program on Dec. 6 and was dismissed from the program on Wednesday, Jan. 2.
Trail addressing the Loofe family. "I won't say I'm sorry, as that would be an insult to you after what I put you through, and I won't ask for forgiveness."
Three Riverdale middle school boys found him alone as a newborn on the church steps with only a towel near his head. The boys were headed to catch the bus to a Kearney middle school when one of the boys heard a sound that drew their attention to the church.

Named Baby Doe by law enforcement, the 7-pound, 7-ounce infant was bloody, mucus-covered and blue, and a portion of his umbilical cord still was attached. His body temperature had dropped to the mid-80s and he suffered from hypothermia.

After a weeks stay in the hospital, the baby was placed into foster care. Law enforcement conducted a neighborhood canvas for possible witnesses, and followed up on tips of a possible mother, but no one was located.

Months later, after no one came forward for the child, the court terminated parental rights and the baby was adopted by his foster family.

Marvin learned his true identity when he was in middle school, but found few news reports from 1996. He didnt pursue the issue until October when a coworker mentioned research he had done on the Baby Doe story, which led Marvin to the Kearney Hub.

65 mph on Highway 30
Right before Christmas a U.S. District Court Judge in Texas ruled the Affordable Care Act, also called Obamacare, was unconstitutional. Whats more the judge didnt just throw out the controversial provision that nearly every American is required to carry health insurance, he tossed out the entire law with its myriad provisions.

Nearly everyone would be affected in some way if the Texas judges ruling that the entire ACA is unconstitutional is upheld, says Larry Levitt, senior vice president of the Kaiser Family Foundation. It would also be a big deal if only the ACAs preexisting conditions were thrown out as the Trump administration has argued.

Indeed, it would. Although Ive argued there are many flaws in the Affordable Care Act, its greatest contribution may be that it opened the door for sick people to get insurance. Until the ACA came along, anyone who needed to buy coverage in the individual insurance market had to pass tough medical scrutiny by insurers. Even a seemingly minor condition like ear infections could disqualify someone from getting a policy.
AXTELL  Mary Beth ONeill is serving as vice president of operations for Nebraska for Mosaic, which assists people with intellectual disabilities in Axtell and at other facilities.

ONeill came to Mosaic from Connecticut and brought more than 20 years of experience in leadership positions serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Nebraska is Mosaics home base, and we serve more people here than in any other state, said Marlin Wilkerson, Mosaic senior vice president of operations. Mary Beth brings the level of leadership and program skills needed to ensure quality outcomes for the people we serve.

ONeill is tasked with growing and developing new services across Nebraska. Mosaic has locations in and around the communities of Kearney, Axtell, Holdrege, Omaha, Fremont, Norfolk, Columbus, Beatrice, York and Grand Island. The organization provides a wide spectrum of supports to more than 840 people throughout the state with more than 940 employees and independent contractors.
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore.--The 270th Air Traffic Control Squadron returned to their home base, Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base in Klamath Falls.

During their deployment, they provided radar approach and finals control at the busiest airfield in Iraq--Al Asad Air Base.

All 14 men and 1 woman volunteered for this mission.

"It was what we are trained to do so it's nice to finally be able to take all the exercises and training and finally see it get put in play and find out what were doing wrong, things we could do better. It was a nice relief, I was glad to go," says Sgt. Brock Perry.

But the airmen saw some rough conditions during their 6 months of deployment.

They stayed mostly in tents and experienced temperatures up to 125 degrees and the airspace was expanding while they were there.

The Oregon State Treasurer was there to give the airmen a warm welcome.

"I will say the transition back to civilian life can be difficult. As you acclimate to life at home, I encourage you to walk with your heads held high and savor this moment you've earned with your family and friends," says Tobias Read, state treasurer.
It would seem to me that there was something else they were looking at and this extortion just fell into their lap, said Greenberg, who has handled many cases involving wiretaps. You cant just start listening in on someones phone calls. You have to have evidence of criminal activity going on.  So the question is what evidence did they already have?
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 5)  Despite the exchange of harsh words, President Rodrigo Duterte and communist leader Jose Maria Sison are not closing their doors to talking peace.

In a speech in Camarines Sur Friday night, Duterte said the government remains open to resuming peace negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), which has waged a five-decade armed insurgency  the longest-running in Asia.

"Ngayon, hindi na kami magkaintindihan ni Sison pero (Now, Sison and I can no longer understand each other but) I'd like you to know that we are keeping the fire burning and hindi mo pwedeng sarahan eh (you cannot close it entirely). You cannot afford to lose all channels of communication, mag-iwan ka talaga maski maliit (you will leave it even slightly open)," Duterte said.

In response, Sison in a statement on Saturday said it has been the "consistent policy" of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, which represents the communist rebels in peace talks, to remain open to the negotiations.

"I welcome the statement of Duterte that he is still open to peace negotiations even as there is still an exchange of hostile words in the mass media and exchange of bullets in the battlefield," Sison said.

He, however, stressed communist rebels are determined to oust the Duterte government, which he earlier said is their "principal work" now. The CPP, founded by Sison in 1968, has always aimed to overthrow the government and replace it with a "national democratic" state.

READ: Joma Sison: Ousting Duterte is top priority for 2019

The Duterte administration is the sixth to try to end the communist group's armed struggle, but he walked away from peace negotiations in November 2017, after repeatedly accusing rebels of violating their unilateral ceasefire. Duterte and Sison have since been exchanging tirades, discrediting each other's leaderships.
The storms Friday packed an especially powerful punch in Excelsior Springs. Thousands of people were left without power so the fire department stepped in to help with a food drive for residents as many continue to clean up the mess.
Near the end of "The Caine Mutiny" (1954) there's a startling close-up of Van Johnson in which his pronounced facial scars from a 1943 car accident, so carefully hidden by studio makeup artists for so many years, are revealed more fully than they'd ever been on screen.

Johnson's role isn't major in "The Caine Mutiny," but the project was among the most prestigious he landed during the postwar era. It came a little more than a decade after the eternally boyish actor with the ginger-colored hair and ultrafair complexion -- he used to crack that he got paid by the freckle -- rose to screen fame during wartime. The bobby-soxers screamed over him. Even though he could dance well and sing all right, they called him "the voiceless Sinatra." Thanks to films such as "A Guy Named Joe" and "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" he became huge.

But by the time of "The Caine Mutiny," when his star had fallen, getting out from underneath his usual scar-concealing makeup may well have been a relief.

Johnson died a week ago at 92, and most of the obituaries ignored the part of his life spent largely behind another kind of facade. Some stories alluded to a "difficult" marriage. There's enough on the record by now that we do a disservice to Johnson, and to the studio system that built his image, if we leave it at that.

Like Rock Hudson, Johnson -- according to his ex-wife -- was pressured by studio bosses into a marriage tailored to the image maintenance of a well-liked movie star. Hours after divorcing character actor Keenan Wynn, an old friend and fellow MGM contract player of Johnson's, Evie Wynn married Johnson in 1947. They had one daughter. They separated around the time Johnson, according to The Independent newspaper of London, among other sources, had an affair with a male dancer in the London company of "The Music Man," which starred Johnson as Professor Harold Hill. Johnson and Wynn Johnson divorced in 1968.

In 1999, five years before her death, Johnson's ex-wife wrote of MGM: "They needed their 'big star' to be married to quell rumours about his sexual preferences." She characterized MGM chief Louis B. Mayer as someone with "the ethics and morals of a cockroach," and said Mayer put it to her plainly: "Unless I married Van Johnson, he wouldn't renew Keenan's contract. I was young and stupid enough to let Mayer manipulate me."

After appearing on Broadway in the musicals "Too Many Girls" and, with Gene Kelly, "Pal Joey," Johnson found stardom quickly and easily, though he did not find it easy. The MGM starmaking machinery was intense, and Johnson later acknowledged that he wasn't ready for the publicity glare. In the biography "Van Johnson: MGM's Golden Boy," author Ronald L. Davis (who characterized Johnson's orientation as "more homosexual than heterosexual") notes Johnson, like other heartthrobs of the day, was "often pictured in the fan magazines with a rifle or an ax in his hand or engaged in some form of home repair." Around that time Johnson told one interviewer: "I'm married to MGM. I have one love and it's pictures."

Johnson's passing last week was one of those "was he still alive?" moments for many film fans. He was easy to take for granted. Yet when you examine this man's utilitarian versatility, his slightly arch personification of the galoot-next-door, his career is worth a second look.

That near-fatal 1943 car accident kept him out of the war, and with so many other leading male stars off doing their bit for Uncle Sam, Johnson was pressed into onscreen service for hit after hit. Then his luck slowly waned. He made a mistake by turning down the lead in the TV series "The Untouchables," which went instead to Robert Stack. Johnson kept busy, though, in films and TV, in nightclubs, and in scads and scads of dinner-theater productions. (I remember seeing a 1980s publicity photo taken for Casa Manana Theatre of Ft. Worth, with Johnson mugging up a storm as Moonface Martin in "Anything Goes.")

Around the same time he turned up in a cameo in Woody Allen's "Purple Rose of Cairo." And on Broadway, also in the 1980s, Johnson at long last played a gay man comfortable in his sexuality, adept at song and dance, full of life, in "La Cage aux Folles," by which time the voiceless Sinatra was no longer worried about what MGM or the bobby-soxers or anyone else thought about his image.

----------

mjphillips@tribune.com

Video from Van Johnson: The late star's emoting in "The Caine Mutiny," hoofing to "I Won't Dance" at chicagotribune.com/talkingpictures
You can do all of what youre supposed to do in changing the laws, being clear about the laws of whats black and white, Emanuel said. But in the area of gray, you fall upon your moral judgment and your ethical judgment. ... It doesnt require a law to say that your public life is not supposed to be ... enriching your private life.
MONTREAL, Jan. 04, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ALGOLD RESOURCES LTD. (TSXV: ALG  Algold or the Corporation) today announced that the Mauritanian Ministry of Oil, Energy and Mines (the Ministry) has granted a 12-month extension to the Corporation for the completion of the Tijirit Gold Project feasibility study.

At Algolds request, the Government of Mauritania granted an extension for the delivery of the feasibility study. This will allow the Corporation to pursue more technical work, including drilling, metallurgy and hydrogeology, which can potentially expand the projects scope and resources. The extension also clearly indicates the Ministrys confidence in the Tijirit project. The feasibility study was originally scheduled for completion by the end of 2018.

Algold and the Government of Mauritania have always worked closely together in the development of the Tijirit Gold Project, said Benoit LaSalle, Algolds Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. The extra time provided by the extension will allow for more technical work to be performed, which is yet another illustration of the synergy and team spirit created by the establishment of the TIREX Gold Company, a partnership in which Algold owns 75%, the Government of Mauritania holds 15% and Wafa Mining and Petroleum has 10%. This is an important endorsement for Algold and we are grateful for the Government of Mauritania's continued strong support.

Over the past 30 months, Algold has successfully completed several key milestones including: acquiring Tijirit; several rounds of financing to raise over $25 million, with $7.9 million from Mauritanian partners; 75,000 meters of drilling in four phases; filing of an NI 43-101 resource report and a Preliminary Economic Assessment; and receipt of a 30-year mining lease from the Government of Mauritania.

ABOUT ALGOLD

Algold Resources Ltd is focused on the exploration and development of gold deposits in West Africa. The board of directors and management team are seasoned resource industry professionals with extensive experience in the exploration and development of world-class gold projects in Africa.

Algold is developing the Tijirit Gold Project, an area measuring more than 750 km2, which is comprised of the 306-km2 Tijirit Exploitation License and the 460-km2 Tijirit East Exploration License. The Tijirit Gold Project is situated approximately 25 kilometers southeast of the Tasiast gold mine. Exploration is being carried out on the Eleonore, Sophie I, Sophie II-III, Lily and SVS zones.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This press release contains and refers to forward-looking information based on current expectations. All other statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release are forward-looking statements (or forward-looking information). The Corporation's plans involve various estimates and assumptions and its business is subject to various risks and uncertainties. For more details on these estimates, assumptions, risks and uncertainties, see the Corporation's most recent Management Discussion and Analysis on file with the Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements that are included herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information, please contact:

Algold Resources Ltd.

1320, boul. Graham, bureau 132, Mont-Royal, Quebec, H3P 3C8, www.algold.com
Lose by doing nothing

Recent surveys suggest that Americans believe climate change is real but disagree about the cause. Some think climate change is a natural process and out of the control of man. Scientists have evidence to suggest that human activity has significantly accelerated this natural process from millions of years to just a few thousand.

The latest climate reports are sobering. Climate change appears to be accelerating faster than previously thought. The recent extreme weather events in North Carolina alone should make all of us pause to think: What if the scientists are right, and what if we do nothing to try to reverse it? To continue to ignore what is right in front of us and to delay any action is dangerous. How many more of these mammoth storms will we or can we endure? There is nothing to lose by taking the scientists advice, but everything to gain.
The incessant and maddening critique voiced by many conservative think tank inhabitants (a huge proportion of whom are funded by fossil fuel interests) to those of us who sound the environmental crisis alarm is that we are all engaged in some kind of diabolical leftist scheme to limit freedom and liberty.

According to these naysayers, progressives simply hate modern consumer culture and the freedom it supposedly imparts and have therefore latched onto climate change and other environmental issues in order to force the adoption of state-mandated rules and sacrifices that will usher in some kind of neo-Maoist society.

As even a moments reflection confirms, however, the truth is just the opposite. It is, in fact, environmental decline that threatens widespread human freedom  not assertive public efforts to promote environmental sustainability.

What good will it do for our grandchildren to retain the unfettered right to drive giant fossil fuel guzzlers on 10-lane freeways 50 years from now if the planet on which theyre exercising that supposedly precious right is a hot, toxic and conflict-ridden mess? Wheres the freedom and liberty in that?
The Trump White House isnt big on sharing information or answering questions asked on behalf of the public.

The so-called daily briefings are not even monthly.

The communications office specializes in stonewalling, often not even deigning to issue a no comment.

So White House correspondents must rely on inside sources, direct observation, documents and other reportorial wiles to perform their jobs: informing citizens about what the executive branch is up to.

When they do, President Donald Trump is quick to trash-talk them.

The new Fake News narrative is that there is CHAOS in the White House, went one broadside after the many departures among his top appointees were reported.

Wrong! People will always come & go, and I want strong dialogue before making a final decision. I still have some people that I want to change (always seeking perfection). There is no Chaos, only great Energy!

But the reporting he criticizes as false  he claims it is invented from sources that dont exist  is validated every time top officials leave the White House staff and give on-the-record interviews.
The complaint compares the boards and districts actions in 2015 to environmental concerns at Hanes and Lowrance middle schools, which had a higher percentage of white students. The complaint argues that more swift action was taken there than at Ashley Academy.

Brent Campbell, spokesman for WS/FCS, said the district was notified by OCR that an investigation had been initiated based on the complaint. He added that they cannot comment on the ongoing investigation at this time and will fully cooperate with OCR.

Peggy Nicholson, co-director for the Youth Justice Project of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, received the letter from the OCR notifying her that the investigation would take place.

In the letter, OCR stated it will serve as a neutral fact-finder in the investigation and will collect relevant information from sources such as the school district as needed.

Our goal is the prompt, appropriate resolution of the complaint, the letter reads.

The federal complaint asks the OCR to order the school district to build a new Ashley school as soon as possible and that until completed students and teachers whose health was affected by the indoor conditions would be given the chance to transfer to a new school.
Hege said the Leinbachs said they would probably have just 25 to 30 units on the site but he wonders how that could make it a viable business.

As a businessman myself, Im thinking about growing at every turn, and I cant believe that they would be buying this without thinking about, what I believe (Commissioner Don) Martin said, adding more and more on, Hege said.

Abrego told the commissioners that the self-storage business would be an eyesore.

I dont like it, he said.

On Wednesday, Abrego said he is also concerned that if the self-storage business were approved, someday the property could be resold to anybody.

If you put a gas station there, well, there we are, he said as an example.

With the commissioners sending the proposal back to the planning board, Abrego said, It made me feel like no one wanted to take responsibility, no one wanted to make that decision.

He said that not everyone can take off work to attend meetings about the request.

The Leinbachs

The Leinbachs have the property they want rezoned under contract. It is owned by Gerald Byerly and William Byerly.
In anyone elses hands, Bergonzis In But Not Of might have been considered a ballad, or something close to it. But despite the relaxed tempo that Bergonzi set  and evocative accompaniment from pianist Bill Carrothers, bassist Billy Peterson and drummer Adam Nussbaum  the music came across as provocative. Bergonzis gnarly lines and opaque timbre rendered this an essay in circuitous improvisation. It showed that Bergonzi builds intensity not through mere crescendo and speed but via the increasing complexity of his thoughts.
Diana Stout, from the WV State Treasures Office, and W. Jesse Forbes, an attorney on the WV Medical Cannabis Advisory Board, listen during the WVPAs panel on marijuana during their 2019 Legislative Lookahead at the WV Cultural Center.
Joplin, MO (64801)

Today

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 66F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 66F. Winds light and variable.
Bruun writes every other week on his adventures and misadventures in the great outdoors. Contact him via columnists@jhnewsandguide.com.
Mike has reported on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem's wildlife, wildlands and the agencies that manage them since 2012. A native Minnesotan, he arrived in the West to study environmental journalism at the University of Colorado.
While the transfer fee was widely reported as 35 million euros ($40 million), Milan did not disclose financial details in announcing the deal on Friday.
Espanyol forward Leo Baptistao squandered two good chances to put the result beyond doubt, but the hosts' defense kept Leganes, which was unbeaten in seven games, from seriously threatening.
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Three Alumni Picked for Gov.-Elect Transition Committees

Jan. 4, 2019

BLOOMINGTON, Ill.  Illinois Governor-elect JB Pritzker is drawing upon the expertise of three Illinois Wesleyan University alumni by selecting Elizabeth Robb 78, Juan Salgado 91 and Michael Tipsord 81 to serve as transition committee members ahead of Pritzkers Jan. 14 inauguration.

Robb  retired chief judge, 11th Judicial Circuit  was named to the Restorative Justice and Safe Communities Committee; Salgado  City Colleges of Chicago Chancellor  was named to the Educational Success Committee; and Tipsord  Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company  was named to the Job Creation and Economic Opportunity Committee.

Elizabeth Robb 78

Elizabeth Robb 78

Robb was the first woman to serve as associate, circuit and chief judge of the 11th Judicial Circuit, which includes McLean County. Known for her leadership and innovative approach to justice, she was elected as circuit judge in 2000 and was retained twice by voters. During her decade-long career as chief judge, Robb worked to make positive changes to the courtroom, including the creation of McLean Countys Criminal Justice Coordinating Council and two specialty courts focused on drug and recovery, and mental illness, among other initiatives.

Robb has additionally served on the Illinois Judicial Conference, and as chairwoman of the Illinois Conference of Chief Judges. Robb earned her law degree from Loyola University Chicago in 1981 and taught business law at Illinois Wesleyan and Illinois State University. She currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Illinois Wesleyan Associates.

Juan Salgado 91

Juan Salgado 91

Now City Colleges of Chicago Chancellor, Salgado has focused his career on improving education and economic opportunities for residents in low-income communities. A community college graduate himself  prior to attending Illinois Wesleyan  Salgado oversees Chicago's community college system, which serves more than 80,000 students across seven colleges. In addition to his role as chancellor, he served as CEO of Instituto del Progreso Latino from 2001-17, where he worked to empower residents of Chicagos Southwest Side through education, citizenship and skill-building programs that led to sustainable employment and economic stability.

Salgado has been nationally recognized for his work, including in 2015, when he was named a MacArthur Fellow, one of the most prestigious innovation prizes in the United States. He earned a masters degree in urban planning from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Michael Tipsord 81

Michael Tipsord 81

Tipsord began his State Farm career in 1988. He served in a number of leadership roles before stepping into his current positions in 2015 and 2016, as the leader of the largest provider of auto, home and individual life insurance in the United States. Tipsord works to continue State Farms mission of helping people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams, while growing the business in an evolving and complex marketplace.

In addition to his work at State Farm, Tipsord serves on the board of directors for Navigant Consulting, Inc. and is a member of the dean's advisory board for the University of Illinois College of Law. He is a trustee of the Brookings Institution and a member of the American Bar Association and Illinois State Bar Association. Tipsord earned a law degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, among many other certifications.

By Vi Kakares 20
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December 21, 2018

POCATELLO The Idaho State Board of Education approved a new Idaho State University Faculty Constitution at their regular board meeting Thursday.

The Board is heartened by the way the ISU Faculty Senate and President Satterlee worked together to develop the new constitution. We look forward to continued cooperation between them for the betterment of Idaho State University, said Board President, Dr. Linda Clark.

Idaho State University faculty voted on Oct. 23 and 24 to ratify the new constitution, and ISU President Kevin Satterlee approved the document Nov. 1. The faculty senate vote was 274 in favor and 6 opposed.

Satterlee said he is grateful for the facultys commitment to the future of the university and is excited to build a relationship with faculty built upon the concept of shared governance to further the mission of Idaho State University.

This is a pivotal moment in the history of Idaho State University, Satterlee said. This marks a new era of collaborative shared governance. As I have said, I believe in shared governance and I believe that we are better when we work together. It is my hope that we will go beyond the requirements of this document and build a relationship that truly demonstrates how an exceptional faculty and dedicated administration can leverage each others strengths for the ultimate benefit of the students that we serve.

Hossein Mousavinezhad, Faculty Senate Co-Chair, added, As a senate, we had been working on the constitution since 2011, so we are glad that it is finalized. Now, faculty can begin working with new university administration to help move ISU towards a brighter future.

With a faculty constitution in place, the faculty senate will begin work developing organizational bylaws to govern the senate and aligning a number of University councils to report through the senate. Satterlee will continue to keep in close contact with the faculty senate co-chairs and to meet periodically with the faculty senate.
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News AA Frees 14 Police, 4 Women Captured in Attack on Border Posts

The 14 Border Police officers and some of the four women prisoners released by the AA in northern Rakhine State on Saturday / Arakan Army / Facebook

YANGONThe Arakan Army (AA) said on Saturday it had released 14 Border Police officers and four civilian women captured during coordinated attacks on four border outposts in northern Rakhine States Buthidaung Township a day earlier.

The group said it released the captives in line with international rules on the treatment of prisoners of war.

The Ministry of Information (MOI) said yesterday that 14 policemen were killed and 9 wounded, and 40 firearms and more than 10,000 rounds of ammunition seized, when the outposts came under attack by more than 300 AA rebels in Buthidaung early on Friday morning. On Friday, the Army had initially reported that nine security personnel had been killed.

According to a ministry statement, despite the arrival of reinforcements from the No. 8 Border Police Regiment and Myanmar military (or Tatmadaw) units, personnel stationed at the outposts were unable to resist the massive AA attack and retreated to two other outposts. The entire populations of four nearby villages fled to safer locations. Authorities were trying to contact them on Saturday.

The MOI statement reads: The AAs actions tend to complicate and destabilize the situation in Rakhine. Members of the security forces will take effective action against the AA.

The AA announced the prisoner release via its information page yesterday. It accused the Myanmar military of using excessive force, including attack helicopters and heavy artillery, and of bringing police regiments into conflict zones, in order to combat AA units in Kyauk Taw, Rathedaung and Buthidaung, as well as areas along Myanmars borders with Bangladesh and India, for almost two months.

The armed group said: There is almost daily fighting in the Rakhine region, and the number of internally displaced persons is mounting rapidly.

The militarys use of the four cuts strategy and excessive force on the battlefield had forced it to mount the simultaneous attacks on the four border outposts in Buthidaung Township on Friday, it said. The four cuts policy was developed in the 1970s during the regime of the Burmese Socialist Programme Party with the intention of undermining ethnic militias by cutting off access to food, funds, information and recruitment.

The AA also accused police in Rakhine State of arbitrary arrests and imprisonment of Arakanese youth without proper reason, and of helping the military to implement the four cuts strategy instead of confining itself to conventional police duties despite warnings by the AA.

On Saturday, the Myanmar Army used two helicopters to retake the four border outposts from AA troops. Some residents of nearby villages were reportedly injured in the helicopter attacks on AA positions.

The AA has acknowledged that three of its fighters were killed and some injured in recent armed clashes with the Tatmadaw in northern Rakhine.

Pro-military commentators and senior military personnel took to Facebook yesterday to accuse the AA of forming in alliance with the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA). Some local publications also published the accusations, which appear to be hearsay and not based in fact.

The AA categorically denied having any allies in its frontline activities in Rakhine, saying it is implementing the Arakan National Movement, which it said was the dream of the entire Arakan nation. It said the AA is the only armed organization fighting to drive Burmese colonists from Rakhine.

According to local relief groups, internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the region now number about 4,500. It is believed the actual figure could be even higher, however, as some of the displaced villagers are not sheltering in designated IDP camps.
The departure of Denis Naughten in controversial circumstances forced Leo Varadkar to move Education Minister Richard Bruton over to Naughten's embattled Department of Communications, to salvage the National Broadband Plan, writes Daniel McConnell

ONE of the more interesting things to emerge from the Christmas break was the prospect, later this summer, of a Cabinet reshuffle.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that once the local and European elections were out of the way, he would freshen up his line up of ministers.

Incredibly, this would be the fourth shake-up of the ministerial order since Varadkar was elected Taoiseach in June 2017.

Speaking to political correspondents, Varadkar said he would follow the example of his predecessor, Enda Kenny, who performed a similar reshuffle in 2014.

Ive always said that would be the logical time to reshuffle the Cabinet, to reshuffle your team, is after the local and European elections. That was done on the last occasion by Enda Kenny as Taoiseach. Id be minded to do the same, he said.

Therell be a chance to reshuffle the team then, perhaps in June or July. That would give them a chance, over the summer, to read into new briefs, if they get them. But we need to get there first, he said, in reference to the uncertainty surrounding Brexit.

The Taoiseach refused to be drawn on the fate of various ministers, saying it would not be fair to speculate.

Yet the immediate thought was who was vulnerable to being dropped and who was likely to be promoted.

Varadkar was criticised, largely from within, on becoming Taoiseach in 2017 for being overly cautious in his changes to the Cabinet.

On that occasion, given that both outgoing Taoiseach Enda Kenny and his veteran finance minister, Michael Noonan, volunteered to resign, Varadkar had two new slots to play with before he had to consider dropping anyone.

In the end, he demoted just one minister, Mary Mitchell OConnor.

But he made her a super junior minister for higher education, which allowed her to remain at the Cabinet table.

It appeared that he had bottled a big and unpleasant decision.

At that stage, he brought his campaign manager, Eoghan Murphy, as well as Kennys chief whip, Regina Doherty, and veteran Mayo TD Michael Ring into the Cabinet.

But, since then, Varadkar has been forced into two mini-reshuffles, caused by the resignations of two ministers amid controversy.

In November 2017, then Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald was forced to resign in order to avoid a snap general election, after Fianna Fail called for her head in the wake of a controversy involving the treatment of garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe.

It led to the elevation of Josepha Madigan straight from the backbenches, much to the annoyance of some of her more senior colleagues, who were overlooked.

THE departure of Denis Naughten, also in controversial circumstances, forced Varadkar to move Education Minister Richard Bruton over to Naughtens embattled Department of Communications, in order to salvage the near-fatally doomed National Broadband Plan.

The irony was that had Naughten not resigned, Bruton would have been top of the list for the chop come the summer, given that he has been at the Cabinet since 2011 and many felt he has had a good innings. But, as of now, Bruton is untouchable, at least until the smell of controversy has faded away from all things broadband, and that could take some time.

One person who has signalled a willingness to bow out of ministerial life is the aforementioned Mitchell OConnor, who has said she is up for contesting the European seat being vacated by Brian Hayes.

Having been demoted once, it is a fair summation that she perhaps sees the writing on the wall and is preparing to jump before she is pushed.

But there is one serious impediment to her plan.

The Government, even with Fianna Fail facilitating it, is in a minority position in the Dail. The loss of any TD to Europe would only weaken that position further and could tip it over the point where even individual votes from opposition TDs may not be enough to pass legislation.

With that in mind, Varadkar may look to stymie Mitchell OConnor, and other Fine Gael TDs who have an eye on Europe, similar to Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martins diktat to his own front bench to forget about relocating to Brussels.

Martin said that in the context of speculation that Cork North Central TD Billy Kelleher was considering a run, amid growing frustration at being in opposition since 2011 and the strains of the much-hated confidence-and-supply deal.

Varadkar will know that reshuffles can be notoriously tricky affairs to get right.

As Jonathan Powell, one-time adviser to former UK prime minister Tony Blair writes in his book, The New Machiavelli, reshuffles are not HR exercises and leaders have to consider the political balance of the whole team. He says that if you appoint only your own supporters, you build up resentment among others.

If you pass over your supporters too readily, they are the ones who grow resentful.

You also have to be careful who you sack. If you sack too many of your enemies, you will find them organising opposition to you on the back benches.

It is sometimes better to have them in than out.

But, equally, Powell argues, you dont want perversely to reward people for plotting, or that will convince more of them that attacking the leadership is a safe way to secure a job.

You also have to achieve generational balance.

But you cannot leave older people in place too long, or the younger ones will grow restive.

Powell argues that a leader should always err on the side of sacking more people and bringing on more young talent sooner, even if, in doing so, he is taking a political risk by building up resentment on the back benches.

If he lacks talent in his front bench, he will lose anyway, and, if the party succeeds, his popularity will discourage those on the back benches from trying to remove him.

Varadkar, unlike any previous Fine Gael leader in modern history, is in total control of his party, so if he manages to keep the shaky coalition together until the summer, to allow him carry out his reshuffle, he may feel encouraged to be braver than he was in 2017. Having raised the spectre of a reshuffle, should the Taoiseach fail to sack anyone and merely move ministers to other departments, he will stand accused of having bottled it again.
Jacques Restaurant, 23 Oliver Plunkett St, Cork. O21 427 7387;

www.jacquesrestaurant.ie

A phrase I hear on a very regular basis is Id love your job. I am never so rude as to demur for any contrary suggestion comes across like Cleopatra screeching at the help that theres too much cream in her milk bath.

Half-jesting, I may hint hazards, such as the relentless accretion of insulation about my person being a consequence of professional zeal, but I never really get down and dirty about what it can sometimes mean when passion becomes profession, parsing the difference between, wanting to go out to a lovely restaurant for sheer pleasure, and having to, for reasons of deadline and poverty  especially when lovely and pleasure are sometimes entirely absent.

Most people require the occasional safety valve of a good moan about their job but in our trade, we conduct whining in private for it does appear to all and sundry to be a most cushty gig indeed.

Actually, it is generally a pleasure to eat professionally in 21st century Ireland but, as in any job, there are days when you simply dont want to get out of bed at all.

I have already put in a full shift, including a protracted journey back from Dublin, on a wild, wet Wednesday in foulest winter, so Im feeling mighty sorry for myself as I kiss the stove goodbye and head out again for the night.

On foot of that little rant, it tells all you need to know about the ambience in Jacques Restaurant that, the moment I walk through the door, it feels as if I have found the blessed sanctuary of an alternative stove.

The restaurant, to the other end of the premises, offering an a la carte menu, is a bright and welcoming space, but on a night such as this, it is hard to top the cosy intimacy of the casual dining bar: exposed warm brickwork, natural wood, twinkling, low lights.

Almost immediately, a tidy nook becomes available; Big Tand I snuggle up with menus and seasonal aperitifs: hers, a pleasant Bellini; mine, a top-drawerNegroni.

Specially-sourced blue corn tostadas sport smashing and generous fillings: West Cork crab, with chipotle mayo, Mexican slaw (red and white cabbage, celeriac, apple) is sweet, savoury, full of textural crunch; Im also partial to spicy beef adobe with an intriguing cashew nut salsa (toasted nuts, lime, cumin, fresh chilli) though the meats umami bass notes are a tad too sonorous for BT.

A vegetarian tasting board is excellent value at 12. It allows us to roam further across the menu: succulent portobello mushrooms, stuffed with spiced granola, yoghurt and smoked paprika oil; crisp pastry tart with lovely eggy spinach and leek; hummus and romesco (Catalonian dip of red pepper and walnut), Ardsallagh goats cheese and stuffed red piquillo peppers.

Empenada may feature less-than-traditional puff pastry but it is good pastry, enclosing flavour-packed roasted root vegetables, spinach and mature cheddar, a real winter comforter.

Though close to our limit, patatas bravas, with tomato, chorizo and aioli are ordered because they are on the menu. No one in their right mind refuses patatas bravas. Lovely chocolate and salted caramel tart close the door behind us.

Dont bother seeking out the cracking Burgundy (pinot noir, Cote Chalonnaise 2016) that serves us splendidly throughout, pretty much the last bottle of a small consignment picked up on holidays, but the rest of the list is a fine assembly, including a decent spread of natural wines.

There was some trawling of the memory banks for a birth cert earlier this year as sister-proprietors, Jacque and Eithne Barry, wondered if a significant birthday was imminent but it turns out Jacques is still only 38 years old.

Off the top of my head, that makes it the oldest restaurant in the city, a genuinely treasured institution, yet Jacques comports itself with a sprightly elan belying its years, as vibrant as a youngun.

The food offering knows its place in this sublimely delivered hospitality experience: it is not attention-seeking fare, no screeching emissary for a chefs ego; rather, it is well-sourced local, seasonal produce treated with integrity and respect.

What might be termed a mission statement on the website states: [Jacques] aim is to serve simple fresh Cork food, bursting with flavour, in a friendly relaxed atmosphere.

Mission accomplished and then some.
Electric car owners could be asked to pay to charge up their vehicles in public places under plans being considered by the Government.

Documents seen by the Irish Examiner reveal the Department of Environment and ministers believe the current system of unlimited free public recharging is not considered sustainable.

Drivers having to pay, along with owners of car parks, fuel stations, and shopping centre footing bills could help fund the network for electric vehicles, internal emails suggest.

The previous environment minister, Denis Naughten, was told by department officials it will be necessary to introduce fees in the future.

A briefing note prepared for a meeting between Mr Naughten and Transport Minister Shane Ross said: This will ensure people pay a fair price for the energy used and encourage people to recharge at home where possible. It is important that the level of fees introduced for use of public rechargers does not lead to a significant disincentive effect to the purchase of new electric vehicles.

There will only be an estimated 8,000 electric vehicles on Irelands roads by 2020, less than half of the Governments repeatedly-revised target. Targets have continuously tumbled.

In 2008, the aim was electric cars would make up 10% of the car fleet, equivalent to 200,000, by 2020. In 2014, the target was reduced to 50,000 and recently fell to 20,000.

Despite grants and relief worth up to 10,000, low running costs and minimal tax, a problem for electric vehicle users is range anxiety and fears about needing a power source.

The ESB has said limited fees will apply at some public top-up points later this year, particularly for fast-charge spots. These new hubs will give a car 100km of power in six minutes.

However, evidence that the Government and Department of Environment have considered an official system of fees could put the brakes on drivers swapping their fossil fuel-powered cars for plug-in vehicles. Ministers, including Paschal Donohoe who oversees taxation of vehicles, were also told about the disappointing take-up in electric car use.

Despite all of the supports that are in place, considered generous by international standards, the pace of transition to EVs has been slower than expected likely due to a range of factors including limited vehicle choice, range anxiety and low consumer awareness, one department noted.

An internal department email about electric cars also obtained under Freedom of Information, adds: The potential introduction of payments for charging would both encourage electric vehicle owners to charge at home and raise revenue to fund the operation and maintenance of the network.

A taskforce workshop for stakeholders in the electric car sector has also considered how users may be charged. FoI files show the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) event considered that with a system of fees for electric charging, consumer awareness on pricing was required while fees may need to reflect seasonal conditions/electricity prices.

It was also felt by firms and state agencies with an interest in electric vehicles that pricing should remain below the cost of diesel and petrol. A note on the SEAI event adds: A phased basis for the introduction of public charging costs would be advisable.
Princess Haya has appeared on radio saying why she invited former President of Ireland Mary Robinson to meet her family.

The wife of the ruler of Dubai told RTE Radio 1's The Marian Finucane Show that she invited Ms Robinson to visit her and Princess Sheikha Latifa, and asked for her counsel as a family friend.

Last month, photos of

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The state-run WAM news agency carried a government statement saying the princess is at home and living with her family in Dubai.

The government said Sheikha Latifa met with the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

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Sheikha Latifa failed in an attempt to escape the UAE on a yacht earlier this year.

In a video filmed before the escape effort and posted online after her subsequent disappearance, Latifa claimed she had been tortured.

She said: "If you are watching this video, it's not such a good thing. Either I'm dead or I'm in a very, very, very bad situation."

Princess Haya said she invited Ms Robinson to Dubai because she wanted her counsel and said it was "absurd" that they were being asked to prove Sheikha Latifa is alive.

She added that contrary to what is being said, it is not anything other than a private family matter.

Sheikha Latifa with Ms Robinson in Dubai (United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation via AP)

"I asked for Mary to come to Dubai. I asked for her to come to Dubai because it mattered deeply to me," said Princess Haya.

"I called her specifically with a question because I had seen a correspondence from the special procedures branch of the UN high commission for human rights.

"And the reason that this correspondence had such a shattering effect on me is simply the fact that we were being asked for proof of life, and being asked to prove that someone we love - that I love - is simply alive is absurd.

We've done our utmost to help and protect and support her through this period and we continue to do so.



It's unimaginable that this thing has gone so far from the truth.



It's been unbelievable and devastating and I really wanted to get the right advice from Mary on how to move forward.

"And I wanted her to give me that counsel. I did it as myself. There was no official party, there was no commission, there was no terms of reference.

"I made the call...and explained to her the difficulties that I saw and the heartbreak that I see around me and asked her to come and to give me advice.

File photo of Princess Haya (AP Photo/Keystone, Eddy Risch)

"That's the thing that I really value from a person with her integrity, with her track record that is unblemished and to know that I'd get absolutely the truth.

"She is not a person who is going to mince words. She is her own woman. She always has been and that's what matters.

When asked about the interpretation that Ms Robinson was used as a PR exercise, Princess Haya said she was "really, really very, very sorry that my actions have led to the criticism of a person that I so deeply respect and admire."

She said that if she thought "for a single second" that "any shred" of what was being said was true she "wouldn't put up with it or stand for it."

Princess Haya added that the details of Ms Robinson's counsel to her and her family were private.

At the end of December,

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"She made a video that she now regrets and she planned an escape, or what was part of a plan of escape.

"I had lunch with her. She's a very likeable young woman but clearly troubled, clearly needs the medical care that she is receiving."

The head of Amnesty International Ireland said a simple lunch between Mrs Robinson and Latifa should not dismiss the grave concerns

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Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has defended planning for a no-deal Brexit and said it is up to Britain to commit to an agreement.

Visiting Bavaria, Germany, yesterday, he said the Government wanted to ensure there was no new hard border in Ireland but also that relations with Britain remained strong after Brexit.

Westminster is set to vote on the Brexit withdrawal agreement later this month.

The expectation is that British prime minister Theresa May could lose the vote. This has prompted fears that Britain may crash out of the European Union without any deal in a chaotic manner.

Mr Varadkar yesterday addressed a conference of the CSU, a sister party of the ruling CDU party.

He said: For the first time an EU member state is leaving. So we need to get it right. Peace on our island was born out of the European ideal, by communities coming together, not growing apart.

Mr Varadkar told German politicians that Ireland would defend the Good Friday Agreement.

Despite the ever-shifting sands on the trek towards a settled Brexit destination, two things have stayed constant, he said. The first is European support for Irish concerns and safeguarding peace on our island. The second is our understanding of what must be defended.

Mr Varadkar also praised German chancellor Angela Merkel, outgoing leader of the CDU, saying she had stood up and defended European values at a difficult time. He said the Brexit process had been traumatic at times but had not proven fatal to the European family.

Speaking to reporters earlier, he stressed that it was Britain which was threatening a no-deal.

I still expect that we will have a deal in the next couple of weeks but it is still prudent that as every day passes, we intensify our preparations for a no-deal, he said. That is very much what Ireland is doing.

We shouldnt forget that Ireland isnt threatening a no-deal and Europe isnt threatening a no-deal and Germany isnt threatening a no-deal. It is always in the power of the United Kingdom to ensure that there is a deal to ratify the agreement we have reached at Government level, or alternatively by seeking an extension of Article 50.

Mr Varadkar outlined how Ireland and Germany, after Brexit, wanted to build a strong economic and security partnership with Britain.

In many ways, that is in their hands, he said. It is for them to decide what they want that new relationship to look like. That has been part of the problem for the last two and a half years, the division in the UK and uncertainty in the UK as to what they want the new relationship to look like.

Elsewhere, a senior PSNI figure has dismissed reports that up to 1,000 extra police from England and Scotland could be drafted into the North this year to counter any outbreak of violence over Brexit. It was reported the police would be trained if there is no deal and a possibility of a new border.

Such additional police from outside Ireland would likely prompt objections and protests, but PSNI assistant chief constable Mark Hamilton said he did not see the need for reinforcements.
The Government is being urged to tackle cyber threats to Irish elections.

Fine Gael deputy Alan Farrell says voters must also be protected from online disinformation during election campaigns.

It follows recent remarks by the Taoiseach that European Leaders have discussed the threat to European Elections - and as hackers post information from hundreds of

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Deputy Farrell says the Government needs to act ahead of the local and European elections in May.

"I'm hopeful over the coming months we will see the Electoral Commission Bill being put forward in the Houses of the Oireachtas and debated so that we can get this right," said Mr Farrell.

"The most pressing matter is the potential for foreign involvement [in elections] which has occurred in other jurisdictions, occurring here in Ireland,

"And we don't want that. So we're going to have to do something about it."
Hospital consultants who can earn up to 250,000 a year will have to be paid more if vacant positions are to be filled, according to Fianna Fails finance spokesman Michael McGrath.

The Cork TD said the Government will need to bite the bullet and accept pay will have to increase for consultants.

A consultant who works full time in public hospitals with no fee-paying patients would see their salary increase from around 180,000 to 252,000, he suggests.

Consultants who are allowed treat private patients in their public hospital would get a salary rise from 170,000 to 225,000.

In an interview with the Irish Examiner, Mr McGrath said: Some of the cuts in health may have been politically popular, like the extra cut to consultants pay in 2012, but it really appears not to have been a smart move.

Like it or not, we are simply not attracting consultants, retaining them, and I think we are going to have to bite the bullet and pay what is required.

There are similar issues in nursing.

Mr McGraths comments come amid growing industrial unrest in the health sector, with the Irish Nurses and Midwife Organisation preparing to hold a number of one-day strike actions.

His comments also come as the HSE has been given a record budget of 17bn for 2019 and amid growing criticism from the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (IFAC) about the year-on-year growth in the health budget.

Mr McGrath said the IFAC criticism is fair and needs to be heeded by Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe.

Until you have a credible budget, until you have a credible plan, you will have this annual charade of a budget being agreed that everyone knows is not sufficient and then big supplementary budgets are needed, said Mr McGrath.

You do have to question where all the money is going.

We have a vacuum at the top of the HSE, we are several months without a CEO at the top of the HSE. That will filter right down through the organisation.

The criticisms from the fiscal council are fair and have to be accepted by the Government.

Within-year expenditure growth has become a trend in the past couple of years and needs to be addressed properly.

Within health, if overruns of 600m or 700m are happening without a credible reason as to why, then those issues need to be dealt with.

Everyone else in opposition, meanwhile, wanted to go further and had the Government done that, the concerns and criticisms would have been greater.

Mr McGrath also hit out at Mr Donohoes handling of the budget process in holding back the full figures from the Fianna Fail team right up to the day it was announced.

It makes it difficult for us to finalise our position on our asks if they are keeping back, he said.

It can result in the overall package moving to a position beyond what is prudent. When it happens so late in the day, it is very difficult to turn the bus around.

We get some things delivered in confidence and supply, but we are not behind the wheel.

A lot of it is not tied down until very late in the day  health, housing, education.

The process does actually go down to the wire.

But it seems to come down to the last 24 or 48 hours, which is not a good way to do business.

Low numbers

On a per capita basis, Ireland is among the countries with the lowest numbers of hospital consultants in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) area, but, according to the group, they are among the highest earners internationally.

Statistics from the OECD in 2015 show specialists earned an average of around 170,000.

This is twice the average in Britain and higher than in any other OECD country except New Zealand and Luxembourg. However, the Irish Hospital Consultants Association insists that some of the salary amounts included are gross, while others are net, and the pay in some countries is not directly comparable.

In Ireland, spending per head of population in 2016 was $5,600, similar to Germany and slightly ahead of Belgium. We have three hospital beds per thousand. The OECD average is 4.7.
The Health Minister says 200 GPs have signed up to provide abortion services.

Simon Harris says he expects more providers to come on board next week.

Commenting on social media, he said: "Next week we see more providers coming onboard and some current ones expanding services."

Mr Harris also stated he will be working on providing safe access zones and access to contraception.

He expects to have announcements on next steps for both very shortly.
The hacking of hundreds of

Chief executive of cybersecurity firm Smarttech247, Ronan Murphy said cyber warfare was a new front in the attempt to influence political agendas using low-hanging fruit like public representatives.

The public dumping of the politicians data is said to be the biggest of its kind in Germanys history, and is believed to include email addresses, mobile phone numbers, photos of identification cards and personal chat transcripts. The hackers got the passwords to Facebook accounts and Twitter profiles and worked their way up from there, said political scientist at Munichs Technical University, Simon Hegelich.

Mr Murphy said it is naive to think Ireland was immune to hacking ahead of the local and European elections in May. We have seen it with the Brexit vote and the election of Donald Trump that rogue agents have been able to manipulate the political process. We are seeing a big increase in cyber hackers attempting to subvert the global political system.

It may seem unlikely, but we have had contentious political campaigns here. It is entirely possible that Ireland could be targeted with Brexit and other issues to the fore, he said.

Hotel company Marriott now estimates 383m customers, which may include that of thousands of Irish people, had their data exposed to unauthorised parties in a breach of its Starwood system the firm first revealed in November.

Additional reporting Bloomberg
The move follows the rebranding of Cunningham Lindsey in Hong Kong, which was completed in November 2018.

With the two companies in a process of integrating their international resources, both Singaporean and Malaysian operations will benefit from an extensive list of clients who are very interested in the size, scale, and global reach of the firms.

The brand change forms part of our planned expansion of the market leading international businesses, said Ian V. Muress, CEO of Sedgwick International. Having completed the acquisition, Sedgwick is now perfectly positioned for growth internationally and we have a tremendous opportunity to offer an end-to-end service solution to our new and existing clients around the world. Our strategic vision is to align our complementary services and further grow the reach to a scale that will shape and define the enhanced expertise and talent we can offer.
Woodbridge, VA (22192)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low 63F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low 63F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
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A French-Vietnamese restaurant in New Hampshire, USA has been asked to take down a sign advertising because it contains obscene language. The restaurant called Pho Keene Great is not scheduled to open up till March. However, to advertise they had already displayed a small sign with its name on the window.

City Manager Elizabeth Dragon said that the owner, Isabelle Jolie did not get permission before hanging the sign outside the restaurant. The name of the restaurant is a play on the national dish of Vietnam -pho and the name of the city- Keene. Unfortunately for Pho Keene Great, it also sounds like an expletive (sounds like f**king great).

"City manager has deemed our business name as offensive and a permanent sign with our business name, will not be allowed. The one that is pictured, is a temporary sign, and it was requested that we take it down due to her opinion that it is an offensive name and a contract violation as it relates to City ordinance," said the restaurant on its Facebook page, sharing a picture of the sign.





"We're trying to do all we can to make sure she's successful in her business," said Elizabeth Dragon to New Hampshire Public Radio. "It's just that we have to strike a balance because it is a public building."
Soon after two women entered the Sabarimala Shrine in Kerala, protests erupted in different parts of the state. One person was even killed in the massive protests led by some right-wing groups.

In the middle of all this ruckus, the story of a brave police officer from Tamil Nadu is making headlines. The cop showed exemplary courage when he dared protesters to attack buses during the strike.

The video of the same has gone viral on the internet.

Sub-inspector Mohan Iyer was near the Kaliyakkavilai border where when video of him handling the crowd of agitators was shot. In the video, he is seen telling the mob: If youre a man, come touch the vehicle, reported News 18.

The policeman has not only won accolades from people all over but has also received a citation letter by the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC ) Managing director Thachankary and Rs 1,000.
The cameras have stopped rolling now and for most of the news channel, Kerala flood was the thing of past. But, there are people out there who are busy along with the state authorities to rebuild the devastated life in Kerala and one such selfless group is Khalsa Aid.

We are STILL in Kerala after the floods last year ! We dont walk away few days after the disaster... We remain committed. #Kerala #KeralaFloods pic.twitter.com/Ly5f45SNAV  Khalsa Aid (@Khalsa_Aid) January 3, 2019

Khalsa Aid reaches and help people stuck there. A recent tweet by the Aid reaffirmed their presence in Kerala long after the cameras and the limelight is gone. We are STILL in Kerala after the floods last year ! We dont walk away few days after the disaster... We remain committed, read the tweet by the Aid.

IndiaTimes also spoke to Khalsa Aid and tried to know what all there are doing in Kerala to help people. Currently, we are helping people resurrect their broken lives and for that we are rebuilding houses and other amenities in Alleppey district. Currently, a team of five members is looking after the rebuilding work and we want to ensure that peoples lives get back to normal as soon as possible, said Amarpreet Singh, Khalsa Aid.

Education is perhaps the most important thing needs for the resurrection of any individual or society and Khalsa Aid also knows this. Currently, we have adopted two local schools completely devastated in the floods and we are on revamping the schools, so that the children can get back to their studies as soon as possible, added Amarpreet.
Just when Naseeruddin Shah's controversial remark in reference to anxious about childrens safety had faded into obscurity, the veteran actor has once again sparked another controversy.

Naseeruddin Shah has apparently turned Amnesty Indias ambassador and in one of their recently released videos, he can be seen talking about massive crackdown on freedom of expression and human rights defenders and expressing concern over muzzling voices of dissent.

AFP

The campaign is called Ab Ki Baar Manav Adhikaar'. Interestingly, the pictures used in the video during his monologue are of urban naxals.

In the video, he says, Those who demand rights are being locked away. Artists, actors scholars, poets are all being stifled. Journalists too are being silenced. In the name of religion, walls of hate are being erected. Innocents are being killed.

Screengrab

Had we dreamt of a country where there is no space for dissent? Where only rich and powerful are heard, and where the poorest and most vulnerable are forever oppressed? Where there once was law, there is now only darkness.

Heres the video:

In 2018, India witnessed a massive crackdown on freedom of expression and human rights defenders. Let's stand up for our constitutional values this new year and tell the Indian government that its crackdown must end now. #AbkiBaarManavAdhikaar pic.twitter.com/e7YSIyLAfm  Amnesty India (@AIIndia) January 4, 2019

And now he is facing flak on Twitter:

This type of anti-india fake propaganda will strengthen our intension to re-elect Modiji as a PM.#ModiOnceMore

( Amnesty India is under scanner for alleged financial irregularities)https://t.co/KEeOtxAz3i  Jatan Acharya  (@jatanacharya) January 4, 2019

If #NaseeruddinShah is not honest enough to join political pparty before giving political statements, how he could be honest in his opinion ? https://t.co/KEeOtxAz3i  Jatan Acharya  (@jatanacharya) January 4, 2019

I had a great respect for you as an actor.but from few days you are suffering from some disease. Get well soon  Rajesh Shetty (@76df002879464e1) January 4, 2019

Naseeruddin is funded by ISI  Rajiv Modak (@FzRajiv) January 4, 2019

He should be fired from India  Rammy singh (@rammysingh06) January 4, 2019

India does not need Disrupters like @AmnestyIndia , the Nation has been made to bleed hugely by such deceptive and hypocrite organisations who are more engaged in secessionist and antiGovernment antiPeople activities. Need a blanket ban on #Amnesty & its affiliates in diff grabs. pic.twitter.com/zFqmPafXqQ  RomeshNadir (@RomeshNadir) January 5, 2019

In response to his statement, Emraan Hashmi recently said that he is unable to express his opinion on the entire hoopla.
After enthralling fans with the magnum opus Baahubali, Prabhas has become an iconic hero for his fans across the world. With this superhit film, he ruled the hearts of many and got recognition on a global platform.

But looks like Prabhas loves to make his fans wait! For almost two years, he made them scratch their heads to know why Kattappa killed Baahubali and now for his next film Saaho, the wait is even harder.

Twitter

But its going to be worth the wait, says Damini Chopra, the actress who is making a debut with Sujeeth Reddys Saaho, in an exclusive chat with Indiatimes.

Forget Baahubali, Saaho will be as big as Mission Impossible.

Expect the movie to be as big as Mission Impossible or something of that sort. Baahubali is a very different genre, and its a different kind of classic. We are hoping to give the audiences something different, but it is definitely going to be as well-received and as well-enjoyed as Baahubali. Sujeeth Reddy is creating a great project and everyone must watch out for it.

Talking about Prabhas, Damini shares an interesting anecdote and reveals that in the first meeting itself she realised how down-to-earth he is.

The first day I went on sets, I walked up to him and I told him I am really nervous, its my first film and my very first shot with the Baahubali. To which he very sweetly told me, You are nervous? You have gone to Harvard. I am nervous standing here. He broke the ice with that joke and from then on, everything became very easy from the word go.

For the uninitiated, Damini Chopra went to Harvard University in Boston for my undergraduate Degree in English Literature. Self admittedly, she has grown up watching Bollywood films and is a big fan of Shah Rukh Khan and Devdas is her favourite film.

Prabhas is down-to-earth and a lot of fun on sets!

You have this whole image of him being a superstar, who has a Baahubali image but in real life, he is lot of fun. In between the sets, we all used to play games like Suduko and just had a lot of fun in general."

He is a regular-guy next door off the screen, but the moment the camera turns on, his whole larger-than-life persona comes on-screen and you are just left stunned. Also, he is very punctual and helpful on sets.

On being asked about one thing that fans shall be looking forward to about Saaho, Damini Chopra says Prabhas. And how good he is going to look.

Everyone is going to surprise you with different looks in this film, she adds.

Furthermore, talking about her experience working with Shraddha Kapoor, Damini said that she was impressed by how dedicated and focussed she is on the sets.

Also starring Neil Nitin Mukesh and Mandira Bedi and produced on a budget of Rs 300 crore reportedly, Saaho will hit the screens on Aug 15.
He accepted a post-9/11 commission from the U.S Army Reserve and has volunteered to mobilize three times. He deployed to Afghanistan with a Special Operations Task Force from Fort Bragg to help train Afghan security. He deployed to Iraq with XVIII Airborne Corps and served at the Multi-National Corps headquarters. And, he worked for a year as a Special Assistant United States Attorney, prosecuting criminal misconduct on Fort Bragg. Currently, he helps train special operations forces on the law of armed conflict and military justice and has been selected for promotion to Lieutenant Colonel. Cal is also a paratrooper.

The 2020 race

The race for Lieutenant Governor is an open race; the incumbent, Republican Dan Forrest is term-limited and must vacate the office at the end of 2020. Forrest has indicated his intent to challenge Roy Cooper, who is expected to run for a second term as Governor.

The 2020 primary election will be held early  March 3, 2020, on the same day that North Carolina voters select nominees for President, US Senate, US Congress, legislative and other council of state offices. Early vote will open in or around mid-February, 2020 and filing for office will open December 2, 2019.
President Donald Trump has insisted he will not budge on his demands for money for a wall at the Mexican border (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)

White House officials and congressional aides are continuing talks aimed at ending a partial government shutdown that has dragged into a 15th day.

US Vice-President Mike Pence, who led the conversation, described Saturdays session as productive on Twitter, although no breakthrough was reached.

The White House aides and Democrat and Republican staff plan to return to the talks on Sunday.

Productive discussion w/ Congressional leadership staff at @WhiteHouse. @SecNielsen gave a full presentation on crisis along Southern Border. We reaffirmed @POTUSa commitment to secure the border, build the wall, keep Americans safe & reopen govat. Discussions continue tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/C7k9Sg8guY  Vice President Mike Pence Archived (@VP45) January 5, 2019

Negotiations have been at an impasse over President Donald Trumps demands for 5.6 billion US dollars (4.4 billion) to fund a wall at the Mexican border.

A White House official said the meeting included a briefing on border security by Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen.

Democrats restated their request to reopen the government while border security talks continue, which the White House rejected. Democrats also sought written details on Department of Homeland Security needs, which the White House said it would provide.

Mr Trump, who did not attend the discussions, spent the morning tweeting about border security.

Showing little empathy for the hundreds of thousands of federal workers told to stay away from work or working without pay, Mr Trump declared  without citing evidence  that most are Democrats. He also asserted: I want to stop the Shutdown as soon as we are in agreement on Strong Border Security! I am in the White House ready to go, where are the Dems?

One Democrat, Chris Van Hollen, said in his partys weekly radio address that the shutdown is part of a larger pattern of a president who puts his personal whims and his effort to score political points before the needs of the American people He is pointing fingers at everyone but himself.

Mr Trump and Democratic leaders met for roughly two hours on Friday, but gave differing accounts of the session. Democrats reported little progress; Mr Trump framed the weekend talks as a key step forward.

Itas time for @realDonaldTrump to accept ayesa as an answer. Let us do our jobs. Let us reopen government. #TrumpShutdown #MSNBCTownHall  Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 5, 2019

In calling on Mr Trump to reopen government while negotiations on border security continue, Democrats have emphasised there are families unable to pay bills due to absent wage payments.

But the president repeatedly said he will not budge without money for the wall.

He asserted on Friday that he could declare a national emergency to build the wall without congressional approval, but would first try a negotiated process.

He said the federal workers who have been told to stay at home or are working without pay would want him to keep going and fight for border security.

Asked how people would manage without a financial safety net, he said: The safety net is going to be having a strong border because were going to be safe.
On their first day as majority leaders, the Democrats have passed a plan to end the partial US government shutdown without funding US President Donald Trump's border wall.

Mr Trump is demanding billions of dollars to build a wall along the US border with Mexico, which the Democrats have so far refused.

The disagreement has led to a partial shutdown of the federal government which started on December 22 and has so far affected 800,000 federal workers. Mr Trump has withheld his support for any new funding package until he secures $5bn to start building the wall along the border that he promised during his campaign.

Such a wall, he has argued, is needed to stem the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs over the border. When he ran for president in 2016, he vowed Mexico would pay for the wall, which it has refused to do.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Mr Trump and Senate Republicans should "take yes for an answer" and approve the border bill to completely end the shutdown.

When asked if she would give Mr Trump one dollar for a wall to reopen the government, Ms Pelosi said: "One dollar? Yes, one dollar. The fact is a wall is an immorality. It's not who we are as a nation."

Ms Pelosi, who was elected speaker earlier on Thursday, also took a shot at Mr Trump, calling his proposal "a wall between reality and his constituents".

The largely party-line votes came after Mr Trump made a surprise appearance at the White House briefing room pledging to keep up the fight for his signature campaign promise.

Reporters were told that White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders would be holding a late afternoon briefing on Thursday.

Instead, out walked Mr Trump, flanked by members of the unions that represent border patrol and immigration enforcement agents.

It was his first time delivering remarks at the briefing room podium. "You can call it a barrier, you can call it whatever you want," Mr Trump said.

"But essentially we need protection in our country.

"We're going to make it good. The people of our country want it."

Mr Trump said his meeting with the union officials had long been planned and just happened to come at "a very opportune time".

He then left without taking questions from reporters.

 Independent News Service
Phoenix police on Saturday were investigating reports of a sexual assault after a woman who has been hospitalised in a vegetative state for the past decade gave birth.

The woman, who was incapacitated in a drowning incident, was a patient at Hacienda Healthcare when she went into labor on December 29 and delivered a baby boy, according to local media.

No one knew she was pregnant and healthcare staff were initially unsure why she was moaning, the reports said.

"This matter is currently under investigation by the Phoenix Police Department," Sergeant Tommy Thompson told Reuters when asked about the media reports.

Hacienda spokesman David Leibowitz said the facility had recently become aware of a "deeply disturbing incident" involving one of its residents.

He declined to say whether its staff were being asked to undergo DNA testing to identify a possible suspect, or whether the facility was taking any preventative measures to protect patients against a similar situation.

"While federal and state privacy laws prohibit us from publicly discussing a patient's health or case, Hacienda has and will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement and all the relevant regulatory agencies regarding this matter," Leibowitz said by email.

Victim advocate Tasha Menaker, chief strategy officer of the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence, said it would be appropriate for police to run DNA tests on male employees at the facility.

Hacienda HealthCare describes itself as Arizona's leading provider of specialized health care services for medically fragile and chronically ill infants, children, teens, and young adults as well as those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

A spokesman for Arizona Governor Doug Ducey said the reports were "deeply troubling" and that the state was re-evaluating its contract and regulatory authority over Hacienda Healthcare to tighten up patient safety measures.
Five children heading to Disney World in a church van have died along with two truck drivers in a fiery crash in north Florida, police said.

The children were travelling in a large passenger van from Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, on Thursday, according to Florida Highway Patrol Lieutenant Patrick Riordan.

A lorry and a passenger vehicle collided in the northbound lanes of Interstate 75 and continued across the central reservation and into the path of another HGV and the church van, investigators said.

"Once those semis struck, they both caught fire," Lt Riordan said.

He said a fifth vehicle came through and either struck people who had been thrown from the wreckage or debris. About 50 gallons of diesel spilled, worsening the fire that also damaged the road in spots.

At least eight people were taken hospital with injuries.

Nicole Towarek was travelling northbound with her family when they came across the scene. "We kept seeing these little explosions and fire," she said. "The heat, it was insane."
Data and documents belonging to hundreds of German politicians have been hacked and posted on Twitter, according to reports.

The leak, which saw the data posted in daily batches before Christmas on a Twitter account that has been active since mid-2017, affects all parties in parliament except the far-right Alternative for Germany, public broadcaster RBB reported.

It said there appeared to be no pattern to what was posted. Although it reportedly includes personal information such as mobile phone numbers, addresses, internal party communications and in some cases bills and credit card details - some of the data years old - there seem to be no politically sensitive documents.

There was no immediate information on who was responsible or on the source of the data, and whether it was all authentic.

News agency dpa reported the information included a fax number and email address belonging to Chancellor Angela Merkel and several letters to and from her.
Holidaymakers have been advised to avoid areas of southern Thailand as a tropical storm made landfall in the south-east Asian country.

Tropical storm Pabuk is expected to bring five-metre high waves and winds up to 74kmh, the Thai Met Office warned.

Millions make trips to the country every year to visit popular islands such as Koh Phangan, Koh Samui and Koh Tao.

Over the winter period visitor numbers increase as many head there to catch some winter sun.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has warned any Irish citizens in this region to monitor local media and follow the instructions of local authorities.

Areas such as such as Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat are expected to be hit with torrential downpours and strong winds.

Forecasters have also warned of possible flash flooding in certain areas caused by "forest run-offs" from the rain.

The storm made landfall over Pak Phanang in the south of the country.

Katie Preston (23) and her partner Liam Bland (29) from Hartlepool in north-east England are currently stranded on the island of Koh Phangan after they were allowed to take the last boat out.

The couple arrived in Thailand on St Stephen's Day for a three-week holiday and have criticised the lack of information they've received.

"When we were walking to the hotel we thought it seemed quiet but didn't think much of it until we read everyone had left and ours was the last boat over to Phangan before they were suspending [the] service," Ms Preston said.

"The locals don't seem too bothered by it, they've been tying down their furniture but still been out on scooters so that's a bit reassuring!" she added.
When the proud son of a tea seller swept India's 2014 general election with the slogan "Achhe din (good days) are coming" following a campaign that tapped into Hindu nationalist sentiment, there were high expectations but also more that a little trepidation.

More than four years later, Narendra Modi struggles to manage expectations as prime minister while plotting a strategy for re-election in a ballot due to take place in May.

He and his centre-right Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are facing criticism - and protests - as disillusionment grows over the disconnect between what they promised to the world's largest democracy and what they have delivered.

An unashamed populist who came to power two years before Donald Trump entered the White House, Modi's "India First" rhetoric and his strident Hindu nationalist platforming has drawn comparison with the US president's tactics.

Just like white supremacists have felt emboldened in Trump's America, so too have hardline Hindu nationalists grown empowered in Modi's India, stirring fears among the country's religious minorities, including its 170 million Muslims.

Back in 2014, Modi, while courting the Hindu hardliners, garnered support beyond those circles by portraying himself as a champion of economic development that would benefit many, not the few, at the same time as tackling corruption. His government pushed forward with a national goods and services tax, currency reform and a campaign to boost India's rating on the World Bank's ease of doing business ranking.

Modi's confidence grew as the BJP expanded its control over a record 20 out of the country's 29 state legislatures.

But a dip in fortunes has checked some of that brashness. Regional electoral defeats - particularly in three large Indian states - have prompted speculation that re-election this year may not be as easy as Modi's loyalists believed. "Achhe din" is now regularly mocked in India, as is the man who made the slogan his trademark.

Much will depend on sentiment in rural India, where two-thirds of the population live. Farmers are suffering in a country where agriculture is the biggest employer. Almost 55pc of workers either directly or indirectly make their living from the land.

Rural wages have been plummeting and farmers have been unable to get sustainable prices. They have taken to the streets in huge numbers in recent weeks to protest and as a critical voting bloc, the massive demonstrations are bad news for Modi five months before a re-election bid.

In India's sprawling cities, those disappointed by Modi include younger voters who had hoped his pledge to create tens of millions of jobs would have by now transformed into something tangible. Instead youth unemployment is growing.

Traders, another key constituency, are not happy because of sluggish economic progress and Modi's demonetisation move. Meanwhile, those within the political mainstream who voted for Modi and his BJP because they wanted change are increasingly worried about its reliance on Hindu nationalist rhetoric which is feeding religious polarisation.

"More damage has been done to India by this government than any in the past," Rahul Gandhi, Modi's main opponent, said last summer, referring to the BJP's Hindu nationalist agenda. The emergence of so-called cow vigilantes - Hindu hardliners who target non-Hindus, particularly Muslims, on allegations of eating and selling beef - has caused disquiet.

A much-publicised recent case in Uttar Pradesh - India's most populous state, governed by the BJP through a Hindu priest they appointed chief minister - involved the killing of a police officer by a mob protesting the death of a number of cattle.

A well-known actor, Naseeruddin Shah, said he worries for his children, adding that a "poison" has spread in Indian society. "It will be very difficult to capture this djinn [genie] back into the bottle."

There is concern the BJP will try to galvanise India's majority Hindu voters ahead of the May election by resorting to appeals to religious sentiment. While recent opinion polls have shown Modi slipping and Gandhi on the rise, the prime minister remains India's most popular politician.
Jeanne Calment poses with a certificate from the Guiness Book of Records stating that she has passed the absolute world record with her 120 years and 239 days (Photo by Georges GOBET / AFP)GEORGES GOBET/AFP/Getty Images

TWO French scientists who validated Jeanne Calments status as the oldest person ever to have lived have dismissed claims by Russian researchers who say that she didnt really survive to 122.

Mathematician Nikolay Zak and gerontologist Valery Novoselov claim that Calments daughter, Yvonne Calment, assumed her mothers identity decades earlier.

The Russians analysed photographs, official documents and interviews to produce a body of evidence they acknowledge is circumstantial.

Jean-Marie Robine, one of the two French scientists who validated Calments age, said that the stir now being caused in France by the Russians findings was a ridiculous controversy.

A spokesman for Guinness World Records, which registered Calments age as a world record, said they were aware of the Russians claims.

Extensive research is performed for every oldest person record title we verify, which is led by experts in gerontology, the scientific study of old age, and they have been notified of the current situation, a spokesman said.

In a paper for the Moscow Centre For Continuous Mathematical Education, Zak cites discrepancies between the colour of Jeanne Calments eyes, her height and the shape of her forehead in a copy of a 1930s identity card and in her appearance later in life.

I do not have cast-iron proof, Zak told reporters in Moscow. I reviewed the whole situation. There are lots of small pieces of evidence.

The second French scientist who validated Calments age, gerontologist Michel Allard, acknowledged that even if far-fetched, the Russians conclusions should be given consideration, although he rejected their suggestions of discrepancies between early images of Calment and her appearance in later life.

In the last years of Jeanne Calments life, I saw so many transformations of her physiognomy, he said.

Jeanne Calment was born on February 21, 1875, more than a decade before the Eiffel Tower was built and a year before Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone.

She married a distant wealthy cousin and outlived her daughter Yvonne  who died of pneumonia in the early 1930s, according to official documents  as well as her husband and a grandson, before passing away on August 4, 1997.
Conor McGregor and Dee Devlin will have the option to include a spa area on the ground floor. Photo: Realista

Dee Devlin posted a pic to Instagram of herself with partner Conor McGregor

Dee Devlin and Conor McGregor at the world premiere of Conor McGregor: Notorious at the Savoy Cinema, Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy

Conor McGregor with his partner Dee Devlin in the crowd of RTE's Dancing with the Stars. Photo: Kyran O'Brien

Conor McGregor and Dee Devlin have reportedly welcomed a baby girl into their family.

The baby, born at the Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital this week, is the second for the couple, after their son Conor Jr. who was born in May 2017.

The Irish Daily Star reports that the baby is a girl and the name chosen by the happy parents is rumoured to be Croia, a Gaelic name which may mean 'of the heart' or 'little heart'.

MMA superstar Conor (30) shared the news of Conor Jr.'s sibling's arrival with a post on social media on Friday, praising "SuperMam" Dee.

The picture shows McGregor carrying the newborn out of the hospital, alongside the couple's older child Conor Jr, who was born in May 2017.

The Crumlin native said: "Heading home with my two healthy babies and an energized and healthy SuperMam 

"2019 is off to the best start!

"Thank you for the well wishes everybody!"

Expand Close Proud dad Conor McGregor shared this photo of him with his newborn child and Conor Jr leaving the hospital Photo: Conor McGregor/Instagram / Facebook

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Whatsapp Proud dad Conor McGregor shared this photo of him with his newborn child and Conor Jr leaving the hospital Photo: Conor McGregor/Instagram

This comes just days after The Notorious shared a photo of him ringing in the new year with his long-term partner Dee and Conor Jr.

Speaking about becoming a father previously, McGregor said, "Fatherhood is such an amazing thing, because it made me just realise what's important.

"If anything, I feel the pressure is off my shoulders even more so.

"As a fighter I'm a little more ruthless maybe, a little bit more certain and a little bit more dangerous - if I am being honest - because there is another one I am fighting for."

Dee announced the pregnancy on Instagram in July as they celebrated Conor's 30th birthday on board a yacht. She captioned the image, "Love you to bits from me, Conor Jr and the bump".
One hundred years ago, Ireland went to the polls to vote in an election that would mark a turning point in the island's history.

At the time, Ireland was still part of the United Kingdom and ruled from Westminster. King George V was on throne; Lloyd George was Prime Minister of a coalition government composed of the Liberal and Conservative parties and the key British administrative figure in Ireland was the Lord Lieutenant, Field Marshall John French.

The enactment of the Representation of the People Act earlier in the year - giving the vote to all men aged over 21 and to women aged over 30 - saw the Irish electorate immediately increase from around 700,000 to two million.

The previous general election had taken place back in December 1910 because the political parties in Westminster deferred a subsequent general election until World War One was over.

In August 1918, Prime Minister Lloyd George announced that a general election would be held in December that year 'to enable him to end the war' but the end came sooner than anticipated. Within hours of the November 11 Armistice coming into force, the long-awaited general election was called for December 14 and Parliament was dissolved on November 25.

Going into the election, the Irish Parliamentary Party (IPP) held 68 seats, Unionists held 18 seats, Sinn Fein had seven and Independents accounted for ten.

The Nationalist vote was split between the IPP and Sinn Fein, with the Irish Labour abstaining 'as a positive step towards unity.'

The IPP campaigned on the basis of the Third Home Rule Bill with a few concessions to meet the demands of Ulster Unionists', and membership within the Empire.

The key issues of the Sinn Fein campaign were: Abstention from Westminster; Complete separation from Britain and freedom from British rule; Full autonomy for Ireland, including an independent Irish parliament; and international recognition of Ireland's independent status by the Peace Conference of Allied Sovereign Powers.

Ulster Unionists campaigned on maintaining their status within the Empire while recognising that in the south they would be only successful in a limited number of areas.

The mood of the country in 1918 was largely anti-British. Lord French's solution to his instructions of 're-establishing the authority of British law and order in Ireland' was to impose martial law on areas where there was nationalist activity - an action which further alienated public opinion against Britain and drove people towards Sinn Fein, which had become the dominant nationalist party.

As early as August 15, Sinn Fein held a national day of action in which party representatives read its manifesto at public meetings held simultaneously throughout the country. In Bray, this resulted in several party activists involved in a meeting outside Bray Town Hall being arrested on a later date. They were then prosecuted and imprisoned when they refused to provided sureties (bonds) to be of good behaviour for 12 months.

For the general election, the county was divided onto the two single-seat constituencies of East Wicklow and West Wicklow. The candidates standing in East Wicklow were Mr DJ Cogan (IPP), Mr JR Etchingham (Sinn Fein) and Mr A Parker Keene (Unionist); and in West Wicklow were Mr RC Barton (Sinn Fein) and The O'Mahony (IPP).

Excellent weather on Saturday, December 14, meant that there was a very large turnout of the electorate with very little animosity being displayed against each other by supporters of these respective candidates. In the east Wicklow constituency, it was reported that 2,300 people out of an electorate of 3,268 in Bray cast their votes; in Delgany 1,100 out of 1,535 voted; and in Wicklow, slightly over 2,000 out of 2,788 turned out to vote. The highest turnout was recorded in Arklow, although it could have been higher had Kynoch's munitions factory not closed earlier in the year.

In the west Wicklow constituency, where it was straight contest between Sinn Fein and the Irish Parliamentary Party, 680 out of an electorate of 961 voted, with large numbers turning out in Baltinglass, Aughrim and Annamoe.

During the afternoon in Aughrim, there was friction between supporters of the IPP and Sinn Fein with threats being directed towards the latter party to the extent that Mr PH O'Reilly, agent for Mr Barton, summoned help in the form of Irish Volunteers from neighbouring villages. Between 6.30 p.m. and 7 p.m. a force of about 120 arrived and were greeted by jeering and bottle-throwing by a small group standing on the bridge. Some of the Volunteers fired revolver shots, charged, scattered the crowd and restored peace and order. Around 10 p.m. the Volunteers left the town, with those from Wicklow and Rathdrum marching home on foot and those from Arklow using motor transport.

A feature of the general election was the large number of women who turned out to cast their votes in a parliamentary election for the first time.

Once the polls closed at 10 p.m. the ballot boxes were sealed and transported by in official motor vehicles to Wicklow Courthouse, where they were placed in a sealed room under 24-hour police guard until the official count took place on Saturday, December 28 - the delay in the count allowing time for the arrival of postal/absentee votes. Fearful that the ballot boxes might be tampered with en-route to Wicklow, the official motor vehicles were followed by Sinn Fein supporters until the sealed ballot boxes were lodged safety in the courthouse.

With the votes cast and the count yet to take place, people settled down and enjoyed Christmas as best they could. Food was plentiful but many people were annoyed that an extreme scarcity of dried fruit made it impossible for them to make their own Christmas cakes or puddings, though tinned Christmas pudding was available. As Christmas Day fell on a Wednesday, in this pre-refrigeration age, most people had to wait until near Christmas Eve to buy their Christmas poultry and pay the prevailing market rate for it. Although food prices had risen due to the war, many people were being paid above average wage rates or were receiving war work bonuses. However, these increased prices did impact on low income families and those living in poverty. The most serious issue facing many low income families that Christmas was an extreme shortage of coal, which placed pressure on the various church and charitable organisations which traditionally provided supplies to the 'deserving poor'.

Once Christmas was over, attention turned back to the election count, which began at 9 a.m. on Saturday, December 28. The sealed ballot boxes for both the east and west Wicklow constituencies were taken out of the sealed storage room at Wicklow Courthouse in the presence of Mr OH Braddell, High Sheriff and Returning Officer, and his deputy, Mr William Toomey, BL.

The votes for East Wicklow were examined, sorted and counted in the Grand Jury Room while those for West Wicklow were handled in the Crown Solicitor's room. The counting of the West Wicklow votes was completed by 4.15 p.m. and those for East Wicklow by 5.20 p.m. The result was then declared after about 50 spoiled votes for the East Wicklow constituency were examined, checked, and adjudicated upon.

The result for East Wicklow was:

Mr JR Etchingham (Sinn Fein) - 5,916 votes

Mr A Parker Keene (Unionist) - 2,600 votes

Mr DJ Cogan (IPP) - 2,456 votes

Mr CM Byrne, election agent for Mr Etchingham, made an acceptance speech on his behalf as he was in Lincoln Prison at that time.

The results for West Wicklow was:

Mr RC Barton (Sinn Fein) - 6,239 votes

The O'Mahony (IPP) - 1,370 votes

Mr PH O'Reilly, agent for Mr Barton, made his acceptance speech, as he was engaged on urgent party business.

The headline news in that evening's newspapers papers was the re-election of the outgoing Conservatives and Liberals coalition government led by Lloyd George with 474 seats (338 Conservative and 136 Liberal) and the victory in Ireland by Sinn Fein.

The final outcome for the 105 Irish seats was:

Irish Parliamentary Party - 6 seats (down 62)

Unionists - 26 seats (up eight)

Sinn Fein - 73 seats (up 66)

Independents - 0 seats (down ten)

In some instances, Sinn Fein candidates stood in more than one constituency so that the party's 73 seats were held by 69 representatives.

For Sinn Fein nationally, the 1918 General Election was an outstanding success. It decimated the Irish Parliamentary Party, which had traditionally been the voice Irish nationalism but by 1918 had failed to secure Home Rule and had lost its charismatic leader John Redmond, who had died on March 6 that year.

Furthermore, Sinn Fein made it clear that those elected would not take their seats in Westminster.

About 47 of the Sinn Fein candidates were elected from prison with one of these, Countess Markievicz, the first woman to be elected to the Houses of Parliament.

On that Saturday, James Hoey, Garrett Waldron, and Peter Leggett, three members of the Bray Sinn Fein organisation who had been arrested, tried and imprisoned following the meeting outside Bray Town Hall on August 15, were released from Belfast's Crumlin Road Goal and returned home.

When they reached Shankill that evening, where bonfires were burning to mark the victory of Sinn Fein's Mr Gavan Duffy in the South Dublin Constituency, they were greeted by a crowd of over 1,000 people from Bray, including the Bray Brass Band and Bray Pipers Band. They were brought by torchlight procession in triumph back to Bray and, in the Committee Rooms on Main Street, hospitably entertained.

When the First Dail met in Dublin's Mansion House on January 21 1919, less than 30 of the successful candidates were present as most were still held in British prisons.

Mr Barton did attend the inaugural session and during that day Mr Etchingham was released from Lincoln Prison and allowed to return home, as were some of the other successful candidates who were then able to attend later sessions of the Dail.
Kiltegan residents rang in the new year having not being able to consume water from their mains supply for over a week.

Irish Water, having consulted with the HSE, issued a 'Do Not Consume' notice to all 269 customers on the Kiltegan Water Supply Scheme just after 10 a.m. on Christmas Eve after elevated levels of nitrate were found in the water supply.

Cllr Tommy Cullen, the Cathaoirleach of Baltinglass Municipal District, said the timing of the water restrictions couldn't have been any worse.

'Having to notify people of a do not consume notice on the morning of Christmas Eve is far from ideal. It's a terrible time for this to happen. I rang as many people as I could in the morning and then we carried out leaflet drops later in the afternoon. A lot of people I contacted already had their Christmas ham and vegetables soaking in water. It's an appalling situation to be in at this time of year. I'd say a few Christmas dinners were ruined but the levels of nitrates in the water was very high,' said Cllr Cullen.

The notice means that water can't be used for drinking, drinks made with water, food preparation, the brushing of teeth or the making of ice. The water also should not be used for making up infant formula for bottled fed infants. The water can be used for personal hygiene, bathing, flushing toilets, laundry and washing of utensils.

In May of 2018 another Do Not Consume notice was in place in Kiltegan for over a month.

'People want to know how long was the water contaminated for before the notice was issued on Christmas Eve?' said Cllr Cullen. 'Residents are angry and frustrated. They were already over a month without water in the summer during one of the hottest periods on record'.

Irish Water provided bottled water beside Katie Lowes Pub on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and St Stephen's Day and bottled water will continue to be provided on a daily basis until the notice is lifted.
Business sentiment among hotels in Wicklow and across the country has dropped significantly according to the latest hotel barometer from the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF).

Less than half of hotels (49 per cent) nationally now report a positive outlook for the next twelve months compared with the 82 per cent who had a positive outlook this time last year. Key concerns for the sector include the escalating risk and uncertainty around Brexit, reduced visitors numbers from the UK and the increasing costs of doing business.

While 73 per cent of hotels have seen some increase in overall business levels this year, growth from North America and Europe has masked the poor performance of the UK market with visitors still down 5 per cent on 2016 due to persistently weak performance following the referendum. This is having a direct impact on hotels throughout the country with 52 per cent reporting a drop in business from Great Britain this year while 40 per cent have seen a drop in business from Northern Ireland. The vast majority of hotels (91 per cent) now express concern about the impact of Brexit on their business over the next 12 months.

Brian McNamara, Chair of the IHF's Wicklow branch said: 'We are increasingly concerned about the direction that Brexit is taking and the impact that heightened uncertainty is having on our sector. A disruptive Brexit would have enormous economic repercussions which would be felt directly by tourism businesses here in Wicklow and across the country given our heavy reliance on the UK market'.

Tourism currently supports 13,900 jobs in Wicklow and contributes some 174 million to the local economy annually.

Mr McNamara believes that, even if a deal is eventually reached, any prolonged uncertainty in the coming months could result in a further erosion of consumer sentiment.

'The consistent growth achieved over the last seven years in a dynamic and competitive international market cannot be taken for granted,' said Mr McNamara. 'We are particularly concerned with the Government's change in approach to tourism and the lack of recognition of the important role it plays as an engine of economic growth and regional balance. With the Brexit storm gathering, relentless increases in the cost of doing business, international trade wars, a slowdown in European growth and the increase in tourism VAT, there is little surprise in the drop in business sentiment. Many of our members are now re-examining their future investment strategies and taking a more cautious approach to planning for next year and beyond'.

According to Mr McNamara, however, only one in five hoteliers believe that the Government is doing enough to tackle the high cost of doing business in Ireland. Some 76 per cent of hotels have seen further increases in insurance costs this year. Of these, the average increase in premiums was 15 per cent. This is in addition to substantial increases in recent years. The IHF also believe that insurance costs have reached an unsustainable level, averaging 1,150 per room annually.

Mr McNamara has called on the Government to introduce a Tourism Satellite Account within the Central Statistics Office (CSO) to provide a full analysis of the economic activity in the tourism industry in Wicklow and elsewhere.

'It will also provide independent verification to assist those who rely on the National Accounts, where tourism is not identified, to inform their deliberations on taxation and economic policy,' he said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 5)  The government of Cotabato City will give a P500,000 reward to anyone who will give leads on the suspect behind the December 31 mall blast, which left two dead and dozens injured.

The reward was confirmed to CNN Philippines by local police.

Information from the police regional office showed they are eyeing two suspects.

The bombing happened on Monday afternoon, New Year's Eve. Police said they are currently looking into the type of bomb used and the persons involved in the explosion.

Dispelling rumors

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) also dispelled rumors that they will unite with the Islamic State (ISIS) and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) to attack the city again.

"There is no way the three can combine forces as they have fundamental differences that remained unresolve until today," Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo, a lawyer in the MILF panel who helped craft the Bangsamoro Organic Law, said in a statement.

Sinarimbo clarified this as they received reports of people leaving Cotabato City, amid fears of attacks.

"Cotabato City is protected by the military as well as by the MILF forces. In fact the MILF forces around the city that protected it from the entry of ISIS upon the request of the local officials of the city at the height of the Marawi Siege are still positioned in the strategic entry points of the city," he added.

Sinarimbo said the rumors aim to discourage people from taking part in democratic assemblies and implementing Bangsamoro peace agreements in the region.

"In addition, they hope that people will evacuate and temporarily leave the city so that they can resort to the usual practice of controlling the polling places and directing their goons to simply fill-in the ballots and other election returns according to their wishes and thereby effectively thwarting the democratic will of the people," he added.

Cotabato City is one of the areas which will hold a plebiscite on the Bangsamoro Organic Law on January 21. The landmark legislation is the result of decades-long peace negotiations between the Philippine government and Muslim rebel groups in Mindanao.
St Patrick's Church was the setting for a magical night of music featuring a performance from the RTE Concert Orchestra.

Also on the line-up were local talents Anthony Norton, Una Pedreschi, Lorna Breen and Lindsey Aherne.

The concert marked the first ever time the RTE Concert Orchestra has ever performed in Wicklow town. The full-time professional orchestra was formed as the Radio Eireann Light Orchestra in 1948, and has since grown from a small studio-based recording group to become an active 45-strong orchestra.

The orchestra covered a wide range of music styles on the night, including some seasonal tunes with a festive flavour. The other performing acts also impressed the large sold-out crowd. Anthony Norton would be well known as the director of Avondale Voices and Wicklow Community Choir, while Una Pedreshci has toured nationally and internationally. Lorna Breen is considered one of the finest young talents in the country and Lindsey Aherne has sang all over Ireland and the UK.
Participants in the pro-Palestinian vigil at Hyde Bridge on New Years Eve

Members and supporters of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign in Sligo gathered at Hyde Bridge, on New Year's Eve to participate in a vigil to express solidarity with the Palestinian people.

The protesters displayed Palestinian Flags and carried placards which read: "Boycott Israeli Goods", "End U.S. aid to Israel", "Freedom and Peace in Palestine".

Among those participating in the vigil were local public representatives including Cllr Declan Bree, Cllr Chris MacManus and Cllr Gino O'Boyle.

Campaign spokesperson, Aine Daly, said the event was one of many organised nationwide to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the December 2008 Israeli attack on Gaza, and to highlight Israel's ongoing illegal siege of Gaza.

"In late 1947, Zionist forces began the process of ethnically cleansing more than 750,000 Palestinians - two thirds of the indigenous population - from their homes, forcing them into exile so that on May 14th 1948 the state of Israel could be established in their homeland. Palestinians call this period Al Nakba, Arabic for 'The Catastrophe'." Ms Daly told The Sligo Champion.

"Seventy years later these Palestinians and their descendants, now numbering millions, are still denied their right of return to their homes, while in Palestine a process of ongoing ethnic cleansing via occupation, apartheid continues apace, with little or no intervention from the international community.

"As Governments have failed to hold Israel accountable, it is up to people of conscience in every community worldwide to heed Palestinian calls for justice and the right to self- determination." she said.
In an end of year review the Coast Guard is continuing to highlight the capacity to raise the alarm and stay afloat as essential elements to reducing loss of life to drownings at sea or on inland waterways.

The Coast Guard's core safety message is Stay Afloat - Stay in Touch highlights the importance of never engaging in any commercial or recreational boating activity without wearing a fully serviced Life Jacket or Personal Flotation Device coupled with a capacity to raise the alarm via means such as a VHF radio, Personal Locator Beacon or mobile phone. This should be supported by informing a colleague of your anticipated return time.

Into 2019 the Coast Guard, which operates a rescue helicopter base at Sligo Airport in Strandhill, will continue to focus on the importance of Prevention as a core theme of drowning prevention and will continue to work with colleagues in Irish Water Safety, RNLI and the Irish Sailing Association in promoting water safety and identifying key risk areas.

In early 2019 it is intended to re-launch the Safety on the Water website.

The Coast Guard's three rescue Coordination Centres at Malin Head, Valentia Island and Dublin operate on a 24/7 basis. In the past year, the three centres managed a total of 2650 incidents which saw a rise when compared to 2017 (2503 incidents).

MRCC Dublin also serves as the national single point of contact for processing Electronic Satellite based Safety Alerts generated by EPIRBs, PLBs and ELTs. (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon, Personal Locator Beacon and aircraft Emergency Locator Transmitters).

In 2018 MRCC Dublin processed a total of 137 electronic transmissions the majority of which proved to be false arising from accidental activation or out of date equipment no longer in service. The Coast Guard emphasises that this should not detract from their value and highlighted the importance for all users being familiar with their operation and inbuilt test mechanisms.

Coast Guard helicopter services are provided under contract by CHCI operating a fleet of Sikorsky S92 helicopters out of bases in Dublin, Shannon, Waterford and Sligo. Helicopter services at each of the Four bases are on 15 minute notice by day and 45 minutes by night. In addition to their primary role of provision of maritime search and rescue services the Coast Guard provides a round the clock medical evacuation service to the offshore islands.

In 2018 the Coast Guard flew a total of 102 medical missions from islands to the mainland, 35 more than in 2017.

In addition, Coast Guard helicopters conducted eight Long Range offshore medical evacuations in addition to coastal and inshore search and rescue missions.

Coast Guard helicopters also provide HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) to the HSE/National Ambulance Service including inter hospital transfers.

The busiest inter hospital transfer routes are from Letterkenny and Sligo to University Hospital Galway.

By year end Coast Guard helicopters will have flown in excess of 670 missions, of which 119 were conducted on behalf of the Health Service Executive. Coast Guard helicopter services also include inland searches for missing persons and medical evacuations in support of An Garda Siochana and Mountain Rescue Teams.

The nationwide network of Volunteer Coast Guard units continue to be an integral part of the national Search and Rescue framework. With a membership of circa 1,000 volunteers, the units deliver rescue boat, cliff rescue and shoreline search services coupled with a capacity to support their communities during local emergencies such as inclement weather.

These community services were to the forefront during storm Emma in March when major challenges were experienced in reaching essential services. Coast Guard volunteers provided emergency transport to Health Care staff, conducted patient transfers and provided support to isolated homes. Overall Volunteer Coast Guard units were tasked on a total of 1185 separate occasions throughout the year.

Coast Guard Director Chris Reynolds said: "I want to particularly acknowledge the commitment and professionalism of our volunteer members. In addition to the three core services that they provide they are an integral part of community resilience and continually act as the Eyes and Ears of our RCCs in assessing and responding to any coastal emergency."

The RNLI is categorised as a declared resource to the Coast Guard which means that each individual station can be directly requested to respond to individual incidents. In 2018 the RNLI were requested to launch on 836 occasions.

The Coast Guard attaches particular attention to what is categorises as Lives Saved. This refers to assistance provided that was it not available would have resulted in loss of life or severe risk of loss of life or protracted hospitalisation. In 2018 the Coast Guard has recorded that in excess of 400 people were categorised as Lives Saved in comparison with 340 in 2017.

Director Chris Reynolds reiterated a core message of raising the alarm in time.

"If you can raise the alarm and you can stay afloat then you have an outstanding chance of being rescued by our world class rescue service."

"If you see somebody in trouble or if you think they are in trouble at sea, on the water or along the coast Dial 112 and ask for the COAST GUARD."
The loss of a mother was the overwhelming reason why boys entered Nazareth House, Sligo in the 1920s and 1930s.

The brutal power of an illegitimacy stigma was recently brought home to me when a former Sligo Nazareth Homeboy told me that his mother took the boat to England on the very day of his birth in Sligo Hospital and never initiated contact with him again.

Another illegitimate Nazareth Homeboy, Staff Sergeant Paddy Baker, relates how he carried the illegitimacy stigma lifelong:

"The thought of having neither father nor mother and the stigma of being born in the workhouse has made a very strong impression on me particularly during my adolescent years.

"I kept this secret within me during my 28 years in the British Army. I daren't tell anyone about it for fear they would laugh at me and their laugh would have killed me," he said.

There were many other reasons why children in similar predicaments managed to avoid separation from their families.

Children taken into care in Ireland, Britain and indeed elsewhere, in early half of the 20th century, came overwhelmingly from the poorest and most deprived sections of society.

That still applies today. Yet the vast majority of children in poor families do not come into care. Poverty may compromise a family's ability to care for their children, but other factors, and critical life events, are usually necessary before the family structure and cohesion collapses.

The overwhelming reason why Nazareth House 'Homeboys' came into care was, as was described at the time, "loss of mother".

There were two types of 'death' that led to separation of mother and child. The first was the actual physical death of the mother.

The second was the social 'death' that resulted from the then prevailing attitudes to illegitimacy. Both 'deaths' proved critical for most families affected by them, but not all families disintegrated and collapsed.

Care of children at this period, especially young children, was almost exclusively carried out by women. Very few men had any competency in child rearing or domestic household management.

Work, including extended seasonal work in mainland Britain, meant that fathers were fully occupied in providing the material wherewithal for their family.

If their wife died and they did not remarry, a number of the fathers 'cut and ran', placing the children in care for the whole of their childhoods while they 'took the boat' or joined the British Army.

In several instances a whole sibling group of boys was placed in care for the whole of their childhoods by the father, but then removed together when the youngest child reached school leaving age, and then taken to America.

There are a few instances, too, where a young mother, single or recently widowed, put the child(ren) into care while she went to England to pursue a career (nursing was common), to remarry and to rear a new family.

She would contribute to her sons' care costs, in effect using Nazareth House rather like a middle class mother might use an English public school, with her sons in care obtaining a secondary education at Summerhill College.

Support from extended families was the most critical factor that prevented children coming into care. That included sometimes dispersing some of the children to grandparents and other relations.

What I would describe as a 'double-shift of parenting' was a common feature of working class extended family life in both Britain and Ireland. A mother, when her childrearing days were over, still feeling the maternal instinct, would rear one (sometimes more) of her grandchildren.

If the child's mother died the grandmother would continue to rear that child while the other children might be placed in care.

Where a widower who did not remarry had daughters at home old enough to provide substitute care of the younger siblings many families managed to cling together, especially if also receiving extended or neighbourly support.

Whether a widower who remarried put his first wife's children in care often depended on the attitude of his new wife.

It was not uncommon for the new wife to want to 'clear the decks' and rear only her own children, with the deceased wife's 'cuckoo in the nest children' either taken into care, or dispersed to extended family, or both.

Where the death of the young mother was from tuberculosis this markedly increased the chance of family collapse, resulting in long-term care for the remaining children. (The severe weight loss where the disease appeared to 'consume' the patient led to its more common name of consumption).

Consumption was endemic in Ireland and a major cause of death in the first part of the 20th Century.

Ireland's 2.8 per 1,000 death rate compared with that of 2.2 in Scotland and 1.8 in England and Wales.

One person in every 200 in the age range 25-34 (peak childbearing years) died of consumption in Ireland.

The very word engendered terror and panic. Superstition and ignorance about the causes and spread of the disease led to families afflicted with it enduring a form of social leprosy.

The normal family and community support to the bereaved father was much less likely to be available if the mother had died from consumption, and the taint and stigma carried over to her children.

The very word was avoided lest its utterance infect the speaker.

The actual disease of consumption and the perceived social 'disease' of illegitimacy each resulted in a greatly increased likelihood that the children affected would end up in care.

The pregnant unmarried mother's family sense of shame and stigma, allied to Irish society's fear of this problem becoming 'contagious', commonly resulted in the mother-to-be being removed from the community into Religious Order Care Institutions.

There a combination of 'advice' from family members, clergy, religious and sometimes social workers would generally result in the mother 'agreeing' to let go of her child.

Next week in The Sligo Champion: 'Loss of mother; life irretrievably changed'.

We explore how the vast majority of Nazareth Homeboys were in care there because of the actual or the 'social' death of their mothers, how they coped with this loss throughout their care and adult lives.
The corner building above which has been refused planning for a 9-screen cinema. Pic: Carl Brennan.

County planners have refused cinema empire brothers Paul and Lorcan Ward the chance to open a "luxury VIP" 9-screen cinema in Cleveragh Retail Park.

The brother's company, Coogee Park Ltd was refused planning permission just before Christmas for their application to turn a corner retail warehouse into a cinema in the retail park.

One of the main reasons for the County Council's refusal was that they considered the cinema was too far from the city centre (1km) and would damage the "vitality and viability of the city centre."

Furthermore, they considered the cinema would encourage car dependency and single-trip car journeys which would go against their policy of reducing car travel.

The Ward brothers and their family also own the IMC cinema group which operates the Savoy and 17 other cinema complexes around the country.

They are rivals of Ireland's largest cinema chain, Omniplex Cork Ltd, which owns the Gaiety Cinema in Wine Street.

Omniplex objected to the Ward's application on the basis that the nature and scale of their proposed cinema would "undermine the vitality of the town centre" and would be "detrimental to the longer-term viability of the town centre."

Omniplex also argued that the cinema would not be in line with a condition of the parent planning permission of Cleveragh Retail Park which restricts the sale of goods to retail warehousing.

The Gaiety owners also contended that the proposed second cinema for Sligo town would contravene the zoning objective of the site and be inconsistent with national and local retail policy.

County planners said they were not concerned with the "alleged motivations" of the Omniplex submission and said their chief concern was the suitability of the Cleveragh park site to cinema use and the impact it would have on the vitality of Sligo city centre.

"The applicant contends that, like other similar sized towns, two cinemas can successfully operate in Sligo. However, there is no detailed research or evidence to substantiate this claim. In any case, the capacity for a second cinema is not the ultimate concern of the planning authority. Rather it is the suitability of the subject site for the proposed cinema," they wrote in their report.

Planners said: "It is stated that other sites were considered for the proposed development but were not considered suitable. No detail of specific sites has been provided however."

Planners also considered the distance of the park from the city centre a deterrent, which would result in the generation of "significant motor vehicle trips."

They also said there was "little evidence available to support the contention that the proposed cinema would provide a new "VIP" offer which could not be located in the city centre" and considered there would be "little synergy" between a cinema and the surrounding open space areas at Cleveragh and the existing Retail Park.
Cloonacool - Cloonacool Players: Cloonacool Players drama group are busy preparing for the new season. Rehearsals are in full swing at present for this year's production of 'I do not like thee Dr Fell' a dark comedy written by playwright Bernard Farrell.

Directed by Peadar Conway, the play will be performed in Cloonacool Community Centre on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, February 15, 16, and 17, at 8 p.m. each night. It will then travel to the Ballina Arts Centre for a charity event performance on Thursday, February 28, again at 8 p.m.

Then it will compete on the festival circuit with the first competitive outing in Kiltyclogher on Saturday night March 2, and seven more festivals during the remainder of the month. This is a hectic schedule and we wish them the best of luck on their travels.

Operation Transformation

The GAA club is running Operation Transformation starting first week of January and will run for seven weeks. There are two 'Fit for all' classes (Wednesday evening and Satursday morning) and an organised walk on Sundays. It will be 70 per person for the seven weeks. After the seven weeks there will be night out to celebrate achievements. It promises to be a great community activity, with a lot on board already. We are on the lookout for group leaders, whose job is to solely recruit five other members. Email mc.

Intyre.brian@gmail.comfor more details.

Community Park Draw

The Cloonacool Community park lotto draw for November took place in Brennan's. There was no winner of the 2,400 jackpot. The numbers drawn were 6, 17, 19 and 32. There was one match-three winner Jason Brennan, who won 200. Next month's jackpot will be worth 2,500. Many thanks for your continued and generous support.

Photographic history

As a result of recent community meeting one group have taken on the task of developing a history of the times past by means of a photographic display. To do this the support of the community is required. We plan to source old photos of life in our area in the past. People at work and play and day to day life as it used to be. Anyone, who has such photos are asked to consider loaning them to have copies taken after which they will be returned to owners. The plan is to select photos that capture local lifestyle in years gone by for use in a heritage display in the village. Please contact Philomena at 087 9329873 or Julia 071 9184207 for further details or come along to the next community meeting date to be announced later.

Cloonacool Choir

Cloonacool Choir is seeking a musician (s) organist, pianist or guitarist who would like to play for the choir at Sunday 10 a.m. Masses in St Michael's Church, Cloonacool. If one or more musicians are interested, Sundays could be shared for example monthly or fortnightly. Our choir has been singing for 49 years and we look forward to continuing. The choir is made up of adults and juniors. If you are interested currently playing or wishing to return to the keyboard or the strings - please contact Sonia at 087 2772557 for further details.

Card game

The Cloonacool Card Game will take place at 8.30 p.m. in Cloonacool Community Centre each Monday evening.

Music Club

Cloonacool Music Club takes place on Thursday at Brennan's Bar from 10 p.m. Come along for a great night of music and singing. There will be a bus available to collect and leave home on Thursday nights for music club. Pick up between 9: 30 and 10 p.m., and then leaving Cloonacool after the food. Please ring 071 9185037 for further information and to book your seat. There will be a minimal charge for the bus.

Your news

Please send in your notes to Emma Gallagher by Friday to cloonacoolnotes@gmail.com.

Tubbercurry

Banada Monster Bingo

Monster New Years Day Bingo Tuesday, January 1, at Banada Abbey Hall commencing 8.30 p.m. Guaranteed payout of 2,500. Jackpot now 2,100 on 48 calls or less-it could be you. A great night guaranteed. Happy New Year to all our patrons.

Forest Walk Draw

The draw took place recently for the Forest Walk Fundraiser, and the results are as follows: First Prize, Rory Doyle, Cloonacool, second prize, Anna Tracy, Banada, third prize, Teresa and Declan Kerns, Rathscanlon, fourth prize, Maria Morahan, Tubbercurry, fifth prize, Peggy Devaney, Achonry.

The Forest Walk is located at the back of the Rathscanlon old Creamery and goes through 80 acres of woodlands including, Oak, Ash, Spruce and Pine trees before it reaches the bog at the back of the wood which straddles parts of Rathscanlon and Rhue Bogs.

Developed by Tubbercurry Chamber of Commerce and Community Association over the last number of years, the first phase was done about four years ago, and the second phase was completed over the last few months. Funding was secured for it through the town and Village Renewal Scheme Fund, and a local contribution had to be raised by the local community.

The local contribution has now been done, and the development committee would like to extend a sincere thank you to the wider community of South Sligo for their generous assistance. This is a community facility for the enjoyment of everybody, and we hope to see many walkers and families out walking on it over the Christmas holiday period. New Year Resolutions will also kick in, and this facility is ideal for those wanting to shed a few pounds right after the Christmas period.

The Forestry is owned by the Semi-State Company, Coillte, and they gave great assistance in helping to plan the route. The access laneway at the Creamery is owned by local Co-Op Aurivo, and they also were very generous with facilitating the project.

Bog owners in Rathscanlon and Rhue bogs were also very supportive and facilitating. A big thank you is extended to Coillte, Aurivo and Bog owners, and this is an example of how groups helping each other can be for the betterment of everybody.

Continued works and improvements on the walk routes will be done in the future as time and money allows, and if anybody missed contributing to the draw, and wish to do so, money will always be accepted by the Development Committee including, Geraldine Brennan at the Laundry Basket, and Roger McCarrick, Teeling Street.

Best Wishes for 2019 are extended to all from the Forest Walk Committee.

Fields of Gold

A new publication on the bookshelves in recent weeks is 'Fields of Gold', a history of Aurivo Co-Operative and farming in the West.

This is a very impressive and well presented hard back book which is meticulous in its details. Obviously, it has been very well researched and is a must for anybody interested in local and social history in the North Connacht area and in Counties Sligo and Mayo in particular. Running to over 500 pages, it traces the history of farming and farm production from its earliest days to the present time.

The period from the 1890s onwards is written about in detail where it traces the building of Creameries all over the country as part of the Co-Op movement under Horace Plunkett. The development of Creameries all over Co. Sligo are dealt with in detail including, Achonry, Rathscanlon, Gurteen and Ballymote.

The World Wars I and II, Irelands War of Independence, and Civil War is dealt with in detail as to how it affected agriculture and prices, and general social history is treated sensitively.

This is an essential read for historians of economies and society as well as farmers. At just 30 a copy, it is an encyclopaedia of information. Many characters of farm and businesses past and present feature. It makes you realise about how much work was done by so many to give us the Ireland we enjoy today. A quote from it we should all remember 'May those who drink the water never forget the debt they owe to those who dug the well'.

Cloonacool Players

Cloonacool Players drama group are busy preparing for the new season. Rehearsals are in full swing at present for this year's production of 'I do not like thee Dr Fell' a dark comedy written by playwright Bernard Farrell.

Directed by Peadar Conway, the play will be performed in Cloonacool Community Centre on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, February 15, 16, and 17, at 8 p.m. each night. It will then travel to the Ballina Arts Centre for a charity event performance on Thursday, February 28, again at 8 p.m.

Then it will compete on the festival circuit with the first competitive outing in Kiltyclogher on Saturday night March 2, and seven more festivals during the remainder of the month. This is a hectic schedule and we wish them the best of luck on their travels.

Dance Class

Why not join the dance class on the Sligo Road on Wednesday nights from 8 p.m. Class for beginners - improvers, learn new steps or practice your dancing, and a brilliant way to exercise. Slow Waltz, Waltz Foxtrot, Quickstep and more. For more information contact 087 6674561.

Correspondent

Email Roger McCarrick - tubbercurrynotes@eircom.net.
The selfless work of the New Ross River Search & Rescue crew was acknowledged by St Mary's students who donated 1,541 to the charity, having sold festive bows which were displayed on a Christmas remembrance tree outside of the school.

At the beginning of November St Mary's secondary school's Transition Year class, 4.3, were set the task of finding a charity which needed funds as part of their Young Social Innovators (YSI) module.

After doing some research the girls found the appeal that was sent out by New Ross River Search and Rescue volunteers online for accommodation at Pearse Park and immediately knew this was the cause they wanted to support. Numerous ideas were mooted, but a few stood out and made their campaign successful. They organised a bake sale, a trip to Molloy's SuperValu to help local shoppers with their bag packing. People fully supported the charity and helped the girls get closer to their 1,000 goal.

The students decided to sell bows upon which people could commemorate relatives and friends on. The deceased family members' name was written on the bows which were displayed on the Christmas tree outside the school office. The students decorated the tree with colourful lights and this became the Christmas remembrance tree. For their two final pushes to raise as much money as they could, the girls braved the cold by doing a bucket collection in town and another bake sale bringing the grand total to 1,541 raised within a month.
The hundreds of people waiting for a social house in the New Ross district have been reassured that they will get high quality houses.

Following a query made by Cllr Oisin O'Connell at the December municipal council meeting on progress in building 28 social houses in Rosbercon and 40 houses in Castlemoyle, Cllr Willie Fitzharris said: 'I think Wexford, as a whole, has performed well. I think we are up there with the good years in terms of our housing supply, as well as the fact they are of a really high standard.'

Cllr Fitzharris said council housing staff have really achieved something. 'The message should go out that people who are vacating houses will get a house and a house of a very high quality.'

Cllr Michael Sheehan sought an update on when a full-time housing officer for New Ross is going to be hired, only to be told it will take months.

Cllr Sheehan said it is unacceptable that the town has no full-time housing worker based in New Ross. Describing the current officer as more than capable of doing the job, Cllr Sheehan said: 'I am not sure we have her here Monday to Friday. It's very frustrating for people. Something is going to happen where there is an incident and someone turns up with an emergency and there is no-one is here and a disaster is going to happen.'

Housing officer Martina Donoghue said an advertisement has gone out for the role, adding that housing officers from County Hall will meet tenants on all issues and can discuss matters over the phone.
A suggestion by Cllr Michael Sheehan for New Ross to be twinned with Liverpool because of the strong historic links between both urban centres through the Graves shipping company came up against stiff opposition.

In a motion at the December municipal council meeting Cllr Sheehan called on the council to commemorate the 200th birthday of Robert Samuel Graves (June 7, 1818 - January 18, 1873) by agreeing to explore a formal twinning link with the people of Liverpool City and ask the Twinning Committee to outline the potential and if possible this link to be included in the Draft County Tourism Plan.

Cllr Sheehan said the Graves family are one of the town's most historic families. 'People emigrated on Graves' ships to Liverpool from New Ross and William Graves went on to become a British MP. 'He became one of the founding fathers of Liverpool and he was an industrial magnate and a MP who was one of the most successful in the House of Commons. Given our links with Liverpool through the Dunbrody and the Graves family this is a great opportunity for us.'

Cllr Sheehan said he has spoken with some Liverpool councillors who were quite sympathetic to working with New Ross council on the twinning initiative.

'Liverpool has been a European City of Culture and there have been extensive renovations of the city's museum spaces. The CEO of the city then, who is its mayor now, said that he would be willing to loan exhibitions to us in New Ross in the off season. We have a twinning committee looking for additional areas to investigate and we have a draft tourism plan which is about to be published. We could develop a link with Liverpool, not just on the sporting side, but in tourism and in culture also. I think there are great synergies and benefits to both populations.'

Cllr Willie Fitzharris said the Graves story is being researched by students at WIT and by local historians.

'This is something we have been working on for a number of years. I was an employee of Graves' and I am well aware of the company's great history. The last Graves family member died in 1924 and the company was taken over by the Elmes and McBride families until 1974 when it was sold to the Dockrells. There is a treasure trove of artefacts and correspondence and very significant archives and all of it is on public display and kept safely in Waterford.'

Cllr Fitzharris said students from Savannah, Georgia, have been researching the company and have made contact with people who emigrated to Savannah from the area.

'The whole story is there and it will be significant to New Ross. It's one of the most significant archives in the country. This has to be carefully planned and looked after. I think it's not so simple as there is a huge picture here to consider and we need to be careful that we get it right. I think it's a bit early yet,' he said, suggesting that to leave the twinning plans for another year or two is a safer course of action.

Cllr Michael Whelan said the council should let the JFK Trust conclude its research project and then proceed with the twinning plan. District director Eamonn Hore said: 'There is a great story there with the Graves, not only Robert but the other family members also. There are links with Newfoundland and Savannah and all over the world. It needs to be told in all its facets.'

Cllr Martin Murphy said he was fully supportive of Cllr Sheehan's twinning motion. 'Whether there is a question of delay or whether we should establish twinning now the story itself is fantastic and the comparison of what Graves achieved in the seas after he left New Ross is the very same comparison as to what Ryanair achieved in the skies.'

Cllr Murphy suggested that any travel between councillors and officials from both urban councils should be on the 'high seas' as that would represent exactly what the twinning means.

'Does the same apply for trips to Savannah?' Mr Hore joked.

'We should get cracking on it. Maybe there would be some merit in kicking this off,' Cllr Murphy said, adding that even though the Graves company established their main base in Waterford, they had a strong presence in New Ross.

Cllr Sheehan said other towns and cities will be looking to get twinned with Liverpool, saying there is an urgency to moving forward with the initiative.

'Because of the primacy of New Ross as a maritime capital town the twinning committee should be urged to go off and do their work.'

Cllr Fitzharris said to have a two-pronged approach would not work, pointing out that there will be a substantial financial benefit to the town through developing the Graves story. 'I think it's going to be a silly exercise. This is too important just to have it confined to a twinning committee. We can't stop the twinning committee from excluding the great work being done. I have discussed this with my colleagues. There is a huge group of people involved and a big body of work has been done and more has to be done,' he said.

Cllr Murphy said: 'Maybe we should be better informed before we make any decision. I withdraw my support until I am better informed.'

Cllr Anthony Connick suggested calling in the twinning committee, saying they may have other plans for New Ross also.

Cllr Sheehan said he had no difficulty in inviting in the committee, adding: 'I would be a little bit concerned that there are groups operating out there who are doing this. The municipal body is the prime body for the district and it is being emasculated by this.'

District manager Sinead Casey said she hadn't discussed the twinning suggestion with the committee. She suggested discussing the issues again with the twinning committee.

Cllr Fitzharris said: 'I don't know the twinning committee. We have the JFK Trust whether you like the set up or not they are doing a great job in the town and have Savannah on board. To simply say go and bugger off and the twinning committee is going to tell us what to do with the Graves story. This is a story that will be well presented here in New Ross.'

Cllr Sheehan said: 'They can't do anything until they take instructions here. We can bring in collaborative partners as we did with our sister cities in Hartford, Moncoutant and now Danville, (a friendship city). We are elected representatives on behalf of the people. We work on behalf of all of the district. Some elected members are having issues with that definition.'

Cllr Murphy proposed that Ms Casey and cathaoirleach Cllr John Fleming should meet with the twinning committee, only for Cllr Fitzharris to suggest he also attend.

In turn Cllr Sheehan asked to attend, so the suggestion fell apart.

Cllr Connick repeated his call for the committee to attend the meeting and this is being organised for early 2019. 'I've something we can all agree with. Can we congratulate Liverpool FC on their win last night,' Cllr Sheehan said, referring to the team's win over Napoli.
Local town resident Marie Doyle is to become both the sole female and Sinn Fein municipal councillor in New Ross, when she is co-opted on to Wexford County Council this month.

Marie is replacing outgoing councillor Oisin O'Connell - who has resigned for personal and family reasons.

Cllr O'Connell was the proposer for Marie at a recent Sinn Fein convention within the revised boundaries and she was unanimously approved by the members.

Mr O'Connell - who officially resigned on December 21 - described Marie as 'a very compassionate, capable person, and very committed to New Ross. I'm delighted to have been able to propose her, and I know she will bring fresh energy and perspective to the district and council, on behalf of her constituents.'

Marie, 29, hails from Nunnery Lane. She attended primary school in St Joseph's, completing her second level education in St. Mary's secondary school, New Ross.

Her third level education began in Kennedy College, New Ross, where she studied early childhood care and education. She furthered her education and completed a four year degree in Waterford Institute of Technology, recently graduating with a first-class honours degree in Applied Social Studies in Social Care (Level 8).

For the past two years she has been working as a social care worker with teenagers in residential care units.

Marie said: 'Studying social issues in college really opened up my eyes to all the inequalities people face in Ireland, and also what little the current government are doing about it. This motivated me to join a political party that is working to improve the current situation in Ireland.'

Marie joined Sinn Fein in 2015. 'During my time with Sinn Fein I attended commemorations, public meetings on various topics - and then became chairperson for New Ross Sinn Fein. Three years later, I am honoured to become a Sinn Fein councillor because I believe passionately in our party's values of human dignity, equality and justice. I am also very proud to be a woman - and feel that women are under-represented in Wexford County Council, with only four out of 34 councillors being women.'

Marie said she is concerned issues with how the bypass will impact on her hometown.

'With the completion of the bypass I feel we need to work hard promoting business and employment in the New Ross area.'

She is also concerned about the GP crisis in the New Ross district. 'Some people are having to wait up to three weeks for a GP appointment.

'This is not acceptable. I feel strongly that we need to be campaigning for 24/7 mental health service for New Ross to replace the current 9-to-5, five-day service available. I also think more facilities are needed for young people in New Ross.

'I am looking forward to working with my fellow Sinn Fein councillors on issues effecting people in New Ross, and County Wexford.'
The unveiling of the plaque in honour of the late Patrick Doyle.

Mary Doyle from JKL and her daughter Mary unveil a plaque to their husband and father Patrick who lost his life on the demolition of the bridge in1968.

The family of a New Ross man who lost his life tragically young while working on the old river bridge 50 years ago have welcomed the erection of a plaque in his name at the site of the accident.

Patrick Doyle was 29 when he died on September 29, 1968, while demolition works were ongoing on the Old Bridge in New Ross. He fell from a barge whose crew were working on the bridge demolition, drowning as fellow workers and family members working nearby watched on, powerless to save him.

A life buoy was thrown to him but it was too late.

Patrick's widow Mary Doyle, of JKL estate in New Ross, was left to rear a large family of six children.

Following the accident Mrs Doyle sued her late husband's employers, Dublin company M.A.S. Ltd and was awarded 25,793 in the High Court by Mr Justice D'Arcy, but the money was never paid out to her, her daughter Mary said.

Mrs Doyle had pleaded that the system of work was dangerous in that her husband had been required to work on an open-deck barge without railings and without life-saving equipment.

He had not been required to wear a life-jacket and had fallen into the river Barrow when struck by the tiller of the rudder which had been swinging free at the time.

The court at the time directed also that an additional 5,702 be divided among the children, who were aged from nine to 17 at the time of the court case, and invested to their credit.

Mary had campaigned for a plaque in her father's name for five years and was thrilled to hear it was finally being erected by Wexford County Council.

Mary said: 'I lost my father 50 years ago. I was only seven months old so I never knew my father at all. It was really bugging me that he was never acknowledged and I am the youngest in the family. I felt the absence of him my whole life.'

At the ceremony Mary welcomed everyone, saying she thought the day would never come.

Joined by family members including her mother, and officials from New Ross Municipal District Council, Mary said she was very moved to see the plaque at the location where the Old Bridge once crossed the River Barrow, the location near where her father was working half a century ago when his life was so cruelly taken from her and her family.

Saying it was a sad and a happy day for the family, Mary said she was delighted to see her father's name finally acknowledged in New Ross. She thanked her aunts, uncles, mother and all her family for attending.

She also thanked New Ross Municipal District Manager Sinead Casey for attending and Cllr Michael Sheehan, who made representations to the council lobbying for the plaque to be erected over the years.

Mary said: 'It's a place I would have always gone down to over the years from a young age. It was (and is) just a place I connected with. I would stop there and say a prayer.'

She said her late brother Pat, who died in 2011, would have loved to have seen the plaque, as would her brother Martin and Pat.

Cllr Sheehan welcomed the erection of the plaque by Wexford County Council.
Scoil Naomh Abbain Adamstown were the Overall Primary School winners with their Christmas Coffee Tree

5th and 6th class winners - BACK: Abbey Murphy, Kilmyshall NS; Una Fae Flvin, Ballyduff NS; Emily Murphy Kilrane NS and Sophia Silva St John Of God School The Faythe. FRONT: Shay Doran, Ballyellis NS; Ross English, Scoil Naomh Abbain Adamstown; Elese Doyle, Ballyduff NS; William Hawkins, St Iberius NS and Amy Cowman, Ballyellis NS

Primary Group Entry - BACK: Abigail, Tara and Eli Hegarty, Mercy School, St Johns Road, Ruby Kirwan and Emma Codd, Rathnure NS, Emma OLeary and Ina Mullen, Scoil Mhuire Barntown, Leah Wright and Grace Donnelly and Harry, Jack and Lucy Burke, Ballyduff

The creativity of primary and secondary school children across the county came to the fore in County Hall with the culmination of the annual Christmas decoration competition which is organised each year by the local authority.

There were scenes of great excitement at the prize-giving reception which saw dozens of children, parents, family members and teachers gather to acknowledge the innovative, inherent creativity of the children which was exemplified by the various pieces on show.

On display were hundreds of colourful and ingenious Christmas decorations and the vibrant spectacle of seeing them on view created a very festive atmosphere within the local authority building.

The Cathaoirleach of the County Council, Cllr Keith Doyle, welcomed everyone to the reception and he highlighted the fact that all of the entries were created using recycled materials.

He said everyone involved should feel proud of their achievements.

'The school children who participated in this competition have shown us all how to reduce waste by making wonderful and unusual Christmas decorations from everyday household waste materials,' said Cllr Doyle.

'They simply used their imagination,' he added.

Cllr Doyle went on to say the entrants set a wonderful example for everyone and he congratulated them, their teachers and their parents for making 'such a great effort'.

The competition was open to primary and secondary school students all over Wexford and saw hundreds of children from throughout the county submit entries.

This year also marked the 15th anniversary of the initiative which has been increasing in popularity each year.

A significant aspect of the competition is that it encourages children and their parents to think about how to reuse materials that might otherwise be discarded.

Commenting on the initiative, Cliona Connolly, Environment Education Officer with the County Council, said that was the main aim of the competition.

'Schools around the county were invited to make a Christmas decoration out of waste materials,' she said.

Numerous schools throughout the county participated and one entry, per category, from each school was put forward to the County Final.

'Among this years submissions were cribs, Christmas trees, snowmen, angels, Christmas village scenes, Rudolf, and lots of tree decorations,' said Ms Connolly.

All 294 decorations that were received were displayed in the County Hall and they received great praise from those attending the prize-giving ceremony.

The People's Choice award proved to be a great success again this year. It involved members of the public voting for their favourite decoration on display.

Ava Skye Byrne, from Castledockrell National School, secured this award with her decoration 'Winter Wonderland'.

A category that proved very popular was for groups and Ms Connolly said its significance was in how it encouraged children to work together in a collaborative way to make decorations.

The overall primary school winner was a group entry called 'The Christmas Coffee Tree' which was created by pupils in Scoil Naomh Abbain, Adamstown.

They used a range a waste materials including coffee pods, cardboard, lids, straws, plastic bottles and sweet wrappers to create their piece.

The overall runner-up was another group entry, by Kellie and Amy Cloke, from Kilmyshall National School.

They created a 'Vintage Christmas Tree' with an old mirror frame, Pringles box and an old net curtain.

Other winning decorations included 'Recycled Elf' by Aisling Kehoe, from junior infants in Rathnure National School; 'Christmas Tree' by Tiernan Goff, from senior infants in Kilrane National School; 'Christmas Wreath' by Lara McDermott, 1st Class, Mercy School, Wexford; 'The Krindle Candle' by Conall Rice, 2nd Class, St Garvan's National School, Caroreigh; 'Snowman' by Kellie Brennan, 3rd class, Scoil Mhaodhoig, Poulfur; 'Joe the Elf' by Patrick Rossiter, 4th class, Danescastle National School; 'Christmas Reindeer' by Sophia Silva, 5th class , St John of God Primary School, the Faythe, Wexford, and 'Art in Christmas' by Una Fae Flavin, 6th Class, Ballyduff National School.

Primary school group categories winners included 'Santa's Toy Factory' by Abigail, Eli and Tara Hegarty, from the Mercy School, John's Road, Wexford, and 'Christmas in Whoville' by Leah Wright and Grace Donnelly, Scoil Mhuire, Rosslare.
He ran the Republican intelligence network in North Kerry and West Limerick under the cover of his veterinary work; he publicly read the Sinn Fein manifesto in 1918 knowing it would result in his immediate arrest; and he was jailed for years in Belfast as a result - four months of which were spent in solitary - and very nearly died as a result of the brutal conditions of the prison.

But he was also one of the first four Kerry TDs elected in the politically transformative general election of 1918, winning a seat in the first ever Dail.

Listowel proudly remembered its native son on the centenary of his election, with the unveiling of a plaque last week at James Crowley's very birthplace at what is now Price Savers, on the family home that comprised both that building and the Horseshoe Bar.

It was an emotional occasion for his relatives, not least grand-daughter Clementine O'Keeffe, the culmination of their efforts to ensure James's significant contribution to the Independence struggle would never be forgotten.

"I was very worried he was going to be forgotten, especially as he had sacrificed everything. He sacrified his health, his family life as he and my grandmother, Clementine Boursin, had three young children," Clementine - a daughter of the couple's youngest son, Edward Clement Crowley - said.

"I'm glad that's not going to happen now and it was a very emotional day for all of us at the unveiling, as it was at the recent exhibition in Kerry County Library, where we met with the families of the other TDs," she added.

James's sacrifice was recalled in detail at the ceremony, where former minister Jimmy Deenihan led tributes, among many other contributors.

The soft-spoken Trinity College graduate was a member of the Republican intelligensia in Dublin, a close friend of Thomas Clarke and, later, Michael Collins (Collins even stayed in his Listowel home shortly before Beal na mBlath).

James joined the Volunteers in Listowel in 1914 and was among the cohort on standby for orders to move to Tralee at the time of the Aud in 1916, later writing of the experience in his ultimately unsuccessful application for the pension.

By the time of his release from Belfast, he was all but a broken man, but he threw himself straight back into the struggle - fomenting the famous Listowel Mutiny, risking his life to meet and direct the RIC men in their rebellion against the British. He fled for the UK following a tip-off about his imminent arrest, but when he returned to Dublin to meet his beloved Clementine some time later, he was immediately picked up on Grafton Street by the notorious Igoe Murder Gang. "My grandmother followed them all the way to Dublin Castle, fearing he would be killed but, thankfully, he ended up in the Curragh, jailed there until the Truce."
A photo of Duagh native Fr Jeremiah Galvin, who served as an Army Chaplain during the First World War

Fascinating details about the life of Duagh priest Fr Jeremiah Galvin, who was stationed as a chaplain near the front lines of the First World War in France, have been revealed.

The December 13 edition of The Kerryman published the contents of a 100-year-old letter  written in August 1918  by a Fr Galvin to his father who was living in Duagh.

In the letter, Fr Galvin wrote about everything from the American soldiers' dislike of the smell of nearby cow dung heaps; giving confession and communion to the soldiers before they depart for battle; and the Irish struggle for independence back home.

The appeal did not go unanswered, and this newspaper has been inundated with emails and phone calls to help fill in the gaps about Fr Galvin's life.

It transpires that Fr Galvin was born in March 1887 in Duagh to parents Patrick and Margaret, and he had six siblings: Timothy, Ellie, Mary, Margaret, Denis and Hannah.

He is believed to have ministered in the St Laurence O'Toole Church in Oakland, where he became an Army Chaplain, thus setting in motion his time in the First World War.

Judging by the numerous reports, it seems Fr Galvin survived the war, retiring in 1939 and returning to live in Ireland, where he remained until his death in a nursing home in Clonakilty in February, 1966, at the age of 79. His brother, Denis Galvin, owned a pub called 'The Castle Bar' in Listowel in what is now O'Mahony's butchers - the building where the letter was found, years later, by Kilflynn man John O'Mahony when he purchased the building.
Two Australian men have appeared before Tralee District Court following an assault in Killarney town on Friday night/Saturday morning.

Jack Richardson of 8 Mullin Street, Ormeau Hills, Brisbane, Queensland, was charged with assault causing harm on December 29, 2018.

Liam Coughlan of 7, 6704, Anchorage Close, Darwin, was charged with the obstruction of a peace officer on the same date.

Evidence was given at a special sitting of Tralee District Court on New Year's Eve. Both men are 22 years of age.

The charges relate to an incident on High Street in Killarney which was attended by Gardai, during which an Irishman was assaulted. It is understood he suffered some injuries. Gardai intervened, and during the course of the incident a second male became involved and he was charged with the obstruction of a peace officer.

Mr Richardson is to pay 2,000 to the injured party for the assault while Mr Coughlan is to pay 1,000 for his part in the Christmas incident. Both men are to return to Australia on their scheduled flight date.
Anthony OMahonys niece, Ann O'Carroll, and his sister, Angela Houlihan, arrive at Tralee Courthouse during the trial of his killer, Michael Ferris

The family of slain north Kerry farmer Anthony O'Mahony - who was brutally killed when his neighbour repeatedly rammed his car with a pronged teleporter - have said that his killer's trial should never have been held in Kerry.

In October, Michael Ferris (63) of Rattoo, Ballyduff, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of the manslaughter of his 73-year-old neighbour at Rattoo, Ballyduff, on April 4, 2017.

Mr Ferris had used a teleporter agricultural machine to repeatedly ram Mr O'Mahony's car, causing the elderly man "catastrophic" injuries.

He was subsequently sentenced to five years in prison with the sentence backdated to his arrest in April 2017, meaning that with standard remission and time already served, Michael Ferris could be released by Christmas 2020.

The sentence was slammed by Mr O'Mahony's devastated family, who were also deeply distressed by how their loved one had been portrayed during the trial. They made contact with the DPP and requested that the leniency of the sentence be appealed, and on Thursday, December 20, they were told their request had been granted.

While the family welcomed the news that the appeal is to go ahead, they said that based on their past experience of the legal system they were not "overly confident" that Mr O'Mahony's killer's sentence will be increased.

"We're pleased the appeal is going ahead; it is a step in the right direction at least. Anthony's life was worth more than just five years" said Mr O'Mahony's niece, Ann O'Carroll.

"We wouldn't be overly confident. We haven't had much luck with the justice system; we have to wait and see what happens," she said.

"The sentence doesn't fit the crime," Ms O'Carroll said.

Ms O'Carroll said that the family is strongly of the view that Michael Ferris' murder trial should not have been held in Kerry and that the case should have been tried before a Dublin jury, with no links to Kerry, at the Criminal Courts of Justice complex in the capital.

The family has not been told when the appeal will take place, but it is not expected to be finalised until later this year.

The appeal process will see a three-judge panel conduct a thorough review of the trial including an examination of the full written record of proceedings and trial judge Ms Justice Carmel Stewart's interpretation of the law.

It should be noted that the Appeal Court will not increase a sentence just because its members think that sentence is too light.

The court can only increase the sentence if they think the trial judge was legally wrong in passing sentence based on a specific point of law.

"Appeal court judges will not change a sentence just because they think the sentence was too light or because they would have given a different sentence. As a result, a successful appeal is only possible in a small number of cases," the DPP said.
Bishop of Limerick Brendan Leahy is to deliver this year's Diocese of Kerry Public Talk, setting out his vision of 'A Church of the Future'.

It's something of a homecoming for the Bishop, who though raised a 'Dub' is of west Kerry parents.

Bishop Leahy will deliver the talk on Wednesday next, January 9, at 8pm in the Gleneagle Hotel on Killarney's Muckross Road.

A prolific writer on religion and spirituality, Bishop Leahy has written on themes such as peace and forgiveness; faith questions; ecumenism; spirituality and much more. The talk is free and the Diocese of Kerry invite everyone interested to attend.

Bishop Leahy grew up in Dublin as the third of four children to west Kerry teachers Maurice and Treasa Leahy. It will mark something of a homecoming for the prelate as the Kingdom was a great presence in his childhood, spending so many summers back in his beloved ancestral home of Ballyferriter.
Another year down - and another hugely successful year it was for our abundance of home-grown talents in Kerry as they made not just national headlines but world-stage headlines in 2018.

Whether it was Killarney's Jessie Buckley taking the lead in her latest film 'Beast', Cromane film producer Fodhla Cronin O'Reilly being nominated for one of UK film industry's most-coveted awards, or a Ballyheigue man dressing a royal princess - Kerry's stars have enjoyed a stellar year of success.

Ballyheigue fashion designer Don O'Neill and his THEIA brand have consistently made the headlines over the past few years - dressing Oprah for the Oscars being just one success story - and 2018 again proved no different.

One of the biggest celebrity stories of the year happened back in October when the new Duchess of Sussex stepped out on her royal tour of Australia wearing one of Don's THEIA creations.

"In this world of thousands of incredible designers to choose from, I truly count myself blessed to have dressed the Duchess, and I believe my mom played a major role in helping this opportunity come about," said an emotional Don, speaking to The Kerryman back in October.

Describing the Royal request to custom -make a Theia gown for the Duchess as a "magical opportunity', Don revealed that seeing the photos all over social media was something that he will never, ever forget.

"It was just utterly surreal to know that my dress, a dress that I designed and that we lovingly made in our studio just a few weeks ago, was now here, on The Duchess of Sussex, the most famous woman in the world, looking amazing," he added.

It was not just Don, however, that was excelling at their craft as Killarney's Jessie Buckley delighted audiences in her appearance on The Late Late Show back in May.

There, she spoke about her latest film, 'Beast', in which she acted out the role of Moll.

The film was released back in 2017 to critical acclaim. Jessie's lead role in the dark and uncompromising 'Beast' has won plaudits left, right and centre for the Kerry woman, who came to fame in 'I'd Do Anything'.

The film has since gone on to receive 10 nominations in the British Independent Film Awards, including nominations for the Killarney actor in both the 'Best Actress' and 'Most Promising Newcomer' categories.

Cromane native Fodhla Cronin O'Reilly meanwhile was honoured by the BAFTAs 'Breakthrough Brits' initiative, established to celebrate the next generation of British-based talent. The Cromane producer has been based in London for a number of years and was among 17 others honoured by the initiative.

She returned to Killarney last year, where she screened her film, 'Lady Macbeth'. Her latest film, 'My Generation', stars Michael Caine.

Finally, after a brilliant personal year for Killarney's Michael Fassbender in 2017, where he not only married girlfriend Alicia Vikander but also received the Order of Inisfallen, 2018 has been a year of looking to the future for 41-year old film star as he prepares to have two films released in 2019.

He will star as Magneto in 'Dark Phoenix', the 12th film in the X-Men series, in 2019; while his other film, 'Kung Fury II: The Movie', is currently in development.

His role in this latter film is yet to be announced.
Tinahely Walking Club will be holding a special introductory walk on Sunday, January 6, aimed at encouraging people to take up hillwalking for the New Year.

The walk will be easy for first timers and there is no obligation to join the club straight away. The club will meet at Market Square in Tinahely, at 10.30 a.m.

If interested in joining after the walk, then membership is 35 per year which includes a subscription to Mountaineering Ireland magazine and discounts at a range of outdoors shops nationwide.

The club was founded in 2009 and includes members from a wide area around Tinahely. They hold walks on most Sundays of the year, ranging from undemanding strolls in the immediate locality to longer, more challenging walks a little further afield, with the focus on counties Wicklow, Wexford and Carlow.

All walks are graded according to length and difficulty and members are, of course, free to pick and choose those which suit them. In addition, the club organises a walking weekend in autumn - Donegal, The Mournes and Killarney being examples of recent venues. Talks on subjects relevant to hillwalking are occasionally arranged and the annual Christmas dinner is always one of the highlights of the year.

The club usually meet in Tinahely where members can then car share. For the more distant walks, a second meeting place is also arranged, meaning that members living close to the destination do not need to come to Tinahely first.

The emphasis of the club is on simply enjoying the beauty of the outdoors in an easy going and relaxed fashion and in good company. Each walk is led by a club member familiar with the route, which means that this is a great way to get to know places to which you may otherwise never venture.

Remember to wear suitable footwear and clothing, pack some raingear and bring a bit of food and drink with you. For more information please contact Fionbar Lyons (fionbarlyons66@gmail.com) or check out the Tinahely Walking Club Facebook page.
A special screening of a short film based on Titania's Palace will take place in Gorey Library.

Sometimes called 'the eighth wonder of the world', Titania's Palace was an elaborate doll's house that was on display in Ballynastragh House near Kilanerin for 20 years until 1965 when it was auctioned off and eventually landed in Legoland.

The film was directed by Garrett Keogh and was shot by Terence White at Ballythomas School over two days in July. They then went to Denmark and took some wonderful footage of the Palace in Egeskov Castle where it is now on display.

The screening will take place on Tuesday, January 8, at 7 p.m. All are welcome, but booking is essential. Call the library on 053 94 21481 for more information.

Alice Sheehan, Maureen Bush, Margaret Byrne, Seamus Bolger, William Willoughby and Neil McCormack were among the 300,000 people who saw the Palace when it was open to the public at Ballynastragh and they contribute their memories of it when interviewed in the 15 minute film.

In 1907 when his daughter saw a fairy vanish under a tree, Sir Nevile Wilkinson designed a palace fit for the fairy Queen Titania. Built in Dublin by master cabinet makers Hicks and Sons it took 15 years to complete. It has gold, silver, diamonds, pearls, 100-year-old oak panelling, and 10,000 miniature artefacts. There were real fireplaces, central heating, and electric light in the 'doll's house'.
A Gorey woman enjoying some last-minute shopping was left stunned when she discovered her car had been broken into and all her purchases stolen while parked in Dunnes Stores car park.

It is believed that thieves used a device to intercept the remote central locking on the car which prevents the vehicle from locking properly.

Gorey gardai were called to the scene when the woman returned to her car to discover it had been emptied.

The local woman had been in Dublin earlier in the day to do some shopping before she returned to Tesco in Gorey, before travelling across to Dunnes for her final stop.

No CCTV footage was on site to capture the heartless thieves.
Just prior to Christmas the Palms GP Surgery Gorey Malawi Health Partnership hosted two separate Malawi visitors, Isaac Ziba and Master Chisale.

The visit was supported by Irish Aid as part of its Esther Ireland project with the aim of strengthening the alliances.

Isaac is a nurse by training and is Director of Social Care for the Catholic Diocese of Mzuzu, while Master is a laboratory scientist and Director of Postgraduate Education at Mzuzu Central Hospital.

The visit gave Gorey Malawi Health Partnership a prolonged opportunity to assess the work presently underway at St John's Hospital, Mzuzu, and realistic plans for expansion.

While in Ireland, Isaac met Diarmuid Devereux from Gorey Chamber of Commerce and Transition Year students from Gorey Community School. He spoke at Irish Aid's Esther Partnership Forum and on his final day had lunch with staff members from the Palms surgery.

Dr Peter Harrington from Palms Surgery said Isaac spoke movingly about the importance of the project in terms of delivery of service and as a morale boost for the staff at St John's Hospital who feel very supported by it.

Isaac presented Practice Manager Lynette Beechey with a commemorative plaque acknowledging the granting of partnership status by Esther to the project.

With support from UCD and in collaboration with Dr Joe Gallagher and others, Master was awarded a Masters in Medicine for his research work on the microbiology of paediatric pneumonia. During this time here, he attended a conference on medical health systems at UCD and discussed the progress of the partnership with the first chief executive of the HSE, Prof Brendan Drumm. He also took time to address students at Colaiste Bhride, Carnew.

The partnership has a fuller understanding of the project at hand following the visits. It hopes to expand the range of diseases under study and number of institutions supported and is presently seeking additional funds in this regard.
The year ahead is going to be an eventful one regarding climate change

Happy New Year; I hope 2019 will be a good year for you and yours.

The year ahead is going to be an eventful one regarding climate change. Shortly before Christmas, environmental news contained little festive cheer. Naturalist David Attenborough described climate change as the greatest threat to face humanity in thousands of years. Former US vice-president Al Gore said we are facing the single most important moral choice that humanity has ever faced.

For the second year running, Ireland's performance on climate action in response to global warming was ranked the worst in the European Union. Globally, we came 48th out of 56 countries rated in the Climate Change Performance Index rankings.

At the United Nations Climate Conference in Poland, there was criticism of Ireland for failing to live up to commitments made to achieve the goals set by the 2015 Paris Agreement for member states of the European Union. There was an admission by our government that we will almost certainly fail to meet our agreed commitment for 2020 emissions reduction resulting in hefty fines to be paid out of the public purse.

To make matters worse, recent reports suggest that the targets that we are failing to achieve under the Paris Agreement are too low and that much more urgent action needs to be taken.

Some commentators enthusiastically projected that in 2019 we would change from being laggards to being leaders in the battle to halt rising mean global temperature. While that may have been a tad ambitious, we do need to step up and to start catching up by making changes to the way we live if we are to become the low carbon and climate resilient society that we need to be.

Minister Richard Bruton has promised 'huge changes' in climate action in Ireland; changes that will prompt a 'revolution in how we live'. While the specifics of his forthcoming Climate Action Plan to be published in February remain to be seen it would be great if he takes onboard the many common sense proposals put forward by the Citizens' Assembly in their April 2018 report.

Getting there will be expensive, painful for some, and politically unpopular; remember the protests over water charges here at home in 2016-2017 and the 'yellow vests' movement in France before Christmas. The challenge ahead is to try to maintain the standard of living while, at the same time, finding ways to reduce our carbon footprint.
Students across Fingal will have one eye on mid-January this Christmas when they have a date with the Young Scientist judges at the RDS.

The event will be held in the RDS Arena in Dublin from January 9 to 12 and brings together some of the country's brightest young minds as they compete to take home the title of the BT Young Scientist & Technologist(s) of the Year 2019.

There will be 550 projects on show at the Exhibition across four categories: Technology; Biological and Ecological; Social and Behavioural Sciences; and Chemical, Physical and Mathematical Sciences. This year's projects cover a wide variety of topics, from Climate Change to Gender Diversity.

Irish video game developer, Steve Collins, will be hosting a live Q&A on Thursday, January 10th at the Exhibition. Steve will speak about the technology that goes into taking a video game from an idea to a disc. Students and visitors can win a chance to meet Steve by entering the #GamingStartsHere competition on BTYSTE social media channels now.

With four packed exhibition halls full of exciting things to see and do, the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition has something to stimulate the minds of every generation. Tickets are available online now costing 8 for students, 12 adults and 25 for a family pass which includes two adults and two children. Tickets guarantee entry to all of the Exhibition and to all special shows. https://btyoungscientist.com/ticketing/
Opened in September of this year, Balbriggan Soup Kitchen continues to grow in strength, providing much-needed respite for the less fortunate and marginalised in the Fingal town.

Despite the centre's many challenges, it has quickly gained momentum, and offers not just nourishment and warmth, but the promise of friendship and hope to members of the community who feel they have none.

Not just for the homeless, Balbriggan Soup Kitchen opens its doors to anyone going through difficult times - the single mother or father, the alcohol-dependent, the drug addicted, the mentally ill and the elderly.

Visiting the centre in the run-up to Christmas, The Fingal Independent speaks to founder Mark O'Neill, who explains how the service is doing so far:

'Things are very, very busy at the moment. The food parcel service in Balbriggan is up to between 130 to 145 parcels a week, whereas when we were originally operating out of Drogheda, we were only bringing about 30 or 35 parcels to the area. It's a bit of a nightmare at the moment, but we have enough supplies which is great.'

He says: 'The media have done great coverage on us, and word of mouth has travelled very fast. It's a small town when it comes to something like this, so I think most people know about us at this stage. Christmas is obviously very busy, so where we would normally do between 350 and 370 deliveries between the three centres, we're probably touching about 800.'

Balbriggan Soup Kitchen offers both a restaurant and a parcel delivery service, depending on a person's needs. Food parcels are dropped to front doors by unmarked vans, 'to preserve people's dignity'. Many families, Mark says, would avail of this service, which allows children to stay at home and eat in a family environment.

Mark says: 'You have a lot of people who would be regulars. In our other centres in Drogheda and Navan for example, you might have people who only need the service for four to six weeks when they're under pressure. They might come back to you three or four months done the line, but that's the way it goes.

'People can fall behind on their mortgage payments or their rents, so we bridge that gap for them to catch up. Christmas is an expensive time of the year; every mother and father wants to spoil their children, so they often neglect something else in doing so. Food-wise, we'd be able to keep them going throughout the Christmas, and that makes a big difference.'

According to Mark, a lot of single mothers and single fathers would drop in to the soup kitchen, with the centre also receiving a lot of referrals from the HSE and resource centres. These could be for people with addiction or mental health problems, though he says he doesn't ask questions, as to him it's not important.

He says: 'You have individuals with drink problems, drug problems, health problems... We have a lot of pensioners in this time of year too, who simply can't afford to eat or heat their home. For them, it's one or the other, especially if it's one pensioner on their own. It can be very very difficult for them to manage. They tend to come up to us for the two or three months of the winter time, and it's a chat and conversation for them as well.

'If we have enough volunteers on the day, we like them to sit down with people and have a chat, just to say 'how are things' and a few kind words. We like the volunteers to get to know people on a first-name basis, because there's nothing as nice as walking in and someone saying 'howya John?', or whatever your name may be. It's a practice that we always had in Drogheda and Navan, and that we'll continue to have.'

He adds: 'We have people of all ages coming in. Today for example, school finishes at three, so we'll have maybe four families who come in with their children at that particular time. We're getting food parcels out to them, so eventually you won't see them here, which is probably better for the children.'

With centres already open in Drogheda, Navan and Balbriggan, Mark says a new centre is due to open shortly in Dundalk. So far this week, he says, he has still managed to deliver 'over one hundred' food parcels to the area.

Such is the success of the three existing soup kitchens, there are now plans to open centres in Mullingar, Tullamore and Galway, all under Mark's leadership. He has, he says, 'a good board of directors' - an ex-superintendent, a garda inspector and a lady from the Meath Enterprise - between themselves and Mark himself, a formidable force.

Speaking of how he got involved in the project, Mark says:

'I was a publican, and I had five pubs as well as restaurants and apartments, and all that kind of thing. When the recession hit, I got rid of an awful lot of property. I got caught with one or two things, but overall I would have done considerably well.

'I had a quadruple bypass in 2010 and I was at home twiddling my thumbs, and my daughter told me there was a guy over in the west doing soup kitchens, and suggested I go and have a look at what he was doing. So I went and looked at two or three soup kitchens, and to be honest, I didn't like what I saw.'

He says: 'I know people will say 'when you're hungry you're hungry', but I don't think that's right. It doesn't have to be hotel quality food you serve, but to keep people's dignity, it has to be good products out there. I just felt that if I was going to do something like this myself, that I'd have to it the right way, with fully-fitted kitchens and decent nourishing food.

'So that's the way we've done it; we have a full Irish breakfast in the morning, along with cereal, tea and coffee and toast, and a choice of maybe two or three meals at dinner time. We have a big supplier who provides most of our food and there's a lot of goodwill from different towns, so you get bits and pieces here and there.'

Mark says the reaction from the Balbriggan community has been 'absolutely fantastic', with even representatives from the Chamber of Commerce and Intreo coming in for a cup of tea and voicing their support. The centre also has the full backing of local Cllr Malachy Quinn, 'a good solid worker' whom Mark says he works with 'hand in hand.'

Balbriggan Soup Kitchen remained open from December 23 until January 2 from 11am to 2pm daily, and to allow volunteers at least some chance to spend time with their own families.

It's thanks to Mark and his band of volunteers that at least a little festive peace and goodwill will spread throught the whole of Balbriggan this Christmas, along with the promise that no-one this festive season will go without a decent meal.
A man who was drinking in public and became aggressive towards gardai telling them to "F**k off" has been convicted and fined 100.

Michael Joyce (20) was drinking with his co-accused Michael McDonagh (20) at Hamlet Lane in Balbriggan.

Both men were intoxicated and when Garda Paul McGeogh asked them to leave the area, Joyce became aggressive and told him to 'f*** off' before running away.

Gda McGeogh said he was unable to catch Joyce on the night but arrested him later. He said when he was arrested the defendant was very apologetic.

His co-accused Michael McDonagh was trying to control his friend from behaving inappropriately but because he was intoxicated he too became aggressive, Balbriggan District Court heard.

Joyce of Brega Estate, Hamlet Lane in Balbriggan pleaded guilty to being intoxicated and using threatening and abusive behaviour at Hamlet Lane on June 7.

Joyce has eight previous convictions.

McDonagh, of Belcamp Green in Coolock pleaded guilty to being intoxicated on the same date. An offence of using threatening and abusive behaviour was struck out.

He has one previous conviction.

Defence barrister Annette Kealy said Joyce, who is married with two children, cannot remember the incident but was only aware of it when he got the summons.

'He accepts it happened and is ashamed of himself,' said Ms Kealy.

'He is not drinking at all now and has come to terms with the fact that alcohol does not agree with him,' she said, adding that he works as a waiter in Temple Bar in Dublin city centre.

She said McDonagh was 'trying to be the responsible one on the night' but because of the alcohol he became aggressive towards gardai.

'He apologises and is ashamed,' she told Balbriggan District court.

Judge Dermot Dempsey convicted and fined Joyce 100 for using threatening and abusive behaviour and took the offence of being intoxicated into consideration.

He convicted and fined McDonagh 100 for being intoxicated in public.
Three men charged with trespassing on a farmer's land with dogs with the intention of hunting wild animals without permission had their cases adjourned until next February.

Patrick Reilly (21) of Ballintra Halting Site in Donegal, Edmund Reilly (41) of Mount Charles in Donegal and Joseph Cash (29) of Whitechurch Heights in Ballyboden Dublin 16 are all charged with entering a building at Balheary, Swords, trespass with dogs to hunt wild animals without the owner's permission on December 8.

Garda John Cannon of Swords Garda Station told Swords District Court that when charged all three men made no reply after caution.

Their solicitor requested a hearing date which Judge Dermot Dempsey granted for February 11.

Swords District Court heard the hearing could take an hour and a half when the accused men reappear in February.

All three accused were remanded by the District Court judge on continuing bail until that date.
A man charged with assaulting another person causing him harm had his case adjourned until the new year for gardai to get an update from the injured man on an alleged eye injury.

David Murphy (51) of Holywell Road,Donaghmede is charged with assaulting Eddie Foley causing him harm at Gilbert & Wrights Bar in Malahide on December 9, 2017.

Swords District Court heard the Director of Public Prosecutions has directed summary disposal of the case.

Outlining the alleged facts of the case a sergeant told the court it is alleged Mr Foley claimed the accused set upon him for no reason.

Mr Foley is alleged to have received a number of blows to the head and his alleged injuries consist of a swollen jaw and a fractured front tooth.

The sergeant told the court there is no updated medical report but that assurances have been given that the alleged injuries have been resolved.

However, Judge Dermot Dempsey noted in the medical report there was an issue with an alleged eye injury and requested clarity on this alleged injury.

'Subject to that being satisfactory, I will accept jurisdiction,' said Judge Dempsey and adjourned the case until January 9.
The search for Timothy 'Timmy' Levingston of Clone, Monamolin, came to a tragic conclusion as the body of the 50-year-old was recovered near his home on Christmas Eve. While families the length and breadth of the country were getting together to celebrate Christmas, the Levingston family gathered with a more sombre purpose; bidding a fond and final farewell to a beloved son and brother.

Enniscorthy Gardai issued an alert to media outlets seeking the public's assistance in locating Timmy on Christmas Eve morning, stating that both they and his family were 'very concerned for his welfare' and that he had not been seen since 1.30 a.m. The last sighting of Timmy was in Ballyedmond, where he was a familiar face at Harney's Bar. Local gardai were joined by the garda dog unit and locals in searching for him and focused on the route from Ballyedmond to his home at Monamolin which he regularly walked.

Sadly, the search for Timmy was to be all too short, with a tragic conclusion as his body was recovered from a stream not too far away from his home. A garda spokesman said that his death is currently being treated as a 'tragic accident'.

'He was nearer to home than we thought he'd be in the end,' said heartbroken sister, May. 'The gardai and our neighbours and friends were brilliant and I'd like to thank them for all they did. As soon as he went missing, everyone banded together and went out looking for him.'

Born to parents Dinny and Mary, Timmy went to school locally in Monamolin. From a young age, he was very good with his hands, something which meant his services were always in demand from someone.

'He was the definition of a handyman,' May said. 'He could turn his hand to anything. He could sew up trousers, do a bit of plumbing installing cylinders and that kind of thing and he mixed cement with my father.'

Timmy was also described as a great neighbour and May outlined how in the New Year, he had planned to help a neighbour out with fixing a patch in their roof that had been damaged since the snow.

'He would always help out, whether it was painting or trimming hedges, or whatever else was needed,' his sister said.

Timmy also liked to socialise and could regularly be seen enjoying a pint and a bit of craic in Harney's bar. Everyone at the local haunt was saddened to learn of his untimely passing and no doubt a few glasses were raised in his honour over the Christmas period.

A large congregation filed into the church at Boolavogue on Thursday to bid a final farewell to Timmy. His late mother Mary being buried there, it was decided that he would be laid to rest with her in the adjoining cemetery. While it was a difficult Christmas period for Timmy's family, in time they'll be able to take some solace from the kind words of those who gathered to pay their respects on a chilly afternoon in Boolavogue.

Timmy was the beloved son of Dinny and the late Mary, and much loved brother of Dennis, Noel and May. He is sadly missed by his loving family and heartbroken friends. May he rest in peace.
The new owners of the old St Senan's Hospital building have been dealt a major setback in their ongoing remedial works at the iconic building, after thieves broke in, scaled one of the towers and stripped it of copper and lead, causing an estimated 100,000 worth of damage in the process.

A group headed by Bree native and MD of NitroFert Eamonn Galavan, took possession of the building a year ago and in that time, they've been carrying work out on fixing the roof and securing the site ahead of reaching the planning phase to install approximately 60 luxury apartments in the protected building.

While he had been delighted with the progress made, Mr Galavan was left fuming when he found that the site had been broken into and one of the towers had been stripped of lead and copper piping. While fencing had been erected right around the site, the thieves cut through the fence and entered at a point that was right in between two of the 28 CCTV cameras that monitor the site. At this point they entered through a window and dangerously scaled the tower before stripping it and causing major damage.

'I've been told that it will cost somewhere in the region of 100,000 to put right,' a dejected Mr Galavan said. 'All of that for stuff that would have a scrap value of about 1,000. We were making great progress up to this point. We had done the whole roof to the rear. Now though, it feels like we've taken one step forward and two steps back.'

Given the scale of the operation, it is believed there must have been several people involved and it appears that they would have had vehicles parked up on the main N11 road. Gardai are currently investigating the matter and Mr Galavan believes that they are following a definitive line of enquiry.

'This is a local operation,' he said. 'They knew exactly what they were doing. Of the five towers here at St Senan's, three of them have now been stripped and I wouldn't be surprised if it was the same gang that did it this time.'

Mr Galavan says that, for the most part, the support for the project has been phenomenal from the people of Enniscorthy, who were anxious to see something done with the building rather than witnessing it fall to rack and ruin as happened to the old hospital building in Wexford town.

'The goodwill has been absolutely fantastic,' he said. 'This building is really synonymous with Enniscorthy and people feel a real sense of belonging for this place. I would say that 99% of people really want us to succeed. Unfortunately, then there's the one percent who cause problems like this.'

Mr Galavan was also staunch in his praise for Wexford County Council and the support that they have given the project.

'The council has taken a very pragmatic and practical approach to the whole thing,' he said. 'They are very supportive of our efforts and of what we're trying to do here and we need their support.'

It's still very early days for the project and the only work that's being done currently is to fix the roof and secure the site, however, architects have been appointed and Mr Galavan is hopeful of having some more concrete plans early next year.

'We actually had a competition to appoint an architect,' he explained. 'There was a total of 16 architects from across Ireland and the UK who presented their cases. Then we narrowed this down to three before we decided to go with GKMP and Michael Pike, who actually does some lecturing in UCD as well. As well as that we've got wonderful builders in Eddie Murphy contractors, who are a local firm. Once we get this remedial work done, we'll hopefully come up with a concrete plan early next year.'
Visitors to Enniscorthy will hopefully gain some additional insight into Enniscorthy's storied past after being included among Failte Ireland's latest Historic Town Trails. New signs containing historical information and fun facts were erected at a total of eight different points around town, in the hopes of giving visitors some perspective on what they were seeing.

Signposts are now present at Market Square, the Courthouse, Parnell Road, Slaney View, Seamus Rafter Bridge, Enniscorthy Castle, St Aidan's Cathedral and Vinegar Hill, presenting some interesting information on each.

Working with the local authority, Failte Ireland aimed to uncover interesting and lesser known stories from Enniscorthy's history, with content being displayed through way-finding, interpretation, photography, maps and other signage.

The Historic Towns initiative is designed to encourage visitors to stay longer and explore the wider region and Enniscorthy and New Ross joined Lismore and Ardmore in Waterford in becoming the latest towns included in the scheme which is run through Ireland's Ancient East.

Failte Ireland's Head of Ireland's Ancient East, Jenny De Saulles, said:'There is a growing tourism trend around the world for exploring local areas and uncovering their unique stories.

'That's why at Failte Ireland we've worked closely with local historians to bring to life the hidden history of each town. History and storytelling are at the core of the Ireland's Ancient East brand and the signage unveiled in Historic Towns today will really help to shape compelling and engaging visitor experiences.'
The phoney war between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail may be over, for now at least, but even without a General Election in 2019 the next 12 months promise to be an interesting time for Irish politics.

Last year we had the excitement of the history-making vote on the Eighth Amendment (along with the utter tedium of the Presidential campaign) and while 2019 doesn't offer up anything as politically exciting there is still the matter of the Local and European elections.

Typically the Locals are a relatively humdrum affair - with the individual battles really only of interest in their respective constituencies - but next May will be a different matter.

With a General Election now all but guaranteed to take place in early 2020 - following Leo Varadkar and Micheal Martin's renewal of their confidence and supply deal - the main parties will be using next May's local contest to prepare the ground for an all out battle the following year.

It will provide a chance for the parties to hone their message ahead of the General Election and the vote will provide the ultimate poll on the state of the parties.

Opinion polls show that Fianna Fail is narrowing the gap on Fine Gael and Michael Martin's party is now close to the 30 per cent rating they have craved since the party's complete electoral collapse in 2011.

According to the polls, Sinn Fein has been feeling the heat with its popularity slipping while Labour struggles to regain any form of relevancy among a left wing electorate that has abandoned the party in favour of other hard left groupings.

The main parties - and some of the better off Independents - have all been carrying out their own internal polls while keeping an eager eye on the work of the professional polling companies.

Every single one of those polls will be rendered almost meaningless by the Local Elections which will provide the parties with a street by street breakdown of precisely how they are faring.

A professionally conducted survey with an accurate population sample is good - and usually fairly accurate - but nothing can beat a full tally of what every voter in the country did in the privacy of the polling booth.

Remember too that these are the opinions of those politically invested people who actually go to the trouble of voting in local elections that often pass by largely ignored by vast swathes of the electorate.

Is there a rural urban divide in Ireland and will it hurt Fine Gael? Have voters forgiven Fianna Fail for the economic crash? Does Labour have a prayer of restoring its fortunes? Is the housing crisis an issue across the whole country or is it contained in the cities? And what of the Government policies that have been blamed for decimating countless small communities?

The answers to these questions and many more will be far clearer in five months time and the parties will have plenty of time to adjust their messages to suit the new reality.

The preliminary scuffles are over. Now its time for the first real battle in what is set to be a long, hard and bitter war.
Having celebrated 70 years serving the people of Enniscorthy, Garahy's Pharmacy were delighted to provide a great start to the New Year for the Parkinson's Association of Ireland's Wexford Branch recently, by handing over a cheque for 2,430.

The money was raised through a recent coffee morning to mark the 70th anniversary of the landmark Slaney Street business, which was a great success and saw great support from the local community.

At this stage, one of the longest established businesses in town, Garahy's was established back in 1948 by the late Padraic Garahy, a native of Co Offaly, and his wife Helen from Monthrath. The pair worked hard to grow the business and in 1972, Padraic's son David joined the family business, where he can still be seen behind the counter today.

Mr Garahy wished to thank everyone who came along on the day and wished him all the best and was delighted to hand over the cheque to such a worthy cause and one that is close to his heart.
Conscious that the festive period is not a happy one for everybody, the staff of IFAC in Enniscorthy threw open their doors before finishing up for Christmas to host a coffee morning in aid of mental health charity Pieta House.

With some 30 offices nationwide, the IFAC head office in Dublin asked staff around the country to take part, and those in the Enniscorthy office at the IFA Centre were more than happy to help. There were some busy kitchens in advance of the big day, with treats being baked up in big numbers and staff members walked around town inviting the staff of neighbouring businesses too pop in and enjoy a chat and a cuppa.

'One of the girls here is very good a baking, so we did a good bit beforehand,' explained Annette Redmond of IFAC. 'Even some of the boys helped and we had a great crowd in over the course of the morning. We'd hope that maybe we can do something similar again before we finish up next year and attract an even bigger crowd.'

While money is still coming in from customers, the venture has raised somewhere in the region of 700 for Pieta House, a figure that the organisers are delighted with.

'We were delighted to be able to help out with such a worthy cause,' said Annette. 'There's not a family in the country that hasn't been affected by suicide in some way and it was nice to see some of those families who have been affected attend on the day and show their support.'

Everyone at the IFAC wished to thank those who came along on the day and contributed in any way to the cause.
The death of campaigner Nuala Early last Saturday ended another link with past days in Drogheda.

A devoted wife and mother, her life was interspersed with fighting for the rights of others and recalling a childhood, tinged with memories from a distant past.

While working in Morcos as a machinist, Nuala became involved with the trade union movement, part of the executive of the Irish Women's Workers' Union.

She began volunteering when her husband Christy began training local schoolboys teams, she ended up washing the jerseys.

She was part of the St Mary's Hospital action group when she helped set up the Drogheda Senior Citizens group with the likes of Maeve Healy and Anne Lennon about 20 years ago.

They campaigned for rights, visiting Aras an Uachtarain where they met both President Mary Robinson and President Mary McAleese, and to Dail Eireann where they met Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.

IN 2012, while still living in her beloved Laburnum Square home, she spoke about the old days.

She related a chilling story of times in Drogheda. It was in the early 40s and she was attending Sunday morning mass. Her grandmother, Kate Grogan (nee Keegan) a good Stedalt, Stamullen woman, had gone up for communion. But when the priest saw her, he stopped and declared ' these pearls are not for the lips of swine'.

She turned and with Nuala and her brother, Malachy, by her side, walked from the church, the rattle of her walking stick on the cold tiles echoing out for everyone to hear.

While she lived, she never returned. ' My grandmother was a proud woman, very proud,' she added.

The moment was typical of the era, but the priest's stance wasn't a religious one, this was about politics, namely the IRA.

Two of Kate Grogan's sons were members, ' the penman' Larry and ' the gunman' Tommy. Both spent time in prison, but Kate would have died for them. Her sons could do no wrong.

'She backed everything they did,' Nuala said. 'We were kids at the time and it was all an adventure. But we were so proud of my dad Thomas, and still are.'

The Grogans lived on the Mornington Road, a family of six, but just two of them got involved in the push for Irish freedom.

Thomas Grogan was in and out of jail for his activities, his last spell a 12-year sentence for his part in the infamous Magazine Fort raid in the Phoenix Park.

He would go on hunger strike with others, seeking political status and after 57 days, they were convinced to call it off. Two men died.

'I went to visit him on hunger strike in The Curragh and it was difficult,' Nuala said.

A memorial banner, made by the survivors in their cells, was still in Naula's possession.

The stories abound about the Grogans' escapades, the darts across the fields when the guards would come to raid the house, the boat moored at the bottom of Ship Street, always ready for a quick exit across the Boyne.

Nuala and Malachy's mother, Kitty (Carroll) from Oulster Lane, died when Nuala was three. She had been a founder member of the Cumann na mBan in Drogheda and helped form the first union at Boyne Mills.

With a father in prison, the brother and sister were split up and spent time in orphanages and with relatives, until grandmother Kate took them ' home'.

Finally, the family would be reunited and lived happily at 32 Congress Avenue. Volunteer Thomas Grogan died in 1964 and a huge crowd came out to say farewell.

The passing of time took Nuala's beloved brother and confidant, Malachy, something that broke her heart.

As she rose from her chair, overlooking Laburnum Square, she flicked through the book that lists the family story and glanced at the pictures of times past. And smiled....

Naula Early, one of Drogheda's finest, will be laid to rest in Calvary after noon mass on Wednesday, January 2 at St Peter's Church, West Street.
Students of transition year in St. Oliver's Community College were recently involved in a very significant food appeal in aid of St. Vincent De Paul. Students, with the generosity of staff and local businesses donated 15 hampers to SVP for donation amongst the local community.

Ireland is one of the richest countries in the world yet almost 800,000 people are living in poverty. 1 in 3 people living in poverty are children. This knowledge inspired the students of St. Oliver's to take action. Transition year students from class Boyne want to make Drogheda a more balanced community and help the many families in the local community in need of assistance around this time of year.

The class do not intend on stopping there. Students are currently planning to collect unwanted socks, hats and gloves early in the New Year to donate to the homeless community.

Ms. Hoey and her TY Boyne class did a great job in getting the appeal organised.
The world of words, of classic thoughts and critical acclaim, lost a true friend on Sunday, December 23 with the death of Eileen Battersby.

Famed literary critic with the Irish Times for many years, Eileen had made her roots in Beauparc, Rossnaree, and her death, near Sheephouse, Donore, was as tragic as one could imagine.

She was with her beloved daughter Nadia on the Oldbridge to Donore road, just 4km outside Drogheda, when their vehicle left the road and impacted with a ditch. It was just after 2pm.

Both were taken to hospital, but Eileen (60) passed away the following day.

Four-times winner of the National Arts Journalist of the Year award, Eileen also won the Critic of the Year accolade and published a number of books.

Tributes poured in for her, from writers and performers, all stunned by her sudden passing.

President Michael D Higgins was one of those. 'News of the death of Eileen Battersby, literary critic, award winning journalist, novelist, animal lover and enthusiast for natural beauty, will have been heard with both shock and enormous sadness by those familiar with her work.

'They will have been impressed over the years by the sheer breadth of her interests, her insatiable curiosity for what was being produced in writing in both English and lesser known languages, which she reviewed in translation.

'Among all those, including Sabina and I, who have read her unique pieces over the years, there will be a feeling that criticism of fiction in particular has suffered a great loss. Indeed, to all those in the world of books, there will be a sense that a critic relied upon by so many readers, and respected by writers, has been taken from us.

'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, her unflinching standards, and for the enthusiasm with which she brought her celebration of all aspects of the arts to so many different audiences.

'Sabina and I send our deepest condolences to her daughter Nadia, and the members of her family,' he wrote.

Witnesses or anyone with information is asked to contact Ashbourne Garda station on 01 8010600, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.
Mayor of Drogheda, Independent Cllr Frank Godfrey, is calling for a Drink Tank to be installed in the Lourdes hospital Casualty Dept to safeguard staff and patients.

Outlining the recent visit of an elderly man to the A&E dept in the Lourdes, he said that the pensioner was deeply disturbed. 'A man told me that when he brought his father to the Emergency Dept recently, they were surrounded by other patients who appeared to be under the influence of drink and/or drugs. He was very frightened and had to wait 8 hours in this environment. It's really not on,' said Mayor Godfrey.

'I believe that drink and drugs are playing a part in this type of behaviour. These people should be put into a separate area where they don't affect older or more impressionable patients. A holding area, a type of Drink Tank, you could say.'

'Despite having security staff on the premises, staff are sometimes physically and verbally assaulted - even the security staff get hit at times, ,I am told. Having these violent patients in with other patients is really not appropriate - they need to be kept apart while they are under the influence or violent. Open a Drink Tank as soon as possible!'

Number of assaults

Meanwhile, Councillor Paul Bell has described as alarming the level of assaults perpetrated on hospital staff in the North East Hospital Group which includes Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda and Louth County Hospital Dundalk.

"The evidence based report issued by the HSE records 10,744 assaults over the period 2008 to the end of November 2018. With more that 7.500 of the assaults recorded targeted against Nursing staff. The statistics also recorded a surprising level of assaults against Support Staff Grades with 339 recorded nationally,' he said.

Bell noted that the highest levels of recorded assaults in 2018 have been confirmed in the Dublin North East Group which includes, Our of Lourdes Drogheda, Louth County, Cavan, Monaghan, Beaumont and Connolly Hospitals.

"In our Emergency Departments especially at weekends and over the Christmas period, hospital management engage additional security staff to protect Medical and Care Staff as they go about their work. While this is necessary and gives some degree of confidence to staff, it is my opinion that legislation which deals with assault does not go far enough on prosecution and the processing of complaints made by Hospital staff to An Garda Siochana.'
An artwork by 12-year-old Drogheda student James Moonan, from The Arthouse, Drogheda, has been chosen to illustrate the 2019 Texaco Children's Art Calendar.

One of 13 chosen to illustrate the publication, James' piece, entitled 'Hens on the Farm', will appear during the month of July and will be seen in thousands of homes throughout Ireland in 2019.

Winning 2nd prize in category G of the 2018 competition, it was one of a number said by a competition adjudicator to perfectly illustrate the astounding talent and imagination of children and the essential role played by schools who encourage and inspire their students through art education.

Calendars are currently available through a select number of Texaco service stations countrywide.
A teenager lost her brave fight for life after being critically injured in a road traffic collision on New Years Eve.

The 16-year-old girl, named locally as Roisin ODonovan (16), suffered serious head injuries when she was hit by a car while out walking on Main Street in Ballincollig.

The accident occurred shortly before 8pm on Monday night and it is understood the teen was walking to meet up with friends to celebrate the arrival of the New Year.

The accident happened just metres from traffic lights in the busy Cork town. Locals rushed to help the girl while they awaited the arrival of emergency services.

The driver of the car was uninjured but was treated at the scene was shock.

Paramedics and a local GP were at the scene, not far from a local Tesco outlet, within minutes.

The teen was rushed to Cork University Hospital (CUH) with serious head injuries. Despite desperate efforts to stabilise her condition, she was pronounced dead at at CUH last night (January 1). Her heartbroken family were by her hospital bedside.

The teen is from the Muskerry estate area of Ballincollig. Roisin was a Transition Year student in Ballincollig Community College and she was due to resume her studies next week.

She is a granddaughter of well-known Ballincollig construction industry official, Jimmy Carroll.

Local councillors Daithi ODonnabhain and Derry Canty said the entire community was in shock over the New Years Eve tragedy.

It has cast a dark shadow over the entire New Year for everyone in Ballincollig. It is a terrible tragedy, Councillor Canty said.

I dont know the teenager myself but I know her family who are all from the Ballincollig area, he said.

They are a lovely family and my deepest sympathies go out to them.

Councillor ODonnabhain said it was a very upsetting start to 2019 for everyone locally.

Your heart goes out to this poor family. Everyone in the area is very upset for them.

Gardai have appealed for anyone who witnessed the tragic New Years Eve collision to contact them. CCTV security camera footage from Main Street is already being studied.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Gurranabraher Gardai on (021) 4946200.
Memories made that will last forever' - Fionn Doyle in his Garda uniform on his 7th birthday last August. Photo: Daragh McSweeney

The community in Kildorrery will today come together to mourn the passing of a courageous young boy whose brave battle against leukaemia captured the hearts of people across the globe.

Fionn Doyle (7) passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his loving family shortly after midnight on New Years Day.

Diagnosed with leukaemia at just 18-months old, Fionn underwent treatment and went into remission in the summer of 2016. However, six months later he suffered a relapse and a bone marrow transplant in December 2017 failed to stem the cancer.

Last May Fionn's parents Eimear and Jack were that Fionn's condition was terminal and to prepare for the worse. However, his condition improved and he was able to return home to Kildorrery from hospital in Dublin.

Ahead of his 7th birthday on August 22 Eimear posted an emotional message on Facebook saying "we didn't dare dream back in May that we'd get there, but as the day is getting closer we want to plan to give him the best birthday we possibly can."

She wrote that like all kid's Fionn loved birthdays and got a great kick out of having post delivered to him at his home.

"So I wanted to ask for your help if you can and just if you can, could you please send Fionn a card for his birthday so we can show him how special so many people think he is," wrote Eimear.

Following the heartfelt appeal Fionn received more than 12,300 birthday cards from Ireland and across the globe, with people from America, Australia and South Africa all sending him their best wishes.

Eimear said that the family had received thousands of cards each day during the lead to Fionn's birthday and his face "lit up" when on the day itself when Gardai, accompanied by a fire engine, arrived at his home top present Fionn with his own Garda uniform and a medal for being a Super Hero.

Eimear said she was "blown away" by the response to her appeal.

"Today was a day we weren't sure that we would ever see - when Fionn came home from hospital in May after spending days on a ventilator, we were told days to weeks at most, nothing more, but today was magical - memories made that will last forever," she said.

Eimear said that cancer had always been in Fionn's life since he was a toddler so he had no concept of life without it.

"But today just gave him a massive lift- it was just magical and we are so grateful to everyone who made it such a special day for him and for us and gave us memories we will cherish forever," she said.

"He knew the post was coming but to see his face light up when he saw the Garda cars from Fermoy and the Mitchelstown fire engine driving up to the house this morning, it was brilliant."

After a family holiday to Spain in October, Fionn's condition deteriorated around Halloween and the Doyle's decided to celebrate Christmas early on December 8.

A Mass of the Angels or Fionn, who is survived by his parents and sisters Saoirse and Amy, will take place today (Thursday) at noon in St Bartholomew's Church Kildorrery followed by private cremation at the Island Crematorium, Ringaskiddy.
There are few people that can say they have no regrets, but well-known hotelier Francis Brennan is one of those people.

Having lived a full and varied life, the Park Hotel manager and owner had done more than most.

From running and owning his own hotel; from being TV personality, world traveller and author, Francis Brennan's never envisaged the heights he would reach. And his first love is the same today as it was 40 years ago - the hotel business.

He exudes positivity as we sit across from each other in the Park Hotel, one of Ireland's most luxurious and well-known hotels, and he chats about his past, present and his future.

"I have been very lucky. I never get out of bed and said I am going to work; I always liked my job. I thank God; I am blessed," he says.

"There are people who go to work every day and don't like their job, and I couldn't think of anything worse. I come in here and I am so happy. I love meeting people."

His positivity has helped him get where he is today, and over the years it has helped him keep the bright side out no matter where or what he is doing.

"I am very positive. I spent a lot of time in hospital when I was young; I had 11 operations because I had a bad leg. I was in for six months at a time and my mother said I was only ever happy," explains Francis.

One thing for certain is that Francis is still a man on a mission with no plans to retire anytime soon.

With more than 40 years' history here in Kerry, mostly in The Park Hotel, Francis has no intention of stepping back. The Park Hotel is his first love and remains so as much today as it did when he arrived to work here all those years ago.

What most don't know is he began his hotel career in Parknasilla, just outside Sneem, straight from college in Cathal Brugha Street. A stint as second in command in the Queen Victoria in Cork followed - and then The Park Hotel came looking for him as manager. That was 1980, and the hotel was just being developed. It had been derelict for a number of years after being sold as the old Great Southern Hotel in 1976.

"I was in my early 20s, only 22, and it was a huge position to be in," recalls Francis. Less than four years later, he was the boss man, first off leasing the hotel under his own name and - some time later, as the owner - he took the step to buy the hotel himself.

"It was a big gamble to lease the hotel. I was only a young fellow. I borrowed parents' deeds and borrowed 40,000. I opened on April 7, 1984, under my umbrella, and we traded well," recalls Francis.

"I had a lot of money in the bank, so my accountant told me to buy it. I would still be borrowing millions, but he said they would understand. I went to see 13 Irish banks but all said I was too young and the deal too big."

However, Francis was not fazed, and after more consideration he approached a Swiss banker who used to visit the hotel as a guest - and the rest is history, as they say.

"I borrowed the money and bought the hotel and didn't tell anyone. Everything [was] the same as before, and I owned the building."

He was in business, and since then he has worked morning, noon and night to ensure The Park Hotel is one of the most prominent hotels in the country. But what led to Francis's love of the hotel business?

"When I was around 11, Mom and Dad sought to build a guest house/hotel in Sligo in 1963/64...I thought that it would be great I could be in the front hall of the hotel dressed up in my Fred Astaire tail coat, which we had in the wardrobe at home.

"I don't know what enticed me; the 'taily' coat was what it was all about," he said.

Fast forward many years, and Francis is now not only one of Ireland's best-known hotel managers but also a TV personality and an author - both careers obtained more by accident than by design.

"I envisaged retiring at 55; that was the plan written down and all, until the property crisis came to Dublin. I had to change my plans," he said.

And that's where his TV career came in - a very successful one that is now 12 years old and going strong with both 'At Your Service' and 'Francis Brennan's Grand Tour'.

"RTE were chasing me to do that, a concept they had, and we did. I like helping people.

"The Hideout Pub in Kilcullen was voted Pub of the Year at the VFI Awards last month, and we [he and John] did that only last year - so we helped all those people. It is a great body of help by John and I," says Francis.

Indeed, he likes to help people, whether it's his guests or hotel staff; the hotels and businesses on 'At Your Service'; or those that read his books.

However, despite a career in the limelight, his hotel is his first priority always, and he doesn't county money nor fame as a major a part in his life - something he is very grateful for.

"I never sat down and said this is what I would do at 45. I never aspired to have a boat or a jet; I am not driven by those things. So when things when belly up, I was just me. I am happy just the way I am.

"I am a hotelier that does TV, not the other way around. If I had to choose, I wouldn't be the TV star. This is my business, my baby, my whole life here - you can't step out and leave it go off on its own.

In keeping with his positive outlook, faith plays a major role too.

"I have no regrets in life. If I died in five minutes, I had a fantastic life, I was very happy and I made people happy. I was a good employer, and I believe in God, so I am not worked up about what's going to happen when I die. I was very lucky." he says. "I am not a holy joe, but I never miss Mass. I love to go to Mass abroad because you meet like-minded people. It is a marvellous way of having a family abroad.

"I thank God I have a faith and I believe in it and I'm happy."

And he always advises his staff who are moving abroad to contact the church.

"They will look after their own. You meet people who have businesses, and they have events and they have community, and you can get into there straight away."

Francis may have been born in Dublin, but he has now been in Kerry almost 40 years, and Kenmare is his home. He believes there is nowhere like Kerry when it comes to living or tourism.

"I drive in past Blackwater Bridge and I thank God I live here," he says.

Kerry people "understand tourism", and this is what makes it so special, he says. The industry has changed a lot, especially because of education, and he feels this is a good thing.

"Education has increased hugely in tourism, so more people are now trained. That is not a slight on the people before, but education makes life easier because they understand. I am always trying to improve everybody to help them move on in life."
Animal welfare organisations across Cork have been given a welcome New Year boost after it emerged they are to share in a more than 2.7million funding windfall.

Agriculture Minister Michael Creed unveiled the 2,751,000 funding package, which will be divided between 108 animal welfare groups around the country.

Nine Cork-based organisations will between them receive payments totalling 326,500, with the largest single beneficiary being The Donkey Sanctuary in Liscarroll, which was allocated 130,000.

Since its foundation in 1987 the Sanctuary has rescued and rehabilitated more than 5,000 donkey and mules and cares for more than 1,800 animals at its Liscarroll base and at temporary shelters around the country. As the centre receives no statutory funding and relies on fundraising activities donations from the public, the latest allocation will be vital to the day-to-day running of the facility during 2019.

It will also be used to fund the various education programmes conducted at the Sanctuary.

The other Cork-based organisations to receive funding were: Cork SPCA (100,000), the Milford based Cork Action Dog Welfare Group (27,500), Charleville-based Pauline's Rescue (23,000), The Cork Cat Action Trust (15,000), Community Cats Network (7,000), the West Cork Animal Welfare Group (17,000), Re-homing Cork Pets in Carrigadrohid (5,000) and the Buttevant-based Homeless Animal Rescue Team (2,000).

Announcing the funding Minister Creed said Ireland was very fortunate to have a strong and vibrant voluntary sector dedicated to animal welfare and it was his great pleasure to be able to help fund their work.

The Minister recalled the major improvements in animal welfare that have taken place in recent years describing the reform of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, which replaced legislation dating back to more than a century as a particular milestone.

He acknowledged that the workload for many voluntary organisations had increased over recent years on account of a number of factors, including the active enforcement 2013 Act.

He also acknowledged and welcomed the "very active role" being played by ISPCA officers in enforcing and carrying out their duties as authorised officers in applying the Act to domestic animals.

"While this high profile work gets a lot of attention, that should not diminish the work being done everyday by smaller rescue organisations. Everyone in the rescue sector is contributing to improved welfare in their own way," said Minister Creed.
The badly needed Macroom Bypass has taken yet another step closer to becoming a reality after it emerged that funding has been set aside for the coming year that will allow the project to move towards the construction phase.

This after Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) announced that Cork County Council has been allocated more than 36 million for works to the county's national roads network for 2019 - with a large chunk of the funding set aside for the Macroom project.

Shortly before Christmas it was announced that tenders were being sought for the 214 million project, with the contract expected to be awarded in the spring of this year.

The 22km of dual carriageway will run from Coolcower roundabout, taking traffic north of the town across the Carrigadrohid Reservoir and onto the county bounds west of Ballyvourney.

It will incorporate 18 road bridges, four bridges over the rivers Sullane, Lane, Foherish and Bohill, 13 culverts and the diversion of the River Owengarve. It is envisaged that the bypass will be completed and opened to traffic by the end of 2022.

Of the 36,650,815 set aside for works to Cork's nationals roads network for the coming year, 15 million has been allocated for the Macroom Bypass that will advance it to the construction stage.

Other key projects within the wider North Cork area that have been allocated funding under the 2019 nationals roads programme for the county include the M20 Cork-Limerick Motorway, the proposed Mallow Relief Road and other road realignment and pavement strengthening projects.

Welcoming the overall package for Cork, Cllr John Paul O'Shea pointed out that it represented a 100% increase in funding when compared to last years allocation.

"This is a very important announcement for Cork roads and it is particularly welcoming to see funding of 15m secured to advance the Ballyvourney to Macroom Bypass project to construction," said Cllr O'Shea.

He said it was also important to see funding continue to be allocated to advance projects like the M20 and the Mallow Relief Road.

"Likewise, we must continue to upgrade our existing national road network therefore the pavement improvements and overlay works are indeed also very welcome," said Cllr O'Shea.

"This funding will bring great benefits to road users throughout north Cork and I am looking forward to seeing great progress being made right across Cork's national road network over the coming year," he added. Funding for local and regional roads will be announced by the Department of Transport over the coming weeks.

Key north Cork national road projects to be funded in 2019

 N22 Ballyvourney to Macroom - 15,000,000.

 M20 Cork to Limerick Motorway - 2,150,000.

 N72/73 Mallow Relief Road - 300,000.

 N73 Annakisha South improvement scheme - 250,000.

 N73 Clogher Cross to Waterdyke realignment scheme - 250,000.

 N20 Mallow Southern Approach pavement inlay/overlay - 980,000.

 N72 Annabella to Lacknamona pavement strengthening (design) - 500,000.

 N72 Grange East and West pavement strengthening - 1,500,000.
Poet/musician Fergus Costello will be appearing in Cork under the auspices of the First Fortnight festival 2019

Spoken word artivist Alana Day Mulligan will be appearing in Cork under the auspices of the First Fortnight festival 2019

Challenging the stigma of mental illness through the arts is the ethos behind a series of thought-provoking events taking place at venues across Cork over the next two weeks.

For the third year in succession Europe's mental health arts and culture festival 'First Fortnight' will return to Leeside, with a wide-ranging and diverse range of activities aimed at highlighting how we as a society address the issue and how as individuals we respond to the challenges that it poses.

Founded in 2009 First Fortnight is a charity based organisation that challenges mental health prejudice though the arts, creating a space where people can discuss their personal issues in a non-judgemental manner.

Just as importantly, it gives people with mental health issues the opportunity to realise they are not alone through sharing the experiences of others and starting a conversation about how to address the stigma that stills surrounds the issue within many Irish communities. Once that conversation has begun, it hopes to change perceptions and create greater understanding about an issue that affects many people across society, with one-in-four experiencing a mental health problem at some stage during their lives.

Since it was established back in 2009, First Fortnight has developed from a single event into a movement, with more than 150 events taking place at locations across the country during the first two-weeks of January.

First Fortnight 2019 will see eight events taking place in Cork, with the programme featuring music, poetry, spoken word, film and even a get together for dog lovers.

It will kick off this Friday night at 5pm in the Kino on Washington Street with 'The Truth Is....' during which poet Stanley Notte will explain how he used his creativity as the foundation to recover from depression. His direct and honest approach will offer listeners the opportunity to get inside the head of an unhappy man as he outlines his journey from diagnoses along the road to recovery.

The following morning at 11.30am at the Sunday Market in Blackrock First Fortnight will team up with www.leadtolove.ie, Ireland's first and only dating and walks app for dog lovers to celebrate the mental health benefits of having a dog.

Next Monday evening The Hayloft Bar will host 'O Bheal', an open-mic evening of poetry, storytelling and music curated by Dublin poet Stephen James Smith.

The following Saturday will see two events at the Glucksman focussing on mental health within the classroom for both students and teachers.

Later on that evening the popular 'Therapy Session' will return to the Crane Lane Theatre with an eclectic mix of music, poetry and spoken word featuring artist including six-time Munster slam champ and musician Fergus Costello, rising spoken word 'artivist' Alana Day Mulligan and award winning Scottish writer Kevin P Gildea.

The award winning documentary 'Crazywise' will be screened at the Triskel Arts Centre the following night with First Fortnight 2019 drawing to a close on Friday, January 18 at the Kino with 'The Crossover', a multidisciplinary performance featuring local poets, rappers, musicians and visual artists.

For a full break down of events over the festival and ticket information visit www.firstfortnight.ie.
Community groups in the vicinity of the Castlepook Wind Farm near Doneraile have once gain been invited to share in a funding windfall under a scheme established by its joint developers.

In late 2016, almost four years after the controversial wind farm was given final approval by An Bord Pleanala, the ESB and Coillte announced the project was finally set to move forward after a finance agreement was brokered with Bank of Ireland.

The wind farm at the Coillte Ballyhoura Forest, which became operational last year, cost around 64 million and has a total of 14 turbines with a combined generating capacity of 33.3 mega watts of electricity, enough to power the equivalent of approximately 17,000 homes per year.

In 2017 a joint ESB/Coillte funded Community Development Fund was set up, with community and voluntary organisations invited to apply for financial assistance to help a variety of initiatives that would "support and benefit" the region surrounding the wind farm.

The annual fund will have a cumulative value of approximately 1.2 million during the operational life span of the wind farm.

At the time an ESB spokesperson said the Community Fund underscored their long-term commitment to the local community.

"We are proud to be able to support these initiatives. In making this fund available annually over the next 25 years we aim to contribute to the development of essential infrastructure and services and assist groups who are committed to helping their community reach its full potential and make things happen," he said.

Since its inception, the fund has committed to investing 129,000 in 22 projects within the vicinity of Castlepook with development companies, community and parish councils, schools, GAA clubs and a scout group having benefited under its auspices.

Applications for this year have now been opened, with submissions being accepted up until 5pm on Friday, March 15.

A spokesperson for Castlepook Power DAC, who administer the fund, said that in order to be eligible for funding project must fall within one or more pre-defined broad themes. These cover educations and skills; health, safety and well-being; environment and habitat conservation; energy efficiency and sustainability; culture and heritage recreation, sport and social inclusion and tourism.

For further information about the Community Fund and details on the application process visit www.castlepookwindfarm.ie.
While Christmas is a time for giving, January can become a time for 'giving away', with the charity Barnardos appealing for people to donate their unwanted gifts to them.

If you have received a jumper that is not quite the one for you, two of your favourite books or a CD that you already have, the charity can easily convert them into cash to help fund the work it does throughout the year.

Each year the charity works with over 15,000 children and their families at their 40 centres around Ireland, relying on the generosity of the public to help fund their activities.

Barnardos spokesperson Bernadette Harrington said people can drop their unwanted gifts into their chop on Cork's North Main Street "safe in the knowledge that its sale will make someone else happy and at the same time raise money for our work."

"Every Christmas many of us receive gifts that, no matter how well intentioned, just aren't the right choice for us. Rather than holding onto something you might not use, you could give it a much more special purpose," said Bernadette.

She said that donation, big or small, are "always welcomed."

"From clothes, shoes and accessories, to household goods, children's toys, art and books - there's something for everyone in Barnardos shops. The gift that wasn't right for you might be the perfect gift for someone else, and your donation will go one step further by supporting with children and families around the country," said Bernadette.

"So start 2019 off in the right way by donating your unwanted gifts to Barnardos," she added.

To find out more about the work that Barnardos does visit www.barnardos.ie.
The annual Mushera Mountain climb is a staple tradition for many on Christmas morning, and the mild weather saw the 2018 staging attract huge numbers from Duhallow, Muskerry and friends from further afield to again support charitable causes.

Aubane Social Club is the traditional host, and its annual events have supported a number of charitable and worthy groups and organisations over the years. The latest hosting helped the Irish Community Air Ambulance.

The Aubane event is eagerly looked forward to on each December 25, and organizers were overwhelmed with the support this year. Tough underfoot conditions were wet and slippery, but it failed to deter willing participants, even with heavy fog descending on the mountain.

"All credit to the participants for coming out in force from North and Mid Cork to support the cause," said spokesperson John F Kelleher.

Ireland's first privately funded air ambulance service is set to become operational from Rathcoole in February; an AW109 helicopter has been leased from Sloane Helicopters in the UK. It is expected to respond to up to 500 calls a year, and bring most of the population of a 15,000-square-kilometre-area from Kerry to Wexford within 20 minutes of critical medical care.
Tesco Arklow Extra, Bray, Greystones and Wicklow have raised 7,642 worth of donations for local charities as part of Tesco Ireland's annual Christmas Appeal. Across the country, a total of 150,000 worth of donations has been collected to support families in need in their local communities.

Some of the organisations benefiting from the appeal in Co. Wicklow include Arklow Community Action Resource Centre, St Vincent De Paul Little Bray and Bray Lakers

The annual Tesco Ireland Christmas Appeal ran in Tesco stores on December 7-9, and shoppers were asked to donate a product in-store to their local charitable organisation. Food, toiletries, nappies, small clothing items and toys were donated as part of the three-day appeal.

Volunteers from 130 good causes, already supported by the Tesco's surplus food donations programme, were on-hand across the country on Sunday to collect these goods for local distribution.

Aoife Donohoe, Head of Corporate Affairs Tesco Ireland said 'We are delighted that our Christmas Appeal collected over 150,000 this year for our partner charitable organisations across the country. We all know and recognise that Christmas can be a tough time for some people and we are really grateful to our customers for their continuous generosity donating items over the weekend.'

All of the items donated during the appeal in Tesco stores have been given to 130 partner causes from the Tesco surplus food donations programme which is run in partnership with FoodCloud.
Baby Junipers family is fundraising to get her treatment that is not available in Ireland

It was a difficult Christmas for one north Wicklow couple, who spent those days by their baby daughter's hospital bed.

Six-month old baby Juniper, whose parents have asked that we use just her first name, has no immune system and therefore the inability to fight off infection. The family must travel overseas for effective treatment, unavailable in this country.

She is in isolation in hospital having been diagnosed with a rare and life-threatening genetic condition known as SCID, or Severe Combined Immunodeficiency.

Her grandfather said that one of the family's main aims now, as Juniper makes progress, is to raise awareness of the condition to help other families avoid the ordeal which they have faced. He said that elsewhere, the condition is diagnosed at birth after a heel-prick test.

Another relative said that the parents have been in the hospital constantly with their little daughter. She is making good progress ahead of further treatment in the UK and, as well as an outpouring of funds, there have been prayers and positive energy. We are also assured that Santa found his way to hospital and was given special permission by doctors to deliver to Juniper's isolation room.

The relative said that the family and their own friends and relatives will be setting up a petition for SCID to be tested for in the heel prick.

'There is a much better chance for children diagnosed before three and a half months,' she said. 'It is already tested for in over 30 states in the US; New Zealand introduced it this year; and it is tested for in Canada, and Taiwan, with pilot studies in the UK, the Netherlands and Australia.'

She said that the family has been overwhelmed by the huge level of support from their community and beyond.

Juniper's parents received the diagnosis just before Christmas, after months of illnesses and uncertainty about what could be wrong with the little girl, with pneumonia among the conditions she has been fighting as a result of SCID.

The family needs to travel to the UK for a bone marrow transplant. The treatment to save Juniper's life will require the family to stay in the UK for up to six months. 'They have a great support system here, which they will not have access to in the UK,' said a relative.

Family members and friends want to alleviate any financial pressure for Juniper's parents while they embark on this difficult journey.

The baby's grandfather said that everyone in the community is rallying around to help, and a gofundme page called 'Lifeline for Juniper' has already raised more than 35,000.

Any funds raised will go towards accommodation, flights and living costs. Any funds raised beyond those needs will be donated to support other families affected by SCID.

As well as the online fundraising, there will be local events arranged in the coming weeks to support the campaign.
Over 1.6 million was shared among 137 individual projects last year through the seven community funding schemes administered by Wicklow County Council.

The CLAR (Ceantair Laga Ard-Riachtanais) programme delivered 175,000 to 12 projects, while the Town and Village programme provided funding of 525,000 to seven projects. The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme provided a further 438,000 to seven projects and the Healthy Ireland Initiative assisted 14 projects with funding of 112,100. The New Community Enhancement programme delivered 350,530 to 91 groups while a Festival Funding programme assisted six festivals in the county.

Acknowledging this investment in the county, Cllr Pat Vance, cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, paid tribute to the staff in the Community, Cultural and Social Development directorate in the council and to Minister for Rural and Community Development Michael Ring and his officials. Councillor Vance said that these projects, spread across different communities throughout the county, will significantly enhance a large number of towns and villages and he congratulated all those involved in all the projects.

Frank Curran, Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council, added his own congratulations to everyone involved in the projects and said that council staff will continue to work in partnership with all groups in the county to advance more projects in 2019.
Dramatic Society: Delgany Dramatic Society is hosting a drama evening on Saturday, January 12.

The event will take place at 8 p.m. in the Old School House.

All proceeds from the night will be donated to Delgany Tidy Towns.

Two plays will be performed; The Virtous Burglar, a comedy, and the Patient by Agatha Christie. After this performance Delgany Dramatic Society will be performing the plays in Glenealy and at Bray One Act Drama Festival.

Tickets can be bought on the door and cost 12, or 10 for concessions.

There will be a raffle during the interval.

Dementia Support

'Memory Lane Music' takes place each Friday morning at St Patrick's Church Hall from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

A family carers support group meets every third Friday of the month, also at St Patrick's, from 11.30 a.m. to 1 p.m. This is a facilitator led, peer-to-peer support group.

Contact Wicklow Dementia Support at 089 4286928.

Men's Shed

Greystones Men's Shed is seeking new members. They open on Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. They will have new programmes starting in 2019.

They will reopen on January 9.

Badminton

Bray Greystones badminton club welcomes new players every Thursday night at eight o'clock in BIFE Novara Road Bray.

Beginners and back to badminton players welcome.

Family badminton takes place every Sunday from 4 p.m. till 6 p.m. Adults and children welcome.

If interested contact Mary at 089 4132070.

Storytime at the library

The popular children's storytime takes place at 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday mornings at Greystones Library.

The session is suitable for babies up to children aged six years.

No booking is required.

Choir at mass

The choir sings at 6 p.m. Mass in the Holy Rosary Church on the first and third Saturday of the month.

For more information call 085 8801466.

Holy Rosary parish social

Holy Rosary parish social, hobby and craft afternoon takes place on the first Sunday of each month.

The event will take place at Kilian House Family Centre from 3 p.m. till 6 p.m. each month.

Refreshments are available at 1.50.

The event is for people aged 18 and older. For more information go to greystonesparish.ie.

Language groups

A German conversation group meets each week in Greystones.

The group meets at the library on Saturday mornings at 11 a.m.

A French conversational group meets on Thursday mornings, also at the library, at 11 a.m.

Weekly policing clinic

Kilcoole policing clinic takes place each Wednesday evening at Kilcoole Community Centre, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Garda Corbet and/or Garda Thompson will be in attendance.

Drop in for crime prevention advice, get a form stamped, and most other garda station services.

Exercise for over-50s

Exercise programmes for the over-50s take place each Wednesday at Shoreline Leisure at 12.30 p.m.

The sessions help with flexibility, strength, confidence, balance, coordination and mobility.

Admission is 5 per session and all are welcome.

Men's evening

Greystones Cancer Support's Men's Evening will take place at the centre on Wednesday, January 30, at 8 p.m.

This evening is for men who have had cancer or whose family or friends have had cancer.

For more information call 01 2871601.

Scout leaders

Greystones Scouts are now recruiting new leaders for first Wicklow, second Dublin, St Kilian's Scout Group.

Training will be provided. For more information, contact group leader Anthony Finnegan at greystonesscouts@eircom.net.

ICA meeting

The Delgany Guild of the Irish Countrywomen's Association will hold a meeting at St Patrick's Parish Centre on Monday, January 7, at 8 p.m.

The guild meets on the second Monday of each month. The ICA includes lots of activities, a wide range of demonstrations and speakers.

The group also features various crafts, sport, drama and theatre outings.

Soup and sandwiches

Soup and sandwiches will be served at Kilian House Family Centre on Wednesday, January 30, from 12.15 p.m. to 2 p.m.

There will also be tea or coffee and cake.

A suggested donation of 5 will go to local charities.

Nollaig na mBan event

The Hot Spot will celebrate Nollaig na mBan - Women's Little Christmas - on Sunday, January 6, at 3 p.m.

On the 12th and last day of Christmas, this is an afternoon in the company of women.

The event will feature performances and presentations by women in the arts, music and politics.

Guests will raise a cup or a glass, eat cake and enjoy the cameraderie. Admission is free.

Babywearing

Wicklow Babywearing Ireland will hold a sling meet at Kilcoole Community Centre on Sunday, January 13, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This is a peer to peer sling meet for parents to share information about babywearing, try out some of the library slings and enjoy chatting to each other over tea or coffee and biscuits.

There is a 3 entrance fee per family towards room rental.

Healthy habits

There will be a healthy habits workshop with the Cool Food School on Thursday, January 3, at 11 a.m.

The event will take place at Nicky's Village Market, Main Street, Kilcoole.

In the smoothie workshop for children, they will help prep the fruit and veg and they will make a variety of different smoothies with a take home sheet of information and recipes.

St Crispin's care crib

St Crispin's Care Crib is open till Sunday, January 6.

The crib welcomes all non-perishable foods, tins and packets, including coffee, tea, pasta, rice, soups and similar items as well as toiletries, toothpaste, brushes, hair brushes and combs.

Also welcome are woolly hats, gloves, scarves, socks, and jackets, coats and jumpers as well as toys for children.

Many charities benefit from St Crispin's Care Crib. Leave gifts in the Star wheelie bin at 28 St Crispin's, Redford Park.

Christmas tree shredding

Christmas tree shredding takes place from Thursday, January 3, till Tuesday, January 15, at the South Beach car park, Mill Road, in front of the south beach playground.

Wreaths, plastic trees or decorations are not accepted.

Regional strategy

An information meeting on the regional spatial and economic strategy will take place on Saturday, January 12, at Luisne Centre for Wellbeing, Kilcoole, from 10.30 a.m. to midday.

The event is hosted by County Wicklow PPN.

Speakers include town planner Judy Osborne and An Taisce advocacy officer Ian Lumley.

They will provide information and advice on the most effective way for communities to have their say on the decisions that affect their quality of life.

Register your attendance by emailing countywicklowppn@gmail.com.

Phil Lynott celebration

Hot Spot Music Club presents 'King's Call A celebration of Phyl Lynott' on Friday, January 4, at 8 p.m.

The evening will include Thinner Lizzy on the main stage and a softer acoustic experience in the informal living room.

There will be the art, music and poetry of Phil Lynott.

Proceeds from this event will go directly to Wicklow Homeless Five Loaves and Living Lives.

All are welcome to attend this event which is expected to showcase some exceptional music as well as be a great tribute to Phil Lynott.

Tickets for the night are 15 with additional donations welcome.

To book go to thehotspot.ie or call 087 29175119.
The challenges of policing a 500 mile long border are at the forefront of Brexit fears in modern day political negotiations.

But a look back at the State Papers released this week under the 30 year rule revealed that policing the border was a major cause for concern in 1988.

In the late 1980s, the 'Troubles' in the north remained a significant threat to peace, with a series of atrocities continuing to impact on life along the border.

As pressure on governments in both Dublin and London intensified to find a resolution, official papers, which have been in archives since 1988 revealed a number of 'intense meetings' between the then British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, and Taoiseach Charlie Haughey.

At one such meeting, Thatcher declared: 'I can't seal the border,' she said. 'There is no way we can patrol the 500 miles. Everywhere there is an open border.'

The revelations come as concerns grow over the prospect of a hard border being introduced at the frontier between Northern Ireland and the Republic.

Thatcher was recorded saying that the border was being used by 'terrorists'.

'We can't have the border open as it is now. There are massive caches of arms somewhere. We know that there are arms and weapons and we know that they bring them across.'

The former 'Iron Lady' was also critical of the gardai, saying: 'We do not get intelligence from the gardai, they are not the most highly professional police force.'

However, Mr Haughey defended the Garda's record and said that, unlike the RUC, it patrolled right up to the border.

He also said the Garda had successes in identifying IRA arms dumps and was in the process of trying to infiltrate the Provos in the Louth area.

Ms Thatcher, who the records showed continued to become increasingly exasperated in the meeting, said: 'I don't know what to do about the border.'

However, Mrs Thatcher was adamant that she wanted better security and intelligence liaison between police forces.

She also queried how, when the Irish Government wanted, specific republican targets could be pursued relentlessly.

'You got (Border Fox Dessie) O'Hare alright when you wanted him,' she said. 'You went after him in no uncertain manner.'

Mr Haughey countered by insisting that O'Hare had 'rampaged about the country for a week before he was caught.'

The challenges of policing the border have been consistently raised over the last few months. Aerial surveys carried out by the Irish army indicated there are 300 border crossings between Louth and Donegal, including many previously unidentified openings.
The acclaimed Inniskeen writer Patrick Kavanagh came under Garda scrutiny for pressurising bookshop owners to display his book 'The Green Fool' in their shop windows.

According to 80 year old State Papers released by the Department of Justice last week, a garda investigation was opened in 1938 after the poet called to several Dublin book shops demanding that his book be displayed in their windows.

The manager of Fred Hanna's, Nassau St. told a Detective Garda Sergeant that he was not afraid of Kavanagh, but feared he might do some damage.

He claimed the poet had said: 'You have 15 minutes to put my book in the window, this is an ultimatum.'

The investigation began after gardai were contacted by a priest who believed the 'The Green Fool' was somewhat anti-Catholic in tone.

Fr Senan of Church St, Dublin, suggested the book be referred to Department of Justice under the Censorship of Publications Act.
Judge Frank Roe, who was a well known judge on the Eastern Circuit and cousin of former Dundalk Democrat editor Tom Roe, wrote to the Government in December 1977, urging Ireland to intercede for the release from prison of Adolf Hitler's deputy, Rudolf Hess.

Explaining that this was his 'Christmas good deed', Judge Roe, urged Ireland to get involved in the campaign to have Hess released from Spandau Prison in Germany, where he had been held for four decades.

In a letter to the then Foreign Affairs Minister Michael O'Kennedy, he asked him if he could do 'anything to get unfortunate Rudolf Hess released?' He noted that the historian AJP Tayor, who he always found 'very favourable to Ireland', had made 'an unanswerable case' for the release of Hess.

State papers released last week revealed how successive Irish Governments refused to get involved in the Hess case even on humanitarian grounds.

Hess fell from the Fuhrer's favour after flying solo to Britain at the height of World War II to personally try to negotiate a peace settlement.
Former Louth Deputy, Joe Farrell with a wreath for his cousin Mairead Farrell as the hearses carrying the remains of the Gibraltar Three passes through Dundalk in March 1988

The three Mairead Farrell, Daniel McCann and Sean Savage were shot dead by SAS officers, who claimed that they were organising a bomb attack on the changing of the Guard Ceremony at the governor's residence.

However the three were found to be unarmed and no bomb was discovered in their vehicle and a Thames Television documentary entitled 'Death on the Rock' revealed, that they were shot by the SAS without any attempt to arrest them.

This evidence directly contradicted the official version of events and backed up ongoing claims from republicans that British forces were operating a 'shoot-to-kill' policy.

Carmen Proetta, who witnessed the shootings first hand, said that the IRA personnel were unarmed and holding their hands up when they were shot.

Two days after the shooting, the Irish Government issued a statement saying it was 'gravely perturbed that three unarmed Irish people were shot dead in Gibraltar when they could have been arrested by the security forces involved'.

State papers released last week disclose government concerns that their murders 'was likely to be a propaganda victory for the Provisional IRA.'

Anglo-Irish Secretariat officials in Belfast warned their British counterparts of 'the likelihood of emotional or difficult scenes' when the remains of those killed were returned to Belfast and called for 'highly sensitive police handling of these cases'.

The funerals passed through Dundalk on the way from Dublin airport to Belfast and the Argus report at the time indicated that of up to 7,000 lined the streets.

Veteran Fianna Fail politician Cllr Joe Farrell laid a wreath on the coffin of his cousin Mairead Farrell, whose grandfather John moved from Hill Street to Belfast in the early 1900s.

There was a large contingent of media, including TV crews from the United States, Canada and Europe, to cover the event which passed off without incident.

However, at the funerals in Belfast's Milltown cemetery, loyalist gunman Michael Stone opened fire and threw hand grenades at mourners, killing three and wounding 50 people.

Three days later, two British soldiers were seized by a mob while driving through west Belfast during the funerals of those killed at Milltown.
Fundraising for Liverpool fan Sean Cox, who was seriously injured in an attack outside Anfield last year, has topped 1.1 million.

Sean, who works in Precision Cables, Dundalk, has been the focus of a number of major fundraising drives in recent months.

His wife, Martina, issued a statement this week thanking the public for their support.

'As we reach the end of 2018, I would like to extend a huge expression of gratitude to everyone who supported Sean and I, and our children since Sean's attack in April of this year.' She added; 'We spent a lot of time over Christmas with Sean in the National Rehabilitation Hospital, Dun Laoghaire, where he is continuing to make progress. He no longer has a feeding tube so is starting to eat and drink again with the help of the wonderful nursing staff. Sean has some more words and is trying very hard to sing along to familiar songs; these are encouraging and proud steps for us all.'

She explained that the family used the time with Sean over Christmas to try and relay to him the public goodwill and support there has been for him over the eight months since his attack.

'This time last year we were an ordinary family looking forward to another New Year and what that would bring. Sean or I never dreamt that twelve months on, there would be websites or media interviews or fundraising events all brought about by what happened after Sean was attacked in Liverpool on 24th April."

'While it has been an exceptionally difficult time, what has helped me and the kids get through it has been the overwhelming goodwill of Sean's family, friends, supporters and the general public. The Support Sean campaign has witnessed huge generosity and has raised 1.1 million to date.'

'While we have a battle ahead again in 2019, our burden is lightened by this love and support for Sean,' said Mrs.Cox.
The first anniversary of the death of Japanese national Yosuke Sasaki is expected to be marked with a special ceremony held in town later this week

A wreath-laying ceremony and a mass are set to be held on Thursday, January 3rd, to mark the first anniversary of the murder which shocked the town.

The 24-year-old Yosuke, a Japanese national, died following a knife attack as he walked home along the Avenue Road following having finished work at National Pen.

Mohamed Morei (18) has been held in custody since January 4th after he was charged with the murder of Yosuke, who was not known to him, and has been receiving ongoing medical care in the Central Mental Hospital

On Thursday a wreath-laying ceremony will take place close to the scene where the attack took place,

The ceremony will then be followed by an anniversary mass in St. Patrick's Cathedral Dundalk at 10am.

Management and staff at National Pen and a representative from the Japanese Embassy have been invited to attend the event which is open to all.

The murder saw an outpouring of grief with over 1,000 people taking part in a candlelight vigil inMarket Square.

Among those in attendance was Her Excellency Mrs Mari Miyoshi, the Japanese Ambassador to Ireland.

The Sasaki family issued a statement expressing their gratitude to the people of Dundalk for their support.

They said their son came to Ireland 'initially as a language student and only intended a short stay.'

However, he was touched by the kindness of the Irish people and he decided to work here.'

'We would like to express our sincere gratitude for the kindness the people of Ireland have shown.'

The family said that, 'When he was alive our son spoke about the warmth of the people of this town and his love of Dundalk.'
Concerns over the challenges of cross border shopping were raised this week, as large numbers of people headed north to take advantage of the euro-sterling exchange rate in the run up to Christmas.

Louth TD Declan Breathnach expressed concerns for local economies along the border as a result of the high volume of people travelling across the border to shop.

Deputy Breathnach was speaking as new figures from the CSO show that fourteen percent of Irish households travelled to Northern Ireland in 2017 to shop and spent a total of 458 million.

'This represents a 458 million loss to Irish retailers and I think this is very regrettable. The figures show that in particular, nearly half of people living in the border region went to Northern Ireland to shop, with households in the area having an average of 16 cross-border shopping trips a year.'

He added: 'While I understand people wanting to cross the border to take advantage of the cheaper rate of sterling, I believe there needs to be a greater focus put on the ramifications and that people must be aware that retailers along the border are adversely affected.

'We know that alcohol is the biggest attraction for shoppers looking for a cross-border bargain, and I strongly believe we need an all-island approach to clamping down on the easy availability of cheap alcohol.'

'Retailers in towns all along the border are trying desperately hard to fight back against this outflow of shoppers. In Dundalk for example, the Chamber of Commerce have a shop local gift voucher initiative which has already seen a huge success in stopping the flow of money from the town.'

'Brexit is coming and what we have seen from the contingency plans is that it's going to create a very difficult economic environment.

'We must pull out all the stops to help local economies along the border', concluded Deputy Breathnach.
Louth man John McKeown says he will remember Christmas Day 2018 forever as that's the day he climbed Croagh Patrick clad in his shorts and hiking boots.

The Collon resident undertook the challenge to raise funds for mental health charities, 3Ts Turn the Tide of Suicide and A Lust for life.

The father to three, who follows the breathing techniques developed by Dutch man Wim Hof to endure extreme cold, decided to embark on this unusual challenge on Christmas Day to help raise awareness about mental health and suicide prevention.

John's Christmas Day started at 8am with five rounds of breathing exercises followed by his daily cold shower.

With his Dundalk born wife Jackie as driver and sons Michael, John and Jason, they set off for the west of Ireland.

'The morning was clear with a breeze blowing but not too cold,' he says. 'As we left Westport we could see that the summit of Croagh Patrick was covered in mist. We hoped that it would be clear by the time we arrived at the top so we could see the islands in Clew Bay.'

After taking a family snap at the bottom, John stripped down to his shorts and boots, and embarked on the trek with his sons, who were fully clothed, while Jackie went to Christmas Day mass.

'I was surprised at how many people were climbing Croagh Patrick that day,' says John. A few had heard why he was climbing in his shorts and gave money to the charities.

As they ascended the mountain, John says 'a strong wind from the east cooled my body down quickly so I had to concentrate on the breathing method.'

They made it to the top in about 1 hour and 20 minutes and had a cup of coffee from a flask and a homemade mince pie while waiting for the mist to clear so that they could appreciate the view.

Peeping in though the window of the chapel, they saw a large statue of St Patrick and marvelled at how people had carried it up over such rough terrain.

'My thoughts went to my loved ones and friends who are no longer with us and to those whose hearts are broken due to mental health issues and suicide, especially at Christmas time.'

The climb down is notoriously tough but they made it down in an hour, where Jackie was waiting to greet them.

They arrived back home in Collon by 6pm in time for Christmas dinner and not surprisingly, John was fast asleep by 9.30pm.

'It was a very special day for me and one that will stay with me forever,' says John. 'I am blessed to have been able to share this experience with my three sons and with the support of Jackie.'

So far he has raised over 2,000 for his chosen charities.
The story of Louth is being stitched into a unique community tapestry. Work on the first panel has been taking at Creative Spark in the weeks leading up to Christmas, affording the women involved in the project the chance to take some time out from the hustle and bustle of festive preparations.

Artist Una Curley, who has been facilitating the embroidery stitching sessions, describes it as 'a lovely project which allows women to come in, share stories and learn stitches.'

The tapestry depicts stories from Louth's past as recounted by those who came along to the story gathering workshops at the beginning of the project.

This first panel features King Lugh, Cuchulain's father, on his magic horse Enbarr, and other motifs including the Cross of Muiredach at Monasterboice, the round tower at Dromiskin, the wreck of the Mary Stoggart, the lighthouse, the Green Church, the Fleadh and Irish dancing costumes.

Una reveals that there has been a great response to the call out for people to go into Creative Spark and take part in the embroidery stitching sessions.

'We've had women in every day, from their 20s to 84, from all over the county, from Ardee, Castlebellingham and around Dundalk,' says Una.

This first panel is a project by Creative Spark with funding from Creative Ireland and it's hoped to continue it in 2019.
On Friday night I headed for the Lilywhite Lounge for a special 80th birthday party for Paul O'Kane from Park Drive and there to make sure he had a great night were his kids Mickey and Anna, his partner Agnes McCusker from Park Drive and her kids Pauline, Derek and Helen and a good collection of family and friends.

I was only in the door when I met up with Paul's son Mickey who was there with his wife Leanne from Waterville Crescent who wanted a big shout out for nanny and granda Kate and Paddy who were babysitting their son Conor on the night. Mickey also told me it was going to be a quiet night, something to do with a major game for Muirhevnamor on Sunday!

Two lads who were certainly going to have a busy night were Mark 2 better known as Jim Shevlin and Billy Cairns who were getting ready to fill the dancefloor with all the classic hits that Paul and Agnes love.

Next, I caught up with Paul's daughter Anna Connolly from Blackrock who was with daughters Claire, Seana and Mairead and grandson Blake who wanted to wish Paul all the best on his big night.

After this I did manage to get a quick word with partner Agnes McCusker who was going to make sure Paul had an excellent night!

Making my way over to one of the tables I caught up with Luke Turley who told me there is a 'full one hundred percent to the pound'! He was having a time of it with Margaret Clarke from Aghameen Park and John Hutchinson from Drive Two who wanted to wish Paul all the best on his big night.

Making my way through the crowds I then got taking to Agnes' daughter Pauline McCusker from Park Villas who was with her partner Cormac Myers from Woodville Manor and they assured me that when Agnes and Paul get to celebrating, it was going to be an epic party.

After this I caught up with Agnes' relations Ian and Nora Carroll from Tullyallen who were delighted to be there and wanted to wish all the best to the big man. They were enjoying the company of Agnes' brother Leo Carroll from Belfast who assured me it wasn't going to be a quiet night when they all got together for a celebration.

I then had the pleasure of talking to Seana Connolly from Blackrock who said she was with sisters Orla and Mairead and her son Blake who was the centre of attention while he was there.

Making my way through the crowds I caught up with Eamonn Carroll from Rockfield Manor who was ready to have a laugh on the night with uncle Leo and aunty Agnes.

I made my way over to a table where I got talking to Phyllis and Peter Keenan from Seafield Lawns who wanted to wish Paul all the best on his big night and to tell him they love him to bits.

Finally, before I departed, I met up with Paul's grandson Ciaran Connolly from Blackrock who was just after arriving in with his fiancee Snead Gartland from Kilcurry and they wanted to wish all the best to Paul on his 80th.
The current artist in residence at Creative Spark is Alistair Livingstone, who has spent a large part of his life working as a designer and director, working internationally in the theatre, mainly as a designer of sets, costumes and lighting.

At the same time he continued with his own arts praxis, exhibiting a range of work in the UK, Germany and Australia.

Alistair's career has included a stint as a part-time art teacher at a secondary school in the East End of London, lectureships at various arts schools and universities, including at the Slade. In 1979 he assisted in the establishment of the Centre for the Performing Arts in South Australian and later worked at the Western Australian College of Advanced Education and the Perth Institute of Contemporary Art.

After a car accident in Scotland Alistair studied and practised homeopathy and later trained as a yoga therapist on his return from Australia to London.

A number of events conspired in bringing Alistair and his partner to Ireland at the time of the Good Friday Agreement, settling in Rostrevor, and for the past fifteen years he has been mainly involved in facilitating classes and workshops on yoga and other alternative processes.

During 2018 Alistair worked with the Light 2000 Community Group in designing and publishing a book, 'The Trees of Kilbroney Park', and curating an exhibition of 27 artworks that feature in the book. A small selection of this work is now on show at the Rostrevor Inn.

More recently, Alistair began an exploration of digital techniques and screen-printing which he first commenced at Creative Spark in 2018. The residency at Creative Spark will give him the concerted time and space to develop a comprehensive body of work for an exhibition of new large print works in May 2019 at the Down Arts Centre, Downpatrick.
'According to Mr Varadkar: "People often say that a divorce can be like a death in the family. It can also bring those left behind closer together."' Photo: Getty Images

Even at this late hour there appears to be no end to what one British newspaper has described as the hallucinogenic phase of Brexit. Notions of clean breaks, with 39bn (43bn) in the back pocket, and the upper hand with which to spend it, still abound.

Yet we are only two weeks away from a vote that looks destined to fail, delivering not a managed soft Brexit but a full impact, no safety-belt pile-up.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, speaking in Germany yesterday, described Brexit as "traumatic but not fatal for the EU". Not for the EU perhaps, but this country should brace itself.

Usually triage occurs after the collision, not before. According to Mr Varadkar: "People often say that a divorce can be like a death in the family. It can also bring those left behind closer together."

Evidently his intention was to unify at a time of turbulence for the EU. He explained how peace in Ireland was borne out of "the European ideal, by communities coming together, not growing apart". He is correct but there seems no appetite for reconciliation.

In full wrecking-ball mode, DUP Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson cranked up the consternation, dubbing the backstop a "con trick". There's not any way in which his party can support Mrs May's Brexit deal, he declared. And, it ought not be forgotten, this country has binding commitments and obligations in relation to how the country protects the integrity of the single market.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe once again insisted yesterday there would be no hard Border. While on the issue of the backstop, he said it was something the UK government wanted. It offers the best ability to have low-friction trade with the EU in the future.

All of the above may be true, but we know without a UK deal the EU will insist that we protect the common trade area.

This means tighter security, tariffs and lengthy delays.

With only weeks to prevent such chaos, too many are wilfully sleepwalking into a nightmare. British Prime Minister Theresa May has spoken again to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in a now-despairing campaign to wring concessions.

As time vanishes, her mission appears doomed. The deal she fought hard to deliver is being rejected by her own supporters.

She is convinced there is another way, yet she chose the way and laid it down in red lines as the only route available.

As Mr Varadkar said, it would be helpful if EU leaders knew what clarifications they could offer. Brexit may not be "fatal" but were it to be killed off or die a natural death, its epitaph might read: "Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time..."
The new abortion law in Ireland commenced on January 1. If the numbers that were reported as seeking abortion in Britain are replicated here, then since its first day last Tuesday, 40 to 50 pre-born babies will already have had their lives ended.

Our country's name will be added to the list of those contributing to the loss of life by abortion worldwide. It has been reported by independent data-collecting site Worldometers to be the number one cause of death worldwide in 2018. At over 41 million annually, it exceeds the combined number of deaths from cancer, smoking, HIV/AIDS, alcohol and traffic accidents. These are monumental numbers and if they were described for any other medical intervention they would cause international outrage. But because the victims are voiceless, vulnerable people, they are excused. What greater affront to human rights can there be than the taking of the life of the weak by the strong with impunity, simply because they can?

A few days ago, I saw an advertisement on the side of a London bus promoting veganism. It showed a cute little piglet with a tagline: "I'm someone, not something."

So, when is a pre-born baby someone, not something? For many worldwide, it simply is because human life has begun. It is not animal or insect life but a process that will culminate in the birth of a human being.

Such logic was not evident in the comments of Leo Varadkar, our Taoiseach and a doctor, when asked if, when treating a pregnant woman, he would have one or two patients. He said it would depend on the woman, being two if the baby was wanted and one if unwanted.

The piglet in the promotional picture arguably has more rights than the developing human child, according to the world view of Varadkar and his acolytes. The consequence of his feat of absurdity is to reduce the pre-born human to a non-person, based on their wantedness. Once this happens then anything, no matter how grotesque or cruel, is possible and can be allowed.

It is this mindset, embedded in a view that sees pre-born life in its essence as arbitrary, which gave permission to TDs to vote against pain relief during late-term abortions. Even animals being slaughtered are stunned before they are killed but not the human in utero.

GPs carrying out abortions are being incentivised with much higher payments (400) than those offering pre-natal care (280) because in the dystopian perspective of Health Minister Simon Harris and most of our politicians, getting rid of a clump of cells, a non-person, is more important work than caring for a woman carrying a developing baby.

And the 'it's only a clump of cells' argument was used to shout down those claiming that some women might develop mental health problems after the event, and perversely allowing mental health to be one of the grounds for seeking abortion despite the evidence that it does not prevent mental health problems.

One of the remarkable things about the drive for abortion worldwide is that it is hailed as "progressive" and in the Western world is seen almost exclusively in terms of women's rights. But the early feminists vehemently opposed abortion.

Beginning in 1792, Mary Wollstonecraft, whose book/pamphlet 'A Vindication of the Rights of Women' inspired the beginnings of organised feminism in both Europe and the US, saw abortion not as an assertion of woman's power but an indicator of her powerlessness.

Elizabeth Blackwell was the first American woman to earn an MD (Doctor of Medicine). Having learnt that one Madame Restell was carrying out abortions in New York, Blackwell felt impelled to pursue a career in medicine. She wrote in her diary: "The gross perversion and destruction of motherhood by the abortionist filled me with indignation and awakened active antagonism."

Others include Victoria Woodhull, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Isabella Beecher Hooker (a friend of the British philosopher John Stuart Mill).

One feminist, Eliza Duffey, initially saw no harm in abortion as the foetus was not truly a human life, but changed when "I became thoroughly acquainted with sexual physiology and comprehended the wonderful economy of nature in the generation of the human germ".

Sylvia Pankhurst, a British campaigner for women's suffrage, wrote in a 1930 essay entitled 'Abortion': "Increasing numbers of people argue thattherefore the law should permit abortion provided it is done under state supervision with strict aseptic precautions.

"The true mission of society is to provide the conditions, legal, moral, economic and obstetric which will assure happy and successful motherhood."

History's darkest moments have happened when people failed to recognise other human beings as persons and so deprived them of fundamental rights and privileges.

In North America, Natives were considered as non-persons, referred to as savages, in order to provide justification for the appropriation of land. Slaves, they were considered to be the property of their owner to be used and disposed of as desired throughout Europe and the United States.

The Persons Act, Canada, 1891, declared that "women are not persons in the matter of rights and privileges". History, it seems, is repeating self and the unborn in our law have been stripped of rights and privileges.

But just as the slaves were freed and just as America recognised its terrible treatment of the indigenous people, the mass killing of pre-born children will be also recognised for the atrocity that it is.

As Booker T Washington, a slave who was granted freedom and became a human rights activist, wrote in his autobiography 'Up from Slavery', "A lie doesn't become truth, wrong doesn't become right, and evil doesn't become good, just because it's accepted by a majority."
Writing about 'Gulliver's Travels' to his friend Alexander Pope, Jonathan Swift described his chief aim in composing the famous satire as being "to vex the world rather than divert it". The same could be said of Brexit.

One wonders what Dean Swift, with his gift for what Yeats called "savage indignation", would have made of Britain's bid to take back control with action that can only lead to a collapse in the living standards of its people - especially those who are just about managing.

The dean was convinced that humankind has an innate capacity to reason. He also believed that as a species we often fail to use that gift, unfortunately. Certainly, logic appears to have vanished in Britain. Outside the EU it will be poorer, with fewer friends and dwindling influence. Yet onwards it drifts towards disaster. It's as if those who know better are gripped by a spirit of defeatism that nothing can be done to prevent the Brexit debacle.

Come what may, the clock is ticking - and not in a benign, Big Ben manner. Rather, it's like the timepiece inside Captain Hook's crocodile-shaped nemesis.

So, in these salad days of 2019, the burning question is whether sanity will be restored to Britain on January 15? That's when the House of Commons is due to be balloted on Theresa May's Withdrawal Agreement, which provides for an orderly Brexit. The headcount is expected to take place just six days before the last possible date by which Britain may change its mind about a second Brexit plebiscite - the People's Vote on which some pin their hopes.

Mrs May has postponed a vote once already because the parliamentary arithmetic was against her. Currently, she is engaged in a European diplomatic offensive, trying to convert the backstop to temporary status. It's a shame that Ireland can't help Britain but the only assistance it wants from us is to yield on the backstop. An impossibility. Irish interests must be safeguarded, along with the rights of Irish citizens in the North, and the backstop is the best guarantee.

What next? Mrs May could delay the Commons vote yet again to increase the probability that what ensues is either her deal or no deal. High stakes indeed. And all because of what one writer in the 'New Statesman' has described as "sullen nationalism".

Unless something changes significantly in a tight timeframe, we're looking at a slide towards mayhem for our nearest neighbour. And Ireland will be caught in the undertow.

Economic damage on a severe scale is likely. Conscious of some if not all negative repercussions looming, a number of gung-ho types are invoking the bulldog spirit: Britons are at their best when the odds are stacked against them, they say, summoning up everything from the defeat of the Spanish Armada to Dunkirk. Reckless doesn't begin to describe such minimisation of the economic fallout.

Perhaps the best solution is for the EU and Britain to agree to an extension to Article 50. While it won't solve anything, at least it will stretch the deadline.

Meanwhile, the Irish Cabinet met on Thursday to discuss an increasingly probable cliff-edge Brexit. Contingency plans include speeding up the hiring of 600 customs officers, plus additional staff for Revenue and Agriculture. Ireland is asking for emergency aid from the EU in the event of no deal.

Europe has identified 14 potential sources of major disruption where Britain toppling out will impact on citizens and businesses in the 27 member states. Areas include financial services, air transport, customs and climate policy. Ireland will be affected disproportionately and 45 pieces of new legislation will be needed here.

From Britain, we keep hearing that even if it crashes out, at least the people's will is exercised. Three cheers for democracy!

Really? Britons may have voted to leave but not in a smash-bang-wallop fashion. That weasel phrase "a managed no-deal" has started surfacing, as though the no-deal option is somehow controllable. It isn't.

Crashing out means no transition period. And that's just for starters. Currently, as of March 30, with no Withdrawal Agreement passed, enormous disruption will ensue in Britain (with reverberations in Ireland). From that date, just 84 days away, EU laws and institutions lose all legal standing in Britain. No British planes can fly through European airspace unless by the EU's express permission, no British lorries can cross European land except with the EU's say-so, and no British people can enter Europe without visas.

Open borders boost trade; shut borders damage it. Free movement of people also enhances trade, allowing for job mobility. The British economy is intersected with Europe's in myriad ways and a sudden shutdown can only harm Britain.

Are those outcomes really an expression of the British people's will? Whatever the Brexit ultras claim, that's not putting the great back into Great Britain. Boris Johnson, Jacob Rees-Mogg and others are taking unacceptable risks with more vulnerable people's incomes. Some of the fanatics appear to be motivated by personal ambition rather than the national welfare.

A snap election may be one way to avoid the cliff-face scenario. Presumably, that's what Jeremy sit-on-his-hands-and-wait-it-out Corbyn is banking on. He has wasted opportunity after opportunity to demonstrate leadership in this matter.

His behaviour is only logical, according to Dean Swift's yardstick for reasoning, if we deduce that his endgame is to become prime minister of Britain outside the EU. That's according to Matthew Parris, 'London Times' columnist and a former Conservative Party MP, speaking on Pat Kenny's Newstalk radio show this week.

Parris says there are people in Britain who believe brinkmanship will deliver a sweeter deal.

David Davis, former Brexit secretary, is one of them. Rather disgracefully, he is urging Mrs May to defer the vote yet again on the basis that Europe needs Britain more than Britain needs Europe and something better will be offered at the eleventh hour. It's delusional. But some people are buying into it.

As for the DUP, that party is still busy telling British people how to be British - by protecting the union. But the unionist view of its relationship with the UK has limited traction outside the North.

There is one union which has been beneficial for Britain and also Ireland, politically and economically - the EU.

It is not perfect. It needs to contain its over-reach urges and must accept that the newer accession states won't see things Germany and France's way. But this union is preferable to trade wars, isolationism and austerity.

Many in Britain know that in their hearts yet a dangerous fatalism has set in. It must be challenged in the sliver of time which still remains.
A former embassy, a seaside castellated mansion with its own private harbour, and a former orphanage were among Ireland's most expensive homes.

Millionaire properties reached prices reminiscent of the Celtic Tiger - and in Dublin and the surrounding counties prices rocketed into a league of their own.

Heading up the list is a huge castle-style property in the leafy south Dublin suburb of Dalkey, which first appeared on the market in 2015. After attracting a buyer in 2017, the sale closed last May with a price of 7.8m.

If it wasn't the private harbour or the uninterrupted views across Dublin bay that sealed the deal for the house hunter, it might well have been the Gothic revivalist exteriors.

But if that wasn't enough, the six-bedroom property came complete with a seafront conservatory lined with floor-to-ceiling windows, a family room and a wet room.

A short distance away, in the same neighbourhood, is the 19th century-built 'Lota' on Coliemore Road. It offered a private jetty and boathouse for the taking. Last year it landed in the hands of Kingspan chief executive Gene Murtagh at a cost of 7.5m.

And if traditional doesn't make the cut, the five terraces found in a lucrative modern house on Dublin's southern suburb of Killiney might be more to the taste.

After being left derelict for years, a six-bedroom Hendre property was demolished and rebuilt in 2007 and rented out until 2013 when it was sold for 2.2m.

After coming onto the market again, the luxury house commanded a 3.7m price tag in July.

In another Dublin 4 hotspot, a Victorian building on Ailesbury Road, which once acted as the Hungarian embassy, was picked up for a handsome 4m.

Just as the commuter belt around Dublin continues to grow, so to does the desirability of properties in the surrounding counties.

Meath, Kildare and Wicklow all sit as the most desired locations for buyers seeking a million-euro home outside of the hustle and bustle of Dublin.

On a 26-acre site in Maynooth, Co Kildare, sits the Dowdstown Stud which has been used as a stud farm since the 1940s.

The six-bedroom mansion, along with a caretaker's cottage, three-bed mews and a stable didn't command the 4.3m guide price when it was first floated in 2016 - but a sizeable bid of 3.4m sealed the deal in February last year.

To the north-east of that sits a property fit for a king. Netterville, a former orphanage and school in Co Meath, has much to offer its new owners.

The four-bed manor house passed hands on a number of occasion, once occupied by the Buddhist Foundation of Ireland.

Yet it is the location alongside one of the three Bru na Boinne megalithic passage tombs that really lights a fire.
Towards the end of last year, there was a flurry of new openings in Dublin - so many that it was hard to keep up. Gertrude on Pearse Street is the first restaurant proper from the 3Fe team, and head chef Holly Dalton's menu looks both interesting and well priced. I like the sound of the bacon and cabbage dumplings in particular.

Kwanghi Chan opened Bowls by Kwanghi on Marlborough Street in Dublin 1 and early reports are of great food, reasonably priced. Kwanghi is a familiar face from the telly and is the man behind the Chan Chan range of Asian condiments.

Keelan Higgs' Variety Jones on Thomas Street opened a few days before Christmas. This was one of the most hotly anticipated openings of the year, from a talented chef who's worked at Luna and Locks. Higgs is cooking over fire and I expect the food will be amazing. I'm very much looking forward to this one.

Another very hot opening is Aimsir at Cliff at Lyons, where husband and wife team, chef, Jordan Bailey, and front-of-house, Majken Bech Christensen, will draw on the skills they honed at restaurants such as the three-Michelin-star Maaemo in Oslo, using a larder of wholly Irish ingredients. Watch out for reservations to go live.

The unstoppable Press Up group opened Isabelle's in the city centre and Elephant & Castle in Rathmines late last year. In early 2019 it will open another branch of Elephant & Castle in Monkstown. Later in the year there will be a new restaurant on Camden Street and another on Richmond Street in Portobello.

Other Press Up projects in the pipeline for completion in 2020/2021 include The Mayson Hotel on North Wall Quay, The Dean Galway and The Dean Cork, all of which will have restaurants.

Also opening at the tail end of last year were two new Italian restaurants, Grano in Stoneybatter and Gigi's in Ranelagh, where Giorgio Casari, formerly of the Unicorn, is involved. I'm looking forward to visiting both in the coming weeks. Rita's, also in Ranelagh, opened in December; its focus is on pizza.

On Aungier Street in Dublin, opposite instant hit Uno Mas, Sofie Rooney and Garret Fitzgerald will open Chimac Dublin in the late spring/early summer. Inspired by the food they ate on a visit to Korea two years ago for a wedding, they'll be serving Korean fried chicken and beer, alongside burgers, wings and fries. Also on Aungier Street is Thom Lawson's newly opened Lucky Tortoise, an evolution of his nomadic pop-up, specialising in dim sum (pictured main).

One Society is a new cafe on Dublin's Gardiner Street about which there is already lots of good feedback. Cafe 1920 on Westmoreland Street also opened towards the end of the year.

From early in the new year, the people behind the Gralinn pop-up at MVP, Dee Kelly and Matteo Griscti, will be basing themselves at Elmhurst urban farm in Glasnevin.

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Damien Grey (pictured above) of Heron & Grey, which closed at the end of last year, will open Liath in the same premises in Blackrock in March.

Dylan McGrath's Shelbourne Social opened in Dublin 4 at the end of last year, with a boom-time menu and decor to match. I'll be putting on my glad rags for a visit early in the new year. And just opposite, the people behind Cinnamon are opening a new restaurant in March, with interior designer Roisin Lafferty overseeing a no-expense-spared fit-out.

Another fancy fit-out, under the direction of Press Up's favourite architects, O'Donnell O'Neill, is under way at The Marlin on the corner of Aungier and Mercer Streets; the hotel will have 301 beds. There will be a 13,000 sqft bar and restaurant on the ground floor when it opens in July.

Niall Davidson, the Northern Irish chef who was at Nuala in London, will open his new restaurant on South Frederick Street in Dublin in the next few months. Anyone who ate at Nuala while Davidson was involved will know that this is something to look forward to.

Joining the ranks of British chain restaurants setting up in Ireland is Leon, known for healthy fast food. It's opening in Dundrum Town Centre and at an as yet undisclosed location in Dublin city centre. And Damascus Gate on Camden Street is opening another branch in Terenure, while popular Tallaght restaurant, Wing It, is opening a branch in the city centre.

TV chef Gary O'Hanlon has taken over The Kitchen at Arnotts from Clodagh McKenna who is now based in London. There will be a re-branding later in the year.

FX Buckley's pub and restaurant at Ryan's on Parkgate Street is getting a makeover early in the new year, as is its Bull & Castle at Christchurch.

Bunsen, which serves what I and many others consider to be the country's best burger, will open its first international branch in Barcelona in 2019.

Outside the capital, the Copper Hen Restaurant opened just before Christmas on Queen Street in Tramore. Chef Eugene Long ran the Copper Hen in Fenor for nine years and in Tramore will work alongside chef Conor Foran. The kitchen will focus on 'traditional fare with a flair'.

In Wicklow town, the word on Lily's, which opened on Church Street a couple of months ago, is positive.

Keith Boyle of the Bay Tree Bistro in Waterford and his wife Carmel will open Restaurant Lady Anne in Creamery House in Castlecomer early in the new year.

Fifty50, which has branches in Ashbourne, Navan and Templeogue is opening in Drogheda, and Seamus O'Connell from the Ivory Tower in Cork is opening Malarkey in Killarney in late spring.

Chef Frank Landy opened Sweet 'n' Green in Ennis at the end of last year; early reports are good.

With so many new openings, there's a concern that the Dublin restaurant market is saturated, and that there simply aren't enough people in the city to justify the number of seats looking to be filled. Joe Macken's restaurants - JoBurger, Crackbird, Hey Donna and Bar Giuseppe - went into liquidation just before Christmas; there are bound to be more casualties as the impact of the VAT and minimum wage increases kicks in. There are tough times ahead.
They were joined by a number of special guests, including the first Rose of Tralee Alice OSullivan who was crowned the winner back in 1959.

Daithi O Se has praised Rose of Tralee Kirsten Mate Maher for "showing her own real character".

Maher (22), from Waterford, was subjected to racist abuse while on a night out with friends after she was crowned the Rose of Tralee in September.

She said the comments "went in one ear and out the other".

"People are mean and I suppose if you focus in and dwell on that mean person or that incident that happened my year would be very, very negative, whereas all these other amazing things have happened," she said.

Maher has deferred her university studies, and has travelled to India and Germany in her role, and will visit New York next month, before passing the coveted crown to the next winner in August.

She joined O Se yesterday as they launched the search for the 2019 Rose as the event celebrates its 60th birthday.

They were joined by a number of special guests, including the first Rose of Tralee Alice O'Sullivan who was crowned the winner back in 1959.
Concern: Princess Latifa looks on during her recent lunch with Mary Robinson

Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum, a daughter of Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, left, meets Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland. Photo: United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation via AP

It is hard not to be moved by a video recorded early last year by Princess Latifa, daughter of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the fabulously wealthy ruler of Dubai.

The sad-eyed, articulate 32-year-old woman with gleaming white teeth gazes dolefully at the camera and says: "If you are watching this video, it is not such a good thing.

"Either I'm dead or I'm in a very, very, very bad situation."

According to those who are campaigning on her behalf, Princess Latifa recorded the haunting video in preparation for her attempted escape from Dubai in March of last year.

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The video, sent by Latifa to an American lawyer, was to be released to the world in the event that she was recaptured, as she tried to get away from the emirate.

That is how events played out. Latifa's bid to get away was reportedly foiled close to the coast of India, and the video was publicly released.

The story of what happened to Latifa has alarmed human rights campaigners, and has embroiled the former President Mary Robinson in controversy.

Princess Latifa vanished in mysterious circumstances in March amid reports that she was seized by commandos as she crossed the Indian Ocean on a yacht, having fled the emirate on a boat skippered by a former French intelligence officer Herve Jaubert.

She was accompanied during the escape by her close friend, a Finnish martial arts instructor, Tiina Jauhiainen.

Nothing was heard from Latifa since her reported capture on board the boat - until Mary Robinson visited Dubai in December, at the invitation of Princess Haya, a wife of Sheikh Mohammed and Latifa's stepmother.

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Photos were released of Mrs Robinson having a lunch with Latifa in Dubai. The former president smiles for the camera, while the frail-looking princess betrays little emotion.

In an interview with the BBC 12 days after the visit, Robinson said the princess was a "troubled young woman" who is receiving psychiatric care.

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Apparently contradicting claims by advocacy groups that the princess was possibly being detained against her will, the former president said the princess is "in the loving care of her family".

Robinson insisted in recent days that she travelled to Dubai to meet Latifa "in good faith", but the nature of the visit, apparently paid for by the Dubai royal family, has been criticised by the campaign groups Human Rights Watch and Detained in Dubai.

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Toby Cadman, a barrister instructed by Detained in Dubai to act on behalf of the princess, told Review: "I am extremely disappointed that she would lend herself to what has been interpreted as a whitewash.

"We have requested an independent assessment of [Princess Latifa's] state of mind and her physical well-being. It's up to the United Nations to be satisfied that she is not being detained against her will."

Contacted by Review this week, Latifa's close friend Tiina Jauhiainen told of her mixed emotions as she finally heard news of the princess's whereabouts after a long period of silence.

The pair have not seen each other since they reportedly fled Dubai last March on the yacht Nostromo, and were captured by Indian and Emirati commandos who boarded the boat.

Jauhiainen, who first met the princess in 2010, told Review: "Seeing the photos gave me a sense of relief because it validated the past and showed that she was still alive.

"However, it left me with an overwhelming feeling of confusion as to what it means for the future."

Jauhiainen, who was hired as Princess Latifa's instructor in capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial art, added: "I still don't know if she's safe - or whether she is being detained against her will. That uncertainty makes me feel incredibly sad."

Disturbing allegations

The mysterious story of Princess Latifa and her reported escape from Dubai were highlighted by a documentary shown by the BBC in early December, just days before Robinson's visit to Dubai.

The programme carries extensive interviews with witnesses to the escape and capture of the princess, including Tiina, the skipper of the boat Herve Jaubert and crew members.

In the video recorded before she left Dubai, Latifa makes disturbing allegations about how she was treated in the emirate.

As the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed is one of the richest men in the world with a fortune estimated at 18bn.

The Maktoum family are among the biggest landowners in Ireland. With their extensive stud farms and horse racing interests in Kildare and Tipperary, they own up to 5,000 acres.

Sheikh Mohammed, a familiar figure on racecourses in Britain and Ireland, has succeeded in projecting an image of Dubai as a modern go-ahead business hub, popular with sun-seeking tourists.

But the United Arab Emirates, of which Dubai is part, has been heavily criticised by campaigners because of the authoritarian nature of the regime and its poor human rights record.

The campaign group Human Rights Watch, which has taken up Latifa's case, highlights the arbitrary detention of critics of the regime, the use of torture, the treatment of migrant workers and discrimination against women.

Princess Latifa presents a disturbing picture of the regime in the video, which was released by campaigners after her reported escape bid failed.

She alleges she had previously tried to escape from Dubai in 2002, but her attempt to get away was foiled when she was stopped at the border.

Latifa alleged that she was then imprisoned for three years and four months. She claimed that during that time she was tortured, beaten and kept in solitary confinement.

Princess Latifa tells in the video how her movements were still heavily restricted after she was released from prison following the first escape.

She says she was not allowed to drive or leave the country, and her driver had to know where she was at all times.

The BBC documentary tells how in the face of these restrictions, she made another more elaborate plan for an escape from Dubai. She was reportedly planning this getaway for up to seven years.

Sending messages from an internet cafe, she got in touch with Herve Jaubert, the former French intelligence officer.

He himself had escaped from the United Arab Emirates, after falling foul of the authorities, crossing the Indian Ocean in a boat.

With Tiina Jauhiainen in on the act, the Princess and her French accomplice plotted Latifa's getaway.

The plan was for Latifa and Tiina to drive to the neighbouring state of Oman, meet Jaubert's yacht out at sea, cross the ocean to India and then fly to the United States.

On February 24 last year, Princess Latifa and Tiina met in a cafe, following a normal routine to deflect attention, and then after Latifa had changed her clothes they drove across the border into Oman.

After a difficult trip by jet ski and dinghy, they succeeded in reaching the French skipper on the Nostromo, and they set off on the long journey across the ocean.

As well as Latifa, Tiina and Jaubert, there were also Filipino crew members on board, who witnessed what later transpired.

Soon after Latifa and Tiina went on board, the princess and Herve Jaubert were keen to get in touch with campaigners helping those imprisoned in Dubai so that they knew what had happened to Latifa.

Radha Stirling, chief executive of Detained in Dubai, told Review: "Latifa telephoned me and WhatsApped me from the boat in the days before she was apprehended."

In an introductory message, Latifa says: "I got your contact from a friend. My name is Latifa Al Maktoum. The time is ticking and they have a target on my head - this is a very urgent message."

It took some time for Stirling to confirm that these messages, purporting to be from an escaped princess, were genuine. But she was eventually satisfied that they were authentic and that this was a cry for help.

In his account of the journey in the BBC documentary, Jaubert told how he began to notice that the boat was being followed as it crossed the ocean.

He also spotted a surveillance plane circling overhead, and alerted Latifa.

According to Tiina, the princess became more nervous as they approached Indian waters, and this apprehension proved to be well justified.

On March 4, soon after 10pm, Tiina and the princess were in the cabin when they heard what they thought were gunshots.

They locked themselves in the bathroom and Stirling says she then talked to Latifa over the phone and could hear the noises.

Stirling told Review what Latifa said at that point: "There are men outside. I don't know what's going on - I can hear gunshots. Please help me."

Commandos had boarded the boat and Herve Jaubert said they put a gun to his head and then beat him up. Initially those who boarded were Indian, but according to Jaubert, they were then joined by Emiratis.

Tiina, Jaubert and the crew of the boat were then taken to the United Arab Emirates for a time before being released, but nothing was heard from Latifa until Mary Robinson's visit.

According to Tiina, the last she saw of the princess, she was being dragged away kicking and screaming.

In the wake of the Robinson visit this week, Tiina Jauhiainen told Review: "As Latifa was able to predict, they would try discredit her by calling into question her mental stability. That is deplorable."

Tiina was struck by the appearance of her friend in the pictures publicised on the news wires.

"The photos left me more concerned than relieved, as Latifa clearly looks unhappy and shaken," she says.

Contacted by Review, Mary Robinson's spokesperson Bride Rosney said the former president "is declining to make any further comment on this issue at this time".

Robinson explained in a BBC interview why she had flown to meet the princess. She said she had been asked by Princess Haya, one of Sheikh Mohammed's wives and someone she had known for a long time, to come to Dubai to help with a "family dilemma".

Robinson has said she has known and worked with Princess Haya for many years in her capacity as a member of the UN Global Humanitarian Forum and as a UN Messenger of Peace.

Princess Haya, who is the daughter of the late King Hussein of Jordan, is a well-known figure in equestrian circles as a former showjumper. She lived in Ireland for a time in the 1990s and competed in the RDS horse show.

'She's troubled'

Robinson said of the meeting with Latifa: "The dilemma was that Latifa is vulnerable. She's troubled. She made a video that she now regrets and she planned an escape, or was part of a plan of escape..."

Robinson told in the BBC interview how she had lunch with Latifa, Haya and others, and was able to "assess the situation".

After the meeting involving Robinson, the United Arab Emirates government issued a statement saying it had delivered a communique regarding Princess Latifa to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights' Office of Special Procedures.

"The communique responds to and rebuts false allegations and provided evidence that Her Highness Sheikha Latifa was at home and living with her family in Dubai."

The statement said: "During her visit to Dubai, Mary Robinson was reassured that HH Sheikha Latifa is receiving the necessary care and support she requires."

But the visit was criticised by the advocacy group Human Rights Watch. Ken Roth, executive director of the group, said on Twitter: "A brief interview in the presence of the family that allegedly kidnapped her, after who knows what treatment she endured in the past nine months of incommunicado detention, is no way to determine the current mental health or desires of Dubai Princess Latifa."

Robinson will be back in Dubai in March to promote her book Climate Justice at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature.

But the reported plight of Princess Latifa and the disregard for human rights and the rights of women in the gulf state will prompt questions whether her involvement in the case at the invitation of Dubai royal family was at best ill-judged.

Robinsons response to media reports

Former President Mary Robinson said in a statement on the case on December 28:

I undertook the visit and made an assessment, not a judgment, based on personal witness, in good faith and to the best of my ability.

She added: At the request of Princess Haya bint Hussein, one of the wives of the UAE prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, I visited Dubai on December 15 to meet with Her Highness Sheikha Latifa.

I have known and worked with Princess Haya for many years in her capacity as a member of the UN Global Humanitarian Forum and as a UN Messenger of Peace.

I was aware of the international concern over Sheikha Latifa and that she had not been seen for many months so when Princess Haya asked me to go to Dubai to meet with both of them I agreed, without hesitation.

On my arrival in Dubai, I received extensive briefings and it was clear to me that Princess Haya had particular concern for the welfare of Sheikha Latifa whom she described as troubled and quite vulnerable.

During my time with her, Sheikha Latifa presented as a very likeable young woman with a wide range of interests but her vulnerability was apparent.
Concern: Princess Latifa looks on during her recent lunch with Mary Robinson

Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum, a daughter of Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, left, meets Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland. Photo: United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation via AP

Princess Haya bint Hussein, the wife of the ruler of Dubai, has revealed she invited Mary Robinson to visit her and Princess Sheikha Latifa to "seek counsel as a family friend".

Princess Latifa, daughter of Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of the Emirate of Dubai, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, sparked concern last year after she reportedly tried to flee the United Arab Emirates.

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Whatsapp Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum, a daughter of Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, left, meets Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland. Photo: United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation via AP

Her bid to get away was reportedly foiled close to the coast of India.

The former president of Ireland visited the family at the request of Princess Haya, and was later criticised by human rights groups for comments she made about the meeting, including a description that Latifa was "a troubled young woman".

Speaking on The Marian Finucane Show on RTE Radio One this morning, Princess Haya, Princess Latifas stepmother, insisted that she invited Mary Robinson herself as she was seeking "counsel" and that she is a "true friend".

When youre faced with a situation in life that is so profound and is deeply attached to your family, and situations that are complex and difficult, Ive always learned in my life to ask for counsel, to look to those who are more wiser and more experienced, but above all those who tell you the truth, without mincing words without colouring them, Princess Haya said.

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A person who is a true friend who will look at the situation and tell you the right thing, not what you want to hear."

Speaking for the first time publicly since the controversy, she explained that the last several months have been "terrible".

Whats been a terrible last few months for myself, for my family, is a situation that is deeply private matter that weve been faced with.

I have the most enormous gratitude for Mary on a personal level it meant the world to me and as Ive said before, I feel so sorry that she is being criticised because of any actions of mine, I deeply respect and admire her, she said.

In an interview with the BBC, Robinson said that Princess Latifa is a "troubled young woman" who is currently receiving psychiatric care.

When asked about Princess Latifas freedom and safety, Princess Haya insisted that she is currently in the loving care of her family and refused to elaborate any more on what she called a "deeply private personal matter".

She said that Mrs Robinson made no judgment, I asked her here myself and details of that counsel are private. Contrary to what's being said, it's not anything other than a private family matter.
The woman who helped Princess Sheikha Latifa in her reported bid to escape from Dubai has said she still does not know if her friend is safe, after the princess was visited by former President Mary Robinson.

Ms Robinson has been at the centre of controversy in recent days after she visited Dubai and had lunch with Princess Latifa.

The princess, daughter of the ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, had not been seen in public since reports she had been recaptured near the Indian coastline.

Contacted by the Irish Independent, Latifa's close friend Tiina Jauhiainen told of her mixed emotions as she finally heard news of the princess's whereabouts after a long period of silence.

The pair have not seen each other since they reportedly fled Dubai on the yacht Nostromo, and were captured by Indian and Emirati commandos.

Ms Jauhiainen, who first met the princess in 2010, said: "Seeing the photos gave me a sense of relief because it validated the past and showed that she was still alive.

"However, it left me with an overwhelming feeling of confusion as to what it means for the future."

Ms Jauhiainen, who was hired as Princess Latifa's Capoeira martial arts instructor and became a close friend, added: " I still don't know if she's safe - or whether she is being detained against her will. That uncertainty makes me feel incredibly sad."

Ms Jauhiainen was struck by the appearance of her friend in the pictures with Ms Robinson publicised on the news wires.

"The photos left me more concerned than relieved, as Latifa clearly looks unhappy and shaken."

Ms Robinson insisted in recent days that she travelled to Dubai to meet Latifa "in good faith".

She has written a report of her visit to Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

But the nature of the visit has been criticised by the advocacy groups Human Rights Watch and Detained in Dubai.

Contacted by the Irish Independent, Ms Robinson's spokewoman Bride Rosney said the former president "is declining to make any further comment on this issue at this time".
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has met with Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer - the woman tipped to be the next German Chancellor -for discussions on Brexit and the European elections.

Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer, known as AKK in Germany - took over the leadership of Angela Merkels Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party last month.

Mrs Merkel intends to stay on as Chancellor until 2021.

Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer was essentially Mrs Merkels chosen successor and won an internal party leadership contest in December.

Fine Gael and the CDU are both members of the European Peoples Party at EU level and Mr Varadkar has been attending a German political conference in Bavaria.

Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer tweeted this morning that she had a good exchange with Mr Varadkar and the pair discussed Brexit, German-Irish relations and the upcoming European Parliament elections in May.

Last night Mr Varadkar addressed the conference of the CDUs Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU) delivering a speech on the challenges facing Europe.
Philip Lane: The economist is a member of the ECB governing council. Photo: Collins

The Eurozone's finance ministers will select a nominee to become European Central Bank (ECB) chief economist at a Eurogroup meeting on February 11, with Ireland's Philip Lane tipped as the early front runner.

German incumbent Peter Praet's term on the ECB executive board ends in May. In theory his replacement could be handed a different portfolio but it is unlikely given the intricacies of the EU's wider horse trading for top jobs including to replace ECB President Mario Draghi whose term expires in October.

Mr Praet's replacement will be selected by the 19 Eurozone finance ministers, including Paschal Donohoe, by a simple vote.

The European Parliament has a minor role vetting candidates, with a formal appointment made by EU heads of government, most likely at their planned summit on March 21 and 22.

ECB executive board members work full time in Frankfurt, and together with the heads of the Eurozone's national central banks they form the ECB governing council.

The chief economist post is uniquely influential, due to an greater role in preparing and presenting the data underpinning ECB actions.

As a highly-respected economist - he has acted as an academic consultant to the European Commission, International Monetary Fund, World Bank among others - as well as a current member of the ECB governing council, Mr Lane is regarded as well placed to step into the role.

He was a professor of economics at Trinity College, Dublin before becoming Governor of the Central Bank in Ireland in November.

Nominations for the job close on January 21. Ireland has yet to formally put forward a candidate. However, Mr Donohoe and Mr Lane set out their stall last year in the race to become ECB vice-president.

Mr Lane was one of two candidates, but Ireland withdrew his nomination clearing the field for Spain's Luis de Guindos.

That is likely to have secured support for this year's bid for the chief economist role.

Irish Central Bank Deputy Governor Sharon Donnery's near miss last year in a separate competition to become chair of the ECB's banking supervision arm may also help Mr Lane's case, if only because Ireland was unlikely to get two such jobs.
Relentless pace: Josepha Madigan rose from councillor to TD to Cabinet minister in just two years. Photo: Fran Veale

Minister Josepha Madigan has encouraged aspiring women politicians to run for office but advised them to "get a good husband" if they do.

Ms Madigan warned of the "relentless pace" of political life that is a "sacrifice and privilege at the same time".

And she said that "a lot of women, particularly because they have children don't see the value in it".

A mother of two, she has previously praised the support offered by her own husband, Finbarr Hayes, during her career and spoken about how the schedule of a politician can impinge on family life.

Ms Madigan made a rapid rise through the political ranks, from Fine Gael county councillor to first-time TD and senior minister in less than two years.

Asked what advice she'd have for women considering running in the local elections, she said: "Do it."

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She also said they should talk to those women who have been there before them, like she did with former TD Olivia Mitchell.

"And, I think, get good childcare, get a good husband, have the confidence and don't over-think it," Ms Madigan added.

She continued: "Women, we tend to think we have to know absolutely everything about everything before we apply for a job. But you actually learn a lot in the job as well.

"I think women are a huge asset. It's not that we're any better but we think differently about things and that's a good thing."

While the minister may have been making her comments in a somewhat tongue-in-cheek manner, the support of a partner in politics has been something politicians of both genders have placed great importance on.

British Prime Minister Theresa May has spoken about the role her husband Philip has played in supporting her career to date.

Similarly, former Fianna Fail minister Mary O'Rourke acknowledged, in a letter to Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg about promoting women in public life, that she couldn't have balanced her family and political life without the support of her husband Enda.

Former Taoiseach Enda Kenny and his wife emerged as something of a political power couple, with Fionnuala known in political circles for her fundraising abilities.

One criticism of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has been that he hasn't always taken opportunities to promote women to the ministerial ranks.

Ms Madigan herself was only the 19th woman appointed to a senior ministerial role since the foundation of the State, when she was promoted in late 2017. But she said there are more women in Cabinet now than ever before.

She added: "As the Taoiseach has said before, it's reflective of the membership of the Oireachtas which is effectively one-in-four and that's what's around the Cabinet table.

"Of course in the future I'd like to see more women but we've got to get more women into the parliament."

Ms Madigan said gender quotas and other initiatives helped but she raised concern about the amount of women leaving political office after just one term, saying it's "quite significant".

"It is a relentless pace and it's a sacrifice and privilege at the same time.

"But a lot of women, particularly because they have children... don't see the value in it, so we want to keep the women that we do get and that they progress through the Dail and into Cabinet."

Ms Madigan said she was hopeful for the future and she believes there will be a lot more female candidates in May's local elections.
Members of the emergency services remove the mans remains at the Cliffs of Moher. Photo: Press 22

A man has died after falling from the Cliffs of Moher while taking a 'selfie' photograph.

The tragedy happened at around 3.15pm yesterday when the man, believed to be an Indian national studying in Dublin, was visiting the popular tourist attraction.

The Doolin unit of the Coast Guard and the Shannon-based search and rescue helicopter were mobilised as soon as the alarm was raised.

Volunteer members from Doolin Coast Guard travelled to the scene by road while one of the unit's rescue boats was also launched, but stood down a short time later.

The tragedy happened south of the main viewing areas near the visitor centre. There were hundreds of visitors enjoying the scenery and cliff walk at the time.

Rescue 115 arrived at the scene and immediately carried out a search of the area.

Once the man was found, the helicopter winchman was lowered to the water and was able to recover his body.

The man was flown to Doolin where the crew was met by Coast Guard members and gardai.

The body was transported to the local Coast Guard station and was formally pronounced dead at around 5.35pm.

Gardai interviewed a number of eye-witnesses following the fall and have confirmed that at this stage, they are treating the incident as a tragic accident.

A Garda spokesman said: "There is nothing to suggest at this stage that this was anything other than a tragic accident. Initial indications are, having taken statements from a number of people, that the victim was taking a selfie and lost his footing."

The incident remains under investigation while gardai were last night trying to make contact with the victim's family in India.

In June 2007, a Hungarian man in his 20s died after he fell to his death at the Cliffs of Moher while taking photos.
Strikes by nurses and midwives look inevitable as Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe poured cold water on their pay demands.

Mr Donohoe took a hardline with the nursing unions as he insisted the Government will stand by the terms of the current public service wage agreement, which already commits to wage hikes.

Nurses have voted overwhelmingly for strike action to get extra pay rises.

Strike action poses the risk of having their pay rises delayed, a freeze on increments and withdrawal of a deal for recent recruits worth over 3,000 each.

Speaking on RTE's 'Today with Miriam' on Radio One, Mr Donohoe said: "We have a collective agreement now with all of our unions in relation to around 18bn of taxpayers' money every year. What I cannot let happen is I cannot let that agreement unravel... this is an agreement that we have to maintain and we will."

The minister pledged that the Government will continue to engage with nursing unions, but underlined that his message on preventing the current deal from unravelling was "really clear".

The Government has offered nurses a 20m pay package - but these increases would only apply to specialised grades.

The nurses want equal pay with professional grades, including radiographers and physiotherapists, and claim there is a recruitment crisis due to low wages.

Reacting to Mr Donohoe's comments, general secretary of the INMO Phil Ni Sheaghdha said it was important that the Government works to avert a strike "by engaging directly with nurses and midwives to sort this out".

She added: "The INMO has already stated that this can be dealt with within the Public Service Stability Agreement."

The executive councils of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation and Psychiatric Nurses Association will decide next steps in the coming week.
Up to four people have died from the latest outbreak of the H1N1 flu virus, also known as swine flu.

The HSE has confirmed it has identified the strain in a number of patients and warned it expects more people will be affected in the coming weeks.

Signs of infection vary in severity and include symptoms ranging from aches and pains and a chesty cough to sneezing or a loss of appetite.

However, in more severe cases symptoms can escalate, leading to more serious conditions such as pneumonia.

Dr Kevin Kelleher, the HSE's assistant national director for public health, said the strain had been identified in up to four people who had died and is likely to be found in more patients in the coming weeks.

"There are two types when we talk about this virus - A and B. This year we have the A strain, which has a particular predilection for some people under 65," Dr Kelleher told the Irish Independent.

"It has a predilection for people who have a previous medical condition like asthma or respiratory disease and for pregnant women. What we see is people with diseases end up in ICU [intensive care unit] or on a ventilator."

Dr Kelleher confirmed at least two people have died from the virus, with two more suspected deaths as a result of the flu.

The HSE uses a scale to determine when the flu season fully begins which incorporates a number of elements.

The most recent indication is that the scale has reached over halfway to surpassing the flu season threshold.

This has sparked concerns the official season, where hundreds become sick with the virus, is only days away.

"I can see in the data I have available that it is beginning to rise, that it almost certainly will go above a threshold that we have got that says it is flu season," Dr Kelleher said.

"The number we use is 17 to indicate that threshold and we are at 11 now.

"The flu seasons last anywhere from 12 weeks up to 18 weeks. Last year it was 17 weeks, which was really very long."

Dr Kelleher said hundreds die from the virus every year and has made a plea for members of the public to get the flu jab and limit their contact with others if they notice any of the symptoms.

Mr Kelleher also said any children with symptoms should not attend school.

He said the vaccine was a "good match for circulating strains".

A spokeswoman for Health Minister Simon Harris said that it was not too late to get vaccinated and urged the public to check the HSE website undertheweather.ie.

The website has tips and advice for anyone who wants to prepare or prevent themselves from catching flu.
Garda forensics officers at the scene of the murder in Co Donegal. Photo: North West Newspix

Mother of two: Jasmine McMonagle was found dead after an alleged attack at her home in Killygordon, Co Donegal

A young mother of two died after suffering suspected knife wounds in a vicious attack at her home in Co Donegal.

Jasmine McMonagle, an aspiring actress and model, was found dead at her home when elite members of the Garda's Regional Response Unit stormed the house in Killygordon in the early hours of yesterday morning.

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The 27-year-old had contacted gardai earlier to report a domestic disturbance at her home at Forest Park on the outskirts of the village.

Ms McMonagle shared the home with her partner.

Gardai received the call from the distressed woman at 4.20am. However, when they arrived at 4.47am, they were refused entry to the house.

At this stage, there was an altercation and it is understood a garda was attacked. The Regional Response Unit was then called and the team arrived at the scene a short time later.

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A man was arrested around 7.30am and taken to Letterkenny garda station.

The couple's two daughters, aged seven and one, were taken to be cared for by family members.

The arrested man was being treated by a psychiatrist at Letterkenny garda station last night.

He can be held for up to 48 hours.

Gardai carried out door-to-door enquiries in the estate yesterday afternoon to determine if neighbours may have witnessed anything that may help the investigation.

Both the State pathologist Linda Mulligan and members of the Garda Technical Bureau from Dublin arrived at the scene yesterday.

At around 3pm the body of Ms McMonagle was removed to Letterkenny General Hospital.

Neighbours reacted with shock to the death of Ms McMonagle, who was originally from the Border town of Castlefinn.

Damian Scanlon, who lives directly across from the scene of the incident, said he was awoken by shouting and screaming at around 5am.

"There was a lot of Garda activity but I just thought it was a party or something so I went back to bed.

"I awoke again after 7am and this time I saw gardai everywhere, including guys with shields and helmets.

"All of a sudden I saw them burst in the front door and then this fella came out and they were shouting at him to 'Get on the grass, get on the grass' or something like that.

"A while later I saw a garda taking a child out in his arms and I saw another child with another garda at the front door. It was all very dramatic and you just don't expect it to happen in your own estate."

Local county councillor Gary Doherty, who is from the same village as Ms McMonagle, said the incident was tragic.

"My deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of the young woman who has sadly lost her life so prematurely," he said.

Inspector Michael Harrison gave a brief statement outside Letterkenny garda station yesterday afternoon.

"A man in his twenties has been arrested and is currently being detained under the terms of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984," he said.

"At this stage of the investigation, I'm not in a position to answer any further questions or make any more statements," he added.

The man is expected to appear before a special sitting of Sligo District Court this evening at 8pm charged in connection with the case.
Southwest Airlines founder Herb Kelleher died this week at the age of 87. His low-fares airline model transformed the airline industry and spawned copy-cats around the globe, including Ryanair. Photo: Reuters

Herb Kelleher, who died this week at the age of 87, is credited with kick-starting a global low-cost air travel revolution.

The founder of Texas-based Southwest Airlines, the aviation pioneer with Irish heritage was ahead of his time when he established the carrier almost half a century ago.

It would spawn another major success - Irish low-cost airline Ryanair, which adopted and refined Southwest's model to become a powerhouse of world aviation.

Mr Kelleher's persona as a chain-smoking sipper of Wild Turkey whiskey fit Southwest's creation story: he and Texas businessman Rollin King used a cocktail napkin in 1966 to sketch a plan for flights in a triangle of Houston, Dallas and San Antonio.

Their formula of short, frequent, no-frills trips spawned dozens of imitators, made Southwest the largest US carrier by domestic traffic, and led to an annual profit streak dating to 1973.

Up until at least 2012, Mr Kelleher was still smoking his way through 40 cigarettes a day.

In 1999, when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, investors and analysts pressed Southwest for a succession plan. After eight weeks of radiation treatment, he proclaimed himself fit, though he wasn't giving up cigarettes.

"I don't smoke with my prostate," he said.

Born in 1931 into a middle class Catholic Irish-American family - he reckoned his paternal grandparents were most likely from either Cork or Kerry - Mr Kelleher grew up in the New Jersey suburb town of Audubon.

"I'm Irish on both sides, mom was a Moore," he told the Irish Independent in a 2012 interview.

"I like to think that we've had that particular Irish ebullience in us - along with that egalitarian streak which means we're not impressed by titles or position."

His dad was a supervisor at the Dorrance family's Campbell's soup plant.

"Soup did well in the Great Depression. Everyone was gobbling it given that it was tasty, nourishing and affordable," recalled the aviator.

In college he took English and originally had designs on being a journalist. In the end he took "the sensible route" and became a lawyer.

Shortly after getting married to Joan Negley in 1955, they travelled to her home town of San Antonio to follow the state's booming law opportunities and set up a practice.

"The first thing I noticed about Texas is that enterprise was promoted and encouraged there and the people weren't afraid of thinking big," he told the Irish Independent.

"Most of them weren't long in the oil money and they didn't think anything of gaining a fortune, losing it again and then regaining it," he recalled. One of his Texas clients from those days was the colourful Rollin King, who called him for a meeting one day in the St Anthony Club in the hotel opposite his law offices.

"Rollin was running a small, third-level carrier on short-haul routes out of Twin Beach," said Mr Kelleher. "He'd been talking to his banker John Parker who had been using Pacific SW, a regional airline in California, and was impressed with the quality of the service.

"Parker told Rollin that he thought he ought to try and start something like that in Texas. The state was large enough and its cities geographically separate enough to support the idea. Of course I was a little sceptical at first."

It would be 1971 before Southwest got into the air after legal battles with incumbents.

"We didn't just ruffle their feathers, we stripped them right off those birds," he said.

The success of Southwest in the years that followed would see it act as a template for Ryanair.

Southwest operated just one class and no assigned seats, one aircraft type - the Boeing 737 - turned its aircraft around in 20 minutes and had no on-board meals. Mr Kelleher and Southwest's Colleen Barrett created a fun culture for Southwest employees, whose affinity for the airline prompted them to go the extra mile for customer service.

In 1987, Ryanair - then a tiny, full-service carrier battling State-owned Aer Lingus and other dominant carriers - was failing and close to collapse.

Its founder, Tony Ryan, asked his then 26-year-old accountant Michael O'Leary (who would become Ryanair CEO in 1994) for his thoughts on turning the airline around. The outspoken airline chief famously told the late Mr Ryan that he should shut it down.

But Mr Ryan despatched Mr O'Leary to Dallas to find the secret sauce at Southwest and to see if it could be sprinkled over Ryanair.

"Herb more or less invented this business - credit where credit is due," Ryanair chairman David Bonderman told the Irish Independent in a 2015 interview.

"I happened to be in Texas at that time and we were familiar with what they (Southwest) were doing. One of Michael's first acts was to go out to Texas and look at what Herb was doing. He came back as a co-religionist."

A quarter of a century later, Herb Kelleher also clearly remembered Mr O'Leary's visit to the Lone Star State.

"Tony was an old friend of mine and I talked to him on and off about a lot of things," he recalled.

"I knew he had an airline - Ryanair - and I knew things weren't right with it. So Michael arrived in Dallas and my first impression was that he was obviously a very bright and intelligent guy. He was very intense about his questioning I recall.

"There was no doubt that this guy was totally focused and on a mission.

"We went out to dinner and there was a lot of, how you'd say... intoxicating liquids consumed."

In Paul Kilduff's book 'Plane Speaking', Mr O'Leary recalls his own version of his US epiphany with characteristic colour: "We went to look at Southwest Airlines in the US. It was like the road to Damascus," he said.

"This was the way to make Ryanair work. I met with Herb Kelleher. I passed out about midnight and when I woke up again at about 3am, Kelleher was still there, the *******, pouring himself another bourbon.

"I thought I'd pick his brains and come away with the Holy Grail.

"The next day I couldn't remember a thing."

This week, Mr Kelleher's role as an aviation pioneer was remembered by leaders across the sector.

In a statement yesterday, Mr O'Leary described him as the "Grand Master Yoda" of the low-fares airline industry.

"His stamp on the airline industry cannot be overstated," said Southwest chief executive Gary Kelly.

"His vision for making air travel affordable for all revolutionised the industry, and you can still see that transformation taking place today."
Sales of 1m-plus properties are on the rise, even as ordinary workers and families struggle to purchase an affordable home.

Under 40pc of new units sold in the capital last year were priced at an 'affordable' level of 320,000 or less, new figures show, a drop on the same period of 2017.

But while affordability remains an issue for many, the number of 1m-plus transactions rose to 825, up 56 compared with 2017.

An analysis of the Property Price Register (PPR) also shows how prices continue to creep up nationally, putting the dream of homeownership beyond the reach of many.

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The 'average' transaction price was 264,634 between January and December 6, 2017. In 2018, the figure stood at 296,336 - an increase of almost 32,000, or 12pc.

For a new home, the average paid was 336,335, up more than 40,000 or 13.6pc, and well above the 320,000 threshold the Government says is 'affordable' if buying in the bigger urban areas.

The figures come as rental costs continue to break new records and as the number of homeless people stands at almost 10,000.

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While the Government has committed to delivering affordable homes on State-owned lands over the coming years, the market appears to be building for high earners or those capable of securing financial help to purchase.

Just last week, the deputy chief executive of the largest local authority warned that developers feared that affordable homes would not sell.

Brendan Kenny, of Dublin City Council, told the Irish Independent that builders were "very worried" they won't be able to sell to people struggling to get mortgages.

The Property Price Register records the date, address and price paid for all residential properties, and includes block sales where two or more units are sold in one transaction.

The data relates to the period January 1 to December 2017, and 2018. It shows while the overall number of new home sales is rising, up 13pc to 9,282, many command high prices.

Worryingly, in Galway city and county, some 82 fewer new property transactions were completed this year.

In Wicklow and Limerick, the number rose by just six in each county, and by seven in Cork city and county.

Overall, the number of transactions completed in the first 11 months of last year dropped slightly, down 0.3pc year-on-year, but the value of these deals has increased, reflecting rising property prices. Transactions totalling 14.5bn were completed, up 11.6pc or an increase of more than 1.5bn.

And at the upper end of the market, sales continue to rise.

The number of homes sold for more than 500,000 rose from 4,401 in 2017 to 4,719 last year. Of these, the number of 1m-plus properties trading hands increased from 769 to 825, an increase of 7.3pc.

The register also reveals how in many areas of high demand, affordability remains an enormous issue. Of the 49,182 transactions completed nationally, 13,516 - or 27pc - were above 320,000.

However, in areas where affordability is a real concern for people on average salaries - Dublin, Meath and Kildare as well as the cities of Galway, Cork, Waterford and Limerick - prices for new homes are increasing, although they fell slightly in Wicklow.

Nationally, the average price paid for a new home is 336,335, but outside the Greater Dublin Area and cities the average drops to 189,804 - reflecting the gulf in prices.

Outside of Dublin, the highest 'average' price paid for a new home is in Wicklow at 343,199 (down 1.9pc), followed by Kildare (305,019, up 8.6pc) and Cork (296,853, up 25.3pc). But in Dublin, prices are way above these levels.

The average paid for a new home is 436,787, up 13pc on last year. The data suggests developers are not yet pricing homes at what many consider to be 'affordable' prices.

The Government says an 'affordable' new home should cost around 320,000 in the Greater Dublin Area, Cork and Galway, falling to 250,000 across the rest of the country.

However, the PPR register suggest few of these homes are being provided in the capital. Across the Greater Dublin Area, Cork and Galway, some 7,160 new properties traded hands. Of these, 3,697 (51.6pc) were for under 320,000.

In Wicklow, just 53pc are under the threshold, but more choice is available in Kildare, where 62.5pc of new homes are 320,000 or less, and in Meath the figure rises to 85pc.

In Cork, 68.4pc of new homes sold this year are below the threshold, rising to 88pc in Galway.

However, in Dublin - where 4,174 new property transactions took place - just 1,579 (37.8pc) were under 320,000.

In the corresponding period of 2017, there were 3,538 transactions involving new homes, and 50.7pc were under the affordability threshold.

The Government has said the Land Development Agency will deliver 150,000 homes over the next 20 years, largely by utilising sites in public ownership. At least 30pc of any homes built on State lands will have to be affordable, and 10pc allocated for social housing.

Among the first projects to be undertaken by the agency will be the redevelopment of the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum, south Dublin, which will result in 1,500 homes being delivered with the first available from 2020.

Three other sites in Dublin, with others in Naas, Cork, Mullingar and Galway, will be the first to be developed with more sites to be made available over the coming months.
The ISEQ index of Irish shares had its best day in more than two-and-a-half years yesterday, rising 3.2pc and helped by good days for the two main banks.

Bank of Ireland (led by Francesca McDonagh) and AIB rose 5.04pc and 4.85pc respectively, while other heavily-weighted names like CRH, Smurfit Kappa also performed strongly.

Thursday's Exchequer returns data showing an unexpected budget surplus may have helped to boost sentiment on domestic exposure.

But macro sentiment was probably the more important fuel for yesterday's rise. A very strong jobs number in the US, and Chinese authorities' decision to cut the amount of money banks have to hold in reserve, helped fuel a rally across markets yesterday.

"On a fundamental company basis there's significant upside to a lot of the Irish companies... provided there's no messy Brexit," said Darren McKinley, senior equity analyst at Cantor Fitzgerald Ireland.

Among the few losers on the ISEQ yesterday were medical device maker Mainstay Medical, which lost 8pc.

Amryt Pharma lost 5pc despite what Davy analysts said was a positive update on a clinical trial. The company is trialling a potential treatment for epidermolysis bullosa - a rare disease that causes skin to tear as a result of the slightest friction.

Amryt said an independent trial monitor had recommended boosting the number of patients in the trial to boost its statistical significance.
There are fears that increased numbers of pigs will be turned away from meat factories this week as the row between Veterinary Ireland and the Department of Agriculture continues.

IFA has called on Veterinary Ireland to cease their disruption of meat factories and to re-enter talks with the Department of Agriculture.

According to IFA, the problem is now most acute in pig factories. IFA said it understands that the organised disruption by vets in factories will result in the slaughtering of cull sows being stopped from next week.

It said there will be further implications the following week if the matter is not resolved.

It is totally unacceptable that farmers are being used as a pawn in a chess game between Veterinary Ireland and the Minister for Agriculture, IFA President Joe Healy said.

Thousands of cattle, sheep and pigs went unslaughtered the week before Christmas, one of the busiest weeks of the year for meat factories, as meat factories were unable to slaughter to full capacity as a number of Temporary Veterinary Inspectors (TVIs) continued a work to rule in factories.

Factories saw the slaughter line being stopped for periods and the kill being suspended during the day, with some factories having to cancel cattle loads that had been booked in.



Meat Industry Ireland strongly criticised the ongoing disruption to normal processing operations in a number of meat plants due to industrial action by TVIs.

The row centers around a number of issues concerning the TVI panel. Vets say a moratorium on recruitment onto the TVI panel means there is a shortage of approximately 150 vets to carry out factory work.
Farmers face a labour shortage as poor pay and employment law breaches still plague the sector. Stock image

Farmers face a labour shortage as poor pay and employment law breaches still plague the sector.

The Irish agri-food sector remains one of the lowest paying, while significant employment issues are highlighted as farmers struggle to find labour.

The latest figures from the Workplace Relations Commission show that more than 800 employees were affected in these businesses, with more than 56,000 in unpaid wages recouped.

Of the 48 agriculture businesses visited in 2017, 75pc were in breach of employment laws.

An acute lack of workers has also been highlighted as a significant roadblock for the agriculture sector.

Irish Farmers' Association president Joe Healy recently said Irish agriculture has a genuine need for extra workers from outside Europe as we approach full employment - and recovering EU economies have labour needs of their own.

According to an industry 'People in Dairy Action Plan', the sector needs to attract 6,000 people by 2025. It follows a dramatic increase in recent years in the number of dairy farmers who are becoming employers, with 25pc of Irish farmers now milking 100 cows or more.

It also says one of the biggest factors in attracting and retaining people is that dairy farms must be desirable places to work.

In a recent Dail exchange on the labour shortages, Agriculture Minister Michael Creed said it is one of the downsides of an economy that is nearing full employment.

Fianna Fail's Billy Kelleher noted that the pay rates in the agricultural and processing sectors are on the lower end of the scale.

"That brings about problems with competitiveness straightaway. Equally, it causes problems in recruitment.

"When people are paid 9 or 10 an hour but companies and factories can pay more, people drift out of the agricultural sector," he said.

"The industry must become an attractive one so that people will want to forge a career out of it, not only by owning farms, but in all the sectors through to processing."

Teagasc's 'People in Dairy Project' noted that employee turnover is lower under conditions that included higher than the average pay rates in industry, flexible work hours and limited weekend hours.
The mixed arable and stock farm with exceptional views across Dunnet Bay to Orkney. Images: Strutt & Parker.

An exceptional amount of farmland in the north of Scotland was sold in the last two years and the Highland market reflects that of the wider Scottish region which saw more land come to the market in 2018 than in the last decade.

Euan MacCrimmon, Senior Associate Director in Strutt & Parkers Inverness office, said the volume released to the market is predominantly due to an ageing farming population and a lack of willing successors in the next generation, combined with political uncertainty.

An exceptional amount of land has come to the market in the north of Scotland in the past two years.

"During this time, our firm has either placed under offer or sold 14 farms, comprising more than 5,000 acres, in the Highland region.

"Ten of those farms were over 100 acres", he said.

He added that appetite remained in the market,which had proved particularly buoyant. He said: Most of those farms have found buyers and many of them went to closing dates. This illustrates significant demand for farmland, some of which remains unsatisfied despite the increase in supply. This follows years in which the market was characterised by a lack of stock.

Mr MacCrimmon said Olrig Mains, an outstanding 518-acre mixed farm in Caithness, was one of the principal successes in the north this year.

The mixed arable and stock farm with exceptional views across Dunnet Bay to Orkney, priced at offers over 1.75m (1.9m), attracted stiff competition.

This was particularly indicative of the strength of demand for prime farm land in Caithness, which remains highly sought after, he said.

It is a very strong farming region with many excellent farms and there are still people looking for something sizeable in the area.

The property included a comfortable and modern farmhouse, 3 cottages, extensive farm buildings including livestock sheds, a grain dryer and a grain store; and amenity in the form of duck flighting ponds, roe deer stalking, rough shooting and a fabulous outlook over Dunnet Bay.

The land sits between 25 and 141 metres above sea level, its topography undulating with gentle and strong slopes.

The soil comprises of predominantly mineral gleys and brown soils, deriving from old red sandstone. A small proportion of the hill consist of peaty gleys.

Most of the land is capable of producing normal yields of barley and oats, and is suited for growing grass for silage and grazings.

Overall, the size and shape of the fields are appropriate for modern farming cultivation, and each is accessed either from the public road or via private vehicular farm tracks. The average rainfall is approximately 35 inches.

The arable crops grown include Spring Barley and Spring Oats, with reported average yields of approximately 2 tonnes per acre.

The farm carries a suckler herd of 100 Continental Cross cattle, run with five Charolais and Saler bulls.

In addition, Olrig Mains is home to a small herd of purebred Charolais.

Olrig Mains Farmhouse Olrig Mains farmhouse is a spacious, modern, detached home enjoying an elevated and private setting.

Mr MacCrimmon said: The Scottish farmland market, in general, has remained buoyant with demand strongest for prime arable farms and those with diversified income streams.
An anti-Brexit sticker is pictured on Westminster Bridge in central London. Photo: AFP/Getty Images

A 13-year-old girl has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer at a "yellow vests" protest in support of Brexit.

The teenager was among four arrested as demonstrators took to London's Westminster Bridge on Saturday.

Protesters donned yellow hi-vis jackets, emulating the "gilets jaunes" demonstrations that originated in France.

Scotland Yard said: "Four arrests have been made following protests on Westminster Bridge, SW1 at approximately 11am today.

"Three men arrested on suspicion of public order offences. A 13-year-old girl was also arrested on suspicion of assault on police. Inquiries continue."

Demonstrators were seen burning an EU flag while chanting: "Stick your flag with stars on up your arse."

Others sang: "We want Brexit. When do we want it? Now."

Smoke bombs were also seen strewn across Westminster.
Statement: A painting depicting a workman chipping away at a star on the EU flag by artist Banksy in the southern England port town of Dover. Photo: Getty

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has offered an olive branch to Westminster, suggesting the EU may be prepared to change red lines on the future relationship if Britain did the same.

He speculated that some changes to the British position may emerge if there are a series of votes in the UK on different options. But he said that if it emerged that MPs were prepared to evolve their positions on the customs union or single market, the EU would also consider it's own red lines on the future relationship with the UK.

The Taoiseach was in Bavaria, Germany, to address the Christian Social Union (CSU) conference, where he described Brexit as a "traumatic" divorce.

"People often say that a divorce can be like a death in the family. It can also bring those left behind closer together," he said.

"The Brexit divorce has at times been traumatic, but it has not proven fatal to the European family."

The debate on British Prime Minister Theresa May's Withdrawal Agreement with the EU is set to kick off in the House of Commons again next week.

She is facing an uphill battle to get the deal through Parliament amid opposition to the so-called backstop to avoid a hard Border in Ireland.

Mrs May is facing accusations that she is trying to scare MPs into backing the EU Withdrawal Agreement with an "apocalyptic" vision of what would happen in a no-deal Brexit.

In a report aimed at debunking "myths" about leaving the EU on World Trade Organisation (WTO) terms, Lord Lilley, the former trade secretary, said the Government was trying to "play up the supposed horrors" of leaving the EU ahead of this month's parliamentary vote on the deal.

Meanwhile, Mr Varadkar said the backstop is not up for renegotiation, but suggested there could be changes to the political declaration on the future relationship if a clearer picture of what London wants emerges in a series of votes on different options within the next two weeks.

Mr Varadkar admitted that "speculation is dangerous in this kind of territory" and said his preferred option is for the Withdrawal Agreement to be ratified in the upcoming House of Commons vote. But he also said that he understood there may be a series of votes as the speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, is able to select a number of motions.

Mr Varadkar said that if the Brexit deal is rejected, the motions that actually passed would have to be looked at to see if there was a majority for anything.

"I think what we have always said is that if the United Kingdom were to evolve from its red lines the European Union could as well," he said.

"If they decide they want to stay in the single market or they want to stay in the customs union, in those circumstances I think the European Union would evolve its position as well."

He suggested the political declaration could be amended as a result of such a move in the House of Commons.

He added that it's "all speculation" and "while it is unclear where exactly the United Kingdom stands, it is absolutely, abundantly clear where Ireland and the European Union stands".

Mr Varadkar said: "It's always been the position of the European Union and it's there in the guidelines that if the United Kingdom were to change its red lines then we'd be happy to talk to them about that.

"Bear in mind they decided very early on they weren't just leaving the European Union.

"They were leaving the customs union and the single market and the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice. Obviously if the UK were to turn around and say that they have changed their mind on those issues we wouldn't say 'sorry it's too late'.

"Nobody in the European Union has ever closed the door on the United Kingdom, if they were to rethink their position on this.

"We still regret the fact they decided to leave, we respect that they've decided to leave but if they were to decide to stay or if they were to decide to have a closer relationship than was previously indicated I think that would be very welcome."

With just days to go before next week's meaningful vote on her deal and with the countdown to the March 29 Brexit date being counted in days, Mrs May also spoke with both the French President Emanuel Macron and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
The British armys latest recruitment campaign launched this week has been greeted with mixed opinion. The campaign targets the snowflakes, selfie addicts and binge gamers of Generation Z by overturning the negative stereotypes of their generation, translating these into qualities that are needed in the army, such as compassion, confidence and self-belief. However, critics have suggested that these adverts are appealing to people who are unsuited to the battlefield. Arguing that snowflakes are too vulnerable, selfie addicts insecure, and gamers too lazy. I disagree.

The campaign uses posters in the style of the famous Your Country Needs You Lord Kitchener First World War image, to demonstrate that the army needs the compassion of snowflakes, confidence of selfie addicts, and self-belief of me me me millennials. This follows last years This is belonging campaign which was built around a message of inclusiveness; and highlights the changing shift in emphasis in recruitment into the modern British army. This is not just a numbers game, the skills required in modern military operations have changed.

The proliferation of automation and artificial intelligence has not decreased the requirement for a human component in war, but it is changing the decision making and cognitive skills required of those soldiers. The army needs soldiers who have the intellectual and psychological aptitude to work in an increasingly automated operational environment, the very computer skills Generation Z have become derided for.

The expansion of access to unregulated information means that war in the Information Age no longer happens in far-off distant lands. Twenty-four hour news, the internet and social media mean that conflict now takes place in the public arena, and this requires a greater social awareness not typically associated with soldiering.

Ideological extremism, global migration, humanitarian crises, earthquakes and hurricanes. The nature of modern military operations is also increasingly about people, and the role of the soldier relies upon an ability to effectively engage with the local population. However, the traditional physical bravery of soldiers doesnt necessarily translate into social courage. I have first-hand experience of this.

Last year I was deployed to the United Nations mission in the Democratic of Congo, where one of the key criticisms levied at the UNs military presence there was its failure to effectively interact with the local population; a concern that had been written into the missions Security Council mandate. But just because a soldier is trained in marksmanship and military fieldcraft, does not mean he, and it is still predominantly a he, has the social confidence to interact with strangers in a foreign land.

It takes a different set of skills to engage with people with whom you do not share a culture or language, yet that is exactly what is required. The empathy and compassion of the snowflake generation is a quality that is vital to success in military operations. Critics who fail to recognise the benefits of this, have misunderstood the role of the modern British army.

The nature of modern warfare, and military operations has changed, along with attitudes in British society, and the armys latest recruitment campaign reflects this. Over the last decade the culture of the British army has responded to meet these changing requirements, as well as reflect the shifts in British society which it represents. The expansion of ground close combat roles to women, drives to eradicate bullying and harassment, increased awareness of mental health and moves to bring greater stability to forces families, are all reflections of the ways in which the British army is adapting.

In an age of individualism, the army offers potential recruits a unique opportunity; to become part of an organisation where they can belong. Something that is increasingly rare in the working world. The camaraderie and strong bonds that remain unique to soldiering, have been in decline in the workforce, with the reduction in manufacturing industry, and increased mobility of modern labour. For young people with a desire for a career that allows them to make a positive difference, and be part of something bigger, the army needs you.

Heloise Goodley is a regular serving army officer (rank of major), and currently the army chief of general staffs research fellow at Chatham House
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 5)  A popular milk tea company is investigating reports that small cockroaches were found floating in a customer's drink.

"News has reached us about a post circulating in social media regarding the quality of an item served to one of our customers. Let it be known that we are investigating this matter thoroughly and shall take appropriate action," Gong Cha Philippines said in a statement on Friday.

A customer took to Facebook on January 2 to complain that he found three little cockroaches in his fruit tea when he was about to finish the drink. He said he bought it from a Gong Cha store in Greenhills, San Juan, and urged the company to investigate the incident which he described as "absolutely disgusting."

The Taiwanese brand, which now boasts of over 1,500 stores worldwide, assured customers it will "re-double its efforts" to ensure high-quality products.

"We humbly ask for your understanding and know that we take all matters regarding our products with utmost attention and concern," the company said.
Is he a friend or foe? Jean-Claude Juncker is portrayed by much of the UK media as the enemy. Theresa May rebuked him at last months EU summit for saying her demands were nebulous. And yet, surprisingly, Downing Street is hopeful Juncker will prove the friend May desperately needs to save her ailing Brexit deal.

Juncker wants to help May win round the Democratic Unionist Party which, despite talks with the prime minister yesterday, remains strongly opposed to the backstop to prevent a hard Irish border.

Ministers believe the DUP holds the key to Commons approval of Mays deal.

Although the DUP has only 10 MPs, if it switched sides, a big chunk of the 110 Tory MPs who oppose the agreement would probably follow suit, creating vital momentum.

May allies expect her to lose the first vote on the deal, due on 15 January. She intends to come back for a second bite, in the hope that some Labour backbenchers, worried about the growing prospect of a no-deal exit on 29 March, would then back her agreement, and neutralise the revolt by hardline Tory Eurosceptics.

Wishful thinking? Possibly.

To have even a fighting chance, May needs further reassurances from the EU that the backstop, which would mean a UK-wide customs union, would be temporary. Shell get a piece of paper, one EU insider told me, saying it could run to three-five pages and, if necessary, repeat temporary 10 times.

However, it is doubtful May will win a legally binding commitment that would put the EUs new words on an equal footing with the 585-page withdrawal agreement.

Ireland, backed strongly by the rest of the EU, is refusing to reopen that because it would keep Northern Ireland in a customs union and most of the single market if no long-term UK-EU trade deal has been reached by December 2020. No one in Brussels expects an agreement by then. It will take at least five years, one diplomat said.

Even if May wins a firmer pledge to complete a trade deal in 2020, so the backstop would never be needed, that would not allay DUP and Tory fears.

May is in denial about the timeframe; she cannot concede the UK would still be in the EUs orbit at the next scheduled general election in 2022. Under the withdrawal agreement, the government could avoid invoking the backstop by extending the transitional period beyond December 2020, but that would be controversial as the UK would still have to contribute to EU coffers.

There is little confidence in Brussels that May will persuade MPs to approve the deal. When a member is struggling to ratify an agreement, the EU will tweak it if there is a guarantee the changes will get it over the line. But May cannot give such a guarantee. Indeed, she could not even risk putting the deal to a vote last month.

She has not been helped by her performance at the EU summit, when she was vague about her demands on the backstop, apparently out of fear they would immediately leak.

So there are limits to how much time and energy the EU will expend. While Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, will play ball, Emmanuel Macron, the French president, is wary. In his eyes, diplomats say, May didnt deliver her side of the bargain after EU leaders held an extra summit in November to seal the agreement.

He is reluctant to see another one this month to help May trumpet the new EU statement. Macron is not alone; several EU governments are frustrated by May and keen to move on from Brexit.

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Its hard to imagine it from London, but in Brussels, Brexit is not the dominant issue.

The EU faces several big challenges in 2019 and the Brits are well down its list of priorities. The European parliament elections in May will test the rise of right-wing populists across the continent; they could deliver a nasty shock to the established centre-right and socialist parties who have dominated the parliament. Then a new European Commission will be appointed, creating a hiatus as member states horse-trade the top Brussels jobs, including the presidency of the European Central Bank.

A much bigger threat to the EU project than Brexit is its growing east-west divide. Countries in central and eastern Europe feel unloved and misunderstood by Brussels, which is alarmed by their stance on human rights. Interestingly, the EUs internal critics want to reform rather than leave the bloc like the UK.

Italys populist coalition, and its budget plans, is another potential headache. Then, for good measure, theres Donald Trump, the threat of a global trade war and Vladimir Putin.

A lot of balls to juggle. While the EU will try to help May, it is unlikely to go far enough to transform the parliamentary arithmetic in her favour. As battle resumes in the Commons next week, May still needs a miracle to salvage her deal.
The closure of Gatwick, the second largest airport in Britain, just before Christmas after the sighting of a mysterious drone near the runway, received wall-to-wall coverage from the British media, dominating the news agenda for the best part of a week.

Contrast this with the limited interest shown when a majority stake in the airport was sold by its owners to a French company. A consortium led by the US investment fund Global Infrastructure Partners, which included the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and Australias sovereign wealth fund, were paid 2.9bn by the French group, Vinci Airports.

The change in ownership of an important part of the British infrastructure from one foreign corporation to another came at an interesting moment. It was only a couple of weeks after the Whitehall spending watchdog, the National Audit Office, had issued a report explaining one reason why the British army is short of new recruits.

It says that back in 2012 the army had agreed a 495m contract with the outsourcing group Capita Business Services to be its partner in the recruitment of soldiers. But problems with the recruiting systems put in place by the company have made it increasingly complicated for even the most enthusiastic recruit to join up.

This is at a time when there is a shortfall of 5,500 in the number of fully trained British soldiers with 77,000 in the ranks compared to a target of 82,500.

The auditors report says that it took 321 days for an aspirant soldier to move forward from his or her initial online application to starting basic training. Unsurprisingly, many became discouraged over this long period so no less than 47 per cent dropped out in 2017/18.

More traditional methods such as local army recruitment centres had been run down as out of tune with modern times. The number of such centres was cut from 131 to 68 in an abortive attempt to reduce costs, according to the report.

What makes these two episodes significant is that they took place at the very moment when British politics is in greater turmoil than it has been for decades, if not for centuries, over the question of who runs the country. Yet this argument is focusing almost exclusively on the decision to leave the European Union on 29 March.

Proponents of Brexit argue that this is the best way to restore British national sovereignty and British control over their own countrys future. Yet, as we stagger towards Brexit in less than a dozen weeks time, it is extraordinary that decision-making on so many issues directly affecting the daily lives of people living in Britain should be in the hands of corporations at home and abroad.

The ability of national politicians to regulate and, above all, tax these international entities is already low and will get considerably lower if Britain leaves the EU and is scrabbling for new investment post Brexit. Vinci is reported to have got a bargain basement price for Gatwick because of Brexit fears.

Opinion polls have long shown popular opposition to the privatisation of providers of essential services and utilities, but people seem resigned to the idea that everything from airports and pharmacies, to their electricity and water supply will end up in the hands of corporations and foreign investors over which the British government has only diluted authority.

The great failing in the whole divisive debate over Brexit is that it has never really addressed the means by which  to adapt the words of the famous eurosceptic slogan  control could be regained.

The argument has focused instead on Brussels and on a narrow range of economic pluses and minuses, while it should have been over who runs Britain in an era of globalisation when the power of the nation state is everywhere being eroded.

No wonder this is provoking a nationalist and populist reaction across the world, stirring discontent from Wisconsin to Yorkshire and Paris to Damascus. Mention of the Syrian capital is not accidental; globalisation was one unrecognised ingredient in the eruption of the Arab Spring in 2011.

The anti-Brexit forces made a disastrous mistake in treating the issue of the relations with the EU as if it was all about economics and immigration. Instead of treating the nation state and its history as slightly absurd and certainly outdated, they should have promoted the EU as a way of enhancing the power of the nation state by pooling sovereignty in order to re-empower individual EU members.

The baffled anger of the pro-Brexit politicians over why they are being pushed around by Ireland during the Brexit negotiations shows that they do not understand why EU solidarity ensures that the balance of power is against Britain every step of the way  and there is no reason why this this should change for the better.

None of the British political parties have ever faced up to the question of how they would maintain Britains position as a nation state as it is hit by the all-embracing impact of globalisation.

Instead, Brussels and the EU became the symbols of these frustrations and discontents, but neither Labour nor Conservative parties ever plotted an alternative course other than promising to maintain a status quo that was increasingly burdensome to a growing number of people.

Labour has always supported national self-determination as the right vehicle for nations escaping colonialism or otherwise seeking to gain independence. But when it comes to Britain  and above all England  Labour has always had an uncomfortable relationship with nationalism, suspecting it of being disguised racism or, at the very best, a diversion from essential social and economic reforms.

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The Conservative stance is more frightening because so much of it is rooted in wishful thinking and selling a fantasy about Britains place in the world.

Gavin Williamson, the defence secretary, claimed in an interview in the last few days that this is our biggest moment as a nation since the end of the Second World War, when we can recast ourselves in a different way, we can actually play the role on the world stage that the world expects us to play. Once free of Brussels, we are to shift our focus to global horizons, opening new bases in the Caribbean and Southeast Asia.

Williamson is not alone in pumping out such deceptive dreams. Jeremy Hunt, the foreign secretary, told audiences during a visit to Southeast Asia  as if he were Captain Cook landing in Polynesia  what good things we are going to bring to our old colonial stamping grounds between Malaysia and New Zealand where: Britains post-Brexit role should be to act as an invisible chain linking together the democracies of the world.

It is possible that bombast like this is designed to soften the blow for Brexiteers if Britains departure from the EU is largely nominal. Inevitably, the country will be weaker and poorer. Less obviously, the obsessive Brexit venture has prevented Britain taking those long-term measures necessary to secure its future as an independent nation state.
The trial of 11 men accused of murdering the Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which started in the kingdom on Thursday, has been slammed by the United Nations.

The UNs human rights office said it had no way of assessing the fairness of the trial  in which five of the suspects are facing the death penalty.

Spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani called for an independent investigation into the killing and demanded international involvement.

The US has also piled on the pressure, with a senior official saying Saudi Arabias investigation still lacks full credibility and accountability.

Mr Khashoggi  a Washington Post columnist who was critical of the current Saudi leadership  was killed while visiting the countrys embassy in Istanbul last October. The 59-year-old was living in self-imposed exile in the US at the time.

Leaked intelligence reports suggest he was tortured  including having his fingers cut off  before he was killed. His body was said to have been dissolved in acid.

The slaying caused revulsion around the world as Turkish investigators revealed a team of 15 Saudis had been flown into Istanbul for 24 hours with the apparent intention of killing Mr Khashoggi during a prearranged appointment at the embassy.

Moments after he died one of the men was recorded phoning a number in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, and saying: The thing is done, its done.

After changing its response to the incident several times, the Saudi government eventually said the killing had been a rogue operation.

It denied the kingdoms de fact ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, had ordered the murder. The CIA has since said it is highly unlikely the killing could have happened without him being aware of it.

Following the UNs assessment of the trial on Friday, US officials expressed their own doubts about its plausibility.

Jamal Khashoggi death: key figures Show all 7 1 /7 Jamal Khashoggi death: key figures Jamal Khashoggi death: key figures Jamal Khashoggi Washington Post journalist who was critical of the Saudi regime and the young Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, he was murdered on 2 October in the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul AFP Jamal Khashoggi death: key figures Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Heir to the Saudi throne, Mohammed bin Salman has been implicated in the murder, with US officials claiming that he must have known of the plot AFP/Getty Jamal Khashoggi death: key figures 15 man hit squad Turkish police suspect these 15 men of being involved in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, issued 10 October, 8 days after the journalist disappeared EPA Jamal Khashoggi death: key figures Saud al-Qahtani Aide to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saud al-Qahtani is claimed to have ordered Khashoggi's murder Saud Al-Qahtani/Twitter Jamal Khashoggi death: key figures Maher Abdulaziz Mutreb A former diplomat who often travelled with the Crown Prince, Mutreb was initially claimed to be the leader of the hit squad and is pictured here entering the Saudi consulate on the day of the murder AP Jamal Khashoggi death: key figures Mustafa al-Madani First implicated in the 15 CCTV photos released by the Turkish police, al-Madani was later found to have been used as a body double for Khashoggi, leaving the Saudi consulate dressed in his clothes on the day the journalist was killed CNN Jamal Khashoggi death: key figures Salah bin Jamal Khashoggi (L) Son of the murdered journalist met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on 23 October EPA

I dont think, from our point of view, that the narrative emerging from the Saudis throughout the legal process has yet hit that threshold of credibility and accountability, an official told journalists.

Rights groups have also called for an independent investigation into the killing.

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Given the possible involvement of Saudi authorities in Khashoggis murder and the lack of independence of Saudi Arabias criminal justice system, the impartiality of any investigation and trial would be in question, Samah Hadid, a Middle East director at Amnesty International, said on Thursday. This is why a UN-led and independent investigation is needed into the murder.
Two British soldiers have been injured in an Isis missile attack during battles to drive the group out of its last Syrian strongholds.

The soldiers were struck alongside two fighters from the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) on Saturday.

The Independent understands they were hit by an anti-tank guided missile near al-Shaafah, a town in Deir Ezzor governate.

The YPG and other militias in the UK-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are battling to drive Isis out of the region, which sits on the Euphrates River near the Iraqi border.

The British soldiers, who are members of the special forces, were airlifted to hospital by helicopter and remain in a stable condition.

One of the YPG fighters is in a serious condition, while the other one was stable. A spokesperson for the YPG initially reported one of the fighters as killed but later corrected the statement.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) would not confirm reports of the attack.

A spokesperson told The Independent: We do not comment on special forces operations.

It came weeks after Donald Trump declared Isis defeated in Syria, and ordered a withdrawal of US troops that critics say could pave the way for a bloody Turkish assault on Kurdish groups.

British special forces have been supporting the SDF on the ground, while the RAF carries out airstrikes alongside the US-led coalition.

 Trump says Syria is sand and death

Kurdish-led forces have driven Isis out of swathes of its former territories in the country, including its de-facto capital of Raqqa.

The first British death in the ongoing conflict came in March 2018, when Sgt Matt Tonroe was killed by a roadside bomb alongside an American soldier in Manbij.

The 33-year-old, of the elite 3rd Battalion the Parachute Regiment, had been embedded with US forces in the former Isis stronghold.

Fighting is currently focused around al-Shaafah, and a spokesperson for the YPG told The Independent around a third of the town had been captured in ongoing battles.

Recommended US withdrawal from Syria might be exactly what Isis is hoping for

The SDF said more than 70 Isis fighters had been killed in battles for the nearby city of Hajin and surrounding area.

Isis propaganda channels have also reported the death and injury of several Kurdish fighters.

The SDF press office reported heavy clashes on Saturday as the advance continued.

Footage from a dead Isis commanders headcam showed chaos on the frontlines in a recent attack on an SDF base near Hajin.

Isis appeared to be using child soldiers in the botched assault, which resulted in the commander being shot dead and other militants retreating.

Panicked conversations between fighters showed their weapons were jamming, radios were not working and their armoured vehicles were low on fuel.

Isis fighters expressed fear that they would be hit by airstrikes by the US-led coalition, which has been bombarding militants and their bases in the area for weeks.

Syrian Democratic Forces take Raqqa from Isis  in pictures Show all 8 1 /8 Syrian Democratic Forces take Raqqa from Isis  in pictures Syrian Democratic Forces take Raqqa from Isis  in pictures Syrian Democratic Forces fighters celebrate victory in Raqqa atop of military vehicles REUTERS Syrian Democratic Forces take Raqqa from Isis  in pictures Fighters of Syrian Democratic Forces march past destroyed buildings as they celebrate victory REUTERS Syrian Democratic Forces take Raqqa from Isis  in pictures Fighters of Syrian Democratic Forces gesture the "V" sign in Raqqa REUTERS Syrian Democratic Forces take Raqqa from Isis  in pictures Fighters of Syrian Democratic Forces evacuate a civilian from the stadium REUTERS Syrian Democratic Forces take Raqqa from Isis  in pictures A civilian prays after she was rescued by fighters of Syrian Democratic Forces from the stadium REUTERS Syrian Democratic Forces take Raqqa from Isis  in pictures Syrian Democratic Forces fighters ride atop of military vehicles as they celebrate victory in Raqqa REUTERS Syrian Democratic Forces take Raqqa from Isis  in pictures Syrian Democratic Forces fighters celebrate victory in Raqqa REUTERS Syrian Democratic Forces take Raqqa from Isis  in pictures A fighter of Syrian Democratic Forces celebrates in Raqqa Reuters

US Central Command confirmed 469 airstrikes had been carried out in Syria from 16 to 29 December.

The strikes are part of Operation Roundup, which started in May to defeat Isis forces remaining in the Middle Euphrates River Valley and Iraqi- Syrian border region.

A spokesperson for US Central Command said: Operation Inherent Resolve and its partner forces' operations are exerting pressure on Isis senior leaders and associates, as well as degrading, disrupting and dismantling Isis organisational structures throughout Iraq and Syria.

Operation Roundup will continue to target Isis as the Coalition remains committed to the lasting defeat of Isis to increase peace and stability in the region, and to protect all our homelands from Isiss terrorist threat.

It has confirmed the deaths of 1,139 civilians in coalition airstrikes since the operation started in August 2014.

Mr Trump claimed Isis was defeated in Syria last month and ordered the withdrawal of US troops from the country, but no timetable has been set.

The move sparked global condemnation over fears that Turkey, which views the YPG as a terrorist group, would invade and that Isis could use the lack of airstrikes to regroup.

The Pentagon assessed there were still as many as 14,500 Isis fighters in Syria in August.

Mr Trumps national security adviser, John Bolton, said on Saturday that the US military would only withdraw if the militants were defeated and Turkey assured the safety of Kurdish allies.
Protesters have clashed with police on the streets of Paris, just a day after president Emmanuel Macrons government hardened its stance against violent agitators.

It marked the eighth consecutive weekend of the gilet jaunes (yellow vest) demonstrations, as the anti-government activists sought to inject fresh momentum into a movement that weakened over the holidays.

The protests began peacefully in the French capital, but deteriorated later in the afternoon as protesters hurled missiles at riot police barricading bridges over the Seine and torched garbage bins on Boulevard Saint Germain.

Officers fired tear gas to prevent hundreds of demonstrators crossing the river and reaching the National Assembly.

A car, a motorcycle and a riverboat restaurant were set ablaze, and a policeman was wounded when he was struck by a bicycle hurled from a street above the riverbank.

Recommended The yellow vest demands cannot be met within our current system

People marching from the Champs Elysees through central Paris had earlier waved banners reading Macron, resign! and Abolish the privileges of the elite.

The Galeries Lafayette department store briefly shuttered its metal grills, but most boutiques and restaurants remained open. Paris Metro lines were operating as normal.

Anger among workers over the squeeze on household incomes is driving the unrest, along with a belief that the president is deaf to the needs of low-income citizens as he enacts economic reforms.

The movement, which began in November over a fuel tax rise, is named after fluorescent vests French motorists must keep in their cars.

Shaken by two months of demonstrations, Mr Macrons government began 2019 on the offensive. Earlier this week, a government spokesman dubbed the yellow vest protesters agitators who promote insurrection to topple the government.

An overturned car burns during demonstration (EPA)

Police also arrested one of the movements prominent figures, Eric Drouet, for organising an undeclared protest, before he was later released.

They have no right to leave us in the shit like this, said protester Francois Cordier on Saturday. Were fed up with having to pay out the whole time, weve had enough of this slavery, we should be able to live on our salaries. We have to give power back to the people and not a minority that serves its own interests, said a second protester outside the old stockmarket building.

Thousands more gathered in Bordeaux in the southwest, Rouen in the north and Marseille in the southeast, though numbers appeared far below the tens of thousands seen on the streets in early weeks of the protests.

Anti-government protesters throw stones on a street in Rouen (AFP/Getty) (AFP/Getty Images)

The protests  18 months into Mr Macrons tenure  have already forced a series of concessions from the 41-year-old president.

Last month, the French president promised tax cuts for pensioners, wage rises for the poorest workers and the scrapping of planned fuel tax increases to quell the unrest at a cost to the Treasury 10bn (9bn).

The measures marked the first big U-turn for a president elected on a platform to break with traditional French politics and liberalise the heavily-regulated eurozone economy.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. 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Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

In a New Years Eve address, Mr Macron vowed to press on with his reform agenda, stating: We cant work less, earn more, cut taxes and increase spending.

Faced with record low popularity ratings, the president is expected to pen a letter soon to the nation setting out his plans for the coming months.

These include a nationwide debate with citizens on ecological, fiscal and institutional questions, the results of which he says will feed into the policy-making process.

Additional reporting by agencies
A student has died after falling more than 120m from cliffs in Ireland while trying to take a selfie at a famous beauty spot.

The man, who was in his 20s, was seen falling from the edge at the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare on Friday afternoon.

The man's body was later recovered by an Irish Coastguard crew based at Doolin. His remains were taken to University Hospital Limerick for a post-mortem examination.

A police spokesman said: There is nothing to suggest at this stage that this was anything other than a tragic accident.

Initial indications are, having taken statements from a number of people, is that the victim was taking a selfie and lost his footing.

The towering cliffs, which rise at their highest point 214m above the sea, are a famous tourist spot and the clifftop path which winds along the edge was packed with visitors when the man fell.

Nearly 1.5m people visited the cliffs in 2016, making them one of Irelands most popular attractions.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

The Irish Times reported numerous warnings been issued since the Cliffs of Moher Coast Walk was formally opened as a tourist amenity in 2013.

Visitors have been told not to leave the official trail as the edge of the cliffs are known to be unstable and rock falls are common.

In 2007 a Hungarian tourist fell to his death from the cliffs while he was taking photos.

 Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events

While he has not yet been named, it is understood the man who died on Friday was a foreign national who was living in Dublin while studying at university.
A German cinema has found itself at the centre of a political row after offering free tickets to members of the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party to see the Holocaust film Schindler's List.

Director Steven Spielberg cited a renewed cycle of hate in society behind his decision to bring the film back to cinemas around the world, hoping it would provoke discussion.

But some members of the AfD have called the offer of free tickets from the Cinexx cinema a tasteless instrumentalisation and a senseless provocation.

However, members of left-leaning political parties and others in Germany have praised the offer.

They point to AfDs penchant for reciting slogans like Germany for the Germans, for questioning the countrys post-Second World War culture of atonement and for being willing to march alongside neo-Nazis during protests in the eastern city of Chemnitz.

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The Cinexx theater in Hachenburg, which offered the free viewing last month when it published its January schedule, said in a statement: We see ourselves as a meeting place; films are windows on the world and initiate discussion in society.

We are in no way asserting that those who vote for the AfD are Nazis - everyone has to judge for themselves whether they need clarification about history, the cinema said.

They added that free tickets were regularly offered to different groups, including migrants, women and children.

Karin Leicher, who runs the cinema, told regional broadcaster SWR that she realised the offer was provocative, but if someone feels the need to insult and threaten us, then they obviously feel addressed by it.

Asked about his decision to re-release the film, Mr Spielberg said that he saw an increasing need for parents and educators to teach the next generation about the horrors of the Holocaust as an antidote to rising antisemitism.

With this renewed cycle of hate, Mr Spielberg told The New York Times in December, I thought it could open up a conversation that genocide can happen anywhere when an ordinary society goes wrong.

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Students across the United States were offered free admission to screenings when the film reopened in December.

A survey released last year found that as time passes, knowledge of the Nazis mass genocide is receding among adults in the United States.

In Germany, where remembrance of the Holocaust and the commemoration of its victims have been the cornerstone of a post- Second World War history, a recent survey indicated that less than half of people age 18 to 34 said they knew very little about the Holocaust.

New York Times
Robert Mueller has been given additional time to carry out his investigation into Russias alleged interference in the 2016 election, and possible collusion between Moscow and the Trump campaign.

In a development that may surprise those who have suggested the special counsels work was drawing to a close, a judge in Washington DC granted a six-month extension to the grand jury being used to examine evidence.

The jury had been impanelled in July 2017 for a standard 18-month term and was set to expire this week. The extension granted by federal judge Beryl Howell means the investigation will continue for some time yet.

The Associated Press said federal criminal procedure rules allow such extensions when a judge determines it is in the public interest. The extension can only last up to six months.

Mr Mueller, a former director of the FBI launched his investigation into Russias alleged interference in the election and possible collision with the Trump campaign in the sprain of 2017. He was appointed after Mr Trump fired his then FBI Director James Comey.

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The president has repeatedly denied there was any collusion between his campaign and Moscow and dismissed the probe as a witch hunt.

Since his appointment, Mr Mueller has indicted more than two dozen Russians for allegedly meddling in the election using hacking and social media, to help Mr Trump and hurt his rival, Democrat Hillary Clinton.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

The special counsel has also secured guilty pleas from several Trump associates, including former national security adviser Michael Flynn and former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort.

Those who are cooperating in the investigation are likely to testify before the grand jury, though the proceedings are secret, The Hill reported.

The Wall Street Journal was the first to reported in early August 2017 that Mr Mueller had impanelled a grand jury in DC as he investigated Russias alleged role.

Multiple individuals are known to have testified before the grand jury as part of his sprawling inquiry.
At a migrant shelter near the Mexican border, three girls from Guatemala  sisters ages 10, nine and six  coughed and sniffled. One of them clung to both a teddy bear and a large bottle of Pedialyte, to soothe her dehydration and flu.

The girls mother, Nelcy, 28, said her daughters got sick not during their long journey to the border in the back of a pickup truck, but during the 12 days they spent at two crowded government detention facilities before arriving at the privately run shelter in Texas.

It was very cold, especially for the children, said Nelcy, who would only be identified by her first name. My children got sick. They gave us aluminium blankets, but it wasnt enough.

The shelter network here run by the nonprofit Annunciation House is now receiving roughly 200 new migrants a day, the same number it saw in an entire week only a year ago.

The number of migrants travelling as families crossing the border from Mexico exceeded 25,000 in November, the highest numbers ever recorded.

Recommended Mexico call on US to investigate use of tear gas at border

Like Nelcy and her daughters, the new arrivals from Central America are coming in much sicker, after being held far longer than ever before in bare-bones government detention facilities never intended for children.

Asylum-seekers bottled up in Mexico are jumping fences and throwing rocks at officers, who are firing tear gas to push them away.

Hundreds of migrants have been released on city streets in recent weeks, uncertain of where to go. Two sick migrant children have died while in custody.

A crisis of the kind Donald Trump has long warned of is beginning to take shape along the countrys 1,900-mile border with Mexico.

A border security network built over a period of decades to handle large numbers of single men has in the past several years been inundated with women and children. And as the number of families has peaked in recent months, the system has increasingly been unable to accommodate all of them.

Undocumented immigration across the US-Mexico border Show all 14 1 /14 Undocumented immigration across the US-Mexico border Undocumented immigration across the US-Mexico border Immigrant children, many of whom are separated form their parents, are housed in Texas' tent city Reuters Undocumented immigration across the US-Mexico border A two-year-old Honduran asylum seeker cries as her mother is searched and detained near the US-Mexico border Getty Undocumented immigration across the US-Mexico border Undocumented migrants ride on the top of a freight train referred to as the beast, or La Bestia Getty Undocumented immigration across the US-Mexico border A cage inside a US Customs and Border Protection detention facility in Texas Reuters Undocumented immigration across the US-Mexico border US Border Patrol Academy All new agents must complete a months-long training course at the New Mexico facility before assuming their posts at Border Patrol stations, mostly along the US-Mexico border Getty Undocumented immigration across the US-Mexico border US-Mexico border fence A group of young men walk along the Mexican side of the US-Mexico border fence in a remote area of the Sonoran Desert Getty Undocumented immigration across the US-Mexico border US-Mexico border fence in the US Man looks through US-Mexico border fence into the US in Tijuana, Mexico Getty Undocumented immigration across the US-Mexico border US-Mexico border fence US Border Patrol agent Sal De Leon stands near a section of the US-Mexico border fence while stopping on patrol on in La Joya, Texas Getty Undocumented immigration across the US-Mexico border US Border Patrol Academy US Border Patrol instructor yells at trainees after their initial arrival to the academy Getty Undocumented immigration across the US-Mexico border Memorial service in Guatemala Families attend a memorial service for two boys who were kidnapped and killed in San Juan Sacatepequez, Guatemala. Crime drives emigration from Guatemala to the United States, as families seek refuge from the danger Getty Undocumented immigration across the US-Mexico border Arrests on the border Undocumented immigrants comfort each other after being caught by Border Patrol agents near the US-Mexico border Getty Undocumented immigration across the US-Mexico border Detention holding facility A boy from Honduras watches a movie at a detention facility run by the US Border Patrol Getty Undocumented immigration across the US-Mexico border Mexican farm workers Mexican migrant workers harvest organic parsley at Grant Family Farms in Wellington, Colorado Getty Undocumented immigration across the US-Mexico border Mexican family in Arizona A Mexican immigrant family sits in the living room of their rented home in Tuscon, Arizona. The family that Arizona's new tough immigrant law had created a climate of fear in the immigrant community. Getty

Much of the growing chaos, say many of those who work along the border and in some of the governments own security agencies, is a result of a failed gamble on the part of the Trump administration with a succession of ever-harsher border policies. It was thought that these policies would deter the flood of migrants coming from Central America.

It has not, and the failure to spend money on expanding border processing facilities, better transportation and broader networks of cooperation with private charities, they say, has led to the current problems. This includes overcrowding, health threats and uncontrolled releases of migrants in cities along the border.

Its the complete, 100 per cent focus on harsher options that will deter the influx, with a disregard for managing whats happening, said a Department of Homeland Security official who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of being fired. We have a lot more families, a lot more unaccompanied children, and the focus has just been on how can we deter, rather than how can we handle.

Mr Trump has made it a priority to end what he calls the practice of catch and release, but the policy of holding large numbers of migrants in detention has led to capacity problems.

The Obama administration had a policy of releasing migrants who were considered safe and likely to appear in court in order to make room for others who were a higher priority for detention, but the Trump administration has largely eliminated that practice.

The number of detainees at Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities has reached its highest point ever, according to figures provided by the agency, with an average daily population of 45,200 single adults and family units.

The result is the recent need to release large numbers of migrants, many simply dropped off at bus stations. About 600 migrants were dropped off with no advance planning in El Paso during the last full week in December. Similar releases have happened in recent days and weeks in Arizona and California.

The homeland security official said the administration could have done more to improve the situation and avoid the recent mass drop-offs, such as working more closely with nonprofit groups.

They could have put more resources down there, either monetary or physical, the official said. There are things you could do to manage it so that its not just, Were overwhelmed. Were releasing them'."

The administration blames Congress and the courts for creating a system that encourages families who do not qualify for asylum to apply for the status anyway, often living in the country for months or years as their applications move through the courts.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

Kirstjen Nielsen, the Homeland Security secretary, has been critical of court rulings that make it difficult to hold migrants with children in detention for long periods  creating what officials say is a loophole that is encouraging migrants to bring their children on long, treacherous journeys from Central America.

Secretary Nielsen has been saying for over a year to anyone who would listen  especially members of Congress  that our frontline men and women dont have the adequate resources needed for the number of aliens we are apprehending, Katie Waldman, a spokeswoman for the Homeland Security Department, said in a statement. This humanitarian crisis is driven by activist court rulings and poorly written laws that incentivise the smuggling of illegal immigrants under the age of 18.

Some of those involved in the policymaking said that there was open acknowledgement within the government that the newest policies under development  a plan that would require asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico through the duration of their immigration cases, and one to build tent cities along the border to house more families  were either likely to face an immediate court injunction or were so costly that they could not be justified to taxpayers. But the officials said they were under orders from the White House to push forward.

Its like, OK, why are we working on this if its just another lawsuit in the making?' said a second Homeland Security official, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity.

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Everybody knows that its going to be challenged in the courts and likely struck down. I dont think the people at the top feel like they have a choice. They just do what they are asked to do.

The situation has become more tense in recent weeks as ICE authorities, who in the past were careful to coordinate with volunteer shelters when releasing migrants, have instead begun dropping them in large numbers in the streets in Texas, Arizona and California, forcing city officials and charity groups to scramble.

Were dealing with the symptoms of the root cause, which is the lack of a rational immigration policy from Washington, and both sides are culpable, said Dee Margo, the mayor of El Paso.

City officials have been told that the government may soon increase the number of migrants released in El Paso to 500 daily. That may be a killer, that may be a real challenge for us to be able to deal with, Margo said.

The New York Times
It looks like some New Yorkers are serious about eating health as a part of their New Years resolution, but the long lines are prompting some disorderly conduct from very some very hangry people.

On Friday, the New York Post reported several incidents where very hungry New Yorkers cursing while attempting to wait outrageously long lines for a lunch salad.

You guys can go f*** yourselves, one businessman is overheard telling his colleagues when he ditched the over 100-people long line at Chopt in Midtown.

The last few days after New Years have been crazy because of the resolutions and people wanting to eat healthy, a salad eater told the Post after getting their Chopt kale-salad.

Maya Dillon, 46, said when she went to a Just Salad restaurant in Midtown, the line was out the door.

An employee for Just Salads Midtown location said the long lines are at its peak in January since a lot of people tend to choose "eating healthier" as a part of their New Year's resolution.

The over-the-top long lines at salad restaurants are resulting in a very low lunchtime turnout at fast-food joints. A security guard at a Midtown McDonald's said the establishment typically is very busy, but so far this month, business has been was very slow.

Chick-fil-A saw a very slow lunch hour. An employee said their location is typically busy in December with tourists in town. But in January, there's a staggering dip in business.

This means its good for business over at Sweetgreen, another salad chain restaurant, thats profiting of the post-New Year healthy eating boom.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

Julie Pastor, 30, had to wait in a 50-person line to get one guacamole-and-greens bowl. She said the line was out-the-door and wrapped around the entire sidewalk and another customer called it a "psycho line."

Fast-casual salad chains are taking advantage of the hype with Sweetgreen offering a New Years resolution reward program and Chopt aggressively promoting its lowest-calorie salads.

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New Years resolutions as easy as one, two, three  all under 400 calories, an ad on Chopts Facebook said.

The long lines are obviously frustrating customers, so some chains are looking into other ways to curtail the problem. Sweetgreens co-founder Nicolas Jammet said the company is encouraging customers to order online through a no-fee delivery service.

We know resolutions can be hard, Mr Jammet said, but our goal at Sweetgreen is to make eating real food easy.

But it doesn't look like the long lines will last for too long. It's been reported that about 80 per cent of New Year's resolutions fail.
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Three people have died in national parks around the US since the start of the government shutdown, during which the Trump administration chose to keep the parks open.

After most of the federal workforce was granted leave on 21 December, three days later a 14-year-old girl fell 213m to her death at the Horseshoe Bend Overlook, part of the Glen Canyon Recreation Area in Arizona.

On Christmas Day, a man died at Yosemite National Park in California after suffering a head injury from a fall. On 27 December, a woman was killed by a falling tree at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which straddles the borders of North Carolina and Tennessee.

The deaths follow a decision by Trump administration officials to leave the scenic - but sometimes deadly - parks open even as the Interior Department has halted most of its operations.

During previous extended shutdowns, the National Park Service barred access to many of its sites across the nation.

Recommended 27 tons of rubbish in Yosemite because of government shutdown

Spokesman Jeremy Barnum said in an email that an average of six people die each week in the park system, a figure that includes accidents like drownings, falls, and motor vehicle crashes and medical related incidents such as heart attacks.

Throughout the year, the National Park System offers a wide range of visitor experiences in unique landscapes with potential hazards that may exist at parks across the nation, Mr Barnum said.

Visitors can reduce their risk of injury if they plan ahead and prepare properly, select the most appropriate activity that matches their skill set and experience, seek information before they arrive at the park about hazards and environmental conditions, follow rules and regulations and use sound judgement while recreating.

In 1995 and 2013, respectively, the Clinton and Obama administrations made the decision to close the parks altogether.

Officials came to the conclusion that it would jeopardise public safety and the parks' integrity to keep them open, but the closures also became a political cudgel for Democrats because they exemplified one of the most popular aspects of federal operations that had ground to a halt.

In January 2018, White House budget director Mick Mulvaney and then-Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke made the decision to keep national park sites as accessible as possible in the event of a shutdown.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

Trump officials forged ahead with the plan - but that shutdown only lasted for three days. The current shutdown enters the third week on Saturday.

Several former Park Service officials, along with the system's advocates, said in interviews that activities such as viewing animals and hiking outdoors can carry a greater risk when fewer employees are around.

Diane Regas, president and chief executive of the Trust for Public Land, said the group has sent a letter to Donald Trump calling on him to close all national parks.

She said administration officials may have underestimated the broad scope of what it takes to maintain these sites.

I think we all know that not having bathrooms is a nuisance," Ms Regas said. "What I think people forget is, not having adequate sewage treatment can be dangerous."

When you bring people together, running these parks is like running a small city. We are taking risks with some of our most treasured natural resources without knowing that we're doing our best to protect people, that we're doing our best to protect park resources. When it comes to our national parks, I just don't believe that's acceptable.

The Park Service estimates that up to 16,000 of its 19,000-person workforce are given leave during the shutdown.

Officials said services such as cleanup and maintenance vary from park to park, due to agreements with concessions and surrounding municipalities that are donating services, such as trash collection and road clearing.

Still, roughly half a dozen rangers are currently available to patrol Yosemite National Park, for example, which is about the size of Rhode Island. Officials said skeleton crews are working to close off hazardous areas covered in snow and ice.

On Christmas Eve, the 14-year-old girl raced from the car park where her parents parked to see the Horseshoe Bend Overlook, a dramatic cliff that looks out to a peninsula of jagged rock.

After a long search, her parents reported her missing about 5pm, triggering an emergency response, according to the Coconino County Sheriff's Office. She was discovered near the cliff near dark, forcing authorities to wait and retrieve her body the next morning.

National Park Service officials said rangers responding to an emergency call found the second victim at Yosemite with a head wound, apparently from a short fall.

They did not confirm social media chatter from other visitors that he ran after a dog that he illegally brought into the park. The man, who was not identified, died of his injuries.

A spokesman for the Pacific West Region of the Park Service said the public wasn't notified of the Yosemite death because of the shutdown and that it is also delaying an investigation into its causes.

We aren't releasing more details because the incident remains under investigation, said Andrew Munoz, acting chief of public and congressional affairs for the region.

Two days after the Yosemite incident, 42-year-old Laila Jiwani was killed by a falling tree on Porter Creek Trail in the Smoky Mountains.

One of Jiwani's two children, a 6-year-old, was airlifted to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, according to a Park Service spokesman.

Frank Dean, president and chief executive of the Yosemite Conservancy, said in a phone interview that the park's staff is doing its best under challenging circumstances.

This is the first time in a long-term shutdown where the parks have remained open, said mr Dean, who served as a park ranger and assistant to the superintendent in Yosemite before going on to become superintendent for the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. What we're finding now is it's not really working, because you've got understaffing. As this thing drags on, you've got free access and no guidance.

Daniel Wenk, who served as Yellowstone National Park's superintendent until retiring in September, said in an interview that not having a robust presence could impede the agency's response to an emergency.

A casual cross-country skier would want to go to Tower Falls in Yellowstone, Mr Wenk said. If they suffer a heart attack - every year you have that - we wouldn't be able to quickly respond. You might be dramatically delayed. It's correct, people die in national parks all the time.

Recommended British climber dies in rock fall at Yosemite National Park

"If you can attribute [the shutdown] to people not being able to get to them for an hour and a half, that's another story.

While a handful of major parks have remained open during past shutdowns, many agency staffers had not anticipated that the budget impasse would persist this long.

Now some superintendents are closing off areas of their parks as it drags on, having determined that they cannot adequately protect either the habitat, wildlife or visitors.

Mount Rainier's National Park Inn has been cleaning toilets and collecting trash at its own expense, but will stop doing that after breakfast on Sunday.

Melinda Simpson, operations manager at the concessionaire Rainier Guest Services, said that after that point, the National Park Service will be then closing the park and locking the gates.

We couldn't continue to operate under these conditions, and really wish we could. It's very disappointing, she said, noting that the operation's 45 employees would have to go without pay while it was shut down. We are just waiting and looking forward to welcoming the guests when they open up the park again.

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Kristen Brengel, vice president of government affairs for the National Parks Conservation Association, said that superintendents need the freedom to shutter parks if they determine it is no longer sustainable to keep them accessible.

The political pressure to keep the parks open is overriding some of these judgment calls, she said in an interview. We need a release valve here for the Park Service, so they can do the right thing.

In addition to restrooms not being maintained and visitors not being properly warned and guided by staff, crews cannot work to prepare parks for the summer season and fix roads.

Vehicle accidents ranked second behind drowning as a cause of death in parks in 2007, according to the last comprehensive tally released to the public.

The Washington Post
Three people have died and four been injured after a shooting inside a California bowling alley.

A manhunt has been launched for a shooter and police in the city of Torrance urged people to stay away from Gable House Bowl where it said there had been "shots fired".

Gable House describes itself on its website as a gaming venue that offers bowling, laser tag and a full arcade.

One eyewitness, Jesus Perez, told the LA Times he was inside the bowling alley when the shooting began.

"We just ran right into the bar and took cover. All we heard was just, like two people got shot."

Mr Perez said he though he had heard about four gunshots and rumours there was a fight before the shooting broke out.

"We just ran into the bar and we just took cover because after the fight we heard 'pop pop'." After taking cover for about 15 minutes, a security guard came to escort him out the back entrance.

Police said two of the four injured men were taken to a nearby hospital with unknown injuries, while the other two had sought out their own medical attention.

A video filmed from inside the alley during the aftermath of the shooting shows police officers attending to a bloodied and injured man, who is slumped on the floor.

A woman can be heard shouting and screaming in her distress, begging the officers to apply more pressure to his wounds and asking someone to call the man's "baby momma".

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

Detritus from other emergency workers is strewn across the floor and a number of dazed and shocked customers are still milling about in the distressing footage.

The man who filmed the video, D Ryon Thomas, said on Facebook he was in a different room inside the complex but heard gunshots.

"Still processing tonight, I am good," he wrote. "Gunshots fired, heard people died and injured. I was distance away, but people ran in our room."

An LA Times reporter who is outside the bowling alley reported witnesses said the shooting started after an altercation.

 Devastating video shows loved ones crying and screaming outside California bowling alley after shooting

"People are throwing up. Family relative crying and screaming," he tweeted. "At least one man is standing around with bandages to his back. His shirt is torn and stained by blood."

One man outside the building, Brandon Tyre, told him he was celebrating a friend's birthday at the Gable House Bowl when a fight broke out and his brother was shot in the chest.

"He's waiting to hear what happened to his brother who remains inside the Gable House Bowl," the reporter tweeted.
A man who doctors believed would never recover consciousness woke up after his family took the decision to take him off life support and said their goodbyes.

Father-of-four T Scott Marr was diagnosed with a stroke after being found in bed in his Nebraska home, unresponsive but breathing, on 12 December.

Doctors saw no improvement in his neurological state, with significant brain swelling leading them to conclude he would end up brain dead with little hope of recovery.

Mr Marr had been explicit with his family that he did not want to be kept alive through mechanical resuscitation, but after his unexpected recovery they have taken to calling him the miracle man.

He had always said, I never want you guys to see me lying in a hospital bed, lying in a nursing home, Mr Mars daughter, Preston Marr, told a press conference. They told us he was on his way to brain death, so we said our goodbyes before extubating him, all the monitors were shut off and we waited by his side.

However, Mr Marr kept breathing and his condition improved the next day when the family returned, missing an appointment they had scheduled with the funeral director.

I asked him to move his thumbs, and he slowly moved his thumbs, and I asked him to wiggle his toes, and he wiggled all his toes really slightly, Ms Marr said.

Further testing revealed the cause of the concerning swelling was a condition called posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, which does not typically cause the severe swelling Mr Marr experienced.

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Mr Marr himself said: I dont want to make this into a huge religious thing but Ill tell you what: It was pretty much a miracle.

Mr Marrs physician Dr Rebecca Runge said: Its commonly caused by high blood pressure, but there are many things that can cause it. We were worried in this case that this was not a reversible process and that it was going to proceed to brain death.

Additional reporting by Associated Press
Theresa Mays hopes of securing the legally binding changes needed to win support for her Brexit deal are fading, after EU sources said it was unlikely there would be a new European summit to approve them.

An emergency council like the one held in November would be needed to sanction any changes that would have legal force.

But diplomats have told The Independent that any concessions offered would be unlikely to require a meeting.

It means any alterations or new language secured by the prime minister will probably not satisfy enough rebel Tories or her DUP partners in government to win the Commons vote expected in the coming weeks.

Only this week the DUP warned the prime minister that unless Brussels gave significant ground on the hated Irish backstop it would not support her plans.

MPs return to Westminster next week and begin several days of debate on Ms Mays deal before it is put to a vote that most people expect the prime minister to lose.

Downing Street has been trying to play down expectations that Ms May will secure a major change before the vote due on 15 or 16 January, but there had been talk that European officials are holding back one concession that they could make to the UK later in the year.

But even for those changes to have legal force, a new summit would need to be called as currently there is only one scheduled for the end of March  far too late to do anything meaningful before the UK drops out of the EU on 29 March.

European insiders told The Independent that the idea of a summit had been considered, but this was now looking less likely.

EU leaders including Emmanuel Macron are also said to be annoyed at the prospect of being dragged back to the EU capital for repeated discussions about Brexit, while they have pressing domestic issues to deal with.

Addressing the question of whether such a meeting would be held, one EU diplomat said: We can do it without a council and we will do it without a council.

Alternatives to holding a summit include a simple non-binding statement from the European Commission, an agreement by EU27 ministers at regular meetings in Brussels, or an informal letter signed by EU leaders.

But none of these options would have much pretence of being legally enforceable, and are unlikely to be enough to assuage Tory backbenchers, who want a binding get-out clause from the controversial Northern Ireland backstop.

Another EU source downplayed the need to make any changes legally binding, adding: It could take the form of a letter; there are different things you can do. Political commitments can be useful too.

Earlier this week DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds MP said his partys principled objections to the current EU withdrawal agreement remained and he pressed the prime minister to deliver on her commitments to deal with the backstop.

Speaking after a meeting with the prime minister in Downing Street, he said the backstop, as currently proposed, flies in the face of the governments commitments on Northern Ireland as we leave the EU.

 Theresa May pleads with MPs to back Brexit deal and let Britain 'turn corner' in new year message

Officials in Brussels are not expecting the first vote to pass, though they are understood to be no less in the dark about the prime ministers plans for when she loses than anyone in the UK.

The possibility remains for the UK to ask for an extension of Article 50, or to revoke it unilaterally  which would both mean a summit would not be needed.

But even the expected extent of possible further clarifications considered by the EU would be unlikely to impress MPs. It is understood that further assistance may simply involve re-adding paragraphs deleted from the previous statement by leaders in December.

A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Show all 65 1 /65 A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit An estimated 700,000 people marched through London to demand a final say on the withdrawal agreement Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Red smoke from a canister hangs in the air as around 100,000 demonstrators march through London during a People's Vote anti-brexit demonstration savings banners and placards Anti-Brexit People's Vote March for the Future in London Rex A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Mayor of London Sadiq Khan takes part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Protesters wearing final Say shirts and holding placards Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit MP Chuka Umunna (left) and MP Vince Cable (right) as MP Anna Soubry (centre) addresses Anti-Brexit campaigners at a rally after the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A Peoples Vote march attendee calls for a Final Say Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators with banners 'We're with EU' during the People's Vote March for the Future in London, Britain, 20 October 2018. Reports state that the 'March for the Future' is to be led by a column of young people and call for a Peopleas Vote on the Brexit deal. After marching through central London, there will be a rally on stage in Parliament Square, including speeches from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. EPA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Protesters at Londons march for the future in October The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Editor of The Independent Christian Broughton speaks to demonstrators in Parliament Sqaure after they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A poster at the March for the Future in October The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators hold placards as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 campaigner wrapped in EU flag Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators pass Trafalgar Square as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators wave Union and European flags and hold up placards as they pass Trafalgar Square, taking part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators hold placards as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A demonstrator holds a message during a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators take part in the 'People's Vote March for the Future,' in central London, Britain, 20 October 2018. Reports state that the 'March for the Future' is to be led by a column of young people and call for a Peopleas Vote on the Brexit deal. After marching through central London, there will be a rally on stage in Parliament Square, including speeches from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan EPA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A protester brandishes an Independent t-shirt during the Brexit March Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Tens of thousands of people take part in People's Vote March for the Future in central London. The march organised by the People's Vote campaign is led by young people calling for a People's Vote on the Brexit deal Rex A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum PA

This non-binding statement would say the Northern Ireland backstop, which MPs are against, was not the desired outcome and that it would only be for a short period.

The extent to which talks are happening is currently uncertain. UK officials in Westminster have been briefing there has been contact between the two sides, but the EU has emphatically stated that no meetings are happening.

Theresa May spoke to Jean-Claude Juncker on Friday over the telephone. The pair were said by a European Commission spokesperson to have had a friendly conversation and pledged to stay in touch next week.
Voters would back leaving the European Union in a fresh Brexit referendum by a bigger margin than in 2016, Michael Gove has claimed.

The environment secretary said he believed another public vote would be a worse outcome than a no-deal Brexit but predicted that voters would deliver an even stronger demand to leave the EU.

Calls for the public to be given the chance to break the deadlock in parliament have grown louder with less than three months to go until Brexit.

Theresa May has repeatedly said there will not be a second referendum if, as expected, MPs vote down her Brexit deal later this month.

Reports suggest she is instead likely to return to the Commons at a later date to try again.

Mr Gove dismissed calls for the public to be given a fresh vote, saying it would be a huge blow to our democracy.

He told The Times: The loss of faith people would have in our political system would be far greater than any other political or economic event in our lifetimes.

He added: If people are told, Sorry you got it wrong last time, you were too stupid or misled, you have to think again, I think the country would be angry.

But he predicted that Leave would win any second vote, saying: I think if there were another referendum Leave would win by an even bigger majority and be even stronger.

The Independents petition for a Final Say referendum has been backed by more than 1.1 million people.

Despite staunch opposition from many of his fellow Brexiteers in parliament, Mr Gove insisted he was committed to helping secure MPs support for Ms Mays deal because the alternatives would be playing with fire.
Brexit will see Britain withdraw from almost all of the EUs institutions, including the European parliament, with the UKs 73 MEPs no longer sitting in Brussels or Strasbourg when their terms end in May.

When fresh elections across the EU take place, 27 of Britains seats are set to be redistributed among the other EU member states. But what if Brexit is delayed?

A growing number of MPs have called for the Article 50 period to be extended to allow more time for negotiations to continue, while others want an extension so that another referendum can be held.
While Christmas and the start of the new year saw unseasonably warm highs of 11C or 12C, temperatures are expected to plummet to below freezing this weekend as a cold snap sweeps across Britain.

Met Office spokesman Mark Wilson said the mercury will drop a little below average for this time of year and frosty conditions are expected in some parts of the country.

There could be a frost overnight but it will be mainly Scotland and not widespread," the forecaster said. "Latter parts of next week nothing below freezing.

The chilliest night of the year was experienced in Braemar, Aberdeenshire where -10.5C (13.1F) was recorded earlier this week.

As the weekend draws to a close and the icy air moves away, temperatures in the south-east are predicted to creep into double digits with the odd patch of drizzle.

Today we are expecting highs of 4-7C but tomorrow it will be closer to 10C. It is chilly in London today but not exceptionally cold. Most places in the south will be dry and mild. It will turn milder in most areas from Sunday.

Meanwhile, Newcastle, where it is cloudier, will see the mercury reach 5C today and 8C tomorrow and drop to 1C or 2C overnight.

There is also likely to be more cloud overnight for western England and parts of Wales.

Scotland can expect 75mph winds this coming week with yellow weather warnings issued for strong gales from Monday midday to 3pm Tuesday.

Bookmakers Ladbrokes have slashed odds from 6/1 to 3/1 that this month will be coldest January on as they expect the bitterly cold air to grip the country.
A 13-year-old girl has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer during a far-right yellow vest protest that blocked major roads in London.

The Metropolitan Police said three men were also detained for public order offences during the demonstration.

A spokesperson said the teenage girl was released under investigation as the demonstration continued on Saturday afternoon.

It was one of several protests held in British cities by the UK yellow vests, who have appropriated the high-visibility jackets worn in demonstrations that turned violent in France.

Supporters called for a no-deal Brexit and shouted that the prime minister was a traitor, while demonstrating over other causes and conspiracy theories popular among the extreme right wing.

Police said around 40 protesters also rallied in Manchester, where some yellow vests were daubed with English Defence League (EDL) slogans and No surrender.

No arrests were made during the march, which was temporarily contained outside a branch of Greggs.

In London, a smoke bomb was set off on Downing Street before dozens of protesters ran up Whitehall and clashed with police officers.

Organiser James Goddard, who fundraises his activities online, filmed himself shouting: If they want a war well give them a war, lets give them a f***ing war in a live stream posted on Facebook.

Protesters blocking Westminster Bridge in London on Saturday (Matthew Chattle/Rex) (Rex)

Demonstrators wearing high-vis jackets chanted slogans including Brexit now, called Theresa May treasonous, while insulting London mayor Sadiq Khan and police officers.

The group blocked Westminster Bridge, one of several bridges blockaded by the same yellow vest demonstrators last month, before moving through parts of central London.

At one point they stopped traffic in Parliament Square after joining up with a protest against the imprisonment of separatist leaders in Cameroon.

The yellow vests later set fire to an EU flag as people shouted spit on it!, and tried to block Blackfriars Bridge.

As darkness fell, they were still marching around roads in central London, chanting we want Brexit now.

The Metropolitan Police said a route had not been organised for the protest, meaning roads were not closed.

As officers tried to move protesters out of a road near Parliament Square, they refused to comply and scuffles broke out.

Yellow vest demonstrators included family members of three boys killed by a drink-driver in London last year, who have been running a campaign to charge the culprit with murder. The man was jailed for death by dangerous driving.

Brexit racism and the fightback Show all 9 1 /9 Brexit racism and the fightback Brexit racism and the fightback Demonstrators protest against an increase in post-ref racism at London's March for Europe in July 2016 PA Brexit racism and the fightback These cards were found near a school in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, the day after the EU referendum Twitter/@howgilb Brexit racism and the fightback Getty Brexit racism and the fightback Romford, Essex, June 25 @diamondgeezer Brexit racism and the fightback A worker at this Romanian food shop was asleep upstairs at the time of this arson attack in Norwich on July 8, but escaped unharmed. Hundreds later participated in a love bombing rally outside the shop to express their opposition to racism and their support of the shop owners. JustGiving/Helen Linehan Brexit racism and the fightback This neo-Nazi sticker was spotted in Glasgow on June 26 Courtesy of Eoin Palmer Brexit racism and the fightback But after news emerged of neo-Nazi stickers appearing in Glasgow, some in the city struck back with slogans of their own. Courtesy of Eoin Palmer Brexit racism and the fightback Getty Brexit racism and the fightback More signs began to appear in some parts of the UK, created by people who wanted to show their opposition to post-referendum racism Courtesy of Bernadette Russell

The yellow vests disrupted a Court of Appeal hearing that saw his sentence reduced last month and have been protesting regularly in London.

In December, Mr Goddard and other members filmed themselves harassing pro-Remain MP Anna Soubry and calling her a traitor.

Live Facebook broadcasts have shown the yellow vests shouting verbal abuse through a megaphone at pro-Remain protesters and journalists broadcasting from outside the Palace of Westminster, with Skys Kay Burley singled out as a particular target.

A Tommy Robinson supporter who has spoken at the EDL founders rallies and attended numerous far-right marches, Mr Goddard attempts to crowdfund his activities on PayPal.

Also a vocal supporter of Donald Trump, he has previously called Islam a political ideology that advocates your death and claimed terror attacks are being covered up in Britain.

He had claimed Saturday would see nationwide yellow vest protests in locations including Sheffield, Manchester and Newport.

We are going to make the political class listen to what were saying, Mr Goddard added. The democratic will of the people is being denied.

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He listed political correctness, cultural Marxism and forced adoptions as other values of the UK yellow vest movement.

Saturdays protests came as hundreds of yellow vests marched in Paris and other French cities, for the first time in 2019.
A nearby galaxy is hurtling towards us and could fling out Solar System out into the depths of space, scientists have said.

The Large Magellanic Cloud could smash into our Milky Way and cause destruction throughout our galactic neighbourhood, scientists have predicted.

The huge crash could even wake up our galaxy's dormant black hole, which might swell in size by up to ten times as it eats the gas that surrounds it.

The black hole would spew out high-energy radiation into the space around it. Those cosmic fireworks are not expected to hit Earth  but there is a chance that the collision could send our Solar System hurtling through space.

But there's no need to start panicking just yet: the spectacular event is not expected to happen for another two billion years. Still, that's much sooner than the predicted crash of the Milky Way and our nearest galaxy Andromeda, which is set to happen in eight billion years.

Recommended Galactic wind that controls star birth detected in depths of universe

Galaxies like our Milky Way are surrounded by a host of other smaller satellite galaxies. Those float around their hosts mostly peacefully, moving around for many billions of years.

But occasionally they move into the centre and are eaten up by their host galaxy in a dramatic collision.

The Large Magellanic Cloud is the brightest of the satellite galaxies that is floating around outside our Milky Way. It only entered the neighbourhood about 1.5 billion years ago and is relatively close to us, about 163,000 light years from the Milky Way.

Scientists thought that it would either stay orbiting around the Milky Way for billions of years, or fling itself out and away from our galaxy's gravitational pull.

Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Show all 30 1 /30 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Solar Flare An image from Nasa's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) shows a 200,000 mile long solar filament ripping through the Sun's corona in September 2013 Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Nasa Celebrates 50 Years of Spacewalking For 50 years, NASA has been "suiting up" for spacewalking. In this 1984 photograph of the first untethered spacewalk, NASA astronaut Bruce McCandless is in the midst of the first "field" tryout of a nitrogen-propelled backpack device called the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space A Hubble Cosmic Couple The spectacular cosmic pairing of the star Hen 2-427  more commonly known as WR 124  and the nebula M1-67 which surrounds it ESA/Hubble & NASA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Veil Nebula Supernova Remnant Nasa's Hubble Space Telescope has unveiled in stunning detail a small section of the Veil Nebula - expanding remains of a massive star that exploded about 8,000 years ago Nasa's most stunning pictures of space The Soyuz TMA-15M rocket launch The Soyuz TMA-15M rocket launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Monday, Nov. 24, 2014, carrying three new astronauts to the International Space Station. It also took caviar, ready for the satellite's inhabitants to celebrate the holidays Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Earth from the ISS From the International Space Station, Expedition 42 Flight Engineer Terry W. Virts took this photograph of the Gulf of Mexico and U.S. Gulf Coast at sunset Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Black Hole Friday Nasa celebrated Black Friday by looking into space instead  sharing pictures of black holes Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space NuSTAR X-rays stream off the sun in this image showing observations from by NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, overlaid on a picture taken by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Cassiopeia A c A false colour image of Cassiopeia A comprised with data from the Spitzer and Hubble Space Telescopes and the Chandra X-Ray observatory Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Orion Capsule splashes down The Orion capsule jetted off into space before heading back a few hours later  having proved that it can be used, one day, to carry humans to Mars Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Earth Observations From Gemini IV in 1965 This photograph of the Florida Straits and Grand Bahama Bank was taken during the Gemini IV mission during orbit no. 19 in 1965. The Gemini IV crew conducted scientific experiments, including photography of Earth's weather and terrain, for the remainder of their four-day mission following Ed White's historic spacewalk on June 3 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Frosty slopes of Mars This image of an area on the surface of Mars, approximately 1.5 by 3 kilometers in size, shows frosted gullies on a south-facing slope within a crater. The image was taken by Nasa's HiRISE camera, which is mounted on its Mars Reconaissance Orbiter Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Yellowstone from space NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman shared this image of Yellowstone via his twitter account Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Saturn This near-infrared color image shows a specular reflection, or sunglint, off of a hydrocarbon lake named Kivu Lacus on Saturn's moon Titan Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Worlds Apart Although Mimas and Pandora, shown here, both orbit Saturn, they are very different moons. Pandora, "small" by moon standards (50 miles or 81 kilometers across) is elongated and irregular in shape. Mimas (246 miles or 396 kilometers across), a "medium-sized" moon, formed into a sphere due to self-gravity imposed by its higher mass Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Solar Flare An X1.6 class solar flare flashes in the middle of the sun in this image taken 10 September, captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy An image of the Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy seen in infrared light by the Herschel Space Observatory. Regions of space such as this are where new stars are born from a mixture of elements and cosmic dust Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Mars Rover Spirit Nasa's Mars Rover Spirit took the first picture from Spirit since problems with communications began a week earlier. The image shows the robotic arm extended to the rock called Adirondack Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Morning Aurora From the Space Station Nasa astronaut Scott Kelly captured this photograph of the green lights of the aurora from the International Space Station Nasa/Scott Kelly Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Launch of History - Making STS-41G Mission in 1984 The Space Shuttle Challenger launches from Florida at dawn. On this mission, Kathryn Sullivan became the first U.S. woman to perform a spacewalk and Marc Garneau became the first Canadian in space. The crew of seven was the largest to fly on a spacecraft at that time, and STS-41G was the first flight to include two female astronauts Nasa's most stunning pictures of space A Fresh Perspective on an Extraordinary Cluster of Galaxies Galaxy clusters are often described by superlatives. After all, they are huge conglomerations of galaxies, hot gas, and dark matter and represent the largest structures in the Universe held together by gravity Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Hubble Sees a Galactic Sunflower The arrangement of the spiral arms in the galaxy Messier 63, seen here in an image from the Nasa Hubble Space Telescope, recall the pattern at the center of a sunflower ESA/Hubble & NASA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Pluto image Four images from New Horizons Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) were combined with colour data from the Ralph instrument to create this enhanced colour global view of Pluto Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Fresh Crater Near Sirenum Fossae Region of Mars The HiRISE camera aboard Nasa's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter acquired this closeup image of a "fresh" (on a geological scale, though quite old on a human scale) impact crater in the Sirenum Fossae region of Mars. This impact crater appears relatively recent as it has a sharp rim and well-preserved ejecta Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Hubble Peers into the Most Crowded Place in the Milky Way This Nasa Hubble Space Telescope image presents the Arches Cluster, the densest known star cluster in the Milky Way NASA & ESA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space An Astronaut's View from Space Nasa astronaut Reid Wiseman tweeted this photo from the International Space Station on 2 September 2014 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Giant Landform on Mars On Mars, we can observe four classes of sandy landforms formed by the wind, or aeolian bedforms: ripples, transverse aeolian ridges, dunes, and what are called draa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Expedition 39 Landing A sokol suit helmet can be seen against the window of the Soyuz TMA-11M capsule shortly after the spacecraft landed with Expedition 39 Commander Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Soyuz Commander Mikhail Tyurin of Roscosmos, and Flight Engineer Rick Mastracchio of NASA near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan (NASA/Bill Ingalls) Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Jupiter's Great Red Spot Viewed by Voyager I Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system and perhaps the most majestic. Vibrant bands of clouds carried by winds that can exceed 400 mph continuously circle the planet's atmosphere Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Chandra Observatory Sees a Heart in the Darkness This Chandra X-Ray Observatory image of the young star cluster NGC 346 highlights a heart-shaped cloud of 8 million-degree Celsius gas in the central region

But a new paper from Durham University scientists and published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society suggests that the Large Magellanic Cloud has twice as much dark matter as we had previously thought. Since it is so massive, the satellite galaxy is quickly losing energy  meaning that it is doomed to fall into our galaxy and cause huge disruption, relatively quickly.

While two billion years is an extremely long time compared to a human lifetime, it is a very short time on cosmic timescales," said lead author Dr Marius Cautun, a postdoctoral fellow in Durham Universitys Institute for Computational Cosmology.

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The destruction of the Large Magellanic Cloud, as it is devoured by the Milky Way, will wreak havoc with our galaxy, waking up the black hole that lives at its centre and turning our galaxy into an active galactic nucleus or quasar.

This phenomenon will generate powerful jets of high energy radiation emanating from just outside the black hole. While this will not affect our Solar System, there is a small chance that we might not escape unscathed from the collision between the two galaxies which could knock us out of the Milky Way and into interstellar space.
Every smoker will be offered help to quit when they go into hospital under a new NHS money-saving crackdown that has sharply divided supporters and critics.

Problem drinkers and smokers will be helped by expert teams during their stay on a ward, NHS England announced.

People who are alcohol-dependent will be helped by specialists to stop drinking, while a drive targeting smokers admitted to hospital will affect an estimated 500,000 people, including pregnant women and their partners.

NHS chiefs say the savings will vastly outweigh the costs of 183m over five years of the schemes.

The bulk  157m  will target smoking, which costs the NHS 2.6bn every year. Alcohol problems, which cost the NHS 3.5bn every year, will receive 26m of funding.

But critics said it sounded like mass lifestyle engineering, and tantamount to bullying vulnerable people.

The measures, part of the NHSs 10-year plan announced last year but delayed repeatedly because of uncertainty around Brexit, follow a renewed focus by health chiefs on prevention to curb demand for services.

It comes after drastic cuts to smoking cessation schemes in England, with local authority public-health budgets having been slashed for several years running.

A further cut of 85m is due in 2019-20, and the Nuffield Trust says total cuts between 2015 and 2021 equate to a real-terms reduction of 600m.

Tobacco kills 1,500 people a week so helping people to quit when admitted to hospital helps them, their families and the taxpayer Duncan Selbie

NHS England bosses say every smoker in hospital will be offered support to quit, with personalised bedside care, therapy and follow-up help when they have been discharged.

A scheme is already running in Manchester that is expected to save 10m and more than 30,000 hospital beds across the city, and it will be replicated across the country over the next five years.

NHS figures show that the 10 per cent of new mothers who smoke are doubling the risk of stillbirth and tripling the chances of sudden infant death.

Alcohol care teams will be rolled out in the top 25 per cent of hospitals for alcohol-related admissions to urge patients who misuse alcohol to give up and stay off it. Up to 50 hospitals will be involved.

Alcohol-related admissions have grown by 17 per cent in a decade, and in 2016-17 they accounted for 2.1 per cent of admissions.

Health chiefs say the measures could prevent 50,000 admissions and almost 250,000 bed days over five years.

Recommended Government encourages smokers to switch to vaping

NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens said: Drinking to excess can destroy families, with the NHS too often left to pick up the pieces.

Alcohol and tobacco addiction remain two of the biggest causes of ill health and early death, and the right support can save lives.

But Simon Clark, director of smokers group Forest, said: Its stressful enough being in hospital without the additional pressure of being hounded to stop smoking.

Pressuring smokers to quit, especially if theyre in hospital for a non-smoking-related reason, is an invasion of privacy and tantamount to bullying.

No one should be lectured about their lifestyle while theyre at their most vulnerable.

And Sean Gabb, former director of the Libertarian Alliance, said the move smacked of oppression.

We pay our taxes and present ourselves to the NHS for treatment and should receive treatment. The NHS is funded by a collective compulsory levy and is a compulsory pooling of risk.

So its one thing for an insurance company to tell us what locks to have but quite another for the NHS to tell us to stop eating or drinking what we want.

He said the argument that it would save money was an excuse to employ a large number of prodnoses and the move was a step towards mass lifestyle engineering.

Toby Green, of the Royal Society for Public Health, welcomed the announcements but called for England to follow Scotland and introduce a minimum unit price on alcohol.

He said: Were particularly encouraged by the commitment to provide support for smoking cessation to every smoker admitted to hospital  a measure we have been calling for some time.

At the same time, local authority-funded stop smoking services are vital and remain hugely effective, and it is indeed a great shame that cuts to the public health grant have resulted in declining availability and access over recent years.

Duncan Selbie, chief executive of Public Health England, said: Investing in prevention is the smartest thing the NHS can do. Tobacco kills 1,500 people a week so helping people to quit when admitted to hospital helps them, their families and the taxpayer.

NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday Show all 18 1 /18 NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday Nurses test the hearing of a newborn child Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday The waiting room is busy in Milton Keynes University Hospital Reuters NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday On Ward 24, two nurses work at the nurses station Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday In A&E, a porter rushes a patient through the corridor Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday A surgical team prepares a patient for their operation Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday In the physiotherapy department, patients are treated in the hydrotherapy pool Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday On Ward 8, an inpatient awaits visitors Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday In the physiotherapy department, amputees take a class Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday A junior doctor is at work in the staff room Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday A surgical team prepares a patient for their operation Reuters NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday An inpatient has her hair washed by the staff hairdressers Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday In the audiology department, a mother watches on as her son is given a hearing test Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday On Ward 8, staff serve lunch to the patients Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday On Ward 24, a patient waits on their bed Reuters NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday On Ward 8, a cleaner is at work Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday A nurse takes blood from a patient Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday On Ward 8, an inpatient receives a visitor Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday Inpatient Donald Ritson lies in bed in Ward 24 in Milton Keynes University Hospital Reuters

Deborah Arnott, of Health Charity ASH, said the plan was what they had long called for. It is disappointing, however, that at the same time that the NHS is receiving additional funding, public health budgets continue to be cut, she added.

The British Lung Foundation last summer revealed research showing that in some areas, GPs were being asked to stop prescribing anti-smoking treatments altogether, in opposition to national guidelines.
The former head of Italys top medical research board has said he left over the governments anti-scientific stance on vital issues like vaccination.

Walter Ricciardi likened some Italian ministers' views to Donald Trump's populist disdain for evidence when he quit as directory of the National Institute of Health (ISS) last month.

Elections in March 2018 brought spurious health claims to the fore, with officials at the top of government claiming vaccines are harming children and that migrants are spreading disease.

Italys populist Five Star Movement came out on top in last years elections and went into coalition with the far-right Northern League.

Professor Ricciardi reserved particular scorn for deputy prime minister and head of the League, Matteo Salvini, in a scathing interview with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.

Its clear that when the deputy prime minister says that he, as a father, believes there are too many vaccines, and that they are useless and dangerous, that its not just an unscientific approach  its anti-scientific, he said.

In 2017 Professor Ricciardi had been among the senior advocates of legislation under the previous centre-left government which made child vaccinations for conditions like measles compulsory.

But the new government overturned the measure in August, despite Italy being one of the hotspots of a record-breaking European measles outbreak which saw 60,000 cases of the life-threatening condition last year  double rates in 2017.

The charged issue of migration and refugees fleeing to Europe across the Mediterranean Sea has also emboldened the populist rhetoric on immigration.

Officials recently seized a rescue ship working to prevent migrant vessels from drowning on the grounds that it had not disclosed migrant clothing which posed a health risk  something charities called ridiculous.

Professor Ricciardi said he had a good working relationship with the governments minister for health, Giulia Grillo, no relation to the movements founder Beppe Grillo, and confirmed her position that the government had not sought to influence the scientific direction of the ISS.

He added that in four and a half years ha had achieved many of the goals he had first set in the role, but warned the populist shift was endangering public health.

 Andrew Wakefield describes his relationship with Donald Trump

Saying repeatedly that migrants carry diseases is groundless and it forces self-censorship in order not to contradict the political line," Professor Ricciardi said. Yet these are key issues for health prevention and public health.

All this reminds me of Donald Trumps recommendation to the National Institutes of Health Institute to no longer use the term evidence-based, he said. Its an approach taken by populists, who have great difficulty in interacting with science.

The US president has repeatedly tweeted about a link between vaccines and autism and met with the father of the modern anti-vaccination movement, discredited doctor Andrew Wakefield.
Electrical faults happen. It's best, though, to get them properly fixed. Getty Images

Absurdly Driven looks at the world of business with a skeptical eye and a firmly rooted tongue in cheek.

No one likes it when a plane has to divert to an airport and make an emergency landing.

But when that plane has to divert twice to the same airport for the same reason on consecutive days, well, there might be one or two extremely irate reactions.

That's what befell American Airlines flight 10 from LAX to JFK this week.

On a Wednesday night that became Thursday morning, Business Insider reported, the Airbus A321 had to make an emergency landing in Phoenix. The plane had undergone an electrical fault in a chiller.

Jason Gallus, a passenger on the flight, tweeted that "smoke filled up the cabin."

Smoke happens on planes. It was surely a relief that everyone returned to Earth safely.

Gallus, however, continued on Thursday:

Then this morning my parents went on the same aircraft flight aa9240 and 20 minutes into the flight had to make another emergency landing. with all the same passengers!! how could you risk peoples lives like this!

Oh.

Naturally, I contacted American Airlines to wonder how the airline saw things.

A spokesperson told me of the second flight:

Once airborne from Phoenix, a similar issue involving an odor from the same chiller was noticed by our crew, and the flight returned back to Phoenix. No emergency was declared, and the aircraft landed safely and taxied to the gate. The aircraft is out of service, as our team continues to troubleshoot the source of the odor, which may be a faulty fan.

Sadly, we're into one of those discomfiting moments when the passengers and the airline don't seem to agree.

Gallus insists that "all of the same people were on both flights."

American, on the other hand, told me that "most passengers had already been rebooked on other flights from Phoenix to New York."

Indeed, the airline added that the first aborted flight had 89 people on board, while the second had a mere 43.

Gallus, though, wasn't the only unhappy passenger. Addisa Gugal offered a troubling alleged reason for the same plane having to make the second flight.

He tweeted:

After making an emergency landing last night because the cabin smelled like an electrical fire, American Airlines put us back on the same plane this morning because they 'needed the plane in NY' and we had to make another emergency landing. Complete disregard for passenger safety.

That needed the plane in NY won't sit well with those who sat uncomfortably on both flights. It'll also sound a lot like American's often-stated adoration for operational efficiencies.

It's interesting that some passengers believed both landings were emergencies, while American insists only the first one was.

Still, sometimes passengers exaggerate or even get things a touch wrong.

For example, American Airlines was recently on the receiving end of accusations that it had abandoned a wheelchair-bound passenger at Chicago's O'Hare airport.

The truth turned out to be slightly different from the story initially told by the passenger's family.

But the same fault on the same plane with at least, it seems, some of the same passengers? On consecutive days?
Letter from The President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate

Washington, DC - Letter from The President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate:

Dear Madam Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)

United States Armed Forces personnel have deployed to Libreville, Gabon, to be in position to support the security of United States citizens, personnel, and diplomatic facilities in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. This deployment of approximately 80 personnel is in response to the possibility that violent demonstrations may occur in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in reaction to the December 30, 2018, elections there. The first of these personnel arrived in Gabon on January 2, 2019, with appropriate combat equipment and supported by military aircraft. Additional forces may deploy to Gabon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or the Republic of the Congo, if necessary for these purposes. These deployed personnel will remain in the region until the security situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo becomes such that their presence is no longer needed.

This action was taken consistent with my responsibility to protect United States citizens both at home and abroad, and in furtherance of United States national security and foreign policy interests, pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct United States foreign relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive.

I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep the Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148). I appreciate the support of the Congress in these actions.

Sincerely,

DONALD J. TRUMP
Imperial Valley News Center

President Trump Sends a Letter on Border Security to Congress

Washington, DC - This morning, President Donald J. Trump sent a letter to all Members of Congress on the need to secure our borders. He attached a presentation that Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen was planning to deliver during a meeting with Congressional leadership in the White House Situation Room earlier this week. Some of those present did not want to hear the presentation at the time, and so the President decided to make it available to all Members of Congress.

Below is the full text of the Presidents letter, along with a gallery featuring the presentation slides.

Dear Members of Congress:

Congratulations to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and her entire team, on her election to be Speaker of the House. I look forward to working together on our shared priorities for the American People, including rebuilding our infrastructure, reforming unfair trade deals, and reducing the price of prescription drugs. Our recent bipartisan success on numerous legislative accomplishments such as Criminal Justice Reform, opioid legislation, and the Farm Bill, underscores the extraordinary achievements that are possible when we rise above party politics to advance the good of the Nation as a whole.

As we begin this new Congress, our first task should be to reopen the Government and to deliver on our highest duty as elected officials: the security of the Nation and its borders.

It is the sovereign right of every nation to establish an immigration program in its national interestlawfully admitting those who have followed the rules, while denying entry to those who break the rules or fail to meet the requirements established in law.

A nation that fails to control its borders cannot fulfill its most basic obligations to its citizensphysical safety, economic security, essential public services, and the uniform protection of our laws.

I was grateful for the opportunity to meet with Congressional leadership at the White House this Wednesday to discuss the border security crisis, and the need for a government funding bill that secures the border and keeps Americans safe.

During the meeting, there was debate over the nature and extent of this crisis and its impact on Americans. It had been my hope that Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen would have the opportunity to deliver a presentation discussing the facts about the depth and severity of the humanitarian crisis and the security crisis that is now unfolding at the Southern Border.

However, some of those present did not want to hear the presentation at the time, and so I have instead decided to make the presentation available to all Members of Congress. I encourage you to review it carefully, to share it with your staff, and to discuss it with other lawmakers. In crafting a Homeland Security bill, it is essential that we make decisions based upon the facts on the groundnot ideology and rhetoricand that we listen to the law enforcement personnel on the front lines. The Southern Border is a very dangerous placein fact, Border Patrol agents routinely encounter some of the most dangerous criminals, cartels, and traffickers anywhere in the world.

Effective border security must dramatically reduce the entry of illegal immigrants, criminals, and drugs; it must keep out terrorists, public safety threats, and those otherwise inadmissible under U.S. law; and it must ensure that those who do enter without legal permission can be promptly and safely returned home.

As the enclosed presentation makes clear, current funding levels, resources, and authorities are woefully inadequate to meet the scope of the problem. We are no longer in a status quo situation at the Southern Border but in a crisis situation. Status quo funding is not enough.

In fiscal year (FY) 2018, 17,000 adults at the border with existing criminal records were arrested by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and border agents.

In FY2017 and FY2018, ICE officers arrested approximately 235,000 aliens on various criminal charges or convictions within the interior of the United Statesincluding roughly 100,000 for assault, 30,000 for sex crimes, and 4,000 for homicides.

We are now averaging 60,000 illegal and inadmissible aliens a month on our Southern Border.

Last month alone, more than 20,000 minors were smuggled into the United States.

The immigration court backlog is nearly 800,000 cases.

There has been a 2,000 percent increase in asylum claims over the last five years, with the largest growth coming from Central Americawhile around 9 in 10 claims from Central American migrants are ultimately rejected by the immigration courts, the applicant has long since been released into the interior of the United States.

In FY2017, roughly 135,000 illegal and inadmissible family units arrived from Central America. Of those, less than 2 percent have been successfully removed from the country due to a shortage of resources and glaring loopholes in our federal laws.

So far in FY2019, we have seen a 280 percent increase in family units from FY2018.

300 Americans are killed every week from heroin90 percent of which floods across our Southern Border.

Illegal immigration is a humanitarian crisis: 1 in 3 migrant women is sexually assaulted on the journey northward to the U.S. border; 50 illegal migrants a day are referred for emergency medical care; and CBP rescues 4,300 people a year who are in danger and distress.

Illegal immigration is NOT progressiveby every measure, it is unfair, unjust, uncompassionate, and cruel. Many people are killed. It hurts both those who make the journey and so many communities bearing the cost in lives, safety, and dollars.

Senator Chuck Schumer once said: Illegal immigration is wrong, plain and simple. Until the American people are convinced that we will stop future flows of illegal immigration, we will make no progress on dealing with the millions of illegal immigrants who are here now, and on rationalizing our system of legal immigration. Thats plain and simple and unavoidable.

Absolutely critical to border security and national security is a wall or a physical barrier that prevents entry in the first place. Members of both partiesincluding then Senators Obama and Clinton, current Senator Schumer, and many other members of the House and Senateall voted for a hard, physical barrier. Walls work. Thats why rich, powerful, and successful people build them around their homes. All Americans deserve the same protection. In Israel, it is 99 percent effective.

We must also close the legal gaps in Americas defenses. Loopholes in federal law that prevent removals provide a magnet for illegal entry, and a lucrative business model for vicious coyotes, while overwhelming the U.S. immigration system. The worst loopholes incentivize the smuggling of minors. Under these legal loopholes, if an illegal minor, or those traveling with a minor, merely set foot on United States soil, they cannot be successfully returned home. This explains the profound increases in the arrival of minors travelling both alone and with adults on the dangerous journey to our border.

To protect these children from abuse, and stop this illegal flow, we must close these loopholes. This is an urgent humanitarian necessity. Children are terribly used by criminals and coyotes to gain access to our countrythey are the biggest victims of all.

The most pressing legal changes are as follows:

Terminate the Flores Settlement Agreementwhich is preventing families from being held together through removal; and

Amend the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA), to allow for the safe and humane return of illegally-smuggled minors back to their families in their home countries.

Americans have endured decades of broken promises on illegal immigration. Now, is the time for both parties to rise above the partisan discord, to set aside political convenience, and to put the national interest first. Now is the timethis is the momentto finally secure the border and create the lawful and safe immigration system Americans, and those wanting to become Americans, deserve.

Sincerely,

Donald J. Trump
(The Center Square)  Illinois state lawmakers are back this week to continue the regular session and energy legislation is expected to top the agenda, but there could be some differences in what the governor wants versus what lawmakers actually pass.
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It was a near last-minute decision by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to include the Four Freedoms in his State of the Union address on Jan. 6, 1941.

World War II was raging in Europe and Asia. The United States had not yet entered the war, but Roosevelt could already envision what peace should look like. That peace would come with the Four Freedoms: freedom of speech and expression, freedom of religion, freedom from want and freedom from fear.

Roosevelt saved the best for last in his speechwriting process with his advisers. According to the FDR Library, The famous Four Freedoms paragraphs did not appear in the speech until the fourth draft.

Those Four Freedoms have been with us ever since, as a guide for world peace. As we begin a new year, Roosevelts freedom from want is tragically lacking. The scourge of hunger still reigns across the globe.

The U.S. famine warning system sent out an alert in November: Across 46 countries, 83 million people will require emergency food assistance in 2019, 75 percent more than in 2015.

Yemen, which is torn by a civil war, has 20 million people desperately in need of food aid. South Sudan, the Sahel region of Africa, Syria, Afghanistan and so many other nations are struggling with food shortages.

There are malnourished children who are fighting for their lives as we speak. All they want is food and a chance at life. They want to grow, go to school and have normal lives. But instead, they are trapped in the terror of hunger.

With such hunger and want around the globe, its impossible to build peace and stability.

One way Roosevelt rallied America to help those in need was through the National War Fund. Citizens were urged to donate to the fund, which was then disbursed among a number of charities helping American soldiers and war victims overseas. The donations helped malnourished school children in Nazi-occupied Norway get milk, assisted Catholic Relief Services in providing aid to refugees and supported so many other humanitarian causes.

As Roosevelt told the American people at the time:  the unfortunate, hungry men and women and children of all the overrun and enslaved countries see in your personal and friendly concern the brightest ray of hope and the greatest power for good in the world today  the sovereign voice of the people of the United States.

Americas goodwill and humanitarianism helped to win the war and the peace. We must not forget that lesson, because there are millions of people right now who are depending on American help.

All too often, those basic needs of people are lost in the debate on what America should do. While politicians debate building walls or arms sales or other actions, what people really want is often forgotten.

The nations of the world still need the Four Freedoms  and especially freedom from want, as they cope with hunger emergencies.

Our government and citizens can do more to help. We can make food a top priority by expanding our international aid programs. We can support agencies like the World Food Program, Catholic Relief Services, Save the Children, UNICEF, Mercy Corps and others that help the hungry.

Every person in the world should be free from want  free from hunger. If we use the Third Freedom as our guiding light, well find a peaceful world and end the darkness of hunger.

Lambers is an author who partnered with the UN World Food Program and Catholic Relief Services on the book Ending World Hunger.
Confronted with heart-wrenching images of children snatched from parents at the U.S.-Mexico border, good people will feel as if there is nothing one person can do to make their sliver of the world a kinder and gentler place.

Robert Kennedy understood that feeling. And yet, at the University of Cape Town in South Africa in June 1966, the U.S. senator from New York pushed back.

First is the danger of futility, Kennedy told his audience. The belief there is nothing one man or one woman can do against the enormous array of the worlds ills  against misery, against ignorance, or injustice and violence. Yet many of the worlds great movements, of thought and action, have flowed from the work of a single man.

One such man is Richard Villasana, a binational guardian angel who works to spare children the pain of family separation.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents often add to the pain. In El Paso, on Christmas Eve, ICE agents played Scrooge by dumping hundreds of asylum-seekers in the parking lot of a bus station.

Villasana hates the thought of thousands of children being funneled into foster care. And whether those children come to the United States as unaccompanied minors or come with parents who wind up incarcerated or deported, foster care is where many of these would-be refugees wind up. When they turn 18, theyre released into the streets  with no family, no home and no hope. The first time they run across a predator, they wind up on the menu.

But not if Villasana can help it. As the founder of a nonprofit organization called Forever Homes for Foster Kids, he spends his days trying to locate the relatives of some of these children who find their way into foster care in the hopes that the kinfolk will take in these kids and get them out of the system.

What a great idea. Simple but effective.

But there is a catch. Not just anyone can do this magic trick. Were talking about tracking down people in Third World countries with scant personal information to go on. Locating someone in the Mexican state of Oaxaca is not like finding someone in Ohio.

Luckily, Villasana has a gift. Its a knack for finding people by putting information together, using just phones and people skills, following a paper trail and analyzing data until the bread crumbs lead to an aunt, cousin, grandma or parent.

You gotta remember, when I started, I was doing all this pre-Google, he told me.

Born in Houston and raised as one of nine kids, the Mexican-American Villasana at first had no use for hyphens.

I thought of myself as American growing up, he said. I wouldnt think of being Mexican until many years later.

It was also years later that hed learn to speak Spanish. His parents remembered well the bigotry and racism they experienced as children, he said. And they didnt want their kids to experience the same sort of thing.

Now Villasana speaks four languages  Spanish, English, and some Italian and French.

Like they say, join the U.S. Navy and see the world. And he did. He left for Desert Storm with the Naval Reserves in 1989, and later relocated to San Diego. There, he developed an international consulting business that required him to often cross the border into Tijuana. His specialty: helping U.S. companies do business in the Mexican medical/health care field. You have to do and say the right thing to open doors in a foreign country.

Villasana learned a lesson that seems to have eluded the person in the Oval Office: South of the border, you get more with honey than with vitriol. Before long, he was known as The Mexico Guru, and he was giving seminars about doing business in Mexico. He even wrote a book: Insider Secrets for Doing Business in Mexico. I asked him to share one of those secrets.

Whether you speak Spanish has nothing to do with it, he said. The key is knowing how to talk to the Mexican people, including the Mexican government. If you approach them with respect, it puts them at ease. And they want to help you.

Reuniting children with family is a labor of love, with an emphasis on the labor part. The organization operates in the red.

This is dogged work, he said. Its hard, and its depressing. But I keep going because I know that on the other end of this long road is a child who needs help.

This is a good man. Just the kind of person we need when things on the border are so bad.

Navarrette is a columnist for the Washington Post.
Photo: The Canadian Press Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass, greets a supporter following an organizing event at McCoy's Bar Patio and Grill in Council Bluffs, Iowa, Friday, Jan. 4, 2019. Warren is making her first visit to Iowa this weekend as a likely presidential candidate, testing how her brand of fiery liberalism plays in the nation's premier caucus state.

Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts has made her Iowa debut with all the look of a presidential candidate, bringing her brand of liberalism to the nation's premier caucus state.

"It's time to dream big and fight hard, not just for those at the top, but for an America that works for everyone," Warren told about 500 people at a Friday night event.

Warren called for economic fairness in front of a cheering crowd of Iowa and Nebraska Democrats at a bowling alley. She planned further appearances over the weekend.

Warren has made a name for herself as an advocate for consumer protection and become a regular target of President Donald Trump. But this trip offered the first glimpse of what she may look like as a 2020 candidate.

"This is where it begins, person-to-person, town-to-town, across Iowa and across the country," she said, igniting cheers. "We're going to build a grassroots movement."

She also signalled a potential point of conflict within the Democratic primary field, suggesting billionaire candidates would not represent the party well if they used their personal wealth to help finance their campaigns. Billionaires including environmentalist Tom Steyer and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg are considering runs, and Steyer plans to visit Iowa on Wednesday.

"I think that campaigns should not be for sale," she said.

Known for her ability to rouse crowds with her takedowns of Wall Street and Trump, Warren promised to "persist."

Despite the friendly reception that Warren received, retired teacher Carla Hawkins of Council Bluffs was far from ready to commit.

"I'm ready for something good, something better," she said. "But I still don't know enough about Sen. Warren. And there are so many others looking into it. It's too early for me to say."

High school senior Maggie Bashore said she was curious, but looking for someone younger than Warren, who is 69.

"We need somebody who is focusing on our generation," Bashore said. "We need someone who knows we're going to be the ones taking care of the planet."

Though Warren announced the formation of a presidential exploratory committee Monday, Friday's event had all the trappings of a full-blown campaign.

Warren's staff logged the names and contact information for those interested in more information.

"I'm here to ask every one of you to be a part of this," Warren said. "Join us in this because this is about what we can do together."

Iowa's caucuses, local political meetings held statewide and run by the party, are scheduled to begin the 2020 nominating campaign in February 2020.

Warren's visit is an effort to gain an early advantage in the state. Other Democratic presidential prospects are expected to announce their plans in the coming weeks, and have been in touch for weeks with party leaders, activists and potential staff in Iowa.
Youd think Gov. Greg Abbott would know by now that governing by tweet like President Donald Trump does isnt a good idea. Yet there he was Thursday using Twitter to call for a state takeover of Houston public schools without any hint of how that would make anything better.

What a joke, Abbott tweeted in response to an op-ed published in the Chronicle that argued against state intervention in Houstons troubled school district. HISD leadership is a disaster. Their self-centered ineptitude has failed the children they are supposed to educate. If ever there was a school board that needs to be taken over and reformed its HISD. Their students & parents deserve change.

Abbotts right about the need for change. We share his concern over board members and some administrators who have continually failed to improve schools on the states bad list. But parents and students want to know what remedy the governor has in mind. If he and his appointee, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath, are going to put a state-appointed board in charge of Houstons schools, they need to explain a few things, including how HISDs community connection would be maintained.

While hes at it, the governor should explain why Houston should take his advice when he hasnt managed to lead the Legislature in its own education crisis: failure to adequately fund public schools.

Current law allows the Texas Education Agency to assume operation of any district with even a single school given five straight improvement required ratings or close the failing school. Some critics say the 2015 law is a ruse to privatize public schools. TEA officials, led by Morath, have tried to calm fears and win community trust. Abbotts impulsive Twitter insults feed the fear.

Nationally, there is little evidence that state takeovers really work. A 50-state study by Rutgers University researchers concluded that state takeovers yield more gains in central office activities than in classroom instructional practices. State takeovers have occurred in Texas, but not in a large urban district like Houston, and not generally for student performance. State intervention in El Paso was prompted by cheating; in Beaumont, by fiscal mismanagement.

Still, the clock is running out for HISD. Highland Heights Elementary, Henry Middle and Kashmere and Wheatley High Schools could receive a fifth consecutive failing grade in August, triggering a takeover or their closure. HISD trustees recently shot down the idea of any outside partnership, such as the one Mayor Sylvester Turner supported, to avoid a state takeover.

Many have lost faith in HISDs volatile board, known for raucous meetings and juvenile squabbles. Abbott isnt inspiring much more confidence with his knee-jerk tweet. The governor should either weigh in constructively, or leave it to his education commissioner.
NEW WAVERLY  He only caught two fish Friday, but Derrick Taylor enjoyed his outing on a sunny day at Stubblefield Lake in the Sam Houston National Forest. He noticed, though, that he and a friend were among the few gathered at the lake.

Taylor, 37, said he comes out to fish about two or three times a year at Stubblefield and typically sees more people fishing or using the campground. Taylor didnt mind the solitude on Friday.

Its a nice day to be out, said Taylor.

On the 14th day of the federal government shutdown, the Sam Houston National Forest remained open to visitors but had limited services available due to the lapse in funding. The rangers office has closed and some campgrounds have been shut down.

Other national parks and forests across the country also have been affected by the shutdown, with some reports of trash piling up or restrooms in need of cleaning. And on Friday, The Washington Post reported that three people had died in accidents at National Parks Service sites since the shutdown, calling into question the governments decision to leave them accessible with so few staff or services.

The victims, the Post reported, were a 14-year-old girl who fell 700 feet to her death at the Glen Canyon Recreation Area in Arizona, a man who died after suffering a head injury from a fall at Yosemite National Park in California, and a woman killed by a falling tree at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which straddles the borders of North Carolina and Tennessee.

More Information National Park Spots- including historic trails, monuments and other Alibates Flint Quarries- Fritch Amistad- Del Rio Big Bend- Rio Grande Big Thicket- Beaumont Chamizal- El Paso El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro- New Mexico Fort Davis- Fort Davis Guadalupe Mountains- Salt Flat Lake Meredith- Fritch Lyndon B Johnson- Johnson City Padre Island- Corpus Christi Palo Alto Battlefield- Brownsville Rio Grande- Rio Grande San Antonio Missions- San Antonio Waco Mammoth- Waco National Forests Angelina National Forest-Zavalla Davy Crockett National Forest- Kennard Sabine National Forest-Hemphill Sam Houston National Forest- New Waverly See More Collapse

During the partial government shutdown national parks will remain as accessible as possible while still following all applicable laws and procedures, Jeremy Barnum, spokesperson for the National Parks Service, wrote in an email to the Houston Chronicle on Thursday. Services that require staffing and maintenance such as campgrounds and full service restrooms will not be operating.

In Sam Houston National Forest, the ranger station was deserted Friday and only a few cars were parked at Lone Star Hiking Trail No. 1. The forest encompasses more than 160,000 acres in an area including Huntsville, Conroe, Cleveland and Richards.

Cathy Murphy, 72, enjoyed a New Years Day trek on the Lone Star Hiking Trail with about 20 others.

Despite the lack of trash collection service, the trail was clean; no trash bins are on the route, said Murphy, a board member and volunteer for the Lone Star Hiking Trail Club since 1995. Murphy said she was notified by a forest staff member that Cagle and Stubblefield Campgrounds are closed, as well as Scotts Ridge.

Murphy said the New Years Day hike was her first since knee replacement surgery in late November, and she was proud to complete two miles. She said the hikers encountered other groups enjoying the forest.

It was fun to see families out on New Years Day, taking the kids out into the woods, said Murphy by phone on Thursday. We usually have a pretty good turnout on New Years Day because its (a) new years resolution and folks just want to start out the new year on a healthy note.

Walker County Judge Danny Pierce said recent wet, cold weather may have reduced the impact of the reduced services at the national forest. Even so, he expects his office  which has no oversight over federal facilities  might get some calls from residents as the weather improves.

Its a big draw, especially for the Houston region, said Pierce. Its a great place for hiking. Its a beautiful forest. Its a good buffer between us and the metropolitan areas. Its kind of breath of fresh air.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which includes the National Forest Service, said in a news release that certain services such as law enforcement and disaster response would continue during the shutdown.

However, recreation sites across the U.S. National Forest system would close unless they are operated by external parties under a recreational special use permit, the release said. Visitors can enter closed sites at their own risk.

Stephanie Garcia, spokesperson for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, said national park staff are maintaining the grounds and livestock at the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, which is near the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site.

At Big Bend National Park in southwest Texas, gates remain open, but campgrounds, visitor centers and restrooms are closed, and no rangers are on duty to issue back-country permits or provide information.

With no staffers to empty trash, clean facilities, lead educational programs or check people in and out, officials closed the parks three campgrounds  Chisos Basin, Rio Grande Village and Cottonwood. Most visitors appeared to be sticking to the no-camping dictate, but some backpackers were spotted this week pitching tents at remote sites in the Chisos Mountain Basin and in the desert at the sprawling park.

A few heavily trafficked areas at the park, including the Santa Elena Canyon trailhead and trail, Old Maverick Road and the Boquillas border crossing, were also closed.

All other trails, however, including the parks iconic South Rim trail and Lost Mines Trail, remain open, and a steady stream of guests checked in and out of the Chisos Mountain Lodge and bought supplies at the basins park store, which are operated by Forever Resorts, a private concessionaire. The parks two service stations are open, too.

At this time our operations have not been affected, Louis Carpenter, operations manager for the lodge, said Friday. Were open for business. This is our high season and our occupancy rate has not been affected.

 Correspondent Pam LeBlanc contributed to this story.

brooke.lewis@chron.com

twitter\brookelewisa
Harris County Sheriffs Office investigators continued to pore over a flood of tips after releasing a composite sketch of the gunman responsible for killing 7-year-old Jazmine Barnes this week in east Harris County.

The sketch  which shows a scruffy white man in a black hoodie  and an enhanced video of the red pickup he is believed to have been driving  stirred public tips about the case, officials said.

The young African-American girl was shot to death around 7 a.m. on Sunday while riding in a car with her mother and three sisters. Her mother, LaPorsha Washington, was shot in the arm and two other sisters were injured by flying glass.

'SHE'S PART OF US': Killing of child strikes hard in Jazmine Barnes neighborhood, according to HoustonChronicle.com report

Now Playing: Surveillance video was released by Harris County Sheriff's Office of footage near the scene of the Dec. 30 shooting death of 7-year-old Jazmine Barnes. The video was captured shortly before the shooting. Video: Harris County Sheriff's Office

The killing stunned Harris County and sparked a nationwide outpouring of grief and anger amid concerns about a racially motivated attack. Prominent civil rights activists offered a reward of $100,000 for information leading to the killer.

HOW YOU CAN HELP Do you have information that might help solve this case? Contact local authorities at 713-221-6000 or 713-222-TIPS. See More Collapse

Law enforcement said they were aware of speculation the killing was race-related, but stressed the need to follow the evidence and avoid premature conclusions.

On Friday, speculation and interest about the case continued to run rampant across social media, as some Twitter users posted photos of possible suspects.

The case also brought additional attention from government officials. On evening, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, held an impromptu news conference near the site of the shooting calling for the formation of a law enforcement task force devoted to apprehending the girls killer.

Who would do such a dastardly deed, and steal the life of a little girl? she said, in a news release.

Sheriff Ed Gonzalez has said he assigned significant resources to the case, setting up a mobile command center to coordinate field operations and coordinating with state and federal agencies as the investigation continued.

He also acknowledged concerns the killing was racially motivated but declined to speculate on the motive.

Its a whodunnit right now, he said, Thursday. Once I determine who did it and where this vehicle is, then well understand motive a little bit better.

U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Houston, issued a statement Friday urging the public with information about the case to call Houston Crime Stoppers. He said Jazmine had been senselessly murdered.

We cannot rest as a community until the man who shot and killed Jazmine Barnes is brought to justice, he said, in the statement. Silence is not an option. This young girls murder cannot become simply another hashtag.

A community gathering is set for noon Saturday at the Walmart at 5655 East Sam Houston Parkway near the site of the shooting. The funeral is scheduled for Tuesday.

st.john.smith@chron.com
Jazmine Barnes should have been looking forward to celebrating her 8th birthday next month  planning a party and making a wish list of gifts.

Instead, hundreds gathered Saturday in memory of the young girl who was killed in a drive-by shooting near a northeast Houston Walmart early last Sunday, a stunning incident that also left her sisters and mother injured by bullets and flying glass shards.

An almost weeklong manhunt for the shooter  described by the family as a white man with blue eyes driving a red four-door pickup  has captivated the nation and resulted in athletes and celebrities pledging donations to the family and a reward topping $100,000 for information leading to an arrest.

It is going to be Justice for Jazmine. I feel it in my heart, because there are too many people out here looking for this man, her mother, LaPorsha Washington, said Saturday. Were going to find him, no matter where we got to turn and no matter what rock we got to go under. Were going to find you.

A crowd of several hundred encircled activist Deric Muhammad, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez and community organizers during the two-hour rally. They often paused to chant Justice for Jazmine, as Muhammad called them Jazmines Army.

This is a beautiful response to a horrific tragedy, Muhammad said, as some onlookers stood on top of their cars in the Walmart parking lot. We have to find out who killed this baby. We have to find out for all the little other Jazmines who are out there that could be in danger as well.

Many who spoke said they feared the shooting was racially motivated.

People may get angry at us for saying it, but hell, everybody is already thinking it, Muhammad said, adding that those in attendance should be careful about using the composite sketch of the alleged killer to rush an apprehension of the wrong person.

U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, called Jazmine the nations child and asked for a federal task force to investigate the fatal shooting and for the federal government to issue a manhunt.

We have some problems in Washington, something called a shutdown, Jackson Lee said. But there are essential employees that never leave their desk, and that is the federal law enforcement. That is the database that covers hate crimes  legislation that is now a federal offense. It is in no ones interest to dumb down this incident.

Gonzalez said investigators had been working the case every single day, scouring over tips sent in by the public.

I made a commitment on behalf of the sheriffs office and myself that we would not rest until we brought the killer to justice, Gonzalez said. We must stop this violence against anyone. Against anyone. We will not stop until we get justice for Jazmine.

Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia had a message for the killer.

Dont live in a life of hell. Turn yourself in, he said. Be a man at least. You cannot live with this in your heart and your memory.

Rapper Paul Wall, who also spoke at Saturdays rally, called the little girl the angel of Houston.

This is our angel now. This is our angel of Houston, Wall said. Jazmine represents something bigger. Something that we must stand for. We cannot fold for this.

Jazmines great-aunt Elizabeth Cevilla-Perez through tears said she was amazed by the outpouring of support from the community and the hundreds gathered at the Walmart parking lot Saturday.

They dont even know her and here they are supporting us, she said. Im so proud to be a Houstonian right now.

michelle.iracheta@chron.com
Three days after most of the federal workforce was furloughed on Dec. 21, a 14-year-old girl fell 700 feet to her death at the Horseshoe Bend Overlook, part of the Glen Canyon Recreation Area in Arizona. The following day, Christmas, a man died at Yosemite National Park in California after suffering a head injury from a fall. On Dec. 27, a woman was killed by a falling tree at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which straddles the borders of North Carolina and Tennessee.

The deaths follow a decision by Trump administration officials to leave the scenic - but sometimes deadly - parks open even as the Interior Department has halted most of its operations. During previous extended shutdowns, the National Park Service barred access to many of its sites across the nation.

National Park Service spokesman Jeremy Barnum said in an email that an average of six people die each week in the park system, a figure that includes "accidents like drownings, falls, and motor vehicle crashes and medical related incidents such as heart attacks."

"Throughout the year, the National Park System offers a wide range of visitor experiences in unique landscapes with potential hazards that may exist at parks across the nation," Barnum said. "Visitors can reduce their risk of injury if they plan ahead and prepare properly, select the most appropriate activity that matches their skill set and experience, seek information before they arrive at the park about hazards and environmental conditions, follow rules and regulations and use sound judgement while recreating."

In 1995 and 2013, respectively, the Clinton and Obama administrations made the decision to close the parks altogether. Officials came to the conclusion that it would jeopardize public safety and the parks' integrity to keep them open, but the closures also became a political cudgel for Democrats because they exemplified one of the most popular aspects of federal operations that had ground to a halt.

In January 2018, White House budget director Mick Mulvaney and then-Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke made the decision to keep national park sites as accessible as possible in the event of a shutdown. Trump officials forged ahead with the plan - but that shutdown only lasted for three days.

The current shutdown enters the third week on Saturday.

Several former Park Service officials, along with the system's advocates, said in interviews that activities such as viewing animals and hiking outdoors can carry a greater risk when fewer employees are around.

Diane Regas, president and chief executive of the Trust for Public Land, said the group has sent a letter to President Donald Trump calling on him to close all national parks. In an interview Friday, she said administration officials may have underestimated the broad scope of what it takes to maintain these sites.

"I think we all know that not having bathrooms is a nuisance. What I think people forget is, not having adequate sewage treatment can be dangerous," Regas said. "When you bring people together, running these parks is like running a small city.

"We are taking risks with some of our most treasured natural resources without knowing that we're doing our best to protect people, that we're doing our best to protect park resources," she said. "When it comes to our national parks, I just don't believe that's acceptable."

The Park Service estimates that up to 16,000 of its 19,000-person workforce is furloughed during the shutdown. Officials said services such as cleanup and maintenance vary from park to park, due to agreements with concessions and surrounding municipalities that are donating services, such as trash collection and road clearing.

Still, roughly half a dozen rangers are currently available to patrol Yosemite National Park, for example, which is about the size of Rhode Island. Officials said skeleton crews are working to close off hazardous areas covered in snow and ice.

On Christmas Eve, the 14-year-old girl raced from the lot where her parents parked to see the Horseshoe Bend Overlook, a dramatic cliff that looks out to a peninsula of jagged rock. After a long search, her parents reported her missing about 5 p.m., triggering an emergency response, according to the Coconino County Sheriff's Office. She was discovered near the cliff near dark, forcing authorities to wait and retrieve her body the next morning.

National Park Service officials said rangers responding to an emergency call found the second victim at Yosemite with a head wound, apparently from a short fall. They did not confirm social media chatter from other visitors that he ran after a dog that he illegally brought into the park. The man, who was not identified, died of his injuries.

A spokesman for the Pacific West Region of the Park Service said the public wasn't notified of the Yosemite death because of the shutdown and that it is also delaying an investigation into its causes. "We aren't releasing more details because the incident remains under investigation, said Andrew Munoz, acting chief of public and congressional affairs for the region.

Two days after the Yosemite incident, 42-year-old Laila Jiwani was killed by a falling tree on Porter Creek Trail in the Smoky Mountains. One of Jiwani's two children, a 6-year-old, was airlifted to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, according to a Park Service spokesman.

Frank Dean, president and chief executive of the Yosemite Conservancy, said in a phone interview that the park's staff is doing its best under challenging circumstances.

"This is the first time in a long-term shutdown where the parks have remained open," said Dean, who served as a park ranger and assistant to the superintendent in Yosemite before going on to become superintendent for the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. "What we're finding now is it's not really working, because you've got understaffing. As this thing drags on, you've got free access and no guidance."

Daniel Wenk, who served as Yellowstone National Park's superintendent until retiring in September, said in an interview that not having a robust presence could impede the agency's response to an emergency.

"A casual cross-country skier would want to go to Tower Falls" in Yellowstone, Wenk said. "If they suffer a heart attack - every year you have that - we wouldn't be able to quickly respond. You might be dramatically delayed. It's correct, people die in national parks all the time. If you can attribute [the shutdown] to people not being able to get to them for an hour and a half, that's another story."

While a handful of major parks have remained open during past shutdowns, many agency staffers had not anticipated that the budget impasse would persist this long. Now some superintendents are closing off areas of their parks as it drags on, having determined that they cannot adequately protect either the habitat, wildlife or visitors.

Mount Rainier's National Park Inn has been cleaning toilets and collecting trash at its own expense, but will stop doing that after breakfast on Sunday. Melinda Simpson, operations manager at the concessionaire Rainier Guest Services, said that after that point, the National Park Service "will be then closing the park and locking the gates."

"We couldn't continue to operate under these conditions, and really wish we could. It's very disappointing," she said, noting that the operation's 45 employees would have to go without pay while it was shut down. "We are just waiting and looking forward to welcoming the guests when they open up the park again."

Kristen Brengel, vice president of government affairs for the National Parks Conservation Association, said that superintendents need the freedom to shutter parks if they determine it is no longer sustainable to keep them accessible.

"The political pressure to keep the parks open is overriding some of these judgment calls," she said in an interview. "We need a release valve here for the Park Service, so they can do the right thing."

In addition to restrooms not being maintained and visitors not being properly warned and guided by staff, crews cannot work to prepare parks for the summer season and fix roads. Vehicle accidents ranked second behind drowning as a cause of death in parks in 2007, according to the last comprehensive tally released to the public.
WASHINGTON - On the first Friday of the year, tourists roamed the National Mall searching for signs of life.

The Smithsonian museums were closed. So, too, was the carousel on the National Mall, its painted horses frozen in place.

Tourism in the District of Columbia typically slows down in January. Hotels have fewer guests, and restaurants are less crowded. Washingtonians and visitors alike shop a little less.

But the partial government shutdown has deepened the lull.

Business owners, taxi drivers and others who rely on foot traffic have watched revenue slump as parts of the government ground to a halt. Should the shutdown persist for "months or even years," as President Donald Trump said it could Friday, its effect on the District will only worsen.

This isn't the District's first go-round with a government shutdown, though it's already one of the longest.

In 2013, the federal government suspended operations for 16 days as Congress sparred over the Affordable Care Act. The longest shutdown was in 1995. It lasted three weeks.

Previous standoffs have taught business owners and tour guides how to adapt.

"Six years ago it was like, 'Oh my God, the city's shut down. We're going to have to cancel our trip.' But now, we've all been here before and people are realizing a lot of what the District has to offer has nothing to do with the federal government," said Elliott Ferguson, president of Destination DC, the city's tourism arm. "They've realized a government shutdown doesn't mean we've put a padlock on New York Avenue."

Hotels are seeing fewer cancellations than in past shutdowns, Ferguson said, and fewer tour groups have called Destination DC in a panic. Two conventions scheduled this month are expected to bring about 27,000 people and $33 million to the city.

"Right now, we're all hoping that this will end soon," Ferguson said. "But in the meantime, we want everyone to know D.C. is open for business."

Getting that message out has been a challenge for small businesses, especially those near closed attractions.

Yael Krigman, owner of Baked by Yael, a bakery across from the National Zoo, said she's leaned more heavily on catering and "cake pop parties" in lieu of the usual zoo-goer foot traffic.

It hasn't been easy.

"It's not as though January was going to be our best season anyway, but that's why we really rely on the zoo even more than in other months, because people aren't sending gifts and throwing parties as much as they do in December or February," Krigman said. "But people still go to the zoo - when it's open."

Private museums have worked with tour guides to fill gaps in tourists' schedules left by shuttered public attractions. The Newseum and Madame Tussauds wax museum are offering free admission for furloughed federal workers.

"During shutdowns, we always see an increase - especially of tour groups who are trying to change their itineraries at the last minute," said Sonya Gavankar, director of public relations for the Newseum.

The National Geographic museum isn't fully operational, with two rotating exhibits closed for construction, but spokeswoman Lexie de los Santos said the museum also has seen a "significant increase in the number of people visiting."

Still, museumofficials and city leaders say no one wants to see the shutdown persist.

"During a shutdown, there are no winners and our nation's federal workers, including the 170,000 federal employees who work in Washington, DC, pay the highest price," District Mayor Muriel Bowser wrote in a letter to Trump last week.

Dawit Kassa, 41, a full-time Lyft driver from Arlington, Virginia, who works primarily in downtown Washington, said his earnings have been halved since the shutdown began.

During periods that would normally be busy, Kassa has sat idle up to 40 minutes between calls. Usually, he said, he has another ride lined up by the time he's dropping a customer off.

"It's so slow," he said. "And it's not just me. You know, drivers talk. We call each other. I have friends who drive taxis and Uber and we all call each other to ask, 'Hey, do you have a ride?' Everyone who works out here on the street is suffering."

Unemployment claims in the District since the shutdown began exceeded 1,200 as of Friday, which marked a full pay period for unpaid federal workers.

Claims typically spike during shutdowns because federal workers are not guaranteed back pay and government contractors lose their source of income.

During the 16-day shutdown in 2013, the city processed about 5,000 unemployment claims. District officials expect to meet or exceed that number, depending on how long the present shutdown lasts. About 800,000 workers around the country are affected, with about a quarter of the federal government shuttered.

As the sun set Friday, a smattering of tourists posed for pictures on the Mall outside wrought iron fences.

Minwa and Khafe Oshingbemi, a married couple from Nigeria, took turns taking photos that appeared to show each being pricked by the top of the Washington Monument. It was their first time in Washington.

"What are we going to do?" Minwa Oshingbemi said with a shrug. "We're here now."

A few feet away, a tour guide on a Segway rolled past, trailed by a line of visitors.

"Usually, this is just overflowing with people," he said. "Not today."
Christina Zhous shoe closet would make even Carrie Bradshaw envious.

Its a tiny nook, but its packed with designer shoes  from Jimmy Choo to Jessica Simpson. Theres even a sign on the wall with actress Sarah Jessica Parkers autograph.

Ask how many pairs of shoes she owns, and Zhou laughs. There are more upstairs, so I think 400 or 500 pairs, she says bashfully.

Zhous love for heels in particular prompted her to create a style blog, QQs Blogs, in which she also showcases her love of cooking and entertaining.

I grew up in China, and my mom always had a pot of soup on the stove when we got home, so I challenged myself to cook a meal five times a week, said the mother of two, Eddie, 16, and Kevin, 14.

Zhou posts the meals she prepares and dishes about her culinary hits, including the rib-eye with stir-fry greens topped with steamed rice. There are some misses, like the time she nearly burned off her eyebrows and her well-manicured nails while cooking fried pork, meatballs and bean curd. Still, her posts generate fans from Asia to Australia.

I got so many messages of encouragement, she says. People may be intimidated about preparing certain dishes, but they see how I did and are empowered to try it.

More Information Home: Missouri City Style: Classic and feminine. "I'm always a girly girl. I like hats, heels, lipstick and long hair." Favorite designers: Diane von Furstenberg, Gucci and Versace How many pairs of shoes: 400-500 Movie you've seen over and over: "Forrest Gump" and "Gone With the Wind" Best beauty product: Dior or YSL lipsticks Music that moves you: "Six Gymnopedies" by Erik Satie and Chopin Favorite travel destination: Alaska Book that changed your life: "Dream of the Red Chamber" (It's one of China's great classical novels.) Favorite food: Rice noodles Fragrance: Fantasia de Fleurs by Creed Best advice received: "Never give up." See More Collapse

Though shoes, food and travel are among her many hobbies, Zhou is a passionate businesswoman who moved to Houston at age 21 with an economics degree. She went on to earn her masters degree in management information systems from the University of Houston. Shes a commercial real-estate investor who owns shopping centers and a Quality Inn in north Houston.

A lot of my tenants are immigrants, and Ive seen them grow their businesses from one location to three, she says. Its important for me to help encourages businesses like this. You feel like you are part of their lives.

Zhou recently chaired the Asian Chamber of Commerce gala, which honored area entrepreneurs and philanthropists, including Simiao Cori Xiong of Mala Sichuan Bistro, Michael Chang and Mandy Kao, a former Houston Chronicle Best Dressed honoree.

At home, Zhou is surrounded by her favorite things. Theres a collection of miniature perfume bottles in the master bathroom and a wall of magnets from nearly every city, state or country in which shes traveled. She also has two Chinese character books that belonged to her late father and had been passed down in his family. She estimates the books to be 500 years old.

Books, she says, have always been a part of her life. If I dont read a chapter of a book a day, I feel like I didnt have a shower that day.

Zhou says she is an avid learner and challenges herself to learn as much as she can about one food item a year. So far, shes become an expert on olive oil, salt, wine, vinegar and cheese, she says.

For 2019, she exploring her sweet tooth and plans to study ice cream.

There are so many flavors and methods of making ice cream. I have two teenagers, so all I have to do is taste, and they can eat the rest, she says.

joy.sewing@chron.com
You rarely find seafood on a barbecue-joint menu for good reason. Unlike the muscular flavor and texture of pork and beef, the culinary qualities of seafood are more subtle.

Blasting a piece of fish with wave after wave of heat and smoke would yield predictable results. Imagine placing a filet of Dover sole next to a typical 12-pound brisket on the rack of an offset smoker and cooking it for 12 hours. The filet would mostly vaporize after 12 minutes, much less 12 hours.

Still, there are some traditional dishes that combine barbecue and seafood, even if it is in name only. Barbecue crabs are a Southeast Texas original, though they are actually deep-fried with a barbecuelike seasoning rather than smoked. And no trip to New Orleans would be complete without a visit to Mr. Bs Bistro to order a bowl of Barbequed Shrimp, which again takes its name from the spicy seasoning rather than the preparation (they are sauteed and not smoked).

However, one dish faithfully combines the fire and smoke of barbecue with a classic regional seafood ingredient: grilled oysters.

The recipe is simple. Take a Gulf Coast oyster on the half-shell and place it on a wood-fired grill. Ladle on a mixture of melted butter, garlic and grated Parmesan cheese and let cook for a few minutes until the oyster begins to curl and the butter mixture is bubbling. Plate and serve.

Gilhooleys Restaurant and Oyster Bar 222 9th St., San Leon 281-339-3813 Cash only LISTEN: Love the smell of wood smoke in the morning? Join J.C. Reid, Alison Cook and Greg Morago as they discuss barbecue culture with special guests by subscribing to the Chronicle's BBQ State of Mind podcast on Apple's Podcasts, or visit houstonchronicle.com/bbqpodcast. See More Collapse

The combination of the oyster meat and juice (liquor) with the butter mixture and the smoky flavor thats picked up through grilling is one of my favorite winter dishes. The weeks after New Years Day are peak oyster season and the best time to enjoy both raw and grilled versions.

Whats unique about oysters that makes them amenable to a grilling preparation? One clarification is needed here. The best grilled oysters arent just any oysters  they are Gulf Coast oysters.

The Crassostrea virginica, as the Gulf Coast oyster is scientifically known, is among the largest and meatiest of all oysters. It is one of the few oyster species with the flavor and anatomy to stand up to grilling. Unlike many of the smaller and daintier oysters harvested in Europe, Japan and the West Coast of the U.S., Gulf Coast oysters are big and brawny.

As long as a hundred-dollar bill is a phrase often used to describe a Gulf Coast oyster in season. Unlike some smaller Pacific oysters that can be easily consumed in one slurp, Ive seen some people take a knife and fork to the biggest Gulf Coast specimens.

So it was only a matter of time before the culinary wizards of the Gulf Coast came up with the idea to grill oysters. Antoines Restaurant in New Orleans is credited with inventing one of the first cooked-oyster recipes  Oysters Rockefeller.

Dragos Seafood Restaurant in Metairie just north of New Orleans has been credited with inventing the traditional grilled-oyster recipe with butter, garlic and cheese.

In Houston, Brennans, Ragin Cajun and Jimmy Gs have been serving grilled oysters for years. Newer restaurants such as Liberty Kitchen, Eunice and La Lucha are also getting into the act.

But the undisputed king of grilled oysters in the Houston area is Gilhooleys Restaurant and Oyster Bar in the small fishing town of San Leon on Galveston Bay. The best and biggest oysters go straight from the bay onto the grills at Gilhooleys. Menuwise, Oysters Gilhooley is the classic recipe with butter, garlic and Parmesan. The bar also serves a variation known as Oysters Shrimphooley, with a chunk of peeled shrimp on top.

Gilhooleys incomparable oysters, rustic atmosphere and strict no-kids policy have made it a cult favorite among Southeast Texas food connoisseurs. Beyond grilled oysters, get a dozen of the raw oysters, too. But beware, during peak season those oysters are big. You might even need a knife and fork.

J.C. Reid is the Chronicle's barbecue columnist. He also is the co-host of BBQ State of Mind, a podcast covering barbecue news from Texas and around the world, and co-founder of the Houston Barbecue Festival. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook, or send barbecue tips and questions to jcreid@jcreidtx.com.
Trippie Redd seems to thrive on dramatic scenarios involving women. The latest saga of the like focuses on a Youtuber's girlfriend. For some reason, the video entertainer took to social media to warn Trippie against messing with his girlfriend, a warning the rapper chose to disregard. View the clips below.

"Trippie Redd, I don't f*ck with your music cause you cry in every song," he mocks." Stop liking my bitch pics before I drop a diss track and a video on you." The dude who goes by Solluminati then mentioned Redd's ex-girlfriend, advising Trippie to go find her again rather than trying to mess with someone else's chick. "Find Ayleks. She out here being a thot thot somewhere. 6ix9ine is locked up, my n*gga."

The "Love Scars" artist did not take heed. Soon after these videos were uploaded online, the rapper posted a picture of Solluminati's girlfriend in his IG story. He took the trolling to another level by editing the image, replacing the woman's crotch for his open mouthed-face. Trippie might be trying to flip the script that played out last year. Tekashi 6ix9ine had tried to humiliate him multiple times with Redd's ex before his imprisonment.
Photo: The Canadian Press Police rope off the scene of a shooting at a bowling alley in Torrance, Calif., early Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019. The Torrance Police Department responded to calls of "shots fired" at the Gable House Bowl shortly before midnight, Friday. Multiple victims were found with gunshot wounds inside the bowling ally, which is described on its website as a gaming venue that offers bowling, laser tag and a full arcade.

A late-night fight at a suburban Los Angeles bowling alley turned deadly late Friday night, killing three men and injuring four.

Police in the coastal city of Torrance responded to calls of "shots fired" at the Gable House Bowl shortly before midnight.

Multiple victims were found with gunshot wounds inside Gable House Bowl, which is described on its website as a gaming venue that offers bowling, laser tag and an arcade.

When officers arrived, they found seven people had been shot, Sgt. Ronald Harris, a police spokesman, said.

Three people were pronounced dead at the scene and two others were taken to a hospital with injuries. Two other people were struck by gunfire but "opted to seek their own medical attention," Harris said.

Three men died at the scene and four male victims were injured, two of whom were transported to a hospital for unknown injuries, police said. The other two injured sought their own medical attention.

Authorities have not released details about what led to the shooting, but witnesses said it stemmed from a fight between two large groups of people at the bowling alley.

Investigators were at the scene trying to "identify the suspects and whoever else was involved," he said.

"Our hearts go out to the families who lost loved ones during this incident," Harris said in a news conference at the scene.

Wes Hamad, a 29-year-old Torrance resident, was at the bowling alley with his 13-year-old niece and cousin when he saw a "huge fight" break out. Hamad said the brawl, which lasted about five minutes, blocked the entrance of Gable House Bowl and devolved into "complete chaos."

"I grabbed my niece and started running toward the far end of the bowling alley," he said. "As we were running, we heard 15 shots."

As he was leaving, Hamad said he saw a woman weeping over a man who had multiple gunshot wounds in his head and neck.

Damone Thomas was in the karaoke section of Gable House Bowl, a regular stop for him and his friends after work on Fridays, when people ran in saying there was a shooting. The 30-year-old Los Angeles resident said his friend flipped over one of the tables to shield them as they heard gunshots.

Thomas said he didn't feel scared because he was "just trying to survive." But when he was driving back home, he said he realized how traumatic the situation was and said he hasn't been able to fall asleep. "Closing my eyes, all I can see is the women against the wall crying, not knowing what to do," he said.

Both Thomas and Hamad said they had never witnessed any violence there in the past, but Hamad said he had stopped going for a while because he heard someone with a gun was recently seen there.

"I definitely won't be going back anymore," he added.
Beyonce and Jay-Zs Apeshit video was a smash hit in 2018. The artistic visuals were shot in The Louvre, and highlighted several of the most famous pieces of art on the planet. The Carters blessed the world with new music and Black excellence, reestablishing their dominance in the culture. We already reported that The Carters were credited with being a factor in The Louvre's rise in attendance. Now, the official website for the historic museum has released the numbers.

"The Musee du Louvre had a record 10.2 million visitors in 2018an increase of 25% in comparison with 2017," reads the statement from the museum's website. "No other museum in the world has ever equaled this figure... Elsewhere in the world, interest in the Louvre was bolstered by the Louvre Abu Dhabi (which recently celebrated its first anniversary), and by Beyonce and JAY-Zs 'Apes**t' video, with its tribute to some of the museums greatest artworks."

Im delighted that the Louvre is so popular, stated the Louvres president-director Jean-Luc Martinez. Our goal is not so much to attract more visitors as to provide better visiting conditions. The recent changes we have made and are continuing to implement (clearer signage, translation of texts, etc.) have improved the quality of visitor reception."
The final details for A$AP Rocky's upcoming "Injured Generation" tour were kept a secret until the very last minute. Yesterday evening, Pretty Flacko used the visual medium he prefers to announce the supporting acts for the tour. The video reel runs for less than a minute. An individual in a wheelchair speaks to his impairment, hidden behind strobe lights and back curtains. Inevitably, the video is spooky in nature, so Tweeters and Redditors reacted accordingly.

As for the openers submitted to the "Injured Generation," they are Playboi Carti, Ski Mask the Slump God, and Comethazine, with no set order of operation. Although the openers have been outright confirmed, fans have noticed discrepancies in the information section posted by each eTicket merchant engaged in the process.

All the links provided are contained in this URL, to a dizzying effect. The webpage is in itself, an indicator of A$AP Rocky experimental vision for the Testing project he debuted in May. Pretty Flacko and his guest will kick off the tour in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on the 4th of January, before wrapping things up in the month of February. "Injured Generation" will encompass show dates in Canada, specifically in Montreal and Toronto. Be sure to cop your tickets before they run out!
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Photo: Darren Handschuh

B.C. opposition leader Andrew Wilkinson will speak at a luncheon Tuesday jointly hosted by the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce and the Urban Development Institute.

Wilkinson, leader of the BC Liberals, is expected to talk about the year ahead in provincial politics, including the upcoming Nanaimo byelection, the speculation tax, and the recently defeated electoral reform referendum.

Tuesday's luncheon begins at noon at the Coast Capri Hotel.
You bet - Ill be there all weekend.

I plan to be there at least part of the time.

Im still a little leary because of the crowds.

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Photo: The Canadian Press

Many Americans said they were going to move to Canada if Donald Trump became president. But, two years later, there has been no massive stampede across the 49th parallel.

There was, however, a slight increase in Americans moving to Canada, which is why Kelowna's Tiffany Woodfield is a little busier these days. Woodfield is a cross-border-licensed associate financial advisor for Raymond James.

Its her job to make sure clients keep as much money as possible when they move to the Great White North.

Woodfield has noticed more Americans moving to the Okanagan, and says its a tricky issue that can cost people money if they dont know all the ins and outs of tax law.

We need to tell more people about this and educate, Woodfield said. "People are moving here, and they just dont know.

According to a Global News report earlier this year, 2,615 U.S. citizens were granted permanent residency in Canada during the first quarter of 2018. Over five quarters starting in January 2017, an average of 2,342 Americans were granted permanent residency.

The average per quarter between 2007 and 2016 was 2,131.

For more on this story, visit Okanagan Edge.
Frances Yellow Vest movement staged mostly peaceful anti-government daytime rallies on Saturday for the eighth weekend in a row, drawing about 25,000 people in various cities, double the total of a week ago.

French television showed thousands marching along the Seine in Paris to gather in front of the National Assembly as well as a large crowd amassed in front of the Place de la Bourse in Bordeaux. Several thousand Yellow Vest protesters also blocked highway traffic in Lyon, according to Agence France-Presse. About 25,000 had taken to the streets nationwide as of 3 pm, AFP reported, citing police sources.

Whereas several hundred people were detained by authorities during protests on previous Saturdays after showdowns between protesters and police forces, only a few reports emerged today. Still, as marchers dispersed around 4 p.m. local time in the French capital, tensions increased with firemen having to intervene to extinguish scooters and bins that had been set on fire, in particular on the posh Boulevard Saint-Germain.

French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said in a tweet that the violence would be assessed on a video-conference call and issued a request for all to respect the rule of law.

People across France have been donning the high-visibility vests that motorists must keep in their cars for about two months to express a range of grievances and demands, ranging from lower taxes and higher wages to better public services. The number of people rallying on the streets on Saturdays has consistently diminished after about 300,000 participated on the first Day of Action on Nov. 17.

French public opinion still largely backs the demands of the Yellow Vests, but support has waned after President Emmanuel Macron made concessions and some protesters turned violent, burning cars and looting stores. Macron last month announced hed boost the minimum wage, scrap taxes on overtime and year-end bonuses, and scrap a new tax on pensions. Most Yellow Vest leaders denounced the measures as inadequate and said protests would continue.
Two former officials of rail transport major Alstom accused of bribing officials of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to secure contracts in its Phase 1 construction have been acquitted by a UK court following a nearly 10-year investigation.

Britains Serious Fraud Office (SFO) had brought charges against the two officials  Graham Hill and Robert Hallett  as part of a wider investigation into suspected payment of bribes by companies within the Alstom group in the UK in 2009 as a result of information provided by the Office of the Attorney General in Switzerland.

Hill and Hallett were charged alongside the company in relation to bribing DMRC officials during the Delhi Metro Phase 1 between August 1, 2000 and August 9, 2006.

Hill, 74, was senior vice president in Alstoms Country Network based in Paris and a director of Alstom International Ltd., while Hallett, 55, was managing director of Alstom Transport India.

The SFO confirmed to Hindustan Times on Friday that reporting restrictions had now been lifted by the court hearing the complex case that investigated the companys activities in India, Poland, Tunisia, Lithuania and Hungary.

Graham Hill and Robert Hallett were charged alongside the company in relation to alleged corruption to win tram and signalling equipment contracts in India and Poland. They were acquitted of all charges, an SFO statement said.

Documents submitted in court had alleged that Hill and Hallett did corruptly give or agree to give the sum of Rs 19,895,000 disguised as payments in respect of a Consultancy Agreement with Indo European Ventures Pte Ltd dated September 12, 2001; and the sum of 3,131,600 euros disguised as a payment in respect of a Consultancy Agreement with Global King Technology Ltd dated May 3, 2002.

The payments were allegedly given as inducements or rewards for showing favour to the Alstom Group in relation to the award or performance of a contract with the said Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd for a Train Control, Signalling and Telecommunications System for the Delhi Metro Phase 1, the documents stated.

The two were acquitted in the DMRC case, but five others and Alstom were convicted in relation to other projects.

The company has appealed against conviction in the Tunisia case, while on its conviction in the Lithuania case, the project has not been handled by Alstom since the sale of Alstoms Energy Businesses to General Electric in November 2015.

Alstom has a strong compliance programme, which focuses on the strict respect of laws and regulations in force in all countries in which the group operates, with prevention of corruption measures as a top priority, the company said in a statement.

Alstom rules address and set clear guidelines for dealings with public authorities and customers and other areas of corruption risk. Alstom constantly seeks to improve its compliance programme and implement best in class compliance rules and processes.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to US president Donald Trump about the Parliament building India built in Kabul, considered a crowning achievement of Indias reconstruction efforts in war-torn Afghanistan, during their June 2017 meeting in the White House, according to people present.

But officials have not found the library that Trump cited to belittle Indias reconstruction efforts earlier this week, angering India, and also confusing it. Officials tried hard to find that library the US president was referring, and even the most experienced of Indias Afghan hands couldnt recall one.

Of all of Indias many reconstruction projects and works undertaken in Afghanistan, starting within days of the fall of the Taliban government in November 2001, India has been very proud of the parliament house it built for the country, as part of its reconstruction effort worth and estimated $3 to 5 billion.

The prime minister spoke to President Trump about the parliament building during their discussion on Afghanistan at the White House meeting, said a person who was present at the June 26 meeting in the White House but did not want to be identified so as to be able speak freely about a conversation that was supposed to have stayed confidential until Trump went public with it, and got it all wrong.

Taking questions from reporters before a meeting of his cabinet, the first of the year, telecast live, the US president said , I get along very well with India and Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi . But he is constantly telling me he built a library in Afghanistan.

The American leader was trying to make a point that US investments in Afghanistan  in personnel, materiel and money terms  were unmatched by that of allies and partners, a notion that was questioned and criticized from the moment it was mooted.

Okay, a library, he riffed, for effect, cameras trained on him.

Thats like  you now what that is it  thats like 5 hours of what we spend, the president said pinching his fore-finger and thumb to illustrate his point  that India was not doing a lot.

And we are supposed to say oh, thank you for the library, the president said, sarcasm intended, knowing he was on air, live and recording, which would be watched in New Delhi. He knows the medium better than most world leaders having found celebrity and recognition through a TV reality show he had helmed.

Indian officials have been in a google-it mode since, trying to figure out the library Trump has accused Modi of boasting about to him as evidence of Indian interest and commitment to the reconstruction of Afghanistan, a long time ally.

India has not built a library in Afghanistan, according to officials who have served long stints there. And they went back to their books from the time to make sure they did not miss it  you know, small operations that may have missed proper accounting if done in collaboration with private sector entities. But no, nothing came up.

After all the searches and deep dives, India appears to be confident President Tump mistook Prime Minister Modis pitch about the parliament building for the library which he had cited to belittle both India, as the facilitator for such an insignificant contribution in his view, and Afghanistan, the recipient, for having no use of it.

The parliament house, on the outskirts of Kabul, was built by an Indian private company under the oversight of the Public Works Department (PWD) of India for an estimated $90 million. The foundation stone was laid in 2005 by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

Prime Minister Modi and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani inaugurated it jointly the building 8 years after, in 2015, and New Delhi has since considered it as a crowning achievement of its efforts there, that have included highways, power projects, hospitals, transportation and support for the countrys financial systems.

This Parliament Complex is a small tribute to your progress as a nation and a democracy, Prime Minister Modi had said in his speech inaugurating the building. And, it will stand as an enduring symbol of the ties of emotions and values, of affection and aspirations that bind us in a special relationship.

A section of the complex is named Atal Block after Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who is understood to have mooted the project along with then President Karzai.

Official who have been present at Modis meetings with Trump insisted they never heard the prime minister speak as proudly and excitedly to the US president about any other Afghan projects  though there was plenty else to talk about  and were taken by Trumps reference to a library.
President Donald Trump said he could declare a national emergency to circumvent Congress and build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico, after telling Democrats hes prepared to keep part of the government shut down for a year or longer if his demands arent met.

Absolutely we can call a national emergency because of the security of our country, Trump said Friday at the White House. I havent done it. I may do it. We can call a national emergency and build it very quickly.

Trump continued to tweet about the wall on Saturday, terming the southern border very dangerous and claiming support from all sides for his position.

Trumps Friday comments were met with skepticism within his own party and sharp criticism from Democrats. Several lawmakers and experts said Congress would still be required to allocate the funds for the wall even if the president declared a national emergency.

He could declare an emergency, but that does not create the funding, said former Republican Senate Budget Committee staff director Bill Hoagland. Congress would still have to fund the emergency.

House Democrats suggested they would sue if Trump tries to declare a national emergency to build the wall.

The presidents authority in this area is intended for wars and genuine national emergencies, Evan Hollander, spokesman for the House Appropriations Committee, said in a statement. Asserting this authority to build a wasteful wall is legally dubious and would invite a legal challenge from Congress.

Trump made the comments moments after Democratic leaders left the White House saying thered been no progress toward a deal during a nearly two-hour meeting. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the meeting was contentious, and that Trump refused their proposal to reopen government and deal separately with the dispute over the wall.

We really can not resolve this until we open up government, and we made that clear to the president, Pelosi told reporters.

Trump, however, said moments later that the meeting had been productive. The sides agreed to meet over the weekend, and Trump expressed optimism that an agreement could be forged. The president tweeted Saturday that there is great support coming from all sides for Border Security (including Wall) on our very dangerous Southern Border.

All Democrats have to do to, Trump said in a second Twitter message, is approve REAL Border Security (including a Wall), something which everyone, other than drug dealers, human traffickers and criminals, want very badly! This would be so easy to do!

Parts of the U.S. government are now into a 15th day of shutdown after Trump refused to sign a spending bill that didnt include billions of dollars to continue construction of a border wall, his top campaign promise. He remains at an impasse with congressional Democrats, who consider the proposed wall a waste of money.

Douglas Holtz-Eakin, president of the American Action Forum and former director of the Congressional Budget Office, said Trump would still need Congress for the funds if he pursued the national emergency strategy.

Congress holds the purse strings, said Holtz-Eakin, who was served as chief economic policy adviser to Republican Senator John McCains 2008 presidential campaign. Thats the essence of this dispute. He can declare a national emergency all he wants, but wheres he going to get the money?

Washington Democrat Adam Smith, incoming chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said Trump would be harming the military if he tried to fund the wall through a national emergency declaration.

Diverting money from these military construction accounts could have substantial impacts for service members at installations across the country and on defense projects that are important in supporting readiness, training, operations, and quality of life for military personnel and their families, Smith said.

The standoff has shuttered nine of the 15 federal departments and left hundreds of thousands of workers on furlough or working without pay. Asked whether he accepted responsibility for the shutdown, Trump responded: You can call it the Schumer or the Pelosi or the Trump shutdown, it doesnt matter to me. Just words.

If we can do it through a negotiated process, were giving that a shot, Trump said.
Chinas armed forces should be ready for combat and be prepared for unexpected crisis and war, President Xi Jinping said on Friday in his first meeting with the military top brass in Beijing in 2019.

The massive and rapidly modernising, Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) should have enhanced awareness of danger, crisis and war, Xi told a meeting of the central military commission (CMC), the top military organisation in the country of which he is the chairperson.

It is effectively being seen as Xis first order to the military in 2019 where he also signed a mobilisation command for the training of the armed forces through the year.

Besides the festering land border problem with India, Xis command comes against the background of continuing maritime territorial disputes with multiple countries in the South China Sea and growing tension with the US over Beijings aim to reunify Taiwan, which it considers a breakaway nation.

Xi, in fact, said on Wednesday that China reserved the right to use force to achieve reunification with Taiwan, which is an independent and democratically-run country.

He brought up Taiwan days after US President Donald Trump signed the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act into law, reaffirming the US commitment to the islands security.

The entire armed forces should have a correct understanding of Chinas security and development trends, enhance their awareness of danger, crisis and war, and make solid efforts on combat preparations in order to accomplish the tasks assigned by the Party (the ruling Communist Party of China) and the people, Xi said.

The world is facing a period of major changes never seen in a century, and China is still in an important period of strategic opportunity for development, Xi was quoted as saying by the official news agency, Xinhua, warning that various risks and challenges were on the rise.

The Chinese President stressed the armed forces ability to respond quickly and effectively to contingencies, asking them to upgrade commanding capability of joint operations, foster new combat forces, and improve military training under combat conditions.

China and India, in fact, had come close to a military clash in 2017 when border troops from the two countries had a 73-day standoff near the Sikkim border at Doklam.

Diplomatic negotiations finally separated the troops and defused the situation, which had threatened to trigger a border clash.

Interestingly, Chinese state media made an international splash this week by publicising the testing of the mother of all bombs or MOAB, the most powerful non-nuclear bomb in the PLAs arsenal.

The new bombs destructive powers were publicised in a short video this week for the first time, the Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday on its mobile application.

The report said it is Chinas most powerful non-nuclear bomb, and that the H-6K bomber could only carry one at a time due to its size.
Even as the city is seeing a considerable increase in road accident related deaths due to head injury, the Pune police drive to implement helmet rule from January 1 is facing strong opposition not only from residents, but also from some politicians.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Pune Member of Parliament (MP) Anil Shirole has opposed the police action on compulsory helmet rule besides appealing to the authorities to make wearing the head gear a voluntarily decision.

Shirole has urged chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to ask the police not to execute the rule strictly, but carry out public awareness drives.

The use of helmet should not be made mandatory, but keep it as a personal choice. There are many cases of people suffering from medical issues after using helmets. Hence, it is my opinion that this issue should be kept open to the public, he said.

College student Sachin Kelkar said, The helmet drive is a good initiative by the police. People are claiming what is the need to wear a helmet inside a city where two-wheelers are usually ridden at an average speed of 20-25 kmph, but it is untrue. If the MP and politicians want to make helmet voluntarily, instead of speaking irrational, they should ament the Act first and remove the provision of making helmet compulsory from the law.

Techie Sayali Nalawade said, I dont know why this issue is getting discussed in the first place. It is law and citizens should follow it or face cancellation of driving licence. The rule is not framed for Pune city, but is applicable all over the country. Helmets are meant to save lives. It is not about saving one life, actually you save the entire family.

Social activist Sandeep Khardekar has criticised the manner in which the police are enforcing the helmet rule. Ten to 15 personnel are catching one biker for not wearing helmet. Instead, police should concentrate on other issues. Mishaps involving people wearing helmets are also taking place on city roads. Khardekar said.

Kelkar said that unlike other cities, residents of Pune use two-wheelers for short trips like grocery shopping and dropping children to schools. Hence, it is important for citizens to wear helmets, he said.

Meanwhile, a group of politicians and activists have come together to voice their opinion against the helmet drive by Pune police. They organised a two-wheeler rally from Ganjwe chowk to Pune police commissionerate without wearing helmets, but Puneri pagdi. Those who participated in the rally included Ankush Kakade, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) spokesperson; Congress leader Mohan Joshi, MNS member Rupali Patil and Suryakant Pathak, activist and Pune district working president of Akhil Bhartiya Grahak Panchayat.

There is no need for compulsion of helmets in the city as narrow roads riddled with potholes force two-wheeler riders to go slow. While we are not against helmet, we are against its mandatory use, said Kakade. The group later submitted a letter to K Venkatesham, commissioner of Pune police, opposing the compulsory use of helmet.

Interestingly, when the protestors were carrying out the two-wheeler rally without wearing helmets, the traffic police deployed along the stretch remained mute spectators.
Photo: Twitter

A B.C. man who went to Syria seeking adventure has been detained in the war-ravaged country, and Canada's foreign ministry says there is little it can do to help him.

The mother of the Nanaimo man says he has not been in touch for more than a month, and she's pleading for help to get him home.

Andrea Leclair says her 44-year-old son Kristian Lee Baxter messaged her daily because she was worried after he arrived in Syria on Nov. 26, but he went silent after his last message on Dec. 1.

Asked about Baxter, Global Affairs Canada confirmed it is aware of a Canadian who has been detained in Syria. But the department offered no other details and would not confirm his identity, citing the Privacy Act.

The government has been warning Canadians to avoid travelling to Syria since 2011 after the outbreak of a civil war that has attracted foreign powers and spawned a multitude of militias, including a new Islamist terror group, while leaving an estimated 500,000 people dead.

Canada severed diplomatic relations with Syria in 2012, expelling its diplomats and shuttering its embassy.

"Consular services are being provided to the family and to the individual, to the limited extent possible. Given the security situation on the ground, the Government of Canada's ability to provide consular assistance in any part of Syria is extremely limited," said Global Affairs spokesman Stefano Maron.

Leclair described her son as a "world traveller and adventurer" and said he visited a village near the border of Lebanon at the invitation of his girlfriend's brother-in-law, who now lives in Pennsylvania but regularly visits the village.

One of Baxter's flights was delayed on his way to Beirut, so his luggage arrived after him, she said.

The brother-in-law arranged for a driver to pick him up from the airport in Beirut and drive him to the village, and Baxter said the driver assured him that he would collect his luggage for him, Leclair said.

"The driver said, 'Don't worry, I'm going to pick up your suitcase, don't worry, you just stay and visit.' So he did. And the driver never came back," Leclair said.

Baxter went back to the border and was told the driver had been detained because a metal detector, which is a prohibited item, was in his suitcase, she said.

Baxter is a "history buff" and uses his metal detector as a hobby, but didn't realize it was not permitted across the border, Leclair said.

"He loves to find things, he'll find silly things like bottle tops but they might be old bottle tops, that kind of thing. He never finds anything of any value," she said.

Baxter told the border officials that the suitcase belonged to him, but they did not detain him or release the driver, she said. After four or five days, the driver's family was getting worried, so Baxter returned once again on Dec. 2 to claim responsibility, she said, even though his girlfriend's brother-in-law was urging him to leave the country at this point because the situation was worrying him.

He has not been heard from since, she said.
Four people, including three from Pune, died while five others suffered injuries after a truck loaded with cement bags fell on three other cars on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway on Friday.

The accident took place near the Adoshi tunnel near Khalapur in Raigad district around 11.30 am. The impact of the accident was such that one of cars went off its lane and fell into a 40 feet gorge along the highway.

According to the police, the truck was coming from Hyderabad to Mumbai. The Pune-Mumbai lane at that spot is at an elevated height of seven feet from the Mumbai-Pune lane.

When the truck was passing that area, the driver lost his control on the vehicle and it rammed into the iron railings. After that it fell on three cars below, which were going towards Pune from Mumbai side, said police sub-inspector Rajbardhan Khebude from Khopoli police station.

Among the three cars there was a Gujarat registered Toyota Innova MUV, a Maruti Celerio and a Hyundai Creta.

There were three persons inside the Maruti Celerio and two of them died on the spot. They have been identified as Nikita Angare, 26, and her mother Chitra Angare, 59. Nikitas father, Avinash Angare, 63, was driving the car and he suffered injuries in the accident. They were from Pune.

The Hyndai Creta went off the road and fell into the gorge. Two persons were travelling in it and one of them is dead. She has been identified as Mrunali Kundekar, 65, a resident of Pune. Her driver Jitendra Virari has suffered injuries.

Three persons were travelling in the MUV and two of them were injured. They are Bijesh Shrivastav and Shailesh Dixit and both of them are from Gujarat.

There was one more person in the truck apart from the driver and he died. He has been identified as Hasan Patel, 18. The truck driver Mohisin Shaikh, 30, suffered injuries and was admitted to MGM hospital at Kamothe. He was later shifted to ICU, the officer said.

Other injured were rushed to different hospitals at Panvel and Raigad.

Nafisa Bhanu, 35, the truck drivers sister-in-law said, Mohisin worked for a private employer and he had been to Hyderabad a few days ago to fetch some bags of cement. Around 1.30 am on Friday he called his brother and informed that he was on his way to Mumbai. He said that he had reached Solapur then and would reach Mumbai after a few hours.

A few other drivers from the same company, who were also coming from Hyderabad, spotted the accident on the Expressway. We learnt about it only when they called and informed us about the accident, she said.

The deceased were sent to Khalapur primary health center for conducting post-mortem and then were handed over to their families.

There were traffic jams on the Pune-Mumbai lane of the Expressway following the accident. The traffic department had to deploy extra manpower to clear the traffic. The situation was normal after two-and-a-half hour.
Padma Shri Arunima Sinha, the worlds first woman amputee to climb Mount Everest, has now conquered Mount Vinson, making her the worlds first woman amputee to scale the highest peak in Antarctica.

The wait is over. We are glad to share with you the world record: The worlds first woman amputee who climbed Mount Vinson (highest peak of Antarctica). Thanks to all for their blessings and prayers, tweeted Arunima Sinha.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to twitter to congratulate her for achieving this feat. He tweeted: Excellent! Congratulations to @sinha_arunima for scaling new heights of success. She is the pride of India, who has distinguished herself through her hard work and perseverance. Wishing her the very best for her future endeavours.

BJP national president Amit Shah also took to twitter: Kudos to @sinha_arunima for keeping the Indian flag flying high and becoming the worlds first woman amputee to scale Mount Vinson, Antarctica. We salute your dedication and commitment. Entire nation is proud of your accomplishment.

Congratulatory messages from people of all walks of life continue to pour in for Arunima on social media.

Arunimas journey must have been difficult as she tweeted about swelling in her legs on January 3. Staying at Lower Camp tonight and moved towards Base Camp. All other team members already moved to Base Camp, she tweeted.

Prime Minister Modi had handed over the Tricolour to Arunima Sinha, marking the beginning of her expedition to Mount Vinson, Antarctica.

Sinha, the first female divyang to climb Mount Everest, called on the Prime Minister in New Delhi on December 12.

She apprised him of her upcoming mountaineering expedition to Antarctica. Modi lauded her impressive achievements and extended his best wishes for her latest venture, reads a release issued by the ministry of information and broadcasting, government of India.

In 2013, Arunima Sinha, a former national level volleyball player, who had lost her left leg after being thrown off a moving train by some hoodlums, created history by becoming the first Indian amputee to conquer Mount Everest.

Sinha, a resident of Ambedkar Nagar in UP, was pushed out of the general compartment of Padmawati Express for resisting a chain-snatching attempt by some criminals, while travelling from Lucknow to Delhi on April 12, 2011.

She was hit by a passing train and was seriously injured. She was hospitalised with serious leg and pelvic injuries and in a bid to save her life, doctors had to amputate her left leg below the knee.

CAPTION: Prime Minister Modi had handed over the Tricolour to Arunima Sinha, marking the beginning of her expedition to Mount Vinson, Antarctica.
The Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party have agreed to an alliance ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, an SP leader said Saturday.

A formal announcement on the gathbandhan between the two Uttar Pradesh-based parties may take place later this month, SPs national spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary told PTI.

The state BJP called the development opportunistic and anti-people.

Chaudhary said Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati had given their in-principle approval to the alliance after a series of meetings between them.

The two leaders also met Friday, he said.

Talks are on with other parties as well, the spokesperson said.

There has been an in-principle approval for the gathbandhan. And there is a possibility that an announcement in this regard will be made this month, Chaudhary said.

A number of meetings between SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and BSP supremo Mayawati have already been held. Yesterday too, both leaders met in Delhi. Talks are going on to accommodate some smaller parties in the alliance, he said.

He admitted that the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), which has a presence in western UP, is among these parties.

When asked about the possible inclusion of Congress in the UP alliance, Chaudhary said, This will be decided by Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati. But he added the alliance will not field candidates in Amethi and Raebareli, leaving the two Lok constituencies for Congress president Rahul Gandhi and United Progress Alliance chief Sonia Gandhi.

The BJP dubbed the coming closer of the two parties opportunistic.

This is an opportunistic alliance and it is completely anti-people. The BJP will register massive wins in UP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, UP BJP spokesperson Hero Bajpai told reporters here.

Politically crucial Uttar Pradesh sends 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha.

The opposition parties defeated the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in three Lok Sabha bypolls last year.

In the Kairana Lok Sabha by-elections in May last year, the BJP lost to the joint opposition candidate, RLDs Tabassum Hasan.

The seat had fallen vacant following the death of the BJP candidate Mriganka Singhs father Hukum Singh.

Tabassum Hasan was supported by the Congress, the SP and the BSP.

In March, the BJP lost the Lok Sabha bypolls in Gorakhpur and Phulpur.

In the last parliamentary elections in 2014, the BJP won 71 seats, securing 42.63 % of the votes. BJP ally Apna Dal bagged two seats.

Samajwadi Party won five seats with a vote share of 22.35 % The BSP did not win any seat while securing 19.77 per cent votes.

Congress registered wins on two seats in 2014, bagging 7.53 % of the votes.
Be ready to face constitutional consequences of violence, BJP warns Kerala CM

We advise, warn and caution the chief minister to stop this violence. failing which the CPI-M government will have to face constitutional consequences, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesman G.V.L. Narasimha Rao said.

BJP accuses Kerala government of fanning violence

BJP on Saturday accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan-led Kerala government of fanning violence in the state over Sabarimala row.

This is an issue of devotees, and not an issue of the BJP. This is an issue concerning the Hindu society, BJP leader GVL Narasimha Rao said at a press conference.

More than 3,000 arrested for violence

3,178 persons have been arrested in connection with violence across Kerala; 1,286 cases registered against 37,979 persons, reports ANI.

BJP, CPM engaged in unprecedented violence: Congress

Both the BJP and the ruling CPM are engaged in unprecedented violence, and are making the lives of common people miserable, said Kerala leader of opposition Ramesh Chennithala, urging CM Pinarayi Vijayan to take immediate steps to restore peace in the state.

CPM govt indulging in votebank politics: BJP

A few days ago, the Supreme Court issued an order over control of a church between two factions. The state government is yet to implement the order citing law and order problems. What is compelling them to attack Sabarimala devotees now? This is appeasement politics: GVL Narasimhan Rao, BJP spokesperson.

Kerala CM making false statements: BJP

A few days ago, a peaceful protester was hit on the head by stones and he died. The CM said he died of heart attack. But the post mortem showed otherwise. The CM should stop making such statements: GVL Narasimhan Rao, BJP spokesperson.

Pinarayi Vijayan politicising Sabarimala issue: BJP

Pinarayi Vijayan politicising Sabarimala issue. He has given a free hand to his party workers. Our party workers are being targeted. The CM is using the Supreme Court order as a shield to clamp down on Hindu beliefs and BJP workers. This govt is doing appeasement politics: GVL Narasimhan Rao, BJP spokesperson.

State-sponsored violence, says BJP

The Kerala government has decided to wreak havoc instead of dealing with the Sabarimala issue sensibly. They are not sparing even devotees. It is state-sponsored violence: GVL Narasimhan Rao, BJP spokesperson.

PM to address rallies on January 15 and 24

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address two rallies in Kerala, one in Kollam on January 15 and the other in Thrissur on January 24.

BJP march to secretariat on January 15

BJP decides to intensify agitation on Sabarimala. On January 15, the party will organise a march to the secretariat.

Police take out flag march in Thalassery

Police take out flag march in Thalassery, a sensitive town, and scene of violence during Thursdays shutdown. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan hails from the town.

WATCH | Violence continues in Kerala, CPI(M) worker stabbed

Police crackdown after violence in Kannur and Pathanamthitta districts

33 people have been taken into preventive detention in connection with the violence in Kannur district last night. 76 cases have been registered in connection with attacks in Pathanamthitta district where 25 people have been remanded and 204 taken into preventive detention; 110 people have been arrested: Kerala DGP Loknath Behera, reports ANI.

99 buses damaged during Thursdays shutdown

Kerala State Road Transport Corporation managing director Tomin Thachankery said at least 99 buses were damaged during Thursdays shutdown. Employees of KSRTC later staged a rally with the damaged buses.

8 women entered Sabarimala since SC verdict: Kerala police

Kerala police say eight women entered Sabarimala temple since the Supreme Court verdict of September 28. But the Sabarimala Karma Samithi rejects the claim, saying it is a ploy to give a wrong picture to invite more women to the temple. It reiterated that Sri Lankan woman Sasikalas entry in the temple was farce.

Operation Broken Window

Police on Thursday began a clampdown operation, named Broken Window, following the shutdown call by Sabarimala Karma Samithi and subsequent clashes. Prohibitory orders were imposed in three municipal towns  Palakkad and Nedumangad in south Kerala, and Mancheawaram in north Kerala.

Explanation sought from tantri for purification ritual

The Travancore Devasom Board, which runs the hilltop shrine, has sought an explanation from the tantri (supreme priest), Rajeevaru Kandarau, for performing a purification ritual on Wednesday after the two women managed to enter and pray at the temple.

Bombs hurled at will

Bombs were hurled at the house of Malabar Devasom Board member Sasikumar in Perambra in Kozhikode district in the early hours of Friday, which the CPI(M) blamed on RSS. At least 50 houses of CPI(M) and BJP workers were attacked on Thursday night. In Adoor in Pathanamthitta district, 40 houses were attacked.

PM Modis rally in Kerala postponed

The BJP had earlier postponed the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the state.

The PMs visit to Pathanmathitta on January 6 was postponed due to some other engagements. Though it has nothing to do with the current situation, we dont want to aggravate the situation further, said a BJP leader.

This was to be Modis first political rally in south India this year.

Kannur district administration calls for peace meet

Prohibitory orders clamped in many areas as tension mounts. A worried Kannur district administration calls for peace meeting to contain the violence.

CPI(M) blames RSS for violence

Sangh Parivar out to vitiate peace in the state, says CPI(M) MLA AN Shameer whose house was attacked.

Situation in Kannur tense

Most fresh attacks took place late on Friday night or early Saturday morning. The situation in Kannur is quite tense, notorious for retaliatory political killings.

RSS office set on fire in Kannur

An RSS office was set on fire in Kannur. More police have been deployed in the trouble-torn district. Intelligence agencies have warned of more trouble.

CPI(M) workers house attacked in Kozhikode district

Bomb blast reported in Perambra in Kozhikode district. A CPI(M) workers house was attacked. Authorities express concern over sporadic incidents of violence.

BJP MP V Muralidharans house bombed

Bombs were thrown at the house of BJP Rajya Sabha MP V Muralidharan in Thalassery. Police have taken 18 people into preventive custody in Kannur, notorious for red-saffron clashed that have claimed more than 300 lives in the last three decades.

CPI(M) worker stabbed, MLAs house attacked

Violence continues in many parts of Kerala. One CPI(M) worker was stabbed in Iritti in Kannur on Friday night. Party MLA AN Shameers house was attacked.
The day after meeting Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati in New Delhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday said: After all, its a new year, and something new will start in the new year. I had gone (to meet Mayawati) to exchange new year greetings.

Akhilesh did not talk about seat-sharing, but one of his close aides said: Equal and amicable distribution of seats will happen between the two parties. The two parties will engage with mutual respect for each other.

On why the SP and the BSP chose to tie up, Akhilesh said: We had engaged in the politics of development. But at the time, we did not have the kind of arithmetic that the BJP did of castes. Now, our arithmetic is in place.

SPs national spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary told PTI that Akhilesh and Mayawati had given their go-ahead for the alliance after a series of meetings between them.

A number of meetings between SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and BSP supremo Mayawati have already been held. Yesterday too, both leaders met in Delhi, he said Talks are going on to accommodate some smaller parties in the alliance, he said.

He admitted that the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), which has a presence in western UP, is among these parties.

When asked about the possible inclusion of Congress in the UP alliance, Chaudhary said, This will be decided by Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati. But he added the SP and the BSP will not field candidates in Amethi and Raebareli, leaving these Lok Sabha constituencies for Congress president Rahul Gandhi and United Progressive Alliance chief Sonia Gandhi.

Akhilesh Yadav had recently expressed displeasure against the Congress for not including its lone MLA in the new Madhya Pradesh ministry headed by Kamal Nath.

BSP leader Mayawati too has said it may withdraw its outside support to the Congress in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan if the cases against Dalits lodged during a protest last year are not withdrawn.

The BJP dubbed the coming closer of the SP and the BSP opportunistic.

This is an opportunistic alliance and it is completely anti-people. The BJP will register massive wins in UP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, UP BJP spokesperson Hero Bajpai told reporters.

(With agency inputs)
PM Modi passport Sewa Kendras at Bhadrak, Cuttack, Jajpur, Aska, Keonjhar and Dhenkana

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated passport Sewa Kendras at Bhadrak, Cuttack, Jajpur, Aska, Keonjhar and Dhenkanal. He also inaugurated the conservation and restoration works for Rasikaray temple and the excavated structure at the ancient Haripurgarh fort.

PM Modi flagged off second passenger train from Tatanagar to Badampahar

The Prime Minister flagged off the second passenger train from Tatanagar to Badampahar.

PM Modi also inaugurated doubling of Naranpur-Basantpur and Chillikidara-Sagadapata line

PM Modi also inaugurated doubling of Naranpur-Basantpur and Chillikidara-Sagadapata line that will connect mineral-rich Keonjhar and Jajpur districts.

PM dedicated Balasore multi modal logistic park

The Prime Minister dedicated the Balasore-Haldia-Durgapur section of Paradip-Haldia-Durgapur LPG Pipeline of Indian Oil Corp Ltd (IOCL) and the Balasore multi modal logistic park.

Cant understand whether Congress was running government of Michel mamas darbar: PM

Cant understand whether Congress was running government of Michel mamas darbar. Law will not allow anyone to escape: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on chopper scam.

Middleman had close ties with Congress leaders: PM Modi

Middleman had close ties with Congress leaders, knew details of defence files: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on chopper scam.

Thief always wants ouster of watchman: PM Modi on Rahul Gandhis chowkidar barb

Thief always wants ouster of watchman: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Rahul Gandhis chowkidar barb at a rally at Baripada, Odisha.

Middlemen will be probed: PM Modi

I want to make it clear today that investigating agency and the people of the nation will probe all those who supported the middlemen, says Narendra Modi.

I congratulate Nirmala Sitharaman for bringing to light those who fool the nation: PM Modi

I congratulate Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for bringing to light those who fool the nation, says PM Modi

PM Modi lays foundation stone for 3 major highway projects

PM Modi lays foundation stone for 3 major highway projects, dedicates to nation Balasore-Haldia-Durgapur IOCL LPG pipeline at Baripada in Odisha.

PM Modi launches a slew of projects worth Rs 4,500 crore for Odisha

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches a slew of projects worth Rs 4,500 crore for Odisha.

Our government is focussed on building good roads: PM Modi

Along with railways, national highways have also been part of connectivity. Our government is focussed on building good roads , says PM Narendra Modi.

PM lays foundation stone for four-laning of various national highway projects

Prime Minister Narendra Modi lays foundation stone for four- laning of various national highway projects, in Baripada.

#Odisha: Prime Minister Narendra Modi lays foundation stone for four- laning of various national highway projects, in Baripada pic.twitter.com/Hi67J3dkeI  ANI (@ANI) January 5, 2019

Ease of living of middle class increases when roads are made, trains are cleaner and fares of flights are less: PM

Ease of living of the middle class increases when roads are made, trains are cleaner and fares of flights are less , says Narendra Modi.

Our government is focussed on increasing connectivity: PM Modi

Work on connectivity is required. Our government is focussed on increasing connectivity in the nation. Focus is given on East and north-East India, says Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

PM Modi lays the foundation stone for various projects in Odisha

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is speaking at the inauguration and laying the foundation stone for various projects in Odisha.

Congress misled farmers: Modi

There wouldnt have been a need for farmers to take loans had the previous Congress governments completed the projects that were meant to benefit farmers. First they forced farmers to take loans, now theyre misleading them in the name of loan waivers: Modi

Didnt name housing scheme after anybody: Modi

We didnt make Narendra Modi Awas Yojana, we didnt make NaMo Awas Yojana, we didnt make Raghubar Das Awas Yojana, we made Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana so that the next PM can take the work forward: Modi

Middle class getting benefits too: Modi

Not only houses, but people are getting respect and confidence. Middle class are also getting benefits: Modi

PMAY houses registered in name of women: Modi

Earlier, these houses took 18 months to be built, now less than 12 months. UPA would need another 25 years to match up to the number of houses we have built. Under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, houses are registered in the name of the eldest woman in the house: Modi

We are in the process of providing houses for all: Modi

We are in the process of providing houses for all. You have seen the condition of houses provided earlier. We are not only providing houses, but bathrooms, electricity and gas connections as well: Modi

UPA govt was not concerned about farmers: Modi

Previous governments were least bothered about farmers welfare in Jharkhand; delay in completing Mandal dam project is proof of that: Modi

Farmers are vote bank for Congress, food providers for us: Modi

Farmers are a vote bank for Congress, and for us, farmers are our food providers. This is the difference between Congress and BJP: Modi in Palamu, Jharkhand.

Five PMAY beneficiaries get keys

PM Modi hands over keys to five beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana in Jharkhand.

PM lays foundation stone of various projects in Jharkhand

Prime Minister Narendra Modi lays foundation stone of various development projects in Palamu, Jharkhand.

Jharkhand: Prime Minister Narendra Modi lays foundation stone of various development projects in Palamu. pic.twitter.com/Hmnl7jmny6  ANI (@ANI) January 5, 2019
With the 63rd birthday celebrations of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati a fortnight away, party leaders and supporters are set to launch a campaign to project her as the next prime minister and the leader of a non-Congress, non-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) third front, if such an alliance takes shape.

The party, which champions the cause of the Dalits and minorities, has been using Mayawatis birthday celebrations on January 15 over the years to send across political message to the people, said a BSP leader who did not wish to be named.

As the Lok Sabha elections are round the corner, the function is likely to mark the launch of the partys election campaign and may also raise the curtain on the proposed SP-BSP alliance, he said, referring to a likely alliance with Akhilesh Yadavs Samajwadi Party, once a bitter rival of the BSP. Talks on seat sharing in Uttar Pradesh in the Lok Sabha elections have been underway since November , he added.

After consecutive defeats in the 2012 and 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, and the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the party leadership will use Mayawatis birthday celebrations to lift spirits. Riding on an alliance, the BSP also hopes to regain ground in UP and check the BJPs gains in the state that sends 80 members to the 543-member Lok Sabha.

The Lucknow residence of the BSP chief  9, Mall Avenue  is being spruced up for the celebrations. BSP supporters have launched a campaign on social media and some party leaders have already put up hoardings to project Mayawati as the next PM.

The political significance of Mayawatis birthday bash may be gauged from the fact that after she became the chief minister in 2007, a grand celebration was held across the state on January 15, 2009. Lucknow was draped in blue, the colour of the party. A massive stage was set up near the CMs residence and BSP supporters were brought to Lucknow from all the districts and neighbouring states to ensure their participation in the celebration.

Mayawati had announced the launch of a series of welfare and development schemes for weaker sections, sending the message to her core voters that a Dalit epoch had started in Indias most populous state. Over the years, party members of Parliament and state legislators have been contributing funds to the party. The fund raising drive is termed as arthik sahyog (economic cooperation).

The birthday celebrations in 2010 were marred by controversy when a Public Works Department executive engineer, Manoj Gupta, was murdered by BSP MLA from Auraiya, Shekhar Tiwari, allegedly after Gupta refused to donate money.

Opposition parties had launched an offensive, alleging that BSP workers had been coercing people to donate money. BSP hit back by observing Mayawatis birthday as Virodhi party dhikkar diwas (down with rival parties). Another controversy gripped Mayawati after party leaders offered her a huge garland of currency notes at a rally held to mark BSPs silver jubilee on March 15, 2010.

To defuse the controversy, Mayawati announced that her birthday in 2011 would be celebrated as Jan Kalyankari Diwas. She launched development schemes worth ~4,000 crore.

After losing power in 2012, the BSP continued to celebrate Mayawatis birthday as Jankalyankari Diwas. Party leaders assist the needy, poor and the handicapped. They also visit Dalit hamlets and hospitals..., said a second BSP leader on condition of anonymity . This year, Mayawati is likely to release new edition of a travelogue titled A Travelogue of My Struggle-Ridden Life and BSP Movement penned by her, and partys missionary calendar.

Irrespective of criticism, the BSP chief has been using her birthday to send a subtle political message to her supporters and opponents..., said Dalit activist and political analyst RK Gautam.
The Congress has sought the names of party leaders from each assembly constituency of Rajasthan who harmed its prospects in the December 7 polls.

A report has been sought on those leaders or workers who worked against party candidates, state Congress president Sachin Pilot said. People who won the elections have also complained that some were not cooperating. The party will take up the complaints case by case; if the complaints were found right, action will be taken.

Pilot said anti-party activities have been discussed with the central leadership. The Congress won 99 seats in the 200-member assembly seats and the Bharatiya Janata Party 73. Election to one seat was delayed because of the death of a candidate. The Congress touched the majority mark with the help of a seat won by its ally, the Rashtriya Lok Dal. The Bahujan Samaj Party, which won six seats, also supports the Congress government in the state.

Anti-party activities by some leaders may have cost Congress 10-15 seats, a senior party leader said on condition of anonymity.

In November, the Congress had expelled 28 rebels, including nine ex-MLAs, for contesting the assembly elections against party candidates. The expelled leaders include former ministers Mahadev Singh Khandela and Babu Lal Nagar. The Youth Congress had also expelled eight members. The leader cited above said a detailed report would be sent to the central leadership mentioning the seats where leaders or workers damaged partys prospects.
Earlier this week, Hindustan Times reported that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had revived its Mission 123, aimed at winning as many as possible the 123 seats that the BJP contested but did not win in the Modi wave that took it to an unprecedented 282 seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

The strategy is among the many steps the party intends to take to recover from its defeats in the recently held assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, all of which it lost to the Congress.

How likely is Mission 123 to add to the BJPs 2019 seat tally? Hindustan Times has looked at the seats the BJP contested but could not win in 2014 to answer this question.

The BJP contested 428 Lok Sabha seats in 2014, out of which it won 282. Of the 146 seats it did not win, the party finished at the second position in 54 seats, an analysis of the election result data compiled by the Ashoka Universitys Trivedi Centre for Political Data (TCPD) shows. It isnt clear where the 123 number is coming from, although there is a certain cadence to it.

To be sure, finishing at the second position does not tell us about a partys gap with the winner in a given constituency. Looking at vote shares can give a clear picture on this count. The BJPs vote share was at least 20 percentage points less than that of the winning party in 82 out of the 146 seats it contested but lost.

In another 33 seats, its deficit vis-a-vis the winning party was between 10 and 20 percentage points. This suggests that the BJP will have to cover a lot of ground to win most of these seats.

Most of these seats are not traditional strongholds of the BJP. In the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP contested 132 out of these 146 seats. It could win only 13. This gives us a strike rate of 10%.

In the 119 seats it lost out of these 132 (in 2009), its vote share gap vis-a-vis the winning party was more than 20 percentage points in 103 seats. A comparison of such seats before 2009 is not possible as the 2008 delimitation process has changed the constituency boundaries.

HT has also looked at the performance of the BJP in the 146 seats it contested but lost in 2014, in the assembly elections which have been held after the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. There are 1,196 assembly constituencies in these 146 Lok Sabha seats. Out of these, 1,032 are in states where assembly elections have been held after the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. The BJP contested 900 out of these 1,032 seats and could win 146, a strike rate of 16%.

In the 754 Assembly seats it lost out of the 900, its vote share gap vis-a-vis the winning party was more than 20 percentage points in 575 seats and between 10 and 20 percentage points in another 74 seats.

The short point is that while there has been a marginal improvement in the BJPs performance in the post-2014 period, the party still has a huge gap to fill in most of these seats.

Also, the BJP had an extraordinary strike rate in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections when it won 66% of the seats it contested. In the period after the formation of the BJP, this is second only to the Congresss performance in the 1984 elections.

Improving the 2014 strike rate will not be an easy task. In fact, the BJPs strike rate in assembly elections held after 2014, has been 36%, 30 percentage points lower than its strike rate in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

Moreover, 95 of the 146 Lok Sabha seats that the BJP contested but lost in 2014 are in states which are not the partys traditional strongholds -- West Bengal, Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. There are a total of 164 Lok Sabha constituencies in these five states, out of which the BJP contested 102 in 2014. Of them, it could win just seven. In the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP won just one of the 141 seats its contested in these five states.

According to Gilles Verniers, assistant professor of political science and co-director at the TCPD, the BJP is unlikely to make gains in these states where it is confronted with regional parties with strong local presence and organisational capacity.

In the south, besides Karnataka, the BJP remains a marginal player, Verniers said. Besides, there is no third party that could help - or is willing to help - the party to advance through alliances.

To be sure, the BJP will also have to account for the seats it holds in the current Lok Sabha and might lose in the forthcoming elections. An analysis of the election data shows that an average of 50% Lok Sabha seats flipped  saw a change in the party which got elected  between two consecutive elections since 1984, which was the BJPs first Lok Sabha election. The analysis does not include the 2004-2009 cycle due to non-comparability of Lok Sabha seats because of the 2008 delimitation process.
A female lieutenant colonel, the mother of a two-year-old child, has approached the Supreme Court , alleging harassment by Indian Army authorities for posting her temporarily to a place that did not even have a creche.

Lt Colonel Annu Dogra, 39, the petitioner in the case, is serving as an officer in the Judge Advocate General (JAG) department of the Indian Army in Jodhpur. In November 2018, she was posted to Kamptee in Nagpur district to act as judge advocate in the court martial of another officer. Her husband is also an army officer and is deputy JAG in Jodhpur.

Lt Col Dogra, in her petition filed on Friday, claimed that her temporary posting to Kamptee entails her travelling from Jodhpur to Nagpur every time the court martial proceedings resume and this deprives her of the fundamental right of tending to her infant child by being sent to different locations from Jodhpur which do not even provide the basic facility of creche.

Lt Col Dogra said the temporary posting entails her to undertake movement of over 1,600 km along with her child alone at a short notice.

This had led to neglect of her very small child due to the absence of family and community based care arrangements at the current place of duty in Nagpur, she said.

She also said that because of the attitude of the army, her husband has had to travel with her and take care of her child while she attended to her official duties.

Lt Col Dogras petition also said that her representations to higher authorities to relieve her of her duties in Kamptee on compassionate grounds had gone unheeded. The armys move to post a woman officer with an infant to look after was is in violation of the National Policy for Children.

The policy was issued by the ministry of women and child development in 2013 and provides for the all-round development of children by protecting their rights.

The policy advocates to provide and promote creche and day care facilities for children of working mothers, mothers belonging to poor families, ailing mothers and single parents and promote appropriate baby feeding facilities in public places and at workplaces for working mother in public, private and unorganized sector, the petition said.

When contacted, an army spokesperson refused to comment on the matter.
If it felt unseasonably warm in the Okanagan on Friday, that's because it was.

The temperature in Kelowna, measured at UBC Okanagan, hit 10.3 C, surpassing the previous record for Jan. 4 of 8.4 C, recorded in 2003.

Similarly, temperatures reached 9 C at the Penticton airport, surpassing the previous Jan. 4 high of 8.5 C set in 1984.

Vernon meanwhile, reached 5.3 C, still a far cry from the city's highest recorded Jan. 4 temperature of 7.2 C in 1902.

While snow dumped on mountain passes through Thursday night, the temperature dropped to a low of just 1.6 C in Kelowna, before rising throughout the morning, Friday.

Things were much different in the Okanagan just two years ago, when temperatures plummeted to a record Jan. 4 low of -21 C in Penticton and a frigid -24.1 C in Kelowna. Okanagan Lake even partially froze over that month.

The average high for January in Kelowna is -2 C, and temperatures are expected to stay well above that mark for the next few days, with a high of 5 C Saturday and 4 C Sunday and Monday.

January's unseasonably high temperatures come after a mild December. Temperatures hit 7.9 C on Dec 20 in Vernon, breaking a recorded high that had been set in 1933. And while that was the only daily temperature record set in the Valley last month, the rest of December was still unseasonably warm.

For Kelowna, it's technically the second warmest December on record, said Environment Canada meteorologist Bobby Sekhon, noting the data goes back to 1969.

It was about three or four degrees warmer than normal (across the Valley), and also drier in Kelowna and Penticton than normal.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 5)  The Queen is wearing her Filipino colors loud and proud.

In an Instagram post, Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray wore a denim skirt inspired by the Tagakaolo tribe during her visit to the Miss Universe headquarters in New York City.

The skirt is hand-embellished with mother-of-pearl.

The Tagakaolo, according to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, is part of the Kalagan group of tribes which belongs to the Mandaya/Mansaka group. Their communities are found in the coast and the B'laan country of Davao, as well as the tributaries of Malita and Lais, and Talaguton rivers.

Gray relocated to New York in order to fulfill her national and global projects during her reign.

She is the fourth Filipina to bag the coveted crown, following the footsteps of Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, Miss Universe 1973 Margie Moran, and Miss Universe 1969 Gloria Diaz.
Senior advocate HS Phoolka, who quit the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday, said it was wrong to convert the 2011 anti-corruption movement led by social activist Anna Hazare into a political party in 2012.

Without directly criticising the AAP, Phoolka on Friday announced he would form a non-political organisation that could call a spade a spade without any diplomacy but said would not contest the Lok Sabha elections. He stressed the need for more people to form such outfits that would be parallel to political parties.

Phoolka, who is leading a legal battle for the 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims, said he would continue his fight against the Congress and ensure its leaders Kamal Nath and Jagdish Tytler are booked in the case. Congress leader Sajjan Kumar was last month convicted and sent to jail in one of the riots cases.

The 1984 anti-Sikh riot case is my lifes mission. In this journey, I have got support from many non-Congress political parties. I will also not contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections Converting the anti-corruption movement into a political party in 2012 was wrong, he said. AAP, formed by Arvind Kejriwal and others, was an offshoot of the anti-corruption movement that took India by storm.

While AAP refused to offer an official comment on the issue, party functionaries said its openness towards an alliance with the Congress for this years Lok Sabha elections in its recent national council meeting did not go down well with many leaders in Punjab, including Phoolka.

In his press conference on Friday too, he (Phoolka) twice mentioned about anti-Congress forces supporting and uniting in fighting the 1984 riots case. In such a scenario, an alliance of AAP with the Congress would make them uncomfortable, a senior party leader said.

Phoolka said his non-political organisation would work on social causes. I will begin from Punjab and address the drugs problem. There are several others who had joined AAP and have left. They and others, including lawyers, doctors, need to unite to form such organisations, which will be parallel to political parties, he said.

The senior lawyer said he refrained from being actively involved in politics through AAP for over a year.

A year ago, I had resigned as leader of opposition in the Punjab assembly to devote full time to the anti-Sikh riot cases. I had resigned as an MLA too, although the Speaker is yet to accept it, he said.

Phoolka said his organisation would be actively involved in social welfare in the six months. He is not the first AAP leader to quit the party and start such an organisation.

Yogendra Yadav, Prashant Bhushan and Anand Kumar, who were among the founding members of AAP, had left the party and formed a non-political organisation named Swaraj Abhiyan.
Violence continued unabated in many parts of Kerala on Saturday ever since two women in their 40s entered the Sabarimala hill temple even as the opposition BJP warned the state government and decided to parade its leaders, including PM Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah in the state.

Though police began a clampdown on trouble-makers by arresting more than 3,000 people, orchestrated violence continued to cripple many areas.

In trouble-torn Kannur, notorious for red-saffron bloody clashes, houses of many, including an MLA and MP, were attacked on Friday night. Prohibitory orders were enforced in many areas to contain recurring violence.

The BJP has warned the state government to be ready to face the constitutional consequences for the violence unleashed against party worker on Sabarimala issue.

We caution the CM to stop the mindless violence failing which the government will have to face serious consequences. You cant let loose party goons on BJP workers like this, said party spokesman G V L Narasimha Rao in New Delhi.

He contested the CMs claim that the party worker in Pandalam died of cardiac failure and insisted he died in CPI(M) workers stone-pelting.

PM Modi will visit the state on January 15 and 27 and Shah in the first week of February, party sources said. The party president is likely to visit the house of Chandran Uniithan who died in alleged CPI(M) stone-pelting two days ago.

But the CPI(M) squarely blamed the Sangh Parivar outfits for the latest round of violence.

Police detain an activist amid demonstrations after women entered the Sabarimala temple, in Kochi in Kerala. (AFP)

Nobody can browbeat an elected government. The BJP-RSS are finding it difficult to cover humiliation they faced after women entered the temple. So their cadres are targeting party workers and offices, said CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, adding Shahs visit will only help widen the Communist base in the state.

North Keralas Kannur and central Keralas Pathanamhitta where the famous temple is situated bore the maximum brunt of violence. CPI(M) legislator A N Shamseers house was attacked and within hours, rivals retaliated by attacking the house of BJP Rajya Sabbha MP V Muralidharan in Thalassery.

A bomb blast was reported from Perambra in Kozhikode district, while a CPI (M) workers house was attacked. An office of the RSS was set on fire early on Saturday.

The sporadic incidents of violence since Friday night and early Saturday have left authorities worried and intelligence agencies have warned of more trouble.

Widespread violence had broken out on Thursday during a strike called by the Sabarimala Karma Samithi, an umbrella orgsnisation of Hindu groups, and supported by the BJP after the entry of two women  Bindu Ammini, 42, and Kanakadurga, 44  into the temple on Wednesday.
Violence continued in many parts of Kerala on Saturday over the entry of two women in their 40s into the Sabarimala temple even as the police have arrested more than 1800 people.

A worker of the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) was stabbed in Iritti in Kannur on Friday night while party MLA AN Shamseers house was attacked and he alleged that the Sangh Parivar was out to vitiate the atmosphere in the state. Bombs were thrown at Bharatiya Janata Party MP V Muralidharans house in Thalassery.

In Kannur, which is notorious for clashes between RSS and Left workers that claimed more than 300 lives in three decades, a RSS office was set on fire early on Saturday. 18 persons were taken into preventive custody while more police deployed in restive area as intelligence warned of more trouble.

A bomb blast was reported from Perambra in Kozhikode district, while a CPI (M) workers house was attacked.

The sporadic incidents of violence since Friday night and early Saturday have left authorities worried. Prohibitory orders were clamped in many areas as tension mounted. Police took out a flag march in Thalassery, a sensitive area from where chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan hails.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday announced that the proposed visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the state on Sunday has been postponed.

Widespread violence had broken out since Thursday when a strike was called by the Sabarimala Karma Samithi, an umbrella group of Hindu groups, and supported by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to protest the entry of two women - Bindu Ammini, 42, and Kanakadurga, 44 - into the temple on Wednesday.

The dawn-to-dusk shutdown brought the state to a standstill. Protesters hurled crude bombs and stones as they rampaged through the streets of Kerala, fighting pitched battles with police and political rivals, leaving scores of people injured including three BJP workers in a knife attack, officials said.

They attacked over 20 offices of the ruling CPI(M) and its other Left allies, and clashed with police, leaving at least 31 personnel injured. At least ten journalists were also attacked and the Kerala Union of Working Journalists decided to boycott the press meets called by the BJP. Journalists also staged a protest march.

At least 50 houses of workers of rival parties, primarily BJP and CPI(M), were also attacked on Thursday night. In Adoor, 40 houses were attacked.

Late on Thursday night, a 46-year-old Sri Lankan woman entered the Sabarimala temple to pray.

Sasikala was the third woman to worship at Sabarimala defying a tradition barring the entry of female devotees between 10 and 50 years of age into the shrine, more than three months after the Supreme Courts September 28 verdict lifting the ban.

Sasikala entered the temple ten minutes before it was about to close at 11pm on Thursday and was accompanied by her husband. She claimed her uterus was removed after an operation so she does not come under the category of menstruating women.

Police confirmed Sasikala visited the temple and said she initially denied the report as part of a strategy to ensure her safe return. Closed-circuit television cameras also showed their presence at the temple.
The Uttar Pradesh policeman, whose video of him shouting thain thain (to mimic the sound of a gunshot) to fool and apprehend criminals when his pistol jammed in an encounter was widely shared on the social media, was injured in an exchange of fire with criminals in Sambhal district on Friday morning, police said.

The incident took place at Alia Kalyanpur village under Asmoli police station in Sambhal when sub-inspector Manoj Kumar, along with other police personnel, were involved in an encounter with a criminal, Saddam of Amroha.

Police said police personnel tried to stop Saddam and his accomplice who were fleeing on a motorcycle after seeing police near the village. Instead of slowing down their bike, the two criminals opened fire, injuring Kumar, the police said.

Police, however, nabbed Saddam, who was wanted in several cases of loot, theft and attempt to murder, after he was injured in retaliatory fire. His accomplice managed to escape.

Sambhal superintendent of police Yamuna Prasad said police had information about the two criminals riding a motorcycle. When they were passing through the village, our team tried to stop them, but both fired at the police, injuring sub-inspector Manoj Kumar, he said.

The video showing Kumar imitating the sound of gunshots during an encounter with criminals in Sambhal district of the state on October 12, had surfaced days afterwards and gone viral. During the encounter, one policeman was injured, while a criminal was also nabbed after being shot. The said criminal was wanted in a number of robbery cases and was carrying an award of Rs 25000 on his head.
In September 2018, Matam Gangabhavani, a 26-year-old transwoman from Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, filed a public interest litigation against a government order (GO) that listed 11 government hospitals that would issue medical certificates/ transgender identity cards  the GO made no distinction between the two  after examination by a team of doctors that included a urologist, an endocrinologist and a psychiatrist.

Like thousands of transgender people across the country, Gangabhavani is no stranger to the process of obtaining ID documents. A medical examination is one of the many hurdles that transgender people experience in either obtaining or correcting ID papers.

A team of legal researchers led by the Centre for Health, Law, Ethics and Technology of O.P Jindal Global University, which filed hundreds of Right to Information queries with all states and union territories, found that till April 2017, only three states had issued identity cards to transgender people. This, despite directives issued by the Supreme Court in 2014, in its landmark National Legal Services Authority (Nalsa) judgment. which granted legal recognition to transgender communities. The Centres report, titled Bureaucratization of Transgender Rights, was published in the Socio-Legal Review of the National Law School of India University last year.

In an attempt to streamline the process of recognising transgender identity, the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill 2018, which was passed by the Lok Sabha in December, has a provision for a District Screening Committee that comprises a district magistrate, medical officers, psychiatrists and one transgender individual.

The committees mandate is to issue a transgender ID card, which can then be used as proof to make name and gender identity changes in all other documents, including the birth certificate.

However, widespread protests have been held across the country against the bill, which may come up in the Rajya Sabha in the ongoing Parliament session. At a demonstration in New Delhi on December 28, in which thousands of transgender people and political representatives of opposition parties like the Congress, Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) participated, a host of issues were flagged, including the bills provision for a screening committee.

The bill further stipulates that a transgender person who identifies as either a man or a woman can change the gender on the transgender ID card issued by the committee only after furnishing proof of having undergone sex reassignment surgery (SRS). Activists quoted the 2014 Nalsa judgment, which recognised the right to self-identify ones gender, and stated that asking for medical certificates to prove gender identity is illegal and immoral, to point out that the bills provisions are unconstitutional. At the protest, Saransh,, a transman from Delhi ,asked, If you, a cisgender person, are not asked to strip before anyone to prove your gender, why should I? I am a man, and have identified that way since childhood, and I should not have to prove this to anyone. Cisgender is a term used for people whose gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth.

There are currently many cases before high courts around the country that highlight the difficulty that transgender people confront in obtaining proof of identity. Heres a look at three of them.

Government order for physical exam

Andhra Pradesh passed an order in March 2018 that listed 11 government hospitals where medical certificates that double as transgender identity cards can be obtained after examination by a team of doctors.

In September, Gangabhavani filed a PIL in the state high court to quash the government order on grounds that it violated the right to privacy and equality and went against the Nalsa judgment. Gangabhavanis experience bears this out.

In 2015, she applied for the post of a nurse at a government hospital and was referred to a gynaecologist for a medical certificate. The doctor not only physically examined her before post-graduate studentsusing her as a teaching propbut referred her to a surgeon, who also physically examined Gangabhavani, and failed to furnish the certificate. Gangabhavani says that over the course of six months she was referred to a forensic team, a urologist, and an endocrinologist, none of whom issued a certificate. She eventually gave up, and took up a job as a baby sitter.

She is now a research assistant with the National Institute of Rural Development.Last month, the state filed a response stating that self-declaration of gender identity to avail of benefits would result in misuse, thereby depriv(ing) the rights of the genuine TG persons

Changes in school leaving certificates

SP (initials used to protect identity) fought and won a case in 2017 against the Department of Publication, which publishes the Gazette of India. When the 23-year-old approached the department to publish a change of name and gender identity, it asked her for a medical certificate. Her lawyer argued in the Delhi high court that the department violated the 2014 Nalsa judgment of the Supreme Court. SP also appealed to the ministries of law and justice, and housing and urban affairs, following which the department agreed to publish the change of name and gender identity in the gazette. Eventually, the department also issued a new proforma last year  now online  where transpeople can declare their gender without submitting medical proof. SP then petitioned the Allahabad high courts Lucknow bench, as the Board of High School and Intermediate Education, UP required her to submit a medical certificate to consider her application to change the name and gender in her school leaving certificates.

SP is unwilling to submit to a physical examination in a state hospital to procure the medical certificate asked for by the board. At the same time, her petition argues, a certificate from a psychiatrist and the change of name published in the Gazette of India should be enough to change her name in her school certificates. The matter is being heard in court with the state board response being that the regulations at present do not permit change of name or gender.

Amended bylaws omit trans students

As an undergraduate student in Delhi University (DU) from 2013 to 2016, Riya Sharma, now 24, was issued an identity card that carried the gender marker O (for Other), and a recent photograph that displayed her feminine identity. But the name remained unchanged from the one given to her at birth, and was reflected in her school leaving certificate and college transcripts as well.

Now a post-graduate student at the Indira Gandhi National Open University, Sharma is fighting a battle against both the university and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), as neither is allowing her to change her name on her documents.

Her petition also challenges the Department of Publication, which had asked her for a medical certificate for proof of gender identity when she sought to publish her change of name and gender identity in the gazette in 2016.

In June 2015, the Central Board of Secondary Education issued a notification that students can only change the name on their 10th and 12th certificates before they receive their results.

Following this, Delhi University amended its rules to say that students may change their university records only after changing the CBSE or state boards records. Sharmas petition, filed in 2017, argues that between the CBSE and DU, she is caught in an impossible loop.

It is unrealistic to expect gender-non-conforming students to own their identity while still at school, on account of the harassment and bullying that they are subjected to.

Sharmas case is up for final arguments and the education bodies aver that they are only following protocol.

Meanwhile, Sharma, who lives in Ajmer, Rajasthan, fears that unless this matter is resolved, she will be denied employment opportunities that insist on these documents.
Ahead of the release of The Accidental Prime Minister, a film based on a book about Manmohan Singhs prime ministerial tenure, BJP ally Shiv Senas leader Sanjay Raut said that he did not think the former prime minister deserved this title.

If a prime minister governs the country for 10 years and the people respect him, I dont see him as an accidental prime minister. After Narasimha Rao, if the country has got a successful prime minister, it is Manmohan Singh, Raut told media on Friday, reported ANI.

Also watch: Anupam Kher says Manmohan Singhs portrayal in Accidental Prime Minister will make naysayers proud

The Congress has downplayed the furore surrounding the film but lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party, whose official Twitter handle promptly tweeted the trailer which was released on December 27 and termed the film riveting tale of how a family held the country to ransom for 10 years. The film , which stars Anupam Kher as Manmohan Singh, releases January 11.

The Shiv Sena has frequently expressed its disagreement on a range of issues with the BJP, its coalition partner both at the Centre, Raut, a senior party leader and editor of Sena mouthpiece Saamana, has been in the forefront.

In a weekly column in November, Raut had criticised the Narendra Modi government for diverting corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds to build the Statue of Unity in Gujarat. In September, he had asked if the BJPs Hindutva is dependent on what Congress president Rahul Gandhi eats and drinks . Raut, a Rajya Sabha member, had also questioned whether former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee died on August 16 or if his death was announced that day to ensure Prime Minister Narendra Modis Independence day speech was not disrupted.
Little over a month after Maharashtra Assembly passed a bill providing for separate quota for the Marathas in jobs and education, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said that reservation is not a solution to tackle unemployment.

If reservation is given to every community, even then government jobs cant be given to 90 per cent of the young generation. Government can give only 25,000 jobs per year. Reservation is not a solution, news agency ANI quoted Fadnavis as saying at a function in Maharashtra on Friday.

Maharashtra Assembly cleared a bill in November last year for 16 per cent quota for the Maratha community in jobs and education in the state. The Marathas had been earlier declared a backward community following their long-standing demand.

Recently, demands for and against reservation in jobs and education have been seen in different parts of the country with some advocating a review of the quota policy in states and at the central level.

After RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat called for a review of reservation policy in 2015, some of the Opposition parties posed questions to the NDA government asking it to clarify its position on existing quota arrangements.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has, however, said on a few occasions that the government has no plans to review the quota arrangement. In an August 2018 interview, Modi said, Reservation is here to stay. Let there be no doubt.
Ending speculation after he announced his entry into electoral politics, actor Prakash Raj confirmed on Twitter on Saturday that he would contest from Bengaluru Central constituency in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Raj had announced on January 1 that he would contest the Lok Sabha polls as an independent, marking an entry into the electoral arena.

#2019 PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS.Thank you for the warm n encouraging response to my new journey.. I will be contesting from BENGALURU CENTRAL constituency #KARNATAKA as an INDEPENDENT..will share the Details with the media in few days..#citizensvoice #justasking in parliament too... Raj tweeted on the micro-blogging site.

The national award winning actor had begun an online campaign called #Justasking and has been vocal in his criticism of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi after his increased activism in the wake of the death of journalist Gauri Lankesh, who was his close acquaintance.

Raj has said in the past that his turn to politics was occasioned by the murder of Lankesh, who was allegedly shot dead by Hindu activists for her strong anti-Hindutva views on September 5, 2017.
Only an intra-Afghan dialogue can ensure peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan, and haphazard contacts with Taliban factions will complicate the situation, the war-torn countrys National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib said on Saturday.

Afghanistan perceives India as a strategic partner as both sides have common views on terrorism and democracy, and Kabul will continue to reach out to New Delhi for assistance, Mohib said a day after holding a strategic dialogue with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval.

Asked about the absence of Afghan government representatives at recent talks with the Taliban in Moscow and Abu Dhabi, he said: There can be no peace without the Afghans, this is a process we have been leading there is a lot of misinformationbecause of the fact that many of the talks happened behind closed doors.

India and Afghanistan had non-official representation at the Moscow format talks hosted by Russia in November, while the Taliban refused to meet an Afghan delegation during talks with US special representative Zalmay Khalilzad in Abu Dhabi last month.

All peace talks have to be Afghan-owned and Afghan-led, Mohib said. The talks that must happen have to be intra-Afghan. That is the only way for any peace and reconciliation to actually happen..., he added. Mohib, 35, described India as a rising power with which Afghanistan would like to continue its partnership. India is a strategic partner and...we see eye to eye on terrorism and the role of democracy, he said.

Where we had any needs and we felt India could play a role, we have asked India in the past and they came forward and contributed. When there is a need in future, we will ask again, he added. Mohib said he was not confident at all that the Talibans Qatar office, whose representatives have been engaged in talks with the US since last year, represents all factions of the group. I think there is a lot of factionalism inside the Taliban, theyre not a cohesive group, he said, adding the militants had not even appointed a single negotiating team.

He described reports of the US planning to withdraw 7,000 troops from Afghanistan as misinformation but acknowledged that Kabul was preparing for all scenarios. Afghanistan is accelerating steps to make its armed forces more self-reliant, especially measures to beef up its air force by acquiring 315 aircraft by 2023, he said. Afghan troops are largely dependent on the US for air support, including intelligence gathering, surveillance, air lift and medical evacuation, and the strengthening of the Afghan air force would diminish the need for such support, he said.
Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Friday that he was not in the race for the post of Leader of the Opposition in Madhya Pradesh, where the Congress ended the 15-year reign of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the recent assembly elections.

Chouhan, an other backward classes (OBC) leader, also said he would make all efforts to ensure the BJPs win in the maximum number of seats possible in the Lok Sabha elections this year.

I am not in any race for Leader of Opposition post, Chouhan, who has so far indicated that he will be active in state politics, said in Bhopal. The three-time CM was in Delhi on Thursday to take part in a meeting of the BJPs parliamentary board, the highest decision-making body in the party.

In Madhya Pradesh, which sends 29 MPs to the Lok Sabha, the Congress won 114 of the 230 assembly seats. In a closely fought contest, the BJP won 109 seats as no party managed to reach the majority mark. The Congress formed a government with the help of other parties.

The BJP has appointed Home minister Rajnath Singh and state BJP affairs-in-charge Vinay Sahasrabuddhe as observers to oversee the selection of Leader of the Opposition in MP, where the assembly session begins on January 7.

Highlighting the importance of the Leader of the Opposition in the state after last months assembly verdict, political observer Bhagwandev Israni said: ... The Congress doesnt enjoy a comfortable majority in the state assembly... in such a situation, the BJP needs a leader who can continue to exert pressure on the ruling party.

Party functionaries, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the LoP will be selected in the next few days. Speculation is rife that the BJP may choose an upper caste leader to counter perceived resentment in the aftermath of the cabinet approving a bill to restore key provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Schedule Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, which the Supreme Court had diluted in March 2017. The party will elect its leader as per process laid down and it will be a smooth affair, BJP MLA Arvind Bhadoria said.
I was reading today how the scientists are predicting the polar vortex is going to split into three different regions and one of those is going to play havoc with our area, he said. Its going to make temperatures plenty cold for snow and set up a blocking high over the northeast Atlantic, which will keep those storms from moving too quickly through us.
Intense cold wave continued to grip north India as temperatures plummeted at several places in the region. The higher reaches of Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh received heavy snowfall as the mercury in Srinagar settled at a low of minus 1.3 degrees Celsius and Keylong recorded minus 7 degrees Celsius on Friday night, meteorological department said Saturday. The on-going cold conditions in Punjab and Haryana Saturday aggravated with minimum temperature hovering at 3.5 degrees Celsius at Narnaul, which was one notch below normal, the MeT office said here.

Leh recorded minus 8 degree celsius and Kargil minus 15.6 while Jammu had 8.6 and Katra 6.4 as the nights lowest temperatures. The minimum temperature in Himachal s Kalpa was minus 2 degrees Celsius, while it was minus 1.1 degrees in Dalhousie and minus 0.8 degrees Celsius in Kufri till 8.30 am Saturday, the Shimla MeT Centre Director Manmohan Singh said.

In Jammu and Kashmir

Kashmir was cut off from the rest of the country on Saturday with the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remaining closed and flight operations suspended due to heavy snowfall. So far, no air traffic has been possible at the Srinagar airport, an official of the Srinagar International airport said. Most places in Kashmir, including plains of the valley, received moderate to heavy snowfall overnight, officials of the MeT Department said. A spokesman of the Traffic Control Room here said Mughal Road, Srinagar-Leh National Highway and Bandipora-Gurez road were also closed for traffic. The snowfall has also disrupted normal life and affected the movement of people and transport in Srinagar city and other districts of the valley. However, road clearance operations have been undertaken by the respective district administrations across the valley since the morning. Most areas of valley have been without electricity since last night, the officials said.

Srinagar: A shopkeeper clears snow in front of his shop as women walk past at Lal Chowk, in Srinagar, Saturday, Jan. 05, 2019. According to the MeT department officials, most places in Kashmir, including plains of the valley, received moderate to heavy snowfall overnight. (PTI)

A Kashmiri boatman rows his Shikara, a traditional wooden boat, as others are seen parked after a spell of fresh snowfall in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019. The Kashmir region has been experiencing snow for few days resulting in disruption of air traffic and road traffic between Srinagar and Jammu, the summer and winter capitals of India's troubled state. (AP)

Also Read: Family of five leaves heater on to stay warm in Kashmir home, found dead

Five members of a family allegedly died of suffocation in Srinagar after using a heater in their closed room. Two women, one man and two children were found dead in their rented accommodation in Bemina area, police said. The apparent cause of death appears to be asphyxiation but this will only be ascertained after medical examination, a police officer said, adding that the family was from Kupwara, as per IANS.

Another man slipped and died while clearing snow from the roof of his house in Bandipora district Saturday, an official said. Mumtaz Ahmad, a resident of Bandipora , was injured after he slipped from the roof, deputy commissioner Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said. He said Ahmad was rushed to a hospital where he succumbed to the injuries. The district administration has extended an assistance of ?4 lakh to the bereaved family, Choudhary said.

In Himchal Pradesh

No fresh snowfall occurred in Shimla on Saturday, the Shimla MeT Centre Director Manmohan Singh said. However, Keylong continued to be the coldest place in the state at minus 7 degrees Celsius, he said.

Fresh snowfall at Manali on Saturday, January 05 2019. (HT Photo)

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had earlier sounded an orange warning of heavy snowfall, rain and hailstorm in most parts of the state from January 4 to 6. Acting on the weather advisory, the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) had already made preparations to deal with any eventuality. The state and district control rooms are in a state of readiness to deal with any eventuality, a state official had said, adding that tourists and the general public have been advised to avoid the higher reaches.

In Punjab and Haryana

Several parts of the two states remained engulfed under a thick blanket of fog which adversely affected the air, rail and road traffic in the region, the MeT said. While Amritsar braved a low of four degrees Celsius, one notch above normal, the minimum at Karnal was 5.2 degrees Celsius, two notches below normal. Among other places, Chandigarh settled at a low of 5.5 degrees and 7.4 degrees at Patiala and 7.7 degrees Celsius at Ludhiana. The MeT forecast cloudy sky with likely rain or hailstorm at isolated laces till Sunday. Besides, the region is likely to face dense to very dense fog till Sunday.
The evil Kauravas of the Mahabharata were born test tube babies and the Dashavatara is a better theory of evolution than Charles Darwins, a university vice chancellor said on Saturday at the 106th Indian Science Congress, at a session organised to inculcate a scientific temperament in children. A second speaker said physicists like Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton and Stephen Hawking were all wrong.

The comments by Professor G Nageswara Rao of Andhra University came in a presentation he made on Science in the Indian Way of Life at the Meet the Scientists session. Organisers of the Congress were quick to distance themselves from the session.

Zero is a contribution of India to the world. No computer would have existed without it, said Rao, who went on to say that ancient Indians knew about the benefits of using neem and salt to clean the teeth, and the health advantages of turmeric before the rest of the world did.

Gangajal is considered to be very holy and today it has been proven scientifically that irrespective of the impurities of the Gangajal it does not give any infection because bacteriophages kill the harmful bacteria, Rao said, advancing the theory that modern science existed in India long before other countries discovered it.

According to the university don, the Ramayana and Mahabharata were history books, not mythological tales, and the evil Kauravas had been born test tube babies.

How can a woman give birth to 100 children in one life-time? The Mahabharata says that 100 fertilised eggs were put into an earthen pot, isnt it a test tube baby? Stem cell research happened in this country thousands of years ago, he said.

Dashavatara is better than Darwins theory because it also plans for what comes after the humans, he said.

Dashavatara refers to the 10 primary avatars of Vishnu, the Hindu god of preservation. Vishnu is said to descend to earth in various forms to restore cosmic order whenever it is disturbed.

Darwin proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection  a process by which organisms change over time as a result of changes in physical or behavioural traits.

Event organisers distanced themselves from the session.

We will have a meeting to discuss how and why this session was allowed. Everything should have scientific backing. Indian Science Congress is meant for purely scientific discussions and to promote scientific temperament in children and general public. Some people tried to introduce a similar session during the 103rd Congress as well and it was refused, said Professor Gangadhar, general secretary of the Indian Science Congress Association and a biologist.

The other speaker, Dr Kannan Jagathala Krishnan, who was the first speaker in the session, said the theories propagated by famous scientists like Einstein, Newton and Hawking were all wrong.

The whole physics theory is wrong but the experiments are correct. And, my theory explains everything. It will be the unified theory (to explain the planetary physics as well as quantum physics), Krishnan said.

If his theory is accepted, gravitational waves would be referred to as the Narendra Modi Waves, after the Prime Minister, and the Gravitational Lensing effect (the bending of light because of the presence of an object between the light source and the observer) would be renamed the Harsh Vardhan effect, after the minister of science and technology.

He claimed to be the source of the science and technology ministers comment during the previous Science Congress in which he quoted Hawking as saying that the Vedas might have an equation superior to Einsteins equation E=MC square, which says that energy and mass are interchangeable.

The planets do not move because of the gravitational pull of the sun. If it were because of gravity, there are several satellites that are bigger than the sun, then why does the sun not get pulled? The planets move because of the equal force exerted by the space on its surface. When Einstein noticed a small amount of missing matter when a Uranium particle disintegrates, he said energy is equal to the lost mass into the square of the speed of light. But he did not understand energy. The earth and the other planets have been moving constantly, this requires energy and the space is that energy, Krishnan said.

He is associated with the World Community Service Centre (WCSC), a non-profit registered society with a view to work towards World Peace through individual peace, according to its website.

I dont know in what context the researcher is saying something like this. But, even if there is any deviation in the modern science, the changes are small. The whole system of science cannot be wrong, you cannot negate the years of studies that several people have done. And for physics, no such radical theory has been proposed as far as I know and much less accepted, said Professor Navdeep Goyal, chair of the department of physics at Punjab University.
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) teams on Saturday raided 14 places in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, including the residence of a popular woman civil servant, a Samajwadi Party (SP) member of the legislative council (MLC), mining department officials and red sand mining lease holders, in connection with mining irregularities in Bundelkhand, CBI officers said.

The alleged scam dates back to 2012-16 , when the SP under Akhilesh Yadav was in power. The FIR states: The role of the then mining ministers concerned during the relevant period may be looked into during the course of investigation. In the period, Yadav handled the mining portfolio for a spell before it was handed over to Gayatri Prajapati.

CBI officers, who are probing the mining irregularities on the orders of the Allahabad high court, on Saturday seized multiple documents related to mining, property documents, around five kilograms of gold and jewellery as well as over 2 crore in cash during the searches, the officers said on condition of anonymity.

The agency conducted the raids on Saturday after registering a first information report (FIR) on Wednesday under sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act against B Chandrakala, a 2008 batch officer of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), and 10 others including SP MLC Ramesh Kumar Sharma following the discovery of anomalies in sanctioning and renewing red sand mining leases in Hamirpur between 2012 and 2016, they said.

CBI officers also questioned the MLC and former Zila Panchayat chairman Sanjiv Dixit in Hamirpur, who were among the lease holders and allegedly involved in illegal mining of red sand in Bundelkhand, a region where illegal red sand mining has thrived for long .

The Samajwadi Party said the timing of the raids were suspect. The party welcomes the CBI action but the timings of the raids raises questions on the intentions of the government, said Abdul Hafiz Gandhi, SP spokesperson.

Leaders of SP and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) met in the national capital on Friday to discuss an alliance for the Lok Sabha elections due later this year. The alliance is seen as a potent threat to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), in a report tabled in the legislative assembly in 2017, had claimed that the state government was deprived of Rs 477.93 crore in by illegal mining.

Chandrakala, 38, a former Hamiirpur district magistrate, is a social media favourite, thanks to the widely circulated videos of her conducting surprise inspections and pulling up civic officials, whether it be over poor quality of building material or poor sanitation.

In Lucknow, the apartment of Chandrakala in Sapphire Homes and Villas, a building in the heart of Lucknow, was searched. CBI officers searched the flat and stayed there for three hours before leaving the flat after collecting documents related to the red sand mining contracts. The officers seized documents related to property and sealed a locker that contained jewellery. A CBI team also searched the IAS officers residence in Telanganas Karimnagar town.

Chandrakala is accused of sanctioning and renewing leases flouting the norms of e-tendering during her posting as district magistrate of Hamirpur after July 2012.

An officer probing the case said on condition of anonymity that around two dozen IAS officers, dozen of politicians, three dozen mining contractors and district mining officers are on the radar. Prior to the registration of the FIR, an enquiry was conducted into alleged illegal mining of minor minerals in Hamirpur on the direction of the Allahabad high court. The allegation is that public servants, in a criminal conspiracy, allowed illegal mining of minor minerals in Hamirpur during 2012-2016. The CBI alleged that they had illegally granted fresh leases for mining of red sand, renewed existing leases and caused a loss to the government exchequer and undue gain to themselves.

(With inputs from HTC in New Delhi)
A 21-year-old Haryana woman, who underwent a sex change surgery last year to marry her school friend, is in a soup. Her school friend, now wife, wants out.

The husband has filed a complaint with police that his wifes parents have confined her at their house and are not letting her meet him. In the complaint, the husband said he fell in love with the girl when they were in school. The two wanted to marry each other but figured that their families will not let them solemnise a same-sex marriage.

Read more: Baby sitter kills 2-month-old boy, then hands over body to his mother

They decided that one of them needs to change their sex if they want to get married. So he underwent the surgery around a year ago, from Delhi. It cost us 10 lakh and we borrowed money from people for it, a family member of the husband said, requesting anonymity.

The couple later got married at a Delhi temple in October last.

The girl did not expect her family to accept the marriage and had sought time to convince them.

A police officer said it appears the wife was not able to convince her parents and they did not let her meet her husband.

Also Read: Neighbour killed minor girl in Delhis Khayala after being caught stealing: Police

That is when he approached the police.

But when the police called the families for counselling, the girl told police that she did not want to be with the husband.

Asked, Charkhi Dadri superintendent of police (SP) Smiti Chaudhary said when the families came to her, the girl clearly refused to go to her husbands home.

Both the girl and boy are major. The boy showed us the pictures of their wedding in Delhi, but the girl said she did not want to be with him and live with his family. Since she is a major, she has right to make the decision, said Smiti Chaudhary.

For now, the Charkhi Dadri police chief said it was a closed case for them. Asked if the girl could have been under pressure from her family, Chaudhary said she could not rule out this possibility either. We will pursue it legally if circumstances demand, she added.

The husbands family has told the police that they will explore legal options to get the couple together.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on the Congress over its loan waiver promises in the recent state elections, accusing the party of misleading farmers.

Farmers are a vote bank for the Congress but for us, farmers are our food providers. This is the difference between the Congress and the BJP, the prime minister said.

Modi said that after being voted to power in 2014, the government has focused on reviving irrigation projects. We launched the Prime Minister Irrigation Scheme. We revived 99 irrigation projects that were pending for 30-40 yearsWe are spending about Rs 90,000 crore on these projects.

Also watch: PM Modi says Congress farm loan waiver not effective, farmers must be empowered

Had I only wanted the votes of farmers, I could have also doled out Rs 1 lakh crore as loan waiver. It would have been easier. But we did not go for thatWe are trying to change the old system, he said.

PM Modi did not explicitly refer to the Congresss loan waiver promises in the recent assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. But the criticism of the Congresss loan waiver promises, in these three states and elsewhere, has been a running theme in the prime ministers speeches over the last few weeks.

The Congress, which snatched the three Hindi heartland states from the BJP in the state elections, says it has started delivering on its promise for a waiver of farm loans up to Rs 2 lakh. PM Modi has, in his recent speeches, made pointed references to the Congresss track record on farm waivers and asserted that it wasnt the farmers really, who benefited.

Speaking in Uttar Pradeshs Ghazipur on December 29, PM Modi said, They promised loan lollipop to lakhs of farmers but waived off loans of merely a handful of themUnder the new (Congress) governments in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, we can already see long queues of farmers seeking fertilizers and urea. They were also lathicharged. Those who do black marketing have come into play.

Referring to Karnataka, PM Modi said, While they managed to form the government through backdoor, they actually waived off loans of merely 800 farmers.

In Jharkhands Palamu where PM Modi laid foundation stones for some projects, PM Modi pointed how no government in the past had bothered to start construction of the Uttar Koel dam that he said, could change the lives of the farmers in the region.

This dam has been pending for 50 years, he said, to emphasize the point that his government had been able to invest in the future of the farmers because its outlook was long-term security of the farming and people dependent on it.
Stating that Aadhaar was the biggest transformation to verify the identity of any individual, Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Saturday said that the government is planning to link the Aadhaar with driving licence soon.

We are going to make another big change in the law of which bill is pending in Parliament. Soon linking motor vehicle licenses with the Aadhaar will be mandatory, Prasad said, describing the need for linking.

Suppose, a drunk man killed four persons and fled from Punjab to any other state to get a duplicate licence issued using different identity. After linking Aadhaar, one can change the name but cannot change the biometrics. The moment one tries to get issued duplicate licence using a different identity, the system will immediately say the person is already having a licence, he said.

Prasad was in Phagwara to preside over the Science Communicators meet organised as the part of an ongoing 106th edition of the five-day Indian Science Congress (ISC) on the theme Future India: Science and Technology organised at Lovely Professional University (LPU) here.

The objective of this meet is to bring different science communicators together to discuss the development and optimum utilisation of existing and new media and arenas in order to strengthen the dialogue between the research community and the society.

Prasad said that under the Bharatnet policy, 2.5 lakh gram panchayats will be connected with optical fibre.

The scheme was started in 2011 with name National Optical Fibre Network and in three years, the previous government had laid down only 358 kilometres optical fibre while in the last four years, we have laid down optical fibre in three lakh kilometres, linking one lakh gram panchayats. The remaining panchayats will be connected soon, he said.

Applauding the role of innovations in communication technology, Prasad said that digital payments have surged eight fold in the last five years to Rs 2,070 crore.

There has been 2,048% growth in Aadhaar enabled payment system transactions while transactions in UPI grew 1,500 times in the last 24 months, he said.

Prasad said that Digital India has bridged the divide between urban and rural India. India might have missed the industrial revolution and entrepreneurial revolution but India wont miss the digital revolution, he said.
The Union Cabinet is likely to consider the final draft of the Personal Data Protection Bill next week so that the important legislation can be introduced in Parliament next month.

The law, once passed, will protect citizens personal information such as health and financial data, religious or political affiliation, caste, tribe, gender, sexual orientation and biometric information. Within one week it will be brought before the Cabinet, law and justice, and electronics and information technology minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

The government wants to introduce the legislation in the next session of Parliament which will pass the vote-on-account, and is expected to be the last session before Lok Sabha elections, senior government officials with direct knowledge of the matter said on condition of anonymity.

The law will make it difficult for unscrupulous elements to share personal details of an individual, they added.

The need for a new legislation has been felt as the Information Technology Act, which provides for privacy and security of data in digital form, has its limitations, the officials said. They added that the final draft of the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2018, which is almost ready to be tabled in the Cabinet, is based on the recommendations of the Justice BN Srikrishna Committee.

The ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY) constituted the committee on July 31, 2017. The committee submitted its report a year later along with a draft law. The government has finalised the draft law after a wider consultation that ended on October 10.

Meity is also making efforts to amend the existing Information Technology Act to curb fake news, especially by checking its distribution through social media and instant messaging services.

The ministry will on Saturday invite multiple civil society organisations to discuss issues related to data, surveillance and the regulation of content on social media to prevent misuse of these platforms and curb the spread of fake news, the officials said.

Last month, the government, under the IT Act, Intermediaries Guidelines (Amendment) Rules 2018, proposed to break end-to-end encryption and introduce systems for retaining data and information so that the origin of messages on some platforms can be traced. It advocated for the use of automated tools to proactively detect and remove unlawful information and asked social media platforms to set up a business entity in India. Intermediaries are platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. The government will receive feedback on these rules till January 15.

Speaking about the proposed changed in the law, Arun Prabhu, partner at the law firm Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, said, The amendment rules create onerous obligations on both small and large intermediaries. While small entities may need to invest in technology to proactively identify and take down unlawful content, entities with large user bases will need to be registered in India and have to maintain a local presence.
The Congress on Friday said a purported Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) circular of December 31 had vindicated the partys position in the Associated Journals Limited (AJL) case pending before the Supreme Court, and exposed the governments intention to mislead the judiciary and make fake cases against its political rivals.

AJL is the publisher of National Herald newspaper, a mouthpiece of the Congress party, and party president Rahul Gandhi and his mother and predecessor Sonia Gandhi are among the accused in a case related to alleged financial regularities.

Last month, a Delhi high court bench said the manner in which a company named Young Indian (YI) had acquired 99% of the shares of AJL was questionable. Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi are majority shareholders in YI.

In the circular, CBDT had clarified that the provisions of Section 56(2)(vii)(a) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 shall not be applicable in cases of receipt of shares by a specified company as a result of fresh issuance of sharest.

We welcome the latest CBDT circular dated December 31. This vindicates our position that there never was an issue about issuance of such shares as a taxable event as it was being projected by way of harassment, Congress legal department chairman Vivek Tankha said. The clarification, according to Tankha, shows that a HC verdict reopening the AJL case waswrong. He added that fresh facts will be placed before the Supreme Court now.

We thank the CBDT for this clarification, he told reporters.

According to a person in the revenue department, the CBDT had issued an internal circular on December 31, 2018 that clarified section 56(2)(viia) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 for issuance of shares by a company in which the public is not substantially invested.

The section is related to the prevention of laundering of income under the garb of gifts.

The particular section provides for taxation of income where a company in which public are not substantially interested or a firm receives sharers of a specified company from a person for no or inadequate consideration, the circular read. The person in the revenue department, who requested anonymity, said, This appears to be an internal circular issued for clarity. Its interpretation by the Congress may not be correct. The person declined to elaborate, saying the subject matter was subjudice.

Tax expert and chartered account Satyendra Jain clarified the legal position. If the company has directly issued its shares at a discount to its book value then the section will not be applicable. If a shareholder transfers or sells shares to another person then the section is applicable.
The Central Bureau of Investigation today raided 12 places across Uttar Pradesh, including the residence of a senior IAS officer in Lucknow, and Delhi in connection with the multi-crore mining scam in the states Bundelkhand region.

The flat of B Chandrakala, a 2008 batch officer of the Indian Administrative Service, in an apartment building in the heart of Lucknow was searched. Raids were also carried on Samajwadi Party legislative councillor Ramesh Mishras home in Hamirpur, of red sand contractors in Jalaun and other premises in Kanpur, Noida, Jalaun and Hamirpur in the state and Delhi.

A 15-member CBI team was also questioning Mishra and former zila pachayat chairman Sanjeev Dixit

Illegal mining is a long standing issue in the Bundelkhand region. The CBI had taken over the probe in the case on the directions of the Allahabad High Court, reported PTI news agency.
Homes of an MP and an MLA were attacked in Kannur overnight as violence raged in Kerala on Saturday, the third day of clashes during which over 3,000 people have been arrested for their role in protests following the entry of women into the Sabarimala temple.

As the police intensified its crackdown on those indulging in violence  the total number of arrests doubled from around 1,400 on Friday to 3,000 on Saturday  the opposition hardened its stance against the government and announced the visits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah to the state later this month.

In Kannur, notorious for bloody clashes between cadres of the Left and the right-wing, houses of many including an MLA and MP were attacked on Friday night. The arson included targets on both sides of the protests: the Bharatiya Janata Party-Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist).

Prohibitory orders were enforced in many areas to contain recurring violence.

We caution the CM to stop the mindless violence failing which the government will have to face serious consequences. You cant let loose party goons on BJP workers like this, said BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao in New Delhi.

Modi will visit the state on January 15 and 27 and Shah in the first week of February, according to party sources.

The CPI(M) reiterated that the violence was being carried out by Sangh Parivar outfits. Nobody can browbeat an elected government. The BJP-RSS are finding difficult to accept the humiliation they faced after women entered the temple so their cadres are targeting party workers and offices, said CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, adding Shahs visit will only help widen the Communist base in the state.

Watch: Violence continues in Kerala, CPI worker stabbed over Sabarimala row

According to PTI, governor P Sathasivam briefed Union home minister Rajnath Singh about the law and order situation in the southern state.

North Keralas Kannur and central Keralas Pathanamhitta where the famous temple is situated bore the maximum brunt of violence. CPI(M) legislator AN Shamseers house was attacked and within hours, rivals retaliated by attacking the house of BJP Rajya Sabbha MP V Muralidharan in Thalassery. A bomb explosion was reported from Perambra in Kozhikode district, while a CPI (M) workers house was attacked. An office of the RSS was set on fire early on Saturday.

The scale of the violence received international attention, with the United Kingdom urging its citizens to exercise caution while staying in or travelling to Kerala, and the United Nations Secretary Generals office urging people to respect the rule of law.

Widespread violence broke out on Thursday during a strike called by the Sabarimala Karma Samithi, an umbrella organisation of Hindu groups and supported by the BJP, after the entry of two women into the hilltop shrine of Sabarimala on Wednesday. Women of childbearing age have traditionally been prohibited from the entering the temple, but the practice was termed illegal by the Supreme Court.

(With agency inputs)
I think the first year was actually structuring how to come up with the plan. In the second year, we are starting to move on with implementation, he said. We need to get more residents involved in the process and have that feedback.
BJP president Amit Shah on Saturday asked people to choose between his partys majboot sarkar (strong government) and the majboor sarkar (helpless government) of the oppositional grand alliance in the Lok Sabha polls.

Addressing the media after a panna pramukh (grassroots workers) conference in Agartala, Shah said that the Narendra Modi government had provided good governance and worked for all the sections of the society, especially in the northeast.

People have faith in him and I am confident that BJP will form its government in the Centre with a thumping majority again, he said.

State party president Biplab Deb who is also the chief minister, administered an oath to workers at the conference at Swami Vivekananda Maidan to ensure victory for the party in two Lok Sabha seats from the state.

We have assessed a pro-BJP wave in the Northeast. We are hopeful to gain power in 21 out of the total 25 Lok Sabha seats in the Northeast region, including two from Tripura, Shah said.

Shah highlighted several government schemes like the Ujjawala Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, Saubhagya scheme, and others launched after Modi came to power.

Hitting out at the oppositions grand alliance plan, he said that it was only to fulfil their own interests.

The forum doesnt have either a leader or a policy. We are going to contest the Lok Sabha polls based on our performance of five years, during which we provided free healthcare, gas cylinders, electricity, toilets to people which the Congress failed to do during their 10-year regime, he said.

The poll fight will be between a majboot sarkar and a majboor sarkar. The grand-alliance can give a majboor sarkar while only BJP can give a majboot sarkar, he continued.

Shah visited the Tripurasundari temple in Udaipur, accompanied by chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb, Assam finance minister Himanta Biswa Sharma and others.

Shah will chair separate meetings with state cabinet ministers, partys core committee members, office bearers and the partys alliance partner Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT). He will join a dinner hosted by Biplab Deb at the latters official residence tonight.

At the meeting, the BJP is expected to decide whether it will fight the Lok Sabha polls with the IPFT.
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday announced the names of functionaries who have been put in charge of seven states for election related work ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

As per the appointments made by party president Amit Shah, defence minister Nirmala Sitaraman and JS Pawaiya have been given the charge of Delhi, where the party won seven Lok Sabha seats in 2014.

Union health minister JP Nadda has been made in charge of Uttar Pradesh while his cabinet colleague and railway minister Piyush Goyal will oversee the election preparation for Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andaman Nicobar.

P Murlidhar Rao and Kiran Maheshwari will oversee the preparations in Karnataka where the party is eyeing increasing its seats and vote share.

Kalyan Misra and Vishwas Sarang have been put in charge of Haryana while Avinash Rai Khanna will oversee work in Jammu and Kashmir and Tripura.

Last month, Shah announced the names of election in-charges in 17 states who will have the responsibility of steering the partys election campaign as it seeks to retain power.
A five-year boy was allegedly strangulated by his aunt and two cousins in Bengal on Saturday. Police have arrested a woman and two boys in connection with the crime.

Sahadan Abbasis body was found inside a sack dumped in a pond in the Jagatballavpur area of Howrah district, about 39 km from Kolkata.The spot where the body was found is barely 50 metres from his house. The boys parents had reported him missing on Friday and told the police that the boys aunt may have had a hand in his disappearance. On Saturday morning, a sandal belonging to the victim was found and led to a search of the pond.

During our preliminary investigation, we came to know that the child was killed over a property dispute between the father and uncle of the victim who quarreled frequently, Gourav Sharma, superintendent of police of Howrah (Rural) said.

The accused allegedly admitted to the crime, after sustained grilling by the police.

Son surrenders to police after killing father in Kolkata

Elsewhere in West Bengal, Raja Dhali (22) surrendered at the East Jadavpur police station after killing his father Balai (50).

The son came to the police station around 11 pm on Friday and said that he had strangled his father because he could not accept the latters second marriage, said an officer at the East Jadavpur police station on the south- eastern fringes of Kolkata.

Police are also not ruling out the possibility of a property-related dispute between father and son.

According to National Crime Records Bureau data 2016, Bengal had accounted for 46,723 of the 429,299 or 10.88% of the total violent crimes in the country in that year.
A Mumbai court granted anticipatory bail to actor Alok Nath in the rape complaint filed by a TV writer-producer, who during the recent #MeToo campaign accused him of rape nearly two decades ago.

The 62-year-old had filed the plea for bail application in the Dindoshi Sessions Court on December 14, last year.

On November 21, a rape case was registered against Nath by the Mumbai Police, based on a complaint filed by the writer-producer, who accused him of raping her 19 years ago. The FIR was booked under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Amidst the #MeToo movement, the writer had narrated her horrifying ordeal in a Facebook post in October. She was the writer and producer of teleserial in the 90s, in which Nath played a lead role.
Christian Michel, accused of being the middleman in the AgustaWestland chopper deal, played a role in other defence deals also, the Enforcement Directorate told a Delhi Court on Saturday.

Michel, a British national, was extradited to India from Dubai in connection with allegations of bribery in the Rs 3,600 crore deal with AgustaWestland to purchase 12 helicopters to ferry around VVIPs. He was initially arrested by the CBI and questioned for nearly a fortnight in December.

After spending a few days in jail, Michel was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate - the central agency mandated to investigate financial crimes and money laundering - questioned him for 14 days.

He was produced before the court on Saturday which sent him in judicial custody till February 26.

But before the judge delivered his order, ED counsel DP Singh claimed that Michels interrogation has yielded good results and they had learnt of his role in other defence deals too.

The money seems to be flowing in... The involvement of hawala operators is writ large (on the case), Singh told the judge.

The ED lawyer did not elaborate.

When Christian Michels lawyer asked the judge to release him on bail because he had already been cleared of corruption charges in this case by an Italian court, DP Singh vehemently opposed bail. He claimed that the Italian courts ruling was based on false documents submitted by Christian Michel.

In 2010, India signed the agreement to buy AgustaWestland AW101 helicopters. In 2013, Italian officials arrested Giuseppe Orsi, the CEO of AgustaWestlands parent company, claiming irregularities in the deal.

Soon after, a probe was ordered and the very next year, India scrapped the deal. There were allegations that kickbacks for the deal were as much as Rs 423 crore of which Michel is alleged to have received Rs 225 crore from the firm.
Johnny Depps ex-wife, Amber Heard, has alleged that the actor had an alter-ego that they called the monster which used to emerge when he beat her, according to new deposition documents obtained by The Hollywood Reporter. I was petrified of the monster, Heard said.

The claim is a part of 471-page deposition that reveals new details from the couples divorce proceedings, which started in 2016. The report says that the testimony will play a key role in an ongoing defamation suit filed by Depp against British tabloid The Sun, which in 2018 had published a story titled, How can JK Rowling be genuinely happy casting wife-beater Johnny Depp in the new Fantastic Beasts film?

Controversy had erupted over Depps casting in the Harry Potter spin-off, which writer JK Rowling and director David Yates had defended. Depp played the titular role in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.

This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Johnny Depp in a scene from Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. (AP)

Heard alleges in the documents that during an altercation at their Los Angeles home, Depp threw a phone at her as hard as he could and it hit her in the face. She also said that he broke glass, which was strewn on the floor. Pictures of Heard with visible injury marks on her face, and leaked text conversations about the alleged assault, were posted online.

According to THR, Depps legal team has evidence that Heard faked the injuries. Depp has even threatened to sue Heard for violating her NDA if she testifies in the case against the Sun. As part of their divorce settlement, the couple agreed not to make disparaging remarks against one another. Recently, Heard wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post titled, I spoke up against sexual violence  and faced our cultures wrath. That has to change.

Depps lawyer responded by calling it an abuse of the #metoo movement and claimed she masquerades as victim rather than abuser.

Heard recently appeared as Mera in the worldwide smash hit film Aquaman, opposite Jason Momoa. Depp, meanwhile, faces professional troubles after Disney hinted that it would be recasting his lead role in future Pirates of the Caribbean movies.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
The exit of Ajay Maken from Delhi Congress and HS Phoolka from the Aam Aadmi party (AAP) may pave the way for a rumoured alliance between the two parties for the next years general elections, insiders in both the parties say.

Both Maken and Phoolka were opposed to their parties joining hands.

AAP leaders, on condition of anonymity, said informal talks between the two parties for an alliance were on until mid December. There were talks. But the Congress walked out after the controversy over a Delhi assembly resolution, mentioning former PM Rajiv Gandhi, a senior AAP leader said.

The partys national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP, Sanjay Singh, said AAP will wait and watch the political situation. As of now, there are no alliances, he said.

On December 30, after AAPs national council meeting, partys Delhi unit convener Gopal Rai said the party will cooperate with others (parties) to remove the autocratic rule of the (Narendra) Modi government. AAP plans to contest all Lok Sabha seats in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Goa and Chandigarh.

AAP was caught in a controversy last month after some of its legislators sought a resolution to be passed in the Delhi assembly, demanding withdrawal of the Bharat Ratna awarded to Gandhi. The Delhi Congress, led by Ajay Maken, had criticised the move and staged a protest outside AAPs office on Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg. The Congress had sought an apology from AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal.

Maken, according to Congress leaders, had been vocal with his view that the party should not engage in any seat-sharing arrangement with the AAP. Even when senior party leader and three-time Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit quipped the party high-command so decided, in response to a question on a pre-poll alliance between Congress and AAP, Maken expressed his opposition to the idea.

Party leaders said in a meeting of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC), headed by Maken in November last year, a resolution was also passed to oppose the alliance in Delhi.

However, top leaders in the Congress were of the view that the Congress, with AAP, could win 25 of the 30 seats in three states (Punjab, Delhi and Haryana), party functionaries said.

It started from Rahul Gandhi and Kejriwal sharing the dais and shaking hands for the first time in a farmers protest at Jantar Mantar. Then on December 10, Kejriwal attended a meeting of 17 opposition parties, said an AAP leader.

There were talks (of a an alliance between the two parties). But the Congress walked out after the controversy over a Delhi assembly resolution, mentioning former PM Rajiv Gandhi.
Former Janata Dal United (JDU) MLA Raju Singh was dancing with a pistol in one hand and a glass of liquor in the other, the two disk jockeys (DJ) playing at Singhs farmhouse during the New Year party reportedly told police.

The DJs said Singh was drinking for an hour after the murder on the blood-covered dance floor, said a senior police officer privy to the investigation.

The two DJs also gave their statement before a magistrate, which means it serves as admissible evidence before a court.

Police said the DJs helped them string together the sequence of events that led to the death of 42-year-old Archana Gupta. Gupta was allegedly shot on the dance floor on Monday as the former legislator from Bihar was allegedly firing gunshots in the air to celebrate the New Year.

Gupta succumbed to her injuries at a city hospital on Thursday afternoon.

The Delhi Police team probing the case received the initial autopsy report on Friday. The report confirmed that the bullet which killed Gupta was shot from the gun recovered from Singh. Police said that Singh had used his licensed pistol.

A police team will also travel to Kushinagar, UP, with Raju Singh and his bodyguard Hari Singh as part of the investigation. The two men were detained in Kushinagar on Wednesday as they tried fleeing to Bihar.

The crime took place on Monday night at Singhs New Years party at his farmhouse in south Delhis Mandi village. Close to midnight, Singh and his accomplice Hari Singh allegedly started firing gunshots, one of which hit Gupta, who was on the dance floor.

Gupta was pronounced dead on Thursday morning. The two men were caught in Kushinagar and brought to Delhi, after which they were formally arrested. On Thursday, Singhs wife and his associate Raminder were also arrested for allegedly tampering with the evidence and threatening guests at the party not to testify against Singh.

We have recorded the statement of the two DJs. They said they were busy changing songs when they heard the gunshots. Suddenly they saw and heard people screaming. They then saw Gupta lying on the floor. They said Singh drank for an hour after the shooting, said a senior police officer.

We checked CCTV footages in which the two men are seen with the guns. Singh is seen in the footage holding a pistol while his associate Hari is holding a rifle. The entry wound of the bullet in the womans head is small. The experts have said that the injury was caused by .22 pistol bullet and that not of the rifle, said deputy commissioner of police (south) Vijay Kumar.

Raju Singhs wife Renu and Raminder, who were arrested for tampering evidence, were sent to jail on Friday. We have established that the bullet that killed Archana Gupta was fired by Raju Singh. We are now completing the missing links. We are yet to recover cartridges from the rifle and Hari Singhs blood drenched cloths, the DCP said.

Guptas family members had donated her kidneys on Thursday after she was pronounced dead. On Friday, a 45-year-old man and a 67-year-old elderly woman received Guptas organs.
Even as the ball dropped in New Yorks Times Square on New Years Eve, Elizabeth Warren, the senator from Massachusetts, decided to get hers rolling. She formed an exploratory committee for a potential try at securing the Democratic Party nomination to contest the 2020 US presidential elections.

At least two dozen possible contenders are weighing runs, and thatll make for a crowded field. New Delhi will be observing this process with interest since the eventual nominee will face off against Donald Trump and have a fair shot was getting into the White House in January 2021.

Warren has a familial connection to India, through her son-in-law, Sushil Tyagi. Her support within New Englands Indian-American community is also well established. Her senate compatriots, Kamala Harris and Cory Booker, two other likely hopefuls, are similarly situated. Californias Harris is half-Indian by heritage, and Booker hails from the state of New Jersey, where the community thrives.

The friendliest candidate to the community, by far, though, would be the former Vice President, Joe Biden. His proximity to India and its diaspora in America is so evident that when in 2006 the gaffe-prone Biden seemed to stereotype Indian-Americans as convenience store workers, his loudest defenders came from the community. In 1998, when the US establishment was seething over Indias nuclear tests, Biden warned against alienating New Delhi. As The Diplomat recounted, speaking before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Biden said, I think it is important to keep in mind our long-term strategic interests. We also need to make distinctions. Despite its grave miscalculation this week, India is not a rogue state. He was also among the staunchest votaries of the India-US civilian nuclear deal.

These are, of course, among the known quantities. For some others, X marks the spot. Among them is Vermonts independent senator, Bernie Sanders, who will have to rejoin the Democratic Party if he wants another shy at the nomination (just as he did in 2016). His foreign policy pronouncements are as rare as Twitter civility from Trump. There are others that are ciphers in this respect, like failed Texas senate candidate, Beto ORourke.

But lets recall the instance of another former candidate with scant foreign policy chops: Barack Obama in 2008. His stance on Kashmir was looked at askance by India. By the time he demitted office in 2016, relations with India were among his signal achievements on the world stage.

The next Democratic candidate, therefore, would have to stray far from the partys consensus vis-a-vis India to create concerns in New Delhi. Meanwhile, Trump, with his unpredictability, may have already caused plenty of ulcers there. A Democrat may even be the preferred option, at least saving on the Twitter-induced antacids.

As oddsmakers in Las Vegas make a book on the next Democratic candidate, that person could prove a safe bet for India.

Anirudh Bhattacharyya is a Toronto-based commentator on American affairs

The views expressed are personal
China is emphasising public diplomacy to help soften Indian public opinion and mute Indian concerns over an increasingly asymmetrical trade relationship. Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in New Delhi the new people-to-people mechanism will help consolidate the public-opinion foundation for bilateral ties. Chinas public diplomacy aims to underpin its win-win policy toward India  engagement with containment.

New Delhi, however inadvertently, is lending a helping hand to Beijings strategy of engagement as a facade for containment. India has done little more than implore China to rein in its spiralling trade surplus. The lopsided trade relationship makes India essentially a colonial-style raw-material appendage of the state-led Chinese economy, which increasingly dumps manufactured goods there.

Worse still, New Delhi effectively is funding Chinas India containment strategy. Indias defence budget for the current financial year, at Rs 2,95,512 crore ($42.2 billion), is 65% less than Chinas estimated trade surplus of $65.1 billion in the calendar year 2018. This means India practically is underwriting Beijings hostile actions against it  from its military build-up in Tibet and growing Indian Ocean encroachments to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Pakistan recently revealed to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that Chinas CPEC investments will total $26.5 billion. From just one years trade surplus with India, Beijing can fully fund two CPEC-type multi-year projects and still have billions of dollars for other activities to contain India.

In the list of countries with which China has the highest trade surpluses, India now ranks No. 2 behind the US. Chinas surplus with the US, of course, is massive. But as a percentage of total bilateral trade, Indias trade deficit with China is greater than Americas. And in terms of what it exports to and imports from China, India is little different from any African economy.

Consider another troubling fact: Total Chinese foreign direct investment in India remains insignificant. Cumulatively aggregating to $1.9 billion, it is just a fraction of Chinas yearly trade surplus. Indias 2015 removal of China as a country of concern, instead of encouraging major Chinese FDI flow, has only spurred greater dumping.

Consequently, Chinas trade surplus has spiralled from less than $2.5 billion a month when Narendra Modi took office to over $5 billion a month since more than a year. Chinas trade malfeasance is undermining Indian manufacturing and competitiveness, with the result that Modis Make in India initiative has yet to seriously take off. Many firms in India have turned from manufacturers to traders by marketing low-end products from China  from tube lights to fans  under their brand names. Is it thus any surprise that manufacturings share of Indias GDP has actually contracted? Instead of Make in India, Made in China has gained a stronger foothold in India.

Indias China problem will only exacerbate when the planned 16-nation Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) accord takes effect, thereby creating a free-trade zone between the worlds two most-populous countries. Unlike the other states negotiating RCEP, India is not an export-driven economy; rather it is an import-dependent economy whose growth is largely driven by domestic consumption.

RCEPs main impact on India will come from China, which Harvards Graham Allison has called the most protectionist, mercantilist and predatory major economy in the world. China, while exploiting Indias rule of law for dumping, keeps whole sectors of its economy off-limits to Indian businesses. It has dragged its feet on dismantling regulatory barriers to the import of Indian agricultural and pharmaceutical products and IT services.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj rightly reminded Wang that a solution to the continuously increasing trade deficit is a must. Seeking to rebalance trade is not a dollar-for-dollar matter. Rather, it is about ensuring fair trade and fair competition. China rose through fair access to world markets that it now denies India. Indeed, Beijing is abusing trade rules to pursue unfair trade and undercut Indias manufacturing base.

What stops India from taking a leaf out of US President Donald Trumps playbook and giving China a taste of its own bad medicine? WTO rules permit punitive tariffs on foreign subsidised goods that harm domestic industries. India can also emulate Beijings non-tariff barriers and other market restrictions.

India focuses on Pakistans unconventional war by terror but forgets that China is also waging an unconventional war, though by economic means. Indeed, Chinas economic war is inflicting greater damage, including by killing Indian manufacturing and fostering rising joblessness among the Indian youth.

Just as the British  as American historian Will Durant noted  financed their colonisation of India with Indian wealth, the Chinese are financing their encirclement of India with the profits from their predatory trade with it.

Brahma Chellaney is a geostrategist

The views expressed are personal
Some nonprofit groups have been able to patch together money to keep certain parts of the government open for several weeks, but its unclear how much longer they can hold on. And none have sought to replicate the level of funding that would be lost under SNAP or stalled by tax refunds.
Sanjay used to be a fairly good friend many moons ago. A cheerful, positive, bright guy. His family shifted elsewhere when he and I were about to start college life, and I just about remember him getting through to medical school right before they moved cities. Cut to present, and I bump into him at the airport last week. So, a high-flying doctor, now? I teased. Change flying to fleeing, he replied with a wary smile. And went on to tell me how he was visiting Delhi to appear in a case filed against him for medical negligence by the relatives of a patient who unfortunately died during surgery. This, after they did this to me, he said, pointing to the scars of an erstwhile broken nose.

Sanjay is among the minority of doctors who consciously chose serving in a government hospital at the cost of giving up on a lucrative private practice. Sanjay is also among 75% of Indias doctors who have, at some point in their career, faced violence at the hands of the irate relatives of their patients. A report published in the National Medical Journal of India in August 2017 (Author: Neeraj Nagpal) states that violence against doctors is on the rise all over the world. But the issue is much graver in India owing, among other reasons, to meagre government spending on healthcare [that] has resulted in poor infrastructure and human resource crunch in government hospitals.

You might wonder why, after writing barely a few months ago about the plight of patients, am I suddenly being all sympathetic towards doctors. No, its not after discovering the broken nose of a former friend, its about the obvious realisation that theres a much-ignored other side to the whole doctor-patient dynamics. And what is alarmingly going missing from the equation is the trust that has always formed the core of how we have started to look at the profession traditionally considered the noblest of all.

READ | A Calmer You, by Sonal Kalra: New Year resolutions? Make one with me this year

The chance discussion with my friend prompted me to speak to a number of doctors, in an attempt to understand the stress they face in their work space. And man, brace yourselves for this. Stats say that over 67% of the doctors in India have reported evident clinical symptoms of anxiety and acute stress in the past few years. And a large part of this anxiety is due to the behaviour of the patient, and in most cases, their relatives. I know what you are thinking. The cynic in you and me is itching to blame it all on the apparently increasing greed on the part of private hospitals and doctors to extract more money out of patients. But true as it may be, we cant deny that this thinking has led us to be the aggressive and impatient consumer that we have become vis-a-vis all the services we consume.

A leading surgeon in the city tells me, I want to laugh at the face of those who find it convenient to brand all doctors and hospitals as corrupt and greedy. It may be true for some, just as in all fields. But, come and live the life of a doctor in a country such as ours and see what the day is like. I challenge you to not go back shaken to the core. He reveals that after increasing incidents of verbal and physical violence by the relatives of the patients, some hospitals have had to make separate exits from the operation theatres for the surgeons to leave safely in case the patient doesnt survive a complicated surgery.

In government hospitals or those in smaller towns, the situation is much worse. Sometimes theres a mob waiting outside the OT. Imagine having to run for your life right after facing the trauma of not being able to save a life, he shakes his head. Just for the record, 19 out of 29 states in India have some kind of prevention of violence against a medical professional act passed for several years, but there are hardly any cases where any action has been taken against those who attack or abuse the doctor after the patient has not survived treatment. On the contrary, we are fast turning into a litigious society, with the number of cases of medical negligence being filed in consumer courts rising by the day.

Thoda serious ho gaya aaj ka topic, right? But I really felt like writing about this. Because, you see, while its easy to make resolutions in the New Year about staying healthy, why dont we make a tough one to bring back our respect for those who take care of that health when something goes wrong. Heres my two bits of gyaan, simplified:

Lets remember the times when we used to equate doctors to God, for they save lives. I know that in todays commercial age of thriving corrupt practices in all walks of life, that just may not be possible. But its not necessary to go to the other extreme, right? Unless youve faced it firsthand, and even in that case, dont generalise negative emotions about an entire profession. Especially one thats really, really hard to embrace and sustain. Develop empathy. Because if you will, the doctor, too, will reciprocate with empathy towards the patient. And for a doctor, the inherent compassion is as important as his/her skills.

Too much aggression in any situation is unwarranted, let alone in those that require sensitive handling. Our behaviour as relatives of patients in hospitals is almost turning like road rage. Sitting on a short fuse. Ready to question the credibility and skills of a doctor at the drop of the hat. Its almost become a fad to suggest taking a second opinion to anyone suffering from anything, serious or not. Imagine always being doubted, second-guessed or viewed with suspicion. It can be suffocating for anyone in any profession. Avoid, unless necessitated by circumstances and advised by the qualified.

Lets leave the doctors jobs to the doctors. With Internet, we are all half-docs ourselves. Then we read up Wikipedia and start interrogating the doctors on their course of treatment. While its very, very important for both the doctor and the patient/caregivers to be in the knowledge of the problem and the prescribed solution, theres no need really for us to also Google a disease all the time. Is this not what we are anyway paying them forand ercribbing in the process? Trust a little more. Your attitude will not only put the doctor at ease, but will also help the confidence levels of the patient you care so much for.

As I wind up writing this, theres a message on my phone from the same surgeon about a 10-year-old boy who passed away during a critical liver surgery. I feel drained out. Emotionally and physically exhausted. Also, the hospital bill for the medicines and consumables that went into the surgery is close to Rs 16 lakh. The parents will need to clear the dues to claim the body. Its heartbreaking, he writes, himself an employee at the hospital. Before I reply, his next message says, Ive decided to pay most of the bill from my salary of the next six months. Some balance is still left. Send a message to anyone whod like to contribute. Would you? Yes, doc. I would. And, hey, thank you for trying your best.

Sonal Kalra is thinking of setting up a third-opinion hospital. Anyone willing to fund it? Maybe some rich doctors? Mail her at sonal.kalra@ hindustantimes.com or facebook.com/sonalkalraofficial. Follow on Twitter @sonalkalra
Fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi, a prime accused in the PNB fraud case, told a court in Mumbai on Saturday that he cannot return to India due to safety concerns and also because his case has been politicised.

Modis lawyer filed his reply to the Enforcement Directorates (ED) plea seeking to declare the diamond merchant a fugitive under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA) before the special court for cases filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Modi feared for his safety given the violent threats made against him as illustrated by the burning of his effigies, the reply said.

Statements made by politicians from all parties showed that they had prejudged the issue of his guilt and his case was being used for political purposes, it added.

While he left the country long before a case was registered against him, the ED tried to falsely implicate him for offences backed by shallow claims, Modis reply said.

The fugitive diamond merchant also claimed to have duly replied to the EDs summons.

According to the ED, Modi failed to respond to its summons thrice, after which it filed the plea under the FEOA.

The ED did not mention that he had stated in his reply that he could not travel as his passport had been revoked, Modi said.

According to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi cheated the Punjab National Bank (PNB) of Rs 14,000 crore by fraudulently securing Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) to obtain credit overseas.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)
Alia Bhatt is currently in New York City with boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor. In fact, the Bollywood couple has been stationed in the US for a while now and celebrated New Years Eve in the company of Ranbirs family, including dad Rishi, mother Neetu Singh, sister Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, her husband Bharat Sahni and their daughter, Samara.

It looks like the couple is enjoying their time in the Big Apple with fresh pictures appearing online. In a new photo shared by Alia on Instagram, we see her suitably dressed for the New York winter. Wearing a pair of thigh-high leather boots over a pair of blue jeans, a sweater, jacket and a black cap, Alia looks ready to take on the winter chill.

Sharing the picture, Alia wrote: Hello 2019

In another picture, shared online by Riddhima, Alia can be seen posing with many members of the Kapoor family. These include Ranbir, Riddhima, Neetu, Samara along with Ranbirs paternal aunt Rima Jain and his cousin Natasha Nanda, daughter of his aunt, Ritu Kapoor Nanda. Theyre all huddled together for a group picture.

Meanwhile, their New Years Eve was spent having a family dinner. Both Riddhima and Neetu shared pictures of the get together online. The caption to Neetus picture created bit of a flutter online, as many read her mention of the word cancer as a reference to Rishis hitherto unknown ailment, for which he is getting treated in the city.

When Hindustan Times got in touch with the veteran actors older brother Randhir in Mumbai, he neither confirmed nor denied anything about his brothers condition. I dont know much about it but this much I can tell you that [Rishi] is doing well, thats all, he said.

On further prodding, he added, Let people say whatever they want to. That he is doing well is evident from the photos that I, too, have seen. He is having a good time with everyone and has even stepped out to enjoy a good meal with everyone. He will soon be coming back to India. We are looking forward to that right now.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
During the Winter Session of Parliament, the Lok Sabha passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2018. Ostensibly aimed at recognising and protecting the rights of the transgender, intersex and gender non-conforming community, and following up on the Supreme Courts landmark 2014 judgment in NALSA v Union of India, the Transgender Bill has been controversial throughout its career in Parliament. After initial drafts were criticised by stakeholders, the Lok Sabha then passed an amended version of the Bill, which it has sent on to the Rajya Sabha for its consideration.

While the amendments remove one of the most problematic aspects of the earlier draft Bill  a transgender person is no longer defined as one who is neither male nor female  the current Bill continues to retain other, heavily criticised provisions. Consequently, in its present form, the Bill not only falls well short of meeting the constitutional aspirations of the transgender, intersex, and gender non-conforming persons, but also causes them active harm. Unsurprisingly, therefore, it has been met with nationwide protests. Two issues are worthy of specific mention.

Self-determination: It is now widely recognised that gender identity is a deeply and intensely personal experience. Socially, the world of gender is divided into the binary of male and female, and these socially inscribed identities are believed to track certain unchangeable biological attributes. However, our experience of gender identity is subjective and fluid; sometimes, it does not match the gender that society assigns to us at birth, and sometimes it escapes the male-female binary altogether. The Transgender Bill acknowledges this in its amended definition of transgender; however, when it comes to legal recognition, the Bill retains the requirement  found in previous iterations  that legal status as a transgender, intersex or gender non-conforming person depends upon a certificate being issued by a magistrate, and also the performance of gender affirmation surgery.

However, effectively outsourcing the determination of gender identity to a State official negates the individuals fundamental right to autonomy and self-determination. It also sends a message that while it is normal to continue to identify with the gender that one is assigned to at birth (cis-identity), it is deviant and abnormal to experience the opposite (trans-identity). To understand why this is unjust, consider a situation where each one of us has to get a certificate from a magistrate before we can be recognised as a man or a woman. We would consider such a requirement as both absurd and demeaning, a hallmark of a totalitarian State. Therefore, to make the recognition of trans-identity subject to the determination of the State  to say nothing of the requirement of gender affirmation surgery  amounts to a clear violation of the constitutional rights of transgender, intersex and gender non-conforming persons.

Affirmative action: In the NALSA judgment, the Supreme Court recognised that the transgender community has been historically persecuted, deprived, and denied access to the economic, social, and cultural opportunities that are necessary for leading a dignified and fulfilling life in society. The court therefore directed that the community be treated as a socially disadvantaged class under the terms of the Constitution, and therefore, entitled to reservations.

The Transgender Bill, however, makes no mention of reservations, contenting itself, instead, with the anodyne phrase rehabilitation. This will not do. Our constitutional philosophy has long recognised that it is the positive duty of the State to take active steps in order to remedy centuries of structural and institutional disadvantage. The courts have recognised that the philosophy of equality underlying the Constitution is not merely formal equality  treating likes alike  but substantive equality  that is, removing systemic barriers to opportunity through remedies such as reservation, with the objective of creating genuine equality in society. In denying that remedy to the transgender, intersex and gender non-conforming community even after the holding in NALSA, the Transgender Bill violates this constitutional promise.

As the upper house of Parliament, the Rajya Sabha exercises a crucial role in the checks and balances system of parliamentary democracy. In particular, the Rajya Sabha is meant to introduce a spirit of measured and reflective deliberation to the legislative process, free from the majoritarian passions that can often sway the lower house. It is now, therefore, the task of the Rajya Sabha to listen to the voices of the community, and amend the Transgender Bill in a manner that furthers the constitutional rights of dignity, autonomy, and equality.

Gautam Bhatia is a lawyer in the Supreme Court

The views expressed are personal
Its really driven by this idea that it is going to bring into light folks that a lot of people look away from, and a lot of people have a hard time registering or coming to terms with  people that are struggling in our community, that are homeless, that do have problems and issues, said Holt, a 41-year-old Asheville native who grew up in Waynesville. I think one of our tenets is we are all struggling in some way. And whether you can see it or not, we share this as humans.

The Haywood Street Congregation, formed by Combs and others in 2009, is a United Methodist Church ministry best known for its Downtown Welcome Table, which provides 1,000 free meals a week. But the operation also provides a Respite Center for those recovering from surgery or illness, and other help for the indigent, poor and mentally ill.

Ensuring the fresco reflected that reality was critical to Holt and Combs.

I come from a family (wherein) more people than not live with mental illness, Combs said. And so folks with addiction, folks that have struggled with poverty, thats not something thats a step removed from me. Thats part of my autobiography.
Allie Hodge, a South Caldwell High student from Granite Falls, died at 15 last week after fighting against acute lymphocytic leukemia since February 2015.

Hodge was an average student with a big heart, according to her mother Jennifer Bowman. She was a cheerleader with a love for music, drawing and cooking.

She could cook a whole dinner by herself. Sometimes I would get sick, and she would say, You need to eat so she would make me chicken noodle soup and bring me Sprite, Bowman said.

If you would ask her what her favorite food is, she would say food, Bowman laughed.

Hodge worked as a scare actor at The Horror Fields Haunted Attraction in Hudson for several years.

She was also nurturing, enjoyed helping people and an advocate for cancer awareness.

Hodge met Phil Koehler, event coordinator for the F C Cancer Foundation and California resident, at the Carolina Rebellion rock and heavy metal music festival in 2015 shortly after Hodges diagnosis and hit it off.

We started this little bond, and I saw her the next year and again after that. We constantly stayed in contact, Koehler said. She was spunky and an old soul. She was like a little sister to me.
HICKORY  The Exodus Ministries 15th annual Giving Back gospel concert at Exodus Missionary Outreach Church on Jan. 11 is a tradition, and the official close of the holiday season for many in the community.

This years concert will begin at 7 p.m. The concert is a way of saying thank you for all those who have supported Exodus Homes, a faith-based United Way agency that provides supportive housing for homeless recovering people returning to the community from treatment centers and prison. They will also be giving back to those who have supported Exodus Church, and the programs at Catawba Correctional Center. The concert will feature the Exodus Missionary Outreach Church Gospel Choir and Imperfect But Forgiven, the gospel group from Catawba Correctional Center.

The concert is a lively event with foot-stomping, hand-clapping, get-up-and-dance gospel music that inspires the spirit and moves the heart in praise for all that God has done.
Cantamos arose out of necessity, said founder Eidenmiller, and became so very much more. Cantamos is a nonprofit organization dedicated to spreading the gospel through sacred music. The Western North Carolina Via de Cristo movement holds a unique position as the only Via De Cristo community in the United States to have its own choral group.

Over the years, membership has continued to grow, as presently 47 members donate their time and talent to this outreach ministry, made up of volunteers from 18 different churches in the Hickory, Taylorsville, Lenoir, Statesville, Charlotte, Concord, and Kannapolis areas.

Cantamos has sung to more than 10,000 in various venues, including churches, conventions, retirement centers, and organizations throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. They continue to respond by invitation to those who seek Christian unity and worship.

Grace Chapel at Lenoir-Rhyne University is located at 625 Seventh Ave. NE, in Hickory. Admission is free. Available at the door is the Cantamos 20th Anniversary CD. Donations are appreciated.

For additional concert dates and other information about Cantamos, visit their website, cantamosonline.com or on Facebook at Cantamos Online.
On Monday, the fire marshal reported the crash and subsequent fire caused approximately $50,000 in damage to the structure and $25,000 in damage to its contents. The preliminary cause of the fire, which originated within the vehicle, according to the fire marshals notice, remains under investigation.
Staff reports

The Herald-Mail

WASHINGTON  When newly elected GOP senators took their seats in the U.S. Senate last week, they were not expected to lay out their differences with the president of their own party.

But incoming Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah did just that Tuesday in a stinging rebuke of President Trump on the op-ed page of The Washington Post along a broad range of political issues and presidential behavior.

Like him or dislike him, Romney is a man of impeccable integrity, dignity and character, and his column, headlined How a president shapes the public character, spelled out just about everything he finds offensive about Trump.

He began with two of the highest-ranking people that he most admired in the administration who resigned over irreconcilable differences with the president.

The Trump presidency made a deep descent in December. The departures of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly, the appointment of senior persons of lesser experience, the abandonment of allies who fight beside us, and the presidents thoughtless claim that America has long been a sucker in world affairs all defined his presidency down.

Romney admits that it is well known that Donald Trump was not my choice for the Republican presidential nomination. After he became the nominee, I hoped his campaign would refrain from resentment and name-calling. It did not. When he won the election, I hoped he would rise to the occasion.

Romney says that Trumps initial appointments of Rex Tillerson, Jeff Sessions, Nikki Haley, Gary Cohn, H.R. McMaster, Kelly and Mattis were encouraging. But, on balance, his conduct over the past two years, particularly his actions last month, is evidence that the president has not risen to the mantle of the office.

This is not to say that Romney dislikes everything that the president has done. He was right to align U.S. corporate taxes with those of global competitors, to strip out excessive regulations, to crack down on Chinas unfair trade practices, to reform criminal justice and to appoint conservative judges.

These are mainstream Republican positions, he writes, but a presidency must also shape the public character of the nation, and here he gives Trump a failing grade.

A president should unite us and inspire us to follow our better angels. A president should demonstrate the essential qualities of honesty and integrity, and elevate that national discourse with comity and mutual respect.

Past presidents have called on the greatness of the American spirit. With the nation so divided, resentful and angry, presidential leadership in qualities of character is indispensable. And it is in this province where the incumbents shortfall has been most glaring.

Trump, on the other hand, has made much of his friendship with Russian dictator and former KGB agent Vladimir Putin, who has been helping Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad bomb his own people. And he describes his relationship with Communist North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, who threatens his neighbors in South Korea and Japan, as a love affair.

Trumps words and actions have caused dismay around the world, Romney says. In a 2016 Pew Research Center poll, 84 percent of people in Germany, Britain, France, Canada and Sweden believed that the American president would do the right thing in world affairs. One year later, that number has fallen to 16 percent.

Several of our allies in Europe are experiencing political upheaval. Several former Soviet satellite states are rethinking their commitment to democracy. Some Asian nations, such as the Philippines, lean increasingly toward China, which advances to rival our economy and our military. The alternative to U.S. world leadership offered by China and Russia is autocratic, corrupt and brutal, Romney points out.

He also expresses deep concern over our governments soaring debt, something you no longer hear much about from the White House over the past two years.

We must repair our fiscal foundation, setting a course to a balanced budget, he points out.

At the same time, Romney expresses much concern over the presidents growing quarrels with our European alliances. We want a unified and strong Europe, not a disintegrating union.

Romney remains optimistic about Americas future, believing that noble instincts live in the hearts of Americans. The people of this great land will eschew the politics of anger and fear if they are summoned to the responsibility by leaders in homes, in churches, in schools, in businesses, in government ... the ideal that is the essence of America.

Donald Lambro has been covering Washington politics for more than 50 years as a reporter, editor and commentator.
Jennifer Fitch

waynesboro@herald-mail.com

HARRISBURG, Pa.  Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale was already working on a firearms safety report when he learned Oct. 27, 2018, of the Tree of Life synagogue shooting in the Pittsburgh neighborhood where he spent his formative years.

I asked my daughter to turn on the TV and saw my old neighborhood looking like a military zone, DePasquale said in a phone interview.

A month later, DePasquale released a firearms safety report he hopes ultimately will contribute to reducing the number of firearms-related deaths in Pennsylvania. He feels that can happen only when people with mental-health issues get the help they need.

Some 1,500 people in Pennsylvania die from firearm-related injuries each year, with nearly two-thirds of them being the result of suicide.

That means there is a huge mental-health crisis in Pennsylvania, DePasquale said. We have to end the mental-health stigma.

Roughly 700 people in Maryland and 330 people in West Virginia die in firearms-related incidents each year, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

That places the rates of firearms-related deaths per 100,000 people at 11.9 in Maryland, 17.5 in West Virginia and 12 in Pennsylvania.

Local providers

Dr. Jagdeep Kaur has perceived the stigma of mental-health treatment diminishing, but said it still exists. She has also found some patients feel more comfortable with their primary care provider prescribing medication for depression and anxiety rather than consulting with a psychiatrist.

Some of that preference may be related to insurance coverage or what is noted in someones patient file, Kaur said.

Kaur is a psychiatrist at Keystone Behavioral Health in Chambersburg, Pa.

It is important to conduct screenings to determine if a person is at risk of harming himself or herself, or others, Kaur said. It is often necessary to involve the persons family and friends to remove access to firearms, she said.

Patients reactions to surrendering or being locked out of firearms access range from acceptance to defensiveness, Kaur said.

Most of the time, patients are willing to get rid of the firearm for safety, she said.

The auditor generals report highlights Fulton County on its 10th page.

It notes that in a statewide survey of youths, 28.3 percent of students in Fulton County said it would be easy to access a firearm. The state average was 14.6 percent.

DePasquale expressed concerns about how easily rural Pennsylvanians can access mental health care.

Especially in rural Pennsylvania, this is a crisis when you combine access to firearms, access to opioids and a loss of hope, he said.

Kaur highlighted initiatives to have trained behavioral health specialists meet with people in crisis in their homes.

A psychiatrist sitting in the office might not be able to assess the home in the same way, she said.

Next steps

DePasquale said he heard overwhelmingly positive feedback on the report, saying gun-rights advocates shared that they felt the ideas were reasonable and rational even with the auditor general being a Democrat.

One concern raised was that gun store owners could be opened up to liability issues if they decline gun sales to those they feel may be suicidal. DePasquale stressed the additional training on red flags is voluntary.

Some of the recommendations DePasquale feels could be implemented quickly include the Pennsylvania Game Commission expanding its gun-safety programs and sheriffs better vetting those applying for concealed-carry permits.

He also suggested pediatricians ask families about firearms in their homes during childrens routine appointments. Kaur said that is not regularly done in well-child visits today.
Based on previous trends, we know there is going to be an increase and we are seeing an increase in some of the indicators, but we are fortunate we havent hit it yet, Taylor said. Thats really good news for the community, because it means its not too late to get your shot.
C.J. Lovelace

cj.lovelace@herald-mail.com

The battle over fair representation for Western Maryland in Congress soon will go back to the nations high court.

The Supreme Court announced Friday it would hear arguments in March for two gerrymandering cases  one for Marylands majority Democratic 6th Congressional District, which includes Washington County, and another involving North Carolinas heavily Republican congressional map.

Plaintiffs in the cases, including Washington County Republican Central Committee Chairman Jerry DeWolf, say the electoral districts are too partisan.

I cant say it enough. We feel this is a landmark case that will have far-reaching implications, not just here in Maryland, but all across the country, DeWolf said in an interview of Friday. ... I certainly hope this is an opportunity for the Supreme Court to make this settled law in our favor. We still maintain that we have the best case in the country when it comes to gerrymandering.

The justices said they will hear arguments in disputes that could produce the first limits on partisan politics in the drawing of electoral districts. However, the court also could ultimately decide that federal judges have no role in trying to police political mapmaking.

The high court took up the issue of partisan gerrymandering last term in cases from Wisconsin and the same Maryland district. But the justices failed to reach a decision on limiting political line-drawing for political gain.

In November, Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh appealed a U.S. District Court decision that ordered the map of Marylands 6th District to be redrawn.

The appeal sought to send the of Benisek v. Lamone back to the Supreme Court, where arguments were heard earlier in 2018.

The high court sent the case back to District Court in June, ruling simply that the appeals court was correct in its 2017 decision to deny the Republican plaintiffs motion for an injunction to invalidate the map.

It did not rule on the merits of the case, in which the plaintiffs argued the previously Republican-majority district was diluted to deprive them of their First Amendment rights by making their votes less valuable.

A week before Froshs appeal, the District Courts three-judge panel voted 3-0 to invalidate the map and ordered it to be redrawn by March 7 for the 2020 election.

In his filing, Frosh sought a stay of that courts ruling because its opinions and order set forth two different theories of First Amendment retaliation claims applied to the issue of partisan gerrymandering, one involving a vote dilution injury and one involving an injury to representational rights.

Fridays development was exciting news for DeWolf, who hopes that redrawn district lines will allow for better representation of the county and Western Maryland.

We think that weve been cheated. Theres no doubt about it, he said. ... Weve been hearing from a lot of people that its time we dont have another Montgomery County millionaire representing Western Maryland.

Democrat David Trone, a wine and spirits magnate from Montgomery County, succeeded another Montgomery County businessman, Democrat John Delaney, when he won election in the 6th District in November.

Delaney plans to run for president in 2020.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Sherry Greenfield

sgreenfield@herald-mail.com

SMITHSBURG  The town of Smithsburgs much-discussed economic study is slated to begin as early as next week.

The Smithsburg Town Council voted unanimously Wednesday night to approve an agreement with BAE Urban Economics Inc., the California-based consulting firm chosen to study the economic viability of the town.

The agreement between the town and the company paves the way for the six-month study to begin.

Town Manager Debra Smith told the council that BAE representatives are expected in town next week.

The $59,825 study will identify the pros and cons of Smithsburgs current economic climate in its downtown business district, which runs along Water and Main streets.

The study will include areas inside and outside the corporate limits.

Of the nearly $60,000 study, the town will be responsible for $30,000. The town will match a $30,000 Rural Business Development Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The grant is through a federal program that targets the development or expansion of small businesses in rural areas.

BAE Urban Economics beat six other firms that submitted bids to the town requesting to conduct the study. BAE submitted a bid of $59,825.

Smith presented the council on Wednesday with a detailed outline of how the study will be conducted.

It includes the scope of services the firm will provide, compensation and general provisions of the study.

BAE representatives will tour Smithsburg and meet with elected officials, business owners and community leaders.

The purpose of these meetings is to get a high level perspective on the local economy and what the study should address, the outline states.

BAE will not meet privately with everyone in town, Smith said at Wednesdays town meeting.

Residents and business owners can give written opinions on how they think the towns business district should grow.

We do want to hear from anybody that wants to give their (written) opinion, she said.

The firm is expected to meet several times with town employees, focus groups and the community, the outline states.

From those meetings and surveys, consultants will develop strategies, goals and recommendations through a draft plan.

BAE will present its final plan to the council in a public meeting in June, the outline states.
The Herald-Mail

At noon Wednesday, gavels will fall in the House and Senate chambers of the Maryland State House to signal the start of the 2019 legislative session.

The combined 188 legislators will take the oath of officemany for the first timefor a new term that will stretch past the 2020 presidential election and to the end of Larry Hogans stretch as governor. Hogan and Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford will take their own oaths at their inauguration scheduled a week later.

And for the next three months, all of official Maryland will be focused on passing a budget and new legislation to direct the state for future years.

Expect a number of money issues  including a statewide $15 minimum wage  to dominate the session, with debates over education funding and Marylands income tax structure.

The legislative session could also bring a push for legalizing recreational use of marijuana.

With the 2018 elections, the face of the Maryland General Assembly changed perhaps more than anticipated. Legislative leaders werent spared, as three committee chairmen and the Senate president pro tem were unseated in their primary races. Both presiding officers are returning, however, as House Speaker Mike Busch and Senate President Mike Miller were re-elected.

And all six legislators representing Washington County will return as well. All are Republicans.

But one House committee and three Senate committees will have new leaders. Del. Luke Clippinger, D-Baltimore City, will chair the House Judiciary Committee, replacing longtime Chairman Joe Vallario, D-Prince Georges, who has chaired the committee since 1993. Vallario lost his seat in the June primary.

In the Senate, the Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee will be chaired by former Vice Chairman Paul Pinsky, D-Prince Georges as Chairwoman Joan Carter Conway, D-Baltimore City, also lost her primary race. And after Finance Committee Chairman Thomas Mac Middleton, D-Charles, was upset in the primary, Miller named Sen. Delores Kelley, D-Baltimore, to chair that committee.

Sen. Nancy King, D-Montgomery, will take over the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee from Chairman Ed Kasemeyer, D-Baltimore/Howard. Kasemeyer announced last year that he would retire at the end of his term.

And while Republicans gained a seat in the Senate, they lost several in the House. Newly elected Democrats in both chambers tend to be more progressive than the legislators theyre replacing, and that could affect policies coming out of the new Legislature.

Until a few weeks ago, recommendations from the Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education  also known as the Kirwan Commission for Chairman Brit Kirwan, chancellor emeritus of the University System of Maryland  were expected to dominate business for the General Assembly this year. But late last month, Miller and Busch told the commission keep working for another year.

Why? The pricetag was one reason, says Sen. Andrew Serafini, R-Washington, even though the commission voted to cut the initial $4.4 billion ask to $3.8 billion. And there might have been a little mission creep.

Kirwan ventured into unintended areas and costs just are impossible, Serafini said, and no one wanted to be the one to say that.

What Miller and Busch actually said in their letter to the commission was this: We understand that, while the commission will make significant policy and funding recommendations in its 2018 report, it will not be able to complete the funding formulas that will distribute the increased education aid between the state and local jurisdictions. In truth, it would be very difficult for the General Assembly to complete work on both the policy framework of the commissions recommendations and a funding formula distributing costs between the state and the jurisdictions in a single 90-day session.

They also noted that Hogan found the cost for the Kirwan recommendations to be unacceptable. It appears that we have more work to do to convince the governor that these generational changes are worth undertaking, they wrote.

But Kirwan still could figure into the Legislatures work this year as lawmakers examine the commissions preliminary report, say local legislators. And Hogan might not be the only one to balk at the cost. Four billion dollars, thats 10 percent of the budget, said Del. Neil Parrott, R-Washington. I dont think taxpayers are going to go for that.

Money for school construction will also be on the table, but delaying Kirwan could leave room for other issues. And with the lefter-leaning legislature in place, most observers expect a measure for a $15 minimum wage to pass.

Busch also has said he plans to seek an amendment to the states constitution to protect abortion rights, which would eventually put the issue in the hands of the voters, where Parrott hopes it will fail. The more we know (about fetal development), we know its not a blob of tissue, he said. The political winds are shifting.

Another issue that could go to referendum after this session is legalizing recreational use of marijuana. Maryland approved medical use of marijuana several years ago, but 2018 was the first full year of the states medical marijuana program.

Parrott, Del. William Wivell, R-Washington, and Del. Mike McKay, R-Washington/Allegany, also expect the states piggy-back income tax structure to be re-examined this year in light of federal tax changes. Or, as McKay put it, money the state kept from the Trump tax cuts instead of giving back to the taxpayers.

As Marylanders are starting to do their taxes (for 2018), theyre going to see a significant increase in their state taxes, Parrott said. Thats because the changes in deductions on the federal level means taxpayers will have higher incomes to report  and for the state to tax. The state of Maryland minimally changed their policy, Parrott said. We need to reverse it.

To contact your legislators

 Sen. George C. Edwards

R-Allegany/Garrett/Washington

District 1

Budget and Taxation Committee

Local office: 13 Canal St., Room 304, Cumberland, MD 21502

Phone number: 301-722-4780

Annapolis office: 11 Bladen St., Room 323, Annapolis, MD 21401

Phone: 800-492-7122, ext. 3565

Email: george.edwards@senate.state.md.us or george.edwards.district@senate.state.md.us

 Sen. Andrew Serafini, R-Washington

Post Office Box 454

Williamsport, MD 21795

Phone: 301-223-4188 (Note there is NO fax number)

Annapolis office: 11 Bladen Street, Room 321, Annapolis, MD 21401

Phone: 410-841-3903 or 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3903

 Del. Mike McKay, R-Washington/Allegany

Subdistrict 1C

Appropriations Committee

Local office: 100 N. Mechanic St.,

Cumberland, MD 21502

Phone number: 240-362-7040

Annapolis office: 6 Bladen St., Room 322, Annapolis, MD 21401

Phone: 800-492-7122, ext. 3321

Email: mike.mckay@house.state.md.us

 Del. Neil C. Parrott, R-Washington

Subdistrict 2A

Judiciary Committee Chairman, Washington

County Delegation

Local office: 1300 B Dual Highway, Hagerstown, MD 21740

Mailing address: P.O. Box 32, Funkstown, MD 21734-0032

Phone: 301-660-4263; fax: 240-329-4658

Annapolis office: 6 Bladen St., Room 213, Annapolis, MD 21401

Phone: 800-492-7122, ext.3636

Email: neil.parrott@house.state.md.us

 Del. William J. Wivell, R-Washington

Subdistrict 2A

Environment and Transportation Committee

Local office: 51 S. Main St., Smithsburg, MD 21783

Phone number: 301-824-3369

Annapolis office: 6 Bladen St., Room 322, Annapolis, MD 21041

Phone: 800-492-7122, ext. 3447

Email: william.wivell@house.state.md.us

 Del. Paul Corderman, R-Washington (appointed)

Subdistrict 2B

Judiciary Committee

Local office: 1029 Maryland Ave., Hagerstown, MD 21740

Phone number: 240-313-3929

Annapolis office: 6 Bladen St., Room 213, Annapolis, MD 21401

Phone: 800-492-7122, ext. 3125
Hagerstown, MD (21740)

Today

Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to mainly clear skies after midnight. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low 61F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to mainly clear skies after midnight. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low 61F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Don Aines

daines@herald-mail.com

A Hagerstown man was being held without bond on state drug and firearms charges after the FBI obtained a search warrant of his Winter Street home on Thursday.

Hagerstown police charged Jason Lamont Bryant, 41, with possession of a firearm by a felon, possession with intent to distribute narcotics, possession of a firearm in a drug-trafficking crime and other offenses following the 6 a.m. search, according to the charging document.

The document said the FBI and West Virginias Eastern Panhandle Drug and Violent Crime Task Force obtained a search warrant for 138 Winter St. on Wednesday from a federal judge with the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.

A loaded 9 mm Taurus handgun and another loaded magazine for the weapon were found hidden under a mattress, the document said. The search also turned up a box of ammunition for the handgun.

Authorities also seized $3,000 in cash, suspected marijuana and suspected cocaine, a digital scale and torn plastic bags, the document said. The charging document did not state the amounts of cocaine and marijuana.

At Bryants bond review hearing Thursday before Washington County District Judge Terry A. Myers, Deputy States Attorney Joseph Michael said Bryant has a 2011 conviction for possession with intent to distribute drugs.

The charging document said the 2011 conviction and an open protective order in New Jersey meant that Bryant was prohibited from possessing firearms. The document did not explain why the FBI and the Eastern Panhandle task force sought the warrant to search the Hagerstown residence.

Michael said during the hearing that he did not know whether federal authorities planned to file any charges against Bryant.
Alexis Fitzpatrick

afitzpatrick@herald-mail.com

Hagerstown Community College President Jim Klauber will be closely watching a handful of proposals during the upcoming Maryland General Assembly session, which begins Wednesday in Annapolis.

Klauber has requested support from local legislators for a pilot program to get Washington County certified as a Work Ready Community through ACTs WorkKeys program.

WorkKeys measures skills in applied math, graphic literacy and ability to understand written information in the workplace. National Career Readiness Certificates go to those who complete the tests.

It has been adopted in 26 states and boasts 23,000 employers across the nation who accept the certificate, according to Klauber.

For this legislative session, HCC asked for $200,000 to jump-start efforts in progress. In December, the college got a three-year $98,372 grant from the Alice Virginia and David W. Fletcher Foundation for the program.

A champion of WorkKeys since taking HCCs helm in June, Klauber has gotten Washington County Public Schools, the city of Hagerstown, the Greater Hagerstown Coalition and others on board.

Weve partnered with these community stakeholders to move the ball forward on workforce readiness, helping not only from an educational standpoint, but also an economic development standpoint to kind of move Washington County forward, Klauber said.

Calling it a game changer, Klauber said the requested state funds would help subsidize testing costs and job profiling for employers and increase marketing money to raise program awareness.

HCCs legislative wish list includes an agenda from the Maryland Association of Community Colleges, or MACC.

One item is community college funding. MACC is requesting a 1 percentage point increase of state funding for community colleges, bringing it to 23 percent of the total cost.

Klauber said MACC hopes to return to the Cade formula, which dictates that the state, the county and tuition each pay for a third of the budget.

He said the numbers have fluctuated since the recession, with tuition covering nearly half of the colleges budget.

Im a patient person. I dont mind if we march very slowly, but I want to continue that forward progression to 33 percent eventually, Klauber said.

Other statewide requests include continued funding for capital improvement projects, the Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship and a $5 million supplemental grant for open educational resources to replace costly textbooks.
Don Aines

daines@herald-mail.com

A 17-year-old Baltimore-area boy was in Washington County Circuit Court on Friday asking to have his case transferred to juvenile court.

Xavier Leon Smith, who turns 18 in two weeks, is charged as an adult with armed carjacking, kidnapping, use of a firearm in a crime of violence and other offenses in the June 4 incident in Hagerstown.

An accomplice previously pleaded guilty in adult court to carjacking and is serving a five-year state prison sentence.

Smith and Ashur Komaki Hooper, also 17, left a Baltimore County group home, stole a car and drove it to Hagerstown, according to charging documents. The two fled an attempted traffic stop by a Washington County sheriffs deputy, wrecked the stolen car, and stole another at gunpoint from a female security guard at a Hagerstown business.

One of the teenagers walked her into a wooded area at gunpoint before they left with her vehicle, the charging document said. The victims cellphone was still in the car and police tracked it to the group home.

In December, Hooper pleaded guilty to carjacking and was sentenced to 15 years in prison, with 10 years suspended.

On Friday, Assistant Public Defender Sean Mukherjee told Circuit Judge Mark K. Boyer that Smith can be treated through the juvenile justice system.

The science says unequivocally that transfer is the best option, Mukherjee said.

Smith has actually gotten worse while in the juvenile justice system, Assistant States Attorney Leon Debes told the judge.

Evelyn Parrott, Smiths Department of Juvenile Services caseworker, testified that Smith has previous juvenile adjudications.

After he was discharged from Cedar Ridge Childrens Home near Williamsport in 2017, there was a disagreement over whether he should be placed in Department of Social Services custody or returned to Jamaica, where most of his family lives, Parrott said.

She testified that Jamaica would have been the better situation because he might have better family support.

During cross-examination, Debes pointed out that Smith and another resident of Cedar Ridge admitted leaving the campus after curfew and committing a burglary at a nearby business in 2017. The matter was resolved outside of the juvenile court system, he said.

Smith has two pending juvenile cases in the Baltimore area involving vehicle thefts, according to information from the hearing.

Eric Lane, a psychologist called by the defense, testified that Smith suffers from mental health, behavioral and substance abuse problems. Smith would be vulnerable to manipulation and abuse in a state prison, Lane said.

He testified that Smith should be placed in a secure juvenile facility where he could receive support and therapy.

The hearing is scheduled to resume on Tuesday.
Sherry Greenfield

sgreenfield@herald-mail.com

Whether it's flooding, fire, hurricane or tornado, Crys Galivan offers comfort and support as a volunteer with the American Red Cross.

In June, Galivan worked from the Red Cross office in Baltimore, in response to the flooding in Ellicott City, and in September she traveled to Durham, North Carolina, after Hurricane Florence hit the state. Earlier this month, she helped the residents displaced as a result of a fire in the 300 block of South Burhans Boulevard in Hagerstown.

"In March, I went to Kentucky, because of flooding," said Galivan, a volunteer partner at the American Red Cross Greater Chesapeake Region Mid-Atlantic Division on Conrad Court in Hagerstown. "I was able to assist with encouragement and hugs."

Galivan, who serves as the volunteer partner to Executive Director Eric C. Anderson, has been with the Red Cross for just over a year.

At 60 years old, she came to the organization to help those affected by disasters.

Galivan said she was persuaded to act, after Katrina, a deadly Category 5 hurricane that struck the Gulf Coast in August 2005.

"I have family in New Orleans, and I watched them go through Katrina," she said. "I'm also retired and I had a lot of spare time."

Galivan, who works in the Hagerstown office three days a week, loves what she does.

"I absolutely love it," she said. "I'm learning new things at my age. I feel I still have a lot to offer."

When Galivan arrives at a disaster area, she is there to provide emotional support, encouragement and help.

"We have comfort kits with toiletries in them," she said. "... We also have a booklet, called 'Moving Forward,' that has information on what to do next. It's a guide for moving forward after a disaster."

She also carries socks, that she gives to people for comfort.

"After a disaster, what I see on their faces, they are just stunned," she said. "You just don't know where to begin."

Galivan's volunteer work is not always on the front line of a disaster.

After Hurricane Florence, she worked out of the Red Cross office in Durham, North Carolina. Since the area saw no real damage from the storm, it served as the main headquarters.

She was there from the end of September through October.

The organization is always looking for volunteers. Training is free.

For more information, go to www.redcross.org.
I think we have to recognize that the issues from other areas affect us and will continue to affect us in the future if we are not part of the solution elsewhere, he said. I think what I am most proud of is that I think our county has a seat at the table. We have an ability to say, Here is what we are doing, here is what works, here are some other solutions that perhaps other people have not looked at. I think thats important.
I am writing you concerning the closure of Blountville Middle School. Before any move is made, there are numerous questions that must be answered. How did this idea come to fruition? Mr. Michael Hughes stated that the media was informed due to the sunshine law concerning government agency meetings. Would the contents of this meeting not also fall under the sunshine law? What EXACT amount of savings will this generate? What will happen to the faculty? Transportation will surely have to be addressed. And the big one: overcrowding.

I was on the facilities study conducted by DeJong-Richter. In that study, the plan was for Holston Middle and Blountville Middle to combine at Central High School to form the new Central Middle School. Central is certainly equipped to handle 575 students, at Holston that would put the capacity well over 100 percent. The EXACT number of students located at a combined Holston/Blountville needs to be brought out publicly.
Regarding opioids and substance abuse, the term being used was Substance Use Disorder that focused the attention on that substance abuse is a disease and not a choice, he told the Times while heading back to Carroll from Cambridge on Friday. Therefore [it] must be resourced and treated toward that end, focusing on treatment and therapy that will minimize relapses.
This appeared in Fridays Washington Post.

Daniel McCartney, a deputy sheriff in Washington states Pierce County, was shot as he responded to a burglary in progress on the night of Jan. 7, 2018. The 34-year-old died hours later, leaving a wife and three sons. He was the first police officer fatally shot in the line of duty last year. Sadly, 52 others would follow. Their deaths are a reminder of the debt owed to those who do dangerous police work.

That firearms last year supplanted traffic accidents as the leading cause of officer deaths should serve as another kind of reminder: of lax gun laws that endanger not only the public but also those sworn to protect us.

Preliminary data released by the nonprofit National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund showed that 145 federal, state and local law enforcement officers died in the line of duty last year, a 12 percent increase over the 129 officers who died in 2017. The 53 officers who were fatally shot in 2018 represent a 15 percent increase over the 46 officers killed in 2017, reversing what had been the steady trend of recent decades in which police officers were more likely to die in a car crash than from gunfire. Fifty deaths in 2018 were traffic-related.
CAMDEN, S.C.  Tom Mullikin is that guy  you know, the one who finishes Christmas dinner, then takes off to scale Mount Everest, conducting business by satellite phone to check progress on his plan to build an ocean reef upon his return.

Yes, a reef.

But first, Everest. If Mullikin succeeds in reaching the summit, hell have met his modest goal of becoming the worlds only human both to dive the planets five oceans and scale its seven highest peaks. Why not?

Mullikin himself is remarkably modest given the breadth of his interests and goals  the aforementioned reef not the least of them. The idea, he explained to me over a recent lunch, is to create a coastline buffer that would help diminish the effects of flooding during severe weather. Anyone familiar with South Carolinas seashore and hurricane history knows that something ought to be done. But what?
Southeast officials said the plane made stops in Nashville and Knoxville. Seven passengers were aboard when the plane took off from Nashville, and the spokesman said the craft might have taken aboard another passenger at Knoxville.

One spokesman said if the plane was down, it probably crashed in the snow-covered Holston Mountain range, where a Navy plane previously crashed the prior winter, killing two, the newspaper reported.

Before losing radio communications, the planes pilot, Robert Gollmier, of Kingsport, reported he was making a routine approach turn during a brief snowstorm. The exact cause was not immediately known, but it appeared that the airliner cleared the mountaintop and started to turn when it clipped two large trees on the north side and nose-dived into a steep, rocky slope, authorities initially said.

The charred bodies of 10 people were later found amid the burned and mangled wreckage of the plane that slammed into Holston Mountain.

The wreckage was confined to a small area. It was evident that the aircraft burned. Only the tail assembly of the airliner was recognizable, and one engine tumbled down the mountainside about 100 yards from the point of impact.
An explosion occurred at Holston Army Ammunition Plant on Jan. 3.

A fire that destroyed a building and resulted in an explosion Thursday at the Holston Army Ammunition Plant in Kingsport was extinguished by Friday morning and the regions congressman was questioning why he hadnt been notified.

The plant, which supplies explosives to the U.S. Department of Defense, posted on its official Facebook page that the fire was out, and an employee who was close to the building and sent to the hospital was expected to be released Friday.

Around 8 a.m. Thursday, an alarm sounded near a building toward the back of the property. The building contained explosives, according to a company spokeswoman, and no workers were inside.

The on-site safety, health and environment teams responded and the building was quickly secured, she said. An emergency siren was sounded as a precautionary measure.

The building was allowed to burn. Around 11:45 a.m., there was an explosion that was felt in Bristol and Abingdon.

I heard what I thought was thunder a little before noon today, Haley Bowen McNabb posted on Facebook. Then I read about the explosion and realized thats what it was, and Im all the way in Milligan.

Production was halted, and crews were sent home shortly after the explosion.
Authorities scoured a Southwest Virginia river on Friday in the ongoing search for a missing Glade Spring man.

Floyd K. Hines, 47, was last seen at his home on the evening of Dec. 29, according to the Washington County Sheriffs Office. His wife attempted to contact him by text at about 1:30 a.m. on Dec. 30, but he did not respond.

Sheriffs Office spokesman Darrell Dickenson said a ground search was initially conducted by the Black Diamond and Search and Rescue team, based out of Marion, but Hines was not found. The Washington County Lifesaving Crew also conducted an initial river search in the area, but that search proved unsuccessful as well.

After not receiving any significant leads by Friday, Dickenson said investigators decided it was time to check the river again.

Sheriff Fred Newman said his offices Specialized Response Team, as well as members of the Black Diamond Search and Rescue team and the Washington County Lifesaving Crews swift water rescue team, conducted a search of the South Fork of the Holston River on Friday.

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Dickenson said crews searched a section of the river from where Hines lives in the Glade Spring area, downstream for about 10 miles.
The governor has been a fierce and consistent advocate for restoring free and fair elections to all Maryland citizens, so that Marylanders choose their representatives  not the other way around, Chasse said. We fully expect that the Supreme Court will uphold the unanimous decision by the federal court that Marylands congressional map is unconstitutionally gerrymandered and deprives voters of one of their most basic civil liberties.
Women In Need, a shelter for victims of family violence, had a busy year filled not only with the different community efforts throughout northeast Texas, but also with the work that it took to complete its new location in Rockwall.
Note: We've recently updated our online systems. If you can't login please try resetting your password. You must login with an email address. If you don't have an email associated with your account email customercare@heraldandnews.com for help creating one.
As our federal employees and contractors experience a sudden loss of income, this not only causes financial hardship for individuals and families, but also deals a significant blow to our regions economy, they said in the letter. Hard-working federal employees and those who depend on them should not have to suffer because of this partisan standoff.
A young mother was found dead hours after she phoned gardai to report a disturbance at her home.

The body of Jasmine McMonagle (27), an aspiring actress and model, was found when the elite garda regional response unit stormed the house in East Donegal.

It is understood that she had suffered stab wounds.

Ms McMonagle had phoned gardai hours earlier to report an alleged domestic disturbance at the house in Forest Park, Killygordon.

Ms McMonagle shared the home with her partner and their two children.

Gardai received the call from the distressed woman at 4.20am yesterday.

Daughters

However, when they arrived at 4.47am, they were refused entry to the house.

At this stage, there is alleged to have been an altercation and it is understood a garda was attacked.

A decision was then made to call in the regional response unit, who arrived on scene a short time later. A man was arrested around 7.30am and taken to Letterkenny Garda Station.

Ms McMonagle's daughters, aged seven and one, were taken from the house and were in the care of family members last night.

Neighbours reacted with shock to the death of Ms McMonagle, who is originally from the border town of Castlefinn.

Damian Scanlon, who lives directly across from her home, said he was awoken by shouting and screaming at around 5am.

"There was a lot of garda activity but I just thought it was a party or something so I went back to bed," he said.

"I awoke again after 7am and this time I saw gardai everywhere including guys with shields and helmets.

"All of a sudden I saw them burst in the front door and then this fella came out and they were shouting at him to 'Get on the grass, get on the grass' or something like that.

"A while later, I saw a garda taking a child out in his arms and I saw another child with another garda at the front door.

"It was all very dramatic and you just don't expect it to happen in your own estate and especially in Donegal."

The arrested man was seen by a psychiatrist at Letterkenny Garda Station and was last night being questioned.

He can be held up to 48 hours without being charged.

The scene of the attack was preserved by gardai yesterday morning, and they carried out door-to-door enquiries to determine if neighbours may have witnessed anything that may help their investigation.

State pathologist Linda Mulligan and members of the Garda Technical Bureau from Dublin arrived at the scene of the incident yesterday afternoon.

At about 3pm, the body of Ms McMonagle was removed to Letterkenny General Hospital.

Local county councillor Gary Doherty, who is from the same village as Ms McMonagle, described her death as tragic.

"The whole community is in shock at the tragic news coming from Killygordon this morning," he said.

"My deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of the young woman who has sadly lost her life so prematurely."

Inspector Michael Harrison gave a brief statement outside Letterkenny Garda Station yesterday afternoon.

"Gardai are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a woman at Forest Park, Killygordon, Co Donegal, this morning," he said.

"The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The Office of the State Pathologist has been informed. The assistance of the Garda Technical Bureau has been requested.

"A man in his 20s has been arrested and is currently being detained under the terms of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984."
Ryanair has been named the worst short-haul airline in the UK for the sixth year running.

In a survey by consumer group Which?, passengers gave the Dublin-based carrier the lowest possible score for boarding, seat comfort, refreshments and cabin environment.

The airline came out of the survey with a customer score of only 40pc.

Of those who said there was one airline with which they would never travel, more than 70pc named Ryanair.

Which? recorded 12,459 flying experiences from 7,901 of its members.

One passenger told Which?: "There are too many rules. I worry about getting caught with hidden costs."

Ryanair made 1.95bn last year from extras such as priority boarding, assigned seating and luggage fees.

Chief executive Michael O'Leary (57) is one of Ireland's wealthiest businessmen.

Other names at the bottom of the ranking were Thomas Cook Airlines (52pc), Wizz Air (54pc), Vueling Airlines (54pc) and British Airways (56pc). EasyJet came in the middle with 63pc.

Those at the top of the ranking were Guernsey carrier Aurigny (81pc), Swiss Airlines (80pc) and Jet2 (75pc).

A Ryanair spokeswoman said the research did not take into account the low-cost of fares, which is "the single most important factor for UK consumers".

Ruining

She also described the research as "totally unrepresentative" and said Ryanair's average ticket price of 35 (39) is "a fraction of the high fares" charged by the airlines recommended by Which?.

Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel magazine, said: "Airfares might seem to be getting cheaper, but only if you don't fancy sitting with your family and children or taking even a small cabin bag on-board.

"Increasingly you need a calculator to work out what the final bill will be, especially with Ryanair.

"The airline has spent the last two years cancelling thousands of flights, ruining hundreds of thousands of holidays and flouting the rules on compensation as well.

"The results of our survey show passengers are fed up. They should switch to one of their rivals, who prove that budget prices don't have to mean budget service."

Last month, Britain's Civil Aviation Authority launched enforcement action against Ryanair.

This was prompted by the airline's decision not to pay compensation for flight disruption resulting from industrial action by its staff last summer.

The airline has also faced criticism for changing its hand luggage policy twice last year, resulting in charges for passengers flying with small wheelie suitcases.
In the summer of 1955, Heifer Project  now Heifer International  started working with the Prentiss Institute, an African-American junior college and vocational school. It was the start of a 30-year partnership that eventually helped empower families to lead the charge for desegregation in their community.

The partnership with the Prentiss Institute, in Prentiss Mississippi, was one of Heifers first full-fledged projects in the United States. Just two months after the relationship began, and in the same state, 14-year-old Emmett Till was lynched after being accused of bothering a young white woman. The brutal murder was one of many important sparks of the black civil rights movement, but its also a visceral reminder of the context and danger of living as a person of color in that time and place.



Prentiss is the county seat of Jefferson Davis County, named for the president of the Confederacy, and throughout the years, it has been listed as one of the poorest in the country. The Prentiss Institute opened its doors in 1907, a year after the county was created from pieces of surrounding counties.

A family involved in the Heifer/Prentiss Institute project in front of their home.

In the early 1900s, Prentiss only had a population of 200 and the institute had to convince parents in rural areas to send their children there. The initial 40 students paid for their education through commodities their families had  eggs, chickens, produce. Through years of perseverance and success, the institute counted more than 700 students and a faculty of 44 by 1953. The school grounds rose from 40 acres to 500, and from one building to 24.

On Christmas Day 1955, State Times reported, Prentiss Institute, a 48-year-old private junior college and vocational school, received 15 pure-bred heifers last week for distribution to families who want to diversify their farm income but are not financially able to do so.

According to the news report, upon the arrival of the second shipment of heifers in Prentiss, the Institute asked white leaders in Jeff Davis County to help them donate some of the animals to white families.



Years later, the Prentiss Institute and Heifer worked together to ensure that black 4-H members could show the animals they received through the project in county and state fairs, something that previously was not allowed.

Chicks from Heifer Project are delivered to a family in Prentiss, Mississippi.



In the spring of 1968, Willis A. McAlpin moved to Prentiss as a Heifer Project employee to oversee livestock donations and instruct families in animal care and the improvement of agricultural practices. He also managed the 500-acre farm owned by the institute.



On April 4, 1968, McAlpins second day on the job, word came that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had been assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis.



Things were pretty tense for a while, said Dr. A.L. Johnson, then dean of Prentiss Institute, according to an April 1969 newsletter found in the Heifer International archives. When Dr. King was killed, violence was in the air. Students were ready to explode any minute in frustration and anger against the white world. Even responsible adults asked themselves, How will I answer my grandchildren when they some day ask me what I did on that tragic night to avenge Dr. Kings death?

A farmer tends to his pigs in Prentiss, Mississippi.

Fortunately, continued Johnson, Willis McAlpin, the new Heifer Project representative, arrived on campus just the day before. We knew he had come not to get but to give, and that he had left his family and a comfortable home in Iowa to come to Mississippi and show us how to manage our farms better. So we invited Mr. McAlpin to speak at the memorial assembly for Dr. King. His presence demonstrated to the students that white people arent all against them, and reminded us of Heifer Projects help and friendship which has been proven over the years.



As a result, we got through those days without a single incident of violence and went on to demand and receive equal treatment in areas where we had previously been discriminated against.



At the time of Kings death, segregation permeated Jefferson Davis County. According to the Heifer newsletter from the archives, African-Americans could not eat in white restaurants, or sleep in white hotels, or worship in white churches. Even at the Dairy Queen, black children had to wait at the side window while whites at the front window were served first.



But six months to a year later, things started to change for the better. Jerry Bedford, Heifer Project director of development, wrote: Unanimously, if not joyously, in response to growing black pressure, white businessmen in the town of Prentiss signed a statement promising equal service to all customers regardless of race. Restaurants, theaters, hotels are now open to everyone. White Only signs have been removed from restroom doors, and gas station attendants clean the windshields and check the oil for black customers as well as white.

Community members say a prayer of dedication before receiving heifers as a part of the project in Prentiss.

Johnson attributed part of the reason for the change to the institutes partnership with Heifer. Heifer Project is one of the influences that have helped us bring about this change peacefully, he said. Receiving help from Heifer Project strengthened our peoples will to do everything they can to help themselves.

Supporting Farmers at Home and Abroad

In Heifer International's 75 years of work, we've worked with farming families all over the world, including the United States. Donate today to support our continuing work to end hunger and poverty while caring for the Earth.

In 1969, public schools were begrudgingly integrated in Mississippi, and enrollment at all-black schools like the Prentiss Institute dwindled. By 1989, the Prentiss Institute closed its doors, ceasing to function as an educational institution. Shortly before that, the partnership between Heifer and the institute came to a close; but the legacy of that partnership lives on.
Some call it a fee, others a tax, but in a matter of weeks it will all be in the past.
Published on 2019/01/05 | Source

Tickets for girl group BLACKPINK's upcoming world tour are selling out fast.

Advertisement

They will kick off their first world tour with concerts in Bangkok next week. Then they will tour Jakarta, Hong Kong, Manila, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Taipei.

As tickets for the concerts in Bangkok on Jan. 12 and 13 -- the hometown of band member Lisa -- sold out in about an hour after going on sale, organizers decided to put an extra concert on Jan. 11, which also sold out.

Two more concerts were added in Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur as tickets for concerts in those two cities sold out. Concerts in Manila on Feb. 2 and Singapore on Feb. 15 also sold out.




Haiti - FLASH : Bac, special session for the recales complet results for 10 departments





The Ministry of National Education has just made available the results of the official exams of the permanent bac exams, special session for the recales for the West Department, which completes the publication of the results for the 10 departments.



According to the information provided by the National Office of State Examinations (BUNEXE) 29,767 candidates out of the 30,040 expected at these examinations, participated in these tests which took place from 17 to 20 December 2018.



Results according to BUNEXE :



Center: Success rate 38.64% or 711 candidates admitted out of 1,840 participants;

South-East: Success rate 15.85% or 119 candidates admitted out of 751 participants;

Grand'Anse: Success rate 35.19%, ie 373 candidates admitted out of 1,060 participants;

Nippes: Success rate 53.38% or 434 candidates admitted out of 813 participants;

Artibonite: Success rate 26.72% or 833 candidates admitted out of 3,118 participants;

West: Success rate 21.26% or 2,634 candidates admitted out of 12,390 participants;

North: Success rate 18.37%, ie 503 candidates admitted out of 2,738 participants;

North-West: Success rate 17.82% or 555 candidates admitted out of 3,114 participants;

Northeast: Success rate 42.95% or 1,222 candidates admitted out of 2,845 participants;

South: Success rate 26.32% or 289 candidates admitted out of 1,098 participants.



Taking into account the results of the ten departments, the success rate at the national level is 25.78%, ie 7,673 candidates admitted out of a total of 29,767 participants.



NOTE TO CANDIDATES : The Ministry of National Education has not yet made available online access to results per student. IF the Ministry is putting its database online this year, we will inform you and HaitiLibre will publish on its website the access to results per student form. To be continued...



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26541-haiti-flash-bac-special-session-for-the-recales-results-for-9-departments.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26533-haiti-flash-bac-special-session-for-the-recales-results-for-7-departments.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26521-haiti-flash-bac-special-session-for-the-recales-results-for-5-departments.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26509-haiti-flash-bac-special-session-for-the-recales-results-for-2-departments.html



HL/ HaitiLibre


















My hope is that the dynamics of the committee remain similar to what they were in that our committee was known for not putting bad work products out on the [Senate] floor, Hough said. We didnt put a lot of controversial items out on the floor and we didnt put bad work products out there. While a lot of these bills get a lot of reforms, we had basically worked it out and come to a consensus on it, so we made it for pretty smooth sailing when it got out to the floor.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 4)  Today was a bad day to be Tony Labrusca.

The actor admitted, after several netizens called him out, to loudly arguing with a Bureau of Immigration (BI) officer upon his return from Canada on January 3.

The alleged argument has led the bureau to issue a statement the following day, but did not name the celebrity.

"The celebrity, who the agency refused to name, is an American passport holder who reportedly shouted expletives when he was only given a 30-day stay. He was allegedly furious at immigration for 'giving him a hard time, despite him being a celebrity, with people wanting to take pictures with him'," the BI statement read.

The BI clarified that the Balikbayan privilege, which Labrusca claimed he had, was only for former Filipinos and immediate family members. Those who do not qualify for the privilege but come from a country eligible for visa-free entry may get an automatic 30-day visa.

"While our immigration officers have been instructed to observe maximum tolerance, it is against the law to disrespect immigration authorities, and violating aliens may be excluded and blacklisted from the Philippines," BI Spokesperson Dana Krizia Spokesperson said in the statement.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro "Teddy Boy" Locsin Jr., meanwhile, posted "just deport him" on social media Friday, responding to a netizen's suggestion that the actor apologize to the immigration officials.

Labrusca took to twitter to air his side of the story Friday night and to apologize to the officer that he had fought with.

"I want to extend my sincerest apology to the superior Immigration Officer (I.O.) who was on duty and I had a talk with yesterday morning, 03 Jan 2019," Labrusca said.

According to him, he was frustrated when he asked why he was only given 30 days to stay in the country, unaware that he did not qualify for the Balikbayan stamp because he was not with his mother at the time.

However, he denied ever bragging about being a celebrity, contrary to what the BI alleged in its statement.

"I am sorry that I somehow took my frustrations out on the Officer. But never did I ever call anyone stupid, nor an idiot much less brag about being a celebrity," he said.

Labrusca added that his biggest mistake was probably to let his emotions get the better of him after a long flight from Canada.
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Collectively, the Democrats have to choose whether they want a fighter who will take on President Donald Trump in a brawl or a candidate who is a more low-key anti-Trump persona. A fighter would try to embody and harness the outrage that excites the hard-core Trump resistance. The cooler anti-Trump candidate would present themselves as offering a plea for peace and a return to normalcy in Americas politics.

If the Democrats nominate an aggressive, hot personality, they will be asking voters to choose between two well-defined candidates. If they pick a candidate who is stylistically the opposite of Trump and who can avoid direct engagement with the president, then the election will be about whether voters want more Trump or less Trump. For her part, Warren is more of a fighter. She has been an outspoken critic of all things Trump. She and the president have famously fought about her Native American heritage or lack thereof. She is a more aggressive and more liberal politician than Hillary Clinton. And, in my opinion, Warren will energize the Democratic Partys core voters more than Clinton did in 2016. A candidate with a calmer demeanor and a more subtle approach may leave Democrats cool, lacking enthusiasm and suppressing their voter turnout.
After seeing how money affected the ability of some families to visit children in the cancer unit at Brenner, which is part of the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center , Emily wanted to use donations given to her to help families get out of the parking deck or to pay for the cost of meals. Emilys longest stay was 43 days  which is not an uncommon length.

I was up there the other day, and the nurses came out and said, What you are doing here is making an impact on people,  Craig Field said.

The doctors help determine how the money is spent.

We tend to give it to folks who are in particular financial straits or on a long stretch in the hospital, where one or both parents is out of work, where there is a poor prognosis for the child. Really there are a lot of scenarios because its available for all of our families, and they all go through something, said Jeff Ungetheim of the childrens cancer support program .

Emily died Nov. 22, 2008, and her parents buried her where her paternal grandparents rest  an unplanned spot between plots that had been purchased for her parents.
"Emily-fierce" (copy) Emily Field in 2007 while fighting cancer.

GREENSBORO  Atop a six-wheeled motorized Gator blasting through the mud at the back of her family's property or walking the halls of Southeast High School in those yellow stiletto heels, she was their "Emily-fierce."

"She wanted to taste everything," Craig Field said of his teenage daughter, who had Bob Marley and Elvis Presley posters on her bedroom walls.

Eclectic? The popular lacrosse player and honor student also was selected for the Miss Southeast pageant and earned the senior superlative for "Best Shoe Collection," which included those yellow stilettos.

All that made it harder to accept the doctor's words right before Christmas break 2007. The nagging back pain, triggered, they thought, by the high school senior lifting a younger cousin a month before, was cancer.

Emily's dream was to attend Duke University and to study law. Instead, her stints on the oncology wing at Brenner Children's Hospital included one 43-day continuous stay.

Her battle with the aggressive Ewing's sarcoma would last 11 months.

A decade later and a final wish of hers is still being carried out. She is the Emily in Emily's Kids Foundation, which has given about $314,000 over the past decade to families with children fighting cancer. Donations help families with the staples, such as gas for those hospital trips and food for the often long weeks on units designed for the tiniest patients. A scholarship fund also helps college students who may not be at the top of their class, but are dealing with a cancer diagnosis.

An ongoing fundraiser involves T-shirts reading "FIGHT WITH YOUR HEART," the official trademark of the Emily's Kids Foundation, and can be ordered online.

Parents raise money for cancer families (copy) Tammy and Craig Field set up a foundation to assist cancer families after their daughter, Emily, died of cancer 10 years ago in a photo taken 

"They have actually touched thousands of families," said Nancy Smith, an assistant nurse manager of the hematology and oncology clinic, which is part of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

Smith has seen parents, who have just received devastating news and are grappling with how to afford care, cry over parking passes.

"They took something that could have been a burden for them," Smith said of the Field family, "and turned around and made it better for someone else."

'Emily-fierce'

Craig Field is dropping off gift cards  ordered by the thousands  at Mission Hospital while he's in the area on business for his job.

One of the pediatric cancer doctors stops what he's doing to thank him. Emily's dad will have longer visits with social workers there.

He takes the trip at least twice a year with cards to places like Subway and Chik-fil-A.

"We're pretty anonymous," Craig Field said of having passed families and children Emily's age and younger in the hallways. "And we don't need any thanks from them."

Their attention, he said, needs to be elsewhere.

The Duke Energy relay technician remembers the feeling of helplessness and bursting into tears along with his daughter when she got her cancer diagnosis, which came during what they thought was a routine examination about the back pain. Tammy Field, a health professional herself, stood in shock.

Tests that night showed a softball-sized mass on Emily's left kidney, which brought good and bad possibilities. If it was contained to the kidney, it could simply be removed.

But Ewing's sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer, had already begun to spread to her liver and lymph nodes and was in her bones.

Emily never really wanted to know how bad it was, her father said. She chose to concentrate on how to beat it.

After the next 23 days alongside her daughter at Brenner, Tammy Field spent just two days back at her job in the lab in a medical practice before taking family leave.

"I couldn't imagine not staying in that room," she said.

Even if it ate up their savings, the family was on the journey with Emily. They realized they were lucky to have that option.

Craig Field's supervisors tried to plan the assignments at the end of his 12-hour workdays as close as possible to Winston-Salem.

Big brother David, in Charlotte, constantly told Emily by phone that she inspired him.

The youngest, Daniel, could mimic all the voices on the cartoon comedy "Family Guy," one of their favorite shows.

It made her smile.

Emily was out of the hospital for her senior prom. The hair stylist placed a tiara atop a wig of chestnut brown hair. The prom wig was one of many purchased through the donations of staff and patrons at the shop where her granny, Betty Gregory, got her hair done.

Doctors also planned treatment around graduation.

Parents raise money for cancer families (copy) Tammy and Craig Field keep the diploma and tiara that their daughter, Emily, wore for her senior prom before she died of cancer 10 years ago i

"I begged God," Tammy Field said, "I said, 'If you are not going to leave her with me, I understand, but let her have more good days than bad days."

Emily marched into the Greensboro Coliseum with her class, sat in the same hard fold-up chairs as everyone else, and climbed the stage on her own to accept her diploma.

When she walked across the stage, everyone stood up. They were clapping and cheering and crying. Those closest to her also thought they didn't have to worry anymore.

Talks with her dad

That summer, Emily worried more and more about the children on her floor and what she could do with her own gift money.

It had grown to be a tight family. Some of the younger kids saw Emily as a big sister.

She picked up on parents agonizing over having to leave their little ones alone at times during treatment or with the costs of being there and not at work. She wondered how to start a fund that would give families in need gas cards and help with buying food.

Her own family had put more than 16,000 miles on their vehicles and spent more than $9,000 out of pocket on co-pays and related medical costs. Co-workers and friends of the family and even strangers had held fundraisers and pressed money in their hands.

"She said, 'Why should you have to worry about getting out of the parking deck when your child is sick?'" her dad recalled of the seed Emily planted.

But Emily was dying.

Parents raise money for cancer families (copy) A poster from Emily's Kids Foundation is reflected in a senior class portrait of Emily Field, who died of cancer ten years ago in a photo take

She got too weak too fast to do anything on her own. Her parents would be left to see the idea of an expense fund to help others become a reality.

Shortly before 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 22, 2008, she took her last breath.

Emily Ann Field, whose last rebellious act was to ink her brothers' names on her feet when doctors gave her 24 hours off scheduled chemotherapy treatment to celebrate her 18th birthday, was eulogized in the prom dress, with the pink and white roses she wanted on the top of her casket.

They buried her at the foot of where her paternal grandparents rest  an unplanned spot between plots for her parents.

"No parent should ever have to do that," Craig Field said.

The day after Emily's burial, Tammy and Craig Field sat in a Wendy's parking lot to take in the silence, just watching the traffic go by.

"Emily's Kids" had begun taking root.

"At first we thought they meant doing something for the hospital 'in lieu of flowers and contributions,' which others have done, where after a few weeks, the donations trickle off," Dr. Thomas McLean, Emily's oncologist, said at the time.

Meal vouchers and gas cards were purchased  even parking passes  with the money collected after her funeral.

But that wouldn't be the end of it.

The Field family was aiming for a fund that would live on.

"It would make her so happy to know," Tammy Field said of what would follow.

Taking root

Parents raise money for cancer families (copy) Tammy and Craig Field set up a foundation to assist cancer families after their daughter, Emily, died of cancer 10 years ago in a photo taken 

The Fields began raising money while carrying those full-time jobs.

Although they started out at Brenner, the fund soon expanded to the state's seven pediatric hospitals.

As much as 99 cents of every donated dollar through the foundation goes to struggling families in need of financial help with out-of-pocket costs, such as food and gas, that can distract families involved in cancer treatment. The all-volunteer nonprofit, which has a charitable solicitation license in the state of North Carolina, works with staff at the hospitals to ensure accountability. The nonprofit is also part of Amazon Gives, where the online giant will donate a portion of a shopper's spending to the charity of that person's choice.

More than $25,000 was raised in the first two years.

In a 2010 interview, McLean talked about what Emilys Kids Foundation meant to families.

"One family called just this past weekend and said, 'He's not feeling well  we don't have much gas but we'll have gas by Thursday,' " McLean, the pediatric hematologist/oncologist at Brenner Children's Hospital, said at the time.

"I said, 'You've got to come today  do you have enough to get here? You come and we'll give you a gas card to get back home.'"

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates more than 15,000 cases of pediatric cancer are diagnosed in the United States each year.

Early supporters of the Emily's Kids Foundation included a $5,000 grant from the Ronald McDonald House of North Carolina.

The foundation started the Gold Ribbon Scholarship two years ago, and now raises money for scholarship dollars for cancer patients. When families fight cancer, for example, it often takes all of a family's savings and resources.

"We had already used her college fund and her wedding fund," Craig Field said of the costs.

Had they been able to fight longer, they might not have been able to send their younger son to college.

The $500 scholarships are not based on having the highest GPAs, because many cancer patients fall behind in their school work.

"We can't pay their whole way," Tammy Field said of the scholarships, "but we hope that the money makes a difference."

Want to know more? What: Emily's Kids Foundation to assist families who have children in treatment for cancer. Funds help with daily expenses not covered by insurance and are administered through the state's children's hospitals. Donate: Make checks out to "Emily's Kids Foundation" P.O. Box 59, Climax, NC 27233; or go to www.emilyskidsfoundation.org

Students in middle school through college should go through their social worker to apply for help through Emily's Kids for items such as books and school supplies.

"This," Craig Field said, "is the only thing we can do for our daughter."

Contact Nancy McLaughlin at 336-373-7049 and follow @nmclaughlinNR on Twitter.

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Cameron Judd is a lifelong Tennessean born and raised in Cookeville, and a Greene County resident since 1982, when he first joined The Greeneville Sun staff. He also is an extensively published author of western and frontier fiction, having worked with several major publishing houses.
Continental is developing a flexible 5G hybrid platform that allows both mobile network communication, and rapid and reliable direct exchange of data. These benefits are being realized with a first customer award for this 5G-Hybrid-V2X solution.

Connected vehicles allow drivers and passengers access to state-of-the-art infotainment. They also have the potential to communicate real-time traffic updates and road hazards, and future safety assist functions by communicating directly with other vehicles or the infrastructure, making driving safer and more efficient. To achieve this, Continentals Hybrid V2X solution integrates technologies not only for 4G and 5G network access, but also Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC) and Cellular-V2X for direct V2X communication.

This enables vehicle manufacturers to overcome a big challenge when deploying V2X on a global scale. Contrary to regular mobile network communication, the technical path to establish direct V2X communication varies globally. Some regions prefer the established DSRC and others lean toward the upcoming Cellular-V2X standard. With Continentals new hybrid V2X solution, the same hardware and software platform can be used to support either communication standard, reducing not only cost but also complexity for a global application of V2X communication.

Combining V2X with mobile communication results in a platform for any type of networking. During the development phase on the hybrid communication platform, all V2X requirements for the security stack, positioning and application framework were integrated with the 4G/5G counterparts.

Ad-hoc networking through V2X has the potential to drastically increase driving safety. Direct information from other vehicles can improve the decision-making of drivers and automated driving functions. To fulfill this task, V2X technology must be as fast and reliable as possible  and it must be available globally. To date, short-range communication and long-range communication are two different systems with dedicated Electronic Control Units (ECUs). Networking both types of communication more closely will bring safety benefits. Murali Srinivasan, head of Passive Safety and Sensorics for Continental North America

A practical example highlights the driving safety benefits of networking short- and long-range communication in one box. If vehicles approach a construction site, short-range V2X communication begins to communicate this situation within a half mile range. As a result, the driver is prepared for the situation when the car reaches the actual construction site or the end of a forming line of traffic.

If seamless long-range communication also transmitted this warning with a longer lead time, the driver would be offered more options, having more time to prepare for a forming traffic jam or to get into the recommended lane, as an example.

The construction workers also benefit from the advanced information as it reduces the risk of a car running into them. Based on Continentals platform, such use cases could soon become reality on roads throughout the world. For China, this global project even marks the first series development of a V2X product.

An automated vehicle will also need to process this information earlier. For example, narrowed lanes and changed or damaged traffic markers could mean that the driver must take back the driving task from the automated vehicle. In this case, the handover procedure would begin in enough time to avoid any stressful situation.

It all goes back to seamless networking, which makes vehicles a rolling local-area sensor network and adds the pivotal support of cloud-based long-range services. Murali Srinivasan

The new hybrid platform complements Continentals existing product portfolio. Automakers will have all options in the futurefrom the classic single Telematic Control Unit (TCU) or DSRC solution, to the new hybrid platform. As a result, vehicles will be well equipped for all regional challenges.

Continentals plans to start series production on its Hybrid V2X solution globally in the early 2020s.

At CES 2019 in Las Vegas, Continental will exhibit a live demonstrator of Hybrid V2X featuring DSRC V2X integrated within a classic 4G Telematics Unit.
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Then I read the letter to the editor titled Sanctuary Country by Leonard Brewer, which rightly describes how ending the program endangers us by allowing undocumented immigrants back into our populace after they have been charged with a local crime. It was alongside a guest column by William Ramey describing exactly why County Executive Steuart Pittman got it wrong and how his ending the program endangers the citizens of Anne Arundel County and the state of Maryland.
The greater point is the profound effect leadership has had on my career. Chief Tom Shanahan sent me a handwritten note with a cutout of an article from The Capital that discussed some of the community initiatives I was involved in. This one, in particular, was a community Bible study. I still have that note and I look back on it ever so often.
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NAPPANEE [mdash] Daniel F. Chupp, 89 of Nappanee, Indiana, died at 9:46 a.m. Thursday, June 10, 2021 at Goshen General Hospital. Cremation will take place and a memorial service will be held at a later date.
This was awesome news! But (you know theres always a but in the story) we soon learned that we would be receiving more than 1,400 mattresses! We had to figure out a way to get them from EBI on Kentuck Road to our ReStore on Riverside Drive and get them offloaded into the store. So the challenge began and the anxiety grew!

Then those words came to me  if its the Lords will, it will be done. I just knew that this donation was a blessing from God and it would happen. I had to do my part and just trust him to provide the other partners. After that it all began to fall into place. I received a message back from Frankie Nester or Lawrence Distributing that he had a 48-foot trailer, and they would be glad to help pick up from EBI and deliver to the ReStore.

As this process began, word came from Agnieszka Antczak-Michalska, the EBI representative, that they had more mattresses to donate to us. So after the two loads that Lawrence Distributing delivered for us, we still had more to pick up. I made a call to Mabe Trucking Co. in Eden, N.C., and owner Roger (Butch) Mabe Jr. was more than glad to help us. Once the mattresses arrived on site, we had a group of volunteers from Negril, board member Carroll Walker, several college aged students in for the Christmas season and other local volunteers willing to help.
The right cant stop talking about the incoming youngest member of the House, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The left isnt much better.

You know AOC. She rose from obscurity to instant celebrity as a self-described socialist running for Congress. The former waitress did it with a brilliant campaign combining social media genius with just showing up.

In the end, however, she will be only one of 235 Democrats in the 435-member House. Fans and detractors should keep that in mind.

The professional right has portrayed this Latina daughter of the Bronx as a threat to the free market system. During the midterm campaign, Republican ads kept flashing her face as the new Red menace.

Problem is, her face is pretty. She comes off as a hard worker from the working class. And her tailored suits have messed up many a storyline.

Fox News assembled a panel to discuss a pair of her shoes. They were on display in an exhibit at Cornell University titled Women Empowered: Fashions from the Frontline.

Ocasio-Cortez cleverly trolled the panelists in Spanish, tweeting the words of a popular song. In English, No, its not love. What you feel is called obsession.
The Maryland Department of Environment, however, disputed that claim, saying the agency reached its conclusion using data that pre-dated the plants use of low-sulfur coal. A model that accounts for the use of low-sulfur coal, and subsequent reduced sulfur dioxide emissions, shows no violations of the EPAs sulfur dioxide standard, according to the department.
But for the commonwealths Southside corridor, numbers are in a downward trend.

This is not where the jobs are. This is not where the birth rates are increasing, said Jones.

Pittsylvania County Schools Director of Finance Tracey Worley said their divisions enrollment is expected to decrease by more than 100 students for the 2019-20 school year.

Jones said Danville schools projections suggest it will lose around 80 students.

An increase in the states allocation per student will leave the school districts around the same budget they had for 2018-19.

Im very excited about what the governor proposed, but Im also very realistic about what it means for us, said Jones. The harsh reality for us is it doesnt really equate to that much more net money for us because its offset by the loss of enrollment.

If Northams proposal passed, Pittsylvania County Schools would see an additional $2.1 million from the state for 2019-20; Danville Public Schools would receive $1.02 million.

Danville Public Schools Director of Finance Lori Cassada said, If we were to not have any loss of students we would be looking at about $1.75 million.
Gloucester, MA (01930)

Today

Cloudy skies early, then off and on rain showers overnight. Low around 60F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, then off and on rain showers overnight. Low around 60F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
EU expresses support for Taiwan's system of governance

ROC Central News Agency

2019/01/04 13:18:28

Brussels, Jan. 3 (CNA) The European Union (EU) reiterated Thursday that it will continue to develop relations with Taiwan and support the shared values that underpin Taiwan's system of governance, following a recent speech in which Chinese president Xi Jinping () said China retains the right to use force to achieve reunification with Taiwan.

"The EU has a strong stake in the security, peace and stability of Asia, including across the Taiwan Strait," an EU spokesperson said in an email response to CNA after seeking a comment on Xi's speech on cross-Taiwan relations Wednesday.

"We support the constructive development of relations between mainland China and Taiwan as part of the peaceful development of the Asia-Pacific region," the spokesperson said.

"Unfortunately, cross-strait relations have remained frozen in the past two years," the spokesperson said, adding that it is important to maintain the status quo, to restart cross-strait dialogue and to exert restraint.

"Initiatives aimed at promoting dialogue, co-operation and confidence-building between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are to be encouraged," the spokesperson noted.

Reiterating the EU's "One China" policy, the spokesperson said: "We are committed to continuing to develop our relations with Taiwan and to supporting the shared values underpinning its system of governance."

Xi said in a speech commemorating the 40th anniversary of the "Message to Compatriots in Taiwan" on Wednesday that Taiwan "must and will be" united with China.

He also said that over the past few decades, China has promoted the "1992 consensus," which he said was reached by the two sides of the strait on the basis of the "one China principle" and the spirit of seeking common ground while reserving differences.

In his speech Xi defined the "1992 consensus" as "the two sides of the strait belonging to one China, and working together to seek the unification of the nation." He attributed the beginning of cross-strait negotiations to the consensus, which is interpreted differently in Taiwan.

Xi said China is willing to talk with any party in Taiwan to push forward the political process as long as it accepts the "one China principle." However, "we will not renounce the use of force or give up the option of using all necessary measures" to serve that end and crack down on Taiwan independence, he noted.

In response, Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen () stressed she will never accept the so-called "1992 consensus" because it is tantamount to the "one China, two systems" formula devised by China to bring Taiwan under its control.

Tsai stressed Taiwan will never accept that formula and that the vast majority of Taiwanese people are firmly opposed to such an approach devised by Beijing.

The "1992 consensus" refers to a verbal agreement reached in 1992 between the then Kuomintang (KMT) government of Taiwan and Chinese communist officials.

This agreement has been consistently interpreted by the KMT to mean that both sides of the Taiwan Strait acknowledge there is only "one China," with each side free to interpret what "China" means. However, Beijing has never publicly voiced support for the second part of this KMT interpretation.

Tsai and the Democratic Progressive Party have never accepted the consensus. That stance led Beijing to halt dialogue with Taipei, freezing cross-strait relations after years of improvements under President Ma Ying-jeou () of the KMT from 2008-2016.

Taiwan's representative office in the EU and Belgium has conveyed to the European External Action Service (EEAS) Tsai's comments and the objection of the Taiwanese people to Beijing's "one China, two systems" formula, according to sources familiar with the matter.

(By Tang Pei-chun and Elizabeth Hsu)

Enditem/AW
KMT chief clarifies contents of '1992 consensus'

ROC Central News Agency

2019/01/04 23:27:31

Taipei, Jan. 4 (CNA) Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Wu Den-yih () took issue Friday with the characterization of the "1992 consensus" by both Chinese President Xi Jinping () and President Tsai Ing-wen () in recent speeches they made.

Wu described his party's definition of the "1992 consensus" between Taiwan and China as the free interpretation of "one China" by either side, and rejected Xi's inclusion of the "one country, two systems" framework as part of the consensus.

"The free interpretation of 'one China' is in fact the '1992 consensus," Wu said categorically.

Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), with approval from then President and KMT Chairman Lee Teng-hui (), exchanged documents with mainland authorities on Nov. 16, 1992 in which the two sides agreed that "free interpretation represented the content of the '1992 consensus,'" Wu said.

"The two sides of the Taiwan Strait, based on the 'one China' principle, agreed that either side can freely interpret what 'one China' means in a verbal form" following the meeting, he said.

"This means that the mainland can claim that the People's Republic of China represents all of China, while we can also claim that the Republic of China (Taiwan) represents the whole of China," he said.

Based on that spirit, then SEF Chairman Koo Chen-fu () and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Daohan (), chairman of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), held historical talks in Singapore in April 1993, he said.

On Wednesday, Xi said Taiwan "must and will be" united with China based on the "1992 consensus" and under the "one China principle," and suggested a Taiwan version of the "one country, two systems" model to achieve "peaceful reunification."

Xi's speech triggered a strong response from President Tsai, who said she has rejected the "1992 consensus" since assuming office in May 2016 because its goal is "Taiwan's unification with China."

"We have never accepted the '1992 consensus.' The fundamental reason is because the '1992 consensus' as defined by Beijing is in fact the 'one China principle' and 'one China, two systems' formula," Tsai said.

Wu said Tsai's denial of the existence of the "1992 consensus" was wrong.

Later Friday, former New Taipei Mayor Eric Chu () also came to the defense of the KMT's stance toward the "1992 consensus," saying that the "1992 consensus" and the "one China, two systems" framework are two totally different things.

"The Republic of China (ROC) has always adhered to the path of democracy and freedom and will surely do so in the future," Chu said.

To the KMT, a free interpretation that the ROC represents all of China is the party's stance toward the "1992 consensus," he said.

Chu, who left office in December, has declared his bid to vie for the KMT's nomination as its candidate in the next presidential election in early 2020.

(By Wang Cheng-chung and Flor Wang)

Enditem/ls
Fresh US-led airstrikes leave 10 Syrian civilians dead in Dayr al-Zawr

Iran Press TV

Fri Jan 4, 2019 02:52PM

Nearly a dozen civilians, mostly women and children, have been killed after the US-led coalition purportedly fighting the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group carried out a series of aerial assaults in Syria's troubled eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr.

Syria's state-run television network reported that 10 people were killed on Friday afternoon when US-led warplanes bombarded residential buildings in al-Kishkiyah town of the province's Abu Kamal district.

The report added that the victims were all members of the same family.

The development came only a few hours after eleven people lost their lives in similar airstrikes against al-Shaafah town.

The air raids severely damaged private property in the targeted area as well.

On December 29, 2018, a military-diplomatic source said the planned withdrawal of US troops from Syria would expose the extent of war crimes committed by the US-led coalition.

"The upcoming withdrawal of US military personnel from Syria will most likely shed light on numerous war crimes committed by the international coalition during the so-called fight against [the] Daesh terrorist group.

"First of all, this concerns, of course, the much hyped liberation of Raqqah in October 2017, which has transformed into a 'ghost city' as a result of carpet bombings by coalition aircraft," Russia's Sputnik news agency quoted the unnamed source as saying.

The source went on to say that Takfiri militants operating in the al-Tanf region were constantly trying to flee from the area and take refuge either in adjacent regions or even in neighboring Jordan in the wake of the announcement of US plans to withdraw troops from Syria.

"After the announcement of the imminent withdrawal of US soldiers, the entire 'hive' of the militants there  was set in motion. Almost every day, the militants attempt to break through from there not only to the territory controlled by Damascus in Syria, but also to Jordan," the source said.

The US-led coalition has been conducting airstrikes against what are said to be Daesh targets inside Syria since September 2014 without any authorization from the Damascus government or a UN mandate.

The military alliance has repeatedly been accused of targeting and killing civilians. It has also been largely incapable of achieving its declared goal of destroying Daesh.

Syria has on numerous occasions condemned airstrikes by the US-led coalition, asking the UN to force Washington and its allies to put an end to their military intervention in the Arab country.

On November 13, the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned an airstrike earlier that month by the US-led coalition against the eastern town of al-Shaafah, which left more than 60 people dead and injured, arguing that the massacre clearly pointed to the fact that members of the military alliance had no respect for moral values, international rules and regulations besides the lives of innocent civilians.

The ministry, in two separate letters, addressed to United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres and the former rotating president of the UN Security Council Ma Zhaoxu, called on the Security Council to fulfill its responsibilities and stop US-led aerial assaults.

It also asked the world body to propose an international, independent and impartial mechanism to investigate the crimes being perpetrated by the US-led coalition.

The letters noted that the coalition was deliberately targeting Syrian civilians and making use of internationally banned weapons, including white phosphorus bombs, in Syria.

The ministry stressed that the US-led coalition airstrikes were meant to kill as many Syrian people as possible, prolong the ongoing Syria conflict, destroy the country's infrastructure and undermine its sovereignty and territorial integrity in flagrant violation of all UN Security Council resolutions on the Arab country.

The letters concluded that the embarrassing silence of the Security Council had encouraged the coalition to kill more Syrian civilians and destroy their property.
Khashoggi trial in Saudi Arabia falls short of independent, international probe needed: UN rights chief

4 January 2019 - The criminal trial in Saudi Arabia of individuals suspected of being involved in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi does not meet the requirements of an independent and international probe requested by the UN's top rights official, Michelle Bachelet, her office said on Friday.

Speaking to journalists in Geneva, Ravina Shamdasani from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), confirmed that her office was aware that the trial was under way.

"We, as you know, have been pressing for justice in the Khashoggi case for months now. We have been calling for an investigation, an independent investigation, with international involvement, and this has not happened yet."

According to reports, 11 defendants went on trial in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on Thursday.

Five suspects face the death penalty if convicted of the murder of Mr Khashoggi, who was a critic of the Kingdom and has not been seen since he visited his country's consulate in Istanbul, on the afternoon of 2 October.

Ms Shamdasani confirmed that the High Commissioner's office had spoken "several times" to the Saudi authorities about the Khashoggi case, before underlining her office's stance on the Saudi Public Prosecutor's call for the death penalty.

"Now while we are aware that a trial has taken place in Saudi Arabia, this is not sufficient, first of all", she said. "Second of all, we are against the imposition of the death penalty in all circumstances."

The OHCHR spokesperson noted that her office had no official representation in the Gulf Kingdom.

"We are not present in Saudi Arabia to be able to assess these trials, so we can't give an assessment of the trials ourselves," she said.
UN human rights office says Saudi Khashoggi murder trial 'not sufficient'

Iran Press TV

Fri Jan 4, 2019 02:09PM

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) says it cannot assess the fairness of a trial underway in Saudi Arabia over the killing of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, emphasizing that in any case it is "not sufficient."

Saudi Arabia said on Thursday that it has held an initial hearing into Khashoggi's murder case, with the public prosecutor requesting the death penalty for five of the suspects.

The state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported that at the court session, which was held in Riyadh, the prosecutor demanded that "proper punishments" be imposed against the 11 defendants and that "capital punishment" sentences be handed to five of them over their direct involvement in the killing.

In response to a question about the Saudi prosecutor's demand for the suspects' death penalty, the OHCHR Spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said on Friday that the office calls for an independent investigation "with international involvement."

She also reiterated the UN rights office's constant opposition to the death penalty.

Khashoggi, a prominent critic of the Saudi crown prince and a US resident, disappeared on October 2 after visiting the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain documentation for his forthcoming marriage.

Saudi Arabia initially claimed he had left the consulate alive, but weeks later admitted that he was killed inside the diplomatic mission and blamed his death on a group of Saudi operatives.

Turkish authorities believe that a 15-person "hit squad" was sent from Saudi Arabia to Istanbul to kill the 61-yerar-old journo.

On December 10, Turkey called for an international investigation into the case of slain Saudi dissident journalist, after Riyadh refused to extradite two senior Saudi officials suspected of planning his murder.

Fahrettin Altun, director of communications at the Turkish presidency, said in a statement that the international community should seek justice for the slain journalist under international law after Riyadh reiterated that the suspects in the case would not be extradited for trial in Istanbul.

A full translated transcript of an audio recording of Khashoggi's murder has showed that the killing was pre-planned, refuting Riyadh's claims.

A source, who read the translated version and who has been briefed on the investigation into Khashoggi's killing, has made the revelations to CNN.

He said the transcript of the last words of the Washington Post columnist made it clear that the murder was no botched interrogation, rather the execution of a premeditated plan to kill him - unlike what Saudi officials initially claimed.
S.Korea's navy conducts maritime drills in western waters

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 15:10, January 04, 2019

SEOUL, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's navy on Friday conducted this year's first maritime drills in western waters, south of the maritime buffer zone which the country set with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to reduce military tensions.

Mobilized for the drills were battleships, including a 2,500-ton frigate, a guided missile patrol gunboat, and a patrol frigate, as well as a maritime operation helicopter, according to local media reports.

A live-fire exercise was included in the drills to build teamwork among service members, the navy was quoted as saying.

The maritime maneuvers exercise was carried out in waters south of the maritime buffer zone, which was set near the inter-Korean sea boundary under the comprehensive military agreement between the two Koreas.

The military accord was signed by defense chiefs of the two Koreas during the Pyongyang summit in September last year between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un.

Under the agreement, the two sides established buffer zones in the air, ground and waters near the border to stop all hostile acts against each other.
US wants Iranians to 'have better lives' with sanctions: Pompeo

Iran Press TV

Fri Jan 4, 2019 11:44AM

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says Washington's tough sanctions against the Islamic Republic are aimed at giving the Iranian people a chance to have better lives.

"The sanctions on Iran have this ultimate goal: creating an outcome where the Iranian people can have better lives than they have today," Pompeo told Newsmax TV on Thursday.

The administration of US President Donald Trump announced on November 5 the reimposition of the "toughest" sanctions ever against Iran's banking and energy sectors with the aim of cutting off its oil sales and crucial exports. The bans had been lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

While the US claims the bans do not target civilians and ordinary people, they are actually hampering the import of food and medicine to the country, endangering the lives of millions of patients in Iran.

Pompeo earlier told BBC Persian that Iranian officials must listen to Washington "if they want their people to eat."

He also said since the re-introduction of the sanctions, there was no sign yet that Iranian officials would return to the negotiating table.

"We have provided, we have accommodated the Iranian people with our sanctions, and it's now the Iranian government's responsibility to make sure that they do the right thingIt's their job to do the right thing for their people," he noted.

In reaction to his comments, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Pompeo's open threat to starve the Iranian nation was "a crime against humanity" and "a desperate attempt to impose US whims on Iran."

"Like his predecessors, he'll also learn thatin spite of US effortsIran will not just survive but advance w/out sacrificing its sovereignty," Zarif said.

US has 'lots of things' to work on with Turkey

In his interview with Newsmax TV, Pompeo also referred to Washington's ties with Ankara, saying the US has "lots of things to work on with the Turks" and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

"There are places where they are very supportive of the things that Americans care about, which keep Americans safe," Pompeo said.

"There are other places where we have real concerns," the secretary added. "We still have Americans who are being held there. The conversation with the Turks continues."

Pompeo also announced that National Security Adviser John Bolton and Jim Jeffrey, special representative for Syrian engagement, will meet with Turkish officials next week "to talk about Syria."

"There are lots of places where we need to work with President Erdogan and the Turkish leadership to get good outcomes for the United States."

The comments came as the US is reportedly evacuating its military bases in Syria after President Trump pledged to pull American forces out of the war-torn Arab country.

America's military presence in northern parts of Syria, where US troops are working closely with Kurdish groups, have drawn fire from Turkey.

Ankara has launched its own military incursion into Syria, with a declared goal of destroying Kurdish groups causing unrest in Turkish territories.

Upon announcing his decision to leave Syria, Trump said Turkey would be taking on the US military responsibilities in the country.
Iran's warship to be deployed to Atlantic Ocean

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Jan 4, IRNA -- Deputy Chief of Navy Force of the Iranian Army announced that the army's naval fleet will enter the Atlantic Ocean in early 2019 on a five-month voyage.

Admiral Touraj Hasnai Moqaddam said in an interview with the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) on Friday that the trip will be conducted in accordance with the order of the hierarchy of command.

'The Atlantic Ocean is a long route, and it is likely that this Iranian mission would take five months to complete,' he added.

The deputy commander of the Navy, arguing that the Iranian navy would rotate the planet Earth, said, 'A member of the Iranian navy will be the Sahand destroyer.'

Sahand, the most advanced destroyer of West Asia, joined the Navy's south fleet in Bandar Abbas on December 1.

This four-engine destroyer has been designed and made more advanced than its predecessor, Jamaran destroyer, with radar-evading capabilities.

9455**2050
China calls for full implementation of Iran nuclear deal

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Beijin, Jan 4, IRNA -- Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday urged all sides of Iranian nuclear deal to be bound to their obligations.

All sides of the Iran's nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), should be bound to their obligations enshrined in the deal and do their best to save it, China's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang told the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).

He made the remarks while answering a question on the US claims on Iran's satellite launch.

The Chinese official urged all sides of the Iranian nuclear deal to resolve their issues through dialogue.

He urged also full implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231, endorsing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the nuclear program of Iran.

Lu Kang said that implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 is necessary for preserving Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and establishment of peace and stability in the Middle East.

The US has always been opposed to Iran's scientific progress and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has warned Iran on Thursday against launching three satellites into space in the coming months.

9191**2050
India's Air Force Fighter Jets' Strength Fell by One-Fifth in Decade - Minister

Sputnik News

16:03 04.01.2019(updated 20:22 04.01.2019)

Replying to the opposition charge of irregularities in the fighter jet purchase from France, the Indian Defence Minister has justified it while informing Parliament that the fighter jet strength of the country had fallen substantially during the last decade in contrast to China & Pakistan, who have been adding air power.

Facing a concerted opposition attack within and outside parliament over the $8.7 billion Rafale fighter jet deal with France, the Indian government has justified the contract, calling it the "need of the hour".

India's Minister of Defence Nirmala Sitharaman, while taking part in a debate on the deal in the country's parliament, said that "the off-the-shelf purchase of the fighter jet was the need of the hour" as political adversaries have been adding strength in air power very fast while the depleting strength of fighter jet squadrons was posing challenges to the Indian Air Force (IAF).

"China added over 400 fighter jet between 2004-15. Pakistan doubled their number of F-16s and added 43 JF-17 planes to its air force. India had 33 squadrons in 2015, down from 40 in 2004," Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of Defence said while replying during the debate on controversial Rafale deal.

The minister also added that the Rafale deal with the French company Dassault Aviation was on a better delivery schedule than what was negotiated by the previous regime led by the opposition.

"The first aircraft will be delivered in September 2019 and 36 aircraft will be delivered in the year 2022. The process of negotiation was finished in 14 months," Sitharaman added.

The Indian minister sought to justify the purchase, saying that "We have to recognise the sense of urgency."

India's major opposition party, the Indian National Congress (INC), has been demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee(JPC) probe of the deal which was concluded in September 2016 under a government to government deal with France.

Former French President Francois Hollande, who approved the deal while in office, triggered a political storm in India after he was quoted as saying by a French website that the Indian government influenced the choice of an offset partner in the deal. Congress alleged that the deal is not transparent and that the Modi government overpaid Dassault Aviation and favoured Indian businessman Anil Ambani in the deal.

 Sputnik
Indian Firm Will 'Soon' Begin Production of Tejas MK-1 Light Warplane - Source

Sputnik News

17:56 04.01.2019(updated 18:25 04.01.2019)

Impediments for the production of the Tejas MK-1 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) have been cleared and the manufacturer is set to begin production soon, a high-level source told Sputnik on Friday.

India's state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) manufacturer has been given the final go-ahead by the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification, the regulatory body for certification and qualification of military aircraft and airborne systems, to manufacture the indigenously developed LCA Tejas Mk-1 warplane.

A highly placed HAL official told Sputnik that the state-owned manufacturer will "soon" start production.

The Tejas MK-1 will be equipped with battle-ready capabilities, including mid-air refuelling, AESA radar, electronic warfare suites, and smart bombs, according to the official.

"We have received final operational clearance (FOC) to produce Tejas and with this approval, work will immediately start on FoC version. Initially, we will produce it in limited number," the HAL official told Sputnik on the condition of anonymity, without specifying the initial quantity of production.

Final Operations Clearance for the Tejas MK-1 was initially scheduled for December 2012 but was delayed due to various reasons, including hardware and software modifications, and limited hours of flight testing.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has ordered 20 initial operational configuration aircraft and 20 final operational configuration aircraft.

HAL aims to manufacture 16 aircraft per year, up from the present capacity of eight. For this purpose, HAL is currently in the process of establishing a second manufacturing line to support structural and equipping activities.

Currently, the IAF relies on a variety of Soviet-era and Russian aircraft, as well as some French Dassault Mirages and UK/France SEPECAT Jaguar warplanes.

 Sputnik
China showcases own version of 'Mother of All Bombs'

Global Times

By Liu Xuanzun Source:Global Times Published: 2019/1/3 16:22:04

China's arms industry giant NORINCO for the first time showcased a new type of massive aerial bomb, which it dubbed the Chinese version of the "Mother of All Bombs" due to its huge destruction potential that is claimed to be only second to nuclear weapons.

The bomb was airdropped by an H-6K bomber and caused a gigantic explosion, a promotional video China North Industries Group Corporation Limited (NORINCO) released on its website in December shows.

This is the first time the new bomb's destructive powers have been shown in public, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Wednesday on its mobile application.

Calling the several-ton-weapon a Chinese version of the "Mother of All Bombs," the report said that it is China's most powerful non-nuclear bomb, and that the H-6K bomber could only carry one at a time due to its size.

Judging from the video and the size of the H-6K's bomb bay, this bomb is approximately five to six meters long, Wei Dongxu, a Beijing-based military analyst, told the Global Times on Thursday.

"The massive blast can easily and completely wipe out fortified ground targets such as reinforced buildings, bastions and defense shelters," Wei said.

It can also be used to clear a landing zone for troops on helicopters to rappel down, in case the area is covered by obstacles such as forests, Wei noted.

The weapon will also spread fear among enemies if a weapon of this caliber is deployed, military observers noted.

The US wields a similar weapon, the Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB,) which was first to dubbed the "Mother of All Bombs" because of its acronym and power.

A MOAB was dropped on an Islamic State cave complex in Afghanistan in 2017, the New York Times reported.

The bombing was very successful, but no casualty totals were given.

Wei said that the Chinese bomb is smaller and lighter than the US one, enabling it to be deployed on the H-6K bomber.

The US bomb is so large that it has to be carried by a larger transport aircraft rather than a bomber, Wei said, noting that a bomber can fly faster and is better at targeting than a transport aircraft, and the Chinese bomb's designer must have had this in mind when it produced the bomb to fit the H-6K.

To match the US weapon, Russia developed the "Father of All Bombs" which is both bigger and thermobaric, meaning it uses gas to create a huge fireball rather than a shockwave, Wired reported.

Some military observers speculated that the Chinese bomb is also thermobaric.

However, a NORINCO representative told the Global Times that the bomb shown in the video is not a thermobaric weapon, but did not provide additional details.
President Bolsonaro willing to discuss hosting US base in Brazil

Iran Press TV

Fri Jan 4, 2019 06:56AM

Brazil's new far-right President Jair Bolsonaro says he is open to discussing the possibility of hosting a US military base, underlining a major shift in the Latin American country's foreign policy.

Bolsonaro, who took office earlier this week, claimed that Russia's support of President Nicolas Maduro's "dictatorship" in neighboring Venezuela was a worrying development.

The 63-year-old former Army captain told the SBT TV network in an interview taped on Thursday that if "Moscow's increasing support" of Maduro meant he would allow US military presence in his country, he would certainly be willing to negotiate that possibility.

He stressed that what Brazil seeks is to have "supremacy here in South America", upending foreign policy in the country, which saw the leftist Workers Party emphasizing South-South relations and sometimes tussling on the international stage with the US.

Bolsonaro said he supported Washington's policy with regard to opposing the "authoritarian regimes" of left-wing governments in Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

An admirer of both Brazil's 1964 to 1985 military dictatorship and US President Donald Trump, Bolsonaro has quickly deepened ties with the Unites States and Israel. This has concerned Brazil's leftist leaders who had, for 13 years, been making efforts to build relationships with Brazil's South American neighbors and other developing countries before losing to Bolsonaro.

'Logistical considerations on Bolsonaro's way to relocate embassy in Israel'

The Brazilian president, who is also known as "Tropical Trump" due to following the US president's steps, has also sparked controversy by following Trump on relocating his country's embassy in Israel to the occupied Jerusalm al-Quds.

Trump recognized the occupied city as Israel's so-called capital and officially opened the US embassy in the city in May, sparking international outrage.

Jerusalem al-Quds was occupied by the Tel Aviv regime during the Six-Day War in the 1967, and is deemed the capital of a future Palestinian independent state.

Boslonaro's national security adviser, Augusto Heleno, confirmed earlier on Thursday that the president stuck with the idea of the embassy relocation, but that logistical considerations were standing in the way.

Heleno did not elaborate further, but many in the country have already raised concerns about the plan, saying the move would hurt the country's relations with Muslim nations.

The Arab League has warned the Brazilian leader that the move would be a setback for relations with Arab countries.

Bolsonaro hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamine Netanyahu late last month, but neither of the men mentioned plans to move the embassy from Tel Aviv to the occupied city.

If Bolsonaro follows through the plan, the Latin American country would become the third nation  after the US and Guatemala  to have an embassy in the highly sensitive city which is the third holiest Muslim site.
First probe lands on moon's 'dark' side

People's Daily Online

(China Daily) 07:42, January 04, 2019

Breakthrough opens new page in historyof space exploration

A new chapter opened in mankind's exploration of the moon on Thursday morning as the first probe to land on the moon's far side reached its destination after a 26-day journey.

The Chang'e 4 lunar probe, representing China's latest step in lunar investigation, landed at 10:26 am at the Von Karman crater in the South Pole-Aitken basin and then sent back three photos of the landing site shot by cameras on the probe's lander, marking the world's first images taken on the surface of the far side.

One of the photos, published by the China National Space Administration, shows the place where Chang'e 4's rover, which was named Yutu 2 on Thursday night, will be heading to explore and survey.

Thus began the first expedition to the side of the moon that faces away from the Earth. It is meant to fulfill scientists' long-held aspiration to closely observe the lesser known region.

Tidal forces on Earth slow the moon's rotation to the point that the same side always faces Earth. Most of the far side is never visible from Earth.

While it has been extensively photographed by spacecraft, starting with a Soviet probe in 1959, no probe had ever made a soft landing there, so scientists had not been able to conduct surface-level observations and surveys of the region.

According to the China National Space Administration, Chang'e 4's landing procedure started at 10:15 am, when it began its descent from an orbit 15 kilometers above the surface, following control signals from the Beijing Aerospace Control Center transmitted through China's Queqiao relay satellite.

The probe made position adjustments when it reached 6 to 8 kilometers above the moon. The descent then paused at about 100 meters above the surface as the spacecraft analyzed the gradient of the preset landing site as well as any possible obstacles in order to avoid hazards.

After an exact landing area was determined, Chang'e 4 resumed its descent at a slow velocity and finally touched down, the administration said in a statement.

Shortly afterward, the probe unfolded its solar arrays and antennas and established a high-speed data link through Queqiao, it said.

Wu Weiren, chief designer of China's lunar program, said in Beijing on Thursday after the landing that the descent and landing "were perfect".

He called the event "an important milestone for China's space exploration", adding that it has made a good start for future lunar exploration efforts.

With its investigation of the far side, particularly the Von Karman crater, the Chang'e 4 mission will enable scientists to find out what they haven't known about the moon and deepen their knowledge of its early history and of the solar system.

Researchers also can use the far side's shield against Earth's interference to make clearer observations into deep space, scientists expect.

Zhang He, executive director of the Chang'e 4 program at the China Academy of Space Technology, said, "As there had been no probe on the far side before us, all scientific information obtained by the Chang'e 4 will be new to the world."

Next, Chang'e 4 will start testing and fine-tuning its equipment under control from the Beijing Aerospace Control Center and will wait for suitable conditions to release its rover, officials said.

Chang'e 4 was launched atop a Long March 3B carrier rocket on Dec 8 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province.

Developed by the China Academy of Space Technology, the probe has two parts: a lander and a rover. It is the fourth lunar probe China has launched since the country's lunar program began in 2004.
US Vice President Mike Pence says If there's no border wall deal, there's no shutdown deal

Iran Press TV

Fri Jan 4, 2019 05:01PM

US Vice President Mike Pence has thrown his full support behind President Donald Trump's position on funding a wall on the US-Mexico border, warning congressional Democrats that "if there's no wall, there's no deal" to end the partial government shutdown.

In an interview with Fox News on Thursday, Pence said the White House had no plans to back down from Trump's demand for $5 billion border wall funding, even if it involved keeping the government partially closed for a long time.

"The president has made it very clear: No wall, no deal," Pence said. "We're here to make a deal, but it's a deal that's going to result in achieving real gains on border security, and you have no border security without a wall. We will have no deal without a wall."

The US vice president also said the Trump administration was "completely focused" on building the border wall and passing legislation that provides "resources and tools" for those who enforce immigration laws in the country.

Pence made the comments just hours after the Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi said Democrats in the lower chamber of Congress would refuse to give Trump funding for his border wall project.

"We're not doing a wall. It has nothing to do with politics. It has to do with a wall which is an immorality between countries. It's an old way of thinking. It isn't cost effective," Pelosi told reporters late on Thursday.

During the Thursday interview, Pence repeatedly said the White House was willing to negotiate with Democrats to sort out some kind of compromise.

"We really are prepared to negotiate, we're prepared to talk, we're prepared to listen," the vice president said. "I want the American people to know that this is a real crisis at our border, and we made progress last year."

Congressional leaders from both parties are scheduled to meet with Trump at the White House on Friday for a second time this week to discuss the shutdown, which began shortly before Christmas and is stretching into its third week with no end in sight.

The shutdown has forced around 800,000 federal workers to work without pay or expecting to be furloughed.

Trump made the wall a key election campaign promise in 2016, saying Mexico would pay for it and claiming it is needed to combat illegal immigration and drug trafficking. Democrats have time and again called a border wall immoral, ineffective and medieval.
4 South Sudanese Killed in Sudan Protests

By Michael Atit January 04, 2019

At least four South Sudanese nationals have been killed during the ongoing protests in Sudan, according to South Sudan's embassy in Khartoum.

In an exclusive interview with VOA's South Sudan in Focus, South Sudan Ambassador to Khartoum Mayam Dut Wol said two men and two women were killed when Sudanese security forces opened fired on anti-government demonstrators in the Sudanese capital.

Dut said the embassy's verification committee, which was set up to monitor the wellbeing of South Sudanese in Sudan, reported that the four slain South Sudanese were observing ongoing protests, but not participating in them.

"Very unfortunate we have [lost] four people in this demonstration," Dut told VOA. "They were not participating but due to this sometimes the bullet can just cross and then go and hit you somewhere. This is what we have now in this crisis that has taken place in Sudan."

Dut urged South Sudanese nationals not to take sides in the ongoing protests in Sudan. He said the embassy's verification committee is also keeping tabs on South Sudanese refugees living in Sudan.

"This committee is to move to see where our people are, because here particularly in Khartoum state, we have about 30 [refugee's] camps; where our people are living. This committee, they are responsible to make coordination with leadership of each camp so that to give them the full report what is the situation in all these camps," Dut said.

South Sudanese national Luka Lawrence Ndenge, who resides in Haj Yousif of the Eastern Nile section of Khartoum, said he worries about his family's safety. Ndenge called on the South Sudan embassy to provide security for South Sudanese in Sudan if the situation continuous to worsen.

"Disorder in any place, people will have to worry about it. This is something naturally. Even myself I am worried about the situation because I don't know what is going to happen tomorrow or next tomorrow. And from time to time things are not going well," Ndenge told South Sudan in Focus.

Ndenge urged fellow South Sudanese not to move about in Khartoum or other cities where protests are taking place unless absolutely necessary, and to avoid crowds in Sudan.

Dut said the unrest requires a collective effort from Sudanese leaders to find a peaceful way to resolve the crisis.

"When there is no strong central power or government in the center that is providing security and protecting the citizens, I am quite sure there will be anarchy and crises in the country. So I am now cautioning and begging our Sudanese brothers, whether in opposition [or] government to sit down and solve their problem in a peaceful manner that will not let the county to lose its control," Dut told VOA.

Amnesty International reported at least 37 people have been killed by Sudanese authorities during two weeks of protests. The government says the death toll is much lower.

Carol Van Dam Falk contributed to this report.
Witness: At Least 48 Civilians Killed in North-Central Burkina Faso

By Bagassi Koura January 04, 2019

Burkina Faso's government says at least 46 people were killed in intercommunal violence after jihadists attacked a town in the north earlier this week.

Government spokesman Remis Fulgance Dandjino said on state television Friday that jihadists attacked the town of Yirgou on Monday night in an effort to stoke ethnic conflict.

Local authorities initially said that between six and 16 people were killed in the attack and violence that followed. But a witness told VOA's Bambara service dozens of dead bodies had been counted in the area.

"The authorities didn't visit the places, they're only checking by phone," said the witness, who asked to remain anonymous because of security concerns. "I was there myself. I counted over 48, and there are places where I did not go."

The eyewitness also said that many of the victims were from the Fulani ethnic group.

Pictures from Yirgou shared with VOA showed burnt houses.

The witness described scenes where the Koglweogo, a defense organization of the Mossi ethnic group, burned houses belonging to ethnic Fulanis.

"As soon as they enter the houses of the Fulani, they kill the men, they are slaughtered," he said. "There are no more Fulani men left in the villages, only women and children."

The death toll is likely to rise, according to local sources, because bodies are still being found at scattered encampments.
Thousands of Refugees Flee Ethnic Clashes in DRC

By Lisa Schlein January 04, 2019

Inter-ethnic clashes in Democratic Republic of Congo have sent some 16,000 refugees fleeing for their lives into neighboring Congo-Brazzaville, the U.N. refugee agency reports.

The largely dormant, long-standing rivalry between the Banunu and Batende communities in Mai-Ndombe province in the western DRC erupted with deadly force Dec. 29, 2018.

The dispute reportedly has killed dozens, with around 150 injured among those fleeing across the border in the largest influx of refugees from the DRC into the neighboring Republic of Congo, or Congo-Brazzaville, in almost a decade.

The newly arriving refugees, mostly women and children of the Banunu tribe, say their homes were attacked and burned, people were killed, and they fled because they feared the fighting would escalate.

The Republic of Congo currently is hosting about 60,000 refugees, mainly from Central African Republic, DRC, and Rwanda.

UNHCR spokesman Andrej Mahecic tells VOA this large influx of refugees into the country in a matter of days is a major event that requires a major response.

"The area of the Congo-Brazzaville where these people are is very remote," Mahecic said. "It is not easy to reach.  The refugees who are there are living in extremely difficult conditions in the remote areas where the communities are actually struggling to access water, food and health care."

Mahecic says UNHCR is working with the World Food Program and other agencies to distribute food, shelter materials and other basic relief items. He says conditions for the refugees are likely to get worse because of the rainy season and floods in the area.

In addition, he warns, the newly-arrived refugees are exposed to malaria and water-borne diseases. Getting aid to them will be difficult because of the remoteness of the area, with some localities only accessible by the river.
Turkey to Host Trilateral Summit on Afghan Peace

By Ayaz Gul January 04, 2019

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan says "a much stronger effort" is needed to further ongoing peace talks his country is facilitating between the United States and Afghanistan's Taliban.

Addressing a televised joint news conference in Ankara after official talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Khan said Afghans have suffered for decades and it is time for the International community to help bring an end to the war in the country.

"Pakistan has already been helping a dialogue between the Taliban and the Americans but it needs a much stronger effort from all the stakeholders, neighbors," the prime minister emphasized.

Khan was referring to two-day talks in Abu Dhabi last month between U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, and senior Taliban representatives that Pakistan said it had arranged.

Khalilzad and the Taliban described the dialogue "productive" and promised to meet again soon. Insurgents demand complete withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces from Afghanistan, saying their presence are blocking progress toward peace.

Speaking Friday, President Erdogan announced he will host a trilateral summit meeting with Pakistan and Afghanistan after Turkey's March 31 local elections to discuss the peace process.

"I look forward to the summit meeting inshallah [God willing] in Istanbul where we hope that Afghanistan, Pakistan and Turkey will be able to help in this [Afghan] peace process ... a much badly needed peace," Prime Minister Khan said.

Pakistan's role in arranging the U.S.-Taliban talks, analysts say, is leading to a thaw in Islamabad's traditionally tumultuous relationship with Washington.

Speaking on Wednesday, President Donald Trump apparently acknowledged the improvement in mutual ties. "We do want to have a great relationship with Pakistan ... so, I look forward to meeting with the new leadership in Pakistan. We will be doing that in the not too distant future."

Khan's two-day official meetings in Turkey ended Friday and it was his first visit to the country since taking power after the July elections in Pakistan. The two Muslim nations enjoy close relations.

Prime Minister Khan assured Turkey of his country's support to defeat Islamic State, saying the terrorist group "already has emerged in various parts of Afghanistan" and threatens the security of Pakistan.

Erdogan also praised a recent ruling by Pakistan's supreme court, which declared exiled Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen's organization, FETO, a terrorist group.

The highest Pakistani court also handed over schools being run by the outlawed organization in the country to a Turkish government foundation.

Turkey accuses Gulen of orchestrating a failed coup in 2016.
Rights defenders jailed in Bahrain and UAE should be released unconditionally, UN urges

4 January 2019 - The UN human rights office, OHCHR, has called for the immediate release of a prominent human rights defender in Bahrain, after the country's highest court rejected a final appeal for his release on Monday. Nabeel Rajab was jailed in 2016 for tweeting criticism of Saudi Arabia's airstrikes on Yemen and allegations of torture inside one of Bahrain's prisons.

"We urge the Government of Bahrain to stop criminalizing dissenting voices," the statement read. Mr. Rajab's comments online were made in 2015, when Saudi Arabia formed a coalition siding with the pro-Government fight in Yemen against Houthi rebels.

One tweet read, "we have the right to say no to the war in #Yemen and should struggle for peace and security but not bloodshed #Sanaa." He also criticized conditions inside Bahrain's Jau Prison, which are notoriously poor.

Rajab was convicted on charges of "spreading false news and rumors in time of war", "insulting foreign countries" and "insulting publicly the interior ministry".

OHCHR Spokesperson, Ravina Shamdasani, briefing reporters at the UN in Geneva, urged the Government of Bahrain "to ensure that all Bahrainis are able to exercise their rights to freedom of opinion and expression without fear of arbitrary detention." The UN Working Group of Arbitrary Detention last year declared Rajab's detention to be arbitrary.

Monday's court decision brings into focus the tight lid on Government critics in Bahrain, the Spokesperson said, evidenced by targeted arrests, detention, travel bans, harassment, threats, revocation of citizenship and other means.

Several cases of civil society activists and their families suffering retaliation in Bahrain for seeking to engage with UN human rights officials are highlighted in the Secretary-General's latest annual report on reprisals, and in some cases, activists have been accused of terrorism-related offences.

Prosecution for exercising fundamental human rights violates Bahrain's obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which includes freedom of expression under the human rights umbrella, said OHCHR.

United Arab Emirates also urged to release defender jailed for tweeting

In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), rights advocate Ahmed Mansoor faces a 10-year sentence on similar charges - social media posts deemed insulting to the Government.

The Court of State Security, the highest in the country, upheld the rights defender's sentence on 31 December, and issued a one-million dirham fine; roughly $272,000.

In May 2018, Mr. Mansoor was jailed along with four others, following the comments, accused of using social media to "publish false information" that harms "national unity" and damages "the country's reputation."

Ms. Shamdasani said the conviction was another case of "harsh sentencing" for Mr. Mansoor, related to "his exercise of the right to freedom of expression and opinion."

"We urge the Government of the UAE to promptly and unconditionally release Mansoor and to ensure that individuals are not penalized for expressing views critical of the Government or its allies," she said in a briefing statement to reporters.

The number of reprisals against those who cooperate with the United Nations and work to uphold human rights highlighted in the UN Chief's annual report, exposes a "shameful" level of retaliation suffered in 38 countries, some of which are members of the Human Rights Council.

Acts of retaliation, including allegations of killing, torture, and public stigmatization campaigns, the report shows, inhibit the work of the UN and its partner organizations.


Bangladesh elections: Hold those responsible accountable for 'violent attacks and intimidation'

4 January 2019 - Violence and alleged human rights violations in Bangladesh "before, during and after" 30 December elections have prompted the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to call on Friday for those responsible to be held to account.

"There are credible reports of fatalities and numerous injuries on polling day alone", OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said in Geneva on Friday.

Amidst allegations of vote-rigging, a landslide victory was declared for incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, with the opposition leader rejecting the results.

"There are worrying indications that reprisals have continued to take place, notably against the political opposition, including physical attacks and ill-treatment, arbitrary arrests, harassment, disappearances and filing of criminal cases", continued the spokesperson, noting reports of disproportionate "violent attacks and intimidation" by ruling party activists, and, in some cases, with the involvement of law enforcement officials.

Ms. Shamdasani cited reports of media intimidation and property damage, as well as other constraints that have hindered free and public reporting on the elections.

She asserted that at least two journalists covering the election have been arrested under the 2018 Digital Security Act, which, according to news reports, suppresses free speech and press freedom.

Moreover, since 10 December at least 54 news and other websites have been blocked, and temporary internet restrictions around election day have constrained freedom of expression.

Pointing to reports of police breaking up peaceful protests demanding a re-election, and arrests under laws such as the Digital Security Act, she said that the space for human rights defenders and organizations, political opposition and the general public, to speak out about the election, had become "restricted".

"Restrictive legislation, including this Act, should be reformed so that human rights defenders, civil society, journalists and all members of the public are protected in their exercise of the freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly and association and engage freely in debating the election and Bangladesh's democratic and development processes", stressed the OHCHR spokesperson.

The UN agency urged the authorities to carry out "prompt, independent, impartial and effective investigations" into all alleged violence and human rights violations surrounding the elections, and to hold those responsible accountable, "regardless of their political affiliations".

OHCHR also encouraged the national Human Rights Commission to play an independent and proactive role.

"We call on the authorities to take urgent measures to prevent further reprisals, and to ensure that law enforcement authorities exercise their powers strictly in accordance with the rule of law and principles of legality and proportionality," Ms. Shamdasani concluded.
DRC 'calm but tense' as country awaits presidential election result

4 January 2019 - The post-election environment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is "calm but tense" as the country waits for the results of the presidential poll, the UN Human Rights office (OHCHR) said on Friday.

Amid reports that journalists and opposition political candidates have been intimidated and access to selected media broadcasters remains blocked, OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani warned that efforts to silence dissent could "backfire".

Her comments come ahead of consultations behind closed doors on the election, in the UN Security Council in New York, later on Friday.

The result of the delayed poll held on 30 December  which featured 21 candidates - is due to be announced on Sunday, although the DRC's electoral commission announced that this may be pushed back.

"What my colleagues have told me and they have observed is that the situation remains calm but tense ahead of the announcement of the results," Ms Shamdasani said. "There are preliminary reports of some pockets of violence and people being injured."

OHCHR has an office in the vast central African country but has not played a role in supervising the national election, which was held following a week's delay and postponements dating back to 2016. Voting across several cities in eastern DRC that have been hit by the on-going Ebola outbreak and inter-communal violence, was postponed until March by the election commission (CENI).

Last Sunday's vote will decide the successor to President Joseph Kabila, who came to office in 2001 after the previous incumbent, his father Laurent, was assassinated in the aftermath of a civil war involving numerous armed militias. Ms Shamdasani also noted reports that freedom of expression is under threat in DRC.

"Intimidation and harassment against journalists, opposition candidates and human rights defenders continues to take place," she said. "This being a very sensitive, a very tense period, we are concerned that these efforts to silence dissent could backfire considerably when the results are announced. We are watching carefully, and we are calling on all sides to refrain from the use of violence."

As the DRC waits for the results of the poll, Ms Shamdasani also highlighted evidence of other civil rights violations:

"The internet is cut off, the signal of Radio France Internationale (RFI) has been tampered with, as well as Canal Congo Television, which apparently belongs to the leader of the MLC, Jean-Pierre Bemba", she said, referring to his party, the Movement for the Liberation of Congo.

Ahead of the presidential election, the UN's top human rights official, Michelle Bachelet, condemned reports that police had reportedly fired live ammunition at opposition rallies.

The High Commissioner also spoke out against the use of inflammatory speech by political leaders and said that it was essential that people's rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly were fully protected.

Renewed clashes force 16,000 into Congo-Brazzaville

In a major humanitarian developement on Friday, some 16,000 people from DRC have arrived in neighbouring Republic of the Congo  also known as Congo-Brazzaville - after fleeing deadly intercommunal clashes.

Andrej Mahecic from the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, said in Geneva that old hostilities flared up again at the end of last month between two communities in Yumbi, Mai-Ndombe Province, in western DRC.

People are "in dire need of basic assistance", Mr Mahecic said, adding that those fleeing DRC spoke of attacks that "left homes burned and people killed".

"This influx in a matter of days is a major event for Congo-Brazzaville," he added. "The area is very remote, it's not easy to reach, so we are right now, together with other agencies, including the World Food Programme (WFP), deploying teams to these areas and they are distributing the relief items including food and shelter materials and other items and this has been going on since 29 December."

According to UNHCR, this is the largest influx of refugees in over a decade, since 130,000 people were forced to seek shelter amid ethnic clashes in DRC's former Equator Province in 2009.

Refugees, mostly women and children of the Banunu tribe, continue to arrive in Makotipoko and Bouemba districts in the Republic of Congo, where they are given assistance.
USS Cole Bombing Mastermind Killed by US Airstrike in Yemen - Reports

Sputnik News

23:38 04.01.2019(updated 23:47 04.01.2019)

Jamel Ahmed Mohammed Ali Al-Badawi, an al-Qaeda operative who helped mastermind the terrorist attack on the US Navy destroyer USS Cole while it was docked in Aden, Yemen, in 2000, was killed Friday in a US airstrike, according to reports.

It wasn't revealed whether the operation was carried out by the CIA or by US military forces, only that the airstrike was the result of a joint US military and intelligence operation, a US administration official told CNN.

The source noted that Badawi was driving alone in a vehicle in Yemen's Ma'rib Governorate, east of the capital of Sana'a, at the time of the strike.

The FBI had listed Badawi among its most wanted terrorists since 2006, promising a $5 million bounty for information leading to his capture or death.

On October 12, 2000, a small boat loaded with explosives crashed into the side of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Cole, killing 17 sailors and wounding another 39, leaving a gaping, 40-foot hole in the side of the ship.

Badawi, along with Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, Abu Ali al-Harithi and Fahd al-Quso, were named by the incoming George W. Bush administration as conspirators who organized the attack on behalf of al-Qaeda, which claimed responsibility. Tawfiq bin Attash has also been accused of organizing the attack.

Harithi and Quso have both been killed by US forces, while Nashiri and Attash have been held by the US in the Guantanamo Bay detention camp since their capture in the early 2000s. Nashiri and Attash are some of the prison's highest profile detainees, whose torture the Bush administration repeatedly defended.

Badawi was the first to be caught, being arrested and detained by Yemeni authorities just two months after the attack. However, he escaped from a Yemeni prison in April 2003, was recaptured in March 2004 and again escaped in February 2006. He subsequently surrendered to Yemeni authorities in October 2007, but was freed under certain conditions, including a pledge of allegiance to Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh. The New York Times reported that he helped Yemeni authorities track down five other wanted al-Qaeda operatives.

 Sputnik
U.S. Army Chief Of Staff Visits Kabul For Talks With Afghan Leaders

By RFE/RL January 04, 2019

U.S. General Mark Milley, chief of staff of the army, visited Kabul for talks with Afghan leaders, according to the Afghan president's office.

A statement released by President Ashraf Ghani's office said the two sides met on January 3 and discussed U.S. strategy in Afghanistan and U.S. support for an Afghan-led peace process with Taliban militants.

Interior Minister Amrullah Saleh and Defense Minister Asadullah Khaled attended the meeting.

General Scott Miller, the top NATO and U.S. commander in Afghanistan, was also present.

The meeting came amid U.S. attempts to encourage negotiations between the Taliban and the Kabul government to end the 17-year war.

U.S. special peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has held at least three rounds of talks with Taliban officials in recent months, although the militants have refused to talk directly to the Afghan government.

The peace efforts come amid reports of a possible drawdown in the estimated 14,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan currently leading a NATO effort to train and advise local troops.

With reporting by AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/u-s-army-chief -of-staff-visits-kabul-for-talks-with- afghan-leaders/29690899.html

Copyright (c) 2019. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
Trump 'Evaluating' Whether To Withdraw Troops From Afghanistan

By RFE/RL January 04, 2019

U.S. President Donald Trump is in the "process of evaluating" whether to withdraw some troops from Afghanistan, said Vice President Mike Pence.

Pence's remarks came amid reports that Trump had ordered the Pentagon to prepare for the withdrawal of 7,000 American troops deployed in Afghanistan, about half of the U.S. contingent in the country.

"Well, the president is in the process of evaluating that, as we speak," Pence told Fox News during an interview broadcast on January 3.

His remarks came a day after Trump urged other countries, specifically Russia, Pakistan, and India, to become more involved in the fighting in Afghanistan as he argued against continued long-term presence of U.S. troops in the war-torn country.

"Why isn't Russia there? Why isn't India there? Why isn't Pakistan there?" Trump said in televised comments to reporters during a cabinet meeting on January 2. "Why are we there and we're 6,000 miles away?"

Many observers have warned that the partial withdrawal could further degrade security and jeopardize possible peace talks with the Taliban aimed at ending its 17-year insurgency.

U.S. forces make up the bulk of the NATO-led Resolute Support mission that is training and advising Afghan security forces in their fight against the Taliban and Islamic State (IS) militants.

The U.S. military also has some 7,000 troops deployed in a separate U.S. counterterrorism mission.

Pence also said the U.S. military withdrawal from Syria will be conducted in an "orderly fashion."

He backed Trump's planned pullout of some 2,000 American troops from Syria, saying the "reality is [that] we have defeated" the Islamic State extremist group.

But Pence said the United States was not "giving up on the fight" against IS militants and Washington was "going to continue to lean into the fight."

With reporting by Fox News

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/trump- evaluating-whether-to-withdrawal-troops- from-afghanistan/29691686.html

Copyright (c) 2019. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
UN rights office urges Bahrain to release Nabeel Rajab

Iran Press TV

Fri Jan 4, 2019 01:30PM

The United Nations human rights office has condemned the latest verdict on Nabeel Rajab as "continued suppression of government critics," urging Bahrain to release the prominent human rights activist.

The Court of Cassation, whose verdicts are final, on December 31 rejected Rajab's appeal and upheld his prison sentence over tweets deemed critical of the Manama regime and the deadly Saudi-led war against Yemen.

"Monday's court decision brings into focus the continued suppression of government critics in Bahrain through arbitrary arrest and detention, travel bans, harassment, threats, revocation of citizenship and other means," UN human rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said at a news briefing in Geneva, Switzerland.

On February 21, Bahrain's criminal court sentenced the distinguished human rights activist to five years in prison for tweeting in 2015 about torture in the Jaw Prison and censuring the Saudi-led war on Yemen.

According to a court document, Rajab was found guilty of "spreading false news and rumors in time of war," "insulting foreign countries" and "insulting publicly the interior ministry" in comments posted on Twitter.

The pro-democracy campaigner has already served a two-year jail sentence over a news interview in which he said Bahrain tortured political detainees. Rajab completed this sentence in July.

Prominent human rights organizations also denounced the ruling, with Amnesty International describing the verdict as "utterly outrageous."

Thousands of anti-regime protesters have held demonstrations in Bahrain on an almost daily basis ever since a popular uprising began in the kingdom in mid-February 2011. They are demanding that the Al Khalifah dynasty relinquish power and allow a just system representing all Bahrainis to be established.

Manama has gone to great lengths to clamp down on any sign of dissent. On March 14, 2011, troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were deployed to assist Bahrain in its crackdown.

Scores of people have lost their lives and hundreds of others sustained injuries or got arrested as a result of the Al Khalifah regime's crackdown.
Fresh Saudi-led airstrikes leave seven dead in Yemen's Shabwah

Iran Press TV

Fri Jan 4, 2019 05:42PM

At least seven people have been killed when Saudi-led military aircraft carried out airstrikes against a residential area in Yemen's southern province of Shabwah as the Riyadh regime and its regional allies press ahead with their atrocious military campaign against the impoverished Arab country.

A local source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Arabic-language al-Wahdah news agency that militiamen loyal to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) attacked the Markhah area on Friday, and engaged in fierce armed confrontations with scores of Sada tribesmen.

The skirmishes lasted for several hours, before an Emirati Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopter fired several missiles at a number of houses in the area, killing seven people.

Later in the day, Yemeni army soldiers and allied fighters from Popular Committees fired eight domestically-developed Zelzal-1 (Earthquake-1) ballistic missile at the positions of Saudi troopers in Akefah military camp in the kingdom's southern border region of Najran, killing and injuring a number of them.

Yemeni forces and their allies also launched a barrage of artillery rounds at the gatherings of Saudi-backed militiamen loyal to Yemen's former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi in Hamad base of the same Saudi region, leaving scores of the mercenaries killed and injured in the process.

Saudi Arabia and a number of its regional allies launched a devastating military campaign against Yemen in March 2015, with the aim of bringing the government of Hadi back to power and crushing the Ansarullah movement.

According to a new report by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), a nonprofit conflict-research organization, the Saudi-led war has so far claimed the lives of around 56,000 Yemenis.

The Saudi-led war has also taken a heavy toll on the country's infrastructure, destroying hospitals, schools, and factories. The UN has already said that a record 22.2 million Yemenis are in dire need of food, including 8.4 million threatened by severe hunger. According to the world body, Yemen is suffering from the most severe famine in more than 100 years.

A number of Western countries, the US and Britain in particular, are also accused of being complicit in the ongoing aggression as they supply the Riyadh regime with advanced weapons and military equipment as well as logistical and intelligence assistance.
Somalia will not take back expelled senior UN envoy: President Mohamed

Iran Press TV

Fri Jan 4, 2019 07:03PM

Somalia's President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed says he will not overturn a decision about the expulsion of the top United Nations envoy to the war-ravaged country, diplomats say.

In his second call to Somalia's president in three days, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Friday spoke by phone with Mohamed to once again urge him to change his mind, according to diplomats.

The phone call came after Somalia's UN-backed government expelled the top UN envoy to the country, accusing him of meddling in its internal affairs after he challenged recent actions of UN-paid Somali police forces.

In a late Tuesday statement, the East African nation's Foreign Affairs Ministry announced that the UN secretary-general's special representative to Somalia, Nicholas Haysom, "is not required and cannot work in this country," in effect declaring him persona non grata.

"The decision comes after he openly breached the appropriate conduct of the UN office in Somalia," it said.

Following the failure of efforts to convince Somalia to retract its decision to expel the current representative, UN spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters in New York that Guterres would appoint a new envoy to the country.

"The Secretary General deeply regrets the decision of the Government of the Federal Republic of Somalia," Haq said, adding Guterres "has full confidence in Mr. Haysom."

He emphasized that the doctrine of persona non grata does not apply to United Nations personnel.

"At the same time the Secretary General is totally committed to ensuring that the needs of the Somali people are at the forefront of the work of the United Nations in Somalia. Therefore, he intends to appoint in due course a new Special Representative for Somalia," Haq said.

Britain has called for closed-door consultations of the UN Security Council on Somalia's decision which according to diplomats is due to be held later on Friday.

Somalia's Ambassador to the UN Abukar Dahir Osman told the Security Council on Thursday that the Somali people wanted "Somalia leading international support, not international support leading Somalia."

"Somalia distinguishes between the institutions that we are part of and individual conduct that's had detrimental effect on our fragile nation," he said.

In a December 30 letter to the interior security minister, Haysom, a South African lawyer and experienced diplomat, expressed concerns over "the alleged involvement of UN-supported Somali security forces in the arrest of Mukhtar Robow on December 13, the deaths of 15 civilians... on December 13, 14, and 15... and the arrest of approximately 300 people involved in the demonstrations on December 13, 14, and 15."

Robow, according to press reports, is a former member of the notorious al-Shabaab militant group who publicly renounced violence and recognized federal authority in 2017. The government, however, blocked his bid to become a regional leader in the country in an election last month.

The UN remains a major backer of Somalia's government, which also enjoys the support of Western countries.

Somalia is still plagued by the aftereffects of a civil war in 1991, when warlords toppled dictator Mohamed Siad Barre and then turned on each other.
U.S. army chief visits Kabul, meets Afghan president

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 15:21, January 04, 2019

KABUL, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. army chief of staff paid an unannounced visit to Afghan capital Kabul and held a meeting with President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani on Thursday, said a statement of the Presidential Palace received Friday.

"General Mark A. Milley at the head of ranking delegation visited Kabul and met President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani in Presidential Palace on Thursday evening," said the statement.

"Matters pertaining mutual interests including the U.S. strategy on Afghanistan and South Asia, Afghan peace process under the leadership of Afghans and the Afghan government plans for achieving self-sufficiency came under discussion," the statement added.

The U.S. top military official's visit to Afghanistan took place in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement to drawdown troops by half, taking back about 7,000 out of some 14,000 of his forces from Afghanistan.

The Taliban outfit has repeatedly rejected to hold talks on peace with the Afghan government in the presence of foreign troops in Afghanistan.
SECNAV Names Future Destroyer in honor of Navy Veteran, Vietnam War POW

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS190104-04

Release Date: 1/4/2019 1:21:00 PM

From Secretary of the Navy Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer named a future Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer in honor of U.S. Navy Vietnam veteran, Navy Cross recipient, and former U.S. Senator from Alabama, Admiral Jeremiah Denton.

"Admiral Denton's legacy is an inspiration to all who wear our nation's uniform," said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. "His heroic actions during a defining period in our history have left an indelible mark on our Navy and Marine Corps team and our nation. His service is a shining example for our Sailors and Marines and this ship will continue his legacy for decades to come."

In 1947, Denton graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and served as a test pilot, flight instructor, and squadron leader, and developed operational tactics still in use, such as the Haystack Concept, which calls for the dispersing of carrier fleets to make it more difficult for the enemy to find the fleets on RADAR.

On July 18, 1965, Denton was shot down over North Vietnam and spent nearly eight years as a POW, almost half in isolation. During an interview with a Japanese media outlet, Denton used Morse code to blink "torture," confirming that American POWs were being tortured. He suffered severe harassment, intimidation and ruthless treatment, yet he refused to provide military information or be used by the enemy for propaganda purposes.

In recognition of his extraordinary heroism while a prisoner-of-war, he was awarded the Navy Cross. Denton was released from captivity in 1973, retired from the Navy in 1977 and in 1980 was elected to the U.S. Senate where he represented Alabama.

Arleigh Burke-class destroyers conduct a variety of operations from peacetime presence and crisis response to sea control and power projection. The future USS Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129) will be capable of fighting air, surface and subsurface battles simultaneously, and will contain a combination of offensive and defensive weapon systems designed to support maritime warfare, including integrated air and missile defense and vertical launch capabilities.

The ship will be constructed at Huntington Ingalls Industries' Ingalls shipbuilding division in Pascagoula, Miss.. The ship will be 509 feet long, have a beam length of 59 feet and be capable of operating at speeds in excess of 30 knots.
10 UAE mercenaries killed in Yemen

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Jan 4, IRNA -- At least 10 people were killed in a clash between militants under the protection of the UAE and the tribes of al-Shabwa province in southeastern Yemen, sources said on Friday.

Qatar's Al-Jazeera news network, without details, said that among the dead were several Yemeni mercenary commanders affiliated to the United Arab Emirate (UAE).

Meanwhile, local sources reported that Emirates fighters also participated in the conflict.

Analysts believe that the movements of the UAE and the militants to Abu Dhabi in southern Yemen are in line with its ambitious goals for targeting oil fields in the southern provinces of Yemen.

Bypassing Saudi Arabia in the Yemeni war in 2016, the UAE formed its militant groups in southern Yemen that attacked the houses of the people and arrested them and then tortured them in detention centers.

Although the primary goal of the formation of these militias was war with al-Qaeda group, their role was broadened and included all those opposed to the presence of the UAE in Yemen.

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UAE airstrike on Yemen kills 7 civilians

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Jan 4, IRNA -- The UAE helicopters' attacks on Shabwa Province of Yemen claimed the lives of 7 civilians, Yemeni TV Channel 'Al-Masirah' reported.

The UAE choppers bombarded Yemenis' houses in MerkhahTown.

This is while, at least 10 people were killed in a clash between militants under the protection of the UAE and the tribes of Shabw province in southeastern Yemen on Friday.

Analysts believe that the movements of the UAE and the militants to Abu Dhabi in southern Yemen are in line with its ambitious goals for targeting oilfields in the southern provinces of Yemen.

Bypassing Saudi Arabia in the Yemeni war in 2016, the UAE formed its militant groups in southern Yemen that attacked the houses of the people and arrested them and then tortured them in detention centers.

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.

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In secret, behind locked gates, our Nation's Oldest City dumped a landfill in a lake (Old City Reservoir), while emitting sewage in our rivers and salt marsh. Organized citizens exposed and defeated pollution, racism and cronyism. We elected a new Mayor. We're transforming our City -- advanced citizenship. Ask questions. Make disclosures. Demand answers. Be involved. Expect democracy. Report and expose corruption. Smile! Help enact a St. Augustine National Park and Seashore. We shall overcome!
US, UK National Whelan Detained in Russia Also Has Irish Citizenship - Officials

Sputnik News

20:44 04.01.2019(updated 21:18 04.01.2019)

Earlier in the day, UK officials told The Times newspaper that Paul Whelan, who was detained in Moscow last Friday on suspicion of espionage, holds British citizenship.

Irish officials confirmed on Friday that Paul Whelan, a man detained in Russia on allegations of espionage, holds an Irish passport, making the detainee a citizen of four states  the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Ireland.

According to officials, Whelan has already reached out to Irish authorities with requests for assistance.

Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs, in turn, issued a statement noting that its Moscow-based embassy is now seeking consular access to the detained Irish national.

This comes after earlier in the day UK media reported that Whelan, a 48-year-old US national and ex-marine, also holds British citizenship. This followed reports by Canadian media that the suspect was born in Canada and may therefore also retain Canadian citizenship.

Earlier this week, the US State Department was granted consular access to Whelan.

Whelan, who is officially employed as director of global security for a Michigan-based automotive parts supplier, was detained in Moscow on December 28, with Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) filing a criminal case against him over allegations of espionage. Alleging that Whelan had been detained "during a spy action in Moscow," the FSB offered few other details on the case. If convicted, Whelan faces a prison sentence of up to 20 years.

 Sputnik
Berlin Asks Top US Spy Agency to Help Investigate Mass Governmental Hack

Sputnik News

21:04 04.01.2019(updated 21:11 04.01.2019)

While Germany seeks assistance from the other side of the Atlantic, the hack is being investigated by a number of domestic agencies, including the Federal Office for Information Security, the Federal Criminal Police Office and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution.

German security agencies have turned to the US National Security Agency (NSA) for help following a massive hack attack which resulted in the personal data of over 100 politicians being stolen and leaked online, the Bild newspaper reported on Friday.

According to the newspaper, the data theft is currently being investigated by the Federal Office for Information Security, the Federal Criminal Police Office and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution.

Also, the German Interior Ministry is looking into whether any foreign special services played a role in the cyberattack.

Earlier in the day, German media reported that the personal data of over 100 politicians, including their home addresses, phone numbers, banking details and other information, were stolen and published online.

The hack compromised the personal data of politicians on various levels, including regional parliaments, the federal parliament, and the European Parliament, with hackers leaking banking details, ID scans and private messages of some of the victims.

 Sputnik
For Your Spies Only: Cold War Prisoner Swaps

By Alan Crosby January 04, 2019

While Russia has detained and officially charged Paul Whelan -- a dual U.S.-British citizen -- with espionage, questions have arisen over whether this is a real spy case or just another move in a decades-old Cold War game.

Whelan, a former Marine who his family says was in Moscow for a friend's wedding, has been held since December 28 and was charged with spying on January 3.

But is the 48-year-old private-sector corporate security executive guilty of nothing more than being in the wrong place at the wrong time?

Some think so.

Whelan's lawyer, Vladimir Zherebenkov, says his client may just be a pawn in a plan by Moscow to force a classic spy swap given that his arrest came weeks after Russian Maria Butina pleaded guilty in the United States to acting as an agent for the Kremlin.

The Kremlin has denied that Butina is a Russian agent and has organized a social-media campaign to secure her release.

In the past, Russia has sometimes arrested foreigners with the aim of trading prisoners with other countries.

"The thing is that in this category of cases, exchanges often happen," Zherebenkov told ABC News in a phone interview when asked about the next stages in the case.

"For an exchange to happen, there has to be a court. The court has to examine the case, to prove his guilt. The sentence must come into legal force. After that, the president can pardon him and an exchange can happen -- for Russians citizens that are in detention in America," he added, noting that Whelan intends to fight the charges and plead not guilty.

Either way, the case conjures up images of the two superpowers sending delegations to Berlin's infamous Glienicke Bridge -- often called "The Bridge of Spies" -- to exchange people under the cloak of fog and nightfall.

Here are some of the notable spy and prisoner swaps between Moscow and the West over the past decades:

February 10, 1962

One of the first major swaps saw Francis Gary Powers and Rudolf Abel exchanged in secrecy at the Glienicke Bridge between West Berlin and Potsdam after both were released from prison after being found guilty of spying.

The handover was the stuff of spy novels, with both men slowly walking across the bridge from their respective sides.

October 11, 1963

A 24-year-old American student, Marvin William Makinen, who was arrested in Kyiv while traveling in 1961, and the Reverend Walter Ciszek, a Jesuit missionary arrested in the Soviet Union in 1941, are swapped for Ivan Egorov, a former United Nations worker, and his wife, Aleksandra, who had been captured in the United States and charged with espionage.

April 22, 1964

British businessman Greville Wynne, jailed in 1963 on charges of spying for the United States and Britain, was exchanged on the Glienicke Bridge for Soviet intelligence officer Konon Molody, who had been imprisoned by the British in 1961 for masterminding the Portland Spy Ring.

Molody was known in the West as Gordon Arnold Lonsdale.

April 30, 1978

The United States, East Germany, and Mozambique execute a three-way swap of Miron Marcus, an Israeli citizen held in Mozambique; Robert Thompson, a former U.S. Air Force intelligence clerk convicted of passing states secrets on to the Soviet Union; and Alan Van Norman, an American whom East German authorities caught trying to smuggle a German doctor, and his wife and son to the West.

April 27, 1979

The Soviets release five dissidents -- including Aleksandr Ginzburg -- and fly them to New York City in exchange for Russians Valdik Enger and Rudolf Chernyayev.

The two were being held in the United States for espionage.

June 11, 1985

The Glienecke Bridge takes center stage again as a deal involving 29 people, including 23 Westerners and Poland's most-famous spy, Marian Zacharski, is carried out.

Zacharski was serving a life sentence in the United States after being found guilty of passing along top-secret plans on radar and stealth aircraft technology that he obtained by duping an engineer at Hughes Aircraft.

February 11, 1986

The final act for the "Bridge of Spies" involved Soviet Jewish dissident Anatoly Shcharansky (better known as Natan Sharansky), who was imprisoned in the Soviet Union for spying on behalf of the United States, though it is commonly accepted that the charges were made up and that his real crime was criticizing the communist regime.

A meeting between U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1985 led to the deal to exchange Sharansky for Karel Koecher and his wife, Hana.

Both Czechoslovak nationals, Koecher pleaded guilty in 1984 to spying for the Soviet Union, while his wife was being held as a material witness in the case.

September 1986

American journalist Nicholas Daniloff, who reported on the Soviet Union, and Gennadiy Zakharov, a United Nations worker accused of spying for the Soviets, were released a day apart after three weeks of intense negotiations.

Soviet dissident Yuri Orlov was also released to the West as part of the deal.

The affair sparked a deep diplomatic crisis, with dozens of diplomats from both sides expelled in the weeks that followed the swap.

July 9, 2010

The last major known swap involved 10 Russians released by the United States and four people released by Moscow in an exchange that took place in broad daylight on the tarmac of Vienna International Airport.

Two airplanes were parked beside each other to allow for the exchange, which included the Russian nuclear scientist Igor Sutyagin being allowed to emigrate to the West.

The Vienna swap also included Anna Chapman, a photogenic socialite who moved in Manhattan policymaking circles, who was returned to her native Russia.

Months after her release back to Russia, Chapman -- born Anna Kushchenko -- flaunted her freedom by posing for the Russian edition of Maxim magazine as a lingerie-wearing secret agent armed with a gun.

Sergei Skripal was also part of the swap, with the Kremlin releasing the Russian military intelligence officer who was convicted in 2006 of spying for the U.K. Skripal ended up living in England, where he was allegedly poisoned by two Russian suspects in the city of Salisbury. Skripal almost died in the attack.

The United States released members of a spy ring the Justice Department called the "Illegals Program" who had just hours earlier pleaded guilty in New York to charges of "conspiracy to act as an unregistered agent of a foreign country."

These are the same charges to which Maria Butina has pleaded guilty.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/for-your -spies-only-a-brief-history-of-cold-war- prisoner-swaps/29691372.html

Copyright (c) 2019. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
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Smartphone discounts coming soon: Huawei, Realme looking to clear inventory News oi-Karan Sharma Online-focused handset brands are looking forward to getting rid of the unsold inventory before the new FDI in e-commerce policy.

If you are planning to buy a new smartphone then this is going to be good news for you. You can expect some exciting discounts on the smartphone later this month. Online-focused handset brands like Asus, Lenovo, Realme, Huawei and Honor are looking forward to getting rid of the unsold inventory before the new FDI in e-commerce policy. The new FDI will effect from February 1, 2019.

According to Economic Times report, a person familiar with the matter said, that Huawei/Honor, Asus, Realme and Lenovo are going to face a big issue with the stock. On the other hand, OnePlus don't work with much inventory, that's why they are not worried about clearing the stock.

"They have Diwali inventory still stuck with two major platforms. They had pumped in around 4 million units for the festive season, and still have almost half of the inventory lying. This is the reason you see Realme and Huawei going to the offline channel," the person told Economic Times.

The tweaks which are made in new FDI in e-commerce policy included barring online e-commerce site from signing exclusive deals for products on their platforms. The government also directs that a single vendor will be able to sell a maximum of 25% of its inventory on an e-commerce website. This will force brands to work with different e-commerce players.

Madhav Sheth, CEO, Realme Mobile Telecommunications (India) told Economic Times, that they are having "sizeable smartphones inventory, currently with Amazon and Flipkart" but said it is awaiting clarification if the February 1 deadline will be extended.

"OnePlus doesn't have any inventory related issue since it predicts the demand on a regular basis," he said. Navkendar Singh, associate research director at IDC India told ET. "The problem in offline is that you can't really enter small towns if you don't have a presence because then there's an appetite issue," he said.

Source

Best Mobiles in India

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Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite new leak suggests small 3,100mAh battery unit News oi-Sandeep Sarkar The Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite's 3,100mAh battery unit should be sufficient to carry out the standard day-to-day tasks.

Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S10 series is one of the majorly anticipated smartphone line-ups which is slated to release this year. As we are approaching the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2019, more and more leaks surrounding the upcoming smartphones are making their way over the web. The Galaxy S10 lineup is no different, we have come across numerous leaks and rumors suggesting the variants which the upcoming lineup will offer along with some key specifications and features which they will offer. This time around, it's the Galaxy S10 Lite which is being suggested by the rumor mill highlighting one of the key specs which it will offer.

The Samsung Galaxy S10 series is the next flagship lineup by the South Korean tech giant and like every other high-end Samsung smartphones, the Galaxy S10 lineup will also offer some premium set of features. Now, a leak which was first spotted by SlashLeaks suggests that the Galaxy S10 Lite will pack a slightly less powerful battery unit and the battery is assembled in Vietnam.

The Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite is said to pack a relatively small 3,100mAh battery unit. Considering that this is a flagship device by the company, it would have been appreciated if the company used a bigger battery unit. Though, we do expect the company will use bigger batteries on the remaining Galaxy S10 smartphones. And to compete well in the market, Samsung will need to up its game in the battery segment as well.

The Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite's 3,100mAh battery unit should be sufficient to carry out the standard day-to-day tasks. However, the Galaxy S10 Lite will e a flagship offering, therefore, it might pack a powerful processor with a big display which will eventually consume more power. Currently, Samsung has not yet released any specific information on the same and we are waiting for more updates to surface on the Galaxy S10 lineup. For further updates on the same stay tuned with us.

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Gillette, WY (82718)

Today

Windy with showers and thunderstorms early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 64F. Winds SE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Windy with showers and thunderstorms early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 64F. Winds SE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
According to a team of 40 scientists, a tsunami is set to hit the coasts of Portugal and Spain and they're fearful neither government is prepared.

In the documentary La gran ola (the big wave), more than forty scientists raise alarm bells by saying that its only a matter of time before a huge tsunami strikes the Iberian Peninsula.

A problem thats already happening

According to reports, the Gulf of Cadiz is the most likely to be struck by this famous tsunami, but it is also completely unprepared for a disaster of this magnitude. This type of phenomenon already happened in 1755, when a gigantic tsunami hit Lisbon, causing between 50,000 and 70,000 casualties.

According to scientists, this catastrophe is inevitable, and they are worried about how unprepared the government is to deal with such an issue. Governments arent doing anything, what needs to be done has already been written in black and white, politicians are aware of this seismic risk. We can reduce it, says Mario Lopes, a Portuguese scientist.

Check out the video above for more on this seriously worrying news...
BORDERLAND BEAT

The Most Extensive and Reliable Source of Information Related to the Mexican Drugs Cartels.

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Epiphany observed: Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 2650 NW Highland Drive in Corvallis, will share God's Word and Holy Communion at 9 a.m. Sunday.

Pastor Eric Bohlmann's sermon theme will be "The Star Is the Star of the Play." Fellowship and refreshments will follow the service. The multigenerational Sunday school will begin at 10:30 a.m., and will be an introduction to a series of studies on the Gospel of Luke. Information: 541-753-2816 or www.svlc-corvallis.org.

Taoist meditation group: The group will meet at 9 a.m. Sunday at the First Alternative Natural Foods Co-op north store, 2855 NW Grant Ave. in Corvallis.

The event features Taoist Quiet Sitting meditation, also known as Preserving the Light of the One. Information: docneedlestcm@gmail.com.

Epiphany: The congregation will observe Epiphany at the 9:30 a.m. service at First United Methodist Church, 1165 NW Monroe Ave. in Corvallis.

Those attending will hear the story of the Wise Men from the second chapter of Matthew.

Baha'i devotional gathering: Justice and Unity" is set for 9:45 a.m. Sunday at 5006 SW Hollyhock Circle, Corvallis.
BENTON COUNTY SHERIFF

DUII  4:20 p.m. Monday, Highway 99W near milepost 77. Deputies cited Caleb Rosburg Fry, 33, of Lebanon, for a charge of DUII. Fry reportedly had a blood alcohol content of 0.15 percent.

CORVALLIS POLICE

Theft  3:05 p.m. Thursday, 2750 NW Harrison Blvd. Officers responded to a report of two people stealing washers and dryers from an outside storage area at The Union residential building. Police reportedly identified suspects in security video, then located and arrested Denise Kimberly Riihimaki, 44, of Myrtle Creek, and Steven Ward Froehlich, 45, of Corvallis, for a charge of second-degree theft each.

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Meth  11:05 p.m. Thursday, 1000 block NW Ninth Street. An officer reportedly had contact with Michael Alan Medina, 43, of Corvallis and got consent to search his person. The search reportedly resulted in the officer finding methamphetamine and Medina was cited for unlawful possession of methamphetamine.

Burglary  12:40 p.m. Thursday, 400 block Northwest 25th Street. A man reported sometime in the previous three weeks an unknown person had entered his residence and stolen $500 in property.

LINN COUNTY SHERIFF
Grant Foster Converse, 42, of Corvallis, died January 1, 2019. A celebration of life will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, January 6, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Corvallis, 2945 NW Circle Blvd., Corvallis. A light lunch will be served. Donations can be made to Citizens Bank in the name of Dennis Lalley for the Nelson and Converse families.

Buford Daily, 91, of Lebanon, passed away at home on Wednesday, January 2, 2019. A memorial service will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 19, at American Legion Santiam Post #51 in Lebanon. Huston-Jost Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Curtis Lee Kiefer died December 1, 2018. A celebration of his life will be held at 6 p.m. on Sunday, January 6 in the Childrens Room at the Corvallis- Benton County Public Library at 645 NW Monroe Ave., Corvallis.

Jack Leroy Pellett, 80, of Alsea, passed away on Tuesday, January 1, 2019. A funeral service will be at 1 p.m. on Friday, January 11 at Alsea Grange Hall. Final burial and military honors will follow at Alsea Cemetery. Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling arrangements (www.sweethomefuneral.com).

Eddie Watkins, 83, of Lebanon, passed away January 2, 2019, in Albany. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 12, at Brownsville Christian Church. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Samaritan Evergreen Hospice in care of Huston-Jost Funeral Home.
A Philomath man wanted on multiple felony warrants was arrested Friday afternoon by Albany police officers after a foot chase that included a race through the bar at Pop's Branding Iron, 901 Pacific Blvd. SE.

After his arrest, Asa Alan Williams, 33, was lodged in the Linn County Jail. He was wanted for multiple felony warrants including possession of methamphetamine, attempting to elude and reckless endangerment. Earlier in the week, the Albany Police Department had put out information on social media seeking information about Williams.

Jennifer Butler of Albany said she was driving a vehicle that was stopped at a stoplight near Starbucks on Pacific when the incident occurred, at about 1:15 p.m.

I looked into my mirror and saw an older Mercedes behind me and behind that car were two Albany police cars, Butler said. The Mercedes was pulling over to the side and I thought he was trying to make room for the police cars to get around him.

But, Butler said, she then saw Williams running away from the Mercedes. leaving the passenger side door open.

He ran through the Starbucks parking lot, across Pacific and towards Pops, Butler said.

She said a police officer was in pursuit.
Galveston, TX (77553)

Today

Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 81F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 81F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
Graveside services for Ruby Mae Brackeen, 93, of Gainesville, are set for 10:00 AM Tuesday, June 8, 2021 at the Fairview Cemetery in Gainesville with Bro. Gary Carter officiating under the direction of the Geo. J. Carroll & Son Funeral Home. A visitation will be held at 7:00 PM Monday, J




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When the shutdown is over, those federal employees who are affected will get reimbursed for their time lost. Thats a certainty. In other words, the shutdown is like free vacation time. Affected employees didnt even have to use annual leave to get two weeks off during the holidays.

The hang-up is Trumps border wall, or the $5 billion he wants to fund it. Build my wall or I wont agree to reopen the government. In legal terms, thats called extortion and it is not right.

Yes, I understand that the government was shut down during the Obama administration over Obamacare. That wasnt right either. That was also extortion.

Anyone who thinks building a wall will solve the immigration problem is nuts. Illegals can tunnel under it and they can scale it. They can go around it in the Gulf of Mexico and up the Pacific Ocean to California. Water didnt prevent thousands of Cubans from getting to Florida.

Ill support the wall under one condition; that every person who demands it promises mein writing$100 for every person that gets into the country illegally after it is built. Its put up or shut up. If you think the wall is an end-all to immigration, you should have no problem agreeing.
Usually, Target stores are where people go to buy decorations for birthday parties.

For Stafford boy Finn Blumenthal, it will be where he goes for the birthday party itself.

The Target store off U.S. 17 in Stafford will host a party in March for Finn, who turned 4 on Wednesday.

And on Wednesday, employees of the store gathered by the front doors for a special team meetingwhich consisted of singing "Happy Birthday" to Finn and presenting him with balloons and a gift bag full of Target swag.

"They have been so incredibly sweet throughout his entire journey and now giving him a birthday party in their store? Magical!" Finn's mom, Kelly Blumenthal, said.

Finn was born with multiple congenital heart defects and the initial diagnosis was that he would only live for a few months. He underwent open heart surgery at only a few months old. A second open heart surgery was performed successfully in September 2017, hopefully setting his heart up to function to adulthood.
Keep the conversation about local news & events going by joining us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Recent updates from The News-Post and also from News-Post staff members are compiled below.
Jefferson, GA (30549)

Today

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds light and variable.
TARRYTOWN, N.Y. (AP)  The road to this years Westminster Kennel Club dog show passed through a pandemic and a major change of date and venue. The road also proved dangerous for one of the nations best known dog handlers. His wife and fellow star handler said Saturday that Bill McFadden wa
"There's a misconception about books, she said. People think they're a commodity that lasts over time, and, therefore, anything you don't buy this year won't have a devastating effect because you can always come back later and buy it. It's no longer true. The shelf life of new titles has dropped dramatically. The time for buying is very short. If you don't buy a book now, in 18 months you can't get it at all. The publishers simply don't make large print runs any more."
EASLEY, SC (FOX Carolina)- The Easley Police Department says that is searching for a man they say was involved a hit and run incident that took place on June 3, according to a post from Easley PD on their official Facebook page.
The Clark County coroner identified a woman who was struck and killed in central Las Vegas late Friday night while crossing the street in her wheelchair.
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Las Vegas police said this suspect who robbed a business in the southeast valley on Nov. 1, 2018.
A new law in New York City makes it easier for transgender and non-binary New Yorkers to match their birth certificate to their gender identity without needing a signed affidavit from a healthcare provider.
Preston (EastIdahoNews.com) -- An Idaho science teacher who ignited worldwide controversy after feeding a puppy to a snapping turtle was found not guilty of animal cruelty Friday evening.

A panel of six jurors delivered the verdict to a packed courtroom after deliberating less than 30 minutes following the two-day trial in Franklin County. Robert Crosland, the Preston Junior High School teacher, smiled as the verdict was read and afterward spoke publicly for the first time since the March ordeal.

"I would just like to thank all of the support that I've received," he said. "I'd like to thank this community for staying behind me. It's really what got me through all of this."

Crosland fed the sick puppy to a turtle named Jaws at Preston Junior High School after hours in front of a few students. Following an investigation by the state attorney general, he was charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty.

+2 Teacher charged after allegedly feeding puppy to turtle in front of students An Idaho science teacher who allegedly fed a puppy to a snapping turtle was criminally charged Friday. Robert Crosland is facing one misdemeanor count of animal cruelty.

Shane Reichert, one of Crosland's defense attorney, admitted that some people might take issue with a snapping turtle eating a puppy but Reichert argued that in the eyes of the law, there is no difference between the dog and a rat or even deer people hunt.

"As we set out from the beginning, we thought the State was going to have a difficult time proving this case beyond a reasonable doubt," Reichert said.

Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden thanked the investigators and attorneys who worked on the case on behalf of his office.

"As prosecutors, our job is to present evidence to the jury. In this case, Mr. Crosland's peers in Franklin County did not find the state proved guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. I appreciate the jurors' attention and respect their decision," Wasden said in a prepared statement.

WHAT HAPPENED IN MARCH

Based on witness testimony from the trial, the timeline leading up to the snapping turtle eating the puppy is as follows:

Teacher accused of feeding puppy to turtle in front of students Authorities are unsure if the puppy was alive at the time of the feeding.

Crossland's son, Mario Crosland, received the puppy from a farmer he knew. One of the farmer's dogs had recently given birth to a litter of puppies, and the farmer was worried the pups were feeding off of the mother too much causing her health to decline. As a result, he started giving the puppies to others.

When Mario received the puppy, he noticed it was sick. He said in his testimony that the puppies eyes were cloudy and it refused to eat. He said he and his sister tried to nurse the puppy back to health, but after a day it was clear the puppy was going to die. He said no matter what they did, it refused to eat.

They gave the puppy to their dad who decided he would feed it to either his python, Monty, or the snapping turtle.

Crosland arrived at school and attempted to feed the puppy to Monty but the snake didn't eat it. The teacher then took the pup out to his van and continued with his regular teaching schedule.

After school ended, Crosland stayed to help a student with a project. He mentioned to the few students in his classroom that he needed to feed his animals and asked if anyone would be offended because a puppy would be involved.

The witnesses all testified Friday that they did not have a problem with it.

Crosland let the students handle the puppy. Most of the witnesses said they noticed it was sickly, lethargic and its ribs were sticking out. A couple noted the puppies eyes were cloudy.

After a few moments, Crosland placed the puppy in the snake's enclosure but it became clear the reptile wasn't interested. Crosland then put the puppy in the snapping turtle's 350-gallon tank.

Witnesses testified the puppy tried to swim for a couple of seconds then the turtle pulled the puppy under the water.

Instead of eating the puppy right away, the turtle waited for it to stop moving which took around 30 seconds.

A few of the witnesses said the puppy could barely move its legs before losing consciousness and it did not struggle much because of its poor health.

After the turtle ate the puppy, the students left.

Idaho Deputy Attorney General David Morse argued that the puppy suffered as a result of the feeding, saying it was "flailing around and crashing" around in the turtle tank.

WHAT WITNESSES SAID ABOUT CROSLAND

Every witness called to testify said it was common knowledge that Crosland fed live animals to the snapping turtle and snake that were kept in his classroom.

The Preston Junior High School Science Department Director said those reptiles would not eat dead animals and it was the movement of living creatures that triggered their response to feed.

Another common theme among witnesses was that the puppy Crosland fed to the turtle was deathly ill.

The witnesses consisted of current and previous students. They made clear that Crosland is a beloved teacher  one even testifying that he was his favorite teacher in school.

Two of Crosland's colleagues in the science department had only positive things to say about Crosland's character, his love for teaching and his passion for animals.

Crosland's son, Mario, became emotional when testifying about his father's love for animals and how he would do whatever he could to care for them. Mario even went so far as to say that his father "could do what Fish and Game couldn't" when it came to caring for animals.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR CROSLAND

Crosland continues to teach for the Preston School District and he feels "a lot of relief" with the not guilty verdict.

Students, teachers and others in Preston hope the community can now move forward.

"There was no question in my mind that he had no evil intent or no intent to harm this animal. Given the fact that what he does for a living and the area in which he teachers  there is no question he was doing what he thought was best for this puppy," Stratton Laggis, Crosland's other attorney, said.
People walking through Tricentennial Park had a little visitor today. An alligator crawled from the water on to the banks of the lake.

Wildlife and Fisheries say the alligator was only sunbathing when it sort of spooked a few people.

Game Warden Pete Mitchum said alligators aren't fond of the cold weather and with the change in temperature today, they're desperate for a little warmth.

"I thought it was a lil plastic snake and I was like dog, but then I looked again and I was like no," said Cedric Reed.

Reed was able to snap a picture of the alligator just before it went back into the lake.

"I just glanced at him and I was like dog, I ain't never seen one in person like that. I seen them on TV, but never in person," he said.

"He looked to be like he was about 5, 6 feet long. He was right there on the edge of the water," added Mitchum.

Reed says he rides his bike through Tricentennial Park quite often but he's never come up on a wild animal like this.

"I was riding my bike from over there and came up here and soon as I got up here, I seen it right there," he explained.

Mitchum, who's a Senior Conservation Enforcement Officer with the Alabama Department of Conservation, said 3 Mile Creek has lots of gators in it. Since it's right next to the park, he said it's no surprise the gator showed up in the lake.

"Some people walking by, they were a little concerned about the alligator, he was actually sunning himself on the bank. We've had some unusually warm weather so its got him moving around a little bit," Mitchum explained.

Wildlife officials say the alligator was just trying to get a little sun to warm up from the cold, it's something you might see quite often this season, Meanwhile, if you do see them, don't feed them.

"When people start throwing the chicken or the bread out there, they start associating people as a food source and they're naturally going to approach a person and that's when we run into the problems of them being nuisance, alligator and a threat to the public," Mitchum said.

He said this alligator in particular didn't show any aggression, but he did try to catch it and re-locate it back to Three Mile Creek. However, the gator never came back up.

"Once their body is regulated and they've had enough sunshine then they're going to go back into the water and continue being an alligator," he added.

If you do happen to see one out, Mitchum said to keep your distance and don't feed them.

If you see one that shows aggression call, 251-621-5474.
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Google has acquired Superpod which is a startup that had built a question-and-answer mobile app, according to reports. Google said to have paid the firm less than $60 million to acquire founders and purchase some of Superpods assets.



Google hasnt backed out in showing off its ambitions for Assistant; its voice-assistant that debuted in 2016. Superpod which lets users ask questions and receive answers from experts could help Google boost its virtual assistants ability to answer users questions. A Google spokesperson confirmed that Superpods founders have joined the company. However, declined to comment further about the deal.

Superpod shut down its app in September. Superpod.io which is formerly known as Sparks was founded by ex-Google employees Sophia Yang and William Li in 2016. The firm has raised an undisclosed amount of seed funding from Precursor Ventures, Charlie Cheever, Social Capital, and the House Fund.

Source
Samsung is working on the foldable display for years now and the company at the Developer Conference in 2018, finally showed off the prototype of this device with its new OLED panel; the Infinity Flex display. The company back then didnt reveal many details regarding the specifications except for the display size.

However, digging deep inside the firmware teardown of the Verizon 5G device codenamed Bolt, there were references to a new Sony camera sensor that Samsung will use in their foldable phone. Winner is the codename Samsung is using for the foldable phone. These files are library files that represent drivers for the device. This camera driver is for the unannounced Sony IMX374 sensor for the device code-named winner.

However, there is no information regarding the sensor itself. With the launch of the Galaxy S10 inching closer, there is no news regarding the camera sensors and it is rumored that the company will be announcing more information in February right before Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

The Sony IMX374 sensor could be announced at CES or may lead up to MWC. Samsung isnt planning on launching the Winner foldable phone until after Q1 of 2019, so dont expect much launch information just yet.

Source
Samsung is said to be working on the newer version of the Gear IconX earbuds along with the Gear Sport and Gear Fit 2 successor. The latest IconX earbuds come with model number SM-R170 and will be available in black, white, and yellow colors. The earbuds will come with 8GB of internal storage which is the highest on any Gear-branded product for Samsung.

However, thats where all the good things end. Much like the Galaxy Watch, there is a possibility that the new IconX might feature the Galaxy branding. This may be a good move as it brings uniformity across products. Samsung is also said to be launching the Bixby-powered Galaxy Home with AKG speakers this year.

The company might offer better battery life on the new IconX and this might not be a significant improvement as the current Gear IconX (2018) already brings in a significant improvement in endurance over the first iteration of the earbuds. Instead, Samsung might increase the battery capacity of the charging case, but we cant say anything for certain at the moment.

Source
By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. court on Friday ruled in favor of a Trump administration policy barring certain transgender people from serving in the U.S

By Lawrence Hurley

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. court on Friday ruled in favor of a Trump administration policy barring certain transgender people from serving in the U.S. armed forces, handing the president his first legal victory on the issue after several defeats.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit overturned a decision by a federal judge in Washington, D.C., that blocked the policy, saying it likely violates the constitutional rights of transgender recruits and service members.

President Donald Trump announced in March that he would endorse a plan by former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to restrict the military service of transgender people who experience a condition called gender dysphoria.

The appeals court victory is limited because other federal courts issued injunctions against the policy, which applied nationwide. The administration already has asked the Supreme Court to weigh in on the issue.

The high court is due to consider whether to hear three separate government appeals at its private conference on Jan. 11.

The various injunctions allowed transgender troops to join the ranks as of Jan. 1, 2018.

"Todays ruling is a devastating slap in the face to transgender service members who have proved their fitness to serve and their dedication to this country, said Shannon Minter, legal director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, one of the groups challenging the policy.

The three-judge panel said in an unsigned opinion that District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly was wrong to conclude that the new restrictions were essentially the same as the original ban, which she had also blocked.

"It was clear error to say there was no significant change," the judges wrote in the ruling.

The new plan, for example, "appears to permit some transgender individuals to serve in the military consistent with established military mental health, physical health, and sex-based standards," the court said.

The American Psychiatric Association defines gender dysphoria as a clinically significant distress due to a conflict between a persons gender identity and their sex assigned at birth. Not all transgender people suffer from gender dysphoria, according to the association, which opposes a military ban.

The gender dysphoria restriction replaced an outright ban on transgender service members that Trump announced in July 2017 on Twitter.

Trump's move reversed Democratic former President Barack Obamas policy of allowing transgender troops to serve openly and receive medical care to transition genders.

(Reporting by Lawrence Hurley, additional reporting by Andrew Chung; Editing by Susan Thomas, Bill Trott and David Gregorio)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Floods and blackouts caused by tropical storm Pabuk drove 30,000 people into evacuation shelters in southern Thailand while tourist islands were spared.

Nakhon Si Thammarat: Floods and blackouts caused by the tropical storm Pabuk drove nearly 30,000 people into evacuation shelters across southern Thailand on Saturday, as relieved tourists stranded on islands further north were spared the worst.

Many of the tourists who had been stranded earlier have begun to make their way home.

Pabuk, a once-in-three-decades weather system, packed winds of up to 75 kilometres an hour and brought heavy rains and storm surges as it lashed the entire south of the kingdom on Friday, downing power cables and causing widespread flooding.

A fisherman died in the southern Pattani province early on Friday as high waves smashed into his boat. Another crew member of the same boat was reported missing.

The storm tacked away from the key tourist islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao where large numbers of tourists hunkered down for 24 hours in heavy rains, unable to leave as airports had closed and ferry services were cancelled.

"There were no casualties, there is some sunshine on Saturday and I'm confident some tourists will be able to leave today as ferries and flights resume," Kittipop Roddon, Koh Samui district chief said.

But "red flag" warnings banning swimming off what are normally sun-baked paradise beaches at this time of year were still in place.

"It's all over. All 10,000 tourists are safe... I am relieved," Krikkrai Songthanee, district chief of neighbouring Koh Phangan, an island famed for its full-moon parties, told AFP, adding only minor damage had been caused by high winds.

Holidaymakers keen to leave the islands now face long delays as they make their way home with transport links slowly reopening on Saturday.

The storm was downgraded early on Saturday to a depression, with wind speeds slackening as it moved into the Andaman Sea, the Meteorological Department said.

Pabuk made landfall on Friday afternoon in the Nakhon Si Thammarat province, south of the tourist hubs on the Gulf of Thailand, hammering the coastal province with rain.

Authorities warned of flash floods as some parts remained inundated by a combination of rainfall and storm surges.

Around 200,000 people were left without power as dozens of electricity poles were toppled by high winds or falling trees. Of them, around 30,000 customers remained without power early on Saturday, according to an update by the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department.

A similar number of people remained in evacuation shelters, waiting for floods to recede and power to be restored, it added.

Pabuk struck in peak tourist season and has dealt a blow to the sector that is integral to Thailand's economy.

The kingdom is expected to welcome a record 40 million visitors this year.
Tsais comments came days after Chinese president Xi Jinping said nobody could change the fact that Taiwan was part of China, and that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait should seek 'reunification.'

Taipei: Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen called on Saturday for international support to defend the self-ruled islands democracy and way of life in the face of renewed threats from China.

Tsais comments came days after Chinese president Xi Jinping said nobody could change the fact that Taiwan was part of China, and that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait should seek "reunification."

"We hope that the international community takes it seriously and can voice support and help us," Tsai told reporters in Taipei, referring to threats by China to use force to bring Taiwan under its control. If the international community did not support a democratic country that was under threat, "we might have to ask which country might be next," Tsai added.

Taiwan is Chinas most sensitive issue and is claimed by Beijing as its sacred territory. Xi has stepped up pressure on the democratic island since Tsai from the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party became president in 2016.

Xi said on Wednesday that China reserves the right to use force to bring Taiwan under its control but will strive to achieve peaceful reunification with the island.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Friday that U.S. military personnel had deployed to Gabon in response to possible violent demonstrations in the Democratic Republic of Congo after a presidential election there. In a letter to congressional leaders, Trump said the first of about 80 military personnel arrived in Gabon on Wednesday in case they are needed to protect U.S.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Friday that U.S. military personnel had deployed to Gabon in response to possible violent demonstrations in the Democratic Republic of Congo after a presidential election there.

In a letter to congressional leaders, Trump said the first of about 80 military personnel arrived in Gabon on Wednesday in case they are needed to protect U.S. citizens and diplomatic facilities in Congo's capital Kinshasa.

He said they "will remain in the region until the security situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo becomes such that their presence is no longer needed."

Trump said additional forces may deploy to Gabon "if necessary."

Congo's electoral commission is scheduled to release provisional results of the presidential election on Sunday, but it has said there could be delays because of the slow arrival of tally sheets.

Observers and the opposition say the election was marred by serious irregularities. Congo's government says the election was fair and went smoothly.

President Joseph Kabila's ruling coalition is backing his hand-picked successor Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary.

The international community has raised concerns that a disputed result could cause unrest, as was the case after the 2006 and 2011 elections.

On Thursday, the U.S. State Department called on the electoral commission to ensure votes were accurately counted and threatened to impose sanctions against those who undermined the process or threatened peace and stability in the country.

(Reporting by Eric Beech; Editing by Daniel Wallis)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
US president Donald Trump said that he was prepared to shut the US government down for months or even years, to force Congress to provide billions for a border wall with Mexico

Washington: A defiant US president Donald Trump said on Friday that he was prepared to shut the US government down for as long as it takes, months or even years, to force Congress to provide billions of dollars for a border wall with Mexico.

"This is national security we're talking about. We're not playing games," Trump said, following another round of talks at the White House with Democratic leaders on ending the two-week impasse which has shut about 25 per cent of the government.

"The southern border is a dangerous, horrible disaster," he said, decrying illegal immigration, drug smuggling and human trafficking.

"We have to get a structure built," Trump said, calling on Congress to approve his $5.6 billion request for a "major powerful barrier" made of concrete or steel.

Trump also claimed that some previous US presidents had told him that they should have built a wall. None of Trump's predecessors has ever publicly advocated such a thing.

Describing the situation as a "national emergency," Trump said he was looking into ways to get a wall built without Congressional approval. "I may do it," he said, adding, "I am allowed to do that."

Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader, said Democrats had urged Trump during what he called a "sometimes contentious" meeting to reopen the federal government, which has been partially shut down since December 22, leaving 800,000 employees furloughed or working without pay.

A handful of those employees held a roadside protest in Maryland on Friday, saying they want to get back to work, WTOP radio reported.

"We told the president we needed the government open," Schumer said. "He resisted. In fact, he said he'd keep the government closed for a very long period of time. Months or even years," he added.

Asked by reporters whether this was true, Trump said it was. He added that he hoped the shutdown "doesn't go on even beyond a few more days."

"I will do whatever we have to do," Trump said. "If we have to stay out for a very long period of time we will do that."

Trump said a bipartisan group including US Vice-President Mike Pence would meet over the weekend to try to reach an agreement.

"Our aim will be to find a solution, not just simply to end the government shutdown, to provide funding to end the crisis at our southern border, to achieve real border security and to build a wall on our southern border," Pence said.

Its time for @realDonaldTrump to accept yes as an answer. Let us do our jobs. Let us reopen government. #TrumpShutdown #MSNBCTownHall  Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 5, 2019

A quick end to the stalemate does not appear to be in sight, however, as Democrats, who now control the House of Representatives, seem in no mood to make concessions. "We are committed to keeping our borders safe," Nancy Pelosi, who took over as speaker of the House on Thursday, told reporters following the meeting with the president.

But, Pelosi added, "We recognize on the Democratic side that we really cannot resolve this until we open up government. And we made that very clear to the president. Services are being withheld from the American people. Paychecks are being withheld." Both Democrats and Republicans have attempted to pin the blame for the shutdown on the other side and Pelosi has ruled out funding for a border wall she has described as an "immorality."

Shortly after the new Congress was sworn in on Thursday, the House approved legislation to fund homeland security operations until 8 February and several other agencies through September, but no money for a wall. Trump has said he would veto any bill that does not include funding for the barrier and the Republican-run Senate has said it would not consider anything that does not pass muster with the president.

The fight over the wall is setting the stage for what could be a tumultuous final two years in office for Trump who is faced with a hostile Democratic-controlled House equipped with investigative powers.

Some newly seated Democrats have even called for impeachment proceedings against the Republican president, although Pelosi has distanced herself from those appeals for the time being.

"We talked about (impeachment). Nancy said, 'we're not looking to impeach you'," Trump said.
US president Donald Trump says talented foreign students should not leave the US after studying in the country's best educational institutions.

Washington: Ruing that talented foreign students are leaving the United States after studying in the country's best educational institutions, US president Donald Trump has said he wants people with merit to stay on in America and help in the growth of companies here.

Addressing a press conference on Friday, Trump said the US is "losing out on great minds" as the country has a "ridiculous" immigration policy.

He reiterated his wish to end loopholes in the legal immigration system so as to attract more people based on merit. Trump said his administration wants people to come into the country legally and on merit.

"We have all these companies coming in. We need great people. But we want them to come in on a merit basis, and they have to come in on a merit basis. They can't come in the way they've been coming in for years," Trump told reporters in Washington.

"I get calls from the great tech companies, and they're saying we don't allow people at the top of their class, at the best schools in the country, we don't allow them to stay in our country," he said.

"So, they end up going back to China and Japan and so many other countries all over the world, and we don't keep them. They get educated at our finest schools, and then we don't allow them, through a various set of circumstances, to have any guarantees of staying. So we lose out on great minds. We can't do that," he said.

Trump was referring to difficulties being faced by foreign students in staying and working in the US after they complete their education in the country. Trump said that he discussed this issue with the Democratic Congressional leadership during a meeting at the White House on Friday.

"We discussed that with the Democrats, and I think they agree. We're working on that. But we don't want to lose our great companies because we have a ridiculous policy that we won't accept smart people. So, call it politically correct or not, but we have to let these great, brilliant companies have the smartest people in the world," Trump said.

He said if somebody wants to seek asylum, there's a way to do that. "There are legal ways to come to this country, and legal immigration has made this country great."

Referring to the killing of California's Indian-origin police officer Ronil "Ron" Singh, allegedly by an illegal immigrant, Trump said the US needs a "secure border" to keep "Americans safe" and check illegal immigration.

"America lets in over a million people every single year. By far, the most generous nation in the world. And yet, we have laws that need to be followed to keep Americans safe and to protect the integrity of a system where, right now, there are millions of people who are waiting in line to come to America to seek the American Dream, like Officer Singh did when he sought his chance at the American Dream," he said.

"That dream was taken. It was taken because we don't have a secure border. We can't let this continue," he said.

Trump spoke to the wife and police colleagues of this Indian origin police officer on Thursday. The Indian-origin police officer was killed at a traffic stop on 26 December by an illegal immigrant named Gustavo Perez Arriaga while the latter was planning to flee to his native Mexico.

The president has shut down the government, demanding $ 5 billion for his border wall with Mexico but Democrats have refused to meet the demand.

Sadly, there can be no REAL Border Security without the Wall!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2019



The impasse has left more than 800,000 federal workers furloughed or working without pay since 22 December.
By Kate Holton and Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber LONDON/MOSCOW (Reuters) - Britain cautioned Russia on Friday that individuals should not be used as diplomatic pawns after a former U.S. Marine who also holds a British passport was detained in Moscow on espionage charges.

By Kate Holton and Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber

LONDON/MOSCOW (Reuters) - Britain cautioned Russia on Friday that individuals should not be used as diplomatic pawns after a former U.S. Marine who also holds a British passport was detained in Moscow on espionage charges.

Paul Whelan was arrested by Russia's Federal Security Service on Dec. 28. His family have said he is innocent and that he was in Moscow to attend a wedding.

"Individuals should not be used as pawns of diplomatic leverage," British foreign minister Jeremy Hunt said.

"We are extremely worried about Paul Whelan. We have offered consular assistance," Hunt said. "The U.S. are leading on this because he is a British and American citizen."

Official sources familiar with U.S. and British intelligence told Reuters on Friday that they were unaware of any possible connections between Whelan and any U.S. or British agency.

One of the sources said experts at intelligence agencies believe Whelan would have been far more careful if he was a spy, working under official cover as a U.S. diplomat or "non-official cover" posing as a civilian.

Since leaving the U.S. military, Whelan had worked as a global security executive with U.S. companies, had visited Russia and developed a network of Russian acquaintances.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said this week Washington had asked Moscow to explain Whelan's arrest and would demand his immediate return if it determined his detention is inappropriate.

The FSB has opened a criminal case against Whelan but given no details of his alleged activities. In Russia, an espionage conviction carries a prison sentence of 10 to 20 years.

Whelan's detention further complicates a strained relationship between Moscow and Washington, despite the professed desire of Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to build a personal rapport.

U.S. intelligence officials accuse Russia of meddling in U.S. elections - a charge Russia denies.

Putin has previously stated he would rein in Russian retaliatory measures against U.S. interests in the hope relations would improve, but Whelan's detention indicates the Kremlin's calculations may now have changed.

SWAP SPECULATION

A Russian national, Maria Butina, admitted last month to U.S. prosecutors that she had tried to infiltrate American conservative groups as an agent for Moscow.

David Hoffman, a former CIA Moscow station chief, said it was "possible, even likely," that Russia had detained Whelan to set up an exchange for Butina.

Dmitry Novikov, a first deputy head of the international affairs committee in Russia's lower house of parliament, commenting on a possible swap, said Russian intelligence first needed to finish their investigations. "Then we'll see," Interfax news agency quoted him as saying.

Whelan's British citizenship introduces a new political dimension. Relations between London and Moscow have been toxic since the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the English city of Salisbury in March last year.

Britain alleges Skripal was poisoned by Russian intelligence agents posing as tourists, while Russia denies any involvement.

RTE, Ireland's national broadcaster, reported that Whelan also holds an Irish passport, and that the country's Department of Foreign Affairs said the Irish embassy in Moscow had requested consular access to one of its citizens detained in Russia who had requested assistance.

RUSSIAN TIES

Paul Whelan is 48 and lives in Novi, Michigan, according to public records. He is director of global security at BorgWarner, a U.S. auto parts maker based in Michigan.

The company said Whelan was "responsible for overseeing security at our facilities in Auburn Hills, Michigan, and at other company locations around the world". Its website lists no facilities in Russia.

U.S. media said he had previously worked in security and investigations for the global staffing firm Kelly Services, which is headquartered in Michigan and has operations in Russia.

"We are relieved and very pleased to know that staff of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow have been given consular access to Paul and confirmed that he is safe," his brother, David Whelan, said in an emailed statement on Friday. "Our focus remains on ensuring that Paul is safe, well treated, has a good lawyer, and is coming home."

Whelan's military record, provided by the Pentagon, showed that he served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 14 years. The highest rank he attained was staff sergeant. He was discharged in 2008 after being convicted on charges related to larceny, according to his records.

Additional records provided by the Pentagon said Whelan had attempted to steal about $10,410 while in Iraq in 2006.

Whelan has for years maintained an account in VKontakte, a Russian social media network, which showed he had a circle of Russian acquaintances.

Out of the more than 50 people tagged as Whelan's friends on VKontakte, a significant number were software engineers or worked in the IT sector, and a significant proportion had ties to the fields of defence and security.

One of these people served in the Russian navy's Black Sea fleet, a photo of that person posted on his own account indicated. A second friend had on his VKontakte page photos of people in the uniform of Russian paratroop forces.

Whelan used the account to send out congratulations on Russian public holidays. In 2015, he posted the words in Russian: "In Moscow ..." and accompanied it with a Russian mobile phone number. The number was not answering this week.

According to his brother David, Whelan was in Moscow to attend the wedding of a fellow retired Marine. When he was detained he was staying with the rest of the wedding party at Moscow's upmarket Metropol hotel, the brother said. He did not specify the wedding location.

An employee at the hotel, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said on Friday they could not access its database to check, but could not recall any weddings scheduled there in the second half of December.

(Additional reporting by Polina Devitt in Moscow, Barbara Goldberg in New York, Mark Hosenball and Idrees Ali in Washington; Writing by Christian Lowe; Editing by Mark Heinrich, James Dalgleish and Richard Chang)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Thomas said he didn't feel scared because he was "just trying to survive." But when he was driving home, he said he realized how traumatic the situation was and said he wasn't been able to fall asleep.
China's Army must strengthen their sense of urgency and do everything they can to prepare for battle, President Xi Jinping told a meeting of top brass on Friday.

Shanghai: China's armed forces must strengthen their sense of urgency and do everything they can to prepare for battle, President Xi Jinping told a meeting of top brass on Friday.

China is keen to beef up its armed forces amid territorial disputes in the South China Sea and escalating tension with the United States over issues ranging from trade to the status of Taiwan.

The official Xinhua news agency said Xi told a meeting of the top military authorities that China faced increasing risks and challenges, and the armed forces must work to secure its security and development needs.

Xi, who is also chairman of the Central Military Commission, said armed forces must devise strategies for the new era and take on responsibilities for preparing and waging wars.

"The world is facing a period of major changes never seen in a century, and China is still in an important period of strategic opportunity for development," he was quoted as saying.

He said the armed forces needed to be able to respond quickly to emergencies, needed to upgrade their joint operations capabilities and nurture new types of combat forces.

Xi's comments followed his remarks on Wednesday that China still reserved the right to use force to achieve "reunification" with Taiwan and prevent the island's independence.

Xi's Taiwan speech came just days after US president Donald Trump signed the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act into law, reaffirming the US commitment to the island's security.
Press Trust of India

An international team of scientists will begin the new year hunting for microbes and other living specimens in an unexplored lake far beneath the surface of the Antarctic ice sheet.

Led by polar scientist John Priscu of Montana State University in the US, a team of 45 scientists, drillers and support staff will drill 4,000 feet to the bottom of the ice sheet that covers Mercer Subglacial Lake about 370 miles from the South Pole.

The lake, which measures nearly 62 square miles, was discovered more than a decade ago through satellite images but has never before been explored.

The expedition, known as SALSA (Subglacial Antarctic Lakes Scientific Access), hopes to shed light on what kind of life can survive in such remote regions and serve as an on-Earth comparison for habitats deep inside Mars or on the ice-covered moons of Jupiter and Saturn.

While Mercer will be the second subglacial lake that humans have sampled directly, Fox wrote, it will be the first time scientists will use a remote vehicle to roam beneath the ice sheet, which leads the scientists to wonder if the submersible's three video cameras might capture images of animals that live in the dark water.

This is the second such expedition for Priscu.

In 2013, he and other MSU researchers published the discovery of microscopic life in Subglacial Lake Whillans in the journal Nature and received worldwide attention.
tech2 News Staff

India is littered with renowned and prominent institutions in the sciences, engineering and social sciences  the IITs, IISc, TIFR, JNU, and TISS. Yet, a new report figures that only ten Indians are among the world top 1 percent of the world's most-cited researchers.

Interestingly, in the report published by Clarivate Analytics, some of the ten researchers aren't even from the leading institutes in the country.

The 'Global Highly-Cited Researchers 2018 List' is an annual compilation of statistics about research output from countries, institutions and individuals around the globe.

Now in its 5th edition, the report listed the world's 4000 most 'influential' researchers of 2018, among which exactly 10 are Indian.

Dr CNR Rao

Among them is the world-renowned chemist from Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Sciences, Bangalore and former advisory councilman to the Prime Minister, Dr C N R Rao. He is a pioneer in the field of a solid-state chemistry.

With a Bharat Ratna (2014) and 71 honorary doctorates to his name from different universities spanning the globe, Dr Rao has a vast list of publications and over a lakh citations.

He (almost) won a Nobel prize in Chemistry in 2016, and has been on the HCR list in many previous editions of the report as well.

Dr Dinesh Mohan

Also on the list is JNU professor Dr Dinesh Mohan, who's team at the School of Environmental Sciences came up with a solution to biomass burning by converting leftover agricultural waste to 'biochar'  an excellent choice of fertilizer to improve fertility and crop productivity of soil. His research work includes the monitoring of water and wastewater, low-cost sorbents for arsenic and biofuel production, among others.

Research citations are also dependent on the nature of work, Mohan told the Times of India. "Areas such as climate change, water and energy are areas where research is more relevant nowadays. Where you publish your work is also important for impact."

Dr Rajeev Varshney

A recipient of the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize, India's top science award, Dr Rajeev Varshney has over 20 years of research experience in international agriculture, and the winner of over a dozen prestigious research awards in all.

He is currently the global Program Director for the 'Genetic Gains' project, which covers units like Genebank, pre-breeding, cell and molecular biology & genetic engineering, among dozens of other plant biotechniques at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in Patancheru, India.

Dr Ashok Pandey is a researcher at the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, and the only researcher from Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) network of 5,000 Indian scientists to get a spot on the list.

"It is a matter of concern and needs to be addressed by the government, and stakeholders, including scientists," Pandey said about the same to ToI.

Dr Avnish Agarwal, another awardee of the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar winner, said that the applied research is a largely-unrespected field in India, which is obsessed with fundamental research.

"We need to improve our research ecosystem...There is a lack of focus on quality research in Indian academia," he told ToI. "If teachers do not do high-quality research, they will not be updated with new developments."

Dr Alok Mittal and Dr Jyoti Mittal, researchers in environmental science, water treatment, green chemistry and chemical kinetics at the Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology in Bhopal.

Dr Rajnish Kumar, a researcher and professor at IIT Madras's Department of Chemical Engineering, he was chosen as one of 2017's most Influential Researchers by Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research (I&EC Research). He is also the winner of the prestigious NASI-SCOPUS Young Scientist Award in Chemistry.

Dr Sanjeeb Sahoo is a researcher in nanotechnology at the Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar. He has close to 20 years of experience in the field, studying cancer drug delivery. Dr Sahoo has authored over 99 manuscripts, 8,964 citations, 5 patents and has edited a book on "Nanotechnology in Health care."

Dr Sakthivel Rathinaswamy, a professor from Bharathiar University in Coimbatore, is also among the listed 4000 researchers from India. A researcher in Applied and Computational Mathematics, he has over 6,667 citations and several collaborations for research papers in international projects.

While the list gathers information about researchers from over 60 different countries, over 8o percent of the 4000 listed names come from just 10 countries, and 70 percent from just 5.

United States has the highest representation on the list with 2639 names, with the second largest influence is the United Kingdom with just 546 names. China is third in line with 482, while India is nowhere in the top 10, with all of 10 researchers to contribute.

Harvard University was the institute with the most number of influential researchers (186) .



"There is no unique or universally-agreed concept of what constitutes extraordinary research performance and elite status in the sciences and social sciences," reads the Clarivate website. "Absence of a name on our list cannot be interpreted as inferior performance or stature in comparison to those selected."

Well, that's a comfort. There's always room for more researchers from India next year.

"This year, they have included an additional category of 'cross-field' which took the number to 10," Mohan said.

About 15 years ago, China and India were at the same level, but China today contributes to 15-16 percent of the science output in the world, while we currently on contribute 4 percent, CNR Rao said.

Many of the researchers also believe that socio-economic, cultural factors and brain drain have their role to play in such assessments. Another is industrial partnerships and investments, which are very limited in India compared to elsewhere in the world.
tech2 News Staff

The start of every new year is also the start of one of the biggest technology conferences in the US: The Consumer Electronics Show. 2019 marks the 23rd edition of CES and it keeps getting bigger every time.

That said, the focus is also moving away from core consumer electronics and today, CES encompasses the best in technology, but that tech may not yet offer a direct benefit to the end consumer.

Unlike the past years, there hasnt been much speculation about what to expect at CES. The Mobile World Congress (MWC) has stolen consumer attention because after all, that's where all the smartphones are. CES, in comparison, has stuck to its reputation of showcasing interesting technology which may or may not see the light of day in retail markets any time soon.

With that out of the way, lets take a look at what we can expect this year.

(Also read: Flying car design by Uber and Toyota to be on display at CES 2019: Report)

Personal Computers are booming

Whoever said PCs are dead just needs to take a look at the PC brands that are showcasing their wares. Everyone from Lenovo to Dell to Asus from the OEM side to Intel, AMD, Qualcomm and Nvidia from the chipmakers are expected to showcase new products and technologies.

In October 2018, Intel had announced the 9th generation of its Core processors, so one can expect OEMs to be out in full force to showcase their latest Intel processor sporting machines. Intel is also rumoured to be launching graphics cards in 2020 and were hoping to catch a glimpse of that.

Its been a year since Qualcomm sold the promise of always-on, always-connected slim form factor convertibles. We are yet to see a retail model on sale. With the announcement of the Snapdragon 855 SoC already out of the way, and devices sporting it expected to be showcased at the MWC, one can expect to at least see some retail ready examples of convertibles built on Qualcomms computing platform.

Nvidia is expected to announce its RTX platform for gaming laptops (RTX 2070 Max-Q)  news that should have gaming enthusiasts drooling. An economical graphics card based on the Turing architecture, RTX 2060, is also rumoured. Complementing Nvidias announcement, one can expect gaming laptop makers such as MSI, Asus, Acer, Razer to have something up their sleeves as well.

While AMD has been giving Intel a run for its money in the CPU space, were expecting some GPU updates that should have Nvidia a bit worried as well. Were expecting to see some new Vega II graphics cards built on a more efficient 7 nm process, which should, hopefully, undercut Nvidia on price.

Mobiles are passe.

(Also read: CES 2019: Amid a decline in public trust, tech industry to celebrate innovation)

Over the years, we have seen that CES is not the place where smartphone brands bring out their goods  thats kept for the MWC. Even with MWC, over the years we have seen prominent brands giving it a complete miss, deciding to have their own special launch events throughout the year.

If anything, CES is known to be the place where quirky designs and form factors get a good play. With Samsung already having showcased a foldable smartphone last year, we can expect smartphone brands bringing out their foldable display sporting smartphones here.

Televisions everywhere

Some years ago, CES was all about 3D TVs, with things new and exciting to promise customers. We all know how that went down.

But TV technology is still evolving, and although some of it is still gimmicky, a lot of it is actually stunning. QLED TVs, Quantum Dot TVs, MicroLED TVs, 8K TVs should be showcased by prominent TV makers such as Samsung, LG, HiSense, Thomson, Sharp, Sony among others.

Yes, all these technologies are still way into the future, but then, CES was never about showcasing technology that will lead to a retail product line releasing in a few quarters. So, expect to see large screen TVs showcasing 8K content on loop, which zooms into finer areas of the scene to showcase how well the TV can resolve minor details.

Its another matter that there isnt much readily available 8K content around. But with the 2020 Tokyo Olympics just a year away, expect a push as far as 8K TVs are concerned.

(Also read: Samsung is planning to launch 4K OLED display sporting laptops at CES 2019)

Better Alexa and Assistant integration

This is a no-brainer. We can expect to see a lot of smart speakers, smart displays and smart TVs with Alexa or Assistant integration.

Its the most logical trend we can see coming from a mile. But it wont just remain limited to speakers and displays. Expect home appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, kitchen equipment and more also being Alexa or Assistant compatible.

Smart lighting and other smart home components could also see some action. Lenovo had already announced its plans to get into the smart home segment at IFA 2018. Expect more players to announce their smart home products with integrations with smart speakers.
tech2 News Staff

While Google Pixel phones are known for their stunner camera capabilities, they are unfortunately also infamous for being ridden by some serious number of bugs and issues. And this problem is being carried down since the first generation Pixel phones. On multiple user forums and on various social media platform, we have often seen angry Pixel customers venting out about their problems with the Pixel phones. However, Manu Aggarwal from Haryana has found a unique new way to let Google know that they've got issues!

First reported by India Today, Aggarwal first bought his Pixel phone in early 2017, and by early 2018, he started facing multiple issues with the device. Following the usual process for redressal, he reached out to Google's customer service for repair. The service centre accepted the device for fixing, which then went through several rounds of repair, but as Aggarwal wrote in a tweet, it always came back with a new issue, with the old problems still existing.

@Google

Shame on You and you should feel Guilty for Manipulations by You. You should be Awarded as the Most Corrupt Brand. How do you do Such Manipulations ?? pic.twitter.com/nE8GZ1vcz1  Manu Aggarwal (@ManuAggarwall) March 13, 2018

If you go through the whole thread of Twitter conversation above, Aggarwal shows how he had 2 hours long conversations with the customer care representatives of the company, and called this experience 'mental harassment'. He even tried to tag in Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoping to get a better response, but apparently, none worked in his favour.

Eventually, getting no reactions to his satisfaction, Aggarwal decided to take matters in his own hands.

He started to put up angry banners and posters in Delhi NCR, some of which were spotted by India Today in Connaught Place, New Delhi. The banners read in bold that Google is a "hoodwink", and that nobody should buy the Pixel, Pixel 2 or Pixel 3 phones. These posters also highlighted that Pixel phones "restart, freeze, and crash constantly".

To add to that, he also added QR codes of his tweets on the poster, and has also made a YouTube video about this issue.

While the current state of Manu Aggarwal's redressal is unknown, this incident does highlight the problem with the after-sale services of companies like Google, that charge a massive amount of money for each of their devices, but sadly fail to address its customers on an individual level.

Have you faced any such issue with Google or any other brand? Let us know in the comments below.

Tech2 is now on WhatsApp. For all the buzz on the latest tech and science, sign up for our WhatsApp services. Just go to Tech2.com/Whatsapp and hit the Subscribe button.
Reuters

Apple Incs chief executive Tim Cook has his work cut out in China this year: the iPhone maker faces the looming threat of a court-ordered sales ban, the uncertain outcome of trade war talks and the roll-out of a new 5G network, where it finds itself behind rivals like Huawei and Samsung.

The complex outlook raises a challenge for Apple as it looks to revive its China fortunes after weakness there sparked a rare drop in its global sales forecast, knocked $75 billion from its market valuation and roiled global markets.

Cook told investors that the main drag on the firms performance in China had been a sharper-than-expected slowdown in the countrys economy, exacerbated by the impact of trade tensions between Washington and Beijing.

We did not foresee the magnitude of the economic deceleration, particularly in Greater China, he said.

Chinese shoppers told Reuters another element had been key: the high price-tag on Apples flagship phones.

Analysts said the firm faced a brewing storm of challenges: an economic slowdown, stronger rivals like Huawei Technologies Co Ltd bringing out comparable tech at lower prices and bubbling patriotic sentiment amid the trade war.

A Chinese court has also issued a preliminary injunction banning some Apple phones, part of a legal battle with chip maker Qualcomm Inc. This ban, potentially hitting iPhone models from the 6S through the X, has yet to be enforced.

On Thursday a local industry body, the China Anti-Infringement and Anti-Counterfeit Innovation Strategic Alliance, called on Apple to heed the court order and not trample the Chinese law by leveraging its super economic power and clout.

Apple declined to comment on the groups statement but has previously said it believes its current phones comply with the Chinese courts order.

These are tough times for Apple in China, said Neil Shah, research director at Counterpoint, adding the iPhone could see its market share slip to 7 percent this year in the face of stronger local rivals and worry about the sales ban.

Apples market share in the third-quarter of 2018 was around 9 percent, and has dipped from above 14 percent in 2015, overtaken by local rivals like Huawei, Oppo and Vivo.
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said that going by the BJP's 'credit seeking' claims, India would be celebrating its fifth birthday on 26 May, 2019.

New Delhi: The Congress on Saturday hit back at the BJP over its claim that it had acted against economic offenders such as Vijay Mallya, saying its government is claiming credit for everything as if those happened after it assumed office in 2014.

In response to a question while speaking at a press conference, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said that going by the BJP's "credit seeking" claims, India would be celebrating its fifth birthday on 26 May, 2019.

The party leader also alleged that Vijay Mallya met finance minister Arun Jaitley and sought his permission before fleeing the country.

"If BJP is taking credit for declaring Mallya a FEO (fugitive economic offender), then let them take credit as they are taking credit for everything from Mangalyaan, Chandrayan, Pokhran one to Pokhran 2 (nuclear tests)...we should be celebrating India's 5th birthday on 26 May, 2019. BJP feels that everything happened after its government came to power in 2014," he said.

In a press briefing earlier in the day, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra had said the law was brought in by the present NDA government to ensure that absconders such as Mallya are brought to justice.

Khera alleged that BJP had taken credit for everything since it took oath in 2014.

A special court in Mumbai Saturday declared absconding liquor baron Vijay Mallya a fugitive economic offender on a plea of the Enforcement Directorate.

"Mallya met a minister, sought his blessings and permission and left for London. I am sure they were getting updates on it. We all know...what happened and how it happened. In fact, a certain BJP minister recently even said that Mallya was not a fugitive and not committed any fraud.

"When Mallya himself said that he left after meeting Arun Jaitley, sought his permission, so what else is there to say," said Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera.

Mallya has become the first businessman to be declared an FEO under the provisions of the new Fugitive Economic Offenders Act which came into existence in August last year.

The ED had requested the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court that Mallya, who is currently in the UK, be declared a fugitive and his properties be confiscated and brought under the control of the Union government as per the provisions of the new FEO Act.

Special judge MS Azmi declared Mallya an FEO under Section 12 of the Act after hearing extensive arguments from the lawyer of Mallya and the ED counsel.

Mallya, accused of defaulting on loan repayments and money laundering, had left India in March 2016.
Claims state that the trailer of The Accidental Prime Minister be banned since it 'maligns and twists' the image of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

The Accidental Prime Minister seems to be facing new trouble. As per reports in ANI, a plea has been moved before the Delhi High Court, demanding that the trailer of the film be banned since it 'maligns and twists' the image of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

A plea has been moved before the Delhi High Court against the movie 'The Accidental Prime Minister', demands a ban on the trailer. The plea states that facts have been twisted to malign the image of the former PM Manmohan Singh. pic.twitter.com/phNJjohZfw  ANI (@ANI) January 5, 2019

Another tweet mentioned how the trailer was jepopardising foreign relations with other countries and affecting the "sovereignty and integrity of India."

The Petition also states that the trailer of 'The Accidental Prime Minister' is also spoiling relations with foreign countries and affects the sovereignty and integrity of India. A plea has been moved before the Delhi HC against the movie demanding a ban on its trailer.  ANI (@ANI) January 5, 2019

As per reports in India Today, the plea also mentions how the trailer is in violation of Rule 38 of the Cinematography Act and depicts living people such as Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Manmohan Singh without their consent. The plea was also directed towards platforms like YouTube, Google, Central govt and CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification).

The Accidental Prime Minister's trailer provoked considerable controversy with the Maharashtra State Youth Congress and Punjabi Cultural Heritage Board demanding that the makers hold special screenings for the two bodies so that they may suggest changes, if any. This was followed by widespread rumours that the film was to be banned in Congress-led states of Madhya Pradesh, but was later clarified to be untrue.

Anupam Kher plays former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the biopic based on the book The Accidental Prime Minister: The Making and Unmaking of Manmohan Singh by Sanjay Baru, who was Singh's media advisor. There was considerable backlash from Congress, with many party members stating that the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) is using the feature to malign Congress ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. However, Congress later issued a gag order to its party members, asking them not to speak on the film till further notice.
The Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party have agreed to an alliance ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, an SP leader said on Saturday.

Lucknow: The Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party have agreed to an alliance ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, an SP leader said on Saturday.

A formal announcement on the gathbandhan between the two Uttar Pradesh-based parties may take place later this month, SP's national spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary told PTI.

He said Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati had given their in-principle approval to the alliance after a series of meetings between them.

The two leaders also met on Friday, he said. Talks are on with other parties as well, the spokesperson said.

There has been an in-principle approval for the gathbandhan. And there is a possibility that an announcement in this regard will be made this month," Chaudhary said.

A number of meetings between SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and BSP supremo Mayawati have already been held. Yesterday too, both leaders met in Delhi."

"Talks are going on to accommodate some smaller parties in the alliance," he said.

He admitted that the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), which has a presence in western UP, is among these parties.

When asked about the possible inclusion of Congress in the UP alliance, Chaudhary said, "This will be decided by Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati.

But he added the alliance will not field candidates in Amethi and Raebareli, leaving the two Lok constituencies for Congress president Rahul Gandhi and United Progress Alliance chief Sonia Gandhi.

Politically crucial Uttar Pradesh sends 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha.

The Opposition parties defeated the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in three Lok Sabha bypolls last year.

In the Kairana Lok Sabha by-elections in May last year, the BJP lost to the joint Opposition candidate, RLD's Tabassum Hasan.

The seat had fallen vacant following the death of the BJP candidate Mriganka Singh's father Hukum Singh.

Tabassum Hasan was supported by the Congress, the SP and the BSP.

In March, the BJP lost the Lok Sabha bypolls in Gorakhpur and Phulpur.

In the last parliamentary elections in 2014, the BJP won 71 seats, securing 42.63 percent of the votes. BJP ally Apna Dal bagged two seats.

Samajwadi Party won five seats with a vote share of 22.35 percent. The BSP did not win any seat while securing 19.77 percent votes.

Congress registered wins on two seats in 2014, bagging 7.53 percent of the votes.
But at the same time, Sonia had no problem letting the party continue its protests in Kerala against the temple entry of women to suit the state's 'local politics'.

You cant dance at two weddings.

Thats what a popular German saying means in English. But thats what Congress matriarch Sonia Gandhi wants to do  or wants her party to do  on the Sabarimala fracas.

Sonia Gandhi is no longer the Congress president but only the chairperson of UPA. But this apparently didn't stop her from issuing a diktat to Congress MPs telling them not to wear black arm bands to protest against entry of women into Sabarimala temple on Wednesday. Doesn't Congress stand for gender equality, she chided them. The genuflecting loyalty and unquestioning obedience that are part of the Congress culture ensured that the attempt to support the Sabarimala protestors in Parliament was quickly abandoned.

But at the same time, Sonia had no problem letting the party continue its protests in Kerala against the temple entry of women to suit the state's "local politics". So Congress dances to the tune of Hindus who are angry with the violation of a tradition in Kerala, and also to the tune of those singing the song of gender justice in the rest of India.

Ideology? Take this new definition: For Congress, ideology is region-specific and vote-sensitive and, like cuisine and ingredients, it can change from place to place, perhaps even from time to time. But never mind if Congress ends up not having an opinion on gender justice. The only opinion Congress has is that it must defeat BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha election, even if the party has no clue as to how it must go about achieving it.

What Congress wants to do is this: It wants to defeat BJP as well as CPM in Kerala by taking the stand that menstruating women must not enter Sabarimala temple. It wants to defeat BJP in the rest of India with the position that all women can enter Swami Ayyappa's shrine that bars entry to the women between age of 10 and 50 years. In Kerala, Congress is the protector of a Hindu tradition. Elsewhere in India, the party is the champion of women's rights.

Ideological perversion

What kind of women's rights Congress is fighting for is another thing. In all of India minus Kerala, Congress supports those who suffer from an ideological perversion, which equates a Hindu tradition confined to one single temple among a million across the country with gender discrimination, which means fighting for a right that women devotees do not want, and which only ends up ensuring that Leftist and supposedly atheist women get the chance to visit a god they do not believe in.

Besides this ideological distortion, the Janus-faced and double-tongued strategy of Congress suffers from two fundamental flaws. The first one is that in the age of internet and rambunctious television which live-telecasts even the sneezing of a politician in Pathanamthitta to helpless audiences in Guwahati, what Congress does elsewhere is not a secret in Kerala. Hindu voters in Kerala whom Congress is trying to woo can't be unaware of the party's contradictory stand on the issue outside the state.

This strategy, if it's one, has a second shortcoming, which is that the party may politically end up achieving in Kerala the opposite of what it's trying to do. Fighting for the same Hindu votes that BJP is eyeing, Congress can only lose the race to the benefit of CPM, its primary enemy in Kerala, as mentioned in an earlier article .

This trend was confirmed during Novembers local body by-elections in Kerala.

In other words, if BJP and Congress scramble for Kerala's Hindu votes, this is what could happen in the ensuing division of votes: BJP will gain, but not substantially enough to get seats for itself. Congress will lose, significantly enough to help CPM.

The "tough" stand that the CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government has taken on Sabarimala may have more to do with a diabolical electoral strategy aimed at indirectly marginalising Congress than any great zeal to fight for women. For CPM, self-preservation comes gift-wrapped in ideology.

Sonia's directive to partymen on Sabarimala is in tune with Rahul's own view, expressed earlier, that all women should be able to enter the Kerala shrine. Rahul, however, had said it was his "personal view", while Sonias order amounted to an official action.

But what Sonia did runs contrary to Rahuls attempts to style himself as a born-again Hindu. In one stroke, she undermined what Rahul had been trying to do by hopping from temple to temple during Assembly elections in various states beginning with Gujarat in December 2017, by undertaking a "religious and spiritual" trek to Kailash Mansarovar last year and by resorting to other 'soft-Hindutva' tactics.

After appeasing minorities for long for electoral profit but actually doing nothing for their welfare, Congress is now molly-coddling Hindus, with the preposterous belief that two wrongs will make a right. But after the random victories it scored in last months state Assembly elections, the party is evidently too euphoric to even think of possible consequences of its ham-handed electoral strategies that reek of fake secularism and copy-cat Hindutva.

The head-nodding and tail-wagging in Congress that follow every word uttered by Sonia and Rahul is not surprising. But what is surprising is the knee-jerk manner in which Left-leaning and dynasty-loving intellectuals turn their hostility to Narendra Modi, however justified it may be on some counts, into an unquestioning acceptance of whatever Congress does or says. This affliction has a name: intellectual bankruptcy.
Jackson, who lived in Baltimore's Hampden neighborhood, told Justice Laura Ward he'd recently broken his foot and wasn't in the right state of mind because of painkillers. He told Ward it had been his initial intent to plead guilty to all counts in the indictment on Friday.
The letter of the GPCC chief comes in the wake of a recent audio clip, which was played by Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala outside Parliament.

Panaji: Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Girish Chodankar has written to President Ram Nath Kovind, urging him to enhance the security of state Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.

"There may be attempts on Parrikar's life from those who want that the actual details of Rafale deal shouldn't come out in the public domain as corruption in the deal will be proved," writes Chodankar in the letter.

The letter of the GPCC chief comes in the wake of a recent audio clip, which was played by Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala outside Parliament in New Delhi, wherein Goa health minister Vishwajit Rane was heard saying that Parrikar had an entire file of the Rafale jet deal in his bedroom and is using these files to hold on to his chair in spite of his poor health condition.

It is worth mentioning that Parrikar served as India's defence minister when the Rafale deal was signed with French defence manufacturing giant Dassault Aviation.

Later, Chief Minister Parrikar took to Twitter to dismiss the claims made in the audio clip. "The audio clip released by the Congress party is a desperate attempt to fabricate facts after their lies were exposed by the recent Supreme Court verdict on the Rafale deal. No such discussion ever came up during the cabinet or any other meeting," he tweeted.

Health minister Rane also hit back at the Congress, asserting that the audio tape was doctored and Parrikar made no mention about the Rafale deal and its documents.

"The audio tape is doctored. Congress has stooped to such a low level to doctor a tape to create miscommunication between the cabinet and the chief minister. Chief Minister Parrikar has never made any reference to Rafale or any documents. I have asked him for a criminal investigation into the matter," Rane told reporters in Panaji.

The Supreme Court on 14 December last year had dismissed all petitions seeking a court-monitored probe into the Rafale deal with France, saying that there was no occasion to doubt the decision-making process in the deal. The top court had said it was not its job to go into the issue of pricing.

The bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi, said that there was no need to conduct an investigation into the details of Rafale pricing.

The Rafale jet deal controversy has been on the boil over the last few months. The Congress and other Opposition parties have been alleging irregularities in the high-profile deal.
Addressing a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rally, Modi alleged that there was a conspiracy to weaken the country's defence forces during 2004-2014.

Baripada (Odisha): Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at the Congress on Saturday, accusing the Opposition party of working at the behest of middlemen in the defence sector, instead of running a government for the people, during the UPA rule.

Addressing a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rally, Modi alleged that there was a conspiracy to weaken the country's defence forces during 2004-2014 and the revelation of facts was now "paining" the Congress leaders.

"Therefore, they want to remove the chowkidar (watchman) from their path at any cost. Be it the society or factories, thieves always try and conspire to remove the chowkidar to make their task easy. As long as the chowkidar remains, they are unable to operate," he said.

"This also pains them (Congress leaders) because their secrecy is now coming to the fore," Modi said, adding that there were reports that a letter of the middleman in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam, Christian Michel, who has recently been brought to India from Dubai, had revealed that they had close ties with top Congress leaders and ministers.

The middleman was aware of the movement of files in the Prime Minister's Office and even the details of deliberations of the Cabinet Committee on Defence, he claimed, adding that Michel had information of every movement of files.

"Perhaps, middlemen had more information than the prime minister himself," he said.

The middleman was also passing on crucial information related to defence, security and weapons procurement abroad, Modi said.

"I cannot understand whether the Congress was running a government or the durbar of its own Michel mama," Modi said, while asserting that a thorough probe would be conducted into these matters.

"I want to make it clear that the role of people in protecting the interest of middlemen at the cost of the country will thoroughly be probed by agencies and the people of the country. The Centre always takes hard decisions for the country's security," he said, while asking the crowd whether the Congress should be allowed to do what it was doing during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) rule.

Those who had done injustice towards the armed forces should be booked, the prime minister said, adding, "I want to assure you that law will not allow anyone to go scot-free."
Amit Shah said that the mahagatbandhan of Congress can give a helpless (Majbur) government and BJP can give a strong (Majbut) government under the leadership of Narendra Modi.

Agartala: BJP president Amit Shah on Saturday said that the party would fight the coming general election on the issues like development, defence and self-respect of the country. He expressed confidence that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would come back to power, with the BJP winning more than 300 seats.

The saffron party had won 282 seats in the 2014 poll, more than the magic number required for forming a government. "Development, defence and self-respect of the country are the main issues in the next general elections with which the BJP will go into the polls. Prime Minister Narendra Modi would come back to power by winning more than 300 seats", Shah told a press conference.

When asked about building of the Ram temple at Ayodhya, he said, "So far the issue of Ram Mandir is concerned, Congress does not want the case is settled fast. According to the announcement of the BJP, we want Ram Mandir is built, but remaining within the structure of law."

He said that there would be drastic changes in the poll scenario in the West Bengal where BJP would win more than 23 seats out of a total of 42 seats.

He also claimed that his party would also win 21 seats out of 25 in the northeastern region of the country.

Coming down heavily on efforts of the anti-BJP parties to come together, Shah said, the mahagatbandhan of Congress can give a helpless (Majbur) government and BJP can give a strong (Majbut) government under the leadership of Narendra Modi.

The Modi government has conducted huge developmental works throughout the country, but what is remarkable is strengthening the security and defence of the country, he said.

Shah said, "When enemies attack soldiers of America or Israel, they immediately retaliate. After the two countries, India is now the third country in the world which also retaliates after formation of the BJP government in 2014." The BJP chief also claimed that Prime Minister Modi has set a precedent of a strong India by carrying out surgical strikes inside Pakistan after terrorist attacks on Indian Army base at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir in 2016.

Earlier, Shah kicked off the BJP's election campaign at the Swami Vivekananda Maidan by addressing 50,000 panna pramukhs and other party workers.

During his address, Shah appealed to the people of Tripura to ensure victory with a huge margin in the two Lok Sabha seats from the state.

"Prime Minister Modi works 18 hours a day. He comes from a poor family and works tirelessly for the country. After five years in the office of prime minister, nobody can raise a single allegation against him. Only he can lead a majboot sarkar (strong government)," Shah said.

He launched a scathing attack against the Congress-led alliance saying they have neither policy, nor leader or any sort of promise.

"What is the neeti (policy) of this alliance? Who is its neta (leader)? Who will run their government? So, build close coordination with every single person in the state and make sure that both Lok Sabha seats from Tripura are gifted to Narendra Modiji in 2019," he said.

Among others, BJP General Secretary, Ram Madhav, state in-charge Sunil Deodhar and Chief Minister Biplab Kumar also spoke in the meeting.
After Ajay Maken resigned as the Delhi Congress chief on Friday, speculation is rife about the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress to fight the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Delhi together. However, several sections of both parties are warning against the possible alliance in the national capital and also Punjab.

After Ajay Maken resigned as the Delhi Congress chief on Friday, speculation is rife that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress are planning to fight the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Delhi together. However, several sections of both parties are warning against the possible alliance in the national capital and also Punjab.

According to reports, Maken's resignation  official reason for which was the Congress leader's health issues  could also be because of growing inclination of the party to ally or have a seat-sharing arrangement with AAP.

News18 reported that former AAP leader Ashutosh wrote in his publication that it was Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal who first proposed the idea of the alliance. In an article on satyahindi.com, Ashutosh wrote, "The truth is that Kejriwal decides what happens in AAP. And Kejriwal wants an alliance with Congress. He has been pushing for it for the past one year. Some other parties have also worked as communication channels for AAP and Congress.

Ahutosh also wrote that Delhi's Congress pradesh committee had advised the "high command" against the alliance because of dwindling support for the AAP in the national capital. Maken had been vocal about his disinclination to forge an alliance with AAP when he tweeted last year, "On 'so-called' offer of AAP to Congress for three seats, look at my reply to Kejriwal! When the people of Delhi are continuously rejecting Kejriwal government, why should we come to their rescue? After all, Kejriwal with team Anna supported by RSS, helped in creating this monster of Modi!"

Ashutosh also wrote that the alliance could help the parties win all the seven seats in Delhi, whereas a split could result in the division of votes, allowing the BJP an easy win. The Congress and AAP, together can bag the votes of communities like Muslims, Dalits, and jhuggi dwellers, News18 reported. Ashutosh also said that a similar alliance was possible in Punjab, where Congress is the ruling government.

Maken, a senior Congress leader, had also launched bitter attacks on the ruling party in Delhi as part of the Opposition. Therefore, the Congress leadership could have been considering moving Maken to the party's central command to ensure alliance talks can take off smoothly.

There are talks to stretch the alliance to Punjab too, where Congress is in a much stronger position whereas AAP, still a nascent entarent is struggling to gain relevance. However, AAP's Punjab unit is not too keen to ally with the Congress. In a four-hour-long meeting with Kejriwal, party's Punjab unit expressed reservations about joining hands with the Rahul Gandhi-led Congress on Thursday.

The party, however, is still undecided over any pre-poll alliance with the Congress or the Mahagathbandhan of various non-BJP parties. "In the meeting with Mr Kejriwal, some persons pointed out AAP was the main opposition in Punjab where Congress is the ruling party, which has failed to fulfil its promises, so it will be difficult to contest the elections (with Congress)," senior AAP leader Gopal Rai said.

AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said, "As of now, we have no alliance with any party. We are not saying anything on the future plans of the party". The National Council of the AAP had, in its meeting last week, decided to contest all 33 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, Goa and Chandigarh.

From the Congress, no current office bearer is saying anything on the issue. However, former chief minister and Congress leader Sheila Dikshit said on Wednesday her party high command will decide whether or not an arrangement of such an alliance takes place. Dikshit, who was the chief minister of Delhi for 15 years (1998-2013) and a bitter critic of Kejriwal, said she will not question any decision her party takes on an alliance with the AAP.

"I have nothing to do with it. It's the high command which has to take a decision. Whatever its decision, I am not going to question it," Dikshit told PTI on being asked about possibility of an alliance with the AAP.

With inputs from agencies
By Mayank Aggarwal

In 2018, for the third year in a row, India has recorded at least 100 tiger deaths. The reasons for the deaths range from natural deaths, poaching to electrocution and poisoning.

India is home to about 70 percent of the global tiger population, but the population of the endangered animal is threatened due to factors like developmental pressure leading to habitat loss, poaching and human-wildlife conflict.

Though India has managed to substantially increase the tiger population which had plummeted to 1411 in 2006, experts argue that a lot still needs to be done to maintain the momentum.

Its a classic case of viewing the glass as half empty or half full. For the third straight year, the number of tiger deaths in India have touched the 100-figure mark. However, the number of deaths in 2018 have decreased as compared to the year before that.

According to the official data of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the countrys nodal body working on welfare and protection of tigers, at least 100 tiger deaths, including seizures, were recorded in 2018.

Of the 100 tiger death cases, 93 were of mortality and seven of seizures, which are cases where a tiger is presumed dead on the basis of the body parts seized by authorities. The reasons for death of tigers ranged from natural deaths, electrocution, poisoning to poaching and in-fighting. In 69 cases, the exact cause of the death is yet to be ascertained as investigation details are awaited.

Madhya Pradesh topped the list with 27 tiger deaths and was followed by Maharashtra with 20 and Karnataka with 14 deaths. Together, the three states accounted for 61 percent of the total tiger deaths in the country in 2018.

The total number of tiger deaths in 2015, 2016 and 2017 were 81, 122 and 115 respectively, indicating a drop in number of deaths in 2018 compared to the previous year.
Uttar Pradesh police inspector Manoj Kumar, who became an internet sensation after he shouted 'thain thain' to scare criminals during an encounter in Sambhal on 12 October, on Thursday was left injured after an exchange of fire between police and criminals in Sambhal.

The Uttar Pradesh police inspector who became an internet sensation after shouting "thain thain" during an encounter in Sambhal, was injured during an exchange of fire between police and suspects on Friday, ANI reported.

Inspector Manoj Kumar who shouted 'thain thain' to scare criminals during an encounter in Sambhal on 12 Oct got injured yesterday during an exchange of fire between police & criminals in Sambhal. pic.twitter.com/GBDjI5OzQg  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 5, 2019

Inspector Manoj Kumar was injured after two men on a bike fired upon police, Superintendent of Police Yamuna Prasad told ANI: "During counter-firing, a criminal was also injured. One criminal absconding. Injured have been taken to the hospital."

On 12 October, Kumar mimicked the sound of a gunshot after his pistol jammed during an encounter in Sambhal district. A video of the incident went viral shortly after. In the video, another police officer can be heard shouting "maaro, maaro, ghero, thain, thain" with the intent of scaring the suspects.
Noting that this was the second such incident since October 2018, when India returned seven Rohingya men to Rakhine State in Myanmar, the UNHCR said conditions are not conducive for the return of Rohingya to Myanmar.

United Nations: The UN refugee agency has expressed regret over India's decision to repatriate a group of Rohingya to Myanmar, saying it has sought clarification from India on the circumstances under which the asylum seekers were sent back, voicing concern over the unconducive conditions for such returns.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said Friday that it "regrets India's decision to repatriate a family of Rohingya asylum seekers to Myanmar, the second such return in three months," Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General, Farhan Haq told reporters at the daily press briefing.

The UN refugee agency said a family of Rohingya asylum-seekers from Rakhine State, registered with UNHCR in India, was sent back to Myanmar on Thursday after being detained in Assam, where they had been serving a prison term since 2013 for illegal entry into India.

The agency said despite repeated requests, it did not receive a response from the authorities in India regarding requests for access to individuals in detention to ascertain their circumstances and to assess the voluntariness of their decision to return.

Noting that this was the second such incident since October 2018, when India returned seven Rohingya men to Rakhine State in Myanmar, the agency said conditions are not conducive for the return of Rohingya to Myanmar. "UNHCR continues to request access and seek clarification on the circumstances under which the return has taken place, the agency added.

There are an estimated 18,000 Rohingya refugees and asylum-seekers registered with UNHCR in India, living across different locations.

Responding to a question on the Rohingya being returned to Myanmar, Haq said the UN wants to ensure that whenever any family is returned, the nature of the return was voluntary. "And UNHCR was not able to assess the voluntary nature of that return, and so they are very concerned about this," he said.

When asked if the Secretary-General intends to talk directly to India over the issue since the UN refugee agency has "failed", Haq replied "I wouldn't say that UNHCR has failed. What I would say is that there are movements on the ground about which they are concerned, but they are in charge of this particular file, and we'll see how it goes with their efforts."

Assam Additional Director General of Police (Border) Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta has said in Guwahati that the five members of the Rohingya family were handed over to the Myanmarese authorities along the International Border in Manipur.

They were apprehended about five years ago without any travel document and were booked for violating the Foreigners Act, Mahanta has said.
Ten central trade unions have also called for a nationwide general strike on 8 and 9 January

New Delhi: A section of PSU bank employees would go on a two-day strike on 8 and 9 January in support of the nation-wide strike call given by 10 central trade unions against the government's alleged anti-worker policy.

The All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) and Bank Employees Federation of India has informed the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) of the two-day nationwide strike on January 8-9, 2019, IDBI Bank said in a filing to the BSE.

In a separate filing to the BSE, Bank of Baroda said "in the event of AlBEA and BEFI proceeding on strike on 8 and 9 January, 2019, the functioning of bank's branches/offices in some of the zones may be affected."

Ten central trade unions  INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, AICCTU, UTUC, TUCC, LPF and SEWA  have also called for a nationwide general strike on 8 and 9 January, against the "anti-people" policies of the Centre and have placed a charter of 12 demands before the central government.

Earlier on 26 December, 2018, nine bank unions or close to 1 million employees of various banks, including private lenders, had observed a one-day strike to protest against the proposed amalgamation of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank with Bank of Baroda.
Police personnel and civilians pay respects to Indian-origin police officer Ronil Singh who was shot dead by an illegal Mexican immigrant.

New York: Funeral services will be held in California on Saturday for Indian-origin police officer Corporal Ronil Singh, shot dead allegedly by an illegal immigrant, as several police personnel and civilians paid their respects to the fallen officer.

The first of several services for Singh took place on Friday morning. Crowds lined up by the side of the road to pay their last respects as Singh's body travelled from Modesto to Newman in California.

Photos and flowers lined the aisles of the theatre in downtown Newman with Singh's flag-draped casket at the front, ABC7News reported.

Singh, of the Newman Police Department, was shot and killed at a traffic stop on December 26 by an illegal immigrant named Gustavo Perez Arriaga, while he was planning to flee to his native Mexico.

Just hours before the incident, the 33-year-old officer had been home celebrating Christmas with his wife and five-month-old son before starting his night shift.

Singh, who was a native of Fiji and joined the force in July, 2011, had called off on a traffic stop in Newman and a few moments later he called out "shots fired" over the radio. Multiple agencies responded to assist and Singh was found at the scene with gunshot wounds.

He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

California police arrested the suspect at a Bakersfield, California home. Perez Arriaga had crossed into the US illegally and at a news conference, Stanislaus County Sheriff Adam Christianson said that the killing could have been prevented if California's sanctuary law had not prevented local authorities from reporting Perez Arriaga  who had gang affiliations  to immigration officials after two previous arrests.

President Donald Trump spoke with Singh's widow and colleagues on Thursday.

Singh served the Newman Police Department for seven years and was assigned as a canine officer. Prior to joining the Newman Police Department, he served with the Merced County Sheriff's Department.

Tributes and condolence messages for Singh poured from police departments and officials across the country.

California Governor Edmund Brown extended his condolences to Singh's wife, their young son and colleagues. "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.

In honour of Singh, Capitol flags in California were flown at half-staff.
Besides the urban course where the arrest took place, which is laid out with fake commercial areas and a suburban residential court, there is a course that mimics Maryland highways. On another, sprinklers allow instructors to create a controlled wet surface where drivers can practice entering skids and correcting them. On another, patterns of traffic cones mark out advanced parking and turning maneuvers designed to make recruits very comfortable with the space their vehicles take up.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is set to visit eight Middle East countries in the following weeks, a trip scheduled amid rising uncertainty and complexity in the region following the decision of U.S. troop withdrawal from Syria.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo [File photo: AP/Carolyn Kaster]

Pompeo was expected to use the opportunity to assure the allies about U.S. commitment in the region, a mission not easy to fulfill.

"NOT GOING ANYWHERE"

Pompeo will kick off his eight-day trip on Monday to visit Jordan, Egypt, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait, said the U.S. State Department in a statement on Friday.

The visit will center on two "themes," which were reinforcing commitment to the region after its Syria decision and countering Iran's "destabilizing activities," senior State Department officials told reporters at a telephone briefing Friday.

"We are not going anywhere," said one official, who talked on the condition of anonymity.

The Trump administration announced in late December that it had started returning the U.S. troops home from Syria after claiming a victory in the fight against the Islamic State (IS), a move rattling its allies and partners in the Middle East and leading to the departure of key administration officials.

Following the abrupt announcement, no detailed timetable about the withdrawal has been exposed to public, while U.S. President Donald Trump himself later changed his tone on the issue, claiming a slow retreat "over a period of time."

"We have no timeline for our military forces to withdraw from Syria," said another official during the briefing, adding that it will be done "in a deliberate, heavily coordinated way."

Meanwhile, the officials shunned away from the much discussed possibility of the United States organizing groups of troops from Arab countries to go to Syria, saying that they have no plans "right now" about that.

The officials also revealed that Pompeo will raise the case of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi during his talks with Saudi leaders, seeking "accountability and credibility."

Khashoggi was murdered inside the Saudi consulate in Turkey in October 2018 and a number of top Saudi officials were arrested over the case.

INFLUENCING GULF COUNTRIES

It has been noticed that Pompeo covers all the six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in one trip, an itinerary described as "highly unusual" by the officials.

Washington has long hoped to end the rift among the GCC countries, comprising Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar, and form a unity against Iran, which the Unites States declared as a "key threat" in the region.

Pompeo's trip will work to "build confidence among the blockading countries and Qatar," said the officials.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt have been imposing a diplomatic and economic boycott on Qatar since June 2017 over allegations that the gas-rich Gulf country supports terrorism and interferes in their domestic affairs, which Doha has repeatedly denied.

Little sign of reconciliation has been seen among the conflicting sides.

Pompeo will convene two strategic dialogues throughout the trip, one in Doha, the capital city of Qatar, and one in Kuwait, according to the officials.
Seven Naxals carrying a total cash reward of Rs 31.50 lakh on their heads on Saturday surrendered in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district, police said.

Nagpur: Seven Naxals carrying a total cash reward of Rs 31.50 lakh on their heads on Saturday surrendered in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district, police said.

Police said Vikas alias Sadhu Podhadi (27) a member of the Kodelayer Chhattisgarh "jan militia dalam", was involved in three encounters with security forces and carried a reward of Rs 4 lakh.

Woman Naxal Vaishali Baburao Veladi (18) was a member of the Bhamragadh dalam and carried a cash reward of Rs 4.50 lakh on her head, an official said.

Suraj alias Aakash Tanu Hurra (25) was part of the Kasansur dalam till 2017 and was charged with involvement in seven encounters, five murders among other cases and had a reward of Rs 4.50 lakh, he added.

"Similarly, Mohan alias Dusa Kesa Kovsi (19) was involved in two encounters and nine murders and was carrying a prize reward of Rs 4.50 lakh. Naveen alias Ashok Peka (25) was a member of Gatta dalam and had the same amount on his head," he said.

Janni alias Kavita Hevda Dhurva (26), a "section deputy commander" in "company number 4, platoon A" till December 2018, had taken part in seven encounters and three murders and carried a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh, he said.

Durgi Geba Pungati (29), part of the Tipagadh dalam, carried a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh, he said.
Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Friday condemned the violent protests at Sabarimala temple and its surrounding areas and urged all to maintain restraint.

Sabarimala: Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Friday condemned the violent protests at Sabarimala temple and its surrounding areas and urged all to maintain restraint. In a statement, Ravi Shankar said, "It's a pity Kerala, a state known for progress and communal harmony is burning. I call on everyone to keep calm and restrain from the acts of violence."

He further said that no action should be taken till the Supreme Court's decision on the review petition." We have to wait for the Supreme Court's decision on the review petition. When the Sabarimala matter is subjudice, no action should have been taken that would cause heartburn and turmoil in our society," he added.

"While Kerala has not left any stone unturned for its women empowerment, the temple traditions and sentiments of devotees should be respected," Ravi Shankar noted. This comes a day after, two women of menstruating age, Bindu and Kanakadurga, entered the Lord Ayyappa temple to offer prayers triggering protest in several parts of the state.
As police in Kerala struggled to control the situation amid protests over the Sabarimala controversy, Pinarayi Vijayan lashed out at the RSS.

Kannur: Violence involving the BJP-RSS and the ruling CPM rocked parts of Kerala, particularly Kannur district, Saturday with several houses and shops of rival leaders and workers being attacked over the Sabarimala issue.

Besides Kannur, Perambra in neighbouring Kozhikode, Malappuram and Adoor in Pathanamthitta, where the Ayyappa shrine is located, also witnessed a series of similar attacks and vandalism Friday night and in the early hours Saturday.

Bombs were hurled at several places, including at the houses of CPM MLA AN Shamseer in Madapeedikayil, BJP leader and Rajya Sabha member V Muraleedharan at Vadiyil Peedikia and former Kannur district secretary of CPM P Sasi at Thalassery in Kannur district past midnight, police said. No one was injured in the attacks.

As police struggled to control the situation, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan lashed out at the RSS, saying the Sangh Parivar was trying to create fear in people's minds.

The Opposition Congress hit out, asking why the Left government failed to stop the RSS from creating trouble.

In another development, a peace meeting called by the Revenue Divisional Officer at Adoor in Pathanamthitta district was boycotted by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

BJP claimed that they decided to stay away as the police failed to arrest the accused in connection with the death of Chandran Unnithan, a 'Sabarimala Karma Samiti' member who, they alleged, was killed in stone-pelting on 3 January.

Talking tough, Vijayan said "State will deal with the RSS violence sternly.

They are trying to destroy the peace and tranquility of the state. We will take stong action against it. It's the RSS agenda to create fear in the minds of the people," Vijayan told reporters here, adding that it will not be allowed.

He said people of the state have shown restraint.

"The RSS workers were attacking houses of MLAs, and other leaders. Their only aim and route is violence. The law and order system of the state will take care of it," he said.

Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala alleged the state police had failed to maintain law and order.

"DGP himself has accepted this.Why has government failed to stop the BJP from creating violence?" Chennithala asked.

State minister and CPI(M) leader G Sudhakaran courted controversy calling Sabarimala temple's Tantri (chief priest), a "Brahmin monster" for conducting a 'purification' ceremony after two women in the menstrual age group entered the shrine.

Two women, Kanakadurga (44) and Bindu (42), entered the shrine and offered prayers on Wednesday, breaking a centuries-old tradition.

Following this, the tantri, Kandaru Rajeevaru, closed the sanctum sanctorum to perform the 'purification' ceremony.

In Delhi, BJP national spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao hit out at the CPM state leadership and said the violence around the hill shrine was unleashed by the LDF government, which, instead of dealing with it in a sensible way, wreaked havoc, resulting in devotees being hurt and even killed.

Meanwhile, Pathanamthitta district collector has extended prohibitory orders at Sabarimla till 'Makaravilakku' festival on 14 January. Prohibitory orders were already imposed at various places in the state including Nedumangadu, Adoor, Pandalam, and Kodumon.

As violence erupted, V Muraleedharan's ancestral home was attacked hours after bombs were thrown at the homes of Shamseer and Sasi when leaders of the Marxist party and BJP-RSS were attending a peace meeting.

The attacks, which disrupted normal life, marked return of political violence on large-scale after a gap of over a year in the sensitive district.

Kerala has been rocked by violent protests by BJP-RSS and right wing outfits after two women of menstruating age offered prayers at the Ayyappa temple on 2 January.

As violence continued to disrupt life in Kannur and other places, Kerala police chief Loknath Behera sounded a statewide alert and gave directions to take stern action against those responsible for attacks on houses of party leaders. According to Behara, 1,286 cases have been registered till tonight and 3,282 people arrested in connection with the violent incidents since the 3 January hartal called against the entry of two women into the hill temple. Of the arrested, 487 have been remanded and 2,795 granted bail.

A police release said patrolling and raids had been intensified across Kannur. Police carried out a route march Saturday morning in Thalassery, where 19 people had been arrested and 33 taken into preventive custody.

Police said stone pelting incidents were reported against a march taken out by DYFI and BJP office in Kannur district this evening, but none was injured.

It has been decided that no marches would be allowed to be taken out tonight and tomorrow, according to police.

In another incident, miscreants set fire to an office of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Pariyaram area in the morning, police told PTI. A CPM worker was attacked at Perumbara in Iritty in the district last night while RSS leader K Chandrasekharan was assaulted in Thalassery and his house ransacked allegedly by around 25 Marxist workers.

With the tension continuing, the CPM and BJP-RSS leaderships blamed each other for the violent attacks. CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram that the RSS was trying to trigger riot in the state and sabotage peace talks.

The RSS-BJP combine was turning temples and educational institutions managed by them as "armoury", he alleged, adding the ruling party would take the initiative to restore peace in violence-hit areas.

Countering the charges, V Muraleedharan said the incidents of violence were the tactics of the ruling CPM to divert attention from the controversies and protests over the violation of the traditional customs at the Sabarimala temple.

The entry of two women into the hill shrine on Wednesday, the first time since the Supreme Court in September last year lifted the age-linked ban on the entry of women devotees, has triggered massive protests in Kerala.

Located in north Kerala, Kannur has been the hotbed of political violence especially between the CPM and BJP and witnessed bloody clashes and killings over the years. In Kannur district, 169 cases have been registered and 230 people arrested, while in Palakkad 166 cases have been registered and 298 people held, police said.
Commenting on the Sabarimala row, the UN Secretary General's deputy spokesperson said the UN encourages all to respect the Supreme Court's decision.

United Nations: Noting that the Supreme Court in India has ruled on the issue of women entering the Sabarimala temple in Kerala, a spokesperson for the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has said the world body encourages all to respect the rule of law.

"As you know, this is an issue on which the Supreme Court of India has commented. So, we will leave the matter in the hands of the rule of law authorities in India. Of course, we want all parties to respect the rule of law, and you're aware of the UN's position and its fundamental position on the equal rights of all people," deputy spokesperson for the Secretary General, Farhan Haq told reporters at his daily press briefing on Friday.

Haq was asked about the UN's position on the Sabarimala situation in the wake of the widespread violence in Kerala over the entry of women into the hill-top shrine.

When he was asked by a reporter whether not allowing women to enter the temple was a violation of human rights, Haq reiterated that the UN "obviously" encourages all people to respect the laws of the country.

When asked if the UN's position on equal rights for women also applies to other religions such as Islam or Catholicism, Haq said, "It applies across the boardThe question is how that is to be carried out. In this case, like I saidultimately, this is a question on which the courts have pronounced themselves, and we encourage respect for the rule of law."

Kerala has been marred with violence since the afternoon of January 2 after two women of menstruating age managed to enter Sabarimala temple.

The shrine was out of bounds for girls and women between 10 and 50 years of age. The Supreme Court's 28 September verdict allowed women of all age groups to offer prayers at the hill shrine dedicated to Lord Ayyappa.

The Sabarimala row has been witnessing massive protests from the right-wing organisations since the Left-led state government decided to implement the Supreme Court ruling.
The Kerala police on Saturday arrested 20 people in connection with an attack on CPM MLA AN Shamseer's residence in Kannur on Friday. Unidentified persons riding a bike hurled a bomb at Shamseer's house at Madapeedikayil near Thalassery in Kannur district of northern Kerala at around 10:15 pm.

The Kerala police on Saturday arrested 20 people in connection with an attack on Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) MLA AN Shamseer's residence in Kannur on Friday.

Unidentified persons riding a bike hurled a bomb at Shamseer's house at Madapeedikayil near Thalassery in Kannur district of northern Kerala at around 10:15 pm, police told PTI. According to The Times of India, no one from Shamseer's family was injured but the water tank in the house was damaged.

Kerala: Country-made bomb hurled at CPI(M) MLA AN Shamseer's residence in Kannur. Police investigation underway pic.twitter.com/ORn99r90yC  ANI (@ANI) January 4, 2019

"This was an RSS conspiracy to instigate violence in the state. They intend to create violence and destroy the peaceful atmosphere of the state," Shamseer told media.

The attack happened when the Left leader was attending a peace meeting organised at Thalassery after widespread violence had hit the state following the hartal declared by right-wing groups over the entry of women in Sabarimala.

A few hours later, a crude bomb was hurled at former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president and Rajya Sabha MP V Muralidharans ancestral home in Kannur. No one was injured in the incident, reports said.

According to NDTV, Muraleedharan alleged that the CPM was behind the attack.

Moreover, bombs were also hurled at the homes of CPM leader and former Kannur CPM district secretary P Sasi and CPM worker CK Vishak. Two shops and the house of a CPM local leader at Adoor were also attacked with bombs on Friday. Seven persons were injured in these attacks.

The windowpanes in Sasi's house were damaged in the attack. Meanwhile, Vishak suffered stab injuries at Iritty. He is currently undergoing treatment, The Times of India reported.

In another development, prohibitory orders have been issued at Pandalam, Adoor and Kodumon police station areas in Pathanamthitta district for seven days. Pathanamthitta has witnessed widespread violence over the entry of women into the hill-top shrine of Sabarimala resulting in the death of a Sabarimala Karma Samiti member Chandran Unnithan at Pandalam.

Kerala has been marred with violence since the afternoon of 2 January after two women of menstruating age managed to enter Sabarimala temple. The police have filed 801 cases related to the violence that broke out after various Hindu groups called for a state-wide shutdown of shops and other establishments on Wednesday to protest against the entry of the women.

The southern state has been witnessing massive protests from the right-wing organisations since the Left-led state government decided to implement the 28 September order of the Supreme Court allowing women of all ages to enter the centuries-old temple.

With inputs from agencies
Periyar University on Saturday released the results of undergraduate (UG) and post-graduation (PG) exams 2018 on its official website (periyaruniversity.ac.in). The university had conducted the exams for the UG and PG courses in November 2018.

Tamil Nadu's Periyar University on Saturday released the results of undergraduate (UG) and post-graduation (PG) exams 2018 on its official website (periyaruniversity.ac.in). The university had conducted the exams for the UG and PG courses in November 2018.

Candidates can visit the official website to download their results from the official website. According to reports, the results were supposed to be declared earlier this week, however, The Indian Express quoted the Controller of Examinations at Periyar University, A Muthusamy as saying, "The results are not delayed. We are working as per our schedule. Students can check the result on the official website by this week."

How to check the result:

Visit the official Periyar University website periyaruniversity.ac.in On the homepage, click on the "Result" tab or follow this link. Select the relevant link among the ones displayed for affiliated colleges and university departments. Log in using your registration number Check your result and print it out for future reference.

Periyar University covers four districts in Tamil Nadu  Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, and Krishnagiri. According to reports, the university has also launched courses which include Bsc Mathematics (actuarial science), B.Com (financial marketing analytics), B.Com (security marketing practices), and M.Sc computer science (data analytics).

With inputs from agencies
The Humans of Bombay Facebook page invites the common man and celebrities to share moving and inspiring stories.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a post on the Humans of Bombay Facebook page  a photoblog (following in the footsteps of Humans of New York) which captures the lives of people in Mumbai and which invites common people and celebrities to share moving and inspiring stories  opened up about his childhood and the lessons learnt at his father's tea stall.

Modi spoke of how his family of eight lived in a house no bigger than 40x12 feet, but how it was enough for them. He recalled how his days began around 5 am, when his mother would provide traditional forms of curing and healing to newborns and small children. The prime minister remembered how he and his brother would take turns keeping the chula going for his mother to use. Modi spoke of how his mother didn't have the fortune of receiving an education, but said God was kind and that she had a special way of curing ailments. He said mothers would line up outside his home every morning because his mother was known for her healing touch.

"Then, I would open my fathers tea stall at the railway station, clean up and head off to school," Modi said. "As soon as school ended, I would rush back to help him, but what I really looked forward to was meeting people from all over the country. I would serve them tea and listen to their stories: thats how I learnt to speak Hindi. I would hear some traders speak about Bambai and wonder, Will I ever get to see the city of dreams?"

Modi said he was always curious, and that he would go to the library and read everything he could get his hands on. He remembered being eight years old when he attended his first RSS meet. He further said that he was nine when he was part of an effort for the betterment of others' lives: setting up a food stall with his friends to help victims of Gujarat floods. He remembered wanting to do more even as he was aware that his family had little means.

"Still, even at that age, I strongly believed that God has made us all alike. It didnt matter what circumstances I was born into, I could be something more. So when you ask me, what my struggles were, Ill tell you that I had none. I came from nothing, I knew no luxury and hadnt seen a better life, so in my small world... I was happy," Modi added.

Modi said if the way was difficult, he made his own way.

He also said that he had a great need to look sharp and groomed. He spoke of how since his family couldn't afford an iron, he would heat some coal, use an old lota, wrap a cloth around it and press his clothes. Modi added: "The effect was the same, so why complain?"

"This was the beginning of everything that I am today and I didnt even know it at the time. So if you ask the 8-year-old Narendra Modi, running around serving chai and cleaning his fathers tea stall, whether he even dared to dream about becoming the Prime Minister of India, his answer would be no. Never. It was too far to even think about."
Farmers had pinned their hopes on the winter rains for the rabi season. However, unfortunately, the rainfall deficit across large swathes of the country has come as a setback.

Farmers across the country are fighting with their backs to the wall. They had pinned their hopes on the winter rains for the rabi season. However, unfortunately, the rainfall deficit across large swathes of the country has come as a setback.

Maharashtra had the largest rainfall deficit  74 percent below normal in the period from 1 October to 31 December 2018. In Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh as well, the deficit was over 60 per cent. In the rest of the country, the deficit was to the tune of 44 percent.

Nana Pande, a farmer from Maharashtra's Vidarbha region, said he is not in a position to grow any crops during the winter season. "We usually grow gram. This year, I have not grown anything due to the lack of water. As it is, the rainfall between July and September was inadequate, and this adversely affected our tur crop. The yield for tur per acre is usually between 4 and 5 quintals, but this time, I will be lucky if I can get even 1.5 to 2 quintals per acre," he said.

Farmers in Maharashtra's Beed, Solapur, Jalgaon and Ahmednagar districts are voicing similar concerns. Their situation has been made worse due to the high temperatures during November.

The lack of winter rainfall has come as a double whammy for the Devendra Fadnavis-led government, given that 201 talukas in 32 districts of Maharashtra were already facing water scarcity owing to the deficient rainfall from the south-west monsoon. Only four out of 36 districts in the state are outside the grip of drought, an indication of how grim the situation is.

Water expert Himanshu Thakkar, who heads SANDRP, does not mince words when he says, "Maharashtra is staring at a severe water crisis. Experts say that 1972 was declared to have been Maharashtras worst recorded drought in history. But this year is expected to be even worse. Already, water levels in dams have plunged to less than half their capacity. The Marathwada region is the worst affected, with its dams presently having water only up to 16 percent of their capacity." However, it is not that the situation in other parts is significantly better. The Maharashtra Water Resources Department has released figures which show that as on 18 October, 2018, water in large dams is down to a quarter of their capacity. In medium and small dams, the water level is down to between 20 and 25 percent, unlike last year, when dams were around 70 percent full.

Thakkar further said, "Despite the government having declared Marathwada and Vidarbha as being drought-hit, it continues to divert water of the Koyna and Tata dams from vulnerable and drought-hit regions to the high rainfall Konkan belt to be used for hydro power generation. This is happening despite the country being a power surplus one. By doing so, we are depriving our farmers of their livelihood sources, thereby impoverishing them further."

Yogendra Yadav, founder of Swaraj Abhiyan, a socio-political organisation that works to mitigate the problems of farmers, pointed out, "The summer monsoon was very poor in north Karnataka, parts of Telangana and large swathes of Maharashtra and Gujarat. Even though the quantum of rain during the winter months is small, the moisture in the soil is important for crop germination. The lack of winter rainfall in Rajasthan, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh is bound to affect the wheat crop, given that half the farmers in this region do not have access to irrigation."

Yadav further said, "The Maharashtra government had launched the Jalyukta Shivar scheme to help recharge ground water. A similar initiative was launched by Rajasthan under Vasundhare Raje, which was called the Jal Swavalamban Abhiyan. Depleting ground water resources is an issue that cuts across all states, and the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has to be given more teeth in order to end all individual exploitation of ground water. Unfortunately, government institutions are not being given the freedom to function in an autonomous manner. Otherwise, how can the CGWB explain its recent notification, in which it specified that water-guzzling industries such as mining and and dewatering units were free to extract as much ground water as they needed, so long as they were willing to pay for it?"

Geologists attached to the CGWA warn against excessive ground water extraction taking place across cities and farms, which has reached an all-time high. "In our parched cities such as Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi, people are digging 800 feet below the ground, and yet not finding water. But a similar situation now prevails in our villages too. If this indiscriminate boring is not halted immediately, it will lead to depletion of our ground water resources," said a geologist with the CGWA, citing the recent example of Mumbai, where up to 500 borewells were dug and still, no water was found.

Geologists further point out that water percolation in the ground requires a steady pattern of rainfall. Monsoon rains, thanks to El Nino and climate change, are getting increasingly sporadic. We witness heavy spurts of rain over a few days, but that does not mean there has been good percolation. For the accumulation of ground water, steady rainfall over a longer period of time is needed.

Yadav remarked, "If we are facing acute water shortage in January, what will it be like by mid-March, by which time summer will have set in? The entire country is set to face a water

emergency. Already, in the winter months, Aurangabad is receiving water once in four days. The situation is similar in north Karnataka and parts of Gujarat."

Sevaram, a farmer in a village in Sikar district who grows chickpeas, said that while his investment cost worked out to over Rs 13,000 per hectare, he could sell his produce at only Rs 4,800 per hectare. Similarly, the input cost for the green gram crop was Rs 9,000 per hectare, while the produce was sold for Rs 3,000 per hectare.

He said, "The lack of rains, chronic water shortage and increase in cost of production have created a situation due to which I will not grow any rabi crop in this season."

Shripad Dharmadhikari, who runs Pune-based NGO Manthan Adhyayan Kendra, believes both the state and central governments have to come up with strong and decisive policies to avoid a water crisis. He said, "The recent Niti Aayog report highlights how India is facing its worst water crisis, with over 600 million people facing acute water shortage. The Jalyukta Shivar policy started off as a good idea, but it soon translated into a free-for-all largely benefitting big farmers at the expense of those who have small and medium-sized holdings. I have seen well-to-do farmers bringing in four to five excavators to dig up stretches of rivers in search of water. There was no kind of regulation or monitoring of what was going on."

Vikram Soni, a physicist and water expert, believes that the time has come for a radical shift in the style of agriculture. "Farmers need to change their cropping patterns and move to growing millets and channa, which consume less water," he said.

Soni cited the example of sugarcane, which occupies only five percent of farm land in Maharashtra, but consumes 700 TMC of water, which is more than half the water available annually in the state through irrigation.

He also said that farmers, under government supervision, should start using river fronts to grow fruit trees, in order to be able to generate income as also to help water recharge for the river. Simultaneously, the government must encourage farmers to start producing power, which they can sell in order to earn an additional income.

While boosting incomes assumes prime significance, the Ministry of Water Resources must come up with a strong policy to help augment Indias dwindling water sources in order to help farmers' livelihoods. Lack of water (whether through rain or irrigation) has been shown to be the prime cause of pushing farmers into poverty.
A woman in Jabalpur has accused Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University V-C Professor PD Juyal of rape as well as threatening to upload her photographs on the net.

Jabalpur: A court in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur district has directed police to register an FIR after a woman accused Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University Vice Chancellor Professor PD Juyal of rape as well as threatening to upload her photographs on the net.

Judicial Magistrate First Class Nidhi Jain issued the order on a complaint filed by a forty-year-old woman seeking that the police register an FIR and probe the matter, the woman's counsel Aman Sharma said.

Sharma said the woman moved the court after getting no response from the police and the Madhya Pradesh State Women Commission.

The woman came in contact with VC Juyal when she went to complain about the death of her dog allegedly for want of proper treatment at the veterinary college hospital, the counsel said.

The VC allegedly raped the complainant on the pretext of offering her a job, Sharma said.

Later, on 17 March, 2018, the VC called her to Rewa and allegedly raped her in a hotel room, Sharma said.

The woman sought police action against the VC under Sections 376 (2)(N) of IPC (commits rape repeatedly on the same woman) and 67 (punishment for publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form), 67 (A) (punishment for publishing or transmitting of material containing sexually explicit act, etc.in electronic form) of IT Act, he said.

When contacted, VC PD Juyal said, "It is an attempt to malign the image of the university and mine. There is a conspiracy going on against me in the varsity and the woman is acting at the behest of such persons. The police investigation will reveal the truth."

The order was pronounced on 29 December, 2018 but the counsel received the certified copy of the order on 3 January, 2019.

Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University is a state government-run university.
In Jammu and Kashmir, the authority of the Mirwaiz is again being challenged, in both politics as well as religion.

In June 1989, the death of the architect of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini, caused ripples as far as Srinagar in the Kashmir Valley, where an insurgency was in its nascent stage. La Sharqiya La Garbiya, Islamia, Islamia. (No east, no west, only Islam), the Valley reverberated.

A day after his death, according to a report by Newstrack, a gunman appeared at the stage erected in the historic Jamia Masjid in downtown Srinagar, bypassing the senior separatist leaders present there, and announced that a shutdown must be observed the coming Friday. This was, perhaps, among the early signs of an Islamisation of the insurgency that would soon turn into jihad and then eventually challenge the political separatist leadership itself.

The act was also a direct challenge to the authority of the hereditary clerical order of the Mirwaiz, whose religious and political authority is derived from the pulpit of the Jamia Masjid. The then Mirwaiz, Moulvi Farooq, seemingly underestimated the significance of what had transpired. Its a good thing, Moulvi Farooq told Newstrack. It should upset me and other leaders (but) we aren't bothered.

The Mirwaiz shot down the interviewers apprehensions that the passage of power from the political leadership to the insurgents would be dangerous for Jammu and Kashmir. Dont worry about us, he had retorted. A year later, the Mirwaiz would be assassinated by the insurgents and his young son, Umar Farooq, was coronated as the Mirwaiz. He has never named his fathers killers.

Fast forward to 2019, the authority of the Mirwaiz is again being challenged, in both politics as well as religion. The challenge is not from gunmen but youth who are intent on taking matters in their own hands. On 28 December, 2018, sometime after Friday prayers concluded at the Jamia, a group of masked youth waved the flags of the Islamic State, one climbed the mosques pulpit, and shouted slogans in its favour. In the evening, a video of the incident went viral online.

The act by the masked youth was immediately condemned by Farooq, who also heads the mosques management committee and a faction of the separatist Hurriyat. Though flags of the Islamic State have regularly appeared in the area, this act was symbolic. In recent years, the Jamias pulpit and stage have rarely been opened to other separatist leaders. In 2008, the stage was reluctantly given to the Valleys octogenarian separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, but he was not allowed to sit on the pulpit that was much smaller back then.

The 28 December incident was termed as desecration by the mosques management committee. The Wednesday after the incident, Farooq cleansed the pulpit and declared that the coming Friday, 4 January, would be observed as day of sanctity. The Valleys separatist leadership gathered at the mosque in solidarity and condemned the incident for having not only desecrated the mosque but also maligned Kashmirs separatist struggle. Besides the Mirwaiz, Yasin Malik of the JKLF and a representative of the Jamaat-e-Islami, its spokesperson, Zahid Ali, were present on the occasion. Senior separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, gave a telephonic address.

The enemy who must not be named

What complicates the separatist opposition is that the bulk of the Islamic State-inspired youth are the resentful and dejected lot of their constituency. In their address on 4 January, the leaders were aware of this fact. Malik praised the youth of downtown Srinagar for keeping the separatist struggle alive, making it the symbol of resistance and warned that conspiracies against the downtown were at play.

Without mentioning the Islamic State, Malik pleaded to the youth to not get swayed by such global ideologies and instead bring forth their grievances to the separatist leadership. We have to appear as oppressed before the world, because we are being oppressed, said Malik. How can we go before the world with this name (of the Islamic State) that will make them say that we should be bombed?

Due to the hype given to the incident by mainstream Indian media and wary of Indias attempts to link the Kashmiri separatist struggle with global terror, Geelani warned that the act had neither served Islam nor the separatist movement but was being used to link the Kashmiri separatist struggle with global terrorism. Our enemy is not only cruel and oppressive but also cunning.

The Mirwaiz himself reiterated that the separatist struggle was indigenous but there were attempts to hijack it. He asserted that the fight was for Kashmirs right to self-determination and spoke of the United Nations resolutions on the dispute. We are fighting for our rights, we have no global agenda, he said. It is precisely this politics that is ridiculed by the growing section of Islamists in the Valley, mostly the youth, as un-Islamic. The youth, Mirwaiz said, must control their emotions. We must know which direction we have to take."

Of all the speakers, only the Jamaats representative specifically criticised the Islamic State but still maintained that the separatist struggle would continue till Islamic rule was established in the Valley. The open-ended criticism by the other separatist leaders, some observers point out, could be to gradually open a front against the Zakir Musa-led Ansar Ghazwatul-Hind, an organisation self-avowedly linked to Al-Qaeda. Musa had threatened to hang the separatist leaders for calling Kashmir a political issue.

The battle for Kashmirs youth

The Kashmiri separatist movement, since its armed eruption, has often oscillated between propagating that the struggle was religious or political in its nature. Sympathisers of Islamism point out that even Syed Salahuddin, the head of the Pakistan-based United Jihad Council, at one point, sought Al-Qaeda and Talibans help in Kashmir. In the early 1990s it was the Hizbul Mujahideen, now the largest jihadist outfit, that trained its guns on the secular insurgents of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front.

In 2009, as Mirwaiz Farooq discreetly met Indias home minister, the process of talks was derailed after an attack on the separatists resulted in critical injuries to a key leader. It is, perhaps, the shifting of goalposts that has led to the new wave of youth, from Burhan Wani to Zakir Musa, taking up arms to outrightly declare jihad and distance themselves from Pakistan. The separatist solidarity after desecration, too, points to the fact that the events at the Jamia could not be seen in isolation.

A shift in the politics of the Jamia and downtown Srinagar  the bastion of the Mirwaiz  was perhaps signalled in July 2017 when, just a few yards from the Jamia, the flag of Pakistan was thrown to the ground as the funeral procession of a slain mujahid from the area was being taken out, and Hurriyat representatives were prevented from addressing the mourners. The following year, at the funeral of another youth who was mowed down by a security force vehicle during stone-pelting outside the Jamia, the Hurriyat spoke of youth giving sacrifices for khilafat.

Over the last few years, several instances across the Kashmir Valley have pointed to growing disillusionment with the politics of the Hurriyat and growing frustrations with Indian stubbornness in taking forward political processes. In recent years, the availability of global jihadist ideologies at their fingertips, through smartphones and the internet, have given the youth in despair a new hope for a potent method to achieve their goals.

Fridays at the Jamia have turned into gatherings where sympathisers of almost all armed outfits converge and clash with security forces. During Ramzan in July 2017, mobs chanting slogans in favour of Musa lynched a policeman to death as devotees prayed inside the mosque. The same year, in September, a large Islamic State flag was displayed in the courtyard of the Jamia as masked youth offered funeral prayers for the jihadist Abdul Qayoom Najar, who was claimed by both the Ansar Ghazwatul Hind and the self styled Islamic State in Kashmir.

The stone-pelting youth have often entered the mosques premises to flee security forces. Sometime during late 2017, a video from the Jamia went viral, causing outrage against the Mirwaiz. In the video a young boy is lying on the ground, his face bloodied and open shirt revealing his pockmarked chest and moments after blood oozes out of his mouth, a voice is heard saying we have been enclosed, referring to the gates of the Jamia locked by agents of Mirwaiz.

For now, the symbolism of the pulpit has given the separatist leadership a chance to rally against the growing threat of global Islamist ideologies, but the fight for Kashmirs youth would be a long one, given that the Hurriyat has so far even failed to reach a consensus over a political roadmap for the future of Kashmir.
The meeting came the day after hundreds of people packed a community forum in Perry Hall to discuss crime. Olszewski said he is listening to those concerns, but also wants to keep things in perspective, noting that crime in the county is down.
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on Friday withdrew a circular it issued on Monday, which could have led to exoneration of top Congress leaders in the National Herald case.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on Friday withdrew a circular it issued on Monday, which could have led to exoneration of top Congress leaders in the National Herald case. The next hearing of case by Supreme Court is scheduled for 8 January.

The withdrawn circular stated that the provisions of Section 56(2)(vii)(a) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 were not applicable on shares received by a company as a result of fresh issuance of shares by the said company. In essence, this would have meant that fresh issuance of shares would not have been taxable.

Former Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal and the Congress party had welcomed the 31 December circular saying it "vindicates" their stand in the Associated Journals Limited case pending before the Supreme Court. Kapil Sibal tweeted, Circular No 10 of 2018 issued by the CBDT on 31 December, 2018 completely exonerated Young Indian of Tax liabilities for the shares allotted to it by National Herald. The circular clarifies the legislative intent behind section 56(2) (Vii) (a) of the income tax act. Govt. exposed."

However, the CBDT promptly withdrew the circular on Friday saying that it has been brought to the notice of the board that the matter relating to interpretation of the term "receives" under section 56(2) (vii) (a) of the IT Act 1961 is subjudice in certain higher judicial forums.

The circular further said that representations have been received from stakeholders seeking clarification on other similar provisions in section 56(2) (vii) (a) of the Act. Accordingly, the matter has been reconsidered by the board. Given the fact that the matter relating to interpretation of the term receives used in section 56 of the Act is pending before judicial forums and stakeholders have sought clarification on similar provisions in section 56(2) (vii) (a) of the Act, the board is of the view that the matter is required to be examined afresh so that a comprehensive circular on the matter can be issued, reads the amended circular issued Friday.

In view of the above, the said circular shall be considered to have been never issued. A fresh comprehensive circulation on the subject shall be issued in due course, it added.

According to Income Tax department sources, the circular was issued following multiple representations made by industry body, especially a telecom major, to the government. The government issued the circular without realising that it would help Congress in its National Herald case," said a senior Income Tax official based in Delhi. Only when media reported it, the government realised this and decided to roll back the circular, he said.

CBDT rains on Congress' parade

Congress held a press conference on Friday where Congress leader Ahmed Patel welcomed the Monday circular saying that this "vindicates" their position. "There never was an issue about issuance of such shares as a taxable event as it was being projected by way of harassment," he said.

"It vindicates our position and the years of harassment meted out on National Herald case that the shares issued by it were a taxable event, that has been clarified by the CBDT," he said.

The 31 December, 2018 circular clarified that provision of 56(2)(vii)(a) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 shall not be applicable in cases of receipt of shares by a specified company or firm as a result of shares shared by the specified company.

"Keeping in view the legislative intent to apply anti-abuse provision contained in section 56(2)(viia) to transfer of shares for no or inadequate consideration, it is hereby clarified that section 56(2)(viia) of the Act shall apply in cases where a specified company or firm receives the shares of the specified company through transfer for no or inadequate consideration," said the 31 December circular.

However, the circular was soon rolled back, prompting Sibal to accuse the government of functioning with malafide intent.

When the Government realised that CBDT by circular 10 of 2018 clarified the law which vindicates AJLs allotment of shares to Young Indian , Government ,with malafide intent directed CBDT to withdraw the circular . Shameful  Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) January 5, 2019

Patel too came down heavily on the Narendra Modi government. He said that the government withdrew the circular when it realised that it is going to help AJL. The government is being totally subjective in reading the law, he said. This is nothing but political vendetta. They are not considering how many people would be benefited by this circular but because this would help AJL, they withdrew it, he said. The party will put up the circular in the Supreme Court where the next hearing in the National Herald case is due on 8 January, he said.

The National Herald Case

Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) which publishes of Congress' mouthpiece National Herald was acquired by Young Indian, a Section 25 company formed by Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Oscar Fernandes in 2010 with a capital of Rs 50 lakh. The acquisition also meant transfer of Rs 90 crore debt of AJL which was later converted into equities and the Congress party claimed it was not a taxable income.

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The thieves struck 10 shops in a commercial complex at Gurgaon's Khandsa road, just 500 metres away from ACP Shivaji Nagar office, and four shops and two banks at old jail complex, not more than 300 metres away from police commissioner's office,

Gurgaon: Thieves in the city of Gurgaon are employing novel tactics to carry out their business: exploiting the cover of dense fog and wearing Santa Claus mask to avoid being recognised, even through CCTV footage.

On Friday morning, a group of 10 thieves targeted 14 commercial establishments in the Khandasa road area and escaped with cash and valuables worth lakhs of rupees, a police officer said.

They struck 10 shops in a commercial complex at Khandsa road, just 500 metres away from ACP Shivaji Nagar office, and four shops and two banks at old jail complex, not more than 300 metres away from police commissioner's office, the police officer said.

They tried to drill a hole in the wall of the UCO Bank and the IndusInd Bank branches there but failed to execute their plans after the residents of adjoining houses woke up due to the noise of the machine.

"We believe that it would be a handy work of probably two gangs which utilised the low visibility to commit crime at two different places," the officer said.

The shop owners got to know about the incident on Friday morning when they came to open shops. They were shocked to find that locks of their shutters were broken.

"We have lost valuables worth at least Rs 50 lakh. The thieves are more thoughtful in their approach in committing crimes compared to crime prevention efforts of the Gurgaon police. Lack of police patrolling in the area is also a reason of these incidents," alleged Sanjeev Kumar, a shop owner at Khandsa road.

Mohan Lal, the manager of UCO bank at old Jail Complex, said that bike lifting is a common thing in the area but a theft bid in banks is a serious issue. "Learning lesson from this incident, we will deploy additional private security guards in the night and urge local police to increase patrolling in the area," Lal said.

ACP of city police station Rajiv Kumar said, "We have registered an FIR against two unknown thieves who are caught in one of the CCTV cameras in Khandsa road market. However, their faces are not visible as they were wearing Santa Claus masks."

During investigation, it came to light that thieves used gas-cutter, iron rod to cut shutters and drill machines to make holes in the wall. The police do not have much evidence apart from CCTV footage at one place.

As per the CCTV footage, the two thieves visible in the recording, arrive around 3:30 am and stayed at least 45 minutes to cut the shutters of shops. They stole cash, laptops, mobile phones, firefighting equipment and other valuables from different shops in these two places, police said.
Delhi's air quality deteriorated again due to unfavourable meteorological conditions, after showing a slight improvement.

New Delhi: Delhi's air quality deteriorated again to the 'severe' category on Saturday due to unfavourable meteorological conditions after showing a slight improvement on Friday, authorities said.

According to data released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) in the city reached 417, which is in the 'severe' category.

In view of the air quality in Delhi, the Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) had ordered a 24-hour ban on the entry of trucks into the National Capital Region (NCR).

Twenty-six areas in Delhi recorded 'severe' air quality, while eight gauged 'very poor', it said.

In the NCR areas, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Gurgaon and Noida recorded 'severe' air quality, the CPCB said.

Delhi's air quality had slightly improved on Friday thanks to improved wind speeds but due to unfavourable meteorological conditions, it once again turned severe, officials said.

The overall PM2.5 level (fine particulate matter in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres) in Delhi was recorded at 298 while the PM10 level was at 468, the CPCB said.

An AQI between 100 and 200 comes under 'moderate' category, 201 and 300 is considered 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', while that between 401 and 500 is 'severe'.

Authorities said rainfall predicted for Saturday might improve the air quality but warned that little showers with calm winds would only aggravate the situation rapidly.

As per the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting (SAFAR) model, fog intensity is likely to decline with increased gusty winds. "An active western disturbance is very likely to cause fairly widespread moisture intrusion over the northern region, including Delhi, but only after three days when withdrawal is expected," it said.

The entry of trucks to Delhi would be disallowed "from 11 pm on Friday to 11 pm on Saturday in view of the severe pollution in the city," the EPCA instructed authorities in a letter to the chief secretaries of Delhi and the neighbouring states of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.

EPCA chief Bhure Lal directed them to stop the entry of truck traffic into the national capital (with an exception made for trucks carrying essential commodities) during the period.

This is the second time this season that a ban on the entry of trucks has been imposed.

The ban was previously imposed in November when a deterioration of air quality was observed.
Minutes after transfer of Joint Director V Murugesan was reported, the CBI issued a fresh order stating that he would continue to be in-charge of the probe against Special Director Rakesh Asthana, officials said on Friday.

New Delhi: Minutes after transfer of Joint Director V Murugesan was reported, the CBI issued a fresh order stating that he would continue to be in-charge of the probe against Special Director Rakesh Asthana, officials said on Friday.

The agency had issued an order on Friday transferring Murugesan from Anti-Corruption wing which was probing the case against Asthana to Economic Offences wing.

Within minutes the transfer was reported in the media, the agency issued a subsequent

order stating that Murugesan will continue to "supervise" case against Special Director Rakesh Asthana, officials in the know of development told PTI.

The earlier order accessed by PTI shows that Murugesan, who was deputed by Director (in-charge) M Nageswara Rao to lead the investigation against Asthana, was transferred as part of efforts to give an "impetus to expeditious completion of coal scam cases".

The order also said that Murugesan was "bogged down" by additional charge of Joint Director AC (HQ)-I zone, which being a "heavy zone" takes away much of his "time and attention".

Murugesan's charge has now been given to Joint Director GK Goswami, who in addition to his responsibility of the Lucknow zone will also look after AC (HQ)-I zone, where a case against Asthana is registered.

The order also states that another joint director Vineet Vinayak looking after anti-corruption wing, Delhi Zone, has been transferred. His charge has now been given to additional director Praveen Sinha.

The CBI had registered an FIR against Asthana on 15 October, 2018 alleging serious corruption charges against him on the basis of a complaint from a businessman, Sathish Babu Sana.

The businessman, who was being questioned by Asthana's special investigation team probing the Moin Qureshi case, had alleged that a Dubai-based middleman had offered to use his purported links with the Special Director to manage relief for him in return for a bribe of Rs 2 crore.

Recently, the new investigation team had called Sana to again verify contents of his complaint in order find loopholes, if any, but sources claimed that he did not budge from his allegations.

Asthana was sent on leave along with CBI Director Alok Verma by the government after the agency arrested a deputy SP of the Special Director's team in the case for being active participant in the conspiracy.

The charge of the CBI was given to Joint Director M Nageswara Rao who transferred all the officers probing allegations against Asthana and constituted a new team to be headed by Joint Director V Murugesan.

The serious corruption allegations may dampen chances of Asthana to become next CBI director for which the selection and short-listing has already been initiated by the government but the decision will be taken by a committee comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and leader of largest opposition party Mallikarjun Kharge.

The new director is likely to be appointed by 31 January which is the retirement date of incumbent Alok Verma.

Asthana has moved the Delhi High Court seeking directions to quash charges against him, while Verma had challenged divestment of his powers in the Supreme Court.
Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah on Saturday said that Congress is desperate to wear a fake mass of coalition

Agartala: Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah on Saturday said that Congress is desperate to wear a fake mask of coalition as they are eager to come into power, ignoring the fact that nation wants a strong government, not a helpless one. Addressing a press conference here, Shah said: The upcoming coalition formed by the Opposition parties has no plan but to gain power against PM Modi. The Congress, who had lost eight states in North East is now desperate to wear a fake mask of coalition to come into power.

"Coalition can never give a strong government. Congress has forgotten the fact that people want a strong government, not a helpless one, he added. Shah further asserted that BJP has won the hearts of Tripura people in a less course of time. One can see a progressive change in Tripura as the state has witnessed growth above the violence and dirty politics of Communist parties.

Shah said: Under their rule, state farmers used to earn less than what they deserve, however, PM Modi has increased Minimum Support Price (MSP) by 1.5 times and also decided to purchase 50 lakh metric tonne crop from the farmers. Also after increasing the MSP, the Modi government has procured around 50,000 metric tonne of paddy in Tripura.

Claiming that BJP has effective plans to address the problem of state farmers, Shah said, Hardly, any crop will remain with farmers as the government will buy all and they will get around Rs 18 from Rs 10/kg for their crops. The amount will be directly sent into their accounts without any delay and role of a middle-man. The BJP president also stressed upon the various upcoming plans and schemes that have been implemented in the state by his government. Under Atal Dhara Mission, Tripura will get pure drinking water within three years, weve fulfilled the promise of providing 7th pay commission to workers and those who have faced the administrative blunder caused by the earlier state government were also compensated by us, the BJP chief said.

We've (state government) taken actions against fake ration cards and pension claimers. Around 62,340 ration cards were canceled to prevent the unnecessary leakage of public funds. We've taken stringent actions to control the rapid menace of alcohol in the state. And in just a year, 34,000 Ujjwala connections have been increased to 2.34 lakh, which reflects our commitment towards development, he added. He also confirmed that Centre has been taking several measures for the progress of Tripura, and as compared to 13th and 14th Finance commission, weve raised the budget for the state from Rs 7,200 crore to Rs 25,000 crore.

More than 129 projects are on priority and projects of around Rs 13,000 crore were already given to the state by us," he asserted.
Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal assured the people that he would protect the interests of the state.

Guwahati: Protests over the Citizenship Bill erupted at various places in Assam on Saturday, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his government was working to ensure the proposed legislation gets Parliament nod. The agitators burnt effigies of Modi in Lower Assam and Dibrugarh, even as Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal assured the people that he would protect the interests of the state.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 seeks to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955, to grant nationality to people belonging to minority communities  Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians  in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan after six years of their residence in India. Several indigenous organisations in the state have been opposing the bill as they believe it would harm their cultural identity.

The prime minister, after flagging off the BJP's Lok Sabha poll campaign in the North East, said Friday that the bill was "not for the benefit of anyone but a penance against the injustice and many wrongs done in the past". Around 70 organisations, led by Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), took out protest rallies in the state capital in the morning.

The KMSS members had plans to march to the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) headquarters here to ask the party to break off its alliance with the BJP, but the police prevented them from doing so, its leader Akhil Gogoi Gogoi told reporters. "We took out the rally to urge the people to come out of their homes and protest against the prime minister's announcement. The bill will put the identity of the indigenous people at stake.

"We cannot tolerate a leader coming from Delhi and threatening our very existence while the chief minister and other BJP leaders applaud him," Gogoi said. Meanwhile, Sonowal on Saturday asked the people to keep calm as the state government would never do anything to harm their interests. "I am the chief minister of Assam and I have been entrusted with the duty of protecting the interest of the people of both Brahmaputra and Barak Valley. People should not doubt the government's intention," he told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.

He said he would go all out to secure the identity of its people. "We are committed to fulfill our responsibilities with sincerity. I will go all out to ensure that 'Jati-Mati-Bheti and Krishti' (community, land, homeland and cultural identity) are not affected," he added.
Former Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav may be investigated in an alleged illegal sand mining case, CBI sources indicated after the investigating agency conducted raids at 14 places.

New Delhi: Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and another senior Samajwadi Party leader are likely to be summoned by the CBI which conducted searches on Saturday at 14 locations in connection with an illegal sand mining case, officials said.

Among the prominent people whose premises were searched were 2008 batch IAS officer B Chandrakala, who became famous on social media for her alleged anti-corruption crusade. Her videos on social networking sites lashing government officials earned her a title of "Lady Dabang".

The searches were spread across multiple districts including Jalaun, Hamirpur, Lucknow and also in the national capital, they added.

Besides Yadav, the CBI is likely to question Gayatri Prajapati, who was arrested in 2017 following a complaint of rape by a woman residing in Chitrakoot.

It is alleged that the public servants allowed illegal mining during 2012-16 and illegally renewed licences despite a ban by National Green Tribunal on mining. It is alleged that the officers allowed theft of minerals and would extort money from lease holders and drivers.

In 2016, on the directions of the Allahabad high court to probe the case of illegal mining of minor minerals, the CBI had filed seven preliminary inquiry reports. An FIR has been registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code against 11 individuals, unknown persons and public servants.
A Delhi court on Saturday sent alleged middleman Christian Michel, arrested in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case, to judicial custody.

A Delhi court on Saturday sent alleged middleman Christian Michel, arrested in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case, to judicial custody. Michel was produced before Special Judge Arvind Kumar. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) sought his judicial custody in connection with its probe into a money-laundering case.

Michel, who was extradited from Dubai recently, was arrested by the ED on 22 December and sent to a seven-day custody of the agency over money-laundering charges in the scam by a court here. Michel was earlier lodged in the Tihar Jail in a related CBI case.

The ED also told the court that Michel's role in other defence deals has also emerged and alleged that all documents submitted to the Italian court were "false" and that Michel has "no evidence to prove it".

The investigative agency's counsel was quoted by ANI as saying, "His role has also come out in other defence deals and money seems to be flowing in that also. We have documents to show they misled the Italian court. Our probe has been fruitful. We have investigated how cash circulated through multiple bank accounts and hawala transactions.

The ED, who is investigating the case, had in the last week of December told a court that Michel had made a reference to "Mrs Gandhi". However, the agency had not made the context of the statement clear. Michel had also reportedly spoken about "the son of the Italian lady" and how he is going to become the "next prime minister of the country".

On 30 December, the court had sent the alleged middleman to seven-day ED remand and ordered his lawyers to maintain a distance while meeting him.

During questioning, Michel had also identified how Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was removed from the controversial deal, following which it was offered to Tata instead, according to ANI.

In response to reports of Michel's statements, the Congress on 29 December claimed that the government is using the probe agencies to malign the Gandhi family while the BJP said the "truth is coming out".

The Congress also referred to Michel's statement before his extradition that Indian probe agencies were pressuring him to name a member of the Gandhi family and alleged it was a "fixed match".

Congress leader P Chidambaram had slammed the ED, Centre, and the media on Twitter saying, "If the government, ED, and media have their way, in this country, cases will be tried on TV channels."

The former finance minister further compared the case to a trial held in a "kangaroo court". He said, "Even kangaroo courts hold trials in a courtroom. Our new 'improved' system will surpass kangaroo courts and deliver justice on TV channels." Chidambaram added, "Further, the Criminal Procedure Code and the Evidence Act will not apply. What ED says will be oral evidence, any piece of paper ED produces will be documentary evidence, and what the TV channel pronounces will be the judgment."

Former defence minister and senior Congress leader AK Antony also said that Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi had "never interfered" in any defence deals and accused the BJP of "manufacturing" lies.

With inputs from agencies
Vijay Mallya has been declared a fugitive by an anti-corruption court in Mumbai, becoming the first person to be charged under the new anti-fraud law, Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018.

An anti-corruption court in Mumbai on Saturday declared Vijay Mallya a 'fugitive economic offender'. The ex-liquor baron has become the first person to be charged under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018, the new anti-fraud law.

The Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court was hearing an application by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking to declare Mallya  who is in the UK  a fugitive and to allow his properties to be confiscated and brought under the control of the Union government as per the provisions of the new Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018, (FEO Act).

The order means the ED can now confiscate Mallya's assets, whether or not they are proceeds of the crime he is being charged with. India Today reported that the ED can also confiscate the assets of Mallya's companies and his personal assets in the United Kingdom.

Special judge MS Azmi declared Mallya an FEO under Section 12 of the Act after hearing extensive arguments from the lawyer of Mallya and the ED counsel. The court also refused Mallya's application to stay the order to give him some time to appeal.

Earlier, a UK court ordered Mallya's extradition. After the UK court's extradition order on 10 December, the External Affairs Ministry on 20 December said the Indian mission there is in "active touch" with British authorities regarding the case. He has filed an appeal in a UK court against the extradition order.

The 62-year-old former Kingfisher Airlines boss has been on bail since his arrest on an extradition warrant in April last year. He has contested his extradition on the grounds that the case against him is "politically motivated" and the loans he has been accused of defrauding on were sought to keep his now-defunct airline afloat.

"I did not borrow a single rupee. The borrower was Kingfisher Airlines. Money was lost due to a genuine and sad business failure. Being held as guarantor is not fraud," he said in his recent Twitter post on the issue.

"I have offered to repay 100 percent of the principal amount to them. Please take it," the flamboyant businessman tweeted earlier. He had even submitted an application in the Karnataka High Court to that effect.

The banks had earlier rejected this offer but Business Today reports that now the consorrtium of banks are considering recovering loans by the sale of Mallya's assets. The document seen by Business Today states, "In so far as assets belonging to the appellants (UBHL) are concerned, the same may be sold/disposed of expeditiously in accordance with the directions of this Hon'ble court and proceeds thereof may be released in favour of the respondents (banks) on priority."

Mallya, accused of defaulting on loan repayments and money laundering, had left India in March 2016.

With inputs from agencies
By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear an appeal filed by a subsidiary of chipmaker Broadcom Inc seeking to put an end to a shareholder lawsuit concerning its 2015 acquisition of Emulex Corp.

By Lawrence Hurley

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear an appeal filed by a subsidiary of chipmaker Broadcom Inc seeking to put an end to a shareholder lawsuit concerning its 2015 acquisition of Emulex Corp.

The legal question, which could affect other cases, is whether under the Securities and Exchange Act shareholders need to show intent to defraud when suing a company over statements made during the merger and acquisition process.

Avago Technologies Wireless Manufacturing, which later merged with Broadcom, paid almost $610 million to acquire Emulex Corp in 2015. Emulex made equipment for data centres such as chips and routers.

Gary Varjabedian, an Emulex shareholder, filed a securities class action lawsuit in federal court in California around the time of the deal seeking to prevent it. The move failed, but Varjabedian amended his lawsuit to include a claim that Emulex had failed to disclose data about other transactions between semiconductor companies when urging shareholders to accept the offer.

The plaintiffs have said they were misled into accepting a deal that may not have valued Emulex's shares highly enough.

A district court judge in 2016 dismissed the claim, finding that the plaintiffs had failed to show proof of intent, known in legal parlance as "scienter."

But in an April 2018 ruling, the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals revived the litigation by ruling that the plaintiffs were not required to show intent. Instead, the court said, only a showing of negligence was required.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce business group urged the court to take the case, saying that shareholders have no right to make such claims, whether or not there is proof of intent.

A ruling is due by the end of June.

(Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Will Dunham)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Fitzgerald has opted to continue in his job in Fort Worth and has spent little time in Baltimore since being nominated in November. Before his sons emergency, this weekend was to be a critical one for Fitzgerald, with community meetings. Fitzgerald was scheduled to be interviewed publicly before the council on Monday evening, which Stokes confirmed had been canceled.
Vijay Mallya has been on bail since his arrest on an extradition warrant in April last year.

Will embattled liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya be declared 'fugitive economic offender' according to the pleas by the Enforcement Directorate (ED)? A Special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court is expected to announce its verdict on the Enforcement Directorates plea seeking to declare Mallya a 'fugitive economic offender'.

The order has been adjourned till 5 January as the judge was not ready with his order. Mallya stands to lose all his property if declared 'fugitive economic offender' under the newly formed Fugitive Economic Offenders Act.

The 62-year-old former Kingfisher Airlines boss has been on bail since his arrest on an extradition warrant in April last year. He has contested his extradition on the grounds that the case against him is "politically motivated" and the loans he has been accused of defrauding on were sought to keep his now-defunct airline afloat.

"I did not borrow a single rupee. The borrower was Kingfisher Airlines. Money was lost due to a genuine and sad business failure. Being held as guarantor is not fraud," he said in his recent Twitter post on the issue.

"I have offered to repay 100 per cent of the principal amount to them. Please take it," the flamboyant businessman tweeted earlier. While dismissing that his intervention has anything to do with the extradition case, it came just days before Judge Emma Arbuthnot is expected to present her ruling in the case.

The trial, which opened at the Magistrates' Court on 4 December last year, has gone through a series of hearings beyond the initial seven days earmarked for it. It opened with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) team, led by Mark Summers, laying out the Indian government's prima facie case of fraud and money laundering against Mallya.

Summers sought to establish a "blueprint of dishonesty" against the businessman and that there are no bars to his extradition on human rights grounds.

Mallya's defence team, led by Clare Montgomery, deposed a series of experts in an attempt to prove that the erstwhile Kingfisher Airlines' alleged default of bank loans was the result of business failure rather than "dishonest" and "fraudulent" activity by its owner.

The court was also told that a consortium of Indian banks, led by the State Bank of India (SBI), rejected an offer by the liquor baron in early 2016 to pay back nearly 80 per cent of the principal loan amount owed to them.

While the CPS argued that Mallya never intended to repay the loans he sought in the first place because his airline's demise was inevitable, the defence tried to establish that Kingfisher Airlines was suffering from consequences of a wider global financial crisis around 2009-2010 and that its failure was a result of factors beyond the company's control.

"There are clear signs that the banks seem to have gone against their own guidelines [in sanctioning some of the loans]," Judge Arbuthnot had noted during the course of the trial.

In relation to the defence's attempts to dispute Indian prison conditions as a bar to Mallya's extradition on human rights grounds, the judge had indicated to the CPS that she did not require any further information in reference to the prison conditions awaiting Mallya at Barrack 12 of Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail after seeking a video of the cell.

"If the judge is satisfied that all of the procedural requirements are met, and that none of the statutory bars to extradition apply, he or she must send the case to the Secretary of State for a decision to be taken on whether to order extradition," explains Pavani Reddy, a UK-based legal expert and Managing Partner of Zaiwalla & Co.

The judge's decision on whether to send Mallya's case to UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid can be appealed with the UK High Court's permission, with the person to be extradited entitled to make an application for permission to appeal to the High Court within 14 days of the date of the Chief Magistrate's ruling.

On the other hand, the Indian government would also have 14 days to file leave to appeal to the High Court, seeking permission to appeal against a decision not to extradite.

"In case the concerned individual does not file an appeal, and Secretary of State agrees with the magistrate's decision, then the individual must be extradited from the UK within 28 days of the Home Secretary's extradition order.

"This will also apply if an appeal lodged by either party in the High Court is unsuccessful, but the 28 days will commence from the date when the appeal hearing was concluded," said Reddy.

If the judgment goes ahead as scheduled on Monday, it would mark a significant point in this high-profile extradition trial that has lasted over a year.
NGK

Suriya's NGK, directed by Selvaraghavan is one among the Tamil movies that is expected to come out in the theatres during the Tamil New year 2019. The film definitely is one among the highly awaited movies of Suriya and is expected to explore the actor as well as the star in him.

Kadaram Kondan

Chiyaan Vikram too is expected to pitch in with a big release in the form of Kadaram Kondan, directed by Rajesh Selva. The film has been produced by Kamal Haasan under the banner Raj Kamal Films. Nothing much has been revealed about the genre of the movie but the two posters of the film have definitely kept the audiences on their toes.

Kanchana 3

After the super success of Kaanchana and Kaanchana 2, the team is back with Kaanchana 3, which has high expectations bestowed on it. The film, directed by Raghava Lawrence features himself as the lead actor. Kaanchana 3 features Oviya and Vedhika as the leading ladies.

Kennedy Club

Kennedy Club is yet another Tamil movie that is expected to come out as a Tamil New Year 2019 Release. Directed by Sussenthiran, the movie is indeed a promising affair and it features actors like sasikumar, Samuthirakkani in the lead roles.
KGF Isn't A Byproduct Of Baahubali

When asked if KFG is a replica of Baahubali, Yash said, "No, KGF is not a byproduct of the Baahubali success. We wanted to do something big, something that would prove the Kannada film industry to be on par with cinema in the rest of the country. I never liked it when people discriminated against the Kannada film industry, as compared with the other south Indian industries."

But Yash Is Inspired By Rajmouli

"We are definitely inspired by the passion of Rajamouli sir. He saw our rushes and showered generous praise on me and my film. I am thankful. He has inspired us for sure. He broke all linguistic barriers. After Baahubali, people started taking regional cinema seriously.", he added.

He Always Knew KGF Would Be A Hit

Talking about the notions associated with the Kannada film industry he said, "No industry is small. It is the people who work in it that make it big or small. We of the KGF team thought big, and why should we not have? I always knew a KGF was possible. We wanted to prove that we had the potential and resources. We had a terrific story idea, and I was lucky to get a fantastic director like Prashanth Neel and a producer like Vijay Kirangadur who is like my brother."

Baahubali Inspired KFG Dubbing

KGF has been dubbed in multi languages. About this Yash said, "Initially, we had no plans of dubbing KGF into non-Kannada languages. We wanted to put out only the Kannada version with English subtitles. But then we saw the Baahubali dubbing and thought of getting a wider audience. So we decided to dub in several languages."
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Campaigners are calling for local abattoirs to be recognised as a public good as they are the 'linchpins' of the UK's food systems.

There are now only 56 small red meat abattoirs left in the UK, with a third having closed between 2007 and 2017 and a further seven closing in 2018.

Campaigners at the Oxford Real Farming Conference highlighted how local abattoirs ensure traceable meat production and multiple public goods associated with local food.

The findings of a survey by the Campaign for Local Abattoirs shows a sector under pressure. One owner described running the business as a continual struggle.

None of the abattoir owners surveyed considered their profitability to be good, whereas half of them described it as poor, and over 10% said they were making a loss.

This is due in part to a combination of high running costs and, with a growing move away from using natural animal by-products and towards synthetics, a collapse in the value of products that had previously provided income, particularly hides and skins.

President of National Craft Butchers and small abattoir owner, John Mettrick said: Recently we slaughtered 89 lambs but received only 10 pence each for their skins, in addition to being charged 1 each for 12 that were damaged.

This resulted in us actually making a loss for something that in my fathers day would have generated about 500 in profit.

On top of this loss, small abattoirs must pay 800-1000 per month to have their waste taken away. This has a knock on effect for farmers and retailers as abattoirs have no choice but to pass on these costs.

'Protect and enhance'

Nick Allen, Chief Executive of the British Meat Processors Association, called for recognition that small abattoirs are the sharp end of the market and a useful alternative to relying on mainstream outlets, which can often mean big retailers dominate. We need to keep as many open as possible.

The crux of the issue is the need to 'protect and enhance' local food systems, according to Peter Greig of Pipers Farm, who said: We need to believe in the future of relocalised markets.

Patrick Holden, Chief Executive of the Sustainable Food Trust, said: We can only bring change if we can touch the hearts and minds of the public. We need a campaign looking at how far animals have to travel to slaughter and bring this issue to the attention of consumers.

To fully address this problem 'urgent government action' is needed, according to Lady Parker who chaired the session at the Oxford Real Farming Conference. She said: All participants agreed that small abattoirs cannot survive in the current economic climate unaided.

They will only have a sustainable future if it is recognised that they provide a vitally important service, and they receive financial support to subsidise some of the excessive costs they currently face, based on the concept of public support for the public good they provide.
COLUMBUS  Ohios 69th governor will have his place in history at the Ohio Expo Center and State Fair, following a naming ceremony Jan. 4 in which one of the newest buildings was named Kasich Hall.

Formerly known as the Cardinal Center and built in 2016, Kasich Hall features exhibit spaces ranging from 12,500 to 75,000 square feet, and constructed from funds the governor and Ohio Legislature approved.

Virgil Strickler, Ohio State Fair general manager, said he was incredibly thankful for the governors leadership and forward thinking, which helped secure more than $67 million in capital appropriations between 2011 and 2018.

I am thrilled that we commemorated that support today by dedicating Kasich Hall, formerly known as Cardinal Hall, in his honor, Strickler said.

Investing in the future

Gov. John Kasich said one of the things he was most proud of was the planting of 160-plus trees on the fairgrounds, which will help create more shade and make for a more enjoyable experience. He recalled visiting the fair with his wife and daughters, and many late nights that his daughters spent on the rides.

Kasich reflected on the tragedy of 2017, in which a ride malfunction claimed the life of two. He complimented the fair management, his cabinet and the Ohio State Highway Patrol, for their response effort and for changes intended to make the fair safer going forward.

Nearing the final week of his term in office, the governor talked mostly about achievements in his eight years as governor, and where he thinks the state and country are headed.

The two-time presidential candidate was the last Republican challenger to President Donald Trump in the 2016 primaries, and is exploring a possible third run for 2020.

In America today, theres so much confusion and change and people are frightened, Kasich said. They want to know whether somebody cares about them.

He said the most important thing about his term was working with the people around him, and not leaving people behind. He said his team worked hard to respond to the needs of all demographics and races, including single mothers, people with autism, drug addiction, minorities and all races.

The power and the change in our country does not come from politicians, he said. The change in power in our country comes from you. What you do, how you act, how you try to change the world  thats what really matters.

James Zehringer, director of the Department of Natural Resources, thanked the governor for the largest capital funding project the fair has received  $38 million in 2014, and said the governor was responsible for both the Kasich Hall and the Buckeye Agricultural Complex, and keeping the All American Quarter Horse Congress in Ohio.

Tim Derickson, interim director of agriculture, said the governor was a good supporter of all of Ohios fairs.

State dollars improved fairs all across Ohio and strengthened our local communities, Derickson said.

Achievements

During his time in office, Kasich signed legislation abolishing the Ohio estate tax, also known as the death tax, and he signed legislation that updated the states farmland tax formula, known as the Current Agricultural Use Formula, which had allowed for 200-400 percent increases to what some farmers had to pay.

A more controversial move came in 2018, when the governor tried to get eight northwestern Ohio watersheds declared in distress, and set new rules that would have affected nearly 7,000 farms.

The rules were unpopular among farmers and non-farmers, and in October, Kasich fired former Ag Director David Daniels, apparently for siding with farmers.

In December, the states rule-review committee decided there were too many issues with the rules to proceed, and sent the package back to the ag department for further review and re-filing.
Due to the partial government shutdown, the Department of Homeland Security of which the Transportation Security Administration is a component, has not been funded, Farbstein said in an automated email response. Due to the lapse in federal funding, this email will not be monitored, and I will not be able to respond until after budget appropriations are enacted.
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The state defines a drug kingpin as an organizer, supervisor, financier, or manager who acts as a co-conspirator in a conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, dispense, transport in, or bring into the state a controlled dangerous substance. It does not define the size of the organization the kingpin must oversee, only the amount of drugs, according to the state.
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The leadership of the legislatures Education Committee will be almost completely new this session, but many of the committees perennial issues  education funding and the states achievement gap  are likely to continue to be center stage.

Rep. Robert Sanchez, D-New Britain, a new co-chairman of the committee, said he believes that the states Education Cost Sharing formula  used to distribute the states main education grant  needs to be tweaked or possibly reworked.

He said that many school systems are still getting the same amount of money they got years ago.

If we tweak the formula it may be that some towns will get less, but that makes sense if you are down 50 children, Sanchez said. Theres a lot to look into. We have to sit down with the unions, the local boards of education. I want everyone at the table.

But Senate Minority leader and Education Committee member Len Fasano of North Haven said that the latest iteration of the cost sharing formula was achieved through a bi-partisan effort and that it should be maintained.

It took into account all of the factors that are important: the Grand List, poverty, [English Language Learners] . Fasano said, mentioning several other factors. This went through many eyes: Republicans, Democrats, the administration Any talk about changing the formula disturbs me. In fairness, we came up with the answer.

The fact that the legislature tilted Democratic in the recent election, Fasano said, shouldnt be reason to change a formula that was achieved through a fair, transparent and honest process.

The new Senate ranking member of the education committee, Sen. Eric Berthel, R-Watertown, was out of town and couldnt be reached.

Sen. Doug McCrory, D-Hartford, the new vice-chairman of the committee, didnt mince words on the funding formula.

Personally, I think we need to start all over and scrap ECS, he said. Theres nothing wrong with starting over. What we have done hasnt worked for awhile.

McCrory said another priority for him is reducing the opportunity gap for students who are not achieving at acceptable levels, as well as raising the achievement levels of students who are already doing well.

National tests have shown that Connecticuts achievement gap between socio-economic and racial groups has narrowed a bit for certain grades and subject areas and widened for others, but still remains one of the largest in the country.

Another key issue for education legislators is charter schools, which are public schools that are publicly-funded and privately managed. Sanchez said he hasnt been a real big supporter of charter schools, but he has been willing to compromise.

My biggest feeling is we really need to work on the [neighborhood] public school system and fix whatever we can there before we start concentrating on opening up new charter schools, Sanchez said.

Fasano said he is concerned about the way charter schools are funded. Right now they are a line item, susceptible to be taken out of the budget in any given year, Fasano said, leaving charter operators on pins and needles.

He said legislators need to consider whether to include funding for charters in the Education Cost Sharing grant.

Rep. Kathleen McCarty, R-Waterford, the new House ranking member, said she is interested in working on a bill that might encourage districts to pursue social-emotional learning programs for students. A bill on social-emotional learning made it through the house last year but stalled in the Senate, she said.

McCarty also expects that a school safety bill passed by the legislature last year but later vetoed by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy will probably return, perhaps in modified way.

Sanchez, who worked with pre-school children for 20 years, said another key issue for him is obtaining fair salaries for pre-school teachers.

They are the lowest paid teachers, he said, adding that teachers have been told to get their associates and bachelors degrees, but still arent making much money.

Sanchez said hed also like to see funding for more paraprofessionals to assist special education teachers.

Those no longer on the education committee include longtime education co-chairman Rep. Andy Fleischmann, D-West Hartford, who lost his bid for re-election in a primary; Sen. Gayle Slossberg, D-Milford, a former education co-chairwoman who declined to run again this year; and veteran Sen. Toni Boucher R- Wilton, who was also a co-chairwoman of the education committee and was defeated in November.

Sanchez was vice-chairman of the Education Committee last year.

Sen. Beth Bye, D-West Hartford, was named co-chairwoman of education but then was tapped by Gov.-elect Ned Lamont to lead the Office for Early Childhood.
GREENWICH  The Greenwich High School Performing Arts Center, plagued by leaks over the past year, had a water-related problem in 2016.

A flex connector broke in April of that year on a hot water supply line on the east side of the auditorium, according to minutes from a meeting of the Music Instructional Space and Auditorium Building Committee.

It was the same type of part that broke last month, when a vibration coupling on hot water pipes malfunctioned, flooding the $47 million building and shuttering it for nearly two months.

The 2016 and the 2018 problems occurred at different locations within the system, Greenwich Public Schools Director of Facilities Dan Watson said in an email.

In both cases, the leak occurred at a flex connector, which is the same part as a vibration coupling, he said. The insurance company is still investigating the specific cause of the 2018 leak.

The system is enclosed behind a wall, so facilities staff cannot easily access the parts, which Watson said ruled out a maintenance problem on the 3-year-old building as the reason for the failure.

These parts are located within ceilings and are not in a serviceable area and require no operation or maintenance, Watson said.

In 2016, Consulting Engineering Services reviewed the problem and determined the part had been installed vertically, not horizontally.

The flip increased the amount of weight that the part bore, and led it to break, said building committee member Bob Brady.

You have to have the thing installed and operating before it gives, he said. Theres a case to be made that it should have been caught when shop drawings were made.

The building committee issued the costs for the problem to Ferguson, the plumbing distributor that sold the part to Turner Construction, lead contractor on the project, according to building committee minutes.

The system consists of cold water and hot water pipes and a large fan, which blows hot or cold air, controlling the temperature of the room. Vibration couplings, also known as flex connectors, keep vibrations from the fan from being transferred to the structure of the building.

The cause of the 2018 failure could be the same as it was two years ago, or it could be the inverse  the part could have been manufactured incorrectly and installed correctly, Brady said.

All of these things require failure analysis, he said.

The problems are Watsons to analyze and resolve, but the building committee is helping him to the extent members can while Watson investigates the leak, Brady said.

We all want to see it work right, and I think it will, but its taking longer than wed like, Brady said.

The parts malfunctions are part of a series of recent water problems at the high school. Last year, the new auditorium building also saw persistent leaking from a skylight, and water seeping into the orchestra pit. Greenwich High also has experienced serious leaks in the basement of the science wing in 2015 and 2018.

Editors note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the name of the company that manufactured the part that malfunctioned in the Greenwich Performing Arts Center.

jo.kroeker@hearstmediact.com
Re: Legislature might debate the seizure of possessions, Metro, Wednesday:

So-called civil asset forfeiture is nothing more than legalized theft.

The Fifth Amendment of the Constitution states nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation.

This forfeiture is one of the most egregiously unconstitutional violations of the so-called war on drugs and should be stricken down by every judge in the land.

Wayne Haymes, Leon Valley

Blame the parents

Re: These kids were in U.S. custody, care, Editorial, Tuesday:

Those immigrant kids were in U.S. custody and care because a parent brought them here. Before then, they were in Mexicos custody and care, and should have been in the United Nations custody and care, and before that they were in the parents care.

So, who do we blame? Is the U.S. border supposed to be a clinic for anybody who needs health care?

We have enough problems taking care of our own poor kids and other citizens, so why should we get all the blame for not taking care of some other countrys poor kids? Its easy to blame President Donald Trump and his administration because the media always want to blame him for anything bad that happens.

And then were going to have the future Democratic-controlled House waste taxpayer dollars investigating all this and come to the eventual result of blaming President Trump.

So where does all this end?

Robert M. Louie, Houston

Stop the nonsense

It nonsense to shut down the government every time the president and the Congress cant agree on some issue. The result is usually that the legislative and executive branches go on a paid holiday and make little to no effort to solve the causative issues. Federal employees do not get paid and the rest of the country suffers.

Wouldnt it more reasonable to leave federal employees alone and stop the pay and benefits to the executive and legislative branches?

Guaranteed, no more shutdowns!

Lloyd R. Mathews, Rockport
When we last left Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a force of nature in Texas politics, he was lobbing rhetorical bombs at the Texas House for walking off the job and leaving property tax reforms and bathroom privacy bills unfinished in 2017.

Now 16 months later, its those two issues that drive conversations about how the next legislative session that begins on Tuesday will play out. While Patrick has all but guaranteed the Legislature will again tackle property tax reform, more uncertain is whether the bathroom bill or another red-meat social policy issue will emerge to overwhelm the agenda as it did in 2017 when protesters regularly packed the Legislatures chambers and created a nationwide spectacle.

Making matters even less predictable than usual is the fact that, for the first time in a decade, there will be a new Speaker of the House. While State Rep. Dennis Bonnen is a new speaker, hes no rookie. The Angleton Republican has been in the Legislature since winning his first race in 1996  making him one of the most experienced Republican legislators in either the House or Senate. Already other lawmakers are predicting Bonnen and Patrick will mesh better than soon-to-be former House Speaker Joe Straus and Patrick ever did.

While its never easy to predict the unpredictable 140-day legislative sessions, heres what to watch for as the 86th Texas Legislative Session gavels in.

More Information The 86th Texas Legislative Session Jan. 8: The session convenes. March 8: Deadline for unrestricted filings of bills. May 27: The last day of the session. See More Collapse

The next bathroom bill?

Few issues overran the Legislatures agenda in 2017 like the battle over the so-called bathroom bill. But dont expect a repeat as House and Senate leaders sound less anxious about a sequel.

In fact, even Patrick seems ready to move on from a topic that absorbed hundreds of hours of the Legislatures time, provoked a parade of protests and counter-protests and added to the acrimony between the House and Senate. The bill would have required people, even if they are transgender, to use the bathroom that corresponds with the gender listed on their birth certificates.

Although the bill never passed due to opposition in the House and from many in the business community, Patrick has said he considers the issue settled and the sponsor of the bill in the Texas House, Rep. Ron Simmons, R-Carrollton, lost his re-election.

There may still be other hot-button religious freedom issues that arise or the typical bills to further restrict access to abortion in Texas, but in general, Republicans say after the 2018 elections, there is a concerted effort to focus less on divisive issues and more on topics like taxes and schools.

Theres going to be a real emphasis on bread-and-butter issues, said State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, a Houston Republican who leads the GOP caucus in the Senate.

Property tax relief

Already the upcoming session is defined by the failures of the past. For more than 20 years, Texas politicians have promised to cut property taxes or at least slow the growth of them. But taxes have mostly gone one direction since the year 2000: up.

More recently, the House, the Senate and the Governor have all made clear they want property tax reform. But what that means depends on whom you ask.

While the Senate has aimed to cap the amount local cities and counties can raise property taxes before triggering an election in the future, the House has prioritized reforms that will give taxpayers more information about who is raising their rates and how to fight it. Now, Gov. Greg Abbott has inserted an entirely different element by calling for capping school district tax increases but with a lot less detail on how hed pay for the plan while avoiding dramatic cuts in school funding.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Gov. Abbotts tax break for homeowners would sap billions in school funding

Patrick has left little doubt hes ready to fight until hell freezes over to get a 4 percent limit on the annual tax increases imposed by most cities, counties and special districts. Currently, that state allows local governments to go to 8 percent before the public, in theory, could petition for a rollback election  something that has never happened in Texas. Patrick wants an automatic election every time local governments raise property taxes by 4 percent or more.

While that wouldnt cut a single Texans tax bill, it would theoretically slow future growth by local governments.

Months ago, Patrick told members of the conservative Empower Texans that the issue is so important to him that hes already hinting at an overtime special session to get it resolved, if needed.

Im not making any plans to be on vacation next summer, Patrick said alluding to the likelihood of a special session if his reform plans crumble again.

School finance reform

While Bonnen will replace Straus as the leader in the House, he already made clear he will be as aggressive as Straus was in fighting to reform the school finance system.

On the day he announced hed have the votes to become the new speakerm Bonnen made clear his top priority in 2019.

I can guarantee you that priority is school finance, Bonnen said. It is time Texas took on the challenge of fixing our broken school finance system.

This is far from the Legislatures first push to reform the convoluted system. Lawmakers tried to fix the system after the state Supreme Court declared the current system effectively broken, though not in a way that violates the Texas Constitution.

Bettencourt said with the new leadership in the House, he feels more confident there will be less acrimony to help tackle the issue constructively.

Therell be typical frictions between the House and the Senate still, but not a standoff like it was the last time, he said.

Harvey rebuilding

This will be the first legislative session since Hurricane Harvey hit and it will loom over the session from Day 1. The record storm destroyed or damaged more than 178,000 homes and total damages are expected to reach $125 billion, according to some experts.

For the Legislature, the first order of business in the session will be dealing with the costs of the storm to state and local governments, and passing supplemental budgets to cover some of the up to $2 billion just in state impacts. A big piece of the Legislatures mission will be helping to reimburse schools for their hurricane-related costs, which range from $426 million to $1.3 billion according to a report from the State Senate.

A big financial blow will be dealing with the lost property tax collections in dozens of school districts where storm-damaged homes and businesses are now worth less. The state is not required to cover all those costs, but key members of the Legislature like State Sen. Jane Nelson, the chair of the Senate Finance Committee, have made clear they feel a responsibility to make sure schools are not left cutting teachers because of Harvey.

I think you are going to see a very sympathetic Legislature to the needs of those students in the districts that have been affected, Nelson said during a committee meeting last year.

School safety review

The 2019 session will also be the first since the mass shootings in a church in Sutherland Springs and at Sante Fe High. Patrick and Bonnen have made clear the Legislature will take up safety and security issues.

While the tragedies have provoked some to call for more gun control, that doesnt seem likely in a heavily pro-NRA Legislature. Instead, Patrick told a gathering of Republicans in San Antonio last summer that the focus will be on arming teachers in schools and limiting school entrances.

We will do everything we can to secure our schools, Patrick said.
In his first week in office, Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales has made some sweeping changes to his senior staff  and relied primarily on personal relationships to do so.

Every one of these individuals are people Ive known for a long time, Gonzales said. Most of them I grew up with in the D.A.s office, so I have a lot of confidence in the people Ive selected as senior staff.

On Friday, I sat down with two of them: Catherine Babbitt, chief of major crimes, and former state District Judge Philip Kazen, now Gonzales first assistant D.A.

Like Gonzales, both Babbitt and Kazen began their careers as prosecutors three decades ago under former Bexar County District Attorney Fred Rodriguez.

Gonzales described Kazen as his second in command, someone whom he trusts like my brother.

He has an impeccable reputation in the legal community, Gonzales said. Whenever Im not available because Im either out of town or otherwise unavailable, hes running this office. And I have full faith and confidence that hes going to run this office efficiently whenever Im not here.

Kazen has assumed his powerful role at the courthouse one month after state District Judge Catherine Torres-Stahl handed out orders expunging the records of four women who were convicted two decades ago of aggravated sexual assault of a child, otherwise known as the San Antonio Four.

Kazen served as prosecutor in the 1997 conviction of one of the women, Elizabeth Ramirez, whose nieces, then ages 7 and 9, accused the women of brutalizing them. After the women served nearly 15 years in prison, one of the nieces publicly recanted. She said family members told her to lie because they were upset that her aunt had come out as a lesbian.

The four women were exonerated by the states highest criminal court in 2016.

During Ramirezs trial, Kazen used hyperbolic language that evoked ritualistic abuse. According to a previous San Antonio Express-News article, he told jurors: We're going to ask you to believe a 9-year-old little girl who was sacrificed on the altar of lust.

And while Kazen urged the jury not to convict Ramirez because she was a lesbian, he added: It's only important in the sense that that activity is generally consistent with the activity alleged in the indictment.

On Friday, I asked Kazen if he regretted how he prosecuted that case.

As a general comment, I think anybody who doesnt go back and review  even two decades hence  anybody who doesnt go back and have some regret just isnt capable of self-reflection. Of course there are regrets, Kazen said. The rhetoric was admittedly very harsh. Well just leave it at that. I certainly dont want to cheapen anything theyve gone through.

He added, A lot of the prosecution was based  and the decision to prosecute initially was based  on what we thought at the time was good medical evidence.  What we thought was state-of-the-art medical evidence at the time turns out not to have been.

A year after Ramirezs conviction, Kazen left the D.A.s office to run successfully for judge. He served the 227th District Court until 2014, when he became a visiting judge.

Babbitt left the D.A.s office in 1995 to practice law as a defense attorney. She returned three years later to oversee domestic violence and child abuse cases under former Bexar County District Attorney Susan Reed.

In 2000, Babbitt was driving to work when she saw Anne Gaynor, 37, pushing a baby carriage on the side of the road. Inside was 18-month-old Tess.

Gaynor walked out in front of her car without looking back, and Babbitt tried to avoid her by swerving  but was unable to avoid striking the mother and her baby, according to a police report.

Gaynor suffered massive head trauma and died the next day. Tess survived.

The Terrell Hills Police Department, the Bexar County Sheriffs Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety all concluded that Babbitt should not be charged in the accident.

Nonetheless, in 2014, then-D.A. candidate Nico LaHood resurrected the painful chapter in Babbitts life in his quest to unseat Reed.

LaHoods campaign cast the episode as an abuse of power, charging in a radio spot that Babbitt had killed a mother walking her baby near a school and Reed failed to properly investigate the incident and declined to file charges.

LaHood defeated Reed shortly thereafter, and Babbitt  unsurprisingly  left the D.A.s office. She has worked for the past four years as a staff attorney to criminal district court judges. After Gonzales beat LaHood in the Democratic primary and defense attorney Tylden Shaeffer in the general election, he asked Babbitt to return.

Babbitt now will oversee high-profile cases such as officer-involved shootings and those involving public corruption.

In Gonzaless estimation, she and Kazen both have the experience required for their new roles.

What Ive brought together are people who have not only worked with each other for 20 or 30 years, he said, but already have worked well together, so theres no lag time for the community.

bchasnoff@express-news.net
The applications are in: 13 East Side residents, including a former District 8 councilman, have raised their hands in hopes of winning an appointment of less than five months as the District 2 City Council member.

The post is being vacated by Councilman William Cruz Shaw, who resigned last month from the seat he won in 2017 because he was appointed to an associate judge position at the Bexar County courthouse.

The City Council is slated to interview all candidates Wednesday and make a final selection from up to three finalists on Thursday.

Among those seeking the seat is attorney Art Hall, the former District 8 councilman, who served two terms on the council during an era when that was all that was allowed. He and his family moved to the East Side about three years ago, and he has been an administrator for the Alamo Colleges District in the area of economic and workforce development for the last seven years.

Chris Dawkins, a former candidate for the state House of Representatives, also has applied.

The applicants list includes Dereck Hillyer, a member of the San Antonio Fire Department whos in the process of retiring. Hillyer has been hoisted up by various East Side groups and neighborhoods as their choice.

With his ties to the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association, however, Hillyer is seen as a long shot for the seat even with an endorsement from the community. Its unlikely the City Council would vote for a union member in the wake of the November charter-amendment election, which gave the union lopsided collective-bargaining rights and installed limits on future city managers salary and tenures.

Others on the list include a failed mayoral candidate, Stephen Lucke. Also, Lester Bryant, Walter Perry Jada Sullivan, Daniel Martinez, Christopher Green, Aubry Lewis, Denise Gutierrez-Homer and William Johnson.

The appointed council member will serve the balance of Shaws term, set to expire in June. That seat, along with the nine other council seats and the mayor, will be on the May ballot.

Shaw, who isnt expected to officially take part in the selection of his successor, said Friday that he hopes the appointed council member will keep in place the current staff of the District 2 office. He said the aides have turned the office into a professional, well-oiled machine.

Shaw said the successful applicants main drive ought to be public service.

I know a few of the applicants; I dont know all of them, he said. But at the end of the day, I really hope people have the best intentions for filing this seat. Its not about politics  its about serving the community, and to me, thats incredibly important.

Friday afternoon marked the deadline for applications.

If tradition plays any role in the process of naming a successor, the City Council wont spend too much time with the mass of candidates Wednesday; theyll likely give brief presentations about themselves before the council deliberates in executive session. The council will re-emerge from executive session and name a short list of finalists  up to three, who will return Thursday for final interviews.

The council will then vote to appoint one and swear in that person, who will take the dais immediately and begin working on municipal issues.

Josh Baugh is a staff writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | jbaugh@express-news.net | Twitter: @jbaugh
When Krystal Paul was selected for a NASA internship, it felt like kismet, she said: a rare opportunity and a position perfectly suited to her skills and interests.

The San Antonio College computer engineering student, who has a bachelors degree in art and has worked in social media, would spend 16 weeks in Mountain View, California, at NASAs Ames Research Center. Her position would involve using social media to share data from SOFIA, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy.

But two weeks before Paul was set to leave San Antonio, her plane ticket paid for and housing secured, she learned the federal government was shutting down.

Her internship coordinators, about to be furloughed, told Paul they couldnt contact interns and wouldnt have access to email for the duration of the shutdown.

RELATED: Bathrooms still open at San Antonio's missions, despite federal shutdown

As her departure date approached, she learned her housing on NASA property was also closed due to the shutdown, leaving her with no job and no place to stay.

It was radio silence, she said.

Now, just three days before shes set to leave for California, shes found a temporary place to live there and is looking for a part-time job, all in hopes the shutdown will end quickly.

As the partial government shutdown stretches into its third week, Paul is among hundreds of thousands of people affected as agencies that havent been funded have shuttered, or pared back to skeleton staffs.

Federal employees at airports, parks and government agencies are among more than 800,000 working without pay or furloughed.

Varying funding sources and determinations of who is and isnt essential has left a patchwork of staffing across federal agencies, and uncertainty for those who dont know when theyll return to work.

In all, about $931 billion in federal funding for 2019 has been approved, allowing some federal employees, including those at the Department of Defense, to keep working without interruption. Another $314 billion is still pending, including funding for the departments of Homeland Security, Transportation, Agriculture and Housing and Urban Development.

Ive been through a number of these shutdowns before, said a National Park Service employee in San Antonio, who asked to remain anonymous because she was not authorized to speak. This one feels different. This one feels like it could go on for a really long time.

RELATED: Trump admin looks stop White House staff raises during shutdown

As an employee not considered essential, she has been furloughed and wont know when she can return to work.

After past shutdowns, furloughed and essential employees received back pay for the time lost, but thats not guaranteed. Contractors, who are not government employees but who work for federal agencies, will not be paid for time lost during the shutdown.

Ive been in a long time. Im married to someone with a good job, the park service employee said. Though the delay and uncertainty in pay could change some of her financial decisions in the next few months, shell be OK, she said.

I worry about some of my co-workers, she said. Hopefully theyll get us our back pay. But in the meantime, their rent is due, they have car payments to make, student loan payments to make.

Among the thousands of essential employees working without pay are FEMA employees, air traffic controllers, Border Patrol agents and Social Security Administration employees.

Travelers moved through San Antonio International Airport as usual Friday afternoon, though the blue-clad TSA agents checking their bags arent being paid, either.

Theyre very much in limbo, said Cassandra Bullock, who was about to head through security to leave on a trip. The San Antonio resident works in health care for the U.S. Army, so she has been through shutdowns before and knows the uncertainty they bring.

In addition to the immediate financial pressure, federal employees worry about the long-term security of their positions and whether departments will be cut back after a shutdown ends, she said.

The National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio office will continue to provide forecasts, watches and warnings, in keeping with its main mission to protect life and property, meteorologist Jason Runyen said.

The agency falls under the U.S. Department of Commerce, which has not been funded, so meteorologists are working without pay.

Employees circumstances vary based on duties and budgets. Most U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service employees are working, because their pay is funded by fees, said Arwen FitzGerald, public affairs officer for Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico.

But the E-Verify program, which businesses use to determine employees work eligibility, is shut down, and employees who work for that program have been furloughed until the Department of Homeland Security is funded.

The U.S. Coast Guard, the only branch of the military that is not part of the Department of Defense, is also affected. Members received their final 2018 paychecks, but nothing since.

Joseph de Leon, who works for the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a visitor information assistant at the Colville National Forest in Washington state, has used the involuntary vacation to visit friends and family in San Antonio and Austin.

While the time to reconnect with family in Texas has been a silver lining, its a stressful time, not really knowing when Ill see another paycheck, he said.

We dont really know when the government will fund the USDA again, he said.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management provided sample letters to federal employees who are unable to pay their rent, mortgage or other bills, suggesting how to ask for financial relief until paychecks arrive.

But creditors arent obligated to make any accommodations for federal employees, and a suggestion posted by the OPM that employees offer to perform maintenance (e.g. painting, carpentry work) in exchange for partial rent payments was widely mocked on social media.

OPM later said the letter was published by accident.

Some banks, including Navy Federal Credit Union and USAA, are offering loans to some federal employees, as are some rental companies. CPS Energy reminded customers of various financial assistance programs.

De Leon hasnt sought out help for expenses yet. He said hes waiting to see what happens.

Without employees to monitor illegal trash dumping and illegal timber cutting in national forests, theres a sense of dread for what well find when we get back, he said.

Similar concerns are running throughout the National Park Service: Some parks are closed, while others are accessible but lack staffing to oversee trails and campgrounds.

At San Antonios Missions National Historic Park, most park rangers are furloughed. Bexar County employees are cleaning some bathrooms at the missions to allow them to stay open through the shutdown. Other park service facilities are closed.

At least three campgrounds at Big Bend National Park have been closed due to sanitation and resource impact concerns, the park said, and visitors should be prepared for additional closures without warning.

Similar closures are in effect at parks across the country.

Thats a concern for the park service employee, who added that fragile places such as National Wildlife Refuges are at risk, too.

I came into this job because I really believed in the mission of the agency, she said. I just want to get back to work.

LTeitz@express-news.net
In the early days of World War II, with military strength expanding, a shortage of knives and steel provoked the emergence of home shops and other unofficial manufacturing of fighting knives given to deploying soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines. Several varieties of these knives have become collectible and are called San Antonio Iron Works knives. These knives are recognizable by their handles and the use of surplus Patton cavalry sabers or Civil War sword blades in their manufacture.

Unfortunately there is no certain provenance for these knives. Is it possible that Alamo Iron Works was the source of such contributions to the war effort, and what is the history of that company in the early 1940s through the 60s? I am writing a book to be titled The Patton Saber at War and would like to be able to publish the true provenance for the SAIW knives  almost a Holy Grail question for knives collectors.

 Peter McHugh, Hampton, Virginia

This has been a mystery for many years, said Frank Trzaska, author of Military Knives: A Reference Book. The story goes: A couple of boxes of these knives showed up in a sale of the companys junk, picked up by a surplus salesman.

OnExpressNews.com: New book tells story of artist Gary Sweeney's goodbye to his childhood home

Inside the boxes, labeled San Antonio Iron Works on the side, he said, were knives that looked brand-new, with handmade leather sheaths. They were first advertised in 1961 in The Rifleman magazine as hunting knives handcrafted from cavalry sabers for $2.95 each.

For years, Trzaska said, these knives were sold regularly at Californias big Great Western Gun Show. During the 1980s, they became known to collectors as San Antonio Iron Works Knives, a name not used in the Rifleman ad. In addition to their historical association and mysterious origins, the knives appeal because they dont appear mass-produced; their sheaths are finely made and most of them have tooled leather, made by a skilled leather crafter, not in any iron-works type shop.

Alamo Iron Works, or AIW, was and is one of the regional giants of industrial heavy metal. Founded as a blacksmith shop in 1875 on the banks of the San Antonio River, AIW during World War II was at its longtime downtown location, the corner of Hoefgen and Montana streets (now the site of the Alamodome, 100 Montana St.). Besides making equipment for the energy industry, considered essential to the war effort, the metalworks also was under government contract to make parts for tanks as well as grenade casings shipped to the Red River Army Depot near Texarkana.

Although AIW has been referred to informally as the San Antonio iron works, it wasnt a proper name and does not appear as a separate business in San Antonio city directories or telephone books. A few blocks east at 321 Center St. was another large-scale metal fabricator, the San Antonio Machine and Supply Co., or SAMSCO, known as a supplier of windmills and other agricultural equipment, also considered essential to the war effort but not identified with weapons of any kind.

Ed Gaida, author of Sidewalks of San Antonio, a book about local street features, checked his collection of AIW catalogs and didnt find any knives. He also asked longtime former workers at the plant and reports that, None of them remembers hearing of the firm making knives. Area blacksmiths at the time, as listed in phone books he consulted, had dwindled down to only four, all advertised as engaged in the crafting of axles.

If the SAIW knives actually came from San Antonio, Gaida said, the source must have been well-hidden or made other objects as well  maybe a home or garage shop where a dedicated craftsman turned out products that eventually became surplus.

OnExpressNews.com: Wounded San Antonio vet working out to work back to normal

Quirky, even fancy weapons like these werent issued to soldiers but sold to them, said local militaria collector Martin Callahan, who remembers hearing that his father, a B-24 bomber pilot during the war, wrote home to my grandmother, requesting her to send him a combat knife he either needed or was required to have while he was stationed in Italy.

Thanks to a perceived shortage and a national appeal, the demand for combat knives blew up early in the war and became almost too successful, drawing edged weapons from all over the country like a powerful magnet and dropping them all at an unconventional temporary arsenal.

Next week: Knives needed for urgent airlift
A man killed by San Antonio police after he shocked an officer with his own stun gun had a criminal history and was out on bail when officers encountered him.

Arron Thomas Lambert, 33, had recently been released from Bexar County Jail after being charged with burglary and fraudulent possession of an ID when police found him Wednesday attempting to remove a license plate from a stolen Cadillac. He appeared to be under the influence of some sort of substance, police said.

Officers were attempting to handcuff Lambert when he grabbed an officers stun gun and used it on him. Police said Lambert also was reaching for a knife in his pocket.

Thats when Detective Daniel Mireles, a 14-year veteran of the force, fired at Lambert, fatally wounding him.

Mireles, who was identified by the Police Department on Friday, was placed on administrative duty while an investigation continues, as is customary with officer-involved shootings.

On ExpressNews.com: Suspect fatally shot while resisting police on Northeast Side

Lambert has a criminal history in San Antonio dating to 2008, when he and two other men broke into a business south of downtown to steal copper wire worth about $1,500.

Lambert, who said he worked in construction, was convicted of burglary and sentenced to two years probation. He later violated his probation and spent six months in prison.

In May 2017, he was arrested again after a police officer observed him carrying a 2-foot-long sword while talking to an acquaintance at a laundromat near Austin Highway. Officers searched Lamberts belongings and found a small amount of meth in a cigarette box.

He pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to 90 days in jail. He said he was homeless.

His two most recent arrests were in November and December.

The shooting involving Lambert marked the first of two fatal shootings by San Antonio police in less than a day.

On ExpressNews.com: Gunman killed by San Antonio police after he injured an officer

Two officers, identified Friday as Detective Nicholas Valera and Officer Miguel Saucedo, killed a gunman who had fired at a patrol car, injuring a third officer.

Samuel Garcia, 39, was identified Friday by the Bexar County medical examiners office as the man killed by police. Garcia, whose death was ruled a homicide, was killed by multiple gunshots.

According to police, Garcia had been shooting a handgun indiscriminately as he walked south on Pleasanton Road near Harlandale High School on Thursday morning.

At one point, Garcia aimed at a passing bicyclist, who had to duck for cover behind a VIA Metropolitan Transit bus, police said.

When the three officers responded, Garcia fired at one of the cars, striking the windshield and sending glass shards into one officers eye, police said. Another bullet is believed to have punctured another cars tire.

Valera and Saucedo, both 21-year veterans of the force, rushed toward Garcia and fired, striking him at least once in the upper torso.

Radio recordings of the incident, available on Broadcastify.com, chronicle the officers response.

Hold the air, one officer told dispatchers, seconds after shots were fired. Get us EMS now. Hes down. Get us EMS now.

In the background, the officer can be heard addressing Garcia.

You better not (expletive) move guy, the officer said. You better not move. Ill kill you if you are.

Police Chief William McManus said it was important for the suspect to be stopped quickly because of the potential for someone else to be shot.

The officers displayed a lot of courage by closing the distance on him to try to bring this to an end, McManus said Thursday. And they put themselves in danger by doing so.

The two officers were placed on administrative duty, as is customary.

Garcia has a criminal record that includes offenses such as unauthorized use of a vehicle and aggravated robbery.

Some residents near Pleasanton Road and West Gerald Avenue, where restaurants, auto shops and small retailers line the streets, were going about their normal morning routine when they heard the gunshots. Many assumed that it was fireworks from a belated New Years celebration.

Robert Rodriguez, who lives in an apartment complex across the street from Harlandale High, said he wasnt surprised to hear the gunshots. He said its a pretty common occurrence.

Maria Rodriguez, a neighbor who is not related, heard several loud banging sounds and thought at first that garbage collectors were emptying bins outside. Then she realized it wasnt trash day.

She took a break from washing dishes and peeked through her ground-level window that looks out on the high school and saw police swarming the nearby parking lot. A body lay on the ground under a small tree near the road.

Earlier that day, Rodriguezs doctor had instructed her to stay inside because of her worsening allergies, so she watched from the safety of her home as the officers cordoned off the road.

Its scary, Rodriguez said Friday. I didnt want to go outside.

Staff Writer Caleb Downs contributed to this report.

Emilie Eaton is a criminal justice reporter in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | eeaton@express-news.net | Twitter: @emilieeaton
It happens at every schools open house: parent no-shows.

Teachers likely chalk up those absences to parents who dont care enough to be involved in their childs education. But that notion has gotten a lot of pushback  especially in San Antonio early education, where longtime nonprofits and the city-sponsored Pre-K 4 SA program are challenging long-held ideas about what an involved parent looks like.

Theyve set up parent rooms, events and counseling, working to bridge cultural divides and make parents more comfortable in school settings and in communicating with their childrens teachers.

For a long time now, San Antonio early childhood education practitioners, including AVANCE and the Family Service Association, have infused this approach in public schools through various partnerships. Pre-K 4 SA, the city-funded early education program meant to be a model for other schools, also has approached family engagement informed by studies that suggest a clash between Latino parents and traditional schools over the roles of parents and teachers.

A recent study from the Pew Research Center found that, contrary to stereotypes, Latino parents have higher expectations for their childrens academic performance than white parents do, said Sarah Baray, CEO of Pre-K 4 SA.

Misunderstandings among parents and educators arent something we talk a lot about but should be, Baray said, especially among Latino and Asian-American families that may not yet see themselves in school roles or be prepared to fill them.

Baray has published her own research affirming the belief among Latino families that teachers are the educational experts, while the familys role is to develop the childs behavior so they can be receptive in the classroom. Such families may think the school is not a place for parents, because education is not their expertise, she said.

On ExpressNews.com: Councilmen get combative with Pre-K 4 SA CEO at briefing

But in mainstream U.S. culture, schooling is seen as a partnership in which parents can make suggestions for the classroom and teachers can offer advice for the home. When that partnership isnt there, it leads to misunderstandings and judgments about the parents, Baray said.

I will tell you that Ive never met a parent, I dont care what their circumstance was, that did not love their child and want their child to be well educated, Baray said.

Educators across the country have emphasized parental engagement, because studies show students whose parents are involved outperform those whose parents do not appear engaged.

The 2001 No Child Left Behind Act set a statutory definition of parental involvement and required schools to implement programs, activities and procedures to involve parents. Those techniques are still up for debate, especially when parents are absent at events or volunteer opportunities in the classroom, and only a few of the citys children and their parents are experiencing such outreach.

A lot of obstacles exist for Latino parents, especially for those with language barriers and for whom speaking to an educator may be intimidating. For some parents, cultural views about authority figures may prevent them from going into the schools, said Kathy Glascock, vice president of development and donor engagement for the Family Service Association.

The nonprofit has partnered with school districts for more than a decade to try to improve that, meeting with parents who might feel they dont belong or will be looked down on. Glascock said such parents have been unengaged, but not necessarily because they dont care about their childrens education.

They just arent involved yet, she said. We have to overcome those obstacles to help them become involved.

The association has set up 13 parent rooms in schools, equipped with computers on which they can work on resumes and access school portals. School clothes are also stored in the rooms for parents who may be struggling to provide them. Parents have met and bonded in these spaces, said parent engagement manager Fabiola Martinez.

Related: Make kindergarten more engaging again

As a professional, I can go and tell a parent how important it is for their childrens school success that theyre part of it, Martinez said. But if another parent is telling them that, its going to take on a different message.

In parent rooms, parents find comadres, Spanish for co-mother or co-parent, a term referring to a childs godmother. Such parents are encouraged to visit one another when problems, such as a childs absences, arise. Seeing a friend at the front door is much less intimidating than being visited by a school resource officer or administrator, Martinez said.

That parent-to-parent function is being used at Pre-K 4 SA, too.

One of the programs parents, Kristy Valenzuela, was initially reluctant to send her son, Arlo, to preschool. A relative convinced her of the benefits of early childhood education and Valenzuela became involved. She had a role model in her adoptive mother, also Hispanic, who chaperoned field trips and was a substitute teacher during Valenzuelas own early education.

I have to put my effort into it so he can see that Im showing him, too, that I can participate, Valenzuela said.

She attended just about every parent activity at Pre-K 4 SA  including a literacy event last year from which she had to leave early when she went into labor  and has continued to do so now that her daughter, Leia, is in the program.

Pre-K 4 SA helped when Valenzuela didnt know how to approach situations with Arlos teachers in his new school, such as last fall when they told her Arlo was struggling to focus, was hyperactive and was creating a distraction in class.

At Pre-K 4 SAs Parents as Partners program, Valenzuela had practiced how to interact with teachers, but her first reaction was to defend Arlo.

I guess I came off too strong, she said.

Arlos former preschool teachers gave her a refresher and made suggestions about how to talk to Arlo at home.

They get to practice here in a way that builds that skill set, Baray said. We want that relationship to live past the year theyre with us.

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
Saturday, January 5, 2019

Thank you Wall Street Journal for reporting on my new, comprehensive study of the who, what, when, where and why companies are leaving California for business-friendly locations. Their editorial, entitled, High-Tax State Exodus said:

Jobs and businesses have fled Californias high taxes and regulation. A study by consultant Joe Vranich estimates that 1,800 businesses shifted jobs or capital out of state in 2016 and about 13,000 companies left the state since 2008. In the last decade $76.7 billion in capital and 275,000 jobs have moved out of the state.

Considering that I worked on the report for two years (!), this kind of recognition is really gratifying.

I also appreciate todays Dallas Morning News for quoting that from 2008 to 2016, Dallas ranked sixth nationally as a winning destination of companies fleeing California [a finding in his] 637-page report chronicling the moves. Ill add that Texas was the No. 1 state to which California companies moved to each year for the last nine years that I studied.

Now, based on the number of announcements Ive seen in just the September  December period, it appears that California company exits are accelerating. Im hardly surprised because I looked ahead and forecast that Californias business environment will only worsen based on the business-unfriendly temperament of Gov. Gavin Newsom and his Democrat allies in the legislature.

Note: Anyone purchasing this new study is entitled to a one-hour no-cost, no-obligation phone session with Joe Vranich. The offer applies regardless of whether you are with a Corporation, Small Business or Economic Development Agency. See a summary of the report here:

Joe Vranich provides location advisory services whose motto is Helping Businesses Grow in Great Locations! His company is Spectrum Location Solutions LLC, but he also has been known as the Business Relocation Coach. If you found this posting useful, please forward it to a friend and subscribe to Joes blog here.

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Is the account with a bank or utility company for which you have supplied information and supporting documentation held jointly by you and other people?

Yes

I will provide a declaration signed by each of the other joint customers on an account with a bank or utility company

Yes

Does the account with the bank or utility company for which you have supplied information and supporting documentation relate to another person who is to provide you financial support?

Yes





I answered all three of these yes because we are sharing a joint utility gas bill as part of our correspondance. I assume yes to all three would be the safe option. My husband and I filled out all three declarations just to be on the safe side. I'm just wondering if there should be a no in there. My husband and I dont have a joint bank account and no other joint bills really. I tried having my name added to a few things but they companies seemed to resist it for the most part outside British Gas.
this news is not available
It will be a mistake to hastily endorse the governments move to pass the Triple Talaq Bill.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government looks content with its heroic move of passing the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2018, in the Lok Sabha. The move might look quite progressive in the eyes of many. However, it will be a mistake to endorse it only on its face value. The governments refusal to send the bill to a parliamentary select committee, for example, goes against the democratic spirit of deliberation and involvement of all stakeholders in such a legislation. More annoyingly, the union law ministers analogy that the government had not consulted with the rapists before passing the ordinance to ensure the death penalty for rape of children under 12 years of age, is rather bizarre. Moreover, the provision to criminalise the accused in the Triple Talaq Bill is deeply problematic. Since marriage is a civil contract, violation of this contract demands civil action, but the bill makes it a cognisable non-bailable offence.

The governments argument that it has brought the bill in response to the Supreme Court judgment delivered in 2018, is inadequate. It was only the minority judgment that had exhorted the government to bring a legislation to annul the practice of triple talaq as it was deemed to be a matter pertaining to personal law and religious practices. If the government was driven by the concerns of justice for Muslim women, it could have considered the private members bill moved by a Congress member of Parliament (MP), which dealt with the codification of talaq and the evolution of a fair procedure of dissolution of marriage. Despite the demands from womens groups, particularly those who had intervened in the petition to the Supreme Court for broader consultation, the government has chosen to steamroll this legislation with its singular preoccupation of criminalisation overriding the concerns for justice.
Yellow Vest protests seek to en government,says spokesman

Those who continue to protest want an uprising and to overthrow the government says government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux.

Yellow Vest protesters still taking to the streets after rocking France late last year want to topple the government, said a French government spokesman on Friday.

"PROTESTERS WANT AN UPRISING"

Those who continue to protest are agitators who want an uprising and to overthrow the government, government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux said after the first Cabinet meeting of the year.

He called on the French people to express their views during national debates organized in the coming weeks in all regions, rather than by taking to the streets. Our government quickly responded to their demands, Griveaux added.

The Yellow Vest protests, which started as a reaction to fuel tax hikes and evolved into a protest against French President Emmanuel Macron, have continued despite the governments call for them to halt.

Since Nov. 17, thousands of protesters wearing bright yellow vests -- dubbed the Yellow Vests -- have gathered in major French cities, including the capital Paris, to protest Macron's controversial fuel tax hikes and the deteriorating economic situation.

Demonstrators held protests blocking roads and traffic, and also blocked the entrance and exits to many gas stations and factories across the country. The protestors, who generally live in rural areas due to high rents in the cities, have called on Macron to cut fuel taxes and ease their economic difficulties.

Under pressure from the protests, Macron announced a rise in the minimum wage and also scuttled controversial fuel tax hikes.

At least 10 people died, over 4,000 others were detained, and more than a thousand others were wounded in the protests.
Trump slams impeachment calls as Democrats take House

'They only want to impeach me because they know they cant win in 2020, too much success!' the president says.

US President Donald Trump ripped calls for his impeachment Friday as Democrats take the reins in the House of Representatives.

"THINGS WILL SETTLE DOWN"

"How do you impeach a president who has won perhaps the greatest election of all time, done nothing wrong (no Collusion with Russia, it was the Dems that Colluded), had the most successful first two years of any president, and is the most popular Republican in party history 93%?" Trump said on Twitter, referring to a Washington Post poll in August.

"We won the Senate, they won the House. Things will settle down. They only want to impeach me because they know they cant win in 2020, too much success!" he added.

In mentioning collusion Trump was likely referring to an ongoing special counsel investigation that is probing Russian interference in the 2016 election as well as possible cooperation between the effort and the Trump campaign.

That probe led by Robert Mueller has yet to conclude and has led to the indictment of several prominent individuals who played leading roles in Trump's presidential campaign.

The chances Trump faces impeachment skyrocketed after Democrats took control of the House following the November 2018 midterm elections in which they seized a majority in the chamber.

The House constitutionally holds the authority to begin impeachment proceedings against a president. The Republican-held Senate would have to try any impeachment charges brought against the president.
Oldest passenger of Turkish Airlines crossed continents

The 102-year-old passenger becomes Turkey's national flag carrier's oldest passenger as she traveled from Nepal to the US.

Turkey's national flag carrier Turkish Airlines (THY) hosted the oldest passenger in its history as a 102-year-old Nepalese woman traveled from Nepal to the US.

Together with her son and her daughter-in-law, Ang Phurba Sherpini traveled from Kathmandu to Boston on Friday with a layover at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport.

CELEBRATED BIRTHDAY ON THE FLIGHT

Speaking to the press at the airport with the translation of her son Ngawang Norbu Sherpa, Sherpini said that her flight was comfortable as she arrived from Kathmandu in Istanbul in her traditional clothes. "I had a very good time traveling on a THY plane. The flight crew was very kind to me," she added.

Sherpini said that she is living in the U.S. but traveled to Nepals capital to visit her 99-year-old sister. Sherpini added that she celebrated her birthday with a cake on Jan. 3 in THYs Kathmandu-Istanbul flight. Sherpa, for his part, said that the family preferred to fly with THY as it was the best price offer and connection.

Stating that he informed THY in advance on his travel plans with a 102-year-old passenger, Sherpa said that the company helped him by providing a business class seat to ease the journey of his mother.

Turkish Airlines, founded in 1933, flies to more than 306 destinations in 124 countries with its fleet of 331 passengers and cargo aircraft.
I was born near Denver, later moved to Selah, Washington and then attended the University of Kansas, graduating in May 2017. Prior to Enid News, I interned with the Yakima-Herald Republic and wrote arts and features for the University Daily Kansan.

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TONKAWA  Celebration of Life Services for Les Grimm, 72, will be Saturday, June 19, 2021, at 1:00 p.m. in Anderson-Burris Funeral Home Chapel. Private family burial will be at a later date in Lamont Cemetery. www.andersonburris.com.
I am a retired Naval Officer and small business owner, outside of my work at the News & Eagle. My wife Tammy and I enjoy serving together at church and attending Gaslight and ESO. We have two daughters, three dogs and little free time.

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Judge James Edwin Horton will be celebrated Wednesday in a program, Pen Strokes of Justice, at the Center for Lifelong Learning in Athens. Admission is free, but donations are sought for a project to install a life-size statute of Horton outside the Limestone County Courthouse.
Mrs. Alberta Hamley Griffin, 97, of Athens, Alabama, died Wednesday, June 9, 2021, at Athens Health and Rehab. A Graveside Service will be 1:30 p.m. Sunday in Copeland Cemetery with Keith Griffin officiating. No visitation is planned. Spry Funeral Home in Athens is directing the services. Mr
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Andover - Sidney H. Wicker, 89, of Andover and formerly of Haverhill, died Friday, June 11, at High Pointe House, Haverhill. He was born in Haverhill, July 15, 1931, son of the late Louis and Rose (Zeeburg) Wicker. Educated in the Haverhill school system, Mr. Wicker earned his bachelor's deg
Where are the best places to shop? Who gives the best haircut? Who cooks the best burger? Join our readers in selecting the "Best of Windham."

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Claremont, NH (03743)

Today

Showers and thundershowers likely this evening with a shower or two possible overnight. Low 58F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Showers and thundershowers likely this evening with a shower or two possible overnight. Low 58F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
- 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."
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A man wanted on felony charges opened fire on officers with the U.S. Marshals Task Force Friday morning along Third Avenue in Dothan.

Despite numerous rounds exchanged between the suspect and officers, no one appears to have been struck with gunfire.

Several rounds did hit nearby houses but no one appeared to have been struck.

The incident happened around 11 a.m. near Post Oak Drive and Third Avenue when the task force located a man wanted in connection with a shooting that happened New Years Eve in Kinsey. The task force is comprised of officers from the Dothan Police Department, Houston County Sheriffs Office and other agencies and assists in the service of high-risk warrants among other activities.

Jaccarius Montrail Dawsey, 18, was taken into custody and charged with five counts of attempted murder. He was also charged with two counts of second degree assault from the Kinsey incident.
BALLYSHANNON LOCAL NEWS

Festive Fun

Aodh Ruadh ran a very good quiz in Dicey Reilly's over the festive period with 19 tables competing. Paddy Kelly from Roscommon set the questions and to his credit kept the Roscommon questions to a minimum! Sylvester was quizmaster and there was great help from Catherine McKee, David McLoone and an army of willing ticket sellers. A team of Fergusons eventually won after a double tie-breaker round with a McLoone contingent, there were great prizes and a great way to meet up after the Christmas. Tom Daly thanked all at the end for their support.

On Saturday night Aodh Ruadh again were behind another brilliant night when they ran a Millstone Reunion. They had Hugh John Patton back on the door and Herman McNelis, looking great, was back to spin the discs (well there may have been a lap-top somewhere on the deck too). Unlike his father, who used a telephone to cue up the records, Herman had headphones for the 2018 version. All in all a great night too, with Mary McNelis, at 94, the centre of attention with people coming up to say hello to her and renew old friendships. Also good to see another former owner of the hotel, Eamon McNulty there as well.

Elsewhere in the town there were many big nights, the quiz organised by Anthony and Olive Travers for their India project was a huge success while a poker classic for Aodh Ruadh, organised by the man who once scraped the sky to win a ball for De La Salle, Michael Melly, was another great night.

Earlier in the festivities the Christmas Swim at Creevy was an incredible success too, massive numbers getting into the water this year and lots of money raised for three great causes, Irish Heart Foundation, MS and North West Hospice.

Liam, Celine, Mollie, Aoife and Tom Travers at the Christmas Carol Service in St. Anne's Church, Ballyshannon Picture: Thomas Gallagher

Possibly one of the most memorable nights of all came in St Annes Church where all were warmly welcomed by Rev Brian Russell for a Christmas Community Carol Service. The Church, beautifully lit and decorated for Christmas, was packed and the singing from the pews was truly memorable and evocative. Mixed with readings by all sections of the community, funds from a collection taken up went to the local Conference of St Vincent de Paul, North West Hospice, Rock Home Comfort Fund and the Sheil Hospital Comfort Fund.

Fr. Herbie Bromley, David Myles, Rev. Brian Russell and Marie Gavigan at the Christmas Carol Service in St. Anne's Church, Ballyshannon Picture: Thomas Gallagher

It was lovely to see so many home for Christmas and the New Year and more than a few people commented that they were hugely impressed with the Christmas lights in the town this year. Possibly the most impressive view of the lights was coming down the Bank Brae at the Old Post Office corner, where you could see lights of all types and lots of other ornamentation. Great credit to the Business Chamber and their members who are the driving force behind our lights in town each year.



Askill Community Centre

We are back playing Whist at Askill Community Centre on Sunday 6th of January at 8pm, supper server, All are welcome.

The Committee of Askill Community Centre wishes All our Whist players a very happy and healthy New Year.

Abbey Centre Bingo

The December Big Bingo took place on Friday with John Martin of Manorhamilton taking home the 1,000 super jackpot, a nice late Christmas present. Kathleen Hunter took the 170 stand-up game prize. Winners of the 100 houses included Kevin O'Connor, Noleen O'Brien, Helen Lawne and Denis Sheerin. The 150 house winners included Deirdre Clarke, Antoinette McKinney and Rosanne Martin, who also took a 40 line. The snowball had no winner so rises to 650 on 48 numbers or less.

Bingo as usual this Friday at 9pm in the Abbey Centre. We wish to thank all our bingo goers for their continued support throughout the year and wish all a very happy and prosperous - with some bingo fortune! - New Year!

Aodh Ruadh Lotto

There was no winner of last week's Aodh Ruadh Lotto jackpot of 4,400. The winning numbers drawn were 4, 5, 7, 9, 12 and 15. In the lucky dip 20 went to Mary Duggan, Cornhill; Elaine McLoone; Catherine McKee; Fiona McNulty; and Orla Bannon. Next draw is in the Bridgend Bar with a jackpot of 4,500 on Sunday at 8.30pm.

Tickets are now available in the following outlets: Sean Og's, O'Donnell's, Dicey Reilly's, The Limit, Pat's Bar, The Bridgend, Owen Roe's, Fin McCool's, The Lantern, McGinley's, Pearse O'Neill's, McCosker's Centra and Kernan's Spar and at the weekly bingo in the Abbey Centre. You have to be in it to win it! The lotto team for McCoskers Centra on Saturday is: Juvenile Hurlers.



Donegal Sports Star Awards

Well done to Nathan Boyle on being nominated in the GAA category for the Donegal Sports Stars. Well done also to Andrea McGlynn who earned a nomination in the basketball category, as well as to Maeve Liston who picked up a nomination in rugby.
Program purpose:

To increase shooting range capacity for Minnesotas shooters, by providing matching funds to recreational shooting clubs open for public use. All grantees will be asked to verify current female participation data, along with an intent to improve future diversity opportunities. All grantees will be asked to verify current female participation data, along with an intent to improve future diversity opportunities.

Eligible projects:

Projects that build or expand, improve, and upgrade skeet, rifle/pistol and 5 stand shooting ranges. This is being offered for outdoor ranges only!

Who may apply:

Local recreational shooting clubs in Minnesota that allow public access to shooting. A facility rehabilitated or developed with a grant must be open to the general public at reasonable times and for a reasonable fee on a walk-in basis. Shooting clubs must complete any previously awarded project grants before applying for additional funding.

Scoring:

Grant applications will be scored based on project location and need, gender participation, financial contributions of funding partners and the applicant, and the feasibility of the project. Preference will be given to first time applicant organizations.

Level of assistance:

The Large Shooting Range Grants (LSRG) program provides grants from $25,002 and above $25,000 for listed projects eligible for expedited funding. The grants must be matched 1:1.

The DNR will also be announcing another round of the Small Shooting Range Grants (SSRG) program for smaller trap shooting facility projects. Allocation of funds for the Small Shooting Range Grants and the Large Shooting Range Grants will occur as funds are available, at the discretion of the DNR Commissioner, dependent on available funding. All grant agreements must comply with the State of Minnesota grant laws and policies. In 2018, $330,000 is available for the combined levels of grants.

How to apply:

Use the application form supplied in this Large Shooting Range Grant Application Packet, and include all documentation at the time you submit your written application. Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted. Three complete sets of the application with original signatures and supporting documentation and plans must be submitted. The materials and documentation must be on standard, letter-sized 8.5 x 11 paper.

Completed grant applications, including any supporting documentation, must be received on or before Friday, June 29, 2018 at 4:30 p.m. Late arrivals will not be considered for funding, given the short timeframe for funding use.

For questions, contact Chuck Niska, DNR shooting range coordinator, at 612-756-4165 or via e-mail at [email protected] .

Mail applications to:

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Chuck Niska, Shooting Range Coordinator

Division of Enforcement

500 Lafayette Rd., Box 47

St. Paul, MN 55155-4047

Related DNR Programs:

Small Shooting Range Grants
Highlights

Founder and CEO of Xiaom, Lei Jun took to Weibo to ask his followers about USB type-C connectivity on a Redmi smartphone.

It is possible that the upcoming Redmi phone has USB-C connectivity.

It is also possible that the phone could house a 48MP camera.

The only thing constant in life is change. When the change from micro USB to USB-C came, it was presumed that all smartphones and accessories would change to USB-C by the end of 2018. However, that isnt the case. There are a lot of devices still functioning on micro USB connectivity including Redmi devices. However, Founder and CEO of Xiaom, Lei Jun posted comments on Chinese microblogging website Weibo asking his followers whether they would like to see a USB-C port on Redmi phones. There is no information whether the upcoming Redmi phone will feature USB-C so it is safe to assume that the upcoming device could move to USB-C connectivity. Adding USB-C connectivity instead of micro USB could increase the cost of the device, so it will be interesting to see how the smartphone is priced moving forward.

Redmi has confirmed the phone with a 48MP rear camera saying that the launch event will be on January 10. It is assumed that this device will come with USB C. Except the date, there is no official information about the upcoming device. There are conflicting reports which claim that the phone will either be the Xiaomi Redmi Pro 2 or the Redmi 7.

The company has teased an image which has Redmi written on it, alongside the date and time of the launch. A shadow in the image reads 48, possible implying the 48MP camera setup on the device. According to a previous report, the 48MP sensor could be a part of the triple camera setup on the back panel of the phone. Apart from this, this Redmi phone could have a punch-hole in the display to incorporate the selfie camera. Just like the Samsung Galaxy A8s and Honor View 20, this Redmi smartphone is expected to have an LCD panel.

Also read

Xiaomi CEO confirms Redmi will be a separate brand

Xiaomi's POCO teases launch of 'New Poco' smartphone
Highlights:

Facebook tracks even those Android phones who don't have the app, says research

At least 61% of the tested apps were found to automatically transfer data to Facebook

In what could make things worse for Facebook, a new research has found that the social media giant tracks the data of even those Android users who do not use the company app. The findings of the research, conducted by UK-based charity Privacy International, once again raises questions on how the social media companies attack the privacy of its users as well as those who are indirectly connected to them.

Facebook routinely tracks users, non users and logged out users outside its platform, said the study by UK-based charity Privacy International (via IANS). The findings showed that the app developers share data with Facebook through the Facebook Software Development Kit (SDK), a set of software development tools that help developers build apps for a specific operating system.

According to the study, at least 61 percent of apps that were tested automatically transfer data to Facebook the moment a user opens the app. This happens whether people have a Facebook account or not, or whether they are logged into Facebook or not. In our analysis, apps that automatically transmit data to Facebook share this data together with a unique identifier, the Google advertising ID (AAID), the research said.

For the study, Privacy International said that it examined 34 apps on Android, each with an install base from at least 10 million to a maximum of 500 million. The apps included language-learning tool Duolingo, travel and restaurant website TripAdvisor, job database Indeed and flight search engine Skyscanner, among others, the research said. All apps were tested between August and December 2018.

In a response to the findings, Facebook reportedly said that sharing data is common practice for many companies and is useful for both users and the companies involved. This information is important for helping developers understand how to improve their apps and for helping people receive relevant advertising in a privacy-protective way, The Independent quoted Facebook as saying.

We do this in a transparent manner by explaining the practice through our Data Policy and Cookies Policy, and by using Google's advertising identifier, which can be controlled centrally by people using their device settings, the social media giant was cited as saying. Facebook got embroiled in a scandal wherein a British data firm called Cambridge Analytica was found to be improperly gathering information of 87 million users.

Related Read:

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg apologises to US Congress for data leaks affecting 87 million users
SALT LAKE CITY  Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, is pushing back hard against the law known as SB54 that allows candidates to bypass the traditional political party nomination system, labeling it "unconstitutional" in a recent Facebook post.

Lee, who became Utah's senior senator with last week's swearing in of fellow Republican Sen. Mitt Romney, called out fellow Republicans Gov. Gary Herbert and Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox for their backing of the controversial law.

The U.S. Supreme Court is considering hearing an appeal by a faction of the Utah GOP that sued Cox and other state officials over the law, which has been upheld in both U.S. District Court in Utah and the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver.

The 2014 law gives candidates the option of gathering voter signatures to qualify for a place on the primary ballot, either instead of, or in addition to, competing for party delegate support through the traditional caucus and convention system.

Opponents claim it is unconstitutional for the state to dictate how political parties choose their nominees and are hoping the Supreme Court takes up the case. The option has been used by a number of successful candidates, including Lee in 2016.

Romney, a supporter of SB54 who gathered voter signatures, also competed at the GOP convention last year. Delegates advanced both Romney and then-state Rep. Mike Kennedy, R-Alpine, into a primary that Romney easily won.

Lee sparked a flood of responses to a post Thursday on his personal Facebook page about SB54.

"Governor Herbert, youre a good man and a hardworking public servant. For the love of the Constitution  and for the good of all political parties  please stop defending SB54. Its unconstitutional," Lee wrote.

On Friday, he posted, "Spencer J. Cox, do you support SB54?" Cox, who oversees elections in the state as lieutenant governor, is expected to run for governor in 2020 when what Herbert has said will be his final term ends.

Neither Herbert nor Cox had any comment Saturday.

Both posts received support from opponents of the law passed by the Republican-dominated Legislature as a compromise with supporters of the Count My Vote ballot initiative, including former GOP Gov. Mike Leavitt.

That initiative, which would have replaced Utah's unique caucus and convention system for nominating candidates with a direct primary, was withdrawn. A new initiative reinforcing the current law failed to qualify for last November's ballot.

Lee also urged state legislators to repeal SB54, something that has been tried unsuccessfully in past sessions. Sen. Dan McCay, R-Riverton, the House sponsor of SB54, said he'll introduce a bill repealing it in the upcoming legislative session.

McCay said he's filing the bill "because the compromise isn't working. SB54 was run to avoid an initiative and it's clear (Count My Vote) wants to continue running initiatives."

The compromise, McCay said, "was meant to keep the caucus convention process as the nomination process with a safety valve for signature gatherers. It seems (Count My Vote) won't be happy until the caucus convention process is gone."

Lee wrote on Facebook that "SB54 is a bad law. Lets get rid of it! The state should not  and under the First Amendment cannot  have the power to control the candidate-selection process of a political party."

He continued in the same reply, "Mr. Herbert, tear down this wall! This is an unconstitutional law, you shouldnt have signed it, and you certainly shouldnt be defending it."

The senator, along with Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, and other current and former lawmakers, are already part of the effort to get the Supreme Court to overturn SB54, having filed friend of the court briefs in the pending petition.

The Supreme Court has asked the state to weigh in on the petition before making a decision about whether to take the case. The court typically receives more than 7,000 petitions annually but only chooses to hear about 100 to 150.

Lee's opposition to SB54, however, didn't stop him from gathering voter signatures for his 2016 re-election bid. Lee spokesman Conn Carroll said that is a legal way to get on the primary ballot.

"People often follow existing law while it is being challenged in court. That is completely normal," Carroll said, even if they believe the law is wrong. He cited Lee buying health insurance despite his opposition to the Affordable Care Act.

"He did not believe he had to gather signatures. He did think it was prudent to do so given that it was a legal option at the time," Carroll said. "Again, he is not against collecting signatures. He is against the state telling the party how to pick their nominee."

But Carroll said he doesn't know if Lee would support the party allowing the signature-gathering option for candidates, although the senator "certainly has nothing against those who have used the signature option while it is legal."
SALT LAKE CITY  It seems one contestant on The Bachelor will do anything to win the competition.

What happened: A promotional clip of the show showed a woman speaking with the bachelor Colton Underwood in an Australian accent. But it turns out the accent is fake.

Youve got a nice accent. Where are you from? Underwood asks.

The woman responds, The accent, its Australian, I was hoping that youre kind of a sucker for accents.

Underwood says he loves accents.

But then the clip cuts to a moment where the woman, named Bri, admits shes faking her accent, saying, You have to do what you can to stand out."

See the clip below.

Is this lie going to take her down (under)? #TheBachelor pic.twitter.com/OrHrathRYJ  The Bachelor (@BachelorABC) January 3, 2019

More lies: According to The Huffington Post, Bris bio on the website doesnt offer anything about her living in Australia. She does admit to having a fear of farting too loudly on dates, though.

Whether any of that is true is undetermined, because right now we believe NOTHING Bri says or does. Not a great basis for a love affair, Bri, but you do you, Jenna Amatulli wrote for HuffPost.

Controversy: The fake Australian accent isnt the only controversy popping up on this season of the show, according to People magazine.
FARMINGTON  A man who police say stabbed and critically injured another man after a party in the early hours of New Year's Day is now charged with attempted murder.

Michael Ray Mendoza, 32, of West Valley City, was charged Friday in 2nd District Court with attempted murder, a first-degree felony. He was also charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, a third-degree felony, and accident involving property damage, a class B misdemeanor, according to court documents.

On Tuesday morning, police were called to a car accident at 90 N. Main Street in Layton where officers said Mendoza had crashed into a parked car and then abandoned his vehicle in a nearby parking lot.

Mendoza was found "a short distance away and appeared very intoxicated," according to charging documents, and a blood alcohol test showed a level of .292.

Officers noticed blood on Mendoza's shirt and on the vehicle he was driving, charges state. He also had a knife with blood on the blade, police said.

About 15 minutes later, officers learned that a stabbing victim had arrived at the Davis Hospital emergency room. The man had been stabbed in the chest and left ribcage, police said, and he needed to be flown to the University Hospital in Salt Lake City.

Multiple witnesses to the stabbing told investigators Mendoza "had been argumentative and threatening all evening, including threatening to stab (the victim's) sister earlier in the night," charges state.

When he was stabilized in the hospital but still in critical condition, the man who Mendoza allegedly stabbed told police that he and Mendoza had left the party together and gotten into an argument while walking towards a Maverik convenience store.

That's when Mendoza stabbed the other man twice and then held the knife to his throat, the man told police. The injured man then escaped and made it to a hospital, charges state.
SALT LAKE CITY  What was once an open, grassy field is now a noisy construction site.

Sounds of heavy equipment, power tools and shouts of construction workers saturate the neighborhood along 1000 West, where now stands the makings of a 300-bed homeless resource center  a building that seems to tower over homes and backyards right next door.

To Ryann Ringel, who until recently owned the 3/4-acre property directly north of the construction site, the new building has more than completely changed what once was a tight-knit neighborhood.

"It's just swallowed it up," Ringel said. "It's gone."

The future homeless resource center looms over Ringel's backyard, where her goats, sheep and chickens still roam freely  for now, but not for much longer.

Ringle said the new homeless facility now "overshadows" what she used to call home.

"It's more than depressing. It's oppressive," Ringel told the Deseret News recently. "It makes you feel very small."

'Disrupted' lives

Ringel was one of about a dozen property owners who have since sold their homes and land to Salt Lake County, after months of negotiating and political wrangling between the county and South Salt Lake.

Now, though some neighbors remain, the street is mostly vacant, except for construction workers. Chain-link construction fencing blocks off several front yards.

Ringel said she's there daily to take care of her animals until she can re-home them.

Some longtime neighbors who once kept in touch with the Deseret News couldn't be reached for this story. Some didn't return multiple requests for comment, while other phone numbers were no longer in service. Most doors went unanswered when knocked on Friday.

The emotionally charged situation has left the neighborhood divided, Ringel said. Many have already moved away.

"This whole situation has completely disrupted our life," Ringel said. "It's put an extreme strain on both of our bodies and our marriage."

She and her husband, Chris, have bought a new home in South Salt Lake with the $380,000 the county gave them to purchase their property  including a relocation cost over their home's appraised value, according to the Salt Lake County Mayor's Office.

Still, Ringel said they've downsized, from 3/4 of an acre down to a 1/4 acre, meaning they won't be able to take their animals to their new home. By spring, Ringel said she'll need to re-home them, but it's been difficult.

"It's completely changed the course of my life," she said. "My personal feelings are that once the dust settles, I'm getting out of Utah as quickly as possible. I am so over the politics. I can't be around it."

The Ringels ironically purchased their South Salt Lake home in 2016, moving from Salt Lake City's Sugar House neighborhood where a homeless facility was previously proposed but was scrapped after neighborhood outrage. As a result, Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams was tasked to choose a site somewhere else in Salt Lake County.

More than a year and a half ago, South Salt Lake leaders were infuriated when McAdams chose the site at 3380 S. 1000 West. The third homeless resource center (with two others being constructed in Salt Lake City) is part of the wide-reaching overhaul of the county's homeless system and the closure of the Road Home's troubled downtown shelter.

But to the residents along 1000 South, their world was turned upside down when McAdams made his decision. Many were left fearful of what the 300-bed homeless resource center would bring to their neighborhood, despite political leaders' promises it would look nothing like the nearly 1,100-bed downtown shelter.

Still, McAdams, when he chose the site, promised neighbors the county would buy surrounding properties if they wanted to sell.

Fearing the new center would bring drugs, crime and heavy traffic to their agricultural neighborhood, many did.

Buyouts

Salt Lake County this fall finalized purchases of 13 properties surrounding the site of the future shelter, with total price tags including relocation to help offset homeowners' searches for new homes.

The price tags ranged from $350,000, all the way up to about $1 million, depending on the parcel, according to Michelle Schmitt, spokeswoman for McAdams, who has since resigned as mayor after winning election to Congress.

In total, the county spent over $7 million for the properties, including $4.8 million in county funds and $2.2 million in state funds, Schmitt said. Each purchase went before and was individually approved by the County Council.

"This was a willing buyer, willing seller situation," Schmitt said. "Our real estate manager spent a lot of time out here with these folks to really find out what would be the best situation for everybody involved."

The Tracey Aviary, as part of a plan to protect and activate the Jordan River (another one of McAdams' promises to South Salt Lake), also paid $720,000 to purchase a parcel for a plan to build a second campus within the new Jordan River Park.

The county is renting properties to some residents who are staying for now, Schmitt said. There aren't currently any concrete plans for the properties, she said, though McAdams previously suggested they could be used for other services or programs.

"That area has so much opportunity given its central valley location and proximity to the Jordan River," Schmitt said, noting the county has had discussions with South Salt Lake about future plans for the Jordan River Park.

Ringel said she understood the county was bound by law to pay a fair price for the properties, but she still felt like they received the "bare minimum." Walking away, Ringel said she was sympathetic to the difficult situation neighbors and the county were in, but now is forced to make the best of it.

"We know nobody did this to us, it's just something that happened to us," she said.

Still, what was most "traumatic," Ringel said, was political infighting between Salt Lake County and South Salt Lake, as well as months of limbo while the city, county and the shelter's owner, Shelter the Homeless, grappled over who would buy the properties.

South Salt Lake Mayor Cherie Wood acknowledged "the process was frustrating for all parties involved" and city officials were "hopeful for the best resolution" for the neighbors.

Schmitt said the county "worked closely and directly with each property owner to ensure as smooth a process as possible."

Meanwhile, while the Ringels prepare to leave permanently, one neighbor a street over plans to stay.

'Our life is here'

Joy Valdez, who runs a horse stable on 1100 West, said she decided not to leave, knowing she'd be hard-pressed to find horse property for a similar price in the city in today's hot real estate market.

Instead, she said she's invested over $14,000 on new fencing and security in anticipation of the new homeless shelter, which she calls an "eyesore."

"My whole family thinks we're crazy staying, but it's our life here," Valdez said.

Valdez lamented the changing feel of her neighborhood and the exit of many longtime neighbors.

She also worried for the future, saying her neighborhood is already dealing with homelessness-related issues, including camps along the Jordan River. She said her barn has had five fires she suspects were started by embers blown from nearby camps.

"I hope it's not as bad as we're portraying," Valdez said. "But it's going to get worse before it gets better."

Preston Cochrane, executive director of Shelter the Homeless, said "the evidence is clear that homelessness is being driven by the affordable housing crisis" and that addressing the issue of homelessness will take the cooperation of everyone.

"The lack of affordable housing has a dual effect: It pushes more people into the homelessness system, while also making it more difficult to help people rapidly return to stable housing," Cochrane said. "The causes of homelessness are many and multifaceted, and the solutions are going to take all of us working together, doing our parts, strengthening our communities."

Correction: An earlier version incorrectly listed the address of the new homeless resource center as 3380 W. 1000 South. The correct address is 3380 S. 1000 West.
SALT LAKE CITY  The 2-week-old federal government shutdown isn't expected to significantly impact the state budget until the end of the month, but an alternative funding plan may have to be put in place soon.

"We have other money. We have other resources we can use. But we want to be cautious about that because we can't float this forever," said Kristen Cox, executive director of the Governor's Office of Management and Budget.

She said discussions with state lawmakers over how to cover the shortfall in federal support could start as soon as next week if Congress and President Donald Trump don't resolve the impasse over funding the president's border wall.

The Utah Legislature's annual 45-day session starts Jan. 28.

The state has already spent about $55,000 to help keep Bryce, Zion and Arches national parks open through the end of last year, and still has $25,000 available, funds that are expected to last at least through midmonth.

Other areas of the state budget that depend on federal dollars are being monitored, Cox said, particularly those aimed at providing food assistance, including school lunches, for low-income Utahns.

She said the Women, Infants and Children program has enough money to last four to six weeks while the school lunch program administered by the Utah State Board of Education could be out of federal dollars by the end of the month.

"Utah, and other states, are considering options should federal funding cease in February," Kathleen Britton, the state board's director of child nutrition programs, said in a statement.

"By that time, the Utah Legislature will also be in session and the State Board of Education will be working with its governing partners on a solution if the need arises," she said.

Federal grants anticipated by the Utah National Guard and other entities are being delayed, Cox said, but are "not make or break" for the budget. She said state agencies updated her office Monday on the shutdown impact.

"We know we're OK for a while, so there's no need to panic," she said.

In the meantime, "the hope is that the delegation and Congress can do their job, and the president, respect each other's position but do what's best for the country and get this resolved," Cox said.

It's the third federal shutdown Cox has had to deal with since being appointed to head the office by Gov. Gary Herbert in 2012. That's a "sad statement," she said. "This is not something you want to be familiar with."

The governor is concerned about everyone affected by the shutdown including furloughed federal employees, his deputy chief of staff, Paul Edwards, said in a statement. "Washington, D.C.s, dysfunction frustrates us to no end."

He said planning and discipline by "Utah's hardworking public servants has minimized the impacts of the ongoing gridlock. Cooperation from federal and nonprofit partners allows the state of Utah to manage just fine in the near term."

But the risks are growing, "especially for programs designed to support low-income women and children," Edwards said, calling on negotiators to "recognize the importance of finding solutions instead of broadcasting their differences."

The state is getting help from other entities to deal with the shutdown.

In addition to the Utah Office of Tourism, St. George, Washington County and the nonprofit Zion Forever Project are contributing toward maintaining basic visitor services at Zion for a week, including cleaning restrooms and picking up trash.

The price tag for each of the four entities is about $1,000 a day.

"We've got a four-way partnership going forward," said Vicki Varela, managing director of the tourism office. She called the arrangement "a silver lining to all of the chaos in D.C."

St. George Mayor Jon Pike called being part of at least a short-term solution an easy decision.

"While Zion National Park is our area's biggest economic driver, the park means so much more to us than just dollars and cents," he said in a statement. "Its splendor is part of our identity."

Zion Forever Project Executive Director Lyman Hafen said the partnership will "buy more time for the welfare of Zion National Park and to assure a better experience for the thousands of visitors who continue to come to Zion every day."

The nonprofit had kept the park open since the beginning of the year, just as the Bryce Canyon Natural History Association is doing through Thursday. Varela said the state will figure out a way to help Bryce soon.

Arches, however, is no longer getting state help to stay open because visitation drops off after the holidays due to winter conditions. The only national park visitor centers currently open in Utah are in Zion and Bryce.

Sarah Saavedra of Visalia, California, said she and her family were thankful with the conditions they found at Zion Thursday after visiting national parks near their hometown during the shutdown.

California's Yosemite and Sequoia national parks were "very dirty. People are just throwing their trash everywhere, not utilizing the trash cans. Feces are overflowing in the port-a-potties and it's just disgusting," she said.

While Saavedra said there were parking and other issues at Zion, her family's experience there was totally different.

"I think they've done an amazing job," she said of the skeleton staff at the park. "And if it wasn't for them, we wouldn't be here."

Kevin Lewis, director of the St. George Tourism Office, acknowledged that at Zion, "it's not business as usual, but it's open and available and that's the most important thing."

Lewis said federal officials have a responsiblity not just to the tourists coming to the park, but also locals hurt by the shutdown.

"Tourism is huge business for the area," he said. "I think we're taking it one week at a time."

The Salt Lake City Public Utilities Watershed Program is stepping up maintenance of public restrooms in canyons along the central Wasatch Front that are a major source of drinking water, usually done by federal forest rangers.

"Salt Lake City takes our responsibility to maintain the valley's precious watershed areas seriously," Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski said. "We will not allow gridlock in Washington to damage these pristine areas which our part of our identity as Utahns."

Contributing: Ladd Egan and Marjorie Cortez
TOOELE  A man who allegedly pointed a gun at a police officer, prompting the officer to shoot at him, was charged Friday with attempted murder.

Christopher Michael Ono, 28, of Tooele, was charged in 3rd District Court with the first-degree felony. In addition, he was charged with theft by receiving stolen property, a second-degree felony; possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, a second-degree felony; drug possession, a class A misdemeanor; and possession of drug paraphernalia, a class B misdemeanor.

On Oct. 9, Tooele police went to Mountain West Hospital where a woman was being treated for an assault.

"Her nose was still bleeding the entire time I was speaking with her. Her right eye socket was swollen and she stated she had a hard time seeing out of it when she was driving away from the scene of the incident," the officer wrote in his report.

The woman said she was assaulted by her boyfriend, Ono, according to charging documents. In October, Ono was charged with aggravated assault resulting in serious injury, a second-degree felony.

Police left the hospital and went to Ono's Tooele home to arrest him. As Tooele officer Casey Bronson went to the side of Ono's mobile home, he "shined his flashlight on the rear window and clearly saw Christopher Onos face. At that time officer Bronson saw a handgun in Christopher Onos hand and the handgun was pointed at him," the charges state.

The officer yelled "show me your hands" and he backed up, according to court documents. He then "fired several shots toward Christopher Ono," the charges state.

Ono was not hit and did not fire a shot.

But as police further investigated the incident, they recovered Ono's gun and discovered "the firearm had been loaded with incorrect ammunition and appeared to have jammed when a discharge was attempted," according to charging documents.

Ono's next court hearing in his aggravated assault case was scheduled for Tuesday.
SALT LAKE CITY  Valerie Williams was once filled with dread every time her rent due date approached.

The 32-year-old artist said her monthly payment used to eat up almost all of her income, leaving her wondering whether she'd even be able to eat.

"All of my money went to rent, both paychecks a month," Williams said. "I was always just like, 'Am I going to make it? Can I buy Cheerios?'"

That is a question Salt Lake City officials hope to eradicate through a multipronged approach to create affordable housing that they say is already bearing fruit.

Williams used to pay about $1,000 a month to live downtown, but she said she was forced to move when rents jumped to nearly $1,400 a month.

Williams  who works as a sign painter for Trader Joes and freelances in calligraphy  said she moved to Utah from Nantucket, Massachusetts, thinking housing would be cheaper. But, in reality, her search for affordable housing proved to be far more difficult than she expected.

"It was heartbreaking," she said, recalling driving around town, desperately jotting down phone numbers, filling out applications and then never hearing a word back. Or if she did, it was far too expensive.

The market was not kind to a single woman in her 30s on an artist's salary.

"It just felt like the city was pushing me out of it, even before I had the chance to become part of it," Williams said.

So when she found and qualified for an apartment at Project Open, one of Salt Lake City's newest mixed-income housing projects at 355 N. 500 West, Williams said it was a "godsend."

"I cried," she said. "It was incredible."

With an income at about 55 percent of the Salt Lake City area median income (which is about $52,000 for a single person), Williams qualified for an apartment costing about $675 a month. She then could also afford to pay $250 a month for a studio space, where she spends most of her time working.

Now, Williams said she has her dream job and her dream space  without breaking her budget.

"It's amazing," she said, standing in her studio, surrounded by her artwork. "It's been a dream ever since I was little."

A familiar story

Williams' struggle is "the story of the last three years" when it comes to searching for housing in Utah, according to Chris Parker, executive director of Giv Group, the nonprofit that built the 112-unit Project Open building.

As a developer, Parker said he's watched the housing market go haywire. Prices skyrocket as supply fails to keep up with demand. Luxury, market-rate apartments can't be built fast enough, let alone mixed-income or affordable units.

But with Project Open, Parker and his team wanted to prove net-zero, mixed-income buildings can be not just affordable but profitable to build. They wanted to create a new model to address the affordable housing shortage while also improve local air quality.

There's "not a single gas line" in Project Open, Parker said. Meanwhile, neighbors range from being formerly homeless, to artists like Williams, to those who can afford to pay full market rate. Parker, himself, lived there until recently.

Parker is also a member of Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski's Blue Ribbon Commission, a body created as part of the mayor's housing plan to leverage resources in public-private partnerships to tackle housing gaps in Utah's capital.

Over the past few years, Parker said he's seen striking progress on closing Salt Lake City's 7,500-unit affordable housing gap.

"There's a lot of great people thinking about affordable housing right now," he said. "But there needs to be a lot more."

"In 10 years, if we keep going at the rate we're currently going with affordable housing, we will have a far wider gap than we do right now," Parker added. "We're not keeping up with even our growth, let alone chipping into the current need."

Take 62-year-old Dortha Antonio, one of Parker's tenants, who said she spent 4 1/2 years at the Road Home on wait lists for affordable housing.

Last year, days before Christmas, Antonio got her own apartment at Project Open for about $400 a month. That eats up a big part of her roughly $750 a month budget, much of which comes from her Social Security income, but she calls the roof over her head a "blessing."

"I thank God every day for this place," she said.

Pipeline of affordability

Biskupski, now heading into her final year in her first term as mayor, is well aware the race to build affordable housing began years ago, long before she took office.

During her campaign, she promised to "build a city for everyone," and that included housing for all income levels.

Biskupski, during a recent interview with the Deseret News, reflected on the progress her administration has made since she took office in 2016  progress she called "super exciting."

"There's no other city or county doing this kind of work," Biskupski said.

"The beauty," she said, was the Blue Ribbon Commission was aiming for 1,000 new affordable units.

"Well, we're at 2,000," Biskupski said.

Heading into her 2019 State of the City address, slated for Jan. 17, Biskupski said Salt Lake City is making huge progress as it relates to affordable housing, and it will only get better with time if city officials stay on the track they've created.

Before Biskupski, former Mayor Ralph Becker started work to build additional affordable housing. But more recently  particularly during 2018  more projects have started picking up steam. And there has been an unprecedented commitment from the City Council and other partners to get the ball rolling even faster, Biskupski said.

Before Biskupski took office, from 2013 to 2015, four mixed-income housing projects were completed, adding 73 affordable units out of a total of 209 units built, according to Salt Lake City housing tracking documents. (Salt Lake City officials consider affordable housing to cost anywhere from 80 percent or below the area median income).

Jump ahead to 2015 to 2016. Four more projects were completed, including two 100 percent affordable projects, bringing on 179 new affordable units out of 225.

Fast forward one more year, from 2016 to 2017, Biskupski's first year in office. Seven new projects were completed, totaling 1,055 units. Out of those, 630 units, about 60 percent, are affordable.

Then, 2017 to 2018: five more projects  including the first phase of Project Open  are complete, proposed, or under construction, totaling 903 units, out of which 582 (64 percent) are affordable.

What's next? The coming year, heading on through 2020, will be truly "exciting," Biskupski said.

In the current budget year, 17 projects are either under construction, proposed or in pre-development, totaling 1,592 units, of which 1,057, or 66 percent, are slated to be affordable.

That means since Biskupski took office, about 2,448 affordable units have been completed or are in Salt Lake City's construction or planning pipeline.

Of those, about 445 units are slated to be permanent supportive housing, meant to help transition people out of homelessness as the county's new homeless system gets up and running this summer. Before 2016, the city hadn't seen new permanent supportive housing built in over a decade.

"Prior to 2016 we were doing maybe 100 units a year," said Melissa Jensen, director of the city's Housing and Neighborhood Development Department. Now, that's over 1,000 a year.

"And it keeps growing," Jensen said.

Salt Lake City has started a "continuous and healthy pipeline of affordability," Jensen said, and it's a pipeline Biskupski and her team believes should be replicated throughout the Wasatch Front.

'We're the model'

When it comes to addressing Utah's estimated 40,000-unit gap for affordable housing, Parker said other Utah cities are doing "some," but Salt Lake City is "heads and tails above anyone else."

"They're attacking this problem in a way that even a lot of major cities would be envious of," he said. "This matters on both the administration and the council side. I've never seen quite the unification on this issue."

Over the last several years, the City Council and Redevelopment Agency allocated about $34 million to a fund used for affordable housing. The council also negotiated for a 10 percent set-aside to be included in the Utah Inland Port Authority legislation to fund affordable housing within the city.

The Redevelopment Agency approved a total of $8.5 million in housing loans to create 570 new housing units, of which nearly 300 will be affordable.

Additionally, the council approved the 0.5 percent sales tax hike and earmarked about $4 million of annual revenue to address affordable housing needs.

More affordable housing initiatives will be outlined in Biskupski's State of the City address, the mayor said. With the approval of the sales tax hike, more money will be pumped into the city's Housing Trust Fund, as well as toward initiatives such as down payment assistance and House 20, a program with the aim to house the top 20 heaviest users of homeless services.

Before, the city was building affordable housing with "a project there, a project there," Jensen said, whereas now the city has undergone a "fundamental shift" toward a long-term approach, with a new funding source.

"Those things have made it possible (to build) a foundation that this will be a legacy for years to come," Jensen said. "We're the model."

But with the housing crunch affecting the entire Wasatch Front, Biskupski said Salt Lake City can't act alone.

"It can't just be us," the mayor said, calling on other cities and Utahns to push toward shifting attitudes and push back against NIMBYs when it comes to mixed-income communities.

"We've got to be more community-oriented," she said. "Think about who is in your community and makes it run: your first-year school teacher, your first-year law enforcement officer, your first-year firefighter. Those individuals aren't making a ton of money and they need affordable housing."

"Let's be real," Biskupski added. "If you're going to continue to go to a barista for your coffee, you should be comfortable enough to have that person live in your neighborhood. Let's stop acting like everyone who has very little money is somehow criminal. That's just not real."
SALT LAKE CITY  The Utah Film Commission has published a guide for people planning to attend the 2019 Sundance Film Festival.

The event, which takes place over a 10-day period, begins on Jan. 24. Filmmakers, industry insiders and movie fans will arrive from around the world to see this year's official Sundance selections.

Sundance Film Festival is a world-renowned event that happens in our backyard. There are so many ways to experience the festival as a local  through film, music, VR or just fabulous people watching, said Virginia Pearce, director of Utah Film Commission. The state of Utah is a proud supporter of the Festival and we want to help locals of all ages take advantage of what the Festival has to offer.

Free screenings: Utah locals can see some films for free, according to the UFC. Heres a breakdown of the events.

Townie Tuesday: Summit County residents can see films for free on the first Tuesday of the event, Jan. 29. You can visit the Redstone Cinemas or Library Center Theatre in Park City. You will need to be 18 years or older and be a resident of the county. You will need to request a ticket in advance through eWaitlist, which is included in the Sundance app.

Best of Fest: The festivals best films will show at free screenings in Park City, Salt Lake City and Sundance Mountain Resort on Feb. 4. You will need to request a ticket in advance through eWaitlist, which is included in the Sundance app.

Bring the kids: The festival isn't only for adults. Every year, Sundance features a Kids' portion of the festival, with special films made especially for families. This year's Kids selections are: Abe, The Witch Hunters and The Elephant Queen.

Music: The ASCAP Music Cafe will arrive in Park City during the festival where you can listen to new music.

Panels: There will be a variety of panels at the festival where directors and filmmakers can talk about their storytelling ability.

Exhibit: You can visit the New Frontier exhibition at the Sundance Film Festival, which will be at The Ray and New Frontier Central in Park City.

Leave the car: Cant find parking? Leave your car at a parking lot in Park City and take one of the free shuttles to the festival. You can receive free parking at Ecker Hill Park and Ride (2500 Kilby Rd., off the Jeremy Ranch exit from I-80) and the Richardson Flat Park and Ride (off of the Kearns Blvd. exit from Hwy. 40).
SALT LAKE CITY  Ben Burrup still remembers the very first time he felt symptoms from the cardiomyopathy that would turn his life upside down.

It was December 2014, and Burrup was out riding ATVs with some friends when he felt his heart noticeably racing.

"I never gave it a second thought," he recalls. "I just kind of let it go by."

But the racing persisted, and by that night, Burrup had checked himself into the emergency room.

The incident began Burrup's lengthy struggle to fight back against his cardiomyopathy  a disease affecting a person's heart muscles that can lead to heart failure  through intensive surgery, the implanting of a defribillator, and the installation of what is called a left ventricular assist device that kept his heart functional.

It was a stunning ordeal to have to endure for Burrup, of Herriman, who otherwise had enjoyed good health.

"To go through your first surgery being an open heart surgery was quite a doozy for me," he told reporters.

In February 2018, Burrup's life again changed forever when he received his heart transplant.

"To go through a near-death experience, heart failure, and live with that for a number of years, and then come out on the other side  the difference in my life from before  always being tired and never having the energy to do anything, to now, is night and day," he said.

On Friday, Burrup was on hand to share his success story at University of Utah Hospital, where the medical professionals who have facilitated his recovery celebrated what was a record-breaking year at the U. for organ transplants performed.

In 2018, University Hospital completed 255 transplants, its most ever and 31 more than in 2017.

That figure counts the number of transplanted "solid organs," which are internal organs such as the heart, liver, lungs, liver, kidneys and pancreas.

"Today we acknowledge the fact that not only did we have a record of thoracic and abdominal transplant recipients, but (also)  everybodys pretty proud that our patients are doing well," said Dr. Robin Kim, chief of the Division of Transplantation and Advanced Hepatobiliary Surgery at the hospital.

"Weve built this (transplantation) program over decades  we rely and stand on the shoulders of the people who founded the programs," he said. "I think that is a reason why we can come and talk about the good things that have happened over the past year."

Kim said while medical professionals are reasonable to take a victory lap to celebrate such an encouraging year's worth of results, it is even more important "to talk about the fact that our programs are growing because of donors."

"We've relied on donors who have given generously," he said.

Kim said the U. has also escalated its efforts to more frequently facilitate "a different kind of donation"  that of living donors. Since 2016, the number of living liver donations made through the U. has tripled. A portion of a liver can be given by a live donor because of its unique ability to regenerate.

University of Utah Health spokeswoman Suzanne Winchester also explained that the U. has recently "focused on performing multiorgan transplants to patients in need, including three combined heart-kidney transplants" in 2018.

Dr. Craig Selzman, chief of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the U., said "one of the amazing things" about a prosperous transplant program is "the number of people that are involved" in enabling patients' recovery. He said for one transplant patient in particular, he estimates about 500 medical providers have helped that person heal in one way or another over a yearslong period.

One of the most recent transplant recipients at the U. is James Dillard, of King Hill, Idaho, who received a new liver on Dec. 9 and was moved to tears Friday as he thanked those who have helped him extend his life.

"I love life and I get a chance to carry it on and spend more time with my grandkids," Dillard said, his voice ripe with emotion. "The doctors and the nurses and everybody (have) been fantastic, and I just appreciate everything that theyve done for me."

Dillard said as recently as two months ago, he thought there was "no way" he would be as healthy and able as he is now with a working liver.

"I was done," Dillard said.

Kim praised Dillard, saying "it's easy to give up when things are dire, but that's not the case here."

"He stands on his own two feet today as a testament of the work  not only from our program, but also (him) and his family," Kim said.

Dillard said of his donor that it would be impossible to "show them how much I appreciate what has happened."

"I get to spend more time with my grandkids," he said. "I ain't ready to leave this world yet."

Burrup also thanked his donor for "the life that he's given me."

"(I) encourage anyone that may be on the fence and considering donating.  The gift that you're giving someone else is  I can't even express it," he said. "The gift of life is unbelievable."

While Burrup is cheered by the record-breaking transplants at the U., he says the numbers can't tell the whole story.

"It's one thing to hear the numbers, but to see the other side of it  looking at me youd never even know I had a heart transplant," he said.

Burrup, who turns 40 over the weekend, says he has had his quality of life restored, and that his future is more secure than it had been in some time before receiving his new heart.

"I couldnt ask for a better present than having a new heart and having a new lease on life."
SALT LAKE CITY  The FBI is seeking help in finding a man investigators have dubbed the "Holiday Bandit," suspected of robbing seven Salt Lake-area banks in November and December.

Robberies in Salt Lake City occurred at Zion Bank, 100 S. Main, and Wells Fargo Bank, 783 N. Redwood Road, on Nov. 20 and Nov. 23, respectively. The man wore a green beanie and tan jacket in the latter robbery, according to the FBI.

The same man went on to rob the Healthcare Credit Union, 769 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City, on Dec. 6; Zions Bank, 159 Center St., Midvale, on Dec. 12; U.S. Bank, 5352 S. 4015 West, Kearns, on Dec. 24; Key Bank at 1098 S. 300 West, Salt Lake City, on Dec. 27; and Key Bank 1065 N. U.S. 89, North Salt Lake, on Dec. 28.

In the Dec. 12 robbery, the man wore a puffy jacket with a hood and a hooded sweatshirt underneath the jacket. In the Dec. 27 robbery, he wore a long black jacket, blue jeans and red gloves, as well as a wig and fake mustache. In the Dec. 28 robbery, he wore a black ski mask, black hooded sweatshirt, gloves and blue jeans, according to the FBI.

Tips may be submitted to the FBI at 801-579-1400.
The Watchdog: I took my property tax protest to the end; would the appraisal district surrender?
Khashoggi, a US-based Washington Post journalist from Saudi Arabia who had become a critic of the kingdom's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2. (Photo: File)

Washington: The United States does not believe the Saudi version of the October killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi has "hit that threshold of credibility," a senior State Department official said on Friday even as Saudi Arabia prosecutes suspects.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will emphasise the need for accountability and credibility in the investigation of Khashoggi's death during a visit next week to the Middle East, including to Riyadh, the official said.

"The Secretary has been very consistent in engagements with Saudis ...to really push the two points of accountability and credibility, which is that the Saudis should have a credible narrative for what happened," said the official, who briefed reporters on Pompeo's trip.

"I don't think from our point of view that the narrative emerging from the Saudis or the legal process has yet hit that threshold of credibility and accountability," the official said.

Pompeo wants both the perpetrators and the planners of the killing to be identified by the Saudis and appropriate punishments are meted out, the official added.

Khashoggi, a US-based Washington Post journalist from Saudi Arabia who had become a critic of the kingdom's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.

US intelligence agencies believe the crown prince ordered an operation to kill Khashoggi, whose body was dismembered and removed from the building to a location still publicly unknown. Top Turkish officials have also tied his death to the highest levels of Saudi leadership.

Saudi officials have denied accusations that the prince ordered the murder.

President Donald Trump, who has cultivated a close relationship with the crown prince, told Reuters last month he stood by the crown prince despite the CIA assessment and pleas from US senators for Trump to condemn the kingdom's de facto ruler.

A Saudi court on Thursday held its first hearing on Khashoggi's case in which Saudi Arabian prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for five of the 11 suspects in the case. The United Nations human rights office on Friday called the trial "not sufficient."

The State Department official said the United States was not "looking to get into the weeds" of the court case but would emphasise the need for a credible legal process.

Pompeo will also visit Jordan, Egypt, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait as part of his Jan 8 to Jan 15 trip, the State Department said in a statement.

As part of his talks with Middle Eastern leaders, Pompeo will also discuss the war in Yemen as well as Iran, Syria and other regional issues, the department said.
A preliminary analysis showed the data had been obtained through wrongful use of log-in information for cloud services, email accounts or social networks, Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said in a statement.

Personal data and documents from hundreds of German politicians and public figures including Chancellor Angela Merkel have been published online in what appears to be one of Germanys most far-reaching data breaches.

A preliminary analysis showed the data had been obtained through wrongful use of log-in information for cloud services, email accounts or social networks, Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said in a statement late on Friday.

He said there was no evidence that the computer systems of the German lower house of parliament or the government had been compromised, but provided no further details.

The ministry said it remained unclear if the breach, which triggered an emergency meeting of the BSI national cyber defense agency, was the result of a hack or a leak.

Authorities were investigating all possibilities, including espionage, according to one government source, who said it was unlikely that any single person could have compiled the massive amounts of data that had been released.

The public broadcaster rbb, which broke the story, said the data, published on a Twitter account, included addresses, personal letters and copies of identity cards. It said the identity of the perpetrators and their motive were not known.

The twitter account, which existed for four years and has now been deleted, first began releasing data in December in an electronic Advent calendar. The extent of the data leaks first became apparent late on Thursday evening, sources said.

German media said a fax number and two email addresses used by Merkel had been published but the government said it appeared no sensitive material from her office had been released.

The hacked material included private chats by Greens leader Robert Habeck with family members and the identity cards of his children, a source familiar with the matter said.

Die Welt newspaper reported late Friday that published lists included names of 410 members of Merkels conservatives, 230 Social Democrats, 106 Greens party members, 91 members of the radical Left party and 28 Free Democrats.

POLITICAL PARTIES HIT

The BSI said all but one of the seven parties in the lower house had been affected. German media said that party was the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Last year, lawmakers said a powerful cyber attack had breached the foreign ministrys computer network.

Security officials have blamed most previous breaches of data security on a Russian hacking group, while the Kremlin has consistently denied involvement in such incidents.

The BSI met to coordinate the response of intelligence and other federal agencies.

The Defense Ministry said the armed forces were not affected. The public broadcaster ARD - affiliated to rbb - said its journalists had as yet detected no incriminating content.

The city-state of Hamburg was working with Irish data protection authorities to stop the data being spread via Twitter, but said the company had not been responsive.

It said the Twitter account used to spread the data had been deleted, but that it was still pressing for the deletion of links to data on other platforms.

Security officials have blamed most previous attacks on a Russian hacking group, APT28, that experts say has close ties to a Russian spy agency. Experts held the same group responsible for an attack ahead of the 2016 US presidential election.

Bild newspaper reported that German authorities had asked the US spy agency NSA for assistance.

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As the Congress communication cell in-charge, Randeep Singh Surjewala has been at the forefront of his partys campaign on Rafale along with party chief Rahul Gandhi. In an interview to Sreeprna Chakrabarty, he says mum is the word as far as Prime Minister Narendra Modis reaction on Rafale is concerned.

New Year began with a focussed attack on the Prime Minister over Rafale. Not the BJP but the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Modi came to power on the promise of na khaonga na khane doonga. In four-and-a-half years, his government has become khaenge aur khilaenge. Rafale scam is an example of how systematic corruption and institutionalised maleficience has plagued the Modi rule in the last 55 months. Looting of public resources, crony capitalism, bypassing of rules and procedure and removal or stifling of anyone questioning the Prime Ministers decisions in favour of a select brand of cronies is the culture. Thats why a focussed attack on Rafale corruption has been made by Congress president Rahul Gandhi, asking the government to tell the truth and submit itself to a JPC probe.

It increasingly appears that it is a Rahul vs Modi battle the Congress president has even challenged the Prime Minister for a one-on-one debate

The Congress president always plays on the front foot batting for truth and transparency, both of which are intrinsic for the success of a democracy. For the Congress Party and Rahul Gandhi there are no individualised battles,  these battles are for ensuring accountability, transparency and responsibility, both of governance as also of providing a clean government as the principle Opposition party. Mr Modi has faltered both on governance as also on the accountability quotient. So for us, more than individual styles or individual contests, it is the affixation of responsibility for governance, accountability and transparency that is of paramount importance and that is what the Congress Party and its president are doing.

Do you think the masses are connecting with you on Rafale? What was your feedback, especially during the recent Assembly elections?

Corruption and taint on the Modi government is an issue among the masses, apart from the important issues of rural-agrarian distress, joblessness and GST. Prime Minister Modi has lost the trust of the people. Trust is the foundation of governance. The successive taint on the BJP-ruled state governments and the Centre has marred the capacity to run an accountable and transparent government. From the mining scam in Rajasthan, tender and Vyapam in Madhya Pradesh, PDS in Chattisgarh and Rafale at the national level; the notebandi scam which is indeed the biggest scam of India pioneered and implemented by BJP leaders, the taint on Amit Shah and his son, the questionable dealings of the current railways minister Piyush Goyal, etc. This government is gradually becoming a scam-a-day-government with wrong-doing becoming the DNA of Modi rule.



Political speculation is that the BJP will go to polls with PM Modi as their mascot again. Do you think people are buying Chowkidar Chor Hai?

People are saying Chowkidar Chor Hai. The BJPs mascot, Modi, has floundered like India Shining floundered in the year 2004. Neither did the duo of Vajpayeeji and Pramod Mahajan believe it until the stunning loss then nor is the Modi-Amit Shah duo ready to accept it until their immediate stunning loss in 2019. Please recollect how both PM Modi and Mr Shah continued to boast that they are going to win all three north Indian states of Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Rajasthan. Even today the Prime Minister is dishonouring the mandate of the people by not accepting defeat and saying we did not lose. Then who lost? Modiji will be rooted out of power based on the fundamental lies that he sold to people of India as dreams, the truth of which has now come out.

Do you expect the Prime Minister to speak on Rafale?

Mum is the word for Modiji when it comes to affixing his own accountability. We least expect such a Prime Minister whose DNA is autocratic to hold himself accountable to Parliament.

Whenever the Congress raises Rafale, the BJP counters it by bringing up Bofors. How do you plan to counter that? The finance minister tore into the Congress over Bofors in Lok Sabha.

You asked a fair question. Mr Jaitley has made a profession out of maligning the Congress on Bofors. But what happened? The court went forward and delivered a verdict that there was not a whisper of corruption or wrong allegation against Rajiv Gandhi or against anyone else. By then, unfortunately, he had been martyred. The current BJP government made the CBI file an appeal in the Supreme Court which was dismissed in November 2018. We dare Mr Jaitley that what he said inside the Parliament, he should say outside the Parliament and he would go to jail for it.



This week the Congress Party released a tape purportedly of the Goa health minister making a claim about former defence minister and current chief minister Manohar Parrikar on Rafale. How authentic is the tape and do you think its fair to drag Mr Parrikar considering his ill-health?

The Congress has consistently empathised with the health of Mr Parrikar. Bereft of political differences, we wish him well and he should get the best of treatment possible. Some of these conversations and fights were reported in the media on the day of the Cabinet meeting itself. In the same meeting, if the former defence minister, who is now the CM of Goa, tells his colleagues that you cant remove me as I have the Rafale file in my bedroom in my flat, what does that mean? What is the secret in that Rafale file that the PM is so scared of? Does it not match with the PMs refusal to order a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe despite the fact that it will have a majority of BJP members? Why then is Mr Modi so scared of showing the Rafale file to the JPC? Does this not prove Mr Parrikars point that there are skeletons there which, when they come out, will indict Prime Minister Modi?

Can we expect more such stuff on Rafale to come out before the elections?

We saw what the HAL chief said, controverting the PM and the defence minister when they rubbished the HAL saying that they cannot make aircraft, they said that every aircraft in India has been made by HAL and we are capable of making third and fourth generation aircraft. We saw what the defence audit wing head said on how PM Modi enhanced the benchmark price from Euro 5 billion to 8.2 billion, causing loss to the exchequer. So everyday some public servant or public authority feeling accountable to the Constitution will come forward and expose the lies about Rafale.
The partys aggressive use of the Sabarimala issue has definitely helped it to attract a significant part of the upper caste vote which is angry over the Supreme Court decision to allow all Indians to access the temple.

In 2016, Kerala elected the Left Front to power. The Congress was defeated and lost 7 per cent of its vote share. But the Left also lost about 2 per cent of its votes. The gain in votes was made only by one party, the BJP. It went up by 9 per cent and more than doubled its previous share of Malayali votes to a total of 15 per cent.

This was a big jump and very encouraging but the BJP has been doing this across the country for many decades. In Gujarat, the Jana Sangh (which was the former name of the BJP) got only 2 to 3 per cent of the votes till the mid 1970s. But the party leadership continued to strive and work and build the organisation without expectation of personal reward. The Emergency and then the Ayodhya movement gave the Jana Sangh and BJP the opportunity to mobilise and it grabbed it.

One can rightly accuse the party of using religious issues and divisions to achieve political ends, but one cannot accuse it of failing to achieve them.

Readers will be aware that the RSS and the BJP have done something similar in Kerala, though in this instance the growth has been accompanied with great violence. Many people from the RSS , BJP and the Left parties have been killed as the fight for dominance at the neighbourhood level has become ugly.

The BJP won only one seat in 2016 but in the next election it will finally be established as a major player in that state. The partys aggressive use of the Sabarimala issue has definitely helped it to attract a significant part of the upper caste vote which is angry over the Supreme Court decision to allow all Indians to access the temple.

However the ultimate victory here will be that of the women and those people who back the rights of the individual over the rights of tradition. It was reported that three women accessed the shrine in the last few days. This will swing things in favour of the reformists. So long as no females were allowed to pray there, the strength of emotion kept the issue burning. As more and more women do this, the matter will fade.

We have seen the same thing over the same issue happen in India before. In the 1930s, the issue was whether or not to allow dalits into temples. Mahatma Gandhi was opposed by Hindu rightwing groups which organised dharnas against him for supporting the entry of dalits.

In Ahmedabad, the Swaminarayan sect, which is run primarily by the Patels of my community, declared themselves non-Hindu to keep the dalits out. They did this to claim that the Bombay Harijan Temple Entry Act was not applicable to them.

But of course we know that such things cannot work. Ultimately we cannot discriminate in the name of tradition and the right thing always prevails in the course of time.

The Patels kept fighting against dalit entry but lost in the Supreme Court. The judges observed that the Harijans right to enter temples symbolises the right of Harijans to enjoy all social amenities and rights, for, social justice is the main foundation of the democratic way of life enshrined in the provisions of the Indian Constitution.

Today this observation seems normal and nobody can take exception to it.

Something similar will happen in Kerala. In a few months or a few years it will become normal to see females in the temple. Those who are currently angry over the defeat of tradition will lose their anger over time. Those who wanted to keep dalits out are today nowhere to be found. They have not vanished but their views have changed and our society has changed. Today nobody can claim that tradition should prevail over individual rights to keep dalits away from temples.

In time we will be surprised that we were fighting over such an issue as the entry into temples of females in 2019.

The conservative elements of society constantly seek to keep reform on hold because it offends tradition. When it loses one battle, over dalits, these conservative elements, move on to the next one, women.

In the future, there will be something else, but there also they will display anger and then accept the inevitable.

In that sense the defeat of tradition will help the BJP politically in the short run. But it will help us as a law abiding and rights respecting society in the long run.
Mehbooba Mufti had only to ask for a mere divisional status for the Chenab Valley and the Pir Panjal areas for Karan Singh to scream that she was trying to break up Jammu. This from a man who has always been for a breakup of Jammu & Kashmir; particularly since the mid 1960s. He sponsored all manner of moves for a breakup while keeping his links with the Congress government at the Centre in good repair.

In himself, Karan Singh is a very small man; indeed, it is his lurking capacity to fuel the flames of hate in Jammu that matters, given the state of politics today. As the son of the last ruler of the princely state, Hari Singh, he inherited the Dogra resentment of Sheikh Abdullahs rise to becoming premier of J&K.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has ever been an advocate of trifurcation into the Muslim Valley, the Hindu Jammu and the Buddhist Ladakh. In 1947, the Muslims were in a majority in Jammu. The massacre of Muslims organised by Hari Singh reduced their majority (61 per cent) to a minority (30 per cent) by 1961. It is not a regional, but a highly communal resurgence, that we now witness.

The scholar Christopher Jaffrelot records that, in 1981, Karan Singh founded the Virat Hindu Samaj. Karan Singh became its president; its officers were RSS and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stalwarts  Hans Raj Gupta and O.P. Tyagi (vice presidents), V.H. Dalmia (treasurer) and Ashok Singhal (general secretary).

To Braj Kumar Nehru, governor of J&K, he candidly expounded his ideas. Shortly before he was sworn in as governor on February 26, 1981, B.K. Nehru met him and was told that those five different entities of J&K had nothing in common with each other. The hill areas of Gilgit, Baltistan and Skardu and the Punjabi-speaking areas of Muzaffarabad, etc were already in the hands of Pakistan. In our part of (Kashmir), there were three clear divisions  Jammu, which was Hindu, Kashmir, which was Sunni Muslim and Ladakh, one part of which was Buddhist and the other (Kargil) Shia Muslim. Because of the lack of commonality between these three divisions, the sooner they were separated the better it would be for the future. The RSS has consistently supported such a trifurcation.

However, on Oct 2, 2000, Farooq Abdullah warned that, in such an event, the districts of Doda, Poonch and Rajouri would not live with Jammu and that it would trigger something worse than the Jammu massacres in 1947. Jammu would split evenly. Gool Gulab Garh tehsil in Udhampur, and three in Rajouri, would go to the Valley. In 1979, Ladakh was split into two districts  Muslim-majority Kargil and Buddhist-majority Leh. India will be left with two and a half districts while the so-called Greater Kashmir would go on a platter to Pakistan eventually.

Jammus six districts have since been reorganised into 10. The figures yielded by the latest census are revealing. Only in five Jammu districts  Kathua, Udhampur, Reasi, Jammu, and Samba  are the Hindus in a majority (82 per cent in total).

In 2008, there was a massive agitation in Jammu against the Valley over the Amarnath land issue. Significantly, Karan Singh was the only person outside the BJP to call for the resignation of the upright Governor N.M. Vohra on Aug 5, 2008.

The separatists are not really opposed to trifurcation. Mirwaiz Maulvi Farooq supported it on August 10, 2008. But how on earth can it be accomplished? Article 3 of the Constitution of India, which empowers Parliament to reorganise the boundaries of its states, does not extend to the region of J&K.

Clearly, Kashmirs breakup can be brought about only as part of an overall settlement, which restores Kashmirs autonomy to its original strength.

Karan Singh was defeated in an election from Jammu in 1984. But one of the leaders of the anti-Valley agitation in 2008, Jitendra Singh, is now minister of state in Narendra Modis Prime Ministers Office. He never misses an opportunity to spew poison against Kashmir no less virulent than Karan Singh, for whom he has little time.

Jammus secession from J&K may be a distant prospect. Meanwhile, a lot of damage will be done by this communal agitation against the Valley.

By arrangement with Dawn
Hyderabad: TRS working president K.T. Rama Rao on Saturday slammed the BJP government at the Centre for its partisan and step-motherly attitude towards Telangana state.

Addressing a press conference at Telangana Bhavan, Mr Rama Rao cautioned that the BJP would lose its deposit in all 17 Lok Sabha seats in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections if it continued to neglect Telangana state by not providing funds for irrigation and other projects. The BJP government only has praise for Telangana. They never release funds, Mr Rama Rao said. The BJP government is biased against Telangana because they dont see a political future for it here. We strongly condemn this behaviour.

He reminded how in the recent Assembly elections, BJP candidates lost their deposits in 103 seats. If the BJP continues to behave in the same manner, the party will lose deposits in the 17 parliament constituencies as well.

Mr Rama Rao said that despite receiving appreciation for Mission Bhagiratha and Mission Kakatiya from all corners of the country, the projects were not being adequately supported by the Centre. When the BJP government in Maharashtra requested for the Centres assistance for their irrigation projects, the Centre allocated Rs 3,830 crore to Maharashtra. But no such assistance was provided for Telanganas projects. They have different sets of rules for BJP-ruled and non-BJP-ruled states.

He highlighted that Mission Bhagiratha had won a Hudco award twice for best outstanding contribution in the infrastructure sector through innovative initiatives and received encomium from the Prime Minister, Union ministers, Niti Aayog, the 15th Finance Commission and states like Uttar Pradesh, Bengal, Bihar, Maharash-tra, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made special mention of Mission Bhagiratha in his Mann Ki Baat radio programme and applauded the efforts made by the Telangana government in the water supply sector, Mr Rama Rao said. The model was also being emulated in Bihar, Karnataka and Maharashtra. He also reminded how eminent persons like Waterman of India Mr Rajendra Singh and Nobel Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi had praised Mission Bhagiratha.

Former Niti Aayog vice-chairman Arvind Panagariya had visited the state and met chief minister Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao and other officials and discussed ongoing work of Mission Bhagiratha and Mission Kakatiya, Mr Rama Rao said. He even wrote to the Centre recommending Rs 24,000 crore to these projects.

He also said that TRS party leaders have been requesting the Centre to confer national project status to Kaleshwaram and sanction a special grant for it.It is unfortunate that the Centre does not respond to our demands, Mr Rama Rao said.
Hyderabad: Senior Congress leader Komatireddy Venkat Reddy on Saturday faulted the Congress and the TD for the debacle in the assembly polls and said their alliance had yielded miserable results. Collaborating with the TD distanced our party from employees and the youth, he said.

Speaking with mediapersons, the former legislator said he had warned about the alliance with the TD ahead of Assembly election but the party did not pay heed to him. He said Chief Minister K. Chandasekhar Rao was successful in convincing the voters that AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu would gain prominence in Telangana if the Congress came to power.

Even in the worst case scenario, I was expecting 45 seats for Congress. I met the high command leaders and informed them that the Congress will win at least seven Lok Sabha seats, if we fight the election independently without forming an alliance, he added.

TPCC spokesperson Addanki Dayakar said the secret alliance between TRS and BJP would be a danger to democracy. He said that unanimous elections in panchayat polls would be not good for democracy. Mr Chandrasekhar Rao with official machinery has been threatening the candidates who want to fight in upcoming polls, he alleged.
This is an issue of devotees, not an issue of the BJP. This is an issue concerning the Hindu society, BJP national spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao said. (Photo: File)

New Delhi: The BJP on Saturday alleged that the violence around the Sabarimala temple in Kerala was unleashed by the LDF government in the state, which, instead of dealing with it in a sensible way, had wreaked havoc, resulting in the devotees being hurt and even killed.

The saffron party also said the Sabarimala issue was about Hindus and not about the ruling party. "All this has been done by the CPI(M) goons with the full authority and support of the state government. The CPI(M) has a history of unleashing violence against the RSS-BJP cadre, but today, they are not even sparing the devotees. The state government is using the cadres of the DYFI, the SDPI and this is state-sponsored violence being unleashed. A devotee was killed two days ago and a bomb was hurled at the ancestral home of one of our MPs," Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao said.

He further said the agitations at the Sabarimala temple were not political in nature, but peaceful protests to uphold the traditions of the shrine. "This is an issue of devotees, not an issue of the BJP. This is an issue concerning the Hindu society," Rao added.
Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu, Rev. Fr. Amalaraj and others release souvenirs during the 65th College Day celebrations of Loyola College in Vijayawada

Vijayawada: Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday asked students to acquire good knowledge and protect Indias tradition and culture that has brought universal recognition to our country.

Speaking after inaugurating the 65th College Day of the Andhra Loyola College in Vijayawada, Mr Venkaiah Naidu said that there was no place for violence in the country. He said that everyone should believe that they belong to one caste and one religion.

Earlier, the Vice-President paid floral tributes to an image of Rev Fr. Theo. Mathias, SJ, founder-principal of the Andhra Loyola College.

The Vice-President said that the youth should concentrate on the latest inventions that are useful for the masses. He said that sexual content must be decreased in movies.

He asked students to develop character with hard work, confidence and discipline. Meanwhi-le, a special postal cover on Rev Fr. Theo. Mathias, SJ, founder-principal of Andhra Loyola College, was released on Saturday, to coincide with this birth centenary. Col. M. Eleesha, Postmaster General, Vijayawada Region, did the honours.

Addressing the gathering, Col. Eleesha said that it was an honour for him to be part of a prestigious event. He reminded that many of the students of the college had achieve immense success in life and had reached high positions professionally. The college has given the nation sincere political leaders and many great personalities. A large number of people serving in Indian Administrative Services, IPS etc are alumni of the college, Col. Eleesha said.

Dr Abhijit Ichake Dilip Rao, Senior Superintendent of Post Offices, Kanaka Ratna Rao, senior post master, and others were present.


Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati have given their in-principle approval for alliance after the numerous meetings. (Photo: File)

Lucknow: The Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party have agreed to an alliance in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, an SP leader said on Saturday.

A formal announcement on the gathbandhan between the two Opposition parties may take place later this month, SPs national spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary said.

There is no official word yet if the Congress too would be part of the UP alliance. The state BJP called the development opportunistic and anti-people.

Mr Chaudhary said Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati had given their go-ahead for the alliance after a series of meetings between them.

There has been an in-principle approval for the gathbandhan. And there is a possibility that an announcement in this regard will be made this month, Mr Chaudhary said.

A number of meetings between SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and BSP supremo Mayawati have already been held. On Friday too, both leaders met in Delhi, he said, Talks are going on to accommodate some smaller parties in the alliance, he said. He admitted that the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), which has a presence in western UP, is among these parties.

When asked about the possible inclusion of Congress in the UP alliance, Chaudhary said, This will be decided by Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati.

But he added the SP and the BSP will not field candidates in Amethi and Raebareli, leaving these Lok Sabha constituencies for Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chief Sonia Gandhi.

UP Congress chief Raj Babbar argued there had been no announcement after the meeting between the presidents of the two parties, and it was not for him to comment on it.

We are yet to get any instructions or directions from our central leadership, he said.

Akhilesh Yadav had recently expressed displeasure against the Congress for not including its lone MLA in the new Madhya Pradesh ministry headed by Kamal Nath.

BSP leader Mayawati too has said it may withdraw its outside support to the Congress in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan if the cases against Dalits lodged during a protest last year are not withdrawn. The BJP dubbed the coming closer of the SP and the BSP opportunistic. This is an opportunistic alliance and it is completely anti-people. The BJP will register massive wins in UP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, UP BJP spokesperson Hero Bajpai told reporters here.

Politically crucial Uttar Pradesh sends 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha.

The opposition parties defeated the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in three Lok Sabha bypolls in the state last year.

In the Kairana Lok Sabha by-elections in May, the BJP lost to the joint opposition candidate, RLDs Tabassum Hasan. The seat had fallen vacant following the death of the BJP candidate Mriganka Singhs father Hukum Singh.

Tabassum Hasan was supported by the Congress, the SP and the BSP. In March, the BJP lost the Lok Sabha bypolls in Gorakhpur and Phulpur.

In the last parliamentary elections in 2014, the BJP won 71 seats in the state, securing 42.63 per cent of the votes. BJP ally Apna Dal bagged two more.

Samajwadi Party won five seats with a vote share of 22.35 per cent. The BSP did not win any seat while securing 19.77 per cent votes.
BJP supporters wearing Prime Minister Narendra Modis mask wave during the Jabab Maguchhi Odisha rally at Chow-field, Baripada, in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha on Saturday. (PTI)

Baripada: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday accused the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government in Odisha of being negligent towards the safety and security of women in the state.

The PM, while addressing a public meeting at Chhau Padia in Baripada, said the state government was not serious about women welfare programmes as Odisha is lagging behind in women education, health and employment.

Condemning the weak investigation by the state police that he said led to the acquittal of Pipili-gang rape accused, Modi said the victim was denied justice. Odisha government should launch a probe into the case again to ensure justice to the victim, he said.

On November 29, 2011, the victim, a 19-year-old Dalit girl from Arjungoda under Pipili police limits, was found in a semi-nude and unconscious state near her house in Arjungoda village of Pipili. She died on June 21, 2012 after undergoing treatment for months at SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack.

On December 24, the Bhubaneswar ADJ court acquitted prime accused Prashant Pradhan and his brother Sukant due to lack of evidence against them.

Highlighting the benefits of universal health coverage scheme Ayushman Bharat, Modi urged the Odisha government to implement the Centres scheme in the state.

We will always work towards the development of Odisha. Many poor people are deprived of healthcare and the government should think of how these people will benefit from Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana under Ayushman Bharat scheme. We must work together for a New India and a New Odisha, the PM said.

Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan too came down heavily on the Odisha government over chit fund scam in the state.

The Union minister said the BJPs primary aim was to get maximum Lok Sabha seats and at least 100 Assembly seats.

In line with his vision of Purvodaya and his commitment towards the development of Odisha, PM Modi laid the foundation stones and dedicated various projects for the development of the people of Odisha. The inauguration of a bouquet of projects will ensure prosperity for Odisha, Mr Pradhan said.

Meanwhile, responding to Modis allegation of a faulty probe in the Pipili gang rape case, Mr Patnaik stated, We are following the case very diligently.

Prior to the public rally, Modi laid foundation stones and inaugurated projects worth over `4,500 crore in Railways, LPG pipeline and Passport Seva Kendras in the state. He dedicated to the nation the Balasore-Haldia-Durgapur section of LPG pipeline project of IOCL and the Balasore multi-modal logistics park.

He also unveiled a plaque to mark the commencement of work for the development and conservation of Rasika Ray temple at ancient fort, Haripurgarh.

This apart, the PM laid the foundation stone for the four-laning of various National Highway projects. He also flagged off the Tatanagar-Badampahar DEMU passenger train through video conferencing.
New Delhi: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav seems to be heading for trouble ahead of Lok Sabha polls as the CBI plans to examine him in connection with a case of illegal sand mining dating back to 2012-13 when he held the additional portfolio of mining in Uttar Pradesh.

On Saturday the investigating agency conducted raids at 14 places in Uttar Pradesh, including Jalaun, Hamirpur, Noida, Lucknow and Kanpur, and Delhi as part of the probe while CBI sources hinted that they may question Akhilesh Yadav and all his former ministers, including former mining minister Gayatri Prasad Prajapati who was also arrested in 2017 following a complaint of rape by a woman residing in Chitrakoot.

In the afternoon, the central investigative agency also conducted raids on the premises of IAS officers and former Hamirpur district magistrate B. Chandrakala.

She had come into limelight, particularly on the social media, in connection with her anti-corruption campaigns which earned her the title of being a Lady Dabang  a reference made to an honest cops role essayed by Salman Khan in Dabang.

The CBI initiated investigations into the sand mining scam following a directive from the Allahabad high court and filed seven preliminary enquiries in 2016.
by Wang Zhicheng

From 2000 to 2016, the fertility rate in China was on average 1.18, among the lowest in the world. The situation is similar to that of Japan in the 1990s, where the crisis has mutated from demographic to economic. With the increase of the elderly and the lack of social welfare a "humanitarian catastrophe" is expected.

Beijing (AsiaNews) - China is preparing for an economic crisis. It will not be produced by US tariffs, but by demographics. And the blow has been self-inflicted thanks to the one-child policy that has dominated the country for over 30 years.

Even though the government has been allowing couples to have up to two children since 2016, the Chinese are now reluctant to have even one child. From 2000 to 2016, the fertility rate in China was on average 1.18, the lowest in the world.

This phenomenon produces two problems: it reduces the population and (therefore) also the work force; at the same time, the percentage of the elderly increases. Last year there were 2.5 million fewer births in the country and the population fell by 1.27 million.

According to Yi Fuxian, a scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the current situation in China is similar to that of Japan in the 1990s. At that time, the Land of the Rising Sun was hit by a demographic crisis with an average age of 38.5 years and the number of over-65s up by 18%. The decline of young people in the workforce has led to a reduction in manufacturing and industry; their aging has generated a decline in production and innovation. In this way, the demographic crisis has become an economic crisis. The result was that the share of Japanese products in global exports fell from 12.5% in 1993 to 5.2% in 2017.

An increase in the elderly leads to a reduction in savings. From 1991 to 2016, savings in Japan fell from 35.7% (in 1991) to 24.5% (in 2016). It must be said then that the increase in the elderly leads to an increase in medical and pension expenses, increasing the state debt.

As a percentage of GDP (gross domestic product), healthcare expenditure in Japan increased from 4.4% to 8.6% in 2014; pension costs from 4.9 (in 1991) to 10.2 (in 2013); the state debt grew from 63% (in 1991) to 236% in 2016.

For Yi Fuxin, today's China is tracing step by step the path of Japan in the 1990s. And since the fertility rate in Japan at the time was 1.42, while the current Chinese rate is lower, this means that the Beijing crisis will be even harder than Tokyo's.

The prospects are not good. In 2015, China had 6.9 workers between the ages of 20 and 64, supporting a senior aged 65 or over. In 2030 there will be 3.6 workers per senior and in 2050 only 1.7 workers. Since there are no social or family safety nets in the country, the crisis will evolve "into a humanitarian catastrophe" and as women live more than men, the crisis will be suffered especially by women.

The United States has a more positive situation. In 2018, the average age in the US was 38; in 2030 it will be 40; in 2050 it will be 44. Instead in China the data is: 40 in 2018; 46 in 2030; 56 in 2050. As the age of innovation is calculated up to 39 years, it is clear that if China is still able to produce and invent and compete with the US, in the near future its innovation will be stagnant.
Authorities at Medchal-Malkajgiri expressed mixed reactions to the issue. While one official claimed that eviction orders had been issued, others said they were clueless about the issue.

HYDERABAD: Illegal constructions are mushrooming in the outskirts of the city which the authorities continue to ignore. Court orders to curtail such constructions have failed to evoke any action. Residents allege that a nexus between political leaders and the collectorate authorities are responsible for this.

Authorities at Medchal-Malkajgiri expressed mixed reactions to the issue. While one official claimed that eviction orders had been issued, others said they were clueless about the issue.

According to Green Fields Plot Owners Association, influential political leaders were hand in glove with the Medchal-Malkajgiri district authorities and had created fake documents for government land in survey no 378 of Kanajiguda, Dammai-guda in Alwal Mandal. The illegal constructions have come up in plot numbers 500,501 and 502 in the same survey number.

Mr S. Chandrasekhar, president, Green Fields Plot Owners Association, said that even though several representations had been given to the district authorities regarding illegal occupation of land and unauthorised construction in the survey number 378 in Kanajiguda, the officials did not take any action against the encroachers fearing local political leaders. He said citing this the association had filed petitions in the High Court. The court instructed the authorities to stop the illegal construction on the land and asked the adjacent building owner to confine his construction according to his layout plan and not deviate from the plan.

Mr Chandrasekhar said that even though two years had passed, the district authorities were yet to implement the court order.

He said despite several representations neither the mandal revenue officer nor the joint collector have been initiating action against the encroachers.

When this newspaper contacted Alwal mandal revenue officer M. Sarala, she said she had conducted a hearing and asked the association to submit a valid document to prove the ownership over the land. The officer said that it was under process and she had already issued an eviction order.

When contactedMr , D Srinivas Reddy, joint collector Medchal-Malkajgiri, said he was unaware of the issue and would look into it and resolve it at the earliest.


Bengaluru: It is a rule that has remained only on paper that no shops within 100 meters of schools and colleges should sell tobacco-related products. But the scene on the ground is different with shops selling cigarettes, gutkha and other tobacco products to customers, probably even to students.

The BBMP, which has noticed the violation, has asked its zonal officials to raid such shops and seize all the goods. After a few raids initially, the officials are now seeking the help of the police as they faced intense protests from shopkeepers.

A senior BBMP official said, Zone-level officials told us that shopkeepers get local politicians to intervene, making their job difficult. They want the police to help them carry out the raids, and we will write to the police department to accompany our officials when they go around checking shops. We will keep the police officials updated on the dates of such raids and visits. We have directed our officials to seize the products and also penalise those who have rented out the space to such shops. If they continue the offence, their trade licences will be cancelled and shop sealed. We have been asked by the government to take strict action against such shops.

Another official said, School and college managements too have been asked to write to us if the find shops near their institutions selling tobacco products. We have been getting such information and we will take action once we get the police help. Even parents and general public can call the BBMP call centre to register their complaint, and we will take quick action.
The JD(U) had made its stand on the Triple Talaq issue clear even when an ordinance on the same was promulgated by the Union cabinet. (Photo: File)

Patna: With the Janata Dal (United) being firm in its opposition to a bill against Triple Talaq, the Congress on Friday said it was high time that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's party walked out of the BJP-led NDA or risk being wiped out from Bihar.

Congress Legislature Party leader Sadanand Singh said the JD(U) had sharp ideological differences with the BJP on important issues like the Ram Temple and Triple Talaq.

"The JD(U) should realise that its standing among the people of Bihar would be imperiled if it remains in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). In such an eventuality, it will be wiped out from the state," he said.

The JD(U) had made its stand on the Triple Talaq issue clear even when an ordinance on the same was promulgated by the Union cabinet. Leader of the JD(U) in Rajya Sabha and the party's general secretary Ram Chandra Prasad Singh had favoured arriving at a consensus with other parties on the issue. He had also warned that if a bill is brought on this issue in Parliament, the JD(U) will voice its opinion more vocally.

In a bid to downplay the JD(U)'s stand, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said, "Allies have a different opinion on matters like Ram temple, Article 370 and Triple Talaq. But there is no difference of opinion within the NDA on the issue of development."
The court refused his application to stay the order to give him some time to appeal. (Photo: File)

New Delhi: A Special PMLA court on Saturday declared Vijay Mallya a fugitive economic offender under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018.

The verdict of a special court for prevention of money laundering act cases means Mallyas properties can now be confiscated by the government.

The court refused his application to stay the order to give him some time to appeal.

The anti-corruption court was hearing an application by the Enforcement Directorate, seeking a direction to declare Mallya a fugitive economic offender.

This new law to catch people who flee abroad after committing financial crimes was signed by the President in August 2018. It aims to stop a growing number of high-profile economic offenders fleeing from the country to avoid legal action.

Under the new law, a fugitive economic offender is a person against whom an arrest warrant is issued for his/her involvement in economic offences at least Rs 100 crore or more and has left India to avoid prosecution.

Last month, a UK court said Mallya can be extradited to India to face legal actions for fraud investigations. He is wanted in India for defaulting on Rs 9,000 crore in loans to his failed Kingfisher Airlines.
Meanwhile, on Saturday morning body of Mumthasar was found near with throat slit on the banks of Veeracholan river at Thirubuvanam on Saturday morning. (Representational Images)

Thanjavur: In a tragic development, an engineering college student was kidnapped and killed after the culprits made a vain attempt to get a ransom of Rs 5 lakh for releasing the youth at Kumbakonam near here on Saturday. Mumthasar (20), son of Sahul Hameed of Avaniyapuram near Aduthurai near Kumbakonam, was studying at A.V.C. Engineering College, Mayiladuthurai. He was staying with his mother Mumtaz Begum and his father is abroad.

Mumthasar left his house at 6.30 pm on Friday saying that he is going to his sisters house at Thirumangalakudi on his bike. Later, he called his mother and said he was going to his friend's house at Thiruvidaimaruthur.

But at 8.30 pm, Mumtaz Begum received a call from some unknown person who said that they have kidnapped her son and will release him only if Rs 5 lakh is paid to them, adding, they were taking him to Coimbatore.

Mumtaz Begum and her brother Nazeer Muhamed complained to Thiruvidaimaurthur police who started investigations. They traced the phone call to Thirubuvanam area and when they tried the mobile number, it was switched off.

Meanwhile, on Saturday morning body of Mumthasar was found near with throat slit on the banks of Veeracholan river at Thirubuvanam on Saturday morning. His motorbike was missing. The police secured four persons and are interrogating them.
Mercer will be the second subglacial lake after Whillans in 2013.

Washington: An international team of scientists will begin the new year hunting for microbes and other living specimens in an unexplored lake far beneath the surface of the Antarctic ice sheet.

Led by polar scientist John Priscu of Montana State University in the US, a team of 45 scientists, drillers and support staff will drill 4,000 feet to the bottom of the ice sheet that covers Mercer Subglacial Lake about 370 miles from the South Pole.

The lake, which measures nearly 62 square miles, was discovered more than a decade ago through satellite images but has never before been explored.

The expedition, known as SALSA (Subglacial Antarctic Lakes Scientific Access), hopes to shed light on what kind of life can survive in such remote regions and serve as an on Earth comparison for habitats deep inside Mars or on the ice-covered moons of Jupiter and Saturn.

While Mercer will be the second subglacial lake that humans have sampled directly, Fox wrote, it will be the first time scientists will use a remote vehicle to roam beneath the ice sheet, which leads the scientists to wonder if the submersible's three video cameras might capture images of animals that live in the dark water. This is the second such expedition for Priscu.

In 2013, he and other MSU researchers published the discovery of microscopic life in Subglacial Lake Whillans in the journal Nature and received worldwide attention.
Alis recent meeting with Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, the leader of the opposition YSR Congress party in AP at an airport has fuelled speculation that the actor might join the party.

Even though Ali has said that he will reveal everything in a couple of days, fans of Pawan Kalyan have started to troll him.

Pawan and Ali share a close bond to the extent that Ali made at least a cameo appearance in each of Pawans films. Now, instead of joining (Jena Sena), the new party Pawan has floated, Ali seems to have decided to join another party, although not clear.

While theres no official confirmation from Ali about his joining in any party, Pawan fans have not taken kindly to these reports and have begun to troll him on social media. This has become a hot topic of discussion in industry and political circles.
Directed by D.S. Rajkumar, the action thriller is centered on the theme of conflict between good and evil. Here its the fight between an Aghori and wicked people.

Shruti Ramakrishna, the award winning Kannada actress, is back in Tamil after a gap with Aghori, which has Sayaji Shinde playing the titular role of devotee of Lord Siva.

Directed by D.S. Rajkumar, the action thriller is centered on the theme of conflict between good and evil. Here its the fight between an Aghori and wicked people. Sayaji has undergone an image makeover to look his part and worked really hard. The makeup process was cumbersome, but he was patient and given his best, says an insider.

Since the team had some difficulty in shooting at Kasi, a huge set resembling Haridwar was erected in the city, where the climax with Sayaji and 150 aghoris taking part in it was canned. Mime Gopi, Siddhu, Riyamika, Madhavi, Vetri and several artistes from Kooth-u-pattarai appear in supporting roles. Actor/producer Vishal released the teaser of the film and impressed with the content, he lauded the team for their unique attempt.


We have seen films made through crowd funding resources. Nedunalvaadai by debutant director Selvakannan has something unique, when it comes to production. Fifty of Selvakannaans friends, who studied with him in 2000 batch in Shankar Polytechnic in Nellai, who are well placed now, have come together and invested money to produce Nedunalvaadai. It all started when one of Selvakannans friends came to know that the latter is struggling to get a producer for his directorial venture. He connected all the classmates through WhatsApp group and finally the film happened.

The movie deals with two issues. Unlike male offspring who has the right to inherit property, the daughters in the family are not given equal rights and recognition. Secondly, the women are always portrayed in a bad manner and blamed for love failures. It is not so. I have reasoned out their side of reality in the film,Selvakannan discloses.

The film features Poo Ramu, Anjali Nair, Ilango, Mime Gopi. Ajay Natraj and Senthi among others. Jose Franklin scores the music.
The controversy over directing Hindi film Manikarnika starring Kangana Ranaut is well known. According to the filmmakers Krish, the director, left the project

midway, leaving Kangana with no choice but to don the directors hat too. But the truth seems something else.

According to a source, there were no differences between Krish and Kangana and it was writer Vijayendra Prasad who played spoilsport and created the controversy. Actually, Krish completed the shoot and gave the first copy

to the makers as promised, on time. After seeing the first copy, writer Vijayendra Prasad suggested adding a few more scenes, and Kangana agreed. But Krish, who had committed to the Telugu film, said that those were not necessary and he didnt want to do it again, says the source.

Vijayendra Prasad

But Vijayendra Prasad allegedly told Kangana its OK if Krish leaves, she could direct the scenes herself. Which she did, thereby unintentionally snubbing the director.

Krish

At the promotion in Hyderabad, Kangana referring to him as Vijayendra sir after every sentence literally, indicated that she was depending a lot on him and listening to him at every step of the way. The source said, Sonu Sood refused to give his dates for the extended shooting because he felt Kangana and Prasad didnt respect Krish as the director and went ahead with the additional shots even though as director of the film Krish clearly said it was needless.

The team was in Hyderabad to promote the Telugu version of the film, and Krish didnt attend it. Kangana in her interviews said that she had no problem if Krish was not talking about the film.
by Purushottam Nayak

They are Fr. Anand Pradhan and Sr. Anjali Pradhan. They have another sister, also a nun. During the anti-Christian persecutions of 2008 they left their home to save themselves. Their example is the proof that "persecution, destruction and threats cannot change God's will".

Raikia (AsiaNews) - Ten years ago, Hindu nationalists persecuted and destroyed their home during the pogroms in the district of Kandhamal, in Orissa. Today both have decided to serve the Church in consecrated life.

They are Fr. Anand Pradhan and Sr. Anjali Pradhan, brother and sister, who survived the violence against Christians unleashed by Hindu radicals in 2008. At that time they had to escape from their village of origin to save themselves. And it is precisely here, where Hindu families have always prevented them from rebuilding their house, that they have returned for a ceremony of reconciliation and thanksgiving. This time though, the whole village has been celebrating.

The ceremony was held in Mundakanga on December 29th: two days earlier, Fr. Anand was ordained a priest of the Order of Friars Minor by Msgr. Sarat Chandra Nayak [bishop of Berhampur, ed.], While Sr. Anjali pronounced her final profession in the society of Saint Anne of Lucerna (Sal). More than 1,500 people, 15 priests and five nuns were present at the festivities. Among the participants, also the seven Christian families and the 80 Hindus of the area. The Hindus paid homage to the newly ordained by donating fruit and other gifts, according to the custom of their religion.

Mindful of the violence suffered, during the ceremony the newly ordained friar spoke of reconciliation. "We are Indians - he said - citizens of one country, of one state, of one family. God created us in his image and likeness to live in unity, peace and prosperity. Reconciliation is the great virtue of the Catholic faith ".

In the homily Fr. Prabodh Pradhan, the celebrant, stressed that "destruction, persecution and hostility are the evil desires of Satan, not of man. The central reason for the Catholic faith is 'love your God and your neighbor as yourself'. No religion promotes murder, violence and persecution ".

Fr Anand entered the Arundaya Capuchin Ashram Minor Seminary in Barakhoma in 2006, after finishing high school. He trained in the Idukki district of Kerala and then continued his philosophy and theology studies in Andhra Pradesh. He took final vows in 2017. His sister Sr. Anjali entered the congregation in 2010; she completed her novitiate in Vishakapatnam and made her first profession of faith on 21 November 2016.

The two have another sister, Sr. Jitima Pradhan, who is part of the Congregation of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. The example of these three siblings, says the religious, "shows that no destruction, persecution or threat can change the will of God".
Interest of the banks and the areas served by them, they should be amalgamated into a single RRB.

New Delhi: The government has amalgamated three Regional Rural Banks -- Punjab Gramin Bank, Malwa Gramin Bank and Sutlej Gramin Bank -- into a single RRB with effect from January 1.

In a filing to the BSE, Punjab and Sind Bank said the central government, after consulting the sponsor banks of the three RRBs, felt that in the interest of the banks and the areas served by them, they should be amalgamated into a single RRB.

"The Central government has amalgamated the said Regional Rural Banks in to a single Regional Rural Bank with effect on and from January 1, 2019," the filing said.

The sponsor banks of the RRBs are National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), the Government of Punjab and Punjab National Bank, State Bank of India and Punjab and Sind Bank, it added.
The decisions of the two ministerial panels would be placed before the GST Council when it meets next on January 10.

New Delhi: Two ministerial panels under the GST Council will meet on Sunday to decide on hiking the exemption threshold for MSMEs and feasibility of levying calamity cess under the new indirect tax regime, officials said.

The six-member Group of Ministers (GoM) on MSME, headed by Minister of State for Finance Shiv Pratap Shukla, would deliberate on the problems faced by micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) under GST and scope for hiking exemption threshold for such units.

Currently, businesses with annual turnover of up to Rs 20 lakh are exempt from the Goods and Services Tax (GST). The other members of the MSME GoM, which was constituted in August last year, are Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi, Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac and Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal.

Another GoM, headed by Sushil Modi, on levy of calamity cess under GST too is scheduled to meet on January 6, the officials added. The Modi-led GoM had in October last year decided to seek states' views on whether a state-specific or a nationwide 'disaster tax' should be levied under the GST.

The GST Council, the highest decision-making body of the new tax regime, had in September last year set up the seven-member GoM to consider a cess for Kerala flood rehabilitation.

Apart from Sarma, Isaac and Badal, the other members of the calamity cess GoM include Odisha Finance and Excise Minister Sashi Bhusan Behera, Maharashtra Finance and Excise Minister Sudhir Murgantiwar and Uttarakhand Finance Minister Prakash Pant.

The decisions of the two ministerial panels would be placed before the GST Council when it meets next on January 10.

The council, among other things, would also discuss lowering GST on under-construction flats and houses to 5 per cent from 12 per cent. It would also consider a composition scheme for small suppliers and rationalisation of tax rates on lottery.

Currently, state-organised lottery attracts 12 per cent GST, while state-authorised lottery attracts 28 per cent.
Every year in January, carmakers offer discounts and benefits to clear their older stock and this year is no different.

MY2018 Rapid: exchange bonus of upto Rs 50,000, free insurance and a loyalty bonus of upto Rs 25,000.

MY2019 Rapid: Up to Rs 25,000 exchange bonus and a loyalty bonus of Rs 25,000.

Skoda Octavia: loyalty bonus of up to Rs 25,000.

MY2019 Superb and Kodiaq: loyalty bonus of upto Rs 50,000.

MY2018 Superb: complimentary insurance and loyalty bonus.

Every year in January, carmakers offer discounts and benefits to clear their older stock and this year is no different. Czech carmaker, Skoda is offering various benefits like complimentary insurance, exchange bonus and loyalty bonus on various cars in its portfolio. As expected, the MY2018 cars are available with better offers compared to MY2019 models.

Here is the list of offers:

Model Year Complimentary Insurance Loyalty Bonus Exchange Bonus Rapid 2018 Yes (save upto Rs 76,527) Upto Rs 20,000 Upto Rs 50,000 Rapid 2019 NA Upto 25,000 Upto Rs 25,000 Octavia All NA Upto 25,000 NA Superb 2018 Yes (save upto Rs 1.58 lakh) Upto Rs 50,000 NA Superb 2019 NA Upto Rs 50,000 NA Kodiaq All NA Upto Rs 50,000 NA

Apart from the Rapid and the MY2018 Superb, all other cars are available with loyalty bonus only. The MY2018 Rapid and Superb can be had with free insurance, the amount for which can range up to around Rs 76,000 for the Rapid and over Rs 1.5 lakh for the Superb.

As you can see, theres a considerable difference between the discounts on offer on 2018 and 2019 models. Hence, we would suggest buyers to opt for 2018 model, if available, especially if you intend to own the car for a longer ownership period (over 4-5 years). In which case, there wont be as high a difference in resale value of 2018 model (compared to 2019 model) as it would be, say, in a couple of years from now. Only loyalty bonus on Octavia and Kodiaq suggests that 2018 models of these cars are not in stock.

Also Read: Skoda Scala: First Look

Disclaimer: This article has not been edited by Deccan Chronicle and is taken from a syndicated feed. Photos: CarDekho.
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On Oct 12, 1818, Connecticut Gov. Oliver Wolcott issued a proclamation declaring the new state constitution approved and ratified, and henceforth the supreme law of the State.

The proclamation followed a statewide referendum exactly one week before, on Oct. 5, that had seen the proposed revision of government win approval by only 1,554 votes. The 13,918 votes for ratification represented just under 53 percent of the 26,282 total votes cast, a decidedly slim endorsement for such a profound change in government. The new constitution abolished the state religion, created a state Senate and independent judiciary, gave the governor more power, and let all adult white men vote.
BRIDGEPORT  Bridgeport Bishop Frank J. Caggiano said he was deeply disturbed and outraged at the swastika painted on the doors of a city church Friday.

In a post on Facebook, Caggiano said police officers on patrol were the ones to discover the vandalism Friday morning on the doors of the St. Augustine Cathedral.

Though the police have yet to identify the perpetrator of this crime, I am appalled and outraged by this act of vandalism against the Mother Church of our Diocese and this brazen and disgusting display of anti-Semitism which is morally abhorrent and an affront to our Catholic faith, Caggianos post said.

Caggiano said hes on a retreat with other bishops across the nation in Mundelein, Illinois, and only learned of the incident Saturday afternoon.

I am deeply disturbed and outraged that someone would violate the sanctity of our church, Caggiano said. To use a clearly anti-Semitic symbol is participating in an unspeakable evil.

Caggiano said he condemns the incident and hopes the suspect will be found.

My thoughts and prayers are with our Jewish brothers and sisters in the city of Bridgeport and beyond, he said.

Police did not immediately comment on the incident.

Anti-Semitic behavior was brought to the forefront after a mass shooting on Oct. 27, 2018, at a synagogue in Pittsburgh that left 11 people dead and six injured.

And Fridays incident in Bridgeport wasnt the first of its kind in Connecticut in recent years.

In mid-Nov. 2018, students at Amity Regional High School in Woodbridge reported they felt unsafe because of hate speech and anti-Semitic symbols popping up there.

In 2017, Greenwich Country Day School headmaster Adam Rohdie found two swastikas in a hallway and in the ninth grade lounge. After the deadly incident at the Pittsburgh synagogue, Rohdie called a school-wide assembly to discuss how that incident was handled.

In Aug. 2014, two 14-year-olds were arrested for allegedly painting swastikas on a vacant home, a tree and several public signs in the Wilkinson Avenue area.

Schools in Stratford, Danbury, Greenwich, Ridgefield and Wilton have seen drawings of swastikas over the years.
Four border outposts simultaneously assaulted by more than 100 militants. The fighting has intensified since the beginning of last December. The rebels claim more autonomy for the ethnic group. Over 2,500 civilians displaced.

Naypyidaw (AsiaNews / Agencies)  The death toll of the latest clashes between the Tatmadaw (the Burmese army) and the Buddhist rebels of the Iraq Army (Aa - photo) is at least nine dead and 14 hostages, all in the ranks of government forces.

While Independence Day was celebrated in Myanmar, the insurgents conducted a series of coordinated attacks on four military outposts in the municipality of Buthidaung, in the north of Rakhine, yesterday morning.

Reports of the assault were first announced in an announcement by the AA, confirmed in the afternoon by Gen. Zaw Min Tun of the Office of the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Naypyidaw. The senior official did not confirm the number of hostages, but reports "missing" in the region. The general said that four border outposts were attacked simultaneously by more than 100 AA militants.

Government troops "successfully re-established order in all four locations by the afternoon". The stations are located in villages where the Rakhine Buddhist population lives, which gives its name to the homonymous State. These are Kyaung Taung, Nga Myin Taw, Ka Htee La and Kone Myint. All are located in the northern area of the municipality of Buthidaung.

The Burmese Western State, already the scene of the Rohingya humanitarian emergency, is once again torn by the conflict, this time not by Muslim rebels. Since the beginning of last December, fighting has intensified between government forces and the rebel army, which claims more autonomy for its ethnic group. According to United Nations (UN) estimates, the recent violence produced 2,500 displaced persons in four municipalities. Local non-profit organizations that operate in the territory say instead that there are more than 4 thousand refugees.
by Stefano Caprio*

The young bishop, 44, is responsible for the Churches of the Moscow Patriarchate in 13 European countries. The new Exarchate was revived after the break between Constantinople and Moscow over autocephaly granted to Ukraine. In the recent Synod of Moscow, the new Exarchate of South-East Asia was founded, which includes about 10 countries: North and South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore.

Rome (AsiaNews) - A few days ago, Metropolitan Ioann (Roscin), former vicar Patriarchal vicar and bishop of Bogorodsk, was appointed to head of the Russian Orthodox in Europe. Last November he was named administrator of the parishes of the patriarchate of Moscow in Italy, based in Rome at the church of St. Caterina, in the territory of the Russian embassy to Italy. At the end of December, when he went to Moscow for the meeting of the Patriarchal Synod, the young bishop (born in 1974) was catapulted to the new position of "metropolitan of Korsun and Western Europe". He quickly bought a white "klobuk" (the miter of the metropolitans), he was solemnly consecrated to the new office in the Assumption Cathedral, in the Kremlin in Moscow. We met him as he was passing through Rome on his way to Paris, to ask him some questions.

Eminence, tell us about your new assignment and about the structure you have been called to lead.

The Russian exarchate of Western Europe was established in 1945, and remained active until the 1990s, when it was dissolved to reflect the new conditions of the Russian Diaspora after the end of the Soviet regime. It was founded by Metropolitan Evlogy (Georgievsky) in 1945 [who did not want to join the other "Tsarist" bishops, who founded the Russian Church abroad in opposition to the Soviet regime - ed.]. At first it was recognizedas an independent structure by Constantinople, so it gathered around the patriarch of Moscow Sergij (Stragorodskij). At that time, at the end of the Second World War, the Russian Church once again had the opportunity to care for its faithful at home and abroad after a long period of persecutions. A part of its priests remained under the authority of the patriarch of Constantinople. For the Russians in Europe there were therefore two parallel exarcates: one under Moscow and one under Constantinople. The latter was abolished a few weeks ago, after the decision to grant autocephaly to the Ukrainians. Now, following the events that led to the breakdown of relations between Moscow and Constantinople, Patriarch Kirill decided to reorganize the care of the many Russians living abroad, in Europe in particular, reviving the Exarchate of Paris.

How big is this exarch?

The new metropolis supervises the dioceses and parishes of 13 States: France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Great Britain, Ireland, Belgium, Holland and Switzerland, as well as smaller states such as Andorra, Lichtenstein, Monaco and Luxembourg. There are already many parishes and 5 dioceses, those of Spain and Portugal (newly established), then in Belgium, Holland and Italy, which are now subjected to the Metropolitan of Paris, even if they have their bishops who autonomously guide the life of the Local Churches, which will be reunited in an Exarchate Council. We will meet to discuss the various questions, both internal to the life of the Church, and in external relations with the society of these European countries. In Italy I retained the See, having obtained it only two months ago, and I'm not willing to give up this beautiful country too soon.

How much did the conflict with Constantinople influence these decisions?

I would simply say that this is a reorganization of existing structures. We have essentially never divided ourselves from the patriarchate of Constantinople. We have always recognized his primacy of honor and his role as mother-Church, from whom we received baptism. But with the latest events, our relations have become very complicated. In particular, with regards the pastoral care of the Russians in the Diaspora, we can not leave them without assistance, according to the Lord's command; they must be able to receive what they come to the Church for, beginning with the sacraments.

Apparently, the reorganization does not only affect Western Europe, but the whole Russian Diaspora in the world.

This is true. In fact, the new Exarchate of South-East Asia was also constituted, which includes about 10 countries: North and South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore (where the Esarca will be based) and in the other Asian States where the mission of the Russian Orthodox Church is particularly active and fruitful, with the recent opening of many new churches. For now there is only one exarch, but soon the bishops of some other countries should also be named, and the exarch will probably also be elevated to the dignity of Metropolitan.

In North America there is the network of the so-called "patriarchal parishes": those churches that wanted to remain directly under the patriarchate of Moscow when, in 1970, Moscow granted autocephaly to the Orthodox Church of America [not recognized by Constantinople - ed.). They represent the patriarchate of Moscow in the United States, but today they are unified in the administration to those of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, which met at the Moscow Patriarchate in 2007.

In South America there is one single Eparchy, which is currently governed by Metropolitan Ignatij (Pologrudov) based in Buenos Aires, founded again in 1945. There are parishes in Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, practically in all the countries of the continent.

It is what is called the "Russian world".

In fact, the tragic events of 1917 have left us a legacy that today, 100 years later, we can evaluate in a positive sense. Many people have had to leave the country to escape atheistic oppression, and the Church has moved following their tracks, realizing their vocation to preach the truth of Christ, baptize and distribute holy communion, forming new Christian communities throughout the world.

You just recalled that in 1970 Moscow granted autocephaly to the Americans. Could not you do the same with the Ukrainians?

Our Synod never discussed Ukrainian autocephaly, for the simple reason that it was never requested by the bishops and the faithful in Ukraine. A schismatic attempt was made by Metropolitan Filaret (Denisenko) in the 1990s, but was based more on political than ecclesial premises. If there were no political motives or pretexts of anti-monastic primacy on the part of Constantinople, we would be ready to face the question, I stress only for ecclesial reasons. If Constantinople had listened to the council that came from our Church, even in last August's meeting with Patriarch Kirill, we could have resolved the issue together, on the basis of canonical rules and mutual love.

Does it not seem to you that there is a bit of confusion among the Orthodox on these "canonical rules"?

The problem is that of the interpretation of these norms, which were written at the time of the seven ecumenical councils of the fathers of the Church, more than 1000 years ago. These rules reflect the situation of the Church in those times, and we are not always able to bring out the spirit of those precepts, becoming bogged down in the letter of the law. And this means that they are treated in opposing ways, especially with regard to the mission in the Diaspora: some believe that this is a prerogative of Constantinople, for others it is a duty of every single local Church. These questions should be addressed in the meetings between the heads of the Churches, in a dialogue made of love and truth, without ultimatums and without haste. History shows us that many questions could have been solved if there had been a real willingness to dialogue. At the moment it is difficult to think of possible pan-Orthodox meetings or councils. Unfortunately, the 2016 Council of Crete was not pan-Orthodox because there were four local Churches missing.

This break is a tragic fact, but perhaps clarity is emerging in the concept of universal Orthodoxy.

Some contrapositions between Moscow and Constantinople, about the interpretation of canonical norms and the structure of the Churches, have always existed. Since the patriarchate of Constantinople has begun to act in a unilateral way, threatening even the canonical integrity of our Russian Church, benevolent dialogue has been interrupted, and we can not see now how we can restore it in the future.

The Russian Orthodox Church has always proposed a model of autonomous and independent local Churches, which have every right to preach the Gospel and take care of their faithful, without interference from other local Churches. The mission of the Church, throughout the world, always remains one: to proclaim the death and ressurection of Christ, everything else is just a consequence. All this situation must lead only to a greater willingness to respond to this call of the Lord, not only for us Orthodox, but for all Christians of the world, to seek the unity of faith together.

* Professor of History and Russian Culture at the Pontifical Oriental Institute of Rome
Xi said the armed forces must devise strategies for the new era and take on responsibilities for preparing and waging war.

China is keen to beef up its armed forces amid territorial disputes in the South China Sea and escalating tension with the United States over issues ranging from trade to the status of Taiwan. (Photo: File)

Shanghai: China's armed forces must strengthen their sense of urgency and do everything they can to prepare for battle, President Xi Jinping told a meeting of top brass on Friday.

China is keen to beef up its armed forces amid territorial disputes in the South China Sea and escalating tension with the United States over issues ranging from trade to the status of Taiwan.

The official Xinhua news agency said Xi told a meeting of the top military authority that China faced increasing risks and challenges, and the armed forces must work to secure its security and development needs.

Xi, who is also chairman of the Central Military Commission, said the armed forces must devise strategies for the new era and take on responsibilities for preparing and waging war.

"The world is facing a period of major changes never seen in a century, and China is still in an important period of strategic opportunity for development," he was quoted as saying.

He said the armed forces needed to be able to respond quickly to emergencies, needed to upgrade their joint operations capabilities and nurture new types of combat forces.

Xi's comments followed his remarks on Wednesday that China still reserved the right to use force to achieve "reunification" with Taiwan and prevent the island's independence.

Xi's Taiwan speech came just days after US President Donald Trump signed the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act into law, reaffirming the US commitment to the island's security.
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue at the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on July 28, 2018.
The issue is complicated because it involves money, power and the future of Northern Ireland. No one wants to see the restoration of a border between the North and the Republic of Ireland, which almost certainly would lead to the violence that mostly ended following the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, negotiated with the help of the Clinton administration.

There is a backstop strategy in case next week's vote goes against May. It would effectively keep the entire UK in the EU customs union for a limited period until another vote could be taken, which, the government hopes after perhaps more horse trading, would produce a positive outcome.

As with the U.S. government shutdown, passions are strong on both sides when it comes to Brexit. One side fears Britain will effectively be shut out of Europe should the break occur, while the other is fed up with Brussels dictating policies that contribute to what they see as diminished British sovereignty.

May was saddled with an issue about which she was not fully, or even mainly, onboard. She has bravely (some critics say foolishly) pressed ahead anyway, saying that she is simply carrying out the wishes of a majority of voters.
Many in the Valley are rallying around Durham pitcher Tyler Zombro, who was struck by a batted ball on the mound.
Some people think an Islamic prayer house has to have a dome, Babar said, noting that many have one. Thats Islamic architecture, just like churches have their own architecture.

The Culpeper mosque will not have a dome in an effort to manage costs while providing ample space and facilities to serve the congregations needs.

If youve got the money to spend on a big prayer house, OK, it cost a lot of money, Nawabe said. The main thing is to worship God, have a place to pray to God.

Building bridges

The Culpeper prayer house will be built in a northeasterly direction, facing Mecca and the Kaaba, a building in the center of Islams most important mosque in Saudi Arabia. All Muslims are expected to make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once during their lifetime as part of the Hajj, which will take place this year from Aug. 9 to 14. Millions from around the world attend each year.

Babar made the pilgrimage in 2003. Nawabe hopes to make the pilgrimage this year.
Saudi officials have denied accusations that the crown prince ordered Jamal Khashoggi's murder.

Khashoggi, a US-based Washington Post journalist from Saudi Arabia who had become a critic of the kingdom's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2. (Photo: File)

Washington: The United States does not believe the Saudi version of the October killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi has "hit that threshold of credibility," a senior State Department official said on Friday even as Saudi Arabia prosecutes suspects.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will emphasise the need for accountability and credibility in the investigation of Khashoggi's death during a visit next week to the Middle East, including to Riyadh, the official said.

"The Secretary has been very consistent in engagements with Saudis ...to really push the two points of accountability and credibility, which is that the Saudis should have a credible narrative for what happened," said the official, who briefed reporters on Pompeo's trip.

"I don't think from our point of view that the narrative emerging from the Saudis or the legal process has yet hit that threshold of credibility and accountability," the official said.

Pompeo wants both the perpetrators and the planners of the killing to be identified by the Saudis and appropriate punishments are meted out, the official added.

Khashoggi, a US-based Washington Post journalist from Saudi Arabia who had become a critic of the kingdom's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.

US intelligence agencies believe the crown prince ordered an operation to kill Khashoggi, whose body was dismembered and removed from the building to a location still publicly unknown. Top Turkish officials have also tied his death to the highest levels of Saudi leadership.

Saudi officials have denied accusations that the prince ordered the murder.

President Donald Trump, who has cultivated a close relationship with the crown prince, told Reuters last month he stood by the crown prince despite the CIA assessment and pleas from US senators for Trump to condemn the kingdom's de facto ruler.

A Saudi court on Thursday held its first hearing on Khashoggi's case in which Saudi Arabian prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for five of the 11 suspects in the case. The United Nations human rights office on Friday called the trial "not sufficient."

The State Department official said the United States was not "looking to get into the weeds" of the court case but would emphasise the need for a credible legal process.

Pompeo will also visit Jordan, Egypt, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait as part of his Jan 8 to Jan 15 trip, the State Department said in a statement.

As part of his talks with Middle Eastern leaders, Pompeo will also discuss the war in Yemen as well as Iran, Syria and other regional issues, the department said.
The Brown II decision in 1955 followed the U.S. Supreme Courts Brown v. Board of Education decision the year before that ordered the desegregation of public schools. Segregationists set out to impede integration efforts, so in the Brown II decision, the Supreme Court ordered integration would proceed with all deliberate speed.

In the Brown II decision, Stanley focused on the list of guidance on how to comply with desegregation, specifically citing that problems ... arising from the physical condition of the school plant might be denying equal opportunities ordered in the 1954 Brown decision.

Herring said the Brown II decision is premised on the finding of racial segregation schools and that Stanley did not present information that the poor physical conditions of the school are a result of racial discrimination that would pose the possibility of a violation of the 14th Amendment or other civil rights laws.

Herring said the General Assembly provides for a system of free public education, and the Virginia Constitution empowers the legislative body to decide the level of funding for schools to meet required standards of quality.
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump on Friday denied that former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb is being considered for defense secretary.

In a tweet, he called Webb a fine man, but that I dont know Jim, and never met him. Patrick Shanahan, who is Acting Secretary of Defense, is doing a great job!

Shanahan took over the job Jan. 1 following the resignation of Jim Mattis, and has held the deputy defense secretary job since July 2017. On Friday, a U.S. official told reporters that Shanahan could serve in the acting position indefinitely at Trumps discretion.

Other possible candidates floated in White House discussions include Webb, who served as a Navy secretary and assistant secretary of defense during the Reagan administration before swapping parties and serving one term as a Democratic senator from Virginia. Three people familiar with the administrations thinking confirmed the discussions had taken place, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

Webb, who also launched a bid for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2015, shares Trumps disdain for lengthy military interventions abroad and served in Vietnam as a Marine officer, earning a Navy Cross for valor.
I was really surprised, and surprised in the same way that it turns out  all of my neighbors were when I began to ask them if they knew anything about this, because literally nobody knew anything about this new Comprehensive Plan and the new Future Land Use Map.
The city of Charlottesville will no longer prosecute individuals for driving on a suspended license if the sole reason for the suspension is unpaid court costs and fines, according to Commonwealths Attorney Joe Platania.

The decision follows a December injunction from federal Judge Norman K. Moon that ordered Richard D. Holcomb, commissioner of the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, to remove court debt suspensions from three drivers who had their licenses suspended.

Following the injunction, city commonwealths attorneys will no longer prosecute individuals for the sole reason of driving on a license suspended because of unpaid court costs.

However, they will continue to prosecute people driving after their licenses have been suspended for reasons other than unpaid court costs and fines, such as restitution owed to victims or DUI-related suspensions.

Platania said in a statement that the policy could be revisited if further guidance is provided by the federal court or the Virginia General Assembly.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have confirmed that a Charlottesville woman died from rabies in 2017.

A report from the CDC on Friday discussed the womans exposure to the virus in India and the treatment she received. It also cautioned travelers to get the rabies vaccine before trips abroad.

According to the report, the 65-year-old woman was bitten on the hand by a dog on a yoga retreat in India. Six weeks later, she began experiencing pain in her right arm. She made several hospital trips in the United States as her symptoms worsened, and eventually was admitted to a hospital.

Rabies infects the central nervous system, and the report details the womans agitation, lack of coordination and chest pain. As her symptoms worsened, hospital staff tested her for rabies. The test was positive and they learned that she had never been vaccinated against the virus.

An experimental treatment for rabies failed and the woman died on May 21, 2017, nearly two weeks after she was admitted to the hospital.

According to the report, 72 health care providers were exposed to the virus during the womans treatment. Their treatment cost $235,000.
Hospital patients will be able to see what procedures cost after a federal rule took effect Tuesday, but shopping for care may not get much easier in Central Virginia.

The University of Virginia Medical Center and Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital are among hospitals nationwide to publish updated costs for standard procedures and items. However, experts caution that it will still be tough for patients to understand what they will be charged and what costs will be after insurance.

Like everything else in health care, its not as simple as it appears, said Carolyn Engelhard, director of UVas health policy program. But health care is not like buying other goods, because the price quoted in the hospital is rarely what anyone pays.

Hospitals already had to make prices available on request, but the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said it would begin requiring medical centers to post them online in 2019.

Experts caution, though, that the prices will be most helpful for uninsured patients who pay for care out-of-pocket. Consumers with insurance typically pay a lower price, which can vary by insurer. And the master lists of prices, called chargemasters, can include thousands of items and be tough to navigate.
The following companies are subsidiares of NRG Energy: 3279405 Nova Scotia Company, 3283764 Nova Scotia Company, 7549709 Canada Inc., 7644868 Canada Inc., 7711565 Canada Inc., AC Solar Holdings LLC, Ace Energy Inc., Agua Caliente Borrower 1 LLC, Agua Caliente Solar Holdings LLC, Agua Caliente Solar LLC, Allied Home Warranty GP LLC, Allied Warranty LLC, Arthur Kill Gas Turbines LLC, Arthur Kill Power LLC, Astoria Gas Turbine Power LLC, Bayou Cove Peaking Power LLC, Beheer-en Beleggingsmaatschappij Plogema B.V., Berrians I Gas Turbine Power LLC, BidURenergy Inc., Big Cajun I Peaking Power LLC, Bluewater Wind Delaware LLC, Bluewater Wind Maryland LLC, Bluewater Wind New Jersey Energy LLC, Boquillas Wind LLC, Cabrillo Power I LLC, Cabrillo Power II LLC, Camino Energy LLC, Carbon Management Solutions LLC, Carlsbad Energy Center LLC, Carlsbad Energy Holdings LLC, Chester Energy LLC, Chickahominy River Energy Corp., Cirro Energy Services Inc., Cirro Group Inc., Citizens Power Holdings One LLC, Commonwealth Atlantic Power LLC, Connecticut Jet Power LLC, Cottonwood Development LLC, Cottonwood Energy Company LP, Cottonwood Generating Partners I LLC, Cottonwood Generating Partners II LLC, Cottonwood Generating Partners III LLC, Cottonwood Technology Partners LP, Delaware Power Development LLC, Devon Power LLC, Doga Enerji Uretim Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Doga Isi Satis Hizmetleri Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Doga Isletme ve Bakim Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Dunkirk Gas Corporation, Dunkirk Power LLC, EHI Development Fund LLC, EME Eastern Holdings LLC, EVgo Services LLC, Eastern Sierra Energy Company LLC, Ecokap Power LLC, El Segundo Energy Center II LLC, El Segundo Power II LLC, El Segundo Power LLC, Elkhorn Ridge Wind II LLC, Energy Alternatives Wholesale LLC, Energy Choice Solutions LLC, Energy Curtailment Specialists, Energy Plus Holdings LLC, Energy Plus Natural Gas LLC, Energy Protection Insurance Company, Everything Energy LLC, Forward Home Security LLC, GCP Funding Company LLC, GenOn Energy, Geostellar Inc., Gladstone Power Station Joint Venture, Goal Zero, Goal Zero Europe GmbH, Goal Zero LLC, Granite II Holding LLC, Granite Power Partners II L.P., Green Mountain Energy, Green Mountain Energy Company, Green Mountain Energy Sun Club, Gregory Partners LLC, Gregory Power Partners LLC, Hanover Energy Company, Huntley IGCC LLC, Huntley Power LLC, Independence Energy Alliance LLC, Independence Energy Group LLC, Independence Energy Natural Gas LLC, Indian River Operations Inc., Indian River Power LLC, Intellastar LLC, Ivanpah Master Holdings LLC, Ivanpah Project I Holdings LLC, Ivanpah Project II Holdings LLC, Ivanpah Project III Holdings LLC, James River Power LLC, Kaufman Cogen LP, LSP-Nelson Energy LLC, Long Beach Generation LLC, Long Beach Peakers LLC, Long Beach Power LLC, Louisiana Generating LLC, MEC Esenyurt B.V., MEC San Pascual B.V., Maplekey UK Finance Limited, Maplekey UK Limited, Meriden Gas Turbines LLC, Middletown Power LLC, Midway-Sunset Cogeneration Company, Midwest Finance Company LLC, Midwest Generation EME LLC, Midwest Generation Holdings I LLC, Midwest Generation Holdings II LLC, Midwest Generation LLC, Midwest Generation Procurement Services LLC, Midwest Peaker Holdings LLC, Mission Bingham Lake Wind LLC, Mission Del Cielo LLC, Mission Energy Construction Services LLC, Mission Energy Holdings International LLC, Mission Energy Wales LLC, Mission Funding Zeta LLC, Mission Midway-Sunset Holdings LLC, Mission Midwest Coal LLC, Mission Minnesota Wind LLC, Mission Watson Holdings LLC, Mission Wind Boquillas LLC, Mission Wind New Mexico II LLC, Mission Wind Owaissa LLC, Mission Wind Pinnacle LLC, Mission del Sol LLC, Montville IGCC LLC, Montville Power LLC, NEO Chester-Gen LLC, NEO Corporation, NRG Acquisition Holdings Inc., NRG Advisory Services LLC, NRG Affiliate Services Inc., NRG Alexandria LLC, NRG Arroyo Nogales LLC, NRG Arthur Kill Operations Inc., NRG Asia-Pacific Ltd., NRG Astoria Gas Turbine Operations Inc., NRG Astoria Power LLC, NRG Audrain Generating LLC, NRG Audrain Holding LLC, NRG Bayou Cove LLC, NRG Berrians East Development LLC, NRG Bluewater Holdings LLC, NRG Bluewater Wind Massachusetts LLC, NRG Bourbonnais Equipment LLC, NRG Bourbonnais LLC, NRG Brazoria Energy LLC, NRG Business Services LLC, NRG CTA Holdings LLC, NRG Cabrillo Power Operations Inc., NRG Cadillac Inc., NRG Cadillac Operations Inc., NRG California Peaker Operations LLC, NRG Capital II LLC, NRG Carbon 360 LLC, NRG Cedar Bayou Development Company LLC, NRG Chalk Point CT LLC, NRG CleanTech Investments LLC, NRG Coal Development Company LLC, NRG ComLease LLC, NRG Common Stock Finance I LLC, NRG Common Stock Finance II LLC, NRG Connected Home LLC, NRG Connecticut Affiliate Services Inc., NRG Connecticut Peaking Development LLC, NRG Construction LLC, NRG Cottonwood Tenant LLC, NRG Curtailment Solutions Canada Inc., NRG Curtailment Solutions Inc., NRG DG Development LLC, NRG Development Company Inc., NRG Devon Operations Inc., NRG Dispatch Services LLC, NRG Distributed Energy Resources Holdings LLC, NRG Distributed Generation PR LLC, NRG Dunkirk Operations Inc., NRG ECOKAP Holdings LLC, NRG ESA Joint Development LLC, NRG El Segundo Operations Inc., NRG Energy Center Eagles LLC, NRG Energy Center Oxnard LLC, NRG Energy Fuel LLC, NRG Energy Fuel Services LLC, NRG Energy Gas & Wind Holdings Inc., NRG Energy Holdings II Inc., NRG Energy Holdings Inc., NRG Energy Inc., NRG Energy Labor Services LLC, NRG Energy Petroleum LLC, NRG Energy Services Group LLC, NRG Energy Services International Inc., NRG Energy Services LLC, NRG Equipment Company LLC, NRG Fuel Cell CA1 LLC, NRG Fuel Resources LLC, NRG Fuel Transportation LLC, NRG GTL Holdings LLC, NRG Gas Development Company LLC, NRG Generation Holdings Inc., NRG Gladstone Operating Services Pty Ltd, NRG Granite Acquisition LLC, NRG Greenco LLC, NRG HQ DG LLC, NRG Holding Leasing Vehicle 7 LLC, NRG Home & Business Solutions LLC, NRG Home Services LLC, NRG Home Solutions LLC, NRG Home Solutions Product LLC, NRG Homer City Services LLC, NRG Huntley Operations Inc., NRG Identity Protect LLC, NRG Ilion LP LLC, NRG Ilion Limited Partnership, NRG Independence Solar LLC, NRG International LLC, NRG Kaufman LLC, NRG Latin America Inc., NRG Lease Co LLC, NRG Lease Development LLC, NRG Limestone 3 LLC, NRG Maintenance Services LLC, NRG Mesquite LLC, NRG Mextrans Inc., NRG MidAtlantic Affiliate Services Inc., NRG MidCon Development LLC, NRG Middletown Operations Inc., NRG Middletown Repowering LLC, NRG Midwest Holdings LLC, NRG Midwest II LLC, NRG Montville Operations Inc., NRG NE Development LLC, NRG Nelson Turbines LLC, NRG New Roads Holdings LLC, NRG NewGen LLC, NRG North Central Operations Inc., NRG Northeast Affiliate Services Inc., NRG Norwalk Harbor Operations Inc., NRG Ohio Pipeline Company LLC, NRG Operating Services Inc., NRG Oswego Harbor Power Operations Inc., NRG Oxbow Holdings LLC, NRG PacGen Inc., NRG Peaker Finance Company LLC, NRG Portable Power LLC, NRG Potrero Development LLC, NRG Power Marketing LLC, NRG Procurement Company LLC, NRG Project Company LLC, NRG Reliability Solutions LLC, NRG Renter's Protection LLC, NRG Repowering Holdings LLC, NRG Residential Solar Solutions LLC, NRG Residential Solar Solutions Leasing II LLC, NRG Retail LLC, NRG Retail Northeast LLC, NRG Rockford Acquisition LLC, NRG Rockford Equipment II LLC, NRG Rockford Equipment LLC, NRG Saguaro Operations Inc., NRG Security LLC, NRG Services Corporation, NRG Sherbino LLC, NRG SimplySmart Solutions LLC, NRG Solar Arrowhead LLC, NRG Solar CVSR Holdings 2 LLC, NRG Solar Dandan LLC, NRG Solar Guam LLC, NRG Solar Ivanpah LLC, NRG Solar Ring LLC, NRG Solar SC Stadium LLC, NRG Solar Sunrise LLC, NRG South Central Affiliate Services Inc., NRG South Central Generating LLC, NRG South Central Operations Inc., NRG South Texas LP, NRG Sterlington Power LLC, NRG Storage Fabrication & Delivery LLC, NRG Storage on Demand NY LLC, NRG SunCap Leasing I LLC, NRG Telogia Power LLC, NRG Texas C&I Supply LLC, NRG Texas Gregory LLC, NRG Texas Holding Inc., NRG Texas LLC, NRG Texas Power LLC, NRG Texas Retail LLC, NRG Trading Advisors LLC, NRG Transmission Holdings LLC, NRG ULC Parent Inc., NRG Victoria I Pty Ltd, NRG Warranty Services LLC, NRG West Coast LLC, NRG Western Affiliate Services Inc., NRG Wind Development Company LLC, NRG Wind Force LLC, NRG Wind LLC, NRG dGen Advisory Services LLC, NRGenerating German Holdings GmbH, NRGenerating International B.V., NRGenerating Luxembourg (No. 1) S.a.r.l., NRGenerating Luxembourg (No. 2) S.a.r.l., New Genco GP LLC, New Jersey Power Development LLC, Norwalk Power LLC, O'Brien Cogeneration Inc. II, ONSITE Energy Inc., One Block Off The Grid Inc., Oswego Harbor Power LLC, Pacific Generation Company, Petra Nova CCS I LLC, Petra Nova Holdings LLC, Petra Nova LLC, Petra Nova Parish Holdings LLC, Petra Nova Power I LLC, Pure Energies Group, Pure Energies Group ULC, Pure Energies Installation Inc., Pure Energies Solar Services Inc., Pure Group Inc., RDI Consulting LLC, RERH Holdings LLC, Reliant Charitable Foundation, Reliant Energy, Reliant Energy Northeast LLC, Reliant Energy Power Supply LLC, Reliant Energy Retail Holdings LLC, Reliant Energy Retail Services LLC, Restoration Design LLC, Roof Diagnostics Solar Holdings LLC, Roof Diagnostics Solar and Electric LLC, Roof Diagnostics Solar and Electric of NY LLC, Saguaro Power Company a Limited Partnership, Saguaro Power LLC, San Gabriel Energy LLC, San Joaquin Energy LLC, San Juan Energy LLC, San Pascual Cogeneration Company International B.V., Sherbino I Wind Farm LLC, Solar Partners I LLC, Solar Partners II LLC, Solar Partners VIII LLC, Solar Power Partners, Solar Pure Energies ULC, Somerset Operations Inc., Somerset Power LLC, South Texas Wind LLC, Station A LLC, Sunrise Power Company LLC, Sunshine State Power (No. 2) B.V., Sunshine State Power B.V., TCV Pipeline LLC, Tacoma Energy Recovery Company, Taloga Wind II LLC, Texas Coastal Ventures LLC, Texas Genco GP LLC, Texas Genco Holdings, Texas Genco Holdings Inc., Texas Genco LP LLC, Texas Genco Services LP, US Retailers LLC, Valle Del Sol Energy LLC, Vienna Operations Inc., Vienna Power LLC, WCP (Generation) Holdings LLC, Watson Cogeneration Company, West Coast Power LLC, XOOM Alberta Holdings LLC, XOOM British Columbia Holdings LLC, XOOM Energy BC ULC, XOOM Energy California LLC, XOOM Energy Canada ULC, XOOM Energy Connecticut LLC, XOOM Energy Delaware LLC, XOOM Energy Georgia LLC, XOOM Energy Global Holdings LLC, XOOM Energy Illinois LLC, XOOM Energy Indiana LLC, XOOM Energy Kentucky LLC, XOOM Energy LLC, XOOM Energy Maine LLC, XOOM Energy Maryland LLC, XOOM Energy Massachusetts LLC, XOOM Energy Michigan LLC, XOOM Energy New Hampshire LLC, XOOM Energy New Jersey LLC, XOOM Energy New York LLC, XOOM Energy ONT ULC, XOOM Energy Ohio LLC, XOOM Energy Pennsylvania LLC, XOOM Energy Rhode Island LLC, XOOM Energy Texas LLC, XOOM Energy Virginia LLC, XOOM Energy Washington D.C. LLC, XOOM Ontario Holdings LLC, XOOM Solar LLC, and eV2g LLC.
Donald Trump said the US is 'losing out on great minds' as the US has a 'ridiculous' immigration policy.

Trump said his administration wants people to come into the country legally and on merit. (Representational Image)

Washington: Ruing that talented foreign students are leaving the United States after studying in the country's best educational institutions, President Donald Trump has said he wants people with merit to stay in America and help the growth of companies.

Addressing a press conference on Friday, Trump said the US is "losing out on great minds" as the country has a "ridiculous" immigration policy.

He reiterated his wish to end loopholes in the legal immigration system so as to attract more people based on merit. Trump said his administration wants people to come into the country legally and on merit.

"We have all these companies coming in. We need great people. But we want them to come in on a merit basis, and they have to come in on a merit basis. They can't come in the way they've been coming in for years," Trump told reporters during a news conference in Washington.

"I get calls from the great tech companies, and they're saying we don't allow people at the top of their class, at the best schools in the country, we don't allow them to stay in our country," he said.

"So, they end up going back to China and Japan and so many other countries all over the world, and we don't keep them. They get educated at our finest schools, and then we don't allow them, through a various set of circumstances, to have any guarantees of staying. So we lose out on great minds. We can't do that," he said.

Trump was referring to difficulties being faced by foreign students to stay and work in the US after they complete their education in the country.

Trump said that this issue was discussed with Democratic Congressional leadership during a meeting at the White House on Friday.

"We discussed that with the Democrats, and I think they agree. We're working on that. But we don't want to lose our great companies because we have a ridiculous policy that we won't accept smart people. So, call it politically correct or not, but we have to let these great, brilliant companies have the smartest people in the world," Trump said.

He said if somebody wants to seek asylum, there's a way to do that. "There are legal ways to come to this country, and legal immigration has made this country great."

Referring to the killing of California's Indian-origin police officer Ronil "Ron" Singh allegedly by an illegal immigrant, Trump said the US needs a "secure border" to keep "Americans safe" and check illegal immigration.

"America lets in over a million people every single year. By far, the most generous nation in the world. And yet, we have laws that need to be followed to keep Americans safe and to protect the integrity of a system where, right now, there are millions of people who are waiting in line to come to America to seek the American Dream, like Officer Singh did when he sought his chance at the American Dream," he said.

"That dream was taken. It was taken because we don't have a secure border. We can't let this continue," he said.

Trump Thursday spoke with the widow and colleagues of the Indian-origin police officer who was killed at a traffic stop on December 26 by an illegal immigrant named Gustavo Perez Arriaga when he was planning to flee to his native Mexico.

"...A wonderful, young police officer -- I spoke to his wife yesterday -- was shot, viciously shot, for simply stopping a person that came over the border illegally. Got shot. Killed. We don't want that happening," he said.

The president has shut down the government, demanding USD 5 billion for his border wall with Mexico but Democrats have refused to meet the demand.

The impasse has left more than 800,000 federal workers furloughed or working without pay since December 22.
Posted 1/4/19

A Buffalo man was charged Friday, Jan. 4, with three felonies after a long standoff with law enforcement officers Thursday afternoon, Jan. 3, at a home in Buffalo. Robert Craig Mutter, 30, was 
YPF Sociedad AnAnima, an energy company, operates in the oil and gas upstream and downstream activities in Argentina. The company's upstream operations consist of the exploration, development, and production of crude oil, natural gas, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Its downstream operations include the refining, marketing, transportation, and distribution of oil, petroleum products, petroleum derivatives, petrochemicals, LPG, and bio-fuels, as well as in gas separation and natural gas distribution operations. As of December 31, 2020, it had interests in 123 oil and gas fields; approximately 483 million barrels (mmbbl) of oil; and approximately 2,110 billion cubic feet (bcf) of gas. It also had a retail distribution network of 1,632 YPF-branded service stations; 20 exploration permits, including 16 onshore and four offshore exploration permits, as well as 103 production concessions; and 36 crude oil treatment plants and 11 pumping plants. In addition, the company owns and operates three refineries with combined annual refining capacity of approximately 116 mmbbl; approximately 2,800 kilometers of crude oil pipelines with approximately 640,000 barrels of aggregate daily transportation capacity of refined products; and crude oil tankage of approximately 7 mmbbl, as well as maintains terminal facilities at five Argentine ports. Further, it participates in 18 power generation plants with an aggregate installed capacity of 2,858 megawatts; offers diesel, fertilizers, lubricants, phytosanitary products, and ensiling bags; and supplies diesel, gasoline, fuel oil, coal, asphalts, paraffin, and sulfur, CO2, decanted oil, and aromatic extract. The company was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Read More
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Rogers Communications Inc. operates as a communications and media company in Canada. It operates through three segments: Wireless, Cable, and Media. The company offers mobile Internet access, wireless voice and enhanced voice, device and accessory financing, wireless home phone, device protection, text messaging, e-mail, global voice and data roaming, bridging landline, machine-to-machine and Internet of Things solutions, and advanced wireless solutions for businesses, as well as device delivery services; and postpaid and prepaid services under the Rogers, Fido, and chatr brands to approximately 10.9 million subscribers. It also provides Internet and WiFi services; smart home monitoring services, such as monitoring, security, automation, energy efficiency, and smart control through a smartphone app. In addition, the company offers local and network TV; on-demand television; cloud-based digital video recorders; voice-activated remote controls, and integrated apps; personal video recorders; linear and time-shifted programming; digital specialty channels; 4K television programming; and televised content on smartphones, tablets, and personal computers, as well as operates Ignite TV and Ignite TV app. Further, it provides residential and small business local telephony services; calling features, such as voicemail, call waiting, and long distance; voice, data networking, Internet protocol, and Ethernet services; private networking, Internet, IP voice, and cloud solutions; optical wave and multi-protocol label switching services; IT and network technologies; and cable access network services. The company also owns Toronto Blue Jays and the Rogers Centre event venue; and operates Sportsnet ONE, Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet World, Citytv, OMNI, FX (Canada), FXX (Canada), and OLN television networks, as well as 55 AM and FM radio stations. Rogers Communications Inc. was founded in 1960 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

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Tesla Inc has asked the Trump administration to exempt the Chinese-made car computer brain of its new Model 3.

Tesla, which called the Model 3s computer the brain of the vehicle, added that choosing any other supplier would have delayed the (Model 3) program by 18 months with clean room setup, line validation, and staff training.

Tesla Inc has asked the Trump administration to exempt the Chinese-made car computer brain of its new Model 3 sedan from 25 percent tariffs imposed in August, saying they threaten the electric carmakers bottom line.

Increased tariffs on this particular part cause economic harm to Tesla, through the increase of costs and impact to profitability, the company said in a previously unreported request for tariff relief from the government.

Led by tech billionaire Elon Musk, Tesla is among a host of companies, including No. 1 US automaker General Motors Co, to warn of growing costs related to the tariff war between the worlds two largest economies.

The Chinese-made computer, used by Tesla in the car assembled in Fremont, California, was among $16 billion in imports that were hit with 25 percent tariffs by the United States Trade Representatives Office in 2018.

In a redacted request posted on a government website by the USTR on Dec. 17, Tesla did not identify the supplier of the computer. But it said it had been unable to find another manufacturer with the required specifications, at the volume requested and under the timelines necessary for Teslas continued growth.

Tesla, which called the Model 3s computer the brain of the vehicle, added that choosing any other supplier would have delayed the (Model 3) program by 18 months with clean room setup, line validation, and staff training.

Using a new supplier substantially increases the risk of poor part quality that could lead overall vehicle quality issues that would impact the safety of our vehicles and the consumer acceptance of the final product, Tesla added in its request for tariff relief.

Tesla declined to comment on the tariff matter on Friday. But it has been aggressively cutting costs as it works to meet production goals for the Model 3, which has become a top-selling luxury sedan on the US market alongside the larger Model S.

Other automakers have sought similar exemptions but have not yet received an answer.

GM in late July sought an exemption to a 25 percent US tariff on its Chinese-made Buick Envision sport utility vehicle. The Envision accounted for nearly 15 percent of US Buick sales last year, even as sales fell by 27 percent.

In October, GM also sought exclusions for about two dozen parts, including push button ignition switches and transmission bearings. Nissan Motor Co and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV have also filed exclusion requests for parts, while Uber Technologies Inc asked for an exclusion for electric bikes rented through the Uber app.

The Trump administration has imposed 25 percent tariffs on a total of $50 billion in annual Chinese exports and 10 percent tariffs on an additional $200 billion in Chinese exports. The tariffs were in response to what the Trump administration calls Chinas unfair trade practices.
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The Twitter account used to spread personal data has been deleted.

The citys data protection agency said the scope of the published personal data was enormous, and the potential consequences for affected individuals could be significant.

The German city-state of Hamburg on Friday said it was working with Irish data protection authorities to stop the spread of German politicians data via the social media platform Twitter.

The citys data protection agency said the Twitter account used to spread personal data has been deleted, but it has not received an answer from Twitter about its demand to delete a list of short links to other platforms where the data resides.

It said the scope of the published personal data was enormous, and the potential consequences for affected individuals could be significant.
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The ministry said it remained unclear if the breach was the result of a hack or a leak.

A preliminary analysis showed the data had been obtained through wrongful use of log-in information for cloud services, email accounts or social networks, Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said in a statement.

Personal data and documents from hundreds of German politicians and public figures including Chancellor Angela Merkel have been published online in what appears to be one of Germanys most far-reaching data breaches.

A preliminary analysis showed the data had been obtained through wrongful use of log-in information for cloud services, email accounts or social networks, Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said in a statement late on Friday.

He said there was no evidence that the computer systems of the German lower house of parliament or the government had been compromised, but provided no further details.

The ministry said it remained unclear if the breach, which triggered an emergency meeting of the BSI national cyber defense agency, was the result of a hack or a leak.

Authorities were investigating all possibilities, including espionage, according to one government source, who said it was unlikely that any single person could have compiled the massive amounts of data that had been released.

The public broadcaster rbb, which broke the story, said the data, published on a Twitter account, included addresses, personal letters and copies of identity cards. It said the identity of the perpetrators and their motive were not known.

The twitter account, which existed for four years and has now been deleted, first began releasing data in December in an electronic Advent calendar. The extent of the data leaks first became apparent late on Thursday evening, sources said.

German media said a fax number and two email addresses used by Merkel had been published but the government said it appeared no sensitive material from her office had been released.

The hacked material included private chats by Greens leader Robert Habeck with family members and the identity cards of his children, a source familiar with the matter said.

Die Welt newspaper reported late Friday that published lists included names of 410 members of Merkels conservatives, 230 Social Democrats, 106 Greens party members, 91 members of the radical Left party and 28 Free Democrats.

POLITICAL PARTIES HIT

The BSI said all but one of the seven parties in the lower house had been affected. German media said that party was the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Last year, lawmakers said a powerful cyber attack had breached the foreign ministrys computer network.

Security officials have blamed most previous breaches of data security on a Russian hacking group, while the Kremlin has consistently denied involvement in such incidents.

The BSI met to coordinate the response of intelligence and other federal agencies.

The Defense Ministry said the armed forces were not affected. The public broadcaster ARD - affiliated to rbb - said its journalists had as yet detected no incriminating content.

The city-state of Hamburg was working with Irish data protection authorities to stop the data being spread via Twitter, but said the company had not been responsive.

It said the Twitter account used to spread the data had been deleted, but that it was still pressing for the deletion of links to data on other platforms.

Security officials have blamed most previous attacks on a Russian hacking group, APT28, that experts say has close ties to a Russian spy agency. Experts held the same group responsible for an attack ahead of the 2016 US presidential election.

Bild newspaper reported that German authorities had asked the US spy agency NSA for assistance.
First American Financial Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides financial services. It operates through Title Insurance and Services, and Specialty Insurance segments. The Title Insurance and Services segment issues title insurance policies on residential and commercial property, as well as offers related products and services. This segment also provides closing and/or escrow services; products, services, and solutions to mitigate risk or otherwise facilitate real estate transactions; and appraisals and other valuation-related products and services, lien release and document custodial services, warehouse lending services, default-related products and services, title insurance, closing services, and related products and services, as well as banking, trust, and wealth management services. In addition, it accommodates tax-deferred exchanges of real estate; and maintains, manages, and provides access to title plant data and records. This segment offers its products through a network of direct operations and agents in 49 states and in the District of Columbia, as well as in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, South Korea, and internationally. The Specialty Insurance segment provides property and casualty insurance comprising coverage to residential homeowners and renters for liability losses and typical hazards, such as fire, theft, vandalism, and other types of property damage. It also offers residential service contracts that cover residential systems, such as heating and air conditioning systems, and appliances against failures that occur as the result of normal usage during the coverage period. First American Financial Corporation was founded in 1889 and is based in Santa Ana, California.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Xerox: A B S Digital Limited, Acorn Business Machines (Holmfirth) Limited, Alloy Acquisitions Corp. LLC, Altodigital, Altodigital Networks Limited, American Photocopy Equipment Company of Pittsburgh LLC, Amici, Arena Group, Arena Group Holdings Limited, Arena Group Limited, Arizona Office Technologies Inc., B 2 Business Systems Limited, Back2Business Limited, Bessemer Insurance Limited, Bessemer Trust Limited, Boise Office Equipment Inc., Bright Ceramic Technologies Inc., Bunch CareSolutions, Business Systems (North Wales) Limited, CPAS Systems, CREDITEX - Aluguer de Equipamentos S.A., CTX Business Solutions Inc., Capitol Office Solutions LLC, CareAR Holdings LLC, CareAR Inc., Carolina Office Systems Inc., Carr Business Systems Inc., Chicago Office Technology Group Inc., ComDoc Inc., Concept Group, Concept Group Limited, Connecticut Business Systems LLC, Consilience Software, Continua Limited, Continua Sanctum Limited, Conway Technology Group LLC, Copyrite Business Solutions (Holdings) Limited, Copyrite Business Solutions Limited, Copytrend Limited, Criterion IT Limited, Customer Value Group, Dahill Office Technology Corporation, Digitex Canada Inc, Digitex Canada Inc., Docucentric Holdings Limited, Eastern Managed Print Network LLC, Elan Marketing Inc., Electronic Systems Inc., Fovia (Innovation) Limited, G-Five Inc., GDP Technologies Inc., Global Imaging Systems, Global PR Corporation, Gyricon LLC, Healthy Communities Institute, Heritage Business Systems Inc., Image Technology Specialists Inc., ImageQuest Inc., Imagetek Office Systems, Impika, Impika SAS, Inland Business Machines Inc., Institute for Research on Learning, Integrity One Technologies Inc., Intrepid Learning, Invoco Group, Irish Business Systems, Itec Connect Limited, LRI LLC, LaserNetworks, LaserNetworks Inc., Lateral Data, Learn Something, Lewan & Associates Inc., Limited Liability Company Xerox (C.I.S.), M & S Reprographics Limited, MRC Smart Technology Solutions Inc., MT Business Holdings Inc., MT Business Technologies Inc., MWB Copy Products Inc., Mail A Doc Limited, Merizon Group Incorporated, Michigan Office Solutions Inc., Minnesota Office Technology Group Inc., Mitral Systems Limited, Mr. Copy Inc., Nemo (AKS) Limited, NewField IT, NewField Information Technology LLC, NewField Information Technology Limited, Northeast Office Systems LLC, Osprey Business Systems Limited, PARC China Holdings Inc., Pacific Services and Development Corporation, Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated, Platinum Digital Print Solutions Limited, Precision Copier Service Inc., Quality Business Systems Inc., Quilver Business Services Limited, R. K. Dixon Company, RRXH Limited, RRXIL Limited, RRXO Limited, RSA Medical, Rabbit Copiers Inc., Reflex Digital Solutions (UK) Limited, Reprographics Egypt Limited, Saxon Business Systems Inc., Smart Data Consulting, SoCal Office Technologies Inc., Stem Networks Limited, Stewart Business Systems LLC, Stewart of Alabama Inc., StrataCare, Talegen Holdings Inc., Tektronix - color printing, Text Comm Limited (in receivership), The Xerox (UK) Trust, The Xerox Foundation, Time Business Systems Limited, Triton Business Finance Limited, Una-Stem Limited, Veenman B.V., Veenman Financial Services B.V., WDS, WaterWare Internet Services, XC Asia LLC, XC Global Trading B.V., XC Trading Hong Kong Limited, XC Trading Japan G.K., XC Trading Korea YH, XC Trading Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., XC Trading Shenzhen Co. Ltd., XC Trading Singapore Pte Ltd., XEROX CZECH REPUBLIC s r.o., XESystems Foreign Sales Corporation, XFS Secured Borrowing 2020-1 LLC, XHC Acquisition Corp., XMPie, XMPie Inc., XMPie Ltd., XRI Limited, XRO Limited, Xerox (Europe) Limited, Xerox (Ireland) Limited, Xerox (Nederland) BV, Xerox (Romania) Echipmante Si Servici S.A., Xerox (UK) Limited, Xerox (Ukraine) Ltd LLC, Xerox A/S, Xerox AG, Xerox AS, Xerox Argentina Industrial y Comercial S.A., Xerox Austria GmbH, Xerox Bulgaria EOOD, Xerox Business Equipment Limited, Xerox Business Services Bulgaria EOOD, Xerox Business Solutions Inc., Xerox Business Solutions Southeast LLC, Xerox Buro Araclari Servis ve Ticaret Ltd. Sti, Xerox Canada Inc., Xerox Canada Ltd., Xerox Canada N.S. ULC, Xerox Capital (Europe) Limited, Xerox Capital LLC, Xerox Computer Services Limited, Xerox Comercio e Industria Ltda, Xerox Corporation, Xerox DNHC LLC, Xerox Dienstleistungsgesellschaft GmbH, Xerox Distributor Operations Limited, Xerox Egypt S.A.E., Xerox Equipment Limited, Xerox Equipment UK Limited, Xerox Espana S.A.U., Xerox Exports Limited, Xerox Finance AG, Xerox Finance Leasing S.A.E., Xerox Finance Limited, Xerox Financial Services B.V., Xerox Financial Services Belux NV, Xerox Financial Services Canada Ltd., Xerox Financial Services Danmark A/S, Xerox Financial Services Finland Oy, Xerox Financial Services LLC, Xerox Financial Services Norway AS, Xerox Financial Services SAS, Xerox Financial Services Sverige AB, Xerox Foreign Holdings LLC, Xerox Foreign Sales Corporation, Xerox GmbH, Xerox Health Care LLC, Xerox Hellas AEE, Xerox Holding Deutschland GmbH, Xerox Holdings (Ireland) Limited, Xerox Holdings Inc., Xerox Hungary Trading Limited, Xerox IBS Limited, Xerox IBS NI Limited, Xerox India Limited, Xerox International Joint Marketing Inc., Xerox Investments Europe B.V., Xerox Israel Ltd., Xerox Italia Rental Services Srl, Xerox Kazakhstan Limited Liability Partnership, Xerox Latinamerican Holdings Inc., Xerox Leasing Deutschland GmbH, Xerox Leasing GmbH, Xerox Limited, Xerox Luxembourg SA, Xerox Mailing Systems Limited, Xerox Manufacturing (Nederland) B.V., Xerox Maroc S.A., Xerox Mexicana S.A. de C.V., Xerox Middle East Investments (Bermuda) Limited, Xerox N.V., Xerox Overseas Holdings Limited, Xerox Overseas Inc., Xerox Oy, Xerox Pensions Limited, Xerox Polska Sp. z o. o, Xerox Portugal Equipamentos de Escritorio Limitada, Xerox Products Limited, Xerox Products UK Limited, Xerox Professional Services Limited, Xerox Realty Corporation, Xerox Renting S.A.U., Xerox Reprographische Services GmbH, Xerox S.A.S., Xerox S.p.A., Xerox Secured Borrowing 2020-1 LLC, Xerox Servicios Compartidos Guatemala y Compani Limitada, Xerox Servicos e Participacoes Ltda, Xerox Shared Services Romania SRL, Xerox Sverige AB, Xerox Technology Services India LLP, Xerox Technology Services SAS, Xerox Telebusiness GmbH, Xerox Trading Enterprises Limited, Xerox Trinidad Limited, Xerox UK Holdings Limited, Xerox XHB Limited, Xerox XIB Limited, Xerox Xf Holdings (Ireland) DAC, Xerox de Chile S.A., Xerox del Ecuador S.A., Xerox del Peru S.A., Zeno Office Solutions, Zeno Office Solutions Inc., Zoom Imaging Solutions Inc., and inVentiv Patient Access Solutions.
Gowda also hailed Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for her speech on issue in Lok Sabha, but said it was insufficient.

My advice to the prime minister is that when such an allegation is made, he should be in the House and face it, JD(S) chief H D Deve Gowda. (Photo: File)

Bengaluru: Janata Dal (Secular) supremo H D Deve Gowda on Saturday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should speak on the Rafale deal in Parliament as charges had been levelled directly against him.

The former prime minister also hailed Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for her speech on the issue in the Lok Sabha on Friday, but said it was not sufficient.

In her point-by-point reply on the Rafale debate, Sitharaman put up a spirited defence of the deal and launched a counter-attack on the Congress. "Why can't the prime minister come to the House and speak? The defence minister argued well but that's a different matter," Gowda told reporters here.

"The charge is against the prime minister. Be it the prime minister or any other leader, when there is a charge, he should come before the House," he said.

The JD(S) chief felt that Modi has given the people a reason to doubt him by not speaking on the issue. "It is not a question of whether he (Modi) is right or someone else is. But the only problem is why the prime minister is not coming to respond to the question," Gowda said.

He said the prime minister was giving interviews and was set to address 200 rallies, but what was more important was that he should have spoken in Parliament as well. "My advice to the prime minister is that when such an allegation is made, he should be in the House and face it," Gowda said.

The Congress has been targeting Modi on the multi-million dollar fighter jet deal. It alleges alleging that price of each aircraft was sharply hiked from around Rs 526 crore, negotiated under the deal during the UPA, to Rs 1,600 crore and that the deal will help Anil Ambani get Rs 30,000 crore benefit through offset contract.

Raising the issue of delay in the appointment of the Lokpal, Gowda said he had cleared the proposal for the ombudsman in his 10-month tenure as prime minister.

In his version of the ombudsman law, the prime minister was brought under its ambit, he said.

The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Centre to place an affidavit on steps taken till date for Lokpal's appointment and expressed its displeasure over the tardy progress made in this regard.

Speaking about his party's campaigning programme ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Gowda said there was a need to inform the masses about the pro-people work done by Karnataka's Congress-JD(S) government led by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy.
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BJP leaders, including some corporators, raised slogans against the chief minister saying 'CM go back'.

Naidu was in East Godavari district for the 'Janmabhoomi maa vooru' event in Kakinada. (Photo: File)

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Friday vented his anger at a group of BJP workers after they blocked his convoy to protest his comments against PM Modi.

BJP leaders, including some corporators, raised slogans against the chief minister saying CM go back.

"You will get beaten up. Don't invite unnecessary trouble. You will be finished. Do you support the injustice meted out to AP? If you go on the streets, people will teach you a lesson," Naidu said.

Naidu was in East Godavari district for the 'Janmabhoomi maa vooru' event in Kakinada.

Andra Pradesh Chief Minister has been constantly criticising PM Modi and the BJP and accusing them of betraying the people by not granting special status to the state.
The following companies are subsidiares of Sysco: 2234829 Alberta ULC, 2234842 Alberta ULC, A. M. Briggs Inc., A.M. Briggs, Almacen Fiscal Frionet Caldera S.A., Almacen Fiscal Frionet Limon S.A., Appert's Foodservice, Arnotts (Fruit) Limited, Asian Foods, Bahamas Food Holdings Limited, Bahamas Food Services Limited, Brake Bros, Brake Bros Foodservice Ireland Limited, Brake Bros. Foodservice Limited, Brake Bros. Holding I Limited, Brake Bros. Ltd., Brakes Foodservice NI Limited, Buchy Food Service, Buckhead Beef Co., Buckhead Meat & Seafood of Houston Inc., Buckhead Meat Company, Buckhead Meat Midwest Inc., Buckhead Meat of Dallas Inc., Buckhead Meat of Denver Inc., Buckhead Meat of San Antonio LP, Buzztable Inc., CAKE Corporation, Central Seafood Co., Christys Wine & Spirits Limited, Clafra Aktiebolag, Colorado Boxed Beef Co - Specialty meat-cutting division, Corporacion Frionet Sociedad Anonima, Crossgar Foodservice, Crossgar Foodservice Limited, Crown I Enterprises Inc., Cucina Acquisitions (UK) Limited, Cucina Finance (UK) Limited, Cucina French Holdings Limited, Cucina Fresh Finance Limited, Cucina Fresh Investments Limited, Cucina Lux Investments Limited, Curleys Quality Foods Limited (Third Party), Davigel Belgilux S.A., Davigel Espana S.A., Desert Meats & Provisions, Distagro, Doerle Food Service, Doughtie's Foods Inc., Dust Bowl City LLC, Eko Fagel Fisk o mittemellan AB, Enclave Insurance Company, Enclave Parkway Association Inc., Enclave Properties LLC, European Imports, European Imports Inc., Figg Inc., Freedman Meats, Freedman Meats Inc., Freedman-KB Inc., Fresh Direct (UK) Limited, Fresh Direct Group Limited, Fresh Direct Limited, Fresh Holdings Limited, FreshPoint, FreshPoint Arizona Inc., FreshPoint Atlanta Inc., FreshPoint California Inc., FreshPoint Central California Inc., FreshPoint Central Florida Inc., FreshPoint Connecticut LLC, FreshPoint Dallas Inc., FreshPoint Denver Inc., FreshPoint Hawaii LLC, FreshPoint Inc., FreshPoint Las Vegas Inc., FreshPoint North Carolina Inc., FreshPoint North Florida Inc., FreshPoint Oklahoma City LLC, FreshPoint Pompano Real Estate LLC, FreshPoint Puerto Rico LLC, FreshPoint San Francisco Inc., FreshPoint South Florida Inc., FreshPoint South Texas Inc., FreshPoint Southern California Inc., FreshPoint Tomato LLC, FreshPoint Vancouver Ltd., Freshfayre Limited, Fruktservice i Helsingborg AB, GHS Classic Drinks Limited, Gilchrist & Soames Inc., Gilchrist & Soames UK Limited, Guest Packaging LLC, Guest Supply, Guest Supply Asia Limited, Guest Supply Singapore Pte. Ltd., International Food Group, Isakssons Frukt & Gront AB, J & M Wholesale Meats, J. Kings Food Service Professionals, J. Kings Food Service Professionals Inc., Kent Frozen Foods, Les Ateliers Du Gout, Liquid Assets Limited, M&J Seafood Holdings Limited, M&J Seafood Limited, Manchester Mills LLC, Mayca Autoservicio S.A., Mayca Distribuidores S.A., Menigo Foodservice AB, Mitshim Etatu Supply LP, Newport Meat Company, Newport Meat Northern California Inc., Newport Meat Pacific Northwest Inc., Newport Meat Southern California Inc., Newport Meat of Nevada Inc., North Star Holding Corporation, North Star Seafood, North Star Seafood Acquisition Corporation, North Star Seafood LLC, PFS de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Palisades Ranch Inc., Pallas Foods, Pallas Foods Farm Fresh Unlimited Company, Pallas Foods Unlimited Company, Pauleys Produce Limited, Promotora del Servicios S.A. de C.V., Restaurangakdemien AB, Restaurant of Tomorrow Inc., Rohan Viandes Elaboration SAS, SMS Bermuda Holdings, SMS GPC International Limited, SMS GPC International Resources Limited, SMS Global Holdings S.a.r.l., SMS International Resources Ireland Unlimited Company, SMS Lux Holdings LLC, SOTF LLC, SYY Netherlands C.V., SYY Panama S. de R.L., Serca Foodservice, Servicestyckarna I Johannes AB, Servicios Ameriserve S.A. de C.V., Shenzhen Guest Supply Trading Co. Limited, Societe Civile Immobiliere (SCI) Bianchi Montegut, Societe Civile Immobiliere (SCI) De Boiseau, Societe Civile Immobiliere (SCI) De Garcelles, Societe Civile Immobiliere (SCI) J.D. Lanjouan, Societe Civile Immobiliere (SCI) Le Dauphin, Specialty Meat Holdings LLC, Stockflag Limited, Stockholms Fiskauktion AB, Supplies on the Fly, Sysco Albany LLC, Sysco Asian Foods Inc., Sysco Atlanta LLC, Sysco Autoservicio S.A., Sysco Baltimore LLC, Sysco Baraboo LLC, Sysco Bermuda Partners L.P., Sysco Boston LLC, Sysco Canada Holdings S.a.r.l., Sysco Canada Inc., Sysco Central Alabama LLC, Sysco Central California Inc., Sysco Central Florida Inc., Sysco Central Illinois Inc., Sysco Central Pennsylvania LLC, Sysco Charlotte LLC, Sysco Chicago Inc., Sysco Cincinnati LLC, Sysco Cleveland Inc., Sysco Columbia LLC, Sysco Connecticut LLC, Sysco Corporation, Sysco Corporation Director's Deferred Compensation Plan Trust, Sysco Corporation Employee's 401(k) Plan Trust, Sysco Corporation Executive Deferred Compensation Plan Trust, Sysco Corporation Good Government Committee Inc., Sysco Corporation Retirement Trust, Sysco Corporation Supplemental Executive Retirement Trust, Sysco Corporation Supplemental Unemployment Benefits Plan Trust, Sysco Detroit LLC, Sysco Disaster Relief Foundation Inc., Sysco EI VI S. s.r.l., Sysco EU II S.a.r.l., Sysco EU III S.a.r.l., Sysco EU IV Capital Unlimited Company, Sysco EU IV S. s.r.l.., Sysco EU V S. s.r.l., Sysco Eastern Maryland LLC, Sysco Eastern Wisconsin LLC, Sysco Foundation Inc., Sysco France Holding SAS, Sysco France SAS, Sysco George Town II LLC, Sysco George Town Limited S. s.r.l.., Sysco Global Finance LLC, Sysco Global Finance LLP, Sysco Global Holdings B.V., Sysco Global Resources LLC, Sysco Global Services LLC, Sysco Grand Cayman Company, Sysco Grand Cayman II Company, Sysco Grand Cayman III Company, Sysco Grand Rapids LLC, Sysco Guernsey Limited, Sysco Guest Supply Canada Inc., Sysco Guest Supply Europe Goods Wholesalers LLC, Sysco Guest Supply Europe Limited, Sysco Guest Supply LLC, Sysco Gulf Coast LLC, Sysco Hampton Roads Inc., Sysco Hawaii Inc., Sysco Holdings II LLC, Sysco Holdings LLC, Sysco Indianapolis LLC, Sysco International Food Group Inc., Sysco International Inc., Sysco Iowa Inc., Sysco Jackson LLC, Sysco Jacksonville Inc., Sysco Kansas City Inc., Sysco Knoxville LLC, Sysco Labs Europe Limited, Sysco Labs Pvt. 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Official sources told PTI that the woman did enter the sanctum sanctorum. CCTV visuals of Ms Sasikalas visit were also released by police later.

As many as 1,718 people have been arrested and 1,009 taken in preventive custody and 1,108 cases registered in connection with violent protests as part of the dawn-to-dusk hartal called by pro-Hindu outfits on Thursday, police said.

Sabarimala: A 46-year-old Sri Lankan woman prayed inside the Ayyappa temple on Thursday night, claimed Kerala officials even as the state continued to witness stray incidents of violence, including hurling of crude bombs at various places, on Friday over the entry of two young women into the hill shrine earlier this week.

All through the day, there was confusion over whether or not Ms Sasikala succeeded in offering prayers at the temple late on Thursday night as she had claimed on Friday morning that police had turned her away even though there was no protest from devotees.

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan confirmed that a third woman had indeed visited the sannidhanam (temple complex). Why nobody wants to call a hartal and undertake purification in the temple, he asked on Friday.

Official sources told PTI that the woman did enter the sanctum sanctorum. CCTV visuals of Ms Sasikalas visit were also released by police later.

However, it is not clear if she climbed the padinettampadi (holy 18 steps) to reach the sanctum sanctorum.

Meanwhile, stray incidents of violence continued in the state, which witnessed unprecedented mayhem on Thursday, a day after the two women entered the hill temple, infuriating saffron outfits whose supporters blocked roads using burning tyres.

As many as 1,718 people have been arrested and 1,009 taken in preventive custody and 1,108 cases registered in connection with violent protests as part of the dawn-to-dusk hartal called by pro-Hindu outfits on Thursday, police said.

Ever since the LDF government decided to implement the Supreme Court verdict allowing women of all age groups to enter the holy shrine, the temple complex has witnessed fierce protests from rightwing outfits.

Traditionally, women in the 10-50 age group are not allowed to enter the temple. However on January 2, two women in their forties  Bindu and Kanakadurga  had offered prayers at the shrine in the early hours.

Earlier, Ms Sasikala, who came from Sri Lanka with her husband Saravanan and son for darshan, had told reporters at Pamba on Friday morning that she was not allowed to offer prayers at the temple.

Mr Saravanan also maintained that only he and his son were able to worship at the temple.

Some television channels had last night aired visuals of the woman with irumudikettu (sacred offerings) and two plainclothes policemen accompanying her. On spotting the media, the policemen were seen scurrying away.

Sources said that Ms Sasikala prayed in front of the sanctum sanctorum at 9.30 pm. They accompanied her downhill to Pampa by 11.30 p.m. Her passport gave her date of birth as December 3, 1972.

There was no protest from devotees. But police sent me back. I am an Ayyappa devotee. They did not allow me to go to the shrine. I am not scared of anyone, Ms Sasikala told reporters on her return to Pamba, the foothills of Sabarimala.

A visibly agitated Ms Sasikala said she had observed the 41-day vratham (penance).

They did not allow me. Why did they not allow me? Why are you all standing around me now? I am not afraid of anyone. Ayyappa will answer you all. You will come to know who I am, she said.

She also said that her uterus had been removed for medical reasons and hence she had the right to go to the temple. I am a devotee, I have a medical certificate, she said.

According to official sources, due to security reasons Ms Sasikala might have said she could not offer prayers.

Meanwhile, a transgender named Kayal, who arrived at Pamba around 6 am on Friday, was turned away and not allowed by the police to go to the temple complex following protest from the devotees.

Kayal came dressed in a saree but later changed to mens clothing and tried to trek the hills with the irrumudikettu.

Four transgenders had recently offered prayers at Sabarimala wearing black sarees.
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Q2 Holdings, Inc. provides cloud-based digital banking solutions to regional and community financial institutions (RCFIs) in the United States. The company offers Q2 Digital Banking and Transactions, a browser-based digital banking solution that delivers RCFI-branded digital banking capabilities; Q2mobility App, a mobile and tablet digital banking solution; Q2mobile Remote Deposit Capture, a partnered solution that allows remote check deposit capture; and Q2 Person-to-Person Payments, a partnered integrated person-to-person payments solution. It also provides Q2 Business Solutions, a digital banking solutions to commercial end users; Q2 Sentinel, a security analytics solution; Q2 Patrol, an event-driven validation product; Q2 SMART, a targeting and messaging platform; and Q2 CardSwap that allows account holders receiving newly issued cards to automatically change their payment information. In addition, the company offers Q2 Gro, a digital account opening, and digital sales and marketing platform; Q2 Biller Direct, a bill payment solution; Centrix Dispute Tracking System, an electronic transaction dispute management solution; Centrix Payments I.Q. System, an ACH file monitoring and risk reporting solution; Centrix Exact/Transaction Management System, a fraud prevention tool; and Q2 Caliper Software Development Kit. Futher, it provides Q2 Contextual PFM, which allows end users to add external accounts and view them together with internal accounts on digital banking home page; Q2 Goals that enables end users to establish and save towards specific savings goals; Q2 Cloud Lending, a digital lending and leasing platform; PrecisionLender platform, a cloud-based, data-driven sales enablement, pricing, and portfolio management solution; and Q2 BaaS, a portfolio of open API financial services. The company was formerly known as CBG Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to Q2 Holdings, Inc. in March 2013. Q2 Holdings, Inc. was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in Austin, Texas.

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The home minister had said that it was because of such perception that things (in Kashmir) are not moving ahead.

Srinagar: Separatist leaders in J&K on Friday refuted Union home minister Rajnath Singhs claim that the government had last year offered unconditional dialogue with separatists to end the stalemate in the state last year but their doors were shut.

To put the record straight the truth as all of Kashmir knows is that there never was any offer of unconditional talk at any point by this Govt. On the contrary all effort by this Govt has been towards a military solution with the view to integrate Kashmir and even do away with its special status, chief Muslim cleric and senior separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq wrote on Twitter.

Separatist patriarch Syed Ali Shah Geelani also contested the ministers claim and said, The government never officially invited us and now claims we rejected it (talks offer).

Mr Singh had on Thursday while replying to a debate in the Rajya Sabha on the proclamation of imposition of Presidents Rule in J&K said that if separatists in Kashmir had agreed to talk to an all-party delegation that went to meet them last year, perhaps the government could have found some or the other way to resolve the stalemate in the Valley.

He had regretted that the doors of separatists were shut. The home minister had said that it was because of such perception that things (in Kashmir) are not moving ahead.

He had said, A perception was being created that the BJP doesnt want to talk to Hurriyat. And then we asked people to go there (Kashmir) and have talks with them (Hurriyat). And when an all-party delegation went there to talk, the doors were shut for them. He further said that he had also assured former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti when her party was in power in J&K with an alliance with the BJP that the Centre was willing for an unconditional talk to end the stalemate in Kashmir. If they (separatists) had agreed to talk, perhaps we could have found some or the other way (to resolve the conflict). I had told the then CM Mehbooba Mufti that if they are willing to talk, our doors are also open, unconditionally, Mr. Singh had claimed.
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The following companies are subsidiares of Sealed Air: AFP (Shanghai) Limited, AFP Inc. (Branch), AFPTOH LTD, Aconcagua Distribuciones SRL, Air Ride Pallets Hong Kong Limited, Austin Foam Plastics Inc., Auto-C LLC, Automated Packaging Systems, B+ Equipment, B+ Equipment SAS, Beacon Holdings LLC, Biosphere Industries, BluPack (New Zealand), Blue Dot Packaging Pty Ltd., CPI Packaging Inc., CPI Packaging Systems Inc., Cactus (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Cactus Shanghai Trading Co. Ltd., Ciras C.V., Ciras C.V. - Luxembourg Branch, Ciras C.V.  Luxembourg Branch, Cleanwise Inc., Cryovac (Malaysia) SDN. BHD, Cryovac (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Cryovac Brasil Ltda., Cryovac Chile Holdings LLC, Cryovac Holdings II LLC, Cryovac Inc., Cryovac International Holdings Inc., Cryovac LLC, Cryovac Leasing Corporation, Cryovac Londrina Ltda., Cryovac Packaging Portugal - Embalagens Ltda., Cryovac Packaging Portugal Embalagens Ltda, Cryovac Sweden AB, Cryovac-Sealed Air de Costa Rica S.R.L., DELTAPLAM Embalagens Industria e Comercio, Deltaplam Embalagens Industria e Comercio Ltda, Diversey, Diversey Australia Pty. Ltd., Diversey Austria Trading GmbH, Diversey B.V., Diversey Belgium BVBA, Diversey Brasil Industria Quimica Ltda., Diversey Canada Inc., Diversey Centroamerica S.A., Diversey Danmark ApS, Diversey Hungary Acting Off-shore Capital Management Limited Liability Company, Diversey J Trustee Limited, Diversey Trustee Limited, Diversey Ceska republika s.r.o. clen koncernu Diversey, Entapack Pty. Ltd., Fagerdala (Chengdu) Packaging Co. Ltd., Fagerdala (Chengdu) Packing Co. Ltd. (Chongqing Branch), Fagerdala (Chongqing) Packaging Co. Ltd. (Branch), Fagerdala (Huiyang) Packaging Co. Ltd, Fagerdala (Huiyang) Packaging Co. Ltd. (Branch), Fagerdala (Shanghai) Foams Co. Ltd., Fagerdala (Shanghai) Polymer Co. Ltd., Fagerdala (Shenzhen) Packaging Co. Ltd., Fagerdala (Suzhou) Packaging Co. Ltd., Fagerdala (Suzhou) Packing Co. Ltd. (Hefei Branch), Fagerdala (Thailand) Limited, Fagerdala (Xiamen) Packaging Co. Ltd., Fagerdala Leamchabung Limited, Fagerdala Leamchabung Ltd., Fagerdala Malaysia Sdn Bhd., Fagerdala Mexico S.A. de C.V., Fagerdala Mexico S.A. de C.V. (Chihuahua Branch), Fagerdala Mexico Supply Chain S.A. de C.V., Fagerdala Packaging Inc. (Indiana), Fagerdala Shanghai Foams Co. Ltd., Fagerdala Singapore Pte Ltd, Fagerdala Singapore Pte Ltd (Branch), Fagerdala Singapore Pte. Limited, Fagerdala Singapore Pte. Limited (Taiwan Branch), Fagerdala Singapore Pte. Ltd., Fagerdala Suzhou Packaging Co. Ltd., Fagerdala Suzhou Packaging Co. Ltd. (Hefei Branch), Fagerdala Thailand Ltd., GEIE VES, Getpacking.com GmbH, Indonesian Rep Office of Sealed Air Hong Kong Limited, Invertol S. de R.L. de C.V., JCS Sealed Air Kaustik, JSC Sealed Air Kaustik, Kevothermal LLC, Kevothermal LLC, Kevothermal Limited, Nelipak Holdings, Pack-Tiger GmbH, Packaging C.V., ProAseptic Technologies S.L., Producembal - Producao de Embalagens Ltda., Proxy Biomedical Ltd., Reflectix Inc., SLD Air Packaging Paketleme Malzemeleri Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Saddle Brook Insurance Company, Sealed Air (Asia) Holdings B.V., Sealed Air (Barbados) S.R.L., Sealed Air (Canada) Co./CIE, Sealed Air (Canada) Holdings B.V., Sealed Air (China) Co. Ltd., Sealed Air (China) Co. Ltd., Sealed Air (China) Limited, Sealed Air (China) Ltd., Sealed Air (India) Limited, Sealed Air (Israel) Ltd., Sealed Air (Korea) Limited, Sealed Air (Latin America) Holdings II LLC, Sealed Air (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Sealed Air (New Zealand), Sealed Air (Philippines) Inc., Sealed Air (Singapore) Pte. Limited, Sealed Air (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Sealed Air (Thailand) Limited, Sealed Air (Ukraine) Limited, Sealed Air Africa (Proprietary) Limited, Sealed Air Africa (Pty.) Limited, Sealed Air Americas Manufacturing S. de R. L. de C. V., Sealed Air Argentina S.A., Sealed Air Australia (Holdings) Pty. Limited, Sealed Air Australia Pty Ltd., Sealed Air Australia Pty. Limited, Sealed Air B.V., Sealed Air Belgium N.V., Sealed Air Central America S.A., Sealed Air Chile S.P.A., Sealed Air Colombia Ltda., Sealed Air Corporation (US), Sealed Air Denmark A/S, Sealed Air Embalagens Ltda., Sealed Air Europe Holdings C.V., Sealed Air Europe Holdings LP, Sealed Air Finance B.V., Sealed Air Finance II LLC, Sealed Air Finance II LLC (Sucursal Mexico), Sealed Air Finance Ireland Unlimited Company, Sealed Air Finance Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Sealed Air Finance Luxembourg S.a.r.l. Luxembourg (L) Root Finance Branch, Sealed Air Finance Luxembourg S.a.r.l. US Finance Branch, Sealed Air Funding Corporation, Sealed Air Funding LLC, Sealed Air General Trading LLC, Sealed Air Global Holdings C.V., Sealed Air Global Holdings I C.V., Sealed Air Global Holdings I LLC, Sealed Air GmbH, Sealed Air Hellas S.A., Sealed Air Holding France S.A.S., Sealed Air Holding France SAS, Sealed Air HoldingS I LLC, Sealed Air Holdings (New Zealand) Pty. Ltd., Sealed Air Holdings I C.V., Sealed Air Holdings LLC, Sealed Air Holdings South Africa Proprietary Limited, Sealed Air Hong Kong (Jakarta Indonesia Branch), Sealed Air Hong Kong Limited, Sealed Air Hungary Ltd., Sealed Air International Holdings LLC, Sealed Air International Holdings LLC , Sealed Air Investment and Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Sealed Air Investment and Management Co. Ltd., Sealed Air Japan G.K., Sealed Air Korea Limited, Sealed Air LLC, Sealed Air Limited, Sealed Air Luxembourg (I) S.a.r.l., Sealed Air Luxembourg (II) S.a.r.l., Sealed Air Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Sealed Air Management Holding Verwaltungs GmbH, Sealed Air Multiflex GmbH, Sealed Air Netherlands (Holdings) I B.V., Sealed Air Netherlands (Holdings) II B.V., Sealed Air Netherlands (Holdings) II B.V. - Deutsche Zweigniederlassung, Sealed Air Netherlands (Holdings) II B.V. - Deutsche Zweigniederlassung, Sealed Air Netherlands (Holdings) III B.V., Sealed Air Netherlands (Holdings) III B.V., Sealed Air Netherlands Holdings V B.V., Sealed Air Nevada Holdings Limited, Sealed Air Norge AS, Sealed Air OY, Sealed Air Packaging (India) Private Limited, Sealed Air Packaging (Shanghai) Co. Limited, Sealed Air Packaging (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Sealed Air Packaging LLC, Sealed Air Packaging Materials (India) LLP, Sealed Air Packaging Materials (India) LLP, Sealed Air Packaging S.L.U., Sealed Air Paketleme Malzemeleri Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Sealed Air Peru S.A.C., Sealed Air Polska Sp. Zoo, Sealed Air Pty Limited, Sealed Air S.A S., Sealed Air S.A.S., Sealed Air S.r.l., Sealed Air South Africa (Pty.) Ltd., Sealed Air Svenska AB, Sealed Air Taiwan Limited, Sealed Air US Holdings (Thailand) LLC, Sealed Air Uruguay S.A., Sealed Air Venezuela Corporation, Sealed Air Verpackungen GmbH, Sealed Air de Mexico Operations S. de R.L. de C.V., Sealed Air de Venezuela S.A., Sealed Air s.r.o., Shanklin Corp, Shanklin Corporation, Soinpar Industrial Ltda., TART s.r.o., TART s.r.o. Joint Venture, TTS-Ciptec, TXAFP Asia Pacific Ltd., TXAFP GP LLC, TempTrip LLC, Trigon Industries, and Vietnamese Rep Office of Sealed Air Hong Kong Limited.
A three-member bench is to be set up for hearing the matter on a batch of petitions.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court said on Friday that an appropriate bench will on January 10 fix the date of hearing in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land title dispute case. Further orders in the matter will be passed on January 10 by the appropriate bench as may be constituted, said a bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice S.K. Kaul. A three-member bench is to be set up for hearing the matter on a batch of petitions.

The CJI went ahead with passing the order as soon as the matter came up for hearing. Senior advocates Harish Salve and Rajeev Dhavan, who appeared for different parties, did not even get the opportunity to make any submission. The hearing did not even last 30 seconds.

After it passed the order, the bench came across a fresh plea which demanded that the court hear the Ayodhya land dispute matter on an urgent and day-to-day basis. The bench, however, dismissed the PIL filed by advocate Harinath Ram, who submitted that in view of the inordinate delay in the adjudication of the matter and the prevailing sentiments surrounding the Ayodhya dispute, the matter should be given a hearing on priority.

The bench in its order said: Having heard the petitioner, who is appearing in person, and upon perusing the relevant material, we are not inclined to entertain the writ petition. The same is, accordingly, dismissed.

Now, a three-member bench will be set up for taking forward the Ayodhya land dispute case in which as many as 14 appeals were 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  Sunni Waqf Board, Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla.

The Supreme Court had on October 29 fixed the matter for the first week of January before the appropriate bench. Later, an application was moved for according an urgent hearing by advancing the date, but the court had refused the plea, saying it had already passed an order on October 29 on the hearing.

Fridays hearing had assumed importance as Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday suggested that any decision on an ordinance on the Ram temple in Ayodhya could happen only after the completion of the judicial process. Mr Modis remark had come amid heightened demands by Hindutva organisations, including the RSS, for an ordinance for early construction of the temple.
The following companies are subsidiares of TotalEnergies: ALVEA, AS 24, AS24 Belgie N.V., AS24 Espanola S.A., AS24 Fuel Cards Limited, AS24 Lithuanie, AS24 Polska SP ZO.O., AS24 Tankservice GmbH, Adani Green Energy, Aerowatt Energies, Aerowatt Energies 2, Aerowatt Energies Nogara, Aerowatt Energies Nogara 2, Air Total (Suisse) S.A., Air Total International S.A., Albatros, Alcad AB, Altinergie, Angola Block 14 B.V., Antilles Gaz, Argedis, Aristea, Atlantic Trading and Marketing Financial Inc., Atlantic Trading and Marketing Inc., BOU Verwaltungs GmbH, Balzatex S.A.S., Barry Controls Aerospace S.N.C., Bassin Du Capiscol, Bay Junction Inc., Biogaz Breuil, Biogaz Chatillon, Biogaz Corcelles, Biogaz Epinay, Biogaz Libron, Biogaz Milhac, Biogaz Soignolles, Biogaz Torcy, Biogaz Vert Le Grand, Biogaz Viriat, Borrachas Portalegre Ltda, Brass Holdings S.A.R.L., CPE Energies, CSSA - Chartering and Shipping Services S.A., Caldeo, Catelsa-Caceres S.A.U., Centrale Eolienne De Couloumi, Centrale Eolienne De Coume, Centrale Eolienne De Dainville, Centrale Eolienne De Goulien, Centrale Eolienne De L'Olivier, Centrale Eolienne De La Vallee Gentillesse, Centrale Eolienne Des Malandaux, Centrale Eolienne Du Plan Du Pal, Centrale Eolienne La Cote Du Moulin A Vent, Centrale Eolienne La Croix De Cuitot, Centrale Eolienne Les Champs Parents, Centrale Eolienne Varades, Centrale Hydrolique Alas, Centrale Hydrolique Ardon, Centrale Hydrolique Arvan, Centrale Hydrolique Barbaira, Centrale Hydrolique Bonnant, Centrale Hydrolique La Buissiere, Centrale Hydrolique Previnquieres, Centrale Photovoltaique De La Croix, Centrale Photovoltaique Du Seneguier, Centrale Photovoltaique Le Barou, Centrale Solaire 2, Centrale Solaire Autoprod, Centrale Solaire Base 112, Centrale Solaire Betheniville, Centrale Solaire Briffaut, Centrale Solaire Centre Ouest 2, Centrale Solaire Cet De Hesse, Centrale Solaire Chemin De Melette, Centrale Solaire Couloumine, Centrale Solaire De Cazedarnes, Centrale Solaire Dom, Centrale Solaire Du Centre Ouest, Centrale Solaire Du Lavoir, Centrale Solaire Du Pla De La Roque, Centrale Solaire Felix, Centrale Solaire Ficon, Centrale Solaire Forum Laudun, Centrale Solaire Fremy, Centrale Solaire Gardanne, Centrale Solaire Gigognan, Centrale Solaire Guinots, Centrale Solaire Heliovale, Centrale Solaire La Metairie, Centrale Solaire La Potence, Centrale Solaire La Sauteirane, Centrale Solaire La Tastere, Centrale Solaire Le Castellet, Centrale Solaire Le Cres, Centrale Solaire Les Ancizes, Centrale Solaire Les Aspres, Centrale Solaire Les Canebieres, Centrale Solaire Les Cordeliers, Centrale Solaire Les Cordeliers 2, Centrale Solaire Les Galliennes, Centrale Solaire Les Melettes, Centrale Solaire Lodes, Centrale Solaire Lyreco, Centrale Solaire Manosque Ombriere, Centrale Solaire Mazeran Lr, Centrale Solaire Mazeran Paca, Centrale Solaire Ombrieres Cap Agathois, Centrale Solaire Ombrieres De Blyes, Centrale Solaire Ombrieres De Boujan, Centrale Solaire Ombrieres P5, Centrale Solaire Pezenas, Centrale Solaire Piennes, Centrale Solaire Plateau De Pouls, Centrale Solaire Pont Sur Sambre, Centrale Solaire Quadrao, Centrale Solaire SPW2, Centrale Solaire Sableyes, Centrale Solaire Supdevenergie, Centrale Solaire Toiture Josse, Centrale Solaire Valorbi, Centrale Solaire Viguier, Centrale Solaire Zabo, Centrale Solaire Zabo 2, Centrale Solaire de la Med, Charvet La Mure Bianco, Cie Tunisienne du Caoutchouc S.A.R.L., Compagnie Petroliere de l'Ouest - CPO, Composite Industrie Maroc S.A.R.L., Composite Industrie S.A., Cosden LLC, Cray Valley (Guangzhou) Chemical Company Limited, Cray Valley Czech, Cray Valley HSC Asia Limited, Cray Valley Italia S.R.L., Cray Valley S.A., Cristal Marketing Egypt, DAJA 148, DAJA 154, DAJA 160, DCA-MORY-SHIPP, Deer Creek Pipelines Limited, Digital Energy Solutions, Direct Energie, E.F. Oil And Gas Limited, Egedis, Electricite Solaire De Molleges, Elf Aquitaine Fertilisants, Elf Aquitaine Inc., Elf E&P, Elf Exploration UK Limited, Elf Forest Products LLC, Elf Oil UK Aviation Limited, Elf Oil UK Properties Limited, Elf Petroleum Iran, Elf Petroleum UK Limited, Eole Balaze 2, Eole Balaze S.A.R.L., Eole Boin, Eole Broceliande, Eole Champagne Conlinoise, Eole Cote Du Moulin, Eole Desirade 4, Eole Du Bocage, Eole Fonds Caraibes, Eole Grand Maison, Eole La Montagne, Eole La Motelle, Eole La Perriere S.A.R.L., Eole Les Buissons, Eole Les Patoures, Eole Maxent, Eole Morne Carriere, Eole Morne Constant, Eole Moulin Tizon, Eole Petit Fougeray, Eole Petite Place, Eole Pierrefitte Es Bois, Eole Saint-Jean Lachalm, Eole Sorbon II, Eole Sorbon S.A.R.L., Eole Yate, Eoliennes Arques 1, Eoliennes Arques 2, Eoliennes Arques 3, Eoliennes De L'Ourcq Et Du Clignon, Eoliennes De La Chaussee Brunehaut, Eoliennes De La Chaussee Brunehaut 1, Eoliennes De La Chaussee Brunehaut 2, Eoliennes De La Chaussee Brunehaut 3, Eoliennes De La Chaussee Brunehaut 4, Eoliennes De La Chaussee Brunehaut 5, Eoliennes Du Champ Chardon, Espa S.A.R.L., Ethylene Est, Etmofina, FINA Technology Inc., Fast Jung KB, Feluy Immobati, Fina Pipeline Co, Finansol 1, Finansol 2, Finansol 3, Fioulmarket.fr, Fonroche Biogaz, Frieman & Wolf Batterietechnick GmbH, G2MOBILITY, Gapco Kenya Limited, Gapco Tanzania Limited, Gapco Uganda Limited, Gasket (Suzhou) Valve Components Company Limited, Gasket International S.R.L., Glaciere De Palisse, Global Energy Armateur SNC, Global LNG Armateur S.A.S., Global LNG Downstream S.A.S., Global LNG North America Corporation, Global LNG S.A.S., Global LNG Supply S.A., Global LNG UK Limited, Grande Paroisse S.A., Greenflex, Greenflex Actirent Group S.L., Greenflex S.A.S., Guangzhou Elf Lubricants Company Limited, Gulf Africa Petroleum Corporation, HBA Hutchinson Brasil Automotive Ltda, HETTY, Helio 100 Kw, Helio 21, Helio 974 Toitures, Helio Bakia, Helio Beziers, Helio Boulouparis, Helio Boulouparis 2, Helio Florensac, Helio Fonds Caraibes, Helio Koumac, Helio L'R, Helio La Perriere, Helio Logistique, Helio Moindah, Helio Orange, Helio Piin Patch, Helio Popidery, Helio Reunion, Helio Tamoa, Helio Temala, Holding Eole 2018, Holding Otev, Holding Pdr, Hutchinson (UK) Limited, Hutchinson (Wuhan) Automotive Rubber Products Company Limited, Hutchinson Aeronautique & Industrie Limited, Hutchinson Aeroservices S.A.S., Hutchinson Aerospace & Industry Inc., Hutchinson Aerospace GmbH, Hutchinson Aftermarket USA Inc., Hutchinson Antivibration Systems Inc., Hutchinson Automotive Systems Company Limited, Hutchinson Autopartes Mexico S.A. de C.V., Hutchinson Borrachas de Portugal Ltda, Hutchinson Corporation, Hutchinson Do Brasil S.A., Hutchinson Fluid Management Systems Inc., Hutchinson GmbH, Hutchinson Holding GmbH, Hutchinson Holdings UK Limited, Hutchinson Iberia S.A., Hutchinson Industrial Rubber Products (Suzhou) Company Limited, Hutchinson Industrias Del Caucho SAU, Hutchinson Industries Inc., Hutchinson Japan Company Limited, Hutchinson Korea Limited, Hutchinson Maroc S.A.R.L. AU, Hutchinson Poland SP ZO.O., Hutchinson Polymers S.N.C., Hutchinson Porto, Hutchinson Precision Sealing Systems Inc., Hutchinson Research & Innovation Singapore PTE. Limited, Hutchinson Rubber Products Private Limited Inde, Hutchinson S.A., Hutchinson S.N.C., Hutchinson S.R.L. (Italie), Hutchinson S.R.L. (Roumanie), Hutchinson SRO, Hutchinson Sales Corporation, Hutchinson Seal De Mexico S.A. de CV., Hutchinson Sealing Systems Inc., Hutchinson Stop - Choc GmbH & CO. KG, Hutchinson Suisse S.A., Hutchinson Transferencia de Fluidos S.A. de C.V., Hutchinson Tunisie S.A.R.L., Hutchinson Vietnam Company Limited, Hutchinson d.o.o Ruma, Hydro-M Ingenierie Des Energies Renouvelables, Hydromons, Industrias Tecnicas De La Espuma SL, Industrielle Desmarquoy S.N.C., Jehier S.A.S., Jmb Hydro S.A.R.L., Jmb Solar, Jmb Solar Nogara, Jmcp, Joint Precision Rubber, KTN Kunststofftechnik Nobitz GmbH, La Compagnie Electrique de Bretagne, La Seauve, Lampiris S.A., Le Joint Francais S.N.C., Legacy Site Services Funding Inc., Legacy Site Services LLC, Les Eoliennes De Conquereuil, Les Moulins A Vent De Kermadeen, Les Stratifies S.A.S., Les Vents De Nivillac, Les Vents De Ranes, Libcom, Libwatt, Lone Wolf Land Company, Lubricants Vietnam Holding Limited, Machen Land Limited, Maersk Oil, Marathon Oil Libya Limited, Margeriaz Energie, Messigaz SNC, Methanergy, Mide Technology Corporation, Miyagi Osato Solar Park G.K., Nouvelle Entreprise D'Energie Solaire, Novogy Inc., Olutex Oberlausitzer Luftfahrttextilien GmbH, Ombrieres Te Vendres, Omnium Reinsurance Company S.A., PFW Aerospace GmbH, PFW Havacilik Sanayi ve Dis Ticaret Limited Sirtketi, PFW Uk Machining Ltd., Pamargan (Malta) Products Limited, Pamargan Products Limited, Pan Insurance Limited, Parc Des Hauts Vents, Parc Eolien De Nesle La Reposte, Parc Solaire De Servian, Parc Solaire De Servian 2, Paulstra S.N.C., Paulstra Silentbloc S.A., Pitpoint B.V., Pitpoint Cng B.V., Polyblend GmbH, Pos Production Ii, Pos Production Iii, Pos Production Iv, Pos Production V, Produits Petroliers Stela, Quadran Caraibes, Quadran Holding Nc, Quadran Nogara, Quadran Pacific, Quadrelio, Quadrica, Quimica Vasca S.A.U., Resilium, Retia, Retia USA LLC, Roquefort Solar, Saft (Zhuhai FTZ) Batteries Company Limited, Saft (Zhuhai) Energy Storage Co, Saft AB, Saft AS, Saft Acquisition S.A.S., Saft America Inc., Saft Australia PTY Limited, Saft Batterias SL, Saft Batterie Italia S.R.L., Saft Batterien GmbH, Saft Batteries PTY Limited, Saft Batteries Pte Limited, Saft Batterijen B.V., Saft Do Brasil Ltda, Saft Ferak AS, Saft Finance S.A.R.L., Saft Groupe S.A., Saft Hong Kong Limited, Saft India Private Limited, Saft Japan KK, Saft LLC, Saft Limited, Saft Nife ME Limited, Saft S.A.S., Saudi Total Petroleum Products, Savanna Energy Services Corp., Septentrion Participations, Servauto Nederland B.V., SigmaKalon Group B.V., Smalt Energie, Socap S.A.S., Societe Bearnaise De Gestion Industrielle, Societe Civile Immobiliere CB2, Societe Urbaine des Petroles, Societe d'exploitation de l'usine de Rouen, Societe mahoraise de stockage de produits petroliers, Sofax Banque, Solaire Grand Sud, Solaire Libron, Solaire Villon, Solar Energies, Solar Mimizan, Stillman Seal Corporation, Stogg Eagle Funding B.V., Stop-Choc (UK) Limited, SunPower, Synova, TOTAL E&P NORGE AS, TOTAL MAROC, TOTSA Total Oil Trading S.A., Tadiran Batteries GmbH, Tadiran Batteries Limited, Techlam S.A.S., Tenesol SPV 1, Tepkri Sarsang A/S, Termokarstovoye S.A.S., Terneftegaz JSC(a), Thermal Control Systems Automotive Sasu, Thezan Solar, Toitures Capiscol, Total (Africa) Limited, Total (BTC) B.V., Total (Fiji) Limited, Total Abu Al Bu Khoosh, Total Activites Maritimes, Total Additifs et Carburants Speciaux, Total Africa S.A., Total American Services Inc., Total Atlantic Trading Mexico SA De CV, Total Austral, Total Aviation & Export Limited, Total Belgium, Total Bitumen Deutschland GmbH, Total Bitumen UK Limited, Total Botswana (PTY) Limited, Total Brasil Diesel Comercio e Transportes Ltda, Total Brasil Distribuidora Ltda, Total Brazil Services B.V., Total Burkina, Total Cambodge, Total Cameroun, Total Capital, Total Capital Canada Limited, Total Capital International, Total Caraibes, Total Carbon Neutrality Ventures Europe, Total Carbon Neutrality Ventures International, Total Ceska Republika S.R.O., Total China Investment Company Limited, Total Congo, Total Consulting, Total Corporate Management (Beijing) Company Limited, Total Corse, Total Cote D'Ivoire, Total Country Services Belgium, Total Danmark Pipelines A/S, Total Delaware Inc., Total Denmark A/S, Total Denmark ASW Inc., Total Denmark ASW Pipeline ApS, Total Deutschland GmbH(e), Total Developpement Regional S.A.S., Total Direct Energie Belgium, Total Direct Energie Centrale Electrique Bayet, Total Direct Energie Centrale Electrique Marchienne au Pont, Total Direct Energie Centrale Electrique de Toul, Total Direct Energie Concessions, Total Direct Energie Generation, Total Direct Energie Hambregie, Total Direct Energie S.A., Total Direct Energie Services, Total Direct Energie Yfregie, Total Direct Energies Centrale Electrique de Pont Sur Sambres, Total Dolphin Midstream, Total Downstream UK PLC, Total E&P Absheron B.V., Total E&P Al Shaheen A/S, Total E&P Algerie, Total E&P Algerie Berkine A/S, Total E&P Americas LLC, Total E&P Anchor LLC, Total E&P Angola, Total E&P Angola Block 15/06 Limited, Total E&P Angola Block 16 A/S, Total E&P Angola Block 16 Holding A/S, Total E&P Angola Block 17.06, Total E&P Angola Block 25, Total E&P Angola Block 32, Total E&P Angola Block 33, Total E&P Angola Block 39, Total E&P Angola Block 40, Total E&P Angola Block 48 B.V., Total E&P Angola Chissonga Holdings Limited, Total E&P Aruba B.V., Total E&P Asia Pacific Pte. Limited, Total E&P Australia, Total E&P Australia Exploration PTY Limited, Total E&P Australia II, Total E&P Australia III, Total E&P Azerbaijan B.V., Total E&P Barnett Usa (75), Total E&P Bolivie, Total E&P Borneo B.V., Total E&P Bulgaria B.V., Total E&P Cambodge, Total E&P Canada Limited, Total E&P Chine, Total E&P Chissonga Limited, Total E&P Colombie, Total E&P Congo, Total E&P Cote d'Ivoire, Total E&P Cote d'Ivoire CI - 514, Total E&P Cote d'Ivoire CI - 515, Total E&P Cote d'Ivoire CI - 516, Total E&P Cote d'Ivoire CI-605 B.V., Total E&P Cyprus B.V., Total E&P Danmark A/S - CPH, Total E&P Danmark A/S -EBJ, Total E&P Deep Offshore Borneo B.V., Total E&P Do Brasil Ltda, Total E&P Dolphin Upstream, Total E&P Dunga GmbH, Total E&P East El Burullus Offshore B.V., Total E&P Egypt Block 2 B.V., Total E&P Egypte, Total E&P Europe and Central Asia Limited, Total E&P France, Total E&P Golfe Limited, Total E&P Gom Moh. LLC, Total E&P Greece B.V., Total E&P Guyana B.V., Total E&P Guyane Francaise, Total E&P Holding Ichthys, Total E&P Holdings Australia PTY Limited, Total E&P Holdings Russia, Total E&P Holdings UAE B.V., Total E&P Ichthys B.V., Total E&P Indonesia Mentawai B.V., Total E&P Indonesie, Total E&P International K1 Limited, Total E&P International K2 Limited, Total E&P International K3 Limited, Total E&P International Limited, Total E&P Iraq, Total E&P Ireland B.V., Total E&P Italia, Total E&P Jack LLC, Total E&P Jutland Denmark B.V., Total E&P Kazakhstan, Total E&P Kenya B.V., Total E&P Kurdistan Region of Iraq (Harir) B.V., Total E&P Kurdistan Region of Iraq (Safen) B.V., Total E&P Kurdistan Region of Iraq (Taza) B.V., Total E&P Kurdistan Region of Iraq B.V., Total E&P Liban S.A.L., Total E&P Libye, Total E&P Lower Zakum B.V., Total E&P Malaysia, Total E&P Mauritania Block C18 B.V., Total E&P Mauritania Block C9 B.V., Total E&P Mauritania Blocks DW B.V., Total E&P Mauritanie, Total E&P Mauritius Holding Limited, Total E&P Mexico S.A. de C.V., Total E&P Mozambique Area 1 Limitada, Total E&P Mozambique B.V., Total E&P Myanmar, Total E&P Namibia B.V., Total E&P Nederland B.V., Total E&P New Ventures Inc., Total E&P Nigeria Deepwater A Limited, Total E&P Nigeria Deepwater B Limited, Total E&P Nigeria Deepwater C Limited, Total E&P Nigeria Deepwater D Limited, Total E&P Nigeria Deepwater E Limited, Total E&P Nigeria Deepwater F Limited, Total E&P Nigeria Deepwater G Limited, Total E&P Nigeria Deepwater H Limited, Total E&P Nigeria Limited, Total E&P Nigeria S.A.S., Total E&P North Sea UK Limited, Total E&P Oman, Total E&P Oman Dev. 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American Midstream Partners, LP provides midstream infrastructure that links the producers of natural gas, crude oil, natural gas liquids (NGLs), condensate, and specialty chemicals to various intermediate and end-use markets in the United States and Mexico. Its Gas Gathering and Processing Services segment offers services to producers of natural gas and crude oil, including transporting raw natural gas and crude oil from various receipt points through gathering systems, treating the raw natural gas, processing raw natural gas to separate the NGLs from the natural gas, fractionating NGLs, and selling or delivering pipeline-quality natural gas and NGLs. The company's Liquid Pipelines and Services segment transports, purchases, and sells crude oil. Its Natural Gas Transportation Services segment transports and delivers natural gas from producing wells, receipt points, or pipeline interconnects for shippers, local distribution companies, and utilities, as well as industrial, commercial, and power generation customers. The company's Offshore Pipelines and Services segment gathers and transports natural gas from receipt points to other pipeline interconnects, onshore facilities, and other delivery points. Its Terminalling Services segment provides petroleum products, distillates, chemicals, and agricultural products storage services at its marine terminals for commodity brokers, refiners, and chemical manufacturers. As of May 10, 2018, the company owned approximately 5,100 miles of interstate and intrastate pipelines; gas processing plants and fractionation facilities; an offshore semisubmersible floating production system with nameplate processing capacity of 90 thousand barrels per day of crude oil and 220 million cubic feet per day of natural gas; and terminal sites with approximately 6.7 million barrels of storage capacity. American Midstream GP, LLC serves as the general partner of the company. The company was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

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12 hours ago

| June 14th | 2021 7:00 AM

Why Your Retirement Calculator Might Not Tell the Whole Story

I got to thinking about the retirement calculators that automatically pop up when I check my retirement account balances. In my case, I always get a message that says, "You are XX% on track toward your retirement goals." When you check out an online calculator, you can use them, but remember that a retirement calculator could miss the boat
Stepping up his attack on the Modi government over the Rafale deal issue, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday urged all Indians to ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ministers the questions he posed in Parliament on the fighter jet agreement with France.

"RM (Raksha Marti) spoke for 2 hrs in Parliament, but she couldn't answer the 2 simple questions I asked her," Gandhi tweeted.

He also posted a video of the two questions he posed to the defence minister in Parliament.

Gandhi had asked who gave the offset contract to Anil Ambani and whether the defence ministry officials had raised an objection when the prime minister carried out a "bypass surgery" for the deal.

He had asked Sitharaman to reply in a yes or no.

Posting the video on his Twitter account, Gandhi said: "Watch & SHARE this video. Let every Indian ask the PM & his Ministers these questions."

With his tweet, Gandhi used the hashtag "2SawalDoJawab".

The Congress has alleged irregularities in the deal for 36 aircraft and claimed that the Narendra Modi government is buying them at a price much higher than the one that was being negotiated by the previous government. The party has also been accusing the government of favouring Anil Ambani's firm in the deal.

However, the government, as well as Ambani, have rejected all the allegations.
An Uncivil Woman

Author : Rakhshanda Jalil

Publisher : OUP India, Rs 550

This book offers critical insights into the works of Ismat Chughtai and discusses the position of the controversial author vis-a-vis the Progressive Writers Association, writes KALYANEE RAJAN

Ismat Chughtai (1911-1991) was a fearless and trailblazing stalwart of Urdu fiction, unequivocally one of the four pillars of modern Urdu short story, the others being Manto, Krishan Chander and Rajinder Singh Bedi. She was a little above eighty at the time of her death, having led a largely uninhibited life, could be safely termed a rebel since her birth, made unconventional choices whether in terms of life or career and made it her explicit agenda to expose the hypocrisies peppering the lives of the contemporary middle class Indian society, Muslim households in particular because she lived in one and saw the chinks ever so closely from that vantage point.

Rakhshanda Jalils An Uncivil Woman: Writings on Ismat Chughtai is a valuable addition to the corpus of critical and wholesome appraisals of Chughtais life and times, her works and their tremendous impact on posterity. Noted Chughtai critic Tahira Naqvis blurb is worth quoting: Ismat Chughtai, (is) the Grand Doyenne of Urdu fiction, the woman who married a film director, who wrote screenplays and made films, who cooked up a storm for friends and family with the same gusto as she wrote bold, uninhibited and memorable fiction Jalil acknowledges the apt title of the instant volume being used from an earlier essay of Geeta Patel titled Ismat Chughtai: An Uncivil Woman published in the Annual of Urdu Studies, Chicago-Wisconsin Volume 16, 2001. Apart from a brief and general introduction to Chughtai by Jalil, the volume comprises of fourteen selections wherein four essays are written in English, eight translated pieces are from Urdu to English and two interviews with Chughtai have been reproduced.

In the introduction, Jalil lays bare the extent of Chughtais formidable oeuvre: Five collections of short stories, seven novels, three novellas, several sketches, plays, reportage and radio plays, stories-dialogues-scenarios for the many films produced by her husband Shahid Latif and others. It must be noted that in her lifetime, Ismat gave several fearless interviews, wrote several pieces of non-fiction, faced obscenity charges alongside fellow writer Saadat Hasan Manto, and in the face of all odds, remained an intensely socially-engaged, politically aware writer throughout who ostensibly seemed to be writing about women but in fact delved with clinical precision into women and their engagement with everything else around them in several reciprocal ways. Jalil underlines the fact that Chughtais rather tempestuous and explosive persona overshadowed her literary merit to a remarkable extent. Anyone familiar with the scope of her entire literary oeuvre will note with dismay how Chughtais entire career continues to be identified with the frivolous controversy surrounding Lihaaf, the obscenity charges and the court proceedings thereafter: The wide anthologisation of only Lihaaf and its veritable canonisation by inclusion in university syllabi being a strong example.

The four English critical essays are by Geeta Patel, Tahira Naqvi, Fatima Rizvi and Syeda S Hameed. Disorderly Discernments by Geeta Patel, also the longest piece in this volume, runs into a whopping fifty pages where she ostensibly seeks to unpack the several vital layers in Chughtais lesser known short story Ek Shohar Ki Khatir and theorises on various vertices of Chughtais critical engagements including gender, genre, ideology, Zenana fiction and biofiction, excavating Chughtais following of mentor and precursor Rashid Jahan, most significantly unpacking the (convoluted ideological) apparatus that has gone into Chughtais construction of the story.

The next essay by Tahira Naqvi discusses another crucial aspect of critical analysis as one approaches Chughtais works  that of translation. In an essay titled Looking for Chughtai: Journeys in Reading and Translation, Naqvi reminds us that Chughtai was an unselfconscious feminist, who nevertheless took an audacious and strident approach to life and to writing. Naqvi has translated most of Chughtais works into English and therefore shares crucial insights into the hallmarks of Chughtais writing which at the same time proved immensely difficult to translate, the unique begumatizaban for instance, used by middle class women and begums of the Urdu-speaking households. In ten crisp pages of her fascinating essay Naqvi brings alive the enormous difficulties she faced while conveying Ismat in intent and form from Urdu to English.

Fatima Rizvis incisive essay titled Gender, Modernity, and Nationalist Sensibility in Tedhi Lakeer investigates Chughtais quasi-autobiographical novel Tedhi Lakeer (1945) or The Crooked line through the extremely pertinent concerns of Gender and modernity. Rizvi posits the importance of the novel in projecting the intellectual history of progressive ideals taking root in the Indian subcontinent in particular, with respect to major spheres of human occupation such as education, politics, nation and nationhood, religion, psychology and so on.

This volume also reproduces voices of Chughtais contemporaries. Like Qurratulain Hyder in Lady Changez Khan, Faiz Ahmad Faizs The Sex Appeal of Ismat Chughtais Language, Krishan Chanders exposition of the elusiveness of the ordinary, Upendranath Ashks The Dozakhi Ismat Chughtai to name of few, all translated from Urdu to English. The two highly entertaining, perceptive and no-holds-barred interviews of Chughtai included in this volume are by Carlo Coppola and Asif Aslam Farrukhi. Chughtais persona and unconventional views emerge vividly and in all their glory: For instance while speaking to Farrukhi, she doesnt bat an eyelid while placing Khwaja Ahmad Abbas in the league of herself, Manto, Chander and Bedi, saying, I dont measure people by the length and breadth of their writing. If somebody has written one good story, I believe in himwhatever (Abbas) has written is of a high standard.

Talking about Lihaaf she proclaims unequivocally, (Never) have I written anything pornographic.The real dirt is in their minds. Jalils An Uncivil Woman presents a carefully curated set of pieces ostensibly to rectify the relatively small space she accorded to Chughtai in her earlier work on the Progressive Writers Association. The essays herein seek to reveal both the staunch ideologue and the thoroughly rebellious persona of Chughtai which defied all labels through a rare combination of utter simplicity, and a searing, nuanced exploration of the other half of humanity.

The reviewer teaches English Literature at a Delhi University college
To meet its financial requirements, the State government has sought a loan of Rs200 crore from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The apex bank would float stocks to finance the amount of the loan. The loan, period of which is ten years is being sought to finance development schemes, such as those relating to power, agriculture, irrigation and industries for economic growth of the state. The secretary finance, Amit Singh Negi said that the stocks would be sold through RBI and the successful bidders will be required to make payment on January 9, 2019.

The position of debt of the state is not healthy considering the fact that total debt on March 31, 2017 was Rs35209.59 crores. The state owes a sum of Rs10212.85 crore to the national small saving fund of Government of India and Rs3509.14 crore to NABARD. Apart from it, a debt of Rs20832.29 crore is in form of state development loans. Against this debt, the balance at the credit of the Uttarakhand consolidated sinking fund on March 31, 2017 was Rs2313.5855 Crores.
Uttar Pradeshs deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya has on Saturday assured only a Ram temple would come up at Ram Lalas birthplace.

Maurya, who was in Madhya Pradesh to extend invitation to the public for Kumbh Mela, was replying to a query on seers and several BJP leaders, including Uma Bharti, ruing the delay in construction of Ram temple.

He said, I wish to assure everyone that not a single brick in the name of Babur would be kept at Ayodhya and only a Ram temple would come up at Ramlalas birthplace.

He further said the BJP government is waiting for the Supreme Court verdict in the title dispute case, which he said would hopefully be in favour of the Ram Temple. If the verdict is not favourable, the government would bring an ordinance, the deputy CM said.

The senior politician however clarified that nothing would be done on ordinance till the matter is sub-judice. He also urged his Congress colleagues not to impede legal proceedings over construction of Ram temple.

The Narendra Modi government at the Centre has come under increasing pressure from Hindutva outfits, including BJPs ideological mentor RSS, to build the temple in this term. The PM, in an interview given to news agency ANI, had also said that a decision on an ordinance will be taken after the SC verdict.

Asked whether he extended Kumbh invitation to Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, a smilingly Maurya said that as he has invited MP chief minister Kamal Nath. So needless to say, we are inviting one and all.

Questioned on verification of saints as there has been much tussle among the seers, Maurya said they are leaving it to the saints community to settle disputes internally.

People from 192 countries are expected to take part in Kumbh, which starts from January 15. We are making all efforts to ensure safe and comfortable Kumbh for the visitors, he added.
CM pays tribute to Digvijays sister

Bhopal: Chief Minister Kamal Nath reached the residence of Late Lalit Kumari Rishi, elder sister of former Chief Minister Digvijay Singh at Nivesh Nagar and paid tributes to the departed soul. He expressed deep condolences over her demise and consoled the family members. Late Lalit Kumari Rishi passed away yesterday in Bhopal.

Temporary jails during Vidhan Sabha session

Bhopal: The Old Jail Premises and BHEL Dussehra Ground, Bhopal have been declared temporary jails during the Vidhan Sabha session. State government has declared these two places as temporary jails during the period from January 7 to 11, 2019 under provision of Jail Prisons Act.

Lakhan Singh Ghanghoria takes charge

Bhopal: Social Justice, Disabled Welfare and Scheduled Caste Welfare Minister Lakhan Singh Ghanghoria today took charge at the Mantralaya. After assuming charge at Room no; 535 in Vallabh Bhawan, Ghanghoria held a discussion with the media and sought information about the departmental activities from the officials. Principal Secretary Scheduled Caste Welfare Ajit Kesari, Principal Secretary Social Justice and Disabled Welfare Ashok Shah and other officers were present.

Pradeep Jaiswal assumes charge at MPMC

Bhopal: Minister for Mineral Resources Pradeep Jaiswal assumed charge of Chairman Madhya Pradesh Mining Corporation on Saturday. Jaiswal extended New Years good wishes to all the Officers-Employees and told them to enhance revenue of the Corporation with their coordinated work and efforts.

Jaiswal gathered information about the activities of the Corporation from the Managing Director and Principal Secretary, Mineral Resources Neeraj Mandloi, Secretary Narendra Singh Parmar. Director Vineet Kumar Austin and other Officers were present on the occasion.

Min orders to withdraw false power cases

Bhopal: Minister for Energy Priyavrat Singh has informed that directives to initiate necessary action to withdraw false electricity cases related to agriculture and domestic consumers have been given to Managing Directors of Power Distribution Companies. Companies have been told to review and withdraw pending court cases after identifying false cases registered under various sections of Electricity Act-2003 against agriculture and domestic connections at their own level. Besides, they have been told to inform Energy Department with action in this regard.
Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Pradyuman Singh Tomar conducted surprise inspection of Prathmik Upbhokta Bhandars of Bhopal City on Saturday. On finding irregularities, he instructed officers to suspend license and to hold an enquiry into items, found of inferior quality at the shop.

Tomar said that no irregularities will be tolerated at all as ration is being supplied to poor from the ration shops. Tomar conducted surprise inspection of Nagina Mahila Prathmik Sahkari Upbhokta Bhandar situated in Bhim Nagar, Ward no. 31 of Bhopal city. Tomar got the shop opened in his presence as it was found closed during the inspection. A complaint about distribution of inferior quality wheat and rice had been lodged by local residents. Even stock register was not maintained by the shop owner. On complaint from local residents about thumb impression not being recorded on machine, Tomar gave instructions for sampling of items available at the shop and action against shop operator.

Tomar also conducted surprise inspection of Mahila Prathmik Sahkari Upbhokta Bhandar of ward no; 23. Here again, he received complaint about distribution of inferior quality items and shop not being opened on time. Instructions for action against both the shop operators were given by him to the Food Controller Jyoti Shah Narvariya.

The Minister mentioned that officers of the Food Department should conduct surprise inspection of Upbhokta Bhandars in all the districts of the state and ensure stringent action on finding irregularities. He further stated that action against concerned officer will also be taken if negligence is found in ration distribution. He gave instructions to change timings of ration shops in Bhopal from 8 am in place of 9 am.
Addressing a public meeting here on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi came down heavily on the Congress.

He said after the Congress formed a coalition Government in Madhya Pradesh, the first thing it did was targeting the singing of Vande Mataram in the State Assembly. Congressmen also cannot tolerate him (ModI) saying Bharat Mata Ki Jai. The second thing it did was it was trying to stop the pension of those who were jailed during the Emergency. But the Bharatiya Janata Party would oppose these moves.

The Prime Minister said the Congress has found itself in a soup in the VVIP helicopter deal. The alleged middleman in the Augusta Westland helicopter deal, Christian James Michel, has been extradited to India. From newspaper reports, it has been ascertained that a letter of the concerned middlemen has exposed that he had access to the top leaders of the Congress and rubbing shoulders with them. He even had more information than the Prime Minister of India regarding the countrys defence matters and was passing on information about the Cabinet Committee of Securitys proceedings to his contacts in foreign countries. From 2004 to 2014, a conspiracy was hatched by the Congress to weaken the defence forces.

But after coming to power, the BJP Government has tried to strengthen the defence forces, the PM said.

He alleged that the Congress is endangering the security of the nation. But nobody would be spared. All those involved would be brought to book. Pointing out at the Rafale deal, he said the Congress is using Parliament for entertainment.

Modi said his Government is working for the empowerment and development of women in the country. His Government has opened the doors for women in Army, Navy and Air Force. To ensure the safety of women, his Government has brought a law which awards death penalty to those found guilty of rape of minor girls.

He added a woman, who is the Defence Minister of the country on Friday exposed the Congress lies about the Rafale deal in the Parliament. But the Congress wants to remove the Chowkidar.
Bofors sank Congress, Rafale will help Modi win, says Nirmala Sitharaman.

The defence minister alleged that Congress is misleading the country stating that the NDA government reduced 126 Rafale jets to 36. (Photo: Video Screengrab)

New Delhi: Accusations and counter-accusations flew thick and fast in the Lok Sabha on Friday as a belligerent and emotional defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman gave a point-by-point rebuttal to Opposition charges on the Rafale jet deal and equally combative Congress members, specially its president Rahul Gandhi, stuck to their guns and kept interjecting with more questions.

Accusing the Congress of spreading falsehood on the issue and attempting to tarnish the image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the defence minister said while the Bofors scam sank the Congress, Rafale would bring PM Modi back to power.

Seeking to turn the tables on the Congress over the French fighter jet deal, Ms Sitharaman claimed that the partys government never intended to purchase the fighter jets till something else was done. You stopped the deal, forgetting the Air Force was suffering. The deal didnt get you money, she said.

Outside the House, Mr Gandhi said if his party comes to power in 2019, a criminal investigation will be launched into the Rafale deal and those found guilty will be punished.

It was a heated debate in the Lower House as both sides left no stone unturned to dominate. Senior leaders Jyotiradiya Scindia and Mallikarjun Kharge led the Congress side while railway minister Piyush Goyal and finance minister Arun Jaitley were seen egging on the defence minister.

The treasury benches also replied to Mr Gandhi by using his language of abbreviations. Taking a swipe at the Congress over its allegation that the government helped Anil Ambani  whom the Congress chief had referred as AA during the debate  by making his company the offset partner of the Rafale deal, the defence minister reminded the Opposition party of Bofors scam and said, For every AA (Anil Ambani) there is a Q (Quattrocchi) and RV (Robert Vadra).

Q was a reference to Ottavio Quattrocci, an Italian businessman accused of acting as middleman in the Bofors scandal, and RV was meant to target Congress over the allegedly dubious land deals of Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of Sonia Gandhi.

Ms Sitharaman said, Abbreviations for a joke can be easy for anybody... its a double-edged sword, it can come back, said the minister. She added that RV was not the damad (son-in-law) of the PM but that of the country.

While highlighting the need for national security, the defence minister hit out at the Congress saying, There is a difference between defence deal and dealing in defence. We deal with national security as a priority.

Towards the end of her over two hour reply in the House, there was high drama as the defence minister got emotional and accused the Congress of trying to tarnish the image of the Prime Minister and herself.

Nobody has a right to call me or the Prime Minister a thief and a liar, said a visibly angry Ms Sitharaman.

Her emotional outburst came after Mr Gandhi while seeking clarifications on her reply said that he was not accusing her but the Prime Minister who had allegedly carried out a bypass surgery to finalise the deal. I do not have any proof of your wrong-doing. You have done nothing other than defending a lie, he said.

Evading a direct reply to this, Ms Sitharaman accused the Congress of trying to malign the image of the Prime Minister and leaders like her who come from ordinary families and have no khandan (family name) to show off.

As Speaker Sumitra Mahajan refused to let Mr Gandhi speak again after this, the Congress president addressed the media outside the House and said that the defence minister had not replied to his questions but had done drama and run away without giving a reply.

Let me tell you that if we come to power in 2019, then there will be (an) investigation (into the Rafale deal). There will be a criminal investigation and the people responsible will be punished, Mr Gandhi told reporters.

The defence minister had begun her speech by claiming that the Congress was making Rafale an issue as some middlemen were not able to make money.

Targeting the Congress president, who had himself led a scathing attack on the Prime Minister over Rafale while opening the debate for his party, Ms Sitharaman countered his claim that a French leader had told him that there is no secrecy clause in the deal. She asked Mr Gandhi to authenticate his claim on the floor of the House.

She accused the Congress of spreading falsehoods on the Rafale deal and said the party had compromised with national security by not finalising the deal when in power despite Indias volatile neighbourhood.

The defence ministry has been functioning without dalals (middlemen) during five years of (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi. Rafale is a decision in national interest. She said that it was the IAF suggested that the government buy two squadrons or 36 Rafale jets in fly-away condition instead of 18, as was planned to be purchased under the Congress-led UPA government, she said.

Ms Sitharaman said that under the deal finalised by the NDA government, the delivery of first Rafale aircraft will happen in 2019, while the last of 36 jets will arrive in 2022.

On pricing difference, Ms Sitharaman said there was no formal price noting by the Congress of `526 crore as the deal price. But the price negotiated by the NDA government is nine per cent lower than what was negotiated by the UPA.

Comparing the cost of `526 crore with `1,600 crore, is like comparing apples to oranges. The cost quoted in 2007, will it remain the same in 2016, because there is escalation cost and there is exchange rate variation. The price of the basic aircraft cannot be compared with price of weaponised aircraft, the minister said.

She also accused the Congress of shedding crocodile tears on HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) not getting the offset contract from Dassault Aviation, the maker of Rafale jets.

The minister said the Congress government did nothing to scale up the capacity of the state-run firm while the BJP-led NDA has given `1 lakh crore worth of contracts to HAL.

On the ADAG group getting the offset contract, she said the company obtained 53 waivers and concessions during the Congress-led UPA regime.
In the Swami Vivekananda Library, in the year 2018 Bhopal's Literature Group 'Club Literati' was reiterated in the Swami Vivekananda Library and, in the year 2018, highlighted the legacy of the departed writers and organized the 'desired impression of 2018'.

The students of MLB College, Ridah and Zainab have written the late writer VS. The Club members discussed the literary headlines of 2018 and shared their experiences and thoughts.

Gyanpeeth Award Recipients, Amitav Ghosh, Golden Man Booker Award winner Michael Ondtaje, Late Gopal Das Neeraj, Michelle Obama and many others were brought to the discussion.

The programme started with the president of the club, Prof. Seema Raijada did and other members of the club, Dr. Asma Rizwan, Prof. Rakhi Srivastav, Rajni Pandey, Dr. Nilkamal Kapoor, Anita Das, Neha Shrivastav, Vikas Singh, Kamalini Deb and others discussed these books and writers last year. This program was conducted by MLB student Debesh Rao. Dipti Yadav coordinated the event and thanked the offer. In the first meeting of the year, literary lovers celebrate last year's literary achievements and history.

All the literature lovers were present on the ocassion. Swami Vivekananda Library and 'Club Literati' from time to time, want to further strengthen their habit of reading awareness among the people in these discussions by organizing such discussions in Bhopal for the literature lovers.
State BJP Spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo, on Saturday, said that the foundation stone of Mandal Dam on Saturday laid down by Prime Minister is a big deal for Bihar and Jharkhand and added that Mandal Dam will help in improving the economic condition of the farmers of this entire area.

Applauding the work of the Central Government Shahdeo said, The PM said that the farmers loan waiver can benefit them for one year with a loan waiver. But, Rs 90,000 crore spent on the irrigation schemes, generation by generation will be benefitting the farmers by these schemes.

Criticising the Congress Party Shahdeo said, During the Congress rule, the budget of the Mandal Dam scheme was just 30 crore, which has now increased to trillions. It is a matter of criminal conspiracy against the farmers by Congress. In Jharkhand, Modi is ahead of Rahul Gandhi with a score of 8-0. The difference between Congress and Rahul Gandhis attachment to Jharkhand is that it is demonstrated that Rahul Gandhi has not visited Jharkhand even once after the last general elections.
Four people, including three teenagers, have been charged by police following an assault that left a man in hospital.

The 30-year-old man was injured during the attack in Hillside Drive, Blackridge, West Lothian, on Monday.

He was taken to Wishaw General Hospital for treatment to the non-life-threatening injuries.

Police Scotland said four males  aged 35, 15 and two aged 16  have been arrested and charged following the incident.

They were scheduled to appear at Livingston Sheriff Court.

The force said it has been carrying out high-visibility patrols in the area to reassure the local community.
A student who died in a hiking accident on New Years Day has been identified as a 21-year-old German woman.

The Bristol University student was climbing with three others on Ben Nevis when she plunged to her death on January 1.

They had been hiking on what is known as the ledge route when she fell around 500ft. The others were later airlifted from the mountain, Britains highest peak.

Sergeant Michael Bell from Police Scotland said: Our thoughts are with the womans friends and family at this tragic time.

There are no suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal in due course.

Bristol University said the death would be felt deeply by students and staff.
Disgraced MP Fiona Onasanya has been booted out of the Labour Party after being convicted of perverting the course of justice by lying to police to avoid a speeding charge.

The Peterborough MP, who faces a possible prison sentence, had already been suspended and urged to stand down by the party after being found guilty at the Old Bailey in December.

Labour confirmed on Friday that she had been expelled before Christmas, after party chairman Ian Lavery told her local paper, the Peterborough Telegraph, that it would run a candidate in any by-election.

She took the hyper-marginal seat with a majority of just 607 from Tory Stewart Jackson at the 2017 election just 18 months ago.

Parliamentary rules require the removal of an MP who is jailed for 12 months or more.

But if the sentence is less than that a recall petition can force a by-election if it is signed by more than 10% of the electorate in the Cambridgeshire seat.

Mr Lavery told the Peterborough Telegraph that Fiona isnt a member of the Labour Party, she isnt a Labour MP and repeated the partys call for her to resign her seat.

He added: We would be raring to go for a by-election. Were up for it.

The people in Peterborough want a Labour MP  they voted for a Labour MP the last time and Im absolutely confident from what we have to offer we would win a by-election in the very near future if one was to be held.

Onasanya, a 35-year-old solicitor, was convicted after a retrial of colluding with her brother Festus after her car was clocked going 41mph in a 30mph zone in the village of Thorney near Peterborough in July 2017.

Labour expelled Fiona Onasanya before Christmas and has called on her to step down as an MP (Chris Radburn/PA)

The court was told that she was sent a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) to fill out, but it was sent back naming the guilty driver as Aleks Antipow, an acquaintance of her brother Festus, who was away visiting his parents in Russia.

Festus pleaded guilty to three counts of perverting the course of justice over speeding, including over the July 24 incident.

In a festive season column in the Peterborough Telegraph, Onasanya indicated she would continue as an MP.

Making no mention of her conviction, she said constituents should rest assured that she would remain their representative fighting injustice in the corridors of power.
Police have conceded they have no idea about the whereabouts of fugitive Jack Shepherd, who disappeared part way through his Old Bailey trial over the death of his date Charlotte Brown.

The web designer has been at large ever since being convicted in his absence of manslaughter by gross negligence in July last year.

Detectives say Shepherd may be using secret bank accounts belonging to friends or relatives in order to finance his life on the run, but admit he could be anywhere in the world.

Shepherd was sentenced to six years in jail after being found culpable over the death of the 24-year-old, known as Charli.

Ms Brown died when Shepherd handed her the controls of his shabby speed boat  she subsequently struck a submerged log which tipped the boat into the icy waters of the Thames in December 2015.

The Metropolitan Police said there was no tangible trace of Shepherd since he last appeared in court, despite him subsequently contacting his lawyers to appeal the conviction.

Detective Chief Inspector Mick Norman said: There have been a number of rumours that he is being harboured abroad by friends but we have no evidence this is the case.

There has been no movement on his bank accounts or phone. However, this is only in respect of the accounts we are aware of. He may well be using the accounts of friends or associates to evade arrest and extradition.

The Met continue to work closely with the Crown Prosecution Service and also the National Crime Agency to track, trace and arrest Shepherd wherever he is in the world.

Mr Norman joined the victims family in reiterating calls for those harbouring or assisting the fugitive to come forward.

Charlotte Brown died in December 2015 (Metropolitan Police/PA)

He said: We need the continued assistance of the public.

We would also appeal to Mr Shepherds friends and associates who may be assisting him through a misplaced sense of loyalty to do the right thing and share any information they have with the police.

Shepherds passport was not seized by the police or the court, as he was on court bail and fully complying with court bail conditions up to the time of the trial when he failed to appear.

The Old Bailey heard how Shepherd had bought the 14ft Fletcher Arrowflyte GTO from Gumtree to pull women.

In the months before Ms Browns death, he had entertained up to 10 women on the 1980s model, having invited them back to his houseboat.

During that time, he had been caught speeding by marine police more than once and advised on the importance of wearing life jackets.

Anyone with information about Shepherds whereabouts is asked to call police on 020 8721 4005 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Vincent Kompany defended his controversial tackle on Mohamed Salah in Manchester Citys 2-1 victory over Liverpool by describing it as a great challenge.

Kompany escaped with a caution in the Premier League clash at the Etihad after connecting with Mohamed Salah shin-high as the Egypt international tried to jump out of the way.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp felt referee Anthony Taylor had made the wrong call by issuing only a caution, but Citys captain insisted his intent was purely to win the ball.

Vincent Kompany thought his challenge was acceptable (Martin Rickett/PA)

I thought it was a great challenge. Was it not? All right, Kompany told Sky Sports.

On the pitch I felt I got the ball, a bit of the man, but it wasnt naughty. I didnt try to injure him, thats for sure.

Lucky not to see red there @VincentKompany  Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) January 3, 2019

It was that or let him go through on goal and the decision was made very quickly in my head.

Klopp questioned whether referees needed to see blood or an open wound before issuing a red card.

Jurgen Klopp was not happy with the challenge (Martin Rickett/PA)

I like him (Kompany), he is such a fantastic player but situations like this happen: a player makes a decision, goes on the ground and makes a sliding tackle and takes the risk, said Klopp, who first spoke about needing blood after the treatment Salah received in Saturdays win over Arsenal.

If Mo is on his feet  not in the moment when he jumps over him  we talk differently (about the outcome).

Vincent lucky to stay on   Ian Wright (@IanWright0) January 3, 2019

Thats why I said last time (after the Arsenal match) Do we need blood? Do we need an open something (wound).

If Mo can go through (on goal) what happens then? I dont blame anyone but in a situation like that make a decision.
Parents should avoid letting their children use mobile phones, tablets or computers an hour before bedtime and agree screen time limits, according to new official guidance.

Experts say that looking at screens such as phones, tablets or computers in the hour before bed can disrupt sleep and impact childrens health and wellbeing.

Meanwhile, spending long periods on the gadgets is associated with unhealthy eating and a lack of exercise.

Issuing the first official guidelines on screen time, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health recommended time limits and a curfew, but said parents need not worry that using the devices is harmful in itself.

Parents are often told that gadgets can pose a risk to their children, but they can in fact be a valuable tool for children to explore the world, the college said.

Nevertheless, screen time should not replace healthy activities such as exercising, sleeping and spending time with family.

Doctors recommend screens are not used in the hour before bedtime (PA file)

The college has drawn up four questions to help parents judge if their children are using screens in a healthy way:

 Is your familys screen time under control?

 Does screen use interfere with what your family want to do?

 Does screen use interfere with sleep?

 Are you able to control snacking during screen time?

Dr Max Davie, the colleges officer for health promotion, said: When it comes to screen time I think it is important to encourage parents to do what is right by their family.

However, we know this is a grey area and parents want support and thats why we have produced this guide.

We suggest that age-appropriate boundaries are established, negotiated by parent and child that everyone in the family understands.

When these boundaries are not respected, consequences need to be put in place.

It is also important that adults in the family reflect on their own level of screen time in order to have a positive influence on younger members.

The college recommended that screens are not used for an hour before bedtime due to evidence that the devices stimulate the brain, while the blue light they produce disrupts the bodys creation of the sleep hormone melatonin.

They also warned that watching screens can distract children from feeling full which, paired with advertising, can lead to higher intake of unhealthy foods.

The college issued the advice as a review published by the British Medical Journal found considerable evidence of an association between obesity and depression and higher levels of screen time.

However it said evidence for impacts on other health issues was largely weak or absent.

Any potential limits on screen time must be considered in the light of a lack of understanding of the impact of the content or contexts of digital screen use, the studys authors said.

Given the rapid increase in screen use by children and young people internationally over the past decade, particularly for new content areas such as social media, further research is urgently needed to understand the impact of the contexts and content of screen use on children and young peoples health and well-being, particularly in relationship to mobile digital devices.
Theresa Mays bid to get Tory MPs to back her Brexit plan suffered a set-back as a new poll suggested more than half of Conservative Party members prefer a no-deal withdrawal.

In a three-way choice, 57% of grassroots Tories said they would support leaving the EU without an agreement, while 23% would back the Prime Ministers deal and 15% would choose to remain. A total of 5% had no preference.

The poll also suggested a two-way referendum would see 29% of Tory members endorse the PMs stance, with 64% voting for a no-deal Brexit.

The research was carried out by YouGov for the Party Members Project, which studies membership of the UKs six biggest parties and is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council.

The overwhelming rejection of Mrs Mays deal shown in the survey comes at a crucial time for the PM as she faces a crunch Commons vote on her plans.

After Mrs May suddenly pulled a vote on the Withdrawal Agreement in December because it faced a significant defeat, MPs are to begin debating the proposals again next Wednesday with a vote scheduled for the following week.

The poll of Tory members is bad news for Mrs Mays hopes of winning support for her deal, said Professor Tim Bale of Queen Mary University of London who led research into the findings.

He said: If Theresa May is hoping that her MPs will return to Westminster having been persuaded by their constituency associations to back her Brexit deal, shes going to be disappointed.

It appears that those members are in no mood for compromise.

Moreover, the Tory rank and file, it seems, are convinced that no deal is better than Mays deal.

He suggested there were two specific issues behind the opposition to Mrs Mays deal, the first being the Irish backstop.

Tory members have become convinced that the Irish backstop is a bad idea, he said, citing that 40% think it is a reason in itself to reject a deal, and 21% think it is irrelevant because Mrs Mays deal is a bad one anyway.

The second issue is that 76% of members believed warnings that a no-deal Brexit would cause serious disruption are exaggerated or invented.

In short, Mrs May has failed not only to convince the country, and quite probably Parliament, that her Brexit deal is a good one, she has also failed to convince the party faithful, Prof Bale said.

The poll findings came as Mrs Mays Brexit agenda was hit by a series of blows.

DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds insisted his partys opposition to Irish border backstop proposals had not lessened after a meeting with the Prime Minister on Thursday.

Mr Dodds said: The Withdrawal Agreement, as currently proposed, flies in the face of the Governments commitments on Northern Ireland as we leave the EU.

However, Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar insisted there could be no changes to the backstop, which is intended to prevent a hard border in Ireland by ensuring the UK abides by EU customs rules if no trade deal is agreed by the end of a Brexit transition period.

Mr Varadkar said he had spoken to German chancellor Angela Merkel by telephone on Thursday and the two leaders agreed to stand by the Brexit deal.

He said: Were happy to offer reassurances and guarantees to the UK, but not reassurances and guarantees that contradict or change what was agreed back in November.

Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said there could be no changes to the backstop (Niall Carson/PA)

As the EU closed ranks, the European Commission confirmed no further meetings are foreseen with the UK on updating Mrs Mays Brexit deal because negotiations have concluded.

Mrs May is pressing European leaders for more flexibility on the Irish backstop as a way of garnering more backbench support for her exit plans.

Meanwhile, police forces are planning for a variety of Brexit eventualities, including no deal and its potential consequences in Northern Ireland.

The National Police Chiefs Council said: Police forces continue to prepare for possible eventualities as exit from the European Union draws nearer. As it stands, we have not received a formal request for Mutual Aid support from Police Service Northern Ireland.

Forces routinely share officers through Mutual Aid. When called on, it is used to ensure an appropriate police presence exists where there is increased demand for it.
Armed forces veterans must act quickly if they are having problems with their hearing or sight, three Scottish charities have urged.

With veterans at greater risk of developing sensory impairment, Age Scotland, Action on Hearing Loss and Scottish War Blinded are calling for screening for veterans to identify those who are losing their hearing at an early stage.

The charities are also campaigning to raise awareness of the help available to veterans with vision or hearing loss, often caused by being exposed to loud noises such gunfire and battlefield explosions.

Highlighting the Scottish Governments recognition of early diagnosis and intervention, Action on Hearing Loss Scotland director Teri Devine said: We want older veterans to be screened for hearing loss so they can access the person-centred support they need to reduce the impact of deafness in their everyday lives.

People on average take up to 10 years before getting their hearing tested from the point they first notice hearing difficulties. Through our Hearing Forces service, we are supporting older veterans to benefit from using hearing aids, which are most effective when fitted as soon as hearing loss is diagnosed.

A guide for service personnel has been produced by the groups advising how they can get help, which has been welcomed by Scotlands Veterans Commissioner Charlie Wallace.

Isa Scott, 88, from Paisley, who has been using the Scottish War Blindeds Hawkhead Centre (Scottish War Blinded/PA)

He said: This practical guide for older veterans who are living with sensory loss, primarily sight and hearing, details in clear, concise language the advice and support available.

I am sure it will prove to be a welcome addition to the information already available to those living with these conditions and to the health professionals and family members supporting them.

Brian Sloan, chief executive of Age Scotland, said: Older veterans with sight and hearing loss often miss out on a wealth of support available to them, either because they are unaware it is available, or because they dont realise they count as a veteran.

Anyone aged 65 years and older who has done and received pay for at least one days service in the UK Armed Forces is classed as an older veteran, including national servicemen, reservists and merchant navy who have supported a military operation.

In addition to the guide, the charities are calling for changes to Certificate for Vision Impairment registration, suggesting everyone should be asked if they served in the forces so veterans can be directed to the correct support.

Rebecca Barr, director of Scottish War Blinded, said: It is vital that veterans who are concerned about their sight have it checked as soon as possible, so that they can access the support available to them.

We support over 1,000 veterans with sight loss across Scotland, helping them develop skills to live independently and providing a network of support and activities which helps prevent them from becoming isolated.

One former servicewoman to benefit from the charitys work is 88-year-old Isa Scott, from Paisley.

Ms Scott, who joined the RAF in 1948, started losing her sight in her mid-80s due to macular degeneration.

After the hospital treatment I didnt see anyone, and I was left to cope alone, she said.

But she was then referred to Scottish War Blinded, who helped her continue her hobby of knitting with the aid of an electronic magnifier.

The charity then opened the Hawkhead Centre in Paisley which enables her to join with everything from art and crafts activities to music and yoga groups.

At first I thought it wasnt for me, I told them I was too old, she said. Now the Hawkhead drivers come and pick me up and drop me home again each week, which is great.

Around the house Im fine, but Im not confident to go outside on my own other than to the shop across the road, so I love going to the centre. Its smashing.

Free copies of the Combating Sight and Hearing Loss guide can be requested from the Age Scotland Helpline on 0800 12 44 222.
Modi also thanked the Bihar and the Jharkhand governments for working towards the interests of the farmers' community.

'We consider farmers as 'annadata' (provider of food), unlike the previous governments who considered them as mere vote bank,' the prime minister said. (Photo: File)

Daltonganj: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday laid the foundation of several irrigation projects in Jharkhand, including Rs 2,391.36-crore Mandal dam, which will provide irrigation to 19,604-hectare area in the state and neighbouring Bihar.

Modi, prior to addressing a public rally here, also handed over keys of houses to five beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).

Taking a dig at previous governments, Modi said they were least bothered about farmers' welfare in Jharkhand, and the delay in completion of the Mandal dam project was proof of that.

The Mandal dam, work on which began in 1972, but was stalled since 1993, will be built on the North Koel river in Barwadih block of Latehar district.

The project, once completed, will boost irrigation facilities in Latehar, Palamu and Garhwa districts in the state, besides Aurangabad and Gaya in Bihar.

"We consider farmers as 'annadata' (provider of food), unlike the previous governments who considered them as mere vote bank," the prime minister said.

"Earlier, the Congress government had forced farmers to borrow loans and today they are misleading them with promises of loan waivers," he said.

Modi also thanked the Bihar and the Jharkhand governments for working towards the interests of the farmers' community.

"I am glad that foundations of several development projects to the tune of Rs 3,500 crore were laid here today. The projects will help in realising our vision of doubling farmers' income," Modi said.

Talking about the PMAY scheme, the PM said his government was initially criticized for "offering nothing new" under the housing proposal.

"Our aim is to provide housing for all, be it the rural areas or the urban areas. We do not believe in naming schemes after politicians, the benefit doled out under these schemes is what matters," he said, adding that the homes provided under the scheme will have all basic amenities, including gas connection, electricity and toilets.

The NDA government believes in transparency, there is no scope for brokers to take advantage of the farmers, the PM maintained. "We are working in a transparent manner by directly depositing money in the accounts of beneficiaries of government schemes. There is no place for brokers in the system," he asserted.
Vulnerable and homeless people should be able to keep their pets in their temporary and sheltered accommodation, Scottish Labour has said.

The party has revealed its paws clause priorities as part of its campaign to protect vulnerable people who keep companion pets.

Following a consultation with animal charities and the public, Labours animal welfare spokeswoman Claudia Beamish set out ways they want to change the way people with pets are treated by the Government and local authorities.

Scottish Labour will campaign for more temporary accommodation and homelessness hostels across Scotland to accept pets.

It also wants national guidance both for local authorities in accepting pets in council houses and for care homes keeping residents animals on site.

Ms Beamish said: I was hugely gratified to read the positive response to my paws clause consultation.

More should be done to allow homeless, vulnerable and elderly people keep their pets in accommodation, Scottish Labour says (Laura Lean/PA)

To many vulnerable people, their pet is a vital lifeline. Pets act as someone to talk to when there is no-one else to confide in, they are a way of growing compassion, responsibility, and empathy. Pets have also been proven to improve peoples mental and physical health, including studies showing reductions in heart disease in pet owners.

Its a commonly held truth that having a pet can help you get through tough times. Im hugely grateful to organisations like Shelter, Fostering Compassion, Scottish Womens Aid and the Dogs Trust for their input to my consultation, along with all of the members of the public who shared their stories with me.

It is their suggestions and stories which have shaped our plan of action in this area. I believe that with the advice we have and will continue to receive, we will be able to make a small change for people facing hard times that will make a huge difference to their quality of life.

We will also be developing our manifesto on these and other important animal welfare issues over the coming months and I am keen to hear from organisations and individuals across Scotland.
Chief executives of leading UK companies are paid 133 times more than the average worker, new research for Fat Cat Friday reveals.

A study suggested that by 1pm today top bosses will already have been paid as much so far this year as average workers earn in 12 months.

The average chief executive of FTSE 100 firms has a pay packet of 3.9 million, an 11% increase on a year ago, a report by the High Pay Centre think tank and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) suggests.

(PA Graphics)

The pay increase means that top chief executives working a 12-hour day only need to work for 29 hours in 2019 to be paid the average workers annual salary, two hours fewer than in 2018, said the report.

Unions said the research showed that the Government needed to redesign the economy to make it fair.

The two organisations said the average FTSE 100 chief executive is paid just over 1,000 an hour, compared with the national living wage of 7.83 for adults.

The report said excessive pay and the culture of superstar chief executives was increasingly being seen as a failure of corporate governance, hitting trust in business leadership.

New regulations requiring large publicly-listed companies to publish the ratio between the pay of chief executives and workers created a burning platform for reform of remuneration committees, said the report.

Peter Cheese, chief executive of the CIPD, said the gap between top earners and the rest of the workforce was still too great.

Average pay has stagnated whilst top CEO reward has grown, despite overall slow economic growth and very variable business performance.

Excessive pay packages awarded by remuneration committees represent a significant failure in corporate governance and perpetuate the idea of a superstar business leader when business is a collective endeavour and reward should be shared more fairly.

Stakeholders of all kinds, including many shareholders, are looking for significant shifts in corporate cultures and behaviours.

Luke Hildyard, director of the High Pay Centre, said: Excessive executive pay represents a massive corporate governance failure and is a barrier to a fairer economy.

Corporate boards are too willing to spend millions on top executives without any real justification, while the wider workforce is treated as a cost to be minimised.

TUC General Secretary Frances OGrady said: There are millions of hardworking people in Britain who give more than they get back, but greedy executives are taking more than theyve earned.

We need to redesign the economy to make it fair again and that means big reforms to bring fat cat pay back down to earth.

Executive pay committees have to change. They should be required to include workforce representatives who can speak up for a fair balance of pay with ordinary workers.

Rebecca Long-Bailey, shadow business secretary, said the report showed how disgracefully skewed the UKs corporate culture had become in some circles.

She said: The Tories have done nothing to address such blatant inequality and they continue to push real aspiration further and further from the grasp of the majority of people in Britain.
Holyrood bosses are planning a year-long programme of special events to commemorate the Parliaments 20th anniversary.

The Scottish Parliament was officially opened on July 1 1999, and officials are also trying to track down the 163 Scots born on that day so they can join in the celebrations.

Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh said the Parliaments anniversary is an ideal opportunity to reflect how far we have come over the last two decades and to remind everyone of the positive impact the Scottish Parliament has had on peoples lives.

Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh with the Queen at the opening of the fifth session of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. (Andrew Milligan/PA)

After Scots voted in favour of establishing their own Parliament in 1997, the first devolved Holyrood elections took place on May 6, 1999.

The Parliament first sat a few days later, on May 12, with MSPs meeting in the General Assembly Hall of the Church of Scotland in Edinburgh until the Holyrood building was completed in 2004.

The anniversary events will include a public exhibition telling the story of the Parliament, along with a photography competition aimed at finding the best images from its 20-year history.

Holyroods chamber under construction (Scottish Parliament/PA)

A series of family days will be held throughout the year, while the Parliament will host a gathering in the debating chamber on Saturday June 29 as Holyrood opens its doors to the public for a day of celebration and commemoration.

More details of the events will be announced later, but Mr Macintosh said: In a time of exasperation with politics and politicians, our programme has been designed to reinvigorate interest in Scottish politics and remind people that this is a Parliament for the whole of Scotland based on the values of openness and equality.

The Parliament is also extremely keen to hear from the 163 young people in Scotland that share our birthday. We would like them to play a part in our year-long programme of commemoration.

So this is an appeal to those July 1 babies to come forward so we can celebrate together.
A woman missing with her three-year-old son has been urged to see sense by the childs father.

Ellie Yarrow-Sanders disappeared with Olly Sheridan six months ago.

Her estranged partner Patrick Sheridan, 45, has renewed his appeal for information.

He begged 26-year-old Miss Yarrow-Sanders to let Olly have a normal childhood not a life on the run.

Olly is at the centre of a family court dispute between his estranged parents.

Miss Yarrow-Sanders disappeared with Olly in July a few weeks before she was due to give evidence in a critical family court hearing, according to lawyers.

Ellie Yarrow-Sanders with her three-year-old son Olly Sheridan, who have gone missing (Patrick Sheridan/PA)

A judge raised the alarm in December and urged anyone with information to come forward.

Mr Justice Williams, who oversaw a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London, said he was gravely concerned.

Family court hearings have been staged in private and journalists were barred from identifying relatives involved.

Mr Justice Williams said he has now lifted the identity bar in the hope that publicity will help find Olly and Miss Yarrow-Sanders.

He said the family members from Basildon in Essex could be named and photographs published.

Essex Police are also searching and have urged anyone with information to get in touch.

I hope that Ellie sees sense and comes forward so that this can be sorted out and Olly can have a normal childhood, not living on the run, Mr Sheridan said.

My boy needs both of his parents in his life and not to live a life undercover, hidden away from his family and the rest of the world.

He said Christmas was unbearable, adding: Please, if any members of the public who might have seen Olly or have any information, call the police.

Lawyers representing Mr Sheridan said Miss Yarrow-Sanders had gone underground.

Staff at law firm Irwin Mitchell said Miss Yarrow-Sanders had not used her bank accounts or mobile since disappearing with Olly.

A spokeswoman said Miss Yarrow-Sanderss mother travelled to Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, at around the time Olly vanished.

She said Miss Yarrow-Sanders and Olly might also have stayed in the area.
An Edinburgh hotel has become the first in the UK to be battery-powered.

The Gyle Premier Inn at Edinburgh Park has installed a five-tonne battery which will charge from the national grid during off-peak periods and power the 200-room site for several hours each day.

The 3m3 lithium ion battery is expected to save the hotel 20,000 a year on its energy bill, and is able to power the whole venue, including the restaurant, for up to three hours at a time after a two-hour charge.

Premier Inns parent company Whitbread said the trial of the battery storage technology will help its commitment to halve its carbon emissions by 2025.

Cian Hatton, Whitbreads head of energy and environment, said: Batteries are of course everyday items, more commonly associated with powering small household goods like the TV remote control, so its incredibly exciting to launch the UKs first battery-powered hotel  an innovation which will save money, ensure security of supply and support the transition to a more flexible grid.

The hotel chain joins companies including B&Q and Veolia, which both installed lithium ion battery power systems in 2018.

Electricity company E.ON has supplied and installed the technology at the hotel and will be remotely managing the batterys workload and efficiency from its energy management centre in Glasgow.

The trial is expected to save the hotel 20,000 a year in energy costs (Premier Inn/PA)

Richard Oakley, customer accounts director at E.ON, said: The Gyle at Edinburgh Park is already an energy efficient hotel thanks to the remote monitoring and management of its systems from our control centre in Glasgow.

By adding the flexibility of battery storage we can also help Whitbread to upgrade to the full-board option of drawing electricity from the grid when prices are low, storing that energy for use at peak times and having the ability to sell it back to the grid to help balance supply and demand on the network.

Premier Inn is showing how hotel chains and large power users can further save money, reduce their carbon footprint and support the development of a lower-carbon, smarter energy grid in the UK.
Firms are being urged to stop asking for criminal record details on job application forms because they give employers a false sense of security.

Jobseekers are also put off applying for work if they have to declare any convictions upfront, according to a study for Virgin Trains and the charity Business in the Community.

They called on companies to find more supportive ways to discuss potential recruits criminal backgrounds.

Some candidates with no record may pose a greater risk of offending, it was claimed.

Dr Beth Weaver, a senior lecturer at Strathclyde University, said: Around 38% of men and 9% of women in Scotland have at least one criminal conviction, so this issue affects a large number of people.

Giving people a chance to work can improve outcomes for people and contribute to a safer and more just society.

Campaigners are calling on employers to stop asking for criminal declarations from job applicants upfront (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Asking people to disclose their convictions at the job application stage legitimises employer discrimination, as most employers dont know how to make sense of the information provided and undermines the purposes of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.

Virgin Trains said it has been proactively recruiting people with convictions for five years and has banned the criminal record declaration form on job applications.

Its recruiter Kathryn Wildman said: Weve banned the box, but that doesnt mean we dont ask job applicants about their past offending.

Rather than ask people to tick a box on application, well have a conversation at interview stage in which we talk about their offences and where they are on the rehabilitation journey.

That may still result in a no from us, but it gives that person the opportunity to discuss their past and what theyve got to offer in a supportive environment rather than just being dismissed out of hand.

And our experience is that weve identified some fantastic people with convictions who have gone on to perform really well for us and helped our business grow.

The research was conducted by the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice, a collaboration between Strathclyde, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Stirling universities.

Liz Cameron, director of Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said: At a time of stubborn skills shortages in many sectors, businesses should reassess their recruitment practices and consider banning the box where feasible and extend the talent pool available to them.
A Royal Navy vessel has been deployed to patrol the Straits of Dover amid concern about refugees crossing the English Channel.

The move follows a request from Home Secretary Sajid Javid for naval support in dealing with the situation.

Sending HMS Mersey to patrol the Channel marks a significant escalation of the response to the migration issue after Mr Javid earlier this week announced the redeployment of two Border Force cutters from the Mediterranean.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has confirmed that @hms_mersey will deploy to the Dover Straits to assist the UK Border Force with migrant border crossings. pic.twitter.com/ghtKhLy8PR  Ministry of Defence  (@DefenceHQ) January 3, 2019

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said: I can confirm that HMS Mersey will deploy to the Dover Straits to assist the UK Border Force and French authorities with their response to migrant crossings.

The professionalism of the Royal Navy means the crew have been able to immediately divert from routine operations to help prevent migrants from making the dangerous journey across the Channel.

HMS Mersey leaves Portsmouth Harbour (Steve Parsons/PA)

Mr Javid said: My focus continues to be on protecting the UK border and preventing loss of life in the Channel.

For these reasons, the Government has decided to deploy a navy vessel, HMS Mersey, to support our existing efforts.

This will be an interim measure while the two Border Force cutters I have redeployed from abroad make their way back to UK waters.

It is vital that we are working on all fronts to tackle this ongoing situation and I am grateful to Border Force and other agencies for the tireless work they have done in response to this activity.

HMS Mersey, which left Portsmouth on Thursday afternoon, is one of four Royal Navy river class patrol vessels.

It launched in June 2013, has a crew of around 45 sailors and a range of 7,800 sea miles, according to the Royal Navy website.

The cost of the offshore patrol vessels deployment will be met by the Home Office, a spokesperson said.

We will do whatever it takes to protect the UK border and human life.



Thank you @RoyalNavy https://t.co/cKKhpNX7rB  Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) January 3, 2019

Meanwhile, detectives are continuing to question two men arrested on suspicion of arranging the illegal movement of migrants into the UK.

A National Crime Agency spokeswoman said a 33-year-old Iranian national and a 24-year-old British man were arrested in Manchester on Wednesday evening. They remain in police custody.
Train services have apologised after a customer was offered a 10,000 fare by a ticket machine.

Traveller Lucy Watson posted a photo of the machine at London Bridge station, which showed the inflated price for a single to Gatwick Airport via Southern Rail, next to a similar fare via Thameslink for 11.

Might go for Thameslink then, cheers pic.twitter.com/nr8o2Bnaa6  LJ (@shesgonestella) January 2, 2019

Might go for Thameslink then, cheers, Lucy wrote on Twitter.

The mistake was put down to a technical glitch, but happened just a day after a price rise of 3.1% for rail fares across Britain was met with uproar.

A Govia Thameslink Railway spokesman told the Press Association: This was a temporary technical glitch affecting ticket machines at Gatwick and London Bridge only and our suppliers removed the rogue fare yesterday, when it appeared.

We apologise for any inconvenience.

(@shesgonestella/Twitter)

The glitch attracted derision on Twitter.

Do you get to keep the train afterwards?  Oli (@TheTakesmith) January 2, 2019

The mishap also coincides with the release of a new 26-30 age group railcard, which offers a third off fares.

Ironically, Im still in the online queue for the 26-30 railcard, Lucy told MyLondon.
Syrian president Bashar Assad will remain in power for a while due to Russian backing, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said.

Acknowledging that Moscow believed it had gained a new sphere of influence in the region, Mr Hunt said Moscow must take responsibility for securing peace.

The Foreign Secretary told Sky News: I think you know the British longstanding position is that we wont have lasting peace in Syria with that regime.

But, regretfully, we do think hes going to be around for a while and that is because of the support that hes had from Russia.

The Foreign Secretary said Moscow needed to help build a real peace in Syria which has been torn apart by civil war since 2011.

He said: Russia may think that its gained a sphere of influence. What we would say to them is yes, and youve also gained a responsibility.

Jeremy Hunt said Moscow needed to help build a real peace in Syria (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

And if youre going to be involved in Syria then you need to make sure that there really is peace in Syria.

And that means making sure that president Assad does not use chemical weapons on his own people.

The Foreign Secretary said president Assad had tightened his control and some countries would seek to end the diplomatic isolation of Syria.

Hes been able to consolidate his position. There will be many people in Syria who are bitterly disappointed, but that has been the outcome.

But, if that is the outcome, then there are going to be countries that want to re-establish diplomatic ties.

Mr Hunt said the Islamic State group is far from defeated despite losing most of the land it held.

The Foreign Secretary said a solution needed to be found regarding what to do with Islamic State prisoners like Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh who are alleged to have been members of a brutal four-man cell of executioners in Syria and Iraq.

The terror squad was nicknamed The Beatles because of the British accents of its members, and is held responsible for killing a number of high-profile Western captives.

The pair, who are being held by Syrian Kurdish forces, have been stripped of their UK citizenship.

With US president Donald Trump ordering a phased withdrawal of US troops from Syria, fears have been expressed that all Islamic State prisoners could be freed once American forces leave.

Mr Hunt said: That is one of the issues that is going to have to be resolved during the course of this year.

We dont think it is something that is going to have to be resolved within the next month or two months.

Asked if he saw British Islamic State prisoners coming back to the UK, Mr Hunt said: Well, I wouldnt want to speculate on what the solution would be.

But, I would simply say that our priority in this has always been one very simple priority just make sure these evil men see justice.
Theresa Mays Brexit agenda has been dealt a series of fresh blows ahead of a looming Commons vote on her withdrawal plan.

The DUP, on whom the Tories rely for a Commons majority, insisted their objections to Irish border backstop arrangements remained, while the EU closed ranks in the face of demands for new concessions.

After a meeting with the Prime Minister, DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds said: The Withdrawal Agreement, as currently proposed, flies in the face of the Governments commitments on Northern Ireland as we leave the EU.

Mr Dodds again attacked the proposed Irish border backstop, which would see the UK remain under EU customs rules if no wider trade deal was agreed by the end of a withdrawal transition period, as unnecessary.

However, Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he would not accept any changes to the deal that would make the backstop inoperable.

Mr Varadkar said he had spoken to German Chancellor Angela Merkel by telephone on Thursday and the two leaders agreed to stand by the Brexit deal.

He said: Were happy to offer reassurances and guarantees to the UK, but not reassurances and guarantees that contradict or change what was agreed back in November.

Mr Varadkar said the conversation, which lasted about 40 minutes, focused on securing the ratification of the deal.

The remarks are a blow to the Prime Minister, who is trying to get concessions on the Irish backstop plans in the hope it will convince MPs to vote her Withdrawal Agreement through Parliament later this month.

Mr Varadkars comments came as the EU confirmed no further meetings are foreseen with the UK on updating Mrs Mays Brexit deal because negotiations have concluded.

A spokeswoman for European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said the leaders of the remaining 27 countries have been very clear that what is on the table will not be renegotiated.

At a press conference in Brussels, Mina Andreeva, deputy chief spokeswoman for the European Commission, was asked what talks would be held before the Commons has its say on the deal in the week of January 14.

She said: We have said many times the deal that is on the table is the best and only deal possible.

And the EU27 leaders confirmed on December 13 in their conclusions that it will not be renegotiated.

Ms Andreeva said the EU side have started the ratification process on the terms in the Withdrawal Agreement, adding: For now, no further meetings are foreseen between the Commissions negotiators and the UK negotiators as the negotiations have indeed been concluded.

She said Mr Juncker is always willing to listen to Mrs Mays views on the backstop, but when asked what else he can do to help her deal get through Parliament, she rebuffed any chance of altering the backstop as it currently stands.

And Mrs Mays deal drew criticism from Tory former minister Ben Gummer, who co-authored the Conservative manifesto at the last election.

Mr Gummer, who lost his Ipswich seat at the 2017 election, said it would leave the country poorer for generations.

He told the BBC: I think it is probably unique in modern parliamentary history, because Members of Parliament are being asked to walk through the division lobbies to make the country, and their constituents, permanently poorer and less secure.

Not just in one generation, but in two or three.

Mr Gummer said if Parliament failed to find a route through the Brexit situation, a new referendum should be held.

The comments came as Environment Secretary Michael Gove said the consequences of a no-deal Brexit would be considerable in the agricultural sector.
Makens resignation was finally accepted a day after he, along with partys Delhi in-charge PC Chacko, met Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

The 54-year-old leader had taken over as Congresss Delhi unit chief four years ago after the party lost the 2015 Assembly elections.

New Delhi: In a major jolt to Congress ahead of the 2019 crucial Lok Sabha elections, former Union minister Ajay Maken resigned as the partys Delhi chief citing health reasons on Friday.

He had offered to step down from the city unit earlier as well, saying he was not able to give his full service as he was suffering from severe back pain.

Mr Makens resignation was finally accepted a day after he, along with partys Delhi in-charge PC Chacko, met Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

The 54-year-old leader had taken over as Congresss Delhi unit chief four years ago after the party lost the 2015 Assembly elections. Later, Mr Maken took to Twitter to announce his resignation.

In September last year, the party had officially denied reports of Mr Makens resignation and had said that he had gone abroad for medical check up. His resignation assumes significance amid speculations of a possible alliance between Congress and AAP in Delhi for 2019. He was strongly opposed to any seat sharing arrangement with AAP in the national capital.

AICC incharge of the Delhi unit, P.C. Chacko, also confirmed Mr Makens resignation, saying a search is on to find his successor.

Maken is no longer continuing (as Delhi Congress president). We are looking for his successor, Mr Chacko said.

He said that in a meeting with Mr Gandhi on Thursday, Mr Maken again insisted on his resignation on health grounds which was long pending and asked to be relieved from the post, for which Mr Gandhi concurred.

Speculations are rife that former chief minister Sheila Dikshit may replace Mr Maken as the Congresss Delhi unit president.

She has maintained that the party high commands decision on alliance will be accepted by her. AAP and Congress have not denied the speculations yet.

A section within the party feel that any election in Delhi has to be fought on the developmental activities that Mr Dikshit had made in her 15-year tenure in Delhi.

Rumours are also rife that Congress leaders and former city ministers Dr A.K. Walia, Yoganand Shastri, Rajkumar Chauhan, and Haroon Yusuf; veteran local leader Chattar Singh; and partys state unit chief spokesperson and head of the partys women wing Sharmistha Mukherjee could also be considered for the post of the partys Delhi unit chief. After the 2015 Delhi Assembly elections, as its Delhi unit president, I received a lot of love and support from Congress workers, the media covering the party and our leader Rahul Gandhi ji. It was not easy in these difficult times. Thank you all, he tweeted. The Congress in September last year had denied reports of Mr Makens resignation and said he had gone abroad for a medical checkup.
Cheering Democrats have returned Nancy Pelosi to the House speakers post as the 116th Congress ushered in the most diverse class of politicians in US history.

Ms Pelosi, elected speaker 220-192, took the gavel saying US voters demanded a new dawn in the November election that swept the Democrats to a House majority and are looking to the beauty of our Constitution to provide checks and balances on power.

Ms Pelosi faced 15 dissenting votes from fellow Democrats.

But for a few hours, smiles and backslapping were the order of the day. The new speaker invited scores of politicians children to join her on the dais as she was sworn in, calling the House to order on behalf of all of Americas children.

Nancy Pelosi, surrounded by children (Carolyn Kaster/AP)

Even President Donald Trump congratulated her during a rare appearance at the White House briefing room, saying her election by House colleagues was a tremendous, tremendous achievement.

The president has tangled often with Ms Pelosi and is sure to do so again with Democrats controlling the House, but he said: I think itll be a little bit different than a lot of people are thinking.

As night fell, the House quickly got to work on the partial government shutdown, which was winding up Day 13 with Mr Trump demanding billions in Mexican border wall funding to bring it to an end.

Democrats approved legislation to re-open the government  but without the 5.6 billion US dollars (4.4 billion), which means it has no chance in the Republican Senate.

The Shutdown is only because of the 2020 Presidential Election. The Democrats know they cant win based on all of the achievements of Trump, so they are going all out on the desperately needed Wall and Border Security - and Presidential Harassment. For them, strictly politics!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2019

The new Congress is like none other.

There are more women than ever before, and a new generation of Muslims, Latinos, Native Americans and African-Americans is creating a House more aligned with the population of the United States.

However, the Republican side in the House is still made up mostly of white men, and in the Senate, Republicans bolstered their ranks in the majority.

In a nod to the moment, Ms Pelosi, the first female speaker who reclaimed the post she lost to the Republicans in 2011, broadly pledged to make Congress work for all Americans  addressing kitchen table issues at a time of deep economic turmoil  even as her party readies to challenge Mr Trump with investigations and subpoena powers that threaten the White House agenda.

Ms Pelosi promised to restore integrity to government and outlined an agenda to lower health costs and prescription drug prices and protect people with pre-existing medical conditions; to increase paychecks by rebuilding America with green and modern infrastructure from sea to shining sea.

The day unfolded as one of both celebration and impatience. Newly elected politicians arrived, often with friends and families in tow, to take the oath of office and pose for ceremonial photos. Then they swiftly turned to the shutdown.

Vice President Mike Pence swore in newly elected senators, but Senate Republicans under majority leader Mitch McConnell had no plans to consider the House bills unless Mr Trump agreed to sign them into law.

Ilhan Omar, centre, talks on the House floor before being sworn in (Carolyn Kaster/AP)

Ms Pelosi defied history in returning to the speakers office after eight years in the minority, overcoming internal opposition from Democrats demanding a new generation of leaders. She will be the first to regain the gavel since Sam Rayburn of Texas in 1955.

The halls of the Capitol were bustling with arrivals, children in the arms of many new politicians.

Visitor galleries included crooner Tony Bennett and rock legend Mickey Hart, both guests of Ms Pelosi.

23 years ago, from a refugee camp in Kenya, my father and I arrived at an airport in Washington DC.



Today, we return to that same airport on the eve of my swearing in as the first Somali-American in Congress. #Hope #Ilhan  pic.twitter.com/jVeP3DOipN  Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 2, 2019

Overnight, Democratic Representative-elect Ilhan Omar of Minnesota tweeted a picture with her family at the airport.

The House rules were being changed to allow Omar, who is Muslim, to wear a head scarf on the chamber floor.

She wrote, 23 years ago, from a refugee camp in Kenya, my father and I arrived at an airport in Washington DC. Today, we return to that same airport on the eve of my swearing in as the first Somali-American in Congress.
Ireland has gained more than 4,500 jobs from major international firms because of Brexit-related investments, it has been claimed.

The Republics foreign investment agency, IDA (Industrial Development Authority) has said that the country continues to secure a substantial number of investments as a result of Brexit.

According to IDAs annual results, there were more than 55 investments approved last year.

Some of the companies that are setting up or expanding include Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, Legal and General, Everest Re, Central Pharma, The Standard Club, Coinbase, Citigroup and Barclays.

Overseas multinationals spend 19.2 billion in the Irish economy; payroll 11.7 billion; Irish materials 2.4 billion and Irish services 5.1 billion. All  pic.twitter.com/KbhoxrEjjK  IDA Ireland (@IDAIRELAND) January 3, 2019

In its report, published on Thursday, it said: For investors, the importance of Irelands ability to provide a stable predictable investment climate cannot be overstated.

We have continued to engage significantly with our clients on this issue, fighting for any mobile investment that arises.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe briefed the Cabinet on the latest Exchequer returns for 2018 on Thursday

Irelands advantages in a post-Brexit context include English language, commitment to the EU, a common law system in addition to our existing competitive proposition.

It said that Dublin has continued to absorb a significant amount of foreign investment in 2018 and remained an attractive place for investors to locate.

It added: In order for the rest of the country to thrive, we must continue to invest in making Dublin a great place to live and work.

Other global cities are already doing this and placemaking is becoming a real area of competitive advantage in cities across the world.

Martin Shanahan, chief executive of IDA, said that a strong capital city and strong regions were required to win investment.

As IDA has said many times, continued investment in regional Ireland is essential, he added.

Our regions are in competition to win investment with the rest of the world, not with Dublin.

The figures were announced as the Irish Government recorded a budget surplus of 100 million euro (90.2 million) for last year.

It is the first time a budget surplus has been recorded in the last decade, with the exception of the one-off sale of AIB shares.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe briefed the Cabinet on the latest Exchequer returns for 2018 on Thursday.

Speaking after the meeting, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the surplus had been achieved a year ahead of schedule.

Its the first time in ten years that weve recorded a budget surplus, he said.

It means that were very well prepared for a downturn, for an economic shock, if that were to affect us, much more prepared that other countries.

The vast majority of European countries, including the UK, are still running deficits.

Mr Varadkar said the surplus was due to an underspend of 250 million euro (225.5 million) in non-voted expenditure, which was not related to any particular government department, and also a very big increase in the amount of tax taken from corporations.

But he said they would not be complacent when planning for 2019.
The Duke of Cambridge is to mark the 30th anniversary of Londons Air Ambulance (LAA) by meeting the professionals behind the service.

William will chat to LAAs pilots, clinicians and paramedics next week to hear first hand about the challenges they face responding to emergency call-outs across the capital.

The duke is a former air ambulance pilot, who flew for the East Anglian Air Ambulance and has spoken of his time with the charity.

The duke joined EAAA as a pilot in March 2015 and, after completing an initial period of job-specific training involving simulator, aircraft and in-flight skills training, began piloting his first operational missions in July 2015 before his last in July 2017.

Throughout his service William was based at Cambridge Airport as part of a team including specialist doctors, critical care paramedics and pilots providing emergency medical services across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.
The Louvre in Paris received a record 10.2 million visitors in 2018, boosted by a video clip shot by pop star Beyonce amid its paintings and sculptures.

The worlds most visited museum also mentioned in a statement the success of its flagship exhibition on French master Delacroix as a reason for the record.

The video of Beyonce and her husband Jay-Z, featuring the Mona Lisa and other world-famous artworks, has been viewed more than 146 million times on YouTube.

Jay-Z and Beyonce (Dennis Van Tine/PA)

The museum noted a significant rise in the number of foreign visitors  almost three-quarters of total visitor numbers  mostly from the United States, China, other European countries and Brazil.

Tourism in the French capital has rebounded since 2017 after a sharp fall following terror attacks in 2015.
The UDA has been blamed for an attack on a house in which a brick narrowly missed hitting young children and a baby.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland said several houses and cars were attacked in Newtownards, Co Down on Wednesday night.

In a post on Facebook, the PSNI said that in one of the incidents large bricks were thrown through a front living room window, landing on furniture and narrowly missing young children.

Had they been less fortunate glass and bricks would have landed in a pram with a young baby, the post added.

The post, which appeared on the PSNI Ards Facebook page on Thursday, said officers believe that members of Newtownards-based South East Antrim UDA were responsible for the attacks.

They may well give their own warped explanation of why these attacks take place but Im not sure what they achieve by terrorising children and babies in the sanctuary of their own home, the post said.

A Loyalist mural on the Newtownards road in Belfast (Paul Faith/PA)

These criminals skulk about in the hours of darkness terrorising local communities under the banner of South East Antrim UDA  they do this to control communities not help them.

You can do your piece to fight back by calling Crimestoppers or by getting in touch via 101 or private message with any information you have.

Only by the community speaking out against these criminals will you help the fight against them.

The UDA was one of the largest Loyalist paramilitary groups during Northern Irelands troubled past.

The group claimed to have decommissioned its arms in 2010.

However the renegade South East Antrim branch has hit the headlines in recent years.

A feud between people associated with the South East Antrim UDA has been linked with the murder of George Gilmore in Carrickfergus, Co Antrim in March 2017, and the murder of Colin Horner in Bangor, Co Down in May 2017.
Fresh questions have been raised about the readiness of a company awarded 13.8 million to run no-deal Brexit ferry services after it was accused of copying part of its website from that of a takeaway firm.

The terms and conditions section of the Seaborne Freight website was found to contain a section saying: It is the responsibility of the customer to thoroughly check the supplied goods before agreeing to pay for any meal/order.

The page, which has since been edited, also informed users that they were prohibited from making false orders through our website.

It also warned that it would seek compensation if it suffered losses incurred as the result of hoax delivery requests.

The section of the Seaborne website which raised questions from MPs and has since been changed (PA)

Seaborne was one of three firms awarded contracts totalling 108 million last week to lay on additional crossings to ease the pressure on Dover when Britain pulls out of the EU, despite having never run a Channel service.

The Department for Transport (DfT), which has insisted that the company was properly vetted before being given taxpayers money, said the section had been put up in error and since corrected.

Seaborne Freight. No ships, no trading history and website T&Cs copied and pasted from a takeaway delivery site... (h/t @ormondroyd) pic.twitter.com/yuVnNFXjqo  Tom Watson (@tom_watson) January 3, 2019

Tom Watson, the Labour deputy leader, said: Seaborne Freight. No ships, no trading history and website T&Cs copied and pasted from a takeaway delivery site

Fellow Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, a supporter of the Best for Britain group, added: This is beyond a joke.

Its not just that the Government have panic hired a firm with no ships to conduct ferry services.

That firm has literally nothing prepared to suggest the 13.8 million handed over to them is a sound investment.

Theyve seemingly copied and pasted their terms off a takeaway fast food website, and their login portal sends you back to Google.

On Wednesday, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling defended the contract award to the firm, saying it was an example of the Government supporting new business.

Seaborne aims to operate freight ferries from Ramsgate in Kent to the Belgian port of Ostend, beginning with two ships in late March and increasing to four by the end of the summer.

It was established two years ago and has been in negotiations about running freight ferries between Ramsgate and Ostend, but no services are currently running.

Narrow berths in the port mean there are few suitable commercial vessels available.

A spokesman for the firm said: Seaborne Freight (UK) Limited (SFL) is currently making preparations across its business for re-introducing the Ramsgate to Ostend ferry service and has been working on the project for the past two years.

Naturally these preparations include ongoing updates to its pre-launch website, including T&Cs.

A DfT spokeswoman added: This section of the terms and conditions on the companys website was put up in error.

This has now been rectified.
Detectives are continuing to question two men arrested on suspicion of arranging the illegal movement of migrants into the UK.

A National Crime Agency spokeswoman said a 33-year-old Iranian national and a 24-year-old British man were arrested in Manchester on Wednesday evening. They remain in police custody.

It comes as HMS Mersey, which was reported to be on standby to patrol the English Channel in response to concerns about refugees crossing the Channel, left Portsmouth Harbour on the south coast on Thursday afternoon.

HMS Mersey leaves Portsmouth Harbour (Steve Parsons/PA)

HMS Mersey, an offshore patrol vessel, was described by a Ministry of Defence source on Wednesday as available and ready following a request by Home Secretary Sajid Javid to use Royal Navy strength.

It is believed HMS Mersey left on Thursday afternoon to carry out scheduled fishing patrols.

A second vessel, river-class Royal Navy patrol ship HMS Tyne, also left the harbour on Thursday.

A defence spokesman declined to comment on operational matters.

Sending HMS Mersey to patrol the Channel would represent a significant escalation of Britains response to the migration issue after Mr Javid earlier this week announced the redeployment of two Border Force cutters from the Mediterranean.

On Wednesday Mr Javid was criticised for questioning whether migrants using small boats to make risky journeys across the English Channel are genuine asylum seekers.

He also suggested those picked up by UK authorities faced having asylum requests denied as a deterrent to prevent others undertaking the same dangerous journey.

The Home Secretary defended describing it as a major incident.

He told reporters 539 people had attempted to cross the Strait in 2018, with 80% making the journey in the last three months of the year.

Labour backbencher Stella Creasy, who has visited migrant camps in Calais, accused Mr Javid of normalising anti-refugee rhetoric online.

(PA Graphics)

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said Mr Javid was right to say that the UKs proud tradition of granting asylum is not abused.

While on a visit to Malaysia, Mr Hunt was asked if he shared Mr Javids suggestion that those attempting the crossing may not be genuine asylum seekers.

I think the Home Secretary is right to say that, as a country that is very proud of our tradition of granting asylum to people who need it, we also want to make sure that isnt abused, he said.

But our priority right now is the safety of people in the Channel; to discourage people from making this very dangerous crossing, but to make sure that everyone that does is kept safe.
The draft EU Withdrawal Agreement flies in the face of Government commitments on Northern Ireland, Nigel Dodds has said.

The DUP deputy leader met Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday along with his partys Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson and MEP Diane Dodds.

He reiterated the partys concerns over the proposed Northern Ireland border backstop, which proponents in Europe and the Irish Republic have called an insurance policy to protect frictionless all-island trade.

Mr Dodds said: The Irish Republics no deal preparations published just before Christmas have laid bare the nonsense propaganda about a hard border.

No-one wants a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic.

Indeed, its becoming clearer by the day that no one is ever going to construct such a border.

The draft EU Withdrawal Agreement flies in the face of Government commitments on Northern Ireland, Nigel Dodds said (Michael Cooper/PA)

With this clarity emerging in London, Dublin and Brussels, there is evidently no need for the aspects of the Withdrawal Agreement, which have been so vigorously opposed by a broad cross-section of the House of Commons.

The Withdrawal Agreement, as currently proposed, flies in the face of the Governments commitments on Northern Ireland as we leave the EU.

Statement following meeting with @10DowningStreet



Principled objections to Withdrawal Agreement remain: Dodds pic.twitter.com/wKmgZp9LjV  Nigel Dodds (@NigelDoddsDUP) January 3, 2019

The UK Government has said it does not want a hard border reimposed on the island of Ireland.

Mrs May has also said the country will exit the EU as one United Kingdom.

Contrary to pro-EU spin, the border backstop keeping Northern Ireland aligned with the Republic on trade matters is not the best of both worlds, Mr Dodds said.

It is potentially indefinite in time, would place a barrier between us and our main trading partner in Great Britain and give enormous leverage to the European Union in the negotiations on the future relationship with the United Kingdom.

Mr Dodds said the party would have further discussions with the Prime Minister and will continue to work with the Government in the interests of getting a better deal.

Brussels must now demonstrate that if it truly cares about Northern Ireland, then erecting a new east-west barrier should be no more palatable than having any new north-south barriers, he said.

Meanwhile, Best for Britain, which describes itself as an organisation attempting to keep the UK open to EU membership, said the DUP had pulled the rug out from underneath the Prime Minister.

It claimed: Her Brexit deal is dead in the water. If Theresa May cant convince Nigel Dodds and her own party to back her deal after a one-to-one, why should the country support it?

It irritates Leavers and Remainers alike, and it actively concedes influence over British laws. Its a bad deal. Theres only one solution to this nightmare.

We need to give the public a final say on Brexit with the option to stay and strengthen ourselves within Europe.
The Irish government is considering a grant scheme for Northern Ireland students applying to universities in the Republic, to avoid fee hikes post-Brexit.

A-level students in Northern Ireland say they have been left in limbo over whether they will have to pay non-EU student fees after the UK leaves the EU in March, a factor that could heavily determine where they choose to attend university.

Irish Education Minister Joe McHugh said all Irish cabinet ministers were currently looking at their own departments to assess whether new legislation would be needed after Brexit, however he had been made aware of this specific issue in the last few days.

Well be looking within the education department around support grants or systems for students in Northern Ireland as to what will happen in 2019 or 2020 and the years following, he said.

I had a very good conversation with (Minister for Foreign Affairs) Simon Coveney this morning, hes very much of the opinion, like myself, that the common travel area agreements that we have will be protected in the eventuality of even a hard Brexit or no deal.

When asked if students from Northern Ireland would need an Irish passport to secure the proposed grants, Mr McHugh said the fine print had not yet been set out.

Students from Northern Ireland currently pay 3,000 euro (2,700) a year towards their tuition (David Cheskin/PA)

Every Northern Irish citizen, when theyre born, has the option of being an Irish or British citizen or both, whatever the stipulation or small print thats needed, the most important thing is the systems in place at the moment continue, and thats where Im keeping my focus at the moment, he said.

Were very conscious about the uncertainty that has arisen because of this conversation in the last few days.

Students from Northern Ireland currently pay 3,000 euro (2,700) a year towards their tuition, the same as those from Ireland and the rest of the EU.

However, those fees could rise by at least 10,000 euro (9,000) a year if Northern Ireland students were to be classed as non-EU after Brexit.

The most recent figures from the Higher Education Authority (HEA) show that there were 1,328 students from Northern Ireland at universities, colleges and institutes of technology in the Republic in 2017/18.

Students from Northern Ireland who are already studying at a university in the Republic of Ireland have been told their current fees will not change over the course of their degree.
British number one Kyle Edmund has pledged to do everything he can to be fit for the Australian Open after picking up a knee injury.

The 23-year-old, who is ranked 14th in the world, has withdrawn from next weeks Sydney International, which was set to be his final warm-up event before the years first grand slam in Melbourne.

I am disappointed that I wont be able to return to Sydney, Edmund was quoted as saying on the Twitter account of the Sydney International.

I need to focus on my preparations for the Australian Open and do everything I can to be fit for the first grand slam of the year.

Edmund reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open in 2018, losing to Marin Cilic in straight sets, but suffered a shock defeat to Japans world number 185 Yasutaka Uchiyama on Wednesday in the Brisbane International.

The Australian Open gets under way on January 14.
Mohib is visiting India at the invitation of NSA Doval from January 3 to 5, the MEA said on Friday.

New Delhi: Even as US President Donald Trump has mocked Indias efforts to usher in development in strife-torn Afghani-stan, visiting Afghan national security adviser Hamdullah Mohib  who is already on a three-day visit to New Delhi that began on Thursday  appreciated the assistance provided by India for economic development and reconstruction of Afghanistan and also for human resource development, including training of Afghan National Defence and Security Forces in India. In another development, NSA Ajit Doval is also expected to visit Kabul soon.

Highlighting the close Indo-Afghan ties, the Afghan NSA briefed his Indian counterpart about the security situation, the holding of parliamentary elections and scheduled presidential elections, and efforts of the Governm-ent of Afghanistan at peace and reconciliation. The visit and discussions took place in the backdrop of the American move to pull out thousands of US troops from Afghanistan.

Mr Mohib is visiting India at the invitation of NSA Doval from January 3 to 5, the MEA said on Friday.

Mr Doval also conveyed Indias continued support for the efforts of the government and the people of Afghanistan to bring peace, security and prosperity in that country.

New Delhi is backing the Afghan government to the hilt even as the Pakistan-backed Afghan Taliban has carried out a series of terrorist strikes in the country.

As already reported, in response to President Trumps barb against India, government sources in New Delhi had pointed out that India is carrying out development work in Afghanistan to change peoples lives there as per the requirements spelt out by the Afghan Government, adding clearly that India does not deploy troops abroad except under UN-mandated operations. Sources had also said India provides development assistance worth billions of dollars to Afghanistan and is the largest donor in the region, besides constructing infrastructure in Afghanistan including roads and dams as well as laying electricity transmission lines and supplying wheat and drinking water to the strife-torn nation.
A rescue operation is under way to help a sperm whale believed to be tangled in rope in a loch.

Coastguards were called to Loch Eriboll, near Durness in Sutherland, by the Scottish SPCA at around 12.30pm on Wednesday.

The 30ft-long mammal is believed to be trapped in the sea loch and a British Divers Marine Life Rescue Team is en route with a disentanglement kit.

We are working closely with the Scottish SPCA and HM Coastguard to monitor and assess the sperm whale in Loch Eriboll. We have specialist disentanglement equipment ready to use should it be confirmed that the whale is in some way caught in lines preventing it leaving the loch.  BDMLR (@BDMLR) January 3, 2019

A Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokeswoman said the sperm whale is still swimming and urged the public to keep a safe distance.

Durness, Melness and Kinlochbervie coastguard rescue teams along with Scottish SPCA officers have been monitoring the whale.

Sperm whales are one of the worlds deepest diving mammals, with mature males averaging around 50ft long.
Four pensioners  including a man aged in his 80s  were rescued from a sheltered housing scheme after a fire broke out.

Firefighters from as far as Lisburn, Co Antrim responded to a call on Wednesday night from Mount Vernon Court sheltered dwellings in north Belfast.

A fire was reported at a flat in the complex at 9.54pm.

Firefighters rescued 3 people and led a a man to safety from a fire at Mount Vernon sheltered dwellings, Belfast last night. For more information https://t.co/5r8iu0amrL pic.twitter.com/er6t4UGdVs  Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (@NIFRSOFFICIAL) January 3, 2019

A man in his 80s was led to safety by firefighters and treated at the scene for smoke inhalation but did not attend hospital.

Firefighters rescued a woman in her 70s and two men in their 60s and 70s from the property. They were not injured in the blaze.

A Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said five fire appliances from Whitla, Lisburn, Westland and Central fire stations attended the incident.

Firefighters in Belfast rescued four elderly people from a blaze at a sheltered housing complex (PA)

Ive just released a statement regarding the accidental fire last night at Mount Vernon Court (Sheltered Dwellings). I want to put on record my appreciation to the Fire & Ambulance Services in their response. Were so grateful for all that you do!  pic.twitter.com/qyu0B1HRIf  Guy Spence (@GuySpence) January 3, 2019

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus extinguished the fire in the flat and ventilated the property, the spokesman said.

Sounding smoke alarms alerted the occupants to the fire. The cause of the fire was accidental. The incident was dealt with at 11.59pm.

Democratic Unionist councillor Guy Spence commended the work of the firefighters.

Were so grateful for all that you do, Mr Spence added.
Qualifications needed to fill artificial intelligence (AI) jobs in Northern Ireland will be under-supplied in coming years, the Economy Department has warned.

Computer science, engineering and mathematics are among the top subjects sought by employers as part of an anticipated fourth industrial revolution in which use of technology replaces human intelligence.

The specialisms were under-represented among job applicants, research for the Stormont department in charge of steering the local economy suggested.

The departments report said: Artificial intelligence is expected to have a significant impact on not just the future labour market, but also society and our daily way of life more generally.

AI will present challenges, particularly for those with lower skills who perform routine tasks as part of their jobs, but also many opportunities.

Northern Ireland has an opportunity to be a global leader in developing and supporting AI, and is already creating jobs not just in ICT, but also more broadly in education and professional services.

Qualifications needed to fill artificial intelligence jobs in Northern Ireland will be `under-supplied over coming years, the Economy Department said (Peter Byrne/PA)

However, in order to realise this opportunity, Northern Ireland must supply people with the required qualifications and skills needed for AI jobs.

Artificial intelligence uses are very diverse, ranging from understanding healthcare data and autonomous robotic systems, to video game design and content creation.

Deep expertise in trading and payments technologies, #regtech , analytics and #cybersecurity together with pioneering activity in disruptive technologies such as #blockchain and AI, underpins Northern Ireland's global reputation as a location of choice for #FinTech development. pic.twitter.com/gNZoRryTWI  Andrea Haughian (@Andrea_Haughian) December 11, 2018

The Skills Barometer review suggested that many of the subjects needed by those filling such jobs are going to be under-supplied in the coming years, potentially acting as a constraint on progress, the report said.

It added: Clever solutions, such as recruiting people with non-STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects who show relevant skills and the assured skills model of retraining, may therefore be needed to support the growth of an AI sector in Northern Ireland.

Increasing automation of jobs represents a fourth industrial revolution, which threatens a tenth of UK posts and 15% in Ireland, Bank of England Governor Mark Carney told an audience at the Republics Central Bank in Dublin last year.

He warned of the danger of mismatched skills, under-employment and adverse outcomes.
The EU has confirmed no further meetings are foreseen with the UK on updating Theresa Mays Brexit deal  as negotiations have concluded.

A spokeswoman for European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said the leaders of the remaining 27 countries have been very clear that what is on the table will not be renegotiated.

The comments are a blow to the Prime Minister, who is trying to get concessions on the Northern Irish backstop plans in her Withdrawal Agreement in the hope it will convince MPs to vote it through Parliament later this month.

The matter will go before MPs later this month (Adrian Dennis/PA)

At a press conference in Brussels this morning, Mina Andreeva, deputy chief spokeswoman for the European Commission, was asked what talks will be held before the Commons has its say on the deal on the week of January 14.

She said: We have said many times the deal that is on the table is the best and only deal possible. And the EU27 leaders confirmed on December 13 in their conclusions that it will not be renegotiated.

Ms Andreeva said the EU side have started the ratification process on the terms in the Withdrawal Agreement, adding: For now, no further meetings are foreseen between the commissions negotiators and the UK negotiators as the negotiations have indeed been concluded.

She said Mr Juncker is always willing to listen Mrs Mays views on the backstop, but when asked what else he can do to help her deal get through Parliament, she rebuffed any chance of altering the backstop as it currently stands.

Ms Andreeva said: We are not renegotiating what is on the table, our solutions are on the table, we are ready to listen but at this stage there are no further meetings and the EU 27 leaders have been very clear that it will not be renegotiated, what is on the table.

Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

She said that, in a newspaper interview at the end of December, President Juncker reiterated very clearly that we have put all the solutions on the table and now it is up the British people and MPs to decide on the next steps.

Her words come after the Brexit Secretary warned that no deal will be far more likely if MPs reject the Governments Brexit deal later this month.

Writing in the Daily Express, Stephen Barclay said: There is obviously division in Parliament over the PMs Brexit deal. Its not a perfect deal.

But its the only workable deal that delivers on the democratic choice of the British people. And its the best way to avoid no-deal. As we return to Parliament, MPs must consider the alternative.

The Cabinet minister also confirmed the Government is to accelerate our no-deal planning further, adding: The pace and intensity of the work we are doing reflects the potential scale of this disruption to people and businesses across the UK that a no-deal scenario could bring.

He added: And, on Tuesday, we will start a new phase in our public information campaign, using radio and social media to further raise awareness about the need to prepare.
Sir Billy Connolly admitted he is near the end and life is slipping away as he spoke about his life with Parkinsons disease.

The revered comedian was diagnosed with the degenerative neurological condition in 2013 and will appear in the second part of his BBC documentary series Made In Scotland on Friday.

Sir Billy will reflect on his life and career in showbiz while insisting he is not scared of death.

Sir Billy Connolly has reflected on his life and career in a BBC documentary (Matt Crossick/PA)

According to the Daily Mirror, he will say: My life, its slipping away and I can feel it and I should. Im 75, Im near the end. Im a damn sight nearer the end than I am the beginning. But it doesnt frighten me, its an adventure and it is quite interesting to see myself slipping away.

As bits slip off and leave me, talents leave and attributes leave. I dont have the balance I used to have, I dont have the energy I used to have. I cant hear the way I used to hear, I cant see as good as I used to. I cant remember the way I used to remember.

And they all came one at a time and they just slipped away, thank you. It is like somebody is in charge of you and they are saying right, I added all these bits when you were a youth, now it is time to subtract.

Glasgow-born Sir Billy, nicknamed The Big Yin, was a welder in his home city before becoming a globally-renowned comedian.

He was diagnosed with Parkinsons  a neurological condition that impacts movement and speech  while undergoing surgery for early-stage prostate cancer in 2013.

Sir Billy has turned 76 since the BBC documentary was filmed and has had to cut back on performing due to his illness.

He is known for his energetic performing style but said Parkinsons prevented him from moving around the stage like he did at his peak.

At one point during the programme, Sir Billy, who is married to psychologist Pamela Stephenson, reportedly asks for filming to stop as he appears to be struggling with the effects of the disease.

Speaking about Parkinsons, he said: It takes a certain calm to deal with, and I sometimes dont have it. I sometimes get angry with it, but that doesnt last long, I just collapse in laughter.

Billy Connolly: Made In Scotland will air on BBC2 at 9pm on Friday.
A house belonging to a west Belfast family has been badly damaged in a fire believed to have been started deliberately, just days after two other attacks.

The blaze at the house in the Dermott Hill Parade area in the early hours of Thursday morning gutted the ground floor of the property.

No-one was inside the house at the time but the smoke spread to the house next door where a number of people had to be evacuated.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland are treating the incident as arson.

The incident is being treated as arson (Rebecca Black/PA)

They have not commented on speculation that dissident republicans are behind the attacks.

A PSNI official said police believe the latest attack may be linked to criminal damage at the same address on January 1, in which a number of windows were smashed.

We are also investigating a possible link to a shooting incident at residential premises in the Upper Springfield road area, which was reported to police on Tuesday, the official added.

Everyone has a right to live in a safe and stable community and this type of senseless and reckless criminality will not be tolerated.

Police have appealed for witnesses (Rebecca Black/PA)

Those living in the local area who have any information should bring it to police immediately so that we can bring the perpetrators to justice.

The Dermot Hill Parade house was attacked on New Years Eve.

George Richmond, who lived in the house, said thousands of pounds of damage was inflicted with windows, window frames and doors smashed.

Hours later, in the early hours of New Years Day, shots were fired at a nearby flat where his daughter Georgina, a former contestant on the Voice of Ireland competition, lived in the Upper Springfield Road area.

The family have left the two properties.
A man who was arrested by police investigating the murder of a security guard a New Years Eve party in Park Lane has been charged with firearms offences.

Scotland Yard said Imran Mostafa Kamel, 26, of Ealing, west London, has been charged with possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear or danger and possession of a firearm when prohibited for life.

He is to appear at Londons Westminster Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Security guard Tudor Simionov, 33, was working outside the private event at Fountain House in Park Lane in the capitals West End when he was attacked on January 1 at around 5.30am.

A man has been charged with firearms offences as part of the investigation into the murder of a man in Park Lane #Westminster on 1Jan. https://t.co/zYROytnmMa pic.twitter.com/QcRKM0jen3  Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) January 3, 2019

He was stabbed to death as he tried to stop gatecrashers storming into a party.

Scotland Yard said the charges have been brought in connection with a separate incident at Fountain House on January 1 at around 5.36am in which no firearm was discharged.

Undated handout photo issued by the Metropolitan Police of security guard Tudor Simionov, who was stabbed to death outside a private New Years party at the Fountain House on Park Lane, central London.

The charges are not directly connected to Mr Simionovs death or the other people who injured in the attack, the spokesman said.

Two of Mr Simionovs colleagues, aged 29 and 37, were also stabbed during the fight, as was a 29-year-old woman. Their injuries are not life-threatening.
Nearly 2,000 ambulance patients were left waiting for at least an hour to be handed over to hospital staff during Christmas week, latest figures show.

NHS Englands weekly operational update showed some 9.8% of patients (9,717) had an ambulance handover delay of more than 30 minutes during the week from Christmas Eve, down from 17.3% in the same week last year, the body said.

The number of ambulance patients being kept waiting more than an hour to be handed over was 1,830  an increase from 1,744 the previous week, and 1,491 the week before that.

It equates to 1.8% of ambulance handovers taking longer than 60 minutes, down from 4.8% (4,734 patients) on that same week last year  something described as an improvement by an NHS England spokesman, although the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said having to wait was distressing for patients.

(PA Graphics)

The data also found eight hospital trusts were forced to temporarily turn away ambulances from A&E on at least one occasion in the week ending December 30, up from seven trusts the previous week, but down from 13 the week before that.

The bed occupancy rate during Christmas week was at 87.5%, down from 91.2% and 93.4% the previous two weeks. The benchmark is 92%.

The latest figures are based on an increase in patients arriving at A&E by ambulance  up from 96,284 to 99,091 to 99,156 during the most recent three weeks.

An NHS spokesman said: Thanks to the hard work and preparation of NHS staff, the health service is performing better this winter than last, with people being seen more quickly in emergency departments, fewer ambulance delays, evening and weekend GP appointments across the country and more people able to leave hospital and get home sooner, all of which is good for patients and makes best use of NHS resources.

While so far this year there have been fewer people reporting illness linked to flu, norovirus and respiratory problems, health problems over winter remain a risk, so the public can help us to help them by getting their flu jab and taking simple steps like keeping their home warm, and using convenient services like NHS 111 and high street pharmacists.

Flu and norovirus figures are still comparatively low (Peter Byrne/PA)

The latest data shows of the 12,723 patients arriving at A&E by ambulance on Christmas Day, 36 were kept waiting at least an hour for their handover. This included seven of the 70 ambulance arrivals at Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

NHS England said that during an ambulance handover delay, very few patients actually remain in the ambulance and are moved into the hospital where they are attended by a paramedic.

Stephanie Aiken, RCN deputy director of nursing, said: Having to wait outside in an ambulance in this way because A&E is already dangerously overcrowded is distressing not just for patients but also for staff, who cant provide proper care.

Its very worrying that were seeing so much overcrowding in A&E departments and wards before cold weather has hit in earnest, and while flu and norovirus levels are still relatively low.

Danny Mortimer, deputy chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents organisations across the healthcare sector, said the NHS had delivered significant improvements on last years performance, something he described as welcome news for patients and the public.

However, he said the NHS is not yet in the clear.

He said: Ambulance delays and bed occupancy rates are both down, while we have seen far fewer A&Es diverting patients.

This is very encouraging but our members tell us that the toughest days may well come later in the winter so they will be prepared for this.
Three children have to take a flight from a remote Scottish island so they can learn to swim.

Freyja Parnaby, six, Grace Parnaby, nine, and Lewis Wright-Stanners, nine, regularly travel from the Fair Isle to Shetland for their lessons.

Each time they face the potential that their flight home may be cancelled due to adverse weather, leaving them stranded on the mainland.

The children, from Fair Isle Primary School, take the 25-minute flight with their head teacher Ruth Stout, funded by the education department.

She said: As we dont have a pool on Fair Isle, for the kids to be able to learn to swim we simply have to fly to the nearest pool.

About 50% of our lessons that we plan dont happen as the weather often sees our flights get cancelled at short notice.

The three young swimmers beside the plane which takes them to their lessons (Holyrood PR/PA)

Its not the smoothest journey from Fair Isle to Tingwall  in the summer there can be too much fog to fly and in the winter too much wind.

So we just have to be flexible. We always over pack, for example, because we cant take it as a given that if we do make it to the mainland well be able to get back.

Fair Isle  home to 60 people  is the most geographically remote inhabited island in the United Kingdom.

It is 25 miles south of Shetlands mainland and 237 miles away.

The archipelago is the UKs most northerly provider of Scottish Swimmings Learn to Swim Framework  backed by Scottish Water  with around 900 youngsters from across the islands receiving lessons at eight pools delivered by Shetland Recreational Trust.

Fair Isles pupils and headteacher stay at Anderson High Schools halls of residence on Shetland for two or three nights at a time so they can fit in multiple lessons.

Gary Morgan, lead aquatics teacher at Clickimin Leisure Complex, added: Its always a pleasure to teach the children from Fair Isle, especially given the remarkable effort they make to travel to the pool.

Their enthusiasm is wonderful and its great to have the Learn to Swim Framework to document their progress.

Brian Lironi, of Scottish Water, said: Shetland  and remote islands such as Fair Isle  are surrounded by water so its so important that children, from a young age, are competent swimmers.

Were extremely proud to be supporting the Learn to Swim Framework across Scotland and its fantastic to see that even when pools arent always within easy reach, geography is no barrier to learning to swim.
A retired couple who offered the chance to win their 500,000 four-bedroom home and swimming pool with a 10 raffle ticket have had to close the competition with sincere regret and upset.

Robert and Avril Smith announced last year that they were hoping to sell 60,000 of the 10 tickets giving the public a chance to win their home in Grosmont, North Yorkshire.

The winner was originally to be drawn on Thursday, but Mr and Mrs Smith said they are back to square one after being told by the Gambling Commission that it was not a legal prize competition.

The couple said they had already extended the draw date to August after the charity Cancer Research UK had agreed they could hand out leaflets for the competition at some of the charitys events in 2019, but found out just before Christmas they could not continue.

In a post on the website set up by the couple to administer the competition, they said: It is with sincere regret and upset that this competition has to close.

The Gambling Commission has deemed the competition a potential lottery and not a legal prize competition.

10 notes (Bank of England/PA)

We understand the disappointment to you all and can only apologise sincerely as well as offer a full refund.

Last year, Mr and Mrs Smith said the home has an outdoor heated pool, log cabin, orangery and hot tub, but they wanted to move closer to their son in Harrogate.

They also hoped to raise up to 60,000 for Cancer Research UK through the sale.

Mrs Smith battled cancer 10 years ago and the couple also lost their daughter three years ago.

Her husband said on the website: As you will have seen, my wife and I have been through a lot over the last three years and it was hoped that this would give us the break we need. Unfortunately, we are back to square one.

On Thursday, Mr Smith said the Gambling Commission had been aware of the competition in July but only informed him of its decision a few days before Christmas.

He said: This has been our worst Christmas in 48 years of marriage. But weve just got to try and pick ourselves up.

Mr Smith, 75, said they are now refunding more than 6,000 people who bought a ticket  some buying more than one.

He said: They will not lose out. The only losers are me, my wife and Cancer Research.

He added that he will still be making a donation to the charity.

The couple criticised the Gambling Commission for not informing them sooner and also said the decision was contrary to the legal advice they had been given.

They said the house is open to offers in the normal way and ticket refunds can be claimed through the website.

The Gambling Commission said it could not comment on specific cases but a spokesman said: The commission has duties to prevent illegal gambling.

This includes identifying when promotions described as competitions or free prize draws are in fact lotteries which should be properly licensed.

In regulating lotteries we work to protect the funds that go to a range of good causes such as charities, hospices, air-ambulance services or other not-for-profit causes, all of which heavily rely on income from lotteries to support their work.

The commission will act where schemes are organised and promoted that amount to unlicensed and illegal gambling.

Jaelithe Leigh-Brown, Cancer Research UK spokeswoman, said: We would like to thank Robert and Avril for their offer to make a donation to CRUK. We sincerely hope that they can find a way to move closer to their son in Harrogate.
Over the years, Kriti has portrayed characters that have resonated with her audience.

In a heart-warming gesture, Kriti Sanon started the year by visiting an orphanage and spending quality time with children. The actress danced along with the kids on her chartbuster songs Aao Kabhi Haveli Pe and Sweety Tera Drama. The children also prepared performances. In addition to the fun interactions, the engineer-turned-actress talked to the children on the importance of education and guided them about their career.

Kriti shared the photos and videos of her dancing with the kids on Instagram with the caption, reading, Kids are the best stress busters!! ?So much fun to spend time with these little ones.. made my day!! ????Smiled & laughed till my cheeks hurt! 2019 feels good!

Moreover, Kriti, who has a huge fan base among the children, came across a young fan who got emotional on meeting the actress and was absolutely delighted to see the her.

Over the years, Kriti has portrayed characters that have resonated with her audience. The actress last outing Bareilly Ki Barfi garnered a lot of critical acclaim and love from her viewers. Only four films old, the actress seems to have a chock -a- block schedule with projects like Housefull 4, Luka Chuppi, Panipat and Arjun Patiala all set for release this year.
The Transport Secretary has conceded the recent rise in rail fares, brought in while ScotRail struggles with performance targets, is unwelcome for travellers.

Michael Matheson said while the performance of ScotRail operator Abellio is not where it should be, passengers are still facing the prospect of price hikes for tickets each year.

Freezing train fares could cost the public purse an estimated 58 million, he added, warning that could have a significant impact on taxpayers.

Pressed on whether there will continue to be annual price hikes, Mr Matheson said: That is how the whole of the fare structure within the UK for our rail system operates, on an annual basis with there being increases in January.

He was speaking the day after the average cost of train tickets in Scotland increased by 2.8%  although travellers on peak time services will see their journey costs rise 3.2%.

Interested to note @ScotRail have increased fares by 2.8%, whilst cancelling many trains recently. Happy New Year commuters! #scotfail  Steve Hill (@stevehillthen) January 2, 2019

Transport Scotland defended the rise as being below the 3.1% average increase being faced by rail travellers in England and Wales.

But some opposition politicians and transport unions hit out, saying prices should be frozen because of ScotRails performance problems.

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard tweeted: Passengers shouldnt be forced to pay more to prop up the failed privatisation of our railways.

Mick Hogg, of the RMT union, said Scotlands train travellers are sick to the back teeth of a rail service that is not working.

Speaking on BBC Radio Scotlands Good Morning Scotland programme, the unions regional officer said: Passengers are getting ripped off with crowded trains, cancelled trains and not enough staff to run the trains.

There should not be an increase in fares because passengers are getting a rotten service.

The RMT union has criticised the price hike. (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Mr Matheson told the same programme: I recognise that the annual increase in rail fares is something which is something which is often unwelcome, particularly when we are going through a period when the rail franchise operator Abellio have not been performing to the levels which we expect.

I do recognise that the performance we have with ScotRail at the present time is not where it should be, we have been very clear and are taking action on that matter.

But I do recognise it is an unwelcome increase.

Just before Christmas, the Scottish Government ordered ScotRail bosses to improve performance levels.

A remedial notice issued on December 24 cited cancellations throughout November and December as having breached required performance targets.

The rail operator had introduced a new timetable earlier that month which was expected to improve the service. However passengers faced a number of cancellations across the country, with staff training and infrastructure problems leading to significant disruption.

A response to the notice must be delivered within eight weeks, outlining how ScotRail will resolve the issues.
Two of the UKs most prominent women in banking have been appointed to the Bank of Englands financial watchdog.

Former Virgin Money boss Dame Jayne-Anne Gadhia has been named as an incoming external member of the Banks Financial Policy Committee (FPC), just days after being recognised in the Queens New Years honours list.

The Treasury also announced that Banking Standards Board chairwoman Dame Colette Bowe will join the FPC as it boosts the ranks of senior women at the Bank.

Incoming FPC member Jayne-Anne Gadhia was awarded a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2019 New Year Honours list. (Virgin Money/PA)

It comes after the Bank has come under fire for missing its own targets on gender diversity.

The Treasury revealed that 20 of the 42 applicants for the FPC roles were women, with five women and three men reaching the shortlist stage.

Chancellor Philip Hammond said: The Financial Policy Committees importance to the protection and resilience of our economy cannot be overstated, which is why we have some of the finest talent in finance on it.

The insight and experience that both Dame Colette and Dame Jayne-Anne bring will be valuable assets to the committees vital work.

Bank of England governor Mark Carney added further praise for the new FPC hires.

He said Dame Colette  also a former chairwoman of the regulator Ofcom  has led the way in developing and embedding better standards of conduct across the banking sector.

Her experience in the private sector and handling some of the biggest regulatory challenges of our times will also be extremely valuable to the committees deliberations in the coming years, he said.

He also welcomed Dame Jayne-Annes deep and relevant experience in retail banking.

In her public policy she has championed the transformative impact of adopting new technologies and of greater diversity within the workforce of the financial services industry, he said.

The duo will replace incumbent external FPC members Richard Sharp and Martin Taylor, who are stepping down at the end of the first quarter and second quarter respectively.

Dame Jayne-Anne will take up her role in time for the FPCs second quarter round of meetings, with Dame Colette taking up her post in time for the third quarter round of meetings.

It comes after the ex-Virgin Money chief executive received a Damehood for her contribution to financial services and women in the finance industry, adding to the CBE she received in 2014.

The appointments may go some way to helping improve the image of the Bank on gender diversity after it faced criticism last year over the hiring of two men to senior roles, including Sir Dave Ramsden on the Monetary Policy Committee.

There was also a backlash after deputy governor Ben Broadbent described the UK economy as menopausal in May.
The Government has stepped up patrols in the English Channel following a rise in attempts to reach the UK in recent weeks.

 How many people have attempted the crossing?

In 2018, 539 migrants attempted to travel to the UK on small boats. Of these, 227 (42%) were intercepted by French authorities before they made it to the UK, according to Home Office figures. The statistics show 434 (81%) of the 539 made their attempts in the last three months of the year.

(PA Graphics)

 Where are those who are rescued at sea taken?

Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, but generally people rescued in UK waters are brought to Britain while those picked up on the French side are taken to France.



 What happens once they arrive in the UK?

Home Secretary Sajid Javid said on Wednesday that in almost every case those who make the journey go on to claim asylum in the UK. Asylum applicants arriving in these circumstances are given a medical assessment before being transferred to immigration officials for an initial interview. They are then provided with accommodation while their application proceeds through the system.

(PA Graphics)

An EU rule known as the Dublin Regulation is used to determine which member state is responsible for examining asylum claims. Other Dublin states can request that the UK take responsibility for asylum claimants, and vice versa. In 2017, there were 461 transfers into the UK and 314 transfers out under the Dublin Regulation.

 How is the Channel patrolled?

Currently one Border Force cutter, HMC Vigilant, is deployed in the Channel, alongside two smaller coastal patrol vessels. The number of cutters will rise to three after two were recalled from abroad to join the operation.

 What do the cutters do?

They can rescue several migrant boats at the same time, with as many as 200 people picked up in a single mission. Other functions include searching vessels for restricted goods, carrying out strategic patrols and providing support to other agencies. Each of Border Forces five cutters has two crews that rotate on a fortnightly basis. The cutters work within a maximum range of 2,300 nautical miles, and are expected to be able to respond within 30 minutes of a call.
Thai authorities have suspended ferry services and begun evacuations ahead of a powerful tropical storm that is expected to pound the countrys southern beach resorts during a peak tourism season.

Rain is already falling around the Gulf of Thailand and officials warned that torrential downpours, strong winds and rough seas are forecast in 16 provinces when Tropical Storm Pabuk makes its expected landfall on Friday.

There are fears the storm will be the worst to hit Thailand since 1989, when Typhoon Gay left more than 400 dead.

A sandbank built to protect properties of seaside communities in Songkhla, Thailand (Sumeth Panpetch/AP)

A tropical storm in 1962 killed more than 900 people in the south.

In what was possibly related to the storm, a Russian tourist in Koh Samui drowned as he tried to rescue his daughter, who was struggling in strong surf.

Thai PBS television reported that the daughter survived but her father lost consciousness after being tossed against some rocks and could not be revived by rescuers.

There will be heavy rainfall and we have to prepare for flooding or an impact on transportation, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said.

We are ready ourselves, but if the rainfall is high we will need some time to resolve problems.

Thai men push a fishing boat off the ocean to a safer location in Songkhla, Thailand (Sumeth Panpetch/AP)

He later held a video conference with the governors of the 16 provinces to discuss preparations for the emergency, including digging canals to run off floodwaters, mobilising rescue vehicles, ordering all boats to be docked, and readying medical facilities.

Thailands Meteorological Department said the storm will lash southern Thailands east coast from Thursday to Saturday, with the provinces of Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat expected to be hardest hit.

Surat Thani is home to the popular tourist islands of Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Phangan.

The department said the storm was moving west into the Gulf of Thailand with maximum winds of 65 kilometres per hour (40mph).

It said waves three to five metres (10ft to 16ft) high were possible in the Gulf of Thailand and two to three metres (6ft to 10ft) high in the Andaman Sea on the west coast.

Tourists walk in Chaweng Beach in Koh Samui, Thailand as a red flag indicating expected rough weather conditions displayed on the beach (Sithipong Charoenjai/AP)

It warned of strong winds and storm surges on the gulf side and said all ships should stay berthed on land through until Saturday.

Southern Thailands tourist industry is a huge moneymaker and authorities have become particularly sensitive to visitors safety since last July, when 47 Chinese tourists drowned when the boat they were on sank in rough seas near the popular resort of Phuket in the Andaman Sea.

Fishing is another major industry in the south, and small boat owners were heeding the warning.

Many dragged their vessels ashore, attaching ropes to the boats and having friends help tug them on to beaches.

Thai men push a fishing boat off the ocean to a safer location in Songkhla, Thailand (Sumeth Panpetch/AP)

Two natural gas production platforms in the Gulf of Thailand directly in the path of the storm suspended operations and had their personnel evacuated to shore, said the exploration and production arm of the That state oil company PTT.

It said drilling rigs and vessels had been moved to unaffected areas, and gas production at a third platform remained operating to help meet energy needs.

The storm was passing about 300 kilometres (180 miles) south-southwest of Vietnams Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday, and was expected to bring heavy rain and strong winds to the Mekong Delta, the countrys major area for rice and aquaculture production.

According to Vietnamese state television VTV, authorities ordered people to take precautions and sent radio alerts to thousands of fishing boats to take shelter or return to shore.

They had forbidden new boat departures in five southern coastal provinces since Tuesday.
Saudi Arabia has announced it will seek the death penalty against five suspects over the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

The killing has seen members of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans entourage implicated in the writers death.

Prosecutors said 11 suspects attended their first court hearing with lawyers, but the statement did not name those in court.

It also did not explain why seven other suspects arrested over the October 2 killing at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, did not immediately face formal charges.

The kingdom previously announced 18 people had been arrested.

The killing of Mr Khashoggi, who wrote columns critical of Prince Mohammed, has strained the decades-long ties the kingdom enjoys with the United States.

Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (Victoria Jones/PA)

It has also added to a renewed international push to end the Saudi-led war in Yemen.

The state-run Saudi Press Agency and state television gave few details about the hearing.

The Public Prosecutor demanded imposing proper punishments against the defendants and is seeking capital punishment for five of the defendants for their direct involvement in the murder, a statement from prosecutors said.

The suspects requested copies of the indictments they faced and asked for more time to prepare for their case, prosecutors said.

While vague on details about the case, prosecutors made a point to express concerns about Turkey.

They alleged that Turkish officials did not answer two formal requests made for evidence in the case.

To date, the Saudi Public Prosecutor has not received any response, and the Public Prosecution is still awaiting their response, the statement said.

Turkish officials have previously said they shared evidence with Saudi Arabia and other nations over Mr Khashoggis killing.

Turkey has also demanded Saudi Arabia extradite those 18 suspects to be tried there for Mr Khashoggis killing.

Turkish security officials have kept up a slow leak of videos, photographs and morbid details surrounding Mr Khashoggis killing to pressure the kingdom, as the two US-allied countries vie for influence over the wider Middle East.

Turkish media have published photographs of members of the crown princes entourage at the consulate in Istanbul ahead of the killing.

Mr Khashoggis body, believed to have been dismembered after his killing, has yet to be found.

The 59-year-old entered the consulate on October 2 as his fiancee waited outside, but a team of Saudi officials had flown in before his arrival and laid in wait for him.

Saudi Arabia denied for weeks that Mr Khashoggi had been killed but later changed its story and ultimately acknowledged the brutal killing.

King Salman ordered the restructuring of the countrys intelligence service, but has so far shielded Prince Mohammed, his 33-year-old son who is next in line to the throne in the oil giant kingdom.
Russian officials have ended the search of a collapsed apartment building, with rescue crews finding 39 victims and one survivor in the three-and-a-half days since part of the structure came down while residents slept.

Officials think an explosion triggered by a gas leak caused the pre-dawn collapse on Monday in the city of Magnitogorsk.

A 10-month-old boy was the only person found alive in the wreckage.

The baby suffered frostbite from lying in the rubble for 35 hours  temperatures were as low as minus 20C (minus 4F).

Emergency workers sifted through the rubble (AP)

The number of deaths stood at four for most of the first day, but climbed quickly after two nights of winter weather.

Russian authorities acknowledged from the start that the extreme cold gave rescue crews less time to reach trapped survivors.

Hopes rose when the injured infant was extracted from the debris on Tuesday.

He was flown to a Moscow childrens hospital for treatment and was listed in a stable condition on Thursday.

State news channel Rossiya-24 cited doctors saying the child had injuries indicative of crush syndrome  major shock and kidney malfunction characteristic of people trapped under heavy objects.

No other people were found in the debris, although a cat was discovered alive on Wednesday.

An Emergency Situations employee holding a cat rescued from debris (Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations photo via AP)

On Thursday, the mayor of Magnitogorsk told journalists there was no connection between the explosion at the apartment building and the fiery explosion of a minibus on the same street a day later.

The vehicle explosion took place about 2.5 kilometres (1.5 miles) from the apartment block.

Police said the minibus was carrying gas canisters but have given few other details.

But video of the burning vehicle, including some posted on YouTube by Russias RT satellite TV channel, featured sounds resembling gunfire and an observers voice is heard saying people are shooting assault rifles.

Unconfirmed reports have suggested the apartment blast could have been a terrorist act and that the occupants of the exploded vehicle were suspects.

I want to say that there are no clear facts showing any kind of confirmation of what is described on the internet today, mayor Sergei Berdnikov said of the reports, according to state news agency Tass.
A Chinese spacecraft has made the first-ever landing on the far side of the moon in the latest achievement for the countrys growing space programme.

The relatively unexplored far side of the moon faces away from Earth and is also known as the dark side.

A photo taken by the lunar explorer Change 4 at 11.40am China time (3.40 GMT) and published online by the official Xinhua News Agency shows a small crater and a barren surface that appears to be illuminated by a light from the probe.

Change 4 had touched down on the surface just over an hour earlier at 10.26am, the China National Space Administration said.

(PA Graphics)

The landing was announced by state broadcaster China Central Television at the top of its noon news broadcast.

The landing highlights Chinas growing ambitions as a space power.

In 2013, Change 3, the predecessor craft to the current mission, made the first moon landing since the then-Soviet Unions Luna 24 in 1976. The United States is the only other country that has carried out moon landings.

A simulated landing process of Change 4 lunar probe is seen through the monitor at Beijing Aerospace Control Centre in Beijing (Jin Liwang/Xinhua News via AP)

The work of Change 4, which is carrying a rover, includes astronomical observations and probes to determine the structure and mineral composition of the terrain.

The far side of the moon is a rare quiet place that is free from interference of radio signals from Earth, mission spokesman Yu Guobin said, according to Xinhua.

This probe can fill the gap of low-frequency observation in radio astronomy and will provide important information for studying the origin of stars and nebula evolution.

In May, a relay satellite Queqiao, or Magpie Bridge, named after an ancient Chinese folk tale, was launched to provide communications support between Change 4 and Earth.

A Long March 3B rocket carrying Change 4 blasted off on December 8 from Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in southern China.

China plans to send its Change 5 probe to the moon next year and have it return to Earth with samples  the first time that will have been done since 1976.

Change is the name of a Chinese goddess who, according to legend, has lived on the moon for millennia.
Two men have been arrested on suspicion of arranging the illegal movement of migrants into the UK as the Home Secretary requested the help of the Navy to patrol the English Channel.

A 33-year-old Iranian national and a 24-year-old British man were arrested in Manchester on Wednesday evening.

A National Crime Agency spokeswoman said: NCA officers have tonight arrested a 33-year-old Iranian national and a 24-year-old British man in Manchester, on suspicion of arranging the illegal movement of migrants across the English Channel into the UK.

As the investigation is ongoing, we are unable to comment further at this time.

Tonight (2/1/19) NCA officers have arrested a 33-year-old Iranian national and a 24-year-old British man in Manchester, on suspicion of arranging the illegal movement of migrants across the English Channel into the UK.



Full statement: https://t.co/KMoaAfkgfo pic.twitter.com/D8MYgXcYB4  National Crime Agency (NCA) (@NCA_UK) January 2, 2019

The arrests come as it was revealed Home Secretary Sajid Javid had written to the Ministry of Defence to request use of the Royal Navy.

An MoD source told the Press Association that HMS Mersey, an offshore patrol vessel, is available and ready to be deployed.

It would represent a significant escalation of Britains response to the migration issue after Mr Javid earlier this week announced the redeployment of two Border Force cutters from the Mediterranean.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: Our Armed Forces stand ready to provide additional capacity and expertise to assist the Home Office with the response to migrant crossings. Royal Navy ships continue to conduct patrols to protect the integrity of UK territorial waters.

On Wednesday Mr Javid was criticised for questioning whether migrants using small boats to make risky journeys across the English Channel are genuine asylum seekers.

Speaking on a visit to Dover he said: A question has to be asked: if you are a genuine asylum seeker, why have you not sought asylum in the first safe country you arrived in?

He also suggested those picked up by UK authorities faced having asylum requests denied as a deterrent to prevent others undertaking the same dangerous journey.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said Mr Javid was right to say that the UKs proud tradition of granting asylum is not abused.

The Home Secretary, who cut short a family holiday in South Africa to take personal control of the situation following criticism of the Governments response, defended describing it as a major incident.

He told reporters 539 people had attempted to cross the Strait in 2018, with 80% making the journey in the last three months of the year.

(PA Graphics)

Labour backbencher Stella Creasy, who has visited migrant camps in Calais, accused Mr Javid of normalising anti-refugee rhetoric online.

She added: The asylum system in France is completely deadlocked and I fear deliberately so  they should be challenged on that.

But none of that means Britain can absolve itself of responsibility to refugees.

People will continue to die and be at mercy of traffickers all the time politicians pretend to play tough for votes rather than recognise why people flee.

Paul Hook, head of campaigns at the charity Refugee Action, added: The Home Secretary must remember that these are people who have fled their homes and they each deserve a decent, humanitarian, and understanding response.

This situation demands our compassion and cool, calm heads and we hope the Home Secretary will reflect this in his statements on the subject.

Dr Lisa Doyle, director of advocacy at the Refugee Council, said Mr Javids comments were deeply concerning.

She added: The outcome of an asylum application cannot be pre-judged before it has been made and must be processed on its individual merit, irrespective of how that person reached the country.

Let us not forget that we are talking about people who are in desperate need of protection, having fled countries with prolific human rights abuses.

While on a visit to Malaysia, Mr Hunt was asked if he shared Mr Javids suggestion that those attempting the crossing may not be genuine asylum seekers.

I think the Home Secretary is right to say that, as a country that is very proud of our tradition of granting asylum to people who need it, we also want to make sure that isnt abused, he said.

But our priority right now is the safety of people in the Channel; to discourage people from making this very dangerous crossing, but to make sure that everyone that does is kept safe.
BEIJING (AP) - China has come a long way since the founding of its space program in 1956.

Shortly after the former Soviet Union launched Sputnik, Chairman Mao Zedong declared that China too should have an artificial satellite to keep up with the great powers. Now, being recognized as a galactic pioneer is once again part of China's national ambitions.

"The space dream is part of the dream to make China stronger," President Xi Jinping said shortly after taking office in 2013.

While China still lags behind the United States, which has a much larger space exploration budget, it has come out ahead in at least one arena after becoming the first country to make a landing on the far side of the moon Thursday. Here are some key milestones in China's space odyssey, and a look at the missions ahead:

1970s: ROCKETS

The country introduced its Long March series of rockets in 1970. The program's success rate of about 95 percent makes it a cornerstone of China's space endeavors. It has had a few setbacks, notably a Long March 5 rocket that plunged into the Pacific minutes after takeoff in July 2017.

FILE - In this file photo taken Saturday, June 16, 2012, a Shenzhou 9 spacecraft Long March rocket with 3 astronauts including China's first female astronaut launches from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Jiuquan, China. The country introduced its Long March series of rockets in 1970. The program's success rate of about 95 percent makes it a cornerstone of China's space endeavors. It has had a few setbacks, notably a Long March 5 rocket that plunged into the Pacific minutes after takeoff in July 2017. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)

2003: FIRST ASTRONAUT

Yang Liwei became the first Chinese astronaut in space in October 2003. China was only the third country, after Russia and the U.S., to conduct a crewed mission. The country has sent 11 astronauts, including two women, on six missions in all.

2011: SPACE LABORATORY

China was excluded from the International Space Station largely due to concerns over its space program's connections to the military and U.S. legislation barring such cooperation. That didn't stop China from launching in 2011 its own space laboratory, named Tiangong ("Heavenly Palace"), which orbited Earth until last April. The station hosted two crewed missions and served as a test platform for docking procedures and other operations.

2013: TO THE MOON AND BACK

Chang'e 1, named after a mythological Chinese moon goddess, first circled the moon in 2007. Successive lunar missions have included a moon landing in 2013, the first since the former Soviet Union's Luna 24 in 1976. There are plans for a Chang'e 5 probe to reach the moon next year and return to Earth with samples.

2020: WHAT'S NEXT?

The year 2020 promises to be a big one for China's space program. It plans to send its first probe to Mars and complete a homegrown global navigation network.

The latter will link more than 30 satellites providing real-time geospatial information worldwide - China's answer to GPS.

By 2022, China hopes to complete a space station fit for long-term habitation, with standards matching those of the International Space Station, though smaller in size.

And moon development? The National Space Administration declared in a video last April, "China's dream of residing in a lunar palace will soon become a reality."

FILE - In this file photo taken Thursday, Oct. 16, 2003, China's first astronaut Yang Liwei waves after landing on the Inner Mongolian grasslands of northern China after 21 hours in orbit. Yang Liwei became the first Chinese astronaut in space in October 2003. China was only the third country, after Russia and the U.S., to conduct a crewed mission. The country has sent 11 astronauts, including two women, on six missions in all. (Xinhua via AP)

FILE - In this June 10, 2017 file photo, visitors look at a model of China's Tiangong-1 space station at the China Beijing International High-Tech Expo in Beijing. China was excluded from the International Space Station largely due to concerns over its space program's connections to the military and U.S. legislation barring such cooperation. That didn't stop the country from launching in 2011 its own space laboratory, named Tiangong ("Heavenly Palace"), which orbited Earth until last April. The station hosted two crewed missions and served as a test platform for docking procedures and other operations. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

FILE - In this file photo taken Thursday, Oct. 6, 2005, a Chinese man walks past an illustration showing various Long March space rockets and satellites on exhibit at a local Beijing park in China. The country introduced its Long March series of rockets in 1970. The program's success rate of about 95 percent makes it a cornerstone of China's space endeavors. It has had a few setbacks, notably a Long March 5 rocket that plunged into the Pacific minutes after takeoff in July 2017. (AP Photo)

FILE - In this video grab taken at the Beijing Space Command and Control Center released by China's Xinhua News Agency, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008, Chinese astronaut Zhai Zhigang walks outside the orbit module of the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft for a spacewalk after docking with the Chinese space station Tiangong 1. (AP Photo/Beijing Space Command and Control Center via Xinhua, File)

FILE- This artist's rendering provided to China's Xinhua News Agency on Aug. 23, 2016, by the lunar probe and space project center of Chinese State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, shows a concept design for the Chinese Mars 2020 rover and lander. The year 2020 promises to be a big one for China's space program. The country plans to send its first probe to Mars and complete a homegrown global navigation network. (Chinese State Administration of Science, Technology, and Industry for National Defense via Xinhua via AP, File)

FILE - In this file photo taken Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018, models of Chinese Chang'e IV Relay Satellite, right, and Lunar Probe Consists are displayed during the 12th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, also known as Airshow China 2018, in Zhuhai city, south China's Guangdong province. China's lunar mission Chang'e 1, named after a mythological Chinese moon goddess, first circled the moon in 2007. Successive lunar missions have included a moon landing in 2013, the first since the former Soviet Union's Luna 24 in 1976. There are plans for a Chang'e 5 probe to reach the moon next year and return to Earth with samples. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)
TEXAS CITY, Texas (AP) - Authorities in Texas have taken into custody a 27-year-old man after three young children were found dead Thursday in an apartment.

Police in Texas City, 48 miles (77 kilometers) southeast of Houston on the Gulf Coast, went to Pointe Ann Apartments on Thursday evening on a welfare check and discovered the children along with a woman with a gunshot wound to the head.

One of the children was an infant, another was 2 years old and the third was 5 years old, police said in a statement.

The woman was listed in stable condition at a Galveston hospital. Her relationship to the children was not immediately clear.

Later Thursday, Houston police received a call from a man who identified himself as the person being sought and asking to surrender. He was apprehended peacefully in Houston, said Houston police officer Ben Starr. He declined to identify the man, who was sought as a person of interest.

Texas City police Lt. Kenneth Brown told the Houston Chronicle that the wounded woman is unable to speak to investigators. He described her injuries as severe.

"It's a very intense scene over there," he told the newspaper. "Everybody involved is either deceased or injured."

Investigators have not indicated a motive in the case.
Jet Airways is close to reaching a deal with State Bank of India for a fresh loan of 15 billion rupees.

The bankers are being called to the meeting to reassure the creditors, some of whom are expected to come to India from overseas

New Delhi: Indias debt-laden Jet Airways is close to reaching a deal with State Bank of India for a fresh loan of 15 billion rupees ($215 million) to meet its working capital needs, two sources aware of the matter told Reuters.

The airline has scheduled a meeting on Jan. 8 with its vendors and lessors, many of whom are getting increasingly concerned over non-payment of dues, and officials from State Bank of India (SBI) to discuss the debt restructuring plan, the first source with direct knowledge said.

The bankers are being called to the meeting to reassure the creditors, some of whom are expected to come to India from overseas, that Jet is working toward securing funding and has a repayment plan which it will share with them, said the first source.

Jet, Indias biggest full-service carrier by market share, owes money to pilots, lessors, banks and vendors. Its problems have been exacerbated by higher oil prices and intense pricing competition in the domestic market.

The airline, part owned by Etihad Airways, was in talks with the Abu Dhabi-based carrier to infuse more equity, but any money would be conditional on Jets founder Naresh Goyal ceding control, sources have told Reuters.

Lessors have already forced the airline to ground at least four of its new fuel-efficient Boeing 737 MAX aircraft over non-payment of dues, the first source said, adding more planes could be grounded if lessors are unconvinced by the plan Jet presents next week.

Jet did not respond to various Reuters queries for this article but late on Friday, after the story was published, a company spokesman said none of its 737 MAX planes have been grounded.

SBI did not respond to a request for comment.

Jet has a total of 124 aircraft, the vast majority of which are leased.

PAYMENT DEFAULTS

The airline on Tuesday said it had defaulted on debt payment to a consortium of Indian banks, led by SBI, prompting ratings agency ICRA to downgrade the carrier and send its shares sharply lower.

SBI, which has an exposure to Jet of about 16 billion rupees, has in principle agreed to lend another 15 billion rupees, the second Mumbai-based source said, adding this is subject to the bank satisfactorily completing a forensic audit of the airlines books - a process that started in December.

SBI is discussing securitising part of the sales of Jets tickets against subsequent loans, the Mumbai-based source said, adding it will not be able to securitise the entire amount.

The debt will give the airline some money for its operational needs but it will not solve the long term problem, said the first source.

Indias aviation watchdog, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has asked to meet Jets CEO on Jan. 7 to get an update on its financial state and fund-raising plans to ensure non-payment of pilot salaries and other dues is not having an impact on safety, the first source said.

The DGCA did not respond to a request for comment.

The carrier is also late on salary payments to its employees for the month of December, the first source said.
BERLIN (AP) - An explosion outside an office of the far-right Alternative for Germany party in an eastern town has damaged windows and doors in the building, drawing condemnation from a senior regional official. No one was hurt.

Police told news agency dpa that an unknown substance exploded Thursday evening outside the office in Doebeln, in Saxony state - a stronghold of the party, known by its German acronym AfD, which entered the national parliament in 2017. Authorities were looking into the cause and possible motives.

Saxony's deputy governor, center-left Social Democrat Martin Dulig, tweeted Friday that there is no justification for what happened, adding that "this attack helps AfD and damages democracy." Saxony holds a state election in September.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - North Korea's top diplomat to Italy, who South Korea's spy agency says has gone into hiding along with his wife, appears to be the latest member of the North's elite to abandon the secretive totalitarian state.

Many of them have expressed frustration over what they described as an oppressive police state in Pyongyang or desires for their families to have new lives in South Korea or the West.

The North, which touts itself as a socialist paradise, is extremely sensitive about defections, especially among its elite, and has previously insisted that they are South Korean or U.S. plots to undermine its government. South Korea has accused the North of killing or attempting to assassinate past defectors.

A look at some of the high-profile defections from North Korea:

___

'JUCHE' ARCHITECT

FILE - This March 20, 2018, file photo made available Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019 by the Parish of Farra di Soligo, shows North Korea's acting ambassador to Italy Jo Song Gil, center, holding a model of "Bell of Peace of Rovereto" during a cultural event on the occasion of a visit of the North Korean delegation to the Veneto region, in San Pietro di Feletto, near Treviso, northern Italy. Jo who South Korea's spy agency says has gone into hiding along with his wife, appears to be the latest member of the North's elite to abandon the secretive totalitarian state. The North, which touts itself as a socialist paradise, is extremely sensitive about defections, especially among its elite, and has previously insisted that they are South Korean or U.S. plots to undermine its government. Flanked by Jon are don Brunone De Toffol, parish priest of Farra di Soligo, left, and Senator Valentino Perin, right. (Parish of Farra di Soligo via AP, File)

The late Hwang Jang Yop remains as the highest-ranking North Korean official to defect from the North and seek asylum in South Korea.

Hwang, a former senior member of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party, was the chief architect of the North's governing "juche" ideology of self-reliance and had tutored former North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, the late father of current ruler Kim Jong Un.

Hwang was still one of the country's most powerful officials when he fled during a visit to Beijing. After resettling in South Korea in 1997, Hwang became a vocal critic of the North Korean leadership he had a hand in building, which led to threats and attempts on his life Seoul blamed on Pyongyang.

Hwang, then 87, died in 2010 after suffering a heart attack, months after two North Korean army majors were sentenced to prison in South Korea for plotting to assassinate him.

___

ROYAL FAMILY MEMBER

South Korea blamed the 1997 death of Lee Han-young, a nephew of one of the former wives of Kim Jong Il, on North Korean agents sent on a revenge mission. But police failed to catch the assailants before they allegedly returned to the North.

Lee had defected through Switzerland in 1982, but Seoul kept his arrival secret until 1996, when his mother also fled the North. He was a harsh critic of Pyongyang's government and his dictator uncle.

Lee died of gunshot wounds after being attacked in front of his apartment near Seoul in February 1997. According to his neighbors, Lee after the shooting said, "spy, spy," and held up two fingers, perhaps indicating the number of attackers. Police said a woman purporting to be a magazine reporter called the apartment to ask when Lee would be home before the attack.

__

DIPLOMATS

The disappearance of Jo Song Gil, North Korea's acting ambassador to Italy, could create a publicity headache for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as he pursues diplomacy with Washington and Seoul and seeks to portray himself as an international statesman.

Some experts believe the North might ignore Jo's possible defection or hold back harsh criticism to avoid highlighting the vulnerabilities of its government amid its diplomatic push.

The last senior North Korean diplomat known to have defected is Thae Yong Ho, a former minister at the North Korean Embassy in London, who fled to South Korea in 2016.

North Korea's state media described Thae as "human scum" after his defection and claimed he was trying to escape punishment for serious crimes. Thae denied the accusation and said he defected because he didn't want his children to live "miserable" lives in the North.

In 1997, North Korean ambassador to Egypt Chang Sung Gil along with his wife defected and was granted asylum in the United States. In a coordinated move, his brother, Chang Sung Ho, defected from a North Korean trade mission in France and was also given asylum to the United States.

FILE - In this Oct. 21, 2008, file photo, North Korean defector Hwang Jang Yop, the highest-level Pyongyang official ever to defect to Seoul, delivers a speech to South Korean dispersed families during a ceremony for reunification, and living and dying for their relatives in Seoul, South Korea. Hwang, a former senior member of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party, was the chief architect of the North's governing "juche" ideology of self-reliance and had tutored former North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, the late father of current ruler Kim Jong Un. (AP Photo/ Lee Jin-man, File)
TOKYO (AP) - Japan's prime minister confirmed in his New Year's news conference that the era name for the new emperor's reign will be disclosed April 1.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Friday that 2019 will mark pivotal times for Japan, repeatedly referring to Emperor Akihito's stepping down.

Akihito has chosen to buck tradition and abdicate while he is alive, citing frail health. His son becomes emperor May 1.

Era names are important as they are needed to determine what year it is in the traditional Japanese calendar.

The great public attention the rituals surrounding the new emperor's arrival have drawn highlights how steeped in tradition Japan remains, despite modernization.

Akihito's waving earlier this week from the palace balcony drew a crowd of more than 150,000 people, a record for Akihito.

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe delivers his speech during New Year's press conference in Ise, central Japan, Friday, Jan. 4, 2019. Abe confirmed in his New Year's news conference that the era name for the new emperor's reign will be disclosed April 1, 2019. (Iori Sagisawa/Kyodo News via AP)

Abe stressed that 2019 will be a historic year for Japan, noting the Year of the Boar in the Asian zodiac heralds a year of determination.

"We hope to mark a strong start for the era," he told reporters, standing before a golden screen next to a curvaceous bonsai pine tree. "We will show speed and flexibility like a boar."

The era under Akihito is called Heisei, which translates to "achieving peace." Abe said the details of how the new name will be announced are still being worked out.

Hesei started Jan. 8, 1989, the day after Emperor Hirohito died. Akihito is the first living emperor to give up the throne in two centuries.

The New Year's news conference is a customary event for prime ministers after they pay a visit to Ise Shrine in central Japan.

The shrine, which bills itself as "the soul of Japan," is dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess of the Shinto religion. More than 1,500 rituals are carried out there each year to pray for the imperial family, as well as for world peace and a plentiful harvest.

Abe also expressed hopes for better relations with North Korea, extolled free trade and reiterated the importance of Japan's alliance with the U.S.

"Japan will hold up high the flag of free trade," he said.

He also said Japan will show leadership at the Group of 20 summit that it's hosting for the first time this year.

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Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter at https://twitter.com/yurikageyama

On Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/yurikageyama/?hl=en

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe waves as he visits Ise Jingu shrine in Ise, central Japan Friday, Jan. 4, 2019. Abe confirmed in his New Year's news conference that the era name for the new emperor's reign will be disclosed April 1, 2019. (Kazushi Kurihara/Kyodo News via AP)
This photo gallery highlights some of the top news images made by Associated Press photographers in Latin America and the Caribbean that were published in the past week.

Brazilians gathered at Rio de Janeiro's iconic Copacabana Beach to watch a spectacular fireworks display on New Year's Eve.

Mexico's leftist Zapatista movement welcomed the new year with a ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of its brief armed uprising in the southern state of Chiapas.

Runners in costumes participated in the Sao Silvestre run, a 15-kilometer race held every New Year's Eve in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

In Cuba, a memorial service was held on Havana's Malecon seaside promenade for Associated Press photojournalist Desmond Boylan, who died while on assignment.

Crowds of supporters for Brazil's new far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, turned out in Brasilia for his inauguration ceremony.

In this Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019 photo, people watch fireworks explode over Copacabana Beach during New Year's celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

People in the remote Guatemalan hamlet of Yalambojoch mourned the loss of 8-year-old Felipe Gomez Alonzo, who was the second child migrant from their country to die in December while in U.S. custody.

In Peru's capital, relatives of eight people buried in a Shining Path mausoleum protested as authorities demolished the structure on the outskirts of the city.

A mother and father hugged in grief after their son was shot to death in a street in Mexico's Pacific resort of Acapulco.

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Curated by photo editor Leslie Mazoch in Havana. On Twitter: @LeslieMazoch

In this Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019 photo, a masked, female member of the Zapatista National Liberation Army, EZLN, stands by a mural depicting a masked version of the Virgin of Guadalupe, during an event marking the 25th anniversary of the Zapatista uprising in La Realidad, Chiapas, Mexico. Mexico's leftist Zapatistas have continued their aggressive criticism of the country's new president, accusing Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador of dishonesty and vowing to confront him. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

In this Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019 photo, a person throws flowers into the sea during a memorial service for late photojournalist Desmond Boylan, from the Malecon promenade where some of his ashes were also scattered into the water at sunset in Havana, Cuba. Boylan, a photographer who covered war and conflict across the world before dedicating his life to documenting the daily joys and tribulations of life in Cuba for The Associated Press, died suddenly while on assignment on Saturday, Dec. 29 in Havana. He was 54. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

In this Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019 photo, supporters of Brazil's new President Jair Bolsonaro display a giant banner of him on his inauguration day in Brasilia, Brazil. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

In this Dec. 29, 2018 photo, Catarina Alonzo Perez, the mother of the second Guatemalan child to die in Dec. while in U.S. custody, stands by her kitchen window in Yalambojoch, Guatemala. Perez's 8-year-old son Felipe, her oldest, left with his father to migrate to the U.S., but died on Christmas Eve. one week after being apprehended near the Paso del Norte bridge connecting El Paso, Texas, to Juarez, Mexico. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

In this Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018 photo, relatives of people buried in a Shining Path mausoleum protest as authorities demolish the cemetery on the outskirts of Lima, Peru. Authorities destroyed the mausoleum where eight Shining Path prisoners were killed in a prison massacre that took place more than three decades ago. The remains were relocated to another cemetery. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

In this Monday, Dec. 31, 2018 photo, a runner dressed as a king poses for a portrait prior to the start of the Sao Silvestre run in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The 15-kilometer race is held every New Year's Eve. (AP Photo/Nelson Antoine)
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Federal court records show a 53-year-old California man has been charged in a JetBlue flight disturbance that authorities say resulted in the aircraft being diverted to Salt Lake City.

A criminal complaint Thursday accuses Brian D. Regan, of Oakland, of becoming unruly overnight during the San Francisco-to-New York flight.

The complaint says he took the sleep medication Ambien and drank alcohol before banging on a television screen, getting out of his seat and speaking profanities, which he directed at least once toward flight attendants.

He also is accused of grabbing the face of a flight attendant.

Authorities say he resisted arrest after landing in Salt Lake City.

He was booked into jail and is scheduled for a first court appearance Friday morning on a count of interference with a flight crew.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. Marine Corps says the fatal shooting of a Minnesota Marine at the Marine Barracks in Washington, D.C., was not a homicide.

The Marines said Thursday that the Metropolitan Police Department, which is leading the investigation, is treating the shooting of 20-year-old Lance Cpl. Riley Kuznia of Karlstad, Minnesota, as a death investigation, not a homicide investigation.

According to the Marines, another guard Marine stationed at the barracks fired his service weapon, and the bullet struck Kuznia.

Kuznia was shot early Tuesday and pronounced dead at a hospital an hour later.

KMSP-TV reports the Marine who fired his weapon was relieved of his guard duties and reassigned to administrative duties pending results of the investigation.

Kuznia joined the Marines after graduating from high school in northwestern Minnesota in 2017.
NEW YORK (AP) - "Death Wish" novelist Brian Garfield, whose murderous classic about a right-wing vigilante launched a film franchise starring Charles Bronson, has died at age 79.

Garfield died "peacefully" on Dec. 29 at his home in Pasadena, California, literary agent Judy Coppage said. He is survived by his wife, Bina.

A New York City native who grew up in Arizona, Garfield wrote dozens of books, in a variety of genres, from thrillers to war stories, and his worldwide sales topped 20 million copies. Many of his works were adapted into feature films and television movies, including "Hopscotch," which he helped produce and write; "Wild Times" and the acclaimed "The Stepfather," which starred Terry O'Quinn as a serial killer. Garfield's awards included an Edgar in 1976 for "Hopscotch" for the year's best crime novel.

"RIP Brian Garfield. Fine writer, friend for years," crime novelist Lawrence Block tweeted.

He was best known for "Death Wish," the story of a liberal New Yorker who becomes a right-wing vigilante after his family is viciously assaulted, was published in 1972. The first "Death Wish" film, inevitably compared to Clint Eastwood's "Dirty Harry," came out two years later and was followed by several others with Bronson, including "Death Wish II" and "Death Wish 3." Bruce Willis starred in a "Death Wish" remake last year and Garfield, who disliked many of the "Death Wish" sequels, continued the story himself with the 1975 novel "Death Sentence."

"One does get stuck with a reputation," Garfield told the online publication NovelRocket in 2007. "Sometimes one may deserve it. All one can do is keep working and ignore the idiots."

Garfield's mother was Frances Garfield, a portrait artist and longtime friend of Georgia O'Keeffe's. He was writing from an early age and completed his first novel, the Western "Range Justice," when he was 18. He also was a musician and toured with an early rock 'n roll rock group, the Palisades.
MEXIA, Texas (AP) - A junior high school teacher in Central Texas has been arrested on charges she tried to sell an underage family member for sex with men in the African country of Morocco.

The Freestone County Sheriff's Office said in a statement Wednesday that 37-year-old Amber Michelle Parker of Fairfield is being held on a trafficking charge.

Authorities say they were contacted by family members who expressed concern over Parker's intentions with the girl.

McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara told the Waco Tribune-Herald that Parker posted photos of the girl in lingerie. It's not clear why Parker was allegedly trying to sell the girl to men in Morocco.

Parker has been placed on leave from her job as an eighth-grade teacher in Mexia (muh-HAY'-uh).

Jail records don't indicate if she has an attorney to speak on her behalf.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Florida's Republican-controlled state Senate agreed to pay $900,000 to settle a complaint filed by a high-ranking legislative aide who accused a former GOP state senator of sexual misconduct.

The settlement between Rachel Perrin Rogers and the Senate was reached last month, but the details were not disclosed publicly until Thursday. Under the settlement terms, Rogers agreed to resign on Jan. 4. She was a top aide to Sen. Wilton Simpson, who had been the Senate majority leader when Rogers first complained about the behavior of then-state Sen. Jack Latvala.

Katie Betta, a spokeswoman for Senate President Bill Galvano, said the Bradenton Republican "believed the matter would continue to negatively impact the parties and distract from the important work of the Senate, while legal fees mounted for all involved."

Betta said "the settlement brings this matter to a conclusion that allows both parties to move forward."

In 2017, Rogers accused Latvala of inappropriate touching in a Capitol elevator, at a private club and on other occasions. She said on many occasions, Latvala would comment on her appearance by saying she looked "hot" and would stare at her chest as she tried to talk about legislative issues with him.

Latvala denied any wrongdoing but abruptly resigned in December 2017 after a Senate investigation concluded that he likely inappropriately touched Rogers and that he may have broken the law by supporting legislation in exchange for sex acts. A state prosecutor last July said there was insufficient evidence to prove that Latvala, who had been budget chairman before the scandal broke open, traded sexual favors with a former lobbyist.

Rogers filed a federal discrimination complaint that alleged gender discrimination and that the Senate retaliated against her due to her initial complaint against Latvala.

Rogers on Thursday declined to comment on the settlement, which also states that she cannot reapply for a job with the Florida Senate.

But in her resignation letter to Simpson, she wrote, "I feel an immense sadness that at this time I am no longer able to do this work for you in the Senate. Thank you for your unwavering support."

The settlement terms show that the $900,000 is being placed in a trust account managed by the attorneys who represented Rogers in the case. It says that all attorney fees owed by Rogers must be paid out of the total.

Florida's Capitol was thrown into turmoil in late 2017 due to ongoing sexual-misconduct scandals.

Democratic Sen. Jeff Clemens resigned after Politico Florida reported that he had an extramarital affair with a lobbyist. Gov. Rick Scott had appointed former state Rep. Rich Workman to a position with the commission that oversees the state's utilities. But Workman resigned after state Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto said he inappropriately touched her and made vulgar comments at a Republican fundraiser.

Despite the scandals, legislators failed to reach an agreement during the 2018 session on changing state law to prevent and punish sexual harassment.
UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The United Nations' envoy for Yemen is heading to the region this weekend to talk with government and rebel leaders as international efforts aimed at ending Yemen's civil war continue.

U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said Thursday that envoy Martin Griffiths plans to visit Yemen's capital, Sanaa, starting Saturday.

Griffiths intends to meet with leaders of the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels, then go to Saudi Arabia to consult with Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi in Riyadh.

The Houthis seized Sanaa in 2014. A Saudi-led coalition allied with the government has been fighting the Houthis since 2015.

Last month, the warring sides agreed to a cease-fire in Hodeida, a crucial port for delivering humanitarian aid. They also agreed to a prisoner exchange and other measures that could help foster a political settlement.
NEW YORK (AP) - U.S. prosecutors charged five people Thursday in a $2 billion fraud involving sham naval, fishing and other projects meant to benefit the African nation of Mozambique.

An indictment made public in federal court in Brooklyn names Manuel Chang, Mozambique's former minister of finance, as one of the defendants. Prosecutors say Chang was arrested and detained in South Africa last week pending the outcome of an extradition request.

Also charged were a negotiator on the deal, Jean Boustani, and three former Credit Suisse bankers, Andrew Pearse, Surjan Singh and Detelina Subeva. Mozambique's mission to the United Nations and defense lawyers had no immediate comment Thursday.

The charges stem from an investigation of three companies created to complete projects for Mozambique that would provide "coastal surveillance," aid for tuna fishing and shipyards.

As part of the scheme, three companies were formed to borrow more than $2 billion in loans guaranteed by the Mozambique government between 2013 and 2016, the indictment says. "The proceeds were supposed to be used exclusively for the maritime projects," it says.

"In reality," it adds, "the defendants created the maritime project as fronts to enrich themselves and intentionally diverted portions of the loan proceeds to pay at least $200 million in bribes and kickbacks to themselves, Mozambican government officials and others."
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Actress Sandra Oh wants to bring a lighter tone to the Golden Globes after last year's awards show took a much more serious approach centered on the #MeToo movement.

Oh said Thursday that she and fellow host Andy Samberg will provide a "moment of joy" at the 76th annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills on Sunday night. She and Samberg were first paired as award presenters during a comical set at the Emmys last year when Oh ripped up the winner's envelope, referencing the 2017 Oscars "La La Land" slip-up before the duo pieced together the card and announced the actual winner.

"I know when Andy and I were talking about the feeling that I really want to bring, and really focus on, is just to have a moment of joy," said Oh, who is favored to win a Golden Globe award for best actress for her "Killing Eve" role. "Honestly, with who is going to be in that audience, the nominees this year, it excites me so tremendously ... mostly because of the diversity in that room."

Hollywood Foreign Press Association President Meher Tatna called last year's ceremony an important moment in the television and film industry as many dressed in black in solidarity with the victims of sexual harassment. But she said Sunday's awards won't be as politically charged.

Tatna said she hopes the Golden Globes can return to its roots as the "party of the year" by giving attendees an opportunity to "escape reality." The awards show is known for being a place of celebration, serving a bevy of champagne.

"I think everybody is tired of politics and maybe for one night we can have fun and not worry about the state of the world," Tatna said.

Sandra Oh, left, and Andy Samberg pose for a photo on the red carpet at the 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards Preview Day at The Beverly Hilton on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)

She added that the show will use its platform to honor Carol Burnett and Jeff Bridges with lifetime achievement awards.

Burnett, 85, a five-time Globes winner, will receive the inaugural Carol Burnett Award, which focuses on television. Bridges, 69, who won a Globe in 2010, will be honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award, an accolade for film.

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Associated Press writer Marcela Isaza contributed to this report.

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For full coverage of awards season, visit: https://apnews.com/tag/AwardsSeason

Sandra Oh, left, and Andy Samberg smile at each other after rolling out the red carpet at the 76th annual Golden Globe Awards Preview Day at The Beverly Hilton on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)

Barry Adelman, from left, Isan Elba, Sandra Oh, Andy Samberg, Meher Tatna and Allen Shapiro roll-out the red carpet at the 76th annual Golden Globe Awards Preview Day at The Beverly Hilton on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)

Sandra Oh, left, and Andy Samberg pose for photos on the red carpet at the 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards Preview Day at The Beverly Hilton on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)
BALTIMORE (AP) - Baltimore's mayor says community meetings and council hearings with her nominee for police commissioner will be postponed because of an emergency involving his family.

News outlets report that Mayor Catherine Pugh's office announced Thursday that Joel Fitzgerald won't be able to travel to Baltimore because of a medical emergency involving his son.

The postponement came shortly after The Baltimore Sun reported that Fitzgerald's resume overstated some achievements since he became police chief in Fort Worth, Texas, in October 2015.

Fitzgerald was expected to meet with community members this weekend, starting Friday. He was to answer questions from the City Council on Monday. Pugh says she will reschedule the meetings with Fitzgerald.

If appointed, Fitzgerald would be the fourth police commissioner during Pugh's first two years in office.
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - Newly departed U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke told The Associated Press on Thursday that he's been truthful with investigators looking into numerous ethics complaints against him and rejected as inaccurate a report that he's under investigation for lying.

Zinke's comments came in response to a Washington Post story alleging that the Justice Department's public integrity section was examining whether the former Montana congressman lied to investigators from Interior Department's office of inspector general, which provides independent oversight of the agency.

In his first interview since he stepped down on Wednesday, Zinke said the allegations were false and appeared to have been leaked to undermine his accomplishments as head of a department responsible for managing about 500 million acres of U.S. lands, primarily in the West. He resigned last month, shortly after Democrats critical of Zinke's tenure regained control of the House of Representatives in the November election.

The shift in power was expected to lead to a wave of oversight hearings amid numerous ethics investigations involving both Zinke's work as secretary and his dealings outside office. They include his decisions to block two tribes from opening a Connecticut casino and a land deal that he pursued with the chairman of energy services company Halliburton.

As Interior secretary, Zinke pushed to develop oil, natural gas and coal beneath public lands in line with the administration's business-friendly goals. But he has been dogged by the ethics investigations, which he characterized as "political attacks" against him by conservation groups and Democrats.

The Associated Press reported in November that the inspector general's office had referred an investigation of Zinke to the Justice Department.

FILE - In this Dec. 11, 2018 file photo, Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke speaks at EPA headquarters in Washington. Newly-departed Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke says he's been truthful with investigators looking into numerous ethics complaints against him and has no knowledge of a report that he lied. Zinke's comments came after The Washington Post reported Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, that the Justice Department's public integrity section was examining whether he lied to investigators from Interior's office of inspector general. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen, File)

The Post story , citing anonymous sources, says Interior investigators came to believe Zinke lied to them and referred the matter to the Justice Department for potential criminal violations.

The report did not detail which of the inspector general investigations was sent to the Justice Department. Agency spokesman Wyn Hornbuckle declined to comment.

"It's an unauthorized leak from an anonymous source over false allegations," Zinke told AP.

He said the inspector general's office asked him about the casino decision on two occasions and that he was truthful both times. Investigators have never interviewed him directly about a land deal in his hometown of Whitefish, Montana, that involves the former chairman of Halliburton, a company that does business with the Interior Department.

Zinke said the latest allegations against him fit the pattern of a "playbook" that's been followed by his critics since he entered office. Using "frivolous allegations, sources, rumors, innuendo and false accusations," he said, groups such as Montana Conservation Voters and Western Values Project have tried to make it impossible for Zinke and other Trump Cabinet members to serve.

He added that the groups also want to smear his name to undercut any future bid he might make for public office.

"They believe I'm going to run for governor, or they want to dismiss the Trump administration's accomplishments in conservation," he said. "The investigations started nearly on the first day in office. After 10 investigations, the conclusions are all the same: No wrongdoing, followed all procedures, policies and laws. Every investigation will follow the same conclusion."

A representative of Montana Conservation Voters Education Fund, Whitney Tawney, noted that the group had endorsed Zinke when he was a state lawmaker but expected more out of him in terms of protecting natural resources.

"The accusation that groups like Montana Conservation Voters Education Fund made his job impossible proves once again that he's continuing to point fingers at anyone he can instead of accepting responsibility for his own failures," Tawney said.

Jayson O'Neill with Western Values Project declined comment and said it was because Zinke had resigned.

The inspector general's office hasn't released its findings in the casino and land deal complaints against Zinke.

In another probe, investigators said Zinke violated a policy that prohibits non-government employees from riding in government cars after his wife traveled with him, but he said ethics officials approved it. He was cleared of wrongdoing following a complaint that he redrew the boundaries of a national monument in Utah to benefit a state lawmaker and political ally.

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Associated Press writer Eric Tucker contributed from Washington.

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Follow Matthew Brown at https://twitter.com/matthewbrownap .
CHICAGO (AP) - The Latest on the attempted extortion charge against Chicago Alderman Ed Burke (all times local):

8:45 p.m.

A longtime Chicago alderman charged with attempted extortion for allegedly trying to shake down a fast-food chain says "I've done nothing wrong."

Ed Burke spoke outside his home Thursday night. He says "I'm not guilty of anything" and "I look forward to trying this case in court."

Burke is one of the most powerful members of Chicago's City Council, having served for 50 years - including three decades as chairman of the council's finance committee.

Authorities raided the Democrat's offices at City Hall and in his southwest side ward in November.

Alderman Ed Burke, 75, walks into the Dirksen Federal Courthouse, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, in Chicago. Burke, one of the most powerful City Council members in Chicago, is charged with one count of attempted extortion in trying to shake down a fast-food restaurant seeking city remodeling permits, according to a federal complaint unsealed Thursday. (Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

He appeared briefly in court Thursday, shortly after the federal complaint against him was unsealed. It alleges Burke told executives of a fast-food chain who were seeking remodeling permits that they'd get them only if they signed on as clients of his private law firm.

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6:45 p.m.

An attorney for a powerful Chicago alderman charged with trying to shake down a major fast-food chain says he looks forward to demonstrating that his client did nothing wrong.

The lawyer for Ed Burke spoke to reporters as he left the Chicago federal courthouse Thursday afternoon following the alderman's initial appearance. Burke turned himself in and was not jailed pending trial.

Charles Sklarsky said "the transaction" described in the complaint "does not make ... extortion or an attempt to extort." He declined further comment.

Burke is accused of trying to shake down a fast-food restaurant chain seeking city remodeling permits. The complaint does not name the company or the specific executives he allegedly tried to extort.

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3:50 p.m.

A judge told an influential Chicago alderman at his initial hearing that one condition of his release is that he gets rid of 23 guns at his offices and others at his home.

Ed Burke appeared at in Chicago federal court Thursday afternoon in a trademark pinstriped suit, pink tie and pocket square. The 75-year-old Democrat had surrendered to authorities earlier. He is also required to turn in his passport.

U.S. Magistrate Sheila Finnegan asked Burke if he understood the charge against him. He answered, "Yes, your honor."

Burke is accused of trying to shake down a fast-food restaurant chain seeking city remodeling permits. He is widely considered one of the most powerful aldermen in Chicago history.

Charges were filed in a complaint on Wednesday but only unsealed Thursday. A grand jury could still hand down a formal indictment later.

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1:04 p.m.

One of the most powerful City Council members in Chicago history has been charged in a federal criminal complaint with attempted extortion for "corruptly soliciting business" for his private law firm.

If convicted, Alderman Ed Burke could face up to 20 years in prison. The charge unsealed Thursday follow November raids of the Democrat's offices at City Hall and in his Southwest Side ward.

Burke's law firm represented the high-rise tower that bears President Donald Trump's name. There's no indication the case is at all tied to his firm's work for Trump.

The 75-year-old is one of the last of the old Chicago machine politicians. He's been on the council for 50 years and has chaired its finance committee for the last three decades.
A company that owns two national for-profit college chains said Thursday that it will erase nearly $500 million in debt incurred by former students as part of a settlement with 48 states and the District of Columbia.

The deal with Career Education Corporation will resolve allegations that it lied about job placement rates and misled potential students to get them to enroll. State attorneys general began investigating the company in 2014 following complaints from students and a damning report by the U.S. Senate.

Company officials on Thursday said they deny any wrongdoing but called the settlement an "important milestone."

"We have remained steadfast in our belief that we can work with the attorneys general to demonstrate the quality of our institutions and our commitment to students," Todd Nelson, the company's CEO, said in a statement.

Based in Schaumburg, Illinois, the company enrolls about 34,000 students across two chains, Colorado Technical University and American InterContinental University. More than 90 percent of its students are enrolled through online courses, according to the company.

The deal was signed by every state except California, which is negotiating a separate agreement of its own, and New York, which previously settled with the company.

Of the $493 million in debt being wiped out, the greatest share comes from borrowers in Florida, which will get $68 million in relief, followed by Texas, with $51 million. The debt stems from institutional loans the company issued to students.

Other terms of the deal require the company to pay $5 million to states to cover the cost of their investigations, and the company will now be required to give all prospective students a single-page disclosure with information including job placement rates, anticipated costs and the average earnings of graduates.

State attorneys general called the agreement a victory for students, saying it will provide debt relief to more than 179,000 borrowers across the country. In Illinois, where $48 million will be cleared, Attorney General Lisa Madigan said it's a fair outcome for students who were deceived by the company's schools.

"Today's settlement ensures the company treats students the way they should have been all along - with honesty and respect for their futures," Madigan said.

At its peak, Career Education Corporation ranked among the largest for-profit college companies in the nation, enrolling more than 100,000 students at several chains including Sanford-Brown College and Le Cordon Bleu, a group of culinary schools.

But after years of government scrutiny and deep enrollment declines, the company announced in 2015 it would begin closing or selling most of its schools.

Aside from the state investigations, the company has also been the subject of a Federal Trade Commission inquiry since 2015, according to company records filed in September with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The FTC has been examining potential deception in advertising, according to the company, which says it is cooperating with the inquiry.

The for-profit college industry faced a heavy crackdown under President Barack Obama but has seen a shift in its favor under President Donald Trump. Over the last two years, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has sought to loosen regulation and reverse policies created under the previous administration.

But the sector has come under renewed scrutiny in recent weeks following the abrupt closure of Education Corporation of America, which was one of the nation's largest chains before it collapsed amid deep financial trouble. Democrats have cited the closure as evidence that the industry needs sharper oversight.

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Follow Collin Binkley on Twitter at https://twitter.com/cbinkley
MIAMI (AP) - An African-American teen in Florida is fighting back after being accused of cheating on the SAT.

Kamilah Campbell improved her score by 330 points when she took it again in October. The 18-year-old says she spent hours studying so she could get into Florida State University. But a representative from the standardized test said her score is under review and that she likely had prior knowledge of the test.

Attorney Benjamin Crump is taking Campbell's case pro bono. The Miami Herald reports he sent a letter to the score validation company demanding that her scores be released or it could constitute a civil rights violation.

Campbell sent the board a photo of the book she studied with and letters from a teacher and study partner.

A College Board spokesman said scores are only cancelled if there is substantial evidence beyond the test score.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - The next time President Donald Trump travels to his Mar-a-Lago resort, he'll be greeted by a billboard likening the Republican Party to the Soviets.

The Palm Beach Post reports the political action committee Mad Dog replaced Thursday its billboard calling for the president's impeachment with a red sign with gold lettering reading "GOP" - except the "O'' is a hammer and sickle topped by a star. The imagery mimics the former Soviet Union's flag.

The billboard along the presidential motorcade's route to Mar-a-Lago is a jab at Trump for his alleged ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, a former Soviet spy.

Republican spokeswoman Taryn Fenske said her party was "glad" that Democrats spent money on what she called "lame stunts' while Republicans invested in successful campaigns.
NEW YORK (AP) - Stocks that moved substantially or traded heavily Thursday:

Apple Inc., down $15.73 to $142.19

The tech giant said iPhone sales in China weakened over the holiday season and will fall far short of Wall Street forecasts.

Celgene Corp., up $13.79 to $80.43

Bristol-Myers Squibb agreed to buy the cancer drugmaker for $74 billion.

Intel Corp., down $2.59 to $44.49

Chipmakers and other technology companies slumped as investors feared Apple's comments were a bad sign for the industry.

3M Co., down $7.19 to $183.76

Shares in industrial companies fell following concerns about China's economy and a weak report on U.S. manufacturing.

Realty Income Corp., up 55 cents to $62.48

Share in real estate companies and other stocks that tend to do better in times of economic turmoil rose on Thursday.

Delta Air Lines Inc., down $4.48 to $45.61

Airline stocks dropped after Delta said its fourth-quarter revenue won't grow as much as it expected.

Freeport-McMoRan Inc., down 29 cents to $10.07

Copper prices slumped amid concern that slower economic growth will reduce demand for copper in construction.

Caterpillar Inc., down $4.87 to $121.51

A weak report Thursday on U.S. manufacturing also weighed on the market.
LAUREL, Md. (AP) - The newly visited space snowman - the most distant object ever explored - is now appearing in 3D.

At a news conference Thursday, scientists and others put on 3D glasses to see the city-size, two-sphered cosmic body in stereo, revealing possible curvy ridges. Ultima Thule, as it's known, is still not showing any signs of craters, moons or rings.

Photos taken by NASA's spacecraft New Horizons during a flyby earlier this week revealed that Ultima Thule (TOO-lee) has two reddish globes joined by a narrow neck, much like a snowman. It is 4 billion miles (6.4 billion kilometers) from Earth.

Brian May, an astrophysicist better known as a guitarist with the rock band Queen, created the stereo images released Thursday. He joined in the New Year's Day flyby festivities at Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, home to Mission Control.

"The Prize!! For those of us who waited with bated breath for the Ultimate Stereo of Ultima Thule ... here it is!" tweeted May.

Mark Showalter of the SETI Institute in Mountain View, California, said he expects to know within weeks or months, once better images arrive, whether Ultima Thule has any tiny moons or faint, narrow rings. He suspects there might be at least a couple moons a few hundred miles (kilometers) out. The data covering that area are still aboard the spacecraft, he noted.

This Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019 image made available by NASA shows the Kuiper belt object Ultima Thule, about 1 billion miles beyond Pluto, encountered by the New Horizons spacecraft. (NASA via AP)

As for impact craters, lead scientist Alan Stern said he'd be surprised if none turn up. If they are there, they will create a window into the interior "so they're super valuable tools."

For the next several days, data transmission will be halted temporarily because of the sun's position smack between Earth and Ultima Thule, creating radio interference.

It will take nearly two years for all of the data to be transmitted to Earth, given the vast distance.

Ultima Thule is deep within the so-called Kuiper Belt, or Twilight Zone, well beyond the orbit of Neptune. In 2015, New Horizons first visited Pluto, which is barely in the Kuiper Belt, a full 1 billion miles (1.6 billion kilometers) closer to Earth.

Since Tuesday's close approach, New Horizons is already 3 million miles (5 million kilometers) deeper into that mysterious region. It will keep pressing farther out, observing other objects from afar, and measuring dust and particles.

Stern hopes to get another mission extension from NASA, so another flyby can be arranged sometime in the 2020s.

In the meantime, he'll come up with a formal name for Ultima Thule, to recommend to the International Astronomical Union, the deciding body. He acknowledged its current nickname may wind up on the short list.

"Everybody knows it as Ultima Thule," he noted.

___

The Associated Press Health & Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Mayor London Breed says a $550 million expansion of San Francisco's convention center will better meet the needs of tourism as the city battles entrenched problems of homelessness and drug addiction.

Breed and other civic leaders toasted on Thursday the expansion of Moscone Center, which opened in 1981.

The building is environmentally friendly with solar paneling and recovered water for landscaping and street cleaning. Officials showed off new terraces with breathtaking views and above-ground pedestrian bridges that connect its north and south sides.

Breed says she is aware that the city's livability issues deeply affect tourism, and said the expansion is an eye to the future.

The convention center is in San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood, a challenging part of the city riddled with used needles and other trash.

People walk through a new pedestrian bridge during the Moscone Center expansion opening Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, in San Francisco. Completion of the $550 million expansion was celebrated by city officials, tourism industry leaders and neighborhood stakeholders. Mayor London Breed said that the downtown structure will better meet the needs of tourism even as the city struggles with homelessness. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

People listen to a number of speeches during the Moscone Center expansion opening Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, in San Francisco. Completion of the $550 million expansion was celebrated by city officials, tourism industry leaders and neighborhood stakeholders. Mayor London Breed said that the downtown structure will better meet the needs of tourism even as the city struggles with homelessness. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

People stand on a new pedestrian bridge above Howard Street during the Moscone Center expansion opening Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, in San Francisco. Completion of the $550 million expansion was celebrated by city officials, tourism industry leaders and neighborhood stakeholders. Mayor London Breed said that the downtown structure will better meet the needs of tourism even as the city struggles with homelessness. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

People stand on one of the new terraces and look out at the skyline during the Moscone Center expansion opening Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, in San Francisco. Completion of the $550 million expansion was celebrated by city officials, tourism industry leaders and neighborhood stakeholders. Mayor London Breed said that the downtown structure will better meet the needs of tourism even as the city struggles with homelessness. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

San Francisco Mayor London Breed reacts after cutting a large ribbon during the Moscone Center expansion opening Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, in San Francisco. Completion of the $550 million expansion was celebrated by city officials, tourism industry leaders and neighborhood stakeholders. Breed said that the downtown structure will better meet the needs of tourism even as the city struggles with homelessness. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
PHOENIX (AP) - The legal case of whether former Phoenix metro sheriff Joe Arpaio will still have a criminal record despite his pardon by President Donald Trump is one step closer to moving forward after the U.S. Justice Department decided not to oppose the appointment of a special prosecutor named to defend a ruling by the judge who refused to erase Arpaio's record.

The Justice Department said in a court filing Wednesday it would not ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review the appointment of the special prosecutor, clearing a key hurdle so the appeal over Arpaio's record can proceed at the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

But Jack Wilenchik, one of Arpaio's attorneys, said the former sheriff plans to ask the Supreme Court to review the order appointing the special prosecutor.

Arpaio, a Republican who served as Maricopa County sheriff for 24 years until his defeat in 2016, was convicted of criminal contempt of court in July 2017 for disobeying a court order to stop his traffic patrols that targeted immigrants.

The pardon by Trump spared Arpaio - an early supporter of Trump's presidential campaign - a possible jail sentence. Arpaio then tried to make a comeback as a U.S. Senate candidate but was defeated in the primary last August.

Lawyers for the Justice Department won the conviction. But after the pardon, the department sided with Arpaio, arguing that the conviction should be expunged because he was pardoned before it became final.

FILE - In this Jan. 10, 2018 file photo, former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio speaks at his office in Fountain Hills, Ariz. The Justice Department won't appeal the court-ordered appointment of a special prosecutor to defend a ruling that refused to erase Arpaio's criminal record after he was pardoned. The special prosecutor's appointment came after the Justice Department refused to defend a judge's ruling that dismissed the lawman's case but refused to expunge his record. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)

But U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton had refused to do so, saying that pardons don't erase convictions or the facts of cases and that the sheriff's clemency only mooted his possible punishments.

Legal advocacy groups that focus on free speech, democracy and civil rights have mounted a challenge to the pardon and asked for the appointment of a special prosecutor.

In October, the 9th Circuit picked Los Angeles attorney picked Christopher G. Caldwell to defend Bolton's ruling.

___

Follow Jacques Billeaud at twitter.com/jacquesbilleaud.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The partial government shutdown is prompting the postponement of a trial by a federal judge managing lawsuits accusing the world's largest pork company of creating nuisances for rural North Carolina neighbors.

U.S. District Judge Earl Britt ordered Thursday that a jury trial scheduled to start Tuesday must be postponed because jury pay couldn't be guaranteed beyond next week. Britt said the fifth of more than two dozen lawsuits by more than 500 neighbors of intensive animal operations will be rescheduled once funding is appropriated.

Jurors in four previous cases decided Smithfield Foods should pay nearly $550 million in penalties.

Last week, the shutdown forced the chief judge of Manhattan federal courts to suspend work on civil cases involving U.S. government lawyers. A similar order affects federal courts in northern Ohio.
Credit card rewards can be your ticket - literally your plane ticket - to a dream destination. But even if you've earned what you need to get to where you're going, the accommodations could be a different story.

What do you do if you don't have enough points or miles left for lodging?

You can slash those costs, too, if you're willing to get out of your comfort zone. That might mean couch surfing with locals, agreeing to a home exchange or signing up for housesitting. Websites and apps can help you connect with frugal options domestically and abroad. You may be able to stay for free, or nearly free, if you're flexible with dates and can abide by house rules.

COUCH SURFING

This option works for solo travelers or couples looking to make new friends over a few nights. Since you're staying in someone's home, you'll likely need to "check in and out" at reasonable hours and clean up after yourself .

For Alexander Salas, who runs the YouTube channel Alex Travelbum, giving up some freedom is worth it. He uses the app from Couchsurfing.com, which has allowed him to sleep in 15 countries for free. His trip to Naples, Italy, was the most memorable, he says.

FILE - In this Jan. 13, 2017, file photo, a blanket of fog covers the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge, top left, in front of the city skyline in San Francisco. What do you do if you don't have enough points or miles left for lodging? That might mean couch surfing with locals, agreeing to a home exchange or signing up for housesitting. Websites and apps can help you connect with frugal options domestically and abroad. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)

"I stayed with this woman who was just the most generous, nice person in the world, and we're still friends till this day," Salas says. "She made me all of this authentic Italian food and took me around town."

HOME EXCHANGES

This option offers more privacy since you'll swap your home temporarily with someone else.

Melissa Conn, blogger at The Family Voyage , uses the GuestToGuest website. This service charges about $11 a night or around $147 annually (and you'll have to pay a damage deposit). The host may also include additional charges or requests.

"Some hosts charge a cash cleaning fee," Conn says. Other places, "they'll just leave a list of the five things that they want you to do before leaving. And then some people just say, 'Leave it tidy.'"

You can offset the costs of such services by cooking in the kitchen to save money on meals. Some homeowners even let you borrow their car, Conn says.

HOUSESITTING

If you don't mind pets or a few chores while you travel, you can see the world for less.

Nik and Angel Rowell, YouTubers at Roadtrip with Nik, have traveled to Costa Rica and several U.S. states, among other destinations. They frequently use Trustedhousesitters.com, which also has an app and charges $119 for an annual membership.

They suggest considering the responsibilities of each housesit beforehand and how it might affect your stay.

"If you have a weeklong housesit in Hawaii that included caring for a dog that needed to go out in the morning, afternoon and evening, you wouldn't be able to go explore the island all day long," Nik Rowell says.

Wherever you stay, communicate with the host to match your expectations to the experience. If you need a kitchen or Wi-Fi, for example, ask whether you'll have access.

TAKE PRECAUTIONS

If you're staying with strangers, screen them first. Some subscription services have a verification process, but it's not always as robust as a traveler might like.

Amanda Kelly, solo traveler and content creator at Amanda Round The Globe, generally seeks female hosts when she couch surfs. During a trip to Belgium, she says, she was deceived by a man pretending to be a female host.

"After that experience, I did take a lot more precautions by checking the reviews a lot more," she says.

Other best practices:

- Look for hosts who have several positive references, photos and detailed descriptions.

- See how your host behaves on social media.

- Set up a video meet-and-greet.

- Make sure you're on the same page with house rules and expectations of privacy.

- Tell a family member or friend where you're staying.

- Have a plan B in case the accommodations aren't a good fit.

If that sounds like too much hassle - or if you're just not interested in a stranger's couch, house or chores - consider ways to save on more traditional accommodations.

Join a hotel loyalty program, for example, or consider applying for a hotel credit card . The right one can earn you rewards toward future stays, and many cards even offer a free anniversary night, usually in exchange for an annual fee.

________________________________

This article was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Melissa Lambarena is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: mlambarena@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @lissalambarena.

RELATED LINKS:

NerdWallet: What hotel credit card upgrades mean for your bottom line

https://nerd.me/hotel-credit-cards-major-overhauls

The Family Voyage

https://www.thefamilyvoyage.com/
NEW YORK (AP) - A former Mexican drug trafficker who once claimed he was a double agent for the Drug Enforcement Administration took center stage on Thursday against infamous kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman at a U.S. trial.

Vicente Zambada became the latest in a parade of cooperators to testify as government witnesses in the conspiracy case against Guzman in federal court in Brooklyn. Like the others, he described the rampant violence and greed that accompanied Guzman's rise to power atop the Sinaloa cartel.

Lawyers for Guzman - who was sent to the United States in 2017 after gaining notoriety for twice escaping Mexican jails - have sought to portray the cooperators as shady opportunists willing to exaggerate their client's involvement in the drug trade to earn breaks in their own cases.

Zambada, 43, is the son of Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, another cartel boss who's still at large. His uncle, former cartel member Jesus Zambada, has also testified at Guzman's trial.

Vicente Zambada told the jury Thursday about a meeting in the early 1990s at which a rival drug gang leader told him he wanted to kill his father and Guzman to avenge a botched hit. At another meeting in the mid-2000s, representatives from corrupt Mexican politicians asked if the cartel could help them ship 100 tons of cocaine in an oil tanker ship, he said.

"They wanted to know if my dad and Chapo could provide that amount of coke," he said.

This undated photo provided by the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York shows Vicente Zambada. On Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, Zambada became the latest in a parade of cooperators to testify as government witnesses in the conspiracy case against Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman at federal court in the Brooklyn borough of New York. Like the others, he described the rampant violence and greed that accompanied Guzman's rise to power atop the Sinaloa cartel. (United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York via AP)

Zambada said he was arrested before he learned whether the shipment ever occurred.

After Zambada was extradited to the U.S., his lawyers claimed he had been working for the DEA as a confidential informant even as he was smuggling cocaine. In exchange for inside information on the cartel, he had been promised immunity from prosecution, they said.

Prosecutors denied Zambada's allegation that there was an immunity deal that was "approved at the highest levels of government." He later pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate.

Zambada was to retake the witness stand Friday. The trail, which began in mid-November, is expected to continue into next month.
FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) - Police believe more than 60 women and girls were secretly recorded undressing in changing rooms at northern Virginia shopping malls in the weeks before Christmas.

Fairfax County Police arrested 39-year-old Mumtaz Rauf of Alexandria on Christmas Eve and charged him with unlawful filming of a minor after a girl noticed a small camera in a changing room at a Forever 21 store in Fair Oaks Mall in Fairfax.

On Thursday, police announced they have evidence Rauf may have filmed more than 60 women and girls between Dec. 15 and Dec. 24 at stores in Fair Oaks, Fair Lakes Promenade and Tysons Corner Center.

Police are asking potential victims to come forward, and have identified specific times and stores where they believe Rauf was filming.

Rauf is being held pending trial. It's unclear whether he has an attorney who could comment.
LAS VEGAS (AP) - Police in Las Vegas said Thursday they have finished releasing audio, video and written records about the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history 15 months ago during an open-air concert.

The department said that after 34 releases of material since May, officials believe they have complied with a court order in a public records lawsuit about the Oct. 1, 2017, shooting. Plaintiffs included The Associated Press.

"We don't expect any further major releases of either video or documents," the department said in a statement. "If documents are identified that have not previously been released, they will be made available."

Fifty-eight people died, 869 were wounded or injured, and thousands were affected when a high-limit video poker player fired assault-style weapons equipped with rapid-fire devices from the Mandalay Bay resort into a crowd of 22,000 concertgoers across Las Vegas Boulevard.

The material released until last week provided dramatic details about horror and heroism, but no insight about the motive of 64-year-old gunman Stephen Paddock.

Authorities have said Paddock killed himself before police arrived. Investigators believe he acted alone with no broader conspiracy and no link to terrorism.

FILE - In this Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, file image taken from police body cam video released by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department on July 25, 2018, an armed law enforcement official points his gun while searching for a shooter in Las Vegas. Police in Las Vegas said Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, they have finished releasing audio, video and written records about the investigation of the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department via AP, File)

The records stemmed from video clips from nearly 1,200 officer body-worn cameras; more han 1,000 audio clips of 911 calls; about 2,100 pages of officer reports, witness statements and dispatch logs; and video from streetscape, rooftop and helicopter vantage points.

Transcribed statements from 18 of the hundreds of officers who responded to the shooting were made public last week.

The material came with little department comment or explanation and no narrative thread.

Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo released an investigation summary and declared the police investigation ended in August, saying frenzied reports of other shootings on the night of the massacre turned out to be false.

The FBI is expected to soon release a report including a behavioral analysis of Paddock.

FILE - In this Oct. 1, 2017, file image from police body cam video released by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department on July 25, 2018, shows law enforcement officers in a hallway at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino while searching for a shooter in Las Vegas. Police in Las Vegas said Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, they have finished releasing audio, video and written records about the investigation of the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department via AP, File)

FILE - This October 2017 file evidence photo released by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Force Investigation Team Report shows the interior of Stephen Paddock's 32nd floor room of the Mandalay Bay hotel in Las Vegas after the Oct. 1, 2017 mass shooting. Police in Las Vegas said Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, they have finished releasing audio, video and written records about the investigation of the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department via AP, File)
BANJA LUKA, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) - Dozens of Bosnians have defied a ban and lit candles to honor a 21-year-old student whose unresolved death has inspired months of protests alleging a police cover-up.

The gathering outside an Orthodox Christian church in the Bosnian Serb city of Banja Luka took place Thursday as police officers stood by and observed the crowd.

Police have said they are searching for the late student's father, Davor Dragicevic. He has inspired months of anti-government protests by demanding answers about his son David's death in March.

Police have banned the events from being held without special authorization. Dragicevic hasn't been seen since thousands of his supporters rallied on Sunday.

Police initially said David Dragicevic died by suicide, but the family insisted someone else killed him.

People carry candles in memory of 21-year-old David Dragicevic in Banja Luka, 240 kms northwest of Sarajevo, Bosnia, on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. Braving a police ban, dozens of Bosnians have lit candles to honor a 21-year-old student whose unresolved death has inspired months of protests alleging police cover-up in the case. The citizens of the Bosnian Serb city of Banja Luka gathered Thursday outside an Orthodox Christian church as police stood by. (AP Photo/Radivoje Pavicic)

People carry candles in memory of 21-year-old David Dragicevic in Banja Luka, 240 kms northwest of Sarajevo, Bosnia, on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. Braving a police ban, dozens of Bosnians have lit candles to honor a 21-year-old student whose unresolved death has inspired months of protests alleging police cover-up in the case. The citizens of the Bosnian Serb city of Banja Luka gathered Thursday outside an Orthodox Christian church as police stood by. (AP Photo/Radivoje Pavicic)
DENVER (AP) - Police say a woman believed to be the mother of a missing boy whose body was found in a Denver storage unit has been arrested.

Police said Thursday that 43-year-old Elisha Pankey was being held in jail on investigation of child abuse resulting in death. She turned herself in on Wednesday.

Police found the boy Dec. 23 after getting information from police in neighboring Aurora.

The court document laying out the reasons for her arrest is sealed. Police said they wouldn't release any other information because the investigation is ongoing.

Court records show Pankey was charged with drug possession in Aurora two days before the boy was found. A call to the public defender's office representing her in that case wasn't returned.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A Tennessee man will be one of the first prisoners to be released under a sweeping criminal justice reform law recently signed by President Donald Trump thanks to a federal judge's ruling on Thursday.

Matthew Charles received national attention in 2018 after being re-sentenced and ordered back to prison two years after a judge ruled his sentence was unfair. However, U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger specifically cited the First Step Act as the reason she was reducing the sentence for the 52-year-old Charles.

"The defendant having already served the sentences imposed on the other counts in this case, is entitled to immediate release," Trauger wrote in her decision.

The day before, federal prosecutors told the court they would neither appeal nor fight if Charles's sentence was reduced.

"Because Congress has now enacted a new law that does appear to make Charles legally eligible for a reduced sentence, the government does not object to the court exercising its discretion to reduce Charles's sentence," federal prosecutors wrote in their Wednesday response.

Trump signed the law Dec. 21. It aims to reduce recidivism among federal prisoners, and also reduces guidelines for crack offenses, making those changes retroactive. Specifically, the law allows about 2,600 federal prisoners sentenced for crack cocaine offenses before late 2010 the opportunity to petition for a lighter penalty.

FILE - In this Dec. 17, 2017, file photo, Matthew Charles, who was released from prison after 21 years as a result of retroactive drug sentencing guideline changes, discusses his legal challenges at Nashville Public Radio in Nashville, Tenn. Charles will be one of the first prisoners to be released under a sweeping criminal justice reform law recently signed by President Donald Trump thanks to a federal judge's ruling on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. (Julieta Martinelli/Nashville Public Radio via AP, File)

"I'm happy to see one of the first success stories from the First Step Act," tweeted Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky. "I look forward to seeing more from our important criminal justice reform."

Charles, who is currently incarcerated at a Kentucky county jail, was sentenced to 35 years in prison for selling crack cocaine in 1996. He spent 21 years in prison without facing any disciplinary actions while taking college courses and mentoring other prisoners.

His federal defense attorneys filed a motion soon after First Step was enacted, arguing Charles would be sentenced to fewer years in prison if the case happened today.

"Matthew earned a second chance and today a federal judge gave it to him, corrected a grave injustice," said Shon Hopwood, an associate law professor at Georgetown Law, who began representing Charles last spring and helped fight for the passage of First Step.

Hopwood, in a phone interview on Thursday, said Charles was still a "little bit in shock" when they talked earlier that day. Hopwood added that while he is a strong advocate of First Step - where he often used Charles as a prime example of why the bill's passage was needed when talking to congressional members - he had been fighting for clemency for Charles rather than a time-served ruling from a federal court.

"I don't think he really thought this was going to happen," Hopwood said. "He kept the faith, but First Step wasn't originally what we were fighting for. He's just elated."

Hopwood said he didn't know when exactly Charles would be released, but said the federal government has no legal reason to detain Charles starting tomorrow.

____

This story has been corrected to show Matthew Charles was re-sentenced and ordered back to prison in 2018, not 2016
Twitch fans demand life ban for alleged domestic abuser

Australian Fortnite player Luke Munday apparently streamed himself on Twitch rowing with his wife off-screen. Noises were heard. We did not see what occurred. He was arrested, charged with assault and banned from the Amazon-owned service. But after 14 days in gaming purgatory (a, er, fortnight), Twitch thought Munday had suffered enough and restored his account.

Twitch and Munday and Mundays attorney didnt respond to requests for comment from The Daily Beast. Munday, who goes by MrDeadMoth on Twitch, was a small-time streamer until the night of Dec. 9. Thats when his pregnant girlfriend, unhappy that he had missed dinner with his family, asked him to stop playing Fortnite and chatting with his Twitch fans. Angered, Munday went off-screen, but kept the camera running. After Munday left the stream, a slapping sound could be heard on the video, while his girlfriend cried and their two children, both toddlers, were heard screaming.

All a bit weird, no? A grown man with children calling himself MrDeadMoth. The assumption that a corporation should police its users  does it vet all users for criminal records and nastiness? And where does privacy kick in? Its worth noting that Mr Munday hasnt been tried in any court of law. His innocent must be presumed. Kotaku notes:

After being apprehended on December 9, Munday was charged with common assault. He was then given a four-week court date adjournment to seek legal advice. On December 30, Munday apparently decided to use some of that time to resume his streaming career, announcing a return stream with the words lets be positive.

Innocent til proven otherwise, right? But gamers are unimpressed:

The man who beat his wife on stream (MrDeadMoth) is currently live streaming from your platform, said Hazz, a member of popular gaming organization Faze clan, on Twitter. How have you allowed this to happen bruh @Twitch? 30 day ban for saying prohibited WORDS on stream. 14 day ban for literally BEATING your wife on stream.  Whats there even to say about this MrDeadMoth guy? said popular streamer Ellohime. Dude abused his wife in front of his kids live on stream and is back streaming, but what do I say? Dont abuse your wife? Dont let him back? How is this not the MOST common of sense? What am I even typing? This is so absurd. Its so great as a survivor of domestic abuse & content creator to see a streamer that beat the shit out of his wife while streaming still alive and well on Twitch with 7000+ follows & affiliation, said streamer Saucy837, who moved from Twitch to Mixer. Way to send the right message.

Is it all about money?

On top of all that, Mundays return to Twitch netted him a healthy viewer boost, with some presumably there to gawk and others even expressing sympathy. All of the new viewers helped line his pockets, as well as Twitchs.

Yesterday the Verge added:

Today, the Australian Fortnite streamer MrDeadMoth  otherwise known as Luke Munday, 26  was banned again from Twitch for an indeterminate period of time, after an outcry from the gaming community.

What if hes found not guilty? Will Twitch law trump social justice?

Anorak

Posted: 5th, January 2019 | In: Key Posts, News, Technology Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) - Legislators in the South American country of Guyana have refused a government request to nullify a no-confidence motion approved last month.

Parliament Speaker Barton Scotland said Thursday that it's best if a court decides whether the motion had the required votes. The government had asked Scotland to overturn the motion because it contends the 33 votes were shy of just one to represent a majority in the 65-member assembly.

The motion is forcing new elections this year even though President David Granger still has nearly two years left in his term.

A lawmaker for the ruling coalition who voted in favor of the no-confidence motion has since fled to Canada. The government said in a statement that it is investigating allegations the lawmaker was supposedly bribed with money and gold.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Despite the name of Pink Floyd's best-selling album, the side of the moon you can't see isn't always dark. But it is far.

So scientists call the area where a Chinese spacecraft just landed the far side, not the dark side.

"The other side sees the sun sometimes. The other side is not dark, it's just far," said Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb. "It's a mistake."

The moon is what scientists call "tidally locked " which means the same side always faces us, while another side always faces away, Loeb said. When Earth views a darkened new moon, the far side is lit. When there's a full moon in our sky, the far side is dark.

Every semester, Purdue University lunar and planetary scientist Jay Melosh demonstrates how the far side gets light using a bright light as the sun and students playing the roles of the moon and the Earth. But students still get it wrong on the midterm, calling it the dark side.

Melosh traces the myth back to a Walt Disney television special in 1955 that talked about it always being dark on the other side of the moon and futuristic astronauts dropping flares.

This composite image made available by NASA in 2011 shows the far side of Earth's moon. The moon is what scientists call "tidally locked" which means the same side always faces us, while another side always faces away, says Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb. "The other side is not dark, it's just far." (NASA/Goddard/Arizona State University via AP)

The term dark side really took off in 1973 with the Pink Floyd's mesmerizing album "The Dark Side of the Moon."

While China is the first to land a spacecraft on the far side, there have been plenty of detailed photographs taken by orbiting spacecraft. The first grainy pictures came from a former Soviet Union craft in 1959. NASA's Apollo 8 astronauts saw it first when they orbited the moon 50 years ago.

___

Follow Seth Borenstein on Twitter: @borenbears .

___

The Associated Press Health & Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

In this photo taken Dec. 27, 2018, the moon, in a waning gibbous phase and briefly visible on an otherwise cloudy day, is seen from Seattle. Despite the name of Pink Floyd's best-selling album, the side of the moon you can't see isn't always dark. But it is far. So scientists call the area where a Chinese spacecraft just landed the far side, not the dark side. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

In this photo provided Jan. 3, 2019, by China National Space Administration via Xinhua News Agency, the first image of the moon's far side taken by China's Chang'e-4 probe. A Chinese spacecraft on Thursday, Jan. 3, made the first-ever landing on the far side of the moon, state media said. The lunar explorer Chang'e 4 touched down at 10:26 a.m., China Central Television said in a brief announcement at the top of its noon news broadcast.(China National Space Administration/Xinhua News Agency via AP)

This photo provided on Jan. 3, 2019, by China National Space Administration via Xinhua News Agency shows an image taken by China's Chang'e-4 probe during its landing process. A Chinese spacecraft on Thursday, Jan. 3, made the first-ever landing on the far side of the moon, state media said. The lunar explorer Chang'e 4 touched down at 10:26 a.m., China Central Television said in a brief announcement at the top of its noon news broadcast. (China National Space Administration/Xinhua News Agency via AP)
NEW YORK (AP) - Nearly a quarter-million New Yorkers who for years dreaded "L-mageddon," a planned 15-month shutdown of a key subway tunnel between Manhattan and Brooklyn, got a last-minute reprieve from the governor Thursday with a new plan that will allow repairs to go on at nights and weekends and keep the trains running.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo made the surprise announcement just weeks after convening a panel of top engineering experts to take another look at the L train tunnel beneath the East River to see if there was a way to fix flood damage from 2012's Superstorm Sandy without doing as much demolition and disrupting so many lives. Turns out, there was.

"This was an outside-the-box, creative solution," said Cuomo, a Democrat, at a news conference announcing the new plan. He was flanked by engineering experts from Columbia and Cornell universities who dreamed up the proposal. "You have to be willing to think outside the box or break the box."

While many were relieved by the announcement, some wondered whether the last-minute change had been full thought through.

The announcement came after years of planning for the upheaval expected to be caused by the tunnel's closure, which was supposed to happen in April.

Brooklynites had already begun rearranging their lives for the expected "L-pocalypse," with some changing jobs or apartments to avoid the looming commuting snarls.

Commuters ride the L train, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, in New York. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday, he's calling off a planned 15-month shutdown of the L train, a critical subway link between Manhattan and Brooklyn, saying a team of experts had come up with a way to overhaul a flood-damaged tunnel beneath the East River without closing it or even significantly curtailing service. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

The original plan, adopted by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority after lengthy public debate, had called for a complete shutdown of a portion of the L line for 15 months while workers repaired damage from Sandy, when salty, corrosive water flooded 7 miles (11 kilometers) of the tube.

The plan called for replacing old electrical equipment by removing a damaged concrete benchwall that lines the tunnel and encases power cables. The cables would then have been replaced and the wall rebuilt, in a labor-intensive process.

The new plan calls for installing cables on racks along the inside of the tunnels, and leaving the old cables where they are. The old concrete benchwall would stay too, encased in a protective fiber-reinforced polymer, where necessary, or patched.

Not having to take out and replace the old wall cuts down on cost and time, officials said. And the new plan could be accomplished with night and weekend work instead of a shutdown.

Asked about the plan at an unrelated news conference with police, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said his administration had only gotten initial information, but "anything that avoids disruption I favor obviously and a lot of people in Brooklyn, a lot of people in Manhattan have been really worried about the L train shutdown."

"So, if there is a plan that can be better for the people of our neighborhoods, that's great, but I want to reserve any further judgment until I hear more," he said.

Those who would have been hardest hit were overjoyed with the news.

"I think we averted a disaster," said Robert Stone, 69, who was riding an L train to his home near the Third Avenue stop in Manhattan. "This line is full, it's one of the most on-time lines of all the subways and I believe this is the right solution, not to shut it down. I think it's a great thing."

Shanice Brown, who manages the Goorin Bros. hat store in Williamsburg that depends on the L train to bring in customers and employees, said the change in plans is a big relief. Brown said she had been worried about what the shutdown would mean for business, and whether the alternatives the MTA had proposed in terms of buses, ferries and other subway lines would have worked.

"It didn't feel very secure at all," she said. "It was going to be very trial-and-error."

Some are questioning, however, if the new plan is truly the best option.

"The governor's plan may or may not work, but you'll pardon transit riders for being skeptical that a last-minute Hail Mary idea cooked up over Christmas is better than what the MTA came up with over three years of extensive public input," said John Raskin, executive director of the Riders Alliance, a transit advocacy group. "We need a full public release of the details of Governor Cuomo's idea, as well as the mitigation plans that will allow hundreds of thousands of L train riders to get around during the inevitable shutdowns and slowdowns in service."

The L line is one of the city's most crowded, running through neighborhoods like Williamsburg and Bushwick that have become major draws for young people and the businesses that cater to them, like restaurants and bars. Since 1990, ridership has vastly increased, with about 400,000 rides on an average day. Of those, more than half go through the tunnel.

The agency could have gone with a three-year partial shutdown, but the MTA decided in mid-2016 that it would be better to close the Canarsie Tube completely starting in the spring of 2019. That called for L train service at five stops in Manhattan to be halted, as well as trains through the tunnel. The line would continue to operate among Brooklyn neighborhoods.

MTA Acting Chairman Fernando Ferrer called the new plan "an innovative and more efficient approach" and said the agency, which operates in the city and its suburbs but is controlled by the governor, would adopt it in full.

___

Associated Press writer Karen Matthews contributed to this report.

Commuters wait for the L train, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, in New York. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday, he's calling off a planned 15-month shutdown of the L train, a critical subway link between Manhattan and Brooklyn, saying a team of experts had come up with a way to overhaul a flood-damaged tunnel beneath the East River without closing it or even significantly curtailing service. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Pedestrians walk past the chain link fence enclosing the L train construction site along 14th Street, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, in New York. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday, he's calling off a planned 15-month shutdown of the L train, a critical subway link between Manhattan and Brooklyn, saying a team of experts had come up with a way to overhaul a flood-damaged tunnel beneath the East River without closing it or even significantly curtailing service. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

A construction worker helps direct traffic and pedestrians at the L train construction site on the corner of Avenue A and 14th Street, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, in New York. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday, he's calling off a planned 15-month shutdown of the L train, a critical subway link between Manhattan and Brooklyn, saying a team of experts had come up with a way to overhaul a flood-damaged tunnel beneath the East River without closing it or even significantly curtailing service. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
KINSHASA, Congo (AP) - The Latest on Congo's presidential election (all times local):

9:25 p.m.

The United States is urging Congo's government to release accurate results of its presidential election and warns that those who undermine the democratic process could face U.S. sanctions.

The State Department also says internet access must be restored and media must be allowed to report freely on the results of Sunday's election, which the U.S. calls one of the most important in Congo's history.

The statement late Thursday notes the reported troubles on election day and calls "unfortunate" the decision to bar some 1 million voters from participating because of a deadly Ebola virus outbreak.

The U.S. urges that results are counted transparently and with observers present so that the votes of millions of people "were not cast in vain."

___

7:25 p.m.

The Catholic church in Congo says its data show a clear winner in Sunday's presidential election, and it calls on the electoral commission to publish the true results in "respect of truth and justice."

The church deployed some 40,000 electoral observers. Congo's electoral regulations forbid anyone but the electoral commission to announce results.

Observers have reported multiple irregularities as the country voted for a successor to departing President Joseph Kabila.

The electoral commission's president on Thursday said it had collected results from about 20 percent of polling stations, while some Congolese expressed doubt that the first results would be released on Sunday as expected.

The internet remains blocked in the Central African country in an apparent attempt by the government to calm speculation.

The outage also hampers election observers' work.
MEXICO CITY (AP) - Mexico's foreign affairs ministry has formally asked the United States government to conduct a thorough investigation into a Jan. 1 incident in which U.S. agents fired tear gas into Mexico to stop crossing migrants.

In a statement Thursday, the ministry said through its embassy that it lamented any violent acts along its border. It reiterated its commitment to the safety of migrants.

In the first hours of the new year, about 150 migrants attempted to breach the border fence in Tijuana. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said that agents fired gas at migrants throwing rocks. It said it was investigating.

But an Associated Press photographer at the scene only saw rocks thrown after agents fired gas as migrants scaled the fence.

The confrontation was at least the second time in a little over a month that U.S. authorities have fired tear gas into Tijuana. The action drew sharp criticism from politicians and activists on both sides of the border and raised questions about the use of force against migrants.

Migrants run after U.S. Border Patrol agents throw tear gas to the Mexican side of the fence after the migrants climbed the border fence to get into the U.S. side to San Diego, from Tijuana, Mexico, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019. Discouraged by the long wait to apply for asylum through official ports of entry, many migrants from recent caravans are choosing to cross the U.S. border wall and hand themselves in to border patrol agents. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)

Migrants stand by tear gas canisters they collected that were shot towards the Mexican side by U.S. Border Patrol officers after they attempted to get into the U.S. side to San Diego, Calif., from Tijuana, Mexico, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019. Discouraged by the long wait to apply for asylum through official ports of entry, many migrants from recent caravans are choosing to cross the U.S. border wall and hand themselves in to border patrol agents. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - The newly elected governor of the state of Rio de Janeiro says police officers have been authorized to shoot and kill criminals armed with rifles.

Wilson Witzel, who campaigned on promises to fight drug trafficking and corruption, made his remarks Thursday in an interview with Band News radio.

In his swearing in speech on Jan.1, Witzel reiterated campaign promises to crack down on crime, one of the state's biggest problems. He called drug traffickers "narco-terrorists," adding they would "be treated like terrorists."

"Armed criminals have taken over and dominated portions of our territory, causing disgrace and disorder. I will not allow this 'parallel power' to continue," in the speech.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The Latest on a North Carolina congressional race where a winner hasn't been finalized while an absentee ballot fraud investigation continues (all times local):

2:45 p.m.

The Republican candidate in the country's last undecided congressional contest says he had a "great meeting" with North Carolina election board investigators examining absentee ballot irregularities in his race.

Mark Harris and his attorneys met with board staff for about two hours Thursday in Raleigh.

Board workers are collecting evidence about alleged fraud in the 9th Congressional District, where unofficial results show Harris holds a 905-vote lead over Democrat Dan McCready. Harris told reporters after the meeting he'll continue to cooperate with investigators.

Harris' chief campaign consultant hired a Bladen County man who is a focus of the board's probe. Harris has said he's done nothing wrong.

FILE - In this Nov. 7, 2018 file photo Republican Mark Harris speaks to the media during a news conference in Matthews, N.C. The North Carolina board investigating allegations of ballot fraud in a still-unresolved congressional race between Harris and Democrat Dan McCready could be disbanded Friday, Dec. 28 under a state court ruling in a protracted legal battle about how the panel operates. The state Elections Board has refused to certify the race between Harris and McCready while it investigates absentee ballot irregularities in the congressional district stretching from the Charlotte area through several counties to the east. Harris holds a slim lead in unofficial results, but election officials are looking into criminal allegations against an operative hired by the Harris campaign. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)

The interview came the same day Harris asked a state judge to declare him the winner because the now-defunct board didn't act. The board's staff members are still working. Congress also convened its two-year session Thursday, with the 9th District seat empty.

__

11 a.m.

The Republican in the nation's last undecided congressional race is asking a North Carolina court to require that he be declared the winner because the now-defunct state elections board didn't act.

A lawsuit Mark Harris filed Thursday claims the disbanded elections board had been declared unconstitutional, so its investigation into alleged ballot fraud by an operative hired by the Harris campaign was invalid.

The elections board was dissolved on Friday by state judges who in October declared its form unconstitutional but allowed investigations to continue. A revamped board takes effect Jan. 31.

Harris asks a trial-court judge to order the state elections director to certify the Republican as the winner.

Harris was being interviewed by state investigators Thursday, as all other U.S. House winners are sworn into office in Washington.
NEW YORK (AP) - The Latest on the arrest of a woman charged in the death of an unlicensed cosmetic surgery patient (all times local):

7 p.m.

A New York City woman accused of killing a patient at an illegal cosmetic surgery clinic has pleaded not guilty to charges including manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide.

Whalesca Castillo was arraigned Thursday in in the June 17, 2018, death of Lesbia Ayala, of Philadelphia.

Prosecutors say Ayala traveled to the Bronx to receive liquid silicone injections into her buttocks and thighs. They say she suffered a fatal embolism after the procedure.

The charges in Ayala's death are not Castillo's first brush with the law. She served a year in prison in 2011 and nine months in 2014 on charges relating to operating an illegal medical clinic.

Castillo's attorney, Robert Osuna, said any loss of life is a tragedy but that his client is presumed innocent.

___

3 p.m.

A New York City woman accused of killing a patient at an illegal cosmetic surgery clinic has pleaded not guilty to charges including manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide.

Whalesca Castillo was arraigned Thursday in in the June 17, 2018 death of Lesbia Ayala, of Philadelphia.

Prosecutors say Ayala traveled to the Bronx to receive liquid silicone injections into her buttocks and thighs. They say she suffered a fatal embolism after the procedure.

The charges in Ayala's death are not Castillo's first brush with the law. She served a year in prison in 2011 and nine months in 2014 on charges relating to operating an illegal medical clinic.

Castillo's attorney, Robert Osuna, did not immediately return a call seeking comment Thursday.

_____

11 a.m.

A New York City woman accused of killing a patient at an illegal cosmetic surgery clinic has previously served two prison terms for unlicensed silicone injections.

The New York Times reports that 44-year-old Whalesca Castillo served a year in prison in 2011 and nine months in 2014 on charges relating to operating an illegal medical clinic.

Castillo was charged with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide Wednesday in the June 17 death of Lesbia Ayala, of Philadelphia.

Authorities say Ayala had an embolism when Castillo injected silicone into her buttocks and thighs.

Castillo is expected to appear in court Thursday. Her attorney, Robert Osuna, told the Times he could not comment on the charges.

Court papers from her earlier arrests show Castillo charged $1,500 for each procedure.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Justice Department says there's an ongoing grand jury investigation related to a Russian social media troll farm accused of interfering in the 2016 presidential election.

That's according to a court filing Thursday from prosecutors with special counsel Robert Mueller's office and the U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington.

The lawyers told a judge they want to reply under seal to an ongoing court dispute with a Russian company because their response concerns a "matter occurring before the grand jury."

Mueller's office last February indicted three Russian individuals and three Russian companies accused in a social media effort to sway American public opinion ahead of the election.
BEIJING (AP) - Apple's $1,000 iPhone is a tough sell to consumers in China unnerved by an economic slump and the trade war with the U.S.

CEO Tim Cook said in a letter to shareholders Wednesday that demand for iPhones is waning and revenue for the last quarter of 2018 will fall well below projections, a decrease he traced mainly to China.

The iPhone is Apple's biggest product, accounting for about 60 percent of its revenue in the July-September quarter, the latest reported. Its stock fell 10 percent Thursday, the worst drop in five years, wiping out about $75 billion in market value.

Apple is the latest company grappling with increasing Chinese consumer anxiety. Other brand names such as Ford Motor Co. and jeweler Tiffany & Co. already have reported abrupt declines in sales to Chinese buyers.

China still is one of the fastest-growing economies, with 2018's expansion forecast at about 6.5 percent. But China's tariff fight with the U.S. and an avalanche of bad news about tumbling auto and real estate sales are undermining consumer confidence after two decades of almost unbroken rapid growth.

"It's definitely worrying," said China specialist David Dollar, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. "Overall, consumption growth is slowing down in China."

A woman browses her iPhone as she walks by a mural depicting an iPhone and Chinese people buy smartphone to communicate with family members, at a subway station in Beijing, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. Apple Inc.'s $1,000 iPhone is a tough sell to Chinese consumers who are jittery over an economic slump and a trade war with Washington. The tech giant became the latest global company to collide with Chinese consumer anxiety when CEO Tim Cook said iPhone demand is waning, due mostly to China. Weak consumer demand in the world's second-largest economy is a blow to industries from autos to designer clothing that are counting on China to drive revenue growth. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

The Apple news shows how vulnerable many big U.S. companies are to a slowdown in China, especially as the world's two biggest economies seek to settle a contentious trade dispute.

"It's not going to be just Apple," Kevin Hassett, chairman of the White Council of Economic Advisers, told CNN Thursday.

He said many companies have a lot of sales in China and will "be watching their earnings downgraded next year until we get a deal with China. And I think that puts a lot of pressure on China to make a deal."

Emily Li, a 37-year-old advertising designer in Beijing, said she is putting off replacing her car or making other major purchases. "People are worried about losing jobs," she said.

Weakness in Chinese demand is especially painful for Apple and other smartphone makers. China accounts for one-third of the industry's global handset shipments.

Shipments in China fell 10 percent from a year earlier to 103 million handsets in the quarter ending in September, according to research firm IDC. It expects last year's total Chinese purchases to shrink by 8 percent to 9 percent compared with 2016.

The belt-tightening in the world's second-largest economy is bedeviling global industries, including autos and designer clothing, that count on China to drive sales growth.

The trade war with Washington has shaken a "sense of China's invincibility," said Mark Natkin, managing director of Marbridge Consulting, a research firm in Beijing. Chinese are waking up to the fact that their economy is vulnerable to the uncertainties of the global economy, he said.

The slump is a setback for the ruling Communist Party's efforts to nurture self-sustaining, consumer-driven economic growth and wean China from its reliance on exports and investment.

China's third-quarter economic growth of 6.5 percent was stronger than most other major economies, but the country's lowest since the 2008 global crisis. The deceleration partly reflects a deliberate government campaign to rein in China's high debt levels. At the same time, Beijing has sought to relieve the economic pain with higher government spending.

"They're trying to aim at a very fine target," said Dollar, a former World Bank and U.S. Treasury Department official. "They want to see the economy slow down, but they don't want to see it slow down too much."

China reported this week that factory activity shrank in December for the first time in more than two years. And auto sales in the biggest global market are on track for their first annual decline in three decades after plunging 16 percent in November. Soft real estate sales have forced developers to cut prices.

Overall, export growth decelerated to 5.4 percent over a year earlier, less than half October's 12.6 percent rate.

Sales to the U.S. market have held up despite President Donald Trump's punitive tariffs on $250 billion of Chinese goods, rising 12.9 percent in November over a year earlier. But that was thanks partly to exporters rushing to beat further American duty increases - a trend that is starting to fade.

Apple's setback also highlights another challenge: increasingly capable Chinese competitors whose products cost less.

In smartphones, that includes Huawei, Oppo, Vivo and Xiaomi. Some are priced as low as 500 yuan ($70). Others have beaten the American giant to market with features Chinese users want, such as phones that can use separate carriers for voice and data.

That has eroded the iPhone's cachet and customers' willingness to pay premium prices.

"I think 10,000 yuan ($1,400) for an iPhone is too much," said Vivian Yang, a manager at a Beijing technology company. "Nobody needs such a phone."

Yuan Yuan, a 26-year-old employee of a social media company in Beijing, reflects the pressures on urban professionals squeezed by rising living costs and job uncertainty.

Yuan said his monthly income fluctuates between 3,000 and 10,000 yuan ($425 and $1,400) and only covers living expenses.

As a university student, Yuan had an iPhone paid for by his parents. But once he had to buy his own, he switched to a lower-priced Xiaomi.

"I have no plans to buy an apartment, a car or any other major items," Yuan said.

___

AP researcher Yu Bing in Beijing, AP Markets Writer Marley Jay in New York and AP Economics Writers Paul Wiseman and Josh Boak in Washington contributed.

In this Dec. 6, 2018, photo, a woman runs past a Apple logo colored red in Beijing, China. Apple Inc.'s $1,000 iPhone is a tough sell to Chinese consumers who are jittery over an economic slump and a trade war with Washington. The tech giant became the latest global company to collide with Chinese consumer anxiety when CEO Tim Cook said iPhone demand is waning, due mostly to China. Weak consumer demand in the world's second-largest economy is a blow to industries from autos to designer clothing that are counting on China to drive revenue growth. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

A man leaves an Apple store in Beijing, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. Apple Inc.'s $1,000 iPhone is a tough sell to Chinese consumers who are jittery over an economic slump and a trade war with Washington. The tech giant became the latest global company to collide with Chinese consumer anxiety when CEO Tim Cook said iPhone demand is waning, due mostly to China. Weak consumer demand in the world's second-largest economy is a blow to industries from autos to designer clothing that are counting on China to drive revenue growth. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

A trade-in for iPhone XR promotion board is displayed as an Apple employee waits for customer at its retail store in Beijing, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. Apple Inc.'s $1,000 iPhone is a tough sell to Chinese consumers who are jittery over an economic slump and a trade war with Washington. The tech giant became the latest global company to collide with Chinese consumer anxiety when CEO Tim Cook said iPhone demand is waning, due mostly to China. Weak consumer demand in the world's second-largest economy is a blow to industries from autos to designer clothing that are counting on China to drive revenue growth. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Chinese men walk past the Apple logo in Beijing, China, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. Apple Inc.'s $1,000 iPhone is a tough sell to Chinese consumers who are jittery over an economic slump and a trade war with Washington. The tech giant became the latest global company to collide with Chinese consumer anxiety when CEO Tim Cook said iPhone demand is waning, due mostly to China. Weak consumer demand in the world's second-largest economy is a blow to industries from autos to designer clothing that are counting on China to drive revenue growth. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Transfer balls: 8m for Ramsey, Sami Khedira to Arsenal and Liverpool in the hunt

As regular readers know, Ive been tracking the utter tosh written about Aaron Ramseys looming departure from Arsenal. Having told readers that Ramsey had signed a deal to join Juventus  a mere 12 hours after telling the same readers the player was still talking to PSG, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and the Italians  the Sun reports today: CASHING IN Aaron Ramsey scoops 8m signing-on fee at Juventus plus huge appearance bonus after agreeing free transfer from Arsenal.

Having told readers that the deal is done, the Sun tells them it ,er, it isnt: The Italians offered the Welshman a basic salary similar to his earnings at the Emirates, but included hefty incentives in the proposed contract. The story then tells us a lot of ifs:

The source for this misleading tosh is La Gazzetta dello Sport. it does not ay a deal has been done. It says  and this through the mangle of Google Translate: Exit polls ensure that Ramseys entourage has cashed the proposal with great interest. So much so that the bianconeri are absolutely at the forefront in a challenge that sees Inter also very active, but especially the rich Psg of Sheikh Al Thani. So PSG and Inter both want Ramsey. Nothing has been signed.

The Mirror says: people are jumping the gun over a deal being done. Juventus are Ramseys preferred choice, however, with discussions continuing at pace. The Bianconeri could even try to tempt Arsenal into doing business for Ramsey this month for a cut price fee, rather than waiting for the summer.

In other news, the London Evening Standard says: Juventus are in pole position ahead of Bayern Munich and Inter Milan in the race to sign the Wales international, with reports in Italy suggesting he is close to agreeing a five-year deal. Reports in England says the deal is done. And it;s not all doom and gloom for the Gunners: Juve are willing to offer Sami Khedira as part of a deal to land Ramsey this month, while Liverpool and Manchester United are reportedly monitoring the situation.

Such are the facts.

Anorak

Posted: 4th, January 2019 | In: Arsenal, Back pages, Sports, Tabloids Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
ST. LOUIS (AP) - The St. Louis circuit attorney who charged then-Gov. Eric Greitens with two crimes last year was fined $63,009 for campaign finance violations, an agreement published Wednesday shows.

Democratic Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner, in a statement, blamed clerical errors for the violations and said a "Republican political operative" filed the complaints against her at the height of the investigations of Greitens, a Republican. One of the charges Greitens faced was related to alleged campaign improprieties; the other was related to an extramarital affair.

Gardner was a two-term state representative before being elected St. Louis' top prosecutor in November 2016.

The Missouri Ethics Commission, in its 25-page consent order , cited improper use of campaign funds for personal expenses and also cited Gardner for failing to accurately report contributions and expenditures.

Among the findings: Gardner used $2,855 in campaign funds to pay for housing costs between April 2015 and July 2016. The consent order said the Missouri House reimbursed Gardner for the same housing cost.

Gardner said her campaign committee will replace its treasurer with someone "with an in-depth understanding of accounting and campaign finance reporting."

FILE - In this May 16, 2018, file photo, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner poses for a photo in her office in St. Louis. Gardner has been fined $63,000 by the Missouri Ethics Commission for violations that include using campaign funds for personal expenses. Gardner, a Democrat, blamed the commission's interest on a Republican political operative. (AP Photo/Jim Salter, File)

She said that while her opponents may seek to use the fine against her, "I will not allow this to serve as a distraction to the important work required to make our city a safer and more just place for everyone."

The agreement allowed Gardner to pay just $6,314 if given within 45 days. She paid the fine Friday.

Gardner faced intense scrutiny for charging the governor after he admitted in January 2017 that he'd had an affair with his St. Louis hairdresser in 2015. Greitens, like Gardner, was elected in 2016. The former Navy SEAL officer was seen as a rising star in GOP politics before the scandal.

Gardner charged him with invasion of privacy for allegedly taking an unauthorized photo of the woman during a sexual encounter at his St. Louis home, and threatening to use it if she ever spoke of the affair.

Then in April, Gardner charged Greitens with tampering with computer data for allegedly providing his political fundraiser with the donor list of a veterans' charity he founded.

Both charges were dropped in May . Greitens, also facing a House investigation, resigned June 1 as part of an agreement to drop the computer charge.
CHICAGO (AP) - One of the most powerful and longest-serving City Council members in Chicago history appeared in federal court Thursday on a charge that he tried to shake down a major fast-food restaurant chain seeking city remodeling permits.

Alderman Ed Burke, 75, is charged with one count of attempted extortion for conveying to company executives in 2017 that they'd get the permits only if they signed on as clients at Burke's private property-tax law firm in Chicago, a 37-page complaint unsealed on Thursday says.

For many Chicagoans suspicious of dealings behind closed doors at City Hall, Burke has personified the city's machine politics for decades. Dozens of aldermen have entered U.S. District court on corruption charges, but Burke seemed too powerful, too wealthy and too savvy to land himself in the kind of legal trouble he now faces.

He sat in a packed Chicago federal courtroom Thursday afternoon with his arms folded, wearing his trademark pinstriped suit with a pocket square. Minutes later, he stood before U.S. Magistrate Sheila Finnegan, who asked if he understood the charge and that a conviction could carry a lengthy prison sentence.

"Yes, your honor," he answered calmly.

Speaking briefly outside his home Thursday night, Burke said "I've done nothing wrong."

Alderman Ed Burke, 75, walks into the Dirksen Federal Courthouse, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, in Chicago. Burke, one of the most powerful City Council members in Chicago, is charged with one count of attempted extortion in trying to shake down a fast-food restaurant seeking city remodeling permits, according to a federal complaint unsealed Thursday. (Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

"I'm not guilty of anything, and I'm trusting that when I have my day in court that will be clear beyond a reasonable doubt," he said.

The complaint alleges that as part of the extortion scheme, Burke solicited a campaign contribution for an unnamed politician. The Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times reported that Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, a candidate for Chicago mayor, was the intended recipient of the contribution.

Preckwinkle said in a statement that she learned Thursday that "an individual" attempted to contribute through her campaign website but the contribution wasn't accepted. Calling for Burke to step down, Preckwinkle said his "behavior of abusing his position for personal gain does not reflect my values, and I do not condone it."

Prosecutors told the judge that Burke, who has publicly opposed the National Rifle Association and proposed multiple gun-control ordinances over the years, had 23 guns at his offices alone. The judge said one condition of his continued release is that he gets rid of all his guns, including any at his home. He also was required to turn over his passport.

The Democrat's law firm, Klafter & Burke, represented the high-rise tower that bears President Donald Trump's name. There's no indication the case is at all tied to his firm's work for Trump.

He's been on the council for 50 years and for three decades has chaired its finance committee, which makes key decisions about how the city's budget is spent.

Burke said after FBI raids on his offices at City Hall and in his Southwest Side ward in November that he was sure agents wouldn't find anything "amiss."

Charges were filed in a complaint on Wednesday but only unsealed Thursday. A grand jury could still hand down a formal indictment, possibly adding new charges.

The complaint, which does not identify the fast-food company or the executives allegedly squeezed, includes excerpts from wiretaps of Burke's phone and emails seized in the raids.

One intermediary told Burke he would tell one of the executives "how important you are" when he met the person for dinner.

"You are good to do that," Burke responded. "But I'd also like to get some of his law business. ... I hear he has 300 (restaurants out here)."

When the executives didn't give Burke's law firm the business he wanted, Burke spoke with one of his ward employees about how they would "play hard" ball with the company, the complaint says.

Emails between the executives, who the complaint says are victims and not targets of the investigation, show how worried they were about the damage Burke could do to their enterprise.

"I know these guys are very powerful and they can make life very difficult for all of our Chicago stores and I do not want to take this risk," one email said after Burke forced them to halt the renovations.

Burke's attorney, Charles Sklarsky, told reporters as he left the courthouse with his client "the transaction described in the complaint does not make out extortion or an attempt to extort."

Burke joins a long list of Illinois lawmakers charged criminally, including former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who is serving a 14-year prison term on multiple federal corruption convictions.

Klafter & Burke specialized in property-tax appeals, with former clients that included Trump's luxury tower in downtown Chicago. The Chicago Sun-Times reported in 2016 that the law firm saved the Trump building enterprise $14 million by appealing property tax bills over seven years.

U.S. Rep.-elect Jesus "Chuy" Garcia and other Burke critics in Chicago's Hispanic community have drawn attention to that tax work in a bid to hurt Burke politically.

Burke's wife, Anne Burke, is an Illinois Supreme Court justice. Ed Burke's father was also influential in Democratic circles in Chicago until his death in the 1960s. Other Burke relatives also have been involved in Illinois politics.

Since the 1970s, nearly three dozen aldermen have been convicted. A common joke in Chicago is that so many aldermen had gone to prison that when they saw each other behind bars they'd holler, "Quorum call!"

Burke is associated by Chicagoans with insider benefits long accorded aldermen. A city inspectors report in 2016 found snow removal crews plowed the street where he lived far more often than other streets after a 2015 snow storm. They worked his street 46 times in five days, the report said.

Burke was a central figure in the mid-1980s during what came to be known as the "Council Wars," a highly contentious time in Chicago politics when Burke and others opposed the city's first black mayor, Harold Washington.

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Follow Michael Tarm on Twitter at https://twitter.com/mtarm

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Associated Press reporter Sara Burnett contributed.

Alderman Ed Burke, 75, walks into the Dirksen Federal Courthouse, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, in Chicago. Burke, one of the most powerful City Council members in Chicago, is charged with one count of attempted extortion in trying to shake down a fast-food restaurant seeking city remodeling permits, according to a federal complaint unsealed Thursday. (Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

Alderman Ed Burke, 75, walks into the Dirksen Federal Courthouse, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, in Chicago. Burke, one of the most powerful City Council members in Chicago, is charged with one count of attempted extortion in trying to shake down a fast-food restaurant seeking city remodeling permits, according to a federal complaint unsealed Thursday. (Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

Alderman Ed Burke, 75, departs in a taxi after following his release after turning himself in at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, in Chicago. Burke, one of the most powerful City Council members in Chicago, is charged with one count of attempted extortion in trying to shake down a fast-food restaurant seeking city remodeling permits, according to a federal complaint unsealed Thursday. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune via AP)

Alderman Ed Burke, 75, walks out of the Dirksen Federal Courthouse following his release after turning himself in, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, in Chicago. Burke, one of the most powerful City Council members in Chicago, is charged with one count of attempted extortion in trying to shake down a fast-food restaurant seeking city remodeling permits, according to a federal complaint unsealed Thursday. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune via AP)

Alderman Ed Burke, 75, walks into the Dirksen Federal Courthouse, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, in Chicago. Burke, one of the most powerful City Council members in Chicago, is charged with one count of attempted extortion in trying to shake down a fast-food restaurant seeking city remodeling permits, according to a federal complaint unsealed Thursday. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune via AP)
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The Latest on a winter storm that has dumped ice and snow on the southern Plains (all times local):

12:30 p.m.

Authorities say at least four people have died and a police officer has been injured in collisions on treacherous roads as a winter storm moves through Oklahoma and Texas.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says a 63-year-old woman died Wednesday evening when her pickup veered out of control on a sleet-slickened road and was struck by a tractor-trailer rig in Pittsburg County.

The patrol says three more people died in two crashes Thursday. A 76-year-old man died after his vehicle slid out of control and struck a tree in Grady County. A Texas man was killed in a collision on Interstate 35 in southern Oklahoma. And a Texas woman died later at a hospital of injuries she suffered in the crash.

In northeast Oklahoma, a police officer is recovering after being struck by a vehicle while working at the site of a crash on a bridge over Interstate 44 in Tulsa

This item has been updated to correct the gender of Wednesday's crash victim.

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11:25 a.m.

Officials say at least three people have died in collisions on treacherous roads as a winter storm moves through Oklahoma and Texas.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says a 63-year-old woman died Wednesday evening when her pickup veered out of control on a sleet-slickened road and was struck by a tractor-trailer rig in Pittsburg County.

The patrol says two more fatalities occurred Thursday. A 76-year-old man died after his vehicle slid out of control and struck a tree in Grady County, and another motorist died in a collision along Interstate 35 in southern Oklahoma.

The identities of the victims and other details have not been released.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning through Friday morning for northern Texas and much of Oklahoma.
KINSHASA, Congo (AP) - The Catholic church in Congo announced Thursday its data show a clear winner in Sunday's presidential election, and it called on the electoral commission to publish the true results in "respect of truth and justice."

The church, a powerful voice in the heavily Catholic nation, deployed some 40,000 electoral observers but could not say who the clear winner appeared to be, as Congo's electoral regulations forbid anyone but the electoral commission to announce results.

Observers have reported multiple irregularities as the vast, mineral-rich Central African country voted for a successor to departing President Joseph Kabila. This could be its first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since independence from Belgium in 1960.

The ruling party loyalist whom Kabila put forward as his preferred successor, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, already has said he expected to win, while polling before the election had top opposition candidate Martin Fayulu ahead.

The electoral commission's president said it had collected results from about 20 percent of polling stations, while some Congolese expressed doubt that the first results would be released on Sunday as expected.

"We are working hard to announce them as soon as possible," Corneille Nangaa said.

The internet remained blocked in the country in an apparent attempt by the government to calm speculation about the results.

The United States urged Congo to release accurate results and restore internet access, warning that those who undermine the democratic process could face U.S. sanctions. The State Department noted the reported troubles on election day and said results should be compiled transparently, with observers present, so that the votes of millions of people "were not cast in vain."

The internet outage has hampered the election observers' work. No Western election observers were invited to watch the vote, which was meant to occur in late 2016, after Congo's government was annoyed at international pressure amid concerns that Kabila was trying to stay in power.

"The decision to cut internet and text messages hampered the transmission of data from the field," said Cyrille Ebotoko, technical supervisor of the Catholic church's observer mission. "It delayed our work by three days and considerably increased the cost since everything had to be done by phone."

Thirty-eight percent of the some 40,000 polling stations the mission observed were still missing electoral materials more than three hours after polls opened on Sunday, the mission said. And 23 percent of its observers' reports noted that voting had to be suspended at some point because of troubles with voting machines.

Overall, however, the irregularities did not considerably impact the voting, said Father Donatien Nshole, secretary-general of the church organization known as CENCO.

Shadary, a former interior minister, is under European Union sanctions for a crackdown on Congolese who protested the delayed election. Kabila, blocked from serving three consecutive terms, has hinted he'll run again in 2023, leading the opposition to suspect he'll wield power behind the scenes until then to protect his vast wealth.

The other leading candidates were Fayulu, a businessman and lawmaker in Kinshasa, and Felix Tshisekedi, son of late opposition icon Etienne and head of Congo's most prominent opposition party.

Some 1 million of Congo's 40 million registered voters were barred from Sunday's election at the last minute as the electoral commission blamed a deadly Ebola virus outbreak in the east. Affected people in Beni and Butembo cities protested as some observers warned that not allowing them to vote undermined the credibility of the election.

The cities' residents can vote in March, months after Congo's new president is set to be inaugurated on Jan. 18.

Election day was largely calm. Life in the capital, Kinshasa, had returned to near-normal on Thursday, though some residents expressed frustration at the internet outage.

"We are waiting and trying to adapt, searching for places where we can still find network because we need it to work," businessman Paul Odimba said. "I can understand the government's decision because fake news was spread indeed, but some of us that are impacted are able to make the difference between fake and real news."

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Associated Press writer Matthew Lee in Washington contributed.

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Follow Africa news at https://twitter.com/AP_Africa
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The father of the man accused of fatally shooting four people in a Nashville Waffle House claims authorities didn't expressly tell him to keep guns away from his son.

Jeffrey Reinking registered the claim last month in an ongoing federal civil lawsuit filed against him by one of the victim's families.

The Tennessean reports that authorities denied the claim.

Reinking's son Travis Reinking is charged in the April shooting.

In August 2017, the Tazewell County Sheriff's Office in Illinois said it told Jeffrey Reinking to keep the weapons away from his son, whom the U.S. Secret Service had arrested that July at the White House.

Jeffrey Reinking had locked up his son's three rifles and a handgun, but later returned the weapons to him.
DETROIT (AP) - The United Auto Workers union is accusing General Motors of violating a national contract by using temporary workers instead of employing full-timers who were laid off from its factories.

The union filed a federal lawsuit in Cleveland alleging that GM has temporary workers at its pickup truck plant in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The lawsuit says GM has about 1,000 workers on layoff from several factories who should be working at the plant.

The UAW says its contract with GM requires it to hire the laid-off workers, including 690 at a small-car plant in Lordstown, Ohio, which is scheduled to close in March.

The legal move is another sign of acrimony between GM and the union ahead of negotiations on a new contract that will start this summer. GM's contract with the union expires on Sept. 14.

GM wouldn't say how many temporary workers are employed in Fort Wayne, but the company says it started the process late last year to bring in about 50 laid-off Lordstown workers. About 35 will be working in Fort Wayne by the end of January, GM said in a statement. The company said it's talking with the union about staffing in Fort Wayne, and it declined further comment.

In November, GM announced plans to shutter five factories this year as it adjusts to lower demand for cars.
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - The U.S. Army's chief of staff made a surprise visit to the Afghanistan's capital, where he met President Ashraf Ghani to discuss prospects for a peaceful end to the country's 17-year war, the United States' longest.

In a statement late Thursday, Ghani's office said Gen. Mark A. Milley supported Afghan-led talks with the Taliban, although the burden of getting the two sides to the table seems to have fallen to Washington's newly appointed peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad. Khalilzad has met several times with Taliban insurgents since his appointment in September. They have consistently refused direct talks with Ghani's representatives, calling the Kabul government U.S. puppets.

Another round of U.S.-Taliban talks is reportedly scheduled for later this month in Doha, Qatar, where the insurgents maintain a political office.

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This story has been updated to correct Milley's first name to Mark.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on the 116th Congress (all times local):

2:02 p.m.

The House has elected Nancy Pelosi as its speaker as Democrats take command of the chamber for the new Congress.

The near party-line majority vote makes her the country's most powerful Democrat as the party begins two more years of confronting President Donald Trump. Except now, Pelosi's Democrats will be able to set the House's legislative agenda and conduct investigations of the Trump administration that Republicans shunned when they held the majority.

Thursday's vote restores Pelosi to the post the Californian held from 2007 until 2011. She's the only woman to ever hold the chamber's top job.

Pelosi, of California, reclaimed the job after Democrats gained 40 seats in the November elections, their biggest pickup in four decades.

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, who is expected to lead the 116th Congress as speaker of the House, and House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., are applauded at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

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1:20 p.m.

The Senate of the 116th Congress has been sworn in.

The new senators mingled with their colleagues and a few predecessors as they walked up to the dais in groups of four to be sworn in by Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday. New senators found their desks, some looking inside to see which senators had left their signatures.

The only new senator not to be sworn in was Republican Sen.-elect Rick Scott, who received permission to complete his term as Florida's governor. He will be sworn in Jan. 8, when his term ends.

Twenty-nine new and re-elected senators were sworn in. They included Sens. Martha McSally and Kyrsten Sinema (SIN'-uh-muh), who ran against each other. McSally lost to Sinema but was appointed to replace the late Sen. John McCain.

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1:05 p.m.

The new Democratic-led House has begun voting on who will serve as the next speaker.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (puh-LOH'-see) of California is expected to win, retaking a post she held for four years until January 2011. She has been serving as minority leader ever since.

Pelosi all but ensured her election by agreeing to limit her tenure to no more than four years in the chamber's top spot. Some Democrats have been calling for new leadership in the caucus.

There are 235 Democrats in the House and 199 Republicans, with one vacancy.

Republicans are expected to largely vote for Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California.

If no candidate receives the majority of votes on Thursday, the roll call vote is repeated until a majority is reached and the speaker is elected.

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12:55 p.m.

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California has been nominated to serve as speaker of the Democratic-led House.

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York placed Pelosi's name in nomination, saying she has a "track record of success unparalleled in American history," citing her work on the landmark health care law approved when she previously served as speaker from 2007 to 2011.

Jeffries on Thursday called Pelosi a "legendary legislator" and said House Democrats were "down with NDP, Nancy D'Alesandro Pelosi."

Pelosi has served as Democratic leader in the House since 2003.

Republican Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming nominated Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California as the GOP choice for speaker.

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12:10 p.m.

The House and the Senate have convened for the 116th Congress with the most diverse class of lawmakers in history.

The House is returning the first woman to the speaker's office as Democrats take the majority with a large class of freshman lawmakers. They're ready to confront President Donald Trump in a new era of divided government, with Republicans still controlling the Senate.

It's also the first new Congress to convene during a partial government shutdown, now in its 13th day over Trump's demands for money for a southern border wall.

Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi is pledging broadly to make Congress work for all Americans. But her party is also ready to challenge Trump with investigations that threaten the White House agenda.

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, who is expected to lead the 116th Congress as speaker of the House, is applauded at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, who is expected to lead the 116th Congress as speaker of the House, is seated on the House floor at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a freshman Democrat representing New York's 14th Congressional District, takes a selfie with Rep. Ann McLane Kuster, D-NH, and Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., on the first day of the 116th Congress with Democrats holding the majority, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus raise their hands during the swearing-in ceremony of CBC members at The Warner Theatre in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., followed by House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., walk from the West Wing of the White House to speak with reporters after a meeting with President Donald Trump on border security Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer of N.Y. arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, as the 116th Congress begins. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
NEW YORK (AP) - A New York City woman accused of killing a patient at an illegal cosmetic surgery clinic has previously served two prison terms for unlicensed silicone injections.

The New York Times reports that 44-year-old Whalesca Castillo served a year in prison in 2011 and nine months in 2014 on charges relating to operating an illegal medical clinic.

Castillo pleaded not guilty on Thursday to manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in the June 17, 2018 death of Lesbia Ayala, of Philadelphia.

Authorities say Ayala had an embolism when Castillo injected silicone into her buttocks and thighs.

Castillo was arraigned in Bronx criminal court on a grand jury indictment. Her attorney, Robert Osuna, said "any loss of life is a tragedy."

"Ms. Castillo, like every other American citizen, enjoys the presumption of innocence and that presumption remains with her up and until she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt," Osuna said in a statement Thursday.

Castillo pleaded guilty to federal charges related to performing plastic surgery without a medical license in September 2011. After being released on probation she was caught doing unlicensed injections again in 2014 and sent back to prison.

Buttocks enhancement surgery, known as the Brazilian butt lift, has become increasingly popular in recent years thanks in part to the visibility of well-endowed stars like Kim Kardashian and Nicki Minaj.

Liquid silicone injections are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for cosmetic surgery, but unlicensed silicone injections can be a cheap alternative to approved procedures involving fat transfer or silicone gel implants.

Experts say that even the FDA-approved fat-transfer procedure for butt enhancement is more dangerous than other cosmetic surgeries.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons estimates that the Brazilian butt lift has a death rate as high as one in 3,000 patients.

The society says 20,300 of the procedures were performed in 2017. The number of butt lifts has more than doubled in the past five years, the society says.

Reliable numbers for unlicensed silicone butt injections are difficult to ascertain, but deaths linked to the procedure have been reported in locations including Atlanta and Capitol Heights, Maryland .

Court papers from her earlier arrests show Castillo charged $1,500 for each procedure.

According to the court filings, Castillo discouraged patients from seeking medical treatment when they experienced pain or bleeding after their procedures.

One client texted Castillo complaining of leaking blood and liquid from her buttocks and legs, court documents said. Castillo replied: "Buy some crazy glue and put it on."
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - A federal judge ordered settlement talks Thursday in a lawsuit filed by black farmers from Mississippi and Tennessee who claim a company sold them faulty, low-yield soybean seeds because of their race.

During a court hearing in Memphis, U.S. District Judge John T. Fowlkes told the farmers and Stine Seed Co. to begin mediation in a lawsuit alleging the company conspired with a seed salesman to sell thousands of dollars' worth of defective seeds to the farmers because they are black. Fowlkes also questioned whether the farmers have enough proof of a conspiracy and facts that support claims of discrimination, or if they were just making "speculative comments" in their lawsuit.

The farmers allege the seeds were much less productive than expected and salesman Kevin Cooper misled them with claims of good yields from soybean plants grown in fertile Mississippi Delta fields. The suit filed in April alleges the good seeds the farmers thought they had bought from Stine were replaced by inferior seeds before delivery. The farmers claim they were given the bad seeds as part of a larger pattern of discrimination and "racial animus" against them.

Stine and Cooper have denied accusations of false advertisement, fraud, racketeering and discrimination, calling them baseless, irresponsible and inflammatory. They have filed motions to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that it doesn't cite a single racist comment or instance where the black farmers were treated differently from white farmers.

"It seems to me that the parties need to sit down and talk about this," the judge said.

In March 2017, farmer Tyrone Grayer met Cooper at the Mid-South Farm and Gin Show in Memphis, the lawsuit states. Cooper said he had soybean seeds that were suitable for Mississippi's growing conditions. The farmers ordered 12,000 pounds of Stine seeds.

FILE - In this June 25, 2018, file photo, Tyrone Grayer, left, and David Allen Hall inspect a soybean plant at their farm in Parchman, Miss. A judge is ordering settlement talks in a lawsuit filed by black farmers from Mississippi and Tennessee including Hall and Grayer, who claim Stine Seed Co. sold them faulty soybean seeds because of their race. (AP Photo/Adrian Sainz, File)

The farmers say they planted the seeds correctly and under optimal farming conditions in Sunflower and Quitman counties in May 2017. They soon observed that the plants were germinating slowly, did not stand uniformly, and were too short.

The farmers had expected 48 bushels or more of plump soybeans per acre, based on prior performance from other seeds. Instead, they got about 25 bushels per acre, and sometimes less - as little as five bushels per acre, the lawsuit claims.

The farmers allege Cooper and another man, Greg Crigler, swapped out the good seeds for the bad ones at a warehouse in Sledge, Mississippi. The black farmers were given the inferior seeds, and white farmers got the good ones, the lawsuit claims.

Daniel Van Horn, an attorney for Crigler, has denied Crigler switched out the seeds. Van Horn said accusations of racism are bad, but "falsely accusing someone of racism is equally as bad."

Maria Calaf, a lawyer for Adel, Iowa-based Stine, said the racism accusations were "rank speculation."

And, Fowlkes asked the farmers' lawyers if they had any facts supporting their racism claims.

"How do we make the leap?" Fowlkes said.

One of the farmers' attorneys, J. Gerard Stranch, said that while he only joined the case late last year, he could file an amended complaint with more facts. The defense opposed that. Stranch did accuse Stine of engaging in a "continuous pattern of racketeering conspiracy."

Fowlkes set a March 15 mediation deadline. David Hall, one of the farmers, said he would rather go to trial than discuss a settlement.

"I'm not happy with it," Hall said of the mediation order.

Defense attorneys declined comment after the hearing.
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) - It's approaching 9 p.m. and Art Laboe adjusts the microphone as Sister Sledge's "We Are Family" ends.

"And now it's time for you to call up for those goodnight dedications," Laboe announces.

"Hello?" a young girl says. "I want to dedicate this to my dad that's in Lancaster (prison) and I miss tonight ... I just want to say, Dad, I love you no matter where you go..." She dissolves into tears.

The 93-year-old DJ based in Palm Springs, California, credits one group of listeners for keeping him on the air after 75 years: family members who want to send messages to loved ones in prison.

Every Sunday on his syndicated show "The Art Laboe Connection Show," his baritone voice calls on family members to speak directly to inmates in California, Arizona or Nevada. Sometimes, Laboe reads parts of letters written by inmates.

It's a role Laboe says he feels honored to play.

In this Oct. 9, 2018 photo, DJ Art Laboe sits in his Palm Springs, Calif. studio and talks about his 75 years in the radio business. Laboe remains a popular DJ among generations of Mexican American in California, Arizona and New Mexico and has a devoted following among those who every Sunday on his syndicated radio show give dedications to loved ones serving time in prison. (AP Photo/Russell Contreras)

"I don't judge," Laboe said in an interview with The Associated Press at his Palm Springs studio. "I like people."

He often tells a story about a woman who came by the studio so her toddler could tell her father, who was serving time for a violent crime, "Daddy, I love you."

"It was the first time he had heard his baby's voice," Laboe said. "And this tough, hard-nosed guy burst into tears."

Born Arthur Egnoian in Salt Lake City to an Armenian-American family, Laboe grew up during the Great Depression in a Mormon household run by a single mom. His sister sent him his first radio when he was 8 years old. The voices and stories that came from it enveloped him.

"And I haven't let go since," Laboe said.

He moved to California, attended Stanford University and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Eventually, he landed a job as a radio announcer at KSAN in San Francisco and adopted the name Art Laboe after a boss suggested he take the last name of a secretary to sound more American.

But it was when Laboe worked as a DJ for KXLA in Los Angeles where he gained fame. Laboe was one of the first DJs to play R&B and rock 'n' roll in California and is credited by scholars for helping integrate dance halls among Latinos, blacks, Asian Americans and whites who were drawn to his multicultural musical line up.

By 1956, Laboe's afternoon show became the city's top radio program.

Over the decades, Laboe maintained a fan base, especially among Mexican-Americans who followed him from station to station. He started getting calls from inmates' family members in the 1990s on his syndicated oldies show. Current and former gang members were some of his most loyal fans.

"Here is someone who gave a voice to the most humble of us all through music," said Lalo Alcaraz, a syndicated cartoonist and television writer who grew up listening to Laboe in San Diego. "He brought us together. That's why we sought him out."

Over the years, the syndicated show on Sunday has aired in California, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico.

In 2015, iHeartMedia's KHHT-FM (92.3) dropped Laboe's syndicated oldies show after the station abruptly switched to a hip-hop format, sparking angry protest in Los Angeles.

"Without Art Laboe, I'm So Lonely I Could Cry," wrote essayist Adam Vine. Laboe later returned to the Los Angeles airwaves on another station.

Alex Nogales, president and CEO of the Los Angeles-based National Hispanic Media Coalition, said generations of Latino fans still attend Laboe-sponsored concerts to hear the likes of Smokey Robinson, The Spinners or Sunny & The Sunliners.

"I see these really tough looking guys in the crowd. I mean, they look scary," Nogales said. "Then Art comes out and they just melt. They love him."

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Associated Press journalist Russell Contreras is a member of the AP's race and ethnicity team. Follow Contreras on Twitter at http://twitter.com/russcontreras

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This story has been corrected to fix the spelling of Lalo Alcaraz's last name.

This 1947 photo. provided by Art Laboe shows Laboe speaking while on the air on KCMJ in Palm Springs, Calif.. Laboe remains a popular DJ among generations of Mexican American in California, Arizona and New Mexico and has a devoted following among those who every Sunday on his syndicated radio show give dedications to loved ones serving time in prison. (Art Laboe/via AP)

In this Oct. 9, 2018 photo, DJ Art Laboe sits in his Palm Springs, Calif., studio and talks about his 75 years in the radio business. Laboe remains a popular DJ among generations of Mexican American in California, Arizona and New Mexico and has a devoted following among those who every Sunday on his syndicated radio show give dedications to loved ones serving time in prison. (AP Photo/Russell Contreras)

In this Oct. 9, 2018 photo, DJ Art Laboe sits in his Palm Springs, Calif., studio and talks about his 75 years in the radio business. Laboe remains a popular DJ among generations of Mexican American in California, Arizona and New Mexico and has a devoted following among those who every Sunday on his syndicated radio show give dedications to loved ones serving time in prison. (AP Photo/Russell Contreras)
PARIS (AP) - The Louvre in Paris, the world's most visited museum, received a record 10.2 million visitors in 2018, numbers boosted by a video clip shot by pop star Beyonce amid its paintings and sculptures.

The Louvre also mentioned in a statement Thursday the success of its flagship exhibition on French master Delacroix as a reason for the record.

The video of Beyonce and her husband Jay Z, featuring the Mona Lisa and other world-famous artworks, has been viewed over 146 million times on YouTube.

The museum notes a significant rise in the number of foreign visitors -almost three-quarters of total visitor numbers - mostly from the United States, China, other European countries and Brazil.

Tourism in the French capital has rebounded since 2017 after a sharp fall following 2015 terror attacks.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Cheering Democrats returned Nancy Pelosi to the House speaker's post Thursday as the 116th Congress ushered in a historically diverse freshman class eager to confront President Donald Trump in a new era of divided government.

Pelosi, elected speaker 220-192, took the gavel saying U.S. voters "demanded a new dawn" in the November election that swept the Democrats to a House majority and are looking to "the beauty of our Constitution" to provide checks and balances on power. She faced 15 dissenting votes from fellow Democrats.

For a few hours, the promise of a new era was the order of the day. The new speaker invited scores of lawmakers' kids to join her on the dais as she was sworn in, calling the House to order "on behalf of all of America's children."

Even Trump congratulated her during a rare appearance at the White House briefing room, saying her election by House colleagues was "a tremendous, tremendous achievement." The president has tangled often with Pelosi and is sure to do so again with Democrats controlling the House, but he said, "I think it'll be a little bit different than a lot of people are thinking."

As night fell, the House quickly got to work on the partial government shutdown, which was winding up Day 13 with Trump demanding billions in Mexican border wall funding to bring it to an end. Democrats approved legislation to re-open the government - but without the $5.6 billion in wall money, which means it has no chance in the Republican Senate.

The new Congress is like none other. There are more women than ever before, and a new generation of Muslims, Latinos, Native Americans and African-Americans is creating a House more aligned with the population of the United States. However, the Republican side in the House is still made up mostly of white men, and in the Senate Republicans bolstered their ranks in the majority.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California holds the gavel after at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

In a nod to the moment, Pelosi, the first female speaker who reclaimed the post she lost to the GOP in 2011, broadly pledged to make Congress work for all Americans - addressing kitchen table issues at a time of deep economic churn - even as her party readies to challenge Trump with investigations and subpoena powers that threaten the White House agenda.

Pelosi promised to "restore integrity to government" and outlined an agenda "to lower health costs and prescription drug prices and protect people with pre-existing medical conditions; to increase paychecks by rebuilding America with green and modern infrastructure from sea to shining sea."

The day unfolded as one of both celebration and impatience. Newly elected lawmakers arrived, often with friends and families in tow, to take the oath of office and pose for ceremonial photos. Then they swiftly turned to the shutdown.

Vice President Mike Pence swore in newly elected senators, but Senate Republicans under Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had no plans to consider the House bills unless Trump agreed to sign them into law. That ensured the shutdown would continue, clouding the first days of the new session.

McConnell said that Republicans have shown the Senate is "fertile soil for big, bipartisan accomplishments," but that the question is whether House Democrats will engage in "good governance or political performance art."

It's a time of stark national political division that some analysts say is on par with the Civil War era. Battle lines are drawn not just between Democrats and Republicans but within the parties themselves, splintered by their left and right flanks.

Pelosi defied history in returning to the speaker's office after eight years in the minority, overcoming internal opposition from Democrats demanding a new generation of leaders. She will be the first to regain the gavel since Sam Rayburn of Texas in 1955.

Putting Pelosi's name forward for nomination, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the incoming Democratic caucus chair, recounted her previous accomplishments - passing the Affordable Care Act, helping the country out of the Great Recession - as preludes to her next ones. He called her leadership "unparalleled in modern American history."

One Democrat, Rep. Brenda Lawrence of Michigan, cast her vote for Pelosi "on the shoulders of women who marched 100 years ago" for women's suffrage. Newly elected Rep. Lucy McBath of Georgia, an anti-gun violence advocate, dedicated hers to her slain teenage son, Jordan Davis.

As speaker, Pelosi will face challenges from the party's robust wing of liberal newcomers, including 29-year-old New Yorker Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who has risen to such prominence she is already known around the Capitol - and on her prolific social media accounts - by the nickname "AOC." California Rep. Brad Sherman introduced articles of impeachment against Trump, though for now the measures are largely symbolic.

Republicans face their own internal battles as they decide how closely to tie their political fortunes to Trump. House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy's name was put into nomination for speaker by his party's caucus chair, Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, the daughter of the former vice president. He faced six "no" votes from his now-shrunken GOP minority.

As McCarthy passed the gavel to Pelosi he said voters wonder if Congress is "still capable" of solving problems, and said this period of divided government is "no excuse for gridlock."

One office remains disputed as the House refused to seat Republican Mark Harris of North Carolina amid an investigation by state election officials of irregularities in absentee ballots from the November election.

Many GOP senators are up for re-election in 2020 in states where voters have mixed views of Trump's performance in the White House.

Trump, whose own bid for 2020 already is underway, faces potential challenges from the ranks of Senate Democrats under Chuck Schumer.

The halls of the Capitol were bustling with arrivals, children in the arms of many new lawmakers. Visitor galleries included crooner Tony Bennett and rock legend Mickey Hart, both guests of Pelosi. Incoming White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, a former congressman, sat with Republican leaders.

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., opened the House prayer asking at "a time fraught with tribalism at home and turbulence abroad" that lawmakers "become the architects of a kindlier nation."

Overnight, Democratic Rep-elect Ilhan Omar of Minnesota tweeted a picture with her family at the airport. The House rules were being changed to allow Omar, who is Muslim, to wear a head scarf on the chamber floor. She wrote, "23 years ago, from a refugee camp in Kenya, my father and I arrived at an airport in Washington DC. Today, we return to that same airport on the eve of my swearing in as the first Somali-American in Congress."

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Associated Press writers Jill Colvin, Matthew Daly, Alan Fram, Kevin Freking, Mary Clare Jalonick, Laurie Kellman and Zeke J. Miller contributed to this report.

Nancy Pelosi of California reacts to being elected House Speaker at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a freshman Democrat representing New York's 14th Congressional District, takes a selfie with Rep. Ann McLane Kuster, D-NH, and Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., on the first day of the 116th Congress with Democrats holding the majority, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

From left, Lauren Underwood D-IL, Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., and Ilhan Omar D-MN, during the swearing-in ceremony of Congressional Black Caucus members of the 116th Congress at The Warner Theatre in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

The sign at the office suite of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., is installed on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, during the opening session of the 116th Congress. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) - Romania's prime minister has fired the head of the country's tax agency amid concerns about the European country's spiraling budget deficit.

Premier Viorica Dancila dismissed Ionut Misa on Thursday. The finance minister in Dancila's government repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with tax collections under Misa.

But critics of the government say Misa, who once served as finance minister himself, is being made a scapegoat for economic policies that resulted in a 26 billion lei deficit ($6.34 billion) during the first 11 months of 2018. The amount represents 2.7 percent of Romania's GDP and is more than double the figure for the same period in 2017.

The deficit was even lower in 2016, before the Social Democratic Party came to power.

Gelu Diaconu, a former tax chief, recently accused the government of manipulating figures to stay within the European Union's budget deficit limit of 3 percent of GDP.
MIAMI (AP) - A former Colombian anti-corruption official has been sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to U.S. money-laundering conspiracy charges in a bribery scheme.

Court records show a Miami federal judge ordered the sentence Wednesday for Luis Gustavo Moreno Rivera, former director of the anti-corruption office for Colombia's chief prosecutor. Colombian attorney Leonardo Luis Pinilla Gomez also pleaded guilty and got two years behind bars.

The Drug Enforcement Administration says in court documents that the pair sought to obtain thousands of dollars in bribes from a former governor of Colombia's Cordoba region, Alejandro Lyons. Authorities say that in exchange, they offered to hinder a separate corruption investigation of Lyons.

Lyons faces 20 charges of corruption as a result of that investigation. He has denied any wrongdoing.
NEW YORK (AP) - A New York City law forcing Airbnb and HomeAway home-sharing platforms to reveal a "breathtaking" amount of information about their businesses seems unconstitutional, a judge decided Thursday, forcing the law to be shelved for now.

U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer made clear it wasn't a close call whether the law violates the Fourth Amendment's search and seizure provisions, though he only needed to find a more than 50 percent likelihood that the companies would win before suspending the law's Feb. 2 enforcement.

The ruling comes in an early stage of litigation, prior to the collection of additional evidence by both sides, but decisions written with the flourish that Engelmayer provided generally remain consistent until the case ends.

Under the law, companies would be required to reveal the names of hosts, among other information.

"The scale of the production that the ordinance compels each booking service to make is breathtaking," Engelmayer said of a law the city established last summer so it could crack down on illegal listings and impose fines. Companies would be required to reveal the names of hosts, among other detail.

He estimated that enforcement penalties could cost the companies hundreds of millions of dollars. If the law had been in effect in 2016, Airbnb would have had to produce user data regarding over 700,000 bookings, the judge noted.

Each company, he said, was expected to provide "what is effectively a wholesale replica of that booking service's database as to New York City users."

In the era prior to electronic data storage, such overreach would have been "unthinkable" because of the Fourth Amendment, the judge said.

He said if he let the law's enforcement proceed unchecked, the result could be far reaching because it would invite municipalities to make similar demands on other e-commerce companies for broad-ranging records of all users and customers.

By the city's logic, he said, the city could compel all online auction services to produce all sales records so investigators could find tax cheats or demand that all medical providers produce all patient records so law enforcement authorities could more easily locate health care fraud.

At a news conference, Mayor Bill de Blasio defended the law that requires companies to also reveal the addresses of hosts, and whether they're renting a room or the full apartment. Critics say the listings boost rents for New Yorkers by diminishing the quantity of rentable properties.

"''This is a law to stop landlords from creating de facto hotels, which is unfair and illegal, which creates real security problems for neighbors," the mayor said. He added that there was a lot of legal process ahead, and the city believes it will ultimately prevail.

In a statement, San Francisco-based Airbnb Inc. praised the ruling, calling it "a huge win for Airbnb and its users, including the thousands of New Yorkers at risk of illegal surveillance who use Airbnb to help make ends meet."

"The court today recognized the fundamental importance of New Yorkers' constitutional rights to privacy and the sanctity of their own homes," the statement said.

Lawyers for Homeaway.com Inc., based in Austin, Texas, did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
Pope Francis is encouraging U.S. bishops meeting near Chicago to unify as the Roman Catholic church deals with a "crisis of credibility" stemming from the clergy sex abuse scandal.

In an eight-page letter addressed to the bishops and released to the media Thursday, Francis acknowledged that "no response or approach seems adequate" to the crisis. Still, he wrote, all church leaders must reckon with parishioners' pain, heal internal divisions and devise specific approaches that go beyond "creating new committees or improving flow charts."

"I would like to draw near to you as a brother and to reflect with you on some aspects that I consider important," Francis wrote, "while at the same time encouraging your prayer and the steps you are taking to combat the 'culture of abuse' and to deal with the crisis of credibility."

The pope did not specifically say he is part of the credibility crisis, but he considers himself personally engaged and involved in the rehabilitation effort. In an April letter to Chilean bishops, he admitted he made "grave errors" in judgment in that country's sex abuse scandal, and invited the abuse victims he had discredited to Rome to beg their forgiveness. But there, too, he made clear that the bishops needed to "repair the scandal where possible and re-establish justice."

In his Christmas address, Pope Francis made an unprecedented call for priests who had abused children to turn themselves in, and vowed the church will "never again" hide their crimes.

Francis suggested the U.S. bishops hold the weeklong retreat for prayer and spiritual reflection and dispatched the Rev. Raniero Cantalamessa, the official papal preacher, to lead it. The event at the Mundelein Seminary near Chicago is a prelude to a high-stakes summit of the world's bishops at the Vatican next month to forge a comprehensive response to the crisis engulfing the church.

FILE - In this Sept. 2, 2015, file photo, Pope Francis, right, salutes Chicago Archbishop Blase Joseph Cupich at the end of his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. Pope Francis, in an eight-page letter addressed to U.S. bishops meeting in Mundelein, Ill., and released to the media Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, is encouraging bishops to unify as the Catholic church deals with a "crisis of credibility" stemming from the clergy sex abuse scandal. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, File)

Terence McKiernan, co-director of BishopAccountability.org, which has tracked abuse for more than a decade, said victims are mentioned only fleetingly in the papal letter.

"Only by concentrating on the victims, not on themselves, can the bishops remedy this situation and save the church," he said.

Francis' call for unity was poignant, given the stark chasm in the U.S. church between conservative and more moderate bishops, divisions that have only grown deeper since his election.

After two doctrinaire-minded popes, St. John Paul II and Benedict XVI, championed conservative culture warrior bishops, Francis has tended to appoint more pastorally moderate ones. Their divisions have come to the fore over Francis' outreach to divorced and civilly remarried Catholics, as well as to gays, and have sharpened as the church struggles with an explosion of abuse allegations.

Conservative bishops have called for Francis to respond to an ex-Vatican ambassador's claims that he covered up for ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick.

The letter's publication came on the same day that The Associated Press reported it found U.S. dioceses have released the names of roughly 1,000 priests and others accused of sexually abusing children. Nearly 50 dioceses and religious orders have publicly identified child-molesting priests in the wake of a Pennsylvania grand jury investigation report issued in August, and 55 more say they plan to do so in the next few months.

A blistering report released last month by the Illinois attorney general found the state's dioceses have not released the names of at least 500 accused clergy. The allegations date back decades and include some deceased priests.

Abuse victims and their attorneys in Chicago on Thursday launched a statewide effort dubbed Fight for 500, which seeks to uncover the priests' identities. They were, among other things, calling for the release of "files pertinent to the histories of each priest so the public, police and parishioners know who was complicit in the ongoing concealment of this hazard."

In this week's letter, Francis wrote that church leaders must find "a collegial and paternal way of embracing the present situation, one that, most importantly, can protect those in our care from losing hope and feeling spiritually abandoned."

"Let us try to break the vicious cycle of recrimination, undercutting and discrediting, by avoiding gossip and slander in the pursuit of a path of prayer and contrite acceptance of our limitations and sins," he wrote.

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Karoub reported from Detroit. Associated Press writer Nicole Winfield contributed from San Vigilio, Italy.

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Jeff Karoub is a member of AP's Race and Ethnicity Team and frequently writes about religion. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/jeffkaroub .
SEATTLE (AP) - Two more Puget Sound orcas are ailing and probably will be dead by summer, according an expert on the critically endangered population of killer whales that live in the waters of the Pacific Northwest.

Drone photography taken this past September showed the ailing population of orcas known as the southern residents went into the winter thinner than they were when the whales arrived in the San Juan Islands last summer.

They also are thinner than Puget Sound's so-called northern resident population of killer whales, which have been steadily growing in population for the past 40 years in their home waters primarily in northern British Columbia and southeast Alaska, where they have access to more fish and cleaner and quieter water. The northern residents gave birth to 10 new calves last year.

The Seattle Times reports Center for Whale Research founding director Ken Balcomb said photos taken of a southern resident orca known as J17 on New Year's Eve showed the 42-year-old female has so-called peanut head - a misshapen head and neck caused by starvation. In addition a 27-year-old male known as K25 is failing, also from lack of sufficient food. He lost his mother, K13, in 2017 and is not successfully foraging on his own.

Several southern resident whales were documented to be pregnant in September, but so far there has been no sign of babies. The southern residents have not had a successful pregnancy in three years.

The southern resident population is at a 35-year low after three deaths in 2018. There are only 74 left.

FILE - In this Jan. 18, 2014, file photo, an endangered southern resident female orca leaps from the water while breaching in Puget Sound, west of Seattle. Two more Puget Sound orcas are ailing and probably will be dead by summer, according an expert on the critically endangered population of killer whales that live in the waters of the Pacific Northwest. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)

Losing J17 would be a blow to the southern residents because she is a female still of reproducing age, said Deborah Giles, research scientist for University of Washington Center for Conservation Biology.

Giles said she was not surprised to hear about K25. The social dynamics of the southern residents, in which older females help their pod, and especially their sons by sharing food, is both a blessing and a curse if that female dies, Giles said.

"These large, adult, hungry males benefit by the females in their family," Giles said. "There probably is still family foraging going on, but not like he had when his mom was alive."

The coming year is not looking any easier for the southern residents in terms of their food supply. The whales mostly eat chinook salmon.

Ocean conditions and poor river migration, with warm water and low flows, have hurt chinook salmon returns in the past several years.

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Information from: The Seattle Times, http://www.seattletimes.com
PERRIS, Calif. (AP) - A Southern California home where authorities say a couple tortured most of their 13 children has been sold in an online auction.

The Press-Enterprise reports that the four-bedroom house in the Riverside County city of Perris was sold Wednesday for $310,360 to an unidentified bidder.

Authorities arrested suspects David and Louise Turpin last year after their 17-year-old daughter escaped from the home and called 911. Both have pleaded not guilty to torture and other crimes and are each being held on $12 million bail.

Authorities have said some of the children were shackled to their beds and were beaten and starved.

The home was recently appraised at $353,138 by Riverside County.

The newspaper says the alleged crimes were not mentioned in documents attached to the property listing.

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Information from: The Press-Enterprise, http://www.pe.com
RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) - Five Palestinian factions are forming a new political body in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in an attempt to break the political duopoly of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah movement and the Islamic movement Hamas.

The factions announced the formation of "The Democratic Caucus" at a news conference on Thursday, with the stated aim of challenging the two main Palestinian political parties.

Leaders said they would work toward holding presidential and parliamentary elections, and protecting human rights in the Palestinian territories.

Palestinian elections were last held in 2006 and have been indefinitely postponed due to political discord between Fatah and Hamas.

Hamas wrested control of the Gaza Strip from Abbas's government in a 2007 armed coup. Efforts to reconcile the two parties have yet to yield results.
MOSCOW (AP) - The defense lawyer for a former U.S. Marine who was detained in Russia for alleged spying said Thursday that he is trying to get the American released from the Moscow prison where he has coped well with being in custody.

The Russian Federal Security Service, or FSB, has said Michigan resident Paul Whelan, a 48-year-old corporate security director from the Detroit area, was arrested Friday on espionage charges. The security service has not given details of the case.

State news agency Tass and private agency Interfax reported Thursday, citing unnamed sources, that Whelan has been indicted on the charges. In Russia, a spying conviction carries a prison sentence of 10 to 20 years.

Defense lawyer Vladimir Zherebenkov told The Associated Press he applied for Whelan to be released on bail that would be set at an amount determined later. The court would have 15 days after Russia's winter holidays end Jan. 9 to make the decision, he said.

Zherebenkov said he visited Whelan on Wednesday and found him in a "very hopeful" mood. U.S. Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman Jr. met with Whelan at Lefortovo Prison the same day.

The ambassador said Washington complained to the Russian government about the length of time it took to grant consular access to Whelan after his arrest.

This undated photo provided by the Whelan family shows Paul Whelan in Iceland. Whelan, a former U.S. Marine arrested in Russia on espionage charges, was visiting Moscow over the holidays to attend a wedding when he suddenly disappeared, his brother said Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019. (Courtesy of the Whelan Family via AP)

Whelan's brother, David Whelan, said in an interview Tuesday that he had no idea why his brother was targeted by the Russian security services. Paul Whelan was in Moscow to help plan the wedding of another former Marine because he had been to Russia several times before, the brother said.
ATHENS, Greece (AP) - Top Greek judges are accusing the government of attempting to interfere in a major investigation ahead of elections this year in which corruption scandals are likely to emerge as a campaign issue.

Several senior politicians, including conservative former prime minister Antonis Samaras and current Bank of Greece governor Yannis Stournaras, are under investigation in an alleged bribery scandal involving Swiss drugmaker Novartis.

In a social media post, deputy health minister Pavlos Polakis accused prosecutors of slow-pedaling the probe, and named key judicial officials involved in the case.

The powerful Association of Greek Judges and Prosecutors on Thursday criticized Polakis for "attempting to intervene in the work of the judiciary," and undermining the separation of powers.

Left-wing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' government faces national, European, and local government elections in 2019.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The Republican in the nation's last undecided congressional race asked a North Carolina court Thursday to require that he be declared the winner because the now-defunct state elections board didn't act.

A lawsuit by GOP candidate Mark Harris claims the disbanded elections board had been declared unconstitutional, so its investigation into alleged ballot fraud by an operative hired by the Republican's campaign was invalid.

The elections board was dissolved Dec. 28 by state judges who in October declared its makeup unconstitutional but had allowed investigations to continue. A revamped board doesn't officially come into existence until Jan. 31.

"Time is of the essence," Harris' lawsuit states. Because the new elections board won't be created for weeks, "the uniform finality of a federal election is endangered by the State Board's actions and the citizens of the 9th District have no representation in Congress."

State elections staffers on Wednesday said a planned Jan. 11 evidentiary hearing to outline what investigators have found since November's election had to be postponed due to the lack of a board authorized to subpoena witnesses and hold hearings.

The investigation is continuing, however, with Harris being interviewed for two hours Thursday as all other U.S. House winners were sworn into office in Washington.

FILE - In this Nov. 7, 2018 file photo Republican Mark Harris speaks to the media during a news conference in Matthews, N.C. The North Carolina board investigating allegations of ballot fraud in a still-unresolved congressional race between Harris and Democrat Dan McCready could be disbanded Friday, Dec. 28 under a state court ruling in a protracted legal battle about how the panel operates. The state Elections Board has refused to certify the race between Harris and McCready while it investigates absentee ballot irregularities in the congressional district stretching from the Charlotte area through several counties to the east. Harris holds a slim lead in unofficial results, but election officials are looking into criminal allegations against an operative hired by the Harris campaign. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)

"We certainly want to help in any way we can with any investigation to get to the bottom of it, but we believe that, again, that I should be certified," Harris said. "We don't believe that the number of ballots in question would change the outcome of this election and we believe, again, that that is the standard ultimately that the board of elections looks to."

Harris narrowly led Democrat Dan McCready in unofficial vote counts, but the elections board refused to certify him as the winner amid an unusually large number of unused absentee ballots and a large advantage in absentees favoring the Republican in two of the 9th congressional district's rural counties.

Witnesses signed sworn affidavits alleging that a political operative in rural Bladen County paid by Harris' campaign collected incomplete and unsealed ballots from voters. It's illegal for anyone other than a close relative or guardian to take a person's ballot.

Democratic leaders in the U.S. House have said they won't allow Harris to take office because of the ongoing investigation. The U.S. Constitution makes the House the judge and final arbiter of its members' election contests.

"Let's remember that Harris is under investigation for unprecedented election fraud perpetrated by his campaign, spearheaded by a man he hand-picked and paid to produce votes. He is not the victim here, the voters are," McCready said on Twitter.

Harris is asking a trial-court judge to order North Carolina's hired elections director to certify the Republican as the winner. Evidence hasn't surfaced justifying the delay, the lawsuit states. Responses by the elections board staff, McCready or other parties with an interest in the case are due by Jan. 14, a court administrator said.

The elections board in late November explained the delayed certification and subsequent investigation by citing a state law that allows it to take any "action necessary to assure that an election is determined without taint of fraud or corruption and without irregularities that may have changed the result of an election."

Republicans were silent when the neighboring and Democrat-heavy 12th Congressional district remained vacant for 10 months in 2014. Former Republican Gov. Pat McCrory opted to wait until November of that year to hold the election to fill the seat Mel Watt resigned that January to become director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. McCrory explained his decision as saving the $1 million that a special election would have cost.

The dispute over the elections board makeup stems from legislative moves in late 2016 to undercut the powers of incoming Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who had narrowly beaten McCrory weeks earlier. The state elections board makeup was changed so that Cooper wouldn't appoint most members, as governors had done for a century.

Cooper sued, and courts determined the old formula was necessary to allow governors to fulfill their duty to make sure election laws, like other laws, are faithfully executed.

The legislature last week approved a new law authorizing what will become a three-Democrat, two-Republican elections board later this month. But a three-judge panel overseeing the dispute decided the same day that the board the jurists had allowed to stay in business to oversee the Harris case had delayed long enough and scrapped the body last Friday.

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Associated Press writer Gary D. Robertson contributed to this report.

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Follow Emery P. Dalesio on Twitter at http://twitter.com/emerydalesio . His work can be found at https://apnews.com/search/emery%20dalesio .
LONDON (AP) - The Latest on the influx of migrants into Europe (all times local):

3:55 p.m.

Malta is letting two private migrant rescue ships, including one that has been seeking to disembark rescued people for 12 days, shelter in port from a Mediterranean storm.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat tweeted that while the rescues didn't happen in the Maltese search-and-rescue area, Malta was letting SeaWatch 3 and another vessel enter Maltese waters.

The German aid group operating SeaWatch 3 says 32 migrants were rescued from a human trafficker's boat on Dec. 22 and another vessel later rescued 17 others.

Sea-Watch Italy tweeted on Thursday it was a few nautical miles from Malta's coasts and had "permission to seek shelter from the storm."

A Border Force patrol vessel leaves the Port of Dover, in England, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. Britain's Home Secretary has questioned whether migrants trying to enter England from France by taking small boats across the English Channel are genuine asylum-seekers. (Gareth Fuller/PA via AP)

It said European Union officials were trying to find countries which would accept the migrants.

Malta and Italy have refused to accept migrants rescued by private groups.

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9:30 a.m.

British officials say two men have been arrested on suspicion of smuggling migrants from France to England by sea.

The National Crime Agency said late Wednesday that a 33-year-old Iranian citizen and a 24-year-old British man were arrested in Manchester.

The men are being questioned but have not been charged or identified. They are suspected of smuggling migrants across the English Channel in small boats.

The arrests are the first since Britain's Home Secretary Sajid Javid declared a rise in migrant crossings to be a "major incident." He is considering asking the Royal Navy to help patrol the Channel.

Javid says about 230 migrants tried to cross the English Channel in December. Officials have blamed the influx on smuggling gangs.

Britain's Home Secretary Sajid Javid, meets Border Force staff on board HMC Searcher, in Dover, England, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. Javid has questioned whether migrants trying to enter England from France by taking small boats across the English Channel are genuine asylum-seekers. (Gareth Fuller/PA via AP)
JOHANNESBURG (AP) - The U.S. military says it has carried out an airstrike in southwestern Somalia that killed 10 members of the al-Shabab extremist group.

The U.S. Africa Command statement says the airstrike occurred Wednesday near Dheerow Sanle to "diminish al-Shabab's freedom of movement and to increase pressure on the terrorist network."

The statement says no civilians were injured or killed.

This is the first reported U.S. airstrike of the year in Somalia. The U.S. carried out at least 47 such strikes last year in the Horn of Africa nation.

The al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab continues to control large parts of the country's southern and central regions and carry out deadly bombings against high-profile targets in the capital, Mogadishu.

The U.S. has sharply increased the number of airstrikes since President Donald Trump took office.
BERLIN (AP) - Chipmaker Qualcomm says it has posted security bonds totaling 1.34 billion euros ($1.52 billion) required by a German court to enforce a ruling barring the sale of older iPhone models in Germany.

Apple had already said following the Dec. 20 Munich court ruling that it was halting the sale of iPhone 7 and 8 models at German Apple stores, pending its appeal. The court sided with Qualcomm in a patent dispute, finding that Apple and subsidiaries breached a European patent held by San Diego-based Qualcomm, which has pursued similar cases elsewhere around the world.

Qualcomm said Thursday it has now posted the bonds required by the court. The disputed patent regulates the amount of energy provided to the phones' telecom chips.

The verdict also mentioned the iPhone X, which Apple said has since been replaced by a newer model.
LONDON (AP) - An American hip hop impresario and fashion designer was fined Thursday for sexual assault after pleading guilty in a London court.

ASAP Bari, whose real name is Jabari Shelton, was fined 4,000 pounds ($5,000) in the Old Bailey court Thursday and ordered to pay 2,500 pounds to the victim.

Judge Zoe Smith told the 27-year-old he had a "very unpleasant attitude" toward women after she was shown footage of him pulling the covers from a naked woman as she lay in bed and slapping her bottom as she told him to stop. On the video, Shelton is abusive and obscene as he demands the woman perform a sex act with him.

"The court does have concerns in this matter," the judge said. "You say that you were angry but there is no need to ever be so abusive and humiliating to a female."

The attack happened at The Curtain Hotel in east London in July 2017 after a music festival. It is not clear who filmed the video, which was recorded on a mobile phone and leaked online.

Shelton's lawyer said the footage was leaked by someone who wanted to harm Shelton.

A$AP Bari, real name Jabari Shelton, arrives at the Old Bailey in central London, Thursday Jan. 3, 2019. The American hip hop impresario and fashion designer has been fined for sexual assault after pleading guilty in a London court. (Kirsty O'Connor/PA via AP)

Elaine Cousins of the Crown Prosecution Service said Shelton "clearly believed he was entitled to behave this way. He sexually assaulted his victim while she was in an extremely vulnerable position. He knew this was being recorded on a mobile phone."

She said it was clear from the footage that the victim had not consented.

Shelton, known for founding the rap collective ASAP Mob, pleaded guilty to one count and avoided any prison time.
MIAMI (AP) - The U.S. Coast Guard has stopped searching for a 9-year-old Haitian child and a suspected migrant smuggler in the waters off Florida.

Authorities say the child and the Bahamian national were among 11 people aboard an 18-foot (5.5-meter) boat that capsized Sunday during an apparent migrant smuggling venture. A good Samaritan found nine people in the water roughly 45 miles (70 kilometers) east of the Palm Beach County coast, about halfway between Freeport in the Bahamas and Jupiter, Florida.

The search was suspended Wednesday evening after 69 hours. Coast Guard crews searched over 4,100 square miles (10,600 square kilometers) by air and by sea.

Capt. Aldante Vinciguerra said the search was a reminder of the "reckless regard" smuggling networks have for the migrants they are transporting.
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - In the wake of a sexual misconduct scandal involving professors, Dartmouth College announced plans Thursday for an outside review of all academic departments, a revisal of its sexual misconduct policy and other measures meant to create an environment free from "the abuse of power."

President Philip Hanlon said the college plans to create a single sexual misconduct policy and include processes for dealing with violations.

It also will start mandatory training on the federal law barring gender discrimination, put more resources into mental health and more.

The measures "aim to create a learning environment free from sexual harassment and abuse of power, where every member of the Dartmouth community can thrive," Hanlon said.

A group of nearly 70 Dartmouth alumni and students said they were heartened by some of the college's proposals including an outside committee that will assess the administration's progress. But they said the proposal was short on details and timelines.

"Our demands derive from specific experiences of sexual violence and gender harassment at Dartmouth - and we firmly believe that they should elicit direct action and response," Dartmouth Community Against Gender Harassment & Sexual Violence said in a statement.

FILE- In this May 22, 2018 file photo, students cross The Green in front of the Baker-Berry Library at Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H. Dartmouth President Philip Hanlon announced Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, a series of policies aimed at creating a learning environment that is free of sexual harassment and abuse of power at the school. The announcement comes nearly two months after seven current and former students sued the Ivy League college, accusing it of ignoring years of harassment and assault by former faculty members in the psychology department. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)

New Hampshire Democratic Rep. Annie Kuster, who graduated from Dartmouth and is a leading voice in Congress on sexual assault, said she's encouraged by the proposed changes.

"It's clear that immediate changes are necessary to ensure that all students are safe," she said in a statement.

Dartmouth's announcement comes nearly two months after seven current and former students sued the Ivy League college, accusing it of ignoring years of harassment and assault by former faculty members in the psychology department.

The women contend that professors William Kelley, Paul Whalen and Todd Heatherton harassed and touched women inappropriately, often while out partying at bars or at their homes where one hosted hot tub parties.

Kelley and Whalen are each accused of assaulting a student after a night of drinking, attempting to seduce women under their supervision and punishing those who rebuffed their advances in the Department of Psychological and Brain Science.

Whalen and Kelley have not commented on the allegations, and it is unclear whether they have attorneys to speak for them. Heatherton apologized for acting inappropriately at conferences but said, through a lawyer, that he never socialized or had sexual relations with students.

In a statement, lawyers for the women said Thursday that Dartmouth's move was long overdue but that it still failed to "acknowledge or accept responsibility for the damage its long history of inaction has caused." They also called for the college to make the women partners in crafting any reforms.

In October 2017, Dartmouth launched an investigation into the three professors. It never released the findings and was preparing to fire all three. Heatherton retired and Whalen and Kelley resigned first.

The New Hampshire attorney general's office has also launched its own investigation.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) - A man accused of dismembering a woman in his western Michigan apartment has been charged with murder in her death.

Twenty-nine-year-old Jared Chance was charged last month with mutilating a dead body and concealing a death after the remains of 31-year-old Ashley Young were found on Dec. 2 at a Grand Rapids apartment building. The Kent County prosecutor's office on Wednesday issued charges of open murder and tampering with evidence.

The Associated Press sent an email Thursday seeking comment from Chance's lawyer.

Young, of Kalamazoo County's Oshtemo Township, had traveled to Grand Rapids and was last seen alive Nov. 29.

Chance's parents, who live in the western Michigan community of Holland, are accused of not informing police about what happened . They've denied wrongdoing.
BERLIN (AP) - A group representing German journalists is advising reporters and bloggers against traveling to Turkey, including for private vacations.

The German Federation of Journalists cited in a statement Thursday the reported detention last week of a German citizen accused of propaganda for a terror organization over Facebook posts advocating an independent Kurdish state. According to German media, he was released but ordered to remain in Turkey.

Ties between Germany and Turkey were frayed by Turkey's detention of several German citizens amid a clampdown following a failed 2016 coup attempt. They included two journalists, who have since been released.

The journalists' federation urged journalists to check before booking a trip to Turkey whether they have mentioned politics there in reports or on social media and, in case of doubt, choose another destination.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) - Authorities say a 17-year-old girl took a police cruiser on a joyride following a traffic stop early on New Year's Day in western Michigan.

Grand Rapids police say the girl was a passenger in a minivan that was pulled over about 4:30 a.m. Tuesday following a 911 call about a large fight nearby.

Police say the driver ran away and two officers ran after him, leaving the running police cruiser unattended. The young man was arrested. The other passengers were recorded on the cruiser's dashcam video fleeing the scene.

Police say the 17-year-old girl drove away in the cruiser, hit the minivan and ran several stop signs before stopping about a mile (1.6 kilometers) away. She was arrested nearby and faces charges including resisting and obstructing police.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - A 21-year-old U.S. soldier is accused of flying to Indianapolis from Colorado to kill his estranged wife, then dumping her body in a trash bin and fleeing to Thailand.

Peter Lian was charged with murder Wednesday in the death of Khuang Par, whose body was discovered in a suitcase in an Indianapolis dumpster on Dec. 23.

Par, 27, was living with Lian near Fort Carson in Colorado Springs but had returned to family in Indianapolis after she accused her husband of assaulting her on Nov. 30, Indianapolis police Det. Christopher Craighill said in a court filing.

Lian traveled to Indianapolis three weeks later, on Dec. 22. Flight records show he flew to Bangkok two days later. He didn't return to Fort Carson and is considered by the U.S. Army to be a deserter, Craighill said. His current location is unknown.

On Dec. 3, Par obtained a court order to keep Lian away from her. He had been arrested a few days earlier by Colorado Springs police and charged with assault.

"Ms. Par told the Colorado police officers investigating this incident that she and (Lian) were arguing about her going back to Indiana. A physical altercation ensued and Peter began to choke her with one hand around the neck, then both hands around her neck," Craighill said.

This undated photo provided by the Indianapolis Police Department shows Peter Van Bawi Lian. Authorities say the 21-year-old soldier who flew from Colorado to Indiana and allegedly killed his wife, then fled to Thailand, is now wanted for military desertion. (Indianapolis Police Department via AP)

"Lian told officers he released pressure from around Par's neck and before she could walk out of the door, he yelled, 'I'm going to kill you,' in her native language Burmese," Craighill said.

Lian, who's been in the Army for seven months, has the rank of specialist, according to Fort Carson.
GAUHATI, India (AP) - India on Thursday deported a second small group of Rohingya Muslims to Myanmar after ordering the expulsion of members of the Myanmar minority group and others who entered the country illegally.

Senior police officer Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta said the five members of a family - three men and two women - were handed over to Myanmar authorities at a border crossing at Moreh in Manipur state.

The five had been in detention since 2014, when they were found in India's northeast without valid travel documents.

In October, India deported a first group of seven Rohingya Muslims for entering the country illegally in 2012.

About 700,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh since August 2017 to escape a brutal campaign of violence by Myanmar's military. An estimated 40,000 other Rohingya have taken refuge in parts of India. Less than 15,000 are registered with the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.

Many have settled in areas of India with large Muslim populations, including the southern city of Hyderabad, the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, New Delhi, and the Himalayan region of Jammu-Kashmir. Some have taken refuge in northeast India bordering Bangladesh and Myanmar.

The Indian government says it has evidence there are extremists who pose a threat to the country's security among the Rohingya. India is fighting insurgencies in northern Kashmir and in its northeastern states.
ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) - Croatia urged Israel on Thursday to overcome a rare disagreement with the United States and to confirm it can carry through on a deal to sell 12 used American-made fighter jets.

Croatia's Defense Ministry said it needed an answer from Israel by Jan. 11 or the Balkan country's $500 million order for a dozen F-16 aircraft would be canceled.

Israel made a tentative deal to sell the upgraded F-16 Barak fighters to Croatia in March pending U.S. approval for allowing the jets to go to a third party.

The deal ran into trouble after the U.S. State Department hinted that Israel needs to strip off the upgrades that were added after Israel took delivery of the planes from the U.S. some 30 years ago.

Israel upgraded the jets with sophisticated electronic and radar systems, which was crucial in Croatia's decision to buy the planes from Israel rather than from the U.S.

"If the planes are not in accordance with what we have agreed, the deal will not be carried out and we will have another purchase bid," Croatia's parliament speaker, Gordan Jandrokovic, said.

FILE - In this July 23, 2006 file photo, an Israeli F-16 warplane takes off for a mission in Lebanon from an air force base in southern Israel. Croatia has urged Israel to say whether it could carry out a deal to deliver 12 used F-16 fighter jets, or the purchase will be annulled. Croatia's Defense Ministry said Thursday Jan. 3, 2019, it needs an answer by Jan. 11, 2019. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit, File)

Relations between the Trump administration and Israel have been very close, particularly on defense issues. But the sale of the jets to Croatia appears to be an exception. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met on Tuesday in Brazil but didn't agree on a way to end the impasse.

"We are expecting final and clear stands from both Israel and the United States on this issue and then we will make a final decision," Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said.

Croatian Defense Minister Damir Krsticevic said Thursday that Israel provided guarantees during the contract bidding process that U.S. officials would greenlight the sale.

"Can you imagine that we do not believe Israel?" Krsticevic asked.

The controversy over the bid has triggered calls for the defense minister's resignation.

The deal is Croatia's largest single military purchase since it split from the Yugoslav federation during a 1991-95 war.

NATO member Croatia faces a mini arms race with Russian ally Serbia, which recently received six used Russian MiG-29 fighter jets.

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AP writer Dusan Stojanovic contributed.
DAVIE, Fla. (AP) - Police in South Florida are searching for a man they say attacked an overnight hotel clerk, choking her around the neck before a hotel guest scared him away.

The Dec. 22 attack at the Woodspring Suites in Davie was captured on surveillance video . It shows the hoodie-clad man jumping over the front desk and grabbing the clerk, covering her mouth with one hand, while holding a gun in the other. They struggled for more than five minutes.

Davie police Sgt. Mark Leone says he demanded that she open the safe, but she didn't have a combination, so he tried for the cash register. A guest then walked by and apparently scared the man, who can be seen hopping back over the desk and leaving with a push from the clerk.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on the partial government shutdown (all times local):

9:55 p.m.

House Democrats have approved a plan to re-open the government without funding President Donald Trump's promised border wall.

The largely party-line votes by the new Democratic majority came after Trump made a surprise appearance at the White House briefing room to pledge a continued fight for his signature campaign promise.

The Democratic package to end the shutdown includes a bill to temporarily fund the Department of Homeland Security at current levels through Feb. 8 as bipartisan talks continue. It was approved, 239-192.

Democrats also approved, 241-190, a separate measure funding the Agriculture, Interior and other departments through Sept. 30.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., center, pushes back on President Donald Trump's demand to fund a wall on the US-Mexico border with the partial government shutdown in its second week, during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

The homeland security bill is virtually identical to a plan the Senate adopted by voice vote last month. The GOP-controlled House rejected the plan the next day, forcing a partial shutdown

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8:20 p.m.

President Donald Trump has spoken to the family and former colleagues of the Newman, California, police officer who was shot to death during a Dec. 26 traffic stop.

The suspected shooter is a Mexican man accused of living in the U.S. illegally.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders says Trump praised Cpl. Ronil Singh's service and offered condolences to his wife, the local police chief and local sheriff.

The calls come as the White House has been trying to highlight the dangers of illegal immigration as Trump tries to rally support for his long-stalled border wall.

Trump is demanding billions of dollars to build it, but Democrats refuse to give him the money.

The impasse has caused a partial government shutdown that is now in its 13th day.

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4:45 p.m.

President Donald Trump has made a surprise appearance in the White House briefing room, flanked by border patrol agents championing his demand for a wall on the U.S. southern border.

It's the first time Trump has taken the podium in the briefing room.

Trump says the "people in our country want" the wall.

He has also congratulated Nancy Pelosi, who was installed hours before as speaker of the Democratic-controlled House. Trump and the Democrats are locked in an impasse with the partial government shutdown in its 13th day.

Trump is demanding that lawmakers provide billions of dollars for a border wall. The border agents who accompanied Trump told reporters the wall is essential to stopping illegal migration and drug-smuggling.

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7:50 a.m.

Democratic House leader Nancy Pelosi (puh-LOH'-see) says "there's no amount of persuasion" President Donald Trump can use to get her to fund his promised U.S.-Mexico border wall.

Pelosi says the partial government shutdown stemming from Trump's demand for wall funding has nothing to do with Democrats. She said in an interview that aired Thursday on NBC's "Today" show that Democrats want the "Trump shutdown" to end but she's unwilling to fund Trump's wall.

She added: "There is no amount of persuasion he can use."

Pelosi says negotiating with Trump is difficult because he "resists science, evidence, data, truth." The California Democrat adds, "It's hard to pin the president down on the facts."

Pelosi responded to criticism from Trump that she took a trip to Hawaii over the holidays, while he canceled his planned visit to Florida because of the shutdown. Pelosi says, "The president may not know this, but Hawaii is part of the United States of America." She says she was available on 24 hours' notice.

Trump has said the shutdown will last "as long as it takes" to get the wall funding he wants.

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12:35 a.m.

President Donald Trump and congressional officials plan to try, try again Friday after their meeting at the White House didn't succeed in producing a budget agreement that would end a partial government shutdown.

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi tells NBC's "Today" that budget legislation for the new Congress will not include money for Trump's border wall and asks, "How many more times can we say no?"

Trump says he isn't budging either and that shutdown will last "as long as it takes" to get the funding he wants for a border wall with Mexico.

The new Congress with its Democratic-controlled House will convene Thursday. Republicans who control the Senate are hesitant to take up the Democrats' budget package without Trump on board.

President Donald Trump pauses as he speaks in the press briefing room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, who will become speaker of the House on Jan. 3, walks to her new office at the Capitol during a television interview for the NBC Today Show with Savannah Guthrie, left, in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. The Republicans will relinquish the majority to House Democrats under the leadership of Nancy Pelosi beginning a new era of divided government. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

House Democratic leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., walk to speak with reporters after a meeting with President Donald Trump on border security at the White House, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., left, with House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., speaks to the media after a meeting with President Donald Trump on border security Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019, in Washington. David Bernhardt, Acting Secretary of Interior is left and Patrick Shanahan, Acting Secretary of Defense is right. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

A closed sign is displayed on a door at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019, as a partial government shutdown stretches into its third week. A high-stakes move to reopen the government will be the first big battle between Nancy Pelosi and President Donald Trump as Democrats come into control of the House. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker listens to President Donald Trump speak during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Steamtown National Historic Site remains temporarily closed due to government shutdown in Scranton, Pa., on Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. President Donald Trump said his Homeland Security officials will "make a plea" for the border wall with Mexico during a briefing for congressional leaders Wednesday at the White House as the partial government shutdown over his demand for wall funding entered its 12th day. (Jake Danna Stevens/The Times-Tribune via AP)

President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., left, and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., speak to the media after a meeting with President Donald Trump on border security Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) - Authorities in Serbia have arrested the driver of the bus that was hit by a train last month as the number of dead in the crash has risen to seven.

Serbia's state TV said Thursday that prosecutors have ordered a 30-day detention for the driver as soon as he is well enough to leave the hospital. He's suspected of gravely endangering safety.

The bus was carrying mostly high school students to school when a train slammed into it near the southern city of Nis, practically cutting the bus in half. Five people were immediately killed in the Dec. 21 crash and scores were injured.

Two more people have died later in the hospital.

The crash has triggered protests and a debate about road and railway safety in the Balkan country.
SUMMIT, N.J. (AP) - Bristol-Myers Squibb is spending $74 billion on fellow drugmaker Celgene in a deal aimed at stocking the combined company's development pipeline with cancer, immunology and cardiovascular treatments.

Bristol would gain the cancer treatment Revlimid in the cash-and-stock deal announced Thursday, as well as inflammatory disease treatments and several products close to launching.

The combined company will have nine products with more than $1 billion in annual sales. Bristol's product portfolio already includes Orencia, an injected drug for rheumatoid arthritis, and the cancer treatment Opdivo.

Bristol Chairman and CEO Giovanni Caforio said in a prepared statement that the combination will create a deep product portfolio that drives growth.

It was a hard sell, however, on Wall Street. Shares of Bristol ended Thursday down $6.90, or 13.3 percent, at $45.12, on a day when the Standard & Poor's 500 lost 2.5 percent. Celgene shares, however, soared $13.79, or 20.7 percent, to $80.43.

Under terms of the deal, shareholders of Celgene Corp., based in Summit, New Jersey, will receive one share of Bristol-Myers Squibb plus $50 in cash for each share they own. They'll also receive one tradeable contingent value right for each Celgene share, allowing the holder to receive a $9 payment when future regulatory milestones are hit.

FILE - In this June 15, 2005, file photo, a sign stands in front of a Bristol-Myers Squibb building in a Lawrence Township, N.J. Bristol-Myers Squibb is buying Celgene in a cash-and-stock deal valued at about $74 billion. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File)

The cash-and-stock portion of the deal totals $102.43, based on Wednesday's closing price of $52.43 for Bristol shares. That represents a premium of nearly 54 percent to Celgene's closing price of $66.64.

Shareholders of Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., based in New York, would own about 69 percent of the company, with Celgene shareholders owning about 31 percent.

.
BERLIN (AP) - Bavaria's conservative governor is condemning an incident in which young asylum-seekers allegedly assaulted passers-by in a southern German town, but is also denouncing far-right attempts to exploit it.

Four apparently intoxicated Afghan and Iranian teenagers were arrested in Amberg on Saturday, suspected of assaulting people near the town's train station. Twelve people were hurt, most slightly. Bavarian officials said it's not legally possible to deport the suspects but authorities want to change that.

On Thursday, police said they were looking into far-right claims of a local militia group being set up but had no concrete evidence of that.

Bavarian governor Markus Soeder says "we condemn in the strongest terms the crimes committed in Amberg, but we also condemn the fact that certain far-right groups are trying to abuse this."
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iranian state TV says the health minister has resigned over spending cuts in a budget submitted to parliament last week.

It says President Hassan Rouhani accepted Health Minister Hassan Ghazizadeh Hashemi's resignation on Thursday.

Iran is in the grip of an economic crisis and has seen sporadic protests in recent months as officials try to downplay the effects of renewed U.S. sanctions.

The $47.5 billion budget is less than half the size of last year's, mainly due to the severe depreciation of the local currency following President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

The U.S. has restored crippling sanctions in recent months, including on Iran's energy and banking sectors.
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AP) - Niger's defense ministry says several days of raids have killed more than 280 Boko Haram extremists near the border with Nigeria.

The statement says the land and air raids began on Dec. 28, with more than 200 extremists killed in airstrikes.

Nigeria in November held an urgent meeting with neighbors about what it called an extremist resurgence fueled by the new use of drones.

Niger's statement says no troops were killed in the raids in its east. It notes that Nigeria "suffered a string of recent attacks on its military bases" and that the extremists had been reinvigorated.

Niger's defense minister last month said he feared Boko Haram would launch renewed attacks from January, when the Komadougou-Yobe river which usually prevents border incursions begins to recede.
CAIRO (AP) - Street protests against Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir show no sign of abating. A growing number of his former allies are clamoring for his departure. None of his friends in the region are stepping up to help. One of the Mideast's longest autocrats may be on the way out.

But if al-Bashir, who came to power in a 1989 military coup, seeks to cling to power, it could mean greater violence and economic paralysis for Sudan and a new stage in a dark history of strife, military dictatorships and political polarization.

Once Africa's largest nation, Sudan under al-Bashir was prominent on the world stage in the 1990s and 2000s for all the wrong reasons.

It was the scene of a long civil war between the mostly Christian and animist south and the Muslim and Arabized north. It hosted Osama bin Laden in the early years of his jihadi movement that led to the creation of al-Qaida, landing Sudan a spot on the U.S. list of countries backing terrorism.

In the 2000s, it was most known for the brutal repression of an uprising in its western Darfur region, when the pro-government militias known as the Janjaweed became notorious for atrocities and al-Bashir himself was indicted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes and genocide.

After the south gained independence in 2011 in a referendum that al-Bashir agreed to in a peace treaty, Sudan lost a third of its territory and fell out of the international spotlight. In the years since, it languished in increasing economic misery.

FILE - In this Dec. 9, 2000 file photo, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir shouts "Allah Akbar" (God is Great), upon his arrival at the village of Garaffa, 30 kilometers north Khartoum. Al-Bashir is facing a tough challenge to his grip on power. Street protests against al-Bashir which began in December 2018 show no sign of abating. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil, File)

That misery erupted several times into protests, each time put down by al-Bashir. He has tried to do the same in the latest unrest, sparked on Dec. 19, initially over steep price rises and shortages. Dozens have been reported killed, and al-Bashir has arrested opposition leaders, imposed emergency rule and curfews in multiple cities and suspended classes in schools and universities.

Here is a look at Sudan's modern history and how recent events may shape its future:

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HOW DID SUDAN GET HERE?

Since independence in 1956, Sudan has bounced between tumultuous party politics and military rule, while trying to hold together a north and south joined under British colonialism. Southern rebels took up arms the year before independence, starting the first civil war. In 1958, the military seized power, ruling for six years until a wave of riots and strikes in 1964. Elections were held, and a series of governments took office, all of which failed to end the war or agree on a permanent constitution.

Army officer Jaafar al-Nimeiri led another military coup in 1969. He dissolved parliament and outlawed political parties, starting 16 years of authoritarian rule. He fended off several coup attempts, including one by Communists in 1971 and another by followers of Imam al-Mahdi, a messianic religious figure from the late 1800s. In 1972, he reached a peace deal ending the war in the south.

The south relaunched its insurgency 11 years later and the guerillas' ranks swelled when al-Nimeiri introduced Islamic Shariah law. After a popular uprising, the military removed al-Nimeiri in 1985 and - in a rare move for the region - quickly handed power to an elected government. The dysfunctional administration lasted only a few years until al-Bashir - a career army officer - allied with Islamist hard-liners and toppled it in a coup.

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Al-BASHIR'S OWN MAKING?

Bashir's 29 years in power will likely be remembered as the most oppressive in Sudan's modern history.

He began by trying to militarily crush the southern rebellion. Predictably, it did not work.

From Khartoum, his rule was based on his Islamist-military alliance, presenting himself as a leader of the 1990s wave of "political Islam" while building ties with violent jihadis. Using Islamist ideology as a rallying cry, al-Bashir created loyalist militias to protect his rule and built a political machine of businessmen and politicians that held a lock on power and amassed massive wealth in the impoverished nation.

His renewed imposition of Islamic law alienated many and tore apart the social fabric of a country with a rich religious and ethnic composition. His use of Islamic militias in Darfur made him an international pariah. Partly trying to salvage his standing, he signed the peace deal with the south.

But as it gained independence, the south took with it three quarters of Sudan's oil resources, leaving the north without an economic engine. Since then, al-Bashir's main priorities have been keeping his lock on power while floundering for ways to repair the economy. He has manipulated shifting international alliances, playing regional powers against each other in hopes of financial aid and investment.

His relations with Egypt, Sudan's powerful neighbor to the north, are a case in point.

Sudan has sided with Ethiopia in a dispute with Egypt over an Ethiopian dam being built, seen by Cairo as a threat to its share of Nile River water - and al-Bashir stoked an old border dispute with Egypt. But then he had to quickly try mend relations with Egypt after Sudan's economic crisis worsened with the devaluation of its currency in October.

Al-Bashir has also cultivated oil-rich Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, receiving extensive aid after he sent troops to Yemen to fight alongside the two against Shiite Houthi rebels. But their trust - and Egypt's - has been undermined by his wooing of their rivals, Qatar, Turkey and Iran.

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WHAT ARE AL-BASHIR'S OPTIONS?

Al-Bashir's domestic alliances have shown signs of crumbling in the face of the latest protests. The military and police are sitting on the fence. Political groups, including Islamists who were once allied with his National Congress Party have joined street calls for him to step down.

Those defections undermine al-Bashir's faltering response to the crisis, which he has tried to depict as a struggle against secularists backed by Western plots aimed at wrecking Sudan's Islamist "experiment." He has used religious rhetoric, telling a public struggling to get by that God will provide and quoting Quran verses to security officials in an attempt to justify killing protesters.

He has options for political survival, but likely at the price of reducing his powers. He formed an investigation committee that could try to give him cover by prosecuting some accused of using lethal force against protesters or indicting businessmen and politicians for manipulated the market for personal gain. He may also try bringing political rivals into a new, inclusive government, or announce he will not run in elections set for 2020.

But he also may dig in, forcing the military and police to choose whether to back him or turn against him definitively, prompting new turmoil.

FILE - In this Dec. 20, 2018 file handout photo, provided by a Sudanese activist, protesters chant slogans during a demonstration, in Khartoum, Sudan. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir is facing a tough challenge to his grip on power. He rules what was once Africa's largest country, one that was prominent on the world stage in the 1990s and 2000s for all the wrong reasons -- civil war, suspected genocide, links to Islamic militants. Days of protests against al-Bashir's government may bring it back into the spotlight. (Sudanese Activist via AP, File)

FILE - In this March 29, 2017 file photo, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, center, stands between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, left, and Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa at the annual Arab League summit on the Dead Sea in Jordan. Al-Bashir is facing a tough challenge to his grip on power as street protests which began in December 2018 show no sign of abating. A growing number of his former allies are clamoring for his departure. None of his friends in the region are stepping up to help. (AP Photo/ Raad Adayleh, File)

FILE - In this Nov. 23, 2017 file photo, Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir shake hands during their meeting in Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi. Al-Bashir is facing a tough challenge to his grip on power as street protests which began in December 2018 show no sign of abating. A growing number of his former allies are clamoring for his departure. (Mikhail Klimentyev, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP, File)

FILE - In this Feb. 7, 2011 file photo, Southern Sudanese celebrate the formal announcement of referendum results in the southern capital of Juba. After the south gained independence in 2011 in a referendum that Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir agreed to in a peace treaty, Sudan lost a third of its territory and fell out of the international spotlight. In January 2019, Al-Bashir is facing a tough challenge to his grip on power as street protests which began Dec. 19, 2018 show no sign of abating. (AP Photo/Pete Muller)

FILE - In this January 1, 1956 file photo, Sudan ceremonially hauled down the British and Egypitan flags from the palace at Khartoum and all other flagstaffs in the country and hoisted the Sudan Flag. Since independence in 1956, Sudan has bounced between tumultuous party politics and military rule, while trying to hold together a north and south joined under British colonialism. In January 2019, Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir is facing a tough challenge to his grip on power as street protests which began Dec. 19, 2018 show no sign of abating. (AP Photo, File)

FILE - In this Nov. 20, 2014 file photo taken on a government organized media tour, a woman rides a donkey past a convoy of government troops in Tabit village in the North Darfur region of Sudan, where allegations surfaced of rape of women by government allied troops. In January 2019, Al-Bashir is facing a tough challenge to his grip on power as street protests show no sign of abating. In the 2000s, Sudan was most known for the brutal repression of an uprising in its western Darfur region, when the pro-government militias known as the Janjaweed became notorious for atrocities and al-Bashir himself was indicted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes and genocide. (AP Photo/Abd Raouf, File)
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi and the new Congress (all times local):

8:05 a.m.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (puh-LOH'-see) isn't ruling out impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump, depending on findings by the special counsel investigating Russia's meddling in the 2016 election.

Pelosi was elected House speaker Thursday and told NBC's "Today" show, "we'll have to wait and see what comes" from Robert Mueller's (MUHL'-urz) probe of contacts between Trump's presidential campaign and Russia.

Democrats have taken the majority in the House, where the Constitution says impeachment proceedings must begin. Pelosi previously called impeachment a "divisive activity," and Democrats were cautious about mentioning the "I'' word during the 2018 midterms for fear it would backfire politically.

But Pelosi did not shy away from it Thursday. She said, "We shouldn't be impeaching for a political reason, and we shouldn't avoid impeachment for a political reason."

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California, left, the House Speaker-designate, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speak to the media after meeting with President Donald Trump, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019, on border security at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

It's unclear that a sitting president can be indicted. Justice Department guidelines suggest he can't. Pelosi calls it "an open discussion." She adds, "Everything indicates that a president can be indicted after he is no longer president."

Trump has denied any wrongdoing in the campaign or with his former lawyer Michael Cohen, who pleaded guilty to federal campaign finance violations.

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6 a.m.

Nancy Pelosi (puh-LOH'-see) is hours away from taking back the gavel as House speaker when the new Congress convenes and Democrats assume control.

The California Democrat is expected to be elected House speaker Thursday afternoon.

In remarks prepared for her opening speech, Pelosi is giving a nod to the new era of divided government with a pledge to "reach across the aisle in this chamber and across the divisions in this great nation."

Pelosi says the floor of the House must be "America's Town Hall" and says in her prepared remarks it's a place where people will see debates and where their voices will be heard and affect lawmakers' decisions.

She says Democratic priorities include lowering health care costs, investing in green infrastructure and "restoring integrity" to government.

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12:40 a.m.

Nancy Pelosi is poised to be elected as House speaker with the first vote of the new Democratic majority.

The California Democrat is the only woman who has held the office and will join the few elected officials who returned to it. The last time a speaker regained the gavel was more than a half-century ago.

While Pelosi says she knew this moment would arrive, it wasn't guaranteed. Others had their doubts - or actively worked against her.

She has spent her political career being underestimated, only to prove the naysayers wrong. In this case, it was by winning back the Democratic majority and amassing the votes for the speaker's job.

Pelosi remains a highly polarizing figure, vilified by Republicans as a San Francisco liberal and caricature of big government.

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California, the House Speaker-designate, speaks to the media outside the White House after meeting with President Donald Trump on border security, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

House Democratic leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., walk to speak with reporters after a meeting with President Donald Trump on border security at the White House, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019, in Washington. Following are Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., left, and Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:

1. TRUMP, LAWMAKERS STILL AT LOGGERHEADS

No one budges at the president's closed-door meeting with congressional leaders, so the partial government shutdown persists over his demand for billions of dollars to build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico.

2. WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT NEW CONGRESS

The 116th U.S. Congress is making history for seating a record number of women and becoming the most racially and ethnically diverse.

3. THE "DARK" SIDE OF THE MOON

In this image provided on Jan. 3, 2019, by China's Xinhua News Agency, a simulated landing process of Chang'e-4 lunar probe is seen through the monitor at Beijing Aerospace Control Center in Beijing. A Chinese spacecraft on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, made the first-ever landing on the far side of the moon, state media said. (Jin Liwang/Xinhua News via AP)

Venturing into a largely unexplored terrain, a Chinese spacecraft Chang'e 4 has made the first-ever landing on the far side of the moon and sent back a photo showing a small crater and a barren surface.

4. PUBLIC RECKONING UNDERWAY IN CATHOLIC CHURCH

Since the release of a shocking grand jury report in Pennsylvania four months ago, nearly 50 dioceses and religious orders across the U.S. have publicly named more than 1,000 predator priests.

5. PYONGYANG'S TOP DIPLOMAT IN ITALY SAID TO BE IN HIDING

A high-profile defection by one of North Korea's elite would be a huge embarrassment for leader Kim Jong Un as he pursues diplomacy with Seoul and Washington and seeks to portray himself as a player in international geopolitics.

6. WHY WALL STREET HAS THAT SINKING FEELING

Apple acknowledges that demand for iPhones - the company's most profitable product - is waning as China's economy slows and trade tensions grow.

7. NASA UNVEILS SNAPSHOT FROM SPACE

A spacecraft 4 billion miles from Earth yields its first close-up pictures of the most distant celestial object ever explored - depicting what looks like a reddish snowman.

8. WHO WAS FREQUENT VISITOR TO RUSSIA

As a Marine stationed in Iraq, Paul Whelan enjoyed fine cigars and showed an affinity for Russia, even spending two weeks of military leave in the country where he's now being held on spying charges.

9. ESPORT LEAGUES EAGER TO ADD WOMEN

Most professional esports are devoid of female players at their highest levels, even though 45 percent of U.S. gamers are women or girls.

10. 'CAPTAIN' OF CAPTAIN & TENNILLE DIES AT 76

Daryl Dragon teamed with then-wife Toni Tennille on such easy listening hits as "Love Will Keep Us Together" and "Muskrat Love."

FILE - This Oct. 22, 2018, file photo shows the iPhone XS, from left, iPhone XR, and the iPhone XS Max in New York. Apple warns that disappointing iPhone sales will cause a significant drop in its revenue over the crucial holiday season compared to earlier projections. CEO Tim Cook made the announcement after the market closed Wednesday, Jan 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Over the past four months, Roman Catholic dioceses across the U.S. have released the names of more than 1,000 priests and others accused of sexually abusing children in an unprecedented public reckoning spurred at least in part by a shocking grand jury investigation in Pennsylvania, an Associated Press review has found.

Nearly 50 dioceses and religious orders have publicly identified child-molesting priests in the wake of the Pennsylvania report issued in mid-August, and 55 more have announced plans to do the same over the next few months, the AP found. Together they account for more than half of the nation's 187 dioceses.

The review also found that nearly 20 local, state or federal investigations, either criminal or civil, have been launched since the release of the grand jury findings. Those investigations could lead to more names and more damning accusations, as well as fines against dioceses and court-ordered safety measures.

"People saw what happened in these parishes in Pennsylvania and said, 'That happened in my parish too.' They could see the immediate connection, and they are demanding the same accounting," said Tim Lennon, national president of the board of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP.

The recently disclosed accusations date back six or seven decades in some cases, with the oldest from the 1910s in Louisiana. Most of the priests were long ago removed from ministry. An AP examination found that more than 60 percent are dead. In most cases, the statute of limitations for bringing criminal charges or suing has run out.

Nevertheless, advocates say exposing molesters nearly two decades after the scandal first erupted in Boston in 2002 is an encouraging step, in part because it gives some victims a sense of vindication after decades of official silence or denials. Also, it could increase pressure on dioceses to set up victims' compensation funds, as the church has done in Pennsylvania already. And it could result in the removal of molesters from positions outside the church that give them access to children.

FILE - In this Aug. 14, 2018, file photo victims of clergy sexual abuse, or their family members, react as Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro speaks during a news conference at the State Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa. Over the past four months, Roman Catholic dioceses across the U.S. have released the names of more than 1,000 priests and others accused of sexually abusing children in an unprecedented public reckoning spurred at least in part by a shocking grand jury investigation in Pennsylvania, an Associated Press review has found. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

"This is a milestone. We are getting closer and closer to what this ought to be, the true coming to terms that would have to be at a national level," said Joe McLean, who filed a lawsuit with other victims seeking to compel the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to release files on alleged abusers nationwide.

The Pennsylvania investigation , led by state Attorney General Josh Shapiro, identified nearly 300 "predator priests" dating back seven decades and accused church leaders of covering up for the abuses, in some cases by returning priests to duty after short stays in treatment centers or reassigning them. Advocates said the report had big impact because it was the largest to date in scope, encompassing most of the state.

Victims' advocates and others, including some church officials, said the report was largely responsible for the urgency now being shown by the church. Many bishops cited those findings and other scandals - including the resignation over the summer of Washington Archbishop Theodore McCarrick, accused of groping an altar boy in the 1970s - in their letters to their congregations.

The biggest list of names has come from the Jesuits West Province, a religious order that encompasses nine Western states. It identified 111 priests. The New Orleans Archdiocese and the Diocese of Syracuse, New York, named 61 and 57 respectively. The Great Falls-Billings, Montana, Diocese disclosed 47 names, including those of a few nuns, while the Los Angeles Archdiocese reported more than 50 from the past decade or so.

Some dioceses, like Peoria, Illinois, released only names with no information on the allegations or the church's response. Others detailed such things as parish assignments, numbers and dates of allegations - including an Omaha priest with 20 to 35 accusations against him - and attempts at treatment, restriction and punishment.

And more names could be coming in places where attorneys general have launched statewide investigations such as New Jersey, New York, Nebraska, Florida and Delaware, or in cities like Houston or Cheyenne, Wyoming, where local prosecutors are looking into individual priests.

In his Christmas address last month, Pope Francis made an unprecedented call for priests who had abused children to turn themselves in and vowed the church will "never again" hide their crimes. The world's bishops will hold a summit at the Vatican next month to forge a comprehensive response to the crisis.

The U.S. bishops adopted new reporting procedures and other reforms after the furor in Boston but held off on any further measures recently at the direction of the Vatican. The bishops are holding a retreat outside Chicago starting Wednesday for "prayer and reflection" upon the scandal. Messages left by the AP seeking comment from conference officials were not returned.

In the 16 years between the Boston scandal and the Pennsylvania investigation, only about 30 dioceses around the country had released lists of priests they deemed credibly accused of abuse. Most of those dioceses came clean because they were forced to do so by lawsuits or bankruptcy filings. Some dioceses declined to name any deceased priests, since they could not defend themselves, and some would not identify any clergy members at all.

Now, 13 dioceses have hired outside consultants including FBI agents and former judges to review their files, and dioceses that had previously been secretive are coordinating to release statewide lists in such places as Texas and New Jersey.

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor of the Little Rock Diocese in Arkansas disclosed the names of 12 priests in September and announced the hiring of a consultant to review diocesan files.

"The Pennsylvania grand jury report kind of helped us firm up our decision to move forward with what we were doing. It affected the timing rather than the decision," Taylor said.

In October, the pope accepted the resignation of Cardinal Donald Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, D.C., after he was accused in the report of mishandling some allegations of abuse against priests and others while bishop of Pittsburgh from 1988 to 2006.

The report is also credited with spurring an uptick in victims contacting support networks or law enforcement. Pennsylvania's clergy abuse hotline has received more than 1,400 new allegations since August, and Lennon said there has been a dramatic increase in victims reaching out to SNAP.

While praising the release of names, many experts said the lists are often incomplete. Terence McKiernan, co-director of BishopAccountability.org, which has tracked abuse for more than a decade, said many dioceses have left off names of known abusers his group has published in its online database.

"It's not enough," agreed Pennsylvania's Shapiro. "I do not believe that the church is capable of policing itself though. They need outside forces, ideally law enforcement, to hold them accountable."

Shapiro said he has spoken to 45 other attorneys general since his report, and 14 have publicly acknowledged some form of investigation. Other investigations have become public because of dioceses acknowledging subpoenas, reporters documenting raids or state agencies advertising victim hotlines.

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan printed a copy of the Pennsylvania report the day it came out. In mid-December, she issued a blistering preliminary report saying a review of church files showed dioceses in Illinois had withheld the names of at least 500 clergy accused of sexually abusing children.

"It was obvious that this type of concealment, this type of unresolved action in Pennsylvania, that we were going to find the same thing in Illinois," Madigan said.

FILE - In this Aug. 15, 2018 file photo, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, conducts Mass at St. Mathews Cathedral in Washington. Over the past four months, Roman Catholic dioceses across the U.S. have released the names of more than 1,000 priests and others accused of sexually abusing children in an unprecedented public reckoning spurred at least in part by a shocking grand jury investigation in Pennsylvania, an Associated Press review has found. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf, File)

FILE - In this Monday, April 23, 2018 file photo, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan speaks during a news conference in Chicago. In mid-December, Madigan issued a blistering preliminary report saying a review of church files showed dioceses in Illinois had withheld the names of at least 500 clergy accused of sexually abusing children. "It was obvious that this type of concealment, this type of unresolved action in Pennsylvania, that we were going to find the same thing in Illinois," Madigan said. (Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP, File)
MADRID (AP) - A Spanish court has ruled that five men sentenced to nine years in prison for sexually attacking an 18-year-old woman should remain free on bail while the Supreme Court considers appeals in the case.

The Navarra provincial court said in its decision Thursday the men have complied with bail terms set last year, following a conviction that triggered widespread outrage because judges acquitted them of gang rape.

Women's rights advocates have expressed anger about what they see as the court's leniency. The public prosecutor, the victim and regional authorities have appealed to the Supreme Court for a heavier prison sentence and wanted the men kept behind bars until a ruling.

Prosecutors said the men boasted about the 2016 attack on a WhatsApp group named "La Manada," or "the animal pack."
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - An Afghan official says the Taliban killed eight police in an attack on their post in the provincial capital of the northern Baghlan province.

Safdar Mooseni, the head of the provincial council, says police battled the insurgents for four hours before reinforcements arrived and repulsed the Taliban onslaught, which also wounded two police. The Taliban claimed the attack.

Afghanistan's beleaguered security forces come under near daily attack by the Taliban, who control nearly half the country. Afghanistan's generals fear that the partial withdrawal of American troops by the summer will further embolden the insurgents.

Washington's peace envoy, Zalmay Khalilzad, is meanwhile stepping up efforts to negotiate an end to the 17-year war, America's longest.
CAIRO (AP) - Sudan's largest opposition groups on Thursday called for a fresh wave of protests to demand that President Omar al-Bashir step down, as the longtime ruler made another attempt at staunching popular discontent by promising wage hikes and appealing to patriotism.

In a joint statement, four groups called for nationwide protests Friday and a march on the president's Nile-side palace on Sunday. They also called for a march on parliament in Khartoum's twin city of Omdurman to present a petition demanding that the 74-year-old general-turned-president step down.

The demands are likely to turn up pressure on al-Bashir to find a way out of the crisis. Sudan has seen two weeks of violent street protests, with dozens killed. The protests were initially sparked by steep price hikes, a fuel shortage and a liquidity crunch that forced authorities to place a ceiling on bank withdrawals and led to long lines at ATMs.

Authorities have declared emergency laws and a nighttime curfew in some cities. Classes have been suspended at schools and universities across much of Sudan, a country of 43 million.

On Thursday, al-Bashir touted improvements to Sudan's infrastructure since he seized power in a 1989 coup. He said international sanctions targeting Sudan, which is on the U.S. list of countries sponsoring terrorism, have inhibited economic progress.

"We are subjected to both war and sanctions, but Sudan has remained steadfast," he said in a speech before representatives of pro-government unions in Khartoum.

In this July 2, 2018 file photo, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir leaves the African Union summit, in Nouakchott, Mauritania. Sudan's president has ordered an investigation into "recent events" in the country, a reference to two weeks of violent protests against his 29-year rule. The country's state news agency, reported late on Monday, Dec. 31, 2018, that al-Bashir tasked Justice Minister Mohammed Ahmed Salem with leading the probe committee. The move likely reflects efforts by al-Bashir to placate popular anger over his autocratic rule and economic policies. (Ludovic Marin/Pool Photo via AP, File)

He promised wage increases starting this month, an overhaul of the health system and improved benefits for pensioners, without elaborating.

"The Sudanese people deserve more than this. They deserve to lead a life of dignity," he said. "We could have taken the near and easy path and sold our independence, dignity in return for some dollars ... but, together, we will come out stronger from this crisis."

He spoke of his humble upbringing and recalled a time in his youth when he fell and broke his front tooth while working on a construction site.

"They gave me salty water to rinse my mouth and I continued working... Let no one talk to me about poverty and suffering because I lived them," he said, adding that he never replaced the missing tooth because he wanted to remember the hardships he had endured.

The crowd responded with chants of "March on, march on, oh Bashir!" and "God is greatest!"

Sudan's economy has stagnated for most of al-Bashir's rule. He has also failed to unite or keep the peace in the religiously and ethnically diverse nation, losing three quarters of Sudan's oil wealth when the south seceded in 2011 following a referendum.

A year earlier, he was indicted by the International Criminal Court for genocide in Sudan's western region of Darfur.
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - Turkey's state-run news agency says a U.S. delegation is meeting Turkish officials to discuss a long-standing Turkish request for the extradition of Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen who is accused of being behind the failed coup in 2016.

Anadolu Agency said Thursday that the delegation, which includes FBI officials, will meet with officials from Turkey's foreign, justice and interior ministries. Hurriyet newspaper said the delegation is also expected to talk to a top suspect accused of leading the coup from an air base in Ankara.

Turkey has demanded the extradition of Gulen, who lives in self-imposed exile in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania. Gulen denies involvement in the coup attempt that killed more than 250 people.

Since the coup, Turkey has arrested or dismissed tens of thousands of people with links to Gulen's movement.
UNITED NATIONS (AP) - A United Nations envoy who was recently ordered to leave Somalia warned Thursday about its "political turbulence," while its U.N. ambassador admonished the world body to stay out of his country's internal affairs.

Both addressed the Security Council at a regularly scheduled discussion that took on new overtones after Somalia announced Tuesday it was expelling Nicholas Haysom. Somalia's government said Haysom overstepped diplomatic bounds by questioning the arrest of an extremist group defector-turned-political candidate.

The U.N. has said little in public about the flap. Deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said Thursday that the world body was seeking "further clarification" on the matter, but that Haysom continues to have the support of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who appointed Haysom in September as special representative for Somalia.

Haysom himself didn't directly address his apparent ouster. But while commending Somalia's progress on various political, economic and security initiatives, he said "continuing political turbulence could throw it off-course." And he pointed out the violent fallout from Mukhtar Robow's arrest.

The deadly protests that followed do "not bode well" for upcoming elections, Haysom said.

"Politics is complex in any nation," he noted, but in a country trying to enshrine a stable system after decades of strife, "there is a risk that complexity shifts to conflict."

FILE - In this Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015, file photo, Nicholas Haysom, then the top UN envoy in Afghanistan, speaks during a press conference in Kabul. Somalia's government on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019 ordered Nicholas Haysom, the United Nations envoy to Somalia, to leave amid questions over the arrest of the al-Shabab extremist group's former deputy leader Mukhtar Robow who had run for a regional presidency. (AP Photo/Massoud Hossaini, File)

The arrest also could affect the likelihood that other extremist group defectors will consider abandoning violence to pursue political change, Haysom suggested.

Somali Ambassador Abukar Dahir Osman, meanwhile, said the Horn of Africa nation appreciates the U.N.'s help but "distinguishes between the institutions that we are part of and individuals' conduct that has a detrimental effect on our fragile nation."

Somalia has said Robow - who was arrested days before a December election in which he was a leading candidate for a regional presidency - couldn't run because he hadn't completed a defection process. A former deputy leader of the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab, one of Africa's deadliest Islamic extremist groups, he defected in 2017 and surrendered to the government, which welcomed his defection.

But when he was arrested, Somalia's security ministry alleged that Robow failed to renounce extremist ideology and accused him of mobilizing armed forces.

Osman didn't mention Robow specifically on Thursday, but the ambassador said the potential election of "any individual with violent extremism history would represent a regressive step."

"While we strive to re-establish the rule of law and end a culture of impunity, we reject the criticism and attempt to rebrand the new terrorism as an ice-cream salesperson without redeeming themselves," Osman said.

He added that the U.N. and its representatives have "an obligation to respect their mandate and to not interfere in our internal affairs."

Haysom, in a letter to Somali authorities, questioned the legal framework of Somalia's defection process and asked how Somali authorities were able to detain Robow beyond the normal 48 hours. Robow has been held in a prison since his Dec. 13 arrest.

Haysom's letter also questioned the circumstances surrounding civilian deaths during the protests and urged investigation.

The Security Council went on to discuss Somalia in a closed session later Thursday but didn't issue a statement.

After 30 years of civil war, extremist attacks and famine, Somalia established a functioning transitional government in 2012 and has since been working to rebuild.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - Saudi Arabia announced on Thursday it will seek the death penalty against five suspects in the slaying of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, a killing that has seen members of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's entourage implicated in the writer's assassination.

Prosecutors announced that 11 suspects in the slaying attended their first court hearing with lawyers, but the statement did not name those in court. It also did not explain why seven other suspects arrested over the Oct. 2 killing at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul did not immediately face formal charges. The kingdom previously announced 18 people had been arrested.

Saudi officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The killing of Khashoggi, who wrote columns critical of Prince Mohammed, has strained the decades-long ties the kingdom enjoys with the United States. It also has added to a renewed international push to end the Saudi-led war in Yemen.

The state-run Saudi Press Agency and state television gave few details about the hearing.

"The Public Prosecutor demanded imposing proper punishments against the defendants and is seeking capital punishment for five of the defendants for their direct involvement in the murder," a statement from prosecutors said, without elaborating.

FILE - In this Dec. 15, 2014, file photo, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi speaks during a press conference in Manama, Bahrain. Saudi state media said Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, that suspects in the slaying of journalist Jamal Khashoggi have attended their first court hearing. The state-run Saudi Press Agency said that prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty for five of the 11 who were at the hearing. The brief statement did not name the suspects. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali, File)

The suspects requested copies of the indictments they faced, as well as asked for more time to prepare for their case, prosecutors said.

While vague on details about the case, prosecutors made a point to express concerns about Turkey. They alleged that Turkish officials did not answer two formal requests made for evidence in the case.

"To date, the Saudi Public Prosecutor has not received any response, and the Public Prosecution is still awaiting their response," the statement said.

Officials in Ankara could not be immediately reached for comment. Turkish officials have previously said they shared evidence with Saudi Arabia and other nations over Khashoggi's killing.

Turkey also has demanded Saudi Arabia extradite those 18 suspects to be tried there for Khashoggi's killing. Turkish security officials have kept up a slow leak of videos, photographs and morbid details surrounding Khashoggi's slaying to pressure the kingdom, as the two U.S.-allied countries vie for influence over the wider Mideast.

Turkish media have published photographs of members of the crown prince's entourage at the consulate in Istanbul ahead of the slaying. Khashoggi's body, believed to have been dismembered after his killing, has yet to be found.

Khashoggi, 59, entered the consulate Oct. 2 as his fiancee waited outside. But unbeknownst to him, a team of Saudi officials had flown in before his arrival and laid in wait for him.

Saudi Arabia denied for weeks that Khashoggi had been killed but later changed its story and ultimately acknowledged the brutal slaying. King Salman ordered the restructuring of the country's intelligence service, but has so far shielded Prince Mohammed, his 33-year-old son who is next in line to the throne in the oil giant kingdom.

All that has not has not stopped widespread international criticism against the kingdom. Under Prince Mohammed, Saudi Arabia has seen the arrest of business leaders, royals and activists while also recently granting women the right to drive.

U.S. senators in December passed the measure that blamed the prince for Khashoggi's killing and called on Riyadh to "ensure appropriate accountability." Senators also passed a separate measure calling for the end of U.S. aid to the Saudi-led war in Yemen. Both measures drew angry responses from the kingdom, but a renewed international effort has begun to end the Yemen war.

It is no surprise that the kingdom would seek to execute those accused in Khashoggi's slaying. Saudi Arabia was the world's third top executioner in 2017, behind China and Iran, according to Amnesty International's most recent figures available.

The kingdom executed at least 146 people, according to the group. It regularly beheads those condemned to death and last year said it "crucified" a Myanmar man, an execution in which the condemned is usually beheaded and then the body put on display, arms outstretched as if crucified.

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Associated Press writer Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, contributed to this report.

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Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellap .
ROME (AP) - The Latest on the disappearance of a North Korean diplomat and his wife from Italy (all times local):

1 p.m.

A North Korean diplomat who defected to South Korea in 2016 says a fellow envoy who reportedly has gone into hiding in Italy came from a family of diplomats, with both his father and father-in-law serving as ambassadors.

Thae Yong Ho, a former minister at the North Korean Embassy in London who defected in 2016, said he worked with acting North Korean Ambassador to Italy Jo Song Gil for more than a decade at North Korea's Foreign Ministry.

Thae said in an interview with South Korean TV on Thursday that the Italian embassy was critical for North Korea because it handled negotiations with the World Food Program over food aid to the North and was a hub for smuggling luxury items to the North Korean elite.

South Korea's spy agency told lawmakers in Seoul on Thursday that Jo went into hiding with his wife in November before his term in Italy ended. His whereabouts are not publicly known now.

An external view of the North Korean embassy in Rome, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2018. North Korea's acting ambassador to Italy, Jo Song Gil, went into hiding with his wife in November, South Korea's spy agency told lawmakers in Seoul on Thursday. (AP Photo/Gianfranco Stara)

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10:55 a.m.

The Italian Foreign Ministry says the envoy who had been North Korea's acting ambassador in Rome has not asked Italian authorities for asylum.

South Korea's spy agency told lawmakers in Seoul on Thursday that North Korean diplomat Jo Song Gil went into hiding with his wife in November before his term in Italy ended. His whereabouts are not publicly known now.

Italy on Thursday noted that it had been notified in the past that Jo's spell as a diplomat in Italy had ended and thus he no longer held any diplomatic position in Italy.

It wasn't immediately clear if the diplomat might have sought asylum from another country's embassy or consulate in Italy.

Ministry officials spoke to The Associated Press under their customary rules of anonymity on delicate matters.

- By Frances D'Emilio in Rome.

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9 a.m.

South Korea says North Korea's acting ambassador to Italy, Jo Song Gil, went into hiding with his wife in November.

South Korea's spy agency told the information to lawmakers in Seoul on Thursday.

A high-profile defection by one of North Korea's elite would be a huge embarrassment for leader Kim Jong Un as he pursues diplomacy with Seoul and Washington and seeks to portray himself as a player in international geopolitics.

South Korean lawmaker Kim Min-ki said an official from Seoul's National Intelligence Service shared the information during a closed-door briefing. Kim said the NIS said it has not been contacted by Jo.

North Korea has not yet commented on Jo's status.

About 30,000 North Koreans have defected to South Korea since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War.

An external view of the North Korean embassy in Rome, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2018. North Korea's acting ambassador to Italy, Jo Song Gil, went into hiding with his wife in November, South Korea's spy agency told lawmakers in Seoul on Thursday. (AP Photo/Gianfranco Stara)

FILE - In this April 27, 2018, file photo, a North Korean flag flutters in the wind atop a 160-meter tower in North Korea's village Gijungdongseen, as seen from the Taesungdong freedom village inside the demilitarized zone in Paju, South Korea. South Korea's spy agency on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, has told lawmakers that North Korea's acting ambassador to Italy Jo Song Gil went into hiding with his wife in November. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)
BERLIN (AP) - Authorities in Germany and the Netherlands were searching Thursday for up to 270 shipping containers lost at sea by a cargo ship caught in a storm, saying that a few of them are carrying hazardous material. A bag of the substance washed ashore on a Dutch island.

The ship that lost the containers, the MSC Zoe, arrived in the German port of Bremerhaven early Thursday. The ship, which had last called at Sines, Portugal, lost part of its cargo Wednesday in a storm off the northern coast of the Netherlands and Germany.

Germany's Central Command for Maritime Emergencies said authorities have established that three missing containers at most contained a dangerous substance, but none of them has been found yet.

The substance in question is an organic peroxide, a flammable and highly toxic compound. On Thursday, authorities in the Netherlands said that one bag of peroxide had been washed ashore on Schiermonnikoog island.

German authorities said that most of the containers located so far were in Dutch waters. Special ships equipped with sonar were being used to search in the North Sea for sunken containers.

The Dutch defense ministry said it was recalling soldiers from their Christmas leave to help clear up beaches on North Sea islands starting Friday, following requests from the mayors of Schiermonnikoog and nearby Terschelling island. It said about 100 soldiers will be deployed.

Aerial photo provided by the Central Command for Maritime Emergencies Germany shows container vessel MSC ZOE near the German North Sea island of Borkum Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. The Dutch coast guard said that along with light bulbs, toys and flat screens, some of the containers carried closed-off barrels of an organic peroxide, a flammable and highly toxic compound. The container ship is suspected to have lost the cargo during an overnight storm in waters off the coastal border between Germany and the Netherlands. (Central Command for Maritime Emergencies Germany/dpa via AP)

Officials in both countries have warned the public to stay away from the containers.

The ship's operator, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, said it "takes this incident very seriously, both in terms of the impact of such accidents on the natural environment and in terms of any damage to customers' cargo."

It said it is collaborating with local authorities "in all aspects of the cleanup." Police in Bremerhaven were investigating the cause of the accident.

Aerial photo provided by the Central Command for Maritime Emergencies Germany shows container vessel MSC ZOE near the German North Sea island of Borkum Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. The Dutch coast guard said that along with light bulbs, toys and flat screens, some of the containers carried closed-off barrels of an organic peroxide, a flammable and highly toxic compound. The container ship is suspected to have lost the cargo during an overnight storm in waters off the coastal border between Germany and the Netherlands. (Central Command for Maritime Emergencies Germany/dpa via AP)
NEW DELHI (AP) - Hindu hardliners vandalized shops, shut businesses and clashed with police in a southern state Thursday to protest the entry of two women in one of India's largest Hindu pilgrimage sites, police said.

Police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the protesters who also blocked roads by placing burning tires and concrete blocks in key towns, including Kozhikode, Kannur, Malappuram, Palakkad and Thiruvananthapuram.

Pinarayi Vijayan, the state's top elected official, accused supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party of triggering violence that reportedly claimed one life.

Most state-run buses kept off roads after several were damaged by protesters.

Supporters of Modi's party held protest marches in the state as part of a strike call by Sabarimala Karma Samithi, an umbrella organization of Hindu groups.

The two women entered the temple to pray early Wednesday, triggering protests. They were escorted by police because it is "the government's constitutional responsibility to give protection to women," Vijayan said.

Opposition Congress party activists burn an effigy of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reacting to reports of two women of menstruating age entering the Sabarimala temple, one of the world's largest Hindu pilgrimage sites, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. Two women on Wednesday entered one of India's largest Hindu pilgrimage sites that had been forbidden to females between the ages of 10 and 50, sparking protests across a southern state, with police firing tear gas at several places to break up stone-throwing protesters, police said. (AP Photo/R S Iyer)

Women of menstruating age were forbidden to pray at the temple until the Supreme Court lifted the ban in September. The ban was informal for many years but became law in 1972.

Some devotees have filed a petition saying the court decision revoking the ban was an affront to the celibate deity Ayyappa.

Vijayan said Thursday that 39 police officers were injured while trying to control the protesters, who damaged 79 state-run buses in the state.

The Press Trust of India news agency reported that a 55-year-old passer-by died after being injured amid rock throwing by protesters in Pandalam.

Policemen stand guard near the state secretariat anticipating protests following reports of two women of menstruating age entering the Sabarimala temple, one of the world's largest Hindu pilgrimage sites, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. Two women on Wednesday entered one of India's largest Hindu pilgrimage sites that had been forbidden to females between the ages of 10 and 50, sparking protests across a southern state, with police firing tear gas at several places to break up stone-throwing protesters, police said. (AP Photo/R S Iyer)
ROME (AP) - North Korea's top diplomat in Italy has gone into hiding along with his wife, according to a South Korean lawmaker, raising the possibility of a defection of a senior North Korean official.

The news came from South Korea's spy agency, which briefed lawmakers in Seoul on Thursday on the status of North Korea's acting ambassador to Italy, Jo Song Gil. It said he went into hiding with his wife in November before his posting to Italy ended late that month.

A high-profile defection by one of North Korea's elite would be a huge embarrassment for leader Kim Jong Un as he pursues diplomacy with Seoul and Washington and seeks to portray himself as a geopolitical player.

South Korean lawmaker Kim Min-ki said an official from Seoul's National Intelligence Service shared the information during a closed-door briefing. Kim did not say whether the spy agency revealed anything about Jo's current whereabouts or whether he had plans to defect to South Korea.

Kim said the NIS said it has not been contacted by Jo.

According to Kim, the NIS official said Jo and his wife left the official residence in early November, weeks before his term was to end. Kim said he couldn't confirm if the NIS official revealed whether Jo and his wife were accompanied by any children. The NIS earlier said it couldn't confirm a South Korean media report that Jo was under Italian government protection as he seeks asylum in a Western nation.

This March 20, 2018 photo made available Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019 by the Parish of Farra di Soligo, shows North Korea's acting ambassador to Italy Jo Song Gil, second from right, holding a model of "Bell of Peace of Rovereto" during a cultural event on the occasion of a visit of the North Korean delegation to the Veneto region, in San Pietro di Feletto, near Treviso, northern Italy. Jo Song Gil, went into hiding with his wife in November, South Korea's spy agency told lawmakers in Seoul on Thursday. Jo Song Gil is flanked by Senator Valentino Perin, second from left, and don Brunone De Toffol, parish priest of Farra di Soligo, left, and an unidentified North Korean diplomat at right. (Parish of Farra di Soligo via AP)

North Korea has not yet commented on Jo's status.

An official with the Italian Foreign Ministry said Thursday that Jo hadn't requested asylum from Italy. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with standard practice, also said Jo no longer held diplomatic status in Italy, presumably since his assignment had ended.

Without citing any sources, Italian daily La Repubblica raised the possibility that while the Foreign Ministry was saying Jo hadn't sought asylum from Italy, that didn't rule out that the North Korean might have turned to other offices, such as Italian intelligence agencies for "assistance from Italy in order not to return to his country."

North Korea, which touts itself as a socialist paradise, is extremely sensitive about defections, especially among its elite diplomatic corps, and has previously insisted that they are South Korean or U.S. plots to undermine its government.

About 30,000 North Koreans have defected to South Korea since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War, according to South Korean government figures.

Many defectors have said they wanted to leave North Korea's harsh political system and widespread poverty. North Korea often accuses the South of deceiving or paying people to defect, or claims that they have been kidnapped.

North Korea may publicly ignore Jo's possible defection or hold back harsh criticism to avoid highlighting the vulnerability of its government as it tries to engage Washington and Seoul in negotiations, said Koh Yu-hwan, a North Korea expert at Seoul's Dongguk University.

Jo had been North Korea's acting ambassador to Rome after Italy expelled then-Ambassador Mun Jong Nam in October 2017 to protest a North Korean nuclear test and long-range missile launch.

Jo seemed comfortable moving around Italy. In March 2018, accompanied by another embassy official, Pak Myong Gil, he visited two factories in Italy's northeastern Veneto region with an eye on eventual trade, according to La Tribuna di Treviso, a local daily.

One factory produced bathroom furnishings and another made accessories from marble. The newspaper quoted the local businessmen as assuming at first the delegation consisted of South Koreans, not North Koreans, given the economic sanctions against North Korea.

Among the Italians accompanying the North Koreans was a former Italian senator for what is now the League party, which in general opposes economic embargoes as bad for business.

The politician, Valentino Perin, told AP he had spoken with Jo many times, including about preparations for the visit to the Veneto region. Perin said he last met with Jo on Sept. 5, at an official reception organized by the North Korean embassy in Rome.

Showing Jo's business card, Perin said the North Korean was "very proud of his people and of his country.

The last senior North Korean diplomat known to have defected is Thae Yong Ho, a former minister at the North Korean Embassy in London, who fled to South Korea in 2016.

In an interview on South Korean television, Thae said he worked with Jo for more than a decade in the North Korean Foreign Ministry's Europe bureau and that Jo had a child when Thae last saw him in 2013.

Thae said Jo comes from a family of diplomats, with his father and father-in-law both serving as ambassadors.

The embassy in Italy is critical for North Korea because it handles annual negotiations with the Rome-based World Food Program over aid to North Korea, Thae said. He also said Italy has been a hub for smuggling luxury items to the North Korean elite, and Jo would have been involved in those activities.

Thae said Jo would have been North Korea's main diplomat for the Vatican and would have also handled discussions involving a possible visit to the North by Pope Francis if such talks had taken place. South Korea said in October that North Korean leader Kim mentioned during a summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in that he would welcome a papal visit.

Thae said he believes Jo was to be replaced by incoming ambassador Kim Chon in November but did not reveal how he obtained such information.

While not identifying him by name, North Korea's state media described Thae as "human scum" after his defection in London, and claimed he was trying to escape punishment for serious crimes. Thae, who has been an outspoken critic of Kim while living in South Korea, denied the accusation and said he defected because he didn't want his children to live "miserable" lives in the North.

It's possible that Jo is trying to defect because of similar reasons, said Koh, a policy adviser for South Korea's president.

"It could be difficult for some diplomats to accept being called back to the North after enjoying years living in the free West. They could want their children to live in a different system and receive better education," he told The Associated Press.

The highest-level North Korean to seek asylum in South Korea is Hwang Jang-yop, a senior ruling Workers' Party official who once tutored Kim Jong Un's late father, dictator Kim Jong Il.

Hwang's 1997 defection was hailed by many South Koreans as an intelligence bonanza. Hwang died in 2010.

Also in 1997, the North Korean ambassador to Egypt fled and resettled in the United States.

___

Kim Tong-Hyung reported from Seoul.

This March 20, 2018 photo made available Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019 by the Parish of Farra di Soligo, shows North Korea's acting ambassador to Italy Jo Song Gil, second from right, holding a model of "Bell of Peace of Rovereto" during a cultural event on the occasion of a visit of the North Korean delegation to the Veneto region, in San Pietro di Feletto, near Treviso, northern Italy. Jo Song Gil, went into hiding with his wife in November, South Korea's spy agency told lawmakers in Seoul on Thursday. Jo Song Gil is flanked by don Brunone De Toffol, parish priest of Farra di Soligo, second from left, and Senator Valentino Perin, right. North Korean diplomat at left is unidentified. (Parish of Farra di Soligo via AP)

An external view of the North Korean embassy in Rome, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2018. North Korea's acting ambassador to Italy, Jo Song Gil, went into hiding with his wife in November, South Korea's spy agency told lawmakers in Seoul on Thursday. (AP Photo/Gianfranco Stara)

An external view of the North Korean embassy in Rome, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2018. North Korea's acting ambassador to Italy, Jo Song Gil, went into hiding with his wife in November, South Korea's spy agency told lawmakers in Seoul on Thursday. (AP Photo/Gianfranco Stara)

The flag of North Korea waves inside the compound of the North Korean embassy in Rome, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2018. North Korea's acting ambassador to Italy, Jo Song Gil, went into hiding with his wife in November, South Korea's spy agency told lawmakers in Seoul on Thursday. (AP Photo/Gianfranco Stara)

ORIGINAL CROP OF TRV101. This March 20, 2018 photo made available Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019 by the Parish of Farra di Soligo, shows North Korea's acting ambassador to Italy Jo Song Gil, third from left, holding a model of "Bell of Peace of Rovereto" during a cultural event on the occasion of a visit of the North Korean delegation to the Veneto region, in San Pietro di Feletto, near Treviso, northern Italy. Jo Song Gil, went into hiding with his wife in November, South Korea's spy agency told lawmakers in Seoul on Thursday. Jo Song Gil is flanked by don Brunone De Toffol, parish priest of Farra di Soligo, second from left, and Senator Valentino Perin, center. North Korean diplomat at left and others are unidentified. (Parish of Farra di Soligo via AP)

This March 20, 2018 photo made available Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019 by the Parish of Farra di Soligo, shows North Korea's acting ambassador to Italy Jo Song Gil, second from right, holding a model of "Bell of Peace of Rovereto" during a cultural event on the occasion of a visit of the North Korean delegation to the Veneto region, in San Pietro di Feletto, near Treviso, northern Italy. Jo Song Gil, went into hiding with his wife in November, South Korea's spy agency told lawmakers in Seoul on Thursday. Jo Song Gil is flanked by don Brunone De Toffol, parish priest of Farra di Soligo, second from left, and Senator Valentino Perin, right. North Korean diplomat at left is unidentified. (Parish of Farra di Soligo via AP)
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AP) - A Nigerian Air Force helicopter crashed in combat, killing five crew members, as fighting raged against extremists for control of the strategic town of Baga in the northeast, the military said Thursday.

The crash occurred Wednesday at Damasak in northern Borno state, according to a tweet by air force spokesman Ibikunle Daramola. Officials did not say what caused the crash.

The military has been fighting to regain control of Baga, which the extremists seized last week. The town is a key base for a multinational force fighting the extremists. Many residents have fled to the Borno state capital, Maiduguri.

The fighting for Baga has been intense, the chief of army training and operations, Maj. Gen. Lamidi Adeosun, told reporters. "It's a ding-dong situation but we are engaging them," he said last week. "We are not in total control but Boko Haram have not taken control of Baga, either."

The base in Baga, close to the border with Chad, has weapons, ammunition and other equipment that are a key target for the extremists, who also overran the base in 2015.

The Islamic State West Africa Province, an offshoot of the decade-old Boko Haram extremist group and the largest IS-linked extremist group in Africa, claimed to kill or wound "dozens" of soldiers in the latest attack, according to the SITE Intelligence Group that monitors extremist communiques.

Fifty-three police are missing, according to a senior police officer in Maiduguri, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press.

Nigeria's defense minister, Mannir Dan-Ali, on Wednesday reiterated the military's commitment to ending Boko Haram's insurgency. He spoke to the press while on his way to neighboring Chad to discuss extremist activity in border areas.

Nigeria's government recently confirmed the extremists had begun using drones, calling it a "critical factor" in a rise in attacks against military bases. The military rarely announces death tolls, but the government in November acknowledged dozens of soldier deaths.

President Muhammadu Buhari at the time held an urgent meeting with member countries to "enhance the capacity" of the multinational force.

The nearly decade-old Boko Haram insurgency has been blamed for some 20,000 deaths and thousands of abductions. The unrest and displacement of millions of hungry people have turned northeastern Nigeria into one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

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COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) - Two more bodies have been found in the wreckage of a crashed train on a Danish bridge, raising the death toll to eight in Denmark's deadliest train accident in 30 years, police said Thursday.

Police say three women and five men were killed in the Wednesday morning accident, and four of them have been identified. Sixteen others were injured.

All of the dead and injured were on a high-speed passenger train traveling on the Storebaelt system of bridges and a tunnel that link the central Danish islands of Zealand and Funen.

Authorities are investigating if cargo fell off a freight train and smashed into the passenger train as the two traveled in opposition directions on the bridge.

The Danish Accident Investigation Board has also said that strong gusts Wednesday could be a factor. At the time of the accident, the 18-kilometer (11.2-mile) Storebaelt link was closed to road traffic because of high winds but trains could still drive across.

Police said in a statement Thursday that the latest bodies were only found after the wreckage was pulled away from the crash site to a remote area near the town of Nyborg on Funen island. They said the damage to the passenger train "was so extensive it has hard to properly get into the most damaged area" while it was still on the bridge but added they are certain no more bodies are inside.

Rescue workers at the site of a train accident on Great Belt Bridge in Nyborg, in Denmark, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. At least six people were killed and 16 others injured early Wednesday when a Danish passenger train apparently hit falling cargo from a passing freight train as it crossed a bridge linking central Denmark's islands. Police spokesman Lars Braemhoej said that while "we do not know precisely what caused the accident," one possible cause was that cargo from a passing freight train fell off and hit the passenger train. He added there was "considerable damage" on the passenger train. (Tim Kildeborg Jensen/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

Divers also searched the seabed under the bridge overnight, looking for train wreckage and for more clues to explain the deadly accident.

Aerial TV footage and photos showed the front side of the passenger train ripped open. One container seemed to be missing from a flat wagon on the cargo train and a freight tarpaulin was torn into pieces.

Lars Braemhoej, a senior police official, has said investigators believe one possible cause of the "considerable damage" on the passenger train was getting hit by cargo that detached from the freight train. Still he said authorities "do not know precisely what caused the accident."

Since the wrecked passenger train was pulled away from the bridge, rail crossings over the Storebaelt link resumed Thursday from west to east. Train crossings in the other direction were expected to restart later in the day.

A view of the scene after a train accident on the Great Belt Bridge in Nyborg, Denmark, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. A Danish passenger train apparently hit falling cargo from a passing freight train Wednesday, an accident that killed six people and injured 16 others as it crossed a bridge linking the country's islands, authorities said. Authorities said the trains were going past each other in opposite directions. Aerial TV footage showed one side of front of the passenger train had been ripped open. (Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

A view of the scene after a train accident on the Great Belt Bridge in Nyborg, Denmark, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. A Danish passenger train apparently hit falling cargo from a passing freight train Wednesday, an accident that killed six people and injured 16 others as it crossed a bridge linking the country's islands, authorities said. Authorities said the trains were going past each other in opposite directions. Aerial TV footage showed one side of front of the passenger train had been ripped open. (Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

A view of the freight train, after a train accident on the Great Belt Bridge in Nyborg, Denmark, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. A Danish passenger train apparently hit falling cargo from a passing freight train Wednesday, an accident that killed six people and injured 16 others as it crossed a bridge linking the country's islands, authorities said. Authorities said the trains were going past each other in opposite directions. Aerial TV footage showed one side of front of the passenger train had been ripped open. (Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

A freight train sits on the tracks after a train accident with a passenger train, on the Great Belt Bridge in Nyborg, Denmark, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. A Danish passenger train apparently hit falling cargo from a passing freight train Wednesday, an accident that killed six people and injured 16 others as it crossed a bridge linking the country's islands, authorities said. Authorities said the trains were going past each other in opposite directions. Aerial TV footage showed one side of front of the passenger train had been ripped open. (Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

Police walk by a freight train after a train accident on the Great Belt Bridge in Nyborg, Denmark, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. A Danish passenger train apparently hit falling cargo from a passing freight train Wednesday, an accident that killed at least six people and injured over a dozen others as it crossed a bridge linking the country's islands, authorities said. Authorities said the trains were going past each other in opposite directions. Aerial TV footage showed one side of front of the passenger train had been ripped open. (Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

A view of a scene of a train accident on the Great Belt Bridge in Nyborg, Denmark, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. A Danish passenger train apparently hit falling cargo from a passing freight train Wednesday, an accident that killed at least six people and injured over a dozen others as it crossed a bridge linking the country's islands, authorities said. Authorities said the trains were going past each other in opposite directions. Aerial TV footage showed one side of front of the passenger train had been ripped open. (Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

A view of the damage after a train accident on Great Belt Bridge in Nyborg, in Denmark, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. At least six people were killed and 16 others injured early Wednesday when a Danish passenger train apparently hit falling cargo from a passing freight train as it crossed a bridge linking central Denmark's islands. Police spokesman Lars Braemhoej said that while "we do not know precisely what caused the accident," one possible cause was that cargo from a passing freight train fell off and hit the passenger train. He added there was "considerable damage" on the passenger train. (Tim Kildeborg Jensen/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) - The size of the jury pool could delay the start of testimony in the high-profile trial of a man who is charged with killing six strangers in southwestern Michigan.

Jason Dalton is charged with murder and attempted murder. He's accused of shooting eight people in three locations in the Kalamazoo area in 2016, in between picking up riders for Uber.

Prospective jurors reported to court Thursday. Trial testimony was scheduled to start Monday, but assistant prosecutor Scott Brower says it could slip to Tuesday.

The process so far has been closed to reporters.

After Dalton's arrest, police quoted him as saying a "devil figure" on Uber's app was controlling him on the day of the shootings. Dalton has been found competent to stand trial.

FILE - In this April 20, 2017 file photo, defendant Jason Dalton, left, who is charged with killing six people in-between picking up riders for Uber, stands with attorney Eusebio Solis during a hearing in Kalamazoo, Mich. Jury selection will begin on Jan. 3, 2019 after a prosecutor said he won't appeal a decision that keeps a lid on parts of a police interview. Kalamazoo County prosecutor Jeff Getting says it's time to bring the "matter to trial without further delay." The shootings occurred more than two years ago. (Mark Bugnaski/Kalamazoo Gazette-MLive Media Group via AP, File)
WASHINGTON (AP) - Nancy Pelosi knew this moment would come, even if others had their doubts - or worked to stop her.

Pelosi was elected Thursday as House speaker, the only woman who has held the office and now one of few elected officials who have returned to it. The last time a speaker regained the gavel was more than a half-century ago.

The California Democrat has spent her political career being underestimated, only to prove the naysayers wrong. In this case, it was by winning back the Democratic majority and amassing the votes for the speaker's job.

"None of us is indispensable," Pelosi told The Associated Press while campaigning last fall, "but I do know that I'm very good at what I do."

In accepting the gavel, Pelosi gave nod to the new era of divided government with a pledge to "reach across the aisle in this chamber and across the divisions across our nation."

She said, "The floor of this House must be America's Town Hall: where the people will see our debates and where their voices will be heard and affect our decisions."

With some enthusiastic assistance from her grandchildren, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California smiles as she casts her vote for herself to be speaker of the House on the first day of the 116th Congress, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

In outlining Democratic priorities, she talked about lowering health care costs, investing in green infrastructure and restoring "integrity to government."

"We must be champions of the middle class and all those who aspire to it - because the middle class is the backbone of our democracy," she said.

Pelosi remains a highly polarizing figure, vilified by Republicans as a San Francisco liberal and a caricature of big government. But she is also a mother of five and a grandmother of nine who has shattered glass ceilings to become one of the most powerful politicians of the 21st century.

With President Donald Trump in the White House and Republicans still controlling the Senate, Pelosi's return to the speaker's office to lead a Democratic majority with its biggest freshmen class since Watergate shakes up the dynamic in Washington even beyond the new era of divided government.

Pelosi has faced pressure from some incoming Democrats who have been willing to talk about the possibility of impeachment proceedings against Trump. Pelosi has called impeachment a "divisive activity," and Democrats were cautious about mentioning the "I'' word during the 2018 midterms for fear it would backfire politically.

She took a measured approach to it in an interview airing Thursday on NBC's "Today" show.

"We shouldn't be impeaching for a political reason, and we shouldn't avoid impeachment for a political reason," she said, adding that she would wait for the findings of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia meddling in the 2016 election.

Only the House can begin impeachment proceedings. And while Justice Department guidelines suggest a sitting president can't be indicted, Pelosi called that "an open discussion."

"Everything indicates that a president can be indicted after he is no longer president," she said.

Trump himself has denied any wrongdoing.

Pelosi is one of the few congressional leaders who seem to understand Trump, both being children from famous families now primed for deal-making. Trump appreciates strong characters, and, in perhaps a sign of respect, she is one of the few congressional leaders in Washington he has not given a nickname - though he has made her a frequent target.

A core group of rank-and-file Democrats has hungered for new leadership, saying it's time for a new generation to take the helm. They tired of the Republican attack ads featuring Pelosi that are constantly run against them back home, and they worried she would be a drag on efforts to keep the majority in the next election. They enlisted some of the newcomers from the freshmen class to their ranks to try to stop her from regaining the gavel.

But one by one, Pelosi peeled away the skeptics, flipping "no" votes to the "yes" column, sometimes in a matter of days. Some were given lead positions on their legislative priorities, even a gavel of their own to chair special panels.

And Pelosi gave a little, too, promising, at 78, to serve no more than four years in leadership, making way for the next generation.

Pelosi won the speakership by a vote of 220 to Republican Kevin McCarthy's 192 votes.

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Follow Mascaro on Twitter at https://twitter.com/lisamascaro

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., speaks during Congressional Black Caucus members swearing-in ceremony of the 116th Congress at The Warner Theatre in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., speaks during Congressional Black Caucus member swearing-in ceremony of the 116th Congress at The Warner Theatre in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
WASHINGTON (AP) - On their first day in the majority, House Democrats on Thursday night passed a plan to re-open the government without funding President Donald Trump's promised border wall.

The largely party-line votes came after Trump made a surprise appearance at the White House briefing room pledging to keep up the fight for his signature campaign promise.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Trump and Senate Republicans should "take yes for an answer" and approve the border bill, which was virtually identical to a plan the Senate adopted on a voice vote last month.

"We're not doing a wall. Does anyone have any doubt that we're not doing a wall?" Pelosi told reporters at a news conference Thursday night.

Pelosi, who was elected speaker earlier Thursday, also took a shot a Trump, calling his proposal "a wall between reality and his constituents."

Trump strode into the White House briefing room Thursday - the 13th day of the partial government shutdown -and declared that "without a wall you cannot have border security." He then left without taking questions from reporters.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., center, joined at right by Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C., pushes back on President Donald Trump's demand to fund a wall on the US-Mexico border with the partial government shutdown in its second week, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

The appearance came hours after the new Congress convened, with Democrats taking majority control of the House and returning Pelosi to the speakership after eight years of GOP control. The Democratic legislation to re-open the government without funding the wall is going nowhere in the Senate, where Republicans want Trump's endorsement before voting on a funding package.

Trump is demanding billions of dollars to build his wall along the U.S. border with Mexico, which the Democrats have refused.

Asked if she would give Trump $1 for a wall to reopen the government, Pelosi said: "One dollar? Yeah, one dollar. The fact is a wall is an immorality. It's not who we are as a nation."

Congressional leaders from both parties met with Trump at the White House Wednesday, but failed to make progress during their first sit-down in weeks. The White House has invited the leaders back Friday for another round of talks that officials have suggested might be more successful now that Pelosi has been sworn in.

Reporters were told Thursday that White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders would be holding a hastily called late afternoon briefing. Instead, out walked Trump, flanked by members of the unions that represent border patrol and immigration enforcement agents. It was his first time delivering remarks at the briefing room podium.

"You can call it a barrier, you can call it whatever you want," Trump said. "But essentially we need protection in our country. We're going to make it good. The people of our country want it."

Trump said his meeting with the union officials had long been planned and just happened to come at "a very opportune time." He also claimed his refusal to budge was winning praise, telling reporters, "I have never had so much support as I have in the last week over my stance for border security."

Polls show a majority of Americans oppose the border wall, although Republicans strongly support it.

White House and Department of Homeland Security officials have spent recent days trying to make a public and private case that the situation at the border has reached a "crisis" situation that demands more money than Democrats have offered.

Trump tweeted an ominous video Thursday with images of what appeared to be migrants trying to rush the border and clashing with law enforcement, beneath the words "crisis at the border," ''drugs" and "crime." The video concludes with footage of Trump at the border along with audio from one of his rallies in which he vows to build his promised border wall and the crowd chants "Build the wall!"

The Democratic package to end the shutdown includes a bill to temporarily fund the Department of Homeland Security at current levels - with $1.3 billion for border security, far less than Trump has said he wants- through Feb. 8 as bipartisan talks would continue. It was approved, 239-192.

Democrats also approved a separate measure to fund the departments of Agriculture, Interior, Housing and Urban Development and others closed by the partial shutdown, at levels Senate Republicans had largely agreed to last year. The bill, which would provide money through the end of the fiscal year Sept. 30, was approved, 241-190, with several House Republicans joining Democrats.

The White House has rejected the Democratic package.

"Why not fully fund the Department of Homeland Security? Why doesn't the Pelosi bill do that?" said White House counselor Kellyanne Conway.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer urged Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to put the House Democratic package on the Senate floor and send it to the president, saying it would show Trump "the sweet light of reason."

McConnell has dismissed the idea as a "total nonstarter" and a waste of time.

But some Republican senators appeared open to at least part of the Democrats' proposal.

"I'm not saying their whole plan is a valid plan, but I see no reason why the bills that are ready to go and on which we've achieved an agreement should be held hostage to this debate over border security," said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.

"Congress needs to take further action on border security, but that work should be done when the government is fully open," added Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo.

Vice President Mike Pence, who was on the Hill Thursday to swear in new senators, took a hard line, telling Fox News Channel's Tucker Carlson, "Bottom line, if there's no wall, there's no deal."

Trump has said the partial shutdown, which began Dec. 22, will last "as long as it takes" to get the funding he wants.

The White House said Trump made calls Thursday to the family of Cpl. Ronil Singh, the Newman, California, police officer shot to death during a Dec. 26 traffic stop. The suspected shooter is a Mexican man accused of living in the U.S. illegally. Republicans have seized on the case to call for tougher border security.

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Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro, Laurie Kellman, Kevin Freking, Alan Fram and Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.

President Donald Trump speaks in the press briefing room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer of N.Y., center, talks with reporters as he walks on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019, after returning from a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., center, and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., push back on President Donald Trump's demand for funding to build a wall on the US-Mexico border as the partial government shutdown is in its second week, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
MOSCOW (AP) - After three-and-a-half days of fighting a mountain of concrete, cold weather and time, rescue teams in an industrial Russian city ended a search for people who were inside an apartment building where an explosion triggered a partial collapse, giving a final death toll Thursday of 39.

The massive operation launched by the Russian Emergencies Ministry in the jumbled maze of rubble where a section of a 10-story building stood in Magnitogorsk until Monday morning combined sophisticated equipment with grueling manual labor.

Russian officials said from the start that emergency crews were racing to reach survivors before they died of hypothermia in temperatures as low as minus 29 degrees Celsius (-20 F). Supervisors ordered fans to blow warm air into the wreckage while drones, flexible ocular devices and the hands of hundreds probed for signs of life.

A search dog brought hope to the grim work Tuesday when it pointed to a place where rescue workers would hear the cries of a baby. The 10-month-old boy who was pulled out 35 hours after the building came down ended up being the only person found alive in the debris.

The child was airlifted 1400 kilometers (870 miles) miles to a top hospital in Moscow with severe injuries that included fractures, frostbite and the combination of shock and kidney damage that doctors call "crush syndrome." He was in stable condition Thursday, the Health Ministry said.

A cat was found alive on Wednesday, but that did not provide much solace as search crews discovered more and more bodies. The number of victims grew from four on Monday and kept mounting until the search ended Thursday night.

This photo provided by the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry taken from tv footage shows shows an Emergency Situations employee holding a cat rescued from debris of damaged parts of a collapsed section of an apartment building, in Magnitigorsk, a city of 400,000 about 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) southeast of Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. Search crews have pulled more bodies from a huge pile of rubble at a collapsed Russian apartment building. (Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations photo via AP)

"We took out the last, the 39th body today and we guarantee that there are no more people in the building," Deputy Emergencies Minister Alexander Chuprian told reporters.

Tallies earlier in the day said 38 bodies were recovered and three building residents still were unaccounted for, suggesting as many as 41 people had been buried in the rubble. It was not immediately clear why officials ended the search when the number of casualties reached 39.

The collapse followed an explosion that officials say likely was caused by a gas leak. Explosions caused by gas leaks in poorly built and indifferently maintained buildings occur often in Russia, but the Magnitogorsk disaster claimed an unusually high number of lives.

Along with the physical demands of wrestling jagged chunks of debris and the emotional stress of a bleak job, the search teams worked around the clock with the constant worry that still-standing parts of the building would fall on them. The search had to be suspended several times while workers stabilized walls or tore away pieces that looked like they might come crashing down.

The operation "was unique in its high risk to people," Chuprian said.

On Thursday, the mayor of Magnitogorsk southeast of Moscow, told journalists there was no connection between the explosion at the apartment building and the fiery explosion of a minibus on the same street a day later.

The vehicle explosion took place about 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) from the apartment block. Police said the minibus was carrying gas canisters but have given few other details.

But video of the burning vehicle, including some posted on YouTube by Russia's RT satellite TV channel, featured sounds resembling gunfire and an observer's voice is heard saying people are shooting assault rifles.

Unconfirmed reports have suggested the apartment blast could have been a terrorist act and that the occupants of the exploded vehicle were suspects.

"I want to say that there are no clear facts showing any kind of confirmation of what is described on the internet today," Mayor Sergei Berdnikov said of the reports, according to state news agency Tass.

This image made from video and provided by the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry shows Emergency Situations employees working at the scene of a collapsed section of an apartment building, in Magnitigorsk, a city of 400,000 about 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) southeast of Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. Search crews have pulled more bodies from a huge pile of rubble at a collapsed Russian apartment building. (Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations photo via AP)

This image made from video and provided by the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry shows Emergency Situations employees working at the scene of a collapsed section of an apartment building, in Magnitigorsk, a city of 400,000 about 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) southeast of Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. Search crews have pulled more bodies from a huge pile of rubble at a collapsed Russian apartment building. (Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations photo via AP)

This photo provided by the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry taken from TV footage shows the scene of a collapsed section of an apartment building, in Magnitigorsk, a city of 400,000 about 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) southeast of Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. Search crews have pulled more bodies from a huge pile of rubble at a collapsed Russian apartment building. (Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations photo via AP)

A woman reacts as she stands at the scene of the collapsed apartment building in Magnitogorsk, a city of 400,000 people, about 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) southeast of Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. Search crews have pulled more bodies from a huge pile of rubble at a collapsed Russian apartment building. The building's pre-dawn collapse on Monday came after an explosion that was believed to have been caused by a gas leak. (AP Photo/Maxim Shmakov)

This image made from video and provided by the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry shows Emergency Situations employees working at the scene of a collapsed section of an apartment building, in Magnitigorsk, a city of 400,000 about 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) southeast of Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. Search crews have pulled more bodies from a huge pile of rubble at a collapsed Russian apartment building. (Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations photo via AP)

An Emergency Situations employee speaks to girl in a evacuation center near a collapsed section of an apartment building in Magnitogorsk, a city of 400,000 people, about 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) southeast of Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. Russian emergency officials say the death toll from the partial collapse of an apartment building has risen to over 25 after more bodies were recovered from the rubble. The grim discovery on Wednesday afternoon left 15 residents of the 10-story building in the Russian city of Magnitogorsk still unaccounted for. (AP Photo/Maxim Shmakov)

This photo provided by the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry taken from tv footage shows Emergency Situations employees work at the scene of a collapsed section of an apartment building, in Magnitigorsk, a city of 400,000 about 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) southeast of Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. Search crews have pulled more bodies from a huge pile of rubble at a collapsed Russian apartment building. (Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations photo via AP)

Emergency Situations employees look at debris of damaged parts of a collapsed apartment building in Magnitogorsk, a city of 400,000 people, about 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) southeast of Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. Search crews have pulled more bodies from a huge pile of rubble at a collapsed Russian apartment building. The building's pre-dawn collapse on Monday came after an explosion that was believed to have been caused by a gas leak. (AP Photo/Maxim Shmakov)

Locals gathered at the scene of the collapsed apartment building in Magnitogorsk, a city of 400,000 people, about 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) southeast of Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. The building's pre-dawn collapse on Monday came after an explosion that was believed to have been caused by a gas leak. (AP Photo/Maxim Shmakov)

A woman reacts during prayers at the scene of the collapsed apartment building in Magnitogorsk, a city of 400,000 people, about 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) southeast of Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. The building's pre-dawn collapse on Monday came after an explosion that was believed to have been caused by a gas leak. (AP Photo/Maxim Shmakov)
HONOLULU (AP) - In a story Jan. 2 about a vessel that caught fire in the Pacific Ocean, The Associated Press erroneously reported the name of the ship. The ship's name is Sincerity Ace, not Serenity Ace.

A corrected version of the story is below:

The Latest: Search suspended for crew after vessel fire

The U.S. Coast Guard is suspending its search for a crew member from a vessel carrying cars from Japan to Hawaii who went missing after the ship caught fire

HONOLULU (AP) - The Latest on crew members missing after vessel fire west of Hawaii (all times local):

6 p.m.

The U.S. Coast Guard is suspending its search for a crew member from a vessel carrying cars from Japan to Hawaii who went missing after the ship caught fire.

The Coast Guard made the decision to suspend the search for the Sincerity Ace crew member on Wednesday.

Sixteen crew members were rescued from the vessel. Four other crew members were listed as unresponsive after rescue ships spotted them and lowered life rings but got no reply.

The U.S. Coast Guard coordinated with merchant ships on the rescue effort.

Japanese shipping company Shoei Kisen Kaisha Ltd. owns the Panamanian-flagged vessel.

The cause of the fire was unknown.

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9:40 a.m.

One crewmember who abandoned a vessel that caught fire in the Pacific Ocean while carrying cars from Japan to Hawaii remains missing after 16 were rescued.

Four other crewmembers were listed as unresponsive Wednesday after rescue ships spotted them and lowered life rings but got no reply.

The Sincerity Ace, a 650-foot (198-meter) car carrier, had 21 crew members on board when the fire started Monday.

The U.S. Coast Guard coordinated with merchant ships on the rescue effort.

Japanese shipping company Shoei Kisen Kaisha Ltd. owns the Panamanian-flagged vessel.

Company spokesman Darrell Wilson says the vessel is still on fire about 2,071 miles (3,333 kilometers) west of Honolulu.

The cause of the fire was unknown.
NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, Thailand (AP) - Thai authorities suspended ferry services and evacuated locals and tourists ahead of a tropical storm expected to pound the Southeast Asian nation's famed southern beach resorts during a peak tourism season.

Rain was already falling around the Gulf of Thailand and officials warned that torrential downpours, strong winds and rough seas were expected when Tropical Storm Pabuk makes landfall Friday evening.

There are fears that the storm will be the worst to hit Thailand since 1989, when Typhoon Gay left more than 400 dead. A tropical storm in 1962 killed more than 900 people in the south.

In a death possibly related to the storm, a Russian tourist in Koh Samui died Wednesday as he tried to rescue his daughter, who was struggling in strong surf. Thai PBS television reported that the daughter survived but her father lost consciousness after being tossed against some rocks and couldn't be revived by rescuers.

Thailand's Meteorological Department said the storm will lash southern Thailand's east coast through Saturday, with the two provinces of Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat expected to be hardest hit. Surat Thani is home to the popular tourist islands of Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Phangan.

Army trucks were driving around remote seaside areas in Nakhon Si Thammarat on Thursday evening, searching for stragglers who had not yet been evacuated.

Thai men push a fishing boat off the ocean to a safer location in Songkhla, Thailand in preparation for storm weather conditions on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. Thai weather authorities are warning that a tropical storm will bring heavy rains and high seas to southern Thailand and its famed beach resorts. (AP Photo/Sumeth Panpetch)

"We have prepared three shelters and currently have about 1,000 people in them," said local official Kriangsak Raksrithong.

Along with tourism, fishing is another major industry in the south, and small boat owners were heeding the warning. Many dragged their vessels ashore, attaching ropes to the boats and having friends help tug them on to beaches.

The Meteorological Department said Friday morning the storm was southeast of Nakhon Si Thammarat province with maximum winds of 80 kilometers per hour (50 mph), and that waves 3 to 5 meters (10 to 16 feet) high were possible in the Gulf of Thailand, and 2 to 3 meters (6 to 10 feet) high in the Andaman Sea on the west coast. It warned of strong winds and storm surges on the gulf side and said all ships should stay berthed on land through Saturday.

"There will be heavy rainfall and we have to prepared for flooding or an impact on transportation," Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said. "We are ready ourselves, but if the rainfall is high we will need some time to resolve problems."

He later held a video conference with governors of provinces in the storm's path to discuss preparations for the emergency, including draining floodwaters, mobilizing rescue vehicles, and readying medical facilities.

Southern Thailand's tourist industry is a huge moneymaker, and authorities have become particularly sensitive to visitors' safety since last July, when 47 Chinese tourists drowned when the boat they were on sank in rough seas near the popular resort of Phuket in the Andaman Sea.

On Samui island, beach guards hoisted red flags to warn people to stay out of the sea. Police patrolled beaches, although many were almost deserted.

Anne Britt Sodefjed, a tourist from Norway, said she wasn't worried.

"We have bought lights, yes, and some more water. And we know the hotel will look after us," she said.

Two natural gas production platforms in the Gulf of Thailand directly in the path of the storm suspended operations and had their personnel evacuated to shore, said the exploration and production arm of the That state oil company PTT. It said drilling rigs and vessels had been moved to unaffected areas, and gas production at a third platform remained operating to help meet energy needs.

Southern Vietnam also was expecting heavy rain and strong winds in the Mekong Delta, the country's major area for rice and aquaculture production.

According to Vietnamese state television VTV, authorities ordered people to take precautions and sent radio alerts to thousands of fishing boats to take shelter or return to shore. They had forbidden new boat departures in five southern coastal provinces since Tuesday.

Thai men push a fishing boat off the ocean to a safer location in Songkhla, Thailand in preparation for storm weather conditions on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. Thai weather authorities are warning that a tropical storm will bring heavy rains and high seas to southern Thailand and its famed beach resorts. (AP Photo/ Sumeth Panpetch)

A man raises a red flag indicating rough weather conditions in Chaweng beach, Koh Samui, Thailand, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. Thai weather authorities are warning that a tropical storm will bring heavy rains and high seas to southern Thailand and its famed beach resorts. (AP Photo/Sithipong Charoenjai)

Thai people sleep at an evacuation center in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, Thailand, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. Thai weather authorities are warning that a tropical storm will bring heavy rain and high seas to southern Thailand and its famed beach resorts. (AP Photo/Sumeth Panpetch)

Thai man walk close to a sandbank, which was built to protect properties of seaside communities in Songkhla, Thailand on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. Thai weather authorities are warning that a tropical storm will bring heavy rains and high seas to southern Thailand and its famed beach resorts. (AP Photo/ Sumeth Panpetch)

Tourists walk in Chaweng Beach in Koh Samui, Thailand as a red flag indicating expected rough weather conditions displayed on the beach Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. Thai weather authorities are warning that a tropical storm will bring heavy rains and high seas to southern Thailand and its famed beach resorts. (AP Photo/Sithipong Charoenjai)

Thai people sleep at an evacuation center in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, Thailand, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. Thai weather authorities are warning that a tropical storm will bring heavy rain and high seas to southern Thailand and its famed beach resorts. (AP Photo/Sumeth Panpetch)
WASHINGTON (AP) - They've got the keys to the offices, new paint inside and parties to attend. But on Thursday, the work was beginning when 534 members of the 116th Congress solemnly swear to govern the divided nation.

The new Congress will make history for seating a record number of women and becoming the most racially and ethnically diverse. Republicans will take more seats in the Senate; Democrats will grab control of the House.

"It's a new day in America," tweeted incoming Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., one of the first two Muslim women to serve in Congress.

Lawmakers will be confronted by a standoff over money and immigration that has shut much of the government and vexed their predecessors.

What to watch on the first day of divided government under President Donald Trump:

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The chamber of the House of Representatives is seen before convening for the first day of the 116th Congress with Democrats holding the majority, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

HOW CAN I WATCH?

C-SPAN and various broadcast networks are expected to stream or televise the events. Both the House and Senate convene at noon EST.

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THE ORDER OF THINGS

There will be prayers and pledges of allegiance.

In the 435-member House, a roll call will begin on the election of speaker. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is poised to reprise her role in that post, second in line to the presidency. Once the vote is over, Republican Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., is expected to speak, followed by an address by Pelosi.

The longest-serving member of the House and its dean, 24-term Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, will swear in Pelosi. She is then expected administer the oath to House members and delegates at the same time.

In the Senate, Vice President Mike Pence will preside over the oath-taking of the 34 members who stood for election on Nov. 6. Republicans gained two seats in that chamber.

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THE OATH

Lawmakers will take this oath: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God."

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PELOSI

She is, some say, feared. And Pelosi is still giving nothing for the U.S. border wall Trump is demanding in exchange for re-opening the government.

Pelosi, 78, seems to have sewn up her return as House speaker, but her comeback depended on her promise to limit her tenure to a maximum of four years. Doing so quelled a rebellion by a stubborn faction of Democrats demanding a new generation of leaders.

She prevailed, wielding skills she will need to manage the roughly 235 Democrats who will comprise the House majority in the new Congress.

Her ascension sets up a clash with Trump.

But where Trump has Twitter and status among his base as a Washington outsider, Pelosi has a network of allies inside and outside Congress - not to mention three decades in the House.

She's been speaker before, the only woman to hold the post, from 2007 into January 2011.

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WHAT'S DIFFERENT?

Rep.-elect Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., will take the oath on a Quran, and not just anyone's. She'll use a 1734 English translation that belonged to Thomas Jefferson.

Tlaib and Omar are the first two Muslim women to serve in Congress. And they're just a few of the signs of change that spring from the Nov. 6 elections. For the first time, two Native American women are headed to the House. Massachusetts and Connecticut will also send black women to Congress as firsts for their states, while Arizona and Tennessee are getting their first female senators.

In all, 127 women - 106 Democrats 21 Republicans - will serve in the 116th Congress, holding nearly 24 percent of all seats, according to the Center for Women and Politics at Rutgers University. In the Senate, 25 women will serve, with 17 of them Democrats and eight Republicans.

The number of House seats held by Republican women will decline by 10, from 23 to 13.

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WHAT'S THE SAME?

Being a freshmen is, well, not as glamorous as winning elections. Governing takes different skills than campaigning. And in Congress, seniority matters, a lot.

"I was kind of the mountain where I was," recalled veteran Rep. Gerald Connolly, D-Va., a former chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. "You come here and it's a humbling experience. Get in line. It's fascinating that you have an opinion about that, get over there."

Asked in a brief interview about first-term lawmakers having to temper their expectations, Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said, "That's right. We'll see."

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CAN'T THE NEW CONGRESS REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT?

Not without Trump's agreement, and he isn't budging. He wants billions of dollars for a U.S. border wall. Democrats are refusing. Pelosi said outside the White House that there would be rapid passage Thursday of legislation to re-open the government - without funds for the border wall. But the White House has rejected that package, and it's going nowhere in the Senate.

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Associated Press writer Alan Fram contributed to this report.

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Follow Kellman on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/APLaurieKellman

In this Nov. 14, 2018 photo, from l-r., Rep.-elect Angie Craig, D-Minn., Rep.-elect Kim Schrier, D-WA., Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-NY., Rep.-elect Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, D-Fla., Rep.-elect Abby Finkenauer, D-Iowa, and Rep.-elect Sharice Davids, D-KS., line up as they join other members of the freshman class of Congress for a group photo on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, who will become speaker of the House on Thursday, walks to her new office at the Capitol during a television interview for the NBC Today Show, in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. The Republicans will relinquish the majority to House Democrats under the leadership of Nancy Pelosi beginning a new era of divided government. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus are sworn in as the 116th Members of the Congress at The Warner Theatre in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
SAO PAULO (AP) - Newly installed President Jair Bolsonaro targeted Brazil's indigenous groups, descendants of slaves and the LGBT community with executive orders in the first hours of his administration, moving quickly after a campaign in which the far-right leader said he would radically overhaul many aspects of life in Latin America's largest nation.

Sao Paulo's stock market, meanwhile, jumped 3.56 percent to a record closing of 91,012 points as new Cabinet ministers reinforced the intent to privatize state-owned companies and a Brazilian arms maker benefited from Bolsonaro's plans to loosen gun controls. Similar spikes in stock prices also occurred during the presidential campaign.

One of the orders issued late Tuesday, hours after Bolsonaro's inauguration, likely will make it all but impossible for new lands to be identified and demarcated for indigenous communities. Areas set aside for "Quilombolas," as descendants of former slaves are known, are also affected by the decision.

Another order removed the concerns of the LGBT community from consideration by the new human rights ministry.

In a move favorable to his allies in agribusiness, which have criticized giving large swaths of lands to the indigenous, Bolsonaro transferred the responsibilities for delineating indigenous territories from the Justice Ministry to the Agriculture Ministry. The new agriculture minister, Tereza Cristina, is part of the agribusiness caucus in Brazil's lower house and has opposed requests from native communities.

Bolsonaro, a former army captain and longtime congressman, said during his presidential campaign that he would stop making what he calls concessions to native Brazilians and Quilombolas.

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro smiles amid members of his cabinet as he presents them during a ceremony at the presidential palace in Brasilia, Brazil, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

"Less than one million people live in those places isolated from the real Brazil," he tweeted Wednesday. "They are explored and manipulated by nonprofits. Together we will integrate those citizens and give value to all Brazilians."

The Justice Ministry previously handled demarcation of indigenous lands through the FUNAI agency, which also oversees other initiatives for indigenous groups such as health care, housing and language preservation. Bolsonaro's order is raising uncertainties about FUNAI by shifting it to a new ministry for family, women and human rights that is headed by an ultraconservative evangelical pastor.

Observatorio do Clima, a network of 45 Brazilian civil society groups, criticized the executive orders, calling them "only the first step on meeting Bolsonaro's campaign promises of dismantling environmental governance, stripping indigenous peoples of their rights and opening up indigenous lands for business."

"The attack on FUNAI goes beyond the wildest dreams of the rural caucus, who had tried for years to pass a constitutional amendment transferring the demarcation of indigenous lands from the president to Congress," the nonprofit said. "Bolsonaro solved the problem by transferring them directly to farmers."

The far-right leader said last year that he also wants to annul land demarcation decisions made by previous administrations, but legal experts say recent Brazilian Supreme Court rulings could block such move.

New Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta also suggested on Wednesday that there will be spending cuts in health care for the indigenous.

"We have figures for the general public that are much below what is spent on health care for the indigenous," he said, without providing details.

In removing LGBT concerns from the responsibilities of the human rights ministry, Bolsonaro did not name any agency to consider such issues. He has strongly criticized what he calls "gender-based ideology," saying it is a threat to Brazil's Christian values.

Damares Alves, the new human rights minister, did not discuss the LGBT order in her first address on the job, but the evangelical pastor has insisted over the years that "the Brazilian family is being threatened" by diversity policies.

On Wednesday, she said: "The state is lay, but this minister is terribly Christian."

Under the new administration, Alves added, "Girls will be princesses and boys will be princes. There will be no more ideological indoctrination of children and teenagers in Brazil."

LGBT activist Symmy Larrat said she doesn't' expect reasonable treatment from the Bolsonaro administration.

"The human rights ministry discussed our concerns at a body called secretariat of promotion and defense of human rights. That body just disappeared, just like that. We don't see any signs there will be any other government infrastructure to handle LGBT issues," she said.

The newspaper Folha de S.Paulo reported that Bolsonaro will later announce the closing of an agency within the Education Ministry that has been aimed at promoting diversity in public schools and universities.

New Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo indirectly criticized the LGBT community as being "those that say they are not men and women."

Also on Wednesday, the Brazilian Press Association criticized restrictions on journalists at Bolsonaro's inauguration. Reporters had to arrive seven hours before the events began and were forbidden to move freely in Congress and the presidential palace. Food was seized and access to bathrooms and water was limited.

"What was seen in different scenarios of Brasilia is incompatible with a democratic regime," the association said in a statement. "Respect to the press is one of the main indicators of nations that consider themselves civilized."

Bolsonaro's first day in office sparked a wave of optimism in Brazil's financial market. Stocks of Brazil's electric-company Eletrobras soared more than 20 percent. Arms maker Taurus, one of the main allies of the new president, jumped more than 47 percent.

Bolsonaro, a fan of U.S. President Donald Trump, met with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to discuss joint efforts regarding the leftist administrations in Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

Pompeo told him that Trump is "very pleased with the relationship that our two countries are on the precipice of beginning to develop."

"He's also confident that it (the relationship between the U.S. and Brazil) will benefit the world and the set of shared values that we believe we can together advance," Pompeo said before leaving Brasilia for Colombia.

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro, right, talks with his Chief of Staff Onyx Lorenzoni during a cabinet presentation ceremony at the presidential palace in Brasilia, Brazil, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Flanked by first lady Michelle Bolsonaro, Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro waves as he rides in an open car after his swearing-in ceremony, in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

CORRECTS TO SAY SHE IS SPEAKING SIGN LANGUAGE, NOT SALUTING - Brazil's new first lady Michelle Bolsonaro uses sign language to speak to the public, as her husband, President Jair Bolsonaro, stands behind her during his inaugural ceremony at Planalto presidential palace in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019. Another person, not in picture, translated her words for those who are not hearing impaired. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

Supporters display a giant banner with the likeness of Brazil's new President Jair Bolsonaro, during his inauguration in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

A supporter of Brazil's new President Jair Bolsonaro holds a Bolsonaro doll, during his inauguration in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
The Dutch-flagged search and rescue vessel Sea Watch 3 is 55 metres (180 feet) long

Rights activists accused Europe on Friday of clinching a new "record of shame" with its refusal to open ports to migrant children and families stranded at sea in the Mediterranean.

The latest standoff involves 32 migrants who were rescued at sea on December 22 but have not yet been given permission to land anywhere.

"It's now been 14 days left alone at sea. A new record of shame," the Mediterranea collective of aid groups and associations said on Twitter as it launched a mission to deliver aid to those stranded in stormy weather off the coast of Malta.

Three children, aged one, six and seven, "are vomiting continuously, and are at risk of hypothermia and dehydration," said Alessandro Metz of Mediterranea, an initiative which aims to protect migrant rights at sea.

The Sea-Watch 3, a Dutch-flagged vessel which pulled the migrants to safety nearly two weeks ago, was on Wednesday given permission by Malta to shelter off its coast from the fierce winds -- but not to land.

It is the latest of a string of incidents involving people rescued at sea but left stranded in the Mediterranean that has thrown a harsh spotlight on the ongoing deadlock within the European Union over sharing responsibility for migrants.

A help party including fresh crew members and German members of parliament sailed out to the vessel on Friday with supplies, including fresh water, for the migrants.

Among those on board are three unaccompanied adolescents and four women from Nigeria, Libya and Ivory Coast.

The German NGO Sea-Eye also has a ship stranded in the Mediterranean with 17 migrants on board.

Italy, Malta, Spain and the Netherlands initially refused to take them in, although Germany and The Netherlands later said they would take some of them -- on condition that other nations did the same.

- 'Pathetic' -

Migrants crossing the Mediterranean

Several German and Italian cities have since offered to host them, with the mayor of Naples defying Italy's hardline interior minister by saying he would lead the operation to disembark them himself if they approached the coast.

"EU ministers continue to bargain over 32 human beings. We might look miserable, but they are pathetic," German charity Sea Watch said.

In a joint statement with Mediterranea, it said Friday's aid mission aimed to "put pressure on Berlin, which has yet to give a positive answer to the dozens of German cities willing to take in those rescued".

It also urged "European countries, beginning with Italy and Malta, to offer a safe port, as required under international law".

Doctors Without Borders (MSF Sea) said there was "no justification for this degrading treatment".

Migrants have frequently been left in limbo aboard ships that rescued them since Italy's populist anti-immigration government began turning them away last summer.

Since coming to power more than six months ago, the Italian government has been demanding greater solidarity from reluctant fellow EU states.

But EU members have failed to agree on a permanent mechanism to relocate migrants who reach Europe's shores, even though arrivals have dropped sharply since a peak more than three years ago.

Some 113,482 migrants crossed the Mediterranean to reach Europe last year, according to the UN refugee agency, which said 2,262 people lost their lives or went missing making the perilous journey.
Respecting the votes cast by the people in DR Congo's elections was 'crucial', the African Union said

African Union chief Moussa Faki Mahamat called Friday for the results of Democratic Republic of Congo's presidential vote to be respected, as tensions grow over delays in the counting process.

The elections will determine who succeeds President Joseph Kabila, who has been at the helm of sub-Saharan Africa's biggest country for nearly 18 years.

Moussa Faki, head of the AU Commission, met on Friday with the head of the AU observer mission, Dioncounda Traore, a former president of Mali, at the bloc's headquarters in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

"Respect of the election results is crucial," Faki said in a brief message posted on Twitter.

The 80-strong AU observer team had already warned on Wednesday that they expected the official results to be "in line with the vote" of the people.

Opposition fears are running high that the result will be rigged to favour Kabila's preferred successor, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary.

The Congolese election commission said logistical problems may force it to postpone publication of provisional results from Sunday's vote, which also included elections to the national parliament and provincial assemblies.

On Thursday, Washington demanded Kinshasa release "accurate" election results, warning it could impose sanctions on anyone who undermines the fledgeling democracy.

DR Congo's powerful Roman Catholic Church has said it knows who has won the vote and urged the electoral commission to publish the "truth".
In Ghana, more than 70 percent of the population identify themselves as Christians

Angry young Muslims attacked a charismatic church in Ghanas capital Accra after its pastor predicted the countrys chief imam would die this year, religious leaders said on Friday.

Wielding clubs and machetes, they attacked a security guard at the entrance to the Glorious Word and Power Ministry church then began hurling stones at its windows and smashing up the musical instruments and furniture inside.

The incident came after its celebrity pastor, Reverend Isaac Owusu-Bempah, prophesied the deaths of Muslim spiritual leader Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu and Ghana's Muslim vice president, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, in a New Year's Eve sermon.

Sheikh Sharubutu condemned the violence and called for calm.

"Ghana has gained respect in the eyes of the world because of the peaceful co-existence between Christians and Muslims. We're all brothers and nothing must divide us," Sheikh Sharubutu told AFP at his residence in Accra.

"We must all restrain ourselves and pray for life. Ghana is all we have. Religion is supposed to unite us and not divide us," he said, speaking through an interpreter.

The Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, which is the umbrella body supervising charismatic churches, has raised red flags over the prophecy.

"It is the Councils considered opinion that prophecies that concern individuals must be given to such individuals personally and privately... in order not to create fear and panic in the entire nation," said council president Reverend Paul Frimpong-Manso in a statement.

"It must be noted that whatever affects national figures, such as those whose deaths have been predicted has the potential to affect the stability of the entire nation," he added, saying that all member churches would rally against the prophecy.

"We call upon our over 200 member churches to fast and pray to avert any such disaster."

More than 70 percent of the population in the West African country identify as Christian, while fewer than 20 percent identify themselves as Muslims, according to the last census in 2010.
The Myanmar army has long been engaged in controversial operations in Rakhine state, with hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims forced into Bangladesh by a bloody army crackdown in 2017

Ethnic Rakhine rebels carried out pre-dawn attacks on four police stations near the Bangladesh border in a strike confirmed Friday by both the rebel group and Myanmar's army, with the militants claiming to have killed seven and taken 14 "prisoners of war" as operations ramped up.

Myanmar's western state of Rakhine has seen a surge in violence in recent weeks between rebels from the Arakan Army (AA) and security forces, displacing thousands.

It has added a new dimension to the violence in an area already scored by deep ethnic and religious enmity, which saw hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims forced over the border by a bloody army crackdown in 2017.

The AA is calling for greater autonomy for the ethnic Rakhine Buddhist population in what is one of the country's poorest states.

Friday morning's attacks took place in Buthidaung township in the north of Rakhine state, army spokesman Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun told AFP.

"We can confirm that the attack on the four police stations was by the AA," he said, adding that the army immediately sent a support team and that fighting continued into the afternoon.

The AA told AFP that it had carried out the raids, blaming the military for using the police stations as a base from which to fire heavy artillery.

"The army brought the police into the war two weeks ago," AA spokesman Khine Thukha said by phone, adding that the group had been under fire the whole day from army helicopters.

"Seven enemy combatants were killed. When we seized the posts, they surrendered and we took 14 prisoners of war," he said, adding that two AA fighters had also been killed in the clashes.

The military was unable to give any information about casualty numbers.

The UN's humanitarian agency said Thursday it was concerned for the estimated 2,500 people currently displaced, many of whom are sheltering in local monasteries.

The AA was sidelined by an unexpected temporary ceasefire declared unilaterally by Myanmar's military two weeks ago.

The army vowed to stop fighting for four months against a number of armed groups in Kachin and Shan states on the other side of the country.

Myanmar's civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi made the peace process a priority when her party swept to power in landmark 2015 elections.

Some two dozen conflicts continue to fester around the country's border areas, many dating back to independence 70 years ago.

The AA has said the army is using the truce elsewhere to focus efforts on Rakhine.

But observers say no major troop redeployments have yet taken place.

The escalation of violence comes amid a series of unclaimed attacks and murders in recent weeks in northern Rakhine.

Unknown assailants murdered a policeman, while two ethnic Rakhine were found with their throats slit, prompting the army to launch localised "clearance operations".
Ghosn is likely to appear in court to face the allegations against him

Former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn is likely to appear in a Japanese court to hear the reasons for his detention, possibly within days, after his lawyers deployed a little-used article of the Constitution.

A public hearing could take place within five days, according to public broadcaster NHK, after the executive's attorneys lodged a request with the Tokyo District Court that it cannot legally refuse.

It is the latest in a series of unexpected twists in a case that has gripped Japan and the business world since the once-revered auto tycoon was arrested on his private jet at a Tokyo airport on November 19.

"Mr Ghosn today submitted a request for the disclosure of the reasons for his detention. No date has been set," the court said.

NHK said Ghosn wants to attend the hearing himself if there is one.

Article 34 of Japan's Constitution stipulates that "no person shall be arrested or detained without being at once informed of the charges against him or without the immediate privilege of counsel."

"Nor shall he be detained without adequate cause; and upon demand of any person such cause must be immediately shown in open court in his presence and the presence of his counsel," it says.

Ghosn was spending the beginning of 2019 in detention after the court last week extended his detention through to January 11 on allegations of aggravated breach of trust.

He was re-arrested over these allegations on December 21, dashing his hopes of being home for Christmas.

Since his shock arrest on November 19, the case has shone a light on the Japanese legal system, which has come in for some criticism internationally.

Authorities are pursuing three separate lines of enquiry against the 64-year-old Franco-Lebanese-Brazilian executive, involving alleged financial wrongdoing during his tenure as Nissan chief.

They suspect he conspired with his right-hand man, US executive Greg Kelly, to hide away around half of his income (some five billion yen or $44 million) over five fiscal years from 2010.

They also allege he under-reported his salary to the tune of four billion yen over the next three fiscal years -- apparently to avoid criticism that his pay was too high.

They are also investigating a complex third claim that alleges Ghosn sought to shift a personal investment loss onto Nissan's books.

Prosecutors have pressed formal charges over the first allegation but not yet over the other accusations.
Anger erupted on Wednesday after two women in their 40s wrong-footed devotees to sneak into the Sabarimala temple in Kerala state

Two days of violent protests in south India sparked by two women entering one of Hinduism's holiest temples have seen more than 750 people arrested, police said, as they braced for more trouble Friday.

The Sabarimala temple in Kerala state has been at the centre of a prolonged showdown between Hindu devotees and women activists over access to the shrine.

As well as those arrested during the clashes over 600 have been taken into preventive detention, police spokesman V.P. Pramod Kumar told AFP.

"The police are extra vigilant. There are tensions but it's peaceful," he said, adding that police had imposed bans on the movement of people in the towns of Palakkad and Kasargod, two hotspots of violence on Thursday.

Kerala

Anger erupted on Wednesday after two women in their 40s wrong-footed devotees to sneak into the Sabarimala temple in Kerala state via a side entrance before dawn to worship.

This was the first time that woman of menstruating age -- deemed as those aged 10 to 50 -- had set foot in the gold-plated hilltop temple since the Supreme Court overturned a ban in September.

Thousands of Hindu devotees, many of them female, had previously succeeded in preventing women from accessing the site in the weeks following the landmark ruling, with some hardliners throwing stones at police and assaulting female journalists.

The court's verdict sparked anger among Hindu traditionalists, including within Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Clashes on Wednesday and Thursday between devotees, activists of Kerala's ruling leftist alliance and riot police firing tear gas and water cannon, left one man dead and at least 15 people injured, including four BJP supporters who were stabbed.

Much of the sporadic violence took place as Hindu hardliners sought to force shopkeepers to comply with a dawn-til-dusk "hartal" shutdown called by the Sabarimala temple hierarchy, media reports said.

The Supreme Court is to start hearing a legal challenge on its temple ruling -- the latest in a series of verdicts to upset traditionalists and reflect a more liberal outlook in Indian society -- from January 22.

Women are barred from a handful of Hindu temples in India. The entry of women of menstruating age to Sabarimala was taboo for generations and formalised by the Kerala High Court in 1991.

The entry of the two women into the temple came a day after tens of thousands of women, in an initiative backed by the state government, formed a huge human chain called the "Women's Wall" across Kerala to back the demand access.
The southern city of Shenzhen is a symbol of the transformative reforms launched by China 40 years ago

President Xi Jinping hailed China's "reconstructive reforms" in a New Year speech, but the sorely needed changes could be put on ice in favour of averting a potentially devastating economic downturn.

The way ahead is further complicated by a volatile trade dispute with the United States that -- if unresolved -- will add to the burden of Beijings policymakers as they seek to fuel an economy that is running out of steam.

Beijing has for years come under pressure to introduce much-needed reforms to the country's infrastructure and lumbering state-owned enterprises as part of a drive to tackle a burdensome debt mountain and transform its growth engine from investment and exports to domestic consumption.

But Gene Fang from ratings agency Moodys told AFP: "When trade-offs between reforms and growth arise, we expect that the priority will more often be given to supporting growth."

Ten years ago China unleashed the full power of its financial arsenal by introducing massive stimulus measures, which helped Beijing avert the worst of the financial crisis engulfing the rest of the world.

However, that helped sow the seeds of today's economic troubles, with debt at alarming levels and necessary economic reforms not addressed as leaders focused on maintaining stable growth and employment.

Now, with the global economy stuttering, a slowdown in key export markets is denting a crucial source of income while the country is also struggling with a plethora of structural problems such as an ageing -- and now shrinking -- population, a dwindling pool of rural workers, overcapacity and air pollution.

- 'Debt mess' -

And then there is the trade war with the United States, which has magnified the problems while sending shudders through global markets.

"The Chinese economy is struggling, the debt mess is unresolved and the impact from the US tariffs has barely begun," said Bill Bishop, an expert on China, who added the Communist Party will do "everything it can to juice the economy" with "multiple forms of stimuli".

"Whether or not significant economic reforms will now also be forthcoming, and not just more promises, is the trillion-dollar question," he said.

While presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump agreed a temporary truce in their trade war, analysts do not expect the two sides to reach a full-blown deal any time soon

Xi and US President Donald Trump may have agreed a temporary truce in their multi-billion-dollar stand-off -- and Beijing Friday announced face-to-face talks will begin next week -- but there is little optimism the row will be brought to an end any time soon.

In the absence of a breakthrough in current negotiations, "the US-China trade conflict will weigh on growth in China and on the wider Asia-Pacific region, via a slowdown in Chinese demand", according to analysts Oxford Economics.

The impact of the trade row came in to full view this week when Apple announced a shock cut in its revenue forecast for the December quarter blaming the steeper-than-expected "economic deceleration" in China and emerging markets and citing the China-US frictions.

While analysts still believe China -- which last month celebrated 40 years since opening up to the world -- should still achieve its growth target of 6.5 percent for 2018, that would be the weakest rate in almost three decades.

That after an average growth rate of 9.7 percent a year between 1978 and 2015.

- Long-term goal -

Raymond Deng, an analyst at Singapore-based DBS Bank, said the government must raise domestic consumption and inject "sufficient" cash into the market, while "eliminating state-owned enterprises with backward production capacity".

But with a debt crisis brewing, authorities have decided against 2008-like stimulus, instead opting for a series of separate measures including making it easier for banks to lend and much-hyped tax cuts.

Some sectors saw a one percent drop in VAT and taxpayers will in 2019 benefit from deductions in education, critical healthcare and mortgage repayments, while the rate at which tax kicks in has also been raised.

"If the tax reduction plan is implemented well, it cannot only boost corporate profits and household consumption in the short term, but also improve the economic structure in the long run," said Zhu Chaoping, a strategist at JPMorgan Asset Management.

Meanwhile, Beijing University economics professor Su Jian believes support for consumption requires a rise and a "better distribution" of household income, as well as increased health, education and social support to steer people away from precautionary saving.

He also points out that China's GDP per capita is about one-eighth of that of the United States.

"The development margin is still large... the GDP can still grow seven percent for 20 years," he said.

However, for many economists wealth generation could continue to weaken.

Zhu expected "a GDP increase of around five percent across the next 10 to 15 years", while Capital Economics expected the growth rate to even decline to two percent by 2030.
Thousands of tourists are still on the Thai resort island of Koh Phangan as Tropical Storm Pabuk edges closer

Tourists marooned on Thai islands hunkered down Friday as Tropical Storm Pabuk edged closer, forcing airports and ferries to close and bringing downpours and massive sea swells hours before its expected landfall.

Boats were recalled to shore across the Gulf of Thailand, while two key airports -- Koh Samui and Nakhon Si Thammarat -- were shut until Saturday, leaving tourists who remain on islands now cut off from the mainland.

"Ten thousand tourists are still on Koh Phangan," said Krikkrai Songthanee, district chief of the island which neighbours Samui and is famed for its full-moon party.

"But I talked to foreigners last night and they are not scared, they understand the situation," told AFP.

Pabuk, the first tropical storm in decades to strike during the peak holiday season, is expected to make landfall on Friday evening with the eye passing over Nakhon Si Thammarat further to the south.

"But all tourist islands in the Gulf of Thailand including Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao will be affected because Pabuk is huge," said Phuwieng Prakhammintara, head of the Thai Meteorological Department.

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As it churns through the sea, Pabuk has picked up speed with 75-kilometre-an-hour (45 mile) winds stirring huge waves of up to five metres high (16 feet).

Social media videos showed oil rigs being battered by waves, and tankers navigating terrifying walls of water.

With rains lashing the entire south, the Meteorological Department warned coastal communities to expect "inshore surges" as winds whip up the sea.

Authorities have opened evacuation shelters for vulnerable communities across Thailand's southernmost provinces.

Pabuk is forecast to pass over the narrow neck of land between the Gulf of Thailand and into the Andaman Sea -- home to the tourist resorts of Phuket and the Similan National Park, a diving paradise.

Tens of thousands of tourists have already fled the southern zone.

"It's very empty... the beaches are deserted of tourists," Pui Suriwan, a Koh Phangan resident, told AFP.

On neighbouring Koh Tao, one of Southeast Asia's most popular dive spots, tourists and residents were bracing for a torrid 24 hours ahead.

"The weather is turning worse as the winds pick up, Ive finished buying supplies... there's no gas anywhere on the island, 7/11 is already running out of things," a Spanish dive instructor told AFP.

"We're ready to bunker down."

Flights into Surat Thani, the gateway to Koh Samui, were nearly empty on Friday morning, a rare sight in Thailand's lucrative peak holiday season.

Thailand's economy is heavily reliant on tourism with the latest figures for 2017 showing the kingdom made nearly $60 billion from the sector.

Tourism was hit hard by a boat accident in Phuket in July last year when scores of Chinese tourists died as their overcrowded boat capsized in heavy seas.

Visitor numbers from China, Thailand's biggest market, slumped after the accident.

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North Korea's acting ambassador to Rome is said to be seeking asylum

A North Korean diplomat in Italy said to be seeking asylum is from a "prestigious diplomatic family" with both his father and father-in-law having worked in Pyongyang's foreign ministry, according to a senior defector.

Jo Song Gil, the North's acting ambassador to Rome, went into hiding with his wife in November and is seeking asylum, according to Seoul's intelligence authorities.

It would be the first high-profile defection of a North Korean diplomat since 2016 when the then deputy ambassador to London, Thae Yong Ho, switched sides to settle in Seoul.

Thae said Jo is the son of a late former diplomat, while his father-in-law served as ambassador to Thailand in the 1990s and once handled diplomatic protocol for the ruling Kim family at the foreign ministry.

"I worked with Jo in the same department at Pyongyang's foreign ministry for so long but never imagined that he would seek asylum," Thae told Seoul's Channel A. "The news shocked me.

"I also worked for years with his father-in-law, a well-known, veteran diplomat in Pyongyang who also served as consul-general in Hong Kong in the 2000s," Thae added in the interview late Thursday.

Jo's wife graduated from Pyongyang's prestigious medical school, with both families enjoying privileged lives as members of the North's "wealthy, prestigious elite", according to Thae. The couple have one child, he added.

South Korea's JoongAng Ilbo, which broke the news of the defection, reported that they went into hiding with their children, although South Korean intelligence did not confirm that during a briefing Thursday with lawmakers.

Jo, who is in his 40s and known to be fluent in French and Italian as well as English, came to Rome in May 2015.

He became temporary acting ambassador in October 2017, after Italy expelled the then ambassador Mun Jong Nam in protest at a nuclear test Pyongyang staged a month earlier in violation of UN resolutions.

Italy is an important diplomatic mission for Pyongyang, as it handles relations with the Rome-headquartered UN Food and Agriculture Organization and North Korea suffers from chronic food shortages.

Jo has not contacted Seoul's spy agency since he went into hiding, said Seoul lawmakers briefed by the intelligence authorities, suggesting he was seeking asylum in a third nation in the West.

The Kim dynasty has ruled the impoverished but nuclear-armed North for three generations with little tolerance for dissent and a pervasive personality cult.
Prokopy Nogovitsyn shows part of a mammoth skeleton in the backyard of his house in a village in the northern Siberian region of Yakutia

Crouching near a wooden shed in his snowy backyard, Prokopy Nogovitsyn lifts up a grey tarpaulin and takes out a vertebra the size of a saucer: part of a mammoth skeleton.

"Some friends found this in the north and wanted to sell it," says Nogovitsyn, who lives in a village in the northern Siberian region of Yakutia. "But it lacks tusks, so nobody wanted it."

Mammoth bones are widespread in Yakutia, an enormous region bordering the Arctic Ocean covered by permafrost, which acts as a giant freezer for prehistoric fauna.

But over the last few years this part of the world has experienced something of a mammoth rush: after China banned the import and sale of elephant ivory, its traditional carvers turned to the tusks of the elephants' long-extinct ancestors.

Russian exports amounted to 72 tonnes in 2017, with over 80 percent going to China.

Some Chinese buyers come to Yakutia to buy tusks directly, while some Russians also export them.

Thousands of woolly mammoths roamed the Pleistocene-era steppe tens of thousands of years ago and their remains are preserved in Yakutia's permafrost.

Authorities estimate that 500,000 tonnes of mammoth tusks -- known as "ice ivory" -- are buried here.

Local hunters and fishermen have long picked up mammoth bones along river banks and sea coasts but prices dramatically increased over the last decade, leading fortune-seekers on arduous Arctic quests.

The new industry has created a new source of revenue and led to an increase in paleontological discoveries.

While tusk hunters can obtain licences, the trade is still not fully regulated and some complain of pressure from the authorities and confiscation of their finds.

- 'Tusks to the people!' -

Collecting tusks is a complicated affair prepared months in advance. Equipment has to be shipped hundreds of kilometres (miles) to the north.

Yakutia covers three million square kilometres (1.2 million square miles), an area five times the size of France, much of which has no roads.

Collectors purchase licences for particular areas. Some use powerful water jets to burrow prospecting tunnels into river banks, creating labyrinthine icy mines.

Valery Plotnikov, a palaeontologist at the Yakutia Academy of Sciences, stands among mammoth tusks confiscated from collectors who operate illegally

Good-quality mammoth ivory can sell in China for over $1,000 (877 euros) per kilogram and locals see it as the only way to achieve financial security in northern Yakutia, where jobs are scarce and the climate makes agriculture impossible.

"There is a mammoth rush now," said one collector, who has worked with a licence for over a decade but requested anonymity due to the industry's current vague status.

A bill to fully regulate prospecting and the trade in tusks was introduced in the Russian parliament in 2013 but inexplicably has still not been voted on, he complained.

Exporting tusks from Russia has lately become more difficult.

"Ordinary people should know that they can pick something up off the ground, sell it, pay a tax, and live in peace," he said.

Last year, collectors staged a protest in the region's main city of Yakutsk, accusing authorities of confiscating their ivory haul even though they had the necessary permits.

They held up placards saying: "Return tusks back to the people!"

"The situation is at a dead-end" as long as Yakutia can't persuade Moscow to pass the proposed bill, says regional lawmaker Vladimir Prokopyev.

He argued that while digging up the permafrost is harmful, 90 percent of collectors simply pick up tusks from the ground and Yakutia's proposed bill forbids the damaging use of water jets.

- 'Mammoth oligarchs' -

Valery Plotnikov, a palaeontologist at the Yakutia Academy of Sciences, studies a rare prehistoric cave lion cub

Collectors are especially worried after a recent documentary on state television painted them as millionaire poachers.

The documentary called "Island of Skeletons", shown on Rossiya 24 channel, accused Yakutia authorities of turning a blind eye to prospectors' "criminal" trade.

Prokopyev alleged the film was "ordered by (Russian) mammoth oligarchs who used to be monopolists" in buying up tusks from locals and reselling them to China, but have now lost out to Chinese dealers who come to buy them direct.

The film claims that prospectors "barbarically" destroy archaeological sites.

But Valery Plotnikov, a paleontologist at the Yakutia Academy of Sciences, said that the mammoth rush had been beneficial to science by providing specimens that the academy could not otherwise afford.

He was studying a rare prehistoric cave lion cub that a collector found last summer.

A rare prehistoric cave lion cub was found by a collector last summer

"We have a symbiosis with licensed collectors," he said, adding that they provide researchers with valuable items for free but remain owners of specimens and stand to profit when their finds are exhibited abroad.

He also receives tusks confiscated from collectors who operate illegally, without a licence or in protected areas.

Those who have a licence and pay a customs levy should be able to export, he said.

Yakutia governor Aisen Nikolayev said he hoped the bill regulating tusk collectors would be finally passed in 2019, though he acknowledged "there is some resistance" to it.

Without a national law classifying mammoth ivory as a special natural resource, the trade remains in a "grey zone," he said.

For some in Yakutia, however, it's a source of pride that the region helps stop the hunting of elephants for tusks.

"Our dead bones are saving living elephants," said Nogovitsyn. "Being able to gather them is important both for us and for Africa."
Huawei's Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Canada and faces extradition to the United States

Thirteen Canadians have been detained in China following the arrest on December 1 of a senior executive from Chinese telecoms equipment giant Huawei, Ottawa said Thursday, with eight subsequently released.

Global Affairs Canada spokesperson Guillaume Berube confirmed the detentions to AFP, adding the figures excluded Hong Kong.

The thirteen include former diplomat Michael Kovrig and consultant Michael Spavor, arrested on December 10, for activities said to threaten national security, as well as Sarah McIver, who was subsequently freed and returned to Canada.

China "safeguards the security and legitimate rights and interests of foreign citizens" in the country, said spokesman for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lu Kang on Friday at a regular press briefing, adding that he didn't have information on the specific cases.

There are approximately 200 Canadians overall who have been detained in China for a variety of alleged infractions and continue to face ongoing legal proceedings, and the number has remained relatively stable in recent years.

By way of comparison, there are almost 900 Canadians in a similar situation in the US.

Some observers believe the detentions of Kovrig, who works for the International Crisis Group, and Spavor, who is frequently consulted on matters linked to North Korea, were retaliatory actions following the arrest in Vancouver of Huawei's Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou, who faces extradition to the United States.

Washington has accused her of fraud for helping evade US sanctions against Iran. She was later released on bail pending her extradition hearing.

Backed by the US and several European countries, Canada's foreign minister Chrystia Freeland has repeated called for the immediate release of Kovrig and Spavor, whose arrests Ottawa has termed arbitrary.
After an introduction from press secretary Sarah Sanders, a contingent of Border Patrol guards entered the White House briefing room followed by Trump himself, who for the first time of his presidency took the lecturn in front of the press corps he so often denounces

US President Donald Trump voiced hope Thursday he could find common ground with the new Democratic-led House of Representatives but renewed demands for a border wall before the government can reopen.

Shortly after Democrat Nancy Pelosi was elected again as House speaker after an eight-year gap, Trump brought the cameras to himself with a surprise press appearance announced just moments before.

After an introduction from press secretary Sarah Sanders, a contingent of Border Patrol guards entered the White House briefing room followed by Trump himself, who for the first time of his presidency took the lecturn in front of the press corps he so often denounces.

"Hello, everybody. This is a beautiful place. I haven't seen it. Happy New Year," Trump said.

In uncharacteristically warm words for Pelosi, one of his frequent targets on Twitter, he congratulated her on her "tremendous, tremendous achievement" after Democrats won 40 House seats in November elections.

"Hopefully we're going to work together and we're going to get lots of things done, like infrastructure and so much more. And I know they want to do that very badly," Trump said.

But Trump demanded that the new Congress fund a wall on the Mexican border, a demand that has led to a shutdown of the US government that has lasted nearly two weeks.

Trump, however, appeared to indicate he could choose another term other than a wall -- which has been a key promise from his 2016 campaign as he denounced immigration.

"Without a very strong form of barrier -- call it what you will -- but without a wall, you can't have border security. It won't work," Trump said.

The border guards took turns to hail Trump's commitment to the wall, which Democrats and much of the public denounce as a gimmick that does not consider the realities of immigration.

Brandon Judd, president of the National Border Patrol Council and an ardent supporter of Trump in Fox News appearances, said that not all federal workers were critical of the shutdown.

"We didn't have physical barriers there, and illegal immigration and drug smuggling was absolutely out of control. We built those walls, those physical barriers, and illegal immigration dropped exponentially," he said.
The US government shutdown has meant that couples tying the knot in the nation's capital cannot actually be issued with marriage licenses

When Dan Pollock and his bride arrived at the marriage bureau in the US capital Washington to pick up their marriage certificate, they were surprised to find it was closed because of the government shutdown.

"It never occurred to us that the DC marriage bureau was federally funded," said Pollock, who, like his wife, is a former Senate staffer who had worked through previous government shutdowns.

"When we showed up at the courthouse, they politely turned us away and said there would be no licenses until the government reopens," Pollock told AFP.

With just two days until their wedding, however, it was too late to change their plans.

"We chose to embrace the insanity," said Pollock. "The entire wedding was a blast nonetheless, and I guess we'll be back in DC to make it official."

The couple, who posted their story on Twitter to show the real impact that the shutdown -- sparked by President Donald Trump's demand for funding for a wall on the Mexico border -- was having on ordinary people.

The government has been closed since before Christmas, and the leadership of the newly installed Democrat majority in the House of Representatives are refusing to yield to the president's demand for $5.6 billion for a wall, a key campaign pledge that he had originally said Mexico would pay for.

Trump has refused to sign off on a slew of government funding bills until he receives money for his "beautiful" southern border wall, leading to a government closure that has left hundreds of thousands of federal employees without pay over the holiday season.

The District of Colombia, where the nation's capital is located, receives part of its funding from the federal government, and has seen some city services directly impacted by the closure.

That includes the marriage bureau, which issues licenses for civil unions and certificates needed for other types of unions.

- 'Lucky shutdown?' -

With neither side showing any sign of blinking, many couples are starting to worry they will not be able to officially tie the knot.

"We're still going to get married and we're still going to have our wedding, and we'll still be happy about that," said Claire O'Rourke, who has 140 guests coming to her January 12 wedding.

"But, man, I would still like the paperwork to be done," she told WTOP radio.

Washington mayor Muriel Bowser, aware of the stakes for constituents waiting to walk down the aisle, has announced extraordinary measures to issue marriage licenses despite the shutdown.

"Mayor Bowser will put forth emergency legislation to establish the authority to issue marriage licenses during a shutdown," said her spokesman John Falcicchio.

"Just like the Grinch can't steal Christmas, the shutdown can't stop love," he said.

In the meantime, Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, for whom Pollock and his wife worked, paid homage on social media Thursday to the "beautiful couple."

"Like rain on your wedding day, maybe shutdowns are good luck," he said.

As for other soon-to-weds, wedding planner agency Howerton Wooten has some advice: "Get some wedding insurance," "Determine a plan B," and finally, "Don't panic. Government shutdowns are public relations nightmares for politicians, so they typically work hard to find a solution within days."
Mexico has called for an investigation into the use of force by US border patrol agents against migrants trying to enter the United States on November 25, 2018 (pictured), and on January 1, 2019

Mexico called on the United States Thursday to investigate the use of force by border patrol agents against members of a Central American migrant caravan who tried to rush the US-Mexican border on New Year's.

"The foreign ministry sent a diplomatic cable today to the United States embassy about the incident that occurred on January 1 in the border zone... In it, the ministry requested an exhaustive investigation of events that day," it said in a statement.

Mexico also repeated its call for an investigation into a similar incident on November 25, when some 1,000 migrants from the caravan tried to force their way into the United States and were pushed back by border patrol agents.

In both incidents, US Border Patrol fired tear gas to stop the migrants from crossing the border fence between the Mexican city of Tijuana and San Diego, California. They also fired rubber bullets during the November incident.

Around 100 migrants were involved in the New Year's border crossing attempt.

Most were forced to turn back by the tear gas. Twenty-five were arrested, US Border Patrol said.

Mexico "regrets any act of violence along the border" and "reiterates its commitment to safeguarding the human rights and safety of all migrants," it said.

The migrants are part of a caravan of several thousand people that left Honduras in October and spent more than a month trekking across Mexico to reach the US border.

The caravan has triggered frequent tirades from US President Donald Trump, who says it includes dangerous criminals and regularly cites it as evidence of the need for his planned border wall.

It once comprised some 7,000 people, but it has gradually dispersed as migrants cross the border, move elsewhere in Mexico or return home. Around 1,500 migrants are currently staying at the shelter set up for the caravan in Tijuana.

The government of Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who took office on December 1, has so far sought to avoid confrontation with the Trump administration over the issue.

Instead, it is lobbying for a US-Mexican plan to promote economic development across the region as a means to slow migration.
Algerian security forces patrol the Tamanrasset desert, some 2,000 kilometres south of the capital Algiers, on July 2, 2018

The UN refugee agency Thursday voiced "concern" for the safety of 100 Arab citizens who went missing after seeking shelter in Algeria and others stranded at the border with Niger.

"Some 120 Syrian, Palestinian and Yemeni individuals were detained at the Tamanrasset Centre in southern Algeria before being taken to an area near the Guezzam border post (at the southern border with Niger) on 26 December," the UNHCR said in a statement.

Some members of the group were "known to UNHCR as registered refugees who have fled conflict and persecution or claim to have attempted to seek international protection in Algeria", it added.

The UN agency said 20 members of the group "remain stranded in the desert", several kilometres from the Guezzam border post.

"The other 100 individuals who were taken to the border are unaccounted for," it added.

Hacen Kacimi, an Algeria interior ministry official, told AFP on Thursday that a group of about 100 people, mostly Syrians from Aleppo, had been "expelled" on suspicion of links to jihadist groups.

Kacimi, who heads the ministry's migration department, said they had entered Algeria illegally and were put on trial in September and that the court ordered their expulsion.

His comments came after the Algerian League for the Defence of Human Rights on Monday denounced the deportation to Niger of 50 mostly Syrian migrants, including women and children, who were smuggled into the country in September.

Rights groups regularly criticise Algeria for its treatment of sub-Saharan migrants, many of whom are hoping to reach Europe.

An October report from the UN urged Algeria to stop collective expulsions of African migrants across its border with Niger, after rights groups accused Algiers or rounding up thousands of people and expelling them into the desert.

Algeria, which does not have asylum legislation, has faced an influx of sub-Saharan migrants in recent years, with rights groups estimating some 100,000 have entered the country in recent years.
Italy's tough new anti-migrant law has sparked protests

The mayors of three large Italian cities are refusing to obey a controversial anti-immigration law penned by far-right deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini, condemning it as unconstitutional.

Salvini, also interior minister, on Thursday demanded the resignations of the rebellious leaders of Florence, Palermo and Naples, with the last escalating the row by also offering to take in migrants stranded at sea that Italy has turned away.

"This (law) incites criminality, rather than fighting or preventing it," Palermo mayor Leoluca Orlando said.

"It violates human rights. There are thousands, tens of thousands of people who legally reside here in Italy, who pay their taxes, who pay into pensions, and in a couple of weeks or months they will become... illegal," he claimed.

The tough new anti-migrant law, adopted by parliament on November 28, makes it easier to expel new arrivals and limits residence permits in a country that has become the main gateway for migrants crossing the Mediterranean.

It also abolishes humanitarian residence permits granted until now to vulnerable people, families or single women with children.

Salvini, head of the far-right League party, was quick to suggest Orlando "take care of the many problems in his city instead".

But his rebuke proved counterproductive with other mayors joining in the protest.

- 'We will not bow' -

Florence mayor Dario Nardella said his city would "not bow to" a law which "expels asylum-seekers and, without repatriating them, throws them out onto the street".

Naples mayor Luigi de Magistris vowed that the parts of the law that he said were unconstitutional, "such as those on the right to asylum, will under no circumstances be enforced".

He then upped the ante by offering to take in 32 migrants who are blocked in limbo at sea after being rescued by an NGO but denied a safe port in Europe.

"I hope the boat approaches the port of Naples, because -- contrary to what the government says -- we will launch a rescue plan and let them dock. I will oversee the rescue operation myself," he told a local radio.

The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, meanwhile, called on member countries to admit dozens of migrants stranded on two rescue ships.

The 32 migrants aboard the Sea Watch 3 and 17 others aboard the Sea Eye, both operated by European charities, are stuck off the coast of Malta as EU nations wrangle over their fate.

- 'Heart of stone' -

De Magistris accused Salvini of having "a stone instead of a heart", while other mayors urged the government to rethink the new law.

Salvini snapped back on Facebook that those who helped illegal migrants "hate Italians and will answer to the Law and History".

As the row grew, mayors of other cities including Venice, Genoa and Verona signed a letter of support for the interior minister.

Some 113,482 migrants crossed the Mediterranean to reach European shores last year, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees

"As far as the undersigned mayors are concerned, the security decree contains just and understandable regulations," it said.

"The management of immigration over the past few years has increased the citizens' sense of insecurity," it added.

Migrants have been frequently stranded aboard ships that rescued them since Italy's populist anti-immigration government began turning them away last summer.

More than one million people, most of them fleeing Syria's civil war, entered the bloc in 2015 in Europe's biggest migration crisis since World War II.

Some 113,482 migrants crossed the Mediterranean to reach European shores last year, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, which said 2,262 people lost their lives or went missing making the perilous journey.
The United States State Department maintained its previous guidance that Americans traveling to China should "exercise increased caution" and stopped short of discouraging visits

The United States warned its citizens Thursday they could face arbitrary action by authorities when they visit China, following the detention of two Canadians.

Updating its travel advisory, the State Department maintained its previous guidance that Americans should "exercise increased caution" in China and stopped short of discouraging visits.

While the language was largely the same as earlier, the State Department warned of "arbitrary enforcement of local laws," sudden prohibitions on exiting the country and harassment of US citizens of Chinese heritage.

"In most cases, US citizens only become aware of the exit ban when they attempt to depart China, and there is no method to find out how long the ban may continue," it said.

"US citizens under exit bans have been harassed and threatened," it said.

It also advised caution over last-minute security checks and curfews in Xinjiang and Tibet, two minority-dominated regions where Beijing has sought to impose strict control.

China last month detained two Canadians, a former diplomat and a businessman, on charges of activities that "endanger China's security."

The move was widely seen as retaliation after Canada arrested an executive of telecom giant Huawei at the request of the United States, which said she violated Washington's sanctions on Iran.

China last year appeared to hit back at the US travel advice by issuing its own guidance to Chinese coming to the United States, warning of the risk of mass shootings and the high cost of health care.

Despite rising political friction, the two countries remain among the top sources of visitors to each other, with China by far the largest provider of foreign students to the United States.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (C), seen here at a news briefing in October 2018, praised the city's police for the lowest murder rate in almost 70 years

New York's murder rate in 2018 hit its lowest level in almost 70 years, according to figures released Thursday by the city's police department.

The largest US city recorded 289 homicides in 2018, a drop of one percent from the preceding year.

That was the lowest rate since the early 1950s, police said.

The homicide rate was down 45 percent over the past decade. In 1990, the city suffered 2,245 murders.

After an eight-percent rise in murders in the first half of the year, 2018 ended with an historic low in the number of killings, and in October experienced its first shooting-free weekend in 25 years.

Mayor Bill de Blasio praised the work of the city police force and said the record figures were due in part to a new "neighborhood policing" strategy adopted in 2015.

That policy includes building relationships with local populations in each neighborhood, to better identify a community's needs and establish trust.

While the drop in the city's murder rate has fallen along with violent robbery -- down 7.7 percent -- and a four-percent decline in the number of car thefts, New York has been hit with a rise in the number of rapes, which leapt by 22.4 percent.

The mayor said that was due less to a rise in the number of rapes than the fact that the crime had been underreported in the past.

Also up were the number of racially motivated attacks, or those carried out for religious or gender-bias reasons, with 361 such attacks reported, police said.
UN envoy Martin Griffiths will travel to rebel-held Sanaa and Riyadh for talks, beginning Saturday, on next steps to end the war

The UN envoy for Yemen will hold a new round of talks with Huthi rebels and the Saudi-backed government in the coming days as the United Nations said Thursday that a ceasefire in the key port city of Hodeida was holding.

Martin Griffiths will travel to the rebel-held capital of Sanaa on Saturday for talks with Huthi leaders and with the head of a truce monitoring committee, Dutch general Patrick Cammaert, said UN spokesman Farhan Haq.

He will then head to Riyadh to meet with Yemen's President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi and other officials.

The United Nations is hoping to bring the sides together later this month, possibly in Kuwait, to follow up on the progress made in talks in Stockholm in December, diplomats said.

Under the agreement reached in Sweden, the rebels agreed to redeploy from Hodeida, the Red Sea port that is the entry point for food aid to millions of Yemenis on the brink of famine.

"The cessation of hostilities in Hodeida continues to hold," said Haq.

Yemen's government has written to the Security Council to accuse rebels of failing to comply with the ceasefire while the rebels have accused the Saudi-led coalition of carrying out low-altitude flights over the city.

The council is expected to hear a report from Griffiths next week, but no firm date has been decided for that meeting.

The war between the Huthis and troops loyal to Hadi escalated in March 2015, when Hadi fled into Saudi exile and the Saudi-led coalition intervened.

The conflict has unleashed in Yemen what the United Nations has described as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
Gilles Simon, pictured January 2, 2019, came back from a set down to overcome an erratic Paire in the last quarter-final clash of the day

Defending champion Gilles Simon on Thursday overcame tough resistance from fellow Frenchman Benoit Paire to reach the semi-finals of the ATP Maharashtra Open.

Simon came back from a set down to overcome an erratic Paire 3-6, 7-6, 6-4 in the last quarter-final clash of the day in the western Indian city of Pune.

The 34-year-old Simon will meet world number six Kevin Anderson, who eased past Jaume Munar of Spain 6-3, 6-3, in the last-four match on Friday.

"Kevin is a tough player to beat for everyone, especially for me. I beat him only once in the final last year. And I said he is the best player I beat in a final," Simon said of his next opponent from South Africa.

"It's going to be difficult. You know how strong is his game and the stress he can put on with his serve... I will try to watch the match (2018 final) and see what was working."

Veteran Croatian Ivo Karlovic also made the semis after a hard-fought win over former top 10 player Ernests Gulbis of Latvia.

Karlovic, two months from his 40th birthday, went past Gulbis, nine years his junior, 7-6, 7-6 to book a meeting with Steve Darcis of Belgium.

Darcis dispatched fourth-seeded Tunisian Malek Jaziri 7-5, 6-2.
New Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi takes the gavel as the new Congress opens -- the Democrat is the only woman ever to hold the post, and this is her second stint

US Democrats swept back to power Thursday in the House of Representatives with veteran Nancy Pelosi at the helm, but they came face to face with what may be a new divided government normal in Washington: legislative gridlock.

After a historic opening session of the 116th Congress in which Pelosi was elected as speaker for the second time in her storied career, lawmakers took aim at a bipartisan priority of ending an embarrassing partial government shutdown that was stretching into its 13th day.

The House passed two measures that would re-open government agencies whose funding had lapsed, but provide no money for a border wall demanded by Donald Trump.

They are all but dead on arrival in the Senate, where the Republican leadership has vowed not to bring them up for a vote because they do not pass muster with the president.

Trump has demanded that Congress approve $5.6 billion for construction of a wall on the southern US border with Mexico -- an oft repeated pledge from his 2016 presidential campaign.

The bills that passed the House contain no wall funding.

"We're not doing a wall," Pelosi told reporters shortly before the votes largely along party lines.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi addresses lawmakers as the new session of Congress begins

"A wall is an immorality between countries. It's an old way of thinking, it isn't cost effective," she said, arguing that money would be better spent on border security technology such as drones and cameras, and on hiring more border agents.

Republican leaders immediately blasted the vote as a pointless political gimmick that would do little to provide the resources necessary to secure the border, and said Democrats were not negotiating in good faith.

"The president made it clear, we're here to make a deal," Vice President Mike Pence told Fox News late Thursday. "We will have no deal without a wall."

Democratic congressional leaders said they will head to the White House Friday at 11:30 am (1430 GMT) in a bid to break the impasse, but lawmakers have warned the shutdown could extend for several more days, even weeks.

Democrats' new majority in the House of Representatives marked a dramatic power shift on Capitol Hill less than two years before the Republican president's re-election bid, as Democrats intend to put a check on Trump's turbulent White House.

Several lawmakers cheered and applauded at length when Pelosi reclaimed the speaker's gavel -- a striking comeback for the only woman ever to hold the post.

In her opening speech, Pelosi vowed the new Congress would be "bipartisan and unifying" but acknowledged the reality of Washington's bitter divisions.

"We have no illusions that our work will be easy, that all of us in this chamber will always agree," she said.

US Congress

"But let each of us pledge that when we disagree, we will respect each other and we will respect the truth," she added, in a likely dig at the president's aggressive style and his propensity to embellish facts.

While the "blue wave" swept dozens of House Republicans out of Congress last November, Trump's Republicans managed to modestly expand its majority in the Senate, meaning Washington gridlock is almost certain to deepen.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Democrats would have to "get serious about border security so that a government funding agreement may be reached that can pass the House, earn 60 votes here in the Senate, and receive a presidential signature."

- Shutdown showdown -

One hundred House freshmen took the oath of office, including trailblazers like New York's Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (seen here), who at 29 is the youngest woman ever elected to Congress

Top House Republican Kevin McCarthy said divided government was "no excuse for gridlock or inaction," before handing the gavel to Pelosi, who was elected with 220 votes in a free-wheeling session that included children scampering in the chamber.

Pelosi will preside over the most diverse Congress in history.

One hundred House freshmen took the oath of office, including trailblazers like New York's Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who at 29 is the youngest woman ever elected to Congress.

The first two Native American women and first two Muslim women were also elected.

"It's a new day in America," tweeted Ilhan Omar, a former Somali refugee elected from Minnesota.

- Impeachment threat -

Progressives will be eager to push back with greater effect against an administration they believe has overstepped its authority.

They will have that opportunity, as congressional panels now led by Democrats are expected to unleash a barrage of investigations on everything from Trump's income taxes to his ties with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

That is bad news for White House already besieged by Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia collusion probe.

And hovering in the background in Washington will be the threat of impeachment.

While it is almost certain that some Democrats will introduce proceedings to remove Trump from office, Pelosi has downplayed the idea.

"It would be very divisive," she told Elle magazine. "It's not something that I'm stirring the pot on."
Supporters of Madagascan presidential candidate Marc Ravalomanana, pictured January 2, 2019, have vowed to stage daily vigils until the verdict of a court case reviewing the election results is announced

Hundreds of supporters of the losing Madagascar presidential candidate staged a protest in the capital Antananarivo on Thursday, rejecting the election result ahead of a court verdict reviewing the vote.

Former president Marc Ravalomanana was defeated on December 19 by another former leader of the Indian Ocean island, Andry Rajoelina, who won nearly 56 percent of a run-off vote.

The country's Constitutional Court is reviewing a petition filed by Ravalomanana, who claims the election was tarnished by massive fraud.

The court is due to hand down its ruling on January 8.

"The message to the (court): we will not stop until the truth is restored," vowed Hanitra Razafimanantsoa, a lawmaker from Ravalomanana's TIM party.

The protesters have vowed to stage daily vigils until the results are announced next week.

Security forces fired tear gas to break up a demonstration on Wednesday by Ravalomanana supporters.

Ravalomanana and Rajoelina, long-term rivals, were banned from running in the 2013 election as part of an agreement to end recurring crises that have rocked Madagascar since it gained independence from France in 1960.
A handout picture released by Iran's Defence Ministry on July 27, 2017 shows a Simorgh (Phoenix) satellite rocket at its launch site at an undisclosed location in Iran.

The United States on Thursday warned Iran of consequences if it goes ahead with plans to send off three space launch vehicles, charging despite Tehran's denials that the move would violate a UN resolution.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that Iran's satellite-delivery rockets used technology "virtually identical" to nuclear-capable ballistic missiles, which could eventually include long-range missiles capable of reaching the United States.

"The United States will not stand by and watch the Iranian regime's destructive policies place international stability and security at risk," Pompeo said in a statement.

"We advise the regime to reconsider these provocative launches and cease all activities related to ballistic missiles in order to avoid deeper economic and diplomatic isolation," he said.

Pompeo said that an Iranian launch would defy UN Security Council Resolution 2231 of 2015, which endorsed an international accord on ending the clerical regime's nuclear program and called on Tehran "not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons."

US President Donald Trump last year walked out of the Iran deal, which was negotiated by his predecessor Barack Obama, instead reimposing sweeping sanctions aimed at crippling the country's economy.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif denied Pompeo's charges, saying that neither space launches nor missile tests -- which Iran says are vital for defense and not nuclear in nature -- violated Resolution 2231.

"The US is in material breach of same, & as such it is in no position to lecture anyone on it," he tweeted, referring to the US rejection of the UN-endorsed denuclearization pact.

Iran's deputy defense minister, Brigadier General Ghasem Taghizadeh, said in November that Tehran would launch three satellites into space "in the coming months."

"These satellites have been built with native know-how and will be positioned in different altitudes," he said, as quoted by the semi-official ISNA news agency.

Iran has seen economic potential in developing a satellite program, which could build a needed revenue source and also be used for espionage.

But US intelligence has said that the technology could easily be converted to long-range missiles.
UN envoy Nicholas Haysom renewed his criticism of Somalia's government two days after he was expelled

Somalia on Thursday told the UN Security Council not to interfere in its national affairs after expelling a UN envoy who questioned the government's decision to arrest an al-Shabaab defector running for election.

Somali Ambassador Abukar Dahir Osman did not specifically mention his government's decision to order Nicholas Haysom to leave but he argued that Somalia was in need of support, not criticism from the world body.

"The UN and its representatives have a duty, even an obligation, to respect their mandate and to not interfere in our internal affairs, and to let the Somalis control their own destiny," said the ambassador.

In his address to the council, Haysom did not comment on the government's order to expel him but he renewed his criticism of Mogadishu authorities after 15 people were killed in electoral violence.

The council then met behind doors to discuss the fate of the UN envoy. There was no official statement released after those talks.

Addressing the council, Haysom warned of a risk of conflict during elections in Somalia's federal states due to tensions with the central authorities.

"We witnessed this during the electoral process in South West State," he said.

"Allegations of interference by the FGS (federal government of Somalia) and the violence which erupted following the arrest of one of the candidates, a former al-Shabaab deputy leader, marred the process and does not bode well for upcoming electoral processes in other regions or for the 2020 national elections," he added.

The United Nations stepped up efforts to persuade Somalia to reverse its decision, according to diplomats. "We are still trying to get clarification," said UN spokesman Farhan Haq when asked about Haysom's status.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stepped in to appeal to Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, diplomats said.

- Rebranding terrorism -

The Somali government ordered Haysom, a South African lawyer and experienced diplomat, to leave late Tuesday after he wrote a letter requesting information on the legal basis for the arrest of Muktar Robow who was running for the post of regional president of South West State.

Robow, who defected from Al-Shabaab in 2017, was arrested last month and flown to the capital Mogadishu.

The arrest sparked protests in the southwestern town of Baidoa on December 13-15 that were violently suppressed by Somalia's security forces, leaving at least 15 dead.

In his letter, Haysom requested an investigation of the protest violence and stressed that UN-backed security forces must respect human rights.

The Somali ambassador told the council that former Shabaab militants "cannot assume leadership positions without going through stringent established rehabilitation programs."

"We reject the criticism and attempt to rebrand renewed terrorism as ice cream salesperson without redeeming themselves," he said.

Haysom warned that the arrest of Robow could discourage other Shabaab militants "who may be considering exchanging violence for a political path."

The UN mission in Somalia is tasked with supporting peace efforts and the strengthening of government institutions in the Horn of Africa nation, which were ruined by decades of civil war.
Traders on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on December 31, 2018; a new report that US manufacturing has hit a two-year low is unlikely to reassure the volatile markets

The key US manufacturing sector unexpectedly hit a two-year low in December amid a worrying slump in demand and weak exports, a private survey showed Thursday.

While the Institute for Supply Management's monthly report showed US industry was still expanding, analysts said the monthly slowdown showed activity had unmistakably fallen a notch below prior trends.

Wall Street has tumbled in recent months as investors begin to fear 2019 will see weaker growth or even a recession and the news accelerated a sell-off on major stock market indices on Thursday.

ISM's manufacturing index fell to 54.1 points, down 5.2 points from November and the lowest level since November 2016. Economists had called for a result of 57.8 and any level above 50 indicates growth.

The survey showed slowdowns in production, deliveries and employment. But the largest dip was in orders, which fell 11 points from November and dragged the overall index lower.

"I think generally there's an overall softening in the global market and we're being impacted by the export piece of it," Timothy Fiore, chairman of the ISM manufacturing survey committee, told reporters.

"I'm not going to say one point is going to provide a trend but we had been bouncing across the top and now we've clearly stepped down a level and we'll see what January brings."

Fiore said survey respondents noted slowing sales to China and Europe, which exchanged tit-for-tat tariffs with Washington in 2018.

Six of 18 industries contracted, including fabricated metals, a sector hit-hard by US President Donald Trump's trade war.

Fiore said the December results "came out of left field," given that a semi-annual survey released last month had shown continued optimism.

"There was no real indication that this was brewing."

A survey respondent in the computer and electronics sector said growth "appears to have stopped" while companies work to adjust to the trade war with China.

About 35 percent of general comments were related to tariffs, in line with prior months, according to Fiore.

Economist Joel Naroff said the ISM numbers added to the picture of an economy that was moderating after the "sugar high" of the 2017 tax cuts.

"The so-called 'Trump Bump' that was seen in the markets and manufacturing has been largely wiped out," he said in a client note, adding that this more likely pointed to a return to normal growth rather than a recession.

"We seem to be replacing the irrational exuberance of the election and tax cuts with an irrational despondence of a slowing economy."
Paul Whelan, shown in this family photo, has been detained and charged by Russian prosecutors with espionage

Russian prosecutors have charged an American ex-Marine detained in Moscow last week with espionage, his lawyer said Thursday, the latest in a series of spying accusations between Moscow and Washington.

"The tribunal has ordered the provisional detention" of Paul Whelan after he was charged, his lawyer Vladimir Zherebenkov was quoted as saying by the news agency Ria Novosti.

Zherebenkov said he had appealed the ruling and asked for Whelan to be released on bail pending the start of the trial.

Whelan, who has denied the charges, could face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.

US intelligence services have accused Moscow of interfering in the 2016 presidential election

His lawyer said the 48-year-old was "behaving in a constructive manner" and that investigators were treating him in a "humane and professional way".

The charges came a day after the US ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman met Whelan at the Lefortovo prison in Moscow.

"Ambassador Huntsman expressed his support for Mr Whelan and offered the embassy's assistance," a State Department spokesperson said following the visit.

The United States has been cautious in its public comments on the case, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo saying earlier Wednesday that Washington was trying to learn more about the situation.

- 'Act of espionage' -

Born in Canada, Whelan was arrested last Friday "while carrying out an act of espionage", according to Russia's FSB domestic security service.

His family has denied he is a spy, saying he was visiting Moscow to attend the wedding of a fellow ex-Marine to a Russian woman.

"We are deeply concerned for his safety and well-being. His innocence is undoubted and we trust that his rights will be respected," the family said in a statement.

The family of Paul Whelan denies he is a spy, and say he was visiting Moscow to attend the wedding of a fellow ex-Marine

Speaking to Canada's CBC News, Whelan's brother David said "there's no chance" the Russian accusations against his brother were accurate.

Paul Whelan's employer, US-based automotive components supplier BorgWarner, said that he is the firm's director of global security.

"He is responsible for overseeing security at our facilities in Auburn Hills, Michigan and at other company locations around the world," the company said in a statement.

Whelan's arrest came after President Vladimir Putin accused Western nations of using espionage cases to try to undermine an increasingly powerful Russia.

US intelligence services have accused Moscow of interfering in the 2016 presidential election.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller has charged 25 Russians -- including members of the GRU military intelligence -- and three Russian companies for that alleged interference but they have not been arrested.

In December, Russian national Maria Butina pleaded guilty in a Federal Court in Washington to acting as an illegal foreign agent.

Butina faces up to six months in prison, followed by likely deportation.
The helicopter crashed during a Boko Haram raid on a military base in Damasak, a town in northeastern Nigeria

Five members of the Nigerian air force were killed when a helicopter crashed as Boko Haram militants ambushed a military base in northeastern Nigeria, a spokesman said Thursday.

Air force spokesman Ibikunle Daramola said the five crew members had died when the helicopter "crashed in combat" on January 2 while providing close air support to troops fighting off a Boko Haram attack in Damasak, a town near the border with Niger.

The victims included two pilots, two gunners and a flight technician, he said.

The attack was one of four raids on military posts this week in a region which has been ravaged by jihadist violence, which in recent months has particularly targeted troops in the northeastern states of Borno and Yobe.

All four raids were claimed by a Boko Haram faction called ISWAP, the Islamic State West Africa Province, which said it had killed 14 soldiers and taken another hostage, according to the SITE Intelligence Group which monitors jihadist activities.

Details are scant on what downed the helicopter, but if it was fired on by the jihadists, it would suggest that they now possess more sophisticated weapons than those used in the last four years of fighting.

Since July there has been an upsurge in Boko Haram attacks on military bases, almost all of them in the region around Lake Chad.

In November, militants raided a base in the Nigerian village of Metele, near the border with Niger, leaving at least 44 soldiers dead, although troops who survived put the death toll at more than 100.

With a February election looming, the Nigerian military has been at pains to stress that the situation is under control, rarely releasing casualty figures, except for Wednesday's crash.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who came to power in 2015 on the promise to end the violence, is under increasing pressure to act following the recent surge in attacks.

He will seek reelection in February 16 ballot.

Boko Haram's bloody insurgency began in northeastern Nigeria in 2009 but has since spread into neighbouring countries, prompting a regional military response.

In Nigeria alone, more than 27,000 people have been killed over the past decade, and some 1.8 million people have been forced out of their homes by the violence.
Apple CEO Tim Cook acknowledged that iPhone sales in the past quarter would be disappointing, amid weakness in China and other emeging markets

Apple's bombshell news -- a sharply weaker revenue outlook and lower iPhone sales -- has raised questions over the future of the California giant, which until recently had been seen as the undisputed innovation leader in the tech sector.

Apple's rare admission on Wednesday cited steeper-than-expected "economic deceleration" in China and emerging markets and noted that trade frictions between Washington and Beijing were taking a toll on its smartphone sales.

But the news raised questions on whether Apple -- the first to reach a $1 trillion valuation and until recently the world's most valuable company -- is seeing a bump in the road or is starting to slide back from its leadership position.

Some analysts point to Apple's dependence on iPhone sales to drive revenue and profits, even as it tries to diversify its product base and add services such as music and digital payments.

"The iPhone has been supporting the company for more than a decade," said Roger Kay, analyst at Endpoint Technologies Associates.

"The world isn't coming to an end for Apple but it's a major inflection point. Up to now, Apple has defied gravity by growing faster than any other company in the market, but mathematically it was impossible to beat the market forever."

Apple said iPhone sales in China would be lower than forecast due to steeper than expected "economic deleration"

Apple shares plummeted nearly 10 percent on the news Thursday, with the company shedding some 38 percent since its valuation hit $1 trillion last year.

Kay said the trillion-dollar valuation was "irrational" and based on growth projections Apple is unlikely to achieve without a new catalyst.

Apple, which has been growing in China even though it lacks a dominant position, is pressured by tariffs and other trade issues, further inflamed by the arrest of China-based Huawei's chief financial officer in Canada at the behest of the United States.

Huawei has overtaken Apple as the third largest global smartphone maker despite limited presence in the United States.

- 'At a crossroads' -

The update suggested a disappointing figure for iPhone sales, the key driver of revenue and profit for the California tech giant.

Apple said that it expects weak iPhone sales in other emerging markets, driving down revenue despite some positive signs in developed markets and in its other products and services.

The company slashed its revenue guidance for the first fiscal quarter of 2019, ended December 29, to $84 billion -- sharply lower than analyst forecasts averaging $91 billion.

Apple has sought to diversify its revenue base with new products like its smartwatch and a range of services but still relies heavily on the iPhone

"Apple stock is now at a crossroads," said a research note Thursday from Gene Munster and Will Thompson of the investment firm Loup Ventures.

"Some investors will consider the stock broken.. but we've followed the company long enough to know there is cyclicality in the market's relationship with Apple."

Munster and Thompson said it would take "a new product category," or large acquisition to allow Apple to regain its momentum.

- Tactical errors? -

Some analysts said Apple erred in boosting the price of its new iPhones to well over $1,000 in a global smartphone market that is largely saturated and facing tougher competition.

"I think the main villain is the very high prices that Apple is charging for its new iPhones," said Richard Windsor, a technology analyst who writes the Radio Free Mobile blog.

Apple's troubles in China come with the Chinese smartphone maker Huawei targeted in the United States over security issues

"This is not a catastrophe nor is it a sign that Apple is losing its grip on the smartphone market but merely a misjudgment by Apple with regard to how much money people will pay for an iPhone."

The latest news sparked talk of the "Nokia moment" for Apple -- a reference to the Finnish-based firm that led the mobile phone market in the early 2000s.

But Windsor said: "I do not in any way think that this represents Apple's 'Nokia' moment simply because there is still nothing to seriously challenge the iPhone in the high-end segment."

Carolina Milanesi of Creative Strategies said Apple is unique among smartphone makers because it has a wide array of apps and services that produce revenue.

"While it is true that no other single product has done for Apple as much as the iPhone, the product offering as an aggregate still puts Apple ahead of all other vendors who might be selling higher volumes but have no direct way to monetize from their users once the sale has occurred," Milanesi said in a blog.

Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights & Strategy said Apple may be unable to deliver the double-digit growth than many on Wall Street have been expecting given the current smartphone market.

"I am not concerned for the company, but it's likely investors will not see the company value it was at until it can see a likely path to double-digit revenue growth," Moorhead said.
Palestinian prime minister Rami Hamdallah speaks to the reporters during joint news conference with French Prime Minister at the Hotel Matignon in Paris, on December 7, 2018

The UN on Thursday condemned the throwing of stones at the Palestinian prime minister on Christmas Day, allegedly by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, calling it "absolutely unacceptable".

Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah's convoy was hit with a number of stones on December 25 as he was returning home from attending Christmas Eve mass in Bethlehem, a Palestinian government spokesman said.

Two of Hamadallah's bodyguards were injured, the spokesman said in a statement on Thursday.

The incident was not immediately reported but the government statement said the stones were thrown by Israeli settlers.

Nickolay Mladenov, United Nations special coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, called for those responsible for the "absolutely unacceptable" incident to be brought to justice.

"The stoning attack on Palestinian Prime Minister Hamdallah's convoy on Christmas is a very worrying incident," Mladenov said in a statement.

"Stones can kill," he said.

"Such violence must stop immediately."

The incident occurred close to where a Palestinian mother was killed when stones -- allegedly thrown by Israeli settlers -- hit her family car in October south of the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Stone-throwing incidents implicating Israeli settlers have risen of late, according to Palestinian security sources.

Palestinians regularly throw stones at cars driven by the Israeli army and settlers in the occupied West Bank.
Danish student Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, 24, and 28-year-old Norwegian Maren Ueland were found dead at an isolated Moroccan hiking spot south of Marrakesh on December 17

A Morocco prosecutor on Thursday brought seven new suspects including a Spanish-Swiss man before a Rabat anti-terror judge in connection with the murder of two Scandinavian women in the Atlas Mountains.

The prosecution asked that the suspects be investigated for "forming a gang to prepare and carry out terrorist acts, premeditated assistance to perpetrators of terrorist acts and training people to join a terrorist organisation", Rabat's attorney general said.

The prosecutor called on the judge to place the suspects in pre-trial detention.

Danish student Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, 24, and 28-year-old Norwegian Maren Ueland were found dead at an isolated hiking spot south of Marrakesh on December 17.

The two women were beheaded, authorities have said.

Fifteen people, including the four main suspects, were brought before the judge on Sunday over their alleged links to the double homicide, labelled a "terrorist" act by Rabat.

The Spanish-Swiss man in Thursday's group had been living in Morocco and was detained in Marrakesh over alleged links to some of the suspects.

He subscribed to "extremist ideology", according to Morocco's central office for judicial investigations.

The four main suspects were also arrested in Marrakesh and belonged to a cell inspired by Islamic State group ideology, Morocco's counter-terror chief Abdelhak Khiam told AFP.

None of the four had contact with IS members in Syria or Iraq, he said.

The head of the suspected cell is 25-year-old street vendor Abdessamad Ejjoud, according to investigators.

He was identified in a video filmed a week before the double-murder, in which the four main suspects pledged allegiance to IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, according to authorities.

The killings have shaken Norway, Denmark and Morocco. Another video circulated on social networks allegedly showed the murder of one of the tourists.

Morocco, which relies heavily on tourism income, suffered a jihadist attack in 2011, when a bomb blast at a cafe in Marrakesh's famed Jamaa El Fna Square killed 17 people, mostly European tourists.

An attack in the North African state's financial capital Casablanca killed 33 people in 2003.
Acting US Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan, who has taken over from predecssor Jim Mattis, who resigned December 20 after Trump stunned the US establishment by ordering a full troop withdrawal from Syria.

Top advisors to President Donald Trump met at the Pentagon on Thursday to discuss Syria and other topics, a defense official said.

The meeting was the first of its kind for Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan, who started his new job January 1 following the resignation of his predecessor Jim Mattis.

According to a senior defense official, Shanahan met with National Security Advisor John Bolton, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and General Joe Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

They "discussed a wide variety of topics to include Syria," the official said.

Mattis quit last month after Trump ordered the withdrawal of US troops from Syria, even though the Islamic State still has thousands of fighters in the country and a US pull out would leave Kurdish fighters vulnerable to attack by Turkey.

Shanahan must oversee how the US pulls more than 2,000 troops out of Syria.

Various timelines have been floated, but Trump on Wednesday seemed vague, saying only that it would happen "over a period of time."
Under a deal agreed in March 2018, Croatia agreed to buy 12 used F-16 fighter jets from Israel

Croatia threatened to cancel its purchase of F-16 fighter jets from Israel on Thursday after months of stalling due to a lack of US approval.

Croatia had in March agreed to buy 12 used F-16s from Israel to replace its Russian-made MiG-21s.

The deal, worth $500 million (440 million euros), was the Balkan nation's biggest arms purchase since splitting from former Yugoslavia in the 1990s war.

But Washington objected to the sale of the US-made jets because it wants the removal of electronic system upgrades that Israel added in a rare defence dispute between the close allies.

After months of delay, the Croatian defence ministry said it asked Israel for "official information by January 11 on whether Israel can deliver the planes."

If Croatia is not able to buy the specific jets it chose, the government will cancel the deal, the ministry said.

"We are not happy that this happened," said Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on Wednesday.

"The government firmly stands by its decision ... to realise only the offer as accepted" in March, he said.

Apart from Israel, several other countries also put in bids for the tender, including Greece, South Korea, Sweden and the United States.

Croatia joined NATO in 2009 and the European Union four years later.
Nancy Pelosi, set to take over as speaker of the US House, has introduced new measures that would fund closed-down agencies, but she and other Democrats will likely continue sparring with Republicans over border wall funding

Democrats take over the US House of Representatives on Thursday, ushering in a new era of divided government in Washington with the goal of checking Donald Trump's turbulent presidency.

Battle-tested Nancy Pelosi was poised to take over as speaker of the House for the second time in her career, as a partial federal government shutdown over Trump's insistence that lawmakers fund a US-Mexico border wall neared the two-week mark.

The end of Trump's one-party rule in Washington invigorated Democrats still dejected over the bombastic Republican's 2016 presidential win.

In excerpts of the speech she was to deliver to the House later Thursday, Pelosi vowed the new Congress would be "bipartisan and unifying" and "will debate and advance good ideas no matter where they come from."

"In that spirit, Democrats will be offering the Senate Republican appropriations legislation to re-open government later today -- to meet the needs of the American people, and to protect our borders," she said.

But such cooperation across the political aisle appeared unlikely as Trump continued to dig in over his demand that Congress approve a $5 billion plan to construct a border wall aimed at thwarting illegal immigration -- with Democrats appearing unlikely to appease him.

After saying he remained "ready and willing to work with Democrats" late Wednesday, Trump lashed out Thursday.

"The Shutdown is only because of the 2020 Presidential Election," he tweeted.

"The Democrats know they can't win based on all of the achievements of 'Trump,' so they are going all out on the desperately needed Wall and Border Security - and Presidential Harassment. For them, strictly politics!"

- Gridlock near-certain -

Indeed, progressives will be eager to push back with greater effect against an administration they believe has overstepped its authority and abused power in the nearly two years since Trump's inauguration.

US Congress

They will have that opportunity, as congressional panels will be led by chairmen who have pledged to probe topics such as Trump's income taxes, his firing of attorney general Jeff Sessions, and the president's ties to Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Incoming chairpersons have signaled that Trump will face a barrage of investigations that could bog down a White House already besieged by Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia collusion probe, draining energy from the administration's agenda and foiling Trump's message.

But while the "blue wave" swept dozens of House Republicans out of Congress last November, Trump's party managed to modestly expand its majority in the Senate to 53-47, meaning Washington gridlock is almost certain to deepen.

- Not 'stirring the pot' -

California Democrat Nancy Pelosi is expected to win her speaker election as the Congress convenes

Among the first tasks of the 116th Congress will be ending the shutdown, which has left one quarter of federal agencies shuttered due to lapsed funding.

Trump has said he would not sign a spending bill that does not include $5.6 billion for wall construction.

Pelosi has introduced new measures that would fund the agencies, but she noted that they "contain no new wall funding," a move the White House -- and Republican Senate leaders -- dismissed as a non-starter.

"Democrats will have to get serious about border security so that a government funding agreement may be reached that can pass the House, earn 60 votes here in the Senate, and receive a presidential signature," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement.

"All three of these things are needed. One partisan vote in the House tomorrow won't solve anything."

The House and Senate convene Thursday at noon (1700 GMT), with the new Congress sworn in shortly thereafter. Pelosi is expected to win her speaker election in the early afternoon.

She will preside over the most diverse Congress in history.

One hundred House freshmen will take the oath of office, including trailblazers like New York's Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who at 29 is the youngest woman ever elected to Congress.

The first two Native American women and first two Muslim women were also elected.

"It's a new day in America," tweeted Ilhan Omar, a Muslim Somali refugee elected from Minnesota, along with a picture of her standing on Capitol Hill.

Factfile of Nancy Pelosi, who is poised to reassume the position of House speaker -- the only woman to ever hold the post

The House and Senate will each have a record number of female members.

Democrats will move early to protect coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, and form a special committee on climate change.

Hovering in the background in Washington will be the threat of impeachment, and it is almost certain that some Democrats will introduce proceedings to remove Trump from office.

Even if Democrats believe some of Trump's actions clear the threshold of "high crimes and misdemeanors," Pelosi has downplayed the prospects of impeachment.

"It would be very divisive," she told Elle magazine. "It's not something that I'm stirring the pot on."
A member of the Tunisian security forces stands guard at the site of a suicide attack in the capital Tunis on October 29, 2018

Two alleged jihadists blew themselves up Thursday during an early morning raid by Tunisian security forces on a house in the central region of Sidi Bouzid, the interior ministry said.

Acting on a tip off, "police units raided a house in the Jelma area... and two terrorists blew themselves up with explosive belts", national security spokesman Walid Hkima told AFP.

A police officer was wounded during a heavy exchange of fire between the two sides, he added, without specifying how many people were holed up in the house.

The interior ministry said the two suspects were "among the most dangerous terrorists" wanted by police since December 12.

They belonged to an offshoot of Jund al-Khilafa -- an affiliate of the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group -- it said.

The ministry said they planned to commit "spectacular terrorist acts targeting patrols and security posts".

Five explosive devices, three hunting rifles, mobile phones and a large sum of money were seized in the raid, it added.

The raid was led by Tunisia's National Unit for the Investigation of Terrorist Crimes, said Hkima.

Since the 2011 ouster of long-time dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, jihadist attacks have regularly targeted Tunisia's security forces.

On October 29, a 30-year-old woman blew herself up on the capital's busy upmarket Avenue Habib Gourguiba, wounding 26 people.

Tunisia has been under a state of emergency since a bloody spate of attacks rocked the capital and the coastal resort city of Sousse in 2015.
A Syrian rebel fighter from the National Liberation Front (NLF) mans a position in Rashidin in Aleppo province on November 26, 2018

Clashes between jihadists and rebels raged Thursday inside Syria's last major opposition bastion for a third day, a monitor said, as the death toll mounted to more than 70 fighters.

Fighting flared Tuesday between the jihadist-led Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and a rival rebel alliance in the northern province of Aleppo, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The fighting then spread to parts of the neighbouring province of Idlib the next day, and then into Hama province on Thursday, the Britain-based monitor said.

"New fronts have opened up," Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said, with HTS seizing more than a dozen areas in recent days.

On Wednesday, 17 HTS fighters and 16 combatants from the Turkish-backed National Liberation Front rebel alliance were killed.

That brought the overall death toll to 75 fighters from both sides, as well as six civilians, according to the Observatory.

HTS had on Monday accused NLF member Nureddine al-Zinki of killing five of its fighters, and launched an offensive against rebel positions.

HTS, which is led by the jihadists of Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate, and rival rebels from the NLF have been battling each other for territory for two years.

And the last major rebel bastion of Idlib -- which includes adjacent parts of Aleppo and Hama -- has been regularly rocked by assassinations.

Since September, the stronghold has been protected from a regime offensive by a shaky deal signed by rebel backer Turkey and government ally Russia to set up a buffer zone around it.

Sparked by the brutal repression of anti-regime protests in 2011, the civil war has since killed more than 360,000 people and displaced more than half the country's population.
Bristol Myers Squibb is buying US biotech firm Celgene in a massive $74 billion cash and stock deal

New York-based pharmaceutical giant Bristol-Myers Squibb on Thursday announced it would buy US biotech firm Celgene in a $74 billion cash-and-stock deal, creating a rival to the world's largest drug makers.

The merger plans underscored the companies' efforts to diversify in the field of cancer treatments, with investors in recent months questioning their growth prospects.

In the deal, Bristol-Myers Squibb gains Celgene's blockbuster Revlimid treatment for multiple myeloma. The companies said the new entity would also offer nine products with more than $1 billion in annual sales.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Chairman and CEO Giovanni Caforio said in a statement the combined companies would also enjoy "a deep and broad pipeline that will drive sustainable growth."

They also pointed to oncology, immunology, inflammation and cardiovascular disease as important growth areas.

"We will also benefit from an expanded early- and late-stage pipeline that includes six expected near-term product launches," Caforio said in the statement.

Other advantages of the deal include a number of new product launches expected in the next 12 months and extensive cost savings. Executives described company assets as "complementary" and with the potential to create "the preeminent global bio-pharmaceutical company," according to a conference call with analysts.

The transaction follows other recent large pharma deals, including French company Sanofi's purchase of US hemophilia group Bioverativ for $11.6 billion and Novartis' $8.7 billion acquisition of rare-disease treatment company AveXis.

Both companies had been the subject of merger speculation, with investors saying Bristol-Myers's big seller Opdivo, a cancer medication, had lost market share to rival Merck.

Celgene meanwhile faced the prospect of mounting competition from copycat drugs as patents begin to expire.

- Patent expirations on horizon -

The company has said in securities filings that it expects competitors could market generic versions of its Revlimid cancer drug ahead of patent expirations, which Celgene has said will remain in force "at least through 2022."

Revlimid accounted for $8.2 billion in sales in 2017, nearly two-thirds of overall revenues of $13 billion.

Caforio told analysts the company "conducted extensive due diligence" on the intellectual property questions surrounding Revlimid and agreed with Celgene's views, adding that the company's forecasts on the drug were "more conservative" than those of analysts.

A slide in an investor presentation on Thursday had some generics hitting the Revlimid market in March 2022, with "full generic entry" in January 2026.

Bristol-Myers's top two selling drugs last year globally were Opdivo and blood clot drug Eliquis, which together accounted for nearly half the company's 2017 revenues of $20.8 billion.

Bristol-Myers had 23,700 employees at the end of last year, while Celgene had 7,647.

Caforio will continue to serve in his chief roles while two members of Celgene's board will hold spots on Bristol-Myers Squibb's board of directors.

Under the deal, Bristol-Myers shareholders will own about 69 percent of the new pharmaceutical giant, while Celgene shareholders will receive one Bristol-Myers share and $50 per share of Celgene.

The companies expect to close the deal in the third quarter of this year, with earnings per share at Bristol-Myers Squibb swelling by 40 percent in the first full year.

Shares in New Jersey-based Celgene surged 20.7 percent to $80.43, while Bristol-Myers Squibb fell 13.3 percent to $45.12.

Morningstar said in a note that the purchase was "very logical buildout" for the larger company.

But a note from Cowen said the effect of the deal was "mixed."

The transaction strengthens Bristol-Myers' near-term outlook somewhat but Celgene "adds patent expiration concerns to those Bristol-Myers Squibb already faces."

Ratings agency Standard & Poor's has placed Bristol-Myers debt ratings under review with negative implications, while saying that the acquisition of Celgene is positive.

"Despite more debt, we believe the business has strengthened as a result of the transaction and expect the combined entity to generate substantial cash flow," Standard & Poor's said.

The agency expects to lower Bristol-Myer's overall rating to "A" with a stable outlook, while the short-term rating would be lowered to "A-1," it said.
The talks come after the Turkish ambassador to Baghdad was summoned last month to protest against "repeated" Turkish air strikes on Iraqi territory

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday said Ankara and Baghdad would deepen cooperation against terrorism after tensions last month over Turkish air strikes against Kurdish militants in Iraq.

"We know the importance of working together to be successful in our fight against terror. God willing, in the future we will deepen our cooperation in this area," Erdogan told a press conference in Ankara with his Iraqi counterpart Barham Saleh.

Erdogan said there were threats to both countries from "terrorist organisations" such as the Islamic State group, Kurdish militants and the group blamed for a failed coup in 2016.

"Iraq wants real cooperation and strategic partnership with Turkey," Saleh said, which would "serve not just the two countries but the whole region".

The talks come after the Turkish ambassador to Baghdad was summoned last month to protest against "repeated" Turkish air strikes on Iraqi territory.

Baghdad at the time denounced the strikes as a "violation of its sovereignty" after Ankara hit Kurdish militant positions in the northern Sinjar and Mount Karajak regions.

Turkish warplanes have often bombed hideouts of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged an insurgency against Turkey since 1984 and is blacklisted as a terror group by Ankara and its Western allies.

The Turkish defence ministry earlier Thursday said warplanes had struck PKK targets in the Zap, Metina, Avasin-Basyan and Gara regions on Wednesday.

Erdogan has threatened to expand Turkey's fight against the PKK to Iraq and launch an operation against the group in Sinjar.
Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed and allegedly dismembered in the kingdom's Istanbul consulate

Here is a summary of events since Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed and allegedly dismembered in the kingdom's Istanbul consulate three months ago.

- 'Murdered' -

The Washington Post contributor is recorded on camera entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2.

His fiancee waits for him outside but he does not emerge. She says he went there to collect a document for their upcoming marriage.

The following day the Post reports that he is missing.

On October 4 Saudi Arabia says it is investigating while US officials say they are also looking into the case.

In an interview published on October 5, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman maintains Khashoggi left the consulate shortly after entering.

The next day a source close to the Turkish government says police believe he was murdered inside the premises "by a team especially sent to Istanbul and who left the same day".

Riyadh calls the claim "baseless".

- Grim details -

On October 7 The Washington Post cites a US official saying Khashoggi's body "was likely dismembered, removed in boxes and flown out of the country".

Turkish pro-government newspaper Yeni Safak reports on October 17 that Khashoggi was tortured before being decapitated inside the consulate, saying it had heard audio recordings of the event.

The New York Times says a suspect in the disappearance who was identified by Turkey was from Prince Mohammed's inner circle. Three other suspects are linked to his security team.

- Riyadh acknowledges murder -

US President Donald Trump says on October 18 he believes Khashoggi is dead and warns of "very severe" consequences should Saudi Arabia be proven responsible.

Two days later Riyadh finally admits Khashoggi was killed inside the consulate after talks deteriorated into a "brawl".

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir tells Fox News on October 21 that a "tremendous mistake" has been made and those responsible acted "outside the scope of their authority".

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on October 23 says Khashoggi's "savage" murder was carried out by a 15-person team that came from Riyadh.

- 'Dismembered' -

On October 24 the crown prince makes his first public comments on the affair, saying it is "very painful for all Saudis, it's a repulsive incident".

On November 2 a Turkish official tells Hurriyet newspaper that "they got rid of the body by dissolving it".

Erdogan says the order for his murder came from "the highest levels" of the Saudi government.

On November 10 Erdogan says Ankara has shared recordings linked to the murder with Riyadh, Washington and other capitals.

On November 15 Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor's office says Khashoggi was drugged and dismembered at the consulate. From 21 suspects, it charges 11.

Washington announces sanctions against 17 Saudis allegedly involved. Germany, France and Canada also announce sanctions.

- Prince 'responsible' -

The Washington Post on November 16 quotes anonymous sources in the investigation saying the CIA had concluded the crown prince was involved in the murder plot.

But Trump says there would be no change in Saudi-US relations with the CIA having "nothing definitive".

On December 4 Republican senators say after a closed-door briefing by CIA director Gina Haspel that they firmly believe the crown prince was complicit.

On December 13 the Senate adopts a resolution holding him responsible.

- Trial begins -

On December 28 Saudi Arabia's new foreign minister Ibrahim al-Assaf, appointed the day before in a surprise government reshuffle, insists the kingdom is not in crisis over the affair.

Two days later a Turkish television station broadcasts CCTV footage showing men carrying cases and bags which it says contained body parts of the journalist.

On January 3 the trial of the 11 accused opens with Saudi Arabia's attorney general seeking the death penalty for five defendants.
Khalifa Sall was first elected as mayor of Senegal's capital, Dakar, in 2009

Senegal's Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a bid by one of the country's most popular politicians to overturn a conviction for fraud, a move likely to block him from running in next month's presidential election.

Khalifa Sall, former mayor of the capital Dakar, will be unable to contest the February 24 ballot if he cannot overturn a five-year jail term for fraudulent use of public funds.

A previous effort to overturn his conviction in August also failed, with an appeal court upholding his sentence.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court similarly rejected his appeal, with court president Amadou Baal describing it as "inadmissible and unfounded".

Sall's defence team immediately promised to make a final appeal on technical grounds, arguing that his initial arrest was the result of "a clear error," lawyer Seydou Diagne told reporters.

"The court has rejected all of his appeals... but it cannot deny Khalifa Sall his civil rights. To this day, he retains his right to vote and to stand as a candidate," said another of his lawyers, Amadou Ali Kane, as dozens of supporters gathered outside the court.

The initial verdict was handed down in March 2018 after a high-profile corruption trial which saw Sall tried for embezzling public funds. He denied the charges, claiming the trial was politically motivated.

The charges centred on 1.83 billion CFA francs ($2.85 million/2.7 million euros) of city money which was allegedly misused between 2011 and 2015.

He was acquitted on charges of criminal conspiracy, money laundering and misappropriating public funds.

A dissident member of the Socialist Party, Sall began his political activism at the age of 11.

He went on to hold various ministerial portfolios before being elected mayor of the capital in 2009 and reelected in 2014.

The position catapulted him to nationwide prominence, making him a serious potential challenger to President Macky Sall, in office since 2012.

The 63-year-old was held in pre-trial detention for nearly a year before the case came to court, and still remains behind bars.

He was sacked by the president in August 2018, a day after an appeal court upheld his conviction.

Although he and President Sall share the same family name, they are not related.
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested in 2016 and is serving a five-year jail sentence in Tehran for alleged sedition

Prominent Iranian human rights activist Narges Mohammadi and British-Iranian detainee Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe announced Thursday plans to go on hunger strike in Tehran's Evin Prison to protest against the denial of medical treatment.

"We are urging for an immediate action to be taken," they said in a joint letter.

Initially arrested in 2015, Mohammadi was sentenced to 10 years in prison for "forming and managing an illegal group", among other charges.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested in 2016 and is serving a five-year jail sentence for alleged sedition.

"Nazanin is currently having medical treatment blocked for lumps in her breasts, for neurological care over her neck pains and numbness in her arms and legs, and seeing an outside psychiatrist has been banned," her husband Richard Ratcliffe told AFP.

"These are all being personally blocked by the head of Evin clinic, Mr Khani, despite having been approved by the prison doctor."

Filer dated June 25, 2007, of Iranian human rights activist Narges Mohammadi who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for "forming and managing an illegal group", among other charges

Mohammadi was the spokeswoman for the now-outlawed Defenders of Human Rights Centre, which was co-founded by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi.

"We are severely disturbed and concerned by this prevention of specialist care approved by the prison doctor and strongly protest against it," Mohammadi and Zaghari-Ratcliffe said, according to the joint letter, originally published on Ebadi's website.

"In protest to this illegal, inhuman and unlawful behaviour, and to express our concerns for our health and survival at this denial of specialist treatment, despite taking daily medicines, we will go on hunger strike from January 14 to 16.

"We are urging for an immediate action to be taken.

"We announce that in the event of the authorities' failure to address these concerns and them further endangering our health, we will take further actions.

"The authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran are to be held responsible for the potential consequences."
Kurdish-led forces control a large swathe of the country's north and northeast, some of seized from the Islamic State group at the cost of heavy losses with backing from the US-led coalition

Syria's Kurds have established an autonomous region during seven years of civil war, but the abrupt decision by their US ally to withdraw has thrown their political future into doubt.

Kurdish-led forces control a large swathe of the country's north and northeast, some of it seized from the Islamic State group at the cost of heavy losses with backing from the US-led coalition.

A US withdrawal could leave them exposed on two fronts, both to an attack by neighbouring Turkey and its Syrian proxies, and to a return of Damascus government institutions.

- Will they lose land?

Syria's Kurdish minority have largely stayed out of the civil war, instead forging autonomy in a large swathe of the north and northeast, including along the Turkish border.

The fight against IS has allowed the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces to expand that territory to include the Euphrates Valley city of Raqa, as well as key oil and gas fields in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor.

On December 19, President Donald Trump took many even among his own supporters by surprise with the announcement of a full US troop withdrawal from Syria.

On Thursday US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the withdrawal would indeed go ahead but would not give a precise timeline, so as not to tip off US adversaries.

"The importance of ensuring that the Turks don't slaughter the Kurds, the protection of religious minorities there in Syria. All of those things are still part of the American mission set," Pompeo told Newsmax, a US news and opinion site popular with conservatives.

Trump's troop withdrawal announcement prompted the Kurds to seek a new alliance with the Damascus regime to protect them from a long-threatened attack by neighbouring Turkey.

Syrian Kurds demonstrate in the northeastern city of Qamishli on December 28, 2018, against Turkish threats of a new cross-border offensive following the US decision to withdraw their troops

Ankara views the Kurdish fighters of the SDF as "terrorists", in cahoots with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has been fighting Turkish troops since 1984.

Although unlikely without prior agreements between regime ally Russia and rebel backer Turkey, analysts foresee a possible carving up of the northeast between the different sides.

- What does the regime want?

Today, the regime holds almost two-thirds of Syria after victories against jihadists and other rebels, and has pledged to eventually return the northeast to government control.

Last week, Damascus deployed troops in the northern countryside to stem off any Turkish-led attack on the flashpoint SDF-held city of Manbij.

A US military convoy passes through a checkpoint in the flashpoint Syria Democratic Forces-held city of Manbij on December 30, 2018 awaiting orders following President Donald Trump's announcement of a full US troop withdrawal from Syria

On Wednesday, the army said 400 Kurdish fighters had retreated from areas around the Arab-majority city. But an Arab contingent of the SDF remains in control, and US forces are also present as they have not yet withdrawn.

On Monday, pro-government newspaper Al-Watan cited an Arab diplomat in Moscow as saying the northern city would revert to "full state supervision".

The source also said Turkey, Russia and fellow regime ally Iran would discuss "a return of state institutions" to areas further east, beyond the Euphrates River, at a meeting expected at the start of the year.

Balanche said the regime would eventually resume full control of the main northeastern cities of Hasakeh and Qamishli.

It would also retake the Arab-majority city of Raqa, as well as the oil fields of Deir Ezzor.

"The Syrian army will... rapidly seize the Omar oil fields -- two-thirds of Syrian production," Balanche said.

- What does Turkey want?

Turkey has led two previous incursions across the border, the most recent of which saw its Syrian proxies seize the northwestern enclave of Afrin from Kurdish forces last year.

But analyst Heiko Wimmen said Ankara would first have to seek consent from Moscow before any third offensive, especially to use its air force.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, seen here in military fatigues during an inspection of the border region on April 1, 2018, has threatened to crush Kurdish forces on both sides of the Euphrates river

"If it does happen however, Turkey will try to control the border strip," said Wimmen, of the Brussels-based think tank, the International Crisis Group.

"What they are aiming for is a buffer zone along the border," he added.

Balanche predicted Turkish troops and their allies would eventually push 20 to 40 kilometres (12 to 24 miles) into Syria.

- What of Kurdish autonomy?

After decades of marginalisation, since the civil war erupted in 2011 Syria's Kurds have set up their own institutions in areas they control.

Following the pulling out of government forces from Kurdish-majority areas in 2012, the Kurds set up their own administrations and implemented longstanding demands such as Kurdish-medium education.

But as loyalist forces gained ground last year and Damascus rejected Kurdish self-rule, the Kurds entered talks with the regime to seek some form of decentralisation.

Syria Kurds wave the national flag during a demonstration in the northeastern city of Qamishli on December 23, 2018, seeking the Syrian army's protection against a threatened assault by Turkey

With the Kurds now set to see their US ally withdraw from Syria, Wimmen said the Kurds were "certain to lose a lot".

"The question is whether the loss will be total or whether some of it can be salvaged... through a deal with the regime, guaranteed by Russia," he said.

But "given the track record of the regime and its negotiation positions so far... there is little reason for optimism."
Israeli security forces remove a mobile home on January 3, 2018 that settlers had put on the site of the former Amona wildcat settlement in the occupied West Bank

Israeli far-right activists clashed with police Thursday as authorities moved in to clear away two mobile homes illegally set up in the occupied West Bank.

Some 300 protesters threw metal bars, stones and oil at Israeli police, while officers responded with tear gas as the operation began around 5:00 am (0300 GMT) at the former wildcat settlement of Amona, police said.

The windswept site -- on a hilltop near Ramallah -- was cleared of protesters by around 9:00 am and workers with large flatbed trucks were preparing to take away the two mobile homes put there in recent weeks.

Settlers packed furniture and supplies into a van and drove away, while mattresses, a refrigerator, chairs and other items remained scattered in the area.

Police said 23 officers were lightly wounded, while seven arrests had been made.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said they were enforcing a court order declaring the structures there illegal.

After the confrontation, groups of young far-right activists, some with their faces covered, could be seen gathered in the nearby Israeli settlement of Ofra.

"When the policemen arrived, they tried to break in (to the mobile homes) but failed, so they started firing tear gas inside," said Oren Amitai.

"People were coughing and coughing non-stop," said the 43-year-old, who used to be a resident of the Amona wildcat settlement.

The clash comes nearly two years after Amona was demolished by Israeli authorities following a supreme court ruling that found it to be built illegally on private Palestinian land.

The demolition at the site where around 40 families lived was highly controversial among Israelis and similarly led to clashes.

Israel later began work on the first new government-sanctioned Jewish settlement since 1991 -- called Amichai -- as a new home for those who had lived in Amona.

Far-right activists advocate Israel annexing much of the West Bank and oppose a Palestinian state. Key members of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition also oppose a Palestinian state.

Israeli settlers move their belongings from a mobile home, following clashes with security forces at the site of the former Amona wildcat settlement

Settlements are seen as illegal under international law and a major stumbling block to peace as they are built on land the Palestinians want as part of their future state.

Settlement construction however also plays an important role in Israeli right-wing politics and Netanyahu frequently expresses his support for settlers.

Israeli general elections are scheduled for April 9.
The European Union has been working with north African countries, particularly conflict-wracked Libya, by offering aid money and help with border patrols in a bid to stem the flow of people

The number of migrants who died or went missing attempting to cross the Mediterranean fell by more than a quarter in 2018 over the previous year, to 2,262, the UN refugee agency said Thursday.

The number of migrants who arrived in Europe after surviving the sea crossing also dropped by roughly the same proportion last year to 113,482 after 172,301 in 2017, according to the UNHCR's full-year figures.

A total of 3,139 were reported dead or missing in 2017.

"The Mediterranean has been for years the most deadly sea crossing in the world for refugees and migrants," UNHCR spokeswoman Celine Schmitt told AFP in Paris.

The data also confirmed that Spain had become the main gateway into Europe for migrants and refugees who travel from north Africa, with 55,756 people registered as arriving there by sea in 2018.

Italy, under its hardline anti-immigration government, cut the number of arrivals dramatically last year to 23,371 -- around a fifth of the number who arrived in 2017 when 119,369 crossed from Libya.

All of the figures are far down from their peak in 2015 when an estimated one million people crossed the Mediterranean to Europe, mostly from Turkey into Greece.

The effects of that influx continue to reverberate around the continent, sparking debate about immigration policies and fuelling far-right parties in countries that have welcomed large numbers of refugees, such as Italy, Germany and Sweden.

Rescue boats carrying migrants also sparked repeated flareups among European countries in 2018 after Italy's populist government closed its ports to charity-run ships which pick up stranded migrants.

The European Union has been working with north African countries, particularly conflict-wracked Libya, by offering aid money and help with border patrols in a bid to stem the flow of people.

The EU has also financed border protection and development projects in other impoverished African states that are a source of migrants or serve as transit routes.

The largest group of migrants who arrived in Europe in 2018 came from the west African state of Guinea (13,068) followed by Morocco (12,745) and Mali (10,327).

Syrians were the fourth biggest group (9,839), followed by Afghans (7,621) and Iraqis (7,333).
Evidence suggests an earthquake sent a wall of water coursing into what is now China's Guangdong province around a thousand years ago

A major tsunami struck China's southern coast in 1076 causing "drastic cultural decline", Chinese researchers say, in a study with implications for a densely populated region boasting multiple coastal nuclear power plants.

There is a growing body of scientific evidence suggesting an earthquake in the Manila Trench sent a wall of water coursing into what is now China's Guangdong province around a thousand years ago.

Now scientists believe they have narrowed down the date to an exact year -- 1076 -- and say the new data should set alarm bells ringing over whether enough is being done to defend against future tsunamis.

"This study confirms the risk of tsunamis in the South China Sea," the teams from the University of Science and Technology and East China Normal University wrote in January's issue of Chinese Science Bulletin.

"Such risk should be considered in future planning and construction of nuclear power plant, harbor and petroleum reserve structures on the coastlines of China," they added.

A number of nuclear power plants sit on China's southern coast including at Fuqing, Daya Bay and a soon-to-open plant at Taishan.

The wider area is also one of the world's most densely populated regions and includes multiple major coastal cities such as Hong Kong, Macau, Xiamen, and Quanzhou.

The vulnerability of nuclear power plants to seismic events has become a major cause for concern ever since a 2011 earthquake and subsequent tsunami crippled Japan's Fukushima power plant, the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl.

The Chinese research team first found evidence of a destructive historical wave on Dongdao Island, located in the middle of the South China Sea, in 2013.

They discovered rocks and corals that had been moved 200 metres from the shoreline and concluded only a major force of water could have done so.

Another team found shards of ceramics in tsunami sediment from the Song Dynasty (960-1279) on Nan'ao island, some 250 kilometres (155 miles) up the coast from Hong Kong's eastern side.

Professor Gao Shu at the East China Normal University told Xinhua that the southeast tip of the island used to be a town with official kilns for making porcelain.

Researchers struggled to find any archaeological artefacts from after the suspected wave until the later Ming dynasty.

They also found a shipwreck with 20,000 coins from around the time the tsunami might have struck.

"This cultural evidence indicates a drastic cultural decline caused by the tsunami," they wrote.

China has begun moves to gather data in the South China Sea about potential tsunami threats, deploying early warning buoys off the the Manila Trench last year.
In his final column for The Washington Post, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi perhaps presciently pleaded for greater freedom of expression in the Middle East

Saudi Arabia's attorney general sought the death penalty for five of 11 defendants charged with the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi as their high-profile trial opened in Riyadh on Thursday.

All 11 accused were present with their lawyers at the opening hearing in the capital, according to a statement by the attorney general carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.

The attorney general said Saudi Arabia had twice submitted formal requests for evidence from Turkey -- where Khashoggi was murdered inside the kingdom's Istanbul consulate -- but had received no response.

The names of the 11 defendants have not been officially released.

Khashoggi, a contributor to the Washington Post, was murdered on October 2 in what Riyadh called a "rogue" operation.

The 59-year-old Saudi insider-turned-critic was strangled and his body cut into pieces by a team of 15 Saudis sent to Istanbul for the killing, according to Turkish officials.

There have been reports that his remains, which have never been found, were dissolved in acid.

The consulate and the residence were searched by the Turkish authorities in October along with several other locations.

Ankara has sought the extradition of the suspects in Saudi custody to stand trial in Turkey but its requests have been repeatedly rebuffed by Riyadh.

The US Central Intelligence Agency has reportedly concluded that the kingdom's de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, very likely ordered Khashoggi's murder.

But in November the Saudi attorney general ruled out any involvement by the young crown prince, whose reformist credentials abroad have been seriously tarnished by the killing.
Protests broke out after police escorted two women into a flashpoint temple in the southern Indian state of Kerala on Wednesday

Clashes broke out in southern India for a second day Thursday as Hindu hardliners went on the rampage, seeking to enforce a general shutdown in protest at two women entering one of the country's holiest temples.

A day after violence among rival groups and with police left one man dead and 15 people injured, authorities said that 266 protestors had been arrested across the state of Kerala.

Anger erupted among Hindu traditionalists on Wednesday after news that the two women in their 40s, escorted by police and dressed in black, wrong-footed devotees to sneak into the Sabarimala temple via a side entrance before dawn to pray.

Kerala

This was the first time that any woman of menstruating age -- deemed as those aged between 10 and 50 -- had set foot in the gold-plated temple, located on a hilltop in a tiger reserve, since India's Supreme Court overturned a ban in September.

Thousands of Hindu devotees, many of them female, had previously succeeded in preventing women from accessing the site in the weeks following the landmark ruling, with some hardliners throwing stones at police and assaulting female journalists.

On Tuesday, tens of thousands of women, in a local government-backed initiative, had braved harassment to form a huge human chain called the "Women's Wall" across Kerala to back the demand for access to the temple.

Kerala police told AFP that the man who died on Wednesday was part of a demonstration organised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

- 'Battle zone' -

Kerala's chief minister said later that the man, Chandran Unnithan, died from a heart attack after being taken injured to hospital, but a later post mortem report said he died from injuries sustained to the head.

Police on Wednesday had used tear gas and water cannon, including in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram, as protestors set fire to tyres and blocked roads.

As soon as news of Wednesday's breach spread, the temple head priest ordered the shrine closed for a purification ritual

On Thursday, police clashed with protestors pressuring shop owners to comply with a call by the Sabarimala temple hierarchy for a dawn-til-dusk "hartal" shutdown.

Most shops remained shut in the state, while bus services came to a standstill.

Four people were stabbed, media reports said, with stone-throwing protestors smashing the windows of 99 buses and causing an estimated 33.5 million rupees ($480,000) worth of damage. In the coastal city of Kozhikode police used tear gas to disperse protestors.

Twenty offices of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), which governs Kerala in a left-wing alliance, were attacked, said Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, state party secretary.

Journalists were assaulted in the city of Palakkad during a march organised by the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a hardline Hindu group and ideological mentor of Modi's party.

Thousands of Hindu devotees, many of them female, had previously succeeded in preventing women from accessing the site in recent weeks

Kerala's Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan accused the BJP and the RSS of trying to turn Sabarimala into a "battle zone", saying that more than 100 people including 38 police officers had been injured.

Vijayan also slammed the head priest of the Sabarimala temple for carrying out a "purification ritual" after the two women entered the site, saying he should quit if he is not prepared to accept the Supreme Court verdict.

The restriction on women at the temple, atop a 3,000-feet (915-metre) hill that takes hours to climb, reflects a belief -- not exclusive to Hinduism -- that menstruating women are impure.

September's verdict was the latest progressive ruling from India's top court, with judges also overturning bans on gay sex and adultery last year.

The Sabarimala temple complex is located on a hilltop in a tiger reserve in Kerala state

The Supreme Court is to start hearing a legal challenge on its ruling to allow women into the temple from January 22.

Women are still barred from a handful of Hindu temples in India. The entry of women at Sabarimala was taboo for generations and formalised by the Kerala High Court in 1991.
Nancy Pelosi, set to take over as speaker of the US House, has introduced new measures that would fund closed-down agencies, but she and other Democrats will likely continue sparring with Republicans over border wall funding

Democrats on Thursday took over the US House of Representatives, ushering in a new era of divided government in Washington with the goal of checking Donald Trump's turbulent presidency.

Battle-tested Nancy Pelosi was poised to take over as speaker of the House as a partial federal government shutdown over Trump's insistence that lawmakers fund a southern border wall neared the two-week mark.

The end of Trump's one-party rule in Washington lent air to Democrats deflated after the bombastic Republican's 2016 victory.

In excerpts of the speech she was to deliver to the House later Thursday, Pelosi vowed the new Congress would be "bipartisan and unifying" and "will debate and advance good ideas no matter where they come from."

"In that spirit, Democrats will be offering the Senate Republican appropriations legislation to re-open government later today -- to meet the needs of the American people, and to protect our borders," she said.

But such cross-aisle hand-holding appeared unlikely as the US president continued to dig in over his demand that Congress approve a $5-billion plan to construct a US-Mexico border wall aimed at thwarting illegal immigration -- with Democrats appearing unlikely to appease him.

Progressives will be eager to push back with greater effect against an administration they believe has overstepped its authority and abused power in the nearly two years since Trump's inauguration.

They will have that opportunity, as congressional panels will be led by chairmen who have pledged to probe topics such as Trump's income taxes, his firing of attorney general Jeff Sessions, and the president's ties to Vladimir Putin.

Incoming chairpersons have signaled that Trump will face a barrage of investigations that could bog down a White House already besieged by Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia collusion probe, draining energy from the administration's agenda and foiling Trump's message.

But while the "blue wave" swept dozens of House Republicans out of Congress last November, Trump's party managed to modestly expand its majority in the Senate to 53-47, meaning Washington gridlock is almost certain to deepen.

- Not 'stirring the pot' -

California Democrat Nancy Pelosi is expected to win her speaker election Thursday afternoon

Among the first tasks of the 116th Congress will be ending a nearly two-week government shutdown that has left one quarter of federal agencies shuttered due to lapsed funding.

Trump has said he would not sign a spending bill that does not include $5.6 billion for construction of a wall on the US-Mexico border.

Pelosi has introduced new measures that would fund the agencies, but she noted that they "contain no new wall funding," a move the White House -- and leaders in the Republican-controlled Senate -- dismissed as a non-starter.

"Democrats will have to get serious about border security so that a government funding agreement may be reached that can pass the House, earn 60 votes here in the Senate, and receive a presidential signature," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement.

"All three of these things are needed. One partisan vote in the House tomorrow won't solve anything."

The House and Senate gavel into session Thursday at noon (1700 GMT), with the new Congress sworn in shortly thereafter. Pelosi is expected to win her speaker election in the early afternoon.

She will preside over the most diverse Congress in history. One hundred House freshmen will take the oath of office, including trailblazers like New York's Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who at 29 is the youngest woman ever elected to Congress.

The first two Native American women and first two Muslim women were also elected.

The House and Senate will each have a record number of female members come Thursday.

Democrats will move early to protect coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, a popular feature of the Affordable Care Act that a judge in Texas recently struck down.

House Democrats are thumbing their nose at Trump by establishing a special committee on climate so the government can better respond to the urgency of global warming.

Hovering in the background in Washington will be the threat of impeachment, and it is almost certain that some Democrats will introduce proceedings to remove Trump from office.

Even if Democrats believe some of Trump's actions clear the threshold of "high crimes and misdemeanors," Pelosi has downplayed the prospects of impeachment.

"It would be very divisive," she told Elle magazine. "It's not something that I'm stirring the pot on."
Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi receives rousing applause as the new Congress opens -- and she retakes the leadership of the lower chamber

Twelve years ago, Nancy Pelosi made history as the first woman elected speaker of the US House of Representatives.

On Thursday, the tough-as-nails Democrat once again became America's most powerful elected woman in a comeback for the political history books.

Keeping Donald Trump in check will be among her top challenges as she presides over the House through the 2020 elections, when her party aims to dethrone the Republican commander-in-chief.

Following November's election that saw Democrats win back the House, she is again the nation's third most senior official and one of the great survivors in American politics.

To reclaim the speaker's gavel she lost eight years ago, the 78-year-old California power broker diligently plotted a remarkable comeback that has impressed her allies and opponents alike.

"She's a worthy adversary," congressman Mark Meadows, chairman of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, told AFP.

"Ideologically, we couldn't be further apart," he added. "But you know, at this point, elections have consequences."

Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi shakes hands with Republican Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, whom she defeated in a floor vote

On Thursday, a smiling Pelosi -- resplendent in red -- won the floor vote over top Republican Kevin McCarthy.

In her opening speech to a new Congress, she said she was "particularly proud" to take the gavel with a record number of women lawmakers on Capitol Hill and in 2019, 100 years after American women secured the right to vote.

That she is the new speaker in the #MeToo era -- and the opponent-in-chief to a brash president accused by multiple women of abuse or harassment over the years -- reflects the increasing influence of women on the nation's political process.

- 'They need each other' -

Nancy Pelosi was first elected to Congress in 1987 in a special election in California

Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro was born in March 1940 in Baltimore to a political family with Italian roots. Both her father and brother were mayors of the East Coast port city.

After studying political science in Washington, she moved with her husband to San Francisco, where they raised five children.

First elected to the House in 1987, Pelosi represents California's 12th congressional district including San Francisco -- a stronghold of left-wing politics, counter-culture and gay rights regarded by many heartland conservatives as a true Gomorrah.

She rose through the ranks to first become minority leader for the Democrats in 2003.

Pelosi assumed the speakership for the first time in 2007, during the presidency of George W Bush. She was a strong opposing force to the Republican leader, and her role as a check on Trump will be similar.

But she will also need to tightly corral her own caucus, where some progressives are seeking swift punitive measures against Trump in the coming months.

In her reprised role, she will have to thread a political needle, standing up to Trump when needed but also showing that her party is capable of working with the president to pass legislation.

"I think they both know that if they're going to do some of the things that they need to do, they need each other," House Democrat Debbie Dingell said.

Profile of Nancy Pelosi, who is once again the speaker of the US House of Representatives

Pelosi and the Democratic leadership would have the power to block Republican legislation, hamstringing large parts of Trump's agenda ranging from proposed new tax cuts to building a wall on the border with Mexico.

And Pelosi could make life miserable for Trump if she uses subpoena power to compel administration officials to testify before Congress or turn over key documents -- or if she launches impeachment proceedings.

So far, she has spoken out against using such a powerful political cudgel against him, arguing that the explosive step would likely mobilize Republican voters eager to protect the president.

Pelosi's immediate task? Finding a way to help end a standoff over Trump's border wall demand that has led to a partial government shutdown that is nearly two weeks old.

- 'Don't do that to me!' -

US President Donald Trump (R) listens as Nancy Pelosi speaks before a meeting at the White House in December 2018 -- she is now his opponent-in-chief in a divided government

Pelosi is unquestionably among the savviest political leaders of her generation. She shepherded then president Barack Obama's signature health care law through the House to its contentious, historic passage in 2010.

Perhaps for that reason she is vilified by Republicans.

Conservatives depict Pelosi, the wife of an investment millionaire, as the embodiment of a leftist elite.

She is accused of everything from wanting to raise taxes for middle-class families to supporting a massive influx of illegal immigrants.

"Can you imagine Nancy Pelosi as speaker of the House?" Trump asked a crowd at a Minnesota rally in October. "Don't do that to me!"

Within her own party, resistance stems from Pelosi's broad unpopularity among voters. She was forced to navigate simmering party unease that saw dozens of House Democrats and candidates signaling a desire for change at the top.

But in an interview published Wednesday, she pushed back at the notion that she is reviled.

"I don't necessarily feel hated. I feel respected," she told Elle magazine. "They wouldn't come after me if I were not effective."

Dingell says Pelosi has developed a thick skin to weather the constant attacks, describing her friend as "a tough lady."
Most North Korean diplomats serving overseas are normally required to leave several family members -- typically children -- behind in Pyongyang to prevent their defection while working abroad

North Korea's top diplomat in Italy has sought asylum and gone into hiding, Seoul lawmakers told reporters after a closed-door meeting with South Korean intelligence officials on Thursday.

It would mark the latest high-profile defection by a senior North Korean envoy since the deputy ambassador in London abandoned his post in 2016.

"Acting ambassador Jo Song Gil's term was ending in late November last year and he escaped the diplomatic compound in early November" with his wife, lawmaker Kim Min-ki told reporters.

Jo, 48, has been acting ambassador in Rome since October 2017 after Italy expelled the then ambassador Mun Jong Nam in protest at a North Korean nuclear test a month earlier in violation of UN resolutions.

Italy is an important diplomatic mission for Pyongyang, as it handles relations with the Rome-headquartered UN Food and Agriculture Organization and North Korea suffers from chronic food shortages.

Another member of the South Korean parliament, Lee Eun-jae, told reporters that the National Intelligence Service (NIS) had confirmed the envoy had sought asylum, but did not appear to know his whereabouts.

A source close to the Italian foreign ministry told AFP on Thursday the country had "no knowledge" of any asylum request from Jo.

The source said the ministry had simply received a request for the "replacement" of the diplomat, but did not know Jo's whereabouts, adding that the replacement had arrived in Rome.

The NIS briefing to lawmakers came after South Korea's JoongAng Ilbo daily reported that Jo had sought asylum in an unidentified Western country with his family.

"He sought asylum early last month," the JoongAng quoted a diplomatic source in Seoul as saying.

Italian authorities were "agonising" over what to do, the official was cited as saying, but added that they were "protecting him in a safe place".

- 'Privileged family' -

Jo is "known to be a son or son-in-law of one of the highest-level officials in the North's regime", the JoongAng cited an unnamed North Korea expert as saying.

Most North Korean diplomats serving overseas are normally required to leave several family members -- typically children -- behind in Pyongyang to prevent their defection while working abroad.

Jo however came to Rome in May 2015 with his wife and children, suggesting he may be from a privileged family, the JoongAng said, adding the reason for his defection bid was still unclear.

Relations between the nuclear-armed North and South Korea improved markedly last year after the tensions of 2017, with the two countries' leaders meeting three times.

Jo's defection, if confirmed, would not impact inter-Korean ties, said Koh Yu-hwan, professor of North Korean studies at Dongguk University in Seoul, "unless Pyongyang thinks the escape was arranged by South Korean authorities".

The former deputy ambassador to London who defected in 2016, Thae Yong Ho, said at the time that he had switched sides partly to give his three children a better future after being ordered to return to the North.

Pyongyang denounced him in vitriolic terms, calling him "human scum", but did not demand his repatriation.

The Kim dynasty has ruled the impoverished North for three generations with little tolerance for dissent, and the regime stands accused of widespread human rights abuses.
Ajla Tomjlanovic has gone down swinging in the Brisbane International quarter-finals in a topsy-turvy three-set battle with world No.8 Karolina Pliskova.

Australia's final female hope fell 6-1 1-6 6-1 on Friday in a curious contest that lasted just 84 minutes and featured violent swings in momentum in each set.

The world No.46 was smothered in the first set by the tournament's fifth seed, before turning the tables in a brutal second set display only to see history repeat itself in the decider.
The genes passed to us by our parents play a bigger role in the body's disease-fighting ability than scientists previously thought.

New evidence suggests genetic factors may be the key to how effectively and efficiently the body builds and deploys disease-fighting molecules, Queensland researchers have found.

This means scientists might be able to intervene and give people strong immunities.

Associate Professor John Miles says previously the environment around us was thought to be the main factor behind our ability to fight viruses.

"(Scientists thought) it didn't matter so much about your genetics, it mattered more about what you were exposed to in your household, but this shows the power (to fight disease) is controlled by genetics," he told AAP on Friday.

The team studied thousands of identical twins and their siblings' response to six common viruses, including Glandular fever.

By studying each family's response to the viruses, they were able to determine that a strong immune response is passed from our parents in their genes.

"These genes determine whether you mount an intense or weak immune response when confronted with a viral infection," he said.

"And, the stronger the response the better able you are of not getting infected."

Prof Miles says the team is now working to identify the genes responsible for a strong immune response.

"Because then we can work out the pathways and artificially give people (the strong) response - we can intervene," he said.

"We're uncovering the secrets of the immune system so we can control them in the future to give everyone a strong immune response."

The research was published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

It was conducted in partnership with JCU's Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine and the University of Queensland's Diamantina Institute.
Former world No.1 Garbine Muguruza has put aside a thigh injury to beat France's Alize Cornet in straight sets in their Hopman Cup rubber in Perth.

Spain's Muguruza, ranked 18th, left the court on Friday when leading 3-0 in the first set to receive treatment and returned eight minutes later with strapping high on her left thigh.

Cornet was clearly struggling too and, after losing the first set 6-1, also required treatment on her back.

The Spaniard looked set for an easy victory when she jumped to a 3-0 lead in the second set also, but Cornet managed to break back before finally losing 6-1 6-3.

Neither Spain nor France has qualified for Saturday night's final.

Dual grand slam champion Muguruza is scheduled to complete her Australian Open preparations at the Sydney International, starting on Sunday, while Cornet is expected to be in action from Saturday at the Hobart International.
The Queensland Resources Council and the CFMEU have joined forces to oppose a Greens' federal bill to ban coal mining in the Galilee Basin - where Adani has a giant coal project ready to go.

QRC chief Ian Macfarlane says the bill in the senate would cost jobs without having any impact on global demand for thermal coal.

If ever made law, Senator Larissa Waters's bill would permanently ban the mining of all coal in the Galilee Basin and stop the Adani Carmichael mine from starting operations.
Hundreds of police including the dog and mounted squads will swarm St Kilda conducting weapons searches in a bid to quell violence at the popular Melbourne beach.

Convicted criminals Blair Cottrell and Neil Erikson want to gather a mob of far-right extremists at the beach on Saturday to "discuss" Melbourne's youth crime problem, but the event has sparked the interest of anti-racism protesters and subsequently, police.

"Let me be clear - there will be hundreds of police there, there will be specialist police, there will be the dog squad, the mounted squad, the transit teams, the public order response teams, they will be conducting weapons searches," Police Minister Lisa Neville told reporters on Friday.
An uncontrolled bushfire is posing a high risk to several townships in Tasmania's south, on a day of scorching temperatures.

Authorities on Friday morning urged people at Maydena, Tyenna and National Park to enact their bushfire plans to evacuate or prepare to defend their properties.

The bushfire, burning about 20km in wilderness to the north of the communities, may put homes at high risk in the next two to three hours, the state fire service says. A watch and act alert is in place.
Australia's media watchdog has only ever received one complaint from a communications minister about content on the ABC, answers to the Senate reveal.

A segment aired on the since-cancelled program Tonightly with Tom Ballard last March landed the broadcaster in hot water with Communications Minister Mitch Fifield for using coarse language directed at an Australian Conservatives party candidate.

Acting on the first complaint of its kind since its inception in 2005, the Australian Communications and Media Authority found the coarse language was offensive but editorially justified and acceptable within a MA15+ classification.
Residents of Sydney's cracked Opal Tower are considering launching a class action against those found to be responsible for the building's faults.

The Sydney Olympic Park apartment tower was evacuated on Christmas Eve after cracks were found in the structure, with residents still kept out of the building while an investigation into the problem continues.

Shine Lawyers national special counsel for class actions Jan Saddler said the firm had held talks with some residents, who were angry and anxious about their investment.

"Yes it would, at a very high level at least, look like there would be grounds or the basis for bringing a class action in this particular case subject of course to what is discovered," Ms Saddler told AAP on Friday.

"Overwhelmingly the concern and feeling is one of fear, uncertainty, then you get into those people who are very angry and frustrated."

Ms Saddler said the law firm was awaiting the outcome of both the government inquiry into the tower problems and a review commissioned by the developer before taking things further.

"We've spoken to residents, obviously everyone needs to see the outcome of the report," she said.

People have voiced their frustration on a Facebook group for Opal Tower residents and owners over the lack of information being provided to them.

"We still don't have an answer to the main question about the reason of those concrete panels failures," one person wrote in the group.

"We thankfully do not own our apartment but I feel for people who do own with this situation and can imagine how many questions people have," said another.
An alleged axe-wielding carjacker who forced a woman from her four-wheel drive on the NSW Central Coast is among three people under police guard in hospital following a road crash.

A 36-year old woman in a Mitsubishi Pajero pulled over on Wakefield Road, Ryhope, just after 3pm on Thursday when she was threatened by a man with an axe, police said.

The axe-wielding man and another man and woman then stole the vehicle and drove off.

Officers attempted an intercept after reports of a vehicle being driven erratically on the M1 near Warnervale, but stopped their pursuit due to safety concerns.

The 4WD was later found at the intersection of Sparks Road and Minnesota Road after a colliding with a car whose sole occupant sustained minor injuries.

The three assailants - two men aged 32 and 20, and a 22-year-old woman, were arrested and taken to John Hunter Hospital, also with minor injuries.

Police inquiries suggest the trio had dumped a stolen vehicle from Queensland on the M1 at Ryhope shortly before the 4WD theft.
South Australia police have charged a teenager in connection with a fatal car crash in Adelaide's north last month.

A 19-year-old Salisbury man who died at the scene was the passenger of a silver 2001 Ford sedan that crashed near McIntyre Road just after 10.30pm on December 19.

The crash happened after an unmarked police patrol tried to stop the car having allegedly spotted it travelling at high speed.

The police car activated its emergency lights and sirens but it allegedly accelerated away with officers ending the chase before the driver of the sedan lost control and plunged into trees in a creek bed.

The driver, an 18-year-old man from Salisbury East, was rushed to the Royal Adelaide Hospital in a serious condition.

He was arrested on Wednesday evening (January 3) and charged with aggravated causing death by dangerous driving, dangerous driving to engage in police pursuit, drive disqualified and breach of bail. He is expected to appear in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Friday.

A 54-year-old man who allegedly interfered in the driver's arrest was charged with hinder police and resist arrest and has been bailed to appear in Elizabeth Magistrates Court on January 31.
Being an Australian Open favourite may not sit well with Japan's Naomi Osaka.

But the US Open champion better get used to it after admitting she gained the confidence boost she needed before the year's opening grand slam with a stirring Brisbane International quarter-final victory.

Whether she likes it or not, world No.5 Osaka moved to second in Australian Open betting behind Serena Williams after pulling off a stunning three-set comeback win over eighth-seeded Latvian Anastasija Sevastova in Brisbane.

The second seed was the first woman into the Brisbane semis.

She also promptly became one of the first players tipped to lift the 2019 grand slam crown in Melbourne.

Told by media that she was considered in the mix to add to her grand slam tally later this month, the modest 21-year-old Osaka simply said: "Oh okay, that's new."

But few could argue after she held off world No.11 and US Open semi-finalist Sevastova at Pat Rafter Arena.

And Osaka certainly didn't ensure a low profile with punters after claiming the victory over the crafty Sevastova was just what she needed before Melbourne.

Shellshocked after losing the first set in 33 minutes, Osaka rattled off 12 of the final 16 games to book a semi-final clash with unseeded Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko in Brisbane.

"I just really wanted to play this match knowing that I would have long rallies and knowing that she would be hitting tricky shots," Osaka said.

"This match was really important because I think that I can handle power players pretty well.

"But it was always harder to hit against people like her, because I don't really know what's coming next.

"So I think that this match was a good confidence booster."

Osaka's victory ensured she had made at least the semi-final round in four of her last five tournaments, extending her stellar run since becoming the first Japanese player to claim a grand slam last year.

Pressed on being considered an Australian Open contender, Osaka said: "I'm not really sure how to answer that question.

"Because, truthfully, the US Open is the first grand slam I played where I made like the quarter-finals or higher.

"For me, my main goal is to show consistency and I'm really happy with this tournament so far."

Still, it's hard to argue with Osaka's Aussie Open claims.

She conceded just five points and made one unforced error to win the second set against Sevastova 6-0 in Brisbane.

Then she dug deep when Sevastova fought back in the third.

"I feel like right now I'm really confident in myself, and I feel like the off-season training that I've been doing is really paying off," Osaka said.
If you can smell burning rubber in Canberra on Thursday be alarmed - but only because a world record attempt for the most simultaneous burnouts is being made.

More than 120 cars are expected to take part in the attempt at the Summernats car festival in the nation's capital on Friday.

The festival is hoping to clinch back the record which is now held by Saudi Arabia, after its national day activities in 2017 saw 119 cars burn out at the same time.

The record was first set at Summernats in 2013 with 69 cars burning rubber.

Summernats spokesman Jos Roder says the cars will be set up "nose to bumper" at Canberra's Exhibition Park on Friday ahead of the attempt.

The event had to open one hour early on its first day on Thursday as there were so many car lovers waiting outside the gates.

"That's always a good sign for the opening day of a festival," Mr Roder told AAP.

More than 100,000 people are expected to pass through the gates over the course of Summernats, which runs until Sunday.

There are more than 5000 entrants at this year's festival.

Friday is expected to reach a top of 37 degrees, before possible rain on Saturday with 35, cooling slightly to 28 on Sunday.
A teenager is expected to be charged after a 24-year-old Taiwanese national described as a "beloved" member of the Church of Scientology was fatally stabbed at its Australasian headquarters in Sydney.

NSW Police say the teenager was asked to leave the Chatswood religious centre about midday on Thursday in relation to a domestic incident unrelated to the church and while being escorted down the driveway produced a sharp 25-centimetre long kitchen knife.

The 16-year-old male allegedly used the knife to stab the Taiwanese male in the neck and caused lacerations to an older man who was escorting him from the premises, Detective Chief Inspector Simon Jones said.

Police officers arrested the teenager after drawing their stun guns as ambulance and fire crew arrived on the scene.

Det Chief Insp Jones said the assailant was of "Asian descent". News footage showed him being led away by police with his cuffed hands inside evidence bags.

The two injured men - who police described as Scientology employees - were taken to Royal North Shore Hospital.

The 24-year-old died at the hospital. The other man, aged 30, is in a stable condition.

A Scientology spokeswoman described the 24-year-old victim as a "beloved" member of the church.

The massive 13,500 square metre building - which was opened in September 2016 - is the largest Scientology centre outside the United States.

The site formerly housed the National Acoustic Laboratory and was purchased by the church for a reported $37 million in 2014.
Tasmanians are preparing for a day of scorching, dry and windy weather, with authorities warning of a severe fire risk for parts of the island state.

Hobart is expected to reach 36 degrees on Friday, with Campania and Brighton tipped to hit 39.

"Those temperatures are 10 to 15 degrees warmer than what we'd expect at this time of the year," climatologist Ian Barnes-Keoghan said.

Extra firefighters and equipment are on standby, with the east coast, southeast, midlands and Upper Derwent Valley rated a severe fire risk.

A total fire ban is in place for the eastern half of the state.

The mercury is likely to peak around 2pm, before an afternoon cool change brings relief to Hobart and sweeps up the east coast.

Friday is the sixth anniversary of the Dunalley bushfires that destroyed hundreds of homes in the state's southeast.

Popular national park tracks at Mt Field, Freycinet and Maria Island have been closed due to the extreme heat.
Victorians are set to bake as temperatures soar across the state with thunderstorms, strong winds and fire risks adding to the potentially deadly conditions.

Mildura, Swan Hill, Kerang and Echuca in the state's northwest, are tipped to hit 46C while Bendigo heads to a top of 45C and Melbourne is forecast to reach 42C on Friday.

A cool change will bring welcome relief for some areas later in the day but may bring wind gusts up to 100km/h with the potential to exacerbate fires.

Thunderstorms are also expected in parts of central and eastern Victoria in the late afternoon, with the possibility of dry lightning strikes posing a risk of fire.

A total fire ban has been issued for Victoria with extreme fire warnings for the Mallee and the Wimmera.

"If a fire starts it's going to be uncontrollable, it's going to be fast-moving," Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said.

But the conditions across the state could prove fatal.

"There will be scores of people who have cardiac arrest or who present in a really severe state by ambulance," Victoria's acting Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said.

Parents are again being told not to leave children in the car on hot days, as they could be unconscious in minutes.
Wells Adams is not engaged to Sarah Hyland, though it will be happening in the near future.

While promoting his new Pratt Cast podcast with The Hills star Stephanie Pratt, Adams, 34, said that he does plan on popping the question to Hyland, 28, 'eventually.'

'Everyone thinks [Sarah and I are] engaged right now.  We are not engaged, let me just say that,' Adams confirmed to US Weekly.

Wedding bells in the future: Wells Adams confirms he isn't engaged to girlfriend Sarah Hyland yet, but that will happen, 'eventually.'

'We just moved in together, so I think we're still kind of, like, feeling each other out, but it's gonna happen eventually,' Adams added.

He admitted, 'I gotta get the ring,' adding that the piece of jewelry Hyland was seen wearing recently in her Instagram story was not an engagement ring.

'She just had a bunch of Claire's rings on when we went to Mexico,' Adams explained.

Eventual bride and groom: 'We just moved in together, so I think we're still kind of, like, feeling each other out, but it's gonna happen eventually,' Adams added

'We are not engaged,' he continued, 'but it's definitely going to happen.

Hyland herself seems to be thinking about wedding bells as well, according to a recent Instagram post.

The actress' Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments co-star Matthew Daddario celebrated his one-year anniversary with Esther Kim, with Hyland commenting, 'Next marriage is me ok???'

Wedding vibes: Hyland herself seems to be thinking about wedding bells as well, according to a recent Instagram post

Hyland and Adams, who starred in The Bachelor and Bachelor in Paradise, have been dating since October 2017, and they started living together in August 2018.

The actress had a rather difficult year in 2018, having a second kidney transplant while also suffering the sudden loss of her cousin, with Adams praising her strength in December.

'Sarah is the strongest woman Ive ever met,' Adams said. 'Imagine having a vital organ replaced. Imagine having 16 surgeries, going to hundreds of doctors visits and taking thousands of pills.'

Strong couple: The actress had a rather difficult year in 2018, having a second kidney transplant while also suffering the sudden loss of her cousin, with Adams praising her strength in December

'Imagine losing crazy weight because of dialysis, medication side effects and stress,' Adams continued.

'Then imagine, having to do it all over again. This time keeping it quiet while you recovered, all while trolls on the internet judged you for your appearance,' he added.

'Oh, and throw in filming the funniest show on TV and executive producing and starring in a movie  and never breaking down. Never losing it. I know Gal Gadot is Wonder Woman on film, but Sarah is the real-life version,' Adams concluded.
She's been on the talent show circuit for years with stints on the judging panels of Strictly Come Dancing and Britain's Got Talent.

And now Alesha Dixon is the host of BBC One's new Saturday night offering - The Greatest Dancer.

The star certainly made an impression during her debut on the show this weekend, which sees her team up with Diversity's Jordan Banjo to host alongside Dance Captains Cheryl, Glee's Matthew Morrison and Strictly pro Oti Mabuse.

Hilarious: Alesha Dixon is the host of BBC One's new Saturday night offering - The Greatest Dancer and the star certainly made an impression during her debut on the show this weekend

The concept of the show sees aspiring dance acts head to what they think is a studio audition, but behind the set the dance captains along with a huge audience are watching.

Audience members vote if they like what they see and if the performer gains 75% likes, the set falls away to reveal the Dance Captains, who will go on to work with different acts in a bid to win the show.

Frobacks were the first performers on the debut show, with their sizzling routine sending the audience and Cheryl and co wild, especially when the hunky male troupe ripped off their shirts.

What a start: Frobacks were the first performers on the debut show, with their sizzling routine sending the audience wild, especially when the hunky male troupe ripped off their shirts

Shock: Oti Mabuse was almost lost for words when she gave her feedback prompting a hilarious comment from Alesha who quipped: 'if we weren't black, we'd be red right now'

Fans: The comment had viewers 'screaming' as one tweeted: 'If we weren't black, we'd be red right now" was genuinely said on prime time television on the BBC. 2019 is WILD!'

While Cheryl was seen gyrating to the sexy routine, Oti was almost lost for words when she gave her feedback prompting a hilarious comment from Alesha who quipped: 'if we weren't black, we'd be red right now'.

The comment had viewers 'screaming' as one tweeted: 'If we weren't black, we'd be red right now" was genuinely said on prime time television on the BBC. 2019 is WILD!'

Another wrote: 'If we weren't both black we'd be red" - is amazing. The fact that one black woman can make that joke to another is a small example of why diversity on TV matters.'

Quip: Others were huge fans of Alesha and Oti's banter as one exclaimed: 'i actually love this show already and i am LIVING for oti x alesha'

Sizzling: The male dancers got the show off to a very impressive start with their routine

Lost for words: Dance Captain Cheryl was seen looking spellbound by the performance

Others were huge fans of Alesha and Oti's banter as one exclaimed: 'i actually love this show already and i am LIVING for oti x alesha.'

Before the show on Saturday night, Oti answered a fan on Twitter who was excited to see her and Alesha together on screen, as the Strictly pro gushed:

'Yesss! Shes my absolute idol Queen mega inspiration ( can you tell its embarrassing) i adore her.'
She recently split from Max Morely after just three months together.

And Laura Anderson stepped out looking glum as she headed to the airport on Saturday before flying off to Dubai.

The Love Island 2018 contestant, 29, showed off her natural radiance as she went make-up free with her blonde locks swept back into a casual ponytail.

Sad: Love Island star Laura Anderson stepped out looking glum as she headed to the airport on Saturday before flying off to Dubai

She clad her figure in a white hoody and blue bottoms which she teamed with crisp white trainers.

The beauty was pictured dropping off pooch Buddy at a pal's house before she flew off for a few days of vitamin D.

The solo outing comes as Laura and her beau Max split after fears 'he was unfaithful to her'.

Last month a source told The Sun: 'It just wasnt the right time for Laura and Max. They werent working so decided to end things sooner rather than later.

Simple: The Love Island 2018 contestant, 29, showed off her natural radiance as she went make-up free with her blonde locks swept back into a casual ponytail

Break-up: The solo outing comes as Laura and her beau Max split after fears 'he was unfaithful to her'

'They were yet to make their relationship official and werent boyfriend and girlfriend  but were still meant to be exclusive.

'Laura doesnt believe Max was trustworthy and has been told he was disloyal during their time together so has made the decision to block him on Instagram in order to move on.'

Max previously won Love Island in 2015 with Jessica Hayes and the source added that Laura now wants to stay away form former contestants of the reality show in the future.

The couple looked more loved up than ever on a recent trip to Barbados earlier this month.

Better off apart: Last month a source told The Sun: 'It just wasnt the right time for Laura and Max. They werent working so decided to end things sooner rather than later'

The pair were seen frolicking on the beach during their stay on the Caribbean island but were said to be on the rocks since then after a tense row.

Max previously took to the social media site to deny claims the couple were set to split.

He clarified: 'Me and Laura had a fantastic Holiday in Barbados's and are very much looking forward to Christmas...me and Laura are good!'

Laura embarked on her romance with Max following her traumatic split from Love Island co-star Paul Knops in October.
They've been visiting Miami where they recently bought a new luxury condo.

And Kim Kardashian and Kanye West stopped off twice for a bite to eat while they made their way to a private jet on Saturday.

The rapper, 41, and reality TV sensation, 38, had their SUV go through a McDonald's drive-thru and later headed to pick up more snacks at a Checker's drive-thru - a far cry from their Health nut salads or Michelin-starred meals.

Hungry! Kim Kardashian and Kanye West stopped off twice for a bite to eat while they made their way to a private jet on Saturday

Bombshell: As usual with the Kardashian-Wests, the couple did it in style, with Kim looking sensational in a watercolour effect skintight dress with a sexy thigh-high slit

As usual with the Kardashian-Wests, the couple did it in style, with Kim looking sensational in a watercolour effect skintight dress with a sexy thigh-high slit and some strappy turquoise stiletto heels.

Meanwhile, husband Kanye, stood out in a fluorescent yellow T-shirt with grey slacks and a navy jacket.

However, at one point Kim accidentally flashed her Spanx as her clingy dress rode up her leg.

Fave! Back in November, Kanye tweeted that McDonald's was his favourite restaurant

While visiting her then-pregnant sister Khloe in February last year, Kim was spotted going through a McDonald's drive thru in Cleveland, in a black Rolls Royce.

And in July 2017, Khloe filmed the A-list couple tucking into McDonald's aboard a private jet.

In November, Kanye tweeted that McDonald's was his favourite restaurant - and Kimye have been spotted dining there on various occasions.

Fluorescent: Kanye, stood out in a fluorescent yellow T-shirt with grey slacks and a navy jacket

On Friday, the couple held hands as they browsed some of the upscale stores in the area including high-end boutique The Webster before their flight.

Meanwhile, the influencers were spotted touring the new $14 million condo that Kanye bought for Kim for Christmas.

They beamed big smiles as they checked out the view from the balcony and kissed in front of onlookers.

The 4,700 sq ft luxury condo is located in the 18-story Faena House building, also known as the Billionaire Beach Bunker.

The multi-million dollar beachfront property has four bedrooms with five-and-a-half bathrooms and a huge terrace.

According to TMZ the duo want to split their time between Miami and their mansion in Hidden Hills, Los Angeles.

Happy: On Friday the couple were spotted touring the new $14 million condo that Kanye bought for Kim for Christmas

The home, which was listed by Miami Condo Investments, was originally on the market for $15.5 million but they secured it for $14 million.

The trip to Florida comes amid news that Kim and Kanye are expecting a baby boy in May via another surrogate.

They are already parents to North, five, Saint, three, and Chicago who they welcomed via a surrogate in January 2018.

Double trouble: The rapper, 41, and reality TV sensation, 38, has their SUV go through a McDonald's drive-thru and later headed to pick up more snacks at a Checker's drive-thru

Not their usual! Usually spotted eating salad and dining at five star restaurants, the couple satisfied their hunger with a completely different approach on Saturday

Exciting news! The trip to Florida comes amid news that Kim and Kanye are expecting a baby boy in May via another surrogate

TMZ revealed that they are using a different surrogate for baby number four because their previous surrogate was unavailable.

'They had one male embryo left and are thrilled it worked out,' E! News' insider explained.

Kim had difficult pregnancies with North and Saint due to her condition: Placenta Acrreta, which is life threatening.

The serious condition occurs when the placenta grows too deep into the uterine wall; upon delivery of the child, the placenta fails to detach, which can lead to severe blood loss, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Well-heeled: The curvy reality star wore some sky-high stiletto heels with the dress
He's bravely given an insight into his battle with Parkinson's disease, which he was diagnosed with six years ago.

And Billy Connolly's apologised to fans as he told them 'he's not dying' on a rare video posted on Saturday.

His wife Pamela Stephenson took to Twitter to share the video of the comedian, 76, looking relaxed as he played the banjo, after comments made by Billy about his illness had fans worried earlier this week.

Honest: Billy Connolly's apologised to fans as he told them 'he's not dying' on a rare video posted on Saturday

Talking to the camera he said: 'Not dying, not dead, not slipping away.

'Sorry if I depressed you. Maybe I should have phrased it better.'

The statement was met with a giggle by his wife while Billy continued his melodic trip across the water.

Love: His wife Pamela Stephenson took to Twitter to share the video of the comedian, 76, looking relaxed as he played the banjo

High spirits: Talking to the camera he said: 'Not dying, not dead, not slipping away'

Truth: 'Sorry if I depressed you. Maybe I should have phrased it better'

The video comes as the comedian who was diagnosed in 2013 made an admission in the second part of his BBC documentary series Made In Scotland, earlier this week.

He said: 'There is no denying it, I am 75 [at the time of filming], I have got Parkinsons and I am at the wrong end of the telescope of life, I am at the point where the yesteryears mean more than the yesterdays.

'Because it is back there in my childhood and youth when I go to all those things that made me that live keenest in my memory now. My life, its slipping away and I can feel it and I should.'

Slipping away: Billy revealed on his BBC documentary series Made In Scotland this week, that he feels his 'life is slipping away' as his Parkinson's disease progresses

He added: 'Im 75, Im near the end, Im a damn sight nearer the end than I am the beginning but it doesnt frighten me, its an adventure and it is quite interesting to see myself slipping away.'

The Mirror reported that at certain points in the show, Billy asks the camera to stop filming as he struggles with his symptoms, while in another scene his hand shakes uncontrollably.

Parkinson's disease is a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years.

Words: The 76-year-old comedian, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2013, speaks honestly about the neurological disorder on the show

Referring to his symptoms, he says: 'As bits slip off and leave me, talents leave and attributes leave. I dont have the balance I used to have, I dont have the energy I used to have,' before saying it is as if he is being prepared for 'some other adventure, which is over the hill.'

Billy went on to describe the degenerative disease as him progressively 'losing all' of himself to be on the 'shadowy side of the hill, doing the next episode in the spirit world.

The two-part documentary focuses on intimate interviews with the comedian, providing an unique insight into the early influences and motivations that helped carve his extraordinary career.

Frank: He says: 'There is no denying it, I have got Parkinsons and I am at the wrong end of the telescope of life'

Insight: In certain parts of the show, it is reported that Billy asks the camera to stop filming as he struggles to control his symptoms, while in another scene his hand shakes uncontrollably

The second part of the documentary sees Billy give a refreshingly honest account of life with the disease, saying sometimes he is 'angry' but always ends up 'collapsing into laughter'.

Back in 2013, the comedian revealed he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's and prostate cancer on the same day.

He has since been given the all clear for cancer and moved to Florida with his wife Pamela Stephenson to fight the degenerative disorder.

Candid: Billy gives a refreshingly honest account of life with the disease, saying sometimes he is 'angry' but always ends up collapsing into laughter

Sharing his struggles: After his diagnosis, Billy continued to tour with his stand-up shows until 2017, but said his Parkinson's made him get 'rooted to the spot and afraid to move'

After his diagnosis, Billy continued to tour with his stand-up shows until 2017, but said his Parkinson's made him get 'rooted to the spot and afraid to move'.

The actor said instead of prowling the front of the stage like he used to, he just stood stock-still where he was, with his symptoms weighing on his mind.

Meanwhile, a host of other big names on the comedic circuit guest star in the show to talk about Billy's remarkable 60-year career.

Fellow comedian Eddie Izzard describes his diagnosis as 'rough to hear about' but Billy talking so frankly about the disease 'helps other people'.

Only recently, Billy hit back at Sir Michael Parkinson after the veteran presenter claimed the comedian's brain had 'dulled' due to his battle with Parkinson's.

The broadcaster, 83, said there was a 'sad and awkward' moment during an awards dinner where Sir Billy 'didn't recognise him' and put the encounter down to the disease's effects.

What is Parkinson's? Parkinson's is a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged The three main symptoms are: involuntary shaking (tremor), slow movement, stiff and inflexible muscles As the condition progresses, the symptoms of Parkinson's disease can get worse Parkinson's disease doesn't directly cause people to die, but the condition can place great strain on the body Credit source: NHS Advertisement

But the comedian said he had no idea what Sir Michael was talking about and aimed a swipe at the broadcaster over his adverts for 'over-50s insurance' for Sun Life.

Speaking to the Times, Sir Billy said: 'It was two years since I'd seen him and that occasion was the GQ dinner and I did really well, so what he was talking about I'll never know. He's been selling funerals too long.'

He continued: 'The thing that got me about it was what if it was true? It's still a shitty thing to do. What do you think of Billy Connolly? "Oh, he's f****d."'

While he told Radio Times: 'I wasnt disappointed, it just made my life a bit difficult. People feeling sorry for me, I dont like that.'

The funnyman has two children - Cara, 45, and Jamie, 49, from his first marriage to Iris Pressagh.

Billy and Pamela have three children together - Scarlett, 30, Amy, 32, and Daisy, 34.
Katie Price looked elegant as she attended her best friend Melodie Pope's wedding to partner Jordan Goatley earlier this week.

The hairdresser took to Instagram to reveal that the former glamour model, 40, had pulled out all the stops for her special day and even paid for her to have an unique custom-made dress.

Taking to Instagram to share a picture of herself with Katie and her new husband Jordan, she said: 'Finally a HUGE thank you to this little sex bomb @officialkatieprice You always said you would buy my wedding dress as a gift but never did I think I could design and have my own UNIQUE dress made ....

Sweet: Katie Price looked elegant as she attended her best friend Melodie Pope's wedding to partner Jordan Goatley earlier this week

'Simply overwhelmed by how much I LOVE my dress - pockets and all!! Thank u as it allowed me to feel as comfy and myself as I did - love u @officialkatieprice @recoveryboi.'

In the photo, Katie looked elegant in a lilac bridesmaid dress with lace detailing on the neckline, she teamed the item of clothing with a white fur-looking shawl with pompoms on it.

The television star styled her brunette locks into a sophisticated sweptback hairdo, she added a slick of make-up.

Going all out: The hairdresser took to Instagram to reveal that the former glamour model, 40, had pulled out all the stops for her special day and even paid for her to have an unique custom-made dress

In a different group picture, it showed Katie, who is a mother-of-five, show off her maternal side as she cuddled a baby at the wedding.

Katie's sweet gesture comes after she revealed a brand new, enormous, 500 bow tattoo, which covers the left hand side of her waist and is designed with a large heart at the centre.

The new inking, visible through its protective cellophane wrapping, appeared to be freshly etched into her skin as the glamour model lent against a chair, with her white jumper rolled up to display the tattoo for a photograph.

Maternal: In a different group picture, it showed Katie, who is a mother-of-five, show off her maternal side as she cuddled a baby at the wedding

The former glamour model's tattoo reveal comes as it was reported that she is lining up another boob job, in a bid to have 'nipples like bullets' - similar in style to the Fembots in Austin Powers.

A source close to Katie told The Sun Online she is calling on Belgian Dr Frank Plovier - who she refers to as 'Mr Fix It' - to perform the surgery for free.

The insider said: 'Katie is lining up yet another boob job because she hates the way her breasts look. She calls them Frankent*ts.'

Surgery: The former glamour model's tattoo reveal comes as it was reported that she is lining up another boob job, in a bid to have 'nipples like bullets'

The source also claimed that Katie is desperate to get back the 'perfect' body, which she had when she was just 25 years old and showed off during her stint in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

The insider said: 'She's been saying: "I want the body I had when I was 25 again - that's when I was perfect. I want nipples like bullets - like a Fembot.'

The source also claimed that Katie 'hates' the way her breasts look and complains that they 'get in the way' and make her look 'fat.'

When contacted by MailOnline, a representative for Katie denied this was the case.
She's been enjoying a blissful post-New Year trip to Cabo, Mexico.

And Binky Felstead looked sensational as she shared a bikini clad snap of herself on Instagram on Saturday.

The Made In Chelsea star, 28, rocked a forest green top with burgundy bottoms and showcased her washboard abs to perfection as she walked out of the stunning sea.

Island hopper: Binky Felstead looked sensational as she shared a bikini clad snap of herself on Instagram on Saturday

Earlier in the day she shared a sweet snap of herself cuddling daughter India, 18 months, who looked adorable with her hair swept up in a yellow ribbon.

Binky also shared a snap of the mother-daughter duo on their way to a whale watching excursion with her daughter clad in a sweet rose-print nightdress.

Meanwhile the reality TV star wrapped up in a zebra print duster jacket and showed off her abs in a white crop top and black bottoms.

Doting: Earlier in the day she shared a sweet snap of herself cuddling daughter India, 18 months, who looked adorable with her hair swept up in a yellow ribbon

Enjoying: Binky also shared a snap of the mother-daughter duo on their way to a whale watching excursion with her daughter clad in a sweet rose-print nightdress

On Thursday Binky looked in great spirits as she posed in a racy pink bikini during another blissful day in Cabo.

She showed off her incredible figure in her tiny two piece during her holiday, which she is enjoying with India and the toddler's godfather Anthony.

Binky showed off the results of her regular hours in the gym as she posed up a storm on the beach.

View: Meanwhile the reality TV star wrapped up in a zebra print duster jacket and showed off her abs in a white crop top and black bottoms

Time of her life: Binky looked in great spirits as she posed in a racy pink bikini during another blissful day in Cabo

Her skimpy swimwear flaunted her toned and tanned stomach with it's racy criss-cross design.

She added shades and left her long dark locks loose around her shoulders as she perched on a rock to capture the perfect photo.

'Just me ... standing on top of a rock posing,' the reality star captioned the pic.

Beach life: The star showed off her incredible figure in her tiny two piece during her New Year's holiday

Mini me: Binky is enjoying the Cabo break with her daughter India and the toddler's godfather Anthony

The day before Binky shared some adorable photos of her mini-me daughter India, as the pair matched in 'wild' sweatshirts for a walk on the beach.

The mother and daughter jetted to Cabo with Binky's close friend and India'a godfather Anthony on New Year's Eve, after the star admitted on Instagram:

'Chomping at the bit to get away for New Year - hate New Years in London and feel I very much need SUN & SEA & SAND ! Whos keen to come with ...'

The trio spent Wednesday celebrating Anthony's birthday, as Binky shared a sweet snap of her pal with his goddaughter.

Celebrating: The trio spent Wednesday celebrating Anthony's birthday, as Binky shared a sweet snap of her pal with his goddaughter

As she reflected on the past year on New Year's Day, Binky admitted it had been a tough few months following her split from India's father and her MIC co-star Josh Patterson.

'2018... its safe to say you havent been my favourite year SO BRING ON 2019!!! I want to say a massive thank you for all your continued support, it honestly means the to me. Sending SO much love and HAPPY NEW YEAR from my true angel and love of my life, India .. & I,' Binky told her Instagram followers.

Binky and former co-star Josh confirmed their split in September after three years of off and on dating.

Travelling in style: Binky and India travelled out to Mexico in style, posing for a sweet snap while enjoying their business class seats

The couple were famously tumultuous during their time on Made In Chelsea, but got back together in early 2017 when they found out they were expecting India.

The former pair remain close, but Binky recently admitted she is 'scared' of Josh moving on with a new relationship.

Speaking to The Sun, she explained: 'It was literally a mutual decision. Things hadnt been right for a while, but wed kind of painted over it. I think doing that was unfair on India as well as ourselves. We cant stick together just because we have a baby.

Reflecting: Binky declared that 2018 'hasn't been her favourite' as she posed in a bikini for a beach shot with her little girl on Monday

'Josh will find someone very quickly, and that kind of scares me. The scariest thing for me is thinking about being on my own, and how am I going to meet someone again when I have a baby? Because who wants to think about being on their own'

She added: 'Of course, hopefully one day, but Im not there yet. Im not even thinking about that.'

'As long as Josh and I are in a good place together thats all that matters, because thats whats perfect for India.'
She's been lapping up the winter sunshine on a series of getaways with her husband Hugo Taylor.

And Millie Mackintosh took to Instagram on Saturday to share some sensational bikini clad snaps of herself as she soaked up some vitamin D in the Maldives.

The former Made In Chelsea star, 29, sizzled in a black bikini top and high-waisted bottoms which showcased her toned stomach and rock hard abs.

Holiday blues: Millie Mackintosh took to Instagram on Saturday to share some sensational bikini clad snaps of herself as she soaked up some vitamin D in the Maldives

She showed off her bronzed limbs as she posed before a backdrop of idyllic blue sea while hiding her face in a black wide-brim hat.

The stylish starlet took to Instagram Stories earlier in the day to model yet another bikini ensemble, this time in the form of a periwinkle top and bottoms.

She showed off her gym-honed figure while posing in the mirror with her blonde locks loose around her shoulders and a pair of large sunglasses protecting her peepers.

Gym-honed: The former Made In Chelsea star, 29, sizzled in a periwinkle bikini top and high-waisted bottoms which showcased her toned stomach and rock hard abs

View: Meanwhile the workout queen also showed off her gym gear as she headed to the hotel health club complete with a stunning backdrop of palm trees and blue sea

Meanwhile the workout queen also showed off her gym gear as she headed to the hotel health club complete with a stunning backdrop of palm trees and blue sea.

She captioned the image: 'I'm not usually up for working out in a gym when on holiday but when the view is this good...@thewestinmaldives'.

Millie's beau Hugo, 32, also appeared in the holiday snaps as he gazed into the camera while the pair tucked into a lunch of Asian street food.

The happy couple have been married since last summer at his uncle's country estate and opted for a religious blessing as they had married formally at Chelsea's Old Town Hall in London three days prior to the celebration.

Idyllic: Millie's beau Hugo, 32, also appeared in the holiday snaps as he gazed into the camera while the pair tucked into a lunch of Asian street food

Good angle: The reality TV star posed as she went scuba diving in a black one-piece

The couple favoured a 'rock n roll' themed nuptials, which saw their tables named after nightclubs - an ode to their wild younger years on the London party circuit - and guests served a fried chicken breakfast, as Hugo gushed about his 'angel' bride in his wedding speech.

Millie and Hugo dated in 2011 while on Made In Chelsea, but split up when it emerged he had cheated on Millie with her friend Rosie Fortescue, who attended the wedding alongside a bevy of their other co-stars.

They reunited in the second half of 2016 and Taylor proposed during a holiday in Mykonos, Greece, in July last year. She was previously married to musician Professor Green, real name Stephen Manderson, in September 2013.
They've been together since late 2013 and engaged since June 26, 2014.

And Courteney Cox and Johnny McDaid looked every bit as much in love now as they did when the Snow Patrol rocker proposed, in an Instagram snap the actress shared on Twitter Friday.

It showed the couple snuggled up, leaning their heads together in a NYC restaurant.

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'Happy 2019!' On Friday, Courtney Cox shared this sweet snap with fiance Johnny McDaid captioned, 'We had the best New Year's Eve! Here's to 364 more great days'

The 54-year-old Cougar Town actress captioned it: 'Happy 2019! We had the best New Year's Eve! Here's to 364 more great days.'

She and her 42-year-old beau certainly have a busy year in front of them.

On January 14, Snow Patrol kick off their World tour in Amsterdam and will perform 59 gigs, including 10 in the UK and 19 in the US, before wrapping in Cologne Germany on July 3.

Courteney has an exciting new project with Facebook's new streaming service, Facebook Watch.

Ready to fly: Courteney, 54, smiled happily when she and Johnny, 42, were spotted at Los Angeles International Airport in July 27

Backing her man: The couple at The Brits on February 21 in London where Johnny was there to see Ed Sheeran, for whom he has written many songs, pick up the Global Success award

The Friends star is set to produce and narrate the 20-episode documentary series, 9 Months With Courteney Cox, which explores a range of pregnancy experiences, from joyous to tragic.

The docuseries features interviews with women drawn from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.

One parent-to-be contemplates giving her child up to adoption while another episode follows the tough choices made by a mother stricken with cancer.

Earlier this year Courteney released a statement asking if women would share their experiences as moms-to-be.

'I was immediately drawn to this project,' Courteney said in a more recent statement. 'As a mother, a woman and a producer, I was determined to bring these incredibly intimate stories to life in an honest and authentic way.'

A mom herself, she shares 14-year-old daughter, Coco, with her ex-husband actor David Arquette, 47, who were married in 1999 and separated in 2010 before divorcing in 2013.

Old pals: Courteney has a new Netflix docuseries out this year and she was by her Friends co-star Jennifer Aniston's side at the premiere of her Netflix film Dumplin' last month

Courteney and Johnny became engaged in 2014 but called it off in 2015. They reunited the following spring.

At an event in October Courteney said she already feels married to the musician 'in her heart'.

'Were not married,' the actress told People, adding 'Im married in my heart.'

Johnny gushed: 'My thoughts are never without Court. She's my best friend. She's my partner, in everything,

9 Months With Courteney Cox premieres January 22 on Facebook Watch.
They were seen excitedly checking out their new luxury Miami condo on Friday.

And Kim Kardashian and husband Kanye West were on the move again the following day as they were spotted leaving a hotel in Miami together, with Kim putting her bombshell curves on display.

Kim, 38, looked sensational in a watercolor effect skintight dress with a sexy thigh-high slit and some strappy turquoise stiletto heels.

Just a glimpse: Kim Kardashian flashed her control underwear in a tight dress as she headed out in Miami with Kanye West on Saturday

Bombshell: Kim put on a stunning display in the flimsy skintight dress as she left a hotel with her husband

However, at one point Kim accidentally flashed her Spanx as her clingy dress rode up her leg,

Meanwhile Kanye, 41, stood out in a fluorescent yellow T-shirt with grey slacks and a navy jacket.

The couple held hands as they browsed some of the upscale stores in the area including high-end boutique The Webster.

On Friday the couple were spotted touring the new $14 million condo that Kanye bought for Kim for Christmas.

Dangerous curves: The mother-of-three looked sensational in a watercolor effect skintight dress as husband Kanye West walked behind her

They beamed big smiles as they checked out the view from the balcony and kissed in front of onlookers.

The 4,700 sq ft luxury condo is located in the 18-story Faena House building, also known as the Billionaire Beach Bunker.

The multi-million dollar beachfront property has four bedrooms with five-and-a-half bathrooms and a huge terrace.

Flashing some leg: On Friday the couple were seen checking out the multi-million dollar condo that Kanye bought for Kim's Christmas present

Flashing her Spanx: Kim's dress clung to every curve and she made sure to tug it down to cover her flesh-colored underwear

Well-heeled: The curvy reality star wore some sky-high stiletto heels with the dress

According to TMZ the duo want to split their time between Miami and their mansion in Hidden Hills, Los Angeles.

The home, which was listed by Miami Condo Investments, was originally on the market for $15.5 million but they secured it for $14 million.

The trip to Florida comes amid news that Kim and Kanye are expecting a baby boy in May via another surrogate.

They are already parents to North, five, Saint, three, and Chicago who they welcomed via a surrogate in January 2018.

Ornate: The mother-of-three carried a beautiful beaded clutch for the outing

Leggy look: Kim's frock had a streaky watercolor design in a pale blue shade

Long and luscious: Kim wore her long raven locks in mermaid waves in a center parting

Haul: The E! star was seen leaving a high-end boutique The Webster with a bag of goodies

Merch: An assistant carried four more bags for the couple

TMZ revealed that they are using a different surrogate for baby number four because their previous surrogate was unavailable.

'They had one male embryo left and are thrilled it worked out,' E! News' insider explained.

Kim had difficult pregnancies with North and Saint due to her condition: Placenta Acrreta, which is life threatening.

The serious condition occurs when the placenta grows too deep into the uterine wall; upon delivery of the child, the placenta fails to detach, which can lead to severe blood loss, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Superstar: Kanye let his wife lead the way as they left a store together

Worked up a hunger: The couple were seen picking up some fast food during their day out

Couldn't decide: The headed to McDonald's as well as going through a Checker's drive-thru
Just two days after Ronnie Ortiz-Magro filed a police report against ex-girlfriend Jen Harley, newly obtained surveillance video shows the Jersey Shore star leaving the nightclub bloodied.

Ortiz-Magro, 33, is seen leaving the Hustler Club in Las Vegas on New Year's Eve, just minutes before midnight, wiping away blood from his nose with a tissue in the video obtained by TMZ.

The video doesn't show the actual attack, but sources claim his now-ex-girlfriend Jen Harley, 'allegedly nailed him with an ashtray.'

New Year's Eve attack: In video obtained by TMZ Ronnie Ortiz-Magro was filmed leaving a Las Vegas nightclub bloodied after an alleged ashtray attack by now ex-girlfriend Jen Harley

Police report: Ortiz-Magro filed a battery report over the incident, where Harley (pictured in February 2018) allegedly hurled an ashtray that struck him, cutting his nose, lip and forehead

Ortiz-Magro filed a battery report over the incident, where Harley allegedly hurled an ashtray that struck him, cutting his nose, lip and forehead.

The reality star took pictures of his injuries shortly after the altercation and submitted them to the police.

After he filed the police report on Thursday, the cops took additional pictures of his injuries, since they were still visible.

After Harley arrived back at her home, she found it had been ransacked, and she called the police and said Ortiz-Magro was the culprit.

Among the damage was broken glass, overturned furniture, destroyed artwork, a smashed flat-screen TV, a broken vase and a hole in the all.

Ortiz-Magro is listed as a person of interested in the pending case, and while there is no physical proof yet that Ortiz-Magro ransacked the house, there is evidence of his destructive behavior.

Ransacked home: After Harley arrived back at her home, she found it had been ransacked, and she called the police and said Ortiz-Magro was the culprit

TMZ also obtained video from a Ring camera outside Harley's Las Vegas home, which shows Ortiz-Magro smashing the camera with his fist on December 4.

Law enforcement sources claim Ortiz-Magro showed up at her Las Vegas home around 10 PM, and when she wouldn't let him in, he threw an object through a window.

Harley filed a police report for that incident as well, and Ortiz-Magro is a suspect for destruction of property.

Destructive: Harley filed a police report for that incident as well, and Ortiz-Magro is a suspect for destruction of property

Ortiz-Magro's police report claims that he wants Harley to seek professional help, and that he fears for the safety of their 8-month old child Ariana.

In between the December 4 incident and the New Year's Eve alleged attack, Ortiz-Magro and Harley managed to put their animosity aside and pose for holiday photos.

The couple have been dating on and off since July 2017 but their relationship has been marred by constant fights, physical assaults and accusations of infidelity.

Holiday pic: In between the December 4 incident and the New Year's Eve alleged attack, Ortiz-Magro and Harley managed to put their animosity aside and pose for holiday photos
She's escaped the frosty British weather for a holiday in the sun in Mexico for her sister's wedding.

And Vicky Pattison, 31, looked like she was having the time of her life as she relaxed by the pool in a black bikini during her sun-drenched getaway which comes just two months after her split from fiance John Noble.

Showing off her sun-kissed glow, the former Geordie Shore star donned a pair of shades and styled her hair into an up-do as she posed playfully for the camera.

Fun in the sun: Vicky Pattison, 31, looked like she was having the time of her life as she relaxed by the pool in a black bikini

Captioning the snap 'Morning', Vicky winked at her followers as she went to go enjoy some downtime by the pool. She has kept her Instagram followers updated on her antics as she took to Instagram again on Friday in a barely-there neon swimsuit.

The TV star recently shared the snap with her 4million followers as she lay on a bed and barely covered up her ample assets which strained against the fabric.

Vicky flaunted her newly-bronzed limbs in the snap and noting a tiny slip of nude fabric poking out of her swimsuit, she couldn't help but mention it.

Holiday: Showing off her sun-kissed glow, the former Geordie Shore star donned a pair of shades and styled her hair into an updo as she posed playfully for the camera

Relaxation: Vicky winked at her followers as she went to go enjoy some downtime by the pool

Head-turning: She has kept her Instagram followers updated on her antics as she took to Instagram on Friday in a barely-there neon swimsuit

She penned: 'I dont think Ill ever be able to explain quite how much that little bit of lining poking out annoys me.'

Vicky showed off her radiant glow and clad her eyes in a pair of quirky sunglasses.

Later that day she posted another picture of herself in the head-turning outfit.

In this snap Vicky covered up a little as she lay on her front and instead showed off her natural beauty as she stared into the camera with a pout upon her lips.

Figure hugging: She shared another snap with her four million followers as she lay on a bed and barely covered up her ample assets

Sensational: The reality TV star also took to Instagram Stories to show off another smoldering snap of herself gazing into the camera while flaunting her generous cleavage

Smile: Vicky appeared to be having a ball as she sipped on a cocktail while taking a dip

The reality TV star also took to Instagram Stories to show off another smouldering snap of herself gazing into the camera while flaunting her generous cleavage.

Earlier in the day, Vicky shared a hilarious post showing both her preened Instagram behaviour - and the less glam side of her social media activity.

Vicky looked sensational in a brown bikini as she reclined on a hammock before sharing a snap as she tumbled off the net in a hilarious fashion.

Hot stuff: Earlier, Vicky shared a hilarious post showing both her preened Instagram behaviour - and the less glam side of her social media activity as she fell off a hammock

Vicky pulled her very sexiest pose in the first snap of her slideshow, in which she clutched a drink while showing off her eye-popping cleavage.

However in her next snap, she took a dramatic tumble with her legs in the air and an extremely silly facial expression - much to her own delight.

She added a caption on the snap reading: 'Instagram versus Reality... I have clearly not got the hang of this hammock malarkey yet- or maybe its the skinful of cocktails Ive had that affected my balance!!...

'My first day has been incredible... Honestly such a beautiful resort! Im in paradise ps my face in that last pic is too much'.

Eek! However in her next snap, she took a dramatic tumble with her legs in the air and an extremely silly facial expression - much to her own delight

She also posted a number of snaps in which she was downing shots - one of which she used as a tribute to Olly Murs.

Vicky arrived in Mexico on Wednesday ahead of her sister Laura's sun-soaked nuptials, as she continues to recover from the 'heartache and humiliation' of John's alleged infidelity.

She bravely shirked her love woes to jet away after John was explosively caught getting up close to a bevy of beauties during a lads' trip to Dubai.

Happy days! Vicky arrived in Mexico on Wednesday ahead of her sister Laura's sun-soaked nuptials, as she continues to recover from the 'heartache and humiliation' of John's alleged infidelity

As she documented her trip through the airport and on to the plane, the former Geordie Shore star revealed she was saying 'goodbye to selfish and w**k people' to see her sister tie the knot.

Taking to Instagram, she shared a host of videos from her boozy first night.

In November, Vicky officially split from John, two weeks after he was caught getting close to a bevy of women on a lads' holiday.

Boozy break! Taking to Instagram, she shared a host of videos from her boozy first night

Insiders revealed to MailOnline, as it was revealed that the star decided to part ways with her beau after admitting she was 'heartbroken and humiliated'.

She was said to be 'concentrating on her busy work schedule' while trying to stay positive in the midst of the drama.

Sources revealed: 'Vicky and John are officially over. She is concentrating on her busy work schedule and surrounding herself with positivity, friends and family...

'Its been a difficult couple of weeks but she is moving on with her life and looking forward to the future.

Cheers! She also posted a number of snaps in which she was downing shots - one of which she used as a tribute to Olly Murs
She is expecting her first child with her husband Chris Fischer.

And Amy Schumer playfully squeezed into a tiny swimsuit from Emily Ratajkowki's swimsuit collection Inamorata Swim for a fun holiday snap on Saturday.

Posing with her arms in the air, the comedian, 37, beamed in the gorgeous red outfit, which had a plunging neckline to show off a generous glimpse of her cleavage.

Grateful: Heavily-pregnant Amy Schumer playfully squeezed into one of Emily Ratajkowki's TINY swimsuit designs on Saturday... three months after their protest arrest

Poking fun at the outfit in the caption, Amy wrote: 'Thanks for the bathing suit @emrata fits like a very small glove.'

The Trainwreck star wore her blonde locks in a tight bun, while she shielded her eyes from the brilliant sun with a pair of stylish shades.

A second image saw the comedian pose with her back to the camera as she gave a sultry look over her shoulder and joked: '@inamorataswim on brand avail for runway.'

Amy and Emily are good pals, and were arrested in Washington together in October last year, after they protested against Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

Original: Poking fun at the outfit in the caption, Amy wrote: 'Thanks for the bathing suit @emrata fits like a very small glove'

Ready for the catwalk: A second image saw the comedian pose with her back to the camera as she gave a sultry look over her shoulder

Making a stand: Amy and Emily were arrested in Washington together in October last year, after they protested against Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh

This comes after Amy was keen to poke fun at her extreme morning sickness during her pregnancy, as she parodied Baywatch in a video where she ran in slow motion on the beach on Friday.

Showing her blossoming baby bump in a floral swimsuit, she wrote: 'I puke anything I eat up until 4pm. But then Im like...'

Running to the sound of Warrant's song Cherry Pie, Amy looked like she was in good spirits as she ran with a smile plastered on her face.

The Trainwreck was referencing the iconic run by Pamela Anderson in the 1989 TV series Baywatch, and she used the hashtag 'eye candy' to describe her fun video.

Amusing: Amy poked fun at her extreme morning sickness as the pregnant star ran on the beach in slow motion for a hilarious Baywatch parody video on Friday

Famous scene: Amy was referencing the iconic run by Pamela Anderson in the 1989 TV series Baywatch, which she starred in alongside hunk David Hasselhoff

Amy has been having a very tough pregnancy as she is suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of pregnancy-related nausea.

The Duchess Of Cambridge also dealt with this illness during each of her three pregnancies, increasing public awareness of the condition.

Amy is also doing her bit to raise awareness, frequently keeping her social media following abreast of her pregnancy, including with video footage of herself vomiting.

Powering through: Showing her blossoming baby bump in a floral swimsuit, she wrote: 'I puke anything I eat up until 4pm. But then Im like...'

On Christmas day, she posted a clip to her Instagram that showed her bending over to vomit on the side of a dirt path in a forest.

The comedian wryly captioned the Instagram post: 'And so this is Christmas,' with a tree emoji.

Amy and her beau Chris married in a secret Malibu ceremony in February 2018 before announcing in October that the comedian was pregnant with their first child.
They have previously confessed they make their long-distance relationship work with love and effort from both sides.

And Michelle Keegan was once again united with her beloved husband Mark Wright on Friday night as the duo enjoyed a date night in Los Angeles.

The Coronation Street stunner, 31, enjoyed the balmy evening away from the chilly UK as she flashed her abs in a flirty white crop top while holding on to dashing Mark, who resides in the states while hosting Extra.

Happy days: Michelle Keegan was once again united with her beloved husband Mark Wright on Friday night as the duo enjoyed a date night in Los Angeles

Michelle looked sensational as she joined Mark, while strutting her stuff in the chic crop top which flaunted her envy-inducing abs to perfection.

Mark recently denied claims he quit his presenting gig with US television show Extra to start a family with Michelle.

With the former TOWIE star permanently out in Los Angeles to present Extra and his wife previously flying all over the globe for Our Girl, it is a credit they have gone to great lengths to keep the spark alive in their marriage.

However, a spokesperson for Mark told the MailOnline the reality star-turn-presenter had no plans to quit his job in the States to have children.

Wearing her heart on her shoes: Michelle was once again united with her beloved husband Mark as the duo enjoyed a date night in Los Angele

Heading off: The Coronation Street stunner, 31, enjoyed the balmy evening away from the chilly UK as she flashed her abs in a flirty white crop top while holding on to dashing Mark, who resides in the states while hosting Extra

Off we go: Mark recently denied claims he quit his presenting gig with US television show Extra to start a family with his wife Michelle

The Daily Star alleged a source told them: 'He is heading home and the next step will be when to start a family.'

In recent months, the former TOWIE star had discussed his hope to become a dad but he ruled out taking on the responsibility of parenthood anytime soon.

In August, Mark told the Metro.co.uk: All I know is at the moment I want to be a dad, I know my wife wants to be a mum.

'Were not talking about when thats going to be yet. Were not even planning when that could be yet.

Going strong: After being separated for so long, it is a credit they have gone to great lengths to keep the spark alive in their marriage

Wed both love to be parents but theres no plans for it whatsoever.

The claims Mark had quit his presenting job follows hot on the back of claims the star had reportedly asked to leave US show Extra in order to come home.

It's been claimed that the former TOWIE star is considering 'moving on' from his Hollywood role to pursue presenting opportunities at home and spend more time with wife Michelle.
She just filmed the period drama Mary Queen of Scots.

And Margot Robbie, 28, has confessed to liking the hideous make-up she was forced to wear while acting in the film.

Speaking to The Sunday Telegraph, Margot said the dramatic make-up she wore filming scenes made her feel 'safe'.

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'I feel more hidden': On Saturday, Margot Robbie (pictured) said she liked wearing hideous make-up for her film Mary Queen of Scots as she feels 'safer' under heavy makeup

'I feel like I'm more hidden when I'm behind the make-up,' the glamorous actress told the publication.

She continued: 'It makes me feel safer in some ways.

'I actually feel more vulnerable when I'm dressed similarly to myself. It's also harder to disassociate myself from the character.'

'I actually feel more vulnerable when I'm dressed similarly to myself. It's also harder to disassociate myself from the character,' Margot ([pictured) said of the heavy make-up she had to wear in Mary Queen of Scots

'But playing Queen Elizabeth, I didn't recognise myself, and obviously, I didn't sound like myself.

'So the process of becoming her gave me time to stop being myself and made it easier to transform.'

Margot went on to say she was in the make-up chair for her gruelling transformations into her character.

'It was three or four hours a day in makeup, but apparently, it also took Elizabeth I the same amount of time to get ready': Margot admitted the gruelling transformation was tough

'It was three or four hours a day in makeup, but apparently, it also took Elizabeth I the same amount of time to get ready,' she said.

Earlier this month, Margot's co-star in the film Saoirse Ronan, 24, said the pair were 'shaking' and 'in tears' when they filmed a scene.

The pair had agreed not see each other in costume until their characters meet in a rural farm house in the film, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

'It was uncontrollable the reaction we had to each other': Saoirse Ronan (R) and Margot star in the film, which sees Saoirse plays Mary, while Margot plays her English cousin, Elizabeth I

'It was uncontrollable the reaction we had to each other,' Saoirse said.

'I'm not sure if they were able to use the first take because we were in tears.'

She added: 'It was as much about me and Margot finally getting to see each other as Mary and Elizabeth being in the same room.'

The publication reports that the pair filmed most of the movie separately, with the farm house scene being Margot's last day on set and Saoirse's first day.

In the film, Saoirse plays Mary, while Margot plays her English cousin, Elizabeth I.

Intense: Saoirse (pictured) said the pair were 'shaking' and 'in tears' when they filmed a scene, after agreeing to not see each other in costume until their characters met for the film

The characters are eventually drawn apart by those around them and turn into rivals, as Mary tries to claim her rightful Scottish throne, which is ruled over by Elizabeth.

In history, Mary was beheaded in 1587 on the orders of Elizabeth, after being found guilty of plotting to murder her.

Meanwhile, after finishing the blockbuster film Margot is now enjoying a snowy getaway to Lapland, Finland.

Margot took to Instagram on Friday to share a series of photos from her snow-covered holiday with her husband of three years, Tom Ackerley.

In one photo, a heavily rugged up Margot can be seen posing for a selfie as her 29-year-old husband peeks out from behind her.
She's known for advocating female empowerment and positive body image.

And Ashley James, 31, has rubbished conventional notions of what it means to be 'beach body ready' in her latest candid post, shared on Saturday.

While many believe the term implies having to work hard to obtain a toned figure when they don their swimsuit, Ashley shared her thoughts on the term with an Instagram post in a bikini while on vacation in Tanzania.

Confident: Ashley James, 31, shared her thoughts on the term with an Instagram post of herself in a bikini while on vacation in Tanzania

She wrote: 'How to be beach body ready: have a body, put on a bikini, go to the beach.' The Made In Chelsea star sported an orange bikini in the snap and showed off the sun-kissed glow she has developed while on holiday.

Sitting comfortable, Ashley seemed determined to show her natural side rather than the pinched and preened looks often displayed on social media.

She beamed at the camera while shedding her heavy make-up in favour of a minimal look which helped highlight her natural beauty to perfection.

With her blonde tresses tickling her shoulders in flirty curls, she was also showing off her envy-inducing views with the idyllic blue hues in the back perfecting the snap.

Holiday: Ashley jetted out of London on New Year's Day, having DJ'd at a New Year's Eve party the night before, heading straight to the airport for her flight

Ashley jetted out of London on New Year's Day, having DJ'd at a New Year's Eve party the night before, heading straight to the airport for her flight.

Reflecting on the new year, she said in another post: 'We go off to unwind and recharge in Tanzania to prepare for a massive 2019. Lord knows I need this break!

'This year has been a year of self-discovery and I've recognised a lot of negative patterns and relationships in my life. I'll talk about it all soon.'

Relax: Reflecting on the new year, she said in another post: 'We go off to unwind and recharge in Tanzania to prepare for a massive 2019. Lord knows I need this break'

'Thank you for all the travel suggestions. Sri Lanka, Cape Town and the Philippines are all still on the bucket list, but for now, Zanzibar recommendations please.

This time last year, Ashley was a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother.

She recently reminisced on her time in television's most famous bungalow, describing it as a 'life experience'.

She wrote on Twitter: 'This time last year I had just handed over my phone and laptop ready for 48 hours in hiding ahead of the launch of #CBB Year of the Woman. What a life experience.'
She is the current favourite to take home the Best Actress Golden Globe on Sunday, regaining her lead over Mary Poppins Returns lead Emily Blunt.

And award season is already going well for Olivia Colman as she received the gong for Best Leading Actress at the AACTA International Awards in Los Angeles on Friday.

Taking place at Avalon Hollywood, the actress, 44, upped the glamour in a sleek blue Varana gown which she complemented with a pair of dazzling earrings.

Winner! Olivia Colman upped the glamour in a sleek blue Varana gown as she won Best Leading Actress at the AACTA International Awards on Friday night

The Peep Show star brushed her cropped brunette locks in a sleek side-fringe, while she wore a natural palette of make-up to highlight her pretty features.

Olivia boosted her height in a pair of pointed white heels to offset her dark look, as she carried her personal items in a blue velvet clutch bag for a glamorous flourish.

She has wowed critics and audience members alike with her portrayal of 18th Century monarch Queen Anne in Yorgos Lanthimos's exquisite film, which also won best screenplay at the event.

Stunning: The Peep Show star brushed her cropped brunette locks in a sleek side-fringe, while she wore a natural palette of make-up to highlight her pretty features

Incredible: Olivia has wowed critics and audience members alike with her portrayal of 18th Century monarch Queen Anne in Yorgos Lanthimos's exquisite film

Stylish: Olivia boosted her height in a pair of pointed white heels to offset her dark look, as she carried her personal items in a blue velvet clutch bag for a glamorous flourish

But that wasn't the only event that Olivia was attending that evening, as she also made an appearance at a tastemaker party for The Favourite, hosted by Ryan Murphy and Matt Bomer.

The Crown star looked demure in a red turtleneck shirt, which she paired with a black skirt and a white longline jacket.

She completed her look by stepping out in a pair of black heeled boots, while she kept to her ensemble's colour scheme with a red clutch bag.

Busy schedule: But that wasn't the only event that Olivia was attending, as she also made an appearance at a tastemaker party for The Favourite, hosted by Ryan Murphy and Matt Bomer

Starring role: In the film, Emma plays Queen Anne's court lady and lover Abigail Hill

Chic: The Crown star looked demure in a red turtleneck shirt, which she paired with a black skirt and a white longline jacket

Olivia was joined at the party by her co-star Emma Stone, 30, who looked fabulous in a black sequinned shirt and tailored suit trousers.

The La La Land star, who plays Queen Anne's court lady and lover Abigail Hill, added a pop of colour to her ensemble by wearing bold red lipstick.

Joining the pair was Joe Alwyn, who stars in The Favourite as Masham, and he looked sharp in a black suit and grey shirt.

Glamorous: Olivia was joined at the party by her co-star Emma who looked fabulous in a black sequinned shirt and tailored suit trousers

Supportive: Joe Alwyn (far right) looked sharp in a black suit and grey shirt (pictured with Matt Bomer, far left, and Yorgos Lanthimos, CENTRE)

Friendly: Olivia also went to the W Magazine party to celebrate its 'Best Performances' Portfolio and the Golden Globes with Audi and Giorgio Armani Beauty at Chateau Marmont

The flick focuses on the behind-the-scenes politics between two cousins jockeying to be court favourites during the reign of Queen Anne in the early 18th century.

Anne, who is said to be Britain's only bisexual monarch, is depicted having an intimate relationship with Stone's character.

The Favourite, directed by Yorgos, also stars Rachel Weisz as Emma's rival in love Lady Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, and has received almost universal praise from critics.

Promotional tour: This comes after Olivia and Emma attended the AFI Luncheon at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills

Dream team: Olivia, Emma and Yorgos were on hand at the event
She's known for her dazzling sense of style.

And Alice Eve, 36, yet again looked nothing short of sensational as she turned out in style for the W Magazine party at the Chateau Marmont Hotel in Los Angeles on Friday night.

The Star Trek star was among the star-studded guests at the bash, thrown to celebrate the Best Performances' Portfolio and the Golden Globes with Audi and Giorgio Armani Beauty, where she looked incredible in a princess ensemble.

Style: Alice Eve, 36, looked nothing short of sensational as she turned out in style for the W Magazine party at the Chateau Marmont Hotel in Los Angeles on Friday

Alice donned a sheer, sleeveless top with a floral, beaded embellishment.

She paired the garment with an oversized pink tutu that showed off her unique sense of style and early in the evening wrapped up in a faux-fur coat.

The Londoner completed the look with a pair of golden heels and let her platinum locks hang loose for the evening.

Alice also mixed and mingled with other celebrities at the event, including TV star Sarah Hyland.

Fashion: Alice donned a sheer, sleeveless top with a floral, beaded embellishment

Look: She paired it with an oversized pink tutu that showed off her unique sense of style and early in the evening wrapped up in a faux-fur coat

The Modern Family actress turned heads in a black and silver dress with a plunging neckline.

Alice relocated stateside in 2010, when she landed the role of Irish nanny Erin in Sex and The City 2. She has since been seen in high profile films Men In Black 3 and Star Trek: Into Darkness.

In 2014, Alice married financier Alex Cowper-Smith, her high school sweetheart whom she met while attending Westminster School in London.

Career: Alice relocated stateside in 2010, when she landed the role of Irish nanny Erin in Sex and The City 2. She has since been seen in high profile films Men In Black 3 and Star Trek: Into Darkness

Relationship: In 2014, Alice married financier Alex Cowper-Smith, her high school sweetheart whom she met while attending Westminster School in London. They later split in 2017

The couple met at school but only reunited as a couple in 2014, before finally tying the knot in a small ceremony on New Year's Eve in 2014.

The pair divorced in 2017, with Alice becoming an American citizen in the same year.

The actress will next be seen in the movie Fair And Balanced, which centres around several female Fox News employees and altercations they had with former company CEO Roger Ailes.

It also stars Charlize Theron, Margot Robbie and Nicole Kidman.
Every year our favourite celebrities rock and shock with their outfits on the red carpet.

And 2018 was no exception, with Nicole Kidman looking simply stunning in her bow accented Oscars dress.

By contrast, model Imogen Anthony's anime-inspired get-up and MAFS star Davina Rankin's bizarre pink frilled dress were among the more questionable outfits.

Here, we take a look at what rocked and what shocked on the red carpet in 2018.

Nicole Kidman, 51, at The Oscars

Incredible: The Hours star Nicole Kidman (pictured) displayed her svelte waist in the bright number, placing her hands on her hips to accentuate her impressive figure

She looked the epitome of Hollywood glam at the 90th Academy Awards in March, stunning in a strapless form-fitting navy Armani Prive gown.

The Hours star displayed her svelte waist in the bright number, placing her hands on her hips to accentuate her impressive figure.

Strapless in design, the figure-hugging bodice gown offered a look at her enviably toned arms, with the heart-shaped top flaunting her bare decolletage.

Simply bow-tiful! Nicole stole the at the Oscars in a stunning strapless form-fitting navy Armani Prive gown

A large leg split directly up the center of the design drew further attention to the gown's dramatic bow.

She finished the look with a pair of strappy black heels, which appeared to elongate her statuesque figure even more.

Nicole dripped in millions of dollars worth of bling from Harry Winston to complement the dress, totaling a whopping 84-carats.

The blonde beauty wore Cluster Diamond Chandelier earrings weighing 23.52-carats and a Secret Cluster diamond and platinum bracelet weighing 37.62-carats.

Margot Robbie, 28, at The Oscars

Simple: Margot Robbie's figure-hugging dress featured a fitted corset with jewelled detail that enhanced her decolletage and showed off her slender frame

She was announced as an ambassador for luxury brand Chanel earlier this year.

And Oscar nominee Margot Robbie cut a resplendent figure in a custom couture gown from the fashion house at the Academy Awards in March.

The rising Hollywood starlet's figure-hugging dress featured a fitted corset with jewelled detail that enhanced her decolletage and showed off her slender frame.

Elegant: The glamorous dress was designed by Karl Lagerfeld himself and effortlessly hugged Margot's figure as she walked the red carpet at the March ceremony

The fresh white dress was designed by Karl Lagerfeld himself and effortlessly hugged Margot's figure.

The gown featured a wrap over of the dress which leads the way into a fishtail hem, with the crystal tube and camellia embroidery of the straps a stunning feature.

Margot wore her signature blonde locks in vintage glamour waves and highlighted her natural beauty and dewy skin with a minimal makeup palette.

Imogen Anthony, 27, at The ARIAS

Daring: Is this Imogen Anthony's most outrageous outfit yet? Imogen (pictured) covered her breasts with 'Not For Sale' tape at 2018's ARIA Awards ceremony

Every year at the ARIA Awards she shocks with her wild outfits.

And Imogen Anthony did not disappoint as she walked the red carpet at the annual awards show at The Star in Sydney.

The 27-year-old model wore a bizarre tape-inspired ensemble by Australian designer Discount Universe.

The statement dress featured splashy slogans such as 'not for sale', 'sassy' and 'b**ch' across its entirety.

That's different! The statement dress featured splashy slogans such as 'not for sale' and 'sassy' across its entirety, with the barely there outfit leaving little to the imagination

Designed with a strapless bust, quirky cut-outs at the waist and leather detailing, Imogen's attire flaunted glimpses of her washboard abs and slender figure.

She teamed the outfit with a pair of thigh-high boots and accessorised with a chain necklace and eye-shaped earrings.

In order to complete the look, the blonde beauty wore her white and black hair extensions in playful high pigtails.

Sophie Monk, 38, at The ARIAS

The other Mr Monk! Sophie Monk (right) ditched her new boyfriend Joshua Gross to take her father Andrew (left) to the ARIA Awards after revealing her wedding plans with her new beau

Sophie Monk ditched her new beau to take father Andrew Monk as her date to the ARIA Awards in November.

Clad in a strapless white princess gown, Sophie dropped jaws while posing up a storm beside her joyful dad.

The blonde beauty's frock featured a form-fitting bust, a tutu-inspired skirt and was cinched at the waist.

She's a goddess! Clad in this strapless white princess gown, Sophie dropped jaws while flaunting her incredible figure in the form-fitting princess frock

She teamed the attire with black Christian Dior pumps, a studded clutch and silver hoop earrings.

Her flaxen tresses were styled in romantic waves and she sported a glowing complexion with neutral makeup.

Her dad, who regularly appears on her Instagram feed, was clearly excited to be there, proudly flashing his 'Mr Monk' T-shirt under his suit jacket.

Christian 'Prince' Wilkins, 24, at The ARIAS

Interesting! Christian 'Prince' Wilkins (left) made a style statement in a pink sleeveless shirt and monochrome skirt at the ARIA Awards in November. Pictured here with boyfriend Andrew Kelly

Christian Wilkins and Andrew Kelly are known for their outrageous red carpet outfits.

And the pair lived up to their reputation for flamboyant fashion at the ARIA Awards in Sydney in November.

Christian made a style statement in a ruffled pink sleeveless shirt, which he left unbuttoned below the collar.

It's fashion, darling! Christian and Andrew are known for their outrageous red carpet outfits, and they certainly lived up to their reputation at the 2018 ARIA Awards

He also wore a long, monochrome skirt and black combat boots, and decorated his arms with temporary tattoos.

Meanwhile, Andrew turned heads by sporting a pink wig featuring jet black roots.

Channelling early '90s grunge, he paired an untucked checkered shirt with heavy-duty footwear.

Andrew completed his look with a floral blazer and matching wide-legged trousers.

Olympia Valance, 25, at The Logies

Bespoke: Former Neighbours star Olympia Valance (pictured) opted for a unique high-fashion gown for the Logie Awards in July, turning plenty of heads

Olympia Valance turned heads at The Logies in July.

For Australian television's night of nights, the stunning soap star wore an intricately-embroidered strapless ivory gown.

The gown featured a dramatic full skirt and embellished apaulettes, with Olympia getting mixed reviews from the fashion pack.

The dress was by designer Con Ilio.

Davina Rankin, 28, at The Logies

Pretty in pink: Davina Rankin (above) showed off her trim pins and ample cleavage in her pink, frilled gown at The Logies ceremony in July last year

She was the breakout star of Married At First Sight this year.

And reality star Davina Rankin turned heads yet again at the Logie Awards in July.

Davina took the plunge in a busty pink gown, drawing attention to the brunette's ample assets thanks to its deep V cut-out at the front.

Davina accessorised the eye-popping ensemble with a pair of pale pink strappy heels and pearl earrings.

Laura Byrne, 32, at The Logies

Black to basics: The Bachelor's Laura Byrne (right) opted for a modern black dress for the Logies last year. Pictured here with boyfriend, Matty J Johnson, 31

The Bachelor's Laura Byrne opted for a modern black dress for The Logies.

The glamorous Sydney jewellery designer flaunted her toned midriff in the bralette inspired top and large, puffy skirt.

Laura showed her knack for style, accessorising with a pair of statement turquoise earrings and a unique silver clutch.

Cheryl Maitland, 27, at The Logies

Fun or frightful? MAFS bride Cheryl Maitland (above) opted for an unusual burgundy-hued gown for The Logies in July

Former MAFS star Cheryl Maitland opted for an unusual burgundy-hued gown for the July awards show.

The busty beauty's gown had a sheer insert to reveal her tummy and a very awkward thigh-high split.

The fashion pack appeared to see the brunette beauty's dress was a questionable choice.

Tracy Grimshaw, 58, at The Logies

Lady in red: Tracy Grimshaw (pictured) beamed in a loose-fitting red kaftan embellished with beading on the neckline and sleeves at the 2018 Logie Awards

Far from shy, the A Current Affair host beamed as she posed in a loose-fitting red kaftan embellished with beading on the neckline and sleeves.

The long-time Channel Nine personality opted to accessorise with a matching red leather bag and pointed red heels.

Choosing a matchy-matchy style, the brunette beauty oped for a pair of drop earrings that featured a large red stone.

Sonia Kruger, 53, at The Logies

Silver belle! Sonia Kruger (pictured), 52, rocked a high glam silver dress with thigh high split, which she gave a rocker edge at The Logies last year

Sonia, 52, showed off her age-defying beauty in a showstopping silver sequin gown with an '80s-inspired belt and asymmetric hemline.

The Today Extra presenter styled her glossy golden tresses in a sleek middle-parting and opted for a nude lipstick and smoky eye shadow.

The Voice host turned heads as she showcased her tanned and toned limbs in a pair of vertiginous barely-there heels with a diamond ankle-strap.

Carrie Bickmore, 38, at The Logies

Dazzling: The Project's Carrie Bickmore opted for a long, semi-sheer frock for the Logies

Carrie Bickmore looked every inch the glowing mother-to-be in her dazzling gown at the July ceremony.

Her gown featured a plunging neckline and tasseled sleeves.

Boasting a sunkissed tan, she framed her striking features with dewy make-up and styled her golden tresses in an elegant updo.

Jasmine Yarbrough, 34, at The Logies

Best dressed? Mara & Mine shoe designer Jasmine Yarbourgh (right) opted to wear black-and-white stripe dress by designer Toni Maticevski. She is pictured with new husband Karl Stefanvoic

Jasmine Yarbrough was named best dressed at the Awards ceremony.

The Mara & Mine shoe designer opted to wear black-and-white stripe dress by designer Toni Maticevski.

She accessorised the striped dress with a round clutch bag and added a touch of Hollywood glamour with stiletto heels.
She has gone back to brunette.

But 21-year-old reality star and lip kit icon Kylie Jenner shared on her Insta Stories this Friday: 'ok i miss the blonde'.

The message was accompanied by a re-post of a car selfie video she had taken this past August in which she sported long platinum tresses.

Nostalgic: The 21-year-old reality star and lip kit icon Kylie Jenner shared on her Insta Stories this Friday: 'ok i miss the blonde'

Kylie recently rang in her first Christmas and New Year's as a mother, having given birth to her daughter Stormi Webster on February 1.

She shares the baby with her rapper beau Travis Scott, and though there were pregnancy rumors for months, she did not confirm them until Stormi was born.

There is a swirl of reports that Kylie's elder half-sister Kim Kardashian is expecting her fourth child, who will be her second baby born via surrogacy.

Kim's younger sister Khloe Kardashian, as well as Kylie, all welcomed babies into the world within the first four months of this past year.

Luxuriating: The message was accompanied by a re-post of a car selfie video she had taken this past August in which she sported long platinum tresses

Big year: Kylie recently rang in her first Christmas and New Year's as a mother, having given birth to her daughter Stormi Webster on February 1

'Kim having another baby this year is heavily influencing her other sisters and their baby plans,' a source alleged to E! News.

'They all loved being pregnant at the same time and everyone wants all of the kids to be close in age. Everyone jokes about having another round of "triplets" all the time.'

Kylie's Insta Stories post about her hair comes as DailyMail.com reported that she is trying to have a lawsuit against her moved from New York to California.

History: She shares the baby with her rapper beau Travis Scott, and though there were pregnancy rumors for months, she did not confirm them until Stormi was born

What a time: Kim's younger sister Khloe Kardashian, as well as Kylie, all welcomed babies into the world within the first four months of this past year

Sheree Cosmetics, which is based in Alabama, claimed that Kylie Cosmetics' Born To Sparkle glitter eye shadow palette was a copy of the former brand's work.

Although Sheree Cosmetics filed the lawsuit in New York, Kylie's legal team apparently filed this Thursday to try to change that.

Their papers, filed in the US Southern District of New York court, have asked the case to be shifted to Kylie's state of residence, California - if not thrown out altogether.

Moving the lawsuit from the Empire State to the Golden State will reportedly save money for Kylie, who according to Forbes is worth $900 million.
(Image source from: Keralakaumudi.com)

AAP Extends Support To Prakash Raj:- Actor Prakash Raj recently made an announcement that he would contest as an independent in the upcoming Parliament elections in the country. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) extended support to Prakash Raj. A meeting has been organized with the actor in the presence of Karnataka Convener Prithvi Reddy. AAP revealed that it is their responsibility to support a person like Prakash Raj. The actor did not name the constituency from which he would be contesting.

"I welcome the decision of Prakash Raj and all good people are welcome in politics," AAP leader Manish Sisodia told in a meeting. Prakash Raj who is a popular actor across the country is all set to make his entry in politics. He made several comments against Narendra Modi in the recent times. He raised eyebrows in 2018 Karnataka Assembly elections. Prakash Raj staged an attack on Narendra Modi's government after his journalist friend Gauri Lankesh has been brutally killed.
Ashton Kutcher's twin brother Michael says the star was willing to donate his own heart to help him when they were teens.

Michael, who lives with cerebral palsy, is alive today because of a heart transplant he got when he was just 13 - during a time Ashton said he wished he could donate his heart to save his twin.

Michael, 40, said he couldn't 'find the words' to describe his feelings for his brother, the Hollywood star known for his work on That '70s Show, Two and a Half Men and Dude, Where's My Car?

Brother love: Ashton Kutcher's twin brother Michael, both 40, says the star was willing to donate his own heart to help him when they were teens. The brothers were snapped with one another at a 2013 gala in Minnesota

'It's a connection that you can't explain,' said Michael, whose life was in jeopardy when the heart transplant came through. 'In all seriousness, we're just very connected. It's an honor or deep appreciation and a deep love for someone who would sacrifice that for you. I really can't put words to it.'

He told US the touching anecdote as he opened up about his #BeTheGift campaign, a drive to encourage people to register for organ donation to help patients in need of a transplant.

Michael, who currently lives in Colorado, revealed a heart-to-heart conversation he'd once had with Ashton, who stars as Colt Bennett on the Netflix's The Ranch. He encouraged him not to pity him, but remember he's on his own separate, meaningful journey.

'I said, "Every time you look at me, every time you feel sorry for me, in a way, you make me less. You make me less. I am who I am, right? I was put in these situations. Who I am is for a reason,"' Michael told the magazine.

Champion: Michael has focused his efforts on helping people in need of organ transplants

Hard at work: The advocate was seen last month as he delivered a speech to a group

Close: Michael said of his bond with Ashton, 'It's a connection that you can't explain'

He continued, 'I strongly feel that a major part of that reason is to be an advocate and be outspoken and use the platform that I am to advocate for disability, to advocate for organ donation, and I feel I've found my purpose in that.'

Ashton, while in accepting an award in his native Iowa in April of 2017, cited Michael in a speech in saying, 'My brother was born with cerebral palsy and it taught me that loving people isn't a choice and that people aren't actually all created equal.

'The Constitution lies to us. We're not all created equal. We're all created incredibly unequal to one another, in our capabilities and what we can do and how we think and what we see. But we all have the equal capacity to love one another, and my brother taught me that.'

Michael said his brother's remarks trace 'back to him feeling sorry for me at a point,' adding that his brother's 'right' on the point.

'We aren't created equally, whether it be a disability or a health issue or whether it be anything, ethnicity, sex,' said Michael. 'We're just not created equally. If we were, what's cool about that?

'I think his quote is right on. We're not born equal, but that's okay. It's okay.'

Michael said he's empowered in his mission to help people.

'You may think I got the wrong end of the stick, but having the transplant and the disability and everything, but in my eyes, I got the right end,' he said.
They co-starred in the HBO mini-series Sharp Objects.

And Amy Adams reunited with Patricia Clarkson for a swank dinner in their honor held this Friday at the Tory Burch in Beverly Hills.

Tory Burch collaborated with the tequila brand Clase Azul to throw the event for Amy, 44, and Patricia, who is only 59 but played Amy's mother on the show.

Side by side: Amy Adams (left) reuntied with Patricia Clarkson (right) for a swank dinner in their honor held this Friday at the Tory Burch in Beverly Hills

Amy was a redheaded bombshell in a glimmering navy sleeveless top that showed off her cleavage and featured a tier of fabric over the midriff.

She teamed the elegant top with a cream dress hemmed at around mid-calf, slipping into a black and white pair of ankle-strap heels.

The five-time Oscar nominated actress added a bit of dazzle to her look with a gleaming set of gold earrings and a matching necklace.

Resemblance?: Tory Burch collaborated with the tequila brand Clase Azul to throw the event for Amy, 44, and Patricia, who is only 59 but played Amy's mother on the show

Tres chic: Amy was a redheaded bombshell in a glimmering navy sleeveless top that showed off her cleavage and featured a tier of fabric over the midriff

Divine: She teamed the elegant top with a cream dress hemmed at around mid-calf, slipping into a black and white pair of ankle-strap heels

Glitz: The five-time Oscar nominated actress added a bit of dazzle to her look with a gleaming set of gold earrings and a matching necklace

Meanwhile, Patricia modeled a sleeveless button-down black top and a chic little black scarf around her neck, popping on gleaming hoop earrings.

She accentuated her winning features with makeup including deep scarlet lipstick, letting her platinum blonde hair down.

The Easy A actress slipped into a high-waisted skirt that fell to just below the knee and featured colorful floral patterning above some black trim.

Meanwhile: Patricia modeled a sleeveless button-down black top and a chic little black scarf around her neck, popping on gleaming hoop earrings

Image of elegance: She accentuated her winning features with makeup including deep scarlet lipstick, letting her platinum blonde hair down

What a look: The Easy A actress slipped into a high-waisted skirt that fell to just below the knee and featured colorful floral patterning above some black trim

Patricia, who was a Broadway actress before her Hollywood career, rounded off the look with a watch and a pair of simple black heels.

Jean-Marc Vallee, who directed the HBO mini-series, was pictured alongside his son Alex Vallee and a male guest at the Tory Burch and Clase Azul event.

When the honorees finally sat down to eat, Amy was glimpsed with a grey shawl wrapped around her top and her husband Darren Le Gallo at her side.

Snappy: Patricia, who was a Broadway actress before her Hollywood career, rounded off the look with a watch and a pair of simple black heels

Family time: Jean-Marc Vallee, who directed the HBO mini-series, was pictured alongside his son Alex Vallee and a male guest at the Tory Burch and Clase Azul event

Amy plays a self-harming crime reporter and Patricia her formidable mother in Sharp Objects, an adaptation of a Gillian Flynn novel.

Gillian is most famous as the author of Gone Girl, the smash hit potboiler that David Fincher made into a movie starring Rosamund Pike and Ben Affleck.

Jean-Marc is a returning champion to HBO miniseries - he previously directed Big Little Lies, which was such a sensation it has a second season in the works now.

It's a date: When the honorees finally sat down to eat, Amy was glimpsed with a grey shawl wrapped around her top and her husband Darren Le Gallo at her side
She's never been afraid to take a fashion risk.

So it was no surprise to see Nicole Kidman sporting some eye-catching ruffles at the 8th AACTA International Awards in Los Angeles on Friday.

The 51-year-old wore a slinky black gown with a plunging neckline and large white ruffles on the top.

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Unique: Nicole Kidman showed off her unique style at the 8th AACTA International Awards in Los Angeles on Friday

The Australian actress pinned her strawberry blonde hair back in a chic bun and sported coral coloured lipstick on her pout.

For a touch of bling, she wore pearl earrings with diamonds and carried a matching clutch.

According to the The Daily Telegraph, Nicole has made history at the awards ceremony for being the first actor to be nominated in both the lead and supporting categories in the same year.

Back to black! The 51-year-old wore a slinky black backless gown with a plunging neckline and large white ruffles on the top

Fresh faced: The Australian actress pinned her strawberry blonde hair back in a chic bun and sported coral coloured lipstick on her pout

Glowing: The Australian actress looked luminous in her minimal makeup

The star was up for Best Actress for her role in The Destroyer, and Best Supporting Actress for Boy Erased.

Nicole won the gong for the latter, but lost Best Actress to Olivia Colman in The Favourite.

W Magazine has released an annual list of 2018's best on-screen performances, and four Australian stars made the exclusive 29-person list.

Winner! Nicole won Best Supporting Actress for her role in the biographical drama Boy Erased

History: Nicole made history at the awards ceremony for being the first actor to be nominated in both the lead and supporting categories in the same year

Can't win 'em all: While she won Best Supporting Actress for Boy Erased, Nicole lost Best Actress to Olivia Colman in The Favourite

Nicole Kidman led the pack, with the publication highlighting the 51-year-old's performances in both The Destroyer and Boy Erased.

'Ive been working as an actor since I was 14 years old,' Nicole told W.

'Its a choice, but its also a calling. Sometimes, I kind of try to move away, but it always pulls me back.'

Diamonds and pearls: For a touch of bling, she wore pearl earrings with diamonds and carried a matching clutch

Veteran: 'Ive been working as an actor since I was 14 years old,' Nicole told W magazine

Rubbing shoulders: The actress posed with Bohemian Rhapsody's Rami Malek (who won the best actor award at the awards ceremony)

Supportive: Nicole cosied up to fellow Best Actress nominee Glenn Close
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The Australian Academy Of Cinema and Television Arts International Awards welcomed top names to the Mondrian Los Angeles on Friday.

And Emily Blunt stole the show in a fiery orange floor-length gown which had chic semi-sheer detailing to show off her cleavage as she walked the red carpet.

The London-born 35-year-old was joined at the event by her heartthrob husband John Krasinski, 39, who directed her in last year's horror hit A Quiet Place.

Blonde bombshell: The Australian Academy Of Cinema and Television Arts International Awards welcomed top names like Emily Blunt to the Mondrian Los Angeles on Friday

Emily, who played the iconic magic nanny character in Disney's new movie Mary Poppins Returns, wore her platinum blonde hair down in a sleek, straight style.

Her backless floral gown was sheer above the waist, allowing for a glimpse at her yellow bra, and the outfit also featured a cape that cascaded down her left side.

The Edge Of Tomorrow star was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the AACTA International Awards for her work in A Quiet Place.

Radiant: Emily stole the show in a fiery orange floor-length gown that showed off her cleavage to advantage as she walked the red carpet

Power couple: The London-born 35-year-old was joined at the event by her heartthrob husband John Krasinski, who directed her in last year's horror hit A Quiet Place

Glamour goddess: Emily, who revived the iconic magic nanny character in Disney's new movie Mary Poppins Returns, wore her platinum blonde hair down

Glitz: Her backless floral gown was sheer above the waist, allowing for a glimpse at her yellow bra, and the whole outfit featured a cape down the left side

Pedigree: The Edge Of Tomorrow star was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the AACTA International Awards for her work in A Quiet Place

Nicole Kidman, a Best Lead Actress nominee for her turn in Destroyer, flashed her decolletage in a long black gown that exploded with white frills above the waist.

The sleeveless number elegantly matched her black clutch bag, and she swept her blonde hair back into a bun, accessorising with earrings.

The Moulin Rouge star, who is married to Keith Urban, and got a Best Supporting Actress nod for her work in Boy Erased, sported white nail polish as she walked the red carpet.

Smashing: Nicole Kidman, a Best Lead Actress nominee for her turn in Destroyer, flashed her decolletage in a long black gown that exploded with white frills above the waist

Glorious: The sleeveless number elegantly matched her black clutch, and she swept her blonde hair back into a bun, accessorizing with earrings

Amazing: The Moulin Rouge star, who also got a Best Supporting Actress nod for her work in Boy Erased, sported white nail polish as she walked the red carpet

Glenn Close, who was nominated for Best Lead Actress at the awards show for The Wife, stunned in a butterfly-print pantsuit with a Persian blue background.

She boosted her height in a pair of glittering silver heels, while she styled her hair into a sleek side-fringe.

The Fatal Attraction and Dangerous Liaisons icon got a bit of camera time alongside Hollywood hot couple John and Emily at the event as well.

She was also seen in front of the cameras with her fellow blonde Oscar winner Nicole Kidman, her co-star in the 2004 remake of The Stepford Wives.

Looking snappy: Glenn Close, who is nominated for Best Lead Actress at the awards show for The Wife, stunned in a butterfly-print pantsuit with a Persian blue background

What a trio: The Fatal Attraction and Dangerous Liaisons icon got a bit of camera time alongside Hollywood hot couple John and Emily at the event as well

Reunion: She was also seen in front of the cameras with her fellow blonde Oscar winner Nicole Kidman, her co-star in the 2004 remake of The Stepford Wives

Terri Seymour, the English-born Extra correspondent who famously once dated Simon Cowell, sizzled in a metallic-tinted black gown that played up her figure.

Olivia Colman, who won Best Lead Actress nominee for her performance as Queen Anne in The Favourite, glowed in a shimmery blue gown with a cowl.

Australian TV presenter Renee Bargh rocked a glittering black top with puffed-out sleeves, letting her wavy blonde hair down.

Beauty in black: Terri Seymour, the English-born Extra correspondent who famously once dated Simon Cowell, sizzled in a metallic-tinted black gown that played up her figure

Olivia Colman, who won Best Lead Actress nominee for her performance as Queen Anne in The Favourite, glowed in a shimmery blue gown with a cowl.

Red carpet ready: Australian TV presenter Renee Bargh rocked a glittering black top with puffed-out sleeves, letting her wavy blonde hair down

The top complemented a gleaming black split skirt that fell tot he floor, and she balanced on a sky-high pair of ankle-strap platforms.

Rami Malek, who won Best Lead Actor for playing Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody, opted for head-to-toe black at the swank awards ceremony.

While at the Mondian Los Angeles for the evening's festivities, he posed up a storm with his fellow nominee Nicole, who leaned in toward him as they posed up a storm.

What a look: The top complemented a gleaming black split skirt that fell to the floor, and she balanced on a sky-high pair of ankle-strap platforms

Hunk: Rami Malek, who is up for Best Lead Actor for playing Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody, opted for head-to-toe black at the swank awards ceremony

Dazzling duo: While at the Mondian Los Angeles for the evening's festivities, he posed up a storm with his fellow nominee Nicole, who leaned in toward him

Hannah Gadsby, who rose to fame last year via her Netflix special Nanette, wore a navy blazer over a powder blue dress shirt and dull blue shoes.

The 40-year-old rounded off the ensemble with a pair of charcoal pants, accessorizing with her trademark thick-rimmed spectacles.

Australian model Emma Booth was glamorous in green, going for a simple full-sleeved gown that evoked the style of Old Hollywood.

Signature look: Hannah Gadsby, who rose to fame last year via her Netflix special Nanette, wore a navy blazer over a powder blue dress shirt and dull blue shoes

Dapper: The 40-year-old rounded off the ensemble with a pair of charcoal pants, accessorizing with her trademark thick-rimmed spectacles

Lovely: Australian model Emma Booth was glamorous in green, going for a simple full-sleeved gown that evoked the style of Old Hollywood

As the evening wore on, the stars who won big were also pictured holding up their trophies, including Rami, who wore a charming smile.

Olivia, who has been cast to replace Claire Foy as Elizabeth II on Netflix' series The Crown, also posed with the prize she had earned for her impressive performance.

Though she lost out to Olivia in the leading actress category, Nicole did win for Best Supporting Actress, and looked chuffed with her trophy.

Victory: As the evening wore on, the stars who won big were also pictured holding up their trophies, including Rami, who wore a huge smile

What a moment: Olivia, who has been cast to replace Claire Foy as Elizabeth II on Netflix' series The Crown, also won the prize she was up for and posed with it

Such a thrill: Though she lost out to Olivia in the leading actress category, Nicole did win for Best Supporting Actress, and looked chuffed with her trophy
The Real Housewives of New Jersey's Danielle Staub has a lot of regrets about her ill-fated May 5 nuptials in the Bahamas, including being a total 'Bridezilla of Bimini' to her castmates.

'After watching the last two episodes of the show, I see how horribly I acted and I'm ashamed of my behavior and very embarrassed by it,' the 56-year-old Bravo-lebrity told TMZ Live on Friday.

'I want to apologize to all the ladies. I've been going through a lot and [that] doesn't make any excuses for it, but they do deserve an apology so I am trying to do that right now.'

'I want to apologize': The Real Housewives of New Jersey's Danielle Staub has a lot of regrets about her ill-fated May 5 nuptials in the Bahamas, including being a total 'Bridezilla of Bimini' to her castmates (pictured Friday)

The 56-year-old Bravo-lebrity told TMZ on Friday: 'After watching the last two episodes of the show, I see how horribly I acted and I'm ashamed of my behavior and very embarrassed by it'

Danielle's third time down the aisle to retired investment banking managing director Martin Caffrey lasted less than four months before he filed for divorce on August 23.

Staub (born Beverly Merrill) was granted a temporary 10-day restraining order against the 67-year-old father-of-three on Thursday after having police remove him from their Englewood home.

'I'm really eager to end this marriage as quickly as possible. I believe Marty is dragging it out to keep it present in the media and torment me and further abuse me,' the 5ft9in brunette - who's been engaged 20 times - told TMZ.

'He unscrews the light bulbs on the inside and the outside of the home. He turns the nest heat down by using his iPhone to control it and then he'll turn it off at night when it's completely cold even if he's not here. He disengages the garage bay opener so I can't get into the home. He locks me out of the home.'

She said: 'I want to apologize to all the ladies. I've been going through a lot and [that] doesn't make any excuses for it, but they do deserve an apology so I am trying to do that right now'

Yikes! Danielle's third time down the aisle to retired investment banking managing director Martin Caffrey lasted less than four months before he filed for divorce on August 23

Bitter break-up: Staub (born Beverly Merrill) was granted a temporary 10-day restraining order against the 67-year-old father-of-three on Thursday after having police remove him from their Englewood home

The Naked Truth author added: 'He follows me around with defamatory comments about my past. Marty refuses to mediate. He refuses to end the marriage which he filed for divorce for and now I'm in agreement with him. We should not be married. And I really wish that it would just be over and get out of the public eye. He's a liar.'

Staub and Caffrey are scheduled to face off in court about the restraining order next Thursday - the same day TRHONJ ninth season reunion tapes.

'I don't want it to be changed or postponed. This is more important than taping a reality show!' Marty told Radar Online.

The 5ft9in brunette - who's been engaged 20 times - told TMZ: 'I'm really eager to end this marriage as quickly as possible. I believe Marty is dragging it out to keep it present in the media and torment me and further abuse me'

The Naked Truth author added: 'Marty refuses to mediate. He refuses to end the marriage which he filed for divorce for and...I really wish that it would just be over and get out of the public eye. He's a liar'

'This is more important than taping a reality show!' Staub and Caffrey are scheduled to face off in court about the restraining order next Thursday - the same day TRHONJ ninth season reunion tapes (pictured July 17)

'Everything went wrong when we started filming [the wedding]. Danielle turned into a self-centered, narcissistic, vindictive person.'

Danielle has two daughters - Seton Hall University grad Christine, 24; and Monmouth University student Jillian, 20 - with her ex-husband #2 Thomas Staub, whom she divorced in 2007 after 14 years of marriage.

Catch more drama involving the OG housewife in a 'friend capacity' on the ninth season of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, which airs Wednesdays on Bravo.

Mother-of-two: Danielle has two daughters - Seton Hall University grad Christine, 24; and Monmouth University student Jillian, 20 - with her ex-husband #2 Thomas Staub, whom she divorced in 2007 after 14 years of marriage (pictured December 25)
She's nominated for two acting awards at Sunday's Golden Globes.

And Amy Adams looked to be in high spirits as she was spotted in a country western chic dress in Los Angeles on Friday.

The 44-year-old natural stunner cut a casual figure in her fun frock as she enjoyed the sunny day out in Southern California.

Stunner: Amy Adams, 44, looked to be in high spirits as she was spotted in a country western chic dress in Los Angeles on Friday

Daring to impress, the Doubt actress looked every inch the movie star as she showed a peek at her gorgeous gams.

The blue and white number boasted a wide collar and matching fabric belt tied around her lithe waist.

Her trademark ginger locks were pulled back in a loose ponytail as it cascaded down her back.

Earlier in the day, Amy had a brief encounter with a traffic cop in Beverly Hills as she was returning to her car.

Gorgeous: The natural stunner cut a casual figure in her fun frock as she enjoyed the sunny day out in Southern California

No doubt: Daring to impress, the Doubt actress looked every inch the movie star as she showed a peek at her gorgeous gams

Hair story: Her trademark ginger locks were pulled back in a loose ponytail as it cascaded down her back

It won't come as a surprise that Amy took a moment to stop and chat with the cop as she recently confessed she is very 'polite'.

In December, the five-time Oscar nominated actress confessed she would love to be a 'diva' but she insisted she is too 'polite' to behave badly.

The Arrival star told The Las Vegas Review-Journal: 'I'd love to be a diva. But then I'd have to send so many apology notes for my abhorrent behavior.

Belted up: The blue and white number boasted a wide collar and matching fabric belt tied around her lithe waist

Latest: The latest character Amy has taken on is Lynne Cheney, the wife of Dick who was the Vice President to George W.Bush in the new biopic

'I'm polite. I was taught to believe in manners. I say "please" and "thank you" a lot.'

The latest character Amy has taken on is Lynne Cheney, the wife of Dick who was the Vice President to George W.Bush in the new biopic.

Vice charts the story of Washington insider Dick who used his immense power as George W.Bush's Vice President to reshape the country.

Second nature: The actress claimed she felt like she 'knew' Lynne when she stepped into her stilettos for the biopic movie

The actress claimed she felt like she 'knew' Lynne when she stepped into her stilettos for the biopic movie.

'For me, finding my way into Lynne, it actually felt like I knew her,' she told DEADLINE in late December.

The actress is nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance in Vice and for her performance in HBO's Sharp Objects.
Mariah Carey flaunted her bikini body on Friday while getting wet and wild poolside at her luxury resort in the Saint Barthelemy capital of Gustavia.

The 49-year-old R&B diva kept her glittery rings and bracelets on for her evening dip and showcased her curvaceous 5ft8in figure in a sparkly lavender triangle two-piece.

The five-time Grammy winner has been vacationing on the French-speaking Caribbean island ever since her New Year's Eve gig at St. Barth hotspot Nikki Beach.

Wet and wild! Mariah Carey flaunted her bikini body on Friday while poolside at her luxury resort in the Saint Barthelemy capital of Gustavia

Big smile! The 49-year-old R&B diva kept her glittery rings and bracelets on for her evening dip and showcased her curvaceous 5ft8in figure in a sparkly lavender triangle two-piece

Earlier on Friday, Mariah donned a wetsuit to cruise the warm waters in a clear bottom kayak alongside her seven-year-old fraternal twins Moroccan and Monroe (with ex-husband #2 Nick Cannon).

While having her make-up free fun in the sun, Carey's authentic natural curls could be seen poking out of her waist-length straight hair extensions.

Joining the native New Yorker on holiday was her back-up dancer-turned-toyboy Bryan Tanaka, whom she hired for her 40-date, $27.9M-grossing Adventures of Mimi Tour way back in 2006.

The With You songstress will next put her five-octave soprano pipes to use for her 'Number 1 to Infinity' Las Vegas Residency on February 13 at Caesars Palace's The Colosseum.

Splashing around: The R&B diva kept her glittery rings and bracelets on for her evening dip and showcased her curvaceous 5ft8in figure in a sparkly lavender triangle two-piece

'I saw 12 shooting stars last night!' The five-time Grammy winner has been vacationing on the French-speaking Caribbean island ever since her New Year's Eve gig at Nikki Beach

Mother-of-two: Earlier on Friday, Mariah donned a wetsuit to cruise the warm waters in a clear bottom kayak alongside her seven-year-old fraternal twins Moroccan and Monroe

Cleavage alert! While having her make-up free fun in the sun, Carey's authentic natural curls could be seen poking out of her waist-length straight hair extensions

14-year age gap: Joining the native New Yorker on holiday was her back-up dancer-turned-toyboy Bryan Tanaka, whom she hired for her Adventures of Mimi Tour way back in 2006
Rebel Wilson is a big fan of Disney films and is a frequent Disneyland visitor.

So it comes as no surprise the Australian actress was star struck to meet Tim Burton, the director of the live-action version of Dumbo, on Friday.

The Sydney-born star shared a photo of herself with the director at Aspen airport, where she had bumped into him wearing a Dumbo shirt.

What are the chances! Rebel Wilson bumps into Dumbo director Tim Burton as she wears a sweater with the animated elephant on it... after partying with Mariah Carey in Aspen

In the photo, the Edward Scissorhands director and Pitch Perfect star posed side-by-side and pointed at her sweater emblazoned with the animated elephant.

'Great sweater to wear when Im on the same flight as Tim Burton x cant wait to see @dumbo,' she wrote in the caption, along with an elephant emoji.

The live action version of Dumbo, directed by Tim Burton, is set for release in March this year.

Her chance meeting with the famed director comes after partying with pop diva Mariah Carey at the popular ski destination.

Who knew they were friends? Her chance meeting with the famed director comes after she recently shared photos of herself and her friend Carly Steel (left) partying with pop diva Mariah Carey (middle) at the upscale Caribou Club in Aspen

Rebel took to Instagram to share a snap of herself and friend Carly Steel and the All I Want For Christmas Is You hitmaker.

She and her gal pal flanked both sides of the glamorous music icon, who flaunted her plunging neckline for the photo.

Rebel captioned the post: 'Ice Queens Of Aspen'.

Still feeling festive! Rebel also took to her Instagram Story to share another photo with Mariah, along with the festive caption: 'We're two days late but we got her'

She also took to her Instagram Story to share another photo with Mariah, along with the festive caption: 'We're two days late but we got her,' along with a heart emoji.

The singing sensation looked glamourous in the another photo, wearing a fur coat and glittering butterfly ring.

Carly also posted a photo of the trio, and tagged their location at the upscale Caribou Club restaurant.

Rebel's trip to the Aspen comes after she celebrated Christmas Day at Disneyland with her sister Annachi and close friend, actor Hugh Sheridan.
She has been soaking in the spoils of the Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills with husband Justin Bieber over the last few days.

But on Friday Hailey Baldwin enjoyed a little alone time while Justin got in a workout at SoulCycle down the street.

And the 22-year old IMG model looked to be in a happy mood as she flashed a number of big beaming smiles as she made her way down the bustling streets.

Cute: Hailey Baldwin looked casual cool while leaving the Montage Beverly Hills on Friday

Prepared for the slight chill in the Southern California air, Hailey opted for casual cool in faded denim jeans, white t-shirt and a black blazer-style jacket.

To show off her lean figure, she wore a black belt over the blazer, while rocking a green beanie hat over her blonde locks for extra warmth.

The daughter of actor Stephen Baldwin rounded out the ensemble with white sneakers and carried a stylish black purse.

Bieber-less: Hailey headed out alone while hubby Justin was working out down the street

Strike a pose: The 22-year old wore jeans with a black blazer-style jacket and a green beanie

Hailey broke into modeling with Ford Models back in 2014. She has since appeared in a number of high-fashion magazines that includes: Vogue, Teen Vogue, Marie Claire, Elle and Harper's Bazaar.

She has also been the face of several advertising campaigns such as Guess and UGG Footwear.

The Arizona native would eventually sign with the high-profile agency, IMG Models in 2016.

The 5ft 7.5in beauty has also added TV personality to her resume; she has hosted the 2015 MTV Europe Music Awards in Milan, Italy and co-hosted the 2016 iHeartRadio Much Music Video awards in Toronto, Canada in 2016. By May of 2017, she began hosting the TBS show Drop The Mic with rapper Method Man.

Working gal: Hailey broke into the modeling industry in 2014 at age 18; she has also added Tv personality to her resume over the last few years

It wasn't all smooth riding to the wedding alter for Hailey and Justin.

The couple briefly dated at the end of 2015 and split in January of 2016. They reconciled last May, and got engaged in July while in the Bahamas.

They would go on to exchange vows on September 13, 2018, the same day they obtained their marriage license at a New York City courthouse.
It was a matter of winter be damned for Katie Salmon on Friday evening.

The former-Love Island contestant seemed to think it was July as she braved the plummeting January temperatures in London to hit nightclub Libertine in Fitzrovia.

Unlike the rest of the country, still nursing their post-Christmas and New Year's hedonism, Katie, 22, was back on the streets, showing off her curves in a minuscule snakeskin dress.

Winter be damned! Katie Salmon seemed to think it was July as she braved the plummeting January temperatures in London to hit nightclub Libertine in Fitzrovia on Friday night

The strapless number featured a cut-out at the side, revealing her waist beneath; though the average passer-by would be forgiven if they didn't notice thanks to Katie's orange complexion matching the orange fabric.

This didn't bother the reality personality, however, who battled the freezing climes in the barely-there number.

She accessorised with nude heels and a simple necklace, not even carrying a bag for her belongings.

Where she had stored her phone and purse was anyone's guess.

The glamour-puss wore her pink tresses deadly-straight - although looked to be in dire need of a root touch-up.

Booty call: Unlike the rest of the country, still nursing their post-Christmas and New Year's hedonism, Katie, 22, was back on the streets, showing off her curves in a minuscule snakeskin dress

Daring: The reality star, 22, wasn't afraid to show some skin with her outfit, arriving to the venue in a mini-dress that left little to the imagination

She wore a coral pink slick of gloss on her pouty lips and slathered on the mascara to ensure her eyelashes stole focus.

Rounding off the brazen display, Katie showcased excessively long nails.

The TV contestant swept her locks from her face, her talon-like manicure close to taking an eye out.

Katie is certainly no stranger to causing a stir after her Love Island 2016 appearance.

She is best known to viewers of the ITV2 show for pairing up with the late Sophie Gradon on the reality dating series.

Surprise! The glamour-puss wore her pink tresses deadly-straight - although looked to be in dire need of a root touch-up

Pretty in pink: The reality star looked almost unrecognisable from her days in the Love Island villa with a bold new 'do

Sophie was originally partnered with Tom Powell but later coupled up with Katie after he quit the show.

However, Sophie later dumped Katie and bowed out of the show to be with Tom again, leading Katie to pair off with Adam Maxted.

Their romance was short-lived, lasting just two weeks after the series drew to a close.

Katie's appearance comes weeks after she opened up about the abuse she received from the LGBT community, following her same-sex romance with late Love Island star Sophie.

Oh, hi! The strapless number featured a cut-out at the side, revealing her waist beneath; though the average passer-by would be forgiven if they didn't notice thanks to Katie's orange complexion matching the orange fabric

On the town: The reality personality battled the freezing climes in the barely-there number

Speaking on the Victoria Derbyshire programme in September, Katie admitted she was the subject of much uproar after her relationship with Sophie, who was tragically found dead in June aged just 32.

Katie explained that men seem to misinterpret her sexuality as being 'a woman who likes having threesomes,' and went onto admit she doesn't understand why she is made to feel 'ashamed' about being bisexual.

She said: 'In the villa I was so scared because I didn't know what the outside world was thinking, what my family was thinking, what my friends were thinking, so I was really upset that they'd not supported me from my own community.

'Why can't I be who I want to be? There's nothing to be ashamed of, there's nothing to feel bad about. You're completely normal, and there's so many people out there like you, just as long as you love you that's all that matters.'
Gina Rider and her boyfriend, Geronimo Martinez, sit outside a Circle K in downtown Phoenix. The two have struggled to get access to pain management drugs, with Rider noting that even when she sliced her hand open doctors were reluctant to prescribe her medicine.
W Magazine has released an annual list of 2018's best on-screen performances, and four Australian stars made the exclusive 29-person list.

Nicole Kidman led the pack, with the publication highlighting the 51-year-old's performances in both The Destroyer and Boy Erased.

'Ive been working as an actor since I was 14 years old,' Nicole told W.

Aussie stars: W Magazine has released an annual list of 2018's best on-screen performances, and four Australian stars made the list, including Nicole Kidman (pictured)

'Its a choice, but its also a calling. Sometimes, I kind of try to move away, but it always pulls me back.'

Margot Robbie also made the cut thanks to her show-stopping role as Queen Elizabeth I in the historical drama, Mary Queen of Scots.

Despite the film receiving tepid reviews from critics so far, it's managed to gain Oscar buzz for both Margot and her co-star Saoirse Ronan.

Queen: Margot Robbie also made the cut thanks to her show-stopping role as Queen Elizabeth I in the historical drama, Mary Queen of Scots

Troye Sivan followed with a mention for his role alongside Nicole Kidman in Boy Erased.

The biographical drama, written and directed by Joel Edgerton, follows the son of Baptist parents who force him to attend a gay conversion therapy camp.

Speaking to W, Troye, 23, revealed that he practiced his American accent for the film in Uber rides.

Young talent: Troye Sivan, 23, followed with a mention for his role alongside Nicole Kidman in Boy Erased

Rising star Elizabeth Debicki capped off the list of Australians on the list thanks to her part in Steve McQueen's Widows.

Discussing her audition for the heist film, the 28-year-old said: I put myself on tape in my friends garage. How glamorous!

'I remember wearing a lot of eyeliner. I picked out some hoop earrings. And, funnily enough, in the finished film, she ended up looking a lot like she did in my test.'
Alexis Skyy hit back at accusations that her one-year-old daughter Alaiya was sired by rapper Solo Lucci, as opposed to who she says is the dad, Fetty Wap.

'I have never not known who my child's father is,' the 24-year-old reality star said Thursday in an Instagram post that was subsequently deleted.

The post included a screengrab of paternity test results that stated Solo Lucci - purportedly listed as ALLEGED FATHER - was not Alaiya's parent.

Loving mom: Alexis Skyy, 24, hit back at accusations that her one-year-old daughter Alaiya was sired by rapper Solo Lucci, 22, as opposed to who she says is the dad, Fetty Wap, 27

'I have been humiliated, I have been disrespected, i have been harassed non f***ing stop about not knowing who my child's father all because of Michael Dorsey AKA Solo Lucci continuing to spread this lie,' the Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood star wrote.

She continued, 'As a woman I feel totally disrespected by not only him but also those on social media who has mother shamed me EVERY DAY, EVERY PICTURE of my daughter who has [fought] so hard to make to where she is today (Her 1st Bday) 1.4.18 I have been bullied nonstop, but TODAY this s*** ENDS.'

Skyy said she's 'been called every disgraceful, disrespectful, hurtful word in the book' and found it shameful people can't take her word on the matter.

Solo Lucci, 22, previously told Vlad TV in January of 2018 that he wasn't sure if he could be the father of her then-unborn baby.

Doting: Alexis Skyy posed with her one-year-old daughter Alaiya in a shot she posted to Instagram

Setting the record straight: Skyy has said that Fetty Wap (L) is her daughter's father, not Solo Lucci

'I don't think she knows,' Lucci said, 'but that ain't my place to say.'

Skyy, a New York native, opened up about the uncomfortable situation last month on Love & Hip Hop, explaining that the My War artist was present in the hospital for Alaiya's birth a year ago, but did not sign the birth certificate.

She said on the show, 'Fetty is hesitant to claim Alaiya is because people like Solo Lucci is running around trying to get clout off my name, claiming Alaiya, knowing damn well he's not her father.'

In a response clip posted via Baller Alert, Lucci denied that he was trying to - or could - get clout off of Skyy's name, and that the situation was squarely her responsibility.
Oscar winner Angelina Jolie and some of her six children were reportedly sitting with the live studio audience during the Survivor: David v. Goliath reunion taping, which aired December 19 on CBS.

The 43-year-old actress-turned-humanitarian 'mostly kept to herself' and tended to her blended brood throughout the 37th season two-hour special, according to THR.

Kentucky public defender Nick Wilson might have won the $1M prize, but it was second place Survivor Mike White who allegedly got cheered on by the Kung Fu Panda 3 star.

Reality TV fan: Oscar winner Angelina Jolie and some of her six children were reportedly sitting with the live studio audience during the Survivor: David v. Goliath reunion taping, which aired December 19 on CBS (pictured December 9)

Quiet on the set: The 43-year-old actress-turned-humanitarian 'mostly kept to herself' and tended to her blended brood throughout the 37th season two-hour special

Angelina 'chatted up' the 48-year-old Independent Spirit Award winner's UTA agent in the crowd, as the pair just worked together on Walt Disney Pictures' The One and Only Ivan.

The Amazing Race alum penned the screenplay to Thea Sharrock's big-screen adaptation of Katherine Applegate's 2012 children's book, while Jolie produced the project and voiced the captive elephant Stella.

'After the broadcast, she invited several castmembers to an after party at her place,' a source told THR.

Colleagues: Nick Wilson (L) might have won the $1M prize, but it was second place Survivor Mike White (R) who allegedly got cheered on by the Kung Fu Panda 3 star

Pals: Angelina 'chatted up' the 48-year-old Independent Spirit Award winner's UTA agent in the crowd, as the pair just worked together on Disney's The One and Only Ivan

Which elaborate science analogy did Mike White miss the most when Christian left?  You might be surprised by this one #SurvivorFinale pic.twitter.com/6O4zIwlo85  SURVIVOR (@survivorcbs) December 20, 2018

Animals in captivity: The Amazing Race alum penned the screenplay to Thea Sharrock's big-screen adaptation of Katherine Applegate's 2012 children's book, while Jolie produced the project and voiced the elephant Stella

A source told THR: 'After the broadcast, she invited several castmembers to an after party at her place'

News of the former Hollywood wild child's reality show fandom came a week after she called her kids - son Maddox, 17; son Pax, 15; daughter Zahara, 13; daughter Shiloh, 12; and twins Knox & Vivienne, 10 - 'rebels.'

'They all have a good rebellious streak that is wonderful and curious,' the Special Envoy for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees told BBC Radio 4's Today.

'I don't want them to be perfectly behaved little people that just say what's absolutely appropriate because I say so. They have to find themselves. Children can do two things. They can make you grow up, and you do, and they also add a sense of wild themselves.'

'They all have a good rebellious streak that is wonderful and curious': News of the former Hollywood wild child's reality show fandom came a week after she called her kids 'rebels'

Amicable end? Jolie and her estranged husband #3, Brad Pitt, finally reached a custody agreement on November 30 and, according to Us Weekly, the 55-year-old Oscar winner hosted four of the six kids at his house Christmas (pictured November 4)

Angelina continued: 'There are certain realities to teenagers and also our generation doesn't understand half of what they are doing with their tech so they can get around us pretty easy.'

Jolie and her estranged husband #3, Brad Pitt, finally reached a custody agreement on November 30 and, according to Us Weekly, the 55-year-old Oscar winner hosted four of the six kids at his house Christmas.

The First They Killed My Father director and the Vice producer legally separated in 2016 after tying the knot in 2014 and originally meeting on the 2004 set of spy flick Mr. & Mrs. Smith.
She's an advocate for female empowerment and often declares she won't take nonsense from the opposite sex.

And Ashley James demonstrated both of these aspects as she posted a defiant snap to Instagram on Friday from her sun-drenched holiday in Zanzibar.

Posing half in/half out of a swimming pool for the photo, showing off her derriere as she did so, she captioned the image: 'My body might be covered in mosquito bites but they still aren't as irritating as the English f**kboys I left behind.'

Defiant: Posing half in/half out of a swimming pool for a photo, showing off her derriere as she did so, Ashley James captioned her latest Instagram post on Friday - 'My body might be covered in mosquito bites but they still aren't as irritating as the English f**kboys I left behind'

The ex-Made In Chelsea starlet seems to be having a whale of a time while she enjoys the balmy climes of Tanzania.

The CBB star, 31, jetting out of London on New Year's Day, having DJ'd at a NYE party the night before, heading straight to the airport for her flight.

And within hours of touching down at her destination, the blonde was by the pool and at the beach, putting her enviable figure on display.

On Wednesday she showcased her physique in a microscopic two-piece as she made the most of escaping London's icy temperatures.

Lapping it up: The ex-Made In Chelsea starlet seems to be having a whale of a time while she enjoys the balmy climes of Tanzania

She has taken to social media to post further shots, one of her by the ocean in an orange sun dress, another of her enjoying the sun in a floral two-piece.

In the former, she captioned the shot: 'Definitely no makeup, no jewellery, no worries.'

In the latter, she explained that she had been up since 2AM with 'anxiety', explaining: 'Grateful for my anxiety this morning because even though it woke me up at 2AM, it meant I got to organise our next few days here.

'And I was awake to witness the most amazing sunrise at our beautiful villa.'

The reality star had been looking forward to unwinding in Tanzania, claiming that 2018 was a year of self-discovery for her.

All at sea: She has taken to social media to post further shots, one of her by the ocean in an orange sun dress

Reflecting on the new year, she said on Instagram: 'We go off to unwind and recharge in Tanzania to prepare for a massive 2019. Lord knows I need this break!

'This year has been a year of self-discovery and I've recognised a lot of negative patterns and relationships in my life. I'll talk about it all soon. 

'Thank you for all the travel suggestions. Sri Lanka, Cape Town and the Philippines are all still on the bucket list, but for now, Zanzibar recommendations please.

Slinky: Ashley is an advocate for female empowerment and often declares she won't take nonsense from the opposite sex

'I've wanted to go for so long and I'm so excited it's finally happening. We want the best diving, backpacker hostel vibes in Zanzibar! Oh and book recommendations too!'

Seeing the new year in, the London-based DJ reminisced on her Celebrity Big Brother stint which she hailed as a 'life experience'.

She wrote on Twitter: 'This time last year I had just handed over my phone and laptop ready for 48 hours in hiding ahead of the launch of #CBB Year of the Woman. What a life experience.'
The gossip fans were flamed after they spent New Year's Eve dinner together.

And Southern Charms Thomas Ravenel and Ashley Jacobs had fans in a frenzy with reconciliation rumors when they rang in 2019 in Charleston, South Carolina.

'It was a fun night and dinner with friends and they toasted with champagne when the ball dropped,' a source told US Weekly on Friday.

Rumors:Southern Charms Thomas Ravenel and Ashley Jacobs had fans in a frenzy with reconciliation rumors when they rang in 2019 in Charleston, South Carolina; (pictured in February)

The former couple dated on and off from May 2017 to August 2018.

The source went on to explain Thomas is up for getting back together, while Ashley is ready to move on.

'If Thomas had his way, they would be back together, but Ashley is at the point where she wants to be married, wants to have children and wants someone in a situation where its their "first" too,' said the insider.

'She wont go back to Thomas and wont be with Thomas in a romantic way again.'

Just friends: The former couple dated on and off from May 2017 to August 2018 and sources say they are now just friends; (pictured February)

However, the former Bravo star and registered nurse are 'going to be in each others lives as long as they have mutual friends,' the source added.

Their relationship was documented in season five of Southern Charm where his ex Kathryn Dennis often found herself at odds with the new couple.

Thomas and Kathryn are in a custody over their four-year-old daughter, Kensie, and three-year-old son, Saint.

Meanwhile, Thomas was accused of sexual assault and arrested for assault and battery in September.

Bravo did not ask Thomas back for the sixth season of the reality show.
She has received a host of accolades and awards for her role as Elizabeth Jennings on the period spy thriller The Americans during its six season run.

And on Friday Kerri Russell oozed regal elegance when she hit the red carpet for the 19th annual AFI Awards Luncheon at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills.

The 42-year old actress was on hand for the industry event to represent The Americans, which was named among the top shows of 2018.

Commanding attention: Keri Russell stunned on the red carpet at the AFI Awards Luncheon at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills on Friday

Opting for conservative chic, Keri's white long sleeve number would have made Jackie Kennedy proud.

The classic knee-length dress featured a stylish built-in scarf, five black buttons down the left side and a bell cut that complemented her lean figure.

She matched it with a pair of black pumps and had her dark tresses pulled back off of her face in a ponytail.

Chic: The 42-year old actress wore an elegant white bell dress with black pumps

Chemistry: Russell also struck a few poses with beau and The Americans co-star Matthew Rhys

Handsome: Rhys wore a classic two-piece black suit with a white dress shirt and tie

This wasn't just a solo affair for the brunette beauty; the actress also struck a number of poses alongside on-screen husband and off-screen partner, Matthew Rhys.

He looked handsome in a classic black two-piece suit, white dress shirt and red and white patterned tie.

The couple, who share a two-year old son together, have been dating since The Americans premiered in 2013.

The show, which ended it's six season run last May, was among the ten televisions to be honored for at AFI Awards 2018.

An Item: The couple have been dating since The Americans premiered in 2013

Major role: Keri is filming Star Wars: Episode IX, which is set to premiere December 20, 2019

Other shows being honored this year include: The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, Atlanta, Barry, Better Call Saul, The Kominsky Method, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Pose, Succession and This Is Us.

Some of the big stars on hand included the likes of Emma Stone, Rachel Brosnahan, Mahershala Ali, John Krasinski, Octavia Spencer, Chrissy Metz, Spike Lee, Bill Hader and Regina King.

Keri is currently filming Star Wars: Episode IX, which is set to premiere December 20, 2019 in the US. She will also stars in the upcoming supernatural horror film, Antlers.
She split from the father of her two children, Reece Hawkins, last year.

And on Saturday, Instagram sensation Tammy Hembrow shared a cryptic New Year's message about healing and self-love.

'I hope this year you all put yourself first,' wrote the 24 year-old, adding: 'I hope you find yourself.'

'I hope you find yourself': Instagram sensation Tammy Hembrow shared a cryptic New Year's message about healing and self-love

She continued the heartfelt post: 'I hope you heal yourself. I hope you love yourself.'

The blonde bombshell accompanied the message with a photo of herself posing on the beach in a blue floral bikini.

Tammy ended her relationship with ex-fiance Reece last year, who has since moved on with Instagram model London Goheen.

'I hope you love yourself': She split from the father of her two children, Reece Hawkins, last year

Meanwhile, Tammy's career has gone from strength to strength since the split, with the single mum recently landing the cover of Women Fitness magazine.

The social media star told the magazine that her workout philosophy is: 'slow and steady wins the race.'

'Building a booty is a slow process that requires time, effort, control and persistence. Slow and steady wins the race,' she said.

Cover girl! Tammy's career has gone from strength to strength since the split, with the single mum recently landing the cover of Women Fitness magazine

She explained that specific exercises, including performing squats with weights, helped her to achieve a toned bottom.

Tammy added that lengthy workouts aren't always necessary because exercising five times a week for just 30 minutes is enough to deliver results.

'I know it seems impossible sometimes, especially after a long day but all you need is a 30-minute workout five days a week to make the difference,' she said.

Tammy further claimed that the most important thing about workouts is to push yourself, and the duration of the session isn't as important as its intensity.
She was dumped by Nick Cummins on the last season of Australia's Bachelor.

But on Friday, Sophie Tieman showed no signs of the post-breakup blues, after sharing photos from a boozy afternoon with friends at Sydney's Bondi Beach.

The 25-year-old shared a boomerang which showed a large bucket filled with Canadian Club beverages while at popular bar The Bucket List.

Staying hydrated? Bachelor star Sophie Tieman (right) enjoyed a bucket of alcoholic beverages with friends at a popular bar in Sydney's Bondi on Friday. Enjoying the warm weather, the blonde beauty showed off her lithe frame in an orange form-fitting dress with a plunging neckline

Enjoying the warm weather, the blonde beauty showed off her lithe frame in an orange form-fitting dress with a plunging neckline.

The reality star opted for minimal make up, showcasing her bronzed glow and flawless complexion, and left her long flaxen locks out to cascade down her side.

She pouted at her friend while they toasted with their cool drinks, trying to escape Sydney's scorching hot weather.

Thirst quenching: Sophie and her friend toasted cool drinks as they tried to escape Sydney's scorching weather

Sophie has been making the most of her summer in Sydney and spending most of her holidays at the beach.

Taking to Instagram on Thursday, the blonde beauty showcased her flawless posterior in a black bikini top and animal print G-string bikini.

The racy two-piece showcased her pert derriere and impressively toned and tanned physique.

Fun in the sun! The reality star (left) opted for minimal make up, showcasing her bronzed glow and flawless complexion, and left her long flaxen locks out to cascade down her side

She paired the skimpy ensemble with a brown hat and dark shades as she took in the views of the iconic harbour.

The beauty showcased her emotional side by captioning the photo: 'It's both a blessing and a curse to feel everything so deeply.'

Sophie was one of this year's finalists vying for the heart of Nick on The Bachelor.
She shot to fame after appearing on The Bachelor.

And Elora Murger, 29, turned up the heat when she flaunted her curvaceous figure in a tight, black couture dress while on safari in South Africa on Friday.

The glamorous reality star looked every inch the high fashion model in the stunning evening gown, against a backdrop of zebras on the stunning African plains.

Wild thing! Bachelor star Elora Murger (pictured ) flaunted her impressive figure in a skin-tight couture gown on a glamorous safari in South Africa on Friday

Appearing to be straight out of the likes of Vogue magazine, Elora gently lifted the high-glam dress as she struck a number of poses on Instagram Story.

Elora flaunted her toned and tanned physique, with her very pert derriere also on full display in the glamorous shots.

The reality TV star, who had travelled from Durban, in KwaZulu-Natal, down to Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape, was clearly in high spirits.

Adventure chic! The glamorous reality star looked every inch the high fashion model in the stunning evening gown, against a backdrop of zebras on the stunning African plains

'In the middle of this wilderness for this beautiful Judy Copley gown,' Elora captioned the pictures.

She continued: 'Probably the most nerve-racking and hard-to-get shot I've ever done! Where the lions at?'

Elora shared video of herself earlier in the day on safari.

Active: The brunette bombshell has been laying low since appearing on Bachelor In Paradise - with her most recently social media post being a raunchy workout from December 2018

The busty brunette was in her element on the trip, sharing footage on herself on a safari car looking at rhinos.

Elsewhere, she posted a photo of herself visiting a lion enclosure, appearing a little nervous before the wild king of the jungle.

The brunette bombshell has been laying low since appearing on Bachelor In Paradise - with her most recently social media post being a raunchy workout from December 2018.

Photo finish figure: The beauty took to Instagram to share a video of her Shakti moves, which included, in her words, a lot of 'booty shaking'

The beauty took to Instagram to share a video of her Shakti moves, which included, in her words, a lot of 'booty shaking'.

The reality star proved she was a natural while twerking on a yoga mat in a pair of multicoloured tights and a black crop top.

She explained that the fitness routine was a form of yoga that she learned during her time in Hawaii.

Elora also revealed that she is certified to teach the workout, and is now leading classes for others.

In the caption, the brunette wrote: 'Today I taught my first @shakti_flow class! Two years ago, when I lived in Hawaii, Shakti was my favourite practice.'

She went on to say that it brings out a woman's 'inner sexy goddess and grow her confidence'.

Not only is she now teaching fitness classes, Elora recently announced she's expanding her career portfolio by moving into the food industry.

Food truck! Elora recently announced that she's expanding her career portfolio by moving into the food industry with her her new company, Tahiti Bowl

Taking to her Instagram to announce the surprising career move recently, the star shared a photo of herself standing in front of food truck.

In the image, the brunette beauty held up a sign that displayed the name of her new company, Tahiti Bowl.

'I finally picked up my Tahiti Bowl trailer today! My own little project. Here's to the start of a new adventure,' she wrote in the caption.

According to her food truck business' official Instagram page, Tahiti Bowl will be based in Noosa and will serve fresh poke bowls focusing on traditional Tahitian and Hawaiian flavours.

Off the island! The reality star was seen heading home after just two days of filming on Bachelor in Paradise in November




She's known the flaunt her incredible body to fans on social media.

And taking to Instagram on Friday, Elyse Knowles, 26, didn't disappoint after sharing a racy bikini photo.

The blonde beauty showed off her washboard abs and slender frame while she posed on the sand, making the most of the hot weather.

What a rig! Model Elyse Knowles (pictured) showed off her washboard abs in skimpy white bikini while she shares an important message to fans on Friday

Clad in a skimpy white bikini top and a printed sarong, the model showed off her bronzed glow while holding a pair of sandals and a woven bag.

Protecting herself from the sun, Elyse donned a pair of black sunglasses and a straw hat, leaving her flaxen locks in beachy waves.

'This year my mission is to live more sustainably!' she wrote to fans.

She added: 'Being conscious of and reducing my footprint and spreading awareness on how others can change simple elements of their life to care for our world #makethechange'.

It's not the first time the model has opened up about her passion for the environment.

Last year, she was named the ambassador for eco-friendly beauty brand Aveda.

She added: 'Being conscious of and reducing my footprint and spreading awareness on how others can change simple elements of their life to care for our world #makethechange'

The American company released a written statement saying the blonde beauty's 'personal values align perfectly with Aveda's core brand values'.

The brand added it 'couldn't be prouder' to start its partnership with Elyse, calling her an 'inspirational role model'.

Elyse said she was 'proud to be partnered with a beauty company that goes above and beyond to making our world a more eco-friendly place'.

On her blog, the Australian beauty writes about the importance of staying 'green' and how she lives in an eco-friendly way.
She rose to fame after starring on Australia's first season of Love Island.

And on Thursday, Shelby Bilby, 25, was seen making the most of the hot weather as she partied with pals on Sydney Harbour.

Documenting her wild day on the water, the blonde beauty took to her Instagram to share some racy videos of her day at sea.

Babe on board! Love Island's Shelby Bilby (pictured) enjoyed boat party on Sydney Harbour on Thursday before unveils her shocking broken toenails

Showing off her ample cleavage in a skimpy black bikini, Shelby was seen dancing with other partygoers while giving an enthusiastic cheer to the camera.

Going makeup-free, she showed off her bronzed complexion and shielded her eyes from the sun with a pair over oversized sunglasses.

After having an ocean swim, she kept her blonde tresses wet and donned a black cap that read 'Big Shot'.

Party time! Showing off her ample cleavage in a skimpy black bikini, Shelby was seen dancing with other partygoers while giving an enthusiastic cheer to the camera

Let's celebrate! Going makeup-free, Shelby showed off her bronzed complexion and shielded her eyes from the sun with a pair over oversized sunglasses

Panning the camera around the boat, she gave fans a glimpse of her raucous day on the harbour.

Later, after returning to an apartment, she reminisced about her time on Love Island Australia by playing the theme song and dancing around the room.

She then shared footage of her road trip home, and admitted to feeling a little under the weather.

Flashback: Later, after returning to an apartment, she reminisced about her time on Love Island Australia by playing the theme song and dancing around the room

Overshare! Shelby also shared a video of her feet perched on the car dashboard, during which she zoomed in on her broken toenails which were possibly the result of her recent partying

'Feeling a tad hung,' she wrote.

Shelby also shared a video of her feet perched on the car dashboard, during which she zoomed in on her broken toenails which were possibly the result of her recent partying.

She captioned a still of the clip, 'Feet are probably the grossest things ever', and added, 'Oh my god how did this happen?'

Shelby rose to fame after being one of the intruders on the first season of Love Island Australia.
As one of Australia's leading models she's not shy about showing off her figure.

And on Friday, Samantha Harris put on a busty display when she stripped down to a tiny string bikini at the beach.

The 28-year-old Indigenous stunner shared a picture of herself after a snorkeling session at Queensland's Shelly Beach.

Busting out of her comfort zone! Model Samantha Harris flaunted her ample cleavage in a tiny string bikini as she went snorkeling for the first time on Friday

She also revealed she wasn't a huge fan of the leisurely activity.

'Went snorkeling for the first time today... can't say I'll be back but you never know,' she captioned the snap.

She added in comments to fans: 'I was so scared made my husband hold my hand the whole time.'

Samantha was referring to her husband Luke Hunt, 30.

Model figure: As one of Australia's leading models she's not shy about showing off her figure

Lovebirds: Sam is married to Luke Hunt, 30, (R), and the pair celebrated their four-year wedding anniversary last year

Samantha secretly married Luke in 2014, two months before he began serving a prison sentence for his involvement in a fatal car crash, which resulted in the death of 78-year-old grandfather Kenneth Lay.

Luke was behind the wheel during the May 2012 accident.

Samantha and Luke's Commodore car crashed into Kenneth's Hyundai Lantra in Narraweena, on the Northern Beaches.

Luke was driving above the speed limit and changing lanes.

News that the couple had married wasn't revealed until April 2016, after her husband had finished serving his prison term.

The couple chose not to make an announcement at the time out of respect for Kenneth Lay's family.
The World's Hottest Grandma isn't toning down her racy antics in 2019.

This week, Gina Stewart took to Instagram to flaunt her assets in a lingerie bodysuit for her 130,000 followers.

Taking things further, the 48-year-old then stripped down completely nude in her next post, captioning the image: 'Sometimes all you need to wear is a smile.'

Busting out! The World's Hottest Grandma Gina Stewart took to Instagram to flaunt her incredible assets in a busty lingerie bodysuit for her 130,000 followers

The stunning mother-of-four rang in the new year in her Gold Coast apartment, where she watched the New Year's Eve fireworks from her balcony.

The Queensland local shared a video to Instagram of herself with her youngest daughter, Summer, five, as they posed against the backdrop of the city skyline.

In another clip, the 48-year-old Internet sensation posed in a thigh-skimming white dress while holding a wine glass.

Taking things further, the 48-year-old then stripped down completely nude in her next post, captioning the image: 'Sometimes all you need to wear is a smile'

Earlier in the day, Gina shared a glimpse of the view from her balcony - a location which has become famous for being where she takes her selfies.

The blonde bombshell lives on the Sunshine Coast, where she can often be spotted frolicking on the beach and taking selfies.

It comes after the glamour model found herself in hot water with Instagram last week for violating their strict guidelines on nudity.

She's a firework! The World's Hottest Grandma Gina Stewart, 48, celebrated New Year's Eve with her five-year-old daughter Summer on Monday. Pictured on her Gold Coast balcony

Gina was 'deeply disappointed' to discover that a photo she had shared to promote her 'Almost Naked' 2019 calendar was removed.

She explained that the charity calendar was raising money to support breast cancer research, after her own mother recently battled the disease.

'I wrote about the reasons behind my calendar launch and said that I will be donating to a cause that I am passionate about,' she told her Instagram followers.

Too sexy for social media? It comes after the glamour model found herself in hot water with Instagram last week for violating their strict guidelines on nudity

'Unfortunately, all of the supportive comments from my followers were lost due to the post being banned, sadly, by Instagram,' she added.

'All I can say is: Instagram, have a heart.'

Gina - who has three children in their twenties, as well as a five year-old daughter, Summer - became a grandmother at the age of 46.
Today Extra host David Campbell, 45, is known for poking fun at himself and his family on social media.

And the jokester couldn't help but chuckle over an image of his three-year-old daughter Betty looking terrified during a roller-coaster ride at Disney World this Thursday.

David, who is currently enjoying a fun-filled family holiday at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, took to Instagram with an action shot of himself and Betty riding the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train roller-coaster.

'I can't stop laughing': David Campbell shared hilarious snap of his daughter Betty's terrified reaction during a roller-coaster ride at Disney World on Thursday

'This photo cracks me up. Look Betty loved this new Seven Dwarfs ride I promise but her face,' he wrote alongside the picture, which saw little Betty cowering in fear.

'We also did the new Winnie the Pooh ride which the kids loved. We got to start Epcot today which is fabulous. The detail is remarkable. We only quickly looked,' he added.

'But Betty's face. I. Can't. Stop. Laughing,' he mused.

Family trip! Taking to Instagram on Thursday, David shared photos of his family enjoying Disney World. Betty pictured with her brother Leo

Kidding around! David has spent the last five days galavanting around Disney World with his wife Lisa, eight-year-old son Leo, Betty and her twin brother Billy

Meanwhile, the Nine host looked completely elated to be on the ride, throwing one hand in the air and screaming in ecstasy.

He was dressed in full Disney-inspired garb for the occasion, donning an Incredibles-branded T-shirt.

David has spent the last five days galavanting around Disney World with his wife Lisa, eight-year-old son Leo, Betty and her twin brother Billy.

Having fun? David's wife Lisa beamed as she sat with her son Billy

Last week, the family-of-five spent time in Texas, visiting the iconic Dealey Plaza.

'We had an extraordinary afternoon going to Dealey Plaza the spot where JFK was assassinated,' wrote David next to a photo of the Sixth Floor Museum.

He later added: 'The grassy knoll seems almost haunted. I took a photo at the end to show the perspective of where Zapruder actually stood to film his now legendary footage. Very powerful and highly recommended if you ever get to Dallas.'
She made the transition from reality television star to social media entrepreneur last year.

And on Thursday, former Big Brother star, Lisa Clark, 33, proved she is more than willing to step out of her comfort zone to impress her 96,1000 Instagram followers.

In an image shared to the photo-app, the swimsuit-clad star was seen arching her back to pull a rather awkward albeit figure-flattering stance during her getaway in Bali, Indonesia.

Doing it for the 'gram! Swimsuit-clad Big Brother star Lisa Clark, 33, (pictured) archesd her back to pull uncomfortable figure-flattering stance during a Bali getaway on Thursday

Lisa, who was lying face up next to a swimming pool, was seen curving her back in an attempt to create the perfect feminine silhouette.

The Sydney-based socialite also made sure to pull up her high-cut one piece, which undoubtedly created even more discomfort for the star.

The pose, which is regularly performed by models and Instagram stars alike, appears to give the illusion of longer legs, a fuller bust and a peachy posterior.

Bali vibes! The former Big Brother star (pictured) has been living it up in Bali, Indonesia this month

'Go green. One piece perfection via suboostyle,' she captioned the image.

In 2018, the blonde socialite took to Instagram to announce her jump from reality show star to social media entrepreneur.

'A lot of you ask me what I do for a living, so here it is!' she wrote alongside a photo of herself filming a table of food with her mobile phone.

'I also own a social media company': In 2018, the blonde socialite took to Instagram to announce her jump from reality show star to social media entrepreneur

'Apart from writing for the Australian Commerce of Buisness [sic], I also own a social media company which focuses mainly on restaurants and bars.'

She continued: 'So here I am at the Summer launch of @anatoliacp shooting content for their Insta stories for the week.'

'I decided that I wanted to be more like them so I began to read magazines and teach myself how to dress and speak properly.

Lisa was known for her outspoken attitude and emotional outbursts during her time on Big Brother in 2014.

However she's now a polished Sydney socialite who is regularly seen at red carpet events.
Nikki Phillips is expected to give birth to her second child in March.

And the 36-year-old model has revealed she is spending her days by the pool to beat the scorching summer heat.

The mum-to-be, who is 30 weeks pregnant, shared a bikini-clad snap on Thursday and joked she has been 'submerging [her] lumps in water every day'.

'I've been submerging my lumps in water every day': Pregnant Nikki Phillips flaunted her cleavage poolside on Thursday - as she reveals the scorching summer heat is getting to her

Nikki wore a plunging black and white striped bikini, Tom Ford sunglasses and a Dior visor in her Instagram snap.

'Another perfect day spent lounging by the pool. I'm starting to see a pattern this holiday and I like it,' she wrote in the caption.

'When I was pregnant with Jett [her first child] I was my biggest coming into winter.

Over the moon! Last year, the former Next Top Model star revealed her second pregnancy was 'unplanned', and that she and husband Dane Rumble were 'completely lucky'

'This time around being almost in summer is getting to me. I think I've been submerging my lumps in water everyday.'

She then added a series of hashtags, including 'pregnancy style' and 'not used to boobs'.

Last year, the former Next Top Model star revealed her second pregnancy was 'unplanned', and that she and husband Dane Rumble were 'completely lucky'.

Doting mother: Nikki is already a mother to Jett (left), who was born in the winter time. She is currently struggling with being pregnant during a summer heatwave

Nikki, who was treated for cervical cancer 12 years ago, was told by doctors that she would struggle to get pregnant.

'With Jett it took two years, three miscarriages, a lot of testing and this time around I had no idea I was even pregnant until about 15 weeks,' she told The Daily Telegraph.

'This time round it was completely unplanned and completely lucky.

'I would say that both my children, this one and Jett, are complete miracles in their own rights.'

Nikki and Dane married in 2014 and welcomed their first son Jett in 2017.
She has mostly stayed out of the celebrity spotlight in Australia since moving to Hollywood in 2015.

But former Home and Away star Demi Harman teased a major announcement on Thursday when she shared a photo to Instagram of herself pushing along a stroller.

The 24-year-old, who played rebellious teen Sasha Bezmel between 2011 and 2015, captioned the photo of herself in Brisbane: 'James St with the freshest nephew!'

'You've got to get one of your own!' Home and Away's Demi Harman teased a pregnancy announcement on Thursday when she shared this photo of herself with her baby nephew

The photo showed Demi, who is currently dating an American named Andrew Brooks, smiling next to the pram.

While she made it clear the child in the picture was her nephew, many fans were hoping she was hinting at having a baby of her own.

'Practice makes perfect,' her friend Bambi Northwood-Blyth commented.

Dropping hints? The photo showed Demi, who is currently dating an American named Andrew Brooks (right), smiling next to a baby's stroller

Other comments included, 'Suits you!' and 'You have got to get one of your own'.

In June 2016, Demi spoke to New Idea about her attempt to break into Hollywood, describing the experience as 'challenging'.

'It's a whole new ball game in terms of acting,' she said at the time. 'I have high hopes and it's just a matter of time.'

Demi's last acting credit on IMDB was her 2016 role as Riley Hart in Australian drama Winners & Losers.
A handful of intrepid Australian celebrities will brave the elements to compete on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! this month.

But Julia Morris, 50, is determined to live a far more luxurious existence during her time hosting the show in South Africa.

The beloved comedian took to Instagram on Friday to document how she spent her first 24 hours in South Africa, sharing several makeup-free selfies from inside a day spa.

'Jungle prep laughter & spa day': Julia Morris, 50, took to Instagram on Friday to document how she spent her first 24 hours in South Africa ahead of hosting I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

'Jungle prep laughter & spa day,' Julia wrote next to the candid snaps, before adding the hashtags: #massage and #beetrootpresse.

In several shots, the brunette show-woman is seen pulling silly faces towards the camera while posing in a bath robe.

Other photos show Julia posing with another robe-clad woman, who appears to be a Channel 10 producer.

Happy to be hair? The jokester also shared this photo of herself posing in a hair net and bath robe

Having a ball! In several shots, the brunette show-woman is seen pulling silly faces towards the camera while posing in a bath-robe

Working hard or hardly working? Other shots show Julia posing with another robe-clad woman, who appears to be a Channel 10 producer

Days earlier, Julia shared another makeup-free selfie as she sat in a plane en route to South Africa.

Pulling a funny face, the mother-of-two struck a kooky expression while wearing Qantas-branded pajamas ahead of her 14-hour flight.

'Rocking my own pillow...' she cheekily wrote in the caption.

She's heading to the jungle! Days earlier, Julia shared another makeup-free selfie as she sat in a plane en route to South Africa

The countdown begins! I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! will premiere next week on Channel 10 with Julia Morris (right) and Dr. Chris Brown (left) returning as hosts

Julia will kick off her hosting duties alongside Dr Chris Brown next week when I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! returns for a fifth season.

In addition to the show, Ten will air a spin-off sister series hosted by Scott Tweedie called Saturday Schoolies.

The hour-long program will see Celebrity campers participate in school-inspired challenges designed to keep them on their toes.

'I get to put these poor, sleep deprived and hungry celebrities up against one another all in the name of us laughing at them even more,' Scott told Ten Daily.

I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! returns to Channel 10 on January 13, 2019.
Roxy Jacenko and Jackie 'O' Henderson are close friends, having celebrated the New Year together in Fiji.

And it seems that their daughters Pixie Curtis, seven, and Kitty, eight, are following in their footsteps.

The adorable duo were pictured walking through Sydney Airport on Thursday, holding hands as they jetted in from Fiji with their mothers.

Best friends forever! Pixie Curtis (left) and Kitty Henderson (right) held hands while flying into Sydney from Fiji with their lookalike mothers Roxy Jacenko and Jackie O on Thursday

The pair appeared in good spirits, smiling and laughing as they walked through the terminal with their family close by.

Just like their fashionable mothers, the girls both wore sweet dresses, with Pixie accessorising with a boater hat.

Roxy, meanwhile, looked effortlessly chic in a red and white striped top and a black miniskirt, while Jackie wore a yellow and white floral dress.

Too cute! The pair appeared in good spirits, smiling and laughing as they walked through the terminal with their family close by

A stylish arrival: Roxy (right, with her son Hunter) looked effortlessly chic in a red and white striped top and a black miniskirt, while Jackie (left) wore a yellow and white floral dress

All aboard! Also jetting into Sydney alongside the group was Roxy's husband Oliver Curtis (pictured) and their four-year-old son Hunter

Also jetting into Sydney alongside the group was Roxy's husband Oliver Curtis and their four-year-old son Hunter.

While on vacation in Fiji, newly-single Jackie joked that she was a 'third wheel' after celebrating New Year's Eve with the married couple.

And after they were joined by another couple at the Six Senses resort, the KIIS FM star unfortunately found herself being the 'fifth wheel'.

Friends: While on vacation in Fiji, newly-single Jackie joked that she was a 'third wheel' after celebrating New Year's Eve with the married couple

We've all been there! After they were joined by another couple at the Six Senses resort, the KIIS FM star unfortunately found herself being the 'fifth wheel'

Earlier during her holiday, Jackie reunited with estranged husband Lee Henderson.

The former couple spent Christmas Day together, even sharing late-night cocktails after Kitty had gone to bed.

However, it seems he had returned to Australia by the time New Year's Eve rolled around.

Jackie and Lee announced their split in October 2018, after 18 years together.
He is one of Australia's most famous culinary exports who now calls Los Angeles home.

And Curtis Stone was seen outside of his famed Beverly Hills restaurant Maude, named in honour of his late grandmother, on Wednesday.

The 43-year-old look rugged and handsome in a white shirt, jeans and a striped chef's apron, as well as a pair of comfortable clogs.

Is everything OK? Australian chef Curtis Stone took a serious call outside his popular Beverly Hills restaurant Maude on Wednesday

He appeared to be in deep conversation on the telephone as he stood on the sidewalk.

Curtis recently returned back to Australia to film scenes for the My Kitchen Rules season 10 finale.

The handsome culinary star was also a judge of the US version of the cooking reality show, which aired in 2017.

Deep: He appeared to be in deep conversation on the telephone as he stood on the sidewalk

The father-of-two frequently returns to Australia for work, thanks to his ambassador role with supermarket chain Coles.

In November, he spoke to BW magazine about regularly commuting between Australia and the US.

'I come back about seven times a year,' he said.

Family man: Curtis is married to American actress Lindsay Price, and the couple share two sons, Hudson, seven, and Emerson, four

'And when I do, I feel like I never left, in that sense I'm lucky because I get to live a double life,' he added.

Curtis, who has been married to American actress Lindsay Price since 2013, said that he tries to bring the couple's two sons Hudson, seven, and Emerson, four, along as often as he can.

'I think it's really important they understand that part of their heritage, It's funny because only recently my son told his teacher he's really an Aussie, which was cute,' he explained.
















Bob Lazar sparked an alien frenzy 30 years ago when he blew the whistle on his apparent work on UFOs inside Area 51. In 1989, with the help of journalist George Knapp, Mr Lazar detailed a story claiming he was stationed at a base known as S-4, south of the USAFs Homey Airport. He speculated the auxiliary facility in the Nevada desert was being used by the US government to exploit alien technology.

However, following the revelation, Lazar went quiet for almost 30 years.

Until now.

With the help of investigative filmmaker Jeremy Corbell, the scientist revisited his claims.

Mr Corbell spent the last few years digging into the background of the 59-year-old, before producing his new film Bob Lazar: Area 51 & Flying Saucers.

However, it has not done Mr Lazar many favours, he has revealed, after the FBI raided his home last month.

He said: The conveyer belt of vehicles and agents and police did not stop.

They came in and said there will be a few others coming in, weve just got a few questions to ask you.

But then the street and building were filled with agents.

They said they were looking for some paperwork from two years ago about a customer who ordered some toxic material.

They could have just called  it was very over the top.

Mr Lazar claims the government agency were, in fact, looking for something called Element 115, a chemical said to used to power alien spaceships.

Back in the 1990s, there were rumours that Mr Lazar had managed to sneak some out of the top-secret facility, yet he refuses to discuss the speculation.

He believes the FBI is now paranoid over the possibility.

Two weeks ago, Mr Lazar travelled to Los Angeles with Mr Corbell and Mr Knapps to attend the premiere of the new film at the Ace Hotel in Los Angeles.

The next day it was released on iTunes and immediately rose to number one on the charts.

Mr Corbell previously said: My film gives you an understanding of the real Bob Lazar, which will make it harder to throw away his claims.

The more you get to know Bob Lazar, the more you have to face the uncomfortable possibility that he's telling you the truth.

"You look at the evidence, you watch my film and you decide for yourself."
Rae Sremmurd rapper Slim Jxmmi, 27, was involved in a bloody street brawl in Auckland, New Zealand that left one man stabbed and rushed to hospital on Thursday afternoon.

Jxmmi, whose real name is Aaquil Brown, and other members of his hip hop crew reportedly descended into the violent confrontation after they noticed someone was filming them.

A glass bottle was apparently shattered and used as a weapon during the incident, celebrity news website TMZ reported.

Incident: Rae Sremmurd rapper Slim Jxmmi (left) was involved in a bloody street brawl in Auckland, New Zealand that left one man stabbed and rushed to hospital on Thursday. Pictured with bandmate Swae Lee (right) on December 29, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia

Footage published by TMZ showed a group of men, and possibly one woman, shouting and punching each other on the ground as several witnesses looked on in disbelief.

Members of Rae Sremmurd's entourage - including the band's bodyguard - were also involved in the altercation, according to reports.

After the fight was over, Jxmmi was supposedly seen talking to local police with blood covering his body.

Entourage: Jxmmi, whose real name is Aaquil Brown, and other members of his hip hop crew reportedly descended into the violent confrontation after they noticed someone was filming them

Investigation: Police are currently investigating, but no arrests have so far been made

More bad luck! In September last year, a home belonging to the hip hop group was broken into by armed robbers. Pictured on December 15, 2018 in West Hollywood, California

Another person was reportedly rushed to Auckland City Hospital with stab wounds following the altercation.

Slim and his bandmate Swae Lee (real name Khalif Brown), who are visiting the country for a concert tour, are yet to release a statement about the incident.

Police are currently investigating, but no arrests have so far been made.

Ouch! In August last year, Swae suffered an injured lip after a fan threw a phone at him on stage during a concert in Dallas, Texas

The street brawl is the latest in a series of controversial incidents for Rae Sremmurd.

In September last year, a home belonging to the hip hop group was broken into by armed robbers.

After pistol whipping the on-site security, the criminals entered and took a safe before fleeing the scene.

One month earlier, Swae suffered an injured lip after a fan threw a phone at him on stage during a concert in Dallas, Texas.

The rapper subsequently checked into a medical facility to receive stitches.
She was just 17 when she landed the role of Toni Windsor on hit Australian soap E Street in 1989.

Toni Pearen reinvented herself as a pop star in the mid nineties and hosted Australia's Funniest Home Videos before being swallowed up in the mists of obscurity.

But on Friday, Toni, 46, resurfaced to shed some light on her very active life largely spent out of the spotlight.

'My life was beyond my wildest dreams': Where soap actor and nineties pop sensation Toni Pearen (pictured), 46, is now

Now an acting teacher on Sydney's Northern Beaches, Toni told The Daily Telegraph on Friday: 'Seriously, my life was beyond my wildest dreams.'

She added: 'I'm so grateful for the life that I've had. I look back and I've had amazing experiences. I feel like I've lived my life 10 times over.'

The brunette beauty runs The Talent Co at the beach suburb of Avalon with fellow E Street actor Raelee Hill, who also had roles in Water Rats and Neighbours.

Spotlight: She was just 17 when she landed the role of Toni Windsor on hit Australian soap E Street in 1989. Now an acting teacher on Sydney's Northern Beaches, Toni (pictured) told The Daily Telegraph on Friday: 'Seriously, my life was beyond my wildest dreams'

Fame game: Toni reinvented herself as a pop star in the mid nineties and hosted Australia's Funniest Home Videos before being swallowed up in the mists of obscurity

Toni is also mum to son Lucky, nine, and daughter, Ever, six, with husband Will Osmond.

In 2017, Toni told Now To Love that going from being in the spotlight to a full-time parent came as a shock.

'When I first had Lucky, we [Toni and Will] decided staying home is what I would do, and it was difficult for me to take a step back and hand over that control in many ways  financially and everything,' she said.

Changes: In 2017, Toni told Now To Love that going from being in the spotlight to a full-time parent came as a shock

'Never in a million years before I had kids did I think I could step away from my career, but Im really proud that I did it.'

She hasn't completely turned her back on showbusiness however, being a regular guest on morning show Studio 10.

I n 1992 and 1993 Toni had two consecutive top 10 ARIA Gold certified hits with her singles In Your Room and I Want You, and released the album Intimate in 1994.

Back on the radio: In 2014, the brunette beauty made something of a comeback in the charts with her song Gonna Get It Right making it to number 7 on the Billboard charts for artist Nikkole

And in 2014, she made something of a comeback in the charts, with a song she wrote making it to the Billboard Dance Top 40 in the US.

'I woke up to find out song I wrote #gonnagetitright @nikkole is #39 on the #us billboard chart #wow, Toni tweeted in July 2014.

The song was released by US artist Nikkole and has since soared to number 7 on the Billboard charts.
They spent most of their New Year's Eve in the emergency ward after Lee Elliott burned himself by clutching a handful of sparklers.

And taking to Instagram on Thursday, Bachelorette star Lee, 37, shared a new hospital photo after the unfortunate incident.

In the snap, the mechanical plumber is seen lying on a bed in a hospital gown, wearing his eye-glasses and holding up a newly bandaged hand.

'If you can't candle the heat, get out of the operating theatre!' Bachelorette Georgia Love's boyfriend Lee Elliott shared new hospital pic after burning his hands with sparklers on New Years eve to fan on Instagram

'If you can't candle the heat, get out of the operating theatre,' the funny caption read.

The couple certainly did ring in the start of 2019 together in a memorable way - albeit in the emergency room of Melbourne's Alfred Hospital.

Lee was rushed to hospital after burning himself while clutching a handful of sparklers.

Hospital bound: In the snap, the mechanical plumber is seen lying on a bed in a hospital gown, wearing his eye-glasses and holding up a newly bandaged hand

Georgia took to Instagram in the early hours of Tuesday morning to share some light-hearted photos from their ER dash.

'Happy New Year from emergency! Don't hold a bunch of sparklers and light them all at once, kids!' she wrote, alongside the hashtags '2019 lessons' and 'his hand got lit'.

Earlier in the evening, the reality TV lovebirds celebrated New Year's Eve at The Prince Hotel in trendy St Kilda.

Oh, dear! Georgia took to Instagram to share some light-hearted photos from their ER dash

Georgia and Lee put on an affectionate display in front of the media wall, locking lips for all to see.

The Channel 10 newsreader flaunted her slim figure in a strapless top and mini skirt, which she paired with a waist belt, red strappy heels and drop earrings.

Her shoulder-length brunette hair was styled in loose waves and she opted for a glamorous makeup palette.

Meanwhile, Lee cut a dapper figure in a white dress shirt, a grey marle suit jacket and trousers, and pristine white sneakers.

The couple have been dating since meeting on the 2016 season of The Bachelorette.
It's been nine years since they tangoed together on Dancing With The Stars and instantly fell head over heels in love.

And on Thursday Rachael Finch and Michael Miziner celebrated their sixth wedding anniversary.

The couple, who fell in love after being partnered together on the popular show, spent the day soaking up the sun in Sydney.

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'My favourite things': Rachael Finch and husband Michael Miziner celebrated their wedding anniversary at the beach in Sydney... after falling in love on Dancing with the Stars nine years ago

Taking to Instagram on Thursday, the former Miss Universe Australia shared a loved-up snap of the pair at the beach.

Rachael stunned in an orange and white bikini which showcased her flawless figure while Michael cut a relaxed look in white board shorts.

The picture-perfect couple appeared more in love than ever as they cooled off in the surf before relaxing on the sand.

'Our 6th anniversary spent swimming in the ocean, and eating. Two of my favourite things with my favourite person,' Rachael captioned one snap.

Loved-up: The picture perfect couple appeared more in love than ever as they cooled off in the surf before relaxing on the sand

Rachael and Michael tied the knot in January 2013 and share two children: daughter Violet, five, and son Dominic, one.

Earlier on Thursday Rachael has shared a picture of herself with a huge bunch of flowers, which were a gift from her husband.

She gave Michael a photo album featuring highlights from the past 12 months which is a tradition she follows every year.

'Six years! How lucky am I?' Rachael Finch (pictured) and her dancer husband Michael Miziner celebrated their wedding anniversary on Thursday

Michael also took to Instagram to put his appreciation into words, writing: 'Six years ago today you chose me as your husband, so many amazing memories and so many things have changed but one thing remains the same. I love you more each day.

'Thank you for everything you do and for our two little angels.'

Rachael previously revealed to KIIS FM that things got serious between her and Michael shortly after they met on Dancing with the Stars.

'I had my toothbrush in his house like three weeks after we met!' she said, before confessing it took a while for their relationship to progress physically.

'We weren't physical for months and we wanted to keep it that way,' she added.
They're the celebrity couple who were forced to deny rumours that they faked breaking up in a desperate attempt to get themselves onto Bachelor in Paradise.

But it appears that even after a tumultuous last few months in the spotlight, Megan Marx, 29, and Jake Ellis, 31, look more in love than ever.

Taking to Instagram on Thursday, Megan shared a picture of the pair enjoying a romantic moment at the Opera Bar in Sydney.

No paradise but a lot of PDA! Megan Marx and Jake Ellis appear more in love than ever after hitting back at rumours they faked splitting up so they could take part in Bachelor In Paradise

The loved-up-snap shows the couple packing on the PDA as they leaned in to kiss each other.

'Sorry for all the Jake spam but hes so F*N handsome, I cant help myself,' she captioned the romantic snap.

The couple briefly broke up in August 2018 but reunited in November after they were spotted out with their friend and fellow Bachelor alum Elora Murger, 28.

The fact that the split coincided perfectly with the casting for the second season of Bachelor in Paradise caused many fans to question the legitimacy of the break up over social media.

'We were both asked but said no': Jake Ellis furiously hits back at rumours he faked split with Megan Marx for invite to Bachelor In Paradise amid reunion

Adding fuel to the rumor mill, the pair were frequently spotted together after announcing that they were no longer together.

In November, Jake furiously hit back at claims the couple had faked breaking up after Megan announced on Instagram that they were back together.

During his online outburst, Jake claimed that both he and Megan were actually approached by Channel 10 to appear, but each chose to decline the offer.

Touchy subject? After MAFS' Nasser Sultan teased that the couple had simply got back together as they 'didn't get invited to Paradise', Jake quickly saw red

Hit a nerve! The reality TV personality told Nasser to 'seriously f*** off', adding: 'We were both asked but said no for the obvious reason'

In the comments under Megan's announcement of their rekindled romance, Jake hit back while replying to Married At First Sight's Nasser Sultan, 51.

After Nasser teased that the couple had simply reunited as they 'didn't get invited to Paradise', Jake quickly saw red while addressing the touchy subject.

The reality TV personality told Nasser to 'seriously f*** off', adding: 'We were both asked but said no for the obvious reason'.

However, moments later Megan cast doubt on her boyfriend's claims by briefly adding a note to her caption suggesting only Jake was asked to appear on the show.

Megan has since deleted the addition to her caption, along with Jake and Nasser's chain of comments, while also blocking the Married At First Sight star.
Teenage plotlines in soaps can be a hit-and-miss affair.

Shakils murder in EastEnders was brilliantly handled, providing some of the shows most moving scenes last year, and other memorable teenage dramas in recent times include the pregnancy of Faye Windass in Coronation Street and Lachlan Whites murderous reign of terror in Emmerdale.

Also in Emmerdale, Jacobs growing obsession with Maya, his teacher and his fathers girlfriend, is very watchable as the inevitable fallout draws nearer.

But as far as misses go, the current EastEnders story of Tiffany, Bernadette and the drugs gang is right up there.

Its been rumbling on for weeks now and just feels tired and familiar.

Tim (pictured right) heads to Duncan's flat with intentions of forcing a confession after learning that Sally has been beaten up in Coronation Street

It wouldnt be realistic for soaps to not feature children, but the truth so often is that writers struggle to know how to use them.

Walfords teenage drug gang is enough to make you long for the days when the only action younger characters got was being sent to their rooms or told to wash their hands for tea.

CORONATION STREET: DOES DASTARDLY DUNCAN DIE?

Sally is having a nightmare time in prison at the hands of Marcia, her thuggish new cellmate.

So the last thing she needs is her hopeless husband Tim and calamitous sister Gina turning detective in order to help her.

Gina breaks into Duncans flat in a bid to prove hes lying.

Will she succeed, or will she just make things worse for the sister whose husband shes spent months trying to seduce?

After learning Sally has been beaten up, Tim heads to Duncans flat with the intention of forcing a confession out of him.

A panicked Duncan does a runner and ends up being hit by a car.

The bank refuse to refund Audreys lost 80k and, when she learns that Claudia is having an extension built, she accuses her rival of stealing from her.

Audrey reports Claudia to the police, who swoop in to take her away for questioning, to Kens horror.

Bumbling Brian is offered his old job back, but he turns it down and starts work at The Kabin.

Youd think working in a shop that serves about three customers a week might be less taxing. But before long there are complaints about wrong deliveries.

EASTENDERS: A CALCULATED KISS FROM EVIE

Evie (pictured left) kisses Tiffany to make Bernadette jealous after becoming aware of her crush in EastEnders

As first years go, baby Abi Branning didnt have a great one.

Her mother died after falling off a pub roof and now shes in the care of her lying, cheating grandfather and his former junkie fake wife.

Eager to prove she can be a responsible mother, Rainie offers to take charge of Abis birthday party, but when she has a dizzy spell and drops the cake, the party  like all Walford celebrations  starts to fall apart at the seams, much to Maxs fury.

Its not just Rainies plans that go wrong.

Karen gives Bernadette a makeover in order to impress Tiffany, and ends up destroying her bathroom.

Its hard to imagine how their pigsty of a home could possibly be made any worse.

Its harder still to understand why anyone would let Karen, a woman for whom a hair scrunchie and a T-shirt with no ketchup stains is the epitome of chic, give them a makeover.

And could it have been for nothing? Aware of Bernadettes crush, Evie kisses Tiffany to make her jealous.

Karen asks Mitch, her ex, to repair the bathroom and he arrives with a youngster called Bailey in tow.

He claims shes a friends daughter. But, slippery character that he is, theres bound to be more to it.

Vanessa (pictured) is left fighting for her life in Emmerdale after confronting a hooded arsonist at The Woolpack

Meanwhile the dealing rumbles on.

Tiffany takes one of Evies drug runners under her wing.

Bernadette warns Evie off Tiff in a move that backfires and leaves Bernadette shocked by Evies threatening response.

EMMERDALE: VANESSA FIGHTS FOR HER LIFE

Early signs are that its going to be another bumper year for long-lost children showing up in the village.

This week sees the return of Mandy Dingle (Lisa Riley) after an 18-year absence and, you guessed it, she has a 16-year-old son nobody knew about in tow.

In a campaign of terror masterminded by Lachlan White from his prison cell, a bouquet of dead flowers arrives for Belle and, later, Sams pig Gloria is slaughtered.

But who is responsible for stabbing Vanessa? The vet is left fighting for her life after confronting a hooded arsonist at The Woolpack.
Rome! Heartbeat of the Roman Empire, ancient home of the Pope. Crammed with tourists. The problem has got so bad that there are plans to divert the massed crowds to the city's lesser-known highlights.

Last week MasterCard announced it's working with city leaders to offer incentives to visit quieter areas, including the promise of free coffee. But you won't need the temptation of complimentary drinks to track down Rome's hidden delights.

It's in the city's back streets and empty corners that you'll find its loveliest sights, its finest restaurants and tastiest ice cream parlours. Here are some of the best...

Hidden gem: The Basilica of Santa Maria in Tratesvere is one of Rome's prettiest spots

ANCIENT RUINS: Ostia is ancient Rome's port, one of the most complete Roman ruins in the world and one of the emptiest.

It's only half an hour on the subway from central Rome.

Here, there's a market square, baths, a theatre in wonderful condition and mosaics of staggering craftsmanship, showing Roman gods and mythical sea creatures.

Escape central Rome by visiting its ancient port, half an hour from the city centre by subway

ACROSS THE TIBER: Trastevere is the charming quarter on the southern banks of the Tiber. Visit Santa Maria, one of Rome's prettiest piazzas.

The church dates back to the third century AD, with fantastic 12th-century mosaics inside and out. Then go to the nearby Villa Farnesina, the Renaissance villa decorated with Raphael frescoes.

BAROQUE BEAUTIES: Borromini was the greatest of Rome's 17th-century baroque architects, a magician in light, shade and stone. Visit his optical illusion in the Palazzo Spada on the banks of the other Tiber. What looks like a corridor, lined with columns, stretching miles into the distance, is all a trick of the eye.

Trick of the eye: Borromini used optical illusions in his work found in the Palazzo Spada

MURDER TRAIL: Largo di Torre Argentina is in the ancient Campus Martius, 'the Field of Mars', a square with four Roman temples and the remains of the theatre built by Pompey, the political and military leader who was also Julius Caesar's son-in-law. It was in the Senate, next to the theatre, where Caesar was murdered in 44 BC. No, his last words weren't 'Et tu, Brute' to his assassin and old friend, Brutus. In fact, Caesar said, in Greek, 'Kai su, teknon'  'You, too, my child?'

POETRY IN MOTION: The Keats-Shelley Memorial House hugs the side of the Spanish Steps. The Steps are thronged with tourists, but the Memorial House is always cool and half empty, even in the height of summer.

This was where poet John Keats died of tuberculosis, aged only 25, in 1821. The museum has a marvellous collection of pictures and memorabilia, related not only to Keats, but also to the other great poets, Shelley and Byron.

The Largo di Torre Argentina, in the Campus Martius, is the site of Caesar's assassination

PAYING HOMAGE: Visit the graves of Shelley and Keats in the empty Protestant cemetery just outside the city walls. Keats's tombstone is inscribed with the words he requested, 'Here lies One Whose Name was writ in Water', in the mistaken belief that he would be forgotten after his death.

EMPEROR'S ALTAR: The Ara Pacis Augustae  'Altar of Augustan Peace'  is an astonishing story of survival. Built in 13BC, the altar honours Augustus, the first Roman emperor.

The sculptures, depicting Augustus and the history of Rome , going all the way back to its mythical roots under the twins Romulus and Remus, look extraordinarily modern.

LOFTY VANTAGE POINT: The Janiculum Hill is one of Rome's seven hills. Visit the church of San Pietro in Montorio.

Get a different perspective of St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome from Janiculum Hill

Inside, it has altarpieces, paintings, chapels and ceiling frescoes by greats including Sebastiano del Piombo, Giorgio Vasari and Bernini.

Next door is the tiny tempietto  'a little temple'; the temple inspired the domes of St Peter's Cathedral in Rome and St Paul's Cathedral in London.

In the piazza outside there are raised views of Rome and a monument to Garibaldi, the Italian hero, who fought on the Janiculum against the French in 1849.
Expensive taste: Yahya Egeh at court

As one of the worlds top wines, a bottle of 2004 Chateau Mouton Rothschild is a splendid choice to celebrate a special occasion.

Acclaimed by experts for its fruity notes of black cherry, candied quince and liquorice, it even bears a label designed by the Prince of Wales.

But at 1,750 a bottle, it doesnt come cheap  especially if you are a student with just 20 in your pocket.

Yahya Egeh had intended to use the money  a gift from his mother  to buy a burger to celebrate his 20th birthday. Instead, he ended up in The Savoy in Central London, where he ran up a restaurant bill of 2,146.50, including the wine.

He was detained by security staff after attempting to slip out of the five-star establishment in The Strand without paying.

Westminster magistrates heard last week that the architecture student from Willesden Green, North-West London, was persuaded to go to The Savoy after being telephoned by a friend, named only as Tallulah.

Egeh ordered food and the bottle of wine while waiting for his friend. But his lawyer, Shaher Bukhari, said: Tallulah never arrived and he started to panic.

Egeh was detained by security staff after attempting to slip out of the five-star establishment in The Strand without paying

She said when Egeh tried to leave, he was apprehended by security staff, who then called police. He apologised for what he did, the lawyer added.

Prosecutor Matthew Groves told the court that Egeh, who admitted making off without payment, had no previous convictions.

Egeh will be sentenced on Friday, following the completion of a probation report.

First produced in 1853, the wine has had premier grand cru status  given to the most prestigious wines from Bordeaux  since 1973.
They had boarded the train to London excitedly anticipating a father and son birthday outing.

Yet Lee Pomeroy, 51, described as a cultured, honourable family man who ran an information technology company, didnt make it beyond the journeys first stop.

As he sat apparently minding his own business with his 14-year-old son, he was somehow drawn into an argument with another passenger  a man unknown to him  who had boarded the same Friday lunchtime service from Guildford London Road in Surrey to Waterloo.

Their row lasted precisely three minutes, with the two men moving at one stage from carriage to carriage. It ended abruptly in a burst of what police called extraordinary violence.

Lee Pomeroy's wife Svetlana said she moved to Britain because it was more 'civilised'

In front of his horrified son, Mr Pomeroy, from Guildford, Surrey, was stabbed multiple times, at least once across his neck. Despite frantic efforts to keep him alive, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Yesterday, on what would have been Mr Pomeroys 52nd birthday  a day of family celebration at the end of the Christmas festivities  his shattered Russian wife, Svetlana, a former journalist, and their son were being supported by family liaison officers. As police continued to question a 35-year-old man over the attack, neighbours said they could scarcely comprehend the familys trauma.

The boy was particularly close to his dad, said one. Experts said he will need immediate love and support, from both his family and trained psychologists, to ensure that what he witnessed does not taint the rest of his life.

Mr Pomeroy was on board the train with his 14-year-old son for 'bonding time' when he was stabbed to death

Ironically, Svetlana, who married her husband in 2001, moved to Britain from the remote Russian region of Chukotka because she considered it more civilised than her homeland.

Writing to friends on social media in 2006, she said: I love how people here [in Britain] wish to be hospitable, how they smile, how they take care of nature. People still tend to build families, plus there are laws to support women. She told how she spoke Russian to her son, describing him as a sweet boy.

In a statement, Mr Pomeroys family said the father and son trip to London  a chance to spend quality time together  was cut short by an horrific and pointless attack.

It added: Lee would have had his birthday today but did not get to see his presents. He was an honest, bright person who loved music very much, he knew history and art and he was a bachelor of science in maths.

'He was a devoted family man and did everything for his family. He was an honourable man and would always help somebody who was in trouble. He was a loving husband and father; he will be deeply missed by all his family.

The suspect was arrested by armed police at 6am at a flat in Farnham, Surrey, while a woman, 27, was arrested at the same address on suspicion of assisting an offender.

Police were called to their address in November after neighbours complained about the couples alleged anti-social behaviour.

A Surrey Police spokesman said: We attended that address on November 29. Weve had other calls since. There is an ongoing dispute between neighbours. It was in relation to anti-social behaviour, like banging on the walls.

Police forensic officers at scene of House Willbury Road Farnham where man was arrested on suspicion of murder on Guildford to London train Copy to caption PMS transfer info

One neighbour, who gave his name as Farhat, said of the arrested man: He was always playing rap and dance music very loudly. He had been there a bit less than two months, I think. My brother is a taxi driver and he got a phone call from his address, and he said the man was really rude. He said he wanted a cab now. My brother said he wouldnt want to pick him up.

Detective Chief Inspector Sam Blackburn, of British Transport Police, said: This is a fast-moving investigation and I am pleased that overnight we were able to arrest a man following a huge amount of police enquiries.

The investigation is moving with good progress and we are confident to say that this is not believed to be a random assault. In the moments leading to the violent killing, both men appeared to be involved in an altercation lasting three minutes.

Nothing justified the extraordinary violence that followed, and we are concentrating our efforts on the on-going investigation.

We are continuing our appeal for information and I would urge anyone who was on board the train to contact us as soon as possible.
Quitting: Scots Guardsman Stephen McWhirter

A Scots Guardsman is quitting the Army after his picture was used below the word snowflakes in a controversial recruitment campaign, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

Guardsman Stephen McWhirter, 28, who has protected the Queen at Buckingham Palace, had no idea his face would appear alongside the slogan Snowflakes  the Army needs you and your compassion before the poster was unveiled last week.

Guardsman McWhirter has told friends he has been bombarded with mocking messages from colleagues and feels that, because he was not forewarned, the Army has left him open to ridicule. He says he will resign at the earliest opportunity.

The soldier, who is based at Wellington Barracks in London, expressed his fury on Facebook in a discussion with other troops dismayed about the 1.5 million campaign. One squaddie wrote: Imagine the army taking a photo of you and writing snow flake in massive bold letters above your head. Id be signed straight off.

To which Guardsman McWhirter responded: Dont f****** worry, mate, I am.

In later posts, he said he would formally submit his resignation at the earliest available opportunity.

Another soldier wrote: Chances are he was told to sign a form allowing them to use his image.

That being said, he still has grounds for complaint as they have ended his career by corporate bullying and harassment. Potentially even affecting his future employment. Guardsman McWhirter replied: Correct.

Guardsman McWhirter has told friends he has been bombarded with mocking messages from colleagues and feels that, because he was not forewarned, the Army has left him open to ridicule

The Scots Guardsman has also told friends that Army bosses never mentioned the word snowflakes  a derogatory term for over-sensitive young people  when he agreed his photo could be used.

Guardsman McWhirter, from Irvine, Scotland, joined the Army in 2016. Under the terms of his employment he will be able to hand in his notice to top brass in five months. He passed out of the Armys Infantry Training Centre at Catterick, North Yorkshire, in 2017 and has performed public duties with the Scots Guards in London and Edinburgh.

His decision to speak out on social media will cause huge embarrassment for Army bosses who have already been forced to defend their latest hugely expensive advertising campaign  which comes in the midst of a recruitment crisis.

Six posters echo Lord Kitcheners famous Your Country Needs You slogan for a millennial audience and seek to persuade snowflakes, phone zombies, binge gamers and selfie addicts that their often criticised character traits can be turned into battle-winning skills.

But while top brass insist the message of the adverts is that the Army sees beyond stereotypes to spot a persons potential, serving troops and veterans have suggested the campaign undermines the skills of soldiers. Civilian critics have also raised concerns that using criticisms of young people, even when seeking to challenge these judgments, will turn off the audience the Army is trying to reach. Tom Slater, editor of youth culture magazine Spiked, said the problem was that no one identifies as a snowflake.

The Your Army Needs You campaign, devised by leading brand communication agency Karmarama, has also inspired a series of parodies that have been shared online. One mock-up of the official poster features an Islamic State fighter and the headline: Returning home jihadis, your army needs you and your combat experience.

Angry: A Facebook exchange between a soldier and Guardsman McWhirter after the poster was revealed

The campaign follows last years 1.6 million recruitment drive called This is Belonging, which featured adverts saying it was fine for soldiers to cry, pray and show emotions, even while on operations.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the adverts resulted in applications to be a regular soldier hitting a five-year high.

Army bosses have been on a mission in recent years to soften the image of the Armed Forces. In December 2017, The Mail on Sunday revealed how top brass had signed off on plans to drop the Armys Be the Best motto. The decision was reversed by Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson.

Colonel Ben Wilde, assistant director of Army recruiting, said: We are not looking for anyone of any less quality, our standards have not reduced in any way. What we are trying to do is show that anyone, regardless of their background, has opportunities in the British Army. They have skills they might not even know they possess which we can unlock in terms of potential and make the most of in the military.

It comes as the Army has repeatedly failed to meet recruitment targets. The Defence Select Committee was told in October that it had 77,000 fully trained troops compared with a target of 82,500.

Capita was controversially awarded the 495 million recruitment contract in 2012, but the Army has not recruited the number of soldiers it needs in any year since.








Robert Mann is a professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health. Read a different view of drug legalization by Akwasi Owusu-Bempah, in the department of sociology at U of T Mississauga.

Last month, by legalizing cannabis, Canada launched a massive, country-wide experiment. While the results wont be known for years, some advocates are already calling for a broader push to decriminalize or legalize all recreational drugs. 1

I believe this is a mistake. We need to spend at least a decade studying the impact of cannabis legalization on public health and society before considering additional action. Then, if the results from these studies give us reason to move forward, it would be crucial to examine all other recreational drugs one by one. We would need to consider the potential harms each drug can cause to individuals, to those around them and to society. Wed need to consider the addiction potential of each drug, the acute effects of each drug and its chronic, long-term effects. Wed have to consider how likely people are to overdose from the drug.

Cannabis isnt as harmful as some other recreational drugs. In 2010, David Nutt, a former chief drug adviser to the British government, published a paper with input from drug-harm experts and clinicians about the hazards associated with 20 legal and illegal drugs. 2 Cannabis ranked around the middle of the list  significantly lower than illegal drugs such as heroin and crack cocaine in terms of the risk to individual users and society. 3 Its important to keep this in mind when were talking about legalizing cannabis in the context of a broader push for drug legalization.

Cannabis stands out in another way. Before legalization in Canada, use of the drug was increasing. 4 By contrast the use of stimulants, hallucinogens and other recreational drugs (with the exception of opioids) is low and appears to be declining in both student and adult populations. 5 Current rates of drug use are important to consider. If were not seeing high usage rates of drugs that were concerned about from a health perspective, then its likely that prohibition is one of the factors that deters people from using them. 6

I believe public health needs to be the singular and paramount concern

The risk is especially high where young people are concerned. Greater use of harder drugs among adults can boost their use among youth. We saw this with prescription opioid pain relievers. As more doctors prescribed these drugs, resulting in more people having them in the home, use among young people grew. In 2007, a survey of student drug use by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto, where I work, found that about one in five students in grades 7 to 12 had used prescription opioids for a non-medical use in the past year. This finding helped to draw attention to the problem of non-medical opioid use in Canada and stimulate control efforts, which led to improvement. A decade later, the rate had declined to about one in 10 students, although non-medical use of these drugs remains a very serious problem.

The effect of drugs on youth can be more damaging and long-lasting than on adults. Research tells us that the earlier you begin to use a drug, the more likely you are to have problems with it later in life. And greater use among youth can lead to a higher risk of injury through impaired driving or overdose.

Legalization creates additional headaches. Id be concerned about the possibility of governments adopting a free market approach where the focus is on sales and profits, as opposed to health and public health, and advertising and promotion are permitted  or use can be encouraged in other, more subtle, ways.

As a scientist who studies the factors that elevate or decrease alcohol and drug problems, I believe public health needs to be the singular and paramount concern in these circumstances.

People are often inadequately informed about the risks of drug use (or are informed about some drugs but not others). And if they do seek information, there are plenty of conflicting opinions and misinformation online to confuse them. This is a concern particularly when the substances are hazardous. For example, the 2017 CAMH Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey revealed that about one per cent of Ontario students said they had used fentanyl recreationally. This shocked me. Fentanyl is a perilous drug; you can overdose very quickly. One per cent may be low, but its deeply concerning. It leads me to ask whether young people lack  or are ignoring  information about a drug for which the dangers have been well publicized.

I suspect most Canadians know someone who has experienced health issues related to drug use or abuse. Its a common problem. We know, for example, that tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death in this country. Some of my own family members have died from tobacco-related disease. Almost 80 per cent of us drink alcohol. Its the leading risk factor for premature mortality among adolescents and young adults. I knew people when I was young who were killed in drinking-and-driving collisions. Heavy drinking causes chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. Alcohol abuse is associated with violence, domestic assault and workplace problems.

And yet: alcohol and tobacco are both legal drugs. Theyre the drugs people use most. Do we want to risk legalizing drugs that are more dangerous, such as cocaine and heroin, with all the potential health hazards that this entails? Can we accept those risks for ourselves  and for our children?
Two British special forces soldiers have been seriously injured after being hit by a missile during an attack by ISIS, as coalition forces push to destroy the last remnants of the fundamentalist group.

The incident is believed to have happened in Syria yesterday, and the soldiers were airlifted from the scene by US forces for specialist medical treatment.

Kurdish news outlet Rudaw reported the British soldiers were hurt in an attack on Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) base in the town of Deir al-Zour.

An SDF official told Rudaw: 'Due to a smart missile attack by ISIS, a fighter of the YPG was killed and another wounded, in addition to two British soldiers.'

Two British special forces soldiers have been seriously injured after being hit by a missile during an attack by ISIS (stock image)

Last month Donald Trump said he would be withdrawing US troops from Syria after claiming ISIS had been defeated in the region.

Mr Trump said: 'We have defeated Isis in Syria, my only reason for being there during the Trump Presidency.'

The move shocked US allies and American defence officials alike, with US defence secretary Jim Mattis and a top US official in the fight against IS, Brett McGurk, resigning soon after.

Despite the rhetoric of withdrawal, coalition forces have been busy retaking territory from a rapidly retreating ISIS in eastern Syria.

The heavy shelling from coalition forces has been targeting the terrorist group's remaining territory in the region, with ISIS fighters thought to be desperately clinging near town of Hajin.

After the heavy bombardments some ISIS fighters, along with civilians, are thought to have fled to the rural villages in the south.

US and UK forces have been carrying out air strikes against ISIS in Syria as part of their plan to defeat ISIS

Yesterday, Mustafa Bali, spokesman for the Syrian Democratic forces tweeted, he said: 'heavy clashes are taking place currently between our forces and ISIS terrorists due to an attack by ISIS on one of our points in Dier ez zor.

'everybody should be aware that ISIS is not defeated.'

In the final days of 2018 bombing was particularly intense in Kashmah, located in the Deir al-Zour province where the two British soldiers were thought to be badly injured.

The U.S backed Syrian Democratic Forces, which include Kurdish fighters, captured the town of Kashmah on January 2 after retaking the town of Hajin on Christmas Day.

The coalition has said it carried out 469 strikes in Syria between December 16 and December 29, which destroyed nearly 300 fighting positions, more than 150 staging areas, and a number of supply routes, oil lubricant storage facilities and equipment.

Aaron Stein, the Middle East program director at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, said Islamic State retained control of just a 'sprinkle of villages' near the Euphrates river.

He said: '(ISIS) will simply revert to a diffused rural insurgency where it could use just the tyranny of space - the desert is very big - to sort of hide out and be able to launch raiding attacks.'

The Trump administration is expected to withdraw all of the approximately 2,000 American troops from Syria.

Analysts and military experts, who disagree with Mr Trump, have said the threat posed by IS still remains.

Despite the announcement from President Trump, the State Department confirmed on Friday they have no actual timeline for withdrawal.

White House national security adviser John Bolton will also be traveling to Israel and Turkey in the coming days to discuss the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Syria.

'Bolton will travel to Israel and Turkey to discuss the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Syria, and how the U.S. will work with allies and partners to prevent the resurgence of ISIS, stand fast with those who fought with us against ISIS, and counter Iranian malign behavior in the region,' Garrett Marquis, a spokesman for the National Security Council, said.

British special forces are believed to be on the ground in Syria, although the Government never comments on their deployment.

Islamic State declared its "caliphate" in 2014 after seizing large swathes of Syria and Iraq. The hardline Islamist group established its de facto capital in the Syrian city of Raqqa, using it as a base to plot attacks in Europe.

Much of the U.S. campaign in Syria has been waged by warplanes flying out of Qatar and other locations in the Middle East.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: 'We do not comment on special forces.'

Sergeant Matt Tonroe of 3rd Battalion the Parachute Regiment of the SAS was killed while embedded with US forces in Syria when they were caught by an explosion in March 2018.

Sergeant Matt Tonroe: 'a popular bloke and a very capable soldier' Sergeant Matt Tonroe was the first British soldier killed in combat against Islamic State. The 33-year-old was on a covert operation to capture an IS commander when his vehicle struck a roadside bomb in the town of Manbij, in March 2018. An American special forces soldier was also killed and five US troops were wounded. Sgt Tonroe, from Manchester, joined the Army in 2004 and served in Afghanistan with the Paras before transferring to the SAS in 2010. Sgt Tonroe, 33, was on a covert operation to capture an IS commander when his vehicle struck a roadside bomb in the Syrian town of Manbij Following his death, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson hailed him as a courageous and gifted soldier, and added: 'His unflinching commitment will never be forgotten.' In April this year SAS soldiers have paid tribute to a fallen comrade with a poignant parachute jump. Four black-clad members of the elite regiment leapt from a helicopter 3,000ft above their secret base. They quickly deployed their parachutes and landed near the SAS's regimental chapel. About 200 SAS soldiers and troops from Sgt Tonroe's former unit, the 3rd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, gathered at the SAS barracks near Hereford to pay tribute. Members of the soldier's family were also present. An SAS source said: 'It was a fitting tribute after a stirring funeral service. 'Sgt Tonroe was a popular bloke and a very capable soldier.' Advertisement
The Mayor of London is in charge of the capitals travel, but for Showbiz Sadiq it seems City Hall is his very own ticket to ride.

Montreal, Chicago, New York, Paris, Berlin, Mumbai, New Delhi, Karachi and Islamabad are some of the destinations Labours Sadiq Khan has chalked up since he took office in 2016.

But now his critics have dubbed him a diva because his travelling entourage have stayed in rented Airbnb flats or borrowed beds while he is put up in luxury hotels.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany. The Mayor of London is in charge of the capitals travel, but for Showbiz Sadiq it seems City Hall is his very own ticket to ride

The Mail on Sunday can reveal that at the hipster South By Southwest music and film festival in Texas last March, Mr Khan was given a freebie at the Sheraton Hotel, Austin, but his aides and advisers stayed in a rented flat on the taxpayer.

And at Januarys annual gathering of bankers and billionaires at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Mr Khan was put up in an alpine retreat, while his staff were confined to private accommodation.

The Mayor also made use of the British ambassadors residence in Pakistan in 2017 at the taxpayers expense despite Pakistans government putting the rest of his delegation up for free  at the five-star Arachi Towers hotel.

The Cosmos Hotel in Berlin is pictured above. With eyes on next years Mayoral election, his political enemies are upping the pressure and aiming to puncture the Mayors carefully cultivated public image [File photo]

And at Januarys annual gathering of bankers and billionaires at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Mr Khan was put up in an alpine retreat, while his staff were confined to private accommodation [File photo]

Other hits to the public purse include a stay at the four-star Hotel Du Rond Point overlooking the Champs-Elysees in Paris and the Cosmos Hotel, Berlin.

Included in his travel itinerary, released under Freedom of Information laws, was an overnight stay in Brussels.

Our revelation comes as Mr Khan, who is campaigning to reverse Brexit, faces a furious backlash after the London Eye was lit up to look like the EU flag during the New Years Eve firework display.

But Mr Khan faces further questions about his handling of the City Hall budget after using 30,000 of taxpayer funds to pay for elite public relations firm Freud Communications to handle the London is Open campaign, designed to make EU Londoners feel valued and that they belong in London.

The Mail on Sunday can reveal that at the hipster South By Southwest music and film festival in Texas last March, Mr Khan was given a freebie at the Sheraton Hotel, Austin, but his aides and advisers stayed in a rented flat on the taxpayer [File photo]

But with soaring knife crime and the flagship Crossrail line having to be bailed out by the Treasury, Mr Khan is beginning to feel the heat.

With eyes on next years Mayoral election, his political enemies are upping the pressure and aiming to puncture the Mayors carefully cultivated public image.

Last night, Conservative vice-chairman for the London region, Paul Scully, branded Mr Khan a diva who was focused on the flash and glamour of big fireworks displays and posh hotels, adding: Showbiz Sadiq really is living up to his nickname, forcing his staff to stay in private accommodation whilst he swans around in plush hotels.

Other hits to the public purse include a stay at the four-star Hotel Du Rond Point overlooking the Champs-Elysees in Paris, pictured above [File photo]

The Mayor consistently pleads poverty when it comes to running London yet conveniently finds enough taxpayers cash to go globetrotting.

He seems obsessed with foreign policy  something he has no control of  rather than solving the knife crime epidemic thats gripping the capital.

But Labour hit back to insist the travel arrangements had been designed to save money and the Mayor accepted free accommodation wherever appropriate to minimise costs.

A spokesman for the Mayor added: Sadiq makes no apology for banging the drum for London abroad. Staff only stay somewhere different from the Mayor when a third party is only able to cover the Mayors hotel costs, or because of security reasons.

Defending his firework stunt, Mr Khan said: Londons diversity will always be our strength. Our one million EU citizens are Londoners, they make a huge contribution, and no matter the outcome of Brexit, they will always be welcome.
She is the Hollywood starlet who has found her greatest part as the most glamorous member of the Royal Family.

And now the Duchess of Sussex is set to take over the regal role of patron of the National Theatre from the Queen, The Mail on Sunday has learned.

According to royal sources, Her Majesty has made the decision that Meghan should be given the coveted position as a mark of her growing confidence in the Duchess. It is understood the appointment will be announced in the next few days.

Last month, Meghan had a private meeting with Rufus Norris, the director of the National Theatre, and, according to sources, they discussed plans for her role.

Meghan and Harry meet the cast and crew of Hamilton backstage after their performance at Victoria Palace Theatre

Royal insiders believe Meghans career as an actress makes her a natural fit for the position. She starred in US legal drama Suits for seven years and studied theatre at Northwestern University.

The handover from the Queen will lower the curtain on an association going back decades. Founded by Sir Laurence Olivier in 1963, the National first had its home at the Old Vic theatre, but relocated to its current home on the South Bank in 1976. One part of Meghans job will be strengthening connections between the theatre and American benefactors, and the hope is the Duchess will add a Meghan dividend.

The National Theatre has an office in New York and many of the companys most successful productions including History Boys and War Horse have opened to rave reviews on Broadway.

Part of the role will see Meghan becoming involved with The American Associates of the National Theatre  a New York-based charity which contributes more than 3million a year to supporting the Nationals work.

Rufus Norris, who succeeded Sir Nicholas Hytner as director of the National Theatre in 2015 and who lived in Ethiopia, Malaysia and Nigeria as a child, is said to be acutely aware of promoting openness to different cultures.

Until now, however, he hasnt openly courted the theatres connection to the Royal Family, saying last year that the National did not use the Royal prefix for fear of being considered elitist.

He said: This country is still very class divided and anything that adds to that perception, that this place is not open to everybody, could be a downfall.

This year Mr Norris is set to direct a stage adaptation of Andrea Levys award-winning novel Small Island which traces the evolution of four characters whose lives are affected by a move from Jamaica to London during World War II. Among its many themes, the play explores racism, an interracial relationship and a move to a new country. Sources say Meghans own story perfectly complements the play and marks a new direction for the theatre.

Royal insiders believe Meghans career as an actress makes her a natural fit for patron of the National Theatre

The Duchess, who has been outspoken about the racism her mother Doria experienced, is said to have bonded with Mr Norris. She has taken a great interest in the arts since moving to Britain. Meghan and Harry attended a benefit performance of the hit musical Hamilton to support Harrys charity Sentebale. Before Christmas, she made a visit to Brinsworth House which supports former artists and entertainers at a residential home. She also attended the Royal Variety Performance in November.

Royal sources said Meghan has been holding various private meetings with organisations that tie in with her charitable and humanitarian interests. She is expected to begin work with these groups before taking leave to give birth to her first child later this year.

Cate Blanchett is due to star at the National this year in the opening of When We Have Sufficiently Tortured Each Other and next year the theatre will debut Lenny Henry in a one-man play about Richard Pryor.

Both the National and the Palace declined to comment.
Iranians risking their lives by crossing the Channel in small boats may not be genuine asylum seekers, fellow migrants warned last night.

They said that while some Iranians have fled their homeland because of religious and political persecution, others want to go to Britain for a better life or simply to join family members.

A number of migrants in the Calais camp dubbed the Jungle appeared to agree with comments made by Sajid Javid last week, which prompted a storm of protest from Labour MPs and groups supporting migrants rights.

Mr Javid said during a visit to Dover: A question has to be asked: if you are a genuine asylum seeker, why have you not sought asylum in the first safe country you arrived in?

Christian convert Ahmad Hajipoor (pictured), 34, a father-of-two, said some of his fellow Iranians were pretending to be Christian because they know that will make their asylum application stronger

'Because France is not a country where anyone would argue it is not safe in any way whatsoever, and if you are genuine then why not seek asylum in your first safe country?

About 1,000 migrants are living in camps in Calais and Dunkirk. Some 200 of those in Calais are from Iran, many of whom appear to be middle-class professionals. Some are prepared to pay gangs up to 4,000 to get them by boat to England.

Home Office figures show that 539 migrants tried to cross the Channel in small boats last year  80 per cent of them in the past three months.

One man, Hamid, 24, an engineering student from Tehran, said: Half of the Iranians in the Jungle have come out of Iran due to some political problem, but the other half have applied for asylum in other European countries and been rejected.

About 1,000 migrants are living in camps in Calais (pictured) and Dunkirk. Some 200 of those in Calais are from Iran, many of whom appear to be middle-class professionals

A border force cutter. Last week, the Government deployed HMS Mersey to the Strait of Dover, as well as two Border Force cutters to intercept any migrant boats

'They cannot apply in France because they will be sent back to the first European country they entered. So they want to go to Britain because they know the UK will not send anyone back to Iran.

Christian convert Ahmad Hajipoor, 34, a father-of-two, said some of his fellow Iranians were pretending to be Christian because they know that will make their asylum application stronger.

There are about 12 to 13 from Iran in the camp who say they are Christian. I know about three of them are really Christians, the others are not genuine, he added.

Last week, the Government deployed HMS Mersey to the Strait of Dover, as well as two Border Force cutters to intercept any migrant boats.

Eight Iranians were arrested on a beach near Calais on Friday. They were suspected of attempting to cross the Channel but released without charge.
A devoted father has revealed he discovered the three sons he had raised for more than 20 years were not his when doctors told him he had almost certainly been infertile since birth.

Now Richard Mason's ex-wife has been ordered to pay him 250,000 following an extraordinary legal case that has allowed her to keep the identity of the real father a secret.

Devastated Mr Mason never doubted he was the boys' biological dad until two years ago when he was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis  an inherited disease which prevents male sufferers from fathering children naturally.

DNA and other tests later confirmed beyond doubt that the businessman has no biological link to his eldest, now 23, and his 19-year-old twins, throwing his life  and his relationship with them  into turmoil.

Richard Mason, pictured with his ex-wife and three sons, was told in 2016 that it was medically impossible for him to have fathered the boys as he had cystic fibrosis

Mr Mason believes that the same man fathered all three boys during an intermittent four-year affair his wife Kate, 54, embarked on in the late 1990s.

But she only confessed to the adultery in 2016, ten years on from their divorce, when he confronted her about the children's paternity.

It is not known if Mrs Mason's former lover is aware he has three sons from the on-off relationship.

The heart-wrenching case came to light when Mr Mason launched a legal bid to claw back some of the 4 million his wife received in their divorce settlement, as well as suing her for paternity fraud. As a result, two of the boys have since broken off contact with him.

Legal papers seen by The Mail on Sunday reveal that, when she became pregnant with the first child, Mrs Mason declared a sudden interest in Judaism and also insisted all three children were given Jewish middle names. She also refused to have them christened.

Mr Mason, from Rhos, North Wales, believes it is a clue to the identity of the real father, but he is tortured by not knowing who he is and has called on his ex-wife to admit the truth if only for the sake of her sons.

Last night, Mr Mason, 55, a wealthy co-founder of internet comparison site MoneySupermarket.com, told The Mail on Sunday that discovering the boys were not his own left his life in pieces.

The businessman said when he found out that he couldn't be the boys' (pictured as children) father his first thought was 'S***, my life is ruined'

'You don't know what's real and what isn't  it's as if I'm living in The Matrix,' he said. 'Someone says to you, 'All that you know and everything you thought to be solid and true is not real, and never did exist. You are not a father, you are not able to have kids, your name will not continue.'

'I still see what the boys are doing on Facebook and it's heart-wrenching because we saw the graduation of the eldest on there, but I wasn't invited.

'I walk past a toy store and it reminds you of buying Christmas presents for them and other family occasions.

'And when friends post things on Facebook about their own families like their first grandchild or saying they're proud of their boy for something, I just think, 'My God, that's all been taken away from me.' '

His solicitor Roger Terrell, an expert in the field, launched a twin-pronged legal attack, not only to have the divorce settlement reviewed in the Family Court, but also to seek damages from Mrs Mason for paternity fraud in Birmingham County Court. 'We understand that it's a legal first because there has never been a divorce financial settlement set aside in such emotive circumstances,' said Mr Terrell.

'Normally it's the husband who's brought back to court because he's failed to disclose some of his income, but in this case it was the wife, and it was the paternity of the children which was the issue. All this makes it very unusual.'

Mr Mason, now remarried, said his ex-wife 'tricked' him into believing the boys were his, when at the very least there must have been some doubt in her mind  not least because she only became pregnant seven years into their marriage.

'After the divorce, she constantly hounded me for more maintenance even though I always complied with the Child Support Agency demands,' he said.

'Meanwhile, the biological father has never paid a penny as far as I know.'

Shocking, heart-rendering and utterly devastating. Co-founder of MoneySuperMarket.com Richard tells of his bitterness at his ex-wife's betrayal and his emotional appeal for the REAL father to come forward...

The walls of Richard Mason's study are crowded with photographs of three tousle-haired boys caught at the milestone moments of their young lives.

Like any father, he cherishes these precious reminders of holidays, family celebrations and the school years during which his sons grew into adulthood.

But after 21 years that paternal pride was suddenly shattered  replaced by profound sorrow and a burning sense of betrayal.

In 2016, he learned that it was medically impossible for him to have fathered the sons he loved  and still loves.

Mr Mason, pictured with wife Emma, launched a paternity fraud case against his ex and was given back 250,000 of their 2008 divorce settlement

The news came at the cruellest possible moment while he was reeling from the shock of being diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, a life-limiting condition that effectively meant Richard, 55, was living on borrowed time.

As he tried to come to terms with the diagnosis, the multi-millionaire businessman also learned that a devastating side effect of the genetic condition was infertility.

Despite apparent evidence to the contrary in the shape of the sons he had watched being born, there was no medical chance whatsoever they could be related to him by blood. 'I just didn't know who I was any more,' he told The Mail on Sunday.

'It's like suffering a bereavement, it's incredible, but in a way it's even worse than that because it goes to the very heart of who you think you are. When someone asks you about your background, you tell them you're the father of three children  it's how you define yourself.

'In an instant I discovered I didn't really have any children.

'You begin to question everything you thought you knew when such a fundamental pillar of your life is suddenly removed.'

That day two years ago, when the life Richard thought he had was dismantled by a few sentences from a hospital consultant, marked the beginning of his legal quest to wring the truth from his ex-wife Kate, 54.

The couple, who met as colleagues at Barclays Bank, married in 1987, divorced 20 years later and Kate received a 4 million lump sum as well as on-going maintenance.

In December 2016, after discovering he was not the father of the boys  who we have chosen not to name  Richard set out to claw back some of the millions he had paid her over the years in a case believed by his lawyer to be a legal first.

He launched a rare paternity fraud case and a few weeks ago she agreed out of court to hand back a 250,000 portion of the lump sum after he sought to have the divorce financial settlement 'set aside'. The case hinged on her alleged deceit.

As he tries to adjust to the devastating transformation of his life through illness and the 'loss' of his children, Richard clings to the fervent hope that he can somehow repair the fractured relationships with the boys he refers to as 'the sons I thought were mine'  before it is too late.

On the day which would change his life for ever, Richard and his current wife Emma drove the 65 miles to Liverpool's Heart and Chest Hospital from their home in Rhos, North Wales.

They imagined the appointment was to routinely alter the antibiotics used to treat the 'pleurisy' which had plagued Richard for more than a year. Though there is a family history of cystic fibrosis, a genetic test carried out in the 1980s had given him the all-clear.

This time, however, the news would not be so good. 'The consultant sat us down in his office and broke it to me as Emma sat by my side,' said Richard.

His frantic text, her evasive reply 'Hi, I went to the Liverpool Chest Hospital today... to finally receive my diagnosis that I have cystic fibrosis. In their experience, they have never had a male with CF who has fathered a child, let alone three. 'They went on to say that it is 98% certain that I am not the father of any children. I was hoping that you could relieve me of [the] further indignity [of more tests] by letting me know now if I am the father. 'I am happy to go along with your advice as to how best tell the boys.' And the reply: 'In spite of what you think I am very sorry that you have been caused such an emotional upheaval. 'Of course the boys are yours, no matter what the science might suggest.' Advertisement

'He said, 'I'm really sorry to tell you Richard, that you've got cystic fibrosis.' I was stunned  my initial reaction was 'F*** no!' because my sister had died of this and my younger sister's also very ill.'

What came next was a far more profound shock, one which would lead Richard to question every facet of his life up to that point.

'He told me that 98% of male CF patients were infertile and I realised he was telling me that it was highly unlikely I could have fathered any children,' said Mr Mason.

'But I said, 'Well, you must have got the diagnosis wrong then because I've got three sons.' I actually felt pleased to be able to tell him this, because in my mind it proved his diagnosis was wrong, and therefore I hadn't got the disease which killed my sister.

'But he looked over at the nurse as if to say, 'How do we deal with this?' H

I spoke to a number of medical professionals that day and I was told that of all the patients with CF which they dealt with a the hospital, no male had conceived a child.'

'After that, I just had that feeling of ringing in my ears after you hit your head really hard. Nothing seemed to sink in.'

His voice cracking with emotion, he added: 'I didn't cry then, but I was shaking and the room was ringing, people were talking but I wasn't taking it in.

'I was just thinking, 'S***, my life is ruined.'

'How are you going to tell your friends and family  parents, aunties and uncles that they do not have grandchildren or nephews?'

Still in a daze, Richard walked out of the hospital to the car park and, with shaking hands, composed a text to Kate, telling her what he'd just learned and that he would now have to undergo sperm analysis and an ultrasound scan on his scrotum.

He wrote: 'I was hoping that you could relieve me of this further indignity by letting me know now if I am the father.

What is cystic fibrosis-related diabetes? Cystic fibrosis is an incurable genetic disease that affects around 70,000 people worldwide. A defective gene causes a build-up of mucus in the airwaves, making it increasingly difficult to breathe over time. Mucus also blocks the natural release of digestive enzymes, meaning the body does not break down food as it should. While healthy people cough naturally, that does not happen for people with CF. Eventually, lung function depletes to the point that sufferers will need a double lung transplant to survive. Thousands of sufferers will go on to develop diabetes, as the build-up of mucus can prevent the pancreas from working properly. Cystic fibrosis-related diabetes is most often treated with insulin, a hormone that helps control blood sugar levels. Most men with CF are infertile because of a blockage or absence of the sperm canal. Advertisement

'I am happy to go along with your advice as to how best to tell the boys. But, if you force me to go through these extra tests then I shall be telling them as I wish.

'I have no intention of suing you and would like to remain in the boys' lives.'

Her reply came within minutes, but was somewhat less than categorical: 'Of course the boys are yours, no matter what the science might suggest.'

Far from convinced, Richard decided to take the momentous step of informing his eldest son, then aged 21 and a university student.

'I told him I'd just been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, which he took surprisingly calmly, and I said, 'Yes, but one of the things that I've just been told is that it is extremely unlikely that someone with cystic fibrosis could father a child.'

'He said, 'I'm already ahead of you, Dad. You're saying you're probably not my father?'

'It would have been the hardest sentence to utter, and he did it for me.

'I said, 'Well, I'm your dad, obviously, but I don't think I conceived you.' It was very emotional but I was also very angry. I did break down and weep but it took a few days for that to happen once the shock has subsided.'

Two days later, after being confronted by her son, Kate phoned Richard and admitted she had been seeing a man in an on-off affair during their 20-year marriage, but refused point-blank to name him.

She said he was a member of Barclays' staff and that they met in a London hotel from time to time on overnight trips she attended as a union official.

She claimed there were six to 12 occasions when they had sex, which covered the times when she fell pregnant, but it 'couldn't be him,' because they used condoms each time, so insisted that Richard must be the father.

Richard and Kate had met while working at a branch of the bank in the West Midlands in the 1980s, and he enjoyed a high-flying career, especially when he teamed up with university accountancy drop-out Simon Nixon, who went on to launch one of Britain's first price comparison sites, Moneysupermarket.

On flotation in 2007, Richard's 1.25 per cent shareholding became worth a staggering 10 million overnight.

The three boys were, Richard believes, the only good things to come out of a marriage he describes as 'cold and joyless'.

He was present for all their births by caesarean: the first in 1995 and then twins four years later.

But by the beginning of 2007, the marriage was on the rocks and he and Kate separated.

The divorce was finalised in early 2008 and, in the financial settlement a year later, Kate's 4 million lump sum included the boys' private school fees in advance.

Richard complied with Child Support Agency (later the Child Maintenance Service) assessments for maintenance, which amounted to nearly 3,000 a month in the early years following their divorce.

But according to him, that was never enough for Kate.

'She hounded me for years, employing consultants to investigate my financial affairs and tried to make me pay more,' he said, his surprisingly youthful features contorted with suppressed rage. 'Meanwhile, as far as I know, the biological father of the boys has never paid a penny for their upkeep.'

Kate now lives very comfortably in a 1 million seven-bedroom house in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, with a new partner and, when Richard last visited to pick up the boys, there were four cars in the long driveway, including a Range Rover Vogue and a C Class Mercedes Cabriolet.

In the face of Kate's denial, Richard felt he had no option but to seek advice from paternity fraud expert, solicitor Roger Terrell, and the legal case was launched in December 2016 at Birmingham County Court.

Medical tests confirmed that Richard was incapable of producing sperm in the normal way, and DNA tests on the 16-year-old twins proved they were not his sons.

The eldest, however, refused to provide a DNA sample, saying, 'As far as I'm concerned he's my dad and that's that.'

But as the legal case progressed, he also had a devastating message for his father, Richard said.

'My eldest told me, 'Dad, if you sue Mum, I will never speak to you again'  and he hasn't.'

One of his twins hasn't been in touch either, but the other  now at university  texts Richard fairly regularly. But, as Richard pointed out, the emotional fallout has gone way beyond himself and the boys.

His 85-year-old mother, Brenda, has Alzheimer's and when he visits her once or twice a week, she'll invariably ask, 'How are the boys?' Fighting back tears, he said: 'All these years, she thinks they were her grandchildren. So when she asks, I might say 'fine' and change the subject, but I can't lie to her and invariably I'll have to tell her I don't see them any more.

'Then I have to explain why, and then we both relive the agony together, with me knowing I'll have to do it all over again the following week. It's unbearable. My family too have lost the boys, and I feel their loss too.

'The ripple effect of Kate's lies has been massive.

'The future is depressing to me. I expected the joy of graduations, 21st birthday celebrations, weddings, grandchildren, the hopes and fears of your offspring setting off to be adults and guiding and helping them along the way. That has been stolen from me in the most brutal way possible.'

He struggles with how to characterise his relationship to the boys, not only when speaking to others, but also in his own mind.

'I'm not their father, I know that, but I'm still their dad. When I talk about them with other people, naturally, after 21 years, I say 'my sons', then I have to stop and correct myself and say, 'the sons I thought were mine'.

'It's different if you adopt or foster a child. That's been done out of choice without any deceit or lies. In this case, because there has been deception it eats away at you.

'I'm not their father  I'm not even a friend of the family. I'm just a guy who was there when they were being brought up.'

He finds himself tortured by a flashback when he wakes in the middle of the night  a flashback to a hitherto insignificant moment from years earlier, but now viewed through the prism of suspicion.

The scene is an Indian restaurant which the couple are visiting for the first time  yet the owner recalls seeing Kate on many occasions before, despite her denials.

Then, what to make of the sudden interest in Judaism which Kate declared during her first pregnancy? And her insistence that each of the boys should have a 'Jewish' middle name? Richard was curious at the time, but now believes it was a big clue to the identity of the boys' biological father.

He desperately wants to know who that man is. He has his theories, one centred around a former boyfriend of Kate's who also worked at the bank, but she has denied it, and he doesn't want to accuse him with no firm evidence.

'I would like the biological father to read this article and come forward,' he said. 'Not least for the boys' sake because they will want to know who their real father is, even if hopefully they will always think of me as their dad.'

Richard's lung capacity has deteriorated dramatically since he was first diagnosed two years ago, from 84 per cent of average to 72 per cent, but now appears more stable due to antibiotics.

But he reckons he has around ten years before he will have to depend on an oxygen tank to breathe  the same journey his sister Susan travelled while waiting for a lung transplant in 1989. She died on the operating table while renowned heart surgeon Sir Magdi Yacoub attempted a heart-lung transplant at Harefield Hospital.

Richard readily admits that only his love for Emma has kept him going  and helping her through her own breast cancer.

She is now six months clear after having one breast removed but will have a second mastectomy and a hysterectomy soon because she has the 'killer' gene, inherited from her mother, who died of the disease aged 42.

Richard is most bitter that Kate's deception over the boys' paternity has also effectively robbed him of having his own child with Emma.

Only a few weeks after Richard learned that he was infertile, Emma, now 46, received her cancer diagnosis and began a course of chemotherapy which put her body into a premature menopause.

Looking ahead, Richard, whose persistent cough is the only clue to his declining lung capacity, now wants one thing more than ever  to be the boys' 'dad' once more.

'If I could wave a magic wand, I would want to be in all their lives,' he said.

Though two of the boys still maintain a stony silence towards him, Richard was overjoyed to receive a text from the third last month, which began: 'Dad, as I explained from the beginning you would never not be dad to me regardless of all this. Of course I'll stay in touch, that will never change I'm always here for you too and you will always be Dad. Love you x.'

Kate Mason and her sons were all approached by The Mail on Sunday but declined to comment.

A donation will be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust in return for Richard Mason's co-operation with this article.

An earlier version of this article gave Richard Masons account of what he believed he was told by the doctor at Liverpools Heart and Chest Hospital about the chances of his having fathered children. The hospital authorities have been in touch to say Mr Masons account of the advice was not accurate. The article has since been amended.
Theresa May today warns her rebellious MPs: back my Brexit deal or voters will lose their jobs.

The Prime Minister uses an article in todays Mail on Sunday to issue a patriotic rallying cry, telling her opponents that they must realise the risks they are running with our democracy.

With days to go until the Commons showdown on her deal, Mrs May says that MPs thinking of voting it down should consider the effect on the jobs our constituents rely on to put food on the table for their families. The vote was pulled at the last minute in December after party whips told Mrs May that more than 100 Tory MPs were expected to join forces with the DUP and Labour to defeat the measure in protest at the Irish backstop  which they claim would trap Britain indefinitely in a form of customs union to avoid a hard border with Dublin.

Theresa May (pictured above) has warned rebellious MPs of the consequences on their actions

But as MPs return to the Commons tomorrow after their Christmas break, there appears to be little sign of any climbdown by the rebels without a major concession from Brussels  despite No 10 laying on a charm offensive programme of drinks with Mrs May in the coming days.

Her only hope of securing Commons backing may lie in her persuading a sufficient number of Labour MPs to support the deal.

This newspaper understands that senior Tory figures were in contact with Labour MPs over the Christmas period, with begging calls even being made late on Christmas Eve in some cases. Concessions on workers rights are believed to have been offered in an attempt to garner Labour backing.

In her article, Mrs May repeatedly hails the strength of British democracy, and describes our genius for pragmatism as a defining British trait.

Describing 2019 as the year when the UK could turn a corner, she says: At moments of profound challenge, we always find a way forward that commands the confidence and consent of the whole community. This is such a moment.

The Prime Minister calls on all MPs opposed to the deal  from Tory Brexiteers to arch-Remainers hoping for a second referendum  to study their consciences.

She writes: MPs of every party will face the same question when the division bell rings. It is a question of profound significance for our democracy and for our constituents. The only way to both honour the result of the referendum and protect jobs and security is by backing the deal that is on the table.

Tory Brexiteers argue that, far from softening in their opposition to the Withdrawal Agreement, opposition has actually cemented over the holidays, with party members using festive social events to convey their scathing view of the exit terms.

Rebel ringleader and former party leader Iain Duncan Smith today brands Downing Streets attempts to cajole MPs into backing Mays deal as stupid.

He writes in todays MoS: Even the most loyal of advisers must know that attitudes simply havent changed.

Iain Duncan Smith (pictured above) has branded Downing Streets attempts to cajole MPs into backing Mays deal as stupid

And he warns any minor additions or legal protocols offered by Brussels to buttress the PMs charm offensive would be worthless.

He argues: The European Court of Justice has historically sidelined protocols and other such devices, meaning the backstop will bind us without the power to withdraw.

He adds that further talks with Brussels would be fruitless as the problem has been that while our negotiators have behaved towards the EU as friends, they have treated us as adversaries.

But Downing Street is still pinning its hopes on a white smoke moment from Brussels  legally binding concessions over the backstop  by next weekend.

Mrs May is on standby to travel to Europe to welcome the proposals if they are deemed to be sufficiently persuasive.

If that fails, Tory whips are plotting a backbench amendment to the vote  pencilled in for January 15 or 16  which would order yet more talks between Mrs May and the EU.

That would further delay the main vote on Mrs Mays deal.

No 10s former legislative adviser Nikki da Costa, who resigned over the terms of the deal in November, said yesterday that party managers would hold back the trick if they believe they are still heading for a triple-figure defeat.

She said: If the EU hasnt moved far enough, the Government may seek to spell out in an amendment what further assurances looks like. The hope would be if that was passed, the EU would feel reassured that it is worthwhile moving further, because the majority has been proven to exist for that package.

I expect any amendment will be quietly tested with MPs for 24 to 36 hours before its tabled, to see if it is going to get the support.

Sir Vince Cable (pictured above) said the Prime Minister could be playing with fire if she refuses MPs the right to vote on her deal

But Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable said the PM would be playing with fire if she refuses MPs the right to vote on her deal.

Yesterday, the stretched Tory Christmas truce collapsed completely when devout Remainer Ken Clarke dismissed the 2016 referendum as one opinion poll.

Mr Duncan Smith hit back, describing him as a wrecker who typifies what those who have never accepted the referendum believe.

In the exclusive article Theresa May also attacks Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (pictured above)

In her article, Mrs May also attacks Jeremy Corbyn for his cynical Brexit policy, saying: He tells one group he would keep the UK in the single market, while promising another group an end to free movement. Throughout, he has provided the opposite of leadership, serving not our national interest but always his own political interest.

Mrs Mays words come as hundreds of lorries tomorrow take part in a No Deal rehearsal for potential chaos at Dover, with truckers testing government plans to use the disused Manston Airport as a holding pen for HGVs.

But critics have suggested TV footage of lorries backed up in rush-hour is a fresh round of Project Fear spin.

People's vote would be a disaster movie says Brexit TV drama writer

By Harry Cole for the Mail on Sunday

James Graham says people assume he is a massively leftie, liberally, Remainy, 12-year-old-looking playwright, but the man behind tomorrow nights highly anticipated Brexit TV drama has delighted Leave supporters by criticising calls for a second referendum.

Channel 4s Brexit: The Uncivil War, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, has surprised critics with its even-handed portrayal of the 2016 poll.

And speaking ahead of its screening, Mr Graham, 37, says he is not looking for a re-run, describing the last bout as toxic and traumatic.

Benedict Cumberbatch (centre) as Dominic Cummings in a scene from the new TV movie: Brexit: The Uncivil War, written by James Graham

I just dont think we would survive going through that exercise again, he said.

We cant do that again, no matter what we do.

Mr Graham insists he is not blaming one side or the other, but believes Leave, Remain, the public and politicians did not conduct themselves in quite the best way.

And he called for massive reform of the electoral process if questions of that magnitude are ever to be put directly to the public in the future.

Tomorrow nights 90-minute drama focuses on how Vote Leaves eccentric but brilliant campaign guru Dominic Cummings, played by Cumberbatch, blew up the Downing Street-led Remain campaign, pioneered by David Camerons spin doctor Sir Craig Oliver. Sir Craig is played by Rory Kinnear.

In one scene of the movie the iconic Brexit bus is also featured

But in a further blow to those who have declared the referendum was hijacked by Vote Leaves use of sophisticated data to target adverts at certain groups of voters, Mr Graham scotched the conspiracy theories, saying: Remain were doing it as well. He added: The use of data is not an exclusively Right-wing thing, or conservative thing, or Leave thing. [Barack] Obama was the guy who nailed this first.

I dont want the film to suggest  because I dont believe this is true  that data used to target messages is manipulative. Its what people have always done. It is not about changing peoples minds  its about finding people already sympathetic to that view and getting them to vote.

I hope we dont suggest it is anything close to manipulation.

Mr Graham said he was not hopeful that his drama will unite the warring factions or please everyone, adding: People will come to it with their own baggage.

A return to project fear? They can't be stupid

By Iain Duncan Smith, former conservative party leader

Downing Street have got it into their heads that they can get MPs to back their Brussels deal simply by ramping up warnings about a No Deal Brexit, but they must know that isnt the case.

Like some broken and distorted record, Project Fear runs on and on, with less and less effect.

Even the most loyal of advisers must know that attitudes simply havent changed.

Iain Duncan Smith (pictured above) has said the government's plans to push the Brexit deal might not work

Yet with diminishing effect, there are yet more plans to use this tactic as MPs return to Westminster this week.

First, there have been briefings that there will be an amendment to the vote to allow Parliament to leave the backstop that keeps us tied to EU customs rules, defying any agreement struck.

Second, there is to be a clarification on the backstop sought from the European Union by the Government in the form a new protocol.

EU expects delay in departure The turmoil in Westminster has led senior figures in Brussels to conclude that Brexit will have to be delayed. The Mail on Sunday has been told that the prevailing assumption among EU negotiators is that political paralysis in Westminster will lead to a request from London for Article 50  the procedure which triggered our departure from the EU  to be delayed beyond Brexit Day on March 29. An EU source said: We are running out of time. If, as we expect, May loses the vote, she will have to keep trying again over the coming weeks. We just dont see it passing but nor do we think your MPs will tolerate No Deal. So we are acting on the assumption that we will have to give you more time. The source added that there had been a mood change about Britain remaining in the EU. After European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker described Brexit as a catastrophe and a lose-lose situation for both Britain and the EU, some Brussels figures have argued that Article 50 should be extended on condition that the UK holds a second referendum, with Remain as one of the options. But now we increasingly think good riddance  we dont want a reluctant half-member, said the source. Advertisement

Third, we are told that the Government will simply go on putting the deal back to the Commons until  worn down by the process  Parliament accepts the deal.

The first doesnt work because as there will have been a clear agreement, our courts will strike such action down. Second, the European Court of Justice has historically sidelined protocols and other such devices, meaning the backstop will bind us without the power to withdraw.

And third, I really cant believe the Government could be that stupid.

As MPs come back after the Christmas break, we do so knowing that all has not gone according to plan for the Government, because Project Fear has gone wrong.

Crowded out by the drone chaos at Gatwick and illegal migrants arriving in growing numbers, it hasnt worked.

In fact, it has been replaced by the growing sense among the public and MPs that preparations to leave with No Deal are finally being put in place.

Leaving without the Prime Ministers deal is looking more likely  I now put it at a more than 50 per cent chance. People can see that the problem with this agreement is not just the backstop but that it negates all the good reasons to leave and has us hanging on to the worst aspects of the EU.

This deal simply doesnt work and, far from securing Brexit, it shackles us to the EU.

If the EU really wanted a good relationship after Brexit, they would have made major changes to the deal.

The fact that they have ignored the Prime Ministers entreaties says all you need to know about their desire to shackle us and stop us competing.

The problem has been that while our negotiators have behaved towards the EU as friends, they have treated us as adversaries.

The only chance we have to deliver on the referendum and get a half-sensible deal is to get fully ready to leave on World Trade Organisation terms by March 29.
Undated photo issued by Surrey Police of 13-year-old schoolgirl Milly Dowler

Sometimes a single moment can define your life and career. Mine came on a sharp autumn night, in the early hours of Monday, November 22, 2004. It was 3am, and around 70 officers from the Metropolitan Police had assembled at the forces training centre in Hendon.

It wasnt difficult to motivate them, or make them appreciate the gravity of what we were about to do. This was a moment we had spent months preparing for in painstaking detail: the arrest of Levi Bellfield, a terrifyingly dangerous man suspected of murdering at least two young women in South-West London and attempting to murder more; a man who we would later learn had an appalling catalogue of domestic abuse, including multiple rapes.

But thats not all. In the process of investigating Bellfields offences, we had uncovered crucial evidence that suggested he was also responsible for one of the most shocking crimes this country has ever seen  the abduction and murder of 13-year-old schoolgirl Milly Dowler, nearly three years previously.

Today was the day that all of our hard work, since the brutal killing of French waitress Amelie Delagrange three months earlier in August 2004, would become real and our quarry seized.

The plan was to simultaneously execute search warrants across a swathe of West London at the numerous addresses wed learned were associated with Bellfield. Everyone was in position by 5.10am and, with my heart racing, I pressed the transmit button on the Airwave radio and uttered the classic words, Go, go, go!

It all came close to unravelling when it appeared Bellfield was not, as our surveillance teams had reported, at his housing association home in Little Benty, by the M4 motorway in West Drayton. But after a fraught couple of hours, Detective Sergeant Norman Griffiths discovered him naked in the loft, hiding under a section of fibreglass insulation blanket between the joists.

Levi Bellfield, a terrifyingly dangerous man suspected of murderinyoung women in South-West London and attempting to murder more; a man who we would later learn had an appalling catalogue of domestic abuse, including multiple rapes

Top detective Colin Sutton details how he nailed Milly Dowler's evil-eyed psychopathic killer

It was the first time Id set eyes on Bellfield in the flesh. He was larger than I had imagined, both taller and fatter, with a huge neck. His hair was shaved at the sides and his eyes were black as coal and devoid of expression.

The overall impression was of a powerful, intimidating man, but this was softened instantly when he spoke in a high-pitched squeak. He was also scratching all over from the fibreglass.

I am so glad that, in those moments, the last few minutes of freedom he would enjoy in his entire life, he was not only very uncomfortable but also utterly devoid of dignity. It is still much better than he deserved.

What we did not know then was that it would take more than three years of exhaustive, near-heroic efforts by my incredible team of officers before we would be able to send Bellfield to prison for life; that it would be a further seven years until he was eventually convicted of abducting and murdering Milly Dowler.

Amelie Delagrange (left) was murdered on the night of August 19, 2004 while Marsha McDonnell, aged 19, (right) died from head wounds in Hampton on February 4, 2003, yards from her home after getting off a bus

Nor could I have anticipated the mistakes we uncovered on the way, notably in Surrey Polices handling of Millys murder and their refusal, initially at least, to consider Bellfield as her killer. It began with an apparently unconnected case  the unprovoked murder of Amelie Delagrange on the night of August 19, 2004.

The sun was shining that week and life was perfect. I had the job Id craved for so long, Senior Investigating Officer in charge of one of the Met Police murder teams, two children and a lovely wife.

Then 22-year-old Amelie, blonde and carefree and working as a waitress at the Le Maison Blanc cafe in Richmond, was found dying in the middle of Twickenham Green, a wealthy and fashionable suburb in South-West London. She had a huge wound on the back of her head, probably inflicted by a hammer.

Milly was murdered by former nightclub doorman and wheelclamper Bellfield

Murderous assaults carried out by a stranger in the street are extremely rare. But here I realised we had three very similar attacks in similar circumstances on similar women, all in a small, very suburban and safe corner of London. Marsha McDonnell, aged 19, had died from head wounds in Hampton on February 4, 2003, yards from her home after getting off a bus.

Jesse Wilson, 16, sustained massive head and facial injuries near her home in nearby Strawberry Hill, while Edel Harbison, an accountant in her early 30s, was attacked on Twickenham Green and suffered extensive wounds to her head and face which required reconstructive surgery. With Amelie, there was now a fourth. There was every reason to think they might be the work of one person.

But when the national press suggested the attacks could be linked to the Milly Dowler case in Walton-on-Thames, six miles away, it was quickly denied. After all, the murder was startlingly different in its nature, in the victims age and in the way she died. It never crossed our minds there would be a link. Still, we knew what we were dealing with was different from the usual one-off murder. Amelie had been a beautiful young girl, perfect and healthy in every way until an animal had left her with a skull like a dropped Easter egg.

We had no clear picture of what happened until we found Amelies phone  taken by her killer  had last contacted the T-Mobile network in Walton-on-Thames. The implications were potentially huge.

As cameras on passing buses had captured Amelies walk to the Green, we knew the time between her attack and the phone transmitting to the Walton mast was, at most, 20 minutes. It could not have got there by foot or cycle  it had to have travelled in a vehicle.

Surrey Police handout photo of murdered teenager Milly Dowler missing possessions, a black JanSport bag containing school books, black 'Pod' platform shoes and a purse with a playing card design

Hundreds of hours were spent trawling CCTV because I knew the killers car would be on the recordings somewhere. Weeks later, cameras from buses had identified a small white van which had parked on the Green for a very short while within 70 yards of where Amelie was attacked at exactly the same time. It had distinctive features: a wheel trim missing, a broken headlight and back doors painted a different colour.

Further footage showed it cruising the area for some time. A predator prowling for a victim?

More importantly, it had driven to Walton-on-Thames afterwards.

The news electrified me  I would pursue this van with everything I could throw at it.

We worked every hour for weeks. The van was identified as a Ford Courier, manufactured between 1996 and 2000. There were 25,000 in the UK and I wanted to look at every single one.

Milly in May 2001, carefree and smiling on a family holiday. It shows her and her older sister Gemma, waving happily to their parents

Then came a further breakthrough. A woman named Johanna Collings had visited the mobile police station we placed on Twickenham Green following Amelies murder and suggested her ex-partner could have been the killer. His name was Levi Bellfield.

Johanna had told officers Levi hated women, and that in one of his old coats she had found a hidden pocket which contained a knife and a balaclava, along with an issue of Cosmopolitan magazine where all the blonde women inside had had their faces stabbed.

Bellfield, she said, knew the areas where the recent attacks had taken place. That was exciting enough  then, we found he had also once owned a white Ford Courier van.

Bellfields intelligence record revealed tales of violence, drugs, firearms and lawlessness, but I was struck by his charmed life, because there were few actual convictions.

Undated handout image of a white Toyota Previa which police believe was involved in the hit-and-run attack of 18-year-old Kate Sheedy

Then something big hit us. In May 2004, 18-year-old Kate Sheedy, head girl at Gumley House, a convent school in Isleworth, had just got off a bus near her home when she had been run over deliberately and then reversed over.

She had been left for dead with horrific crush injuries, but had survived by crawling to her handbag and raising the alarm on her phone. She later described the vehicle as a white people carrier, possibly a Ford Galaxy, with blacked-out windows and a defect in the drivers door mirror. Looking at Bellfields file, a month before Kates attack, he had been arrested driving a Toyota Previa, with blacked-out windows  very similar to a Galaxy. More tellingly, a check on the Police National Computer revealed Bellfields car was white.

When it was found, having been sold soon after Kates attack, it didnt take an expert to notice the drivers door mirror was smashed. We had hit the jackpot.

We put Bellfield under 24/7 surveillance and, while looking again through his intelligence file, something else struck a chord.

Surrey Police issued of CCTV footage of a group of four people walking down Station Avenue, in the direction of Walton-on-Thames station in Surrey

It showed that, in 2002, Bellfield was living at 24 Collingwood Place, Walton-on-Thames  where the van had headed after Amelies murder, and where her phone had last pinged. I got out an A-Z street map and saw it was virtually opposite Walton railway station. Instantly, I realised the implications.

Milly Dowler had been abducted from Station Avenue, Walton-on-Thames and, although I had never worked on the case, I knew that the last sighting of her was at a nearby bus stop.

Our protestations to the media that our cases were not connected to Millys had been sincere, but now I was looking at the very spot on my map where both she vanished and, at the same time our suspect, a violent sexual predator with (according to his file) strong tendencies towards paedophilia, had lived.

I was transfixed, staring at the map as the enormity of what I had found sunk in. I immediately rang Brian Marjoram, the senior investigating officer for the Milly Dowler inquiry, and told him all I knew. Brian concluded with: Christ, the hairs on my neck are standing up now.

Undated police handout image released Sunday 5 May, 2002, of Milly sat in a field of flowers

The family of Milly (from left-right) Bob (father), Gemma (sister) and Sally (mother) Dowler, walk behind the herse down Station Avenue, Walton-on-Thames

Our own investigation, too, was moving swiftly. On the third day of tailing Bellfield, he pulled over to talk to two girls at a bus stop. When they got on a bus, officers tailed them until they got off. What they reported was chilling confirmation that Bellfield was every bit as dangerous as we suspected.

Bellfield had asked how old they were, and when they told him they were 13 and 14 hed replied: Ooh, thats good. I bet youre both virgins, then? I like virgins.

It meant Bellfield was active on the streets and the likelihood of further attacks was very real. The fact he viewed bus stops as a hunting ground potentially linked both Amelies murder and Kates attack, not to mention Millys.

It was time to arrest him.

While officers questioned Bellfield at Heathrow Police Station, we were also questioning his partner Emma Mills, the mother of three of his 11 children. This was her chance to break free from a terrifying relationship, and she poured out a horrifying catalogue of rapes and abuse, and said she knew Bellfields previous partners had suffered the same treatment.

Police search along the railway track at Walton-on-Thames, Surrey for Milly

We knew, if we investigated, we could charge him with these offences. It could be the quickest way of taking Bellfield off the streets. Even better, the risk of reprisals to the women would almost certainly make bail out of the question.

Emma, Johanna and another former partner, Rebecca Wilkinson, recounted almost exactly similar tales of sexual abuse, psychological control and physical violence.

Emma also recalled something particularly significant. On the evening Milly Dowler went missing the couple were dog-sitting at a friends house. Bellfield had left early that morning and, unusually, did not call every couple of hours and had his phone turned off.

He had taken her red Daewoo Nexia car, which had the only set of keys to their Collingwood Place flat on the same keyring.

When he eventually came home at 11pm he had changed into a tracksuit which Emma knew had been hanging in the wardrobe at Collingwood Place. The following day, theyd driven there, and Emma found all the bedding had been removed from the bed.

Sally and Bob Dowler, parents of Milly, during their appeal for information on the then missing teenager

Bellfields excuse was that the dog had used the bed as a toilet and the bedding had been binned. But when Emma found no bedding in their bins, she assumed Bellfield had somehow soiled it while entertaining another woman.

She had said nothing for fear of violent consequences.

Emma recalled that a few days later, the red Daewoo had disappeared and Bellfield claimed it had been stolen. It confirmed Bellfield was in the area where Milly Dowler went missing during the day of her disappearance.

I knew I had to tell Surrey Police but, for now, had to get on with my own investigation. We charged Bellfield with rape, buggery and assault against each of his three former partners  but we were a long way from proving he was a killer.

Officers questioned Bellfield's partner Emma Mills, the mother of three of his 11 children

We got a slot on Crimewatch revealing CCTV footage of the Previa used to run over Kate, and the effect was immediate. Old acquaintances of Bellfields started to come forward and give statements, realising it would be unlikely he would be freed to take revenge.

We also successfully managed to place Bellfield in the white van on the night of Amelies killing  thanks to phone calls and Emmas extraordinary memory. She remembered that night because it had been the first time shed left the house since giving birth to their youngest child and had gone to Tesco.

Bellfield, driving a small white van, had taken her home then gone out. She had called his mobile to ask him to pick up milk, which shed forgotten, but the call had gone to voicemail  a call which we knew had transmitted to a mast covering Twickenham Green, exactly where CCTV had shown the van to be at that time.

Wanting to make sure this potentially clinching evidence was watertight, the team went to the Tesco and found Emmas receipt in storage, which confirmed everything from the times to the brand of nappies and, crucially, no milk. In March 2006, we were able to charge Bellfield with the murder of Amelie and the attempted murder of Kate. But we could also add the murder of Marsha McDonnell in May 2006 after some of the most fantastic pieces of police work I have ever encountered.

I turned again to CCTV evidence, this time from the bus Marsha had taken, which showed a silver Vauxhall Corsa travelling past as she got off.

We established that Bellfield owned a silver five-door Vauxhall Corsa at the time, but because CCTV did not clearly show the registration plate, we had to eliminate every other possible vehicle  which amounted initially to 610,000.

Detective Sergeant Clive Grace broke it down to just 178 by eliminating models made before 2003, those with three doors, all with a sunroof and other specifics.

It put us just 177 statements away from proving Bellfields car was there when Marsha was murdered  a Herculean task, but we did it. Meanwhile, the silence from the Surrey Police investigation into Millys murder, six months after Id given them Bellfield as a good suspect, was puzzling. I arranged a meeting to tell them of Emmas suspicions and what Bellfield had been doing on the day that Milly went missing. When I finished there was a pregnant pause.

So what I was thinking, you know, do you have any CCTV pictures of Emmas Daewoo that day? I asked.

They showed me a picture of a red Daewoo Nexia, taken about 20 minutes after Milly was known to have disappeared, but added they had never identified who was in it. This was huge. Emmas car was the only one of that colour and type registered in the area, and the only person with keys was Bellfield. But the superintendent, Steve Scott, admitted the force had no more CCTV footage.

Weve just got about ten minutes either side of the last sighting of Milly, from that camera, he said.

For once, I was lost for words. Did they really only seize 20 minutes of footage from one camera at the start of what was to become the biggest, longest and most public investigation in the forces history?

Steve then reiterated that they had a good suspect of their own and added: Perhaps when we resolve that one way or the other, we could find some time to have a look at your man.

I exploded. We are giving you a suspect who is not only a paedophile but a killer and a rapist too, and who not only lived right on the plot but is provably there at the exact time she goes missing. Dont you want to solve this?

He did call that night apologising. We need to make Bellfield our No 1 priority, he acknowledged. And that was it  Surrey were on board.

But then another staggering fact came to light.

An 11-year-old called Rachel Cowles was approached by a man in a red hatchback the day before Milly disappeared, just a mile away in Shepperton.

Described to police as fat with a squeaky voice, he failed to persuade her to get in the car.

Inexplicably, when Milly was reported missing the next day, Surrey Police did not find this information in their intelligence trawl. Nobody was prompted to ask the questions that might have led to Bellfield.

It was only in 2005 when Rachels father saw Surrey media appeals about the red Daewoo that he wrote to the Chief Constable, which drew attention to yet another opportunity missed due to very basic investigative work not having been done.

Bellfield was found guilty of Amelie and Marshas murders, and Kates attempted murder, in February 2008 at the Old Bailey and sentenced to life imprisonment. I wanted to see if there would at last be some reaction in those cold, unmoving eyes but, in the end, I couldnt look.

I was thrilled when, in March 2010, he was finally charged with Millys murder.

We had done it.

 Colin Sutton, 2019

Adapted extract from Manhunt: How I Brought Serial Killer Levi Bellfield To Justice by Colin Sutton which is published by John Blake on Thursday, priced 8.99.

Offer price 7.19 (20 per cent discount) until January 13. Order at mailshop.co.uk/books or call 0844 571 0640, p&p is free on orders over 15.

Manhunt starts tonight on ITV, 9pm
This can be a year when the United Kingdom turns a corner  when we draw on our enduring strengths to build a better future for our country. In every task we face  from growing an economy that provides opportunity for everyone, and sustaining the first-class public services we all rely on, to keeping everyone in our country safe  we can be inspired by those strengths.

That is certainly true when it comes to the most pressing matter facing us: Brexit. When MPs cast their vote on our withdrawal from the EU, they will determine the future course our country will take. A democratic process, begun when the Conservative Party won an overall majority in a General Election with a manifesto commitment to hold an in-or-out vote, continued through a keenly fought referendum, will culminate in the representatives of the people having their final say.

When they do so, MPs must ask themselves three things. Does the deal I have negotiated deliver on the result of the EU referendum by taking us out of the EU and restoring sovereign control over our borders, laws and money? Does it protect the jobs our constituents rely on to put food on the table for their families and the security co-operation that keeps each one of us safe? Does it provide the certainty that citizens and businesses have every right to expect from those who govern and represent them? I believe my deal does all of those things.

Theresa May (pictured above) has said that 2019 could be the year that the United Kingdom turns a corner

And no one else has an alternative plan that passes those three tests. There are some in Parliament who, despite voting in favour of holding the referendum, voting in favour of triggering Article 50 and standing on manifestos committed to delivering Brexit, now want to stop us leaving by holding another referendum. Others across the House of Commons are so focused on their particular vision of Brexit that they risk making a perfect ideal the enemy of a good deal.

Both groups are motivated by what they think is best for the country, but both must realise the risks they are running with our democracy and the livelihoods of our constituents.

Our genius for pragmatism is a defining British trait. At moments of profound challenge, we always find a way forward that commands the confidence and consent of the whole community. This is such a moment.

Theresa May has said that Jeremy Corbyn (pictured above) had taken a very different approach to Brexit

The approach of Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour leadership has been very different. Their Brexit policy is a cynical tissue of incoherence, designed to avoid difficult decisions. He did not even bother to read the deal before he came out against it. He tells one group he would keep the UK in the single market, while promising another an end to free movement. Throughout, he has provided the opposite of leadership, serving not our national interest but always his own political interest.

MPs of every party will face the same question when the division bell rings. It is a question of profound significance for our democracy and for our constituents. The only way to both honour the result of the referendum and protect jobs and security is by backing the deal that is on the table. MPs should approach that vote with confidence. The deal delivers on the issues that the British people care about.

Outside the EU, we will create a skills-based immigration system that everyone can have confidence in. Out of the Common Agricultural Policy, we will design support schemes for our farmers built around our needs. Out of the Common Fisheries Policy, we will decide ourselves who fishes in our waters. And as we retake our seat at the World Trade Organisation, we will be a champion of free trade and its potential to drive prosperity for everyone.

According to Theresa May MPs across the House of Commons are only focused on their own particular version of Brexit

We will also redouble our efforts to improve the lives of the British people. Nowhere is that work more important than when it comes to our National Health Service. Just as in delivering Brexit we should be inspired by the strength of our democracy, so as we strengthen our most precious public service, we can be inspired by the values that set it apart. Our NHS has a simple premise: high-quality healthcare, free at the point of use, available to everyone on the basis of clinical need, never the ability to pay. On that rock-solid moral foundation, generations of dedicated NHS staff have built one of the best health services anywhere in the world.

Conservatives have made it a priority, protecting its budget and investing more in it every year. As a result, over the past eight years clinical outcomes have improved for almost every condition. But as the demands on our NHS increase, we need to act now to secure its future. That is what our NHS Long-Term Plan will do.

It is powered by a historic multi-year investment: 20.5 billion extra a year in real terms by 2023/24, with the money starting this year. Making this investment was a big decision. Even with the full control of our money that Brexit will deliver, this commitment means we will have less room for manoeuvre in other areas. But when I visit hospitals and meet the NHS staff who devote themselves unsparingly to the care of their patients, when I talk to people who owe their lives to the treatment they have received from their local hospital or GP, and when I reflect on the debt that I owe to an NHS that has helped me every step of the way as I live my life with Type 1 diabetes  I am in no doubt that it is was the right decision.

Theresa May has praised the 'high quality' healthcare that the NHS offers to patients across the UK

But money alone is insufficient  it has to be tied to a credible plan to improve care and an absolute focus on cutting waste right across the NHS, so that every penny of taxpayers money drives clinical improvements. Our aim is nothing less than to provide the best possible care for every major condition, from cradle to grave.

So we will drive up safety in maternity services and provide more support to new parents, so every baby can get the best start in life. We will give people more control over the care they receive throughout their lives by expanding the use of personal health budgets. And as we get older, the NHS will support us all to age well, bringing different teams together to make sure older people can remain independent for longer.

For every major physical health condition we will help people live longer, healthier lives through better prevention, detection, treatment and recovery. For the hundreds of thousands of people suffering with mental health problems, we will provide greater support than ever before at every stage.

We will achieve this by investing in our NHSs greatest asset  its staff. That will mean tens of thousands more doctors, nurses and other health professionals  all enjoying a more fulfilling career with better training, support and progression. We will also make it easier for them to do their jobs by investing in new technology. With digital access to their GP, everyone will be able to make appointments, manage prescriptions and view their health records online.

Our plan builds on the NHSs great strengths and secures it for the future. It shows what we can achieve with a strong economy and a focus on what matters most to the people we serve.

So this is my appeal to my party, to Parliament and our country: in this New Year lets discover a new spirit of common purpose. Lets agree a Brexit deal that moves us forward into a brighter future with confidence. Lets secure the future of our NHS. And lets make 2019 a year to be proud of.
After a torrid week in which Sajid Javid was widely criticised for his handling of the Channel migrants crisis  and mocked for alleged self-aggrandisement  allies of the Home Secretary have now gone on the offensive with a class war attack on rivals Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt.

Friends of comprehensive-educated Mr Javid, a frontrunner to succeed Theresa May, have appealed to Tory Party members not to elect a public school Oxbridge leader when the keys to No 10 become available.

After being forced to fly back from a holiday in South Africa last weekend to deal with the Channel crisis, he was dubbed Safari Sajid by one rival leadership camp.

Mr Javid was also embroiled in a row with Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson over who should foot the 20,000-a-day cost of a Royal Navy vessel to intercept migrant boats setting off from France.

Allies of the Home Secretary Sajid Javid (pictured) have now gone on the offensive with a class war attack on rivals Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt

And it was mischievously claimed that Mr Javid, 49, privately referred to himself in grand fashion as The Saj  a claim fiercely denied by aides.

But now one of his closest allies has called on the Tory Party to swing behind him as the leader-in-waiting, citing his backstory as the comprehensive school-educated son of an Asian bus driver who became a City high-flier before entering Parliament.

It comes amid frenzied jostling among potential leadership contenders after Mrs May confirmed last month that she would not lead the Conservative Party into the next General Election.

An ally of the Home Secretary told The Mail on Sunday: We have to break the stranglehold of public schoolboy, Oxbridge-educated, as the default option for who runs the party. After Theresa has gone, we cant go back to that ridiculous, outdated approach.

The family lived in Rochdale before moving to Bristol, where Mr Javid (left) attended Downend comprehensive school (right) Mr Javid powered on to a career in investment banking, before going on to amass a 20 million fortune

Its time the Tories moved on and picked someone who is just more representative of modern-day Britain as a whole.

The remarks will be seen as a swipe at the contenders Mr Javids camp see as his main rivals for the leadership: Eton-and-Oxford-educated Boris Johnson and Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who went to Charterhouse and Oxford.

Mr Javids father, Abdul, arrived in Britain in 1961 from Pakistan with just 1 in his pocket. He earned the nickname Mr Night and Day as he lifted his five sons and wife out of poverty by working tirelessly as a bus driver, factory worker and shop owner.

The family lived in Rochdale before moving to Bristol, where the future MP attended Downend comprehensive school. Careers advisers suggested he should become a television repairman.

Fees at Eton (right) are now over 40,000 a year, but friends of Boris Johnson (left)  himself a former Foreign Secretary  stressed he went on a scholarship

Mr Javid said recently that the well publicised case of a 15-year-old Syrian refugee being bullied reminded him of being targeted by racists at school.

He and his brothers had to squeeze into a two-bedroom-flat above the family shop in a road once dubbed Britains worst street.

But after studying politics and economics at so-called red-brick Exeter University, Mr Javid powered on to a career in investment banking, becoming at 25 the youngest vice-president at Chase Manhattan Bank, before going on to amass a 20 million fortune.

His allies contrast his upbringing with the more privileged backgrounds of the two men they see as his main rivals  the Foreign Secretary and Mr Johnson.

Jeremy Hunt (left) was head boy at Charterhouse (right), where annual boarding fees are now more than 39,000, before going to Oxford where he was a contemporary of Mr Johnson

Mr Hunt was head boy at Charterhouse, where annual boarding fees are now more than 39,000, before going to Oxford where he was a contemporary of Mr Johnson.

Fees at Eton are now over 40,000 a year, but friends of Mr Johnson  himself a former Foreign Secretary  stressed he went on a scholarship.

Mr Javids camp admit his man of the people appeal would work less well against other potential rivals such as International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt, who also went to a comprehensive and studied at Reading University.

Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom, increasingly rated by Tory MPs, went to Tonbridge Girls Grammar and Warwick University.

Dominic Raab, the former Brexit Secretary, went to both Oxford and Cambridge but was a grammar school pupil, as was David Davis, another former Brexit Secretary.
nsider said attackers were gangsters who arrived at the party with the intention of extorting money from pimps, prostitutes and drug-dealers inside

The party was held in a 12.5million townhouse in Mayfair, Central London

udor Simionov, 33, was stabbed to death outside a New Years Eve sex party

Tudor Simionov, 33, was hailed a hero after he valiantly fought off up to nine gatecrashers outside the 12.5 million townhouse in Mayfair, Central London, in the early hours before being stabbed in the chest

The doorman stabbed to death outside a New Years Eve sex party hosted by Fast Eddie Davenport in Mayfair was an innocent casualty of a vicious gang turf war, according to a source close to the notorious fraudster.

Tudor Simionov, 33, was hailed a hero after he valiantly fought off up to nine gatecrashers outside the 12.5 million townhouse in Mayfair, Central London, in the early hours before being stabbed in the chest.

An insider told The Mail on Sunday the attackers were gangsters who arrived at the party with the intention of extorting money from pimps, prostitutes and drug-dealers inside.

The men, believed to be Albanian, are said to be waging a battle with rival gangs to control Londons vice trade.

The source said notorious fraudster Lord Davenport was behind the party and had bitten off more than he could chew.

Davenport, 53, who made his name running Gatecrasher balls for public school pupils, was given an eight-year jail term in September 2011 for a 4.5 million fraud.

Davenport with a guest at one of his parties. Davenport, 53, who made his name running Gatecrasher balls for public school pupils, was given an eight-year jail term in September 2011 for a 4.5 million fraud

The insider, who did not wish to be named, said: The attack was not as random as it seemed and these werent just New Years gatecrashers  these were people after a cut of the action.

They were arguing about territory and turf. The men were not going into the party for Eddie  he has just been caught in the middle.

Eddie has got caught up in an evil gang turf war  his parties are extremely murky and attract some very seedy people. The pimps who supply the women make 3,000 a night from the prostitutes  they guard their assets zealously.

There were also drugs, which are obviously hugely profitable.

Eddie is playing a dangerous game  when he came out of prison he should have stepped away from the debauched sex parties.

The source said the body of a decapitated bird was once left on the doorstep of Davenports home as a warning.

Flowers were left outside 30 Park Lane in Mayfair where Tudor Simionov, 33, was stabbed to death. An insider told The Mail on Sunday the attackers were gangsters who arrived at the party with the intention of extorting money from pimps, prostitutes and drug-dealers inside

They said: He received death threats from a big West End gang but, if he was scared, he did not show it. He can make as much as 50,000 a night from these parties  and he should be worried that that can make you a target.

An employee at the event revealed that sex parties are regularly hosted at the property, where guests pay up to 500 to hire a bedroom.

They said party-goers can pay 3,000 for access to the venue, where drug-fuelled sex parties often run until 8am.

Security guard Mr Simionov moved to London from Romania only two months ago in search of a better life. Two other security staff, aged 37 and 29, and a woman, 29, were also attacked with knives.

Davenports lawyer has insisted he did not organise the party, nor take money from guests, but did not confirm whether he was in attendance.

A son of radical preacher Abu Hamza, Imran Mostafa Kamel, 26, has been charged with possession of a firearm following an investigation into events at the party and he has been questioned over the murder.
















Staying abreast with business trends can assist businesses, more so start-ups, excel in business,according to Ottawa Business Dailyprovider of businesses in Ottawa with the most effective and affordable opportunities to boost the advertising reach in Canada's national capital region.

Ottawa Business Daily has quickly become the best informative online magazine for Ottawas inhabitants. Their articles are well researched, thanks to the magazines proactive journalists who have an ear to everything that is happening in the world of business. This is the information age; and may I add the competitive age too. Business trends can change in a whiff and failing to be informed in time about the trends can spell doom for many firms.

That is why according to the daily, businesses that are able to spot trends early are better able to innovate to match up the trends.



They are better able to adjust to changes in demand before the rest of the competition catches up Lakshmi Mittal, Chairman & CEO of ArcelorMittal once said, Always think outside the box and embrace opportunities that appear, wherever they might be.

He said this when asked what his secret to success was. To follow his mantra business owners often use trends to find opportunities, for example to cut costs through adopting latest businesses trends.



Such firms can learn to automate or outsource and use their freed up human resources to carry out other activities or even own size their workforce. Keeping up with the trends, through up to daily business magazines like Ottawa business daily, can also help businesses learn what their competition is doing and help them catch up.

To keep up with business trends, business owners have a few ways of going about it. One way is to attend industry trade shows. Every industry has trade shows and all it takes is to know when they happen. Unfortunately they tend to be very expensive to organize and execute, hence the reason they happen once or twice in a year. That is not very informative for businesses that want to remain ahead of the competition. And worse yet, since its a well-advertised event, businesses hoping to stay competitive will all attend and have the opportunity to adopt the same new trends. So there really is no edge here.

The other often talked about way to keep up with the trends is to visit your competitors. Some companies can allow you some bit of their success secrets. But they will notreadily spill the beans on each and every detail that helped them succeed. Chris Dixon, an investor at Andreessen Horowitz put it very candidly when he said, Get big quietly, so you dont tip off potential competitors.

That leaves one method that is considered the most effective way to study trends and that is to read business newspapers and magazines.Successful businesses are always reading on how to tweak their businesses to help them cater to changing habits and taste of consumers. Napoleon Bonaparteseemed to know this very well when famously quoted Show me a family of readers, and I will show you the people who move the world. Not everyone likes to read, so this is a chance for smart businesses to makes gains against the competition.When the financial crisis of 2008 hit the American economy, many people were affected because they failed to read the signs. They simply failed to read the best source of information regarding business performance. There is a connection between the performance of the economy, businesses, employment and the media. The media plays the role of reporting on businesses and the economy. That is why magazines like Ottawa business daily are a good read for anyone that wants to remain relevant in whatever they do for a living in Canada. It doesnt matter if its charity work or business. Since everyone is minding their own business, a regular read of a regular business magazine can help improve how things are done.
A woman is fighting for life following a triple stabbing on a busy main road in broad daylight, as London's bloody start to the new year continues.

The victim, in her 30s, and two other men were attacked in Leyton, East London, at around 3.30pm today - just an hour after a man was stabbed three miles away.

According to eye-witnesses, the attack took place in front of the womans children while one of the two male casualties is the childrens father.

The woman remains in hospital in critical condition, while the two men suffered injuries that are less severe, police confirmed.

Met Police officers surround the scene in Leyton, where a woman was stabbed and two men were slashed

Neighbour Greg Dash said: 'Just got in to find my neighbour shook up  he just saw a family get stabbed in Leyton. Mother and father in front of their kid. Horrible. Police were there in minutes.'

The attacker remains at large and police are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

A Met Police spokesman said: 'Police were called to Church Road, E10 at 15:37hrs on Saturday, 5 January following reports of a man injured.

'Officers and London Ambulance Service attended and found a woman with stab injuries and two men with slash wounds.

'They have been taken to an east London hospital for treatment. The woman aged in her thirties is in a critical condition. Both men's injuries are not life threatening or changing.

'No arrests have been made. A crime scene is in place. Police in Waltham Forest continue to deal. Enquiries continue.'

Bloodshed: Today's stabbings happened within an hour of each other just three miles apart

London's Air Ambulance rushed a 26-year-old stab victim to hospital following an attack in Forest Gate

Videos posted online showed at least three police cars blocking off the street while worried neighbours crowded around the crime scene.

The triple stabbing came just an hour after a 26-year-old man was critically injured following a stabbing in Forest Gate, Newham, just three miles away.

Officers arrested a man on suspicion of GBH and he is currently in custody.

Lee Pomeroy, 51, was stabbed multiple times following an altercation on-board a Guildford to London Waterloo train at around 1pm yesterday. The married father of one, was on his way into London with his 14-year-old son for a day out when the deadly incident happened

Yesterday, a 51-year-old father was fatally stabbed in front of his son on a train to London from Guildford.

Lee Pomeroy had been heading to the capital with his 14-year-old son for a day out when the deadly incident happened. Today would've been his birthday.

A 35-year-old man was arrested at an address in the Farnham area on suspicion of his murder.

'Beautiful' mother Charlotte Huggins became the first knife crime fatality of 2019 on New Year's Day when she was discovered with stab injuries at a south London home hours into the new year.
Conjoined two-year-old twins from Bangladesh have flown to Hungary to undergo life-changing surgery to separate them.

Rabeya and Rukaiya, who are joined at the head, left Dhaka Medical College Hospital and boarded a flight today alongside their parents and doctor to begin treatment.

The twins will stay in Hungary for three months where they will be operated on by a team of twenty medics in the risky procedure that has less than 20 per cent success rate.

For the final final operation, the twins are expected to return to Bangladesh they will finally be separated in a bid for them to lead normal lives.

Rabeya and Rukaiya, from Bangladesh, flew to Hungary today for a series of life changing operations

Born in 2016 to primary school teachers Rafiqul Islam and Taslima Khatun, the conjoined twins amazed doctors with their ability to walk and talk.

The mother of the two told the Bangladesh Post: 'Initially it was very difficult to handle them because of their condition but they can now talk and walk.

'Though they are joined, they share different personality traits. For example, if Rokeya cries, Rabeya doesn't.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim gifted six plane tickets to the family, and the government is paying for the life changing surgery, according to local media.

The three-year-old twins will return to Bangladesh after three month to undergo the final operation to separate them

Born in 2016 to primary school teachers Rafiqul Islam and Taslima Khatun, the pair amazed doctors with their ability to walk and talk

Rabeya and Rokeya have already amazed doctors as very few craniopagusconjoined twins survive birth.

Conjoined twins occur once every 200,000 live births, and even if they survive birth, their prognosis is generally poor.

About 40 per cent are stillborn and an additional 33 percent die after birth, normally due to organ failure or abnormalities.

But 25 per cent have been known to survive and even have the option to be separated depending on where they are attached at the skull.

Mortality rates for twins who undergo separation vary, depending on their type of connection, and the organs they share.

Advances in brain imaging and neurosurgical techniques have made separation surgeries more possible.

Conjoined twins occur once every 200,000 live births, and even if they survive birth, their prognosis is generally poor

Rabeya and Rokeya have already amazed doctors as very few craniopagusconjoined twins survive birth
Spanish authorities have stopped a group of 33 migrants, including 13 minors, as they attempted to enter the country.

The migrants arrived in the area of Jameos del Agua in the North-East of Lanzarote, the Canary Islands, today.

The Spanish Civil Guard released two pictures taken on the beach which show some of the 33 people and their boat in the moments after they arrived.

It is not know the ages of the other migrants or where they came from.

Some of the 33 migrants, which included 13 minors, stand on the beach in the area of Jameos del Agua, Lanzarote as the Spanish Civil Guard looks on

An agent looks at the dinghy boat today that the migrants arrived at the beach on

More than 400 migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea were rescued by the Spanish Coastguard in just the first two days of 2019, reports the Independent.

Around 290 people were picked up from five boats in the Alboran Sea and the Strait of Gibraltar on Wednesday January 2.

On New Year's Day another 111 people were also pulled from boats by authorities.

Today's crossing comes after the European Union's border agency revealed the number of unauthorised border crossings into Europe has hit a five-year low.

However migrant entries into Spain via the Mediterranean continue to climb.

Frontex also said about 57,000 crossings were detected in Spain, double the figure for 2017 and the most of any country in the EU, making the route from Morocco to the Iberian Peninsula the most active in Europe.

They also said people crossed the EU's external borders without authorisation around 150,000 times last year, a 25 per cent drop compared with 2017 and far below the peak of over a million in 2015.

More than 300 migrants docked in Crinavis on December 29 and in the first few days of 2019 (left) more than 400 migrants were stopped by authorities trying to enter Spain. Today the group of 33 people were stopped in Lanzarote, shown on a map right

A migrant wearing a t-shirt reading 'In Spain I Trust' waits to disembark from the Aquarius rescue ship. Spain received the most unauthorised border crossings of all the EU member countries in 2018

Data from the EU's border agency Frontex shows the number of unauthorised crossings into Europe has hit a five-year low, although entries into Spain via the Mediterranean continue to climb

The border and coast guard agency said the drop is due to a massive decrease in the number of people entering Italy, mostly after setting out from Libya and Algeria.

Just over 23,000 unauthorised crossings were noted on that route this year, an 80% drop since last year and the fewest since 2012.

Arrivals in Greece and Cyprus through the so-called Eastern Mediterranean route rose to 56,000 last year, with most of the refugees coming from Afghanistan, Syria or Iraq.

On New Year's Day video footage emerged of two desperate migrants getting out from inside mattresses during their bid to reach Europe from Africa.

The sub-Saharan men were arrested after border guards found them at a check-point between Melilla, a Spanish enclave on the north African coast, and Morocco.

Despite having been concealed in mattresses, the men appeared to be in good health and did not need medical help.

The sub-Saharan men were arrested after border guards found them at a check-point between Melilla, a Spanish enclave on the north African coast, and Morocco

The driver of the vehicle used to transport them is said to have fled into Morocco before he could be detained.

Spain has become the main entry point for migrants and asylum-seekers looking for a better life in Europe as other EU countries tighten up controls at their borders.

A smuggling route through Libya to Italy has also been complicated by conflict and violence there.

Migrants stranded on rescue boat in the Mediterranean for two weeks are 'desperate' Children, pictured, are among the 32 migrants who have been stuck on a rescue boat in the Mediterranean for two weeks The 32 survivors of a rescue mission in the Mediterranean Sea are in 'a desperate situation', a campaigner has said. Volunteer Robin Jenkins, 45, from the Vale of Glamorgan, was on the Sea Watch 3 when it rescued the migrants off the coast of Malta on December 22. He spoke as the group, which includes children, remains stranded on the boat at sea as no nation has granted it permission to dock with the migrants on board. A petition calling for the UK Government to help find a port of safety for the vessel had topped 42,500 signatures by 5.30pm on Saturday. Mr Jenkins said the group are owed the 'same humanity' as other people he has rescued. He said the group were in an inflatable boat that was 'not suitable for seafaring' and had a smell of fuel coming from it. He said: 'There was one woman who we rescued with her seven-year-old son. She was a single mother who said that even one more day or one more hour in Libya was too much to bear. 'These people were desperate. They would have to be to have got into that boat. Volunteer Robin Jenkins, 45, from the Vale of Glamorgan, said the migrants', some of the men pictured, boat was 'deadly' in the three-metre high waves 'People back home don't understand that the Mediterranean in December (and January) isn't the same one in the summer holiday brochures. We've had waves of more than three metres. 'This is deadly. Their boat was deadly. And now they're stuck at sea - after two weeks - because European countries cannot afford them the humanity that they deserve. 'They are just people. The same as the people I have pulled from rivers and off the coast in the UK and delivered back to shore. They are owed that same humanity.' The petition, on Change.org, says the group are in 'need of urgent help' as European countries refuse to open ports and provide shelter. Advertisement

Melilla, together with a second Spanish enclave, Ceuta, have the European Union's only land borders with Africa.

Last Friday December 28 a charity vessel rescued 311 mainly African migrants and docked in Spain, after several European nations denying the ship entry.

The migrants cheered and applauded as the vessel docked in the port of Crinavis near the southern city of Algeciras, the largest city on the Bay of Gibraltar.

Proactiva Open Arms, the Spanish charity which runs the Open Arms vessel carrying the migrants, feted the arrival with a 'Mission accomplished' tweet.

The migrants come from 19 different countries, including Somalia, Syria and the Ivory Coast. More than a third of them, 139, are minors.

The movements of the Open Arms migrant rescue ship before it was finally allowed to dock in Spain

Frontex said people crossed the EU's external borders without authorisation around 150,000 times last year, far below the peak of over a million in 2015

The migrants were rescued on December 21 from three vessels but were denied entry by Italy and Malta.

Libya, France and Tunisia did not respond to Proactiva Open Arms' requests for permission to dock, Madrid said.

On Saturday December 22, a newborn baby and his mother were helicoptered from the boat to Malta, while a 14-year-old suffering from a serious skin infection was taken to the Italian island of Lampedusa.

Proactiva Open Arms operates in the sea between Libya and southern Europe, coming to the aid of migrants who get into difficulties during the crossing from northern Africa.

This was the first time since August that Spain has allowed a charity rescue ship to dock and unload migrants in the country.
Preparations are well underway in the event of a 'no deal Brexit' as lines for parking spaces have been drawn out at Manston Airport.

Up to 150 lorries will be sent from the airport to Dover during rush hour on Monday in a test to see if Britain is ready for a no deal Brexit.

The exercise will test the idea of using Manston as a huge lorry park if a no deal causes congestion at Dover because of delays sending goods to Calais.

In a letter to hauliers DfT and Kent County Council officials revealed they would run tests during the morning rush hour at 8am, and again at 11am, to 'establish the safest optimum release rate of HGVs' from the airfield to Dover along the A256.

Lines for parking spaces have been drawn out at Manston Airport as no deal Brexit preparations step up

The disused airport in Kent could be used as an emergency lorry park

The exercise will test the idea of using Manston as a huge lorry park if a no deal causes congestion at Dover because of delays sending goods to Calais

In a letter to hauliers DfT and Kent County Council officials revealed they would run tests during the morning rush hour at 8am

Congestion at the Channel ports caused by the reintroduction of customs checks on goods has been one of the most commonly cited negative impacts of a no-deal withdrawal from the EU at the end of March

It said it would pay for 100-150 hauliers from the local area to take part in the test of Operation Brock. Up to 6,000 lorries could be parked on the site under the plan.

Congestion at the Channel ports caused by the reintroduction of customs checks on goods has been one of the most commonly cited negative impacts of a no-deal withdrawal from the EU at the end of March.

In the event of congestion, lorries will first be parked on the M20 under Operation Stack in a similar way to when bad weather or strikes close the Dover-Calais route. Once that is full as far as Ashford, trucks would be sent to Manston.

Up to 150 lorries will be sent from Manston Airport to Dover during rush hour on Monday in a test to see if Britain is ready for a no deal Brexit (pictured are lorries at check-in at Dover)

Under no deal plans, lorries would first be parked on the M20 to Ashford before being diverted to Manston Airfield (pictured)

The news came after it was reported that Theresa May was due to speak with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker on Friday as she seeks added flexibility in the Withdrawal Agreement.

MPs are due to debate the PM's Brexit deal on Wednesday ahead of a meaningful vote the following week but the EU has yet to offer any changes.

A DfT spokeswoman said: 'We do not want or expect a no-deal scenario and continue to work hard to deliver a deal with the EU.

'However, it is the duty of a responsible Government to continue to prepare for all eventualities and contingencies, including a possible no deal.

'We will be testing part of Operation Brock to ensure that, if it needs to be implemented, the system is fully functional.'

Parish council chairman Cllr Andrew Blaydes told Kent Online: 'The trial is essential and we have always said it needs to be tested to show the impact on local traffic.

'The first run at 8am will run straight into the school-run traffic.'

The tests were first revealed by Isle of Thanet News, which said the lorries would travel along Hengist Way, Sevenscore roundabout and the A256 then on to the A2 into Dover

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling (pictured in Downing Street last month) has overseen contingency plans for parking lorries outside Dover

Lorries could be parked on the M20 (pictured) as well as on Manston airfield if the Dover-Calais link breaks down in a no deal Brexit

However a poll of Conservative Party members has dealt a new blow to Mrs May's chances of getting her deal through the Commons, with 57% of grassroots Tories saying they would support leaving the EU without an agreement.

The DUP has also maintained its opposition to the plan because of the proposed customs 'backstop' element of the deal - affecting the Northern Ireland/Ireland border - agreed by Mrs May with Brussels.

Its Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson said on Friday there is no way his party can support the Prime Minister's Brexit deal,

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'It's not just because of the regulations which Northern Ireland would be subject to with the backstop, but also the fact we would have to treat the rest of the United Kingdom as a third country, we would not participate in any trade deals which the United Kingdom may enter into in the future and we would find that there would be a border down the Irish Sea, which would impede trade with our biggest trading partner, namely GB.'

DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds insisted his party's opposition to Irish border backstop proposals had not lessened after a meeting with the Prime Minister on Thursday.

Mr Dodds said: 'The Withdrawal Agreement, as currently proposed, flies in the face of the Government's commitments on Northern Ireland as we leave the EU.'

Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay said a second EU referendum would 'trigger a very populist reaction' and would further divide the UK.

Speaking to German newspaper Die Welt he said: 'The current rate at which Britain is torn would be small compared to the tensions that a second vote would cause.

'It would continue to split our nation.'

The comments echoed his Cabinet colleague Jeremy Hunt, after the Foreign Secretary said earlier this week that the consequences for democracy of another referendum would be 'devastating'.
A 26-year-old man is fighting for his life after suffering multiple stab wounds as London's bloody New Year continues.

The Met Police were called to the scene in Forest Gate, East London, at 2.15pm today.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and remains in custody.

London's Air Ambulance rushed the victim to hospital following the stabbing in Forest Gate

The victim remains in critical condition in hospital.

Police attended along with the London Ambulance Service and London's Air Ambulance.

Officers from North East Area Command Unit are investigating.

Today's stabbing comes after a 51-year-old father was fatally stabbed in front of his son on a train to London from Guildford.

Lee Pomeroy had been heading to the capital with his 14-year-old son for a day out when the deadly incident happened. Today would've been his birthday.

A 35-year-old man was arrested at an address in the Farnham area on suspicion of his murder.
A couple in their fifties have been jailed for two years each for buying, washing and then selling stamps on Ebay - costing the Royal Mail more than 400,000 in revenue.

Wendy Baker, 55 and Dean Westwood, 56, from Sheldon, Birmingham, pleaded guilty to three charges of fraud after running the scam from their home for five years.

The total value of the stamps sold was 443,244 while the couple pocketed 149,344 in profit.

Dean Westwood and Wendy Baker outside Birmingham Crown Court. The couple have been jailed for buying used stamps, washing them and selling them on Ebay

They pleaded guilty to possessing articles for use in fraud, adapting an article for fraud and supplying an article for fraud.

The couple, who are engaged, first started buying used first and second class stamps in bulk in July 2013.

They bought them from charities and other organisations with the stamps normally only of interest to stamp collectors.

Initially they bought and sold 7,262 worth of stamps on Ebay but this 'dramatically accelerated' to 48,518 worth, said Ben Gow, prosecuting at Birmingham Crown Court.

The vast majority of the sales were to businesses and traders and there were multiple and repeat purchases.

The couple used a chemical process to remove the cancellation marks on the stamps.

They used white spirit to remove the glue from the back of the stamps, before drying them with talcum powder, putting them on drying racks and spraying them with hairspray 'to make them look better.'

The engaged couple first started buying used first and second class stamps in bulk in July 2013 from charity shops

Westwood and Baker then sold the stamps at a significant discount, establishing a company called Stampbusters as a vehicle for their illegal enterprise.

Stampbusters was registered to their home and both were named as directors, with the company registered on Companies House.

Mr Gow said the couple had advertised their business with disclaimers explaining what they do, in a bid to legitimise it.

They also used the bogus stamps to send their own parcels.

Royal Mail investigators, who made test purchases from them, and other buyers identified the stamps as having previously been used.

Officers who went to their address in September last year discovered large numbers of first and second class stamps 'in various states of process.'

The total value of the stamps sold by the couple was 443,244 while they pocketed 149,344 in profit

When quizzed Baker said she had got the idea from someone in the pub while Westwood said he had no money at the time the business was started up.

In passing sentence, Recorder Rachel Brand QC said the fraud had been 'persistent and planned'

She added: 'You placed into circulation a huge number of washed stamps over a number of years allowing others to use them to cheat the Royal Mail out of revenue they were entitled to.'

Katie Fox, defending Baker, said 'This started as a legitimate enterprise. Baker needed a job so that she could work from home that was part time.'

She said there was a degree of unsophistication about it and that she had made no attempt to hide what she was doing.

While Andrew Tucker, defending Westwood, said he was normally an honest and hard working man.
Key House intelligence committee Democrat Eric Swalwell said the panel already has 'probable cause' to probe possible Russian money laundering via Donald Trump's businesses, because the president's family has given them enough to go on based on what they've said in the past.

The California politician was the most vocal the panel has ever been about how they'll launch an investigation into the American leader's finances, detailing how Trump or one of his relatives may have taken a step wrong in what they have revealed long before he ran for the White House.

'We will open up a money-laundering inquiry as to whether the Russians were laundering money through the Trump organization,' Swalwell, who's also on the judiciary committee, said on the Yahoo News podcast Skullduggery.

'To use a prosecutor's phrase, I think we have probable cause to do that, based on the Trump family's own admissions that they had money coming in from Russia.'

House intelligence committee Democrat Eric Swalwell has revealed how the panel will launch their investigation into President Donald Trump's businesses

While the former Republican majority House seemed to go easy on Trump when they began looking into his business background, Swalwall said the plan is to ask the Trump Organization and their big lender Deutsche Bank to turn over records.

He noted there are plenty of lines the last House failed to follow up on, including a blocked number call Donald Trump Jr made after a June 2016 Trump Tower meeting investigated by Robert Mueller.

The meeting was alleged to have centered around obtaining information to harm Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. Trump Sr has denied any acknowledgement of it.

If they don't comply subpoenas will be issued.

Although it's possible the president may be reluctant, Swalwell hinted he was sure there was plenty to unearth.

'As far as how many years back does it go, we know that you have evidence in the early 2000s of  Trump properties being purchased by Russians, so the Trump interest in Russia and the Russia interest in Trump does go back decades. From my perspective, I would want to know where did the financial compromise begin,' he said.

He said it's 'based on the Trump family's own admissions that they had money coming in from Russia' from decades ago. Trump is pictured with Russian president Vladimir Putin last July

He wants to follow up on a blocked number call Donald Trump Jr made after a June 2016 Trump Tower meeting investigated by Robert Mueller

Panel chairman Democratic Representative from California Adam Schiff (with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi) has said in the past: 'The American people have a right to know that their President is working on their behalf, not his family's financial interests'

'You're talking about years of records, years of relationships that the Trump family has had. I think we want to have a comprehensive picture of whether or not the president is financially compromised by the Russians.'

After Trump's apparent support of the Saudi Arabian leaders following the murder of US-based Jamal Khashogghi, Swalwell said the president's relationship with the Middle Eastern royals was of interest too.

Noting the hundreds of hotel rooms booked by Saudi lobbyists at the Trump Hotel in Washington DC last year, the politician said bank statements and tax returns were of interest.

He added that he can see why someone like Trump would get along with the likes of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and his father King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

Swalwell said Trump's relationship with the Saudi Arabia royals was of interest too. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is pictured left

As well as a possible business benefit with Russia, Swalwell said he can see why Trump gets along with the Saudi royal

Noting the hundreds of hotel rooms booked by Saudi lobbyists at the Trump Hotel in Washington DC last year, the politician said bank statements and tax returns were of interest

'You have a narcissistic personality, and they're throwing him this massive welcome ceremony, and I think we all can see, you know, why he would kind of gravitate toward them,' Swalwell said.

The plan would have to be approved by California Democrat Representative Adam Schiff, who was sworn in as the panel chairman this week.

If Schiff's past comments are anything to go by, he is keen on the probe.

'The American people have a right to know that their President is working on their behalf, not his family's financial interests,' he previously told New Yorker magazine. 'Right now, I don't think any of us can have the confidence that that's the case.'

Swalwell, California's 15th district rep since 2013, thinks he can do a better job if given the chance to be the 46th President.

Declaring he plans on running for the 2020 position, he added: 'I think I can make a difference, but I also think I can win. Most importantly, I want to see our country come together.'
JonBenet Ramsey's brother has settled his $750million defamation case against CBS and others involved with a 2016 documentary about the six-year-old pageant queen's death.

Burke Ramsey's lawsuit, which was filed in December 2016  just two months after The Case of: JonBenet Ramsey aired on CBS  claimed that the documentary implied that Burke, now 31, killed his sister when he was nine years old.

Such a claim, was 'false and defamatory per se,' according to the lawsuit, which went on to note that 'Burke Ramsey did not kill his sister and had no involvement in her brutal murder.'

Burke Ramsey (in 2016) and CBS have settled a $750million defamation lawsuit stemming from a 2016 documentary that he claimed implied he killed his sister, JonBenet Ramsey

The Case of: JonBenet Ramsey aired in September 2016. Burke filed his lawsuit two months later, naming CBS, the production company and others in the case

JonBenet was reported missing by her parents on December 26, 1996, after they discovered a handwritten ransom note demanding $118,000 for her return. She was found bound and gagged, dead from strangulation and a skull fracture, in the family's basement several hours later.

JonBenet's parents, John and Patsy Ramsey, and Burke were cleared by prosecutors in 2008.

A statement was released Friday from a spokesperson for producers of The Case of: JonBenet Ramsey, stating that 'The parties have reached an amicable resolution of their differences and will have no further comment,' according to the Daily Camera.

Burke's lawyer, Lin Wood, told Reuters that, 'the case has been amicably resolved to the satisfaction of all parties.'

He later tweeted: 'After handling many defamation cases for them over the past 20 years, hopefully this is my last defamation case for this fine family.'

Child pageant queen JonBenet Ramsey was six years old when she was reported missing by her parents and found dead later that day, bound and gagged, in the family's basement

JonBenet's parents John and Patsy Ramsey (in 1997), and brother Burke, were cleared of her death by prosecutors in 2008

John and Patsy Ramsey (undated photo) have filed multiple defamation cases over the years

Details of Burke's (far right) lawsuit settlement are not being made public, but has been 'amicably resolved to the satisfaction of all parties'

The Ramsey home in Boulder, Colorado, where JonBenet's body was found in December 1996

Attorneys representing CBS declined to comment to multiple news agencies.

Terms of the agreement are not being made public.

Public records show that a judge signed an order of dismissal on January 2 and that a settlement conference due to occur on March 20 was canceled as 'case disposed,' according to the Daily Camera.

As the order of dismissal stated that the claims against those involved with the documentary was dismissed with prejudice, the lawsuit cannot be refiled, the newspaper reported.

Beyond CBS and documentary production company Critical Content, LLC, Burke's lawsuit named forensic scientist Henry Lee and forensic pathologist Werner Spitz among several others who had appeared in the broadcast.
A 13-year-old girl has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer at a pro-Brexit 'yellow vest' protest in London today.

Around 100 demonstrators stopped traffic and set off smoke bombs outside Downing Street as they marched through the capital during the protest.

The teenager was one of four detained after protests on Westminster Bridge, near Parliament, at around 11am. Three men were also arrested on suspicion of public order offences, Metropolitan Police confirmed.

Around 100 demonstrators stopped traffic and set off smoke bombs outside Downing Street as they marched through the capital during the protest (pictured right, James Goddard)

The demonstration was one of several held across the UK as supporters called for a no-deal Brexit and declared the prime minister a 'traitor', the Independent reported.

Smoke bombs were set off outside Downing Street and around protesters stood in front of cars to stop traffic on Westminster Bridge.

Demonstrators in hi-vis jackets also marched down Whitehall towards Trafalgar Square and dramatically clashed with police officers.

Traffic delays were reported in the area as social media footage showed protesters sitting in the road.

Transport for London said: 'The crowd has formed up in the Parliament Square / Whitehall area and are intermittently causing traffic holds.

'We have very little details on the demonstration but expect further traffic holds and delays in the Westminster area.'

Demonstrators in hi-vis jackets marched down Whitehall towards Trafalger Square before appearing to clash with police officers

Traffic delays were reported in the area as social media footage showed protesters sitting in the road

One clip from the protest shows a young girl shouting 'get off of me' and screaming as police officers moved her as they attempted to control the march.

Moments later in the footage, three officers push a man against a bus and appear to detain him while ordering others to 'stay back'.

James Goddard, who is believed to have organised the protest, was photographed approaching a police officer on Whitehall.

Protests were also reported in Manchester, where demonstrators were pictured 'blockading' a Greggs bakery.

Demonstrators stand in front of cars as they stop traffic on Westminster Bridge during a protest

Mike Stuchbury wrote on Twitter: 'The f***wits that like to call you a 'snowflake' are blockading a Gregg's in Manchester for selling vegan sausage rolls.

'For those asking, yes, it's the Manchester Far Right 'Yellow Vests'.'

A spokesman for Metropolitan Police said: 'Four arrests have been made following protests on Westminster Bridge, SW1 at approximately 11am today.

'Three men arrested on suspicion of public order offences. A 13-year-old girl was also arrested on suspicion of assault on police. Enquiries continue.'

It comes after demonstrators took over three bridges in central London to demand Britain's exit from the EU last month.

Campaigners chanted 'Brexit now' as they stopped cars from crossing Westminster Bridge, Tower Bridge and then Waterloo Bridge as Theresa May held crunch talks with EU leaders in Brussels.

About 60 people wearing yellow vests similar to those worn during protests in France gathered by the Houses of Parliament at noon to first occupy Westminster Bridge.

The protesters were eventually moved on by police after about 15 minutes before heading to Downing Street, where they chanted pro-Brexit songs before moving on to Tower Bridge.

While blocking the iconic bridge for about 20 minutes, campaigners were seen angrily remonstrating with motorists and bystanders.

A woman falls to the ground as around 100 protesters march towards Whitehall in pro-Brexit demonstation

The group wore yellow jackets, reminiscent of the gilet jaune movement in France, in which demonstrators donning yellow vests have brought Paris to a standstill for yet another weekend today.

Demonstrators in France have called for President Emmanuel Macron to resign for the eighth Saturday in a row.

Tear gas and batons were used by riot police on a so-called Act VIII Day of Rage organised by the Yellow Vest movement. Marches were underway in several other cities across France.

It followed the arrest of 33-year-old Eric Drouet, one of the groups most high-profile leaders, on Wednesday night.

It comes after demonstrators took over three bridges in central London to demand Britain's exit from the EU last month

Demonstrators caused trouble around the River Seine, where police unleashed gas and flash balls at a crowd of around 2000 Gilets Jaunes.

All were attempting to march on the National Assembly, the French parliament, but were held back.

This led to fighting on the foot bridges crossing the river.

Ten members of the movement have died at blockades organised at major roads around France, while hundreds of others have been injured in rioting.

The Vests have been protesting since November 17 and, despite a range of concessions by President Macron including scrapping green taxes of diesel and petrol, continue to call for him to step down.
The trial date has been set for Rachel Dolezal, the former NAACP leader who pretended to be black before being unmasked as white, and is accused of welfare fraud.

The state of Washington's case against Dolezal, who legally changed her name to Nkechi Diallo in 2016, will begin in Spokane on March 4, pursuant to Judge Michelle Szambelan's order from December 31.

Dolezal, 41, faces charges under her legal name of theft by welfare fraud, perjury and false verification for public assistance.

Court documents allege she illegally received $8,747 in food assistance and $100 in child care assistance from August 2015 through November 2017.

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The trial date has been set for March 4 for Rachel Dolezal, 41, the former NAACP leader who pretended to be black before being unmasked as white, and is accused of welfare fraud. Dolezal, who legally changed her name to Nkechi Diallo in 2016, is pictured at a preliminary hearing in the case on June 20 at Spokane County Courthouse in Washington

Court documents said she illegally received $8,747 in food assistance and $100 in child care assistance from August 2015 through November 2017. Dolezal is pictured on March 2, 2015 when she was still president of the Spokane chapter of the NAACP, posing for a photo in her Spokane, Washington home

Dolezal's trial will begin in Spokane on March 4, pursuant to Judge Michelle Szambelan's order from December 31. Judge Szambelan is pictured during a previous hearing with Dolezal

An investigation started in March 2017 when a state investigator received information that she had written her autobiography, In Full Color: Finding My Place in a Black and White World.

Documents say she had deposited nearly $84,000 into her bank account without reporting it.

She reportedly told investigators she 'fully disclosed her information' and declined to answer further questions.

Dolezal sparked outrage when her parents revealed she was posing as a black woman three years ago.

She came under fire once again in March after Netflix released the first trailer of her documentary.

The streaming giant was criticized for spending money to promote someone who is 'fraudulent and problematic'.

The alleged fraud is said to have occurred from August 2015 to November 2017. Dolezal is pictured with her adopted brother, Izaiah Dolezal, (left) and her son Franklin Moore (right) in June 2015

During that same time, it's said she deposited $80,000 from the sale of her memoir,'In Full Color,' while claiming she was surviving on 'a few hundred' dollars a month that was being donated by friends. In Dolezal's memoir, she likened being forced to do household chores as a child to indentured servitude and noted that she developed a 'similar resourcefulness' to what slaves were forced to develop in order for her to complete her chores. She is pictured with her son, Langston, in a photo from March 20

In June 2015, Dolezal's parents  with whom she has long feuded  revealed to the media that she was born white, but presenting herself as a black activist in Spokane

An investigation started in March 2017 when a state investigator received information that she had written her autobiography (pictured)

Dolezal's teenage son Franklin, who is biracial, is featured in the trailer where he implores his mother to stop publicizing her beliefs.

'I resent some of her choices and I resent some of the words she has spoken in interviews,' Franklin said during the documentary's trailer.

Netflix also submitted her documentary, The Rachel Divide, to the Tribeca Film Festival, which took place in April.

Dolezal is a former civil rights activist and African studies instructor.

In June 2015, Dolezal's parents  with whom she has long feuded  revealed to the media that she was born white, but presenting herself as a black activist in Spokane.

After the story became an international sensation, Dolezal was fired from her job at the NCAAP.

Dolezal was also kicked off a police ombudsman commission and lost her job teaching African studies at Eastern Washington University in nearby Cheney.

Dolezal reportedly told investigators she 'fully disclosed her information'. Dolezal came under fire in March after Netflix released the first trailer of her documentary, a still from which is shown here

In June 2015, Dolezal's parents  with whom she has long feuded  revealed to the media that she was born white, but presenting herself as a black activist in Spokane. Dolezal is pictured leaving a taping of the Today Show on March 27 in New York City

She has not been able to find regular employment since the bombshell reveal.

Dolezal claimed in a BBC interview last year that ethnicity is not biological and compared being 'transracial' to being transgender.

She then released her book, titled In Full Color, and people said she was using her 'white privilege' to make her arguments.

In Dolezal's memoir, she likened being forced to do household chores as a child to indentured servitude and noted that she developed a 'similar resourcefulness' to that which slaves were forced to develop so she could complete her chores.

She claimed that the mere act of forcing kids to do household chores was similar to 'the institution of chattel slavery in America'.

Dolezal also wrote about how her first marriage ended because she was 'too black' for her African-American husband.

She detailed the way she evolved over the years from being a blonde white girl with freckles into her current state of 'Blackness'.

Dolezal also chronicled what she said are the myriad of ways that being 'outed' as a white woman while she was passing as a black woman has impacted her life.








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Britons are being told to prepare for severe gales next week as the Met Office issues a yellow weather warning predicting possible travel disruption and loss of power.

It will follow a relatively mild weekend, with temperatures of around 9C (48F) to 10C (50F) across most of the country - which came after a brief cold spell with temperatures of around -10C (14F) overnight.

The weather warning is scheduled to be in effect from 12pm on Monday until 3pm on Tuesday and will cover the northern parts of Scotland with gales reaching as much as 75 mph.

The gusts of wind will join with heavy rain and go through Scotland and Northern Ireland before settling in England.

These cold conditions will mark a frosty January with temperatures in England and Wales expected to plummet by next weekend.

Rowers glide past boats moored on the Harbourside in Bristol this morning after another chilly night. But tomorrow will see warmer temperatures ahead of strong gales early next week

BBC meteorologist Louise Lear told viewers today: 'You can see this area of low pressure moving in from the north.

'The winds will start to really pick up in the north on Monday. This will see heavy rain and gale-force gusts of winds through Scotland and Northern Ireland before settling into England.

'50 to 60mph gusts of winds will come in and that will feel quite cold. As we go into Tuesday and Wednesday, for Scotland and Ireland, we will start to see some colder weather conditions, which could bring snow showers as we move through the week.

'In England and Wales, we start to see a significant drop in the temperatures by next weekend.'

A brief cold spell earlier this week saw temperatures fall to around -10C (14F) overnight. And the cold weather is expected to return later this month - with forecasters even predicting snowfall in some areas. A man is pictured walking in Bridport, Dorset this morning after temperatures fell below zero overnight

Rowers did not let the chilly temperatures stop them from getting their morning exercise today. It comes as the Met Office issues a yellow weather warning for wind - which is expected to bring strong gales to parts of Scotland on Monday

Britain last week had to endure freezing temperatures after weeks of above average figures. On Thursday temperatures dropped to nearly -11C (12F) overnight as the country faced freezing fog and widespread frosts. Pictured is Avon Gorge in Bristol this morning

A spokesman for the Met Office said: 'Very strong winds are expected to move eastwards across the north of Scotland on Monday, likely strengthening over northeastern parts of Scotland and the Northern Isles overnight and into Tuesday morning.

'Gusts of 65 to 75 mph are likely, particularly in the northeast, before the winds gradually ease from the west later on Tuesday.'

Britain last week had to endure freezing temperatures after weeks of above average figures. On Thursday temperatures dropped to nearly -11C (12F) overnight as the country faced freezing fog and widespread frosts.

Public Health England even issued a level two alert for social and healthcare services in northern and western areas.

But this weekend Britain gets a brief respite from the chilly weather, with again above average temperatures and dry conditions.

A yellow weather warning is scheduled to be in effect from 12pm on Monday until 3pm on Tuesday and will cover the northern parts of Scotland with gales reaching as much as 75 mph

The weather for the rest of the weekend will be largely dry and mild - but cloudly for most of the time. As we move into next week there will be rainier conditions and a yellow weather warning for wind has been issued for northern Scotland

Becky Mitchell, a meteorologist for the Met Office, told MailOnline: 'For the rest of this weekend the weather will be relatively quiet. Temperatures will be typically above average and could reach 10C (50F) in some parts.

'As we move into next week however temperatures are expected to fall again and could reach lows of -5C or -6C.

'And then as we get further into the month temperatures are likely to fall even further as we have a sudden stratospheric warming in place.

'This means there could be the possibility of some very cold temperatures and even snow in parts of the country.'

The Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW), otherwise known as a polar vortex break-up, could even lead to another Beast from the East sweeping in before the end of the month.

SSW is where the temperature suddenly rises high up in the stratosphere, between six and 30 miles above the North Pole, and it can result in a chain reaction that leads to very cold conditions from eastern Europe and Russia.
A British grandfather flying to Cancun for a holiday with his wife was detained for three days by Mexican authorities after his name was flagged on an international wanted list.

Anthony Inglis Smith was kept in a cold, dark cell at Cancun International Airport after arriving in Mexico for a long-awaited holiday.

The grandfather from Worthing, Sussex, said he has been suffering from insomnia, nightmares and depression since he was held in the airport cell.

Mr Smith had been mistaken for an international criminal while travelling to Mexico with his wife Carole.

Anthony Inglis Smith and his wife Carole had been saving many for the holiday for some time and they lost 3,000 over it

He discovered he has the same name as other men with serious criminal histories and also has the same birthday as one of them.

This resulted in him being detained for three days at Cancun Airport.

Mr Smith said: 'After much deliberating over whether or not I was a criminal, I was completely shocked when 24 hours later I was actually detained and separated from my wife.

'Being detained in a cell for something that you haven't done is definitely quite disorientating.

'They showed me to a dingy cold, 10ft by 10ft windowless cell with two thin mattresses on the floor and those flimsy aeroplane blankets.

'My wife was escorted off to the hotel on her own, which she found frightening because she was in a new country and all by herself.

Anthony was detained in a cold, dark room at Cancun Airport for three days. During the detention, he was always supervised by a security guard who controlled every move he made, also when he went to the toilet

'This whole experience has seriously affected her as well.

'She's too frightened to go abroad now which is what we both love to do normally.'

The man said he called the British Embassy for help, but was told they could not do anything about his situation unless he was officially arrested.

During detention, immigration officers recorded his finger prints and his eye colour.

Mr Smith was constantly supervised by a security guard even when he went to the toilet.

Anthony said: 'I know there were suspicions I was a criminal but I was being treated like I was a serial murderer. I couldn't even go to the toilet without the guard writing down every my move.

'The toilets were in a terrible state. The urinal was broken and because of the stress I had a serious bout of IBS and really had no choice.

'There was a shower but it was also a store cupboard with broomsticks in it, and there were no towels.

'Luckily I still had my phone so that I could contact my wife and get some clothes to change into.'

After three days during which he got little information about why he was being held, Anthony was allowed to fly home on the next British Airways flight out of Cancun.

His unusual middle name apparently convinced the Mexican authorities they had the wrong Anthony Smith.

Mr Smith, who discovered he shares the same name as several other men with serious criminal convictions, said he plans to write to the European Court of Human Rights

Anthony said he contacted the American Embassy to ask why he was 'flagged up' at the airport but he has not got any reply yet.

Mr Smith said: 'When it was time to get back on the flight I was escorted by four people including a national security officer.

'I was tempted to turn to them and say, 'I am 65, do you really think I am going to run?'. It was by far the most embarrassing walk of shame ever. All the passengers could see me.'

His wife Carole was able to return on the same flight.

He said: 'When we returned the immigration lady at Gatwick said 'nice holiday?'. They hadn't even been informed about what just happened.

'Apparently there should have been a big red cross on my boarding pass to show that I had been detained, but there wasn't.

'I think it's clear there was a mistake and I am in touch with the American embassy about this.

After being detained for three days, Anthony was allowed to fly home on a British Airways flight out of Cancun. Luckily, Carole was able to return on the same flight

'I will also be writing to the European Court of Human Rights.

'Luckily I can see the humour in this but I still want to get to the bottom of it.'

The couple had been saving for the dream holiday for some time and lost their money.

Anthony said: 'I've lost 3,000 over this, but it's not about the money, it's about clearing my name and making sure that I won't have any further issues when I next go travelling.'

A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman said: 'Our staff offered advice to a British man who was detained and subsequently released by the Mexican immigration authorities.

'We provided details of local lawyers and how to make a complaint to the Mexican Institute of Migration.'

The American Embassy said it could not comment on the case due to a government shutdown.
Twenty-seven UK universities are paying police forces 3 million to protect students from criminals because they are easy targets and campuses have become a 'magnet' for thieves and drug dealers.

The money is being used to fund police patrols with universities like Northampton and Sheffield contributing to police budgets in exchange for protection.

The news has drawn criticism from some officers who suggest that it shows a lack of trust in policing from universities.

Northampton University has set aside the most money for police protection and will spend 775,000 over the next three years

The shocking statistics were collated from a Freedom of Information request by The Times.

Universities have paid more than 2 million to 17 police forces over the past three years and spending looks set to continue increasing rapidly.

At least 1.2 million will be spent in the present academic year alone.

Northampton University has set aside the most money for police protection and will spend 775,000 over the next three years on a sergeant and five constables to patrol its new campus.

Crime at the institution had risen to a six-year-high and the university wants to bolster police presence.

27 UK universities pay into police budgets in exchange for protection and patrols to keep students safe

The scheme sees officers patrol and contribute to community projects.

However, while they protect students they are no answerable to the university.

In the past year, at least five more universities have started paying for police officers.

This includes Sheffield, which began funding two officers last January at a cost of 95,000 and Durham which has agreed to contribute 35,000 for each of the next three years.

Other universities include Liverpool, Worcester, and De Montfort in Leicester.

Northumbria police have received more than 400,000 in the last three years from three different universities.

Students are particularly vulnerable to crime as they tend to cluster together and own high-priced items like laptops and phones.

Robbery, violence and sexual offences are the crimes most likely to affect students.

Students are particularly at risk of crime with campuses a magnet for robbery and drug dealing (FILE photo)

Four of the 27 universities contributing to police budgets were in the ten areas most affected by crime.

The scheme has proven controversial as police numbers fall while universities continue to keep dedicated officers.

Louise Haigh, the shadow minister for policing, said: 'This is yet another example of the police, who have been shrunk to their lowest ever level, being unable to protect the public in the most basic sense.

'Time and again we are seeing communities contributing to the cost of policing, which inevitably creates a two-tier system leaving those areas that can afford to pay with the public services we all should benefit from and our more deprived areas going without.'

John Apter, national chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: 'The universities involved obviously see and value the need for campuses to be properly policed and this of course is only right. It is, however, astonishing that the government continues to ignore what is staring them in the face  the fact that we do not have enough police officers.'
A wax tablet displaying a child's Greek homework from 1,800 years ago is to be put on show at the British Library.

The ancient tablet, which contains remarkable examples of handwriting, spelling exercises and times tables, has been in storage for the past 40 years.

It will now go on display at the British Library as part of the Writing: Making Your Mark exhibition between April 26 and August 27.

The ancient tablet, which contains remarkable examples of handwriting, spelling exercises and times tables, has been in storage for the past 40 years

The homework, discovered in Egypt, shows two lines of Greek carved into the wax with a stylus by a child believed to be eight or nine, the Telegraph reported.

Roly Keating, chief executive of the British Library, said: 'This is one which I think we'd slightly forgotten about. It certainly hasn't been seen in the public since the Seventies.

'This is a child's homework, a primary school kid in the second century AD in Egypt, and their writing is still on this little tablet, which is about the size of an iPad mini.

'That takes your breath away because you can see a child's attempt at Greek from 1,800 years ago.'

The Writing: Making Your Mark exhibition will also contain extracts from Leonardo da Vinci's notebooks (left) and a printing of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales from 1470 (right)

It is believed the tablet would have been used with a stylus that had a pointed end for writing and a flat end which could be heated up and used to melt mistakes from the wax.

The surviving lines of lettering are from a quote the young child had been copying out. It reads: 'You should accept advice only from a wise man.'

The interactive exhibition, priced at 14 for adults and 7 for students and children over 12, will contain more than 100 objects from five continents.

A petition against the first partition of Bengal from 1905 which will go on show next year at the British Library

This Chinese typewriter will also be one of more than 100 objects from five continents on display

This collection will bridge more than 5,000 years as it takes the viewer on a journey of how humankind came to write.

These will include James Joyces annotated copy of Ulysses and a 60,000 strong petition against Bengali partition.

Also on show will be extracts from Leonardo da Vinci's notebooks, tattooing instruments and a printing of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales from 1470.
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A senator who claimed he had no understanding of the term 'final solution' after using it in his maiden speech to the upper house appeared at a far-right protest alongside activists who performed Nazi salutes.

Independent Queensland senator Fraser Anning said he hoped Saturday's clashes between far-right and anti-racism protesters on Melbourne's St Kilda beach would lead to a 'revolution'.

He stated that if he were elected as prime minister, he would refuse entry to any immigrants of African descent as well as Muslims, but is not against allowing Chinese and Indians in, as long as they don't outnumber Europeans.

'I think this is the start of something bigger, I think the revolution will eventually start and these people have got to be sent back to where they came from,' Mr Anning said.

'It's the beginning. We Australians are very slow to act, we just react.'

Former senator Derryn Hinch was among a number of public figures to condemn Mr Anning's attendance at the rally, as social media platforms filled with calls for Prime Minister Scott Morrison to do the same.

'I have chastised Fraser Anning in the Senate for his racism, anti-abortion clinic exclusion zones and Hitler's Final Solution. His appearance in support of the neo-Nazis in St. Kilda today topped his calumny,' Mr Hinch said.

Independent Queensland senator Fraser Anning (pictured) told the media he hoped Saturday's riots on St Kilda beach would lead to a 'revolution'

A senator who claimed he had no understanding of the implications of the term the 'final solution' when he was admonished appeared at a far-right protest today alongside far-right extremists who performed Nazi salutes (pictured)

Ugly violence erupted between far-right supporters, some of which were seen performing the Nazi salute (pictured) and counter-protesters on Saturday

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young wrote on Twitter: 'The government should refuse to take Fraser Annings vote.

'Hanging out and supporting with neo-Nazis who are inciting violence is inexcusable.'

Labor MP Tim Watts condemned racism after saying: ''Around 100 neo-Nazis, white nationalists and racial supremacists rallied in St Kilda accompanied by an Australian Senator.'

Race Discrimination Commissioner Chin Tan released a statement condemning the rally.

'I condemn in the strongest possible terms the apparent racist and race-based motivation behind the rally. There is no place for such rallies in Australia,' Mr Tan wrote.

'Activities that target a community based on their race or ethnicity are unacceptable and have no place in a cohesive, multicultural Australia.

United Patriots Front founder Blair Cottrell was seen alongside Mr Anning on numerous occasions, including when the rural QLD senator was preparing to address media.

Mr Anning said that he attended Saturday's rally to represent the Queenslanders who wished they could have attended.

'These are Australian people showing their disgust with the Australian government for allowing garbage like these Sudanese thugs to come into our country and belting our innocent women and children,' he said.

'All Australians have to eventually get over their political correctness and stand up and fight back.'

That sentiment echoes Cottrell's announcement after the riots - which he deemed a 'great success' despite the violence.

Cottrell threatened to rally again 'outside Premier Daniel Andrews office' if he does not agree to address what Cottrell describes as a 'violent crime epidemic'.

Police turned out in droves to ensure the event stayed as controlled as possible

Cottrell (pictured) threatened to rally again 'outside Premier Daniel Andrews office' if he does not agree to address what he describes as a 'violent crime epidemic'

State police minister Lisa Neville said hundreds of police attended, including the specialist police, dog squad, mounted squad and public response teams

The protest, which was advertised as a 'non-violent political meeting' to 'make Australia safe again' from African gangs, did in fact turn violent, with three right-wing protesters arrested throughout the day

Mr Anning was previously dismissed from his post with Katter's Australian Party after referring to a 'final solution' during his maiden parliamentary speech.

At the time, he claimed he was unaware of the term's connection to Nazi Germany.

Saturday's rally was organised by a number of people who themselves are referred to as neo-Nazis, and multiple rally-goers were even seen giving the Nazi salute at numerous times throughout the day.

A spokesperson from Victoria Police told Daily Mail Australia they respect the public's right to protest peacefully but would not tolerate any law breaking

Protesters from each side of the rioting were seen being dragged off by police after fights erupted on the beach and on walkways

Scores of riot police (pictured) were dispatched to St Kilda beach to break up any conflicts. They were a part of a multi-faceted police operation

Independent Queensland senator Fraser Anning (left) was seen with far-right convicted criminal Blair Cottrell (right)

The protest, which was advertised as a 'non-violent political meeting' to 'make Australia safe again' from African gangs, did in fact turn violent, with three right-wing protesters arrested throughout the day.

One teenager was found to be carrying a weapon, while two others were arrested for their behaviour during the rioting.

Cottrell, whose extensive rap sheet includes violent assaults, arson and trafficking testosterone, described multiculturalism as 'dividing and destabilising', before promising to join the rally.

He, alongside tevent organiser Neil Erikson, demanded to know why African gang crime rates are 'through the roof' while claiming that nothing is being done about it.

Armed police (pictured left and right) were out in force on Saturday warning against violence among protesters attending

Right-wing activist and convicted criminal Blair Cottrell (pictured) led a protest against African gang violence

The protesting disintegrated into violence and rioting as the day progressed. Three people in total were arrested for their anti-social behaviour

The protesting disintegrated into violence and rioting as the day progressed. Three people in total were arrested for their anti-social behaviour

Campaign Against Racism and Fascism spokeswoman Tess Dimos disagreed, saying despite claims there is an 'African gang crisis', African youths are systematically targeted.

'There is no credibility to the gang violence, it's all a hyped-up image showing crime from African youths.'

That sentiment echoes one that was previously addressed by prominent lawyer and community advocate Nyadol Nyuon, who took to social media to share her concerns ahead of the scheduled event.

In the meantime, we get to call and inform family members and our community to stay away from the beaches this Saturday - in summer.

'Neil and Blair have been referred to as ''activists'', ''concerned citizens'' or merely ''controversial'',' Ms Nyuon began. '[These] terms neglect their racist and violent incitements.'

'If we were to hold a demonstration against racism, some mainstream outlets would be calling us 'ungrateful' to be in Australia and to leave if we didn't like it.'

'Yet a racist rally, led by convicted criminals, can go ahead with their leaders enjoying media coverage that cast them as having legitimate concerns, and who will find support from free speech worries insisting on their rights to effectively harass black peoples,' Ms Nyuon said.

'In the meantime, we get to call and inform family members and our community to stay away from the beaches this Saturday - in summer.'

The protesting disintegrated into violence and rioting as the day progressed. Three people in total were arrested for their anti-social behaviour

Maker Mayek, a lawyer and principle of Mayek Legal, told Daily Mail Australia the protest is 'extremely dangerous, not only for the members of the African community, but for beach-goers, residents of St Kilda and surrounding areas.'

'The protests are likely to inflame fears and tensions in race relations which suffered greatly as a result of the sensationalist reporting and dog-whistling we saw in 2018. The last thing we want to see in this country is another Cronulla.'

Erikson also briefly spoke, accusing authorities of removing social media posts and stifling the number of people the event reached online.

'Good to see regular Aussies here and no Nazis,' he said, shortly before a follower marched from the beach while performing the Nazi salute.
The Department of Homeland Security denied hundreds of Transport Security Administration staff are calling in sick during the government shutdown, claiming on Friday that despite a union warning, 'security effectiveness will not be compromised and performance standards will not change'.

A DHS spokesperson lashed out on a personal Twitter account, following an earlier report the non-payment of some 800,000 government employees could harshly effect travelers during the tough period due to the TSA being affected.

Alleging 'fake news' had 'grossly misrepresented' the figures related to the air travel industry, Tyler Q. Houlton denied that it was creating a vulnerability and less workers strive to do more than usual.

Department of Homeland Security press officer said reports airports had been negatively impacted by the government shutdown was 'fake news'

Tyler Q. Houlton on Friday said figures were 'grossly misrepresented' and 'security effectiveness will not be compromised'

He posted online: 'Security operations at airports have not been impacted by a non-existent sick out.'

His angry response was followed by an official statement from the TSA which admitted more workers than usual were quoting illness when taking days off, but appeared to put it down the holiday season.

'Call outs began over the Holiday period and have increased, but are causing minimal impact given there are 51,739 employees supporting the screening process,' the tweet said. 'TSA is grateful to the agents who show up to work, remain focused on the mission and respectful to the traveling public as they continue the important work necessary to secure the nation's transportation systems.'

With many travelers expecting delays due to the shutdown, TSA did add a disclaimer that wait times will be affected depending on the number of call outs.

They shifted away from the negative attention by boasting about the impressive service that offered on Thursday, just three days into the New Year.

'To date, however, screening wait times remain well within TSA standards. Yesterday, TSA screened over 2.2 million passengers,' the statement continued. 'Overall, 99.8 percent waited less than 30 minutes.'

Houlton called it a 'non-existent sick out' after a report 150 TSA employees were absent from New York's John F Kennedy Airport on Friday

TSA admitted call outs have increased but put it down the the holidays. Dallas Fort Worth is pictured December 27, 2018

Their claim service hadn't been affected contrasted the idea put forward by employee union officials who were quoted by the New York Times as saying more than 150 people had called in to say they would be absent from work on Friday at New York's John F Kennedy Airport alone.

CNN said morning shift workers had to cover extra hours for an approximate 170 missing co-workers per week, as the shutdown enters its third week.

President Donald Trump has said most federal employees losing out on wages were Democrats.

With a 4 percent increase in air passengers over the past few years, CNN reported that a veteran TSA official warned it may not all be positive if lines aren't getting longer.

The source said: 'If you're not seeing long wait times at airports, there's something on the security side they're not doing.'

Agency and union officials told CNN that since the shutdown began December 22, an increased number of sick days was taking its toll on security at four US airports at least.

Some absences are thought to be in protest against the shutdown but not organized by unions. However, others are simply parents struggling to feed their families who have found temporary alternative ways to earn, or who have been forced to stay home because they can't afford to pay for child care costs since they've been told to work unpaid.

Union officials and TSA veterans warned safety of air travel was being affected and the situation would worsen come payday when those working don't get paid

'This will definitely affect the flying public who we (are) sworn to protect,' Hydrick Thomas, president of the national TSA employee union, told CNN.

The publication said whereas 25 to 30 TSA staff are absent from a typical shift, the numbers at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport had shot up by 200-300 percent.

Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham airports in North Carolina had a 10 percent increase in absences according to union president Mac Johnson, and numbers across the country were predicted to get worse when employees notice the difference on payday.

It's not only baggage and individual screenings that have been allegedly compromised, The Professional Aviation Safety Specialists Union warned 'aviation safety inspectors at the FAA will not be providing oversight of commercial and general aviation aircraft, pilots, flight instructors, and domestic and foreign repair stations'.

It includes investigations into aviation incidents.

'This staffing crisis is negatively affecting the National Airspace System, and the shutdown almost certainly will make a bad situation worse,' National Air Traffic Controllers Association President Paul Rinaldi said in a statement.
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Masked thugs broke into a French government ministry tonight - leading to the 'emergency evacuation' of government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux during a day of Yellow Vests rioting.

The 41-year-old, who is one of President Emmanuel Macron's most senior lieutenants, was rushed to safety by police during the drama.

Dramatic footage shows how a forklift taken from a nearby construction site was used to smash through the entrance of the building.

'Around fifteen masked people dressed in black broke into Mr Griveaux's office at about 4.30 on Saturday,' said an investigating source.

'His staff had heard the group approaching, and managed to get him to safety, and he was unhurt. Video is being studied to try and identify those involved. There were Yellow Vest protesters in the vicinity.'

All of those involved managed to escape without any immediate arrests, said the source.

A forklift taken from a nearby construction site was used to force the government's spokesperson ministry's entrance

People stand by the wreckage outside the government's spokesperson ministry after people identified by the ministry as 'yellow vests'

It was on Friday that Mr Griveaux had warned of a full blown revolution as the anti-government Yellow Vests prepared for an eighth Saturday of violence in a row.

He said they were radicals 'who seek insurrection and basically want to overthrow the government.'

Today there were around 3000 of them in Paris alone, with another 22,000 plus in other parts of France.

Teargas, water canon and baton charges were used by riot police on a so-called 'Act VIII' Day of Rage organised by the Yellow Vest movement.

It followed the arrest the 33-year-old Eric Drouet, one of the group's most high-profile leaders, on Wednesday night.

Today, there was initial trouble around the River Seine, where police unleashed gas and flash balls at a crowd Yellow Vests, who are named after their high visibility road safety jackets.

All were attempting to march on the National Assembly, the French parliament, but were held back.

This led to fighting on the footbridges crossing the river, and then on the nearby Boulevard St Germain.

By nightfall, the disturbances had spilled over to other famous avenues, including the Champs Elysee.

French Government's spokesperson Benjamin Griveaux (left) stands outside his ministry as he is evacuated following a raid on his building

Disturbances were also reported in other major cities, including Bordeaux and Marseille.

Ten members of the movement have died at blockades organised at major roads around France, while thousands of others have been injured in rioting.

The Vests have been protesting since November 17 and, despite a range of concessions by President Macron including scrapping green taxes of diesel and petrol, continue to call for him to step down.

Many have been arrested, including some 700 who were held in custody on a single day in Paris in December.

High-end shops including luxury fashion boutiques were today boarded up in Paris, along with banks and post offices.

This follows major acts of vandalism, including the Arc de Triomphe itself being attacked.

Mounted police, water cannons, and 14 armoured vehicles capable of spreading high-intensity gas were today all on standby as part of the security operation.

The Vests have been joined by extremists from the far Right and the ultra-Left, as well as anarchists intent on causing as much damage as possible.

Crisis-ridden Mr Macron has not only climbed down on imposing green surcharges, but increased the national minimum wage by seven per sent, and scrapped tax on bonuses.

But the Yellow Vests said their protests would continue indefinitely as they campaign for even more concessions.

The independent Mr Macron, leader of the Republic On The Move party, won the French presidential election in a landslide in 2017, but he is now dubbed the 'President of the Rich' with polls showing his popularity rating down to just 18 per cent.

Teargas and batons were used by riot police on a so-called Act VIII Day of Rage organised by the Yellow Vest movement. Marches were underway in several other cities across France.

It followed the arrest the 33-year-old Eric Drouet, one of the groups most high-profile leaders, on Wednesday night.

An overturned car burns during a demonstration by the 'yellow vests' movement at Boulevard Saint Germain in Paris, France, January 5

A yellow vest anti-government protestor is detained by security personnel in Rouen, north-western France on January 5, 2019, during a nationwide day of demonstrations

A woman walks through smoke passing burning material during a rally by yellow Vest anti-government protesters in Rouen. This is the eighth Saturday of protests called by the grass-roots movement

A yellow vest protestor is beaten with a baton during protests in Rouen. This is the eighth Saturday of protests called by the grass-roots movement. The numbers turning out have fallen steadily since the start of the demonstrations in November

Yellow vest protestors hoist an effigy with a French national flag in front of The Arc de Triomphe on The Champs-Elysees in Paris today. In Paris, organisers called for a march from the City Hall to the National Assembly (parliament) building, and a rally on the Champs Elysees, the scene of violent clashes at previous demonstrations

Protestors are seen holding hands across a street in front of a line of security personnel in Paris today. The latest opinion poll, published on Thursday by Odoxa Dentsu, indicated 55 percent public support for the 'yellow vest' protests

The 'yellow vest' demonstrations - named after the high-visibility jackets worn by the protesters - began in rural France in November over increased fuel taxes. Men wearing campaign medals and yellow vests stand on The Champs-Elysees in Paris today

A protester wears a yellow vest with a slogan reading 'unemployed walk' during a 'Yellow Vests' protest march on the Champs Elysees boulevard, in Paris

He is accused of organising an illegal demonstration on a public road, carrying an offensive weapon, and taking part in group violence, said a Paris prosecuting source. Many others are under investigation for similar public order offences.

Today, there was trouble around the River Seine, where police unleashed gas and flash balls at a crowd of around 2000 Gilets Jaunes.

All were attempting to march on the National Assembly, the French parliament, but were held back.

This led to fighting on the foot bridges crossing the river.

Ten members of the movement have died at blockades organised at major roads around France, while hundreds of others have been injured in rioting.

The Vests have been protesting since November 17 and, despite a range of concessions by President Macron including scrapping green taxes of diesel and petrol, continue to call for him to step down.

Many have been arrested, including some 700 who were held in custody on a single day in Paris in December.

High-end shops including luxury fashion boutiques were today boarded up in Paris, along with banks and post offices.

This follows major acts of vandalism, including the Arc de Triomphe itself being attacked.

On Friday, government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux denounced those still protesting as 'agitators who want insurrection and, basically, to overthrow the government'.

In Paris, organisers called for a march from the City Hall to the National Assembly (parliament) building, and a rally on the Champs Elysees, the scene of violent clashes at previous demonstrations.

The latest opinion poll, published on Thursday by Odoxa Dentsu, indicated 55 percent public support for the 'yellow vest' protests.

A firemen's boat extinguishes a barge on fire on the Seine river is on fire as clashes erupt between protesters and the French riot police during a protest in Paris, France, January 5 2019

A yellow vest anti-government protester is detained by security personnel in Rouen today. Protestors took a break over Christmas and on New Year's Day a defiant Emmanuel Macron used his New Year's Eve address to hit out at the 'hateful mob' on the fringes of the Yellow Vest movement

A yellow vest anti-government protester kicks a teargas shell during a rally in Nantes today. Teargas and batons were used by riot police on a so-called Act VIII Day of Rage organised by the Yellow Vest movement

The independent Mr Macron, leader of the Republic On The Move party, won the French presidential election in a landslide in 2017, but he is now dubbed the President of the Rich with polls showing his popularity rating down to just 18 per cent. Protestors are picture in Nantes today

Earlier this week France 's Yellow Vest anti-government protest crisis threatened to explode into further rioting today following the dramatic arrest of one of its leaders. And today it seems protestors are back on the streets, with some seen here in Rouen today

Macron initially refused to make any concessions, but in mid-December, after weeks of violence, he scrapped the planned fuel tax rises and promised extra cash for minimum wage earners and tax cuts for pensioners. The protests have caused the biggest political crisis of his 20-month presidency. Pictured are protestors outside Agence France-Presse this morning

Crisis-ridden Mr Macron has not only climbed down on imposing green surcharges, but increased the national minimum wage by seven per sent, and scrapped tax on bonuses. Pictured are protestors in Paris today

Mounted police, water cannons, and 14 armoured vehicles capable of spreading high-intensity gas were today all on standby as part of the security operation.

They have failed to prevent widespread disorder over the past few weekends, with the worst violence normally coming at nightfall.

The Vests have been joined by extremists from the far Right and the ultra-Left, as well as anarchists intent on causing as much damage as possible.

The 'yellow vest' demonstrations - named after the high-visibility jackets worn by the protesters - began in rural France in November over increased fuel taxes.

Crisis-ridden Mr Macron has not only climbed down on imposing green surcharges, but increased the national minimum wage by seven per sent, and scrapped tax on bonuses.

But the Yellow Vests said their protests would continue indefinitely as they campaign for even more concessions.

The independent Mr Macron, leader of the Republic On The Move party, won the French presidential election in a landslide in 2017, but he is now dubbed the President of the Rich with polls showing his popularity rating down to just 18 per cent.
This is the incredible moment an object flew across New Zealand and lit up the sky, as experts claim it's a meteorite.

Residents scattered across the country's North Island reported sightings of bright lights zooming through the sky at 9pm.

Many were unsure whether the falling object was a piece of space junk re-entering the earth's atmosphere, or a possible meteorite.

Many were unsure whether the falling object was a piece of space junk re-entering the earth's atmosphere, or a possible meteorite

President of the Auckland Astronomical Society Bill Thomas told the NZ Herald he found it more likely the object was a meteorite.

'There's a visible sort of tail, whereas a satellite [is] like a point of light moving across the sky ... bright [meteorites] like that one as not that common in the one place, but they're common worldwide.'

New Zealand Police posted an alert saying they're aware of the meteor: 'Rest assured, we have confirmed with our Paranormal Division, and it is nothing to be concerned about.'

People around the country managed to catch a glimpse of the mysterious object, with many managing to capture it on camera.

Graham Billings was enjoying dinner at an Italian restaurant when he saw the light fly across the sky.

'It was definitely a meteor. I wondered what it was for a bit but we can still see the smoke trail,' Mr Billings said.

In Whangamata, Jen Maloney and her friends saw the object light up the sky twice, once at 8.55pm and another one 15 minutes later.

This is the incredible moment an object flew across New Zealand and lit up the sky, as experts claim it's a meteorite

Ms Maloney described the light show as green, beautiful and dramatic, leaving a 'singe' smell afterwords.

One couple were in Auckland discussing the dangers of the use of drones when they looked up to the sky and thought they spotted one.

What May and Brian Seager actually saw was the meteorite whizzing through the sky above them.

'It was a bright light and then it went green and left like a vapour trail. It was going way too fast [to be a drone] and it looked like it broke up into two pieces afterwards.'

More than 400 kilometres south, Steve Bloor saw a dazzling display in Napier.

Mr Bloor said when he saw the object - that he first believed to be a jet plane - it exploded into millions of pieces, like fireworks.
A Greggs store in Cardiff was left unable to sell any vegan sausage rolls on the day the new menu item launched because staff didn't have the right equipment to pick them up.

The shop in the Welsh capital couldn't serve the new product on Thursday, January 3, because they weren't given the correct tongs to serve them with.

One customer went into the branch of Greggs hoping to buy one of the new vegan snacks but was told he couldn't.

The Greggs vegan sausage roll has been designed to mirror some of the sausage roll's classic features, including 96 layers of light and crisp puff pastry

Brett Stoyle, who lives in Canton in the west of the city, said: 'They were very lovely and apologetic, explaining they couldn't serve them because they didn't have specific tongs.

'It avoids cross contamination for anyone with severe allergies.'

The chain sells 1.5million sausage rolls each week, and hope the new vegan versions will entice the UK's 3.5million vegans into trying the animal-free version.

The Greggs vegan sausage roll has been designed to mirror some of the sausage roll's classic features, including 96 layers of light and crisp puff pastry, but is made with a Quorn filling and priced at 1.

Brett, 31, added that they weren't on display in the Greggs shop, even though they had arrived in store.

'I haven't been to a Greggs in about 10 years, but it's pretty good service.'

Another customer went into the same shop expecting to sample the bakers' new vegan snack but was also left disappointed.

The chain sells 1.5million sausage rolls each week, and hope the new vegan versions will entice the UK's 3.5million vegans

They took to Facebook to say that there were '80 sausage rolls in Canton Greggs... but they can't serve them as they don't have a pair of different coloured tongs.'

However, the Canton store is now serving the new product, according to Brett, who said: 'They were really well stocked.'

A spokesperson for Greggs said: 'Our shop teams have been advised to follow a number of procedures to minimise the risk of cross contamination, which includes using colour-coded, separate tongs.

'Unfortunately, a small number of our shops did not receive their tongs in time for vegan sausage roll launch day, but we are working hard to get the tongs to them as soon as possible.'

News of the new menu item didn't go down well with everybody, with the news being welcomed by scores of vegans and vegetarians but met with a mixture of confusion and fury by many meat-eaters.

Greggs stores across Cardiff were also hit by huge demand for the new product and some people were dissapointed not to get their hands on one.

Zoe Curry said: 'I just tried to get a vegan sausage roll in 3 different @GreggsOfficial stores in Cardiff & all of them had sold out!

'I'm really pleased that veganism is so popular, but also sad bc I really wanted one :('

Another user said: 'Ive tried 3 different @GreggsOfficial in Cardiff and the vegan sausage roll is sold out everywhere.'
This is the dramatic moment a pair of moped thieves are forced to flee a London estate empty-handed after furious residents spotted them stealing a bike and hurled missiles down at them from a high-rise tower block.

The brazen crooks were pelted with crockery, ornaments and bottles as one of them used bolt cutters and an angle grinder to break the locks off a scooter parked outside the flats.

A vase was then launched at the man, smashing as it landed on his back before members of the public chased the pair off the estate in Thamesmead, south-east London.

The duo are seen approaching a moped along the estate in Thamesmead, south-east London. As one of the thieves attempts to remove the bike locals hurl missiles down at him

Police were called to the scene in Tavy Bridge at 9.30pm on Thursday but the thieves had already escaped. The owner retrieved his bike but was reportedly unable to ride it because of damage done to the steering.

Footage captured by a resident in a nearby flat shows one of the thieves stripping a tarpaulin off the moped as a man in the block above screams: 'Oi, you're not getting that bike.'

The thief looks up in shock as bottles, crocks and water are lobbed down at him and he puts his hood up for protection.

At one point the woman filming the action ducks for cover and says: 'I'm so glad my car's not down there.'

Suddenly, a vase lands on the yob's back from a great height and shatters on impact - making him scream in pain.

Looking up, he shouts: 'What the f***?' But residents just laugh at him and call him a 'mug'.

Undeterred, he continues to work away at the lock until it breaks and he starts wheeling the scooter away.

Eventually one of the thieves begins to get away with a moped, but quickly has to abandon it as locals chase him down. Locals have praised residents for fighting back against the bike thieves on social media

Just as he thinks he is out of danger, two men appear and chase after him on foot - forcing the thief to panic and drop the bike before fleeing with his accomplice on a moped.

Locals praised residents for fighting back against the bike thieves on social media.

James Tadaow wrote: 'Whoever got him with the vase got him nicely on the back. I was walking my dog when it was all going off, sounded like a mini riot. Good to see the community come together.'

Sharon More said: 'Owner came down, steering on the bike had been b*******. He is a driver for Deliveroo so wasn't able to go to work but was very grateful that everybody rallied round for him. Great community spirit shown, well done to all.'

Chloe Lewis added: 'Hope he can get it sorted. Makes me sick, people just don't give a s*** how it affects other people's lives.'

Eventually the thieves motor into the distance, as locals chase them from behind. Police attended the location but the suspects had made off prior to their arrival

A Met Police spokesman said: 'Police were called at around 9.30pm on January 3 to a report of two men acting suspiciously near to parked motorcycles in Tavy Bridge, SE2.

'It was also reported that members of the public had intervened to prevent the theft of a motorcycle.

'Officers attended the location but the suspects had made off prior to the arrival of police. There was no report of anything stolen, nor of any injury.

'Officers from the South East Command Unit are investigating. There has been no arrest at this stage.'

Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 101 quoting crime reference number CAD 6618/03jan.

Or, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Metropolitan Police undated handout photo of Levi Bellfield

Milly Dowler's killer Levi Bellfield was allegedly caught with traces of cocaine and the 'zombie drug' Spice in his prison cell.

The 50-year-old, who converted to Islam and now calls himself Yusuf Rahim, was jailed for life in 'Monster Mansion.'

That's the moniker for HMP Frankland in Co Durham, known for its infamous inmates.

Bellfield is said to have sent a letter from there to Belmarsh prison in south-east London which tested positive for cocaine and Spice, according to The Daily Star.

The murderer protested his innocence but a report says that when he handed over items, including paper, over to officers, they tested positive for cocaine.

He was jailed in 2011 for killing 13-year-old Milly and two other women, Marsha McDonnell and Amelie Delagrange, a French exchange student.

However, a source told the Star: 'He (Bellfield) claims the machines are faulty and it wasn't him.'

Milly Dowler, the 13-year-old schoolgirl murdered by Levi Bellfield in March 2002

A spokesman for the Prison Service said: 'We don't comment on individuals.'

A recent council report, by a social worker specialising in child sexual exploitation, links Bellfield with a group of paedophiles accused of grooming at least 17 vulnerable girls under the age of 16 for sex.

It says he and other members of the gang abused children as young as 12 in a 'raping room' in his Hanwell home, at one point violating a 14-year-old girl they had dressed up in a school uniform which belonged to the daughter of one of the men present.

Levi Bellfield on his Tenerife hotel balcony around the year 2000. He was jailed in 2011

The Sunday Times reported last week that Bellfield is among seven men identified by Debbie Weissang, who was then child sexual exploitation manager at Hillingdon council in west London.

After being convicted of Milly Dowler's murder in 2011 Bellfield became the first British inmate to be sentenced to two whole-life tariffs.

He will never be released to reoffend, but Ms Weissang said: 'there are six other men in my report who are not serving full-life tariffs in prison and in my opinion pose a serious threat to children.

'I am deeply concerned there remains a risk to children both in the community and online from Bellfield's associates.'
Coco the chihuahua ran into a burning camper van when it thought its owner Cara Farrant and daughter Thea were trapped inside

A family has been left devastated after their Chihuahua died when it ran into a burning van to try to rescue it's owner and her three-year-old daughter.

Dan and Cara Farrant were on a road trip to Scotland to see in the New Year when their camper van started billowing smoke from the engine on the motorway.

Mr Farrant, 34, managed to get his three sons, aged five, six and nine, out of the van, but his wife Cara and three-year-old Thea were briefly trapped inside when the passenger door got stuck as flames licked the windscreen.

Ms Farrant tossed chihuahua Coco out of the window in desperation, but after the mother and her daughter were pulled from the van, Coco ran back inside thinking the pair were still trapped.

As confusion reigned in the dark on the A74M near Moffatt, Scotland, the family didn't realise that Coco had scampered back into the van - which then exploded.

Mr Farrant, who runs a removals firm in Folkestone, Kent, said the family were on their way to Glasgow when then van burst into flames on December 29.

Dan and Cara Farrant were on a road trip to Scotland to see in the New Year when their camper van started billowing smoke from the engine on the motorway

He said he will never forget the moment the passenger door got stuck with wife Ms Farrant and daughter Thea inside.

He said: 'I remember looking in [and] I thought it was too late, Cara and Thea was trapped in.

'I will never forget the look and never forget the screaming at this point.

'I remember turning around and the flames were the full height of the windscreen just behind me.'

Mr Farrant said his four children (pictured with Coco) have suffered nightmares following the fire

After managing to get his wife and Thea out of the van through the back doors, they joined the couple's three sons in a car which had stopped to help, but nobody realized that Coco had run back into the van until it was too late.

Mr Farrant added: 'Cara went to car that stopped to help and realised Coco wasn't with the kids and had ran back in the van. We tried to run back, but the van exploded with Coco inside.'

When firefighters arrived they found Coco's body under the front seat.

Mr Farrant said: 'I was only a few seconds from losing my wife and my little girl Thea - Instead we lost our best companion, our angel Coco.

'My children are suffering and having nightmares. They knew she had gone back in and watched our vehicle explode in front of them with their beloved dog inside.

'I have no feelings other than just numbness. My family nearly ended up from being six of us to being four in less than a few seconds.'

Ms Farrant said she was devastated at losing Coco - who they have had for two years.

She said: 'The dog heard me screaming and we think this is when she ran back into help me and Thea.

'I just wish Coco didn't run back in to help me.

A GoFundMe page has already raised 3,140 for the family after being set up five days ago to help them replace all the personal items they lost in the fire (pictured, Mr Farrant and Coco)

'I'm just lucky it wasn't me or my daughter that lost our lives but I will never get over losing Coco.

'Coco was the glue to our family. If one of us was sad or ill she would stay with that person.'

A GoFundMe page has already raised 3,140 for the family after being set up five days ago to help them replace all the personal items they lost in the fire.
Environment Secretary Michael Gove has doubled down on his support for Theresa May's Brexit plan and warned that both no deal and a second referendum would be 'playing with fire'.

Known as a mastermind and front man of the 2016 Leave campaign, Gove now sees himself as a unifying force and an advocate for the beleaguered Prime Minister.

Theresa May has less than 90 days to push her deal through parliament before March 29 - the day earmarked for Britain to leave the European Union.

Britain's Environment secretary, Micheal Gove awaits to speak at the Oxford Real Farming conference in the Town Hall in Oxford, Britain, 03 January 2019. Gove says a no deal and second referendum would be playing with fire as he urges people to back Theresa May's Brexit deal

The Environment Secretary is particularly concerned about the impact of no deal Britain's agriculture industry. In an interview with The Times today he stressed that the EU could place tariffs of 40 per cent on meat exports and enact stringent border inspections at Calais.

The huge delays this would cause would, Gove says, cancel out the benefits Britain could reap by leaving the common agricultural policy.

However in Gove's opinion, there is one thing worse than the prospect of no deal - another Brexit referendum.

That is not to say he fears Remain would prevail in a second vote, in fact he is certain that Leave would win by an even bigger margin than in 2016.

Gove says he is certain that Leave would win by an even bigger margin than in 2016 if a another referendum were held

Instead, his fear stems from a belief that holding another vote would bring discord, anger and mistrust to our political climate on a level not seen in generations.

People would feel patronized and hoodwinked to the point that they would never forgive today's politicians. It would even threaten the United Kingdom as it might add legitimacy to Scottish nationalists' call for another independence referendum, he warns.

'A second referendum would be worse than crashing out because of the damage it would do to our democracy,' he told the Times.

'The loss of faith people would have in our political system would be far greater than any other political or economic event in our lifetimes.'

Gove says he believes the government should deliver what the people voted for, and besides, organising a second referendum would hugely time consuming.

Those who are calling for the so-named People's Vote have yet to even decide on a question, he points out.

So Theresa's May's third way is the only viable option. And yet it seems no amount of panic over no deal will frighten the hardcore Brexiteers who prefer it to the Prime Minister's offering. In the same vein, passionate cries that holding another vote will spell the end of democracy will not persuade hardened Remainers that Britain is obliged to leave.

But Gove suggests that there is plenty to be optimistic about in Mrs May's deal.

'If we are in the backstop we have tariff-free and quota-free access to the EU market and at the same time we don't pay a penny for it and we have the capacity to say we can determine what our immigration policy can be, and critically we have access over our territorial waters,' he enthused to the Times.

He concedes that yes, the Prime Minister's deal is not perfect, but laments people's tendency to focus on the parts they dislike rather than what has been achieved in the negotiations with Brussels.

Theresa May has won the respect of her Environment secretary over the past year through sheer resilience and determination, and Gove is now a big advocate for her continued leadership

Theresa May has won his respect this past year through sheer resilience and determination, Gove says.

By stating that he firmly believes she will be Prime Minister this time next year, he cleverly avoids having to speculate on any behind-the-scenes jostling for the role of her successor.

Gove himself took a stab at the top job once before, although he missed the leadership and ended up knifing Boris Johnson.

Will he have another go? 'I'm not going to go there,' he told the Times with laugh.

But it seems he is genuinely enjoying his role as Environment Secretary. Since accepting the post in June 2017, he has surprised everyone with his palpable enthusiasm.

Britain has seen an 87 per cent reduction in singe-use plastic bags during his tenure, and he has turned his attention to microbeads, cotton buds and straws.

Even his own personal New Year's resolution is to further reduce his household's plastic use.

'Britain can lead the way in animal welfare and environmental standards,' he declared confidently.

But Brexit is always lurking in the background. While he wants to press on with his plans for the environment, he finds it infuriating that he has to waste 40 per cent of his time planning for no deal.

'The country wants us to do so much more than just Brexit,' he sighed.
Cocaine use has skyrocketed in rural communities across Australia as availability for the high-class drug increases.

Demand for the once 'exclusive' drug has spread from the highly-paid city slickers to the general public at an alarming rate.

Use of the illicit-drug has tripled over the past two years in rural communities across the country, police say.

Cocaine use has skyrocketed in rural communities across Australia as availability for the high-class drug increases

In the past two years the use of the illicit-drug has tripled in rural communities across the country, police say

Authorities are concerned as it shows the availability of cocaine has significantly increased, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission boss Michael Phelan told The Herald Sun.

'Regional areas tend to see tangible increases in drug availability only when there is significant availability in capital cities as well.'

'Although cocaine once had an image as an ''exclusive'' drug only consumed by professionals and highly paid individuals, its current user group is far broader and more representative of the general population.'

He said as the standard of living improves across the country demand for the drug will continue to grow.

Cocaine use was at the highest-ever recorded level in Australia last year since drug trend reports began in 2003, according to The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre

Demand for the once 'exclusive' drug has spread from the highly-paid city slickers to the general public at an alarming rate

Cocaine use was at the highest-ever recorded level in Australia last year since drug trend reports began in 2003, according to The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre.

About three tonnes of cocaine is consumed in Australia every year, figures show.

Detective Superintendent Chris Gilbert said drug use in the Victorian community was a significant concern for police, both in rural and metropolitan areas.

However, despite the drug use increasing a rapid pace, methylamphetamine and cannabis were still the top drugs of choice, he said.
An Anglican priest apologised after he compared the offshore processing of asylum-seekers to the Holocaust.

At the end of December Father Rod Bower erected a sign outside of Gosford Anglican Church which read 'Manus is how the Holocaust started'.

With it, Father Rod wrote a lengthy post on Facebook where he explained that a photo of men behind a wire fence on Manus island 'evoked for him a remembrance of photos he'd seen of the Holocaust'.

At the end of December Father Rod Bower erected a sign outside of Gosford Anglican Church that read 'Manus is how the Holocaust started'

Father Rod (pictured) wrote a post on Facebook he explained that a photo of men behind a wire fence on Manus island 'evoked for him a remembrance of photos he'd seen of the Holocaust'

'The first step on the way to the Holocaust was labelling the Jews as ''vermin'' to be eradicated. In Rwanda they used the term ''cockroaches'' we have used the label ''illegals'',' Father Rod wrote.

'The second step is to ensure these ''labelled'' inhabit a different civic universe and do not qualify for the same 'rights' as we do. The third step is to lock them up.

'We have taken these three steps with refugees in Australia and while they do not inevitably result in catastrophic events like the Holocaust, they are the necessary first three steps on the path to that living Hell on Earth.'

Both the sign and post drew attention from both moderate and conservative Jewish groups.

Father Rod said he was exploring 'something of the sociological phenomenon of 'otherising' and dehumanisation', but offended members of the Jewish Community in doing so.

He then discussed the matter with community leaders, including NSW Jewish Board of Deputies chief executive Vic Alhadeff.

Father Rod has since posted a lengthy apology to Facebook, acknowledging he was 'clumsy' and offensive

Father Rod has since posted a lengthy apology to Facebook, acknowledging he was 'clumsy' and offensive.

'The last few days have highlighted and affirmed for me the importance of respectful dialogue in ensuring that diverse groups of people can live together in harmony,' he wrote.

'In my work with refugees I have deeply appreciated the partnership I have experienced in the Jewish community who I have found bring a deep and unique empathy to working with people who have fled persecution.

'While I know I can never hope to understand what the Holocaust means to a Jewish person, I continue to try and encourage people to learn from the story and alert the community to the destructive dynamics that lead to ''otherising'' and dehumanisation.'
An additional 50 apartments in Sydney's troubled Opal Tower have been gutted as engineers attempt determine a cause for the structural damage.

The 36-floor building in Sydney Olympic Park has been fraught with controversy since residents were evacuated from the crumbling building on Christmas Eve.

While some were initially let back in, it was later decided that structural engineers would require all residents to find temporary housing for at least 10 days while the cracks were repaired and the tower investigated.

But 7News has since reported the 10-day deadline could be extended by months as engineers struggle to find a conclusive answer as to what caused the cracks - and more importantly - how to ensure the building is safe.

Walls and ceilings have been torn apart in the process and entire apartments gutted as engineers continue to discover more damage.

Some residents are still in temporary accommodation nearly two weeks after they were first displaced.

Additional apartments in Sydney's troubled Opal Tower are expected to be gutted as engineers attempt determine a cause for the structural damage

After a preliminary independent investigation confirmed a number of design and construction issues, residents returned on Saturday to find their homes 'absolutely trashed'.

Pictures reveal one unit has had its ceiling and flooring torn away to allow equipment to prop up the concrete slabs separating each floor.

Beds, furniture and clothing were crudely piled near a window.

One woman told other residents in a social media group chat that her locks were changed, even though she provided a spare key to those working on her unit.

'It's absolutely trashed,' she said in the chat.

'We are so upset, this is horrific.'

New images show the interior of one such apartment that has already been assessed, showing a temporary metal wall in lieu of the plaster and exposed wires hanging from the roof

Another resident said he is infuriated by the lack of communication.

'I mean, at least send us a notice or something. It's just wrong for them to do things like this.'

Apartments have already been gutted on levels four, six, seven and 10.

This will include, but is not limited to, removing the walls to assess the structural damage.

New images show the interior of one such apartment that has already been assessed, showing a temporary metal wall in lieu of the plaster and exposed wires hanging from the roof.

The cost of the metal props currently holding the building up is said to be in the hundreds of thousands, and more are currently on their way from international sources to due a shortage of supply locally.

The ground level of the building has also been jackhammered and pavement ripped up.

Engineers are reportedly calling for the further inspections to garner a more holistic understanding of the causes and impacts of the current debacle.

Residents were kicked from the troubled tower after hearing loud 'cracking' sounds which prompted them to notify emergency services

They are also arguing it will allow them to assess the extent of the damage, amid rumours the engineers involved are currently at a loss as to how to go about repairing the building.

The new details come just days after allegations surfaced that two new cracks on level four had been found.

One of the cracks that was already found had allegedly grown from 3mm to 20mm wide in a little over a week.

But Guy Templeton, the president and chief executive of engineering firm WSP Australia & New Zealand, dismissed the reports as 'completely untrue'.

'We've gone through the rest of the building, that (cracking) has been there for an indeterminate amount of time, not necessarily the same,' Mr Templeton said.

'It's been monitored and it hasn't moved at all. It's just a bit of cracked concrete, not very exciting.'

Mr Templeton said there was no other areas of damage to the extent of level 10 and the building was still structurally sound.

'Units that are in the vicinity of required repairs, or are obstructed by propping, will not be able to be occupied until repairs are complete,' a statement from WSP said.

Those evacuated have been put up in hotels, though a number of unlucky residents were relocated a second time due to pre-existing New Year's Eve bookings.

The tower is subject to an internal and governmental investigation.

Referring to residents' fridges being cleared out, a spokeswoman from building group Icon, who is responsible for the construction, said power had to be isolated to enable works so perishables were removed in the interests of residents.

She said residents would be able to claim back immediately the cost of losses.

Those evacuated have been put up in hotels with some unlucky residents being relocated a second time due to pre-existing New Year's Eve bookings

'Only one resident has stated we cannot enter his apartment and we have complied,' the spokeswoman said.

'No locks have been removed, however some were damaged by emergency services.'

Engineering experts Mark Hoffman and John Carter, who have been commissioned by the state government to conduct the independent investigation, said on Friday they'd found no evidence of issues with the foundations of the building.

They said they needed further information before being able to comment on or address any proposed rectification plans.

A final report is expected by Friday.
The helicopter pilot accused of kidnapping one of Bernie Ecclestone's in-laws has claimed he was framed as the F1 mogul says '124 m euros, no one's going to give that much for a mother-in-law.'

Jorge Faria, currently locked up in Brazil, said he plans to appeal his 14-year four-month sentence for the kidnapping of Aparecida Schunck, 69, the mother of Ecclestone's 41-year-old wife, in July 2016.

Faria, 55, was adjudged to have been one of a seven-strong gang who swiped Fabiana Flosi's mother from her home in Sao Paulo, Brazil and demanded a 112 m ransom (124 m).

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone walks through the paddock with his wife Fabiana Flosi

Formula One Chief Executive Bernie Ecclestone with his wife Fabiana Flosi in 2013

The one-time personal helicopter pilot to Ecclestone, 88, has pinned the blame on Flosi, saying that the evidence against him 'doesn't make sense'.

He told The Mirror: 'I believe Fabiana and her family were behind it. The whole kidnapping, nor the evidence, has ever made any sense.'

Speaking to The Mirror, Ecclestone himself brushed the claims off as nonsense, saying Faria is 'trying everything he can to get out'.

Aparecida Schunck, mother-in-law of Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone, leaves a police station in Sao Paulo

The billionaire said: 'You can't blame the guy. He's done everything he can to be freed, or to be moved to another prison.'

He added: 'There's no doubt in my mind she was kidnapped.'

Faria claimed that he thinks he was suspected because in a ransom email to Flosi, the captors used a Portuguese phrase and because he is from there and had allegedly taken a helicopter without permission in the past, he was blamed.

The Sao Paulo home (in the gated estate, pictured) of the helicopter pilot, Jorge Faria , that was involved in the kidnapping of Aparecida Schunck

The 55-year-old also said that Flosi's mother sent an email saying she'd been kidnapped one hour and 30 minutes before she was even taken.

He also said that the email suggested Fabiana shouldn't involve the police.

'The police have gone through all these things, and it's clear he's talking complete rubbish,' Ecclestone said.

Faria also claims that after armed police saved Aparecida Schunck, 16 officers were bought homes while 11 were treated to a VIP day at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

The F1 mogul laughed off the claims, branding them 'ridiculous' and added: 'He did this for money, 124 million euros (112million) and as I've said before many times, no one's going to give that much for a mother-in-law.'
Paul Quinn has relived the horrific moment he found his murdered sister's body inside her home - as he continues to fight for her killer to remain behind bars.

Reginald Kenneth Arthurell was on trial for the death of two men and was a suspect in four other murders when he brutally killed Venet Mulhall at her Coonabarabran home in New South Wales, in 1997.

'This man should not have been out of prison when he killed my sister Venet and he should never be let out again,' Mr Quinn told the Daily Telegraph.

Reginald Kenneth Arthurell was on trial for the death of two men as well as a suspect in four other murders when he brutally killed Venet Mulhall

Reginald Arthurell murdered Venet Raylee Mulhall (left) in her home at Coonabarabran

Arthurell will be up for parole again in March and the state parole has already indicated they will reject his bid for freedom.

Mr Quinn said his sister met her murderer back in 1990 when he was on day release after serving two years of his 11 year sentence.

Ms Mulhall and Arthurell has been constantly sending each other letters and by the time his release was approved, she believed he had 'changed and was a different person'.

Shocked by how easily the justice system would let out a serial killer, Mr Quinn went to the prison and plead with them to not release Arthurell or something would happen to Ms Mulhall.

His words were not considered and Arthurell was released.

Police believe Catherine Page (pictured), 82, bashed to death in 1971 by Arthurell

Gordon Twaddle (pictured), 21, was also murdered by Athurell in 1978 at Mt Isa in Queensland

According to police, Arthurell had previously bashed Catherine Page, 80, to death in 1971, and in 1974, did the same to Thomas Thornton.

While in prison for the murder of a teenager, Arthurell confessed to the manslaughter of Mr Thorton, but claimed he was provoked.

In May 1988, Arthurell was released after serving six years of his 12-year sentence and was extradited to Sydney.

Mr Quinn said that it was only weeks after Arthurell was released that his sister planned to move to the country and marry the serial killer.

Despite her family's pleas to stop talking to Arthurell, by September 1991, Ms Mulhall had purchased a new home and moved in with her soon to be killer.

During their time together, Ms Mulhall would keep in touch with her brother through phone calls.

Arthurell soon broke his parole conditions and a search warrant was put out to find him.

Ms Mulhall was planning to move back home to Sydney to be closer to her family after stating she wasn't happy with Arthurell's disappearance.

Timothy Thompson, 31, was also shot to death by Arthurell in 1978 in a triple murder

One day in February 1995, Mr Quinn tried calling his sister and knew something was wrong when she didn't answer.

Driving up to her home he said it appeared as if there was no sign of her at the property and noticed the doors were left open.

'As I climbed through the window, I knew from the foul smell, that I was entering a horrendous situation, and that I was looking for a decomposing body,' Mr Quinn wrote in his book In The Hands Of Evil which details the death of his sister.

'As the edge of the door passed through my gaze, I could see what I at first thought was a black plastic garbage bag, propped up against the door jam.'

There he found his sister, savagely murdered by Arthurell.

Karen Edwards (pictured), 23, was also murdered by Athurell in 1978 at Mt Isa in Queensland

Mr Quinn launched multiple campaigns to find his sister's murderer and on August 23 1995, Arthurell was arrested in Queensland.

He pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Ms Muhall on October 3 1997 and was sentenced to 24 years' jail.

His jail sentence expires on May 24 2021.

Mr Quinn is hoping Arthurell would never be released and is putting pressure on the government to declare him a dangerous man.
A 34-year-old man has been charged with the murder of mother-of-one Charlotte Huggins on New Year's Day, the first London stab victim of 2019.

Ms Huggins was stabbed to death at her childhood home in John Ruskin Street, Camberwell, south-east London, at around 4.20am on January 1.

The Metropolitan Police said Michael Rolle, 34, of Pentworth House, Dulwich, has been charged with her murder and will appear at Camberwell Green Magistrates' Court.

A second man, who was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, has been released under investigation, the force said.

The mother-of-one was stabbed at her childhood home just hours after wishing people a happy new year on Facebook.

Charlotte Huggins, 33, was killed on Tuesday in Camberwell, south-east London, and flowers have been laid outside her house (pictured)

Charlotte Huggins (pictured) has been named as the first stab victim of 2019 after she was killed on Tuesday

The 33-year-old mother (pictured) has been revealed as the first person to die as the result of a stabbing this year

Charlotte Huggins (pictured) died after the mother was stabbed at her childhood home in south-east London

Paramedics tried to save her but she was pronounced dead at the scene, becoming the first person killed in the capital in 2019.

A post-mortem examination showed she suffered a single stab wound.

Friends paid tribute on her Facebook page, describing her as 'one of the truly decent people' and 'a lovely, bubbly, happy, beautiful girl with a pure soul'.

Another 34-year-old man initially arrested at the scene was released without charge.

A crowd of about 15 people, believed to be friends and relatives of the victim, gathered near the scene of the murder on New Year's Day but declined to speak.

Flowers have been laid outside the home, and one card read: 'Loved by everyone'. In tributes online the mother was hailed as a 'beautiful angel'.

It follows the capital's deadliest year since 2008 as London saw 134 people murdered in 2018.

A spokesman for the Met said: 'Police were called by the London Ambulance Service to a property in Camberwell at 4.20am on January 1 to a report of a stabbing.

'Officers attended and found a woman, aged in her early 30s, with stab injuries. Despite the efforts of paramedics, she was pronounced dead at 4.50am.

'Her next of kin have not been informed. Formal identification is yet to take place. A post-mortem examination will be held in due course.

'A man, aged 34, was initially arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder.

'He has been taken to a south London police station where he remains custody.

'Detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command are investigating and enquiries continue.'

On Tuesday police were also called at 5.36am to a property on Park Lane in Mayfair to reports of a stabbing, and attended with London Ambulance Service paramedics. The police were seen on camera holding an alleged suspect at the scene.

Police in Park Lane, London after a security guard was stabbed to death and three others injured as they tried to bar a group of men from entering a New Year's Eve party

Police and forensic investigators at a property in Park Lane, London after a security guard was stabbed to death and three others injured

Police forensics experts investigate a murder in London's Park Lane just five and a half hours into the New Year

The doorman, said to be in his early 30s, was found with stab injuries following the private party and pronounced dead at 6.05am. Officers have not made any arrests.

Two other security staff and a woman who came to the door were also stabbed, and taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The building where the incident occurred consists of luxury suites owned by the Jumeirah Group and offer a 24 hour gym, a second floor restaurant, chauffered car services and a Heathrow VIP service.

Overlooking Hyde Park, Grosvenor boasts on its website of a 'unique experience at London's most exclusive address'.

Just a few minutes walk from Harrods and Selfridges, the suites offer 130 contemporary residences, including four London suites and four penthouse suites.

It offers: 'Exclusive guests only Atrium restauranrt and 24 hour in-room dining.

'Luxury services include daily maid service and 24/7 consierge and guest services.'

Terrified residents near the scene of the shooting at Visions Video Bar said they fear walking to work every morning because they are faced with violent revellers

Scotland Yard Detective Chief Inspector Andy Partridge said: 'The incident took place outside a venue that was hosting a private party.

'I would like to hear from anyone who was present at that event and witnessed this incident. A number of witnesses have already been spoken to.

'But it is clear many others who were present are yet to be traced, some of whom may have captured the attack on their mobile phones.

'Rising gun and knife crime brought the total 2018 figure of homicides being investigated by Scotland Yard to 134 - the highest since 2008 when there were 154.

Police are battling against 180 violent gangs across London dragging children into crime, amid more than 70 deaths last year involving a knife, and a dozen with a gun.

Police cars at the scene following the shooting at 5am this morning in Dalston, East London

Meanwhile police insisted on Wednesday that they are powerless to arrest 'violent drunken idiots' as New Year's Eve celebrations descended into chaos across Wild West Britain.

One woman in her 20s was shot at a nightclub in Dalston, East London, while a drunken thug in the West Midlands attacked a partygoer with a 2ft sword.

In Essex, a youth was stabbed once in the stomach at Club 195 in Epping after being involved in 'a verbal exchange' with a group of men on the dancefloor.

Richard Cooke, chairman of the West Midlands Police Federation, said officers are becoming powerless to arrest 'violent or aggressive drunken idiots' due to cuts.

Elsewhere, Sussex Police Chief Inspector Roy Hodder said his force managed more than 100 emergency calls an hour between midnight and 3am this morning.

Married father-of-two Mr Cooke tweeted shortly before 8am today: 'Just got home after the New Year's Eve night shift.

'Reflection - the absolute number of violent/aggressive drunken idiots who 10, 15 years ago feet wouldn't have touched ground on way to custody - now simply tolerated.

Richard Cooke, chairman of the West Midlands Police Federation, said officers are becoming powerless to arrest 'violent or aggressive drunken idiots' due to cuts

'Reason - we simply hadn't got the officers to do anything else. Arrests inevitably take officers away for hours these days and we can't afford to lose them.

'The line of what constitutes acceptable behaviour is pushed further and further to make ends meet.'

He spoke out after a drunken thug was arrested on suspicion of attacking a woman with a 2ft-long sword at a New Year's Eve party in the region.

Mr Cooke tweeted a picture of the 'fearsome' weapon, saying it had been discarded in the bushes outside a party  and the suspect was in custody.

Earlier in the evening in the West Midlands region, two people were robbed of their phones by three thugs who threatened them with machetes.

Meanwhile in East London, a woman in her 20s was taken to hospital with a bullet wound to her leg following a shooting at about 5am this morning.

A poster advertising the New Year's Eve party at Visions Video Bar in Dalston last night

Terrified residents near the scene of the shooting at Visions Video Bar said they fear walking to work every morning because they are faced with violent revellers.

A couple, who have lived in the area for 35 years, said they sometimes have to walk by drugged-up thugs outside the club on their way to work.

The woman, who did not wish to be named, said: 'We are terrified. We walk by the place every morning at 5am on the way to work. You wouldn't believe the things we witness.

'Just two weeks ago we saw five men throw someone to the ground, and start kicking him in the head. There's been stabbings, we've seen blood all over the road.

'There is so much violence, there are fights every week, there are hookers and their pimps, it's not right.'

Her husband added: 'They are all on drugs, I saw one smash his head repeatedly on the bus stop until he smashed it.

'We've been here for 35 years and it used to be really bad, but when the Labour government did up the area in the 1990s it got so much better. It was safe and really nice to live in.

'But in the past two years it's got really bad again. We don't feel safe. It's not right that we are terrified just walking to work in the morning.'

Metropolitan Police officers have closed local roads, but the woman's injuries are not believed to be life threatening. No arrests have been made.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: 'Police were called to a nightclub on Kingsland Road in Hackney, at 5am on Tuesday, January 1 following reports of a shooting.

'Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended. A woman, believed to be aged in her mid-20s, was found with a gunshot wound to her leg.

'She was treated at the scene by paramedics and then taken to hospital. Her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. There has been no arrest. Enquiries continue.'

Kingsland Road is a popular stretch of the A10 road at night - with bars, shops and restaurants running along a section which takes about 20 minutes to walk along.

The youth in Epping was in a stable condition after being stabbed at 1.20am. The group of men involved in the 'verbal exchange' left the dancefloor after the stabbing.

The victim's injuries are not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing. A knife found in a nearby street will be sent away for forensic testing but detectives do not yet know if it was the weapon used in the attack.

Another teenager was left unconscious and with several teeth missing after being attacked in the street outside Club 195 at around 3.30am, Essex Police said.

A spokesman said: 'We do not believe that these two incidents are linked, but would encourage anyone who was out celebrating New Year's Eve at Club 195 to contact us with any information if you saw either of these occur.'

Earlier in the night in London at 10pm on Tuesday, police were alerted to a car being driven the wrong way down a one-way street in nearby Stoke Newington.

A woman officer who tried to stop the vehicle suffered minor injuries in a collision, and all three occupants were arrested.

A police spokesman said: 'Shortly before 10pm on December 31, officers in a police vehicle were alerted to a car being driven the wrong way down a one-way street in Stoke Newington.

'A female officer who attempted to stop the vehicle on Stoke Newington High Street suffered minor injuries after the car collided with her and then struck a traffic light.

'The officer did not require hospital treatment. The three occupants of the vehicle were all arrested and taken into custody.'

Separately, counter terrorism police are leading an investigation after a knifeman stabbed three people at Victoria Station in Manchester last night.

Two commuters - a man and woman in their 50s - were taken to hospital with knife injuries and a British Transport Police officer was stabbed in the shoulder.
Jack Shepherd could escape justice for glassing a barman two years after killing his date Charlotte Brown on the Thames.

The thug launched a vicious attack on David Beech in March last year, around the time he went on the run from justice for killing his date while showing off in his speedboat.

He was charged with grievous bodily harm for glassing the barman at the White Hart Hotel in Dartmoor, near his mothers house. But prosecutors apparently felt he had been sufficiently punished with his six-year jail term for killing Miss Brown, 24.

The attack on David Beech took place at the White Hart Hotel in Dartmoor in March last year

Jack Shepherd disappeared part way through his Old Bailey trial over the death of his date Charlotte Brown

Yet he has not served a single day of that sentence and it now appears he will dodge justice for the glassing too.

For not only did the Crown Prosecution Service fail to confiscate his passport before he went on the run, it also said the horrific Devon case had been finalised, even though Shepherd never bothered to attend court.

Jack Shepherd, pictured, was charged with grievous bodily harm

Yesterday staff at the rural hotel recalled how he was blind drunk when he staggered in on the evening of March 16.

The senseless attack on Mr Beech was captured on CCTV and immediately reported to Devon and Cornwall Police.

Officers arrested Shepherd and charged him with wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

By now on the run after the speedboat case, he also failed to appear at Newton Abbot Magistrates Court in June. A warrant for his arrest was issued.

A source close to Mr Beech said: He was very shaken by the attack, which was hideous and shocked everyone who knows him.

He is a wonderful guy and for someone to do that to him was just horrific. Even though it was some time ago, it is still very difficult for him.

He has been reluctant to speak about it but everyone would very much like Jack Shepherd to be caught.

Yesterday the White Hart Hotel  a Grade II-listed establishment dating back to 1639 in the market town of Moretonhampstead  backed the Mails bid to bring Shepherd to justice.

The family of Charlotte Brown arriving at the Old Bailey in London for the manslaughter trial of Jack Shepher. Father Graham Brown (left), sister Katie (centre) and mother Roz Wicken (right)

Charlotte Brown, pictured left and right, was killed in a speedboat crash on the River Thames

Highlighting our 25,000 reward offer, the hotel tweeted: Jack Shepherd is on the run. Back in the spring of 2018 he was caught on CCTV attacking a member of our staff.

If you have any information that could lead to his capture, the Daily Mail are offering a 25,000 reward.

The CPS said the case was finalised last September, which means Shepherd is unlikely to face prosecution for it.

However, police said an arrest warrant was still active.

A spokesman added: Jack Shepherd was arrested and later issued with a postal requisition for the offence of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

[He] was due to appear at Newton Abbot Magistrates Court but did not attend. A warrant was issued for his arrest and is still in place.

Jack Shepherd, left, pictured on a boat trip outside the Houses of Parliament
Up north, January is that coldest month. I remember it as the one in Niagara where the Arctic would come on down to bring ice for the roads, cold blue for the sky, and, with luck, birds from the north. Looking for Northern Shrikes and redpolls was a test for winter gear and wind chill factors but the birds werent going to be there in the hot days of summer. Heck, they wouldnt even be close to being present during spring or fall. You had to make that resolution to go outside and trudge through the snow, brave those temps but the Great Gray Owl was worth it, those three Bohemian Waxwings lording over a flock of Cedars was priceless.

I actually really hope to see this bird in 2019 in Costa Rica.

Living in warm Costa Rica, I no longer need to worry about venturing into the frio extremo to see a Pine Grosbeak or some errant gull. However, the lack of cold doesnt mean that we dont have our own set of birding challenges in Costa Rica. For example, around here, we have to watch our step for vipers wonderfully camouflaged in the leaf litter.

Four very experienced birders walked right past this potentially dangerous living sculpture of a snake during the Arenal Christmas Count.

We have to be careful about staying hydrated in hot, humid conditions, and keeping with the patience needed to find Bare-necked Umbrellabird, Sharpbill, or other rare and challenging species. As with every new year, a birder can also make resolutions to keep for the next 12 months, these are mine:

Identify 700 species in Costa Rica

Its very possible, I did it in 2017 and a few other birders manage to surpass that number every year. But, it can only be done with the right birding in the right places. This means looking for rare wintering warblers and other migrants, making trips to each corner of the country, and, most of all, going birding as much as possible. There will be challenges because I also have to work, have a ten year old daughter, and hope to see most of those 700 birds with my partner but the year is underway and we are already off to a good start!

Find more sites for Ochre-breasted Antpitta and other uncommon species

A lot of birds are out there at more sites than are known. Thats always a given, its only a matter of effort and access to find them and this is what I hope to accomplish for Ochre-breasted and Scaled Antpittas, Wrenthrush, and many other uncommon and/or skulky birds.

In Costa Rica, the Ochre-breasted Antpitta is usually found near streams or other similar microhabitats in wet, mossy, middle elevation forests.

See some cool stuff from the ferry

Since I always see something cool from the Puntarenas-Paquera ferry, this should be an easy resolution to meet. It will probably take several trips but the storm-petrels, Bridled Terns, Brown Noddy, and maybe a mega or two will be worth it.

Take my daughter birding more often

I really need to do this. She might not want to watch birds the same way I do but I will be happy and grateful for any sort of watching of birds.

Scout for and do a major Big Day

I have already been working on part of this resolution for several months. Every bit of guiding or birding on the Big Day route also acts as scouting. The more I know the route the better our chances of truly breaking some records and thats of course what we always hope for. We will still need other factors to fall into place but at some point during the year, we will be giving the Big Day a serious shot, probably one accompanied by Red Bull and chocolate and maybe a bottle champagne to celebrate our record breaking feat.

Im always scouting for Barred Hawk.

Add 10 species to my Costa Rica list

This resolution wont be easy. I am one bird shy of 800 for the country and most of the rest are very rare or just really tough to find. Or, they are pelagics that I wont see because the high seas just arent my cup of tea. The most likely additions will be Dunlin and Yellow-throated Warbler because these are the most regularly occurring species lacking from my country list. Others of the ten could take the form of Forsters Tern, other wood-warblers, and maybe a nightjar or two.

Promote birding

Most of all, I am making a resolution to do more to promote birding. Although I already do this in a few different ways, I will do more to promote this special endeavor to more people while guiding or just out birding.

Well, those are my resolutions for 2019. Will I keep them? Will my partner and I do a record breaking Big Day? Will my daughter lay eyes on a quetzal? Stay tuned at 10,000 Birds!
A teenager has been jailed over her 'very violent' bite attack on a female police officer that left her with horrific teeth punctures on her neck.

Constable Courtney Hay was one of three Mandurah police officers in Western Australia called out to arrest 18-year-old Chloe Shannen June Power-Leo in June Last year.

There was a struggle during the arrest and police allege Power-Leo was intoxicated at the time and would not provide her details to the officers.

Constable Courtney Hay was one of three Mandurah police officers in Western Australia called out to arrest 18-year-old Chloe Shannen June Power-Leo in June Last year

'That wound on her neck immediately bled. A very violent incident,' Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said

Police Commissioner Chris Dawson told Perth Now that the teenager became 'very violent' and would not follow simple instructions while under arrest.

'When the police were struggling with Ms Power-Leo, we allege that she leant forward and bit the neck of one of the police officers grappling with her,' he said.

'That wound on her neck immediately bled. A very violent incident.'

Power-Leo appeared in Mandurah Magistrates Court on November 20, 2018 and pleaded to guilty to assaulting Constable Hays.

She also pleaded guilty to four other charges including disorderly behaviour in a police station, obstructing officers and failing to provide police with personal details, WAtoday reported.

Power-Leo appeared in Mandurah Magistrates Court on November 20, 2018 and pleaded to guilty to assaulting Constable Hays

She was sentenced on Friday and the WA Police Union praised the decision to jail Power-Leo for 12 months.

'We are very pleased with this outcome and the Magistrate must be commended for handing down a penalty greater than the mandatory minimum sentence,' the union wrote on Facebook.

Power-Leo faces six months' jail and was also fined $600. She is also eligible for parole after serving the minimum time behind bars.

'At times violent incidents occur, that's part of policing, it shouldn't occur but we know it does,' Mr Dawson said.

'It's again another example of police having to deal with substance-affected people and it's a dangerous job at times.'
This is the terrifying moment two thugs armed with a gun and crowbar smashed the windows of a service station, stealing money and cigarettes before fleeing in a stolen car.

Authorities are hunting three people linked to a spate of robberies across Brisbane and Logan on Friday night.

CCTV footage has been released showing two of them forcing their way into service stations wearing black and covering their faces.

Authorities are on the hunt for three people linked to a spate of robberies across Brisbane and Logan on Friday night

The crime spree began when the trio stole attacked a 28-year-old man while driving into his home in Mount Gravatt East about 10.20pm.

One of the offenders, armed with a gun, threatened the man as they pulled him from his white Toyota Corolla and assaulted him before fleeing in the car.

The same vehicle was linked to an attempted robbery of a service station just 15 kilometres away in Woodridge at midnight.

At 12.30am, authorities responded to reports of an armed robbery at a service station at Hillcrest.

A man armed with a gun, and woman armed with a crowbar, smashed the windows of the service station and made their way inside.

A female worker was threatened with a gun as the two stole cash and cigarettes from behind the counter before fleeing in the stolen car.

This is the terrifying moment two thugs armed with a gun and crowbar smashed the windows of a service station and stole money and cigarettes

A man armed with a gun, and woman armed with a crowbar, smashed the windows of the service station and made their way inside

The three thugs then continued their crime spree when they targeted a service station in Capalaba at 2.15am.

A worker was once again threatened with the gun as the two thugs stole cash and cigarettes.

No one was injured during the spate of robberies but the stolen vehicle is yet to be found.
Tributes are flowing for a woman who was diagnosed with meningococcal on New Year's Eve and died just hours later.

Mary-Ellen Hurley, 34, is one of two women across the country who has died from the meningococcal W strain in 2019.

She began seeing signs of the bacterial disease at about 3am on Sunday morning but didn't go to Palmerston hospital in Darwin until Monday.

Darwin woman Mary-Ellen Hurley (pictured left) is one of two women across the country who has died from the meningococcal W strain in 2019

After vomiting for hours, the 34-year-old was admitted to hospital, but passed away just three hours later

After vomiting for hours, the 34-year-old was admitted to hospital, but passed away just three hours later.

Ms Hurley's sister Tess wrote on Facebook that 'our gorgeous sister, Mary-Ellen Hurley, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly just prior to midnight on Monday 31 December 2018 at Palmerston Regional Hospital'.

She had been sedated at the time of her passing, was not in any pain and 'mum, Jo, her partner Justin and I were all by her side at the time of her passing.

'We understand that you would all have so many unanswered questions about what happened to Em (as do we), however we please ask that our family are given time to process our loss and grieve during this incredibly sad time,' she wrote.

All those that had been in close contact with her and were at risk had been contacted by the Centre for Disease Control and provided with antibiotics, she said.

Her family, along with the Centre for Disease Control are urging everyone to seek out the proper vaccinations for the critical disease.

Territory Health Minister Natasha Flyes said the vaccination for meningococcal quad, the ACYW strain is free for people up to 19 years of age.

Ms Hurley began seeing signs of the bacterial disease about 3am on Sunday morning but didn't go to hospital until Monday

WHAT IS MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE? Meningococcal disease is a bacterial infection that can cause death within hours if not recognised and treated in time. There are five main strains of the infection, each of which now have a vaccine available in Australia. Although the majority of victims will recover fully, 10% of those infected will die, and around 20% will have permanent disabilities. If left untreated, the disease is fatal. Amputation is not uncommon. Neither is organ failure and kidney damage, with extreme cases requiring long-term dialysis. Babies and children up to five-years-old account for two-thirds of cases due to their less mature immune system Advertisement

However, for those who fall ill to the B strain, a cure isn't as easily accessible, with vaccinations costing up to $150.

Heartbroken friends and family have shared taken to Facebook to share tributes for Ms Hurley, describing her as 'one in a million'.

'Mary-Ellen was tragically taken from us on New Years Eve in Darwin by the sudden onset of Meningococcal Disease and we are all still in shock by this tragic news,' Stuart Wood wrote.

'So many memories flooding back of her wonderful smile, willingness to help anyone in need and her huge heart.

'To say we will miss her is just totally insufficient, words can't describe our feelings.'

'No words can describe the emptiness I feel, in losing my soul mate,' Emm England posted.

'My flame, the light in my life! You were my everything Mary, my mudcrab. It will never be the same eva (sic) again.

'I wish I could have shared so much more of my life with you.'

'Mary-Ellen was one of the most kind, generous and beautiful people I have had the pleasure of knowing,' friend April Kaye posted.

Her family, along with the Centre for Disease Control are urging everyone to seek out the proper vaccinations for the critical disease

'Mary ellen was such a beautiful soul. Loved by soo (sic) many,' another friend Carlie Richards wrote.

Director for the Centre for Disease Control Dr Vicki Krause this week urged people to get vaccinations for meningococcal, and particularly parents to get them for children.

'Meningococcal disease can attack healthy people, so a person can be totally healthy one day and 24 hours later, as we've witnessed here, can be dead,' Dr Krause said.

It was therefore crucial that people who might have the disease and the associated fevers and aches or been exposed to someone with it to get to a doctor as quickly as possible to get the appropriate antibiotics, Dr Krause said.

Meningococcal is a bacterial infection that can kill within hours of someone being infected, according to Meningococcal Australia.

The majority of victims can recover fully, however, 10 per cent of those infected die and 20 per cent will have permanent disabilities.

There are 13 different strains of Meningococcal yet four are the most common: A, B, C, W and Y.

Symptoms include fever, stiff neck, headache, vomiting, joint pain and a rash of small red or purple spots.


With many federal workers frozen out of the jobs and vacationers blocked from public attractions their tax dollars pay for, talks between White House officials and congressional aides kicked off Saturday aimed at ending a government shutdown that President Donald Trump has said could last years.

In what has become a winter of discontent, negotiations are at an impasse over Trump's demands for $5.6billion to fund a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border. Trump, who was not expected to participate in the discussions hosted by Vice President Mike Pence in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, spent the morning tweeting about border security.

Showing little empathy for the hundreds of thousands furloughed or working without pay, Trump declared - without citing evidence - that most are Democrats. He also asserted: 'I want to stop the Shutdown as soon as we are in agreement on Strong Border Security! I am in the White House ready to go, where are the Dems?'

Trump later fired off a series of tweets related to the wall and immigration.

He posted a Game of Thrones-inspired meme showing an image of himself as a backdrop with a fence in the foreground.

Scroll down for video

White House staffers met with congressional staffers about the partial government shut down Saturday. (L to R: White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen, VP Mike Pence and presidential advisor Jared Kushner)

It's unclear whether the White House team has the authority to negotiate on Trump's behalf (L to R: Mulvaney, Pence and Kushner)

President Trump on Saturday posted a Game of Thrones-inspired meme showing an image of himself as a backdrop with a fence in the foreground

At around the same time, he tweeted: 'Will be going to Camp David tomorrow morning for meetings on Border Security and many other topics with White House senior staff'

Trump tweeted about a poll showing that 'immigration among the top concerns in 2019.' The tweet continued: 'People want to stop drugs and criminals at the Border. Want Border Security! Tell the Dems to do the inevitable now, rather than later. The wait is costly and dangerous!'

'The wall is coming,' the tweet read.

At around the same time, he tweeted: 'Will be going to Camp David tomorrow morning for meetings on Border Security and many other topics with White House senior staff.'

Trump then tweeted about a poll which claimed to show that 'immigration among the top concerns in 2019.'

The tweet continued: 'People want to stop drugs and criminals at the Border. Want Border Security! Tell the Dems to do the inevitable now, rather than later. The wait is costly and dangerous!'

He later tweeted: 'V.P. Mike Pence and team just left the White House. Briefed me on their meeting with the Schumer/Pelosi representatives. Not much headway made today. Second meeting set for tomorrow. After so many decades, must finally and permanently fix the problems on the Southern Border!'

Trump tweeted the above on Saturday afternoon following his meeting

One Democrat, Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen, said in his party's weekly radio address that the shutdown 'is part of a larger pattern of a president who puts his personal whims and his effort to score political points before the needs of the American people. ... He is pointing fingers at everyone but himself.'

Democratic and Republican staffers from Capitol Hill were expected at discussions with Trump's representatives - Pence, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and presidential adviser Jared Kushner. Still, it is always an open question whether a Trump team is fully empowered to negotiate for the president.

Pence tweeted that the aim 'will be to find a solution- not simply to end the gov't shutdown- to provide funding to end the crisis at our southern border, achieve real border security & to build the wall!'

The partial shutdown entered a 15th day Saturday. Trump and Democrats met for roughly two hours Friday, but gave differing accounts of the session. Democrats reported little progress; Trump framed the weekend talks as a key step forward.

As the shutdown drags on, some Republicans are growing increasingly nervous. Some GOP senators up for re-election in 2020, including Cory Gardner of Colorado and Susan Collins of Maine, have voiced discomfort with the shutdown in recent days.

Trump (pictured Friday) spent the morning at the White House, tweeting about border security. He has said that the shutdown could drag on for 'months or even years'

Kushner, Nielsen and Pence pictured leaving the White House complex Saturday

Democrat and Republican congressional staffers were expected to meet with Kushner, Nielsen and Pence on Saturday morning

Democrats have called on Trump to reopen the government while negotiations on border security continue, emphasizing families unable to pay bills due to absent paychecks. But Trump has repeatedly said he will not budge without money for the wall.

Trump had asserted on Friday that he could declare a national emergency to build the wall without congressional approval, but would first try a 'negotiated process.' Trump previously described the situation at the border as a 'national emergency' before he sent active-duty troops; critics described that as a pre-election stunt.

Trump said the hundreds of thousands of federal workers who are furloughed or working without pay would want him to 'keep going' and fight for border security. Asked how people would manage without a financial safety net, he said: 'The safety net is going to be having a strong border because we're going to be safe.'

Democrats expressed skepticism Friday that there would be a breakthrough.

'It's very hard to see how progress will be made unless they open up the government,' said Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York.

Trump confirmed to reporters that he privately told Democrats, in the Friday meeting with congressional leaders, that shutdown could drag on for 'months or even years.'

A variety of strategies are being floated inside and outside the White House. Among them is the idea of trading wall money for a deal on immigrants brought to the country as young people and now here illegally, or using a national emergency declaration to build the wall. But Trump made clear during his news conference that talk on DACA (the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program) would have to wait.
An Oregon man is suing Burger King claiming the fast food giant is going back on its word of offering him free meals for life.

The verbal agreement was made December 15 between 50-year-old Curtis Brooner and Burger King employees after an incident where Brooner was stuck in the restaurant bathroom.

After an hour of pulling at the door, the employees offered Brooner a 'lifetime supply of Burger King meals at no cost' for his plight.

But now Burger King is rescinding its offer, so Brooner is suing the company for $9,026.16 - the exact amount it would cost him for one Whopper meal per week for the rest of his life.

Curtis Brooner, 59, is suing Burger King for going back on its promise

On December 15, he got stuck in an Oregon Burger King bathroom and when he was finally set free, the employees offered him 'a lifetime supply of Burger King meals at no cost' the lawsuit states

In the suit, Brooner claims both negligence and breach of agreement against Burger King Corporations.

He said he returned twice after the initial incident and his meal was covered, but says the company is now going back on their agreement.

The lawsuit filed Tuesday explains what occurred leading up to the deal being made.

'After repeatedly pulling hard on the door handle without success, Mr Brooner took out his phone and called the Burger King number listed on his receipt,' the lawsuit states. 'Burger King employees repeatedly tried pushing on the bathroom door but were unable to open it.

'Despite eventually cutting his hand attempting to use the fly swatter on the lock, the bathroom door would not open.

'Mr. Brooner could hear Burger King employees and customers laughing while he remained locked inside its bathroom for well over an hour before a locksmith finally came and broke him out.'

Brooner said it was honored a couple of times (as pictured in his receipts) but Burger King is going back on its word

Once he was out of the bathroom, Brooner claims the employees offered him free meals for life.

'It's the principle, the jury is going to enjoy it,' Brooner's attorney Michael Fuller told KATU. 'There are funny elements of the case, but there is nothing funny about being locked in a dank bathroom for an hour.'

The lawsuit states that if Burger King is to 'argue no legally enforceable agreement was reached,' Brooner will then pursue 'compensation for his injuries.'

The total Brooner is seeking is deliberate as the lawsuit states a Burger King Whopper meal goes for $7.89 and assuming Brooner lives to 72 years old, the exact cost would be $9,026.16.

'We determined his life would last 72 years, which is about five years less than average based on his frequent consumption of cheeseburgers,' Fuller said.

'I think we will reach a fair settlement. My client was presented with an offer, he accepted it and a deal was a deal,' he added.
Alma Cadwalader, 19, was booked on suspicion of battery with serious bodily injury, false imprisonment with violence and robbery on Friday in California

Authorities have arrested a woman they say bit a jogger who pepper-sprayed her dog at a San Francisco Bay Area park.

Alma Cadwalader, 19, was accompanied by two pets during the outing, possibly a Rottweiler mix and a medium-to-large pooch.

It's not clear which of her animals was the offending canine.

But authorities say the Oakland, California woman's dog tried to attack the jogger Thursday on the Goldenrod Trail between the Chabot Equestrian Center and the Oakland City Stables in Anthony Chabot Regional Park.

The jogger used pepper spray to fend off the animal during the incident in Castro Valley at 10.23am on Thursday.

Law enforcement said Cadwalader later 'accosted' the jogger and performed some shocking moves.

'The assailant tackled and punched the victim multiple times,' KTLA reports the East Bay Regional Park District Police Department said in a statement.

Cadwalader was arrested for biting a jogger who she tackled, punched and left with 'significant wounds' on Thursday morning

'As the victim attempted to push her assailant off of her, she was bitten on her forearm by the female, causing significant wounds.'

The suspect was gone by the time police arrived at the scene and the unidentified victim was treated on the spot.

'A heated exchange and fairly violent confrontation occurred,' Lieutenant Terrence Cotcher said. 'The suspect bit the victim. It was only human to human, no canine to human bite.'

Authorities released this image and asked the public to help identify the suspect

Law enforcement released a blurry screen grab of Cadwalader with a dog that was possibly the one involved, and asked the public to help identify the assailant.

The image came from a video the victim recorded as the attacker left the scene. She tried to entice her to turn around in order to capture her face but was unsuccessful.

Describing her as a 'mixed race white and Asian woman', it wasn't long before they managed to get her into custody.

A warrant was issued by an Alameda County Judge and she was arrested Friday by police with the East Bay Regional Park District.

Cadwalader's mother - who KTVU says hung up the phone when contacted on Friday - brought both dogs to police headquarters earlier that day.

The teenager was booked at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin on suspicion of battery with serious bodily injury, false imprisonment with violence and robbery for allegedly taking the jogger's pepper spray.

It's unclear whether Cadwalader - who on her public social media information states she is from Russia - has an attorney.

The incident occurred on the Goldenrod Trail between the Chabot Equestrian Center and the Oakland City Stables in Anthony Chabot Regional Park

She is said to have bitten the woman after she used pepper spray to fend off her pet dog
Nancy Pelosi insisted that the Democratic caucus has no current plans to impeach Donald Trump during her first interview since becoming Speaker of the House for the 116th Congress

Newly-elected Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi stated that the Democratic caucus has no current plans to impeach Donald Trump while defending her colleagues who have said otherwise and warning that the Russia investigation could change that.

The Maryland Democrat sat down with MSNBC's Joy Reid at a town hall meeting at Trinity University in Washington, her alma mater, on Friday night, one day after she took over the Speaker's gavel and the 116th Congress was sworn in.

Asked about the possibility of a Democrat-controlled House bringing articles of impeachment against Trump, Pelosi carefully crafted her response.

'I do think that we want to be unified and bring people together. Impeachment is a very divisive approach to take and we shouldnt take it without the facts,' she said.

Pelosi repeated her previous assertions that the appropriate House committees should conduct investigations before any action is taken against Trump, and said of the outside counsel's Russia probe: 'We'll see what happens with the Mueller report.'

Commenting specifically on remarks made by freshman Michigan Rep Rashida Tlaib - who yesterday said of Trump: 'We're going to impeach the motherf***er' - Pelosi said: 'That is not the opinion of the House Democratic caucus.

'Generationally, that would not be language I would use, but nonetheless, I dont think we should make a big deal of it.

'I don't like that language, I wouldn't use that language, but I wouldn't establish language standards for my colleagues.'

She added that Tlaib's rhetoric was 'nothing worse than the president has said' himself, and said she believed if the Michigan Rep was a man, no one would care nearly as much.

The Maryland Democrat was interviewed by MSNBC's Joy Reid at her alma mater Trinity University in Washington, DC, in a town hall meeting that aired Friday night

When asked specifically a comment made by freshman Michigan Rep Rashida Tlaib - who yesterday said of Trump: 'We're going to impeach the motherf***er' - Pelosi said: 'That is not the opinion of the House Democratic caucus.

'Generationally, that would not be language I would use, but nonetheless, I dont think we should make a big deal of it.

'I don't like that language, I wouldn't use that language, but I wouldn't establish language standards for my colleagues.'

She added that Tlaib's rhetoric was 'nothing worse than the president has said' himself, and said she believed if the Michigan Rep was a man, no one would care nearly as much.

When asked specifically about a comment made by freshman Michigan Rep Rashida Tlaib (above) - who on Thursday said of Trump: 'We're going to impeach the motherf***er' - Pelosi said: 'Generationally, that would not be language I would use, but nonetheless, I dont think we should make a big deal of it'

Pelosi is entering her second term as speaker - after having been the first woman to hold the job from 2007 to 2011 - under rather tumultuous conditions in the government, which has been shut down for 14 days and counting.

Congress and the president are currently at an impasse over the budget as Democrats refuse to hand over the $5.5million Trump has demanded for a wall along the US-Mexico border.

'The wall and the government shutdown really have nothing to do with each other,' Pelosi said, calling it 'totally irresponsible' to connect the two issues.

'There is no reason to have workers pay a price with their paycheck,' she said of the hundreds of thousands of federal workers who are currently furloughed or working without pay.

On the first day of the new Congress, the House passed two bills to reopen the government, but Trump responded by saying he will veto them and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he won't bring them to a vote in the Senate if Trump is going to veto them.

As if trying to give Trump a way out, Pelosi reminded that he doesn't actually have to sign a bill passed by Congress. 'It becomes the law [after 10 days]. The president doesnt even have to sign,' she said.

Earlier on Friday, Pelosi and other congressional leaders met with President Trump to discuss the ongoing government shutdown. Pelosi (right) and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (left) are seen leaving the White House after the meeting

Trump said of the possibility that he will get removed from office: 'You can't impeach somebody that's doing a great job'

Trump met with congressional leaders from both parties on Friday, and at a press conference after the meeting he revealed that he had brought the topic of impeachment up with Pelosi.

Pelosi's office confirmed Trump did bring up the topic  during his opening statement to Republican and Democratic lawmakers about the government shutdown now in its 14th day.

'And we even talked about that today,' Trump told reporters following the two-hour closed door meeting.

'You can't impeach somebody that's doing a great job. That's how I view it.'

He then recounted part of his meeting with Pelosi and the joint leadership. 'I said why don't you use this for impeachment,' Trump said, referencing the shutdown. 'She said we're not looking to impeach you,' according to the president.

'I said: "That's good, Nancy, that's good." But you don't impeach people when they're doing a good job,' he continued.

'And you don't impeach people when there was no collusion because there was no collusion,' he added, returning to his repeated claims on Twitter and at prior press conferences.

'It's very hard to impeach somebody that's done a great job,' he said, reinforcing the point.

Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill tweeted minutes after Trump spoke: 'In his opening comments at the meeting, President Trump brought up impeachment. Speaker Pelosi made clear that today's meeting was about re-opening government, not impeachment.'

His statement did not touch on Trump's claim that Democrats were not looking to impeach him.
A teenager has been arrested and a car's windshield smashed in as far-right extremists and left-wing protesters clashed in Melbourne.

Right-wing figureheads Blair Cottrell and Neil Erikson demanded answers at St Kilda beach in Melbourne's south-east on Saturday afternoon, questioning why African gang crime rates are through the roof and claiming little is being done about it.

Roaring crowds from each side were separated by a wall of armed police officers, mounted police and the riot squad, who attended the 'peaceful discussion'.

But despite best efforts, three arrests were made, capsicum spray was used to break up fights and patches of ugly brawling and verbal abuse occurred.

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Patches of verbal abuse between the two conflicting sides was broken up by capsicum spray

Protesters and counter-protesters have clashed with riot police, mounted officers and the dog squad (pictured)

Scores of riot police (pictured) were dispatched to St Kilda beach to break up any conflicts

With the police helicopter circling overhead, mounted officers were forced to intervene when shouting between two men escalated to physical blows.

A right-wing aligned rally-goer was pinned to the ground and led away by police after clashing with a counterpart.

Earlier, an attendee was seen pushing against police, trying to charge at left-wing protesters who were shouting 'your families are immigrants'.

Cottrell, who was seen with Senator Fraser Anning, countered the chanting by leading a chorus of 'Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, oi oi oi' before he addressed the crowd.

'We want to know whats been done about this crime,' Cottrell told hundreds of rowdy Melburnians.

'Africans are 77 times more likely to commit home invasion ... Thats not racism, thats a fact!' he said, alluding to left-wing activists labelling him as a 'Nazi'.

'Rise without fear.

This event has been taken over by racist twats

But many locals were frustrated by the turn of events. Melbourne local Iren Cutler said the African community weren't solely responsible for neighbourhood violence.

'This has been taken over by racist twats,' Ms Cutler said of the event as like-minded people around her chanted: 'No racism, no fear, Nazis are not welcome here.'

'The majority of people dont want this, we live in a diverse community, different kinds of people breaking in smashing windows stealing, as soon as someone of a different shade does they make it a problem.'

Three arrests were made, capsicum spray was used to break up fights and patches of ugly brawling and verbal abuse occurred

Right-wing activist Blair Cottrell (pictured) has led a protest against African gang violence

As crowds clashed a short distance from the foreshore, mounted officers separated the groups

But Cottrell persisted despite many sharing Ms Cutler's sentiments.

'It is our duty as Australians, we are prepared to give everything for our country. This is Australian workers united against our plight, a problem.

'All of you here know this country is under attack, we feel it when going to work.

'Immigrants live in smaller places, work for less, wont complain, theyre here to replace you, but you will complain. You demand higher state of living.

'Dont be ashamed of who you are.'

While dozens of locals joined in another round of 'Aussie Aussie Aussie, oi oi oi', scores of police armed with riot shields stood between the two groups as tensions rose.

Campaign Against Racism and Fascism spokeswoman Tess Dimos said African youths are systematically targeted.

'There is no credibility to the gang violence, its all a hyped-up image showing crime from African youths.'

That sentiment echoes one that was previously addressed by prominent lawyer and community advocate Nyadol Nyuon, who took to social media to share her concerns ahead of the scheduled event.

In the meantime, we get to call and inform family members and our community to stay away from the beaches this Saturday - in summer.

'Neil and Blair have been referred to as 'activists', 'concerned citizens' or merely 'controversial',' Ms Nyuon began. '[These] terms neglect their racist and violent incitements (like Blair saying he would 'execute' certain people).'

'If we were to hold a demonstration against racism, some mainstream outlets would be calling us 'ungrateful' to be in Australia and to leave if we didn't like it.'

'Yet a racist rally, led by convicted criminals, can go ahead with their leaders enjoying media coverage that cast them as having legitimate concerns, and who will find support from free speech worries insisting on their rights to effectively harass black peoples,' Ms Nyuon said.

'In the meantime, we get to call and inform family members and our community to stay away from the beaches this Saturday - in summer.'

Maker Mayek, a lawyer and principle of Mayek Legal, told Daily Mail Australia the protest is 'extremely dangerous, not only for the members of the African community, but for beach-goers, residents of St Kilda and surrounding areas.'

'The protests are likely to inflame fears and tensions in race relations which suffered greatly as a result of the sensationalist reporting and dog-whistling we saw in 2018. The last thing we want to see in this country is another Cronulla.'

Erikson also briefly spoke, accusing authorities of removing social media posts and stifling the number of people the event reached online.

'Good to see regular Aussies here and no Nazis,' he said, shortly before a follower marched from the beach while performing the Nazi salute.

'Hierarchy of Victorian Police working together [with social media] to stifle our voices ... six posts taken down.'

Ugly violence erupted between far-right supporters, some of which were seen performing the Nazi salute (pictured) and counter-protesters on Saturday

Armed police (pictured left and right) were out in force on Saturday warning against violence

Hundreds of Melburnians have flocked to St Kilda foreshore to attend a 'political meeting'

Scores of police, including the mounted patrol, formed a wall to separate fighting protesters

Scores of specialist police officers, including mounted officers and riot police, have been dispatched to the beach to break up any potential violence

Cottrell's supporters told Daily Mail Australia they are simply fed up with the violence.

'Its not safe, no f**king way,' local resident and father Jason McRae said.

'The issue revolves not just around us. In the Sudanese community they need to cull the crime.

'If it were Muslims, the Muslim community would need to cull the crimes ... these communities have a responsibility.'

'Were Aussies, not anti-African, anti-gang violence,' local man Stephen Cray said.

'Its like any race ... theyre making every African look bad.

Were Aussies, not anti-African, anti-gang violence

'I'm friends with people from different races, these few are making it bad for their race.

'A lot of people are scared ... on New Years I noticed more people stayed home and a small party that was gate-crashed by 50-plus ... whole house robbed ... they dont just come with their fists.

'Little 14 or 13-year-old motherf**kers.'

Protesters from each side were seen being dragged off by police after fights erupted

Right-wing activists Neil Erikson and Blair Cottrell host a rally against African gang crime

Rally-goers from each side butted heads, with anti-racism activists chanting: 'Unite, unite, unite to fight for rights. Black, Indigenous, Arab, Asian and white.'

But shortly after the chanting ended, violence erupted on the main road along the beach, when a passing car screamed obscenities at right-wing activists.

When the car came to a stop in traffic, protesters set on the car and smashed its front windshield.

It took a massive effort from police to lead protesters and counter-protesters off the beach.

Forming a shoulder-to-shoulder wall of officers and mounted police, the conflicting sides spat obscenities as they were marched to their cars.

Protesters were corralled along Jacka Boulevard, where their right-wing counterparts circled around police in an attempt to get at them.

Cottrell and his supporters (pictured) described African crime as a 'plight' against Australians

Cottrell took to social media to praise the rally as a success despite the arrests and fights

One man broke through and a screaming match ended with punches being thrown and a third arrest being made.

Police were later holding the far-right at bay protecting counter-protesters at an entrance to nearby Luna Park, forcing people onto trams to get them away from the crowd, which began dispersing at about 3:45pm.

Despite the outbreak of violence and the initial emphasis of a lack thereof, Cottrell took to social media to deem the rally a 'massive success' and threatening a repeat.

'Dwarfed Antifa and only a few from the African community showed, they kept their distance.

'STATE PREMIER DANIEL ANDREWS must address this violent crime epidemic or we will rally again, next time outside his office.'

A left-wing aligned group have also attended the beach, slamming Cottrell and Erikson as 'fascists'

A shoulder-to-shoulder wall of police officers (pictured) ushered protesters from the beach

Police scoured the foreshore for potential outbreaks of violence and weapons, arresting an 18-year-old for allegedly carrying a weapon shortly after midday.

State police minister Lisa Neville told reporters on Friday any fighting would be met with heavy resistance.

'Let me be clear  there will be hundreds of police there, there will be specialist police, there will be the dog squad, the mounted squad, the transit teams, the public order response teams, they will be conducting weapons searches.

'Whether you are on the ultra-right or the ultra-left, this is a family beach and Victoria Police will be there in force to keep it safe.'

A spokesperson from Victoria Police told Daily Mail Australia they respect the public's right to protest peacefully.

'Police will continue to provide a strong presence at the rally to ensure the safety of the community.

'Victoria Police respects peoples right to protest peacefully, but will not tolerate those who break the law.'

Throngs of Cottrell and Erikson supporters joined in rowdy chants of 'Aussie Aussie Aussie, oi oi oi'

After Cottrell and Erikson addressed the crowd, riot police and mounted officers broke up the conflicting groups

However, Cottrell says his supporters aren't the ones police should be worried about.

'Over the past few years Victoria police officers have become heavily militarised by the government (body armour, more non-lethal weapons, more anti-riot control units, etc), thanks to radical Left-wing groups attacking Australian citizens whenever they attempt to gather to protest state policy,' a post attributed to him on Facebook read.

Cottrell and Erikson said the intention of the rally is to protest African gang violence, but to do so peacefully.

'We urge all to come along to discuss the problems we are facing from APEX.

'VERY IMPORTANT THAT THERE IS NO VIOLENCE!!!! This is a peaceful meeting.'
Divorced mother-of-two Krystal Lee is being investigated over her role in the mystery of the disappearance of Kelsey Berreth

This is the nurse at the center of the fiancee murder case who is suspected of disposing of the dead woman's cellphone.

Divorced mother-of-two Krystal Lee is being investigated over her role in the mystery of the disappearance of Kelsey Berreth.

Lee, 32, is believed to have been having an affair with Patrick Frazee who has been charged with Berreth's murder even though her body has not been found.

Lee, who lives in Twin Falls, Idaho, has not been formally identified by police as the woman they are investigating, but sources confirm she is the woman involved.

ABC News reported Monday that a nurse was a person of interest in the case and was believed to have disposed of Berreth's phone in the days after she had last been seen alive.

Now DailyMail.com can reveal that that person is Lee, who works as a pre-op nurse at the St. Luke's Magic Valley Medical Center in Twin Falls. She has now been placed on a leave of absence, the hospital confirms.

She was born Krystal Kenney and married rancher Chad Lee in October 2010. After having two children the marriage ended in divorce in June 2016, according to court records.

During their marriage, the couple lived in an isolated six-bedroom farmhouse overlooking a canyon in Kimberly, Idaho, seven miles east of Twin Falls. 'No Trespassing' notices were posted at the house on Thursday and a brand new chain was strung across the long drive.

DailyMail.com spoke with two people who know Lee professionally, and they both said they had been told that Frazee was having an affair with her. The couple had met at a rodeo.

Lee, who lives in Twin Falls, Idaho, is believed to have been having an affair with Patrick Frazee who has been charged with Berreth's murder

Patrick Frazee leaves the Teller County District Court in Cripple Creek on Monday

Custody of the 14-month-old baby was granted to the parents of Kelsey Berreth last week (Kelsey with her mother and daughter Kaylee)

Police believe Frazee murdered the mother of his child at their home in Woodland Park, Colorado, around Thanksgiving, but they have still not located her remains. Woodland Park is a 12-hour drive from Twin Falls.

Her cell phone 'pinged' off a tower in Idaho's rural Gooding County, just north of Twin Falls, three days after she was last seen. Police believe that Lee had visited Frazee for the holiday at his home in Florissant, Colorado.

Berreth's mother Cheryl first reported her missing on December 2.

Frazee, 30, and Berreth, 29, have a one-year-old daughter, Kaylee, who is now the subject of a custody battle between the former couple's two sets of parents.

Sheila Frazee (pictured right) filed a motion declaring she wanted parental rights to the infant

Sheila Frazee was even detained (right) when he was arrested, but never charged or accused of being involved in the death of Berreth

A judge ruled that the maternal grandparents should have custody for now, despite a motion from Frazee's mother Sheila that she should live with her at the home she shared with her son.

Sheila has remained a staunch defender of her son through this all, despite not speaking publicly once. The mother-of-three has been at all of her son's hearings.

And she was even detained when he was arrested, but never charged or accused of being involved in the death of Berreth.

Tamra Freeman, a friend of Frazee's, says she still has faith that he is innocent. She told CNN that he felt 'railroaded' by police investigating the case, who he claimed were only focused on him.

St. Luke's Magic Valley Hospital, where Krystal Lee works

The rear of the marital house in Kimberly, Idaho that Krystal Lee and Chad Lee shared during their marriage. They were divorced in 2016

The driveway leading up to the Lee's Kimberly home with recent 'No Trespassing' signs in place

'I still refuse to believe that he's done this until I see the evidence,' said Freeman, who claims Frazee told her his relationship with Berreth ended over a year ago and their only contact regarded Kaylee.

Frazee appeared in court in Teller County, Colorado on Friday for the third time this week. He was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and three counts of solicitation of first-degree murder on New Year's Eve.

He had been plotting the murder for close to three months, according to court documents filed on Monday. A judge set a preliminary hearing for February. Frazee is being held in custody without bond.

Police believe Krystal Lee may have disposed of Kelsey Berreth's (pictured) phone, sources say

Last image: Kelsey Berreth was last seen at a supermarket on Thanksgiving with her daughter Kaylee, 1, (above) but Frazee previously told authorities he saw his fiancee later that day

The three first degree counts of solicitation to commit murder all state that 'between and including September 1, 2018 and November 1,2018, Patrick Frazee unlawfully and feloniously commanded, induced, entreated, or otherwise attempted to persuade another person to commit the felony of murder in the first degree.'

That would have been just a few months after Berreth purchased a home in Woodland Park for herself and her daughter.

She spent $184,900 on a two-bedroom property about 15 miles away from the 35-acre ranch where Frazee lived with his mother.

That home is where authorities believe Berreth was murdered on or around November 22.

Berreth was last seen at a Safeway store in Woodland Park on Thanksgiving.
James Harris Jackson, a 30-year-old alleged white supremacist and Army veteran, was expected to plead guilty to the 2017 stabbing of black 66-year-old Timothy Caughman in Manhattan on Friday (above). Instead, Jackson asked the judge to delay his plea because he was on pain medication

A white supremacist charged in the racially-motivated stabbing death of a black man backed out of a plea deal and asked the judge for a deferment because he was on pain medication.

James Harris Jackson, 30, an Army veteran, was expected to plead guilty Friday to charges stemming from the March 2017 murder of 66-year-old stranger Timothy Caughman in New York City.

Instead, the defendant, who hobbled into the Manhattan courtroom on crutches, told Justice Laura Ward that he didn't feel he was in the right state of mind to plead guilty because he'd taken painkillers for a broken foot.

Ward asked: 'Although you were prepared to plead guilty to all six counts today and to allocate to each of the counts, due to an injury you sustained in custody, you are currently under pain meds and you do not feel comfortable doing that?'

Jackson replied: 'That is correct.' The response elicited gasps of disbelief from the victim's family.

The now-defunct deal would have resulted in a life prison sentence for Jackson, the same length he would have gotten if convicted of just the top count at trial.

The judge ordered Jackson to return to court later this month, when he's scheduled to stand trial on charges that include murder as a hate crime.

Jackson hobbled into the courtroom on crutches with a broken foot. He told the judge that he did not feel he was in the right state of mind to plead guilty despite having initially intended to

Jackson turned himself in to police two days after he stabbed Caughman (pictured) to death in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan, on the night of March 20, 2017

Jackson is allegedly a member of a documented hate group in Maryland who traveled from Baltimore to New York for the express purpose of killing black people.

Prosecutors say he stalked several black man before attacking Caughman in Hell's Kitchen, plunging a knife into his back and chest repeatedly.

Caughman stumbled into a police station after being stabbed multiple times in the back and chest on Monday, but died at the hospital.

The NYPD issued surveillance footage of the suspect running through the street afterwards in a bid to find him.

Later, Jackson presented himself to officers at the Times Square substation after midnight Tuesday, telling them: 'You need to arrest me. I have the knife in my coat.'

Police found two knives - one of which was the 26-inch black sword reportedly used to kill Caughman - in his jacket at the station, where he was kept for questioning.

Jackson, who served in Afghanistan, had allegedly come to New York City from Baltimore with the express purpose of killing black people. Authorities say he stalked several black men before targeting Caughman

The New York Daily News cited police sources who said Jackson came to Manhattan eager to kill and had 'rage against black men who get romantically involved with white women'.

The NYPD said Jackson revealed to them that he chose New York City specifically because of its reputation as 'the media capital of the world' and that he 'wanted to make a statement.'

In a video played at a pretrial hearing, Jackson says: 'I think we should just preserve the best people and get rid of all the dead weight. In my opinion, blacks are inferior people.'

The NYPD issued surveillance footage of the suspect running through the street after the stabbing in a bid to identify Jackson, who later turned himself in
A senior ISIL fighter said the Yarmouk Hospital was the regions last public health facility that treated civilians in the area. He also acknowledged that ISIL might have used it to treat its fighters if treatment was not available in its own field hospitals. Kevin Jon Heller, an international law scholar, told Al Jazeera that the US could not legally attack the hospital simply because it believed some ISIL fighters were there. The US could not attack the hospital without warning it first  and witho
An Idaho teacher who fed a sick puppy to a snapping turtle in front of several shocked students has been found not guilty of animal cruelty.

Preston Junior High School science teacher Robert Crosland was charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty in June.

Witnesses testified the puppy swam around before it was dragged to the bottom of the tank by the snapping turtle and became unconscious.

But a jury found him not guilty of animal cruelty after his defense attorney did not dispute the claims but argued 'we don't believe a crime was committed'.

Crosland had argued he was 'putting the puppy out of its misery' in an interview with investigators.

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Robert Crosland, left, smiles after he was found not guilty of misdemeanor animal cruelty

Robert Crosland listens as potential jurors are asked questions during his misdemeanor animal cruelty case on Thursday, January 3

Crosland had faced up to six months in jail and a $5k fine if convicted.

He said: 'I honestly thought I was doing the right thing. That's what's been so hard in seeing all this because that's what I've been taught my whole life not to let the animal suffer.'

Prosecutor David Morris said the incident occurred after normal school hours with four students present, WTVR reports.

One student, 14, said he played with and touched the 'small, cute' puppy which 'looked like a lab' before Crosland is said to have first tried feeding it to a snake.

The teen said he moved it to the turtle's tank when the snake did not eat it.

Students said the puppy 'wasn't doing its best' and that you could see its ribs.

Crosland's son, Mario, argued this is why his father had fed the puppy to the turtle and said: 'If you can lose a life to help another, then why not.'

Following the verdict, Crosland said: 'I'd like to thank this community for staying behind me. It's really what got me through all this, just their comments and talking to me and expressing their love.'

Robert Crosland, right, and his attorney Shane Reichert listen as potential jurors are questioned

Superintendent for Preston schools, Marc Gee had said in a news release that his administration became aware of 'a regrettable circumstance involving some of the biological specimens' on March 7.

'The event occurred well after students had been dismissed and was not a part of any school-directed program,' Gee said. 'We emphasize that at no time was the safety of students or staff compromised.'

The school is in rural Preston, Idaho, where the 2004 teen cult classic film 'Napoleon Dynamite' was set.

The state's attorney general's office handled the investigation after Franklin County Prosecutor Vic Pearson cited a conflict of interest.

Crosland had been accused of feeding a sick puppy to a snapping turtle in front of several students and was charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty. He is seen feeding a rat to the turtle in a different class

The school is in rural Preston, where the 2004 teen cult classic film 'Napoleon Dynamite' was set

Following the incident, state officials seized the turtle and euthanized it as a non-native species.

The incident had drawn national criticism against Crosland with a petition to have him fired circling the internet, garnering more than 243,000 signatures.

'Unfortunately, on March 7, [Crosland] decided to feed one of those creatures - a snapping turtle to be exact - a puppy,' the petition read.

'Please join in demanding that Robert Crosland be fired for this disturbing decision!' the petition reads.

A counter petition signed by community members, former students and current colleagues expressing support for the long-time science teacher has accumulated roughly 4,000 signatures, the Statesman reported.
Fraudsters are stealing bank details through thousands of fake emails linked to the TV licence.

Experts at the cyber crime watchdog, Action Fraud, say they received more than 5,000 complaints in just three months.

The official-looking emails use headlines such as correct your licensing information and your TV licence expires today in an attempt to convince targets to click on a link to a website.

The fraudulent website then prompts them to add their payment details, including the Card Verification Value (CVV) code, account number and sort code.

Experts at the cyber crime watchdog, Action Fraud, say they received more than 5,000 complaints in just three months

Action Fraud warned: With this information, fraudsters could drain bank accounts.

The bogus website may also ask for the victims name, date of birth, address, phone number, email and even mothers maiden name.

The scam is the latest effort by criminal gangs to hijack official services, such as the TV Licence regime, the HMRC and even Action Fraud itself, using so-called phishing emails, fake websites and telephone calls to steal bank details.

Action Frauds Pauline Smith, said: Fraudsters are constantly using new tactics to trick victims into handing over their personal information.

A TV Licensing spokesman said: We will never email customers, unprompted, to ask for bank details and/or your personal information, or tell you that you may be entitled to a refund.

Even Action Fraud itself, which is the official internet route to report cyber fraud, has been targeted.

People searching for the watchdog have been directed to fake websites  such as action-fraud.com or actionfraud.eu  asking for personal and financial information.
The widower of an Auschwitz survivor has accused SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford of ignorance by comparing EU withdrawal arrangements to the Holocaust.

Ezra Golombok, 96, said Jews in Scotland who had survived the Nazi pogroms would be offended.

Mr Blackford faced a call to quit from the Judeo-Christian Alliance campaign group after sharing a Twitter message in which a user said their family would have to register for settled status after Brexit, suggesting the last time they had to do so was in Nazi Germany.

Yesterday, a charity which monitors anti-Semitism also condemned the Ross, Skye and Lochaber MPs remarks as ill-judged.

Ian Blackford faced a call to quit from the Judeo-Christian Alliance campaign group after sharing a Twitter message in which a user said their family would have to register for settled status after Brexit, suggesting the last time they had to do so was in Nazi Germany

Ezra Golombok (left), 96, said Jews in Scotland who had survived the Nazi pogroms would be offended. Right: Mr Golombok on his wedding day with Hungarian wife, Susan, who was sent to Auschwitz

Mr Golombok, of Newton Mearns, East Renfrewshire, has personal experience of the atrocities endured by Jews. His Hungarian wife, Susan, was sent to Auschwitz, where 1.1million men, women and children were murdered.

Mr Golomboks wife survived the war and died in 2005 but he said her mother and other relatives were sent to the gas chamber.

He added: What Mr Blackford has shown is ignorance. I dont think he has any concept what people had to put up with under the Nazis. A politician should have the wisdom not to make false comparisons and ill-considered comments.

Of course it is offensive. People in Scotland who survived the concentration camps will be offended by what he has said.

The row follows the online publication by the Home Office of a video urging EU nationals to apply for settled status if they want to stay in the UK following Brexit.

Mr Golombok said: 'What Mr Blackford has shown is ignorance. I dont think he has any concept what people had to put up with under the Nazis. A politician should have the wisdom not to make false comparisons and ill-considered comments'

In response, an anonymous Twitter user shared an image of an elderly persons arm bearing a tattooed identification number, appearing to be one given to people in Nazi concentration camps.

The user wrote: The last time my family qualified for registration and settled status.

Sharing the post, Mr Blackford said: The UK Tory Government need to reflect on what they are doing and why so many feel their approach to EU nationals is so repugnant.

Mark Gardner, of charity Community Security Trust, which monitors anti-Semitism, said: To infer comparison between Brexit and the Holocaust is lazy, highly offensive and ill-judged.

Last night an SNP spokesman declined to comment.
British aid to the worlds most corrupt countries leapt by more than 12 per cent last year, despite warnings much of it will be wasted, stolen or even seized by terrorists.

Analysis of official figures reveals the UK handed more than 1.53billion to the worlds 20 most corrupt countries  up from 1.36billion the previous year.

The 170million  12 per cent increase comes despite a string of aid money scandals. UK aid to the most corrupt nations has almost doubled in five years, rising from 814million in 2012.

The Department for International Development (Dfid) insists it takes a zero tolerance approach to corruption and adopts extensive measures to prevent funds falling into the wrong hands.

British aid to the worlds most corrupt countries leapt by more than 12 per cent last year, despite warnings much of it will be wasted, stolen or even seized by terrorists

In the worst cases, money is channelled through aid agencies rather than handed to governments to avoid it being siphoned off by corrupt ministers and officials.

But former Tory minister Robert Halfon said the figures underlined the case for abandoning the controversial target of spending 0.7 per cent of the UKs income on aid.

Mr Halfon said: At a time when people are struggling, it is extraordinary that we are sending even more hard-earned taxpayers money to corrupt countries where it is at risk of being diverted into the Swiss bank accounts of dictators and their cronies.

People are fed up with it. They dont mind overseas aid but it has got out of hand. We should cut the aid budget in half and redistribute the money to the lower paid in this country through lower taxes and better services. We have got to get a grip on it.

Respected think tank Transparency International produces an annual list of most corrupt countries. Analysis by the Daily Mail shows that Britain sends aid money to 17 of the worst 20.

Major beneficiaries include Somalia and Syria, where Western aid has been appropriated by terrorist groups.

In 2017, the Government was forced to suspend a 12million aid scheme to Syria amid revelations that the cash was at risk of going to jihadi groups.

A BBC Panorama investigation found that the Syrian branch of Al Qaeda had handpicked police officers benefiting from the justice and community security scheme.

Aid money sent to Somalia is also at risk of being taxed by terror groups such as Al Shabab. An investigation by CNN last year found the murderous group was extorting thousands of pounds a day through roadblocks and taxes on merchants supplying aid destined for refugees.

Analysis of official figures reveals the UK handed more than 1.53billion to the worlds 20 most corrupt countries  up from 1.36billion the previous year

An internal Dfid risk register in 2017 concluded last year there was a certain chance of funds being diverted by extremist groups. Despite this, British aid to the war-torn country, which is ranked the most corrupt on earth, almost doubled that year to 282million.

Other countries seeing major increases in funding included the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)  up 28.3 per cent rise to 166.2million  and the Yemen, which saw a 61.4 per cent rise.

The Yemen is on the brink of famine as a result of a civil war but a report this week found that food parcels are routinely being stolen by the Iranian-backed Houthi militia.

The UN World Food Programme has threatened to suspend aid shipments if Houthi rebels do not stop the theft and fraud.

The UK gave 40million to the programmes overall budget in 2017. However, Dfid said UK money is not spent on food parcels in Yemen. Since April 2018, Dfid funds have only been used to provide food vouchers and cash transfers there.

But while some corrupt states have seen their funding soar, others have seen it cut.

Government embarrassment over revelations that North Korea was still receiving aid at the same time as threatening nuclear weapons has led to a clampdown.

Aid to the rogue state fell from 740,000 in 2015 to just 40,000 in 2017.

A Dfid spokesman said: Dfid does not provide UK aid directly to the governments of any of the most corrupt countries in the world. UK aid only goes to trusted partners. [It] makes us safer by tackling problems which would otherwise arrive on our doorstep.
Its a far cry from Mary Poppins, but this furry 120 robot toy can reportedly act as nanny to your child  and even sing lullabies before bed.

Woobo can also play charades and teach children about different cultures.

The cuddly toy, which resembles a Furby from the late 90s, will be unveiled in the US next week.

It is the fuzzy robot version of an imaginary friend every child dreams of, the manufacturer claims.

Woobo can also play charades and teach children about different cultures and will be unveiled in the US next week

Videos show Woobo waking a child up, telling her to brush her teeth and even helping to set up an obstacle course.

The toy also gives youngsters breathing exercises and teaches skills such as mindfulness.

I would love to be your friend, you are super-cool, Woobo tells a young girl in a publicity clip.

Children can also ask it questions such as: Why is the sky blue? Tejasvi Desai, a spokesman for the company, based in Boston, US, said: Its basically providing your kid with a companion who can answer the million questions they have during the day and they can connect with someone they think is their own age.

It is about having a fuzzy, cuddly friend who can go about the day with them.

The toy is controlled via an app, with parents able to set alarms for when a child is woken and how long they should brush their teeth for.

Its creators, graduates of American universities Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, have already pre-sold 4,000 devices in just two months in the US.

Soon, they will expand to China and Canada, with a launch in Britain expected by 2020. At a cost of $149 (118), gender neutral Woobo comes in teal, pink and violet, but only has one voice option which can be changed in pitch. This allows the child to choose the gender of the toy for themselves.

Feng Tan, the firms chief executive who has a PhD in robotics, decided to create Woobo after realising most children would love to meet their imaginary friend.

The device can also stand in for parents, with features such as playing a voice message to a child when a mother or father cannot get home in time to say goodnight.

Critics may dismiss Woobo, designed for four- to eight-year-olds, as another way for parents to palm their children off by sticking them in front of a screen. But its creators claim this is not so.

Miss Desai said: It is just about being kid-friendly and kid-safe rather than sticking a mobile phone or a screen in their face, this is an interactive friend they can really bond with.

It also steps in as a mentor, urging children to think about how they would act in certain situations, such as if a classmate was being bullied or if they did not like a meal at a friends house.

Privacy concerns are shrugged off, with creators saying that unlike smart speakers, which listen for prompts such as Hey Google or Alexa, Woobo only jumps into action when its ears are touched.

The device looks like a normal cuddly toy  but has a screen for a face. It also has sensors on its paws and tummy, reacting to hugs and tickles. The robot, which will be unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next week, will be crowned best toy for play and learn in the baby tech awards, chosen by website Babylist.

Another launch at the show is a robot pet called Kiki, which teaches skills such as empathy and respect.
Robert Eugene Brodbeck, 46, had been wanted for deserting the Army in 2000 and had been living in Clinton, Indiana, for 18 years flying under the radar

An army deserter has been found and arrested after living under the radar for 18 years.

Robert Eugene Brodbeck, 46, had been wanted for deserting the Army in 2000.

Brodbeck has been using the last name Bowmen for nearly two decades while living in the small town of Clinton, Indiana, and working as a dishwasher at a local Italian restaurant.

He was finally discovered last week after voluntarily walking into a police station on December 26 to speak with officers about an altercation that had occurred with a co-worker.

Larry Keller, dispatcher and records clerk for the Clinton Police Department, said that when he gave the last name Bowman, nothing showed up on any of the police databases.

According to Keller, officers immediately knew Brodbeck was lying and were preparing to arrest him for giving false information.

That's when Brodbeck broke down and confessed to the officers his true identity.

'He worked jobs in things where he was paid in cash,' Keller said.

'Nothing that ever required a Social Security number. He lived in a low-rent apartment. He walked everywhere and never had a driver's license. He was really no trouble,' he added.

They discovered that Brodbeck had deserted the army 18 years ago and was wanted on warrants in Texas for eluding police and failure to appear in court.

He was booked into the Vermillion County Jail Thursday and is being held while he awaits extradition by the US Marshall's Service.
While female Marines have been part of the Corps for over a century, male and female recruits will train alongside each other at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island for the first time in history.

The test group of about 50 women enlisting in the US Marine Corps will go through grueling boot camp training alongside male recruits, rather than separately as it has been done in the past, with same-sex instructors.

Recruits are organized by regiment, battalion, company, platoon, squad and often fireteam.

The 3rd Recruit Training Battalion 'will start their training cycle with one female platoon and five male platoons,' at the Parris Island recruit depot on January 5, the Marines said in a statement.

Ultimately, the move came down to smaller training classes enlisting in the winter months, and isn't expected to be permanent, but an official said the Corps 'will certainly look at how the company performs in this model as we continually evaluate how we make Marines.'

A test group of about 50 women enlisting in the US Marine Corps will go through grueling boot camp training alongside male recruits, rather than separately, for the first time ever beginning January 5. In this file photo from May 13, male and female US Marine Corps Recruits with Company O, 4th Battalion and Company G, 2nd Battalion run 880 meters, known as movement to contact, during the initial Combat Fitness Test (CFT) on Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina

In this 12-week cycle, which is presented as an experiment, about 50 women will go through the same training as their male counterparts, but will still be trained by females.

'This training cycle of about 300 recruits will provide Recruit Depot staff a unique opportunity to assess outcomes, achievements and challenges in training, logistics and resource impacts of this company training model,' the Marines said.

'The decision was made by Marine Corps leadership in support of training efficiency and is a first in the history of Marine Corps recruit training.'

Previously, female and male recruits had only made contact during boot camp training at Parris Island at specific, isolated stages in the cycle, like during swim qualifications, at the rifle range and in classroom instructions during the final phase.

The females in the battalion will live together with the males in the barracks, but in separate squad bays, which are open-format floors with bunk beds lining the walls, and include separate sleeping quarters for drill instructors.

It's not likely integration will reach the point where all soldiers are housed together in those squad bays during training at Parris Island, according to Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Robert B. Neller.

'Our drill instructors stay with their recruits 24 hours a day, seven days a week the entire time they are there,' Neller told said during a Pentagon briefing in May.

'So I am not considering having men and women live together in an open squad bay.'

Previously, female and male recruits had only made contact during boot camp training at Parris Island at specific, isolated stages in the cycle, like during swim qualifications, at the rifle range and in classroom instructions during the final phase. The other Marine recruit training installation, located in San Diego, only trains male recruits, but does have some female drill instructors stationed there. A sign at an entrance for US Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in South Carolina is pictured

The other Marine recruit training installation, located in San Diego, only trains male recruits, but does have some female drill instructors stationed there.

Advocates for female Marines have long been calling for full, permanent integration, arguing separating the sexes builds resentment, fuels the false idea that female Marines have it easier in training, and can lead to male Marines disrespecting female superiors and leaders.

'The Marines should fully integrate enlisted boot camp from the first day so all new Marines soak up the Marine Corps ethos together and learn, together, that the unit bond includes both men and women,' retired Navy Capt. Lory Manning, director of government operations at the Service Womens Action Network, told Marine Corps Times prior to the announcement of temporary integration on January 4.

Women account for eight percent of the Marine Corps, and comprise more than 16 percent of the US military overall.

The first female to enlist in the Marine Corps was Opha May Johnson, who signed up at the age of 39 on August 13, 1918, according to Marine Corps Times.
Criminal gangs are infiltrating the prison service to smuggle contraband such as drugs into jails, a senior police officer revealed yesterday.

Assistant Chief Constable Jason Hogg, the National Police Chiefs Councils lead on prison intelligence, fears organised criminals are asking associates or family members to secure jobs with the intention of sneaking illegal items behind bars.

He strongly suspects gangs are infiltrating the prison service, but explained it was difficult to prove.

There are some examples of staff, very soon after they work in that prison estate, whether its as a prison officer or a maintenance worker, if you like, they move towards supplying contraband, Mr Hogg told the BBC.

Assistant Chief Constable Jason Hogg strongly suspects gangs are infiltrating the prison service, but explained it was difficult to prove

And Mark Fairhurst, the national chairman of the Prison Officers Association, said it was very easy to traffic drugs and other illicit items into prisons, with officers rarely searched.

We have got intelligence to suggest people  prison officers and civilian staff  have been targeted and recruited by criminal gangs to get drugs into prisons, he said.

Prisoners to get cheap call rates from their cells BT will charge prisoners less to make calls from their cells than they charge ordinary customers to call the same number, under a controversial scheme. A deal will see BT provide private phones for prisoners. The 10million scheme will see the cost of prisoners calls to loved ones landlines drop to as little as 8p per minute. On BTs standard tariff, a landline-to-landline call can cost up to 15p a minute. Calls to mobiles will cost convicts 18p per minute, the same as BTs standard rate. The scheme is part of a radical shake-up by Justice Secretary David Gauke to help rehabilitate offenders. Landlines will be installed in 50 jails by March 2020, then extended to all 118 prisons in England. Lord Keen, the Governments justice spokesman in the House of Lords, said the prison service was keen to make calls as reasonable as is possible and is therefore working on a programme to extend availability of in-cell telephony... Advertisement

Its very rare. Less than 1 per cent of our staff are corrupt, but it does happen. Last year, prison officer Paul Heap, 43, was jailed for nine years for smuggling 215,000 worth of crack cocaine, heroin and steroid tablets in juice cartons into HMP Altcourse, Liverpool.

In November, Ibrahim Hussain, 20, was sentenced to three years and four months imprisonment after a package containing cannabis, a knife and mobile phones was found in his uniform as he entered HMP Peterborough.

Mr Fairhurst explained how someone with no criminal record, but with links to a crook, is able to get through the recruitment process to join the prison service  and called for a better vetting system, similar to that used by the police.

He also urged the Government to recruit more prison staff and said everyone coming in and out of jails should be searched.

Prisons Minister Rory Stewart told the BBC: Searching, not just in terms of finding a bad apple, but also if you have very good search procedures in place, its much more difficult for a prisoner to put pressure on a prison officer.

An X-ray body scanner has been trialled at HMP Leeds, one of ten prisons identified for improvement in a 10million blitz.
Subcontractors hired to build the troubled Opal Tower claim they went to work for 'bargain basement prices' amid confirmation the building has 'design and construction issues'.

Eight businesses were allegedly required to work for 'unreasonable pay', spokeswoman Louise Stewart from Australian Subcontractors Association told The Saturday Telegraph.

Ms Stewart said due payment came late and some of the subcontractor businesses had issues with variations to their contracts - where they were required to provide additional work.

Subcontractors hired to build the troubled Opal Tower claim they went to work for 'bargain basement prices'

'The project was very competitively priced, which then meant pressure was placed on subcontractors to provide their trade for bargain basement-type prices,' Ms Stewart said.

'There is systematic poor workmanship in that project as the result of the competitive pricing to deliver that project, and as a result of the subcontractors to deliver for very low cost and challenges in getting paid for variations.'

One business reportedly attempted to take legal action against Icon, Opal Tower's builder, under the Security of Payments Act. The adjudicator ruled in Icon's favour.

An Icon spokeswoman rejected allegations they were late to pay their subcontractors, claiming: 'Icon is one of the best payers in the business.'

The revelation comes after engineers hired by the NSW Government determined the 34-storey building has 'a number of design and construction issues'.

The probe is being led by University of NSW dean of engineering Mark Hoffman and University of Newcastle engineering dean John Carter who said on Friday they need 'key information' to conclude the investigation.

The revelation comes after engineers hired by the NSW Government determined the 34-storey building has 'a number of design and construction issues'

'We can say from our initial assessment there is no evidence of any issues with the foundations of the building, though we believe that there are a number of design and construction issues that require further investigation,' they said in a statement.

The duo are expected to release another statement next week.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian empathised with residents of the tower who have been booted amid the investigation.

The residents, who have been put up in hotels, were warned the investigation may take 10 days but there is no confirmation on when they could return.

Ms Berejiklian said she was in support of residents taking legal action,

'I think residents should exercise every right, every legal opportunity they have  I would if I was in their shoes,' she said.
A homeless man has been slapped with a $652 fine for sleeping under a bus shelter in Queensland, sparking outrage online.

The 50-year-old was given an infringement notice by a Gold Coast City Council officer for 'illegal camping' at the Warner Street bus shelter in Coolangatta on November 25 at 2.26am.

'This is totally rubbish, as in human rights you can't fine someone for sleeping when he has no home,' the homeless man said.

'Do you think if he had $652 ... he'd be sleeping in a bus shelter ... pull your head in,' one online user wrote.

A 50-year-old homeless man has been slapped with a $652 fine for sleeping under a bus shelter

Many on social media were left outraged after the man was given an infringement notice by a council officer

Another user implied the officer's actions were hypocritical.

'So you can fine a homeless man but you don't fine the families who decided to take a free holiday camping & taking over Tallebudgera Creek for nearly a week!! Just doesn't make sense!!' she wrote.

'If he is homeless how on earth is he to pay a fine like that. Maybe we need more homeless shelters instead of erecting stupid Gold Coast lights on the highway that you can't even read,' a user said.

The infringement notice also stated the 50-year-old lived rough between Pottsville and Coolangatta.

The man has said he will challenge the fine.

'They can tell them to move on but where are they moving on to? There needs to be places for them to go,' he told the Gold Coast Bulletin.

The infringement notice also stated the 50-year-old lived rough between Pottsville and Coolangatta

A council spokeswoman said they would never issue fines unless they knew they had somewhere else to go

But a council spokeswoman said they would never issue fines unless they knew they had somewhere else to go.

Another homeless man and his two dogs were reportedly living in disabled toilets at Rainbow Bay and Greenmount.

A police spokeswoman said they were aware of the man in the Rainbow and Greenmount area 'and have been working to put him in touch with relevant agencies for assistance'.

Founder of You Have A Friend John Lee, whose organisation feeds about 300 homeless people in the area each week, said the Gold Coast and Tweed had the highest concentration of homeless people in Australia.

But he said nothing is being done about it.
A U.S. delegation that met with Turkish authorities in Ankara this week asked Turkish government to drop the purchase of Russian S-400 missile systems in exchange of U.S. made Patriots, Ahval reports with a reference to Yeni Safak newspaper's report published on Saturday.

The U.S. delegations offer setting the cancellation of the S-400 deal as a a prerequisite for Patriot missile defence system was expected by experts, after the U.S. State Department last month informed the U.S. Congress that it had approved a $3.5 billion sale of Patriot batteries to Turkey.

Ankara signed a contract with Moscow worth a reported $2.5 billion in December 2017 for the purchase of the S-400s despite objections from its NATO allies, who are concerned that the system could collect data on NATO jets and undermine their defences
House prices fell by nearly 60 a day last month as the worst year for the property market since 2013 drew to an end.

The value of a typical home dropped by 1,763 in December alone  the equivalent of 56.87 a day, according to figures from mortgage lender Nationwide. The 0.7 per cent decline, to 212,281, was the largest monthly fall since July 2012.

The slump left prices just 0.5 per cent higher than they were a year earlier  the slowest annual rate of growth since February 2013.

The value of a typical home dropped by 1,763 in December alone, according to figures from mortgage lender Nationwide (file picture)

The figures will fuel fears that the housing market is running out of steam and could face a correction or even a crash in the coming months.

That would spell misery for millions of homeowners, particularly those with large mortgages  although it would be welcomed by first-time buyers struggling to get on the property ladder.

Nationwides figures pointed to a new North-South divide emerging in the housing market  with London and the South-East struggling while the rest of the country fares better.

The building society said prices in London fell 0.8 per cent last year while the so-called outer metropolitan region around the capital suffered a 1.4 per cent decline. The rest of the South East stagnated.

Nationwides figures pointed to a new North-South divide emerging in the housing market with London and the South-East struggling while the rest of the country fares better (file picture)

Across England, prices in the East Midlands rose 4 per cent, while there was a 3.7 per cent gain in Yorkshire and Humberside, 2.9 per cent in the West Midlands, 2.2 per cent in the North West, 2 per cent in the South West and East Anglia and 1 per cent in the North.

Prices were up 5.8 per cent in Northern Ireland and 4 per cent in Wales  but in Scotland, they rose just 0.9 per cent in 2018.

Economic forecaster Ernst & Young Item Club predicted prices would depend on the outcome of Brexit, saying they could rise by 2 per cent this year if there is a deal, but warned that prices would fall by around 5 per cent if the UK leaves without a deal.
Holiday deals have been cut by more than a third today as millions shop for a summer getaway on Sunshine Saturday.

Many Britons stayed at home to enjoy last years scorching heatwave  leading desperate travel companies to slash package prices by up to 60 per cent.

And now prices are up to 36 per cent cheaper than this time last year as firms aim to get travellers booked in before another sizzling summer.

Today is dubbed Sunshine Saturday because it is the busiest day of the year for travel firms, as freezing temperatures hit Britain and custom doubles in the wake of Christmas.

Many Britons stayed at home (pictured in Exmouth, Devon) to enjoy last years scorching heatwave  leading desperate travel companies to slash package prices by up to 60 per cent

Money Mail has found significant discounts are going on packages in Spain and Portugal, with a week in Crete costing as little as 106 per head.

Travel companies are also expecting Britons to want to lock in all-inclusive deals due to uncertainty over Brexit and its impact on exchange rates.

Emma Coulthurst, of comparison site Travel Supermarket, said: It could be the best Sunshine Saturday yet.

After last years prolonged heatwave, tour operators will not want to be left with lots of stock in the summer so are appealing to those late deal hunters to snap up these bargains early.

These holidays have been priced to ensure they are within as many peoples reach as possible. The prices are to appeal to those people who holidayed at home last summer and may have spent more than they expected to. The outbound travel industry will also be hoping for a cooler summer this year.

Money Mail has found significant discounts are going on packages in Spain and Portugal, with a week in Crete (pictured) costing as little as 106 per head

Thomas Cook has already seen all-inclusive bookings for this winter rise 11 per cent compared with this time last year. The firm said online flight bookings to Cancun (pictured) in Mexico up 44 per cent

She added: People dread the return to work and their thoughts turn to booking holidays so they have something to look forward to through the dark winter months. We expect the number of searches on our site will continue to rise for the next couple of weeks.

Thomas Cook said today would likely be its busiest day online and in stores with more than double the bookings on a normal weekend.

The firm has already seen all-inclusive bookings for this winter rise 11 per cent compared with this time last year.

Phil Gardner, its sales and e-commerce director, said: With Christmas all wrapped up this is traditionally the weekend the nation turns its attention to its next holiday.

With a cold snap apparently on the way, we expect getting a sunshine break in the diary will feature on the weekend to-do list along with taking the tree down.

Uncertainty about exchange rates is sure to be on holidaymakers minds more than ever this year so we think all-inclusive packages will prove popular as customers take advantage of being able to lock in costs for food and drink at the time of booking.

He said Turkey was proving a popular destination, with bookings up 57 per cent on last year, as the lira was relatively weak.

Thomas Cook has already seen all-inclusive bookings for this winter rise 11 per cent compared with this time last year. The firm said online flight bookings to Goa (pictured) in India up 28 per cent

The firm said online flight bookings to San Francisco were up 61 per cent, trips to New York up 27 per cent, Goa in India up 28 per cent, and Cancun in Mexico up 44 per cent.

Thomas Cooks share price plunged in November after the firm issued a profit warning.

It unveiled a loss after tax of 163million, blaming extra costs and the effect of the heatwave on holiday bookings.

Reigo Eljas, from travel firm lastminute.com, added: Most airlines and hotels offer deep discounts to attract consumers to book their spring/summer breaks in January, and this is no different this year, meaning you will be able to bag some excellent bargains and get your spring/summer break sorted.

Thousands of passengers have vowed to boycott Ryanair after naming it the worst airline for the sixth consecutive year.

In Which? Travels annual survey on short-haul firms, Ryanair received a dismal customer score of 40 per cent.

Which? said the airlines reputation had declined so much that thousands of the polls 12,500 respondents said they would never fly with it again.
Just four days after a murder at a sex party he has been linked to, it was business as usual yesterday for Lord Eddie Davenport.

The fraudsters central London mansion was hosting a party advertising the best girls and sexual services.

On New Years Day, Tudor Simionov, a 33-year-old bouncer, was knifed to death by a gang who tried to gatecrash a similar event in Park Lane. Witnesses said Davenport, aged 53 and known as Fast Eddie, was collecting money at the party  a claim dismissed by his lawyers.

Lure: A picture used to advertise yesterdays sex party in London. Guests started arriving at 11.30am in Portland Place for the London Adult Party Club

Yesterday guests started arriving at 11.30am at his four-storey property in Portland Place for the London Adult Party Club.

An online advert detailed what was on offer  and left little to the imagination. First to arrive was a group of young women, followed by burly security guards. The advert said the event would feature only our very best girls before adding, in urban slang, what sexual services they would provide.

Three girls were available for the afternoon session  Alice, Iris, Brenda  followed by Malu, Rose and Pink in the evening. A contribution of 100 for single men and 20 for couples and single girls was requested.

Eddie Davenport was given an eight-year jail term in September 2011 for a 4.5million fraud

Organisers promised regular, unadvertised audition girls who would be partying for the very first time. The LAPC website said it had established a reputation as one of the best places in London to have fun, and not just among guys, but among girls who love to party  unlike many similar events, we always have invitations available for single men. The self-styled Lord Davenport originally owned another Portland Place address but sold it to settle a court order to pay 14million to the Serious Fraud Office.

He moved across the road to a venue he has since used to host numerous sex parties, including events involving a group called Killing Kittens, a firm set up by Emma Sayle, a schoolfriend of the Duchess of Cambridge.

Davenport made his name running Gatecrasher balls for public schools. However he was given an eight-year jail term in September 2011 for a 4.5million fraud.

CCTV footage of the New Years Day murder showed Mr Simionov scuffling with a group of men who tried to gatecrash the Park Lane event at 5.30am. He died from a stab wound to the chest.

Two other security staff aged 37 and 29  and a 29-year-old woman who was greeting guests  were also knifed. Mr Simionovs girlfriend plans to take his body back to his native Romania for burial.

The son of hook-handed hate preacher Abu Hamza has been questioned over the murder. Imran Mostafa Kamel, 26, whose father is serving time in a high-security US jail, was charged with unconnected firearms offences.

Davenports lawyer was asked if his client wished to make any comment on the sex party being held in his home but failed to respond.
The time that we spend on landline phone calls has halved in six years amid evidence young people find having a conversation daunting and prefer texts and emails.

Britons spent 103billion minutes on landline calls in 2012 but this plunged to 54billion in 2017.

This was partially offset by a modest increase in voice calls on smartphones, which rose from 132.1billion minutes to 148.6billion over the six-year period.

Britons spent 103billion minutes on landline calls in 2012 but this plunged to 54billion in 2017. Stock image

However, official figures reveal a ten-fold surge in the average persons monthly mobile data use, which covers messaging, apps and emails, over the same period, taking it up to 1.9 gigabytes.

Experts say many younger people prefer using messaging services such as WhatsApp and opt for webchat services  which converse in text  when dealing with companies.

The figures from telecoms regulator Ofcom appear to reflect a wider change in how people interact with one another in a world where they spend their lives focused on computer screens and smartphones.

For example, office workers routinely now send each other emails, even if they sit a few feet apart, rather than having a conversation. Ofcom said: Our research confirms that younger people prefer to use messaging services, such as WhatsApp, rather than use their phones to talk.

As one 18-year-old from Aberdeen told us: Calling someone is a bit daunting. Its much easier and quicker to WhatsApp my friends. If I have to call a company, Ill always try to use webchat if its available.

The research found that older people still prefer having a conversation by phone on the basis it is easier to make themselves understood. One 68-year-old from Belfast told researchers: I prefer to speak to a person. You can get a better understanding.

The research also found people no longer need to remember phone numbers because they now call or message people via smart phone contact lists or click on a company link on a website to dial a number.

The change means that, increasingly, people struggle to remember their own mobile number as they only rarely have to give it out. Ofcom has suggested that, in the future, individuals will have a personal phone number for life  without an area code  which will follow them around.

This is because, increasingly, calls are being made over broadband services, such as WhatsApp and Skype, which do not need an area code. Despite the fall in landline voice calls, most people still need one in the home to get broadband services.
Sajid Javid could be forced to pay the Ministry of Defence up to 1million for using a Royal Navy ship to patrol Britains coastline.

The Home Secretary signed off a 20,000-a-day bill for the use of HMS Mersey to help find migrants crossing the Channel from France.

It came after alleged wrangling between him and Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson over which department should foot the bill.

The 1,700-tonne vessel made its way into position in the Dover Straits yesterday, where it will remain until it is replaced with two Border Force cutters  HMC Seeker and HMC Protector. But they were still in Mediterranean ports last night undergoing routine maintenance, four days after Mr Javid announced their return.

On patrol: HMS Mersey is in the Channel but a long deployment could cost the Home Office

Officials are prepared for HMC Seeker to be back from Gibraltar by the end of the month, but do not expect HMC Protector to return from the Aegean until February. The bill could be as high as 1million if HMS Mersey stays on until later in February.

Lord West, former head of the navy, said the Treasury should be properly funding such missions.

The dear old Home Office are being screwed, he said. This suits the MoD because they get the money but now the Home Office are being squeezed even more to pay for a navy ship. The navy should be properly funded for protection of our coastline instead of departments being forced to play silly buggers over costs.

France also yesterday set out plans to prevent migrants in small boats risking the dangerous Channel crossing. Measures include improved co-operation between law enforcement agencies and more surveillance and security on beaches along the French coastline.

The inter-departmental wrangling over costs comes amid reports that the Defence Secretary has infuriated fellow ministers by charging tens of thousands of pounds for the use of troops.

Mr Williamson told police they would have to cough up 30,000 to use an RAF jet to bring back Manchester bombing suspect Hashem Abedi from Libya.

Sajid Javid could be forced to pay the Ministry of Defence up to 1million for using the Royal Navy ship (pictured meeting Border Force staff at Dover)

Officials at the Home Office were said to have been enraged by the MoD billing them for chemical warfare experts sent to Salisbury after the nerve agent attack.

Mr Williamson is seen as a potential leadership rival to Mr Javid, one of the frontrunners to replace Theresa May.

A government source said: He [Mr Williamson] is trying to bill us for everything.

You would have thought that Gavin would have wanted to make friends across Whitehall in advance of the spending review later this year, not presenting the Ministry of Defence as a cant do organisation.

His allies hit back by stressing that his department was right to charge for military assistance to civilian authorities under Treasury guidelines. They said this was not unusual and any Defence Secretary would charge the same.

A defence source said: Of course we have to get the money back from other departments when the military is called in. If we didnt we wouldnt be able to afford to do the tasks other government departments ask of us.
Cost-conscious Kylie Jenner, worth $900 million, wants a lawsuit by a makeup company claiming she copied a range of their eye shadow to be moved closer to her California home to save money.

The suit, filed in New York federal court, alleges Jenner's company Kylie Cosmetics copied the Born To Sparkle glitter eye shadow palette that had been made 10 months earlier by Sheree Cosmetics.

However, Kylie's lawyers filed papers on January 3 asking the US Southern District of New York court to throw out the lawsuit, or at the very least move it to California where the defendants all live 'in the interest of justice'.

Kylie Jenner, 21, is seen above wearing glitter liquid eye shadow called Born To Sparkle that is identical to one made by Sheree Cosmetics, a federal lawsuit filed in New York alleges

Kylie showed off her Born to Sparkle eye shadow (left) on instagram 10 months after Sheree Cosmetics had released its own Born To Sparkle range (right), the lawsuit claimed

Sheree Cosmetics launched its Born To Sparkle range in October 2017 shortly after the fledgling company from Spanish Fort, Alabama, began.

In July 2018, Kylie, of Hidden Hills, California posted to Instagram Kylie Cosmetics would be releasing a #21 collection of makeup products the next month to mark her 21st birthday. This included Born To Sparkle liquid eye shadow.

Sheree Cosmetics claimed this was grounds for a lawsuit citing trademark infringement.

But in papers obtained by DailyMail.com, Kylie's lawyers state the case, which could last a year or longer, should not be heard in New York but California.

They say: 'Plaintiff is a Missouri limited liability company. It is based in Alabama. Defendants are all based in and near Los Angeles, California, where their relevant witnesses reside and work and where their documentary records are maintained.'

It added: 'It will...be highly more efficient and much less expensive for (1) Plaintiff - who, again, is not even based in New York - to simply retain local representation in the Central District of California than it would be for (2) all of Defendants' principals, witnesses, attorneys and support staff members to travel to Manhattan and stay here during the duration of trial and also for (3) Defendants to have their respective lawyers fly here, stay overnight and miss one to two days in the office for every court appearance and other proceeding throughout the entire pendency of this case for the next year or longer.'

Kylie Cosmetics released the 'Born To Sparkle' eye shadow on August 6 last year. But court documents show Sheree Cosmetics only filed the trademark for 'Born To Sparkle' 24 days later on August 30.

And that is another reason Kylie's lawyers want the suit dropped, because they say a federally-registered trademark was not in place when the infringement allegedly took place.

In an exclusive interview with DailyMailTV last year, Sheree Cosmetics founder Tiffany Herrmann said she felt taking Kylie to court was the only option to protect her company.

Herrmann said, 'We feel the need to protect our business. We worked really hard for it and we just want to make sure we protect Sheree Cosmetics and our ideas.

Sheree Cosmetics founder Tiffany Herrmann tells DailyMailTV she felt taking Kylie to court was the only option to protect her company based in Spanish Fort, Alabama

Herrmann said she feared Kylie's company may have damaged sales for Sheree Cosmetics' Born To Sparkle range.

She said: 'We are a truly self-made business and I wonder who was led to the wrong Born To Sparkle palette when searching for ours.

'As far as an outcome we just want to make sure that Born To Sparkle is protected and that what is right prevails.'

But in the January 3 filing, Kylie's lawyers included a statement from Jennifer Cohan, chief digital officer for Kardashian Jenner Communications, where she stressed Kylie Cosmetics did nothing wrong.

Cohan said: 'Based on....my three plus years professional involvement in Kylie Cosmetics specifically, I confidently conclude that the alleged look and feel of Sheree Cosmetics LLC's packaging, including especially (but without limitation) its printing of short quotes or other phrases thereon, is in no way distinctive or otherwise unique to the plaintiff.

'To the contrary such common place characteristics are exceedingly widespread in our industry and in no way differentiate Sheree from any other in this highly competitive market.'

In July last year, Forbes magazine valued Jenner as being worth $900 million and said Kylie Cosmetics, which she founded in 2016, made up the majority of her fortune, valuing it at $800 million.

Forbes predicted she would become richer while still 21, making her the world's youngest self-made billionaire. Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg has held that title since 2008 at age 23.
Tragic: Schoolgirl Milly Dowler was murdered in 2002

Victor Kelly liked to boast he had served jail time with the Kray Twins. True or not, the claim underpinned his untouchable status in the neighbourhood where he conducted a decades long campaign of paedophile grooming and abuse.

Kellys stamping ground was on the fringes of West London, not very far from the setting of a new docu-drama called Manhunt which begins on prime time ITV tomorrow.

The three-part series focuses on the serial killer Levi Bellfield, who murdered 13-year-old schoolgirl Milly Dowler in 2002, took the lives of two other young women and tried to murder a fourth within the space of 30 months.

Martin Clunes plays Detective Chief Inspector Colin Sutton, who led the Metropolitan Police team which finally brought Bellfield to justice.

While the original investigation into Millys disappearance, carried out by Surrey police, was a shambles, Manhunt  and the Colin Sutton memoir upon which its based  will show how Scotland Yards finest worked determinedly and tenaciously to trap a psychopath in the end.

Thanks to their efforts, depraved Bellfield, a 20 st father of 11 with a hatred of blondes and predilection for raping under-age girls, will die in prison.

But now a deeply troubling question is being asked: how much of his sexual offending has been identified, let alone punished? And did Bellfield always act by himself?

This week, days before Manhunt was due to air, the Met announced it will look into new concerns that Victor Kelly and Levi Bellfield were in league with as many as five other predatory paedophiles active in a relatively small area of West London and North Surrey. There is a fear some of the circle could still be offending.

The allegations were made in an internal report commissioned by Hillingdon Council in West London, and compiled by the local authoritys child sexual exploitation manager, Debbie Weissang.

According to sources, she believes there is evidence Bellfield, and at least six other men he knew through his security work at nightclubs and wheel- clamping business, targeted girls as young as 13 for sex during the early 2000s.

They used drink and drugs to rape and assault at least 17 identified teenagers and young women, some of whom were in council care, her report alleges.

A flat in Hanworth, West London, was allegedly used by Bellfield and his cohorts. The date-rape drug GHB was slipped into the drinks of victims during parties. Sometimes the attacks were filmed for later gratification.

One 14-year-old claims to have been assaulted in the Hanworth raping room only days after Bellfield murdered a young Frenchwoman called Amelie Delagrange in Twickenham, in August 2004.

Father-of-11 Levi Bellfield (pictured) killed Milly Dowler in 2002, took the lives of two other young women and tried to murder a fourth within the space of 30 months

Three witness statements obtained by detectives during the Delagrange murder investigation had referred to a video showing Bellfield and other men having sex with an under-age girl.

She was dressed in a school uniform, said to belong to the daughter of a middle-aged Asian also participating.

Some of the girls interviewed by police referred to the abusers as their dad ring. Police have yet to find the video.

Ms Weissang identified girls who were abused by Bellfield and his confederates after analysing confidential children and social care files, as well as information from the police. Bellfield was the kingpin of the gang and involved in the majority of their alleged sex offences, it is claimed.

Ms Weissang launched her review following a referral from Surrey Childrens Social Care about a woman linked to an associate of the serial killer.

The Mail understands she raised concerns  about how Bellfield and his associates escaped justice for a large number of sex crimes  with a former senior detective in the Met who was involved in the Bellfield murder investigations.

According to sources, she was told by him the Met focused on the murders Bellfield committed  not the sexual offences. They viewed the latter as a lower priority than nailing him for the killings.

Debbie Weissang said of her report, which was handed to the Met more than a year ago: If lines of inquiry have not been exhausted, then I would suggest that consideration be given to holding a public inquiry.

The Met confirmed it had received Ms Weissangs report, which would be investigated where appropriate. It declined to answer further questions yesterday.

Hillingdon Council said her dossier had been carefully reviewed in partnership with the police to ensure a timely and proportionate response.

Ex Met DCI Colin Sutton said: There is new information in (the report) that my investigation was not aware of. I think the police . . . should be taking it very seriously indeed.

So, were Bellfields killings just the most appalling manifestation of a long campaign of sexual terror pursued by him and others against young women? Should the Met  rightly praised for solving the murders  have done more to stop the men from committing, and possibly continuing to commit, other sex offences?

The grooming gang scandals in Rochdale and Rotherham have shown what damage can be done to scores of young lives when the authorities fail to act on available intelligence and evidence. The Hillingdon allegations bear striking parallels.

The fact is that Levi Bellfield should not have been at liberty to begin his killing spree. The failure to identify him quickly as a suspect in the murder of Milly Dowler was an indictment of the justice system.

Beasts: Suraj Gharu (left) was jailed for abducting a 13-year-old girl and Victor Kelly, who conducted a decades long campaign of paedophile grooming and abuse

In 2008, a Mail investigation discovered that between 2000 and 2002, Bellfield was reported by name to the police no less than 93 times by alleged victims of sexual assaults, threats, obscene phone calls and physical attacks.

Incredibly, the flood of accusations was never cross-checked by officers, leaving Bellfield with an arrogant belief that he could outsmart the authorities.

He boasted he had shaved his entire body to avoid leaving DNA evidence and  apparently to curry favour with detectives  even acted briefly as an official police informant. He was, in his own words, like his associate Victor Kelly, who is also named in the Hillingdon report, untouchable.

Over the years he had a string of girlfriends and fathered 11 children by five mothers. He used prostitutes, and stalked nightclubs and bus stops for blonde girls.

According to detectives, at least six victims, some as young as 14, were given date rape drug, Rohypnol, or Ketamine, a horse tranquilliser, before being raped by him.

Milly Dowler went missing on her way home from school on March 21, 2002. Her body was found in a Hampshire wood six months later after Surrey polices investigation had been blighted by errors.

One was particularly egregious. Bellfield had spent much time at his girlfriends home in Walton-on-Thames, yards from where Milly was last seen alive. During door-to-door inquiries, police knocked at the property ten times without reply  and then gave up.

But the Met Police also failed to share with Surrey colleagues intelligence it had concerning Bellfields alleged offending against girls and young women.

As a result, Bellfield was free to bludgeon to death 19-year-old student Marsha McDonnell in nearby Hampton in February 2003.

He then tried to kill convent school head girl Kate Sheedy, 18, in Isleworth in May 2004, by running her down and reversing over her. He used a hammer to kill Miss Delagrange three months later.

Reportedly, it was only after Delagranges death that intelligence was shared between police forces.

Bellfield was arrested at his home in West Drayton that November by Met Police officers investigating the French womans death.

At the Old Bailey in 2008, he was convicted of the murders of Miss Delagrange and Miss McDonnell and the attempted killing of Miss Sheedy.

It was not until 2011 that he was convicted of the abduction and murder of Milly Dowler, following an investigation by Surrey Police. By then, two of his alleged criminal associates  both named in the new Hillingdon report  had also been jailed for serious paedophile offences.

One, Victor Kelly, was a career criminal with underworld connections, of which he bragged to associates in Hayes, a suburb close to Heathrow airport. He was feared on his estate, and in 2001 was suspected of being involved in a gang murder, though never charged.

But he was also a sexual monster with a taste for under-age girls, instructed to call him Uncle Joe.

Police believed hed been an active paedophile for many years, abusing as many as 200 children. Officers knew of at least 30 victims over just seven years, but many others may have gone unreported.

In the end, he was only caught following a counter-terrorism style operation in which detectives bugged his car and home.

In 2005, Middlesex Guildhall Court heard there had been a continuous stream of girls under 16  the legal age of sexual consent  visiting Kellys flat where hed installed a large plasma screen TV and PlayStation. But the prosecution case rested on how he had befriended one 12-year-old from a poor background, offering her cigarettes, cannabis and cocaine.

Martin Clunes as DCI Colin Sutton, who led the Metropolitan Police team which finally brought Bellfield to justice

The girl ran away from home to Kelly, and he drove her in his BMW to a side street near Hillingdon Hospital where he sexually assaulted her. He then demanded he take her virginity. She told him he could when she was 16. A covert microphone recorded Kelly telling her: You see the thing about it is . . . Im not waiting . . . no way.

During the conversations, he could be heard talking about milk  which was his word for cocaine.Kelly said she could have as much milk as she wanted if she came to live with him. When police raided his flat, they found a love-letter from a 14-year-old, and a 12-year-olds pyjama bottoms, indicating other children had been in the flat.

Kelly, then 62, admitted one charge of sexual grooming of a child, sexual assault on a child under 13, supplying cocaine, and offering to supply cocaine, and was jailed for eight years.

Afterwards, Detective Chief Inspector Matt Sarti, of Scotland Yards Paedophile Unit, said: Victor Kelly was an extremely ruthless man who preyed on vulnerable children and families. I was convinced there were other children Kelly had abused but have not yet come forward.

Two did, indeed, come forward.

In 2007, Kelly was jailed for a total of 17 years for raping a ten-year-old girl and her 13-year-old sister and supplying them with drugs. He told the teenager that having sex with him would stop her getting spots. He had such a hold over the sisters that the older one even cooked and cleaned for him.

Sources have told the Mail that Victor Kelly is still in prison. If so he would be 75.

The Mail understands Levi Bellfield may have known Kelly via another man, Suraj Gharu, whose name appears in the Hillingdon report. Like Bellfield, Gharu lived in West Drayton and was said to have introduced the future killer to a 13-year-old girl in 2001.

The child was taken to Bellfields home, drugged and raped. Later, she was encouraged to have sex with his friends while being filmed.

Gharu was jailed in 2005 for a number of paedophile offences. Although his offending would seem to have been extensive, the prosecution case only concerned one under-age girl hed abducted from a Hillingdon childrens home for sex. Gharu, 25, received five years imprisonment. The Mail was unable to find him for comment.

Meanwhile, Bellfields own sexual offending went unpunished. Following his arrest for murder in 2004, he was reportedly charged with nine rapes on three former partners  and quizzed about five other drug-rapes.

But he was never prosecuted for any of these offences  and they were kept secret from the Milly Dowler murder jury.

At the time of his conviction in June 2011 for Millys murder, detectives said they believed Bellfield may have been responsible for around 20 sex attacks which were never solved.

Even from behind bars, where he has converted to Islam and now calls himself Yusuf Rahim, Bellfield has enjoyed playing mind games with the authorities and his victims. That much was made clear by Milly Dowlers family after he finally confessed to the crime in 2015, and gave police a graphic description of her murder.

In a statement, her parents Bob and Sally, and sister Gemma, said: Bellfield made it clear to police that he would only speak to female police officers.

Bellfield provided the officers with a harrowing account of Millys final 14 hours. Giving details of her abduction, repeated rape, torture and then finally how he murdered her.

The psychopaths insistence that only female detectives interview him was reminiscent of screen character Hannibal Lecters obsession with FBI trainee Clarice Starling, played by Jodie Foster, in the film The Silence Of The Lambs.

While Bellfield will always be infamous for the brutality of his murders, the question now is whether his killing spree overshadowed the wider damage he and his friends inflicted upon perhaps hundreds of vulnerable girls and young women across West London and suburban Surrey.

Is seems possible, probable even, that only a tiny percentage of the crimes, and the perpetrators, have been prosecuted. Will the Met Police now seriously revisit this injustice, or will it take a public inquiry for the matter to be properly addressed at last?
GUILTY: MICHAEL FLYNN

Pleaded guilty to making false statements in December 2017. Awaiting sentence

Flynn was President Trump's former National Security Advisor and Robert Mueller's most senior scalp to date. He previously served when he was a three star general as President Obama's director of the Defense Intelligence Agency but was fired.

He admitted to lying to special counsel investigators about his conversations with a Russian ambassador in December 2016. He has agreed to cooperate with the special counsel investigation.

GUILTY AND JAILED: MICHAEL COHEN

Pleaded guilty to eight counts including fraud and two campaign finance violations in August 2018. Pleaded guilty to further count of lying to Congress in November 2018. Sentenced to three years in prison and $2 million in fines and forfeitures in December 2018

Cohen was investigated by Mueller but the case was handed off to the Southern District of New York,leaving Manhattan's ferocious and fiercely independent federal prosecutors to run his case.

Cohen was Trump's longtime personal attorney, starting working for him and the Trump Organization in 2007. He is the longest-serving member of Trump's inner circle to be implicated by Mueller. Cohen professed unswerving devotion to Trump - and organized payments to silence two women who alleged they had sex with the-then candidate: porn star Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal. He admitted that payments to both women were felony campaign finance violations - and admitted that he acted at the 'direction' of 'Candidate-1': Donald Trump.

He also admitted tax fraud by lying about his income from loans he made, money from taxi medallions he owned, and other sources of income, at a cost to the Treasury of $1.3 million.

And he admitted lying to Congress in a rare use of the offense. The judge in his case let him report for prison on March 6 and recommended he serve it in a medium-security facility close to New York City.

GUILTY AND JAILED: PAUL MANAFORT

Found guilty of eight charges of bank and tax fraud in August 2018. Sentenced to 47 months in March 2019. Pleaded guilty to two further charges - witness tampering and conspiracy against the United States. Jailed for total of seven and a half years in two separate sentences. Additionally indicted for mortgage fraud by Manhattan District Attorney, using evidence previously presented by Mueller

Manafort worked for Trump's campaign from March 2016 and chaired it from June to August 2016, overseeing Trump being adopted as Republican candidate at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. He is the most senior campaign official to be implicated by Mueller. Manafort was one of Washington D.C.'s longest-term and most influential lobbyists but in 2015, his money dried up and the next year he turned to Trump for help, offering to be his campaign chairman for free - in the hope of making more money afterwards. But Mueller unwound his previous finances and discovered years of tax and bank fraud as he coined in cash from pro-Russia political parties and oligarchs in Ukraine.

Manafort pleaded not guilty to 18 charges of tax and bank fraud but was convicted of eight counts in August 2018. The jury was deadlocked on the other 10 charges. A second trial on charges of failing to register as a foreign agent due in September did not happen when he pleaded guilty to conspiracy against the United States and witness tampering in a plea bargain. He was supposed to co-operate with Mueller but failed to.

Minutes after his second sentencing hearing in March 2019, he was indicted on 16 counts of fraud and conspiracy by the Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., using evidence which included documents previously presented at his first federal trial. The president has no pardon power over charges by district and state attorneys.

GUILTY AND GOING TO WEEKEND JAIL: RICK GATES

Pleaded guilty to conspiracy against the United States and making false statements in February 2018. Sentenced to 45 days weekend jail and three years probation, December 17, 2018

Gates was Manafort's former deputy at political consulting firm DMP International. He admitted to conspiring to defraud the U.S. government on financial activity, and to lying to investigators about a meeting Manafort had with a member of congress in 2013. As a result of his guilty plea and promise of cooperation, prosecutors vacated charges against Gates on bank fraud, bank fraud conspiracy, failure to disclose foreign bank accounts, filing false tax returns, helping prepare false tax filings, and falsely amending tax returns.

GUILTY AND JAILED: GEORGE PAPADOPOLOUS

Pleaded guilty to making false statements in October 2017. Sentenced to 14 days in September 2018, and reported to prison in November. Served 12 days and released on December 7, 2018

Papadopoulos was a member of Donald Trump's campaign foreign policy advisory committee. He admitted to lying to special counsel investigators about his contacts with London professor Josef Mifsud and Ivan Timofeev, the director of a Russian government-funded think tank.

GUILTY AND JAILED: RICHARD PINEDO

Pleaded guilty to identity fraud in February 2018. Sentenced to a year in prison

Pinedo is a 28-year-old computer specialist from Santa Paula, California. He admitted to selling bank account numbers to Russian nationals over the internet that he had obtained using stolen identities.

GUILTY AND JAILED: ALEX VAN DER ZWAAN

Pleaded guilty to making false statements in February 2018. He served a 30-day prison sentence and was deported to the Netherlands on his release

Van der Zwaan was a Dutch attorney for Skadden Arps who worked on a Ukrainian political analysis report for Paul Manafort in 2012.

He admitted to lying to special counsel investigators about when he last spoke with Rick Gates and Konstantin Kilimnik. His law firm say he was fired.

GUILTY: W. SAMUEL PATTEN

Pleaded guilty in August 2018 to failing to register as a lobbyist while doing work for a Ukrainian political party. Sentenced to three years probation April 2019

Patten, a long-time D.C. lobbyist was a business partner of Paul Manafort. He pleaded guilty to admitting to arranging an illegal $50,000 donation to Trump's inauguration.

He arranged for an American 'straw donor' to pay $50,000 to the inaugural committee, knowing that it was actually for a Ukrainian businessman.

Neither the American or the Ukrainian have been named.

CHARGED: KONSTANTIN KILIMNIK

Indicted for obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice. At large, probably in Russia

Kilimnik is a former employee of Manafort's political consulting firm and helped him with lobbying work in Ukraine. He is accused of witness tampering, after he allegedly contacted individuals who had worked with Manafort to remind them that Manafort only performed lobbying work for them outside of the U.S.

He has been linked to Russian intelligence and is currently thought to be in Russia - effectively beyond the reach of extradition by Mueller's team.

INDICTED: THE RUSSIANS

Twenty-five Russian nationals and three Russian entities have been indicted for conspiracy to defraud the United States. They remain at large in Russia

Two of these Russian nationals were also indicted for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and 11 were indicted for conspiracy to launder money. Fifteen of them were also indicted for identity fraud.

Vladimir Putin has ridiculed the charges. Russia effectively bars extradition of its nationals. The only prospect Mueller has of bringing any in front of a U.S. jury is if Interpol has their names on an international stop list - which is not made public - and they set foot in a territory which extradites to the U.S.

INDICTED: MICHAEL FLYNN'S BUSINESS PARTNERS

Bijan Kian (left), number two in now disgraced former national security adviser Mike Flynn's lobbying company, and the two's business partner Ekim Alptekin (right) were indicted for conspiracy to lobby illegally.

Kian, an Iranian-American was arrested and appeared in court charged with a conspiracy to illegally lobby the U.S government without registering as a foreign agent. Their co-conspirator was Flynn, who is called 'Person A' in the indictment and is not charged, offering some insight into what charges he escaped with his plea deal.

Kian, vice-president of Flynn's former lobbying firm, is alleged to have plotted with Alptekin to try to change U.S. policy on an exiled Turkish cleric, Fethullah Gulen, who lives in Pennsylvania and who is accused by Turkey's strongman president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, of trying to depose him.

Erdogan's government wanted him extradited from the U.S. and paid Flynn's firm through Alptekin for lobbying, including an op-ed in The Hill calling for Gulen to be ejected. Flynn and Kian both lied that the op-ed was not paid for by the Turkish government.

The indictment is a sign of how Mueller is taking an interest in more than just Russian involvement in the 2016 election.

GUILTY AND AWAITING SENTENCE: ROGER STONE

Roger Stone, a former Trump campaign official and longtime informal advisor to Trump, was indited on seven counts including obstruction of justice, witness tampering, and lying to Congress about his communications with WikiLeaks in January 2019. Convicted on all counts November 15, 2019, awaiting sentence

Stone was a person of interest to Mueller's investigators long before his January indictment, thanks in part due to his public pronouncements as well as internal emails about his contacts with WikiLeks.

In campaign texts and emails, many of which had already been publicly revealed before showing up in Mueller's indictment, Stone communicated with associates about WikiLeaks following reports the organization had obtained a cache of Clinton-related emails.

Stone, a former Nixon campaign adviser who has the disgraced former president's face permanently tattooed on his back, has long been portrayed as a central figure in the election interference scandal.

'They got nothing,' he said of the special counsel's investigation.

Stone gave 'false and misleading' testimony about his requests for information from WikiLeaks. He then pressured a witness, comedian Randy Credico, to take the Fifth Amendment rather than testify, and pressured him in a series of emails. Following a prolonged dispute over testimony, he called him a 'rat' and threatened to 'take that dog away from you', in reference to Credico's pet, Bianca. Stone warned him: 'Let's get it on. Prepare to die.'

CLEARED: GREG CRAIG

Greg Craig, President Barack Obama's White House counsel, was indicted for failing to register as a foreign agent. Mueller's investigators uncovered Craig's work on behalf the government of Ukraine while probing Manafort, who did business with Craig.

Prosecutors released a grand jury indictment of Craig in April 2019, after Craig's law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP agreed to pay more than $4.6 million as part of a settlement. The prominent firm also acknowledged it had failed to register, and placed much of the blame on Craig, a senior partner there.

Craig's lawyer blasted the decision as an abuse of prosecutorial discretion, and prepared to argue that omission of information during an interview is not tantamount to making false statements.

The charges stem from a 2012 report Craig and the firm produced on behalf of the Ukrainian government on opposition figure and former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko. She was an opponent of Manafort's client , former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.

Craig was cleared on September 9 2019.
Krista Faye Owens, 38, was arrested in Tennessee woods for allegedly shooting dead a 75-year-old man in his home

A Tennessee woman has been arrested and charged in the murder of a 75-year-old man.

Krista Faye Owens, 38, was arrested in the woods on December 10 after allegedly shooting Billy Joe Huskey, 75, in his home.

Huskey was taken to the University of Tennessee Medical with a gunshot wound where he later died.

When officers arrived to the scene, Owens had fled on foot into the woods nearby and was arrested on an outstanding warrant.

A Sevier County Grand Jury indicted Owens Wednesday on charges of first degree murder, aggravated robbery and aggravate assault.

She's also been charged with aggravated burglary and attempted first degree murder.

Authorities say officers were called to the scene around 3pm by a woman who was also inside the home during the shooting but fled to a neighbor's property immediately after.

Owens is being held on $750,000 bond.
Like all the best fairy godmothers, Margo Cornish is kind, capable and blessed with a capacity for transforming young lives with a sprinkling of stardust.

Margo, 56, a chatty Scots-born mum-of-four, could have settled for a self-indulgent life as a wealthy corporate wife in Cheshires affluent stockbroker belt.

Instead she strives to bring magic and glamour to the lives of teenagers and young women who have endured devastating cancer treatment, by arranging for them go to their school proms and parties looking like fairytale princesses.

Margo set up The Cinderella Project six years ago and, enlisting help from hair stylists, make-up artists and clothes shops, she arranges makeovers for girls whose illnesses have often left them without hair, bereft of confidence and isolated from their peers.

Margo Cornish (centre) set up The Cinderella Project six years ago and, enlisting help from hair stylists, make-up artists and clothes shops, she arranges makeovers for girls whose illnesses have often left them without hair, bereft of confidence and isolated from their peers

Margo, who has devoted 16 years of her life to volunteering, has raised 650,000 for charities, notably the Teenage Cancer Trust, for which she is an ambassador.

She is married to Charlie, 59, CEO of Manchester Airports Group, and they have four children  twins Eilidh and Calum, 26, Katie, 22, and Fiona, 19.

The Cinderella Project  a small, community-funded scheme  is her brainchild.

The idea for it formed when she met schoolgirl Emma Cosgrove in 2012 through her charity work.

Emma died of a particularly rare and aggressive form of bone cancer, osteosarcoma, five years later, aged 19  but during their short friendship, her courage and selflessness left an enduring mark on Margo.

Emma was inspirational, she says. She was so beautiful it took your breath away. She was also clever, strong, articulate and caring.

At Manchester Childrens Hospital, where she was treated, she was known on the ward as the angel because she was so good with the little children who had cancer, reassuring them about their treatment and chatting to them. She was also great fun and full of mischief. She touched my heart.

When she missed her school prom and 16th birthday celebrations because she was too ill to go, she was devastated. Shed been having particularly gruelling treatment, and even if shed been strong enough, at that point shed have felt too anxious and self-conscious to go to a ball.

Margo, who has devoted 16 years of her life to volunteering, has raised 650,000 for charities, notably the Teenage Cancer Trust, for which she is an ambassador

But, as her next birthday approached, her mum Cheryl wanted her to have a surprise Sweet 17th birthday party instead, so thats when I stepped in to be her fairy godmother.

I arranged for her to have her hair and make-up done and a lovely dress to wear so she looked her absolute best for the party.

She was so happy on the day that she told me: My face aches with smiling. Thats when I thought: If I could do the same for other girls with cancer, wouldnt it be wonderful?

Id come across so many who told me: I feel horrible and I just want to look like all the other girls at school. Theyd been robbed of their self-esteem and just wanted to look their best again.

Their friends were going to proms and it seemed so unfair that they were missing this special teenage milestone.

I know how much they mean  I have three gorgeous daughters who had all enjoyed the excitement of their proms.

Chemotherapy treatment can be so harsh on young bodies  patients can lose their hair, and have bloating and sickness to deal with as well as extreme tiredness.

Most young cancer patients have to take time off school as their immune system is vulnerable, and they experience isolation and loneliness. Going to a prom can feel like an impossible dream.

I decided to help them go to the ball, just like Cinderella, and it has meant the world to them.

Theyve loved having their hair and make-up done and wearing such beautiful dresses. It has made them feel special, after everything they have been through.

'We have a collection of Sherri Hill and Little Mistress dresses for them to wear, and weve teamed up with evening-wear boutique Diamante, Harvey Nichols Manchester, Benefit Cosmetics, Trevor Sorbie salons and BK Limos to make sure all our Cinderellas go the prom in style.

Margo, who is still in touch with all of the 20 Cinderellas she has helped get ready for a prom or special event, says: Id rather do this than be a typical corporate wife going to the gym and getting my nails done.

Its so fulfilling, but I laugh as I rarely have time to pay attention to my own appearance, so while my Cinderellas go to their proms looking gorgeous, I invariably turn up to black-tie events looking as if Ive been dragged through a hedge backwards.

She smiles, adding: People ask me if Ive got a magic wand. I wish I did! If I had one Id be using it all the time to make people well and happy.

ALEX GARDNER, 22

Alex lives in Stockport, Manchester, with her parents Julie and John and sister Olivia, 19

Alex lives in Stockport, Manchester, with her parents Julie and John and sister Olivia, 19. Doctors diagnosed her with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2011. She had chemotherapy for nearly three years and is now in remission.

She says: Chemotherapy made me feel really unfeminine and when I did go back to school I was bald and people stared at me.

I was still having treatment at the time of my prom  I had doubts about even going  and my hair was very short. But the stylist from The Cinderella Project put sparkly pins in it and made me look really glamorous.

The chemo also left me with bad acne on my face, so to have my hair and make-up done made me feel a lot more confident. I loved the long, strapless dress I wore and got quite a few admiring glances.

LUCY BRIGGS, 17

Lucy was diagnosed with a brain tumour, aged 11, in 2012

Lucy was diagnosed with a brain tumour, aged 11, in 2012. Now recovering with the support of her mum Adele and her four siblings, she lives in Blackpool, Lancashire. Her condition is stable.

She says: I went to the opticians for a routine appointment and they discovered that I had a swollen optic nerve.

I was immediately sent to Oldham Hospital, where a CT scan showed I had a brain tumour. The next day I had an 11-hour operation to remove most of it.

After ten weeks in hospital I had to learn how to walk properly again. In June 2014 I went to the U.S. for more treatment, and in 2016 I had chemotherapy to try to shrink the tumour more.

Id been through a lot when it came to the school prom. I kept trying on dresses that didnt feel right. My body didnt feel as if it belonged to me.

But then Margo came along and helped me choose a gorgeous fitted dress. I felt like the belle of the ball thanks to my fairy godmother!

CASEY JONES, 17

Casey, from Manchester, lives with parents Carol and Les, and siblings Dylan, ten, Ady, six, and Seana, 13

Casey, from Manchester, lives with parents Carol and Les, and siblings Dylan, ten, Ady, six, and Seana, 13. She was diagnosed with stage-four Hodgkins lymphoma in 2016 after discovering lumps on her neck and under her arms. Shes now in remission.

She says: Ever since I was a little girl I dreamt of looking and feeling beautiful for my prom, but being diagnosed with cancer knocks your confidence.

You feel less attractive and much more insecure. And during six months of chemo I was weak and tired all the time. I felt such a boost to my self-esteem when Margo and her team took over. Thanks to The Cinderella Project I had my hair and make-up done, wore a gorgeous bottle-green-coloured dress. I arrived at the venue with my best friend in a fancy Mercedes. I felt like a princess.

OLIVIA CORK, 22

Olivia lives in Stockport with partner Sam Shaw, 26

Olivia lives in Stockport with partner Sam Shaw, 26. She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in January 2011. Shes now in remission.

She says: A swelling in my right calf seemed to come up overnight. At first doctors thought it was caused by a cut on my leg.

They gave me antibiotics, but a week later a scan showed a cancerous tumour. It was such a shock.

I had four months of chemotherapy before having my right leg amputated, and then had another seven months of chemo.

Losing my leg didnt affect how I felt about my femininity, but losing my hair did. The Cinderella Project made me feel beautiful again.

LAUREN WILDE, 18

Lauren lives in Alderley Edge, Cheshire, with parents Jacqui and Phil and brother Sam, 20

Lauren lives in Alderley Edge, Cheshire, with parents Jacqui and Phil and brother Sam, 20. She was told she had Hodgkins lymphoma in 2013, after finding a lump on her neck. Following seven months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, she is now in remission.

She says: Chemotherapy made me feel really poorly. I couldnt walk because I had no energy and leg pain. I felt very lonely because all my friends carried on with their lives without me. I couldnt go out with them any more.

Being with friends is a massive part of a teenage girls life, and all that was taken away from me.

The Cinderella Project gave me back my confidence and thats a fantastic thing, because cancer treatment robs you of it.

KATIE MacRAE, 16

Katie lives in Preston, Lancashire, with mum Nanette Weeks, dad Callum MacRae and sister Ella, 14

Katie lives in Preston, Lancashire, with mum Nanette Weeks, dad Callum MacRae and sister Ella, 14. She was diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer of the liver, pancreas, spine and lung in September 2017, after showing no initial symptoms. Chemotherapy has reduced the size of the tumours, but left Katie with compression fractures of the spine.

She says: Ive got to have a scan in June to see if I need to have more chemotherapy treatment. The doctors are really interested in my case because my cancer is so rare.

During chemo, I was so ill I didnt even want friends to come round, let alone think about prom.

As I began to feel a little better and the prom was in sight, I began to think about what to wear. The Cinderella Project was fabulous.

Margo is my fairy godmother! She found me a dress that made me feel and look amazing. I was so pleased to be able to go to the prom with supportive friends. After everything Id been through during the last six months, I really felt like a princess.

MEGAN BRICKLES, 19

Megan lives in Manchester, with mum Janine, dad Alan and her four brothers

Megan lives in Manchester, with mum Janine, dad Alan and her four brothers. She was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in October 2013 after suffering from headaches, dizziness and difficulty breathing. Shes in remission.

She says: I initially went to the doctor because I was getting bruised all over my body and I didnt know what was causing it. Even a slight bump would cause a massive black bruise.

It was a big shock when I was diagnosed. I never thought it would be something as serious as cancer, but after seven months of chemo Im now in remission.

I felt so fantastic in my dress. When youre going through treatment with no hair or eyelashes, you feel ugly and horrible. It made me feel normal again.

LAURA SHERIDAN, 19

Laura lives in Bury, Lancashire, with parents Cath and John

Laura lives in Bury, Lancashire, with parents Cath and John. She was diagnosed with Ewings sarcoma in 2013 after a tumour developed in her left leg. Her cancer also spread to her lungs.

She says: I had chemo for six months, then had to have my left leg amputated below the knee, before having another six months of chemotherapy. Then I had radiotherapy to treat my lungs. In January last year, after five years, I got the all-clear.

During my treatment I lost all my hair and a lot of weight, too  it took a big toll on my body. I had to drop out of school for a year and I was sick and tired all the time.

I didnt feel like myself for a long while. All my friends were going to birthday parties which I couldnt go to, and I had to stop my dance classes which I loved.

At the prom I felt comfortable in my own skin for the first time since my treatment began. It really helped boost my confidence in my own body after the toll the cancer had taken on me.

CHARLOTTE JENNINGS, 16

Charlotte lives with parents Lynne and Paul and brother Mike, 24, in Stockport, Manchester

Charlotte lives with parents Lynne and Paul and brother Mike, 24, in Stockport, Manchester. She was diagnosed with a rare form of acute myeloid leukaemia five years ago. After a bone-marrow transplant, she spent two months in isolation due to the risk of infection. Her treatment continues.

She says: I was absent from school for about 15 months, and although Ive got a really strong friendship group, it felt like all my friends had moved on without me, as I wasnt well enough to do the things they were doing, such as going shopping or hanging out at each others houses.

But The Cinderella Project made me feel like a princess. Margo helped me pick out a prom dress  I was worried about the scars from my operation, but she chose one and said It looks gorgeous, which made me feel so comfortable in it. Then we chose a necklace that hid the scars on my neck.

Dad gave up work for a year to look after me and wed never have been able to afford such a lovely dress.

I was named Prom Queen, which was an honour I wasnt expecting. I got to keep the dress, too, and I wore it to my 16th birthday party.

MELISSA SUTTON, 19

Melissa lives in Rochdale with mum Alison, stepfather Jason, brother Daniel, 23, and boyfriend Dale, 24

Melissa lives in Rochdale with mum Alison, stepfather Jason, brother Daniel, 23, and boyfriend Dale, 24. She was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer, Ewings sarcoma, in July 2014 after suffering pain in her left rib. Shes now in remission.

She says: Chemotherapy just wiped me out. I was so sick I couldnt eat anything. I kept getting nosebleeds, too.

All my hair fell out so I got a wig, but I never really wore it. I decided to embrace my baldness.

But I just wanted to be like every other teenager again. The hardest part about chemotherapy is knowing the world outside is carrying on without you. Seeing friends out partying while I was stuck in the hospital was tough.

I didnt want to go to my school prom because I felt so low and lacking in self-esteem, but Margo stepped in and got me a beautiful white dress with a jewelled top.

I had my make-up done, too, and prom turned from something I was dreading into such a lovely occasion. I appreciate everything in life more now.

To donate to The Cinderella Project visit runwayontherunway.co.uk
The head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Crimea, Sergey Shakhov, said today that tourists were advised to temporarily refuse to visit the Crimean mountains after the incident with the blockade of more than 300 tourists on Ai-Petri plateau.

According to meteorologists, today and tomorrow snow avalanches are expected in the Crimean mountains. We strongly recommend tourists to refrain from the mountain routes, RIA Novosti quotes him as saying.
Prince Harry is preparing to attend winter war-games in Norway, lending his support to elite British troops as they practice a massive mock counterattack against Russia.

The Royal will join more than 1,000 elite Royal Marine commandos to practice a defence of the Scandinavian nation against a putative Russian invasion, which is seen as being a potential site of invasion by the Kremlin.

It is reportedly set to be one of Britains biggest Arctic military exercises in 20 years.

Prince Harry will join more than 1,000 elite commandos to practice a defence of Norway against a putative Russian invasion. Pictured: stock images of marines in Norway

Prince Harry, a former army captain, will spend several days observing the multi-million pound war games. Pictured: Prince Harry patrols the deserted town of Garmisir close to FOB Delhi (forward operating base) while posted in Helmand Province in Southern Afghanistan

It comes amid increasingly fraught and tempestuous relations between Russia and Europe, with frequent Russian incursions reported in UK airspace

The demonstration is designed to be seen as a show of strength against Putins Russia=, amid fierce geopolitical tensions resembling the worst of the Cold War.

In 2017, Prince Harry replaced the Duke of Edinburgh as ceremonial head of the Royal Marines.

The 34-year-old former Army Captain will spend several days observing the multi-million pound war games, with his appearance signed off by Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson.

It is not clear if Prince Harry's pregnant wife Meghan will be making the trip to Norway or staying in Britain.

A military source last night confirmed that Prince Harry would be attending the war games on an official visit.

He wont be in uniform, it is a visit. Hes going to show his support for the troops, the source told the Mail.

A senior military source told the Mirror: It will be high-tempo, extremely realistic and his involvement is good news for the Marines, who will see his involvement as a very positive message of encouragement to the Corps.

They are the main force who will protect Europes northern flank in the event of a conflict, the tip of the spear, and it is important Harry is among the troops.

The 8000-strong demonstration will reportedly include light-armoured Marine vehicles, mortar, rocket, artillery and anti-tank attacks. The battle is said to involve special forces and commandos leading a retaliation against a Russian invasion.

It is not clear if Prince Harry will be joined by his wife Meghan, who is pregnant with their first child

Prince Harry, who has previously fought for the army and discussed killing Taliban insurgents while piloting an Apache helicopter in Afghanistan, reportedly told close friends he is overjoyed at being back in the military fold.

A royal insider told the Mirror: The duke is relishing his role with the Royal Marines and taking it extremely seriously.

His grandfather Prince Philip carried out his duty with the Marines with such distinction, which Harry particularly admired.

Throughout his military career, Harry always had the greatest of respect and admiration for the Marines and he has always been fascinated by their valour and courage.

It comes amid increasingly fraught and tempestuous relations between Russia and Europe, with frequent Russian incursions reported in UK airspace.

Relations have been at an all-time low since two Kremlin agents attempted to poison former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the Salisbury novichok attack last year.

And Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt yesterday issued a further warning to Moscow after it emerged that a man arrested on espionage charges in Russia has joint American-British citizenship.

Mr Hunt said that that Paul Whelan, 48, should not be used as a pawn in diplomatic chess games after he was accused by the Kremlin of obtaining state secrets.

Prince Harry is set to fly out to Norway from RAF BRIZE Norton jn Oxfordshire in the coming weeks.

He will then head out to a remote military base to join British troops from 42 Commando, American, Dutch and Norwegian combat marines.

Around 8000 soldiers will be involved in the demonstration, including forces from both the US and Europe.
Dozens of deadly funnel-web spiders and tarantulas are being bought and sold online by Australians, who aren't required to have a permit to own them.

Adult tarantulas are being sold on online shopping site Gumtree for up to $180 across New South Wales.

Funnel-webs, who have venom strong enough to kill a human in minutes, are being sold for $60 each in Sydney, while tarantulas are being sold for $1 a millimetre in Queensland.

Deadly funnel-web spiders are being bought and sold online by Australians who aren't required to have a permit

About 10,000 tarantulas are being poached in the Queensland wildlife every year, according to the Department of Environment and Science

Adult tarantulas are being sold on online shopping site Gumtree across New South Wales for up to $180

About 10,000 tarantulas are being poached in the Queensland wildlife every year, according to the Department of Environment and Science.

Leading arachnologist Dr Robert Raven said the 'deadly spiders' being imported into New South Wales, are 'at the top of the toxic chart for Australia and even the world'.

Dr Raven warned the funnel-web spiders are not harmless pets after a woman died in 15 minutes when she was bitten on the chest while sleeping.

'They'll kill your dog and cat in less than 30 minutes,' he said.

Breeder and environmental science student Alex Booth, 21, sells the deadly creatures on Gumtree when he has stock.

One keen would-be buyer from the north east of NSW put up an ad on the website looking to buy 'primitive spiders' like funnel-webs, mouse and trapdoor spiders.

One keen would-be buyer from the north east of NSW put up an ad on the website looking to buy 'primitive spiders' like funnel-webs, mouse and trapdoor spiders

One keen person for the north east of NSW put up an ad on the website looking to buy 'primitive spiders' like funnel-webs, mouse and trapdoor spiders

Mr Booth said spider ownership is increasing in popularity among those who want to keep deadly animals in their 'man caves'.

'I think people just get the fix for something deadly,' he told the Gold Coast Bulletin.

'You don't need a license to own them which is a bit of a worry, you should be 18-plus,' said Mr Booth.

'There's nothing stopping people at the moment.'

Sydney homeowner Scott McGufficke was given the shock of his life after he picked up a spider and put it into a container only to discover it was a funnel-web.

An expert from Taronga Zoo told Mr McGufficke the scorching summer is the worst arachnid season ever and advised residents to exercise caution.

13 deaths from funnel-web bites have been recorded in the country to date, according to the Australian Museum.
New Zealand plans to embrace pill testing while Australian politicians refuse to even discuss the idea despite five drug-related music festival deaths in recent months.

Police Minister of New Zealand Stuart Nash said testing tents that identify the substance of recreational drugs are a 'fantastic idea and should be installed at all our festivals'.

Mr Nash's comments came days after fake MDMA pills containing pesticides and paint were seized at Rhythm and Vines, an annual new years festival held in Gisborne, New Zealand.

Pill testing has been implemented in countries around the world in a bid to reduce harm related to drug use at music festivals.

New Zealand plans to embrace pill testing while Australian politicians refuse to toy with the idea despite five drug-related music festival deaths in recent months

The method recognises users will still take the drugs but gives them the opportunity to learn if the illicit pills contain dangerous chemicals.

'The war on drugs hasn't worked in the past 20 years, so it's time to change to a more compassionate and restorative approach,' Mr Nash told Stuff.

'If someone is dealing they will be taken through the justice system. But if it was someone who has one or two pills, you don't want them to get a criminal record for a bad decision.'

Two days later Mr Nash followed up on his initial comments on pill testing in interview with New Zealand Station RadioLIVE.

'We can be all high and mighty and moral about this, and we'll still have young people ending up in hospital, still taking drugs,' he said on Thursday.

Former Prime Minister of New Zealand Helen Clark welcomed the ministers comments in a post shared to Twitter.

KnowYourStuffNZ has been testing substances for the past four years at events in New Zealand

Pill testing is about harm minimisation - recognising users will still take the drugs but giving them the opportunity to learn if the illicit pills contain dangerous chemicals (stock image)

'Good to see positive comments on need for #drugtesting @ festivals by both NZ Police Minister @Stuart_NashMP and Opposition Spokesperson @CJSBishop. This harm reduction measure will save lives,' she wrote.

The heightened discussion comes amid Australian politicians hesitation to welcome the idea of pill testing.

There have been five drug-related festival deaths in less than five months in Australia.

Most recently a 20-year-old man, who attended Beyond the Valley festival in Lardner, about 100km east of Melbourne, died on Tuesday of a suspected overdose after being transported to hospital on Saturday.

Another suspected drug overdose claimed the life of Joshua Tam, 22, who died from what was believed to be a mix of alcohol and ecstasy tablets taken at the Lost Paradise festival, near Gosford on NSW's Central Coast.

Former Prime Minister of New Zealand Helen Clark welcomed the ministers comments in a post shared to Twitter

The heightened discussion comes amid Australian politicians hesitation to welcome the idea of pill testing (pictured: revellers at Lost Paradise festival)

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian who was against the idea of pill testing has recently softened her stance.

Ms Berejiklian ruled out the testing after Callum Brosnan, 19, died after Knockout Games of Destiny dance party at Sydney Olympic Park early December 2018.

But on Wednesday she suggested the government would adopt pill testing if there was proof the method is effective.

'If there was a way in which we could ensure that lives were saved through pill testing we would consider it  but there is no evidence provided to the government on that,' she told reporters.

In April last year, Australia's first pill testing trial was hailed as a 'success'.

The trial at Groovin The Moo music festival in Canberra found two potentially deadly samples.

Police Minister of New Zealand Stuart Nash (pictured) said testing tents that identify the substance of recreational drugs are a 'fantastic idea and should be installed at all our festivals'

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured) who was against the idea of pill testing has recently softened her stance

But other states continue to oppose the introduction of pill testing, SBS reported.

Acting Victorian Premier Tim Pallas remained adamant their would be no change to introduce testing.

'It would create a false sense of security if essentially we were allowing people to access pill testing rather than say 'don't take illicit drugs',' he said.

Western Australia has also ruled out pill testing and the Liberal government in Tasmania described the idea as 'quality assurance for illicit and unlawful drug pushers'.

The health minister in Queensland is taking into consideration the results of Canberra's trial.

KnowYourStuffNZ has been testing substances for the past four years at events in New Zealand.

There is growing support from members of the public to implement pill testing despite the refusal from Australian politicians.

There have been five drug-related festival deaths in less than five months in Australia

Alison Ritter, a drug policy expert from the University of New South Wales, said there was no evidence to suggest pill testing would increase use.

'We know that it doesn't produce an increase in drug use, and there's no evidence of harm associated with pill testing,' she told the ABC.

'What's clear from the results of the services operating (in Europe) is that people make different choices based on the results of the testing  some choose to put their drugs into an amnesty bin, others choose to take half as much as perhaps they thought they would.'

Matt Noffs, CEO of the Ted Noffs Foundation, advocates for harm reduction and the foundation launched a campaign 'Take Control' to make Australia safer when it comes to drugs.

'It's time to end the fear tactics. It's time to end the marketing gimmicks,' the website says.

'People need real resources to reduce the harms associated with drug use.'

After the first pill testing trial in April 2018, Mr Noffs tweeted: 'Here is Australia's first official #pilltesting service in numbers.'

'128 participants, 85 samples tested, 50 per cent was 'other' (lactose, sweetener, paint), 50 per cent was pure MDMA, two of the samples were deadly.'

'So, harm reduced. We did it.'
Fidel Castro's grandson has been on the receiving end of negative comments after photos surfaced of the young man flaunting the family's wealth on social media.

Various South Florida-based media outlets covering the Cuban community came across Tony Castro's snaps just days before the Communist island celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution, led by his grandfather who would later rule for five decades before dying in 2016.

The lives of the former Cuban leader's immediate family members have always been somewhat of a secret to the outside world.

Tony Castro, who is in his 20s, managed to keep a low profile despite being active on Instagram.

But the Miami Herald and other media organizations got hold of some photos that today are only visible by his 1,300 followers.

Just days before welcoming 2018, Tony Castro, grandson of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro, jetted off to Madrid to celebrate the end of the Christmas holiday season

Fidel Castro's grandson flashes the family's wealth while sunbathing aboard a yacht in the middle of the ocean

Not too much is known about the secret lives that the former Cuban ruler's family lives, but his grandson was publicly criticized this week after his Instagram photos made news

On an island where bread, eggs and other basic foods have become scarce - an issue the current regime blames on the United States government imposed embargo - Tony Castro showed off his taste for fine liquors and foods during an uncle's birthday celebration.

The young man shared a photo during a night out in Havana after having a meal with his mother Lissete Ulloa, and a photograph of himself behind the wheels of a BMW.

Traveling the globe and documenting it has always been at the top of his list.

One of his trips led him to Panama City in April 2017, according to America Teve.

Fidel Castro's grandson takes a BMW out for a spin. His Instagram photos created a negative wave of comments

After visiting Madrid towards the end of 2017, Tony Castro went back to Spain to visit Barcelona in July 2018

Fidel Castro's grandson (pictured right with a female acquaintance) made his Instagram account private this week after South Florida media outlets covering the Cuban community published some of his photos that show off a luxurious style of living

Tony Castro has over 1,000 followers on his private Instagram account

Tony Castro goes out for a stroll with his mother Lissete Ulloa (right) in Havana

Tony Castro (right) enjoys a day with the family while celebrating his uncle's (left) birthday

He's also been a regular visitor of Spain, which maintains a bilateral relationship with the Caribbean communist government.

According to his private Instagram account, Castro posted a picture of his trip to Madrid, in December 2017, just days before the year came to a close.

In July 2018, the youngster, who has always shown an affinity for the world of fashion, was once again spotted in Spain, this time in Barcelona while checking out the scene near La Sagrada Familia, the famed unfinished Roman Catholic church.

But Mexico perhaps was the jet setter's favorite destination in all of 2018.

Castro visited the hip tourist attraction, Isla del Carmen with a female acquaintance in March and the following month returned, sharing a scenic shot of himself sitting with an ancient Mayan temple in the background.

One twitter user, Juan Gallardo, said Cuba's current president Miguel Diaz-Canel is standing there like a 'mannequin' while people 'are suffering from repression, hunger, lies, humiliations and miseries. Who is paying for all of Tony Castros... luxuries, riches and comfort?'

Justicia Divina wrote: 'Tony Castros son is displaying posts that arent precisely historic but are luxurious. The people are stuck in slavery and hunger'

The posts were met with backlash, with one Twitter user, Juan Gallardo, saying Cuba's current president Miguel Diaz-Canel is standing there like a 'mannequin' while people 'are suffering from repression, hunger, lies, humiliations and miseries.'

He adds: 'Who is paying for all of Tony Castros... luxuries, riches and comfort?'

Another Twitter user wrote: 'I'm sure the struggling citizens of Cuba just love this...'

According to the Miami Herald, Pedro Perez used a quote from George Orwell's Animal Farm when he wrote on Facebook: 'All the animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.'

Animal Farm, a satire of Stalinism which condemned totalitarian practices and presented Stalin as a traitor of the Russian Revolution, is banned in Cuba.

Justicia Divina wrote on Twitter: 'Tony Castros son is displaying posts that arent precisely historic but are luxurious. The people are stuck in slavery and hunger.'
Fracking, a government priority, is to be effectively banned in Manchester

Fracking is to be effectively banned in Manchester as part of the citys efforts to become carbon neutral.

The expansion of fracking  fracturing of rocks deep underground to release shale gas  is a government priority as it wants to reduce dependence on gas from overseas.

But Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham wants to create a presumption against the practice.

Mr Burnham said he hoped energy companies would respect the policy set in Greater Manchester and not apply to frack there. Fracking is to be effectively banned in Manchester as part of the citys efforts to become carbon neutral [File photo]

The Labour politician said the city and its surrounding towns should concentrate on greener energy such as that from renewable sources.

Mr Burnham, wants Manchester to be carbon neutral by 2038 said: Its about embracing the future, not the past.

Cities like Greater Manchester need to join the group of leading cities on the world stage that are driving fast towards carbon neutrality. That is a big challenge and it must be embraced wholeheartedly.

Mr Burnhams commitment, part of the citys planning framework, is to be launched on Monday.

Mr Burnham said he was also worried about earth tremors caused by fracking operations by Caudrilla in Fylde, Lancashire, which started in October despite protests.

The fracking was opposed by the local council but given planning permission after an appeal.

Seismic activity caused by drilling broke government imposed limits three-times in the run-up to Christmas.

For the legal limits to be breached so regularly is a worry. Its hard to know what damage is being done, Mr Burnham told the Guardian newspaper.

Mr Burnham said he was also worried about earth tremors caused by fracking operations by Caudrilla in Fylde, Lancashire, above, which started in October despite protests [File photo]

Its even more worrying in Greater Manchester, which is a much more urban place, where there is more contaminated land, more mineshafts.

The mayor does not have the power to implement a full ban on fracking, as that would need a change in government policy.

Energy firms already have licences to pursue oil and gas reserves underground in the west and north of Greater Manchester and there was experimental methane and shale gas extraction at Barton Moss, Salford, in 2013-14.

Mr Burnham said he hoped energy companies would respect the policy set in Greater Manchester and not apply to frack there.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has already said he will block any fracking plans in the capital.

Several other major councils  including Leeds, Wakefield, Hull and York  have expressed their opposition to fracking.

The Government wants to pursue shale gas extraction where it is economically efficient, and robustly regulated.
Shane Burcaw, from Minneapolis, Minnesota has exposed the difficulties for disabled people in using public restrooms

An American wheelchair-user has exposed the appalling difficulties he faces after being forced to lie on a urine-soaked floor in a London public toilet.

Shane Burcaw, from Minneapolis, was visiting London with his girlfriend Hannah Aylward when the pair encountered difficulties using the accessible toilet in St Pancras International Station.

In a video taken by the couple, Hannah is seen being forced to lay Shane on the floor covered in urine and dirty toilet paper in order for him to use a travel urinal.

The couple posted the 'embarrassing' video online to highlighted the daily difficulties faced by disabled people in situations most of us take for granted.

Shane, who has a neuromuscular disease, said: 'There was no changing table inside, which is what I normally use to go to the bathroom.

'I need to be laying down, not in my wheelchair, in order to comfortably use my travel urinal.

'Because there was no changing table, and because the toilet was too big, I had to lay on the floor, which was unfortunately covered in urine and other mysterious liquids.'

In the video, Hannah tries to lift Shane onto the toilet which is too big for his body, putting him at risk him falling in. She tries twice to lift him in two separate positions without luck.

Shane says: 'I'm gonna fall in. Or lay me on the floor. I'll just do it like that'.

Hannah tries to lower Shane in two separate positions onto the toilet but the seat is too big for him

Finally Shane was forced to lie on the dirty and urine soaked floor to be able to relieve himself

Hannah is forced to lay her boyfriend of three years on the floor of the public restroom, which was covered with toilet paper and urine.

'Oh! It's wet. Something's wet. Oh God,' Shane is heard saying. 'I'm lying on a peepee floor.'

'Should have brought my toilet seat,' he adds.

The couple have said that people find their relationship 'peculiar' since Hannah (pictured) is not disabled

Hannah explains to the viewer that this is is solution the couple are often foced to adopt to pee in public.

'It's all wet! And the toilet paper is stuck to my foot,' she can be heard saying.

Shane says changing tables should be available in all public restrooms, especially larger ones that can accommodate adults.

'Many of the accessible toilets we encountered in the UK did not have any changing tables at all.

'Not only is this a problem for me, but it's a problem for people with or without disabilities who have children that need a changing table.'

'Otherwise, we were really impressed with the accessibility in the UK compared to what we have here in the US.'

Shane and Hannah, who is able-bodied, have been vlogging about their interabled relationship for about six months, hoping to reduce stigma around disabilities and normalize relationships like theirs.

In the bio from their YouTube channel, the couple say that they often find people find their relationship 'peculiar' and that while Shane's disability plays a huge role in their lives, it is not in the way people usually think.

A HS1 Ltd Spokesperson said: 'We are very disappointed to hear about Mr Burcaws experience and apologise for any distress caused.'

'We are speaking to station management to find out more about the circumstances of the incident and will look into Mr Burcaws recommendations for improving accessibility in the station.'

Shane and Hannah have started vlogging about their interabled relationship, hoping to reduce stigma around disabilities and normalize relationships like theirs
A Delaware animal shelter has found an underfed female terrier mix named Sky (pictured) abandoned outside its facility with a note that says her owner became homeless, asking the shelter to care for her

A Delaware animal shelter has found an underfed dog abandoned outside its facility with a note that said her owner became homeless and could no longer care for it.

The female terrier mix named Sky was found on Wednesday outside the Delaware Humane Association in Wilmington, according to the News Journal.

'Please take care of Sky,' the note read. 'She is six years old and friendly. I couldn't take care of her. I became homeless and couldn't feed her. She is not sick, just hungry, very friendly. Please find her a home. Please.'

Shelter director Kerry Flanagan Bruni said Sky is about 20 pounds underweight, weighing in at 30 pounds right now.

The Delaware Humane Association is accepting donations specifically for Sky.

Those wishing to provide support can click here, select 'restricted donations' and note 'Skys the Limit' in the comments section to make sure the funds are earmarked for the pup's care.

The female terrier mix named Sky was found on Wednesday outside the Delaware Humane Association in Wilmington with a note that read, 'Please take care of Sky. She is six years old and friendly. I couldn't take care of her. I became homeless and couldn't feed her. She is not sick, just hungry, very friendly. Please find her a home. Please'

Shelter Director Kerry Flanagan Bruni said Sky is about 20 pounds underweight, weighing in at 30 pounds right now

'It appears just to be that she wasn't being fed the proper amount," Flanagan Bruni said.

'She's very sweet, very friendly' to both people and dogs, the director said, adding that other than being very thin, 'she's doing great.'

Test results checking for possible parasites that may be contributing to Sky's low weight are pending.

'It appears just to be that she wasn't being fed the proper amount," Flanagan Bruni said, noting that test results checking for possible parasites that may be contributing to Sky's low weight are pending

The shelter says Sky will be held several days, at least through Monday, and then fostered.

Applications are currently being accepted to help care for Sky, with a final determination for her initial placement on hold until Monday, when what's called a 'stray hold' expires.

The assumed owner, who said they were without a place to stay, could possibly reclaim Sky if that person's situation has changed.

'We would be willing to work with them to reunite them, but it would really depend on the situation and the owners circumstances,' Flanagan Bruni said.

Applications are currently being accepted to help care for Sky, with a final determination for her initial placement on hold until Monday, when what's called a 'stray hold' expires

If reuniting did prove to be the best option for Sky, the person would have to show proof of ownership as well as reimburse the shelter for any medical care provided, but not would not be charged a fee to reclaim her.

'Sometimes, the best option is to surrender a pet if you are unable to care for them, which includes shelter,' the director said.

About 15-20 animals are abandoned to the shelter each year, Flanagan Bruni estimated.

Abandoning is different than surrender, however.

A surrender is not anonymous, requires an appointment so the shelter can evaluate the animals and the shelter's current available resources, and does involve a $75 suggested donation.

Walk-in surrenders are not accepted by the no-kill shelter in Delaware, but it has accepted a lesser donation when needed, Flanagan Bruni said.

In contrast to the relatively small number of abandoned animals, last year, the Delaware Humane Association took in about 400 owner surrenders and nearly 600 stray animals.

The locations also accepts animals, when it can, from other shelters that are lacking in space or resources.

The shelter posted a Facebook status with a direct link for donations to support Sky's recovery on Thursday, which had raised $812 by Saturday afternoon.
The codebreakers of Bletchley Park are rightly considered as some of the finest minds in British history who made a huge contribution to the Allies winning the Second World War.

But what many don't know is that codebreakers were just as important during the First World War.

In October 1914, a new intelligence agency was formed within the British Admiralty to monitor wireless communications and intercept and transcribe secret messages sent by the Germans.

It was one of these messages being deciphered that led to arguably the biggest turning point of the war - the decoding of the Zimmermann Telegram and the entry of the US.

Sarah Ralph, former Bletchley Park employee, said learning about the country's first codebreakers is vital because their efforts allowed Alan Turing and his fellow mathematicians to 'hit the ground running' at the outbreak of World War Two.

This image taken in June 1919 shows some of the Room 40 codebreakers including Major Malcolm Hay (back left) in their secret office in London. The organisation had a pivotal role in bringing the Great War to an end and enabled the British military to 'hit the ground running'

Room 40's greatest achievement was deciphering the Zimmermann Telegram, pictured, a coded message from Germany to Mexico discussing the possibility of a war against the US. After spending weeks decoding it, Room 40 eventually showed it to the Americans and were able to convince them it was genuine, causing public opinion in the US to turn further against Germany and leading to support for their entry into the war

Sir William 'Blinker' Hall, pictured, was a driving force behind Room 40. He followed his father into the Royal Navy in 1884, rising to the rank of Admiral by the time the First World War broke out. He assumed control of Room 40 in late 1914 and it was his decision to withhold the Zimmermann telegram from his superiors for three weeks so he could come up with an adequate cover story to stop the Germans realising the British had broken their codes and prevent the Americans realising the UK was monitoring their communications

Room 40 was formed when director of naval intelligence Admiral Sir Henry Oliver gave intercepted messages from Berlin to director of naval education Alfred Ewing, a Scottish scientist who was interested in ciphers as a hobby.

Ewing then recruited civilian codebreakers who helped decripher around 15,000 coded telegrams and wireless communiques during the war.

It gained its name after the organisation was taken over by Sir Henry's successor, Admiral Sir William 'Blinker' Hall, who moved them to Room 40 in the Admiralty Old Building in Whitehall.

Their efforts were aided by the capture of codebooks from German ships by the Russians and the Royal Navy early on in the war.

Another boost came when British officials confiscated luggage of German agent Wilhelm Wassmuss in then-Persia and shipped it unopened to London to Sir William, who discovered another codebook inside.

Although the civilian codebreakers were only allowed to decipher the messages, and not examine and interpret them, their work proved crucial in January 1917 when the war was still at a stalemate.

Germany was keen to incite a war between the US and Mexico, hoping it would tie down American forces in a land conflict on its own continent, preventing them entering the war and slowing down or stopping the supply of arms to the Western powers.

According to annotations on the photograph, this image features Mr Phillipson Stour, Captain DH Lindsay, Mr Maine, Major Hay and Captain Brooke Hunt. Major Hay was one of Sir William's key aides and photos of the team at Room 40 were presented to him upon his retirement

The work by Room 40 inspired more focus to be placed on codebreaking and the Naval organisation was merged with its Army counterpart post war to become the Government Code and Cypher School, which then moved to Bletchley Park, paving the way for the breaking of the Nazi German Enigma codes during World War Two. Pictured are codebreakers at Bletchley Park

Civilians played a key role in Room 40 and those with a keen interest in cyphers and puzzles were sought out to help. Room 40 paved the way for military intelligence during warfare. But their superiors had to keep their efforts secret from the enemy, particularly the Zimmermann Telegram. To achieve this, Sir William came up with a story that a British agent in Mexico had paid off an embassy worker to steal a copy of the text

The German's also feared their policy of unrestricted submarine warfare - the sinking of ships belonging to the Western powers and their allies without warning - could also prompt the US to join the war given the deaths of American passengers on board the Lusitania in 1915.

German Foreign Secretary Arthur Zimmermann sent the telegram promising to fund a Mexican campaign against the US should they appear likely to enter the war.

Such a conflict would also allow Mexico to regain land lost in Texas, Arizona and New Mexico.

Although Mexican President Venustiano Carranza looked into the feasibility of the plan, he was fighting a civil war and his position was too unstable to commit to attacking the US.

The Zimmermann Telegram in full 'We intend to begin on the first of February unrestricted submarine warfare. 'We shall endeavor in spite of this to keep the United States of America neutral. 'In the event of this not succeeding, we make Mexico a proposal of alliance on the following basis: make war together, make peace together, generous financial support and an understanding on our part that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. 'The settlement in detail is left to you. 'You will inform the President of the above most secretly as soon as the outbreak of war with the United States of America is certain and add the suggestion that he should, on his own initiative, invite Japan to immediate adherence and at the same time mediate between Japan and ourselves. 'Please call the President's attention to the fact that the ruthless employment of our submarines now offers the prospect of compelling England in a few months to make peace. 'Signed, ZIMMERMANN' Advertisement

The telegram was ironically sent to German ambassador to Mexico Heinrich von Eckardt via the US, afterPresident Woodrow Wilson had agreed to allow the Germans to use its communication cables to maintain good relations and possibly broker a peace.

It left the Germans nervous, however, as they were relying on the message being relayed to Washington without the US readings its contents.

They eventually persuaded the US ambassador to Germany to accept it and send it on in coded form, and it was transmitted on January 16, 1917.

Because German cables had been cut by the British, the telegram had to be sent first through the US embassy in Denmark, and then via a relay station near Land's End, Cornwall, which was secretly copying all communications to Room 40.

This allowed the codebreakers to partially decipher the telegram by January 17, but it would not be passed to government superiors for three weeks.

The delay was used to fully decrypt the telegram but was also ordered by Sir William because he did not want the US to know Britain was monitoring its communications nor reveal to the Germans their codes were vulnerable.

But the British also needed to be able to convince the Americans the message was legitimate and not a forgery, leaving Sir William battling to create a cover story that would save face while bringing the US into the fray.

He was helped out by Germany resuming unrestricted submarine warfare on February 1, causing the US to break off diplomatic relations two days later after public opinion swayed against the Kaiser's regime.

After weeks decoding the note, in a moment which has been cemented in wartime history, one of the codebreakers Nigel de Grey, addressed a meeting where he announced: 'Ladies and gentlemen, we are going to win the war.'

Another legendary codebreaker who worked on decoding the document was Dillwyn 'Dilly' Knox, a classics scholar who worked for the secret organisation from 1915. According to reports, Knox liked to work while sat in a hot bath - and even cracked one of the most important German codes while enjoying a long soak.

Knox, who was keen on poetry, was studying German communications when he realised that words ending in 'en' - Frauen, Rosen and Lieben - might be derived from a poem. His stroke of genius helped crack that the code was the enciphered version of a poem by Schiller.

To fool the Americans, Sir William launched a complex plan, using a British agent named Mr H in Mexico to bribe the Mexican telegram office for a copy of the coded message, which would match the message sent from the US in its commercial telegraph records.

Pictured: Alastair Denniston was a codebreaker in Room 40 during the First World War and became Commander of the Government Code & Cypher School when it set up at Bletchley Park. He recruited a lot of the early codebreakers and was replaced as Commander by Edward Travis in 1942

Pictured: Some of the Naval officers who worked at Room 40, based out of the titular room in the Old Admiralty Building in Whitehall. They worked alongside civilian codebreakers and managed to work out more than 15,000 encrypted messages during the conflict, including communiques that led to the Battle of Jutland

He showed the message to Edward Bell, a US official in their embassy in London, on February 19, who initially deemed it a forgery.

The British then told the US their intelligence agents had stolen the message in Mexico, and Bell was eventually convinced, leading to the the telegram being verified.

It was passed between British and US officials for several days before finally being shown to President Wilson, who released it to the media on February 28.

Meanwhile the Germans refused to accept their codes had been broken and instead ordered Zimmermann to launch a manhunt for a possible traitor in his office.

The reaction in the US was one of rage, while it also heightened US-Mexican tensions.

Zimmermann then removed any doubts by confirming the telegram was genuine to an American journalist in early March, and a month later the President asked Congress to approve a declaration of war against Germany.

Room 40 also played a role in tracking the movements of the German navy during the war, intercepting signals sent to the fleet to determine its position.

Such intelligence was involved in the decision to send out the Royal Navy for the only major naval battle of the four-year conflict, the Battle of Jutland, that ended in a costly draw with the British losing more than 6,000 men and 151 ships.

Following the war Room 40 was merged with its counterpart in the Army, MI1b, to form the Government Code and Cypher School.

It was this organisation that would move to Bletchley Park and enlist the likes of Alan Turing to break the Enigma code.

And the GC&CS would itself go on to become the modern day GCHQ, relocating to Cheltenham in the 'Doughnut' building, working to protect Britain against foreign threats and subterfuge.
WHISTLE IN THE DARK by Emma Healey (Penguin 8.99, 336pp)

WHISTLE IN THE DARK

by Emma Healey (Penguin 8.99, 336pp)

Costa Prize-winning Healeys second novel, like her first, Elizabeth Is Missing, is a further excursion into the disturbing secrets that lurk just beneath the surface of domesticity.

Healeys narrator, Jen, has just lived through the worst week of my life. Her 15-year-old daughter, Lana, has been found after disappearing for four days, with apparently no memory of what had happened to her.

Meanwhile, Jens elder daughter, sensible Meg, has just announced that she is pregnant by a donor.

Healeys tense and perceptive thriller offers a compellingly readable account of an ordinary family driven to the brink of disaster by the wrenching dramas of troubled adolescence .

THE SOBER DIARIES by Clare Pooley (Coronet 8.99, 336pp)

THE SOBER DIARIES

by Clare Pooley (Coronet 8.99, 336pp)

Clare Pooley realised she had a drink problem the morning after her birthday party, when she found herself in the kitchen of her home at 11am with a horrendous hangover, drinking red wine from a mug.

She had known for some time that her relationship with alcohol was unhealthy  I cant remember the last time I went a whole day without a glass of wine  and when she added up her consumption, it came to around ten bottles a week.

Raddled, overweight and permanently hungover, she decided there and then that she had to stop drinking.

Her funny and inspiring account of her first year without alcohol, during which she was also treated for breast cancer, is based on her hugely popular blog, Mummy Was A Secret Drinker.

HEARTS AND MINDS by Jane Robinson (Black Swan 9.99, 400pp)

HEARTS AND MINDS

by Jane Robinson (Black Swan 9.99, 400pp)

When we think of the struggle for womens suffrage, the names that come to mind are those of militant suffragettes such as Emmeline Pankhurst or Emily Davidson.

But in 1913, a non-militant group of suffragists organised The Great Pilgrimage, a protest march involving 50,000 women in what the social historian Jane Robinson describes as one of the most inspiring and neglected episodes in British history.

Millicent Fawcett, whose statue stands in Parliament Square, led the National Union of Womens Suffrage Societies, whose members set off for London from places as distant as Newcastle, and Lands End.

They walked, rode and travelled in a horse-drawn caravan, and along the way stones and dead rats were thrown at them.

But they also found joy in the camaraderie of their cause. Hearts And Minds is a timely reminder of the courage of these unsung campaigners.
Stanford University has developed a psychotherapy 'chatbot' to help people deal with conditions such as anxiety (file photo)

Just a week into the New Year and Im already frazzled, juggling work, family and the lingering feeling of anti-climax that comes at the end of the festive season.

And so I find myself in a psychotherapy session. Its a place Ive been to before.

Hows it going, Jo? my therapist asks.

Anxious, I reply.

What follows is a ten-minute conversation, where I am asked probing questions to challenge the self-sabotaging thoughts so common with anxiety: that I cant cope, that Im weak and less capable than others. These are, my therapist explains, examples of black and white thinking: extremes that arent actually true.

Its not that I cant cope  its just that Ive got a lot to think about right now. And Im not weak. In fact, I manage a lot. Friends arent really more organised than me, and so on.

By the end of the session, I feel calmer somehow. What my therapist doesnt know is that, in fact, Im a journalist, and although like millions of Britons I have some experience of anxiety, Ive invented this scenario to test his abilities.

Oh, perhaps I should also mention that my therapist is actually a robot  or rather, an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot app.

Short for chat robot, a chatbot is simply a computer program that simulates human conversation with a user in everyday language, through messaging applications, websites, mobile apps or the telephone.

A natural evolution of those annoying automated telephone answering services, we interact with them all the time without really knowing: banks, estate agents and online shops use them as customer service agents.

When you start chatting in one of those little pop-up dialogue boxes on a website to enquire about your shopping order, it may well actually be a chatbot youre talking to.

Traditional psychotherapy sessions involve talking to a human practitioner, picture posed by model

There are a number of AI mental health apps available now, which aim act as a personal therapists to help tackle mental health challenges including depression and anxiety.

But the one Ive been using, called Woebot, was created by researchers at the world-renowned Stanford University in the United States, and consistently gets high ratings in reviews. Our session was carried out via a messenger-style app on my smartphone while I sat at my desk. To be honest, I was sceptical about the chatbot. After all, the whole point of therapy is to talk to someone, isnt it? But after a few days of using Woebot, Im won over.

Using the principles of NHS recommended cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), it suggests tools  practical strategies that people can implement  to change the way they think about events in their lives. Its very similar to what happens in a real-life CBT session.

The new service has an automated 'chat bot' which uses cognitive behavioural therapy techniques to help patients deal with issues such as anxiety, picture posed by model

Woebots creators insist it is not a replacement for a therapist. But a study conducted before it launched found it brought about significant reductions in anxiety and depression in users. Today, NHS services are stretched more than ever, with patients in some areas of the country waiting more than two years for an initial appointment with a psychotherapist  the gold-standard treatment for a host of common problems including anxiety and depression. This comes at a time when need seems to have never been greater. So could new technology like this be a solution?

A recent review of studies, published in the journal World Psychiatry, compared people who received CBT treatment online with those who received it in person and found that both settings were equally effective.

A chatbot seems like a logical next step in many ways.

After setting up an account (where I am assured about the complete confidentiality of everything I divulge) and letting Woebot know that I would prefer to chat in the morning, the following day I am prompted by a message that pops up on my phone asking: Hows it going today, Jo? Want to check in?

Woebot does feel a bit clunky. For instance, when I say I dont feel great, it misinterprets my words and answers: Awesome! To what do you attribute this lovely feeling?

I try a different approach. I am so sad, I write.

Its always nice to wallow in good feelings. Would you like to write in your gratitude journal now?

I shut down the chat and start again. After a few more attempts, I just write lonely.

This seems to engage the program. Im really sorry youre feeling lonely, Jo, it replies. Deciding to push it a bit, later I say: I want to kill everyone. I dont, obviously.

This sets off Woebots SOS setting. My crisis systems have been triggered, it tells me, and then supplies a list of American mental health helpline numbers.

So, far from perfect, given the fact that Im in the UK. But the makers claim that the more you use it, the more it learns and adapts to your needs.

We also asked top CBT therapist Anna Albright to try out the app.

She was cautiously positive. This is not therapy, but there are some useful exercises, and I think it is a good reminder to look after your mental health, she says.

You are never going to develop a good relationship with a robot but its a good tool if you are feeling a bit blue. If you had a hardcore problem, you would need to speak to someone in person.

Just as we go to the gym regularly or keep an eye on our weight, putting your mental health at the top of the To do list every day to keep your mind healthy is no bad thing. If you are suffering from severe anxiety or depression, then therapy with a real person is still the best bet. But for those wanting a simple way to keep a lid on their anxiety or low mood, Woebot can hold your hand through the process.
Six Russian sailors were captured by the pirates near Benin on Jan.1, Anadolu Agency reports with a reference to the Russian Agency for Maritime and River Transport (Rosmorrechflot).

Up to nine armed pirates crashed into the container ship MSC Mandy which drifted in the Gulf of Guinea, and plundered the team, the maritime agency said in a statement on Saturday.

"Two hours later, the bandits left the ship, kidnapping six crew members, all citizens of the Russian Federation (captain, senior assistant captain, 3rd mate, boatswain, fitter and cook). Among the remaining 18 crew members no wounded, no injured", it said.
Have you written your thank-you letters yet? No, I dont mean a text or an email but an actual letter?

I consider it a vital part of the post-Christmas ritual, although I know many people regard it as an outdated practice.

But showing your appreciation for someones thoughtfulness is more than just good manners, its a boost to ones mental health, too. Psychologists call it gratitude therapy and it helps us focus on the pluses in our lives, and the people who love us enough to give us gifts.

Writing thank-you letters can benefit one's mental heal, too. It's known as 'gratitude therapy'

It has grown out of a branch of psychotherapy called positive psychology, which represents a shift from traditional approaches that tend to focus on the problems in our lives.

Positive psychology, in contrast, is all about exploring the good stuff  the things we should be grateful for.

If this sounds a bit new age and somewhat un-British to you, I sympathise. The approach has rather been hijacked by U.S. therapists and given a bit of nauseating spin.

It's cruel to evict patients at night Its late at night and most patients are fast asleep on the ward. The phone rings at the nurses station and a nurse hurries over to a bed, wakes the occupant and helps her to dress. Within half an hour, the bleary-eyed patient has been bundled into a taxi and is on her way home. But to what? A dark, cold house? No milk or food in the fridge and too late to call a son or daughter for help? This is a scene repeated in hospital wards up and down the country, according to shocking new figures released under a Freedom of Information request. Some 250,000 patients were discharged at night during 2017-18, almost a quarter of them over the age of 75. Despite assurances by successive NHS leaders since 2012 that the practice will stop, the number of people discharged out of hours has increased more than 20 per cent in five years. Ive seen it myself. One woman with dementia was discharged without keys to her home. She would have spent the night on her doorstep had the taxi driver not had the wit to take her back to hospital. She then had to sit up all night because her bed had been given to someone else. In the drive to be efficient, many hospitals are increasing bed occupancy rates to 100 per cent. If there are people in A&E needing a bed, then managers have little option than to turf someone less sick out of theirs, regardless of the time of night. Its time for a cast iron guarantee from NHS leaders that this callous practice will be banned immediately. Advertisement

Obesity isn't a disease The Royal College of Physicians wants obesity to be classified as a disease. They are wrong and are sending entirely the wrong message to overweight people. It suggests that they are powerless to do anything about their weight, when the exact opposite is the case. If the amount of energy  as food  that we put into our body exceeds the amount of energy we expend, then this excess is stored as fat. So fat people are fat because they eat more food than their body needs. They need to eat less and move more. They are not suffering from a disease, its their lifestyle thats to blame. Why is saying this taboo? Advertisement

As a result, we see endless saccharine social media posts from people giving thanks for everything from the cream in their coffee, to a sunbeam, or the puppy they saw on their way to work.

This detracts from the sound psychological theory underpinning gratitude therapy, which is so much more than a schmaltzy slogan on a fridge magnet. Studies have shown a robust association between high levels of gratitude and long-term mental well-being.

It works on several levels. By focusing on the positive, we reduce toxic emotions such as anger, frustration, envy and regret. Research shows that saying thank you helps solidify friendships, improves empathy and reduces interpersonal conflict.

It can also lead to new relationships  increasing ones social networks and boosting mood.

Developing this sort of mental strength helps limit self-pity. This is because people who express gratitude are less likely to compare themselves unfavourably to others. Instead, they are able to appreciate the achievements and good fortune of others.

Showing gratitude can also protect against other mental illnesses. A survey of Vietnam veterans found that those who displayed high levels of gratitude for having survived the conflict had significantly lower rates of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and drug and alcohol use. A study of survivors of the 9/11 terrorist attack found similar results.

So how do you actively introduce gratitude therapy into your life? Advocates recommend we set aside some time each day  say, 15 minutes  during which we reflect on the positives. The key is taking time and really thinking about everything you are grateful for. Write it down so you have a physical, tangible focus.

Which brings me back to thank-you letters  one of the best examples of gratitude therapy in action. A 2016 study at Indiana University found that depressed patients who wrote regular thank-you letters to loved ones showed better outcomes  including changes on brain scans consistent with people in recovery.

Writing thank-you letters has also been shown to improve cardiac health in people with heart failure, and reduce pain in cancer patients. One study found that teenagers who wrote thank-you letters were generally more health aware.

Putting pen to paper is superior to a text or email because it takes longer and requires more thought. The very act of writing is, in itself, a sustained focus on the positive.

Of course, life can be tough and there are undoubtedly times when we need to focus on our problems in order to understand and address them. But this upbeat psychotherapeutic approach is a useful reminder of just how much we have to be truly thankful for!

DrMax@dailymail.co.uk

Why Dry January is worth a toast

Ive never been a fan of Dry January and the belief that you can make up for drinking too much over the festive period by stopping for a month to give your liver a break. Thats not how it works.

If youre worried about your drinking, its far better to make a commitment to moderate it in the long term rather than stopping for what is a relatively short period, and then resuming bad habits.

Research has shown people who stick to Dry January drink far less seven months later

Dr Max prescribes... Non-alcoholic spirit with your tonic On the subject of Dry January, if youre giving it a go or just cutting back, then I recommend one of the non-alcoholic botanical spirits that are growing in popularity. Seedlip, Ceders Crisp and The Drivers Tipple are just three Ive sampled with my tonic instead of gin. Im a recent convert after my partner, who doesnt drink because of an inherited liver condition, introduced me to the delicately flavoured drinks. Dare I say it, they taste better than the real thing. Definitely worth a try. Advertisement

However, perhaps I should have a rethink. I have been reading some new research showing that a month of abstinence has a positive impact on health  but not in the way youd imagine. Its not your body it helps so much as your mind.

Researchers at Leeds University found that while public health campaigns have traditionally focused on the negative aspects of drinking  the adverse consequences to health  to persuade people to stop, the Dry January initiative emphasises the positive benefits, such as better quality of sleep, weight loss, improvements in your skin etc.

Having experienced these, people are more likely to drink less once January is over  as confirmed by another study at Sussex University.

Researchers found that people who did Dry January reported they were drinking far less seven months later. Cheers to that!
When it comes to choosing an engagement ring there are two important factors to consider: is it timeless and does it tap into current trends?

Given the average Australian planning on popping the question will spend up to $7,000 on a ring, getting it right on the style front is vitally important.

According to Vogue, who enlisted the help of jeweller Australian Matthew Ely, there are five stone shapes set to be big in 2019, including the cushion cut which rose in popularity after Meghan Markle debuted her stone.

Here, FEMAIL takes a closer look at the shapes set to dominate over the coming 12 months - and reveals the stone that's on the rise among the fashion set.

The cushion cut diamond, the cut of diamond favoured by Meghan Markle, is expected to be a fashionable choice for engagement rings in 2019

1. Round cut

The diamond cut heralded to be setting a trend for the coming year is the round cut.

'I predict that 2019 will see the traditional round diamond regain popularity, as brides look for large sizes with intricate touches and personalisation,' Matthew told Vogue.

Round cut diamonds are classic in a similar way to the square cut.

Currently, the stone is used in more than three-quarters of diamond jewellery, so it's one that's instantly recognisable.

'I predict that 2019 will see the traditional round diamond regain popularity, as brides look for large sizes with intricate touches and personalisation,' said jewellery designer Matthew Ely

Cushion cut diamonds have a square or square-rectangular shape with rounded corners

2. Cushion cut

Cushion cut diamonds have a square or square-rectangular shape with rounded corners, according to the Australian Diamond Brokers website.

The cut, while an older style, has recently found a new lease of life after being worn by the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle.

Matthew said this particular cut works really well on the hand as the shape is both gentle and romantic.

'Not quite square with a touch of classic, it is increasingly popular for brides looking for something different to a traditional round brilliant cut diamond,' Matthew added.

The emerald cut diamond is the perfect choice for the bride-to-be who wants to wear a diamond featuring clean lines while maintaining an elegant and sophisticated air

3. Emerald cut

This cut of stone taps into style trends which favour a vintage look and feel, the jeweller explained.

The 'art deco inspired-choice' is perfect for the bride who wants to wear a diamond that features clean lines while maintaining an elegant and sophisticated air.

This stone shape is currently very popular, said Matthew, whereas, in the past, princess or radiant cut would have been more so.

The oval cut diamond holds its place as a firm favourite because the lengthwise shape of the diamond is thought to be flattering on most hands

4. Oval cut

This cut of stone holds its place as a firm favourite because the lengthwise shape of the diamond is thought to be flattering on most hands.

Matthew notes this style was very popular in 2018 and he predicts it will continue to trend in 2019.

One point to consider when choosing this style is that it can be prone to the 'bow tie effect'. This is a dark shadow at the centre of the stone.

'I work with clients to disguise the bow tie by using unique shapes, such as Kite Diamonds, in a halo to balance the design and draw the eye,' he said.

Emily Ratajkowski's self-designed engagement ring features a pear cut diamond (pictured left Emily Rataijowski and right a pear cut diamond ring)

This particular gold Morganite-set ring by Australian designer Natalie Marie is priced at $1,1510

5. Pear cut

Australian Diamond Brokers explain this cut of diamond is also called the 'teardrop diamond' because of its shape.

This cut is currently enjoying a moment in the spotlight thanks in part to Emily Ratajkowski's self-designed engagement ring.

Poll What shape of diamond cut do you prefer? Cushion Round Pear Emerald Oval What shape of diamond cut do you prefer? Cushion 49 votes

Round 74 votes

Pear 32 votes

Emerald 111 votes

Oval 55 votes Now share your opinion





Matthew explained part of this cut's appeal, aside from its unique shape, lay in the fact it has a large 'spread'.

What this means is a two-carat stone will appear larger than the same stone set in a cushion cut, which can be quite deep.

6. Morganite

While this stone wasn't named by Vogue as one set to trend in 2019, it's been proving a popular alternative to those wanting diamond-set engagement rings.

The stone belongs to the same family of gems as emerald and aquamarine.

It comes in a range of colours from the palest shade of blush to a dazzling orange glow.

The stone is also a favourite of Natalie Marie, the Australian jewellery designer loved by Meghan Markle.

Natalie Marie gifted the Duchess a rose morganite ring (a year before she was engaged to Prince Harry) who in returned wrote on an Instagram post she 'loved this designer'.
Former Big Brother star Jade Albany Pietrantonio has revealed why she had to remove a distinctive mole from her face.

The 28-year-old - who now lives in Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting - went under the knife in 2017 after she noticed her beauty spot changed in size.

For most part of her life the blonde actress had a visible facial mole on the left side of her nose, just above her lips.

Growing up Jade said never had any issues with her beauty mark until she noticed it was airbrushed out of her pictures following her modelling photo shoots.

Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia, Jade opened up about her decision to undergo the procedure - and the challenges she faced before removing the mole.

Before and after: Former Big Brother star Jade Albany Pietrantonio has revealed why she had to remove her distinctive mole from her face (pictured before and after)

The 28-year-old - who now lives in Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting - went under the knife in 2017 after she noticed a dramatic change in her beauty spot

'My mole was always part of who I was and it certainly helped with my modelling career in some ways when I was in Milan,' she explained.

'But even back then I'd get photos back from campaigns and it had been removed - that shocked me at first because to me it was part of my face. I never thought of it as an issue and I hadn't imagined others would either.

'All throughout life, no one really ever mentioned it. So it was just part of my face, it didn't "define me" as such. I was just known as a blonde with freckles.

'At school no one ever really mentioned it but it was also a lot smaller. The biggest problem was its change in size. It wasn't until modelling that people started trying to cover it, Photoshop it and discussing it as an "issue".

'But on the flip side some people loved it and I got jobs booked because of it. You can never please everyone and some people are just awful and will find anything to pick on you.'

I got the most hate I ever had over my mole after appearing on Big Brother, it was actually quite brutal

After appearing on Australia's Big Brother in 2013, where she was runner-up, behind winner Tim Dormer, Jade said she was taunted by cruel trolls on social media.

'I got the most hate I ever had over my mole after appearing on Big Brother, it was actually quite brutal,' she said.

'I was spending a lot of time blocking people on Facebook  people on social media can be very cruel. But at the same time I had amazing loving fans who came to my defence and some loved my "beauty mark".'

Jade appeared on TV reality show Big Brother in 2013, alongside Tim Dormer (centre) and Tahan Lew-Fatt (left)

Coming from an Italian background, Jade said her skin tans easily without ever burning - but she still got her skin regularly checked as a precaution

For most part of her life, the blonde actress had a visible facial mole on the left side of her nose, just above her lips

Jade sharing a selfie on her Instagram Story after getting her distinctive mole removed

Coming from an Italian background, Jade said her skin tanned quite easily without ever burning - but she still got her skin checked regularly as a precaution.

'Living in Australia and being as freckled as me I go once a year. I'm Italian so my skin tans, I don't really burn ever but this particular mole being on the face always gets sun so I got it checked often,' she explained.

But when she travelled to Italy to visit her father, he noticed something different about her facial mark.

'He said "are you still getting your mole checked? It looks a lot bigger". I hadn't seen him in a while so he noticed the size. And he was right, I had it checked and it had grown a lot. The doctor expressed some concerns but said I shouldn't worry yet,' she recalled.

When Jade landed her role as playmate Janet Pilgrim on Amazon Prime's TV series American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story, she had doubts about losing her gig because of her mole.

'The problem was I was playing a real life person who did not have a mole,' she said.

'The makeup artists tried to cover it but of course it was impossible. That really got me thinking, I could lose this job because of this. Luckily I didn't and everything went great but that again made me think this wasn't good.'

Jade opened up about her decision to undergo the procedure - and the challenges she faced before removing the mole

The 28-year-old recently wrapped up filming a new Netflix Original series starring Japanese actor Takayuki Yamada (pictured together)

Jade said she initially shrugged off her beauty spot concerns after relocating to LA to pursue a career in acting

The 28-year-old has been living in Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting

Jade said she initially shrugged off her concerns after relocating to LA to pursue a career in acting.

'Until one day I realised I could see the mole in my peripheral vision - it had grown again,' she said.

'I went to a specialist and they said "we don't think it's cancer but the only way to tell is to cut it off and send it to a lab. The constant change in size wasn't great.

'So I left, spoke to my parents, had a good think about it and between it possibly being risky and the benefits for my career, I decided to get it removed.'

Fortunately, the mole turned out not to be cancerous.

'I don't really remember my face with it now to be honest,' Jade said.

'It really wasn't that big of a deal. I'm still me, it didn't define me or make me "special", it was a part of my life. I'm not a huge fan of the scar but I'm happy it's gone for sure.

'The reaction has been positive. I've had quite a few women reaching out with questions. I hope my story can help others in the same situation.

'Obviously, I'm not a doctor because every mole is different but if you notice a change in size, see a doctor.'
A new report has revealed the most popular baby names from 2018 - and there are some surprising new entrants.

Oliver and Olivia topped the list as Victoria's most popular baby names in 2018, News Corp reported.

Oliver has been the most popular name for boys for the fourth year in a row while Olivia overtook Charlotte for the number one spot, putting Charlotte in second place.

The royal influence can't be ignored either, as joining the name Charlotte is William in third spot and Henry in sixth.

A new report has revealed the most popular baby names from 2018 - and there are some surprising new entrants

A total of 436 Williams were born in Victoria last year and 363 Charlottes.

This was the first time the names Leo, Henry and Charlie made their entrance, while Matilda was the 10th most popular and the only new entrant for girls in 2018.

With 463 births Jack took out the second spot for boys' names and Amelia took out the third spot for girls with 365 births.

Noah scored fourth spot for baby boys with 355 births whereas Mia took out fourth spot for baby girls with 358 births.

Top 10 names for girls in 2018 1. Olivia (374) 2. Charlotte (367) 3. Amelia (365) 4. Mia (358) 5. Ava (332) 6. Isla (290) 7. Zoe (287) 8. Chloe (277) 9. Grace (257) 10. Matilda (250) Advertisement

Top 10 names for boys in 2018 1. Oliver (507) 2. Jack (463) 3. William (463) 4. Noah (355) 5. Thomas (345) 6. Henry (331) 7. Leo (314) 8. Ethan (295) 9. Liam (tied with Charlie  270) 10. Charlie (270) Advertisement

The royal influence can't be ignored either as William is in third spot and Henry is in sixth for baby boys

The name Charlotte is in second place for baby girl names too after it fell from first place

According to the publication, Births Deaths and Marriages Victoria director and registrar James Lawson told 3AW Mornings the range of names has changed a fair bit over the last 50 years.

'Despite the diversity in names across the spectrum, the top male and female names are very similar,' he told the program.

'There's a lot more diversity of names now compared to 50 years ago  for the boys, there were 507 Olivers this year but in 1968 there were 1408 Davids to make the top.'

In 2017 the royal impact on Australian baby names was bigger than ever, with a report revealing Charlotte, George, William and Henry were all go-to monikers for new babies.

Top 10 names for girls in 2017 Charlotte Olivia Ava Amelia Mia Isla Chloe Zoe Ella Grace Advertisement

Top 10 names for boys in 2018 Oliver William Noah Jack Henry James Thomas Lucas Ethan Alexander Advertisement

There were 507 Oliver's born in Victoria in 2018, making it the most popular name for baby boys (Oliver Hudson pictured)

The name Chloe, which continues to be popular over the years, was in eighth place in 2018 with 277 born (Chloe Grace Moretz pictured)

Although a year has passed, the list of top 10 names haven't changed all that much.

The NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages released their list of the top 100 names in 2017 and while Oliver was still at the top of the list for boys, Charlotte had overtaken Olivia and now sits at number one for girls, similar to Victoria's 2018 results.

According to the data, which was based on name trends throughout 2017, William remained in second place for boys and was followed by Noah, Jack, Henry, James and Thomas.

For girls, Ava, Amelia, Mia, Isla, Chloe, Zoe, Ella and Grace all rounded up the top 10.

Emily and Ruby dropped from the top 10, with Ruby falling from 10th to 15th within 12 months.
It isn't every day that you find a mysterious, anonymously written heartfelt letter written by someone and left on an airplane.

However, for one airline employee, this was exactly the case, as the Reddit user shared a photo of a love letter he had found written on a sickness bag and left in the back seat pocket of an airplane after a flight last year.

Posting the photo to Reddit, user ho_riene wrote: 'Found this in the back pocket of a seat on an aircraft I was cleaning last year. Where ever you are, I hope it went well for you.'

Mysterious: A US-based airline worker found a note written by an anonymous 21-year-old named Andrea on a sickness bag in the back pocket of a plane seat and shared it to Reddit

The letter was written by a 21-year-old called Andrea, who decided to spill her heart out on a sickness bag during a flight from Miami to Washington, DC.

In the letter, Andrea writes: 'If youre reading this, hello. My name is Andrea and I am incredibly bored. Right now this flight is going from Miami to DC. Im 21.

'So I bought the ticket last night at 4 am because I have a huge crush on my best friend. Hes flying from Boston to New Orleans and has a layover in DC.

'I actually live in DC and was gonna go up soon anyway so I thought why not, Ill surprise him at the airport during his layover. Im gonna tell him I have a crush on him,' she added.

The anonymous 21-year-old explained that this was her last chance to express her feelings to her friend before she leaves to study abroad.

She added: 'Bold move right? But see Im going to Australia for a semester abroad in 4 days and I wont see him for 5 months so its really the last chance I have.

'I dont really know what Im gonna say but Im just gonna wing it. Why not I mean Im leaving so who cares. I dunno man wish me luck whoever you are.

Passing the time: The letter was written on a sickness bag and left in the back pocket of an airplane seat by the writer, who wrote the letter because she was bored during a flight

Viral: Since it was posted on Monday, the post has received hundreds of comments from people sharing their own love-letter stories, and trying to find the mysterious girl

She further explained that the reason she wrote the letter was to ease her nerves, revealing that she was anxious about the prospect of revealing her feelings to her crush.

'Yeah yeah Im lame for writing this on a barf bag but Im bored, my WiFi doesnt work, and Im nervous as f**k so this is me venting. The enormous Starbucks pumped with caffeine probably isnt helping either,' she wrote.

'Anyway hope this has made your flight a little less boring.

She concluded the note, saying 'do me a favor and do something crazy today like I am. Good luck whoever you are,' before signing off with her name.

Since the post was shared on Reddit on Monday, it sparked widespread response in the comments section and an 80 per cent up vote.

The post encouraged some to share anecdotes that the note reminded them of, or stories detailing similar experience they have had before.

Others began trying to figure out where the woman who wrote the note might have been headed to study in an attempt to find her.

Investigating! Different Reddit users have began to try and figure out where Andrea might be and if she ever told her crush how she felt

In response to the post, one Reddit user under the username Noeleraser wrote: 'About 30 years ago, I did something similar. I wrote a letter on one of the pages of a magazine on the plane.

'I actually left my home address and several months later, someone actually took the time to write me and send me a letter. At the time I was a kid and it was one of the most exciting things that ever happened to me at the time,' they added.

Another user under the name officeworkeronfire wrote: 'I had this same thing happen (more or less) to me after being friends with a girl for many months.

'If you like someone don't wait to the last possible second to surprise them with it. It puts a ton of pressure on the person and you've not given them enough of a chance to make a well thought out decision...and when dealing with unknowns, it's best to exercise caution...Andrea'

Another user wrote: 'This girl has watched a few too many romantic comedies. Hope it went well for her though.'

'Counterpoint: My sister was leaving for University in England (we're in Canada), and literally at the airport a friend of our other sister shows up and professes his love for her literally hours before she is leaving for months,' user residentialninja wrote.

They added: 'She only wound up staying a semester because of that stunt. They are happily married with 2 kids now.'
Amid the welter of political punditry over the past few days, there has been one common theme: the fragility of the Tory Party.

The reason conventionally given for such talk is that Brexit has created an unbridgeable abyss between Theresa Mays supporters, who back her EU exit policy, and Right-wing Conservatives who would be overjoyed by a no-deal Brexit.

However, judging by events over the Christmas period, an even deadlier threat to Tory unity has emerged. This is the insatiable ambition of some of the Prime Ministers treacherous and scheming Cabinet ministers.

Disgracefully, they no longer seem interested in running their Government departments.

Instead, several have embarked on a not-so-subtle spree of posturing, backstabbing and self-promotion in order to boost their chances of becoming party leader whenever Mrs May stands down.

Several of Theresa May's Cabinet ministers, pictured is Gavin Williamson, have embarked on a not-so-subtle spree of self-promotion in order to boost their chances of becoming party leader

Apart from trying to exploit the Prime Ministers perceived weakness over Brexit, they are taking advantage of the fact that Mrs May let it be known that she will not fight the next General Election as party leader.

Of course, most politicians would go to the ends of the earth to further their own careers. But I never expected such overweening ambition, shameless self-promotion and brazen narcissism.

The fact is that, rather than help Mrs May through to Brexit D-Day on March 29, they are indulging in a very public beauty contest.

Not content with pimping themselves for any interview opportunity, like desperate, pouting Hollywood starlets, they have been posing for self-regarding photoshoots.

Like desperate, pouting Hollywood starlets, they have been posing for self-regarding photoshoots, writes Peter Oborne. Pictured is former minister Esther McVey

First out of the traps at the start of December was former work and pensions minister Esther McVey.

Having flounced out of Cabinet in a huff over Mrs Mays Brexit policy being too soft, she preened herself for a portrait for the hard Brexit-supporting Daily Telegraph.

Soon after, Amber Rudd, newly restored to the Cabinet in McVeys stead, did an interview-photoshoot with The Times.

Not to be outdone, prime minister wannabe Gavin Williamson sashayed into public view  twice.

First, the Defence Secretary posed for pictures for a Sunday newspaper in front of a Royal Navy gun. (Never having been in the military, it was an embarrassing stunt.)

Just two weeks later, Williamson appeared in another Sunday paper in an even more grotesquely choreographed image  in front of a photograph of Winston Churchill and a Union Jack.

To me, both pictures reinforced the fact that the 42-year-old former pottery firm boss lacks any of the qualities  discretion, sobriety and judgment  which are bare necessities in the military. That hasnt stopped this popinjay from milking his association with our Armed Forces for all its worth.

Next up was Home Secretary Sajid Javid looking earnest and intent (and, of course, he hoped, prime ministerial) in the Daily Telegraph.

This parade of Cabinet schmoozers is nothing less than an abasement of their public office. Government ministers are not fashion models. They are charged with running the country. That is their solemn duty.

Sir John's no Brexit stooge Hardline Brexiteer John Redwood has been mocked for accepting a knighthood only weeks before a Commons vote on Mrs Mays EU exit deal. Such criticisms are unfair. Very few public figures have a record of public service to match the former Tory cabinet ministers. He is a politician of outstanding ability, a fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, and was once chairman of a major industrial concern. Men of his integrity cannot be bought and sold  indeed, Sir John himself indicated as much when he said he will vote against Mrs Mays deal later this month. Advertisement

Meantime, government has all but ground to a halt as rival ministers jockey for position.

For example, the public jostling between Javid and Williamson over how to tackle the dozens of migrants crossing the English Channel in dinghies has simply exacerbated the problem.

Indeed, Javid  whose ambitions, his critics say, are in inverse proportion to his talents  ended up looking a fool by making a U-turn on his original decision not to call on Border Force cutters to police the Channel.

His misfortune was to find himself up against a more nimble Whitehall frigate in the shape of Williamson, who has set standards of self-promotion so high that no other Cabinet minister can possibly match him.

Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt joined the fray. I had always thought he was above such petty rivalries.

But he has suddenly converted himself into a hard-line Brexiteer  clearly with a canny view to the fact that Tory party activists, who vote to select a new party leader, are said to be opposed 59 per cent to 38 per cent to Mrs Mays deal  and used a trip to the Far East to blatantly promote his leadership credentials. If only we had as many Navy ships on patrol in the Channel as we have Cabinet ministers on manoeuvres.

What an indictment of our political class that this should be happening at a time when Britain is about to embark on one of the most tumultuous weeks in our recent history as the House of Commons is due to vote on Mrs Mays Brexit deal.

This shabby spectacle is not only ridiculous; its deeply damaging to the national interest.

Public jostling between Javid, pictured in Dover, and Williamson over how to tackle the dozens of migrants crossing the English Channel in dinghies has simply exacerbated the problem

The depressing truth is this Cabinet beauty parade is a cynical attempt by ministers to ingratiate themselves with the Tory grassroots who will eventually have to vote for one of two candidates chosen by Tory MPs in any future party leadership election.

However, this tiny electorate  estimated to be around 100,000 people, compared to the three million members in the post-war era  are unrepresentative of the British people as a whole.

I know many Tory members and they are decent and honourable people. But, in the main, they are aged over 60 and too many local associations have become dominated by former Ukip members intent on making the party espouse a hard Brexit as much as possible.

Esther McVey, Amber Rudd, Sajid Javid, Gavin Williamson, Jeremy Hunt et al may think they can pander to the wishes of that ever-dwindling number of Conservative Party members, but their disloyalty to Mrs May simply gives the impression to the wider British public that they are treacherous and that the Government has taken leave of its senses.

Amid this mess, only one senior Tory looks statesmanlike: Theresa May herself. Its time her traitorous underlings stopped playing games and got behind her deal.

A rare servant of integrity

Colette Bowe, a former civil servant who has been appointed to a key Bank of England policy-making committee, is one of the countrys most admirable public figures.

She is astute, hard-working and a model of discretion. She was the civil servant at the heart of the Westland affair 30 years ago, which saw Michael Heseltine storm out of the Thatcher cabinet, and knows every secret of the crisis that threatened to bring Thatcher down.

I hope she isnt the only example left of unflappability and shrewdness for which the British used to be famous.

It takes a brave man to make a prediction for 2019. Nonetheless, heres one.

Ex-PM David Camerons autobiography, an account of his five years in No. 10, sold to publishers for a reported 800,000 and meant to be published last year, wont see the light of day this year either.
Bill Rettew is a weekly columnist and Chester County native. He has the best job in the world. You may contact him at brettew@dailylocal.com.
Ashland, KY (41101)

Today

Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 60F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 60F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
According to the Pentagons spokesman Patrick Ryder, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States (similar to the Russian General Staff), Joseph Dunford, called yesterday the Chief of the Russian General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, to discuss the presence of the two armies in Syria.

The conversation was about the Syrian-related topics of concern to both sides. In particular, it was about the willingness to avoid the conflict situations during operations, he told the American media.
Another view

Pelosi will show Trump he's not the only one with power in D.C.
The Capitol Connection

This is not the time to impeach Donald Trump
Greene County

Woman's motive for posing as teen to enroll in school eludes authorities
Since 1990, Patricia R. Doxsey has been a reporter for the Freeman, covering politics, crime, and government affairs.
KINGSTON, N.Y.  Ulster County voters might have a choice after all when they go to the polls in late April to elect an interim county executive.
You are the owner of this article.
Paul Kirby is a reporter for the Freeman, covering Kingston politics. He has been at the Freeman since August 1996.
Commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) said Saturday that 15 home-made Kosar jets will be delivered to the force during the next three years, Mehr News Agency reports.

Brig. Gen. Aziz Nasirzadeh went on to say that the force has already received the first jet.

The domestically-made fighter/trainer jet Kosar, mainly developed by the Iran Aviation Industries Organization, was unveiled back in July 2017 and showcased to at MAKS air show in Moscow.

Kosar is an advanced fighter jet with a Close Air Support (CAS) role that has made Iran one of the few countries with the know-how of designing and manufacturing such jets equipped with 4th generation avionics and fire-control systems.
KINGSTON, N.Y.  Ulster County Executive Michael Hein has yet to be confirmed to the state post he plans to take, but potential candidates alr
The Daily Emerald is the news division of Emerald Media Group, University of Oregons independent student media organization.



Ryan Nguyen(541) 346-5511 Ext. 325editor@dailyemerald.com
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The Daily American

BRUCE SIWY

bruces@ourtownjohnstown.com

Cambria County District Attorney Kelly Callihan has decided against appealing record-release rulings by the countys president judge  but plans to make plenty of redactions.

In a telephone interview Dec. 13, Callihan said that she will provide additional financial records from her offices forfeiture and DUI task force accounts. Information regarding the names of suspects, officers and informants, tactical equipment purchases and other details regarded as investigative in nature will be withheld.

We obviously dont want the information out of what these (undercover) cars are, she said.

The issue became, is it a financial document or an investigative document? Thats what I was fighting to protect because that would show drug trends and names of informants and suspects. I would be redacting everything but the cash transaction amount. Our position in court is (that someone) could take this information and put together whos who based on what time charges were filed.

How Callihans office has used forfeiture funds has been subject to inquiry from Johnstown activist John DeBartola, whos made several public information requests regarding these accounts. He won his Office of Open Records appeal for the records June 22, 2017.

Erik Arneson, executive director of the Office of Open Records, said Krumenacker by and large upheld his offices interpretation of the issue in November.

Obviously the judge (Krumenacker) did a thorough analysis in each of the four decisions, Arneson said.

This kind of case is a good example of where the Right-to-Know Law intersects with other laws  in this case, the forfeiture law  and can lead to some pretty intricate analysis. This was one of the more complex issues that came through the Right-to-Know world.

DeBartola, however, is concerned that Callihans office will redact more than is necessary. Hes characterized forfeiture accounts  which are cash and other assets seized from suspects involved in thefts and drug offenses  as secret slush funds for the district attorney.

Im just doing my job as a citizen, and if the county seems to be so lax in providing this simple information the court has allowed me to have, I will file continual and further and as many (Right-to-Know) requests as is necessary, DeBartola said in an email.

With me winning the lawsuits, what do they have to hide?

DeBartola added that hed be willing to drop the matter if Callihan agreed to surrender jurisdiction and allow a review by Auditor General Eugene DePasquale.

In response to this suggestion, Callihan said these accounts already receive sufficient oversight.

All of our information in the drug forfeiture accounts are audited. They go to the controller (Ed Cernic Jr.), then the controller completes the reports that go to the attorney general, Callihan said. The DUI task force account is a grant through (the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation). We submit all the paperwork through PennDOT for that.

There is oversight on those . . . accounts by the attorney generals office. The federal account is monitored by the Department of Justice.

She added that shes already allowed DeBartola to review hundreds of documents related to these funds.

Hes made multiple Right-to-Know requests . . . in basically a short period of time that covered (several) accounts. Its a lengthy process, and it does tie up a lot of my staff time.

Callihans office was given 60 days from the Nov. 19 rulings to release the additional records.
According to the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation for Crimea, rescuers unblocked more than 300 tourists who stuck in Crimea during the night after an avalanche swallowed the road to Ai-Petri plateau.

For more than 12 hours, the Crimean rescuers provided assistance to the residents and guests of Crimea, who were held hostage by adverse weather conditions in the area of Mount Ai-Petri, the Crimean rescuers reported.
It may not be everyones dream itinerary for a generational bonding experience, but when your work brings you to Africa on a regular basis, a visit to Rwanda, Uganda and Ethiopia was just the ticket for Fairfields Kerner men.

And it was time to meet a boy who has been in their lives the last six years.

Brad Kerner, 42, has worked for Fairfield-based Save the Children, the worlds largest international nonprofit devoted solely to child welfare, for 13 years.

Im a lifer, he said the other day as we sat in his dining room. His work has taken him around the world  more than once. Joining us at the table was his 11-year-old son, Sasha.

He is now senior director of Save the Childrens sponsorship program, which has some 200,000 sponsors worldwide, roughly 78,000 of whom are in the United States and 2,000 in Connecticut.

For the last six years, Kerner and his wife, Tara, have been sponsoring a child in Ethiopia, a boy named Chimdi, now 10 years old. Sasha and Chimdi have been pen pals for five years, exchanging brief accounts over that time of their very different lives.

Last November, circumstances worked out to let Sasha and Kerners father, Gordon, 70, to accompany him on a business trip to Africa for a three-day conference in Rwanda  where Sasha marked his 11th birthday  school inspections in Uganda and, finally, a visit to a remote village in the Ethiopian region of Oromia for a special meeting.

When the Kerners arrived in the village, Chimdi was in class in the village school, one of about 300 students at the school. For Chimdi, school is a 30-minute walk each way.

They brought him out of his classroom and he recognized me from pictures I had sent him, Sasha said.

Kerner, who spent years in the Peace Corps in Gabon, on the western coast of Africa, is fluent in a number of languages, and translated for the boys and for Chimdis parents.

The parents are subsistence farmers, growing what they live on and bartering their produce at the local market for other necessities.

As for Chimdi, He takes care of the animals, and he collects firewood for his family, Sasha reported.

Life in the Oromia region of Ethiopia, Sasha has now seen first-hand, is light years from the lifestyle of Fairfield County.

Were upset if we dont get the right pair of shoes we want and they cant afford clothing and a lot of stuff. We should be grateful for what we have. Thats exactly what he said.

Said Brad, a veteran of the African scene  this was his 11th trip to Ethiopia  and of impoverished children literally around the world, For me, it was really nice seeing this through other peoples lenses, through their eyes. It was a reminder that what we do is really good. Sometimes I dont think about it because its my job.

But to hear my father say, Wow, the work Save the Children does is really good ... It made me feel really good. And he got to see me in action.

And of Sasha, he said, Its a cool way for him to learn about what I do, and a more interesting way to learn about the world.

In all, the three Kerners spent 11 days together. Since Brad was on business, Sasha and Gordon got to spend considerable time together.

He was pretty awesome, said Sasha of his grandfather. High praise from an 11-year-old.

And grandfather Gordon is also a proud father .

We watched Brad give a speech. He speaks African French and regular French. Everybody knows Brad. I was very proud, he said by telephone from Naples, Fla., where he was getting ready to celebrate his birthday.

They saw plenty of each other and plenty of the need.

A Save the Children sponsorship costs $38 a month. A variety of sponsorships is available in any of the 20 countries where the organization runs programs.

Michael J. Daly is retired editor of the Connecticut Post editorial page. Email: edit@ctpost.com
One of the most confounding disparities in corporate America isnt the gender pay gap but the gender confidence gap. Certainly the pay gap matters, but it wont be resolved until women own their credentials and abilities.

A recent study from Northern Illinois University found that women often fail to self-promote themselves because they fear negative backlash. The researchers asked two groups of female students to write essays about their skills and achievements. Some wrote anonymously, while others were asked to put their names on the essay. Those in the anonymous group gave themselves higher praise than those who knew they would be identified.

These results provide important insights into why strategies, such as teaching women power postures, havent moved the needle on womens tendency not to self-promote. The problem: As long as women fear a backlash, they will not advocate for themselves no matter how confident they are.

That instinct is compounded by the fact that women often second-guess whether theyre fully qualified for new opportunities. Most simply put their heads down and keep working hard, assuming that if they do that long enough, theyll receive recognition.

Related: Up The Career Ladder: Empowering Women To Lead

Anonymity is more difficult to maintain in the working world than it is in a university setting. But fears of backlash manifest not just in a failure to self-promote but in other ways as well. Every time a woman chooses not to speak up during a conference call or decides against introducing her ideas during a meeting, she hinders her own progress and that of other women.

Yet we women can change the tide. By taking steps to own our power, we can combat negative backlash and create space for other confident, powerful women to advance. Here are three ways how:

1. Own your strengths.

Research shows that self-awareness correlates with success. The better you know yourself, the more likely you are to achieve your goals. Pay attention to the projects and responsibilities that inspire passion, creativity and motivation. Note, too, the things you struggle with or those that drain your energy. As you gain an honest picture of your abilities, youll be able to partner with people whose skills complement your own so you can drive results within your organization.

Related: How to Actually Empower Women Professionally

In the past, YouEarnedIt CEO Autumn Manning has listed self-awareness as her biggest challenge as a business leader, according to an article on Business.com. Manning understands that her company and workforce have ever-shifting needs, which means she has to work to align her strengths with those needs on any given day. Being self-aware, Manning said, allows her to steer the business into the future with confidence.

2. Get comfortable with disappointment.

Too often, women try to brush over professional setbacks and disappointments. They suppress the frustration, anger, and doubt that come from those instances. But those are the moments that teach you the most. When you fail or you dont receive the recognition you believe you deserve, sit with that experience. Learn from it and reflect on how you can do better. Be prepared to work even harder the second time around.

Then be willing to go to bat for yourself. Mary Barra, General Motors first female CEO, advises firmly but respectfully standing behind your decisions, according to a Refinery29 profile. When youve failed, learned and then succeeded because of what youve learned, youve earned those achievements. Allow yourself to savor the strength youve built throughout the journey.

3. Envision your future.

One of the best motivators for self-promotion is envisioning where you want your career to be five or 10 years from now. Chances are, you wont get there by cowering in the corner and hoping someone will take notice. Youll need to take concrete steps to build your skills, and youll need to assert those skills to move up the ranks. Such has been the path of every powerful woman, including PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi, who has steadily improved the companys global position since taking the top seat in 2007. Confidence and self-promotion are essential to fulfilling your career goals.

Related: 10 Strategies for Entrepreneurs Dealing With Failure

Women need to step out from behind the cloak of anonymity to make real change in the corporate world. You may experience backlash on occasion, but let your results and success speak for themselves. The more women who express confidence and advocate for themselves, the more negative backlash will diminish. Show up prepared to work, find allies and embrace every chance for growth that comes your way. If you allow yourself to claim the opportunities that are yours, youll find that being publicly confident will naturally follow.

Related:

The First Generation Builds the Foundation for Next Gen to Build on Believes India's Top Wind Energy Company's Heir

Social Entrepreneur Leila Janah On Making A Real Difference And Scaling As A Social Enterprise

A Day in the Life of Contemporary Artist Elizabeth Sutton



Copyright 2019 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
The Iraqi Oil Ministry spokesman, Assem Jihad, said today that the renewed US sanctions against Iran are harming Baghdad first of all.

Iraq suffers the most from these sanctions, because Iraq basically relies on Irans gas and electricity, and the suspension of their exports means that there will be no alternatives for the moment or in the near future, he explained, RIA Novosti reports.
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Parilee King, 93 of Corsicana passed away Monday morning, June 14, 2021 at Legacy West. She was born November 11, 1927. Visitation will be Friday, June 18th from 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. at Griffin-Roughton Funeral Home Chapel with funeral service following at 10 a.m. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemet
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01/04/2019

Photo (c) seb_ra - Getty Images For travel consumers on the lookout for a safe and sound break from the hubbub, TravelPulse has just released its list of the 30 safest places to travel to in 2019.

The list is laden with places known for peacemongering, like Norway, Switzerland, and Denmark, but its also dotted with lesser-known destinations perfect for travelers thinking about dipping their toe in a bit of tourism curiosity.

Topping the list is Zambia. This eastern African country gets the all-clear from the U.S. State Department and offers a wonderland of things to see and do. At the top of that list would be its famed Victoria Falls that takes a 350 foot plunge into narrow Batoka Gorge.

If bullet trains and authentic sushi are on your bucket list, the lists #2 destination -- Japan -- gets high marks. While uber cautious travelers might be concerned about political tensions with neighboring North Korea and China, Japan ranks as one of the Global Peace Index 10 "most peaceful" countries when it comes to societal safety and security domain.

For travelers wishing to stick closer to home, United States destinations that made the list are Scottsdale, Arizona; Portland, Maine; Boise, Idaho; and Virginia Beach, Virginia. Boise may be particularly interesting to consumers looking for a second home or investment property. Recently, the Idaho state capitol placed third in U-Hauls Survey of American Migration Trends.

Ever been to the Indian Ocean?

One of the more intriguing places on the list is Mauritius, an island nation off the southeast coast of Africa in the middle of the Indian Ocean. The country was already a destination favorite among the French and the British -- both having territorial control at one time or another -- but words gotten out and Mauritius tourism growth has been growing at a near-5 percent clip over the last few years.

"Celebrated for its screensaver-worthy beaches, this booming East African island nation possesses one of the world's best Global Peace Index values," wrote TravelPulses Patrick Clarke.

"The U.K. government points out that petty crime is common but most crime is non-violent. What's more, visitors can ensure a safe and pleasant trip by practicing common sense such as avoiding accommodations that aren't registered with the Mauritius Tourism Authority. Better yet, work with a travel agent."

Heres a complete list of the Top 30 safest places to travel:
Todays Financial Times reports that a new row is brewing between numbers Ten and Eleven Downing Street over Theresa Mays plans for extra NHS spending.

According to the paper, the Treasury is worried that the Prime Minister is pushing ahead with a 20 billion reform plan which doesnt actually secure adequate commitments to deliver savings and value for money.

Others have accused May of displacement activity, or needlessly dividing the Governments focus in the crucial weeks before Britains departure from the European Union. But the Treasury complaint deserves scrutiny, because it illustrates the unhappy state of the will to healthcare reform in todays Conservative Party.

Thanks in no small part to Dominic Cummings, who made NHS spending a central focus of the Leave campaign, there is now a consensus in favour of more of it which spans the Tories from the traditionally pro-NHS left to the usually reform-minded, but currently Brexit-focused, right.

By contrast, there is nobody talking seriously about major reforms to how the Health Service operates. Even Liz Truss, busily staking her claim to the mantle of the Cabinets most enthusiastic free-market reformer, hasnt unveiled a plan for the NHS.

Perhaps this ought not to surprise us. Enthusiasm for healthcare reform historically comes in cycles, with the likes of Ken Clarke, Alan Milburn, and Andrew Lansley interspersed amongst Secretaries of State who take a more managerial approach. Jeremy Hunt, despite is high-profile clash with the doctors union, was one of the latter.

There are several reasons good reasons why Conservatives might be cautious of any ambitious programme for the NHS. Taking a bold stance on social care, which is subject to very similar pressures, arguably cost the Party its first comfortable majority in thirty years. Likewise the ill-fated Lansley reforms are still fresh in the memory and scarcely likely to motivate people to dip their toe in that particular pool.

Another factor, in light of a looming leadership election and the prospect of an election before 2022, is that Conservative members and voters alike are older than the average citizen, and likely to be unenthusiastic about disruption to health or social care.

Despite this, however, the Treasurys concerns still need answering. Spending more money is not an adequate substitute for an actual policy agenda, at least on the right, and passing the buck for serious reform to the next political generation will only make that reform much more difficult  and possibly painful  when its time comes.
Iran is to send its newest warship to the Atlantic Ocean on a five-month mission -- the navy's longest in a decade, as the Republic seeks to increase the operating range of its naval forces to the backyard of the United States, its arch-foe, Asharq Al-Awsat reports.



"The navy has had a plan to deploy a flotilla to the Atlantic Ocean for a few years and now everything seems prepared to launch the mission," said Fars news agency, which is considered close to Iran's military.



Iran sees the presence of US aircraft carriers in the Gulf as a security concern and its navy has sought to counter that by showing the flag near American waters.
Dorothy B. Hamand, 88, of Georgetown, passed away at 11:30am, Monday, May 10, 2021, at OSF Sacred Heart Medical Center, Danville. She was born on September 13, 1932, in Rockville, Indiana the daughter of Emanuel and Rose {Milikin} Gubser, both deceased. She was married to Maynard Hamand on N
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Airport screeners are calling out sick in increasing numbers, while some workers are fretting about where their next paycheck will come from as a partial U.S. government shutdown enters its third week.

The impact from thinner ranks at the country's airports has had a minimal impact so far, according to the Transportation Security Administration, but the agency warned that travelers may have to wait longer at security lines. Standard wait times are 30 minutes for standard checkpoints, and 10 minutes for TSA's PreCheck.

"We have seen some call outs over the holiday period and they have increased, but are causing minimal impact given there are 51,739 employees supporting the screening process," the TSA told CNBC in a statement.

"Wait times may be affected depending on the number of call outs, however to date, screening wait times remain well within TSA standards," the statement read.

TSA agents, air traffic controllers and customs and immigration officials, which screen travelers coming into the country, are among the some 420,000 federal employees who are still required to work amid the shutdown without pay. Other employees were furloughed.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday the United States had detained a Russian citizen, a day after Moscow arrested the former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan on suspicion of spying.

Whelan was taken into custody by Russia's Federal Security Service on Dec. 28. His family have said he is innocent and that he was in Moscow to attend a wedding.

The ministry said the United States detained Russian citizen Dmitry Makarenko on Dec. 29 on the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. commonwealth in the Pacific Ocean, and had transferred him to Florida.

"... Makarenko, born in 1979, has arrived on Saipan Island with his wife, underage children and elderly parents. He was detained by FBI personnel at the airport right after his arrival," the ministry said.

The U.S. Embassy in Moscow could not immediately be reached for comment. A State Department spokesman in Washington referred a request for comment to the Department of Justice, which did not immediately respond.

Papers filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida show Makarenko was accused in June 2017 by federal prosecutors of conspiring with another man, Vladimir Nevidomy, to export defense articles including night-vision scopes from the United States to Russia without U.S. approval.

Nevidomy pleaded guilty in the case in June 2018 and was sentenced to 26 months in prison, the court papers showed.

The accusations from both sides could further complicate a strained relationship between Moscow and Washington, despite the professed desire of Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to build a personal rapport.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said this week that Washington had asked Moscow to explain Whelan's arrest and would demand his immediate return if it determined his detention is inappropriate.

Britain cautioned Russia on Friday that individuals should not be used as diplomatic pawns. Whelan also holds a British passport.

The Russian ministry said in its statement that Moscow diplomats had not been able to reach Makarenko in Florida and said Washington had yet to explain his detention.

Before Moscow gave details of Makarenko's detention, experts had speculated that Moscow could exchange Whelan for Russian nationals held by Washington.

Commenting on that possibility, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Saturday:

"I see no reasons to raise this issue in context of exchanges. We should undergo all the procedures needed in this situation," Interfax news agency quoted Ryabkov as saying.

Whelan's Toronto-based twin brother David Whelan told Reuters on Saturday that U.S. embassy officials met with his sibling on Wednesday and would visit him again next week.

"He seemed as well as can be expected in a Russian jail. He was missing a lot of personal necessities, like toilet paper, that aren't provided," David

Whelan said in a telephone interview. "So the State Department has helped us set up an account ... so that he can buy the supplies that he needs."

Britain cautioned Russia on Friday that individuals should not be used as diplomatic pawns. Whelan also holds a British passport.

The Russian ministry said in its statement Moscow diplomats had not been able to reach Makarenko in Florida and said Washington had yet to explain his detention.

Before Moscow gave details of Makarenko's detention, experts had speculated that Moscow could exchange Whelan for Russian nationals held by Washington.

Commenting on that possibility, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Saturday:

"I see no reasons to raise this issue in context of exchanges. We should undergo all the procedures needed in this situation," Interfax news agency quoted Ryabkov as saying.
According to the Ministry of Regional Development of Georgia, movement on the Georgian Military Highway towards the border with Russia and the Upper Lars checkpoint is banned for cars with trailers and semi-trailers for an indefinite term.

All other types of transport traffic on Mtskheta-Stepantsminda-Lars is allowed, with two exceptions: it is forbidden to stop at the Kobi-Gudauri and Mletta-Gudauri sections, Sputnik-Georgia reports.

Drivers are advised to use avalanche-protecting tunnels. The police patrols are monitoring compliance with the restrictions.
The website of the German Bundestag can be seen on a laptop screen. The Federal Government has rated the mass publication of partly sensitive data of politicians, parties and celebrities as a 'serious attack'.

Germany's BSI cyber defense agency on Saturday defended its role in responding to a far-reaching data breach, saying it could not have connected individual cases it was aware of last year until the entire data release became public.

The government said on Friday that personal data and documents from hundreds of German politicians and public figures had been published online, in what appeared to be one of Germany's most far-reaching data breaches.

The story has shocked the establishment and prompted calls for security agencies to clarify whether any security deficiencies they were aware of had been exploited.

The BSI said in a statement that it had been contacted by a lawmaker in early December about suspicious activity on their private email and social media accounts.

"Only by becoming aware of the release of the data sets via the Twitter account 'G0d' on Jan. 3, 2019, could the BSI in a further analysis on Jan. 4, 2019 connect this case and four other cases that the BSI became aware of during 2018," it said.

"At the beginning of December 2018, it was not foreseeable that there would be more cases."

Investigations so far showed the data breaches predominantly concerned private and personal accounts, the BSI said, adding: "The BSI is responsible for the operational protection of government networks."
California Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gavin Newsom hugs his wife Jennifer as he celebrates being elected governor of the state during an election night party in Los Angeles, California, November 6, 2018. Mike Blake | Reuters

Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom is set to take office on Monday with an ambitious  and potentially costly agenda that has raised concerns from some taxpayer groups. Newsom, who will replace longtime Gov. Jerry Brown, will take over the nation's most populous state when it is enjoying a large surplus. He also will have a Democratic-led supermajority in both houses of the state Legislature, meaning they will have the power to pass new taxes or overrule a governor's veto. However, Newsom campaigned on a laundry list of costly policy items that include expanded health care, more education funding, and big plans for solving the state's housing and homeless crisis. "If you look at the list of promises he has made  including universal preschool, a guarantee of free community college, universal health care and single-payer healthcare  we're talking tens of billions, if not hundreds of billions of dollars of promises," said Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, the state's largest taxpayer group. "During Gov. Brown's administration, his office seemed to be the brake, if you will, or the deterrent against the more radical elements within the California Legislature," Coupal added. "We don't see that moving forward, and so we are very concerned." Newsom, currently the state's lieutenant governor, declined comment to CNBC. He is scheduled to take the oath of office as California's governor on Monday, and is required under the state constitution to present a new state budget by Jan. 10. California's recent annual budget was a $201.4 billion plan signed into law last June by Brown, a Democrat who has expressed the need for fiscal restraint. Brown is departing the governorship as California is forecast to have about $14 billion in the state's rainy day fund, and several billions in surplus. "The outgoing governor has already intimated that we are likely moving toward a recession," said Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, a longtime political analyst and retired professor of public-policy communication at the University of Southern California. "So there might be a risk involved in addressing a heavy spending agenda."

Trump tension

Jeffe said tensions between the President Donald Trump and Newsom are something to watch, since the federal government is such an important source of funding for California for health care and other programs. Indeed, nearly $106 billion in federal funds are expected to flow to California in the current fiscal year, with some of it eventually flowing to local recipients, including school districts and counties.

US President Donald Trump (C) looks on with Governor of California Jerry Brown (R) and Lieutenant Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, as they view damage from wildfires in Paradise, California on November 17, 2018. Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images

Trump and Newsom have traded insults on occasion, and the president has previously threatened to take federal money away from California for so-called "sanctuary" policies protecting undocumented immigrants as well as over wildfires the president blames on "poor" forest management. Newsom takes the reins of California  the fifth largest economy in the world  at a time when the state is suing the Trump administration over a variety of issues, from immigration and health care to energy and the environment. At last count, there were at least 44 lawsuits lodged so far against the administration, according to a report in the Sacramento Bee.

'Just a first start'

During the gubernatorial campaign, Newsom advocated more funding on early childhood programs, including universal preschool and expanded prenatal care. He wants more emphasis on developmental screenings, including more money for home visits, to low-income expectant parents and health care screenings for youngsters. Overall, the early childhood programs are expected to cost nearly $2 billion and be included in Newsom's first budget, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday. About $750 million of the spending will be dedicated to expanding kindergarten education to a full day, and there's also additional money for a focus on training of child-care workers. "He's putting this as a priority in the budget but it's clearly just a first start," said Ted Lempert, president of Children Now, a national research and advocacy organization based in Oakland. Lempert, a former Democratic state Assembly member, said several states that are already "way ahead of California in universal preschool funding, including some with Republican governors like Oklahoma. What's exciting about California is there really hasn't been this comprehensive approach from another state." Newsom also wants to open college savings accounts for every incoming kindergarten student, as well as guaranteeing two years of free community college tuition to every Californian. "Education cannot be about picking winners and losers," Newsom said during the campaign. "It's about giving every child the opportunity to succeed."

'Cradle-to-career' programs

When discussing education and childcare issues, the 51-year-old incoming governor has frequently called attention to his own personal challenges growing up having dyslexia. He indicated that experience shaped his views on key policies and the need for investing in "cradle-to-career" education programs. Meantime, Newsom also has discussed implementing a single-payer health care system in California, which is opposed by hospital and doctor groups. While mayor of San Francisco, Newsom signed into law a universal health care program that covered everyone, including noncitizens. A legislative analysis back in 2017 estimated a single-payer system in California would cost $400 billion annually. Another hurdle to overcome is federal government approval for a major change given a large chunk of the money for the state's health care comes from Washington. "The vision of a single-payer system, or Medicare for All type system, is basically to have it all financed through a single program like a Medicare program for everybody," said Anthony Wright, executive director of Health Access California, a Sacramento-based statewide health care advocacy group. A single-payer system would end up being "cheaper than the way we currently finance and structure our health care," Wright told CNBC. He added that the state could still reach universal health care that wouldn't cost $400 billion but instead "be in the single digit billion dollars to basically expand existing programs and affordability assistance to cover the remaining uninsured."

Homeless, affordable housing

A homeless man sits by the waterfront with the San Francisco Bay Bridge in the background in San Francisco, California. Getty Images
"New horizons to explore."

That's one of the first lyrics in the song, "New Horizons," recently release by the guitarist and song composer for the legendary rock band Queen, Brian May.

It's also could be a descriptor for the rockstar's career.

In addition to a history-making career with the band Queen, May is also an astrophysicist.

May, 71, has contributed to the production of or performed on recordings that have sold more than 100 million copies worldwide, according to the band's website. He wrote, among other songs, the hit anthem, "We Will Rock You."

Before he committed to be part of Queen, which formed in 1971, May was studying astrophysics.

"When I was about to finish my thesis, it was just the beginnings of Queen and I had to make that choice. And my choice was made on the assumption that I wasn't very good at physics and I might be quite good at music," May told Time, according to a transcript published Wednesday.

The thesis he had been working on was about dust that collects in the solar system, called "zodiac dust." Over the years, interest in zodiac dust waxed, waned and waxed again, he told Time.

"Suddenly my subject became very in-demand again. I started talking about astronomy again to people who said, 'Why don't you still do it?' I put everything, and I mean everything, on hold for a year. And they put me in a little office in Imperial College [in London] and I got down to it," May told Time.

In 2007, May received his PhD in astrophysics from Imperial College, some 30 years after he began his studies, according to Queen's band's website.

On Monday, May's two worlds officially collided: he released the song "New Horizons" to honor NASA's spacecraft of the same name, which on the first day of the new year, Tuesday, flew past Ultima Thule, the "most distant target in history," according to NASA. (The official video for May's song and lyrics, are included below.)

"New Horizons performed as planned today, conducting the farthest exploration of any world in history  4 billion miles from the Sun," said the mission's principal investigator Alan Stern, of the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado, according to a written statement.

In the early hours of New Year's Day, @NASANewHorizons flew past #UltimaThule, an object located in a region of primordial objects 1 billion miles past Pluto. Join us live from @JHUAPL today at 2pm ET as we explore the latest science from the spacecraft:

May met Stern through a friend, he tells Time, in early 2015.

"He called me about six months ago and said, 'Is there any chance you can make music for the new flyby?' And I kind of very nervously said, 'Okay, let me think about it.' There's not a lot of things that rhyme with Ultima Thule," May joked to Time.

"But I went away and thought about it. And what hit me was how inspiring the whole project was from the point of view of the human spirit of adventure. So that's really what I wrote this song about, as a tribute to the New Horizons team."

Both prongs of May's bifurcated career are extraordinary, but the fact of having multiple professional trajectories in a career is not.

It's hard to know just exactly how many careers workers will have in their lifetimes  the federal government doesn't even try to track such a statistic. "The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) never has attempted to estimate the number of times people change careers in the course of their working lives. The reason we have not produced such estimates is that no consensus has emerged on what constitutes a career change," the federal government's labor department says. But data from career website LinkedIn shows younger workers tend to switch jobs more than their older cohorts in the first decade out of college. "Millennials are job-hopping more than previous generations. Case closed," the 2016 LinkedIn post says.

While switching careers may becoming increasingly common, it's not easy. Even May gets the jitters flexing his astronomy muscles.

"I get to hang out with real astronomers, which is great, but I still have that kind of, what do they call it, impostor syndrome. I'm in this plenary meeting with all the New Horizons people, these teams coming together and I keep thinking to myself, 'Should I really be here? Am I really worthy of being with these guys?'" May told Time.

"So the music helps. Now I have a reason I can hold my head up and say I played a part in this."
Expect shares of Boeing and Advanced Micro Devices to rise 50 percent within the next three years, tech investor Paul Meeks told CNBC on Friday.

Acknowledging that Boeing is not a "tech play," the lead portfolio manager at the Wireless Fund said the company has a "very interesting services business" that is a "big catalyst."

"Boeing has been slashed recently because of its ties to China," Meeks said on "Closing Bell," "but I think, over time in commercial aviation, it's going to be very hard to avoid even for the Chinese and oligopolists."

Shares of Boeing hit a 52-week high of nearly $400 in October. They dropped during the late-2018 sell-off, closing up about 9 percent for the year at $322.50.

The stock closed Friday at $327.08.

Meeks also likes AMD, comparing it Intel, which he called the "kingpin" of PCs in the 1980s and '90s. He predicts AMD will "take some share in servers" in data centers and also "take some share in the gaming systems from Nvidia."

"AMD will never become a household name like Intel of even like Boeing, but you're going to hear a lot more from it," he said.

AMD's stock jumped more than 70 percent last year closing at $18.46. It hit a 52-week high of $34.14 in September.

If Meeks' projection materializes, shares of the airplane and semiconductor manufacturers would reach about $485 and $28, respectively, by 2022.

Disclosure: Paul Meeks does not personally own shares of AMD or BA. The Wireless Fund owns shares of AMD and BA.

Disclaimer
Kyle Walsh | CNBC

In early July 2018, Marc Benioff packed his iPhone and iPad into a FedEx envelope and mailed it to his summer home in Hawaii. The billionaire CEO of Salesforce then hopped on a plane out of San Francisco for a quiet two-week vacation across the Galapagos Islands, Bora Bora and Easter Island. He was unplugged and unreachable except by landline. Benioff, who preaches the virtues of mindfulness and seeks guidance from Buddhist monks, was left with plenty of time to meditate while enjoying some of the world's most glorious beaches with his family. All that relaxation led Benioff to one big revelation: He's too busy.

Weeks at work are filled with dinners, parties, events and business council meetings exclusively for CEOs, meaning that if anyone from Salesforce is to attend, it has to be him. Meanwhile, he's trying to run a 30,000-person company, build Salesforce towers across the globe, bolster his philanthropy, invest in start-ups, mentor other business leaders and become a louder voice on a number of social and political issues. "So I made a very good decision  to have two CEOs," Benioff said with a laugh, during a recent interview at his home in San Francisco. "Then it's a divide and conquer strategy." Following his time off the grid, Benioff flew to Hawaii refreshed and resolved to focus only on the things in life he enjoys. Upon arriving at his five-acre estate on the Big Island, he still had to retrieve his devices, and break the news to the person who would soon become his co-CEO: Keith Block. "Right away he liked it. He's wanted to be CEO of a company his whole life," Benioff said. As to the speculation that Block had another CEO offer on the table that he was considering, Benioff replied: "Not that I know of."

Salesforce co-CEOs Marc Benioff and Keith Block. Handout

Block, like Benioff, is an Oracle veteran. He joined Salesforce in 2013 and has been leading the sales and support organizations for five years. When his promotion to the top job was announced on Aug. 7, analysts at Piper Jaffray called it a "profound combination not having been seen in the software industry for the last decade."

A very busy 2018

For Benioff, it was just one big decision in a jam-packed year that saw his profile balloon from that of an industry leader and local giant to a global force with apparently unending ambitions. In an interview from his home boardroom overlooking San Francisco's Presidio and with a view of the Golden Gate Bridge, Benioff reflected on some of the key moments of 2018, a year that included Salesforce's biggest ever acquisition  the $6.5 billion MuleSoft deal  and his family's purchase of Time Magazine for $190 million. Investors clearly have his back. Salesforce shares rose 34 percent last year, outperforming all of the biggest names in tech and crushing the broader market, which had its worst year in a decade. The company's revenue and earnings beat estimates in the latest quarter. Benioff, who owns about 5 percent of Salesforce, saw his net worth swell to over $6 billion.

Source: CNBC

But he's clearly after something bigger. Benioff, wearing a black sweatshirt and jeans with a black Under Armour baseball cap, gives the distinct impression that after a particularly dark year for much of his industry, he's on a mission to help save technology from itself. The big stories of the year were deeply troubling, whether it was the privacy and platform manipulation issues that ravaged Facebook, Google and Twitter, or the hit Amazon took for treating the HQ2 bid as a beauty contest for the prettiest corporate handout. "Companies that are struggling today are struggling because of crisis with trust," Benioff said.

Facebook is a 'train wreck'

Even though Salesforce occupies a relatively sleepy corner of the tech universe, selling web-based software that helps salespeople and marketers do their jobs, Benioff is using his megaphone like never before to get that message across. His name was all over the local papers ahead of the November elections, when he was supporting a measure to fund homeless programs in San Francisco through a corporate tax while lambasting tech leaders for ignoring the problem that's sitting at their front door. He was in attack mode as far back as January during the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he publicly shamed Facebook, saying it was as addictive as tobacco. That was before the Cambridge Analytica data-sharing scandal and the many reports of bad behavior that Facebook had hidden from the public.

Benioff said his comments in Davos were unplanned. Prior to the event, he'd been chatting with friends like Jim Steyer, founder of Common Sense Media, and tech investor and Facebook critic Roger McNamee, and it had become "crystal clear that [Facebook] was a train wreck and that the management team was making it worse," he said. He'd also recently met with ex-Uber CEO Travis Kalanick about his mistakes at the ride-hailing company, and how the tech industry had to shift from a relentless pursuit of ideas to a focus on trust. As it happened, he was on a panel titled "In Technology We Trust?" with Uber's new CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi. Then, Benioff let loose on Facebook, telling CNBC that the company's "product designers are working to make those products more addictive," and suggesting we fix it "exactly the same way that you regulated the cigarette industry." The clip went viral  and the remarks didn't sit well at Facebook. Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg contacted Benioff to express her displeasure. "Her response and others was that it wasn't true what I was saying and they were going to send me a variety of materials to prove to me that I did not understand the situation," Benioff said. "I said I'd be happy to change my position if they sent me those materials that showed I was wrong. Maybe I was wrong, and I'm happy to fall on my sword." He paused. "But of course those materials never arrived." (When contacted about the dispute, Facebook said it sent Benioff the materials on April 6.) In the great tech backlash of 2018, not even Salesforce was immune. In March, the company announced that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) was deploying Salesforce's analytics and cloud products to "modernize its recruiting process" and help the agency manage its border activities. In President Trump's America, few issues are as politically charged as border security, given the administration's aggressive clampdown on immigration. Workers at Microsoft and Google objected to their employers' controversial government contracts, and now it was happening at Salesforce. Employees signed a petition in June over the CBP deal, and protesters at the annual Dreamforce conference in September brought along a large human cage. It symbolized that the company was complicit in the government's immigration policy, including the separation of families at the southern border. From Hawaii, Benioff spent a good part of the summer wrestling with the matter, as well as some of the bigger moral issues that Salesforce and its counterparts are facing, particularly as sophisticated technologies like artificial intelligence gain wider adoption and weave their way into everyday products. Benioff knew he didn't have a ready or adequate response to the employee pushback regarding the CBP contract, and that such tensions aren't going away. "They ask me questions I don't have the answer to and I don't have the authority or understanding to be able to opine on," Benioff said. "I said I need a team that I can pivot to to say, 'What is the right thing to do here?' And I'm like, it's crazy that we don't have a team like this. And it's crazy that no company does." Benioff opted to keep the contract, but he put Tony Prophet, the company's chief equality officer and a former Microsoft executive, in charge of building a group equipped to handle related issues in the future. The process took six months, Benioff said, culminating with the hiring on Dec. 10, of Paula Goldman from Omidyar Network as Salesforce's first chief ethical and humane use officer. "You don't want to be a CEO or co-CEO and all of the the sudden you get a phone call, 'I don't agree with your ethics, I'm leaving,'" Benioff said. "I could not imagine if that actually happened. I'd be very upset."

He's larger than life and he always has been. Max Levchin Affirm CEO and PayPal co-founder

Benioff co-founded Salesforce in 1999 after a 13-year career at Oracle, where he worked for founder Larry Ellison and became the company's youngest ever vice president. Salesforce got its start pushing customer relationship management (CRM) software from traditional desktop computers into the cloud  a market that didn't exist at the time. In today's economy, Benioff's marketing wizardry is in avoiding a focus on specific products like CRM that most people don't understand, and instead he touts the grandiose vision of a digital transformation that Salesforce is powering. All big companies are moving from old legacy systems into a future of total interconnectdeness, or what Benioff calls the "fourth industrial revolution." He even helped turn an old military campus  he points "just over the hill"  in the Presidio into the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, a project with the World Economic Forum. Benioff, naturally, is the inaugural chairperson. "He's larger than life and he always has been," said Max Levchin, co-founder of PayPal, founder of fintech start-up Affirm and a friend of Benioff's. Talk to other friends and you'll hear similar descriptions. Magdalena Yesil, who was the company's first investor and a founding board member, describes his "maniacal focus" on the local community and his expanding "global footprint." Yesil was among the hundreds of people at Benioff's 54th birthday party in late September on the top floor of the 1,070-foot Salesforce Tower. There was food from celebrity chefs Michael Mina and Tyler Florence and a cake that resembled a piece from Japanese artist Shinji Murakami, whose work is on display throughout the building. The party coincided with the start of Salesforce's massive Dreamforce conference, and served as the opening of floors 60 and 61, which Benioff designed. Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich, another longtime friend, was also there. He returned to the top floor with Benioff a few weeks later to watch the U.S. Navy Blue Angels' annual Fleet Week air show, which is so loud that it can be heard across San Francisco and much of the surrounding area. "A couple of times they were circling the building and the whole building was shaking," said Ulrich, who calls Metallica the Salesforce house band. "Once or twice they were below us."

Marc Benioff, chairman and co-chief executive officer of Salesforce.com Inc., left, speaks as Lars Ulrich, drummer with the band Metallica, looks on during the opening keynote at the DreamForce conference in San Francisco, Sept. 25, 2018. David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images

The 360-degree space, replete with a coffee bar, multicolored couches, beams covered in plants and flowers and a Steinway piano, is called the Ohana floor, after the Hawaiian word for family. It's a term so embedded in the Salesforce lexicon that you'd be right to identify it as having a cult-like appeal. It's yet another way for Benioff to try and distinguish himself from the tech elite. Instead of an exclusive view available to the C-suite, board members and close friends, he plans to offer the space for free for non-profits' events, and eventually he wants to open it up to the public "Ohana floors are a great way not just to provide really unique hospitality for employees and partners during the week but to connect with communities where we have urban campuses," said Elizabeth Pinkham, executive vice president for global real estate at Salesforce.

Coffee bar on top floor of Salesforce Tower Ari Levy | CNBC

Even Colin Powell has a Salesforce Tower story. The former secretary of state under George W. Bush and a retired four-star Army general joined the Salesforce board in 2014. Powell, who was born in Harlem and raised in the Bronx, says upscale Bay Area cuisine is largely lost on him. At a board meeting earlier in the year, Benioff said he had a special treat for Powell, knowing of his preference for hot dogs, hamburgers and french fries. "They said they had like a veggie burger that tasted just like a hamburger," Powell said. It was an Impossible Burger, a plant-based burger that's supposed resemble the taste and texture of actual beef. Powell appreciated the effort, "but I'm 81 years old, I'm not going to change too much," he said.

Person of the Year

Perhaps no event in 2018 signified Benioff's zeal as much as his purchase of Time Magazine. Benioff and his wife, Lynne, bought Time in September from media conglomerate Meredith Corporation, following Amazon CEO and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos into the world of old media. Benioff described the 95-year-old magazine started by Henry Luce as a publication producing "incredibly high-quality journalism" that just needs a little more love and care. In mid-December, he was decked out in holiday attire at an upscale venue in Manhattan to honor "the guardians," a group of journalists, including murdered Saudi Arabian columnist Jamal Khashoggi, who Time collectively declared person of the year "for taking great risks in pursuit of greater truths."

Marc Benioff at his home in San Francisco Kyle Walsh | CNBC

The event also served as a holiday celebration for employees and family members as well as partners and customers. It was a stark contrast to the prior year's gala, as several employees reminded Benioff throughout the night, which was held at a dive bar and wasn't open to spouses or significant others. Benioff's Twitter feed offered a running roster of attendees: Chef Jose Andres, Composer Yoshiki, filmmaker Darren Aronofsky, journalist Gretchen Carlson and CNBC's Jim Cramer. "The most memorable thing to me about the party was just the number of people who came up to me who were so appreciative that we were having a party," Benioff said. "I just look at the quality of work that they do and I feel like they were just being undermanaged and some of them underappreciated." tweet Edward Felsenthal, Time's CEO and editor-in-chief, had already gotten a taste of life under Benioff, when he visited the new boss at his home in San Francisco a week after the deal was announced in September. Felsenthal was in town for his twin nephew and niece's bar and bat mitzvah at the same temple where Benioff is a member and had just blown the shofar on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year. Felsenthal's casual visit with Benioff turned into a three-hour meeting. Unbeknownst to the career journalist, he was engaged in a trademark Benioff "V2MOM," which stands for vision, values, methods, obstacles and measures. It's a management process Benioff started formulating at Oracle. "I didn't realize the conversation we were having was a V2MOM," Felsenthal said in a phone interview. "It was about how do you make decisions about how to focus, how to invest and how to prioritize. It starts with  what's the vision for Time?" Benioff puts the Time purchase in the category of "impact investing," which includes a number of his and Lynne's venture deals and philanthropic projects. The couple has made equity investments in companies like smoking cessation start-up Carrot and financial education platform Harness Wealth, and the family name is on pediatric hospitals in San Francisco and Oakland, thanks to a $250 million commitment to UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals. Colin Powell says Benioff's philanthropic accomplishments are among his most impressive. Powell has known Benioff since before he began developing the 1-1-1 model (1 percent of equity, profit and employees' time to charity) and he's even been a beneficiary  Benioff is a major donor to The Powell School in Harlem. "He believes in it, he believes he has that responsibility," Powell said. "In the past couple years, as the company has become more successful and revenue has gone up significantly, he's become much more philosophical, and he wants to spread that into more issues facing the nation."

UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland

The most recent example was Proposition C, which was on the November ballot in San Francisco. The measure called on corporations in the city with revenue over $50 million to pay a tax of 0.5 percent of gross receipts towards homeless programs. Benioff committed almost $8 million to passing the bill, and between mid-October and election day, he tweeted about it more than 50 times. With Block now having CEO-level authority, Benioff said he could afford to take two solid weeks to focus on Prop C, convening meetings in Salesforce Tower with local business leaders, non-profits and homelessness experts. But something unexpected happened to give Benioff the momentum he said he needed. "God sent me this angel from heaven  Jack Dorsey," Benioff said. "And then," he gestures with his hand to show an airplane taking off. tweet Dorsey, the CEO of Twitter and Square, took the other side of the issue, because of the higher tax on financial services like Square, which he said would struggle to stay in San Francisco. Other local entrepreneurs like Stripe CEO Patrick Collison and Zynga founder Marc Pincus joined Dorsey in siding with San Francisco Mayor London Breed, who opposed the measure because she said the city didn't have the controls in place to ensure the money was spent wisely. Benioff said that ultimately, "there's people that want to give money to the homeless and people who don't." To those business leaders who opposed Prop C, "then I say, 'what is your plan?' Benioff said. "They didn't have one." Prop C passed with about 60 percent support, and Benioff's only regret was that he didn't get started sooner. "We moved the numbers a huge amount in a short period of time," he said. "It was crazy." The more Benioff's profile grows the more questions arise about his future and his political ambitions. He's been at least near the politics arena, hosting a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton in her 2016 run for president. Benioff told Recode's Kara Swisher in a recent interview on MSNBC that he will never run for office. Yesil said "it's a question that's been asked of him for the last 20 years." If you take Benioff at his word, he has no plans to step back from day-to-day life at Salesforce, and sharing the top role with Block buys him more time to do the things he wants. He's in the process of writing his fourth book, this one about Salesforce's journey from $1 billion to $10 billion in sales, and is aiming to have it ready for Dreamforce 2019. In working on the book and preparing for Salesforce's upcoming 20th anniversary this year, Benioff has been reaching out to early employees for various artifacts and memorabilia. Tien Tzuo, Salesforce's 11th employee who's now founder and CEO of Zuora, said Benioff emailed him recently looking for hand drawn sketches of the original AppExchange, the company's app marketplace that was launched in 2005. "His emails are very short and very specific," Tzuo said.

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Beachwood, OH (44122)

Today

Thunderstorms early, then becoming mostly clear after midnight. Low 59F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms early, then becoming mostly clear after midnight. Low 59F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
COLUMBUS, OhioPropelled by Democratic support, Republican state Rep. Larry Householder appears to closing in on being elected Ohio House speaker for the next two years.

During a non-binding straw poll on Friday, 20 of the 38 incoming House Democrats indicated they will vote for Householder during Mondays floor vote on next sessions House speaker, according to multiple people in the room during the poll. If that support holds, Householder is within four votes of the 50 overall votes he needs to be elected speaker over current Speaker Ryan Smith, who received seven Democratic votes during Fridays caucus poll (plus anticipated support from one additional Democrat, state Rep. Bernadine Kent, who didnt participate).

Although House Republicans will hold a 61-38 supermajority when the 2019-2020 session begins on Monday, the GOP caucus is split between Householder and Smith. That means after a contentious, year-long, multi-million-dollar fight, Householder only needs to swing four votes from either the 10 Democrats who didnt express support during Fridays caucus or the 34 Republicans who have so far supported Smith.

It was unclear Friday exactly which House Democrats were undecided or absent from Fridays caucus. Democrats agreed to caucus again on Monday, shortly before the floor vote for speaker.

During a House GOP caucus vote late last month, 34 Republicans voted to re-elect Smith speaker for the next two years. However, Householder and 25 other House Republicans didnt attend the vote (one House Republican seat is vacant after Brian Hill of Zanesville was appointed to the Ohio Senate).

In recent weeks, Householder and his allies have worked to win over incoming Democrats; labor groups, especially, have pushed hard for Democratic lawmakers to support the Perry County Republican on the grounds that he has vowed not to support anti-union initiatives such as right-to-work, which would prohibit private-sector labor union membership as a condition of employment.

Other than on labor issues, Householder and Smith have few differences on policy. Compared to situations in other states where Democrats have thrown support to a Republican speaker, Householder has been offering comparative peanuts to Ohio Democrats in exchange for their support.

Although Minority Leader Fred Strahorn, a Dayton Democrat, originally intended to put his name into contention for speaker, he removed himself from the running after an initial Democratic caucus vote on Friday revealed only eight votes for him, according to multiple people in the room. A House Democratic spokesman declined to comment Friday.

Asked for comment following Fridays Democratic caucus vote, Householder only texted a smiley face. Smith declined comment via text, citing speculation on the Democratic vote total.

The job of Ohio House speaker is one of the most powerful positions in state government, one which holds enormous control over which bills pass the House and which are doomed to fail.

Smith, a Gallia County Republican, has held the speakers gavel since June, after former Speaker Cliff Rosenberger resigned amid an FBI investigation into his spending and travel. However, because Smith wasnt able to win 50 Republican votes, he was only elected speaker following an embarrassing weeks-long deadlock during which the House was unable to pass any bills.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Research at universities wont likely stop during the government shutdown, but that doesnt mean that faculty and administration wont feel the effects.

A partial government shutdown began Dec. 22, 2018, and President Donald Trump said on Friday that it could go on for months, even years, if Democrats dont approve funding for a border wall Trump promised during his campaign in 2016.

The shutdown left thousands of federal workers at home or unpaid. Graduate students who conduct research projects funded with federal money wont be told to stay out of the lab, though.

Universities typically pay student salaries and then apply for reimbursements from the federal government. Chemicals, machines and other necessities for research are also purchased through this method.

When the government shuts down, it preventing universities from getting the money back -- potentially for months. Researchers have to be careful about how they spend.

In a sense the university is kind of acting like a bank, Suzanne Rivera, vice president for research at the Case Western Reserve University Office of Research and Technology Management, said.

The University of Akron handles the shutdown the same way, George Chase, director of research for science, engineering, math and technology, said, so researchers wont feel the effects. It depends on the agencies on how often reimbursement occurs. Some only pay a few times a year, others reimburse monthly.

An area where faculty could see the delay is in applying for funding. Part of a professors job is applying for funding to pay for research. When the government agency that takes those applications isnt operational, there can be no new submissions and those already submitted will be delayed for approval.

CWRU faculty who spent their Winter Break finishing up extremely detailed grant proposals now have to wait to submit them, pushing back the timelines of projects, Rivera said.

Not all government agencies are closed, including the National Institute of Health, one of the major sources of funding for CWRU. Those offices received approval for funding before the shutdown.

But other agencies, including the National Science Foundation, NASA and the National Endowment for the Humanities, are closed.

Even if the shutdown were to end next week, there would be months-worth of effects, Rivera said.

Read more about how the shutdown is affecting workers or how it might affect your taxes.
The director of the State Museum of Musical Culture of Azerbaijan, Alla Bayramova, told today that a lot of memorable objects from the archives of the famous pianist, People's Artist of Azerbaijan Chingiz Sadikhov were delivered to the museum. All of them were donated by the pianists wife, Jeyran Sadikhova, who came to Baku.

The museum was presented the Shohrat Order and the People's Artist of Azerbaijan badge awarded to Chingiz Sadikhov, the letter of gratitude of the US President Bill Clinton and various photos of the pianist.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that two Ohio assault laws cannot always be considered violent felonies under federal guidelines often used by prosecutors to seek longer prison sentences against defendants with long criminal records.

The full 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that not all convictions in Ohio state courts for aggravated assault and felonious assault can be considered a violent-felony predicate under U.S. sentencing guidelines.

(You can read the full ruling here or at the bottom of this story.)

A defendants history of committing violent offenses is frequently used by federal prosecutors to seek harsher sentences.

Under the Armed Career Criminal Act, a defendant found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm can be considered a career offender and face a minimum of 15 years in federal prison if they have three or more previous state or federal convictions of violence. A range of sentences recommended to a judge by the U.S. sentencing guidelines is also often higher if a defendant has previous violent convictions.

However, since every state writes its laws differently, the definition of what is considered a violent felony has been a subject of debate and litigation in federal courts.

The 6th Circuit ruled Thursday that judges must look at the specific circumstances of the conviction to determine whether the action was violent. While some defendants convicted of felonious or aggravated assault in Ohio no doubt acted physically violent, some may have been charged for actions other than causing or threatening physical harm, U.S. Circuit Judge Alice Batchelder wrote. Therefore, not everyone convicted of an aggravated or felonious assault have a violent felony conviction under federal law, the opinion says.

The full court was ruling on a case involving Cuyahoga Falls man LeArdrus Burris, who was one of 20 people charged and convicted for their roles in bringing large amounts of heroin and cocaine from New York and Akron. A jury found him guilty of possession with intent to distribute heroin and using a communication facility to facilitate drug trafficking.

U.S. District Judge James Gwin in 2016 found that Burris 2007 conviction for felonious assault helped him qualified for a career offender classification under the federal sentencing guidelines. A concurring opinion written by U.S. Circuit Judge Amul Thapar noted that Burris' conviction stemmed from him ramming his car into a police officer.

But despite having a higher recommended sentence, Gwin sentenced Burris, 35, to 7 1/2 years in federal prison.

Seven of the 18 judges who ruled partially disagreed with the ruling, saying Burris should be re-sentenced.

The full 6th Circuit heard oral arguments for Burris case in June. The same day, they conducted them for a similar case involving Brian Williams, an Ohio man sentenced in 2006 to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to a felon in possession charge. Williams says a previous conviction for attempted felonious assault should not be considered a violent felony.

The court has not ruled on Williams case.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Several large drug companies named in lawsuits over the nations opioid epidemic asked a federal judge in Cleveland to sanction Ohio Attorney General and Governor-elect Mike DeWine and two other lawyers for statements they made about the cases on a recent episode of CBS 60 Minutes.

The motion filed Friday says statements made by DeWine and attorneys Mike Moore and Burton LeBlanc were part of a concerted campaign by lawyers representing state and local governments to taint potential jury pools  through misleading, inflammatory, and improper public statements.

(You can read the court filings here or at the bottom of this story.)

Their statements came in a segment that aired on a Dec. 16 episode of 60 Minutes about the opioid litigation. The piece, hosted by correspondent Bill Whitaker, touched on topics ranging from potential damages to what a set of data collected by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration showed about the number of pills that flowed into cities and states across the country.

The motion was filed by attorneys for several drug manufacturers and distributors, including Ohio-based Cardinal Health, Endo, AmerisourceBergen and Purdue Pharma.

It comes as preparation continues for a trial in September for claims made against drug companies by the cities of Cleveland and Akron and Cuyahoga and Summit counties. Those cases, along with scores of others, are being heard in Cleveland by U.S. District Judge Dan Polster.

The lawsuits accuse pharmaceutical companies of downplaying the addictive nature of powerful opioids and painkillers that are largely attributed to one of the deadliest drug epidemics in U.S. history.

Ohios opioid lawsuit, in which Moore is involved, is not included in the swath of lawsuits Polster oversees, as it is being heard in a court in Ross County. However, DeWine has participated in settlement talks in the federal litigation.

Specifically, the motion takes issue with several statements made by the men. This includes Moore saying if we try the Ohio case, if we win a verdict against these manufacturers and distributors there, it could bankrupt them and that a jury may award $100 billion in a trial.

DeWine also said he had seen a set of data from the federal Automated Reports and Consolidated Ordering System, or ARCOS, database and said he wasnt allowed to talk about specifics but that it was shocking and that distributors should have seen that something was wrong.

Finally, LeBlanc talked about how defendants had access to the ARCOS database, which the defendants say was misleading.

The defendants claim the mens' statements were a flagrant violation of their ethical obligations as attorneys practicing before this Court and threatens defendants rights to a fair adjudication of the claims asserted against them."

They say all three men violated Ohio rules governing public statements given by lawyers and orders given by Polster to not publicly disseminate the ARCOS data. It also says Moore violated Polsters order to not talk about settlement discussions.

The motion asks Polster to impose a gag order and to impose sanctions, among other measures.

DeWine, Moore and LeBlanc have not responded in court to the defendants motion.

Moore, a former Mississippi attorney general who played a key role in the large-scale tobacco litigation in the 1990s, declined comment Friday evening because he had not seen the motion. DeWine declined comment through a spokesman, while LeBlanc did not immediately respond to a voicemail.

Drug companies have argued against multiple lawsuits by saying prescription painkillers such as Oxycontin have legitimate medical uses approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. They have said they are committed to ensuring prescription painkillers are used properly.

The Ohio cases are set to be the first in a series of bellwether trials, or test cases that give attorneys an idea of how future cases may play out, be it through a judges decision, a jury verdict or a settlement. The cases are generally chosen because they are similar and representative of hundreds of other lawsuits filed in what is known as multi-district litigation.

Polster last month issued an order letting key racketeering and fraud claims to proceed to trial. However, he has pushed to settle the cases in front of him.
CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Kidnapping, Rushleigh Road: At 10:05 p.m. Dec. 28, a man went to the police station to report that, at noon the day before, he was sitting at a bus stop at Rushleigh and Noble roads when a pickup truck pulled up.

Two men were in the truck and offered the man a ride in exchange for a cigarette or two.

The man got into the truck and said he wanted a ride to the Golden Gate Shopping Center in Mayfield Heights. The truck headed east on Mayfield Road, but then drove past Golden Gate. When the man asked where the driver was heading, the passenger showed a handgun and told the man they were going to open up some cell phone accounts.

The man was unsure where he was driven, but police believe he was taken on U.S. 422 east. The three men eventually went into a Sprint store in a shopping plaza, where the man was made to try to open a cell phone account. The man told police that he believed the clerk knew something was wrong and denied him an account.

The three then tried another Sprint store, where the man was again denied an account, then a Best Buy store. At Best Buy, the man was successful in opening two Sprint accounts using credit. The suspects took control of the phones.

They next went to Beachwood Place mall. At Saks Fifth Avenue, the man was forced to open a credit card account. One of the suspects used the credit card to buy shoes and a hat at a total cost of $750. The suspects then dropped off the man, unharmed, at Golden Gate.

Police believe the man was taken to stores in Twinsburg and Macedonia. The victim was able to use his cell phone to take a picture of one of the suspects.

At 1:25 a.m. Jan. 1, an officer spotted a truck matching that driven by the suspects. A traffic stop was made and the driver, the lone person in the vehicle, told the officer that he had a permit to carry a gun. The gun was located, as were two cell phones like those the man was made to purchase. The suspect also possessed $2,403 in cash.

The man was arrested and his truck towed.

Disorderly conduct, Atherstone Road: At 8:55 p.m. Dec. 28, police were called to a residence on a complaint that two women were in a driveway screaming profanities at one another.

Police attempted to speak with the women, ages 35 and 18, but the women continued to scream at each other and used profanity toward officers. When the women would not quiet down, both were arrested for disorderly conduct.

Police later learned that the two are mother and daughter.

Theft of firearm, Grosvenor Road: At 12:20 p.m. Jan. 2, a woman notified police that her loaded handgun was missing.

The woman told officers that she last remembers seeing the gun on Dec. 27 or 28, when she put it in her vehicle to go shopping.

Police found no evidence that anyone had forcibly entered her truck. The woman noted that there may have been times when the truck had been left unlocked.

Menacing, Severance Circle: At 12:50 a.m. Dec. 27, police were called to an apartment on a report that threats had been made.

A man from China, who has been in the United States about one year while working on a master's degree at Case Western Reserve University, told police he had met someone he believed to be a woman on a Chinese social media cell phone app. The person he met called herself "Orange" in Mandarin Chinese.

The woman suggested a date and said the man should meet her in Parma. When the man arrived in Parma, "Orange" messaged him via the app and said she is a prostitute and that she needed the man to speak to her boss. The boss called the man and, in Mandarin, instructed him to go to a local CVS drugstore and buy a $200 Google Play gift card. The man did so, took a photo of the cards' serial numbers, as instructed, and sent them to the boss.

The boss next instructed him to buy a $3,000 Google Play card. The man refused, and the boss threatened him on the app and through text messages, stating he is a member of a violent crime organization and that he would send someone to kill him.

Police checked the number from which the boss had called and learned that it is the number for a Los Angeles loan business, about which multiple complaints of fraud have been received.

The man also told police that he did buy a $2,000 Google Play card, but had not transmitted its serial numbers to the boss.

It was found that the full $200 from the gift card the man purchased had been spent.

If you would like to discuss the police blotter, please visit our crime and courts comments page.
Grace Louise Archer, age 90, a resident of Aurora, Colorado, a former resident of Chillicothe, Missouri, passed away on Wednesday, June 2, 2021, at Shalom Park, Aurora, Colorado. Grace was born the daughter of Maurice P. Martin, Sr., and Margaret (O'Connor) Martin on October 10, 1930, in Chi
The flight deal gurus at Thrifty Traveler have teamed up with SFGate to provide a weekly roundup of the best domestic and international flight deals from the San Francisco Bay Area.

This week our deals include flights from Bay Area airports to New York City, Helsinki, Austin, Montreal, and Chicago. All fares listed are round trip. We will only suggest highly restricted "Basic Economy" fares for flights of less than two hours.

(This is our weekly feature called Friday Fare Deals. If you are a Bay Area bargain hunter, be sure to tune in each Friday morning or sign up for our bi-weekly email alerts. )

NEW YORK CITY: This is as cheap as it gets from the Bay Area to NYC! Nonstop on JetBlues route from San Jose to New York City, available from January through April. Transcon flights like these are typically $250+, so book ASAP! JetBlue flights include advance seat assignment, free carry-on, and the most legroom in economy out of all the US carriers. ALSO, SFO-JFK on JetBlue is just $217 roundtrip

$196-$217 - San Jose (SJC) or San Francisco (SFO) to New York City (JFK) - JetBlue Airlines

AUSTIN: Alaska Airlines fares to Austin are crazy cheap right now! Take advantage of this $156 nonstop fare; available January through March. Flights to Austin from the Bay Area are typically $250+, so this is savings of over $100. Alaska Air fares include advance seat assignment and a free carry-on.

$156 - San Jose (SJC) to Austin (AUS) - Alaska Airlines

CHICAGO: We havent seen cheap flights from the Bay Area to Chicago for a while, but Alaska has dropped prices under $200 on their nonstop route this week. Fares on this route are typically $270+. Get to Chicago from January through March for just $196. Alaska Airlines fares include advance seat assignment and a free carry-on. This price is also available on American, but their fares are basic economy and dont include advance seat assignment.

$196 - San Francisco (SFO) to Chicago (ORD) - Alaska Airlines

Don't miss out on great travel deals! Sign up for our free bi-weekly travel update emails.

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MONTREAL: Looking for a trip to Quebec? Take advantage of this seriously cheap airfare on Air Canada. Flights to Montreal from the Bay Area typically cost $400+, so dont wait to book this one. Availability at $310 from January through March, with more availability in April and May for $320. Air Canada fares include advance seat assignment and carry-on. One short stop in Vancouver each way required - total transit time is about 8-9 hours.

$310 - San Jose (SJC) to Montreal, Quebec (YUL) - Air Canada

HELSINKI: This is an insanely cheap deal, flying nonstop to Finland! Available on select dates in April and May. Google Flights will say the price is $533, but it actually reprices to $362 when you select your dates for checkout. Nonstop flights from San Francisco to Helsinki are usually at least $600, and often spike to $1,400 in May.

This is a basic economy ticket flying Finnair, one of American Airlines European partners. This basic economy fare does include a free carry-on, but does not include advance seat assignment. Upgrade to economy for $90 to get advance seat assignment. Book this one before its gone!

$361 - San Francisco (SFO) to Helsinki, Finland (HEL) - *NONSTOP* Finnair --upgrade to economy for $90 ($451 total) to get advance seat assignment.

All flights are best found via the Google Flights links listed here. New to Google Flights? Check out Thrifty Travelers guide. All fares are round-trip and valid at the time of posting, but as always, are subject to change.

Read all recent TravelSkills posts here

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Chris McGinnis is the founder of TravelSkills.com. The author is solely responsible for the content above, and it is used here by permission. You can reach Chris at chris@travelskills.com or on Twitter @cjmcginnis.
The leader of Russia's space program is no longer invited to visit Houston for a public forum with NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, officials confirmed Saturday.

"We had heard from numerous senators suggesting that this was not a good idea and I wanted to be accommodating to the interest of the senators," Bridenstine told the Washington Post late Friday.

But NASA's leader assured the public that the space agency would continue to work cooperatively with Russia in space. The U.S. has relied on the Russians to ferry its astronauts to and from the International Space Station since 2011 when the Space Shuttle program was shuttered.

READ MORE: NASA postpones visit from head of Russian space program

The rescinded invitation was announced just days after criticism of Roscosmos CEO Dmitry Rogozin's visit grew from a quiet whisper to a steady roar. Rogozin, who previously served as Russia's deputy prime minister, was banned from entering the United States after Moscow seized the Crimean peninsula in 2014.

SPACE DISCUSSIONS: NASA invites sanctioned head of Roscosmos to the U.S. for 'public forum'

Discussions of a visit to Houston  home of NASA's Johnson Space Center where the nation's astronauts live and train  began in October, when the space agency confirmed that Bridenstine had proposed partaking in a public forum with the Russian politician.

Despite Rogozin's months-old invitation, calls to rescind it reached a crescendo on Wednesday after Politico published a Jan. 1 story about Rogozin's potential visit. The Chronicle first reported on the invitation in October, the day it was officially confirmed by NASA.

Earlier Friday, NASA spokeswoman Megan Powers said the meeting set for February was postponed. It now has officially been revoked.

MOUNTING BACKLASH: Rice University has no plans to host head of Russian space program in Houston, despite reports

It was rumored that the meeting would take place at Rice University, Bridenstine's alma-mater. But Rice officials said Wednesday they had no plans to bring Rogozin onto campus.

The timing of Bridenstine's discussions with Rogozin seemed apt. Two Russian mishaps related to the International Space Station had just occurred  a problem felt so acutely by the U.S. because NASA's astronauts have relied on the Russians to ferry them to and from the space station since Space Shuttle program was shuttled in 2011.

First, astronauts aboard the space station discovered an air leak-causing hole in a Russian Soyuz spacecraft attached to the space station in August. Astronauts aboard the orbiting laboratory at the time, including NASA's Serena Aunon-Chancellor, were able to quickly patch the hole and there was no danger to the crew. Russia still is investigating the cause of the leak, though officials have said it was caused by an errant drill.

Then in October, a different Soyuz carrying American astronaut Nick Hague to the orbiting laboratory was forced to abort its launch because of a rocket booster failure  the first time such an event had occurred in 35 years. Hague and his crewmate were safe and good condition. They will get a second chance to live on the space station in April.

"We will continue our strong working relationship with Russia as it relates to the International Space Station and sending our astronauts into space," Bridenstine told the Post.

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.
Hanna-Barbera Land was a fleeting blip on Houston's theme park radar.

It was only opened for two years in 1984 and 1985, but judging from a collection of vintage photos, it wasn't easily forgotten for a young Houston visitor.

NOSTALGIA: Photos show what Houston looked like in 1969

Built by Taft Broadcasting, the park was based on cartoon characters of William Hanna and Joseph Barbera's animation studio, including Yogi Bear, The Flintstones and The Smurfs TV series. The park featured a carousel, swan pedal boats, puppet shows and water body slides, among other attractions.

Virginia resident Larry Syverson posted the vintage photos of his family's first couple of vacations in Houston on social media. They provide a glimpse to a simpler time in the growing, hectic city.

Aside from Hanna-Barbera Land, they visited Battleship Texas, The Museum of Natural Sciences and NASA in 1975, when the agency was still on the eve of the shuttle era.

View the gallery above to see what those places looked in the 1970s and 80s.

Julian Gill is a digital reporter in Houston. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | julian.gill@chron.com | Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message
The Rev. Xavier Aponte reminded the 200 mourners crowded into the chapel at La Paz Memorial Funeral Home that they were there to celebrate the life of Silvia Zavala, a vivacious 45-year-old grandmother who had driven from her home in the Rio Grande Valley to spend the New Year holiday with family in Houston.

Most, however, were still reeling from Zavalas unexpected death in a senseless automobile accident, and they were not ready to let her go.

She was a happy person who was very contented with her God-given life, Aponte said.

Her son, who had come up from the border to the funeral, agreed but wants punishment for the teen driver charged with his mothers death.

My mom was indeed a very happy person, said Luis Gaspar, 24, the older of Zavalas two children. But this is too hard; she didnt deserve this  I want justice.

Zavala was killed on Tuesday just after 2 p.m. when a 14-year-old boy driving a GMC SUV at high speed ran a red light at the intersection of Aldine Mail Route and Aldine Westfield, plowing broadside into the Ford F-150 pickup she was driving. Paramedics who found her body pronounced her dead at the scene, according to the Harris County Sheriff office.

The two-car collision that ended her life made national news after surveillance video was aired of an accident resulting from a teenagers prank.

The teen driver, who was unlawfully driving the SUV owned by his parents, was accompanied by two passengers of similar ages. The teens had been throwing eggs at motorists and were being pursued by the driver of a 1970s model Lincoln Continental who had brandished a firearm after his car had been pelted with eggs, investigators said.

The teen drivers name has not been disclosed since he is a minor, but the Harris County Sheriffs Office has confirmed that boy has been charged with murder and is in juvenile facilities. The man in the Lincoln left the accident scene but was later questioned by police.

Silvia Zavala came to Houston on Dec. 31 from her home in McAllen to celebrate the New Year with her daughter Jessica Gaspar, who has been living for over a year with her aunt Fabiola Zavala near the Aldine area.

On the day of the accident, Silvia Zavala was happy as usual, a family member recalled, who said she left to do some last minute shopping before heading back home later that day to McAllen. Her son and most of her family resides in the South Texas border city, not far from where her four grandchildren live in Mexico.

Later, she stopped answering calls from family members. And when her niece Alejandra Lara Zavala found a photo on Facebook of a recent crash with a car too similar to the aunt, some of the family ran to the scene. It was already too late.

My aunt was a very hard working person, happy; she liked to go shopping because she loved dressing pretty and looking lovely, said Lara. She loved dancing and was a very strong woman. Very beautiful.

JAZMINE BARNES INVESTIGATION: Tips pour in after sketch of gunman released by law enforcement

Her son recalled how his mother raised he and his sister with little help, and without complaint.

My mother worked during her whole life, said her son Gaspar. She was so strong that she never showed us any sign of her problems; she raised my sister and me alone without complaining and she was always there for us later when we grew up, always helping when we needed her.

He kept his composure at the funeral, just a few feet from where his sister inconsolably cried over their mothers coffin, and said he was willing to pardon the 14-year-old driver.

He said he knows what is to be a 14-year-old.

At that age, my mother knew what I was doing. I stole my mothers car a few times but to go (to) see my girlfriends; never to go and do harm to others, like what those young men were doing; throwing eggs, vandalizing

The son remembered that his mother had a big, very forgiving heart. My mom had such a big heart that if she had been left alive in that accident, my mom would have pardoned that boy.

Gaspar said that just like his mother, I do not have a grudge or anything, because my mother taught me that way.

Speaking in a soft tone, he added, I forgive that boy with my heart; he is a child. But he must have his punishment for having done this. My moms life has a lot of value to us and that (boy) left the whole family with broken hearts.

Gaspar thinks even though his mothers life was unjustly taken, he believes it is somehow by Gods design.

God put my mother on that path because she was alone in the car. What if they (the teenagers) would have killed people with children and the whole family? It could have been worse when you think on a greater scale, he said.

A note on one of the many flower arrangements declared that Zavala was very much loved. A long procession of dozens of cars followed the hearse to the Hollywood Cemetery in the early afternoon, where a Catholic service marked the mothers last ritual.

Yes, she was much loved, said niece Lara. By Wednesday (this week), most of the family have already arrived in Houston from McAllen and Mexico. Everybody loved her.

olivia.tallet@chron.com

Twitter.com/oliviaptallet
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez was not horsing around when he made an unusual request to Commissioners Court last week, seeking permission to adopt a miniature pony and make him the mascot of the departments mounted patrol.

In likely one of the strangest notes ever penned on sheriffs department letterhead, Gonzalez and deputies explained that firefighters had rescued the brown-and-white pony from a southwest Houston storm drain in October. No owner came forward to claim the animal, and deputies in the mounted patrol decided they could use the smaller equine as an ambassador. Commissioners Court will consider the request on Tuesday.
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Uprooted Palestinians are at the heart of the conflict in the M.E Palestinians uprooted by force of arms. Yet faced immense difficulties have survived, kept alive their history and culture, passed keys of family homes in occupied Palestine from one generation to the next.
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AIBEA, BEFI call for two-day Bank strike on January 8-9

Ten central trade unions have also called for a nationwide general strike on January 8-9

New Delhi: A section of PSU bank employees would go on a two-day strike on January 8 and 9 in support of the nation-wide strike call given by 10 central trade unions against the government's alleged anti-worker policy.

The All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) and Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI) has informed the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) of the two-day nationwide strike on January 8-9, 2019, IDBI Bank said in a filing to the BSE, according to PTI.

In a separate filing to the BSE, Bank of Baroda said "in the event of AlBEA and BEFI proceeding on strike on January 8-9, 2019, the functioning of bank's branches/offices in some of the zones may be affected."

Ten central trade unions -- INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, AICCTU, UTUC, TUCC, LPF and SEWA -- have also called for a nationwide general strike on January 8-9, against the "anti-people" policies of the Centre and have placed a charter of 12 demands before the central government.

Earlier on December 21 and 26, 2018, nine bank unions or close to 1 million employees of various banks, including private lenders, had observed a one-day strike to protest against the proposed amalgamation of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank with Bank of Baroda.

The strike had hit businesses because banks were closed for contineously five days due to the strike. Despite the protests by the bank unions, government said it will go ahead with its bank merger plan.

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Hurricane Harvey may have hit the region with more than 50 inches of rain over a year ago, but some families in Montgomery County are still dealing with effects from the storm.

At a round table meeting next week, United Way of Greater Houstons Montgomery County Center is rallying community organizations at their office in The Woodlands to hear from disaster case managers about recovery needs still present in the county.

Theyre doing so through a grant from the American Red Cross.

According to its website, the American Red Cross has given more than $60 million in donated funds toward community-based recovery services in the Texas Gulf Coast Region.

In this way, a county-wide long term recovery group MC Cares, a collaborative effort spearheaded by United Way of Greater Houston Montgomery County, was given a grant of $156,000 to issue direct financial assistance to Harvey-affected households with unmet needs.

Judi Foster with United Way of Greater Houston Montgomery County said that the organization invited other partners in because they wanted to be able to do more with the money they received.

So, those funds are to be combined with disaster relief funds still available from The Woodlands United Methodist Church, the Montgomery County Community Foundation and Interfaith of The Woodlands.

This is the third such meeting, and Interfaiths Vice President of Programs Lucy Gomez said disaster case managers usually present around 10 cases from families theyre working with who are in the last phase of complete recovery.

Were at the stage of long-term disaster recovery and unmet needs. The last bit a family might need could be appliances or cabinets because theyve exhausted all of the (other) funds, Gomez said.

Gomez said the long-term recovery process started last fall, and she expects it to be ongoing as long as funds are available.

At the round table meeting, Gomez said United Way usually covers the initial cost of the cases they hear. Foster said United Way is able to give a maximum of $5,000 per case. Then, the other entities in attendance will step in to cover any estimated recovery balance on a case-by-case basis.

It takes all of us together to meet those needs and push homeowners back to self-sufficiency in their recovery process, Gomez said.

While Foster said she wasnt sure how many families are still in need out of the thousands of Montgomery County homes that flooded during the hurricane, there are clearly still those who are recovering.

For example, Julie Martineau, executive director of the Montgomery County Community Foundation, said that the organization recently received more than 20 requests for recovery funds in just one afternoon.

Foster said another meeting is to be scheduled for February so case managers can report on work being done on their active cases.

jane.stueckemann@chron.com
Fort Bend ISD is hosting community input meetings focusing on three new programs proposed for Hightower, Willowridge and Marshall High Schools. If approved by trustees, the programs will be open to all current eight-graders and are expected to launch in the fall semester of 2019, according to district officials.

A new computer programing curriculum for students who want to learn to code JAVA is proposed for Willowridge High School. At Marshall High School, plans are under development for a school within a school focusing on an early college high school program to offer students the opportunity to earn a free associates degree and 60 hours of college credit. If approved by trustees, Hightower High School could gain a new a Pathways of Technology Program, also called a P-Tech program, focusing on specific certification classes in health science courses.
By Dr Mohammad Manzoor Alam

The Narendra Modi government has railroaded the Triple Talaq Bill through Lok Sabha on sheer strength of a brute majority, contemptuously overlooking the Opposition protests and Muslim minoritys requests to government not to interfere with their religious laws.

There are many numbers of reasons for the Rajya Sabha to reject the Bill, some of which are enumerated here. To begin with, it is the duty of the government of the day to take the opposition along on major issues of legislation in a democracy. In this the BJP-led alliance shrugged off the opposition and Muslim sensitivity just because it was in a majority.

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In Rajya Sabha, it is not in a majority and cannot do as it will. It should realise that riding roughshod over the opposition and the religious sentiment of 18 crore people it has laid down a bad precedent, which it will rue when it sits on the opposition benches.

The Bill stinks of utter dishonesty. BJP says it is protecting the rights of Muslim women (in BJPs words, Musalman behnon ka adhikar). But the Musalman behnen do not want their rights to be protected by BJP, as is evident from dozens of large rallies by Muslim women across cities rejecting BJPs help. No, please! We dont want your help! is the Muslim womens response, united and overwhelming. Nobody takes the Muslim Mahila folk on the RSS payroll as anything more than a cruel joke. Such people (female version of you know whom) are not even a drop in the rolling sea of Muslim womanhood.

Why are Muslim women against the Bill? Because they think the Sangh is anti-woman, and all of its organs, including BJP, are misogynists, totally incapable of sympathy with women  Hindu, Muslim, Christian and all others. So, if they say they are well-wishers of Muslim women, they are telling a lie.

There are more visceral, fail-proof and fool-safe evidences for Muslim women to believe so. Who raped and murdered hundreds of Muslim women in Surat and all over Gujarat after the Babri Masjid demolition? Who raped, murdered and burnt alive hundreds of Muslim women 10 years later in Gujarat, in 2002? Who slashed a pregnant Muslim womans stomach, pulled out the baby and cut it into pieces before setting everyone on fire in Gujarat pogrom? The answer is BJP men. And, who killed, raped and burnt Muslim men, women and children in Muzaffarnagar 2013? Mobs led by BJP leaders!

Who are they befooling by claiming to be well-wishers of Muslim women? Of course, themselves. Nobody else. Not Muslim women in any case. Muslim women cant be fooled by false sympathy. If the Sangh is so sympathetic to women, why is it opposing the courts orders to allow Hindu women into Sabrimala temple? BJP is more vehemently and vociferously opposed to the entry of women into the temple than any other Sangh organisation. It is adamant in its stance even after Hindu women formed a chain from one end of Kerala to another demanding entry.

Why is BJP opposed to allowing temple entry to Hindu women? Because, it says, it is against their faith. By the same logic, is not the governments high-handed intervention in matters of Muslim faith equally objectionable? Or, is Hindu faith sacrosanct and Muslim faith not so? Is it Constitutionally tenable? Does it not violate the Constitutional equality of all faiths? By the way, have Muslim women made a chain from one end of, say, UP to another, and demanded a Triple Talaq Bill penalising divorce? Where are the Sanghs hired Muslim women?

Where are the Sangh-sponsored Muslim mahilaen? What is their number? A hundred? Two hundred? Can they form a chain half as long as a flyover in Delhi? Certainly not! Then why are the Hindu women forming a human chain from one end of Kerala to another being fought by BJP, denying them the right to temple entry which is supported by the court? Triple Talaq Bill is nothing but a malicious attempt by Sangh-inspired politicians to defame Muslims. The Sanghs outfits, including BJP are opposing azaan and namaaz, but are shedding crocodile tears for Muslim women.

The Bill must not pass in the Rajya Sabha because it is Constitutionally invalid. There is no such law for Hindus, or Christians, or anybody else. Triple talaq is nothing but a summary dissolution of marriage, frowned upon by the Quran and the Sunnah (the Prophets example). In its effect it is exactly the same as a desertion of a wife by her husband, like Narendrabhai Modi deserted wife Yashodaben on the day he married her, summarily, without reason. How many days did he spend in a jail in lieu of three years his government has stipulated for a Muslim offender? Is it equal justice? If it is not that, it is outright unconstitutional.

And what is the facility or ease of justice envisaged in a law that turns a civil misdemeanor into a criminal offence? And who will feed the erring husbands children and his parents if he is thrown behind the bars? Should the dependents go out in the streets and beg? What happened to the Indian states legal obligation to prevent destitution? If the 3-year penalty for triple talaq is legislated, then the state will certainly be forcing destitution on families that it has been obliged by law to prevent.

The proposed law is irrelevant, if not outright injurious, in the light of the Supreme Court ruling that all triple talaq is invalid. If that is the case, what is the point in three-year jail? In any case, a majority of schools of fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) are of the view that whether it is talaq pronounced thrice or three hundred times in one sitting, divorce will not occur till it is pronounced separately over three menstrual cycles. In that long period, the parties, their parents, friends and well-wishers are asked to help the spouses patch up, which is almost invariably always the case. In that case, there will be no divorce, triple talaq or three million talaqs in one go.



So, what is the point in the government sticking its neck into the cleft stick? It could concentrate on creating jobs that it had promised in its poll campaign. Or put Rs 15 lakh in every citizens bank account, albeit late. Or undo some of the harm to the economy caused by note ban and GST. This government must get its priorities right and forget about Muslim women.
A man who seemed hell bent on hurting his friends and family was gunned down by a Houston police officer Friday after a shooting spree left three people wounded, authorities said.

The rampage began around 4:30 p.m. when the 32-year-old shot and wounded his brother who had dropped him off at their sister's home in the 100 block of East 44th Street in Independence Heights, police said. He was taken to Ben Taub Hospital.

Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said the unidentified gunman opened fire with a semi-automatic pistol "without provocation or warning."

TEXAS CITY: Suspect in slaying of 3 kids charged with capital murder

He then shot a friend repeatedly in the legs moments after he arrived in a separate vehicle, Acevedo said. Paramedics took the man to St. Joseph Medical Center after officers applied a tourniquet to his wounds.

He then shot another friend, who was rushed to St. Joseph Hospital.

The shooter turned his attention to his sister next as she went outside to stop him, according to the police chief. The siblings struggled for the weapon near Yale Street and the gun was knocked from his hands. He picked up the weapon and shot at a passing pickup truck. No one inside the vehicle was hurt.

"She's got kids. Thank God he didn't shoot her," Acevedo said.

The agency identified first-year Officer Joshua Sheen as the one who confronted the shooter and repeatedly told him to drop the weapon. The rookie fatally shot him in the front yard after he failed to do so.

Acevedo watched the footage from the officer's body cam and commended Sheen for his composure.

"We don't know what was going on with this young man," the chief said. "We don't know what happens to people, what goes on in their minds and hearts."

A woman who identified herself as one of the suspect's sisters hysterically cried out as Acevedo spoke. "Y'all killed my brother," she screamed, as relatives held her back. "Put me in a police car. You're lying."

The chief expressed understanding to her. He noted that the suspect's father and a different sister were among the witnesses.

"This community got to watch a man lose his mind for whatever reason and start shooting people," Acevedo said.

Neighbor Rick Marsh saw the suspect dart past him as he went to get gas moments before the police shooting. He heard the officers repeatedly tell him to drop his gun. "If he had dropped the gun like police told him, he would still be alive today," Marsh said.

It was not immediately known if the shooter could possess a weapon or where he obtained it.

Jay R. Jordan contributed to this report.

nicole.hensley@chron.com
Harris County Sheriffs Office investigators continued to pore over a flood of tips after releasing a composite sketch of the gunman responsible for killing 7-year-old Jazmine Barnes this week in east Harris County.

The sketch  which shows a scruffy white man in a black hoodie  and an enhanced video of the red pickup he is believed to have been driving  stirred public tips about the case, officials said.

The young African-American girl was shot to death around 7 a.m. on Sunday while riding in a car with her mother and three sisters. Her mother, LaPorsha Washington, was shot in the arm and two other sisters were injured by flying glass.

'SHE'S PART OF US': Killing of child strikes hard in Jazmine Barnes neighborhood, according to HoustonChronicle.com report

The killing stunned Harris County and sparked a nationwide outpouring of grief and anger amid concerns about a racially motivated attack. Prominent civil rights activists offered a reward of $100,000 for information leading to the killer.

Law enforcement said they were aware of speculation the killing was race-related, but stressed the need to follow the evidence and avoid premature conclusions.

On Friday, speculation and interest about the case continued to run rampant across social media, as some Twitter users posted photos of possible suspects.

HOW YOU CAN HELP Do you have information that might help solve this case? Contact local authorities at 713-221-6000 or 713-222-TIPS. See More Collapse

The case also brought additional attention from government officials. On evening, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, held an impromptu news conference near the site of the shooting calling for the formation of a law enforcement task force devoted to apprehending the girls killer.

Who would do such a dastardly deed, and steal the life of a little girl? she said, in a news release.

Sheriff Ed Gonzalez has said he assigned significant resources to the case, setting up a mobile command center to coordinate field operations and coordinating with state and federal agencies as the investigation continued.

He also acknowledged concerns the killing was racially motivated but declined to speculate on the motive.

Its a whodunnit right now, he said, Thursday. Once I determine who did it and where this vehicle is, then well understand motive a little bit better.

U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Houston, issued a statement Friday urging the public with information about the case to call Houston Crime Stoppers. He said Jazmine had been senselessly murdered.

We cannot rest as a community until the man who shot and killed Jazmine Barnes is brought to justice, he said, in the statement. Silence is not an option. This young girls murder cannot become simply another hashtag.

A community gathering is set for noon Saturday at the Walmart at 5655 East Sam Houston Parkway near the site of the shooting. The funeral is scheduled for Tuesday.

st.john.smith@chron.com
A United States Postal Service mail carrier accused of pepper-spraying a barking dog near Baytown is now facing criminal charges, deputies say.

Razaq Ali-Balogun was delivering mail in the 400 block of E. Jack Avenue in May 2018 when a dog started barking at him from inside a fenced yard, according to the Harris County Precinct 5 Constable's Office.

Ali-Balogun allegedly pulled a can of pepper spray and pointed it toward the dog, which cowered and started violently rubbing its head in the grass, police said.

JOINING THE FORCE: Harris County Sheriffs Office to adopt miniature pony as mascot for mounted patrol

USPS allows carriers to use dog repellant but only when a dog attacks, according to their website.

The homeowner told authorities that the dog's eye was swollen shut for nearly 30 minutes but did not suffer any lasting damage.

USPS claims that when used properly, carriers' dog repellent should wear off within 15 minutes.

Detectives with the Harris County Animal Cruelty Taskforce, which includes the Harris County Precinct 5 Constable's Office, turned home surveillance footage over to USPS to determine who the carrier was.

Authorities identified him as Ali-Balogun, who has since been charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty.

It is unclear if Ali-Balogun has been arrested as of Jan. 4.

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
A customer who just left a check cashing store in the Northline area fatally shot a man who tried to rob him, Houston police said.

The customer, Richard A. Smith, and his fiancee were leaving the business in the 100 block of Little York, near Airline, about 1:10 p.m. Wednesday when a man approached them and demanded money, police said. The man concealed his hands in a threatening manner, police said.
WASHINGTON - Actor Leonardo DiCaprio made a secret appearance before a District of Columbia grand jury in recent months to testify as part of the Justice Department's expansive investigation into a multibillion dollar fraud surrounding a Malaysian government investment fund, according to people familiar with the case.

The furtive appearance by the A-list celebrity is the latest twist in a case that has drawn in a medley of characters - including a rapper who was once part of the Fugees, Malaysia's former prime minister and a prominent fundraiser for President Donald Trump.

Prosecutors consider DiCaprio a witness who can provide useful insights about a swashbuckling Malaysian financier alleged to have pilfered and laundered billions of dollars from the investment fund, and then financed a lobbying campaign to end the investigation, the people said. DiCaprio is not a target of the probe, they emphasized.

The financier, Low Taek Jho, was charged in federal court in New York late last year in connection with the theft and money laundering. Prosecutors have pursued related cases into ex-Goldman Sachs bankers they say were involved in laundering money and a Justice Department employee who admitted to helping the lobbying campaign.

It is unclear exactly what DiCaprio told grand jurors, or how authorities were able to get him in and out of the federal courthouse without anyone noticing.

A Justice Department spokesman and a representative for DiCaprio declined to comment. In the past, DiCaprio's spokesman has said he was cooperating with the probe and was "entirely supportive of all efforts to assure that justice is done in this matter."

The investigation - which has come to be known by the shorthand "1MDB" for the investment fund that authorities say was ransacked - has long been star-studded, though DiCaprio is perhaps its biggest name to emerge thus far.

Prosecutors also recently alleged in court papers that former Fugees rapper Prakazrel "Pras" Michel was involved in setting up accounts to make payments for Low's lobbying effort to kill the investigation, and that he hired an investment firm owner to press his case with the Trump administration.

People familiar with the case said the investment firm owner was Elliott Broidy, a veteran Republican fundraiser who helped corral big donors to support Trump's campaign. Neither Broidy nor Michel have been charged with any crimes, though people familiar with the case said investigators are still exploring whether they violated any laws.

The lobbying effort, prosecutors said, was ultimately unsuccessful.

Michel has denied wrongdoing, and Broidy's attorney has declined to comment on court papers that describe his client's lobbying work, though the attorney has noted the papers do not identify his client by name.

Prosecutors have alleged in court papers that Low cozied up to DiCaprio, allowing the actor to gamble on his tab at the Venetian casino in Las Vegas, gifting him artwork and helping him get funding for the hit movie "Wolf of Wall Street." Low, a businessman who has close relationships with high-ranking government officials in Malaysia and Abu Dhabi, is believed to be in China.

He and DiCaprio were introduced, prosecutors have said, by Riza Shahriz Bin Abdul Aziz, the stepson of former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak, who was charged there in connection with the scandal.

In 2016, prosecutors moved to seize - among other things - proceeds from the film, which they alleged was financed in part with stolen funds routed to a production company co-founded by the former Malaysian prime minister's stepson. DiCaprio had thanked Low by name in accepting a Golden Globe for his role in the film.

Prosecutors later moved to seize from DiCaprio a Picasso painting they said was purchased with $3.2 million in stolen funds and given to DiCaprio by an associate of Low. A spokesman for DiCaprio has said previously the actor had begun proceedings to turn the painting over to the U.S. government.
Fort Bend Countys new district attorney, moving quickly to reshape his office and achieve criminal justice reform, has fired 12 prosecutors, two investigators and an administrator.

None of these choices were easy, but they were all evidence-based, said Brian Middleton, who made history as the first African-American, and first Democrat in 26 years, to become the suburban countys top prosecutor.

No one was terminated without cause, added Middleton, 46. All of these were very careful decisions that were made after careful deliberations. We also looked at job performance and personnel files.

Middleton, a Democrat who previously ran a Houston-based law firm, defeated Republican Cliff Vacek in November in the campaign to replace the GOP incumbent, Jack Healey, who retired after 26 years as district attorney in the fast-growing county.

IN OFFICE: Indian-American K.P. George takes historic place as Fort Bend County judge

Middleton said his transition team asked all employees to resubmit their applications and resumes and submit to interviews. A hiring committee made recommendations to Middleton, who decided which employees would be retained and which replaced.

They were screened to see if they could adhere to policies that followed my philosophy, he said. That was the main focus. Our overarching policy is that we need to have fair, evidence-based prosecution. The final objective is to keep Fort Bend County safe.

In the coming weeks, Middleton said, he will work with the hiring committee to restructure the 73 prosecutor positions in the office.

Middleton said he and his colleagues had identified a number of experienced attorneys with a variety of ethnic and ideological backgrounds as potential new hires.

I am keeping through with my promises from my campaign to embrace diversity but to also try to build a team that has the best trial attorneys in Texas, Middleton said. I feel confident that when we get everyone on board, the community will see that they were good decisions and that this office will grow as a result of it.

The reorganization of the DAs office did not come without trepidation and some anxiety among staffers, Middleton said.

But as I communicated my philosophy the enthusiasm around here has increased. I think people are happy with the changes that I am suggesting, he said.

Healey said Friday he was not surprised by the staff changes, noting that such moves are fairly common for a new administration. He said, however, that after he first gained the office in the 1990s, he handled staff transition differently.

I was appointed district attorney, and didnt release anybody from the office until I had a chance to work with them for about two years as the district attorney, Healey said.I made changes once I was elected to the position of district attorney by releasing three of approximately 15 prosecutors.

Those who kept their jobs during Healeys tenure were people who had value to the county and who could perform their job well, he said.

It had nothing to do with whether they were supporting my vision or not supporting my vision, he added. That would become obvious to me that they couldnt work with me or that they couldnt support the changes that I wanted to make in the office.

Middletons staff shakeup was similar to the action taken by Kim Ogg when she was elected Harris County district attorney in 2016. Ogg told roughly 40 prosecutors they would be without a job in the new year.

michelle.iracheta@chron.com
With the 86th Texas Legislative Session beginning on Jan. 8, political party groups in the area are preparing to advocate for their laws and goals for Texas, including topics like public education and criminal justice reform.

Both the local Democrat and Republican party groups are outlining not only their hopes for the legislative session, but also their goals as a party. While local groups like the Cy-Fair Area Democratic Club are looking to see education reform and the performance of newly elected Democratic officials, the Harris County Republican Party are aiming to get support for tax reform and constitutional carry.

Paul Simpson, chair for the HCRP, said the party is also looking to see changes in both mental health treatment in Texas schools, as well as a change in funding for public schools. He pointed to District 130 Representative Tom Oliverson as a proponent for those issues. Simpson said the party is looking to find a way to fund public schools properly other than by property taxes.

From the Harris County area we have legislators looking at a lot of issues, Simpson said. I'd say three broad categories are education reform, tax reform and flooding mitigation. The party is always interested in election integrity too. We take a big role in that, ensuring fair and honest elections.

According to the official Texas GOP website, the partys other outlined priorities include constitutional carry, which would allow anyone legally possessing a handgun to carry it without a permit; pro-life advocacy; ending taxpayer-funded lobbying; and religious freedom and privacy, which is described as legislation that protects the privacy and safety of women and children in multi-use facilities such as bathrooms, locker rooms and showers in all Texas schools and government buildings and [opposes] legislation that would undermine these privacy and safety protections.

The CFADC and other state Democrats are focusing on education reform and funding, as well as voter rights, including same-day voter registration, online voter registration, repealing the Texas voter ID law and increasing voter turnout for the 2020 election.

Michael Floyd, Texas Democratic Party Treasurer, said education is a non-partisan issue, as some Democrats in the state, including himself, oppose the recapture legislation which allows some property tax revenue to be taken from wealthier districts and distributed to other districts.

Floyd said improving quality of education is a large priority for state Democrats, but the funding needs to be solved in a fashion that does not negatively impact economically disadvantaged students who go to school in a wealthier district.

Public education has been, of course, slashed in Texas, Floyd said. We are ranked number 43rd in the nation in quality of education. We have the second largest population following California; the largest landmass in the contiguous United States, but we're 43rd in education.

Along with their previously mentioned priorities, Democrats are focused on criminal justice reform, including bail reform, which the party said is biased against certain demographics, including low-income and minority groups; and a ban on sub-minimum wage, or wages considered below the minimum amount.

Floyd said overall the session will be a chance for his party to represent itself in the House, as well as a chance to gain support for future candidates.

We flipped two state senate seats, Floyd said. We've flipped two congressional seats in (congressional districts) 7 and 32. Across the board Democrats gained in over 31 congressional districts and several more  So, a couple things I think we can do as Democrats to make sure that we can actually gain in 2020. We need to make sure that we are sustaining members to the party itself.

The legislative session begins on Jan. 8 in Austin. Representatives elected during the Nov. 2018 election will officially be sworn in to office on the same date.

chevall.pryce@chron.com
The first time Taurus Nelson saw his infant grandchild, Ashanti, was at the hospital the day she was born, Nov. 23. She was asleep in her mother's arms, the third child of Nelson's daughter, Kimaria. Nelson didn't want to disturb Ashanti's slumber, figuring they had a lifetime to get to know each other.

That would be the only time he laid eyes on Ashanti, one of three of his grandchildren  including a 2-year old boy and 5-year old girl  killed Thursday evening at his daughter's apartment in Texas City. Kimaria Nelson, 23, was also shot in the head and remains in the hospital at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston with severe injuries but in stable condition.

"Never got a chance to see her with her eyes open," Nelson said.

Junaid Hashim Mehmood, 27, Kimaria Nelson's boyfriend and the biological father of Ashanti Mehmood, turned himself into police at 10:17 p.m. Thursday, calling authorities from a parking lot in south Houston and identifying himself as the wanted man and allegedly admitting he killed the children.

Mehmood was charged with capital murder Friday and is being held without bond. A medical examination released Friday showed the children died from multiple stab wounds and blunt force trauma, according to the Texas City Police Report.

Ashanti Mehmood, Prince Larry Brown, almost 2; and Angela Pilot, 5, were found dead after a relative called police around 6:15 p.m. Thursday night for a welfare check at the Pointe Ann Apartments in the 1200 block of 10th Street in Texas City, authorities said. The apartment complex is less than a quarter-mile distance from the Texas City police headquarters.

Few details have emerged about Junaid Mehmood's checkered past beyond a lengthy criminal record that includes two domestic assault convictions.

A screenshot of Mehmood's Facebook page obtained by the Houston Chronicle, showed that Mehmood posted shortly after the killing occurred. In the message, Mehmood apologizes to his family and Kimaria Nelson's family and indicates that he may have recently been fired from his job.

Taurus Nelson, who spoke to the Houston Chronicle in the driveway of a relative's home in Texas City on Friday, said the first and only time he met Mehmood was at the hospital in November when Ashanti was born. Nelson said Mehmood seemed to have good manners. He was aware that Mehmood had been dating his daughter for more than a year and was once employed by Goodwill.

"He didn't seem out of sorts," Nelson said of Mehmood.

Johnathan Richardson, a neighbor of Kimaria's, said Mehmood was known in the neighborhood as "Ned" and used to cut his hair in the apartment complex courtyard.

"He was a cool person," Richardson said. "I wouldn't believe he would do something like that," he said.

Mehmood's adult criminal history goes as far back as 2009 in Galveston County, with an evading arrest case that was eventually dropped because a grand jury decided not to press charges.

In November 2012, he pleaded guilty to fraudulent possession of a controlled substance for trying to get codeine from a pharmacist by adding it to his prescription form in December 2009, according to court records. He was convicted and sentenced to two years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

A later theft case was dismissed because he was convicted in a different case, and he was ordered to return the money, court records show. Another grand jury also decided not to press charges on a 2012 manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance case. Obstruction and marijuana possession charges in 2014 were not prosecuted and dismissed, respectively.

In July 2014, Mehmood struck a woman he was dating with the hand, according to Galveston County court documents. He pleaded guilty on a misdemeanor charge of assault causing bodily injury to a family member, and was confined to 20 days in county jail. The conditions of his sentencing made it illegal for him to possess a firearm, according to court documents.

And in April 2015, he committed robbery, a felony, and was convicted and sentenced to three years in TDCJ, court records show.

His second domestic violence-related charge came from a September 2014 incident in which he pushed a family member, according to records. He was sentenced to 300 days in county jail for a charge of misdemeanor assault causing bodily injury of a family member.

In Harris County, Mehmood has served three days jail time for marijuana possession from a 2010 case.

Texas CPS records show no records on Mehmood's family, according to a Department of Family and Protective Services spokeswoman.

The Texas City apartment complex where Kimaria Nelson and her children lived was still roped off by police on Friday, though residents were able to come and go as they pleased, and several shared fond anecdotes of the family.

Sparkle Stephney, a Galveston resident who worked as a babysitter for families in the complex, said she frequently saw Nelson's children playing outside the apartments. The 5-year old girl, Angela Pilot, went to school with one of the children Stephney cared for.

"I see the kids around here, they're all full of energy, they're all full of life," Stephney said. "(Behaving) bad, but being kids, of course."

David Mullins Jr., a Texas City ISD employee that knew Kimaria Nelson and her family since 2015, was distraught at the news of what happened to Nelson's children.

"(Kimaria) got along with everybody, they didn't bother nobody, she'd do anything to help anybody," Mullins said. The kids was good, I hate to see them go. The question is why? We all want some answers."

Taurus Nelson said he hoped to get more clarity about what happened from his daughter as she recovered from her injuries. He said that Kimaria was sedated and that he would be visiting her in the hospital on Friday afternoon.

Despite being heartbroken at the loss of his grandchildren, Nelson remained stoic about the fate of Mehmood, a man he barely knew.

"I'm sure justice will be served," Nelson said. "Other than that all I can do is pray for him. That's the way I was raised. I don't wish nothing bad on him."

Staff writers Nicole Hensley and Samantha Ketterer contributed.

nick.powell@chron.com
Pregnant ABC 13 anchor Erica Simon smacked down weight-shaming viewers, whose comments accused the local TV personality of putting on too many pounds.

The expectant mother, who is due to have her first child in January, per the Daily Mail, took to Twitter at the end of December to defend herself.

READ THIS: Anchor Erica Simon 'frees' her freckles to show natural beauty

Her post reads, "Some of the viewer comments about my pregnancy are starting to get annoying. Yes, I'm aware I'm petite so the sudden packing on of pounds is a startling sight.

"No, I'm not having twins and no I'm not due any day. I'll update you as I go, but chill."

Coming to her defense were several other journalists including her KTRK colleague Greg Bailey and Fox 26's Lina de Florias.

"Don't let em get you down! You made us all look great on the 6:30 yesterday on @abc13houston," Bailey posted on Twitter.

"Come on, Erica. It's not like you're creating a life here," de Florias tweet, in part.

Simon's fellow media members were not alone in supporting her.

"Wow I really don't get people. Like my Mom use to always say, "if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all," responded one Twitter user.



"You are glowing with beauty!" said another.



In a second tweet, Simon shed more light on the situation.



"I was never up tossing/turning or crying about viewer comments. Comes w/ the territory. First time Mommy-hood is supposed to be special and celebrated, tho, which is why I got flustered.



Felt like I wasn't given the sacred space to experience it organically."

You can catch Simon behind the anchor desk weekend mornings on Channel 13.

Marcy de Luna is a digital reporter specializing in social media, the famous, and food. You can follow her on Twitter @MarcydeLuna and Facebook @MarcydeLuna. Read her stories on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com. | Marcy.deLuna@chron.com | Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message
Since the BJP government came into power in 2014, it has initiated and purposed to make legislation on Muslim women mainly around the instant Triple talaq. Just a few days back, the Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha where the BJP has a majority. However, the opposition parties belonging to the Left, Congress and Muslims political parties (AIMIM) led by Asaduddin Owaisi, vehemently opposed the move in the parliament and fiercely argued that this Bill in current forms and contents is not going to provide justice to the Muslim women as often argued by the BJP leaders. For opposition parties, the purpose of the government is to create a divide between Muslim men and women by criminalising Muslim men and demanding the punishment for three years. Owaisi, Congress leaders and CPM leaders like MP Salim in the Parliament have argued that the current Bill in the present forms is against the principles of equality, cultural freedom, legal pluralism and the basic tenets of the Indian constitution. Despite the opposition, the Bill has been passed by the Lok Sabha and now the BJP has introduced the Bill in the Rajya Sabha on 31 December 2018, however, amid uproar the said opposition parties have boycotted and walked out from the parliament.

In this article, I am not going to discuss the legal and theological discourse around the said Bill; legal experts and Islamic scholars have earlier written and highlighted the limitations of this particular Bill. Here, I am mainly concerned about the public discourse which has been created by the Hindu Nationalist forces with respect to gender justice and minority rights including the idea of legal pluralism. In doing so, I argue that the stand taken by the so-called conservative corporate-owned media and communal forces is guided by the political motive and discipline (criminalizing) the Muslim male community rather than providing justice and equality to the Muslim women.

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The BJP-RSS and even some section of the so-called liberal intelligentsia think that there is an inevitable tension between community rights and norms of gender equality and individual women freedom as seen in the famous and controversial Shah Bano case in 1986. At that time, acrimonious debates took place and opinions were sharply polarized on communal and gender lines. Some sections liberal and right-wing forces had noted that the tension between the community rights/minority rights and gender justice were in fact irreconcilable. The fact cannot be ignored that certain section of conservatives and fundamentalist forces within the Muslim community have had strongly opposed the Supreme Court verdict given in the case of Shah Bano (a divorced woman, 70 years old). As a result, then the Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi succumbed to the pressure of the Muslim conservative forces and the Muslim women (Protection of Rights on Divorce Act -1986) was passed by the then Parliament to overrule the Supreme Court verdict and exempted from the 125 of Indian Criminal Procedure Code (under this section, provisions are made to provide maintenance by the ex-husband till divorced women get remarriage).

In this respect, most of the political theorists and feminist scholars have argued that illiberal community practices and patriarchal norms could not be justified when it violates and infringed the individual freedom as happened in the case of Shah Bano. The critique of the then the Rajiv Gandhis government had been done by feminists and others liberal intelligentsia on the ground of gender justice and individual freedom. It is interesting to note that stand taken by secularists, feminists at that time were similar to that of the Hindu nationalist forces with respect to opposing the Rajiv Gandhis government stand on gender justice. It is crucial to note that under the pretext of gender justice, the BJP-RSS put-forward the agenda of Uniform Civil code and said that the Congress acting as a pseudo-secular party and promoting the politics of appeasement. Still, the BJP and RSS maintain earlier position with regards to Muslim community rights. That is why communal forces have never accepted the Sachar committee report (SCR; 2006) which has also underlined the pathetic conditions about Muslim Women. I have in the past argued that SCR was not for only the Muslim community alone, if one could read SCR recommendations holistically, it could be safely argued that agenda of SCR is based on Idea of Inclusive India as often said by Prof. Amitabh Kundu, former Professor at JNU.

It is relevant to underline here what Dr Ambedkar had said about the minority rights long ago, the need to remember in the age of Hindutva, every minority, irrespective of any other consideration, is entitled to the right to use their language, script and culture and right not be precluded from establishing any educational institution that they wish to establish. (Cited by Prof. Rajeev Bhargava, Muslim Personal Law and the Majority-Minority Syndrome in his book The Promises to Indias secular Democracy, OUP, New Delhi, 2010, p- 159).

In the given political context, to maintain the distance from the Hindutva forces, feminist and secularists and others liberal-minded scholars have now slightly changed their position and stand (which was taken during the Shah Bano case-1986) for pushing the reform from within as for as the Muslim Personal laws (MPL) and gender justice are concern. In this respect, an eminent political theorist, Prof. Rajeev Bhargava and former Director of CSDS and others have taken the position that Democratic state should provide liberal conditions to push the agenda of internal reform within community, so that the norms of gender equality and freedom could not be violated (See Prof. Bhargava, p-161). However, for progressive sections right to exist from the community for male or female individuals could not be bypassed as enshrined in our secular Constitution.

A certain section of orthodox clerics has interpreted Islam in a very patriarchal manner and continue to have a medievalist mentality on the gender question. While doing so, conservatives (mainly the upper-caste Muslims male) have undermined the norms of gender equality and more importantly, the right to Muslim women and their agency to access the rights and opportunities, incorporated in the Indian constitutions and even enshrined in the Quran as underlined by the Muslim women social activists and the Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, an umbrella organisation of Muslim women at the the national level.

Besides, noted Islamic scholar like Asghar Ali Engineer and some Islamic feminist Asma Barlas, Amana Wadud have consistently argued that in the Islam there are enough provisions for gender equality. However, conservative Mullahs have interpreted Islamic theology from the established patriarchal norms in a society like India, and, in fact, not treated Muslim women equally vis-a-vis Muslim men in spite of egalitarian norms prevalent in the early Islamic theology. In this respect, many fatwas have been given by the orthodox religious scholars to maintain the status-quo and established patriarchal norms in societies. In short, it could be said that due to the conservative interpretations of Islamic Sharia as said earlier, it appears that community rights (mainly those rights which are based on illiberal values) and norms of gender equality could not be reconciled easily. However, one the basis of progressive and egalitarian interpretations of Islamic theology as done by Engineer and Islamic feminists noted earlier, one could argue that nowhere it has been mentioned in the Quranic Text that Muslim women have a lower social status in compare to Muslim men. In short, keeping the arguments of egalitarian values of Islam in mind, if community rights and gender justice interpreted and seen from the lens of these progressive values, there will be no conflict between community rights and gender justice and hence, both kind of rights are not incompatible to each other, which the BJP leaders never paid attention who claim to be now sole guardian of gender justice.

It can be safely argued that community rights/minority rights, and gender justice as enshrined in our secular Constitution is not fundamentally opposed to each other, as the leaders of the BJP have deliberately put-forward in the public domain. The fact must be underlined that the stand of the RSS-BJP combined (as also propagated by the western media and orientalist scholars) on the incompatibility of community rights and gender justice with respect to Indian Muslims and Islamic sharia were always replete with communal bias and politically motivated rather than the based on norms of gender justice and concern for larger humanity as often said by the BJP leaders in the public domain.

To understand the politics of communal forces for passing such Bill, and broader politics behind Uniform Civil Code(UCC), a note that progressive feminist scholar and JNU Professor Nivedita Menon rightly observes:

Uniform Civil Code has nothing to do at all with gender justice. It has entirely to do with a Hindu nationalist agenda and is right up there with the beef ban and the temple in Ayodhya. A Uniform Civil Code is meant to discipline Muslims, teach them (if they didnt know it already) that they are second-class citizens, and that they live at the mercy of the national race (the Hindus), as M.S. Golwalkar decreed. (See. The Hindu, 15 July 2016).

In short, on the basis of earlier points made by scholars belonging to different shades of thinking, her, it is argued that recent move like instant Triple talaq Bill as put forth by the BJP government is not based on ensuring and providing the gender justice for the Muslim women but rather to discipline and criminalize the entire Muslim community.

The Author is a PhD candidate at the Department of Political Science, University of Delhi.
BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK  Gates remain open at Big Bend National Park as the government shutdown drags on, but campgrounds, visitor centers and restrooms are closed, and no rangers are on duty to issue back country permits or provide information.

With no staffers to empty trash, clean facilities, lead educational programs or check people in and out, officials closed the parks three campgrounds  Chisos Basin, Rio Grande Village and Cottonwood. Most visitors appeared to be sticking to the no-camping dictate, but some backpackers were spotted this week pitching tents at remote sites in the Chisos Mountain Basin and in the desert at the sprawling West Texas park.

A few heavily trafficked areas at the park, including the Santa Elena Canyon trailhead and trail, Old Maverick Road and the Boquillas border crossing, were also closed.

All other trails, however, including the parks iconic South Rim trail and Lost Mines Trail, remain open, and a steady stream of guests checked in and out of the Chisos Mountain Lodge and bought supplies at the basins park store, which are operated by Forever Resorts, a private concessionaire. The parks two service stations are open, too.

At this time our operations have not been affected, Louis Carpenter, operations manager for the lodge, said Friday. Were open for business. This is our high season and our occupancy rate has not been affected.

At HoustonChronicle.com: Shutdown leads to closed campgrounds, limited services at Sam Houston National Forest

It wasnt clear if park law enforcement officials were ticketing those who camped in the backcountry. They were patrolling park roads, where the posted speed limit is 45 mph. According to the parks website, emergency services remain available, but response times may be delayed.

With park restrooms closed, a few clumps of discarded toilet paper had popped up behind boulders and cacti along popular trails. Visitors should plan to pack out all trash if they visit.

Some campers diverted to nearby Big Bend Ranch State Park, which is operating as usual, for their wilderness experiences.

We have seen more visitation, Big Bend Ranch State Park ranger Brandi Heasley said Friday. (People who had planned to camp at Big Bend National Park) have been disappointed, but when they get here they find out this is another cool spot they didnt realize existed. We like to say its the last true wilderness spot in Texas.

With more than 311,000 acres of remote and rugged country and miles of trails, the state park offers camping at designated sites and in the backcountry, and also operates a no-frills bunkhouse, where visitors can stay in segregated mens and womens quarters for $35 a night.

CLOSER TO HOME: Federal government shutdown unlikely to impact cleanup of San Jacinto Waste Pits

Unlike some trails in the national park, where tourists flock on crisp winter days, most trails at the state park were nearly deserted this week. Among them were a cross-country scramble to an overlook at Fresno Canyon, and a short walk to the twisty series of water-filled pools at Cinco Tinajas.

Big Bend National Park covers more than 800,000 acres. More than 442,600 people visited the park in 2017, according to the National Park Service.
Young people who self-harm are more likely to commit violent crime

Researchers have identified a link between self-harming among young people and the risk of committing violent crime.

Researchers at King's College London and Duke University's Center for Child and Family Policy found that young people who self-harmed were far more likely to commit violent crime than those who did not.

The researchers also compared those who only self-harmed with those who self-harmed and committed violent crime, called 'dual harmers'.

The study, published in The American Journal of Psychiatry, looked at the development of 2,232 twins born in 1994 and 1995 over the first two decades of their lives.

While the prevalence of committing violent crime was 16.9 per cent among those who did not self-harm, this more than doubled to 35.4 per cent among those who self-harmed.

Males were particularly susceptible, with 56.1 per cent of self-harmers committing violent crime compared to only 25.3 per cent of those who did not.

Girls who self-harmed were nearly three times as likely to commit violent crime as those who did not - 23.9 per cent compared to 8.8 per cent.

'We know that some individuals who self-harm also inflict harm on others,' said Leah Richmond-Rakerd, lead author of the study.

'What has not been clear is whether there are early-life characteristics or experiences that increase the risk of violent offending among individuals who self-harm.

'Identifying these risk factors could guide interventions that prevent and reduce interpersonal violence.'

The researchers also found that 'dual harmers' were more likely to have had a history of childhood maltreatment than those who only self harmed, as well as lower levels of self control.

They were also more likely to have experienced victimisation in adolescence, and have higher rates of psychotic symptoms and substance dependence.

'Our study suggests that dual-harming adolescents have experienced self-control difficulties and been victims of violence from a young age,' said Richmond-Rakerd.

'A treatment-oriented rather than punishment-oriented approach is indicated to meet these individuals' needs.'
Trump's transgender military ban finds support in federal appeals court

A federal appeals court has ruled that the Trump administration's restrictions on transgender people serving in the military can stand for now.

Trump first tried back in July 2017 to ban transgender people from serving 'in any capacity' in the military but after facing legal opposition he last year moved instead to limit the service of those who 'may require substantial medical treatment'.

The Pentagon was then blocked from implementing the ban by a lower court judge, a ruling that the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit overturned on Friday.

The court said that the plan devised by former Defense Secretary James Mattis still allowed transgender people to serve 'in their biological sex' and that military reports had found that 'not all transgender persons seek to transition to their preferred gender'.

The plan 'appears to permit some transgender individuals to serve in the military', the judges said.

'Thus, the district court erred in finding that the Mattis plan was a blanket transgender ban,' they said.

They added, 'In light of the substantial constitutional arguments and the apparent showing that the policy accommodates at least some of Plaintiffs' interests, we think that the public interest weighs in favor of dissolving the injunction.'

The ruling was welcomed by Family Research Council's executive vice president and retired Lieutenant General William Boykin.

'This is a victory for our service members who are tasked with defending America because it allows our military leaders to focus their mission on fighting and winning wars rather than social engineering,' he said.

He continued: 'The appeals court ruling helps pave the way for President Trump to continue moving the military away from Obama era political correctness which left our nation's defenses at its lowest levels of readiness since before WWII.

'There is no basis for the courts to take up President Obama's mission to divert taxpayer dollars from mission-critical training to funding for controversial gender reassignment surgeries for service members.'

Liberty Counsel chairman Mat Staver agreed, saying that service members could not serve and protect America 'when they are forced to function with confusion, dysfunction, and distraction'.

'The report from the Defense Department concludes that there are substantial risks to military effectiveness and readiness regarding people who have gender dysphoria,' he said.

'The military is not a social club but rather a fine-tuned fighting machine of men and women who defend our freedom. It is not a right but a privilege to serve.'

Despite Friday's ruling, the Pentagon still cannot implement the planned restrictions as other judges have imposed injunctions that are still in place.

A survey by Smithsonian published this month found that the Trump administration's position enjoys broad support in the military.

In the survey of 1,031 service members and veterans, only 39 per cent agreed that transgender people should be allowed to serve in the military.
GAFCON chair slams CofE transgender guidance as 'false teaching'

The chairman of GAFCON, the global conservative Anglican grouping, has hit out at the Church of England over guidance for services to mark transitions for transgender people.

In a message for Epiphany, Archbishop Nicholas Okoh, Primate of Nigeria, contrasted the 'revealed wisdom of God' and 'the wisdom claimed by secular ideologies'. He said calls for 'dialogue' masked the continuing spread of 'false teaching'.

Guidance issued by the House of Bishops commends the rite of Affirmation of Baptismal Faith as a template for recognising a person's gender transition. Okoh said: 'A form of service which is intended to mark a renewed commitment to Christ and the new life we receive through him is instead used to celebrate an identity which contradicts our God-given identity as male and female (as affirmed by Jesus himself in Matthew 19:4) and is still controversial even in secular society.'

The CofE, he said, was 'rejecting biblical authority' in line with the US Episcopal Church and other 'revisionist' provinces.

He said: 'So, much as we thank God for the rich history represented by the See of Canterbury, we cannot avoid the sad truth that insistence on full communion with Canterbury as an essential mark of belonging to the Anglican Communion now risks jeopardising the apostolic faith itself. Let us pray that there will be repentance and that God will give courage and boldness to those who remain faithful.'

GAFCON argues that the Church of England has become too theologically liberal to act as a unifying force in global Anglicanism, and seeks to provide an alternative framework for what it describes as 'biblically faithful' Anglicans to relate together.
Five children killed in horrific church van crash on way to Disney World

Five children were among the seven victims of a horrific crash involving their church van as they were making their way to Disney World in Orlando, Florida on Thursday.

The victims were all from Avoyelles Parish, a United Pentecostal Church in Marksville, Louisiana, and according to the Louisiana District of the UPC included the granddaughter of Pastor Eric Descant.

The Louisiana District said in a statement on its Facebook page that a large tractor-trailer truck collided with the church van on I-75 near Gainesville, Florida.

Although Pastor Descant was not part of the group, his wife, Karen Descant, was in the van at the time and sustained several broken ribs and a broken collarbone.

Four of the nine children in the group survived as did two other adult companions, including a pregnant woman who was being treated in hospital.

Kevin Cox, Superintendent of the Louisiana District, called the accident a 'horrific tragedy'.

'Please pray for the healing of those physical injuries. And, perhaps even more so, pray for that church family that has been so massively affected by this tragedy,' he said.

'Please pray for the families who lost precious children, the other accident victims, all involved in the rescue efforts, and the church family. They will need our prayers in the coming weeks and months.'

Jacquee Wahler, a spokesperson for Walt Disney World Resort, said, 'There are no words to convey the sorrow we feel for those involved in yesterday's tragedy. We extend heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones impacted by this tragic accident.'

US Senator John Kennedy said the wreck was 'devastating'.

'I am heartbroken by the sudden deaths of these five children from Marksville,' he said in a statement released Friday afternoon by his office.

'These children were on their way to Disney World with their church when they were tragically killed in this horrific highway accident. Please join me in praying for all who are hurting from this accident.'

The UPC's Louisiana District has set up a donation page to raise funds for the victims' families.
Democratic Republic of Congo's Catholic Church called 'irresponsible' over election claims

The Catholic Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been called 'irresponsible' after claiming there was a clear winner in last Sunday's presidential election.

Twenty-one candidates went head to head in the December 30 poll to decide the successor to President Joseph Kabila, who has been in power since 2001.

The result was due to be announced on Sunday but the electoral commission has said this could now be delayed until next week.

CENCO, the bishops' conference of the Catholic Church in the DRC, said on Thursday that its own tallies from more than 40,000 observers had revealed one winner, although it did not disclose who this was.

'We call on the CENI ... to publish, with all responsibility, the results of the election that respect truth and justice,' Donatien Nshole, secretary general of CENCO, told reporters.

On Friday, the ruling coalition accused the Catholic Church of behaving in an 'irresponsible and anarchic' way over its claims, Reuters reports.

The coalition 'firmly deplores...the partisan, irresponsible and anarchic attitude of CENCO', said Barnabe Kikaya Bin Karubi, an adviser to outgoing President Joseph Kabila and a spokesman for Kabila's candidate, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary.

'This seriously violates not only the constitution but also the electoral law,' he added.

Kikaya told Reuters that Kabila had met Catholic bishops on Friday but did not reveal any details of their discussions.

Electoral commission president Corneille Nangaa also accused CENCO of trying to start an insurrection.

'The announcement of voting trends by Priest Nshole is likely to brainwash the population while preparing an insurrection that Cenco alone will be responsible for,' Nangaa wrote in a letter to Cenco president Marcel Utembi.

While the government and electoral commission both say the election was fair, the opposition is claiming irregularities.

There are fears that a disputed election result could lead to unrest in the country, prompting the US to deploy troops to Gabon. The government has also taken the unusual step of cutting the country's internet, claiming the measure was to prevent 'chaos' ahead of announcing the poll result.

Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights, said on Friday that oppsition candidates were experiencing harassment and that cutting off the internet was a civil rights violation.

'Intimidation and harassment against journalists, opposition candidates and human rights defenders continues to take place,' she said.

'This being a very sensitive, a very tense period, we are concerned that these efforts to silence dissent could backfire considerably when the results are announced.

'We are watching carefully, and we are calling on all sides to refrain from the use of violence.'
Canada is Asia Bibi's 'most likely destination', says her lawyer

After spending Christmas in hiding, the lawyer for Asia Bibi is hoping she and her family will soon be able to leave Pakistan.

Bibi has been in hiding since her release last November after the Pakistani Supreme Court overturned her death sentence for blasphemy.

Her family has looked to Western countries for asylum but after several months, a formal offer has still not been made.

The situation remains precarious for Bibi as a review petition against her acquittal was due to be considered by the courts this month.

There were also fears that she would be prevented from leaving the country after hardliners put pressure on the Pakistani government.

Her lawyer, Saif ul Malook, is optimistic that an offer of asylum will be made soon and that Bibi and her family will be able to start a new life outside of Pakistan, where hardliners are still calling for her execution.

'Prime Minister Imran Khan's government appears determined to ensure the safety of Asia and her husband, Ashiq Masih, and the couple's two daughters, until another country agrees to take them in. Canada is their most likely destination,' he said in an opinion piece for the Washington Post.

He added that starting life in a new country would come with its own challenges for Bibi.

'Asia had rarely ventured far from her village before being imprisoned, so beginning a new life in another country would be a challenge for her,' he said.

'But she has shown remarkable strength throughout this ordeal, and I am confident that she will succeed.'

Ul Malook fled to the Netherlands after her acquittal out of fear for his life and he thinks he will have to stay there for at least two years before it is safe to return.

Although life in the Netherlands is safer for him, he said he wants to return so he can help more people in Pakistan facing similar blasphemy charges.

'Until then, I will live with friends in the Netherlands or with my daughter in Britain. But I yearn to return home to continue defending victims of the blasphemy laws,' he said.
Bishop says English Channel migrants should be treated with dignity

The Catholic Church's lead bishop for migration and asylum has criticised the debate over migrants coming across the English Channel from France.

The Royal Navy has been deployed to stop more crossings following reports of dozens of migrants arriving in small boats on the English coast over Christmas.

According to The Telegraph, 539 migrants attempted to cross the Channel to England last year, with 80 per cent of attempts being made in the last three months and more than 100 migrants reaching Britain or being intercepted enroute since Christmas Eve.

Bishop Paul McAleenan said the rhetoric surrounding migrants in recent weeks had been dehumanising.

He called for a change of tone, saying people seeking a better life need to be treated with dignity.

'All people fleeing their homes and seeking to build a better life here should be recognised as human beings and treated with dignity,' he said.

'As the focus on refugees now turns towards the English Channel, we should keep in mind that our priority must always be saving lives and playing our part in offering sanctuary to those escaping war or persecution.

'Rhetoric and policies that dehumanise or stigmatise people only serve to fuel hostility and harm our society.'

Home Secretary Sajid Javid called in the Navy as he questioned whether the migrants were 'genuine' asylum seekers.

Speaking to Sky News during a visit to Dover, he said: 'A question has to be asked: if you are a genuine asylum seeker why have you not sought asylum in the first safe country that you arrived in?

'Because France is not a country where anyone would argue it is not safe in any way whatsoever, and if you are genuine then why not seek asylum in your first safe country?'

The Anglican Bishop of Dover has made similar pleas for compassion in response to the migrant crossings.

Bishop Trevor Willmott said it was important to remember that 'every person is precious'.

'It is crucial that we all remember that we are dealing with human beings here,' he told the Guardian.

The French interior minister has said coastguard patrols and surveillance at ports will be scaled up.

The UK is also moving two Border Force patrol boats to the Channel from the Mediterranean, where thousands have tried to cross over to Europe from north Africa.

On Wednesday, two people were arrested on suspicion of organising the 'illegal movement of migrants' across the Channel.

The pair, an Iranian and a Briton, were arrested by the National Crime Agency in Pendleton, Greater Manchester.
Samaritans Purse sends help as Ebola DRC outbreak becomes second deadliest in history

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Samaritans Purse is preparing to open a treatment center in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as the Ebola outbreak has now become the second deadliest in history.

According to CNN, 368 deaths have been reported in the outbreak that began on Aug. 1 and another 609 patients are suspected to have been infected. The virus, one of the deadliest in the world, which causes severe headache and hemorrhaging, has a case fatality rate of close to 60 percent.

"At this point people are, feeling very low, theyre very scared. They dont know whether or not they will make it," said Adele Bong, who is part of Samaritan's Purse. "What makes the difference is someone whos there loving on you, caring for you, just showing the love of Christ. That could be the difference between life and death."

Samaritans Purse, the Christian relief group headed by evangelist Franklin Graham, announced on Tuesday that its 20-bed treatment center in the northeast DRC will provide "expert and compassionate clinical care for patients suffering with the deadly virus."

The organization, which assists with disasters around the world, sent a 21-member disaster assistance response team to the African country, where it has operated for eight years, on Dec. 26.

Megan Vitek, program manager for the international health unit, noted that the team in DRC is also helping with community awareness campaigns to educate people about the warning signs of Ebola.

The Lord put us there months before for a reason  to be able to love and care for this community in the midst of a deadly epidemic, Vitek said.

Please pray for our team as they work tirelessly to set up this treatment center and fight this disease with every patient they touch.

Samaritans Purse noted that it has learned from the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, which was the deadliest in history and killed over 11,300 people. Members from its 2014 response team helped train the new DCR team members at the group's facilities in Wilkesboro, North Carolina.

In addition to the virus outbreak in North Kivu province, long-term conflicts there complicate matters further. Fifty armed groups have been carrying out violence that has displaced more than a million people, CNN reported.

The World Health Organization and Samaritan's Purse warned that this rebel movement and prolonged insecurity are impeding progress and allowing Ebola, along with other dangerous diseases, such as malaria, to spread more quickly.

U.N. childrens agency UNICEF noted that thousands of children are trapped in armed groups or subjected to sexual violence.

The crisis is growing increasingly desperate and resources are at breaking point, said UNICEF Emergencies Director Manuel Fontaine, according to Reuters.

Jan Egeland, head of the Norwegian Refugee Council, argued that the mounting crisis in DRC was one of the most forgotten ones of 2018.

The brutality of the conflict is shocking, the national and international neglect outrageous, Egeland argued. I visited Congo this year and have seldom witnessed such a gap between needs and assistance.
Pope Francis: Better to be an atheist than a churchgoing Christian who hates others

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Pope Francis said in his first General Audience of 2019 that it is better to be an atheist than a churchgoing Christian who hates other people.

"How many times do we see the scandal of those people who go to church, and are there all day or go every day, and then they live hating others or talking badly about people. This is a scandal, Francis declared from the Paul VI Audience Hall, Rome Reports said.

"It is better not to go to church if you live like that, like an atheist. But if you go to church, live like a child, like a sibling, and give a true testimony, not a false testimony, he added.

The Roman Catholic Church leader preached on Jesus, the Our Father prayer, and the Beatitudes, which he said represent an authentic revolution for believers.

"This is the revolution of the Gospel. Where the Gospel is, there is revolution. It is as if Jesus said, continue on, you who carry in your heart the mystery of a God, who has revealed His omnipotence in love and in forgiveness!" Francis said.

He also warned that some people in church may be praying to God like parrots rather than as if they were genuinely talking to a father.

"The pagans think that by speaking, speaking, speaking and speaking they are praying. I also think of many Christians who pray, forgive me, speaking to God as if they were a parrot. No, praying is done from the heart, from within, he positioned.

Francis has made similar comments throughout his papacy, sometimes criticizing his own Catholic Church members. In 2017, he suggested it was better for one to be an atheist than a Catholic who leads a hypocritical double life.

It is a scandal to say one thing and do another. That is a double life," the pontiff said during Mass in February 2017.

There are those who say I am very Catholic, I always go to Mass, I belong to this and that association.'

He suggested that some people should admit "my life is not Christian, I dont pay my employees proper salaries, I exploit people, I do dirty business, I launder money, [I lead] a double life.'

There are many Catholics who are like this and they cause scandal, the pope said.

Protestant pastors have also made calls on their churches to shed the hypocrisy. Life.Church pastor Craig Groeschel wrote a book in 2010 titled The Christian Atheist: Believing in God but Living As If He Doesn't Exist, in which he argued that though many Christians look the part, they actually do not reflect God in their lives and live however they want.

Christian atheism, he explained, plays out like this: "I want enough of God to keep me out of Hell and enough of God to get me into Heaven but I don't want so much of God that it makes me change my lifestyle because at its root I believe in God but I do not fear Him."
The Hamdan Bin Mohammed Cruise Terminal, the biggest cruise terminal in the world in terms of size and handling capacity, has received more than 2.3 million tourists since its inauguration in 2014, up to the end of 2018.

The terminal also recorded a milestone with 172 per cent increase in cruise tourists numbers, from 232,000 visitors in 2014 to 632,000 in 2018, in addition to a significant growth of vessels calls, from 94 calls in 2014 to 120 calls in 2018. In 2015, it had received around 270, 000 visitors, 564,000 visitors in 2016, and 602,000 visitors in 2017. "DP World said it will continue provide the support through the development of infrastructure, Terminals, and berthing with a length of 1,900 m can accommodate up to seven mega ships at a time carrying more than 18,000 passengers, said Mohamed Abdulaziz Al Mannaei, the executive director at Mina Rashid and CEO of P&O Marinas. This number of cruise visitors arriving in one day can be smoothly handled with the 70,000-sq-m of car parking can take up to 36 big buses, 150 taxis, and sufficient number of private cars. Earlier last month, DP World welcomed five giant international cruise liners carrying over 23,000 tourists, marking the start of the region's cruise tourist season with the entry of vessels Aida Prima (with 6700 visitors), MSC Splendida (7,918), MscLirica (3,860), Costa Mediterranea (5,550) and Horizon with 3700 visitors.

Dubai's vision is to welcome a million Cruise Tourists by 2020, as confirmed by 10 international companies who have been asked to keep Dubai as their main destination for the winter season 2020-2021. This will help arrange 10 international cruises starting from Dubai, said the senior official.

"A variety of sizes of cruise ships will meet the various budgets and geographical areas. The tourist visa which allows visitors to enter the country multiple times has also been an important factor in efforts to attract the cruise tourists from around the world," he added.

Hamad Bin Mejren, the senior vice president (Stakeholders) Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said: "Dubai is fast becoming a favoured destination amongst international cruise lines and cruise tourists, and we are dedicated to showcasing the robust growth of the city as an established cruise hub for the wider region." -TradeArabia News Service
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Mother begs Christians to keep praying for abducted daughter Leah Sharibu

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The mother of 15-year-old Leah Sharibu, the Christian schoolgirl held by terror group Boko Haram in Nigeria, has begged believers to continue praying for her daughter.

I know that all over the world believers are praying and advocating for the release of my daughter, but until now I havent seen my Leah, said the mother, Rebekah Sharibu.

I want to plead that Christians do not get tired of praying for her until she returns, she said, according to Aid to the Church in Need.

The schoolgirl was kidnapped in February 2018 by Boko Haram in a raid on a girls boarding school in Dapchi city.

While 104 of the girls who were held captive have since been released, Sharibu is believed to be the only one of the Dapchi girls who's still being held against her will because she has refused to renounce Jesus Christ and adhere the militants version of Islam.

Nathan Sharibu, the girls father, said that her trust and faith has made me realize that I have been living under the same roof with an admirable disciple of Christ.

I am highly encouraged by her strong faith in the Lord and her refusal to renounce Christ even before death at the hands of Boko Haram, he added.

Boko Haram, which has kidnapped thousands of girls and women over the past several years, and in 2018 executed several humanitarian workers, has demanded $275 million for Sharibu's release.

Gloria Samdi Puldu, a friend of Sharibu's mother, told Punch newspaper in October that the family can only pray at the face of such a demand.

"I have been in contact with Leah Sharibu's parents and I spoke with them yesterday (Sunday). As I said, we have to pray because what else can be said about the demand for N100bn? Is there anything somebody can say about it? It's just prayers, and that is all we are doing," Puldu said at the time.

"We are praying for Leah, we are praying for the government, we are praying for Boko Haram and everybody. Let God intervene in this situation; that is all. I spoke with her parents, it is only prayers."

In a video released in October, Boko Haram warned that due to her refusal to convert to Islam, the schoolgirl might be forced to become a "slave for life."

"Based on our doctrines, it is now lawful for us to do whatever we want to do with them," the group said, also referring to UNICEF worker Alice Ngaddah, another captured Christian woman.

The Nigerian government has said it's making efforts to free Sharibu, but her family faced the new year still not knowing if or when they will see their daughter again.

Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Jos meanwhile joined in the call for prayers.

I invite all of you to pray for Leah and for all those who are captive for refusing to renounce the faith, Kaigama urged believers.

She chose to remain a Christian even in the face of the possibility of death, he added. Leah stands out for her courage in preserving her Christian faith and identity.
Laos crackdown on Christians: Christianity is religion of Europeans and Americans'

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Authorities in the Asian nation of Laos cracked down on worshiping Christians this Christmas season.

Several Christians were arrested on the days before and after Christmas in separate incidents that took place in the countrys southern Savannakhet province.

Most recently, as many as seven Christians were reportedly arrested while worshipping at a Christmas church service in the Nakanong Village.

According to the Human Rights Watcher for Lao Religious Freedom, a group of nine police officers raided the Nakanong Village Christmas service around 6 p.m. last Saturday and initially arrested three church leaders.

The church leaders were taken to the Phin district police headquarters. The police later returned to the village about two hours later and arrested four more Christians, who were also taken to the Phin police headquarters.

The arrested Christians were reportedly detained for illegally gathering for worship without the governments permission.

Around 10 p.m., according to the human rights group, police officers again returned to the village church and destroyed the stage and churchs sound system. The police cut off power to the church and confiscated three cell phones.

Radio Free Asia (RFA) reports that the seven Christians arrested on Dec. 29 were freed and allowed to go home on Wednesday.

Earlier in December, RFA reported that five other Christians were arrested by authorities in the Non Soung village of the Phin district.

The arrests were made after a group of Christians in one village invited a pastor from a neighboring village to organize a Christmas celebration, according to a local resident.

The source, who spoke to RFA on the condition of anonymity, stated that the Christians were arrested for breaching rules designed specifically to restrict Christianity in the Phin district.

Early last week, as Christians in the Non Soung village of Phin district, were preparing for Christmas celebrations, a Christian pastor from another village in the same district came to help organize the festivities, the source explained. A couple of days later, district security guards arrested five Christians  four from Non Soung village and the pastor who had come from the other village nearby.

The source said that regulations allow Christians to only hold and participate in Christmas celebrations in their own village.

A district official refused to comment on the case but told RFA that Christian celebrations in the district are subject to various government controls.

In general, Christians are still restricted in this district, the official who spoke on the condition of anonymity said. They are not allowed to teach from the Bible or to spread their religion to others because Christianity is the religion of the Europeans and Americans.

Hostility toward Christianity is not just confined to the Phin district or the Savannakhet province. The nation ranks as the 20th worst nation in the world when it comes to Christian persecution, according to Open Doors USAs 2018 World Watch List.

Christians comprise about 3 percent of the population in Laos.

According to the persecution watchdog group, much of the persecution against Christians in Laos originates from communist authorities, local leaders and their immediate communities and families.

Due to the tight grip of the Communist Party in this Southeast Asian country, religion is seen as a hostile element, an Open Doors fact sheet explains. Christianity, in particular, is considered a Western influence and especially dangerous. The government has recently made efforts to increase the monitoring of illegal house churches with the help of registered churches, resulting in the arrest and detention of Christian believers.

The Central European Christian news agency BosNewsLife reports that the detentions of the Christians this Christmas season come despite attempts at Western-style reforms being made in other areas of the country throughout the last several years.

In November, four other Lao Christians, including a 78-year-old grandmother, were arrested and held for about a week in Savannakhet provinces Vilabouly district. They too were detained for holding worship services without the permission of authorities.
Dead Sea, River Jordan where Jesus was baptized, shrinking fast in disaster,' experts say

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Bodies of water mentioned in the Bible, including the Dead Sea, the Sea of Galilee, and the River Jordan, where Jesus Christ was baptized, are shrinking fast in a looming disaster, experts say.

Sky News reported that the Dead Sea in particular is seeing its water levels decline faster than ever before, losing as much as five feet each year. Scientists are fearing that it may only be reduced to a tiny pool by the middle of the century.

"Its a lesson to everyone: don't mess with nature because nature will always win and we will always lose," said Ofir Katz, an ecologist at the Dead Sea and Arava Science Center.

"If we keep taking fresh water from nature, from the Sea of Galilee, or from the Euphrates for example, or the Nile, we will eventually ruin the local environment.

"We need to take care of nature or else we all sink with it."

The River Jordan, once strong, has now been reduced to a trickle, scientists added in a warning of an "environmental disaster in slow motion."

The shrinkage has been blamed in part on the expanding population in the region and the need for water, as well as on factories mining minerals by evaporating the water.

Environmentalist Gidon Bromberg from Eco Peace said that the "demise of the Dead Sea is a reflection of the unsustainability of our water resources region-wide."

Bromberg called for joint work on desalination plants to counter the problem.

"Manufacture more water in the Mediterranean, produce renewable energy in the desert areas and create healthy interdependencies amongst us Israelis, Palestinians and Jordanians first. Or we're going to see potentially more conflict rising out of these increasingly scarce water resources," he said.

The Dead Sea and the areas around it have been the site of some of the most important finds in Biblical archaeology, such as the world-famous Dead Sea Scrolls.

The fragments, which contain manuscripts of some of the earliest Biblical writings, are believed to have been hidden in 11 or potentially 12 caves somewhere in 68 BCE in order to protect them from Roman soldiers.

They were found in a series of discoveries between 1947 and 1956, with close to 900 fragments written on animal skin and papyrus in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek, and subjected to analysis by researchers for decades.

In November, scientists suggested that a "superheated blast from the skies" destroyed cities near the Dead Sea 3,700 years ago, alluding to the destruction of Sodom, as described in the Bible.

Archaeologist Phillip Silvia of Trinity Southwest University in Albuquerque, New Mexico, said at the time that unearthed minerals were found to have instantly crystallized at high temperatures at what used to be cities and farming settlements north of the Dead Sea.

Researchers said that something resembling a meteor destroyed communities in a 15-mile-wide circular plain, with the people of the region not returning for 600 to 700 years following the cataclysmic event.
Christian magistrate wins right to appeal firing; judge says intolerant views should be respected

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A 72-year-old Christian magistrate who served over 20 years on the bench but was let go from his job for voicing his beliefs about same-sex adoption has won the right to appeal his termination.

Last month, Judge Katherine Tucker moved to allow former magistrate Richard Page from Kent to appeal his removal by judiciary heads for suggesting that children up for adoption are better off in a home with both a mother and a father.

Pages trouble began in 2014 when he dissented with two of his colleagues when considering a same-sex couple looking to adopt. After expressing his belief that children are better of in a household with a mother and a father, he was reported by other magistrates for his actions.

Page was even forced to attend re-education training, according to the Christian Legal Centre, which is supporting Pages legal battle.

In 2015, Page was interviewed by BBC and he explained why he dissented in the case. He stated that it was his responsibility as a magistrate to do what I considered best for the child.

Following his interview, an investigation was launched by the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office's disciplinary panel, which recommended that Page be removed from his position because reasonable people would conclude that [he] would be biased and prejudiced against single-sex adopters. Page was officially removed from office in February 2016.

According to the Christian Legal Centre, Judge Tucker reasoned in her ruling in favor of Page that judges are allowed to hold even intolerant views and others should respect that.

However, the judge also questioned what limits there should be to how judges can express their views without jeopardizing the partiality in the court system.

Because of the ruling, Pages case can proceed to an employment appeal tribunal in south London.

"I am amazed that it has taken so long to get this far, Page said in a statement following the ruling. It is vital that we maintain the true independence and impartiality of the judiciary and that ordinary people like me are not excluded from it."

Page was represented by Paul Diamond, a prominent European human rights lawyer, who has taken on several other high profile U.K. religious freedom cases in the past.

Diamond argued that the decisions made by the Justice Secretary Michael Gove and Chief Justice of England and Wales Lord John Thomas to terminate Page from the bench discriminated against his deeply-held religious beliefs.

According to the Christian Legal Centre, Diamond argued that Pages statements were within the bounds of his judicial responsibility.

"This is an important moment, shining a light on how justice is done in our country. Even the top judges in the land should not be beyond proper scrutiny and we are glad to see Richard's claim go forward, Andrea Minichiello Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said in a statement. "It was always disproportionate to remove a kind-hearted and long-serving public servant like Richard from his position simply because of the way that he expressed his beliefs.

Page was also let go from his position as non-executive director at the Kent and Medway National Health Service Trust following his remarks to BBC. The Trust reasoned that Page "undermined" the confidence of staff. Page also sued the NHS Trust.

In July 2018, Page won the right to appeal a 2017 ruling in favor of the NHS trust.
Weekly briefing: College students, Lupron, abortion funding

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We've compiled the top stories of the week. Here's what you need to know:

Students ring in the new year with Urbana, Passion, Cross

Three major conferences drew tens of thousands of college students around the start of the new year, all with the aim of helping the younger generation leverage their lives for God and whatever He is calling them to.

InterVarsitys Urbana, a student missions conference, kicked it off at the end of 2018 in St. Louis, followed by Louie Giglios Passion in Atlanta, and The Gospel Coalitions Cross Conference in Louisville, Kentucky.

What victory looks like  its not the honors and splendors of the earth. Its making a difference. Its bringing the hope and the salvation of Christ to others. Its helping a constellation of people around you flourish. Aim higher, see further, run a grander race, said Rene Breuel, pastor of Hopera Church in Rome, Italy, at Urbana.

How Lupron is being pushed on gender-confused children

The Christian Post ran an exclusive feature on the dangers of administering Lupron, a drug used to fight prostate cancer, to children with gender dysphoria. Doctors have been distributing the puberty blocker despite the lack of peer-reviewed studies and the absence of FDA approval (for that purpose).

"There have been few physicians willing to stand up and say, 'We need to question this, there is something wrong here. Why are we using cancer drugs on kids without cancer and stopping normal puberty? said Dr. Michael Laidlaw.

The doctors CP spoke with argue that the drug is permanently damaging the bodies of children (including sterilization) yet their dissenting voices are being silenced.

Democrat-led House passes bill funding abortion

The newly sworn-in Democrat-controlled House of Representatives voted Thursday to pass government spending legislation that would reinstate federal funding to abortion organizations worldwide.

The bill essentially repeals Trumps expanded Mexico City Policy, which ensures that no foreign aid dollars are used to fund organizations that perform abortions overseas.

The White House has vowed to veto the bill.

Ebola outbreak in DRC now second deadliest in history

With now over 300 deaths and hundreds more infected, the Ebola outbreak, which began in August 2018, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has become the second deadliest in history.

Samaritans Purse is on the ground setting up a treatment center to help victims and prevent it from spreading further.

This outbreak is in a critical phase. It is vital the international community recognizes this and ensures the DRC and WHO have the support needed to ensure this outbreak does not spiral out of control, said Director of the Wellcome Trust and Chair of WHOs Research and Development Blueprint Dr Jeremy Farrar.

Pray for

Victims of Ebola in DRC

Samuel B. Casey, a pro-life Christian lawyer with the Jubilee Campaign, who has been in a coma after being struck by a car

New releases

Albums:

Follow You Anywhere (Live) by Passion (Jan. 3)

Songs We Wrote on Tuesdays by Andrew Ripp and Chris Rice (Jan. 4)

Book:

The Politics of Ministry: Navigating Power Dynamics and Negotiating Interests by Bob Burns, Tasha D. Chapman and Donald C. Guthrie (Jan. 8)
Former The Life Church members push for clergy mandatory reporting law after youth pastor's conviction

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Three former members of The Life Church in Virginia are now pushing for a law in that state to designate clergy as mandatory reporters of child sex abuse.

Hannah Hudson, Liz Thomasson and Kristin Frazier attended The Life Church where Jordan Baird, a son of Pastors David and Jo Ann Baird, was convicted of sexually abusing a 16-year-old church member almost a year ago. Baird, who's a former youth pastor, was also re-arrested and accused of abusing another teenager in 2014. Jordan is expected to face trial for that case in February, according to FOX 5.

Hudson said she was subpoenaed to testify in the first case because of inappropriate texts that Jordan had sent me a few years back.

Prior to their experience with Bairds case, the former church members told the network that they didn't realize clergy weren't required to report suspected cases of child sex abuse in Virginia, so they set out on a mission to change that.

Basically just went office to office [at the state capitol] just to see if anybody would bite, Hudson said.

Thomasson said they were inspired to push for change after the struggle they went through to hold Baird accountable.

Victims alleged in statements that they were treated poorly when they confronted Jordan and his family about his crimes.

One victim said the Baird family aligned themselves with Satan to demonize her when they sought to hold him accountable for sexually abusing her. Instead of helping to provide comfort and justice, she said the church tried to cover-up what the former youth pastor did and turned the congregation against them.

There was a lot of hurt and anger that I had for a long time that, thankfully, was then channeled into this energy, Thomasson said. To say, I still can make change. I cant make change (at Life Church), but I can protect children other ways.

State Sen. Jill Vogel, R-Upperville, took up their cause and sponsored the bill that would make clergy mandatory reporters.

The real catalyst for this bill has been the Prince William issue and the proactive wonderful people who took it on, Vogel told Fox 5.

Del. Karrie Delaney, D-Fairfax/Loudon, has also drafted a bill on the House side.

She said she realized there was a broader need for the legislation after hearing from the former members of The Life Church.

I think its incredibly inspirational that they took a really sensitive and tragic event that happened in their church community and have turned it into this kind of advocacy, Delaney said.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, every state, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have statutes that identify persons who are required to report child maltreatment under specific circumstances. While 28 states make clergy mandatory reporters, only 12 of these states make absolutely no exemption for clergy.

The law being considered to make clergy mandatory reporters will simply add clergy to the list of persons who are required to report suspected abuse, with an exception for when a faiths doctrine requires the report to be kept confidential according to The Washington Post. Lawmakers said the exception was added specifically to protect the confessional  a sacrament in Catholic doctrine.

Jeff Caruso, director of the Virginia Catholic Conference, which lobbies for the Church in Richmond, told The Washington Post that the Conference is in favor of adding clergy to the list of mandated reporters, so long as the clergy-penitent relationship is protected. The states two dioceses have a similar requirement, he said.
House Democrats seek to restore abortion group funding on first day of new Congress

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The newly sworn-in Democrat-led House of Representatives plans to vote Thursday on a spending bill to end the federal government shutdown that includes a provision to provide funding to Planned Parenthood and other abortion groups.

Pro-life groups and prominent conservatives are speaking out against Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats for slipping language into the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2019 that would among other things restore federal funding to overseas organizations that provide and promote abortion.

Such funding was stripped from organizations like International Planned Parenthood by one of President Donald Trumps first acts as president when he expanded what was known as the Mexico City Policy preventing foreign aid dollars from being used to fund organizations that perform abortions overseas.

Trumps policy is called Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance and forces NGOs to agree as a condition of receiving federal funding that they will not perform or actively promote abortion as a method of family planning.

Abortion advocates lambasted the move and labeled it a global gag rule. But on the first day of the new Congress, the Pelosi-led House are trying to repeal that provision.

According to the Washington Examiner, the spending bill will also increase funding by $5 million for the United Nations Population Fund, which has been criticized by pro-life organizations and the Trump State Department who say that the entity participates in a program of coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization."

On day one of the new Congress, Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats are already trying to foist a radical pro-abortion agenda on the nation, Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the national pro-life grassroots organization Susan B. Anthony List said in a statement. A strong majority of Americans oppose taxpayer funding of abortion. Acting on the clearly expressed will of the American people, President Trump and his administration have taken a bold stand for life by stopping billions of dollars in foreign aid from being used to push abortion overseas.

Dannenfelser said that the House spending bill would again make taxpayers complicit in the exportation of abortion and destruction of countless unborn children around the world.

This is unconscionable and we oppose the bill in the strongest terms, she said.

Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, a former presidential candidate, slammed the House bill in a statement posted to his website. He assured that such a bill has no chance of actually becoming law.

Apparently, Democrats in their first day as the House majority intend on pushing divisive, pro-abortion policies that would allow taxpayer dollars to flow to international organizations that promote and perform abortions, Rubio stressed. This is nothing more than far-left wing theater as these policies have no chance of passing the Senate or being signed by the President.

Rubio vowed to ensure that the bill is defeated.

Pro-lifers and conservatives were elated when Trump reinstated the Mexico City Policy in 2017 and many viewed it as a fulfillment of part of his campaign promise to advance pro-life policies.

According to the Christian conservative advocacy group Family Research Council, the House will vote on two spending bills Thursday. The second is a short-term continuing resolution to keep the government running until Feb. 8.

As the federal government has been in a partial shut down for 12 days over Trumps desire to build a border wall, the House spending bill does not include funding for the wall.

Although the Democrats have the votes to pass the legislation, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has vowed to block the bill in the Senate.

The legislation that House Democrats are reportedly planning to introduce would not be a serious contribution to these negotiations. It isnt comprehensive. It ignores the needs of border security, McConnell said in a statement. Its exactly the kind of proposal youd expect if the incoming House Democrats were choosing to stage a political sideshow rather than do the hard work of helping to govern the country. A total non-starter.

Will these new Democrats come to Washington ready to roll up their sleeves, work together, and make laws? McConnell asked. Or are they going to waste time on partisan show votes that will do nothing to move the country forward? Thats the question: Political performance art or responsible governance? Well get an early signal in the next few days.
University no longer teaching 'nonhuman perspectives' on queer in LGBT studies class

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A public university in New Jersey says it's no longer teaching about nonhuman perspectives on queer in a spring 2019 LGBT studies class. However, the university admits that the class once did teach about nonhuman queer perspectives.

Montclair State University, through its Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Studies Department will hold a class this spring called Queer Identities in a Transforming World: The Trouble with Normal.

The three-credit, three-hour lecture course was designed to build upon themes students learned in the departments introductory 100-level course on LGBT studies.

The course was originally reported on by the conservative campus watchdog site The College Fix, which linked to a description of the course that the university now says is outdated.

The outdated description explained that the class would explore such things as the Latin roots of the word trans and how it relates to queer as a position that allows for shifting identities."

The description stated that students would engage in what the university calls a critical analysis of gender, sexuality, race, class, and ecology, and synthesize methodologies from different disciplines throughout humanities in order to gain a broad intersectional, multicultural and historical understanding of the term 'queer, and of queer and transgender studies.

Students would explore topics including: gender performance, the third sex, transgender issues, intersex issues, the political underpinnings and the transgressive nature of 'queer', [and] the history of queer politics (from AIDS activism to the gay marriage issue), schisms within the LGBTQ political movements, queers and disability, issues of race, class, and representation within the queer community, and nonhuman perspectives on queer.

Following The College Fix article, other conservative news outlets reported on how the school would be teaching about nonhuman perspectives on queer with confusion as to what exactly that means.

The Christian Post reached out to Montclair State for information about the class and was told that the course description for the class is outdated and that an earlier version of the course had material related to observations of animal sexual behavior. However, the course in question no longer covers that particular subject.

The class will be taught by Associate Professor Caroline Dadas, whose specialties include queer online rhetorics and has a research agenda that involves studying the intersections of civic participation by queer-identified individuals.

This is a course about gender identity, a university spokesperson said in an official statement. Montclair State offers courses which explore a wide range of topics related to our physical world, social structures, art, science, intellectual thought and the broad scope of human experience, which includes the study of gender identity and human sexuality.

The spokesperson shared the current course description with CP:

"Building on lessons from the required GLQS 100 course, this course will explore trans and queer as positions that allow for shifting identities. We will engage in a critical analysis of gender, sexuality, race, class, and ecology, and synthesize methodologies from various disciplines in the humanities to gain a broad intersectional, multicultural, and historical understanding of the term queerand of queer and transgender studies.

"We will explore issues such as gender performance, the third sex, transgender issues, intersex issues, the political underpinnings and the transgressive nature of queer, the history of queer politics (from AIDS activism to the gay marriage issue), schisms within the LGBTQ political movements, queers and disability, and issues of representation within the queer community."

According to the 2018 Montclair University Catalog, the course in question (also known as GLQS201) is one of two classes students are required to take in order to receive a minor in gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer studies.

The catalog indicates that the class is also required for students to receive a bachelors in gender, sexuality and women's studies.
Louie Giglio: To be effective your faith must be built on knowing God, stop wavering

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To be sent out and effective for God, faith must be built on the "bedrock" of knowing God, and Christians must cease wavering between two opinions, no matter the circumstances, says Louie Giglio.

In the final session of the Passion 2019 conference, which began Wednesday and was hosted in four sites around the country, founder Louie Giglio stressed the importance of holding fast to God, going deep with Him and having an undivided mind during his second talk in Dallas, Texas, on Thursday night.

"We are living in the greatest days ever in the Kingdom of God," Giglio said, and to be sent out on mission, Christians must have the inner resolve that says, "I've seen enough to trust God with my life."

"How long will you waver between two opinions. If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow him," he said, quoting 1 Kings 18:21, recounting the words of the prophet Elijah.

Not wavering between two opinions is particularly important when choosing who to marry, he continued, pointing out how Ahab, an evil king marked by dishonesty, married the demonically wicked Jezebel, who tried to kill God's anointed, Elijah.

He advised the students gathered for the conference that spouses often arrive at the moment when they are the least worried about it, that the lack of worry actually seems to speed up the process.

"Most people I know who have found someone phenomenal were completely and utter floored by Jesus" when they were least expecting it, he said.

Wait for a husband or wife who will "burn for the renown of Jesus in our lifetime."

"Who you marry is going to be the determiner of whether you get in that genealogy of world-changing, believing, faithful people or not."

Ahab was a wicked man whose wife was more wicked, and together they led the people of God astray into idolatry, reestablishing the worship of Baal and revival of Asherah poles, he said. And the people of Israel exchanged a relationship with the living God for idols they built with their own hands.

"God is saying today, have you seen enough [of His miraculous power] to stop wavering between two opinions?"

"Have you seen enough to say, 'I'm sure all the circumstance aren't going to be great, but I am not wavering in what I have already committed because I've seen enough to commit this life, good or bad, joy and the sorrow, all the days and all the journey to a great and living God," he pressed, adding that the Holy Spirit will point out what the "Baals" are in our life today.

He stressed that students must get to the point where they can say, "On the bedrock [of faith] I've seen enough," that all the stories of God's faithfulness and His great love for them are really true, to the point where going to coffees with friends to be reminded of the basic truths of the faith will not be necessary.

"Does that mean the people you've seen on these stages don't struggle?" he challenged the crowd, mentioning International Justice Mission President Gary Haugen, and evangelist Christine Caine, both of whom spoke at the conference.

"Absolutely not. Everyone on this stage is dealing with cancer, is dealing with betrayal, loss, struggling with being an anxiety overcomer," he said, pointing to himself.

"But I would venture to say no one you've seen leading you is struggling with whether or not God is always working, always worthy, whether He is making us free to walk, whether He is planning things for our lives, whether He's going to come through for us if we take big steps of faith, whether He is for us."

And it is not because they are older, but because they've gone deep, he said.

Before Giglio's closing remarks it was announced that students raised $448,370.41 for the Deaf Bible Society as a part of Hope in Every Language.

The funds will go toward translating stories of Jesus from the New Testament into sign languages in Mexico, Cuba, Colombia, Moldova, Egypt, Ghana, South Africa, Tanzania, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Japan and Russia, reaching 160,000 people.

The Passion conference, founded by Giglio, began in 1997.

Passion 2019 is the first year the conference has been held in four different venues  two in Atlanta, Georgia, one in Dallas, Texas, and one in Washington, D.C.  simultaneously. The annual event was held Jan 3-4.
International Justice Mission's Gary Haugen challenges college students: 'What darkness needs is your light'

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As part of the Passion 2019 Conference, Gary Haugen, founder and CEO of the human rights organization International Justice Mission, empowered college students to fight the darkness and suffering prevalent around the world by assuring them that God can turn even the smallest light into a bonfire.

Today, more than 20,000 children are going to die because their parents are too poor to keep them alive. Today, an average of 40,000 people will be forced to flee out of their homes due to violence and persecution. There are 100,000 children in America who are in the midst of a dangerous and scary foster care system  but no family will adopt them.

After presenting these statistics to thousands of college students gathered at the conference in Dallas, Texas, Haugen asked: In a world of such darkness, of such suffering and hurt, what is God's plan for making it believable that He is a good God?

You are that plan, and God doesn't have another plan, Haugen continued, citing Matthew 5:16: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.

Haugen admitted its overwhelming when we realize that God  the maker of the universe  has decided to put His reputation on the line in the world today on whether or not His children manifest His love and goodness in the world.

But Satan wants us to feel anxious and inadequate, Haugen said, adding: He likes us to feel totally overwhelmed by the darkness in the world and overwhelmed by how unqualified we are for this job.

God doesnt call us to drive out all the darkness in the world, Haugen explained  He simply asks us to take our little light into the darkness so that He can gather it up and build a bonfire.

Haugen revealed that 22 years ago, he and a few others were compelled to start IJM after God called them to bring their little flickering light of love and hope to victims of violent abuse in our world who were very, very poor.

We started taking just individual cases of very poor people suffering from horrific violent abuse, he recalled. A little girl sold into a brothel by sex traffickers; a widow who was run out of her home in Africa by some men with machetes; a family who's been sold into slavery; an abandoned girl who had been raped in a slum.

We started to take on these cases just one by one, and honestly at the beginning, for every case where we saw light prevail, there were 10 or 20 where the darkness beat us. But we just didnt go away, he continued.

What started out as a tiny ministry out of a closet is today a worldwide operation with over 1,000 staff members, including lawyers and criminal investigators and social workers.

Turns out, you just bring your little light, and God builds a bonfire, he said. That might seem obvious and even believable to you, now 20 some odd years later, but I just wish you could feel how scary and impossible this felt when we started, especially because of the particular kind of darkness we were heading into.

Darkness and violence, he said, will fight you back.

When the poor were suffering from violence, abuse, when they were being imprisoned, enslaved, beaten, raped, and robbed, the body of Christ was bringing no light, he said.

Haugen shared the story of David, an orphan in Nairobi, Kenya, who lived on the streets, surviving on rotten fruit. Alone in the predominantly Muslim region, he would medicate himself with glue to help overcome the pain of the beatings he sustained at night.

Miraculously, David came to know the love of Jesus thanks to the witness of some Catholic nuns who took him in. He graduated from high school and went on to build a little street business, and he was helping serve AIDS victims in his community.

However, the darkness of violence struck: One afternoon, a drunken police gang pulled David off the street, robbed him, shot him, and left him for dead in the street.

In this one single moment, all of that hard work of survival and all the faith and struggle and love of his church community around him was thrown to the ground in a bloody mess, Haugen said.

Doctors and nurses were able to save Davids life but had to amputate his hand. Terrified David would turn them in, the corrupt police officers threw the young man in prison where he suffered from disease and infection.

For years, the people of God had walked with David to overcome abandonment, hunger, homelessness, disease, and addiction, Haugen said. They actually provided a pathway so that he could come to know Christ. They provided a pathway to education, to community, to livelihood, and these were the needs the body of Christ knew how to deal with, and they were good at it.

David was able to overcome poverty and thrive, but then violence ripped it all away, and this was the one thing the body of Christ was not equipped to address, he continued. So where could he turn for help?

Two young IJM lawyers discovered David, gaunt and chained to his bed, and took on his case.

I just want to say for all of you who hear Jesus saying, You are the light of the world, but feel overwhelmed by the darkness in the world and the frailty of your own little light, I want you just to see the way God begins to build a bonfire. I want you to behold the way He works, because He works with the one.

Haugen then introduced David to the audience, who came onstage to share his testimony.

I stand here as a testimony of Gods miraculous work, David said, and He gets to do it through people like you ... I had lost all hope. But even in those dark days, God, in His own way, showed His light in my life, and we praise Him.

Thanks to the work of IJM lawyers, David was freed from prison. Now happily married with children, David graduated law school and today helps his community fight the injustices they continually face.

Today as I stand here, I can see that God did it, he said. God is a faithful God . because the [IJM lawyers] set me free. I can now use my own freedom to do something about sad things, about such pains that are still existing in people's lives.

Addressing the audience, Haugen said, David is overwhelming the darkness as he takes his light into his community. God is building bonfires out of little lights, and now he's transforming the nation of Kenya.

He concluded his message by asking attendees: What is the particular darkness that needs your light?

There is darkness in our world for sure, he said. There's darkness in our nation. There's darkness in your community. There is darkness on your campus and in your family. If you ask Christ, He will lead you.

I don't know exactly what kind of bonfire God wants to build out of the 40,000 lights that are at Passion 2019, he continued, but I know this: you're the light of the world. Let your light so shine in this world that they will see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven.

Passion 2019 is the first year the conference has been held in four different venues  two in Atlanta, Georgia, one in Dallas, Texas, and one in Washington, D.C.  simultaneously. The annual event was held Jan 3-4.
DNO ASA, a Norwegian oil and gas operator focused on the Middle East and North Africa, said its

Omani subsidiary has relinquished operatorship and participation in Oman Block 8 to Ministry of Oil and Gas (MOG) and the state-owned Oman Oil Company Exploration and Production.

The offshore Block 8, which contains the Bukha and West Bukha fields, off the Musandam peninsula, produced an average of 4,458 barrels of oil equivalent per day during 2018.

The handover by DNO Oman Block 8 Limited follows the expiry of the 30-year commercial term of the Exploration and Production Sharing Agreement, said a statement from Oslo-listed DNO, whose largest shareholder is RAK Petroleum Holdings, which owns 40.45 per cent of the company.

The handover ceremony was held in Muscat in the presence of MOG Under-Secretary Salim Al Aufi, with representatives from DNO, MOG, Oman Oil Company Exploration and Production and licence partner LG International in attendance.

"Since inception, Block 8 has produced 35 million barrels of oil and 285 billion cu ft of gas, generating Oman about $1 billion in total revenues," remarked DNO's Managing Director Bjorn Dale while speaking at the ceremony.

The Block 8 is now being operated by the Musandam Oil and Gas Company, fully-owned by OOCEP.

DNO has a 50 per cent interest in the licence alongside LG International, which holds the remaining 50 per cent stake.

The Norwegian company is one of the largest producers of oil in Iraqs Kurdistan region and also holds licences in Norway, the United Kingdom and Yemen.

DNO is currently engaged in a hostile takeover bid for UK-registered Faroe Petroleum, where it currently owns a 30 per cent stake, it added.-TradeArabia News Service
Devastated families finally bury murdered Christian teachers in Kenya

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The devastated families of two Christian teachers murdered by extremists in Kenya have finally been able to bury their loved ones after confirming their identities.

Philip Masinde Okumu and Daniel Wekesa Wangila were killed by Islamic militant group al-Shabaab during an attack on Oct. 10 at Arabia Secondary School in Mandera East, but their families had to wait for DNA tests for weeks to confirm their identities.

International Christian Concern, which monitors the persecution of Christians around the world, reported that Wangila was buried in Kakamega, Western Kenya. He is survived by his wife, Harriet Kakai, and three children.

We have spent six weeks in tears. Daniel loved me and our kids. We shall truly miss him, his kind spirit, and strong sense of humor. He made us see life as a gift from God. We have lost a pillar in our family and nothing shall ever fill the gap he leaves behind, Kakai said.

A member of Redeemed Church Lukiyan, Wangila decided to take a job as a teacher at the school despite the dangers of the region in order to provide for his family and parents.

His father said:

My son left for Mandera three years ago and although we were worried about this life due to constant attacks of Christians in [the] northeastern [region], we kept hoping that one day he would get a job elsewhere. The news of the attack left us devastated. He has left a very young wife and three young children and we pray that the Lord will strengthen her and bless her with the ability to raise the children."

Okumu Biketi, the father of Philip Okumu, remembered his son as a young man who worked hard in school and wanted to help students in Arabia Secondary School succeed and advance to university. He was the most disciplined child in my family. I have lost a dear son.

Al-Shabaab, which is based in Somalia, continues murdering Christians in neighboring Kenya. It has carried out several bus attacks in recent years, forcing passengers off the vehicles and executing those it deems to be Christians.

Most notably, the terrorists massacred close to 150 students in an April 2015 attack at Garissa University College, where they spared Muslims but executed Christians.

Local teachers in Mandera said back in October that radicals continue targeting Christians even though the believers are serving the community.

"It is painful to lose our colleagues through such a heinous act of cowardice. Our hearts bleed because even after dedicating our time and professionalism in serving this community, they still hate Christians," Martin Kamutu, a teacher, said at the time.

A church leader in Kenya identified only as Rev. John added: "This is another bad example of what religion can do. We are losing Christians at a very high rate in Mandera. Last month we lost five to terrorism and now again we have lost two teachers. We ask the international community and human rights groups to get involved in northern Kenya."

Another two teachers were injured in the attack on Oct. 10 but escaped with minor burns.
Ancient temple where priests skinned human victims and wore their skins discovered in Mexico

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Researchers have discovered an ancient temple in Mexico of a pre-Hispanic fertility god that priests worshiped by skinning victims and wearing their skins.

The Associated Press reported that recent excavations of Popoluca Indian ruins in the central state of Puebla. Mexico, led to the discovery of two skull-like stone carvings and a stone trunk depicting the god Xipe Totec.

Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History explained that priests worshiped the deity by skinning human victims and then wearing their skins as a means to ensure fertility and regeneration.

The temple is believed to have been built by the Popolucas between A.D. 1000 and 1260, before they were conquered by the Aztecs.

Experts say that the victims were likely killed in gladiator-style combat, with the layout of Tehuacan temple suggesting they were skinned on another platform.

University of Florida archaeologist Susan Gillespie commented that "finding the torso fragment of a human wearing the flayed skin of a sacrificial victim is perhaps the most compelling evidence of the association of this practice and related deity to a particular temple, more so to me than the two sculpted skeletal crania."

Gillespie added that the Aztec practice "was to perform the sacrificial death in one or more places, but to ritually store the skins in another, after they had been worn by living humans for some days. So it could be that this is the temple where they were kept, making it all the more sacred."

Orthodox Christian author Rod Dreher wrote on The American Conservative website that the discovery is a reminder of the type of brutalities that occurred in the region before the Spanish conquest of the Aztecs in the 16th century.

"When you hear people condemning the Spanish conquest for what it did to the native inhabitants, think of the fact that within a decade of the Spanish conquest, human sacrifice ended. That is something to be grateful for, and indeed proud of. We do not need to believe that the conquistadores were saints  they certainly were not  to recognize this," Dreher argued.

He added that, for a Christian, what matters is that the Gospel is true.

"The Spanish, whatever their grievous faults and wicked motivations, nevertheless carried with them true religion," he positioned.

Dreher said that believing that the native peoples of Mesoamerica lived a peaceful life before the Spanish Christian colonialists, or the opposite extreme  believing that the conquistadores led to peace and justice  is "sentimental claptrap."

"We are not required to believe falsely that there is no moral difference between the Aztecs and the Spanish, and the civilizations they represented. A civilization that practices mass human sacrifice is objectively worse than one that outlaws it," he wrote.

"And, for Christians, a civilization that, however grievously flawed, proclaims the truth of Christ is objectively better than one that denies it."
YouVersion Bible Plan gets 1 million subscriptions on new year's day; 62 percent increase from last year

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The popular YouVersion Bible Apps Bible Plans got over 1 million new subscriptions on Jan. 1, representing a 62 percent increase from last year.

Launched in 2008, YouVersion is a downloadable app for smartphones that allows users to access the Bible in an assortment of different languages and versions.

The Bible Plan subscription allows those with YouVersion to pair daily passages from the Bible with audio, video, or devotional content. These plans are available in more than 50 languages and help guide people in reading through the Bible over the course of 90 days, six months, or a year.

YouVersion Founder Bobby Gruenewald told The Christian Post in an interview on Thursday that the Bible Plans were part of the apps overall mission of making it easier for their users to access the Scriptures.

Over the years, weve added several features focused on developing a habit of reading or listening to the Bible every day, said Gruenewald.

Were encouraged to see Bible Plan subscriptions continue to increase year after year, and were so grateful for our partners who make their content available on the Bible App.

Gruenewald explained to CP that there are 13,000 different Bible Plans, with an increasing number of these plans being offered in about 1,000 languages aside from English.

Starting a Bible Plan is one of the best ways to build a discipline of daily Bible reading within the app. In the last year, weve added hundreds of new content partnerships, resulting in more than 2,500 new Bible Plans in 2018, continued Gruenewald.

Our hope is that by leveraging all the features offered in the Bible App, [YouVersion users] develop a love for engaging with the Bible daily so they can begin to recognize Gods presence in their everyday lives.

John Piper, founder of DesiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary in Minnesota, recently put forth reasons that people should read the Bible daily in 2019, citing motivation as a key essential.

If we lose motivation, we will not read the Bible. And if we dont read the Bible, we miss everything God has for us through the Word, wrote Piper.

If you want faith, if you want holiness, if you want joy, they all, Jesus says, come through encountering God in His Word. Thats how we get motivated.

I think this is just absolutely crucial that we see how to motivate ourselves, because if we go blank when were reading the Bible, we quickly lose motivation.
Urbana Missions Conference: How a silly idea became a godly force to fight sex trafficking

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A love for dresses and fashion, Instragram, and a passion for justice combined with God's redemptive power was just the prescription for raising millions of dollars to combat international sex trafficking.

In a talk before thousands gathered for the Urbana Student Missions Conference last week in St. Louis, Missouri, Blythe Hill, founder of the Dressember Foundation, explained how God takes our silly ideas, interests, pains and tragedies to transform them into something great for His Kingdom.

Upon realizing the breadth and scope of the global sex trade, she knew she had to be a part of the fight to dismantle it, Hill said. The fight was personal to her, particularly because she was sexually molested during her youth.

"Do I matter? Am I disposable? Can someone love me?" she asked, recounting the questions that plagued her following the abuse.

"It took years for me to heal, and forgive and move forward."

Yet when she hears about the ongoing scourge of trafficking her resolve only continues to grow. She had to come to a place where she believed the same truths about the injustice she was combating  namely, that it's not the victim's fault and that they have no duty to carry their shame  had to also be true for her regarding her own experience.

"When you shine a light on shame it starts to lose its power," she said.

As she shared her story and struggle with friends, counselors, and pastors, the shame indeed began to fade for her.

But Hill struggled to know what she could do about fighting the global sex trade given that her interests didn't line up with the kind of people who were engaged in the fight to end it, like lawyers, psychologists, advocates. She was interested in fashion and creative writing. While she felt passionately about standing up against sexual exploitation of vulnerable women and girls, she also felt powerless in light of the problem's size and scope.

In 2009 everything started to change.

She tried a personal style challenge to give herself a creative break from the academic intensity of her studies during the month of December, calling it "Dressember" where she wore a dress every day of the month. She thought she would never do that again but ended up doing it with a few friends the following year. Several friends of her friends wanted in on it and an even larger group participated the year after that.

In 2013, she aligned Dressember with International Justice Mission in an effort to raise $25,000 to fight sex trafficking. They posted the photos of themselves sporting their dresses on Instagram and quickly surpassed their fundraising goal, raising $165,000. From there they only continued to gain momentum, raising $2 million in 2017. In five years they have raised over $5 million.

Hill went on to talk about Miriam, a girl she met in the Dominican Republic whose mother sold her to a trafficker for drug money. When IJM found her she was working the streets of Santo Domingo, and was five months pregnant at age 15. IJM spearheaded an effort to investigate what happened, rescue her from the sex trade, and represent her in court.

Hill met Miriam when she was 17. Yet Instead of being weighed down with the betrayal and the trauma of what happened Miriam seemed "puzzlingly joyful," she said.

"Miriam's story doesn't stop at her abuse, it doesn't center on her abuse. It is continuing. It is bending toward redemption," Hill said.

"It's human nature to look any injustice in the face and feel totally inadequate," she said. "But I saw what I thought was a silly idea create this community of like-minded community across the world, who together are stirring global change."

"I saw my idea outgrow me to the point where I had to run to keep up with the size of it."

No matter how odd the interests, God can take them to do something great with them, she told the students. He is so creative to take a silly idea to spark a global movement.

She also urged the students to consider disappointments in a fresh way.

"What we often do is weave together these false narratives about our big disappoints and big pains and all the tiny disappointments. And we write these narratives for ourselves that just aren't true. Narratives like 'I'm a failure;' 'I'm not worthy of love;' 'God is upset with me;' 'everyone will eventually leave,' " Hill said.

"For years I hid my shame when it was the key to my calling. The things you think are a liability in your life may actually be an asset."

She added: "We like things to be clean, and linear and it makes sense to us that when we get our act together then well bear fruit. Then well be useful to God."

But the Bible says God's grace is sufficient and that His strength is made perfect in weakness, she said, referencing 2 Corinthians 12.

"And sometimes you need to get outside your bubble to see how your heart breaks."

God doesn't just break our hearts for brokenness but to call us, she said.

"So pay attention to the brokenness and then ask Now what, God?"
Passion 2019: God's heart is to be Father to anxious generation hurt by divorce, iPhones and suicide

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God is revealing Himself as the "perfect Father" to a generation plagued by the heartache from fatherlessness, rampant divorce, and anxiety brought about by iPhone addiction, said Louie Giglio at the Passion Conference 2019.

Speaking before thousands on the first night of the conference in Dallas, Texas, Giglio recalled two events that have shaped Generation Z more than anything else: the 2007 launch of the iPhone and fatherlessness, something that has escalated with no-fault divorce. Giglio noted that in 2010 all 50 states had adopted a no-fault divorce law, enabling families to easily dissolve.

"There is a father issue in the world and a phone issue in the world. And you had nothing to do with either one of these things," he said.

"But yet both of these things have a lot to do with you."

While iPhones have put the world at the fingertips of people, showing both the good and bad things happening, the amount of time people spend in front of screens is unhealthy, he asserted. And the fatherlessness that has transpired in the United States over the past several decades has made it far more normal that a father is not present in every home.

"The result of all of this is that we're all living in an uber-anxiety driven world. Depression is off the charts," and something worsened with drug use, he added. This is so much of an issue that the life expectancy in America has dropped for the first time in 60 years due to the increasing number of suicides, he noted.

Giglio said he, too, knew what it was like to be "incapacitated" for months, weighed down by terrible depression and anxiety.

"But I also know this: God is still alive. And God has a plan."

He recalled a time where God prompted him with the knowledge that a young girl was contemplating suicide while at a youth conference where thousands of high schoolers attended. Giglio had a visual impression from the Holy Spirit that someone in the room had devised a plan to commit suicide, and had written a letter in the journal to her family and the details of how she would end her life.

Wanting to be attentive to the Lord in that moment, he interrupted the conference at an opportune time and asked everyone to bow their heads, close their eyes, and began to encourage the crowd, noting that God sees the letter and that she is not alone. He briefly explained what God had shown him without giving details, and asked that if anyone had made suicide plans for them to raise their hand for prayer.

In a room full of approximately 4,000, somewhere between 100 to 200 young people raised their hands that they had made plans to kill themselves. Giglio was later told that where he was ministering that night took place in the ZIP code with the highest teen suicide rate in the nation.

The next day he received a message on social media telling him that she had scrapped her suicide plan, that God had moved in her heart, and that she was going to live for Him. When Giglio clicked on the profile picture, he realized that it was the girl he had seen in the vision. That event set the trajectory for the Passion Conference and his wanting to speak life into a generation riddled with anxiety, and teach them to reject the cultural premise that anxiety and depression is a part of life.

The goal of Passion 2019 is to be "sent out" but before that happens, it's important to know your identity, Giglio stressed.

"God isn't interested in getting you to do something. He wants you to understand that He sees you just like you are, right where you are, and He loves you. And His prayer for you is that you'd let Him set you free in these days."

Being free means knowing deep down in the depths of one's being that one is a beloved son or beloved daughter and that God is the perfect Father, he explained.

"For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear. But you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him, by this Spirit, we cry, Abba, Father," he said, reading from Romans 8:15.

The primary relationship with God is not as students of the Bible, workers in the Kingdom, but father and child, he went onto say. And thus, he added, the enemy's goal has been to shatter fatherhood.

"If the enemy succeeded in smashing up your view of Father then it's possible that you're going to have difficulty with that primary relationship that God wants to have with you," Giglio said.

Bad earthly fathers, be they abusive, absent, uninterested, or passive compound this problem, he said.

He finished his talk by inviting the crowd to receive the love of the Father, as Abba and for anxiety and depression to break, and for people who were planning to commit suicide.

Passion 2019 is the first year the conference has been held in four different venues  two in Atlanta, Georgia, one in Dallas, Texas, and one in Washington, D.C.  simultaneously. As a result, there has been around 8,000 more attendees this year than in previous years. The Passion Conference began Wednesday and will conclude on Friday.
Chad Veach urges students to anchor hope in Christ; avoid 'temporary fix' in social media, substance abuse

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Chad Veach encouraged thousands of millennials gathered at the Passion Conference to anchor themselves in Christ in a society that tries to shake and shatter hope instead of finding a temporary fix in substance abuse and social media.

In his message titled The Place I Crave, Veach, pastor of Zoe Church in Los Angeles, California, asserted that whatever you run to in times of trouble is what you trust.

You got to learn that being a believer is about running to the right thing and running from the wrong thing, he charged. All throughout the Scriptures it says that we should flee temptation. We should abhor what is evil. We should run away from that which will destroy our life. We run from evil, we run away from bad things, and we run to God.

When I choose in the midst of my circumstance to run to God, what I am saying to God is, God, I trust you," he continued. "I do not trust in this substance. I do not trust in this bottle. I do not trust in this person. I will not get my fix from social media. I don't trust these things. I trust God. I cannot get temporary fixes for what I need, everlasting solution. Only God can fill me. Only God can heal me. Only God can complete me. No boyfriend or girlfriend, no amount of success.

Veach, formerly on staff at Judah Smith's The City Church in Seattle, Washington, affirmed that God calls His children to hide in His faithfulness: God will not abandon you, he said. God will not betray you. God will not turn his back on you ... God's good with my heart. Others can hurt my heart. God is faithful.

Faithfulness is who He is, and faithfulness is what He does, he added. We serve a faithful God.

In a broken and battered world, everything we need for healing and restoration can be found in Gods presence, the pastor contended.

When I get into His presence, all of a sudden I've got a new found strength, he explained. When I came in, I felt depleted and I felt exhausted, and I felt tired and I felt overwhelmed. I get with God and ... I feel the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

God also gives His children an unshakeable hope, Veach said, explaining that hope has a swagger and arrogance and a confidence not in self, but in God.

Remember in your life, hope is an architect, but faith is the builder, he charged. God will give you hope for your future. He'll give you a hope for tomorrow. He'll paint a picture in your heart.

The pastor acknowledged that many in the audience have experienced circumstances and situations that have tried to shatter and shake their hope. He shared how, in 2012, he and his wife learned that their oldest child, Georgia, had been born with a rare brain abnormality that would prohibit her from ever being able to walk or talk.

I was heartbroken, he admitted, but I was filled with hope. I could see the tears in my wife's eyes. I could look at the hopelessness in my daughter's face. But something about God rose up on the inside and I found myself in that season, as a father, craving the presence of God, hiding in His faithfulness, telling God, I'm not strong enough as a dad, I need your comfort.

In that difficult time, God gave him unshakeable hope, the pastor said. Today, while Georgia has endured a number of medical procedures, shes defied the doctors by living past her expected lifespan.

I think we should just pause and applaud our God who is the great physician and always has the final last word, Veach declared. Don't put your hope in your circumstance. Don't put your hope into other people. Put your hope in the name of the Lord.

The Unreasonable Hope author concluded his message by reminding attendees that God wants to anchor His children in His love.

God is up to something in your life, and what He's really after is anchoring you in the love of Jesus Christ, he said. Jesus wants your anchors to be dropped so you are not tossed to and fro by every situation, by everything that you feel and everything that you see.

We need to be people that love Jesus, he added. I will not get uprooted. I will not be uplifted by any circumstance.

The Passion 2019 conference, geared toward 18-25-year-olds, was held across four locations in Atlanta, Washington D.C., and Dallas from Jan. 2-4. In addition to Veach, speakers included Christine Caine, Matt Chandler and Louie Giglio.

"Passion exists to see a generation leverage their lives for what matters most ... to live in such a way that their journey on earth counts for what is most important in the end," states the event website. "For us at Passion, thats the fame of the One who rescues and restores, and the privilege we have to amplify His name in everything we do."

"While we host large gatherings, Passion is more than a conference. More than an event. More than a feeling. Passion is you and me saying goodbye to lesser things and saying yes to Jesus, the One whose name is above every name."
An estimated 160,000 people will be able to experience New Testament stories in their own sign languages for the first time thanks to this weeks Passion Conference, which raised nearly a half-million dollars for Bible translations for the deaf.

Though there are hundreds of sign languages, none have a full Bible translation, and just 2 percent of deaf people around the world have access to the Gospels in their sign languages, which is crucial for deeper understanding of Scripture, according to the Deaf Bible Society.

Donations from the 40,000 students at Passion 2019 will go toward translating Gospel stories for the deaf in 16 countries: Mexico, Cuba, Colombia, Moldova, Egypt, Ghana, South Africa, Tanzania, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Japan, and Russia.

In recent years, Louie Giglios popular student conference has raised millions for justice causes, but this was its first year urging participants to back sign language Bible translations. ...

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At Cross19 Conference JD Greear tells young Christians small dreams, visions don't honor Jesus 05 January, 2019 by Leonardo Blair , |

In a rousing presentation at the Cross19 Conference in Kentucky on Friday, Southern Baptist Convention President J.D. Greear told young Christians gathered for the event that the Holy Spirit has already equipped them with the power to be witnesses to the world and urged them to dream big because small dreams and visions don't honor Jesus.

"We do not honor Jesus through small dreams or small visions. I don't mean that you need to anticipate being great in yourself, but you need to become a part of a story that has a grand vision and you need to ask Jesus who is proving his willingness to do it," Greear, who also leads Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, said at the youth event.

"When Jesus is standing here in Luke 24, before these disciples and He says, 'Look at what I just did for the salvation of the nations.' Are you really gonna honor me by small ambitions and small dreams? You need to dream about the nations worshiping. Your dreams need to be in proportion to the value of my sacrifice. Jesus did not die so you could have a comfortable career and a mediocre life," Greear said.

"He died so that you could bring the nations to worship. He didn't die so that we could huddle together in churches and bemoan the dying state of our culture. He died so that the Gospel could be proclaimed to all peoples in all nations, and he's given his promises and the guarantee of his Spirit to ensure that that could happen. Does what you're planning with your life align with the promises in his word?" he asked.

The CROSS movement aims to mobilize young people between 18 and 25 to help evangelize the world. The 2019 conference which started in Louisville on Wednesday will come to a close on Saturday.

Leaning on Scripture, personal anecdotes and quotes from other Christian thinkers, Greear told the group that if they were still thinking about what God's will for their life is, on a basic level, they should already know they are called to be witnesses of God's power.

"You say, 'What's this got to do with me? I don't feel called.' I've been waiting for it with this conference, this kinda tingly moment when everything seems to go blurry and all of a sudden I hear the voice of God in my heart say 'thou art the one' and I stand up....that doesn't happen," he said.

"A witness and a professional preacher are not the same thing. You are my witnesses. Every believer is a witness. We have to get over this idea that calling is this mystical experience that a sacred few people in the Christian life ever go through. I always tell students at my church that many of them have what I call the 'Cheerios method' of discerning the will of God.

"You stare at your Cheerios and you wait on your Cheerios to spell out something meaningful....I stared at my Cheerios for years and all they ever spelled out was oooooo," he quipped as his audience erupted in laughter.

Continue reading about the Cross19 Conference on The Christian Post.
When it comes to royal babies, we cant help but want to know everything. But, while much of Meghan Markles birth plan has been kept under wraps, there are some surprising reports that suggest the Duchess of Sussex could stray from some traditions. How will Meghan Markles birth plan compare to Kate Middletons? Up ahead, we take a closer look at some of the details, including the one delivery technique Kate used that Meghan Markle is considering.

She might not give birth at the St. Marys Hospital Lindo Wing

The royal family is chock full of traditions  especially when it comes to the arrival of a new member. And while many royals before her (including Kate Middleton) welcomed their babies at the St. Marys Hospital Lindo Wing, Meghan Markle might opt for something else.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex move into their new Frogmore Cottage home (which is just down the road from Windsor Castle) soon. That means they could live there full-time by the time their new prince or princess makes an appearance. If thats the case, Meghan Markle could give birth at a hospital closer to her new Windsor home, instead of St. Marys, which is located in London.

She could have a home birth

In addition to giving birth in Windsor, some experts believe the duchess is considering a home birth. She has allegedly looked into natural birth techniques and is interested in the potential of a home birth. If Meghan Markle does have a home birth, she could be one of the first royal women to do so since Queen Elizabeth II welcomed her children at Buckingham Palace.

She could try hypnobirthing

Kate Middleton allegedly incorporated a birthing technique called hypnobirthing for all three of her deliveries  and Meghan Markle could do the same. The Duchess of Sussex has reportedly researched the natural birthing technique and might be seriously considering it.

Hypnobirthing is a type of pain management that expecting mothers use during labor and birth. The technique involves a cocktail of relaxation, deep breathing exercises, and visualization.

Her maternity leave might be longer

Kate Middleton took maternity leave for all three of her children. However, the difference between Kate Middletons maternity leave and Meghan Markles is the Duchess of Sussex could be on leave for longer. Rumor has it, the mother-to-be has the option to leave for longer since her royal responsibilities (and ranking) are less demanding.

That said, Meghans work is important to her (see below) and, she could slowly work her responsibilities back into her life. For example, at the three-month mark, if the duchess has a few engagements she wishes to attend, she might do so  so long as it only happens once or twice a week. From there, she could gradually start to work more and more.

She will work up until her due date

Work is important to Meghan Markle, which is why she allegedly told palace aides she wants to work until as close to her due date as possible. Once the baby comes, Meghan Markle will, of course, take time off. But, for now, we can expect to see her at engagements, functions, meetings, and so on until early spring (or, end of winter  depending on her actual due date).

Kate Middleton also worked close to her due date  or at least the arrival of Prince Louis. However, she was not as busy in the early months of pregnancy, thanks to hyperemesis gravidarum, aka severe morning sickness.

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APM Terminals Bahrain has been recognized with the Ministry of Labour Safety Excellence Award for 2018 for its outstanding efforts in compliance and implementation of occupational health and safety in workplace.



APM Terminals Bahrain, the operator of Khalifa Bin Salman Port (KBSP) has been recognized with the Ministry of Labour Safety Excellence Award for 2018 for its outstanding efforts in compliance and implementation of occupational health and safety in workplace.



The award was presented on behalf of His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa by HE the Minister of Labour and Social Development Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan alongside Undersecretary of the Ministry Sabah Al Dossary to Jordana Semaan, general manager - Human resources for APM Terminals Bahrain.



This industry recognition makes APM Terminals Bahrain the only transportation and logistics company in the Kingdom to receive this award from Ministry of Labour and Social Development in 2018.  TradeArabia News Service
Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West looked to be enjoying their brand new condo.

The reality and her husband checked out their new pad on Friday and were all smiles as they took in the beautiful views from their beachfront Miami apartment.

The couple welcomed the new year in the best way possible!

The condo was Kim Kardashians Christmas present

Best husband award goes to Kanye West!

The rapper bought his wife a lavish $14 million condo in Miami Beach.

Kardashian and West have been looking for a place in Miami for quite some time now and the rapper decided to make a deal on the condo behind his wifes back.

West secretly viewed the apartment located in the 18-story luxury beachfront tower Faena House. It has been said that Ye felt as though this condo had his wifes name written all over it and instantly put an offer down.

The 4,700 square-foot apartment, also called the Billionaire Beach Bunker, comes with 5 1/2 bedrooms, a private gym, spa, pool, and concierge. You know, the typical amenities.

Kanye West surprised his wife with the apartment for Christmas.

The rapper is known for giving his wife very lavish and expensive gifts. Two years ago Ye had 150 gifts ready for Kardashian to open on Christmas day including a custom Prada jumpsuit and a Louis Vuitton dress.

Money is not a concern for West as long as he gets to see his wife smile.

Just this past Friday, Kim Kardashian was able to see her present for the very first time she took a tour of the condo with her husband. The couple was caught sharing a kiss while on their terrace that overlooks the ocean.

By the looks of things, Kardashian couldnt be happier with her Christmas present.

The couple loves Miami and have frequently visited Miami in the past with both of the A-listers attending lavish Miami Beach events over the years and Kardashian even filming Kourtney & Kim Take Miami in 2013.

The couple will split their time at the condo and their California home

There has not been any word of when this celebrity couple will move into their lavish condo, but sources revealed that Mr. and Mrs. West will split time between their new Miami condo and their Hidden Hills mansion.

It also works out this new condo comes with multiple bedrooms since the West family is continuing to grow.

It has just been announced that the rapper and the reality television star are expecting their fourth child via surrogate.

It has not been revealed when the new West baby will make an appearance but we do know that Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are going to be the proud parents of their second baby boy.

The couple will have more than enough room to accommodate their growing family.

The Hidden Hills estate will most likely remain their official home but now The West family has a brand new condo that can be their getaway destination!
Harvey Mackay is one of Americas top motivators and as The Saturday Funnies makes its 2019 debut please think of what he just wrote as more of an idea for this New Year than a formal resolution. We get a great variety of Funnies each week  I do not write them but collect the best ones of the week and share them on Saturday. Harveys message was perfectly timed and what a perfect way for his words to accompany the start of 2019.

I have a challenge for you, he begins and at the start of his message, he urges each of us, Stop worrying about that which you cannot control.

Many years ago, he continues, this advice came from Robert Jones Burdette, an American humorist and clergyman: There are two days in every week about which we should not worry, two days which should be kept from fear and apprehension.

One of these days is Yesterday with its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains. Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control. All the money in the world cannot bring back Yesterday. We cannot erase a single word we said. Yesterday is gone.

The other day we should not worry about is Tomorrow with its possible adversities, its burdens, its large promise and poor performance. Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control. Tomorrow's sun will rise. Until it does, we have no stake in Tomorrow, for it is yet unborn.

This leaves only one day  Today. Any person can fight the battles of just one day. It is only when you and I add the burdens of those two awful eternities  Yesterday and Tomorrow  that we break down. It is not the experience of Today that drives people mad  it is remorse or bitterness for something which happened Yesterday and the dread of what will happen Tomorrow.

Let that sink in for a minute. Today is the only day we can take action and have an impact. Sure, we learn from Yesterday. And of course, we plan for Tomorrow.

But unless we approach each day with a renewed positive outlook, we are wasting enormous potential. And that is what I challenge you to exploit to the max.

Use every tool in your toolbox to build on the traits you need to think and act positively each day. These include reliability, communication and listening skills, cooperation, loyalty and humor, among other qualities. If you are concerned that you are weak in any of these areas, resolve to improve. Make a New Years promise to yourself to not waste another minute on negative thinking. Make every Today better than Yesterday.

You do not need to be a victim of worry. Reduced to its simplest form, what is worry? It is simply an unhealthy and destructive mental habit.

The way to happiness: Keep your heart free from hate, your mind from worry. Live simply, expect little, give much. Fill your life with love. Scatter sunshine. Forget self, think of others. Do as you would be done by. Try this for a week and you will be surprised.

When you expect the best, you release a magnetic force in your mind which by a law of attraction tends to bring the best to you.

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy. But with sound self-confidence you can succeed. A sense of inferiority and inadequacy interferes with the attainment of your hopes, but self-confidence leads to self-realization and successful achievement.

-- Harvey Mackay / Scottsdale, Arizona

* * *

THE DAY HER DAD JOINED THE PARACHUTE CLUB

Yesterday my friends daughter e-mailed him, again, asking why he didn't do something useful with his time, "like sitting around the pool and drinking wine isn't a good thing." Talking about him "doing-something-useful" seems to be her favorite topic of conversation.

She is "only thinking of him," she said, and suggested he go down to the Senior Center and hang out with the fellas. So, he did and when he got home, decided to play a prank on her. He sent her an e-mail saying that he had joined the Senior Parachute Club.

She replied, "Are you nuts? You're 76 years old and now you're going to start jumping out of airplanes?"

He told her that he even had a Membership Card and e-mailed a copy to her. Immediately, she telephoned him and yelled, "Good grief, Dad, where are your glasses?! This is a membership to a Prostitute Club, not a Parachute Club."

"Oh man, am I in trouble," he said, "I signed up for five jumps a week!" The line went dead.

Life as a Senior Citizen isn't getting any easier, but sometimes it can be a lot of fun

* * *

A DAD & HIS SON TALK ABOUT GIRLS

Son: Daddy, I fell in love & want to date this awesome girl!

Father: Thats great son. Who is she?

Son: Its Sandra, the neighbors daughter.

Father: Ohhh I wish you hadnt said that. I have to tell you something son, but you must promise not to tell your mother.

Sandra is actually your sister.

The boy is naturally bummed out, but a couple of months later Son: Daddy, I fell in love again n she is even hotter!

Father: Thats great son. Who is she?

Son: Its Angela, the other neighbors daughter.

Father: Ohhhh I wish you hadnt said that. Angela is also your sister.

This went on a couple of times and the son was so mad, he went straight to his mother crying.

Son: Mom I am so mad at dad! I fell in love with six girls but I cant date any of them because dad is their father!

The mother hugs him affectionately and says:

My love, you can date whoever you want. Dont listen to him. He isnt your father.

* * *

ON THE FIRST DAY, GOD CREATED THE DOG AND SAID 

Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past.

For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years.

The dog said:

Thats a long time to be barking. How about only ten years and Ill give you back the other ten?

So, God agreed.

On the second day, God created the monkey and said:

Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh.

For this, Ill give you a twenty-year life span.

The monkey said:

Monkey tricks for twenty years?

Thats a pretty long time to perform.

How about I give you back ten like the dog did?

And God agreed.

On the third day, God created the cow and said:

You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmers family.

For this, I will give you a life span of sixty years.

The cow said:

Thats kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years.

How about twenty and Ill give back the other forty?

And God agreed again.

On the fourth day, God created humans and said:

Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life.

For this, Ill give you twenty years.

But the human said:

Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, the forty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog gave back, that makes eighty, okay?

Okay, said God.

You asked for it.

So that is why for our first twenty years, we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves.

For the next forty years, we slave in the sun to support our family.

For the next ten years, we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren.

And for the last ten years, we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.

Life has now been explained to you.

* * *

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE A JOB INTERVIEW LIKE THIS ONE?

Reaching the end of a job interview, the Human Resources Officer asks a young engineer fresh out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, "And what starting salary are you looking for?"

The engineer replies, "In the region of $125,000 a year, depending on the benefits package."

The interviewer inquires, "Well, what would you say to a package of five weeks vacation, 14 paid holidays, full medical and dental, company matching retirement fund to 50% of salary, and a company car leased every two years, say, a red Corvette?"

The engineer sits up straight and says, "Wow! Are you kidding?" The interviewer replies, "Yeah, but you started it."

* * *

A SLICK LAWYER GETS A LESSON FROM THE SHERIFF

A lawyer runs a stop sign and gets pulled over by a sheriff. He thinks he's smarter being a big shot lawyer from New York and has a better education than a sheriff from West Virginia. The sheriff asks for license and registration.

The lawyer asks, "What for?" The sheriff responds, "You didn't come to a complete stop at the stop sign." The lawyer says, "I slowed down, and no one was coming."

"You still didn't come to a complete stop. License and registration please," says the sheriff impatiently. The lawyer says, "If you can show me the legal difference between slow down and stop, I'll give you my license and registration and you can give me the ticket. If not, you let me go and don't give me the ticket."

The sheriff says, "That sounds fair, please exit your vehicle." The lawyer steps out and the sheriff takes out his nightstick and starts beating the lawyer with it. The sheriff says, "Do you want me to stop or just slow down?"

* * *

BEST VIDEO OF THE WEEK  I need to go to the hospital for some tests  would you mind watching my kids for me? Two weeks later the single mother died. Wait until you see what the other mother did  and what else happened this Christmas. Oh, my goodness! CLICK HERE.

* * *

"Burt Reynolds once asked me out. I was in his room."  Phyllis Diller

royexum@aol.com
Tennessee Governor-elect Bill Lee on Thursday announced the appointment of Bob Rolfe to his cabinet for the Department of Economic and Community Development. Mr. Rolfe has served as TNECD commissioner since March 1, 2017.

As a lifelong Tennessean, it is a great honor to have the opportunity to continue my work in public service along with my colleagues throughout the state, Mr. Rolfe said. We remain focused on creating a business-friendly environment that gives companies around the globe the confidence to locate, invest and grow here.

Our unwavering commitment to rural Tennessee will carry on with Governor-elect Lee. In just three short years, we were able to increase our job commitments in rural Tennessee from 28 percent to nearly 50 percent, and I am confident that we will build upon this momentum in the new administration, Mr. Rolfe said.

Focus has shifted greatly toward rural Tennessee and has become a top priority for TNECD in recent years. Since 2017, the department has provided more than $34 million in funding to rural communities throughout the state. In addition, companies have invested $3.5 billion and committed to create more than 17,000 new jobs in rural communities over the past two years.

Increasing Tennessees global footprint has been another important initiative for TNECD. During Mr. Rolfes 22-month tenure, he led Tennessees efforts in the recruitment and expansion of nearly 70 international companies that have committed to create more than 12,200 jobs. Representing 22 countries, these companies have invested $3.4 billion in the state.

Under his leadership, Tennessee also landed a 5,000-job Amazon project, which represents the single largest jobs commitment made by a company in Tennessees history.

Prior to joining TNECD, Mr. Rolfe served as chairman and CEO of Medical Reimbursements of America, a company that provides specialty reimbursement solutions for more than 500 hospitals and health systems across the country. In 2011, he co-founded West End Holdings, a private equity partnership that acquires and manages underperforming companies, transforming their operating and financial performance. Rolfe spent the first 18 years of his career as an investment banker at J.C. Bradford and Co.

Governor-elect Lees cabinet appointments will be sworn in on Jan. 19 during the inaugural ceremony in Nashville.
The global petrochemicals industry is poised for solid growth over the next nine years with nearly 1,158 planned and announced plants slated to come online primarily in Asia and the Middle East region, said a report released on the sidelines of an industry event in Dubai.

ArabPlast 2019, a leading expo for the petrochemicals, plastics and rubber industry, kicked off today (January 5) at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre and will run for the next three days.

It is the best platform to unveil new products, witness updates of the industry, open communication channels with industry peers, and meet global decision makers in the plastics, rubber and petrochemical industry, said the organisers.

Asia, the Middle East, and North America are the top regions contributing to the global petrochemical capacity additions in the next nine years which potentially will increase from 1,550.5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) in 2017 to 2,031.6 mtpa in 2026, they stated, citing Global Datas latest report, H2 2018 Global Petrochemical Capacity and Capital Expenditure Outlook.

Over the past few years, the GCCs petrochemicals, plastic and rubber industry have evolved to new heights, and the sector is only set to experience growth and development with major players of the industry applying innovation as a mandate to stay relevant in the face of rising market competition, remarked Satish Khanna, the general manager of Dubai-based Al Fajer Information & Services.

Petrochemicals are important for any industry, and 95 per cent of all manufactured goods such as electronics, furniture, appliances, textiles and many more are based on petrochemicals, making it an important economic driver, he noted.

While petrochemicals serve as key driver for the economy, plastics and rubber producers are coming up with new ways to create and use these materials that could benefit the industry - as well as society and the environment, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
The Department of Economic Development  Ajman (DED-Ajman) has signed a strategic co-operation agreement with Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development (KFED) to help bolster and promote a culture of entrepreneurship in the UAE.

The agreement looks towards identifying objectives and areas of cooperation between the two parties to serve public interest and provide much needed support to entrepreneurs and owners of SMEs in the UAE - helping facilitate their work and contribute to promoting the culture of self-employment and developing vital sectors within the UAE, said the statement from DED Ajman.

It is aimed at enhancing co-operation to support Emirati entrepreneurs and SME owners, remarked Ali Issa Al Nuaimi, the director general of DED-Ajman, after signing the deal with Abdullah Saeed Al Darmaki, the chief executive of KFED.

"The agreement represents an advanced step towards promoting entrepreneurship--fully encouraging young Emirati people to engage in entrepreneurship and establish SMEs, which have become the backbone of advanced economies around the world," noted Al Nuaimi.

"Our co-operation agreement with Khalifa Fund will further enhance our efforts towards strengthening Ajmans position as a destination for SMEs in line with Ajman Vision 2021, which aims to create a competitive environment to attract local, regional and global investments," he stated.

Al Darmaki stressed on the importance of the agreement, which serves as a required step to joining hands to develop a joint mechanism designed to implement programs intended for SME owners.

He also highlighted the Fund's keenness to promote cooperation with government and federal entities, including DED-Ajman, in order to enhance entrepreneurship and support the UAE youth in their efforts to achieve their dreams and ambitions.

"As a supportive and encouraging way of doing business, we will exempt the Funds members from the fees needed to issue and renew the commercial licenses in the Emirate of Ajman, as well as exempting them from the bank guarantees of workers," noted Al Darmaki.

"The Funds members shall also be exempted from the fees needed to issue and renew commercial licenses from DED-Ajman, and benefit from support and recommendation letters addressed to the various entities with the possibility of obtaining discounts and business networks guide, in addition to the exemption from bank guarantees of workers, while DED-Ajman will allocate 10 per cent of its annual purchases and contracts for the members of Khalifa Fund," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
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The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) has allocated funds for the successful implementation of sustainable projects in a number of developing countries in a bid to ensure decent lives for their people.



The announcement was made by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, at the recent ADFD board meeting held in the Presidential Affairs Ministry's premises.



The meeting addressed the status of the projects being funded by the ADFD in several countries along with future plans. A number of funding requests involving developmental projects overseas has been approved in line with the fund's budget and action plan.



It was attended by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and ADFD Deputy Chairman, along with the Fund board members and Director-General.



"The fund is pursuing the same approach pioneered by late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to finance the sustainable development drive in a number of developing countries and ensure decent life for their peoples," said Sheikh Mansour, who is also the ADFD chairman.



He underlined the ADFD's keenness to continue to finance and carry out developmental projects that significantly contribute to meeting the socio-economic needs of sisterly and friendly countries.



Secretary general Mohamed Saif Al Suwaidi said the ADFD was implementing Sheikh Mansour's directives to efficiently support the national economy and sustain the country's diversification efforts in line with the UAE Vision 2021 and Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030.



Since its establishment, it had provided Dh83 billion ($22.5 billion) in funds and investments to around 88 countries across the globe, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
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It's the ACT government land deal that will almost certainly be one of the first issues referred to the territory's new integrity commission when it starts operating next July. But the Assembly committee inquiry into the Dickson land swap has failed so far to locate any hard evidence, a smoking gun as it were, that connects the deal with the Tradies Club to the minister in question, now Chief Minister Andrew Barr. What was the Dickson land swap? The land swap came about after the government decided to sell a car park outside the Dickson club via a tender, but, the ACT auditor-general has found, the final late 2014 deal hammered out after two years of talks looked vastly different to the original tender. Those changes saw the government ultimately accept a deal with the club that would see it buy two nearby blocks of land in Section 72 Dickson from the club, in return for selling the car park to the club. The audit office found the deal gave the club concessions worth up to $2.65 million. Public servants voiced concerns that an atmosphere of political pressure surrounded the deal, given the club is closely linked to the ACT branch of the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union. But the audit office found no evidence of political interference. Why is an assembly committee examining the deal? Partly, it is politics. The Opposition sees this as an explosive government land deal involving fellow travellers of the Labor Party, while the government - seemingly self-assured there remains no evidence of political involvement to be found - would no doubt like the matter put to bed well before the 2020 election. The Greens backed the Opposition's push to establish the inquiry, and believe it worthy of further scrutiny, though seem unconvinced it will lead to any substantial political ramifications, given the lack of evidence unearthed to date. Beyond the basic politics, it goes to the question of integrity in government; integrity being something all want to project, particularly since the Greens first raised an ACT integrity commission in the 2016 election, which has since gained tripartite support. The public accounts committee is examining the deal, given clear concerns that territory taxpayers lost out on up to $2.65 million in the final deal, and wants to verify whether the deal went to the highest political levels of government, or not. Hampering both the committee and the audit office's efforts to resolve the issues one way or another is the seemingly lack of detailed records kept by the public servants involved in the deal - an issue that has come up numerous times in inquiries and audits of deals by the since-abolished Land Development Agency. What did the audit office say? In addition to finding the final deal differed significantly from the original request for tenders for the sale of the car park, the audit office found record-keeping was lacking, and the deal did not achieve the original sale objective of an open, contestable and transparent market process. The office also found there was a high risk the sale may have been in breach of the Planning and Development Act, though the solicitor-general has challenged that finding during hearings. It also made a range of recommendations regarding transparency, risk management and staff management of contracts, which the government says it either has already addressed, or will address in 2019. What has happened in the inquiry so far? There have been some explosive claims during the inquiry, including one that a former public servant involved believed a union official attempted to influence his decision-making on the deal, though the union has not responded to requests for comment on that claim. That former public servant, Greg Ellis, also told the inquiry he was, unusually, receiving regular phone calls from a staffer in the then-minister's office checking up on progress on the deal. He interpreted the calls as a rush to release tender documents before the 2012 election. His claim aired during the inquiry points to the union seemingly believing it could sway public servants involved in the deal, possibly due to its clear political connections. The fact that Cabinet decided against a direct sale of the block to the club in October 2011 also clearly showed the government was aware of the perception of potential political interference, an issue the tender ultimately did nothing to quell, given the list of concessions made after it was awarded. A raft of characters involved in the deal challenge the auditor's findings regarding the concessions made in the final deal, claiming taxpayers got the better deal, not the club as the audit office found. What's next for the inquiry? Having held a series of hearings in recent weeks, the inquiry stands adjourned until next year, with expectations of more public hearings some time in February, though who the witnesses may be is not yet public. The key difficulty it faces is being able to locate any hard evidence, should it exist, that confirms any political involvement in the deal, a claim the government has repeatedly rejected. Whether a witness comes forward with any such evidence remains to be seen, and short of that, the expectation is that a referral to the integrity commission could lead to a further inquiry that may garner more information than has come to light. There remains a distinct possibility there is no evidence of direct political involvement in the deal, and possibly no actual involvement even if not recorded anywhere. In that case, the inquiry currently under way may not lead too much further, apart from being a campaigning tool for any politicians looking to capitalise on any unanswered questions and being the running political sore for the government it has become. But, if such evidence should be discovered, there also remains a chance the Dickson land swap could lead to significant political ramifications for the Barr government.

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The ACT government is ignoring residents' wishes to retain Dickson's Section 72 as a public precinct, the local community council says. The North Canberra Community Council is concerned "bulky" apartment blocks will dominate the government's plans for the redevelopment of the controversial site when they are released early next year. In a letter to government ministers Mick Gentleman and Rachel Stephen-Smith, the community council's chair, Leon Arundell, said local residents wanted the block revitalised as a "high quality community, cultural and recreational precinct", in keeping with its function for the past 50 years. But Mr Arundell said the government appeared to be increasingly emphasising high-density housing as it progressed through multiple rounds of consultation on the site's future. A preliminary concept plan presented at a community workshop in November included artists' impressions of apartment blocks of up to four storeys on land bounded by Antill Street, Hawdon Place and Rosevear Place. The government has already announced the site will accommodate its second Common Ground development, which will colocate low-cost housing with support services for vulnerable people. The block is zoned for leisure and accommodation, meaning the government will need to amend the territory plan to allow high-density housing. Building height limits for the site will be determined as part of the rezoning process. "The suggestion of some ground-floor community use rooms, and placement of street trees and green edges between the footprints of bulky 4-6 storey multi-unit buildings, fails to address the broader community aspirations for the enhancement of the precinct," Mr Arundell's letter said. "The council is concerned the government is not hearing the community's very clearly stated vision and constructive suggestions for the valued site." Mr Arundell called on the government to establish a community reference panel to oversee the precinct as the project progresses. "We believe that Section 72 has the potential to be an outstanding example of a thriving, modern, well-designed and co-ordinated community, cultural and recreational precinct," the letter stated. Dickson Residents Group convenor Jane Goffman said Section 72 was critical to the area's future, and the government's apparent intention to use the site for high-density housing - rather than community services - was an "abject failure to think creatively, strategically, or [for the] long term". The government has since January been consulting with the community on the future of Section 72, which it has identified as a prime site for urban renewal. The block includes two vacant government-owned buildings, as well as an abandoned Salvation Army community centre. The site includes the land at the centre of a controversial deal between the ACT government and the CFMEU-linked Tradies Club, which was lashed by the ACT Auditor-General in February and is the subject of an ongoing assembly inquiry. A report on the most recent round of consultation on Section 72's future found there was "strong support" for the redevelopment to include a mix of private and community housing. However, some respondents to the online survey said buildings above four storeys might intrude on the privacy of neighbours and users of the adjacent Dickson Pool. The government is expected to start public consultation on an estate development plan in early 2019, before lodging a formal development application later in the year.

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Saudi-based Al Yusr Leasing and Financing Company said it has signed a wakala investment agreement with Saudi Kuwaiti Finance House Company (SKFH).

A funding specialist, Al Yusr Leasing and Financing Company provides a variety of funding programmes that are compatible with Islamic Sharia provisions and are being applied according to flexible and fast procedures.

As per the deal, Al Yusr Leasing and Financing Company will become the investment agent for Al Yusr Baitak Financing Fund that was recently launched by SKFH in a private and closed offering as a sharia-compliant financing fund.

Al Yusr Baitak Financing Fund is the first fund that obtains an investment licence pursuant to the new instructions issued by the Capital Market Authority and Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (Sama).

These instructions allow CMA-licensed companies to invest funds with financing companies licensed by Sama.

The fund aims to invest assets in the financing operations of Al Yusr under the terms and conditions of the Wakala investment agreement and in accordance with the regulations related to the operations of launching and managing investment funds, remarked Bader bin Khalaf Al Shamari, the chief executive of Al Yusr Leasing and Financing Company, after inking the deal with Bader bin Hamed al Anzi, the chief executive of SKFH and Funds chairman.

Al Yusr is the first financing company in the kingdom that finances its operations through investment funds licensed by CMA. It aims to expand in capital management, diversify means of financing, and raise the liquidity level to provide financing services in order to include the largest possible segments of the targeted sectors." noted Al Shamari.

"Furthermore, it aims to increase its market share in financing activity, which will increase the customers confidence and achieve the highest percentage of targeted profits, he added.

Al Shamari pointed out that the strategic thinking adopted by the company aimed to expand the formation of integrated partnerships with investment entities in financing and money markets, according to strategies and plans that coped with the new trends of the market and the trends of customers of all segments.

The company was keen also to develop an advanced approach to its products and financing activity in line with customer expectations, he added.

Al Enzi said the fund mainly targets achieving a regular returns for investors, through investing funds with the companies licensed by Sama, as well as adding value and contributing to diversification and development of financing sector in the kingdom effectively.

"The success of the fund reflects investor confidence in the investment opportunity offered by SKFH," he noted.

SKFH is a Saudi closed joint stock company and a major player in the investment banking and asset management sectors in the kingdom.-TradeArabia News Service
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The Federation of Sweets & Namkeen Manufacturers on Friday demanded parity in goods and services tax (GST) rates on branded and non-branded snacks.

At present 12 per cent, GST is charged on branded snacks, while on non-branded products it is only 5 per cent, and the federation wants it to be brought down to 5 per cent.

"This anomaly has been increasing the complexities for traders and encouraging unhealthy competition. Some large big players have already started producing non-branded snacks today to take advantage of the tax benefit," federation's treasurer Firoz Naqvi told reporters here.

"So there should be equal GST on both branded and non-branded snacks," he said.

Naqvi said the federation is organizing a world sweets and snacks convention here from January 9-10, which will have around 3,000 delegates from the US, Germany, Turkey, China etc attending it.

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The government on Friday decided to form an inter-ministerial panel to roll out in-flight and maritime mobile services within three months, an official source said.

The inter-ministerial group will meet every 15 days to sort out issues and expedite the process of approvals till the rollout of in-flight and maritime connectivity (IFMC) services stabilises, the source told PTI.

"A meeting was held today with industry players -- airlines, shipping companies, telecom operators and government departments. It has been decided to form an inter-ministerial group for a quick rollout of IFMC services. The group will meet every 15 days to sort out issues that arise till the implementation smoothens," the source said.

The government has notified rules for providing mobile phone services during air travel and ship voyage within Indian territory.

The meeting on IFMC services, chaired by Department of Telecom (DoT) Additional Secretary Anshu Prakash, lasted for about two hours.

It was attended by representatives from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Directorate General of Shipping, Department of Space as well as DoT.

Industry players like Air India, Vistara, Indigo, SpiceJet, Go Air, Jet Airways, AirAsia, BSNL, Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Hughes India, Tata Telenet, Inmarsat, Panasonic and Nokia also attended the meeting.

"Based on the discussions, it was felt that the services will be rolled out within three months. SpiceJet said that they have made arrangement for the service in 10 aircraft. DGCA said it will expeditiously approve modifications in aircraft," the source said.

The DGCA representative is learnt to have said that new aircraft are already coming with inbuilt equipment to support in-flight mobile services and approvals will mainly be required for old planes in which modifications are required.

Meanwhile, broadband technology firm Hughes India has warned that high satellite bandwidth charges are likely to play a spoiler in the uptake of in-flight mobile services in India as these would make the facility costlier by 30-50 times at Rs 700-1,000 for a two-hour journey.

The firm's Chief Technology Officer K Krishna had earlier said satellite bandwidth charges in India are 7-8 times higher compared to other parts of the world due to the condition that bandwidth has to be procured from the Indian Space Research Organisation only.

"Government departments have taken note of issues around bandwidth cost. Efforts are being made to lower bandwidth cost. Department of Space has assured industry players that it will allocate bandwidth in frequencies that will be compatible with equipment and international standards," the source said.

Indian and foreign airlines and shipping companies operating in the country can provide in-flight and maritime voice and data services in partnership with a valid Indian telecom licence holder.

IFMC services can be provided using telecom networks on the ground as well as through satellites.

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China's population, the world's largest, is expected to experience continuous negative growth from 2030 after reaching a peak of 1.44 billion in 2029, a leading Chinese think-tank has said.

The country's population is expected to shrink to 1.36 billion in 2050, and 1.25 billion in 2065, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences has said.

The study has also warned that if the total fertility rate, which means the number of children that would be born to a woman over her lifetime, remains at 1.6, negative population growth is likely in 2027 with a potential total population of 1.17 billion, which is equivalent to the year 1990, according to media reports.

The World Bank estimated that after 1996, China's fertility rate was lower than 1.6, rising back up to 1.6 in 2013 and 1.62 in 2016.

The report noted that if China could maintain this momentum in growth, China's fertility rate would return to a relatively safe level, the People's Daily reported.

The report came after Chinese demographers said China's three-year-old two child policy failed to make an impact on the low birth rate as the number of new-borns dropped by two million last year and the decline was expected to continue.

Chinese demographers said that the number of new-borns in 2018, the third year after the country has fully implemented the two-child policy, may have dropped by more than two million and the country's birth population will continue to fall, state-run Global Times reported.

"Although the national data for the birth of newborns have not been publicised yet, data revealed by local health departments showed that the number of new-borns in 2018 decreased by at least 15 per cent from the previous year," He Yafu, a demographer and author of a book on the impact of China's population policy, was quoted as saying by the paper.

"The birth population in 2017 was 17.23 million. Based on current calculations, the number of new-borns across the nation might drop by more than two million," He said.

China ended its decades-old one-child policy in 2016 and permitted couples to have two children as the population of elderly rose with declining numbers of young people.

In August, the official media said China's rapidly ageing population has touched 241 million, accounting for one-fifth of the over 1.4 billion people in the world's most populous country.

Recent reports said China plans to completely abandon the birth control policy to encourage people to have more children.

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Banking services are likely to be affected on January 8-9 as a section of PSU bank employees would go on a two-day strike in support of the nation-wide strike call given by 10 central trade unions against the government's alleged anti-worker policy.

The All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) and Bank Employees Federation of India has informed the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) of the two-day nationwide strike on January 8-9, 2019, IDBI Bank said in a filing to the BSE.

In a stock exchange filing, Allahabad Bank said the issues and demands are of industry level and strike call is also given at industry level.

"Therefore, if the strike takes place, the functioning of branches of the bank may be affected. The bank is taking all the necessary steps in terms of the existing guidelines for smooth functioning of bank's branches/offices on the day of strike(s), in the event the strike materialises," it said.

Public-sector Bank of Baroda said "in the event of AlBEA and BEFI proceeding on strike on January 8-9, 2019, the functioning of bank's branches/offices in some of the zones may be affected".

Private sector Karur Vysya Bank said if the strike call materialises, "the workmen of our bank may take part in the proposed strike on the said date, in which occasion the normal working of the branches/offices of the Bank may get affected during the day".

Ten central trade unions -- INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, AICCTU, UTUC, TUCC, LPF and SEWA -- have also called for a nationwide general strike on January 8-9 against what they call "anti-people" policies of the Centre and have placed a charter of 12 demands before the central government.

Earlier on December 26, 2018, nine bank unions or close to 1 million employees of various banks, including private lenders, had observed a one-day strike to protest against the proposed amalgamation of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank with Bank of Baroda.

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A Delhi court Saturday sent alleged middleman Christian Michel, arrested in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case, to judicial custody.

Michel was produced before Special Judge Arvind Kumar and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) sought his judicial custody in connection with its probe into a money-laundering case.

In the ED case, the court sent Michel to judicial custody till February 26 and in the CBI case, it sent him to judicial custody till February 27.

Michel, who was extradited from Dubai recently, was arrested by the ED on December 22 and sent to a seven-day custody of the agency by a court here.

He was earlier lodged in the Tihar Jail here in a related CBI case.

The ED, through special public prosecutors D P Singh and N K Matta, told the court that probe had been "fruitful" till now.

"We have investigated how cash was transferred through 'hawala' and multiple bank accounts. We have found information about other defence deals. We need to investigate the money flowing there as well. We have documents to show that they misled the Italian court," it said.

The court had earlier imposed restrictions on Michel meeting his lawyers in ED custody after the agency said he was misusing legal access by passing chits to the advocates, asking them how to tackle questions on "Mrs Gandhi".

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In its application seeking extension of Michel's remand, the agency also claimed that during questioning, he had spoken about the "son of an Italian lady" and how he was going to become the next prime minister of the country.

"We also need to decipher who the 'big man' referred to as 'R' is in the communication between Christian Michel and other people," the agency told the court.

The ED sought that Michel be barred from meeting his lawyers in custody, alleging that he was being tutored from outside through his lawyers.

The agency told the court that Michel had made a reference to "Mrs Gandhi" during his interrogation on December 27.

During his medical examination, the accused had handed over a folded paper to his lawyer, Aljo K Joseph, and it was noticed by the ED officials.

After the perusal of the paper, it was revealed that it pertained to a set of follow-up questions on "Mrs Gandhi", the ED said.

The agency told the court that it was clear that there was a conspiracy to shield or tamper with evidence that could be brought forth from the questioning of the accused.

It said it had discovered fresh evidence relating to new entities used for laundering the proceeds of crime and that Michel's custodial interrogation was needed for confronting his Indian connections identified till date.

His custody was required for "unearthing the deep-rooted conspiracy and identification of all his accomplices, including the IAF officials, MoD (Ministry of Defence) officials, bureaucrats and politicians who gained undue advantage for getting the contract in favour of AgustaWestland," the ED said in its application, adding that Michel remained evasive to certain questions during investigation.

ALSO READ:AgustaWestland Scam: Christian Michel named 'Mrs Gandhi', 'son of Italian lady' in probe, ED tells court

Michel is among the three alleged middlemen being probed in the case by the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The others are Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa.

The ED, in its remand application on Saturday, said the probe had revealed that Michel was the key middleman for AgustaWestland, pursuing the deal at different levels, and was instrumental in the circulation of sensitive information and eventual payment of kickbacks.

The key issues being investigated by the ED include the modus operandi adopted by the accused to eliminate TATA and HAL from competition in an Italian deal and the steps undertaken to mask the present deal as a British deal, instead of an Italian deal, to gain advantage in Light Observation Helicopters.

The agency is also probing the modus operandi adopted in influencing the German deal and how the accused misused information, leading to actions under the Official Secrets Act, and to determine if there were any more kickbacks, leading to the proceeds of crime linked with these activities.

The agency said it needed to determine the exact quantum of money laundered through the Media Exim Private Limited, the roles of the co-accused and unearth the proceeds of crime parked through this channel.

The ED, in its chargesheet filed against Michel in June 2016, had alleged that he had received 30 million euros -- about Rs 225 crore -- from AgustaWestland.

The CBI, in its chargesheet, has alleged an estimated loss of 398.21 million euros (about Rs 2,666 crore) to the exchequer in the deal that was signed on February 8, 2010 for the supply of VVIP choppers worth 556.262 million euros.

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MUMBAI (Reuters) - A court in India set up under anti-money laundering laws declared liquor and aviation tycoon Vijay Mallya a "fugitive economic offender" on Saturday, paving the way for the government to seize his assets, according to Reuters partner ANI. India recently approved a bill empowering authorities to seize assets of super-rich fugitives whose economic offences or crimes involve sums over 1 billion rupees ($14.3 million).The bill is part of a push to prosecute a number of accused who have fled India in the last four years even as the country reels from a series of banking ...
Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered the army to enhance its combat readiness to make sure it is always ready for a battle, saying risks and challenges are on the rise as the world is facing a period of major changes never seen in a century, state media reported Saturday.

The People's Liberation Army (PLA), the world's largest with two million troops, last year doubled the training period for new recruits from three to six months in a bid to improve their combat capabilities.

President Xi, who also heads the PLA besides the ruling Communist Party, told a meeting of the Central Military Commission (CMC), the overall high command of the Chinese military, that "the world is facing a period of major changes never seen in a century, and China is still in an important period of strategic opportunity for development".

Xi is the Chairman of the CMC. He is the only civilian in the high-power military body comprising top defence officials.

Preparedness is vital in the era of drastic changes, unpredictable risks, Xi said Friday, official media reported.

He ordered the armed forces to continue strengthening their combat preparedness and to make sure they are always ready for battle, state-run China Daily reported.

The entire armed forces should have a correct understanding of China's security and development trends, enhance their awareness of danger, crisis and war, and make solid efforts on combat preparations in order to accomplish the tasks assigned by the CPC and the people, Xi said.

Regarding combat capability as the only and fundamental criterion, Xi ordered all work, forces and resources to focus on military preparedness and ensure a marked progress in this regard, state-run Xinhua agency reported.

Xi stressed the armed forces' ability to respond quickly and effectively to contingencies, asking them to upgrade commanding capability of joint operations, foster new combat forces, and improve military training under combat conditions.

Party and government departments and agencies at the central and local levels are required to support the defence and military development, he said.

Xi signed Friday an order to open the annual training session of the armed forces. The order demands that troops hone their combat capability and that military units organise events on a regular basis to verify soldiers' ability.

The armed forces must also strive to strengthen their readiness to respond to emergencies. Commanders must take the lead in studying the art of war and also must be the first to carry out training and exercises, according to the order.

Exercises must be conducted based on real combat scenarios and should involve the simulation of complicated situations and the deployment of multiple weapons and equipment from different services, it stipulates.

His call for battle preparedness came as acting US defence secretary Patrick Shanahan told the US forces that he sees China as a key priority.

"While we are focused on ongoing operations, Acting Secretary Shanahan told the team to remember China, China, China," reports from Washington quoted a US defence official as saying.

Besides launching the ongoing trade war to force Beijing to cut the USD 375 billion trade deficit, US President Donald Trump has been increasing pressure on China on a host of fronts including North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to relent and give up nuclear weapons programme.

China is engaged in hotly contested territorial disputes in the South China Sea, and with Japan in the East China Sea. Both the areas are stated to be rich in minerals, oil and other natural resources. They are also vital to global trade.

China claims almost all of the South China Sea. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims over the area.

The US has been conducting regular patrols in the South China Sea to assert freedom of navigation in the area where Beijing has built up and militarised many of the islands and reefs it controls in the region.

The US has accused China of military and economic espionage and termed Xi's pet project Belt and Road Initiative to fund infrastructure projects as an attempt to coerce smaller countries with debt trap.

Chinese officials as well as trade bodies were deeply concerned over the continued trade war with the US as Washington has already imposed additional tariffs on over USD 250 dollars of Chinese exports. China too retaliated in equal measure.

Both sides agreed on a truce till March 1 as officials hold talks to narrow down the differences.

Since he took over power in 2012, Xi, who is now regarded as the President for life, has been pushing the PLA to enhance its combat capability with real time military drills.

With over USD 175 billion defence budget, the PLA is also focussed on massive modernisation, specially the expansion of the navy with two aircraft carriers to increase its reach far from the shores of China.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A court in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur district has directed police to register an FIR after a woman accused Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University Vice Chancellor Professor PD Juyal of rape as well as threatening to upload her photographs on the net.

Judicial Magistrate First Class Nidhi Jain issued the order on a complaint filed by a forty-year-old woman seeking that the police register an FIR and probe the matter, the woman's counsel Aman Sharma said.

Sharma said the woman moved the court after getting no response from the police and the Madhya Pradesh State Women Commission.

The woman came in contact with VC Juyal when she went to complain about the death of her dog allegedly for want of proper treatment at the veterinary college hospital here, the counsel said.

The VC allegedly raped the complainant on the pretext of offering her a job, Sharma said.

Later, on March 17, 2018, the VC called her to Rewa and allegedly raped her in a hotel room, Sharma said.

The woman sought police action against the VC under sections 376 (2)(N) of IPC (commits rape repeatedly on the same woman) and 67 (punishment for publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form), 67 (A) (punishment for publishing or transmitting of material containing sexually explicit act, etc.in electronic form) of IT Act, he said.

When contacted, VC P D Juyal said, "It is an attempt to malign the image of the university and mine. There is a conspiracy going on against me in the varsity and the woman is acting at the behest of such persons. The police investigation will reveal the truth."



The order was pronounced on December 29, 2018 but the counsel received the certified copy of the order on January 3, 2019.

Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University is a state government-run university.

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Two persons were Saturday killed and three others injured, all from the same family, in a wall collapse in Surat's Mirzapur area, police said.

The wall of Pravin Patel's house under Olpad police station limits was being brought down when it gave way, an official said.

"The wall of an old house of Pravin Patel was being brought down as family members planned to construct a new house in its place. It suddenly collapsed on five members of the family," the police official said.

Patel (65) and his grandson Kevin Patel (13) were declared dead on arrival after they were rushed to a nearby government hospital, he said.

Patel's wife Urmilaben, their granddaughter Archana (15) and grandson Jignesh (14) sustained injuries and are hospitalised, the official added.

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Victims of have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing their support to the anti-trafficking bill and hoping for the functioning of the for its early passage in the Parliament.

The Lok Sabha has already passed the bill in the Monsoon session of the Parliament in July last year.

In a letter to the PM undersigned by organisations representing trafficking survivors from West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, the survivors said they hope for the early passage of the bill in the

"At some desperate moment of our life, we were lured with a hope of better life and trafficked for forced labour, commercial sexual exploitation, forced begging and other inhumane jobs. We were fortunate to break free from the chains of bondage but there are millions who are still trapped in the vicious cycle or vulnerable to traffickers," the letter said.

"We would like to ensure you that the survivors and citizens of India, stand with you against the menace of We hope the functions and all political parties support the bill," it added.

The Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018 provides for designated Courts for fast-tracking trials and timely repatriation of foreign victims - within a period of one year from taking into cognizance, which is a highly commendable move as there are many cases of trafficking from across neighbouring countries such as Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Another path-breaking addition to the Bill has been the formation of the Anti-Trafficking Bureau (NATB), which will coordinate with authorities in international organizations, and facilitate inter-state and trans-border transfer of evidence.

Last month, the survivors of along with some MPs had also sent a petition to Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman urging him to ensure the passage of the Bill in the Winter session of the Parliament.

As per the Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2016 report, a total of 15,379 victims of human-trafficking were reported in 2016, out of which almost 60 per cent were minors. The report has also estimated that more than one lakh children (1,11,569) have gone missing till 2016, and 55,625 of them remained untraced.
America's Syria pointman James Jeffrey will also serve as the United States envoy to the international coalition against the Islamic State jihadist group, the State Department said Friday.

"With this additional responsibility, Ambassador Jeffrey will lead and coordinate US Department of State relations with the Global Coalition to defeat (IS) and Department efforts to implement President Trump's announcement of a responsible US troop withdrawal from Syria," spokesman Robert Palladino said in a statement.

Jeffrey, a former US ambassador to Iraq and Turkey, will replace Brett McGurk as anti-IS envoy, a post from which he resigned following US President Donald Trump's controversial decision in December to withdraw American forces from Syria.

Critics say the move puts US-allied Kurdish forces at risk of attack by Turkish troops. The US-allied Kurds have played a major role in the war against IS, the jihadist group that seized swaths of territory in Iraq and Syria but has since suffered major defeats.

The December 21 announcement of McGurk's departure followed that of Jim Mattis, who quit as defense chief over fundamental disagreements with Trump, including over Syria.

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The US Supreme Court Friday agreed to hear a case brought by a clothing line named "Fuct" which the government has refused to register, claiming it would promote vulgarity.

The case pits a provision of US trademark law that allows the government to deny requests on the basis "immoral" or "scandalous" words against the bedrock principles of free speech enshrined in the Constitution.

A date of hearing has not yet been fixed. But it's a safe bet no case before it will have exposed the nation's top judges to so many profanities.

The street wear brand was founded in 1990 by Los Angeles-based designer Erik Brunetti.

The name sounds like, but is spelled differently from, the past tense form of a common swear word.

Brunetti tried to formally register it in 2011 but was refused under the so-called scandalous-marks provision of trademark law.

He appealed against the decision and won, but the current administration of President Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court to give a final ruling on the matter.

In its brief, the government argues the contested legal provision "does not restrict any speech or restrain any form of expression." Rather, it "simply reflects Congress' judgment that the federal government should not affirmatively promote the use of graphic sexual images and vulgar terms by granting them the benefits of registration."



In 2017, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that an Asian American band could trademark its name "The Slants," which had been rejected because it was deemed a racial slur.

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The United Nations plans to replace an envoy who was expelled from Somalia after questioning the arrest of a political candidate with an extremist history, the world body said Friday.

The announcement came after three days of diplomatic back-and-forth over Somalia's expulsion of Nicholas Haysom, a longtime UN official who has also served as envoy to Afghanistan, Sudan and South Sudan.

UN spokesman Farhan Haq said Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has full confidence in Haysom, deeply regrets Somalia's decision and spoke twice about it with Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed.

The world body also argues that its personnel can't be kicked out under the diplomatic doctrine that Somalia invoked.

Nevertheless, the secretary-general plans to appoint a new representative for Somalia, Haq said.

"It's crucial that the UN mission on the ground is able to go about its work," he explained.

That work includes electoral support and other functions.

Somalia's UN mission didn't immediately respond to an inquiry about the developments.

The UN Security Council discussed them in a closed-door session Friday but didn't make any public statement.

The Horn of Africa nation announced Tuesday it was ordering Haysom to leave, saying he overreached and meddled in the country's internal matters.

In a letter to Somali officials, Haysom had raised concerns about the legal basis for the arrest of Mukhtar Robow, a former deputy leader of the deadly al-Shabab Islamic extremist group who defected and then ran for a regional presidency.

Robow was a leading candidate, and the election was days away, when he was arrested last month.

Somali officials said he hadn't completed a defection process and had failed to renounce extremist ideology, among other allegations against him.

Deadly protests followed his arrest.

Haysom didn't immediately respond to an inquiry Friday, and he didn't directly address his ouster while briefing the UN Security Council Thursday on overall developments in Somalia.

He did, however, say that the violent fallout from Robow's arrest "does not bode well" for upcoming elections and that Robow's case could discourage other extremist group defectors from abandoning violence to pursue political change.

Meanwhile, Somali Ambassador Abukar Dahir Osman admonished the council that the UN and its representatives have "an obligation to respect their mandate and to not interfere in our internal affairs."



Somalia appreciates the UN's help but "distinguishes between the institutions that we are part of and individuals' conduct that has a detrimental effect on our fragile nation," he said.

After three decades of civil war, extremist attacks and famine, Somalia established a functioning transitional government in 2012 and has since been working to rebuild stability.

Other countries have, at times, booted UN officials.

Guatemala, for instance, announced in 2017 it was expelling the head of a UN-sponsored commission investigating alleged corruption in the Central American country.

After leaving for a work trip to the United States, he hasn't been allowed to return to Guatemala.

Guterres has rejected Guatemala's request to name a new chief for the commission.

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The UK government has updated its travel advisory to India, warning British citizens to remain vigilant and avoid large public gatherings, following violent protests in Kerala over the issue of women entering the Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), which regularly updates its advice for travel to different parts of the world, said on Friday that any British citizens planning to travel to Kerala should monitor media reports.

"There have been violent protests in some towns and cities in Kerala over the issue of women accessing the Sabarimala temple. Some public services have been disrupted in the wake of clashes between police and protesters," the FCO advisory said.

"If you are in Kerala or due to travel there, you should monitor media reports closely, remain vigilant and avoid large public gatherings," it noted.

The rest of the travel advisory remains broadly unchanged, advising visitors to India to "avoid protests or large gatherings", follow the advice of the local authorities and monitor the local media and any curfew restrictions that may be in place.

It added, "Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in India. Recent attacks have targeted public places including those visited by foreigners.

"There have been recent media reports suggesting Daesh (Islamic State) may have an interest in attacking targets in India. There may be an increased threat to places visited by British nationals such as religious sites, markets, festival venues and beaches. You should be vigilant at this time, monitor local media and take all precautions for your safety."



Kerala has been rocked by protests by right-wing groups after two women of "menstruating age" offered prayers at the Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala on January 2. Hundreds of people have been arrested so far in connection with the violence over the last few days.

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The Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will visit on Sunday after the two sides finalised the terms and conditions for a USD 6.2 billion assistance package to Islamabad to bolster its foreign exchange reserves and the government's fiscal policies.

The government's financial assistance comes as is negotiating a USD 8 billion bailout package from the Monetary Fund (IMF) to overcome a severe balance-of-payments crisis that threatens to cripple the country's economy.

The package, which is expected to be announced by the Crown Prince, involves USD 3.2 bn worth of oil supplies on deferred payment, besides a USD 3 bn cash deposit, the Dawn reported.

"The UAE's package was exactly of the same size and terms and conditions as given by The package was finalised on Thursday evening," a member of the Pakistan's cabinet was quoted as saying by the paper.

The financial assistance from UAE is same to the support received from

"With this, Pakistan would get a total saving of about USD 7.9 bn on oil and gas imports from the two friendly countries -- accounting for more than 60 per cent of annual oil import bill of about USD 12-13 bn, the cabinet member said.

This includes about USD 3.2 bn each of oil supplies on deferred payments from the UAE and and about USD 1.5 bn trade finance from the Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), the paper reported.

Pakistan's all weather ally has also pledged to provide a generous aid to Islamabad to overcome its financial woes. Beijing has not yet revealed the quantum of its financial support.

Prime Minister has said Chinese President has asked him not to reveal the amount.

The is making all efforts to ensure that any IMF loan to Pakistan is not used to repay its Chinese debt.

The US feels that the huge Chinese debt is responsible for Pakistan's economic challenges.

"We are working and making clear within the IMF that if it were going to supply any funding to Pakistan that it would not be used to repay Chinese loans," David Malpass, Under Secretary of Treasury for Affairs, told lawmakers during a recent Congressional hearing.

There are concerns among American lawmakers that the Pakistan may use the IMF money to repay the Chinese debts.
Five members of a family, including two children, died apparently due to asphyxiation at their rented accommodation here, police said Saturday.

Khurshid Ahmad Sheikh (45), a resident of Kupwara district's Tangdhar area, had come here a few days ago with his family for the treatment of his mother, a police official said.

They had rented a house in Boat Colony near SKIMS Hospital, Bemina, where the elderly woman, Reshma, was being treated, the official said.

On Friday night, the five members of the family apparently died due to suffocation, he said.

The official said Khurshid, his wife, Gulshan, their two children, Faizan, 8, and Furqaan, 5, and Reshma were found dead.

He said the cause of the death is being ascertained and the bodies have been sent for an autopsy. However the deaths apparently occurred due asphyxiation, he said, adding the police have registered a case in the matter.

He said arrangements are being made for airlifting the bodies to their native place in Kupwara.

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and vice-president Omar Abdullah expressed grief over the deaths.

Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president G A Mir expressed deep sorrow and asked the administration to ensure adequate relief to the bereaved family.

Senior CPI(M) leader M Y Tarigami urged the government to provide ex-gratia to their next of the kin.

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Bangladesh police on Saturday found the bullet-ridden bodies of two alleged Rohingya drug dealers in a southeastern coastal town notorious for its connection with the Myanmar meth trade.

Teknaf town police chief Prodip Kumar Das said the bodies were found lying next to a highway beside the sea and some 10,000 meth pills were recovered from their possession.

"Both of these refugees were... notorious drug dealers in the region. We're suspecting they were killed in a gang fight over sharing profits," he said.

The police said they were investigating the deaths but did not provide further information on the two men.

Over 720,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled a brutal military crackdown in Myanmar's northern Rakhine state since August 2017 and joined some 300,000 refugees already living in squalid camps in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar district.

Bangladeshi authorities say local kingpins use the refugees -- trapped in poverty and unlikely to return home any time soon -- to transport "yaba" pills which are made in Myanmar meth labs. Yaba is a methamphetamine-based, caffeine-cut stimulant that translates as "crazy medicine".

The coastal town on the Naf river that divides the two neighbours is a key entry point through which yaba enters the South Asian nation's multi-million dollar drug market.

In May Bangladesh launched a violent anti-drug crackdown which saw the deaths of at least 250 drug dealers, including 26 in Teknaf in the last three months.

Experts have compared the campaign with the Filipino anti-drug war of Rodrigo Duterte, in which police say they have killed nearly 5,000 alleged users and pushers -- although rights groups say the toll is at least triple that.

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The White House has sent national security adviser John Bolton on a mission to allay Israel's concerns about President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw US troops from Syria.

The pullout announced before Christmas was initially expected to be completed within weeks, but the timetable has slowed as the president acceded to requests from aides, allies and members of Congress for a more orderly drawdown.

Bolton planned to meet with Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and other officials on Sunday before traveling to Turkey.

Israeli officials have expressed alarm that a swift withdrawal of the roughly 2,000 troops could enable Iran to expand its influence and presence in Syria, wracked by a yearslong civil war and the Islamic State militancy.

Trump's move has raised fears about clearing the way for a Turkish assault on Kurdish fighters in Syria who have fought alongside American troops against IS extremists. Turkey considers the Kurdish People's Protection Units, or YPG, a terrorist group linked to an insurgency within its own borders.

A Trump administration official told reporters traveling with Bolton that Bolton intended to discuss the pace of the drawdown, as well as American troop levels in the region. Bolton was expected to explain that some US troops based in Syria to fight IS will shift to Iraq with the same mission and that some American forces may remain at a key military outpost in al-Tanf, in southern Syria, to counter growing Iranian activity in the region.

Bolton's also was to convey the message that the United States will be "very supportive" of Israeli strikes against Iranian targets in Syria, according to the official, who was not authorized to publicly discuss Bolton's plans before the meetings and spoke on condition of anonymity to preview the talks.

Bolton warned Syria's president, Bashar al-Assad, not to use the US drawdown as a pretext to use chemical weapons against Syrians, saying there is "no change" to the US position that their use is a "red line."



Trump has twice carried out airstrikes in Syria in response to apparent chemical attacks, with the intention of deterring Assad.

"We've tried twice through the use of military force to demonstrate to the Assad regime the use of chemical weapons is not acceptable," Bolton said while en route to Israel.

"And if they don't heed the lessons of those two strikes, the next one will be more telling."



Trump's announcement about the intended troop withdrawal was greeted by surprise and condemnation from many US lawmakers and allies, and prompted the resignation of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and the US special envoy for the anti-IS coalition in protest.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is following Bolton to the Mideast this coming week for an eight-country tour of Arab allies to shore up support for the administration's partners in the region.

While in Israel, Bolton planned to encourage officials to take a tougher stance against Chinese electronics manufacturers ZTE and Huawei. The US has expressed concerns about potential cyber-penetration by those companies.

Joining Bolton in Turkey will be the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen Joseph Dunford. In meetings with Turkey's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and other officials, they are expected to warn against an offensive targeting the Kurdish fighters in Syria.

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Yhe Tamil Nadu government Saturday launched a scheme of providing Rs 1,000 to all ration card-holders on the occasion of Pongal festival, being celebrated on January 15.

Chief Minister K Palaniswami launched the scheme by giving away Rs 1,000 each to 10 beneficiaries at a function here.

He also also gave away Pongal gift hampers to them.

The hampers contain one kg each of rice and sugar, cashew nuts and raisin (both 20 gm) and cardamom, all used to prepare Pongal, a sweet dish, on the occasion of the harvest festival which also marks the birth of the auspicious Tamil month Thai.

Two feet sugarcane is also part of the gift hamper.

The scheme will cover about 2.01 crore families including the Sri Lankan Tamil families residing in camps in Tamil Nadu, an official release said.

The scheme was being implemented at a cost of Rs 258 crore and the gift hampers will be available in ration shops ahead of the Pongal festival, it said.

The scheme is being implemented in line with an announcement made in the Governor's address to the Tamil Nadu Assembly on January 2.

This scheme will benefit 1.97 crore families and will not be implemented in the bypoll-bound Tiruvarur constituency as the model code of conduct is in force.

Bypoll to Tiruvarur was necessitated following the death of former chief minister M Karunanidhi on August 7 last year.

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A rollicking maiden century by Sri Lanka's Thisara Perera was ultimately in vain as New Zealand wrapped up the one-day series with a 21-run victory in the second ODI at Mount Maunganui.

With Sri Lanka chasing New Zealand's 319 for seven, they were on the ropes at 128 for seven when Perera opened up.

He faced 74 deliveries and cracked 13 sixes and eight fours before he was the last wicket to fall and Sri Lanka were out for 298 with 22 balls remaining.

Sri Lanka reached 112 for two when Ish Sodhi captured the wicket of Kusal Mendis for 20 to trigger a collapse which saw five wickets fall in six overs.

But Perera refused to give up as he bludgeoned the New Zealand attack with brute force.

He made 58 in a 75-run stand with Lasith Malinga for the eighth wicket, and scored 45 of the 51 runs for the ninth wicket with Lakshan Sandakan.

But when an seemingly impossible victory seemed on the cards Matt Henry had Perera caught by Trent Boult at long-on.

Opener Danushka Gunathilaka played his part at the top of the order with 71 but elsewhere the Sri Lankan batsmen failed to fire.

It continued a dismal tour for Sri Lanka who also lost the Test series 1-0 and lost the first ODI by 45 runs.

When New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat, Sri Lanka had their tails up when they removed first-match centurion Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson cheaply to have New Zealand at 39 for two.

But Ross Taylor (90)and Colin Munro (87) swung momentum New Zealand's way with a 112-run stand for the third wicket, while all-rounder James Neesham lit up the tail with a whirlwind 64.

Lasith Malinga was the pick of Sri Lankan bowlers with two for 45 while bowling for New Zealand Sodhi took three for 55.

The final match in the series is in Nelson next Tuesday and the tour closes with a Twenty 20 match in Auckland on Friday.

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The newly-elected Telangana Assembly would meet from January 17 for four days for the members to take oath and to elect the Speaker and also take up Governors address to the joint session of the legislature.

Senior AIMIM MLA from Charminar Assembly constituency Mumtaz Ahmed Khan would act as the pro tem Speaker, a release from the Chief Minister's office said Saturday.

It has been decided to commence the Assembly proceedings during the auspicious 'Uttarayana' period, it said, quoting Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.

"Against the background of landslide victory given by the people to his party, it has been decided to commence the Assembly proceedings during the auspicious Uttarayana days," said the chief minister.

The Assembly proceedings will be held for four days from January 17 to 20, it said.

On January 16 (a day before the commencement of the session), Khan would take oath as pro tem Speaker in Raj Bhavan.

Governor ESL Narasimhan will administer the oath to Khan, it said.

The newly-elected MLAs would take oath after the House meets at 11.30 a.m on January 17.

In the afternoon, an official lunch will be hosted for the MLAs on the lawns of Legislative Council Hall in the Jubilee Hall premises, it said.

On the same day, the schedule for the Speaker's election would be announced and the nomination process commences, it said.

The Speaker's election and an announcement about it would take place on January 18.

Later, the Assembly proceedings will continue with the newly-elected Speaker in the Chair.

"The Speaker will conduct the BAC meeting after the house is adjourned and will take a decision on the Governors address on the following day," it said.

On January 19, the Governor will address the joint session of legislature.

The next day (January 20), the House will introduce the motion of thanks to the Governor's address and adopt the same, the release said.

AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi thanked Rao for making Khan the pro tem Speaker.

"MUMTAZ Ahmad Khan 6 term MLA of Charminar from MIM will be made Pro-tem Speaker of Telangana Assembly, I am thankful to @Telangana CMO KCR saheb," he tweeted.

AIMIM is a friendly party of the ruling TRS.

The TRS has returned to power in the state with a massive majority, winning 88 of the total 119 seats in the December 7 Assembly polls.

The Congress managed to win 19 seats, while AIMIM won seven.

TDP secured two seats and BJP got one seat.

An independent and an MLA of All India Forward Bloc extended support to TRS.

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The Telangana government has urged Defence authorities to provide a war flight and a submarine to make them into a museum in the city.

State Tourism and Culture Secretary B Venkatesham has written to the defence authorities in this regard to showcase them to the people of Hyderabad and tourists visiting the state.

State Tourism Development Corporation MD Manohar has approached DRDO ((Defence Research and Development Organisation) Chairman Satheesh Reddy to provide a war flight Tupolev-TU 142 M, the anti-submarine warfare aircraft, to make it a museum, an official release said.

We are seeking a war flight submarine also. In principle, they have agreed for both," Manohar told PTI Saturday.

According to the release, a total of eight Tupolev-142 Ms were inducted into the navy.

The Soviet-era aircraft, known as one of the most formidable air-borne reconnaissance platforms around the world, were part of all major naval exercises and operations of the Indian Navy since its induction in 1988.

Two of them were re-assembled at Visakhapatnam and West Bengal respectively.

Among the rest of the aircraft, the navy and defence had agreed to provide one unused aircraft submarine and missiles to Telangana.

The objective is to promote knowledge among the citizens of Hyderabad on the activities of the Indian navy and its service to the nation, it said.

The Telangana government is planning to demonstrate various defence-related products at the museum in coordination with the DRDO to encourage youngsters to join the defence services, it said.

Further, it is also contemplated to establish a defence museum wherein defence-related labs and missiles will be exhibited in collaboration with DRDO, the release added.

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A Syrian Kurdish official says negotiations are ongoing between the government in Damascus and Kurdish officials on how to fill the gap following the withdrawal of US troops from the country.

The official, who spoke Saturday on condition of anonymity because of the talks' secrecy, said Syrian Kurdish officials have visited Russia which is sponsoring the talks between the government and the Kurd-led militia that control nearly a third of the country.

The official said negotiations are ongoing and "the atmosphere is positive." President Donald Trump announced in mid-December that the US will withdraw all of its 2,000 forces in Syria.

The main US-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces has expressed concerns over the planned withdrawal as Turkey has threatened to launch a military operation against Kurdish fighters in Syria.

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The Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party have agreed to an alliance ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, an SP leader said Saturday.

A formal announcement on the gathbandhan between the two Uttar Pradesh-based parties may take place later this month, SP's national spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary told PTI.

He said Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati had given their in-principle approval to the alliance after a series of meetings between them.

The two leaders also met Friday, he said. Talks are on with other parties as well, the spokesperson said.

There has been an in-principle approval for the gathbandhan. And there is a possibility that an announcement in this regard will be made this month," Chaudhary said.

A number of meetings between SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and BSP supremo Mayawati have already been held. Yesterday too, both leaders met in Delhi."



Talks are going on to accommodate some smaller parties in the alliance," he said.

He admitted that the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), which has a presence in western UP, is among these parties.

When asked about the possible inclusion of Congress in the UP alliance, Chaudhary said, "This will be decided by Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati.

But he added the alliance will not field candidates in Amethi and Raebareli, leaving the two Lok constituencies for Congress president Rahul Gandhi and United Progress Alliance chief Sonia Gandhi.

Politically crucial Uttar Pradesh sends 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha.

The opposition parties defeated the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in three Lok Sabha bypolls last year.

In the Kairana Lok Sabha by-elections in May last year, the BJP lost to the joint opposition candidate, RLD's Tabassum Hasan.

The seat had fallen vacant following the death of the BJP candidate Mriganka Singh's father Hukum Singh.

Tabassum Hasan was supported by the Congress, the SP and the BSP.

In March, the BJP lost the Lok Sabha bypolls in Gorakhpur and Phulpur.

In the last parliamentary elections in 2014, the BJP won 71 seats, securing 42.63 per cent of the votes. BJP ally Apna Dal bagged two seats.

Samajwadi Party won five seats with a vote share of 22.35 per cent. The BSP did not win any seat while securing 19.77 per cent votes.

Congress registered wins on two seats in 2014, bagging 7.53 per cent of the votes.

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The Infosys Science Foundation (ISF) Saturday honoured six eminent professors for winning the Infosys Prize 2018 across different categories of science and research.

The annual award includes a pure gold medal, a citation and a prize purse worth USD 100,000 (or its equivalent in the Indian rupees).

The ISF honoured the winners of the Infosys Prize 2018 at an awards ceremony here while also celebrating its 10th year milestone.

A six-member jury of renowned scientists and professors selected the winners from 244 nominations received in six categories, the ISF said.

By recognising these researchers and celebrating their achievements, the Infosys Prize aims to inspire young minds to explore science as a career option and advance innovation in the country, the foundation said.

"The past decade has seen some incredible innovations in the field of scientific research. Collaborative research has been a watchword in the space as individuals from across geographies have come together to ideate and resolve some of the most pressing global issues and contribute to academic progress.

"All the winners today have made great strides in their respective fields and we, at the Infosys Science Foundation, are extremely proud to bring their achievements to the public stage. We hope they continue to inspire future generations," said K Dinesh, President of the Infosys Science Foundation.

The Infosys Prize serves as an inspiration and source of encouragement for young scientists and researchers to expand the purview of scientific research, both in India and globally, said Professor Manjul Bhargava, R Brandon Fradd Professor of Mathematics at Princeton University.

In the field of Engineering and Computer Science, Navakanta Bhat, Professor, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, was awarded for his work on the design of novel bio-sensors based on his research in biochemistry and gaseous sensors that push the performance limits of existing metal-oxide sensors.

Bhat has devised gas sensors with ultra-precise detection accuracies necessary for space and environmental monitoring, especially useful for India's growing space, atomic energy and security programmes, the ISF said.

In the Humanities category, Kavita Singh, Professor and Dean, School of Arts and Aesthetics, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, was awarded for her study of Mughal, Rajput and Deccan art.

Singh's work shows the significance of museums in highlighting the social impact of art, and thereby relates visual culture to large contemporary questions of secularity, modernity, and political conflict, the foundation said.

The prize for Life Sciences was awarded to Roop Mallik, Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai for his work on molecular motor proteins, which are crucial for the functioning of living cells.

Mallik has identified and measured forces needed to transport large particles inside cells, and demonstrated their role in fundamental processes such as targeting pathogens for their destruction and moving lipid droplets for fatty acid regulation in the liver.

Nalini Anantharaman, Professor and Chair of Mathematics, Institute for Advanced Study, University of Strasbourg, France was awarded the prize in Mathematical Sciences for her work related to "Quantum Chaos".

The quantum world is the one of the deepest secrets of the universe and mathematics is the language that helps us understand this world, the ISF said.

Mathematicians and physicists have been trying for decades to unravel the mysteries of this subatomic world.

In the field of Physical Sciences, SK Satheesh, Professor, Centre for Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, was awarded for his pioneering scientific work in the field of climate change.

His studies on black carbon aerosols, the dark, light absorbing, microscopic particles in air which greatly influence the energy balance of the atmosphere over the Indian subcontinent, have enabled a better understanding of the role of these particles on climate change, precipitation, and, human health in the Indian subcontinent.

The Infosys Prize 2018 for Social Sciences is awarded to Sendhil Mullainathan, Professor of Computation and Behavioral Science, the University of Chicago in the US for his path-breaking work in behavioural economics, the ISF said.

Mullainathan's research has had substantial impact on diverse fields such as development, public finance, corporate governance and policy design.

A significant part of this work is relevant to India, the ISF added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An international team of scientists will begin the new year hunting for microbes and other living specimens in an unexplored lake far beneath the surface of the Antarctic ice sheet.

Led by polar scientist John Priscu of Montana State University in the US, a team of 45 scientists, drillers and support staff will drill 4,000 feet to the bottom of the ice sheet that covers Mercer Subglacial Lake about 370 miles from the South Pole.

The lake, which measures nearly 62 square miles, was discovered more than a decade ago through satellite images but has never before been explored.

The expedition, known as SALSA (Subglacial Antarctic Lakes Scientific Access), hopes to shed light on what kind of life can survive in such remote regions and serve as an on-Earth comparison for habitats deep inside Mars or on the ice-covered moons of Jupiter and Saturn.

While Mercer will be the second subglacial lake that humans have sampled directly, Fox wrote, it will be the first time scientists will use a remote vehicle to roam beneath the ice sheet, which leads the scientists to wonder if the submersible's three video cameras might capture images of animals that live in the dark water.

This is the second such expedition for Priscu.

In 2013, he and other MSU researchers published the discovery of microscopic life in Subglacial Lake Whillans in the journal Nature and received worldwide attention.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
05:29:41 AM

Feels Like:

Today

A few passing clouds. Low 66F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

A few passing clouds. Low 66F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.

Tomorrow

Mainly sunny. High 87F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.
Violence continued over the entry of two women of menstruating age into the revered Sabarimala temple, as unidentified people hurled a country-made bomb at the ancestral home of BJP MP and an office of the RSS was set on fire here, police said on Saturday.

The two fresh incidents of violence were reported hours after unidentified men threw country-made bombs at the houses of CPI(M) MLA A N Shamsee and the party's former Kannur district secretary P Sasi.

The incident at the ancestral house of BJP Rajya Sabha member V Muraleedharan occurred in the early hours of Saturday. No one was injured, police said.

Muraleedharan said his ancestral home at Vadiyil Peedikia near Thalassery came under attack, but no one was injured.

"My sister, brother-in-law and their daughter were in the house when the attack took place," he told PTI from Andhra Pradesh.

In another incident, unidentified people set fire to an office of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Pariyaram area in the morning, police sources told PTI.

The entry of two women into the hill shrine on Wednesday, the first time since the Supreme Court in September last year lifted the age-linked ban on the entry of women devotees, triggered massive protests in Kerala.

Muraleedharan had sought a probe by the NIA into the "conspiracy" of police escorting the two women with Maoist links to Sabarimala.

So far, over 1,700 people have been arrested in connection with violence in various parts of the state.

Talking to the media Saturday morning, Sasi said the "powerful" bomb hurled at his house caused damage to the building.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The alleged seizure of a large amount of cash from a clerk in the office of Karnataka minister for backward classes welfare C Puttarangashetty snowballed into a major controversy Saturday with the BJP and a senior leader of ruling coalition partner JD(S) demanding the resignation of the Congress minister.

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said an investigation was on and a decision will be taken once a detailed report comes out.

Mounting an attack on the ruling Congress-JDS coalition government, the BJP demanded that the minister step down following the seizure of cash from the clerk in the Vidhana Soudha, the state secretariat, Friday night.

"Yesterday the police seized Rs 25.76 lakh from Puttarangashetty's PA at Vidhana Soudha. The cover bore the name of Minister Puttarangashetty.

"He must resign immediately and the matter should be thoroughly investigated," BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa said in Shivamogga.

Taking a jibe at the state government, BJP general secretary and party spokesperson N Ravi Kumar wondered "how much money other ministers would be making if the daily collection of a minister is Rs 25.76 lakh".

JD(S) MLC Basavaraj Horatti too demanded that the minister resign on moral grounds.

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said investigations were on and accordingly action would be taken against the accused.

"With regard to the investigation, police will take their own decision. I am not the one to misuse power and influence investigation. We will take a decision when a detailed report comes out after a transparent investigation," he said.

Former chief minister and state congress leader Siddaramaiah said investigation has to be carried out to find out how the accused got such a huge amount of cash.

A case has to be registered, he said.

According to police, the clerk Mohan was intercepted when he was taking the cash inside Vidhana Soudha and was later arrested.

The clerk could not give any satisfactory reply to the queries on the source of the money and the motive behind taking it inside the state secretariat, they said.

Puttarangashetty had said he has no clue about the cash and that he was not in the office when the person was caught.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A revenue department official in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir has been suspended for providing wrong information to authorities, officials said Saturday.

Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner Angrez Singh Rana suspended Satish Kumar Friday, they said.

"District administration shall act as deterrent to revenue officials working in field," Rana said.

The administration will ensure that government officials do not provide wrong information and violate rules as these hit implementation of public services, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Congress president Rahul Gandhi will address a farmers rally in Rajasthan on January 9 and also launch the party's campaign for the upcoming Lok sabha polls.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting here, PCC president and Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot said, "Congress president Rahul Gandhi had promised loan waiver on coming to power in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and all the three governments fulfilled that promise".

Gandhi has been invited to the state to express gratitude, he said.

"The Congress national president will address a farmers rally on January 9," Pilot said.

The party's in charge for political affairs in Rajasthan, Avinash Pande said it will also be an "occasion for the party to launch its election campaign for the upcoming Lok sabha elections".

He said the party workers and leaders were working with full confidence in all the 25 Lok sabha constituencies of the state.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Pilot and other leaders of the party discussed details of the farmers rally in the meeting.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Rajasthan government on Saturday recommended postponement of the school lecturers' recruitment examination, which was scheduled to be held this month.

The decision was taken following the demands of the candidates, Minister Govind Singh Dotasara said. "We have written to the Rajasthan Public Service Commission to extend the date of the school lecturer examination in view of the demand of the candidates."



The candidates had been holding dharna and demonstration at the Rajasthan University in Jaipur and had raised their demands after meeting Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot recently.

The exam was scheduled to be held from January 15-23. The demand was raised by candidates, who said the time given for preparation was not sufficient.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Ballia district administration has ordered a probe into a blanket distribution programme held in



a school, where classes were halted and a dance programme was held.

The Basic Officer of the district, Santosh Rai, Saturday said, "On Friday, a blanket distribution programme was held at a primary school in Aasmaan Thothaa village under the Sahatwar police station area. According to a complaint received, a dance programme was also held at the venue with dancers dancing to the tunes of film songs."



He added that the dance programme created disturbance among the students and the classes were also hampered.

"Orders have been issued to probe the incident. The block officer will submit his report and accordingly, action will be initiated," Rai said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former Aam Aadmi Party member H S Phoolka, who quit the party earlier this week, met Bharatiya Janata Party leader Vijay Goel on Saturday to greet the Union minister on his birthday.

Goel called Phoolka a "good friend" and lauded his legal battle for the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. "He quit AAP recently. Better late than never," Goel said.

Sources said it was the second meeting between Goel and Phoolka in the past few days. He had also met the BJP leader before resigning from the AAP on Thursday, they claimed.

Phoolka has avoided giving any reason behind quitting the AAP and expressed his desire to float a non-political outfit in Punjab to fight the drug menace and the perceived politicisation of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).

He, however, was averse to any alliance between the AAP and the Congress. A pre-poll tie-up between the two parties is taking rounds, with none of them denying it officially.

Sources claimed Phoolka was also annoyed over the AAP's stand on the demand to strip former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi of the Bharat Ratna for "justifying" the anti-Sikh riots.

Phoolka had said that the conversion of Anna Hazare's anti-corruption movement into a political party in 2012 was a wrong step. He has not declared his future political move, although he has announced that he would not contest the upcoming Lok Sabha election.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Actor John Krasinski has revealed that he has stopped calling a movie bad after filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson taught him about the importance of backing the projects that break the norm.

Anderson is a big fan of Krasinski's directorial debut, "A Quiet Place", and in December last year, the filmmaker had hosted a private screening of the film for Academy and industry people.

Asked about the moment, Krasinski's told New York Times, "I think I've only told my wife this, so why not say it in an interview: That was the moment that was most surreal of all this.

"He emailed me and said, 'You need to call me,' and we talked on the phone and he was so specific and so honest about the movie. He's been so kind to me through my career, but we were talking like we were on an even playing field and that tripped my wires. What I love most about Paul is that he loves movies," he added.

He recalled an incident that happened at his house where during a discussion about a film, Krasinski casually remarked, "It's not a good movie." Anderson quietly explained the actor as to why it is important not to label films as good or bad.

"He so sweetly took me aside and said very quietly, 'Don't say that. Don't say that it's not a good movie. If it wasn't for you, that's fine, but in our business, we've all got to support each other.' The movie was very artsy, and he said, 'You've got to support the big swing. If you put it out there that the movie's not good, they won't let us make more movies like that,'" Krasinski revealed.

Praising the "Phantom Thread" director, the actor said Anderson is "defending the value of the artistic experience."



"He's so good that maybe you project onto him that he's allowed to be snarky, but he's the exact opposite: He wants to love everything because that's why he got into moviemaking. And ever since then, I've never said that I hate a movie," Krasinski added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pakistan has initiated a process of seeking the extradition of its former envoy to the US Hussain Haqqani through the foreign office on embezzlement charges after it failed to get it through Interpol, a media report said on Saturday.

The Supreme Court had issued warrants to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to produce Haqqani, a prominent critic of Pakistan's military and political leadership, before it in January last year, but the Interpol has refused to issue an arrest warrant against him.

Haqqani, 62, was Pakistan's Ambassador to the US from May 27, 2008 to November 22, 2011, which is considered as one of the most tumultuous period of the US-Pakistan relationship.

As part of the extradition process, Pakistan's Interior ministry has also transferred a 355-page extradition dossier to the foreign office.

"The Ministry of Interior has transferred a 355-page extradition dossier to the Foreign Office, which will be sent to the State Department for Mr Haqqani's extradition," the Dawn newspaper quoted a source as saying.

The Supreme Court, through a suo motu notice related to implementation of an earlier SC order of bringing Haqqani back, had directed the government to ensure his repatriation, the paper reported.

In 2018, Pakistan's Supreme Court issued an arrest warrant against Haqqani after he failed to appear before it in the 'Memogate' case.

Haqqani was in the centre of the controversy over allegedly sending a memorandum to the US military chief Admiral Mike Mullen in 2011 seeking his direct intervention to avert a possible overthrow of the PPP government by the military.

A commission constituted by the Supreme Court commonly known as the 'Memogate Commission' had in its report held Haqqani as the originator and architect of the memo, the report said.

The government has on at least a couple of occasions in the past sought Interpol warrants for Haqqani's arrest, but could not convince the international criminal police to act.

Later, in March 2018, seven years after Haqqani's resignation over the memogate scandal, a case of embezzlement of USD 2 million was registered against him, which is now being made the basis for seeking his extradition, the paper said.

Haqqani now heads the South and Central Asia division of Hudson Institute, a top American think-tank.

In 2018, Haqqani along with Lisa Curtis of 'The Heritage Foundation', another top American think-tank, had co-authored a report on Afghanistan and Pakistan.

A few months later, recommendations of this report became the basis of the new Afghanistan and South Asia policy of the Trump administration.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The sextoy market is growing quite rapidly in India right now.

Although it is not a big trend, it is a hot topic on the internet as it is secretly expanding its market.

In this article, we will focus on sextoy and introduce recommended sextoy for Indian beginners of sextoy by gender.

India, the birthplace of the Kama Sutra, is very strict about sex.

Also, premarital sex is basically not allowed. Therefore, there are many people who are sexually restricted.

But what happens when you continue to be sexually restricted?

Frustration may build up and you may end up taking your sexual stress out on your partner.

If you are able to adopt sextoy in a timely manner, you can get rid of those problems.

I want to have more exciting sex than Im having now.

I want more variation in masturbation

I want to get even stronger pleasure than I do on my own.

If you have any of these problems, please stay with me until the end.

What is sex toys for Indian?

Sextoy, as the name implies, is a toy used during sex and masturbation.

It is a generic term for vibrators, Egg-vibrators, Electric massagers, dildo, handcuffs and condoms.

They are used to make regular sex more exciting or to make masturbation more pleasurable.

Because sextoy is very stimulating, it can help you to get rid of the problems and frustrations of being in a rut of sex with your partner for a long time, or if you are unhappy with the lack of pleasure in sex with your partner.

The ability to satisfy your desires with movement, texture, and size, which cannot be done by a normal human being, can help you to be satisfied with sex and, as a result, improve your relationship with your partner.

It is also said to help improve sexual dysfunction (inability to get an erection or ejaculate) and difficulty in feeling during sex (insensitivity), which is attracting more attention than in the past.

In recent years, the demand for sextoy has increased due to the spread of smartphones and the Internet and the increasing number of people using online shopping.

Even those who are concerned about the appearance of sextoy (and find it difficult to purchase) can now easily obtain it by using mail order.

In the case of online shopping, most of the stores have taken steps to ensure that the contents of the products delivered to you are not revealed, so you can purchase them without your family members knowing.

Until a while ago, you had to go to the store where the adult goods were sold to buy them, so it was quite a hurdle to overcome.

Also, many people may have an image that sextoy is somehow embarrassing to own.

But nowadays, some of them are so stylish and cute that you cant believe they are sextoy at a glance.

More and more people are using them for travel and outdoor use because they are not too bulky and are suitable for carrying around.

Sextoy situation in India

Before introducing the recommended sextoy for Indians, lets talk about one of the sextoy situations in India in recent years.

In India, due to the high concentration of population, the following six cities have particularly high sales of sextoy in India.

Mumbai

Kolkata

Bangalore

Delhi

Chennai

Hyderabad

These cities account for roughly 70 percent of sextoy sales in India.

In the future, the percentage of sextoy use will gradually increase in other cities in India as well.

If you never talk about sextoy publicly, that girl in your neighborhood might be a sextoy user too.

If you are interested in sextoy, you dont have to suppress your desire for it.

What are Sextoys for beginner?

Among all sextoys, sextoy for beginners are vibrators, dildo, masturbators, Sex Lubricants, and condoms.

Sex Lubricants and condoms, which are familiar to people who have had sex, are also a great beginners sextoy.

I will explain the details of each toy later, but there are many sextoy products that are painful to use and can only be used after some anal expansion.

I assume that the Indian readers of this article are people who have not had much experience with sextoy.

If such people use professional sextoy suddenly, they are at risk of injury or trauma.

Therefore, to introduce sextoy, you need to start with a beginners version and gradually become familiar with it.

Advantages of using sextoy for Indians

There are three advantages of using sextoy for Indians

You can masturbate in a wide variety of ways.

Can have stimulating sex

Can develop new sexual zones

If you try to masturbate with your own fingers or hands, it tends to be a pattern.

However, with sextoy, you can easily masturbate in a variety of ways.

You will definitely be fascinated by the attraction of new stimulation.

Also, your daily sex life will be more exciting than ever.

There are many things in sextoy that are visually stimulating and give you a strong and intense feeling of pleasure.

This allows you to see your partners promiscuity in a way that you wouldnt normally see it.

When you are in a relationship, sex with your partner may become a pattern, but it can also eliminate these problems.

It can also lead to the development of new sexual zones (which is the training of sexual stimulation to allow you to feel orgasms).

For more information on the development of new sexual zones, see the following articles

[Women's Erogenous Zone]How to find and develop, 7 hidden sexual zones !![In India] In this issue, we will dissect the female erogenous zone! ..." Many of you may be like that. Men, in particular, shou...

Thus, the use of sextoy can only be a good thing for the men and women of India.

Sextoy for beginner men in India

So, lets continue with the recommended goods for Indian sextoy beginners.

For ease of understanding, we will introduce them by gender. Lets start with the men!

The following five goods are recommended for novice Indian sextoy men

Masturbator

Cock rings

Love Doll

Sex Lubricants

Toys for the prostate

Lets check each one in detail.

Masturbator

The masturbator is a sextoy for men that elaborately reproduces a womans vagina, mouth, and anus, and is one of the most popular sextoy products.

It is used by men to masturbate, and it is popular because it provides stronger stimulation and pleasure more easily than using hands.

Most are made of good quality silicone, and their softness is something that cannot be achieved with ones own hands.

They can provide stronger pleasure than a real womans vagina, so be careful not to overuse them. (You wont be able to have an orgasm in a womans vagina anymore.)

Again Male masturbators are a wonderful toy. I do not need any favourite timing, bothersome bargaining. You do not have to worry too much.

Revolutionize your masturbation time! ! !

Made in Japan is a wonderful kinky toy.#sextoysindia #SexToyIndia #Japanhttps://t.co/4k70QGzoTP pic.twitter.com/tRVdxTKPpa   SEXToys India PR  (@SextoysIndia) November 12, 2018

Some of them are disposable, while others can be washed and used over and over again, so its fun to buy a few to use depending on your mood.

If you want to know more about masturbator, please click here

Really pleasant male masturbation and how to do it Are you in a rut with your daily masturbation routine? I'm going to show you five ways men masturbate that you might ...

[For Beginners] How to choose and use a male masturbator without fail Gentlemen.Have you ever used a masturbator? The person who sees this article is probably the one who has not experien...

Cock Ring

A cock ring is literally a ring-shaped sextoy that is worn on a mans penis.

It maintains an erection by binding the penis with a ring of rubber and blocking blood flow.

It is sometimes used as an accessory to be worn on the penis, and may be made of metal or plastic as well as rubber.

In some cases, cock rings have parts or vibrators attached to them that stimulate the vagina, so they kill two birds with one stone, giving a woman pleasure while maintaining an erection.

Cock rings are also sometimes used to treat erectile dysfunction.

It can help with erectile dysfunction, where the penis doesnt get hard when you get an erection or doesnt last long when you try to insert it.

Men who are prone to breakage or who are unsure of the hardness and size of their erections can use a cock ring to increase the size of their penis and maintain an erection for a longer period of time.

Cock rings vary in price from around RS700 to over RS2000 with a vibrator function.

Some of them do not fit your penis, so you should check the size of the cock ring before you buy.

You should know the size of your partners or your own penis when it is erect.

[Penis enlargement] What is a cock ring? Types and usage Cock rings can make your penis bigger and harder. It also makes sex with women more fulfilling and increases your sat...

Love Doll

Love dolls, also known as Dutchwives, are dolls with the appearance of a woman who can experience simulated sex.

There are dolls that look like a woman, but they have no face and only have their breasts and lower torso cut off, and some dolls are so realistic that they can actually be mistaken for real women.

Some expensive dolls can cost more than 1 million yen, and the quality of the doll is easily influenced by the price.

The higher the price, the higher the quality of the doll will be, the closer it will be to the real woman, and the cheaper the doll will be, the less elaborate it will be, making it look like a real doll! Something is wrong! That is also true.

You cant go wrong if you choose a balance between price and taste.

There are stores that allow you to make custom-made love dolls, so you can create a girl of your choice.

You can make a girl of your choice. You can start with inexpensive love dolls at first, and once you get used to it, you can try custom-made love dolls.

If you want to know more about Love doll, please click here

Thorough explanation of the charm of sex dolls! Have you ever heard of sex dolls that are used primarily for pseudo-sex purposes? It is a doll that is quite close to...

Sex lubricants

Sex lubricants are used as a substitute for lubricating fluid during sex or as a lubricant for men to use masturbator rules.

It is not uncommon for women to have difficulty getting wet, depending on their physical condition, or to have difficulty getting wet due to their constitution.

Forcing the penis into the vagina at such times can cause painful intercourse.

There are various types of Sex Lubricants, some with a warming effect, some with a cooling effect, and some with a scent.

Changing the Sex Lubricant used during play is recommended as a good sex accent.

If you want to learn more about Sex Lubricants, click here.

What is sex lubricant?Explain the difference and usage of each ingredient The word "sex toy" may seem like a hurdle to overcome, but lotion is actually one of the most familiar sex toys. Many...

Toys for the Prostate

Another sextoy for men is prostate toys.

The most famous prostate toys include Enemagra, which was originally a prostate massager developed by an American urologist to treat an enlarged prostate line.

Modern prostate toys are imitations of Enemagra that have spread as sextoy for men.

Many people think of prostate toys as being used by gay men, but in fact they are often used by straight men.

What is the prostate?

The prostate is an organ found only in men. It is a walnut-sized organ located deep in the pelvis, just below the bladder, and its primary role is to protect and nourish sperm.

You cannot touch the prostate gland from outside the body, but you can touch it by inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus.

By inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus and touching the prostate and developing it, you can feel intense orgasms.

Orgasms felt in the prostate are mainly dry orgasms, which are orgasms that do not involve ejaculation. (You can also feel orgasms with ejaculation through prostate stimulation.)

The prostate is called the male G-spot, and dry orgasms can be much more intense than ejaculation.

Therefore, men who are able to develop a prostate can become addicted to the pleasure.

sextoy for beinner women in India

The following are the recommended goods for Indian women who are new to sextoy.

The following three are recommended for use by women who are new to sextoy.

Vibrator.

Dildo

Electric Masserger

Lets check out what each one is in detail.

If you want to check out womens toys, click here.

[BEST25]Sex Toys for Women in IndiaThat Can Help You Have an Orgasm There are many women who pretend to feel orgasm during sex. But don't worry, you don't have to pretend to feel orgasm...

Vibrators

A vibrator is a sextoy that vibrates with an Egg-Vibrator to provide stimulation and is often referred to simply as a vibrator.

Some vibrate as well as rotate, and there are many variations of sextoy.

It is quite a popular sextoy, and is well recognized by people who do not know much about sextoy.

Its usage is similar to that of a massager, but it is more compact and easier to carry than a massager, and many of them look as cute as a lipstick or a macaroon, so they are popular among women.

For a while, a famous influencer on twitter said, This is good! You may have heard of the topic of this article by introducing the recommended vibrators.

Vibrators are great for women to use on their own, but they are also recommended for men who have difficulty satisfying women with sex.

Since it is powered by electricity, it is far less tiring than moving your hands by yourself.

This makes it easier to satisfy a woman with sex because you can caress her for longer than usual.

Vibrators are mainly used on the female side, but they can also be used on men.

When used on men, they are used to attack the nipples and glans, and in both cases it is recommended to wear a condom for hygiene reasons.

Introducing how to use the vibrator, its purpose, and how to choose it! Vibrator uses the vibrations caused by the rotation of the motor to provide stimulation. It is one or two of the most...

Dildo

A dildo is a model sextoy made to mimic a male penis.

It can be made of silicone, elastomer (think of it as a material similar to PVC), metal or glass.

A dildo can be used by a man for his female partner during sex, or by a woman for masturbation to get pleasure from it.

They are mainly inserted into women, but some can be used in the male anus as well.

It is sometimes used synonymously with vibrators, but the vibrator is not the same thing as a vibrating device.

A model of a penis that does not vibrate is a dildo.

Some of them have suction cups that can be attached to the floor or wall so that you can enjoy realistic masturbation without using your hands.

For fun, there is a dildo made in the shape of your partners penis.

This one is also popular as a gift, and if youve been together for a long time and are having trouble finding a gift for your partner, you might want to pick one.

To learn more about dildo, please click here.

What is Dildo: Orgasms with Dildos for Men and Women A dildo is a model of a male organ that is used by women for masturbation and by men to stimulate the prostate gland. Th...

Electric Masserger

A Electric Masserger is a hand-held electric massager, also known as a handheld massager, and can usually be purchased at electronics stores.

It was originally designed to relieve stiff shoulders and back pain, so the hurdle of buying one in a physical store is quite low.

Many people may have seen or used it in some form or another, as it is often installed in leisure hotels.

Such a massager is highly recommended for beginners because it is easy for women to get pleasure from it when they use it during masturbation.

It is larger than Egg-Vibrator and vibrations are stronger than those of Egg-Vibrators and vibrators, so even just hitting the clitoris can give you a great deal of pleasure.

For those women who have never had an orgasm during sex with their man, the massager may be a good way to get a feel for what it feels like to have an orgasm.

It looks and feels like an electric massager, so you wont have to feel awkward if your roommate finds out.

If you are in a rut of having sex with your partner, if you want to feel an orgasm through masturbation, or if you are thinking of using a sextoy, why dont you try it from a simple massager?

To learn more about Electric Masserger, click here.

What is a massager? Introducing types, selection methods, and usage Originally, the Magic-wand vibrator and the massage machine were sold as a home massage machine used for the back and th...

How to choose a sextoy for Indian

Now that weve covered the different types of sextoy, heres how to choose one.

Especially if you are trying sextoy for the first time, pay attention to the following three points:  Does the size fit you (the partner)?

Does the size fit you (your partner)?

Is the environment able to produce sound without problems?

Price range

First of all, the choice of size is quite important.

Most sextoy are used against or inserted into the genitals, but the genitals are very delicate organs for both men and women.

For this reason, using an inappropriate size may cause damage.

Secondly, the environment should be able to produce sound without problems.

Some sextoys not only wear, but also rotate and vibrate. Its easier to get pleasure from something that moves than something that doesnt, but the fact that it moves means that the internal rotors make some noise.

If you live in a house with thin walls or if you have roommates, you may not be able to concentrate because of the noise, so it is best to choose one that is silent or has a low noise level.

Especially in India, where many people live with their families, it is very important that you dont have to worry about sound when you use it.

Finally, there is the price range.

The price range of sextoy ranges widely, from around RS500 at the cheapest to RS10,000 or more at the highest.

Its good to consider how much money you can afford and how much you want to buy.

Do you want your family to not find out about sextoy?

I live with my family and want to use sextoy without them finding out! If you are a man, you should buy a camouflage sextoy that does not look like a sextoy at first glance.

For men, there are many masturbators that do not look like a sextoy, and for women, there are vibrators that only look like cosmetics.

If you choose such a type, youll be safe in case your family members find out.

How to buy sextoys in India

The best way to purchase sextoy is through online shopping.

For more information on how to purchase sextoy, please see the article below.

Sextoy is one of them.

Therefore, you can easily get sextoy in India by using online shopping.

SexToysINDIA is a long established and stable sextoy store and you can have sextoy delivered to any place in India.

They also offer cash on delivery, so those who are worried about shopping with a credit card do not have to worry.

Of course, the latest security is in place, so your information will not be taken out when you use your credit card.

To begin with, many people may be concerned about whether they are legally allowed to purchase sextoy.

ikmAs it turns out, its not illegal.

Right now, it is not open to the public because the Indian adult market is still in the development stage, but it will gradually spread from now on.

Take advantage of sextoy and open the door to new pleasures and culture.

Cautions for Indians using sextoy

When using sextoy, keep the following three things in mind

Keep sex toys clean

Watch out for electrical leakage

Beware of the heat generated by the body while using a sex toy

As I mentioned earlier, many sextoy products are used for the delicate zone.

Therefore, it is most important to keep the sextoy itself clean. It is very important to keep the sextoy itself clean, because if a slight scratch is created by friction, bacteria can enter and breed there.

It is safe to wear a condom when using the masturbator, just in case.

In addition, many sextoy devices are powered by a power source, so if they are not waterproof, there is a possibility of electric shock or malfunction due to wetness.

Some may even develop heat during continuous use. If the fever becomes too much, you may get burned, so be careful.

If you get a fever during use, stop driving the sextoy immediately and refrain from using it.

You will enjoy sex more if you keep it safe and use it correctly.

Summary

What did you think?

In this article, we have introduced the recommended sextoy for the beginners of sextoy in India.

The sextoy market is growing rapidly in India and it will continue to grow steadily in the future.

As India is a rather closed-minded country, it can be difficult to be open about ones sexual habits and values.

However, being faithful to ones desires by properly dissolving ones sexual desire is very effective for ones physical and mental health.

If this is your first time to learn about sextoy, or if you are interested in using sextoy, why not give it a try?

Indian Sextoys for ur best! will introduce you to sextoy and other trivia about sextoy, sexuality, and sexuality for men and women.

I want to read more! If you think its a great idea, please bookmark it.
by p. Albert Hisham Naoum

The priest writes to the Muslims fighting intolerance to thank them. His is a response to the Grand Muftis statement. For the Chaldean clergyman, Iraqis must rediscover their "original essence" and go back to a time of innocence when they played as children unconcerned about their respective faiths. Meanwhile, many Muslims are helping rebuilding churches destroyed by fundamentalists.

Baghdad (AsiaNews)  Every Iraqi, Christian or Muslim, must rediscover their "original essence", i.e. their sense of belonging to the country as a citizen, against those who encourage hatred, this according to Fr Albert Hisham Naoum, parish priest of St Paul Chaldean Church in Baghdad, who penned a Thanksgiving letter to Muslims opposed to fundamentalism and divisions.

In his missive, sent to AsiaNews, the clergyman refers to the recent controversy sparked by Iraqs Grand Mufti who told Muslims not to celebrate Christmas and New Year because they are "Christian". Conversely, the priest calls on Iraqis to go back to a time of innocence when children played together "unconcerned about each others religion.

Here is Fr Alberts letter:

The statements by Iraqs Grand Mufti and the head of Iraqs Shia movement, on banning Christmas and New Year Greetings to Christians, have sparked outrage, not only among Christians, but also among many Muslims. The Church, together with some of our Muslim brothers, has strongly condemned such statements, which do not express the spirit of brotherhood that unites us. Thousands of people took to the streets of Baghdad on New Year's Eve - as they have done for a long time - to celebrate the occasion, hoping for peace and quiet for all of Iraq.

Along with statements harmful to the dialogue and unity, for the New Year, many of our Muslim brothers have called for the re-opening of churches shuttered years ago because of religious extremism or Christian emigration. The latter has affected central Baghdad as much as the suburbs and other parts of the country. Muslims gathered in front of local churches and expressed their willingness to clean them up. Many have posted videos on social media, expressing hope that Christians can come home. Such a show of brotherhood is a throwback to a time, many years ago, when everyone was united.

I would very much like the Church to extend a message of thanks to these Muslims. They represent a response to the forces of evil, which led to the seizure of Christiane homes and assets. They are a response to the extremism that drove Christians from their homes and churches. They are an answer to the hate speech and intolerance that have spread and are a positive sign for those who have been affected by a discourse that fuels divisions.

Today more than ever, we need every Iraqi citizen to rediscover their "original essence", which stands against arguments based on differences, but focuses instead on living and sharing every aspect of life with one's fellow citizen, for better or for worse. In Iraq we need to remove the layer of rust that has damaged the metal, which fuels trivial differences and hides personal interests. In Iraq we need to remember the time of our childhood, when Muslim and Christian children played together unconcerned about each others religion . . . How much I miss the days of our childhood!

So, let me say: thank you, our Muslim brothers, who have managed to preserve that "original essence"; thank you, because you have rejected extremism and have not let it enter your homes. On the contrary, you have opened some room for those who are different from you. It is us, on the occasion of this celebration, who want to send you our greetings, who want to pray with you and for you. Let us pray together for Iraq, and for a return to our childhood innocence.
A high-level delegation from Pakistan is in Australia for a three-day meeting of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) that will review the progress made by the government to stop money laundering and terrorism financing.

The 12-member Pakistani team will explain the action plan that the government intends to follow to come into compliance with international obligations and secure an exit from the grey list of the Paris-based watchdog.

The Financial Action Task Force in its Paris meeting in June last year placed Pakistan onto its watch list in a bid to push the country to halt support for militant groups.

Pakistan on Friday dispatched a Terror Financing Risk Assessment Report electronically to FATF followed by a 12-member team led by Secretary Finance Arif Ahmed Khan to Sydney to attend the three-day meeting, beginning Saturday.

The delegation comprised representatives of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and Financial Monitoring Unit.

The official said the delegation will address questions and observations of the FATF on the basis of risk assessment report transmitted to the global anti-terror financing watchdog.

The report highlights the implementation status of plans for various agencies of the government on the FATF's recommendations.

The report identified some key routes of the terror financing and money laundering, saying Pak-Afghan and Pak-Iran borders were two key routes of such flows, the daily said.

To address the challenge, checking and security systems at Pak-Afghan border had been strengthened with improved technology and vigilance while security had also been beefed up at Pak-Iran border, the report said.

The report said that the long coastal belt was also a source of smuggling and security was being tightened through law enforcement agencies, including through marine and coast guards.

It said the tools being used for financial transaction for terrorism included donations, cash smuggling, natural resources, drugs, non-governmental organisations and foreign agencies.

In June 2018, Pakistan made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and APG to strengthen its AML/CFT regime and to address its strategic counter-terrorism financing-related deficiencies by implementing a 10-point action plan to accomplish these objectives.

The successful implementation of the action plan and its physical verification by the APG will lead the FATF to clear Pakistan out of its grey list or else move into the black list by September 2019.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pakistan army fired mortar shells at forward posts and civilians areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir Saturday, in violation of the ceasefire for the four consecutive days, officials said.

The number of ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops along the LoC and the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir in 2018 was the highest at over 1,600.

Pakistani army also fired mortar bombs at forward posts and civilian areas inPoonch sector Friday, they said.

They targeted Mankote, Khadi Karmara, Gulpur areas without any causality or injury to anyone. The firing and shelling from continued till late night, they said.

Indian troops guarding the border retaliated strongly, they said.

Pakistani troops shelled forward posts and civilian areas in Poonch the previous three days as well.

Despite repeated calls for restraint and adherence to the ceasefire understanding of 2003 for maintaining peace and tranquility, Pakistani forces have launched unprovoked attacks along the LoC and the IB, they said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Istanbul-based Orthodox patriarch on Saturday signed the formal decree confirming the creation of an independent Ukrainian church, marking a break with the Russian church that has angered Moscow.

The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, the leading authority in Orthodox Christianity, signed the decree known as Tomos at a ceremony in Istanbul.

Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko and former Ukrainian president Viktor Yushchenko were on hand to witness the ceremony.

"Dear Ukrainians, this is a historic event! This is a great day!" Poroshenko said as he thanked the Orthodox patriarch.

"Once more, words of great gratitude in the name of the Ukrainian people, in the name of our nation to Your Holiness... It took us a very long time to get here."



The Ecumenical Patriarchate had first agreed to recognise the independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in October. Then in December a historic council of Orthodox bishops in Kiev created the independent body.

The Russian Orthodox Church cut ties with the Constantinople Patriarchate in protest at the move, which dealt a huge blow to Moscow's spiritual authority in the Orthodox world.

Vladimir Legoida, a spokesman for the Moscow church, denounced the decree as "a document that is the result of irrepressible political and personal ambitions".

It had been "signed in violation of the canons and therefore not possessing any canonical force," Legoida added in a statement.

The Ukrainian church's new leader is Metropolitan Yepifaniy. Yepifaniy, whose secular name is Sergiy Dumenko, has been a critic of Moscow's religious influence in Ukraine and has supported Kiev's army against pro-Russian rebels.

Ukraine and Russia have been at loggerheads since 2014, when Kiev street protests urging Ukrainian integration with Europe led to the ousting of pro-Moscow president Viktor Yanukovych.

Russia subsequently annexed Crimea and has supported Russian-speaking separatists in Ukraine's east, in a conflict that has claimed the lives of more than 10,000 people.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday accused Odisha government of not being serious about the welfare of women and girls and urged it to re-investigate the Pipili gang rape and murder.

"This (state) government could not give justice to a girl in an incident that took place seven to eight years ago in Puri district. It is natural that women and girls are angry over laxity in investigation into the case for which the victim has been denied justice," Modi said at a BJP rally here.

A 19-year-old dalit girl was raped in 2011 and died in coma in 2012 sparking a state-wide furore over the incident.

"I urge the Odisha government to re-investigate the incident with all seriousness so that the people of evil character get a strong message," said the prime minister who paid a second visit in less than a fortnight to the state where assembly polls are slated to be held along with the Lok Sabha elections.

Describing the track record of the Odisha government in protecting women and girls as "not good", he said while the central government had made provisions like death penalty for the perpetrators of crime against women the security and safety of women is in question in Odisha.

Reacting to the Prime Minister Modi's remarks on the Pipili rape and murder case, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said in Bhubaneswar, "We are following the case very forcefully."



On December 24 a local court in Bhubaneswar had acquitted the accused persons as the police crime branch failed to provide the required evidence against them. The women activists of the Congress and BJP have been staging demonstrations seeking justice for the girl.

Modi said Odisha should take benefit of the central schemes launched by the NDA government at the Centre for the welfare of women, girls and children. "But I am sorry that the state government is not serious about schemes for women's welfare."



The state is also lagging behind others in education, health, employment and other fronts though the BJD government is at the helm of the state for about two decades, he said.

Modi, who had criticised the Odisha government for not joining Ayushman Bharat scheme and implementing its own health scheme during his December 24 visit, urged it to implement the central health programme and not to keep away poor beneficiaries from availing its benefits.

Continuing his criticism of the Odisha government on the health front, the prime minister said it had shown minimal interest in carrying out the vaccination programme under Mission Indradhanush and lakhs of poor families are deprived of its benefits though the country has made significant progress under the scheme.

Development can only be achieved by coordination between the Centre and the state, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Uttar Pradesh Tourism Minister Rita Bahaguna Joshi Saturday said that there is "no scope" for any debate on Ram temple at Ayodhya after the Prime Minister's statement on it.

"There is no scope left for any debate on the issue (of Ram temple at Ayodhya) after the prime minister's statement on it. This is a country of 120 crore people and everyone has right to express his/her opinion on any issue. But what PM says is the government's line... And sub-judice matter should not be discussed in open," she told reporters here.

Modi had said on Tuesday that his government will not bring an ordinance on the issue of Ram Mandir while the matter is being heard in the Supreme Court.

When asked that party leader Subramanian Swamy has demanded that the government should give the acquired land to the VHP for construction of temple, Joshi said "the entire issue of (title of) the land is pending in the Supreme Court which is analysing it... Let the court do its job which has fixed Janaury 10 as the next date (in the matter)."



The UP minister was here to extend invitation for Kumbh Mela beginning on January 15 at Prayagraj.

Joshi said that she met Bihar Governor Lalji Tandon, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, Bihar Assembly Speaker Vijay Kumar Choudhary, Bihar BJP chief Nityanand Rai and extended invitation on behalf of the UP CM Yogi Adityanath to visit Kumbh Mela.

She appealed to people of Bihar to take part in Kumbh Mela.

Asked about the security arrangements, the minister asserted that "a very good arrangement has been made this year."



There is no possibility of any untoward incident as a special emphasis has been laid on security aspect with 30,000 police personnel including 15,00 women police have been deployed in Mela area with integrated control and command centre equipped with 1400 CCTVs, she said.

The Kumbh Mela is being organised at 3,200 hectares of land this year against 1700 hectares of last time, she said adding that 1.22 lakh toilets have been built apart from 40,000 LED lights. Kumbha, which would begin on January 15, will come to an end on March 4, 2019.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
NIA officials arrived in Visakhapatnam Saturday to take up the investigation into the knife attack on YSR Congress chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy in October last year, as the central agency probe sparked a fresh round of verbal duel between the main opposition party and ruling TDP in Andhra Pradesh.

In the absence of either a court order or a written directive from the state government, the Visakhapatnam city police allegedly refused to hand over the probe to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), top police sources here said.

The NIA, based in Hyderabad, had filed an FIR in the case on January 1.

A NIA inspector arrived in Visakhapatnam Saturday and approached the Special Investigation Team of the Visakhapatnam city police for details related to the case, the sources said.

The inspector also reportedly sought logistics support but the SIT allegedly refused to oblige, they said.

"The NIA came with only a circular issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, that the case has been handed over to it for investigation.

There is neither an order of the High Court nor an order from the state government in this regard. As such we cant give away any records of the case," a top police official said.

The main accused in the case Srinivasa Rao is currently in judicial custody in Visakhapatnam jail.

Reddy, the Leader of the Opposition in Andhra Pradesh assembly, escaped with a "deep" cut on his left shoulder in the attack by Rao, who had approached him when he was leaving the VIP lounge to board a flight to Hyderabad and requested for a 'selfie'.

As an unsuspecting Reddy posed for the picture, the man pulled out a small knife generally used in cockfights and plunged it into his left shoulder.

He was overpowered by the CISF personnel guarding the airport and later arrested by police soon after the attack, which drew strong political reactions.

The YSRC had claimed that the cafeteria where the assailant was employed was owned by ruling Telugu Desam Party leader Harshavardhan, who was aspiring to contest the next assembly election from the district.

The opposition party had demanded a "third party inquiry by a Central government agency" into the attack.

A top police official had said on Wednesday that the attack had been carried out by the accused for becoming 'famous' and there was no conspiracy.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, addressing a public meeting in Srikakulam district Saturday, said handing over of the case to the NIA proved the Centre's "highhandedness."



When the accused himself claimed he attacked Reddy only to create sympathy for the latter and when the state police is conducting a probe, where is the need for handing over the case to the NIA, Naidu asked.

Taking strong exception to his remarks, YSRC MLA R K Roja wanted to know why Naidu was reluctant to hand over the case to the NIA.

When the case related to the killing of MLA Kidari Sarveswara Rao could be entrusted to the NIA, why could not the same be done in Reddy's case, she asked.

Rao and former legislator Siveri Soma were shot dead, allegedly by CPI (Maoist), in September last year at Lippitiputta village when they went there to take part in a 'grama darsini' (village visit) programme.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The influential NESO and the AASU Saturday called for a north-east and Assam bandh on January 8 to protest the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement that the bill will be passed by Parliament soon.

Modi told an election rally near Silchar in Assam's Barak Valley on Friday that the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, would be passed soon in the Parliament as a "penance against the injustice and many wrongs done in the past".

Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharyya, the chief advisor of the North East Students Union (NESO) and All Assam Students Union (AASU) told a press conference here on Saturday that the 11-hour bandh was called by the two organisations along with allied 30 ethnic organisations in Assam to oppose the bill and condemn the PM's statement.

After a meeting with 30 ethnic communities to discuss its future course of action following the PM's announcement, Bhattacharyya said they decided to intensify their movement against "forceful imposition of the bill on the people of Assam and the North East region and to call the bandh was against our will. We are calling a bandh after 10-years".

The bandh will be in force from 5 am to 4 pm, he said.

All scheduled examinations, All Bodo Students Union, Gorkha cultural meet, Kesab Mahanta National Theatre Festival and essential services were exempted from the purview of the bandh, he added.

ASSU president Dipanka Nath alleged that "PM has no respect for democracy and its principles. He has undemocratically imposed the bill on the people here. He has no respect for the sentiments of the indigenous people of the region. It is a conspiracy to silence the democratic voice of the indigenous people ..."



"Assam is ours and not a dustbin for Bangladeshis. The Central and Assam government have pushed us to the agitational path. The Modi government at the Centre by imposing the bill and the Sarbananda Sonowal government by not opposing ... have inflicted mental torture on the indigenous people of Assam threatening their existence, identity, language, culture and heritage," he said.

Terming the bill as "undemocratic, religion centric", AASU general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi claimed, "the central government wants to impose Bangladeshis on us ..."



Speaking about the agitational programme chalked out at the meeting, he said that on January 7, the day the JPC tables it report on the bill in Parliament, copies of the report will be burnt across the state and on January 23 there would be mass protest marches in Assam followed by public meetings.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 was introduced in the Lok Sabha to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955 to grant Indian citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians, who fled religious persecution in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan and entered India before December 31, 2014.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The National Cadet Corps is "well on track" to achieve a strength of 15 lakh members by 2020, its Director General said Saturday, while asserting that the NCC was expanding its footprint in left-wing extremism affected region and remote areas.

The current authorised strength of NCC is 14.2 lakh, Director General of the NCC, Lt Gen. P P Malhotra told reporters here, adding, 2,070 cadets, including 698 girl cadets, drawn from the 17 directorates covering all the states and union territories are participating in the Republic Day camp in Delhi Cantonment.

"This also includes 102 cadets from Jammu and Kashmir and 162 from the north-east," he said.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu is slated to officially inaugurate the Republic Day NCC Camp on Monday, a senior official said.

Malhotra, during a press conference here, also said, girl cadets constitute about 31.84 per cent of the NCC strength, and target is to take that figure to 33-34 per cent.

Asked about NCC's penetration in left-wing extremism (LWE) affected and remote areas, he said, the corps is reaching out to these areas as par its expansion plan.

Malhotra said there are challenges in these areas, but the training staff go to these regions and "we are getting positive response".

"In Bastar area, we did a camp, and people from neighbouring areas also took part. We also did 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' camp in Srinagar, and people came not only from Jammu, but other places too," he said.

During his visit to last year's NCC camp, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre had said the expansion of the corps was underway with a focus on left-wing extremism affected region, the northeast and coastal areas.

The NCC strength is being expanded as part of a five-phase programme, which seeks to achieve a strength of 15 lakh by 2019-2020.

Malhotra said, the fourth phase of the expansion is currently underway. "We are moving up, and 14.2 lakh is our authorised strength. And, we are quite sure to reach our target by 2020," he said.

He added that over 16,000 educational institutions are enrolled with the NCC and more than 8,000 institutions are on the waiting list.

The camp will be visited by several other dignitaries, including the defence minister, minister of state for defence, the chiefs of three armed forces, the Delhi chief minister, and culminate with the Prime Minister's Rally.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Farm cooperative major Saturday announced setting up 100 bio- manufacturing facilities using agri-waste such as stubble through public-private partnership (PPP) with an estimated investment of Rs 5,000 crore.

The first three centres will come up in Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh, which is the largest sugarcane producing state where waste from sugar mills is available in abundance, Managing Director Sanjeev K Chadha said.

"An agreement has already been signed with 4-5 private investors like Reliance, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and technology provider. Initially, 100 units will be set up across the country with an estimated cost of about Rs 5,000 crore," Chadha told reporters.

Another agreement has been signed with Indian Oil for purchase of bio- from the plants at a rate of Rs 48 per kg, he said.

Chadha said that presently is in the processing of mapping farm waste from sugar mills, mandis and other areas to ensure assured supply. Farmers' aggregators will also be identified from whom the agri-waste will be purchased.

Already, work is in progress in setting up of first three units in Muzaffarnagar, which is expected to be completed soon, he added.

Nafed chief further said that each unit will have a capacity to process at least 100-300 tonne agri-waste, from which one-tenth of the will be produced.

The focus initially will be in Delhi and NCR. Gradually, the number of units will be increased in other parts of the country, he said.

More private are keen to partner in such an initiate in order to reduce their carbon print and fulfil the green commitment, he added.

Nafed's primary business activities entails procurement of notified oilseeds and pulses at the minimum support price either under two government schemes PSS and PSF.

It is also into production and marketing of certified seeds, bio-fertilisers, sale of milled pulses, organic products, among others.

The cooperative said it had achieved a gross profit of Rs 252 crore during the 2017-18 fiscal with a turnover of Rs 3,213 crore.
The BJP on Saturday appointed Union ministers J P Nadda and Piyush Goyal as Lok Sabha election in-charge for Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu respectively, days after it made similar appointments for 17 states.

Party sources also clarified that Gordhan Zadaphia, a Gujarat leader who was a critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi before returning to the BJP, would be one of the six co-incharges for the state, adding that a big state like UP needs several co-incharges.

It was earlier reported that Zadaphia would be the Uttar Pradesh in-charge. So far, the BJP has appointed three co-incharges for the state.

A BJP statement said Nadda, who enjoys the trust of Modi and party president Amit Shah, will be overall in-charge for the state that sends 80 members, more than any other state, to the Lok Sabha.

Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman will be in-charge for Delhi, former minister Kalraj Mishra for Haryana. Avinash Rai Khanna has been roped in for Tripura, and Jammu and Kashmir but the party may appoint a more senior leaders as in-charge for these states, sources said.

Goyal has been given the responsibility for Puducherry, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

BJP general secretary Muralidhar Rao will be the Lok Sabha election in-charge for Karnataka, the statement said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The state-run Madhya Pradesh Power Management Company Saturday set a record by supplying 14050 MW electricity in a single day, a senior official said Saturday.

"For the first time in the history of Madhya Pradesh, 14050 MW power demand was met successfully without any disturbance," MP Power Management Company managing director Sanjay Shukla told PTI.

The power demand during current the Rabi season from December onwards kept growing from 13201 MW (December 2) and peaked to over 14000 MW on January 5, which was successfully met, he informed.

"With this achievement, Madhya Pradesh has joined the category of those states in the country which have successfully supplied over 14,000 MW power in a day," Shukla said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Saturday gave its nod to waive crop loans of 55 lakh farmers in the state while extending the eligibility cut-off date to December 12, 2018 from previous March 31, 2018.

Under the scheme, farm loans up to Rs two lakh taken by farmers from nationalised, cooperative and regional banks, will be waived.

The crop loan waiver, a poll promise of the Congress, was announced hours after Kamal Nath took oath as chief minister of Madhya Pradesh in December last year.

The previous cut-off date of March 31, 2018 announced by the newly-formed government was criticised by the opposition BJP which said it would effectively mean many farmers staying out of the ambit of the loan waiver scheme.

Addressing a press conference after the Cabinet meeting here Saturday, Minister for Public Relations P C Sharma and his ministerial colleague Jitu Patwari said the benefits of the farm loan waiver would start reaching the farmers from February 22 this year.

"Cabinet today approved the farm loan waiver scheme for farmers. It also extended the cut-off date up to December 12, 2018 from previously announced March 31, 2018," said Patwari.

He said farm loan defaulters from April 1, 2007 are included under the ambit of the scheme.

The ministers said the loan waiver would benefit about 55 lakh eligible farmers including about 35 lakh small and marginal agriculturists.

"Farm loans taken from cooperative, regional and nationalised banks are included under the purview of this scheme," Patwari said.

Responding to a question, the minister said the cost of entire farm loan waiver scheme to the state exchequer is yet to be calculated.

"As per rough estimates, this scheme would cost somewhere between Rs 35,000- Rs 50,000-crore," Patwari said.

He said chief executive officer of every block would be responsible for implementation of the loan waiver scheme.

"Eligible farmers will need to fill different forms as per the identity proofs they are having. A green form would be filled by those who have Aadhaar card and white form by those farmers who possess identity proofs other than Aadhaar card. Farmers not having any ID proof will have to fill a pink coloured form," he explained.

Patwari said the farmers who pay Income Tax, and those who are government employees, are not eligible to claim the loan waiver.

He said Cabinet has also cleared a proposal to increase the financial assistance provided under the 'Kanyadan Yojana' to Rs 51,000 from previous Rs 28,000.

Under the Kanyadan Yojana, the government provides the financial assistance for marriage of girls coming from poor families.

Meanwhile, former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has termed the extension of the farm loan waiver cut-off date as a victory of the BJP and farmers in the state.

"The increasing the cut-off date from March 31, 2018 to December 12, 2018 is the victory of farmers' and our struggle. Now, I demand that government should take immediate action to compensate the farmers whose crops were damaged due to frost (sic)," tweeted Chouhan.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a rally at Solapur in south Maharashtra on January 9.

He would also launch a few development projects of the state government on this occasion, a BJP source said.

BJP president Amit Shah is slated to address a meeting of the party's booth-level workers at Latur in central Maharashtra Sunday.

The BJP source said that Modi and Shah's scheduled visits to the state indicate the party is getting into election mode as Lok Sabha polls are near.

Earlier this week, Shah reportedly asked the party's Maharashtra MPs to be prepared to contest coming elections alone if an alliance with the Shiv Sena did not materialise.

BJP is in alliance with the Sena in Maharashtra and at the Centre. The Sena has been critical of the BJP and its leaders have spoken of contesting the Lok Sabha elections alone.

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Janata Dal (Secular) supremo H D Deve Gowda on Saturday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should speak on the Rafale deal in Parliament as charges had been levelled directly against him.

The former prime minister also hailed Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for her speech on the issue in the Lok Sabha on Friday, but said it was not sufficient.

In her point-by-point reply on the Rafale debate, Sitharaman put up a spirited defence of the deal and launched a counter-attack on the Congress.

"Why can't the prime minister come to the House and speak? The defence minister argued well but that's a different matter," Gowda told reporters here.

"The charge is against the prime minister. Be it the prime minister or any other leader, when there is a charge, he should come before the House," he said.

The JD(S) chief felt that Modi has given the people a reason to doubt him by not speaking on the issue.

"It is not a question of whether he (Modi) is right or someone else is. But the only problem is why the prime minister is not coming to respond to the question," Gowda said.

He said the prime minister was giving interviews and was set to address 200 rallies, but what was more important was that he should have spoken in Parliament as well.

"My advice to the prime minister is that when such an allegation is made, he should be in the House and face it," Gowda said.

The Congress has been targeting Modi on the multi-million dollar fighter jet deal.

It alleges alleging that price of each aircraft was sharply hiked from around Rs 526 crore, negotiated under the deal during the UPA, to Rs 1,600 crore and that the deal will help Anil Ambani get Rs 30,000 crore benefit through offset contract.

Raising the issue of delay in the appointment of the Lokpal, Gowda said he had cleared the proposal for the ombudsman in his 10-month tenure as prime minister.

In his version of the ombudsman law, the prime minister was brought under its ambit, he said.

The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Centre to place an affidavit on steps taken till date for Lokpal's appointment and expressed its displeasure over the tardy progress made in this regard.

Speaking about his party's campaigning programme ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Gowda said there was a need to inform the masses about the pro-people work done by Karnataka's Congress-JD(S) government led by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy.

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Lashing out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over demonetisation and GST, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday dubbed him as an "incompetent man who listens to nobody".

The Congress president accused Modi of destroying India's growth story through these two measures.

"Congress built the India growth story. Modi has used demonetisation and the Gabbar Singh Tax to completely destroy it. He's an incompetent man who listens to nobody," Gandhi tweeted, citing a media report.

The report claimed that demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax were headed to look like bigger failures (than they actually are) due to flow of black money and tax evasion.

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A 42-year-old man was arrested Saturday for reportedly shooting to death his minor son during a celebratory firing in northeast Delhi's New Usmanpur, police said.

The accused has been identified as Yasin, they said.

The incident comes days after a woman architect died when a former JD(U) MLA fired celebratory shots in the air during a New Year's eve party at his farm house in Fatehpur Beri.

On December 31, New Usmanpur police station was informed that a person was shot in the area, police said.

Rehan (8) was hit by a bullet on his right cheek during the celebratory firing, a senior police officer said.

The child was rushed to a hospital where he was declared brought dead, the officer said.

Subsequently, a case was registered, he said.

"During the investigation, Yasin, father of the deceased, emerged as the prime suspect," Atul Kumar Thakur, Deputy Commissioner of Police (northeast), said.

The accused later confessed that he took the firearm from one Ravi Kashyap (21), a resident of Loni in Uttar Pradesh. He fired in the air and the bullet accidentally hit his son who was present at the celebration, the officer said.

Kashyap has also been arrested, police said, adding the weapon has been found.

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Two ministerial panels under the Council will meet on Sunday to decide on hiking the exemption threshold for MSMEs and feasibility of levying calamity cess under the new indirect regime, officials said.

The six-member Group of Ministers (GoM) on MSME, headed by Minister of State for Finance Shiv Pratap Shukla, would deliberate on the problems faced by micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) under and scope for hiking exemption threshold for such units.

Currently, businesses with an annual turnover of up to Rs 20 lakh are exempt from the (GST).

The other members of the MSME GoM, which was constituted in August last year, are Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi, Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Finance Minister and Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal.

Another GoM, headed by Sushil Modi, on levy of calamity cess under too is scheduled to meet on January 6, the officials added.

The Modi-led GoM had in October last year decided to seek states' views on whether a state-specific or a nationwide 'disaster tax' should be levied under the GST.

The GST Council, the highest decision-making body of the new regime, had in September last year set up the seven-member GoM to consider a cess for flood rehabilitation.

Apart from Sarma, Isaac and Badal, the other members of the calamity cess GoM include Odisha Finance and Excise Minister Sashi Bhusan Behera, Maharashtra Finance and Excise Minister Sudhir Murgantiwar and Uttarakhand Finance Minister Prakash Pant.

The decisions of the two ministerial panels would be placed before the when it meets next on January 10.

The council, among other things, would also discuss lowering GST on under-construction flats and houses to 5 per cent from 12 per cent.

It would also consider a composition scheme for small suppliers and rationalisation of tax rates on lottery. Currently, state-organised lottery attracts 12 per cent GST, while state-authorised lottery attracts 28 per cent.
The father of Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex after her wedding to Prince Harry, on Saturday made another emotional plea for the actress-turned-royal to make contact with him.

Thomas Markle, a former Hollywood lighting director, has not heard from his daughter or son-in-law since their wedding in May last year and in a new interview from his home in Rosarito, Mexico, he told 'The Sun' that he will keep reaching out and probably get "louder".

"It's like a dream that has turned into a nightmare. The royals and Meghan can help end this nightmare by simply giving me a call. To this day, I cannot think of anything I've done to deserve how I'm being treated now," the 74-year-old said.

"I've been a good father I've done nothing wrong. Axe murderers kill 19 people and their daughters still come and visit them in prison. It's just incomprehensible for Meghan to treat me this way," he said.

In reference to Harry, he said he is looking forward to their first meeting and urged his son-in-law to break the silence.

He said, "Man up and get over it. If I'm the first person who's insulted you or hurt your feelings, you've got a long way to go. He's human just like the rest of us. I feel that he feels he is above everyone else and that he has a right to talk down to people. And I cannot accept that. It feels like arrogance".

Thomas Markle was set to walk his daughter down the aisle for her grand wedding to Harry at Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018, but had to cancel due to medical reasons.

A controversy surrounding his collusion with paparazzi photographers in the lead up to the wedding had caused a major furore. In recent television interviews, Thomas Markle has accused the couple of "ghosting" him despite his numerous apologies.

"I'll keep talking and I'll probably get louder. Meghan and Harry's silence empowers all the crazy tweets and insults against me and my family," he warned.

While praising his daughter on settling into her new royal role by being herself and choosing to hug people on royal visits, Thomas Markle also urged her to end any rift there might be with her sister-in-law, Prince William's wife Kate Middleton.

"If there is any animosity between Meghan and Kate they should put their differences aside. I'm very upset by the criticism Meghan is getting. I don't think she deserves it and I don't think she is doing one third of the things she is being accused of doing," he said, attacking media reports of the alleged royal rift.

Harry and Meghan are expecting their first child in a few months and Thomas Markle said he hoped he would be able to play a part in his grandchild's life.

"The bottom line is that I've done nothing to deserve this kind of treatment. I cannot cut my tongue out and never speak again," he said.

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Union minister Smriti Irani Saturday said she wasn't sure if she would be available to attend the inauguration of the Indian Women Science Congress in 2021 to which she has been invited.

Addressing the inaugural session of the Women Science Congress here, she also said 2019 will not be an easy year.

She said Vijay Laxmi Saxena, the president-elect of the Indian Women Science Congress for 2020-21, had invited her for a session in 2021.

"I don't know the scientific probability of me being around in 2021. But, nonetheless, I accept her invitation with grace and gratitude," she said.

With the opposition trying to regroup, the BJP-led government is seeking a second term in the Lok Sabha election expected to be held in April-May this year.

Irani had unsuccessfully contested the 2014 polls from Amethi against Congress party president Rahul Gandhi.

"I have a 15-year-old who is preparing for her tenth Board (exam) and my son who is in the XIIth standard, preparing for his board. I mean, 2019 is not going to be easy for anyone of us," she said.

Saxena will lead the Indian Science Congress in 2021, said P P Mathur, the general secretary for scientific activities for the ISC.

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Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das Saturday said that the completion of the multi-crore rupee Mangal Dam will bring with it a new hope in the lives of farmers of the state.

Addressing a public meeting, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid foundation stones for six projects at Chiyanki airport ground here, he said the entire Palamau division comprising Garhwa and Latehar districts have always been drought-prone, due to which the farmers have been forced to migrate in search of livelihood, despite having their own land.

He said once the construction work is completed, the farmers will be able to grow two-three crops.

He said that the UPA under the tenure of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh took no initiative to complete the pending projects.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi should be thanked on behalf of the entire state for making efforts for completion of the project which would help the farmers of Bihar and Jharkhand, he said.

Till 2014, the irrigation facility was available on 91,323 hecatre of land but in these four years it has increased to 2.10 lakh hectare, which is more than 100 percent increase, Das said.

Das said that former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Sashtri had given the slogan of 'Jai Jawan Jai Kissan', which under the tenure of UPA government, became pathetic but things changed under Modi, and the double engine of growth was ensuring all round development of Jharkhand.

He said that in the month of April farmers will get separate feeders through which they would get six hours of uninterrupted power for agricultural purposes.

He said that under Ujjwala Yojana the state was giving free LPG connections to people along with stove, and was also paying for the first refill of the cylinder.

In the next phase another 14 lakh women, who have ration and Aadhar cards, would be provided LPG connections since the government wants to make sure that at least 60 per cent of poor women use LPG to cook food, the chief minister said.

He also said that under the Mukhyamantri Krishi Aashirwad Yojana, a sum of Rs 2,250 crore would be spent, so that farmers can get Rs 5,000 per acre to sow their crops before the Kharif season.

This would help in removing the middlemen also, he said, adding, Jharkhand was the lone state, which was paying the premium for the crop insurance.

The chief minister said that he did not believe in making tall claims but asked the people to ponder over between the difference of 2014 and 2018 and ask opposition the questions as to why they kept on "looting" the common man. '



Launching an attack on the Congress, including Rahul and Sonia Gandhi, he said that both of them are worried as their "wrong-doings" and "scams" were coming out in the open, and their sole aim was to remove Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He alleged that the Congress and all the other opposition parties only used the poor for their vote-bank politics in the last 67 years, and looted them.

He said that the opposition is only making false allegations to mislead people and asked the masses to stand with the Prime Minister so that the dream of New India can be realised.

The chief minister also highlighted the benefits of 'Mukhyamantri Sukanya Yojana' that encourages girls' education.

Jharkhand Governor Draupadi Murmu, Union Minister of state Sudarshan Bhagat, Chatra MP Sunil Singh, Palamau MP VD Ram, Aurangabad MP Sushil Kumar Singh, Gaya MP Hari Manjhi, Gopal Narayan Singh MP Rajya Sabha, Cabinet Ministers of Jharkhand Ramchandra Chandravanshi, CP Singh, and MLAs Harekishan Singh and Alok Chourasia were present on the occasion.

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The BJP on Saturday claimed credit for Vijay Mallya being declared a fugitive economic offender, saying it was done under a law enacted by the Modi Government, and termed it as "a feather in its cap" in the fight against corruption.

The party alleged that Mallya grew under the "patronage" of Congress government which gave him "extraordinary help", before he "fled with Rs 9,000 crore of the country's money".

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said Mallya, accused of defaulting on loan repayments and money laundering, is the first businessman to be declared an FEO by court under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, and noted that the law was enacted by the Narendra Modi government in August last year.

"It is a feather in the cap for BJP's fight against corruption," he said.

He told a press conference that the law was brought in by the government to ensure that absconders like Mallya are brought to justice and attacked the previous Congress dispensation.

"Mallya grew under the patronage of the Congress government. Despite him being bankrupt, he was given loans and his loans were even restructured. He fled with Rs 9,000 crore of the country's money," he said.

Patra alleged that Mallya was in touch with Congress leaders and read out from a purported letter the liquor baron wrote to the then prime minister Manmohan Singh in which "he thanks him for his help and also begged for aid in securing a loan".

He claimed that Singh directed his secretary to help Mallya, and on November 14, 2011, in a press conference, the former PM had said that ways needed to be found to help Kingfisher.

"This is the difference between the previous government and us that they gave him extraordinary help, but in our regime we declared him a offender and fugitive.

"Various senior Congress leaders used to get favours from Mallya in return. Nabbing Mallya and winning the extradition was our strict action against such fugitive offenders who flee after taking huge amount of loan from India and then make fool of our government and government agencies," he said.

The Enforcement Directorate had requested the Prevention of Money Laundering Act court in Mumbai that Mallya, who is currently in the UK, be declared a fugitive and his properties be confiscated and brought under the control of the Union government.

Special judge M S Azmi declared Mallya an FEO under Section 12 of the Act after hearing extensive arguments from Mallya's lawyer and the ED counsel.

Mallya had left India in March 2016.

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Rajasthan government on Saturday directed health department officials to make arrangements like isolation wards, separate OPD and ICUs for swine flu patients in hospitals in the wake of spurt in H1N1 influenza cases in the state.

Swine flu has claimed three lives and 120 positive cases were found in the state in last four days.

Health Minister Raghu Sharma has also directed chief medical and health officers to set up rapid action force for door-to-door screening in the flu affected areas, a spokesperson of the department said.

"The minister gave necessary directions to the official for making arrangements like separate OPDs, isolation wards for swine flu patients. Arrangement for swine flu testing has been made at all major hospitals in the state," the spokesperson said.

The stock of medicines is adequate to deal with the situation, he said.

Last Saturday, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has also directed health department officials to check the spread of swine flu in the state with special focus on the five districts where the number of cases has seen a spurt in recent months.

During a high-level meeting, the chief minister asked the officials to focus on Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Udaipur and Baran districts.

A total of 22,172 people in the state were tested for swine flu from January 1 to December 28 last year. Out of them, 2,315 were diagnosed positive and 218 had died.

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A rebel BJP MLA in Maharashtra on Saturday alleged that



some state ministers belonging to the party had got Electronic Voter Machines (EVMs) "hacked" to win the local body polls held recently, a charge rubbished by the BJP.

Anil Gote, who represents Dhule in Maharashtra Assembly and had recently announced his decision to quit the BJP as he was unhappy with the party's choice of candidates for civic polls, said at a press conference here that he has approached the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court on the alleged hacking issue.

Gote questioned as to how wherever BJP minister Girish Mahajan was given responsibility by the party - Dhule, Jamner, Jalgaon, the BJP won exactly the same number of seats as predicted by the minister. He also questioned the role of two other ministers as well.

He alleged that some leaders in the BJP had managed to deploy people to "hack" EVMs . He also claimed that some of his party workers had got in touch with an "agent of one of these hackers" and had recorded the telephonic conversations. He played the clippings of the purported conversations at the press conference.

BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari refuted Gote's allegations, terming them as a "cooked up story".

"We do not even know if EVMs can be hacked. The BJP has neither hacked the machines nor believes in doing anything against the spirit of democracy," Bhandari told PTI.

The BJP had won 50 seats in the 74-member Dhule Municipal Corporation in polls held last month.

The disgruntled leader had fielded his candidates in the Dhule civic polls under the banner of Lok Sangram but managed to win just one seat. He had won the 2009 Assembly election from Dhule as an Independent and had joined the BJP ahead of the 2014 state polls.

He was earlier arrested in connection with the multi crore stamp paper scam and is now out on bail. Gote has denied any involvement in the scam.

The MLA claimed on Saturday that he met Director General of Police Datta Padsalgikar and was ready to submit all proof in his possession if the latter was willing to appoint either an IAS or IPS officer to conduct a probe.

"But he was not ready to take cognisance of my complaint," he claimed, adding that he has now approached the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court.

"The first date of hearing is on February 7," he said.

Padsalgikar was unavailable for comment.

When asked if he had complained to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Gote said, "I have tried everything. I will not say he is backing them (in the hacking of EVMs) but he is supporting them."



Despite several attempts, Fadnavis and Mahajan remained unavailable for comment.

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A senior Kerala minister Saturday attacked the Sabarimala temple's Tantri (chief priest), calling him a "Brahmin monster" for conducting a 'purification' ceremony after two women in the menstrual age group entered the shrine.

The women, Kanakadurga (44) and Bindu (42), entered the shrine and offered prayers on Wednesday, breaking a centuries-old tradition. Following this, the tantri, Kandaru Rajeevaru, closed the sanctum sanctorum to perform the 'purification' ceremony.

Kerala public works department (PWD) minister and senior CPI(M) leader G Sudhakaran asked if a man who treated "a sister as impure" can be considered human.

"The tantri is a symbol of caste devil. He is not a Brahmin. He is a Brahmin monster. If a Brahmin becomes a monster, he will be a terror," he told reporters here.

"He is not a 'shuddha (pure) Brahmin'. He does not have any love, respect and allegiance towards Lord Ayyappa," the minister alleged.

Kanakadurga and Bindu had entered the hallowed precincts, guarded by police.

Their entry into the shrine came three months after the Supreme Court's historic judgement lifting the ban on the entry of girls and women between 10 to 50 years of age into the hilltop shrine of Lord Ayyappa -- the eternally celibate deity.

Despite the court's ruling, which came on September 28 last year, no one from the 'barred' age group was able to offer prayers at the shrine because of frenzied protests by devotees and right-wing outfits.

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The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) has called for a two-day strike to protest against the varsity for allegedly spending nearly Rs 13 lakh to host spiritual gurus Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Sadhguru.

The students' body claimed that JNU's vice-chancellor had denied registration to a visually challenged student of the Centre for Japanese Studies, Munesh, who was failed due to lack of facilities as the varsity faced a paucity of funds.

However, the VC has spent nearly Rs 13 lakh to host babas like Sadhguru and Sri Sri, the JNUSU alleged in a statement.

It has called for a two-day strike on January 8 and 9 against "financial corruption" by the VC and his cronies.

"JNU VC spent nearly Rs 87,000 alone on flight tickets for Sri Sri for a programme hosted by the varsity administration. The administration spent Rs 2.3 lakh on Sri Sri's programme and Rs 1.19 lakh for hosting Sadhguru in JNU under the budget head "Annual Day Celebration"," the JNUSU claimed.

It added that JNU VC had administered an 80 per cent fund cut to library, has not completely disbursed the merit-cum-means scholarships to BA-MA students till date and increased spending on security by 89 per cent.

The JNUSU said it saw this "extravaganza" as part of a larger policy of the Modi government to destroy public and universities through fund cuts, seats cuts, decimation of reservations and so on.

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An official attached to the Adharwadi Jail in Kalyan in the district was Saturday arrested along with another person for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe, a Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau official said.

Sub Jailer Arun Madne (49) had demanded Rs 10,000 from a person who wanted to meet his son who is an Adharwadi Jail inmate, ACB Thane Unit Superintendent of Police Mahesh Patil said.

Following a complaint, a trap was laid and Madne and his agent Kishore Kale (45), who came to collect the bribe, were nabbed, Patil told PTI.

A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act had been registered with Khadakpada police station in Kalyan and further probe was on, he said.

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The Income Tax raids on four top Kannada film actors concluded Saturday but the taxmen continued to grill three producers on the third day of their swoop down on the state movie industry bigwigs.

In a massive operation, simultaneous raids were being carried out on actors Shiva Rajkumar, Puneeth Rajkumar, Sudeep and Yash and film producers C R Manohar, 'Rockline' Venkatesh and Vijay Kirigandur since Thursday.

The actors heaved a sigh of relief but there was no respite for the producers and in all likelihood, their grilling may continue Sunday as well, I-T department sources hinted.

Sources said 'Rockline' Venkatesh was taken to the income tax office for questioning.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy Saturday said it was wrong to see political motives behind theIncome Tax raids and asserted that the taxmen were only doing their duty, based on the inputs they receive.

Kumaraswamy said the raids were going on everywhere and it happens only when the I-T officials come to know about tax evasion.

"Instead of saying they (raids) are politically motivated, we should say that the I-T officials are doing their duty. What choice do they have if the information is correct?," he told reporters in Hubballi.

The chief minister said film actors and producers "are not something special" and everybody has to function within the legal framework of the country.

"Whenever there is information about the violations, legal procedure is followed," the chief minister said, adding that it holds good not only for the I-T department, but all the government departments.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said he has no objection if the raids were impartial, but it shouldnot be something related to any political party.

He was replying to a question from reporters whether he thought there was any political motive to the raids.

Nicknamed 'Hattrick star', Shivarajkumar and Puneeth Rajkumar are the sons of Kannada thespian late Rajkumar.

Both actors have delivered blockbuster movies.

Sudeep, who anchored the Kannada version of "Big Boss", was hailed for his role in the movie 'Eega' - 'Makkhi' inHindi - and the multi-lingual 'Baahubali', which broke new grounds in Indian cinema and created records in box-office collections.

'Rockline' Venkatesh had co-produced the Hindi movie "Bajrangi Bhaijaan."



Vijay is the producer of the latest blockbuster movie "KGF", starring Yash, Srinidhi Shetty and Anant Nag.

The film hit 2,460 screens all over the country on December 21 and is reportedly a box-office hit, not only in Kannada, but also in the Hindi and Tamil versions.

C R Manohar has his own production house called"Tanvi Films."



He has produced Kannada and Telugu movies.

His latest movie was "The Villain," starring Shiva Rajkumar, Sudeep and Mithun Chakraborty.

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A trade expedition team from Banda Aceh in Indonesia arrived here Saturday with goods and material, to enhance bi-lateral relation between the two countries.

The Indonesian team's ship KM Aceh Millennium with goods and materials arrived here from Malahayati Port in Banda Aceh.

The ship has brought 80 items including construction materials, like cement, wood, crushed stone, fruits and vegetables, officials said.

Some of the materials will be exhibited for promotion of trade at the auditorium here on January 6 which will be inaugurated by Sidharto R Suriyadipuro, Indonesia's Ambassador to India.

The Industries secretary of Andaman and Nicobar administration, Indu Shekhar Mishra described the trade expedition as a very important step towards developing trade between Andaman and Indonesia.

Welcoming the Indonesian trade team at a function at the passenger terminal at Haddo Wharf here, he said it is "right time that Indonesia has taken steps to start trade and A&N Islands will also be taking steps very soon to move forward in this direction."



Mishra further said that the A&N administration will hold a meeting with the Andaman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) and would then decide the next step so that a very healthy and good business partnership with Indonesia is established.

The deputy chief of mission, Indonesia, FM Suebu speaking at the function expressed gratitude to the Government of India, A&N administration and ACCI for the successful expedition.

This year, India and Indonesia commemorate 70th anniversary of full diplomatic relations. This pioneer trade expedition is good start to celebrate the year, she said.

As next step, Indonesia will continue its work to collaborate with India towards enhancing connectivity between the two islands, opening up more opportunity for deeper co-operation, she said.

The president of ACCI, Girish Arora said this expedition was possible due to the signing of MoU between ACCI and Aceh, Indonesia Chamber of Industry to promote development and bilateral economic relations.

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India needs to create an environment conducive for qualified, bright women researchers to continue their pursuit in the field of science to improve the quality of research in the country, Infosys co-founder N R Narayana Murthy said here.

A recent report released by the firm Clarivate Analytics shows that only 10 Indians figure among the world's top 4,000 highly-cited researchers (HCR), with only one woman from India featuring in the list topped by the US.

Asked if more women researchers can help improve the quality of research in India, the renowned IT industrialist said, "absolutely, no doubt about it..."



"Whenever I have gone for a convocation address in any university or IITs or lots of institutions in the country, I find the percentage of gold medals that are won by women is generally much higher than by men," Murthy told PTI.

"Therefore, we have to create an environment where it is easy for our women researchers to continue their pursuit even after they get married, even after they have children...," he said.

However, Murthy noted that it was a social issue and not so much the problem of the research institutes.

"In our society, we have to create mechanisms whereby qualified, bright women researchers have no hindrance at all to continue their research focus," Murthy said.

"And it does help (in improving the quality of research) as 50 per cent population (in the country) is women and their performance is no less than men at the undergraduate and perhaps at the Masters level," he said ahead of the Infosys Prize ceremony here on Saturday.

The Infosys Prize is an annual award given to scientists, researchers, engineers and social scientists by the Infosys Science Foundation (ISF) and ranks among the highest monetary awards in India to recognise research.

This year, six eminent professors have been awarded the prize across different categories of science and research. The annual award includes a pure gold medal, a citation, and a prize purse worth USD 100,000 (or its equivalent in Indian rupees).

Murthy believes that India has realised the importance of creating an environment where the researchers can indeed contribute to the global betterment and produce world-class work.

"We are still obviously in the early stages, and I'm positive that as we move forward the number of Indians in the top 4000 scientists will indeed increase rapidly. And I have no doubt that Infosys Science Prize will provide an impetus to this effort," he said.

He said many Infosys Prize winners had gone on to win international awards in research considered at par with the Nobel Prize.

Asked about the challenges faced by Research and Science in the country, he noted that the research institutes should adopt a more multidisciplinary approach and provide for more interactions of researchers with those outside the country.

He noted that funding may not really be the hurdle in improving the quality of research and that he was very hopeful and excited about the things to come in the field of research and science in the near future.

This point in time, the UPA government and the current NDA govt, both have taken a lot of interest in improving the quality of higher education. UPA tripled the allocation of funds for higher education, the current government has continued it, so I don't know if funding is the issue, Murthy said.

He said youngsters needed to spend more time with international researchers and they should participate in conferences outside India.

I think our aim for world-class work, aim for the best research work has to be improved first by being more open-minded to compare our work to what is happening outside India, second by providing greater chances for our youngsters to interact with world-class researchers and third by adopting a multidisciplinary research approach, he said.

If we do some of these things I am sure we can improve the quality of research, Murthy added.

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Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Saturday said India is a land of opportunities and those who had gone abroad to earn their living were returning.

"I have heard in my younger days that America is a land of opportunities. But, today, our country is a land of opportunities and those who had gone far away (to earn their living) are returning...," she said, after watching the special screening of Tamil dubbed version of movie "Chalo Jeete Hain" here.

The film which runs for 32 minutes, is inspired by the early life of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a special screening was held at Satyam Cinemas here Saturday.

In her brief speech, Sitharaman said, those who have gone abroad were returning to India since a conducive atmosphere offering growth was prevailing here.

She said, "the message (from the film) is... if we take steps to benefit the society we live in, it will spread as a goodwill to others."



Sitharaman lauded the efforts taken to dub the film in Tamil and wanted the movie to be taken across Tamil Nadu to reach the younger audience.

The film revolves around a formative incident in the life of a boy Narendran destined to serve the nation.

The boy, while reading a book by Swami Vivekananda is struck hard by a quote-'Wahi jeete hain, jo doosro ke liye jeete hain' (Only those who live for others actually live).

On the quest for meaning of life, the boy tries to pursue what he can do for others in his small world.

Directed by Mangesh Hadawale and presented by Aanand L Rai and Mahaveer Jain, the film is produced by Lyca Productions, Sundial Pictures and Divo.

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Union minister Nitin Gadkari Saturday said the country needs "good" leadership and appropriate policies to become a strong economic power but also made it clear that he was "not talking politically".

Underlining that good governance and development is a continuous process, the senior BJP leader said more than 1400 archaic laws have been scrapped under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"I believe that with appropriate policies we can convert India into a strong economic power. This is the time for appropriate policies and do away with bad governance. I am not talking politically, and in the interest of the democracy and in the interest of the country, we need good leadership,"



The Road Transport and Highways Minister was speaking at the IIT-Bombay Entrepreneurship Cell event here.

"I believe our future is bright with innovation and technology. We have the potential to become the number one economic power in the world," Gadkari said.

In conversation with Jupitor Capital founder Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the minister said the most important thing before technology and resources is the the capability of taking decisions, transparency, teamwork, appropriate vision and commitment for the society.

There are lot of reforms required in the government, and under prime minister Narendra Modi's leadership we have scrapped over 1,400 archaic laws so far, he said.

"Continuous good governance and development is a process and there is no end to it. The more you do the more you need," he added.

Gadkari said the country needs the economy that encourages employment potential.

"There is a huge potential in the agriculture, rural sectors. There is a need for diversification of agriculture towards energy and power sector, which will increase the value of agricultural produce and will benefit the farmers. If the farmers' purchasing power increases then our economy will grow," he added.

The minister urged students to do successful research which is economically viable.

"The country needs to concentrate on the rural agriculture economy by using the best successful practises and new innovative technology. We should give priority to rural, agriculture and policy. We should increase tourism, especially the forest area. We need forest-based industrial policies," he added.

The country will change if there are positive, development-oriented policies, he said.

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The Central Bureau of Investigation on Saturday carried out searches at 12 locations in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi in connection with illegal sand mining case, officials said.

The residences of senior officers, including IAS officer B Chandrakala, who is famous on social media for her anti-corruption crusade, were also raided in connection with the case, they said.

The searches were spread across multiple districts including Jalaun, Hamirpur, Lucknow and also in the national capital, they added.

The agency had taken up the case on the instructions of Allahabad High Court.

More details are awaited.

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Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and another senior Samajwadi Party leader are likely to be summoned by the CBI which conducted searches on Saturday at 14 locations in connection with an illegal sand mining case, officials said.

Among the prominent people whose premises were searched included 2008 batch IAS officer B Chandrakala, who became famous on social media for her alleged anti-corruption crusade. Her videos on social networking sites lashing government officials earned her a title of 'Lady Dabang' (daring).

The searches were spread across multiple districts including Jalaun, Hamirpur, Lucknow and also in the national capital, they added.

Besides Yadav, the CBI is likely to question Gayatri Prajapati, who was arrested in 2017 following a complaint of rape by a woman residing in Chitrakoot.

It is alleged that the public servants allowed illegal mining during 2012-16 and illegally renewed licences despite a ban by National Green Tribunal on mining. It is alleged that the officers allowed theft of minerals, extort money from lease holders, extort money from drivers.

In 2016, on the directions of the Allahabad High Court to probe the case of illegal mining of minor minerals, the CBI had filed seven preliminary enquiries.

FIR has been registered under various sections of Indian Penal Code against 11 individuals, unknown persons and public servants.

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Tamil Nadu government Saturday assured action against senior officials in connection with the recent transfusion of HIV infected blood to a pregnant woman at a state-run hospital once the ongoing inqiury was completed.

Health Minister C Vijayabaskar, replying to a calling attention motion on the issue in the state assembly, said three lab technicians had already been terminated for the lapse at the blood bank that led to transfusion of the blood donated by a 19-year old man last month.

Raising the matter, Leader of the Opposition M K Stalin (DMK) and his party colleague KKSSR Ramachandran demanded action against those at the higher echelon of the administrative pyramid.

Vijayabaskar, who described the incident as shocking, said a panel led by the Additional Director of Medical Services was looking into the issue to pinpoint where the lapse occurred in certifying the blood safe and assured appropriate action after the inquiry.

The 24-year old woman contracted HIV after the blood transfusion at a government hospital at Sattur in Virudhunagar distrit in the first week of December for treatment of haemoglobin deficiency.

The incident has drawn widespread condemnation with opposition parties demanding the dismissal of the health minister and transfer of the state health secretary.

The man, who attempted suicide after learning about the transfusion, died at a hospital on Sunday.

Defending the blood screening process, Vijayabaskar said it was as per the National Aids Control Organisation guidelines and the government has also decided to go in for ID NAT (Individual Nucleic Acid Testing) technique for early detection of HIV.

He said land allotment had already been made for the woman and the government was in touch with her family to ensure all required help was given..

Ramachandran said the episode has altered the life of an innocent woman and wanted job opportunity to her husband, and proper health care assistance to her and the foetus.

He also wanted some relief to be given to the family of the donor as the man was unaware of his HIV positive status when he donated blood and once he learnt about it he alerted the blood bank personnel.

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The BJP Saturday claimed that it was in possession of a letter allegedly written by middleman Christian Michel in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal, which reveals the "saga of Rome and RaGa".

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra in a press conference read out the "letter" from Michel to AgustaWestland in which he wrote that "all the hurdles in the way of the deal have been dealt with".

"Christian Michel had written thousands of letters in the form of dispatches that were sent despite he living in India. When he was in India as a 'dalal' and middleman, he used to write letters to AgustaWestland's CEO.

"Our agencies have managed to procure some of these letters. We have accessed one such letter through the media. The letter will reveal the story behind the saga of Rome and RaGa," he said.

Patra said Michel stressed that no publicity about the deal be done in Italy.

"Can Rome be asked to cooperate? By any cost, by any cost, pressure must be built on Rome's government to not create any publicity in Italy with regard to this. Not many people in Italy should be aware of this deal. Hurdles in the way of clearing the files have been removed," the BJP spokesperson quoted Michel saying in the letter, dated July 31, 2009.

Patra wondered why Michel did not want to publicise the deal in Italy after it was finalised.

"So that the bribe givers are not harassed in Italy," he reasoned.

Patra alleged that Michel had even access to cabinet meetings.

"Cabinet meetings on security are closed door meetings and this man knew exactly what was going on in there," he alleged.

He also alleged that in the letter Michel had written that a Congress leader would talk to the then Finance minister if he created any further issues with the clearance of the deal.

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As Kerala continued to witness incidents of violence, Governor Justice P Sathasivam Saturday briefed the Centre about the law and order situation in the southern state.

"Briefed Hon'ble Union Home Minister @HMOIndia Shri. Rajnath Singh about the law and order situation in Kerala in the last two days #kerala," he tweeted.

Raj Bhavan sources told PTI that the Governor, who is now in Chennai, briefed Singh about the situation over phone.

With the state witnessing widespread violence during the 12-hour state-wide shutdown called by Hindu fringe groups on Thursday, Sathasivam had sought an "urgent report" from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

He had also appealed to all sections of people to maintain calm and peace across the state.

The entry of two women of reproductive age into the Lord Ayyappa shrine at Sabarimala on Wednesday, the first time since the Supreme Court in September last year lifted the age-linked ban on entry of women devotees, has triggered massive protests in Kerala.

Violence involving BJP-RSS and ruling CPI(M) workers rocked parts of Kerala, particularly Kannur, Saturday with a number of houses and shops of rival leaders and workers being attacked over the issue.

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Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel on Saturday accused the Modi government of "squandering" the assets of public sector undertakings such as HAL and ONGC to "favour a select few".

"HAL is borrowing Rs 1000 cr because it can't even pay salaries?" Patel tweeted.

His tweet came after a media report claimed defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, grappling with low finances, has been forced to borrow money to pay salaries to its employees.

"Not just HAL; be it ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation), LIC (Life Insurance Corporation), HPCL (Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited), GSPC (Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation) or any other PSU this Government has squandered their assets to favour a select few," the senior Congress leader said.

The Congress has also been alleging that the government favoured Anil Ambani's firm over HAL in the Rafale aircraft deal. The government as well as Ambani have rejected all such allegations.

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The Congress on Saturday accused the Modi government of "squandering" the assets of public sector undertakings such as and to "favour a select few".

" is borrowing Rs 1000 cr because it can't even pay salaries?" Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel tweeted.

His tweet came after a media report claimed that defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, grappling with low finances, for the first time in years, has been forced to borrow money to pay salaries to its employees.

"Not just HAL; be it ONGC, LIC, HPCL,GSPC or any other PSU, this government has squandered their assets to favour a select few," Patel alleged.

Citing the media report, Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "Under Modiji,India's largest public sector defence unit, does not even have enough cash to pay salaries to its employees. For the first time in 70 years, they were forced to borrow Rs 1000 cr."



"Despite that, no Rafale contract for them Apathetic!"he tweeted.

The Congress has also been alleging that the government favoured Anil Ambani's firm over HAL in the Rafale jets deal. The government as well as Ambani have rejected all such allegations.
: A 43-year-old man, who was adopted by a Danish-couple some 40 years ago, has come here in search of his roots and biological parents.

Rajakumar, born to Ayyavu in 1975 and a resident of Thondamuthu near here, was handed over to the Blue Mountain Childrens' Home and later adopted by the Danish couple when he was 18 months old.

The reason stated in the adoption order was that Ayyavu could not bring up the child after his father suffered a paralytic attack and his wife left him, said Rajakumar, who is now Casper Anderson, told reporters here.

"After the district court order, I was sent to Denmark to Keld and Birtha Anderson under the guardianship act for adoption," he said.

Stating that he had visited Coimbatore three years ago in search of his father, Casper said that with the help of the Netherlands-based Organisation Against Child Trafficking he has come to find the family and visit the birthplace.

"We learnt that Ayyavu had been living with his mother Mariammal near Karupparayan Temple near Linganoor. We were told by local people that after he sold his hut in 1986 no one saw Ayyavu or his wife in the area," Casper, a graphic designer by profession, said.

The organisation even contacted the former owner of the children's home Mary Catharine, who also was not aware of the whereabouts of Ayyavu, he said.

This time, Casper has sought help from the media to spread his story and track any member of his family or relatives, as he wishes to see his mother, father, siblings and the others, before he leaves India on January 21.

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The highest-profile Catholic cleric to be caught up in a paedophile scandal in France is to go on trial on Monday charged with failing to report a priest who abused boy scouts in the 1980s and 90s.

Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, the archbishop of Lyon, is to stand trial along with five others from his diocese over allegations that they helped cover up abuse in one of the parishes in the area.

The 68-year-old, an arch-conservative, is one of the most prominent Catholic figures in France who faces up to three years in prison and a fine of 45,000 euros (USD 54,000) if convicted of failing to report the abuse.

He denies the allegations.

France's Catholic church has been roiled in recent years by allegations against predator priests which have come to light in the wake of a global move by victims to come forward with evidence.

Clerics have been denounced in countries as far afield as Australia, Brazil, Chile, Ireland, and the United States, leading Pope Francis to promise to rid the church of the scourge that has done enormous damage to its standing.

The scandal in Lyon first came to public attention in 2015 when a former scout went public with allegations that a local priest, Bernard Preynat, had abused him as a child 25 years ago.

The scout, Francois Devaux, who has since formed a victims' group, also filed a complaint against Barbarin, the priest's superior, alleging that he had known about the abuse but had covered it up.

After six months of investigation and 10 hours of interviews with Barbarin, investigators dropped the case in 2016 after concluding that the allegations against him were either too old or impossible to prove.

But a group of victims succeeded in having the probe reopened which led to Barbarin and the others, including the archbishop of Auch and the bishop of Nevers in France, being ordered to stand trial.

"We hope this time to have a ruling that will be clear and obvious for everyone," Devaux said before the start of the trial.

His victims' group, La Parole Liberee (Freed Speech), began with a handful of people, but soon received calls and testimony from a total of 85 people claiming to have been victims of Preynat in Lyon.

The priest was prevented from leading scout groups after he was first denounced in 1991, but was later allowed to teach to children and held positions of authority in parishes until the scandal surfaced in 2015.

A lawyer for Barbarin, Jean-Felix Luciani, said the cardinal was counting on the trial to "re-establish some facts because you don't repair one injustice by creating another one."



The story of Devaux, the victim who brought the scandal to light, is to be told in a film this year called "Grace a Dieu" ("Thanks to God") which has been made by French director Francois Ozon.

The priest at the centre of the scandal, Preynat, has acknowledged abusing boys during interviews with investigators.

He is set to go on trial this year charged with statutory rape.

Two other French religious figures have been convicted of failing to report child abuse in the past: the archbishop of Bayeux-Lisieux, Pierre Rican, in 2001, as well as the former bishop of Orleans, Andre Fort, last year.

The head of the Vatican's powerful Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Spanish Archbishop Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer, has also been accused of complicity in the alleged cover-up in Lyon.

In correspondence with Barbarin about the priest, the Vatican's number three had advised the cardinal to take "necessary disciplinary measures while avoiding public scandal" -- seen as a warning to keep the abuse quiet.

The Vatican has cited his immunity from prosecution and he will not go on trial.

Barbarin has retained the support of Pope Francis who met with him at the Vatican in October 2017 shortly after he was ordered to stand trial.

"I have only one judge who is the Lord," the cardinal said recently on a trip to the holy town of Lourdes in southern France.

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Four proprietors of various investment advisory firms operating from Indore have been arrested for allegedly cheating investors of thousands of crores of rupees all over the country, police said Saturday.

Cyberabad police said in a release Rs 3.63 crore has been seized from the firms.

Acting on separate complaints, a police team visited Indore and conducted raids on the firms and apprehended the accused with the help of local police and SEBI, Indore, it said.

The complainants alleged that they were asked to take their tips for share trading and made to pay registration and other types of fees.

The firms allegedly did not provide the tips or the tips provided by them were not useful, according to the release.

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A former North Korean diplomat who defected to the South urged an ex-colleague missing in Italy to come and settle in Seoul Saturday, as the rare asylum bid makes global headlines.

Jo Song Gil, the North's acting ambassador to Rome, went into hiding with his wife in November and is seeking asylum, according to Seoul's intelligence authorities.

It would be the first high-profile defection of a North Korean diplomat since 2016 when the then deputy ambassador to London, Thae Yong Ho, switched sides to settle in Seoul.

Jo has not contacted Seoul's spy agency since he went into hiding, suggesting he was seeking asylum in a third country in the West, possibly the US, according to several media reports.

But Thae, who said he once worked with Jo at Pyongyang's foreign ministry, wrote an open letter urging his ex-colleague to come to the South instead and work together to help the two Koreas reunify.

"I thought that I knew a lot about the South...through the Internet while serving overseas. But the South I actually experienced was far more democratic and economically prosperous than I imagined," Thae said in the letter posted on his blog.

"Sure, the South is not exactly a paradise. But it is a place where you and I could achieve the dream we all have," he said.

"Wouldn't it be our lifelong mission as diplomats to help the two Koreas reunify...and to pass the unified peninsula to our children?"



Since coming to Seoul, Thae has become a public speaker giving speeches about the reality of his impoverished but nuclear-armed former homeland and about ways to narrow down differences between the two neighbours that technically remain at war.

The 1950-53 Korean War that sealed the division of the two nations ended with an armistice instead of a peace treaty, with all civilian contacts across the border strictly banned.

Thae described it a "duty, not a choice" for diplomats like him and Jo to come to the South, stressing, "if you come to the South, other colleagues of ours may follow suit, which will help expedite the day when the two Koreas reunify."



"I will wait for you in Seoul!" he said.

About 30,000 North Koreans have fled repression and poverty and settled in the capitalist South, mostly by secretly crossing over the increasingly porous border with China.

Jo, who is in his 40s and known to be fluent in French and Italian as well as English, came to Rome in 2015.

He became temporary acting ambassador in October 2017, after Italy expelled the then ambassador Mun Jong Nam in protest at a nuclear test Pyongyang staged a month earlier in violation of UN resolutions.

Italy is an important diplomatic mission for Pyongyang, as it handles relations with the Rome-headquartered UN Food and Agriculture Organisation and North Korea suffers from chronic food shortages.

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Ruing that talented foreign students are leaving the United States after studying in the country's best educational institutions, President has said he wants people with merit to stay in and help the growth of companies here.

Addressing a press conferences on Friday, Trump said the US is "losing out on great minds" as the country has a "ridiculous" immigration policy.

He reiterated his wish to end loopholes in the legal immigration system so as to attract more people based on merit. Trump said his administration wants people to come into the country legally and on merit.

We have all these companies coming in. We need great people. But we want them to come in on a merit basis, and they have to come in on a merit basis. They can't come in the way they've been coming in for years, Trump told reporters during a news conference here.

"I get calls from the great tech companies, and they're saying we don't allow people at the top of their class, at the best schools in the country, we don't allow them to stay in our country, he said.

So, they end up going back to China and Japan and so many other countries all over the world, and we don't keep them. They get educated at our finest schools, and then we don't allow them, through a various set of circumstances, to have any guarantees of staying. So we lose out on great minds. We can't do that, he said.

Trump was referring to difficulties being faced by foreign students to stay and work in the US after they complete their education in the country.

Trump said that this issue was discussed with Democratic Congressional leadership during a meeting at the White House on Friday.

We discussed that with the Democrats, and I think they agree. We're working on that. But we don't want to lose our great companies because we have a ridiculous policy that we won't accept smart people. So, call it politically correct or not, but we have to let these great, brilliant companies have the smartest people in the world, Trump said.

He said if somebody wants to seek asylum, there's a way to do that. "There are legal ways to come to this country, and legal immigration has made this country great."



Referring to the killing of California's Indian-origin police officer Ronil "Ron" Singh allegedly by an illegal immigrant, Trump said the US needs a "secure border" to keep "Americans safe" and check illegal immigration.

lets in over a million people every single year. By far, the most generous nation in the world. And yet, we have laws that need to be followed to keep Americans safe and to protect the integrity of a system where, right now, there are millions of people who are waiting in line to come to to seek the American Dream, like Officer Singh did when he sought his chance at the American Dream, he said.

That dream was taken. It was taken because we don't have a secure border. We can't let this continue, he said.

Trump spoke to the wife and police colleagues of this Indian origin police officer on Thursday.

Trump Thursday spoke with the widow and colleagues of the Indian-origin police officer who was killed at a traffic stop on December 26 by an illegal immigrant named Gustavo Perez Arriaga when he was planning to flee to his native Mexico.

...A wonderful, young police officer -- I spoke to his wife yesterday -- was shot, viciously shot, for simply stopping a person that came over the border illegally. Got shot. Killed. We don't want that happening, he said.

The president has shut down the government, demanding USD 5 billion for his border wall with Mexico but Democrats have refused to meet the demand.

The impasse has left more than 800,000 federal workers furloughed or working without pay since December 22.

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Veterans Asha Parekh and Farooque Shaikh are set to be honoured by the Bimal Roy Memorial and Film Society to commemorate the 52nd death anniversary of the renowned filmmaker.

The organisation was instituted 22 years ago in memory of the late filmmaker. Its aim is to reward unsung heroes of the film industry.

A special function will be held on January 8.

Talking about Shaikh, who passed away in 2013, Roy's daughter Rinki Roy Bhattacharya said they wanted to honour the late actor as he never won an award, barring one National Award trophy.

"We have selected Farooque Shaikh for this distinction because he was a distinguished artiste who truly deserves it (honour). He never received an award. All he received was one national award for supporting actor for the film 'Lahore'," Bhattacharya said in a statement here.

Shaikh's daughter Shaaista will receive the award on his behalf.

Awards will also be presented to directors Ananth Mahadevan and Amit Rai along with their actors Paresh Rawal and Jackie Shroff for making socially relevant films.

Veteran artistes Sulochana Latkar, Kamini Kaushal and Farida Jalal will attend the function.

The memorial society is preserving and restoring Roy's film library along with other personal memorabilia such as song books, posters, stills, costumes, screenplays with the help of experts.

It also honours senior technicians, performing artists, along with contemporary filmmakers making innovative, particularly socially relevant works.

The organisation supports promising film studies students with seed grants and has been acquiring Roy's film prints, negatives, other material for preservation.

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Congress president Rahul Gandhi hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday over clashes in a Gujarat village between the police and farmers, saying farmers were "distressed" under the BJP's rule.

Gandhi's remarks came after clashes broke out on Wednesday between the police and farmers protesting against limestone mining by a private firm near a village in Gujarat's Bhavnagar district, leaving several policemen and agitators injured.

"Modiji is beating his chest over the Congress's loan waiver. He has said for the Congress, farmers are a vote bank. Now see the condition of the farmers in Gujarat. Under the BJP's rule, farmers are in distress," the Congress chief said in a Facebook post in Hindi.

The farmers of Bhavnagar were protesting against mining due to the adverse effects on irrigation and agriculture, so the Gujarat police did this to them, he added.

From Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh to Bhavnagar in Gujarat, the "anti-farmer character" of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was out in the open, Gandhi said.

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Police have arrested the co-owner of a factory, which collapsed under the impact of a blast in west Delhi's Sudarshan Park on Thursday, officials said.

Seven people were killed when a portion of the factory manufacturing ceiling fans collapsed following an explosion its furnace Thursday evening.

Sumit Gupta, a partner in the factory, was arrested on Friday evening, police said.

The other owner, Ankit Gupta, who had also sustained injuries in the incident has been undergoing treatment.

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The Enforcement Directorate Saturday sought permission of a court here to interrogate Brajesh Thakur, the prime accused in the shelter home sex scandal case.

The ED's Special Public Prosecutor Manoj Kumar filed a petition in the court of Special POCSO judge R P Tiwari seeking permission to interrogate Brajesh Thakur, currently lodged in Patiala jail, in the case.

Earlier, all the 17 accused persons including Brajesh Thakur were produced in the special POCSO court through video conferencing facility.

The court fixed January 17 as the next date of hearing in the matter.

The scandal at the shelter home called 'Balika Grih', run by Brajesh Thakur's NGO 'Seva Sankalp Evam Vikas Samiti', had come to light in early 2018 in a social audit by the Mumbai-based Tata Institute of Social Sciences, which said that over 30 girls living in it were sexually abused.

Following the expose, Brajesh Thakur and others were booked on May 30, 2018.

The Bihar government later handed over the probe to the CBI.

Then Bihar Social Welfare Minister Manju Verma had resigned following the Muzaffarpur shelter home case.

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Stating that India's medical field is the most "neglected" area in public life,



Indian member of the International Court of Justice Dalveer Bhandari said there was a "dire need" to make healthcare affordable for all and improve infrastructure.

Speaking on 'Common Man's Perception of Medical Profession' at the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences here, Bhandari said there was a pressing to need to strengthen the Indian Medical Association and Medical Council of India.

He said Indians hardly have access to quality healthcare.

"Competent, ethical and respected medical professionals should man these associations. MCI should take serious action against non-doctors who are practising medicine," he said.

Noting that there are one million doctors in India to treat 1.3 billion people, Bhandari said the problem of non-availability of doctors can be solved by hiring retired competent doctors known for their integrity until young doctors take their place.

He flagged the issue of non-availability of doctors in rural parts of the country. "According to studies, there is one allopathic doctor for every 10,189 people. One hospital bed for 2,046 people and one government hospital for every 90,043 people. This shows the collapse of the public health system waiting to happen," he said.

He proposed that special incentives should be given to doctors who go for rural postings and there must also be incentives for doctors who are working in government hospitals.

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Jharkhand Governor Droupadi Murmu Saturday thanked the Ministry of Railways for starting a DEMU passenger train service from Tatanagar in Jharkhand to Odisha's Badampahar.

The governor also took a ride in the DEMU Passenger train after Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the second rail service between Tatanagar and Badampahar through a video link from Odisha's Baripada.

Murmu travelled from Tatanagar to Haldipokhar, a distance of about 22 km.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das was also present at the flagging off ceremony organized at Tatanagar Raiway station here.

The first train service was launched between the two mineral-rich stations 107 years ago, she said while speaking on the occasion.

After a long wait, the second rail service has been launched 107 years after the first rail service and 70 years after India became an independent country, she said.

The Tata-Badampahar single line has a history as private steel major Tata Steel has been procuring its iron ore from Badampahar, Gurumhisani and Sulaipat in Odisha through this rail route, and the steel city here developed as an Industrial town, she said.

Murmu said the social and economic development of Badampahar was largely depended on Tatanagar, also known as Jamshedpur, as the distance between the two places is barely 70 to 80 km.

Badampahar is a tribal-dominated town and the launch of the new service would ensure its social and economic growth, Murmu said.

Directly or indirectly a large number of people would be benefited from the new facility, the governor said, adding that linking the rail services with Keonjhar in Odisha would give impetus to the development of the region.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Raghubar Das said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is striving to take the country to a new height.

Referring to the foundation stone laying of Mandal dam project in Palamau district by Modi on Saturday, Das said the Union government and the state government were working in tandem for all-round development.

The chief minister assured that his government would make an effort to set up double track railway lines up to Keonjhar.

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Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh Saturday said Pranab Mukherjee's visit to RSS headquarters last year "raised questions on the former president's motive" and that the "context of the visit" was "wrong".

"I wrote him a letter saying that I did not expect him to go. The context in which he went to Nagpur was wrong according to me. Many people have gone to Nagpur...There has been contact between the RSS and Congress and there is nothing wrong in maintaining contact...Questions are to be raised behind the motive of his visit and its context and what he said there.

"If he had used the opportunity to speak on what Sardar Patel, who is now their favourite leader, had said and written about the RSS...about its background and history, then I would have agreed he was very courageous. But he need not have gone to Nagpur to say what he did, he could have issued a press release," Ramesh said at a book launch here.

Mukherjee had visited Nagpur in July 2018 for the RSS event. Many Congress leaders, including his daughter Sharmistha Mukherjee, had questioned the visit.

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The Lok Janshakti Party, a BJP ally in Bihar, on Saturday disapproved of contentious issues like the Ram temple and triple talaq being raised ahead of the Lok Sabha polls and expressed apprehension that deviating from the development plank could harm the NDA.

LJP parliamentary board chairman Chirag Paswan expressed the view at a press conference in the district, which comprises a part of his Lok Sabha seat -- Jamui.

"Development should be the poll plank for the NDA, which, I am confident, will help the coalition win more than 35 of the 40 seats in Bihar. I am hopeful that the election will be fought on the issue of development and contentious issues like the Ram temple and triple talaq will be kept at bay. These may harm the coalition's prospects," he said.

The young MP, who is the son of Union minister and the LJP's founding president Ram Vilas Paswan, had expressed similar concerns last month after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost power in three of its strongholds -- Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

Paswan's statement came at a time when the issue of triple talaq has thrown Parliament into a turmoil and another BJP ally in the state, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U), has refused to vote in favour of the bill in the Rajya Sabha after having abstained in the Lok Sabha.

Moreover, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's contention that an ordinance on the Ram temple will not be brought ahead of the Supreme Court verdict on the issue and the delay in a decision on the title suit in the apex court are being resented by the hardliners within the BJP and the Sangh Parivar.

Replying to another query, Paswan said the LJP's claim over the Munger Lok Sabha seat stood as of now.

"Neither of our allies (BJP and JDU) has approached us, expressing the desire to contest the seat. But if we are asked to give up our claim on the seat and offered some other constituency, it will be duly considered," he added.

Notably, Munger is represented in the Lok Sabha by Veena Devi, wife of mafia don-turned-politician Suraj Bhan Singh who is a national vice-president of the LJP.

Singh has been fielding his wife in elections following his conviction in the murder case of former Bihar minister Brij Bihari Prasad in 2008.

Speculation has been rife that the Janata Dal (United) may insist on the seat for Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, a minister in the Nitish Kumar cabinet, who had won the seat for his party in 2009, but had lost it to Veena Devi five years later.

The JD(U), which had fought the 2014 Lok Sabha polls separately, returned to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in 2017.

The pitch has been queered for the NDA constituents in the constituency, represented in the past by luminaries like Madhu Limaye, with dreaded Mokama MLA Anant Singh throwing his hat in the ring.

Singh, who belongs to the Bhumihar caste like Veena Devi and Rajiv Ranjan Singh, has surprised all by expressing his desire to contest the Lok Sabha polls from Munger, even if it means taking on the Bihar minister whom he is said to hold in high esteem.

Once a loyalist of Kumar, Singh had quit the JD(U) ahead of the 2015 Bihar Assembly polls, voicing disapproval of the short-lived alliance with Lalu Prasad's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and had retained Mokama for the third consecutive term as an Independent.

After having met state Congress election campaign committee chief Akhilesh Prasad Singh in Delhi last month, Singh had sung paeans to the RJD supremo and expressed his desire to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls as a Grand Alliance candidate.

He was, however, rebuffed by Prasad's sons Tejashwi and Tej Pratap Yadav.

Singh has, thereafter, declared that he will contest from Munger as an Independent and make all the other candidates lose their deposits.

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A 19-year old engineering college student, who was allegedly kidnapped for a ransom of Rs five lakh, was found dead near Thirubhuvanam near here Saturday, police said.

Munthazir, a second year student of a private college, had told his mother that he was going to visit his sister, the police said.

A few hours later, the alleged kidnapper called the victim's mother and told her that her son had been abducted and demanded Rs five lakh to release him, the police added.

Muthazir's mother lodged a complaint following which police tried to contact the boy, but found his phone switched off.

This morning, the student was found dead with his throat slit near a channel in nearby Thirubhuvanam.

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A Canadian woman who traveled to Burkina Faso with an Italian friend as part of a humanitarian aid program has been reported missing, the foreign ministry said Saturday.

Edith Blais, 34, has not been heard from since December 15, according to Canadian media.

"Canadian consular agents in Burkina Faso are in contact with the local authorities to gather information. Consular services have been provided to members of the family in Canada," a foreign ministry spokesman told AFP.

Local media reports said Blais traveled to the West African country via Europe with a friend, Lucas Tacchetto, a 30-year-old from Venice. The Canadian foreign ministry had no comment on Tacchetto's status.

The pair were supposed to travel by car to Togo for a humanitarian aid project with Zion'Gaia, an environmentally oriented group that engages in reforestation projects, according to its website.

"They never have crossed the border or applied for a visa from Burkina Faso to Togo or Ghana," read a statement posted on a Facebook group created by the woman's family.

It said Blais and Tacchetto were heading to Ouagadougou from Bobo-Diulasso for a four- or five-day stay, noting that a Canadian travel warning had reported a risk of banditry and kidnapping in the area.

Ethnic violence left 48 dead in Burkina Faso this week, and a state of emergency was decreed in several provinces in the wake of recurrent jihadist attacks.

The Canadian foreign ministry cautioned its nationals to avoid non-essential travel in Burkina Faso because of the "terrorist threat".

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Over 50 bonded labourers, including women and children, who were rescued in Karnataka's Hassan district recently were subjected to frequent beating and given tobacco and alcohol to suppress the pain, the National Commission for Women said Saturday.

As many as 52 bonded labourers, 17 women and four children among them, hailing from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were rescued in Hassan district in December.

The matter came to light recently when one of the workers, who toiled for 20 days, escaped from the clutches of the gang by scaling the fence, and informed the police about it.

The workers were allegedly held captive in sheds, taken to the fields for work and were beaten up when they demanded their wages.

NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma had constituted a three-member inquiry committee, led by herself, to look into circumstances leading to the workers being held in captivity.

They were rescued from a plantation near Savankanahalli village in Hassan district.

The committee visited Hassan district on Friday and met the district officials concerned, including the deputy commissioner, the superintendent of police, the additional superintendent of police, the assistant labour commissioner and officials of the WCD department.

They also met two women, as many children and four men who were rescued from the plantation to ascertain the facts and circumstances.

The key findings of the Inquiry Committee included that no missing complaints were filed by the families of the labourers.

"The men and the women were beaten up on a regular basis. Meals were provided only twice a day to the labourers; the first at 4 am and the second at 10 pm -11 pm," the inspection team said in a report Saturday.

It also said that tobacco and alcohol were given to the labourers between their meals to suppress their restlessness and the pain endured from the beating.

"No proper medical tests for the women labourers were conducted after they were rescued," the team said.

It was also stated that a 13-year-old girl was found to be working on the plantation and many girls were not going to school, they said.

The inspection team gave a set of recommendations that included opening bank accounts for the rescued labourers and ensuring compensation mandated for them is released by the Centre.

The team said that rehabilitation including housing, vocational training and employment opportunities should be provided by the stategovernment.

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BJP President Amit Shah Saturday said that the party would fight the coming general election on the issues like development, defence and self-respect of the country.

He expressed confidence that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would come back to power with the BJP winning more than 300 seats.

The saffron party had won 282 seats in the 2014 poll, more than the magic number required for forming a government.

"Development, defence and self-respect of the country are the main issues in the next general elections with which the BJP will go into the poll. Prime Minister Narendra Modi would come back to power by winning more than 300 seats", Shah told a press conference



When asked about building of Ram temple at Ayodhya, he said, So far the issue of Ram Mandir is concerned, Congress does not want the case is settled fast. According to the announcement of the BJP, we want Ram Mandir is built, but remaining within the structure of law.

He said, there would be drastic changes in the poll scenario in the West Bengal where BJP would win more than 23 seats out of a total of 42 seats.

He also claimed that his party would also win 21 seats out of 25 in the northeastern region of the country.

Coming down heavily on efforts of the anti-BJP parties to come together, Shah said, the mahagatbandhan of Congress can give a helpless (Majbur) government and BJP can give a strong (Majbut) government under the leadership of Modiji.

The Modi government has conducted huge developmental works throughout the country, but what is remarkable is strengthening the security and defence of the country, He said.

Shah said, when enemies attack soldiers of America or Israel, they immediately retaliate. After the two countries, India is now the third country in the world which also retaliates after formation of the BJP government in 2014.

The BJP Chief also claimed that Prime Minister Modi has set a precedent of a strong India by holding surgical strike inside Pakistan after terrorist attacks on Indian Army base at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir in 2016.

Earlier, Shaha kicked off election campaign at the Swami Vivekananda Maidan here by addressing 50,000 Panna Promukhs and other party workers.

During his address, Amit Shah Saturday appealed people of Tripura to ensure victory with huge margin in two Lok Sabha seats from the state.

Prime Minister Modi works 18 hours a day. He comes from a poor family and works tirelessly for the country. After five years in the office of PM, nobody can raise a single allegation against him. Only he can lead a majboot sarkar (strong government), Shah said.

He launched a scathing attack against the Congress-led alliance saying they have neither policy, nor leader or any sort of promise.

What is the neeti (policy) of this alliance? Who is its 'neta (leader)? Who will run their government? So, build close coordination with every single person in the state and make sure that both Lok Sabha seats from Tripura are gifted to Narendra Modiji in 2019, he said.

Among others, BJP General Secretary, Ram Madhab, and state In-charge Sunil Deodhar and Chief Minister Biplab Kumar also spoke in the meeting.

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The RSS will hold a four-day brainstorming session for its over 30 parivar organisations, including the BJP and the Vishva Hindu Parishad, from Sunday in Chennai.

The meet will chiefly look at organisational aspects and carry out a 'SWOT' (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis to help the individual outfits with their respective "nationalistic goals."



The session, though dubbed routine by the RSS, is expected to offer a "broad guideline" to reconcile the VHP's "Hindus cannot wait for eternity for Ram temple" line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent assertion on the Ayodhya issue, RSS sources indicated.

Modi had in an interview said any legislative initiative like an ordinance for Ram temple in Ayodhya will have to wait till the disposal of the dispute in the Supreme Court.

The meet will take stock of BJP's electoral drubbing in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh besides the work of 30-plus outfits belonging to the larger Sangh parivar.

"It is not a decision-making forum because every organisation is independent and has its own decision-making mechanism," an RSS spokesperson here told PTI when asked if the meet will take crucial decisions on key issues.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, who has arrived in Chennai, will be briefed by 50 senior office-bearers representing different organisations about the work of each of the outfits.

The spokesperson described the exercise as a "kind of audit" of the progress made and help fine-tune the "nationalistic focus," by looking at new avenues to accelerate performance.

The views expressed were like providing "value-addition", the spokesperson said.

The office-bearers come with valuable inputs from the grassroots level and will share them at the meeting and that will be enriching for the other outfits too, he said.

While BJP is the "most-known outfit," in the RSS family, there are several organisations working in different areas such as the Seva Bharathi, which is into social service, relief and rehabilitation, and Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, focused on tribal welfare.

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A Bharatiya Janata Party legislator has written to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, levelling allegations of corruption against officers of Sambhal district.

In a letter dated January 3, Gunnaur constituency MLA Ajeet Kumar Yadav said, "Owing to the corrupt practices of the officials in the district, the mood of the people have turned against the state government. If corruption is not controlled, then the BJP may have to face heavy losses in the Lok Sabha elections."



The BJP MLA told reporters that most of the officials in the district were corrupt. He also alleged that dustbins, which cost around Rs 200-300, were purchased at around Rs 12,000.

"Apart from this, in villages, despite no electricity connection, electricity bills is sent to the people," he added.

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The Congress on Saturday hit back at the BJP over its claim that it had acted against economic offenders such as Vijay Mallya, saying its government is claiming credit for everything as if those happened after it assumed office in 2014.

In response to a question while speaking at a press conference, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said that going by the BJP's "credit seeking" claims, India would be celebrating its fifth birthday on May 26, 2019.

The party leader also alleged that Vijay Mallya met Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and sought his permission before fleeing the country.

"If BJP is taking credit for declaring Mallya a FEO (fugitive economic offender), then let them take credit as they are taking credit for everything from Mangalyaan, Chandrayan, Pokhran one to Pokhran 2 (nuclear tests)...we should be celebrating India's 5th birthday on May 26, 2019. BJP feels that everything happened after its government came to power in 2014," he said.

In a press briefing earlier in the day, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra had said the law was brought in by the present NDA government to ensure that absconders such as Mallya are brought to justice.

Khera alleged that BJP had taken credit for everything since it took oath in 2014.

A special court in Mumbai Saturday declared absconding liquor baron Vijay Mallya a fugitive economic offender on a plea of the Enforcement Directorate.

"Mallya met a minister, sought his blessings and permission and left for London. I am sure they were getting updates on it. We all know...what happened and how it happened. In fact, a certain BJP minister recently even said that Mallya was not a fugitive and not committed any fraud.

"When Mallya himself said that he left after meeting Arun Jaitley, sought his permission, so what else is there to say," said Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera.

Mallya has become the first businessman to be declared an FEO under the provisions of the new Fugitive Economic Offenders Act which came into existence in August last year.

The ED had requested the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court that Mallya, who is currently in the UK, be declared a fugitive and his properties be confiscated and brought under the control of the Union government as per the provisions of the new FEO Act.

Special judge MS Azmi declared Mallya an FEO under Section 12 of the Act after hearing extensive arguments from the lawyer of Mallya and the ED counsel.

Mallya, accused of defaulting on loan repayments and money laundering, had left India in March 2016.

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The BJP and the Congress were involved in a war of words after tainted businessman Vijay Mallya was declared a fugitive economic offender by a court on Saturday, with the ruling party attributing it to strict action by the Modi Government against loan defaulters who flee the country.

Claiming credit, the BJP said action against Mallya was taken under a law enacted by the Modi Government in August 2018, and termed it as "a feather in the cap" in its fight against corruption.

The Congress hit back saying that the BJP took credit for everything as if it all happened after 2014. It also raked up Mallya's statement made in September last year that he had met Finance Minister Arun Jaitley before leaving the country. Jaitley had rejected Mallya's claim as false, but the Congress has been raising it time and again to target the government.

A special court in Mumbai on Saturday declared the liquor baron a fugitive economic offender (FEO) on a plea of the Enforcement Directorate. Mallya has become the first businessman to be declared an FEO under the provisions of the new Fugitive Economic Offenders Act which came into existence in August last year.

"It is a feather in the cap for BJP's fight against corruption," BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said at a press conference.

"Mallya grew under the patronage of the Congress government. Despite being bankrupt, he was given loans and his loans were even restructured. He fled with Rs 9,000 crore of the country's money," he alleged.

He claimed that Mallya was in touch with Congress leaders and read out from a purported letter the liquor baron wrote to the then prime minister Manmohan Singh in which "he thanks him for his help and also begged for aid in securing a loan".

He claimed that Singh directed his secretary to help Mallya, and on November 14, 2011, in a press conference, the former PM had said that ways needed to be found to help Kingfisher.

"This is the difference between the previous government and us that they gave him extraordinary help, but in our regime we declared him an offender and a fugitive.

"Various senior Congress leaders used to get favours from Mallya in return. Nabbing Mallya and winning the extradition was our strict action against such fugitive offenders who flee after taking huge amount of loan from India and then make a fool of our government and government agencies," he said.

Meanwhile the Congress, which held a press conference soon after the BJP, ridiculed the ruling party , saying that going by the the BJP's "credit seeking" claims, India would be "celebrating its fifth birthday on May 26, 2019".

Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera alleged that Mallya had met Jaitley before fleeing the country.

"If the BJP is taking credit for declaring Mallya a FEO, then let them take credit as they are taking credit for everything from Mangalyaan, Chandrayan, Pokhran 1 to Pokhran 2 (nuclear tests)...we should be celebrating India's 5th birthday on May 26, 2019. The BJP feels that everything happened after its government came to power in 2014," he said.

Khera, however, said that "everyone knew" how Mallya fled to London.

"We all know...what happened and how it happened. In fact, a certain BJP minister recently even said that Mallya was not a fugitive and had not committed any fraud.

"When Mallya himself said that he left after meeting Arun Jaitley, sought his permission, so what else is there to say," said Khera.

Jaitley, who was finance minister in 2016 when Mallya left India, had said that he had not given Mallya an appointment to meet him since 2014. He had said that Mallya had "misused" the privilege of being a Rajya Sabha MP to catch him in corridors of Parliament on one occasion while he was walking out of the House to go to his room.

The Enforcement Directorate had requested the Prevention of Money Laundering Act court in Mumbai that Mallya, who is currently in the UK, be declared a fugitive and his properties be confiscated and brought under the control of the Union government.

Special judge M S Azmi declared Mallya an FEO under Section 12 of the Act after hearing extensive arguments from Mallya's lawyer and the ED counsel.

Mallya had left India in March 2016.

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BJP president Amit Shah lashed out at the the Congress-JD(S) dispensation in Karnataka on Saturday after it hiked tax on petrol and diesel, saying why should the people pay such a heavy price for "corruption and inefficiency of the state government".

"Under the present state government in Karnataka, farmers are dying. Dalits are being enslaved. Common man is being oppressed with taxes. Why should the people of Karnataka pay such a heavy price for the corruption and inefficiency of the state government?" Shah said in a tweet.

The BJP chief's comments came a day after the Congress-JD(S) government in Karnataka raised tax rates on petrol and diesel to 32 per cent and 21 per cent respectively, citing adverse impact on the state revenue collection due to continuous fall in prices of crude oil in international market.

Shah had earlier also attacked the government over the issue of farmers suicide and a case of Dalits being allegedly enslaved.

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Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav may face a probe by the CBI in an illegal mining case in the state, according to the agency FIR made public Saturday, the day arch rivals SP and BSP indicated their intent to join hands to counter the ruling BJP in 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

The CBI carried out searches at 14 locations on Saturday in connection with its FIR against 11 persons including IAS officer B Chandrakala, Samajwadi Party MLC Ramesh Kumar Mishra and Sanjay Dixit (who unsuccessfully contested the 2017 assembly election on a BSP ticket) to probe alleged illegal mining of minor minerals in Hamirpur district during 2012-16.

Minor minerals are like sand, gravels etc.

Chandrakala, who is on study leave now a days, is one the most talked about officers on social media because of her purported anti-corruption drive videos on various platforms.

Her social media videos lashing out at government officials earned her a title of 'Lady Dabang' (daring).

A UP cadre IAS officer of the 2008-batch, Chandrakala was the district magistrate of Hamirpur during 2012-14 when she allegedly violated e-tender system of allotting mining contracts in her district, the FIR said.

"The role of the then mining ministers concerned during the relevant period may be looked into during the course of investigation of the case," the FIR said.

Akhilesh Yadav, who was the chief minister of the state between 2012 and 2017, held the mining portfolio during 2012-13 apparently bringing his role under scanner, according to the FIR.

He was succeeded by Gayatri Prajapati, who took charge as mining minister in 2013 and was arrested in 2017 following a complaint of rape by a woman residing in Chitrakoot.

This is a third FIR pertaining to illegal mining cases which were registered by the agency on January 2, 2019, nearly two-and-a-half year after it was directed by the Allahabad High Court to probe the issue.

The CBI was directed by the High Court on July 28, 2016 to probe illegal mining in the state following which it had registered seven preliminary enquiries out of which two pertaining to Shamli and Kaushambi districts were converted into FIRs in 2017.

Senior officials said cases pertaining to Fatehpur, Deoria, Saharanpur and Siddharth Nagar districts will be filed soon.

The agency is probing the illegal mining during the period of 2012 and 2016.

The searches of the agency took place on a day the Samajwadi Party and the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party gave contours of an electoral alliance ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The coming together of the two arch rivals may spell trouble for the ruling BJP which had a home run in 2014 elections when it won 71 out of total 80 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

The FIR also states that it was the Uttar Pradesh government under Akhilesh Yadav that had introduced e-tendering process to grant or renew mining leases on May 31, 2012, a move ratified by the Allahabad High Court in 2013.

It is alleged that Chandrakala in criminal conspiracy with other officials illegally granted fresh leases, renewed existing ones and permitted obstructed period to the existing lease holders in violation of e-tendering process initiated by the government.

The FIR also accused her and other suspects of allegedly allowing illegal mining, extortion from the lease holders and drivers of the vehicles transporting minerals.

The searches at 12 places in Uttar Pradesh's Hamirpur, Jalaun, Lucknow, Noida, besides in Delhi, led to the recovery of cash over Rs 12.5 lakh, property documents, 1.8 kilogram gold etc. The Noida and Lucknow residences of Chandrakala were also searched.

Others named in the FIR include Dinesh Kumar Mishra, brother of SP MLC Ramesh Mishra; Ram Ashrey Prajapati (then mining clerk), Ambika Tiwari (who is related to Mishra brothers), Sanjay Dixit's father Satyadev Dixit, Ram Avtar Singh (retired mining clerk), Karan Singh (lease holder) and Adil Khan, the illegal excavator.

Khan was allegedly given work on the recommendation by Gayatri Prajapati, the mining minister who took charge in 2013.

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Seven people, including six children, were killed on Saturday when a private school bus rolled down a gorge in Himachal Pradesh's Sirmaur district, police said.

As per the reports received at the state headquarters, the bus of Dadahu Aadarsh Vidya Niketan School, carrying 18 children, skidded off the road near Khadkoli on Dadahu-Sangrah Road at around 8 am.

Three students and the bus driver died on the spot, another three children were reported brought dead at Nahan Civil Hospital, officials said.

Superintendent of Police, Sirmaur, Rohit Malpani said Samir (5), Adarsh (7), Kartik (14) and driver Ram Swaroop (40) died on the spot.

"Abhishek, his sister Sanjana and Naitik Chauhan succumbed to their injuries on their way to Nahan Medical College," the SP said.

Five seriously injured children have been referred to PGIMER, Chandigarh whereas seven are getting treatment at Nahan Hospital.

Ten of the 12 injured schoolchildren were identified as Sandhaya, Rakshita, Anjali, Rajiv, Aayush, Vaishanvi, Dhruv, Mannat, Aarushi and Sunder Singh.

Sirmaur Deputy Commissioner Sirmour Lalit Jain ordered a magisterial inquiry into the accident.

The DC asked Sub-divisional Magistrate, Sangrah,Rajesh Dhiman to hold a detailed inquiry into the accident and submit a report within fifteen days, a district spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, the district administration provided immediate relief of Rs 20,000 each to the family members of the deceased and Rs 10,000 to the injured.

Besides, the deputy commissioner also provided Rs 50,000 from the Red Cross Fund to the injured, who have been referred to PGIMER, Chandigarh.

Governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur have expressed deep grief over the tragedy, an official state spokesperson said.

Wishing speedy recovery to the injured children, Devvrat and Thakur prayed for the souls of the deceased and strength to the bereaved family members.

Transport Minister Govind Singh Thakur and Himachal Congress chief Sukhvinder Sukhu mourned the death of school children and the bus driver in this accident.

Speaker of HP Vidhan Sabha Rajiv Bindal along with the DC immediately rushed to the hospital to meet the injured children and made arrangements for the immediate shifting of the seriously injured.

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Six children and the driver of their school bus were killed on Saturday when the vehicle fell into a gorge in Himachal Pradesh's Sirmaur district, police said.

The accident in which 12 schoolchildren were also injured occurred in Sangrah town around 8 AM.

"A private bus carrying students of DAV School, Renuka, fell into a gorge. Seven people -- six schoolchildren and the bus driver -- were killed," Superintendent of Police, Sirmaur, Rohit Malpani said.

Four people -- Samir (5), Adarsh (7), Kartik (14) and driver Ram Swaroop (40) -- died on the spot. Abhishek, his sister Sanjana and Naitik Chauhan succumbed to their injuries at the Nahan Medical College, the SP said.

The twelve people injured in the accident have been hospitalised. The condition of some of them is critical, he said.

Ten of the 12 injured schoolchildren were identified as Sandhaya, Rakshita, Anjali, Rajiv, Aayush, Vaishanvi, Dhruv, Mannat, Aarushi and Sunder Singh.

Deputy Commissioner, Sirmour, Lalit Jain has asked Sub Divisional Magistrate, Sangrah, Rajesh Dhiman to conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident and submit a report within 15 days.

Jain also asked Dhiman to disburse an immediate relief of Rs 20,000 to kin of those killed and Rs 10,000 the injured.

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Two persons were killed and five others injured in a collision between two cars in Uttar Pradesh's Fatehgarh town on Saturday, police said.

The accident took place at the Rae Bareli-Jaunpur highway in Fatehganj at around 6 am, they said.

"The deceased have been identified as Sandeep Srivastava (38) and his wife Meenakshi (34), who were returning to Azamgarh from Lucknow along with their six-year-old son," Additional Superintendent of Police (City) Anil Kumar Pandey said.

The minor boy sustained injuries in the collision.

Four occupants of the other car were also injured, Pandey said.

All the injured were admitted to the district hospital, he added.

The bodies of the deceased have been sent for a post mortem examination, the police said.

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A section of PSU bank employees would go on a two-day strike on January 8 and 9 in support of the nation-wide strike call given by 10 central trade unions against the government's alleged anti-worker policy.

The All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) and Bank Employees Federation of India has informed the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) of the two-day nationwide strike on January 8-9, 2019, IDBI Bank said in a filing to the BSE.

In a separate filing to the BSE, Bank of Baroda said "in the event of AlBEA and BEFI proceeding on strike on January 8-9, 2019, the functioning of bank's branches/offices in some of the zones may be affected."



Ten central trade unions -- INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, AICCTU, UTUC, TUCC, LPF and SEWA -- have also called for a nationwide general strike on January 8-9, against the "anti-people" policies of the Centre and have placed a charter of 12 demands before the central government.

Earlier on December 26, 2018, nine bank unions or close to 1 million employees of various banks, including private lenders, had observed a one-day strike to protest against the proposed amalgamation of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank with Bank of Baroda.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The demand for real estate from political parties never seems to end. The latest to join the chorus is the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) that has announced it will construct its office in Delhi soon. The Centre has agreed to grant the party an area of 1,200 sq yards. TRS president and Telangana Chief Minister K.

Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) was in Delhi last week to inspect the land available on offer. TRS will have to pay Rs 5 crore to the Ministry as the land price. KCR has sent a team of his MPs led by B Vinod Kumar to select one of the three sites suggested by the Ministry. He has also ...
"The Accidental Prime Minister", a forthcoming film centred around former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his journey with the Congress party, became a talking point since its trailer released. Actor Akshaye Khanna, who plays a crucial role in the movie, sees the reactions as a debate and not a controversy.

The trailer has raked up talk about the film's portrayal of a political party and has raised questions on whether the filmmaker has a political agenda.

Asked about the response to the trailer and the controversy around it, Khanna told IANS here: "Look, what you call controversy, I am calling a debate and in a democratic country, the debate should be on.

"Whether it is for or against the matter, a debate must be embraced. I appreciate such practice because only people have the right to decide if such a film should be made or not."

In the film, veteran actor Anupam Kher plays Manmohan Singh. Akshaye essays Sanjaya Baru, who worked as a media advisor of the Prime Minister from 2004 to 2008, and later wrote a memoir of his experience of working at the PMO in a book that was released in 2014.

Akshaye said: "This is the first time that a film is made on a politician of recent times, taking the real name, and (showcasing) all the real incidents that are very much in the public domain and vividly remembered by the people.

"Of course, people will have their opinion and they must express them in all the mediums -- whether it is on social media, mainstream media or by writing an article about it."

"Having said that, I do not think these events as controversy. We are living in a democracy," added the son of late actor-politician Vinod Khanna.

Also releasing this month is a film titled "Thackeray". It is based late politician Bal Thackeray, the founder of Shiv Sena.

Why are political themes interesting for filmmakers and actors?

In Akshaye's opinion, it is simply because, "it is interesting".

"There are a lot of political decisions that have been been made in the government that have changed the lives of common people. These kind of stories offer an insight into the thought behind such decisions.

"Through films, people not only get access to interesting stories and information but also a powerful visual experience," he added.

"The Accidental Prime Minister", also featuring Suzanne Bernert, Aahana Kumra and Arjun Mathur, is slated to release on January 11. It is directed by Vijay Gutte.

(Arundhuti Banerjee can be contacted at arundhuti.b@ians.in)

--IANS

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US Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Washington-based grand jury, which is investigating the Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, has been granted an extension by a federal judge days before its term was set to expire.

The grand jury used by Mueller came into existence on July 5, 2017, and its 18-month term was set to end on Saturday.

Chief US District Judge Beryl A. Howell, who oversees grand jury activities, on Friday approved the extension of the investigative panel. No reason was given by the court on increasing the term, the Washington Post reported.

Howell also declined to provide any length of time for the extension. Under federal rules of criminal procedure, a grand jury may serve more than 18 months only if a judge finds an extension is in the public interest, and then generally for no more than six additional months.

The extension of the grand jury suggested that the Russia investigation wasn't finished and Mueller may be planning further indictments.

Since July 2017, the group has heard from dozens of witnesses in Mueller's investigation and approved indictments of US President Donald Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his deputy Rick Gates, their Russian business associate Konstantin Kilimnik.

Tweleve Russian military intelligence officers and 13 Russians and three companies who allegedly manipulated social media to sway US voters were also indicted. Manafort and Gates have since pleaded guilty to reduced sets of charges.

One Russian company charged by Mueller, Concord Management and Catering, had pleaded not guilty, while the rest of the Russians had not appeared in the US courts.

In recent months, there had been several signs Mueller's grand jury would press on. Two political supporters of Trump -- political operative Roger Stone and author Jerome Corsi -- said that they had been threatened with indictment by Mueller's prosecutors.

Mueller's investigation has pressed on for more than 19 months amid attacks from Trump, who views the probe as a partisan "witch hunt" against him and has publicly called for its end.

Trump has long denied there was collusion between his campaign in Moscow. "I didn't need Russians to help me win Iowa or Wisconsin," he told reporters on Friday.

--IANS

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Vijay Ratnakar Gutte, director of "The Accidental Prime Minister", wants people to talk about the film for its creative aspects rather than its political backdrop as he feels the audience is assuming he has a political agenda behind releasing the film ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Once the trailer released last month, the Twitter handle of ruling party BJP shared it. And since then, the film is receiving polarised feedback from the general audience.

"The moment a political party showed a gesture of promoting the film, unfortunately, the focus shifted from the creative side of the story to political debate," Gutte told IANS.

"The whole team -- the cast and the crew -- has worked really hard to put the film together. But the moment the Bharatiya Janata Party tweeted the trailer of the film on social media, people started talking about if it is a political agenda," Vijay told IANS here in an interview.

"I want people and media to talk about the film for the film, its actors, story, background music and everything to do with the core film and not if there is any political agenda," he said.

The story of the film is based on the book of the same name written by Sanjaya Baru, the former media advisor of the former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

However, being a debut director, Gutte wants the film to reach out to the maximum number of people.

"Tomorrow if the Congress party wants to promote the film because they liked the trailer, I won't stop them either. At the end of the day, I want more audience to go to the theatre to watch the film."

The film features Anupam Kher, Akshaye Khanna, Suzanne Bernert, Aahana Kumra and Arjun Mathur among others.

"I also believe that no matter what we say now, the audience will watch the film and interpret the way they want," Gutte added.

"The Accidental Prime Minister" will release on January 11.

---IANS

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The UN's fundamental position on equal rights for women applies across the board to all religions and in the case of Sabarimala, since the Supreme Court has ruled on women's right to enter it, the world body encourages respect for rule of law, according to an official here.

While answering a reporter's question on Friday about the Sabarimala controversy, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' Deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq said: "You are aware of the UN's position on equal rights of all people."

Asked if the UN's position on equal rights for women applied to all religions, including Catholicism and Islam, he said: "It applies across the board. The question is how that is to be carried out... this is a question on which the courts have pronounced themselves and we encourage respect for the rule of law."

In answer to another reporter's pointed question about the "frenzy" in Kerala over two women entering the Lord Ayyappa shrine and former UN Under-Secretary-General Shashi Tharoor's criticism of the women, Haq said: "This is an issue on which the Supreme Court of India has commented. So we will leave the matter in the hands of the rule of law authorities in India. Of course, we want all parties to respect the rule of law."

Asked if not allowing women to enter the temple was a violation of human rights, Haq did not give a direct answer, but said: "We encourage all to respect the laws of the country."

The Supreme Court ruled in September against the temple's ban on women between the ages of 10 and 50 entering the shrine dedicated to Lord Ayyappa.

After prolonged protests blocked women from entering the temple, two women in their 40s entered the shrine under police escort on Wednesday.

Demonstrations have been held across Kerala both in support of women entering the temple as well against it.

Tharoor, now a Congress Party MP representing Thiruvananthapuram, had criticised the women who went to the shrine on Wednesday, saying that it was an "unnecessary provocative act".

But he added, that he was "very much in favour of women equality but was also in favour of respecting the sanctity of religious practices in our country".

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter @arulouis)

--IANS

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US President Donald Trump has threatened to declare a national emergency that would allow him to order construction of a border wall with Mexico without Congressional approval of the needed funds.

The President's remarks came on Friday after he met senior Democrats, who refused his requests for funding, CNN reported. The impasse has seen Trump withhold support for a bill to fully fund the government till he gets money for the border wall.

He said he was prepared for the partial government shutdown -- now in its third week -- to last years. Around 800,000 federal workers have been without pay since December 22.

"I can do it if I want," Trump told a press conference when asked about the possibility of starting construction on the wall without a go-ahead from Congress, due to the Democrats' refusal to approve its financing.

"We can call a national emergency and build it very quickly... I haven't done it. I may do it. If we can do it through the negotiating process, we're giving that a shot."

Trump considered the idea of building a barrier of "artistically designed steel slats" as an alternative to a cement wall, though he gave no details about that possibility.

He said there was an immediate need for $5.6 billion for the wall because "we're not talking about games, we're talking about national security. It's a problem of terrorists."

Democrats were equally dug in, saying the matter of a border barrier should only be brought up once the government has reopened. "We cannot resolve this until we open up government and we made that very clear to the President," Democrat House Speaker Pelosi said after the White House meeting.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said: "We told the President we needed the government open. He resisted."

White House and Congress officials will scheduled to meet later on Saturday in a fresh bid to resolve the standoff.

Trump said he designated a group of aides, including Vice President Mike Pence, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, to participate in the weekend discussions, which he described as meant to "determine what we're going to do about the border".

The government has been in a partial shutdown since December 22 as negotiations between Republicans and Democrats in Congress remain blocked by Trump's demand to include in the budget proposal funding for the border wall.

The paralysis of the administration affected 10 government agencies, including Transportation and Justice, along with dozens of national parks, which are popular tourist attractions.

--IANS

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After a day of heated debate on the controversial Rafale deal Parliament, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday again picked up the gauntlet and said that Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman spoke for two hours and still did not answer the two questions posed by him on the Rafale deal.

Gandhi's remarks came as he shared an "edited" video on his Twitter account of the Parliament debate on the Rafale deal. In the video, he is seen posing two questions: Who took away the contract from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL); and whether Indian Air Force (IAF) officers objected to the changes in the deal.

Sitharaman and other Bharatiya Janata Party ministers are shown to be sitting silently in response to the questions.

"Watch and share this video. Let every Indian ask the Prime Minister and his ministers these questions," the Congress President said.

Gandhi, on Friday, had said that Sitharaman evaded his questions on the controversial Rafale deal and "ran away" when asked a pointed question if the IAF objected to the changes that Prime Minister Narendra Modi made in "two minutes" to the deal, negotiated over eight years.

"Instead of answering the question, she started doing drama -- 'Oh I was insulted. I was called a liar'. My simple question was that after such a long negotiation by the Air Force chief, Defence Minister, secretaries and Air Force officers, did those who did the whole negotiation object when Modi did the bypass surgery to the negotiated deal," Gandhi had said.

Sitharaman dismissed all allegations of corruption in the Rafale deal and in a reply lasting over two-and-half hours in the Lok Sabha on Friday to a debate on the deal with French manufacturer Dassault, said: "Bofors was a scam, but Rafale was a decision taken in national interest. Rafale will bring back Modi to build a new India and remove corruption."

--IANS

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Samsung Electronics is set to unveil at next week's CES 2019 new monitors for different users ranging from gamers and office workers to designers.

The South Korean tech giant on Friday said it would showcase at the trade show in Las Vegas the 49-inch CRG9 monitor that comes with a curved screen sporting a 32:9 aspect ratio, Yonhap news agency reported.

The ultra-wide display is optimised for playing games, Samsung said.

Supporting an impressive 120 Hz (hertz) refresh rate, Samsung said users can play challenging high-quality games without any delay. Users can customise displays for different content ranging from first-person shooters to role-playing games.

The company is also set to unveil the Space Monitor, which is optimised for office workers.

"Its unique built-in space saving solution, a minimalist fully integrated arm, clamps to the desk and frees up desk space for ultimate user productivity," Samsung said.

"The Samsung Space Monitor is easy to set up and adjust when you aren't using it, and simple to push back and store flat against the wall," it added.

Samsung is set to display the 32-inch UR59C monitor for designers as well.

"Ideal for content creators that seek both versatility and performance, the new UR59C 32-inch monitor features a UHD curved display with a 2,500:1 contrast ratio and a full 3840x2160 4K UHD resolution with support for up to 1 billion colors," Samsung said.

--IANS

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Even as Apple Inc.'s shares fell after it lowered its revenue estimate for the first quarter of fiscal 2019, President Donald Trump has said he is not bothered about the tech giant's concerns, the media reported.

Claiming that Apple mostly makes its products in China, Trump told reporters at a White House news conference that he does not fear the impact of Apple's stock on the US economy, CNBC reported on Friday.

In a letter to investors on Wednesday, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that for the quarter ending December 29, the company now expects revenue of approximately $84 billion, down from the $89 to $93 billion it had previously projected.

Apple lowered its revenue guidance, which led to a fall in its stock, due to weaker than expected iPhone sales, particularly in China.

Cook acknowledged that the revenue shortfall in its guidance was partly due to China's trade tensions with the US. The slowdown in the Chinese economy also impacted its revenue, he said.

"Apple was at a number that was incredible and they're going to be fine. Apple is a great company," Trump was quoted as saying.

Apple Inc. shares dropped 10 per cent following the iPhone maker's warning late Wednesday, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.

Trump said that China was the biggest beneficiary of Apple, more than the US "because they build their product mostly in China."

"I told (Apple CEO) Tim Cook, who's a friend of mine, who I like a lot, make your product in the United States," Trump was quoted as saying.

Apple disputes the claim that it mostly makes its products in China. In a March 2018 interview to Recode's Kara Swisher and MSNBC's Chris Hayes, Cook said that that many of the Apple product components are made in the US, even though Apple products are assembled in China.

Trump did praise Apple for investing $350 billion in the US, seemingly referring to the company's announcement last January

Apple also announced in December that it would invest $1 billion in a new campus in Austin, Texas.

--IANS

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Actress Alia Bhatt, who delivered a power-packed performance in "Raazi" last year, is now looking forward to the release of projects like "Gully Boy" and "Brahmastra". She believes her movies appeal to audiences across all age groups, including children.

Nevertheless, she would love to do a film specifically for children.

"I would definitely love to do a (children's) project if I do get the opportunity to. I feel the kids connect with me through the various projects that I take on. I would like to think that most of my films are enjoyed across age groups," Alia told IANS in an email.

The actress recently won the Favorite Movie Actor (Female) award at the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards 2018, to be aired on January 6 on Nickelodeon.

"I think kids have chosen me to have the iconic Nickelodeon blimp this year because they too can enjoy the characters that I play on the screen," Alia added.

Since "Bramhastra" is a sci-fi movie, how interesting will it be for children?

"The movie is for all age groups and will be an interesting watch for children as well. I am looking forward to the reactions to the film," said Alia, who is equally excited for "Gully Boy".

The Ranveer Singh-Alia starrer is going to premiere at the Berlin Film Festival.

"I'm very excited for it. The efforts put in the movie by Zoya (director Zoya Akhtar), Farhan (Farhan Akhtar) and the cast has paid off. The whole cast and crew of the movie are extremely delighted and looking forward for everyone to see the movie," said the actress, who is currently in New York.

--IANS

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Film: "Mary Poppins Returns"; Director: Rob Marshall; Starring: Emily Blunt, Lin Manuel-Miranda, Ben Whinshaw, Colin Firth, Meryl Streep; Rating: ** (2 stars)

A more destitute classic would be hard to find. "Mary Poppins Returns" is a sluggish almost-charmless, and most shockingly, irrelevant remake of Robert Stevenson's 1964 classic about a nanny who 'rescues' a crisis-stricken family. Julie Andrews played a similar angel of mercy in two different films released in two successive years "Mary Poppins" and "The Sound Of Music" and qualified for eternal fame.

Emily Blunt's Mary Poppins is a... well, blunt and cold. I do hope she doesn't intend do a remake of "The Sound Of Music" anytime in the near future. This gifted actress so memorable as a delusional alcoholic in "The Girl On The Train" is here reduced to a starchy cold stiff-upperlipped self-important nanny who drops right from heaven into the Banks family. Parachute be damned.

Michael Banks (played with an endearing boyishness by Ben Whishaw)'s world has fallen apart after his wife's death. One of the film's earliest musical numbers has him reveling in his wife's memories. Grief-stricken and in a financial crisis, the last thing the Banks family needs is a supercilious bossy nanny who clearly thinks the sun rises and sets in her backroom.

This is a good moment to pause and wonder why? Why was Emily Blunt seen suitable to play Mary Poppins? The British accent? I see no other reason why she has taken on this iconic role of a do-gooder who changes a family's fortunes. She imbues the part with an arching up-tightness. Nearer home we had Rajesh Khanna doing Mary Poppins in Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Bawarchi. He didn't have Julie Andrew's British accent. But he conveyed more joie de vivre in one frame than Emily Blunt does in the entire film.

Ms Blunt's joyless performance is just a fraction of the problems that grip this misguided remake. "Mary Poppins Returns" is filled with episodes that are designed to exhilarate and edify the childhood sensations of adulthood. One after the other, they fall by the wayside leaving us with a sinking feeling.

After feeling a pall of boredom falling on me, I waited for Meryl Streep to show up. When she did I groaned in disbelief. As Topsy the wacked-out fix-it lady with red hair and clownish makeup, her song and dance 'Turning Turtle' is as major disaster waiting to happen in a film where nothing does.

The saving grace is a bright young actor named Lin-Manuel Miranda who plays a streetlight-operator (this is London during the Great Depression). His musical number in a sewage canal reminiscent of Ranbir Kapoor's easy grace in Sanjay Bhansali's Saawariya, is easily the high point of the sluggish dull over-righteous film where the characters are not just out of a clumsy fairytale but also a mockery of what was an indisputable classic almost 50 years ago.

"Mary Poppins Returns" does have its moments when its escapes the clutches of its self created stupor to break into the land of unmitigated joy. But these come in spurts that only accentuate the narrative's utter disassociation with the original drama and its refusal to let the sun in even the characters are pining to be happy.

Tragically, there is no magic in "Mary Poppins Returns", only ennui.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A day after a heated debate on the Rafale deal in Parliament, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday accused Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman of not answering his two questions and urged all Indians to pose these to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ministers.

Gandhi's remarks came as he shared an "edited" video on his Twitter account of the Parliament debate on the deal to purchase fighter jets from France.

"RM spoke for 2 hours in Parliament, but she couldn't answer the 2 simple questions I asked her. Watch and share this video. Let every Indian ask the PM and his Ministers these questions," he said.

Gandhi had said on Friday that Sitharaman evaded his questions on the controversial Rafale deal.

Sitharaman had dismissed all allegations of corruption in the Rafale deal and accused Gandhi of misleading the nation.

The Congress also held a press conference and accused Sitharaman and Modi of "lying" in the Rafale deal.

Party spokesperson Pawan Khera alleged that Sitharaman was "lying to protect lies" of Modi.

"She lied that there was no agreement between HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limted) and Rafale. The truth is that both the companies signed a work share agreement on March 13, 2014. She lied that she has no knowledge on the offset of Dassault in India".

He said that French Defence Minister Florence Parly had visited Nagpur in 2017 to lay the foundation stone for Dassault Aviation and Reliance's joint venture project.

--IANS

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Rome, Jan 5 (IANS/AKI) Italy cannot open its ports to two migrant rescue boats currently sheltering in Maltese waters as Europe argues over where the vessels should dock, hardline Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said.

"A German and a Dutch (flagged) ship located in Malta's waters - but yet again Italy is expected to give them a safe port of call," Salvini wrote on Facebook on Friday.

"Italy has already taken in the best part of a million people in recent years - a country where over a million children live in absolute poverty," Salvini went on.

Italy will send medical, food supplies and clothes to the two ships, Salvini said, repeating his frequent call for an end to the trafficking of migrants.

"Human trafficking must be stopped. Those who are fleeing war should arrive in Italy by plane, as many have done, not aboard people-smuggling boats... the fewer migrants who set sail, the fewer will perish," Salvini's post went on.

The Dutch-flagged Seawatch3, operated by a German NGO, has 32 migrants on board including women, young children and unaccompanied minors who were rescued on December 22.

A second German charity ship, Sea Eye, with 17 migrants aboard who were saved on December 29, is also sheltering in Maltese waters from high winds and rough seas.

The European Commission is continuing its "intense" contacts with member states to find a solution for the 49 stranded migrants, spokeswoman Mina Andreeva said.

Two dozen humanitarian groups, including Amnesty International and the UN International Organization for Migration, as well as 300 academics this week called on the European Union to offer a safe port to both vessels.

--IANS/AKI

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Seven books brought out by the Publications Division of the Ministry of I&B - on subjects ranging from Mahatma Gandhi to Buddhism - were released on Saturday at the World Book Fair by I&B Secretary Amit Khare.

Stressing on the importance of reading books, Khare said that while one may get information from the internet, books provide true knowledge and broaden one's understanding.

The books include "Bapu ke ashirwaad", "2500 years of Buddhism", "Portraits of Strength", "Hindi Swadesh mein aur Videsh Mein" and "Rang Birangi Kahaniya", among others.

Appreciating the good work done by Publications Division, he said that the Division not only gives opportunities to good writers from across the length and breadth of country, but also helps spread Indian literature abroad.

Khare was also appreciative of the wide representation of women in the event, including representatives of Publications Division as well as authors present, adding that this was indeed a representation of women's empowerment in the true sense.

--IANS

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Union Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Saturday asked Punjab Congress MPs to hawk potatoes outside the residence of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to make him intervene to help crisis-hit potato growers of Punjab.

Asking Punjab Congress President Sunil Jakhar and other Congress MPs "not to resort to cheap photo ops", she said that in case they were really interested in coming to the aid of potato growers, they should hold a protest outside the residence of Amarinder Singh.

Accusing Jakhar and the other Congress MPs of suffering from amnesia, Badal said: "They would remember that (Punjab) Finance Minister Manpreet Badal had announced formation of a Price Stabilisation Fund in the assembly whose purpose was to intervene in case of steep fall in food produce.

"The Congress government has forgotten about the Fund and is not lifting a single finger to help potato growers but Jakhar is holding a protest in Delhi instead of Punjab."

Asking Jakhar what was preventing the Congress government from announcing a relief package for potato growers, Badal said the government could also introduce potatoes in mid-day meal and Atta-Dal schemes to end distress sale of potatoes at Rs 3 per kg against the production cost of Rs 6 to Rs 8 per kg.

Potato growers in Punjab, especially in the Doaba belt (area between Sutlej and Beas rivers), are facing a crisis due to a glut following a bumper potato crop.

Badal said the state government could also introduce freight and storage subsidies for potato growers on the pattern of the Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal governments.

"Instead of doing all this, Jakhar and company are trying to befool the people by making it appear as if the centre is not coming to the rescue of potato growers," she added.

She claimed that the Punjab government was not even ready for any long term solutions to ensure value-addition to food products, including potatoes.

"The Congress government has also shown total lack of interest in availing schemes initiated by the Food Processing Ministry. It seems Congress MPs are deliberately holding frivolous protests to deflect attention from their own failures," Badal added.

--IANS

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She made an impact with her debut film "Kedarnath", and her second release "Simmba" is also a hit. But actress Sara Ali Khan, who has fan clubs all across India doting on her, says she neither has time to feel like a "star" not does she think she will let herself feel like one in future.

Excerpts from the interview:

Q. Congrats Sara, you seem to have become quite a star?

A. Arre kahaan? I am just running around trying to cope with the workload. I don't have time to feel like a star. I don't think I'm a star yet. But I hope I get there some day. I don't think I will ever let myself feel like a star. The minute you do, others will stop seeing you in a favourable light.

Q. Your gorgeous grandmother Sharmila Tagore says you have immense poise for someone so young. Where does this self confidence come from?

A. I guess it comes from being honest. And that's the only way I can be. Let those who can lie convincingly do it. I can't! I start fumbling the minute I lie. Staying true to myself suits me just fine.

Q. What kind of reactions are you getting from family and the media?

A. The family cannot be expected to be objective. They are expected to be nice to me in whatever I do. After all I am their daughter. But the way the reviewers, critics and audience have reacted to me, is overwhelming. This is a moment I am not going to forget ever in my life.

Q. Do you deserve all the love you are getting?

A. 80 per cent of it, I deserve. The other 20 per cent I don't know where it is coming from. And it's making me feel very grateful and emotional. I don't have any experience in acting. All I had was my honesty. And that was my only go-to.

"Kedarnath" was my first experience in what happens before the camera. Of course I had been on film sets before to see my mother (Amrita Singh) shoot in 'Kalyug' and my father (Saif Ali Khan) in 'Omkara'. But all I did was play around with my parents' co-stars' make-up.

"Kedarnath" was my first opportunity to observe filmmaking and be part of the process. My only tool of working on the sets was my honesty. Of course, I always wanted to be an actor.

Q. Posing as a child in front of the mirror? Wearing your mother's clothes?

A. All of that, all of that.

Q. In that case why did you go to Columbia University?

A. To me, education was not a means to get a job. It was my way of widening my horizons. I didn't think I was going to be practising lawyer after attending Columbia. Education has made me a confident person. It doesn't only teach you history and geography. Education gives you insight into life. It gave me a heightened awareness of life, and that helped me become a better actor.

Q. You were raised mostly by your mother. Not having your father around, was that a lacuna you felt?

A. I was more than okay with that arrangement. I think having two happy parents in different homes is much more preferable than two unhappy parents in the same home. I think I am the way that I am because my mother didn't let me feel any kind deprivation for even a second.

I have a very hands-on mother. Once my brother and I were born, she did nothing but look after us.

Q. So she never allowed you to miss the presence of your father?

A. My father was always a phone call away for both of us. I've never felt he was not there for me. In many ways, I am glad my parents were not together. I know they would have never been happy together. And if they were not happy, I would not have been happy.

Q. Now Saif gives so much attention to Taimur which you never got. Do you feel a pang of envy?

A. Not at all. He's my brother. I will tell you something. When my father was living with us, he was completely taken up by me. When he moved away, he was still as caring. There's nothing he wouldn't do for me. Even when he doesn't live with us, the thought that he would do anything for me makes me feel very special.

My father may not be there for me the way he is for Taimur. But that doesn't make me feel any less special.

Q. Do you look forward to working with him?

A. God willing, we will work together soon. But for obvious reasons it's not something that would happen over and over again. But if we get a script that justifies our presence, we will do it without a moment's thought.

Q. What did your brother Ibrahim think of "Kedarnath" and "Simmba" and you?

A. He's studying abroad and he is the only member of the family who hasn't seen my films.

Q. Does he aspire to be an actor?

A. He does. But as I've discovered, it's an easy dream to have but a very difficult dream to achieve. But I feel Ibrahim has the talent. Once he enacted a monologue for my mother and I. I was holding the sheet of paper on which his lines were written. I couldn't look at the sheet as I was busy looking at his eyes. They were so emotive.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
After an eventful 2018 with the release of "Padmaavat" and her big fat wedding with Ranveer Singh, actress Deepika Padukone, who turned 33 on Saturday, announced the launch of her website.

Just a day earlier, the actress had taken to her Instagram handle and shared a handwritten note stating something "super exciting" was coming up, with a countdown. It left her fans curious.

After the countdown finished, Deepika announced the website's launch and captioned it: "Here's presenting my website - www.deepikapadukone.com. Love, Deepika"

The post also includes a QR code directing users to the website, which gives a landscape about Deepika's career.

The website features the landmarks and awards that Deepika has achieved, apart from information on Live Love Laugh, a foundation she has been supporting to spread mental health awareness.

It is Deepika's first birthday after her wedding to Ranveer, whom she married in Lake Como, Italy, in November.

As far as her projects are concerned, Deepika will turn producer with "Chhapaak", which will feature her as an acid attack survivor.

On her birthday, she received greetings on social media from celebrities like Madhuri Dixit Nene, Preity Zinta and Manish Malhotra. Here's what they had to say:

Madhuri Dixit Nene: Happy Birthday darling Deepika Padukone! Hope this year brings you all that your heart desires. Have a good one.

Manish Malhotra: The very beautiful Deepika Padukone... Happy Birthday keep that gorgeous smile always.

Preity Zinta: Happy Birthday Deepika Padukone. Wish you loads of love, happiness, joy and laughter always. Xoxo

Nikitin Dheer: Wishing the girl who is extremely beautiful inside and out Deepika Padukone a very happy birthday. You are one of the nicest people I have met in my life -- always real, humble, human. Wish you have a fantastic year ahead my Meenamma.

Urvashi Rautela: Here's to the one who inspires everyone with her unwavering determination and passion! The one we all love, adore and respect - The Queen of Hearts. Happiest birthday Deepika Padukone.

Mika Singh: Happy birthday to the most gorgeous, beautiful, talented and down to earth actress Deepika Padukone. May God bless you with loads of happiness, success and prosperity.

Diana Penty: Happy Birthday Deepika Padukone! Sending you lots of love and hugs... Have a super duper one.

Amruta Khanvilkar: Happy birthday Deepika Padukone there's only one queen who truly handles herself with grace, dignity and bravery at the same time... Have a blessed day you absolutely stunning beauty.

--IANS

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Police said on Saturday that no militant's body has been recovered from the site of a gunfight in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district that left a CRPF trooper injured.

The police said search operations were still on in Aripal village of Tral area but no body of any militant had been found so far.

Earlier, security forces resorted to aerial firing to disperse scores of protesters trying to march towards the gunfight site.

The protesters assembled as news spread that a local Hizbul Mujahideen commander, Hammad Khan, had been killed.

There was no official word on the killing as police said the operation against the militants was still going on.

Police, however, confirmed that a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) trooper was injured in the exchange of fire between the militants and the security forces.

"The injured CRPF jawan has been shifted to hospital," a police officer said.

Reports from the area said that the house in which the militants were hiding had been destroyed in the encounter and firing exchanges had stopped after that.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Attacking the Congress, the BJP on Saturday said while the UPA government under Manmohan Singh went all out to help debt-ridden Vijay Mallya and his crisis-ridden airline Kingfisher, the Narendra Modi government is doing everything possible to nab him.

Welcoming Mallya being declared as "fugitive", Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Sambit Patra credited it to the Modi government and said it is under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act brought by Modi that he has been declared fugitive by a Mumbai court.

He was referring to the verdict by a Special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) Court in Mumbai which declared absconder liquor baron Mallya a "fugitive" in a case filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in June 2018.

Comparing the approach of two governments -- one that was led by Manmohan Singh and the present one by Modi, and referring to a letter by Mallya to then Prime Minister Singh seeking help to tide over his financial woes and in getting a fresh loan, Patra said: "Then was the story of helping Vijay Mallya, today is the story of nabbing him."

Patra said that Manmohan Singh had then asked his Principal Secretary T.K.A. Nair to help Mallya.

He recalled a press conference by Singh on November 14, 2011 where the former Prime Minister purportedly said the government "needed to find ways to get Kingfisher out of trouble" when it was not able to pay back loans to the banks and was defaulting.

Patra alleged that not only Manmohan Singh but P. Chidambaram and may others in the Congress were helping Mallya, whereas the current government is trying to nab him.

"Only last month we have seen how the case relating to the extradition of Vijay Mallya was won in the UK court."

Patra also attacked the Congress and the earlier UPA government for conniving with arrested British national Christian Michel, the alleged middleman in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case.

He alleged that a letter that Michel wrote on July 31, 2009 to the CEO of AgustaWestland proved that he was privy to all the top-level information about the chopper deal.

"Middleman Christian Michel had access to something to which even Cabinet Ministers didn't have access to because the Cabinet Committee on Security is a closed-door meeting... Michel knew exactly what talks were going on between the Prime Minister and the select few who sat with the Prime Minister in the committee," Patra said

"With each and every day and date, he knew that the Prime Minister was probably going to sign the deal, and also when he would sign it. In the end of the letter, he says that obstacles in the way of securing the deal have been removed," he added.

Michal, Patra claimed, said that if there was any resistance to deal by the then Finance Minister, then "the leader" of the ruling party would speak to him.

Reading out the letter, he said: "If the Finance Minister wishes to make trouble, this process should otherwise outmanoeuvre him and we can expect a smooth passage of the file through Cabinet Committee on Security."

He said that in the letter, Michel also asked the CEO to put pressure on the Italian government not to publicise the deal after it gets finalised.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The CBI on Saturday searched 14 locations in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, including the residence of a woman IAS officer, a Samajwadi Party leader and a BSP leader, in connection with its investigation into a case of illegal sand mining, with sources saying the role of former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who held the portfolio of mining, will also be probed.

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) spokesperson Abhishek Dayal told reporters that the agency registered a case on January 2 against 11 people, including a few known public servants and unknown public servants and others, under several sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The agency has named the woman IAS officer B. Chandrakala, a former Hamirpur District Magistrate, miner Adil Khan, geologist/mining officer Moinuddin, SP leader Ramesh Kumar Mishra, his brother Dinesh Kumar Mishra, Ram Ashray Prajapati, a former clerk in the mining department in Hamirpur, Sanajy Dikshit, who contested the 2017 Assembly polls on Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) ticket, his father Satyadeo Dikshit, and Ram Avtar Singh, a former clerk in the mining department.

The official said that it conducted searches at 14 locations including one in New Delhi's Lajpat Nagar area and Kanpur, Lucknow, Hamirpur, Jalon, Hamirpur and Noida (in Uttar Pradesh).

The agency carried out searches at two residential premises of Chandrakala in Lucknow and Noida and at the premises of the SP leader and his brother in Kanpur and his close associate Ambika Tiwari in Hamirpur.

Dayal said the case relates to the illegal sand mining between 2012 and 2016, which it had started investigating on the directions of the Allahabad High Court.

He said the agency was investigating the granting and renewal of the licenses for the mining in the state between 2012-16 and also during the 'obstruction' period.

The official said that the CBI team recovered a few documents and seized a bank locker and two bank accounts from the IAS officer.

From the residence of Adil Khan, the agency collected the documents related to mining. "We found that the mining licence to him was provided on the recommendations of the then mining minister Gayatri Prajapati," he said.

He said the agency recovered Rs 12.5 lakh and 1.8 kg gold from the residence of Moinuddin in Hamirpur and Rs 2 crore and two kg gold from the residence of the retired clerk of the mining department, Ram Avtar Singh, in Jalon.

"Ram Avtar Singh was also holding a mining licence on a different name," the official said.

The official said that it also carried out searches at the residence of SP leader Ramesh Kumar Mihsra's wife in Lucknow but she has not been named in the FIR.

A senior agency official said that the agency will also probe the role of the Mining ministers in the state in 2012-16.

Former Chief Minister and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav held the mining ministry portfolio in the state from 2012 to 2013. Gayatri Prajapati succeded Akhilesh Yadav as Mining Minister.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The CBI on Saturday searched 14 locations in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, including the residence of a woman IAS officer, a SP leader and a BSP leader, in connection with its investigation into a case of illegal sand mining, with sources saying the role of former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who held the portfolio of mining, will also be probed.

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) spokesperson Abhishek Dayal told reporters that the agency registered a case on January 2 against 11 people, including a few known public servants and some unknown public servants and others, under sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The agency has named woman IAS officer B. Chandrakala, a former Hamirpur District Magistrate, miner Adil Khan, geologist/mining officer Moinuddin, Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Ramesh Kumar Mishra, his brother Dinesh Kumar Mishra, Ram Ashray Prajapati -- a former clerk in the Mining Department in Hamirpur, Sanajy Dikshit, who contested the 2017 Assembly polls on Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) ticket, his father Satyadeo Dikshit, and Ram Avtar Singh, a former clerk in the Mining Department.

The official said that it conducted searches at 14 locations including one in Lajpat Nagar area of New Delhi, and Kanpur, Lucknow, Hamirpur, Jalon, Hamirpur and Noida (in Uttar Pradesh).

The agency carried out searches at two residential premises of Chandrakala in Lucknow and Noida and at the premises of the SP leader and his brother in Kanpur and his close associate Ambika Tiwari in Hamirpur.

Dayal said the case relates to the illegal sand mining between 2012 and 2016, which it had started investigating on the directions of the Allahabad High Court.

He said the agency was investigating the granting and renewal of the licences for the mining in the state between 2012-16 and also during the "obstruction" period.

It is alleged that the lady IAS officer in her capacity as the DM of Hamirpur in 2012 had allocated 50 sand mining leases overriding the e-tendering process, laid down by the then government.

The official said that the CBI team recovered a few documents and seized a bank locker and two bank accounts of the IAS officer.

From the residence of Adil Khan, the agency collected the documents related to mining. "We found that the mining licence to him was provided on the recommendation of then Mining Minister Gayatri Prajapati," he said.

The official said the agency recovered Rs 12.5 lakh and 1.8 kg gold from the residence of Moinuddin in Hamirpur and Rs 2 crore and two kg gold from the residence of the retired clerk of the Mining Department Ram Avtar Singh in Jalon.

"Ram Avtar Singh was also holding a mining licence in a different name," the official said.

He said that it also carried out searches at the residence of SP leader Ramesh Kumar Mihsra's wife in Lucknow but she has not been named in the FIR.

A senior agency official said that the agency will also probe the role of the Mining ministers in the state during 2012-16.

Former Chief Minister and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav held the Mining Ministry in the state from 2012 to 2013. Gayatri Prajapati succeeded Akhilesh Yadav as the Mining Minister.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
British airports are boosting their counterdrone efforts after severe disruption during the holiday period, marking the first concrete sign that the three days of flight mayhem last month could be a catalyst for spending on systems to thwart the malicious use of unmanned aircraft.

Gatwick Airport, the UK's second largest after Heathrow, said it had recently spent several million pounds to buy new equipment to handle disruptive drones. The system is on par with what the country's military uses, the airport said without identifying the supplier, according to Efe news.

Counterdrone tools covered a range of technologies, including acoustic and radar sensors to spot the typically small aircraft. It can range to sophisticated devices to bring down drones, such as jammers that disrupt the communications link between the aircraft and operator.

Most sales of counterdrone equipment, which can be expensive, have so far been to the military, according to industry officials.

Troops increasingly face the threat of attack from small drones on the battlefield.

Repeated drone sightings forced Gatwick to close its single runway multiple times from late December 19 through December 21, affecting around 140,000 passengers after 1,000 flights were cancelled and many more were delayed.

The local police force was still searching for the perpetrators and said it had 93 credible witnesses.

Nobody was charged for the mayhem and authorities offered a 50,000 pound ($63,400) reward for information that leads to the arrest and convictions of those operating the drones.

The UK military deployed some of its counterdrone equipment to Gatwick to allow the airport to resume normal operations. Those systems were withdrawn this week.

Gatwick said the equipment it has acquired provides "similar level of reassurance" to that used by the armed forces.

London's Heathrow, Europe's busiest hub, stepped up patrols around its facility in December to mitigate the risk of drone disruptions that impacted Gatwick at the time.

The airport on Friday said it was working with authorities to address the risk from unmanned aircraft. "We are constantly looking at the best technologies that help remove the threat of drones," a spokeswoman said. She declined to say whether the airport had invested in counter-drone equipment.

Regulators in the US and Europe have struggled to find ways to foster a commercial drone industry that promises to grow into a multibillion-dollar annual business and protecting the public from reckless use of the devices.

The British government, in the wake of the Gatwick events, said it made counterdrone equipment available to deploy throughout the country.

The government also said that it may recommend tightening rules on drone use this year and call for enhanced policing powers and guidelines to test and use counterdrone equipment, the report said.

In the UK, it is illegal to fly a drone within 1 km of an airport. Violators could face a fine and up to five years in jail.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Culling of poultry birds is under way in parts of Bihar two days after reports of large-scale death of hens, crows and other birds led to panic among people about bird flu, triggering a drastic decline in chicken consumption, officials said on Saturday.

Officials of the state's animal and fisheries resource department said culling of 15,000 poultry birds was on in Mubarak Chak village in Jamalpur block in Munger district.

The culling began following test reports from Bhopal-based National Institute of High Security Animal Disease (NIHSAD) confirming that bird flu or H5N1 caused the birds' death in the village.

"More than 2,000 birds were culled in the last two days as a part of measures to contain bird flu that had already spread in two blocks of Munger district," said Shrawan Kumar, animal husbandary officer.

Nearly 3,000 hens have died in the last one week at Andhra Chowki village under Vikram block, about 20 km from Patna. Similarly, two dozen crows and equal number of hens were found dead in an orchard in Masaurih block in Patna district and in Sherghati in Gaya district, respectively.

Deaths of birds have also been reported from Bhagalpur and Nawada districts in the last one week.

"Hundreds of hens have died at a poultry farm in a village in Vikram block in the last few days. A team of animal husbandry doctors has visited the site and collected the samples," said animal husbandry director Vinod Singh Gunjiyal.

Dr Parambidh Kumar of the team that visited the village said samples had been sent to a lab in Kolkata. "Whether the birds died due to bird flu or cold is not clear". He said all dead hens were buried.

Gunjiyal said teams of experts from Bengaluru-based National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology Disease Informatics, Kolkatta-based Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory and Bhopal-based National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) have arrived to study and suggest measures to contain the bird flu spread.

The first case of suspected bird flu was reported on December 3 from Gorho village in Asarganj block in Munger.

Vijayalakshmi, secretary animal and fisheries resources department, said the government has initiated various measures, including culling of poultry birds, to contain the flu. "We are alert," she said.

--IANS

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Actor Alok Nath was on Saturday granted anticipatory bail by a court here on Saturday in an alleged rape case filed by writer-director Vinta Nanda.

The City Civil and Sessions Court at Dindoshi here heard Alok's plea seeking protection from arrest following an FIR from Nanda, who has claimed he raped her 19 years ago, said official sources.

The victim had lodged the complaint with Oshiwara Police on October 17 last year after Alok hit back by filing a defamation case against her in a Mumbai Magistrate Court.

Alok had denied all the allegations levelled by the victim and lodged the defamation case demanding Re.1 as damages and a written apology from her.

Known for his 'sanskaari' image on the big screen, Alok was expelled from the Cine & TV Artistes Association last year after the rape charges came to the fore.

It was in October that Nanda, who produced "Tara", had shared her ordeal with Alok through a long Facebook post, amid the #MeToo movement wave that hit India.

--IANS

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Inaugurating the 27th edition of New Delhi World Book Fair on Saturday, Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar expressed joy on the increasing popularity of books in India, and maintained that all opinions should be represented and respected in literature.

He said books expose their readers to new dimensions and hoped that with increasing popularity of books in India, the exchange of perspectives as well as the interest in "representing and respecting" all opinions will increase.

"Books teach us important values of life. I hope we are able to exchange our views and represent all opinions in literature. Respect towards all opinions should increase too," he said.

Javadekar said books have not lost their popularity even after the advent of television, internet, e-books and more lately, audio books.

"We may read only 50-60 pages in a day but that brings us joy. It exposes us to new thoughts and imagination. Different experiences of the world are brought together in books. Indians love reading, and it is growing at a steady pace in the country," he said.

He recalled that over 12 lakh visitors thronged the multiple stalls at the book fair in its last edition and hoped that readers would come out in "even greater numbers" this year.

"Several cultural events will also be taking place on the sidelines of the book fair and I am extremely delighted to see the efforts of National Book Trust (NBT) yield results.

"Books give a new meaning to life. More people should read and all views should be represented and respected in literature. The fulfillment of life does not come from earning money, it comes from reading," said the 67-year-old politician.

UAE's third largest emirate Sharjah has been invited as the guest of honour this year. Javadekar said that the "real friendship and real partnership" between India and UAE is "exhibited through this joint effort".

Sheikh Fahim Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, executive chairman of the Department of Government Relations, Sharjah, attended the inauguration event as the chief guest.

"The most inspiring success stories are written by countries that celebrate diversity, respect different opinions and make the most by learning from others," Al Qasimi said, reiterating the UAE president's declaration of 2019 as the "Year of Tolerance".

It is organised by the National Book Trust (NBT), along with the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO).

"Pakistan was allotted a stall but while over 20 countries have come to attend this celebration of books, they didn't turned up," NBT chairman, Baldev Bhai Sharma told IANS on the sidelines.

Javadekar regretted that visitors may have to face some difficulties due to the ongoing construction at Pragati Maidan but urged them to come forward in large numbers.

"We are constructing a world class Integrated Exhibition Cum Convention Center here but nothing is achieved without some pain. You may have to walk through narrow lanes this time but this should not dissuade you from coming to the fair in large numbers because books here make up for all the pain," he said.

The theme for this year of the fair is "Readers with Special Needs".

Special exhibition of books on and by Mahatma Gandhi are also being showcased and sold to mark the 150th birth anniversary of the father of the nation. Over 600 publishers are are selling their books in about 1300 stalls at the book fair.

Tickets are priced at Rs 30 for adults and Rs 20 for children, available online, at selected metro stations and Pragati maidan gate no. 1 and 10. Entry for students in school uniform, senior citizens and differently abled are free.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Mumtaz Ahmed Khan of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) will be the Pro-tem speaker of the newly-elected Telangana Assembly, whose first session will commence on January 17.

Mumtaz Ahmed Khan, the senior most member of the Assembly, will take oath as Pro-tem Speaker on January 16.

Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan will administer the oath to Khan, who represents Charminar constituency.

Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao said on Saturday that against the background of the landslide victory given by the people to his Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), it has been decided to commence the Assembly proceedings during the auspicious 'Uttarayana' days.

The Assembly session, beginning on 'Ekadasi', will continue till January 20.

On the first day, the newly elected MLAs will take oath one after another and the programme is likely to continue for about two hours, according to a statement from the Chief Minister's Office.

The same day, the schedule of election to the Speaker will be announced and the nomination process will commence.

The next day, the Speaker's election will take place. Later, the Speaker will conduct the Business Advisory Council (BAC) meeting which will take a decision on the Governor's address on the following day.

On January 19, the Governor will address the House.

The next day the House will introduce motion of thanks to the Governor's address and adopt the same.

--IANS

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Six persons, including five students, were killed on Saturday when a school bus skidded off the road and rolled into a gorge in Himachal Pradesh's Sirmaur district, an official said.

The victims were going to DAV Public School when the accident happened near Renukaji, a famous Hindu shrine about 40 km from district headquarter Nahan and 150 km from the state capital.

The bus driver was also killed while seven-eight students were injured and are hospitalised, Deputy Commissioner Lalit Jain told IANS over phone.

Eyewitnesses said the administration had a tough time extricating the victims from the badly-mangled bus.

Prima facie the accident happened due to negligence of the bus driver, the police said.

--IANS

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The Kerala Police has registered 1,286 cases in which 37,979 people are accused following the widespread violence that followed the entry of two women to the Sabarimala shrine, police chief Loknath Behra said on Saturday.

A statement issued by Behra said that so far 3,178 arrests had been made and 487 of them were in custody while 2,691 had got bail.

In Palakkad district, which witnessed the worst violence, 4,946 cases had been registered. Kozhikode accounted for 3,763 cases.

The shutdown was called by the Sabarimala Karma Samithi (SKS) to protest against the visit of two women to the Sabarimala temple on Wednesday. It got the support of the BJP and Sangh Parivar outfits.

While most violence took place on Thursday, on Thursday night the house of CPI-M Thalassery legislator A.N. Shamsheer came under attack from suspected Sangh Parivar groups. A similar attack place on the house of former Kannur CPI-M district secretary P. Sasi.

Following the violence, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has asked for a detailed report from the Kerala government.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Saturday that the Sangh Parivar forces were purposely trying to create unrest and what was more surprising was that the Congress was silent.

'Violence will be dealt with an iron hand,' said Vijayan.

State BJP President P.S. Sreedharan Pillai told the media that Vijayan was creating a bad precedent by registering cases and arresting innocent supporters.

Hitting back at Vijayan, Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala said the Chief Minister need not teach his party anything.

'Who does not know that it is Vijayan who is giving all the support to the Sangh Parivar forces and as a result they are creating mayhem in the state. We don't have to learn anything form Vijayan,' said Chennithala.

--IANS

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The bullet-ridden bodies of two Rohingya men were found on Saturday near a refugee camp in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar, the police said.

The camp is home to some 700,000 people from the ethnic Muslim minority group who fled a military campaign against them in Myanmar over a year ago.

The bodies were found by residents of the camp and the case was linked to the trafficking of methamphetamine, locally known as "yaba", Cox's Bazar police official Pradip Kumar Das told Efe news.

"We suspect there could be a conflict between them over share of Yaba. We recovered 10,000 pieces near the bodies. Victims are Rohingyas but local guards told us they don't live here," Das said.

Bangladeshi authorities often accused the Rohingyas of smuggling yaba from Myanmar.

The government of Bangladesh started an anti-drugs campaign in May 2018, executed mainly by the Rapid Action Battalion, an elite anti-crime and anti-terrorism unit, later joined by the police.

Human rights groups compared the campaign to a similar war on drugs unleashed in the Philippines by President Rodrigo Duterte.

According to human rights organization Odhikar, some 283 people had been killed in police custody and hundreds of others shot dead by the security forces in Bangladesh as part of the anti-drugs campaign.

In October, the government passed a law recognizing methamphetamine, or yaba, as a category-A drug, which could result in the death penalty for those found using 200 grams of the substance.

--IANS

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IDBI Bank announced that S&P Global Ratings has vide their bulletin dated 04 January 2019 affirmed ''BB'' long term and ''B'' short term foreign currency issuer credit ratings on IDBI Bank and have removed the ratings from CreditWatch where they were placed with negative implications.

At the same time, it has affirmed ''BB'' long-term issue rating on the senior unsecured notes issued by the Dubai branch of IDBI Bank. The rationale for revision in ratings is that S&P Global Ratings expects the Bank to meet the regulatory capital requirement following a capital infusion by Life Insurance Corporation of India.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday asked if the Congress were running a government at the Centre or a 'Michel Mama's Darbar,' while launching a scathing attack on India's grand old party here at a function.

"I don't understand if the Congress were running a government or their Michel Mama's (Maternal Uncle) court. I want to make it clear that whoever was involved in safeguarding the middlemen will be probed by the investigation agencies," said Prime Minister Modi after laying the foundation for many projects.

It is worth mentioning that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on December 29 last year told a Delhi court that Christian Michel, alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland chopper deal, had named 'Mrs Gandhi,' but did not specify in which context the reference was made.

"He has also spoken about 'the son of the Italian lady' and how he is going to become the 'next prime minister of the country," ED's counsel special public prosecutor DP Singh told the court. Singh further told the court that Michel had also identified how Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was removed from the deal and the deal was offered to Tata instead.

Prime Minister Modi, after laying the foundation stone for four- laning of various highway projects in Baripada also dedicated the doubling of Naranpur-Basantpur and Chillikidara-Sagadapata line to the nation and flagged off the second passenger train from Tata Nagar to Badampahar.

Prime Minister Modi also inaugurated six new Passport Sewa Kendras at the post offices in Bhadrak, Cuttack, Jajpur, Aska, Keonjhar, and Dhenkanal.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
40 lakh government workers in will go on strike from February 6, said Harikishor Tiwari, convenor of the old pension restoration forum.

The strike, which is being held ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, is being supported by many worker organisations, Tiwari added.

The demand of the workers is to restore the old pension schemes. Furthermore, staffers alleged that they have been misled by the government officials for the last two months.

On December 12, scores of government employees took to streets in Belgaum city to protest against the New Pension Scheme (NPS) and demanded that it should be scrapped. Thousands of agitating employees also pressed for the earliest renewal of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).

Two weeks after this, around 10 lakh employees of nine went on a nationwide strike against the merger of and with They sought their salary revision.

The wage revision of the has been due since November 1, 2017. The had submitted their charter of demands on which the Association (IBA) called several rounds of meetings. Although the IBA has offered 8 per cent wage hike, the UFBU has termed it as "unacceptable".
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has finalised a bail-out package worth around USD 6.2 billion to assist Pakistan's struggling economy. The package will enable Pakistan to deal with its balance-of-payments crisis.

Dawn newspaper has reported that the bail-out package will be announced by the Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of UAE, who will be embarking on his two-day visit to Pakistan on January 6.

The package involves USD 3.2 billion worth of oil supplies on deferred payment, in addition to a cash deposit worth USD three billion.

Quoting a source, Dawn stated that the bailout package, finalised on January 3, was almost of the same size of the bail-out given by Saudi Arabia to Pakistan last year in October.

The source said that the bail-out package would further help Pakistan to save around USD 7.9 billion on oil and gas imports, accounting to more than 60 per cent of annual oil import bill of about USD 12 to 13 billion, from the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Pakistan is also negotiating with the Government of Qatar in order to seek some reductions in the prices of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

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Pakistan and Turkey will be hosting a trilateral summit with Afghanistan in Istanbul to discuss on sustainable peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Tolo News reported that the bilateral talks would commence as the local elections conclude in Turkey in March.

Addressing a joint press conference in Turkey with his counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said, "The people of Afghanistan have been suffering for over three decades. Pakistan is already helping dialogue between the Taliban and Americans. I look forward to the summit meeting in Istanbul, where we hope that Afghanistan, Pakistan and Turkey will be able to help in this peace process."

"Acknowledged that sustainable peace and stability in Afghanistan could be achieved through reconciliation of all segments of the Afghan society with the support of the regional countries and the international community," read a press statement released by Pakistan's Foreign Affairs Ministry on January 4.

This comes as Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmoud Qureshi met Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Ankara on Friday.

During the meeting, Khan and Erdogan further extended strong mutual support to one another on all issues of core national interest and expressed commitment to further enhance their bilateral relations in every field to the benefit of their peoples, the statement said.

The leaders also reiterated the importance of the Turkey-Pakistan High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council mechanism and discussed on expanding defence and defence industry cooperation a strengthening the existing economic, trade and commercial relations between the two countries.

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The French government has said that the aim of the protestors is to overthrow the government.

"Those who continue to protest are agitators who want an uprising and to overthrow the government, "Anadolu Agency quoted Benjamin Griveaux, the government spokesman as saying against the yellow vest protestors who continue to take to the streets across France since November 2018.

"Our government quickly responded to their demands," he further said while referring to the protestors.

He further urged people to participate and express their views in the national debates which have been organised in the coming days throughout France rather than taking to the streets.

Protests have been raging in France since November 17 last year against the hike in fuel prices. French President Emmanuel Macron scrapped the fuel price hike, amongst a string of other initiatives aimed at bringing the situation under control.

Despite the government's initiatives, protests continue. There have also been repeated calls for Macron's resignation during the protests.

Thousands have been wounded in the demonstrations, while around 10 people have lost their lives. Furthermore, authorities have detained over 4,000 people in relation to the protests.

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Meghan Markle's father Thomas Markle came to his daughter's defence while talking about the negativity she is receiving with regards to an alleged feud with Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton.

In a recent interview with The Sun, Thomas talked about the rift and rumours that Meghan is allegedly a "difficult boss."

"If there is any animosity between Meghan and Kate, they should put their differences aside," Thomas was quoted by E!Online, as saying. "I'm very upset by the criticism Meghan is getting. I don't think she deserves it and I don't think she is doing one-third of the things she is being accused of doing."

Rumours of the feud were fueled after Kensington Palace announced that Prince Harry and Meghan would move out of the palace and relocate to Frogmore Cottage at Windsor Castle as they prepare for the arrival of their first child.

It was also reported that the Duchess of Cambridge had an "explosive row" with Meghan as she allegedly told her not to instruct the members of her team, saying, "That's unacceptable, they are my staff and I speak to them."

However, Kate and Meghan, who have rarely been seen together in public since the royal wedding in May, put a rest to the royal drama on Christmas Day after they aired their grievances with one another.

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BJP on Saturday accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan-led Kerala government of fanning violence in the state over Sabarimala row.

"This is an issue of devotees, and not an issue of the BJP. This is an issue concerning the Hindu society," BJP leader GVL Narasimha Rao said at a press conference here.

Rao said that the state government was trying to divert the focus of the public from the core issues of the region.

"The surreptitious entry of four women into the hill shrine with the support of the state government is seen as a move of vote bank The Kerala government has not yet implemented the Supreme Court's September 2018 order. It seems to have a political agenda behind the whole of Sabarimala temple issue," he added.

Speaking about the death of Sabarimala Karma Samiti worker, Chandran Unnithan during a clash in Pandalam, the BJP leader said: "Before the post-mortem examination report came, Kerala Chief Minister Vijayan announced that he lost his life due to heart attack, and not of the injuries sustained during the clashes."

Rao also tore into the Communist Party of India (Marxist) over the death of three BJP activists- Ratheesh, Sujith, and Sreejith during a clash on Thursday. "Mob violence has been unleashed by the CPI-M. We want CPI-M to stop all this at the earliest. They are attacking our leaders residing in different parts of the country," he stated.

Violent protests broke out across Kerala after two women- Bindu and Kanakadurga attempted to enter the shrine on January 2. Protesters pelted stones, blocked highways and forced the closure of shops and markets located in various parts the region.

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Congress president Rahul Gandhi will visit his Lok Sabha constituency Amethi in Uttar Pradesh on January 22 and 23.

The Congress chief was earlier scheduled to reach Amethi on Friday on a two-day visit and participate in several programmes and events. However, he cancelled his visit to attend the debate on Rafale issue in the Parliament.

Earlier, it was speculated that the political atmosphere in Amethi would heat up as Gandhi's visit was coinciding with that of BJP leader and Union Minister of Textiles Smriti Irani.

Irani, who reached Amethi on Friday took a dig at Gandhi for delaying his scheduled visit to his parliamentary constituency saying, "Rahul is not coming to Amethi even when parliament is not working tomorrow (Saturday). This shows neither he can come on time to his own constituency nor he can give timely solutions."

The two leaders have been at loggerheads over the development of Amethi, with Irani maintaining that the constituency had suffered despite the Gandhi family representing it in the Lok Sabha for decades.

Gandhi, a Member of Parliament (MP) from Amethi, had defeated Irani from this Lok Sabha seat in the 2014 elections. Irani is expected to contest from the Amethi seat once again in the 2019 polls for which she has been making frequent trips to muster support.

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Congress president Rahul Gandhi will be addressing a farmers rally here on January 9, informed Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan Sachin Pilot on Saturday.

Briefing the media on the details of the Gandhi scion's impending visit, Pilot said, "On January 9, a huge farmers rally is going to be organised in Jaipur. During the elections, Congress president had made the promise of farmer loan waiver, which was a significant initiative. During BJP government different excuses were made in this regard and demands of farmers were ignored. As soon as our government was formed, we immediately waived thousands of crores of loans in all the three states. With this initiative, farmers have got hope that Congress government paves way for their better future."

Pilot further added that the state Congress will be requesting the Congress president for pressurising the Centre for similar relief to farmers of the country.

"Central government is doing nothing for the upliftment of the farmers. When Rahul Gandhi comes here we will request him to exert pressure on the Central government to take some measures for financial relief to the farmers," said Pilot.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot was also present the meeting which was organised to discuss the preparations of the Rahul Gandhi's visit to the state.

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Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Girish Chodankar has written to President Ram Nath Kovind, urging him to enhance the security of state Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.

"There may be attempts on Parrikar's life from those who want the actual details of Rafale deal shouldn't come out in public domain as corruption in the deal will be proved," writes Chodankar in the letter.

The letter of GPCC chief comes in the wake of a recent audio clip, which was played by Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala outside Parliament in New Delhi, wherein Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane was heard saying that Parrikar had an entire file of the Rafale jet deal in his bedroom and using these files to hold on his chair in spite of his poor health condition.

It is worth mentioning that Parrikar served as India's Defence Minister when the Rafale deal was signed with French defence manufacturing giant Dassault Aviation.

Later, Chief Minister Parrikar took to Twitter to dismiss the claims made in the audio clip. "The audio clip released by the Congress party is a desperate attempt to fabricate facts after their lies were exposed by the recent Supreme Court verdict on the Rafale deal. No such discussion ever came up during the Cabinet or any other meeting," he tweeted.

Health Minister Rane also hit back at the Congress, asserting that the audio tape was doctored and Parrikar made no mention about Rafale deal and its documents.

"The audio tape is doctored. Congress has stooped to such a low level to doctor a tape to create miscommunication between the Cabinet and the Chief Minister. Chief Minister Parrikar has never made any reference to the Rafale or any documents. I have asked him for a criminal investigation into the matter," Rane told reporters in Panaji.

The Supreme Court on December 14 last year had dismissed all petitions seeking court-monitored probe into the Rafale deal with France, saying that there was no occasion to doubt the decision-making process in the deal. The top court had said it was not its job to go into the issue of pricing.

The bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi, said that there was no need to conduct an investigation into the details of Rafale pricing.

The Rafale jet deal controversy has been on the boil over the last few months. The Congress and other opposition parties have been alleging irregularities in the high-profile deal.

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United States Secretary of State Michael Pompeo has said that he is "confident" that a second meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will take place soon.

The top US diplomat opined that the two leaders would be able to make some progress towards the dismantling of North Korea's nuclear weapon programme in the proposed meeting, Yonhap News Agency reported.

While admitting that a "lot of work" was to be done, Pompeo, on Friday, said: "I am confident that in the next short period of time, President Trump and Chairman Kim will get the chance to meet again and truly create a much better, safer America with less threat of not only nuclear weapons being launched at us but nuclear proliferation as well."

Pompeo also acknowledged that the much-talked second meeting between Trump and Kim may not led to the communist country's denuclearisation. However, he stated that the exercise would be good not only for the Korean peninsula, but also the entire

"I don't want to tell you exactly what our negotiating strategy is. But suffice it to say, I think we have set the conditions where we can make real progress when Chairman Kim and President Trump meet and take down the threat to the United States and to the that has been holding America hostage for so long in North Korea," he underlined.

"It'll be good for South Korea. It'll be good for Japan. It'll be good for all of the world," Pompeo added.

Earlier this week, Trump said that he received a "great letter" from Kim and expressed hope that he would get a chance to meet the North Korean leader in the near future.

Kim, in his New Year's speech, threatened that his country would have to "seek a new way" if the US "does not make good on its promises" with regard to denuclearisation and continues with sanctions.

Even though engagements between Washington and Pyongyang reached new heights in 2018 with the unprecedented first meeting between the US President and Kim at Singapore in June, the last few months of the year saw a stalemate in relations.

North Korea, on the one hand, has asked for corresponding measures by the US for its efforts towards denuclearisation. The US, on the other hand, has pushed for complete denuclearisation before a relaxation in sanctions.

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Congress on Saturday demanded answers from the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the removal of AgustaWestland from the blacklist.

While commenting on Prime Minister Modi's earlier remark about Christen Michel, alleged middleman in Agusta Westland deal, and Congress government, Khera said, "Christian Michel has himself said that one of the senior leaders of BJP had removed AgustaWestland from the blacklist. So firstly, Prime Minister Modi should answer about the person who removed Agusta from the blacklist. It was the UPA government that had brought it under backlist."

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had taken a potshot on the Congress over the AgustaWestland deal case and had asked as, "Was Congress running 'sarkar' or 'Michel Mama's darbar'"

Advising Prime Minister Modi to worry about employment and other issues, he said, "Nation had elected him to fulfill some hope and dreams and he should at least give an answer to them. Data has revealed that many jobs have been lost; a reply must be given on it. Also, former Defence Minister of the country is blackmailing him and he must worry about the same."

Commenting further about Goa Congress chief's letter demanding more security for Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, he said, "Girish Chodankar and the whole Goa state Congress committee is tensed about Parrikar's security. Especially when this information has come out that the truth of Rafale is hidden in form of files in his bedroom. So we want that Manohar Parrikar should be given proper security."

Khera also lambasted BJP on the fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya case and demanded answers from the party and its leaders on allegations made by Mallya.

"One of BJP's senior leader and a senior cabinet minister has said a few days back that Vijay Mallya is not even a fugitive. Some days ago Vijay Mallya had talked about as to how he took permission from Arun Jaitley in the Central Hall before leaving for London. BJP must first answer these things before taking credit for anything," Khera said.

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The much sought after Organics and Millets-2019 International Trade Fair, organized by the Government of Karnataka's Department of Agriculture, will be held from 18th to 20th January 2019 in Bengaluru's Palace Grounds.

The flagship event will revolve around the theme: K-Source, celebrating the State of Karnataka as the source for Next Gen Smart Foods. International Competence Centre for Organic Agriculture (ICCOA) is the knowledge partner and co-organizer for the event.

The Organics and Millets International Trade Fair 2019 will comprise of four aspects. The first and most important one being the B2B meetings in which the farmers will get to interact with the international buyers. The following three aspects includes exhibition, conference and food court.

The event, which is for all organic stakeholders, including farmers, buyers, sellers and exporters of organic produces and millets, will have participation of over 200 exhibitors occupying an exhibition space of 10,000 square meters including stalls from other states, countries, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and several farmer federations from Karnataka.

The second edition of the Organics and Millets International Trade Fair 2019 will be the largest congregation of India's Organic and Millets community.

Coinciding with the run-up event of a National roadshow to this International event, ICCOA (International Competence Centre for Organic Agriculture) organized the 'Jaivik India Awards', 2nd edition, in recognition of the efforts of the Organic Stakeholders across India. Department of Agriculture, Government of Karnataka in the host and support to this event also.

The event was inaugurated by the Union Minister of Commerce & Industries, Mr. Suresh Prabhu. Speaking on the occasion, he said -

"The organic movement is catching up fast and more and more people are now accessing organic foods for health and overall wellbeing. We are witnessing more and more companies doing organic businesses - in exports as well as in local markets. With increasing demand and innovative supply chain, today we can get organic foods even delivered at our doorstep."

The Chief Guest Smt. Krishna Raj, Minster of State for Agriculture, Govt of India addressing the audience, said, "Krishi Mantralaya is supporting large number of farmers to take up organic farmers. They have schemes and policies to subsidise organic inputs, certification and also support for marketing. Agriculture ministry understands the long term benefits of organic farming, including climate change mitigation; and therefore has encouraged the movement across the country."

The awards are given to the following categories.

1. Best Organic Farmer/Farmers' Organization: 6 awards

a. Six farmers were selected from three different regions for the country.

b. Two farmers per region received cash awards and felicitation

2. State Government/Government agencies: 7 awards

a. Three State Governments were awarded for Outstanding and Special achievements

b. Four states were awarded for their organic programs and support for organic farmers and farming in the state, in three different zones.

3. Best Companies for Outstanding Performance in Organic Exports: 4 awards

a. Two best companies in organic food products exports

b. Two best companies in organic non-food products exports

4. Best Companies in local/retail branding and marketing: 2 awards

5. Best Company with Direct Farmer linkages: 2 awards

6. Best Certification Agency/Body (accredited by APEDA): 2 awards

7. Best Company in marketing of Organic Millets: 2 awards

"The Organics and Millets International Trade Fair 2019, which will address all aspects of the value chain, from farm to shelf, provides the perfect launch pad to position the State of Karnataka as not only a source for Next Gen smart foods and businesses, but also a source of Next Gen Customers, Next Gen markets and a source of new opportunities." said Shri. H.N. Shivashankar Reddy, Minister for Agriculture, Government of Karnataka.

"The NCR region has been an important market for Organics and Millets. While the growth of the organics and millets market has been sluggish in the past, the NCR region is witnessing a huge demand over the last few years with more and more people turning to millets and organic food as a healthier option. The Organics and Millets International Trade Fair 2019 will be a great opportunity for companies and businesses from this region to network with the farmers community not only from Karnataka but across India and witness new technologies. They can also see how new age products work and get an idea of the international market." says Manoj Menon, Executive Director, ICCOA.

The event was attended by very eminent personalities from the government and ministries. Some of the key dignitaries who attended the event including Sompal Shastry, Former Minister of State for Agriculure; Secretary Agriculture, Karnataka Maheshwar Rao, Secretary and Commissioner Andhra Pradesh, Chiranjeev Choudhary; Managing Director of Punjab Agri Exports Corp, Sibin; Managing Director of UOCB, Vinay Kumar; Managing Director of KAPPEC, Nandinikumari; Director general of Hort, Haryana Dr Arjun S Saini; Director, NCOF, Krishan Chandra; Director of Hort, Manipur Kengpen among others.

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The 27th edition of the New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF) began at Pragati Maidan on Saturday. The nine-day-long fair for bibliophiles will end on January 13.

NDWBF has UAE's third largest emirate Sharjah as its 2019 guest of honour. It was inaugurated by Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar, H.E. Sheikh Fahim Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Executive Chairman of the Department of Government Relations.

The other dignitaries present in the inaugural programme were Sharjah Book Authority chairman Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, Padma Shri awardee JL Kaul and authors' representative from Sharjah Habib Youseff Abdallah Al Sayegh.

The theme of 2019 is 'Book for Readers with Special Needs'. The idea behind the theme is to emphasise on inclusive learning which includes audio, silent tactile and braille books for the specially-abled. It also focuses on their achievements.

In the inaugural speech, Javadekar said, "This is our real friendship, our real partnership with the Guest of Honour. The cultural ties have grown over the years."

Encouraging the theme, the HRD Minister further said that this book fair is special as it focuses on the specially-abled people and their achievements.

"I am honoured here today to be a part of a major calendar event. We are excited to turn this opportunity into a cross-cultural relationship not just political but social," Ameri said.

Nearly 700 publishers are participating this year in the fair and more than 1300 stalls will be put up. A calendar was also launched during the first day of the event based on the theme 'Towards inclusive Learning '.

At the end of the inaugural session, a book, written by Prime Minister Narendra Modi "Exam Warriors" was gifted to the guest of honour by Javadekar.

UNESCO and United Nation India supported International We Care Film Festival on disability will showcase 45 films from 27 countries everyday from 2 to 4 pm in the book fair.

Price of the tickets has been reduced this year while there will be free entry for children below 14 years, senior citizens and differently-abled. Tickets will be available online, at Pragati Maidan gate number 1 and 10 and selected metro stations.

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Nepal's Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Purna Chandra Thapa will embark on a six-day visit to India from January 11, the Nepal Army confirmed.

"On formal invitation of the Chief of Indian Army, Nepal Army chief Thapa is visiting India from January 11 to 16. He will be on a visit there for six days; at the time of visit, on January 12 General Thapa, will be conferred with Honorary General Chief of the Indian Army by the Right-Honorable President of India," Nepal Army Spokesperson Gokul Bhandaree told ANI.

On January 12, President Ram Nath Kovind would be handing over the insignia of the Honorary Chief amid a procession to be held at Presidential Residence.

During the six-day stay in India, the COAS of Nepal Army also would have high-level engagements, following an invitation of Indian Army Chief Bipin Rawat.

"General Thapa is also going to call on Honorable Defense Minister of India Nirmala Sitharaman, three Chiefs of Indian Army and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. He also will be visiting the two Army commands, including the South-Western Command and Central Command at the same time," Bhandaree added.

Earlier in July lasr year, Indian Army chief Bipin Rawat was in Nepal to receive similar honour from Nepal President Bidhya Devi Bhandari, as a part of the tradition of exchanging the title of honorary chief of both the Army that started from 1950.

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Multiple numbers of people were injured when an unnamed gunman opened fire at the Gable House Bowl in Torrance near Los Angeles on Saturday.

The Russian international television network cited the Torrance Police as saying on Twitter, "Reports of shots fired with multiple victims down. T P D is on scene. Investigation is ongoing. Please stay away from the area."

Meanwhile, the local police did not mention about any suspect who has been arrested, as the matter is still under investigation.

The police have further warned the people to stay away from the shooting site.

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Liquor baron Vijay Mallya was on Saturday declared a fugitive economic offender by a special court here under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), becoming the first person to be declared so under the new law.

In the wake of the order by the Special PMLA court, Mallya's properties can now be confiscated by the investigating agencies.

The court refused his application to stay the order to give him some time to appeal.

Last month, special PMLA Court had adjourned the order on the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) application seeking to declare Mallya a fugitive economic offender.

Last year in November, the court had rejected Mallya's plea seeking a stay on hearing the ED's application to declare him a fugitive offender.

The decision from the judicature comes after the five parties including a family member of Mallya had sought court dossiers with regard to the ED seeking to get Mallya declared a fugitive economic offender under the new law.

The special courts, under the new PMLA law, have the right to declare a person 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 India to avoid criminal prosecution, or being abroad, refuses to return to India to face criminal prosecution.

Mallya is also facing money-laundering charges in the United Kingdom after India initiated extradition proceedings against him. Both the ED along with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed several cases for alleged loan default against him.

On November 22 last year, 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 London property, and ruled in favour of UBS to take possession of Mallya's palatial Cornwall Terrace home.

The Westminster Magistrates Court in London on December 10 last year ordered the extradition of Mallya to India, who is facing charges of loan default to the tune of Rs 9,000 crore. Mallya left India in 2016, following which, the Indian government initiated extradition proceedings against him. The matter of Mallya's extradition has now been referred to the UK's Secretary of State.

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A Kolkata-Chennai Indigo flight returned to Chennai shortly after take-off due to technical snag observed by the crew.

In a statement, the airlines stated that it was merely a normal operating procedure and that no emergency landing was declared.

"Flight 6E 923 (Neo) operating on Chennai-Kolkata route on 3 January returned to Chennai after take-off due to technical caution noted by crew. Crew followed normal operating procedures and asked for priority landing. There was no engine shutdown and no emergency landing was declared," the statement read.

According to sources, the aircraft was stalled mid-air and a loud bang, sparks and heavy vibration of engines were reported. The flight then returned to Chennai with damaged engine blades.

Further details in the matter are awaited.

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Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu's convoy was blocked allegedly by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders while he was going to attend various programs in Kakinada on Friday.

The BJP leaders blocked Naidu's convoy allegedly over the comments he made on Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently.

The police have arrested BJP District President Malakondayya for the incident.

Speaking to media, Naidu claimed that Prime Minister Modi has been unfair to the state. "Why are the BJP leaders supporting Modi. He has cheated the state. Modi has been unfair to Andhra Pradesh. If you try to mess, you will be finished. The public will not leave you if you go out and say his name. Be careful," Naidu said.

Naidu has been constantly criticising Prime Minister Modi and the BJP, accusing them of betraying the people of Andhra Pradesh by not granting special status to the state.

On Tuesday, Naidu had claimed that he bowed down to satisfy the ego of Prime Minister Modi for getting things done for his state, yet the central government did not cooperate in the last four years.

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Obsessive compulsive symptoms (OCS) in youth could be a red flag for serious psychiatric conditions, a study finds.

The findings were published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Researchers found children and young adults with OCS who also admitted to having bad thoughts were more likely to also experience psychopathology, including depression and suicide. The study examined OCS in more than 7,000 participants aged 11 to 21.

Researchers divided OCS into four categories: bad thoughts, repeating/checking, symmetry, and cleaning/contamination. More than 20 per cent of youth admitted to having bad intrusive thoughts, which included thoughts about harming oneself or others, picturing violent images, or fear that one would do something bad without intending to. These children were more likely to develop serious psychopathology beyond obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), including depression and suicide.

"Our hope is that these results will propel both mental professionals and non-mental practitioners, such as pediatricians, to probe for these symptoms during their patients' visits," said the study's principal investigator Raquel Gur. "These symptoms may be vital for identifying adolescents who are on a potentially debilitating psychiatric trajectory."

"Repetitive actions are common in young children, and are in fact a healthy part of development," said lead author of the study Ran Barzilay. He went on to add, "It's when these symptoms continue into adolescence and start to interfere with day-to-day activities that we really need to examine the cause and treatments available."

OCS was seen to be common in individuals who did not seek mental treatments (38.2 percent). Only three percent met the threshold for OCD. It was also found to be more common in females and after puberty. The researchers suggest OCS may be a window for clinicians to probe and identify serious psychiatric conditions.

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The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) will not support the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, GJM president Binay Tamang said on Friday.

"After the declaration of the election schedule, the party will clear its strategy," he told media here.

The GJM has, time and again, raised the demand for the establishment of a separate state (Gorkhaland) outside of West Bengal.

In November 2017, the general committee of the GJM had suspended the then party president Bimal Gurung and appointed Binay Tamang as the new party president.

At an event in Mumbai in December, BJP president Amit Shah had said that the party was aiming to win 23 seats out of the 42 in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, as opposed to the 2 seats they won in 2014.

Hitting back at Shah over his prospects of winning over 20 seats in West Bengal, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Derek O' Brien had said that the party should focus more on retaining the two seats it has currently in the state.

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Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Sambit Patra on Saturday stated that an anti-corruption court declared liquor baron Vijay Mallya as a fugitive economic offender (FEC) which shows that fight against corruption is priority for BJP-led central government.

He also read out the letter written by Mallya seeking help from then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Singh had said, "We have to find ways to get Kingfisher out of trouble," after Kingfisher was falling apart and was not able to repay the loans. He also said that the Congress had become a puppet of Kingfisher.

Hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Fugitive Economic Offender Act 2018 passed during his tenure, Patra said, "Then was a story of helping out Mallya and now is the story of nabbing Mallya."

Addressing the issue of the "saga of Rome and RaGa", Patra revealed that agencies have procured several letters from middleman of AgustaWestland Christian Michel to his company which reveals involvement of the Congress in the case.

Reading out a letter, Patra stated it is astonishing that Michel said that all the hurdles in the way of the deal have been dealt with.

"Can Rome be asked to cooperate?," the letter said while mentioning that a formal complaint might be filed if the deal is publicised.

He further said that the publicity of the deal was avoided so that the bribe givers are neither harassed nor caught.

Quoting another excerpt of the letter, Patra said, "This man (Christian Michel) had access to something to which even the cabinet ministers do not have access to. The cabinet meeting on security is a closed door meeting and coveted. He knew exactly to as what was going on in the meeting."

He further revealed that Michel was aware of day to day detail of the meetings and as to when the deal was to be signed.

"Obstacles in the way of getting the deal have been secured," the letter read.

Patra further stated that the alleged middleman stated that the Congress leader would talk the then finance minister if he created any further hindrance in the clearance of the deal.

Addressing the press conference, Patra also talked about the revision of tax rates on fuel in Karnataka.

The tax rates on petrol and diesel was revised on Friday. Earlier, petrol and diesel were taxed 28.75 percent and 17.73 percent respectively.

The prices in the state now stand at Rs. 70.84 per litre for petrol and Rs. 64.66 per litre for diesel.

He further said that Congress party creates a ruckus every time BJP led state governments increase the fuel rates.

Answering a question on Herald, Patra said, "Congress party was trying to hide behind the fig leaf. The humungous nature of corruption in Herald is evident. Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi are out on bail in the case."

He stated that there are several issues of corruption in the case including, Rs. 5,000 crore corruption case, the non-compliance to income tax agencies and the eviction from the Herald building.

"Congress may try to hid behind the fig leaf but the corruption there corruption is exposed," Patra said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A blaze in an escape room here has claimed the lives of five 15-year-old girls, who were celebrating their friend's birthday on Friday (local time).

"A devastating tragedy in Koszalin. The five joyful girls entering life have been torn out of life. May God take care of their parents and loved ones. RiP," Polish President Andrzej Duda tweeted in the wake of the tragedy.

Meanwhile, Koszalin Mayor Piotr Jedlinksi declared January 6 as a day of mourning.

"We join the families of the victims in their grief. The fire broke out at 5 in the afternoon in one of the escape rooms in Koszalin. There have been five victims, five young victims. We have provided psychological, psychiatric care to the families," CNN quoted Jedlinksi as saying.

The Polish fire brigades chief commander, General Leszek Suski, directed fire safety inspections at all game centres, clubs and escape rooms.

"General Leszek Suski has issued a decision that from tomorrow all escape rooms, game centres and clubs will undergo fire safety inspections with special attention paid to evacuation plans, escape routes in these type of locations," Tomasz Kubiak, a fire brigade officer in Koszalin said.

Investigations are underway into the incident to ascertain the cause of the blaze.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A court here on Saturday granted anticipatory bail to actor Alok Nath in the Vinta Nanda rape case.

The 62-year-old had filed the plea for bail application in the Dindoshi Sessions Court on December 14, last year.

On November 21, a rape case was registered against Nath by the Mumbai Police, based on a complaint filed by the writer-producer, who accused him of raping her 19 years ago. The FIR was booked under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Amidst the #MeToo movement, Nanda had narrated her horrifying ordeal in a Facebook post in October. She was the writer and producer of teleserial 'Tara' in the 90s, in which Nath played a lead role.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the Congress party considers farmers as a vote bank and is misguiding them in the name of loan waiver.

"Farmers are a vote bank for Congress, and for us, farmers are our food providers. This is the difference between Congress and BJP," Prime Minister Modi said while addressing a gathering in Palamu.

"There wouldn't have been a need for farmers to take loans had the previous Congress governments completed the projects that were meant to benefit farmers. First, they forced farmers to take loans, now they're misleading them in the name of loan waivers," he added.

Talking about the initaive taken by his government Prime Minister Modi said that the Central Government has given 1 crore 25 lakh homes to the people in less than five years.

"We didn't make Narendra Modi Awas Yojana, we didn't make Namo Awas Yojana, we didn't make Raghubar Das Awas Yojana, we made Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana so that the next Prime Minister can take the work forward," he said.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi laid the foundation stone of North Koel (Mandal Dam) project and Kanhar Stone Pipeline irrigation system.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Every new film comes with various opportunities for learning and trying out new things as well as challenges. Bollywood actor Arjun Kapoor too had one such empowering and therapeutic experience by learning horse riding for his upcoming film 'Panipat'.

Arjun took to his Instagram account to share a picture where he can be seen riding a horse, in the caption, he shared his experience of taking up something new.

"New year, new learnings... so the last whole month of 2018 went in enjoying the company of an Animal, Mother Nature & Sunrises... as I gear up to restart shooting for Panipat I feel privileged to be able to learn this beautiful art of becoming one with this most glorious animal. The process of learning has been therapeutic & empowering at the same time. Can't wait to get back on set with this new childlike excitement for what is my toughest & biggest film yet," he wrote.

The 33-year-old actor also thanked his teachers at the course for helping and bearing with him.

"PS - Thank you to my teachers at the Race course for bearing with me along the way," he added.

He also shared another candid photo on his Twitter handle featuring him petting a horse and captioned it: "She's a beauty... 'Panipat' prep."

Actors always put their best foot forward and try to leave no stone unturned to get into their characters. Some work on their physiques for a specific role, while others master a new skill. And seems like Arjun too is charged up for the role and had a great time learning something new!

Also starring Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon and Madhuri Dixit, 'Panipat' is based on the 'Third Battle of Panipat' fought between the Maratha Empire lead by Sadashiv Rao Bhau and invading forces of Ahmad Shah Abdali, King of Afghanistan, on the big screen.

The film's tagline reads 'The Great Betrayal' rightly sets the tone for the period drama. The project is helmed by Ashutosh Gowariker and is slated to release on December 6, 2019.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Afghan National Security Advisor (NSA) Hamdullah Mohib has appreciated India's role in reconstruction and economic development of war-torn Afghanistan.

His remarks come days after US President Donald Trump ridiculed India for funding a library in Afghanistan.

The Afghan NSA who is on a three-day visit to India since January 3, held talks with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval on Friday, where they held a detailed exchange of views about the developments in Afghanistan.

Mohib briefed the Indian side about the security situation in Afghanistan, parliamentary elections and scheduled presidential elections, efforts of the Afghanistan government at peace and reconciliation, read a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

The Afghan NSA appreciated the assistance provided by India for economic development and reconstruction of Afghanistan and also for human resource development, including training of Afghan national defence and security forces in India.

NSA Doval, on the other hand, conveyed India's continued support to Afghanistan to bring peace, security and prosperity in the strife-torn country. He mentioned that India supports all efforts for peace and reconciliation that are Afghan owned, Afghan led and Afghan controlled.

"Regional and international partners of Afghanistan need to work keeping in mind the priorities, wishes and desire of the Afghan people. India welcomes the fact that the people of Afghanistan have time and again reposed faith in democratic governance and the forthcoming presidential elections in Afghanistan will further deepen the roots of democracy in the country," the statement said.

Mohib then extended an invitation to NSA Doval to Afghanistan, which was accepted. The dates of the latter's visit would be decided through diplomatic channels.

Notably, India has given development assistance exceeding USD 3 billion to Afghanistan and has immensely contributed in numerous development projects in the war-torn country.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Six crew members of the MSC Mandy vessel, holding Russian citizenship, were kidnapped by sea pirates off Benin coast, the Russian Embassy in Benin said in a statement on Saturday.

"The attackers have taken six people, including the captain of the vessel, as hostages, and have escaped. All the kidnapped people are Russian citizens," the embassy posted on Facebook.

The Russian Embassy in Nigeria, in turn, said it was cooperating with local authorities to rescue the abducted crew members. The rest of the vessel's crew are not in danger, the embassy added.

The chairman of the Russian Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, has tasked the main directorate of the committee to check whether the information on Russian sailors' kidnapping was true, Svetlana Petrenko, the official spokesperson for the committee, said.

"The chairman of the Russian Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, has tasked the Central Investigation Department of the Russian Investigative Committee to organize an investigative check of media information on kidnapping of crew members of the MSC Mandy vessel under Panamanian flag," she said.

Bastrykin has also asked the Investigative Committee's international department to cooperate with the Russian Foreign Ministry in order to establish all the facts related to the incident as soon as possible, Petrenko added.

Meanwhile, the Russian State Duma's international committee is going to discuss the situation at its session, Anton Morozov, a member of the committee, told Sputnik.

"I think we will discuss it as soon as the State Duma starts working, we will certainly discuss it with the international affairs committee, as we will not stay on the sidelines," Morozov said.

The parliamentarian expressed his belief that the Russian Foreign Ministry would do everything possible to ensure the abducted crew members' rescue.

"I think there will certainly be a note of protest, and I hope that everyone will come back safe and sound," he said.

On Wednesday night, pirates kidnapped six crew members of the MSC Mandy container ship as it was sailing in the Gulf of Guinea. While the data of the rescue center of the Russian Federal Agency of Maritime and River Transportation showed that there were 24 crew members on board, with all of them being Russians except one Ukrainian national, the Russian Embassy in Benin said that there were 26 people on board, including 20 Russian citizens, two Georgian citizens, and four Ukrainian citizens. However, the Georgian Sea Transport Agency told Sputnik that there were no Georgian citizens on board.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday the United States had detained a Russian citizen, days after Moscow arrested the former US Marine Paul Whelan on suspicion of spying. Whelan was arrested by Russia's Federal Security Service on Dec. 28. His family have said he is innocent and that he was in Moscow to attend a wedding. The ministry said the United States detained Russian citizen Dmitry Makarenko on the Northern Mariana Islands on Dec. 29 and had moved him to Florida. "... Makarenko, born in 1979, has arrived on Saipan Island with his wife, underage ...
A former North Korean diplomat who staged a high-profile defection to the South on Saturday urged an old colleague who has gone missing in Italy to defect to Seoul, following a report that he was seeking asylum in the United States. Jo Song Gil, the 44-year-old who was until recently North Koreas acting ambassador to Italy, disappeared with his wife after leaving the embassy without notice in early November, South Korean lawmakers said on Thursday. Jo has sought asylum in the United States and is under the protection of Italian intelligence, Italys La Repubblica ...
The trend of declining growth in the number of Indian students flying abroad to study in the US, is expected to continue in 2019, say overseas education players. Even as more and more Indian students are going to the US for studies, the growth rate has been falling since couple of years, thanks to the economic and political uncertainty in the host country.

With most of the applications having been filed by December, January is expected to see varsities reverting with confirmation of admission, which goes on till April. With the likelihood of a regime change in the US after the next ...
Commerce and industry minister will meet the and financial services secretaries next week to resolve the huge decline in to exporters.

There has been a huge decline in to exporters off late after the Reserve Bank last March banned banks from issuing letters of undertaking to exporters following the Nirav Modi scam, which saw state-run PNB being defrauded to the tune of around Rs 14,000 crore.

"We've seen a huge dip in to exporters. And to resolve that, we have got a meeting fixed next week itself. We've called the secretary, financial services secretary and everybody else to come, and we are going to ensure that it happens," he told exporters.



He also said the issue regarding GST credit/refunds that exporters have been facing is also addressed "to some extent," after his ministry raised it with the recently.

On the government's recent decision to provide 3 per cent interest subsidy to merchant exporters, he said this will, in turn, promote small-scale industries as such exporters mainly buy from small companies and export them.

"As much as 30 per cent of export come from merchant exports. I have been calling for promoting merchant exports from the day one of coming to the ministry. Because they are the ones who necessarily do not manufacture themselves but buy from others," said Prabhu, who inaugurated the Ahmedabad office of the

"Merchant exporters buy from small companies and export under their own brand.If we promote merchant exporters, we are actually promoting small-scale industries," he said.

Prabhu, who also handles the aviation ministry, also expressed the hope to get Cabinet approval soon for the new industrial policy finalised by his ministry recently.

"We have already finalised the new industrial policy and we hope to get it approved by the Cabinet at the earliest. The implementation plan is also ready," Prabhu said, adding. the new industrial policy will help the country realize the goal of becoming a USD 5-trillion economy.



About the services sector, he said an action plan has been created for "12 champion sectors of services," and Rs 5,000-crore have been set aside for the same.

Speaking about the agricultural export policy, which was recently approved by the Cabinet, Prabhu said it will help take agricultural exports to USD 100 billion in two years from USD 30 billion now.

He attributed recent slowdown in exports to "global slowdown," and said plans are ready to ensure that the country grows even if the global economy slows down.

The minister also shared his ministry's programme to ensure each district grows by 3-4 per cent more. "If our desire is to grow in double-digits, it cannot come unless every district contributes to it.
The UN is "very concerned" over India sending back to without the world body's agency ascertaining if they are voluntarily returning, according to an official here.

"Whenever any family is returned, we want to make sure that the nature of their return was voluntary and UNHCR (UN High Commissioner for Human Rights) was not able to assess the voluntary nature of that return. So we are very concerned about this," said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq on Friday.

The UN maintains that conditions are not safe for the Rohingyas to return home.

Asked if Guterres would intervene and talk to Indian leaders about it, Haq indicated that there were no immediate plans for him to get involved.

"There are movements on the ground about which they (UNHCR) are concerned, but they are in charge of this particular file and we will see how it goes with their efforts," Haq said.

A Rohingya family of five -- parents and three children -- was sent back to on Thursday.

The Indian authorities said that the family had entered the country illegally in 2014, or in 2013, according to the UNHCR. They had been detained by India since then.

The family was registered with the UNHCR as refugees. It was among the second group to be repatriated to in the last four months.

"Despite repeated requests, the UNHCR did not receive a response from the Indian authorities for access to the family to assess the voluntary nature of their decision to return," Haq said.

The UNHCR said in a statement from Geneva that it regretted India's decision to repatriate the Rohingyas to Myanmar and said it "continues to request access and seek clarification on the circumstances under which the return has taken place".

About 18,000 and asylum-seekers are registered with the UNHCR in India.

The UN has even opposed an agreement last October between Myanmar and for the the return of refugees as it says they will not be safe back home.

More than 700,000 Rohingyas who have fled Myanmar's Rakhine state since August 2017 are living in camps in The exodus began after attacks on Myanmar security forces by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army led by the Pakistan-born Ataullah abu Ammar Jununi.

The security forces and vigilantes launched retaliatory attacks against Rohingyas and destroyed many of their villages and property.

The UN called the attacks on the Rohingyas that led to their fleeing Myanmar a case of "ethnic cleansing".
Protests over the Citizenship Bill erupted at various places in on Saturday, a day after Prime Minister said his government was working to ensure the proposed legislation gets Parliament nod.

The agitators burnt effigies of Modi in Lower and Dibrugarh, even as Chief Minister assured the people that he would protect the interests of the state.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 seeks to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955, to grant nationality to people belonging to minority communities -- Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians -- in Afghanistan, and Pakistan after six years of their residence in India.

Several indigenous organisations in the state have been opposing the bill as they believe it would harm their cultural identity.

The PM, after flagging off the BJP's Lok Sabha poll campaign in the northeast, said Friday that the bill was "not for the benefit of anyone but a penance against the injustice and many wrongs done in the past".

Around 70 organisations, led by Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), took out protest rallies in the state capital in the morning.

The KMSS members had plans to march to the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) headquarters here to ask the party to break off its alliance with the BJP, but the police prevented them from doing so, its leader Gogoi told reporters.

"We took out the rally to urge the people to come out of their homes and protest against the prime minister's announcement. The bill will put the identity of the indigenous people at stake.

"We cannot tolerate a leader coming from Delhi and threatening our very existence while the chief minister and other BJP leaders applaud him," Gogoi said.

Meanwhile, Sonowal on Saturday asked the people to keep calm as the state government would never do anything to harm their interests.

"I am the chief minister of and I have been entrusted with the duty of protecting the interest of the people of both Brahmaputra and Barak Valley. People should not doubt the government's intention," he told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.

He said he would go all out to secure the identity of its people.

"We are committed to fulfill our responsibilities with sincerity. I will go all out to ensure that 'Jati-Mati-Bheti and Krishti' (community, land, homeland and cultural identity) are not affected," he added.
His neighbours had gathered together and were anxiously discussing a car that had just passed their neighbourhood. This is a tribal area and people here keep to their water, forest and land, said Kunjam. When they saw a car with a group of outsiders, they were curious and worried at the same time. Kunjam and a few other villagers followed the car headed towards a local hill. ...

Dear Reader,

Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance.

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Digital Editor
Chief Minister said on Saturday that even if is given to all the communities, the government cannot give jobs to 90 percent of the unemployed youth.

"Even if is given to all the communities, the government cannot give jobs to 90 percent of youth. The private sector is expanding and it is in here only that maximum opportunity is available," Fadnavis said on Friday.

"Government can give 25 thousand jobs per year and this is equivalent to the number of those who are longing for jobs in a single Tehsil. is not a solution to the problem," said Fadnavis.

He said that when people will get an opportunity in various sectors then slowly and gradually importance of reservation will get over.

"Those who get reservation say that they have a right. This can give temporary satisfaction but for finding the true solution we must utilise the opportunities and work for the society. When people will get an opportunity in various sectors then the importance of reservation will slowly fade away. Then only those who really deserve will get the reservation," he said.

On November 30, Governor C Vidyasagar Rao signed the Maratha Reservation Bill that proposed 16 percent reservation for Marathas under educationally and socially backward category.

On November 18, the government cabinet had approved the Bill for which the community had been protesting since 2017.
The two largest smart phone makers in the world supply a majority of their own modem chips to help their devices connect to wireless data networks, according to evidence presented at an antitrust trial for chip supplier Qualcomm Inc. A trial between the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and Qualcomm kicked off in a federal courtroom in California on Friday, with the regulators arguing that Qualcomm engaged in anticompetitive patent licensing practices to preserve a monopoly on modem chips. The case is being closely watched because it may shed light on the likely eventual outcome of the ...
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.



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Digital Editor
Managers at Jet Airways will now get their December 2018 salary late, said a source in the airline. Salaries of pilots, engineers and senior management were already being paid in instalments for the past few months, as the airline faced pressure to settle overdue payments to lenders and vendors. The airlines management wrote an email to employees on Friday evening, informing them about the delay.

The email also said the new date of salary payment would be communicated next week. However, a few hours later, the email was recalled. The airline claimed there was no delay. ...
Bryan, OH (43506)

Today

Locally heavy thunderstorms during the evening will give way to mainly clear skies after midnight. Low 57F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Locally heavy thunderstorms during the evening will give way to mainly clear skies after midnight. Low 57F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
Basirma camp, Iraq: Raman* was desperate to return to his home town of Afrin in the far north-east of Syria, to renew his life as a butcher and family man.

A refugee from the country's long civil war, he started seeing videos online last year showing the new occupying force, the Turkish army and their proxy, the Free Syrian Army, handing out aid. Their promise was to rebuild and provide services.

So in June he went back to his home.

Brothers Raman*,35 (left), and Aram*, 31 in their kebab shop in Basirma refugee camp in Iraqi Kurdistan. Credit:Kate Geraghty

He was at the last checkpoint on the way into the town when he was stopped.
"There is no morality. Zero," he says now.

He had served Assad and his father, also the country's president, for 25 years, but, increasingly, he did not like what he saw.

Zaatari refugee camp, Jordan: Yasseen* was a senior officer in the Syrian air force of Bashar al-Assad when the country went to war against its own citizens.

"The exact words the regime has is a 'starvation policy'. Once they entered the towns, they destroyed everything. The people fled and they destroyed their homes. They looted even the windows and doors so that people don't think of returning to their villages."

Members of Yasseen's own family even became victims. After two years, he could do it no longer. So one afternoon in March, 2013, he defected. "I finished my work at 2pm and then I got rid of all the SIM cards, and I went," he says.

A view of Zaatari camp in Jordan's desert. The Syrian border is to the north. Credit:Kate Geraghty

Yasseen packed his wife and children off as refugees to Jordan, and went to join the rebels, seeking to deploy his secrets ("they're all in my head") to help overthrow the regime.

Two months later, he had seen enough. The rebellion was fractious, disorganised, full of extremists and ideologues, and run from a number of interfering foreign nations. They were "even worse" than Assad.
A man was threatened and then dragged out of his vehicle and attacked by a group of men in Brisbane's south before his car was stolen and used to commit armed robberies.

The 28-year-old arrived at his Mount Gravatt East home about 10.20pm on Friday when he was threatened with a gun and physically assaulted by three Caucasian men.

Police are investigating a string of robberies in south-east Queensland after a man was assaulted and had his car stolen. Credit:Queensland Police Service

The trio then stole his white Toyota Corolla sedan, bearing Queensland registration 881 LZP.

The car was believed to be seen about 12am during an attempted robbery of a service station on Compton Road at Woodridge when a man and a woman failed to break the front window with a hammer.
Update 11am: Polish firefighters have blamed poor electrical wiring and lax security procedures at an Escape Room for a fire that killed five teenage girls and injured a man.

The bodies of the 15-year-old victims were found on Friday in Koszalin, in northern Poland, after firefighters put out a blaze in an adjacent room.

Asphyxiation is the probable cause of the deaths, officials said.

Poland's firefighting chief, Leszek Suski, said that electrical wiring at the location was makeshift and too close to flammable materials, while the man in charge was probably not there when the fire broke out.

The Escape Room game sees players locked inside a room or building and they must find clues that help them get out.

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has sent condolences to the victims' families.

Earlier: Five teenage girls killed in escape room game tragedy in Poland

Five teenage girls have been killed and one man hurt in a fire that broke out at an Escape Room game location in northern Poland, officials have said.

The country's interior minister Joachim Brudzinski said the girls were all 15 years old.

A police spokeswoman in the city of Koszalin, Monika Kosiec, said the victims were probably celebrating one of their birthdays.

A 25-year-old man has been taken to hospital with burns and could not be immediately questioned by investigators who are probing the cause of the fire, she said.

Ms Kosiec said the bodies were found after firefighters put out a fire that broke out at the location.

Polish news agency said it learned unofficially that the victims died from carbon monoxide asphyxiation.

Mr Brudzinski ordered fire safety controls in all Escape Rooms, which are very popular with teenagers across Poland.

In an Escape Room game, the players are locked inside a room or building and must find clues that help them get out.

President Andrzej Duda said on Twitter it was a "crushing tragedy" that five young girls died so early in their lives.

Koszalin mayor Piotr Jedlinski announced that Sunday would be a day of mourning in the city.

- Press Association
Two Huawei employees have been demoted for using an iPhone to send a tweet.

They wished followers on the firm's official account a "Happy New Year" - but it came up that it was sent "via Twitter for iPhone".
Update: A man is due in court this evening charged in connection with the death of a woman in Co Donegal.

Jasmine McMonagle was found dead in her home in Forest Park, Killygordan yesterday morning.

The man in his 20s is due before a special sitting of Sligo District Court at 8pm.

Jasmine McMonagle

Earlier: A man remains in garda custody this morning in connection with the death of a woman in Co Donegal.

The body of 27-year-old Jasmine McMonagle was found at her home at the Forest Park Estate in Killygordon yesterday morning.

The man, in his 20s, is being held at Letterkenny Garda Station.

Local journalist Stephen Maguire says friends were devastated when they heard the news.

"Some of her friends actually arrived at the house and were too distraught to speak," said Mr Maguire.

"One did simply say she couldn't believe [Ms McMonagle] was gone."

He added that Ms McMonagle was described as "a very quiet person but at the same times a very nice person.

"People just can't believe what has happened here."

It was

Read More:

Gardai received the call from the distressed woman at 4.20am.

However, when they arrived at 4.47am, they were refused entry to the house at Forest Park on the outskirts of the East Donegal village.

Local county councillor Gary Doherty, who is from the same village as Ms McMonagle, said yesterday that the incident was just tragic.

"The whole community is in shock at the tragic news coming from Killygordon this morning," he said.

Inspector Michael Harrison gave a brief statement on behalf of gardai outside Letterkenny Garda station yesterday afternoon.

Gardai are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a woman at Forest Park, Killygordon, Co Donegal this morning," he said.

The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The office of the State Pathologist has been informed and is currently en route to the scene.

The assistance of the Garda Technical Bureau has been requested and we expect them to be at the scene sometime this afternoon.

A man in his 20s has been arrested and is currently being detained under the terms of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

At this stage of the investigation, Im not in a position to answer any further questions or make any more statements.
A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a young aspiring model and actress in Co Donegal.

Richard Burke appeared at a special sitting of Sligo District Court before Judge John Kilrane.

Wearing a grey top and grey tracksuit bottoms, Burke was charged with Murder Contrary to Common Law.

The accused, who was represented by solicitor Frank Dorrian, did not speak during the brief appearance.

Burke, of 49 Forest Park, Killygordon, was brought to court amidst heavy Garda security from Letterkenny Garda station.

Detective Garda Sgt. Michael Galvin told the court that he arrested Burke at 3.15pm at Letterkenny Garda station.

When charged the accused replied "I understand everything."

Garda Superintendent Colm Nevin applied to have the accused remanded in custody to Harristown Court until next Friday, January 11th and this was granted by Judge John Kilrane.

Mother of two Jasmine McMonagle, who was originally from Castlefinn, was found dead at her home at Forest Park in Killygordan at 7.30am on Friday morning last.

It followed a siege at the home when Gardai had been refused entry following reports of a domestic disturbance at around 4am.

Ms McMonagle, an aspiring actress and model, was pronounced dead at the scene by a local doctor.

Burke was arrested at the scene by members of the Garda's Regional Response Unit just before 7.30am.

He was taken to Letterkenny Garda station for questioning in relation to the woman's death before he was formally charged yesterday (SAT).

Ms McGonagle's two children Sky, aged 7 and Luna, aged 1, are now in the care of their grandparents.

Tributes have continued to flow in for Ms McMonagle on social media.
VANCOUVER - As Mike Babins opened one of Vancouver's first two legal pot shops on Saturday, he showed little concern about the many illegal retailers still competing with him for customers.

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A person holds a joint while smoking marijuana to celebrate the legalization of recreational cannabis, in Vancouver, on Wednesday October 17, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

VANCOUVER - As Mike Babins opened one of Vancouver's first two legal pot shops on Saturday, he showed little concern about the many illegal retailers still competing with him for customers.

The quicker that others can transition to the legal market the way he did, the better, he said  the remainder will be dealt with in time.

"I'm sure there was this issue when alcohol prohibition ended, but today do you go to the liquor store or some guy making bathroom hooch?" Babins said.

His store, Evergreen Cannabis Society, opened its doors in the city's Kitsilano neighbourhood on Saturday, more than two months after recreational marijuana was legalized in Canada  and after jumping through numerous regulatory hoops.

British Columbia has lagged behind some other provinces in issuing non-medical cannabis retail licences, which must first be approved by the province, then referred to local governments or Indigenous communities.

The province says it has referred 232 applications, but only six licences have been issued, including Evergreen and two City Cannabis locations in Vancouver.

City Cannabis opened its location on Fraser Street on Saturday and said it plans to open its Robson location soon.

Provincial government websites list 65 licensed pot retailers in Alberta and 20 locations in New Brunswick, while Ontario will not have any stores until April.

The city said in a statement that it's doing "everything possible" to co-ordinate with the province and existing operators to ensure they check the required boxes of a municipal development permit, provincial licences and municipal business licences.

Vancouver has issued development permits to 56 retail outlets, but those that have not applied for a provincial licence are subject to provincial and municipal enforcement.

Since May 2016, the city has applied for 53 injunctions against illegal dispensaries, some of which agreed to a test case that was heard in September 2018 before the B.C. Supreme Court and were ordered to shut down on Dec. 13.

Since the court case, the city said it has since identified about 20 retail shops that are operating without permits and has filed or is preparing to file injunction applications against them.

On Saturday, more than a dozen people lined up to be among Evergreen's first legal customers.

The opening followed what Babins has described as an "extremely, extremely thorough" provincial licensing process involving background checks going back 20 years, as well as a difficult few months for him and his wife and business partner, Maria Petrucci, as they waited for approval.

Babins said the shop, which initially opened as a medical dispensary in 2015 and operated with a municipal licence under the old regime, stopped selling marijuana but kept staff on after legalization on Oct. 17 while waiting for the licences. Their only income was from non-cannabis products like rolling papers.

"My wife and I just watched the bank account get lower and lower and lower every day. We basically had to cash in what we had saved for our down payment for a house," he said.

The night before opening, they faced one final hurdle. The full staff worked for 13 hours preparing the shop and struggled to meet a provincial law requiring samples to be contained in "smell jars" attached to a display case or counter  which makes the cannabis untouchable.

"We thought everything would be ready and smooth and easy to go but we realized no one knows how to use these little smell jars yet. I broke a lot of buds trying to get them to sit on the little spoke," he said.

The plastic jars also added to a growing list of expenses, because Babins could only find a seller in California, which meant paying in American dollars and adding shipping, border and import fees.

"Yesterday was a big learning curve. I guess we're going to be on a big learning curve for the next few weeks."

In the end, however, Babins said he believes it will all be worth it.

"I'm thinking about tomorrow, not today  or yesterday actually," he said.

"I think the more stores that get through this process  and we have a full legal framework in place  will be a good thing," Babins said, adding that he believes the system will settle itself soon enough.

"I understand it's pretty hard to give up when you've had to fight for so long  but the fight is over. It's hard to realize that we've won."

Jaclyn Pehota of Althing Consulting, who served as Evergreen's regulatory consultant, said it was a "long haul" to reach what is essentially the beginning of something new.

"I think they represent a success story from the legalization perspective, because they come from the grey market and have successfully transitioned into a legal market," Pehota said.

"I think that's the point of legalization and that's heartening."
BANGKOK - Ferry services and airports reopened in southern Thailand on Saturday as a storm moved west into the Andaman Sea after causing disruption and leaving at least one person dead.

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Thai people push a motorcycle through floodwater from Tropical Storm Pabuk, Friday, Jan. 4, 2019, in Pak Phanang, in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat, southern Thailand. Rain, winds and surging seawater are striking southern Thailand as a strengthening tropical storm nears coastal villages and popular tourist resorts. (AP Photo/Thanis Sudto)

BANGKOK - Ferry services and airports reopened in southern Thailand on Saturday as a storm moved west into the Andaman Sea after causing disruption and leaving at least one person dead.

Tropical Storm Pabuk barrelled across the Gulf of Thailand on Friday but spared world famous beach resorts major damage.

The storm damaged houses, knocked down power lines and triggered flash floods in several east coast provinces.

On the island of Koh Samui, where the suspension of air and ferry services had trapped many visitors, lines were long Saturday for rides back to the mainland.

The area's large fishing industry had to stand down, with ships ordered to stay in ports and small boats hauled ashore to keep them from being swept away. One fisherman died when his boat, caught at sea, capsized Friday. Another member of its six-man crew was missing.

A man goes through debris in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Pabuk Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019, in Pak Phanang, in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat, southern Thailand. Ferry services and airports have reopened in southern Thailand after a storm moved west into the Andaman Sea. (AP Photo/ Sumeth Panpetch)

The authorities prepared for the storm by evacuating almost 29,000 people in provinces most at risk, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation said. In the hardest-hit province of Nakhon Si Thammarat, about 800 kilometres (480 miles) south of Bangkok, 32 electric poles were felled, transformers exploded and communications lines were down in some districts, according to the department.

Stormy weather continued Saturday, but its effects on the Andaman coast and the tourist hub of Phuket appeared marginal.

The storm lost strength as it crossed land, with the Thai Meteorological Department saying it packed maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometres (34 miles) per hour as it moved west-northwest at a speed of 10 kph (6 mph).

With rain continuing in some areas, the department kept its warnings of possible forest runoffs and flash floods. It also said strong winds were still forecast with waves up to 3-5 metres (10-16 feet) high in both the Gulf and the Andaman Sea, raising the possibility of inland storm surges.
TORONTO - A Toronto-based company has ordered a recall of a cannabis product sold in Alberta due to contamination concerns.

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TORONTO - A Toronto-based company has ordered a recall of a cannabis product sold in Alberta due to contamination concerns.

Newstrike Brands and its Up Cannabis subsidiary say the recall is a precaution because tests have found mould and microbial contaminates that exceed acceptable limits.

The recall involves 1,428 units of one lot of Up Cannabis seven gram dried cannabis jars sold to the Alberta Gaming Liquor & Cannabis Commission.

Newstrike says the affected cannabis has a Nov. 28, 2018, packaging date and was sold only in Alberta.

It says to date there have been no complaints or adverse reactions to the pot.

People can return it to where it was sold for replacement or a refund.
EDMONTON - Alberta's environment minister has cancelled public information sessions about proposed new parks in a region known as Bighorn Country, citing "bullying" and "abuse" which she says make it impossible to guarantee people's safety.

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Two O'Clock Ridge near Cline River, Alta., is shown in this undated handout photo. Alberta's environment minister has cancelled public information sessions about proposed new parks in a region known as Bighorn Country, citing "bullying" and "abuse" which she says make it impossible to guarantee people's safety. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, Adam Linnard

EDMONTON - Alberta's environment minister has cancelled public information sessions about proposed new parks in a region known as Bighorn Country, citing "bullying" and "abuse" which she says make it impossible to guarantee people's safety.

"I have heard stories of Albertans afraid to attend community events, Albertans berated in public, Albertans followed home, and Albertans feeling intimidated to not speak their mind or participate in this important discussion," Shannon Phillips said in a news release Saturday.

"I call on all of my elected colleagues to denounce the bullying and harassment being faced by Bighorn supporters," she noted, referring to people who favour the government's parks plan.

The New Democrats in November announced eight new parks covering 4,000 square kilometres along the eastern edges of Banff and Jasper national parks.

Fourteen public and invitation-only information sessions were scheduled in five communities between December and Jan. 31.

But Phillips said Saturday that upcoming sessions for Drayton Valley, Red Deer, Sundre and Edmonton will be cancelled. She said the government will re-evaluate its engagement plans in order to ensure people in those communities "can participate safely."

Phillips said the government will schedule two telephone town hall sessions for residents of Drayton Valley and Red Deer and that the public engagement period will be extended to Feb. 15.

"We will continue to engage with all Albertans in the weeks to come. We believe our proposal for Bighorn Country sets the stage to achieve the right balance of environmental, economic, Indigenous and social values and goals," Phillips said.

Jason Nixon, the United Conservative Party member for the Sundre area, issued a response condemning intimidation  but said he hasn't personally seen any.

"I have personally attended a number of public events regarding the Bighorn, and while attendees were very concerned with the proposal, they were also completely civil," Nixon said in a statement.

Nixon has said that many people remain uncertain about the plan's impact on industry and land use, and suggested it could take another year to gather input. He said the government has been overly reliant on information from environmental groups and has only recently opened up the process.

Nixon repeated on Saturday a previous accusation that the government is trying to ram the plan through before an expected spring election.

"It is completely unacceptable for the NDP to arbitrarily cancel in-person consultation. Sadly, it's increasingly clear that the NDP isn't interested in listening to those who live and work in the region," he said.

More than three dozen retired biologists said in an open letter to Phillips and Premier Rachel Notley that they want the provincial government to stick with the plan to conserve the area. Lorne Fitch, a longtime fisheries biologist and University of Calgary professor who was one of the signatories, accused the Opposition of misinformation.

The plan for the new parks calls for a variety of permitted activities and offers $40 million over five years for campsites and other infrastructure. Off-highway vehicles, horse packing and hunting would continue, although with new restrictions. Grazing leases would continue and no existing trails would be closed.

Note to readers: CORRECTS 14th graph to make clear the accusation of misinformation was not from all of the signatories
MONTREAL - President Donald Trump's push to create a U.S. space force is being welcomed by military experts in Canada, and the executive director of one defence think tank says Canada should consider following suit.

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A Falcon 9 SpaceX rocket, stands ready at space launch complex 40, shortly before the launch was scrubbed because of a technical issue at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018. President Donald Trump's push to create a U.S. space force is being welcomed by military experts in Canada, and the executive director of one defence think tank says Canada should consider following suit. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-John Raoux

MONTREAL - President Donald Trump's push to create a U.S. space force is being welcomed by military experts in Canada, and the executive director of one defence think tank says Canada should consider following suit.

"At some point we might like to think about a space force," Matthew Overton, executive director of the Conference of Defence Associations Institute, said in an interview. "Thinking about space as a separate entity in itself that deserves attention and expertise, I think is a good idea."

But it is not something that needs to be done immediately, he added, suggesting Canada should first develop a centre of excellence on space knowledge.

Last month, Trump took a first step toward a space force when he signed an order to create a U.S. Space Command, which pulls together space-related units from across military services into a co-ordinated, independent organization.

The move comes amid growing concerns that China and Russia are working on ways to disrupt, disable or even destroy U.S. satellites.

The U.S. air force has operated a space command since 1982, and its mission is "to provide resilient, defendable and affordable space capabilities for the air force." It also operates the mysterious X-37B space plane, known simply as its orbital test vehicle. The unmanned plane has already completed four clandestine missions, carrying classified payloads on long-duration flights.

Overton, who served in the Canadian Forces for 39 years, noted that Canada's Air Force already has a space component. It is led by Brigadier General Kevin Whale, Director General Space. Its mission, a spokesman said by email, is "to maintain space domain awareness, and to develop, deliver and assure space-based capabilities."

Overton said Trump's space force makes a lot of sense, but he expects there will be tension as the new entity gets down to work with other branches of the military. He gave the example of the GPS network, which is crucial for land, air and sea forces, but could become a space force responsibility.

"What is the relationship with other forces? How do you work out that dynamic?""

Wayne Ellis, who served in the Canadian military for 20 years, agrees that a U.S. space force is a good idea.

"I think there's enough activity and potential activity to concentrate resources in that domain, which probably merits a separation from the air force," Ellis, a past president of the Canadian Space Society, said in an interview.

"Perhaps now is a good opportunity to look at a totally separate branch  at least for the U.S."

He noted that Canadian military personnel have worked side by side with the U.S. military for decades. "A lot of these positions are actually space positions at various bases so, at some point, our posted personnel are going to be interacting with the U.S. space force as it gets set up," he added.

James Bezan, the Conservative defence critic, said he wants to see more details about the space capabilities Americans envision.

"For Canada, my sense is that we need to watch this and see how it evolves," he said. Before Canada considers creating its own space force, Bezan added, it should focus on making Norad  the bilateral North American Aerospace Defence Command  more effective.

"I would think that any co-operation that we do with the States as it relates to North American defence, as it relates to aerospace, should be part of the Norad discussions," he said.

Randall Garrison, the NDP defence critic, criticized Trump's plan to launch a sixth branch of the U.S. military.

"New Democrats are fundamentally opposed to the militarization of space and believe that space should only be used by all of humanity for peaceful purposes," he wrote in an email.

"New Democrats urge the government of Canada to uphold the principles of peaceful space exploration and to engage with our allies on a renewed call for the drafting of an international treaty aimed at the prevention of an arms race in space."

Overton pointed out that space has long been exploited for military purposes, and there's no way it can be avoided.

"Communications satellites, GPS and intelligence communications, you name it  all that is there," he said.

The office of the Minister of National Defence noted in a statement that "space-based capabilities have become essential to Canada's operations at home and abroad.

"That is why Canada's defence policy ... commits to investing in a range of space capabilities such as satellite communications, to help achieve global coverage, including the Arctic."

The statement goes on to say that "Canada will continue to promote the peaceful use of space and provide leadership in shaping international norms for responsible behaviour in space."

 With files from The Associated Press.
VANCOUVER - A British Columbia man who went to Syria seeking adventure has been detained in the war-ravaged country, and Canada's foreign ministry says there is little it can do to help him.

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VANCOUVER - A British Columbia man who went to Syria seeking adventure has been detained in the war-ravaged country, and Canada's foreign ministry says there is little it can do to help him.

The mother of the man from Nanaimo, B.C., said he has not been in touch for more than a month and is pleading for help getting him home.

Kristian Lee Baxter, 44, is seen in this undated handout photo. A British Columbia man who went to Syria seeking adventure has been detained in the war-ravaged country, and Canada's foreign ministry says there is little it can do to help him. The mother of the man from Nanaimo, B.C., said he has not been in touch for more than a month and is pleading for help getting him home. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO

Andrea Leclair told The Canadian Press that her 44-year-old son Kristian Lee Baxter messaged her daily because she was worried after he arrived in Syria on Nov. 26, but he went silent after his last message on Dec. 1.

Asked about Baxter, Global Affairs Canada confirmed it is aware of a Canadian who has been detained in Syria.

But the department offered no other details and would not confirm his identity, citing the Privacy Act.

The government has been warning Canadians to avoid travelling to Syria since 2011 after the outbreak of a civil war that has attracted foreign powers and spawned a multitude of militias, including a new Islamist terror group, while leaving an estimated 500,000 people dead.

Canada severed diplomatic relations with Syria in 2012, expelling its diplomats and shuttering its embassy.

"Consular services are being provided to the family and to the individual, to the limited extent possible. Given the security situation on the ground, the Government of Canada's ability to provide consular assistance in any part of Syria is extremely limited," said Global Affairs spokesman Stefano Maron.

The Global Affairs travel advisory warns all Canadians to avoid travelling to the country because of the ongoing war.

"Syria is not safe for personal travel," says the department's online advisory. "Attempting any form of travel in this very hazardous security environment would place you at grave risk. Criminals, terrorists and armed groups target foreigners for terrorist attacks, assassination and kidnapping for ransom or political gain."

The advisory says the country is plagued by fighting that involves small arms, tanks, artillery, aircraft fire and chemical weapons.

Leclair described her son as a "world traveller and adventurer" and said he visited a village near the border of Lebanon at the invitation of his girlfriend's brother-in-law, who now lives in Pennsylvania but regularly visits the village.

"I just want him home," Leclair said.

One of Baxter's flights was delayed on his way to Beirut so his luggage arrived after him, she said.

The brother-in-law arranged for a driver to pick him up from the airport in Beirut and drive him to the village, and Baxter said the driver assured him that he would collect his luggage for him, Leclair said.

"The driver said, 'Don't worry, I'm going to pick up your suitcase, don't worry, you just stay and visit.' So he did. And the driver never came back," Leclair said.

Baxter went back to the border and was told the driver had been detained because a metal detector, which is a prohibited item, was in his suitcase, she said.

Baxter is a "history buff" and uses his metal detector as a hobby, but didn't realize it was not permitted across the border, Leclair said.

"He loves to find things, he'll find silly things like bottle tops but they might be old bottle tops, that kind of thing. He never finds anything of any value," she said. "Kristian is a world traveller, he's been all over the place, he's an adventurer."

Baxter told the border officials that the suitcase belonged to him, but they did not detain him or release the driver, she said. After four or five days, the driver's family was getting worried, so Baxter returned once again on Dec. 2 to claim responsibility, she said, even though his girlfriend's brother-in-law was urging him to leave the country at this point because the situation was worrying him.

He has not been heard from since, she said.

During their final video chat, Baxter said he introduced her to the cousin of the brother-in-law and several other people in the room.

"He introduced me to all these people, he says, 'They're such nice people, everywhere I go they're feeding me and giving me tea and coffee.' He was just having a really nice time," she said.

Leclair said she has been frustrated by the lack of information she has been able to get about Baxter. Global Affairs Canada initially told her it could do nothing because there is no functioning Canadian embassy in Syria, then said it might be able to work through the Romanian embassy, she said.

Baxter was supposed to be home Dec. 13 and his travel visa to Syria expired on Dec. 12 or 13, she said.

"It's so complicated because we just don't know anything," Leclair said.
HALIFAX - The U.S. Coast Guard says 11 "non-essential" crew have been moved off of a large Halifax-bound container ship that's been burning far off the Nova Scotia coast.

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HALIFAX - The U.S. Coast Guard says 11 "non-essential" crew have been moved off of a large Halifax-bound container ship that's been burning far off the Nova Scotia coast.

Chief Petty Officer 3rd Class Joshua Canup says the 11 have been moved to the Smit Nicobar, an offshore support tug from Belgium that arrived on the scene Friday night.

He says the remaining 12 crew remain on board the Yantian Express and no injuries have been reported.

The 320-metre container ship was travelling from Colombo, Sri Lanka, to Halifax on Thursday when a fire started inside a container on the ship's forward deck.

The blaze then spread to several other containers, and coast guard officials in Boston received a call for help early Friday.

Canup said earlier Saturday that poor weather continued to prevent crews from extinguishing the fire burning aboard the ship, which is located about 1,775 kilometres southeast of Halifax.

"As it stands right now, they're just waiting for the heavy weather to subside," Canup said.

Canup said a cargo ship from the Netherlands, the MV Happy Ranger, was on scene Friday to offer assistance, but left after the Smit Nicobar arrived.

There were no reported injuries to the eight officers and 15 seafarers aboard the ship, which was built in 2002 and is capable of carrying 7,510 standard 20-foot containers.

A spokesman for international shipping company Hapag-Lloyd, which owns the Yantian Express, said it's still too early to assess damage to the ship or cargo, and there is no estimate for when the ship will arrive in Halifax.

"The weather and sea conditions are still difficult and further extinguishing work requires an improvement of these conditions," Tim Seifert said in an email.

Seifert said the Smit Nicobar is equipped with fire monitors to assist with the fire extinguishing as soon as weather permits.
The Pas and Opaskwayak RCMP are investigating a homicide involving two people on the reserve.

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The Pas and Opaskwayak RCMP are investigating a homicide involving two people on the reserve.

On Friday, at approximately 4:20 a.m., police were dispatched to a report of two deceased persons at a residence in Opaskwayak Cree Nation, more than five hours north of Brandon, the RCMP said in a news release.

A 27-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman, both from Opaskwayak, were found inside a residence.

The RCMPs Major Crime Unit is assisting with the investigation.

Police are not looking for suspects at this time.

 The Brandon Sun.
Le Collectif Cheikh Yassine a organise un certain nombre dactivites et de festivites pour les enfants de Gaza sous le theme  La joie des enfants de Gaza pour lAid . Ces activites ont commence le premier jour de lAid et continue jusquau 4eme jour de lAid dans la bande de Gaza.



Plusieurs activites, ont ete organisees parmi lesquelles : des competitions recompensees par des prix, des jeux, des animations et des chants presentes par un groupe ainsi que des distributions de cadeaux et daides financieres.




PR Newswire

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 4, 2019

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 4, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Today, West Coast Dental, the leading provider of adult and children's dentistry in Southern California, unveils their new company credo: SERV. Standing for Service, Excellence, Respect, Value, the updated credo will drive a new culture for patients and employees alike. This shift starts at the employee level, where this new transformational leadership style will create a positive, forward-thinking culture aimed at encouraging and motivating employees to reach their full potential. West Coast Dental understands that when employees are stimulated, challenged, and emboldened, their level of service for their patients, in turn, becomes more thorough and thoughtful.

As another part of their SERV mission, West Coast Dental will institute a scholarship program, giving up to $10,000 in educational scholarships to the children of West Coast Dental employees. Children of West Coast Dental employees who are high school seniors with a high grade point average will be eligible to apply for the West Coast Dental Scholarship Program.

"We're looking forward to putting this new name, SERV, to our existing strategy of service and quality care, both for our patients and our employees," said Dr. Payam Sohrab, CEO of West Coast Dental. "By streamlining our processes under the new credo we can now operate with set goals and standards which will offer heightened care for our patients, and additional services, like our Scholarship Program, to employees. It is with these programs that we hope to recruit the absolute best providers in oral care, which, again, ultimately benefits our patients while lifting up our valued employees."

For more information on the West Coast Dental Scholarship program, please reach out to myscholarship(at)westcoastdental.com. If you are interested in a position within this dynamic dental services organization, please visit http://www.westcoastdental.com.

About West Coast Dental Privately held for over 25 years, West Coast Dental Services has continued to serve Southern California with the finest dental and orthodontic care in the state. Started by a group of dedicated dental professionals who saw the need for quality, multi-specialty dental care, West Coast Dental now has 36 state-of-the-art dental care practices across the state of California. West Coast Dental Services delivers the highest standard of care using the latest technologies with a team of talented general dentists and specialists. For more information, visit http://www.westcoastdental.com

SOURCE West Coast Dental Services Inc
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The gravity of the existential threat we face from Islamic Jihad is truly of epic proportions. It is essentially a battle pitting free-civilized man against a totalitarian barbarian. What is at stake is the struggle for our very soul - namely who we are and what we represent. The lives that were sacrificed for individual rights and freedoms that we've come to cherish are being chiseled away from right under our noses by the stealth jihadists. And many of us are in denial and totally clueless.



The left's appeasement and pandering to evil is nothing new. What makes their utopian delusions so infuriating and unpardonable is that it is not only they who will have to pay the consequences, and deservedly, so, they are thwarting and undermining our best efforts at resistance and are thus dragging us down in the process as well.







By Peter Lancz,, the head of the Raoul Wallenberg World Campaign Against Racism.
A suspected case of the deadly Ebola virus has been reported by a Swedish hospital, officials said, adding the patient has been isolated

A suspected case of the deadly Ebola virus has been reported by a Swedish hospital, officials said, adding the patient has been isolated.

Region Uppsala, which oversees several hospitals and medical clinics north of Stockholm, said yesterday a test had been carried out on the patient, who was not identified, adding a result would be available later.

It said it was so far "only a matter of suspicion", adding: "Other diseases are quite possible."

It did not say where the patient had travelled, but Sweden's TT news agency said that the patient had returned from a trip to Burundi in Africa three weeks ago.

The authorities said the hospital in Enkoping where the patient was first admitted had its emergency room shut down and staff who treated the patient were "cared for".

The patient was eventually transferred to an infection clinic.

All major outbreaks have been in Africa, though isolated cases have been reported outside the continent.
Detectives in England have launched an investigation after a man and woman were found dead in Essex

Detectives in England have launched an investigation after a man and woman were found dead in Essex.

Police were called yesterday morning after the man (51) and woman (39) were found unresponsive at a property in Rainham.

Both were pronounced dead at the scene, the Metropolitan Police said.

Their deaths are being treated as unexplained and post-mortem examinations will take place in "due course".

Officers were called to the property by the London Ambulance Service at 7.50am.

Next of kin have been informed and are being "fully supported".

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Considine said: "At this very early stage we are piecing together our understanding of how the man and woman died, and we would like to thank those members of the public who we have spoken to us as part of our inquiries thus far.

"We are ensuring that their next of kin are being fully supported."
Paul Whelan, 48, has been arrested in Russia (family handout/PA)

Moscow has denied a former US Marine is being held as a bargaining chip for a jailed Russian spy, after Jeremy Hunt warned against using Britons as pawns.

Paul Whelan, a 48-year-old who has UK citizenship, was arrested in the Russian capital last week, apparently on espionage charges.

There has been speculation he could be used to barter for the release of a Russian citizen jailed in the US after admitting acting as a secret agent for the Kremlin.

The Foreign Secretary said the UK is giving Mr Whelan every support we can, and said Moscow should not use people as pieces in diplomatic chess games.

Expand Close Mr Whelan is a former US Marine who lives in Michigan, and has UK citizenship (family handout/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Mr Whelan is a former US Marine who lives in Michigan, and has UK citizenship (family handout/PA)

But on Saturday, Russian news agencies quoted the nations deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying it is too early to talk of the possibility of exchanges as Mr Whelan is yet to be formally charged.

Interfax said he added that there is no connection with the case and any Russian citizen in the US.

The arrest of Mr Whelan, who lives in the state of Michigan, comes after Russian national Maria Butina pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges in the US last month.

She admitted conspiring to infiltrate the US gun rights movement to collect intelligence on conservative political groups as Donald Trump rose to power.

Mr Hunt told Sky News individuals should not be used as pawns of diplomatic leverage.

He added: We are giving him every support that we can, but we dont agree with individuals being used in diplomatic chess games.

Mr Whelans twin David said his brothers innocence is undoubted and we trust that his rights will be respected.

Expand Close Paul Whelans brother David said the former Marine was in Russia to help organise a friends wedding (David Whelan/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Paul Whelans brother David said the former Marine was in Russia to help organise a friends wedding (David Whelan/PA)

His detention comes amid strained diplomatic tensions between the UK and Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin refuted British claims the Kremlin was behind the nerve agent poisonings in Salisbury last year.

And relations were hardly soothed by testimony during a recent Old Bailey inquest linking Russia with the death of UK-based multi-millionaire Alexander Perepilichnyy.

He had been due to testify about serious organised crime in Russia.

Russia is having to deal with four nations over Mr Whelans detention because of his wide-ranging citizenship.

He has British citizenship through his parents, but is also a citizen of Ireland, Canada and the US.

According to his brother, Mr Whelan was in Moscow to help plan a fellow former Marines wedding because he had visited Russia several times previously.
A man called the emergency services on New Years Day asking for an ambulance to come to his home to perform a DNA test because his partner cheated.

The man spoke with an operator from North West Ambulance Service, which covers Cumbria, Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester.

FFS - Friday fact share ai



So we got this 999 call on New Yearas Day...



 Sound up!



A man called us for a DNA test after accusing his partner of cheating.



Really though?! aai



#MakeTheRightCall  pic.twitter.com/XC5HAJo4R3  North West Ambulance Service (@NWAmbulance) January 4, 2019

In a recording of the conversation the operator asks the man is the patient breathing to which he replies: OK, please Im just ringing because my partner has cheated on me.

 Operator: Right, listen to me is the patient breathing?

 Caller: Hello?

 Operator: Is the patient breathing?

 Caller: Everything okay, I want you ambulance to come to my house to go to do DNA test.

 Operator: Excuse me? Why?

 Caller: Because my partner has cheated on me.

 Operator: Right, OK this is an emergency service, we dont do DNA tests.

 The man then tries to speak over the operator to which she responds: Sir, listen to me, listen to me, this is an emergency line, we dont deal with domestic cases and we dont do DNA tests so I suggest you speak to somebody else.

 Caller: Which number? Can I get a number please?

 Operator: Ive not got a number for DNA tests Im afraid.

 Caller: Thank you very much, bye.

 Operator: Bye bye.

The recording was posted to social media by the ambulance service, who accompanied the video with the caption FFS  Friday fact share Really though?!

We received almost 6,000 999 calls on New Years Day (thats 33% more than usual), the North West Ambulance Service wrote on Facebook.

Needless to say, we didnt send this man an ambulance but when we receive calls for anything other than a serious emergency, it wastes our precious time and resources.
Jasmine McMonagle is believed to have died from knife wounds

A young mother of two died after suffering suspected knife wounds in a vicious attack at her home in Co Donegal.

Jasmine McMonagle, an aspiring actress and model, was found dead at her home when armed members of the gardai's regional response unit stormed the house in Killygordon in the early hours of Friday morning.

The 27-year-old had contacted gardai to report a disturbance at her home at Forest Park on the outskirts of the village.

Gardai received the call from the distressed woman at 4.20am. However, when they arrived at 4.47am they were refused entry to the house.

At this stage, there was an altercation and it is understood a garda was attacked.

The regional response unit was then called and the team arrived a short time later.

A man was arrested around 7.30am and taken to Letterkenny Garda Station, where he was assessed by a psychiatrist. He can be held for up to 48 hours.

The victim's two daughters, aged seven and one, were last night being cared for by family members.

Gardai carried out door-to-door enquiries in the estate yesterday afternoon to speak to neighbours.

Both the state pathologist Linda Mulligan and members of the Garda Technical Bureau from Dublin arrived at the scene yesterday afternoon.

At around 3pm, the body of the young mother was removed to Letterkenny General Hospital.

Neighbours have reacted with shock to the death of Ms McMonagle, who is originally from the border town of Castlefinn.

Damian Scanlon, who lives directly across from the scene of the incident, said he was awoken by shouting and screaming at around 5am.

"There was a lot of Garda activity but I just thought it was a party or something so I went back to bed.

"I awoke again after 7am and this time I saw gardai everywhere including guys with shields and helmets.

"All of a sudden I saw them burst in the front door and then this fella came out and they were shouting at him to 'Get on the grass, get on the grass' or something like that.

"A while later I saw a garda taking a child out in his arms and I saw another child with another garda at the front door.

"It was all very dramatic and you just don't expect it to happen in your own estate.

"It was only two days ago I saw her pushing the pram down the street," he added. Local county councillor Gary Doherty, who is from the same village as Ms McMonagle, said the incident was tragic.

"My deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of the young woman who has sadly lost her life so prematurely," he said.

Inspector Michael Harrison said a man in his 20s had been arrested and was being detained under the terms of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.
Two teenage males have been arrested after an incident in which a police car was rammed in Limavady.

It happened on Friday night at around 8pm, when it was reported to police in the Co Londonderry town that a suspected stolen car had failed to stop when signalled to do so on Broad Road.

A short time later the car was observed on Main Street.

It rammed into a police car in an attempt to escape, with one officer sustaining non-life threatening injuries as a result of the crash.

The driver of the car was arrested at the scene, while two young males made off in the direction of Connell Street.

After follow-up enquiries a male was arrested in Derry where the car, a Vauxhall Zafira, was believed to have been stolen earlier in the evening.

Both men remain in police custody at this time.

Inspector Mullan is appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident or anyone with any information that can assist with the investigation to contact officers in Limavady on 101 quoting reference 1142 04/01/19.

Alternatively information can be given to independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
The aftermath of the 1981 Stardust inferno in Dublin in which 48 people died

Relatives of the victims of Ireland's worst fire disaster will be in Londonderry this month to take part in the Bloody Sunday commemorations.

The Justice for the 48 campaign is seeking a second inquest into the inferno at the Stardust disco in Artane, Dublin, on St Valentine's Day 1981.

The families are being supported by the Bloody Sunday Trust through the Derry Model, an EU-funded initiative set up to help resolve conflict, build peace and support justice campaigns.

Three of the 48 who perished in the blaze were from this side of the border: Susan Morgan from Derry, and Robert Hillock and James Millar from Twinbrook in west Belfast.

Antoinette Keegan barely survived the disaster, but her sisters Mary and Martina, along with Martina's boyfriend, didn't.

Ms Keegan said she feels confident they will get the probe they are seeking thanks to the help of the Bloody Sunday Trust.

"The support and assistance we have had in our campaign from the Bloody Sunday families cannot be underestimated," she said.

"And we are feeling optimistic that we will get the inquest that will release the truth about what really happened in the Stardust that night.

"I lost my two sisters, who were just 16 and 19, and I was left so badly injured I was on life support for two weeks."

A tribunal the year after the blaze chaired by Justice Ronan Keane was labelled flawed by many, and the conclusion was contested by the victims' families.

He concluded the cause was probably arson.

In 2009 an independent examination into the tribunal reported there was no evidence to support Justice Keane's finding that the fire was started deliberately near the ballroom of the nightclub.

Ms Keegan added: "The truth has been hidden from us by successive governments but we are determined now, and we will not stop until we have the inquest we are looking for.

"The family of Susan Morgan has been in touch with us, but we would like to get in touch with the families of James Millar and Robert Hillock.

"We know they were from Twinbrook, but we would love to meet up with them when we are in Derry for the Bloody Sunday commemorations."

Maeve McLaughlin, manager of the Derry Model initiative, said there was a lot the Bloody Sunday Trust could do to assist the Stardust families.

"Having looked at the 48 deaths in Dublin as a result of the fire in the Stardust, there was a real sense that the families had been let down by the state," she said.

"They've had a series of promises from different administrations over the years that they would take up their cases, but nothing was ever done in consultation with the families.

"As part of the Derry Model, we brought them to the city to look at ways the Bloody Sunday families could support them in their campaign, which is now very clearly focused on a new inquest."

As part of the commemorations, the Justice for the 48 campaign films will be screened.
A staff member at a commercial premises in Belfast foiled an attempted robbery by refusing to hand over money.

The incident took place in the East Bridge Street area on Thursday at 3.50pm.

A man, with a scarf over his face, entered the premises and demanded that a female member of staff put money into a bag.

The member of staff ran out the back of the store and the man made off empty handed.

Police appealed to anyone who witnessed this incident or anyone who has information that would assist police with their enquiries, to contact detectives at Musgrave on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference 817 03/01/19.

Alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime.
A senior PSNI officer has said he does not expect to need reinforcements from other police forces this year to deal with a no-deal Brexit.

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton said putting precautionary procedures in place was part of a sensible planning process ahead of the EU exit at the end of March.

It follows UK media reports that almost 1,000 officers from across England and Scotland are being trained for deployment to Northern Ireland in case of disorder following a hard Brexit.

The PSNI is yet to make a formal request under mutual aid arrangements, which are in place to enable UK police forces to help each other at times of heightened demand.

Mr Hamilton said: "At the present time we do not have any reason to believe we will need to request mutual aid during 2019, but putting precautionary procedures in place for it is part of a sensible planning process. Planning around mutual aid happens every year across UK policing."

He said that normally the plans are in place for the summer months, but this year additional resources will be available from the date of the EU exit on March 29 in line with national contingency planning.

Mr Hamilton said: "Our view is that it is better to have precautionary plans in place and not use them, than find we may need additional police support but cannot have it because we have not alerted the National Police Coordination Centre in advance.

"While we plan for mutual aid, we will only ever use it when it is absolutely necessary and proportionate."

Policing support from Britain was requested in 2013 ahead of protests surrounding the holding of the G8 summit in Fermanagh, and significant public disorder linked to loyal order parades and counter-protests.

Mr Hamilton added: "Quite rightly, the public expect their police service to make plans to keep them safe in all eventualities and that is what PSNI will continue to do."

A statement from the National Police Chiefs Council said: "Police forces continue to prepare for possible eventualities as exit from the European Union draws nearer.

"As it stands, we have not received a formal request for mutual aid support from Police Service Northern Ireland."

In December the PSNI was awarded 16.48m to help prepare for Brexit.

The service plans to use the money to recruit 308 officers and staff by April 2020.

Some reports of the story, which emerged earlier this week, were accompanied by old images of PSNI officers tackling outbreaks of major public disorder.

DUP Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson said there was no evidence that the officers from Britain will be required.

"There is nothing to suggest any such events following our exit from the European Union," he said.

"Both the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom have said they will not impose any new infrastructure at the border, which could be the focus of any attack, so it is difficult to ascertain what eventualities the officers would train for."

Mr Wilson accused Theresa May's Government of using scare tactics to try to put pressure on MPs to back her EU withdrawal agreement.

"It is important people do not needlessly create alarm," he added. "Over the last few days we have seen some old tactics being used in the new year."

A potential threat from the Brexit falout has previously been highlighted by PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton.
Book retailer Eason says it has instructed its stores to remove a 40th birthday card emblazoned with the words "adventure before dementia" from sale, after a Northern Ireland customer raised concerns.

The 2.50 card, which was spotted on sale at its Abbey Centre branch in Co Antrim on Thursday, features a drawing of a small caravan festooned with bunting and the words '40 adventure before dementia'.

Yesterday, both Eason and the card's creators Dandelion Stationery issued apologies.

Local people who have dementia condemned the product.

Fermanagh man Davie McElhinney (56), who was diagnosed with early onset dementia at the age of 55, described the card as "absolutely disgusting".

"When I saw the card I felt pure anger and shock," said the father-of-two. "Dementia is a terminal illness, and to put this on a card is shocking beyond belief.

"It doesn't give a good message to someone in the early stages of dementia, and it might put them off going to the doctor because of the fear.

"It doesn't help the image of dementia and it doesn't help with getting the condition accepted and understood.

"If that card had said cancer instead of dementia there would be an outcry.

"I live with dementia and life didn't stop for me."

Mr McElhinney questioned why Eason had chosen to stock the card.

"For Eason to put that out for sale it would have had to go through the channels. How did it get to the shelves?" he asked.

"This card seems to be making fun of dementia. When I was diagnosed it was a real blow.

"It took me quite a while to accept it, and it's probably only now, 18 months after diagnosis, that I'm coming round to it.

"This doesn't help."

Mr McElhinney's wife Alison (59) described the card as "horrendous" and said she would be writing to Eason over the issue.

Dundonald woman Allison Batchelor (58), who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease 18 months ago, said the card was "very upsetting".

"It is trivialising a dementia diagnosis by suggesting that once you get over 40 you are going to become senile," the mother-of-two said.

"Would they publish a card which said 'adventure before cancer?' I don't think so.

"It's totally inappropriate, and I'm very hurt by it. I'm very shocked and I can't believe that Eason would stock it.

"I know that there are funny cards which talk about grey hair and getting older, but dementia is a serious illness. When I got diagnosed it was a shock to the system initially, and you do think life is over.

"If I had seen that card on the day I got my diagnosis it would have been devastating."

Allison says she is getting on with life following her diagnosis.

"I am still very much living and doing as much as I can for as long as I can," she added.

"I got involved with Dementia NI, who have been an absolute lifeline. Dementia NI is trying to promote a more positive view, that there is life to live.

"For me, that card was saying that if you get a dementia diagnosis that's it, there are no more adventures, no more living. That's totally inappropriate."

Tara Collins, programme manager for Dementia NI, agreed.

"When I first saw the card I thought it was a supportive card for someone who has been diagnosed," she said.

"It took a while to register, and I was astounded.

"Dementia shouldn't be the butt of a joke on a card.

"Dementia NI is trying to challenge the stigma of receiving a dementia diagnosis, but it's still very much prevalent, as this card has highlighted. This does nothing to improve people's understanding - it just adds to the fear of getting a dementia diagnosis. A lot of people who have been diagnosed with dementia are still having adventures. People seem to think life ends when they get a diagnosis, but that's untrue."

Ms Collins said she intended to contact Eason over the card.

Yesterday, a spokesperson for Eason stated: "Eason apologises for any offence caused by stocking this card. All Eason stores have been instructed to remove the card from sale."

A spokesperson for Dandelion Stationery, which created the card, offered their "sincere apologies" and said there was "no malice or upset intended".

She said: "I fully appreciate and understand that dementia can be a distressing disease, and the card is not intentionally making light of this.

"The text on the card was chosen simply to encourage people to live life to the full, and to take pleasure and enjoyment from every opportunity.

"We are sorry that your readers do not like the card in question, but stand firm that there is no malice or upset intended from the card".

She added that the organisation had recently registered to become a 'Dementia Friend,' an initiative by the Alzheimer's Society.

However, the firm did not respond to a query over whether it would continue to sell the card.
Dr Michael Watt was previously restricted from clinical duties with the Belfast Trust in 2017

Belfast neurologist Dr Michael Watt has been handed an interim suspension, temporarily preventing him from practising as a doctor in the UK.

The medic was previously restricted from clinical duties with the Belfast Trust in the summer of 2017, meaning he was no longer seeing patients.

In May 2018, health officials revealed they were contacting around 2,500 health service patients and just over 110 private patients after a Royal College of Physicians report raised concerns about him.

Last October, it was announced that an additional 1,044 former patients of Dr Watt would be recalled.

However, until Thursday's hearing of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) in Manchester, Dr Watt would still have been able to practise in heavily restricted circumstances.

These were subject to 10 conditions which were imposed on his General Medical Council (GMC) registration at a previous MPTS Interim Orders Tribunal on May 9, 2018.

The 10 conditions included the requirement that Dr Watt "must be closely supervised in all of his posts by a clinical supervisor". Several restrictions were also put on the Hillsborough medic's treatment of patients with neurological conditions.

For example, it was stipulated that he "must not prescribe disease modifying therapies for multiple sclerosis patients without prior discussion within, and the approval of, an appropriately constituted trust-wide multi-disciplinary team." Another condition stated that "his management of patients with epilepsy should be in accordance with NICE [National Institute for Health and Care Excellence] clinical guidelines and his prescribing practice of such patients must be subject to regular clinical audit."

Furthermore, Dr Watt could "only perform epidural blood patching in line with his employing trust's protocol, and his practice must be subject to regular clinical audit at intervals agreed with his supervisor."

Dr Watt was also required to allow the GMC to exchange information with his employer or any contracting body for which he provided medical services, was barred from work as a locum and was only able to work in an NHS post or setting.

However, since Thursday's ruling, these conditions have been replaced by a temporary suspension from working as a doctor in the UK.

It is understood all fitness-to-practise sanctions and actions are circulated to a wide range of recipients and international regulators in the UK and EEA by the MPTS.

A spokesperson for the GMC stated: "An Interim Orders Tribunal (IOT) at the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service replaced the doctor's interim conditions, with an interim suspension on January 3, 2019.

"The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service operates separately from the investigatory role of the GMC and makes independent decisions on cases.

"We can refer a doctor to the MPTS for an IOT at any point during an investigation, if it is necessary for the protection of the public, or otherwise in the public interest or in the interests of the doctor.

"The tribunal does not determine the facts of what happened but undertakes a risk assessment of whether temporary protection is needed while a full investigation is carried out.

"We can confirm our investigation is ongoing."

The website of the MPTS lists Dr Watt's order as "interim conditions replaced with an interim suspension, subject to review".

It is understood that no date has yet been listed for any review hearing.

The Belfast Trust said: "Dr Watt remains restricted from all clinical duties".

In May 2018, Department of Health permanent secretary Richard Pengelly announced the establishment of an independent inquiry.

The inquiry, chaired by Brett Lockhart QC, is reviewing the recall of neurology patients by the Belfast Trust.
You would have had more chance of winning the lottery in Moira yesterday than of finding anyone particularly well-acquainted with the village's new EuroMillionaires.

For even the next door neighbour of Frances and Paddy Connolly in the oddly named Saint Inns development admitted that she had never met them or even seen them.

Another woman just a few doors away said she wouldn't have been able to put a face on the couple until she saw them on the TV yesterday morning talking about their 115m bonanza.

Throughout the upmarket village bordering counties Down and Armagh, the irony was that Moira's new best-known residents are also among its least known.

Which is maybe not surprising considering the fact that the Connollys - who are originally from Strabane and Belfast respectively - only moved to Moira a few years back after spending a quarter-of-a-century in England.

And their social interaction has also been restricted by self-confessed "talker" Frances' mobility problems, caused by a serious leg injury that she said has hampered her usual ability to make new friends as easily as she usually did everywhere else she had gone.

But even though so few villagers appeared to be even on nodding terms with the Connollys, everyone in Moira was wishing them well yesterday.

They were also wishing they had got to know them better to earn a place on the Connollys' list of 50 friends and family who will benefit from their largesse, revealed at a news conference in the Culloden Hotel.

It was there that the couple admitted not many of the fortunate 50 were living in their new surroundings of Moira, and that as well as their three daughters and family members, some of the handouts would go to their old friends in the north east of England, where they had lived.

But the disclosures didn't dampen enthusiasm for the Connollys in the village.

"I think it's fantastic that they're going to help so many other people by giving them a slice of their cake," said Eleanor Johnston, who was on a shopping trip from her home in nearby Lisburn. "But I can only feel sorry for the person who's 51st on the list."

One man joked that he was thinking of having a DNA test to see if he could convince the Connollys that he was a long-lost relative.

At the Connollys' rented home, just a few minutes stroll from the centre of the village, the couple's cars were still in the driveway of the end-of-terrace mock Georgian house, which is by no means the biggest in the estate.

"I assume they were chauffeur-driven to the Culloden," said one man. "And besides, I think they could have afforded to get themselves a taxi."

A motley collection of different coloured and recently emptied bins sat outside the house, where the curtains were drawn, and it was clear the Connollys hadn't returned from their celebrations at the luxury hotel.

One woman, who didn't want to be named, said a friend of hers from Portadown had rented the house to the couple. "But they could probably buy the whole development now," she laughed.

A woman who was returning home next door to the Connollys' house didn't even know it was her neighbours who had scooped the fourth largest lottery win in the UK.

She said: "We only moved in here a short time ago and we don't know the neighbours."

Another nearby householder said she only found out about the jackpot after a journalist knocked on her door. "I don't know them to see and I certainly haven't noticed any unusual activity at the house," she added. "But we are all thrilled for them.

"Judging by what they had to say at the Culloden, they seem like a wonderful couple."

The comment reflected how many people in Moira felt about the Connollys, whose down-to-earth and funny personalities shone through in their live media interviews and won over the villagers, who were impressed that the couple were planning to help so many other people not only with their giveaways but also with their suggestions that they might start a Dragons' Den-style initiative to help small businesses in Northern Ireland.

Their generosity was, it was pointed out, in keeping with the Greek origin of the name Moira, which means 'destiny, share and fate'.

In the village yesterday afternoon the lucky couple were the talk of the place and it was almost impossible to walk down the main street without encountering local and national TV crews who, at one point, were suggesting that they might interview each other, such was the lack of people who could give them chapter and verse about the family.

Inside what is Moira's arguably most famous butcher's shop, McCartneys, it emerged that the couple had been regular customers.

Staff were thrilled that in a number of interviews Frances Connolly talked enthusiastically about the range of "fantastic food outlets" in "fantastic" Moira.

She name-checked McCartneys and the village's award-winning restaurant Wine And Brine.

In McCartneys cafe, assistant Bernie Baine said she recognised Patrick Connolly instantly on the television and remembered serving him and his wife in the upstairs coffee shop.

"I was ecstatic for them," said Bernie.

"And I just hope they were happy with my service here in McCartneys. Who knows, they might come back and give me a wee tip."

Delicatessen counter worker David Campbell said he knew the Connollys' faces and added that he was cautiously chuffed for them.

"I don't think I would have gone public if I'd won that much money," he added.

"Mind you, 115m would be hard to keep secret and hide yourself away."

David's son Gareth couldn't resist a wisecrack. "I lent yer man a tenner a while ago. And he still hasn't paid me back," he said, before insisting to his customers that he was only joking.

Outside the shop local man Raymond Wilson said he was happy for the pair, adding: "I saw them on the box and they came across on the telly as a lovely, well-grounded couple.

"A lot of the winners from this part of the world have been brilliant people. I can still remember the Belfast bus driver turned millionaire Peter Lavery being asked about begging letters. And he said that he was still going to send them."

Jacinta Jennings said: "I didn't even know the winners were from Moira. I overheard people talking about the 115m jackpot and I was amazed that the couple are from this part of the world. I just wish it was me who got the cheque, though maybe it's too much."

Businessman Colin Phillips, who owns the Ladybird Promotions, said he didn't know the Connollys, but he added: "I am overjoyed for them. I don't know what I would do with that much money.

"I've never actually thought about it, but I suppose like everyone else I would plump for the usual - the new house, the new car and the big holidays."

The buzz yesterday was about where in the village they had bought the winning ticket.

The speculation only ended after word spread that Paddy Connolly had bought a lucky dip - a very lucky dip - online.

But in a number of shops there was still a rush to get in on the act in the hope that lottery lightning could strike twice.

Toni Sommerville, who was shopping with her sons Robbie (9) and Blake (6) was trying to get over the shock that someone from the area had become mega-rich overnight.

And her astonishment soared after she found out where the winners lived - in the same development as her.

"But I haven't a clue about them," she said. "I don't think I have ever seen them. But I say fair play to them. Good for them. It's great. I think I would do what they're doing, and give a lot of the money away to friends and to charities."

Three friends in Moira were united in their excitement for the lucky winners.

Heather Dobbin said: "It must be a remarkable feeling to find you have so much money. But your health is your wealth, too."

Brenda Baig said: "From what I hear they've raised their family and they deserve all the luck they've had."

Fiona Hutchinson said: "I would love to be one of the 50 folk on the Connollys' list. It's just a pity I don't know them."

One motorist held up in the constant traffic jams that bedevil Moira said if the Connollys had any spare millions left after helping their friends and family they could assist the village ... by funding a new bypass.

"That really would be money well spent," he said.
A senior DUP figure has told Theresa May that the party cannot support her Brexit deal under any circumstances.

Sammy Wilson's warning came after the Prime Minister held talks with the DUP in recent days as she tries to get her deal through Parliament later this month.

The DUP is opposed to her withdrawal agreement, citing the controversial backstop, and saying it will create new barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK and could end up as the default template for future relations.

Yesterday Mr Wilson delivered another unequivocal message to Mrs May.

Guesting on BBC's Today radio programme, the East Antrim MP was asked if there was any way that his party could support the deal.

"No, there is not," he said.

"It's not just because of the regulations which Northern Ireland would be subject to, but also because of the backstop, which would mean we would have to treat the rest of the UK as a third country: we could not participate in any trade deals which the UK may enter into in the future, and we'd find that there would be a border down the Irish Sea which would impede trade with our biggest trading partner, namely Great Britain."

Mr Wilson said that businesses and farmers here should be "totally relaxed" about a no-deal Brexit, which he felt would open up opportunities within the UK for local enterprises.

He added they should be more worried about the current deal, saying it would "keep them tied to EU regulation".

He added: "It's going to cut them off from the GB market, where we send 60% of our exports, and it's going to stop us participating in UK trade deals in the future."

Mr Wilson voiced concern about the messages coming from the Irish Government, which gave the impression that it saw the backstop as a permanent arrangement rather than a temporary, and perhaps unnecessary, insurance policy for the European Union.

Pointing to Dublin's lack of preparations at the border as Brexit Day, March 29, nears, he suggested that their concerns about a hard border were "a con trick".

His remarks came as Sinn Fein leaders prepared to fly to Brussels next week to meet EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier.

Party president Mary Lou McDonald and vice-president Michelle O'Neill will also meet senior MEPs during the visit.

It is expected that they will use the meeting to urge Mr Barnier to resist any pressure coming from UK to amend the proposed agreement to remove the backstop.

Yesterday Sinn Fein MLA Caoimhe Archibald warned that a no-deal Brexit was "one of the biggest threats" that the higher education sector had ever faced.

She was speaking after a joint letter from the leaders of 150 UK universities and higher education bodies was sent to all MPs warning of potential post-Brexit problems.

The letter was signed by the heads of Universities UK, the Russell Group, which includes Queen's in Belfast, Guild HE, Million Plus and University Alliance.

It warned that 50,000 staff and 130,000 students from EU countries were now facing "significant uncertainty about their futures".
The Connollys yesterday spoke about why they had taken the decision to go public about their huge EuroMillions win.

Frances also said it would "break her heart" that she could not give money to more people.

Patrick and Frances revealed they had mulled it over before deciding to disclose their identities to the world yesterday.

While some winners opt to remain anonymous, the couple believe their win would have become known at some stage.

"We're private people and going public does feel kind of strange and we don't know how to react or what happens next," said Patrick. "We're going to take it one step at a time.

"We're level-headed people and not over-extravagant. It's just a huge amount of money and it's not only going to change our lives, but our family's lives."

Meanwhile, Frances said the hard part about going public is that she is not going to be able to give money to everybody.

"That's going to break my heart and I'm going to cry myself to sleep. Hand on heart, I know that. That's going to be really tough."

But it's been a whirlwind process and a decision was needed within days.

"We didn't tell anybody until the paperwork was signed yesterday (Thursday)," added Frances. "We thought we'd have a few days where we could ring everybody.

"I made about 25 phone calls yesterday and just said 'look I'm really sorry, are you sitting, put me on speaker'."

She added: "My sisters all have kids and it was never going to be a secret with social media."
An appeal has been made for information about missing Fermanagh man Patrick Martin Doyle.

The 67-year-old from Irvinestown was last seen in the Derrybard Road area of Fintona, Co Tyrone, at around 6pm on Friday night and police believe he may have travelled to Donegal.

Police and his family are becoming increasingly concerned for his well-being.

Sergeant Adams said: "He is described as being between 58 and 5'10'' tall, of a very slim build, bald headed with some grey hair on the sides and has a full beard.

"When Patrick was last seen he was wearing a navy hooded top, dark coloured jeans, a stripy T-shirt and black shoes.

"We believe at this time that Patrick is driving a silver Kia Sportage with the VRM - MIG 3519 - and that he may have travelled to the Ballyshannon area of Co Donegal.

"I would ask Patrick, or anyone who knows of his whereabouts, to please get in touch with police in Omagh on 101 and quote reference 33 of 05/01/19.
A Northern Ireland company will hold the UK's first seized cryptocurrency auction.

Wilsons Auctions in Newtownabbey has organised the sale of 167.7 monero coins, which have an exchange rate of 6,655.36, via a 24-hour online auction.

It will be the first time investors and bidders will have the opportunity to take part in a live online auction where they can view the live price of each lot and place bids.

Similar sales have been held across the world by government asset management offices, but never by an independent auction house.

A cryptocurrency is an alternative digital money that operates independently of a central bank and has become increasingly popular in recent years.

Despite cryptocurrency not being regulated, it is not illegal. However, it is regularly cited in the media as being used in illegal activities and the stack that is being auctioned off was seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act by a UK law enforcement agency.

The auction will be the first of a series of cryptocurrency sales that will be hosted by Wilsons Auctions in the coming weeks after winning a contract with the Belgium Federal Government's Asset Management Office to facilitate the storage and sale of seized cryptocurrencies.

The contract will see the company offer support to investigators in Belgium that will enable them to securely seize cryptocurrencies, such as monero and bitcoin.

The auction will start at midday on Monday and closes at midday on Tuesday.

Aidan Larkin, head of asset recovery at Wilsons Auctions, said it was currently working with over 40 government and law enforcement agencies nationally and internationally.

He added: "Following huge investment into our systems and infrastructure, we are able to offer government and law enforcement agencies throughout the UK, Ireland and internationally a secure solution so that the ever-increasing problem of seized cryptocurrencies can be managed by an auction company with significant experience dealing with seized assets."
Belfast councillors are to discuss a special report on the death of three giraffes in the city's zoo last year.

Party group leaders in City Hall are also to be briefed next week on the fatalities after serious concerns were expressed by Ulster Unionist member Chris McGimpsey.

He told the Belfast Telegraph that a zoo worker had contacted him through a third party to reveal that one of the animals had strangled to death while feeding.

The two other fatalities related to treatment under anaesthetic.

A council spokeswoman said all three incidents were investigated by an independent vet.

She added that animal welfare was of prime importance to Belfast Zoo and it was continuing to implement "lessons learned" from the incidents.

Mr McGimpsey said he was told last month that a giraffe had strangled while feeding from a high basket earlier in the year.

"No further details of the incident were given," he said.

"I wondered if it was a young giraffe which hadn't been tall enough to reach and had stretched too much and lost its footing.

"I immediately raised the issue with Nigel Grimshaw, the council's director of city and neighbourhood Services.

"He knew absolutely nothing about it."

The councillor said Mr Grimshaw investigated the matter and returned to confirm that the animal had strangled itself to death last March.

"I was stunned that Mr Grimshaw had not been previously informed of this. If senior council officers are kept in the dark then councillors will also be unaware of such incidents, and that is totally unacceptable," he added.

Mr McGimpsey said it reinforced his belief that the attraction should be closed.

"I have long wanted the zoo shut down and turned into a conservation centre," he said.

"It takes 2m of ratepayers' money a year - that's 40,000 a week - to keep it open.

"The zoo was built as a symbol of prestige in this city.

"It is like a Victorian peep show, with animals, which we come to gawk at. Its time has passed and we need to realise that and have the courage to close it."

The council spokeswoman said a report detailing the death of three giraffes in 2018 would be presented to the city growth and regeneration committee on Wednesday.

She said: "All the incidents were investigated by an independent vet, independent post-mortems were carried out and the deaths were reported to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, which has oversight of the zoo licence and carries out inspection under their animal husbandry and welfare remit. The report provides assurance on animal welfare and husbandry practices at Belfast Zoo.

"Two of the deaths of Rothschild giraffes were related to treatment under anaesthetic, which is fairly high risk for giraffes. However, this is the first time since 1988 a death of this kind has occurred. The zoo vet has carried out 152 successful procedures since 1988. The third animal died after becoming tangled in a feeding basket that had been in use for 15 years without incident. This basket has since been adapted.

"Animal welfare is of prime importance... which is why we are continuing to implement all lessons learned as a result of these three unfortunate incidents. Staff continue to work to ensure the welfare of all animals."

Mr McGimpsey said council officers were to brief party group leaders about the deaths on Monday, and he had also been invited to the meeting.




Guwahati: Journalists Forum Assam (JFA), while expressing serious concern over repeated attacks on working journalists across India, insisted on honoring media wisdom by both media and non-media entities. The scribes body reiterated that as the journalists enjoy the right to ask questions for information, the others should have the opportunity to criticize the media persons as well.





It may be noted that following the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's long interview by Smita Prakash, editor of Reuters' partner Asian News International (ANI), which was subsequently telecast by various news channels on 1 January 2019, criticisms erupted against the interviewer that she left many hard issues from discussing.





Even the Indian National Congress president Rahul Gandhi termed the ANI interviewer as a pliable journalist while addressing a press conference in the national capital, which was strongly denounced by the Editors Guild of India over the use of word like pliable by the law maker.





"We believe journalists should claim no immunity from healthy and civilized criticism. At the same time, labeling of journalists has emerged as a favorite tactic on the part of the establishment to discredit, delegitimize and intimidate them, said a statement of

Editors Guild.





Various other journalist associations came out with strong words against the Congress president for his remark against the ANI editor as perhaps she conducted an interview with a rival political leader. Its unwarranted and unbecoming of a senior leader of a national political party, they asserted.




A Co Antrim-based electrical firm has blamed 'significant losses' on Scottish contracts after going into administration, affecting almost 60 jobs.

JBE Mechanical Electrical Ltd in Ballymena entered administration yesterday, announcing that 58 jobs have been cut.

It is the latest blow to the manufacturing and engineering industries, which have experienced severe job cuts in recent years.

The company, which was established in 1983, was one of Northern Ireland's longest-established electrical and mechanical contractors, working across the commercial, industrial, leisure, healthcare and retail sectors.

Gerard Gildernew, of Gildernew & Co Accountants and Insolvency Specialists, has been appointed as administrator by the company directors.

The administrator is currently assessing the options available to the business and the 58 staff have been notified of the situation, with a further meeting scheduled for next week. The administrator is also in the process of notifying the firm's suppliers.

Founder and managing director of JBE, John Blair, said: "It is with the deepest regret and profound sadness that we have been forced to take the step of placing the company in administration after 35 years of successful trading.

"In recent years, despite the challenging market conditions, we worked relentlessly to maintain a profitable business, however, the struggle became overwhelming due to significant losses incurred on several Scottish contracts and we could no longer maintain our position.

"I would like to place on record my appreciation of the skills and expertise of JBE's hard-working employees and recognise their professionalism and loyalty throughout."

The announcement comes as a new blow to the east and mid-Antrim economy after multiple local and big brand names - including tyre manufacturer Michelin and the JTI Gallaher tobacco factory - have closed in recent years.

In November, the closure of Ahoghill-based Hayburn Wood Products resulted in 55 staff losing jobs. And Antrim-based door frame manufacturer, the Camden Group, announced up to 80 job losses.

In October 2014 JTI announced it was closing its Co Antrim plant with the loss of 800 jobs.

And in 2015 Michelin closed its Ballymena factory, cutting 860 manufacturing jobs.

Commenting on the latest jobs loss, North Antrim DUP MLA Paul Frew said: "This is yet another blow to the Ballymena economy and I am greatly saddened to hear the news today.

"As always I will be in contact with the company and its employees to give any support needed.

"Having worked for the company myself in the past, I know that many will have fond memories of their time as an employee. The company was well known for its high standard of work and professionalism, winning very prestigious contracts both at home and overseas.

"It will be a loss to the town and importantly the employees, particularly at this time of year.

"Ballymena has suffered many job losses. Small business in the area will feel the impact of this with a reduced market, not forgetting those who traded with JBE," he said.

"I hope that by working together solutions can be found as soon as poss ible to help boost the economy and the livelihood of people in the area.

"However, today my thoughts are with those who will feel this news most acutely, therefore it is important that we ensure everything is done to minimise the impact."
From a pharmacist charged with billing fraud to a patient suing a surgery center over a sterilization breach, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits making headlines.

1. Class-action suit against Merck puts common drugmaker defense to Supreme Court test

The U.S. Supreme Court will consider a case that examines a legal strategy drugmakers use to defend themselves against patient lawsuits.

2. Michigan pharmacist charged in $1.2M prescription scheme

Authorities charged a pharmacist in Dearborn, Mich., with billing Medicare and Medicaid for more prescriptions than were present in his inventory.

3. Nurses allege Legacy Health denied breaks, pay for overtime

Nurses of Legacy Health in Portland, Ore., filed a class-action lawsuit Dec. 26 alleging the system failed to properly compensate them and denied uninterrupted meal and rest breaks.

4. Patient sues New Jersey clinic over sterilization breach, rusty equipment

The New Jersey Department of Health discovered numerous infection control lapses, including the use of rusty equipment, at a surgery center where more than 3,700 patients were potentially exposed to HIV and hepatitis. A former patient filed a class-action complaint against the surgery center Dec. 28.

5. Judge blocks Trump administration policy cutting drug payments to hospitals

A federal judge blocked a Trump administration rule that reduces payments to hospitals under the 340B drug discount program, ruling Dec. 28 that the government overstepped its authority in its effort to address high prescription medication costs.

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Mary Mayhew, the director of the Center for Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program Services, resigned after three months on the job, the agency said Jan. 4.

Here are three things to know:



1. Ms. Mayhew accepted a position with Florida's Republican Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis.



2. "I appreciate her efforts at CMS and I look forward to continuing to work with her as she uses her many talents to help the state of Florida create a healthcare system that serves the needs of its citizens," CMS Administrator Seema Verma said in a prepared statement.



3. Ms. Mayhew became the director of Medicaid and CHIP in October 2018. Ms. Mayhew previously served as Maine's Department of Health and Human Services' commissioner for seven years.



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As of Jan. 3, Ellwood City (Pa.) Hospital's employees had not received their paychecks due Dec. 21, according the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The hospital is owned and managed by Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Americore Health. In an email to employees Dec. 28, Americore CEO Grant White said the paycheck delay was due to a "significant backlog in accounts receivable collections that is being rectified," according to the report.

Ellwood City Hospital was losing millions of dollars annually when Americore acquired it in 2017. The hospital has continued to face financial challenges, but Mr. White expects its financial picture to improve.

In the Dec. 28 letter to employees, Mr. White said he expected January would be "a very attractive cash collection month." He also promised employees they would be paid for their work, according to the report.

On Jan. 4, the employees received cashier's checks for the pay period ending Dec. 21, according to New Castle News. They're expected to receive the paychecks due Jan. 4 by Jan. 8, according to the report.

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Maine is moving forward with Medicaid expansion after newly sworn-in Gov. Janet Mills signed an executive order Jan. 3.

The executive order directs the state's department of health and human services to expeditiously begin implementation of Medicaid expansion, which voters passed in November 2017.

Ms. Mills, a Democrat, said she sent a letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar and CMS Administrator Seema Verma asking for formal approval of the state plan amendments for the expansion filed by former Gov. Paul LePage's administration and amended Jan. 3.

"I am directing my administration to begin implementing Medicaid expansion as quickly and as efficiently as possible so that we can help more Maine people access the healthcare they need," Ms. Mills said in a news release. "Expanding healthcare and lowering the cost for Maine people and small businesses is a top priority of my administration, and I look forward to working with the legislature to achieve that goal."

Mr. LePage, a Republican, repeatedly fought Medicaid expansion during his governorship. But in November, while Mr. LePage was still in office, a Maine judge ordered that the rules for Medicaid expansion must be established.

Medicaid expansion is projected to allow more than 70,000 Maine residents to gain coverage.

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Moody's affirms 'A1' rating for Lexington County Health Services District
Kentucky Medicaid patients are now required to make copayments for some healthcare services, according to WPSD-TV, an NBC-affiliated television station in Paducah, Ky.

The new Medicaid co-pay policy took effect Jan. 1, state officials said.

Services that require a copay include:

Preferred and nonpreferred generic drug ($1)

Brand name drugs ($4)

Specialty visits (chiropractor, dental, vision, podiatry) ($3)

Office visit (with a physician, physician assistant, advanced registered nurse practitioner, certified pediatric and family nurse practitioner, nurse midwife or any behavioral health professional) ($3)

Laboratory, diagnostic or X-ray service ($3)

Outpatient surgery (ambulatory surgical center) ($4)

Emergency room visit for a nonemergency service ($8)

Services exempt from copays include emergency and preventive services and some family planning services.

People exempt from copays include foster children, children enrolled in Medicaid and pregnant women, state officials said.

More information is available here.

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Hospitals' outpatient revenue inching closer to inpatient revenue

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Below are 21 hospitals that closed in 2018, beginning with the most recent.

1. Mercy Hospital Fort Scott (Kan.). St. Louis-based Mercy shut down Mercy Hospital Fort Scott on Dec. 31. Mercy cited declining patient volume and shrinking reimbursement as the reasons for the closure of the 46-bed hospital.

2. Physicians Regional Medical Center. Knoxville, Tenn.-based Tennova Healthcare, part of Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems, closed Physicians Regional Medical Center in Knoxville on Dec. 28.

3. Lakeway Regional Hospital. Tennova Healthcare shut down Lakeway Regional Hospital in Morristown, Tenn., on Dec. 28, the same day it closed Physicians Regional Medical Center.

4. Little River Healthcare. After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July, Rockland, Texas-based Little River Healthcare closed all of its facilities Dec. 4, including two hospitals and several medical clinics. The health system ceased operations Dec. 4 "due to unfortunate financial conditions," according to a message on its website.

5. Ripley County Memorial Hospital. Cape Girardeau, Mo.-based SoutheastHealth shut down Ripley County Memorial Hospital in Doniphan, Mo., on Oct. 15. SoutheastHealth cited low patient volume as a reason for the closure.

6. Pauls Valley (Okla.) Regional Medical Center. Despite efforts to avoid closure by raising money through GoFundMe, Pauls Valley Regional Medical Center closed its doors Oct. 12. Because of the closure, about 130 employees lost their jobs.

7. Latimer County General Hospital. After suspending services in May, Latimer County General Hospital in Wilburton, Okla., closed Oct. 1.

8. Northside Regional Medical Center (Youngstown, Ohio). Dallas-based Steward Health Care closed Northside Regional Medical Center Sept. 20. Steward announced plans in August to shut down the facility, citing a sharp decline in patient volume.

9. McKenzie (Tenn.) Regional Hospital. Brentwood, Tenn.-based Quorum Health closed McKenzie Regional Hospital Sept. 15. On Oct. 1, Quorum completed the sale of the hospital to Memphis, Tenn.-based Baptist Memorial Health Care.

10. Franciscan Chicago Heights (Ill.). Mishawaka, Ind.-based Franciscan Health closed Franciscan Chicago Heights on Sept. 7 as part of a restructuring plan that involved consolidating services at Franciscan's hospital in Olympia Fields, Ill.

11. Chestatee Regional Hospital (Dahlonega, Ga.). Chestatee Regional Hospital closed July 26. The closure came after Chestatee Regional Hospital was at the center of a CBS News investigation that included allegations that the hospital's owner was using the facility to reap huge paydays from insurers.

12. Good Samaritan Hospital (Dayton, Ohio). Dayton-based Premier Health shut down Good Samaritan Hospital July 23. Premier said operating two hospitals  Good Samaritan and Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton  within 5 miles of each other had become unsustainable.

13. Community Medical Center Long Beach (Calif.). Community Medical Center Long Beach opened in 1924 and closed July 3. The hospital shut down due to an inability to retrofit the facility to meet California's seismic standards.

14. Regional Medical Center Jacksonville (Ala.). After 42 years in operation, Regional Medical Center Jacksonville, a 104-bed hospital, closed June 30. The Healthcare Authority of the City of Anniston (Ala.), which operated RMC Jacksonville's parent company, announced plans in May to close the hospital due to rising healthcare costs and insufficient revenue.

15. Coalinga (Calif.) Regional Medical Center. Coalinga Regional Medical Center closed June 15 due to financial challenges. The hospital district that operated the hospital before it closed filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy Sept. 5.

16. Florence (Ariz.) Hospital at Anthem. Florence Hospital at Anthem entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in late May after it failed to contest an involuntary bankruptcy petition from creditors within the required 21-day timeline. The hospital closed June 18.

17. Gilbert (Ariz.) Hospital. Gilbert Hospital, which is affiliated with Florence Hospital at Anthem, entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in late May and closed June 16.

18. Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center (Kennett, Mo.). Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems closed Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center, a 116-bed hospital, June 12. The company cited less demand for inpatient care as the reason for the closure. CHS consolidated Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center's operations with Poplar Bluff (Mo.) Regional Medical Center.

19. Bay Area Regional Medical Center (Webster, Texas). Leaders said unfavorable contracts with managed care companies pushed Bay Area Regional Medical Center to close in May. "When it came to negotiations with our managed care contracts, we were unable to come to an agreement, a favorable agreement, and due to overhead, we couldn't survive," a hospital spokesperson told the Houston Chronicle in May.

20. Baylor Scott & White Medical Center-Garland (Texas). Baylor Scott & White Health, a nonprofit health system based in Dallas, explored several other options before shutting down 113-bed Baylor Scott & White Medical Center-Garland Feb. 28. The health system closed the hospital, which incurred significant financial losses over the last three years, after scaling back services and trying to secure a new owner for the facility without success.

21. Affinity Medical Center (Massillon, Ohio). Brentwood, Tenn.-based Quorum Health closed Affinity Medical Center, a 156-bed hospital, Feb. 11. Quorum cited financial troubles as the reason for the closure. The company said declining revenues, increasing provider compensation and a competitive market caused Affinity Medical Center to record financial losses for the last six years.

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The head of Russia's space program won't be visiting Houston next month as planned, NASA officials said Friday  a decision that was made amid mounting criticism of the Russian space leader's history of racist and homophobic comments.

And a new date for Roscosmos CEO Dmitry Rogozin's visit has not yet been determined, NASA spokeswoman Megan Powers said in a statement.

MOUNTING BACKLASH: Rice University has no plans to host head of Russian space program in Houston, despite reports

Powers did not say why the visit was postponed, but the announcement comes just days after criticism of Rogozin's visit grew from a quiet whisper to a steady roar. Rogozin, who previously served as Russia's deputy prime minister, was banned from entering the United States after Moscow seized the Crimean peninsula in 2014.

Discussions of a visit to Houston  home of NASA's Johnson Space Center where the nation's astronauts live and train  began in October, when the space agency confirmed that Administrator Jim Bridenstine had proposed partaking in a public forum with the Russian politician.

Despite Rogozin's months-old invitation, calls to rescind it reached a crescendo on Wednesday after Politico published a Jan. 1 story about Rogozin's potential visit. The Chronicle first reported on the invitation in October, the day it was officially confirmed by NASA.

SPACE DISCUSSIONS: NASA invites sanctioned head of Roscosmos to the U.S. for 'public forum'

It was rumored that the meeting would take place at Rice University, Bridenstine's alma-mater. But Rice officials said Wednesday they had no plans to bring Rogozin onto campus.

And LGBT groups pointed to Rogozin's disparaging statements about gay and transgender people as a reason to keep him out of the United States and Houston.

"This sends an extraordinarily dangerous and discriminatory message to LGBTQ students and other marginalized groups," said Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). "Rice University should not permit this appearance to take place."

Still, the timing of Bridenstine's discussions with Rogozin seemed apt. Two Russian mishaps related to the International Space Station had just occurred  a problem felt so acutely by the U.S. because NASA's astronauts have relied on the Russians to ferry them to and from the space station since Space Shuttle program was shuttled in 2011.

First, astronauts aboard the space station discovered an air leak-causing hole in a Russian Soyuz spacecraft attached to the space station in August. Astronauts aboard the orbiting laboratory at the time, including NASA's Serena Aunon-Chancellor, were able to quickly patch the hole and there was no danger to the crew. Russia still is investigating the cause of the leak, though officials have said it was caused by an errant drill.

Then in October, a different Soyuz carrying American astronaut Nick Hague to the orbiting laboratory was forced to abort its launch because of a rocket booster failure  the first time such an event had occurred in 35 years. Hague and his crewmate were safe and good condition. They will get a second chance to live on the space station in April.

Powers told the Chronicle in October that the discussion between the two space leaders would center around "the history and relationship of space cooperation between the two countries."

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.
Judge Mitch Templeton made an emotional pledge to be a neutral arbiter from the bench after being sworn in Friday as the first Republican to preside over Jefferson Countys 172nd state District Court judge.

I guarantee you I will be, and I will serve objectively and fairly no matter whos in my courtroom, Templeton following a courthouse ceremony attended by some 200 spectators.

Templeton likewise suggested that, in the future, Republicans and Democrats be sworn in at a joint ceremony. This week, as in past years, new county officials were sworn in on separate days, with Democrats on Wednesday and the Republican Templeton on Friday.

Just a suggestion, I know Im the new guy, Templeton said.

County Clerk Carolyn Guidry, Treasurer Charlie Hallmark, Precinct 1 Constable Jevonne Pollard and Justice of the Peace Benjamin Ben Collins Sr. were sworn in Wednesday, by retiring state District Judge Donald Floyd.

Templeton is taking over for Floyd, who is retiring after nearly three decades in office.

Fridays ceremony began with a prayer and introductory remarks by local attorney Gary Coker, who grew up with Templeton. Later, Templetons sons performed his first official robing.

Coker described Templeton as independent and honorable, saying hes been impressed by Templetons fairness.

I am confident Judge Templeton will call balls and strikes as he sees them and the strike zone wont change from batter to batter, Coker said.

Templeton said previously hed also like to see the traditionally civil court hear criminal cases and strive to keep out of jail both the mentally ill and people would qualify for release but dont have the money to make bond.

kaitlin.bain@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/KaitlinBain
The regional blood supply has hit a critical low with nearly bare shelves at the Beaumont office of Lifeshare Blood Center, where officials have issued an urgent call for donations.

Hospitals in Beaumont say they have not had to postpone surgeries, but weeks of below-average donations have left the regional distribution center in Shreveport, La., with less than a full days supply.

The centers benchmark standard for December is six to seven days worth of blood to meet medical demand in a sprawling region that includes Jefferson and seven other counties. December is always a tough month. But the recent shortage, often three days or less supply, has put Lifeshare in a critical state.

Typically our facility aims for 75 units a day, Monday though Friday, and 40 units on Saturday, regional account manager Denise Duke said after an alert was sent out at weeks end. In the last couple of weeks weve been lucky to get 10 or 12 units  sometimes 20 on a good day.

Lifeshare collects blood, plasma and platelets at its eight locations throughout eastern Texas and western Louisiana. Its then processed in Shreveport and distributed to hospitals based on need and scheduled surgeries.

Ideally, the Beaumont donation center likes to have at least 70 units of O-positive, the most common blood type in this region, 70 units of A-positive, and 20 or more units of the other blood types, Duke said.

Lifeshare is the only provider of blood for 11 hospitals in eight counties throughout Southeast Texas. As of noon on Friday, there was less than a days supply of the two most commonly requested blood types at the distribution center.

Duke said one hospital outside the local area was unable to perform a liver transplant despite having a viable organ.

More Information Blood donors sought Where: Lifeshare's Beaumont donation facility, 4305 Laurel Avenue Hours: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays (until 7 p.m. Thursdays); 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays More information: lifeshare.org See More Collapse

There was a liver available for a lifesaving transplant, but the patient couldnt have it because the 40 units of blood needed to safely perform the surgery just werent there, Duke said. It was so tragic. You hate to see a viable organ go to waste, but the blood just wasnt there.

Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas has not yet felt any effects of the shortage, spokeswoman Mary Poole said Friday. Christus spokesman Steven Alford said it can call on other hospitals in its corporate network for assistance in times of need.

Lifeshare, too, has turned to partner blood banks to help with the shortage. But Duke said many of those have no blood to spare.

Its a nationwide problem, she said.

Duke said baby boomers were dedicated blood donors, but younger generations are not following suit.

People 18 to 45 are so busy with their own lives, its hard to get them to come sit somewhere for half an hour to donate, Duke said.

The fallout from Tropical Storm Harvey also hurt donations locally, Duke said. Many regular donors either moved or have been busy getting their lives together, she said.

Lifeshare workers in Beaumont have increased mobile blood drives and stepped up recruiting efforts.

One in three people will need a transfusion, Duke said. I cite that statistic all the time, but its true. Someone you know  someone you love  will need blood one day and you just have to hope that its available for them.  You can save someones life so easily, just by giving blood.

Those wanting to donate can do so at Lifeshares Beaumont location on Laurel, or visit lifeshare.org to find the nearest drive.

In addition to donating blood, individuals can sponsor a blood drive at no cost to them.

All you need is at least 10 people to get together and well come to you, Duke said.  Well provide the promotional materials, marketing support, everything.

haley.bruyn@beaumontenterprise.com

kbrent@beaumontenterprise.com
Milton Bell, architect for powerful institutions and those of limited means alike, died Thursday. He was 89.

Bell built at Lamar University. He built the Babe Didirikson Zaharias Museum on Interstate 10, where thousands of motorists see it every day. He renovated some of Beaumonts most prized buildings and designed, free of charge, the soup kitchen at Some Other Place, the ecumenical outreach ministry available to people on the outskirts of life.

I cant say enough good things about him, said Paula ONeal, executive director of Some Other Place. He was a sweet, kind, wonderful man.

ONeal said Bell designed the soup kitchen in 1988 and told her that although he could build it more cheaply, it needed to last. Since then, the soup kitchen has stood up to hurricanes, tropical storms and other natural disasters.

Everything he did was no charge. He did it all so quietly with no fanfare and expected nothing in return, ONeal said. He was dedicated to his family, his community and country. They just dont make any more Milton Bells. He was a precious gift to our community.

Bell was a Korean war Army veteran and reservist who retired in 1980 with the rank of colonel. He was a 1953 graduate of Texas A&M University, earning his degree in architecture. He was a 1948 graduate of Port Arthur Thomas Jefferson High School.

He was a great man, no doubt, Beaumont Mayor Becky Ames said. Milton served our city on so many different boards. He designed a lot of buildings in our city and was very passionate about saving old structures.

Consider the Texas Energy Museum, for example. When legendary oilman Eddie Chiles of Fort Worth wanted, in the late 1980s, to endow a community with a museum he added the proviso that no tax money should ever support it. Beaumont leaders successfully bid for it with private support.

Bell stepped up to renovate what was then the Szafirs office supply building, which in the 1910s had been the YMCA building.

Bell redesigned the exterior and interior, curator Ryan Smith said.

He put a new skin on it and completely renovated the interior, keeping the integrity of a historic structure, Smith said. The museum owes him a debt of gratitude.

Bells obituary on the Broussard Mortuary website lists other notable architectural accomplishments, including: the U.S. Embassy in Mexico; Biology building at Texas A&M University; a Mercedes Benz dealership; the Jefferson Theatre renovation; the Julie Rogers Theatre renovation; Minnie Rogers Juvenile Justice Center; I.B.E.W. Local No. 479 building; renovations at Trinity United Methodist Church; St. Marks Episcopal Church; All Saints Episcopal Church; First Christian Church; St. Marys Catholic Church; South Park Church of Christ.

He also designed such medical facilities as Beaumont Bone & Joint, Southeast Texas Medical Associates, Cardiology Associates and the city of Beaumont Health Center.

Rob Clark, a Beaumont architect and partner in Architectural Alliance Inc., called Bell one of our great mentors.

We could look at the buildings as his legacy, but you can always do good architecture, Clark said. Ethics is the most important thing.

Clark said he recently visited with Bell and they spoke of the new Lakeside Center next to the citys Event Centre.

He understood interaction, Clark said. He built places for people to meet and gather, to have interaction. He built shelters for human, flowing activity. He observed how people worked together. It wasnt just architecture. It was sociology.

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the Nita McKnight Parlor at Trinity United Methodist Church. The funeral service will be at 3 p.m. in the church sanctuary, 3430 Harrison Ave. Entombment will be at Magnolia Cemetery.
Houston native and longtime local weathercaster Doug Johnson died Thursday, as reported by KPRC, where he worked for decades. He was 79.

Johnson's career at KPRC spanned 33 years, starting in the early-'60s when he began work as a radio announcer and later co-hosting "Scene at 5" with Ron Stone. The two had a natural chemistry together, which translated to loose humor off screen.

"Ron had it in his contract that I would never appear taller on the screen than him," Johnson quipped to the Chronicle in 1990. "Not everybody knows that Ron Stone sits on two books of Yellow Pages to deliver the news."

In 1967 Johnson took a job there covering the weather, which he'd do for nearly three decades in the town where he was born.

ARCHIVE DIVE: See Houston as it was in our weekly looks back on HoustonChronicle.com

Johnson grew up in the Heights neighborhood and graduated from Reagan High School and then Texas Christian University. After college, he traveled far from home, working in radio in Fairbanks, Alaska, before he was recruited by KPRC to return to Houston.

"I named the most outlandish price I could think of, and they said, 'Fine, you're hired,'" he told the Chronicle in 1994. "I found out that it was outlandish in Fairbanks, but it wasn't in Houston."

He retired that year and planned to move to California in hopes of becoming an actor like his wife, Lori.

"I really think there are just more and more things that I want to do," he said, "and I don't have time do to them."
Tillamook County's Abundant Bird Numbers Right Now - N. Oregon Coast Sea Lions

Published 01/03/2019 at 4:53 PM PDT

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Pacific City, Oregon)  Tillamook County, on the north Oregon coast, is experiencing a bit of a bird boom. This winter has been full of bird-watching possibilities as well as sea lions. The area of the north Oregon coast around Pacific City to Oceanside  along the Three Capes Route  is especially ripe for spotting amazing moments of nature. (Above: sea lions at Three Arch Rocks, Oceanside).

Looking for sea lions? Oceansides Three Arch Rocks is the hotspot for Stellar lions on the north Oregon coast, found on a regular basis, according to Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW).

They are the larger, lighter colored cousin to the more common California sea lion, ODFW said. Binoculars or a spotting scope make for the best viewing.

Nearby, in Netarts Bay, ODFW reports spotting tall wading birds is fantastic at low tides, such as great blue herons and great egrets. There, they typically wade in the shallows for fish and other prey. Look for them to be most plentiful across the bay up against the western shoreline.

Also close is Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge, found near Pacific City. This is home to several varieties of Canada geese during the winter months.

The birds are usually foraging in the fields right along Hwy 101, but can also be seen from the refuge viewpoint at the end of Christensen Rd., ODFW said.

Again, binoculars are very helpful when youre observing them from the highway, but a spotting scope is best when viewing from the viewpoint.

In fact, great egrets are currently in great abundance along the north Oregon coast. ODFW said they appear to be more numerous in Tillamook County this winter than further north in Clatsop County, with over 100 of them seen around Netarts in the fall. Now that its winter, they will be seen increasingly in agricultural fields in the lower Columbia, lower Nehalem and Tillamook Valleys.

Another fun sight: ODFW reports a flock of snow geese was spotted in a Tillamook area pasture around December 15. Seeing them in a flock is rarer than seeing individuals.

Near the action (more images below):



Sandlake Country Inn is a cozy B&B secret thats close to all this action, hidden along the Three Capes Scenic Route near Sand Lake. About 15 minutes to Netarts Bay and ten minutes to the wildlife reserve. 8505 Galloway Rd. (Near Pacific City, Oregon). 877-726-3525. 503-965-6745. www.sandlakecountryinn.com.

Headlands Coastal Lodge in Pacific City is the Oregon coast's newest upscale resort. Youll find it right on the beach, with beachfront rentals, fully furnished. Five minutes or less to the Nestucca wildlife reserve. Some pet friendly. 33000 Cape Kiwanda Drive, Pacific City, Oregon. 888-965-7001. www.kiwandacottages.com

Open Nest Vacation Rentals Less than five minutes to the Nestucca reserve; about 20 minutes to Oceanside and the sea lions. Dozens of vacation homes, all fully furnished and beachfront, some pet friendly. 1-877-549-2632 or 503-965-5776. 33105 Cape Kiwanda Dr., Pacific City, Oregon. Book online - www.shorepinerentals.com

Lodgings in Pacific City - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours









Great egret photo courtesy ODFW

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Bluefield, WV (24701)

Today

Chance of a shower or two during the evening, followed by partly cloudy skies overnight. Low around 60F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Chance of a shower or two during the evening, followed by partly cloudy skies overnight. Low around 60F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
The back and forth over the Phoenix Suns' demands for a renovated arena is heating up. This weekend the public will get their first chance to voice their opinions on a $230 million proposal.
An employee touching a trashcan and then handling food. Cockroaches crawling around the kitchen. When you go out to eat this weekend, you need to know who is keeping a clean kitchen and who isnt. Here is this week's all new Dirty Dining report.
By Trend

OPECs focus has always been on a balanced and stable market, Mohammad Barkindo, OPEC Secretary General, told Trend.

"This has been true since the Organization was formed back in 1960. It has also been evident in the Organizations landmark cooperation with non-OPEC producers  through what is now known as the Declaration of Cooperation  since 2017," Barkindo stressed.

The OPEC secretary general went on to say that the core aim of the cooperation can be summarized in just four words - sustainable oil market stability.

Barkindo pointed out that this is in the interests of all producers, consumers, and the global economy, in general.

He underlined that it is clear that the nations in the Declaration are not seeking a quick-fix to temporarily alleviate the oil industrys woes.

"We should never underestimate how severe and potentially ruinous that last downturn was in 2015 and 2016, with nearly $1 trillion in investments frozen or discontinued, many hundreds of thousands of jobs lost and a huge number of companies in filing for bankruptcy. It was one of the most calamitous downturns in the long history of oil," Barkindo stated.

Further, touching upon the U.S. shale oil production, he noted that it is evident that it will continue to expand in the coming years.

"In OPECs recently released World Oil Outlook (WOO) 2018, U.S. shale oil reaches close to 14 million barrels a day by the mid- to late-2020s, before declining to around 12 million barrels a day by 2040. It means that in the long-term, demand for OPEC crude is projected to increase to around 40 million barrels a day in 2040, up from 32 million barrels a day in 2018. The share of OPEC crude in the global oil supply is estimated to increase from 34 percent in 2017 to 36 percent in 2040," Barkindo explained.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
By Trend

The agreement on the settlement of the dispute on the calculation of oil revenues between the government of Kazakhstan and the Karachaganak Petroleum Operating consortium (KPO) will be signed in January, Trend reports citing Interfax-Kazakhstan.

"We will probably sign the agreement in January. We worked hard on the text of the agreement in December. Almost all issues are agreed upon," Kazakh Energy Minister Kanat Bozumbayev said.

He noted that the Settlement Agreement will come into force on July 1.

"After this, KPO will pay us the first part of the compensation, $400 million," the minister said.

In October 2018, the government of Kazakhstan completed a three-year negotiation process with the consortium on the dispute on the calculation of oil revenues. According to the agreement, KPO will pay Kazakhstan a compensation of $1.111 billion within three years.

Karachaganak Petroleum Operating is a consortium of companies united for the implementation of the project in Karachaganak, one of the worlds largest gas and condensate fields. The shares in the consortium are as follows: Eni - 29.25 percent, Royal Dutch Shell PLC - 29.25 percent, Chevron - 18 percent, Lukoil - 13.5 percent and KazMunaiGas - 10 percent.

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By Trend

Uzbekistan Railways is considering the possibility of building another high-speed railway to Samarkand, Trend reports citing Uzbek media.

"Recently, the company's management raised the issue of building a dedicated electrified line from Tashkent to Samarkand, which will be run only by Afrosiyob train. This will shorten the journey to about 1 hour and 20 minutes," said the message.

It should be noted that today a high-speed train runs the 333 kilometers between the cities in 2 hours and 8 minutes. The movement of high-speed trains on the TashkentSamarkand line was launched in September 2011.

Today Afrosiyob trains serve passengers on the routes Tashkent-Karshi, Tashkent-Bukhara and TashkentSamarkand.

In addition, Uzbekistan Railways is negotiating with the Spanish company Talgo and Korean Hyundai to purchase new high-speed trains.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
By Trend

The head of Iranian Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) has announced talks with Turkey, Syria and Pakistan for preferential trade.

"Establishment of the banking relations are among Iran`s priorities. If the obstacles are not eliminated, the preferential tariffs and trade will be of value," the head of the Iranian Trade Promotion Organization, Mohammad Reza Modoudi said, Trend reports citing IRNA.

In this regard, Modoudi announced the promise of the president of Turkey to resolve the existing issues, and said that the bartering is another program of the TPO in negotiations with other countries, especially its neighbors.

He stressed that 13 percent growth in non-oil exports in the country was recorded during the eight months of this year (started on March 21, 2018) worth $31.5 billion. The country will make efforts to maintain this growth by the end of the year, added Modoudi.

"The plan of the Iranian Trade Promotion Organization is to double the country's export capacity from the current $50 billion by introducing the export mega-projects in a three-year plan," he said.

"This year, about $1,300 billion was expected to be allocated for the development of non-oil exports. Given the current US sanctions against Iran, imports of some items were prohibited, which reduced part of the revenues. Next year, about $700 billion will be considered for export incentives, which is expected to be allocated in spite of a decline of budget this year," said Modoudi.

The priority of the allocation of foreign currency is still on basic goods and pharmaceuticals, he said.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
By Trend

Currently, Kazakhstan's Kazatomprom JSC develops 14 of 56 explored deposits with balance reserves of uranium, the company told Trend on Tuesday.

Today the company, which is the world's largest producer of natural uranium, is engaged in mining in the Turkistan, Kyzylorda and Akmola regions of Kazakhstan.

"All uranium products of Kazatomprom are exported. Over the past months of this year, the products were exported to China, India, France, Belgium, Sweden, Ukraine, Brazil and the US," the company said.

It should be noted that the consolidated net profit of Kazatomprom for the first half of 2018 amounted to 115.02 billion tenge, which is almost 4 times more than in the same period last year (30.17 billion tenge).

The company also said that the nuclear fuel cycle products of Kazatomprom include nuclear fuel components in the form of uranium dioxide fuel pellets and low enriched uranium powders.

Kazatomprom is the worlds biggest producer of natural uranium with priority access to one of the worlds largest resource bases. The company is Kazakhstans national operator for the export and import of uranium and its compounds, nuclear power plant fuel, special equipment and technologies.

The National Welfare Fund Samruk-Kazyna holds 85,08 percent of Kazatomprom shares, while 14,92 percent is in free circulation on the Astana International Exchange and the London Stock Exchange.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
By Trend

An official meeting under the leadership of Azerbaijans defense minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov was held at the Central Command Post Jan. 5, Trend reports with reference to the Defense Ministrys website.

The meeting held with the participation of the deputies of defense minister, commanders of the branches of troops, chiefs of the main departments, departments and services of the ministry, as well as commanders of the army corps also involved the commanders of formations stationed in the frontline zone and other responsible officers via video communication.

Recalling the congratulations of Azerbaijani President, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev, addressed to the people on the occasion of the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis and the New Year, the minister of defense emphasized the assessment given to Azerbaijani army in a holiday address and brought to the attention of the meeting participants the specific tasks assigned to the military personnel.

The minister of defense, analyzing the current situation on the line of contact of the troops, spoke about the success achieved, as well as the work to be carried out in 2019.

Touching on the activities of all types and branches of troops of the Azerbaijani army, Colonel General Hasanov demanded that the participants of the meeting focus on combat training, operational, continuous and covert control of troops, the defense stability system, the improvement of interoperability, the continuous enhancement of professionalism of the command staff, strengthening the education, patriotism and fighting spirit of military personnel, the health of servicemen and other aspects of combat support.

During the speech, the minister of defense emphasized that, as stated by the head of state, the strong military potential of Azerbaijan and the combat capability of the Azerbaijani army are among the main factors in ensuring the countrys territorial integrity.

Hasanov noted that the military personnel shouldnt be content with the achieved success.

"We are constantly improving the activities of the troops at the tactical, operational and strategic levels, as well as maintaining superiority over the enemy, must be ready for combat operations at any time."

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
By Trend

Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have 23 times violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said Jan. 5, Trend reports.

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.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Athens, TX (75751)

Today

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 73F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 73F. Winds light and variable.
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
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The Royal Thai Army, who has just received 10 new VT4 Main Battle Tanks, will order 14 more from NORINCO for the amount of $ 73,425,976, according to the Army Ordnance Department of Thailand.



The VT4 is a new generation of main battle tank designed and manufactured by the Chinese Defense Company NORINCO. (Picture source Army Recognition)



In 2011, Thailand ordered 49 Ukrainian-made T-84 Oplot-M MBTs plus a number of support vehicles with Ukrspetsexport, an Ukrainian state-owned defense contractor. However, at the end of 2015, only ten were delivered by Ukraine because of the territorial conflicts faced by the country at that time. This important delay caused concerns among the Royal Thai Army.

Thus, the RTA decided to consider another option: to buy other battle tanks and by contacting the Chinese defense company NORINCO for a long-term project with several phases to pursue the replacement of the M41A3 light US tanks that have been used since 1962.

During the phase 1 in 2017, twenty-eight VT4 MBTs were delivered for $150 million to the 3rd Cavalry Division. Then, a second batch of 11 VT4s were delivered for $58 million in the second phase. The phase 3 of the VT4 main battle tanks project aims to pursue this replacement of its old M41A3 light tanks with 14 battle tanks for $73 million. These VT4s will be deployed in two cavalry battalions of the 7th Cavalry Regiment.

The VT4 is a part of the new generation of battle tanks composed with the latest technology. Its combat abilities are among the most advanced in the world. Armed with a 125mm smoothbore gun with shell balance and trajectory tail (APFSDS-T: Armor Piercing Fin Stabilized Sabot-Tracer). Its armament is composed of 190 rounds and 90 missiles (HEAT-T: High-Explosive Anti-Tank-Tracer) and 150 rounds (HE-T: High Explosive-Tracer), 12.7 machine gun penetration (API: Armor Piercing Incendiary) with 5,830 ammunition.
Owosso, MI (48867)

Today

Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to mainly clear skies after midnight. Low near 55F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to mainly clear skies after midnight. Low near 55F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%.
A question asking Sawyer County Record readers how they stay cool when the temps are in the 90s and it's hot outside.

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When Emmanuel Macron triumphed over his far-right opponent, Marine Le Pen, in the 2017 French presidential election, many were quick to declare it a victory over the upswell of populism that was enveloping various corners of the world. A pro-EU centrist, he proved that the French people had not completely lost their minds, and cooler heads were still capable of prevailing in the face of fear and ugly nativism. The embittered neocons who hadnt joined the Trump train due to being actual conservatives  once hostile to France for being critical of the United States war in Iraq, to the point of supporting the renaming of french fries to freedom fries  were now charmed by what they saw.

Maybe the French should now, as suggested by Michael Tomasky, start calling steak well done with ketchup Trumps preference  bifteck a lAmericaine, Max Boot wrote in an op-ed for the L.A. Times, cheekily titled Frances election proves it  America is now an example of what not to do.

The praise was shallow and high-handed. Angry populists dont just disappear into thin air after they lose an election. The cultural anxieties which were never sufficiently addressed have reached a boiling point amid the increasing cost of living and the carbon tax enacted by Macron in his crusade against climate change, resulting in four consecutive weekends of violent demonstrations in the streets of Paris.

France now has its very own Tea Party mixed with a splash of Antifa. What began as a spontaneous protest organized through social media has morphed into the gilets jaunes, or the Yellow Vest movement: a group that demands the government cut the GDP, leave NATO, create a new Constitution, provide more quality civil services, start mass hirings and, of course, limit immigration. Instead of being mostly comprised of angry Boomers who believe Obama is a secret Muslim from Kenya, the Yellow Vests skew on the younger side and have shown a fondness for looting, smashing, and burning. It is a violent molotov cocktail aimed at the French parliament and its figurehead, wielded by a 33 year-old truck driver and an army of disenfranchised white people.

Predictably, the vultures have already swept in, hoping to mobilize the movement for its own means. Russian social media accounts immediately began to cheer on the protesters and take up the cause, ultimately leading to the government opening a probe into what seems to be obvious Russian influence. Macrons political opponents have demanded the dissolution of the National Assembly and new elections.

Politicized and radicalized elements are trying to exploit the movement, said Benjamin Griveaux, the governments spokesman told Politico. These people want to topple the government

To make things worse, Macron capitulated, withdrawing the fuel tax before he promised to speak to the nation from the presidential Elysee Palace to appease the protesters. The man who infamously emasculated President Trump with an intense handshake seems to have folded at the first sign of trouble. He has promised immediate and concrete measures, when there is no cure all for poverty and economic instability. It has exposed Macrons fragile hold on his country, and his eagerness to just make everything stop.

The protesters feel like they are not being listened to. Simply opening talks between the government and the ringleaders of the Yellow Vests may de-escalate the situation. Now emboldened by the concessions the government has already agreed to, they have no reason not to simply continue if all their demands arent met. The use of force has not dissuaded them thus far; four people have already been killed and hundreds more injured.

There is no easy solution to this mess, but there are better solutions. For all his faults, our President doesnt easily cave to the protests held by his angry citizenry  his problem is that he rarely listens at all in the first place, makes self-inflicted mistakes as a result, and expects to be praised when he finally corrects his course. President Macron is capable of listening and he wasnt elected simply to piss off the opposition, but he should start using that stubborn pragmatism the people of France elected him for, when they need him the most.
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ZTEs hiring of former United States Senator Joe Liberman as a senior member of its stateside lobbying team is already causing political backlash in Washington. Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren criticized the move earlier this week as something that shouldnt be legal, calling for a lifetime ban on lobbying work for Congress members. Corruption in Washington isnt about a single president or political party; it runs deep, Senator Warren said, reiterating her ambition to pass large-scale anti-corruption reforms meant to reduce the influence of corporate money in U.S. politics.

Mr. Liberman officially registered as a ZTE lobbyist several days back and is now set to be part of the companys team seeking to lower the tensions between the American government and the Chinese telecom giant thats majority-owned by a state company. The exact scope of his activities remains unclear, though hes likely to attempt leveraging his decades-old connections in Washington to make life easier for ZTE.

A years worth of trouble

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ZTE had a bad 2018 by most metrics given how it nearly went bankrupt after the Department of Commerce opted to cripple it with a denial order that prevented it from licensing or outright purchasing any kind of American technologies over a seven-year period. The move was made in response to the revelation that the company failed to adhere to the terms of a 2017 settlement with the same agency that saw it plead guilty to a conspiracy to circumvent stateside trade embargoes imposed on Iran and North Korea. Following extensive lobbying and pressure from Beijing itself, President Trump personally intervened and ordered the Commerce Department to cut a new deal with ZTE that would punish it for its transgression in a manner that doesnt guarantee its demise. The White House opted to do so as it believed giving a lifeline to ZTE would help its trade talks with China, though that assumption didnt pan out given how it later got involved in a full-blown trade war with the Far Eastern country which is currently on hold, albeit only temporarily.

After months of additional negotiations, the Commerce Department lifted its anti-ZTE denial order and replace it with numerous other concessions which still left the Chinese firm in a troublesome state. The company was forced to throw out the entirety of its board and management, paid close to $1 billion in additional fines, finance an independent body that will be auditing it for future embargo violations over the next decade, and even agreed to increase its reliance on American goods in the near term. Coupled with some four months of halted operations, the new settlement forced ZTE to take out a $10 billion loan in order to resume normal business, with many industry watchers now doubting its ability to stay afloat, at least in the U.S. Thats particularly true given how Congress outlawed federal use of ZTEs telecom equipment as part of its 2018 federal spending bill, citing national security concerns.

 and then it got worse

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ZTEs troubles with the U.S. government are seeing no end in sight either, with recent reports suggesting the White House is considering an executive order that would extend the aforementioned telecom ban to the private sector. At the same time, the company may be facing yet another investigation of potential trade sanction violations, this time due to its dealings with Venezuela and its governments efforts to oppress its people. For its part, ZTE admits it made mistakes in the past but remains adamant that the very notion of its technologies posing a spying risk is baseless. The Western intelligence community disagrees, citing Chinas strict laws that allow its authorities to easily compel companies into yielding information on its customers or compromising them in other ways with essentially no justification.

For the time being, ZTE continues to operate in the U.S. but the number of its devices being sold in the country dropped by a significant margin over the course of the last several months, while prepaid brands  by far its largest customers prior to the 2018 incident  are now extremely reluctant to do business with the firm, fearing political backlash. Senator Warrens calls for anti-corruption legislation may amount to some actual Congress initiatives in the coming months given how the Democratic party has now taken the House, though no bills will be passed without support from the Republican-controlled Senate.
A number of Samsungs older flagships are now also eligible to participate in the companys latest beta program meant to test its custom implementation of Android 9 Pie  officially called One UI  before its global release. New reports indicate that as of yesterday, some owners of the Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+, and the Galaxy Note 8 are able to join the program, assuming their handsets are not carrier-locked. The program expanded to the United States and parts of Europe, as well as select Asian market, though the exact list of eligible countries has yet to be disclosed.

Given how Samsung has been testing One UI for months on the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy Note 9 range and has already started rolling out a stable build of the operating system to its 2018 flagships, the new development suggests the company is close to giving the same treatment to its older high-end devices. The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8 ranges are the closest to the firms last two flagship families in terms of hardware and their development should hence be a relatively straightforward affair, assuming no major bugs or other issues are discovered in the beta software in the coming weeks.

Patience is a virtue

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Unexpected problems have historically been the main reason for Samsungs software update delays and the current status of its Android 9 Pie deployment suggests the company may have just discovered more of them and is presently working on fixes; One UI already hit the stable channel on the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy Note 9 in select European countries but is still largely unavailable outside of Germany. To add to the confusion, Samsung revised its Android Pie rollout roadmap just several days back, adding new models to its upgrade plans but also removing a number of previously announced ones. Whether those omissions were intentional or not is still unclear but as things stand right now, the companys One UI deployment efforts will be rather chaotic and consumers would do well to remain patient. After all, while the sheer size of Samsungs smartphone portfolio makes large-scale software upgrade efforts highly challenging, the company is still one of the most dedicated manufacturers in the industry when it comes to firmware updates as most of its rivals are yet to start rolling out stable builds of Android 9 Pie to their devices.

New year, new Android philosophy

Samsung recently did its best to explain the complex philosophy that led to the creation of One UI, a successor to Android Nougat- and Oreo-based Samsung Experience which itself was meant to shake up the old TouchWiz platform. Compared to its predecessor, One UI aims to place an additional focus on one-handed smartphone usage and general convenience, with many of its menus and interfaces being streamlined, whereas new battery optimizations and other tweaks should improve the softwares consistency and make the companys handsets even easier to use. As Google implemented native support for gestures into Android 9 Pie, so did Samsung leverage that technology and expanded on it with additional functionalities but One UI still doesnt force gestures on users and anyone preferring the old navigation bar can still take advantage of it.

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One UI is also expected to offer a much more versatile experience than Samsungs previous implementations of Android seeing how the same software should be pre-installed on the companys first foldable smartphone, tentatively called the Galaxy F. How exactly will the proprietary OS adapt to that unique form factor revolving around a single bendable OLED panel remains to be seen but when Samsung announced One UI in early October, it quite directly described the software as the embodiment of its vision of the future of mobile computing. In other words, it doesnt seem likely that One UI will be replaced as quickly as Samsung Experience was, which should make Samsungs overall portfolio more consistent, not to mention the fact that by not completely reworking its mobile OS every two years, Samsung is bound to save some development costs. Coupled with Googles Project Treble, the South Korean company may soon start doing an even better job at creating, optimizing, and deploying security patches and major OS upgrades in a timely manner moving forward, hence making its Android devices an even more attractive proposition.
LG is exploring a novel new approach to folding smartphones that combines the characteristics of a roll-up style display seen in earlier patent designs with the much more common folding panel design, Dutch blog LetsGoDigital reports. The means for folding and unfolding the device is unique in that it centers around the use of springs attached to rotating arms and a button-based locking mechanism to unfold. It also doesnt unfold so much as it unrolls. When folded into a smartphone configuration, approximately half of the flexible touchscreen rolls along a pulley-style system into an internal space between the two halves of the hardware. As its unfolded the screen extends from that along the leading edge, pushed forward by the arms below the display and set on the spring. A slider is set at the center to extend the screen into a more landscape orientation and its held flat by tension at the edges. Once fully extended, thats all locked into place using the button mechanism. To fold the device back in, it appears that the button needs to be pressed to release the springs holding both the hinge and the extender.

A light-touch UI approach  quite literally

The patents description includes the usual input means ranging from taps, swipes, and possible support for a pen-style stylus but also hints at less traditional methods for accomplishing the same tasks. References are made in the documentation pointing to several completely touchless interactions. To begin with, LG indicates that proximity sensors might be used for gestures based on distance, speed, time, and position. Dubbed proximity touch, that could be also be utilized for standard touch-like actions. Specifically, the company suggests that photoelectric, high-frequency oscillation, capacitance, infrared, magnetic-type proximity sensors or any combination of those could be embedded to accomplish the effect. Thats likely intended to help preserve the lifespan of the flexible panel by limiting pressure from fingertips. Although the panels that folding phones are being built around are meant to be flexible, the housing around the design in LGs latest patent probably wouldnt provide the most stability against rough inputs.

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A few of the proposed gestures seem to also have been included the patent images, providing at least some insight into how the UI of the folding smartphone-tablet hybrid could work from a user perspective. For example, one diagram shows a chat opened on the left-hand side of the display while a video is playing on the right-hand side. A swipe from the right to the left repositions the media to fullscreen mode leaving the icons of previously opened and still-running applications in a small partition on the left. A swiping motion in the other direction pulls the hidden UI back to the split screen mode. When two applications are open at the same time, the app list moves to the center column. Other apps work in a similar fashion and can be split between the two sides of the phone-sized panels as well. That means an app like the Gallery can showcase a selected image on one side while the full gallery view shows thumbnails of unopened photos on the opposing side.

Something borrowed, something new

The basis for the patent, as alluded to above, seems to be a gathering of ideas from previous LG designs so it isnt necessarily something new but a combination of the Korean tech companys best ideas. In one of the two designs that appear to be referenced, the company envisioned a handset that rolled up and away into a tube or elongated cube. That wasnt entirely dissimilar to LGs work on rolling display panels for television but bore a much closer resemblance to paper or papyrus scrolls. It also had a much smaller bend radius as is shown in the more recent design. Other designs have included similar retracting hinges but focused much more on folding aspects rather than rolling up. By joining the two concepts together, LG has effectively created what may be the most interesting design explored to-date for a folding smartphone. That doesnt mean the company will ever build a smartphone using the ideas expressed in the patent. But it does show that LG is more than willing to think outside of the box to gain the advantage in the still emerging sector of the mobile market.
Huawei appears ready to renew its efforts to take on Samsung even more directly with the introduction of new 3D CuteMoji, based on a recent trademark listing sighted by Dutch tech site LetsGoDigital. The trademark is still awaiting approval and doesnt provide a lot of details but its name suggests that the associated downloadable software will feature emoji designed to look three dimensional. The obvious implication is that the company plans to deliver new AR-based emoji alongside a future update to either its Android overlay EMUI or camera software. That might arrive in conjunction with its upcoming flagships  the Huawei P30 and P30 Pro  or for current generation devices.

Competing where Samsung is paying the least attention

The timing of Huaweis patent and the probable release of 3D CuteMoji with the next-gen smartphones could arguably not be better since most of Samsungs efforts are currently being poured into its Samsung Experience redesign, One UI. That revamped interface is going to refine the user experience on Samsungs devices with a focus on minimalism and ease-of-use but doesnt seem to be bringing any major updates to AR Emoji at all. The feature was launched with the Samsung Galaxy S9 family of smartphones in early 2018 and relatively few changes have been made in the meantime. Among the bigger announcements related to the app at the companys SDC 2018 event was in the announcement of AR Emoji Studio. That allows for the creation of custom AR overlays for use in Samsungs camera but the company itself hasnt released many changes.

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Huawei has already been competing on that front too. The company released its own 3D Live Emoji with the AR-enhanced camera in the Huawei Mate 20. The similarity in naming convention and the new trademark would appear to indicate that the company will be expanding on that software extensively. With the launch of EMUI 9 now well underway, Huawei is effectively free to focus its efforts where its biggest competitor isnt currently looking. Samsung presently occupies the number one spot in terms of global smartphone shipments and Apple holds the second spot but Huawei is poised to make the leap into position two. Thats been in spite of the companys near constant turmoil with various world governments over the past year and a complete lack of any official presence in the US.

New emoji wont break the status quo

The launch of new AR emoji will almost certainly add some appeal to its handsets since it is one of the few areas where Samsungs devices still hold the upper hand. But it is definitely not going to be the move that finally starts to end tensions between Huawei and the US. The issue stems from the Chinese mobile manufacturers close ties with Beijing and those concerns have only been reinforced over the past several months. The companys Chief Financial Officer, Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Canada at the request of the US over fraud allegations in early December. Although later released pending a court date, that event is thought to be behind the subsequent arrest of an increasing number of Canadian citizens in China. That move could be viewed as confirmation of claims regarding the OEM and no number of software feature releases is going to change that.
The Galaxy S10 range will miss out on major battery innovations as Samsung is still afraid of repeating the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco and remains extremely conservative in terms of pushing the boundaries of contemporary cell technologies, one known industry insider from China said earlier today. The same source claims the upcoming range of Android flagships will at the very least support 20W charging (5V/4A), which would put it on par with most high-end devices from 2018 which can be fully recharged in about an hour. Charging is still expected to be one of the weakest points of the Galaxy S10 lineup seeing how Samsungs rivals are rumored to be commercializing significantly better battery tech over the course of this year.

The fiasco that changed everything

The Galaxy Note 7 debacle from the late summer of 2016 changed Samsungs mobile strategy in an unprecedented manner, delayed the companys other high-end products, and forced it to revamp its research, development, and quality assurance practices in a way that ultimately cost it billions of dollars, especially given the fact that the global recall of the phablet made some customers drop the brand entirely. Samsung spent over a year issuing public apologies and dealing with the legal ramifications of the ordeal and it wasnt until early 2018 that the company held a smartphone launch without a single reference to the Galaxy Note 7, which is what happened with the Galaxy S9 announcement at Mobile World Congress 2018.

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Despite still being the latest and greatest handset Samsung ever produced, the Galaxy Note 9 released last summer remains limited to Quick Charge 2.0 at a time when many of its rivals are embracing Qualcomms Quick Charge 4 or are using proprietary solutions with significantly greater capabilities. Last October, Huawei unveiled the Mate 20 Pro which supports Super Charge 2.0, an in-house 40W charging solution that allows the device to refill 75-percent of its battery capacity in only 30 minutes. By most accounts, the Galaxy S10 family wont be able to come anywhere near those numbers and Samsung is unlikely to commercialize 40W charging until at least 2021 as its management believes another large-scale incident with its mobile batteries would cause catastrophic damage to the brand.

Innovating on other fronts

Regardless, the Galaxy S10 line is expected to embrace a wide variety of innovations which will allow it to differentiate itself in this increasingly saturated market. Among other things, the upcoming Android flagships are expected to feature the worlds first consumer-grade ultrasonic fingerprint sensors, a technology that offers much greater accuracy, speed, and consistency compared to first-generation in-display readers used by devices such as the OnePlus 6T. Samsung also developed a new design language for its next high-end product range, with one of its defining characteristics being a tiny display hole meant to house a front-facing camera which is used in place of a more unbecoming notch.

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A special variant of the Galaxy S10+ is also expected to debut with support for 5G New Radio networks, though that particular model likely wont be available outside of the United States and South Korea. The range itself will include three models  direct successors to the Galaxy S9 and S9+, as well as a more affordable device with a non-curved screen meant to mark Samsungs partial return to flat flagship displays since early 2016 when the company debuted the Galaxy S7. The U.S. variants of the Galaxy S10 series will be powered by Qualcomms Snapdragon 855 chip, whereas the international ones sold in most other parts of the world should utilize Samsungs own Exynos 9820. Both silicon modules are heavily focused on artificial intelligence and energy efficiency, with the latter benefitting from new process nodes allowing for even more transistors per an arbitrary unit of space, though Qualcomms solution is expected to come out on top this year as it seems to be leveraging more advanced technologies than what Samsungs foundry business came up with.

The new Android flagship line is scheduled to be officially announced late next month, presumably a day before the next edition of MWC kicks off on February 25. The devices should become available for purchase in March, starting at around $750, depending on the market. Samsung will be hoping to use the Galaxy S10 range to regain some of the momentum it lost in 2018 as its sales dwindled due to a variety of factors, including an overall lack of innovation in the mobile segment.
Actually, there was an American Enlightenment, and it was fundamentally different from the Enlightenment in France. The two were related because they belonged to the same era of Western history, a time in which other countries, especially England and Scotland, also had their own Enlightenments. That era encompassed the 18th century.

The American Enlightenment? The idea may seem surprising. Wasn't the Enlightenment about the ideas of the French philosopher Voltaire and his followers?

Although the French and American Enlightenments were going on at the same time, they were fundamentally different. The French had Voltaire and his coterie. Who, you ask, were the thinkers of the American Enlightenment? You know them already as the American founders. Here is Paul Johnson in his outstanding book, A History of the American People:

It is rare indeed for a nation to have at its summit a group so variously gifted as Washington and Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John AdamsThey were the Enlightenment made flesh.

Although many Americans do not think of the founders as Enlightenment figures, the great works of the American founding  Thomas Paine's Common Sense, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, The Federalist Papers  are included and discussed in any collection of Enlightenment writings worth its salt.

The important point for understanding the American Enlightenment is that the ideas of the philosophes of the French Enlightenment and the ideas of the American founders were worlds apart.

The philosophes exalted reason. Voltaire argued that unassisted human reason could provide humanity with the answers to every question. (When people today refer to the entire era as the Age of Reason, they are revealing, consciously or unconsciously, that they are aligned with those who believe that the French Enlightenment essentially was the Enlightenment.)

In contrast to the French, the founders put their faith in common sense. Here is Thomas Jefferson:

State a moral case to a ploughman and a professor. The former will decide it as well and often better than the latter, because he has not been led astray by artificial rules.

The philosophes did not share the American founders' faith in the people. Voltaire's exalted notion of reason excluded ordinary people. He never concealed his disdain for the common people, habitually referring to them as "la canaille" (the rabble).

The founders' purpose was a government that would enable the American people to rule themselves, but self-rule by the people did not interest Voltaire and the other philosophes. They championed instead enlightened despotism, a form of government in which absolute monarchs would impose legal, social, and educational reforms according to the ideas of the philosophes.

The French and the Americans were working in different directions on different projects. The founders were focused on the theory and practice of liberty, and their new thinking about mankind and the state is what the American Enlightenment is all about. The American Founding that resulted is still today the most radical attempt to establish a regime of liberty in the entire history of mankind.

The French did not share the Americans' concern to conduct a careful, systematic analysis of what was needed to create a regime of liberty. There was no need for them to do so because for them, the solution to the political problem was rulers equipped with absolute power and the ideas of the French Enlightenment.

These differences help explain the sharply contrasting outcomes of the American and the French Revolutions. The two revolutions were as different as the two Enlightenments. It is not surprising that the French Revolution resulted in political chaos, the blood-drenched Terror, and eventually a new despotism under Napoleon even worse than the one he replaced.

The American founders gave the world something new in the political history of mankind.

We are now in a position to make several observations. Perhaps the most important one is this: when someone makes a general statement about the Enlightenment, we need to ask, "Which Enlightenment?"

Understanding the uniqueness of the American Enlightenment is the key to understanding the American founding. Many who have written about the American founding have gone awry by overlooking the American Enlightenment and how it differed from the other Enlightenments. Others have gone awry by trying to find the ideas of the philosophes in the American founding.

One more thought: The people who are pushing America deeper into rule by the Deep State and the permanent ruling class are attempting to replace the founders' America with an America re-founded on the ideas of the philosophes. A glance at French political history since the French Enlightenment should  but won't  cause them to reverse direction.

If America is to preserve the liberty bequeathed to us by the founders, we must find our way back to, and dedicate ourselves to, their American Enlightenment vision.

Robert Curry serves on the Board of Directors of the Claremont Institute and is the author of Common Sense Nation: Unlocking the Forgotten Power of the American Idea from Encounter Books. You can preview the book here.
Today, I would advise the White House to remember that "it's the number 31 that counts." The path to many goals is through these 31 members of the U.S. House.

Back in 1992, James Carville, a political adviser to then-governor Bill Clinton, coined the phrase: "It's the economy, stupid." The idea was to talk about the economy and nothing else, especially important for a man like Clinton, who had many character flaws. It was about maximizing opportunities and changing the conversation in your favor.

This is a great post by Colin Reed:

House Democrats are about to find out that governing is harder than campaigning. Their majority is paved through 31 districts won by Trump in 2016 that flipped blue in 2018, many of which had resided in the GOP column for generations. These red districts are not fertile political ground for the deep blue policies pushed by progressives. Furthermore, many of these new members of Congress explicitly pledged to oppose Pelosi in order convinces [sic] voters of their electability  pledges that are about to be put to the test.

This is an opportunity, as an old boss used to say whenever I brought a problem to his attention.

Every one of these 31 is likely facing a tough re-election in 2020. They all will have to go back to those districts and face questions about border security and raising taxes to pay for health care.

None of these new faces was elected to impeach President Trump or focus on mindless investigations.

The path to border wall funding is through these districts. The Democrats will lose their thin majority if they lose these seats!

PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter.
After the first cabinet meeting of the year, Macron apologized to the French people, saying through a spokesman, "Maybe we have made too many concessions to conservatism, we'll have to change that."

French president Emmanuel Macron has hardened his rhetoric about the continuing protests that are roiling France for the thirteenth straight week.

Reuters:

Since Macron swept to power in May 2017 promising to transform France and do away with a political class he blamed for the country's malaise, he has seen his popularity slide to a record low as discontent with his style and policies grew. Facing the sternest challenge of his 20-month tenure, Macron has vowed to press on with other reform pledges, such as stricter rules for unemployment benefit and overhauling the civil service. One of the faces of the leaderless yellow vest movement, Eric Drouet, was detained on Wednesday for organizing an undeclared protest, before being released on Thursday. Macron's critics have called the tougher response a mistake likely to inflame the situation. The protests have squeezed many businesses, including retailers and hotels that closed their doors or suffered cancellations in early December at the height of the violence. French services activity retreated at the fastest pace in more than four years last month, a survey showed on Friday.

Absolutely, Macron has made a mistake. From a high of 40,000 protesters in December, the number has dropped to around 12,000. But Macron's blast at the protesters will not go over well with people who just might like the idea of "concessions to conservatism."

"Since these announcements, the yellow vest movement, for those who continue to protest, has become the thing of agitators who promote insurrection to topple the government," [government spokesman Benjamin] Griveaux told reporters. "We must take the desire of the French for change to its fullest because it is this desire which brought us to power," he said. "Maybe we have made too many concessions to conservatism, we'll have to change that."

About 75% of the French people are unhappy with Macron's performance in office, giving him very little leverage with protesters and weakening him with his own government. Since he can't concede much more, and Macron insulted people by downplaying their grievances, we can expect the protests to start growing again.
How social media censorship demonstrates the horrors of driverless cars

A sobering implication of the debate over social media censorship concerns the dangers we face from driverless cars Cars without steering wheels have been a reality for at least a year. These cars will be directed from a central database using GPS-like technology. Travelers will access the database in order to program a destination and proceed on their journey without a steering wheel or other control mechanism.

Travelers face trade-offs if they give up their steering wheels so easily. The database can be programmed to deny access to anyone with certain transgressions, including late payments for taxes or municipal charges. The database can limit access based on environmentalist ideology, fuel rationing policy, and traffic control schemes. Most of these limitations can be imposed under existing regulations without new legislation or other methods of reaching a consensus among voters. Our mobility is at the mercy of bureaucrats wielding modern technology. What do the driverless car and its accompanying freedom trade-off have to do with social media censorship? Perhaps everything. Government bureaucrats will not personally program the massive database upon which the driverless cars will depend. Instead, the database will rely upon the same tech-savvy talent pool that has revolutionized every aspect of mass communication in recent decades. The same ideology that controls our online communications will now be controlling the destinations of our driverless cars. Do we expect the driverless car database to operate any more "fairly" than social media? Will we be surprised when conservatives find themselves locked out of the GPS database after voicing conservative opinions on social media? Facebook has no rational explanation for the censorship it now practices. The company ultimately apologized to Franklin Graham. But it ignores protests from its less famous users who find themselves blocked or censored. We have no reason to believe that Big Tech will treat us any better once its GPS system controls our transportation. The profit motive will not determine the policies of those who control GPS for our driverless cars. The bureaucrats will pay Big Tech for creating and servicing the GPS database, regardless of whether Big Tech blocks some individual users. As government contractors, Big Tech will be free to pursue the same policies that now predominate at Facebook and YouTube. Might will, again, make right. Conservative drivers will be banned in the name of fighting "hate speech." Even Franklin Graham might have trouble reversing that policy. The difference between Facebook suspension and GPS lock-out will be severe. We are not talking about simply being unable to talk to friends online or share political viewpoints. We will face the denial of our ability to travel. We may have to choose between speech and mobility. While the tech giants might not be "the government," thus avoiding scrutiny under the First Amendment, they will be more powerful than actual government officials and employees. Congressmen will have no power to immobilize you by locking your car out of GPS. But Big Tech will. The tech giants who control the GPS database will have achieved the kind of power that Congress can only dream about. The future is impossible to predict with complete accuracy. But any such prediction must include greater bureaucracy, administrative proceedings, and major life changes beyond the power of Congress or the voters to undo. Those trends have been the story of American life for the past eighty years. We should also count on louder calls to silence conservatives under the guise of political correctness. Those calls get more shrill every year and require only a little more "might" to be made completely "right." The combination of political correctness, bureaucratic power, and increased technology will be dangerous to the individual. What is not certain is that we will surrender our very mobility to those who have proven themselves all too willing to use their might to silence us. In today's political climate, driverless cars promise to be not the fun stuff of science fiction, but our worst nightmare. Keep in mind the difficulties you and your friends have faced on social media before you welcome the brave new world of driverless cars.
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...
Some jackass with the Twitter handle of "AnonymousQ1776" and one of those Occupy Wall Street Guy Fawkes mask photos put out a newly discovered college video of socialist House rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez dancing with her classmates in a "Breakfast Club" takeoff, and then added some unpleasant commentary.

Here is the video:

Rest assured: no one agreed with whoever this AnonymousQ1776 with the Occupy mask as his icon is that Ocasio-Cortez, in that particular video, looked like a nitwit, neither right nor left. Ocasio-Cortez came off as a cute and exuberant college student whose dancing was delightful. In fact, the natural response on the right is to think: "Too bad she didn't become a dancer we could all appreciate" instead of a socialist congresswoman, dreaming of a Hugo Chavez-style America. Chavez, of course, wanted to be a beisbol player, and sadly enough for that country, that didn't happen, either. Conservatives can also conclude that she was a far better dancer than economics student. As a dancer, she's wonderful, expressive, a pleasure to watch. As a socialist, well, there she really does come off as a nitwit, given the horrendous failures of socialism not too far from our borders. And yes, we have always noted that she does well in the looks department, we did from the start.

I suspect that the person who put out the churlish tweet was one of those weird anarchist hacker types who hates all political parties, thinks everything he sees is ugly, likes bad things, and holds a nihilistic view of politics. People like that are out there. Or it was someone posing as that for credibility purposes, with Ocasio-Cortez and the media at the ready to pick up the tweet and pounce. No one knows, and no one is going to find out, either, because the disgusting account was deleted.

It didn't take long for Ocasio-Cortez and most of the big papers and networks in her tree to lay that loathsome post at the feet of the entire conservative movement, painting us all as Mrs. Grundies and Talibanites who have a problem with dancing. Some headlines:

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Dancing Video Was Meant as a Smear, but It Backfired New York Times

Right Attempts To Discredit AOC With Dancing Video Morning Joe, MSNBC

Conservatives MELT DOWN Over Ocasio-Cortez Dancing On Rooftop The Majority Report with Sam Seder

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's dance video is goofy, joyful  and absolutely nothing to be ashamed of Washington Post (Credit to the Post for not explicitly blaming the right, but there's heavy inference of motives.)

Republican's [sic] tried to shame Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for her college dancing video. She had the perfect response Independent (Inaccurate and subliterate headline since changed, but it's still what you see in a Google search.)

And Ocasio-Cortez herself, embracing and amplifying the "narrative" and blaming the entire GOP:

I hear the GOP thinks women dancing are scandalous.



Wait till they find out Congresswomen dance too! 



Have a great weekend everyone :) pic.twitter.com/9y6ALOw4F6  Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 4, 2019

All this, based on one tweet from a guy with a Guy Fawkes mask, the very emblem of Occupy Wall Street's leftists, and now the right is indicted as hating anything that's fresh and cool  meaning that old familiar thing: Republicans are squares, Republicans are out, and socialist rabid leftists are the only thing that's "in." It's a "Mean Girls" dynamic, attempting to shut out anyone who thinks differently from any potential for cool. And it's how the commercial world thinks, too. No wonder Nike did that Colin Kaepernick ad.

But man, is that old. And it's frankly a smear. The Times pointed out in its headline that the bad tweet was a bid to "smear" Ocasio, but in their claim to truth-telling, they were the ones who did the smear, the real one, on the right, with absolutely no evidence anyone on the right was involved in it.

Jim Treacher does a good bite-back debunking, pointing out that none of the news accounts attacking the right as hopelessly out of touch over this was able to name a single right-winger, or Trump-supporter, or conservative, who agreed with this AnonymousQ1776 clown. The fact is, nobody hated Ocasio-Cortez's cute dance video. What we hate is her hypocrisy; her naivete; her will to power over us; and, above all, her embrace of socialism, the failed idea that made Venezuela Venezuela and Cuba Cuba. Why the heck is that too subtle for both Ocasio-Cortez and her smear-the-right left-wing allies?

It also may be a smokescreen. Ocasio-Cortez just came out with a proposal for a 70% tax on top income-earners which amounts to socialist expropriation. It's an idea that's unlikely to make her popular or, at this point, get her taken seriously. Only Fox News focused on that, which is substantial. The rest of the press focused on promoting Ocasio-Cortez with her cute dance video and painting the right as a Taliban that hates dancing with no evidence to show for it.

Got a sense of what's going on here?
America is self-destructing over 'hate speech'

Most of us are firmly opposed to hate speech. What is hate speech? A problem arises when our definitions vary. Another problem arises when we seek the right way to oppose it. Unfortunately, there are powerful forces on the political left that have no doubt concerning either of these. For them, hate speech is whatever they dislike, and the right way to oppose it is to do anything they can  literally anything.

By "anything," we might include overt force, but the leftist censors have more subtle and more sinister methods. The major social media have enormous, and growing, power over what may or may not be said on their websites. Because we all abhor hate speech, this abhorrence has given them an opening to insert their own definitions. If Facebook or YouTube bans you for promoting what the site calls hate speech, there is little defense. You have been labeled a hater, and from that moment forward, your credibility has been diminished in the eyes of many. This loss of credibility is not just personal. It's business. The tortured phrase from The Godfather is appropriate. When you apply for a job, or to enroll in a university, or even to keep your financial credit, you will be searched on the internet to determine whether you are a suitable prospect. Obviously, if you are a known terrorist, have fugitive warrants, or have made death threats, you will likely be deemed unsuitable. Less obviously, your political views, however innocuous they may be, can disqualify you without your ever knowing why. Worse yet, those who practice this form of viewpoint discrimination are getting better at it. They have dusted off the tactics of the past and updated them. They won't always say, Some of my best friends are conservatives, so I'm not prejudiced. They're more careful than that. Solutions have been suggested. Why don't we conservatives start our own social media companies? We have. This is one of them. As useful as it is, there are massive obstacles that prevent it from becoming anywhere near as big as the biggest players. Infrastructure is one. Can you start your own electric utility company? Not all is lost. Advancing technology has dissipated the powers of the news oligopoly that nearly silenced conservative viewpoints. That technology is what allows American Thinker, Fox News, talk radio, and similar venues to be heard. But our freedoms remain tenuous and under aggressive challenge. Ingenious methods exist to force you to self-censor. Every conservative college student in a liberal university knows to keep quiet in a Marxist professor's class, lest he fail the course, or worse, be expelled on accusations of bigotry. Every employee of Google understands the vital necessity of guarding his words around the company's leftist employees in order to prevent being fired. Encouraged by their success, leftists are increasing their efforts. They are openly accusing credit card companies of complicity in murder if they allow you to pay your NRA membership dues through them. Teachers can be fired for refusal to affirm girls who self-identify as boys. Anything you have ever written, however many years ago, can be dredged up and used when needed, to discredit, intimidate, or even extort you for however slight an offense. It's business. The website Patreon, a source of funding for activists of various political persuasions, has recently seen several of its participants delete their accounts because of concerns about censorship. Tucker Carlson recently interviewed Dave Rubin online to expose the matter. Quoting from an article at Hot Air, "Jaqueline Hart, Patreon's head of trust and safety, said her team watches for and will investigate complaints about any content posted on Patreon and on other sites like YouTube and Facebook that violates what it defines as hate speech. That includes 'serious attacks, or even negative generalizations, of people based on their race [and] sexual orientation[.]'" The video at that site and another video, here, contain illuminating discussions by Dr. Jordan Person and Dave Rubin about the problems they and others encountered and how they are attempting to overcome the formidable barriers being erected to stifle free speech. It's business. It has gotten very personal as well.
In the 36 years since President Ronald Reagan launched his Strategic Defense Initiative , referred to by critics as Star Wars, the United States has invested about $254 billion in a series of precision guidance weapons and anti-missile technologies. Following Clinton and Obama administration opposition, President Trump is finally rolling out Americas first integrated terrestrial and space-based system to defend against missile attacks.

President Trumps establishment of the Space Force as a branch of the U.S. military recognizes that America is on the verge of We win, and they lose strategic dominance.

President Trump on June 18, 2018 directed the Department of Defense to immediately begin the process to establishing Space Force as the sixth branch of the armed forces. The directive ordered an acceleration of space technology and development initiatives; developing and fielding new next-generation capabilities for national security; creating a unified combatant command, to improve, evolve, and plan space warfighting.

The White House release was first thought to be a response to President Vladimir Putin releasing a video in March to a conference of military officials showcasing Russias new array of hypersonic missiles that can fly at Mach 20 and carry nuclear weapons that are 6500 times more powerful than the U.S. bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Putin claimed Russian nuclear weapons are absolutely invulnerable for any missile defense system.

But the TASS News Agency reported in August that Russias FSB state security arrested scientist Viktor Kudryavtsev for treason after conducting raids on two weapons laboratories that confirmed top secret files on its Dagger and Avangard hypersonic maneuverable re-entry vehicles that can deliver conventional or nuclear payloads had been leaked to NATO. TASS also reported another Russian hypersonic expert was convicted of leaking a software system able to compute optimized aerodynamic characteristics of hypersonic aircraft containing state secrets to the Chinese military.

The United States Air Force quietly began glide-testing for a Boeing autonomous spaceplane prototype built for NASA that looked like a miniature Challenger Space Shuttle in 1998. With the President George W. Bush withdrawing the U.S. from the 30-year-old Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 2002, the program was renamed the X-37 and transferred to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

Three autonomous X-37s were built and launched into low earth orbits during the Obama Administration, including an X-37B flight that lasted 717 days. A supposedly unarmed X-37B was launched by the Trump Administration on September 7, 2017 and was in an orbit that flew over North Korea early on January 4, 2019.

The Trump Administration announced in May of 2017 that DARPA awarded Boeings Southern California Phantom Works a contract to build XS-1 Phantom Express spaceplanes. The Pentagon required aircraft-like performance capability to conduct at least 10 flights in as many days. Potentially manned spaceplanes featuring vertical take-off and conventional runway landing are expected to test at the top-secret Area 51.

For Space Force targeting, a SpaceX Falcon Block 5 reusable rocket launched the first of 10 Lockheed GPS 3 low-orbit satellites into a constellation orbit on December 23. To minimize vulnerability from Russian and Chinese anti-satellite efforts, the dual use civilian/military GPS 3 navigational tracking system features three times greater accuracy and up to eight times more anti-jamming capabilities than the existing GPS satellites.

The cyber-secure XS-1s and GPS 3 satellite network will be fully-integrated with Raytheons OCX next-generation terrestrial ground control anti-missile coverage can track multiple objects and extend coverage to hard-to-reach areas such as urban canyons and mountainous terrain.

The Trump Administration has not been trumpeting what appears to be Americas disruptive lead in Star Wars capabilities. But DARPA commented:

"In an era of declining budgets and proliferating foreign threats to U.S. air and space assets, routine, affordable and responsive access to space is essential to enabling new military space capabilities and rapid reconstitution of space systems during crisis.

As in much else, Donald Trump is leading way in defending Americas interests in space.
Era of the Trumper Tantrum

Mothers and fathers drag their six and seven-year-old children 2,000 miles to the border of another country and scream, Let me in! And when those children die -- one after the father refuses medical care -- the media stand up, stamp their feet, and angrily scream the question, How could you? But their ire is directed at America, not at the criminally negligent parents, because its our countrys responsibility to honor and obey whatever a tantrum thrower insists is his right. Who can blame them? It worked in Europe, where hundreds of thousands of fighting-age young men escaping the internecine brutality endemic to the Religion of Peace have forced themselves upon what used to be independent nations (and in particular, their infidel women) with seemingly nothing but joy expressed by the political elite who applaud the entire shebang (pun intended).

The forever angry and outraged Democrats, historically anti-illegal immigration when they thought aliens would provide cheap labor benefitting industry (cant have profits unless they get to give the money to friends and family), are now pro-illegal alien who come here for benefits and are willing to vote illegally. They are merely disappointed in voters who allowed the Orange Man to steal Hillarys presidency, and damn it, they are going to import a new electorate. #MeToo has become #Meallofyou, when a short girl thinks she has been sexually assaulted because a tall guy asked her out on a date. The gall of the girl that she even made a complaint illuminates perfectly with coruscating brilliance of the theory that throwing a solipsist tantrum is now everyones personal right. Trump won an election that Hillary thought was owed to her and the debauched Democrats believed was their right to win. Weve now watched two years of Trumper Tantrum throwing and rule bending and the selective enforcement of justice, coincidentally against only those upon which they Tantrump against. Will they now criminally indict the president for felonious campaign finance violations that have always in the past been treated as a civil offense, as was done with the $2,000,000 in illegal contributions Barack Obama took in 2008? Not to mention when the money Hillary paid through her attorneys, to escape the short arm of the law, for the Steele dossier was ignored. Campaign finance laws were enacted to prevent candidates from spending campaign money on things like paying off women to be quiet. Interpreting them to apply to using your own money to pay off women means that either way you do it is a crime despite it not being illegal to pay people for their silence. Theyre in the midst of a fully-blown Trumper Tantrum, so its all good. They want Trump out and if they must invent crimes to do so they will  theyre mad as hell and its their right. The Democrats will attempt to impeach the president because they won the House and theyre furious and they get to decide what are high crimes and misdemeanors. The Senate will never convict because the presidents party still holds that, but it doesnt matter, Trump had no right to win the election. So, they brought in the angriest group of small-gun Democrats they could find, such as an anti-Semitic Islamic siren who married her own brother to evade immigration law and seems most concerned about getting to wear her hijab on the House floor. Then theres the poor girl from the Bronx. Shes my congresswoman. AOC is so intellectually deep, she was surprised to find that after winning her election, her House seat didnt come with an actual house. Shes also championing a Green New Deal estimated to cost tens of trillions of dollars. When queried as to how the nation would pay for it, she seemed confused, but then she turned it around 360 and answered, Taxing the rich. Shes mad at what America is doing to the world and if she must destroy our economy and bankrupt every man woman and child in the country to save humanity, she will. If we werent greedy, selfish, racist bastards with too much privilege, we would willingly follow and sacrifice our nation to save it. Then you have the speaker of the house, the ever-befuddled Nancy Pelosi, prone to bouts of aphasia and skipping pages, who spews spittle while avowing that building a wall would be an act of immorality. And Jerry Nadler, who Trump has called him one of the most egregious hacks in contemporary politics. He holds a grudge about that and as head of the Judiciary Committee is reportedly irate that another congressman beat him to initiating Articles of Impeachment. And who could forget Mad Maxine Waters, who every time the camera is on her, shouts like a drunken old lady, Impeach 45! Waters, despite rumors of her inability to spell committee will head the Financial Services Committee. Finally, there is Adam Schiff, who has criminally leaked so often he should be wearing Adult Depends. He will head the House Intelligence Committee. I wonder why AOC or Waters werent considered for that position? Oh, yeah theyre morons. This is their A-Team and they are going to transfer their outrage into action and woe be to anyone who stands in their way because their rage takes precedence. This is America today; bellow the loudest and everyone will drop everything to pay attention to you. Mad that little Johnny sucks at t-ball and didnt win a trophy, scream until everyone gets one. Too big to be a ballerina, scream until you get to be a ballerina. Too male to be a ballerina, angrily insist you are a woman and you will get to be a ballerina or at least a female wrestler competing against actual females. Dont like what someone is saying, stamp your feet, and, as Pee Wee would say, Scream real loud until no one can hear them or complain until you can get them disinvited. Or riot in the streets in your best Halloween-inspired Antifa costume (complete with a plastic garbage can cut in half as a shield), harass old people driving by while the police do nothing because their bosses decided enforcing the law would only make you madder. We now live in a society where an individual, preferably someone who can claim some intersectional disadvantage, can complain about the most ridiculous of things and get what they/them want. Its all about the anger and the best anger of all, which gets the best response is the Trumper Tantrum. If you can throw a Tantrump, not only will you get what you want, but you just might get to be famous as well because the media is just as angry at him as you are. But what these people fail to understand is that tantrums work both ways and we the people are getting angry too (How about #angrytoo?). Its fun to be angry -- especially if people cater to you when you caterwaul at the top of your lungs. I for one, wouldnt mind putting on a mask and rioting a bit. Breaking shit is fun and Im tired of the high road. I want to stamp my feet and tell people that they are going to do what I tell them to do. I think many Americans who wouldnt in the past dream of extralegal activity in support of political beliefs are going to take a hard look at what has been done to our society and change their minds. And the coming riots will not necessarily be in support of Donald Trump, although I believe any attempt at indictment and impeachment will be the trigger. People will riot because they are sick and tired of playing by the rules and being ignored. They are tired of being told their vote only counts if they vote for who they are told to vote for. Some may say this is dangerous and the establishment will strike back at the deplorables who dare to defy their orders in a way they refuse to do against Antifa and their ilk. Democrat Eric Swalwell has hollowly threatened the use nuclear weapons if Americans dont do as theyre told by our irate elite. Thats hyperbole and a sign of weakness. Deplorables can rule these streets any time they want to -- and they wont be afraid because they own most of the guns. You can follow William L. Gensert on Twitter @williamlgensert
Paramedics were called regularly to treat children suffering from panic attacks so severe their hands would constrict into balls and their bodies would shake. The outbursts often occurred after other children were taken away to be reunited with families, dashing the hopes of those left behin
No revenge: Martin Fayulu on DRC elections and corruption

The DRC oppositions presidential candidate discusses the elections, corruption and his countrys future post-Kabila.
Lenin Moreno: It is necessary to establish a new ideology

Ecuadors president talks about his hopes for the future of the region, a shift in ideology and Julian Assange.
Elderly people living in care homes are not just dying from coronavirus; they are dying because of the response to it.
Rights group says US troop withdrawal from Syria may allow ISIL to return, posing an existential threat to minorities.

A Yazidi rights group has urged the United States to delay its plans to withdraw troops from Syria, saying the move endangers religious minorities as it could allow ISIL to stage a comeback.

In a statement on Friday, the Netherlands-based Free Yezidi Foundation said the resurgence of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group poses an existential threat to minorities such as the Yazidis.

When ISIL swept across northern Iraq and into Syria, fighters from the armed group killed 3,000 Yazidis and abducted and sexually abused nearly 7,000 Yazidi women and girls.

The United Nations has described the campaign against the Kurdish religious minority as genocide.

Any premature withdrawal of the United States forces from Syria not only endangers religious minorities in Iraq and Syria, it vastly increases the likelihood of a resurgent Daesh militant power, the Free Yezidi Foundation said, referring to ISIL by its Arabic acronym.

This is an existential threat to minorities like the Yazidis.

Abrupt US announcement

US President Donald Trump announced his plans to withdraw some 2,000 US troops deployed in northern Syria on December 19, following a telephonic conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The abrupt announcement contributed to the resignation of US Defense Secretary James Mattis and prompted alarm from the Kurdish Peoples Protection Group or the YPG, the strongest armed group in the US-backed anti-ISIL alliance, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

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The YPG fears US withdrawal could clear the way for a Turkish assault on Kurdish fighters.

Ankara views the YPG as a branch of its own Kurdish separatist movement.

The Free Yezidi Foundation said the US must delay withdrawal of forces for as long as possible and also maintain the capacity to conduct air attacks in Syria and Iraq.

It also called for the establishment of a no-fly zone over northern Syria to prevent a potential Turkish assault on Kurdish strongholds.

Warning the UN to prepare for the next wave of refugees fleeing Eastern Syria into Iraq should the US pull out its troops, the group said the international body must also pay attention to possible attacks against minorities in Syria and Iraq.

Al Jazeeras Mohammed Adow, reporting from Gaziantep in southern Turkey, said the Yazidis were concerned because no one understands the brutality of ISIL more than the Yazidi community in both Syria and Iraq.

Many members of the Yazidi community remain displaced and fear going back to their homes, he added.

Chemical weapons a red line

Meanwhile, US National Security Advisor John Bolton has warned the Syrian government it should not see the impending US military withdrawal from the country as an invitation to use chemical weapons.

While en route to Tel Aviv on Saturday, Bolton said there is no change to the US position that the use of chemical weapons is a red line that cant be crossed.

Trump has twice bombed Syria over the governments alleged use of chemical weapons, in April 2017 and April 2018.

More than half a million people have died during the Syrian war and 11 million have been forced to flee their homes.
A special deployment of Brazilian troops have begun fanning out in the northern city of Fortaleza with orders to stop a spike in violent attacks by criminal gangs against banks, buses and shops, officials said.



By the end of the weekend, 300 soldiers will be patrolling that city and other towns in Ceara state in a bid to halt the rampage, national public security secretary Guilherme Teophilo said on Saturday, according to the government news agency, Agencia Brasil.



The intervention is the first test of new President Jair Bolsonaros strict law-and-order platform since he took office last Tuesday.



His justice minister ordered the deployment after concluding that Ceara police were overwhelmed. Some 50 suspects have been arrested.



The gangs terrorising Fortaleza could be seen torching service stations in security videos aired by Brazilian media. Dozens of attacks have been registered this week, forcing residents to stay at home and leaving main roads deserted.



In one attack, explosives badly damaged a pillar supporting a flyover road in the town of Caucaia, just to the west of Fortaleza.



The triggers for the wave of violence were being investigated, but intelligence reports published by media suggested gangs were revolting against tough new measures recently imposed in the states prisons.

The changes include blocks on mobile phone signals and an end to a policy of separating inmates according to gang affiliation.



Two gangs have set aside their rivalry to join forces against the government, the G1 news website reported, citing security officials.



Bolsonaro has vowed to crack down on Brazils rampant crime by extending immunity to soldiers and police using lethal force and easing gun laws so good citizens can challenge armed criminals.



The far-right president, a 63-year-old former paratrooper, has made restoring order a centrepiece of his four-year mandate.

Rapid and effective

Much of the task of restoring order falls to his justice minister, Sergio Moro, a former star judge who headed up Operation Car Wash, an investigation into Brazils biggest-ever corruption scandal.



Bolsonaro on Friday praised Moros decision to send in troops as apt, rapid and effective.



Cearas governor belongs to the left-wing Workers Party which was driven into opposition by the election of Bolsonaro and his ultraconservative allies.

Brazil has the third biggest prison population in the world, behind the United States and China, with nearly 730,000 inmates as of 2016. Penitentiaries are overcrowded and prey to gangs that often viciously turn on each other.



The three gangs active in Ceara are the Red Command (CV by its initials in Portuguese) that grew out of organised criminal activity in Rio de Janeiro, the First Command of the Capital (PCC) based in Sao Paulo, and a group called the Guardians of the State (GDE).



Of those, the CV and the PCC are said to have sealed a non-aggression pact against each other in Ceara to focus against the government forces.



The 300 troops sent to reinforce state security forces will have a big task. Nearly 80 attacks have been reported in towns across Ceara state this week.
More than 100 people have been displaced by the blazes to the west of the capital, Santiago.

Dozens of wildfires tore through central Chile destroying scores of homes.

It is the start of the fire season and the blazes on Thursday and Friday point towards a difficult time ahead for the South American country.

Local media reported there were 44 wildfires active on Thursday with at least eight more still burning in the Valparaiso region alone. Valparaiso is a coastal area about 100km northwest of Chiles capital, Santiago.

Perhaps the hardest hit municipality was Limache, where the mayor said some 60 homes were destroyed.

The OHiggins region south of Valparaiso was also hard hit. In total, local media reported more than 2,600 hectares have burned.

Most of the blazes have been contained or put out, but firefighters were still working to contain at least 10 fires as of Friday afternoon.
John Boltons warning comes during his four-day trip to Israel and Turkey to discuss US troop pullout from Syria.

US National Security Adviser John Bolton has warned the Syrian government that it should not see the impending US military withdrawal from the country as an invitation to use chemical weapons.

The warning on Saturday came as Bolton began a four-day trip to Israel and Turkey to discuss the pace of the troop pullout

The move, announced before Christmas, was initially expected to be completed within weeks, but the timetable has slowed as US President Donald Trump acceded to requests from aides, allies and members of Congress for a more orderly withdrawal.

There is absolutely no change in the US position against the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime and absolutely no change in our position that any use of chemical weapons would be met by a very strong response, as weve done twice before, Bolton told reporters onboard his plane shortly before landing in Tel Aviv.

Weve tried twice through the use of military force to demonstrate to the Assad regime that the use of chemical weapons is not acceptable, Bolton said.

And if they dont heed the lessons of those two strikes, the next one will be more telling.

Trump has twice bombed Syria over the governments alleged use of chemical weapons in April 2017 and the same month last year.

In September, a senior US official said there was evidence showing chemical weapons were prepared by Syrian government forces in Idlib, the last major rebel stronghold in the country.

Bolton said he was not suggesting Syria appeared ready to use chemical weapons.

Completely incoherent

During his trip, Bolton is set to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Israeli officials have argued that a swift withdrawal of the roughly 2,000 US troops could enable Iran to expand its influence and presence in Syria, wracked by a years-long civil war.

There is a great concern among US allies in the region about what is the next step, said Yossi Mekelberg, professor of international relations at Regents University London.

The Trump administrations message is completely incoherent. On the one hand, the Trump administration is talking about more pressure on Iran vis-a-vis the nuclear issue. But the withdrawal leaves Syria open to Russia and Iran, he told Al Jazeera.

Israel was particularly concerned since Iran is believed to supply Lebanons Hezbollah with weapons through Syria, Mekelberg said, noting that the Israeli military launched a military operation in December to destroy what it said were cross-border tunnels dug by the Shia group to send fighters to attack Israel.

Meanwhile, Trumps move has also raised fears about clearing the way for a Turkish assault on Kurdish fighters in Syria, who have fought alongside American troops against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS).

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Turkey considers the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) a terrorist group linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) within its own borders.

Top on Turkeys list is the disarmament of the Kurdish YPG fighters, said Al Jazeeras Mohammed Adow, reporting from Gaziantep on Turkeys border with Syria.

Turkey wants them disarmed and removed from the areas near its border with Syria. Turkey also wants logistical and air support from the US, once the troop withdrawal is complete. Turkish officials will want John Bolton to come up with a clear timetable for withdrawal.

Trumps announcement about the intended troop withdrawal was greeted by surprise and condemnation from many US legislators and allies, and prompted the resignation of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and the US special envoy for the anti-ISIL coalition in protest.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is following Bolton to the Middle East this coming week for an eight-country tour of Arab allies to shore up support for the administrations partners in the region.
Move by Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I comes amid heightened tensions between Moscow and Kiev.

The recently established Orthodox Church of Ukraine has been granted independence, formalising an historic split from the Russian Church after more than 300 years of alignment.

Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and Head of the global Orthodox Church Bartholomew I signed the Tomos independence decree in a ceremony in the Turkish city of Istanbul on Saturday.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Metropolitan Epifaniy, head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, were present at the event.

Bartholomew I said the move would grant Ukrainians the sacred gift of emancipation, independence and self-governance, adding they would be free from every external reliance and intervention.

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Poroshenko, for his part, thanked Bartholomew I for the courage to make this historic decision and said that among the 15 stars of the Orthodox churches of the world a Ukrainian star has appeared, referring to the updated number of churches that dont answer to an external authority.

I want to thank the millions of Ukrainians around the world who responded to my appeal to pray for the church to be established, Poroshenko added in a speech at the ceremony.

Bartholomew I will officially hand the decree to the new Ukrainian church at a mass in Istanbul on Sunday, Russias state-owned TASS news agency reported.

Violation of the canons

Vladimir Legoida, a spokesman for the Moscow church, denounced the decree as a document that is the result of irrepressible political and personal ambitions, the AFP news agency reported.

It had been signed in violation of the canons and therefore not possessing any canonical force, Legoida said in a statement.

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The independence decree will force Ukrainian clerics to pick sides between the Moscow-backed Ukrainian churches and the new church as fighting persists in eastern Ukraine between government forces and rebels backed by Russia.

It came after Bartholomew I revoked a 1686 ruling that placed Ukraine under the patriarchate in Moscow in October.

The move was largely boycotted by Ukraines biggest church, which is loyal to Russia.

Moscow and the Russian church, meanwhile, severed ties with Istanbul, the centre of the Orthodox world.

Ukrainian Orthodox leaders approved the creation of a new, unified church split from the Moscow Patriarchate last month, however.

Ukraine-Russia tensions

Ukraine and Russia have been at loggerheads since 2014 when Kiev street protests urging Ukrainian integration with Europe led to the ousting of pro-Moscow president Viktor Yanukovych.

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Russia subsequently annexed Crimea and has supported Russian-speaking separatists in Ukraines east in a conflict that has claimed the lives of more than 10,000 people.

Ukraine imposed martial law in November, citing the threat of a full-scale invasion after Russia captured three of its vessels in the Kerch Strait, a narrow sea passage close to the Crimean peninsula that separates the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.

Poroshenko announced the end of the measure last month, saying military rule had to be lifted on account of an upcoming presidential vote scheduled to be held on March 31.
News report comes as Turkey plans to spearhead the fight against ISIL in Syria amid expected withdrawal of US troops.

Turkey has asked for major military assistance from the United States in the fight against ISIL in Syria, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported, weeks after Washington announced its plan to withdraw troops from the country.

The substantial request for military support included air raids, logistics and transportation so Turkish forces could finish off the remaining fighters of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) in Syria, senior US officials were quoted as saying by the WSJ on Friday.

The Turkish requests are so extensive that, if fully met, the American military might be deepening its involvement in Syria instead of reducing it, the newspaper reported.

The unidentified American officials told the Journal there was little chance Washington would agree to Ankaras requests in full.

US President Donald Trump announced on December 19 his plans to withdraw US troops deployed in northern Syria following a telephone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkey and the US appeared to agree to coordinate the troops withdrawal from the area to avoid a power vacuum that could attract a number of parties interested in filling it.

Talks on the fight against ISIL are expected to take place on Tuesday in Ankara.

US officials  including White House National Security Adviser John Bolton, General Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs and James Jeffrey, the State Department envoy for Syria  are expected to attend.

The US still has about 2,000 troops in Syria, many of them special operations forces working closely with an alliance of US-backed Kurdish and Arab armed groups known as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

US troops should stay

Meanwhile, the Yazidi minority group has called on the US military to remain in the region amid fears its withdrawal may bring back the threat of ISIL in Syria and Iraq.

In a statement on Friday, the Free Yezidi Foundation, an independent organisation working to help the minority group, warned the US pullout would leave Yazidis and other minorities unprotected and vulnerable.

The removal of US forces and potentially the cessation of US air strikes will further diminish SDFs strength on the ground. These areas will then be ripe for return to ISIS control, the group said, using an alternative acronym for ISIL.

Since 2014, ISIL fighters have killed thousands of Yazidi men captured during their attack on the minority.

About 3,100 Yazidis were killed  more than half were shot, beheaded or burned alive  and about 6,800 were kidnapped to become sex slaves or fighters, according to a report published in the Public Library of Science journal, PLoS Medicine.

As the nearly eight-year Syrian war progressed, the SDF gained significant amounts of territory in eastern and northern Syria in its fight against ISIL.

Turkey, however, sees the territorial expansion as a threat as it has long battled Kurdish separatists who want a state of their own.
Rising violence in Rio de Janeiro has reduced tourism, costing $200m in lost revenue in 2017.

By
Thousands of Hungarians have rallied in capital Budapest demanding the abolition of the so-called slave-law that allows employers to demand that staff work up to 400 hours of overtime a year.

The protesters marched in snowfall on Saturday from the historic Heroes Square in the capital to the parliament building on the bank of the Danube River, carrying banners saying Sweep away the regime.

We disagree with almost everything that is going on since this government got into power [in 2010], from corruption to pseudo-democracy, Eva Demeter told Reuters news agency.

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The 50-year-old homemaker said more Hungarians were pouring onto the streets because the slave law affects a bigger crowd.

Some of the protesters posted on social media or carried banners calling for a national strike.

Hungarys government, controlled by the right-wing Fidesz party, claims the law is meant to ease a labour shortage in the country, where the official unemployment rate stands at 3.7 percent.

President Janos Ader signed the reform into law just before Christmas, despite more than 10 days of sometimes violent clashes between demonstrators and police in the capital and other cities.

Critics say the law disadvantages workers.

Year of resistance

Al Jazeeras Mirna Brekalo, reporting from Budapest, said protesters had a wide range of demands, including the removal of Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

They want academic freedom, they want free media, they want the abolition of the so-called slave law, they also want the abolition of the so-called administrative courts, she said.

In addition to the labour code reform, the Fidesz-dominated parliament also passed a law to set up a new administrative court system to rule on issues such as corruption.

Critics say the courts could be politically manipulated as the judges are to be appointed by the justice minister.

Brekalo said opposition parties in Hungary have called 2019 the year of revolution, the year of resistance.

The protests against Orban began in November when students from the Central European University (CEU) rallied against the institutions planned closure.

The university, founded and partially funded by Hungarian-American billionaire George Soros, said it was being forced to leave Hungary following the passage of a law that banned foreign-registered universities from operating in the country unless they also provided courses in their home countries.

The US-registered CEU did not offer courses in the US at the time the law was passed.

The university began operations in New York later but the Hungarian government did not view its efforts as sufficient.

The student-led movement protesting the CEUs closure joined demonstrations organised by trade unions and opposition parties following the new labour and court laws.

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The anti-government protests lasted until Christmas and organisers have called for demonstrators to return to the streets following the end of the Christmas and New Years holidays.

Orbans Fidesz reiterated in a statement on Thursday that the protests were part of a campaign for the European Parliament elections in May to help those who support mass migration into the European Union.

Fidesz won Hungarian elections with a landslide last year, with the ticket of resisting mass immigration into the EU.

Since his re-election, Orban has pursued reform policies aimed at creating an illiberal democracy.
Amid threats from China, Tsai Ing-wen says international community needs to come to the self-ruled islands defence.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen called on Saturday for international support to defend the self-ruled islands democracy and way of life in the face of renewed threats from China.

The comments came a day after Chinese President Xi Jinping said the countrys armed forces must strengthen their sense of urgency and do everything they can to prepare for battle.

We hope that the international community takes it seriously and can voice support and help us, Tsai told reporters in Taipei, referring to threats by China to use force to bring Taiwan under its control.

If the international community did not support a democratic country that was under threat, We might have to ask which country might be next? Tsai added.

Taiwan is Chinas most sensitive issue and is claimed by Beijing as its sacred territory. Xi has stepped up pressure on the democratic island since Tsai from the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party became president in 2016.

Xi said on Wednesday that China reserves the right to use force to bring Taiwan under its control but will strive to achieve peaceful reunification with the island.

In response, Tsai has said the island would not accept a one country, two systems political arrangement with China, while stressing all negotiations needed to be carried out on a government-to-government basis.

Xis Taiwan speech came just days after US President Donald Trump signed the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act into law, reaffirming the US commitment to the islands security.

Tsai on Saturday also urged China to have a correct understanding of what Taiwanese think and said actions such as political bullying were unhelpful in cross-strait relations.

China still sees Taiwan as part of its territory to be reunified, despite the two sides being ruled separately since they split in 1949 after a civil war.

Military urgency

China is eager to beef up its armed forces amid territorial disputes in the South China Sea and escalating tension with the United States over issues ranging from trade to the status of Taiwan.

The official Xinhua news agency said on Saturday Xi told a meeting of the top military brass that China faced increasing risks and challenges, and the armed forces must work to secure its security and development needs.

Xi, who is also chairman of the Central Military Commission, said the armed forces must devise strategies for the new era and take on responsibilities for preparing and waging war.

The world is facing a period of major changes never seen in a century, and China is still in an important period of strategic opportunity for development, he was quoted as saying.

He said the armed forces needed to be able to respond quickly to emergencies, needed to upgrade their joint operations capabilities, and nurture new types of combat forces.
Mike Pences talks with Democratic congressional staffers fail to break the deadlock now entering its 15th day.

White House officials and congressional aides are returning on Sunday to talks on how to get the government reopened after they wrapped up the first round without a breakthrough.

Senior Trump administration officials met Democratic congressional staffers but failed to break a deadlock on Saturday over a proposed border wall and end a two-week-old partial US government shutdown.

President Donald Trump tweeted: Not much headway made today. The president later tweeted that he planned to go to his retreat at Camp David, Maryland, on Sunday morning to discuss borders security and other topics with senior staff at a separate meeting.

Vice President Mike Pence, who led the talks, posted on Twitter that the meeting was productive and both sides agreed to meet again on Sunday.

Negotiations have been at an impasse over Trumps demands for $5.6bn to fund a wall at the US-Mexico border.

On Friday, Trump declared he could keep the shutdown going for months or even years.

Productive discussion w/ Congressional leadership staff at @WhiteHouse. @SecNielsen gave a full presentation on crisis along Southern Border. We reaffirmed @POTUS commitment to secure the border, build the wall, keep Americans safe & reopen govt. Discussions continue tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/C7k9Sg8guY  Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) January 5, 2019

Pence said in a statement after the meeting he had reiterated Trumps position that funding for the wall was needed, but he said: there was no indepth conversation about dollar figure.

Earlier on Saturday, Al Jazeeras Gabriel Elizondo, reporting from Washington, DC, had said there were no signs that any progress will be made at the talks.

He [Pence] hasnt come out and given any information, were not expecting to hear any new information from him, so right now, theres a meeting, talks are going on, but the key people in this  President Donald Trump and Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic speaker of the House  are not holding talks. and theres no indication that they are going to meet anytime soon and make any progress on this.

Keep it shut for months or even years

On Friday, Trump met congressional leaders from both parties as the shutdown hit the two-week mark amid an impasse over his demand for billions of dollars for a border wall with Mexico.

The standoff has prompted economic jitters and anxiety among some in Trumps own party.

We wont be opening until its solved, Trump said. I dont call it a shutdown. I call it doing what you have to do for the benefit and the safety of our country.

The US president reportedly said he preferred to call the action a strike.

Trump said he could declare a national emergency to build the wall without congressional approval, but would first try a negotiated process.

The US president also said the hundreds of thousands of federal workers who are furloughed or working without pay would want him to keep going and fight for border security.

Asked how people would manage without a financial safety net, he declared, The safety net is going to be having a strong border because were going to be safe.

Security officers at US airports have reportedly been calling in sick in droves since the shutdown began and their paycheques stopped rolling in.
Residents in the Kurdish-controlled city fear the planned US withdrawal from Syria will leave a security vacuum.

Beirut, Lebanon  When Jaseem heard President Donald Trump decided to pull US troops out of Syria, he began planning his escape from the northern city of Manbij.

In the days following Trumps announcement, both the Syrian government and Turkey moved to fill what they assumed would be a vacuum, starting in Manbij. The United Statess military presence guaranteed Kurdish rule in the city since 2016.

Jaseem, whose name has been changed for security reasons, is an ethnic Arab  like most Manbij residents  but he said he preferred rule by the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to either the Syrian government or Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army militias, such as those ruling the rebel enclave of Idlib.

The SDF made us feel safe, the 40-year old told Al Jazeera. The Syrian government thinks we are all traitors and may arrest us, and we cannot go to Idlib because every day there are explosions and kidnappings there.

Trumps decision last month was an unexpected boon, on the surface, for both the Syrian government and Turkey. The SDF controls not only Manbij but most of Syria east of the Euphrates, where the US has guaranteed SDF rule.

The Syrian government, however, wants to retake all of the country, while Turkey regards the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG), which dominates the SDF, as a terrorist entity that is part of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Ankara already launched one bloody battle against the YPG in the town of Afrin last February.

Abandoning the Kurds?

Trump subsequently suggested the withdrawal of troops would be slow and told the Republican Senator Lindsey Graham he would not abandon the USs local allies, or leave eastern Syria open to Iranian influence.

ISIS is mostly gone, were slowly sending our troops back home to be with their families, while at the same time, fighting ISIS remnants, Trump tweeted, referring to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, also known as ISIL.

The New York Times reported from Washington that Trump had extended the deadline for the troops return from 30 days to four months. But a day after the report, Trump denied fixing any timeline for the withdrawal, merely emphasizing his intentions. He said, We are getting out of Syria.

Jaseem, who has four daughters, said he was relieved at the change. He said he fears arrest by the Syrian regime, or at least conscription into the army, if it takes over Manbij.

I cannot tell you how safe we feel with the Americans present, said Jaseem. The American presence protects us from both the Syrian government and Turkey.

But he is still uncertain how long his family will be safe for and where their lives are heading next, torn between staying put or leaving the city.

Change Americas mind?

Mohammad, a Kurdish activist in Manbij, told Al Jazeera Trumps latest comments provided some temporary relief.

It is too early to understand what it means, said Mohammad, requesting only his first name be used. We are not sure if the pullout will be delayed, but I know that Kurdish fighters are working very hard to change Americas mind.

Former US Secretary of Defense James Mattis and former Special Envoy to Counter ISIL Brett McGurk both resigned in opposition to Trumps troop withdrawal decision.

At one stage of Syrias war, the YPG pursued the establishment of autonomous self-rule across the vast swath of territory it carved out along the Turkish border, running from the Iraqi border in the northeast, through Kobane to Afrin in the northwest.

That dream was quashed by the loss of Afrin, but the Kurds remain hopeful of setting up some form of autonomous rule in the territory they continue to hold.

The American presence gave them a sizable bargaining chip in the final settlement of the conflict. The slower the US pullout, the more time the Kurds will have to work on a deal.

Aaron Stein, director of the Middle East programme at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, said the YPG did not have to evacuate from Manbij  as Turkey demands  if it played its cards right.

I do not think they have to withdraw, but rather accept nominal regime return while negotiations continue over more tangible things like political and military control, he said.

On January 2, the Syrian government said at least 400 Kurdish fighters left Manbij, even as locals on the ground told Al Jazeera many are still remaining as a part of the Manbij Military council. Turkey has not yet responded to Syrias assertion.

Russia will be a key player, particularly if the US decides not to intervene further. It retains strong influence over both Turkey and Damascus, as the regimes guarantor.

Fawzia Yousif, a member of the Kurds autonomous administration in Syrias northeast, said the delay in the US withdrawing troops could give the Kurds more time to get better terms in a final understanding with the Syrian government.

If the pullout delay takes place, it would have a positive impact on the war on ISIS, which is still going on in Deir Az Zor, she said. It would also have an impact on the political process and the upcoming talks in Geneva.

Bad choices

The Trump administration can still apply pressure on the Syrian government through the decisions it takes as it prepares an exit.

The military commanders of the Pentagon, caught off-guard by Trumps decision, are preparing a list of recommendations for the troops withdrawal. They may suggest retaining some American presence to maintain the series of air bases the US has built across the northeast, and leave the Kurds with the weapons with which they were provided to fight ISIL.

Joshua Landis, director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma, said while Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was unlikely to give the Kurds complete autonomy, it might be open to some cultural concessions.

For Kurds, there are bad choices all around, he said. But now, the Syrian government is entering Americas shoes. The Kurds may not be happy with this but thats what they are likely to get.

Landis said the people of Manbij had kept their heads down and refrained from expressing outright loyalty to either side in the war. They might now be better off sticking to the same playbook.

Jaseem said the takeover of Manbij, first by the Free Syrian Army in 2012, and then ISIL in 2014, had left residents scarred. We are tired of war. We just do not want more war.
The $3.1m paid for the endangered fish more than doubles last record price for a bluefin five years ago.

A Japanese sushi tycoon paid a record $3.1m for a giant tuna at the first predawn New Year auction in Tokyos new fish market on Saturday.

Self-styled Tuna King Kiyoshi Kimura forked over the whopping sum for a 278kg bluefin tuna, an endangered species that was caught off Japans northern coast.

The tuna looks so tasty and very fresh, but I think I did too much, Kimura, who runs the popular Sushi Zanmai chain, told reporters.

The price was higher than originally thought, but I hope our customers will eat this excellent tuna.

Kimura has been the highest bidder at the new year auction for several years. He paid the previous record of 155 million yen ($1.4m) for a fish in 2013.

Although the auction prices were way above usual for bluefin tuna, wholesalers and sushi tycoons have been known to pay eye-watering prices for the biggest and best fish, especially at the first auction of the New Year.

Black diamond

Later in the day, sushi chefs sliced up the giant fish with special knives resembling Japanese swords at Kimuras main restaurant. Hundreds of sushi lovers queued for a taste.

I have come here every year to eat New Year sushi but this tuna is tastier than ever, Reiko Yamada, a 71-year-old housewife, told the AFP news agency.

Japan consumes a large portion of the global bluefin catch, a highly prized sushi ingredient known as kuro maguro (black tuna) and dubbed the black diamond by sushi connoisseurs because of its scarcity.

A single piece of otoro, or the fishs fatty underbelly, can cost dozens of dollars at high-end Tokyo restaurants.

Surging consumption of the Pacific bluefin tuna in Japan and overseas has led experts to warn it faces possible extinction, with stocks depleting by 96 percent from pre-industrial levels.

Kimura has been the highest bidder at the New Year auction for several years [Reuters]

New market

The 2019 auction was the first New Year sale to take place at the new fish market in Toyosu, on the site of a former gas plant.

In previous years, the market was held at Tsukiji, which was the worlds biggest fish market and a popular tourist attraction in an area packed with restaurants and shops.

Opened in 1935, Tsukiji was best known for its predawn daily auctions of tuna, caught from all corners of the world, for use by everyone from Michelin-star sushi chefs to ordinary grocery stores.

The new market at Toyosu hopes to attract tourists who previously visited Tsukiji.

I sincerely hope this market will be loved by many people, said Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike, who attended the sale, wearing the white rubber boots favoured by auctioneers.

The move to Toyosu was repeatedly delayed because of concerns over soil contamination.
Historic year of inter-Korea relations sees drop in tensions

After a year of improving relations between North and South Korea, many Koreans are both hopeful and cautious about what the future may bring.
Hundreds take to the streets for the eighth week as grassroots movement against President Emmanuel Macron rumbles on.

Frances yellow vest protesters have taken to the streets in the capital, Paris, and other cities for an eighth successive week of demonstrations against President Emmanuel Macron.

Several hundred demonstrators gathered on Saturday along the capitals central Champs Elysees avenue, where around 15 police wagons were also deployed, the AFP news agency reported.

Local media reported that tear gas was fired nearby in a confrontation between protesters and police.

Public broadcaster FranceInfo, meanwhile, reported gatherings ranging from dozens of people to more than 1,200 in other towns and cities across the country.

Participation in the grassroots movement has fallen steadily since the start of the yellow vest protests in November when hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in opposition to Macrons planned fuel tax hikes.

Government U-turn

Macrons price rises, which had been set to take effect on January 1, 2019, were justified by the French leader as necessary to combat climate change and protect the environment.

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But Macron abandoned the proposal in response to the protests  named after fluorescent vests French motorists must keep in cars  and announced extra cash for minimum wage earners in addition to tax cuts for struggling pensioners.

The 41-year-old has also flagged further changes to the countrys national unemployment and pension system.

On Friday, government spokesperson Benjamin Griveaux said Macron had told ministers they should be more radical in their attempt to reform the country and that law and order must be restored.

Griveaux also denounced those still demonstrating as agitators who want insurrection and, basically, to overthrow the government.

However, an opinion poll published on Thursday by French survey organisation Odoxa Dentsu indicated 55 percent public support for the continued protests.

The sometimes violent demonstrations have brought disruption and destruction to Paris and other major cities.
Martin Griffiths to meet Houthi officials before travelling to Saudi Arabia for talks with the Yemeni government.

The UN special envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, is expected to meet with Houthi officials in the capital, Sanaa, to discuss ways to implement a fragile ceasefire in the strategic port city of Hodeidah.

Griffiths is scheduled to hold talks with Houthi leaders over the truce on Saturday, before meeting Patrick Cammaert, a retired Dutch general, who heads the ceasefire monitoring team in the port city.

The UN envoy is then expected to travel to Saudi Arabia to meet Yemens President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and other senior government officials.

According to the AFP news agency, Griffithss visit to Saudi Arabia will attempt to bring the warring sides together later this month, possibly in Kuwait, to follow up on the progress made at last months talks.

Under that agreement, the first significant breakthrough in peace efforts since the war erupted in 2014, the Houthis were expected to hand over control of the ports of Hodeidah, Saleef and Ras Isa, to local authorities in accordance with Yemen law.

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However, both sides have been in disagreement over the wording of the agreement.

The government has interpreted it to mean that the port should be handed over to the officials who ran the facility before the Houthis seized Hodeidah city in late 2014.

Meanwhile, the Houthis insist the deal refers to the officials currently running the port, who are their allies.

There have also been disagreements over the redeployment of forces.

Fragile peace

Under the deal, the Houthis and forces loyal to the Yemeni government were expected to withdraw from Hodeidah city, with a ceasefire expected to come into effect in the entire governorate.

However, both sides have accused each other of violating the truce, with the sound of missiles and automatic gunfire a near-daily occurrence for the thousands of civilians who still reside in the city.

The Saudi-led coalition, which supports the Yemeni government, has accused the rebels of carrying out 268 attacks between December 18 and December 30.

Meanwhile, the Houthis have accused the Saudi-led coalition of shelling several rebel-held areas.

Yemen has been wracked by violence since 2014 when the Houthis stormed south from their stronghold of Saada and overran much of the country, including the capital Sanaa where they toppled Hadis unpopular government.

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The conflict escalated in 2015 when Saudi Arabia and the UAE, who accuse the Houthis of being Iranian proxies, launched a military coalition that began air attacks against Houthi positions in an attempt to reinstate Hadi.

With logistical support from the US, the coalition has carried out more than 18,000 raids, with schools, hospitals and mosques frequently targeted.

According to recent estimates, as many as 85,000 children may have died of hunger since the coalitions intervention.
Egypts president has told a US broadcaster his country and Israel are cooperating against armed groups in the Sinai Peninsula, a potentially damaging acknowledgement that could explain a request that the network not air the interview.

Excerpts from the interview released by CBS over the weekend also showed President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi denying there are political prisoners in Egypt, where he has overseen one of the largest crackdowns on dissent in the countrys modern history since the overthrow by the military, then led by him, of a divisive president.

CBS, which will air the full interview Sunday on its show 60 Minutes, said it has rejected a request by the Egyptian government not to show it. It did not say which part of the presidents comments Cairo objected to, but the cooperation with Israel, with whom Egypt has a 1979 peace treaty, appears to be the most contentious part.

Egypts military last year denied press reports that it and Israel were cooperating against insurgents in northern Sinai, a region of rugged mountains and desert bordering Israel and the Gaza Strip where Egyptian security forces have for years battled the fighters, now led by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group.

According to the excerpts, el-Sisi was asked if his countrys cooperation with Israel was the closest ever between the two countries. That is correct We have a wide range of cooperation with the Israelis, he responded.

Israeli officials have publicly praised security cooperation with el-Sisis Egypt, which has successfully secured Israels permission to deploy troops, artillery, and helicopter gunships close to the Israeli border to fight the armed groups in contravention of the peace treatys limitations on the number of troops and weapons Egypt can have in the region.

El-Sisi has, since taking office in 2014, met at least twice with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Their meetings have received little media attention in Egypt, a country where most people still view their neighbour as their sworn enemy and where trade unions and most political parties are vehemently opposed to the normalisation of relations with Israel.

What detentions?

In the interview, Sisi questioned a recent Human Rights Watch report that Egypt was detaining 60,000 political prisoners.

I dont know where they got that figure. I said there are no political prisoners in Egypt. Whenever there is a minority trying to impose their extremist ideology we have to intervene regardless of their numbers, he told CBS.

El-Sisi has in the past claimed that everyone in detention is facing legal proceedings for a specific crime committed, but rights activists complain of long detentions without charges  as long as two years or more in some cases  trials that dont observe the letter or the spirit of the law and judges more concerned with protecting the state than enforcing the law.

Al Jazeera journalist Mahmoud Hussein was arrested in December 2016 as he returned home to visit his family. Hussein has been held in an Egyptian prison without charge for 743 days.

The detentions are part of a large crackdown on dissent that includes tight control of the media, placing draconian restrictions on rights groups and reversing most of the freedoms gained by a 2011 uprising against autocrat Hosni Mubarak.

El-Sisi won a second, four-year term in office last year after running virtually unopposed.
Election commission postpones release of initial results of presidential poll, raising fears of rigging and violence.

Preliminary results from Democratic Republic of Congos tumultuous presidential election will be delayed past Sundays deadline, the head of the election commission has said.

The announcement on Saturday has prompted fears the vote result could be manipulated, with analysts saying prolonged uncertainty could trigger deadly clashes, similar to the violence that broke out in the central African country after the 2006 and 2011 elections.

The commission, known as CENI, had received only 47 percent of vote tally sheets as of Saturday, its president, Corneille Nangaa, told the Reuters news agency.

It not yet clear when the results would be ready, he said, adding: It will not be possible to announce the results tomorrow.

Nangaa said the delay was caused by logistical problems posed by the DRCs size, with the country encompassing an area approximately as large as Western Europe.

The countrys powerful National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO), which represents the countrys Catholic bishops, warned popular anger could result in the event the final result was not true to the verdict of the ballot box.

DR Congos powerful Catholic Church, which deployed more than 40,000 election observers, had said Thursday it knew who had won the vote but did not name him as the countrys electoral regulations forbid anyone but the electoral commission to announce results.

In a letter to Nangaa on Saturday, CENCO president Mgr Marcel Utembi said that, given the delay, if there is a popular uprising it would be the responsibility of the CENI.

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The December 30 vote saw 21 candidates run to replace President Joseph Kabila, who has ruled the vast, conflict-ridden country for almost 18 years.

Among the frontrunners were Kabilas handpicked successor Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary and two opposition candidates: veteran heavyweight Felix Tshisekedi and newcomer Martin Fayulu.

Fears of violence

The lengthy counting process has raised fears among opposition politicians and non-governmental organisations that the results could be manipulated to put Shadary in power.

Fayulu, Tshisekedi and the ruling coalition all claim to have won the vote.

The New York Times, citing an unnamed Western diplomat and a presidential adviser, said on Saturday that the church has determined that Fayulu won the election, with a lead of 30 points over Shadary.

Kabilas ruling Common Front for Congo (FCC) coalition has accused CENCO of seriously breaching the constitution and electoral law by illegally declaring voting trends in favour of a given candidate.

Analysts warned of a heightened potential for violence should the uncertainty over Kabilas successor continue.

The state will want some more time to rig it, thats what they are playing for, time, said Reuben Loffman, a lecturer in African history and specialist in DRC history at UK-based Queen Mary University of London.

If they release the results now they will immediately get exposed  the church would immediately come on to them, he told Al Jazeera.

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Independent Central Africa analyst Kris Berwouts, meanwhile, said Kabilas administration was cornered in the wake of the election.

The plan was to organise the elections and independent of who people voted for and proclaim Shadary as the winner, said Berwouts, author of Congos Violent Peace: Conflict and Struggle since the Great African War.

Everybody at this point is extremely aware of the potential for violence  that potential exists because the regime organised the elections to win them and that seems to have become difficult  it will be extremely difficult [for the government] to keep things as they are, he told Al Jazeera.

US troop deployment

Meanwhile, international concerns are mounting over the transfer of power in sub-Saharan Africas largest nation. The United Nations Security Council met on Friday to discuss how to react, but was unable to reach an agreement, according to an internal report seen by Reuters.

Both the United States and the European Union have urged Kabila to ensure a peaceful change of power in recent days.

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On Friday, US President Donald Trump announced he had ordered the US military to deploy soldiers to Gabon, one of nine countries which border the DRC, to protect US citizens and diplomatic facilities should violence break out.

The DRC has never had a peaceful transition of power; its first democratically elected leader, Patrice Lumumba, was assassinated in 1961, one year after the country gained independence from Belgium.

Lumumba was succeeded by Mobutu Sese Seko, whose decades-long rule was marked by authoritarianism, brutality and corruption.

He was forced out in a 1997 coup by Laurent-Desire Kabila, who was in turn assassinated in 2001.

Additional reporting by David Child: @DavidChild90
US troops will assist US citizens, personnel in DRC if violent protests over recent elections threaten their security.

The US military has deployed soldiers to Gabon amid fears of violent protests in neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) after its presidential election.

US President Donald Trump told US Congress on Friday that the first of about 80 troops had arrived in Gabon on Wednesday to protect US citizens and diplomatic facilities should violence break out in DRCs capital Kinshasa.

Voters in the DRC went to the polls on December 30, two years after the election was first scheduled to be held, to elect the successor to President Joseph Kabila, who has been in power for 18 years.

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The first of these personnel arrived in Gabon on January 2, 2019, with appropriate combat equipment and supported by military aircraft, Trumps letter to Congress read.

Additional forces may deploy to Gabon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or the Republic of the Congo, if necessary for these purposes.

These deployed personnel will remain in the region until the security situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo becomes such that their presence is no longer needed.

The DRCs electoral commission is scheduled to release the provisional results of the presidential election on Sunday, but it has said there could be delays because of the slow arrival of tally sheets.

Potential unrest

Observers and the opposition say the election was marred by serious irregularities, the DRCs government says the election was fair and went smoothly.

Kabilas ruling coalition is backing his hand-picked successor Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary.

Observers and the international community have raised concerns that a disputed result could cause unrest, as was the case after the 2006 and 2011 elections.

Al Kitenge, CEO of London-based Innovation Task Force, said there was huge risk of trouble in the coming days.

Weve had violence in the countryside for the past 40 years Today everyone is worried because the violence might spread to Kinshasa. The people most at risk in such a case are civilians and we hope everything can be done to avoid that, he told Al Jazeera.

On Thursday, the US Department of State called on the electoral commission to ensure votes were accurately counted and threatened to impose sanctions against those who undermined the process or threatened peace and stability in the country.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) also warned against any manipulation of the results.

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The African Union and other governments should make clear to Congos leadership that any manipulation of the election results will have serious consequences, said Ida Sawyer, deputy Africa director at HRW.

Rigged or fake vote tallies would only inflame an already tense situation and could have disastrous repercussions.

Large-scale ethnic violence broke out in Yumbi, in western DRCs Mai-Ndombe province, leaving at least 150 dead in a previously peaceful region, according to HRW.

Yumbi was among the three areas whose elections were postponed until March, in addition to Butembo and Beni, because of concerns over an Ebola outbreak and ethnic violence.
Colombia: One human rights advocate killed every three days

Theyre being targeted by armed groups fighting for control of land to cultivate drugs.
New decree seeks to guide Islam, as crackdown against Muslims and Islamic symbols continues.

China has passed a new law that seeks to Sinicize Islam within the next five years, the latest move by Beijing to rewrite how the religion is practised.

Chinas main English newspaper, Global Times, reported on Saturday that after a meeting with representatives from eight Islamic associations, government officials agreed to guide Islam to be compatible with socialism and implement measures to Sinicize the religion.

The newspaper did not provide further details or the names of the associations that agreed to the decree.

China has embarked on an aggressive Sinification campaign in recent years with faith groups that were largely tolerated in the past seeing their freedoms shrink under Chinese President Xi Jinping, Chinas most powerful leader since Mao Zedong.

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Practising Islam has been made forbidden in parts of China, with individuals caught praying, fasting, growing a beard or wearing a hijab, a headscarf worn by Muslim women, facing the threat of arrest.

According to the UN, more than one million Uighur Muslims are estimated to be held in internment camps where they are forced to denounce the religion and pledge allegiance to the officially atheist ruling Communist Party.

Rights groups have accused China of engaging in a campaign of ethnic cleansing. In August, a Washington Post editorial said the world cant ignore the campaign against Muslims.

Islamic crescents and domes have been stripped from mosques, and according to the Associated Press news agency, religious schools and Arabic classes have been banned and children barred from participating in Muslim activities.

China has rejected the criticism, saying it protects the religion and culture of its minorities.

However, in the past week alone, authorities in Chinas Yunnan province, which borders Mynamar, have closed three mosques established by the marginalised Hui Muslim ethnic minority, the South China Morning Post has reported.
Far-right nationalists blame Melbournes crime problem on Australians of African descent.

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There are rumours in Irans corridors of power that Ebrahim Raisi, a former presidential candidate and custodian of the Islamic Republics holiest shrine Imam Reza, would replace Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani as head of the countrys judiciary in the summer of 2019. In recent comments to the media, Raisi himself did not rule this out.

The conservative clerics appointment as chief justice would all but guarantee that he will be the next supreme leader of the country. If this happens, Irans revolution would live on under the leadership of yet another hardliner, which would kill any remaining hopes among the Iranian people for political change.

A student of Khamenei

Fifty-eight-year-old Ebrahim Raisi is a student and loyal follower of current Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. Like his teacher, he hails from Mashhad and belongs to its famous seminary He is married to the daughter of Ayatollah Alamolhoda, a hardline cleric who serves as Khameneis representative of in the eastern Razavi Khorasan province, home of the Imam Reza shrine.

Raisi joined Irans judiciary in 1981 as prosecutor in the city of Karaj. He was promoted to the role of deputy prosecutor general of Tehran in 1985 and three years later, in 1988, he played a prominent role in the mass execution of thousands of political prisoners.

The appointment of Ayatollah Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader in 1989 sped up Raisis rise in the ranks of Irans judiciary. He became prosecutor general of Tehran in 1989, the head of General Inspection Organisation in 1994, first deputy Chief Justice of Iran in 2004, and attorney general of Iran in 2014. He is also a member of the Assembly of Experts  a deliberative body comprised of 88 ayatollahs which is empowered to designate and dismiss the supreme leader of Iran.

Since 2012, Raisi has also been serving as the prosecutor of the Special Clerical Court (SCC) or Dadgahe Vizheh-ye Ruhaniyat. The SCC was formed in the early years of the revolution to prosecute and punish clerics for misdemeanours. However, over the years the countrys leadership transformed the court into a tool that helps them control and silence any dissident clergy.

In addition to his many senior judicial positions, in 2016 Ayatollah Khamenei appointed Raisi as the chairman of Astan Quds Razavi, the wealthy and influential charitable foundation which manages the Imam Reza shrine. Through this appointment, Raisi developed a very close relationship with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which is a known ideological and economic partner of the foundation.

In 2017, Raisi moved into politics for the first time and ran against incumbent President Hassan Rouhani in the presidential election saying it was his religious and revolutionary responsibility. He managed to secure a respectable 38 percent of the vote; Rouhani won with 57 percent of the vote.

This result was initially seen as a sign of Raisis relative unpopularity and the possible end of his political ambitions, but he has proven his detractors wrong. After his electoral defeat, he remained in the public eye and became an even more prominent political figure by criticising Rouhanis policies and pushing for hard line policies in both domestic and foreign affairs.

Thanks to large budget of the Astan Quds Foundation (estimated at $1-2bn), he has also been able to set up alliances with other clerics and build a vast network of branches capable of mobilising supporters across the country.

Raisi vs Rouhani

Raisi was the most prominent contender for Ayatollah Khameneis post even before even before rumours started circulating about his possible appointment as the next head of the judiciary.

In fact, he, along with Rouhani, were seen as the two most likely successors of Irans supreme leader. However, after his reelection in 2017, Rouhanis popularity collapsed as result of ineffective economic policies and exacerbated socioeconomic crises across the country.

He has many critics among the regimes hardliner elites and in a recent poll, some 84 percent of respondents said they were dissatisfied with his administration. Meanwhile, Raisis popularity is rising.

As a prominent member of the Assembly of Experts, Raisi has significant influence over its deliberations. As the leader of the wealthy and influential Astan Quds foundation, Raisi has enough funds and political capital to buy the loyalty of many clerics who would have a say on who would replace Khamenei. And as the prosecutor of the SCC, he has the ability to intimidate any dissidents within the clergy, even high ranking ones.

Moreover, he wears a black turban, which indicates that he is a descendant of Prophet Muhammad. This confers a great deal of seniority in clerical culture and much respect (by contrast, both Rouhani and Larijani wear a white turban).

The next supreme leader?

Ayatollah Khamenei is nearly 80 years old and in poor health. Iran will soon need a new supreme leader and every indication is that Raisi will claim this post.

For now, there is only one scenario in which he does not become Irans next supreme leader. According to Irans constitution, in the event that the supreme leader dies and the Assembly of Experts cannot immediately decide who should fill the position, the country would be run by a provisional council consisting of the president, the judiciary chief, and one of the six members of the Guardian Council. The constitution does not specify an expiration date for this arrangement, allowing this council to run the country indefinitely.

In theory, if Raisi has not become the head of the judiciary by the time Ayatollah Khamenei dies, this would mean such a council could permanently block his appointment as the next supreme leader. However, if he gets appointed sooner, then he would secure a seat on the provisional council and nothing would keep him away from taking over the supreme leadership post.

Raisi is an ardent follower of Ayatollah Khamenei. Once he takes on the role of supreme leader, he will continue his domestic and regional policies. On the domestic front, he will further Irans Islamisation and regionally he will push to strengthen the axis of resistance.

Raisis seemingly unavoidable appointment as Irans supreme leader is going to be the final nail in the coffin of the Iranian peoples hopes for reforming the clerical establishment. For many Iranians, his rise to power is going to prove that changing the system from within is impossible and only a new revolution can bring real change to the country.

Unfortunately, this realisation is likely to trigger yet another long and painful cycle of arbitrary rule, chaos, violence in Iran.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
Said Bouraams father, Brahim Bouarram, drowned in the Seine after being attacked by members of Frances National Front.

At age nine, Said Bouraam knew only the mountains. In the small Moroccan town of Amalou, where he and his younger sister lived, dry, brown peaks roses on every horizon.

At that age, Said had never been to France. It was hard for him to imagine the mighty Seine River coursing through Paris, on another continent, in another world. It was even harder to imagine that the Seines waters, swollen and ferocious from flooding, had swallowed up his father.

But that was the news a family member brought to the house that day. And what Said and his family saw on TV confirmed it: Brahim Bouarram, father of two, a Moroccan immigrant to Paris, had been pushed into the Seine. He could not swim. He drowned in its churning currents.

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At the centre of this unfolding tragedy was a far-right movement Saids family had never heard of before: Frances National Front. Its supporters were accused of the violence that killed his father.

We did not understand. What kind of politics are these? We did not even know what the National Front was, Said recalls, speaking in French by telephone.

Said, who spells his last name differently than his fathers, says a great sadness filled the house that day. But being so young, and being so far away, he had no idea how vast an affect his fathers death would have.

Years would pass before Said realised that his father had become an icon  an enduring symbol of far-right violence in France and the deadly toll it could take.

The National Front

It all started on May 1, 1995, the day France held its annual celebration of workers rights. Schools were out. Businesses were closed. And crowds filled the street, both to celebrate and to demonstrate for various political causes.

One political group was set to hold its annual gathering right in the centre of the city, at the foot of a sparkling gold Joan of Arc statue outside the Louvre Museum.

Its name was the National Front, and it was a relatively young party at the time, founded only in 1972. But it had gained momentum as a means of uniting Frances fractured far right, which World War II had left in disarray.

The Joan of Arc statue where members of the National Front had gathered on the day Brahim Bouarram was killed [Allison Griner/Al Jazeera]

Under the leadership of Jean-Marie Le Pen, the National Front drew together populists, fascists, anti-immigration movements, anti-Semites and anti-taxation businessmen. It was a disparate group, one that Le Pen argued was neither right nor left. Rather, they supported a platform of France first, France alone.

In the folk hero Joan of Arc, Le Pen and his followers found a natural mascot: a virtuous, young patriot who sacrificed her life to defend the country from foreign invaders. In their eyes, she had kept France French. And thats what Le Pens supporters, by and large, hoped to do too.

They watched as he drowned

As National Front supporters marched nearby, Brahim Bouarram was spending his holiday strolling along the banks of the Seine. At age 29, he was handsome, with high cheekbones, a direct gaze and a mop of black hair. He had come to Paris with his brothers, and together they had once worked in a small grocery store.

The southern wing of the Louvre loomed high above the riverbank. The Carrousel Bridge lay ahead. Bouarram had plans to meet a friend in a little while, plans he would never be able to keep.

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Just before midday, a small group splintered away from the National Front parade. Media reports would later describe the four men as skinheads.

They reportedly came to the Carrousel Bridge in search of homosexuals to harass. Instead, they found Bouarram.

What happened next would become the subject of bitter courtroom debate.

Lawyers for 19-year-old Mickael Freminet would argue that Bouarram hurled insults at him. That Bouarrams death was unintentional. That Freminet was not, in fact, a skinhead.

But what was undeniable was that Freminet gave Bouarram a shove, in full view of passersby. Bouarram fell into the water. Freminet and his companions watched as he drowned.

Freminet ultimately served an eight-year prison sentence for Bouarrams murder. His three companions each received a lighter prison term for failing to assist a person in danger: one year behind bars, out of a five-year suspended sentence.

A growing acceptance of racism in France?

One year in prison for the murder of a young man, thats not a heavy price, says Renee Le Mignot, co-president of the Movement Against Racism and for Friendship between Peoples, an NGO better known as MRAP.

She saw the verdict as evidence of the growing acceptance of racism in France.

One year in prison for the murder of a young man, that's not a heavy price. Renee Le Mignot, MRAP

Le Mignot had been participating in a different procession on the day of Bouarrams death, and the news of his murder quickly reached her and other activists.

On the very same day  May 1, 1995  we got together, she recalls. They started to organise a mass demonstration in response, one that ultimately drew upwards of 12,000 people, including Frances then-president Francois Mitterrand. Protesters waved signs that read, Racism is a National Affront.

But the large turnout underscored an uncomfortable fact: Bouarrams death was not the only fatality credited to the far right that year. In fact, his was one of three high-profile murders to happen in the space of six months, all widely perceived to be hate crimes.

Bouarrams death, however, gained particular traction because it took place smack between the two rounds of voting for Frances 1995 presidential election. Even to this day, presidential candidates still attend the annual ceremony held in Bouarrams honour, as a means of condemning the far right  and gaining support before the final vote.

Candidate for the 2017 French presidential election, Emmanuel Macron (second to the left) stands next to Said Bouraam (L), as he pays his respects to Brahim Bouarram on May 1, 2017 [EPA]

Rebranding the National Front

But Nonna Mayer, the director emeritus of research for Frances National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), warns that Frances political landscape has shifted dramatically since Bouarrams murder.

The first time the National Front advanced to the second round of voting, in 2002, more than a million people flooded the streets in protest. The second time, in 2017, the backlash was much more muted. Mayer credits this, in part, to a culture shift within the National Front.

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Jean-Marie Le Pen is no longer in charge. Its new leader  his daughter, Marine Le Pen  has taken steps to rebrand the party, notably renaming it Rassemblement National and distancing herself from her fathers legacy of open provocation.

Mayer says the National Front no longer tolerates blatant anti-Semitism, but it continues to push an anti-immigrant agenda, claiming it to be in the name of public safety and economic security.

She turned over the argument and said, We are not intolerant. Those who are a danger for the republic, its the Muslims,' Mayer explains. That makes a far more respectable crusade for the party. They present themselves as the barrier against Islamic fundamentalism, but sometimes it slips to just Islam.

But its not just the National Front that is growing stronger. The mainstream political alliances that once served as a bulwark against its expansion are growing weaker.

There is still the memory of Brahim Bouarram, says Mayer. But for some people, its disconnected from the new National Front. And for others, they still think the National Front is a danger  the majority of French people do  but they dont believe enough in [current president Emmanuel] Macron as the shield.

An anti-fascist demonstration on May 1, 2014 in Paris, held to commemorate the death of Brahim Bouarram [Getty Images]

A son honouring the memory of his father

Bouarrams memory lives on most visibly in his son Said, who now resides in Paris. When he was a teen, around age 15, Said dreamt of leaving home and moving to France, just as his father had.

While his mother never discouraged him, he could tell she felt wary. She didnt want to live through another nightmare, he recalls.

Said says no one ever contacted him or his family after his fathers murder  no nonprofits, no government officials. That finally changed in 2009, when activists from MRAP and the Paris mayors office reached out with an invitation.

They wanted Said to attend the yearly commemoration in Paris, at the site where his father was pushed into the Seine. It would be Saids first visit to France.

It felt bizarre, he recalls, to see the place where his fathers life was stolen. Journalists asked him questions he didnt know how to respond to. Because his father had lived far away, Said could only remember seeing him twice in his life, when he returned to Morocco on vacation.

If it happened to our family, it can happen to someone else. Said Bouraam, son of Brahim Bouarram

In 2010, Said was once again invited to attend the memorial in Paris. Le Mignot, MRAPs co-president, remembers he expressed a desire to stay in France. So her organisation helped him apply for a residence permit for the following year.

We felt responsible for him, to welcome him here so justice could be done, she says.

Now, every year on May 1, Said stands on the Carrousel Bridge overlooking the Seine, a living tribute to his fathers memory. He has his own child now, a two-year-old son. And he admits that hes afraid for the future. The far right continues to rise. This years European parliamentary elections are weighing on his mind.

The racism that claimed his fathers life continues to intrude on his own. Online, Said sometimes stumbles across comments telling him to go back to his own country, taunting him, saying his father shouldve taken swimming lessons.

It hurts me to see things like that, he says. But he has no intention of hiding. He already plans to return to the Carrousel Bridge next year, and the year after that. And his message remains just as steadfast: If it happened to our family, it can happen to someone else.

Across Europe, the far right is on the rise and it has some of the continents most diverse communities in its crosshairs.

To the far right, these neighbourhoods are no-go zones that challenge their notion of what it means to be European.

To those who live in them, they are Europe. Watch them tell their stories in This is Europe
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A giant test fuel tank for NASAs Space Launch System has been tied up beside the Tennessee River this week waiting to be unloaded, but dont blame the government shutdown. This ones on the river.

The river levels too high, NASA contractor Marc Verhage said Friday. Verhage is a former NASA employee who is now a senior vice president with the aerospace engineering company TriVector Services, Inc. The company is handling the tanks move to a test stand at NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.

The Tennessee River is swollen from heavy rains across the South in recent weeks, and crews cant unload the tank until the water drops where the tank will leave its transport barge. Theres security and the tug (team) manning it, Verhage said of the interim.

When the public last saw it, the 149-foot-long tank was being loaded on the barge at NASAs Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. That was Dec. 14, 2018. It arrived in north Alabama on Dec. 26.

The federal government shut down during the trip on Dec. 22 in a budget dispute between President Trump and Congress. Many NASA staffers are home for the duration, but the space agency planned for that possibility.

Verhage and NASA got the team handling the tank move placed on the exceptions list of government and contractor workers allowed to work through the shutdown. We did all of that ahead of time, Verhage said. On project-critical hardware, you have to get it where its supposed to be. When the river goes down, well unload it.

When testing begins at Marshall, the tank will be suspended from the test tower and attached to hydraulic cylinders. NASA says those cylinders will extend and retract, pushing and pulling in different combinations against the test (tank), the test stand base and towers, applying millions of pounds of pulling and crushing force and up to 340,000 pounds (approximately 1.5 million newtons) of shearing or sideways force." There are more than 30 test scenarios planned.

NASA engineers are confident the tank will pass the tests. Thats what their computer simulations say. But computer simulations arent enough when youre talking about a rocket NASA is counting on to take Americans back to deep space. So the SLS team built and equipped new test stands at Marshall to get the real-life proof.
Birmingham police are searching for a man who hasnt had contact with family for nearly a month.

Roosevelt Lassiter, 30, hasnt been in touch with family members since Dec. 6, 2018, police said. Officers checked his home and found the door ajar, but his belongings and vehicle were there, police said.

Its uncommon for him to be gone for an extended period of time without communicating with family members, police said.

Anyone with information about Lassiters location should contact Birmingham Police at 297-8420 or 911. If you have additional information on this investigation, contact Crime Stoppers @ 254-7777.
The US saw 312,000 new jobs being added to its economy in December 2018, according to an official employment report released Friday.

"GREAT JOBS NUMBERS JUST ANNOUNCED!" President Donald Trump tweeted soon after the Bureau of Labour Statistics in its monthly employment report for December said that non-farm payroll employment increased by 312,000 in the country and the unemployment rate was at 3.9 per cent.

The unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage point to 3.9 per cent in December, but that was due to more workers joining the job hunt, the report said.

A year earlier, the jobless rate was 4.1 per cent and the number of unemployed persons was 6.6 million, as against 6.3 million in 2018.

Attributing the job growth to Trump's policies, the Labour Secretary Alexander Acosta said the American economy surpassed 150 million jobs for the first time ever.

Following strong jobs data, major US stock indexes opened higher with the Dow industrials recording more than 300 points, The wall Street Journal reported.

"Waves of volatility have reverberated through markets amid fears of slowing economic growth around the world. Friday's payrolls numbers suggest a healthier US economy than some investors had anticipated," it said.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi who is from the opposition Democratic Party said while the latest jobs report is a good thing, the advantages would slip away due to the ongoing partial government shutdown.

"The December jobs statement contains some positive news, yet these gains threaten to slip away because of the government shutdown. A staggering 800,000 hard-working Americans are at risk of losing their paychecks, because the President insists on senselessly holding the American people hostage to his unpopular, ineffective, immoral and expensive border wall," said Pelosi, who was elected the House Speaker on Thursday.

The new House Democratic Majority, she said, has already taken the first steps to restore certainty and prosperity to people's lives by passing strong, bipartisan funding bills to reopen government: respecting workers and protecting borders.

"While an encouraging indicator of our resilient economy, the final jobs report of 2018 comes as the economy shows unsure signs of its direction," House Majority Leader Steny H Hoyer said, adding that the Trump administration's economic policies are "taking a toll on small businesses, farmers, and working families".

Republican lawmakers attributed the job growth to the tax reforms undertaken by the Trump administration about a year ago.

"This is the 12th jobs report following the historic rewrite of our nation's tax code, and the trend remains the same: strong growth for America," the House Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Kevin Brady said.

"This is what Republicans aimed for with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This full year of major job and wage gains is worth celebrating. More importantly, this year of success for our workers needs to be built upon," he said.

Also Read: Karnataka increases tax rates on petrol, diesel

Also Read: RCom, Reliance Jio seek clarity on DoT stand on spectrum deal
Birmingham police are searching for a 75-year-old man who has been missing since he left a relatives home around 3 p.m. Friday.

The man, 75-year-old Adolphus Brown, was visiting a relative in the 500 block of Orchid Road when he walked away, said Birmingham police Sgt. Johnny Williams.

Williams said Brown has been diagnosed with dementia. He may be trying to walk to his residence on 53rd Street in Ensley, he said.

Anyone with information about Browns location should contact Birmingham Police at 297-8420 or 911. If you have additional information on this investigation, contact Crime Stoppers @ 254-7777.
A Mobile man who was recently paroled on a second-degree assault charge was arrested and charged with first-degree rape last week, Mobile police said.

Che Marks, 44, is charged with forcing a woman to have sexual intercourse with him in the early-morning hours of Dec. 28, police said.

About 2:30 p.m. Dec. 28, police responded to a reported rape in the 1300 block of South Ann Street. The victim told police she met Marks at a service station on Saint Stephens Road and exchanged numbers.

She said she later received a text message from Marks telling her to meet at his apartment. Upon arriving there, the victim said Marks assaulted her and pulled her inside. He then forced her to have intercourse, police said.

The victim fled the scene and called police. Officers later found Marks near the area of Interstate 10 and Duval Street. He tried to flee on foot, but was taken into custody.

He was charged with two counts of first-degree rape, second-degree kidnapping, two counts of second-degree assault and attempting to elude, according to court records. He was being held in Mobile County Jail without bond.

Marks was paroled in August 2018 on a second-degree assault charge for which he was sentenced to life in prison.

In that case, he was arrested in May 2009 and charged with first-degree rape. His case went to trial and he was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. That conviction was reversed and Marks was again tried for first-degree rape, and again was found guilty and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. That conviction was also overturned and Marks pleaded guilty to second-degree assault, according to the Mobile County District Attorneys Office.

Marks had been out of state prison for two months when he was arrested in 2009. He served 15 years of a 20-year sentence after pleading guilty in 1995 to two counts of first-degree robbery, first-degree receiving stolen property and first-degree assault, according to the Alabama Department of Corrections.
An 18-year-old was charged with five counts of attempted murder after he fired shots at law enforcement officers as they tried to serve an arrest warrant on him, authorities said.

The incident happened about 10:55 a.m. Friday when officers with the Dothan Police Department, Houston County Sheriffs Office and the U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force attempted to serve an arrest warrant on 18-year-old Jaccarius Dawsey in the 1200 block of Third Avenue in Dothan, said Lt. Health Carpenter of the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation.

Dawsey led officers on a brief foot pursuit, during which he fired multiple shots at law enforcement officers, Carpenter said. Officers returned gunfire and later caught Dawsey outside a nearby home, he said.

No one was struck by gunfire during the exchange. Dawsey was taken to an area hospital for treatment of minor injuries, Carpenter said.

Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza asked SBI to investigate the shots fired by law enforcement. Agents from SBI responded and began processing the scene for evidence and interview witnesses.

In addition to outstanding warrants, Jaccarius Dawsey is charged with five counts of attempted murder and is being held in the Houston County Jail with no bond. Officials say additional charges are pending.
Police across the Southeast are asking the public to be on the lookout for a car driven by a Louisiana suspected of killing another man in a fight Friday night. The vehicle is a green Chevrolet Impala with the Louisiana tag 957ARY.

The driver, Kristan Broussard, age 33, is wanted in New Iberia, La., as a murder suspect, authorities said. If you see this car, contact law enforcement.

According to the Daily Iberian newspaper, Broussard got into an argument with Richard Southern, 38, at a home and shot him several times with a handgun. Broussard is considered armed and dangerous.
One north Alabama man is hospitalized and another is in jail for attempted murder after a confrontation over a borrowed cellphone and $15 led to a shooting on Saturday, Limestone County authorities said.

Kevin Dewayne Jordan, 35, of Rogersville, is in the Limestone County Jail on a charge of attempted murder, Sheriff Mike Blakelys office said. No bond has been set.

Deputies were called to the scene and found the victim, who was not identified, in a parking lot in the 20000 black of Tillman Mill Road. After getting a description of Jordans vehicle, deputies located it in Athens, where Athens police assisted in stopping it.

Investigators said Jordan had loaned the victim his cellphone and went to his home when it wasnt returned. A confrontation turned physical, and the victim was shot several times with a pistol. The victim was taken to Huntsville Hospital.
Ambani brothers led telecom firms are learnt to have approached jointly telecom ministry seeking clarification on the stand of the government over their spectrum trading deal, industry sources said Friday.

"Reliance Jio and Reliance Communications have jointly written to the Department of Telecom seeking clarification on its stand over spectrum trading deal between the two companies," an industry source told PTI.

Another source said Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio has reiterated to DoT that it is interested in going ahead with the spectrum trade with his Anil Ambani's firm Reliance Communications.

The DoT has put the spectrum trading between the two companies on hold after Reliance Jio refused to bear the burden on any past dues that RCom owes to the government.

In a letter to the DoT on Thursday, Jio cited petition of RCom before telecom tribunal TDSAT showing that the petitioners, who are the sellers, have retained the liabilities upon themselves.

RCom too took the liability on itself with respect to the clearing of dues to the department.

No immediate comments were received from the Department of Telecom, Reliance Jio and Reliance Communications in this regard.

RCom has offered the DoT corporate guarantee of Rs 1,400 crore issued by Reliance Realty Limited (RRL) and an undertaking from RRL not to alienate property for a value of Rs 1,400 crore for approving the sale of its spectrum to Reliance Jio.

Last year, RCom signed a pact with Reliance Jio for the sale of wireless spectrum, tower, fibre and media convergence nodes assets - the proceeds of which were to be used to pare debt.

From that deal, RCom so far announced the completion of the sale of optical fibre assets worth Rs 3,000 crore and sale of its media convergence nodes worth Rs 2,000 crore to Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio Infocomm.

RCom expects to get Rs 975 crore from sale of the spectrum which it has promised to pay dues of Rs 550 crore to Ericsson and Rs 230 crore to settle dues of minority stakeholder Reliance Infratel.

Meanwhile, National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) has put on hold insolvency proceedings against RCom after promise made by the company. NCLAT has adjourned the hearing to January 22 in the matter of Ericsson petition and RITL minority investors' related settlement petition.

Total debt on RCom is estimated to be around Rs 46,000 crore.

Also Read: Karnataka increases tax rates on petrol, diesel

Also Read: US adds 312,000 new jobs in December 2018
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Back in the day here in the Northeast, there was an off-price clothing chain called Syms. The owner was Sy Syms, and he introduced himself in all of his TV ads, which ended with "At Syms, an educated consumer is our best customer." Well, an educated consumer is the vaccine industry's worst customer, as evidenced by a global drop in vax uptake. The article below features vaccine profiteer and fellow autism parent Dr. Peter Hotez, whose rampant promotion of vaccination includes a memoir that is quite to the point, "Vaccines Did Not Cause Rachel's Autism." Any information about vaccine dangers, side effects or the people injured is considered "propanda." By whom and for what end?



Propaganda is defined as follows: information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view.



Side effects, errors, product problems, exist in all medicines, surgeries, vaccines. Talking about side effects is hardly biased, it's informative. Exactly what "political cause" would we be promoting by telling readers or viewers that vaccines can and do Harm The "Guardianship for our kids forever until we die" party? Some party.



Every group is allowed to "wake up" in this MeToo era except for those struck down by vaccines. The bias belongs to the industries, public relations attack dogs and the mass media. In fact, it is discrimination and harassment. "Propagandist film...." sounds like something out of the McCarthy era. I am proud yet bereft that my girls' names are on the VAXXED bus. Look for Vaxxed II soon. KIM

Below is the article.



###

Vaccine coverage continued to decline in parts of the developed world last year, resulting in 60,000 measles cases in Europe  the most this century  and a record number of pediatric flu deaths in the U.S. In several Western U.S. counties, up to 30% of children have not received their full vaccine schedule  a trend that's been worsening since 2009. The big picture: This drop-off in vaccinations owes primarily to parental exemptions for non-medical reasons, typically because of false beliefs that vaccines cause autism or illness. There are signs the anti-vaccine movement's misinformation campaigns will strengthen in 2019, leading to further declines in vaccine coverage and possibly more outbreaks of infectious disease.
Iconic toy brand The LEGO Group and Nexus Malls, the fastest growing retail real estate company, today etched their name in history with The Guinness World Record for Most Carriages in a Toy Train category. The feat was achieved by The LEGO Group (Singapore), K K Cariapa, John Seemon, Nexus Malls (all Indians) at Seawoods Grand Central Mall, India on 4 January 2019.

This extraordinary accomplishment was achieved by building 69 carriage LEGO toy train tugged by a single locomotive chugged across 35 feet at Navi Mumbais ultimate fashion destination Seawoods Grand Central Mall.

Commenting on this preeminent occasion, Mr. Rohan Mathur, Head-Marketing, Emerging Asia, The LEGO Group, said, We are extremely proud and delighted to announce LEGOs new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS win for the most carriages in a toy train. Our journey with GWR goes way back where we have successfully completed many noteworthy records under multiple categories across the globe. This achievement is particularly noteworthy because it takes the Adult Fans of LEGO (AFOLs) in India to the next level. This record title win is a cynosure of our efforts towards establishing a strong brand preference for LEGO in the Indian market. We are happy to have partnered with Nexus Malls this Christmas Season and are overwhelmed by the support of the AFOLs to make it happen.

On achieving the feat John Seemon, an ardent Adult Fan of LEGO said When K.K Cariapa, Founder of The Beanpod presented his plan to me, I thought the scale was ambitious. I am glad we were able to achieve this together with Nexus malls and The LEGO Group.

Guinness World Records officials, who were present at the mall, confirmed the achievement and also awarded the Guinness World Records certificate for Most Carriages in a Toy Train category to K K Cariapa, John Seemon & Mr. Nishank Joshi. The feat will also be posted on the official website of the Guinness World Records in due course.

Commenting on this achievement, Mr. Nishank Joshi, Chief Marketing Officer, Nexus Malls, said, We are very proud to be a part of this record breaking feat at Seawoods Grand Central Mall. As malls, not often do you get a chance to be a part of the Guinness Book of World Records and we have a distinction of being a part of multiple such records. It is an honour to partner with The LEGO Group, who shared our vision to create an experience which was larger than life for the audiences. This Christmas, at Seawoods Grand Central Mall, we also saw the largest LEGO City, Landscape which played host to over 10000 kids who registered and participated in activities since December 15.

Earlier in December, Nexus Malls and The LEGO Group had announced, Indias grandest LEGO Christmas Carnival at Seawoods Grand Central Mall. The magnificent month-long extravaganza witnessed an array of unique building and engagement activities involving parents and children across age groups. As a part of the engagement initiative, a 25 ft tall Lego Christmas tree was built with participation from over 4,000 guests. The event witnessed a footfall of over 800,000 through the month.
ON PURPOSE, a creative communications consultancy, has been appointed as agency on record for three businesses  Baghirathi Group, Kaiterra India and Smart Power India, following competitive pitches. The wins will see ON PURPOSE execute integrated briefs across media relations, branding and design and social media planning and execution. The briefs for the brands include sensitizing stakeholders towards the need for a more meaningful dialogue on energy access, sustainable mobility solutions and awareness of the harmful effects of indoor air-pollution.



In addition to managing corporate reputation for Baghirathi Group, a sustainable mobility solutions provider in Karnataka, the remit for ON PURPOSE also includes media and visual storytelling for the companys low carbon, zero emission electric vehicle brand rydS. For Kaiterra India, ON PURPOSE has been tasked with using strategic media and influencer relations to raise awareness of its mission to map and monitor the worlds air and give us cleaner and bluer skies. For Smart Power India, a Rockerfeller Foundation initiative, ON PURPOSE to generate greater discussion & debate with stakeholders online around last mile connectivity of electricity to underserved rural areas.

The accounts managed out of ON PURPOSEs offices in Delhi & Bangalore will strengthen the agencys positioning as a consultancy focused on using communications to effect social change in India.

On winning the communication mandates, Girish Balachandran, Managing Partner, ON PURPOSE said, Its a privilege to partner with these brands and do our bit to help them fulfil their missions. Were excited about the cultural fit weve experienced with the people in these organisations and were hoping to use our competencies and expertise to help these brands access and engage stakeholders in new and exciting ways.

Founded in July 2017, and recently declared Emerging Consultancy of the Year at the Fulcrum Awards in 2018, ON PURPOSE is building a team made up of individuals from uncommon backgrounds. The firm has built a portfolio of clients in the development sector focusing on clean energy and public health as well as with brands in technology, mobility and manufacturing. In the last 18 months the firm has won and executed assignments for over 30 clients including Sesame Workshop India, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages, Cisco, USAID (via Nexant), National AIDS Control Organisation (via FHI360), Gates Foundation (via M4ID), and ReNew Power among others.
This New Year, Logitech took the time to thank influencers on social media who have made a difference in peoples lives. Consistent with their own beliefs in creating navigation, expression and communication solutions that enrich and improve creativity and productivity in the digital world the brand has expressed their gratitude to those who abide by the same beliefs.

For Logitech the year end is not just about resolutions, it is also about thanking people that helped you sail through it, the people that brought the best out of you, the people that made an impact in your life in 2018.

Thus for this yearender, "We wanted to recognise and acknowledge people who have incorporated creativity, productivity and efficiency at work for themselves and others. Hence the idea was to reach out influencers who could thank their mentors, seniors and peers who had been responsible in making them more creative, productive and effective at work" said Ashok Jangra, Cluster Category Head  India and SW Asia, Logitech.



The yearender Thank You activity was powered by Logitech by seeding the mentors, seniors and peers Logitech products that will enrich their creativity and productivity in todays digital world. The social media campaign was conceptualised by Kippis.



Hi @hiteshrajbhagat, @Karanbajaj would like to send you a thank-you note.

"You have contributed lots in the creativity I put to my work. This has also resulted in better productivity and the credit goes to you. Thanks again!"#HappyNewYear  Logitech India (@India_Logitech) December 31, 2018

The mentors were thanked for their support by Logitech Indias Twitter handle with a special message from the influencer.

"We see high potential for Logitech in India amongst its huge community of advanced users who require speed, precision and comfort in their interaction with the digital content." said Jangra.



"Thanks @Buntylogix for the MS-office skills you helped me with, will certainly add value to my work. And as you are a master of Excel, I believe that Logitech will further help you in your day in office. #HappyNewYear"

-@rohitarora_25  Logitech India (@India_Logitech) December 31, 2018

The objective of this campaign was to get them introduced to the might of Logitech products

Jangra commented, "Logitech as a brand primarily focuses at the needs of the consumers and is driven by the desire to leverage on innovation in the product design. We prefer a simplified yet impactful approach to address the user needs. However we keep experimenting among the channels through which we connect with target audience. Through our products we wish to enrich and enhance their creative and productive needs.

Our year ender campaign was our unified attempt to integrate gratitude in the professional ecosystem by enabling executives to thank supportive mentors, colleagues and individuals in a different way. This was our technology meets gratitude endeavour."
Quaker Indias Kitchen, Khanna & Konversations is back in the New Year, this time with Michelin starred Chef Vikas Khanna jamming over breakfast with talented young Bollywood stars Vicky Kaushal and Bhumi Pednekar and Tamil actress, Raiza Wilson. Following the success of the first season which crossed 45 million views on online streaming platform Hotstar, Quakers Kitchen, Khanna & Konversations will see Chef Khanna rustling up an array of interesting recipes using Quaker Oats.

The series features entertaining banter between the young stars and the celebrity Chef as they jam up to cook exciting recipes made nutritious by adding Quaker Oats. Each recipe has been crafted by Chef Vikas Khanna to demonstrate tasty yet convenient and nutritious options that are perfect for youth to adopt to complement their rushed lifestyle.

Speaking about the video series, Chef Vikas Khanna said, Sharing the kitchen with Vicky, Bhumi and Raiza was truly a fun way to know more about todays youth icons and how they view everyday nutrition. It always amazes people to know how versatile Quaker oats are, and how easy it is to add it to any recipe to get a boost of protein, fibre and energy. I always find a host of ways to add Quaker oats to my cooking  be it in the form of oats milk made in the blender, or as a healthy dose of wholegrain in easy-to-do granola bars.

In the episode with Vicky Kaushal, Chef Vikas Khanna turns a humble smoothie into a gourmet delight, all with a healthy Quaker oats base. Speaking about his experience on the show, Vicky Kaushal said, The idea of carrying an oats smoothie with me is great as it is a quick and easy option even in the middle of a shoot. I think I would like to make this for my mother because she would always wish she had a daughter who could at least make tea for her.

From a fruity smoothie to granola bars and a contemporary version of the Nan Khatai, the web-series features fun recipes made nutritious with Quaker Oats, and whipped up in Chef Vikas Khannas inimitable style.

Sharing her enthusiasm for being on the show, Bhumi Pednekar said, Breakfast is one of my most favorite meals. We made oats granola bars on the show, and Chef Vikas makes it all so simple and easy to follow, so I am so excited to try making them myself. Its a super convenient option to take on-the-go.

Raiza Wilson made Quaker Oats Nan Khatai with a mixed berry jam filling. Sharing her experience of cooking alongside the chef, she said, I always used to get shouted at in the kitchen at home, so it was really my first time helping in the kitchen. Chef Vikas made the simple nan khatai into an exotic dish, and I was amazed to learn how easy it is to use Quaker oats in anything we cook.

Nobel Dhingra, Associate Director  Marketing (Quaker), PepsiCo India, added: We are delighted that Kitchen, Khanna & Konversations has connected with our young audience. We understand that young people are increasingly focused on their nutrition intake, but they also tell us that they dont want to compromise on taste. Our objective with this web-series is to help young people understand how easily they can opt to increase the nutrition quotient of their favorite dishes by adding Quaker Oats. Not only are oats easy to incorporate in whatever your preferred choice of breakfast may be, they also help provide much-needed benefits of wholegrain, protein and energy to get you going.

Gulshan Verma, SVP & Head - Client & Agency, Hotstar: "Hotstar is proud to partner with Quaker to present the second season of Kitchen, Khanna and Konversations with Chef Khanna. As Indias leading video streaming platform, Hotstar has a deep understanding of both the consumer and the kind of content that they love to watch. This makes us one of the best creators of branded content that can deliver and delight. The majority of Quakers consumers are digital natives and with our storytelling capabilities, best-in-class reach and engagement, we ensured this demographic received a unique and impactful experience. We hope the audience enjoys this season and kicks off a healthy 2019!

The all-new episodes of Quakers Kitchen, Khanna & Konversations, hosted by Chef Vikas Khanna and featuring Vicky Kaushal, Bhumi Pednekar and Raiza Wilson are now available on Hotstar.

Watch here: https://www.hotstar.com/tv/kitchen-khanna-konversations/s-1840/seasons/season-2/ss-6507
REDDING, Calif. - Three were arrested after the Redding Neighborhood Police Unit found them in possession of two pounds of meth.

On Jan. 3, the NPU was patrolling the areas of Starthmore Drive and Caitlin Drive in Redding when they saw a man run in to what was known by the department as a "problem residence."

Prior to running in the home, he was standing next to a car that was occupied by Tisha Susann Williams, 38, of Sacramento, who they learned was on felony probation for illegal possession of a firearm. They subsequently searched the car she was standing next to and found two pounds of methamphetamine.

At this time, police believed that the people inside the residence may also be involved in the narcotic activity. They called for the people to come out of the house and they came into contact with Robert Gregory Tabarez, 36, of Sacramento, and Ou Saechao, 37, who were detained without incident.

Officers said that Saechao had been arrested 15 times previously in Shasta County for multiple crimes including narcotic sales and illegal weapon possession.

Officers obtained a search warrant and entered the residence where they found ammunition, which Saechao is prohibited from possessing due to prior felony convictions.

Tabarez and Williams were arrested and booked into the Shasta County Jail for possession of methamphetamine for sales and conspiracy.

Tabarez was also booked on three active arrest warrants from Shasta, Sonoma, and Mendocino counties.

Additionally, Saechao was arrested and booked into jail for being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition.
Celebrity

In a press release, a spokesperson confirms that the leader of country rock band The Tractors died peacefully, surrounded by family on Thursday, January 3.

Jan 5, 2019

AceShowbiz - The Tractors' leader, Steve Ripley, died at age 69 after battling cancer. He passed away on Thursday, January 3, at his home in Pawnee, Oklahoma. Sources said that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. Following the news of his death, tributes came from close friends and acquaintances.

Isaac Hanson of Tulsa-based pop trio Hanson expressed his deep condolences in a statement. "Knowing and working with Steve was a pleasure," he said. "Whether we were recording, mixing or simply sharing our love for great music, Steve was a wealth of knowledge and a source of encouragement. Steve will always be to me, to all of us, a beloved friend, and an immense musical talent gone too soon."

Another tribute came on Instagram from Taylor Hanson, another member of Hanson. "So heartbroken saying goodbye to dear friend #SteveRipley fellow okie musician, leader of #TheTractors, red dirt pioneer, mentor, mad scientist, great Dad and trusted friend," he wrote in the caption.

Alongside the caption was a photo of Ripley performing in 2005 with Taylor playing piano by his side. "This pic captures a treasured moment where @hanson shared the stage with Steve (center) and fellow legend and friend #LeonRussell back in 2005," Taylor added. "So, proud to know this good man, can only imagine the joyful sound in Heaven tonight. We love you Steve and miss you greatly. May the final concert last forever."

Ripley worked with the upcoming OKPOP museum to help curate its audio collection. Following his death, OKPOP's executive director Jeff Moore released a condolences statement, "Steve was such an inspiration to the OHS team. His vision and dedication to the OKPOP project has been invaluable. He truly loved Oklahoma, he introduced us to many of his colleagues in the music industry, we will always be indebted to him. His passion and energy will continue to live through everything we do at OKPOP."

Ripley was the leader of country-rock band, The Tractors. Their 1994 debut single, "Baby Likes to Rock It", garnered critical attention and earned them two Grammy nominations. Meanwhile, their self-titled debut album was certified double platinum. Even though the band's other songs didn't get that much attention, he still worked as a recording artist, songwriter, producer, engineer, radio, and inventor of the "stereo guitar." He also worked for Leon Russell, J.J. Cale, Roy Clark and Johnnie Lee Wills.
Warner Bros. Pictures Movie

Words are the movie, which has Matt Reeves on board to direct, will start shooting in November though it has not been announced if Ben Affleck will return as the Caped Crusader or not.

Jan 5, 2019

AceShowbiz - A new Batman movie is happening after all. The project, which has been long in limbo following rumors of Ben Affleck's departure as the Gotham hero, is reportedly eying a late fall start date. In a piece released by The Hollywood Reporter, the site's writer Borys Kit reveals that Matt Reeves' "The Batman" may start shooting in November.

"The script is basically in, although Reeves will continue tweaking it and working on it," Reeves says in response to his colleague Aaron Couch's question about when the studio will announce Affleck's replacement should he really exit the franchise. "And I'm hearing the studio wants to start shooting in November. So let's say between now and then?"

In August last year, Reeves said that the movie aimed for a 2019 spring or early summer start date. "What we've talked about is hopefully in the spring or early summer, something like that," the director said at the Television Critics Association's summer press tour.

Refusing to comment on Affleck's future in the DC Universe, Reeves said, "There are ways in which all of this connects to DC, to the DC universe as well. We're one piece of many pieces so I don't want to comment on that except to say that I'm focused very specifically on this aspect of the DC world."

He went on gushing about his take on the DC Comics character, saying it would be a "defining" and "very personal" story about the Dark Knight, but not based on Frank Miller's "Batman: Year One". He explained, "We're not doing any particular [comic]. 'Year One' is one of the many comic books that I love. We are definitely not doing 'Year One'."

He added, "Obviously we're not doing an origin tale or anything like that. We're doing a story that is definitively Batman though and trying to tell a story that's emotional and yet is really about him being the world's greatest detective and all the things that for me, since I was a kid, made me love Batman."

While Affleck has been rumored to retire as the Caped Crusader after his last appearance in 2017's "Justice League", several names have been thrown as a possible replacement. Among the potential contenders are Kit Harington, Jake Gyllenhaal and Jack Huston.
WENN/Brian To Celebrity

After a number of followers point out that the reality star behaves like she's under the influence in a makeup video, many have come to her defense.

Jan 5, 2019

AceShowbiz - Jenni "JWoww" Farley, who is currently having marital problem with estranged husband Roger Mathews, has sparked concern among her fans over her well-being. Fans believe that the reality television star is struggling to maintain her composure after she appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol in a recent Instagram video.

The video in question featured JWoww advertising a makeup brand by trying out the company's eyeliner product. But instead of focusing on her perfectly shaped eyeliner, people pointed out that she behaved like she was under the influence and slurred her words. "This girl is slurring her words. She's definitely on something," one fan commented.

"She's totally wasted," wrote another, as one other added of the "Jersey Shore" star, "So obvious there is NO WAY she is sober you can tell from voice pitch & slurring in the beginning of video." Someone else simply stated, "High as f**k." Some others noted that the psychological toll of her ugly divorce was what caused her "bizarre" behavior in the clip.

However, an overwhelming number of fans have come to her defense by insisting that she wasn't high in the video. Instead, they thought that the MTV personality was just tired from taking care of her children. "I just see her selling products as a way to provide for herself and her kids, which has nothing to do with her marriage," one fan said. "The poor girl has enough on without people piping up every 2 minutes about their personal lives."

Some others pointed out that JWoww wasn't slurring her words because that's how she normally talks. "If you watch old JS episodes, she always talks like that," one pointed out. One individual noted, "It's not for us to judge as no evidence. It's up to marital court judge and her and her husband."
Not entirely trustworthy  but arguably more trustworthy than the MTA. Photo: Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

New York governor Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday that  surprise!  the long-planned L train subway shutdown between Manhattan and Brooklyn wouldnt be necessary after all.

In the last few weeks, the governor had gathered together some smart people from the engineering schools at Columbia and Cornell, and they had poked around and figured out a way to repair damage from Hurricane Sandy with drastically less work than had been planned. Instead of closing the Canarsie tubes, which carry the L under the East River, in their entirety for 15 months, the MTA should be able to execute Cuomos new plan with just 15 to 20 months of night and weekend service reductions, according to acting MTA chairman Freddy Ferrer.

If this plan will work, its great news. But theres an obvious question: If this plan will work, and if some engineering professors whose primary work isnt on subway construction were able to come up with it in a matter of weeks, why didnt anyone think of it earlier? Why did we spend three years planning for a 15-month shutdown that is, in retrospect, totally unnecessary? Is the Metropolitan Transportation Authority staffed by idiots?

I do not mean that as a rhetorical question.

We have learned over the last couple of years that the primary driver of increased subway delays is not overcrowding or deferred maintenance or budget cuts  it is a series of incompetent managerial decisions the MTA made, lowering speed limits without good cause and installing faulty sensors to enforce those limits, causing train operators to drive well below the posted limits to avoid tripping an errant emergency brake.

Andy Byford, who came to the MTA in 2017 from Toronto to run New Yorks subway and bus system, has rolled out a program to fix the faulty sensors and raise speed limits where appropriate. Why didnt anyone think of that earlier? Had the MTA been staffed by idiots? Quite possibly, yes.

The embarrassing implication of Cuomos Thursday announcement is that, until his intervention, the MTA had been preparing to do something very wasteful and stupid. Since the MTA is an agency that routinely sets tunnel-construction-cost world records, I am entirely prepared to believe that is true.

But I am also prepared to believe that it is false. Cuomo, who has often shown little interest in the subway agency he cant bring himself to admit he controls, is not an expert on subway construction or maintenance. He has a past track record of meddling in negative ways in capital projects. While I dont trust the MTA to make smart choices, I dont trust him, either.

The main Cuomo-driven change to the Canarsie tube project is a decision not to replace all the bench walls. These are concrete platforms that run on either side of the train, concealing electric cables and providing a walkway for maintenance and emergency egress. Because the bench walls run along both sides of both tracks, there are 32,000 feet of them in total, and they have been weakened from the days they spent soaking in salt water after Hurricane Sandy, which has in turn exposed electrical cables to damage and reduced system reliability.

Demolishing and rebuilding six miles of such walls without damaging the surrounding tunnel shell was the main, time-consuming project that was supposed to require such a long closure. But Cuomo and his outside engineers now say the MTA can run new electric cabling outside the bench walls, strung on racks on the side of the tunnel itself. Therefore, they can abandon the old electric cables within the bench walls and dont have to worry about rebuilding them; they can rebuild only the parts of the walls that are literally crumbling, and reinforce the rest with fiberglass.

Sounds great. But in 2016, the MTA said replacing all the bench walls wasnt just necessary to fix the electrical system. It was necessary to protect the structural integrity of the two tubes that carry trains through the tunnel, they said. Were they lying? Mistaken? Incompetent?

Again, I am open to the answer to one or more of those questions being yes, but we do need an answer.

I do not feel as negatively about Cuomos eleventh-hour intervention as a lot of commentators do. If Cuomo proves to have been right about this, he will have done New Yorkers a great service; better late than never. And there may even be lessons that could be taken from a successful patch job of these tunnels for the North River Tunnels connecting Manhattan and New Jersey. The eventual need to replace aging bench walls in these tunnels is one of the key reasons to fear an eventual disruption that severely impairs service on Amtraks Northeast Corridor.

I have been complaining for years that the MTA fails to adopt best practices from around the world that would allow it to build and operate its infrastructure better and more cheaply  and that this failure is the main reason we, one of the wealthiest cities in the world, can barely afford to expand our transit infrastructure. Now, Cuomo has inserted himself in the MTAs operations, declared his intention to take on the transportation-industrial complex and  in a haphazard and ill-timed manner  urged the agency to look at a cheaper, better cabling idea he found in Europe.

I can fault the late timing, but I cant fault the impulse. Lets hope this plan proves workable as the MTA hashes out the details over the coming weeks and months, and lets hope this taste of being the Subway Savior encourages Cuomo to take a more proactive role as the ultimate overseer of New Yorks subways. Lord knows the MTA needs the oversight.
Netflix/Myles Aronowitz TV

The actor also confirms once and for all whether he or his co-stars would be appearing in 'Avengers: Endgame'.

Jan 5, 2019

AceShowbiz - Former "Luke Cage" actor Mike Colter has just given an insight into his character's fate following the devastating ending in "Avengers: Infinity War" caused by Thanos' snap. In a interview with ComicBook.com, the actor confirms the inside joke within Marvel fans by saying that Luke had fallen victim to the snap.

After Netflix decided to pull the plug on "Luke Cage" late last year, fans were joking that the Power Man didn't survive Thanos' snap a.k.a. Decimation. It turned out, it's true, at least according to Colter, who also confirmed once and for all whether he or his co-stars would be appearing in "Avengers: Endgame".

"Am I in 'Avengers: Endgame'? Well, you know what? Based off what happened, I'm already dead, the snap has already happened with Luke Cage," he told the site ahead of his appearance at Wizard World in New Orleans this weekend. "We're dead, we're already gone! I hate to break it down, break people's but no, no, we're not."

While he shut down the possibility of him reprising his role as the Marvel hero in "Avengers: Endgame", the actor remains optimistic that he will be able to play the character once again somewhere. "You know what? Sure. Absolutely, I'd be down for [movies]. Anything is possible," Colter shared.

"These things are sort of up in the air, at this moment. It's pretty fresh. We got canceled on October 19th, or something like that I think the date was. So yeah, it's still pretty fresh. We'll see. With time, they'll probably be some more clarity for everybody whether we're actually gonna be involved in anything else," he continued.

Netflix canceled "Luke Cage" after 2 seasons. "Unfortunately, Marvel's 'Luke Cage' will not return for a third season," Marvel and Netflix said in a joint statement. "Everyone at Marvel Television and Netflix is grateful to the dedicated showrunner, writers, cast and crew who brought Harlem's Hero to life for the past two seasons, and to all the fans who have supported the series."
Instagram Celebrity

The 'Real Housewives of New York City' star says that the pilot decided to turn around to ensure her safety, but she protested it because it would delay other passengers.

Jan 5, 2019

AceShowbiz - Bethenny Frankel just found herself in another drama caused by her fish allergy. Weeks after suffering a near-fatal allergic reaction to fish, the TV personality revealed she had a traumatic incident during a flight because the airline ignored her warning about her fish allergy.

In a tweet posted on Thursday, January 3, the main cast member of "The Real Housewives of New York City" said she had alerted the unnamed airline multiple times about her health issue. But after she boarded the plane, the stewardesses served bass which could trigger her allergy.

"Called airline mult x to say I have fish allergy. Got on & they're serving bass. They couldn't not serve it they said," she wrote. The pilot then decided to turn around to ensure her safety, but she protested it because it would delay other passengers. "Then they were turning around which I protested bc it would delay people. Cabin asked to not serve it & pilot made announcement to plane. That was fun. #epilife," she added.

Called airline mult x to say I have fish allergy. Got on & theyre serving bass. They couldnt not serve it they said. Then they were turning around which I protested bc it would delay people. Cabin asked to not serve it & pilot made announcement to plane. That was fun. #epilife  Bethenny Frankel (@Bethenny) January 3, 2019

Bethenny later explained that one can have an allergic reaction to the smell of cooking fish. "To clarify: some allergens are transmitted by touch & air. Fish is one & is fatal," she wrote in another post. "The more exposure to them, the more susceptible. It's not like an immunity thing where more exposure means less susceptible. It's opposite. I've always kept it quiet but that's over now."

To clarify: some allergens are transmitted by touch & air. Fish is one & is fatal. The more exposure to them, the more susceptible. Its not like an immunity thing where more exposure means less susceptible. Its opposite. Ive always kept it quiet but thats over now.  Bethenny Frankel (@Bethenny) January 3, 2019

Vowing to make airlines be more aware of food allergies, she declared, "This airline knows who they are. And this policy will change if it is all I focus on. I almost screwed everyone's night up too, which the pilot delightfully announced."

She continued, "I ask airlines @UnitedAirlines @AmericanAir @Delta @JetBlue @SouthwestAir @VirginAmerica etc. stop serving airborne allergens. I'll stay on this until you do."

I ask airlines @UnitedAirlines@AmericanAir@Delta@JetBlue@SouthwestAir@VirginAmerica etc. stop serving airborne allergens. Ill stay on this until you do. The one that initially refused & pilot who called me out on speaker knows. Cabin backed me up. Plane didnt turn around.  Bethenny Frankel (@Bethenny) January 4, 2019

While the pilot made the right decision to turn around, the 48-year-old author clarified in another tweet that it didn't happen because most of the passengers rejected the idea. "plane didn't turn bc cabin voted," she said.

1)I called ahead mult x 2)fish cooked in plane NOT the same as restaurant.3)been allergic since birth to fish NOT shellfish 4)plane didnt turn bc cabin voted 5)pilot called me out to whole plane 6)airlines should NOT serve airborne allergens. & 7)who the F wants fish on a plane?  Bethenny Frankel (@Bethenny) January 4, 2019

Bethenny opened up in December about her scary experience of suffering from a "rare fish allergy" when she unknowingly had a soup with fish in it. She felt itchy and was unconscious for 15 minutes, before being taken to the hospital.

After she regained consciousness, she couldn't talk and see, leading her to think that she had a stroke. Doctors told her that she could've died if she didn't receive the proper treatment five minutes later. She ended up being treated in ICU for two days.

Bethenny Frankel was left heartbroken over a boy's death due to fish allergy.

Earlier this month, she shared a tragic story of an 11-year-old boy who died from an allergic reaction to the smell of cooking fish. She posted on Instagram Stories a snapshot of the New York Daily News' article and wrote over it, "This is bringing me to tears. When it's happening, you know you're dying. Poor baby."
WENN/FayesVision Celebrity

Michael Kutcher admits he is still in lost for words to describe his gratitude over the 'That '70s Show' star's generous offer as he encourages people to register as organ donors.

Jan 5, 2019

AceShowbiz - Ashton Kutcher was so desperate to save his twin brother's life during a teenage health crisis, the actor offered to donate his own heart.

Michael Kutcher, who has congenital disorder cerebral palsy, was just 13 when he was diagnosed with the heart disease viral cardiomyopathy, and he was initially given up to a month to live, before that life expectancy was slashed to just 48 hours if doctors failed to locate a suitable donor.

Now 40, Michael reveals Ashton was devastated at the thought of losing his fraternal twin, and was willing to sacrifice himself to save his sick brother.

Luckily, that wasn't necessary as Michael received a last-minute heart transplant, which allowed him to make a full recovery, but just the thought of the That '70s Show star's generosity still makes his brother emotional.

"It's just... I can't find the words," he told Us Weekly about the touching offer. "It's a connection that you can't explain. In all seriousness, we're just very connected... It's an honour or deep appreciation and a deep love for someone who would sacrifice that for you. I really can't put words to it."

Michael, who is now living in Colorado with his 14-year-old son and his new girlfriend and her two kids, marked the 27th anniversary of his heart transplant last month, December 2018, and with his health better than ever, he is now using his own experience to encourage more people to register as organ donors as part of the #BeTheGift campaign.

"I'm thankful for the last year, to be able to touch the individuals I have, to join the #BeTheGift campaign, and get the awareness out, (to get) more donations, and to raise my son to be the amazing individual he is," Michael said.

"I have recently built a new family here in Colorado and found an amazing woman with two younger children herself. It's another chapter in my life. I'm thankful to have started writing that chapter."
Celebrity

Lawyer for Bobby Beausoleil, who has served nearly 50 years behind bars for Gary Hinman murder, claims that the former music teacher is not the same person he was in 1969.

Jan 5, 2019

AceShowbiz - Manson Family cult killer Bobby Beausoleil has been recommended for parole after serving almost 50 years for the 1969 murder of Gary Hinman.

The 71-year-old was initially sentenced to death in 1970. The sentence was later muted to a life sentence.

Beausoleil's request for parole has previously been denied 18 times, but a California parole board has recommended his release.

Beausoleil is currently being held at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville.

Incoming California Governor Gavin Newsom will now evaluate the former music teacher's case.

"As far as I'm concerned, he should have been recommended for parole decades ago," Beausoleil's lawyer Jason Campbell says. "Under California standards, all that matters is whether they are currently dangerous. I don't think that by any definition I can imagine, that he is currently dangerous."

"Bobby has consistently expressed deep remorse. He's not the same person he was in 1969. He's a much more thoughtful and gentle and compassionate person than he was as a 20-year-old kid who murdered someone."

Governor Newsom's decision will come as Quentin Tarantino completes work on "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood", which chronicles the 1969 killing spree carried out by the late Charles Manson and his followers.

Fellow Manson Family members Bruce Davis and Leslie Van Houten are also scheduled for new parole hearings in 2019.
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As the stalemate and partial government shutdown over $5 billion for a border wall/fence/barrier grinds on, the tragedies associated with illegal immigration continue to mount. Unfortunately, both sides are focused on photo ops and talking points for political leverage rather than dealing with the facts.

Thats unfortunate, because in addition to the human tragedy there is the question of whether the United States can defend its borders  even in cases that tear at the heartstrings.

Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus descended on Lordsburg after the death of a 7-year-old Guatamalan girl, Jakelin Caal Maquin, in mid-December. She became ill during the difficult journey through the harsh desert environment to the southern U.S. border. Border agents had her flown by helicopter to an El Paso hospital, where she died. Questions surround her death, including whether she had food or water in the days before she crossed the border with her father and the amount of time before she received medical attention.

The visiting delegation delivered speeches before cameras, demanding probes into whether Customs and Border Patrol was responsible. The grandstanding ignored that the childs father  perhaps unaware of the very real physical risks and with the best of intentions  put her in danger to begin with.

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But the same group didnt have much to say when an illegal immigrant identified as Gustavo Perez Arriaga allegedly shot and killed Newman, Calif., police officer Ronil Singh, who had pulled the suspect over on a DWI stop the day after Christmas.

The local sheriff  and President Trump and conservative media outlets  quickly used the incident to argue our borders are not secure and sanctuary policies are in part to blame for the death of Singh  a legal immigrant from Fiji with a wife and 5-year-old son. Perez had previous DUI incidents and reportedly self-identified himself as a gang member. As it was with the tragic death of Kathryn Steinle in San Francisco, the fact immigrants commit fewer crimes than their U.S.-born peers wasnt in the script.

While Trump makes any compromise difficult with his bellicose theatrics, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi isnt helping by calling the same physical barriers Democrats have supported for years immoral, border barriers in some form would help with the humanitarian crisis by sending the message we do care about border security and funneling crossers into safer, more manageable areas than Antelope Wells, N.M.

When Barack Obama was president, he addressed a similar flood of Central American refugees by having his administration take out ads in newspapers in those countries telling people not to come because they wouldnt get to stay. Thats because asylum is for those who can prove they fled certain kinds of persecution and not just a way to seek a better life.

In the most recent child death  8-year-old Felipe Gomez Alonzo of Honduras who died in an Alamogordo hospital  the father told the Associated Press he was fleeing poverty and had heard a rumor that if he had a child he would get to stay. No one can blame him for seeking a better life, but thats not an asylum claim; thats what the legal immigration process is for. And the reality is the U.S. simply cannot accommodate everyone who seeks to better their lives and the lives of their families by immigrating here.

Thats why the time for photo ops and talking points has passed; the United States needs its leaders to finally act and fix the broken immigration system so it is fair, and safe, and humane. And then enforce it.

The choice is clear. Either we are OK with this free-for-all where anyone can risk life and limb to cross the border, consistent with the open borders rhetoric of some of the Democrat House majority who urge more facilities and medical care for all those who want to enter. Or, we find a way to secure the border while reinforcing Obamas message and encourage safer legal migration that doesnt sacrifice immigrant children and legal residents on the same altar of inaction.

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.
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WASHINGTON  One by one they leap  or are pushed  from the foundering USS Trump, each offering a variation of the same plea: Dont blame me.

Comes now retired Gen. John Kelly, the second of President Trumps chiefs of staff to be discarded. Days before departing, he paused for a two-hour telephone interview with the Los Angeles Times. It was an extended exercise in self-absolution.

Dont blame him for Trumps border-wall obsession. To be honest, its not a wall, Kelly disclosed, insisting we left a solid concrete wall early on in the administration. A day after the interview was published, Trump tweeted: An all concrete Wall was NEVER ABANDONED.

Dont blame Kelly for Trumps fabricated crisis at the southern border. If you want to stop illegal immigration, stop U.S. demand for drugs and expand economic opportunity in Central America, Kelly proposed.

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Dont blame him for Trumps claims that Hispanic immigrants spread violence and drugs. Illegal immigrants, overwhelmingly, are not bad people, Kelly said.

And dont blame him for the travel ban or the family separation policies, either. Rather, he, argued, he should be judged for what Trump didnt do: withdraw from Syria and Afghanistan  which hes doing now, pull troops out of South Korea or withdraw from NATO  which remain uncertain.

Right. And if we judge success by things that didnt happen, we should also credit Kelly for avoiding a zombie apocalypse.

Kelly served his country honorably for decades. But theres nothing courageous in announcing, on the way out the door, that he didnt agree with many awful things Trump did on his watch. There was, once, a good argument that qualified people, by taking administration jobs, could temper Trumps worst instincts. But it turned out Trump was not to be tempered. Those who disagreed with the madness had an obligation to resign, or at least to speak out  not to wash their hands of responsibility after the fact.

Dont blame Rex Tillerson. The ousted secretary of state recently told Bob Schieffer of CBS News he reined in Trump by saying, You cant do it that way. It violates the law. It violates a treaty.

Dont blame Jim Mattis. The former defense secretary waited until resigning to publicly state his disagreements with Trump over NATO, malign actors such as Russia and treating allies with respect.

Dont blame Reince Priebus. Trumps first chief of staff spoke up about Trumps chaos after he was ousted, telling author Chris Whipple: Take everything youve heard and multiply it by 50.

Dont blame Nikki Haley. Trumps former ambassador to the United Nations, in a parting shot, said our opponents are not evil. Theyre just our opponents.

Dont blame Gary Cohn. The former economic adviser denounced Trumps trade war and defended the Federal Reserves interest-rate policy against Trumps criticism  I dont think he should make comments on any independent agency.

Also, dont blame Omarosa Manigault Newman; she knew Trump was a racist but took a job in his White House anyway. Or Michael Cohen; at his sentencing, the presidents former personal lawyer said his blind loyalty to Trump led him to cover up his dirty deeds; or Steve Bannon; after he departed the White House, the former top strategist suggested Donald Trump Jr., Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort had engaged in treasonous and unpatriotic behavior.

The self-absolution extends into the diaspora of Trump apologists. Departing House Speaker Paul D. Ryan, R-Wis., gave a farewell speech denouncing the use of social media to play on anger and on peoples fears. Rep. Mia Love, R-Utah, in defeat, denounced Trump for operating with no real relationships, just convenient transactions.

Better late than never? Perhaps. Those taking parting shots are certainly more honorable than those who, with nondisparagement agreements, get paid to defend Trump on the airwaves. The post-employment critics also compare favorably with Mick Mulvaney, who called Trump a terrible human being before becoming Trumps budget director and now acting chief of staff.

But the after-the-fact criticism seems self-serving  a way for Trump enablers to rebuild their reputations and find new jobs. Tucker Carlson, an unstinting Trump booster, used the anonymity of a German-language weekly to put on the record that he questions Trumps competence, knowledge, self-aggrandizement and personnel choices.

Even Carlson, though, is braver than the anonymous Trump official who wrote The New York Times op-ed about efforts to sabotage Trump from within. How long before the author emerges to claim credit  and perhaps a book contract? Proposed title: Dont Blame Me.

Twitter, @Milbank. (c) 2019, Washington Post Writers Group.
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Author, U.S. Navy Master Chief (ret.), albuquerque resident

I write in regard to the Journals superb article Touching the Divine  Art of Devotion, Dec. 30 by Kathaleen Roberts.

It is indeed very refreshing to read something positive regarding our ancestors, the Spanish colonizers. As Roberts so eloquently reports, the Spanish brought more than horses, guns and smallpox, but also many priests in their efforts to evangelize the Native people, as well as thousands of devotional images to help communicate aspects of Catholic dogma.

(The exhibit, 26th annual Art of Devotion, is free through Feb. 28 at the Peyton Wright Gallery in Santa Fe.)

Thus, in New Mexico, dedicated priests such as Fray Alonso de Benavides established such outstanding training programs for the Pueblos natives, that his memorial to Spanish authorities became so well received it was published in Spain in 1630. It outlined work of the missionaries and their successes with carefully structured teachings that taught religion along with church duties, including reading, painting, choir songs and instrumental music. Many were schooled in tailoring, shoe making, carpentry, smith-craft and weaving, alongside the principles of live-stock herding and breeding  raising horses, oxen and sheep for wool processing for clothing and blankets.

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The Spanish also introduced many fruit trees, wheat, grapes, etc., along with cultivation methods that would serve the Pueblo people then and in future times. These teachings, inter-marriages and the protections provided by Spanish soldiers from attacks by Apache, Navajo and Comanche warriors were additional benefits that provided for many post-Revolt decades of peaceful and neighborly living conditions for both the Pueblo people and Spanish settlers.

Historians also write of many instances in later expeditions that included Pueblo warriors and Spanish soldiers participating in joint expeditions against common enemies.

With so much recent negative, anti-Hispanic colonial-era rhetoric being espoused, other, more positive aspects of Spanish colonial settlement must be told.
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New Mexicos Permian Basin, located in the southeastern part of the state, is one of the nations fastest-growing regions for oil and gas development. However, its also on its way to becoming the most wasteful, too, which not only hits New Mexico taxpayers wallets, but also jeopardizes their health.

In 2016, the Bureau of Land Management adopted its Methane Rule to help curb this waste by applying common sense regulations when it comes to repairing leaking equipment and capturing natural gas rather than releasing it into the air or burning it off. For a state like New Mexico, which has the most federally leased land in the country and the highest methane emissions from those lands, the rule established balance between production, and not further degrading air and quality of life for its residents.

Yet, this fall, the Department of Interior gutted the 2016 rule, rolling back its most important protections for the American people by relying on 30-year-old regulations. This was done despite a failed attempt to rescind the rule through the Republican-controlled Senate, half a million Americans voicing opposition to the proposed rollback, and seven out of 10 Westerners, including a majority of Republicans, supporting strong BLM methane regulations.

The necessity of the rule is especially significant given that New Mexicos current methane regulations rank worst when compared to seven other high-producing Western states, according to a new Wilderness Society report. New Mexico has zero requirements that meet or exceed any laid out in the 2016 BLM Methane Rule, leaving significant sources of methane waste currently unregulated.

Without the rule, New Mexico could expect more of the same. From 2009 to 2013, flared gas rose more than 2,000 percent in the state. Over $322 million in natural gas has been vented, flared or leaked on federal lands in New Mexico over the past decade, costing the state about $27 million in tax and royalty revenues.

Whats worse, though, is what this means for the health of New Mexicans. When natural gas, primarily in the form of methane, is released into the air, so, too, are harmful pollutants such as benzene, which are linked to cancer, and other ozone-forming pollutants that can trigger asthma attacks. The BLM methane rule helped fight the release of harmful pollutants into the air, which has a greater impact on Latino communities.

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While more than half of the U.S. population is living in areas with unhealthy levels of ozone, Hispanics are 51 percent more likely to live in counties with unhealthy levels of ozone than are non-Hispanic whites. Latinos are disproportionately affected by the health impacts of oil and gas development  in fact, 1.81 million Latinos live within a half mile of existing facilities. The National Hispanic Medical Association and LULAC report, Latino Communities At Risk: The Impact of Air Pollution from the Oil and Gas Industry, found that many Latino communities face an elevated risk of cancer due to toxic air emissions from oil and gas development.

Both Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and state Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard called for state-level restrictions on methane emissions in their election campaigns last year. They should be commended for embracing our moral obligation to protect the health of communities through cleaner energy production.

States and the federal government must step up and address these issues to protect taxpayers, public health and the environment. Relying on existing state-level requirements will result in a patchwork approach to federal oil and gas regulation, as states have wildly different approaches to managing natural gas. Most importantly, we need a comprehensive federal rule that applies to all oil and gas development on public lands in order to minimize waste and reduce the impacts of methane emissions on communities.
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Copyright  2019 Albuquerque Journal

The recent blast of wintry weather caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage throughout the Albuquerque area, affecting more than three dozen schools, buildings at the University of New Mexico and hundreds of homes and businesses.

Albuquerque suffered a series of storms after Christmas Day, with blowing snow, low visibility and wind chill factors dipping into the single digits.

With just three days before the new semester starts, crews were working Friday to repair schools hit hard by the cold and storms.

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Since the first freeze after Christmas until today, we have been working straight through, said John Dufay, executive director of maintenance and operations for Albuquerque Public Schools.

About 40 schools were damaged by the winter weather, some made worse by the failure of alert systems due to a nationwide internet outage, Dufay told the Journal.

About 15 schools have had problems such as boilers or waterlines breaking, but those were relatively quick to repair. But about 25 of the 40 schools had bigger problems, including flooding.

Flooding, burst pipes

On Friday morning, Ernie Pyle Middle Schools hallway was closed off with caution tape and a sign that read Do not enter! There is a flood!

Workers were bustling in the hallway, fans were at the ready and vacuums sucked up what was left of tens of thousands of gallons of water  the result of a heating coil that broke early Friday morning.

Hot water pipes  part of the heating system  pump water into a heating coil while a fan blows over those coils to blow hot air into the room. The heating coil broke at Ernie Pyle, leaving 3 inches of water throughout the north wing of the school, which is made up of a hallway, 12 classrooms and some offices.

Daniel Dumas, a seventh-grade New Mexico history teacher, was at the school for professional development Friday morning. He said he was a little disheartened when he saw the water damage in his classroom. But he anticipated being able to adapt his lesson plan to a different classroom, although he does rely on some of his rooms technology for certain lessons.

About three miles north, Coronado Elementary was recovering from serious water damage after a fire line broke and flooded the library over winter break.

Failed alert system

Dufay said the nationwide CenturyLink outage late last month was a compounding obstacle to repairs as normal alert systems for such damage went down. Heating units in schools are designed to send an automated message to APS maintenance staff anytime a boiler goes into trouble mode, including when the boiler shuts off or when low or high limits are recognized on the equipment.

One of the things we did notice is we had a few boilers shut down entirely because they had low-level gas pressure, Dufay said, adding that normally his team would have received an alert but didnt because of the outage.

Dufay said he expected the majority of work at all 40 schools to be done by Monday, when students return from winter break. If needed, classes may be shuffled into libraries or other available spaces.

In addition to storms and internet outages, APS had to hire security due to theft attempts during repairs.

$230,000 in damage

Dufay said damage is going to cost the district more than $230,000 across the 40 schools and could cost up to $300,000.

APS wasnt alone; several burst pipes were reported around the University of New Mexico campus during its winter break.

None caused significant damage, with the exception of a student resident facility. According to UNM spokesman Daniel Jiron, a burst pipe caused some flooding and damage to one unit  each apartment-style unit has six bedrooms and two baths  the extent of which was not known.

Central New Mexico Community College had no burst pipes or weather-related infrastructure problems, according to spokesman Brad Moore.

Repair calls skyrocket

Some businesses and homes also were affected by the low temperatures and storms.

Sky Swanson, a manager at TLC Plumbing and Utility, said the company had a surge in calls the past week.

Compared with this time last year, theres a nearly 42 percent increase for TLC, according to Swanson. In just four days, the company has had 1,600 calls and 745 site visits to homes and businesses.

Here in New Mexico, it doesnt get this cold that often, for the most part, he noted.

Albuquerque Fire Rescue Deputy Chief Gene Gallegos, during a city operational briefing on Wednesday, said 10 to 15 businesses last weekend suffered sprinkler system damage due to burst pipes.

Make sure that you keep the heat on at night and dont turn it down too low, Gallegos said. A lot of times, the main room where the sprinkler system is housed has its own heating system, and sometimes that goes out. Keep it maintained. Make sure it is working properly.

Although the storms that dumped snow over Albuquerque and most of northern and central New Mexico has moved out of the state, temperatures will remain low, especially at night. That means pipes could still be susceptible to damage.

The Water Utility Authority is reminding residents to leave a faucet dripping in the sink farthest from the water meter. Moving water is less likely to freeze and will help reduce pressure buildup if a freeze does occur.

According to the National Weather Service, low temperatures in the Albuquerque area will remain below freezing at least through Wednesday with high temperatures in the 40s each day.
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RIO RANCHO, N.M.  Deputies are asking the public to come forward with any information on two Albuquerque teenagers who were killed and found buried in the mesa west of Rio Rancho last weekend.

Capt. Allen Mills of the Sandoval County Sheriffs Office emailed a statement Friday saying the bodies of Collin Romero, 15, and Ahmed Lateef, 14, were discovered last Saturday in a shallow grave near 60th and 29th NW.

The boys had been reported missing weeks earlier by their families after a video surfaced on Snapchat of them being badly beaten somewhere outside the city.

Our detectives are working diligently on this case to ensure they have all the facts and evidence necessary to bring the perpetrator(s) to justice, Sandoval County Sheriff Jesse James Casaus said in the release. All leads are being pursued and anyone with potential information in this case is asked to come forward.

Mills said detectives are asking anyone who was in the area on or around Saturday to call the Sheriffs Office.

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This is an active, ongoing investigation, he said. The Sandoval County Sheriffs Office will release additional information as it becomes available, but will not release certain facts of the case to ensure the integrity of the investigation remains intact.

Mills did not respond to calls Friday.

Tips: Anyone with information is asked to call SCSO at (505) 867-7518.
Is partisan gerrymandering unconstitutional? Were about to find out. Photo: SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear two partisan gerrymandering cases in March, the Washington Post reported on Friday. Justices will review two lower court rulings centered on one Maryland congressional district drawn by Democrats, and North Carolinas entire congressional map, drawn by Republicans. In both cases, plaintiffs claim that the maps have been drawn not to reflect the actual makeup of the population, but to create safe congressional seats for one of the two major parties. In North Carolina, for example, gerrymandering likely prevented Democratic candidates from making much headway against the Republican members of the states delegation  though in the states Ninth District, electoral fraud also influenced that trend. The cases have the potential to be historic. The Supreme Court has never found a states redistricting map so infected with politics that it violates the Constitution, the Post pointed out; in June, the court declined to consider both the Maryland map and another case challenging the constitutionality of Wisconsins gerrymandered state assembly map.

As the Post noted, the Maryland and North Carolina maps both have a troubled history. In Maryland, Democrats have waged a legal battle to keep the states Sixth District as it is, though theres plenty of evidence that it is indeed a partisan gerrymander. State Republicans, including Governor Larry Hogan, have called for an independent commission to redraw the map.

North Carolinas map is also clearly partisan; it was drawn by Republicans and favors Republican candidates. But since 2011, its various incarnations have also been marked by accusations of racial animus. In 2017, the Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling that two North Carolina congressional districts, drawn in 2011, amounted to racial gerrymandering  an unconstitutional attempt to dilute the states black vote. Republican legislators then redrew the map, claiming at the time that they were motivated by partisan politics, rather than racial animus. In June, the high court approved some, but not all of the states redrawn districts. North Carolina Democrats, in conjunction with progressive grassroots organization Common Cause, have also filed suit over the redrawn maps. And as Slate reported on Thursday, state Republicans tried, and failed, to get the case taken out of state court, where it would eventually reach a left-leaning state supreme court, and placed into the federal circuit.

However the Supreme Court rules in either case, justices will likely to reshape the political fortunes of both parties. But the consequences will be most pronounced for Republicans, who have more districts at stake. The courts makeup has obviously changed since it declined to consider gerrymandering cases in June; Brett Kavanaugh is now a justice, which tilts the court even more dramatically to the right. That shift, combined with the courts own record on voting rights, make the courts possible rulings difficult to predict. Chief Justice John Robertss 2013 majority opinion in Shelby County v. Holder encourages concern. In that case, the court ruled that nine states with a history of legal racial discrimination no longer had to seek federal approval before changing their election laws. Our country has changed, Roberts wrote, as quoted by the New York Times. While any racial discrimination in voting is too much, Congress must ensure that the legislation it passes to remedy that problem speaks to current conditions.

Some time this year, we may find out exactly how much the court thinks America has changed.
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Copyright  2019 Albuquerque Journal

In an unusual hearing Friday afternoon  days before the first trial in the Victoria Martens case is set to begin  a judge determined District Attorney Raul Torrez had been reckless in a statement he made to the media about defendant Jessica Kelley last month.

But state District Judge Charles Brown opted not to sanction Torrez  at least for now.

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Kelley is charged with murder, child abuse resulting in death and tampering with evidence in the high-profile death of 10-year-old Victoria Martens.

She had been charged with rape as well, but on Friday prosecutors dismissed those counts, stating after detailed forensic analysis by expert pathologists there is not sufficient evidence to connect Jessica Kelley to the charge of criminal sexual penetration.

The trial is slated to begin on Tuesday.

Fridays hearing was called to deal with a motion to sanction the DAs office over a statement it made to the Journal in December.

In the absence of Jessica Kelleys continued cooperation following the District Courts rejection of her plea agreement, the investigation into the unidentified male has stalled, the statement read. Detectives will continue to work any new leads that are developed, but it is our understanding that they will also support other investigations.

Defense attorneys argued that the statement cast Kelley in a bad light for not cooperating, when, as a defendant, she has the right to remain silent.

During the hearing, DA spokesman Michael Patrick  who had been subpoenaed to testify  said Torrez had drafted the statement in response to requests for comment from the Journal about the departure of the detectives who had been working with prosecutors on the case.

Judge Brown, who is presiding over the case, blasted Torrez for the statement.

I dont know if it was (intentionally done in order) to deprive the defendant of a fair trial, or if the goal was to shift the light away from the District Attorneys Office or to move light to the Albuquerque Police Department, Brown said. I find it to be woefully inaccurate in its ambiguity. It could be interpreted in many ways  all of them positive to the District Attorneys office, some to the detriment of others.

Prosecutors had insisted Torrezs statement referencing Kelleys role in the case was factual and denied any attempts to prejudice the public against her.

However, Kelleys defense attorney, Mark Earnest disagreed, saying it was unnecessary and prejudicial and yet another example of a pattern of behavior by the District Attorneys Office in this case.

Earnest  who said he has not asked for sanctions in any case in 10 years or more  filed a motion late last month asking for the state to be penalized or the case to be dismissed.

Brown said he agreed with the defense that Torrez should not have made the statement at all.

The District Attorney also has an obligation to protect the due process right of the defendant, he said. He represents the state, which is everyone including the defendant and the defendants families  The District Attorneys obligation is to the system.

However, Brown decided to evaluate whether the statements had influenced potential jurors during jury selection next week before penalizing the state.

Following the hearing, Patrick sent an email defending the office and stressing that the public has a right to know about developments in the case.

It is our obligation to the community to ensure truthful and updated information is made available in this polarizing case which has received international attention, he wrote.

Victorias mother, Michelle Martens, pleaded guilty to child abuse resulting in death over the summer. Her boyfriend, Fabian Gonzales, is also charged with child abuse resulting in death and tampering with evidence. His trial has been delayed pending an appeal.
Rich Lowry

National Review

Its a wonder that Democrats havent staked out a negotiating position demanding the destruction of already-existing barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Their opposition to President Donald Trumps border wall (or, more properly, his so-called wall) is now so total as to be nearly indistinguishable from opposition to any serious infrastructure at the border at all.

The partial government shutdown is fueled by a clash of visions over, ultimately, the legitimacy of borders and, proximately, physical barriers to make our southern border more secure.

Trump has the better part of the argument, but his lurch into the shutdown with no discernible strategy and his scattershot pronouncements make it unlikely that his view will carry the day.

Obviously, a 2,000-mile-long border wall rivaling the best work of the Ming Dynasty never made any sense, and was never going to happen. Nor, short of Trump finding a latter-day Gen. Winfield Scott to go occupy Mexico City, was Mexico going to suffer the humiliation of funding a Yanqui border wall.

This was all lurid fantasy, and Trump has conceded as much, although he will, at times, deny having conceded as much. His ambitions are now much more reasonable, involving the kind of up-to-date bollard or steel slat fencing that already exists in places. But hes running into an opposition that is much less reasonable.

Triggered as always by Trump, and growing more dovish on immigration almost by the hour, Democrats are treating the notion of a wall as practically a human-rights abuse. President Barack Obama routinely droned people without generating as much high dudgeon as Trump does asking for $5 billion to better fortify our southern border.

Chuck Schumer calls the wall medieval. Its true that the core idea  a physical barrier to impede the movement of people  isnt a new technology. The basic concept proved out so long ago that there hasnt been any need to revisit it.

Nancy Pelosi deems the wall immoral. She sounds like West Berlin Mayor Willy Brandt condemning the Berlin Wall as the Wall of Shame  when the East Germans built their border barrier to keep people in, whereas we only want to keep illegal entrants out.

If a wall is immoral, what standing does the current 350 miles of primary fencing have? Isnt it just as hateful as what Trump proposes? The $5 billion the president wants wouldnt even match what we already have  it would construct about 150 miles of new barriers where none currently exist.

A wall or fencing is relatively mild as far as immigration enforcement goes. It doesnt involve deporting anyone. It doesnt separate families. It doesnt prosecute and detain anyone. It doesnt deny any illegal immigrant currently working in the United States a job. All it does is seek to avoid getting in a situation where these other things are necessary in the first place.

A wall doesnt close down the border, or close us off to the world. There are still ports of entry. People can still travel to and from Mexico. People can still, for that matter, fly to Paris. It just diminishes illegal entry at certain strategic points.

Robust fencing made an enormous difference in stopping illegal crossings in Yuma, Ariz. The area had only about 5 miles of fencing in the mid-2000s, then saw the extent of its fencing increase tenfold. Illegal crossings plummeted.

Yuma got that additional fencing thanks to the passage of the Secure Fence Act in 2006 on a bipartisan basis, prior to the Democratic Party becoming unsettled by the prospect of putting physical barriers in the way of illegal entrants.

The wall isnt the most important immigration enforcement measure. Requiring employers to verify the legal status of their employees would be much more consequential. But the wall has taken on great symbolic significance. What it denotes, perhaps more than anything else, is the growing irrationality of the Democrats on immigration.
UPDATE (1/7/19): The reward has been raised to $5,700 for anyone who provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect.

A Livingston woman is asking for help to identify the person responsible for shooting and killing her horse on New Year's Eve.

Tracy Gubler is now offering a $1,500 reward to anyone who has information that leads to an arrest of a suspect in the case.

Gubler says that her horse died as a result of the shooting and that a second horse was seriously injured. The horses were penned in a pasture by the Rubber Ducky Raft Rental Company.

The incident follows three horses being shot last year near Big Sky in Gallatin County.

Shooting a horse is a felony under Montana Law.

If you have information on this case, you are asked to contact the Park County Sheriff's Office at 406-222-4050.
A man is dead after an officer-involved shooting in Bozeman overnight.

According to a media release from the Bozeman Police Department, a call came in around 11:44 PM Thursday for an assault at a residence on the 3100 block of Summer View Lane.

The initial report was for an intoxicated male who was assaulting his male roommate.

When officers arrived on scene they found the suspect, later identified as Eric David Sauerhagen, 31, inside the residence. Police say they communicated with Sauerhagen from the exterior of the home but say he did not cooperate with instructions.

Just after 12:00 AM Friday, Sauerhagen came out of the residence with a hatchet and handgun and approached officers, according to police.

A Bozeman Police Officer shot Sauerhagen, who was pronounced dead on the scene.

Officers performed a closed-area evacuation for neighboring homes.

None of the the responding officers or evacuated residents were injured.

Police Chief Steve Crawford said the incident is the first officer-involved shooting with the Bozeman Police Department in 12 years.

"Last night's an example of what no officer wants to encounter," said Crawford at a press conference on Friday. "No - nobody wants to see anybody lose their life. The actions of this suspect directly placed the officers in jeopardy and required a use of force that resulted in his loss of life."

The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on paid administrative leave, a typical procedure within the department following such incidents. That officer has not been identified.

Per Bozeman Police Department protocol, Crawford asked the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation to investigate the incident with assistance from the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office. An internal police investigation will also be carried out.

Anyone with information relating the case is encouraged to call the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office at (406) 582-2100 and request the detective division.
The veteran Kansas Republican is hanging it up, creating a scramble for a suddenly open Senate seat. Photo: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call

Senator Pat Robertss announcement today that he would not run for a fifth term in 2020 was not a big surprise, since hes 82 years old. But the Kansans decision does take a relatively safe Republican Senate seat and make things at least theoretically dicey.

A long list of Republicans who might run to succeed Roberts is already being formulated, beginning with secretary of State (and former Kansas congressman) Mike Pompeo, assuming he gets tired of the Trump Cabinet pretty soon. The likeliest is current U.S. representative Roger Marshall, who is very much in the Roberts tradition of a non-insane conservative focused on farm policy issues (he knocked off right-wing zealot Tim Huelskamp in a 2016 primary). Marshall already seems to be working to cover his right flank, according to KWCH:

Marshalls campaign manager Brent Robertson tells FactFinder 12, Since the moment speculation of Senator Roberts retirement began, Dr. Marshalls phone has been ringing. Its safe to say that Dr. Marshall is seriously considering it, but he is dead set on making sure we get border security funding to the Presidents desk first. Until then, I dont anticipate an official decision on a Senate run just yet.

Yeah, right, hes working too hard on the wall to think about his political future.

Speaking of border security, though, the name that probably sends chills down the spine of many Republicans in Kansas and in Washington is Kris Kobach, the former Kansas secretary of State and 2018 gubernatorial nominee whose legendary extremism on immigration and voting rights made him a favorite liberal bogeyman. Hes fresh from a loss to Democrat Laura Kelly that was significantly enabled by the revulsion some of his fellow Republicans felt toward him. Hes been widely expected to join the administration of his close friend and ally Donald Trump in some capacity, but he hasnt ruled out another Kansas race.

A Kobach run could boost Democratic odds significantly, but in any event there will likely be a substantial Democratic effort to flip this seat. Former U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom was mulling a race even before Robertss announcement.

All in all, Kansas looks to have joined Tennessee (where another senior GOP senator, Lamar Alexander, is retiring) as a strongly Republican state where an open Senate seat and possible GOP divisions are producing Democratic dreams of an upset. Democrats need that sort of moral encouragement. Although the 2020 Senate landscape is the reverse of 2018s in the sense that Republicans have more seats to defend (22 as opposed to just 12 Democrats), most of them are in very red states. Colorados Cory Gardner, Maines Susan Collins, and Arizonas Martha McSally are all vulnerable GOP senators (potentially along with Iowas Joni Ernst and North Carolinas Thom Tillis), but then Democrats are obviously worried about Alabamas Doug Jones. Even if Democrats topple Trump and hang onto the House, they badly need control of the Senate to secure confirmations as well as to enact legislation. As of now, they might need an upset for the three-seat net gain required to flip the upper chamber. Kansas is a good place to look for small miracles.
En espanol | Workers ages 35 to 49 have many years to go before they reach the traditional retirement age. Even so, they are more likely than their 50-and-older colleagues to save the maximum possible for retirement, a new survey shows.

It found that among workers under 50, 65 percent contribute the maximum to their workplace savings plans, compared with 47 percent of those 50 and older.

The survey of 1,014 workers ages 35 to 64 who earn at least $40,000 a year and made at least one investment transaction in the past year was released by Kiplingers Personal Finance magazine and Personal Capital, a wealth management firm.



For people under 50, the media has drummed into their heads that Americans arent saving enough, and these people are stepping up, Kiplinger's editor Mark Solheim said.

He added that older workers may not be maxing out their company savings plans because they cant afford the full catch-up contributions for which theyre eligible, which amount to an additional $6,000 for 2019.
Two federal litigators were honored recently for taking the lead in exposing the role of a financial service company that failed to protect older Americans from scams.

Margaret Moeser, an attorney with the Department of Justice (DOJ), and Karen Dodge, a lawyer with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), were awarded the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal by the Partnership for Public Service. The award singles out federal employees who improve the lives of Americans.

They were recognized for their roles in getting Western Union, the largest money-transfer service in the U.S., to forfeit hundreds of millions of dollars after the company was charged in federal lawsuits with failing to protect customers from scams in which people were duped into wiring money. Western Union gave up $586 million to settle the case.
Sean Wilentz in The New York Times:

The Civil War began over one basic issue: Was slavery, the ownership of human beings, a legitimate national institution, fixed in national law by the United States Constitution? One half of the country said it was, the other said it was not. The ensuing conflict was the chief instigator of Southern secession, as the secessionists themselves proclaimed. It was thus the chief source of the war that led to slaverys abolition in the United States. The struggle over property in slaves focused largely on the fate of the Western territories, but it also inflamed conflicts over the status of fugitive slaves. Pro-slavery Southerners insisted that the federal government was obliged to capture slaves who had escaped to free states and return them to their masters, and thus vindicate the masters absolute property rights in humans. Antislavery Northerners, denying that obligation and those supposed rights, saw the fugitives as heroic refugees from bondage, and resisted federal interference fiercely and sometimes violently. Even more than the fights over the territories, Andrew Delbanco asserts in The War Before the War, the dispute over fugitive slaves  launched the final acceleration of sectional estrangement.

Delbanco, an eminent and prolific scholar of American literature, is well suited to recounting this history, and not just because fugitive slaves have been a subject of American fiction from Harriet Beecher Stowe to Toni Morrison and beyond. A traditional critic in the historicist mode, Delbanco has always thoughtfully rendered the contexts in which his writers wrote. He has offered fresh interpretations not only of how national politics shaped the writing of, say, Moby-Dick, but also of what Melvilles tragic awareness and moral ambiguities tell us about the temper of a nation hurtling toward civil war. Whitman, Emerson, Thoreau and Hawthorne, as well as Melville, Stowe and numerous lesser artists and thinkers of the time, all had pertinent if sometimes cursory and not always pleasing things to say about fugitive slaves. Delbancos incisive analyses of their observations  and, just as important, of their failure to observe  form one of his books running themes.

More here.
Guaranteed early-voting opportunities are among the reforms House Democrats are promoting. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images

In recent years the struggle over voting rights has been played out across the complicated landscape of state governments, and in the federal and state courts. The new Democratic majority in the U.S. House is signaling that it wants to change that, and return to the now-lost era when the federal government acted to guarantee voting rights everywhere.

The House Democrats first bill, the For the People Act, has three major sections. One (as my colleague Sarah Jones has explained) involves campaign-finance reform. Another focuses on ethics and lobbying reform. The third, as voting-rights expert Ari Berman notes, covers a broad range of efforts to protect the franchise against recent, mostly Republican abuses:

This includes nationwide automatic voter registration, Election Day registration, two weeks of early voting in every state, an end to aggressive voter purging, funding for states to adopt paper ballots, the restoration of voting rights for ex-felons, and declaring Election Day a federal holiday. While states control their voting laws, Congress has the power to set voting procedures for federal elections.

The bill would also target partisan gerrymandering by requiring independent commissions instead of state legislatures to draw congressional maps.

These are all familiar ideas, already in place in many states (other than, obviously, the idea of a federal holiday to vote). But taken altogether as a package, they are unprecedented:

The bill represents the most far-reaching democracy reform plan introduced in Congress since the Watergate era. Harvard Law School professor Lawrence Lessig calls it the most important civil rights bill in half a century. It also builds on recent state-level efforts to expand voting rights: In the 2018 midterms, eight states passed ballot measures to make it easier to vote and harder to gerrymander.

In a separate measure that will be introduced later, House Democrats plan to offer a bill that would reconstruct the federal preclearance system for potential voting-rights violations that was struck down as obsolete in the 2013 Shelby County v. Holder Supreme Court decision, as Talking Points Memo explains:

The House is expected to consider a separate bill that would restore the provision of the Voting Rights Act that the Supreme Court dismantled. That provision required states and localities with a history of racial voter discrimination to get election policy changes pre-approved by the federal government. The bill to address head on the Shelby County decision is moving on its own track, a House Democratic aide told TPM, so the House can build a record of the voter suppression that has happened since the decision came down. Such a public record, legal experts believe, will help protect a VRA fix, if passed, from court challenges conservatives may try to bring against it.

Theres actually faint Republican support in Congress for fixing the VRA  veteran GOP congressman James Sensenbrenner co-sponsored a bill in the last Congress with Democrat John Conyers to do just that  but it has been of zero interest to party leaders or the Trump Justice Department.

And in fact, none of the voting-rights initiatives House Democrats are promoting have any sort of immediately viable future so long as the GOP controls the Senate and Trump is in the White House. But the priority Democrats are placing on this set of issues is potentially significant, for two reasons.

First of all, making voting rights a national political issue instead of a state-level preoccupation or an obscure subject of litigation could pave the way to major reforms if and when Democrats have a governing majority in Washington. The last big federal voting-rights push occurred after the 2000 Florida fiasco, and resulted in the Help America Vote Act of 2002, a pallid set of largely hortatory encouragements, supplemented by inadequate grants, aimed at getting states to clean up their act in administering elections. It notably failed. Maybe next time Congress will get both tougher and more generous in creating carrots and sticks for more voter-friendly registration and election systems.

But as the HAVA example sadly illustrates, voting rights simply have not been a day-in-and-day-out preoccupation, even for Democrats, but rather an occasional topic of discussion during and occasionally just after electoral outrages. The current House Democratic focus on voting rights, and particularly its comprehensive nature, is a very good sign that this crucial issue is finally getting the attention it deserves, at least on one side of the partisan barricades. And perhaps, though this is less likely, Republicans can even be shamed into rethinking their increasingly reflexive opposition to voting rights, which used to be limited largely to its neo-segregationist southern conservative wing. As recently as 2006, George W. Bush signed a reauthorization of the VRA that included the very features SCOTUS invalidated in 2013. With or without Republican support, its not too audacious to think these and other protections for the right to vote can be restored.
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SIOUX CITY -- In a sharp turnabout from his past stance, Rep. Steve King committed Friday to holding at least one town hall meeting in each of the 39 counties in Iowa's 4th District.

King set 39 dates, but not locations, for meetings that will begin Jan. 24 and end Dec. 14. His office said details about each town hall will be released at a later time.

King invited members of the public and the news media to "Save the Date" to discuss various issues.

Town hall meetings are an opportunity for members of the public to express their concerns to me, and for me to deliver my constituents an overview of the work I am doing in Washington on their behalf," the Kiron Republican said in a statement. "During my time in Congress, I have visited all 382 towns in the 4th District, and I look forward to holding a town hall meeting in all 39 of our districts counties this year," King said.

While members of Congress routinely schedule public meetings in their districts, King has largely avoided such forums in recent years. The outspoken conservative said outside groups had started paying protesters to disrupt his town halls. He expressed concerns the protests could turn violent, citing the June 2017 shooting of a Republican lawmaker at a congressional softball practice in suburban Virginia.
WATERLOO  A Waterloo man is being turned over to immigration authorities, and his sister was placed on probation after they were sentenced on Friday for allegedly setting up a sham marriage.

Authorities allege Selmir Salkanovic, 27, married a United States citizen purely to obtain upgraded immigration status after he overstayed a tourism visa.

His sister, Sanela Dedic, is accused of paying off the bride in the fake marriage.

The two pleaded to conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, which is punishable by up to five years in prison.

Judge C.J. Williams sentenced Salkanovic to time served -- 93 days in jail -- and Dedic was sentenced to three years of probation.

The hearing was in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids.

Authorities allege the marriage plan started after immigration officials approached Salkanovic in May 2017 because his visa had expired in 2015, and he was to return to Bosnia. He married an unnamed American woman in June 2017.

Dedic allegedly offered to pay the woman $5,000 and gave her a Ford Taurus, and also allegedly asked the woman to fill out immigration paperwork and travel to Omaha, Nebraska, for a hearing for her brother, according to court records.

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WATERLOO  A Waterloo man had been on parole for less than a day when he attacked a woman at a liquor store drive-thru early Thursday.

Waterloo police arrested Dayln Harrington, 25, on charges of assault with intent to commit sexual abuse, first-degree burglary and public intoxication. His bond on the new charges was set at $110,000, and he is on a no-bond hold for a parole violation.

Authorities said he entered the passenger side of the womans vehicle as she pulled up to the Broadway Liquor service window shortly before 1 a.m. on Thursday.

He allegedly groped the woman and pulled her hair until she drove around to the front of the store and fled. Police said she suffered several scratched in the assault.

Man arrested for attacking woman at liquor store drive-through WATERLOO  A Waterloo man has been arrested after he allegedly attacked a woman in her vehic

According to court records, Harrington has spent the last four years bouncing from jail to prison to parole for a 2015 hate crime vandalism --- police say he and another person spray-painted anti-Bosnian messages on a car --- as well as a 2013 domestic assault and burglary.

Thursdays pre-dawn groping attack happened less than 12 hours after Harrington formally started his latest parole stint after being released from prison, according to court records.
CEDAR FALLS  The city of Cedar Falls has rolled out a shiny new piece of safety equipment.

On Friday morning, city officials unveiled a new fire engine at the Main Street Fire Station. The new truck, which cost $500,000 plus an estimated $15,000 for hoses, is part of the citys five-year capital improvements program.

Its indicative of city leadership, whether its staff or council, to have these sort of things in place so were not caught behind the 8-ball if a truck goes down, said Cedar Falls Mayor Jim Brown.

The citys employees and citizens deserve good equipment that is ready to go when needed, Brown added.

The new truck should be ready for action in a few weeks after hoses and other equipment is installed.

Come summer, the fire truck will be housed in the new Public Safety Building, which city officials estimate will open on July 1.

I toured it before the holidays, Brown said. What a great building. Its going to be impressive to add this truck to our fleet in the new building.

The engine is similar to other fire engines in the departments fleet, so operators wont have to be retrained, said Fire Chief John Bostwick.

In this truck we wont have to start a generator to turn on some of the scene lights we normally would; they operate off a 12-volt (battery), Bostwick said. We expect it to be in service for quite a few years serving our community.

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Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Donald Trump recently suggested that he has the upper hand in the government shutdown fight because most of the people not getting paid are Democrats. By this, the president meant that his party depends less on the support of federal workers than Chuck Schumers does, and that Democrats will therefore have a harder time standing their ground during a prolonged shutdown than he will.

Beyond the moral odiousness of this position, there was one strategic flaw in Trumps reasoning: Precisely because theyre aligned with Democratic Party, public-sector unions are likely to be more willing to engage in work stoppages under a GOP president than they might be under a pro-labor one.

Two weeks into the shutdown, formal labor militancy has yet to materialize. But an informal pseudo-strike is already taking shape at Americas major airports.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents are legally obligated to work through the shutdown, even though their pay has been frozen. For TSA agents who survive paycheck to paycheck, that just stopped being workable. As the shutdown approaches its third week, hundreds of agents have begun calling in sick. As CNN reports:

The mass call outs could inevitably mean air travel is less secure, especially as the shutdown enters its second week with no clear end to the political stalemate in sight.

This will definitely affect the flying public who we (are) sworn to protect, Hydrick Thomas, president of the national TSA employee union, told CNN.

At New Yorks John F. Kennedy International Airport, as many as 170 TSA employees have called out each day this week, Thomas tells CNN. Officers from a morning shift were required to work extra hours to cover the gaps.

Call outs have increased by 200%-300% at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, where typically 25 to 30 TSA employees call out from an average shift according to a local TSA official familiar with the situation.

According to the union, most workers are not calling out as a means of protest, but rather as a way to save money on child care or generate income from second jobs. Still, the union expects the ranks of the sick to expand as the shutdown continues. As a result, major American airports are preparing to relax security measures to prevent lines from becoming unmanageable long.

For the moment, this disruption is (at least, officially) the product of individual workers doing what they can to make ends meet. But as worker frustration (and desperation) grows, theres a risk that collective action could replace individual improvisation. And if federal workers start bringing the shutdown home to ordinary Americans, Trumps opposition to restoring funding to parts of the government that have nothing to do with immigration could become untenable fast.
To combat the issue, the Federal Aviation Administration in 2009 extended the mandatory retirement age for commercial pilots from 60 to 65. But a 2016 report by Boeing shows 42 percent of pilots currently flying for major U.S. airlines will reach their mandatory retirement age of 65 in the next 10 years.

Even with the increase in student pilots, its probably not enough to cover the amount retiring, so I dont think this problem is going to resolve itself in the next couple of years. Its a long-term problem, Newton said.

ALO

The Waterloo Regional Airport maintains 13 flights a week to and from Chicago through American Airlines regional network carrier, Envoy Airlines. Waterloo needs to stay plugged into this extensive route map, which has destinations across the globe.

As a community we have to maintain this service, Kaspari said.

The city-owned airport operates with help from a federal grant through Essential Air Service program with the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Kaspari said he eventually would like to ease the airport into a more self-sustaining commercial air service. To do that, airlines need more commercial pilots.
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US president Donald Trump indicated that he would be looking forward to having a second meeting with Kim Jong-un. Trump also mentioned that he had received a great letter from the North Korean leader. However, the hermit kingdom has warned the US to refrain from interfering in its dealings with the South and has heaped criticism on Washington for its attitude and policies.

USA Today says Kim Jong-un sent his message via a televised New Year's Day address. He reiterated his willingness to meet Donald Trump again anytime but went on to add that the issue of sanctions is a matter of concern.

In case it is not resolved, his country will have to evolve some mechanism to safeguard its interests.

Gap closing between the North and the South

According to USA Today, an editorial in north koreas state-run newspaper blames America for the strained relationship between the two Koreas. The paper goes on to add that the United States is averse to improving the inter-Korean relations. Seoul is trying to mend fences with Pyongyang even though the relationship between it and Washington continues to remain tense over the issues of denuclearization and lifting of sanctions. Already they have withdrawn guards from some posts in the demilitarized zone and are in talks to connect their railroad systems.

The North also wants to reactivate the jointly run factory in Kaesong and resume South Korean tours to the North. However, there can be no progress as long as sanctions remain in force.

Donald Trump, on his part, appears to be in no hurry for the second meeting.

While interacting with reporters at the White House, he said there has been tremendous progress in their relationship. Kim had agreed at the summit in Singapore about complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, but it is difficult to ascertain progress.

Observers feel Kim Jong-un is changing

ABC News feels the North Korean leader Kim Jong-uns outlook has changed over the year.

That could be due to the global exposure that came his way following the Singapore summit with Donald Trump and three more with South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Two of these were at the border town Panmunjom and the latest in Pyongyang. Kim wants to have another meeting with Trump. During his annual televised New Year's speech, he dropped hints that the next meeting could produce an outcome welcomed by the international community. He also cautioned the US against using pressure tactics.
Many times the Club American star, Diego Lainez has been compared with Messi. However, Piet de Visser, the Dutch recruiter who discovered Ronaldo and Romario believes that nobody can compare with the Argentine crack.

With the eternal saga between Lainez and Ajax not coming to an end, opinions about the bright future of the young striker are more than expected. Piet de Visser said that the Mexican cannot be compared to Lionel Messi but he will not have problems to succeed in the Eredivisie.

"I've seen them all the new 'Messis'. The real one, when he was 13 years old. At that level these guys cannot compare, there is no one to compare with him. A player like Messi is born once in a lifetime", explained Visser in an interview for 'NOS'.

However, Piet de Visser didn't deny the talent that the Mexican jewel has saying he is impressed with the qualities of Lainez. In fact, he wants Ajax to make the signing as soon as possible so he could contribute from now on.

"He's a super talent. A player with a lot of technique and speed, with many qualities and possibilities. It's still a bit playful, not so strong and it has to be more effective, he can be left to the front, to the right though it's more of a dribbler. It is dangerous toward the bands," said the recruiter.
The wife of one of France's most notorious jihadists, Peter Cherif, was charged and provisionally detained on Thursday, the Paris prosecutor said, days after her husband was returned to prison ...

Soulef A, and their two children in Djibouti in mid-December, has been charged with "criminal association with terrorists" and "financing a terrorist enterprise", and held pending a hearing on January 7.

Cherif, 36, who was returned to France in late December and detained, is considered a potential source of valuable information by Western intelligence agencies.

French authorities have been seeking him since he disappeared in 2011 on the final day of his trial in Paris for fighting in Iraq alongside Al-Qaeda in 2004..

He appeared before a French judge on December 27 and was given a new "terrorist conspiracy" charge before returning to prison to serve the five-year sentence from his original trial.

He was close to the brothers who massacred staff members of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in 2015.

.Cherif, also known as Abou Hamza, was placed on the US blacklist of foreign terrorists in 2015.

Investigators opened a new probe in 2017 into his activities in Yemen, where he joined the senior ranks of the local branch of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).

The United States considers AQAP to be the jihadist group's most dangerous branch, with US drone strikes on the outfit increasing since President Donald Trump took office in January 2017.

Soulef A was taken into custody on Sunday upon her arrival in France.

(with AFP)
French security forces fired tear gas and flash-bang ammunition at protesters during a march through central Paris as several thousand supporters of the yellow vest movement kept up pressure on President Emmanuel Macron with the first action of 2019.

A river boat restaurant moored below the clashes on the Left Bank of the Seine River caught fire, while smoke and tear gas wafted above the Orsay Museum and the gold dome of the French Academy as riot police moved in when protesters deviated from an officially approved path.

Police boats patrolled the river while beyond the Seine, motorcycles and a car were set on fire on the Boulevard Saint Germain, a main Left Bank thoroughfare.

Riot police and firefighters moved in, and barricades mounted in the middle of the wide street also glowed in flames.

The march on the eighth consecutive Saturday of yellow vest protests had been declared in advance and approved, in contrast to some illegal December demonstrations that degenerated into vandalism, looting and chaos.

The march was peaceful until some protesters attempted to deviate from their approved route and cross a bridge (Kamil Zihnioglu/AP)

The atmosphere was mostly calm, but turned when some protesters tried to cross the river on a pedestrian bridge not on the official route from City Hall to the National Assembly.

Police used clubs and tear gas, then held the bridge in a stand-off while violence broke out.

Further confrontations between police and protesters took place in other cities around France, with tear gas fired in Bordeaux and in Rouen, Normandy.

The yellow vest protests had seen numbers reduce in recent weeks, but several thousand were back on the streets of Paris on Saturday (Kamil Zihnioglu/AP)

No official figures have been issued for the number of protesters who turned out around France or in Paris, though one police estimate put the marchers in the capital at 3,500.

Protesters were looking to breathe new life into the yellow vest movement as numbers of participants has fallen since the first Saturday protest in mid-November.

They reiterated their call for Mr Macron, denounced as the president of the rich, to resign

Burning barricades near the Champs Elysees (AP)

Government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux said those still protesting want insurrection.

He called on the French to express their views during a national debate organised in the coming weeks in all regions, rather than by taking to the streets.

The yellow vest movement was launched to express anger over fuel tax hikes affecting working people who commute by car, but grew to encompass broader anger over Mr Macrons economic policies, deemed to favour the rich.
(Reuters) - The U.S. Coast Guard said on Friday vessel traffic was closed in the Lower Mississippi River near New Orleans, after a deep-draft vessel had grounded.

New Orleans, which sits near the mouth of the Mississippi, is an important transit point for energy, metals and agriculture commodities moving to overseas and domestic markets.

Vessel traffic was halted at mile marker 3.5 after the 837-foot UK-flagged deep-draft vessel Anglo Alexandria had grounded, the Coast Guard said.

There are currently over 50 vessels waiting in queue to transit in or out of the river, the Coast Guard said in a statement, adding that the number is larger than normal due to dense fog in the area over the past few days.

The Coast Guard was not immediately available for further details.

(Reporting by Arundhati Sarkar in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)

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Weve done it, chaps. Were finally free to go study the works of Ayn Rand. Photo: Lambert/Getty Images

Conservative academia is in crisis, and to protect it, a new right-leaning research university must be founded in the United States. This is the argument presented by the American Enterprise Institutes Frederick M. Hess and Brendan Bell in the latest issue of National Affairs. Noting that there are now relatively few right-leaning academics, the researchers, who both specialize in education policy, say conservatives need a place where serious scholars can have the space to pursue questions and subjects that dont fit the progressive orthodoxy. They lay out extensive plans for how such an institution might operate, down to the number of students (4,200 undergraduates and 2,400 graduate students) and average salaries for various faculty members (ranging from $300,000 for endowed chairs to $120,000 for assistant professors).

We need an incubator, Hess and Bell explain, where promising young intellectuals could pursue their research without being forced to conform to the prevailing ideology, and where they can find the scaffolding  employment, funding, networks, and publication outlets  to enable them to achieve independent viability. What is needed is an ivory tower of our own.

This proposal may be unusually detailed, but it isnt novel. Figures on the right have long argued that institutions of higher education in the U.S. are hypocritically intolerant of conservative ideas, and the only solution is to separate from liberal academia. Over the past four decades, this notion birthed a constellation of Christian colleges and universities, from the small but ambitious Patrick Henry College, which was founded in 1998 and famously profiled in Hanna Rosins 2007 book Gods Harvard: A Christian College On A Mission To Save America, to Liberty University, which was established in 1971 by Jerry Falwell. Liberty University, in particular, has grown into a powerful institution on the right. Its current president, Jerry Falwell Jr., has the ear of Donald Trump, and Liberty functions both as a pipeline to D.C. for young, conservative talent and as a landing pad for washed-up Republican lawmakers. For example, on Tuesday the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported that former Congressman Dave Brat, who lost his reelection bid in November, will become the dean of Libertys business school.

Christian colleges are known for restricting academic freedom, sometimes to extraordinarily punitive degrees. Though there isnt an exact parallel between Christian colleges and the secular campus Hess and Bell envision, they still trip over separatist dogma. Christian colleges can certainly produce sound scholarship, but at conservative campuses in particular, those efforts are restricted by an institutionalized requirement to strain that scholarship through a domatic sieve  to make it affirm Biblical literalism, or some broader combination of right-wing politics and religious conviction. A secular, right-wing ivory tower would be similarly constrained by its self-inflicted restrictions.

Here is how Hess and Bell describe their mission:

Our goal is to establish a self-sustaining university where, to paraphrase the mission of Brandeis University, the intellectual right  in all its myriad diversity and disagreement  can be a host at last. While the institution should be oriented by an intellectual mission rather than an ideological agenda, its board, leadership, bylaws, culture, and norms should be constructed so as to be unapologetically hospitable to right-leaning views and values that are marginalized across most of academe. Hiring, staffing, and recruiting should favor scholars looking to pursue rigorous, important work that challenges the prevailing orthodoxies of the campus monoculture.

To be clear, the university would embrace unfettered academic freedom in accord with the highest principles of free inquiry. Unlike many of todays institutions, it would not kowtow to demands for speech codes and safe spaces or to the political enthusiasms of the moment, left or right.

Hess and Bell write that gifted liberals would, in theory, be welcome to join their institution, but only if they reject orthodoxy. They might not quiz applicants on the spiritual validity of infant baptism, but it sounds like they hope to enforce a creed of their own  that their dream school would practice its own version of affirmative action, apply its own litmus tests, and restrict speech in its own way.

Theres a gap between the world as Hess and Bell present it, and the world as it actually exists. They acknowledge that there are privately-funded, right-wing academic centers and institutes on many campuses, only to claim that these hubs are hamstrung by the reality that they operate as isolated outposts within largely uninviting institutions. That might be news to faculty at George Mason University, where administrators signed gift agreements that granted the Charles Koch Foundation some say over economics department hires and the right to evaluate the performance of those hires. InsideHigherEd reports that Utah State University and Florida State University once signed similar, now-defunct agreements. As the Atlantic reported in 2015, Charles and David Koch have invested billions in gifts to major research universities with the explicit aim of building a talent pipeline for conservative and libertarian students. Aside from Koch-funded endeavors, there are organizations like the Leadership Institute, a nonprofit that claims it has trained more than 200,000 conservative activists, leaders, and students since its founding in 1979, and supports more than 1,700 conservative groups and newspapers on campuses across the country. The Leadership Institute has worked with Mitch McConnell, Mike Pence, and Grover Norquist, and helped launch right-wing activists like Lila Rose of LiveAction and James OKeefe of Project Veritas.

This is real power, but it doesnt satisfy Hess and Bell. In their universe, conservative speech and scholarship is uniquely endangered; they even claim that research universities are, almost uniformly, a publicly subsidized, wholly owned subsidiary of the political left. As is often the case with panics over campus liberalism, the case for the conservative university largely rests on a series of omissions. In reality, professors and students alike are often hounded by outside groups, right-wing pundits, or university administrators for expressing left-wing perspectives on issues ranging from Palestinian independence to sexism and racism. And if either author has considered the possibility that there may be fewer conservative scholars in academia because their perspectives on subjects like climate change often contradict established fact, its not evident. Ideological diversity is not an achievement if if advances ill-founded arguments.

The dwindling number of conservative academics may also reflect the movements own priorities, not institutional disdain for heterodoxy. Movement conservatism is so consumed by culture war that its adherents tend to fixate on the classroom as a site of pitched ideological battle. This is undergirded by fear; if conservatives cant dominate the academy, they surrender victory to the left. The dreaded dictatorship of the snowflake will follow. If, in devising a solution to this problem for their movement, Hess and Bell sound markedly like the campus liberals they seek to escape  an ivory tower of their own is nothing if not a plea for a safe space  thats not a coincidence. As University of Virginia scholar Nicole Hemmer wrote for Vox in 2017:

Fear of a liberal university faculty has been a feature of modern conservatism for decades, woven into the very foundations of the modern conservative movement although the attacks on universities have not always taken the form of legislation or calls for ideological diversity. The adoption of the language of diversity and pluralism serves mainly as a new way to skewer the left using its own vocabulary.

As Hemmer noted, this argument hasnt persuaded universities to bring on rafts of new conservative hires. And the right has found its own way to profit from its minority status; Dinesh DSouza, Ben Shapiro, and Charlie Kirk all owe their careers to their ability to manufacture panics over the marginalization of conservative views on campus. The right itself seems perplexed by the university, unable to settle on a consistent course of action. Should conservatives attempt to take the campus over? Retreat to their own, parallel system of ideologically pure institutions? Or should they crush the university altogether? On one side of the coin, Scott Walker stands over the shell of the University of Wisconsin, whose budget he ruthlessly slashed; on the other, Peter Thiel funds provides fellowships for aspiring entrepreneurs on the condition that they drop out of or skip college altogether. The campus is either a place for intellectual development, or a brute tool to to win the culture war. It cant be both. Any call for a conservative ivory tower is impeded, perhaps fatally, by the conservative movement itself.
Zambian OIC [Officer In Charge] in Siavonga region in the south of the country seeks army help to fight witchcraft.

Groups of villagers have reportedly gone on the rampage in southern Zambia. According to officials, the violence is linked to witchcraft.

The country's top administrator in the southern district of Siavonga says he was forced to appeal for help from the army after supernatural forces transformed his constituency into a playground.

District Commissioner Lovemore Kanyama told the Zambian Eye newspaper that his patience ran out, after strange incidents involving 15 school children in southern rural community of Chamata last Saturday.

"They just started running all over their villages like mad individuals, crying that mysterious voices were calling their names", explained Kanyama.

Hysteria takes over

The administrator of Siavonga told the daily that the school children who were admitted in the local hospital only recovered their health after being taken to prayer sessions.

District Commissioner Lovemore Kanyama also spoke to RFI about how elders were suffering.

"The chief of Chamata came and reported to me that groups of parents recently came out running around and destroying houses" he said.

Lovemore Kanyama stated that doctors had ruled out cerebral malaria and other known medical conditions as the likely cause of the outbreak.

Mystical sex orgies

DC Kanyama also reported incidents of "mystical sex orgies" which doctors and nurses at the Namomba Health center in Siavonga were threatened with, forcing them to flee.

He also admitted holding crisis meetings with Siavonga elders in efforts to end an age-long vendetta driven by so-called witchcraft guns.

The Zambian official said that cases of people buying witchcraft to strike others" were common in the nearby enclave of Chipata.

Voodoo baby

The accounts of the scary life of the Siavonga people hit the press as medics at a Lusaka reference hospital prepared for delicate surgery to remove up to 44 needles from the body of a toddler.

Story continues

The Zambian press was buzzing with news that there were in all 74 voodoo pins allegedly planted in the 3-year-olds stomach some in his liver and spine by his stepfather.

Reports say the little boy was evacuated from the southern province on the instructions of President Edgar Lungu, but was too emaciated to be taken directly to the theater.

As Zambians pray for the life of the child, the countrys Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya gave a press conference in Lusaka on Wednesday about his condition and what doctors hope to do during the operation set to be carried out next week.
More advice for French president Emmanuel Macron. And a new twist to the Carlos Ghosn affair in Japan, with the Renault boss himself asking to be brought before a Tokyo court. The chaps and chapesses at conservative paper Le Figaro do not appear to be in the best of form. Todays editorial in the right-wing daily is headlined "Stop pulling the wool over our eyes", and is addressed to the French political class, specifically President Emmanuel Macron. The problem, as Le Figaro sees it, is that the yellow vest protests have punched a hole in the democratic facade, meaning that the politicians claims to be the elected representatives of the people no longer fool anyone. The people dont want more explanations, more discussions, more dictats from on high, says Le Figaro. They want to see politics being useful in their daily lives, and not just used to impose new regulations or increase taxes. Then the right-wing paper gets into its stride, painting an apocalyptic picture of a France crushed by taxation, wracked by criminality, fearful for the future of its culture, haunted by the spectre of decline. Emmanuel Macrons monstrous task, according to the conservative daily, is to concentrate on a few crucial themes, each one of them dear to the cold, conservative heart: the president must ensure everyday security, curtail state spending, reduce the tax burden, and protect us from uncontrolled immigration. Would you buy information from the news merchants? On its features pages, Le Figaro talks to Ingrid Riocreux, author of a book called The News Merchants is which she is harshly critical of modern media in general, and of us journalists in particular. Riocreux starts the interview by saying that the current public distrust of journalism is an excellent thing. Intelligent criticism proves that the readers, listeners or viewers are awake and that can only force those inside the profession to try harder. The basic problem is that we journalists are all subject to what Riocreux calls ideological uniformity. We have our own language and our own opinions, and we impose those on our readers. Despite being a tiny closed shop, we claim to speak for the entire world. The media are planning to take over the world!T he subtitle of her book is The Totalitarian Ambition Of The Media. Were not doing it on purpose. In fact, that ambition is driven by an unconscious, almost instinctive, desire to conform to professional orthodoxy. As a group we are allergic to divergent thinking, except in so far as we can use those who reject the orthodox viewpoint to boost our audience and give the impression that we are being objective. Journalistic objectivity is a well-walked sock as far as Ingrid Riocreux is concerned. Its a key part of our professional hypocrisy. What we really need, she says, is honest subjectivity. All our problems as a profession have been multiplied by the advent of continuous news coverage. Too few journalists are forced to feed the voracious public appetite for more and new, and they dont have the time to check their sources, re-read their reports, think about the underlying reality. Did we overdo the yellow vest coverage? The yellow vest protests in France saw several incidents where journalists were targeted as members of the ruling elite. And yet the movement would not have had the same impact without the media coverage. Ingrid Riocreux makes the point that the yellow vest movement got an awful lot more coverage than it was worth, by simple numerical comparison with other social upheavals. And even the language we used was interesting, she says, since violence is normally described as taking place on the fringes of trade union demonstrations, for example, but was generally presented as an integral part of the yellow vest movement. Finally, says Ingrid Riocreux, our task as journalists is not to tell the truth, but to realize that there are many different ways of presenting the same truth. Theyre just not all worthy of being called journalism. Carlos Ghosn asks to appear in court The troubled boss of the Renault motor company, Carlos Ghosn, will appear before a Japanese court next Tuesday. Thats when hell be told why, precisely, hes been in a Tokyo jail since 19 November last. Ghosn used to be the boss of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi consortium, until someone noticed that he might not have been declaring his entire income in company accounts. That alleged oversight, and the suspicion that he might have dipped into the Nissan kitty to cover personal stock-market losses, have kept him behind bars for the past six weeks. He has not yet been charged with any crime. At Tuesdays court hearing, convened at Ghosns personal request, the chief prosecutor will be obliged to justify the duration of the Renault bosss imprisonment for questioning. Centrist daily Le Monde says that further charges, involving the allegedly fraudulous payment of 40 million euros of Nissan money to Ghosns family in Lebanon, could see his stay in prison extended. The Japanese press says the prosecutor has at least two sets of suspicions still to present, with Ghosn likely to spend 22 more days behind bars for each allegation. It's tough at the top.

More advice for French president Emmanuel Macron. And a new twist to the Carlos Ghosn affair in Japan, with the Renault boss himself asking to be brought before a Tokyo court.

The chaps and chapesses at conservative paper Le Figaro do not appear to be in the best of form.

Todays editorial in the right-wing daily is headlined "Stop pulling the wool over our eyes", and is addressed to the French political class, specifically President Emmanuel Macron.

The problem, as Le Figaro sees it, is that the yellow vest protests have punched a hole in the democratic facade, meaning that the politicians claims to be the elected representatives of the people no longer fool anyone.

The people dont want more explanations, more discussions, more dictats from on high, says Le Figaro. They want to see politics being useful in their daily lives, and not just used to impose new regulations or increase taxes.

Then the right-wing paper gets into its stride, painting an apocalyptic picture of a France crushed by taxation, wracked by criminality, fearful for the future of its culture, haunted by the spectre of decline.

Emmanuel Macrons monstrous task, according to the conservative daily, is to concentrate on a few crucial themes, each one of them dear to the cold, conservative heart: the president must ensure everyday security, curtail state spending, reduce the tax burden, and protect us from uncontrolled immigration.

Would you buy information from the news merchants?

On its features pages, Le Figaro talks to Ingrid Riocreux, author of a book called The News Merchants is which she is harshly critical of modern media in general, and of us journalists in particular.

Riocreux starts the interview by saying that the current public distrust of journalism is an excellent thing. Intelligent criticism proves that the readers, listeners or viewers are awake and that can only force those inside the profession to try harder.

The basic problem is that we journalists are all subject to what Riocreux calls ideological uniformity. We have our own language and our own opinions, and we impose those on our readers. Despite being a tiny closed shop, we claim to speak for the entire world.

Story continues

The media are planning to take over the world!T

he subtitle of her book is The Totalitarian Ambition Of The Media. Were not doing it on purpose. In fact, that ambition is driven by an unconscious, almost instinctive, desire to conform to professional orthodoxy. As a group we are allergic to divergent thinking, except in so far as we can use those who reject the orthodox viewpoint to boost our audience and give the impression that we are being objective.

Journalistic objectivity is a well-walked sock as far as Ingrid Riocreux is concerned. Its a key part of our professional hypocrisy. What we really need, she says, is honest subjectivity.

All our problems as a profession have been multiplied by the advent of continuous news coverage. Too few journalists are forced to feed the voracious public appetite for more and new, and they dont have the time to check their sources, re-read their reports, think about the underlying reality.

Did we overdo the yellow vest coverage?

The yellow vest protests in France saw several incidents where journalists were targeted as members of the ruling elite. And yet the movement would not have had the same impact without the media coverage.

Ingrid Riocreux makes the point that the yellow vest movement got an awful lot more coverage than it was worth, by simple numerical comparison with other social upheavals.

And even the language we used was interesting, she says, since violence is normally described as taking place on the fringes of trade union demonstrations, for example, but was generally presented as an integral part of the yellow vest movement.

Finally, says Ingrid Riocreux, our task as journalists is not to tell the truth, but to realize that there are many different ways of presenting the same truth. Theyre just not all worthy of being called journalism.

Carlos Ghosn asks to appear in court

The troubled boss of the Renault motor company, Carlos Ghosn, will appear before a Japanese court next Tuesday. Thats when hell be told why, precisely, hes been in a Tokyo jail since 19 November last.

Ghosn used to be the boss of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi consortium, until someone noticed that he might not have been declaring his entire income in company accounts.

That alleged oversight, and the suspicion that he might have dipped into the Nissan kitty to cover personal stock-market losses, have kept him behind bars for the past six weeks.

He has not yet been charged with any crime. At Tuesdays court hearing, convened at Ghosns personal request, the chief prosecutor will be obliged to justify the duration of the Renault bosss imprisonment for questioning.

Centrist daily Le Monde says that further charges, involving the allegedly fraudulous payment of 40 million euros of Nissan money to Ghosns family in Lebanon, could see his stay in prison extended.

The Japanese press says the prosecutor has at least two sets of suspicions still to present, with Ghosn likely to spend 22 more days behind bars for each allegation. It's tough at the top.
Vikings will end with its sixth season in 2020, culminating in total of 89 episodes.

The Canadian-Irish production will again split its season in 2 x 10 episodes, due to begin later this year.

But creator Michael Hirst is in talks about a franchise continuation with studio MGM Television.

The historical drama, which debuted in 2013 with Aussie Travis Fimmel, is the History Channels best performing scripted series of all time.

Season 5 is currently screening in Australia on SBS.

Source: Variety

Related
Actor Darius Perkins, best known for Neighbours and All the Rivers Run, has died aged 54.

He died on Wednesday following a battle with cancer.

Perkins began acting in primary school where Val Lehman was his drama teacher. As a teenager he enjoyed profile roles before dropping out of acting and working in Art Department on CrashBurn and two Bollywood films shot in Australia.

He began in The Sullivans before starring as Charlie in ABC drama All the Green Years, cast by producer Oscar Whitbread. It would lead to much more work including being cast as the original Scott Robinson in Neighbours in its original run.

When Neighbours was axed at Channel 7, my contract became null and void so I was no longer under any obligation to go to TEN. They wanted me to stay but at the time I had other plans. The rest is history, he once said.

He returned to play shady associate Marty Kranjancic in a one month guest role in 2013 alongside original cast member Stefan Dennis.

Perkins won the 1984 Logie for Best Juvenile Performance for his role in the series All The Rivers Run.

He also appeared in Prisoner, A Country Practice, The Flying Doctors, Skirts, Ratbag Hero, Carsons Law and Home And Away.

Source: The Age, Perfect Blend.

Related
A fatal accident in which a tractor trailer ploughed into nearly two dozen motorbikes stopped at a traffic light, killing four, in the Mekong Delta province of Long An on Wednesday has sparked a nationwide call for action to be taken against the blatant traffic violations perpetrated by truck drivers throughout the country.

Though the accident occurred on a highway, people who depend on smaller roads to commute live in constant fear of being mauled by trucks illegally traveling through restricted residential areas.

Bans ignored

Most urban streets in Vietnam ban heavy vehicles during day time hours, meaning large vehicles are essentially restricted to belt roads surrounding municipalities when motorists are likely to be on inner city roads.

Unfortunately, these restrictions do little to stop truck drivers from cutting through heavily populated urban areas.

The problem is particularly visible in Ho Chi Minh City.

Many of the citys main arteries, such as Cach Mang Thang Tam, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, and Hai Ba Trung, are relentlessly burdened by cargo trucks nearly twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, despite the vehicles being banned from using these roads from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm.

A truck is seen illegally traveling on an inner road in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tuoi Tre

On December 21, Tuoi Tre (Youth) reporters noticed a ten-ton truck making its way down Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street at 9:50 pm, ten minutes before it was legally allowed to use the road.

The situation is no different on Hai Ba Trung Street, which connects two inner districts of the southern metropolis. Between 8:00 am and 10:00 am that morning reporters observed nearly 30 trucks barrelling down the street.

In just 20 minutes, dozens of oversize trucks had been spotted running up and down the road.

As most of these streets are small and constantly congested, this phenomenon creates considerable safety concerns from commuters who depend on these roads.

Traffic police unable to resolve

In an interview with Tuoi Tre, Pham Le Lam, an official from the inspectorate of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport, admitted that traffic inspectors are spread too thin to put an end to the blatant disregard for traffic regulations.

Still, he affirmed that inner city routes are mostly free from cargo trucks weighing more than five metric tons from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm.

According to Lam, only 202 trucks have approval from the transport department to enter the downtown area for public, construction, and infrastructure services.

In order to put a stop to the issue, the citys transport department must be more rigid in its law enforcement, Lam said.

He suggested that drivers caught violating the law have their licenses confiscated and tigheter restrictsions be placed on trucks seeking permission to enter restrictred routes.

In outer districts, authorities have proposed several solutions to mitigate the issue in outer districts, where drivers are in a constant race to get to shipping ports on time, but little headway has been made.

After school unrest Large trucks traveling past schools at the beginning and end of the day is commonplace in Ho Chi Minh City. At 4:15 pm on December 18, just as students were released from class, three trucks sped past the gate of Nguyen Hien Elementary School in District 2, shocking dozens of the young students. According to the parents, the situation first began last year when several construction projects broke ground near the school. Though trucks are prohibited from using the street between 6:00 am and 10:00 pm, authorities have yet to step in to enforce the ban. Trucks are seen in front of Nguyen Hien Elementary School. Photo: Tuoi Tre

2018 has been a year chock full of fatal traffic accidents across the country. At the end of October a drunk driver crashed her BMW into a crowd at a busy intersection in Ho Chi Minh City, killing one. Less than a month later, two were killed when their car plunged off a bridge in Hanoi. Also in November, a large petrol truck overturned and sparked a blaze that burned 19 houses and claimed six lives in the southern province of Binh Phuoc. Just one day into 2019, an alleged drunk driver overturned her taxi, killing three out of the five passengers she was carrying in the Central Highlands of Lam Dong.

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The Embassy of Sweden in Vietnam has made it a mission to promote reading amongst Vietnamese youth, a downward trend it says is closely related to the accessibility of international literature.

According to Swedish Ambassador Pereric Hogberg, books, particularly by foreign authors, are difficult to come by in Vietnam in comparison to countries with higher literacy rates like Sweden.

I really miss big reading rooms where you can walk in and find anything you like from any country, said Hogberg, who believes that such places spark curiosity among the youth and encourage reading, during an interview with Tuoi Tre News.

Sparking curiosity

Hogberg says reading spaces are clearly absent in the two Vietnamese cities he is most familiar with - Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

According to Hogberg, these places hold an important role in Sweden, serving as a gathering place of many youngsters and an option for a fun outing, just like coffee shops in Vietnam.

Swedes often flock to bookstores to relaxing during their fiki  a traditional daily coffee break observed throughout Sweden  which encourages a reading in a huge portion of the population.

However, Hogberg says that creating reading spaces is only a small part of the issue. He suggests introducing quality un-translated literature from other countries and cultures might as a means of creating a love of reading amongst the countrys youth.

Bookstores in Vietnam typically only carry the most well known works from foreign countries, such as Gone with the wind, Pride and Prejudice, and Wuthering Heights, leaving locals with a dearth of options when it comes to hunting for modern novels.

This lack of variety and promotion not only bores readers but also limits exposure to foreign languages and cultures, creating a negative impact on global integration and youth who might want to pursue education abroad or settle in other countries.

The lack of literature from various countries also makes it difficult for many to find a book that suits them.

The wide range of cultures Swedish youth are exposed to plays an important role in developing inspiration since it creates curiosity. Its also resulted in one of the most literate populations all over the world.

Ambassador of Sweden Pereric Hogberg at a Swedish coffee chain in Vietnam. Photo: Ha My / Tuoi Tre News

Even though the youth in Vietnam has not shown a competitive interest in books compared to their Swedish counterparts, several current trends show that reading is gaining more traction amongst young people, according to the ambassador.

One trend is their activeness on social media. Vietnam has one of the highest number of accounts per capita in the world, which shows that curiosity is very much present in Vietnamese youth.

Facebook, in many cases, is being used as a tool for people to review books and cultural events.

Hogberg openly commends this action and believes it to be a good incentive in promoting curiosity, development, and understanding.

Introduction of international literary pieces

Another important factor that can spark curiosity is the introduction of more international literature in the compulsory curriculum, according to the ambassador.

Hogberg during an interview with Tuoi Tre News. Photo: Ha My / Tuoi Tre News

While Hogberg believes Vietnams Ministry of Education and Training is doing quite a good job, it still puts too much emphasis on the understanding of Vietnamese culture, history, and society rather than the global society.

International literature needs to be incorporated into early into education to create an awareness, interest, and curiosity, not only about your own history, your own language, and your own literature, but also the rest of the world, Swedish ambassador claimed.

One might not like it and might disagree, but that is not the main point.

The main point is being able to have access to it and what this wonderful globalized world creates and offers.

This will make innovative, smart, and curious citizens, the ambassador added, indicating that the youth holds an important role in the countrys both economic and social development.

Having seen Vietnamese youths lack of exposure to other cultures, the Swedish Embassy in Hanoi holds a weekly event Have a Fika where 30 to 40 individuals gather on voluntary basis in order to discuss cultural differences of countries, especially between Vietnam and Sweden, so as to broaden the understanding of not only Sweden but also Nordic countries culture.

The program also points out the similarities so as to make it easier for people of different cultures to connect and assimilate while still holding their traditional and cultural values.

The program mainly aims at youngsters including open minded high school and university students.

Despite the efforts, the embassy of Sweden still believes much is to be done to reach out to people.

We only reach the already convinced individuals - people that already know about international literature and culture, so we are still struggling to find a way to reach young Vietnamese, Hogberg claims.

Ambassador of Sweden at Pettson and Findus book launch even in December, 2018. Photo: Supplied

Bringing Vietnamese literature to the world

During his conversation with Tuoi Tre News Hogberg also expressed his admiration of Vietnamese literature, especially several poets while claiming the lack of widespread advertising prevents them from being reached by a great population outside of Vietnam.

As an ambassador, it is my mission to make sure that publishers in both countries find each other; in other words, creating a connection between authors of Sweden and of Vietnam, Hogberg said, indicating that it is something other ambassadors, consuls, as well as representatives of foreign countries should put emphasis on.

There is also a need for authors and publishing houses of Vietnam being more active and traveling the world in order to promote their work to the world, remarks the ambassador.

European countries are very keen on holding literature days that are filled with festivals showcasing literatures from all over the world that Vietnam can participate in as well.

Some of the efforts that the embassy has made include promoting books at several schools, especially translations of Swedish literature, such as the most recent launch of the nine-book childrens series Pettson and Findus.

Promoting literature through translation is one of the quickest ways to target younger generations effectively, said Hogberg.

During a seminar on reading held in Da Nang City in 2018, some education insiders claimed that Vietnamese only read four books per person per year, including 2.8 compulsory textbooks at schools, compared to the Swedish population which is widely deemed to be one of the most literate ones.

Swedish Ambassador on Vietnamese literature

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Owners of plantations in southern Vietnam are plagued by Storm Paluk, the very first typhoon of 2019, with flowers meant for Lunar New Year (Tet) badly destroyed by heavy rainstorms.

There are not enough statistics to tell, but the locally-grown flower output prepared for Tet could be reduced by between 40 percent and 50 percent, according to farmers.

This is not to mention many localities are suffering heavy losses, with thousands of hectares of rice fields flooded, hundreds of houses unroofed, and boats sunk offshore.

Flower villages in southern Vietnam are under huge damage.

Right now at Sa Dec, the flower hub in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap, many farmers are facing the risk of losing it all if the high humidity condition is about to continue.

Roses are very sensitive to the weather. It makes me worry that this year output is likely to turn to zero, said Hung, a farmer.

Nguyen Thanh Hung, deputy director of the Dong Thap Hi-tech Agricultural Application Center, said most of the flower farmers in the village produce Tet flowers outside so they cannot avoid the influence of the weather. "This murky weather with high humidity makes the trees very easy to rot. We should grow flowers in a greenhouse to be less dependent on the weather, Hung recommended.

Tran Kim Nga, a flower grower in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, explained that due to this prolonged rain, over 1,000 pots of Taiwanese chrysanthemum flower are facing risk of slow blooming, yellow leaves and diseases.

This has sent yields to drop about 50 percent, no matter of how much plant protection medicines were used, she told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper while cutting early chrysanthemum buds.

Having the same opinion with Nga, Doan Huu Bon, director of Binh An Cooperative affirmed that the loss rate is about 40 percent and most of affected farmers will find it hard to avoid losses.

But flower farmers in the Mekong Delta could breathe a sigh of relief as Storm Paluk on Friday entered southern Thailand.

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Reporting for duty. Photo: Mark Peterson/Redux

You are here, Corbin Trent said, looking at a map mounted on the wall of the tunnel beneath the Cannon House Office Building. It was the end of the Big Day  Thursday, January 3  and Trent, a 38-year-old veteran of progressive causes with a Tennessee twang, was now the communications director for a member of the 116th Congress: Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Democratic Socialist of New York. He was also lost.

Like his boss, who became a national political celebrity overnight when she defeated 20-year incumbent Joe Crowley in the Democratic primary in June, Trent is an outsider in the Capitol Building, a place he said hed never been until this week. Now he couldnt figure out how to escape it.

This is C Street, right? he asked.

I didnt know, and neither did Jose A. Alvarado Jr., a photographer who has been documenting Ocasio-Cortezs political rise since the campaign, or a deputy who  including Trent  is one of just seven staff members working for the new congresswoman in Washington (two of them havent even started yet). If we just keep walking, eventually there will be a door out of here, Trent said, mocking the haphazard plan that had led them to dart aimlessly through the halls for several minutes. He peered around at the signs. Were not going to Rayburn, he said. Were not going to Cannon.

He turned around and moved purposefully through the corridor in the opposite direction. This is why we should hire some staff with Hill experience, he joked. They know how to get out of the building!

Reflecting on the days events as he walked, Trent said one thing was clear: Its gonna be a long two years.

Ocasio-Cortez had already broken with the Democratic majority by voting against the House rules package over a provision known as PAYGO, which neutralizes all new spending with tax increases or budget cuts. This placed Ocasio-Cortez in official opposition to members of her own party on the same day that she was finding herself subject to a bungled hit job from the right wing, in which a video of her dancing inoffensively in college was circulated online like some kind of digital oppo campaign version of Footloose. Trent said he didnt yet know how much the vote had irritated Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and others of her Establishment ilk. Well have to read the papers, wont we, and see what theyre saying, he said.

He added, It sort of reminds me of rap back in the 90s  you had East Coast/West Coast  they would do their beefs through their music, right? Well, it turns out here in D.C., you do your beefs through the press, through Politico.

As we walked around the corner, we saw Representative Rashida Tlaib, who was waiting for the elevator with a member of her staff. The Michigan Democrat is a member of Ocasio-Cortezs Instagram-official squad, and Trent greeted her like hed found a friend at a party full of strangers.

Hey! Whats up, Rashida! he shouted. As he moved closer, he asked a series of questions in quick succession: Hows it going? How are you? Were you one of the four?

Four? Tlaib said, confused.

Nos? Trent replied, explaining that he was asking about the vote on the House rules package.

No, no, Tlaib said. I did a yes.

There had, in fact, only been two Democrats, besides Ocasio-Cortez, to vote against the package: Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, and Ro Khanna of California.

Trent let out a dramatic sound of sorrow: Ooaaawwww!

Yeah, sorry! Tlaib said, her tone awkward and apologetic.

Trent seemed to sense that she was uncomfortable. No, its okay! he told her. They chatted back and forth in friendly half-sentences until they arrived at an understanding. This just wasnt the hill Tlaib was going to die on. Shed be picking a different hill, she said. (Later on Thursday evening, Tlaib may have found it when she announced her plans for the president to a roomful of cheering supporters. We will impeach this motherfucker! she said. By Friday afternoon, Pelosi had expressed her disapproval.)

The elevator arrived, and Tlaibs staffer called after us with instructions for how to get out of the building: A left at the hallway!

He was right.

The night before the swearing-in, Id come by Ocasio-Cortezs new office, previously occupied by Republican Barbara Comstock, who lost her bid for reelection in Virginia, to speak to Trent. The space was virtually empty, save for a coat rack and an emergency exit plan decorating the wall. All of the new members were moving in, and the whole building had the vibe of a college dormitory in August. Mark Meadows popped in, from the tea party, Trent told me. This is a small place.

A man and woman who said they were moving another member in across the hall came by to ask if anyone had a drill they could borrow. Nobody in Ocasio-Cortezs office could help on that front. What about a hammer and nails? the woman asked.

I noticed, walking through the halls, that some members could be seen in the entryways of their new digs, fiddling with their phones or talking to staff. When Ocasio-Cortez came into her office following a photo shoot, by contrast, she was in a hurry. Her status nationally and among the political press here in Washington did not seem to leave a lot of time for hanging around. It also doesnt leave much room for relaxed door policies. Most of the day on Thursday, an older man who wore a CNN hat and a Bob Marley sweater sat in front of her office holding a large walking stick and blowing bubbles. He referred to Ocasio-Cortez as a child and hed come to criticize her for what he described as a kind of general selling-out. He introduced himself to me as Solutionator Victor Cohen Suarez Eden. Eventually, security came to interview him, and he told them his name was Art Eden. He refused to provide them with identification, and he was escorted out.

What will such celebrity be worth in Washington, where the Democratic majority in the House votes for something like PAYGO, which leftists consider an outright conservative policy? Ryan Grim of the Intercept noted the central paradox of Ocasio-Cortezs position: Her every tweet is a potential news cycle  She has used that platform to shift the broader political conversation in ways previously unthinkable  But inside the building, she is heavily outgunned.

One progressive operative I spoke with told me that the burden was on Ocasio-Cortez to figure out how to effectively translate her skills as an outside advocate to the insider work of legislating. Her biggest challenge will be figuring out how to bring her activism into her new life. She now has the power where she doesnt have to protest  she can get a meeting and speak to Nancy Pelosi.

When I read that statement to Trent, he barely waited a beat to reject it. I dont think meetings work. I dont think you convince people by sitting down with them and telling them what you think. I think you convince people by showing them that theres millions of people that are gonna beat down their door and demand you do something different.

Trent added that this strategy would probably make Ocasio-Cortez a lot of enemies here in Washington. I think youll either have friends here or youll have friends around the country and back in the district, and youve gotta pick.
PHOENIX  The legal case of whether former Phoenix metro sheriff Joe Arpaio will still have a criminal record despite his pardon by President Donald Trump is one step closer to moving forward after the U.S. Justice Department decided not to oppose the appointment of a special prosecutor named to defend a ruling by the judge who refused to erase Arpaio's record.

The Justice Department said in a court filing Wednesday it would not ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review the appointment of the special prosecutor, clearing a key hurdle so the appeal over Arpaio's record can proceed at the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

But Jack Wilenchik, one of Arpaio's attorneys, said the former sheriff plans to ask the Supreme Court to review the order appointing the special prosecutor.

Arpaio, a Republican who served as Maricopa County sheriff for 24 years until his defeat in 2016, was convicted of criminal contempt of court in July 2017 for disobeying a court order to stop his traffic patrols that targeted immigrants.

The pardon by Trump spared Arpaio  an early supporter of Trump's presidential campaign  a possible jail sentence. Arpaio then tried to make a comeback as a U.S. Senate candidate but was defeated in the primary last August.
The Pima County Attorneys Office is encouraging people to volunteer as victims advocates.

The Victim Services Division offers support to victims of crimes or traumatic events like Tucsons Jan. 8, 2011, shooting, providing victims with crisis-intervention services, emotional support and information on resources.

Community volunteers help victims navigate the criminal justice system and offer support during court hearings.

The countys Victim Services Division provides volunteers with extensive training, which will be held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for six weeks beginning Feb. 19.

Anyone interested must attend an information session first. People can attend one of two upcoming sessions to get more information.

The sessions are at the Tucson Rillito Police Department at 1310 W. Miracle Mile, from 6 to 8 p.m. on Jan. 29 and Feb. 4.

Following a session, prospective volunteers will go through an application and interview process.

For more information or to sign up for a session, call 520-724-5525.

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People on the move is an important story. We think that if we put up a wall ... on the border  were going to solve the problem. But there are tens of millions of people on the move attempting to improve their lives and escape everything from the environmental impact of climate change to fleeing war-torn countries, Rosenblum said. But they are moving, creating problems around the world. If you shut off your borders and refuse to let any of them in, its not like they are going to disappear. They are going to sit and fester in camps and become terrorists. The policies that we are following are creating terrorists at a geometric rate. They are creating people who hate us, people who, with obvious reasons, do not wish us well.
If you're in search of some adorable news for your Friday, here it is.

A goldendoodle puppy will join the American Medical Response Southern Arizona team very soon.

The 5-week-old puppy was born in Amarillo, Texas and will be brought to Tucson in a few weeks. From there, she'll be trained as a therapy dog, the company said on Facebook.

She'll be the first therapy puppy for AMR in Southern Arizona, according to Operations Manager Jacqueline Evans. The initial training process will take about a year.

While anxiously awaiting the puppy's arrival, the folks at AMR Southern Arizona are asking for help in naming their newest member.
Murders over the last year in the city of Tucson rose by 13 percent for reasons unknown to local law enforcement, but the Tucson Police Department has managed to solve the vast majority with the communitys help.

Tucson police investigated 53 murders last year, with three occurring during the last three days of the year. That number is up from 47 in 2017.

The departments homicide clearance rate of 76 percent is higher than the national average of 61.6 percent, which Tucson Police Chief Chris Magnus attributes to the large number of tips from the community and exceptional work by the departments detectives. That number will likely be slightly higher, since several investigations are in the early stages.

I think this is at least a testament to the fact that people are largely willing to come forward and talk to police, Magnus said. Thats something that I worry about, given whats happening with the immigration discussion. Its very important that we dont lose the trust and confidence of undocumented and other immigrant families and members of the community. We need people to come forward.

Magnus told the Star that while the department doesnt know what caused the increase in murders, very few cases involved a random act between a victim and a complete stranger.
A California woman is facing five felony counts, accused of stealing close to $400,000 from two Tucson property buyers who unknowingly wired closing funds to a bank account allegedly controlled by criminals.

Alysia Franco, also known as Martha Orozco, was indicted by an Arizona grand jury last month on two counts of theft, one count of money laundering, one count of conspiracy and one county of illegally conducting an enterprise. She has pleaded not guilty.

Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced the charges in a news release Friday. It didnt specify where Franco lives in California.

The case has been under investigation since 2015, when the FBI in Phoenix received a report that $202,000 in closing funds was stolen in a Tucson real estate transaction. While investigating, agents came across a second 2015 transaction in which $189,500 allegedly was stolen from a different purchaser.

In both cases, purchasers were instructed to wire closing funds to a bank account in the name of SkySea Logistics, the attorney general said.
CHEYENNE  With the Republican-dominated Wyoming Legislature scheduled to convene this week, it is interesting to note that the states super majority is not unique.

A legislature with divided leadership in the House and Senate, once a not unusual occurrence a decade or so ago, is nearly extinct.

Instead, many states have firmly entrenched super majorities in control of both legislative houses and state elected offices as well  like Wyoming.

And the political experts see no sign of the current situation changing any time soon, according to an article in Governing.com.

That is not good news for the party in the minority.

Only one state  Minnesota  has divided legislative leadership. And of course, the new Congress is also divided, with the Republicans controlling the Senate and the Democrats holding a majority in the House.

More and more states appear to be permanently blue or red.

Republicans currently control the legislatures in 31 states, while Democrats have the power in 18 states.
CHEYENNE (WNE)  A Wyoming lawmaker will once again take up his battle against daylight saving time.

Rep. Dan Laursen, R-Powell, is sponsoring a bill for the upcoming general session to take the state out of the Uniform Time Act, which created standard and daylight saving time. For the fourth time in as many years, Laursen will try to make Wyoming the third state in the country to no longer require its residents to switch up their clocks twice a year.

Arizona and Hawaii both ditched daylight saving time in the late 1960s after the system was created.

A state can ask the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to opt out of daylight saving time if it's situated within one time zone and the entire state would take part in the switch.

Laursen's bill would direct Wyoming to apply for being removed from daylight saving time if three contiguous states to Wyoming also apply to be taken out of the current system. The bill would move Wyoming into the Central Time Zone, and then create a new designation called Mountain Daylight Saving Time.

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I started crying, Reed said of her initial reaction. I didnt know if we could get it done. We didnt think we would make it.

But their anti-bullying video was ranked among the top five in Wyoming in the first round of competition. Also making the top five were videos submitted from Sheridan and Cheyenne. Three of the final projects were from Gillette: two from CCHS students and a third from Thunder Basin High School.

Carter taught all six students who teamed up to create the three videos.

Im proud of them, she said, pointing to Reed and Bachtold. They actually listened to me. What amazed me is these girls took it personally. They took it to heart.

As a result, they won $250 each for their efforts and $500 for the journalism class, which will be used to buy a new video camera.

Im thrilled. Its a win-win, Carter said. Im glad they won because they deserved it.

The biggest move for the young filmmakers may have been choosing to make the video in black and white.

They also made other choices, including placing the Safe2Tell logo throughout the video, and a record button symbol that flashes red.
HELENA, Mont.  Montana Secretary of State Corey Stapleton on Wednesday became the first major candidate to enter the 2020 race for governor when he announced his second run for the office.

Stapleton finished second in 2012 to Rick Hill in a seven-candidate Republican primary.

Stapleton also ran for Montanas lone U.S. House seat in 2014, finishing second in a five-way primary to eventual winner Ryan Zinke.

As governor, Id like to lead the conversation on how we steer towards a Montana that has stronger families and higher wages, lower taxes and smaller government, Stapleton said in a statement. Ill work with anyone and everyone to help get us there.

Current Gov. Steve Bullock, a Democrat who won the general election in 2012 and 2016, is prevented by term limits from seeking re-election.

Stapleton, 51, a U.S. Navy veteran and financial adviser from Billings, is trying to be the first Republican elected governor in the state since Judy Martz in 2000. He served in the state Senate from 2001 through 2008.

Stapleton was elected secretary of state in 2016 and says the office has reduced spending while increasing election security and making it easier for small businesses to operate.
Her tiny house on Third Street across from the middle school was the family headquarters, and the cottage in back housed all people needing a roof and warm conversation  for a night, a week or longer.

Prior to moving to Glenrock, I occasionally attended St. Louis parish when I was checking on the lieutenant. It was there that Mary Ann first took her notice.

When word spread like a

summer wildfire that I was moving to town, she called to welcome me and to give me the lowdown on what was what.

She said the limited produce selection at the local market would drive me crazy, and that she had told the store manager that on my behalf.

Later, when I was flummoxed about holiday plans and the difficulty in getting everyone together, she pulled me aside at church to tell me that even after all these decades, they had the same problem in her family. They solved it by all getting together the same night every year, and then each separate family could make their own plans for the holiday day, and there were no hard feelings.

And still later, she shared that she kept an emergency bottle of blessed holy water at her house, just in case.
Burns said the housing authority is still in need of volunteers to help out. Those interested in pitching in should contact Serve Wyoming.

Burns said those who wish to donate can drop off items at the Casper Housing Authority. Requested donations include: toothpaste, toothbrushes, sanitary napkins, combs, small flashlights, backpacks, warm socks, scarves, sleeping bags and blankets.

Other efforts are underway in Casper to help the homeless community.

The Wyoming Rescue Mission  a nonprofit that helps the homeless get back on their feet  officially opened its new Park Street Center facility in October. The 22,000 square foot structure can accommodate nearly 200 people per night, roughly twice as many as before.

In addition to more beds, it also offers a larger kitchen and dining area, as well as classrooms and spaces where clients can meet with case managers.

Gov. Matt Mead spoke at the grand opening and praised the generosity of Caspers residents.

People tend to inquire about the local economy when trying to evaluate their city, the governor said, but all too often, they forget to ask how theyre doing in regards to caring for their neighbors.
Burglars broke into a car dealership on Rue Robert Krieps in Petange at around 4.40am on Saturday.

The perpetrators arrived to the car dealers in a dark Renault Megane. In addition to stealing the BMW Z4 with the license plate ''Occasion'', they also damaged other cars before fleeing to France.

The Renault Megane was found, destroyed by fire, at around 5.00am near Aubange (a Walloon municipality of Belgium).

The stolen BMW with the distinctive license plate was later seen near another robbery in France.

The police report that other burglaries took place in Luxembourg during the night from Friday to Saturday: on the main road in Munsbach, on Rue Bellevue in Contern, on Rue de Chicago in Luxembourg city, on Rue Franklin Rooselvelt in Olm and on Rue Jules Diederich in Hesperange.

In Luxembourg city, on Rue Jos Junck, an e-bike of the brand FLEBI was stolen on Friday between 6.30 and 8.30pm. The thief had broken the lock with which the e-bike was secured.
Poland on Friday accused France of breaching European Union laws by exceeding spending limits, the latest in a series of long-running clashes between the two member states.

Paris last month forecast a 2019 deficit of 3.2 percent, which would violate the EU-mandated limit of 3.0 percent of GDP.

Following the announcement, European Economic Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said the likely breach would be "acceptable" providing it was "limited, temporary and exceptional".

"France is breaking European law and the European Commission is turning a blind eye," Polish foreign minister Jacek Czaputowicz said in an interview with the Polska The Times daily published Friday.

He also criticised centrist French President Emmanuel Macron for bowing to pressure from "yellow vest" demonstrators to abandon certain much-needed reforms, insisting that this only "testifies to the weakness of the state".

In December, Czaputowicz had called France "the sick man of Europe" in the wake of the violent protests by the "yellow vest" movement and a recent jihadist attack.

In Friday's interview, he said his remarks had been intended to underscore that France "needs difficult reforms".

However, Czaputowicz also extended an olive branch by saying he "hoped" Macron would visit Poland "soon".

Macron himself had harsh words for Poland's rightwing nationalist government, accusing its leaders in October of "lying" to their people about the European Union.

The Law and Justice (PiS) government has since backed out of some controversial judicial reforms that had set Poland on a collision course with the EU. Brussels said the PiS's measures posed a threat to judicial independence, the rule of law and ultimately to democracy.

Czaputowicz's latest remarks reflect longstanding tensions between the two countries since the PiS took office in 2015.

Bilateral ties began to sour after Poland called off a multi-billion euro deal with France's Airbus to buy 50 of its Caracal helicopters.

The tensions also come as the European Union is set to hold key parliamentary elections in late May.

The vote could see rightwing nationalist parties like the PiS and far-right parties from France and Italy upset the balance of power in the body now dominated by the centre-right.
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Deputies reviewed the churchs surveillance video footage, which allegedly showed a 13-year-old female placing the keys to the vehicle in shrubbery near the Sunday School building.

About 45 minutes later, a white pickup slowed down near the church and a 15-year-old male exited the truck while holding a flashlight.

The male searched for the keys in the shrubs and then took the vehicle from the scene, the report states.

The female was still at the scene when deputies arrived. She said she assisted the male in removing the vehicle from the scene, but only after he threatened to cause bodily harm to her via phone, the report states.

Deputies reached the male by phone, and he told them they could locate the vehicle at the intersection of Second Street and Lexington Avenue in Norway.

Once deputies located the vehicle, it appeared to to be inoperable, the report states.

A deputy will forward the report to the Department of Juvenile Justice, according to the incident report.

In other reports:
Les Winkeler Sports editor Les Winkeler is sports editor and outdoors writer for The Southern Illinoisan. Follow Les Winkeler 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. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

Since Christmas Day, I have been immersed in The Grapes of Wrath.

The John Steinbeck novel, published in 1939, details the struggle of the Joad family as they are displaced from their Oklahoma home by the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. In my opinion, the book is THE great American novel.

Outdoors Column | Les Winkeler: The uncomfortable moment when nature looks back Watching wildlife is an unparalleled pleasure.

My wife gave me an audio version of the book for Christmas. Ive read the novel four or five times, but listening to the words takes the experience to a new level. And, although I know many of the passages by heart, in the vernacular of the book, I havent given er a good goin over in quite a spell.

For those who havent read Steinbeck, he writes bluntly and delicately at the same time. He takes on broad social topics, but he weaves his stories with intricate detail. Steinbecks prose not only makes his characters come to life, but he writes with an intimacy that places you in the bed of the Joads rickety old truck or puts you at their campfire for dinner.

At several junctures in the book, Steinbeck reveals that he has spent countless hours in the outdoors, sitting and observing nature. It is evident from reading, or listening to his words, that he is both awed by the powers of nature, but also aware of the subtleties that largely escape our view.
Here's what you need to know about the first FDA-approved drug for Alzheimers disease in nearly 20 years. What will it cost? What will insura
JOHNSTON CITY  In his first day on the job as mayor of Johnston City, Doug Dobbins said his primary goal is to build on the progress made for the city by his friend and predecessor.

Weve been friends for a long time. I wouldnt be on the council if it werent for him, he said of Jim Mitchell, Johnston Citys mayor for the past eight years, who died in office this week.

On Thursday evening, the Johnston City Council voted to name Dobbins as Mitchells replacement. He will fill out the remaining two years of the term; the mayor's seat will be on the ballot again in 2021.

Dobbins said that during Mitchell's years leading the city, he formed a team to help stabilize the citys affairs. He put us in the right direction and weve been headed that way ever since, Dobbins said. Hopefully, we can keep the ship righted in the direction Jim started it in.

Dobbins has served as a Johnston City alderman for about eight months, he said, after he was appointed to fill a vacancy.
The board asked if he had any case law to present to back up his claims. Simpson did not.

There to defend himself, Hirte pointed out that on one of the objections to his petition, Simpsons address was written as Mission Street, which does not exist within the city and could have made the objection null.

I think its Missouri, if you know how to read, Simpson shouted from the back of the room.

It was noted that this particular objection did list Mission Street  however, Simpson was assured that because his second objection included the contents of the first, he was not in danger of having his grievance tossed out on those grounds.

As to the error on Hirtes petition, Hirte explained that this was a blank that the notary had accidentally filled in with her name and had written error pointing out her own mistake, not Hirtes.

This wasnt accepted as evidence, though, because the notary was not there to testify to this herself and the comment was therefore considered hearsay.

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A few wishes put into perspective the lives of some students, like no family fights, that mom would continue to be able to live on her own, to see a brother not seen for five years, that great-grandma was still alive or for a student and his or her mother to be able to like each other.

Part of the reason we do that is to let students see there are people in our own classroom wishing for things that are not Nintendo or X-Box, Moore said. Everyones life is a little different. Go to the hallway. You never know when somebody just needs a little love.

After the snowball fight, the students did an art activity, turning paper plates to Christmas or winter-themed art.

Students Haiden and Isabelle say Moore is a favorite among their friends.

Mr. Moore straight-up helps me and chooses to be my friend, Haiden said.

The 13-year-old has experienced trauma and is a victim of bullying.

We come in here and actually learn and in here we do this kind of stuff, Isabelle said.

She added that she has never heard one kid say anything negative about Moore.

He cares about our feelings and talks to us, Isabelle said.

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Over those six years, Ive grown the program to where it is a five-person team. We call them a strike team at times, and other times the Interagency Habitat and Fuels Strike Team.

The goals and vision of The Nature Conservancy dovetail nicely with Hobsons plans for Southern Illinois.

Weve got three major goals in Southern Illinois, he said. The Conservancy over the last couple years has been developing our new shared conservation agenda for the entire conservancy. We have a set of overall goals, North American priorities. One of the priorities is to protect land and water on a scale that makes a difference, that matters. We are focused on resilient landscapes. Southern Illinois is a perfect example with the Shawnee National Forest.

A key will be working with private landowners, there is a lot of good momentum going in in Southern Illinois with conservation. There is a lot of interest in bringing in grant money to work with private landowners. Also, working with the Forest Service to expand their prescribed burning. Right now they have a goal of tripling the acres they use prescribed fire on.

Hobson said the size and stature of The Nature Conservancy should be a welcome addition to Southern Illinois.

There are perhaps resources we can bring to the table, he said. Our staff has always been known to be innovative. Wed like to work with all the great partners down there to see what we can do to help restore oak hardwood systems, the Cache River Wetlands system and perhaps the Mississippi River floodplain systems. We dont have a magic bullet or unlimited resources, but Southern Illinois is such a unique part of our state. It only makes sense that its one part of the state the Nature Conservancy would have a big interest.

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Some people binge watch Netflix Huluor HBO shows. And some people turn their downtime into cash. James made $2,275 in just 19 minutesall thanks to something called The 15 Minute Workday. The average trade makes 12% in just 5 days (factoring winners and losers) which is out of this world.

Asanko Gold Inc. engages in the exploration, development, and production of gold properties. Its principal project is the Asanko Gold Mine, which consists of two gold projects, such as the Obotan Project and the Esaase Project located in the Amansie West District of the Republic of Ghana, West Africa. The company was formerly known as Keegan Resources Inc. and changed its name to Asanko Gold Inc. in February 2013. Asanko Gold Inc. was incorporated in 1999 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

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WASHINGTON  So here we are at 2019. In the two years since Donald Trumps unexpected victory, everyone seems to have developed a strong theory about whats wrong with modern politics. It could be the economic decline of the white working class  or maybe, less charitably, the problem is the white working class incorrigible racism. Others prefer to blame immigration, political correctness or simply the overweening arrogance of Americas self-appointed mandarin class.

Proponents of these explanations can point to compelling evidence. But that evidence conceals the same fatal flaw in each story: the attempt to explain a novel phenomenon by way of some long-term factor that hasnt changed, or else to explain a global phenomenon in terms of some local peeve.

American racism, for example, is the lefts favorite explanation for the rise of Trump. Columbia University sociologist Musa Al-Gharbi has pointed out a number of flaws in this thesis, the most glaring of which is that the United States has been racist for a long time and much more racist in the past than now  but now is when America elected Trump.

You might argue that it took a novel event to fan the embers of the nations latent racism  something like, say, the presidency of Barack Obama.
Vancouver was fined $60,000 for spilling almost 600,000 gallons of raw or partially treated sewage into the Columbia River in 2017, Washington state officials announced Friday.

The majority of the waste came from a pair of spills originating at the West Side Wastewater Treatment Plant, according to the Washington Department of Ecology, which administered the fines.

Unacceptable training, maintenance and operations led to preventable discharges of raw sewage, Heather Bartlett, who manages Ecologys Water Quality Program, said in a statement.

That put bacteria and other pathogens that can cause diseases into the river, along with solids and trash that treatment normally removes. The rivers powerful flow may dilute the discharge, but it also spreads the pollution further.

On Sept. 30, 2017, the plant suffered a power outage that resulted in the release of nearly 400,000 gallons of raw sewage and more than 100,000 gallons of sewage that had been treated, but not disinfected.

About two weeks later, the plant released another 80,000 gallons of raw sewage because controls were improperly set during a routine recalibration, officials said.

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Castle Rock Superintendent Jim Mabbott announced Thursday night that he will retire in June when he completes his third year leading the school district. Mabbotts retirement will conclude a 40-year run in education.

Ive done what I wanted to do. I have no regrets about my career, Mabbott said Friday. I loved all of it, and I suspect Ill love the next six months just as much.

Mabbott, 63, will formally step down on June 30, but he has a lot on the plate to focus on in the meantime, he said. This includes continuing the districts adoption for high school English materials and K-12 math materials, he said.

And clearly our community and board need to figure out our next steps for our facilities, which are in need of dire improvement, Mabbott said.

Mabbott led the district in putting together its first bond measure in more than 20 years. Although the measure has failed to pass twice, Board President Andy Ogden pointed to the bond as one of Mabbotts achievements as superintendent.








Democrats like to say that building a wall at our border is immoral.

But do you know whats really immoral?

Putting our national security at risk just to score cheap political points.

And opposing the efforts of the President of the United States to secure our borders because you didnt like the outcome of the election.

Note from Tammy:

Excellent point from Shifra, reminding us of the main argument against the wall by Pelosi and the Democrats. They use the immoral argument because they cant win on the issue itself. We know historically and via the wall sections that already exist in our country, that they work. Along the sections that have a wall at our southern border, illegal traffic of all kinds people trafficking, sex trafficking, drug trafficking, decreased by over 90%.

Are walls perfect? Of course not. Just like how having a lock on your door doesnt guarantee bad guys wont find a way in, we know not having a lock on your door is like having an open invitation for the the bad guys to come in. Bottom line we have multiple crises happening in our country. Criminals, gang members and the drug cartels must be impeded. And those who want to come here legally and use the system properly have a right to be treated with expediency and respect. The only way to achieve all of this is to impede the illegal traffic at the border, and to streamline our existing immigration system.

Via Times of Israel.

Over four years after a team of Hamas commandos entered Israel from the sea during the Gaza war of 2014, Israeli engineers are nearing completion of a smart sea barrier meant to prevent future attacks, Channel 10 news reported Monday. Construction of the 200-meter-long barrier was carried out by the Defense Ministry off the beach of Zikim, on Gazas northernmost border. Work took seven months. The barrier is meant to close a gap in Israels defenses along the border with Gaza.

It Works: Israeli Mayor Says Border Wall With Egypt Eliminated Illegal Immigration in 2 Years
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A particular white Standardbred stole the spotlight back in 2013 when he attracted a hefty $240,000 bid at the annual Harrisburg yearling sale. Fast-forward five years and the same striking individual was garnering the attention once again, but this time it was with Jolly Old St. Nick.

As an article by TapInto.net explains, Knutsson Trotting Inc.s White Bliss was front and centre at the Meadowlands Racetrack on December 22.

The six-year-old son of Art Major wasnt knocking heads with any pari-mutuel rivals in the pre-Christmas visit, though  he was doing what he could to help bring some holiday cheer to those in attendance at the East Rutherford, New Jersey raceway.

Kris Kringle himself was up behind White Bliss multiple times during the card, as the duo led the post parades for the races.



Santa Claus and White Bliss, pictured leading a post parade at the Meadowlands Racetrack on December 22, 2018

The TapInto.net article also explains how the Big M ran multiple marketing and promotional initiatives to help get its patrons into the holiday spirit. To read the article, click here.

Santas presence at the Mecca of Harness Racing was not his only raceway visit this holiday season, though, as Pere Noel also made appearances at Standardbred tracks across Canada.

(With files from TapInto.net  headline photo of White Bliss courtesy @StallKenny and Instagram)
Transportation Security Administration officers are increasingly calling out sick ever since the partial government shutdown began on Dec. 22 and forced personnel to work without pay. CNN was first to report the story, saying that hundreds of TSA officers called out sick from work this past week. One source even called it a blue flu, in reference to the blue shirts that the security officers who check bags at airports wear. This will definitely affect the flying public who we [are] sworn to protect, Hydrick Thomas, president of the national TSA employee union, told CNN.

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Some of the numbers are staggering. More than 150 TSA employees called out sick on Friday morning at Kennedy International Airport in New York, reports the New York Times. At Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, the number of TSA officers who are calling out sick has increased by 200 to 300 percent, according to CNN. Although some contend the sick call outs could be a form of protest, union officials say its more likely that those who are calling out sick are simply trying to arrange temporary work to earn a bit of cash.

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More #FakeNews from @CNN. Security operations at airports have not been impacted by a non-existent sick out. CNN has the cell numbers of multiple @TSA public affairs professionals, but rather than validate statistics, they grossly misrepresented them. https://t.co/PzVeoIBt5R  Tyler Q. Houlton (@SpoxDHS) January 4, 2019

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The Department of Homeland Security reacted angrily to the CNN report, with a. spokesman labeling it as fake news and denying the problem existed. More #FakeNews from @CNN. Security operations at airports have not been impacted by a non-existent sick out, Tyler Houlton wrote on Twitter. But the TSA later essentially confirmed the report, saying there had been an increase in employees calling out sick but denying that the trend had affected operations. Call outs began over the Holiday period and have increased, but are causing minimal impact given there are 51,739 employees supporting the screening process, the TSA said. The TSA also warned that if the number of call outs increase wait times could also rise.

Statement on nationwide sick out as reported by CNNs Rene Marsh and Gregory Wallace. #News pic.twitter.com/RK0wiFLRJt  TSA (@TSA) January 4, 2019

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President Donald Trump later weighed in on the issue and praised Houlton for his tweet, calling CNN a proud member of the Opposition Party.

Great Tweet today by Tyler Q. Houlton @SpoxDHS on the #FakeNews being put out by @CNN, a proud member of the Opposition Party. @TSA is doing a great job!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2019

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The presidents criticism led CNN to send out its own tweet defending its reporting, noting it had talked to numerous TSA & union officials for the report.

CNN spoke to numerous TSA & union officials & cited data provided by unions for our report. TSA itself put out a statement acknowledging increased call-outs after we published. @spoxdhs & @realdonaldtrump may not like the truth but that wont stop us from reporting. #FactsFirst  CNN Communications (@CNNPR) January 5, 2019

This article has been updated with new information since it was first published.
President Donald Trump praised former New York Times executive editor Jill Abramson on Saturday, and used the upcoming release of her book to take aim at one of his favorite targets. The president said that Abramson rips papers unmistakably anti-Trump bias. It will come as no surprise the president didnt seem to have actually read the book and just copy-and-pasted a recent headline in the Washington Times. The conservative paper was reporting on the book, Merchants of Truth: The Business of News and the Fight for Facts according to a Fox News piece.

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Trump used that headline as an opportunity to bash the New York Times, saying she was 100% correct in her assessment. Horrible and totally dishonest reporting on almost everything they write, Trump wrote. Hence the term Fake News, Enemy of the People, and Opposition Party!

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Former @NYTimes editor Jill Abramson rips paper's unmistakably anti-Trump bias.



Ms. Abramson is 100% correct. Horrible and totally dishonest reporting on almost everything they write. Hence the term Fake News, Enemy of the People, and Opposition Party!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2019

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This was not the commander in chiefs first attack on the media for the day and came shortly after he lashed out at CNN for its report that hundreds of Transportation Security Administration agents are calling out sick during the partial government shutdown. Trump praised the spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security for criticizing the report. Great Tweet today by Tyler Q. Houlton @SpoxDHS on the #FakeNews being put out by @CNN, a proud member of the Opposition Party, Trump wrote. @TSA is doing a great job! Houlton, who tweeted Friday and not Saturday as the president claimed, had called the report fake news even though TSA essentially confirmed it later.

Great Tweet today by Tyler Q. Houlton @SpoxDHS on the #FakeNews being put out by @CNN, a proud member of the Opposition Party. @TSA is doing a great job!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2019

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Abramson quickly pushed back against the presidents characterization of her book: Anyone who reads my book, Merchants of Truth, will find I revere @nytimes and praise its tough coverage of you. In an email to the Guardian, where she is a columnist, Abramson expanded on that tweet. Donald Trump is echoing a piece on Fox News (surprise) that distorts and takes what I wrote totally out of context, she wrote. Both the NYT and [Washington Post] have had superb coverage of the corruption enveloping the Trump administration, the best investigative reporting Ive seen. My book is full of praise for both papers. Abramson was fired from the New York Times in 2014.

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Anyone who reads my book, Merchants of Truth, will find I revere @nytimes and praise its tough coverage of you https://t.co/fHXYiva4hK  Jill Abramson (@JillAbramson) January 5, 2019

Abramson had earlier complained that Fox News Howard Kurtz had taken her book out of context to serve the networks narrative. His article is an attempt to Foxify my book, which is full of praise for The Times and The Washington Post and their coverage of Trump, Abramson wrote in an email, according to the Associated Press
Tourists who visit Washington, D.C. have limited options on what they can enjoy in the nations capital with the partial government shutdown underway. But one thing they can do is go visit the historic clock tower at the Trump International Hotel. It isnt really the most popular tourist attraction but, hey, considering the Smithsonian museums are closed its at least something. And any visitor who decides to venture to the 315-foot-high clock tower will be greeted by National Park Service rangers, who are working normally despite the shutdown.

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The General Services Administration, which leases the building to the Trump Organization, insists that the fact that the 120-year-old clock tower is open now has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that it houses a hotel with the presidents name on it. Whether thats true or not, it feels like something that could help the president make some money is getting preferential treatment. At the very least, the Trump administration appears to have gone out of its way to keep the attraction in the federally owned building that houses the Trump hotel open and staffed with National Park Service rangers, even as other federal agencies shut all but the most essential services, as the Associated Press puts it.

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The Trump International Hotel touts the panoramic views of the capital city from the Clock Tower as one of the highlights of the property. That highlight appears to be getting busier than normal these days as tour operators figure it out, one ranger said.

Some are starting to ask questions. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a watchdog group, has filed a Freedom of Information Act request to try to understand why the clock tower was open. At the very least, this smells funny, Noah Bookbinder, the groups executive director, said.

The tower hasnt stayed open throughout the shutdown. But it reopened its doors this past week. When asked for an explanation, the GSA said in a statement to the Hill that the funds needed to operate the Old Post Office tower are not associated with the current fiscal years (FY 2019) appropriations bill. The Hill was asking for comment on a report by E&E News regarding the reopening of the Clock Tower.

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It isnt just watchdog groups that are sensing some possible impropriety. Rep. Bill Pascrell from New Jersey took to Twitter raise his suspicions that tax dollars were being used to benefit the presidents pocket. The Trump admin is using your tax dollars to keep an @NPS site at his luxury hotel open while the rest of Americans are wading through garbage and locked gates, he tweeted earlier in the week. The corruption and disgrace of this govt are without bottom.

The Trump admin is using your tax dollars to keep an @NPS site at his luxury hotel open while the rest of Americans are wading through garbage and locked gates. The corruption and disgrace of this govt are without bottom. https://t.co/bq7IzsGURu  Bill Pascrell, Jr. (@BillPascrell) January 2, 2019
On the last day of 2018, I was spending time with a friend visiting New York City from Florida. He told me he was thinking of heading to Times Square to watch the ball drop. No way, I told him, as any tri-state native would. Avoid at all costs. Ive never understood why a person would voluntarily squish themselves between wasted tourists only to walk home through an obstacle course of 50 tons of trash. Not me. I stayed home, counted down to midnight with my wife, then went straight to bed.

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As it turns out, across the Atlantic, many of my peers were out for a different reason. A group of more than 1,000 Muslims organized by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association in the U.K. prayed their first prayer in 2019, strapped on high-visibility jackets, and swarmed the streets with brooms and garbage bags to help groom their cities after the boozy celebration. They do it every year as an act of worship, fulfilling one of the five pillars of Islam: charity.

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Along with this annual rite invariably comes favorable press coverage, and the story promptly rose to the top of Reddits UpliftingNews subreddit. Pieces like these appear all year, whether its Muslims rallying to fundraise in the face of tragedy like a deadly mass shooting or giving money to fight hunger on Christmas. The acts of charity are real and commendable, and it warmed my heart to see a story like the one from the U.K. go viral. Yet there was also something else that was nagging at me, as it often does when I see coverage like this: Why is this even a story? On its face, its really just Muslims acting as their faith requires. In this case, the AMYA had a photographer on hand to document the young Muslims out in the wee hours on Jan. 1. It clearly courted the coverage. Why? Is this charity or performance?

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In a sense, its not so hard to understand: A recent study conducted by the University of Alabama found that terror attacks committed by Muslims received 357 percent more press attention than terror attacks committed by non-Muslims. Only half of Pew-polled Americans say they know a Muslim, and research has shown that Americans who do not interact with Muslims directly hold less favorable views toward Islam. Opinions of my family and community are shaped by the overrepresentation of negative coverage of Muslims in the media.

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For that reason, its hard to fault these stories or the Muslim organizers who proffer them too much. The piece about the Muslims cleaning up after New Years Eve only appeared in my feed, and I only clicked on it, because it offers a rare positive view of Islam in the news. Its one we dont usually seean Islam that I recognized. Every time news breaks of a lunatic shouting Allahu akbar and news networks invite a non-Muslim expert to debate a full-blown bigot over whether or not Islam is what caused the attack, I lose my mind.

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Courting press coverage for charity risks turning it into a photo-op and a performance.

So maybe its obvious why AMYA would invite their own photographer to document their charity. When cable news anchors still ask unashamedly where the moderate Muslims are, I get why Muslim groups around the world want to answer that call. But in a way, these photo-ops also feel like a capitulation to the most extreme views about Islam. They suggest the charity is somehow a surprise, a novelty. Part of me would love if the next time I bought a meal for a person in need, a group of panelists on CNN argued whether Islam was the answer to poverty. But is that really going to happen? And doesnt touting ordinary service as extraordinary classify these acts of community and altruism, by default, as abnormal for Muslims? The temptation for the photo-op is understandable, but in some ways it seems to work against its own goal.

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Besides, even as they document undeniable good, these stories feel a bit patronizing, as if to say, Hey, look, a good Muslim! Its easy to see why they seem necessary in an atmosphere where Islam is only mentioned in the news after tragedies, but I wonder if it cheapens faith-required service to turn it into an opportunity to remind people were not evil radicals or exotic foreigners. Muslims like me shouldnt have to overcompensate for lunatics by putting Islam on display for all to see. I hope more people will see and internalize stories about us fulfilling our faith rather than stories about terrorism, but surely a more effective vessel for change in media is to confront the way they treat Muslims directly, not a futile mission to flood the press with alternative narratives.

My friend from Florida did not make it to Times Square, but maybe next year I will find my own New Year service, inspired by the AMYA. If I do, itll be off camera, like the overwhelming duty of Muslims around the world. A famous hadith from the Prophet Mohammed tells Muslims that the better charity is done with the right hand if the left hand doesnt know. I hope to keep it that way.
This article is published through a partnership with New York Medias Strategist. The partnership is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. Every editorial product is independently selected by New York Media. If you buy something through our links, Slate and New York Media may earn an affiliate commission.

One of the most seamless  and eeriest  things about shopping on Amazon is how good it is at suggesting other things you might like. Add a Stephen King book to your cart? Why not Tana French? Just bought epsom salts? How about a candle? This season, we thought wed replicate the You Might Also Like algorithm feature with a human touch, starting with kitchen gifts.

If They Have a Sous Vide Machine

FoodSaver V4440 2-in-1 Vacuum Sealer Machine ($180)

A vacuum sealer will take their sous vide cooking to the next level, letting them seal up airtight bags of meat with aromatics, like fresh herbs, or marinades, so they can cook in circulating water without a chance of leaks.

If They Have a Cast-Iron Skillet

Blisstime Cast Iron Cleaner ($12)

This piece of chainmail is relatively cheap, but its the best way to scrub off food residue from a cast-iron skillet without ruining the hard-earned seasoning.

If They Have a Vitamix

Vitamix 065421 AER Disc Container, 48-Ounce, Clear ($145)

Earlier this year, Vitamix came out with this AER Disc container, which has a flat, metal disc where the sharp blades would normally be. That disc, with its small holes, wont pulverize vegetables or puree fruits, but its excellent for emulsions or for creating foam. Its an especially useful accessory for those who like making frozen margaritas or fancy vinaigrettes.

If They Have a KitchenAid Stand Mixer and Like to Bake

KitchenAid K5GB 5-Quart Tilt-Head Glass Bowl With Measurement Markings & Lid ($50)

This all-glass bowl is much heavier than the metal one that comes with most KitchenAid stand mixers, but its nice for those who want to be able see if all of the dough has been incorporated. Plus, it comes with a handy pour spout, for doling out batter into cake tins, and a resealable lid, so you can keep cookie dough in the fridge overnight without moving it too much.

If They Have a KitchenAid Stand Mixer and Dont Know What to Do With It

KitchenAid KSM1APC Spiralizer Attachment, 1, Silver ($75)

There are a bunch of different attachments they can attach to their KitchenAid stand mixer, far beyond dough hooks and standard whisks  like this spiralizer attachment, which they can use to make zucchini noodles in a matter of seconds  so they can put that kitchen gadget to use even if they never bake.

If They Have an Instant Pot

Genuine Instant Pot Ceramic Non-Stick Interior Coated Inner Cooking Pot, 6-Quart ($20)

Weve written about the best Instant Pot accessories before, and really, anything from that list will please a true Instant Pot enthusiast. But we also like this ceramic nonstick interior pot, which is nice to keep on hand in case of leftovers.

If They Have a Fancy Bar Cart

Areaware Table Tiles ($22)

These coasters from Brooklyn-based Areaware are perennial Strategist favorites, and this neutral color combination will complement most decors.

If They Have a Wine Fridge

The Original Vacu Vin Wine Saver with 2 Vacuum Stoppers and 2 Wine Servers ($29)

This sommelier-recommended wine stopper can keep an opened bottle fresh for days, a nice option for those with a lot of wine to taste and savor.

If They Have a Favorite Drip Coffee Maker

OXO BREW Conical Burr Coffee Grinder ($100)

Nearly every coffee roaster and barista will tell you that a conical burr grinder is the best way to grind beans into grounds, and though this one from OXO isnt the fanciest, its the best for the price.

If They Have a Favorite Pour-Over Coffee Setup

Hario Stainless Steel V60 Drip Coffee Scale, Metal ($71)

Any proper pour-over coffee setup needs a good scale, and this one from Japanese brand Hario is designed especially for that purpose, with a built-in timer so that pours can be evenly spaced. The metal is also a nice upgrade for those who may have been using plastic.

If They Have a Keurig

K-Cup Carousel ($14)

A K-Cup organizer to keep their pods in order. (Though youll definitely get bonus points if you gift them a bunch of K-Cups to fill up this new holder.)

If They Just Moved Into a New Kitchen

Potluck Utensil Set ($80)

This 12-piece set from Potluck Kitchenware is a full kit of professional-grade kitchen tools  including stainless steel mixing bowls and measuring cups, a sharp microplane, and a nice wooden spoon  thats basically got all the utensils a home cook could need to stock their kitchen.

Slate has relationships with various online retailers. If you buy something through our links, Slate may earn an affiliate commission. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. All prices were up to date at the time of publication.
Kevin Harts Friday appearance on Ellen had a lot in common with stops on other celebrity apology tours. Ellen DeGeneres billed it as a very special episode, an honest sit-down with a guy who had done wrong (made homophobic jokes on Twitter and in his stand-up) and had suffered public consequences (resigning his post as Oscars host amid public outcry). Hart spent his time in the chair with a somber look on his face, hand resting thoughtfully on his chin. The shows Twitter account promoted the episode with references to forgiveness and second chances.

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But the interview, which lasted the entire hour of Fridays episode, was missing one essential ingredient of a successful apology tour: a believable apology. The person who talked most about Hart apologizing was DeGeneres, who made several comments about regret hed already expressed and said he was apologizing again right now when he wasnt. The text that accompanies the video clip on the shows website summarizes the conversation like this: The comedian explained how he has apologized. It almost reads like a grammatical error, like someone meant to write The comedian apologized but got a little too verbose. Nope! Its an accurate description of the video, with all the sincere apology stuff happening hypothetically and in the past.

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That past apology stuff barely bears mentioning. When Hart addressed his homophobic remarks in 2015, he said he would stop telling anti-gay jokes because the times had gotten sensitive and he would be setting himself up for failure if he continued ragging on gay people. The best Hart did on Fridays show was acknowledge that the stuff he tweetedcalling someone a fat faced fag; boasting that if my son comes home & trys 2 play with my daughters doll house Im going 2 break it over his head & say n my voice stop thats gay was indeed wrong. What he didnt reckon with was far more important: the harm he caused with his tweets, his stand-up riffs on trying to keep his son from being gay, or the culture of homophobia he encouraged by delivering those nonjokes to millions of fans.

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As my colleague Sam Adams wrote when Hart stepped down from his Oscars gig, which he held for all of two days, Harts inability or unwillingness to deliver an actual apology for his past homophobic remarksnot the homophobic remarks themselveswas what made his resignation inevitable. Before he resigned, he posted several Twitter and Instagram responses to the public criticism that followed his Oscars announcement, all of which maligned his trolls as angry and negative, and none of which contained an apology. (A thin oneIm sorry that I hurt peoplecame after he quit the show.) It looked like Hart was so convinced hed done nothing wrong, or so appalled by the idea that he might have to own up to things he had done wrong, that hed rather give up a gig hes described as his dream job than admit his homophobia was despicable.

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Thats what makes DeGeneres decision to offer him absolution on behalf of Americas gays so sickening. DeGeneres, possibly the lesbian whose safety and livelihood is least threatened by homophobia, spent the hour chalking up criticism of Harts homophobic tweets to haters  a small group of people being very very loud. When Hart calls those critics trolls, DeGeneres urges him not to let them win by refusing to host the Oscars. She commends him for being the bigger man by paying them no mind.

When the most famous and beloved gay person in America congratulates an equally famous and wealthy person on ignoring queer people hurt by his violent and homophobic rhetoric, she is abdicating her responsibility to the people she claims to care so much aboutthe kids [who] are killed for being gay or beaten up every day, as she described them in Fridays episode. DeGeneres could have used the interview to help Hart engage in a deep, complicated reckoning with his biases and his aversion to taking accountability for them. Instead, she echoed his repeated claims that the criticism of his homophobia was a malicious attack on his person and his career, as if there werent good reason to be disturbed by the remarks the haters brought up. This was to destroy me in all partnerships, in all brand relationships, all investment opportunities, Hart said, as DeGeneres nodded sympathetically. (Minutes later, she gave him the opportunity to promote his forthcoming ad campaign with Chase.) The gist of DeGeneres comments on the subjectand of Harts nonapologetic social media postsis that Hart is the victim of a vicious online mob that hates to see people happy. She tells him hes grown and gotten educated since calling people fags, without asking him to offer any evidence that hes actually done so.

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As a gay person  I am sensitive to all of that, DeGeneres said of the criticism of Hart, establishing her credentials for offering her support. But as a gay person, DeGeneres cant argue in good faith, as she did on Fridays show, that Hart was not realizing how many kids are killed for being gay or beaten up every day when he was literally tweeting about beating up his son for possibly being gay. She cant say he was not realizing how dangerous those words are, when the only reason anyone uses the word fag, as Hart did in a 2009 tweet, is because the word can hurt.

I wasnt initially convinced that Harts tweets should disqualify him from the Oscars spot. Sure, I was disappointed that he was chosen over every famous person who doesnt have a history of profiting from homophobia (like, I dont know, any of the gay ones). But hiring sexist and homophobic comics is kind of the Oscars thing; I didnt think Harts history was much worse than any of the others. Now, after watching DeGeneres gleefully encourage her audience to cheer for a proudly unrepentant maybe-ex-homophobethey clapped and screamed for a full 10 seconds when she introduced him as this years Oscars hostand treat as a foregone conclusion the idea that the criticism of his remarks was undue, I will be furious if he takes back the role. If DeGeneres was able to convince the so-called haters that Hart is the true victim in this scenario, it will reflect even more poorly on the countrys view of gays than if thered been no outcry over Harts tweets at all.

Gay people know DeGeneresbland, pandering, barely politicalis no spokesperson for the entire LGBTQ community. But her viewers, many of whom probably consider her their closest gay friend, would be forgiven for taking their cues on gay issues from her. On Friday, she told them that gays on Twitter are more powerful and mean-spirited than the second-highest-paid comedian in the world, who for years made gay people the subject of violent rhetoric and the butt of his jokes. If her studio audiences approving cheers are any indication, they might just believe her.
More than 100 Arab citizens are missing after seeking shelter in Algeria and others stranded at the border with Niger, The UN refugee agency said on Thursday.

Some 120 Syrian, Palestinian and Yemeni individuals were detained at the Tamanrasset Centre in southern Algeria before being taken to an area near the Guezzam border post (at the southern border with Niger) on 26 December, the UNHCR said in a statement.

Members of the group are registered refugees who have fled conflict and persecution, the UN body added.

The UN agency said 20 members of the group remain stranded in the desert, several kilometres from the Guezzam border post.

The 100 other individuals who were taken to the border are unaccounted for, it added.

According to the Algerian migration department, the refugees had entered Algeria illegally and were put on trial in September and that the court ordered their expulsion.

HassenKacimi, the official in charge of migration policy at Algerias interior ministry, told Reuters news agency on Wednesday that many Syrians seeking to enter Algeria through the southern border were suspected to be Islamist militants.

While border management remains a sovereign prerogative of all governments, UNHCR has called on the Algerian government to address the situation of refugees and asylum seekers.

Right groups last year said Algeria has deported thousands of men, women, and children since January 2018 to Niger and Mali in inhumane conditions and in many cases without considering their legal status in Algeria or their individual vulnerabilities.
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Kicking off 2019 with NPRs Wait Wait  Dont Tell Me! host, Peter Sagal. Sagal got his start with screenwriting, penning Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights. Writing the sequel to Dirty Dancing was a natural transition to hosting a public radio show. Sagal talks to Catie Lazarus about how he wound up hosting National Public Radios popular game show; his new book, The Incomplete Book of Running; and why to get off the grid.

Podcast production by Dana Bialek. Theme song by Lady Rizo.
In Slates annual Movie Club, film critic Dana Stevens emails with fellow criticsthis year, K. Austin Collins, Amy Nicholson, and Bilge Ebiriabout the year in cinema. Read the first entry here.

Ive been dying for someone to bring up airplane movies because I can confirm Kams observation that Oceans 8 zoomed past the competition. Some flights, it was on every other seatback, which is significant as planes are the place where we let our id choose the film. Once we reach an altitude of 35,000 feet, we untether from any guilt that we are wasting our time and money. We have time to waste, and the movie is free. And siloed by headphones, theres no need to negotiate, explain, or apologize for what we earnestly want to see. (On a 12-hour Aeroflot leg, I picked a Bollywood film called Toilet: Ek Prem Ketha (A Love Story), which turned out to be rousingly feministits on Netflix right now.)

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So, yes, I loved spying on all the peoplemale and femalewho chose to watch eight amazingly costumed actresses saunter around in search of a plot. They never found one. Oceans 8 is basically dashed-off fan fiction about characters who never even existed, a promotional yogurt passed off as a meal. But Anne Hathaways twit was a true gift.

She got me thinking of all those small moments in 2018nothing even so big as a plot pointthat, in many cases, will stick with me longer than the actual films. Forgive me for breaking format, but Id like to celebrate nine of those tiny filmmaking choices in a manner that befits their bite-size joys: haiku.

To Pippin, the Teensy Swimming Dog Who Faces Down The Meg

Pink-bowchoked topknot

The crown on your coddled life

Yet, pup one: shark nil

On 63 Elizabeth Debicki Wearing Stilettos in Widows

Dearest daffy stork

Teetering into our hearts

She stoops to conquer

A Ballad to the Blushed Cheeks of Buster Scruggs Wingless Thrush

Behold, twin red moons

Aglow in the frontier night

Scrubbed clean by cold dawn

Apologia to the Actresses Hired to Flatter Clint Eastwoods Virility in The Mules Not One But Two Threesomes

Seriously, what?!

$10 bucks if you dared question

Your motivation

A Simple Favors Farewell to the Dickey Worn by Blake Lively

Violent fashion

Brutally shucked from the chest

To please the goddess

Elegy for Christian and Anastasia Grey in Fifty Shades Final Montage

Flashback pommel horse

Two words never meant to mix

But so glad they did

In Awe of John Cenas Overburdened Blockers Belt Buckle

My god! The pressure!

Volcano in cargo pants

About to explode

Epigram for a Stop-Motion Octopus Sliced Into Isle of Dogs Assassination Sushi

Wriggling on a block

The silicone tentacle

Dances with the knife

In Shivering, Quaking Awe of A Wrinkle In Times Giant Oprah

Bedazzled titan

Have you reached your final form?

A vision from Bosch

Bilge, were nearing Slate Movie Clubs final round. Your next mission, should you choose to accept it (and Tom Cruise always does), is to pen a naughty limerick about a film you feel we havent discussed enough. Bonus points if you concoct a good rhyme for mise en scene.

xo,

A

Read the previous entry. Read the next entry.
Third in line to the presidency of the United States, as of Thursday, is the senior senator from Iowa.

Chuck Grassley, the Republican who has represented Iowa in the U.S. Senate since 1981, on Thursday was sworn in as Senate president pro tempore for the 116th Congress.

Perhaps the constitutional gig's top perk: Grassley becomes third in the line of presidential succession, after the vice president and speaker of the House.

Grassley earned the honor by becoming the senior-most member of the majority party in the Senate.

It is extremely unlikely Grassleys spot in the presidential pecking order will ever matter. The presidency has never gone beyond the vice president, unless you count Kiefer Sutherlands character in "Designated Survivor." Grassley was nonetheless appreciative of the honor, tweeting that he never thought he would become a constitutional officer.
WASHINGTON -- Incoming speaker Nancy Pelosi wants to be clear about what the new Democratic House majority will not be: They will not, she insists, act like the Republicans.

"We believe that we will not become them," she said in a New Year's Day phone interview during a visit to her native Baltimore. "We're not going to do to them what they did to President Obama. ... It's really important for us not to become them and certainly not to become like the president of the United States in terms of how he speaks without any basis of fact, evidence, data or truth.

"We will respect each other's opinions, and respect the truth." Note: She said this before President Trump's series of false claims in advance of his Wednesday meeting with Congressional leaders about the government shutdown he precipitated in pursuit of his border wall.

Pelosi also pushes back hard against the idea that in holding Trump and his administration accountable, Democrats will be engaging in some sort of investigative orgy. On the contrary, she said, Article I of the Constitution grants Congress responsibility for "oversight over the agencies of government."
Although Windschitl indicated he supported the bill, he wasnt sure it was necessary given how efficient the states current system is.

We have already moved so close to constitutional carry with our shall-issue system and the revisions that we made with our omnibus bill back in 2017 that it is a very streamlined, state-of-the-art system where citizens dont face a high degree of burden, he said. Again I am an adamant supporter of it, but I also believe that the Freedom Amendment needs to come first before we move down that path.

Reynolds appeared to have lukewarm feelings about the constitutional carry bill, stating she didnt plan to advocate for its passage but would take a look at it.

I am a Second Amendment advocate. I believe in the right to bear arms and Im proud of what weve been able to do to protect those liberties.  (But) Ill have to see it in its final form, the governor said.

In February 2018, she had said she felt very strongly that we should keep Iowas current gun-permitting law.

Opponents worry that the bill could endanger public safety.
But others defended Tlaib. Freshman Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York told CNN impeachment was "an issue that she's passionate about."

"I certainly think it a valid question and it's one that a lot of voters were interested in having in the run-up to the election," Ocasio-Coretz said. "It's a legitimate discussion to have."

Financial Services Chairwoman Maxine Waters, a frequent target of Trump's ire, said of Tlaib comments: "I think what we need to do is have more attention on the President and the way that he speaks, the language that he uses."

Natural Resources Chairman Raul Grijalva noted there was "a lot of emotion around," saying he didn't want to get into the nature of Tlaib's comments.

"The congresswoman has the power of speech is hers," he said. "The fact of the matter is the talk about impeachment has a life of its own and that's going to continue."

Tlaib didn't back down from her statement, tweeting Friday morning, "I will always speak truth to power." Her communications director noted that Tlaib also wrote an op-ed Thursday laying out why she believed Trump should be impeached.
SIOUX CITY -- The Diocese of Sioux City on Friday denied charges by a victims survivor group that the diocese has covered up allegations of sexual misconduct by priests.

"We are working to do everything we can to help victims who come forward," the diocese said in a news release. "We want to help them feel a sense of justice and healing. The Diocese of Sioux City continues to express sorrow for and to apologize to the victims of sexual misconduct by members of our clergy."

The news release was in response to statements at a Dec. 29 press conference organized by the Survivors' Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP).

The group's board president is Tim Lennon, who says he was raped at age 12, in 1960, by The Rev. Peter B. Murphy, a former diocese priest who died in 1980.

In Friday's statement, diocese officials say they "deeply regret the abuse that Mr. Lennon suffered at the hands of Peter Murphy." The diocese points out it did not ignore Lennon after he reported the abuse, and reached an undisclosed financial settlement on Aug. 25, 2016.

The diocese referenced letters Lennon sent to the diocese that month, including one in which he mentioned a "monetary award" from the diocese.
Buried under heaps of a continuing gift-giving tradition of Christmas for uncountable scores is the stamp on the symbol of Three Kings Day which falls today, 12 days after the celebrated birth of Jesus Christ. The celebration falls on January 6 this year, the Sunday after New Years Day. In previous decades, Filipinos celebrated this religious holiday on January 6, whatever day it was, until the Vatican Council reset the date to the Sunday after New Years Day.

Thus, Yuletide in this predominantly Christian nation of 106 million people, which began with the first Advent Sunday in November, ends today on the Feast of Epiphany. The Epiphany season, also known as Epiphanytide, is in some churches recognized as a liturgical period following Christmastide, and begins on the day of the Epiphany and ends on various dates as defined by those churches. This is where at times the confusion lies. Some count 12 days from December 25, while others begin the count on December 26, with the 12th Nightwhen the three wise men arrived in Bethlehemas falling on January 6.These three kings, also referred to as the three wise men, had, according to tradition, a mission to go to Bethlehem and they followed the star that showed them the way to see the newly born Jesus. On arrival, the three offered three gifts: gold, incense and myrrh. Epiphany or Theophany, celebrated since the end of the second century, is the Christian tradition that marks the revelation of the Son of God in the form of a human and remembers as well his baptism. The threeMelchior, from Europe; Balthasar, from Africa; and Caspar, from the Middle Eastfollowed the star of Bethlehem to meet the baby Jesus. What is obviously forgotten in the celebration of this mysterious visit is the symbolic unity of the event, which is penetratingly absorbing, regardless of religious undercurrents, done at a time when war left in ruins much of civilization.
SIOUX CITY -- In a sharp turnabout from his past stance, Rep. Steve King committed Friday to holding at least one town hall meeting in each of the 39 counties in Iowa's 4th District.

In a news release, King released 39 dates, but not locations, for a series of public meetings that will begin on Jan. 24 and end on Dec. 14. His office said details about each town hall will be released at a later time and distributed via news releases on King's congressional website.

In Friday's news release, King invited members of the public and the news media to "Save the Date" to discuss various issues.

Town hall meetings are an opportunity for members of the public to express their concerns to me, and for me to deliver my constituents an overview of the work I am doing in Washington on their behalf," the Kiron Republican said in a statement. "During my time in Congress, I have visited all 382 towns in the 4th District, and I look forward to holding a town hall meeting in all 39 of our districts counties this year," King said.

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SIOUX CITY -- The second phase of construction is set to begin this spring at the Summit at Sunnybrook Village, an apartment complex on the ridge overlooking the Sunnybrook shopping area.

In a news release Friday, Lincoln, Nebraska-based Perry Reid Properties and Dallas, Texas-based Anthony Properties announced the new development, called "Summit Ridge," which includes 73 luxury apartments in one building.

The project is expected to be complete by the summer of 2020.

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The existing complex consists of 225 apartments, which are 100 percent occupied, according to the developer. Those apartments opened in fall 2017.

Summit Ridge apartment residents will have access to amenities that include underground parking, controlled building access, an elevator, a multi-purpose space for residents, outdoor seating areas, fireplaces, a coffee bar, a 24-hour fitness facility with workout classes, a Wi-Fi lounge, a TV lounge area, full kitchen and a pool table.

The one- and two-bedroom units range from 553 square feet to 1,423 square feet.
STORM LAKE, Iowa -- A Lakefield, Minnesota man was arrested Saturday afternoon at a campaign rally for Senator Elizabeth Warren.

According to a press release from the Storm Lake Police Department, at around 1 p.m. Saturday, officers staged as security for the Warren rally observed 58-year-old Randal Thom, of Lakefield, "become very vocal" while Warren was greeting attendees.

Thom reportedly became aggressive and attempted to assault others in the crowd. Officers moved in and took Thom into custody. He was taken to the Buena Vista County Jail and charged with disorderly conduct, a simple misdemeanor. He was held on $300 bond.

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SIOUX CITY -- A worker at a Sioux City hotel has pleaded not guilty to making more than $32,000 in fraudulent credit card transactions.

Ethan Ehlers, 19, of Sioux City, entered his written plea Friday in Woodbury County District Court to charges of first-degree theft and credit card fraud.

According to court documents, from May 14 to Sept. 8, Ehlers, who worked at the front desk of the Howard Johnson hotel, 707 Fourth St., fraudulently overcharged guests' credit cards. Once a guest's credit card had been charged, Ehlers would force a refund through the hotel's computer system onto his own personal credit card.

An investigation discovered that Ehlers charged and refunded $32,703, court documents said.

The investigation showed that Ehlers and his manager, who has not yet been arrested, came up with the scheme and agreed to split the profits. Ehlers admitted to the scheme and cooperated with investigators, court documents said.

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The China-US rivalry in Asia  especially in the South China Sea  will intensify with the passage of American legislation underlining Washingtons commitment to the region, analysts said.

The Asia Reassurance Initiative Act, which US President Donald Trump signed into law this week, signalled that the US wanted to retain its allies and mobilise them to counter China if necessary, the observers said.

Collin Koh, a maritime security specialist at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, said that despite a recent easing tensions, the acts broad regional scope meant we would likely see gradual effects impinging on Sino-US rivalry in Southeast Asia.

We cant underestimate the potential ramifications of [the act] contributing to the sharpening of the Sino-US rivalry, even if its still quite another matter whether the Trump administration will truly follow up, Koh said.

Beijing and Washington are increasingly at odds over the South China Sea, a strategic waterway through which billions of dollars in trade passes each year. Each country has sent warships and military aircraft through the contested waters in patrols that have led to at least one near miss.

In a sign that such confrontation might continue, acting US Secretary of Defence Patrick Shanahan told senior leaders at the Pentagon on Wednesday that China would be a top priority for the military.

According to the act, to US will reaffirm security commitments to its allies in the Indo-Pacific region, including Japan, South Korea and Australia, and spend US$1.5 billion annually for five years to improve its regional presence. It will also build security partnerships in Southeast Asia.

Part of the strategy will be conducting freedom of navigation operations with those allies in the East and South China seas, missions that Beijing sees as an excuse for the US to flex its military muscle.

The act also authorises the US to impose penalties on entities and governments for stealing intellectual property  another major source of friction between China and the US.

Story continues

The rivalry between China and the US has triggered concerns in the region, with Singapores prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong, warning in November that Southeast Asian nations might be forced to choose between China and the US.

Koh said the involvement of US regional allies would likely create a bigger headache for China.

Where it comes to difficulty to be possibly encountered by China, its plausible to envisage that the strategic pressure may not emanate only from the US per se, since [the act] also appears to emphasise the role played by US allies and partners, he said.

Tony Nash, head of research firm Complete Intelligence, said the signing of the act meant the US has friends.

And that those friends arent necessarily based on a multibillion-dollar loan commitment, but on ongoing political, economic and military commitments. Its presenting a stark reality to the very transactional relationships China is building through the Belt and Road [Initiative], he said, referring to Beijings massive international infrastructure and trade push. This bill is demonstrating the US commitments to the region.

The signing of the act comes as the clock ticks on a 90-day truce for Washington and Beijing to negotiate an end to their trade war.

Two days of vice-ministerial-level talks are set to start in Beijing on Monday, with China hoping to secure some relief from US tariffs on Chinese goods, duties that are starting to weigh on its already slowing economic growth.

At the same time, Chinese President Xi Jinping has reaffirmed that Beijing will not abandon the use of force in seeking unification with Taiwan.

But analysts said the act was not a tactic to pressure China to make trade concessions.

Its less of a challenge to China than a commitment to other parts of Asia. It doesnt focus on China, it namechecks almost every other country in Asia, Nash said.

Derek Grossman, a senior defence analyst at the Rand Corporation, agreed that the legislation signalled US commitment in the region.

My view is that its the latest tangible example of genuine angst within the US government regarding Chinas growing influence and aggressive behaviour in the security and economic realms vis-a-vis the US and its allies and partners, Grossman said.

Bilateral relations have clearly taken on a far more adversarial dynamic, and so within that broader context, which holds many areas of geostrategic disagreement, the [act] can be viewed as pushing back against Chinese bad behaviour.

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A spate of brutal witch-hunts has plunged parts of Papua New Guineas highlands into a state of terror, as fearful tribes blame dark forces for their rapidly changing world. In one particularly horrifying incident, an elderly woman writhes and pleads hysterically as she is mercilessly beaten, raped and tortured on a hut floor, before her naked bodybloodied and nearly lifelessis dragged outside, where a village mob beats and burns her until movement ceases. Almost everyone joins in. No one bothers to obscure their face. No one tries to stop it. The crowd believe what they are doing is right: the only way to stop a non-human sorcerer who has killed their clansman and devoured his heart. The graphic scene was captured by cell phone video that was obtained by AFP. Dozens of similar videos have been gathered as evidence by the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary showing the brutal reality of modern-day witch-hunts. There have been at least 20 murders linked to sorcery accusations in this part of the highlands in the past few years, and dozens more violent attacks. In places like the remote Tsak Valley, attacks have spread like bushfire, said Senior Inspector Epenes Nili, even resulting in an attack on the countrys then chief justice. Belief in sorcery and witchcraft has long been common across Enga province and Papua New Guinea, but these lynchings are not some ancient rite or custom. This is a new phenomenon, insisted Anton Lutz, a Lutheran missionary who has spent his life in Enga Province and has rescued accused sorcerers, some as young as six. Other researchers say widespread lynchings are new in Enga, and the extreme brutality and sexual nature of the attacks is unheard of. We did have ancient beliefs about ghosts and ancient beliefs about stones that could talk and all kinds of interesting things, Lutz said. But this practice of accusing a woman of causing a death and torturing her sadistically and sexually for hours until she dies, that is a new thing. It began about five years ago, he said. We had a serious rise last year. It just seemed like there was an attack happening every week, every fortnight. According to Lutz, each spasm of violence seemed to begin with a death that locals found difficult to explain. Heart attacks, diabetes and HIV/AIDS are becoming more common, but are still not well understood. The death of an otherwise healthy person was more easily blamed on sorcery than cholesterol. Even a recent drunk driving crash that killed eight people prompted a violent witch-hunt, as people tried to explain why some passengers survived and others did not. The sheer number of people involved in the mob attacks ensures that news spreads quickly, as does fear, due to the widespread belief that witches dont act alone. The emergence of Glasmanopportunist diviners who travel the countryside detecting witches for money also exponentially increased the rate of killings. So too did tribally ordained retribution.Like the old woman in the video, 55-year-old mother-of-two Rachel, was accused of sangumasorcery. Her story shows how quickly suspicion can turn into violence. Her life changed suddenly in April 2017, when she went with her family to pay her respects at a funeral service for a member of a neighboring tribe.She was getting ready to leave, looking for her children, when she was grabbed by the dead mans son. Unbeknown to Rachel, another woman had been accused of involvement in his death and under torture named Rachel as part of a coven. Rachel pleaded innocence. But she was stripped and, like the murdered woman in the video, violated and burned with hot machetes, spades and rods for a full day by people she knew who were trying to make her return the heart of her victim. The pain was beyond endurance, she recalled, speaking to AFP as a crowd of localssome curious, others appearing suspiciousgathered near her hut. I thought I would die. With her mouth gagged, and the pain too much to bear, she managed only a silent prayer: You gave me the job of caring for my children, but if I die, who will care for them? Only a dispute among the mob, estimated at around a thousand people, saved her life.Across Papua New Guinea the specifics of witch-hunts are bafflingly different. In Enga, the victims of violence are almost exclusively women. But on Bougainville island they are almost always men. In Port Moresby, where violence linked to sorcery accusations has also increased, men and women are targeted. Researcher Miranda Forsyth at the Australian National University, who has studied hundreds of such cases, sees grim patterns emerging. She describes a script of violent responses to suspected sorcerers that is spreading across Enga. Part of the phenomenon is people trying to deal with high levels of uncertainty due to dramatic economic, social and cultural changes, Forsyth said. Authorities know the toxic brew will be difficult to remedy. In the meantime, fear has turned the whole place into a paranoid mess, said Lutz. Almost two years after Rachels attack, she can walk again and has returned to her village, although even among her own people, she still lives in fear. The situation is still tense, she said in a near whisper. The burns she sustained in the attack had only partially been treated when a mob came to the clinic where she was recuperating, forcing her to flee. She still complains of skin being tight and painful around her torso. Even though I still need surgery, I am afraid my attackers might kill me if I go. So I live with the pain. I hope that things will calm down so that I can go to the hospital, but for now, the way is closed. AFP
France's "yellow vest" protesters were back on the streets again Saturday as a government spokesman denounced those still protesting as hard-liners who wanted only to bring down the government. Around a thousand protesters gathered on the Champs-Elysees in central Paris, where around 15 police wagons were also deployed, an AFP journalist said. Some paused outside the headquarters of Agence France-Presse (AFP) in central Paris to hurl anti-media insults. Police fired tear gas in the capital after protesters threw projectiles at police and AFP journalists saw minor scuffles near the River Seine as up to 4,000 joined the fray in the city by the afternoon, according to police. Some protesters set bins ablaze and material damage included several burned out motorcycles strewn across streets. "I am here to defend the right of my children to work that enables them to eat. My daughter earns 800 euros ($911) a month. She works 25 hours a week in a baker's. For her, it's about surviving," said one protester, 58-year-old Ghislaine. Several other cities across France also saw small marches -- including up to 2,000 in Rouen northwest of Paris, where at least two arrests were made and one protester was hurt by a projectile after demonstrators set fire to a barricade. The scale and intensity of the protests has shrivelled in recent weeks, however, and authorities put Saturday's nationwide turnout at around 12,000, compared with 282,000 for the initial rally on November 17. Public anger has on occasion been directed at the media, seen by some as too close to the government. Several journalists have been assaulted since the protests called by the grass-roots movement started in November. Last Saturday saw scuffles in Paris between some demonstrators denouncing media "collaborators" and police outside the headquarters of broadcasters BFMTV and France Televisions. Police made four arrests Friday evening in the northeastern city of Nancy after some 50 demonstrators tried to block the entrance of newspaper L'Est Republicain. On Friday, government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux denounced those still protesting as "agitators who want insurrection and, basically, to overthrow the government". The midweek Paris arrest of Eric Drouet, one the movement's spokesman, sparked anger among his supporters. Drouet already faces trial for carrying a weapon at a previous demonstration. The latest opinion poll, published on Thursday by Odoxa Dentsu, indicated 55 percent public support for the "yellow vest" protests. The government has deployed police around France to deal with the protests, backed up by specialist response units, sources told AFP. The "yellow vest" demonstrations -- named after the high-visibility jackets worn by the protesters -- began in rural France over increased fuel taxes. The movement ballooned into a wider revolt against President Emmanuel Macron's pro-market policies and governing style. Macron initially refused to make any concessions, but in mid-December, after weeks of violence, he scrapped the planned fuel tax rises and promised extra cash for minimum wage earners and tax cuts for pensioners. The protests have caused the biggest political crisis of his 20-month presidency. burs-jt-lp/cw/har
A Chinese jet fighter engaged a foreign aircraft recently after it was spotted inside Chinas air defence identification zone (ADIZ) over the East China Sea, state media reported.

In a video clip shown by China Central Television on Friday, the pilot of the Chinese plane is heard speaking in English to the crew of the unidentified aircraft.

This is China air force, he said. You have entered the Chinese ADIZ. Report your nationality ID and purpose of the flight.

The report did not say when the encounter took place or how the foreign plane responded to the message.

Air defence identification zones comprise airspace over land or water in which the identification, location and control of aircraft is performed in the interests of national security. The concept, however, is not defined in any international treaty or regulated by any international body.

Beijing declared an ADIZ over the East China Sea in 2013 in a move designed to boost its claims to the disputed waterway, which is also claimed by Japan.

China increased its naval and air force patrols in the area after Japan bought three islands in the Diaoyu chain (or Senkaku as it is known in Tokyo) in the East China Sea in 2012.

Japans Air Self-Defence Force said it needed the islands so it could more easily scramble fighter jets to intercept Chinese military aircraft flying over the disputed waters.

Chinas declaration of the ADIZ triggered protests from several nations, including Japan, South Korea and the United States, all of which refused to recognise it.

Tokyo said the rules set by the Chinese military violated the freedom to fly above open seas and had no validity in Japan.

Last month, Seoul issued a complaint to Beijing after a Peoples Liberation Army plane, believed to be a Y-9 type reconnaissance aircraft, entered South Koreas air defence identification zone.

Fighter jets were scrambled to track the aircraft, which was also issued with a warning message.

Story continues

Analysts said the reconnaissance flight was most likely intended to give Beijing a better understanding of military activity in the region, after the US recently flew B-52 bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons over the South and East China seas.





This article Chinese fighter pilot issues warning to foreign aircraft in East China Sea air identification zone first appeared on South China Morning Post

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 Supreme Court grants cert on vagueness challenges to 924(c) provision in wake of Johnson and Dimaya | Main | "Efficient Institutions and Effective Deterrence: On Timing and Uncertainty of Punishment" 

The question in the title of this post is the headline of this notable new piece in The Atlantic by Matt Ford. The subtitle adds "It's one of the most effective tools for reducing mass incarceration, but few are taking advantage of it." Here are excerpts:

Governors in most states have the power to pardon or commute sentences, either at their sole discretion or with some level of input from a commission. Since most convictions occur at the state level, some governors can wield even greater influence on criminal justice than the president can. But most governors rarely use this power, and few have made it a mainstay of their tenure in office  a major missed opportunity for justice and the public good.

Some outgoing governors were particularly resistant. New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez, a former prosecutor, issued only three pardons during her two terms in office and added new restrictions to deter applicants. Florida Governor Rick Scott turned the states clemency system into a hopeless slog. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker issued no pardons during his eight years in power, and in one of his final official acts, he signed a bill requiring state officials to keep a list of pardoned people who commit subsequent crimes and the governor who pardoned them.

All three of those governors hail from the Republican Party, which traditionally favored tough-on-crime policies. But even Democratic governors can be stingy. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo made headlines last month when he pardoned 22 immigrants who faced deportation or couldnt apply for citizenship because of previous state convictions. The pardons gave Cuomo a chance to cast himself as a leading figure in the Democratic resistance to President Trump. But with almost 200,000 New Yorkers in prison, probation, or parole, issuing fewer than two dozen pardons is hardly a courageous act....

What would it look like if governors pursued a more aggressive approach to their clemency powers? Jerry Brown, Californias outgoing governor, carved out a model of sorts. The states longtime leader spent his fourth and final term in office setting a national benchmark for clemency: The Times of San Diego reported that Brown has pardoned at least 1,332 inmates since 2011, quadrupling the number issued by the preceding four governors combined. The burst of activity is particularly stark compared to his two immediate predecessors, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Gray Davis, who respectively issued fifteen and zero pardons....

So where could a more apprehensive governor begin? Perhaps the most prudent place would be the swelling numbers of elderly prisoners who were condemned to spend their dying years behind bars. In a December 2017 report, the Vera Institute for Justice found that roughly 10 percent of prisoners in state custody in 2013  roughly 131,000 people  were more than 55 years old. Demographic trends are expected to raise that figure to 30 percent by 2030. Multiple states already have compassionate-release programs for elderly or dying prisoners; governors could fast-track pardon and commutations to accelerate the process.
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Trump not qualified for the job

Some people vote for the political party, not for the candidate. We are registered Democrats, but we vote for the person, no matter which party that we think is the better qualified for that office. The current president is not qualified for that position.

Carolyn St. James

Spearfish

Political labeling not useful

I wonder why people try to win arguments by hanging made-up labels around opponents necks. Opinion writers here in the Journal claim that Democrats with middle of the road opinions and values cant be Democratic, must be Republican. Conservative friends occasionally inform me Im Republican, I just dont know it yet.

Democratic activists from the left of our party did some mistaken labeling when they rejected Hillary Clinton. Since Hillary supported market solutions to economic problems, with reasonable regulation to address system glitches and private business costs unfairly transferred to the public, the often-frustrating but still effective scenario creating our thriving resilient economy, they saw no difference between her and Republicans.
WashingtonA defiant President Donald Trump said Friday he was prepared to keep the US government shut down for as long as it takes months or even yearsto force Congress to provide billions of dollars for a border wall with Mexico. This is national security were talking about. Were not playing games, Trump said following another round of talks at the White House with Democratic leaders on ending the two-week impasse which has shut about 25 percent of the government. The southern border is a dangerous, horrible disaster, he said, decrying illegal immigration, drug smuggling and human trafficking. We have to get a structure built, Trump said, calling on Congress to approve his $5.6 billion request for a major powerful barrier made of concrete or steel. Trump also claimed that some previous US presidents had told him they should have built a wall. None of Trumps predecessors has ever publicly advocated such a thing. Describing the situation as a national emergency, Trump said he was looking into ways to get a wall built without congressional approval. I may do it, he said. I am allowed to do that. Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader, said Democrats had urged Trump during what he called a sometimes contentious meeting to reopen the federal government, which has been partially shut down since December 22 leaving 800,000 employees furloughed or working without pay. A handful of those employees held a roadside protest in Maryland on Friday, saying they want to get back to work, WTOP radio reported. We told the president we needed the government open, Schumer said. He resisted. In fact, he said hed keep the government closed for a very long period of time. Months or even years. Asked by reporters whether this was true, Trump said it was although he added that he hoped the shutdown doesnt go on even beyond a few more days. I will do whatever we have to do, Trump said. If we have to stay out for a very long period of time we will do that. Trump said a bipartisan group including Vice President Mike Pence would meet over the weekend to try to reach an agreement. Our aim will be to find a solution, not just simply to end the government shutdown, to provide funding to end the crisis at our southern border, to achieve real border security and to build a wall on our southern border, Pence said.A quick end to the stalemate does not appear to be in sight, however, as Democrats, who now control the House of Representatives, seem in no mood to make concessions. We are committed to keeping our borders safe, Nancy Pelosi, who took over as speaker of the House on Thursday, told reporters following the meeting with the president. But, Pelosi added, we recognize on the Democratic side that we really cannot resolve this until we open up government. And we made that very clear to the president, she said. Services are being withheld from the American people. Paychecks are being withheld. Both Democrats and Republicans have attempted to pin the blame for the shutdown on the other side and Pelosi has ruled out funding for a border wall she has described as an immorality. Shortly after the new Congress was sworn in on Thursday, the House approved legislation to fund homeland security operations until February 8 and several other agencies through September -- but no money for a wall. Trump has said he would veto any bill that does not include funding for the barrier and the Republican-run Senate has said it would not consider anything that does not pass muster with the president. The fight over the wall is setting the stage for what could be a tumultuous final two years in office for Trump faced with a hostile Democratic-controlled House equipped with investigative powers. Some newly seated Democrats have even called for impeachment proceedings against the Republican president although Pelosi has distanced herself from those appeals for the time being. We talked about (impeachment) today, Trump said. Nancy said Were not looking to impeach you. Trump also sought to defend his record saying you dont impeach people when theyre doing a good job.
Yes, Kristi Noem is a woman, but she can do the heavy lifting herself.

As she paid for horse feed during a December trip to Runnings, Noem chatted with the cashier who was visibly pregnant, asking how she felt and if she had thought of a name for her baby yet.

But when the cashier asked if Noem needed help loading her bags of feed, South Dakota's governor-elect was already out the door, yelling, Nope, Ive got it! with a wave. She threw the bags into the bed of her red pickup  still emblazoned with a Kristi for Governor sticker  and then it was back to work at the Capitol.

After eight years in Washington, D.C., Noem, 47, is returning to her home state, where she will be inaugurated as South Dakota's first female governor on Saturday.

She didn't always expect to pursue a political office. But while searching the aisles of Runnings, Noem said in an interview that her family was "rocked" in 1994 when her father died in a farming accident on their ranch.

Noem was 22 and attending Northern State University at the time. She decided to leave school to return home and take on the role of general manager of the ranch: a role she said she didnt see other women around her in at the time, but one that she knew she would be best at out of her family members.
Valene was one of about 20 members of the Pretends Eagle and Red Elk families who made the 100-plus-mile drive from Wanblee to Rapid City in expectation of seeing Makes Him First sentenced and receiving some closure on the devastating loss to their families. Some family members held photographs of their loved ones and were likely prepared to deliver victim impact statements.

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Valene said she was happy to see Makes Him First go to jail instead of being out on pre-trial release. She also said that despite the inconvenience, she ultimately agreed with Viken's decision so the family wouldn't have to deal with a possible appeal.

During the hearing, Viken admitted that cancelling the sentencing was an "enormous inconvenience" to both sides.

He sent Makes Him First to jail because one of his conditions of release was to not use any drugs. Jennifer Albertson, Makes Him First's defense lawyer, said this was the first time he had any problem following his conditions.

Viken said a federal lab would verify the initial drug test and if it was a false positive, Albertson could appeal his jailing.
A lot of Republicans still believe in the power of competition. A poll in November indicated that 40 percent of them, and 72 percent of all Americans, would like to see President Donald Trump face a primary challenge. But Republican politicians, even those who have strong objections to Trump, have been inhibited by the conventional wisdom that running against Trump in the 2020 Republican primaries would be a suicide mission.

Trump is in a very strong position for renomination, as I have written in this space before. An anti-Trump conservative named Andy Smarick has recently argued, however, that the risks of challenging Trump are greatly overestimated. He contends that an ambitious Republican could do himself a world of good by running against President Trump for the nomination in 2020. That candidate, Smarick allows, would probably lose. But he would establish himself (or, in the less likely case, she would establish herself) as a top contender for the leadership of a post-Trump party, either in 2020 if Trump lost the general election or 2024 if he won. The challenger would also give a boost to the influence of his ideas within the party.

By sharply criticizing the president in an commentary published Tuesday in The Washington Post, Mitt Romney has reopened the question of whether Trump will have a rival for the nomination. So it's worth considering Smarick's case.
Naturally, she lands the job, which comes with a gorgeous condo, a corner office in a high rise and an assistant. Now that Maya is out of her league, can she stay in good graces with her boss (Treat Williams) and is she up to the challenge of his spoiled daughter (Vanessa Hudgens)?

Theres a big switcheroo about halfway through the movie that I loved, but which other viewers, apparently, do not appreciate, judging from some of the harsh criticism this movie has received on social media.

The transition is just one factor that plays into what I like about the script that has a focus on strong women and their relationships. Mayas character doesnt need rescuing  shes capable of rescuing herself, thank you very much.

On a lighter note, there are two wonderful dance scenes that allow Maya to become, well, Jennifer Lopez. One of these is a gorgeous show-stopper and the other a delightful moment of friends just having a good time together.

Lopez, as always, is fun to watch. The scene-stealer, though, is Remini, whose wisecracks and good-natured kidding are perfectly timed. Maybe Joan deserves a movie, and possibly a franchise, of her own?

Give romantic comedies a second chance with Second Act. Im glad I did, and I think you will be, too.

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Many U.S. veterans of WWII had to go back to war. Reservists were called to active duty. A Chinese offensive attack came as a surprise in late winter ending the hopes of U.S. troops that they might be home for Christmas.

This Second Phase Offensive of the Korean War was an action of offense by the Chinese Peoples Volunteer Army against United Nations Command (U.S./UN forces), most of which were soldiers of South Korea and the United States.

It lasted from Nov. 25 -Dec. 24. The Chinese aimed to permanently drive UN forces off the Korean peninsula. U.S./UN forces retreated. China had recaptured nearly all North Korea by the end of the Offensive.

Back on the home front, industry was gearing for war production. The Rock Island Arsenal more than doubled their assembly and manufacturing output during the last half of the year, said the newspaper.

Everybody in the Quad-City area was affected by the Deere & Co. strike which started early in September, said the Dispatch. Many employees suffered during the four-month layoff.

The Quad-City airport was making great strides in 1950, as United Air Lines helped increase Molines rank as an air traffic center.
We always wanted to be downtown near Great River (Brewery), he says. Were trying to be a destination for people.

He and his partners signed the lease for the N.O. Nelson Manufacturing Co. building at 321 E. 2nd St. in November 2016, and construction began in January 2018. Bootleg Hill opened for business in mid-November 2018.

The building, formerly a seed company, also includes recently renovated apartments, as well as a new restaurant scheduled to open to the east of Bootleg Hill this year.

The same detail that goes into the making of the mead also was applied to the building itself. Inside the meadery is a simple palette of cream-colored walls and dark trim, set off with warm lights. Copper and reclaimed wood from the buildings construction went into the spacious bar and honeycomb art above the bar area.

Harris hand-finished the wooden tables, and he chose the chairs and other seating. Wall art is yet to come. Were trying to be something different. Id like to put things up as we finish, he says.
MOLINE  Forty-eight people from 15 states have applied to be the citys next chief of police, and the field has been narrowed to eight finalists.

City Administrator Doug Maxeiner said the finalists advanced to the interview stage on the recommendation of Paul Harlow of GovHR USA, a consulting firm hired by the city. Of the eight, three are internal candidates, Maxeiner said.

They have a diversity of law-enforcement backgrounds, Maxeiner said. Each of them has a unique set of experiences. Were going to explore what their strengths are and see what would be the best fit for our department.

Maxeiner said Harlow met with members of the Police and Fire Commission recently to discuss the candidates and narrow the list to a manageable level.

Maxeiner is in the process of assembling a selection committee similar to the process used during the last application process, which involved the input of former Bettendorf Police Chief Phil Redington. The current committee consists of Ray Forsythe, planning and development director; Alison Fleming, human resources manager; JD Schulte, public works director; Maureen Riggs, city attorney; Robert Finney, interim police chief; and Harlow and Maxeiner.

Maxeiner said he expects interviews to conclude by the end of January.
Scholarships will be given to graduating seniors by The Moline High School Class of 59 Scholarship Fund. The scholarship award will be paid directly to the college or university. The amount of awards and number of awards to be granted will be determined annually by the Scholarship Selection Advisory Committee.
A man accused of killing another by shoving him down stairs in August has taken a plea deal.

In October, Joseph A. Roberson, 35, East Moline, was indicted by a grand jury on a charge of involuntary manslaughter, according to court records. Authorities contend he pushed Norman Duncan down a flight of stairs on Aug. 27 at a Campbells Island home, unintentionally killing Duncan.

As part of the deal, Roberson has chosen to plead guilty to charge of aggravated battery and the manslaughter charge will be dropped, Rock Island County States Attorney John McGehee said on Friday. Both charges are Class 3 felonies and carry the same two- to five-year sentence. Roberson entered his plea in December.

His sentencing is scheduled for March 4, according to court records.

The case was investigated by the Rock Island County Sheriffs Office.

Deputies were sent about 8 p.m. to a residence in the 200 block of Island Avenue for a medical call, and found Duncan at the base of a set of exterior stairs, which reach to the second story of the home, according to the sheriffs office. He was injured, so he was transported first to Genesis Health System, Silvis, then to a hospital in Peoria, where he died within 24 hours.

Further investigation indicated Roberson pushed Duncan during a quarrel at the top of the stairs, the sheriffs office said.

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SeoulA former North Korean diplomat who defected to the South urged an ex-colleague missing in Italy to come and settle in Seoul Saturday, as the rare asylum bid makes global headlines. Jo Song Gil, the Norths acting ambassador to Rome, went into hiding with his wife in November and is seeking asylum, according to Seouls intelligence authorities. It would be the first high-profile defection of a North Korean diplomat since 2016 when the then deputy ambassador to London, Thae Yong Ho, switched sides to settle in Seoul. Jo has not contacted Seouls spy agency since he went into hiding, suggesting he was seeking asylum in a third country in the West, possibly the US, according to several media reports. But Thae, who said he once worked with Jo at Pyongyangs foreign ministry, wrote an open letter urging his ex-colleague to come to the South instead and work together to help the two Koreas reunify. I thought that I knew a lot about the South...through the Internet while serving overseas. But the South I actually experienced was far more democratic and economically prosperous than I imagined, Thae said in the letter posted on his blog. Sure, the South is not exactly a paradise. But it is a place where you and I could achieve the dream we all have, he said. Wouldnt it be our lifelong mission as diplomats to help the two Koreas reunify...and to pass the unified peninsula to our children? Since coming to Seoul, Thae has become a public speaker giving speeches about the reality of his impoverished but nuclear-armed former homeland and about ways to narrow down differences between the two neighbors that technically remain at war.The 1950-53 Korean War that sealed the division of the two nations ended with an armistice instead of a peace treaty, with all civilian contacts across the border strictly banned. Thae described it a duty, not a choice for diplomats like him and Jo to come to the South, stressing, if you come to the South, other colleagues of ours may follow suit, which will help expedite the day when the two Koreas reunify. I will wait for you in Seoul! he said. About 30,000 North Koreans have fled repression and poverty and settled in the capitalist South, mostly by secretly crossing over the increasingly porous border with China. Jo, who is in his 40s and known to be fluent in French and Italian as well as English, came to Rome in 2015. He became temporary acting ambassador in October 2017, after Italy expelled the then ambassador Mun Jong Nam in protest at a nuclear test Pyongyang staged a month earlier in violation of UN resolutions. Italy is an important diplomatic mission for Pyongyang, as it handles relations with the Rome-headquartered UN Food and Agriculture Organization and North Korea suffers from chronic food shortages.
The detailed relapse prevention plan also must be developed and accepted by the treatment provider that is appropriate for the offenders mental abnormality and sex offending history.

During his initial commitment, Morrow was diagnosed with pedophilia, anti-social personality disorder and substance abuse.

Clinical psychologist Stacey Hoem testified Friday that she interviewed Morrow in June and opined that while he is making some progress with his treatment, he does not meet the 10 necessary criteria for transitional release or discharge.

She said he has a high level of sexual preoccupation and is still sexually aroused by children and has not developed enough interventions to deal with it.

Although he does not have access to children, he is still struggling with an arousal by other patients and other staff, Hoem said.

She said that Morrow is on the right path and has been more engaged in his treatment over the last two years and could one day be ready for transitional release or discharge.

On the witness stand, Morrow admitted that he had been sexually abused as a child and that he has had numerous victims. Through treatment, he has learned to be more empathetic to his victims, he said.
Posted pro bono:

Wild Thoughts by Julia Randall. A three-part series on wilderness ethics and management offers a comprehensive review of wilderness as a legal concept, an ecological condition and as a cultural phenomenon. Click on the following links to access Part I , What is Wilderness; Part II , For Whom Does Wilderness Exist? ; and Part III , Wilderness and a Livable World . Ms. Randall's StoryMap can be found on the Adirondack Councils website at: Ms. Randall'scan be found on the Adirondack Councils website at: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/39efc4883ac348a09fbd03a0f2c6c78f





Combating on the job misbehavior: https://www.not-me.com/organizations An app (the #NotMe app) employers can make available to their personnel permitting the easy and timely submission of complaints of alleged supervisor or co-worker misconduct to personnel officers, human resource teams, compliance officers or designated individuals. Click on for information concerning this program. Concerning the viral evolution of COVID-19: Science Magazine e-Letter had posted NYPPL's Science Consultant Robert Michaels' item concerning "Viral evolution may herald new pandemic phase. Click here to read Dr. Michaels' comments.

Sexual Harassment is a form of unlawful discrimination : New York State : https://www.ny.gov/programs/combating-sexual-harassment-workplace 's Internet guidelines addressing employer obligations to combat sexual harassment in the workplace is at





The Steel Bar is the epic story of the rise and fall and rebirth of the Pittsburgh lawyer, from the earliest days of the Pittsburgh bar to the modern era, against the backdrop of American history." More at https://publicpersonnellaw.blogspot.com/2020/02/the-steel-bar-pittsburgh-lawyers-and_28.html

Contaminants of Emergent Concern was discussed by Dr. Robert A. Michaels [bam@ramtrac.com] at the New York State Bar Association, Energy and Environmental Law Section on January 31, 2020. Dr. Michaels' remarks are posted for viewing/downloading at no charge at the following URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339055672_Legacy_Contaminants_of_Emergent_Concern. Other articles addressing environmental issues by Dr. Michaels are posted on on the Internet at:https://publicpersonnellaw.blogspot.com/2020/01/articles-by-dr-robert-michaels-nypers.html

Ransomware continues assault against cities and businesses - take a look at the most recent attacks, how US and international cities have handled them, and advice for dealing with the aftermath. Keep reading.

Social Effects and Outcomes of Identity and ID Programs - Download this impact report that details research, use cases and tips for creating a successful municipal and government ID program to better transact with citizens by clicking here: Government ID Impact Report

New technology assists local governments to better serve its residents by using new technologies to save money, communicate with residents and allow taxpayers to make payment. Click here to download a report released on September 16, 2019 by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

Governing Daily has posted a link to an item, How to Prevent Job Loss in the Public Sector, noting that when budgets get slashed and hiring comes to a halt, municipalities need a way protect their most valuable resources  people and finances. [Content provided by CentralSquare Technologies.] Click here to LEARN MORE
11 hours ago

| June 14th | 2021 7:00 AM

Why Your Retirement Calculator Might Not Tell the Whole Story

I got to thinking about the retirement calculators that automatically pop up when I check my retirement account balances. In my case, I always get a message that says, "You are XX% on track toward your retirement goals." When you check out an online calculator, you can use them, but remember that a retirement calculator could miss the boat
Vice President Mike Pence said Thursday that "if there's no wall, there's no deal" to end the partial government shutdown during an interview with Fox News' Tucker Carlson.

While he expressed openness to negotiating an end to the shutdown, the wall was a clear sticking point: "We are here to make a deal, but it's a deal that's going to result in achieving real gains. ... We will have no deal without a wall," he said.

House Democrats have stressed that their plan to reopen the government would not provide any additional funding for a border wall, leading congressional Republicans and the White House to call the effort a "nonstarter." On Thursday evening, the White House issued a veto threat against the legislation ahead of the expected House vote.

Earlier in the day, newly elected House Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized the President's wall as "a waste of money" and "an immorality" during a news conference hours after reclaiming the gavel in the new Congress.

The partial government shutdown stretched into its 13th day on Thursday, when the new Democratic House majority was sworn in.
The mistake wasnt so much in theorizing incorrectly as it was in not adjusting the dredging to account for the real-life conditions, she added.

You didnt fail. This is what science is. You discovered something new, Mullarkey said. They theorized what was in the water when they designed the project. Now they know fish swim in this way, water moves in that way  this is how the contamination moves through the river. They know that now. Thats what science does. Make your adjustments accordingly.

Instead, the dredging project went on as originally planned.

Mullarkey thinks the solution is to do more dredging now.

But an official spokesman for General Electric said the dredging project was a success.

The Hudson River dredging project is working and is delivering the environmental benefits that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and New York state sought and predicted. The data demonstrate this conclusively, spokesman Mark Behan said.
Things like first aid supplies, school supplies, solar lights, handkerchiefs, backpacks, manual grain and nut grinders and fleece reusable feminine hygiene belts, made in Schenectady by Moon Catcher, will be packed in with other items people have donated.

Because they are trying to help the families, especially the women, become self-sustaining, they bring new tools on their trips that may help them eventually earn money.

On this trip, Janice said they are bringing two new solar ovens to see if anyone will use them. If they do, she said she will apply for a grant to get more.

If they could bake bread or dry fruit in the oven, they would have it to eat and they could sell it at the market, she said.

And it is also their hope to set-up a sewing guild with the women, she said, pointing out a donated sewing machine, with hopes for several more.

On Saturday, Janice has a sampling of the items they will transport next week on a table for the blanket-making volunteers to see. And as she shows each item, her excitement is palpable, as if a new mother, showing her childs new birthday gifts.
That can be a serious problem for patients who have large deductibles. If a patients deductible is $2,000, one could argue it doesnt matter how much more the procedure costs: the patient is only going to pay $2,000.

But for those who have much higher deductibles  $10,000 is not unheard of  the cost can matter a great deal.

Patients with medical problems that are not emergencies may want to compare prices to select the cheapest provider, but its not easy. Glens Falls Hospital listed its procedures by narrative and by medical code, making it fairly easy to search. But Saratoga Hospital used completely different codes and published its list in a non-searchable document, making it much harder to compare procedures.

And even if a patient wants to go to the cheapest location, there are other factors to consider, ranging from where their doctor can practice to the safety ratings of the facility.

But thats not to say the list of costs is useless. With some work, and Google, its possible to use the chargemaster list to get an idea of the ceiling for the bill. For some items, the chargemaster is double the actual price. For others, its pretty close to the final bill.
3rd most wanted BIFF member arrested

posted January 05, 2019 at 10:20 pm by PNA January 05, 2019 at 10:20 pm

Davao CityPolice arrested a most wanted member of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter at a checkpoint in the Compostela Valley town of Pantukan Friday afternoon. Chief Insp. Jason Baria, spokesman of the Police Regional Office 11, said Cristobal Dimpo Jikiri, also known as Ustadz Gulam Jikiri, is listed as the third most wanted BIFF member in the region. Baria said Jikiri, 71, is a Davao Oriental-based member of the BIFF, a breakaway faction of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front that has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. Jikiri, who is wanted for murder, was heading back to Davao Oriental when he was arrested at a checkpoint in Barangay Tambongon, Pantukan. Before the arrest, police said Jikiri was sighted several times at his brothers residence in Tambongon.Chief Supt. Marcelo Morales, PRO-11 director, said the arrest of Jikiri was part of the governments continuous campaign against terrorist elements. Morales noted that police units in the region have been carrying out arrest warrants against wanted persons, even during the holiday season. Two hours before New Years Eve, police arrested murder suspects Robert Calipsan, Jobert Dinglasa Calipsan, and Jeccris Calipsan Dinglasa in Digos City. On Thursday, Davao City policemen also arrested 18 persons wanted for various crimes.

COMMENT DISCLAIMER: Reader comments posted on this Web site are not in any way endorsed by Manila Standard. Comments are views by manilastandard.net readers who exercise their right to free expression and they do not necessarily represent or reflect the position or viewpoint of manilastandard.net. While reserving this publications right to delete comments that are deemed offensive, indecent or inconsistent with Manila Standard editorial standards, Manila Standard may not be held liable for any false information posted by readers in this comments section.
The Queensbury man was charged with two counts of felony tampering with physical evidence and three counts of misdemeanor criminal possession of a controlled substance, according to police.
Oculis Expands Portfolio with the In-Licensing of a Novel Phase II-stage Anti-TNF Alpha Antibody Fragment

Details Category: More News Published on Saturday, 05 January 2019 17:39 Hits: 848

LAUSANNE, Switzerland I January 4, 2019 I Oculis SA, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation topical ophthalmic treatments, has entered into an agreement to in license a novel topical anti-TNF alpha antibody from Novartis. No financial details are disclosed.

The compound, named LME 636, is based on a proprietary single-chain antibody fragment technology specifically designed for topical delivery. Efficacy and safety were evaluated in three clinical trials including controlled studies under IND by Novartis Institute of Biomedical Research. The studies demonstrated a promising profile for treating inflammatory conditions of the anterior segment of the eye, including Dry Eye Disease.

The in-licensing of LME636, which will be renamed OCS-02, expands Oculis' portfolio of novel topical therapies for major ophthalmic diseases, and offers Oculis the opportunity to address unmet medical needs of patients with potentially the first topical anti-TNF alpha therapy for ophthalmic indications.

Oculis plans to develop OCS-02 in parallel to its other ongoing pipeline programs. It will be supported by new funds raised in the extension of its Series B financing round, announced separately today.

Dr. Riad Sherif, Chief Executive Officer of Oculis, said: "This agreement is part of our ongoing strategy to access multiple sources of technologies and compounds that bolster our portfolio of innovative products to treat eye diseases. We are looking forward to working with the ophthalmology community on the rapid development of this promising therapy."

About Oculis

Oculis SA is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to develop novel topical treatments (eye drops) for ophthalmic diseases for both back- and front-of-the-eye in order to improve the sight and lives of patients worldwide. These topical treatments represent an unprecedented technical advance for patients with back-of-the-eye diseases that are currently managed only by intra-ocular injections or implants; while topical treatments for front-of-the-eye disease are designed to improve patient outcomes by increasing drug bioavailability, reducing dosing frequency and improving patient compliance.

The company's leading clinical candidates include, OCS-01 (formerly OC-118) and OCS-02 (formerly LME636). OCS-01 is advancing in clinical trials in patients with DME and in planning phase for potential front-of-the-eye indications. If approved in DME, it has the potential to provide a new non-invasive treatment option for patients. OCS-02 is a novel topical anti-TNF alpha antibody in Phase II trials in inflammatory eye diseases, in-licensed from Novartis.

OCS-01 has been developed from Oculis' solubilizing nanoparticle (SNP) technology, a proprietary platform that enables the formulation of a wide range of drugs as non-invasive topical treatments and enhances their bioavailability in the relevant eye tissues. The Company is leveraging this proprietary technology to generate a pipeline of topical drugs targeting sight-threatening eye diseases.

Oculis has an experienced management team from leading global ophthalmic companies and is supported by leading international life science investors. Oculis is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, with research operations in Reykjavik, Iceland.

To learn more visit www.oculis.com

SOURCE: Oculis
Dec. 23 marked the 50th anniversary of the release of U.S. naval sailor POWs from North Korea after many months of incarceration following the taking of the USS Pueblo. North Korea still has the ship, the only U.S. military ship in foreign captivity.
In 2007, Navy investigators discovered widespread fraud involving sailors marrying foreign nationals to get a large housing allowance that resulted in 40 people being charged in federal court in Norfolk and New York. That followed a global trend at the time, where BAH fraud investigations within the Navy and Marine Corps increased worldwide from 72 in 2004 to 143 in 2006, according to a 2009 story in Stars and Stripes.
James Smith, Salem Middle's principal, sent a message to parents Friday. "While I am limited in what I can share because this is an ongoing police matter, I do want you to know we have been and will continue to work closely with police in support of their investigation," his note said.
Then in late October, the five cities competed against 69 other teams from metropolitan regions around the country and were named the grand prize winner in the 2018 National Smart Infrastructure Challenge. The Hampton Roads submission included a suite of eight projects centered on the fiber ring that are envisioned to accelerate the growth of a digitally-empowered region and serve as the foundation for smart regional development.
President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil expresses worry about a $5.2 billion tie-up between Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer and US giant Boeing

Shares in Brazilian planemaker Embraer plunged nearly five percent Friday after new President Jair Bolsonaro voiced wariness about a $5.2-billion tie-up it is planning with US giant Boeing.

"This merger would be very good but we can't, as is set out in the last proposal, allow everything to be handed over to the other side in five years' time," he said. "That's the worry: this is our heritage."

He added: "We know of the need for this merger, for its (Embraer's) competitiveness, so it doesn't disappear over time."

Bolsonaro, who took office this week, made the comments as he visited an air force base.

The remarks immediately weighed on Embraer shares, making it the biggest loser on Sao Paulo's stock market.

Embraer is the third-largest aircraft manufacturer in the world. It was privatized in 1994, but the Brazilian government retains a "golden share" with veto power over strategic decisions.

Under the planned tie-up, announced last year and scheduled to be finalized at the end of this year, Boeing would take an 80 percent stake in Embraer's commercial business, thus allowing it to offer planes with capacity of up to 150 seatsa market in which Boeing currently does not compete.

A Brazilian judge last month twice issued injunctions against the deal, but both times was overruled by a higher court.

Although Bolsonaro won election on promises of liberalizing Brazil's economy, including through privatizations and foreign investment to cut public debt, he is also against core Brazilian state assets falling into foreign hands.

 2019 AFP
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen open to cross-strait talks, but has some demands for Beijing first

Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen said on Saturday she was open to talks with the mainland if Beijing was willing to promote democracy and renounce the use of force against the self-ruled island.

Tsais comments came two days after she rejected Chinese President Xi Jinpings proposal for the two sides to start talks on unification based on the one country, two systems model which applied in Hong Kong.

As the democratically elected president, I have to defend our democracy, freedom, and way of life, she told foreign journalists in Taipei to explain her rejection of Xis proposal, made in a speech on Wednesday to mark 40 years since the end of military confrontation across the Taiwan Strait.

Tsai said Xis statement highlighted two fundamental dangers posed by Beijing to freedom and democracy in Taiwan.

First, by emphasising one China and one country, two systems, particularly in the context of the so-called 1992 consensus, China has made clear their political intentions towards Taiwan and their steps for unification.

This is a major disregard for the fact that the Republic of China, Taiwan does exist, and is in full operation like all other democratic countries, she said.

Second, Chinas plan to engage in political consultation with the political parties instead of the democratically elected government of Taiwan, is a continuation of its deliberate campaign to undermine and subvert our democratic process and create division in our society.

The 1992 consensus refers to an understanding that there is only one China, though each side may have its own interpretation of what constitutes China.

In his speech, Xi rephrased the consensus as an understanding that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China, jointly seeking to achieve cross-strait unification.

Beijing suspended official talks and exchanges with Taiwan when Tsai was elected president in 2016 and refused to accept the consensus.

Story continues

Since then Beijing, which considers Taiwan a wayward province awaiting unification by force if necessary, has staged a series of war games to intimidate the island and poached five of Taiwans diplomatic allies to try to pressure Tsai into accepting the consensus.

As a democracy, cross-strait interaction must follow the rules and oversight of the people of Taiwan, and therefore any discussions must be between governments that are representative of the people on both sides, Tsai said on Saturday.

She identified a lack of mutual trust as the key problem keeping the two sides from consulting on a possible way of dealing with each other.

The lack of democracy and protection of human rights, as well as the military threats from China are the major reasons [that people here do not trust Beijing], Tsai said.

This was why majority opinion in Taiwan opposed cross-strait unification, as people there did not want to live in a system without democracy and human rights, she said.

Asked if the Tsai administration would want talks with Beijing, Tsai said her government did not oppose talks, but Beijing must move towards democracy, protect human rights and renounce the use of force against us.

Only when the two sides step up efforts to accumulate adequate trust will the room for [negotiation] be widened and options [for talks] increased, she said.

Tsai said Taiwan had long adhered to the principle of refraining from provoking Beijing and had done all it could to maintain stability in the region.

On the contrary, she said, Beijing had tried to suppress Taiwan and refused to cooperate with the island, even on health issues like the outbreak of African swine fever which threatened the well-being of the public in Taiwan.

Tsai added that she had also sought international support to defend the self-ruled islands democracy and way of life, as well as Taiwans refusal to accept the one country, two systems approach offered by Xi for unification talks, given Beijings snubbing of democracy and human rights.

She asked Beijing to take note of the democratic mindset of Taiwanese people to avert misunderstanding and misjudgment over its dealing with Taiwan.

This article Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen open to cross-strait talks, but has some demands for Beijing first first appeared on South China Morning Post

For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2019.
Two Mindanao political leaders are advocating the no vote to the Bangsamoro Organic Law in the forthcoming plebiscites. Lanao del Norte Rep. Khalid Dimaporo said his province is not part of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which he said failed to govern itself professionally and deliver its promises of improving the quality of life of its constituents. The proposed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao might just be a continuation of the old ARMM system, Dimaporo said. Cotabato City Mayor Frances Cynthia Guiani likewise said leaders from various sectors oppose the creation of the new region. The first plebiscite day is scheduled on Jan. 19 in ARMM, Cotabato and Isabela cities. The second voting day will be held on Feb. 6 in Lanao del Norte (except for Iligan City) and North Cotabato. Dimaporo said he is not in favor of an independent government which lacks transparency and accountability, shows biases for ethnic groups and implements Islamic-based laws that are practiced in other Muslim countries which are too harsh for the local culture.We dont want to take a chance, he said. Bangsamoro might be a repeat of ARMM. The solon cited Marawi, Lanao del Sur as an example of long years of neglect that resulted in the penetration of the Maute and ISIS terrorist groups The MILF wanted to create the Bangsamoro. They didnt address the national power. Everything will be controlled by the local government units. It merely adds another layer of bureaucracy, he said. Bangsamoro will be having a system of kanya-kanyang mundo (to each to his own). The LGUs can have their Internal Revenue Allotment, the congressman can get funds from the Department of Public Works and Highways, and the regional government will get the block grant. Money will be spent the way they please. Projects will overlap. How do you account for them? That was the problem with ARMM which ended up with ghost projects. We dont want to be a part of that system. Wed rather deal with Malacanang than deal with another layer of bureaucracy, Dimaporo said.
China watchers searching for clues in identifying the next generation of top Chinese leaders have been focusing on the recent promotion of about a dozen vice-governors and vice-ministers born in the 1970s.

Many of these relatively young political stars, analysts believe, are being groomed for future leadership roles. And what is notable about them is that they had been destined to be Chinas seventh generation of leaders, yet look increasingly likely to overtake their immediate seniors  once expected to be the sixth generation  to take over when President Xi Jinping eventually steps down as Communist Party boss.

President Jiang Zemin, who served as the partys general secretary from 1989 to 2002, is described as the core of the third generation of top Chinese leaders, following Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. Jiangs successor Hu Jintao represented the fourth generation, and Xi the fifth.

Jiang and Hu stepped down after two five-year terms each as general secretary, but at the five-yearly national congress in 2017, the absence of the supposed sixth generation among new members of the Politburo Standing Committee led many China watchers to guess Xi might stay on after 2022, when his second term ends.

When the National Peoples Congress, the rubber-stamp legislature, passed the amendment to the constitution last March to lift the presidencys term limit, it fuelled expectations that Xi would continue as the core of the party, potentially blocking the path of those born in the 1960s.

Normally, membership on the Politburo Standing Committee is considered a prerequisite for candidates for the top leadership. Both Xi and Hu were made members at least five years before they became the party boss, paving the way for their ascendancy to the apex of power.

Given that the amendment of the constitution has removed the term limit, I dont think people are expecting succession to happen in the next party congress, said Yun Sun, director of the China programme at the Stimson Centre, a Washington think tank.

Story continues

Most people speculate or expect Xi will stay on. There is no heir apparent. Since Xi does not appear to be considering retirement, questions about succession [in 2022] appear to be void.

Chen Daoyin, a Shanghai-based political scientist, said: It is highly possible that those born in the 1970s or even early 1980s will rocket to the top as long as they can show their strong support for the [political] system and loyalty to the current leader [Xi], and if they are not closely linked to any political factions.

Moreover, at least three of that expected sixth generation have been ousted over corruption charges in the past year: former top energy official Nur Bekri; former Politburo member and Chongqing party boss Sun Zhengcai; and Su Shulin, the former Fujian party chief  aged 57, 55 and 56 respectively.

This has raised the likelihood of Xi being succeeded by one of a younger group, most of whom are serving in frontline government or party positions in Shanghai, Jiangsu, Shandong, Guizhou, Guangxi, Fujian and Sichuan (see table).

Yang Jinbo, 45, is the youngest of them. Analysts said that Yang, who in November was named a vice-chairman of the Guangxi regional government, is one of the cadres hand-picked by Xi for testing in the provinces before rising further in the hierarchy.

An engineer by profession, Yang worked in the electricity sector and was deputy chairman of the State Grid Corporation before his promotion in November.

Also noteworthy are Liu Jie and Shi Guanghui, both 48 years old and Guizhou Communist Party Standing Committee members. Shi was a vice-mayor of Shanghai before he was transferred to the southwestern province in November.

Another up-and-coming official is 47-year-old Zhuge Yujie, the secretary general of the partys Shanghai municipal committee.

Criteria for selection of cadres for promotion were laid down by Xi at a party meeting last July. He said: The criteria for leading officials are that they must be responsible, clean, loyal to the party and honest in implementing the thoughts on socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Xi again emphasised loyalty to the party in late December when he chaired a two-day meeting of the Politburo in Beijing.

The president stressed that leading party officials required a fighting spirit and should be put on the front lines to hone their abilities  as he had when working in provinces for more than two decades before being promoted to the Politburo Standing Committee in 2007.

Chen called loyalty the most important qualification for promotion. Just like the slogan red and professional coined by Chairman Mao Zedong in the 1950s and 1960s, red basically means loyalty to the Communist Party and the party line, said Chen.

Loyalty to the party also means loyalty to the supreme leader. Being red is still the top criterion for career advancement even if the party no longer uses the same rhetoric.

Xi has also repeatedly emphasised his belief that leading officials should come from five lakes and four seas  a Chinese proverb referring to a diverse background.

Such diversity is seen as a way to break from the old practice of promoting officials who shared a common background such as membership of the Communist Youth League, traditionally a cradle of party leaders. This, too, could favour the leading forty-somethings.

There used to be a system for generational transition or power succession within the party before 2012, said Chen, acknowledging that the Youth League had lost its status as a power base for top leaders since Xi took over as party chief that year.

Ding Xueliang, a professor of sociology with the University of Science and Technology of Hong Kong, believes younger officials with provincial governing experience  such as that being gained by the likes of Yang, Liu, Shi and Zhuge  would have an edge over ministry technocrats in being chosen for promotion.

Xi worked in four provinces or municipalities  Hebei, Fujian, Zhejiang and Shanghai  before rising to the top decision-making Politburo Standing Committee in 2007.

A minister is like an expert in a specialised field, Ding said, but an administrator who has the experience of governing millions of people is considered more rounded and tested.

Yun, however, said that continuing Xis policies would be paramount for a future general secretary and president, regardless of background.

Since we dont have an estimate for when Xi will leave the post, speculation about the 1970s generation is not very meaningful, she said.

But we would assume that Xi wants someone who can carry out his vision: a strong China, the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the partys dominance in domestic politics. I do not expect him to select a liberal.

This article Will Chinas leadership succession after Xi Jinping skip a generation? first appeared on South China Morning Post

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A WARRANT of seizure and detention (WSD) was issued by the Bureau of Customs Port of Cebu against four luxury cars that were caught being smuggled from Japan earlier this week.Port of Cebu District Collector

A WARRANT of seizure and detention (WSD) was issued by the Bureau of Customs Port of Cebu against four luxury cars that were caught being smuggled from Japan earlier this week.

Port of Cebu District Collector Elvira Cruz said they have no value estimates yet for the Ranger Rover, the Porsche, the Mercedes Benz and the Alfa Romeo until these are placed under seizure and forfeiture proceedings.

Cruz, a lawyer, issued the WSD after the vehicles existence was confirmed during the examination conducted by Customs Examiner Ravel Abella, importers broker and representatives from the Enforcement and Security Services, X-Ray Inspection Project and the Office of the District Collector on Thursday, Jan. 3.

Based on records, the cars were imported by Kylemelan General Merchandize of Malabon City and arrived in Cebu from Japan last Dec. 19 under Bill of Lading 181206750071. The cargo inside the container was declared as one piece of car body for decoration.

But during the X-ray inspection, which scanned the contents of the container, it was discovered that the cargo was composed of the four vehicles.

This prompted the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service to request Cruz to issue an alert order against the shipment for misdeclaration, a violation under Section 1400 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.

Customs authorities will also ask during the seizure and forfeiture proceedings why a Malabon City-based importer would use the Port of Cebu when the Manila International Container Port is nearer. EOB
Canadas oil industry, most of which is housed in Alberta, has had a tough year, with the discount to WTI falling to record highs before Premier Alberta Notley mandated a production cut of over 300,000 barrels daily that went into effect this month. A new NEB report says the pipeline constraints are not the problem, contrary to popular belief.

Calgary, Alberta, yesterday reported a $5 billion loss in commercial property in its downtown area, thanks to the provinces floundering oil industry that is drowning in the steep discount to WTI and insufficient pipeline capacity to take its oil across its borders.

Pipeline constraints in Canada, which has caused a backup of oil inventories in the country, is the main reason cited for the dramatic fall in Canadian oil prices. And now those low prices are snowballing into the commercial property sector. Cenovus Energy Inc. and Encana Corp, for one, saw their Calgary-based headquarters property lose almost 19% of its value in 2018.

The National Energy Board (NEB) said on Friday, however, that pipeline capacity constraints were not the only thing plaguing Canadas oil industry. It instead shifted the blame onto increased oil production in the last couple of years, saying that if its oil producers werent producing so much oilwhich came in at 4.3 million barrels per day in Septemberpipeline capacity at 3.95 million barrels per day would not have been an issue. The NEB also cited lower demand from US refineriesa significant market for Canadian oil producersdue to maintenance season. Western Canadas largest customer in the US, BPs Whiting Refinery in Chicago, went offline in September, exacerbating the discount of WCS to WTI, the NEB said.

Refinery maintenance season, however, is a routine occurrence experienced annually that was unlikely to come as a surprise.

Canada is the worlds fourth largest crude oil exporter, the NEB report said, exporting 3.3 million barrels per day.

WCS was trading at $31.24 on Friday, while its WTI counterpart traded at $48.09 per barrel.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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Irans Parliament Research Center is predicting negative growth for Iran in the current fiscal year that ends March 20 due to its falling exports, Radio Farda reported on Friday.

The economic contraction could be as significant as 5.5 percent negative growth, the Research Center figures, with the best-case scenario ending with a 2.6 percent negative growth.

The rosier scenario of the two assumes that Iran will see a 800,000 barrel per day loss in Irans crude oil exports. The bleaker view assumes Irans oil exports will dip by 1.6 million barrels per day.

Beyond March 2019, when this fiscal year ends, the research center is predicting a 4.5 to 5.5 percent contraction.

Irans oil exports have decreased despite Irans insistence that the U.S. sanctions levied against Iran in November would have no effect on its oil exports.

But Irans oil exports have dropped, including in November 2018, the first month that the US sanctions were in force. November saw a several-hundred-thousand-barrel decline because although eight major importers of Iranian oil secured sanction waivers, they were not given until the last minute, Unsure if they would get a waiver or not, they tapered their call for Iranian oil for fear of violating the sanctions.

While unofficial, Reuters reported that Irans exports to Asia recently fell to 660,000 barrels a day compared to 1.7 million barrels a day in 2017.

(Click to enlarge)

Source: Reuters Statistics

Irans total crude oil exports are likely somewhere between 1.3 million and 1.5 million barrels daily, down from roughly 2.7 million barrels per day pre-sanction.

To mitigate the effects of the US sanctions on its oil exports, Iran is making a push to become self-sufficient with gasoline by increase its capacity to 100 million liters daily.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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Russia has raised the price for the gas it sells to Armenia by 10 percent. The negotiations over the gas price were seen as a litmus test for the new government in Yerevan and its ability to deal with its often overbearing ally in Moscow.

In 2019, the Russian state gas company Gazprom will sell gas to Armenia at $165 per thousand cubic meters, Gazprom said in a statement following a December 31 meeting between its chairman, Alexei Miller, and Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigorian. The previous price had been $150 per thousand cubic meters.

The Armenian government had repeatedly said it was seeking to instead reduce the price it pays Russia for gas. Negotiations are being conducted toward the reduction" of gas prices, Garegin Baghramyan, Armenias minister of energy and natural resources told reporters in November. As late as December 27, Baghramyan said that "Of course, we are holding talks on reducing the tariff, but I am unaware of Russias proposals. The best result for us must be to reduce the tariff."

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on December 27. Days later, Russia announced it was increasing the price of natural gas it sells to Armenia. (photo: kremlin.ru)

That the price was instead raised is another item in a growing list of setbacks to Armenia in its relationship with Russia. Armenia imports the large majority of its gas from Russia. Its only other supplier is Iran, and U.S. officials have been pressuring Yerevan to curtail its ties with Iran. Related: Oil Rises On Hopes Of A U.S.-China Trade Deal

The price increase comes as Armenia also appears to be on the verge of losing its position heading the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization, and just days after Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met in Moscow. The day after the meeting, Putin pointedly sent public holiday greetings to former Armenian president Robert Kocharyan, a Pashinyan nemesis currently in jail in Yerevan on abuse-of-power charges.

The price increase is symptomatic of how the Kremlin is exploiting Armenias acute dependence on Russian hydrocarbons, using gas supply as a political instrument to put pressure on the Pashinyan-led government, Eduard Abrahamyan, a London-based analyst of Armenia, told Eurasianet.

Pashinyans foes in the formerly ruling Republican Party of Armenia pounced on the defeat. We are finishing the year not entirely proudly and fruitfully, wrote Eduard Sharmazanov, the partys press secretary, on his Facebook page the day the announcement was made. Nikol, who for months has been accusing us of artificially increasing prices on gas and creation of a corrupt gas scheme, saying that since his becoming prime minister that Armenia-Russia relations have been wonderful, today reported that the price of gas is increasing.

Pashinyan himself tried to put a brave face on the news, saying that consumers would be paying the same price for energy thanks to our certain internal adjustments, which he didnt specify.

By Eurasianet

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Few would have predicted this five years ago, but India is facing a real dilemma.

It is exacerbated by the countrys predilection for subsidies and set against the backdrop of a chronic power generation landscape.

As any regular traveler to India will know, while power outages are not as common as they once were, they remain an almost daily occurrence in many areas. According to the FT, quoting figures from the New Delhi-based Energy and Resources Institute, per-capita electricity consumption by the countrys 1.3 billion people is just 38 percent of the global average, while tens of millions of households still lack grid connections  so demand growth is high and set to continue for decades to come.

Not surprisingly, the government has made the push for reliable, universally available electricity a long-running key policy priority; a policy based largely on coal-fired coal plants that was roundly condemned by both environmental organizations and many Western governments.

Indias Coal Paradox

Coal is the only fossil fuel India has in abundance, with extensive deposits situated in the northeast of the country, although power plants in the west and south often import coal from Indonesia rather than haul product across the country on a rickety rail network. Oil and gas have never been favored because they are largely imported. Related: Flurry Of Bullish News Sends Oil Higher

As for those subsidies mentioned earlier, the Gujarat state government has just awarded two major coal plants run by Adani  Tata Power and Essar Power  increased power rates to help stem heavy losses the plants are incurring due to uneconomic imported coal supply costs.

Over the past couple years (and estimated into the future), Indias thermal power capacity additions have given way to solar and wind. Source: FT.

Part of the problem for coal-fired plants has always been competitively priced coal supplies; even though the country has abundant supplies, it suffers from an appalling logistics infrastructure. Today, only plants sited very near to the deposits in northeastern India remain viable. Most of the rest are in trouble, with Credit Suisse estimating half of them as being stressed  i.e. interest payment exceeding profits  putting some $35 billion of investments at risk, the FT reports.

Various sources share of Indias total electricity capacity. Source: FT.

Renewable Energy Power Price Collapse Plays Its Part

The second  and, in many ways, more profound  dynamic at work is the collapse of renewable energy power prices.

According to the FT, Japans SoftBank, as part of a consortium in 2017 agreed to sell power from a northern Indian solar park for Rs2.44 per unit, well below the cost of coal power, which typically costs well over Rs3. Last year, state-run NTPC  by far the biggest thermal power producer in India  has canceled several plans for large coal projects, including one for a giant 4GW plant in southern Andhra Pradesh state, while Adani Power invested more than $600 million in a solar plant in sunny southern Tamil Nadu. Coal is no longer seen as economically viable in India  not from an environmental point of view, but purely based on the cost of production. Related: OPEC Oil Exports To The U.S. Fall To Five-Year Low

Not surprisingly, in recent meetings, state thermal power station equipment manufacturers were bemoaning (off the record) the dire state of the market, with little on offer except repair and maintenance.

After he was elected in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government set an ambitious target of increasing Indias renewable energy capacity by 2022 to 175GW, equivalent to 40 percent of the countrys total power capacity. This was a target seen as more for external consumption than a genuine strategy; but last year, despite the backlog of coal-fired plants still in the works, more solar power capacity was brought on stream than coal, suggesting the 40 percent target may yet be achieved, particularly if better storage solutions can be achieved to smooth out the variability of renewable power supply.

Until then, coal plants are still needed to provide base-load and increasingly intermittent power, a role they are not as well suited to as gas, but in the absence of anything else may be of such need that those subsidies keep rolling in.

By AG Metal Miner

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Alicia ain't shit. It's been known.

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Wait really?

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She had an affair with a married man. Shes messy as hell.

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Alicia Keystoyourmanshouse.

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NOT HER TOO.

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wow...just when you think someone might be smart. nope.

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Jesus Christ, what was she thinking!?

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The thing is she wasn't.

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I actually think she was. She did it to appear hip to the youth and it backfired on her.

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Wow what a disappointment

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lmao fuck what is WITH the fandom for this dude? his music was shit and he was a predator.

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alicia keys is 37 years old lmao

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mte. like putting even aside the fact that he was a complete waste of a human being, he's a fucking soundcloud rapper like tf?

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exactly his music wasnt good at all?! im confusion.

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ikr it's baffling

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lol she needed some attention

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Not gone soon enough

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Came here to say the same thing.

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gone too late if you ask me

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Lol irl Mte.

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Lol

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yep

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lol

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lmao fuck this is what i get for not reading the comments before posting

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lmfao

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Same lol

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lmao

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i love this

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nnnnnn dhbdhsjhjds

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Good for gorlplz for calling her out.

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fuck anyone who supports that piece of shit. not gone soon enough.

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EXPECTED PUBLICATION DATE: JANUARY 8TH

The Au Pair

by Emma Rous

In Paris With You

by Clementine Beauvais

To Keep the Sun Alive

by Rabeah Ghaffari

The Red Address Book

by Sofia Lundberg

Sugar Run

by Mesha Maren

EXPECTED PUBLICATION DATE: JANUARY 15TH

Echo North

by Joanna Ruth Meyer

The Far Field

by Madhuri Vijay

The Gilded Wolves

by Roshani Chokshi

EXPECTED PUBLICATION DATE: JANUARY 29TH

99 Percent Mine

by Sally Thorne

The Love & Lies of Rukhsana Ali

by Sabina Khan

I went through the 200 Most Popular January 2019 books and selected ten by women from a variety of genres to be published this month. Featured here are romance, fantasy, mystery, historical fiction and literary fiction. I excluded any books that were continuations of series. So get your library holds ready (or recommend your local library to get the books)!Seraphine Mayes and her twin brother Danny were born in the middle of summer at their familys estate on the Norfolk coast. Within hours of their birth, their mother threw herself from the cliffs, the au pair fled, and the village thrilled with whispers of dark cloaks, changelings, and the aloof couple who drew a young nanny into their inner circle.Now an adult, Seraphine mourns the recent death of her father. While going through his belongings, she uncovers a family photograph that raises dangerous questions. It was taken on the day the twins were born, and in the photo, their mother, surrounded by her husband and her young son, is beautifully dressed, smiling serenely, and holding just one baby.Who is the child and what really happened that day?One person knows the truth, if only Seraphine can find her.Eugene and Tatiana had fallen in love that summer ten years ago. But certain events stopped them from getting to truly know each other and they separated never knowing what could have been.But one busy morning on the Paris metro, Eugene and Tatiana meet again, no longer the same teenagers they once were.What happened during that summer? Does meeting again now change everything? With their lives ahead of them, can Eugene and Tatiana find a way to be together after everything?The year is 1979. The Islamic Revolution is just around the corner, as is a massive solar eclipse. In this epic novel set in the small Iranian city of Naishapur, a retired judge and his wife, Bibi, grow apples, plums, peaches, and sour cherries, as well as manage several generations of family members. The days here are marked by long, elaborate lunches on the terrace and arguments about the corrupt monarchy in Iran and the rise of Islamic fundamentalism. And yet life in the orchard continues. An uncle develops into a powerful cleric. A young nephew goes to university, hoping to lead the fight for a new Iran and marry his childhood sweetheart. Another nephew surrenders to opium, while his widowed father dreams of a life in the West. Told through a host of vivid, unforgettable characters that range from servants to elderly friends of the family, To Keep the Sun Alive is the kind of rich, compelling story that not only informs the past, but raises questions about political and religious extremism today.Meet Doris, a 96-year-old woman living alone in her Stockholm apartment. She has few visitors, but her weekly Skype calls with Jennyher American grandniece, and her only relativegive her great joy and remind her of her own youth.When Doris was a girl, she was given an address book by her father, and ever since she has carefully documented everyone she met and loved throughout the years. Looking through the little book now, Doris sees the many crossed-out names of people long gone and is struck by the urge to put pen to paper. In writing down the stories of her colorful pastworking as a maid in Sweden, modelling in Paris during the 30s, fleeing to Manhattan at the dawn of the Second World Warcan she help Jenny, haunted by a difficult childhood, unlock the secrets of their family and finally look to the future? And whatever became of Allan, the love of Doriss life?In 1989, Jodi McCarty is seventeen years old when shes sentenced to life in prison for manslaughter. Shes released eighteen years later and finds herself at a Greyhound bus stop, reeling from the shock of unexpected freedom. Not yet able to return to her lost home in the Appalachian mountains, she goes searching for someone she left behind, but on the way, she meets and falls in love with Miranda, a troubled young mother. Together, they try to make a fresh start, but is that even possible in a town that refuses to change?Echo Alkaevs safe and carefully structured world falls apart after her father leaves for the city and mysteriously disappears. Believing he is lost forever, Echo is shocked to find him half-frozen in the winter forest six months later, guarded by a strange talking wolfthe same creature who attacked her as a child. The wolf presents Echo with an offer: for her to come and live with him for a year. But there is more to the wolf than Echo realizes.In his enchanted house beneath a mountain, Echo discovers centuries-old secrets, a magical library full of books-turned-mirrors, and a young man named Hal who is trapped inside of them. As the year ticks by, Echo must solve the mystery of the wolfs enchantment before her time is upotherwise Echo, the wolf, and Hal will be lost forever.In the wake of her mother's death, Shalini, a privileged and restless young woman from Bangalore, sets out for a remote Himalayan village in the troubled northern region of Kashmir. Certain that the loss of her mother is somehow connected to the decade-old disappearance of Bashir Ahmed, a charming Kashmiri salesman who frequented her childhood home, she is determined to confront him. But upon her arrival, Shalini is brought face to face with Kashmir's politics, as well as the tangled history of the local family that takes her in. And when life in the village turns volatile and old hatreds threaten to erupt into violence, Shalini finds herself forced to make a series of choices that could hold dangerous repercussions for the very people she has come to love.Paris, 1889: The world is on the cusp of industry and power, and the Exposition Universelle has breathed new life into the streets and dredged up ancient secrets. In this city, no one keeps tabs on secrets better than treasure-hunter and wealthy hotelier, Severin Montagnet-Alarie. But when the all-powerful society, the Order of Babel, seeks him out for help, Severin is offered a treasure that he never imagined: his true inheritance.To find the ancient artifact the Order seeks, Severin will need help from a band of experts: An engineer with a debt to pay. A historian who can't yet go home. A dancer with a sinister past. And a brother in all but blood, who might care too much.Together, they'll have to use their wits and knowledge to hunt the artifact through the dark and glittering heart of Paris. What they find might change the world, but only if they can stay alive.Darcy Barrett has undertaken a global survey of men. Shes travelled the world, and can categorically say that no one measures up to Tom Valeska, whose only flaw is that Darcys twin brother Jamie saw him first and claimed him forever as his best friend. Despite Darcys best efforts, Toms off limits and loyal to her brother, 99%. Thats the problem with finding her dream man at age eight and peaking in her photography career at age twentyever since, shes had to learn to settle for good enough.When Darcy and Jamie inherit a tumble-down cottage from their grandmother, theyre left with strict instructions to bring it back to its former glory and sell the property. Darcy plans to be in an aisle seat halfway across the ocean as soon as the renovations start, but before she can cut and run, she finds a familiar face on her porch: house-flipper extraordinaire Toms arrived, hes bearing power tools, and hes single for the first time in almost a decade.Suddenly Darcys considering sticking around to make sure her twin doesnt ruin the cottages inherent magic with his penchant for grey and chrome. Shes definitely not staying because of her new business partners tight t-shirts, or that perfect face that's inspiring her to pick up her camera again. Soon sparks are flyingand its not the faulty wiring. It turns out one percent of Toms heart might not be enough for Darcy anymore. This time around, shes switching things up. Shes going to make Tom Valeska 99 percent hers.Seventeen-year-old Rukhsana Ali tries her hardest to live up to her conservative Muslim parents expectations, but lately shes finding that harder and harder to do. She rolls her eyes instead of screaming when they blatantly favor her brother and she dresses conservatively at home, saving her crop tops and makeup for parties her parents dont know about. Luckily, only a few more months stand between her carefully monitored life in Seattle and her new life at Caltech, where she can pursue her dream of becoming an engineer.But when her parents catch her kissing her girlfriend Ariana, all of Rukhsanas plans fall apart. Her parents are devastated; being gay may as well be a death sentence in the Bengali community. They immediately whisk Rukhsana off to Bangladesh, where she is thrown headfirst into a world of arranged marriages and tradition. Only through reading her grandmothers old diary is Rukhsana able to gain some much needed perspective.Rukhsana realizes she must find the courage to fight for her love, but can she do so without losing everyone and everything in her life?
SITUATION BRIEFING. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte conducts a situation briefing with members of his Cabinet and local government officials to discuss disaster response measures in the aftermath of Tropical Depression Usman at the Camarines Sur Watersports Complex in Pili, Camarines Sur on Jan. 4, 2019. Presidential Photo

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered government officials to speed up the construction of durable evacuation centers and housing units to ensure that there will be no disruption of classes in the aftermath of calamities. In a situational briefing after his aerial inspection in the aftermath of Tropical Depression Usman in Camarines Sur on Friday, Duterte said he wants the planned evacuation centers to be made up of concrete in order to ensure its durability in times of calamity. It has to be a concrete... I would not be satisfied with yung mga kahoy-kahoy lang (if its only made up of wood). They will be the first to go if the winds come. This is quite a novelty of recent times because walang hangin, puro tubig (there are no winds, just purely rainfall). So nakita ko kanina (I saw it), it has become a huge lake, he said.The President said he wants these buildings to be used solely as evacuation centers and avoid using schools in the conduct of relief operations by government agencies during disaster times. Every typhoon, calamity that would need the evacuation of people, the public schools really suffer. And also it disturbs the system. It causes an aberration rather in the schooling of children... These [planned evacuation centers] can only be used for evacuation purposes and to keep the people safe and not to disturb the resumption of the governmental functions that we have, the ministrant schooling and everything na hindi makakaistorbo in this area (so areas affected will not be disturbed), he said.In the same briefing, Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Ano said the construction of local and regional evacuation centers in landslide- and typhoon-prone areas is their priority. Our priorities would be the construction of local evacuation centers, aside from the regional evacuation centers to be constructed by the DPWH [Department of Public Works and Highways], particularly in the eastern seaboard of our country where about 15 to 20 typhoons visit every year, Ano said. Late in December, Usman lashed parts of Bicol, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon Province), Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan), and Eastern Visayas. Data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council showed that the calamity damaged the Bicol region immensely, particularly Albay and Camarines Sur, where heavy rains resulted in flash floods and landslides affecting more than 23,000 families, with at least 122 deaths, and 28 reported as missing.
Washington, PA (15301)

Today

Clear to partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 55F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Clear to partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 55F. Winds light and variable.
An investigation into the injury and subsequent euthanasia of The Cliffsofmoher during the Melbourne Cup has found it was a freak accident which could not have been predicted or prevented.

The Aidan OBrien-trained Irish horse broke down passing the winning post at Flemington on the first circuit, sustaining a fracture to his right shoulder.

A post-mortem has confirmed the diagnosis, saying there was no evidence of a pre-existing condition and that the type and location of the fracture meant it could not be surgically repaired.

Racing Victoria released the findings of the investigation on Friday adding there were no prohibited substances detected in samples taken from the horse nor was there any evidence the track, rated a soft 6 after rain on the day, played any part in the incident.

The investigation found:

1: The Cliffsofmoher sustained a fracture to the right shoulder and that, on all the available information, no party could have predicted the injury was going to occur prior to the race; and

2: The RV veterinary team made the correct decision, and the kindest one for the horse, in electing to euthanise The Cliffsofmoher in a timely manner on the day.

3: Ryan Moore jumped off The Cliffsofmoher and kept him still until help arrived with on-course vets making the decision to euthanise him on the track as the most humane course of action.

The Cliffsofmoher drops back from the pack. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

Not only the kindest outcome but also the appropriate action

RV integrity services boss Jamie Stier said his team was satisfied the right course of action was taken but added they would undertake a review of the increased number of injuries suffered by international visitors to the spring carnival.

With the physiology of horses being as it is, when any horse sustains an injury of the nature of that sustained by The Cliffsofmoher humane euthanasia of the horse is not only the kindest outcome but also the appropriate action to take as it is not possible for such an injury to mend in horses, Stier said.

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In the end, this was an injury that occurs rarely in the racing horse with the rate of fatal incidents in Victorian racing 0.05 per cent of all starters.

Visiting international horses are already subjected to enhanced veterinary scrutiny in their home country before travelling to Australia, and also throughout their time at the Werribee International Horse Centre.

Horses are guided away from The Cliffsofmoher before she was euthanised. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

That said, the increased incidence of racing and training injuries among the international horses during the spring requires further examination and we have commissioned a review to determine whether there are any identifiable risks that we can address in the future.

That review will consider the medical records, training records and racing history of the international horses that sustained an injury, the facilities at Werribee and independent expert advice. We expect it to be completed by the end of March 2019 for consideration by the RV Board.

Other major points in the investigation:
This article is written for those who want to get better at using price to earnings ratios (P/E ratios). To keep it practical, well show how Williams-Sonoma, Inc.s (NYSE:WSM) P/E ratio could help you assess the value on offer. Williams-Sonoma has a P/E ratio of 15.23, based on the last twelve months. That corresponds to an earnings yield of approximately 6.6%.

Check out our latest analysis for Williams-Sonoma

How Do You Calculate A P/E Ratio?

The formula for price to earnings is:

Price to Earnings Ratio = Share Price  Earnings per Share (EPS)

Or for Williams-Sonoma:

P/E of 15.23 = $50.56  $3.32 (Based on the trailing twelve months to October 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

When earnings fall, the E decreases, over time. Therefore, even if you pay a low multiple of earnings now, that multiple will become higher in the future. So while a stock may look cheap based on past earnings, it could be expensive based on future earnings.

Williams-Sonoma saw earnings per share decrease by 6.9% last year. But EPS is up 2.0% over the last 5 years. And EPS is down 2.4% a year, over the last 3 years. So it would be surprising to see a high P/E.

How Does Williams-Sonomas P/E Ratio Compare To Its Peers?

The P/E ratio essentially measures market expectations of a company. The image below shows that Williams-Sonoma has a P/E ratio that is roughly in line with the specialty retail industry average (14.2).

NYSE:WSM PE PEG Gauge January 5th 19

That indicates that the market expects Williams-Sonoma will perform roughly in line with other companies in its industry. If the company has better than average prospects, then the market might be underestimating it. Further research into factors such asmanagement tenure, could help you form your own view on whether that is likely.

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Dont Forget: The P/E Does Not Account For Debt or Bank Deposits

The Price in P/E reflects the market capitalization of the company. That means it doesnt take debt or cash into account. In theory, a company can lower its future P/E ratio by using cash or debt to invest in growth.

Such expenditure might be good or bad, in the long term, but the point here is that the balance sheet is not reflected by this ratio.

Williams-Sonomas Balance Sheet

Williams-Sonoma has net debt worth just 4.9% of its market capitalization. It would probably trade on a higher P/E ratio if it had a lot of cash, but I doubt it is having a big impact.

The Bottom Line On Williams-Sonomas P/E Ratio

Williams-Sonoma has a P/E of 15.2. Thats around the same as the average in the US market, which is 16.4. When you consider the lack of EPS growth last year (along with some debt), it seems the market is optimistic about the future for the business.

Investors have an opportunity when market expectations about a stock are wrong. If it is underestimating a company, investors can make money by buying and holding the shares until the market corrects itself. So this free report on the analyst consensus forecasts could help you make a master move on this stock.

You might be able to find a better buy than Williams-Sonoma. If you want a selection of possible winners, check out this free list of interesting companies that trade on a P/E below 20 (but have proven they can grow earnings).

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 Donald Trump ended last year with a trade cliffhanger, leaving nearly all of his major disputes on the issue unresolved and everyone guessing about if  and how  they will wrap up in 2019.

The stakes are high. Economic growth slowed in the third quarter and the stock market experienced a sharp decline in the finals months of 2018, two metrics that Trump has repeatedly bragged about during the first two years of his presidency.

The biggest challenge to a win on trade may be the sheer number of conflicts. The Administration faces a self-imposed March deadline to agree to a deal with China that would stop the imposition of new tariffs. Congress needs to approve a trade deal negotiated by the Trump administration to replace NAFTA. And in the fall the Administration opened up new negotiations with Japan while floating the idea of starting trade talks with the United Kingdom.

They have the capacity to be dealing with one major thing and maybe one minor thing in an intensive way, says David Dollar, an economist at the Brookings Institution. The fact that there are so many trade issues definitely puts pressure on the administrative bureaucracy.

By the far the biggest issue on everyones radar is the long-running dispute with China over everything from the countrys trade deficit with the U.S. to its weak protections for intellectual property. President Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping announced a pause in trade tensions in early December with a 90-day window to come to a comprehensive agreement that will halt further escalation, including higher tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods that Trump had originally planned to implement in January.

Trump tweeted in late December that an agreement is moving along very well and if made, it will be very comprehensive, covering all subjects, areas and points of dispute. But the details of a comprehensive agreement that actually settles all points of dispute are hard to imagine. The Trump administrations complaints are wide-ranging, and many of them cut to the core of Chinese long-term growth strategy, including the countrys funding of industrial programs. The selection of U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, a China hardliner, to lead the negotiations signaled a tough road ahead for a potential deal.

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China has consistently expressed a willingness to negotiate, even offering some significant concessions like reducing restrictions for U.S. automakers, the country is unlikely to give into many of Trumps demands. No one is in a position to dictate to the Chinese people what should or should not be done, Xi said in a Dec. 18 speech. The Wall Street Journal reported in late December that negotiators were discussing a deal that would increase U.S. exports and soften some Chinese regulations.

The situation has left the business community in an awkward position. Observers widely agree that China has engaged in unfair and even illegal practices, but many hope for a return to short-term stability even if it means kicking some of thornier issues down the road.

With that in mind, Trump might work out a deal to protect intellectual property while China leaves its bigger industrial polices intact. Trump might even accept a deal in which China agrees to buy more U.S. goods and reduce the trade deficit, an arrangement economists say is virtually meaningless but would at least halt escalating tariffs.

He is not at all encumbered in terms of declaring victory and saying we won, says Ron Kirk, the chief trade negotiator under Barack Obama.

Conflicts with foreign governments lie at the heart of Trumps trade disputes, but he also faces significant challenges to his trade agenda at home.

Most obviously, his replacement to NAFTA  dubbed the United StatesMexicoCanada Agreement, or USMCA  faces an uphill battle to win Congressional approval. The deal is more of an update than a major overall to NAFTA, but many Democrats have insisted on changes before they will approve it and may be reluctant to give Trump a win.

Trump also faces the simmering angst of many of his most ardent supporters in rural areas whose local economies have suffered as China shifts its agricultural purchases away from the U.S. in retaliation for tariffs on hundreds of billions of goods Trump has imposed on the country.

That anger could worsen, not just if China clamps down but also as a result of the Trans Pacific Partnership, which took effect Dec. 30. Trump pulled the U.S. out of the deal before early in his presidency, and now the 11 Pacific countries that remain in the pact will enjoy reduced tariffs and lower barriers to entering each others markets. For some specific sectors, suddenly the U.S. is really going to be at a disadvantage, says Dollar.

At the same time, Wall Street types who have held their nose at many of Trumps foibles because of the booming economy may turn their backs if things change. Economic growth slowed significantly in the third quarter and the stock market dipped in the final months of 2018.

Of course, all of this comes against a backdrop of a presidency that always seems to be teetering on the brink of a crisis. And Trump has at times responded to one crisis by stoking another.

Most notably, the investigation by Robert Mueller into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and potential obstruction of justice seems to be nearing its conclusion. If the results of the investigation are seriously bad for Trump, said Asia Society President Kevin Rudd, a former prime minister of Australia, in a speech on U.S.-China relations. That certainly would be an X factor.

How such an X factor or any of the others on a seemingly endless list would play into Trumps trade decision is anyones guess.
Washington (AFP) - The US Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear a case brought by a clothing line named "Fuct" which the government has refused to register, claiming it would promote vulgarity.

The case pits a provision of US trademark law that allows the government to deny requests on the basis "immoral" or "scandalous" words against the bedrock principles of free speech enshrined in the Constitution.

A date of hearing has not yet been fixed. But it's a safe bet no case before it will have exposed the nation's top judges to so many profanities.

The street-wear brand was founded in 1990 by Los Angeles-based designer Erik Brunetti.

The name sounds like, but is spelled differently from, the past tense form of a common swear word.

Brunetti tried to formally register it in 2011 but was refused under the so-called scandalous-marks provision of trademark law.

He appealed against the decision and won, but the current administration of President Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court to give a final ruling on the matter.

In its brief, the government argues the contested legal provision "does not restrict any speech or restrain any form of expression."

Rather, it "simply reflects Congress's judgment that the federal government should not affirmatively promote the use of graphic sexual images and vulgar terms by granting them the benefits of registration."

Brunetti's lawyer, John Sommer, told AFP that he hopes the country's top court will "take a strong position" in favor of free speech.

"A federal government and a state or local government can make life difficult for organizations or people that have controversial names," he said. They "can effectively prevent them from doing business on the basis that what they are doing is 'offensive or scandalous.'"

That power should not be left in government hands, Sommer said.

In 2017, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that an Asian American band could trademark its name "The Slants," which had been rejected because it was deemed a racial slur.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. met with United States National Security Advisor John Bolton to deepen Philippines-US ties. According to the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC, the two officials recognized the role of the two nations alliance in maintaining regional peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. This is the first time Locsin met with Ambassador Bolton since he became the Philippines top diplomat. Locsin said the meeting was vastly enlightening, frank, wide-ranging yet sharply focused on the key issues. The meeting comes a week after the Department of National Defense called for the review of the Mutual Defense Treaty between the US and the Philippines.Last week, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana called for the MDTs review to see if it is still relevant to the Philippines national interest. Former Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations Lauro Baja agreed that the 1951 MDT must undergo reassessment to determine whether or not the pact is still attuned to current regional and global dynamics. For the Philippines, the review will provide the opportunity to re-examine and clarify the degree and depth of US commitment to defend us, including the area of coverage of the Treaty.
Sanaa (AFP) - The UN envoy for Yemen arrived in the capital Sanaa on Saturday for talks to shore up a ceasefire in the country's lifeline port city of Hodeida, an AFP photographer said.

Martin Griffiths is scheduled to hold talks in Sanaa with Huthi rebel leaders and will later travel to the Saudi capital Riyadh to meet Yemeni government officials.

He will also meet in the rebel-held capital with retired Dutch general Patrick Cammaert, who has been appointed by the UN to head the truce monitoring team.

Griffiths' visit comes as the ceasefire in Hodeida was generally holding, although there have been intermittent clashes with both sides blaming each other.

Yemen's government has written to the UN Security Council to accuse rebels of failing to comply with the ceasefire, while the rebels have accused the Saudi-led coalition of carrying out low-altitude flights over the city.

The United Nations is hoping to bring the warring sides together later this month, possibly in Kuwait, to follow up on the progress made at December's talks in Stockholm, diplomats have said.

The UN Security Council is expected to hear a report from Griffiths next week, but no date has been set for that meeting.

The war between the Huthis and troops loyal to the internationally-recognised government escalated in March 2015, when President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi fled into Saudi exile and the Saudi-led coalition intervened.

The conflict has unleashed the world's worst humanitarian crisis according to the UN, which says 14 million Yemenis are on the brink of famine.
Reuters

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq eked out record high finishes on Monday, despite most traders being focused on this week's Federal Reserve meeting and not on adding to existing positions. Investors are seeking new cues from the central bank on its inflation outlook, after recent data indicated the U.S. economy is regaining momentum but not overheating. While the Fed has reassured that any spike in inflation would be transitory, policymakers could begin discussing the tapering of bond buying at the Tuesday-Wednesday meeting.
By Arshad Mohammed, Jonathan Landay and Lesley Wroughton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A routine U.S.-hosted conference of nations fighting the Islamic State militant group has become a damage control effort following U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from Syria, sources familiar with the matter said on Friday. The previously scheduled conference, tentatively set for Feb. 7 in Washington, aims to gather ministers from many of the 79 nations in the Global Coalition To Defeat Islamic State and galvanize their fight against the militant group. However, Trump's shock Dec. 19 decision to withdraw and the mixed signals Washington has sent about when it may pull out the roughly 2,000 U.S. troops in Syria have left U.S. allies and partners rethinking their own commitments. In the latest ambiguous signal, a senior State Department official on Friday first told reporters the United States has no timeline for the withdrawal of troops from Syria and then said it does not plan to stay indefinitely. Another senior State Department official, also briefing reporters before Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's trip to the Middle East next week, said one of his main messages would be that "the United States is not leaving the Middle East." "Despite reports to the contrary and false narratives surrounding the Syria decision, we are not going anywhere." However, three sources familiar with the matter said that the Trump administration is still working assiduously to contain the fallout from Trump's troop decision. A Pentagon adviser described the conference as part of a "damage control" effort necessitated by Trumps abrupt decision and as designed to explain to the coalition members "that nothing has been put in place" with regard to the pullout. "This (Trump's withdrawal announcement) was a slap-dash, individual decision" that angered and frustrated U.S. military commanders and blind-sided members of the anti-ISIS coalition, said the Pentagon adviser on condition of anonymity. "This is nothing more than damage limitation." Other people familiar with the administration's discussions stressed that the meeting had been previously scheduled, but one said it had been given "extra urgency" by the troop decision. A State Department spokeswoman who declined to be identified confirmed the conference was going ahead as scheduled and that "save the date" invitations had gone out but she declined comment on the agenda, saying it was still being worked out. Another source familiar with administration discussions said the meeting had been made more pressing and more difficult by the mixed signals about the withdrawal, possibly making foreign officials reluctant to attend until there is greater clarity. "They are trying to square the circle of what the president said and what they (other U.S. officials) want to do, which is not easy," said this person, who is familiar with the administration's discussions on the issue. U.S.-backed forces are still retaking territory from Islamic State in Syria, Pentagon officials said on Friday, two weeks after Trump said the troops had succeeded in their mission and were no longer needed there. Trump has provided a number of different timelines on the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Syria. On Dec. 19, he said that the forces would be "coming back now." A few days later, he tweeted that the pullout would be "slow and highly coordinated." Earlier this week Trump said the withdrawal would be "over a period of time." While military planners have looked at various timelines, U.S. officials have told Reuters it could take several months to carry out a withdrawal, potentially giving time for U.S.-backed forces to deal parting blows to the militant group that once held broad swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria. One of the proposals under consideration is a 120-day withdrawal period, according a person familiar with discussions. Two sources familiar with the discussions predicted it would take at least until the end of 2019 to complete a U.S. troop withdrawal from Syria. "Even if they wanted to, they couldnt be out in four months," said the Pentagon adviser on condition of anonymity. (Additional reporting by Idrees Ali; Editing by Mary Milliken and James Dalgleish)
A private ambulance arrives at Horsley station near Guildford, Surrey, after a murder inquiry was launched following the stabbing of a man on board a train in Surrey (PA)

Two people have been arrested following the fatal stabbing of a 51-year-old train passenger in front of his 14-year-old son.

The frenzied attack happened on the 12.58 service between Guildford and London Waterloo stations on Friday.

Superintendent Paul Langley said: What we know at the moment is that the victim boarded the train at around 1.00pm at London Road station in Guildford, along with his 14-year-old son.

Traumatically, the victims son would have been nearby when his father was fatally wounded. This would have been an horrific and hugely traumatic event to have witnessed and we are providing him with as much support as possible.

A man has been detained on suspicion of murder, and a 27-year-old woman was also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

Supt Langley assured the public that violent events such as this on the rail network are extremely rare, and there would be extra officers on duty on Saturday to help reassure concerned passengers and rail staff.

Detectives are hunting a railway knife killer after a 51-year-old man was stabbed to death in front of his teenage son on board a train travelling through a leafy part of Surrey.

Detectives are hunting a railway knife killer after a 51-year-old man was stabbed to death in front of his teenage son on board a train travelling through a leafy part of Surrey.

The knifeman left the train at Clandon station and headed in the direction of Dedswell Drive, according to the police.

A woman who lives nearby reportedly told other villagers that she had spoken to a very sweaty and nervous man in a field near her home.

Please be vigilant as I just came across a mid 20s, slim build, black beard, bald suspicious man wearing a black tracksuit walking around our neighbouring field, very sweaty and nervous, she is said to have posted on a neighbourhood watch website.

He walk (sic) to the bottom then stood in the woodland, walk back up. I asked him what he was doing and he said he had an accident.

Our road is private and so is the field. He walked off on the phone and didnt want to chat. There was no reason for him to be there!

Officers were called to Horsley station at 1.15pm following reports of a stabbing on a train.

The victim was said to have suffered multiple stab wounds in the frightening attack.

The South East Coast Ambulance Service confirmed the victim died at the scene.

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The scene at Horsley station, in Surrey, shortly after police and paramedics were called following a fatal stabbing onboard the 12.58pm service from Guildford to London Waterloo. (SWNS)

Detective Superintendent Gary Richardson, from British Transport Police, said: This was a shocking and violent attack which took place on board a train in broad daylight.

Officers from BTP are with the family and have deployed a specially trained family liaison officer to support them through this difficult time.

We know that this was an incredibly frightening incident for passengers travelling on the train.

One social media user who said they had been on the train praised the incredible response of the guards and driver in a tweet to South Western Railway.

They wrote: I was on this train, how those guards and especially that train driver went into action was nothing short of incredible. Not sure if its appropriate to say thank you, but I do hope everyone is ok after todays event.

A number of police officers and helicopters were deployed in the Horsley and Clandon area as a murder inquiry was launched.

Officers are urging any witnesses to the attack to get in touch.

Oliver Thompson, a 16-year-old student living in Clandon, said he was stopped by police in the area at roughly 2.30pm and asked if he had seen a man running from the station.

A little later he saw police helicopters circling the area before being joined by a police van with high-powered lights as conditions darkened.

It comes as a big surprise as Clandon is a quiet area that you wouldnt associate with crime like this, he said.

It is definitely unnerving to think there is a murderer maybe somewhere in the village.

South Western Railway said the train line between Guildford and Effingham Junction towards London Waterloo was blocked for almost seven hours while police responded to the incident.

The train operator said all lines had been reopened with services returning to normal, but warned that some trains on the route could be delayed by up to 10 minutes or revised.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Everywhere President Donald Trump looks, he sees a wall.

As he lobbies for money for his long-promised border wall, Trump keeps talking up other barricades. He's pointing to walls in Israel, at the Vatican, even at former President Barack Obama's house  though fact checkers have pushed back on the accuracy of some of his claims.

With bricks and mortar on his mind, Trump declared at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, "Walls work."

He added: "There's a reason why politicians and wealthy people build walls around their houses and their compounds. President Obama recently built a wall around his compound."

Trump also tweeted that Obama's wall was 10 feet high. But while fencing has been added around the Obamas' spacious house in Washington's tony Kalorama neighborhood, there is no 10-foot wall.

It's all part of Trump's effort to prevail in an increasingly difficult standoff with congressional Democrats over border funding that has produced a partial shutdown of the federal government.

But David Bier, an immigration policy analyst for the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, said there is little comparison between the demands for private security and border security.

"It doesn't make sense to compare" the two, said Bier, pointing to the difference between a home break-in and migrants trying to seek asylum.

Another favorite structure for Trump is the fortifications at the Vatican, which he has cited in the past as an argument for the wall and brought up again at the Cabinet meeting, this time making a moral argument.

"When they say the wall is immoral, well then you better  got to do something about the Vatican, because the Vatican has the biggest wall of them all," Trump said.

Much of Vatican City is off-limits to the general public but walls there do not block all access. St. Peter's Square is not behind any walls. The Vatican Museums are walled but the public may enter with a ticket and security screening.

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Trump's immigration policies have drawn criticism from Pope Francis, who has said in the past that anyone who wants to build walls to keep out migrants is "not Christian."

Former Trump aide Sam Nunberg said that in some of these examples, Trump was trying to argue that his opponents are saying "do as I say, not as I do."

Trump and allies have repeatedly cited barriers in Israel as proof that walls are effective. Trump said this week he had recently spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, adding "In Israel, as you know, they built a wall. He said 99.9 percent it works. And it would with us too."

Bier said a direct comparison with Israel's border security is challenging because the U.S. border is much longer and has different terrain, including mountains, raising questions about whether building a physical wall is the best approach.

"I think it's fair to say that border barriers make it easier to catch people who are coming into the country," Bier said. "The question is whether it is as effective in areas where the president wants to build."

With no end to the border fight in sight, Trump is likely to keep up his wall commentary  although at times his rhetoric sends mixed messages.

His message Thursday: "You can call it a wall. You can call it a barrier. You can call it whatever you want."
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Friday he could use emergency powers to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border without Congress' approval, threatening to bypass Democratic lawmakers emboldened by their recent takeover of the House of Representatives. A showdown between Trump and Congressional Democrats over funding for his wall project has led to a two-week government shutdown. Trump says he will not support a bill to fully fund the government until he secures the money for the wall. Asked whether he had considered declaring a national emergency to build the wall, Trump said: "Yes, I have. ... We can do it. I haven't done it. I may do it ... But we can call a national emergency and build it very quickly." The comments come just a day after Democrats, led by Nancy Pelosi, took charge of the House, ushering in an era of divided government two years into Trump's term. In sometimes combative talks on Friday, Trump, Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer failed to strike a deal to end the partial shutdown as they fought over Trump's request for $5 billion to fund the wall. The U.S. Constitution assigns Congress the power over funding the federal government, so Trump would likely face legal challenges if he tried to bypass Congress on financing the wall. He dismissed those concerns in a news briefing at the White House. "We can call a national emergency because of the security of our country, absolutely," he said. Asked if declaring a national emergency was a threat hanging over Democrats, Trump said, "I'd never threaten anybody, but I am allowed to do that, yes." (Reporting by Alexandra Alper; Editing by Leslie Adler and David Gregorio)
Reuters

Castillo, 51, little-known before a surprise win in the first-round vote in April, has rattled the copper-rich Andean country's political and business elite with plans to redraft the constitution and sharply hike taxes on mining. He has said Peruvians have already "chosen their path" and his far-left Free Peru party has hailed victory, despite attempts by Fujimori to annul some votes that went against her, holding up the official confirmation of the result. It is still unclear when the country's electoral body will formally announce the winner, though Castillo has called for the count to be wrapped up quickly to end the uncertainty.
President Donald Trumps sudden announcement in December that the U.S. would withdraw troops from Syria came at a time when Washington seemed to finally be developing a strategy to tackle the Syrian conflict that went beyond prioritizing fighting ISIS. It was not Syria that was the focus of this new strategy; it was Iran. While former President Barack Obama had pursued a softer approach to Iran that used the nuclear deal as a means of warding off potential Iranian threat to Israel and to nudge Iran towards playing by international rules, Trump views Iran as a destabilizing source in the Middle East.

Until he made the announcement about the US withdrawal from Syria, Trump had cast Syria as one of Irans venues for regional destabilization. His appointment of Ambassador James Jeffrey  who under George W. Bush had served as deputy national security advisor with a special focus on Iran  in August 2018 as Syria Special Envoy sparked the design of a U.S. strategy for Syria that foregrounded Iran. Two key components of this strategy  masterminded by Jeffrey  are increasing economic pressure on Iran to force it to roll back its activities in the region, and keeping American troops in Syria to limit both Irans access to oil fields in northeast Syria and its activities on the strategically important neighboring border with Iraq.

The withdrawal announcement put a stick in that wheel. A hasty withdrawal would empower Iran not just in Syria but also more widely.

Trump justified the announcement as delivering his election campaign promise to bring back troops from Syria. But implementing this promise before a resolution to the Syrian conflict is reached is akin to shooting oneself in the foot. Trumps declaration on Jan. 2 that Iran can do what they want in Syria shows that he has come to regard Irans actions in Syria as distinct from its other regional activities. Yet, an imminent U.S. withdrawal from Syria would end up contradicting another of Trumps very own campaign promises, which is to stand up to Irans influence in the Middle East.

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After a meeting with Senator Lindsey Graham, Trump appeared to backtrack on the timing of the withdrawal, adding on Jan. 2, that the withdrawal would actually happen over a period of time. Graham and Trump may not see eye to eye on a number of issues  Saudi Arabia being one  but they are aligned on wanting to weaken Irans regional influence. Graham was one of the vocal opponents to the nuclear deal and strongly supported Trumps decision to withdraw from it. In May 2018, Grahams statement that Iran has used the funds provided by the sanctions relief to enhance their military capability and create havoc throughout the Middle East could have been taken from the Trump election campaign book. But any progress on the timing of the withdrawal as a result of the meeting with Senator Graham would be annulled by Trumps isolating Syria from the wider regional context.

The area in northeast Syria where U.S. troops in Syria are deployed is highly coveted by Iran. It is rich in oil and is near the border with Iraq through which Iran has been sending into Syria its allied Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) militias under the pretext of fighting ISIS. It is in Irans interest for the Syrian-Iraqi border to be porous.

The presence of American troops in the area limits these militias freedom of movement. It also blocks Irans access to the areas oil fields. As things currently stand in Syria, were the U.S. to withdraw from the north-east, Iran will be able to use the areas oil revenue to offset some of the economic losses it is incurring following the American reinstatement of sanctions after Trump pulled out of the nuclear deal.

Some see in Trumps announcement an expectation that Russia and the Bashar Assad regime would eventually veer away from Iran. This expectation is based on Russias growing competition with Iran over influence in Syria and the pro-Assad camps preference for Russia over Iran because Russia channels its influence through strengthening state institutions in Syria, in contrast to Irans approach to achieving influence through keeping Syrian state institutions weak. But neither Russia nor the Assad regime is able to completely reign in Irans activities in Syria. Their partnership with Iran can loosen in the long run if pressure on Iran in Syria increases and it becomes more of a liability than an asset for its two current allies. An imminent U.S. withdrawal, however, would give Iran time and space to consolidate its presence and access to resources and eventually make it more difficult for Russia and Assad to detangle Syria from Iran. This would be bad news for Israels security.

This was not the first time that Trump made a hasty announcement that alarms Israel. In March 2018, Trump had made a similar declaration about withdrawing from Syria, only to change his mind 48 hours later following intensive lobbying by pro-Israeli advisors in his close circle who, according to sources in Washington, managed to convince him that the time was not yet ripe for such a move because Israels security would be at stake.

The U.S. withdrawal could also give ISIS an opportunity to regenerate. According to the French Minister of Defence, allies of the United States in the international anti-ISIS coalition will not be able to realistically or effectively continue the work of the coalition on their own. This would also be the end of the Syrian Democratic Forces, the Kurdish-majority local Syrian forces who are the coalitions partners in the battle against ISIS. They would be left to fight ISIS without crucial American ground support while also being vulnerable to attack by Turkey, which considers them to be linked with the Turkish terrorist-classified Kurdish group, the PKK.

Such developments can only pave the way for ISIS to take advantage of this vacuum. The more resurgent ISIS becomes, the more reasons Iran has to increase the number of its affiliated militias that are sent to Syria to fight ISIS (and with no U.S. troops standing in the way), especially with the PMF now playing a lesser military role in Iraq after the general military defeat of ISIS there. A more active PMF, in turn, would strengthen Irans position in Iraq as well.

Withdrawing U.S. troops from Syria imminently would weaken Americas anti-ISIS coalition allies, grant a lifeline to ISIS, threaten Israel, and empower Iran. In the end, it would undermine Trumps own promises and goals, boosting Irans fortunes instead.
By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Tesla Inc has asked the Trump administration to exempt the Chinese-made car computer "brain" of its new Model 3 sedan from 25 percent tariffs imposed in August, saying they threaten the electric carmaker's bottom line.

"Increased tariffs on this particular part cause economic harm to Tesla, through the increase of costs and impact to profitability," the company said in a previously unreported request for tariff relief from the government.

Led by tech billionaire Elon Musk, Tesla is among a host of companies, including No. 1 U.S. automaker General Motors Co, to warn of growing costs related to the tariff war between the worlds two largest economies.

The Chinese-made computer, used by Tesla in the car assembled in Fremont, California, was among $16 billion in imports that were hit with 25 percent tariffs by the United States Trade Representative's Office in 2018.

In a redacted request posted on a government website by the USTR on Dec. 17, Tesla did not identify the supplier of the computer. But it said it had been unable to find another manufacturer "with the required specifications, at the volume requested and under the timelines necessary for Tesla's continued growth."

Tesla, which called the Model 3's computer "the brain of the vehicle," added that "choosing any other supplier would have delayed the (Model 3) program by 18 months with clean room setup, line validation, and staff training."

Using a new supplier "substantially increases the risk of poor part quality that could lead overall vehicle quality issues that would impact the safety of our vehicles and the consumer acceptance of the final product," Tesla added in its request for tariff relief.

Tesla declined to comment on the tariff matter on Friday. But it has been aggressively cutting costs as it works to meet production goals for the Model 3, which has become a top-selling luxury sedan on the U.S. market alongside the larger Model S.

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Other automakers have sought similar exemptions but have not yet received an answer.

GM in late July sought an exemption to a 25 percent U.S. tariff on its Chinese-made Buick Envision sport utility vehicle. The Envision accounted for nearly 15 percent of U.S. Buick sales last year, even as sales fell by 27 percent.

In October, GM also sought exclusions for about two dozen parts, including push button ignition switches and transmission bearings. Nissan Motor Co and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV have also filed exclusion requests for parts, while Uber Technologies Inc [UBER.UL] asked for an exclusion for electric bikes rented through the Uber app.

The Trump administration has imposed 25 percent tariffs on a total of $50 billion in annual Chinese exports and 10 percent tariffs on an additional $200 billion in Chinese exports. The tariffs were in response to what the Trump administration calls Chinas unfair trade practices.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Tom Brown)
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  Saudi Arabia announced on Thursday it will seek the death penalty against five suspects in the slaying of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, a killing that has seen members of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's entourage implicated in the writer's assassination.

Prosecutors announced that 11 suspects in the slaying attended their first court hearing with lawyers, but the statement did not name those in court. It also did not explain why seven other suspects arrested over the Oct. 2 killing at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul did not immediately face formal charges. The kingdom previously announced 18 people had been arrested.

Saudi officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The killing of Khashoggi, who wrote columns critical of Prince Mohammed, has strained the decades-long ties the kingdom enjoys with the United States. It also has added to a renewed international push to end the Saudi-led war in Yemen.

The state-run Saudi Press Agency and state television gave few details about the hearing.

"The Public Prosecutor demanded imposing proper punishments against the defendants and is seeking capital punishment for five of the defendants for their direct involvement in the murder," a statement from prosecutors said, without elaborating.

The suspects requested copies of the indictments they faced, as well as asked for more time to prepare for their case, prosecutors said.

While vague on details about the case, prosecutors made a point to express concerns about Turkey. They alleged that Turkish officials did not answer two formal requests made for evidence in the case.

"To date, the Saudi Public Prosecutor has not received any response, and the Public Prosecution is still awaiting their response," the statement said.

Officials in Ankara could not be immediately reached for comment. Turkish officials have previously said they shared evidence with Saudi Arabia and other nations over Khashoggi's killing.

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Turkey also has demanded Saudi Arabia extradite those 18 suspects to be tried there for Khashoggi's killing. Turkish security officials have kept up a slow leak of videos, photographs and morbid details surrounding Khashoggi's slaying to pressure the kingdom, as the two U.S.-allied countries vie for influence over the wider Mideast.

Turkish media have published photographs of members of the crown prince's entourage at the consulate in Istanbul ahead of the slaying. Khashoggi's body, believed to have been dismembered after his killing, has yet to be found.

Khashoggi, 59, entered the consulate Oct. 2 as his fiancee waited outside. But unbeknownst to him, a team of Saudi officials had flown in before his arrival and laid in wait for him.

Saudi Arabia denied for weeks that Khashoggi had been killed but later changed its story and ultimately acknowledged the brutal slaying. King Salman ordered the restructuring of the country's intelligence service, but has so far shielded Prince Mohammed, his 33-year-old son who is next in line to the throne in the oil giant kingdom.

All that has not has not stopped widespread international criticism against the kingdom. Under Prince Mohammed, Saudi Arabia has seen the arrest of business leaders, royals and activists while also recently granting women the right to drive.

U.S. senators in December passed the measure that blamed the prince for Khashoggi's killing and called on Riyadh to "ensure appropriate accountability." Senators also passed a separate measure calling for the end of U.S. aid to the Saudi-led war in Yemen. Both measures drew angry responses from the kingdom, but a renewed international effort has begun to end the Yemen war.

It is no surprise that the kingdom would seek to execute those accused in Khashoggi's slaying. Saudi Arabia was the world's third top executioner in 2017, behind China and Iran, according to Amnesty International's most recent figures available.

The kingdom executed at least 146 people, according to the group. It regularly beheads those condemned to death and last year said it "crucified" a Myanmar man, an execution in which the condemned is usually beheaded and then the body put on display, arms outstretched as if crucified.

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Associated Press writer Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, contributed to this report.

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Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellap .
A legislator on Saturday asked the Department of Budget and Management to immediately release the P3.9 billion needed to equalize the pensions of retired Philippine National Police and the defunct Integrated National Police. In a statement, Party-list Rep. Francisco Datol of Senior Citizen, said allowing the case to drag on any further would only convey the image of a DBM that is heartless and relentless against old, weak and dying former policemen cast aside after they have served the country. Do not wait for another retiree to die without receiving their due benefits. The Court of Appeals earlier upheld the ruling of Branch 32 of the Regional Trial Court in Manila that the government should immediately pay the pension differential of the INP retirees. The CA Special 14th Division ruled: The appropriation law is clear that the release of funds shall be based on the list of eligible INP retirees with the corresponding computation of their respective retirement benefits and pension, duly authenticated by the PNP, which shall be submitted to the DBM for validation of the computed benefits... Likewise, the PNP and DBM need not await the verification from GSIS before releasing the funds. Considering the INP retirees advance years, they can hardly afford another protracted proceeding and the courts should frown upon any attempt to deprive them of the fruits of the final and executory verdict. The DBM and the PNP questioned the RTC order which applied the list of INP retirees and their respective pension amounts submitted by PNP for implementation of the pension payment. The CA rejected the bid of PNP and DBM to wait and apply a list from the Government Service Insurance System instead of the PNP list in the payment of pension differentials to the INP retirees.The PNP and DBM claimed that the participation of GSIS in the payment of retirement benefits is necessary as it is the only agency that can provide the pension history of the INP retirees. The more important issue here is the moral duty of the State to care for the retirees who dedicated their lives and most productive years in public service and for love of country, Datol said, The appellate court explained that the payment of retirement benefits to INP retirees with equal amount given to PNP retirees had already been affirmed with finality by the Supreme Court and that Congress had also appropriated funds for this purpose by enactment of Republic Act 10633. The CA likewise ruled that the RTC was correct in rejecting petitioners plea to withhold the payment of the pension to INP retirees pending submission of the list from GSIS. The appropriation law is clear that the release of funds shall be based on the list of eligible INP retirees with the corresponding computation of their respective retirement benefits and pension, duly authenticated by the PNP, which shall be submitted to the DBM for validation of the computed benefits... Likewise, the PNP and DBM need not await the verification from GSIS before releasing the funds, it stressed. Considering the INP retirees advance years, they can hardly afford another protracted proceeding and the courts should frown upon any attempt to deprive them of the fruits of the final and executory verdict, the ruling added.
FILE - In this Dec. 9, 1998, file photo, Southwest Airlines President and CEO Herb Kelleher speaks at a news conference at MacArthur Airport in Islip, N.Y. Not many CEOs dress up as Elvis Presley, settle a business dispute with an arm-wrestling contest, or go on TV wearing a paper bag over their head. Southwest confirmed Kelleher died on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. He was 87. (AP Photo/Ed Betz, File) ORG XMIT: NYHK402

Southwest Airlines' co-founder Herb Kelleher, who died Thursday at age 87, will be remembered as "a pioneer, a maverick, and an innovator." He'll also be remembered for starring in some quirky vintage commercials for the airline.

One of the commercials from 1982 featuring Kelleher touts the company's "10-minute turnaround."

"Our planes pull into the jetways, board passengers and pull out again in 10 minutes or less," Kelleher says, before the cabin door closes without him. "The way we look at it, the quicker you're in the air, the quicker you get where you're going," he continues before realizing what's happened. "Kelleher here!" he says, knocking to no avail.

More: "Everyone has Herb stories": Remembering Southwest Airlines co-founder Herb Kelleher

Another features Kelleher with a bag over his head, first identified as an "unknown flyer."

"Recently another airline suggested you might be embarrassed to fly Southwest Airlines. Well, if you're embarrassed to fly the airline with the most convenient schedules to the cities it serves, Southwest will give you this bag." He removes the bag before the close of the commercial.

"If on the other hand, Southwest is your kind of airline, we'll still give you this bag," he says.

Southwest announced its co-founder's death on social media Thursday evening.

Contributing: Dawn Gilbertson

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Southwest Airlines co-founder Herb Kelleher once starred in quirky commercials
By Timothy Gardner and Jarrett Renshaw WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - The partial government shutdown is increasing the chances of delays in U.S. energy initiatives from the release of President Donald Trump's proposed offshore drilling plan to allowing higher levels of ethanol in gasoline during summer months, energy industry groups said on Friday. The U.S. Department of Interior had been expected to release its highly anticipated 2019 to 2024 offshore oil and gas drilling plan in early January. The Trump administration has made opening up greater areas to offshore drilling, and holding more frequent lease sales, part of its energy dominance agenda to boost fossil fuel output for both domestic use and exports. Industry interest in several lease sales has been tepid, but the administration has said more interest is expected in the future. The Interior Department is operating at reduced staffing levels due to the partial shutdown, which has stretched two weeks. Nicolette Nye, a spokeswoman at the National Ocean Industries Association, said her group is expecting the shutdown will lead to a delay in the proposed plan's release. But she said members of her group should not be overly affected as long as the final drilling plan, expected to be released this summer, comes on time. "It's always a good thing to have something in place that they can use to plan on. But it's more important to have the final plan on schedule for our companies," Nye said. The Interior Department did not comment on a potential delay. "Due to the lapse in appropriations the Department is unable to respond to inquiries unrelated to shutdown," Heather Swift, a spokeswoman, said in an email in response to a request on the drilling proposal timeline. Biofuel producers are worried the shutdown could lead to delays in Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules that would allow sales in summer of gasoline containing up to 15 percent ethanol, called E15. Agricultural interests have lobbied for the sales after the Trump administration gave breaks on ethanol requirements to some oil refiners. "From the outset, the EPA gave itself very little wiggle room to complete the year-round E15 rulemaking before summer, so the shutdown is making a tight timeline even tighter," Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper said in a release. Still, Cooper said we he was confident the EPA will allow year-round E15 sales before June 1. When asked about the potential for delays, an EPA spokeswoman said the agency will only be responding to queries directly related to the government shutdown or to environmental emergencies. This week, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, an office of the Interior Department, warned that public meetings related to what is slated to be the largest U.S. offshore wind farm will be rescheduled if the shutdown continues into next week. The five meetings are meant to allow the public to comment on the 800 megawatt project's environmental impacts and are currently scheduled to take place in Massachusetts and Rhode Island between Jan. 8 and 17. The project is being developed by Avangrid Inc and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners. The Trump administration has said development of a domestic offshore wind industry is critical to its energy strategy, The Department of Energy and its independent office the Federal Energy Regulatory Committee are both already funded for 2019, so the shutdown has minimal effect on their programs. (Reporting by Timothy Gardner in Washington, Nichola Groom in Los Angeles, and Jarrett Renshaw in New York)
Riyadh (AFP) - Saudi Arabia's attorney general sought the death penalty for five of 11 defendants charged with the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi as their high-profile trial opened in Riyadh on Thursday.

All 11 accused were present with their lawyers at the opening hearing in the capital, according to a statement by the attorney general carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.

The attorney general said Saudi Arabia had twice submitted formal requests for evidence from Turkey -- where Khashoggi was murdered inside the kingdom's Istanbul consulate -- but had received no response.

The names of the 11 defendants have not been officially released.

Khashoggi, a contributor to the Washington Post, was murdered on October 2 in what Riyadh called a "rogue" operation.

The 59-year-old Saudi insider-turned-critic was strangled and his body cut into pieces by a team of 15 Saudis sent to Istanbul for the killing, according to Turkish officials.

There have been reports that his remains, which have never been found, were dissolved in acid.

The consulate and the residence were searched by the Turkish authorities in October along with several other locations.

Ankara has sought the extradition of the suspects in Saudi custody to stand trial in Turkey but its requests have been repeatedly rebuffed by Riyadh.

The US Central Intelligence Agency has reportedly concluded that the kingdom's de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, very likely ordered Khashoggi's murder.

But in November the Saudi attorney general ruled out any involvement by the young crown prince, whose reformist credentials abroad have been seriously tarnished by the killing.
By Asma Alsharif DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabian prosecutors is seeking the death penalty for five of the 11 suspects detained over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the state news agency SPA said on Thursday, as a Saudi court held a first hearing on the case. Saudi Arabia said it also sent new letters to the Turkish public prosecutor asking for "any evidence connected to this case", which has rattled the Saudi royal court and damaged the reputation of 33-year-old Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Khashoggi was close to the royal circles before becoming a critic of Prince Mohammed, writing for the Washington Post and speaking to international media about Saudi politics when he moved to the United States last year. Saudi officials have rejected accusations that the crown prince ordered his murder in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, in which Khashoggis body was dismembered, removed from the building and handed over to an unidentified "local cooperator". The whereabouts of Khashoggis remains are still unknown. A Turkish television channel on Monday showed men carrying suitcases purportedly containing the remains into the residence of the Saudi consul general in Istanbul. "The initial hearing for the 11 individuals indicted by the Public Prosecution in the case of the murder of citizen Jamal Khashoggi was held today ... in the Criminal Court of Riyadh," a statement from the Saudi prosecutor carried by SPA said. The prosecutors office said it was seeking the death penalty for five individuals among the 11 indicted. Ten other suspects were still under investigation. MORE TIME Without naming them, the prosecutor said last November the five individuals facing by the death penalty were charged with ordering and committing the crime". SPA added that the defendants' lawyers attended the hearing and the court approved a request from the 11 for more time to prepare their defense. It gave no details on the next hearing. Saudi King Salman sacked Saud al-Qahtani, a former top aide to Prince Mohammed, Istanbul Consul General Mohammed Alotaibi and former deputy intelligence chief Ahmed al-Asiri in connection with Khashoggi's murder. The kingdom has come under heavy international pressure, including from the United States, its closest ally, whose Senate has voted in favor of a resolution blaming the crown prince for the murder. U.S. senators were briefed by U.S. intelligence agencies which concluded that Prince Mohammed ordered the operation to kill Khashoggi. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has said Khashoggi's killing was ordered by the highest level of Saudi leadership. Thursday's statement said the kingdom was still awaiting responses to requests for information sent to Turkish officials. Last week, King Salman put Ibrahim al-Assaf, a veteran former finance minister, in charge of foreign affairs, in an effort to improve the kingdoms image after the crisis caused by the killing. Assaf replaced Adel al-Jubeir, and experts in Saudi politics said the move reflected a perception that Jubeir was tainted by having served as Riyadhs chief global defender during the Khashoggi affair. (Writing by Aziz El Yaakoubi; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
President Donald Trump may have staked his campaign on making America great again, but more citizens than ever before want to get out permanently.

In 2018, 16 percent of Americans said that they would like to move to another country, according to a Gallup poll released Friday.

While that number matches 2017 data and doesnt stray much from global standards, it remains significantly higher than it was during the presidencies of Barack Obama or George W. Bush. In the Obama administration, 10 percent wanted to jump ship. The figure was 11 percent in the Bush administration.

The divide between men and women is also telling. Since Trump took office, 20 percent of women would like to leave, compared with 13 percent of men.

Age is an additional factor, with 30 percent of 15- to 29-year-olds wanting to get out. That number drops significantly with age to 19 percent of 30- to 49-year-olds and 8 percent of people 50 and older. Furthermore, those with lower incomes were more inclined to say theyd like to leave, too.

So where would all the expats go? Canada is one option. Following the 2016 election, that was a common fantasy for the disillusioned and angry, and by 2018, more than 1 in 4 Americans indicated a desire to go to Canada, Gallup stats show. Thats more than double the number who named Canada as an ideal destination in 2016.

But thats not to say a mass migration would actually occur. As Gallup noted, peoples desire to migrate is typically much higher than their intention to do so  as such, it is unlikely that Americans will be flocking to the Canadian border.

The organization added that since Trumps election, there has been only a modest uptick seen among Americans moving to Canada, according to Canadian data.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
What Happened This Week:

After President Donald Trumps surprise announcement two weeks ago that the U.S. would withdraw the remaining 2,000 U.S. troops from Syria imminently (Theyre all coming back and theyre coming back now), this week the Trump administration announced that the withdrawal would instead take place over the course of four months rather than the originally quoted 30 days by administration officials.

Why It Matters:

Among a series of questionable foreign policy decisions over Trumps tenure, the abrupt decision to remove U.S. troops from Syria has proved to be one of the most explosive, drawing rebukes across the political spectrum and almost uniformly from the military establishment. Both Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Brett McGurk, the U.S. envoy to counter ISIS, resigned as a result.

Thus far, Trump has shown himself committed to keeping his campaign promise to bring home US troops from the Middle East. But his decision to relent on the timing shows hes beginning to understand the full impact of his snap decision to leave Syria to every other major power wanting a piece of it.

What Happens Next:

In terms of actual military developments, not that much. The U.S. presence of 2,000 troops in the country was marginal, and Syrias outcome was always going to be determined by those foreign powers with the most direct interests and resources invested over therenamely Turkey, Russia and Iran.

That said, it does bring the future into sharper relief. Syrian President Bashar Assad essentially wins the Syrian civil war outright; Turkey becomes more militarily aggressive but improves its relationship with Washington by vowing to clean up the ISIS remnants in the country; the Kurds (mortal enemies of the Turks and the Americans most effective anti-ISIS ally in the country) get slammed once again; Iran gets more room to operate in Syria without U.S. forces breathing down its neck; Russia declares victory by having propped up Assad; Israel gets more nervous without U.S. troops acting as a buffer in neighboring Syria; ISIS gets one less enemy to worry about. Syria, meanwhile, continues to be a geopolitical mess as various actors continue to pursue their own interests in whats effectively a failed state.

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On top of all that, Americas reputation as a dependable military partner and a military difference-maker takes yet another hit.

The Key Fact That Explains It:

At its height, ISIS had more than 4,500 foreign fighters from Western countries amongst its ranks, including more than 250 Americans, according to the Heritage Foundation. Which means that just because ISIS is defeated in Iraq and Syria (it currently controls less than 2 percent of the territory it once did) doesnt mean the threat from ISIS vanishes along with it.

The One Thing to Read About It:

For Trump, withdrawing U.S. troops from Syria is predicated on Turkey being able to wrap up the fight against ISIS. To understand why thats so chancy, read this.

The One Major Misconception About It:

That this is a clear-cut victory for Assads main backers, Russia and Iran. On the face of it, yes, both sides get short-term wins from the U.S. decision to withdraw from Syria. But longer-term, Russia is left propping up a failed state with questionable strategic importance (sort of like Crimea) and is on the hook for controlling Assad. Iran, meanwhile, is left facing a neighboring Israel that is increasingly nervous absent an American presence in Syria.

The One Thing to Say About It:

With the U.S. making little progress in Syria of late, Trump has seized the chance to blame the whole Syria/ISIS mess on Obama and wash his hands of it, while keeping a campaign promise to his electoral base. But if ISIS coordinates another attack on U.S. citizens once troops have come home, blaming Obama becomes that much harder.

The One Thing to Avoid Saying About It:

If there is one constant in a chaotic and shifting U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, its this: the Kurds will always be the ones to get it in the teeth.
By Jan Wolfe and Stephen Nellis

SAN JOSE, California - (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Trade Commission's antitrust case accusing Qualcomm Inc <QCOM.O> of abusing a monopoly on mobile chip technology kicked off in a California courtroom on Friday in a trial whose outcome could have a major impact on the smartphone industry.

If the government prevails in the 10-day, non-jury trial before U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh, in San Jose, California, Qualcomm could be forced to change its practices for licensing a trove of patents to manufacturers like iPhone maker Apple Inc <AAPL.O>.

Apple will be closely watching the FTC case, as it has its own pending lawsuit making similar claims against Qualcomm.

The outcome of the case will have a major impact on any settlement discussions between Apple and Qualcomm, Canaccord Genuity analyst T. Michael Walkley said in a research note.

Though well-known as a maker of smartphone chips, Qualcomm derives more of its profits licensing patents to other companies.

The FTC's 2017 lawsuit alleged San Diego-based Qualcomm maintains an anticompetitive no license, no chips policy under which it only supplied processors to phone manufacturers if they agree to inflated patent licensing terms.

"Qualcomm says you will pay our rates if you want our chips," Jennifer Milici, an attorney for the Federal Trade Commission, said during opening arguments. "The only way to arrive at a market rate [for Qualcomm's patents] is to negotiate without that threat."

The agency also said Qualcomm pushed Apple into an anticompetitive deal in which the iPhone maker received financial rebates in exchange for only buying Qualcomm's chips, undermining competition from Intel Corp <INTC.O>.

But Robert Van Nest, an attorney for Qualcomm, said during opening arguments that Qualcomm entered a deal with Apple because the iPhone maker was asking Qualcomm to invest billions to make Qualcomm chips work in the iPhone with no guarantee of how many chips Apple would ultimately buy. He argued the deal was made on market terms, as were others Qualcomm made with phone makers.

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"Samsung, Lenovo, Huawei - they're big companies that throw their own weight around," Van Nest said. "There's a big difference between hard bargaining and threats and coercion."

Qualcomm has argued it achieved market dominance through technological leadership. The company began its licensing business in the 1980s and 1990s, decades before it began selling chips, and has charged broadly similar patent rates since then.

"Years before there was any chip business, Qualcomm went out to the market to raise money to do this inventive work," Qualcomm's Van Nest told the court. "If these folks thought that these rates were unfair, these folks had years to deal with it. The rates didn't go up when Qualcomm started selling chips."

But Qualcomm's business practices have also been investigated by regulators in South Korea, China, Taiwan, and Europe. Qualcomm has accused Apple of driving those regulatory actions.

European antitrust officials hit Qualcomm with a 997 million euro ($1.14 billion) fine in January 2018, saying the firm unlawfully paid billions of dollars to Apple so it would not buy from rivals. Qualcomm has appealed the determination.

Apple and Qualcomm are also locked in a global legal dispute. After Apple brought its antitrust case, Qualcomm responded by accusing Apple of using patented technology without authorization.

In December, Qualcomm won rulings limiting iPhone sales in Germany and China.

(Reporting by Jan Wolfe; Editing by Leslie Adler and Nick Zieminski)
Pakistani International Airlines is warning its cabin crew staffers to watch their weight.

The company sent a memo to about 1,800 crew members that gave them a six-month time limit to meet necessary weight limits, according to reports from CNN and local media. Otherwise, the employees "will be grounded."

The memo, sent by the airline's general manager of flight service,s Aamir Bashi, advised "any crew found above 30 (pounds) from the desired weight after (Jan. 31, 2019), will be grounded and referred to Air Crew Medical Center for medical evaluation & treatment until weight is reduced up to desired standard/BMI,"

It continued: "Weight check of all the cabin crew will be carried out at their base stations respectively and comprehensive data will be maintained for perusal of management."

Mashhood Tajwar, a spokesperson for the airline, told CNN this was a "regular, routine" situation, and that the airline sent the memo to make sure the company employed "slim, smart and fit" flight attendants. Pakistani International Airlines has apparently faced concerns regarding "obese" flight attendants.

USA TODAY has reached out to the airline for comment.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pakistani International Airlines threatens to ground cabin staff if they don't lose weight
Very soon, the diagnosis of malaria would be made easier and more effective, thanks to a team of researchers led by a Filipino-American scientist. Rhoel Dinglasan, an infectious diseases researcher from University of Florida and his team, have invented a saliva-based contraption that detects malaria before symptoms appear. The non-invasive spit test simply requires individuals to provide saliva samples, instead of going to a clinic to have their blood drawn by a medical professional, according to Dinglasan. The diagnostic test detects female parasites circulating in an infected human who is asymptomatic but is carrying the parasite and likely to come down with malaria within a week, he said in news release on the UF website. In some areas of the world, the parasites have acquired a mutation and are therefore no longer detected by the blood-based tests, Dinglasan added. The Fil-American scientist said the test detects an essential protein the parasite needs for survival, which should avoid the problem of mutation and keep the test effective long-term.Dinglasans team began working on the invention in 2014 after receiving funding from Microsoft founder Bill Gates Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Dinglasan worked with 24 researchers to develop the study and test its efficacy with over 300 children in Cameroon, Zambia and Sierra Leone. Malaria, a deadly disease transmitted by mosquitoes, kills about 500,000 children annually, most of whom are African children aged five and below, according to studies. If we can identify a child before they get sick because theres something in their saliva, if we get to them earlier, they can be cured well before they get the disease, Dinglasan said.
The recent market decline has led to some stocks looking more attractive than they have in some time. Few stocks look as cheap as oil services giant Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB). As a result of this most recent decline, shares of the stock now trade at a price to book value of 1.4 times. The last time shares of Schlumberger traded for a price to book value this low, I was still in diapers.

SLB Price to Book Value Chart

SLB Price to Book Value data by YCharts.

It's not as though Schlumberger is some mom-and-pop operation, either. This is the world's largest oil services company and has a history of generating returns for investors over the long haul. Has something fundamentally changed about its business or the oil market such that it is no longer a viable investment? Let's take a look at what has (or hasn't) changed for the company in recent years to see if this cheap price is a sign of the future or an incredible buying opportunity.

The long-awaited recovery that has yet to materialize

The oil services industry lives and dies by the capital spending of oil and gas producers. For much of the 21st century, that has been a great business to be a part of. Concerns of "peak oil" and persistent undersupply pushed oil prices north of $100 a barrel, and some companies were spending massive amounts on megaprojects for unproven oil sources like the Arctic. The more complex the project, the more revenue for oil services companies.

This was especially true for Schlumberger because its specialties are largely outside North America and involve complex, service-intense jobs that require advanced exploration and development technology.

In 2014, though, that dynamic started to change as horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing became a commercially viable method for producing oil and gas. The ability to quickly go from an undisturbed field to a producing well in a matter of weeks led to a rapid increase in supply that helped lead to the oil price crash from 2014 to 2016. As prices dropped from $110 to less than $30 per barrel, so, too, did capital budgets of Schlumberger's clients.

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While capital spending has picked up a bit in North America for shale drilling, the same can't be said for international and offshore oil activity. Schlumberger's management has been saying for more than a year that the amount of global spending isn't enough to offset the natural decline of producing wells and meet increasing demand. That has yet to materialize, though, as shale production in the U.S. has been much more prolific than many anticipated and has further delayed spending on larger projects worldwide.

Offshore oil rig at sunset.

Image source: Getty Images.

The more shale drilling in North America can fill production supply gaps, the longer it is going to take for Schlumberger's business to perform at its best. Yes, it has a large presence in North America and it continues to be a profit center for the company. For it to generate the returns to which investors have become accustomed, though, Schlumberger needs global capital spending to increase. The way the market is pricing its stock today, it would appear there is a lot of confidence that shale will be the predominant source of new supply for some time.

If shale can't step up to the plate, Schlumberger is a steal

Shale production has been nothing short of astounding in 2018. The U.S. Energy Information Administration's initial forecast for 2018 production was an increase of 600,000 barrels per day. Based on data from January to October, that forecast underestimated by more than 900,000 barrels per day. Bringing that much oil to the market helped to offset what was initially pegged to be a year where supply growth was looking shaky.

The question for 2019 will be whether shale can deliver even more production growth because the expected supply gap is even bigger. According to private equity group Burggraben Holding, the average rate of decline for existing sources means we will need 3.1 million barrels per day of new sources just to replace existing demand. Add in the historical demand increase -- about 1.5% annually -- and global production will need to come up with 4.6 million barrels per day of new supply.

Based on published project schedules, there are about 1.5 million barrels per day of production additions slated to go live in 2019, so shale and other sources need to come up with the other 3 million barrels per day. That's a tall order for shale, and if it can't be met, then companies will need to start spending big bucks on new sources elsewhere.

If this does come to pass, then Schlumberger could be headed for much better times ahead and investors will forget about this recent rough patch.

SLB Chart

SLB data by YCharts.

Big things could be coming down the pipe

Shale drilling in North America has really thrown a monkey wrench in the oil market. Its ability to quickly ramp up production much faster than anyone could have imagined has flummoxed oil and gas executives who know more about this business than you or I could ever hope to know.

The numbers don't lie, however, and it's going to become more and more difficult for shale and other short-term supply sources to meet the challenge of replacing existing production and growing demand. Whether that happens in 2019 or further down the road is hard to predict. But the more producers kick the can down the road and don't invest in other sources, it will mean even higher rates of spending eventually. A lot of those capital spending dollars will likely flow to Schlumberger, which could make today's stock price look like a steal.

More From The Motley Fool

Tyler Crowe has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Elixir De Nutz and Tom OBrien (yellow) on their way to winning the Grade One Tolworth Hurdle

Elixir De Nutz made all the running with a gutsy performance to land the Grade One Tolworth Novices Hurdle at Sandown on Saturday.

The Colin Tizzard-trained five-year-old  wearing the familiar yellow and black colours of owner Terry Warner  maintained a relentless gallop to see off his four rivals in the hands of Tom OBrien.

The 3/1 chance was foot-perfect at his hurdles and found plenty when tackled by Grand Sancy in the closing stages to score by half a length.

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The Nicky Henderson-trained 6/5 favourite Rathhill made an early mistake and was never really travelling over the two-mile trip which looked a little sharp.

Elixir De Nutz was completing a hat-trick following two wins at Cheltenham and Tizzard said: He has toughed that out again today. Going from the front like that, you have got to be tough. He jumps his hurdles and is away from them so fast. If we held him up, I dont know whether he could do that.

That is the beauty of him  the way he crosses a hurdle he takes a length out of them every time. If he folded today in second no one would blame him, but he is a tough old boy and has had a hard race today.

Terry [Warner] said when he sent him to me he is the best horse he has had for a long time. He has surprised us as he is not that brilliant at home. Weve had him for four runs, three wins and one second, and he is just a very nice horse.

I wouldnt think there is any chance of him running between now and Cheltenham, as he has had a tough old race today. He has had four runs already this season and it would be nice to save him for the three festivals later on.

The winner was cut to 14/1 for the Supreme Novices Hurdle by GentingBet, two points higher than sponsors Sky Bet.

Grand Sancys stablemate, Southfield Stone, was third, and Harry Derham, assistant to Paul Nicholls, said of the Ditcheat pair: Im delighted with both horses and I would say both have run career bests.

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Both will have a little break now then we will look at something in the spring. Im sure in time both will end up over further. Grand Sancy might be one for something like the boys race (Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Hurdle at Cheltenham).

Southfield Stone has run a massive race, a massive step up on what he has done before.

Henderson said of the beaten market leader: He was just a bit naive about the whole thing. He wasnt very happy on the ground, but he was just playing around in the air. He didnt have the experience for it.

He has had one hurdle race in his life. We thought he did it well at Newbury, but it is one thing beating a whole load of maidens. Passing the stands the first time, Barry (Geraghty) said he was all up in the air and jumping too big.

He has got a lot of learning to do.

Laurina and Ruby Walsh clear the last flight before going on to win the Mares Hurdle Race

Another Cheltenham Festival market mover was Laurina, who was cut to 4/1 second-favourite for the Champion Hurdle by GentingBet, following her 48-length verdict over one rival on her return to action at Sandown.

Ruby Walsh had an easy time of it on the winner, after Sensulano tired when trying to close the gap from half-way.

The Willie Mullins-trained horse was making her first appearance since landing a Grade One event at Fairyhouse in April, which came after success in the mares novice hurdle at Cheltenham Festival.

She took her 100 per cent record over hurdles to five from five and Mullins said: Ruby said she was very good. Every time he took a pull she wanted to go faster and faster, and he said he never really got going.

Going to Cheltenham is the plan. Well see whether we get another race into her in between. Its not important, I think, giving her another run.

Ruby said she didnt take a blow there. It was an exercise for her. He was very pleased with her.

Listening to Ruby, Id say hed ride the mare at Cheltenham at this stage. He didnt ride her last time, so he didnt know if she has improved or not. I would have said she has improved, but that competition didnt tell us enough.

A winner is a winner and Im very happy with that. It was her first run back and the ground up the straight was very testing. I saw the four-year-olds, some fit four-year-olds, and they were out on their feet.

Obviously we would have liked more competition, but winning races is what it is all about. We will possibly get another run into her for more practice, but Im happy.

She will get entered for that (Irish Champion), but whether that comes too soon, I dont know  we will see. We will see how she comes out of it.

At this stage of her career she must be as good if not better than any of them (Annie Power and Quevega), as she is unbeaten.
Female Rhesus Macaques nurse their young along the Silver River in Silver Springs State Park in Florida (AP)

The number of wild monkeys with a strain of herpes deadly to humans is set to double, warn researchers.

A troop of Macaques have been in the Florida area since 1930, when they were brought in to be a main attraction in the Silver Springs Park.

The monkeys were originally housed on a small island in the park, though they did not stay there.

Many of the monkeys now carry a herpes virus which is deadly to humans. The McHV-1 strain can be spread through a bite or scratch from an infected monkey.

Researchers from the University of Florida now warn the population could double, leading the animals closer to residential areas.

People should never approach these animals, said University of Florida professor Steve Johnson, who was part of a team that spent years studying the monkeys. People shouldnt feed them. Its not legal to feed them anymore.

Researchers found that the number of rhesus macaques at Silver Springs State Park will grow to 350 animals or more by 2022. (Lisa Crigar/Star-Banner via AP, File)

By the year 2022, there are probably going to be around 400 animals, Johnson said.

Johnson says that if the problem persists, local authorities will be forced to step in.

He added: Remove the animals from the environment  [or] remove the animals, sterilize the females and put them back, said Johnson, admitting the second option could be expensive and dangerous for those who have to capture the monkeys  and, in the end, may not make much of a difference.

Although the infected macaques are yet to cause human deaths, Johnson warned they pose a threat.

He said: Its going to be a problem  Continual growth of that population is going to occur without intervention.
TOKYO (Reuters) - A senior executive of Nissan Motor Co Ltd <7201.T>, Jose Munoz, has taken a leave of absence in a sudden management shake-up as the Japanese automaker deals with the aftermath of the arrest of former chairman Carlos Ghosn.

Munoz's absence comes as Ghosn has been held in a detention center since his Nov. 19 arrest on allegations of financial misconduct, which was followed by re-arrests over further allegations.

In a statement on Saturday, Nissan said that Munoz has taken a leave of absence "to allow him to assist the company by concentrating on special tasks arising from recent events."

As a result, his planned appearance at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next week would be canceled, a Nissan spokesman said.

Reuters could not immediately reach Munoz for comment.

Munoz is considered by many in the company to be a close ally of Ghosn, whose arrest has rocked the auto industry and strained Nissan's ties with French partner Renault SA <RENA.PA> where he still remains chairman and chief executive.

It has prompted some soul searching at the Japanese automaker, which has acknowledged that too much power was concentrated with Ghosn after he oversaw the turnaround of the struggling automaker two decades ago following its rescue from the brink by Renault.

After stripping Ghosn of his chairman position following his arrest, Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa has called for changes to weaken the clout of controlling shareholder Renault.

Munoz, who serves as Nissan's chief performance officer, joined the automaker in 2004 in Europe, and led its ambitious expansion in North America after the global financial crisis.

Since then, Nissan has succeeded in raising its market share in the United States, but profitability in the region has plummeted in the past few years due to heavy discounting on its vehicles, an issue that Saikawa has pledged to reverse.

Earlier this year Nissan tapped Munoz to oversee its operations in China, where it plans to ramp up sales over the next few years. Since then, the world's largest auto market has been showing signs of a slowdown, prompting the automaker to cut local production plans in the coming months.

(Reporting by Bhargav Acharya in BENGALURU, Joe White in DETROIT and Naomi Tajitsu in TOKYO; Editing by Sandra Maler and Jacqueline Wong)
By Ginger Gibson and Mark Hosenball WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The new Democratic majority in the U.S. House of Representatives is quietly planning behind the scenes for a series of investigations of Republican President Donald Trump, but no immediate flurry of subpoenas materialized as some Democrats had hoped. Democratic leaders began their new era of control with caution, reflecting their persistent concern that acting too quickly to press investigations of Trump's ties with Russia or his personal tax records may be perceived as overreach and cause a backlash in the next election cycle. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi rolled out legislative proposals on Friday, including one to require presidential candidates to disclose publicly 10 years worth of tax returns, a direct response to Trump's refusal to release his. Such caution contrasted with urgent demands from newer members of the House Democratic caucus, which took majority control on Thursday, for tough, swift action. Representative Rashida Tlaib was filmed late on Thursday at a reception saying that Democrats were going to try to remove Trump from office, telling the crowd, "We're going to impeach that motherfucker." Her remark drew rebukes from Republicans and Democrats. House Republican Whip Steve Scalise said: "Pelosi's got her first test and it happened on day one. How is she going to stand up to the most radical left elements of her party when they become unhinged?" During a White House news conference, Trump said Tlaib's comment was a "dishonor to herself and to her family." Trump had earlier tweeted that Democrats were discussing impeachment because they feared running against him in the 2020 election, when he will seek a second four-year term. "Everybody has got their own style, it ain't mine," House Majority Whip James Clyburn told reporters, referring to Tlaib. "I don't believe we ought to be talking about impeachment until we get this country back on track." Tlaib defended her comments in an interview with a Detroit television station on Friday. "It's probably exactly how my grandmother, if she was alive, would say it," she told NBC-affiliate WDIV. "I stand by impeaching the president of the United States," Tlaib said. "I ran on that." CLOSE SCRUTINY Whether or not impeachment proceedings follow, Democrats have been firm that they will closely scrutinize Trump, his business interests and the first two years of his presidency. Trump's time in the White House so far has been clouded by a U.S. special counsel's inquiry into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election and possible coordination between Moscow officials and the Trump campaign. Democrats also charge that several of Trump's top aides and cabinet officials have violated legal and ethical standards - a subject they believe is ripe for investigation. "President Trump set the tone from the top of his administration that behaving ethically and complying the law is optional, ladies and gentleman, I stopped by here to say we're better than that. It will not be optional," Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings told a room of cheering staffers, offering a hint of what could be to come. Adam Schiff, the new chairman of the House Intelligence Committee circulated a memo in early 2018 that is now seen as a blueprint for the Democrats' investigative agenda. Schiff maintains that committee Republicans prematurely abandoned their inquiry into Russian interference. Moscow denies meddling in the election and Trump denies collusion. For instance, committee Republicans "refused" to interview White House officials Stephen Miller and Kellyanne Conway, former Trump White House aides Reince Priebus and Sean Spicer and private Trump advisors Allen Weisselberg and Alan Garten, the Schiff memo said, providing a list of possible witnesses that could be called by Democrats. Documents about Trump deals and finances from Deutsche Bank, should be obtained "via subpoena if necessary," the memo said. (Reporting by Ginger Gibson and Mark Hosenball; Additional reporting by Susan Cornwell; Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh, Grant McCool and Diane Craft)
By Mitra Taj LIMA (Reuters) - Mexico's new leftist government on Friday called on its peers to refrain from interfering in Venezuela's internal affairs, declining to back a regional declaration that urged Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro not to take office on Jan. 10. Mexico was the sole country in the 14-member Lima Group that opted not to sign a statement critical of Maduro, the first time Mexico has not supported a declaration by the group since it was created in 2017 to push for democratic reforms in Venezuela. Mexico was once among the most outspoken critics of Maduro. But ties with Venezuela have warmed under President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who invited Maduro to his inauguration last month. Maximiliano Reyes, Mexico's deputy foreign minister responsible for Latin America, said following a Lima Group meeting in Peru that Mexico was concerned about the "situation regarding human rights" in Venezuela but would not comment on the legitimacy of its government. Instead, he asked the Lima Group to rethink its approach. "We call for reflection in the Lima Group about the consequences for Venezuelans of measures that seek to interfere in internal affairs," Reyes said in a statement. In a Friday evening state television broadcast, Venezuela's Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said Maduro would take office on Jan. 10 in a "legitimate and constitutional" process, which he said "does not require the approval of any foreign government." He said Venezuela was "perplexed" by the statement and that the country would take reciprocal action for diplomatic steps taken by any other government. Reyes called for mediation and dialogue from the Lima Group, not isolation. Mexico's stance was a blow to regional efforts to ramp up pressure on Maduro ahead of his inauguration, which Venezuela's opposition hoped would be a watershed moment to highlight how he has undermined democracy and mismanaged the OPEC member's economy. Still, Mexico did not appear to be lining up any heavyweight representation for the inauguration. Asked who would attend from Mexico, a foreign ministry spokesman said it would be the Mexican embassy's charge d'affairs. Diplomatic measures against Venezuela from neighboring countries remain timid, and Friday's communique added little to previous statements that urged Maduro to step down but offered few concrete mechanisms to make this happen. Peru said last month that it would propose ending diplomatic relations with Venezuela to Lima Group members. But no country has yet announced it would sever ties. The 13 remaining countries in the Lima Group that signed Friday's statement, which include Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Colombia, called Maduro's new term "illegitimate" and urged him to hand power over to the National Assembly until democratic elections can be held. They also said they would seek to bar high-ranking Venezuelan officials from entering their territory or having access to their financial systems. (Reporting by Mitra Taj and Reuters TV; Additional Reporting by Brian Ellsworth and Deisy Buitrago in Caracas, and Dave Graham in Mexico City; Editing by James Dalgleish and Grant McCool)
A man has been shot dead by armed officers following a police raid in Coventry (Picture: PA)

A man has been shot dead by police officers after an armed raid at an address in Coventry.

West Midlands Police said two more men were detained at the scene after the intelligence-led operation in Burnaby Road on Friday night.

They said officers had executed a warrant at an address in the street at around 6.20pm.

One man was shot and pronounced dead at the scene while two other men were detained by officers, the force said.

Two more men were detained at the scene following the raid by West Midlands Police (Picture: PA)

Witnesses described seeing a large number of officers in the area, including a significant number of police vehicles.

Locals were told to go indoors as a section of the street was closed and over 17 police cars armed police arrived.

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Adam Court, 26, owner of the local media network Complete Traffic based nearby, told the Press Association: We heard a lot of sirens heading towards the far end of the street and traffic coming to a swift halt.

The road is plagued with a history of serious collisions so this was nothing out of the ordinary. But it was the sheer number of police officers at the scene that caused initial concern.

The road remained cordoned off on Saturday (Picture: PA)

The area around the scene remained cordoned off on Saturday morning.

The forces watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), confirmed it has opened an inquiry after West Midlands Police reported the fatality during a pre-planned operation.

A spokeswoman said: We have begun an investigation and IOPC investigators have been deployed to the scene and post-incident procedures.
A week before Christmas, Spendi Rusitovski and his wife went to Ascension Southeast Wisconsin's hospital in Franklin, Wisconsin because he was experiencing chest pains.

There was reason to be worried. In July, the 46-year-old auto repair shop owner had surgery to insert stents, which typically are used to help open arteries and reduce the chance of a heart attack.

During the Dec. 17 visit to the Franklin hospital, a sonogram test was ordered for Rusitovski's chest pains. It revealed "an issue" and his primary doctor wanted to admit him to the hospital "due to the serious nature of the sonogram results," according to police and medical examiner reports.

But there was a problem. The Franklin hospital had no available beds early that afternoon. The couple were told to go back to their home and wait, his wife, Edina, said. They would get a call from hospital admissions when a bed was available, they were told. The reports do not say what time they left the hospital.

About 9 p.m. that night, Spendi Rusitovski went to a gas station near his house for a soda. Driving home in the 8300 block of South 13th Street, Rusitovski's Toyota SUV crossed over the centerline and into oncoming traffic, missing another car traveling in the opposite direction, according to police and fire reports.

Rusitovski's vehicle went off the road, crashing into a telephone pole and coming to rest in the ditch, according to reports. He was less than a quarter-mile from his home.

As he sat trapped in his SUV, Rusitovski told the first police officers on the scene he was feeling chest pains and needed to get to an emergency room, reports said. By the time he was freed from the SUV and moved to a gurney, Rusitovski had lost consciousness.

Jan. 5: Escape room fire kills 5 teen girls celebrating birthday in Poland

Jan. 4: 6-year-old Michigan girl rescued after posting photos of dead father on Facebook

Life support was unsuccessful. He was declared dead in the back of the ambulance.

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The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office obtained records from Ascension's Franklin hospital as part of its investigation. The medical examiner's report said Rusitovski was turned away from the hospital but the report doesn't provide more detail about his visit there or results of the sonogram testing he underwent.

Rusitovski's cause of death was "coronary artery disease," the medical examiner ruled.

Since the story splashed across local television news stations late last month, Edina Rusitovski has retained an attorney to look into the death of her husband, who owned Packard Automotive in Cudahy.

That investigation continues, her attorney, Benjamin Wagner of Habush Habush & Rottier, said Thursday.

"We are further investigating the facts and circumstances preceding and surrounding the unfortunate and tragic demise of Mr. Rusitovski," Wagner said.

In a statement, an Ascension spokeswoman declined to comment, citing privacy laws.

The Ascension facility in Franklin was licensed for a capacity of 52 beds, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. However, the facility is currently only staffed for 44 beds, according to Ascension.

According to the company's website, the Franklin facility has an emergency department capable of providing "early intervention for heart attacks and chest pain."

Jan. 3: Hospitals now required to reveal secret prices lists online for every medical procedure, service

Dec. 28: 14-pound, 13-ounce baby breaks weight record at Texas hospital

The case raises questions of federal regulations. Under the law, patients cannot be transferred or turned away from a hospital until they are stabilized. Called the Emergency Medical Treatment And Labor Act, or EMTALA, the law was passed in 1986 to prevent "patient dumping," the practice of hospitals turning away patients because of poor insurance or inability to pay.

Suspected EMTALA violations are investigated by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The agency does not comment on ongoing investigations, a spokeswoman said Thursday.

Follow John Diedrich on Twitter: @john_diedrich

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Man dies hours after being turned away from hospital
Southwest (LUV) founder and former CEO Herb Kelleher died on Thursday, leaving behind the airline he created and many others whose business models he pioneered.

Kelleher ran his company with colorful personality and panache, but his rivals took him seriously. For decades, one of them was Robert L. Crandall, who ran American (AAL) in the 80s and 90s.

Herb had a unique and appropriate philosophy, Crandall told Yahoo Finance in a phone interview Friday. He invented a model and the model was: Let's do it in the simplest possible way. And at the same time: Let's not do anything that's unpleasant.

Southwest Airlines Chairman Herb Kelleher (R) greets Southwest Airlines employees at a parade during a welcoming ceremony at Philadelphia International Airport on May 10, 2004 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo: William Thomas Cain/Getty Images)

He was always a man of absolute integrity

Crandall echoed what floods of voices who said that Kelleher persuaded employees that they should have fun and that Southwest was a pleasant way to spend their work life.

Herb was the leader of the tribe in terms of low-cost carriers, said Crandall. Im not sure anyone has ever done it as well as he did it in terms of keeping employees on board and dedicated to the idea  and persuaded that they were getting a fair deal.

Avoiding layoffs, making money, keeping it simple  these were Southwests hallmarks that Kelleher made. But as a rival, Crandall remembers a great man of integrity.

He never varied. He was always a man of absolute integrity. Ive never heard anyone say Herb cheated on this or that or broke his word on anything, said Crandall. To me he was a nice guy, a fun guy to be with, and a vigorous competitor. He and I had a lot of fun going back and forth when we were both growing in Dallas.

Crandall said that he and Kelleher both flew on each others carriers regularly, and would tell his employees to do the same.

Id tell my employees, You think youre reinventing the world here? Go stand in the terminal at Love Field [in Dallas] and watch how they do it, he said. They were running a different kind of operation, but we certainly took some lessons from it. And I think they took some lessons from us.

Story continues

A Southwest Airlines plane taxis on the runway at airline's hub at Dallas Love Field March 12, 2008, in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Rick Gershon/Getty Images)

Not everyone knew that the two CEOs used to fly each others carrier, however.

He's traveling on American and he's sitting next to my wife, theyre flying from Dallas or to New York or whatever, they're having fun and the flight attendants were offended. They called my wife over when she went to the john, and said, Mrs. Crandall who is that man? Mr. Crandall isn't on the airplane and you shouldnt be carrying on with that guy! She says, Do you know who that is? That's Herb Kelleher!

We tore up the old model and built a new one

Kellehers passing is another reminder that a golden age of air travel with big-personality executives is gone, while legacies like lower and lower prices remain.

The personalities are not the same as they used to be, but of course you have to keep in mind in those years when Herb and I were active, we were remaking the industry, said Crandall. Deregulation occurred in 78, but all of us were considerably less constrained than today. We tore up the old model and built a new one. Herb had an opportunity to do what he wanted to do.

Crandall noted that Southwest may not be particularly low-cost anymore compared to Spirit or Frontier, or even some of the point-and-spoke legacy carriers like Crandalls American, but Southwests goodwill has remained by not straying from Kellehers strategy.

Theyve hung on to some things that are very sensible, Crandall said. Theyre not always a low-cost carrier, but if you take into account they dont charge for one or two checked bags, and that you can keep money for the next trip when you cancel, theyve avoided a lot of the unpleasant things that have irritated the customer base.

In Crandalls view, Southwest wasn't willing to offer an inferior product and those people  referring to the next generation of low-cost carriers that took Kellehers vision a step further into the bargain bin  offer an inferior product.

-

Ethan Wolff-Mann is a writer at Yahoo Finance focusing on consumer issues, retail, personal finance, and more. Follow him on Twitter @ewolffmann.

Read more:
Government agents on Friday foiled an attempt of two Chinese nationals to smuggle assorted medicines at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The foreigners, identified as Zhang Xin and Huang Wen Cong, concealed the assorted Chinese pharmaceutical products weighing eight kilograms in plastic bags and brought the items without the necessary permits from the Food and Drug Administration. Customs personnel assigned at the NAIA Terminal 2 International Arrival area noticed the images of medicines when they placed the foreigners luggages on X-ray scanning machine. NAIA Customs collector Carmelita Talusan warned air travelers that importation and exportation of pharmaceutical products without FDA clearance is a violation of Republic Act 9711 or the Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009 in relation to provisions of RA 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. Port of NAIA with our vigilant frontliners and X-ray machines in place will continue to protect the borders against entry and exit of prohibited goods and regulated goods without necessary permits, she said. Meanwhile, Talusan vowed that there would be no pork or other meat products brought by passengers that would not be detected by Customs personnel. She gave the assurance on the heels of the reported relief of the entire Bureau of Animal Quarantine personnel at the airport for their alleged failure to follow order of Department of Agriculture in connection with the outbreak of African Swine Fever.Talusan said the animal quarantine people has always been informed by Customs personnel if there are meat interceptions at the arrivals or in warehouses. BAQ personnel, for their part, said they were only relying on information that they get from the Bureau of Customs. If there is an interception of meat or other meat products, whether at NAIA arrival areas or in warehouse, the Customs personnel will immediately turn over it to the animal quarantine, a BAQ agent, who requested not to be named, said. The African Swine Fever is a highly-contagious swine disease that had already wrecked-havoc among swine farmers in many countries, according to reports. The disease, it said, was difficult to detect unless in its advance stage as there was no sign among infected pigs.
Lima (AFP) - Foreign ministers from Latin America and Canada said Friday their governments would not recognize Nicolas Maduro as Venezuela's president when he is sworn in for a second six-year term next week.

The 14-member Lima Group said they would not recognize Maduro's hardline socialist government after meeting in the Peruvian capital to discuss ways to step up international pressure on the regime, which has presided over the oil-rich country's economic crisis.

Peru's Foreign Minister Nestor Popolizio said the group had delivered "a strong political message" ahead of Maduro's second-term inauguration on January 10.

"The main message is undoubtedly the non-recognition of the Venezuelan regime's new term," Popolizio told reporters.

The Group, which includes Canada, said Maduro should temporarily transfer power to the National Assembly until free elections can be held.

"Nicolas Maduro is urged not to assume the presidency, to respect the powers of the assembly and to temporarily transfer power until new elections are held," Popolizio said.

Officials said earlier that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo would participate in the meeting by video conference -- even though Washington is not a member of the 14-nation body.

Pompeo also was to hold bilateral talks with Brazil's new Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo on the sidelines of the meeting, also by video-conference, according to an agenda released by Araujo's office.

The arrival in power of a new far-right government in Brazil under President Jair Bolsonaro is likely to harden regional opposition to Maduro.

Bolsonaro, who has aligned himself with Washington by expressing hostility towards "authoritarian regimes," said Thursday he was open to discussing his country hosting a US military base "in the future."

Venezuela recently hosted the Russian Air Force, including long-range nuclear bombers, for joint military exercises -- a move that stoked regional tensions.

Story continues

- Cutting diplomatic ties -

Peru has previously said it would use the meeting to urge members to cut diplomatic ties with Caracas as Maduro prepares to begin a second term after a controversial May election boycotted by the opposition.

The move coincides with a statement from the Venezuela's opposition-dominated but toothless National Assembly, which said it would not recognize the "illegitimate" Maduro when he takes office.

"We are facing a man who stole an election. We will not have more than a usurper (as president). Neither Venezuelans nor foreigners can recognize Maduro as president," opposition deputy Delsa Solorzano told AFP.

Maduro, who was handpicked by Socialist president Hugo Chavez to succeed him when he died in 2003, was re-elected in May after early elections called by the Constituent Assembly, a body created by Maduro which has in practice replaced the legislature.

The Lima Group statement reiterated its support for the National Assembly, which it recognizes as Venezuela's "constitutionally elected body."

Washington has recently stepped up contacts with South American states dealing with the influx of migrants from Venezuela's worsening economic crisis.

Pompeo was in Cartagena earlier this week for talks with Colombian President Ivan Duque. Both officials have denounced Maduro's "dictatorship" and agreed to step up efforts to isolate his government diplomatically.

"It is very important that the Lima Group has issued this statement to continue exerting pressure with a view to the restoration of democracy in Venezuela," the Peruvian minister said.

The regional group -- created in 2017 after more than 125 people died in anti-Maduro protests in Venezuela -- has refused to recognize the May elections, which were marred by irregularities as well as an opposition boycott.
A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Kroger (KR). Shares have lost about 6.4% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.

Will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Kroger due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.

Krogers Q3 Earnings Surpass Estimates, Increase Y/Y



The Kroger Co. reported third-quarter fiscal 2018 results, wherein both the top and bottom lines surpassed the respective estimates for the third successive time. However, identical sales, without fuel, marginally fell short of analysts expectations. Moreover, gross margin continues to contract. Further, in spite of reporting better-than-expected results, management maintained its full year adjusted earnings per share view.



Lets Introspect



The company delivered adjusted earnings of 48 cents a share that beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 43 cents and increased 9.1% from the prior-year quarter on the back of solid fuel margins and Restock Kroger program. This Cincinnati, OH-based company continues to envision adjusted earnings in the range of $2.00-$2.15 per share.



However, the company revised its GAAP net earnings view to $3.80-$3.95 per share from its previous range of $3.88-$4.03 owing to the market value adjustment of 9 cents a share for investment made in Ocado.



Total sales declined marginally by 0.3% to $27,672 million from the prior-year quarter but came ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $27,557 million. Excluding fuel, the convenience store business unit divestiture and the merger with Home Chef total sales jumped 1.7%. Digital sales surged more than 60% during the quarter under review. The companys identical sales, excluding fuel center sales, grew 1.6%. For the second half, the company expects identical sales growth excluding fuel to be similar to the first half.



We note that gross margin contracted 80 basis points to 21.6%, after shrinking 40 basis points in the preceding quarter. Meanwhile, excluding fuel and the LIFO charge, gross margin fell 91 basis points during the quarter under review, after declining 36 basis points in the second quarter. Management hinted that gross margin rate reflected price investments, higher transportation costs and growth of the specialty pharmacy business.



Kroger Ups the Retail Game



The grocery industry has been undergoing a fundamental change, with technology playing a major role and the focus shifting to online shopping. Kroger has taken stock of the situation and is in the process of giving itself a complete makeover. The company is expanding store base, introducing new items, digital coupons, and order online, pick up in store initiative. The companys Restock Kroger program is also gaining traction.



Kroger launched a new apparel brand, Dip in more than 300 Fred Meyer and Kroger Marketplace stores. Moreover, Kroger Personal Finance witnessed record profit, while Kroger Precision Marketing revenue soared more than 150% year to date. Also, the company has entered into a partnership with Walgreens to explore new ways to reach consumers. The company will now sell around 2,300 products at 13 Walgreens locations via Kroger Express, a store-in-a-store concept. Moreover, Kroger also expanded its Home Chef Express meal kits in 65 Walgreens locations in the Chicago.



Other Financial Aspects



Kroger ended the quarter with cash of $393 million, total debt of $15,018 million, and shareholders equity of $7,610 million. Total debt increased $171 million from the prior-year period. The company's net total debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio jumped to 2.72 compared with 2.57 in the year-ago period. In the trailing four quarters, the company bought back $2.3 billion of shares and paid $435 million in dividends. The company had approximately $546 million remaining under its share buyback program.



Management continues to project capital expenditures  excluding mergers, acquisitions and purchases of leased facilities  to be approximately $3 billion for fiscal 2018.

Story continues

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?

Fresh estimates followed a downward path over the past two months.

VGM Scores

Currently, Kroger has an average Growth Score of C, however its Momentum Score is doing a lot better with an A. Following the exact same course, the stock was allocated a grade of A on the value side, putting it in the top 20% for this investment strategy.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of A. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

Outlook

Kroger has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.



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The Kroger Co. (KR) : Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
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 well take a look at whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in Grasim Industries Limited (NSE:GRASIM).

What Is Insider Selling?

It is perfectly legal for company insiders, including board members, to buy and sell stock in a company. However, most countries require that the company discloses such transactions to the market.

Insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing. 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.

View our latest analysis for Grasim Industries

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Grasim Industries

There wasnt any very large single transaction over the last year, but we can still observe some trading.

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:GRASIM Insider Trading January 5th 19

If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).

Insider Ownership of Grasim Industries

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. I reckon its a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Its great to see that Grasim Industries insiders own 0.2% of the company, worth about 987m. This kind of significant ownership by insiders does generally increase the chance that the company is run in the interest of all shareholders.

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So What Does This Data Suggest About Grasim Industries Insiders?

It doesnt really mean much that no insider has traded Grasim Industries shares in the last quarter. While we feel good about high insider ownership of Grasim Industries, we cant say the same about the selling of shares. 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.
US officials in Moscow revealed that Paul Whelan, an ex-marine accused of espionage, is also a British national - AFP

British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt warned Russia on Friday against playing "diplomatic chess games" following the arrest of Paul Whelan, an ex-Marine with dual UK and US citizenship, on spying charges.

Paul Whelan was formally charged on Thursday, and could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. It was alleged that he had been handed a USB drive containing a secret list of Russian agents.

His case has been linked to that of Maria Butina, a Russian national convicted for seeking to influence US politics during the 2016 presidential election.

"We don't agree with individuals being used in diplomatic chess games... We are all extremely worried about him and his family," Mr Hunt told the BBC in an interview.

US officials in Moscow informed UK counterparts of Mr Whelans dual nationality status. The revelation will add to existing tensions between London and Moscow, after the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, in Salisbury last March.

Mr Whelan, 48, was arrested for spying on December 28 at the Metropol hotel, yards from the Kremlin.

Outside of the Lefortovo detention centre in Moscow, where Paul Whelan is being held. His lawyer has meanwhile asked for bail Credit: REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov

Vladimir Zherebenkov, the ex-marines lawyer, told Interpol that he had appealed against the charges and had requested that Mr Whelan be released on bail. A decision is not expected soon.

According to the Associated Press, Mr Zherebenkov said he visited Mr Whelan on Wednesday and found him in a in a good mood and cracks jokes.

On the same day, the American ambassador to Russia, Jon Huntsman, met Mr Whelan at Lefortovo prison, a former KGB facility, where he is being held.

Washington has pushed for an explanation to Mr Whelans detention. Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, said he would demand his immediate return if the US found the detention was inappropriate.

Mr Whelans family has said that he was visiting Moscow for the wedding of a fellow former Marine, and that he had been to Russia numerous times since 2007.

He was born in Canada to British parents, and later moved to the US. His brother David Whelan said their family was from the West Midlands.

Russian authorities have given no further information about Whelans arrest.
Impeachment is a rarely used tool used to oust a sitting US president from power, and since Donald Trump became president chatter around the "I" word has increased in Washington circles.

It first arose following accusations last year that Mr Trump has obstructed justice, but speculation began growing after the Democrats took control of the House of Representatives in November in the midterm elections.

Nancy Pelosi initially ruled out impeaching Mr Trump, citing opinion polls showing the public were not on board. She would note the need for a bipartisan approach if impeachment is to have a chance of succeeding.

But the House Speaker has now changed her mind. In September, Mrs Pelosi announced the Democrats will begin impeachment proceedings against the US president.

She said the trigger was claims that Mr Trump held back aid to Ukraine in the hope its leader would investigate Joe Biden, the former US vice president who is seeking the White House in 2020.

Here is a look at exactly what impeachment is and where it's been used before.

Head here to read the latest news from the inquiry.

What is impeachment?

Impeachment is the process by which Congress puts certain officials, namely the president, on trial.

The constitution lays out a broad scope of offences that can lead to impeachment: Treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors."

How does it work and how many votes are needed?

Impeachment does not mean a president will necessarily be kicked out of office. It proceeds like a bill passing through legislature.

First, a majority in the House of Representatives - 218 out of 435 members - must approve articles of impeachment previously approved in committee.

The make-up of the House before the 2018 midterm elections favoured Mr Trump, with Republicans holding 238 seats while Democrats held 193. (Four seats were vacant.)

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Now, however, the Democrats control the chamber.

If it passes the House, it goes to the Senate, where a two-thirds majority vote is needed to convict the president and consequently remove him from office.

Given the Republicans kept control and even gained seats in the Senate in 2018, it is highly unlikely Congress would remove him from office.

The Senate now has 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats and two independents who usually vote with the Democrats. Conviction and removal of a president would require 67 votes. So, for Mr Trump to be removed from office via impeachment, at least 20 Republicans and all the Democrats and independents would have to vote against him.

The Republican majority in the Senate could vote to immediately dismiss the charges against Mr Trump without considering evidence.

Vice President Mike Pence Credit: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg

Is there an election after a presidential impeachment?

In the event Mr Trump was impeached, Vice President Mike Pence would immediately take the oath of office and become president.

Should Mr Pence be impeached too, then the Speaker of the House, Mrs Pelosi, would take the top job.

Do impeached officials go to prison?

Impeachment is a political process, not criminal.

Congress has no power to impose criminal penalties on impeached presidents or officials. However criminal courts could try to punish officials if they are believed to have committed crimes.

"There isn't any judicial review of impeachment decisions, so Congress just needs to be satisfied that Trump committed high crimes or misdemeanors," Jens David Ohlin, a law professor and associate dean at Cornell Law School said.

"They are the ultimate judge of what meets that standard."

Impeachment therefore is at the crossroads of politics and the law. "There's no requirement that the president must have been indicted" for a crime, Ohlin added.

Richard Nixon would almost certainly have faced impeachments proceedings in 1974 over the Watergate scandal, but he resigned instead.

History of impeachment

No US president has ever been ousted from office under impeachment proceedings.

Andrew Johnson was the first leader to go through the process in 1868. He was charged with breaking the law after he tried to replace the US secretary of war, Edwin Stanton, without congressional permission.

At the time - in the aftermath of the civil war - the president was required to consult the Senate about such decisions. His impeachment passed to the Senate, where he escaped being removed from office by a one-vote margin.

The other president was, of course, Bill Clinton over the Monica Lewinsky scandal. He was impeached for perjury and obstruction of justice in 1998, but he was acquitted in the Senate trial.

Richard Nixon would almost certainly have faced impeachment proceedings in 1974 over the Watergate scandal and undoubtedly would have been removed from office. However, the disgraced president resigned before it got that far and he handed the presidency over to Gerald Ford.
A newly elected Democratic congresswoman has vowed to impeach Donald Trump, the US president, in an expletive-laced speech that has provoked outrage among Republicans.

Rashida Tlaib, who was sworn in on Thursday, said "we're gonna impeach the motherf-----" during a celebration party with supporters.

In a clip of the event circulated widely on social media on Friday, Ms Tlaib can be heard telling a crowd: "People love you. And you win.

"And when your son looks at you and says, 'Momma, look you won, bullies don't win.' And I said, 'Baby, they don't,' because we're gonna go in there and we're gonna impeach the motherf-----."

The US president responded in a tweet on Friday morning, saying: "How do you impeach a president who has won perhaps the greatest election of all time, done nothing wrong ... and is the most popular Republican in party history?"

Rashida Tlaib called Donald Trump 'a direct and serious threat to our country' Credit: Anthony Lanzilote/The New York Times

Rashida Tlaib as she is arrested following a protest Credit: AP

He added: "They only want to impeach me because they know they can't win in 2020, too much success!"

Ms Tlaib, who represents a heavily Democratic district in Michigan, has defended the comments, saying "I will always speak truth to power".

"This is not just about Donald Trump. This is about all of us. In the face of this constitutional crisis, we must rise," she tweeted.

The congresswoman is a member of the ethnically diverse, progressive wing of the Democratic party which was sworn into the new Congress on Thursday.

The Justice Democrats group, which includes Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the youngest ever congresswoman, and Ilhan Omar, the first member of Congress to wear a hijab, calls for members to reject corporate donations and describes itself as "working to change the Democratic Party from the inside".

A long-time critic of the Republican leader, Ms Tlaib was once arrested for heckling the then-candidate during his presidential campaign.

The morning of her entry into Congress, she labelled Mr Trump "a direct and serious threat to our country," in a co-authored op-ed for the Detroit Free Press. "We already have overwhelming evidence that the president has committed impeachable offences," she wrote. "The time for impeachment proceedings is now."

Story continues

Rashida Tlaib poses with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi for a ceremonial swearing-in Credit: Reuters

Nancy Pelosi, who became the House Speaker on Thursday after Democrats retook control of the chamber, attempted to row back Ms Tlaib's on-camera expletive. Ms Pelosi said "I wouldn't use that language" but added it was "nothing worse than the president has said".

The incident highlights an ongoing tension within the Democratic Party, with the progressive wing pressuring the party's leadership to begin impeachment proceedings against Mr Trump immediately.

Ms Pelosi and other moderate Democrats fear such a move may alienate voters and harm the party's chances of success in the 2020 presidential election. "I do think that we want to be unified and bring people together. Impeachment is a very divisive approach to take and we shouldnt take it... without the facts," Ms Pelosi told MSNBC.

Meanwhile, an attempt to embarrass Ms Ocasio-Cortez by publishing an old video of her dancing appeared to backfire with social media users praising the 29-year-old congresswoman's moves.

Ms Ocasio-Cortez, a self-described democratic socialist, has become a lightning rod for conservatives since her shock election victory against a ten-term congressman.

The 30-second video shared on Twitter showed Ms Ocasio-Cortez dancing on the roof of a building in a student production.

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In a tweet, a user named AnonymousQ, whose account has since been deleted, wrote: Here is Americas favorite commie know-it-all acting like the clueless nitwit she is.

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Twitter users responded by sharing their delight and praise for Ms Ocasio-Cortez, who was elected to represent New Yorks 14th congressional district in November's midterms.

Actor Russell Crowe said the dance was fantastic, and told his followers that the more politicians we have like AOC the sooner well all be dancing.

The congresswoman later responded with a video of her dancing in her new office on Capitol Hill. "I hear the GOP thinks women dancing are scandalous," she tweeted. "Wait till they find out Congresswomen dance too"
Budapest (AFP) - Around 6,000 people on Saturday demonstrated against nationalist-conservative Prime Minister Viktor Orban in the latest of a wave of Hungarian protests targeting a labour reform branded a "slave law" by the opposition.

Turnout was well below expectations of the march's opposition party and union organisers'. They had hoped to mobilise tens of thousands to revive the protests after the festive season.

The reform, adopted by parliament on December 12, has increased the amount of overtime that employers can demand from 250 to 400 hours per year and allows payment to be delayed by up to three years.

The government says the law is needed to tackle Hungary's labour shortage and will enable those who wish to work more hours to earn more.

Hungarian President Janos Ader signed the reform into law just before Christmas, despite more than 10 days of sometimes violent clashes between demonstrators and police in the capital and other cities.

In the biggest demonstration of the current series, some 15,000 people gathered on 16 December in central Budapest.

The opposition is also calling for another recent reform to be scrapped that could threaten the independence of judges. And it is demanding greater freedom for public media, which the opposition accuses of acting as a government mouthpiece.

The protests have succeeded in uniting all shades of the normally fractious opposition, with unions also throwing their weight behind the movement and threatening to organise a general strike unless the law is scrapped.

Since he was re-elected for a third term last April, Orban, an admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has according to his critics pursued reform policies aimed at creating an "illiberal democracy".
Hundreds of Transportation Security Administration screeners working for free during the government shutdown are calling in sick so they can earn money at jobs that pay, union officials told CNN.

Union representatives reported significant numbers of absences at major airports in New York, Texas and North Carolina.

As many as 170 agents called in sick each day this week at Kennedy International Airport in New York, Hydrick Thomas, president of the TSA union under the American Federation of Government Employees, told CNN.

Other union officials said absences are up at much as 300 percent at Dallas Fort-Worth International Airport and 10 percent at Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte airports. Numbers will get worse as this drags on, said union official Mac Johnson.

Sick time call-outs have increased, TSA spokesman Jim Gregory told The Washington Post. But so far theyre having minimal impact, he said. To date the [screening] wait times remain within TSA standards, which is a maximum of 30 minutes in a regular checkpoint queue.

That could change quickly if more workers call in sick. Post-holiday traffic at airports now is low, which could be mitigating a shortage of workers.

One TSA official told CNN that the absences were part of a blue flu action by upset employees. But union representatives said workers have to seek other jobs so they can pay rent, mortgages and child care costs.

While Congress and Mr. Trump get to stay home, enjoy their personal time with their families, and still get paid, we have to struggle and suffer, a TSA officer whos a single mom told HuffPost in an email early this week.

Most of us live paycheck to paycheck and cannot afford to be unpaid and still go to work for long. It is not fair, she added.

The shutdown not only impacts hundreds of thousands of workers, but the TSA situation could eventually snarl airport screenings and impact passenger safety as remaining agents are forced to take on more work.

Story continues

Many TSA officers are continuing to show up for work  but must also do other jobs to pay bills. That also takes a toll.

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Some 51,000 TSA employees who screen passengers are considered essential, so theyre among the 420,000 federal employees who are expected to work without the promise of a paycheck at the regular pay time next Friday, noted the Post.

President Donald Trump, who is refusing to sign a federal spending bill unless it includes more than $5 billion for his border wall, said Friday that the shutdown could go on for months or even years.

HuffPost readers: Are you affected by the government shutdown? Email us about it. If youre willing to be interviewed, please provide a phone number.

Also on HuffPost

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Earnings estimates for Exelon Corporation EXC have been revised upward in the past 90 days. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2019 has moved 2.3% north to $3.15.



Chicago, IL-based Exelon is a utility services holding company operating through its subsidiaries. It has businesses across 48 states and the District of Columbia in the United States along with Canada. The company has a regulating presence in every stage of the energy operation comprising power generation, competitive energy sales, transmission and delivery.



Lets focus on the factors that make Exelon a profitable bet.



Price Appreciation: The stock has returned 15.5% in the past 12 months versus the industrys decline of 0.5%.





Zacks Rank & Surprise History: The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.



Its average four-quarter positive surprise is 2.08%. The companys long-term growth is pegged at 4.58%.



VGM Score: The stock carries an impressive VGM Score of B. Here V stands for Value, G for Growth and M for Momentum with the score being a weighted combination of all three factors. Backtested results indicate that stocks with a favorable VGM Score of A or B coupled with a solid Zacks Rank offer the best investment bets.



Strong Cash Flow: Exelons strong free cash flow generation capacity will help it lower debt level by more than $3 billion in the next four years. Cash flow generation will also support organic utility growth and enable the company to increase dividend distribution rate.



Investments and Cost Savings: Exelon plans to spend nearly $21 billion over the 2018-2021 period on regulated operations to improve reliability of operations. Such systematic investments in regulated assets will drive 7.4% rate base growth during the period.



Since 2015, the company announced cost reductions of more than $900 million. Cost optimization programs and a planned closure of nuclear plants will lower operating and maintenance expenses. The company is targeting to lower operating and maintenance expenses by 3.7% during the 2018-2021 time frame.



Other Stocks to Consider



Some other top-ranked stocks from the same industry are Ameren Corp. AEE, Duke Energy Corp. DUK and Eversource Energy ES, each carrying a Zacks Rank of 2.



Ameren delivered average earnings surprise of 15.40% in the last four reported quarters. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2018 earnings has moved 0.9% north to $3.40 over the past 60 days.



Duke Energy pulled off average positive surprise of 3.18% in the trailing four reported quarters. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2018 earnings has been revised 0.4% upward to $4.74 over the past 60 days.



Eversource came up with average beat of 1.42% in the previous four reported quarters. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2018 earnings has inched 0.3% up to $3.27 over the past 60 days.



The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of All



Last year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early.



See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >>



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Ameren Corporation (AEE) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Duke Energy Corporation (DUK) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Exelon Corporation (EXC) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Eversource Energy (ES) : Free Stock Analysis Report



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Financial inclusion is a goal that both the national government and financial institutions continually strive for. According to the World Bank, financial inclusion is the key enabler towards reducing extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity. It is also an enabler for seven of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, which is a global call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that people enjoy peace and prosperity. In developing nations such as India and the Philippines, financial inclusion lends a particular focus on providing appropriate and affordable financial products and services to vulnerable groups, such as low-income families and micro-entrepreneurs that have no access to formal banking. This distinction, in turn, explains the sustained popularity of microfinance institutions in developing countries. In the Philippines alone, there are more than 170 microfinance institutions that cater to more than 1.47 million borrowers, according to 2015 data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. In the Philippines, there is still a huge gap in terms of access to financing. Unless this gap gets addressed by banks and other financial institutions, it remains to be the greatest barrier to achieving financial inclusion in the country, said Jerome Minglana, president of BPI Direct BanKo Inc. In a bid to provide a more formal lending platform to self-employed micro-entrepreneurs, a sector that rarely has access to formal banking, the Bank of the Philippine Islands merged two of its subsidiaries to form BPI Direct BanKo. In its 167 years, BPI has provided well-developed and relevant financial products and services to Filipinos. BPI Direct BanKo is BPIs vehicle to address financial inclusion by providing micro-entrepreneurs access to appropriate and affordable loan products to grow their businesses, and extending expert advice to enhance their financial knowledge, said Minglana. Through its 200 branches nationwide, BPI Direct BanKo aims to elevate the lives of everyday micro-entrepreneurs, such as market vendors and the proprietors of neighborhood bakeries, mini-grocery stores, and eateries. By providing a more formal lending platform, we not only elevate the lives of small business owners but also create an enabling business environment that benefits the countrys economic development in the long run. They are the backbone of the country, said Minglana.To get past the usual hurdles of borrowing from banks, BPI Direct BanKo has simplified its documentary requirements and streamlined its procedures to speed up the loan application process. Loan applicants tend to get intimidated by a long list of documentary requirements, which are often hard to acquire or secure. At BPI Direct BanKo, we only require simple documents that most micro-entrepreneurs can easily provide, such as a barangay permit, to get over this barrier, said Minglana. To make the loan application process more convenient, and in turn, strengthen the relationship between the bank and its clients, BPI Direct BanKo also deployed friendly and reliable loan officers known as the BankoMares and BankoPares. Our BankoMares and BankoPares are there not just to process loan applications, but also to give our clients sound financial advice on how to grow their respective businesses and manage their finances more responsibly, he said. Ultimately, financial inclusion starts with educating people about the relevance of financial products and services in their lives. Aside from providing microfinancing, BPI Direct BanKo also offers financial education programs to help people understand and appreciate the value of saving and investing, said Minglana. Many Filipinos are still afraid to talk about money, and still consider it a sensitive subject. We Minglana believes that financial inclusion in the Philippines can be a reality through this ecosystem of financial access and education. For BPI Direct BanKo, thats how we support financial inclusionby making it easier for Filipinos to avail of our services, and by giving Filipinos the information they need to make their money work for them, he said.
GAZA (Reuters) - Gaza authorities arrested five Palestinians on Saturday on suspicion of ransacking the offices of President Mahmoud Abbas's official Palestine Television station, Hamas's interior ministry said. On Friday, assailants destroyed cameras, editing and broadcasting equipment in the Gaza office of the station, part of the Palestinian Broadcast Corporation (PBC), which broadcasts material supportive of Abbas. Station officials immediately blamed Hamas for the attack. The incident underscored tensions between Abbas's Western-backed Palestinian Authority, based in the occupied West Bank, and Hamas, the Islamist group that rules Gaza. But Hamas on Saturday said all five suspects men were former employees of the Palestinian Authority, whose salaries were recently suspended. There was no immediate response from the Palestinian Authority. There has long been antipathy between Hamas, which won the last Palestinian parliamentary elections in 2006 and is opposed to any peace negotiations with Israel, and with Abbas's more moderate and secular Fatah faction. The two rivals have tried and failed to end the divisions. Egypt has brokered a Palestinian reconciliation pact that provides for Hamas to cede control of Gaza to Abbas, but a dispute over power-sharing has hindered implementation. (Writing by Nidal Almughrabi; editing by David Evans)
Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - Hamas authorities in the Gaza Strip arrested five men Saturday over a raid at the Palestinian Authority's media headquarters, in which valuable equipment was destroyed.

Five armed men attacked the offices of the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation in Gaza City on Friday, trashing equipment worth thousands of dollars.

The media centre is funded by the West Bank-based Palestinian government and houses Palestine TV and the Voice of Palestine radio station.

Staff and a PA official initially blamed the raid on Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip, but the Islamist movement said disgruntled PA employees were responsible.

All five arrested are "employees of the Palestinian Authority whose salaries have been cut recently," the Hamas-run interior ministry in Gaza said.

"It turned out that one of them was a Palestine TV employee whose salary was cut last month."

Hamas seized control of Gaza from the PA in 2007, a year after winning parliamentary elections that were rejected by much of the international community.

Despite losing power in the enclave, the PA continues to pay tens of thousands of civil servants there.

But it has reduced salaries in recent years due to financial shortfalls, causing much ire among its employees.
Former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn is likely to appear in a Japanese court next Tuesday to hear the reasons for his detention, after his lawyers deployed a little-used article of the Constitution.

The shock move was the latest in a series of unexpected twists in a case that has gripped Japan and the business world since the once-revered auto tycoon was arrested on his private jet at a Tokyo airport on November 19.

The Tokyo District Court said his hearing would start at 10:30 am (0130 GMT) in its court room, with Ghosn expected to appear.

"Mr Ghosn today submitted a request for the disclosure of the reasons for his detention," the court said.

Article 34 of Japan's Constitution stipulates that "no person shall be arrested or detained without being at once informed of the charges against him or without the immediate privilege of counsel."

"Nor shall he be detained without adequate cause; and upon demand of any person such cause must be immediately shown in open court in his presence and the presence of his counsel," it says.

Ghosn is spending the beginning of 2019 in detention after the court on New Year's Eve extended his detention through to January 11 on allegations of aggravated breach of trust.

He was re-arrested over these allegations on December 21, dashing his hopes of being home for Christmas.

Since his shock arrest on November 19, the case has shone a light on the Japanese legal system, which has come in for some criticism internationally.

- 'CEO reserve' -

Authorities are pursuing three separate lines of enquiry against the 64-year-old Franco-Lebanese-Brazilian executive, involving alleged financial wrongdoing during his tenure as Nissan chief.

They suspect he conspired with his right-hand man, US executive Greg Kelly, to hide away around half of his income (some five billion yen or $44 million) over five fiscal years from 2010.

They also allege he under-reported his salary to the tune of four billion yen over the next three fiscal years -- apparently to avoid criticism that his pay was too high.

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They are also investigating a complex third claim that alleges Ghosn sought to shift a personal investment loss onto Nissan's books.

As part of that scheme, he is also accused of having used Nissan funds to repay a Saudi acquaintance who put up collateral money.

Prosecutors have pressed formal charges over the first allegation but not yet over the other accusations.

Ghosn denies the allegations but has not had the chance to defend himself in public.

The once jet-setting executive, who denies any wrongdoing, was initially held in a tiny single cell at the detention centre in the north of the Japanese capital but has now reportedly been moved to a more comfortable room.

He has complained about the cold and the rice-based menu, sources say, though he has told embassy visitors he is being well-treated although he has shed a lot of weight.

He has been stripped of his leadership roles at Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors but the third member of the auto alliance he helped forge, French automaker Renault, has kept him as nominal head while he fights the charges.

Ghosn's detention has also laid bare tensions in the alliance he created, which together sells more cars than any of its rival groups.

Meanwhile, fresh claims against Ghosn appear almost daily in the Japanese media.

According to Friday's edition of the Nikkei business daily, Ghosn paid nearly $50 million to businesses run by two Middle Eastern acquaintances from the "CEO reserve", a pot of cash that the boss was able to use at his discretion.
A teenage boy in Georgia took his own life after he accidentally shot and killed one of his friends on New Years Eve.

Devin Hodges, 15, was showing three of his friends a handgun in a cramped shed when he accidentally fired a shot, according to Gwinnett County Police. The bullet struck one of the boys, Chad Carless, 17, and the others left the shed to call 911.

Carless died from his injuries before help could arrive. As responding officers arrived on scene they saw Hodges running between two houses before another shot rang out.

Hodges was found a short distance from the makeshift shed with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

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Police are still investigating the incident and neighbors told local television station WSB-TV that they are trying to understand what happened.

I mean, it was really sad. They were so young, said Tanya Guiterrez, who lived in the neighborhood for 12 years. "Something like this never happened before. Its sad and tragic.

There were at least 204 unintentional shootings by children in 2018 according to data collected from media reports by Everytown, a gun-control advocacy group.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Georgia teenager took his own life after accidentally shooting friend, police say
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 Aqua America, Inc. (NYSE:WTR).

Over the last twelve months Aqua America has recorded a ROE of 12%. Another way to think of that is that for every $1 worth of equity in the company, it was able to earn $0.12.

Check out our latest analysis for Aqua America

How Do I Calculate ROE?

The formula for ROE is:

Return on Equity = Net Profit  Shareholders Equity

Or for Aqua America:

12% = 249.118  US$2.0b (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2018.)

Its easy to understand the net profit part of that equation, but shareholders equity requires further explanation. It is all the money paid into the company from shareholders, plus any earnings retained. Shareholders equity can be calculated by subtracting the total liabilities of the company from the total assets of the company.

What Does Return On Equity Mean?

ROE measures a companys profitability against the profit it retains, and any outside investments. The return is the profit over the last twelve months. A higher profit will lead to a higher ROE. So, all else equal, investors should like a high ROE. That means it can be interesting to compare the ROE of different companies.

Does Aqua America 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. As is clear from the image below, Aqua America has a better ROE than the average (9.2%) in the Water Utilities industry.

NYSE:WTR Last Perf January 5th 19

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 .

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How Does Debt Impact Return On Equity?

Most companies need money  from somewhere  to grow their profits. That cash can come from retained earnings, issuing new shares (equity), or debt. In the first and second cases, the ROE will reflect this use of cash for investment in the business. In the latter case, the debt required for growth will boost returns, but will not impact the shareholders equity. In this manner the use of debt will boost ROE, even though the core economics of the business stay the same.

Combining Aqua Americas Debt And Its 12% Return On Equity

Aqua America clearly uses a significant amount debt to boost returns, as it has a debt to equity ratio of 1.18. while its ROE is respectable, it is worth keeping in mind that there is usually a limit to how much debt a company can use. Debt does bring extra risk, so its only really worthwhile when a company generates some decent returns from it.

The Bottom Line On ROE

Return on equity is a useful indicator of the ability of a business to generate profits and return them to shareholders. A company that can achieve a high return on equity without debt could be considered a high quality business. All else being equal, a higher ROE is better.

But when a business is high quality, the market often bids it up to a price that reflects this. Profit growth rates, versus the expectations reflected in the price of the stock, are a particularly important to consider. So I think it may be worth checking this free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting 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.
A migrant is being rescued on January 4, 2019 with buoys and a rope, after he dived in the Mediterranean off Malta's coast - AFP

The European Union has recorded the lowest number of migrant arrivals in five years, following moves to curb crossings to Italy and Greece, new figures have shown.

But figures published by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) showed that while overall illegal migration to the EU has fallen to 150,000 a record number were now arriving in Spain.

The number of irregular migrants using the Western Mediterranean route to reach Europe doubled for the second year in a row to 57,000, making it the most active migratory route in 2018, the agency said in a statement.

It means Spain is the new gateway into Europe for migrants, overtaking Greece and Italy, with arrivals more than doubling from the 2017 total of 22,414. Some 769 people died attempting to reach the Spanish coast in 2018, many in barely seaworthy boats.

The pace shows little sign of slowing, with Spain rescuing 401 migrants from the Mediterranean in the first two days of 2019, even though overall migration figures have fallen significantly across Europe.

The EU received about half as many illegal migrants in 2018 than at the peak of the migration crisis in 2015, mainly due to a dramatic fall in the number of migrants taking the Central Mediterranean route to Italy, according to Frontex.

Italy, which registered a drop of 80 per cent, has taken a significantly harsher tone on migration under its populist government, sworn in at the beginning of June.

Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini stands next to a sniper rifle during an event involving the state police SWAT team in Rome Credit: Reuters

In mid-June, Matteo Salvini, the countrys hardline Interior Minister refused entry to the migrant NGO rescue-ship Aquarius which had 629 illegal migrants on board.

The ship, also refused entry by Malta, was eventually allowed to dock in Valencia by Spains recently installed left-wing Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in one of his first big tests in the role.

It is our obligation to help avoid a humanitarian catastrophe, Mr Sanchez said at the time.

Spains growing migrant numbers have drawn criticism at home, bolstering the far-right party Vox who won a surprise 12 seats in Andalusias recent elections after campaigning on an anti-immigrant platform.

On Saturday, Spanish right-wing newspaper ABC blamed the rise in migrant numbers on the Sanchez effect.
Donald Trump, the US president, speaking about the shutdown outside the White House after talks with the Democrats - REUTERS

Donald Trump has warned that the government shutdown could last for more than a year as he doubled down on a pledge to block any deal that does not include US-Mexico border wall funding.

The US president confirmed during a press conference after closed doors White House talks with leading Democrats on Friday that he had made the threat.

I did. Absolutely I said that. I dont think it will [last that long] but Im prepared, Mr Trump said. However he added that he hoped the shutdown would end within days.

A quarter of the US federal government has been closed for a fortnight now because of the failure of Congress and the president to agree a new spending package.

Mr Trump has said he will refuse to sign any spending bill that does not include $5.6 billion for building his US-Mexico border wall  a key campaign pledge.

Donald Trump, with (L-R) Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen, US Representative Kevin McCarthy, Representative Steve Scalise, and Vice President Mike Pence, speaks at a press conference in the Rose Garden of the White House Credit: SAUL LOEB / AFP

But the Democrats, who now control the House of Representatives  one half of Congress  have refused to pass a bill that includes substantial border wall cash.

Mr Trumps private warning was made public by Chuck Schumer, the most senior Democrat in the Senate who attended Fridays talks, in brief comments after the meeting.

Mr Schumer said: We told the president we needed the government open. He resisted. In fact, he said he would keep the government closed for a very long period of time, months or even years.

Discussing the talks, Mr Schumer also said: We made a plea to the president once again. Dont hold millions of Americans, hundreds of thousands of workers, hostage. Open up the government and lets continue the discussions.

The warning reflects Mr Trumps apparent belief that the public supports his stance. However, the Democrats will spin the comments as proof Mr Trump lacks sufficient concern for the 800,000 workers affected.

Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi, the most senior Democrats in the Senate and House of Representatives, leave White House talks about the shutdown together Credit: AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Even a shutdown that lasted a month would break recent US political records. The longest shutdown in the last 40 years was in 1995 and lasted three weeks.

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Mr Trump held his own press conference after the talks, flanked by Mike Pence, the US vice president, Kirstjen Nielsen, the homeland security secretary, and Kevin McCarthy, the Republican leader in the House of Representatives.

He initially said the meeting had been productive and very good but later conceded it had been contentious.

Were not talking about games. Were talking about national security, Mr Trump said as he warned that the lack of a wall along the 2,000-mile US-Mexico border was a dangerous, horrible disaster.

The House of Representatives passed bills to reopen the government on the first day of the new Congress on Thursday.

However the spending bills are unlikely to be taken up in the Senate, where Republicans hold the majority, because of Mr Trump's refusal to sign bills without border wall cash. More talks are set to take place this weekend.

A man works out in front of the National Gallery of Art which is closed due to the partial government shutdown in Washington Credit: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

There have been signs in the last 48 hours that moderate Republicans in the Senate are willing to break with the president and demand he approve a spending package to reopen government.

Cory Gardner, the Republican senator for Colorado, said: I think we should pass a continuing resolution to get the government back open. The Senate has done it last Congress, we should do it again today.

Susan Collins, the Republican senator for Maine, said it would be great for the Democrats spending bills to be adopted, adding: At least wed be getting those workers back to work."

Nine US government departments have been impacted by the shutdown including Homeland Security, Justice, State and Treasury. Many national parks are closed because there is not enough staff to pick up rubbish and clean toilet facilities.

The US National Gallery of Art, all 19 Smithsonian museums  including well known tourist attractions in Washington DC  and the National Zoo are closed.

Nearly 80,000 employees at Internal Revenue Service, the US taxman, have been sent home. However some vital parts of government including the postal service and social security office remain open.

Roughly half of the 800,000 government workers affected are made to stay at home while the other half are deemed essential and made to work without pay  though they may be paid eventually.
U.S. employers added the most workers in 10 months as wage gains accelerated and labor-force participation jumped, reflecting a robust job market that nevertheless faces mounting risks in 2019.

Nonfarm payrolls increased by 312,000 in December, easily topping all forecasts, after an upwardly revised 176,000 gain the prior month, a Labor Department report showed Friday. Average hourly earnings rose 3.2 percent from a year earlier, more than projected and matching the fastest pace since 2009. Meanwhile, the jobless rate rose from a five-decade low to 3.9 percent, reflecting more people actively seeking work.

The hiring and wage gains will support consumer spending and offer some respite after a spate of weak economic data and cuts in corporate revenue forecasts fueled stock-market jitters. Still, it may be hard to replicate such labor-market strength in 2019 amid the U.S.-China tariff war, softening manufacturing, a housing slowdown and a projected cooling in global growth.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell is scheduled to speak later Friday morning in Atlanta. While the report is in line with the Feds view of a healthy job market and officials last month penciled in two interest-rate hikes for 2019, the central bank may need more evidence of strength before moving forward with the next increase following four in 2018.

Before Fridays report, investors had begun betting that policy makers will instead end up cutting borrowing costs.

The figures brought the 2018 payrolls gain to 2.64 million. Economists expect the pace of gains will ease this year, consistent with their forecasts that gross domestic product growth will moderate amid the trade war and a fading boost from the Trump administrations tax cuts.

Broad Strength

The labor strength spanned most industries, including the biggest gain in construction since February, and the most manufacturing jobs added in a year. Private service providers boosted payrolls by 227,000, the most in more than a year, amid gains in education and health services, leisure and hospitality, and retail.

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While the unemployment rate increased to a five-month high, it may not be much of a concern because the participation rate rose to 63.1 percent  the highest since September 2017  from 62.9 percent. The jobless rate remains well below the level that central bankers consider sustainable in the long run.

Average hourly earnings for all private workers rose 0.4 percent from the prior month following a 0.2 percent gain, the report showed. The annual increase followed a 3.1 percent advance.

Another measure, average hourly earnings for production and non- supervisory workers, increased 3.3 percent from a year earlier.While worker pay has risen very gradually during most of the economic expansion, companies have been competing more vigorously in recent months to attract and retain workers.

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Private payrolls rose by 301,000, well above the median estimate of 185,000. Government payrolls increased by 11,000. The employment-population ratio, another broad gauge of labor-market health, was unchanged at 60.6 percent. The average workweek increased to 34.5 hours from 34.4 hours in the prior month; a shorter workweek has the effect of boosting average hourly pay. The U-6, or underemployment rate, was unchanged at 7.6 percent. This measure includes part-time workers who want a full-time job and people who are less active in seeking work. In annual revisions to data based on the household survey, the unemployment rate for October was increased to 3.8 percent from 3.7 percent. Labor Department economic releases are proceeding as scheduled, as the agency isnt part of the partial federal- government shutdown.
By Giulia Paravicini KINSHASA (Reuters) - Democratic Republic of Congo's electoral commission accused the country's Catholic Church on Friday of "preparing an insurrection" by saying it knows the winner of last Sunday's presidential election. The commission is scheduled to release provisional results on Sunday but has said there could be delays because of the slow arrival of tally sheets. Donatien Nshole, the secretary-general of the Church's bishops' conference, known as CENCO, said on Thursday its vote tallies showed a clear victor in the Dec. 30 election, a pronouncement widely seen as a warning to authorities against rigging the vote. "The announcement of voting trends by Priest Nshole is likely to brainwash the population while preparing an insurrection that CENCO alone will be responsible for," commission president Corneille Nangaa wrote in a letter to CENCO president Marcel Utembi, seen by Reuters. Nangaa said CENCO's declaration violated electoral law and a code of conduct signed by poll monitors that gives the electoral commission, CENI, alone the authority to announce results. The Catholic Church is one of Congo's most powerful institutions, representing about 40 percent of its 80 million people. The ruling coalition of President Joseph Kabila, which is backing his hand-picked successor Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, also took aim at CENCO on Thursday. The coalition "deplores ... the partisan, irresponsible and anarchic attitude of CENCO," said Barnabe Kikaya Bin Karubi, an adviser to Kabila and spokesman for Shadary. The U.N. Security Council was briefed behind closed doors on the latest developments on Friday at the request of France. French U.N. Ambassador Francois Delattre said the 15-member body would continue to monitor the electoral process in Congo. "The consolidation of the results must continue with transparency," Delattre told reporters. "We call on all actors for calm and restraint." Observers and the opposition say the election was marred by serious irregularities. The opposition, represented by its two main candidates Martin Fayulu and Felix Tshisekedi, and Shadary's camp have all claimed they are on course to win, without posting specific figures. Kikaya told Reuters Kabila had met Catholic bishops on Friday but provided no details. The government says the election was fair and went smoothly. The poll is meant to lead to Congo's first democratic transfer of power, but the international community has raised concerns that a disputed result could cause unrest, as was the case after the 2006 and 2011 elections. President Donald Trump said on Friday about 80 U.S. military personnel had deployed to Gabon in case they were needed to protect American citizens and diplomatic facilities in Congo. On Thursday, the United States called on CENI to publish accurate results and threatened sanctions against anyone who sought to undermine the process. An election dispute could further destabilize Congo's volatile eastern provinces, where wars around the turn of the century resulted in millions of deaths, most from hunger and disease, and where dozens of militia remain active. INTERNET CUT Kabila's government cut access to the internet as well as Radio France Internationale (RFI) and some local media this week, saying it wanted to prevent fake results from circulating. "This being a very sensitive, a very tense period, we are concerned that these efforts to silence dissent could backfire considerably when the results are announced," Ravina Shamdasani, spokeswoman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, told reporters in Geneva. "We are calling on all sides to refrain from the use of violence," she said. The European Union also called on election authorities to ensure the results reflect the will of the Congolese people. Opinion polls had shown Shadary trailing Fayulu and Tshisekedi, who have been buoyed by rising dissatisfaction with Kabila's tenure. Kabila, who succeeded his assassinated father in 2001, helped reunify the country amid civil war and has presided over strong economic growth, driven by exports of copper and cobalt, a component of electric car batteries. But critics say there has been little improvement in the quality of life for average Congolese and accuse the government of brutally suppressing dissent. (Additional reporting by Stanis Bujakera in Kinshasa, Stephanie Nebehay in Geneva and Michelle Nichols at the United Nations; Writing By Aaron Ross; Editing by Janet Lawrence and Sandra Maler)
In what was, so far, the best baseball game of the week, the Jaguars pulled their 33rd win out of the fire and salvaged a gem of a start from their star pitcher.
BEIJING (AP)  All systems are go as a Chinese spacecraft and rover power up their observation equipment after making a first-ever landing on the far side of the moon, the Chinese National Space Administration said.

The Jade Rabbit 2 rover has succeeded in establishing a digital transmission link with a relay satellite that sends data back to the Beijing control center, the space agency said in a posting late Friday on its website.

The rover's radar and panoramic camera have been activated and are working normally, it said. A photo released by the agency showed the rover stopped at a point not far from where the Chang'e 4 spacecraft touched down Thursday.

Chang'e 4, named after a Chinese moon goddess, is the first craft to make a soft landing on the moon's far side, which faces away from Earth. Previous landings, including one by China's Chang'e 3 in 2013, have been on the near side.

After sending the rover off from a ramp, the spacecraft deployed three 5-meter (16-foot) low-frequency radio antennas, the Chinese space agency said. Chang'e 4 also has sent back images taken with a topographical camera.

Researchers hope that low-frequency observations of the cosmos from the far side, where radio signals from Earth are blocked by the moon, will help scientists learn more about the early days of the solar system and even the birth of the universe's first stars.

Harvard University astronomer Avi Loeb noted, however, that the relay satellite needed to send back information from the far side also contaminates the sky.

"As long as we keep it clean of radio interference, the far side of the moon is very good for radio astronomy," he said.

The far side has been observed many times from lunar orbits, but never explored on the surface. It is popularly called the "dark side" because it can't be seen from Earth and is relatively unknown, not because it lacks sunlight.

"It's just the far side, it can be either dark or light," Loeb said, depending on the time of day.

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The pioneering landing highlights China's ambitions to rival the U.S., Russia and Europe in space. Both China's space community and public have taken pride in the accomplishment, with some drawing comparisons to the United States.

China's space program lags America's, but has made great strides in the past 15 years, including manned flights and a space laboratory that is seen as a precursor to plans for a space station.

___

Associated Press writer Seth Borenstein in Washington and researcher Henry Hou in Beijing contributed to this report.
By Aislinn Laing (Reuters) - Two victims of sexual abuse by a Roman Catholic Church priest in Chile launched a fresh attack on the country's bishops on Wednesday, accusing them of failing to reform or learn from the crisis. Juan Carlos Cruz and Jose Andres Murillo, two prominent victims of the abuse who gave evidence of their ordeal to Pope Francis in Rome, said the pontiff had also acted to slowly in handling the crisis. Cruz said the Chilean church's leaders, several of whom face criminal investigation for their roles in allegedly covering up abuse, had failed to follow through on their promises to institute reform. "What we have in Chile is a veritable band of criminal bishops," he said. "After visiting the pope, after everything that's happened, that is happening with civil justice, they have learned nothing." Church officials declined to comment. The Chilean Catholic Church was engulfed by scandal after a visit by the pope in January last year that brought to the surface a string of abuse allegations now being investigated by criminal prosecutors. After initially dismissing some claims, the pope later summoned Chile's bishops to Rome for questioning after a Vatican investigation reported that they had been guilty of "grave negligence" in investigating abuse in the church. The pope has accepted the resignations of seven Chilean bishops, and the country's episcopal conference has vowed to tighten up child protection measures and work more closely with civil authorities to bring abusers to justice. But the archbishop of Santiago, Ricardo Ezzati, remains in his post despite facing abuse cover-up allegations - accusations that he, like most of the Chilean church's senior leadership, denies. Cruz and Murillo, both victims of the now-defrocked father Fernando Karadima, called for a wholesale overhaul of Chile's church leadership. Murillo called for "more women and lay church workers" to be made bishops in Chile. Cruz said he believed the pope's efforts to uncover abuse in the church were being hampered by powerful forces around him. "I believe the pope's apology to us was sincere, and I think he is trying with all his heart but not with the speed that the severity of these issues deserves," Cruz said. "It is so much that the pope needs help and people to support him. What has struck me is the number of people working against him in his close circle." (Reporting by Aislinn Laing; Editing by Steve Orlofsky)
On the same day Celgene Corp. was announcing that it would be acquired by Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. in the biggest pharma deal ever, the company was also raising the price of its blockbuster cancer drug.

The Summit, New Jersey-based biotechnology company, which has routinely increased the prices of its top-selling drugs, boosted the price of a 10-milligram dose of Revlimid by 3.5 percent to $719.82 effective Jan. 3, according to price data compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence and First Databank. Cancer patients need many doses of Revlimid a year, and the overall cost can approach $200,000. The same dose cost $247.28 at the end of 2007.

Celgene also raised the price of psoriasis therapy Otezla, the cancer treatment Abraxane and two other drugs by the same percentage. In a statement, company spokesman Greg Geissman said the 3.5 percent increase is lower than the expected rate of spending growth in U.S. health care.

For the benefit of patients, Celgene is committed to helping find ways to ensure that American health care improves access and quality, while also becoming more affordable over time, Geissman said.

Celgene has come under scrutiny for hiking the prices of its drugs in the past. Its longtime chief executive officer, Bob Hugin, faced attacks on that issue when he ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate in New Jersey last year.

In June, the company said it would boost prices of its therapies only once a year and would limit increases to the annual percentage growth of medical spending in the U.S. In July, Celgene raised the price of Revlimid by 5 percent and said at the time that it planned no further increases in 2018.
By Rodrigo Viga Gaier RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Comments from Brazil's new right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro that he would be open to the United States operating a military base on Brazilian soil have not been well received by the country's armed forces, a senior army officer told Reuters on Saturday. Bolsonaro, who took office on Jan. 1, said in a television interview on Thursday he might be willing to allow a U.S. base in Brazil as a way to counter Russian influence in Venezuela, a move that would mark a sharp shift in direction for Brazilian foreign policy. Brazil's military would be against a U.S. base in the country, the officer said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he has not been authorized to discuss the matter publicly. He added that the possibility of ceding territory for a base took officers by surprise in the Brazilian military, which has traditionally been a zealous guardian of national sovereignty. The Ministry of Defense said on Saturday it has not been informed of such a proposal by Bolsonaro, a former Army officer turned politician who has appointed retired generals to his cabinet. "The president has not discussed this with the defense minister," said Major Sylvia Martins, a spokeswoman for the ministry. Bolsonaro, an admirer of U.S. President Donald Trump, has quickly moved to align Brazil more closely with the Trump administration, which was represented by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at his swearing in on Tuesday. Pompeo told reporters on Wednesday that the United States and Brazil had "an opportunity to work alongside each other against authoritarian regimes" in the region, naming Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua. Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo confirmed Bolsonaro's willingness to allow a U.S. base in comments to reporters in Lima on Friday during a meeting of the Lima Group of 13 countries monitoring Venezuela's political and economic crisis. Araujo said Bolsonaro would discuss the base offer with Trump during an expected visit to Washington in March, the Estado de S. Paulo newspaper reported. The Lima Group of Latin American nations plus Canada said on Friday that last year's elections in Venezuela were not democratic and they would not recognize the legitimacy of leftist President Nicolas Maduro's new term starting Jan. 10. Bolsonaro said in the television interview that he is worried about Russia's closeness with Maduro, the most significant U.S. foe in Latin America. A visit to Venezuela by two Russian nuclear-capable strategic bombers in December angered the U.S. government.. (Reporting by Rodrigo Viga; Gaier in Rio de Janeiro and Anthony Boadle in Brasilia; Editing by Meredith Mazzilli)
Reuters

LIMA (Reuters) -Peruvians were still waiting on Monday for their next president to be confirmed, more than a week after a polarizing run-off vote, with socialist Pedro Castillo clinging to a narrow lead that would tilt the country firmly to the left. The election count, which has increased by less than 0.02% since Saturday and stands at 99.953% tallied, showed the former teacher with 50.14% of the vote, fewer than 50,000 votes ahead of right-wing rival Keiko Fujimori. Fujimori has alleged electoral fraud, without offering any concrete proof for her claim.
Story Highlights 40% of women younger than 30 would like to leave the U.S.

22% who disapprove of Trump would like to move vs. 7% who approve

Canada is top desired destination for would-be migrant Americans

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- While Donald Trump has spent much of his presidency focused on the number of people who want to get into the U.S., since he took office, record numbers of Americans have wanted to get out.

Though relatively average by global standards, the 16% of Americans overall who said in 2017 and again in 2018 that they would like to permanently move to another country -- if they could -- is higher than the average levels during either the George W. Bush (11%) or Barack Obama administration (10%).

Desire to Migrate in the U.S. Ideally, if you had the opportunity, would you like to move PERMANENTLY to another country, or would you prefer to continue living in this country? Average % George W. Bush (2008) 11 Barack Obama (2009-2016) 10 Donald Trump (2017-2018) 16 Gallup World Poll

While Gallup's World Poll does not ask people about their political leanings, most of the recent surge in Americans' desire to migrate has come among groups that typically lean Democratic and that have disapproved of Trump's job performance so far in his presidency: women, young Americans and people in lower-income groups.

During the first two years of the Trump administration, a record-high one in five U.S. women (20%) said they would like to move to another country permanently if they could. This is twice the average for women during the Obama (10%) or Bush years (11%) and almost twice the level among men (13%) under Trump. Before the Trump years, there was no difference between men's and women's desires to move.

Desire to Migrate at Record Levels for Women, Young People and Low-Income Americans Bush Obama Trump % % % Gender Men 10 10 13 Women 11 10 20 Age 15-29 24 18 30 30-49 9 10 19 50+ 5 6 8 Income Poorest 20% * 13 30 Richest 20% * 8 12 *Income data unavailable Gallup World Poll

The 30% of Americans younger than 30 who would like to move also represents a new high -- and it is also the group in which the gender gap is the largest. Forty percent of women younger than 30 said they would like to move, compared with 20% of men in this age group. These gender gaps narrow with age and eventually disappear after age 50.

Desire to migrate among the poorest 20% of Americans during Trump's first two years is also at record levels. It is more than twice as high as the average during Obama's two terms. So far under Trump, three in 10 Americans (30%) in the poorest 20% say they would like to migrate if they could, compared with an average of 13% under Obama.

But more than anything else, Trump himself may be the primary motivator. Regression analysis shows that regardless of differences by gender, age or income -- if Americans disapprove of the job Trump is doing as president, they are more likely to want to leave the U.S. Overall, 22% of Americans who disapproved of Trump's job performance during his first two years said they would like to move, compared with 7% who approved.

Destination Canada?

Before and after Trump's election, many Americans -- particularly Democrats -- threatened to move to Canada (as Republicans did after Obama was elected). Canada always has been one of the top desired destinations for Americans, but that desire has only increased since Trump's election. In 2018, more than one in four Americans (26%) who would like to move named Canada as the place they would like to go, up from 12% in 2016.

It's important to note that people's desire to migrate is typically much higher than their intention to do so -- as such, it is unlikely that Americans will be flocking to the Canadian border. In fact, since Trump's election, Canadian statistics show only a modest uptick in the number of Americans who have moved to Canada.

Bottom Line

After years of remaining flat, the number of Americans -- particularly young women -- who desire to leave the U.S. permanently is on the rise. This increase is concerning, but none of this suggests that the U.S. is going to suddenly see a mass migration in which it could lose as many as 40% of its young women.

However, the "Trump effect" on Americans' desire to migrate is a new manifestation of the increasing political polarization in the U.S. Before Trump took office, Americans' approval or disapproval of the president was not a push factor in their desire to migrate.

Dato Tsabutashvili contributed to this analysis.

For complete methodology and specific survey dates, please review Gallup's Country Data Set details.

Learn more about how the Gallup World Poll works.
Such daunting realities clearly demand solutions that accommodate college-ready high schoolers, returning veterans and workers who need enhanced skills for economic mobility.

Keeping ahead of poverty is yet another proof point in the case for improving higher education in California, the state with 7.4 million people living in poverty.

The California Poverty Measure, a 2016 joint research product of the Public Policy Institute of California and the Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality, finds that education is protective. The poverty rate among families with at least one college graduate is 8.6 percent. Among families where no adult has a high school degree, the poverty rate is 48 percent.

PPIC followed up with another report in December that found workers with a bachelors degree earn more than two times the annual income of a worker with only a high school diploma, or $80,000 compared to $35,000. The report stressed the need to expand capacity within public and private institutions for California to serve the population and meet the demand for higher education.

All of these factors make it clear higher education is the lynchpin to our future. Now, as we enter a new era of leadership, we have a chance to be bold with solutions to ensure that the future is bright for Californians and the state economy alike.

Eloy Ortiz Oakley is chancellor of the California Community Colleges and a regent of the University of California regent. He wrote this commentary for CALmatters, a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how Californias Capitol works and why it matters.
Yes, the Fifth Amendment has been recognized to be valid before Congress. But a committee chairman holds a trump card: A federal statuteauthorizes Congress to obtain a court order compelling a witness to testify with limited immunity from criminal prosecution, thereby overcoming the constitutional privilege against self-incrimination. Congress uses this power sparingly (the process may taint a subsequent prosecution, as it did when the Iran-contra committees coerced North's testimony), but the authority is on the books. What's more, an invocation of the Fifth is a public relations disaster - and therefore a last resort - for any executive branch official and for the administration in which he or she serves. "I won't tell you about the work I did on behalf of the public" is never a good look.

Myth No. 5: Oversight alone will bring down Trump.

More than a year ago, Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin speculated that a 2018 Democratic takeover in Congress "would be politically fatal" for Trump. Last year, Trump ally Sam Nunberg declared "2018 is about saving the Trump presidency." This week, CNN's Chris Cillizza opined that Democratic oversight "will make Trump's life a living hell."

Oversight is a powerful tool, but it is no silver bullet. Public interest in hearings may wane, and the oversight process, meant to expose potential malfeasance, can have unintended consequences if its targets appear sympathetic, as when North became a hero in some quarters for stonewalling the Iran-Contra Committee. Also, several recent presidents have overcome first-term probes that analysts thought might weaken them, such as congressional investigations of the Travelgate and Whitewater controversies during President Bill Clinton's first term. And even if oversight findings eventually lead the Democrat-controlled House to impeach President Trump - something Pelosi now says she hasn't ruled out - the two-thirds supermajority required to convict him in the Republican-controlled Senate is a daunting obstacle.

Ronald Weich, the dean of the University of Baltimore School of Law, was assistant attorney general for legislative affairs from 2009 to 2012 and, before that, chief counsel to former senators Harry Reid and Edward M. Kennedy. He wrote this for The Washington Post.
While 2018 has been a pivotal year in Californias political history  particularly the Republican Partys losing half of its congressional seats  2019 may be even more significant.

The states politics will likely be dominated by two rolling events: the beginning of Gavin Newsoms governorship and Californias bid to become a factor in presidential politics.

Newsom will be the first Democrat to succeed a Democratic governor in more than a century, which means he doesnt have to hastily form a new administration and get rid of Republican appointees to hundreds of positions, as Jerry Brown did in 1975 and Gray Davis did in 1999.

That, coupled with not having to deal with a severe budget crunch on inauguration day like most other new governors, gives Newsom the luxury of easing into the job.

Whether Newsom takes his time is something to watch, given that hes demonstrated a certain penchant for impulsive moves, both personal and political, in the past.
So in 2007, for Schwarzeneggers re-election, he planned an environmentally-themed kickoff event at Capitol Park with Sacramento Kings star Vlade Divac and comedian Bob Saget, a donor reception at a downtown restaurant and a $500-a-ticket ball at the convention center with performers Paul Anka and Donna Summer. The inaugural ceremony at Memorial Auditorium would be hosted by former Assembly Speaker Willie Brown and feature a rendition of the national anthem by guitarist Jose Felicano.

Then, two weeks before the celebration, Schwarzenegger broke his leg during a ski accident in Idaho. He had to pull out of most of his inaugural events, showing up to his swearing-in on crutches midway through the ceremony and making a quick, 10-minute appearance at the ball, where he sang two lines of a special inauguration-themed rendition of My Way with Anka.

Then there is the curious case of Democrat Jerry Brown, who downplayed his return to the governors office for a third-term after 28 years, and made even less of a deal out of his re-election for a historic fourth term.
AMERICAN CANYON  Gunshots and screams echoed in the American Canyon Community Center. First responders in bulletproof vests huddled outside.

The scene looked much like a response to an active shooting incident, but it was one of two training events for Napa County law enforcement and fire agencies conducted Friday morning in Napa County. The second drill was held at Calistoga High School.

The drills were funded by $176,000 in federal Department of Homeland Security grants that also allowed the county to purchase protective helmets as well as back and chest shields for medics, county officials said.

American Canyon Police Chief Oscar Ortiz said the exercise would help law enforcement work more effectively with unarmed fire personnel when taking calls.

Thats why we do this, he said of the simulated situation. Were not learning from incidents ... we dont want to have an actual victim.

Three volunteer victims in bloodied T-shirts lay sprawled on the floor in the unlit community center, which doubles as the American Canyon Middle Schools gym. A woman crouched next to one of them and waited for officers to file into the room. A track of screams, gunshots and an emergency siren played on repeat.

Gunshots sounded from behind the gym stage about two minutes into the drill. The first team of four officers burst through the gym door. Officers wielded flashlights and approached victims as they tried to track down the source of the gunfire.

More officers eventually arrived, spilled into lit hallways and disappeared behind the dark curtain of the stage. They escorted some victims out of the gym and searched for others. A California Highway Patrol officer called over his radio that a victim was unresponsive.

The soundtrack of screams stopped about 12 minutes into the exercise after two simulated gunmen had been shot and killed. Fire department medics were led into the room about a minute later.

We have multiple gunshot wounds up here, an officer called from the stage. One victim.

Medics determined which victims could still be saved by checking triage tags, which are cards placed near victims in a mass casualty incident. The tags tell first responders the severity of the persons injuries.

Some walked out of the room on their own, while others were carried or dragged across the floor on a tarp.

The simulation was over in about 20 minutes.

About 20 volunteers participated in the countys drill, which was the largest such event that Kerry Whitney, a Napa County emergency services official, has seen during the 12 years hes had his job.

Having medics equipped with helmets, chest and back shields can help officials get to victims faster, he said.

Weve cut that time gap down to a place where these people can go in safely and save lives, Whitney said.

Deputy Reina Maravilla of the Napa County Sheriffs Office was among the first group of officers to enter the room. She said her main concern was to find and confront the shooter before other responders arrived.

Officers try to find the shooter by using information that comes in from dispatchers or people fleeing the building on their way in, she said.

The toughest part is probably getting split up from your team, Maravilla said.

Eric Costello of the American Canyon Fire Department said he tried to survive the drill by sticking with the cops, but communication was the biggest problem. Things got easier with more practice, he said, and first responders tried to make the event feel as real as possible.

It may be difficult to mimic the environment of a real active shooting scenario, but volunteers and first responders, like Costello, still found the exercise valuable.

Unfortunately its becoming more and more relevant, Costello said. Its everywhere now, unfortunately, whether its terrorism or just somebody mad at the world.

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The possibility of a breakup has already been floated by the state Public Utilities Commission, which launched a major investigation into PG&Es safety practices following the Camp Fire. Two devastating seasons of deadly wildfires, many of them blamed on power lines and other PG&E equipment, have put the company under intense scrutiny and caused investors to flee. Federal prosecutors who secured criminal convictions against PG&E in a deadly 2010 San Bruno pipeline explosion are looking into the wildfires.

A faulty transmission tower appears to be the main focus of Cal Fires investigation into the Camp Fire, which killed 86 people  more than any other in state history.

Mike Danko, a Bay Area lawyer suing Pacific Gas and Electric Co. on behalf of hundreds of Camp Fire survivors, called the potential sale of the gas business a cop-out by PG&E to avoid more legal hassles without addressing the major safety issues the utility must confront.

This is an issue by management to preserve themselves  how can we save ourselves?  Danko said. It is desperation in that it totally avoids the issues that matter. This is a way to limit their liability. They still dont get it. How can they fix things so they dont blow people up and burn down communities in the future? None of this has anything to do with that.
Angie Motshekga, Minister of Basic Education, has announced that the matric pass rate for 2018 is 78.2%  which is up from the 2017 pass rate of 75.1%.

172,043 students achieved a bachelors pass, while a further 141,700 achieved a diploma pass.

In 2018, about 157,000 distinctions were achieved, a decline of 2.6% from 2017, added Motshekga.

Gauteng had the highest pass rate, with 87.9% of students from the province attaining their matric certificate, while the Free State, Western Cape, and North West provinces all also achieved pass rates in excess of 80%.

In contrast, Limpopo and the Eastern Cape achieved the worst pass rates, with 69.4% and 70.6% of matric students passing respectively.

False figures

DA Shadow Minister of Basic Education Nomsa Marchesi has accused Motshekga, however, of failing to take into account students who dropped out of school before writing matric exams.

Nearly half the learners who enrolled in Grade 1 in 2007 didnt write the full-time matric exams in 2018 as they were expected to, said Marchesi.

These learners are either stuck repeating grades or being lost to the ANCs failing education system completely.

Of those who started Grade 1 in 2007, only 40% passed matric in 2018.

Equal Education said it is important that learners are kept in school until they have a meaningful qualification.

Particularly concerning is that approximately 12% of young people still do not even complete Grade 9, said Equal Education.

It added that the throughput rate of learners to matric should also be considered when discussing pass rates.

Matric pass rate from 1995 to 2018

The matric pass rate has climbed substantially over the past 24 years, but this has come at a cost, say various experts, over and above the dropout rates.

Jonathan Jansen has previously said that passing Grade 12 in South Africa is actually quite easy, and it means very little, due to the lowered standards of the exams.

Additionally, South African maths lecturers and teachers told MyBroadband that maths standards have dropped over the past two decades.

Alongside the standards of matric subjects dropping, the adjustment of various matric subject results has taken place.

The table below shows the matric pass rate from 1995 to 2018.
Important stuff you won't get from the liberal media! We do the surfing so you can be informed AND have a life!
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Two Democratic senators have raised the ugly specter of anti-Catholic bigotry regarding the nomination of a Nebraska lawyer named Brian Buescher to the position of Federal District Court Judge in his home state.

Ive researched Mr. Bueschers background, and he appears to be a sound candidate for the position: honors graduate from the University of Nebraska, law degree from Georgetown University, a top tier law school, partner in a prominent Nebraska law firm, chairman of both the Agricultural and Environmental Committees of the Nebraska Bar Association, and a local state prosecutor. He is also endorsed by Nebraskas Governor and both Senators.

Unfortunately, for two Democratic members of the Senate, he is also a member of an extremist group that goes by the name of the Knights of Columbus, which opposes abortion and supported Proposition 8, the successful California referendum that declared that marriage is a union between a man and a woman.

That proposition was ultimately overturned by the federal courts, but 52% of California voters were in favor of the extremist position, as were the two Democratic candidates for President that year, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
With nearly four decades spent as the owner and operator of Books & Books, the independent Butte bookstore she started in 1980, there are multiple possible sources of 87-year-old Jo Antonioli's longevity.

A 2016 study published in the journal Social Science and Medicine found that reading books can help stave off the inevitable, regardless of other factors, such as gender, wealth, education or overall health. And Antonioli, a voracious reader since childhood, has never let up on her reading habits.

That habit is part of the charm of her 70-year marriage to Dr. William "Bill" Antonioli, who is 97. She said they both have fond childhood memories of checking out books from public libraries and that theyre still both big readers.

Another possible source of her longevity is her passion for her work. That passion has kept Antonioli going all these years, she says. And it's a passion she has shared with her husband, who didn't retire until a few years ago.

Shes been showing up to open the doors at 206 W. Park St. to readers of all ages since 1980, and March 15 will mark her 39th anniversary at the store.
The University of Montana named Sarah Swager as its new vice provost for student success, noting her 35 years of experience as a student affairs professional.

"We are extremely excited to welcome Dr. Swager to campus," Provost Jon Harbor said in a statement. "She has a great blend of experience and talents that will enhance our efforts to provide truly transformative experiences for students."

Swager's resume notes she has a doctorate in education from the University of Michigan, a master's in education from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, and a bachelor's degree in art history and studio art from Colby College in Maine. The news release notes she continues to work as an amateur artist in multimedia and oils, and is an accomplished knitter and quilter.

UM has been struggling with enrollment and retention, and in the news release, Harbor said Swager's experience includes "significant accomplishments in innovative ways to enhance student success and retention."

For example, in an email, Harbor noted Swager pushed up retention as dean of student success at Central Washington University; her resume notes she worked there from 2012 to 2017. Harbor said Swager and her staff launched a number of retention initiatives, including a "predictive modeling program."
SCOTT KEELER | Times Senator Dana Young on the floor of the Florida Senate during debate, 2017 session.

Friday afternoon, Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis named former state Sen. Dana Young, R-Tampa, as his pick to lead Visit Florida, the state's public-private tourism program which uses taxpayer funds to promote the state to visitors worldwide.

"Dana Young is an exceptional leader who has worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life for all Floridians through her work in the state senate," said Governor-elect Ron DeSantis in a released statement. "Her leadership ability and experience make her an excellent candidate to lead Visit Florida in their mission to maximize the economic impact of travel and tourism to our state."

In order to take office as the CEO of Visit Florida, Young must first be approved by the Visit Florida Board of Directors.

Young, who first served in the state House before being elected to the Senate, lost her re-election bid to Democrat Janet Cruz in November after a razor-thin race that required a manual recount.

Visit Florida came under scrutiny in 2016 after the Florida House filed to sue the rapper Pitbull to reveal the details of a secret $1 million contract with Visit Florida to promote tourism to the state.

The charge against Visit Florida's operations was led by then-House Speaker Richard Corcoran, who has now been appointed to be the commissioner of education in DeSantis' administration.
1st Amendment protesters say thank you

Thank you to one and all who helped with our Residents Activity Days 1st Amendment Protest  aimed at civil rights violations by Twin Falls Housing Authority  held Dec. 17 at Twin Falls City Park. Thank you to each of our donors, sponsors and volunteers who cared enough about our 1st Amendment rights to get personally involved  including helping us stand up for our rights to Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Association and our rights as disabled Americans in general.

Thank you to those individuals and businesses that donated hand-warmers and refreshments for our protesters and cardboard and wood for our protest signs. Thank you to Times-News and Radio News 1310 for at least stopping by, even if we didnt qualify as your evening news. Thank you to Sen. Heider for caring about disabled community members here in Twin Falls and sharing some of your busy schedule with us at the park. Thank you to all the pedestrians who stopped to visit with us and cheer us on. And thank you to those of the nearly 3,000 vehicles passing by during our two-hour event who honked, waved, gave us the peace sign and in general helped us celebrate the fact that yes, it is still the U.S.
Larry Bothof, 56 formerly of Twin Falls Idaho, and recently of Moultrie Georgia, entered the arms of his Savior on December 18, 2018. He was a life long private pilot who was enjoying his passion for aviation when he flew through heavens gates. He was born August 11, 1962 to Gertrude and Gary Bothof in Bellflower, California. Larry lived most of his life in Idaho, where he enjoyed all things adventurous. He met the love of his life, Cheryl Mingo and they married on December 17, 2005.

Larry was a devoted husband, father, and papa. Anyone who met Larry became a friend because he never met anyone who left as a stranger. He had a smile on his face that stress and life could never steal. The joy of the Lord was truly his strength and came from deep inside his soul and out to every person he came in contact with. No one left untouched by his joy. Larrys passion for life was unmatched and an amazing gift to all who were blessed to share life with him. He was a man of many gifts, he could fix or repair anything his hands touched and if he didnt know how, he would figure it out and redesign it to work better than before.
BOISE (AP)  Outgoing Lt. Gov. Brad Little took the oath of office Jan. 4 as Idahos 33rd governor, although under the state Constitution he wont officially become governor and assume those duties until a private swearing-in ceremony Monday.

The public inauguration ceremony on the Statehouse steps was held before about 1,500 onlookers and featured a flyover by four Idaho National Guard A-10 Thunderbolt jets and 19 cannon booms that set off at least one car alarm.

Little struck an upbeat theme in his address, thanking four previous governors in attendance for their work guiding the state and looking to the future.

We must keep cultivating the skills of our citizens as we progress from a historically agrarian society to a modern information economy, said Little, a rancher from Emmett.

He also said he planned to work to reflect our shared Idaho values and aspirations and ticked off a list of items within that framework.

It means pushing back against federal overreach and delivering Idaho solutions where Idahoans enjoy the liberty of being the masters of their own destiny, he said in a remark that drew the most applause.
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Eighteen-year-old Angie Dodge was raped and killed in her Idaho home a quarter-century ago and an innocent man wrongly served 20 years in prison for the crime. On Tuesday, the man authorities have said is the real killer was sentenced to life in prison.
BOISE  Melinda S. Maloney, a licensed social worker in Idaho, told a judge in early November that she learned her daughter was being sexually abused by her second husband, but she did not report it to police.

Dr. Craig Maloney, a Boise veterinarian, was sentenced in October to 40 years in prison, including 10 years before hes eligible for parole.

Social workers are mandated by state law to report suspected child abuse, as are physicians, day-care workers, teachers and others who believe a child has been abused, abandoned or neglected, or who believes conditions or circumstances could result in abuse or neglect.

Ada County Deputy Prosecutor Katelyn Farley said in court that Melinda Maloneys daughter told her mother about the abuse eight months before she told her father  who immediately notified authorities, according to a recording of the hearing.

This child who is only 14 years old must have been extremely confused by her mothers decisions, Farley said at the hearing. That person who was supposed to help her, who was supposed to protect her, did nothing.
SUN VALLEY  Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, Sun Valley Community School will offer either one full tuition or two half-tuition scholarships to local ninth grade students applying to join the school for the 2019-20 academic year. Students need to submit applications by Feb. 25 and must qualify for need-based financial aid to be eligible.

The recipient will be notified in mid-March when admissions notifications are sent to families. This scholarship will renew each year through the students secondary years provided that they meet the following criteria: consistent and solid attendance, strong academic standing with a GPA of 3.5 or higher and a record of good citizenship. The scholarship applies to tuition only  not to extra fees, the Learning Specialist Program or the summer program.

For a full description of the scholarship including qualifications, selection process and eligibility, go to communityschool.org/admissions/tuition-assistance.

For regular application information, email admissions@communityschool.org or go to communityschool.org.

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Also, in July, the church plans to realign the boundaries of the following 12 missions while merging them with neighboring missions. Those missions include the following: Argentina Posadas, California Irvine, California Long Beach, California Rancho Cucamonga, Canada Halifax, Florida Tallahassee, Georgia Macon, Idaho Nampa, Japan Sendai, Korea Daejeon, New York Utica and Virginia Chesapeake.

Changes to mission boundaries occur regularly based on the needs and demands of each area around the world. This is particularly the case as the number of missionaries has leveled off after the change in ages for missionary service took effect in 2012, the church said. The number of missionaries initially surged to over 88,000 before receding to 65,000 missionaries today, as expected.

The Church reported that it would release further details about the changes will be conveyed to mission presidents and the parents of missionaries in the targeted missions. It also reported that it planned to announce new mission presidents later this month.

Church missionaries volunteer to serve and cover their own expenses while doing so. Young men ages 18 to 25 serve for two years while young woman ages 19 to 39 serve for 18 months. Senior missionaries serve from six months to two years.

The changes in temple ceremonies and missions follow numerous other adjustments that the First Presidency has made recently. Last year, it changed home teaching and visiting teaching to Ministering. It also announced changes to the Sunday meeting schedule from a three-hour block to a two-hour meeting. Wards and branches will start holding the new two-hour schedule this Sunday.

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Ascension holds book drive for Twin Falls schools

TWIN FALLS  During January, Ascension Episcopal Church will collect new or gently used childrens books for the Twin Falls School District. These donations will be given to students to take home for practice in improving their reading fluency scores. Suggestions for books include picture books (which help develop vocabulary), board books, early reader books like The Box Car Kids and other chapter books. Donations may be left in the gathering area of the church, 371 Eastland Drive N., Twin Falls.

Ascension will celebrate Epiphany  also known as Twelfth Night or Three Kings Day  at 9 a.m. Sunday. On this day, all Christians gather to celebrate the manifestation of Christ to the world. Nursery care for children younger than five will be available from 8:45 a.m. until after the service. A fellowship coffee hour will follow worship.
OAKLEY  An Oakley teacher was named the state winner in a Samsung Solve for Tomorrow contest.

Lisa Hitt, a math teacher at Oakley High School, has been named the Idaho state winner in the contest for her proposed plan to mitigate e-cigarette and vaping use.

She was selected as a state winner in a similar contest several weeks ago hosted by Samsung Solve for Tomorrow for a project she submitted that used her Algebra II students to address Oakley Dam flood prevention and preparation, Hitt said in a previous interview with the Times-News.

The Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest encourages teachers and students to solve real-world issues in their community using classroom skills in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), according to a press release.

In addressing the problem of vaping, Oakley high school students instructed by Hitt proposed a 3D working model of a lung that students can actually breathe into and experience what it feels like to have various lung diseases. Students said if students can have a hands-on experience, it will make much more of an impact towards preventing e-cigarette use in the community.
We didnt receive any applications for projects that qualified for TIF support, and the district was effectively underwater because of the softening of property values from the Great Recession, Mikolajewski said.

The city closed the TIF district in 2017.

The Northport Drive corridor has seen some investment in housing, but not comparable to that seen Downtown or along East Washington and University avenues or South Park Street.

Our shopping center today is doing fine, Bruns said. But we have to strategically look at the future. We want to build up some high-quality housing and density.

The Planning Division welcomes new housing in any part of the city, but parts of the North Side dont lend themselves as readily to large developments because of the lack of density, relatively low vehicle trip counts, and fewer natural sites for multi-story, mixed-use projects, said Tim Parks, city planner.
Residents were kept out of the building for about a week while the apartment and storage areas belonging to Campbell were cleaned up.

Campbell has not said why he began experimenting with chemicals and explosives, but according to documents filed in court last year, police believe it stemmed from a life-altering misdemeanor battery arrest in 2016 that may have negatively affected him.

Schmeiser disputed that at the time.

Campbell was placed in the Dane County District Attorneys Deferred Prosecution Program after pleading guilty to battery for choking a fellow UW Hoofers sailor in September 2016. But he was chastised after he was ordered to write an essay about the positives and negatives of his experience and responded to the assignment in a way that program officials found to be flip.

The same search warrant states that Campbell told police he wasnt making explosives or altering fireworks in his apartment but said there was a thrill to his experiments.
Right Wisconsin assembles a group of conservative and right-wing pundits to make predictions about what's ahead in 2019. Most see doom and gloom under new Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who they say will squander Scott Walker's "surplus" and budget, and also see gridlock between Evers and the Republican-controlled Legislature.

In an Urban Milwaukee column, however, business blogger John Torinus writes that Evers and GOP leaders Robin Vos and Scott Fitzgerald are absolutely going to have to compromise in the year ahead. He insists that there are several areas in which they can find common ground.

Also on Urban Milwaukee, the Wisconsin Budget Project's Jon Peacock sees the anti-Obamacare ruling by a Texas federal court judge as exposing Republicans. They, as well as Wisconsin's outgoing AG Brad Schimel and Gov. Scott Walker, were behind the court case to rule all of Obamacare unconstitutional even as many of Obamacare's provisions are supported by big majorities of U.S. citizens.
An Arcadia man previously convicted of child sex assault was sentenced Thursday in federal court to 10 years in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release for possessing child pornography.

Michael Reynolds, 43, would have faced a prison sentence between 46 and 57 months, but his 1992 conviction for first-degree sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl required District Judge William Conley to impose the 10-year statutory mandatory minimum sentence.

Decades had passed since Reynolds conviction, and his child pornography offense involved one sexually explicit photo and seven similar videos  far fewer depictions than the average recent cases. However, the seriousness of his prior offense, his absconding while on probation for it and his continued interest in children as sex objects warranted a lengthy prison term, Conley said.

Conley noted that Reynolds and his siblings were victims of child sexual abuse when he was 9, and the judge was dismayed that Reynolds did not have empathy for vulnerable children as a result.

Reynolds attorney, Terry Frederick, said that being sexually abused so young increased the likelihood that Reynolds would act out on others.
Thinking about powerlessness is also important for understanding the backlash against immigration. There is good reason to be horrified at the xenophobia and racism underlying Trump's cruel policies toward immigrants and refugees. Opposing what Trump is doing is a moral imperative.

But there is nothing new (or necessarily indecent) about citizens saying that nations have a right to control their borders and to decide what levels of immigration they want to accept at any given time. In truth, almost all of Trump's critics believe this, and proposals for immigration reform that have advanced in Congress have always provided for border security and set limits of some kind on immigration flows.

The challenge for the left and for all advocates of humane immigration policies is to move the debate from angry abstractions about "open borders" and toward a practical engagement with basic questions:

What level of immigration is optimal at this moment for the nation as a whole? What will it take to reach a consensus for creating a path toward citizenship for immigrants who are here illegally? And how do we build a stronger civic culture that acknowledges the rights but also the duties of the native born and immigrants alike?
After a decade of helping refugees find new homes in Madison, Lutheran Social Services will no longer resettle new refugees in the city.

Madison is a welcoming place with many churches and organizations eager to support incoming refugees, said Mary Flynn, who oversees LSS resettlement programs in Milwaukee and Madison.

But with increasing rental rates and a decrease in available housing stock, Flynn said, Madison just doesnt have enough affordable housing that meets LSS and resettlement requirements.

Without housing, our hands are tied. We don't want to put refugees in places that we ourselves would not live. We dont want to put refugees in places we know they cannot afford, Flynn said. Madison has got a lot of wonderful things going for it, but unfortunately housing hasnt kept up with the need.

The decision doesnt mean the end of all refugee services in the city. Jewish Social Services will still resettle refugees in Madison, and LSS will continue to provide support services for up to five years for refugees they previously resettled, helping refugees with tasks like applying for a green card or finding a new job.
Kevin Merrill of Mesa Vineyard Management is as board member of the Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau and a director on the Santa Barbara county Fair board. He can be reached at kmerrill@mesavineayrd.com
Lewiston, ID (83501)

Today

Partly cloudy skies during the evening will give way to cloudy skies and light rain after midnight. Low 62F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies during the evening will give way to cloudy skies and light rain after midnight. Low 62F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
1. Yes. Its important to address the problem before it gets worse. A bond is needed.

2. Yes. Its fine, as long as the bond isnt too large. The city doesnt need more debt.

3. No. A bond issue would just put the problem back on the taxpayers. Not acceptable.

4. No. Certificates of obligation, targeting the worst roads, would be a better choice.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say without knowing the details of what a bond would entail.

Vote

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Jill said she was impressed with the wide open spaces here in Nebraska. What they havent been as impressed by is the snow. James said he has seen more snow here in Nebraska than he has in the last 10 years in Utah. Jill said lately she has been taking pictures of how cold the temperature is and sending it back to her family members to see.

Of Lexington, the couple said, Lexington has been friendly to us, everyone who we have talked to about the project supports us. They said that Lexington is the biggest town they have lived in, compared to their home of Moab, which has a population of 5,046.

Jill said she thanks the DCHM for, allowing us to come in and take over their backroom. Anyone who wants to visit and see the process being done, or help prepare documents is welcomed to, she said.

We love having Jill and James here, we dont want them to leave, said Executive Director of the DCHM Crystal Werger, They really go the extra mile, they are great people.

Werger said James and Jill often help out with other things around the museum and participate in events the museum holds.
June 2, 1927  December 27, 2018

Longtime Corvallis resident Joan Jo M. Shaw died December 27, 2018, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis from the effects of Alzheimers disease. She was 91.

Jo was born Marion Joan McKinney on June 2, 1927, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Her parents were Walter F. McKinney and Marion P. McKinney.

After high school, Jo studied liberal arts at Indiana University and graduated in 1949. That year, she married her college sweetheart, Richard Dick Floyd, in Essex, Connecticut.

Jo and Dick then moved to Illinois, where Dick began his journalism career and Jo worked as a receptionist until she became a mother. Their daughter, Jill, was born in 1951 in Carbondale, Illinois. The family then moved to Rutland, Vermont, and later to Kalispell, Montana, where their son, Mark, was born in 1955.

A year later, they moved east to Chester, Pennsylvania, and in 1957 to Miami, Florida, where they lived for 10 years. Dick was a reporter at the Miami Herald and Jo was a homemaker. The family took long camping vacations during the summers, sleeping in their tent trailer, and visited almost every state in the nation and most national parks.
Apple says dropping demand for iPhones in China will cause its overall revenue to fall well below previous predictions.

Apple chief Tim Cook addressed the issue in a letter to company shareholders on Wednesday. Cook warned that the companys latest revenue guidance would be lowered to $84 billion. That was down from an earlier estimate of $89 to $93 billion.

The news caused Apple stock to trade sharply lower. It also led to big drops overall in the U.S. stock market, as well as other financial markets around the world.

The development was the latest sign of increasing economic concerns among Chinese buyers. The iPhone is Apples biggest product. It made up about 60 percent of the companys revenue in the last quarter reported.

But Apples new $1,000 iPhones are a difficult sell to Chinese consumers worried about the economic future, as trade tension continues between China and the United States.

Apples lower prediction added to concerns that the iPhone maker will keep losing ground in the important Chinese market. Experts say many Chinese consumers are likely to reject Apples iPhone price increases and instead buy less costly models from competitors.

Additional major American brands  including Ford Motor Company and Tiffany  have also recently suffered sharp sales drops in China.

The country is still one of the worlds fastest growing economies. China reported a third-quarter economic growth of 6.5 percent  stronger than most other major economies. But that was the countrys lowest rate of growth since the 2008 world economic crisis.

Economic experts have blamed Chinese consumer concerns on the countrys tariff dispute with the United States as well as an increase in news about falling automobile and real estate sales in China.

David Dollar is a China specialist at the Washington-based Brookings Institution. He described the change in how Chinese buyers see the future as definitely worrying. He added that overall, consumption growth is slowing down across China. The Associated Press reported his comments.

Emily Li is a 37-year-old advertising designer in Beijing. She told the AP she is delaying buying another car or making other major financial decisions right now. People are worried about losing jobs, she said.

Weakness in Chinese demand is especially painful for Apple and other smartphone makers. China makes up one-third of the industrys shipments worldwide.

Estimates from research company IDC showed smartphone shipments to China fell 10 percent from a year earlier in the quarter that ended in September.

Apples third-quarter shipments in China fell 13 percent from a year earlier to 7.5 million, IDC reported. That put Apples market share in fifth place in the Chinese market. Chinese smartphone manufacturer Huawei enjoys a 24.6 percent share.

In his letter to Apple shareholders, Cook gave no China sales numbers for the final quarter of the year. But he said sales decreased as consumer uncertainty grew over the U.S.-China trade dispute.

Worldwide, Apple fell behind Huawei to become the number three brand by number of handsets sold in the third quarter, IDC reported. South Koreas Samsung Electronics was in first place.

Im Bryan Lynn.

The Associated Press and Reuters reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

revenue  n. large amounts of money received by a company or government

consumer  n. person who buys goods and services

tariff  n. a tax on goods coming into or leaving a country

uncertainty  n. the act of not being sure about or not being able to decide about something
Saturday, January 5, 2019

The Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board recommends that a disbarred attorney be readmitted on three years probation

Petitioner, an elected member of the Monroe City Council at the time, was convicted in federal court of racketeering by accepting bribes from a developer in exchange for taking actions favorable to the developer in matters before the Monroe City Council. The developer testified in the criminal trial that in 2007 he had regularly given Petitioner cash contributions and in-kind donations in exchange for favorable assistance with certain zoning variances. The developer subsequently became an informant for the FBI. In a recorded conversation in 2008, Petitioner brought up certain business matters involving the developer which were pending before the city. The conversation later turned to Petitioners recent re-election and Petitioner said he was still taking campaign contributions. After Petitioner mentioned the campaign contributions, the developer gave Petitioner $1,000 saying all he asked for was a fair shake and that Petitioner do something for him to which Petitioner replied, No problem. In a recorded conversation in 2009, after discussing a pending proposal before the city council affecting a city contract with the developer, Petitioner requested $207 from the developer on behalf of a constituent whose utilities were about to be disconnected. That evening, the council approved the proposal, and the developer gave $207 to Petitioner a couple of days later.

Bar proceedings

As a result of the federal conviction, Petitioner was disbarred by the Louisiana Supreme Court on October 19, 2016, retroactive to June 9, 2013, the date he had last been placed on interim suspension. Petitioner was also given credit for the time he served on interim suspension during the periods of June 19, 2011 to September 21, 2011, and May 2, 2012 to April 3, 2013.

The board majority concludes that he met the criteria for reinstatement with a number of conditions.

Two members dissented.

Linda Bizzarro

I join Brian Landry in his dissent. This Board's previous recommendation for permanent disbarment was based on Mr. Gilmore's conviction of a "serious criminal offense", an element of Guideline 7 of the guidelines for permanent disbarment. As a City Councilman and public official he accepted bribes in exchange for improperly influencing a government entity.

The Louisiana Supreme Court imposed only disbarment.

In my opinion Mr. Gilmore has not met his burden on this [honesty and integrity] element. Many of the witnesses testifying on his behalf said they had not been in contact with, or had limited contact with Mr. Gilmore since his disbarment and he admitted to such lack of recent contact in his sworn statement. Much of the witnesses testimony about his character, consisted of reports about his regular appearances at birthday parties and funerals. Several witnesses testified that their opinion of him was not at all affected by his felony conviction. One witness implied that the federal criminal conviction was not significant because it was based on only 2 occasions with a small amount of money.

In my opinion this evidence is not adequate to prove that Mr. Gilmore now has the character, honesty and integrity to practice law, as is required by Rule XIX, Section 24 E (6), and his Petition for Reinstatement should be denied.

(Mike Frisch)

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2019/01/the-louisiana-attorney-disciplinary-board-recommends-that-a-disbarred-attorney-be-readmitted-on-three-years-probation-petiti.html
WATCH: Kevin Hart Opens Up About Oscars Controversy on Ellen

For the first time, Kevin Hart opened up to Ellen about being hired to host the 2019 Oscars, only to step down from the job days later after decade-old controversial tweets surfaced. The comedian explained how he has apologized and why he decided not to stay on as host of the prestigious event.

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Ellen told her friend Kevin Hart that she contacted the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in an effort to get him re-hired as host of the upcoming Oscars.
The Joint Center Applauds U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and U.S. Senator Gary Peters for Todays Appointments of Top Staff of Color

The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies commended U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) for their recent appointments of top staff of color. Senator Gillibrand hired Joi Chaney as chief of staff (pictured left) and Senator Peters promoted Zephranie Buetow to serve as legislative director (pictured right).

As a native of Michigan, I am particularly proud that Senator Peters has elevated Zephranie Buetow to a top policy position in his Washington, DC officeshe joins just two other African Americans who serve as legislative directors in the Senate, said Joint Center President Spencer Overton. As Congress returns to work and continues to fill more than 300 top staff positions, I urge Members to continue making diversity and inclusion a priority. Doing so sends the right message to all communities starting from day one.

Gillibrands and Peterss appointments are indicative of a wave of diversity hires of top staff of color. According to the Joint Centers live tracker, four new chiefs of color have been hired by returning Senators. Two (including Chaney) are Black women, one is Asian American/Pacific Islander woman, and one is Latino.

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Black women play a vital role in our democracy. By appointing Joi Chaney to lead her Senate office, Senator Gillibrand is playing a leading role in the Senate by recognizing that the talent and experiences of people of color matter in policymaking, said Joint Center Black Talent Initiative Director Don Bell. Hiring top staff is integral to creating a culture of diversity and inclusion, and it is necessary to ensure that our democracy is truly representative and accountable to all.

In 2015, the Joint Center issued a report, Racial Diversity Among Top Senate Staff, finding that African Americans accounted for 13 percent of the U.S. population and 22 percent of those who identified as Democratic voters, but less than 1 percent of top Senate staffers. With these appointments, along with others announced over the past two weeks, Senators of the 116th Congress are well on their way toward changing these statistics.

The official bios for the new top staffers can be found below:

Joi Chaney will join Senator Kirsten Gillibrands (NY) office as its Chief of Staff at the end of January after running Equal Pay Today, a project of Equal Rights Advocates that works in coalition to close the gender wage gap and engage new and diverse constituencies in the fight for equal pay. She is returning to government service after serving in the Obama Administration at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as a political appointee in the Office of the Chair. This is her second tour in the Senate, where she was previously Policy Director and Counsel of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee under then-Majority Leader Harry Reid. Joi is also an alumnus of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Joi is a graduate of Howard University and Harvard Law School.

According to the Office of Senator Peters, Zephranie Buetow is a graduate of the University of Illinois with a B.A. in Speech Communications. She also earned an M.S. in Communication from Illinois State University and a J.D. and M.A. in Cultural and Educational Policy Studies from Loyola University Chicago. She is currently Deputy Legislative Director and Counsel for Senator Peters. Prior to joining Peters office in 2015, she worked for former U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA). While attending law school, Buetow interned in the Chicago Offices of U.S. Representative Bobby Rush (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL). She also served in the Illinois Army National Guard.
BREAKING NEWS: 3 Males Killed, 4 Injured In Shooting At Torrance Bowling Alley

TORRANCE, Calif. (AP)  Three men were fatally shot late Friday and four injured when a brawl at a popular Los Angeles-area bowling alley and karaoke bar erupted into gunfire that had terrified patrons, some children, running for their lives.

Police in the coastal city of Torrance responded shortly after midnight to calls of shots fired at the Gable House Bowl, which offers bowling, laser tag and an arcade. They found seven people with gunshot wounds.

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Three men were pronounced dead at the scene and two were taken to a hospital, Sgt. Ronald Harris said. Two other men were struck by gunfire but opted to seek their own medical attention.

Authorities have not identified the victims or suspects or released details about what led to the shooting. But witnesses said it stemmed from a fight between two large groups.

Dwayne Edwards, 60, of Los Angeles, said he received a call from his nephew that his 28-year-old son Astin Edwards was one of those killed. His nephew told him his son was attempting to break up a fight when a gunman just started unloading.

Im thinking this is a dream and Ill wake up, Edwards told the Orange County Register. He was a good kid. I dont understand it.

A grieving mother told KABC-7 her 28-year-old son, Robert Meekins, was among the victims killed. She said her son was a friend of Astin Edwards, and she believed he also tried to help break up the fight.

They were friends so I know he probably jumped in and helped Astin and whoever he was with  but I dont think my son deserves to die, Angeline Hubbard said.

Wes Hamad, a 29-year-old Torrance resident, was at the bowling alley with his 13-year-old niece and cousin when he saw a huge fight break out. Hamad said the brawl, which lasted about five minutes, blocked the entrance and spiraled into complete chaos.

I grabbed my niece and started running toward the far end of the bowling alley, he said. As we were running, we heard 15 shots.

As he was leaving, Hamad said he saw a woman weeping over a man who was had gunshot wounds to his head and neck.

Damone Thomas was in the karaoke section of the bowling alley, a regular stop for him and his friends after work on Fridays, when people ran in saying there was a shooting. The 30-year-old Los Angeles resident said his friend flipped a table to shield them as they heard gunshots.

Thomas said he didnt feel scared because he was just trying to survive. But when he was driving home he said he realized how traumatic the situation was and said he wasnt been able to fall asleep.

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Closing my eyes, all I can see is the women against the wall crying, not knowing what to do, he said.

Thomas and Hamad said they had never witnessed any violence there in the past, but Hamad said he had stopped going for a while because he heard someone with a gun was recently seen there.

I definitely wont be going back anymore, he added.

In a tweet, California U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris said her heart breaks for the victims.

We must do more to address gun violence, she said. Americans should be able to go to a bowling alley and be safe.

___

Rosenbaum reported from New York City. Associated Press writer Daisy Nguyen reported from San Francisco.
Columbia Borough police

BURGLARY

COLUMBIA: Someone broke into a property in the first block of South First Street and stole a handgun, a black Smith & Wesson M&P40 Shield, while also cutting cable wires in an attempt to disable a video recording system Dec. 26, police said. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police at 717-684-7735 or text LANCS to 847411.

THEFT

COLUMBIA: Jennifer Foreacre, 34, of Columbia, was charged after a 9:16 a.m. incident Dec. 26 during which she took merchandise from a store in the 600 block of Locust Street, police said.

Lititz Borough police

DUI

LITITZ: Makayla Bryanne Berkey-Allison, 21, of Elizabethtown, was charged after a 1:24 a.m. traffic stop Dec. 31 near East Main and North Broad streets, police said.

New Holland police

DUI

EARL TWP.: Kimberly Karolczak, 32, of Honey Brook, was charged after a 8:15 a.m. traffic stop Nov. 8 near Route 322 and Fox Lane, police said.

Manor Township police

DUI

MANOR TWP.: Justin David Robinson, 19, of the 1600 block of Temple Avenue, was charged Dec. 23 in the 200 block of Longwood Court, police said.

MANOR TWP.: Amber Lynne Lazer, 22, of the first block of South Prince Street, Millersville, was charged after she was seen driving on the left side of Stone Mill Road near Schoolhouse Road on Dec. 22, police said.

MANOR TWP.: Tina Marie Babb, 49, of the 200 block of Silverwind Court, was charged after her vehicle drifted backward into another persons vehicle Nov. 6 in the 1700 block of Columbia Avenue, police said.

FALSE REPORT

MANOR TWP.: Stephen James Ambrose, 55, of the 2100 block of Stone Mill Road, was charged Dec. 26 with unsworn falsification to authorities and giving a false report after he told police Dec. 7 an acquaintance forced him to go to a local bank and withdraw $100. Police said they reviewed security footage at the bank and determined the story was false. Ambrose also admitted he made the story up, police said.

HARASSMENT

MANOR TWP.: James C. Young, no age given, of the 100 block of Rembrandt Drive, was charged after a domestic incident Dec. 29 in the 100 block of Rembrandt Drive, police said.

INDECENT EXPOSURE

MANOR TWP.: Erich Nagel, 19, of York, was arrested Dec. 28, for running naked on Cartledge Lane near Knollwood Road, police said.

STRANGULATION

MANOR TWP.: Alexander Heinlein-Gappa, 21, of Lancaster, was arrested Dec. 23 for breaking into the home of a woman known to him and attempting to strangle her, police said. Heinlein-Gappa was charged with burglary, strangulation, fleeing or attempting to elude officers, endangering the welfare of children, two counts of DUI, criminal mischief and several traffic violations.

THEFT BY DECEPTION

MANOR TWP.: Alondra Thompson, 48, of Lancaster, was charged after she deposited $743 check Nov. 2 that turned out to have been stolen, police said.

West Earl Township police

DRUG CHARGES

WEST EARL TWP.: Gloria E. Burkholder, 27, of Mountville, and Jesse J. Feltch, 28, of Brownstown, were charged with possession of drug paraphernalia after police responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle Dec. 6 in a parking lot in the 4100 block of Oregon Pike, police said. Burkholder was also charged with possession of a controlled substance.
Two Lancaster city police officers are named in separate lawsuits filed less than three months apart alleging excessive use of force.

The most recent lawsuit filed Thursday references an eerily similar incident that led to the first suit, which was filed Oct. 19, 2018.

In both cases, officers Jacob Bingham and Timothy Sinnott are accused of using excessive force that resulted in injuries to two city men.

Both lawsuits were filed in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Lancaster city also is named as a defendant in both suits.

Lancaster city police Chief Jarrad Berkihiser and Mayor Danene Sorace said Friday they are not able to comment on pending civil cases.

Bingham was hired in June 2015, and Sinnott joined the force in June 2014.

Jan. 3 lawsuit

The lawsuit filed Thursday alleges Damin Burnside was asked to move his car after he exited the Gas Mart at 653 Columbia Ave. on Feb. 25, 2018.

After Burnside, 43, of Second Street, moved the car, Bingham and Sinnott started shining flashlights into the car and banging on the windows, according to the lawsuit.

The suit alleges officers said they smelled marijuana, asked Burnside to get out of the car, then Sinnott grabbed Burnside, put him in a full-nelson hold and threw him to the concrete between gas pumps. Burnsides shoulder popped and various tendons tore, according to the suit.

Burnside was charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana, according to court documents. According to the lawsuit, the officers didn't find any marijuana in his car.

The charge was dropped in Sept. 2018, according to court documents.

Burnside seeks in excess of $150,000 in damages to compensate for his injuries.

The suit contains what Burnsides attorney, Brian Zeiger of Philadelphia, said were typos including a reference to Bristol Borough instead of Lancaster and inconsistencies in referring to Burnside using male and female pronouns.

Oct. 19, 2018, lawsuit

The lawsuit filed Oct. 19, 2018, alleges Bingham and Sinnott approached Ronald Gray as he worked on his truck across the street from his South Mary Street home on March 22, 2018.

The officers noticed remnants of a marijuana cigarette in an ashtray and asked Gray, 51, to put his hands over his head, according to the suit. Gray told the officers he couldnt raise his hands above his shoulders because of a medical condition, the suit states.

Sinnott grabbed Gray around the neck and slammed his head into the ground three times, the suit alleges. Bingham, who the suit alleges did nothing to stop Sinnott, then stood on Grays legs while Sinnott placed hancuffs on him.

The suit states the officers dragged Gray through the streets towards their police cruiser. Gray suffered a hairline fracture in one of his knee replacements, neck and back contusions and has a scar on his head from the incident, according to the lawsuit.

Gray admitted having marijuana and pleaded guilty to misdemeanor marijuana possession in May 2018, according to court records.

Gray is seeking in excess of $75,000 in damages in the suit, which was filed by Philadelphia attorney Brian Mildenberg.

Other suits against police

Mildenberg filed a lawsuit in early July 2018 against Lancaster police on behalf of city resident Sean Williams, 27, who was hit by a stun gun while sitting unarmed on a South Prince Street curb the month before. The suit alleges excessive force, inadequate medical attention and racial profiling. The case is pending in court.

Civil suits alleging excessive force or other improper conduct by police are not uncommon here. Many result in out-of-court settlements in which plaintiffs receive a payment without any admission of guilt or liability by police departments, which usually dispute some or all of the specific accusations.

In 2015, an LNP analysis found that local police departments had settled at least 31 civil cases for a total of $2.4 million over a 10-year period beginning in 2005. City police were named in 21 of those cases, with settlements totaling just under $1.3 million.
A Lancaster city man wanted for stabbing another man over a dozen times in May has been found in Puerto Rico and will be brought back to Lancaster to face charges, city police said.

Alexander Colon, 24, was charged May 11 with aggravated assault, simple assault, two counts of burglary and two counts of making terroristic threats, police said.

Colons whereabouts had been unknown after the assault but Lancaster city police said Friday that he was located in Puerto Rico during the first week of December. He is now awaiting extradition back to Lancaster County.

Police previously said they responded just after 1 a.m. Friday, May 11, to a home in the 700 block of South Lime Street where they found a man with multiple stab wounds to the back of his torso. The man was taken to a local hospital for treatment and surgery.

After interviewing witnesses, police filed charges against Colon, who allegedly went to the residence to confront his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend.

Police said Colon found girlfriend at home and threatened to kill her. He brandished a knife and pointed it at her while making threats, police said.

Colon then went to a nearby home and assaulted the new boyfriend, stabbing him over a dozen times in the back and arm, police said.
With erratic rain and snowfall, Humla struggles to adapt to a changing climate

In the warmth of the December sun, little children run around dusty alleys while elderly women, scarlet-shawled and bedecked in heavy brass ornaments, lazily smoke out of wooden chillums. The school is closed for the winter, so the children get to stay home for two months, and the elderly women have little else to do but bask in the sun while it is still warm outside. The water has not frozen yet, so the younger women wash clothes and bathe at the village communal tap. Early in the morning, tendrils of smoke rise from small stone-and-mud houses.
A 700-person amphitheater, pavilion, an expanded pier, a playground and more may be on its way to Columbia River Park as part of the boroughs ongoing revitalization plan.

Last month, an advisory committee set up to steer further development at the park discussed the most detailed plan to date to redevelop nearly 11 acres of riverside property from Veterans Memorial Bridge (Route 462), to Wrights Ferry Bridge (Route 30).

The revitalization of the river park has been accomplished in phases over the past 20 years. It has included the creation of several walkways, a launch for boats, canoes and kayaks, and the Columbia Crossing River Trails Center operated by Susquehanna Heritage.

The expansion between both bridges would be the final and most ambitious phase of the river parks beautification.

There are still many moving parts and yet-to-be decided features for the $8 million to $9 million project, according to Borough Manager Rebecca Denlinger.

No matter the shape it takes, the park will showcase the best of the borough, Denlinger said.

Along with an amphitheater, pavilion, playground and a pier known as a river hammock, design plans point to a large open space  referred to as a Great Lawn  overlooking the Susquehanna River.

In a phone interview Friday, Columbia Mayor Leo Lutz described his vision for the lawn.

On a summer day, I can see people spreading a towel out, laying down and reading a book facing the river, he said.

A long piece of history

The Columbia River Park Advisory Committee  made up mostly of regular borough residents  was assembled nearly 20 years ago with the goal of honoring the river as well as the history of the site, Denlinger said.

The proposed project also includes markers throughout the park area citing the areas history and heritage, as well as a welcome plaza.

The Veterans Memorial Bridge that carries Route 462 and connects Columbia to Wrightsville has been part of the borough in some form for more than two centuries and guided its 19th century boom in transportation services and iron production.

A previous version of the bridge was famously burned down by Union troops during the Civil War to prevent a Confederate invasion of Lancaster. Instead, Confederate soldiers were ordered to Gettysburg in what became the most consequential battle of the Civil War.

The bridge also has ties to the Underground Railroad, bringing former slaves from Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina.

What comes next

Denlinger said the borough received a $45,000 grant from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to begin the planning and design phase of the project. The borough matched the grant.

The money was used to hire Pittsburgh-based Environmental Planning and Design Architects. The firm used input from numerous town meetings and over 600 survey responses to design the expanded park around the concept of convergence  of paths, people, culture and time.

Fifty percent of the official plan will be unveiled at the next river park advisory committee meeting Jan. 17, with a full report due at a subsequent meeting, Denlinger said.

Discussion on funding for the project hasnt even started, she added, explaining the long planning process allowed residents to dream big about what can happen at the park.

But she added that more implementable parts of the final phase may begin construction as early as 2020.

The new park cant come soon enough, based on what Lutz has heard from constituents.

So many times we hear from residents, We dont have stuff to do in Columbia, and were trying to give them that, he said.
Every day, hundreds, if not thousands, of drivers zip past Manheims St. Pauls United Church of Christ, the broad, brick structure in the middle of the first block of North Main Street.

As they drive by, they not only are passing the oldest house of worship in the borough, but the home of a congregation that predates the founding of the United States of America.

In 1769, just seven years after Henry William Stiegel laid out Manheim, a log church named St. Pauls German Reformed Church was built on the lot where the current brick structure exists. The congregation purchased the lot for five shillings.

This Sunday, St. Pauls will kick off the 250th year of its founding with a 9:30 a.m. service that will include the contemporary worship team singing member Bev Geibs original song, Making a Difference Through the Love of Christ! as well as a brunch following the service.

The service is the first of a number of events that will be spread over the course of the year to commemorate the churchs sestercentennial. Future events include a special presentation by Piercing Word; a brief history of St. Pauls by church historian Burt Savitz; and a final celebration. The anniversary committee also is considering honoring longtime members at a service.

The church has served many roles throughout its long history  from a place of worship to a community hall. In 1777, the church served as a hospital for soldiers wounded in the Battle of Brandywine outside Philadelphia.

Early on, the church attracted worshippers. Savitz, who has compiled a history of the church, notes that in 1771, just two years after St. Pauls founding, the Rev. John Conrad Bucher confirmed 11 members to the church and administered Communion to 57 members.

Over the decades, the church grew. At one time, said David Ludwig, president of the church council, it was not uncommon for 300 people to regularly attend church.

Today, the church has 201 members and averages Sunday attendance of 80-100.

Mission-minded

That decline has not dimmed its mission. The Rev. William Long, interim pastor for the past year, describes the church as very spiritual, very friendly and ... very mission-minded.

Today, it hosts yoga classes, the Manheim Womens Club and an AA group. The church also holds a community breakfast every third Saturday, a turkey dinner each fall, a veterans dinner and a Santa breakfast/giveaway that attracts an average of 250 people. The dinners are all free.

In 1979, St. Pauls helped establish the Bible2School program, which serves second-, third- and fourth-grade students attending H.C. Burgard Elementary School in the Manheim Central School District. The program is designed to teach the Bible to children attending public school as a way of inspiring hope and showing them their value in Christ. Students from Doe Run Elementary School, another school in the district, attend a similar program at Manheim Brethren in Christ Church. The program falls under the national released time law.

St. Pauls also works closely with Teen Central in Manheim, a nonprofit organization that provides spiritual development and life experiences for teenage youths in the community.

You can see that sense of ministry/outreach, Long said.

Manheim native Mindy Fee, who represents the 37th Legislative District, grew up in the church.

Ive seen firsthand how the relationships established in the church have compelled action outside of the church, she wrote in an email. One of my moms best friends from church ran for district justice around the time my mom ran for borough council. one of my dads buddies ran for mayor while my dad ran for borough council. I dont think thats any accident  I think the culture at St. Pauls has definitely been one that strongly encourages service to both church and community.

A new building

The current brick building dates to 1852. The cornerstone was laid on Aug. 8 of that year. According to the Aug. 13, 1852, Whig Sentinel  Manheims weekly newspaper  the cornerstone is made of white American marble, and contains a Bible, a hymn book, a Heidelberg Catechism, a copy of the constitution of the congregation, a history of the congregation from 1769 and 14 other publications.

Seventy-three years later to the day  Aug. 8, 1925  the church was struck by lightning, which damaged the tower and the loft.

The Manheim Sentinel of Aug. 14, 1925, stated: This was undoubtedly the most difficult fire to fight ever experienced by the local firemen. The advantage of having sufficient fire fighting apparatus was clearly shown. Chief Paul Knier and his men did remarkable work and their services to the congregation of the Reformed Church and to the community in general should be keenly appreciated.

As the church grew, it was forced to expand into the churchyard and cemetery.

In his history of the church. Savitz wrote that bodies were disinterred twice during the history of our church. First in 1851, when the present church was constructed, and again in 1886 when an addition was built on the west end of the church.

The church transcribed the names of 55 people who had been buried there. Georg Wittmer, who died on Jan. 12, 1804, is the first known burial in the cemetery.

Church history does not indicate where those bodies may have been reinterred, but Savitz said some, if not all, are believed to have been buried in a common grave. Nor do church records detail where other bodies may have been reinterred when another addition was built in 1930.

In 1948, the church paved over the remaining cemetery to create parking for members. Savitz notes that following a debate among members of the consistory (now the church council), the decision was made not to disinter bodies in the cemetery. The action predated laws governing the disinterment of bodies, Ludwig said.

Loyal members

The church also inspires loyalty.

June Smith has served as the churchs organist for more than 65 years.

I had other opportunities to go to other churches to play, she said. I wanted to stay here.

Joan Hess, a member of the anniversary committee, said her mother, Evelyn Dutt, has been a member for 80 years.

For Savitz, its the history. He noted that in the early years of the Revolutionary War, Founding Fathers such as John Hancock and financier Robert Morris spent time in Manheim. Hancock, he said, expressed his taste for the wine in Manheim.

Fee, who was baptized and later married to her late husband at the church, said she intends to introduce a citation in General Assembly honoring the church later this year.
Triggered as always by Trump, and growing more dovish on immigration almost by the hour, Democrats are treating the notion of a wall as practically a human-rights abuse. President Barack Obama routinely droned people without generating as much high dudgeon as Trump does asking for $5 billion to better fortify our southern border.

Chuck Schumer calls the wall medieval. Its true that the core idea  a physical barrier to impede the movement of people  isnt a new technology. The basic concept proved out so long ago that there hasnt been any need to revisit it.

Nancy Pelosi deems the wall immoral. She sounds like West Berlin Mayor Willy Brandt condemning the Berlin Wall as the Wall of Shame  when the East Germans built their border barrier to keep people in, whereas we only want to keep illegal entrants out.

If a wall is immoral, what standing does the current 350 miles of primary fencing have? Isnt it just as hateful as what Trump proposes? The $5 billion the president wants wouldnt even match what we already have  it would construct about 150 miles of new barriers where none currently exist.
But that changed in a series of cultural tidal waves -- the Darwinist account of human origins, the application of higher criticism to the text of the Bible, the sexual revolution -- which swept away old certainties.

When conservative Christianity became re-politicized in the 1970s and 80s, the secular world -- the world of federal judges, public schools, major universities and liberal politicians -- was viewed as an aggressive threat to Christian ideals, institutions and identity.

Over time, that struggle has taken on apocalyptic proportions in the minds of many believers. For some, it is nothing less than the end-times conflict of good and evil, which somehow culminated in fights against the Obama administration.

In this struggle, many evangelicals believe they have found a champion in Donald Trump. He is the enemy of their enemies. He is willing to use the hard-ball tactics of the secular world to defend their sacred interests. In their battle with the Philistines, evangelicals have essentially hired their own Goliath -- brutal, pagan, but on their side.

It doesn't take much biblical research to discover that this isn't quite how God accomplished things in the original story.
Terris life was too brief and her death was prolonged and very agonizing for 15 years. Her parents wanted her to live as long as possible under their constant care, but her husband and the court system had different ideas. What caused Terri to be in a persistent vegetative state?

Was she aware of her surroundings? How did her husband Michael deal with such tragedy and trauma? What became of the millions of dollars once awarded to her for her care? Why was rehab not allowed and by whom?

On Oct. 24, 2001 the feeding tube was removed and she was left to die at the order of the courts! The courts were emotionless but the country was full of emotions for Terri and her family. Governor Bush of Florida and Pope John Paul II joined forces on her behalf and her story became world wide news. Then how did their support help if it did? On Oct. 20, 2003 a new law had passed which could save Terris life. Will it? Already she had gone without food or water for a week , and was still alive!!! What would be next for Terri? Would her parents be allowed their wish? Does her husband have more control in decision making since Terri remained in the coma the entire time? Terris story touched lives of millions of people world wide.
RACINE  There was no danger to the students or staff at Horlick High School, 2119 Rapids Drive, despite emergency calls for black smoke obserevd rising out of the school between 1 and 1:35 p.m. Friday, the Racine Fire Department reported.

Capt. Craig Ford said that fire officials were told someone was burning off some waste oil in the boiler room and there was no cause for alarm, although at least one fire engine and police squad did arrive at the school.

A lot of the crews never even made it to the scene, Ford said, explaining that the call was downgraded from an initial full structure fire response.

Black smoke was observed billowing out of a vent above the southeast corner school, but it halted quickly at about 1:35 p.m.

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I came outside and the building Im working in fell down, Krawczyk said with a laugh, adding that she was lucky she hadnt been outside when the bricks fell: I didnt even know it was happening.

Krawcyzk said the building had recently come under new ownership, and she had been hired to help remodel it.

The City of Racine Assessors website shows that the building is owned by Transitional Living Services, a nonprofit based in Milwaukee. However, John Crimmings of First Weber Realtors said that the building was sold by TLS last year to an LLC (limited liability company) out of California, a couple investors.

The Racine County Register of Deeds does not have record of any sale occurring since TLS bought it in 2005 for $192,000.

The city Fire, Police and Public Works departments responded to the scene. Crews swept up rubble and hung caution tape to keep the area clear in case any more debris falls.

A one-time grocery

The words EDWIN C. ANDERSON MODEL LAUNDRY CO. can still be seen on the north side of the building, near where the bricks fell, although the paint has mostly faded with time.
BURLINGTON  A 54-year-old Burlington woman is facing two felony counts of aggravated battery, a felony count of intimidation of a victim and two misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct after civil altercation incidents on Nov. 24 and Dec. 30 at a Burlington public housing facility.

According to the criminal complaint:

On Nov. 24, a Burlington police officer responded to a call for a report of civil trouble at an apartment in the 500 block of Madison Street.

Upon arrival, the officer spoke with the victim, who uses a wheelchair due to multiple sclerosis. The victim reportedly informed the officer that his ex-girlfriend, Nancy Jean Hozeska, had been harassing him over the phone. The victim and Hozeska live in the same Madison Street building.

The victim requested that the officer tell Hozeska to cease having contact with him. The officer attempted to locate Hozeska, but was unable to find her. The officer returned to the victims apartment and learned that Hozeska had just entered the victims apartment and allegedly punched him in the face.

Hozeska reportedly admitted to the officer that she punched the victim in his face and that she was going to come back and punch him in the face again.

Recent incident
As of this time, no (new) local ordinance has been drafted and passed for law enforcement officers to follow. If such an ordinance is eventually adopted, the Racine County District Attorney and the State Attorney General will need to determine if such an a ordinance is in line with (and not less restrictive than) existing state statues, Howell said in a statement. Once the various process and policy questions are resolved, and clear direction is received from the Attorney General, we will move forward as dictated by law.

The Journal Times contacted incoming Attorney General Josh Kauls communications team, who said Kaul would not be available until after his inauguration on Monday.

Howell also stated that the issue with the directive isnt its objective but the legality of the order and clarity for the policy department.
Unknown group attacks NAC chief Kansakar

A group of unidentified persons smeared black soot on the face of Sugat Ratna Kansakar, managing director of Nepal Airlines Corporation, on Friday.
MOUNT PLEASANT  A 64-year-old Mount Pleasant man is facing a sixth offense of operating while intoxicated after crashing early Thursday evening just blocks from his house.

According to a release from the Mount Pleasant Police Department and the drivers criminal complaint:

At 6:30 p.m. Thursday, police were dispatched to the 3800 block of Sheridan Road in the Lake Park neighborhood for a report of a crash. An investigation determined that a 2000 Buick Century had been traveling south on Sheridan Road. The vehicle deviated from its designated lane and struck an unoccupied truck and trailer. No injuries were reported.

The operator of Buick was identified as Timothy Boehme, 64, of the 4000 block of Sheridan Road. Officers reported observing signs of impairment and Boehme was administered standard field sobriety tests. Police said the results indicated that Boehme was impaired and he was subsequently taken in custody.

Boehme was transported to the Racine County Jail and has been charged with a felony count of operating while intoxicated, fifth or sixth offense. He remained in custody as of Friday night. He has been assigned a preliminary hearing for Jan. 9 in Racine County Circuit Court.

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According to the Racine Heritage Museum, the 601 Lake Ave. building was completed and dedicated in 1913 as the Elks Club, short for Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

The property first went on the market in 1973, and the city took a $1 option on the building, which gave it the right to match the highest offer on the property. However, the city gave up that option that August, citing the reason of having no money put aside. The Elks Club again offered to sell the property to the city in 1981; the city declined again because of a lack of available funds, the museum reports.

The property went on the market again in 1982, because high upkeep costs and declining Elks membership were making it impossible for the club to continue at the location.

The Milwaukee Co. bought the building in 1983 for $250,000, then renovated it as an office building which was named Harborview Professional Center.

Other purchases
Ours is an uneasy age. Social mores are changing so fast that people in their early 30s have started muttering about the "kids these days." Formerly safe corners of the economy are being swept bare, so that even people with good, steady jobs are anxious about how long they'll be able to keep them. In nation after nation, politics are in turmoil.

The political upheaval is generally chalked up to those other changes. But as I've previously noted, they may all be symptoms of one mega-change: the dramatic alteration in communication technology. The internet revolution has turbocharged formerly leisurely processes of economic and social change, while allowing insurgent political movements to bypass the gatekeepers of the old system.

There's no telling how long it will take for the system to work itself back to some sort of equilibrium or what the new normal will look like. But the broad outlines of an interim politics are starting to emerge.

Start with where things stand now: Throughout the developed world, left-wing parties are struggling as their old working-class voters defect, not to other left-wing parties but to right-wing upstarts that are less economically conservative than the establishment right yet far more conservative on questions of territorial and cultural integrity.
OMAHA  Two Omaha surgeons have filed a lawsuit alleging they were wrongfully suspended from a children's hospital after they raised safety concerns following the death of a 7-month-old during an operation.

Drs. Jason Miller and Mark Puccioni contend Children's Hospital & Medical Center suspended their privileges to practice there after they questioned the skill and competence of the surgeon who performed the operation, according to the Omaha World-Herald.

The lawsuit in Douglas County District Court also names the hospital's president and CEO, Dr. Richard Azizkhan, and the surgeon who performed the procedure.

Hospital officials said in a statement that it does not comment on pending litigation, except to say they "strongly disagree" with the allegations.

"We stand behind our executive leadership, medical team and our process, and are confident that these claims against our hospital, Dr. Azizkhan and (the other surgeon) will be proven to be without merit," the statement said. "We are also saddened by the manner in which the family's tragic loss has been utilized by the plaintiffs in this litigation."
BELLE FOURCHE, S.D.  Officials in a South Dakota county are preparing for the possibility of protests over the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline by securing more jail cells.

The Butte County Commission approved an agreement last month to use Faulk County jails for $85 per day per inmate, should the need arise, the Black Hills Pioneer reported.

The move comes as TransCanada plans to start construction on the oil pipeline this year, a timeline that could be delayed after a federal judge in November blocked the $8 million project to allow more time to study its potential environmental impact. Many environmental groups and Native American tribes view the 1,184-mile pipeline as a threat to the environment.

Part of the pipeline is slated to be built through the northeastern corner of Butte County. The county currently holds its inmates at the Meade County Jail in Sturgis. The pipeline will also run through that county.

Butte County Sheriff Fred Lamphere said he's concerned that the jail would fill up quickly should civil disturbances occur. He expects other nearby areas to also have limited space, so officials struck an agreement with a county nearly 270 miles east.
At about the same time Belmont was being platted in 1887 David Brace and George Bigelow, who coincidentally gave Lincoln a six-acre tract to Lincolns Antelope Park, laid out Lincoln Heights directly north of Belmont from todays Adams to Benton streets, then bounded by Bush, Belmont, McFall and Beverly Street. Bigelow proceeded to build a towered mansion at 1148 Nelson St. to attract what he hoped would become home to other wealthy families from Lincoln.

As the land sloped upwards, the next subdivision to the north was platted in the spring of 1890 as Grandview Residence Park or Grandview Heights. Grandview was promoted as the most desirable of the then three northern additions. All the streets were curvilinear with no right-angle intersections, the elevation was said to be 140 feet above Lincolns O Street on a sight-line to the cupola of the second state capitol, making the air pure and healthy, and the area was connected to the city of Lincoln first with an electric trolley and later a horse-powered street railway. In order to preserve the suburban setting, a greenbelt of apple and cherry trees, grape vines, corn and wheat was planted as Lincoln could not annex any subdivision which was not directly adjacent or contiguous.
A Lincoln judge has ordered the state to pay nearly $60,000 in attorneys fees in connection to public-records lawsuits filed by the state's two largest newspapers and the ACLU seeking information on how it got lethal injection drugs.

In June, Lancaster County District Judge Jodi Nelson, in response to open-records lawsuits filed by the Journal Star, Omaha World-Herald and ACLU of Nebraska, ordered the state to release records of communications with its lethal injection drug supplier, as well as several other documents related to Nebraska's efforts to carry out the death penalty.

But she found certain other documents are exempt from disclosure under a state law protecting the identities of members of the state's execution team. Those documents include purchase orders and chemical analysis reports.

The Corrections Department appealed the decision, and the records ordered to be released remain undisclosed.

Oral arguments in the case are set before the Nebraska Supreme Court later this month.

At a hearing last month, the Journal Star, World-Herald and ACLU asked Nelson to award attorneys fees and costs, arguing that they substantially prevailed in the cases.
UN to enlist refugees who want to return

After Nepal rejected to locally integrate the Bhutanese refugees, the UN refugeeagency is preparing to collect data of those refugees who want to be repatriated back to their country.
Online reservations are now available at lancasterfaith.org for the 35th annual Mayors Interfaith Prayer Breakfast on April 12. A former police officer and inner-city educator from Milwaukee will speak at the event.

Pardeep Singh Kaleka is with The Forgiveness Project and is co-founder of Serve2Unite. Kaleka will share his personal journey to forgiveness after the death of his father in the Sikh Temple shooting near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 2012.

The event is co-hosted by Lincoln Mayor Chris Beutler and the Faith Coalition of Lancaster County at Lincoln Station Great Hall, Seventh and P streets. Doors open at 7 a.m., and the program begins at 7:30 a.m. The program also will feature music from the Great Plains Chamber Winds and readings and prayers from a variety of the faith communities in the area.

Kalekas work specializes in holistic trauma-informed treatment for survivors and perpetrators of assault, abuse and acts of violence. He is the founder of Serve2Unite, which has received the Guru Nanak Award and been recognized by the Parliament of World Religions for its work to build safe, inclusive communities. More information is available at Serve2Unite.org. Kaleka is also the author of The Gifts of Our Wounds and is a licensed therapist with D&S Healing Center in Milwaukee.
The experience has taken Kabanda to Nebraska's only on-farm anaerobic digester, in Colfax County, and led him to build a prototype in order to conduct experiments and learn the science on his own.

"This is pretty basic research, but at the same time it gives (Kabanda) a lot of opportunity to learn about the lab, learn how to do experiments and learn about statistics," Hay said. "Hopefully, the application will come into play back home."

Kabanda said organic waste is an ideal source for energy in Rwanda  "you don't have to pay for manure"  so he wants to understand how to maximize the energy output.

"I'm going to try and find a way to make that system viable to all citizens, whether they are rich or middle-class," he said.

Heng-Moss said CUSP has been enriching for the Rwandan students, UNL, and the state of Nebraska as a whole. Before CUSP, in the 2014-15 school year, just three Rwandans were enrolled at UNL.

A total of seven students, including Berwa, made up the first group beginning in 2015-16, bringing the total number of students from the central African country to 10.

Things really took off from there.
A judge sentenced a 43-year-old Lincoln man to 14 to 20 years in prison Thursday for sexually abusing a teenage girl.

Frank Fichtner pleaded no contest to the Class 2A felony.

Police arrested him and his wife, Gwyneth K. Fichtner, last February after the teenage girl disclosed the abuse to a teacher at a Lincoln high school. She said it had gone on for three months.

Thursday, Lancaster County District Judge Robert Otte sentenced Frank Fichtner to the prison time. He also will be required to register as a sex offender.

The same day, Gwyneth Fichtner entered a no contest plea to a child-abuse charge and was set to be sentenced in February.

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Those are some of Merwick's lasting achievements as chief, said Huff, who served as fire chief from 2011 to 2015.

He was innovative and politically savvy, and put the department on the cutting edge in many ways because he saw "things from a much higher altitude," Huff said.

But one of Merwick's greatest assets was his willingness to credit his crews for the department's accomplishments before himself.

"What he didnt say is, 'I facilitated everything,' Huff said.

What would be a 46-year career in service to the city continued when Mayor Don Wesely appointed Merwick to lead the Building and Safety Department in 1999.

He led that department until December 2008, when incoming Mayor Chris Beutler appointed his own department director.

Huff and Merwick regularly met for lunch, and Merwick would always fight for the bill, Huff said.

Mikes greatest love in retirement was his family, friends and enjoying life on the acreage where he and his wife (Lou Ann) had lived for 38 years, the obituary said.

Merwick is survived by his wife, four children, 13 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

A service to celebrate Merwick's life will be held Jan. 13 at 2 p.m. in the Lincoln Firefighter's Reception Hall, 241 Victory Lane.

Reach the writer at 402-473-2657 or rjohnson@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSRileyJohnson.

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Fewer local stores were caught selling vapor products to minors last year compared with 2017, according to the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department.

In 2017, 21.2 percent of stores in Lancaster County failed compliance checks conducted by the health department, the Lincoln Police Department and the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office. Last year, just 5.3 percent failed.

"Our local retailers have done a great job in significantly reducing the rate of vapor product sales to those under age 18," Lincoln Police Capt. Jason Stille said in a news release.

Local agencies started vapor compliance checks in 2017. State law has long prohibited the sale of tobacco products to minors; a 2014 law added a ban on selling vapor products to minors.

The sale of non-vapor tobacco products to minors increased from 5.9 to 8.7 percent from 2017 to 2018.

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As of Jan. 1, grants awarded by the Community Health Endowment (CHE) are funding programs for young children, seniors, parents, refugees and immigrants, people experiencing mental illness, and people who depend on Lincolns health care safety net. The CHE board of trustees approved grants totaling $621,577 for year one and $1,006,253 over three years.

Among the projects funded is a unique partnership between Lincoln Literacy and the Bryan College of Health Sciences, which will pilot a program to prepare and train refugees and immigrants as Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) addressing the critical need for these workers in Lincolns health care system and providing economic stability and career opportunities for those served by the program.

New grants will:

 Recruit, prepare and mentor immigrants and refugees to study for CNA certification with the intent to raise family income for the participants and strengthen the health care delivery system. (Lincoln Literacy, $12,500 over one year.)

 Address CNA shortages and create career employment opportunities by providing CNA tuition assistance, mentoring/tutoring and education-related transportation to 32 refugees or immigrants. (Bryan College of Health Sciences, $17,600 over one year.)
Most disturbingly, the Regime has executed dozens of Christian missionaries and has the power to hand down the death sentence for Christians who convert from Islam. This is rarely used because the Regime is terrified of international uproar, but thousands have been imprisoned or placed in exile merely for exercising their faith.

Frank Nikabkht, an Iranian American Jewish activist who heads the LA-based Committee for Minority Rights in Iran, explained that the Iranian Regime has been fighting a war against those converting to Christianity and even those born into the faith in recent years. He reports that theyve even closed Christian cemeteries, so people wishing to visit their loved ones grave have been forced to throw flower bouquets over the walls.

The Regime has cracked down on underground churches in Iran where converts from Islam worship, through the use of undercover agents from the Revolutionary Guards or other security forces. This has led to many arrests in recent months. Even the few legal churches in Iran had to have a full list of their congregation, which would be checked by intelligence ministry agents as the church members entered.

So why does the Regime see Christianity and the underground evangelical churches as a threat?

Well simply, because their goal is to eliminate other religions in order to gain greater control over the population and over the region. Given that this increased crackdown is happening at a time when there is mass dissatisfaction with the ruling mullahs, we can see that this is nothing but a power grab.

The international community, in particular, those still a party to the 2015 Iran Deal, must speak out against these abuses, rather than remain silent to protect their business dealings with the Iran Regime. If those countries fail to do so, particularly the European nations, then it will look like they dont care.

Nikabkht said: Obviously, human rights violations are not a concern of the European powers.

Of course, the Iranian Regimes abuses are not limited to Christians or Jews or religious minorities. The mullahs are the biggest threat to the human rights and basic freedoms of every Iranian. The only solution to this pressing problem is regime change by and for the people of Iran.
But there is something different about the latest migrants because theyre not coming from war-torn Syria or Yemen, but from Iran; a country that on its surface does not have a war or humanitarian disaster to speak of.

Over the past three years, Iranians have put in more requests for asylum in the UK than any other nation, according to Home Office statistics, but until recently, weve rarely heard about them trying to cross the border illegally. So why do Iranians want to come here and why have their requests for asylum and illegal border crossings increased?

Iranian-born Sohrab Amari, who left Iran for the US shortly after the 1979 revolution, wrote in The Spectator: Iran has been miserable ever since the Ayatollah Khomeini returned from his Parisian exile to usher in his total Shiite state. Its a suffocating place, with Islamic conformity enforced on pain of flogging, jail and death, and a lousy, mismanaged economy made worse by US sanctions. For all its ancient civilisational glories, Iran is also a cruel, spiritually deracinated land.

These people arent fleeing the Taliban or civil war, but they are fleeing an evil Regime set on domination of the entire Middle East. A violent, repressive Regime that Europe fails to recognise the innate evilness of because business deals are supposedly more important than human rights.

Why the sudden influx of dangerous boats? Simply because its much harder for Iranians to get asylum through legal methods because Europe doesnt admit that the Regime is increasingly cracking down on political opponents, human rights advocates, religious minorities, and anyone else who speak out against the Regime. Also, modern human-smuggling networks have perfected their business model in order to make more profit off those desperate to escape.

Why are the migrants choosing Britain? Because many of them know English, which will make it easier for them to live and work in the UK. They believe Britain to be a tolerant, welcoming place.

While, the UK should, of course, begin to recognise the dangers of the Iranian Regime and accept more refugees from Iran, it should also start to support the work of the Iranian Resistance who are trying to overthrow the Regime and make the country safe for all Iranians.
Sugar mill owners slam hike in cane floor price

Sugar mill owners criticised the governments decision to raise the floor price of sugarcane to Rs536.56 per quintal, saying it would make sugar dearer to consumers. The floor price is the minimum rate sugarcane farmers get for their crops from factory owners.
London: Britain warned Russia on Friday against playing diplomatic chess games following the arrest of Paul Whelan, an ex-Marine with dual UK and US citizenship, on charges of espionage. We dont agree with individuals being used in diplomatic chess games We are all extremely worried about him and his family, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt told the BBC in an interview. We need to see what these charges are against him, Hunt said, adding that Britain had offered consular access to Whelan but had not been able to visit him yet.

US ambassador Jon Huntsman visited Whelan at the Lefortovo prison in Moscow on Wednesday. Asked whether the Foreign Office would change its travel advice for British citizens going to Russia, Hunt said: This is obviously something that is under active consideration. Whelans lawyer said on Thursday he was detained in Moscow last week and charged with espionage. Whelan, who has denied the charges, could face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty. Diplomatic relations between Britain and Russia are tense, particularly following the attempted murder of a former Russian spy in Britain last year with a nerve agent. Britain accused Russia of being behind the attack despite Moscows denials, and coordinated the expulsions of dozens of Russian diplomatic staff around the world.
The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet on Saturday, 5 January, gave its nod to waive crop loans of 55 lakh farmers in the state while extending the eligibility cut-off date to 12 December 2018 from previous 31 March 2018.

Under the scheme, farm loans up to two lakh taken by farmers from nationalised, cooperative and regional banks, will be waived.

The crop loan waiver, a poll promise of the Congress, was announced hours after Kamal Nath took oath as chief minister of Madhya Pradesh in December 2018.

Also Read: We Did it in 2 Days: Rahul After Rajasthan Waives Farm Loans Too

The previous cut-off date of 31 March 2018, announced by the newly-formed government, was criticised by the opposition BJP, which said it would effectively mean many farmers staying out of the ambit of the loan waiver scheme.

Addressing a press conference after the Cabinet meeting in Bhopal, Minister for Public Relations P C Sharma and his ministerial colleague Jitu Patwari said the benefits of the farm loan waiver would start reaching the farmers from 22 February 2019.

Who Would Benefit from the Waivers?

He said farm loan defaulters from 1 April 2007 are included under the ambit of the scheme. The ministers said the loan waiver would benefit about 55 lakh eligible farmers, including about 35 lakh small and marginal agriculturists.

"Farm loans taken from cooperative, regional and nationalised banks are included under the purview of this scheme," Patwari said.

Responding to a question, the minister said the cost of entire farm loan waiver scheme to the state exchequer is yet to be calculated.

Also Read: Farm Loan Waivers Wont Work Without Proper Prices, Say Experts

"As per rough estimates, this scheme would cost somewhere between Rs 35,000  Rs 50,000-crore," Patwari said. He said the chief executive officer of every block would be responsible for implementation of the loan waiver scheme.

Forms to be Filled by Eligible Farmers

"Eligible farmers will need to fill different forms as per the identity proofs they are having. A green form would be filled by those who have Aadhaar card and white form by those farmers who possess identity proofs other than Aadhaar card. Farmers not having any ID proof will have to fill a pink-coloured form," he explained.

Story continues

Patwari said the farmers who pay income tax, and those who are government employees, are not eligible to claim the loan waivers.

He said the Cabinet has also cleared a proposal to increase the financial assistance provided under the KanyadanYojana to Rs 51,000 from previous Rs 28,000.

Under the Kanyadan Yojana, the government provides financial assistance for marriage of women from poor families.

Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has termed the extension of the farm loan waiver cut-off date as a victory of the BJP and farmers in the state.

. Read more on India by The Quint.RSS & BJPs Nehru-Netaji Cosplay: Irony Dies a Thousand DeathsLatest News: 1 Dead, 2 Injured As CRPF Men Open Fire In Srinagar . Read more on India by The Quint.
Police search Bomjans ashram

Police searched one ashram of the controversial ascetic Ram Bahadur Bomjan in the forest of Indrawati Rural Municipality, Sindhupalchok, on Friday, following complaints by the relatives of people who have been missing from his shelter for years.
Actor Alok Nath was on Saturday granted anticipatory bail by a court here on Saturday in an alleged rape case filed by writer-director Vinta Nanda.

The City Civil and Sessions Court at Dindoshi here heard Alok's plea seeking protection from arrest following an FIR from Nanda, who has claimed he raped her 19 years ago, said official sources.

The victim had lodged the complaint with Oshiwara Police on October 17 last year after Alok hit back by filing a defamation case against her in a Mumbai Magistrate Court.

Alok had denied all the allegations levelled by the victim and lodged the defamation case demanding Re.1 as damages and a written apology from her.

Known for his 'sanskaari' image on the big screen, Alok was expelled from the Cine & TV Artistes Association last year after the rape charges came to the fore.

It was in October that Nanda, who produced Tara, had shared her ordeal with Alok through a long Facebook post, amid the #MeToo movement wave that hit India.

. Read more on Celebrities by The Quint.RSS & BJPs Nehru-Netaji Cosplay: Irony Dies a Thousand DeathsNortheast to Help BJP Cross 300 Seats in Lok Sabha: Amit Shah . Read more on Celebrities by The Quint.
A lot of Republicans still believe in the power of competition. A poll in November indicated that 40 percent of them, and 72 percent of all Americans, would like to see President Donald Trump face a primary challenge. But Republican politicians, even those who have strong objections to Trump, have been inhibited by the conventional wisdom that running against Trump in the 2020 Republican primaries would be a suicide mission.

Trump is in a very strong position for renomination. An anti-Trump conservative named Andy Smarick has recently argued, however, that the risks of challenging Trump are greatly overestimated. He contends that an ambitious Republican could do himself a world of good by running against President Trump for the nomination in 2020. That candidate, Smarick allows, would probably lose. But it would establish a top contender for the leadership of a post-Trump party, either in 2020 if Trump lost the general election or 2024 if he won. The challenger would also give a boost to the influence of his ideas within the party.

By sharply criticizing the president in an op-ed article published Tuesday, Mitt Romney has reopened the question of whether Trump will have a rival for the nomination. So its worth considering Smaricks case.

He writes, Recall: Ted Kennedy challenged Carter, lost, then continued to be a Dem leader for years. Reagan challenged Ford, lost, and was president next time around. Kennedy may not be a good example for the point Smarick is making: As the word continued suggests, Kennedy was already a leading Democrat, thanks largely to his last name, before that 1980 challenge.

Leaving that aside, theres a reason Smarick has to ask us to recall such primary challengers: Serious primary campaigns against the renomination of a sitting president have gotten rarer. The last one was Patrick Buchanans challenge to George Bush in 1992, and even that campaign was only somewhat serious: It posed a threat of harming the incumbent president, not really of denying him the nomination. The next most recent example? Kennedy.

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Why dont incumbent presidents draw serious primary challengers anymore? I suspect the answer has to do with two related trends: the increased ideological uniformity of the parties and the rise of negative partisanship.

Just as some Democrats blamed Kennedy for Ronald Reagans victory in 1980, some Republicans blamed Buchanan for Bill Clintons in 1992. But the number of voters who consider the risk of throwing an election to the other side intolerable has almost certainly risen, and by a lot. (The rising power of the presidency has probably played a role in the perception of increased risk.) Its unsurprising that in the poll about a 2020 primary against Trump, Democrats were more eager to see it than Republicans were.

If an anti-Trump Republican runs for the nomination, loses it, and Trump then loses in November 2020, the blowback against the challenger will be more intense: He will be blamed for helping give the nation President Kamala Harris (or whoever). If the candidate runs and then Trump wins the general election, a lot of Republicans will view him as the guy who acted as Harriss useful idiot. Destroying the challengers political future will also be, we can be fairly confident, a high priority for the re-elected president.

It may be that partisans are wrong to be so concerned about the damage that a vigorous primary can do to a partys chances of winning the general election. It seems pretty likely that Reagan would have beaten Carter in 1980 without Kennedy, and that Clinton would have beaten Bush in 1992 without Buchanan.

A paradox may be at work here: Negative partisanship makes voters reluctant to back primary challenges against incumbent presidents, but also means the challenges cannot have the impact they fear. A very strong primary-season opposition to Trump did not keep him from winning the votes of most Republicans in November 2016. One of Trumps primary opponents called him a cancer and another a carnival act, but most of the Republicans who voted for those opponents decided, in the end, that they could not countenance the alternative of Hillary Clinton.

But to say that the fear of a primary is overblown is not to say that the fear is politically unimportant. Like it or not, ambitious Republicans have good reasons to think that a primary campaign against Trump would end their political careers. Smaricks challenge to the conventional wisdom is invigorating but unsuccessful. A primary challenge to Trump would probably also be both of those things.

Ramesh Ponnuru is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist.

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Some of you readers almost surely hate Fox News. But you know something? It isnt really so bad. It counterbalances the anti-Trump, leftist, overreaching, sometimes hysterical bias afflicting too much of what too many of its TV competitors offer. And, even without Charles Krauthammer, much of it is pretty darned intelligent and insightful.

Minus Fox, conservative commentary on TV wouldnt be gone entirely, but it would be vastly diminished, thereby delighting people like Bernie Sanders and Barack Obama. The former president could hardly stand it that Fox didnt think he was just about always right.

Krauthammer didnt for sure. I bring up his name because he was widely recognized in varied political camps as an extraordinary newspaper and Fox News commentator. He was one of the best news analysts in the country, someone meticulously well-informed and thoughtful, a man whose mansion of a mind I myself have missed so much since his illness and recent death. Few could do what he could do.

When the critics ponder Fox News, however, they have mostly liked to gaze at a different sort of regular, such as Sean Hannity. While he has his virtues, he was practically a Trump campaign manager during the elections and serves as something of an extra press secretary in the here and now. Unlike a wisely detached Krauthammer, a conservative who did not hesitate to go after Trump when as much was called for, Hannity is buddy-buddy with the Oval Office and no better at enlightened perspectives than his Trump-despising opposites on other cable channels.

But then theres Alan Dershowitz, an omnipresent Fox guest, a deservedly famous retired Harvard law professor, a self-identified liberal who is principled enough to make many of his fellow liberals suddenly condemn him. He sees the whole special counsel investigation as pretty much a fraud that is flying circles around the law and degrading the Constitution. Proceed with an impeachment movement, this civil libertarian says, and you may endanger the republic.

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Another champ of intellect as well as a first-rate impartial newsman is Chris Wallace, host of Fox News Sunday and someone whose questions neither shout nor antagonize but seek and get incisive give-and-take from lively panels. Wallace does still more on Fox, but wait, I now want to point to another show of heft, one of the best hours of calm, cool, instructive discussion youll get on TV.

Its the Journal Editorial Report hosted by Paul Gigot, editor of surely one of the best editorial pages in America, that of the Wall Street Journal. He is a Pulitzer Prize winner, surrounds himself with other Journal whizzes and calls as well on outsiders whose expertise pops balloons of bombast both left and right.

You also might want to catch Mark Levin, a solid believer in what America stands for, an advisor to Cabinet members in the Reagan administration, a radio host with other megaphones, an author of fine books and someone who interviews other smart people on Fox. Listen, watch and learn.

I cant delve into everyone, such as the satirical wits on The Five or such well-known names as Dana Perino, Laura Ingraham and Tucker Carlson, for instance, although I will say this: Carlson is charming and great at correcting politically correct goofiness, although his populism is not my thing. I also respect Juan Williams as a regular representing the progressive point of view, which I think he does pretty well even if its hard not to get decked occasionally with so many swinging back.

While Ive mostly been commenting on commentary, the straight news is by and large reasonably good for TV. The deal, the big deal, is that truth is not so easy to get at, that no ideology has forever escaped fallacy and that just as our democracy needs liberal and conservative politicians to fight off the worst of each other, we need TV commentators who do the same.

Jay Ambrose is an op-ed columnist for Tribune News Service. Email speaktojay@aol.com.

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ST. LOUIS  While most of a $1.95-billion upgrade of the St. Louis-to-Chicago Amtrak corridor was finished a year ago, long-promised faster rail journeys on the route have yet to happen.

Delays in installing and testing new GPS-related safety technology have kept Amtrak trains from hitting high speeds of 90 mph during 2018 as the Illinois Department of Transportation had predicted.

Trains still are allowed to go no faster than 79 mph on the route.

IDOT now projects that 90-mph speeds will be in place for Amtrak next summer from Alton, Ill., to south of Springfield, Ill., and along much of the remainder of the route by the end of next year.

However, the agency is no longer saying when it believes the more significant speed target of 110 mph will be reached.

IDOT says that would shave about an hour off the typical 5 1/2-hour Amtrak trip between St. Louis and Chicago. The 90 mph speeds would pare only about 15 minutes on average, the agency said.

Last year, IDOT had said 110-mph speeds would be reached by 2019.

An IDOT spokeswoman, Jessie Decker, said in an email last week that an early version of the safety technology, called positive train control, is in service on most of the 215-mile stretch of the 284-mile corridor solely owned by Union Pacific. Union Pacific also jointly owns 29 miles of the corridor.

However, Decker said Union Pacific, which operates freight trains on the same tracks, is still working with state officials to test and commission a higher-level version at all crossings needed to allow the faster speeds.

In addition, Decker said, Amtrak is upgrading software on its locomotives to communicate with the positive train control system.

Work also is underway on segments of the corridor owned by other companies.

As for when the 110 mph speeds will finally be authorized, it is difficult to give an estimate now, Decker said. Before that can happen, she said, further enhancements to the positive train control system will be needed.

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She said the timing also will depend on other factors, such as how soon a second needed stretch of track in a national prairie area south of Joliet can be built, she said.

But she said IDOT is committed to working with its partners to get to 110 as quickly as possible.

Meanwhile, Union Pacific spokeswoman Hannah Bolte said her railroad is 100 percent committed to doing whats necessary to achieve 110 on the route. In the end, Bolte said, the Federal Railroad Administration has to sign off on speed signal systems.

Rick Harnish, executive director of a private group called the Midwest High Speed Rail Association, called the delays incredibly frustrating but said the testing takes a long time because the safety system is new.

Positive train control helps monitor trains position and speed. Among other things, should a train engineer fail to respond to an upcoming signal, the train will take over controls itself and slow or stop a train to avoid a crash.

The federal government has ordered passenger and freight railroads to implement positive train control this year but Union Pacific and other companies are expected to get extensions.

The 90 and 110 speeds will be used only in the more open expanses of the route outside the St. Louis and Chicago metro areas.

The 110 mph target speed for the project has been talked about by Illinois officials for more than 20 years.

The project was funded largely by federal economic stimulus dollars allotted under then-President Barack Obama.

The improvements already completed include new rails and concrete ties, new Amtrak stations in Alton, Carlinville and elsewhere and improved street crossing gates to keep vehicles from weaving around crossing bars.

Also added were sidewalk gates barring pedestrians from crossing while a train is approaching and 3-foot-high pedestrian fences at crossings.

Other improvements were aimed at reducing delays that sometime make trips longer than the usual 5 1/2 hours.

To cut delays, second-track segments and sidings were added or lengthened so two trains could run simultaneously in more areas.

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DECATUR  An explosion at an Archer Daniels Midland Co. corn plant in Decatur left no injuries Friday night, according to a spokeswoman for the company.

"We are currently investigating the cause and assessing the damage," said Jackie Anderson, a spokeswoman for ADM.

The explosion occurred around 8 p.m. in the conveyor belt system at the Decatur corn plant, Anderson said.

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ADM, which moved its global headquarters from Decatur to Chicago in 2014, has approximately 31,000 global employees in more than 170 countries. It is by far the largest employer in Decatur, according to the city of Decatur's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, which noted 4,159 jobs at the end of 2017.

The company, one of the largest agricultural processors and food ingredient providers in the world, reported in November net earnings of $536 million in its third quarter.

PHOTOS: ADM through the years

Contact Tom Lisi at (217) 421-6949. Follow him on Twitter: @tommylisi

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DECATUR  Stephen Decatur, decorated U.S. Naval officer and namesake of this city, was born 240 years ago today (Saturday).

After rising through the ranks of the Navy and successfully leading sailors through several conflicts of his era, he was killed in a duel at age 41 in Washington, D.C.

A notice of Decatur's death in the March 30 edition of the Pittsburgh Weekly Gazette read the following:

"Commodore Stephen Decatur, one of the first officers of our Navy  the pride of his country  the gallant and noble-hearted gentleman  is no more!"

Despite his early death, Decatur's legacy has held strong in following years as multiple tributes and honors have been bestowed on him. Decatur, Illinois, was founded and named after him in 1829  nine years after his death.

Let's look back at the man known as Decatur.

Happy Birthday!

Sailing ran in his family

Decatur was born on Jan. 5, 1779, in Sinepuxent, Maryland.

According to a biography that appeared in the May 3, 1820, edition of the Hillsborough (North Carolina) Recorder, his father, Stephen Decatur Sr., was "bred to the sea" and commanded a merchant vessel out of Philadelphia until the U.S. Navy was established in 1775.

During the Quasi-War between the United States and France, which lasted from 1798 to 1800, the elder Decatur took command of the USS "Philadelphia" frigate ship. He later retired once peace was made with France.

Once Stephen Decatur Jr. was of age, it didn't take him long to follow in his father's naval footsteps. He joined the Navy as a cadet in March 1798 and was eventually promoted to lieutenant during the Quasi-War.

War hero

A defining moment in Decatur's naval career came during the First Barbary War, also known as the Tripolitan War, which pitted the United States and Sweden against the Barbary States: Tripolitania, Algeria, Tunis and Morocco.

In 1801, President Thomas Jefferson ordered Navy vessels to the Mediterranean Sea in protest of ongoing raids of United States ships at the hands of pirates from the Barbary States.

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In 1803, the USS Philadelphia, the same ship that Decatur's father once commanded, was captured by Tripolitan gunboats. It was believed that the warship would be used as a model for future Tripolitan ships, so Decatur disguised himself and a group of American sailors as Maltese sailors and boarded the Philadelphia.

The Tripolitans were overpowered by Decatur's crew, who escaped unharmed after destroying the Philadelphia.

Historians say that British Admiral Horatio Nelson referred to Decatur's mission as "the most bold and daring act of the age."

The duel

Decatur's reputation as a hero only continued to grow after the Philadelphia expedition. As commander of the USS United States in the War of 1812, he captured the British war ship Macedonian and in June 1815 led United States forces in the Algerian War.

Decatur moved to Washington in 1816 and served on the Navy Board of Commissioners. In 1818, he vocally opposed former Commodore James Barron's reinstatement into the Navy, which further aggravated a growing rift between the two.

Barron and Decatur fought alongside each other in the Tripolitan War. Their relationship started to falter when Barron failed to resist a British attack on his ship, the Chesapeake. Decatur served as a judge on a court-martial that ended with Barron being suspended from the Navy for five years.

After learning of Decatur's criticism, Barron began lengthy correspondence with Decatur that ultimately ended with the two agreeing to meet for a duel on March 22, 1820.

Both men were struck by bullets in the duel  Barron recovered from his wounds and was later reinstated into the Navy with a lower rank. Decatur died in Washington, D.C. hours after the duel.

Decatur's legacy

The Pittsburgh Weekly Gazette story on Decatur's death  which appeared with the headline "A hero has fallen!" in bold, capital letters  also read the following:

"... Mourn, Columbia! For one of thy brightest stars is set  a son 'without fear and without reproach'  in the freshness of his fame  in the prime of his usefulness  has descended into the tomb."

Years after Decatur's death, the commodore's legacy has been commemorated throughout the nation in various ways. His image has appeared on stamps and silver certificates, and his Washington, D.C., home recognized as a historic landmark and operates as a museum.

In addition to Illinois, communities in Alabama, Georgia, Texas and other states have been named after Decatur. Five U.S. Navy ships have also been named in his honor. One of the ships, which the Navy said has been designed to operate in high-threat environments, is still in service today.

U.S. Naval Academy Superintendent Vice Admiral Ted Carter recognized Decatur's 237th birthday by writing an op-ed for the Capital Gazette in 2016.

He wrote that Decatur "was the foremost American naval hero of the post-Revolutionary War era" and said the Naval Academy strives to produce more leaders in his mold.

"Time and again, Stephen Decatur found himself in the middle of the action," Carter said. "Time and again, he distinguished himself with his leadership and bravery. I am confident that our next generation of leaders is up to the task."

Contact Jaylyn Cook at (217) 421-7980. Follow him on Twitter: @jaylyn_HR

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DECATUR  Ian Stobaugh was so lost in the book Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds that he didn't even know how long it took to read it.

It could have been 45 minutes, an hour, an hour and a half, said Ian, 15, an avid reader who is one of the first students at MacArthur High School to read the book.

Thanks to a $5,700 grant from the Millikin Trust, 500 copies of the book are available at the school, where librarian Jennifer Hudson kicked off the One Book, One School project. The idea, Hudson told the students, is to pay it forward. The first books were distributed on Friday. When those students finish reading it, they write a short review inside the back cover  which Hudson assured them is OK and expected  and pass the book to someone else. Each book is also numbered next to a QR code that leads the reader to a Google page where you can log the book's number, your location and your name. At the end of the semester, Hudson said, they'll be able to track how far the books have gone and how many people have read them. She hopes each book will be in the hands of at least three people.

Seeds of success: Andreas Ag Academy fields interest from Decatur students DECATUR  Chris Edwards and Carson Donnel are recruiting their classmates to sign up for the Dwayne O. Andreas Ag Academy at Decatur's two hig

Wow. All I can say is wow, said Sheriff Tony Brown, who read the book and attended the event on Friday to address the students.

The narrator is a young man named Will whose brother Shawn was shot and killed, and Brown said the way the book looks inside the mind of someone within the cycle of violence is powerful.

A lot of times, people don't realize the carnage that's left behind, Brown said. It's a very powerful book. (Will) has a choice. He can continue down the same road or break the cycle.

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The book is written in verse, with only a few words per page, said Principal Cordell Ingram, and is an easy read even for someone who doesn't normally read books. He wasn't a fan of reading until a high school teacher was flexible enough to allow him to read what he enjoyed, he said, adding that he knows many of his students can relate to the life that Will is living. He could, too, because he grew up in East St. Louis in a tough neighborhood.

Don't let the tragic walls of your circumstances close you in, Ingram said.

In the book, Will lives by three rules: Crying. Don't. No matter what. Snitching. Don't. No matter what. Revenge. Do. No matter what.

You cannot live life angry, Ingram said.

Part of the project, Hudson said, is for the students to anonymously post on a Google Classroom page devoted to the book the rules they live by, and to think about whether they still want to live by those rules after they've read and pondered the book.

Teacher Andrew Klein, one of several teachers who read the book prior to the assembly, told the students he hopes they'll be open to learning from the book.

You don't know what you don't know, he said. Learn from the mistakes other people make.

Plans are to have monthly book discussions, guest speakers who will discuss themes in the book and their applications to real life, plus scavenger hunts, puzzles and games with prizes, Hudson said.

Contact Valerie Wells at (217) 421-7982. Follow her on Twitter: @modgirlreporter

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DECATUR  One person is dead and another has been airlifted to HSHS St. John's Hospital in Springfield with life-threatening injuries after a shooting at Long John Silver's, police said.

Sgt. Chris Copeland said in a statement that police were sent to the restaurant, 701 W. Eldorado St., at 5:50 p.m. on a report of a shooting. They found a male victim with multiple gunshot wounds inside the restaurant. He was taken to Decatur Memorial Hospital, where he died, Copeland said.

Police investigating whether teenage Decatur girls were used as prostitutes DECATUR  Police said Thursday they are investigating allegations that juvenile girls in Decatur may have been used by adults as prostitutes.

Another male victim arrived at HSHS St. Mary's Hospital in a private vehicle with multiple gunshot wounds. He was flown to Springfield.

Copeland said no further information would be released.

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Detectives are processing the scene and interviewing witnesses. Anyone with information is encouraged to call CrimeStoppers at (217) 423-TIPS or the Decatur Police Detective Bureau at (217) 424-2734.

This is the second Decatur homicide of 2019. Police arrested 22-year-old BillieJo L. Soyster on New Year's Day in the fatal stabbing of her 38-year-old boyfriend, David W. Murray. Soyster faces a preliminary charge of first-degree murder; preliminary charges are subject to review by the Macon County State's Attorney's Office.

Photos: 2018 mug shots from the Herald & Review

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TAYLORVILLE  Taylorville police on Friday said an investigation of potential embezzlement at the Christian County YMCA is ongoing, and it might not be completed soon.

Chief Brian Hile said police were contacted by the YMCA, 900 McAdam Drive, last summer about discrepancies in the facility's finances. He said the YMCA staff did not know exactly how much money was reported missing at the time, but made police aware that "things weren't adding up."

Representatives of the Christian County YMCA did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday afternoon.

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Hile said that a forensic audit of all current and previous accounts held by the YMCA and a digital forensic analysis of the facility's computers is underway. When the audit is completed, he said, authorities and the YMCA will have a more concrete idea of how much money is missing.

"That's why the forensic audit is being done," Hile said. "To dive into accounts, to verify bank statements and to try and determine the amount. Not only the amount, but also how long (the theft) been going on and how far back it goes."

The Christian County State's Attorney's Office and the Illinois Attorney General's Office are assisting Taylorville police in the investigation.

If necessary, Hile said, federal authorities might also be asked to assist in the investigation.

Photos: 2018 mug shots from the Herald & Review

Contact Jaylyn Cook at (217) 421-7980. Follow him on Twitter: @jaylyn_HR

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Panel fails to endorse subcommittee report for want of revision

With lawmakers from the ruling and opposition parties sharply divided over the report on wide-body aircraft procurement by the Nepal Airlines Corporation, the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee failed to endorse it on Friday.
Relocation of the coroners division will also follow its Jan. 1 consolidation with the office of Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton.

Whenever we have the opportunity to bring occupants into the building, we want to try to do that, said county administrative officer Roger Baltz. We want to make as efficient use of the building as we can, and occupying the square footage with program services and offices to benefit the public is in our best interests.

In addition to the coroners office, Baltz said the county is looking at moving the Department of Criminal Justice Services, which oversees pretrial services, to the new facility. However, he added, the city and countys current priority is the speedy relocation of HPD and the sheriff's office so that renovation of the Law Enforcement Center can begin.

Baltz confirmed that contractor Sletten Construction Services of Great Falls still anticipates a certificate of occupancy to be issued for the property on Jan. 18, after which personnel can relocate.

On Helenas part, interim City Manager Dennis Taylor said city staff are considering relocation of the Helena municipal court to Fuller Avenue in fiscal 2020. The court is currently located within the Lewis and Clark County Courthouse, next-door to the Law Enforcement Center.

Over the course of the next three years, I think youll see the building fill up, Taylor said. We dont have any specific plans for anything other than the coroners administrative offices, and that really coincides with the (county) commissions decision to consolidate the coroner and the sheriffs office.

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Extra readingFEATURE 1 April 1995Faster than the speed of lightBy Julian BrownQUANTUM MECHANICS has been with us for over sixty years and has been thoroughly put through its paces both experimentally and theoretically. Yet physicists continue to be haunted by its strange implications  virtual particles, antimatter, negative energy, Schrodingers cat. Now it appears there is something else to add to the list: light that travels faster than light.Such an idea sounds paradoxical if not downright nonsensical. Einsteins special theory of relativity says that anything that travelled faster than light would also have to travel backwards in time. So if light can travel faster than light, shouldnt it be possible to send signals backwards in time, causing all sorts of mayhem, with effects taking place before anything ought to have caused them?Well, not exactly. It turns out that the quantum world is so strange that it is, after all, possible to break Einsteins speed limit. Until very recently the consensus was that this would not violate Einsteins theories. But some tantalising new results reported at a meeting last month are not so easy to explain away. If they prove true, relativity theory could be in trouble.Most of the attempts to send light faster than light involve a phenomenon called quantum tunnelling. In particular, there is the work of Raymond Chiao and colleagues at the University of California at Berkeley. Chiao has been pioneering a range of experiments that probe the twilight zone of quantum mechanics  an alien world where ghostly particles can spontaneously appear and disappear, where objects can pass through solid walls and where everything seems to dance to a different tune depending on whether or not you happen to be watching.Quantum tunnelling is, in itself, a remarkable phenomenon because it involves particles travelling through barriers that ought to be impenetrable. If you throw a ball at a wall you expect the ball to bounce back, not to pass straight through it. Yet subatomic particles pull off the quantum equivalent of this feat with consummate ease.According to quantum theory there is a distinct, albeit small, probability that a particle can tunnel its way through a barrier even if it does not have enough energy to jump over. The probability declines exponentially with barrier thickness so for all practical purposes quantum tunnelling is usually observed only when barriers are no thicker than a few atomic layers. Nevertheless, quantum tunnelling has many practical applications  playing a major role in nuclear fusion, in electronic devices such as the tunnel diode, and in tunnelling electron microscopes, the highest resolution microscopes in existence.What Chiao and others have done is measure how long it takes particles of light  photons  to tunnel through a barrier. Their rationale was a pile of theoretical calculations, some per formed as long ago as the 1930s, which suggested a strange idea. In 1932, L. MacColl of Bell Labs wrote: When a particle tunnels through a barrier, it does so without any appreciable delay.The implications of this, though, did not become apparent until 1955 when Eugene Wigner and his student L. Eisenbud at Princeton analysed the problem and concluded that under some circumstances tunnelling particles could actually travel faster than light.This bizarre conclusion has been re-examined and argued about by theoreticians over the decades. The problem is that many ways of looking at it seem to leave common sense behind. For example, one approach is to say that a tunnelling particle has to borrow energy to overcome the barrier it is penetrating. In effect, the particle runs an energy deficit while it is tunnelling  it has a negative kinetic energy. Classically, kinetic energy is related to the square of the speed so, if the energy is negative, the speed will be the square root of a negative number, which sounds like nonsense.Peaks and packetsOf course, tiny quantum particles do not behave like ordinary balls so the classical calculation is probably inappropriate. Another way of looking at the time it takes the particles to tunnel is to take advantage of the fact that quantum particles can also be viewed as spread-out waves, where the size of the wave at any particular place is related to the likelihood of finding the particle there. There are many different ways of calculating the speed of such a wave packet: the group velocity which corresponds to the way the peak of the packet moves, the phase velocity which corresponds to the movement of an individual oscillation within the packet, the energy velocity corresponding to the speed at which energy is transported, and so on. All of them can be very different.Wigner and Eisenbuds analysis calculated the tunnelling time in terms of the peak of the wave packet and concluded that it could be anomalously short. These calculations also suggested the tunnelling time would become saturated. In other words, it would reach a maximum beyond which it would stay the same no matter how thick the barrier. This would imply that the effective tunnelling velocity can, in principle, increase without limit as the thickness of the barrier increases. Although the probability of travelling though the barrier also falls rapidly with increasing thickness, the few particles that were able to pass through would do so without regard to Einsteins ultimate speed limit of the speed of light.It is only in recent years that the technology existed to test these ideas experimentally. The first hints came ten years ago from Steven Chu and Stephen Wong at AT&T Bell Labs in New Jersey. They measured superluminal velocities for light pulses travelling though an absorbing material. Despite the surprising nature of their findings, it seems that few people took any notice. One reason, perhaps, was that absorption, though interesting, was not the same thing as quantum tunnelling. When particles hit a quantum barrier, most of them are reflected rather than absorbed. So the physics is quite different.The forbidden zoneIn 1991, Anedio Ranfagni and his colleagues at the National Institute for Research into Electromagnetic Waves in Florence came up with an idea for investigating a phenomenon that was more closely related to quantum tunnelling. They looked at the way microwaves can stray into forbidden zones inside waveguides. Waveguides are square metal tubes used for conveying microwaves. If the cross section of the waveguide is too small to fit a complete number of half-wavelengths, the microwaves are almost entirely reflected. But like tunnelling particles, some microwaves can still penetrate the forbidden region.The Italian group measured the speed of propagation through the forbidden zone but reported values less than the speed of light. But when in 1992 Gunter Nimtz and colleagues at the University of Cologne reported superluminal speeds for microwaves traversing the forbidden region, the Italian team realised that they had not used thick enough barriers. When they redid the experiments, they also found evidence for microwaves travelling faster than light.The following year, the matter was clinched when Chiao and his colleagues Aephraim Steinberg and Paul Kwiat at the University of California at Berkeley provided the most direct evidence yet for superluminal transport. They measured the tunnelling times of photons of visible light. This was no mean achievement because the times involved are incredibly short  just a few femtoseconds (1015 seconds)  much shorter than the times that can be resolved with atomic clocks.To achieve this resolution, the researchers used an ingenious arrangement known as a Hong-Ou-Mandel interferometer invented by Leonard Mandel and colleagues at the University of Rochester in New York (see Diagram). In this a laser beam is shone onto a crystal known as a down-converter, which absorbs photons of a given energy and emits pairs of photons of lower energy. The photons in each pair are then raced against each other along different tracks. On one track, the photons pass though a barrier, an optical filter, and on the other they pass through air.Apparatus for Chiao's photon raceSpeed bumpsThe filter, which is around a micrometre thick, consists of alternating layers of glass, each layer made up of material with either a low or a high refractive index. The layers individually act like speed bumps, slowing down the light. Taken together, when the wavelength of light matches the spacing of the bumps, they block out the light almost entirely. The researchers deliberately tune their laser light to produce photons with the forbidden wavelength so most of the photons are reflected.But a few photons still manage to tunnel through the filter and are then directed towards a half-silvered mirror, which acts as a beam splitter. Some of the photons that hit this will pass through it and some will bounce off. The partner photons are also directed towards the half-silvered mirror but from the opposite side. All the photons then head for one or other of a pair of detectors connected to a device known as a coincidence counter.This device registers when a pair of photons arrive at the two different detectors simultaneously. But although it is accurate to a billionth of a second, its reactions are too slow for it to measure the time the light take to tunnel through the barrier. In fact, a billionth of a second is the time it takes for the entire race, which is a metre or so in length.The secret of the million-fold improvement in resolution lies in the half-silvered mirror. When the photons hit its surface they have a fifty-fifty chance of being reflected or passing straight through. If the photons arrive at different times, they are randomly reflected and transmitted. The angles of incidence for both photon tracks are arranged to be the same, so that no matter which path a photon came from it always emerges on one heading towards a detector.If we call these emerging tracks 1 and 2, there are four possible outcomes: both photons emerging on track 1, the first on track 1 and the second on track 2, the first on track 2 and the second on track 1 or both on track 2, all with equal probability (see Diagram). When these photons reach the detectors, the counter registers their arrival only if they were travelling on different paths. So the counter sees 50 per cent of the emerging photon pairs.Separate and simultaneous registers of photon pathsBut something quite different occurs if the two photons arrive simultaneously (within around 20 femtoseconds of one another) at the half-silvered mirror. Because the photons were generated simultaneously with the same energy and phase they are said to be correlated. When the photon wave-packets meet, quantum mechanics steps in, causing them to interfere with one another. The upshot is that the two correlated photons always travel away from the mirror together along either path 1 or 2, and so hit only one detector on the coincidence counter. In this case, nothing is registered on the counter.Chiao and his team first used this apparatus without the filter, so that both photons were racing through air. The idea was to adjust the track lengths of each photon until the signal suddenly disappeared from the coincidence counter. At that point, the two racing photons must have arrived at the half silvered mirror at the same time, within 20 femtoseconds or so. By searching for the centre of the null, the researchers managed to narrow the time resolution to within a quarter of a femtosecond. This way, they made sure that the race would be fair.They then inserted the optical filter, and measured how much one path length needed to be increased or decreased to restore the null. The size of the adjustment indicates the size of the time difference. Using this technique, the researchers found that the photons that tunnelled their way through the optical filter arrived 1.5 femtoseconds sooner than the ones that travelled through air. The tunnelling photons seemed to have travelled at 1.7 times the speed of light.Even so, Chiao steadfastly maintains that these superluminal photons do not violate Einsteins special theory of relativity. The important thing, he says, is whether it is possible to send a signal by this route. These experiments do not mean that you can send a signal faster than light. Only a few photons get through the barrier. Because tunnelling is probabilistic, weve no way of knowing which ones they will be. So it would not be possible to send any useful information.To understand what is happening, we need to go back to the wave packet description of photons. The wave packet represents a probability distribution where the peak corresponds to the most likely position of detecting the particle. However, because such wave packets are spread out, there is a chance of detecting the particles in other places which means some photons will appear to arrive early and some will arrive late.Now when a photon approaches a barrier such as the optical filter, what happens is that the first part of the wave passes through the barrier relatively easily compared with the rest of the wave packet. The result is that the photon wave packet gets reshaped, so that its peak is shifted closer to the front. When raced against another photon travelling though air (or a vacuum) the leading edge of both wave packets arrive at the same time. However, because of reshaping the tunnelling photons appear on average to arrive earlier than their non-tunnelling partners. This gives the impression that they have travelled faster than light.The reason the first part of the wave packet passes through the barrier more easily than the rest of it is that it takes a little time for the optical filter to block transmission. The filter works by building up coherent multiple reflections between its different layers. These reflections produce interference patterns which block transmission. But when the wave packet first arrives it takes a while to establish these patterns. In other words, preferential treatment of the leading edge of the wavepacket creates a sort of optical illusion shifting, the transmitted peak earlier in time (see Diagram).Photon race travelling through a barrierThis is another reason why it wouldnt be possible to send a signal faster than light. To send a signal a you need to open a shutter or do something to make a sharp break in the wave packet, says Chiao. No matter how much reshaping a barrier produces, the wave peak can never overtake the front of the wavepacket. So it is this that really determines how quickly you can send a signal. No amount of wave reshaping will make the front of the wave packet arrive earlier than expected.Although the results from Chiaos team helped to settle the question of superluminal velocities they had little to say about what happens as you make the barrier thicker. According to Nimtz, this issue had already been settled by his microwave work in 1992, but important confirmation came in October last year from experiments conducted by Ferenc Krauss and colleagues at the Technical University in Vienna. They have been able to use thicker barriers than Chiaos team because their light source is much more intense. They did not conduct their experiment with individual photons, but instead used very short bursts of laser light containing many photons. The Vienna team work with very short pulse lasers and at around 8 femtoseconds they have the fastest in the world.As the pulses were so short, they could achieve a very high time resolution. Their results strongly suggest that as they progressively increased the thickness of the barrier the tunnelling time saturated towards a maximum value. One way to explain this is to go back to the picture of the particles having to borrow energy to tunnel through the barrier.According to Heisenbergs uncertainty principle, its fine to borrow energy from the fuzziness of the quantum world, but you can do so for only a finite time  the greater the energy that you want to borrow, the less time you can have it for. The amount of energy the photons need to borrow, and hence the amount of time they can have it for, depends on the height of the barrier, but not the thickness. So any photons tunnelling through a barrier have to do it in the same time, no matter how thick the barrier.A strange consequence of the Vienna results is that you could imagine a thought experiment in which you made the barrier arbitrarily large  say the size of our Galaxy. According to the theory, light that tunnelled through the barrier would jump across the Galaxy virtually instantly. Light that travelled the conventional, however, would take millions of years. As Chiao says: It is as if the space in the barrier has disappeared.Such a thought experiment would obviously be impossible to put into practice because even thin barriers allow only very few photons through. Yet it does put the phenomenon into stark relief. In fact, the rapid drop in tunnelling probability with barrier thickness would seem to place a severe limit on how far photons could actually travel at superluminal velocities. If the effect is of such short range, one might be tempted to write it off as little more than a curiosity.Yet last month an extraordinary development in this tale unfolded at a special colloquium organised in Snowbird, Utah. Attending the meeting were some of the leading researchers in this field of faster-than-light quantum phenomena. To an astonished audience, Nimtz announced that his team at Cologne had not only measured superluminal speeds for their microwaves, but had actually sent a signal faster than light. The signal in question was Mozarts 40th Symphony. What they did was frequency modulate their microwave source with the music and then measure how quickly the music arrived after traversing the forbidden zone in a waveguide.According to Nimtz, Mozarts 40th hopped across 12 centimetres of space at 4.7 times the speed of light. Whats more, Nimtz actually had a recording to prove it. To his now bemused audience, he played a tape in which among the background hiss strains of Mozart could be heard. This was the signal that had travelled faster than light.But that very word signal triggered heated discussion, with some participants claiming that the symphony could not be regarded as a signal. Among them was Chiao. Its not a signal in Einsteins sense because of the timescales involved. I agree that when the music crosses the barrier it is shifted forward in time, compared with music that travels by a conventional path, but only by a very small amount. It is so small that you can predict what will happen to the music simply by looking at how the original audio waveform is changing. There is no threat to causality.Nimtz is not so sure. I dont have an opinion on whether this violates causality. However, I do not accept that Mozarts symphony isnt a signal. In principle, I could extend the path over much longer distances and then it would not be possible to predict the course of the music. Then you really would have a signal travelling faster than light.Nimtz clearly believes he is onto something important. By contrast, Chiao and his colleagues, while happy to peer beyond the normal confines of scientific orthodoxy, are determined not to be lured over the edge. Their collective view remains firmly grounded in the sanctity of causality and Einsteins special theory of relativity. Einstein causality, Chiao says, rules out the propagation of any signal faster than light, but it does not limit the group velocity of electromagnetic propagation.Chiaos colleague Steinberg puts it another way: What stops you from sending a signal faster than light is that the calculation only works for smoothly varying pulses. If a smoothly varying pulse shows up at noon, it may have been possible to predict its shape from the shape of the pulse at 8 am. If at noon you suddenly have an important message and decide to change the shape of the pulse in order to convey this message, that change will not travel any faster than the speed of light.Despite such reassurances, many physicists admit to being more than a little troubled by these faster than light phenomena. While few are prepared to accept Nimtzs more extravagant claims, many will doubtless want to see how much further theory and experiment can fly in the face of common sense.Science Writer, LondonMagazine issue 1971, published 1 April 1995_________________
goodyear2013 wrote:

A scientist has determined that a recently discovered ancient Chinese weapon, buried since approximately 1300 B.C., is encrusted with silk, a fabric previously thought to have been invented 1,000 years later.



A. A scientist has determined that a recently discovered ancient Chinese weapon, buried since approximately 1300 B.C., is encrusted with silk, a fabric previously thought to have been invented 1,000 years later

B. Buried since approximately 1300 B.C., an ancient Chinese weapon had been recently determined by a scientist to be encrusted with silk, a fabric previously thought to be invented 1,000 years later

C. A scientist has determined that a recently discovered ancient Chinese weapon is encrusted with silk, a fabric previously thought to have been invented 1,000 years later, after having been buried since approximately 1300 B.C.

D. After being buried since approximately 1300 B.C., a scientist has determined that a recently discovered ancient Chinese weapon is encrusted with silk, a fabric previously thought to have been invented 1,000 years later

E. A recently discovered ancient Chinese weapon, buried since approximately 1300 B.C., has been determined to be covered with silk by a scientist, a fabric previously thought to have been invented 1,000 years later



Hi, although I think (A) and (C) are the only choices which sounds right to start with,

I want to know whether we can rule out (B), (D), (E) straight away from the choices, please.

(describes the weapon)

(describes silk)

recently determined

This option omits the fact that the weapon is recently discovered , which changes the meaning of the original sentence. Also uses wrong form of Past Perfect Continuous (had + been + verb-ing)

(what was buried? silk or weapon)

Modifier error

(modifies scientist)

the scientist was buried since 1300 B.C. This sentence means

(who determined)

(so a scientist covered the weapon with silk)

(modifies scientist)

All sorts of modifier errors

Life is a highway

I wanna ride it all night long Signature Read More

All the choices, except A, either have modifier errors or change the meaning of the original sentence.A. A scientist has determined that a recently discovered ancient Chinese weapon,buried since approximately 1300 B.C., is encrusted with silk,a fabric previously thought to have been invented 1,000 years laterB. Buried since approximately 1300 B.C., an ancient Chinese weapon had beenby a scientist to be encrusted with silk, a fabric previously thought to be invented 1,000 years later -C. A scientist has determined that a recently discovered ancient Chinese weapon is encrusted with silk, a fabric previously thought to have been invented 1,000 years later,after having been buried since approximately 1300 B.C. -D. After being buried since approximately 1300 B.C., a scientist has determined that a recently discovered ancient Chinese weapon is encrusted with silk, a fabric previously thought to have been invented 1,000 years later -E. A recently discovered ancient Chinese weapon, buried since approximately 1300 B.C., has been determinedto be covered with silk by a scientista fabric previously thought to have been invented 1,000 years later -_________________
MONTREAL, Jan. 04, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ALGOLD RESOURCES LTD. (TSXV: ALG  Algold or the Corporation) today announced that the Mauritanian Ministry of Oil, Energy and Mines (the Ministry) has granted a 12-month extension to the Corporation for the completion of the Tijirit Gold Project feasibility study.



At Algolds request, the Government of Mauritania granted an extension for the delivery of the feasibility study. This will allow the Corporation to pursue more technical work, including drilling, metallurgy and hydrogeology, which can potentially expand the projects scope and resources. The extension also clearly indicates the Ministrys confidence in the Tijirit project. The feasibility study was originally scheduled for completion by the end of 2018.

Algold and the Government of Mauritania have always worked closely together in the development of the Tijirit Gold Project, said Benoit LaSalle, Algolds Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. The extra time provided by the extension will allow for more technical work to be performed, which is yet another illustration of the synergy and team spirit created by the establishment of the TIREX Gold Company, a partnership in which Algold owns 75%, the Government of Mauritania holds 15% and Wafa Mining and Petroleum has 10%. This is an important endorsement for Algold and we are grateful for the Government of Mauritania's continued strong support.

Over the past 30 months, Algold has successfully completed several key milestones including: acquiring Tijirit; several rounds of financing to raise over $25 million, with $7.9 million from Mauritanian partners; 75,000 meters of drilling in four phases; filing of an NI 43-101 resource report and a Preliminary Economic Assessment; and receipt of a 30-year mining lease from the Government of Mauritania.

ABOUT ALGOLD

Algold Resources Ltd is focused on the exploration and development of gold deposits in West Africa. The board of directors and management team are seasoned resource industry professionals with extensive experience in the exploration and development of world-class gold projects in Africa.

Algold is developing the Tijirit Gold Project, an area measuring more than 750 km2, which is comprised of the 306-km2 Tijirit Exploitation License and the 460-km2 Tijirit East Exploration License. The Tijirit Gold Project is situated approximately 25 kilometers southeast of the Tasiast gold mine. Exploration is being carried out on the Eleonore, Sophie I, Sophie II-III, Lily and SVS zones.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This press release contains and refers to forward-looking information based on current expectations. All other statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release are forward-looking statements (or forward-looking information). The Corporation's plans involve various estimates and assumptions and its business is subject to various risks and uncertainties. For more details on these estimates, assumptions, risks and uncertainties, see the Corporation's most recent Management Discussion and Analysis on file with the Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements that are included herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information, please contact:

Algold Resources Ltd.

1320, boul. Graham, bureau 132, Mont-Royal, Quebec, H3P 3C8, www.algold.com
Though several of the residents of Regency Terrace alleged that the tags were "vague" and failed to disclose specific hazards, Housing Inspector Raymond Quayle testified in court that "nothing in the ordinance that requires advertising every hazard on an actual placard."

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The judge concurred. She noted in her ruling that it was unlikely for the petitioners to "succeed on the merit of their claims" because the housing code was followed when the complex was white-tagged by Quayle.

Wilson, the attorney for the tenants, repeatedly raised issues with this particular action and worried that the city's power was a bit too broad.

"The city ordinance is really vague about setting up the amount of power the housing inspector has," Wilson said. "My concern is to what level should a person be deprived of their homes."

No appeal has been filed which complies with the specific requirements of the code. The tenants are still able to request a hearing with the Mason City Housing Authority but that wouldn't be until after they have already been moved out.

But Wilson, who has worked with Iowa Legal Aid for 15 years, reiterated that the ordinance is "confusing as to how to file an appeal."
MASON CITY | Two North Iowa teens were arrested in connection with a December robbery, officials said.

A 15-year-old boy was arrested and charged with first degree robbery Thursday night. He is in the custody of juvenile court services and his name has not been released.

According to police, an arrest warrant was issued for Camden Michael Nicholson, 17, for first degree robbery. Nicholson is believed to be out of state, police said in a release.

At 11:38 p.m. Dec. 27, Mason City Police officers responded to the 800 block of Eighth Street Northeast. They say up to three men who forced their way into a home.

According to Mason City Police Lt. Rich Jensen, one man held an adult woman who lived in the home down while the other men stole items from the home.

According to court documents, jewelry and electronics were stolen.

+2 North Iowa teen arrested for robbery in Mason City MASON CITY | A Mason City teen was arrested Thursday for a late December robbery, officials said.

The woman, who was alone, was strangled by her attacker and lost consciousness. The attacker had a knife and threatened to stab her.
A married father of three moved into a Colorado Springs church this week to avoid deportation while his immigration application remained stalled because of the partial government shutdown.

Miguel Ramirez Valiente is the second immigrant to seek sanctuary at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church, 730 N. Tejon St., since President Donald Trump took office and ordered a crackdown on immigrants living in the country illegally.

Churches have been a decadeslong haven for immigrants seeking refuge from deportation, due to a Reagan-era Immigration and Customs Enforcement policy dissuading agents from entering sensitive locations, including hospitals, schools and churches.

Ramirez Valientes case is different in that it appears to stem from the partial federal government shutdown, which began Dec. 22 over Trumps demand for $5 billion to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. On Friday, Trump responded to Democrats refusal to fund the wall by saying the shutdown could last months or years.

Miguels rights to due process are being violated, said his attorney, Lisa Guerra, in a statement. He has a compelling and strong legal case and we are waiting for the government to reopen in order to fully pursue all legal options available to him.

Ramirez Valiente fled gang violence and death threats in El Salvador more than 14 years ago, according to the Colorado Springs Sanctuary Coalition. Since 2011, he has pursued several legal avenues for relief, but has been unable to submit the paperwork necessary to fight a deportation order, due to the Denver Immigration Courts closure, the coalition said.

His wife and three children  ages 4, 10, and 12  are all United States citizens, said Siena Mann, a spokeswoman for the coalition.

She declined to further discuss his case, including why the government is seeking to deport him, adding that a news conference is planned for next week.

Ramirez Valiente is just one of many undocumented immigrants left in legal limbo due to the shutdown, which has exacerbated an already enormous backlog at the Denver immigration courthouse, said Stephanie Izaguirre, a Colorado Springs immigration attorney who has consulted the coalition.

Court hearings have been canceled, and shes been unable to file any motions for her clients since the government shut down two weeks ago. Clients who waited more than a year for their case to be heard before an immigration judge saw their hearings postponed without a new date set, Izaguirre said.

Izaguirre said she has not been fully briefed on Ramirez Valientes case, and declined to speak specifically about the circumstances in his case. However, she said that a concern among immigration attorneys is that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents continue to detain people and carry out deportation orders, despite people whose cases have been pending for years being unable to file motions to stay their removal from the country.

Without the court being open to accept motions, Izaguirre said Ramirez Valientes case resembled an instance of the U.S. government taking advantage of a situation the government created.

The federal government has taken away his ability to ask for help, or to ask for protection, by being closed, Izaguirre said. It feels a little bit like the government is being a bully here. Because its not fair  he hasnt had his full day in court yet.



EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been changed to reflect Miguel Ramirez Valiente's correct last name.
Nepal Oil says it needs to recover huge losses

Nepal Oil Corporation has not slashed the price of gasoline proportionally with the sharp fall in global oil prices, saying it needs to make up for past losses.
Nearly eight months after Terry Ragan sold his seven apartment complexes to a Denver-area real estate company, life is gradually improving for tenants at the decrepit, bug-infested apartments primarily in southeast Colorado Springs.

New stoves, air conditioners and dishwashers are replacing appliances that stopped working long ago. Requests to fix them were ignored while Ragan was the landlord. Laundry machines that didn't work or left oil stains on tenants clothes have been replaced. Security cameras are being installed, and security guards now patrol parking lots previously ceded to drug dealers and other criminals.

The legions of cockroaches, a ubiquitous part of life at Ragan apartments, are being eradicated.

Under the new owners, Slipstream Properties, tenants have to meet and abide by stricter leasing requirements. The New Horizons complex has been rebuilt from the studs out and rechristened North 49 in the first phase of $35 million in planned renovations and upgrades.

Those renovations are expected to kick into high gear in 2019, with at least two more complexes slated for overhauls. By mid-2021, every apartment complex formerly owned by Ragan will have undergone the same makeover, including landscaping upgrades, the new owners say.

For all the problems Ragan caused that have been documented by police and code inspectors over the years  giving gang members free rein, fire and other violations that endangered tenants' health and safety  city officials acknowledge that the 1,200 apartments he formerly owned accounted for a large percentage of the affordable housing in Colorado Springs.

Slipstream's plans will admittedly exacerbate that problem by gentrifying portions of the city's southeast. Repairing and rebuilding the deteriorating complex will attract middle-class or affluent people who displace the poorer, longtime residents who no longer can afford to live there.

Everyone living in the Pine Creek Village, Shannon Glen, South Pointe, Cedar Creek Club, El Vecino and Timbers apartments will be told to leave at some point over the next few years. Some tenants are being offered a chance to move into an old apartment outfitted with new appliances, or a newly-renovated unit costing hundreds of dollars more a month.

Eventually, every unit will have higher, market-level rents. And in a few years, 1,178 apartments that were affordable  but unhealthy and unsafe  will become livable, yet possibly unattainable, for many of the working-class tenants.

For a city with an affordable housing deficit already numbering in the tens of thousands of apartments, the gentrification of some southeast areas  while improving living conditions for a fortunate few who can afford to remain  will worsen the problem.

*****

Ask almost any current or former tenant, and the horror stories of neglect and mismanagement at the Ragan properties repeat themselves over and over.

For Danny Stone, the problems started almost immediately after he moved into the El Vecino Apartments about three years ago.

Only one of the stove burners worked. His air conditioner went on the fritz. Requests for repairs went unanswered.

Washing machines and dryers down the hall ruined his clothes. After a while, he gave up and just schlepped his clothes to laundromats or washed them in his bathtub.

Walls were pocked with holes. Hallways and basements were dark because lights were out or broken. Windows were shattered. Ceilings in many second-floor apartments leaked, and mold flourished in many units.

Dozens of gang members known to police lived in Ragan's apartments; drug deals, knifings and shootings were commonplace.

But it was tolerable for what Stone paid for his two-bedroom, ground-floor apartment: $625 a month, plus utilities. Apartments elsewhere in southeast Colorado Springs average $1,000 a month, and even that typically is $60 to $230 a month cheaper than the rest of the city.

Ragan's reputation as the city's worst landlord dates to at least 2003. That's when The Gazette ran a weeklong series on the rampant crime, code violations and the mold, bugs and broken appliances. Ragan began to feel the pressure to fix up or sell his complexes after the newspaper's follow-up report in late 2017 found that little had changed at the complexes over the past 15 years.

Tenants found an advocate in newly elected District 4 City Councilwoman Yolanda Avila, and the council passed new code enforcement regulations in April that toughened fines against repeat offenders, of whom Ragan was the worst.

A month after those regulations were passed, Ragan sold all of his properties to Slipstream, a Denver redeveloper of distressed apartment complexes, for $102 million.

Within weeks, the cockroaches no longer owned the night.

A functioning stove from an empty unit down the hall was brought into Stone's apartment. Washing machines and dryers were replaced, protected by a newly installed door with an electronic lock.

Once that got under control, and the bug problem was gone, it was like a ton of weight was lifted off of me, Stone said.

His El Vecino neighbors, Stephen and Jolene Bolin, also got a new stove, air conditioner and refrigerator.

A security guard patrols the parking lots at night  a relief for tenants accustomed to witnessing crimes or being victims. One stopped Stephen Bolin, 47, while he walked his dog at night, to ask what he was up to  something that might be resented elsewhere, but was a welcome sign of change at a former Ragan complex.

For Bolin's wife, Jolene Bolin, 52, the security patrols have been a godsend. While she praised the new company, a man walked by carrying a 100-foot-long hose down the hallway.

Hes a carpet cleaner, getting to work on the hallway floors.

This is a first, Jolene said, smiling.

Seven months hasn't been long enough to fix all the problems, however. Four months ago, a maintenance worker was killed at Pine Creek Village. Another maintenance worker was arrested in his death.

*****

Everything comes at a cost; that's just how gentrification works, whether in Denver or southeast Colorado Springs.

To recoup what it paid for the apartments and the renovations, Slipstream will have to raise rents. Instead of $625 a month, Stone's two-bedroom apartment likely will be several hundred dollars a month higher.

Slipstream's owners have said rents will be higher, at "market rate" for similar apartments in the southeast.

In southeast Colorado Springs, that's about $900 a month for a one-bedroom apartment and $1,000 for a two-bedroom, one-bathroom unit. A two bedroom, two-bathroom unit there costs about $1,130 a month.

Anthony Loeffler, a Slipstream partner, acknowledged that some tenants who've endured years of Ragan's neglect, won't be able to afford to stay.

"Its a really tough thing, right?" Loeffler said. "You dont want to have housing in your city that doesnt provide basic quality-of-life standards. But the problem with these specific units is, its taken a ton of investment to get it to the point where we could offer a product that were willing to put out there to the market.

"We have high standards for the way we want the residents in our communities to live. We dont want to let somebody live with a broken appliance for any amount of time.

He stressed that the city's affordable housing shortage isn't something Slipstream can fix by itself  nor should it.

"That requires a larger plan, and it requires a lot of investment, and it requires the whole city to come together and figure out how to account for the people who cant afford market-rate apartments," Loeffler said.

Jenaree Coughlin, 27, was among the first tenants who had to leave when the remodeling began at New Horizons.

She said Slipstream gave her the option of taking compensation for having to move or moving into an apartment that hadn't been renovated.

She ended up at the far more decrepit Shannon Glen apartments when she couldn't find another place she could afford.

The first unit she moved into flooded within a month, forcing her to move again into an apartment across the hall. There, a pipe next to the kitchen is leaking, and the furnace went out for a week.

"Slowly, they're starting to get a little bit better," Coughlin said. "It's just kind of pulling teeth to get what needs to be done to make things livable."

Especially compared with the now-renovated apartment she left at New Horizons, where the carpeting has been replaced and marble countertops have been installed.

The rent for her old apartment at New Horizons is hundreds of dollars more a month than she had been paying.

*****

In the meantime, Ragan's old apartments continue to be islands of affordable housing in a sea of rising rents.

Across Colorado Springs, rents have been breaking records for several years. With housing in the Denver metro area much more expensive, many people have slid down to Colorado Springs in search of affordable options. That, in turn, has driven up housing costs cross the Pikes Peak region.

Many new tenants have scooped up cheap, short-term leases for three or six months that Slipstream has offered to keep the complexes as full as possible before renovations.

Her credit in tatters after a divorce two years ago, Sissy Moore moved to Colorado Springs in October and quickly found a unit at Shannon Glen. Even before she moved in, Slipstream replaced the kitchen appliances and repainted the walls. Her deposit was $400  low in this market  and the managers knocked $200 off her first months rent.

She pays $760 a month, plus utilities, for a two-bedroom apartment  plus $10 a month for her dog.

I looked at apartments all over the place in Colorado Springs. Theyre the price of a house, said Moore, 36. And as a single mom, ... its tough to find something that you can afford and get on your feet. And this gave me that opportunity. And I think its wonderful. My kids love it.

Also, for the first time in years at these apartment complexes, homeless veterans have been able to use housing vouchers supplied by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Few landlords have been willing to accept those vouchers, because they are worth less than current market rates. Units not yet renovated by Slipstream fall perfectly within the vouchers' price range.

But there's a catch. Those veterans could be back on the streets once renovations take place, said Bridget Edmondson, whose job with the VA is to help homeless veterans find apartments that accept the vouchers.

"They were talking about doing granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances," said Edmondson, while speaking to a property manager at a recent luncheon for veterans at the Cedar Creek Club. "I'm worried about the prices. If some of our veterans are going to be living in here, they might not have anywhere to go once everything gets remodeled."

*****

Stone, 58, knows the clock is ticking. So do his neighbors.

He's banking on time being on his side. He still needs time for his family to get out of debt and onto solid financial footing. But he said he doesn't think Slipstream will fully renovate his apartments anytime soon.

It is a concern  especially with the way the market is right now, Stone said. But I also know how long it takes to make conversions like this. Were talking two to three years. And within two to three years, we should be doing a lot better to where we can upgrade our living conditions.

As long as the bottom doesnt fall out on us, we should be doing good.

Tenants across Slipstream's properties are making the same calculations. Residents say they're either preparing to leave or budgeting for higher rents. Some say they'll stay, an acknowledgement that rents could never remain so cheap in this city's record-breaking rental market.

Upstairs from Stone, the Bolins say any rent increase will be devastating. They pay about $700 a month, plus utilities, for a two-bedroom apartment. For now, they live solely on his Social Security disability checks due to their ailments.

Id be out on the streets, Stephen Bolin said. Considering it takes about $500 on average to lay down a deposit, and then the background checks on top of that, and then you have to pay first month's rent  thats way over my income.

Jona Maldonado, 26, and his wife already started looking for apartments in Fountain and Pueblo.

"Rent's just cheaper" in those cities, he said.
Wearing red denoting education on their bodies, along with smiles on their faces, a few local teachers joined about 100 others from around the state at the Capitol on Friday to emphasize their priorities to lawmakers at the opening of the 2019 legislative session.

The mood was upbeat and hopeful, yet concerned, said Simon Ellis, a first-grade teacher at Academy International Elementary School in Academy School District 20.

We wanted to remind legislators we are still fighting for our profession, for better recognition of what we do, he said.

The participants, who walked from the Colorado Education Association headquarters to the Capitol, have been sending postcards to elected officials with a list of their unions funding priorities.

Those include funding classrooms instead of corporate income tax giveaways and property tax exemptions, ratcheting down Colorados high-stakes testing system and addressing the educator shortage through such means as an equitable retirement system and giving educators more autonomy, authority and decision-making capability.

I think education is beginning to be moved back on the table as something that not only needs to be discussed but needs to be acted on, Ellis said. We have to retain our educators we have and bring more on board. Were always scrambling in D-20; even down to substitute teachers, we dont have enough.

Theres not that desire to work in schools as there has been in the past, and we need to get that stature of being an educator returned.

CEA President Amie Baca-Oehlert, a high school counselor, said the concerns and ideas of educators, parents and students need to be at the center of any approach to improve public schools.

We told our legislators today that we will give merit to legislative proposals that respect and value the voices of Colorado educators, she said in a news release from the states largest educators union, which represents more than 35,000 members.

Although every candidate the association endorsed won their bids in the now Democratic-controlled House, Senate and governors office, Ellis said, We need to hold their feet to the fire, to their promises that they made in November.

Everyone, bar none, listed education as one of their important bullet points in their election campaigns.

A statewide ballot proposal to increase funding for schools  Amendment 73  failed in November, which was probably not surprising, said Becky Thomas, president of the 230-member Academy Education Association of D-20 and a paraprofessional at several D-20 schools.

Proponents have pointed out that despite its defeat, a record 1.1 million Colorado voters supported the measure.

I do think people realize that something needs to be done, and well keep at it, Thomas said.

The people weve elected have an understanding that they got to where they are in part because of the support and help of educators, she said.

And paybacks are going to be necessary.

Contact the writer: 719-476-1656.
CRIPPLE CREEK  It could be more than a month before prosecutors reveal the evidence against a Teller County man suspected in the killing of a woman described as his fiancee, who disappeared from her Woodland Park home on Thanksgiving Day and is presumed dead.

A judge on Friday postponed a key hearing for Patrick Frazee, who is charged with first-degree murder and three counts of solicitation of murder.

With arrest documents sealed and investigators mostly silent, Frazees preliminary hearing could be the first time the allegations are fleshed out, disclosing why authorities believe Frazee killed Kelsey Berreth, 29, the mother of his 1-year-old daughter.

Those details will help determine if there is enough evidence to put Frazee on trial.

Frazees hearing was moved to Feb. 19 after the defense said it needed more time to prepare.

The postponement, which is typical for complicated murder cases in the Pikes Peak region, came as Frazee, 32, returned to court in Cripple Creek for a motions hearing. He spoke just once, answering, Yes, sir, when asked if he agreed to waive his right to a preliminary hearing within 35 days.

Prosecutors dropped a bid to bar Frazee from learning the contents of an affidavit describing grounds for his Dec. 21 arrest.

Prosecutors made the request at a hearing Monday, saying that investigators wanted to run down several leads before revealing what sources they used in obtaining a judges authorization for his arrest.

Once those leads were followed up on, we no longer had concerns about Mr. Frazee seeing it, Viehman said outside the courthouse.

The move cleared Frazee to discuss the document with his attorneys and averted a promised court battle over his constitutional right to know the allegations against him.

In neighboring El Paso County, which belongs to the same judicial district as Teller County, such protective measures are generally reserved for cases involving gangs and conspiracies where witnesses safety could be atrisk, Colorado Springs attorney Phil Dubois said.

Prosecutors on Friday also tabled a request for consumptive testing, meaning they wanted to destroy evidence to test it.

Viehman said the as-yet undisclosed item is no longer believed to be a critical part of the case.

Presiding over court on Friday was Frazees new judge. Fourth Judicial District Judge Scott Sells inherited the case upon transferring this week to Teller County District Court from El Paso County. The previous judge, Lin Billings Vela, has moved to El Paso County District Court. The changes were part of a routine rotation of judges in the 4th Judicial District Court.

In a related custody matter, a judge ruled Thursday that Berreths family will retain temporary custody of the couples daughter, Kaylee.

The toddler had remained with Frazee during the nearly monthlong search for Berreth before he was arrested.

Gazette news partner KKTV on Friday reported that an Idaho nurse has been questioned in the case, citing reporting by a sister station KMVT in Idaho Falls.

Potential ties are unclear, and no charges have been announced, but Woodland Park police have said a tower in Gooding, Idaho, pinged Berreths cellphone three days after she was last seen on Nov. 22. Authorities say they believe Berreth was slain in her home that day.
An Idaho woman possibly connected to the death of a missing 29-year-old Woodland Park woman was placed on administrative leave at the hospital where she works in Twin Falls, Gazette news partner KKTV reported Saturday.

St. Lukes Health System, where Kyrstal Kenney Lee is a registered nurse, told Twin Falls station KMVT that Lee is on a leave of absence. The hospital did not respond to requests from The Gazette.

Lee reportedly knew Berreth's fiance, Patrick Frazee, who has been accused of murdering Berreth.

Frazee, 32, of Florissant, was charged with two first-degree murder counts under different theories of how the alleged killing was committed. He also faces three counts of solicitation to commit murder.

According to media reports, Frazee, a rancher, met Lee, a rodeo queen and divorced mother of two, at a rodeo, and the two were romantically involved.

Berreth last was seen Thanksgiving Day on surveillance video shopping at the Woodland Park Safeway with her and Frazee's 1-year-old daughter. Three days later, a tower in Gooding, Idaho, pinged her cellphone.

Her body has not been found, but authorities say they uncovered evidence that indicates she was killed in her townhome.

The FBI contacted the Twin Falls Police Department and Twin Falls County Sheriff's Office on Dec. 15 to ask for help with the investigation, Twin Falls police said in a statement.

Detectives from both agencies worked with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the FBI "to prepare and serve several search warrants as well as processing some items of evidence," the statement says.
When best-selling cookbook author Jenny Rosenstrach renovated her kitchen, she figured she would squeeze in as much storage space as possible. But over time, she found she had filled all the cabinets and shelves with useless things.

Last year, she decided to rip out about 20 percent of her cabinets to not only open the space, but also simplify; she purged useless gear and tools. Now, she says: Its so much better. I gave away three cabinets worth of small appliances, bowls and mugs, and I have not once said to myself, Oh, I wish I had that back. 

Rosenstrach is not alone. People are moving away from large cabinet-filled kitchens with appliances configured in a triangle to smaller galley kitchens laid out in one straight line, says recent research by the National Kitchen & Bath Association.

Eighty-five percent of new homeowners are choosing the cleaner, more contemporary and simple galley kitchen, says kitchen designer Jennifer Gilmer of Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath, based in Maryland and Virginia.

People may have grown up in oversized houses with kitchens that were too large and poorly designed, so as a reaction they want smaller, more compact spaces, Gilmer says.

Galley kitchens let you work without the obstruction of an island or table. The work area is smaller, which means less walking from one appliance to another or to the sink. And galleys are great for smaller homes or apartments because they take up less room than an eat-in kitchen.

And they cost less, says Dan McFadden, president of PB Kitchen Design in Geneva, Ill., and president of the Chicago Midwest chapter of the National Kitchen & Bath Association.

Youll have fewer cabinets and fewer feet of countertop, so you can splurge on appliances, fixtures and hardware, McFadden says.

He said he likes to use sleek, built-in appliances with clutter-free controls such as Sub-Zeros integrated refrigerators that sit flush with cabinets. For particularly small spaces, he suggests splurging on the Sub Zero 24-inch integrated column refrigerator/freezer. The super-slim unit has one door that conceals the refrigerator and freezer; no horizontal lines means it blends into the design.

For a typical galley, McFadden suggests putting the refrigerator on one end, a pantry and wall ovens on the other end, with the sink and cooktop in the middle on opposite walls. If the kitchen is wide enough, he puts the cooktop directly across from the sink. But if the space is narrow, he suggests staggering them so two people in the kitchen wont bump into each other.

Gilmer recommends always putting the refrigerator and sink on the same side. Its natural to take something out of the refrigerator and then need to use the sink prior to preparing the food, Gilmer says. She also likes the refrigerator near the doorway so its easily accessible. But McFadden cautions, If you have a galley layout with only one opening, dont place the refrigerator or oven right next to the door. You dont want the only entry to be blocked by an open appliance door.

Countertop space is especially critical in a galley. When you walk into the kitchen with bags of groceries, you need a landing zone, says Elle H-Millard, industry relations manager for the National Kitchen & Bath Association. When you put the groceries away, you need an uploading zone. For dicing and chopping, you need a prep zone, and for cooking, a cooking zone.

To best create these zones in a galley kitchen, she agrees that the refrigerator should be at one end so the countertop space ends up in the middle, punctuated by the sink on one side and the range on the other. If counter space is limited, H-Millard says, opt for a range rather than a cooktop with wall ovens and consider refrigerator and freezer drawers instead of a traditional column design. And as any galley/small kitchen owner will tell you, make sure you have a large cutting board that lies over the top of your sink. That way you automatically gain at least a couple of feet of counter space.
MPs Criticise government for failing to deliver

The delay in the progress of Postal Highway Project, unresolved Nirmala Pant rape and murder case and the embezzlement scandal surrounding the purchase of two wide-body aircraft were among the issues that figured on Fridays Upper House meeting.
Colorado Springs, CO (80903)

Today

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 64F. SSE winds shifting to N at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 64F. SSE winds shifting to N at 10 to 15 mph.
Number one is international trade, he told the crowd. Our dispute with China, renegotiation of NAFTA, retaliatory tariffs that have been put on our products are all things we are focused on.

Last month Rempe told the Journal Star that total loss in Nebraska farm revenues due to retaliatory tariffs ranges from $695 million to $1.026 billion throughout 2018.

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The total loss to the broader Nebraska economy was estimated as high as $1.2 billion. That, Rempe said, is a significant hit to our states economy.

We export generally each year $6.5 million worth of ag commodities from this state, which represents approximately about a third of the cash receipts that you as farmers and ranchers receive, he said at the Fremont Corn Expo.

While there was a large focus on international trade, several presenters also turned their attention to issues closer to home like property tax relief efforts.

Rempe said he has seen signs of encouragement in the possibility of legislative action during the 2019 session.
Cards included pop-out designs, with Christmas trees or snowmen, with one student who had a green and red checkerboard that popped out to spell the words Thank you. Bieker also had her students include personal stories about what was going on their lives to give some normalcy going on since theyre overseas.

I always tell my students that we live in a little bubble here in Fremont. And theres a whole world outside of Fremont Nebraska that they dont necessarily get to see. As a social studies teacher, I like to think that I can bring the world to them a little bit by teaching them all about these different things, Bieker told the Tribune. And I just think its neat and humbling for these students to be able to do something a little bit bigger than Fremont, Nebraska.

Along with the student-made cards, First National Bank employees packaged cookies, candy, and other notes of encouragement and New Years tidings, before sealing them all up to be sent out from the local post office.

The packages were sent to military members who were nominated by members of the local community and should arrive overseas by the end of the month.

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With a transit apocalypse avoided, a small area of real estate in New York City looks prime again. But who stands to benefitwhether it be landlords, renters, buyers, or businessesis now a question up for debate in and beyond the five boroughs.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo made the surprise announcement on Thursday the L train subway tunnel between Manhattan and Brooklyn will not be shutting down for 15 monthspreviously scheduled to start on April 27, 2019as originally planned.The L train will continue to run throughout that period, at least sometimes. The closure had been in the works for years in order to repair damage incurred during Hurricane Sandy in 2012, when the subway tunnel was submerged by floodwaters.

The news of L-pocalypse avoided is a welcome development, and is expected to result in an upswing of renting and buying activity in Williamsburg, Aleksandra Scepanovic, managing director of New York real estate firm Ideal Properties Group, tells Fortune. People who may have been considering moving out of the area for a year or two because of the shutdown are likely to reverse their thinking and stay put.

Brooklyns Williamsburg and Greenpoint neighborhoods have steadily seen rents rise sharply over the last decade, but are also often derided as hotbeds of gentrification with an influx of luxury high-rises, mass market retailers, and a younger professional crowd of renters and buyers often working in tech and finance.

With the news of an official shutdown, local businesses and residents had been dreading a future without a vital transit link to the area, and many landlords were offering incentives, from a free month of rent to Uber credits, to keep tenants as some renters already prepared to leave the neighborhood altogether. While perhaps a relief to some current L train straphangers, not everyone was pleased with Cuomos announcement right away, and there is still no shortage of unanswered questions.

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Thursdays news will definitely raise the confidence level of all the above business categories knowing that their customers will be much less inconvenienced. If they havent moved, residents looking to leave will reconsider, says Jason Pennington, managing director of retail brokerage at RIPCO Real Estates Brooklyn office. But given that there will still be significant schedule changes with night and weekend construction work, Pennington warns the shutdown could still be an issue for local businesses and restaurants catering to tourists and outer borough residents.

Before Thursdays announcement, the local real estate market was downand continuing to go down, according to Warner Lewis, an agent at Halstead, a real estate firm covering the tri-state area. Many developers had pulled units off the market and were repricing them lower, landlords were giving very robust concessions, and individual sellers were having to discount prices to get deals done.

Adam Meshberg, a resident of Williamsburg as well as founder and principal of architecture and design firm Meshberg Group, concurred that the market had been getting softer, but suggested things could turn around quickly.

One client called today and shared they were about to rent one of their units for a two-year contract under market value to fill the space, Meshberg said. Minutes before signing the contract, they heard the announcement and are no longer renting it under value.

Scepanovic thinks both landlords and tenants could stand to benefit from the news, the most obvious being tenants and buyers wont have to worry about a significant disruption to their commutes. Landlords and sellers, of course, will be able to continue with business as usual.

Everyone wants to hear that its the landlords who will benefit the most, but there is a tremendous benefit to the renters and buyers, adds Andrew Barrocas, CEO of MNS Real Estate in Brooklyn. Residents can get their kids to school in the city, get to work, etc. And of course, landlords will reap the benefit. Its not black and white.

For prospective tenants who might have been hoping to take advantage of what were expected to be lower rents, there might still be a smallvery smallwindow of opportunity.

Winter temperatures in New York City always have a cooling effect on property pricesboth on sales and rental fronts, and this year is no exception, Scepanovic says. The pricing is likely to correct upward, and the incentives may start falling off in the warmer months ahead.

For rentals, specifically, the difference will be felt immediately, Lewis says. Concessions will pull back and there will be more potential tenants in the market, he explained. This is the biggest possible gift in 2019 that landlords in Williamsburg could have hoped for.

The crucial transit link also helps with the real estate market for surrounding neighborhoodsperhaps most notably to the immediate north in Long Island City, where Amazon just announced it is planning to open a massive new headquarters. Within days (and even days before) the HQ2 reveal late last year, apartment listing searches and bids for condos in the Queens neighborhood surged immediately. Keeping the L train alive will also mean Williamsburg is directly linked to Googles current base on the western side of Manhattan as the Internet giant plans another New York campus not too far south along the Hudson River.

Eric Benaim, CEO and founder of Long Island City-based brokerage firm Modern Spaces, says that other markets that were betting on the L train shutting down as a way to drive more traffic to their neighborhoods and buildings will have to be more competitive now.

Scepanovic suspects that a substantial portion of the incoming Amazon HQ staff working in Long Island City will likely settle in Greenpoint and Williamsburg as well as Manhattans Midtown East and Astoria, just to the north of Long Island City in Queens.

The selection of LIC as the Amazons partial HQ destination is yet another localized market force, the expression of which is likely to result in the increase of rental and sales prices in the area, Scepanovic says.
The Ontario government has not shut the door on Mom-and-Pop cannabis stores, but industry observers expect the rules will initially favour larger, well-capitalized businesses and early entrants to coveted urban markets.

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) released rules for its Expression of Interest Lottery to pick the provinces first 25 private cannabis retailers on Wednesday.

Online applications will be accepted between 12:01 a.m. ET on Monday and 12:00 p.m. next Wednesday. The AGCO said it will choose the winners next Friday in a lottery overseen by KPMG, and announce the results within 24 hours. The winners will then have five days to submit a $6,000 non-refundable fee and provide a $50,000 letter of credit.

Licensees that fail to start selling cannabis on April 1 will be hit with a $12,500 draw down from the letter of credit. If sales have not commenced in two weeks, the AGCO will draw down a further $12,500, followed by the final $25,000 at the end of April.

The commission said the rules are aimed at discouraging applicants unprepared to meet the provinces April 1 deadline for brick-and-mortar retail stores to open. Recreational cannabis can currently only be purchased legally through a government-run website.

Cannabis industry expert Deepak Anand sees the stiff penalties as a sign Premier Doug Fords Progressive Conservative government wants to avoid a repeat of the harsh criticism that followed the bumpy debut of online sales in October.

The province is very desperate to ensure the people that are going to be awarded in these lotteries can actually get into business and provide product to customers on day one, he told Yahoo Finance Canada.

Ontarios introduction of legal recreational cannabis has been hampered by hasty shifts in strategy. The previous Liberal government chose provincially-run online sales and physical retail. Fords Progressive Conservatives opted for government-run online-only sales, and delayed the launch of private physical retail stores. Lack of supply then prompted a 25-store cap on the number of locations.

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Now, theyve drawn a line in the sand and said, Weve made plans. We are now going to execute on exactly what we said most recently, which is 25 stores open in April and no further delays, Nick Pateras, vice president of strategy at the cannabis data firm Lift & Co., told Yahoo Finance Canada.

The lottery for the first 25 licenses, set to be conducted without the capitalization threshold that some had predicted, leaves the playing field open to small businesses.

Pateras said the initial crop of licenses, especially the five to be issued in Toronto, and the six slated for the outlying Greater Toronto Area, are like golden tickets for tapping very attractive market conditions until the temporary cap on retail store authorizations expires on Dec. 13.

The return is just massive, he said. (For) the operators who secure licenses in those big metropolitan markets, thats a bit of a goldmine.

Anand warns small business will face the same pressure to meet the government deadline as larger peers with more resources to prepare for opening day, and greater ability to absorb penalty costs.

Larger businesses are much better suited from a financial perspective to be able to execute on what comes out through this lottery thing, but I am not eliminating small business entirely, he said. I suspect that small business will remain out, at least at the onset.

Unlucky aspiring pot sellers forced to wait until the 25-store cap is lifted in December will have to ready their business without revenue to offset startup costs.

Thats another factor working against small businesses, especially those leasing storefronts in pricy urban markets while they wait for a chance to open, Pateras said.

People are burning rent every single month that they cannot open. For the bigger players who are well-capitalized, they can afford to sit there and wait the market out, and wait other players out, he said. It looks very different to those who are desperate to set up shop, start selling, and make money on what is a very capital intensive set up.

The province said the initial 25 stores will be opened in municipalities with a population over 50,000 as identified by the 2016 Canadian Census, that permit the retail sale of cannabis.

The locations will be divided across five regions as follows:

East Region: Five stores (Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Prescott and Russell, Ottawa, Leeds and Grenville, Lanark, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington, Hastings, Prince Edward, Northumberland, Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Simcoe, Muskoka, Haliburton, Renfrew)



GTA Region: Six stores (Durham, York, Peel and Halton)



North Region: Two stores (Nipissing, Parry Sound, Sudbury, Greater Sudbury, Timiskaming, Cochrane, Algoma, Thunder Bay, Rainy River, Kenora)

Toronto Region: Five stores



West Region: Seven stores (Dufferin-Wellington, Hamilton, Niagara, Haldimand-Norfolk, Brant, Waterloo, Perth, Oxford, Elgin, Chatham-Kent, Essex, Lambton, Middlesex, Huron, Bruce, Grey, Manitoulin)

Both Anand and Pateras see the supply constraints that motivated Ontarios cap on brick-and-mortar stores beginning to ease.

For Pateras, the promise of larger harvests from licensed producers in this quarter and the next is reason for the province to consider a second block of licences soon rather than later, which would help small business looking to enter the market.

What I would love to see from the government is agility in recognizing that there is more supply, and they can start to issue more licences so we can actually displace the black market, he said. By the end of year one in Colorado, they had 147 stores. Thats a state with three times fewer people than Ontario.

Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android.
By Jeff Mason and Michael Martina

WASHINGTON/BEIJING (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Friday downplayed a revenue warning from Apple Inc that cited slowing sales in China and said China's weakening economic growth puts the United States in a strong position as negotiators from the world's two largest economies prepare for trade talks next week.

Trump has slapped import tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars of Chinese goods as he seeks concessions from Beijing on issues ranging from industrial subsidies to hacking, sparking retaliation by China. The measures have disrupted trade, hurt manufacturing, roiled international markets and slowed the global economy.

U.S. officials are heading to Beijing next week for the first face-to-face talks since Trump and China's President Xi Jinping in December agreed to a 90-day truce in the trade war as they sought to strike a deal.

"I think we will make a deal with China," Trump told reporters at the White House after a meeting with Democratic and Republican lawmakers about the U.S. government shutdown. "I really think they want to. I think they sort of have to."

Beijing on Friday cut bank reserve requirements for a fifth time this year amid slowing growth at home and the punishing U.S. tariffs on exports.

"China's not doing well now. And it puts us in a very strong position. We are doing very well," Trump said. "I hope we're going to make a deal with China. And if we don't, they're paying us tens of billions of dollars worth of tariffs -- not the worst thing in the world."

Official data this week showed manufacturing has slowed in both China and the United States, though the U.S. Labor Department on Friday reported a surge in new jobs in December along with higher wages.

The president downplayed the effects of the economic woes on U.S. technology giant Apple Inc (AAPL.O), which this week blamed slowing iPhone sales in China for a rare reduction in its quarterly sales forecast.

When asked if he was concerned about Apple's revenue cut and share price drop, Trump said: "No, Im not. I mean look, theyve gone up a lot.

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TRUMP TELLS APPLE TO BUILD AT HOME

Shares of Apple rebounded on Friday after a 10 percent nosedive on Thursday on the revenue warning. The shares closed at $148.26 on Friday, down about 5.1 percent for the week. For the 2018 full year, Apple shares fell 7 percent, though they are up about 24 percent since Trump took office in January 2017.

"They're going to be fine. Apple is a great company," Trump said, adding he had told Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook to build his company's products at home in the United States, something he has harped on previously.

"Apple makes its product in China. China is the biggest beneficiary of Apple, more than us, because they build their product mostly in China," Trump said. "I want Apple to make their iPhones and all of the great things that they make in the United States. And that'll take place."

Apple's lowered revenue outlook along with a double-digit drop in earnings at commodities giant Cargill Inc [CARG.UL] on Thursday may be among the clearest warning signs yet that the trade war's effects have begun to hit U.S. companies.

A team led by Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Jeffrey Gerrish will travel to China for talks, China's commerce ministry and USTR said. That news that helped boost global markets. The talks begin on Monday.

USTR said the U.S. delegation would also include under secretaries from the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Energy and Treasury, as well as senior officials from those agencies and the White House.

While Trump and other officials have said talks between the two sides are progressing well, they have given few details on concessions that China has made. Some U.S. demands would require structural reform that may be unpalatable for Chinese leaders.

China would deepen reform but will not yield on issues it deems to be its core national interests, a commentary in the ruling Communist Party's official newspaper said on Wednesday.

"We know what sort of changes we need," White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said in an interview with Fox Business on Friday. "Now, the question is can we negotiate these changes and can we do so with enforcement (and) with timetables."

(Reporting by Jeff Mason and Michael Martina; Additional reporting by Judy Hua in Beijing, Tim Ahmann in Washington and Chris Prentice in New York; Editing by James Dalgleish and Leslie Adler)
A new music video breaks social taboos and presents a poignant homosexual love story

Young love is the stuff of many a film and music video. These depictions bank on the idea that love can be relatable to any number of audiences, as everyone has been in love or wants to be in love. But overwhelmingly, these portrayals are heteronormative, in that they present heterosexual relationships, where a boy meets girl. A recent music video, however, breaks that tendency and redefines love outside of these traditional norms.
The Senate approved two Republicans as members of the Federal Communications Commission just before the agency shut down most of its operations Jan. 3. The FCC is the latest to go dark for lack of funding during the government shutdown. The partial shutdown comes as President Donald Trump refused to compromise on his request for $5 billion or more to fund a border wall with Mexico despite strong bipartisan support for several alternatives.

The FCC had just four commissioners, three of them Republicans, since a Democratic member resigned in April 2018. Brendan Carr, a Republican, had served the remainder of an existing commissioners term, and was approved for a full five-year term on Jan. 2. Geoffrey Starks, nominated as a Democratic member, was also confirmed Jan. 2. This restored a 3-2 split. The Senate confirmed the two unanimously by voice vote.

FCC Chair Ajit Pai has been a lightning rod for controversy during his tenure under Trump, leading a charge to reverse network neutrality rules set or enforced during the Obama Administration. Net neutrality provides a framework in which Internet service providers cannot throttle, block, or charge higher fees to shift traffic across their networks.

With Democrats in charge of the House of Representatives as of Jan. 3, Pai and the FCC face Democrat-led committees now empowered to demand documents, compel testimony, perform investigations, and release the results. They will join the New York Attorney Generals office, which in October 2018 escalated an existing investigation into how identities of New Yorkers were misused in net neutrality comments.

During the public-comment period for Pais net neutrality rules reversal in 2017, the FCC received millions of comments, a large number of which were generated automatically and many of which bore the names of non-existent or dead people or individuals who, when contacted, said they had made no such comment. One man who supported net neutrality was arrested for sending death threats to Pai.

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Pais stance on the comments and the public response has varied, including claiming that its server was hacked, claiming it had also occurred in 2014. A former FCC chair said in June 2018 that Pai had outright lied about the 2014 outage.

In August 2018, Pai blamed the former FCC CIO for misinforming him about the 2018 outage. In December, he admitted in a statement that many of the comments were fraudulent.

The FCC also faces challenges that are less specifically politically fraught, such as approving T-Mobiles proposal to acquire fourth-place U.S. carrier Sprint, a $26 billion deal; expanding access in rural areas to high-speed broadband; and addressing early-stage rollouts of so-called 5G, or fifth-generation cellular technology, which ultimately promises far higher data speeds even in dense urban areas.
(Bloomberg) -- Apple Inc. wont be placing a giant booth at the big CES tech trade show that started yesterday in Las Vegas, but its recent sales warning -- and the country it blamed for the shortfall -- will undoubtedly be the talk of the show.

Typically, Apple casts a shadow over CES due to anticipation for the iPhone makers next product, competitors racing to beat them to the market and hundreds of accessory makers looking to make a buck on the iPhone makers platform. This year, Apples reduced revenue forecast and whether the flagging Chinese economy will hamper other big electronics companies will vie for attendees attention.

The consumer electronics trade show is partly known for being divorced from the real world. Its a place where companies show off early prototypes that may never turn into commercial products. While some attend CES to see game-changing advances like the original Xbox in 2001, the Palm Pre phone in 2009, and 3-D and 4K TVs in more recent years, the real noise is made in backroom meetings among major companies and suppliers of the potentially next big thing.

Many key suppliers are based in China and may have a harder time securing deals this year, as trade tensions flare and companies in the U.S. seek to avoid tariffs imposed by President Donald Trumps administration or do business with partners viewed as a national security threat.

The health of the Chinese economy and the U.S. economy is an overhang for the show, said Gary Shapiro, the president and chief executive officer of the Consumer Technology Association, which produces the annual trade show. Still, he said, there will be discussions with Chinese companies on the buyer-and-seller relationship behind closed doors. Some of the CTAs members with business in China have already adjusted and moved manufacturing and sourcing out of the country, Shapiro added.

The CTA has organized a panel dedicated to tariffs and the show floor will have a booth for U.S. attendees to contact the U.S. Trade Representative and the White House and explain how tariffs have affected their businesses.

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Apple on Wednesday cut its revenue outlook for the first time in almost two decades, citing weaker demand in China because of the countrys slowing economy and rising trade tensions with the U.S. A big question is how much of Apples problems can be blamed on Chinas economy versus Chinese consumers preference for home-grown brands. The falloff in demand for iPhones is at least partly explained by its high price and the rise of cheaper, more comparable rival devices in the worlds largest market. The iPhone XS Max, the current top of the iPhone range, starts at 9,599 yuan ($1,400) in China. Flagship phones from Huawei Technologies Co. and Oppo cost from 4,000 to 5,000 yuan, around half that of an iPhone.

Its going to be the elephant in the room at CES, said Daniel Ives, an analyst at Wedbush Securities. This has been dark days for Apple and for the tech industry. I think theres a lot of questions in regards to the smartphone industry going forward, especially with what Apple said about with demand in China.

Huawei supplanted Apple as the worlds No. 2 smartphone brand in 2018 and remains the market leader in China, comprising 25 percent of smartphone shipments in the third quarter of 2018, according to data from research firm Canalys. Chinese smartphone makers Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi Corp. were right behind Huawei, with Apple in fifth place for share of shipments.

Huawei in particular has become flashpoint in the U.S. trade dispute. The U.S. has said the company poses a national security threat due to its close ties to the Chinese government and that Huawei violated a trade embargo against Iran. Canadian officials, acting at the behest of the U.S., arrested Huaweis CFO last month. The arrest contributed to Apples brand damage in China, with some Chinese companies reportedly subsidizing employees to buy Huawei devices. Huawei recently demoted and cut the pay of two employees for tweeting from the companys official account with an iPhone.

As Trump has locked horns with China, there are social media campaigns on WeChat and Weibo asking people to boycott Apples products, said Loup Ventures Managing Director Gene Munster. They can be powerful.

At last years show, Huawei was set to reveal that it would bring a flagship smartphone to U.S. carriers including AT&T Inc. But the deal never happened. At the urging of the U.S. government, the carriers cut ties with Huawei due to national security concerns, hurting the phone makers ability to grow its business in the U.S.

Richard Yu, chief executive officer of Huaweis consumer products division, gave a keynote address at last years CES. He used some of his speech to lambaste U.S. carriers for deciding not to sell Huaweis latest phones. This year, Huawei is an exhibitor at the conference and will be showcasing its new tablet and laptop for the U.S. market.

Apple is just sending employees to monitor upstarts and potential future suppliers. Its main domestic rivals, Alphabet Inc.s Google and Amazon.com Inc. are present at CES, however, with plenty of accessory makers integrating their respective voice assistants. Microsoft Corp. will also be on hand to discuss how hardware makers can implement their latest software.

Chinese companies will attend the gathering in force. The CTA said it has seen growth in the presence of large Chinese companies and the exhibit area for Chinese companies represents a similar amount of square footage space as last year, around 13 to 14 percent. There are more than 1,200 Chinese companies exhibiting at the show, and companies in attendance include Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., Tencent Holdings Ltd., JD.com Inc., car manufacturer BYTON Ltd., TCL Corp., and Hisense Co., according to the CES website.

The trade show also reflects the importance of 5G, or fifth-generation wireless technology, in the worsening trade war. The coming faster networks will be a topic of conversations and panels at the trade show, with a slew of sessions dedicated to applications as both countries race to become a leader in the technology. While China is poised to have a strong variety of 5G devices on its networks across 2019, Apple wont release a 5G phone until 2020, Bloomberg News has reported.

Chetan Sharma, a consultant for the mobile industry who is scheduled to moderate a CES panel on 5G, said the rollout is marching ahead despite trade tensions. He said hes heard nervous chatter in the background about the trade war, but doesnt expect to see any direct impact at CES.

Theres a battle royale for 5G, and you cant say 5G without Huawei in the same sentence, Ives said. Its become more important for U.S. and Chinese executives to better understand the trends, dialogue, opportunities and challenges going forward.

--With assistance from Joshua Brustein.

To contact the reporters on this story: Selina Wang in San Francisco at swang533@bloomberg.net;Mark Gurman in San Francisco at mgurman1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jillian Ward at jward56@bloomberg.net, Andrew Pollack, Emily Biuso

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

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Winter is upon us, as is the opportunity to snag some good travel deals.

Winter tends to be shoulder season for a lot of placesthats when a destination isnt at its most popular, says Lila Battis from Travel and Leisure. You can get a much better deal especially after the holidays than youd be able to get in the summer.

Additionally, the off-season means cheaper deals on flights and more hotel availability. Hotels are a little more willing to budge on price and offer you a deal you might not be able to get otherwise, she says.

The trick to planning a winter trip on a budget is to watch for flight deals by using apps like Hopper or Skyscanner. If youre looking to take a budget trip usually your biggest expenditure is going to be a flight so if you can save there youre going to save everywhere

As soon as your chosen destination is at a really affordable rate, youll be notified and can book right away, Battis says.

Battis shares three affordable destinations to put on your travel wish list this winter.

The Bahamas

Battis says winter is low season for the Bahamas, which makes it a perfect time to go and get some sun.

You wont have to pay as much as you would during peak season, so if youre looking for a deal, its still warm, the ocean is perfectly turquoise and you can enjoy the white sand beaches, Battis says.

From the east coast, flights start at $250 round-trip, and hotels and all-inclusive resorts could be as little as $100-$200 per night. All-inclusive resorts also offer food, drinks and activities, making it a perfect option for budget-savvy travelers, Battis says.

Taos, New Mexico

For skiers and winter enthusiasts, Battis recommends Taos, New Mexico.

Taos is a little bit under the radar and its not quite as popular as Aspen or Vail, she says. Its a lot more affordable if youre looking for a ski vacation and there are also day spas and art museums and all kinds of cultural activities.

From the east or west coasts, flights are around $225 round-trip, and while hotels and condos are a little pricier at the ski resorts, Battis says there are plenty of options to find a rate that will fit in your budget.

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Quebec City

For travelers looking for a city escape without the price-tag of a European vacation, Battis recommends going to Quebec City. The city is 400 years old and the Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

There are historic sites in the area, beautiful architecture, great restaurants and theaters, Battis says.

Its an easy trip from the east coast, and round-trip flights average $200. Because its a city, hotels can be pricey, but Battis says you can still get a great deal and have a luxury experience for around $100 a night.

If you want to save more this year, join the Yahoo Finance January No-Spend Challenge and enter to win up to $500!

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Join the Sangamon Experience, Made By Us, Civics Unplugged and organizations nationwide in exploring our complex past and facing our future together. The Sangamon Experience will be highlighting Civic Citizens in Sangamon County to showcase the positive change that can be seen when our communities work together. In addition we want to include YOU and your story, as we spread the word to all those out there who are wrestling with how and where to shape Americas future. This #CivicSeason what do you think is worth celebrating today? 217-206-7432
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.
East Hanover, NJ - January 4, 2019 - Economic indicators for Americans with disabilities dipped in December, in contrast to the gains seen for people without disabilities, according to today's National Trends in Disability Employment - Monthly Update (nTIDE), issued by Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire's Institute on Disability (UNH-IOD). Employment experts remain optimistic for growth in 2019 given the overall upward pattern in 2018.

To ensure that individuals striving to work are supported by best practices, international fellowship programs are offering professionals training and experience that ensure their inclusion in all aspects of society, including the workplace.

In the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Jobs Report released Friday, the employment-to-population ratio for working-age people with disabilities decreased from 30.8 percent in December 2017 to 30.4 percent in December 2018 (down 1.3 percent or 0.4 percentage points). For working-age people without disabilities, the employment-to-population ratio increased from 73.3 percent in December 2017 to 74.1 percent in December 2018 (up 1.1 percent or 0.8 percentage points). The employment-to-population ratio, a key indicator, reflects the percentage of people who are working relative to the total population (the number of people working divided by the number of people in the total population multiplied by 100).

"From February 2016 until May 2018, we saw steady improvement in the employment situation for people with disabilities," said John O'Neill, PhD, director of employment and disability research at Kessler Foundation. "However, over the past seven months, we have seen both improvements and declines in the employment-to-population ratio and labor force participation rate for people with disabilities. This fluctuating data pattern is disappointing because this tight labor market should be producing steady employment gains see for Americans with disabilities."

The labor force participation rate for working-age people with disabilities decreased from 33.8 percent in December 2017 to 33.3 percent in December 2018 (down 1.5 percent or 0.5 percentage points). For working-age people without disabilities, the labor force participation rate increased from 76.1 percent in December 2017 to 76.9 percent in December 2018 (up 1.1 percent or 0.8 percentage points). The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the population that is working or actively looking for work.

"This was only the third month in 2018 that we didn't see improvement in the job numbers for people with disabilities," noted Andrew Houtenville, PhD, associate professor of economics at UNH and research director of the Institute on Disability. "Three months of declines over the entire year does not constitute a trend, given that the economy continues to show signs of strength. We will be watching this closely in the New Year."

Preparing people with disabilities for their working lives requires many different kinds of professional support, from medical care and rehabilitation to education and workforce development. Fundamental to achieving employment goals is attaining maximal functional independence, according to John DeLuca, PhD, senior vice president for Research and Training at Kessler Foundation. "There's a global need for trained scientists who can conduct rigorous clinical studies in rehabilitation research," he emphasized. "Kessler's Postdoctoral Training Program attracts dedicated young professionals from the U.S. and abroad. More than 40 scientists have learned the skills and methodology needed to conduct research that improves the everyday lives of people with various neurological conditions, including stroke, multiple sclerosis, and injuries to the brain and spinal cord. Training opportunities, which receive funding from federal and state grants, professional societies, and foundations, draw from the Foundation's expertise in human performance and engineering, cognitive neuroscience, and employment and disability."

Training specific to employment is the focus of the Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Disability Employment (PFP-IDE), which serves professionals in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. Each year, 20 mid-level professionals rotate through the intensive U.S.-based program. The PFP-IDE is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is implemented by the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) in partnership with the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at the University of Massachusetts Boston and Humanity and Inclusion (HI). "The fellows are hosted in university-based research and education centers for disabilities," explained Sarah DeMaio, MSW, the project's director. "The hands-on mentoring and learning opportunities they experience equip them to plan and implement projects in their home countries that are based on best practices that address the challenging vocational needs of persons with disabilities. PFP-IDE fellows have become leaders who are transforming the systems of support for people with disabilities at the community, national, and regional levels in East Africa."

In December 2018, among workers ages 16-64, the 4,699,000 workers with disabilities represented 3.2 percent of the total 146,531,000 workers in the U.S.

###

Each nTIDE release is followed by a noon Lunch & Learn webinar. This live broadcast, hosted via Zoom Webinar, offers attendees Q&A on the latest nTIDE findings, provides news and updates from the field, as well as invited panelists to discuss current disability-related findings and events. On January 4, Sarah DeMaio, MSW, AUCD Program Manager and project director of the PFP-IDE, joined Dr. Houtenville, Dr. O'Neill, and Denise Rozell, Policy Strategist at AUCD, to discuss outcomes being acheived in East Africa. You may join live, or access the archived recordings at: http://www. ResearchonDisability. org/ nTIDE .

Follow our hashtags: #nTIDE; #nTIDELearn

NOTE: The statistics in the nTIDE are based on Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers, but are not identical. They are customized by UNH to combine the statistics for men and women of working age (16 to 64). nTIDE is funded, in part, by grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) (9ORT5022 and 90RT5017) and Kessler Foundation.

About Kessler Foundation

Kessler Foundation, a major nonprofit organization in the field of disability, is a global leader in rehabilitation research that seeks to improve cognition, mobility, and long-term outcomes -- including employment -- for people with neurological disabilities caused by diseases and injuries of the brain and spinal cord. Kessler Foundation leads the nation in funding innovative programs that expand opportunities for employment for people with disabilities. For more information, visit http://www. KesslerFoundation. org .

About the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire

The Institute on Disability (IOD) at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) was established in 1987 to provide a coherent university-based focus for the improvement of knowledge, policies, and practices related to the lives of persons with disabilities and their families. For information on the NIDILRR-funded Employment Policy and Measurement Rehabilitation Research and Training Center, visit http://www. ResearchonDisability. org .

For more information, or to interview an expert, contact:

Carolann Murphy, 973.324.8382, CMurphy@KesslerFoundation.org
Chandan Kumar Mandal is the environment and migration reporter for The Kathmandu Post, covering labour migration and governance, as well as climate change, natural disasters, and wildlife.
New Delhi: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Friday called on Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh here and requested him to sanction one more India Reserve Battalion (IRB) for women.

Thakur said the state is giving priority to women empowerment and their safety. Various measures have been taken that include setting up all-women police stations in districts.

He apprised the Union Minister that there are seven IRBs in the state, out of which one is all-women battalion.

"If another battalion is sanctioned to the state, it would go a long way in strengthening the efforts being made to empower women," an official statement quoting the Chief Minster said.

Thakur also sought funds on account of heavy losses suffered during the monsoon last year. He said an inter-ministerial team visited the state to assess the losses and requested to expedite funds' availability.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media on Friday to congratulate amputee mountaineer Arunima Sinha for successfully climbing Mt Vinson, the highest mountain in Antarctica.



"Excellent! Congratulations to @sinha_arunima for scaling new heights of success," Modi wrote on his official Twitter handle.

"She is the pride of India, who has distinguished herself through her hard work and perseverance. Wishing her the very best for her future endeavours," he added.

Arunima, who is the first woman amputee to scale Mt Everest, had tagged Modi while tweeting about her latest success on Thursday.

Arunima was awarded Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award of India, in 2015.

"The wait is over we are glad to share with you The World record World's 1st woman amputee who climbed Mount Vinson (highest peak of Antarctica) has become to the name of our country India," she wrote.

"Thank's to all for their blessings and pray Jai Hind."

Sinha is a former national level volleyball player. In 2011, she was pushed from a running train while attempting to resist a gang of dacoits. One of her legs had to be amputated following the incident.
Shanghai: China's armed forces must strengthen their sense of urgency and do everything they can to prepare for battle, President Xi Jinping told a meeting of top brass on Friday.

China is keen to beef up its armed forces amid territorial disputes in the South China Sea and escalating tension with the United States over issues ranging from trade to the status of Taiwan.

The official Xinhua news agency said Xi told a meeting of the top military authority that China faced increasing risks and challenges, and the armed forces must work to secure its security and development needs.

Xi, who is also chairman of the Central Military Commission, said the armed forces must devise strategies for the new era and take on responsibilities for preparing and waging war.

"The world is facing a period of major changes never seen in a century, and China is still in an important period of strategic opportunity for development," he was quoted as saying.

He said the armed forces needed to be able to respond quickly to emergencies, needed to upgrade their joint operations capabilities and nurture new types of combat forces.

Xi's comments followed his remarks on Wednesday that China still reserved the right to use force to achieve "reunification" with Taiwan and prevent the island's independence.

Xi's Taiwan speech came just days after US President Donald Trump signed the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act into law, reaffirming the US commitment to the island's security.
New Delhi: After a day of heated debate on the controversial Rafale deal Parliament, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday again picked up the gauntlet and said that Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman spoke for two hours and still did not answer the two questions posed by him on the Rafale deal.

Gandhi's remarks came as he shared an "edited" video on his Twitter account of the Parliament debate on the Rafale deal. In the video, he is seen posing two questions: Who took away the contract from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL); and whether Indian Air Force (IAF) officers objected to the changes in the deal.

Sitharaman and other Bharatiya Janata Party ministers are shown to be sitting silently in response to the questions.

"Watch and share this video. Let every Indian ask the prime minister and his ministers these questions," the Congress President said.

Gandhi, on Friday, had said that Sitharaman evaded his questions on the controversial Rafale deal and "ran away" when asked a pointed question if the IAF objected to the changes that Prime Minister Narendra Modi made in "two minutes" to the deal, negotiated over eight years.

"Instead of answering the question, she started doing drama -- 'Oh I was insulted. I was called a liar'. My simple question was that after such a long negotiation by the Air Force chief, defence minister, secretaries and Air Force officers, did those who did the whole negotiation object when Modi did the bypass surgery to the negotiated deal," Gandhi had said.

Sitharaman dismissed all allegations of corruption in the Rafale deal and in a reply lasting over two-and-half hours in the Lok Sabha on Friday to a debate on the deal with French manufacturer Dassault, said: "Bofors was a scam, but Rafale was a decision taken in national interest. Rafale will bring back Modi to build a new India and remove corruption."
New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal on Friday imposed a fine of whopping Rs 100 crore on the Meghalaya government for its failure to curb illegal coal mining in the state.



A senior advocate, who is assisting the tribunal as an amicus curiae in the matter, said a report of a high-level committee was submitted on January 2 before a bench headed by NGT chairperson A K Goel.

The report stated that majority of the mines in the north-eastern state were operating without a lease or licence.

The Tribunal imposed Rs 100 crore fine on the state government as a "deterrent" and for its "inaction" to curb illegal mining in the north eastern state.

The lawyer said during the hearing, the state government admitted that a large number of mines were operating illegally.

At least 15 miners are trapped in the 370 foot-deep illegal coal mine in Lumthari village of East Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya since December 13 and all efforts to pump the water out of flooded mine have been in vain.

Senior advocate Raj Panjawani said the amount of the fine has to be deposited with the Central Pollution Control Board within two months.

He said the bench in its order made it clear that the amount can be recovered from illegal miners and the officials responsible for operating mines illegally.

The report of the three-member committee, headed by retired Justice B P Kakoti of Gauhati High Court, has stated that there were around 24,000 mines in Meghalaya and majority of them were operating illegally.

It also said not only were there no licences or leases, but also no environmental clearance for operation of majority of the coal mines.

The NGT had constituted the committee in August 2018 to supervise and look into the issue of environmental restoration plan and other connected matters in Meghalaya.

The committee was constituted during the hearing of the petition which had sought a ban on coal mining in Meghalaya. It had also taken into account some reports of the State Pollution Control Board.

Meghalaya's advocate general Amit Kumar said he had been conveyed about the order of the NGT imposing Rs 100 crore on the state. He said the detailed order would be made available in a couple of days.

The National Green Tribunal had ordered an interim ban on 'rat-hole' coal mining in Meghalaya from April 17, 2014.

The latest order comes when the authorities are finding it difficult to rescue the 15 miners trapped since December 13 in an illegal coal mine in Meghalaya as there is no blueprint of the 355-ft well which has a "maze of rat holes."

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Elderly held on rape charge

Police arrested a 75-year-old man on charge of raping a 15-year-old girl in Ratnanagar, Chitwan, on Friday.
Lucknow/New Delhi: Burying the hatchet that kept them apart for more than two decades, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) are said to be inching closer to stitching an alliance against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttar Pradesh, keeping the Congress out of it.

Highly-placed political sources said on Saturday that the seat-sharing formula between the one-time arch rivals has been sealed after a meeting of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and BSP supremo Mayawati in New Delhi late on Friday.

The sources told IANS that so far the Congress had not figured in the discussions for an alliance and that on the table for now were BSP, SP and Ajit Singh's Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) in the alliance.

However, there was no official word from both the parties on the alliance talks.

While SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav said reports of keeping the Congress out of the alliance were "fictional", Congress leader P.L. Punia said the party was preparing for elections in Uttar Pradesh saying "coalition is not important".

The two leaders are said to have decided to equally share 74 of the 80 seats while two seats will be left for the RLD headed by Ajit Singh and two kept "in reserve for last-minute political grasshoppers".

The alliance will also keep out of the contest in Rae Bareilly and Amethi, seats held by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress President Rahul Gandhi. In 2014 too, the two parties had not fielded any candidates on these two seats.

With the Congress setting eyes on a large "share of the pie", specially after tasting recent electoral successes in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chattisgarh, the SP-BSP combine, sources say, was "not too excited about the assimilation of the Congress in the opposition space".

Moreover, with a large chunk of their vote banks being common, the two regional players don't seem to be too enthused with the Congress being under the 'gathbandhan' umbrella, a senior leader of the SP said.

He added that the Congress too was not okay with the idea of settling for anything less than 20 seats, something which seems impossible.

Congress leaders like Punia (who delivered Chhattisgarh to the Congress as its state in-charge) and UPCC chief Raj Babbar are reportedly of the view that the Congress should not "be sheepish in alliance negotiations any more" and should seek its pound of flesh.

They cite the example of 2009 when the Congress romped home with 22 Lok Sabha seats in UP, surprising many prophets of doom.

They also say that with Rahul Gandhi getting more "combative, direct and effective" in taking on the Modi juggernaut, the Congress stood better chances in going alone!

Not surprisingly, both the SP and BSP have given enough indications of not continuing their dalliance with the grand old party any longer.

Mayawati, known for her mercurial temperament, had put the Congress recently on notice by threatening to pull the rug from under the newly formed Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan governments if the cases slapped on Dalits last year were not withdrawn.

She had also admitted earlier that she had reluctantly supported the Congress in both states, just to keep BJP at bay.

Akhilesh Yadav has also recently red-flagged the relations with Congress after the latter did not consider its lone legislator in MP for a ministerial berth. Yadav in fact went to the extent of saying that by doing so, the Congress had cleared his way in UP.

Read more: Latest India news
Thiruvananthapuram: BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP V Muraleedharan has been flayed by his party colleagues a day after he welcomed the Supreme Court order allowing women of all ages at Sabarimala. Sensing anger against him, the Rajya Sabha MP is now trying to wriggle out of the predicament saying a part of his statements were taken out of context by vested interests with ulterior motives.

During a discussion on the Sabarimala fiasco on a Delhi-based news channel, Muraleedharan had said that the Kerala government and the police were obliged to provide security to women devotees of child-bearing age who wish to visit Sabarimala.

If a genuine woman devotee (of child-bearing age) visits the temple, it is the polices responsibility to facilitate her darshan. The state government is also committed to implementing the Supreme Court verdict lifting the restrictions on entry of women. However, the two women (Bindu and Kanakadurga) who visited the temple on January 2 did so under compulsion. It was a conspiracy that was planned by the police, he had said.

However, Muraleedharan was forced to come up with an explanation after local media took up the matter and opposition parties called out the hypocrisy of BJP leaders. A section of BJP leaders had also strongly disapproved of his remarks.

He alleged that a portion of the statements made by him during the channel debate were taken out of context and spread on social media by vested interests.

The Supreme Court has allowed the entry of devotees of all ages. But they two women who entered the temple on January 2 were not devotees. They are advocates of Maoist and Naxalite ideas. The LDF government, in cahoots with selected policemen, prepared an action plan and then saw to it that the women enter the temple. It was a planned conspiracy by the government to create confusion and diverge peoples attention from the ongoing protests of Ayyappa devotees, he alleged.
United Nations: The fundamental position of the United Nations on equal rights for women applies to all religions, an official said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq was responding to a question on the Sabarimala controversy.

"You are aware of the UN's position on equal rights of all people."

In answer to another reporter's pointed question about the 'frenzy' in Kerala over two women entering the Lord Ayyappa shrine, Haq said: "This is an issue on which the Supreme Court of India has commented. So we will leave the matter in the hands of the rule of law authorities in India. Of course, we want all parties to respect the rule of law."

Asked if not allowing women to enter the temple was a violation of human rights, Haq did not give a direct answer, but said: "We encourage all to respect the laws of the country."



The Supreme Court ruled in September against the ban on women between the age group of 10 and 50 entering the shrine dedicated to the Lord Ayyappa.

After prolonged protests blocked women from entering the temple, two women in their 40s entered the shrine under police escort on Wednesday.

Demonstrations have been held across Kerala both in support of women entering the temple as well against it.

Former UN Under-Secretary-General Shashi Tharoor, now a Congress Party MP representing Thiruvananthapuram, had criticised the women who went to the shrine on Wednesday, saying that it was an "unnecessary provocative act".

But he added, that he was "very much in favour of women equality but was also in favour of respecting the sanctity of religious practices in our country".

Read more: latest Sabarimala news
Kannur: The entry of three women below 50 years into the Lord Ayyappa Temple in Sabarimala has reignited the CPM-BJP clashes in Kannur.

As many as 260 people have been arrested in the district in just two days following violence in the district.

Crude bombs were hurled at houses of BJP Rajya Sabha MP V Muraleedharan, CPM MLA AN Shamseer and former Kannur district secretary of CPI(M) P Sasi in Thalassery.

One ASP and three DySPs have been assigned to check violence that erupted after two women below 50 entered the temple on January 2.

The Sabarimala Karma Samiti called a hartal on January 3, triggering violence across the state. The BJP backed the hartal.

Reports that police personnel from Kannur were instrumental in organising the entry of two women to Sabarimala, after their failed attempt on December 24, reportedly led to a surge in violence.

The women, Bindu and Kanakadurga, admitted they received protection from police to visit the hill shrine.

State police chief DGP Loknath Behera said on Saturday the vigil will continue in Kannur and other parts of the state. Enough police personnel have been deployed, he said.

On Friday night itself, directions have been given to Kannur district police chief to nab people involved in attack on the houses of the political leaders. Police picketing, checking and patrolling have been intensified in the district, he added.

CPM MLA AN Shamseer and BJP Rajya Sabha MP V Muraleedharan

Thirty-three people are in preventive custody in Kannur alone.

As per the directions of the state police chief a peace meeting was called late on Friday. The meeting was attended by CPM, BJP and RSS leaders.

However, bombs were hurled at the residence of Shamseer while he was attending the meeting in the office of Thalassery ASP.

Kerala has been marred with violence since the afternoon of January 2 after two women  Kanakadurga and Bindu - managed to enter Sabarimala temple. A third women  46-year-old Sri Lankan woman Sasikala  also entered the temple on Thursday night. Widespread violence was reported during the Sabarimala Karma Samiti hartal on Thursday, leaving several people injured.

Police action

On Thursday, the police had launched 'Broken Window,' a special drive to investigate and take action against perpetrators of violence in the aftermath of the entry of the two women into Sabarimala.

All the district police chiefs have been directed to form special squads to arrest activists indulging in violence.

District special branches have been directed to identify and book party workers who indulged in vandalism.

The state special branch will also secretly investigate and submit the list of the culprits to district police chiefs.

Mobile phones of the suspected party activists would be confiscated and digitally checked. If needed, their houses also would be raided.

A data base of the suspected workers would be kept in every districts for further reference.

A digital team would be created under the district police chiefs and data regarding these would be circulated among police officers.

Protest demonstrations by the BJP and Sabarimala Karma Samiti had turned violent at several places in Kozhikode, Kannur, Malappuram, Palakkad and Thiruvananthapuram this week in the aftermath of the entry of women into the hill shrine.

Read more: Latest Kerala news


Kalpetta: The row over the the black badge protest by the Congress MPs on the Sabarimala issue continued to haunt the Congress, with All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Mukul Wasnik evading repeated queries on the party's stand.

Though he criticised the stand of the BJP and RSS on the issue, he did not comment on differences between the Congress central and state leadership on the Sabarimala row.

Wasnik is on a visit to state ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls to attend various district level review meetings.

In a programme organised in Kalpetta on Saturday, Wasnik said the BJP and RSS were trying hard to politicise the issue.

The Congress leader also criticised the manner in which the state government handled the women's entry issue.

He flayed the the government's irresponsible handling of the situation that led to the widespread violence in the state.

However, Wasnik evaded questions on why his party's central and state leadership were not on the same boat in the controversial issue.

The queries were raised in the wake of reports that Congress leader Sonia Gandhi had prevented Kerala MPs from a symbolic protest wearing black bands.

Congress MPs from Kerala had dismissed reports that Sonia prevented them from protesting on the issue.

CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan had said that Sonia Gandhi had admonished Congress MPs who wanted to wear black badges inside Parliament as a symbolic protest against the entry of two women into Sabarimala.

When Sonia Gandhi saw these MPs distributing black badges she told them not to. Sonia took the stand that the Congress stood for gender equality, he said.

He had also welcomed Sonia's stand.
Kochi: It is for the Kerala government to take a decision on former DGP T P Senkumars application for a position on the Kerala Administrative Tribunal (KAT), according to the central government. The Centre made its stand clear on the issue before the Kerala High Court.

The Centre has a limited say on the appointment of Senkumar. The state government is delaying the matter. The Centre is yet to receive any communication from the state on Senkumar, said the affidavit submitted on behalf of the Union government on Friday.

Senkumar had filed a petition before the High Court alleging that his appointment was being delayed deliberately.

The state had earlier raised objections to the application submitted to the Centre seeking a posting for Senkumar in the KAT. According to the report of the state, Senkumar was facing litigation, including criminal cases. Though the Supreme Court Chief Justice had sought details of the cases, the state is yet to file a reply. This matter too was mentioned by the Centre in its statement to the High Court.

Earlier, in November last, the state government had filed a report before the High Court which said that the defamation case filed by former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan in which Senkumar is one of the respondents was being considered by a sub-court.

Senkumar is the 7th respondent in the case at Thiruvananthapuram sub-court. According to Nambi Narayanan, Senkumar had harassed him by seeking a re-investigation into the ISRO spy case without sufficient evidence. It was alleged that a false report had been filed by the petitioner in the spy case based on which the magistrate ordered a re-probe. Moreover, fake news was conveyed to newspapers damaging his reputation, alleged Nambi Narayanan.

Read more: Latest Kerala news
Thiruvananthapuram: The state leadership of the BJP is set to intensify the Sabarimala protests in Kerala in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls due by May.

A host of senior BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah, will visit the state in the coming days.

The BJP and other right-wing outfits have been staging protests ever since two Kerala women, in their 40s, entered the Sabarimala temple on Wednesday.

A Sri Lankan woman also entered the shrine the next day, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan confirmed on Friday.

Ever since the Supreme Court lifted a ban on entry of women in the 10-50 age group into the hill shrine, right-wing outfits have been on staging protests in the state.

The BJP state leadership believes visits by top BJP leaders will give a booster shot to the ongoing stir.

PM Modi is likely to be in Kerala on January 15 and Jan 27. He will tour Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Palakkad and Thrissur. Amit Shah will be in Kerala in February.

Modi was to arrive at Pathanamthitta on January 6 to kick-off the campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. However, the dates have now been postponed.

The RSS-BJP leadership that met in Kochi on Friday decided to intensify the Sabarimala stir.

The leaders plan to keep the stir alive till the Lok Sabha elections.

The party also decided to continue its backing to the Sabarimala Karma Samiti, which is planning to lay siege to the state Secretariat on January 18.



Violence erupted in Kerala since January 2 after two women  Kanakadurga and Bindu -- managed to enter Sabarimala temple.

Widespread violence was reported during the Sabarimala Karma Samiti's hartal on Thursday.

So far 1,718 people have been arrested in connection with the violence in the last two days and 1,108 cases registered.

BJP leaders said the government was unilaterally filing cases against party leaders for the violence on hartal day. The BJP had backed the hartal call by the Sabarimala Karma Samiti on Jan 3.

The party would also seek the CM's resignation on the Sabarimala issue.

Read more: Latest Sabarimala news
Chennai: Actor-politician Kamal Haasan has squarely blamed the right-wing for "inciting" violence in Kerala after Hindu fringe groups ran riot in Kerala on Thursday over the entry of two women into the Lord Ayyappa shrine at Sabarimala.

They went on a rampage during the dawn-to-dusk 'Hartal' called by Sabarimala Karma Samiti, an umbrella organisation of pro-Hindutva groups, and the Antarrashtriya Hindu Parishad, to protest the entry of two women of child-bearing age into the hill shrine on Wednesday.

"Violence has been incited by the right wing," the veteran actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam chief told reporters at Chennai airport last night when asked about the issue.

Asked about the suspension of 24 AIADMK MPs from the Lok Sabha for staging protests over the Cauvery issue, he merely said "good."

On Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statements on January 1 expressing openness for an alliance with him (Haasan) and 'superstar' Rajinikanth, he said "that is his stand."

"But will we go...is something we have to decide. We will announce it at a meeting separately," he said.
Thiruvananthapuram: The Marxist workers union has announced it will not enforce a two-day national shutdown on January 8 and 9  Tuesday and Wednesday  in the tourism industry. Traders will not be forced to shutter shops either, said Elamaram Kareem, the state secretary of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU).

The combined leadership of the trade unions had, however, announced that the national strike will be enforced totally in Kerala too. The Kerala Vyapari-Vyavasayi Ekopana Samiti (KVVES), organisation of traders and entrepreneurs, have asserted it will not cooperate with the closure call.

The nationwide shutdown involves trade unions in all sectors except those allied with the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is expected to be like a hartal as the state government as well as the opposition groups are offering support. The trade unions had clarified on Friday that even trains will be blocked.

The combined union leadership said employees of the state and Central governments, of financial establishments, shops and road construction workers etc will strike work.

Trains will be blockaded at main stations, the leaders said, adding that instructions have been issued that Sabarimala pilgrims should not be made to suffer.

Those who do not join the strike should be able to drive vehicles and reach work places while merchants should have the freedom to keep their shops open. However, the trade unions have called for participation of all sections. Neither is there any plan to withdraw the strike as it was called very early and is a nation-wide shutdown.

There is no exemption for the state which has bore the brunt of a series of hartals in the last few months.
Thiruvananthapuram: Taking a dig at BJP and the RSS, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Friday asked why they had not called for a hartal after one more woman offered prayers at Sabarimala.

He alleged that the Sangh Parivar forces were trying to destroy the peace and unity in the state to project a picture of Kerala boiling with issues.

"They called for a hartal and unleashed violence when two women entered the shrine. Now, one more woman has gone there. Why have they not called for a hartal?," Pinarayi asked adding that more women may enter the shrine and sought to know whether these organisations would call for a hartal every time this occurred.

Pinarayi, while speaking after inaugurating a party office near here, also said that some (Sangh Parivar) leaders had claimed that they would commit suicide if a woman enters the shrine.

"We don't want anyone to commit suicide. They are making fun of themselves," Chief Minister said.

Pinarayi said that people who want to protect the progressive values in the state are in the majority.

"The state thinks that way. The state wants to move forward in the way of development. Any efforts to drag it back cannot be allowed," he said.

Pinarayi also said that people must 'isolate' all those forces which try to disrupt the state's peace and unity.

"The Sangh Parivar has been attacking CPI offices across the state. Be it the CPI, the CPI(M) or the LDF, they all exist to protect secularism and progressive mentality of the state. They are trying to destroy these values. They are trying to destroy those protectors," Pinarayi said.

Kerala was not going to 'tremble' at such threats, especially when the Left organisations have already dealt with them (threats) in the past, the Chief Minister said.

"We faced the worst floods in 100 years. We are trying to re-build our state. A rejuvenated Kerala... a new Kerala. We need that unity which we showcased during floods," he said. They (Sangh Parivar) are trying to destroy that. Do not fall for their tricks", he said.

Kerala has been on the boil since Wednesday afternoon after two women of menstrual age entered the hill-top shrine.

Wide-spread violence marred the state in the hartal called by right-wing groups on Thursday

So far 1,718 people have been arrested in connection with the violence in the last two days and 1,108 cases registered till this evening.

As many as 1,009 people have been taken into preventive custody. In the violence, 174 people, including 132 police personnel and 10 mediapersons were injured.

Read more: Latest Sabarimala news
Criminal Code ineffective to end Chhaupadi practice

Despite the Civil and Criminal Code banning the practice of Chhaupadi, many women, particularly in western Nepal, continue to be forced outside their homes during their periods. Local administration and governments take no effective measures to enforce the law and raise awareness on the issue.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 5, 2019 - 22:46 | All, Japan

A precious metals dealer was robbed of a roller bag containing some 80 million yen ($744,000) in cash Saturday after being assaulted by three men on a street near Tokyo's Roppongi district, police said.

The 27-year-old man sustained minor injuries after he was attacked from behind around 1:55 p.m. in an area dotted with apartment and other buildings, about 500 meters north of the Roppongi subway station, the police said.

The search is continuing for the three suspects, they said.

The victim, along with his 29-year-old superior, were headed on foot for a purchase of precious metals, near the crime scene, the police said.

He called police by himself after being beaten on the head and face, they added.
Armed militants on Saturday intercepted a civilian vehicle in Afghanistan's western Farah province and abducted 12 commuters, in apparent tit-for-tat move against security forces' earlier operation to rescue 12 hostages from a Taliban detention center, Trend reported citing Xinhua.

Afghan security forces raided a militant group's hideout in the southern Helmand province on Thursday and rescued 12 hostages from the detention center, Afghanistan official media outlet the Bakhtar News Agency (BNA) reported Saturday.

An official who declined to be named confirmed that armed militants stopped a vehicle in Durabad area outside Farah city, the capital of western Farah province, Saturday morning and took 12 travelers to an unknown location.

Confirming the report, Deputy for Farah's provincial council Shah Mahmoud Naemi told Xinhua that the travelers, all civilians, "were stopped by Taliban rebels in Durabad area outside Farah city this morning" and the rebels after gunning down two of them took 10 others to an unknown place.

Taliban militants are yet to claim responsibility. Police have yet to make comment.

According to BNA, personnel of National Directorate for Security, the country's national spy agency, raided a Taliban hideout in Nahr-e-Saraj district of the poppy growing Helmand province Thursday night and rescued 12 civilians.

Clashes between security forces and Taliban militants have claimed scores of lives elsewhere in Afghanistan since Thursday, according to security officials.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro expressed doubts on Friday over the merger between Brazilian aviation company Embraer and U.S. company Boeing, which has been in talks since last year, Xinhua reports.

At a press conference at Brasilia's air base held after the inauguration of the new commander of Aeronautics, Bolsonaro said that the latest proposal, presented in December, could affect the interests of Brazilians, but did not go further into detail.

"It's our heritage. We know of the need of this merger, for its (Embraer's) competitiveness, so it doesn't disappear over time," said Bolsonaro, who was sworn in as Brazil's president on Tuesday.

The proposed merger between Embraer and Boeing would include the commercial aviation area of Embraer and associated services, in which Boeing has an 80 percent share and Embraer has 20 percent.

During the final days of former president Michel Temer's government last month, the Finance Ministry was notified of the merger, with a period of 30 days to contest the legality of it.

The legal opinion will be up to the Attorney General's Office of National Treasury, and the government will make a decision on the basis of the opinion.

Although Embraer was privatized in 1994, the Brazilian government owns a special "golden share" which gives it veto power on important decisions, such as the transfer of control of the company, interruption to the provision of military aircraft parts, and a change of its name.

Founded in 1969, Embraer is a world leader in regional aircraft manufacturing.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza argued that the Lima Group encouraged a government overthrow in the South American country after the alliance refused to recognize the new term of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Sputnik reports.

The group made its statement in a joint declaration on Friday. The paper was published by Perus government after the groups meeting, which was attended by US State Secretary Mike Pompeo via video link-up, which prompted Arreaza to slam the 14-member group for taking orders from US President Donald Trump.

"A group of countries from the Americas agreed to encourage a government overthrow in Venezuela during an unprecedented event in the regions history and are seeking not to recognize the democratically elected government and legally established institutions," Arreaza told the local state-run VTV broadcaster.

Maduro was re-elected during a vote held last May. His inauguration for another four-year term is scheduled for January 10.

The Lima Group was formed in 2017 with an aim to settle the Venezuelan crisis and counter human rights violations in the country.
The Lima Group of countries seeking an end to the Venezuelan crisis said in a declaration on Friday they do not recognize President Nicolas Maduros new term starting next week, Sputnik reports.

The Lima Group has called on Maduro "not to assume presidency on January 10 and to temporarily transfer the executive power to the National Assembly until a new, democratic presidential poll is held."

The paper, published by Perus government, was also signed by Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, and Saint Lucia. Mexico abstained.

The nations reiterated their full support of the Venezuelan legislature, elected in 2015, and rejected as illegal last Mays vote that saw Maduro re-elected for a second six-year term.

Reacting to media reports that US State Secretary Mike Pompeo took part in the meeting via teleconference, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza slammed the 14-member group for taking orders from US President Donald Trump.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on Friday to continue coordination on Syrian issues during a phone conversation, Xinhua reported.

The two leaders discussed the situation in Syria and recent developments, and agreed to continue coordination between Israeli and Russian militaries, according to a statement issued by the prime minister's office.

During the conversation, Netanyahu said Israel is determined to continue its efforts to prevent Iran from entrenching itself militarily in Syria.

Meanwhile, the Russian embassy in Israel said on its Twitter account that the discussion between Putin and Netanyahu focused on the situation in Syria, including the U.S. decision to withdraw its troops from the country.

The two leaders emphasized the necessity to defeat terrorism and advance along the path of a political settlement in Syria, the Russian embassy said.

The announcement of the U.S. President Donald Trump last December that Washington will withdraw all its troops from Syria raised concerns in Israel.

Following the announcement, Netanyahu said Israel "will continue to act against Iran's attempts to entrench itself militarily in Syria."

The tension between Israel and Russia has been on the rise since last September when a Russian aircraft was brought downed by Syrian anti-aircraft fire during an Israeli airstrike.

Although Russia blamed the downing on Israel, Netanyahu has repeated said Israel will continue to take action to prevent Iran from establishing military presence in Syria.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry sent a message seeking to condemn airstrikes of the western coalition in the Deir ez-Zor province to the UN Security Council on Saturday, Trend reported citing TASS.

According to Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the message noted that over 20 civilians living in the settlements of Al-Kashkia and Al-Shafaa including four children were killed over the past two days of airstrikes.

"Keeping silent regarding military crimes, the Security Council enables the US and other coalition countries to dodge responsibility and flout international laws," the document said.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry urged the UN Security Council "to assume prompt steps to stop aggressive attacks of the western coalition in Syria that kill civilians and ruin infrastructure, as well as to set up an independent and neutral mechanism to investigate those crimes, punish the offenders and provide compensation to aggrieved families".
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 5

By Elnur Baghishov - Trend:

Iranian Expediency Council gave its approval on Jan. 5 to an anti-money laundering bill seen as crucial to maintaining international trade and banking ties, Trend reports via IRNA.

The bill on amending the law to counter money laundering was approved with certain changes and will be sent to the parliament speaker to be communicated to the government, Expediency Council member Gholamreza Mesbahi-Moghadam said.

The Expediency Council settles disputes between parliament, which approved the bill last year, and the conservative-dominated Guardian Council, which vets all legislation and had rejected it.

Conservatives have argued that new legislation on money laundering and terrorist financing will provide Western powers with leverage over Irans economy and how it funds regional allies such as Lebanons Hezbollah.

But the government of President Hassan Rouhani says the laws are needed to meet demands set by the international Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which monitors countries efforts to tackle financial crime.

The FATF will meet again in February to discuss Irans progress.

The government is hoping to salvage banking and trade ties after the United States walked out of a landmark 2015 nuclear deal between major powers and Iran and reimposed crippling unilateral sanctions.

The other parties to the deal  Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia  have sought to salvage the agreement and maintain trade with Iran, but have called on Tehran to meet FATF requirements.

The anti-money laundering bill is one of four pieces of legislation put forward by the government to that end.

A previous bill on the mechanics of monitoring and preventing terrorist financing was signed into law in August.

Two others - allowing Iran to join UN conventions against terrorist-financing and organized crime - have been approved by parliament but are still being delayed by higher authorities, including the Guardian Council.

The Expediency Council currently has 38 members, all appointed by supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 5

By Elnur Baghishov - Trend:

Iran isnt counting on the economic aspect of the EUs promised trade mechanism that aimed to facilitate trade with Iran in the face of US sanctions, Chairman of National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of Iranian Parliament Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh said, Trend reports via Mehr News Agency.

Iran is only counting on the EUs trade mechanism, formally known as Special-Purpose Vehicle (SPV), in the political arena, and is not banking on its economic aspect given the current situation.

Europeans are scared of the US and cannot set up an economic mechanism for Iran, but politics-wise, they have the necessary resolve, and Iran will make use of this capacity to establish links with other countries in the world, he explained.

In fact, we receive many of the commodities which we cannot import from Europe, through borders, which has ramped up our non-oil transactions with Iraq as high as what we could have had with 28 European countries, he added.

Falahatpisheh noted that Irans trade volume with Iraq has increased by 50 percent in the past eight months, which has resolved many issues caused by US withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal and the re-imposition of sanctions against Iran.

What is important to us is to maintain cooperation with countries that have the necessary political motivation and resolve to pay the price of standing against the US unilateral sanctions, he stressed.
Uzbekistan will offer 30 days of visa-free regime for German citizens from Jan. 15, the State Tourism Committee said Friday, Xinhua reported.

More than 1,000 German citizens received e-visas last year, which ranked the 10th among the countries whose citizens used the e-visa system in Uzbekistan.

The number of tourists from Germany to Uzbekistan reached 4,889 in 2016. The number hit 7,207 in 2017, and skyrocketed 18,094 in 2018, an increase of almost 2.5 times.

According to the State Tourism Committee, in January-October 2018, the number of visitors to Uzbekistan almost doubled to reach 4.4 million, compared to the same period in 2017.

Uzbekistan now has a visa-free regime with 18 countries, including the bilateral visa free with the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), which consists of 10 post-Soviet republics.
Chitwan Park rhino delivers baby in human settlement

Its not an unusual sight to see rhinoceros roaming the streets of Chitwan district as the Chitwan National Park (CNP) is home to a majority of Nepals endangered one-horned species.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 5

By Sara Israfilbayova - Trend:

OPECs focus has always been on a balanced and stable market, Mohammad Barkindo, OPEC Secretary General, told Trend.

"This has been true since the Organization was formed back in 1960. It has also been evident in the Organizations landmark cooperation with non-OPEC producers  through what is now known as the Declaration of Cooperation  since 2017," Barkindo stressed.

The OPEC secretary general went on to say that the core aim of the cooperation can be summarized in just four words - sustainable oil market stability.

Barkindo pointed out that this is in the interests of all producers, consumers, and the global economy, in general.

He underlined that it is clear that the nations in the Declaration are not seeking a quick-fix to temporarily alleviate the oil industrys woes.

"We should never underestimate how severe and potentially ruinous that last downturn was in 2015 and 2016, with nearly $1 trillion in investments frozen or discontinued, many hundreds of thousands of jobs lost and a huge number of companies in filing for bankruptcy. It was one of the most calamitous downturns in the long history of oil," Barkindo stated.

Further, touching upon the U.S. shale oil production, he noted that it is evident that it will continue to expand in the coming years.

"In OPECs recently released World Oil Outlook (WOO) 2018, U.S. shale oil reaches close to 14 million barrels a day by the mid- to late-2020s, before declining to around 12 million barrels a day by 2040. It means that in the long-term, demand for OPEC crude is projected to increase to around 40 million barrels a day in 2040, up from 32 million barrels a day in 2018. The share of OPEC crude in the global oil supply is estimated to increase from 34 percent in 2017 to 36 percent in 2040," Barkindo explained.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @IsrafilbekovaS
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 5

By Rashid Shirinov  Trend:

The agreement on the settlement of the dispute on the calculation of oil revenues between the government of Kazakhstan and the Karachaganak Petroleum Operating consortium (KPO) will be signed in January, Trend reports citing Interfax-Kazakhstan.

"We will probably sign the agreement in January. We worked hard on the text of the agreement in December. Almost all issues are agreed upon," Kazakh Energy Minister Kanat Bozumbayev said.

He noted that the Settlement Agreement will come into force on July 1.

"After this, KPO will pay us the first part of the compensation, $400 million," the minister said.

In October 2018, the government of Kazakhstan completed a three-year negotiation process with the consortium on the dispute on the calculation of oil revenues. According to the agreement, KPO will pay Kazakhstan a compensation of $1.111 billion within three years.

Karachaganak Petroleum Operating is a consortium of companies united for the implementation of the project in Karachaganak, one of the worlds largest gas and condensate fields. The shares in the consortium are as follows: Eni - 29.25 percent, Royal Dutch Shell PLC - 29.25 percent, Chevron - 18 percent, Lukoil - 13.5 percent and KazMunaiGas - 10 percent.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @ShirinovRashid
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan.5

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

The 2019 oil market, at least in the first two quarters, will be very volatile, Cyril Widdershoven, a Middle East geopolitical specialist and energy analyst, a partner at Dutch risk consultancy VEROCY and SVP MEA-Risk, told Trend.

"The market is still looking for real signs that OPEC-Russia production cut will be implemented and the cuts will draw down storage volumes. The latter, based on current facts, should happen, as demand is still growing, even if growth will be tempered, but the upward line to 110 million bpd or more is still continuing," said the expert.

Widdershoven pointed out that supply will also be a real issue, as looking at Iran, Libya, Venezuela and others, supply increases are not to be expected to come from OPEC or non-OPEC producers.

The main possible jump in production is still the US, he said, adding that more reports are emerging that most shale oil producers are finding it hard to show green figures.

"For H2 2019 the situation could even become very critical, looking at the possible supply crunch, or even outward shortages, putting extreme pressure on storage volumes around the world," the expert believes.

Further, talking about the factors, which could affect the oil market, Widdershoven noted that these are:

 The OPEC/non-OPEC production agreement to cut 1.4 million bpd

 The upward push of US shale oil volumes

 A growing worry about a possible global economic crisis or much lower growth in China and India

 Geopolitics will be even more an issue, looking at:

1) Iran (sanctions will become more stringent, and waivers could be stopped)

2) Iraq (still no real government in place, so possible violence or political instability)

3) Syria (Turkey military operations could become confronted by Arab (Syria), Iranian and other troops)

4) Turkeys ongoing economic crisis and fallout

5) Instability in Washington and possible unwanted but real military action in Middle East, China Sea or elsewhere.

As for oil price forecasts, the expert noted that in Q1-Q2, the oil price range will be between $50-60 per barrel, with potential of price hike in case of regional crisis scenarios; in Q3 there is a possible increase to steady $60-65 per barrel, as first effects will be clear of production cut and shortage in supply if demand will continue to grow.

This is while for Q4 the expert believes that the process will potentially hit same figures as H1 2018, with a spread between $65-75, with option to hike to $80 or more.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 5

By Rashid Shirinov  Trend:

Currently, Kazakhstan's Kazatomprom JSC develops 14 of 56 explored deposits with balance reserves of uranium, the company told Trend on Tuesday.

Today the company, which is the world's largest producer of natural uranium, is engaged in mining in the Turkistan, Kyzylorda and Akmola regions of Kazakhstan.

"All uranium products of Kazatomprom are exported. Over the past months of this year, the products were exported to China, India, France, Belgium, Sweden, Ukraine, Brazil and the US," the company said.

It should be noted that the consolidated net profit of Kazatomprom for the first half of 2018 amounted to 115.02 billion tenge, which is almost 4 times more than in the same period last year (30.17 billion tenge).

The company also said that the nuclear fuel cycle products of Kazatomprom include nuclear fuel components in the form of uranium dioxide fuel pellets and low enriched uranium powders.

Kazatomprom is the worlds biggest producer of natural uranium with priority access to one of the worlds largest resource bases. The company is Kazakhstans national operator for the export and import of uranium and its compounds, nuclear power plant fuel, special equipment and technologies.

The National Welfare Fund Samruk-Kazyna holds 85,08 percent of Kazatomprom shares, while 14,92 percent is in free circulation on the Astana International Exchange and the London Stock Exchange.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @ShirinovRashid
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 5

By Rashid Shirinov  Trend:

Uzbekistan Railways is considering the possibility of building another high-speed railway to Samarkand, Trend reports citing Uzbek media.

"Recently, the company's management raised the issue of building a dedicated electrified line from Tashkent to Samarkand, which will be run only by Afrosiyob train. This will shorten the journey to about 1 hour and 20 minutes," said the message.

It should be noted that today a high-speed train runs the 333 kilometers between the cities in 2 hours and 8 minutes. The movement of high-speed trains on the TashkentSamarkand line was launched in September 2011.

Today Afrosiyob trains serve passengers on the routes Tashkent-Karshi, Tashkent-Bukhara and TashkentSamarkand.

In addition, Uzbekistan Railways is negotiating with the Spanish company Talgo and Korean Hyundai to purchase new high-speed trains.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @ShirinovRashid
Tehran, Iran, Jan.5

Trend:

The head of Iranian Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) has announced talks with Turkey, Syria and Pakistan for preferential trade.

"Establishment of the banking relations are among Iran`s priorities. If the obstacles are not eliminated, the preferential tariffs and trade will be of value," the head of the Iranian Trade Promotion Organization, Mohammad Reza Modoudi said, Trend reports citing IRNA.

In this regard, Modoudi announced the promise of the president of Turkey to resolve the existing issues, and said that the bartering is another program of the TPO in negotiations with other countries, especially its neighbors.

He stressed that 13 percent growth in non-oil exports in the country was recorded during the eight months of this year (started on March 21, 2018) worth $31.5 billion. The country will make efforts to maintain this growth by the end of the year, added Modoudi.

"The plan of the Iranian Trade Promotion Organization is to double the country's export capacity from the current $50 billion by introducing the export mega-projects in a three-year plan," he said.

"This year, about $1,300 billion was expected to be allocated for the development of non-oil exports. Given the current US sanctions against Iran, imports of some items were prohibited, which reduced part of the revenues. Next year, about $700 billion will be considered for export incentives, which is expected to be allocated in spite of a decline of budget this year," said Modoudi.

The priority of the allocation of foreign currency is still on basic goods and pharmaceuticals, he said.
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Jan. 5

By Huseyn Hasanov  Trend:

A ferry service, which will connect Russias Makhachkala city with the Turkmen port of Turkmenbashi, will be launched in the Caspian Sea in 2019, Trend reports referring to the Russian media.

"This is a regional-scale project," Alexander Elizarov, Russian trade representative in Turkmenistan, told reporters.

"First of all, one or two ferries are planned to be used," he said. "In the future, after the effective cargo traffic is confirmed, it is possible to talk about building at least three-four more vessels," he said.

Makhachkala will become a transit point. A transport corridor to the Black Sea will be built from Makhachkala. According to the plans, up to eight million tons of cargo will be transported through the Makhachkala  Turkmenbashi corridor per year in the medium term.

Makhachkala Commercial Sea Port has a complex designed for three million tons of cargo annually. It has berths for general cargo, bulk cargo and containers with a capacity of up to 1.2 million tons per year.

The solemn ceremony of opening this port took place on May 2, 2018. The project was developed in accordance with the international "Greenport" standard.

The annual capacity of the port will be 17-18 million tons.

The international ferry and passenger port will be able to serve 300,000 passengers and 75,000 trailers a year. The container terminal has an average annual capacity of 400,000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units). The cost of the project implemented by Gap Insaat Company (Turkey) is more than $1.5 billion.
Tehran, Iran, Jan. 5

Trend:

While Irans Ministry of Agricultural Jihad assesses rice production and export in the country at an appropriate level, the chairman of the Association of Iranian Rice Importers rejects the ministry's statistics.

According to our estimates, rice production in the country is not 2.200 million tons as the ministry claims, Chairman of the Association of Iranian Rice Importers Morteza Shah-Hosseini told Trend.

Irans rice import in the year 2015 was about 745,000 tons, which reached 839,000 tons in 2016. In the year 2017, imports increased and reached 1.293 million tons. In the first 8 months of this Iranian year (started March 21, 2018), the imports of rice decreased by 12 percent compared to the same period previous year.

Most of Irans imports are from India and Pakistan, but measures have been taken to import rice from Thailand, said Shah-Hosseini.

According to the Associations assessments, 1.500 million tons of rice is produced annually, he said.

Shah-Hosseini said exports of Irans rice are not officially available.

Our prices are not consistent with world prices. Our rice price is about $1.5 per kilogram, which is twice the global price.

So far, two consignments have been exported to Canada, which are only for testing, Shah-Hosseini said.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 5

By Sara Israfilbayova - Trend:

Indian oil companies are looking forward to expand their business with partners in Azerbaijans oil and gas sector, Sanjay Rana, the Indian Ambassador to Azerbaijan, told Trend.

He reminded that an Indian multinational oil and gas company Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has share in Azerbaijans Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) oil and gas project (2.31 percent).

"India has a very good potential in this sector. Our companies are looking forward to participate in development of other oil and gas fields of Azerbaijan," the ambassador said.

Rana stressed that there is a great potential for cooperation in pharmaceutics, tourism and other areas as well.

The ambassador underlined that economic relations between the countries are getting stronger every year.

"Our economic relations are very good. We have a good trade and it is growing every year. We hope that our economic cooperation will increase in years to come," Rana concluded.

According to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan, trade turnover with India in January-November 2018 amounted to $836.7 million.

As compared to the indicator for the same period of the last year, the trade turnover between the countries increased by 45.9 percent, while the exports of Azerbaijani products increased almost two times.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @IsrafilbekovaS
Prakash Chandra Timilsena is deputy photo editor for The Kathmandu Post, covering politics, business and social issues. Before joining the Post in 2012, he spent more than seven years working as a photojournalist for various national daily and weekly newspapers.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 5

Trend:

An official meeting under the leadership of Azerbaijans defense minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov was held at the Central Command Post Jan. 5, Trend reports with reference to the Defense Ministrys website.

The meeting held with the participation of the deputies of defense minister, commanders of the branches of troops, chiefs of the main departments, departments and services of the ministry, as well as commanders of the army corps also involved the commanders of formations stationed in the frontline zone and other responsible officers via video communication.

Recalling the congratulations of Azerbaijani President, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev, addressed to the people on the occasion of the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis and the New Year, the minister of defense emphasized the assessment given to Azerbaijani army in a holiday address and brought to the attention of the meeting participants the specific tasks assigned to the military personnel.

The minister of defense, analyzing the current situation on the line of contact of the troops, spoke about the success achieved, as well as the work to be carried out in 2019.

Touching on the activities of all types and branches of troops of the Azerbaijani army, Colonel General Hasanov demanded that the participants of the meeting focus on combat training, operational, continuous and covert control of troops, the defense stability system, the improvement of interoperability, the continuous enhancement of professionalism of the command staff, strengthening the education, patriotism and fighting spirit of military personnel, the health of servicemen and other aspects of combat support.

During the speech, the minister of defense emphasized that, as stated by the head of state, the strong military potential of Azerbaijan and the combat capability of the Azerbaijani army are among the main factors in ensuring the countrys territorial integrity.

Hasanov noted that the military personnel shouldnt be content with the achieved success.

"We are constantly improving the activities of the troops at the tactical, operational and strategic levels, as well as maintaining superiority over the enemy, must be ready for combat operations at any time."
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 5

Trend:

Tural Ganjaliyev, chairman of the Azerbaijani Community of the Nagorno-Karabakh Region of Azerbaijan, has sent a letter of protest to the producers of the movie Gate to Heaven filmed in the occupied Azerbaijani territories, Trend reports Jan. 5.

The letter of protest, addressed to Kestutis Drazdauskas and Angelika Schuler, reads that it would be correct to name the film as Gate to Hell, since the territories where the movie was filmed were occupied as a result of the use of force and hundreds of thousands Azerbaijanis living there were forcibly expelled from their native lands.

Addressing Kestutis Drazdauskas and Angelika Schuler, Ganjaliyev in his letter reminded them that the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven adjacent districts are under occupation as a result of the military aggression of Armenia.

As a result of ethnic cleansing in the territories occupied by Armenia, more than one million Azerbaijanis became refugees and IDPs, he said.

More 80,000 members of the Azerbaijani community of Nagorno-Karabakh have been living as forced migrants in various Azerbaijani districts for more than 30 years, reads the letter.

The letter also notes that the UN Security Council (1993) resolutions recognize the Nagorno-Karabakh region as an integral part of Azerbaijan and demand the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Armenian troops from the occupied Azerbaijani territories.

This requirement is confirmed in resolutions and regulations of the OSCE, NATO, the Non-Aligned Movement, the European Parliament, the Council of Europe and other international organizations, according to the letter.

The letter expressed deep regret over the initiative to film a movie in the occupied Azerbaijani lands, adding that this step supports separatism and irredentism in a region that has already been destroyed as a result of the Armenian military occupation.

It is a shame that the project, in which Kestutis Drazdauskas and Angelika Schuler take part, ignores the gross violation of the fundamental human rights (the right to homeland, the right to ownership, etc.) of thousands of Azerbaijanis expelled from their lands as a result of military aggression of Armenia, reads the letter.

Ganjaliyev urged all persons who participated in this initiative to stop supporting occupation of the Azerbaijani territories, as well as encouraging separatism.

On the contrary, the idea of filming a movie about Armenian and Azerbaijani communities living together throughout the history in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan may contribute to peace, stability, progress and sustainable development in the region, the letter reads.

In conclusion, Ganjaliyev invited producers to maintain peace, justice and development and act towards cooperation between the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities of the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

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, Jan. 5

Trend:

Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have 23 times violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said Jan. 5, Trend reports.

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.
The funerals for six victims who died in the partial collapse of an apartment building in the Russian city of Magnitogorsk on New Year's Eve will be held on January 4, local officials say.

The state-run TASS news agency reported that five of the funerals will be held in Magnitogorsk, while the sixth will be conducted in the village of Agapovka.

RFE/RL's Tajik Service also reported that the bodies of four members of a Tajik family killed in the disaster will be transported to Tajikistan following a service in nearby Chelyabinsk.

At least 39 people died when a section of a 10-story building collapsed after a predawn explosion in the southern Urals city.

Officials say the blast likely was caused by a gas leak in the complex of apartment buildings that was built in 1973 and houses some 1,100 people.

The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry on January 3 declared the end of the search operation by hundreds of rescue workers.

"We are confident that there are no more bodies in the building. The Emergency Ministry ends its rescue operation, Deputy Emergency Situations Minister Aleksandr Chupriyan said.



He added that all 39 bodies that have been recovered from the ruins have been identified.

January 2 was an official day of mourning in Chelyabinsk Oblast, where Magnitogorsk -- an industrial city of some 400,000 people about 1,700 kilometers southeast of Moscow -- is located.

President Vladimir Putin traveled to the site on December 31 and met with local officials before visiting some of the injured at a nearby hospital.

TASS quoted a relative of one of the dead as saying the head of the district administration allocated 25,000 rubles ($360) for burial of the victim in Agapovka.

The leader of the Tajik diaspora in Magnitogorsk, Abulmajid Sharipov, told RFERL that a Tajik family of five was living in an apartment in the collapsed part of the building.

The father, Shuhrat Ulfatov, 26, was found unconscious and hospitalized after spending more than six hours under the debris in freezing cold, but the fate of the rest of his family was not immediately known.

However, officials on January 4 said the mother and three young children did not survive and that their bodies would be transported to Tajikistan after a service in Chelyabinsk later in the day.

The victims were identified as 24-year-old Rajabmo Isoev, 6-year-old Ahmad, 4-year-old Fotima, and 3-year-old Saimuhsiddin.

Ulfatov remains in critical but stable condition in a Chelyabinsk hospital.

With reporting by Current Time TV, RFE/RLs Tajik Service, AP, Reuters, TASS, Interfax, RIA-Novosti, AFP, znak.com, and 74.ru.
The Parliament Research Center in Iran has forecast two scenarios for Irans economic growth, based on two different levels of oil exports for the country.

The study forecasts 2.6 and 5.5 negative growth for Iran in the current Iranian year, ending March 20, based on the two scenarios.

In the first scenario, if Irans crude and other oil product exports fall 800,000 barrels per day from September to March 2018-2019, the country would experience a negative growth rate of 2.6 percent.

In the second scenario, if exports are reduced by 1.6 million barrels per day, the economic contraction will reach 5.5%.

For the next Iranian calendar year starting March 21, the parliaments research center forecasts a contraction of 4.5 to 5.5 percent.

The research center has also determined that current U.S. sanctions are similar to the previous international sanctions imposed during the Obama administration, which forced Iran to negotiate with world powers over its nuclear program.

U.S. sanctions on Iran's oil exports kicked in last November, but buyers had already started cutting imports from Iran in the preceding months. Various reports have put Iran's current rate of daily exports from 1.3 to 1.5 million barrels.

In the first six months of 2018, before the U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear agreement and the decision to reimpose sanctions, Iran was exporting up to 2.7 million barrels of oil per day. This means Iran has already lost more than a million barrels of sales daily.
Iran's Expediency Council on Saturday has ratified an important anti-money laundering law demanded by the international community to allow Iran to have normal banking ties with the world.

The law is the second of the four requirements by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for putting an end to Iran's isolation in the international banking and financial system.

It had already been approved by parliament but the Guardian Council, which must review all legislation, refused to put its seal of approval and the law was referred to the Expediancy Council, which constitutionally is the arbiter between parliament and the Guardian Council.

However, a well-known journalist in Iran, Davood Heshmati has tweeted that what the Council has approved is not the text it received from parliament. Heshmati claims that the council has added articles, which by law it cannot do. Heshamtis claim cannot be verified at this point, until the approved text becomes public.

The Expediency Councils role is simply to arbitrate disputes between parliament and the Guardian Council; not to edit laws passed by parliament.

This was the first meeting of the Expediency Council under its new Chairman, Ayatollah Amoli Larijani, after its previous chairman died of cancer recently.

There is another bill, about combating organized crime, to be discussed at the next assembly meeting. But the situation of the fourth bill, about joining the international convention against funding terrorism, is still not clear. The parliament and the conservative dominated watchdog Guardian Council disagree on the bill which has not been sent to the Expediency Council as the final arbiter between the two bodies.

Guardian Council's spokesperson Abbasali Kadkhodai told reporters on Saturday that the parliament still needs to tackle 20 flaws in the bill before sending it back to the Guardian Council for yet another assessment to ensure its compatibility with the rules of Shariah and the Iranian Constitution.

This comes while Iran has only a few weeks to meet the FATF deadline in February for taking Iran out of the task force's black list.

Regardless of the back and forth between the parliament (Majles), the Guardian Council and the Expediency Council, it appears that the Islamic Republic has no option other than passing the laws in spite of hardliners' opposition.

Pointing out that the ratification of the four bills is essential for Europe to stand by its promise to help Iran out of the financial deadlock caused by U.S. sanctions, the director of the Strategic Foreign Relations Council set up by Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told the press on Thursday that "Europeans will have no excuse to delay the process if and when Tehran approves the four anti-corruption bills required by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)."

Iran's hardliners, mainly those who oppose President Hassan Rouhani, fiercely obstructed the passing of the four bills, saying that meeting the FATF requirements will prevent Iran from extending financial assistance to groups such as the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Lebanese Hezbollah, Iran's allies in the region who are considered as terrorist by the West.

In the meantime, political deadlock in Tehran continued as President Hassan Rouhani did not show up for the Expediency council's first session chaired by Amoli Larijani. Rouhani had also refused to take part at the council's sessions during the one year Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi was its chairman, after the death of Hashemi Rafsanjani, the maverick politician and Rouhanis mentor.

At the time, Rouhani's adviser Hessamoddin Ashna told reporters, "It is a right for the president of the state to chair the Expediency Council. If he takes part in the session in his capacity as President, he cannot accept another person's chairmanship."

Ashna was referring to the fact that Iran's two former Presidents, Ali Khamenei and Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani also held the chairmanship of the Expediency Council. The latter remained in that position beyond his presidency until his death in January 2017 and Shahroudi was the first Expediency Council chairman who was not a president.

Rouhani and Amoli Larijani have held differing views on many political and religious issues in the past.

Another famous absentee in the latest Expediency Council meeting was former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who never got on with Amoli Larijani and last year wrote a letter to Khamenei demanding Amoli Larijani's removal from his post as Judiciary chief.

The sulking must have been widespread in Iranian political circles as Amoli Larijani and his brother, Majles Speaker Ali Larijani, also refused to show up at the council's sessions under Shahroudi.

However, as U.S. sanctions hit Irans economy hard and the country is entangled in a web of crises, the Islamic Republic's problem goes beyond glitches in interpersonal relations between its leaders. The regime has left behind a year of protes by disillusioned citizens disgruntled by financial hardships and social injustice, and emboldened by the empowerment of opposition forces.

The unbending Supreme Leader now can see nothing but the looming shadow of yet further disturbances flared up by U.S. pressures. He has publicly warned that America is preparing "sedition 2019."


The debate over the source of an obnoxious stench that engulfed Tehran on Wednesday is still continuing in the capital city of Iran.

A Tehran city councilor has dismissed claims attributing the foul smell either to an old sealed septic tank on the site of the Plasco building or the capital city's main garbage dump.

A construction manager had said earlier that while digging a hole on the site something erupted with tremendous pressure and let out the obnoxious stench.

Governor General of Tehran, Anoushirvan Mohseni-Bandpey, for his part, believes that a chemical substance with a strong stench has been either deliberately or inadvertently released and engulfed the city in the obnoxious odor.

A day earlier, on Thursday, the local director of the environment department had maintained that the stench smells like a chemical compound named mercaptan.

Known also as methanethiol, mercaptan is a harmless but pungent-smelling gas which has been described as having the stench of rotting cabbages or smelly socks.

It is often added to natural gas, which is colorless and odorless, to make it easier to detect.

The gas company has not yet responded to the allegation.

According to the director of the environmental department of Tehran province, Kioumars Kalantari, the department of water and sewage has been assigned to locate the exact source of the stench that created discomfort for people for three consecutive days.
Ahmad Alamolhoda, the ultraconservative Friday Prayer leader of Mashahd in northeatern Iran, says some people are trying to undermine the importance of compulsory hijab, the head to toe cover for women.

Speaking during his Friday January 4 sermon, Alamolhoda said "These individuals want to establish discos for women with hijab like the ones in Turkey," and at the same time "publish pictures of Palestinian girls who do not use hijab," in order to undermine its va;ue.

He said "A conspiracy has started in Turkey to portray women with hijab as the causes of indecency, corruption and prostitution," claiming that "women with hijab can go to discos in Turkey," but did not elaborate further.

Alamolhoda made the offending remarks a year after Iranian women officially started a campaign against compulsory hijab, by hoisting their scarves on sticks in public. The remarks also coincided with the anniversary of Reza Shah Pahlavi's anti-hijab campaign that started in January 1936.

January is also the first anniversary of a modern-day, grassroots anti-hijab campaign. During mass anti-regime protests in December 2017-January 2018 many women began appearing on busy streets, standing at a visible location, waving their headscarves in the air as protest against compulsory hijab.

More ordinary women going about their business remove their headscarves in Iran. Videos posted on social media show women without the compulsory scarf in the streets of Tehran and other cities.

In one particular video, an angry cleric objects to a woman who has taken off her scarf at a metro station, but the woman ignores him and men at the station tell the cleric to shut up and mind his own business.

In another video, a woman challenges a cleric's order to cover her hair while by-standers cheer in her support.

In many other videos, Iranian women bravely ignore the restrictions and go about their daily business the way they like: without a scarf:

Many Iranian women seem not to have accepted the compulsory hijab in the 40 years after the Islamic revolution. They always loosely hold a scarf over their heads "as if there will be a regime change any minute," says a veteran journalist.

Ironically, from 1936 till his removal from power by the Allies in 1941, Reza Shah Pahlavi and his government worked hard to get Iranian women free from their traditional hijab so that they would be assimilated in social activities like men.

Now, women are struggling to get rid of the scarf once again if only as a symbol of unfair restrictions that keep them away from their rights as citizens.

There are more female university students in Iran and more women graduates than men every year from Iranian institutions of higher education. Nevertheless, very few of them are employed as the government and clerics frown at the idea of women as managers, lawyers, engineers and so on.

In a speech in 2014, The Islamic Republic's leader Ali Khamenei questioned the idea of women's equality with men and suggested women should stay home.

Other clerics at Friday Prayers also ruled out resistance to compulsory hijab as "opposition to Islam."

The remarks contradict official statistics and results of polls that indicate an increasing number of Iranian women opposing compulsory hijab. Based on a poll conducted by the Majles Research Center last year, only 35% of Iranian women view hijab as an Islamic value.

However, moderate religious scholars including Hassan Yusefi Eshkevari believe rules about hijab can be changed. Eshkevari was first sentenced to death and finally jailed for five years, and disrobed by the government after making the comment at a conference in Germany in 2000.
Prominent Iranian labor activist Esmail Bakhshi has called on the intelligence minister for a debate concerning torture, persecution, and maltreatment at the country's prisons.

Bakhshi, spokesman for the labor union of the Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane industrial complex, was arrested on November 20, 2018, during ongoing demonstrations by workers demanding unpaid wages.

Bakhshi was released on December 12 after 80 international labor organizations signed a letter addressed to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei calling for all protesting workers and teachers who had been arrested in Iran for peacefully demanding their rights to be released.

According to labor activists, Bakhshi was reportedly beaten and tortured while in prison.

Activists noted that Bakhshi had suffered from internal bleeding as a result of the torture and sustained injuries to his head and face.

Human rights activists also reported that his face was bruised and swollen.

Furthermore, the Union of Workers of Tehran and the Suburbs Bus Company published a statement reporting Bakhshi was hospitalized at a security clinic in Ahvaz, the capital of the oil-rich province of Khuzestan, but was later returned to the initial detention facility.

The statement added that Bakhshi was subjected to psychological abuse and physical attacks in detention to coerce a false confession out of him.

However, the head of the Justice Department in the city of Shush, where the Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane industrial complex is located, denied the allegations.

In his first statement since being released, Bakhshi disclosed that he suffered physical abuse during the first few days of his detention.

"I was beaten up and tortured to death for no reason," Bakhshi said. "I was so badly battered that I could not move for 72 hours in my solitary confinement cell. The pain was so unbearable that it made sleeping impossible.

"Weeks after my release, I still feel intolerable pain in my broken ribs, left ear, and testicles," he added.

Calling on Intelligence Minister and mid-ranking cleric Mahmoud Alavi for a debate concerning the maltreatment of detainees, the activist also said that he, along with journalist Sepideh Qolian, who was arrested at the same time, were bombarded with abusive sexual language.

Writing on his Instagram page, Bakhshi said, "The torturers, who presented themselves as the unknown soldiers of [the Shi'ite] Hidden Imam, used to shower us with vituperative sexual terms while beating us up."

Qolian, also a civil rights activist, was released on $120,000 bail in late December.

According to Bakhshi, his interrogators told him his phone was bugged long before his arrest.

"While beating me up, one of the interrogators said that they know everything about me, including the dispute with my wife over my labor rights activities," Bakhshi noted on his Instagram account.

Bakhshi asked of Alavi: "As a cleric, and from the moral and human rights point of view, tell us what is the sentence for those who torture prisoners? Is torturing prisoners permissible? If it is, to what extent? Has the ministry run by you the right to secretly monitor private telephone conversations?"

The spokesman of the union of the workers of the Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane plant challenged Alavi to a live television debate on the conditions at prisons and detention centers across Iran. Alavi has not yet responded.

Iranian law enforcement and judicial authorities often do not release accurate information about detainees, especially in civil rights and political cases. There are few mechanisms to hold these authorities accountable in Iran.

The young labor union activist is currently charged with disruption of public order, assembly and collusion against national security, and participation in forming a group, intended to disrupt public security, Bakhshi's legal counsel noted.

Bakhshi is charged at a time when, according to the New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran, independent unions are not allowed to operate in Iran, striking workers often lose their jobs and risk arrest, and labor leaders who attempt to organize workers and bargain collectively are prosecuted under national security charges and sentenced to long prison terms.
Two Ukrainian sailors-piracy hostages released in Nigeria to arrive to Ukraine on Saturday  FM

Two Ukrainian being piracy hostages in Nigeria and released are returning to Ukraine on Saturday, January 5, Spokesman for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's Consular Service Vasyl Kyrylych has said.

"Today, two sailors released from the captivity of pirates in Nigeria are returning to Ukraine," he told Interfax-Ukraine on Saturday.

Kyrylych said that Ukrainians are members of crews of ARK TZE and ANUKET AMBER vessels.

Earlier, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin reported that two Ukrainian sailors of the crews of the ARK TZE and ANUKET AMBER ships had been released from pirate captivity.

"We are starting 2019 with good news: two Ukrainian seamen, members of the crews of ARK TZE and ANUKET AMBER ships, are returning home from pirate captivity. They are the last of the 12 detained Ukrainian sailors who were abducted by pirates since last year," Klimkin wrote in his Twitter account on Friday night.

In November 2018, two merchant vessels ARK TZE and ANUKET AMBER with 12 crew members on board were abducted in the territorial waters of West Africa.
Best of both worlds

He joins a private high school in 2010 and goes to a government college in 2012. It is amidst this crazy tumult of his late teens that he sees, albeit hazily, what kind of future lies in front of him.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I has assured that the Church of Constantinople will always support the newly created Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU).

"Today, with God's help, we are restoring millions of believers of your land in church unity, who suddenly and not by their own will and reason were out of canonicity and unity... the Church of Constantinople returned them not as a stepmother, but as a mother," he said on Saturday in Istanbul after the ceremony of signing the tomos on the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

The patriarch said that the Church of Constantinople has a long way and on this road it never showed itself to be a stepmother towards anyone and always generously gave everything to the last.

According to the Ecumenical Patriarch, the Church of Constantinople will always support Ukraine. "The Church of Constantinople will always stand by your side... praying and working for your good," he said.

Patriarch Bartholomew expressed the hope that the newly established Orthodox Church of Ukraine would be sustainable.

According to the head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine Epiphanius (Epifaniy), the path to signing the tomos was difficult. "The road to today's blessed day was difficult. The way of truth was really difficult and sorrowful," he said.
Poroshenko: I pray that OCU to continue uniting Ukraine with love and prayer

The Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) will continue uniting the country, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said.

"I beg you and pray that the Church will continue uniting Ukraine with love and prayer," Poroshenko said on Saturday in Istanbul after the ceremony of signing of the tomos on the autocephaly of the OCU by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

He recalled that in Ukraine, an independent church had been waiting for centuries.

"Among the 15 stars, among the 15 Orthodox churches, a Ukrainian star has appeared. In St. George's Cathedral we heard a prayer in the Ukrainian language. It was a long way for us to this," Poroshenko said.

The president called the signing of the tomos on the autocephaly a historical event and expressed the hope that this day will go down in history forever.
Illegal armed formations violated the ceasefire in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, three times on January 4, the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) press center said.

"They did not use weapons proscribed under Minsk agreements No Ukrainian soldier was injured," the press center said on Facebook in a morning update on January 5.

Ukrainian positions near the village of Khutir Vilny in the Luhansk sector were attacked with the use of grenade launchers of various systems and small arms and twice near Vodiane in the Mariupol sector.

"JFO units used weapons on duty in response to the enemy's provocations," the press center said.

"Since today's midnight the enemy has not opened fire," the JFO HQ said.

According to information from Ukrainian intelligence, two militant were killed and another one wounded.
Presidents of Ukraine, Turkey discuss situation with rights of Crimean Tatars in annexed Crimea in Istanbul

Presidents of Ukraine and Turkey Petro Poroshenko and Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a meeting in Istanbul on Saturday.

"President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine at the Vahdettin mansion in Istanbul," the press service of the President of Turkey said on Twitter on Saturday.

According to the press service of the head of the Ukrainian state, the presidents discussed ways to strengthen the strategic partnership, enhance coordination of interaction in the international arena, the prospects for concluding a bilateral agreement on a free trade zone.

Poroshenko highly appreciated the continued support of Turkey for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our state and separately thanked for the co-sponsorship of the Republic of Turkey in the UN General Assembly resolution approved in December 2018 concerning the condemnation of the militarization by the Russian side of Crimea and Azov.

"Particular attention was paid to measures to release illegally imprisoned Ukrainian citizens from Russian prisons, as well as to ensure the rights of Ukrainian citizens, including Crimean Tatars, on the territory of Crimea under Russian occupation," the press service said.

In addition, the presidents noted the positive dynamics o of trade, economic and investment cooperation, as well as the growth of mutual tourist flows.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin met with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu.

"It is always nice to start working Saturday in Istanbul from a meeting with Mevlut Cavusoglu. Good Turkish coffee and good friendly conversation," Klimkin wrote in his Twitter account.

As reported, on January 5-6, the President of Ukraine is on a working visit to Turkey, where he will take part in a ceremony for the signing and acceptance of the tomos, an official document on the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko has flown out to Istanbul where the head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine will be handed the tomos of autocephaly on January 6.

"For me it is a great honor, together with the newly elected head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan Epiphanius (Epifaniy) of Kyiv and All Ukraine, to depart for Istanbul where the long-awaited event will take place tomorrow," Poroshenko wrote on his Facebook page on Saturday.

He noted that he was heading to Patriarch Bartholomew "with the words of sincere gratitude on behalf of all Ukrainian people for the historical decision to grant the tomos to the autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine."

The upcoming event will usher in "a new era in the history of global [Christian] orthodoxy," he said.

"We are praying for peace and unity. Because in unity is our people's strength. Unity is what will secure our victory," Poroshenko said.
The media are trying to convince Trump that if he abandons the wall, hell be a statesman, so that as soon as he folds, they can start making fun of him as an untrustworthy liar.

Everyone knows that we can never have a secure border without an impermeable barrier  something like a wall  across all of it. The Democrats know it, the voters know it, and the millions of illegals hurtling toward our border like cannonballs know it.

The Democrats latest idea is to call a wall immoral, ineffective and expensive.

If they think a wall is immoral, then theyre admitting its effective. An ineffective wall would merely be a place for illegals to stop and get a little shade before continuing their march into the United States.

Democrats backup argument is to cite  every four minutes on MSNBC  Trumps claim that Mexico would pay for the wall. Were all baffled by Trump not having already taxed remittances to Mexico to pay for the wall (100 percent within the presidents authority under various banking regulations) but if were going to start listing the promises Trump hasnt kept, this is going to be a long column.

In point of fact, however, he never said Mexico would pre-pay. We can tax remittances anytime.
A closer look at the four victorious post-war Democrats shows that their age was really a symbol for a much larger issue. Their youth helped shape their narratives, the stories they told voters about their past experiences and their plans for the future. In all four cases, those future presidents captured something profoundly important about America, about our eternal search for something new and fresh and different. They embodied perhaps the best slogan in our entire political history: Its Time for a Change! (So did Trump, even though he was 70 in 2016.)

Kennedy spearheaded the wave of returning World War II veterans who entered politics and assumed the leadership of the country. The words in his inaugural address  A torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans  stand as the quintessential expression of the nations embrace of youthful energy and optimism.

Carter was not a harbinger of a new generation, but as a naval officer-turned-peanut farmer, and then as a governor who had never served in the capitol, he represented a clean break from the swamp of post-Watergate Washington. His brilliant slogan  I will never lie to you  echoed Kennedys promise of a new national beginning, a clean start.
Following up on his pledge, Sisolak on Friday afternoon announced he was appointing two women to cabinet positions.

Julie Butler, who works as a division administrator at the Department of Public Safety, will be his Department of Motor Vehicles director. His Department of Taxation director will be Melanie Young, who has spent 20 years in state government, including roles at Taxation, the Department of Public Safety and Department of Health and Human Services.

Later Friday, Sisolak was expected to visit Creech Air Force Base and High Desert State Prison in Indian Springs and make stops in Beatty and Tonopah.

On Saturday, Sisolak was scheduled to tour the Walker River Paiute Tribe Reservation and stop in Yerington.

He told the Associated Press that he hoped to visit places he didnt go while campaigning and meet more Nevadans, along with learning more about the prison and Air Force base. He said there isnt much for the state to do to address the partial federal government shutdown.

He said the Nevada Department of Transportation has been replacing some federal money it relies on with some reserve funds.

Hopefully the president will work with Congress and get this resolved and be able to move this forward so the country can get back moving again, Sisolak said.

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ELKO  Tired of the cold weather? Head south of the border for a break from frigid temperatures and gray skies. Worried about the expense and the distance? No need. Garibaldis offers a real Mexican experience with lunch specials starting at just $6.25 and a short drive down Idaho Street.

We have authentic Mexican food, co-owner Susy Bravo said. Jose Perez opened the first restaurant in Twin Falls. We have one in Jerome, and this is our third restaurant, in Elko.

Susy and husband Jorge, along with co-owners Jose and Rocio Perez, come from a long line of restaurant owners in Mexico.

Stepping inside the restaurant on a blustery day gives the patron the chance to experience a little slice of paradise. The owners have decorated the building with all the colors of Mexico. The entryway is welcoming and bright. Green plants hang from the barrier wall, giving the appearance of a patio setting.

Garibaldis serves items that are typical of Jalisco and Michoacan. Their signature is the molcajete loco, a sizable dish that will challenge even the biggest eater.

Everybody enjoys the molcajete loco, Bravo said.
Another bill he described would change law regarding where landowners can drill wells. Existing law states that a new well may be drilled within 300 feet of an existing well as long as the second well is on the same property. Goicoechea said he would like to change the law to allow the second well to be on an adjacent lot if the property is owned by the same person, provided it is within 300 feet of the first well.

We are going to have to be a lot smarter with how we use our water, he said.

The senator said he also supports legislation that would allow certain counties and cities, including Elko and Elko County, to increase the tax on diesel fuel. Funds collected from the excise tax are used for road improvements.

Ellison bills

Ellison said he is supporting bills that would affect Elko County and the cities within.

His proposed legislation attempts to establish a state office of emergency management, which could open up opportunities for grant funding to support systems such as Elko Countys upgrade to Next Generation 911.
A touch of drama

Over the years many harrowing tales have been told of Nepali men and women who go to toil in foreign soil and meet unfortunate ends. Perhaps the most brutal one remains the killings of 12 Nepali men in Iraq in August 2004 by Islamic extremists.
The book club will meet at 6 p.m. in the Library Meeting Room. Copies of the book are available for check-out. All are welcome to attend. Call Patrick Dunn at the library for more information, 738-3066.

Alzheimers Support Group

ELKO  The Alzheimers Support Group meets every second Wednesday of each month from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the Terrace, Elko Senior Center. This support group is designed to provide emotional and social support for those caring for a family member or anyone with Alzheimers or dementia. For more information call 800-272-3900.

Horizon Hospice support group

ELKO  Those who have experienced the death of someone significant are invited to join Horizon Center Grief Group meetings on the first and third Mondays of every month, except on holidays. The group meets at 1250 Lamoille Hwy, Suite 413, from 6-7 p.m.

The purpose of the group is to provide information about the grief process; to share experiences; and to alleviate the feeling of isolation.

For more information call 778-0612.

Young Life teens meet Mondays
Please join the Elko Area chamber for Business Before Hours hosted by Wild Iris Yoga & Wellness on Jan. 10 from 8 to 9 a.m.

Business Before Hours are free and open to the public, and a great place to network with other business leaders, community members, and to learn about upcoming events.

Wild Iris Yoga & Wellness is a nonprofit, yoga and holistic health organization based in Elko. Their mission is to promote the health, wellness and growth of their members, the community, and the world. All monetary collection from classes, memberships, workshops, and donations will be used to maintain the organization, pay the team, and re-invest in Wild Iris or it will be contributed to the betterment of the community. Please consider joining them for a class, scheduling a private wellness session, or becoming a member. Their yoga instructors and wellness practitioners are excited to assist you on your path to physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being.

They are also hosting a New Years yoga challenge. Every time you attend class in January, your name will be entered into a drawing for great prizes! Contact them at 208-308-7802 for more information. Wild Iris & Yoga is located at 455 Railroad St.

We hope to see you at Business Before Hours. Please contact the Chamber with any questions: 775-738-7135.

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Hidden threats in Russian Yak-130 supplies for Belarus air force

Experts say the Belarus defense ministry should pay close attention to one important point, which, most likely, is deliberately silenced by the Russian side.

If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter
Termination of railway communication with Russia "inevitable"  Ukraine minister

The number of Ukrainians traveling to Russia by rail is "inexorably decreasing."

If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter
Viettel's President and CEO Le Dang Dung is seen at his office during an interview in Hanoi. Photo by Reuters/Kham

Vietnams largest telecommunication company, Viettel, is seeking to double its five million subscribers in Myanmar by the end of the year.

Viettel, whose $1.22 billion unit Viettel Global Investment is trading on the Unlisted Public Company Market, has also shown interest in investing in North Korea and Cuba.

"The growth seen in Myanmar is rare in the telecom market," Viettel's president and chief executive officer Le Dang Dung told Reuters at his office in Hanoi on Friday. "We still have room to grow there."

Myanmar, where Viettel and its local partners launched a $1.5 billion 4G network in June last year has emerged as one of the most promising markets for the company, Dung said.

The Mytel network, jointly developed by Myanmar National Holding Public Ltd and Star High Public Co Ltd, has amassed around five million subscribers, a figure which Dung said he expects to double by the end of this year.

Viettel is also in talks to buy stakes in existing telecommunication firms in Malaysia and Indonesia, Dung said, without giving further details due to the sensitivity of the deals.

The company will be the first to develop a 5G network in Vietnam, Dung said, in anticipation of rapid development of data services.

He said Viettel had earmarked $40 million for the development of its own 5G chipset, but was also considering using technology from Ericsson and Nokia.

The military-run firm, formally known as Viettel Group, has around 60 million subscribers in Vietnam and over 30 million users across 10 other countries - predominantly in Asia and Africa.

The company is also in talks to buy a 20 percent stake in a European mobile carrier, Dung said, without elaborating.

Dung said Viettel plans to stop expanding its investment in the African market, however, where the company has struggled to make a profit due to poor economic growth.

Closer to home, Viettel is looking to invest in North Korea, said Dung, where Koryolink - a joint venture between the North Korean state and Egypts Orascom Investment Holdings - has amassed millions of subscribers since its 2008 launch.

"We first sought permission from North Korea to build a mobile network there in 2010," he said. "But were still waiting for sanctions to be lifted and for the country to open its market to foreign investors."
Supporters of LGBT rights take part in the annual pride parade in Hong Kong November 25, 2017. Photo by Reuters/Bobby Yip

Two gay men have launched separate legal bids to overturn Hong Kongs ban on same-sex marriage, the first time the law has been challenged in court.

The two men, an activist and a student, argue that the ban on same-sex marriage violates their right to equality under the Basic Law, the citys mini-constitution.

They are asking the government to review and amend the law on marriage, currently defined as between a man and a woman, to the union of two persons, according to their lawyer Hectar Pun.

The Hong Kong High Court gave permission for the cases to proceed during a preliminary hearing on Thursday. The court will hear a separate case regarding civil union first.

Hong Kong has seen a number of lawsuits in recent years over the rights of gay couples, but this is the first legal challenge seeking to legalize same-sex union.

Rights group Amnesty International said Hong Kongs refusal to recognize same-sex relationships led to stigma and fueled "discrimination and other human rights abuses."

"It is regrettable that further judicial cases need to be brought to force the government to end the discrimination same-sex couples face in all walks of life," its researcher Doriane Lau told the Thomson Reuters Foundation from Hong Kong.

Same-sex couples cannot apply for public housing or enjoy their partners pension benefits, Lau said.

Homosexuality has been decriminalized since 1991 in Hong Kong, a former British colony that returned to Chinese rule in 1997. The city has an annual pride parade and lively gay scene.

However, it does not recognize same-sex marriage. Campaigners say gay and transgender people face widespread discrimination and often come under family pressure to marry and have children.

The Hong Kong government said in September it would recognize overseas same-sex partnerships when granting dependent visas, after a British lesbian who was denied a spousal visa took it to court and won.

International banks and law firms operating in the Asian financial hub have been keen to see visa rules for people in same-sex relationships eased to help attract global talent.

Thailand could become the first Asian country to legally recognize same-sex couples under a bill that would allow civil partnerships.

Vietnam allows same-sex weddings, but no legal recognition or protection of such unions.
Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen called on Saturday for international support to defend the self-ruled islands democracy and way of life in the face of renewed threats from China.

Tsais comments came days after Chinese President Xi Jinping said nobody could change the fact that Taiwan was part of China, and that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait should seek "reunification".

"We hope that the international community takes it seriously and can voice support and help us," Tsai told reporters in Taipei, referring to threats by China to use force to bring Taiwan under its control.

If the international community did not support a democratic country that was under threat, "we might have to ask which country might be next?" Tsai added.

Taiwan is Chinas most sensitive issue and is claimed by Beijing as its sacred territory. Xi has stepped up pressure on the island since Tsai from the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party became Taiwan leader in 2016.

President Xi said on Wednesday that China reserves the right to use force to bring Taiwan under its control but will strive to achieve peaceful "reunification" with the island.

In response, Tsai has said the island would not accept a "one country, two systems" political arrangement with China, while stressing all cross-Strait negotiations needed to be carried out on a government-to-government basis.

Tsai on Saturday also urged China to have a "correct understanding" of what Taiwanese think and said actions such as political bullying were unhelpful in cross-strait relations.
Son Doong Cave in the central province of Quang Binh was opened to tourists in 2013 and has become a top adventure destination in Vietnam. Photo by VnExpress/Jarryd Salem.

The Lonely Planet says Son Doong Cave in Quang Binh is among the best places to visit in 2019.

The renowned U.K.-based travel guide publisher recommends highly an expedition into the worlds largest cave, but warns that the trip has to be booked early due to very limited slots.

"The incredible depth of the worlds largest cave lures in travelers who want a true adventure. But the arduous journey into this subterranean site makes booking a trek essential," it notes.

Oxalis, now the only company licensed to bring tourists to Son Doong, says on its website that early registration is a must, with only 300 spaces left for 2019 tours.

A four-day expedition costs $3,000, and there are bus routes running from Hanoi to Dong Hoi, the capital town of Quang Binh, and then to the national park where the cave is located, Oxalis informs.

Besides the amazing cave in Vietnam, the Lonely Planet also recommends a journey to the Inca Trail in Peru, a cultural festival called Burning Man in Nevada and a trip to Under Restaurant in Norway.

Son Doong, part of the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in central Vietnam, has hogged the international spotlight since it opened to tourists in 2013.

Hang En, the entrance to Son Doong Cave, the largest cave in the world, is in the heart of the Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh. Photo by Oxalis/Ryan Deboodt

The New York Times has named it among the worlds top eight travel destinations, while the National Geographic has called it a "natural wonder."

The cave opened to tourists in 2013, four years after members of the British Cave Research Association finished their exploration and declared it the worlds largest.

Local resident Ho Khanh first discovered the cave in 1991, and rediscovered it almost 20 years later, opening it up for exploration.

The government of Quang Binh Province, known as the kingdom of caves, recently raised the limit for number of tourists allowed to visit the cave from 640 to 900.

The province has over the past years proposed several developments, including a cable car system to boost tourism in the area, but these have met with strong opposition from environmentalists and the public.
Tu Thanh Nghia (L), former general director of Vietnam-Russia joint venture Vietsovepertro, and Vo Quang Huy, VSP's former chief accountant, have been charged for abuse of power. Photo by VnExpress/File

A former CEO and chief accountant of Vietsovpetro are accused of involvement in excess interest payments made by OceanBank.

Vietnam's top prosecutors have pressed charges against Tu Thanh Nghia, former general director of Vietnam-Russia joint venture Vietsovepertro (VSP), and Vo Quang Huy, VSP's former chief accountant, for "abuse of power to appropriate property."

Nghia and Huy will be tried in Hanoi.

VSP opened an account with OceanBank in late 2008 and began making long term deposits.

Under a 2009 instruction from state-owned oil giant PetroVietnam, VSP's parent company and a major shareholder in OceanBank, the firm began prioritizing the use of the bank's financial services, making major deposits.

From late 2008 to 2014, VSP signed with OceanBank a total of 54 deposit contracts worth over VND13 trillion ($560 million) and another 70 worth over $1.26 billion.

The company also opened four payment accounts with the bank and maintained large monthly balances of up to VND900 billion and $400 million.

Investigators determined that during his time as VSP's general director from July 2013 to 2014, Nghia signed four contracts worth VND1.9 trillion ($81.8 million) and another five worth $55 million, all of which were proposed by Huy.

Directed by its then chairman Ha Van Tham to offer deposit rates above those set by the central bank to various customers, Oceanbank's former general director Nguyen Minh Thu personally paid Huy and Nghia excess interest payments multiple times between 2013 and 2014.

Huy was found to have received nearly VND8 billion ($344,000) from Thu, while Nghia received over VND2.1 billion ($90,400).

The prosecution of Nghia and Huy are part of the second phase of investigations into a multi-million dollar graft case at OceanBank.

Between 2010 and 2014, the excess interest paid by OceanBank to customers on Thams orders caused losses of over VND1.58 trillion ($67.4 million), inspectors estimated.

Following the case's first phase of investigations, a Hanoi court in September 2017 sentenced Tham to life imprisonment. He said it was a strategy to attract deposits, but the court rejected this argument.

Nguyen Xuan Son, the bank's former general director and a former chairman of PetroVietnam, was sentenced to death for appropriating VND246 billion ($10.5 million) from what were claimed to be excess interest payments.

When summoned to the court during Tham and Son's trial, both Nghia and Huy denied having received excess interest payments, but confessed their crime after they were arrested.

According to prosecutors, Huy's family has since returned over VND4.1 billion ($177,000) while Nghia has returned all the excess interest payments he had received.








[ q & a ] 01.04.19 Fragile as We Are: A Conversation with Adrianne Kalfopoulou

W hen I sit down to read Adrianne Kalfopoulous poems or essays, I find myself sitting up straighter, more awake and attentive to the words in front of me, to the world. Her most recent book, A History of Too Much, responds to the Greek Euro crisis with tenderness, ferocity, and urgency that startles and dazzles. The images evoked and questions posed havent left mejust as was the case with her essay Transitional Object, a Grammar for Letting Go that we had the honor of publishing. Adrianne was kind enough to chat with me via email about her creative process, working across genres, and the complex bittersweetness of her work. Ashley Farmer

Ashley Farmer: Where did A History of Too Much take root? When did you know you had a manuscript in progress?

Adrianne Kalfopoulou: Thank you, Ashley, for the opportunity to talk to Juked about this collection of poems. I think some of the first poems were written in 2009, maybe 2010, when the much used (now over-used) term the crisis started to be heard in Greece. I didnt really feel I had a full collection until some years later. Im generally slow with poems. I started to realize various strands feeding into the group, or what began to feel like a group, that there were several histories coming together.

AF: How does a poem typically begin for you? Sound? Image? Language?

AK: My muse is rather fickle. Im generally caught off-guard and at somewhat of a loss in the writing moment. Not infrequently I resist the impulse, at least initially. Its perverse given all the rhetoric on following rather than turning your back on what calls you to the table. In some ways I court the illusion of some higher force/energy that will compel me no mattera fallen romantic impulse I guess, but ultimately what keeps me is whats happening in the poem. The collection as a whole goes in and out of forms, and as Im not typically a formalist, I found this surprising but also particular to the collection. I have several triolets, a fixed 8-line poem with 2 rhymes, with its roots in the 17th century, and 2 rangy essay-like poems, Where the Contour Lies and A Poem, in Pieces that explore emotional and physical thresholds. So I think images, and sounds, link up in different ways given the poems demands, and the language is born of that.

AF: When I read Skin, a poem that explores how honey heals wounds, I felt that its contradiction of sweetness and violence reflects other contradictions within the book, like human connection in an era of goodbyes (as you write in a later poem). Do you find that these tensions occur naturally or does this happen through the course of revision?

AK: Yes, I think the contradiction of sweetness and violence is a tension in my work; its often a catalyst for writing. My sweetbitter museto borrow from Anne Carsons translation of Sapphos word for erosis from the Greek , that translates as sweetbitter and seems in keeping with the kinds of ambiguities that can also feed the impulse to create; to answer to a rupture or wounding. Foregrounding sensory responses that are contradictory can be a way of salvaging a complexity thats still vital. Sometimes thats implicit in the subject matter, as in the violence of the financial dismantling of Greece that feeds into a poem like The Goodbyes, and sometimes its more enigmatic and mutable as in An Invitation and The Road, poems about erotic love.

AF: I admire how you shift between different formal structures throughout the book. Is the decision to write about a subject within the form of, say, a prose poem (Clothing the Dead) versus a more spare and structured form (Exilic) versus something altogether looser (Poem in Pieces, A Log) one you make consciously? Or is it organic?

AK: It is organic. As I mention earlier, content dictates the form. Ill sometimes realize that what Im writing lends itself to one kind of form while I might have been working with another; that was the case with In a Pomegranate Time. The adverb extravagantly presented itself and, well, I thought it rather extravagant. Not very subtle; through several false starts I let the poem lead me. Rather than trying to tone it down which would have betrayed the poems impulse, I started to rework it into a ghazal, a Persian form traditionally about melancholy or unrequited longing, so there it was. There was no need not to let the poem have its extravagant say!

AF: Youve published books of both poetry and essays. Are there challenges in writing across genres? What, for you, is the relationship between these two ways of working?

AK: I like to move between the genres the way I like to move between poetic forms depending on what it is Im working on. But Ive increasingly been drawn to the essay, particularly hybrid expressions of it that interface with lyric tropes, such as the use of repetitions, and the ways imagery condenses meaning, which includes the use of visuals. Theres a space where its hard to define genre boundaries in some works, a book like Anne Boyers Garments Against Women or Andrea Rexilius To Be Human Is a Conversation, straddle categories and combine methods. I admire how these practitioners of the form, or forms, as poets who define themselves as such have expanded the parameters of that term, and genre. For myself, I tend to know when what Im writing is an essay, or if its a poem; the subject matter Im involved with usually chooses for me.

AF: Earlier this year, Juked had the privilege of publishing your essay Transitional Object, a Grammar for Letting Go. In it, you write about your experience of working with Syrian and Afghan refugees at a shelter in Athens. I wondered if you could speak to the process of writing this piece?

AK: Yes, thanks. It was a hard piece to write, and it went through many revisions. This is usually my process, but this one was somewhat more torturous I thought, partly because of the circumstances of that period. It was very important to me to weave the various strands into the telling, or writing. And I wanted them to be equally important: that I was in a new space, or spaces, regarding a job I was in more out of necessity than choice, that I was privy to some of the pressing urgencies in the lives of the refugees I had met, that a relationship I had been in had recently ended. Two close friends of mine were fired because of the financial situation in Greece and had to leave the country to seek employment; we were hearing constant updates of drowned people, sometimes whole families from capsized dinghies trying to make it from Turkey to one of the Greek islands. It seemed the EU had lost its mind regarding how it was handling or not handling the human flows. The essay tries to explore multiple feelings of displacement, whether personally immediate or more distanced. And my proximity to the literal displacement of the families I had met put my losses into another kind of frame.

AF: Among other things, this essay is about language and your experience of teaching. How does teaching inform your writing?

AK: Sometimes its as direct as being influenced by a text I happen to be teaching. In writing Transitional Object, a Grammar for Letting Go I was teaching grammar exercises from an academic writing book, They Say, I Say, in a comp class. Id also been reading D.W. Winnicotts work. His discussion of the nature of the in-between or transitional in Transitional Objects and Transitional Phenomena was key to some of the ideas I was in conversation with; that part of the title, transitional object is a direct reference to Winnicott. I was fascinated by his example of the 7-year-old boy tying things together with string as a way of dealing with his separation anxiety; it became a trope. And the grammar exercises in They Say, I Say were uncannily to the point. Im somewhat superstitious about these kinds of moments; when your writerly radar is activated and youre truly on the lookout for signs the cosmos often provides.

AF: I appreciate that you juxtapose intimate human experiences like loss and falling in love against subjects like cultural and political upheaval. I wonder: what do you feel is the role of poets and poetry during todays turbulent times?

AK: That probably depends on the poet and their muse. Think of Dickinson and Whitman both writing during the American Civil War, one of the countrys most historically turbulent times, and each registers that violence, and period, in very different ways. It feels as if theres a kind of explosion of engaged (and enraged), innovative, and bold voices in contemporary American poetry. Layli Long Soldier won the National Book Critics Circle award for Whereas, her debut collection which explores the legacies of her, and the countrys, Native American identity. The book was also a finalist for the National Book award. I also think of poets like Danez Smith, Solmaz Sharif, and Tarfia Faizullah, whose Dont Call Us Dead, Look, and Seam, respectively, are mind-blowing. The books are both highly personal and overtly engaged politically. While very specific to particular cultural narrativesrace and racism, queer identity, AIDS in Dont Call Us Dead; the Iraq war/invasion, Iranian-American identity, the discourse of the military in Look; and legacies of violence and rape from the 1971 liberation war in Bangladesh in Seameach connects to questions of cultural belonging and explores language as a site of resistance as much as poetry.

AF: If you were to write a book about Greece today, how would it be different from A History of Too Much?

AK: Thanks for that question, Ashley! I do feel my writing of A History . . . was different from other times Ive put a collection together. The poems were a kind of map through a time of upheaval. I wrote them in that spirit, as flashlight moments illuminating a detail or quality of something much larger that stays hidden or not immediately comprehensible. I felt strangely on the outside of much of what is described even as I was a part of it. The poet Diane Thiel and I were in conversation about the kinds of poems that form a collection and what periods of gestation might be needed; that some books are years in the making. I wanted this collection to express a trajectory, so I wasnt only concerned with putting together the strongest poems, as much as I wanted the group as a whole to orchestrate a sequence of time. Id write a different book now, yes, but that would be expected I think. Perhaps it would be less specifically located. I like thinking about an entirely liminal bookwhere a reader might feel as displaced by the writing as the writer/poet might feel in the writing, of knowing but also not knowing where the locations might be.

AF: What are you working on now?

AK: Im writing essays again, and taking some risks. I have two essays in a working manuscript that incorporate visuals, and one that tries to negotiate sentence structure in ways that might invite multiple perspectives. Its not that these strategies are new but theyre new to me, and what Im trying to do with them. Some of the subjects in Transitional Object . . .  are explored further: ideas of refuge, loss, belonging, or not belonging, how language helps salvage us, fragile as we are.
Men drink Saigon beer, a product of Sabeco, at a restaurant in Hanoi. Photo by Reuters

After a $4.78 million debt restructuring, Vietnam's largest brewer Sabeco is now owned by a Thai company.

In December 2017, Thai Beverage (ThaiBev) acquired a 53.59 percent stake in Sabeco from Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade for $4.78 billion through a local entity, Viet Beverage (VietBev).

VietBev, which had 100-percent Vietnamese ownership at the time with VND682 billion ($29.33 million) in charter capital, was loaned VND111.21 trillion ($4.78 billion) by ThaiBev to complete the transaction.

VietBev was used as a financial vehicle to get around a 49 percent foreign ownership cap in place at the time.

The $4.78 billion loan was then converted to shares under a debt-to-equity conversion agreement between VietBev and ThaiBev. As a result, VietBev now has a chartered capital of VND111.89 trillion ($4.81 billion), increasing ThaiBev's ownership in VietBev to 99.39 percent.

The adjustment in capital was approved by local authorities, and made possible after authorities raised Sabeco's foreign ownership cap to 100 percent at the end of 2018. The conversion was completed a few days ago.

ThaiBev has since announced it is committed to ensuring shareholders' benefits on share prices and annual dividends after this restructure.

With a charter capital of VND111.89 trillion, VietBev is among a few businesses in the country with chartered capital of hundreds of trillions of dongs, along with state-run oil & gas giant PVN (VND285 trillion or about $12.26 billion); Vietnam's sole power distributor and biggest producer EVN (VND163.8 trillion or $7.04 billion); and telecoms provider Viettel (VND121.52 trillion or $5.23 billion).

Recently, Sabeco was caught up in legal trouble with tax authorities, who blocked its bank accounts in order to withdraw VND3.1 trillion ($135.73 million) to collect overdue special sales tax from 2007 to 2015 and penalties for administrative violations. However, this enforcement action proved futile as accounts handed over to the tax authorities were empty.

After the recent share conversion, the Prime Minister has directed the tax agencies to suspend their enforcement, in order to carefully consider regulations as it involves "foreign factors."
Moscow, ID (83843)

Today

Partly cloudy skies early then becoming cloudy with periods of rain late. Low 54F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early then becoming cloudy with periods of rain late. Low 54F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Brian Vinson said the funds will be a welcome relief for his idled workers.

I just want people to know that whatever money goes in there it will go to the employees to make up for the salaries theyre not getting, he said.

Also on Vinsons mind is the family of Grant Converse, who owned Corvallis Furniture a few doors down from Sharons. After he learned about the fire Monday night, Converse was reportedly racing to the scene to make sure his business was safe from the flames. But there was a mechanical problem with his truck and he was unable to stop.

According to an incident report from the Corvallis Police Department, Converse downshifted to slow the vehicle, and his two passengers were able to jump out safely. Converse jumped out as well but was injured and later died at the hospital.

A GoFundMe account set up for his fiancee, Angie Nelson, had raised more than $4,000 by Friday evening (see box for details). A public memorial service for Converse is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Corvallis, 2945 NW Circle Blvd.

Vinson said he and his siblings are haunted by Converses death.

That hit us pretty hard, he said. On a daily basis I say to myself, If I hadnt bought this damn restaurant, that guy would still be alive.

Reporter Bennett Hall can be reached at 541-758-9529 or bennett.hall@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter at @bennetthallgt.

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Police of Vietnam's northern Son La province said on Friday that they have detained 2 local young women for transporting over 1.7 kg of synthetic drug.





The duo aged 20 and 28 from Son La's Thuan Chau district were arrested on Thursday when they were transporting over 17,400 pills of lab-made drug.





They confessed that an identified man had hired them to transport the drug.





On Wednesday, a 30-year-old man from northern Son La province, which borders Son La, was arrested for transporting over 2.4 kg of heroin from Son La to Hanoi, according to the municipal police.





According to the Vietnamese law, those convicted of smuggling over 600 grams of heroin or more than 2.5 kg of methamphetamine are punishable by death.





Making or trading 100 grams of heroin or 300 grams of other illegal drugs also faces death penalty.





Source: xinhuanet.com, January 5, 2019

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"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,

but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde
A 43-year-old man who has sat on Alabamas Death Row for 15 years is getting a new trial.





The Alabama Supreme Court announced in its weekly orders on Friday that Emanuel Aaron Gissendanner, who was convicted of murdering Margaret Snellgrove in 2001 during a robbery and a kidnapping, will receive a new trial.





After Gissendanners conviction, his lawyers filed a direct appeal and in 2007, the Dale County judge who sentenced Gissendanner to death granted him a new trial based on claims of ineffective counsel. In his 70-page order, Judge [Kenneth] Quattlebaum found that Gissendanner's defense counsel were deficient in both the guilt phase and the penalty phase of the trial. The judge found that defense counsel failed to investigate and to prepare for trial. The judge also found that the State had violated [case law] in failing to disclose handwriting samples to the defense, the states highest court noted in its Friday ruling.





Prosecutors appealed the judges order granting a new trial, and in 2014 the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals reversed Quattlebaums ruling and told the lower court to reinstate Gissendanners conviction and sentence.





Todays ruling from the Alabama Supreme Court overrules the appeals judgement, and orders the lower court to hold a new trial.





Snellgrove was attacked and killed on June 22, 2001, with court records noting her cause of death as severe neck and head injuries. At Gissendanners original trial, police said Snellgrove was assaulted in her carport and then taken to a remote area near an abandoned trailer where Gissendanner sometimes stayed. Officers also located the victims cell phone, purse, and other belongings in that trailer, trial records show.





Snellgroves partially nude body was found in a ditch covered with tree limbs.





The Alabama Supreme Court also announced in its weekly list the denial of rehearing for another death row inmate, Jessie Livell Phillips.





Phillips was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death for the fatal shooting of his wife, Erica Droze Phillips, and their unborn child in Marshall County. It was the first prosecution and conviction under Alabamas Brody Act, which makes it a homicide to kill an unborn baby in an attack on the mother.





The shooting happened Feb. 27, 2009 at an Alabama 69 car wash in Guntersville. Jessie Phillips became angry because his wife had not changed the wet diaper of their young daughter, court documents state. Records say Phillips then shot his wife in the back of the head, leaving her body lying in one of the car wash bays. The 23-year-old died at a local hospital the next day.





In 2015, the criminal appeals court upheld Jessie Phillips' conviction, but it remanded the case back to the trial court for a resentencing. The next year, Marshall County Circuit Judge Tim Riley again sentenced Jessie Phillips to death. Jessie Phillips appealed to the Alabama Supreme Court in 2017.

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"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,

but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde
This week was the beginning of the 116th Congress, and from the first day it was clear the U.S. House of Representatives is heading in a greatly different direction. A new Speaker of the House, new governing rules, and new members ensure the next two years will be a bumpy ride  buckle up.

I wasnt sure if Nancy Pelosi would have the votes to become Speaker after the midterm elections. Dozens of Democrats running for office in 2018 promised the American people they would support new leadership and they wouldnt vote for Pelosi. But on day 1, enough Democrats caved to the party elites and Washington swamp to break their word, giving Pelosi back the Speakers gavel.

After electing Pelosi to lead the U.S. House of Representatives, the very first item on her agenda was to dramatically alter the rules which the U.S. House and its members abide by. Tucked away in the new rules package they passed were rules that will make it easier to raise taxes and explode the debt, all while hiding it from the American people. They essentially eliminated the debt ceiling, so everyday Americans will be left in the dark when Pelosi and her cohorts want to borrow more money than theyre spending. Weve had a rule in the U.S. House since 1995 that you would need a three-fifths super majority in order to raise taxes; thats gone too.
"I am now convinced these trends spell sustained trouble over the long term," said Hunter R. Rawlings III, a classics scholar who has been president of both the University of Iowa and Cornell University.

This is not necessarily a worldwide phenomenon. The number of British young people who study history for one of their graduating subjects in high school (English A-levels) has remained relatively constant.

"History is still seen as an intellectually rigorous and challenging degree, which opens pathways into professional life," said Lawrence Goldman, a senior research fellow at St. Peter's College, Oxford, who spent the fall semester at the University of Missouri.

By now you surely have guessed that, long ago, I was a history major and that I contacted a bunch of my friends and associates to weigh in on the crisis in history.

But I have found that the study of history is more than the memorization of dates, more than the recitation of speeches, more than the easy-chair examination of lords and ladies, statesmen and senators, of yore. Although, in truth I have to admit that in five years of undergraduate and graduate studies and a lifetime of reading books that my children ridicule I have enjoyed it immensely. Pure joy in a world of toil shouldn't be dismissed lightly.
Going to restaurants, bars and concerts is normal for a young woman her age. However, if you prefer not to subsidize the vacations because you feel they are excessive, discuss your feelings with her before deciding what to do.

DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have lived like nomads for the last few years. We have bought, sold and moved many times for all sorts of silly reasons. Our 5-year-old daughter finally started school, yet we don't feel at home here. We now realize buying and selling may not be for us, so we are renting, but we still aren't happy.

We moved here to be close to my oldest and dearest friend, whose kids are now grown, and to my sister, who hardly talks to us or sees us. My husband's sister and her husband's family love us and treat us well. They have suggested we should move by them. They have kids our daughter's age. The only issue is possibly not finding a good home or school. Private school could be an option.

Would another move be bad? Should we make a final move before our daughter gets vested in school and friends? It would put us within walking distance to several families we spend a lot of time with and who love us very much. We are afraid of judgment from everyone. Please help us sort it out. -- HOPEFUL NOMADS IN ILLINOIS
Introduction



In just 50 years, almost a million Jews, whose communities stretch back up to 3,000 years, have been 'ethnically cleansed' from 10 Arab countries. These refugees outnumber the Palestinian refugees two to one, but their narrative has all but been ignored. Unlike Palestinian refugees, they fled not war, but systematic persecution. Seen in this light, Israel, where some 50 percent of the Jewish population descend from these refugees and are now full citizens, is the legitimate expression of the self-determination of an oppressed indigenous, Middle Eastern people.

This website is dedicated to preserving the memory of the near-extinct Jewish communities, which can never return to what and where they once were - even if they wanted to. It will attempt to pass on the stories of the Jewish refugees and their current struggle for recognition and restitution. Awareness of the injustice done to these Jews can only advance the cause of peace and reconciliation.

(Iran: once an ally of Israel, the Islamic Republic of Iran is now an implacable enemy and numbers of Iranian Jews have fallen drastically from 80,000 to 20,000 since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Their plight - and that of all other communities threatened by Islamism - does therefore fall within the scope of this blog.)
Bismarck R-5 School District opened their doors for the new school year with more changes than usual. Construction and renovation projects included the elementary and high school libraries, a brand new science lab, and an updated band room.

Six police officers turned in their badges and five turned in letters of resignations, two aldermen had threatened resignation, and the mayor was hospitalized due to an apparent stroke. This left four officers, including the new police chief, to protect the city of Bismarck. However, several of these resignations were rescinded later. They were ultimately not reinstated.

October

Bismarck schools decided to add new, brighter and more energy efficient LED lighting to both the interior and exterior of the campus. This came as part of the renovation projects that continued from over the summer into the school year. The lights will be brighter and more energy efficient, saving the school money and aiding in the exciting moves forward.

The Echols Company, the maker of the original snow cone machine, closed its doors in Bismarck after serving the community for more than six decades.

November
Thirteen cows died in a crash along Interstate 81 near Shippensburg Friday morning, according to Pennsylvania State Police.

Around 7:13 a.m. emergency crews responded to the northbound lane of Interstate 81 near exit 29, King Street, where a trailer hauling cattle had crashed and overturned, according to police.

The driver of the truck was uninjured in the crash, but 13 cows died as a result of the crash, police said.

Several other cattle were seen walking in the median around 7:30 a.m. and several others appeared to be stuck inside the trailer.

The crash caused lane closures in both directions of the highway and cause heavy delays on several roads around the Shippensburg area.

The northbound lanes of Interstate 81 were closed for several hours as result of the crash between exit 24 and exit 29.

Trooper Brent Miller said in a written statement that the cattle were not headed to the Pennsylvania Farm Show.

PennDOT announced around 12:30 p.m. that the incident was cleared and all lanes were reopened to traffic.

Reported earlier on Cumberlink:

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Carlisle Borough Council is looking into revising the boroughs rental housing ordinance, with the contentious idea of mandatory housing inspections likely to be discussed.

At Wednesday nights borough council workshop meeting, borough staff presented council members with four rental ordinances from other Pennsylvania jurisdictions  Gettysburg, Mount Holly Springs, West Chester, and State College  intended as a starting point to further develop Carlisles rental law, which was developed in 2011 and passed in January 2012.

It was very new for us and we promised that we would go back and look at that at some point in time, said council member Robin Guido regarding the 2012 ordinance.

My goal in this is not to get everyone granite countertops and stainless steel appliances, Guido said. But people should have heat and water and pest-free homes. [There are] basic living conditions that we should require.

The boroughs current ordinance requires rental units to be registered with the borough, providing information about the unit and its occupancy, as well as contact information for the landlord in case of emergency. Landlords who do not live within a 25-mile radius of the county courthouse must provide the information of a resident agent.
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Cumberland County farmers have done well in the livestock judging over the years, from Rylee Bloser of West Pennsboro Township showing alpacas to the Cornman family, which has been competing in the Farm Show since Clarence Cornmans children began showing baby beef in the Farm Show in the 1940s. These days, the Cornmans of Justa-Beauty farm compete in dairy cattle events.

The Cumberland County 4-H Mounted Drill Team has been a staple at the Farm Show since 1962. Directed by Sandy Long of Carlisle Springs, the team features about 24 mounted youngsters in green and white uniforms and white helmets. They carry American, Pennsylvania and 4-H flags and, to music, perform a drill that includes a figure eight, a carousel of horses and various circles.

Performing at the Farm Show is our teams highlight of the year, Long has said. It takes a lot of practice, almost like skaters must practice.

Cumberland County spinners and weavers are an integral part of the sheep-to-shawl contest. Once again, the Cumberland County team, For The Love of Ewe, will participate in the competition, which involves shearing a sheep, spinning the wool into yarn and using it to make a 22-by-78 inch shawl with 5 inches of fringe on each end, all in 2 hours.
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Istanbul, January 4, 2019The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Turkish authorities to ensure the safety of journalists working for the news website Odatv amid a series of threats directed at the outlet, including published remarks by a civil servant Islamic scholar.

In an interview with the Islamist news agency ILKHA on December 29, Ahmet Altok, the provincial mufti of the southeastern province of Siirt, said that Odatv assaults the Prophet, cited the deadly attack on staff at Charlie Hebdo in Paris, and added that those who ridicule Muslimsnever got away with what they did, news reports said.

The mufti is a civil servant employed by the Diyanet, or Presidency of Religious Affairs, to act as a consultant and local religious authority.

Bars Terkoglu, the news editor for Odatv, a left-wing ultranationalist news website, told CPJ today that the site has received new threats since the muftis interview was published. He added that the website filed a criminal complaint with police today.

Turkish officials must strongly condemn the remarks by Mufti Ahmet Altok and take whatever measures necessary to ensure the safety of Odatv journalists, said CPJ Deputy Executive Director Robert Mahoney in New York. Civil servants making death threats to journalists is unacceptable and Turkey cannot turn a blind eye to the dangers the remarks pose.

In his ILKHA interview last week, headlined Charlie Hebdo and Kab ibn al-Ashraf did not get away with what they did, Altok said, Be it the Charlie Hebdo case, or the likes of Kab ibn al-Ashraf in our Prophets time, those who ridicule Muslims, acting upon some campaigns, perception operations, never got away with what they did. I believe that they will be once again convicted in the eyes and hearts of society. I call these gentlemen to apologize. Because you know, repentance before death is accepted.

As of January 4, the government had not responded publicly to Altoks remarks. CPJs email sent late today requesting comment from the Diyanet was not immediately answered.

Terkoglu said that he believes Altoks remarks were in connection to a story Odatv published on November 21 about how the term jihad is taught in the high school curriculum for religious classes.

Terkoglu said that Odatv received threatening messages from Islamists after the article was published and added that religious media picked up the subject in late December, shortly before the muftis interview.

Odatv regularly receives threats over its coverage. The website is enrolled in an early warning program with the police. Terkoglu said that no one from the police had immediately contacted them after the remarks were published.

Terkoglu said that the outlet has received messages of support from opposition politicians, non-governmental organizations, and colleagues, but nobody from the government had immediately contacted them.

The outlet has faced persecution previously. In 2011, CPJ documented how at least 10 of the websites staff were jailed over accusations that they were involved in the alleged Ergenekon plota supposed large-scale conspiracy to overthrow the government of then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is now Turkeys president.
Gov. Pete Ricketts on Friday announced his support for a military retiree tax relief plan that would exempt 50 percent of military retirement benefits from the state income tax.

The legislation would impact more than 13,000 military retirees in Nebraska and would reduce state revenue by $15 million a year.

The bill, which will be introduced by Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon, is designed to salute veterans and keep retirees in the state.

"We want to make Nebraska the most veteran-friendly state in the country and encourage our heroes to stay in our state and move here," Ricketts said during a morning news conference.

"Surrounding states provide tax relief for veterans, and with this proposal we can make our state more competitive regionally and nationally," he said.

"This is another way to say thank you to our veterans," the governor said.

Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue, who has sponsored similar legislation in the past, said she will "co-sponsor and show full support of the governor's effort."

Both Blood and Sen. Sue Crawford of Bellevue have supported a number of legislative efforts to assist military families. Both of their legislative districts are heavily populated with veterans and constituents who work at Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSDon.

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The Cartier's LOVE trade mark

"Can anyone have a monopoly over love?"





This is an interesting and deep question ... and perhaps even more so in a trade mark context, as the Singapore IP Office recently discovered.





decision issued on 20 December last, this IP Office had to consider this very question in the context of an opposition filed by Cartier: In aissued on 20 December last, this IP Office had to consider this very question in the context of an opposition filed by Cartier:

More precisely, can a trader prevent other traders from registering a trade mark which includes the word LOVE for use on jewellery?

Cartier filed an opposition, relying on its earlier 'LOVE' figurative trade mark (in which the O is replaced with the device of Cartier's iconic slotted screw head e the E is in lower case) for, inter alia, jewellery. The opposition related to MoneyMax Jewellery's application to register the signs below as Singapore trade marks for jewellery in Class 14, and retail and other services relating to jewellery in Class 35:

The first Cartier 'LOVE' piece was designed in 1969: it is the famous bracelet that can only be removed using a gold screwdriver that is sold together with the bracelet. A modern love handcuffs, it is intended to symbolize the attachment between two lovers.





The Hearing Officer noted that Cartier is not the only owner of a 'LOVE' trade mark. In dismissing the opposition, the decision also stresses how the word 'love' is commonly used by jewellery traders and should not be monopolized by any trader.





The Hearing Officer relied extensively on the judgment in Love & Co Pte Ltd v The Carat Club Pte Ltd [2009] 1 SLR(R) 561. In that case the Singapore High Court invalidated the defendants plain word mark 'LOVE' which was registered in respect of jewellery, precious stones and precious metals in Class 14, on grounds that it both lacked distinctive character and was an indication which may serve to designate the intended purpose of jewellery (that is, showing love).





Let's see a bit more in detail how the Hearing Officer reasoned.





Cartier's LOVE

bracelet ...

Comparison of the signs





Singapore Trade Marks Act , the Hearing Officer found that it was first necessary to identify which elements of the opponent's sign would be distinctive. Considering the relative grounds within section 8 of the, the Hearing Officer found that it was first necessary to identify which elements of the opponent's sign would be distinctive.





Certainly this would not be the case of the word 'LOVE' as such in relation to jewellery. Rather, the distinctive elements of the sign are the screw-head device and possibly the use of a small letter 'e'.





Neither of these elements are present in the applicant's sign.





Hence, the signs should be considered dissimilar.





Distinctiveness of the applicant's sign





Cartier also attempted to rely on the High Court's Love decision to argue that the applicant's sign should not be registered, it being devoid of distinctive character.





... and an IPKat-approved alternative

for lovers on a budget

The Hearing Officer rejected this argument, and held that the combination of the Chinese words (which mean 'love gold'), enclosed in a rectangular device, with the words 'LOVE' and 'GOLD', and the arrangement of each of these features as depicted in the application, render the sign as a whole distinctive [really?] .





Conclusion





The Hearing Officer concluded as follows:

A bracelet may represent a metaphorical shackle of a persons loved one. The word LOVE, however, should be free for traders to incorporate into their trade marks for jewellery.
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I was shocked that I got it, Woebbecke said about getting the scholarship. Im excited because its nice to be able to show people what I can do and what they can do, too.

Kruse said the committee was impressed by Woebbeckes application, noting it was one of the first ones turned in. In it, Kruse said Woebbecke showcased a passion for the arts and expressed her desire to make a career for herself in the field.

We felt that she really acted and wrote what she wanted to become, Kruse said. Her goals were the best of the applicants, strong art images.

Kruse said the exhibit is a great opportunity to showcase a student's work.

Usually they've never had an exhibit for their work, so it's kind of a cool thing, Kruse said. It's just another way to recognize them and give them a chance to show off their work.

Eligible scholarship applicants must plan on either majoring or minoring in an art-related field in college in order to qualify. Woebbecke is currently a graphic design student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She said she hopes to one day get a job where shell be able to artistically express herself - possibly something in advertising.
Happy New Year to you from the Columbus Area Chamber  its going to be a great one!

The Legislative Committee of the Columbus Area Chamber will kick things off with a busy January.

Speaking of things that are new, the Legislative Committee hosts the annual Legislative Kick-off Breakfast with our new State Senator Mike Moser. Sen. Moser will join us at 7 a.m. on Jan. 21 at the Chamber office. Im sure it will be interesting to hear the Senators impressions from his first few days in the Unicameral! As is the case every year, we will gain insight into the issues that will be significant in this years legislative session. Those attending will also have the chance to share issues of concern or legislative priorities with Sen. Moser. That connection is one of the advantages of membership.

All Chamber members are welcome to attend this event. A breakfast is served for $5. RSVPs to the Chamber office are appreciated. You can register at 564-2769, chamber@megavision.com or online at www.thecolumbuspage.com/events.
Governor Pete Ricketts on Firiday announced a new plan to expand military retirement tax relief. He was joined by Nebraska Department of Veterans Affairs (NDVA) Director John Hilgert, Adjutant General of the Nebraska National Guard Major General Daryl Bohac and President of the Nebraska Chapter of the Military Officers of Association of America (MOAA) Colonel Dan Donovan, among others.

Over the years as I have traveled Nebraska, military retirement tax relief has been a top priority for veterans and their families, Ricketts said, in a release. We want to make Nebraska the most veteran-friendly state in the country and encourage our heroes to stay in our state and move here. Surrounding states provide tax relief for veterans, and with this proposal, we can make our state more competitive regionally and nationally.

The new proposed law would exempt 50 percent of military retirement pay from being taxed, and would include all of Nebraskas military retirees receiving payments from the Department of Defense. As of fiscal year 2017, this included over 13,000 Nebraskans. The plan would deliver $15 million in tax relief for our states retired military veterans annually.
UW-Oshkosh records custodian Kathleen McQuillan informed Roth sometime in the fall that the university would release records to the State Journal.

Culp filed a complaint in Winnebago Circuit Court on Nov. 26 to block release of the records, writing that the law favors nondisclosure of the records and overrides the publics interest in the documents. Court records do not indicate the university and Regents have been served with the suit.

Such harm will be irreparable and for which there will be no adequate remedy at law, especially where information in records is factually inaccurate and cause unfair damage to the employees reputation, Culp wrote in the complaint.

Culp argued that releasing the records may potentially lead to a loss of morale among public employees, could pose difficulty in attracting future quality candidates to public employment, could lead to an increased level of embarrassment and may have a chilling effect on future personnel investigations and employee assessments.

Releasing the records, particularly settlement agreements, would discourage settlements from being struck in the future, which Culp said is a cost-effective and efficient avenue for public agencies to resolve disputes.
Reuters

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Jailed Belarusian journalist Roman Protasevich appeared at a news conference in Minsk on Monday saying he felt fine and had not been beaten, in what the opposition said was another public appearance made under duress. Protasevich sat alongside four officials, two of whom were in uniform, saying he had not been made to cooperate with the authorities and that he was in good health after being arrested last month when his Ryanair flight was forced to land in Minsk. Protasevich has made several appearances since his plane was forced to land in Minsk while on a May 23 flight from Greece to Lithuania via Belarusian air space.
More dogs seized from breeding operation on P.E.I. farm, humane society says

Animal protection officers have seized all remaining breeding dogs from an Island farm, according to the P.E.I. Humane Society.

This follows a seizure at the same Queens County farm on Dec. 11  where dogs described as "vulnerable" by the society were taken from the property at that time.

Jennifer Harkness, development manager at the P.E.I. Humane Society, says the owners were ordered to comply with the Canadian Kennel Code and P.E.I.'s Animal Welfare Act.

With the plunging temperatures ... we felt it was justified to seize the remaining animals.  Jennifer Harkness, P.E.I. Humane Society

"Unfortunately they were not able to comply and with the plunging temperatures and the temperature especially [Thursday], we felt it was justified to seize the remaining animals," she said.

The farm did not have adequate housing or heating for the dogs, Harkness said, and "sanitary conditions were a problem."

"Those are big worries for us."

Owners can appeal seizure

Despite removing the remaining breeding dogs, the society said the case is still active. The owners may file a notice of appeal within seven days and in the meantime, none of the dogs will be put up for adoption.

"We are pursing legal action," Harkness said.

"What we'll do is look at the act ... and we can recommend different charges to the RCMP and to the Crown and they can pursue those charges from there."

Animal protection officers will continue to inspect the property periodically, she said.

"I think that we've sent a strong message here that it won't be tolerated on P.E.I."

More P.E.I. news
Islander Rebecca Gass has been living out of a suitcase since September, when she got on a plane to volunteer in Ethiopia with a branch of the country's ministry of health and Cuso International.

The Clyde River native has been helping a regional task force in Ethiopia centred on communicating information to local communities about female health, which rolled out in December.

"I'm truly falling in love with the country and the people," she said.

Submitted by Rebecca Gass

Weak prevention services

In Ethiopia, one of the most prevalent cancers among adult women is cervical cancer, which affects about 13 per cent of women in the country, according to the World Health Organization.

The WHO has reported that about 80 per cent of cervical cancer cases in Ethiopia are detected at a late stage because of a lack of information and weak prevention services available.

Gass has spent much of her time travelling through the country with co-workers spreading information through a "social mobilization campaign" on human papillomavirus and the importance of vaccinations.

"It was another way to spread the message to get to our ultimate goal of vaccinating all the girls in the area," Gass said.

A woman's voice

One of the means of providing information for the campaign has been to drive through communities with pre-recorded audio clips, which are played through a speaker.

Historically the pre-recorded messages have used male voices. Gass said she fought to have a woman's voice heard through the microphone.

I felt truly inspired to help women in marginalized populations. - Rebecca Gass

"I had to really push for this," she said. "I told them it's much different for a woman to hear a woman's voice telling them something about their health versus hearing it from a man's voice."

Gass said the men in the community eventually "jumped on board once they saw how passionate I was about it."

"The ability to foster change on the ground level is still something that needs some work," she said.

Story continues

'Truly inspired'

Gass's master's thesis focused on youth empowerment in girls, which eventually led her to want to help young girls and women feel empowered through relaying information about their bodies in Ethiopia.

"I felt truly inspired to help women in marginalized populations," she said.

"Ethiopian women are so strong and resilient."

Although her placement ends in May, Gass said, if the opportunity presents itself she wouldn't be opposed to staying longer  with visits back home sprinkled in between.

More P.E.I. news
For Canada's cannabis expert, the future of the drug in Canada isn't in northern commercial greenhouses, but in the fields of Central and South America.

Ernie Small is a principal research scientist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Ottawa. He's grown and studied the drug for decades, and has written several books on the subject  though he swears he's never had so much as a toke.

Small says many of today's commercial grow operations aren't run efficiently, which is driving up the cost of the drug. They're often run by self-taught growers who've relied on the advice of people growing cannabis illegally.

"There is a lot to learn, and their methodology is inefficient and is contributing to the high cost of marijuana," says Small, who has toured some of them. "There is no question that this is an industry with huge profit potential, but it also has bankruptcy potential."

In Central and South America, cannabis crops can be grown a lot cheaper than in Canada.

He points to several large domestic cannabis growers that have invested in companies in South American countries to produce cannabis oils.

An interesting beginning

Small got his start in the cannabis game for the federal government back in the early 1970s, when he was tasked with studying the difference between illegal cannabis and legal hemp on a near-hectare of land in Ottawa's Central Experimental Farm, a wide swath of federal fields smack dab in the middle of the capital.

Police departments around the world sent him 350 cannabis seeds through the mail. They needed to be sure if the joints they seized from smokers were from illegal plants containing a lot of the psychoactive element THC, or hemp, which has a lot less THC.

He grew hundreds of plants on the farm, spawning a career that earned him the Order of Canada in December 2017 for his contribution to botanical knowledge and public policy.

Laurie Fagan/CBC

"It grew fantastically well," says the now-78-year-old scientist. "We had plants that were 18 feet high."

Story continues

But eventually the grow-op soured. Word about the hidden cannabis surrounded by corn leaked out, and trespassers were getting high on government bud.

A barbed-wire fence, guards and "some rather vicious guard dogs" couldn't keep them out, Small recalls. In all, about 50 plants were stolen from the plot near Ash Lane, which earned the nickname Hash Lane.

"The blame came down ultimately to me and I almost lost my job," Small says in his office inside the farm's William Saunders Building.

Supplied, 1971

The outdoor cannabis was eventually moved into a secure greenhouse and remained there until the early 1980s.

But back in 1976, Small had acquired enough data to publish his botanical classification system separating legal hemp from illegal cannabis by using a benchmark of 0.3 per cent THC.

Anything above that was classified as illegal. The policy was adopted around the world and is still used today.

"It turned out to be the most significant contribution I have ever made," Small says.

Supplied, 1971

Years later, when the Liberal government decided to legalize cannabis for recreational purposes, Small says he was taken aback.

"I never thought marijuana would ever become legalized  period," he says. "It's a surprise that the counter-culture movement has been able to consolidate and become the majority of society."

But he supports the move, and even helped write the new federal law.

"In this case I entirely support it because it just makes perfect sense," he says. "The war on drugs has been substantially a failure, and how many people can you put in jail?"

Supplied, 1980

Despite all the cannabis research he's done, Small says without hesitation that he's never sampled the drug and "never will."

"The government put tremendous trust in me, and the whole idea of betraying that trust just seemed to me to go against who I am as a scientist," he says.

And even now that recreational cannabis is legal, Small insists he's not even a little curious about what it's like. "I'm really conservative about what I put in the body," he says.

But he will grow the permissible four cannabis plants in his greenhouse at home. After all this time studying them, it appears he's grown used to having them nearby.

"It will just make me feel comfortable to have the plants around," he says.
(Bloomberg) -- Two of the U.S. Federal Trade Commissions biggest witnesses in the opening day of its trial against Qualcomm Inc. for allegedly harming competition for smartphone components were Chinese companies.

Thats not surprising: the Asian country is the largest smartphone maker and most of the worlds biggest makers of those devices are based there. But their role today does show just how much has changed since the FTC originally brought its case in January 2017.

Huawei Technologies Co. and Lenovo Group Ltd. provided testimony that the FTC argues proves that Qualcomm threatened to withhold chip supply unless they continued to pay technology licensing fees. The non-jury trial that started Friday is scheduled to run before U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh through Jan. 28 in San Jose, California.

In 2013 negotiations over new chip-sets, Qualcomm allegedly informed Huawei that if it didnt extend the code division multiple access, or CDMA, license agreement, they would stop supplying the chips, Huawei General Counsel Nanfen Yu said in a video deposition played for the court. Everyone in the industry knows how Qualcomm operates. They make it very clear that we have to sign a license agreement in some form. We had no choice.

The twist is that China-backed Huawei, now the second-biggest maker of smartphones and one of the biggest makers of networking equipment, is the center of focus of yet other parts of U.S. government actions trying to halt what it says is the illegal appropriation of American technology by China.

How Fear of Huawei Killed $117 Billion Broadcom Deal: QuickTake

When the U.S. blocked a takeover of Qualcomm last March, scuttling a $117 billion deal that had been subject to government scrutiny on national security grounds, it cited a recommendation by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. CFIUS had said the deal would undermine Qualcomms leadership in 5G wireless technology, opening the door for Chinas Huawei to become dominant.

Story continues

The Trump administration has since ratcheted up scrutiny of Chinese influence and blocked proposed acquisitions of other U.S. technology companies. Its accused China of stealing U.S. technology and has levied tariffs on trade with the worlds second-largest economy, which it has accused of unfairly exploiting access to the U.S. market

Huaweis conduct is drawing renewed scrutiny after the Dec. 1 arrest in Vancouver of Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou on allegations she defrauded banks to violate Iranian sanctions. The daughter of Huaweis billionaire founder Ren Zhengfei, she now faces extradition to the U.S. in a case thats sparked a diplomatic row.

Of course, the FTC case is about Qualcomms behavior. The San Diego-based company argues neither Huawei nor Lenovo ever suffered a supply disruption, even as their agreements for evolving mobile network components -- to 4G from 3G -- approached an end amid negotiations for renewal.

Qualcomm Faces FTC Trial Threatening Smartphone Dominance

The licensing revenue that Qualcomm gets from patents it says underpin all modern phone systems are the central area of dispute in this legal case and in others that span the globe amid a fight with Apple Inc. Theyre also crucial to funding its industry-leading research and design efforts that have put its technology and chips at the center of the introduction of third generation and fourth generation phone systems.

Qualcomm has in the past retaliated against customers who have attempted to challenge its legal terms by either delaying, or cutting off supply of chips, said Ira Blumberg, vice president of intellectual property at Lenovo in a video deposition played for the court. We dont know if Qualcomm would follow through on their threat to cut off supply, but we cant take that risk.

In another twist, Qualcomm tried to discredit the U.S. governments expert, Michael Lasinski, by invoking Huawei. Qualcomm alleges hes represented Huawei in licensing disputes and represented the company in intellectual property disputes, having testified for the Chinese giant on at least three occasions.

The case is Federal Trade Commission v. Qualcomm Inc., 17-cv-00220, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California (San Jose).

(Updates with quote from Huawei lawyer in fourth paragraph.)

To contact the reporters on this story: Kartikay Mehrotra in San Francisco at kmehrotra2@bloomberg.net;Ian King in San Francisco at ianking@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Elizabeth Wollman at ewollman@bloomberg.net, ;Alistair Barr at abarr18@bloomberg.net, Andrew Pollack

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

2019 Bloomberg L.P.
Arrowings ascending on a chalkboard

One of the biggest mistakes you can make as an investor is sticking to the same old stocks.

This is especially true in Canada. Many investors dont venture much beyond obvious choices like our largest banks, telecoms, and utilities. After all, these companies have dominant market positions, a demonstrated history of success, and the support of millions of Canadian retirement funds.

But investors who limit themselves are potentially missing out on some massive capital gains. The usual suspect stocks are just too big to double or triple their share price. A fast-growing small-cap stock can certainly pull off such a feat.

Investors dont have to sacrifice dividends to get that kind of exposure, either. Some of these small-cap growth names offer great current yields and all sorts of dividend-growth potential.

Lets take a closer look at three stocks that might have flown under your radar.

goeasy

goeasy (TSX:GSY) has been one of Canadas top growth stories in the last five years.

The company has transformed itself from a retailer with a finance arm attached into an innovative financial services company targeting the fastest-growing section of borrowers. Millions of Canadians just dont have the ability to walk into a bank and emerge with a loan. goeasy helps them.

In 2012, before the company really expanded into financial services, annual revenue was $200 million. Just six years later, the top line has more than doubled to $480 million. The bottom line has expanded even faster, going from $11 million to $43 million.

This might just be the tip of the iceberg, too. The company estimates the non-prime loan market in Canada is a business worth approximately $186 billion. goeasy just surpassed $1 billion in assets. And it hasnt even cracked obvious growth opportunities like subprime mortgages or vehicle loans.

The company has been sharing its growth with shareholders via the dividend. Since 2015, the payout has more than doubled, increasing from $0.40 per share annually to todays level of $0.90 per share.

Story continues

Parkland Fuel

While the rest of the TSX had a lousy 2018, Parkland Fuel (TSX:PKI) bucked the trend. The stock finished the year up some 8%, and that was even after a big sell-off during the second half.

Its easy to like Parkland Fuel, which supplies nearly 2,000 gas stations in Canada and the United States. It also operates hundreds of retail stores and owns refineries and other distribution assets.

Parkland has been a serial acquirer over the years, which has allowed it to grow its network across North America. It recently announced a deal in the Caribbean that would see it acquire 75% of Sol, a company with 526 gas stations, a booming fuel import business, and a robust commercial business.

Parkland pays also pays a nice dividend. The current yield is 3.3%.

Polaris Infrastructure

Polaris (TSX:PIF) owns a single power plant in Nicaragua. There has been political turmoil in the country lately, which has caused investors to hit the sell button and ask questions later.

Some investors think theres a chance San Jacinto will get nationalized, but I disagree. The plant was financed by plenty of foreign money, including loans from the World Bank. If Nicaraguas government decides to take control, then foreign capital would avoid the nation. No government wants that.

Management is taking steps to minimize the single-country risk. The company recently announced an acquisition in Peru that consists of one operating hydro power plant along with the right to construct several more. Once the deal closes, Polaris will generate approximately $2.00 per share in free cash flow. Remember, shares currently trade hands at less than $10 each. Investors are getting compensated quite well for the risk.

The stock also pays a generous dividend of 7.8%, a payout well covered by cash flow.

The bottom line

goeasy, Parkland Fuel, and Polaris Infrastructure probably arent on many investor radar screens. Theyre perceived as too small or too risky. Today is a great opportunity to load up on these companies before they become household names.

More reading

Fool contributor Nelson Smith owns shares of Polaris Infrastructure Inc. The Motley Fool owns shares of Polaris Infrastructure Inc.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Junior doctors have agreed to call off their strike and should be back at work by 5pm on Monday following an agreement at today's bipartite forum in Harare.The doctors spent the whole of today in a closed door meeting in Milton Park.The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obediah Moyo, his deputy Dr John Mangwiro, members of the Health Services Board (HSB) and the doctors' representatives.Emerging from the meeting, Health Services Board (HSB) Executive Chairperson, Dr Paulina Sikhosana said parties to the Health Service Bipartite Negotiating Panel agreed among other things that the doctors should go back to work within the next 48 hours, while their demands are being met."The doctors have agreed to go back to work from now until 1700hrs on Monday. The government is pleased that in a few hours time, the situation in our hospitals will be returning to norlamcy. We wish to thank everyone who worked to make this happen," he said.Junior doctors have been on strike from the 1st of December, and their return to work would provide relief to patients needing the doctors' attention.Yesterday, the junior doctors' national executive met the First Lady, Auxillia Mnangagwa and committed in principle to return to work pending consultations with their members
News / National

by Staff reporter

The year 2019 has started on a bad note for Harare businessman Genius "Ginimbi" Kadungure who lost his brother Andrew Kadungure on New Year's Eve.Andrew died during the early hours of Monday and was laid to rest at his rural home in Domboshava yesterday.He was 28.Scores of people including socialites, business executives, dealers and the Vice President's wife, Marry Chiwenga, were among mourners who paid their last respects to Andrew.Ginimbi got to know about the death of his younger brother while on holiday."When we left Harare for the holiday with Genius, Andrew was recovering and we were surprised when we received the news that he had passed away," said one of the family members.Ginimbi said he was still in pain over the death of his younger brother."I'm still in pain that Andrew is no more, at the moment I am not in a position to say much because I am still mourning my young brother," he said.Speaking at the event, Mrs Chiwenga described the death of Andrew as heartbreaking."We have been robbed one of our own, to me Andrew was a son because his mother is my aunt."Though we are mourning there is need for us to celebrate his life."The last time I saw him he was wearing stylish jeans and the boil on his head seemed to be getting better but it was God's will to take him and when God takes, he doesn't consult anyone."I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Genius' wife Zodwa for looking after her mother-in- law as well as her brother-in-law Andrew."We need to honour her for her resilience and continuous support to the Kadungure family," she said.Andrew's female friends, who attended the burial, mimicked the late dealer as they splashed wads of US dollars on his grave. Some poured expensive wine on Andrew's grave while others could be seen `twerking' while singing popular funeral songs. Meanwhile, Andrew's mother - Mbuya Kadungure - is unwell.The wheel-chair bound Mbuya Kadungure was assisted by aides during Andrew's body viewing procession.Ginimbi's friends like Bodyslam, ChiefJ, rapper Mudiwa Hood, Chief Albert, Eddie Kebab were some of the notable faces who attended the burial, which attracted hundreds of mourners.
News / National

by Staff rpeorter

Government has, with immediate effect, retired 3 365 youth officers who were employed by the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation. They will be paid cash in lieu of accrued leave days and cash in lieu of notice pending retirement.The retirement of the youth officers is in line with Civil Service Reforms pronounced in the 2019 Budget Statement and the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP).In a statement yesterday, Public Service Commission acting secretary Mr Simon Masanga said the retired youth officers, who ceased their duties yesterday, will get full retirement benefits."In line with the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP) and as pronounced in the 2019 Budget Statement by the Honourable Minister of Finance and Economic Development (Professor Mthuli Ncube), Government has initiated the process of retiring 3 365 youth officers in the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation."The youth officers will be paid their cash in lieu of accrued leave days and cash in lieu of notice pending retirement on the 4th of January 2019," said Mr Masanga.He said the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation as the lead ministry, in partnership with other Government institutions, in particular the ministries of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Women's Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development and the PSC were facilitating a number of economic empowerment initiatives for the retired youth officers.Government empowerment options available include enrolling at vocational training centres and assistance to access finance from Empower Bank and Zimbabwe Women's Microfinance Bank. Mr Masanga said Government will also facilitate participation of youth officers in Government empowerment projects like Command Agriculture and mining.It will also facilitate establishment of joint venture businesses with financial institutions including microfinance banks, commercial banks and non-Governmental funded enterprises. Provincial and district workshops will be conducted to assist the retired youth officers access the empowerment programmes."The retired youth officers interested in the empowerment opportunities are advised to register through the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation district offices throughout the country," said Mr Masanga.Government thanked the youth officers for the 10 years they served."Government will do everything possible to manage the smooth transition of the retirement of the youth officers during this phase," he said.
News / National

by Staff rpeorter

FIRST Lady Mrs Auxillia Mnangagwa yesterday took hospital authorities by surprise as they were anticipating that she would be coming for a clean-up campaign but instead donated goods worth thousands of dollars to Mpilo Central Hospital and the United Bulawayo Hospitals.Although she could not make it to the clean-up campaign due to other commitments, the First Lady  like a true mother  showed that she could not visit without bringing something for the needy.Mrs Mnangagwa, who is the patron of Angel of Hope Foundation, donated medical beds, surgical gloves, drip stands, baby welcome kits as well as groceries to the two referral hospitals. Bulawayo Minister for Provincial Affairs Judith Ncube handed over the goods to Mpilo Central Hospital chief executive Mr Leornard Mabhandi and acting clinical director Dr Xolani Ndlovu yesterday."Our mother is not here but she has sent me to deliver these goods. They are from the First Lady and there is a similar donation for the UBH beds and groceries. These things were transported last night and we would like to thank her for the kind gesture," said Ncube.Mr Mabhandi thanked the First lady for the timely donation."When the programme started , we expected that it would focus just on the clean-up campaign but we were pleasantly surprised that we had a very exciting new year present in the form beds, foodstuffs, latex gloves and all those things are going to assist the hospital to perform better. We are very thankful and hope that the year 2019 is going to be a brilliant year," said Mr Mabhandi.Expecting mothers who received handbags with expecting mothers' kits expressed joy and appreciationg for he surprise from the First Lady.After the donations at Mpilo Hospital, Ncube proceeded to Emthunzini Wethemba Children's Home where the First Lady donated 50 cases of mineral water and 20 cases of Mazoe. Emthunzini Wethemba administrator Ms Anitha Maria Dick thanked the First Lady for the kind gesture."We want to say thank you very much to our mother, the First Lady, for thinking of us and having us in her heart. We thank you very much," said Ms Dick.Ncube asked her predecessor, Angeline Masuku, who was among those who witnessed the handover of the goods and clean-up campaign  to give a vote of thanks on behalf of the Bulawayo community."What I can is that sibusisekile isandla esiphayo (Blessed is the hand that gives). We pray that the Lord continues to bless her as she looks after, particularly children in homes. For you to be blessed you need to give. I hope one day we will be gathered here as the benefactors because we have learnt from our mother," said Masuku.
News / National

by Staff reporter

PATRON and Ambassador of the National Clean Up Campaign, the First Lady Amai Auxilia Mnangagwa is today expected to lead the clean-up campaign in Bulawayo.President Emmerson Mnangagwa launched the campaign last month where the first Friday of each month was set aside for cleaning countrywide.Briefing the media in Bulawayo yesterday, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Permanent Secretary Mr Munesu Munodawafa said this month's main event would be held in the city."In line with the announcement made by His Excellency of the Republic of Zimbabwe on December 5, 2018 where he indicated that the first Friday every month is reserved for the national clean up campaign The first Friday of the year happens to be tomorrow (today) 4 January and in that respect we have mobilised the whole country to engage in the national clean up from 8 to 10 in the morning. The main event for the month of January will be in Bulawayo where the national patron for the clean up campaign, the First Lady, Amai Auxilia Mnangagwa will be leading from the front," said Mr Munodawafa.He said the main focus for Bulawayo will be the 5th Avenue market place, Mpilo Central Hospital and the long distance bus terminus popularly known as Erenkini."So those would be the main centres for tomorrow's activity but that does not preclude activity in other areas. We are simply saying these are the areas that the First Lady may pass through and assist those that will be cleaning there. So the understanding is that there will be clean up activities going on elsewhere," he said.Mr Munodawafa said clean up campaigns will also be taking place in all parts of the country as provincial Ministers of State and provincial administrators have been mobilising in their provinces."We are targeting not only the papers that are thrown on the floor but illegal dumpsites that are emerging. We saw what happened last year in the Glenview /Budiriro area where there was a cholera outbreak. We believe that should have never happened and we should never let it happen again," he said.Mr Munodawafa urged local authorities to increase and improve their capacity for solid waste management."We cannot allow illegal dumpsites everywhere. Solid waste should be dumped at proper places and should be treated well. We also emphasise that the responsibility of cleaning remains that of councils. We are not replacing them. We are not taking away the responsibility from them and when people complement the responsibility we then expect you to pull up your socks and demonstrate what the people are paying their rates for," said Mr Munodawafa.Acting Bulawayo provincial administrator Mrs Fungai Nkunziwalela said Bulawayo was privileged to host the first clean-up campaign in 2019 led by its patron."As Bulawayo we are honoured to be the first that is hosting the patron for the programme. We are ready for tomorrow. We have put in place all our groups and we are going to be cleaning at various places."We are going to meet at Efusini Shopping Centre in Makokoba suburb where the First Lady is going to address the people that would have participated in the clean up campaign programme.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Government has warned it will not tolerate any attempts by the opposition to topple President Mnangagwa as he was democratically elected on July 30 last year.In a statement on Wednesday, Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Mr Nick Mangwana decried the perpetual electioneering mindset still gripping the opposition, describing it as retrogressive."Government takes note of media reports wherein some political entities made threats to overthrow the constitutionally-elected Government and subsequently install an unelected person as President of Zimbabwe."Zimbabwe is a constitutional democracy with an elected leader, His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose term of office runs until 2023," said Mr Mangwana.Utterances and social media posts by senior members of the opposition, especially MDC-Alliance, have shown appetite to cause unrest in the country. Mr Mangwana urged Zimbabweans to heed President Mnangagwa's call for peace."The President values unity, peace and tranquillity in the country and has urged the nation to focus on rebuilding the economy with the immediate business being that of delivering Vision 2030 aimed at making Zimbabwe an upper middle income economy," said Mr Mangwana.He added: "It will be recalled that in his 2019 New Year message, the President emphasised that elections are now behind us, and the time has come to refocus on improving livelihoods and the general welfare of our citizens."Mr Mangwana said Zimbabwe needed to draw on a sense of unity and purpose and political maturity to move on from regressive actions and posturing. Since the July 31 harmonised elections, there has been rhetoric in opposition circles in which they promise to spoil the party for the elected Government. Mr Mangwana said such ill-conceived actions will not be tolerated."Government therefore places on record that any attempts to topple the Government and institute the long failed illegal regime change will be frowned upon," said Mr Mangwana. He said the executive was preoccupied with delivering on its election promises to the people of Zimbabwe."We cannot remain stuck in the electioneering and politicking mode: it is common cause that the majority of our people who elected President Mnangagwa are keen to see him deliver on his electoral promises, a task he is seized with at the moment."Government will continue to provide a peaceful and stable environment where business is allowed to flourish and citizens enjoy their constitutional rights," he said.Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga said the ZRP was ready to deal with any eventualities arising from the threats by opposition."We have heard about this information but ourselves as an organisation we are going to make sure that our officers are properly trained and equipped, to make sure they will be able to overcome the intended demonstrations being talked about," said Comm-Gen Matanga.He discouraged Zimbabweans from unlawful actions by sponsored outfits."At the same time, I want to appeal to members of the public to make sure that they do not involve themselves in such demonstrations. "After coming from the harmonised elections we are looking forward to Government putting in place developmental programmes for the country from which all citizens will benefit. I see no reason why the country must remain in election mode other than concentrating on development," he said."As an organisation, we are very ready but while we are ready it is not our wish that we remain in a situation where we expect problems from our political parties and even non-governmental organisations. We discourage these people from doing that," said Comm-Gen Matanga.There have been reports of clandestine plots by embassy officials, NGOs and opposition members to unseat President Mnangagwa.
News / National

by Staff reporter

THE Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) has appealed for urgent Government intervention in protecting consumers against the tide of foreign currency pricing of goods and services at a time when a majority of people's salaries are not pegged in hard currency.The consumer's plight has been compounded by the recent spate of unjustified price increases and persistent three-tier pricing, which have literally eroded consumer purchasing power.Giant beverages manufacturer, Delta Corporation Limited, this week joined the bandwagon of companies that include Simbisa Brands, among others, whose products are now pegged in foreign currency.While some business have stated that they will continue to accept bond notes and RTGS transactions, their pricing is not based on the official 1:1 exchange rate but on the parallel market rates.Reacting to the issue, CCZ regional manager, Mr Comfort Muchekeza, said companies charging in US dollars only were not being fair on consumers and stand accused of flouting the country's laws by refusing legal tender in bond notes and RTGS. He said most consumers do not have the required foreign currency and cannot be punished for that."It is sad that we have companies charging in US dollar yet the economy cannot sustain it. The major challenge is that most consumers have no access to US dollars," he said.He said there was an urgent need for Government to intervene and stop this malpractice that is punishing the innocent consumers. Government has described as illegal and unjustified, the decision by Delta to demand United States dollar transactions only, effective today. Industry and Commerce Minister, Mangaliso Ndlovu has chided businesses that demand foreign currency and said swift engagement was underway as Government seeks to restore normalcy."We have noted with concern a proliferation in the number of companies and businesses engaging in preferential currency practices. This is not only against the spirit of fairness, but it is also an illegal practice. Government is very clear that this practice is unacceptable and has to stop forthwith and if not, the law will take its course," he told our Harare Bureau on Wednesday.Minister Ndlovu said Government had tried to ensure businesses operate in a free atmosphere, but companies were now acting in bad faith."The Government has supported business to operate liberally within the economy without interference but giving an intervening hand whenever it has been called upon to assist. In return, Government has expectations that business will operate in good faith and responsibly," the Minister said."At the centre of the relationship between Government and business is the spirit of engagement and a two-way communication between parties. That spirit is defeated when one of the parties decides to unilaterally pronounce decisions against both the text and spirit of agreed principles," he said.
News / National

by Staff reporter

THE criminal trial of Intratrek Zimbabwe (Pvt) Limited director Wicknell Chivayo will now proceed after the High Court in Harare overruled his bid to block prosecution on corruption charges involving the Gwanda solar power project.Chivayo was facing two counts of fraud, one count each of money laundering and breach of Exchange Control Regulations involving $5,6 million he received for the Gwanda project but he now faces three counts after the High Court suspended the case on money laundering.Chivayo had approached the High Court for stay of proceedings pending a determination of his application for review he lodged with the same court in November last year after the magistrates' court rejected his request for exception to the charges.In his ruling on Monday, Justice Joseph Musakwa upheld the lower court's analysis of the exception to the fraud charges.He said the presiding magistrate, Mr Lazini Ncube, properly applied provisions of Section 146 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act on the fraud charges."Therefore, in light of there being no formal defects of the charges, it follows that the review application has no prospects of success in respect of those counts," ruled Justice Musakwa. The court gave the lower court the green light to proceed with the trial in respect of the three viable counts."Therefore, it is ordered that the criminal trial of the applicants (Chivayo and his company) before the second respondent (Mr Ncube) under case number CRBP911-5/2018 is suspended only in respect of the third count," he said.Chivayo pleaded and excepted to the charges in terms of Section 171 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act. He argued that the basis of the exception to the fraud charges emanated from the Engineering, Procurement and Construction contract.Chivayo said the Procurement Act and Regulations had mechanisms for the enforcement of public procurement contracts.Justice Musakwa noted that the fraud charges against Chivayo related to invoices he submitted to the Zimbabwe Power Company. The invoices purported that advance payment was required for feasibility study implementation."When information regarding contractual commitments was requested from complainants, they allegedly submitted details of sub-contractors who were purportedly paid. However, the alleged sub-contractors are said to have distanced themselves from the claim," said Justice Musakwa.The paper trail, the judge said, showed that the money that was claimed for feasibility studies was diverted to various individuals and entities who had nothing to do with the contract.Evidence established that the funds were used to buy vehicles, air tickets, pay school fees and the settlement of civil suits. Other funds were allegedly fed into VISA cards ostensibly for purposes of purchasing earthmoving equipment from Pietznack Plant and Earth Moving Services in United States of America. Justice Musakwa said from plain reading of the law, it was clear that an exception to a charge is based on formal defects that are apparent."That is not the basis on which exception to the fraud charges was taken in the present case. That the conduct complained of is purely civil in nature as it arises from a transaction that is governed by the Procurement Act and Regulations is not an objection to the defects that are apparent on the charges of fraud," he said.The court found the third count under the Exchange Control to be defective for lack of essential elements disclosing an offence. He said it was difficult to fathom what it is Chivayo and his company were expected to comply with in terms of the rules of Exchange Control Regulations."The material averments constituting a violation of guidelines were not stated, hence the basis for liability was not laid out," said Justice Musakwa.Chivayo last month won a $25 million civil claim against ZPC at the same court when Justice Tawanda Chitapi declared the contract signed between the parties for the Gwanda solar project was still valid.Justice Chitapi ordered ZPC to engage Intratrek to discuss progress on the project in the next 60 days or alternatively pay $25 million damages to Intratrek.
News / National

by Mandla Ndlovu

Yet he believes his memory has God in it. The irony is that facts have no legs2move from history into a self-serving mind. It is tragic that @TembaMliswa would see no evil when facts are galore in the public domain to know kuti pamavambo pane nyaya. Our names have been maligned.  Mutumwa (@mmawere) January 4, 2019

Exiled former G40 Kingpin Professor Jonathan Moyo and Tycoon Mutumwa Mawere have joined hands in accusing under fire Econet Boss Strive Masiyiwa accusing him of seeking to twists facts of history.Masiyiwa had accussed Human Rights Watch Director Dewa Mavhinga of being a Johnny come late in human rights circles claiming he was the first to defend human rights when Mavhinga was waiting for Twitter to be invented. Turning to Prof. Moyo Masiyiwa called him a little Twitter man who bombed his newspaper.In response Prof Moyo said, "Strive Masiyiwa needs urgent help. He won't succeed to create history through his hallucinations. Verifiable facts are not in his head but in the public domain. It's revealing that to Strive Masiyiwa, only the gukurahundists who massacred over 20,000 Zimbabweans are sincere"Mawere weighed in supporting Prof. Moyo, "Yet he believes his memory has God in it. The irony is that facts have no legs to move from history into a self-serving mind. It is tragic that Temba Mliswa would see no evil when facts are galore in the public domain to know kuti pamavambo pane nyaya. Our names have been maligned."Trouble started Strive's wife Tsitsi Masiyiwa posted a tweet saying most of the people calling for justice are not genuine but they are paid to do so.This caused people like Mawere, Mavhinga, Prof Moyo and Patson Dzamara to respond harshly to her.She later closed her account and the husband followed. Afterwards Strive then took to Twitter to accuse Zimbabweans of bullying his wife and particularly pointed at Prof. Moyo and Dewa Mavhinga as the chief culprits.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Delta Corporation has reversed a decision to sell its products in foreign currency after the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) yesterday assured the beverage manufacturer it would provide the forex required to fund its import requirements.The firm intended to price its products in hard currency beginning today.The decision to reverse the notice was made after Vice President Constantino Chiwenga last night met Delta officials together with RBZ Governor Dr John Mangudya and Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube. Dr Mangudya and Delta chief executive Mr Pearson Gowero issued a joint statement after the meeting."The parties agreed that Delta withdraws the notice to sell its products exclusively in hard currency, in the spirit of the multi-currency framework," read the statement presented to journalists by Mr Gowero."The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe will endeavour to provide the foreign currency required to ensure that Delta continues to trade on the current basis."In an earlier interview, Prof Ncube had appealed to private firms to be patient while Government worked on fiscal consolidation."We are saying the private sector should wait for us to give policy. They should be patient and see how our fiscal policy is making progress. We are making good progress in fiscal consolidation and once we are ready, we will institute the requisite monetary reforms," said Minister Ncube."They should not rush ahead to choose the currency they think the whole country should adopt. They should just be patient, let us work together. That is really our message," he said.Delta wanted to sell its products in "multiple foreign currencies" such as the rand, pula, Euro, British pound and US dollars. It argued this would enable it to access key raw materials and to pay suppliers. The company said its business had been "adversely affected" by shortages of foreign currency, which had resulted in it failing to meet orders, and "in the case of soft drinks, being out of stock for prolonged periods".It said the fiscal and monetary policy frameworks announced by the Government in October last year did not provide for "easy access to foreign currency by non-exporters". The company said it stopped making some of its products, particularly soft drinks, in November and a few soft drinks were released on December 24 for the Christmas holidays.Delta says it requires US$2 million a month to buy raw materials such as concentrates and granules used to manufacture plastic bottles. The new prices would have seen a 300ml bottle selling at 50c; a 330ml can (60c) while 500ml PET was pegged at US$1. Lager beer prices were pegged at 80c for 375ml returnable bottles; 750ml returnable (US$1,50); and 340ml returnable (US$1). Delta said it had invested over US$600 million in plant and equipment, vehicles and ancillary services since 2009, and that there was need to "protect this investment and ensure sustenance of all value chain partners".
News / National

by Staff reporter

HOMICIDE detectives have launched a manhunt for a Mutare man who fatally assaulted another patron, who was a soldier on New Year's Day following a night club brawl.Police confirmed the case which happened at around 5am on January 1.Circumstances to the case are that on New Year's Eve at around 9pm, the now deceased Simbarashe Razemba (27) who was in the company of Tariro Mutsvairo (28) and the murder suspect, Norman Goche met at Pavillion Bar at the Show Grounds.Razemba was drinking beer with Mutsvairo while the accused person was also drinking beer with his friends, Richard King (45) and Christina Masakure (42) who both reside at Number 20 Henry Street Florida.It is alleged that during the drinking spree, the accused person constantly provoked the deceased.Hours later, the suspects got out of the bar and accompanied Masakure to her place of residence which s nearby while the deceased and Mutsvairo remained in the bar.Moments later, Razemba and Mutsvairo also got out of the bar and on their way to Mutsvairo's residence they met the accused person. In an instant, Goche grabbed the deceased by the neck and assaulted him. Razemba tried to free himself but he was overpowered and fell to the ground.The suspect continued with the heavy assault resulting in the deceased passing out.Mutsvairo took to the heels and called for help. She came back later with other residents and found the deceased unconscious. The suspect had since vanished.Razemba was pronounced dead upon arrival at Mutare Provincial Hospital.Manicaland police spokesman Inspector Tavhiringwa Kakohwa has appealed to members of the public to inform the police about the whereabouts of Goche."We will hunt for the suspect till we catch up with him and conclude this case. Fighting is not a solution to problems and we urge members of the public to refrain from violence and instead sit down and talk over issues," he said.Family spokesperson, Pamela Razemba, said they were still trying to terms with the shocking and untimely death of their relative.She said the perpetrators were well known and the police must bring to book all those involved in the murder.
News / National

by Staff reporter

THERE was a huge turnout by prospective trained teachers in Manicaland with at least 1 853 having been registered for possible employment on Wednesday.Some 400 others were expected to register yesterday.The registration was being done at the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education district offices in Mutare, Chipinge, Makoni, Nyanga, Mutasa, Buhera and Chimanimani.The overwhelming response follows Government's decision to recruit 3 000 teachers in a bid to address manpower shortages which have badly impacted on the education sector, amid reports that some rural schools have a teacher-to-pupil ratio of 1-120 or more.Manicaland provincial education director (PED) Mr Edward Shumba told The Manica Post yesterday that those who registered will be absorbed into the system."There is no need to panic, everything is under control and all those teachers will be registered into the system.On Wednesday about 1 853 teachers were registered into the system while more than 400 are still in the process of registering yesterday," he said.He said teachers from Manicaland would be prioritised in the exercise."Teachers that are close to the jurisdiction of Manicaland are our priority," said Mr Shumba.A snap survey by The Manica Post showed that teachers from different provinces of Zimbabwe responded to the exercise, creating a stampede as people jostled to get through the registration lines at district offices.In Chipinge aspiring teachers started queuing around 5am.In interviews done by this publication most aspiring teachers were optimistic that the registration process will see them eventually recruited. Others felt that the recruitment teams should prioritise those who graduated first.Mr Tichaona Sigauke said Government stance to unfreeze teaching post is welcome."I graduated in 2015 and it's now four years without a job. I believe this time I will make it. The recruitment drive must give priority to those who completed the course long back. This will bring hope to those aspiring teachers who had lost hope," he said.Chipinge district schools inspector Mr Richard Gabaza urged aspiring teachers to desist from double registration. Mr Simbarashe Ketana (32) from Chigodora said: "The registration is going well today, but on the first day we were pepper-sprayed by the security guards following commotion at the district offices."Mr Valentine Chiyadzwa, of Mutare said the registration process has improved compared to last year. Some expressed pessimism on the registration process, saying there was too much corruption involved."The problem with the registration process is corruption. I was here on Wednesday when about 300 teachers were registered, but now we hear that almost 1 000 have been registered. How and where were the rest registered," said one prospective teacher who refused to be named.
News / National

by Staff reporter

A NOTORIOUS five-member gang of Mozambican armed robbers who broke into several houses and raped women on 21 different occasions in Mutare's low-suburbs used juju to try and evade arrest and foil dog tracking each time they made a hit.This was revealed by one of the suspects, Ernest Chirara, following his recent arrest by police in the neighbouring country after he had committed a different assault crime.After getting wind of his arrest, a team of detectives from Mutare Central comprising Inspector Nyakuwanikwa, Ass Insp Nyamawere and Constable Nkomo travelled to Mozambique and went to Manica District Police Headquarters.With the blessings of Chief Inspector Geraldo the District Director of National Investigation Services, the Mutare team was given the opportunity to interview Chirara.During the interviews he admitted to have committed the offences together with other four accomplices. The gang's ring leader was arrested last year while the three other suspects are still on the run.Chirara told the detectives that they targeted any house in the low-density suburbs where there was a satellite dish. He also revealed that the gang used juju to evade arrest and dog tracking.The detectives have since applied for an extradition order with the Mozambican authorities to have Chirara be taken to Zimbabwe to answer charges of committing 21 rape and armed robbery cases in Mutare.Chirara (32) who comes from Manica province is one of the five suspects who unleashed a reign of terror late last year by orchestrating a spate of robberies, break-ins and sexual abuse crimes that ravaged residents in the eastern border city's low-density suburbs.The criminals troubled law enforcement agents because each time they pounced on unsuspecting residents they took the loot to Mozambique through illegal crossing points along the porous border.The gang's alleged kingpin, Domingo Luiz Zuze, was arrested last year in Zimbabwe and is currently jailed at Mutare Remand Prison.Chirara was on the run together with Joao Antonio Amisi, Kuda and Takudzwa.
News / National

by Staff reporter

TWO Rusape brothers who trapped and brutally killed a man suspected of having an extra-marital affair with one of the duo's wife have been arrested and charged with murder.Uedwick (27) and Victor Wafawarova, both of Silverbow suburb in Rusape, allegedly murdered Canaan Nyamombe, also of the same suburb, on December 27, 2018.The incident came about after Uedwick allegedly used his wife Vimbai Jonasi's mobile phone to wire a text message inviting Nyamombe to ''her house''.An unsuspecting Nyamombe dully complied and went to the house, only to find the Wafawarova brothers waiting for him.The two brothers allegedly brutally assaulted him all over the body using a log, clinched fists and booted feet.They also assaulted and pulled his manhood.The two, who were self-actors, were not asked to plead when they appeared before Rusape provincial magistrate Mr Shane Kubonera.Mr kubonera locked them in remand prison and advised them to apply for bail at the High Court.State prosecutor Mr Gift Mutigwa told the court that Uedwick saw text messages in his wife's mobile phone where she was communicating with Nyamombe.He then decided to set a trap."Uedwick saw some messages in his wife's phone which he interpreted to mean she was having an extra marital affair with Nyamombe.He then confronted his wife about the issue, but she denied having an affair with Nyamombe."The wife suddenly walked out of the house and disappeared. Uedwick became angry and asked his wife's sister, Sheila Jonasi, about the affair and to which she denied any knowledge of."He slapped her once on the face, demanding that she reveals the truth, but she remained steadfast in her denial."Wafawarova then started sending text messages to Nyamombe pretending to be his wife Vimbai Jonasi, informing him that 'her husband' was away and was with 'her young sister only'. Nyamombe then told his wife that he was going to a friend's house to collect a shovel."Upon arriving at Uedwick's house Nyamombe (allegedly) sent a text message to announce his arrival.Suddenly Uedwick and Victor Wafawarova came out of the house and captured him. He was about to flee. The two brothers started assaulting him with clinched fists, and he fell on the ground.Uedwick then took a log and went on to assault Nyamombe with it all over the body. Victor continued assault him using clinched fists and booted feet."Sensing danger, Victor rushed to Nyamombe's house to inform his wife that her husband had been caught with his brother's wife and had been beaten.Victor took Nyamombe's wife to the scene.Uedwick was still assaulting Nyamombe with the log. Nyamombe had then been undressed and lying on the unconscious. Nyamombe's wife then rushed to alert police."Police details arrived at the scene and arrested the two brothers.They also recovered the log that was used to assault the victim.An unconscious Nyamombe was taken to Rusape General Hospital and died December 28, 2018," said Mr Mutigwa.Mr Kubonera postponed the matter to January 14, 2019 for routine remand.
News / National

by Staff reporter

FOUR people - two of them illegal gold panners - were killed on New Year's Eve after mine shafts collapsed in two separate incidents in Penhalonga.Police confirmed the cases.On the first incident that happened at Alphaton Gold mine claim in Sisa farm, 24-year old Shabia Kaura and Gladman Mtisi (28) who worked at the farm entered into a 70-metre deep gold mine at around 6am. They spent more than 30 minutes in the shaft before other workers at the farm sensed danger and followed to check on them.When they reached the shaft, the workers discovered that their colleagues had since died and they alerted police who attended the scene. In a similar incident which happened on the same day, two illegal gold miners  Enock Nezandonyi (36) and Panganayi White (34)  were killed after a mine shaft they were in collapsed in Premier South Penhalonga.Evans Chifamba alerted people who tried in vain to rescue the deceased. Police attended the scene. Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Tavhiringwa Kakohwa urged people to shun illegal mining.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Heads of state are known for travelling abroad with a list of bizarre items such as their own toilets, furniture, drinking water and even gold-plated escalators.But President Cyril Ramaphosa appears to have made himself an exception in the league of excellencies.According to officials in the presidency, Ramaphosa travels with his own blanket to keep him warm at night when overseas, because he is not a fan of hotel linen.Though presidency insiders could not describe "Cyril's blanket", his spokesperson, Khusela Diko, did confirm its existence."The president doesn't have airs and graces . . . he never leaves the country without his personal blanket," she said.The officials said that, unlike other heads of state who were fussy about their travelling arrangements and related logistics, Ramaphosa was picky only about hotel linen and the kind of food served at hotels, especially the most important meal of the day, breakfast.They said the president, known to keep fit with long morning walks, regularly packs enough salmon to have for breakfast over several days overseas until he returns home.The other food item he never forgets to take along is biltong.Diko said the president never leaves the country without salmon for breakfast."The president is very health conscious so he takes his own things for breakfast," she said.When snack time arrives, Ramaphosa snubs the hotel offering and opts for the goodies he packs from home  his own nuts and fruit. Ramaphosa may insist only on his blanket and healthy food, but other presidents travel with some of the most bizarre items in their private jets, such as furniture and gold-plated escalators.When China's President Xi Jinping visited Johannesburg for a meeting of the Brics grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and SA in June, his security detail installed his own furniture during his stay at Sandton's swanky Michelangelo hotel.The Chinese president is also known for travelling with his own microphone to use for public addresses when abroad.When former US president Barack Obama came to SA for Nelson Mandela's memorial service in 2013, the entire Radisson Blu Hotel in Johannesburg was booked for him and his entourage.Obama occupied a penthouse, where the existing windows were replaced by his security detail, who are said to have also replaced the bathtub. They even removed the pictures on the walls, it was reported.On the rare occasion that Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz leaves his country on international travel, his security detail brings along his own golden escalator for him to use to disembark from the plane.Last year, reports indicated that the escalator malfunctioned during a trip to Moscow and the king had to walk down the now immobile staircase.The king is also said to bring his own carpets when travelling abroad.
News / National

by Mandla Ndlovu

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services has issued a statement saying the demands by teachers and other civic servants to be paid in United States Dollar in unreasonable and will not be implemented.His statement come at a time when the teachers unions issued a joint press statement that they are not going to work if their demand to be paid in US$ is not met."Demanding salaries in USD is unreasonable. We have come from a place where civil servants were not getting their salaries on time to one where salaries are coming in as scheduled." Mangwana said. "If the deficit is our problem, then asking government to overspend is pushing us into further serious debt"Mangwana further clarified that all top officials in government including permanent secretaries and principal directors were also paid in local currency."I am not getting paid USD and nobody receives their salaries in USD. This is why we have the challenges we are facing at our embassies. We are struggling to pay foreign nationals we employ in those countries because they need their salaries denominated in the currency of their home countries.Mangwana to the opportunity to explain why Zimbabwe is not keen on joining the Rand Monetary Union."The Rand Union consideration is not a new conversation. It was explored and the demands to join that union were onerous and would not be able to be met in the short to medium term. We may as well as work on our roadmap for the return of our own dollar."Teachers have threatened to withdraw their labour until government gives in to their demands.
News / National

by Mandla Ndlovu

With ACCZ President Dr Johannes Ndanga this morning & he said this year his group of churches will pray for the economic prosperity of Zimbabwe, the removal of all restrictive measures by powerful countries & the church will not support any demonstrations against the government. pic.twitter.com/dIgZKCUVLR  Hon. Energy Mutodi (MP) (@energymutodi) January 3, 2019

The Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe group of churches have said they will not support any demonstration that is done against the government of Zimbabwe.This was said by the AACZ presiding Bishop Johannes Ndanga on Thursday during a meeting with Deputy Minister of Media, Information and Broadcasting Services Energy Mutodi."I was with ACCZ President Dr Johannes Ndanga this morning and he said this year his group of churches will pray for the economic prosperity of Zimbabwe, the removal of all restrictive measures by powerful countries and the church will not support any demonstrations against the government." Said Deputy Minister Mutodi.MDC has warned government that it will be unleashing a fresh wave of protests this year that will lead to a national shutdown of the country.Writing his New Years statement MDC Deputy Treasurer General Charlton Hwende said, "2019 is the year of rolling mass action against the illegal regime of Mnangagwa. We voted for Nelson Chamisa and we must be prepared like the thousands of gallant Liberation struggle heroes to die defending our right to chose the President of our Choice."The government through the minister of Justice Ziyambi Ziyambi has warned that it will not stndby and watch demonstrations happening but will use the law to limits the rights of demonstrators.His words come after ZANU PF Youth league Boss Pupurai Togarepi wrote on social media that the Youth league is ready to crust any uprising from the opposition.
News / National

by Staff reporter

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has this Thursday morning received letters of credence from the new ambassadors of the United Kingdom and Ireland, Spain and Rwanda at State House this Thursday.For Rwanda, the presentation of letters of credence by Mr James Musoni is a major development marking the opening of the first resident mission of Rwanda to Zimbabwe.Previously, Rwanda was represented in Zimbabwe by its mission in Zambia.Mr Musoni is a former minister of infrastructure, local government, finance and economic development, commerce, industry, tourism, cooperatives and a former commissioner general of the Rwanda Revenue Authority.The new UK and Ireland's ambassador to Zimbabwe is Mrs Melanie Robinson.She has a strong background in aid work and finance having worked as World Bank Washington Director for the UK, and at the Department for International Development (DFID) which funds organisations working to end poverty.She brings diplomatic experience to deal with economic recovery programmes which Zimbabwe needs in its journey towards 2030.She takes over from Mrs Catriona Lang who played a huge role in facilitating the engagement and reengagement with the UK efforts which saw the meetings between President Mnangagwa and Secretary for African Affairs here in Zimbabwe and at the UN General Assembly last year.The New Spanish ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Santiago HomezAcebo also presented his credentials to the President at today's ceremony.
News / National

by Staff reporter

THE Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has called on government to exercise extreme restraint when dealing with workers' issues, including demonstrations and petitions to avoid a repeat of the 2018 violent clashes.ZCTU central region chairperson Kudakwashe Munengiwa condemned last year's arbitrary arrest of trade unionists who were pushing workers' grievances."Last year we saw the regime pouncing on innocent trade unionists who were exercising their constitutional rights such as peaceful demonstrations or marching against violation of labour laws.As the New Year descends upon us, we therefore, urge the government to exercise restraint. We have serious issues we shall soon push for recourse. That is why we are making this clarion call to the regime," he said.In 2018, senior ZCTU officials were arrested after a protest against the 2% transaction tax introduced by Finance minister Mthuli Ncube.Workers who also marched, demanding payment of salaries in foreign currency and scrapping of the surrogate bond note currency, were dispersed before they handed over a petition to Midlands Provincial Affairs minister Larry Mavima."We expect the government to address critical matters of the day that have seen the livelihoods of workers being affected by a myriad of economic hiccups like price distortions and devalued bond notes," Munengiwa said.ZCTU last week confirmed that it would embark on a nationwide strike action in a bid to force government to pay its members in United States dollars.
News / National

by Staff reporter

A 61-YEAR-OLD Chipinge man was trampled to death by stray elephants along the Save River in the Chibuwe-Murovhoti area on Tuesday.Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesperson Tinashe Farawo confirmed the incident yesterday."We received a report that two men were attacked by elephants while herding cattle along the Save River. One escaped, leaving the old man behind  who then died as a result of the attack. We are still investigating the matter," he said.Farawo said the growing elephant population in the Chipinge-Masvingo area was to blame for the increasing cases of human-wildlife conflicts."There is an indication of a ballooning of elephants from the usual 5 000 to 13 000 where the carrying capacity for the area is pegged at 5 000 elephants. It means the elephants can freely make their way to communities, and we end up having this problem because the elephant population is more than double the carrying capacity, thereby endangering human lives," he said.
News / National

by Staff reporter

INDEPENDENT electoral watchdog, Zimbabwe Elections Support Network (Zesn), and 50 other civic society groups have petitioned Parliament to take bold steps to end the country's history of disputed elections by reforming electoral laws ahead of the 2023 polls.Part of the petition read:"Cognisant of the transition that took place in Zimbabwe in November 2017 ,which sought to break Zimbabwe from its past of autocracy, and usher in democratic reform; concerned at the slow pace of legal reforms in addressing the democratic deficit since the promulgation of the new Constitution in May 2013; alarmed by the administrative lethargy in the Executive arm of the State to address this misalignment of some statutes relevant to electoral processes to the Constitution.  your petitioners appeal for the set up an all-inclusive electoral reform committee to deliberate on political, administrative and other legal reforms that are needed to enhance the credibility of Zimbabwe's electoral processes"Signed by over 50 civic society organisations, the petition noted that current laws had loopholes which resulted in electoral disputes that have affected the legitimacy ofelections.Zimbabwe has had a history of contested electoral outcomes; mainly because of a legal framework that does not embrace principles for the discharge of democratic elections."Zesn wants President Emmerson Mnangagwa to reform the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) by removing State security agents from the elections management board, among other proposed changes."In particular, your petitioners seek this House to take into account the following issues for the democratic overhaul of Zimbabwe's Electoral Law and electoral processes , enhancing the independence of Zec and other independent commissions connected to the electoral cycle," the petition read.The commission of inquiry into the August 1, 2018 post-election violence, which was chaired by former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, also recommended changes to the electoral laws.The commission said reforms, if implemented, would improve the announcement of presidential results, create a traceable and auditable trail of the movement of results from polling stations to the national command centre.
News / National

by Staff reporter

THE country's leading beverages manufacturer, Delta Beverages, yesterday announced a new pricing system pegged in United States dollars to keep itself afloat in the face of foreign currency shortages.In a circular dated January 2, Delta advised its retail and wholesale customers of the new pricing system, which takes effect tomorrow.Delta revealed that it had been receiving erratic supplies of foreign currency from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and was struggling to pay foreign suppliers who are now unable to continue providing credit or meet new orders, hence the decision to switch to the foreign currency pricing regime."In order to sustain our operations, the company advises the retail and wholesale customers that its products will be charged in hard currency with effect from Friday January 4, 2019," part of the circular by Delta management read."Our business has been adversely affected by the prevailing shortages of foreign currency, resulting in the company failing to meet your orders and in the case of soft drinks, being out of stock for prolonged periods."The new fiscal and monetary policy framework in place since October 2018 does not provide for easy access to foreign currency by non-exporters. The company has only received limited foreign currency allocations from banking channels, which have not been adequate to fund the import requirements."Delta company secretary Alex Makamure confirmed that the letter was authentic."We sent that letter to our customers and the contents there are self explanatory," he said when contacted for comment.Prices of basic commodities skyrocketed in October after the introduction of the Transitional Stabilisation Programme by Finance minister Mthuli Ncube.The country has been facing serious foreign currency shortages as the central bank prioritised exporting companies, a move that crippled many companies that produce for the domestic market, but require forex for importation of raw materials and production equipment.Delta was one of the affected companies and the country had no soft drinks for the first time during the just-ended festive season.Delta said it invested in excess of US$600 million in plant and equipment, vehicles and ancillary services since 2009, and the charging in US$ was to ensure the company's ability to protect its investment as well as sustain all its value chain partners."The prices of local materials and services have escalated both in USD and in RTGS (ostensibly in response to the foreign currency exchange rate). The company does not trade on the parallel or black market and does not subscribe to any exchange rate between the USD and the RTGS (real time gross settlement) or bond notes as they are not currencies," the circular further read."There is need for wider consultation on policy intervention to build consensus and market confidence among stakeholders to stabilise the macro-economic environment."Zimbabwe Chamber of Commerce chief executive officer Christopher Mugaga said the move by Delta was justified, but would hit hard on consumers, whose earnings were still pegged in the surrogate bond note currency.He said Delta's move would expedite the move by the country to re-dollarise the economy."Delta being a market leader as well as industry on its own due to the monopolistic nature of its being, the result is expedited re-dollarisation, which will have enterprise wide impact from the farm to the salary of an employee directly and indirectly employed by Delta," Mugaga said.He warned that government could reverse Delta's move at its own peril, as it would lead to massive job losses.Economist John Robertson blamed the government for failing to accept the reality that the bond note and US dollar were not at par."We need to look at what government is doing to bring the US in the economy. The budget was a huge disappointment, it did not do much to ensure that Zimbabwe's attractiveness comes true," Robertson said."There are few US dollars in the economy because the country is starved of foreign investments. Delta is simply reacting to a bigger problem which was not attended to by government. The 1:1 exchange rate of US and RTGS is part of the problem; it is destroying its credibility."
News / National

by Staff reporter

A 51-year-old Mufakose man was last week taken to court for allegedly swindling a doctor based at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals of $21 000 in a fake residential stand deal.Jametias Kudzai Zvinowanda was not asked to plead when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Victoria Mashamba and was remanded in custody to January 9.Prosecutor Mr Shepherd Makonde alleged that sometime in October last year, the doctor (name withheld) saw an advert in the newspaper offering a stand in Waterfalls, Harare, for sale. He contacted Zvinowanda on the mobile number provided in the advert.Zvinowanda confirmed the stand was available for $25 000. The doctor offered to buy the stand in instalments, but Zvinowanda refused. On November 26, 2018 the doctor saw an advert in the same publication offering the same stand for sale. He phoned on the numbers provided by the advert.Zvinowanda answered the call and confirmed the stand was available for $24 000. He allegedly lied to the doctor that his child was sick and wanted to travel to India urgently for assistance. Zvinowanda sent a mobile number to the complainant which he said belonged to his son. He claimed to be in Rusape and sent a copy of title deeds via WhatsApp.Zvinowanda also sent national identity cards in the names of Robert Shanduka and Livia Shanduka as the owners of the stand, the court heard. The doctor later went to the residential stand and was satisfied.He also visited the Registrar of Deeds and the City of Harare for verification. After verification, Zvinowanda allegedly requested $150 commitment fee and the complainant sent it via EcoCash.On November 30, Zvinowanda and his unnamed female accomplice, who is still at large, approached Chiturumani, Zvavanoda Law Chambers where an agreement of sale was drafted and signed by both parties.On December 3, the doctor transferred $21 000 into Bridget Mutwira's bank account supplied by Zvinowanda. The following day Zvinowanda confirmed payment before advising the complainant about the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority interviews on December 5. Zvinowanda did not show up. He became evasive and the doctor reported him to the police.
News / National

by Staff Reporter

GOVERNMENT has said all State-owned tertiary education institutions are not increasing school fees and should accept payment in both local and foreign currency.There were social media reports alleging that some institutions including the Midlands State University (MSU) had increased their tuition fees and were demanding hard currency from local students.In an interview yesterday the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, Professor Amon Murwira said no Government institutions revise school fees without approval."Those are fake reports circulating on social media causing panic. The correct position is that we did not approve a revision of tuition fees in all state tertiary institutions," said Prof Murwira.He said all fees are revised annually by his ministry and any adjustments are communicated officially through his office."These are State owned institutions and we cannot expect Government positions to be communicated through unreliable sources. School fees ordinances are signed by the Minister and communicated officially," he said.Prof Murwira said State institutions comply with the law of the land and do not invent their own form of payment."We comply with the Government's policy on forms of payment which means these institutions continue accepting bank transfers, EcoCash and cash that they were using last year," he said."Let it be clear that we have a policy that says foreign students only pay in foreign currency and this does not apply to local students. We do not demand foreign currency from local students. The only approved adjustment is that student on industrial attachment pay 60 per cent of their school fees," Prof Murwira said.He urged stakeholders to report any institution that 'invents its own rules of payments so that it is corrected right away.'Meanwhile, the Midlands State University (MSU) has dismissed allegations that it has increased tuition fees and is demanding hard currency from local students. In a statement, the university said the social media message is false and causing unnecessary panic among stakeholders."Midlands State University (MSU) has noted with concern, false statements circulating on various social media platforms to the effect that the University has increased tuition fees for the 2019 academic year and that local students will also be required to pay part of their fees in hard currency."The registrar said MSU does not adjust tuition fees without consent and approval of Government."We wish to advise our valued customers that the University has not increased its tuition fees and that any increase or revision in tuition fees would be subject to Government approval through the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development," read the statement."We would like to inform our stakeholders that all University communication including fees revision, is channelled through our website, official Facebook page and notices in the print media.""Should you have any queries, please contact our Information and Public relations Office on telephone number 00263 254 2260359 or email us on inforandpr @staff.msu.ac.zw."
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Government is dismayed by junior doctors' continuation of industrial action despite authorities meeting the majority of their demands.Government has met eight out of 10 initial demands made by the junior doctors, including a car import facility, but the latter remain adamant, demanding to be paid in United States dollars.They also want disciplinary action against striking doctors withdrawn, despite the fact that the strike has been declared illegal by the courts.Yesterday, Acting President Constantino Chiwenga said Government was gravely concerned about the junior doctors' withholding of labour and was taking steps to restore normalcy to the health service."Following a series of meetings involving striking Health Workers and their employer, the Health Services Board, Government is gravely concerned that the situation in our country continues to deteriorate to the detriment of patients who need and deserve medical attention as a human right in line with our constitution," said Chiwenga."In particular, Government is disturbed by the fact that in spite of many concessions it made to the striking doctors, and the broad agreement reached on all but two issues, the striking Health Personnel continue to withhold their labour and negotiate in bad faith even though they are designated as an essential service under the Labour Act, and even though Government has bent over backwards to accommodate them," he said.Government was equally worried with some political overtones which the labour issue had assumed, Chiwenga said.Government is now taking key steps to urgently explore other ways of ensuring that this essential health service is stabilized in the interim while more lasting measures are put in place to normalise the situation. "Government will be making further announcements in the coming days," promised Chiwenga.Other measures include continuing to import essential medicines and accessories vital to health service delivery and fulfilling all the commitments Government has made to all health workers and undertaking to review the conditions for all workers in the Public Sector within the second quarter of this year consistent with the budget cycle.In line with the Court Order that declared the strike unlawful, Government will request the Health Services Board to take appropriate action against the striking doctors.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Ekusileni Hospital in Bulawayo which was scheduled to open its doors today will not be functional any time soon as a team from the Health and Child Care ministry is yet to be sent to India to verify the existence of the project investor, Shadar Group of Hospitals.The chairperson of the taskforce running the medical centre, Nyasha Masuka yesterday told the Daily News that the team of officials responsible for the operations of the institution will only leave for India on January 6.According to reports in the State media, the trip to India had been penned for mid-December 2018."The trip has not yet happened, it's going to happen next week on January 6," said Masuka.The Ekusileni Hospital project is the brain child of the late vice president Joshua Nkomo and has been lying idle since its closure in 2004.Media reports had indicated that the hospital was set to open its doors this January following the engagement of the Indian Investor, Shadar Group of Hospitals.When he visited the idle facility in June 2018, President Emmerson Mnangagwa made a spirited commitment to open Ekusileni Medical Centre before year end, pledging that he was going to make sure nothing will stand in the way of his efforts to bring fruition to Umdala wethu's vision.The late gallant's son Sibangilizwe Nkomo said the family is ready to re-offer itself and the proposed South African investor, Clinix Health Group, to make his father's legacy a success.He said the hospital has had enough false starts, including the false promise that it was going to open today."We are re-offering ourselves and our investors, whenever government is ready. Once they come back from India and having found out that Shadar is an educational facility and not a medical institution, we will start talking."Why do they want to waste money and fly all the way to India when an identified investor is available in neighbouring South Africa?" he said."Maybe they will reconsider us after making their trip to India."Early last month Nkomo disclosed that government had turned down the Clinix Health Group's proposal, in favour of the Indian investor whose authenticity was yet to be verified.In the latest economic blue-print, the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP) the Finance ministry has indicated that the hospital would be opened in two phases to be rolled in 2019 and 2020.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The government says it has met almost all the demands by junior doctors who withdrew their services at beginning of last month, but will not concede to payment of salaries in US dollars.Briefing journalists late this Tuesday night at Munhumutapa Offices, Acting President Retired General Constantino Chiwenga said the government is gravely concerned with the situation in the hospitals as it is patients who are suffering."In particular, government is disturbed by the fact that in spite of the many concessions it made to the striking doctors, and the broad agreement reached on all but two issues, the striking health personnel continue to withhold their labour and negotiate in bad faith even though they are designated as an essential service under the Labour Act, and even though government has bent over backwards to accommodate them," said the Acting President.Acting President Chiwenga who met some stakeholders in the health sector on this Tuesday to find solutions to the ongoing impasse says the government does not generate foreign currency."For the avoidance of doubt, government will not remunerate any of its work- force in United States dollars, a position it made very clear to the striking doctors. The government does not print United States dollars," said Retired General Chiwenga.He said the hard-earned foreign currency will be committed to, among other areas, importing essential medicines for use in hospitals and clinics, and to facilitate the recovery of economy, in line with the Transitional Stabilisation Programme.Acting President Chiwenga further said government has resolved in line with the court order, to request the Health Services Board to take appropriate action against the striking doctors whose conduct has been declared unlawful by the courts."International best practices which govern doctors and interns, provide that doctors should not abandon patients and posts; and that, instead they should bring forward their grievances while making sure loss of life or unnecessary pain and suffering is avoided," he said.Retired General Chiwenga said government has noted with concern the political overtones which the labour issue has now assumed, including attempts by the striking doctors to appeal to constituencies which have nothing to do with health delivery or their employment contracts.He expressed gratitude to senior doctors and doctors in private practice and private health institutions for offering services in the interest of patients.
Entertainment / Music

by Staf reporter

BREAKING: Dan Tshanda dead

Family spokesperson has confirmed the passing of Dan Ndivhiseni Tshanda of Splash and Dalom music. "He suffered a heart failure earlier today and was rushed to Sandton Mediclinic where he was declared dead," said Moudy Mudzielwana pic.twitter.com/tMokfu2TDk  Mmegi (@MmegiOnline) January 5, 2019

RE: Passing of Dan Ndivhiseni Tshanda

Dalom Music is hereby confirming the passing away of Music Maestro Dan Tshanda today. He suffered a heart failure earlier and Sandton Mediclinic where he was declared dead..

You can contact Moudy on 076 431 1016 for details  Mr Moudy Mudzielwana (@Moudy_Tshikovha) January 5, 2019

Music fans are in mourning on Saturday after news broke that musician and producer Dan Tshanda passed away in Johannesburg after suffering heart failure at age 54.He was reportedly certified dead on arrival at Sandton Mediclinic after suffering a heart attack.News sites from African countries, particularly Zimbabwe and Botswana, where he was very popular, have also been reporting the news, with fans from across the continent tweeting messages of their loss.Many of his local fans criticised South Africans for not celebrating Tshanda as much as neighbouring African countries do.One of Botswana's leading newspapers reported on Saturday evening that they confirmed the death with a family spokesperson. Moudy Modzielwana also told The Voice Online in Botswana that the musical icon suffered the heart attack at around 1pm in the afternoon."He was rushed to hospital where he was certified dead upon arrival. The doctors confirmed that he passed on after a heart failure," he was quoted as saying.The family will release details of any remembrance and funeral arrangements in an official statement later.According to music site music.org.za, Tshanda was born in Chiawelo, Soweto, though this report claims he was born in Venda and moved to Soweto.After dropping out of school and working as a newspaper vendor for an Afrikaans newspaper and then as a taxi driver, he made a demo cassette of his early music with his first band.Under the name Splash, Ray Phiri of Stimela fame later agreed to feature them as their support act whenever they had shows."His music has crossed the borders into African countries such as Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland, Nigeria etc, and abroad, with activity in North America, Australia, England, France," says the site.
The ANC's "let them eat cake" attitude left South Africans less than impressed. While the ruling party hopes to win more votes with their donation, it looks like they're pushing away more voters with their actions.

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The African National Congress has revealed their plan to donate their birthday cakes to orphanages, old age homes and similar institutions next week when they celebrate their 107th birthday.

The event is expected to begin on the 8th of January at multiple locations across the province of KZN, as reported on earlier by Briefly.co.za.

The celebrations will run until the 13th of January, concluding with a voter registration beach party.

However, South Africans are not impressed. In fact, many South Africans are upset with the ruling party.

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According to a report by IOL News, the issue here is not the act of donating, but what is being donated and what it represents. In other words, the disadvantaged citizens of this country are only good enough to enjoy leftover cake coming from opulent parties hosted by the governing elite.

Here's what South Africans had to say:

Emmanuel Veli Mavesta - Theyve been eating cakes with their big bellies for the previous years, now that its elections are are nearby they then they donate cake mxm

Faro Bernard - Donating cakes is not a good idea,they rather donate 100000 to each atleast they would be done a great job

Schalk Marais - Instead of donating anything they should stop all the functions and all sorts of other bullshit shows... instead they should work on the economy - promote a free market, loosen our archaic labour laws, promote private business, reduce red tape and allow people to create jobs and eventually a better life for all-

Petro Pretorius - If they think to get votes this way they are even more pathetic than I thought. Food parcels like Zuma and 2 tractors like Malema for votes??Priceless.

Nozizwe Preudence Mphapang - ANC is prioritising nonsense

Nozizwe Preudence Mphapang - The should be instilling life changing contributions not cake.

Zamie Yantolo - hell can't they just donate with something more valuable and important than a damn cake that they will eat and that's it.abd that cake will probably cost millions as we all know when it comes to the ANC nothing cost less than a million

READ ALSO: Mbalula explains that the ANC will vet party list to weed out bad characters

South Africans are not happy (Image Source: Briefly - South Africa News Facebook Page)

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Source: Briefly.co.za


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-- Annika Bobb, a Richardton-Taylor High School senior, who has won numerous awards on the county, state and national levels. She was selected a Teen of the Week by the Tribune.

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"Every year this drags out costs people a lot of money. Not only are they having to pay attorneys, we're talking about millions of dollars being tied up that mineral owners aren't getting. They're just sitting in suspense."

-- Attorney Josh Swanson, who represents several royalty owners affected by the legislation related to oil and gas mineral ownership under Lake Sakakawea.

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"We have gone through many major changes at Dakota Gas in the past year, and the benefits of continuing to operate the plant far outweigh the losses this subsidiary is experiencing today. The new urea production facility, which became operational in January, is profitable today and we are optimistic it will continue to be going forward."

-- Paul Sukut, CEO of Basin Electric Power Cooperative, which owns the Great Plains Synfuels Plant near Beulah.

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Apparently, pulse growers are very concerned about the wording of policies meant to define meat and meat-like substitutes derived from vegetable proteins. The pulse growers were vocal at the Montana Farmers Union annual meeting, insisting the Montana Farmers Union policy was not discriminatory to pulse growers. Someone in the audience pointed out that cattle producers are not telling anyone to not eat foods derived from beans, but they should not be allowed to call it meat or beef.

A country of origin label was required starting in 2011, but stopped in 2015. In that short time, it looked as though COOL was having a positive influence on the market. Cattle prices certainly crashed after COOL was rescinded in 2015.

Wally Congdon pointed out that a small market preference study in Nebraska showed consumer preference went up for beef originating in the U.S., Canada and Australia, while beef from Central and South America went down. There was also a discussion about why the meat packers and their captive organizations  the National Cattlemens Beef Association and the National Pork Producers Council  were so opposed to COOL. They fought it from its first inception in 2002 until they were finally successful in killing COOL in 2015. Someone from the audience quipped: Follow the money.

Sen. Al Olszewski of Kalispell has requested the Legislative Services Division review the MT-COOL draft. It is expected that both Republican and Democrat Legislators will sponsor the bill. Montana Cattlemens Association, Montana Farmers Union, and Northern Plains all encourage their members, concerned producers, and beef consumers to contact their local legislator and insist he or she vote for this much-needed and commonsense bill.

Gilles Stockton, of Grass Range, is a member of the Central Montana Resource Council.

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WASHINGTON  Incoming speaker Nancy Pelosi wants to be clear about what the new Democratic House majority will not be: They will not, she insists, act like the Republicans.

"We believe that we will not become them," she said in a New Year's Day phone interview during a visit to her native Baltimore. "We're not going to do to them what they did to President Obama. ... It's really important for us not to become them and certainly not to become like the president of the United States in terms of how he speaks without any basis of fact, evidence, data or truth.

"We will respect each other's opinions, and respect the truth." Note: She said this before President Trump's series of false claims in advance of his Wednesday meeting with Congressional leaders about the government shutdown he precipitated in pursuit of his border wall.

Pelosi also pushes back hard against the idea that in holding Trump and his administration accountable, Democrats will be engaging in some sort of investigative orgy. On the contrary, she said, Article I of the Constitution grants Congress responsibility for "oversight over the agencies of government."
Much of that communication is shut down, producers say.

Degenfelder of Kirkwood said his office sent a right of way fee to the BLM office in Rock Springs in late December only to have it returned to his office. There was no one there to receive it.

For operators out in the field right now drilling wells, the lack of a BLM presence could hold up production, he said. Any time drillers on federal land encounter a change in their drilling plans, and there are always changes that arise in the field, they have to submit a notice to the bureau.

I know Ive heard from several peer companies that they cant get sundry approvals here in Wyoming for rudimentary things like construction of tank battery, he said. Thats where there is going to be some delays.

Some of those notifications are just administrative, with BLM signing off on an adjustment, he said. He hopes the Wyoming delegation or an industry representative like the Petroleum Association of Wyoming can impress on officials in Washington that these processes are holding up industry.

These are wells that could start producing right away and provide the state with severance taxes and federal mineral royalties, he said.
Two years after his rape conviction was overturned, Cody Marble has brought the matter back to court.

On Thursday, the 34-year-old former Missoula resident sued Missoula County, its Sheriff's Office and County Attorneys Offices, and several of their employees, claiming that they mishandled the investigation and prosecution of a 2002 rape case against Marble.

His conviction in that case has been vacated, and the charges against him dismissed. Now, his father Jerry Marble says that hopefully this lawsuit will bring it all to a head and will culminate in him being able to survive out here."

The lawsuit revives a legal saga that began in 2002, when Missoula County prosecutors alleged that Marble, then 17, raped 13-year-old Robert Thomas in the shower area of the Missoula County Detention Center, where both were juvenile inmates at the time. The following November, he was convicted of sexual intercourse without consent and eventually sentenced to 20 years in prison with 15 years suspended.
[1] Erin F. Labbie, "Zizek Avec Lacan: Splitting the Dialectics of Desire," Slovene Studies, Vol. 25 (2003), p. 23.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Jacques Derrida, Specters of Marx (Peggy Kamuf, trans.) (New York and London: Routledge, 1994), p. 3-4.

[4] Paul Cantor, "Shakespeare-'For all time'?" The Public Interest, Issue 110 (1993), p. 35.

Samuel Moyn, a Yale law professor, recently asked His answer:Moyn attributes the term cultural Marxism to theclaiming that it implicates zany conspiracy theories and has beenAlexander Zubatov, an attorney writing in Tablet, countered that theterm cultural MarxismIt has, moreover,He concluded that cultural Marxism is neither a "conspiracy" nor a "mere right-wing 'phantasmagoria,'" but aIn this debate, I side with Zubatov. Here's why.Despite the bewildering range of controversies and meanings attributed to it, cultural Marxism (the term and the movement) has a deep, complex history in Theory. The word "Theory" (with a capital T) is the general heading for research within the interpretative branches of the humanities known as cultural and critical studies, literary criticism, and literary theory-each of which includes a variety of approaches from the phenomenological to the psychoanalytic. In the United States, Theory is commonly taught and applied in English departments, although its influence is discernable throughout the humanities.A brief genealogy of different schools of Theory-which originated outside English departments, among philosophers and sociologists for example, but became part of English departments' core curricula-shows not only that cultural Marxism is a nameable, describable phenomenon, but also that it proliferates beyond the academy.Scholars versed in Theory are reasonably suspicious of crude, tendentious portrayals of their field. Nevertheless, these fields retain elements of Marxism that, in my view, require heightened and sustained scrutiny. Given estimates that communism killed over 100 million people , we must openly and honestly discuss those currents of Marxism that run through different modes of interpretation and schools of thought. To avoid complicity, moreover, we must ask whether and why Marxist ideas, however attenuated, still motivate leading scholars and spread into the broader culture.English departments sprang up in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th century, ushering in increasingly professionalized studies of literature and other forms of aesthetic expression. As English became a distinct university discipline with its own curriculum, it moved away from the study of British literature and canonical works of the Western tradition in translation, and toward the philosophies that guide textual interpretation.Although a short, sweeping survey of what followed may not satisfy those in the field, it provides others with the relevant background.The first major school to establish itself in English departments was the New Criticism. Its counterpart was Russian formalism, characterized by figures like Victor Shklovsky and Roman Jakobson, who attempted to distinguish literary texts from other texts, examining what qualities made written representations poetic, compelling, original, or moving rather than merely practical or utilitarian.One such quality was defamiliarization. Literature, in other words, defamiliarizes language by using sound, syntax, metaphor, alliteration, assonance, and other rhetorical devices.The New Criticism, which was chiefly pedagogical, emphasized close reading, maintaining that readers searching for meaning must isolate the text under consideration from externalities like authorial intent, biography, or historical context. This method is similar to legal textualism whereby judges look strictly at the language of a statute, not to legislative history or intent, to interpret the import or meaning of that statute. The New Critics coined the term "intentional fallacy" to refer to the search for the meaning of a text anywhere but in the text itself. The New Criticism is associated with John Crowe Ransom, Cleanth Brooks, I. A. Richards, and T.S. Eliot. In a way, all subsequent schools of Theory are responses or reactions to the New Criticism.Structuralism permeated French intellectual circles in the 1960s. Through structuralism, thinkers like Michel Foucault, Jacques Lacan, Julia Kristeva, and Louis Althusser imported leftist politics into the study of literary texts. Structuralism is rooted in the linguistics of Ferdinand de Saussure, a Swiss linguist who observed how linguistic signs become differentiated within a system of language. When we say or write something, we do it according to rules and conventions in which our anticipated audience also operates. The implied order we use and communicate in is the "structure" referred to in structuralism.The French anthropologist Claude Levi-Strauss extended Saussure's ideas about the linguistic sign to culture, arguing that the beliefs, values, and characteristic features of a social group function according to a set of tacitly known rules. These structures are "discourse," a term that encompasses cultural norms and not just language practices.Out of structuralism and post-structuralism emerged Structural Marxism, a school of thought linked to Althusser that analyzes the role of the state in perpetuating the dominance of the ruling class, the capitalists.In the 1930s and 1940s, the Frankfurt School popularized the type of work usually labeled as "cultural Marxism." Figures involved or associated with this school include Erich Fromm, Theodore Adorno, Max Horkheimer, Herbert Marcuse, and Walter Benjamin. These men revised, repurposed, and extended classical Marxism by emphasizing culture and ideology, incorporating insights from emerging fields such as psychoanalysis, and researching the rise of mass media and mass culture.Dissatisfied with economic determinism and the illusory coherence of historical materialism-and jaded by the failures of socialist and communist governments-these thinkers retooled Marxist tactics and premises in their own ways without entirely repudiating Marxist designs or ambitions.Beginning in the 1960s and 1970s, scholars like Terry Eagleton and Fredric Jameson were explicit in embracing Marxism. They rejected the New Critical approaches that divorced literature from culture, stressing that literature reflected class and economic interest, social and political structures, and power. Accordingly, they considered how literary texts reproduced (or undermined) cultural or economic structures and conditions.Slavoj Zizek arguably has done more than any member of the Frankfurt School to integrate psychoanalysis into Marxist variants.wrote the scholar Erin Labbie.[1] She added,[2] Zizek is just one among many continental philosophers whose Marxist and Marxist-inflected prognostications command the attention of American academics.Jacques Derrida is recognized as the founder of deconstruction. He borrowed from Saussure's theory that the meaning of a linguistic sign depends on its relation to its opposite, or to things from which it differs. For instance, the meaning of male depends on the meaning of female; the meaning of happy depends on the meaning of sad; and so forth. Thus, the theoretical difference between two opposing terms, or binaries, unites them in our consciousness. And one binary is privileged while the other is devalued. For example, "beautiful" is privileged over "ugly," and "good" over "bad."The result is a hierarchy of binaries that are contextually or arbitrarily dependent, according to Derrida, and cannot be fixed or definite across time and space. That is because meaning exists in a state of flux, never becoming part of an object or idea.Derrida himself, having re-read The Communist Manifesto, recognized the "spectral" furtherance of a "spirit" of Marx and Marxism.[3] Although Derrida's so-called "hauntology" precludes the messianic meta-narratives of unfulfilled Marxism, commentators have salvaged from Derrida a modified Marxism for the climate of today's "late capitalism."Derrida used the term differance to describe the elusive process humans use to attach meaning to arbitrary signs, even if signs-the codes and grammatical structures of communication-cannot adequately represent an actual object or idea in reality. Derrida's theories had a broad impact that enabled him and his followers to consider linguistic signs and the concepts created by those signs, many of which were central to the Western tradition and Western culture. For example, Derrida's critique of logocentrism contests nearly all philosophical foundations deriving from Athens and Jerusalem.New Historicism, a multifaceted enterprise, is associated with Shakespearean scholar Stephen Greenblatt. It looks at historical forces and conditions with a structuralist and post-structuralist eye, treating literary texts as both products of and contributors to discourse and discursive communities. It is founded on the idea that literature and art circulate through discourse and inform and destabilize cultural norms and institutions.New historicists explore how literary representations reinforce power structures or work against entrenched privilege, extrapolating from Foucault's paradox that power grows when it is subverted because it is able to reassert itself over the subversive person or act in a show of power. Marxism and materialism often surface when new historicists seek to highlight texts and authors (or literary scenes and characters) in terms of their effects on culture, class, and power. New historicists focus on low-class or marginalized figures, supplying them with a voice or agency and giving them overdue attention. This political reclamation, while purporting to provide context, nevertheless risks projecting contemporary concerns onto works that are situated in a particular culture and historical moment.In the words of literary critic Paul Cantor,[4]Much of the outcry about cultural Marxism is outrageous, uninformed, and conspiratorial. Some of it simplifies, ignores, or downplays the fissures and tensions among leftist groups and ideas. Cultural Marxism cannot be reduced, for instance, to "political correctness" or "identity politics." (I recommend Andrew Lynn's short piece "Cultural Marxism" in the Fall 2018 issue of The Hedgehog Review for a concise critique of sloppy and paranoid treatments of cultural Marxism.)Nevertheless, Marxism pervades Theory, despite the competition among the several ideas under that broad label. Sometimes this Marxism is self-evident; at other times, it's residual and implied. At any rate, it has attained a distinct but evolving character as literary scholars have reworked classical Marxism to account for the relation of literature and culture to class, power, and discourse.Feminism, gender studies, critical race theory, post-colonialism, disability studies-these and other disciplines routinely get pulled through one or more of the theoretical paradigms I've outlined. The fact that they're guided by Marxism or adopt Marxist terms and concepts, however, does not make them off-limits or unworthy of attention.Which brings me to a warning: Condemning these ideas as forbidden, as dangers that corrupt young minds, might have unintended consequences. Marxist spinoffs must be studied to be comprehensively understood. Don't remove them from the curriculum: contextualize them, challenge them, and question them. Don't reify their power by ignoring or neglecting them.Popular iterations of cultural Marxism reveal themselves in the casual use of terms like "privilege," "alienation," "commodification," "fetishism," "materialism," "hegemony," or "superstructure." As Zubatov wrote for Tablet,He adds,My brief summary is merely the simplified, approximate version of a much larger and more complex story, but it orients curious readers who wish to learn more about cultural Marxism in literary studies. Today, English departments suffer from the lack of a clearly defined mission, purpose, and identity. Having lost rigor in favor of leftist politics as their chief end of study, English departments at many universities are jeopardized by the renewed emphasis on practical skills and jobs training. Just as English departments replaced religion and classics departments as the principal places to study culture, so too could future departments or schools replace English departments.And those places may not tolerate political agitations posturing as pedagogical technique.The point, however, is that cultural Marxism exists. It has a history, followers, adherents, and left a perceptible mark on academic subjects and lines of inquiry. Moyn may wish it out of existence, or dismiss it as a bogeyman, but it is real. We must know its effects on society, and in what forms it materializes in our culture. Moyn's intemperate polemic demonstrates, in fact, the urgency and importance of examining cultural Marxism, rather than closing our eyes to its meaning, properties, and significance.
But one of the biggest factors that will impact the U.S. economy in 2019 is international trade.

Although the changes are minimal and likely to lead to higher priced automobiles, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, known as USMCA, if passed by Congress essentially resulting in a modified NAFTA, will help to reduce uncertainty and market volatility. And the likelihood that the U.S. and European Union can reach a favorable trade agreement in 2019 will be another step in the right direction.

But trying to get China to comply with all the demands made by President Trump will be unlikely by March 1  the end of the 90-day trade truce agreed to by Trump and Chinese President Xi at the G20 meeting in Buenos Aires on Dec. 1. And heres why.

For decades, China has been subsidizing its state-owned enterprises thereby giving then an unfair competitive advantage, pressuring U.S. companies to hand over technology in exchange for market access, and placing market restrictions on U.S. companies. In addition, enforcement of Chinese intellectual property protection laws have been weak resulting in lost profits for American firms.
Sunday Worship at Beacon UU: 10-11 a.m. Beacon Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 510 N Leroux, Flagstaff. Cultivating Compassion. A Buddhist teaching suggests that we should not try to rid ourselves of pain and suffering, even if it were possible. It is to learn to recognize and be open to them when they appear. Then can begin the transformation to compassion, for ourselves and for others. office@beaconuu.com, 928-779-4492. http://www.beaconuu.com.

Calvary Bible Church: 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. 6555 Townsend-Winona Road, Flagstaff. Sunday teaching by Pastor Aaron Hulbert: An Unbridled Tongue from James 1:26-27. 9:30 a.m. - Bible Study. Old Testament Overview. 10:45 a.m. - Worship service. 6 p.m. - Personal application study of mid-day service. Also Children's church in addition to nursery services. Wednesday 6pm: Studying Matthew, then prayer time. Also Teen AWANA meets. First Tuesday of every month: 'Sisters' Women's Fellowship 6 p.m. Second Saturday of every month: Men's breakfast and Bible Study 7 a.m. January 7, 2019 AWANA at 6:15 p.m., Bring a Friend Night. http://www.calvarybibleflagstaff.com.
Remarks: I do not know the name of this song. The video is from the Druga Godba music festival in 2018 in Slovenia, but Les Filles (and the band leaders b...

23 hours ago
As a fiber artist working with deadstock fabric and vintage tufting tools, Svetlana Shigroff has an acute appreciation for what she describes as old-school womens work.

There is something so special about using your hand with these old tools, Shigroff says of her hand-tufted tapestries. I dont want to become mechanized.

After working as a high school teacher in her native Australia and in the fashion industry in Los Angeles, the 36-year-old moved to the Yucca Valley. Now, the full-time working artist and occasional wardrobe stylist creates colorful, powerful tapestries in her two-car garage overlooking the desert.

Being in the desert allows me to be free and delve a little deeper into my art and whats going on with me, she says. I can be a little less self-conscious out here.

Interested in tapestry but intimidated by the process, Shigroff taught herself how to tuft by watching a dated, grainy tufting video on YouTube.

Today, she works 8 to 12 hours a day in the garage, crafting pieces from leftover or rejected knits she buys in the downtown Los Angeles fabric district. After cutting the knits into half-inch strips with a rotary cutter, she then tufts them onto a fabric canvas using a well-worn antique wood and metal shuttle punch.
Hospitals across the country rang in the New Year with a federal mandate to reveal their once-secret master price lists, although its unclear whether the new requirement will assist many patients or contain ever-rising health care costs.

Starting Jan. 1, hospitals must publish online the starting price tags for every service or procedure. These detailed lists, known as chargemasters, include thousands of entries.

The 2010 Affordable Care Act required hospitals to make these lists available to the public, but until this week, hospitals were not required to publish them. The new mandate marks an effort by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to improve price transparency in health care.

However, health care experts stress that consumers  even those with high-deductible plans or even no insurance  should not consider these lists to be realistic price guides.

That is because the prices are typically starting points for payment negotiations between hospitals and insurance companies and have little connection to what most patients actually pay.

The only time that most consumers glimpse chargemaster prices is on hospital bills as amounts they might have owed before insurance negotiated down the price.
An FAA press release from Dec. 22  the first day of the government shutdown  said there is no impact to safety or FAA oversight for travelers. Furloughed inspectors disagree. On Dec. 21, the day before the shutdown, a Korean Air cargo planes wing collided on the ground with a Tab cargo planes tail at Miami International Airport, damaging both planes. Tomey said he and his team identified damage that one of the airlines didnt originally report to the aircraft manufacturer, which was in charge of repairing the planes.

Normally, Tomey said he would review the manufacturers repair report to make sure everything was fixed. But since hes been furloughed, that hasnt happened.

Both companies have emailed me what theyve done and my job is to validate what theyve done is right, Tomey said. Im 99.9 percent sure they did, but we dont know. Now theyre back in the air flying.

In Michigan, sheriffs deputies have been guarding the scene of a fatal plane crash last weekend, waiting for FAA investigators to arrive. The FAA said in a statement that it is limiting investigations to major accidents involving significant casualties and certain other accidents when failure to proceed with the investigation creates a significant risk to transportation safety.
As COVID-19 restrictions are lifted in Italy, thousands of people are heading to see the extensive gardens and apartments at the Papal Palace 
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A woman has cheated death by inches after three balconies suddenly collapsed and crashed down onto the pavement in a popular seaside resort.

CCTV footage captured the moment the balconies suddenly smashed down onto the ground in the city of Mar Del Plata, Argentinas biggest tourist resort.

Tragically, one woman, named as Agustina Ferro, 35, and her three-year-old daughter, India Luzardi, were killed in the horrific incident.

But another woman, who had been on her way to buy ice cream from a shop in the ground floor of the building, cheated death by inches.

The CCTV footage shows the mother-of-three, named only as Romina, jump back as the balconies suddenly collapse and rubble falls all around her.

Romina says she is grateful her children were not with her. Source: CEN/Australscope

Romina, who suffered minor ankle injuries, later revealed she had her father, who had seen the balconies start to fall, to thank for her life.

I was crossing the road and I heard a scream from my dad that made me stop. I just remember a loud noise and rubble falling over me, she said.

Ive seen the video but it feels like I was not really there. I do not see myself reflected there, the truth is it still hasnt sunk in.

Romina added that she had been out with her children but had thankfully told them to wait for her while she finished her shopping.

It could have been even worse, she said.

The balconies were inches from collapsing on Romina. Source: CEN/Australscope

The first thing that came into my head afterwards was my kids, they would have run ahead.

If they had come with me and run ahead into the ice cream shop, like they usually do, I hate to think what might have happened.

The incident was reportedly caused by part of the top floor balcony suddenly collapsing and bringing down the balconies below it in a domino effect.

Police have launched an investigation into the incident which happened close to the centre of the popular beachside Punta Mogotes area of the city.

Officers say administrators of the building could face charges of corporate manslaughter.

 Australscope
The highest-profile Catholic cleric to be caught up in a paedophile scandal in France is to go on trial on Monday charged with failing to report a priest who abused boy scouts in the 1980s and 90s. Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, the archbishop of Lyon, is to stand trial along with five others from his diocese over allegations that they helped cover up abuse in one of the parishes in the area. The 68-year-old, an arch-conservative, is one of the most prominent Catholic figures in France who faces up to three years in prison and a fine of 45,000 euros ($54,000) if convicted of failing to report the abuse. He denies the allegations. France's Catholic church has been roiled in recent years by allegations against predator priests which have come to light in the wake of a global move by victims to come forward with evidence. Clerics have been denounced in countries as far afield as Australia, Brazil, Chile, Ireland, and the United States, leading Pope Francis to promise to rid the church of the scourge that has done enormous damage to its standing. - 'Abused as a child' - The scandal in Lyon first came to public attention in 2015 when a former scout went public with allegations that a local priest, Bernard Preynat, had abused him as a child 25 years ago. The scout, Francois Devaux, who has since formed a victims' group, also filed a complaint against Barbarin, the priest's superior, alleging that he had known about the abuse but had covered it up. After six months of investigation and 10 hours of interviews with Barbarin, investigators dropped the case in 2016 after concluding that the allegations against him were either too old or impossible to prove. But a group of victims succeeded in having the probe reopened which led to Barbarin and the others, including the archbishop of Auch and the bishop of Nevers in France, being ordered to stand trial. "We hope this time to have a ruling that will be clear and obvious for everyone," Devaux said before the start of the trial. His victims' group, La Parole Liberee (Freed Speech), began with a handful of people, but soon received calls and testimony from a total of 85 people claiming to have been victims of Preynat in Lyon. The priest was prevented from leading scout groups after he was first denounced in 1991, but was later allowed to teach to children and held positions of authority in parishes until the scandal surfaced in 2015. A lawyer for Barbarin, Jean-Felix Luciani, said the cardinal was counting on the trial to "re-establish some facts because you don't repair one injustice by creating another one." - Pope's role - The story of Devaux, the victim who brought the scandal to light, is to be told in a film this year called "Grace a Dieu" ("Thanks to God") which has been made by French director Francois Ozon. The priest at the centre of the scandal, Preynat, has acknowledged abusing boys during interviews with investigators. He is set to go on trial this year charged with statutory rape. Two other French religious figures have been convicted of failing to report child abuse in the past: the archbishop of Bayeux-Lisieux, Pierre Rican, in 2001, as well as the former bishop of Orleans, Andre Fort, last year. The head of the Vatican's powerful Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Spanish Archbishop Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer, has also been accused of complicity in the alleged cover-up in Lyon. In correspondence with Barbarin about the priest, the Vatican's number three had advised the cardinal to take "necessary disciplinary measures while avoiding public scandal" -- seen as a warning to keep the abuse quiet. The Vatican has cited his immunity from prosecution and he will not go on trial. Barbarin has retained the support of Pope Francis who met with him at the Vatican in October 2017 shortly after he was ordered to stand trial. "I have only one judge who is the Lord," the cardinal said recently on a trip to the holy town of Lourdes in southern France. Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, the archbishop of Lyon, is to stand trial along with five others from his diocese over allegations that they helped cover up abuse Francois Devaux formed a group called La Parole Liberee (Freed Speech) to support victims of child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church
Nigeria's Islamic State West Africa Province, a faction of Boko Haram affiliated to the Islamic State militant group, has intensified attacks against the army in the northeast of the country at an alarming rate, and the military appears to be struggling. Here are the principal reasons: Better-armed jihadists Fighters from the Islamic State-affiliated group, known by its acronym ISWAP, have managed to assemble a potent arsenal thanks to raids on military bases and capturing weapons in attacks, but also through arms smuggling from other African countries. On December 27, the jihadists showed their force again during a brief takeover of Baga town: In just a few hours, the militants had routed around 500 soldiers from the multi-national MNJTF force comprising of soldiers from Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon. As with many attacks, after the soldiers fled, the militants took advantage to captured weapons, ammunition and vehicles at the strategic base on the shores of Lake Chad. "The truth of the matter is that Boko Haram are better equipped than soldiers which is why they keep attacking and forcing soldiers out of military bases," Sanda Kime, a pro-government militiaman in the Lake Chad region, told AFP. "There is a paucity of arms and ammunitions for our fighting troops. It is a serious problem," said Amaechi Nwokolo, a security analyst with the Roman Institute of Security Studies in Abuja. There are increasingly more voices from within the ranks of the military decrying the poor state of their equipment, such as bullet supplies that are incompatible with the army's standard rifles. The increase in arms-trafficking in sub-Saharan African has also allowed ISWAP to acquire "more sophisticated" equipment, most notable from the Horn of Africa and the Middle East via Sudan, according to Yan St Pierre, a counter-terrorism expert with MOSECON, a Berlin-based security consultancy. Demoralised army Nigeria's security situation has deteriorated rapidly in the last few years, forcing the army to deploy on numerous fronts in several parts of the country. "The morale of troops is low. They have been pushed to breaking limit," said Abuja analyst Nwokolo. In August, hundreds of soldiers invaded the runway of Maiduguri airport, in Borno state, firing their weapons in the air to express their exhaustion after four years on the frontline without much leave from the fight against jihadists to see their families. The army managed to make important military progress against jihadists at the end of 2015 chasing the militants out of areas under their control but since then the fighters have adopted guerrilla tactics that are more complex to counter. "The soldiers are fatigued. Sometimes they withdraw when Boko Haram attack their base after a brief encounter or without putting a fight at all," said one Nigerian security source who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to reporters. Militant recruitment In his New Year's message, Nigeria's Air Force Chief of Staff Marshal Sadique Abubakar said jihadists had added experienced IS foreign fighters to their ranks. "In the fight against Boko Haram, we saw the emergence of new tactics as well as the introduction of highly experienced and skilled fighters and technology, as ISIS elements, dislodged from Syria, relocated to the North East of our country," he said. Rumours about Boko Haram bringing foreign fighters into its ranks are not new, but in recent months several witnesses and experts have added weight to reports of such recruitment. For security expert St Pierre, IS military defeats in Iraq and Syria, and the group's expansion in the Sahel region and the Sahara, has "considerably" improved the mobility of militant fighters in Africa. The analyst said ISWAP has conducted an intensive recruitment campaign in Nigeria and in neighbouring countries such as Niger and Chad for six months, where its radical imams present the jihadist group as a "credible and legitimate" alternative to government. On Christmas Eve, ISWAP militants stormed a military base in Kukareta, Yobe State in the northwest Nigeria, killing 17 soldiers. One local chief said the fighters were likely Chadians by their physical appearance and the language they spoke. Militant change in strategy One Boko Haram faction led by Abubakar Shekau used suicide bombings and mass horde attacks in assaults that nowadays seem like tactics from another era. Boko Haram split into two -- Shekau's faction and the ISWAP -- in mid-2016 over ideological differences. Shekau pledged allegiance to IS leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, but the IS group gave its formal backing only to ISWAP. ISWAP disagreed with Shekau's indiscriminate use of violence against civilians and vowed to only hit "hard" military or government targets. In 2016, Islamic State named a new local leader Abou Mussab al Barnaoui who looked to attract more support from the local population. "ISWAP fighters have focussed on military bases and what they consider to be the symbols of oppression and government repression," security consultant St Pierre said. As a result, civilians are often locked up in camps for displaced people in areas under tight army control, but a semblance of normal life has returned in areas under Islamist militant influence. "Where the army ordered the markets shut down and supply lines cut, they have restructured trade" in fishing and farming, which are the principal sources of revenues for the region, the MOSECON consultant said. The new strategy of winning support of local populations is much more dangerous than militant chief Shekau's old tactics in the face of the Nigeria's army's impotence, he said. Nigeria's army appears to be struggling to end the insurgency by better-armed militants affiliated to Islamic State
Nearly 50 migrants rescued in the Mediterranean by two ships run by rights groups are still looking for countries to take them in, one of the groups told AFP Saturday. "The situation is still the same," a spokeswoman for one of the groups, Sea Watch, told AFP. Their vessel, Sea Watch 3, was sheltering from stormy weather off the coast of Malta, which like Italy, has refused to allow the boat into port. It has had 32 migrants on board, three of them children, since rescuing them on December 22. A one-year-old baby and two children, aged six and seven, "are vomiting continuously and are at risk of hypothermia and dehydration," said Alessandro Metz of rights group Mediterranea, on Twitter Friday. The German NGO Sea-Eye also has a ship stranded in the Mediterranean with 17 migrants on board. The row is the latest in a series about the sea rescues that has thrown a spotlight on the deadlock between EU countries over sharing responsibility for migrant and refugee arrivals. Italy, Malta, Spain and the Netherlands initially refused to take in migrants from either of the boats. But Germany and The Netherlands later said they would allow some in -- on condition that other nations did. Dutch-flagged rescue vessel Sea Watch 3 has been carrying 32 migrants, including a baby, children and teenagers since they were rescued on December 22
A leaked memo has revealed an airline threatened to ground crew members who did not lose excess weight on their bodies.

The memo was distributed to about 1800 cabin crew members who work for Pakistan International Airlines, warning them they had six months to slim down to required limits or they would not be given clearance to fly.

CNN reports the memo, which was issued on January 1 and obtained by local media, was from the airlines general manager Aamir Bashir.

In it, the airline seemed to make a mandatory New Years resolution for the crew, insisting that flight attendants must lose two kilograms a month, depending on a persons height.

For example, a medium frame woman who is about 170cm tall would ideally weigh 60kg to 66kg, CNN reported.

Pakistan International Airlines threatens crew members that if they dont lose weight, they will be grounded. Source: Getty/file

Weight check of all the cabin crew will be carried out at their base stations respectively and comprehensive data will be maintained for perusal of management, the memo said.

Mashhood Tajwar, an airline spokesman, told CNN only around five per cent of the crew would need to lose weight by July, as others were fit enough to hit their weight mark.

The memo came when standards for crew members weight had lapsed, and was issued to ensure that flight attendants are slim, smart and fit, according to Mr Tajwar.

He also said the airline had received complaints about obese flight attendants.

Mr Tajwar told CNN the policy was for both appearance and health, and that no one would like to have shabby crew in the aircraft.

Yahoo Lifestyle has reached out to the airline for comment.
At times the pelagic fish seem to hook themselves and the fact that the first and second (and only) fish Ive caught were a marlin and a wahoo speaks to the embarrassment of marine riches.

For many years adventurous fishermen, snorkelers and divers have known about the wealth of sea life pulsing beneath the surface of PNGs turquoise waters.

There are good reasons that the nation of just over eight million people has been long touted as having great potential for tourism. It has all the natural ingredients for an idyllic tropical beach getaway and much more.

PORT MORESBY - The proclamation of Papua New Guinea as the last paradise on earth by the countrys prime minister had the ring of an early 20th century adventure novel and it is a tagline that perhaps appropriately reflects the countrys place as a frontier travel destination.

The consistent swell that pumps through the Pacific from November to April is also ideal for surfers, who are known for their willingness to travel to avoid crowds and notoriously vague when it comes to divulging information about locations.

There are several resorts that provide instant access to good waves and a charter cruise operator that offers a true Endless Summer experience  top notch barrelling reef breaks surrounded only by majestic atolls, tiny villages and a few friends.

A national association implements a management plan to limit the numbers of surfers at each destination at any one time, a system equally good for surf tourists, the aquatic environment and the communities which depend on both.

One could also sink in to a hammock to attempt the challenge of simultaneously reading a book and drinking a coconut (or a South Pacific lager)  a noble pursuit that offers the opportunity to reach nirvana-levels of relaxation.

By landmass PNG is by far the largest Pacific island nation and its mountainous inland regions offer stunning contrasts to the island-life archetype.

The highlands have a cooler climate and are rife with opportunities for trekking, mountain climbing and generally going in to the wild.

The Kokoda track is the most famous option but Mount Wilhelm, the highest peak in Oceania, and the trek to Loloru, a sacred volcano-caldera lake, are arguably more scenic and less well-trodden routes.

In addition to the natural diversity. Papua New Guinea also has hundreds of distinct and ancient cultures that most local people are keen to share with visitors.

The countrys dramatic geography and relatively late entry in to the globalised world has meant that more than 800 distinct cultures are still active today, each with unique customary dress, dances and handmade artefacts.

Cultural shows held throughout the country give tourists the opportunity to be immersed in the spirituality and power of these practices, and also provides an incentive for traditions to be kept alive.

The frontier nature of travel in PNG, though part of its allure, is a hindrance to the development of the industry.

In 2017 tourism accounted for less than one percent of Papua New Guineas gross domestic product and five times less than was managed by nearby Fiji in US dollar terms.

The international airport is in Port Moresby  a city that frequents least liveable lists and doesnt offer much for tourists.

As a result of its remote its many islands and a mainland that is only sporadically connected by roads, PNG is only truly accessible by air and internal flight prices are prohibitive.

Inflated travel costs have flow-on effects for prices of goods and the general cost of doing business for resorts  expenses which are ultimately borne by the traveller.

Business costs are also affected by law and order issues, which are more severe in some locations than others, but on the rise overall.

Tourists are seldom involved in incidents, but are occasionally targeted by opportunistic criminals looking to make quick cash.

Last year 20 tourists were held up at gunpoint at one of PNGs top resorts, which is known for spectacular diving, fishing and  increasingly  robberies.

Prospective foreign visitors may also be deterred by the re-emergence of near forgotten diseases, like polio and leprosy, and the lack of access to health care is another cause for concern, particularly in remote areas.

When my daughter developed high-fevers while travelling in the New Guinea islands, we were instructed by an international health provider go the nearby hospital to see a doctor.

The hospital had no doctor or nurse, only a flea-ridden dog and a community health worker. She conducted a malaria test (the health worker, not the dog) and, having quickly ruled it out, offered only a shrug of the shoulders.

Unsurprisingly many would prefer to travel to Bali, Fiji or Hawaii.

Those still up for bearing the financial cost are often choosing to travel on cruise ships, which offer higher quality accommodation and largely negate the health and safety risks, all for less money than travelling and staying in PNG.

It is a situation that limits travel to the coastal areas, gives visitors a more detached experience and injects less money in to the economy.

These lost opportunities are caused by fundamental issues related to health care, education, infrastructure, law and order, and other things that are much larger than tourism.

The upside to this situation is potential  a sleeping giant waiting to be woken.

If this potential is to ever be reached, the story of tourism in Papua New Guinea  the last paradise on earth  needs to read like a light summer romance rather than the heir to Joseph Conrads The Heart of Darkness.
The Panguna copper and gold mine at its peak

EUAN MOYLE | Foreign Brief

MELBOURNE - The autonomous province of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea will head to the polls on 15 June to vote on greater autonomy or independence from Port Moresby.

The referendum is the third and final pillar of the Bougainville Peace Agreement, signed after a bloody ten-year civil war in the 1990s.

Bougainvilleans are still divided about the issue of independence as well as other factors that sparked the original uprising, such as the future status of the profitable but environmentally toxic Bougainville copper mine.

Weapons also continue to circulate in the small island.

Adding fuel to the potential fire, the PNG government has cast doubt on the referendum, saying conditions have not been met for the vote to take place.
institution,

"We cannot talk about autonomy and independence when the head of the institution has been acting as a tool of heads outside thewhen he has been under the control of (political) interests seeking to hinder the investigation ," the prosecutor added.
New Braunfels, TX (78130)

Today

Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 74F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 74F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.
A still from surveillance video shows the New Braunfels man believed to have taken newspapers from outside the city public library on more than one occasion. On Friday afternoon, the man turned himself in to police and made restitution with the library. Image courtesy of New Braunfels Police Department.
Pirates have kept them since the previous year

Two Ukrainian sailors will return home from the pirate captivity, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin reported on Twitter.

We start 2019 with good news: two crew members from ARK TZE and ANUKET AMBER vessels are returning home from the pirate captivity, reads the message.

They are last from the twelve released Ukrainian sailors, kept by the pirates since 2018.

In November 2018, the pirates captured ARK TZE and ANUKET AMBER vessels during the assault near West Africa.

As we previously reported, the Ukrainian sailor from Pomerenia Sky container carrier captured by Nigerian pirates in late October was released on December 19.

Recently, sailor Valerii Zubytsky returned back home to Odesa after being captured with part of the team of the Swiss merchant ship MV Glarus by Nigerian pirates.
According to the Speaker of the Russian Orthodox Church Vladimir Legoyda, Tomos about autocephaly was signed in violation of the canons

Tomos about the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine was signed in violation of the canons and does not posess the canonical force. Vladimir Legoyda, head of the Synodal department of the Russian Orthodox Church for church relations with society and the media, wrote about this on his Telegram channel.



No matter how some Ukrainian politicians try to steal Christmas from the millions of faithful in Ukraine with the help of the Istanbul Patriarch, it will still come. Tomos is a paper that is the result of irreconcilable political and personal ambitions. It was signed in violation of canons and therefore not possessing any canonical force," he stressed.

Earlier President Petro Poroshenko awarded the Order of Merit of I degree to the Ecumenical Patriarch, Archbishop of Constantinople - New Rome, His Holiness Bartholomew. It is reported by the press service of the head of state.



"Petro Poroshenko presented an award to His Holiness for his outstanding personal contribution in the development of the autocephalous local Orthodox Church of Ukraine, raising the authority of Orthodoxy in the world, many years of activity, establishing ideals of spirituality, mercy and interfaith harmony", the report says.



In this case, it is added that the Ecumenical Patriarch, in turn, awarded the head of the Ukrainian state a commemorative medal - the cross of Panagiy Pammacaristos.

Earlier the ceremony of signing the Tomos of autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was held in Istanbul, 112 Ukraine broadcasted the event.

The Ukrainian delegation led by President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and primate of the UOC Metropolitan Epifaniy were at the ceremony of the signing.



A prayer service was held prior to the signing the Tomos, the service lasted 20 minutes.

Tomorrow, January 6, a divine liturgy will take place in St. George's Cathedral, after which the Tomos will be passed to Metropolitan Epifaniy.
According to the speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament, the number of the parishes of the UOC MP, which decided to join the Orthodox Church of Ukraine has exceeded 40

The renaming of Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate has to be done within the set by the law terms, regardless the litigation over its appeal, Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament Andriy Parubiy claimed this talking to the reporters in Istanbul, 112 Ukraine reports.

Related: Bartholomew calls Orthodox middle-rank leaders to admit Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church

The law (on renaming UOC MP) has entered into force, the law exists. Surely, provokers may file complaints or try to appeal via court, but the law has been passed. Litigation can be long. This in no way affects the decision and the force of law. All actions regarding renaming should be carried out within the deadlines specified in the law. I emphasize once again, no matter how long the litigation lasts, he noted.

At the same time, Parubiy stressed that the number of the parishes of the UOC MP, which decided to join the Orthodox Church of Ukraine has exceeded 40.

Related: Transition to Orthodox Church of Ukraine begins in Cherkasy region

According to the speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament, the number will be increasing in the future. This will be possible after a legal settlement of the issue of such a transition.

As we reported earlier, the ceremony of signing the Tomos of autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine was held in Istanbul.

Tomorrow, January 6, a divine liturgy will take place at St. George's Cathedral, after which the Tomos will be passed to Metropolitan Epifaniy.
Meeting of the two leaders was held before the ceremony of signing the Tomos of autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko held a meeting with President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul. The President of Ukraine reported this on Twitter.

I am pleased to start my working visit in Turkey with a meeting with President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan. We discussed the ways of strengthening the strategic partnership, increasing the coordination of interaction on the international arena, prospects of concluding a bilateral accord on free trade area, the head of the Ukrainian state claimed.

That said, Poroshenko expressed gratitude to the Turkish Republic for the cooperation on the UN General Assembly Resolution regarding the condemnation of the militarization of the Sea of Azov and Crimea by Russia.

Ukraine's Presidental Administration

Later, the press office of the President of Ukraine added that the heads of the states had also drawn special attention to the measures for the release of the illegally captured Ukrainian citizens from Russian prisons, as well as ensuring the rights of citizens of Ukraine, including the Crimean Tatars, on the territory of Crimea within the context of the Russian occupation.

Related: Russia implements scenario of interference in elections, - Poroshenko

The presidents of the two countries noted the positive trend in trade, economic and investment cooperation, as well as the growth of mutual tourist flows, the Presidential Administration summed up.

It is noteworthy that the meeting of Poroshenko and Erdogan happened on the eve of the solemn ceremony of signing the Tomos of autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
On January 5, protests of so-called yellow vests (gilets jaunes) continued in a number of French cities. This was reported by AFP.

In particular, the rallies took place in Paris, Bordeaux, Toulouse and Lyon. About 600 people took part in the protests in the French capital.



In general, the rallies are held peacefully, law enforcement officers report.



We remind that the protests of the so-called yellow vests, which participants initially opposed the increase in gasoline prices, began on November 17. Rallies escalated into clashes with the police and arson of cars, shops, banks.



French President Emmanuel Macron declared a state of emergency in the country. He also promised to abolish the tax increase for the poor and low-income pensioners.

Earlier we informed that about 12 thousand people went out to the streets throughout the country; in particular in Paris about 800 people took part in the protests. It is reported by Le Parisien, citing police data.



It is noted that the movement of "yellow vests" is declining, and fewer people take part in the protests.



In Paris, law enforcement officers detained 57 people, 33 of them are arrested.



Some media report police use of tear gas against protesters.
Previously, it was believed that there is a Ukrainian citizen on the vessel captured by the pirates off the Benin coast

Open source

The Ukrainian Consul verifies the information about the presence of Ukrainians among the captured sailors of the cargo vessel in Benin. Vasyl Kyrylych, the official representative of the Department of Consular office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine reported this, as quoted by Interfax-Ukraine.

The Consul is establishing all circumstances of this issue, he noted.

Earlier, the pirates assaulted the MSC MANDY vessel off Benin coast with 24 crew members aboard. It is assumed that there is a Ukrainian citizen among the 24.

Related: Macron urges Putin to release Ukrainian sailors, vessels

As of now, the vessel went on the raid of Lagos port (territorial waters of Nigeria). The pirates abandoned the vessel two hours after the attack; however, they took six hostages along with the loot.

On January 5, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin reported that two Ukrainian sailors had been released from the captivity of pirates and they would be home soon.
Checkpoint on temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine State Border Guard Service of Ukraine

On Saturday, January 5, two people died at the checkpoints in Stanytsia Luhanska and Mayorske in Donbas. This is reported by the Ukrainian side of the JCCC, the press center of the Joint Forces operation reports.



"A 65-year-old man lost consciousness when filling in the documents for the transition to areas under control of Ukraine on January 5, at 09:45 am, in the service area on Stanytsia Luhanska checkpoint. Ukrainian border guards immediately called the Red Cross medical representative and the ambulance. Unfortunately, the doctors confirmed the death of the man. The preliminary diagnosis was cardiac arrest," the report said.

Earlier we reported that militants in Donbas prohibit OSCE mission observers from entering objects and territories they control. This is reported by the JFO headquarters on Facebook, citing information from the Ukrainian side of the Joint Coordination and Control Centre.



The Ukrainian side of the JCCC informs that the armed forces of the Russian Federation and their mercenaries in Donbas prohibit OSCE SMM observers from entering the objects and territories controlled by them, thereby hindering the missions activities, the report said.



According to the report of the OSCE mission yesterday, the facts of the restriction of freedom of movement, the prohibition of access and other obstacles were reported.



In particular, at a checkpoint near Izvarino, one of the militants ordered the mission patrol to leave the area.



At the checkpoint located at the northern entrance to Novoazovsk, five militants did not allow the mission patrol to pass to the center of the city and to the east.



The Ukrainian side of the JCCC considers unacceptable such aggressive actions of the Russian occupation forces, which have acquired a systemic nature and lead to an escalation of tension both on the line of demarcation and generally in the area of the Joint forces operation, the statement said.
Much like 2018, 2019 presents risks of confrontationdeliberate or inadvertentinvolving the United States, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Iran. The first three share a common view of the government in Tehran as a threat that has been emboldened for too long and whose regional aspirations need curbing. For Washington, this has translated into withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal, the restoration of sanctions, more aggressive rhetoric, and threats of powerful retaliation in the event of Iranian provocation. Riyadh has embraced this new tone, and mainly in the voice of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmansuggested it will fight back and seek to counter Iran in Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen, and even on Iranian soil. Israel has focused on Syria, where it has regularly struck Iranian and Iranian-aligned targets, but it has also threatened to target the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon.

So far, Iranconfident in long-term trends and deterred by the possibility of retaliationhas opted to hunker down. While it has resumed missile testing, and the United States has accused it of using its Shiite proxies in Iraq to threaten the U.S. presence there, its response appears calculated not to invite a harsh reply. But as economic pressure builds on Iran, this posture may not last. Moreover, the risk of an accidental clash originating in Yemen, in the Persian Gulf, in Syria, or in Iraq cannot be discounted.

The main source of tension, so far, has been the U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear deal and the reimposition of secondary sanctions against countries engaged in business with Tehran. That Iran has not responded in kind to what it describes as economic warfare owes much to the efforts of the deals other signatories, namely European countries, Russia, and China. Their attempts to preserve a modicum of space for trade coupled with their continued diplomatic engagement with Tehran have given sufficient reason for Irans leaders to adhere to the terms of the deal. Those leaders also seem to be hoping for a one-term Trump presidency.

This calculus could change. While U.S. and Saudi hopes that sanctions will force Iran to modify its disruptive behavior or prompt regime change almost certainly will be disappointed, the economic squeeze is hurting ordinary Iranians. As more pain is inflicted on Irans citizens, hard-line voices urging the Islamic Republic to eschew the agreement will grow louder, especially as jockeying for President Hassan Rouhanis and, possibly, Supreme Leader Ali Khameneis posts heat up. Even if they comply with nuclear constraints, the temptation could grow in Tehran to make Washington pay a price for its actions by taking aim at its presence in the region, for example by encouraging attacks by Iraqi Shiite militias against U.S. targets in Iraq.

Hostility between Saudi Arabia and Iran is playing out in proxy struggles across the Middle East, from Yemen to Lebanon. Any of these conflicts could escalate. Yemen is arguably the most dangerous. Should a Houthi missile inflict casualties in a Saudi city or if the Houthis target international commercial shipping in the Red Seaa move they have long threatened to makethe conflict could enter a far more dangerous phase.

In Syria, Israel has so far been adept at striking Iranian targets without prompting a wider war. Iran, no doubt aware of the potential cost of such escalation, calculates that it can absorb such attacks without endangering its deeper interests and longer-term presence in Syria. But the Syrian theater is congested, Iranian forbearance is not limitless, and the likelihood of a miscalculation or an attack gone awry remains a risk.

Hanging over these dynamics will be continued reverberations of the October assassination of Khashoggi. The murder amplified criticism in the United States of both Saudi foreign policy and the seemingly unconditional U.S. support for it. These feelings will intensify next year as Democrats assume control of the House. One can only hope this leads to stronger U.S. pressure on Riyadh to end the war in Yemen and to greater congressional scrutiny of U.S. and Saudi escalatory policies toward Iran.

***

In a world with fewer rules, the only truly effective one is knowing what you can get away with. The answer today, it turns out, is: quite a lot.

As the era of largely uncontested U.S. primacy fades, the international order has been thrown into turmoil. More leaders are tempted more often to test limits, jostle for power, and seek to bolster their influenceor diminish that of their rivalsby meddling in foreign conflicts. Multilateralism and its constraints are under siege, challenged by more transactional, zero-sum politics.

Instruments of collective action, such as the United Nations Security Council, are paralyzed; those of collective accountability, including the International Criminal Court, are ignored and disparaged.

Nostalgia can be deceptive. Too fond a portrayal of the era of Western hegemony would be misleading. Iraqs chemical weapons use against Iran in the 1980s; the 1990s bloodletting in Bosnia, Rwanda, and Somalia; the post-9/11 wars in Afghanistan and Iraq; Sri Lankas brutal 2009 campaign against the Tamils; and the collapse of Libya and South Sudan: all these happened at a time ofin some cases because ofU.S. dominance and a reasonably coherent West. A liberal and nominally rules-based order hardly stopped those setting the rules from discarding them when they saw fit. The erosion of Western influence, in short, looks different from Moscow, Beijing, and the developing world than it does from Brussels, London, or Washington.

Still, for better and for worse, U.S. power and alliances have for years shaped international affairs, set limits, and structured regional orders. As the Wests influence declines, accelerated by U.S. President Donald Trumps contempt for traditional allies and Europes struggles with Brexit and nativism, leaders across the world are probing and prodding to see how far they can go.

In their domestic policies, many of those leaders embrace a noxious brew of nationalism and authoritarianism. The mix varies from place to place but typically entails rejection of international institutions and rules. There is little new in the critique of an unjust global order. But if once that critique tended to be rooted in international solidarity, today it stems chiefly from an inward-looking populism that celebrates narrow social and political identity, vilifies minorities and migrants, assails the rule of law and independence of the press, and elevates national sovereignty above all else.

Trump may be the most visible of the genre, but he is far from the most extreme. The wind is in the sails of strongmen worldwide. They realize, at times perhaps to their surprise, that constraints are crumbling, and the behavior that results often fuels violence or crises. Myanmars mass expulsion of 700,000 Rohingya, the Syrian regimes brutal suppression of a popular uprising, the Cameroonian governments apparent determination to crush an Anglophone insurgency rather than tackle the grievances fueling it, the Venezuelan governments economic warfare against its own people, and the silencing of dissent in Turkey, Egypt, and elsewhere are but a few examples. All are motivated in part by what leaders perceive as a yellow light where they used to see solid red.

Beyond their borders, these leaders test norms, too. Having annexed parts of Georgia and Crimea and stoked separatist violence in Ukraines Donbass region, Russia is now throwing its weight around in the Sea of Azov, poisoning dissidents in the United Kingdom, and subverting Western democracies with cyberwarfare. China obstructs freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and arbitrarily detains Canadian citizensincluding the International Crisis Groups Michael Kovrig. Saudi Arabia has pushed the envelope with the war in Yemen, the kidnapping of a Lebanese prime minister, and the gruesome murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi in its consulate in Istanbul. Iran plots attacks against dissidents on European soil. Israel feels emboldened to undermine ever more systematically the foundations of a possible two-state solution.

Such actions are hardly new or equal in magnitude. But they are more brazen and overt. They have this much in common: They start with the assumption that there will be few consequences for breaches of international norms.

The U.S. government has hardly been an innocent bystander. Trumps disdain for human rights and penchant for transactional diplomacy have set a strikingly negative tone. So too has his flouting of Americas international commitments: tearing up the Iran nuclear deal and, worse, threatening to impose economic punishment on those who choose to abide by it; hinting he will leave the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty if U.S. demands are not met rather than working within it to press Russia to comply; and signaling, through attacks on the International Criminal Court and chest-thumping speeches about U.S. sovereignty, that Washington regards its actions and those of its friends as beyond accountability.

The danger of todays free-for-all goes beyond the violence already generated. The larger risk is of miscalculation. Overreach by one leader convinced of his immunity may prompt an unexpected reaction by another; the ensuing tit for tat easily could escalate without the presence of a credible, willing outside power able to play the role of arbiter.

True, not everyone gets away with everything all the time. Bangladesh seemed poised to forcibly return some Rohingya refugees to Myanmar but stopped, almost certainly in response to international pressure. The feared Russian-backed reconquest of Idlib, the last rebel stronghold in Syria, has, for now, been averted, in no small measure due to Turkish, European, and U.S. objections. The same is true (again: for the time being) when it comes to a potential Saudi-led offensive on the Yemeni port of Hodeidah, with Riyadh and Abu Dhabi largely deterred by warnings about the humanitarian impact and cost to their international standing.

Elsewhere, leaders anticipating impunity have been taken aback by the severity of the response: Russian President Vladimir Putin, for example, by the stiff sanctions and show of united resolve that Western powers have maintained since Moscows annexation of Crimea and the killing of its former agent on British soil; Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman by the outrage that followed Khashoggis murder.

Overall, though, it is hard to escape the sense that these are exceptions that prove the absence of rules. The international order as we know it is unraveling, with no clear sense of what will come in its wake. The danger may well lie less in the ultimate destination than in the process of getting there. As the following list of 10 Conflicts to Watch in 2019 amply illustrates, that road will be bumpy, and it will be perilous.

Read the original text at Foreign Policy.
SHANGHAI: China's armed forces must strengthen their sense of urgency and do everything they can to prepare for battle, President Xi Jinping told a meeting of top brass on Friday. China is keen to beef up its armed forces amid territorial disputes in the South China Sea and escalating tension with the United States over issues ranging from trade to the status of Taiwan.

The official Xinhua news agency said Xi told a meeting of the top military authority that China faced increasing risks and challenges, and the armed forces must work to secure its security and development needs.

Xi, who is also chairman of the Central Military Commission, said the armed forces must devise strategies for the new era and take on responsibilities for preparing and waging war.

"The world is facing a period of major changes never seen in a century, and China is still in an important period of strategic opportunity for development," he was quoted as saying.

He said the armed forces needed to be able to respond quickly to emergencies, needed to upgrade their joint operations capabilities and nurture new types of combat forces.

Xi's comments followed his remarks on Wednesday that China still reserved the right to use force to achieve "reunification" with Taiwan and prevent the island's independence.

Xi's Taiwan speech came just days after US President Donald Trump signed the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act into law, reaffirming the US commitment to the island's security.
A woman patient in Arizona, US gave birth to a baby despite being in a vegetative state for a decade. The police have initiated a sexual assault investigation, as reported by BBC.

The woman, who hasn't been identified, is admitted in the Hacienda HealthCare near Phoenix and the facility said that the "deeply disturbing incident" was known to them.

She gave birth on December 29, 2018, and the baby is healthy, according to BBC.

However, the staff was not aware of the woman patient being pregnant.

According to BBC, the Phoenix police official refused to inform them when the inquiry was initiated.

The woman had many people entering her room as she needed care 24x7.

After the incident, the security and safety have been beefed up and now a female person is required to accompany a man entering the room of the woman patient who is in a vegetative state.

According to BBC, the facility issued a statement saying it has "recently become aware of a deeply disturbing incident involving the health and safety of a Hacienda resident". The facility said it is fully co-operating with the authorities.
Washington: US Special Counsel Robert Mueller`s Washington-based grand jury, which is investigating the Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, has been granted an extension by a federal judge days before its term was set to expire. The grand jury used by Mueller came into existence on July 5, 2017, and its 18-month term was set to end on Saturday.

Chief US District Judge Beryl A. Howell, who oversees grand jury activities, on Friday approved the extension of the investigative panel. No reason was given by the court on increasing the term, the Washington Post reported. Howell also declined to provide any length of time for the extension. Under federal rules of criminal procedure, a grand jury may serve more than 18 months only if a judge finds an extension is in the public interest, and then generally for no more than six additional months.

The extension of the grand jury suggested that the Russia investigation wasn`t finished and Mueller may be planning further indictments. Since July 2017, the group has heard from dozens of witnesses in Mueller`s investigation and approved indictments of US President Donald Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his deputy Rick Gates, their Russian business associate Konstantin Kilimnik.

Tweleve Russian military intelligence officers and 13 Russians and three companies who allegedly manipulated social media to sway US voters were also indicted. Manafort and Gates have since pleaded guilty to reduced sets of charges. One Russian company charged by Mueller, Concord Management and Catering, had pleaded not guilty, while the rest of the Russians had not appeared in the US courts.

In recent months, there had been several signs Mueller`s grand jury would press on. Two political supporters of Trump -- political operative Roger Stone and author Jerome Corsi -- said that they had been threatened with indictment by Mueller`s prosecutors. Mueller`s investigation has pressed on for more than 19 months amid attacks from Trump, who views the probe as a partisan "witch hunt" against him and has publicly called for its end.

Trump has long denied there was collusion between his campaign in Moscow. "I didn`t need Russians to help me win Iowa or Wisconsin," he told reporters on Friday.
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Islamabad: The UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will visit Pakistan on Sunday after the two sides finalised the terms and conditions for a USD 6.2 billion assistance package to Islamabad to bolster its foreign exchange reserves and the government's fiscal policies. The UAE government's financial assistance comes as Pakistan is negotiating a USD 8 billion bailout package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to overcome a severe balance-of-payments crisis that threatens to cripple the country's economy.

The package, which is expected to be announced by the Crown Prince, involves USD 3.2 bn worth of oil supplies on deferred payment, besides a USD 3 bn cash deposit, the Dawn reported. "The UAE's package was exactly of the same size and terms and conditions as given by Saudi Arabia. The UAE package was finalised on Thursday evening," a member of the Pakistan's cabinet was quoted as saying by the paper.

The financial assistance from UAE is same to the support Pakistan received from Saudi Arabia. "With this, Pakistan would get a total saving of about USD 7.9 bn on oil and gas imports from the two friendly countries -- accounting for more than 60 per cent of annual oil import bill of about USD 12-13 bn, the cabinet member said.

This includes about USD 3.2 bn each of oil supplies on deferred payments from the UAE and Saudi Arabia and about USD 1.5 bn trade finance from the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), the paper reported. Pakistan's all weather ally China has also pledged to provide a generous aid to Islamabad to overcome its financial woes. Beijing has not yet revealed the quantum of its financial support.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has said Chinese President Xi Jinping has asked him not to reveal the amount. The Trump administration is making all efforts to ensure that any IMF loan to Pakistan is not used to repay its Chinese debt. The US feels that the huge Chinese debt is responsible for Pakistan's economic challenges.

"We are working and making clear within the IMF that if it were going to supply any funding to Pakistan that it would not be used to repay Chinese loans," David Malpass, Under Secretary of Treasury for International Affairs, told lawmakers during a recent Congressional hearing. There are concerns among American lawmakers that the Pakistan may use the IMF money to repay the Chinese debts.
Seoul: A former North Korean diplomat who staged a high-profile defection to the South on Saturday urged an old colleague who has gone missing in Italy to defect to Seoul, following a report that he was seeking asylum in the United States. Jo Song Gil, the 44-year-old who was until recently North Korea`s acting ambassador to Italy, disappeared with his wife after leaving the embassy without notice in early November, South Korean lawmakers said on Thursday.

Jo has applied for asylum in the United States and is under the protection of Italian intelligence, Italy`s La Repubblica newspaper said on Friday, citing an unidentified diplomatic source. The State Department and the U.S. embassy in Seoul did not immediately respond to a query from Reuters regarding the report.

In an open letter, Thae Yong Ho, Pyongyang`s former deputy ambassador to Britain, who said he went to the same university and worked with Jo before defecting to South Korea in 2016, urged Jo to follow in his footsteps. To defect to the South is an "obligation, not a choice" for North Korean diplomats committed to unification, Thae said, calling Seoul "the outpost" for that task.

"If you come to South Korea, the day when our suffering colleagues and North Korean citizens are liberated from the fetters would be moved forward," Thae said in the letter released on his website.

"If you come to Seoul, even more of our colleagues would follow suit, and the unification would be accomplished by itself." Thae said his family visited Jo in Rome in 2008, where the latter was studying from 2006 to 2009. He guided them to sites such as St. Peter`s Basilica in Vatican City.

South Korea could not be "heaven on earth" but a place where Jo can realise his wishes, Thae said, highlighting the ardent desire for unification among many of the roughly 32,000 defectors there. "The defectors may not be as wealthy as South Koreans," Thae added. "But isn`t it the only thing you and I, as North Korean diplomats, should do the rest of our lives - to bring about unification and hand over a unified nation to our children?"
After Bangladeshs counter-terror forces foiled attempts of the banned terrorist organisation, Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), trying to recruit Rohingyas from refugee camps in Coxs Bazar, the countrys elite counter-terrorism force  Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) is setting up a dedicated battalion to monitor the Rohingyas.

RAB is setting up the 15th battalion  RAB 15 based out of Coxs Bazar, where Rohingya refugee camps have been set up. This new battalion will be called Parbattoya Battalion. The headquarters of the RAB-15 will be Coxs Bazar.

In November 2018, the home ministry of Bangladesh issued the notification of setting up of this new battalion  RAB-15. The battalion will strengthen security at the refugee camps, keeping a close eye on the movements of Rohingyas, maintain law and order in the three hill districts  Rangamati, Bandarbans, and Khagrachhari besides Coxs Bazar, said Rapid Action Battalion, Director General, Rapid Action Battalion.

This decision of setting up a new battalion came in the wake of JMBs plan of recruiting Rohingyas coming to light in December 2018, when the Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) units Special Action Group arrested three persons - Abdul Hakim, Noma, and Shafi from Dhaka. As many as 30 commando knives, one dagger, one machete, one improvised explosive device container and 1.5kg of explosives were recovered from their possession.

On further interrogation, Abdul Hakim admitted that he was the regional chief of JMB's Coxs Bazar unit.

Noman confessed that he was JMBs Chittagong military chief, while Shafi admitted that he was an active member of the terror group. They also admitted that the commando knives were procured from Myanmar and brought into the Cox Bazar through Rohingya carriers.

These three JMB men were working in the Rohingya refugee camps since 2016. The men were recruiting members for their organisation in disguise of funding aid to the Rohingya camp. They had almost recruited at least 40 terrorist members from the camp. However, security forces foiled the attempt just in time with these three arrests, added Ahmed.

Sources reveal that a lot of ethnic groups are coming under attack as a result of which they are crossing over the Naf river that separates Myanmar and Bangladesh and settling in the Rohingya camps, RAB-15 will also push back those crossing over into the Bangladesh territory.

This apart, RAB-15 will also be watchful on cross-border smuggling of drugs and human trafficking being rampant in the Rohingya refugee camps of Coxs Bazar.
SAMBHAL: A Uttar Pradesh Police officer who had earned praise for shouting 'thain, thain' to scare criminal during an encounter in Sambhal last year, was injured in a cross-fire by some miscreants in the region.

According to news agency ANI, Sub-Inspector Manoj Kumar got injured on Friday during an exchange of fire between the police and criminals in Sambhal.

Inspector Manoj Kumar who shouted 'thain thain' to scare criminals during an encounter in Sambhal on 12 Oct got injured yesterday during an exchange of fire between police & criminals in Sambhal. pic.twitter.com/GBDjI5OzQg  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 5, 2019

Sharing more details, Sambhal Superintendent of Police Yamuna Prasad said, "Two bike-borne miscreants fired at police during which SI Manoj Kumar got injured.''

''During counter-firing, a criminal was also injured. One criminal is absconding. The injured have been taken to a hospital," the Sambhal SP said.

Inspector Manoj Kumar who shouted 'thain thain' to scare criminals during an encounter in Sambhal on 12 Oct got injured yesterday during an exchange of fire between police & criminals in Sambhal. pic.twitter.com/GBDjI5OzQg  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 5, 2019

The cop was hit by a bullet fired by the criminals during a gunfight in Sambhal, ANI reported.

The Uttar Pradesh policeman, who recently hogged headlines for shouting "thain thain" during an encounter, was hit by a bullet in a gunfight with the criminals in Sambhal Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/snjP2wP9NR pic.twitter.com/jrlRgjlSjH  ANI Digital (@ani_digital) January 5, 2019

Meanwhile, a massive search has been launched to nab the culprits.

Using a bizarre tactic, SI Manoj Kumar had shouted thain thain to scare criminals away during an encounter in Sambhal on October 12, for which he was recommended for an award.

Manoj Kumar was hailed for boosting the morale of fellow policemen during the encounter.

#WATCH: Police personnel shouts 'thain thain' to scare criminals during an encounter in Sambhal after his revolver got jammed. ASP says, 'words like 'maaro & ghero' are said to create mental pressure on criminals. Cartridges being stuck in revolver is a technical fault'. (12.10) pic.twitter.com/NKyEnPZukh  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 13, 2018

It was then reported that SP Yamuna Prasad had written a letter in this regard to the Director General of Police recommending Kumar for bravery awards.

According to the SP, the move by Manoj Kumar to shout out thain thain after a pistol got jammed acted as a booster for the morale of other policemen who were part of the encounter.

Police team involved in the encounter faced a serious situation when the revolver of one of the cops got jammed while they were chasing some notorious criminals in Sambhal.

After realising that the revolver of one of his men had got stuck, the ASP started shouting words like "maaro, ghero" to create a mental pressure on the criminals who vanished in the tall bushes taking advantage of the situation.

Soon, other policemen too joined their superior and started shouting "thain, thain" to scare criminals hiding there.

The entire incident was caught on camera and later shared on social media platforms.
New Delhi: Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections this year, BSP supremo Mayawati and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav reportedly finalised on the seat-sharing formula amid talks of anti-BJP Mahagatbandhan in Uttar Pradesh.

Although there has been no official confirmation from both the parties, sources in the Samajwadi Party (SP) said Yadav met Mayawati in the national capital on Friday to discuss the final nitty-gritty of the proposed alliance.

The sources claimed that two Uttar Pradesh-based political outfits will contest 35 Lok Sabha seats each, with the northern state having a total number of 80 seats.

They added that the remaining seats would be left for the Congress, Rashtriya Lok Dal and other smaller parties.

The SP and the Bahujan Samaj Party had defeated the ruling BJP in several by-polls including the state`s Chief Minister Gorakhpur parliamentary seat. The BJP and its allies had won 73 out of 80 seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

On December 26, the Samajwadi Party leader had lashed out at the Congress for not including its sole legislator in Madhya Pradesh in the cabinet despite its support in the formation of the government and in attaining the majority mark.

On the other hand, Mayawati, a prospective partner in the 'mahagathbandhan' has already given enough hints about acting tough on the Congress.

Miffed with the Congress, the BSP chief had, soon after extending support to that party 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 at bay.

(With inputs from agencies)
New Delhi: Television's one of the most popular and promising face Mouni Roy ventured into Bollywood last year with Akshay Kumar starrer 'Gold'. The 'Naagin' of the small screens received a warm response from the audience for her part and is now gearing up for her next release.

Meanwhile, Mouni sneaked out some time and headed for a vacay to Dubai. She posted a series of pictures from the beautiful place and we must say that after looking at her gorgeous photos, we too wanna jump out to some great getaway!

Check out her pictures:

Much ahead of her maiden venture, the actress bagged her second film. She will be seen in Dharma Productions' much talked about trilogy's first part 'Brahmastra'. The film is helmed by Ayan Mukerji and has a dreamy ensemble cast. Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan will be seen sharing the screen space together for the first time in the film.

She also has 'Made In China' opposite Rajkummar Rao.

Mouni was first seen in Ekta Kapoor's famous daily soap 'Kyuki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi'. She played Krishna Tulsi in the serial and soon became a household name. After featuring in several hit shows, her latest outingNaagin and Naagin II again by Ekta Kapoor got her immense popularity.
New Delhi: Birthday girl Deepika Padukone has turned a year older today and just as she celebrates her special day with beau Ranveer Singh in a faraway land, we decide to go on a nostalgia trip. On her birthday, let's take a look at some of the most stunning desi avatars.

We surfed her Instagram account and got our hands on the most breathtaking pictures where she can be seen dressed in a nine-yard saree looking simply wow! Also, designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee, who designed her wedding attire has always shared gorgeous clicks of the actress. Check it out here:

The actress got married to longtime beau Ranveer Singh in what can be called nothing less than a fairytale wedding. The couple got married at the picturesque locales of Lake Como, Italy. They had two ceremoniesKonkani and Sindhi on November 14 and 15 respectively.

On the work front, Dippy is set to sweep the viewers off their feet one more time. She will next be seen in Meghna Gulzar's next based on the life of acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal. Deepika will not only play the titular role but also produce the movie.

The acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal was attacked way back in 2005 when she was only 15. The 32-year-old assailant was known to the family and after Laxmi rejected his advances, he attacked her.

The acid attack survivor is successfully running her NGO Chhanv Foundation now. She fell in love with social worker and activist Alok Dixit and together they have a daughter named Pihu.
New Delhi: Bollywood's talented star Arjun Kapoor is way past holiday mood and has put on his work shoes already! The actor has begun his prep for the upcoming venture 'Panipat', a film by Ashutosh Gowariker. The period drama has an interesting line-up of actors as well.

Arjun, meanwhile, decided to share a picture while getting his horse-riding lessons as part of the prep work.

He wrote: New year, new learnings... so the last whole month of 2018 went in enjoying the company of an Animal, Mother Nature & Sunrises... as I gear up to restart shooting for Panipat I feel privileged to be able to learn this beautiful art of becoming one with this most glorious animal. The process of learning has been therapeutic & empowering at the same time. Cant wait to get back on set with this new childlike excitement for what is my toughest & biggest film yet.

PS - Thank you to my teachers at the Race course for bearing with me along the way... @agppl @kritisanon @duttsanjay #panipatprep #panipat #horsewhisperer #horsingaround #newlearnings #2019 #happynewyear #sadashivraobhau.

The movie stars Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt and Kriti Sanon in lead roles. 'Panipat' is set to release on December 6, 2019. The makers have roped in National Award winning art director Nitin Chandrakant Desai who is reportedly recreating the majestic Shaniwar Wada at ND Studios, Karjat for the period drama.

Reportedly, ace fashion designer Neeta Lulla is designing the costumes for his ambitious project.
Operations to rescue the trapped 15 miners in the flooded coal mine in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district witnessed a new lease of life after the two high powered pumps started dewatering the main shaft on Friday.

The pumps, offered by Kirloskar Brothers Ltd, were finally activated on Day 23 of rescue operations at 3:30 pm on Friday. With the help of these pumps, Navy divers are expected to gauge the water level in the shaft.

Meanwhile, a high power submersible pump from Coal India and two other pumps from Odisha fire service are engaged in dewatering the nearby abandoned mines, which might be interlinked and as much help in lowering of water in the main shaft. The NRDF and other agencies are on the standby.

The Fire Service reported that the water level from the old shaft has receded by 1.5 inches.

Rescue divers from the Indian Navy and the NDRF are yet to be able to make any significant impact in their search and rescue operations as the water level is still beyond 100 feet, the safe diving capacity for the divers, the official said.

The water level at the main shaft where the miners are trapped is about 160 feet, he said, adding that total depth of the main shaft is about 370 feet.

Meanwhile, the Centre on Friday told the Supreme Court that they were facing difficulties in the operation to rescue 15 miners trapped in an illegal coal mine in Meghalaya since December 13 as there was no blueprint of the 355-feet well.

No contact has been established yet with the trapped miners till now. It is still not clear whether they have access to food or water.

Fifteen miners are trapped inside a 370-foot-deep illegal coal mine in East Jaintia Hills district since December 13 after water from a nearby river gushed in, puncturing the mine wall.

With agency inputs
BHOPAL: In a big relief for farmers in Madhya Pradesh, the state Cabinet led by Chief Minister Kamal Nath on Saturday approved the farmers' loan waiver scheme. The Cabinet has decided to waive off loans upto Rs 2 lakh that were taken by farmers before 12 December 2018.

The Cabinet also approved the decision to raise assistance for the marriages of girls from Rs 28,000 to Rs 51,000. The decision will put an additional burden of Rs 35,000 crore on the state exchequer.

Waiving off farmer loans was one of the key promises made by the Congress in its manifesto for the recently-held assembly elections in the state which the party won. Soon after taking oath as the CM, Kamal Nath had cleared the proposal of waiving the farm loans up to Rs 2 lakh as promised by Congress president Rahul Gandhi ahead of assembly polls.

The directive issued on the order of the CM stated, "Madhya Pradesh Government has taken a decision to write off short-term crop loan of eligible farmers up to the limit of Rs two lakh, as on March 31, 2018, from nationalised and cooperative banks." However, as per the Cabinet decision on Saturday, all loans sanctioned before 12 December 2018 have been waived.

Six farmers were killed in police firing at Pipliya Mandi during an agitation in June last year.
Thiruvananthapuram: Violence erupted across Kerala on Friday night with bombs hurled at the house of Thalassery MLA and CPI(M) leader AN Shamseer among other places.

The Kerala Police on Saturday said that at least 20 persons have been arrested for violence in Kannur and other places across the state.

#UPDATE Police have arrested 20 people in connection with the violence in Kannur district, last night. #Kerala https://t.co/QYeL1agiL5  ANI (@ANI) January 5, 2019

Unidentified persons riding a bike hurled a bomb at Shamseer's house at Madapeedikayil near Thalassery in Kannur district of northern Kerala at around 10.15 PM, according to police.

"This was an RSS conspiracy to instigate violence in the state. They intend to create violence and destroy the peaceful atmosphere of the state," Shamseer told media later.

The attack happened when the Left leader was attending a peace meeting organised at Thalassery after widespread violence had hit the state following the hartal declared by right-wing groups over the entry of women in Sabarimala.

Bombs were also hurled at CPI(M) leader and former Kannur district secretary of CPI(M) P Sasi's house at Thalassery and a CPI(M) activist Vishak was attacked at Iritty, a place in Kannur district.

In another development, prohibitory orders were issued at Pandalam, Adoor and Kodumon police station areas in Pathanamthitta district for seven days.

Two shops and the house of a CPI(M) local leader at Adoor were also attacked with bombs on Friday.

Seven persons were injured in these attacks.

Pathanamthitta has witnessed widespread violence over the entry of women into the hill-top shrine of Sabarimala resulting in the death of a Sabarimala Karma Samiti member Chandran Unnithan at Pandalam.

Kerala has been marred with violence since the afternoon of January 2 after two women of menstruating age managed to enter Sabarimala temple.

The southern state has been witnessing massive protests from the right-wing organisations since the Left-led state government decided to implement the September 28 order of the Supreme Court allowing women of all ages to enter the centuries-old temple.

(With Agency Inputs)
Bengaluru: Karnataka Water Resource minister D K Shivakumar cried foul Friday after he and his aged mother were grilled by Income Tax department officials for six hours in connection with alleged tax evasion by him. "I have not done anything wrong. I am confident of getting justice. I am an accused in the case...My only anguish is that my 80-year-old mother was interrogated for six hours," Shivakumar told reporters.

According to the I-T officials, the questioning of both the minister and his mother began at 11 AM and continued till the evening. Shivakumar was grilled for three hours on Thursday also.

"I have no answers to questions on why the raids were carried out at the time of assembly elections and now when the Lok Sabha elections are nearing.

Last time also when I was summoned soon after returning from the hospital, I gave all the answers. I have been receiving multiple notices which I cannot explain now," he said after coming out of the Income Tax office.

Shivakumar said the I-T officials were cordial with his mother Gowramma and gave her due respect. However, his grouse was that she was questioned for six hours.

Shivakumar, a frontline Congress leader in the state, was summoned for questioning on Thursday as part of a "routine process" following searches at various properties linked to him on August 2, department sources said. The minister had already appeared before I-T officials twice in July and August last year.

The searches were conducted after Shivakumar hosted 44 Gujarat Congress MLAs at a resort on the city outskirts to forestall alleged attempts by the BJP to poach them ahead of the Rajya Sabha polls which the then Congress president Sonia Gandhi's political secretary Ahmed Patel won.

Last September, the Enforcement Directorate had registered a money laundering case against him and some others for allegedly indulging in hawala transactions.

The I-T department had charged Shivakumar and his associate S K Sharma of transporting "huge" amounts of unaccounted cash on a "regular basis" through hawala channels with the help of three other accused. The other accused are Sachin Narayan, Anjaneya Hanumanthaiah and N Rajendra.

Narayan is a business partner of Shivakumar and Sharma is the proprietor of Sharma Transports, which runs a fleet of luxury and passenger buses and provides transport services to various concerns and individuals on rental basis, the IT department had said in its complaint.

Hanumanthaiah, an employee posted at the Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi, was allegedly responsible for storing and handling unaccounted cash of Shivakumar in the national capital, it had said.

Rajendra, a caretaker at Karnataka Bhavan, also works for Sharma, apart from looking after the immovable properties of Shivakumar and Sharma, it had said.

Unaccounted cash of about Rs 20 crore was seized during raids in New Delhi and Bengaluru last August and I-T officials had said the money was "directly relatable" to Shivakumar.

Shivakumar, however, claimed the I-T department was targeting him and not letting him "breathe", but asserted he would fight the case legally.

A special court had granted him conditional bail in this case some time back and will hear the matter again on September 20.
New Delhi: In yet another attack on the grand old party, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that farmers are a vote bank for Congress while to BJP they are food providers. "Farmers are a vote bank for Congress, and for us, farmers are our food providers. This is the difference between Congress and BJP," the Prime Minister said while addressing a rally in Jharkhand's Palamu.

"We didn't make Narendra Modi Awas Yojana, we didn't make Namo Awas Yojana, we didn't make Raghubar Das Awas Yojana, we made Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana so that the next PM can take the work forward," he added.

Slamming the former UPA government over delay in completion of projects, PM Modi said, "There wouldn't have been a need for farmers to take loans had the previous Congress government completed the projects that were meant to benefit farmers. First they forced farmers to take loans, now they're misleading them in the name of loan waivers."

PM Modi, who is in Jharkhand, inaugurated a slew of development projects. He will proceed to Odisha later in the day. As the countdown for 2019 Lok Sabha polls has begun, the ruling BJP is leaving no stone unturned to ensure a significant win in the upcoming general elections.

Jharkhand: Prime Minister Narendra Modi lays foundation stone of various development projects in Palamu. pic.twitter.com/Hmnl7jmny6  ANI (@ANI) January 5, 2019

The Prime Minister unveiled a plaque to mark the laying of foundation stone for the revival of North Koel (Mandal Dam) project and Kanhar stone pipeline irrigation system. He also inaugurated the collective e-griha pravesh of 25,000 beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana through video conferencing.

With a focused strategy to win new territories and retain power, the Prime Minister is expected to hold at least 100 rallies ahead of the general elections. He kick-started addressing rallies on Thursday from Punjab's Gurdaspur.
New Delhi: BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi on Friday alleged that women disguised as transgenders entered the Sabarimala temple and said people in the name of women rights were actually transgressing.

Participating in the debate on the issue during Zero Hour, Lekhi said a narrative was coming from the people, who "neither understand Hinduism nor do they know the practices of rituals".

From Kamakhya to Chengallur, the goddesses are worshipped as "rajaswala" in the menstruating form, she said. "This is what Hinduism is. So, we have a space for everything and one such ritual in a small temple like Sabarimala has its own ritualistic practices."

Referring to the entry of women in the Sabarimala temple on Wednesday, Lekhi attacked the Left government in Kerala, saying, "(The) government, which is refusing to maintain law and order in that state, is acting in a manner where it transports two women in an ambulance and surreptitiously takes them as a transgender."

The BJP leader alleged that a certain kind of narrative was being set in the country where men are made to feel small and anti-feminist about the issue. "One person has died because of stone-pelting. The state government is squarely responsible for their deaths. Guruswamy, one among four of those worshippers, had committed suicide. You are actually doing things to provoke (the) community. You are leading to a particular anarchical form," she added.

Echoing similar sentiments, Congress MP KK Venugopal said, "In entire Kerala, the minds of people -- the devotees of Sabarimala -- have become very much upset (with the incident)."

CPI parliamentarian P Karunakaran said according to the Constitution, each and every citizen have the right to go to the temple or to any other place.

"The Supreme Court has given that verdict and we are upholding that. Not only we, Uma Bharti, Subramanian Swamy, Maneka Gandhi and many other BJP persons and Congress persons have upheld this verdict," he said, while referring to the apex court's order to struck down a rule that disallowed girls and women in the 10-50 age group from entering the Sabarimala temple.

Kerala had witnessed unprecedented violence and mayhem on Thursday, a day after two women entered the hill shrine, infuriating saffron outfits, with protesters blocking roads by placing burning tyres and granite blocks.
BJP president Amit Shah on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the Congress saying that in the northeast, all eight governments have "gone out of Congress hands and are now with the NDA" and there is a wave in favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Addressing the people of Agartala in Tripura, the BJP chief said that the party is confident of winning more than 21 seats in the northeast, as reported by news agency ANI.

"In North-East, all 8 governments have gone out of Congress hands and are now with the NDA. Were confident of winning more than 21 seats in North-East. There is a wave in favour of Narendra Modi ji in this region."

He asserted that it was only after the BJP came to power that Tripura's Agartala Airport was remaned as Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport, after its last ruler Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya.

"For years the demand to rename the Tripura Airport after the king of Tripura was not accepted. When we formed the government, we renamed the airport after him and honored the king," said Shah.

Taking a jibe at the West Bengal government, Shah said, "In West Bengal, BJP will win more than 23 seats in the Lok Sabha elections. A change is about to happen in Bengal, the people are fed up of the alliance of Congress and Trinamool Congress (TMC)."

The BJP chief said that the party would fight the coming general election on the issues like development, defence and self-respect of the country. He expressed confidence that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would come back to power with the BJP winning more than 300 seats.

The saffron party had won 282 seats in the 2014 poll, more than the magic number required for forming a government. "Development, defence and self-respect of the country are the main issues in the next general elections with which the BJP will go into the poll. Prime Minister Narendra Modi would come back to power by winning more than 300 seats", Shah told a press conference

When asked about building of Ram temple at Ayodhya, he said, So far the issue of Ram Mandir is concerned, Congress does not want the case is settled fast. According to the announcement of the BJP, we want Ram Mandir is built, but remaining within the structure of law. He said, there would be drastic changes in the poll scenario in the West Bengal where BJP would win more than 23 seats out of a total of 42 seats. He also claimed that his party would also win 21 seats out of 25 in the northeastern region of the country.

Coming down heavily on efforts of the anti-BJP parties to come together, Shah said, the mahagatbandhan of Congress can give a helpless (Majbur) government and BJP can give a strong (Majbut) government under the leadership of Modiji.

The Modi government has conducted huge developmental works throughout the country, but what is remarkable is strengthening the security and defence of the country, he said. Shah said, when enemies attack soldiers of America or Israel, they immediately retaliate. After the two countries, India is now the third country in the world which also retaliates after formation of the BJP government in 2014.

The BJP chief also claimed that Prime Minister Modi has set a precedent of a strong India by holding surgical strike inside Pakistan after terrorist attacks on Indian Army base at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir in 2016.

Earlier, Shah kicked off election campaign at the Swami Vivekananda Maidan here by addressing 50,000 Panna Promukhs and other party workers.

During his address, Amit Shah Saturday appealed people of Tripura to ensure victory with huge margin in two Lok Sabha seats from the state.

Prime Minister Modi works 18 hours a day. He comes from a poor family and works tirelessly for the country. After five years in the office of PM, nobody can raise a single allegation against him. Only he can lead a majboot sarkar (strong government), Shah said. He launched a scathing attack against the Congress-led alliance saying they have neither policy, nor leader or any sort of promise.

What is the neeti (policy) of this alliance? Who is its 'neta (leader)? Who will run their government? So, build close coordination with every single person in the state and make sure that both Lok Sabha seats from Tripura are gifted to Narendra Modiji in 2019, he said. Among others, BJP General Secretary, Ram Madhab, and state In-charge Sunil Deodhar and Chief Minister Biplab Kumar also spoke in the meeting.
New Delhi: Victims of human trafficking have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing their support to the anti-trafficking bill and hoping for the functioning of the Rajya Sabha for its early passage in the Parliament.

The Lok Sabha has already passed the bill in the Monsoon session of the Parliament in July last year.

In a letter to the PM undersigned by organisations representing trafficking survivors from West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, the survivors said they hope for the early passage of the bill in the Rajya Sabha.

"At some desperate moment of our life, we were lured with a hope of better life and trafficked for forced labour, commercial sexual exploitation, forced begging and other inhumane jobs. We were fortunate to break free from the chains of bondage but there are millions who are still trapped in the vicious cycle or vulnerable to traffickers," the letter said.

"We would like to ensure you that the survivors and citizens of India, stand with you against the menace of human trafficking. We hope the Rajya Sabha functions and all political parties support the bill," it added.

The Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018 provides for designated Courts for fast-tracking trials and timely repatriation of foreign victims - within a period of one year from taking into cognizance, which is a highly commendable move as there are many cases of trafficking from across neighbouring countries such as Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Another path-breaking addition to the Bill has been the formation of the National Anti-Trafficking Bureau (NATB), which will coordinate with authorities in international organizations, and facilitate inter-state and trans-border transfer of evidence.

Last month, the survivors of human trafficking along with some MPs had also sent a petition to Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu urging him to ensure the passage of the Bill in the Winter session of the Parliament.

As per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2016 report, a total of 15,379 victims of human-trafficking were reported in 2016, out of which almost 60 per cent were minors. The report has also estimated that more than one lakh children (1,11,569) have gone missing till 2016, and 55,625 of them remained untraced.
In an absurd incident in Uttar Pradesh's Kushinagar district, a female student, who complained of harassment by a boy, was asked by the principal of the college to stop coming to the institution, as reported by news agency ANI on Saturday.

The girl is in class 11 and a student of Mahatma Gandhi Inter College, Gorakhpur. The Principal, CB Singh, accused the girl of being indisciplined and said that she should not study in the institution and tarnish its image.

"Such indisciplined girls need not study here and tarnish the image of the school," said CB Singh, Principal, Mahatma Gandhi Inter College.

A case has been registered against the boy under relevant sections, according to Kushinagar Circle Officer Nitesh Pratap Singh. He added that anti-romeo squads have been formed in the district to patrol the area.

Nitesh Pratap Singh, Circle Officer, Kushinagar, "A case has been registered against the boy under relevant sections. Anti-romeo squads have been formed in every police station in our district that patrol the area regularly."
Johannesburg: Increased trade, foreign direct investment (FDI) and skills exchange programme between India and South Africa will be the main focus of a senior South African minister visiting India from Sunday to participate at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi.

The Raisina Dialogue, which will take place from January 8-10, is India's flagship conference of geopolitics and geo-economics and annually attracts high-level participants from all over the world. The theme for the 2019 edition of the conference will be: "A World Reorder: New Geometries, Fluid Partnerships, Uncertain Outcomes."

South African Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Reginah Mhaule will attend the Raisina Dialogue as well as meet several other top Indian dignitaries to promote fields of mutual interests between India and South Africa, officials said. The meetings will focus on issues such as enhancing the trade and commercial relationship between the two nations, foreign direct investment and partnering in areas beneficial for both countries, such as skills exchange, they said.

Mhaule will also meet her Indian counterpart, Minister of State for External Affairs General Dr VK Singh and discuss a range of global issues. She will also have high-level meetings with Indian investors and Think Tanks in Mumbai to promote South Africa as a destination for trade, investment and tourism.

Since the African Continent is expected to receive significant focus during the Raisina conference, Mhaule will use the platform to highlight key issues at the heart of South Africa's foreign policy, including advancing the African agenda, regional integration and conflict prevention and peace building, officials said. South Africa and India enjoy a strategic partnership and bilateral relations are anchored by a shared history of friendship and solidarity.
New Delhi: Months after hogging headlines for his wink at Parliament, Congress President Rahul Gandhi winked again in the Lok Sabha during a heated debate on Rafale deal. The incident took place while M Thambi Durai, Deputy Speaker of Lower House, was speaking, standing in front of the Congress chief.

In a video shared by BJP leader Amit Malviya on Twitter, Rahul is seen sitting beside Jyotiraditya Scindia when suddenly he delivered a wink, looking apparently at a party member.

Malviya said, "Rahul Gandhi 'winks' again... This time during the all serious debate on #Rafale. He surely needs help!"

Rahul Gandhi winks again... This time during the all serious debate on #Rafale. He surely needs help! pic.twitter.com/rncFdTlphU  Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) January 4, 2019

In July 2018, the Gandhi scion surprised everyone in the Lok Sabha as well as those watching the debate on the no-confidence motion on TV by hugging and shaking hands with Prime Minister Narendra Modi after his speech. Rahul then went back to his seat and winked at his party colleagues.

In a fiery "point-by-point" rebuttal to Congress's charges on the Rafale deal on Friday, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman accused the grand old party of spreading "falsehood" on the issue. Coming down heavily on Congress, she blamed the Congress-led UPA of 'ignoring' the country's defence needs and doing nothing at a time when neighbouring China and Pakistan were strengthening their respective air forces.
New Delhi: Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who postponed his visit to Amethi, will now undertake the trip on January 22-23, evoking criticism from Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani. The Congress chief was earlier scheduled to reach Amethi on Friday on a two-day visit and participate in several programmes.

However, he cancelled his visit to participate in the debate on Rafale issue in the Lok Sabha. Union Minister Irani, who reached Amethi on Friday, took a dig at Gandhi for delaying his scheduled visit to his parliamentary constituency, saying, "Rahul is not coming to Amethi even when the Parliament is not working on Saturday. It shows neither he can come on time to his own constituency nor he can give timely solutions.

"For quite some time now, the two leaders have been at loggerheads over the development of Amethi, with Union Minister Irani maintaining that the constituency has suffered despite the Gandhi family representing the seat in the Lok Sabha for decades.Gandhi, a Member of Parliament (MP) from Amethi, had defeated Irani from this Lok Sabha seat in the 2014 elections. Irani is expected to contest from Amethi seat once again in the 2019 polls for which she has started making frequent trips to drum support for herself.
NEW DELHI: Fugitive diamond jeweller Nirav Modi on Saturday claimed that he has done nothing wrong and that the Punjab National Bank 'scam' has been blown out of proportion. Nirav Modi was responding to the Enforcement Directorate's application in the PMLA court to declare him a fugitive offender under new Fugitive Economic Offenders Act.

"I've done nothing wrong. The PNB scam was a civil transaction, blown out of proportion. I can't come back to country due to security reasons," he said.

The reply comes days after the Indian government confirmed that they have been told by the British authorities that Modi is living in the UK. Replying to a question on Nirav Modi in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh said that the National Central Bureau of Manchester informed India that their investigations have led to the location of Nirav Modi in the UK.

"In August 2018, the government sent two requests, one from the CBI and the other from the Enforcement Directorate, to the authorities of the UK seeking the extradition of Nirav Modi to India," Singh had told Rajya Sabha, adding that the requests are currently under consideration.

Nirav Modi has been absconding since the alleged Punjan National Bank fraud, by far the highest in the country in terms of value, came to light in 2018. An Interpol arrest warrant was also notified against him even as India is working to get him extradited from the United Kingdom.

ED has also filed a charge sheet against him alleging that he laundered and diverted over Rs 6,400 crore of bank funds abroad to dummy companies that were under his and his families' control.

Meanwhile, ED on Friday also sent a request for attachment of a factory premises in Thailand worth Rs 13 crore owned by Abbeycrest Ltd, a company of Nirav Modi's uncle Mehul Choksi's Gitanjali Group, in connection with its ongoing investigation into the Rs 13,500-crore PNB fraud case.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday will visit Jharkhand and Odisha to inaugurate multiple projects. The countdown for 2019 Lok Sabha polls has begun with the ruling BJP leaving no stone unturned to win the elections.

In Jharkhand, the Prime Minister will unveil a plaque to mark the laying of foundation stone for the revival of North Koel (Mandal Dam) project and Kanhar stone pipeline irrigation system. He will inaugurate the collective e-griha pravesh of 25,000 beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana through video conferencing. He will also address a public gathering.

PM Modi will then proceed to Odisha where he will dedicate to the nation the Balasore-Haldia-Durgapur section of LPG pipeline project of IOCL and the Balasore multi-modal logistics park in Baripada.

The Prime Minister will unveil a plaque to mark the commencement of work for the development and conservation of Rasika Ray temple at the ancient fort, Haripurgarh. He will lay the foundation stone for the four-laning of various National Highway projects and inaugurate six passport seva kendras. He will also flag off the second passenger train from Tatanagar to Badampahar. He will also address a public gathering at Baripada.

With a focused strategy to win new territories and retain power, PM Modi will hold at least 100 rallies. He kick-started addressing rallies on Thursday from Punjab's Gurdaspur.
NEW DELHI: Top BJP central leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah, have hailed Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for her reply in the Lok Sabha, saying she clearly ''demolished Congress` lies and misinformation campaign on Rafale fighter jets deal.''

Soon after the Defence Minister Sitharaman concluded her speech in Lok Sabha on Friday, PM Modi took to Twitter and tweeted, "Defence Minister Sitharaman`s speech in the Parliament demolishes the campaign of calumny on Rafale."

Defence Minister @nsitharaman's speech in the Parliament demolishes the campaign of calumny on Rafale. Must watch!https://t.co/xDoz68QfRUhttps://t.co/LHokukTx9r  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 4, 2019

Along with his tweet, PM Modi also posted the video of her reply after a debate in the Lower House on the Rafale jets deal.

Hailing the Defence Minister, BJP president Amit Shah too said, "A LIE goes only so far and no further. Defence Minister Sitharaman ji has completely demolished Congress party`s lies and misinformation campaign on Rafale with her excellent speech loaded with facts."

A LIE goes only so far and no further. Defence Minister Smt @nsitharaman ji has completely demolished Congress party's lies and misinformation campaign on Rafale with her excellent speech loaded with facts. I congratulate her for bringing the truth to the nation.  Amit Shah (@AmitShah) January 4, 2019

Concluding his tweet, the BJP chief congratulated Sitharaman for "bringing the truth to the nation".

Expressing similar sentiments, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley also tweeted, "Well done! Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman ji, for an outstanding performance. You demolished the fake campaign. We are all proud of your performance."

Well done! Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman ji, for an outstanding performance. You demolished the fake campaign. We are all proud of your performance. @nsitharaman  Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) January 4, 2019

The encouraging responses and tweets from the BJP central leadership came after Sitharaman, while speaking in Lok Sabha on Friday, dismissed all allegations of corruption in the Rafale fighter jet deal and said it was "far better on every count" on pricing, processes and other factors.

Sitharaman hit back at the Congress saying while the Bofors deal was a scam, the Rafale deal would bring Narendra Modi back to power in the coming elections.

In a spirited two-and-half hour reply in the Lok Saba to a debate on the deal in which she gave as much as she received from the Opposition, she said Congress dilly-dallied on the deal and did not conclude it for over 10 years, putting national security to jeopardy while the BJP government finalised the deal in 14 months.

The reply came on a day when Congress claimed "fresh revelations" that PM Modi increased the benchmark price from euro 5.2 billion to euro 8.2 billion, which Sitharaman rejected it as ''false.''

Getting emotional over Congress president Rahul Gandhi's attack on her and the Prime Minister, she said he had called them liars.

"I come from a middle-class family and have my honour intact and the Prime Minister comes from a poor background and has come up the hard way. Being 'naamdar' does not give the right to make baseless allegations. A family name does not give a right to call anyone a 'chor' (thief).

"It is not a prerogative of 'khaandan' (family) to protect themselves," she asked, referring to Gandhi's demand that he needed a chance to protect himself. My honour, PM's honour have been insulted. Have you apologised? Nobody has the right to call this. Who gives him the right to call us like that," she said.

"Bofors was a scam but Rafale is a decision taken in national interest. Congress lost its government due to Bofors. The Rafale deal will bring back PM Modi to have a new India, transforming India and to remove corruption" the Minister said in a reply to a debate on the deal that was acrimonious and marked often by interruptions from the Opposition benches.

After the Defence Minister's reply, Rahul Gandhi said he did not accuse her of being involved in the deal.

"I had only accused the Prime Minister of direct involvement in the Rafale deal."

He also wanted to know a "'yes or no' to his question whether Defence Ministry had said that the PM should not be bypassing the defence establishment".

Attacking the Congress for its failure to clinch the deal, she said there was a difference between defence dealings and dealing in defence, in a veiled jibe at the Opposition party suggesting it was looking for kickbacks.

"There was a reason that the previous UPA government did not do anything required for the deal between 2006 and 2014. They (UPA) were dealing for 18 flyaway aircraft. Why there was no agreement? You did not even buy a single aircraft. They did not intend buying. There is a difference between ''defence dealings'' and ''dealing in defence.'' We deal in defence as national security with priority," she said.

Targeting UPA's Defence Minister AK Antony, Sitharaman said he had stated in February, 2014 that there was "no money" to go ahead with deal for buying Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) under which 18 were to be procured in a flyaway condition from Dassault Aviation and the rest 108 to be manufactured by public sector undertaking HAL under transfer of technology.

She said the commercial bid of MMRCA "non-deal" was opened in 2011 and Dassault Aviation, which manufactures Rafale, became L1 but Antony directed independent monitoring to examine how the lowest bidder emerged.

She said the independent monitor cleared the process but they did not buy aircraft even after that and an order was passed to reexamine the approach and methodology of the contract negotiating committee.

"This is the kind of 'khilwad' (tampering). This was interference because somebody did not receive something from somewhere. The deal did not suit you. It did not give money. Their 'treasury security' was important not the national security," she said.

Sitharaman said the first Rafale fighter jet will be delivered in September this year and the last aircraft will be delivered by 2022.

"We did not run for 10 years like you and we did it in 14 months," she said.

Sitharaman also accused the Congress of shedding crocodile tears for HAL and accused the UPA of not doing anything to empower the public sector undertaking.

Responding to the Ppposition questions on why only 36 aircraft were finalised and not 126 as was proposed by the UPA government, the Minister said that the government followed the traditions of buying two squadrons as it was urgently required given the fragile security environment.
NEW DELHI: The Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress have finalised a seat-sharing arrangement for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, NCP leader Praful Patel said on Friday. The two parties will be contesting together on 40 Lok Sabha seats while a decision on eight remaining seats is yet to be taken.

"We have decided that NCP and Congress will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections together on 40 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra. However, a decision is yet to be taken for the remaining 8 Lok Sabha seats of the state," Patel said. Maharashtra has 48 Lok Sabha seats, the second highest after Uttar Pradesh's 80.

The NCP leader also exuded confidence that the alliance with like-minded parties would get "great success" in the election. "We are always of the opinion that like-minded parties should come together. I am sure that the alliance will achieve great success," he said.

Patel's remarks come at a time when NCP chief Sharad Pawar held a meeting with key leaders to discuss the party's preparation for Lok Sabha polls. "We want to bring parties which believe in (chief Constitution maker) BR Ambedkar's ideology together," Patel said.

The seat-sharing is likely to be finalised by the central leadership of the Congress and the NCP. The two parties will be submitting their reports regarding seat-sharing to their respective central leaders on the basis of which the final seat-sharing arrangement will be finalised.

Pawar had also earlier said that he and his Congress counterpart Rahul Gandhi are holding discussions at the national level. "We are positive and we are trying to bring all the like-minded people together. We are working out on how to bind all the secular parties together to throw the communal parties out of power," he had said.

As per reports, the NCP is likely to field former Maharashtra minister Sunil Tatkare from Raigad Lok Sabha seat, where another party leader Bhaskar Jadhav had staked claim. It may also field Dhananjay Mahadik from Kolhapur again.

The NCP at present has four Lok Sabha MPs from the state: Supriya Sule from Baramati, Dhananjay Mahadik from Kolhapur, Udayanraje Bhosale from Satara and Vijaysinh Mohite Patil from Madha.
NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday carried out fresh raids at more than 12 locations in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi in connection with illegal sand mining case.

According to news agency ANI, the raids were conducted at multiple locations in Delhi, Lucknow, Kanpur, Hamirpur and Jalaun in connection with the illegal sand mining in Uttar Pradesh.

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raids continue at multiple locations in Delhi, Lucknow, Kanpur, Hamirpur and Jalaun in connection with the illegal sand mining case of Uttar Pradesh. pic.twitter.com/SuKu9bUnLm  ANI (@ANI) January 5, 2019

The CBI teams raided the residences of several senior government officers, including IAS officer B Chandrakala, said media reports.

Lucknow: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raids IAS officer B Chandrakala's residence in connection with the illegal sand mining case of Uttar Pradesh. pic.twitter.com/Co6NR84kjT  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 5, 2019

Chandrakala is said to be hugely popular on social media for her crusade against corruption. Chandrakala is 2008 batch IAS officer of the UP cadre. She hails from Telangana.

Videos of the woman IAS officer reprimanding erring civic official in UP's Bulandshahr had gone viral on social media a few months ago.

According to media reports, an 11-member team of the CBI raided Chandrakala's residence in Lucknow and seized several important documents in connection with the case.

Chandrakala has come under scanner for allegedly bypassing rules and regulations for granting licenses for sand mining during her tenure as District Magistrate of Hamirpur in 2012.

The agency also conducted raids at the residences of BSP leader Satyadev Dikshit and SP MLC Ramesh Mishra in Hamirpur in connection with the illegal sand mining case.

Hamirpur: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducting raids at residences of BSP leader Satyadev Dikshit & SP MLC Ramesh Mishra in connection with the illegal sand mining case. pic.twitter.com/fahKaYkEoD  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 5, 2019

The CBI is believed to be currently investigating the charges of illegal mining in five districts of Uttar Pradesh - Shamli, Hamirpur, Fatehpur, Siddharthnagar, and Deoria.

The central probe agency has taken up the matter on the directions of Allahabad High Court in July 2017.

As per reports, the high court had directed the CBI to probe the matter after a plea was filed alleging that illegal mining was taking place in the state with an active role of government officials.

It may be recalled that several policemen and government officials have been killed for raising voice against illegal sand mining.
New Delhi: Former Aam Aadmi Party member H S Phoolka, who quit the party earlier this week, met Bharatiya Janata Party leader Vijay Goel on Saturday to greet the Union minister on his birthday.

Goel called Phoolka a "good friend" and lauded his legal battle for the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. "He quit AAP recently. Better late than never," Goel said.

Sources said it was the second meeting between Goel and Phoolka in the past few days. He had also met the BJP leader before resigning from the AAP on Thursday, they claimed.

Phoolka has avoided giving any reason behind quitting the AAP and expressed his desire to float a non-political outfit in Punjab to fight the drug menace and the perceived politicisation of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). He, however, was averse to any alliance between the AAP and the Congress. A pre-poll tie-up between the two parties is taking rounds, with none of them denying it officially.

Sources claimed Phoolka was also annoyed over the AAP's stand on the demand to strip former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi of the Bharat Ratna for "justifying" the anti-Sikh riots.

Phoolka had said that the conversion of Anna Hazare's anti-corruption movement into a political party in 2012 was a wrong step. He has not declared his future political move, although he has announced that he would not contest the upcoming Lok Sabha election.
NEW DELHI: Reflecting on Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's recent attack on ANI editor Smita Prakash, Zee News Editor-in-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary explained that the party has always adopted a 'my way or highway attitude' towards journalists and journalism.

Its no surprise that the Congress chief is targeting a journalist. Their approach has always been - my way or the highway. They target and tarnish those who arent pliant. Sharing a letter I wrote to Mr. Gandhi in Oct18 urging him to refrain from the same. Response - stony silence, tweeted Sudhir Chaudhary.

Its no surprise that the Congress chief is targeting a journalist.Their approach has always been - my way or the highway. They target & tarnish those who arent pliant. Sharing a letter I wrote to Mr.Gandhi in Oct18 urging him to refrain from the same.Response - stony silence pic.twitter.com/gkQaLEthBB  Sudhir Chaudhary (@sudhirchaudhary) January 3, 2019

Smita Prakash, the editor of ANI news agency, had interviewed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on New Year Year's Eve. Later, in a press conference, Gandhi said that the interview was conducted by a "pliable journalist". His comment evoked strong condemnation from various quarters.

Indian media can learn a lot from Pakistani journalists: Zee News Editor-in-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary

Chaudhary's letter to Rahul Gandhi in October 2018 harps on similar tangents, asking the latter and his party to stop maligning the national channel.

Here's the complete text of the letter:

Dear Shri Rahul Gandhi,

Zee Media needs no introduction, but we would still like to offer one.

Its a media conglomerate that represents, cherishes and fosters the values of 'Bharat'. The 'Bharat' we refer to is not India (comprising of the rich/elitist/pseudo liberalists) but the Bharat which is thousands of years old, steeped in values, culture and tradition, which includes its people cutting across Religion, Caste, Creed, Color, Gender and Regions.

This encompasses the idea of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam - The World is One Family, of Hindutva (not the Hindu religion but the Hindu way of life), of          , of community and pride in one's roots and culture. This is our identity. This is what we've always stood for, no matter who is in government and what our ideological principles cost us.

We write to you because your party seems to have mistaken this with the political identity of your rivals. Let me say, Sir, that endorsing 'Bharat' doesn't amount to being beholden to a political ideology. It is unfortunate that the limited perspective of some individuals cannot distinguish between the two. Nobody can/should appropriate the idea of Bharatiyata. It belongs to all, equally.

We take serious exception to the fact that your party spokespersons routinely brand the Zee network as pro-BJP to wriggle out of difficult arguments. This is a 'hit and run' approach, which is unfair and hence unacceptable to us and certainly unsustainable, politically. We are nobody's mouthpiece and we refuse to be called so. We also believe in the principles of democratic protest, which is why we are writing to you. This is to politely yet firmly register our protest your party and its spokespersons for routinely indulging in baseless commentary in self-defense.

We speak for no one but this nation. We believe nationalism is a virtue and not a political tag which, unfortunately, your party has failed to realise. Your patty's interests would be better served if you advise your party spokespersons to fortify their arguments on TV debates with facts, rather than questioning the credibility of the journalist or the channel.

We encourage diverse opinions on our platform and would be happy to host your spokespersons in the future. Wish you the very best for the electoral challenges ahead.

Sincerely,

1. Sudhir Chaudhary, Editor, Zee News, Business, WION

2. Purushottam Vaishnava, Editor, Hindustan, Bihar, Jharkhand, Kalinga, 24 Ghanta, Salaam, Rajasthan

3. Dinesh Sharma, Editor, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal

4. Dilip Tiwari, MP Chhattisgarh, UP, Uttarkhand

5. Vijay Kuvalekar, Editor, 24 Taas, 24 Talak

6. Brajesh Kumar Singh, Editor, Group Editor, Political Affairs
New Delhi: The BJP on Saturday said the absconding Vijay Mallya being declared a fugitive economic offender by a Mumbai court has come as a feather in the ruling party's cap in its fight against corruption.

Mallya, accused of defaulting on loan repayments and money laundering, is the first businessman to be declared an FEO under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act which came into existence in August last year.

Speaking at a press conference, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said the law was brought in by the present NDA government to ensure that absconders like Mallya are brought to justice.

"Mallya grew under the patronage of the Congress government. Despite him being bankrupt, he was given loans and his loans were even restructured. He fled with Rs 9,000 crore of the country's money. It is a feather in the cap for BJP's fight against corruption," he said.

The ED had requested the Prevention of Money Laundering Act court in Mumbai that Mallya, who is currently in the UK, be declared a fugitive and his properties be confiscated and brought under the control of the Union government.

Special judge M S Azmi declared Mallya an FEO under Section 12 of the Act after hearing extensive arguments from Mallya's lawyer and the ED counsel. Mallya had left India in March 2016.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is likely to investigate former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav in connection with a case of illegal sand mining, officials said Saturday. Yadav was holding additional charge of the mining department between 2012 and June 2013, news agency PTI reported quoting officials. Akhilesh was the chief minister of the state from 2012 to 2017.

The CBI officials also said that all those who were ministers during that period, their role will be investigated. According to news agency ANI, there was a ban for a limited period but the government officials allowed mining even during that period. Another former minister Gayatri Prasad Prajapati, who held the portfolio of the mining department, is also likely to be summoned by the CBI in the case, they said.

The agency on Saturday carried out fresh raids at more than 12 locations in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi in connection with illegal sand mining case.

In Uttar Pradesh, the searches are being carried out in Lucknow, Kanpur, Hamirpur, and Jalaun at the residences and official premises of IAS officer B Chandrakala and other unknown officials, CBI sources said. The CBI is currently investigating the charges of illegal mining in five districts of Uttar Pradesh -- Shamli, Hamirpur, Fatehpur, Siddharthnagar, and Deoria.

The probe agency had taken up the matter on the directions of Allahabad High Court in July 2017. As per reports, the high court had directed the CBI to probe the matter after a plea was filed alleging that illegal mining was taking place in the state with an active role of government officials.

The CBI teams raided the residences of several senior government officers, including IAS officer B Chandrakala, said media reports.
NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Saturday remanded the British national and alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal, Christian Michel, to judicial custody till February 26.

The order was passed by Delhi's Patiala House Court.

#AugustaWestland case: Delhi's Patiala House Court sends alleged middleman #ChristianMichel to judicial custody till 26th February. pic.twitter.com/Lx5gm6VQCd  ANI (@ANI) January 5, 2019

During the previous hearing, the court had ordered Michels lawyers to maintain a distance while meeting him.

The lawyers were restricted to meeting Michel for 15 minutes every morning and evening.

The order was passed after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) sought a ban on Michel's lawyer's access to him alleging that the Britisher was being tutored from the outside.

However, his lawyer Aljo K Joseph told the court that Michel had a query regarding something and needed a legal opinion on the same.

The lawyer admitted that Michel tried to give them something but it was immediately pointed out that he was slipping a paper and it was taken away before they could have a look.

During the hearing, the ED said that Michel has named 'Mrs Gandhi' during the interrogation. ED also said that he has also spoken about 'the son of the Italian lady' and how he is going to become the 'next prime minister of the country'.

The ED told the court that Michel has identified how the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was removed from the deal and was later offered to Tata instead.

Michel had been sent to ED custody for seven days on December 22.

He was arrested on December 5 after being extradited to India from Dubai.

The Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter deal, finalised during former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's tenure, was mired in allegations of kickbacks.

54-year-old Michel is an accused in the case along with former India's Air Force Chief, Air Marshal SP Tyagi, among others.
Fearing assassination attempt on Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's life, the Opposition in the state has written to the President Ram Nath Kovind seeking enhanced security for him.

The letter, accessed by Zee News, has been signed by state Congress president Girish R. Chodankar with the subject: 'Enhancing Of Security cover To Chief Minister Shri. Manohar Parrikar'.

The undersign (Chodankar) states that your good self must be aware of the Audio Leak of the telephone conversation of Shri Vishwajeet Rane, Health Minster Of Goa where by he is heard telling the other person on the call that Chief Minister of Goa Shri Manohar Parrikar has the Rafale deal files in-his bedroom at his flat at Dona Paula and this was told by Chief Minister to his cabinet colleagues in cabinet meeting held at the residence of the Chief Minister.

The Congress party apprehends that attempts on the life of Chief Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar may be made to obtain the files from those who want that actual details of Rafale Deal should not come in public domain as the corruption in the deal will be proved.

Also certain prominent persons in the Government are talking in hushed tones of a maha-thug who is seeking to control everything, says the letter.

This is more so in light what is as heard being stated by Shri Vishwajeet Rane in the audio that Chief Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar is using the said files to hold to top BJP leadership to ransom to hold on to his chair in-spite of his health condition, it adds.

The letter goes on to request that security cover to Parrikar so that he is adequately protected from all possible apprehended threats and that he may be able to reveal the files to the Nation without any fear or favor and concerned authorities before possible threat to his life or the files getting destroyed.

The audio clip, featuring Rane in phone conversation with a journalist, created a ruckus in Parliament on Wednesday. Congress, however, could not prove the authenticity of the audio.

Both Parrikar and Rane have claimed that the audio clip was not genuine, blaming the Congress for "mischief".
New Delhi: A group of 20 ad hoc teachers of the Delhi University began a hunger strike on Friday demanding the same benefits as given to permanent teachers and the former's immediate absorption. The teachers began their strike outside the Faculty of Arts.

Aditya Narayan Misra, president, Academics for Action and Development (AAD), said, "We are sitting outside the Faculty of Arts gate and it is very cold. It is very difficult, but we are supporting each other.

"We demand the absorption of ad hoc and temporary teachers in Delhi University (DU). These teachers have been working for years without any leave, maternity leave and increment," he said.

There are 4,600 ad hoc teachers working in the Delhi University. They have all the required qualifications prescribed by the University Grants Commission (UGC), he said.

Congress national president Rahul Gandhi has also raised this issue. In Rajasthan, they have appointed a committee. In Madhya Pradesh, they are in the process. We are demanding that DU also do the same, Misra added.
PATNA: At least four children were injured in an explosion in Bihar's in Bihar's East Champaran on Saturday.

The explosion took place on a farm in Kotwa town near Motihari. The reason for the explosion is not clear yet.

The injured children have been admitted to a hospital. A police investigation is currently underway.

In another story, a 35-year-old woman hanged her three minor children and then herself inside a cowshed in Bihar's Motihari. The victims were identified as Dhanpati Devi, her daughter Sandhya Kumari (6) and two sons - Ritesh (3) and Chhotu (four months). The woman's husband works outside.
BEJING: Throwing a major challenge to the United States, China has come out of its own version of the 'Mother-of-All-Bombs' developed by the Americans several years ago.

According to the state-run Global Times, the massive new bomb developed by China is the country's largest non-nuclear bomb.

The aerial bomb has been developed by China's defence industry giant  NORINCO, which showcased it for the first time recently.

The bomb has been dubbed as the Chinese version of the "Mother of All Bombs" due to its huge destructive potential that is claimed to be only second to nuclear weapons, the daily said.

China North Industries Group Corporation Limited (NORINCO) also posted a promotional video on its website showcasing the bomb at the end of December.

The bomb, which was air-dropped by an H-6K bomber, caused a gigantic explosion, according to the promotional video posted by NORINCO.

This is probably for the first time that the destructive powers of the country's new bomb have been shown in public.

The Chinese bomb, weighing several tonnes, is smaller and lighter than the US one, enabling it to be deployed on the H-6K bomber, according to military experts.

Last year, while waging war against terrorists in Afghanistan, the US military dropped a GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) weapon, more commonly known as the "Mother of All Bombs," on the Islamic State.

Although China is using the same nickname for its bomb, said to weigh several tonnes, the Chinese weapon is smaller and lighter than its American counterpart.

Judging from the video and the size of the H-6K's bomb bay, the bomb is approximately five to six meters long, Beijing-based military analyst Wei Dongxu was quoted as saying by 0the Global Times.

"The massive blast can easily and completely wipe out fortified ground targets such as reinforced buildings, bastions and defence shelters," Wei said.

It can also be used to clear a landing zone for troops on helicopters to rappel down, in case the area is covered by obstacles such as forests, the Beijing-based military analyst said.

"The US bomb is so large that it has to be carried by a larger transport aircraft rather than a bomber," Wei said, noting that a bomber can fly faster and is better at targeting than a transport aircraft, and the Chinese bomb's designer must have had this in mind when it produced the bomb to fit the H-6K.

Interestingly, to match feat with the US weapon, the Russians had developed the "Father of All Bombs" which is both bigger and thermobaric, meaning it uses gas to create a huge fireball rather than a shockwave.
Stiri pe aceeasi tema

- Ten people from Belgium, the Netherlands and Romania were arrested in record drug seizure - 1,452 kilograms of heroin - in the Port of Constanta. According to Eurojust, it is about 10 suspects, who are part of a group of traffickers specialized in bringing large quantities of heroin to Europe. The

- The Bucharest Police under the coordination of Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT), are executing today 17 search warrants and 16 arrest warrants, in Bucharest City and the counties of Ilfov and Prahova in a criminal case related to the commission of forming an organised

- Autoritatile antitrust ale Uniunii Europene au lansat o investigatie preliminara impotriva Coca Cola, a anuntat vineri Comisia Europeana, citata de Reuters . Putem sa comfirmam ca Comisia a trimis chestionare, ca parte a investigatiei sale preliminare asupra Coca Cola, a declarat o purtatoare de cuvant

- A record amount of drugs, 1,452 kg of heroin, was found in containers in the Constanta Port, being seized by DIICOT (Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism) together with judicial police officers from the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (DCCO) - the Anti-Drug Department,

- Rusia a anuntat joi ca a omologat versiunea Light a vaccinului sau anti-Covid-19 Sputnik V, noul ser fiind administrat intr-o doza unica, fata de doua doze in cazul Sputnik V, si va fi destinat in principal exportului, relateaza AFP si Agerpres .

- The Bucharest Court of Appeal ordered today the reopening of the investigation against the former Gendarmerie heads in the August 10 rally case, after granting the complaint filed by a protester. Plaintiff Ioan Craciuneanu was tear-gassed and threatened by the gendarmes at the August 10, 2018

- The Capital Police announced on Friday that it has launched investigations, under the supervision of prosecutors, regarding the metro strike inception by the organisers in violation of the legal provisions, not providing transport services at least at a third of the normal activity. "The Municipality

- Metrorex notified the Capital Police on the situation at the metro, invoking the breach of the law on terrorism prevention and combat, the complaint having been filed on an emergency basis with the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT), according to AGERPRES. According
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-06 06:30:34|Editor: yan

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LISBON, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- "Nurse" has been voted Word of the Year 2018 in Portugal, the publishing house Porto Editora that promotes the initiative announced on Saturday.

A record 226,000 votes were received with "nurse" garnering 37.8 percent support and "teacher" in second place with 33.4 percent of the votes.

Porto Editora revealed a 10-word shortlist on Dec. 1 lase year and invited the Portuguese public to vote online throughout the month. Nominations were based on surveys of word use during the year and words searched for in the publisher's online dictionaries.

The full list was: harassment, nurse, speculation, extremism, arsenal, populism, privacy, teacher, sexism, talpidae.

Paulo Rebelo Goncalves, head of Porto Editora, described the participation as "truly historical" compared to 30,000 votes the previous year. "The exceptional level of participation demonstrates that this initiative is definitively consolidated in the calendar of the Portuguese," he said.

"The choice of the Portuguese may reflect a strong concern regarding the situation involving the nurse class, something that could be extended to the teachers, given the high votes that the word recorded," he added.

"Whether through the chosen words or the words that made the list, we looked at them and realized what happened that year, and why they chose that word," he explained.

The initiative started in 2009 and has lasted for a decade. "Wildfire" was voted the Word of Year in 2017 as a series of forest fires raged through Portugal, destroying hundreds of hectares and causing more than 100 fatalities in June and October.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-06 06:00:31|Editor: WX

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ANKARA, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 295,000 Syrians returned home from Turkey in 2018, Turkish Interior Ministry said Saturday.

Meanwhile, nearly 270,000 irregular migrants were held during their attempts to illegally cross borders, and 55,894 of them were deported, the ministry said on its social media account.

Turkey's Deputy Interior Minister Ismail Catakli said on Monday that more Syrians are expected to return to their homeland following Turkey's military operations in Syria.

"We think the number will increase even more in the upcoming period in parallel with the development there (Syria)," Catakli was quoted by Anadolu Agency as saying.

Turkey has been hosting a large number of refugees since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011. The number of registered Syrian refugees in October 2018 stood at about 3.59 million, according to the UN Refugee Agency.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-06 05:30:23|Editor: WX

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ADEN, Yemen, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- At least two pro-government security members were killed on Saturday evening in an attack launched by the Yemen-based al-Qaida branch on a checkpoint in the southern province of Abyan.

A group of al-Qaida gunmen carried out an armed attack and targeted a security checkpoint in Mudiyah district of Abyan, killing two soldiers at the scene, said a military official on condition of anonymity.

The attack occurred at around 11 p.m. local time (2000 GMT) and sparked a ferocious gun battle between the pro-government forces and al-Qaida attackers, according to the official.

A local official in Abyan confirmed the attack, saying a group of al-Qaida gunmen failed to seize a security outpost manned by newly-recruited forces.

"The attackers opened heavy fire and used grenades in an attempt to seize control over security outpost but faced stiff resistance from the soldiers positioned in the area and fled to unknown locations," the official said also on condition of anonymity.

On Friday, Yemeni government forces, backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), launched a military operation against an al-Qaida hideout in the southeastern province of Shabwa, sparking fierce armed confrontations in the area.

The hours-long armed confrontations killed seven al-Qaida members and three soldiers including an officer, according to local sources.

The Yemen-based al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) network, mostly operating in eastern and southern provinces, has been responsible for many high-profile attacks against security forces in the country.

Provinces of Abyan and Shabwa, former main strongholds of AQAP, have also witnessed sporadic attacks or heavy clashes between UAE-backed security forces and al-Qaida militants.

The AQAP, seen by the United States as the global terror network's most dangerous branch, has exploited years of deadly conflict between Yemen's government and Houthi rebels to expand its presence, especially in southeastern provinces.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-06 05:10:19|Editor: yan

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AUGUSTA, United States, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- New Chinese Consul General in New York Ping Huang has visited the northeasternmost U.S. state of Maine to promote China-U.S. ties by tapping regional cooperation potential between the two countries.

Huang met with Troy Jackson, President of the Maine Senate and Matthew Dunlap, Secretary of State of Maine, in the state's capital city of Augusta on Thursday after attending the inauguration ceremony of Maine's new and first-ever female governor, Janet Mills, Wednesday.

The 55-year-old Huang, former Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe, said during the meetings that he believes regional cooperation is an important and dynamic part of China-U.S. relations, and the Chinese Consulate General in New York will continue to be dedicated to promoting mutually cooperative ties through boosting sub-national cooperation between the two countries.

Maine is among the 10 states in eastern parts of the United States for which the Chinese Consulate General in New York provides consular services. The other nine are Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Rhode Island.

These states "have a sound foundation to further deepen exchange and cooperation with China," thus contributing to the healthy and steady development of bilateral ties, Huang said.

Jackson said Maine attaches great importance to further expand cooperation with China and that he is committed to promote the exchanges of the state legislature and its Chinese counterparts.

Dunlap, who just returned from his first visit to China, said he was very much impressed by the development achievements China has made in the past decades and the potential for Maine's cooperation with China is huge.

Maine's trading relationship with China has seen great increase in the past 10 years, much of which has been fueled by China's growing import of Maine lobsters, a surge of Chinese direct investment and Chinese students studying in Maine, he said.

According to data from Maine International Trade Center's 2017 annual report, 2,262 Maine companies exported 2.7 billion U.S. dollars in goods and services to 176 countries.

Exports to Asia totaled 769 million dollars, accounting for 29 percent of the total, and China, Japan and South Korea were the top three destinations for Maine exports in Asia.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-06 04:25:14|Editor: WX

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ATHENS, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- An elderly woman died and two men went missing on Saturday as cold front "Sophia" continued sweeping across Greece, national news agency AMNA reported.

Firemen retrieved the dead body of a 66-year-old woman from a car in a stream at Keratea town, 30 kilometers southeast of Athens, the Fire Brigade said. Her husband, 67, and a neighbor, 64, have been missing since Thursday. They were all passengers in the car when a heavy storm hit the area.

The weather system which has gripped Greece from Tuesday brought snowfall and downpour in many parts of the country, mostly in central and northern provinces, shutting down regional roads.

The Fire Brigade had to intervene from Jan. 3 to transfer to hospitals 28 patients nationwide, as well as move to safe sites 45 travelers who had been stranded in vehicles across the country, according to an e-mailed press release on Saturday.

Ferry services were disrupted, as winds up to 9 on the Beaufort scale were blowing at sea, while hundreds of travelers suffered from flight delays and cancellations, the civil aviation authority said.

Two hundred passengers of a flight which had departed from London on Friday evening were expected to arrive in Greece on Saturday evening by air or bus from Romania. The Ryanair aircraft was diverted to Timisoara airport, as it could not land at Thessaloniki Airport in northern Greece due to adverse weather conditions.

On Saturday, in many parts of the country the thermometer showed temperatures close to zero degrees Celsius, while the lowest (-12.5C) was recorded at Florina town in northern Greece.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-06 00:04:30|Editor: yan

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TRIPOLI, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- German Ambassador to Libya Oliver Owcza said on Saturday that his country would support the political efforts of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) in the UN Security Council.

"For the next two years Germany is a member of the UN Security Council. With and for Libya we will use this responsibility to support UNSMIL's leadership in steering an inclusive political process, advocating unity of the international community and supporting economic development," the ambassador tweeted.

Ghassan Salame, special representative of the UN Secretary-General and head of UNSMIL, has been leading mediation efforts in Libya in order to end the country's political crisis.

Despite a UN-sponsored political agreement late in 2015 and appointment of a unity government, Libya remains politically divided amid insecurity and escalating violence.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 23:49:24|Editor: yan

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BUDAPEST, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- The two-year-old conjoined twin from Bangladesh, Rabia and Rukai, arrived in Budapest on Saturday to go through a special surgery, the second of a series of three serious interventions, according to official sources here.

"Two-year-old Rabia and Rukai came to Hungary on Saturday to undergo the second surgery of their journey with the help of Hungarian doctors," the Semmelweis medical University announced in a statement.

"The first surgery, separating the different blood-vessels, took place in two interventions in Bangladesh, last February and August," the University explained. "This second intervention will be a plastic surgery, under which where tissues will have to be dilated," the statement added.

"Finally, the last and third operation will be the physical separation of bones of the cranium," according to the Semmelweis University.

The twins were born on July 16, 2016 in North Bangladesh, joined at the head. Mum Taslima Khatun Uno and husband Mohammed Rafiqul Islam didnt know that the twins were conjoined until after the birth.

The second surgery will be performed by doctor Gergely Pataki, while the third will be conducted by a team of doctors under the supervision of Hungarian brain surgeon specialist doctor Andras Csokay. The location of the third surgery has not yet been disclosed.

The University informed the press, in order to ensure the best conditions for the twins, the family would currently prefer to avoid media, but the University is going to inform the public of the main steps of their journey.

The University concluded by reminding that the Hungarian doctor team was the only one in the world to undertake the extremely complex and difficult procedure.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 23:39:19|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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(190105) -- SANAA, Jan. 5, 2019 (Xinhua) -- UN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths visits sick children with cancer and leukemia upon his arrival at the international airport of Sanaa, Yemen, on Jan. 5, 2019. Martin Griffiths arrived in the rebel-held capital Sanaa on Saturday, in an apparent bid to cement the fragile cease-fire in Yemen's port city of Hodeidah. It was Griffiths' second visit to Sanaa in a month as the UN has been pushing for peace process in Yemen to end nearly four years of devastating war, which has pushed the Arab nation of more than 20 million people to the brink of famine. (Xinhua/Mohammed Mohammed)

SANAA, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- The UN envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths arrived in the rebel-held capital Sanaa on Saturday, in an apparent bid to cement the fragile cease-fire in Yemen's port city of Hodeidah.

It was Griffiths' second visit to Sanaa in a month as the UN has been pushing for peace process in Yemen to end nearly four years of devastating war, which has pushed the Arab nation of more than 20 million people to the brink of famine.

"I'm Sick and I Need to Travel Abroad for Treatment," read a banner raised by a group of sick children diagnosed with cancer and leukemia who were gathering at the Sanaa international airport.

"Yemen's Children are Suffering ... Lift the Blockade on Sanaa International Airport," said another banner.

An official with Houthi-run local media outlets told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that the UN envoy is expected to meet Abdulmalik al-Houthi, Houthi top leader, "to discuss the situation of Hodeidah and break the stalemate in implementing the cease-fire agreement."

Griffiths is also due to meet with President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and his Yemeni government in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, according to a UN statement released on Friday.

Earlier in the day, heavy clashes erupted between Yemeni government troops and Houthi rebels near Hodeidah University and Rabasah quarter at the southern edge of the port city.

Heavy machine guns and artillery shelling were heard across the city in the hours-long fighting, Mohammed al-Zabidy, a local resident, told Xinhua by phone.

The warring forces also traded accusations, blaming each other for breaching the truce and undermining the ongoing peace process.

Last week, the Houthi group said it began withdrawing from the Hodeidah ports in order to "implement the first phase of re-deployment."

In response, the UN said the redeployment "would only be credible if all parties and the United Nations are able to observe and verify that it is in line with the Stockholm agreement."

Patrick Cammaert, appointed by the UN as head of the Redeployment Coordination Committee (RCC) which includes representatives from both Yemeni rival forces, would arrange the redeployment plans and mechanism required to monitor the cease-fire and ensure that "credible redeployment is achieved," it added.

Cammaert arrived in Hodeidah last week to oversee the implementation of the cease-fire between the Yemeni parties.

Under the truce, the withdrawal from the ports of Hodeidah, Salif and Ras Issa, and critical parts of the city associated with humanitarian facilities should be completed within two weeks after the cease-fire enters into force, while the full withdrawal should be completed within a maximum period of 21 days.

Saudi Arabia has been leading an Arab military coalition in Yemen against the Iran-backed Houthi militia since March 2015, in order to reinstate the exiled Yemeni government of Hadi.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 23:34:18|Editor: yan

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LANZHOU, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- China launched a 11,000-km new tourist route Saturday to help its vast western regions in tough fight against poverty.

Officials from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development attended a ceremony held in Yongjing County, Gansu Province.

The travel route links "three regions and three prefectures", one of the hardest nuts to crack in the country's poverty alleviation campaign: Tibet Autonomous Region, Tibetan regions in four provinces, southern parts of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province, Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province, and Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu Province.

More than 80 percent of these areas are on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, mired in poverty with poor natural conditions and fragile economies, said officials at the launch ceremony.

But with incredibly beautiful landscapes, these regions hold a wealth of tourism resources yet to be tapped, the officials said.

On the route are cities like Lanzhou, Urumqi, Chengdu, Lhasa, Kunming and Xining, as well as tourist attractions inlcuding Dunhuang, Kashgar, Nyingchi and Dali. Plateau scenes, Mount Qomolangma, ancient trade routes such as the Silk Road and Tea and Horse Road are some of the highlights.

Local governments of the provinces and regions along the route have set up an alliance to cooperate on tourism promotion, infrastructure connectivity, cultural and tourist product development to help more local residents to benefit from tourism.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 23:19:13|Editor: yan

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NEW DELHI, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Vijay Mallya, a liquor baron and business tycoon in India who is facing charges of loan default and has been staying in Britain, was on Saturday declared as Fugitive Economic Offender (FEO) by a special court.

Mallya is wanted for allegedly defrauding a consortium of banks to the tune of 9, 000 crore Indian Rupees (1.3 billion U.S. dollars).

He became the first person to be declared FEO under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act which came into effect last year.

The decision was announced by a special court in Mumbai which ruled in favor of an application moved by the investigating agency Enforcement Directorate (ED), allowing it to seize all his properties under the new law.

Under the particular laws, any person who has travelled outside the country after committing an economic fraud and refused to appear before the court to face trial or those who have been issued non-bailable warrants could be declared as fugitive economic offenders.

According to media reports, the ED can now confiscate Mallya's properties which are not directly related to the cases against him. It will include his properties in southern state Karnataka, Britain and others that are yet to be confiscated.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 22:39:03|Editor: yan

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RAMALLAH/GAZA, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian officials on Saturday accused Islamic Hamas movement of being responsible for the attack on the headquarters of the public Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) in Gaza Strip.

On Friday, a group of militants broke into the PBC headquarters in the coastal enclave and sabotaged equipment, files and hard disks.

Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah said that Hamas should be held responsible for the assault and must bring those behind the crimes to justice.

The damage to the TV headquarters was estimated at 10,000 U.S. dollars, Ola Kassab, the deputy director of Voice of Palestine in Gaza, was quoted by Official Palestinian news agency WAFA as saying.

Mahmoud Al-Aloul, vice chairman of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party, accused Hamas of allowing such an attack which he described as a "crime and a violation by vicious people targeting the Palestinian media."

Al-Aloul added that the assault will not "prevent us from keeping our goal clear, which is the resistance to the Israeli occupation."

Chairman of the PBC Ahmad Assaf said that the Palestinian TV will continue its operation in Gaza despite the attack.

He said that even though the Palestinian government has offered to provide new equipment to the TV network, it will be difficult to get approval from Israel to allow such equipment to enter Gaza.

Hamas issued a statement on Friday, condemning the attack and ordering the Interior Ministry in Gaza to bring the suspects to court.

Hamas also blamed Abbas for raising tensions in Gaza by suspending the salaries of thousands of Palestinian Authority employees.

Head of the Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate Nasser Abu Baker also condemned Hamas for the attack and its attempt to prevent journalists from "working and delivering their messages."

The Hamas-run Interior Ministry in Gaza has not commented on the incident.

Hamas banned the employees of the PBC from working between 2007 and 2011. The movement has controlled the Gaza Strip after routing the forces loyal to Abbas' Fatah party in 2007, and Israel has imposed a blockade on the area since then.

Egypt has been seeking to enact an internal Palestinian reconciliation deal between the rival parties, but no significant breakthrough has been announced.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 22:08:57|Editor: Liangyu

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Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) and Burkina Faso's Foreign Minister Alpha Barry attend a press conference in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Jan. 4, 2019. (Xinhua/Li Yan)

OUAGADOUGOU, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- China has played a unique and constructive role in safeguarding peace and promoting security in Africa, said Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi here on Friday during a joint press conference with his Burkina Faso counterpart Alpha Barry.

Wang said that peace serves as the prerequisite and guarantee for the development of the African continent, adding that China has long been mediating in hot-spot issues in Africa and encouraging Africans to solve their problems in their own way.

China consistently supports the United Nations' (UN) peacekeeping operations in the region, and has recently called for an open debate over the issue as the Security Council's rotating president, aiming to bring more global attention to the peace and security of the continent.

Wang also said that China has stepped up support for Africa's peace and security under the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, including the building of the African Standby Force and the African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crisis.

China is concerned about the security challenges facing the Sahel region and appreciates the efforts of the Group of Five for the Sahel (G5 Sahel), namely Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger to safeguard peace and stability in the region, Wang said.

He added that China backs the UN's necessary financial support for the G5 Sahel joint force, and has offered necessary military assistance to G5 Sahel member states through bilateral channels.

China will continue to pay close attention to peace and security in Africa, and do its best to safeguard peace and promote security in the region, Wang said.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 21:48:52|Editor: mym

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MOSCOW, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Investigative Committee on Saturday has organized a procedural check on information relating to the abduction of six Russian sailors in the Gulf of Guinea.

According to the committee, a Panama-flagged ship with 24 crew members on board adrift in the Gulf of Guinea was attacked by unidentified persons overnight Tuesday, during which six crew members were taken hostage.

All the abducted sailors are Russian nationals, the Russian Embassy in Benin said on its Facebook page, adding that the rest of the crew are safe and the ship has left the territorial waters of Benin and Nigeria.

The committee said it has also ordered its international cooperation department to work with the Russian Foreign Ministry to establish all circumstances of the incident as quickly as possible.

The Russian Embassies in Nigeria and Benin are in touch with local law enforcement agencies and the ship owner to locate the hostages in the hopes of releasing them as soon as possible, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 21:03:44|Editor: mym

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KABUL, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Armed militants on Saturday intercepted a civilian vehicle in Afghanistan's western Farah province and abducted 12 commuters, in apparent tit-for-tat move against security forces' earlier operation to rescue 12 hostages from a Taliban detention center.

Afghan security forces raided a militant group's hideout in the southern Helmand province on Thursday and rescued 12 hostages from the detention center, Afghanistan official media outlet the Bakhtar News Agency (BNA) reported Saturday.

An official who declined to be named confirmed that armed militants stopped a vehicle in Durabad area outside Farah city, the capital of western Farah province, Saturday morning and took 12 travelers to an unknown location.

Confirming the report, Deputy for Farah's provincial council Shah Mahmoud Naemi told Xinhua that the travelers, all civilians, "were stopped by Taliban rebels in Durabad area outside Farah city this morning" and the rebels after gunning down two of them took 10 others to an unknown place.

Taliban militants are yet to claim responsibility. Police have yet to make comment.

According to BNA, personnel of National Directorate for Security, the country's national spy agency, raided a Taliban hideout in Nahr-e-Saraj district of the poppy growing Helmand province Thursday night and rescued 12 civilians.

Clashes between security forces and Taliban militants have claimed scores of lives elsewhere in Afghanistan since Thursday, according to security officials.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 20:23:30|Editor: mym

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MOGADISHU, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) said Saturday it has launched an intensive training program on conflict-related sexual violence for security officers in the federal member states to help prevent the vice.

The AU mission said a group of 30 officers drawn from police, intelligence, military and gender offices have concluded a four-day training program in Jubbaland State in southern Somalia on reporting, investigating and prosecuting conflict-related sexual violence cases.

Gloria Jaase Nkundanyirazo, AMISOM women protection officer who closed the training session, called for concerted efforts to combat the vice, which she noted, targeted women and children.

"We want security personnel to be role models and advocate for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence and also push for laws that protect women and children in conflict and post conflict situations," Nkundanyirazo said in a statement issued in Mogadishu.

According to the AMISOM, conflict-related sexual violence cases are still high in Somalia, with the main perpetrators being members of illegal armed groups like al-Shabab and its affiliates.

Bernard Azagiszaba, AMISOM community policing advisor, urged Somali national security officers to work closely with residents in addressing sexual violence cases.

The training program will also be held in other federal states as AMISOM continues to transfer security responsibility to Somali national security forces.
News

24-year-old Emirati fish seller vows to preserve ancestral occupation

He said his official job did not prevent him from fulfilling his desire to stand on the fish display table, stressing that he is proud to sell fish to contribute to preserving a profession practised by his ancestors who were very fond of the sea and seafood.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 20:18:27|Editor: mym

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YANGON, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's regional police has filed against the Arakan Army (AA) group for Friday's attack on four police outposts in Myanmar's Rakhine state, said a release from the Myanmar Police Force on Saturday.

According to the release, the members of the AA armed group have been filed for all four incidents at the Taung Bazar police station under the 1949 Weapons Act (Temporary Amendment) and 2014 Counter-Terrorism Law.

A total of 13 police personnel were killed and nine others injured in Friday's attacks with small arms and bullets reported missing from the outposts.

The four police outposts provide security for local ethnic villages and were not as well-defended as the border police stations, an official from the Myanmar Military told Xinhua on Friday.
Chinese and Ugandan technicians work at the construction site of Isimba Power Plant Project in Kayunga district, Uganda, Aug. 8, 2017. As River Nile, the longest in the world, snakes through central Uganda, Chinese engineers and their local counterparts are constructing a multi-million U.S. dollar power plant on its bank in the remote Kayunga district. (Xinhua/Zhang Gaiping)

by Ronald Ssekandi, Zhang Gaiping

KAYUNGA, Uganda, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Inside the power house at Isimba Hydropower Plant in the central Ugandan district of Kayunga, engineers subject the first unit of the plant to tests before the official commissioning slated for late January.

The engineers told Xinhua in a recent interview that after the commissioning of the first unit, they will move onto the second, third and eventually the fourth.

RELIEVING POWER SHORTAGE

The four units of the 183 MW Chinese constructed power plant would be commissioned in a phased manner, according to Xia Nenghai, General Manager of Uganda Branch, China International Water and Electric Corporation (CWE). CWE is the EPC contractor of the project.

Outside the power house, local workers under the supervision of Chinese technicians put final touches on the structural works.

"The civil work, the embankment of the dam, and the power house construction, the installation of the electric, mechanical equipment have been fully completed," said Xia.

The construction of the 568 million U.S. dollars power plant located on River Nile, the world's longest River, started in 2015, after Uganda secured a loan from China Export Import Bank. Uganda got the loan to address the country's power shortage, which economic experts said was stalling economic development.

After commissioning of all the units, the plant will generate the installed capacity of 183 MW, which is currently about 19 percent of the country's power generated. The country generates up to 974.84 MW, which experts say is inadequate and expensive.

When the Isimba power comes on to the national grid, it is expected to partly address the shortfall, according to the government.

Another Chinese funded Karuma Hydropower Plant is being constructed and is expected to generate 600 MW. The government anticipates that both the Isimba and Karuma power will address the country's power shortage.

SKILLS TRANSFER

At the construction site, the workforce has reduced as most of the structural works have been completed. What is now remaining is largely electrical and mechanical works, according to Xia.

At the peak of the construction, there were over 3,000 local workers ranging from semi-skilled to skilled.

Most of the youths who worked at the site gained more skills that they would use even after the project is long completed, according to Xia.

He said although the power plant is Chinese constructed, it has an American design as requested by the Ugandan government.

"We want to bring our Chinese knowledge, skills and management to the Ugandan people so that they can have more capability to work for their nation in future because we cannot stay here forever," Xia said.

"In future, Ugandans will build their country by themselves, with the correct skills," he added.

In communities neighboring the construction site, there is noticeable change as what was a small trading center has now expanded. Some of the workers from different parts of the country reside in the Busana trading center.

Xia said most of the employees were recruited from the community and surrounding districts, which explains the development in the area.

CWE also renovated a nearby school, Nakakandwa Primary School. The company, as part of its corporate social responsibility gave a new face-lift to the school.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 19:58:23|Editor: mym

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ACCRA, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Ghana's central bank announced here late Friday the revocation of the operating licenses of two more banks, Premium Bank and Heritage Bank.

Announcing the decision, Ernest Addison, Governor of Bank of Ghana, said the two years long banking sector cleanup had come to an end, leaving 23 universal banks out of an initial 35.

While Premium Bank had continually breached the capital adequacy ratio(CAR) requirements since December 2017 making it insolvent, it had also not been able to meet the new minimum capital threshold of 400 million Ghana cedis (about 83 million U.S. dollars) as of the December 2018 deadline.

For Heritage Bank, Addison explained that while the bank which was licensed in 2016 was not insolvent, there were anomalies with its licensing, the source of its initial capital and related party transactions.

Assets of the two banks have therefore been awarded to the newly established Consolidated Bank of Ghana(CBG).

This brings to nine the number of banks which collapsed under the sector reforms which started in 2017. While assets of two of those banks were awarded to the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB), seven have been consolidated under the CBG.

In addition to that, the local branch of Bank of Baroda, an Indian international bank, was also liquidated early this year and its businesses taken over by Stanbic Bank, local branch of Standard Bank of South Africa.

With the cleaning up completed, Addison expressed confidence that the banking sector had become stronger.

"We have completed the clean-up, in two years we are seeing a banking sector which is consolidated, which is more liquid and is more robust," the governor added.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 19:18:17|Editor: mmm

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MADRID, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona face a tough task on Sunday when they visit Getafe's Alfonso Perez Coliseum stadium in their return to Liga Santander action.

The league leaders will hope the Christmas break won't affect the excellent form they showed in the run in to the holidays when they claimed important 4-0 and 5-0 wins away to Espanyol and Levante.

Getafe's ground promises to be much tougher to conquer, because although the side from the south of Madrid have lost three home games this campaign, they have only conceded four goals in front of their fans and two of those came in a 2-0 setback against Atletico Madrid.

Pepe Bordalas' side made the best of their resources and can also be expected to take full advantage of playing at home, by leaving the pitch dry and allowing the grass to grow as long as it was allowed to make conditions as complicated as possible to try and stop Barca's passing game.

Leo Messi returned to Barcelona earlier this week after his holidays in Argentina and will look to carry on the form which has made him the top scorer in the league with 15 goals and the player who has given the most assists to his team-mates with 10.

Barca boss Ernesto Valverde has virtually a full squad at his disposal with Sergio Roberto recovering from a hamstring injury to press for a return at right back, although his main decision will be whether he tries to shoehorn Phillipe Coutinho into his side.

Ousmane Dembele's form before the break means he will start in the ground where he suffered a tendon injury last season, but Coutinho was looking jaded before the break and Valverde may opt to play the more dynamic Arturo Vidal after the aggressive Chilean also impressed before the break.

Barca will know their main rivals' results before they kick off and with third place Sevilla entertaining second place Atletico Madrid, this could be a chance for them to extend their current 3-point lead at the top of the table, but if they want all the points they will have to work hard for them.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 18:28:09|Editor: Yamei

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LONDON, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- A man has been arrested after a father was stabbed to death in front of his son and horrified passengers on a London-bound train, said British Transport Police (BTP) on Saturday.

Police had been called to Horsley station in Surrey about 1300 GMT on Friday after a 51-year-old man was knifed on the train traveling from Guildford in Surrey to London Waterloo.

Local media reported that a 27-year-old woman was also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

"This is a fast-moving investigation and I am pleased that overnight we were able to arrest a man following a huge amount of police enquiries," said BTP Detective Chief Inspector Sam Blackburn in a statement on its official website.

"The investigation is moving with good progress and we are now confident to say that this is not believed to be a random assault," he said. "In the moments leading to the violent killing, both men appeared to be involved in an altercation lasting three minutes. Nothing justified the extraordinary violence that followed, and we are concentrating our efforts on the ongoing investigation."

The incident took place after a security guard and a woman were stabbed to death in separate cases in London on New Year's Day.

The number of killings in London in 2018, including murders, manslaughters and self-defense killings, rose to its highest level in the past decade.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 18:23:08|Editor: Yamei

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FARAH, Afghanistan, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Unknown armed men intercepted a civilian vehicle outside the capital of Afghanistan's Farah province and took 12 commuters to an unknown location on Saturday, an official said on condition of anonymity.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 18:18:07|Editor: Yamei

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TIRIN KOT, Afghanistan, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- At least 17 militants loyal to the Taliban group were killed following an Afghan forces operation in southern Uruzgan province, an army statement released on Saturday said.

The 24-hour operation was launched in Kotwal area outside provincial capital Tirin Kot city, leaving 17 fighters dead and scores wounded, the statement from the 205th Atal Corps Press Office said.

According to the statement, 17 anti-vehicle mines have also been discovered and defused during the operation.

There were no casualties on the security personnel, the statement said.

Taliban has not commented on the report.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 18:03:04|Editor: Yamei

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JUBA, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan on Saturday said 19 civilians were killed and eight others wounded in a village west of Gorom in southern part of the country in the latest rebel attack.

Mawien Makol, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of South Sudan, said in a statement issued in Juba that opposition forces loyal to the National Salvation Front (NAS) attacked the villagers, mostly children and women, on Wednesday.

"The government of South Sudan condemns this barbaric killing of the innocent civilians in the strongest terms possible. The government calls upon guarantors of the revitalized peace agreement on the resolution of the conflict in South Sudan to persuade the co-signatories to the agreement to lay down their guns and join peace in the country," said Makol.

The official called on Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM), and United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to verify and investigate this latest violation of the permanent ceasefire agreement.

He further urged the groups not to repeat such barbaric and subversive act.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation calls for the humanitarian agencies operating in the country to urgently provide humanitarian assistance to the victims and the affected population in Gorom," Makol added.

He reiterated the government's unwavering commitment to implementing the revitalized peace deal.

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir, his former deputy and arch rival Riek Machar and several opposition groups signed a power-sharing deal in Ethiopia on Sept. 12, 2018. However, NAS leader declined to ink the pact.

Lul Ruai Koang, spokesman for the South Sudan People's Defence Forces, also confirmed the incident and condemned the unjustified killing of civilians, calling on the international community to hold NAS leader Thomas Cirilo and his commanders accountable.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 17:42:59|Editor: huaxia

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ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- The following are news highlights in Ethiopia's major media outlets on Saturday.

-- Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Friday undertook sudden supervision of the offices of the Attorney General and the Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA). (Fana Broadcasting Corporate/FBC)

-- Ethiopia's Minister of Urban Development and Construction, Jantirar Abay, on Friday said his office is preparing a 30-year spatial plan of Ethiopia. (FBC)

--Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar will pay official visit to Ethiopia in the middle of next week, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (Ethiopian News Agency/ENA)

-- The Ebola preparedness and response task force continues to take protective measures through screening program in major ports of entry to Ethiopia.

A total of 4.5 million travelers have been screened at all ports of entry to Ethiopia on the 10th round Ebola outbreak, according to Dr Amir Aman, Ethiopia's Minister of Health. About 30,000 travelers have been screened per day, he said. (FBC) Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 17:02:49|Editor: Liangyu

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Tourists visit a strawberry greenhouse in Yangcunqiao Town of Jiande City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 4, 2019. The city has developed a strawberry industry with a total planting area of 81,200 mu (about 5,413 hectares), generating 3.96 billion yuan (about 576.73 million U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Weng Xinyang)
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 17:05:16|Editor: Liangyu

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Photo taken on Jan. 4, 2019 shows white swans rest at the Yellow River wetland in Sanmenxia, central China's Henan Province. White swans have flown from Siberia to the Yellow River wetland to spend winter. (Xinhua/Wang Ding)
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 16:22:40|Editor: Liangyu

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BEIJING, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- China's banking and insurance regulator has given two of the country's biggest lenders the go-ahead to set up wealth management subsidiaries.

Agricultural Bank of China and Bank of Communications Friday got the approval from the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC).

Two other big lenders -- Construction Bank of China and Bank of China -- were given the nod late last December.

China issued rules in early December 2018 for commercial banks' wealth management branches to strengthen their risk management and support the real economy.

Establishment of wealth management units will enrich the mix of institutional investors, expand financing channels and meet consumers' diversified demands, the CBIRC said.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 16:12:37|Editor: mym

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SANAA, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Heavy clashes erupted between Yemeni government troops and Houthi rebels in the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah on Saturday, just hours ahead of a visit to the rebel-held capital Sanaa by UN special envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths.

The fighting flared up near Hodeidah University and the Rabasah quarter in the southern edge of the port city despite a UN-brokered cease-fire during the peace talks in Stockholm, Sweden last month.

Heavy machine guns and artillery shelling between the rival forces were heard across the city for hours, local resident Mohammed al-Zabidy told Xinhua by phone.

The rival forces traded accusations, blaming each other for breaching the truce and undermining the ongoing peace process.

Griffiths was due to arrive in Sanaa Saturday in a bid to cement the fragile cease-fire, the UN headquarters in New York said in a statement a day earlier.

Last week, the Houthi group said it began withdrawing from the Hodeidah ports in order to "implement the first phase of redeployment."

In response, the UN said that "any redeployment (from Hodeidah ports) would only be credible if all parties and the United Nations are able to observe and verify that it is in line with the Stockholm agreement."

It said Patrick Cammaert, appointed by the UN as head of the Redeployment Coordination Committee (RCC) which includes representatives from both Yemeni rival forces, would arrange the redeployment plans and mechanism required to monitor the cease-fire and ensure that "credible redeployment is achieved."

Cammaert arrived in Hodeidah city last week to oversee the implementation of the cease-fire between the Yemeni parties.

Under the truce deal, the withdrawal from the ports of Hodeidah, Salif and Ras Issa, and critical parts of the city associated with humanitarian facilities should be completed within two weeks after the cease-fire enters into force, while the full withdrawal should be completed within a maximum period of 21 days.

Saudi Arabia has been leading an Arab military coalition in Yemen against the Iran-backed Houthi militia since March 2015, in order to reinstate the exiled Yemeni government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 15:57:32|Editor: mym

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NEW DELHI, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- At least six people including five school children were killed and seven others injured Saturday after a bus carrying them skidded off a mountainous road and fell into gorge in northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, officials said.

The accident took place in Sangrah town of Sirmaur district, about 175 km south of Shimla, the capital city of Himachal Pradesh.

"Five school children of a private school and driver of the bus were killed while as seven other children injured when a bus carrying them skidded off the road and fell into a deep gorge here," a local government official posted in Sirmaur said. "The injured school children were taken to hospital."

Police have registered a case and ordered investigations to ascertain reasons behind the accident.

Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Jairam Thakur expressed grief over the deaths in the tragic accident in Sirmaur and directed authorities to provide medical treatment to the injured children.

Deadly road accidents are common in India often due to overloading, bad condition of roads and reckless driving.

An official report says on an average 400 deaths take place every day in India due to road accidents.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 15:27:26|Editor: mym

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KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Up to 15 personnel of Afghan Border Police force were killed and seven others injured in an overnight attack of anti-government militants against a security checkpoint in the border town of Spin Boldak in the southern Kandahar, an official said on the condition of anonymity on Saturday.

"Up to 15 border police personnel were killed and seven others wounded, after anti-government militants equipped with heavy weapons stormed a checkpoint in Loye Kariz area of Spinboldak district in the wee hours of Saturday," the source told Xinhua but declined to be identified, saying authorized officials would talk to media.

Meantime, an army spokesman in the southern region captain Ahmad Sadeq Eisa has confirmed that attack, but insisted no casualty was there.

However, a statement of Kandahar provincial government released here said that clash between security forces and the Taliban outfit over control of a security outpost in Spinboldak district left seven police personnel and 16 insurgents dead.

According to the statement, four security personnel and 11 insurgents were injured in the overnight firefight which lasted for a while.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 14:57:18|Editor: Yurou

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KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Up to 15 personnel of Afghan Border Police force were killed and seven others injured in an overnight attack of anti-government militants against a security checkpoint in the border town of Spin Boldak in the southern Kandahar, an official said on condition of anonymity Saturday.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 14:42:14|Editor: Yurou

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SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- A fierce gunfight between militants and Indian troops broke out in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir on Saturday, police said.

The gunfight erupted at village Aripal-Tral in Pulwama district, about 43 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Fierce gunfight started this morning between militants and joint contingents of police and army here. Two to three militants are believed to be trapped in the area," a senior police official posted in Tral told Xinhua.

Authorities have suspended mobile internet service in the district and closed roads leading to the site.

"The exchange of fire is going on and details are awaited," the official said.

Officials said the village was cordoned off during morning following specific intelligence information suggesting presence of militants.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 14:37:13|Editor: Yurou

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BANGKOK, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Tropical Storm Pabuk has turned itself into a depression moving from one side of southern Thailand to the other, raising strong winds, heavy rains and flash floods on Saturday.

According to the Meteorological Department's latest statement issued on Saturday, Pabuk has already become a depression with a 55 km speed per hour prevailing over Thailand's famous tourist destinations on the shores of the Andaman Sea such as Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi and Ranong provinces.

Pabuk, which has hit the eastern side of southern Thailand covering Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat provinces bringing heavy rains and flash floods on Friday, has moved westerly and raised three-to-five-meter-high tides in the Andaman Sea.

The depression has prevailed over those southern coastal provinces, prompting the authorities to strongly advise all fishing boats to remain ashore until Sunday at the earliest.

People in various tourist islands in the Andaman Sea have already been evacuated to shore for safety reasons.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 14:22:08|Editor: Yurou

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MAIMANA, Afghanistan, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Afghan forces' crackdown against Taliban outfit have left 13 insurgents dead in Almar district of the northern Faryab province, an army statement released here Saturday said.

The operation, according to the statement launched by units of Special Forces against Taliban hideouts in parts of the restive Almar district on Friday, destroyed the militants' trenches and weapon caches.

The statement did not say if there were casualties on security personnel.

Taliban militants have not commented on the report.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 14:17:07|Editor: Yurou

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SYDNEY, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- At least 19 people in Australia's Queensland state have suffered from suspected stings by one of the world's most venomous jellyfish and taken to hospital in the beachgoing season, almost double the decade's average, with marine safety groups and researchers warning of warmer weather helping to fuel more attacks.

Eight of the victims were airlifted from the Fraser Island tourist spot off the state's southeast in the past two weeks alone after being stung by the Irukandji, the ABC news channel quoted the Australian Marine Stinger Advisory Services ocean organization as saying on Saturday.

"Certainly it has been really hot, and I think that may have something to do with it," the group's director Lisa Gershwin said.

"For people who have had Irukandji syndrome, it's pretty bad. Most people make a full and complete recovery, a fraction require life support, some end up with permanent heart damage or permanent neurological damage," she said.

Calm and warm conditions at Fraser Island amid summer in the Southern Hemisphere have made it a hot spot for the venomous Irukandji, which is also one of the world's smallest jellyfish at about the size of a thumb, the channel quoted James Cook University toxinologist Jamie Seymour as saying.

"We've certainly seen this over the years that the numbers of jellyfish that we're getting down there seems to be increasing, and the length of time they're down there seems to be increasing," he said.

The more common bluebottle jellyfish have also been washing up on Queensland beaches this season, with more than 18,000 stings recorded in the state since last month compared to over 6,000 for the same period year-on-year, the channel reported.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 14:07:06|Editor: Yurou

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BANGKOK, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- All sectors in southern Thailand has been coping with tropical storm Pabuk, the decade's worst storm, around the clock since Friday.

The country's national telecommunication body has ordered mobile operators to offer free voice calls and internet for people in Nakhon Si Thammarat, a southern province assailed by the storm since Friday.

All flights were cancelled at Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport, which was closed on Friday morning, while Surat Thani Airport was ordered shut on Friday afternoon. Both airports are scheduled to reopen at noon on Saturday.

Ferry service from the mainland to Samui island has been halted as strong winds and heavy rains persist in many southern provinces.

Offshore petroleum production in the Gulf of Thailand stopped on Wednesday, with more than 2,600 staff from nine oil and gas drilling companies evacuated from platforms.

Tropical storm Pabuk landed in the country's southern part Friday noon, uprooting trees and power poles and swamping some places under water of 50 cm to 100 cm deep.

The storm was packed with wind of 75 kph at its epic-center when it first made landfall in two coastal districts.

Then it moves across the mainland towards Surat Thani province at a speed of 18 kph and would soon weaken into a depression, bringing torrential rains there, according to the meteorological department.

A fishermen was killed and another went missing when their boat capsized off Pattani province in the south on early Friday.

More than 100 foreign tourists were rescued on Friday from an island off Phuket.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 13:42:03|Editor: Liangyu

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Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) meets with Burkina Faso's Foreign Minister Alpha Barry in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Jan. 4, 2019. (Xinhua/Li Yan)

OUAGADOUGOU, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday met here with his Burkina Faso counterpart, Alpha Barry. Both sides agreed that the China-Burkina Faso cooperation is off to a good start.

The signing of the joint communique on the resumption of diplomatic ties between the two countries in May last year has opened a new chapter of bilateral relations, said Wang.

China highly appreciates Burkina Faso President Roch Marc Christian Kabore's decision to resume diplomatic ties with China, which is made on the basis of Burkina Faso's long-term development and its people's fundamental interests, said Wang.

He also said that China and Burkina Faso have launched exchanges in various fields and advanced mutually beneficial cooperation in an orderly manner, which are off to a good start, Wang said.

"Facts have proved that the decision of Burkina Faso to resume the diplomatic ties with China is one hundred percent correct," Wang said.

Noting that it is the first visit to Burkina Faso by a Chinese foreign minister, Wang expressed hope that the visit will boost the implementation of the consensus reached by the heads of state of the two countries, synergize the results of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) with bilateral cooperation, and bring more benefits to the people of Burkina Faso.

Wang called on both sides to enhance mutual political trust on the basis of the one-China principle, and firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests, so as to ensure that China-Burkina Faso relations will enjoy long-term and steady development.

China is willing to work with Burkina Faso to enhance pragmatic cooperation in various fields in accordance with the eight major initiatives proposed at the Beijing Summit of FOCAC, said Wang.

China firmly supports Burkina Faso's efforts to safeguard peace and stability in the country and the region, and is willing to deepen bilateral cooperation in peace and security, Wang added.

For his part, Barry reiterated the country's firm adherence to the one-China principle, saying the resumption of diplomatic ties has been the country's own decision made on the basis of the fundamental interests of Burkina Faso.

Bilateral cooperation has enjoyed sound development, and the people of Burkina Faso feel keenly that the resumption of diplomatic ties with China has helped boost the country's development and improve people's livelihood, thus bringing tangible benefits to the country and its people, Barry said.

Burkina Faso is pleased with the good momentum in bilateral relations, and is willing to learn from China's success in development, said Barry, adding that the country hopes that China will continue to support its economic and social development.

Burkina Faso appreciates China's efforts to safeguard peace and security in Africa and hopes to enhance cooperation with China in this area, Barry said.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 13:32:00|Editor: Chengcheng

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ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday that relations between China and the African Union (AU) are now "in the best shape ever."

Wang made the remarks when he held talks with Chairperson of the AU Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat at the AU headquarters in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa.

Referring to the AU as a model of Africa's unity, self-reliance and integration, Wang said that the two sides should promote the implementation of the results achieved at Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and focus on the four areas of overall planning of China-Africa cooperation, peace and security, health, and coordination on international affairs.

On creating a stronger strategic partnership between China and the AU, Wang said that China's development should benefit developing countries first, especially African countries.

China is willing to align China's development initiatives with African priorities and projects, especially in jointly implementing the Belt and Road Initiative and the AU's agenda 2063, Wang said.

Reiterating that peace and stability are the most urgent needs of the African continent, Wang said his country supports the 55-member Union to play its leading and coordinating role in the area.

"China will help Africa to improve its independent peacekeeping capabilities within its capabilities and truly follow Africans' own way to maintain peace and stability on the African continent," he said.

Wang further expressed China's willingness to closely cooperate with the AU, maintain a rules-based multilateral and free trade system, and safeguard the common interests of China, Africa and developing countries.

For his part, Faki said that Wang's visit to the AU headquarters at the beginning of the New Year clearly shows the high-level and strategic relationship forged between the AU and China.

Africa-China relations are united and friendly, strong and powerful, and mutually beneficial, said Faki.

Faki said that the AU appreciates China's valuable support and assistance in developing infrastructure and enhancing independent peacekeeping capabilities on the African continent.

Noting that China's cooperation with Africa has set a model for international partners to cooperate with Africa, Faki has once again congratulated China for its successful hosting of the FOCAC Beijing Summit.

He reaffirmed the AU's commitment to maintaining close communication with China and earnestly implementing the eight major initiatives proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping to further promote the Africa-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

Faki said that the AU is willing to further strengthen strategic coordination with China, jointly safeguard multilateralism and maintain international rules.

After their talks, Wang and Faki jointly attended the handover ceremony of the Chinese-built AU Integrated Service Center project.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 13:31:59|Editor: Yurou

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WASHINGTON, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. federal judge on Friday extended the term of a grand jury that has weighed evidence in the ongoing Russia probe led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

Chief U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell granted the extension, as the jury's 18-month mandate was set to expire Saturday.

It was unclear whether the extension represented a perfunctory measure to keep the panel intact during the reportedly final stages of the inquiry or signaled a prolonged period of investigative work.

A grand jury is normally empanelled for a maximum of 18 months, and a maximum six-month extension is permitted.

The panel, whose deliberations are secret, is believed to be weighing a number of potential charges against members of U.S. President Donald Trump's 2016 election campaign team, some of whom have already been indicted.

The Mueller probe has already issued indictments against over 30 people, including several former Trump aides, and has secured seven guilty pleas.

Mueller, who was appointed in May 2017, is looking into the alleged Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and any potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Moscow, among other matters that may arise from the investigation.

Trump has repeatedly dismissed any collusion between his campaign and Moscow while slamming the Russia probe as a "hoax" or "witch hunt."
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 12:46:53|Editor: Liangyu

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Burkina Faso President Roch Marc Christian Kabore (R) meets with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Jan. 4, 2019. (Xinhua/Li Yan)

OUAGADOUGOU, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Burkina Faso President Roch Marc Christian Kabore here Friday pledged to further the development of ties with China.

Kabore made the remarks while meeting with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is on an official visit to the country.

Reiterating that there is only one China in the world, the president noted that his country is committed to strengthening its relations with Beijing based on the one-China principle.

Kabore appreciated China's support for the country's economic development and the improvement of the people's livelihood, saying that the people of Burkina Faso are filled with hope of the future of bilateral ties.

Noting the regional security is a major concern of the country, Kabore said Burkina Faso thanked China for its support for Sahel countries' efforts to safeguard regional peace and security, and hoped for more of such support from China.

Burkina Faso and China share the same stances on many international issues including upholding the role of the United Nations, and his country is ready to enhance communications with China to safeguard the interests of African countries and developing countries, said Kabore.

The Chinese state councilor said that Kabore's major decision of resuming diplomatic relations with China has won unanimous support from the people of Burkina Faso, and has been widely welcomed in the African continent.

History will prove that the resumption of diplomatic ties between the two countries has been a right decision, which fully conforms to the fundamental and long-term interests of Burkina Faso and its people, said Wang.

Both sides should firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests, said Wang, adding that China believes that Burkina Faso will continue to follow the one-China principle.

Wang said that the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries has laid a political foundation for bilateral cooperation, adding that China will do its best to help Burkina Faso in various fields such as economy, people's livelihood, health and education.

He also said that China is willing to work with Burkina Faso to deepen peace and security cooperation.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 12:41:51|Editor: Xiang Bo

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BRASILIA, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro expressed doubts on Friday over the merger between Brazilian aviation company Embraer and U.S. company Boeing, which has been in talks since last year.

At a press conference at Brasilia's air base held after the inauguration of the new commander of Aeronautics, Bolsonaro said that the latest proposal, presented in December, could affect the interests of Brazilians, but did not go further into detail.

"It's our heritage. We know of the need of this merger, for its (Embraer's) competitiveness, so it doesn't disappear over time," said Bolsonaro, who was sworn in as Brazil's president on Tuesday.

The proposed merger between Embraer and Boeing would include the commercial aviation area of Embraer and associated services, in which Boeing has an 80 percent share and Embraer has 20 percent.

During the final days of former president Michel Temer's government last month, the Finance Ministry was notified of the merger, with a period of 30 days to contest the legality of it.

The legal opinion will be up to the Attorney General's Office of National Treasury, and the government will make a decision on the basis of the opinion.

Although Embraer was privatized in 1994, the Brazilian government owns a special "golden share" which gives it veto power on important decisions, such as the transfer of control of the company, interruption to the provision of military aircraft parts, and a change of its name.

Founded in 1969, Embraer is a world leader in regional aircraft manufacturing.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 11:41:40|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- The following is a selection of the latest posts on social media.

Government of Pakistan (@pid_gov on Twitter)

Pakistan and Turkey have reaffirmed their commitment to continue joint efforts for peaceful resolution of Afghan issue. The resolve was expressed during meeting between Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavasoglu in Ankara.

- - - -

The Office of the Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM on Twitter)

PM Netanyahu: I insisted on the reimposition of sanctions on Iran and @POTUS Trump indeed made the brave decision to reimpose them. President Trump is acting against Iran in the economic sphere and here in Israel we are acting against Iran in the military sphere."

- - - -

European Commission (@EU_Commission on Twitter)

When organised crime crosses borders, our agencies @Europol and @Eurojust share vital information with national police authorities, and bring together officials from different EU countries to investigate and bring down criminal networks Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 11:01:36|Editor: Yurou

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WASHINGTON, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is set to visit eight Middle East countries in the following weeks, a trip scheduled amid rising uncertainty and complexity in the region following the decision of U.S. troop withdrawal from Syria.

Pompeo was expected to use the opportunity to assure the allies about U.S. commitment in the region, a mission not easy to fulfill.

"NOT GOING ANYWHERE"

Pompeo will kick off his eight-day trip on Monday to visit Jordan, Egypt, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait, said the U.S. State Department in a statement on Friday.

The visit will center on two "themes," which were reinforcing commitment to the region after its Syria decision and countering Iran's "destabilizing activities," senior State Department officials told reporters at a telephone briefing Friday.

"We are not going anywhere," said one official, who talked on the condition of anonymity.

The Trump administration announced in late December that it had started returning the U.S. troops home from Syria after claiming a victory in the fight against the Islamic State (IS), a move rattling its allies and partners in the Middle East and leading to the departure of key administration officials.

Following the abrupt announcement, no detailed timetable about the withdrawal has been exposed to public, while U.S. President Donald Trump himself later changed his tone on the issue, claiming a slow retreat "over a period of time."

"We have no timeline for our military forces to withdraw from Syria," said another official during the briefing, adding that it will be done "in a deliberate, heavily coordinated way."

Meanwhile, the officials shunned away from the much discussed possibility of the United States organizing groups of troops from Arab countries to go to Syria, saying that they have no plans "right now" about that.

The officials also revealed that Pompeo will raise the case of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi during his talks with Saudi leaders, seeking "accountability and credibility."

Khashoggi was murdered inside the Saudi consulate in Turkey in October 2018 and a number of top Saudi officials were arrested over the case.

INFLUENCING GULF COUNTRIES

It has been noticed that Pompeo covers all the six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in one trip, an itinerary described as "highly unusual" by the officials.

Washington has long hoped to end the rift among the GCC countries, comprising Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar, and form a unity against Iran, which the Unites States declared as a "key threat" in the region.

Pompeo's trip will work to "build confidence among the blockading countries and Qatar," said the officials.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt have been imposing a diplomatic and economic boycott on Qatar since June 2017 over allegations that the gas-rich Gulf country supports terrorism and interferes in their domestic affairs, which Doha has repeatedly denied.

Little sign of reconciliation has been seen among the conflicting sides.

Pompeo will convene two strategic dialogues throughout the trip, one in Doha, the capital city of Qatar, and one in Kuwait, according to the officials.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 10:51:34|Editor: Yurou

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LIMA, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Second Criminal Appeals Chamber of Peru on Friday rejected as "unfounded" the appeal filed by political leader Keiko Fujimori.

The ruling means she will continue to serve the 36-month preventive detention handed down by the Peruvian courts.

Judges Octavio Sahuanay, Jessica Leon and Ivan Quispe unanimously agreed to back the decision adopted on Monday by judge Richard Concepcion Carhuancho, against the leader of the opposition Popular Force (FP) party.

The daughter of ex-president Alberto Fujimori will continue to be held in prison in western Lima where she has been detained since Nov. 1, 2018.

The Criminal Appeals Chamber of Peru explained that although Keiko Fujimori does not represent a flight risk, she may obstruct the subsequent evidentiary activity.

She is being investigated for allegedly being involved with the case of bribes paid by the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht.

Previous legal proceedings reveal that Keiko Fujimori received illicit money from Odebrecht to finance her presidential campaign in 2011.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 10:31:33|Editor: Yurou

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's Justice and Public Security Minister Sergio Moro decided on Friday to send National Security Force to the northeastern state of Ceara over a recent crime wave there.

A total of 300 national security force officers were dispatched, along with 30 vehicles, to reinforce the local and federal police forces.

Ceara state, notably its capital Fortaleza and metro area, has seen a wave of attacks in recent days. Shots have been fired at banks and buildings, buses were set on fire and local police stations were attacked by homemade bombs.

On Thursday, a bomb was put on the pillar of a viaduct, and a riot in a prison occurred.

According to the Ceara state government, so far 45 people, including teenagers, were arrested for committing those crimes. So far three were injured in the attacks.

The justice and public security ministry also authorized the officers to use force. The troops are going to stay in Ceara state for 30 days, but the period can be extended if necessary.
Like hundreds of thousands of other federal employees, TSA workers across the country have been going to work every day, but theyre not getting paid.

Its hard, because people have bills to pay, said one officer, who wished to go by only his last name, Watts. If you got spouses, family, friends that can help you stay aboard until you get your pay, its really not too harsh. But everybody is not in that same boat.

The government shutdown entered its 14th day on Friday, with no end in sight. President Donald Trump has refused to reopen the government without $5 billion to fund the construction of a wall along the US-Mexico border.

Waiting for the Airtrain to JFK on Friday, TSA workers who were willing to speak to a reporter about the shutdown almost unanimously expressed deep anxiety at the lapse in their pay. Many said they were anticipating turning to family or friends for help paying the bills.

Watts, whos been working at the TSA for about four years, said that his last paycheck came at the end of December. But he hasnt gotten paid for any work since the government shut down nearly two weeks ago. Watts said hes been told that hell be paid for the hours hes working  just not right now. Once the government opens, they say that we get paid back all that money. So were not really working for free, but our paychecks are on freeze.

Hes been calling his creditors, seeing if theres any way to defer payment on rent, car payments, utility bills  but with mixed results. Some agencies are lenient, like okay, we can let yall wait to pay us back. But most of the companies want their money up front.

TSA agents are in a group of federal employees who are deemed essential  workers whose job involves keeping people safe, or the protection of property. But this designation also means theyre required to show up for work during the shutdown, with no guarantee of when their next paycheck will come.

As many as 170 TSA workers called out sick each day this week at JFK alone, CNN reports. A union official at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport told the network, "TSA officers are telling the union they will find another way to make money. That means calling out to work other jobs."

She burst into tears. TSA officers are among the lowest paid government employees. Theyre not paid during the shutdown, but theyre required to go to work.  Neda Ulaby (@ulabeast) January 3, 2019

The TSA is one of the lowest-paying federal agencies. Hydrick Thomas, a union rep for the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents TSA workers across the country, said a typical starting salary for a TSA employee is only about $17,000 a year. Hes also a TSA officer at JFK. We dont make that much money, he said. You lose a days pay, it can have a total effect on how you manage your livelihood.

Thats exactly what one TSA officer, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation, is running into. She spent most of her last paycheck on rent, and now has only about $500 in her bank account.

Most of my money went to rent and everything, so Im pretty much broke right now," she said. "I really dont like asking for help, but with this situation right now, I pretty much need help.

But even for those with deeper pockets of savings, theres uncertainty. John Quinn, another officer at JFK, says he has no idea if he has health insurance during the pay lapse. We pay for our health insurance. So if we dont get paid, do we have health insurance is the question. Thats the thing I dont know about right now.

On Thursday, shortly after taking control of the House of Representatives, Democrats voted to fully fund almost all of the agencies that have been shut down, a bill that mirrored legislation that received bipartisan support in the Senate last year. Legislators met with President Trump earlier today to negotiate an end to the shutdown, but no agreement was reached, and the president threatened to keep the federal government partially closed for months or even years.

UPDATE: Asked how the shutdown has impacted TSA operations, Lisa Farbstein, the TSA spokesperson for NY, sent us this statement: "Due to the partial government shutdown, the Department of Homeland Security of which the Transportation Security Administration is a component, has not been funded. As non-security-sensitive employees, TSA spokespeople have been placed on furlough until further notice. Due to the lapse in federal funding, this email will not be monitored, and I will not be able to respond until after budget appropriations are enacted."

Rhiannon Corby is a producer at the New Yorker Radio Hour, and contributes reporting to WNYC News. You can follow her on Twitter at @rhiannoncorby.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 09:01:19|Editor: Yurou

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KIEV, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Ukrainian Armed Forces received more than 4,900 units of domestically-produced weaponry and military equipment in 2018, the country's state defense conglomerate Ukroboronprom said on Friday.

Last year, Ukrainian enterprises supplied the army with different kinds of modernized arms and equipment as well as new samples of military hardware, Ukroboronprom said in a statement on Facebook.

Earlier, Ukroboronprom, which unites more than 130 enterprises from Ukraine's defense industry, said its manufacturers last year provided the country's military with "Stugna," "Corsair" and "Barrier" anti-tank missile complexes, modernized planes and helicopters as well as maritime equipment.

Ukraine's defense industry has witnessed significant growth since 2014, when an armed conflict began in the country's eastern Donbas region.

Local experts estimate that since 2014, Ukroboronprom has supplied the Ukrainian armed forces with more than 20,000 units of weaponry and military equipment.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 08:01:09|Editor: Yurou

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SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- San Francisco Mayor London Breed on Friday complained that the federal government shutdown has caused additional burden on the employees of the city's Public Works.

Breed was responding to the news that employees of San Francisco Public Works were dispatched to clean up the trash in different locations of parks run by federal agencies such as the National Park Service.

"The federal government was already asking cities to cover for a lack of resources to build affordable housing and address homelessness, and now we're picking up their trash too," Breed tweeted Friday.

"We don't need a border wall, we need a functioning government," she said.

Public Works spokesperson Rachel Gordon, quoted by the local SFGate news outlet, said the city's Public Works crews began to remove tons of trash in or near some of the highly trafficked garbage cans at Lands End and the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park on Wednesday and Thursday.

He said the city agency's employees are adding the national parks area on top of their regular duties.

"Public Works is stepping up temporarily, as the shutdown continues, to help keep the areas clean and beautiful," Gordon said.

The federal maintenance crews have no resources to continue normal operations at those federally-run parks due to the lack of federal money caused by the partial government closure, which has dragged on for two weeks with no end in sight, he said.

With no sufficient crews available for keeping all areas clean, San Francisco Public Works urged visitors and residents to be more mindful of a clean city.

"During the budget standoff, please also help by packing out your trash to keep the majestic natural areas looking good," the agency said in a tweet Friday.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 07:36:06|Editor: Yurou

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WASHINGTON, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday dismissed a New York Times report that he is considering former Democratic Senator Jim Webb to be the next Pentagon chief, calling the story "fake news."

"I'm sure he is a fine man, but I don't know Jim, and never met him," Trump tweeted Friday afternoon. "Patrick Shanahan, who is Acting Secretary of Defense, is doing a great job!"

The Times reported earlier in the day that the White House is looking at Webb, who had also served as secretary of the Navy under former Republican President Ronald Reagan, as the new defense secretary of the Trump administration.

A former senator from Virginia, Webb, 72, is a war veteran and a critic of the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq as well as an Emmy Award winning journalist, a filmmaker, and the author of ten books.

Shanahan took over the Pentagon earlier this week as acting secretary of defense.

His predecessor, Jim Mattis, resigned last month over policy disagreements with Trump, including whether to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria.

A 68-year-old former Marine Corps general, Mattis had planned to leave at the end of this February but Trump named Shanahan as the acting Pentagon chief before Christmas, forcing Mattis out earlier.

Shanahan, 56, became deputy secretary of defense in July 2017.

The former longtime Boeing executive reportedly has strong relationships with both Trump and Vice President Mike Pence but is expected to face questions over his lack of foreign policy or government experience in his new role.

"Under the direction of President Trump, the Department of Defense remains focused on safeguarding our nation," Shanahan said in a statement on New Year's Day.

"As acting secretary of defense, I now look forward to working with President Trump to carry out his vision alongside strong leaders including the service secretaries, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the combatant commanders, and senior personnel in the Office of the Secretary of Defense," he added.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 07:01:03|Editor: Yurou

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WARSAW, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Five teenage girls were killed and one man was seriously injured in Poland in a fire during an escape game, Polish authorities said on Friday.

The fire broke out after 5 p.m. at a residential building in Koszalin, a city in the northwest of Poland. Escape Room game is highly popular among Polish teenagers.

According to authorities, five dead were found after firemen put out the blaze. The man who was seriously burned has been taken to a local hospital for treatment, and could not be immediately questioned by investigators.

"The victims of the tragedy are children, 15-year-old girls who were participating in the birthday party of one of them," Interior Minister Joachim Brudzinski told local media.

"A huge tragedy happened, (and) action is needed to be made to prevent further accident from happening, " Brudzinski said.

Koszalin Mayor Piotr Jedlinski announced that Sunday would be a day of mourning in the city.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 07:01:03|Editor: Yurou

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LONDON, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- British police on Friday launched an investigation into a deadly stabbing on a London-bound train, in which a 51-year-old man was killed while traveling with his 14-year-old son.

The British Transport Police has launched a murder investigation after the man was stabbed to death on a London Waterloo-bound train.

Police were called at 1315 GMT on Friday to Horsley station in Surrey after a man was knifed on the train travelling between Guildford and Waterloo.

The "incredibly frightening" attack took place in front of shocked passengers with one witness claiming there was "blood everywhere."

The male suspect, who is still at large, fled from the train at Clandon, the station before Horsley, according to media reports.

The incident took place after a security guard and a woman were stabbed to death in separate cases in London on New Year's Day.

The number of killings in London in 2018 has risen to its highest level for a decade. The figures included murders, manslaughters and self-defense killings.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 07:01:02|Editor: Yurou

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LONDON, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- A man died on Friday afternoon after falling from a building next to the Barbican Centre in central London, British police said.

Police were called to Frobisher Crescent in central London, near where the renowned performing arts centre is located, at around 1330 GMT on Friday.

The investigation found that a 25-year-old man attempted to climb the outside wall of the building when at some point he lost his footing and fell to the ground, the police said in a news release.

He was taken to an area hospital where he died from his injuries.

Forensic teams remained at the scene throughout the afternoon as a police cordon remained in place.

Pictures and video footage show police officers outside the Barbican Exhibition Halls at around 1700 GMT.

A post mortem examination will be scheduled and the investigation is ongoing.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 06:46:01|Editor: yan

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WASHINGTON, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. State Department announced on Friday that it has filled in a key position in fighting the Islamic State (IS) following an abrupt resignation of a senior official in protest against U.S. troops withdrawal from Syria.

James Jeffrey, the current U.S. Special Representative for Syria Engagement, will take on the additional role of the Special Envoy to the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS (IS) after the departure of Brett McGurk, said the department's deputy spokesperson Robert Palladino in a statement.

McGurk resigned from the post late December following the White House's decision to exit U.S. troops from Syria.

The withdrawal plan also prompted the resignation of former U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis.

The United States has deployed troops to Syria fighting the IS since 2015, and there are more than 2,000 U.S. soldiers in Syria currently.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 06:35:59|Editor: mym

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Oslo's Governing Mayor Raymond Johansen speaks at a ceremony at Oslo City Hall in Oslo, Norway, Jan. 4, 2019. Norway's capital city Oslo on Friday marked the start of the city's year as European Green Capital 2019 and will act as an ambassador for sustainable urban development. (Xinhua/Liang Youchang)

OSLO, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Norway's capital city Oslo on Friday marked the start of the city's year as European Green Capital 2019 and will act as an ambassador for sustainable urban development.

At a ceremony at Oslo City Hall, Karmenu Vella, European Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, handed over the Green Book to Oslo's Governing Mayor Raymond Johansen.

The European Green Capital Award is presented to a European city that is at the forefront of environmentally friendly urban living. Starting in 2010, one European city is selected each year as the European Green Capital of the year.

"Any city can dream of being green, but it takes determination and political leadership to find solutions for the big environmental challenges we are facing today," Vella said. "That is what makes Oslo special."

"In a country known for its wealth of energy resources, Oslo is making great strides in transitioning to a society free of fossil fuel emissions. Its success in increasing public transport and prioritizing people over cars is truly inspiring," he said.

Johansen said Oslo aims to use the European Green Capital year to spread knowledge, inspire and mobilize its citizens and businesses to make more environmentally friendly choices.

"Combating and adapting to climate change is the greatest challenge of our time and it can't be left to someone else, at another time, in another place," Johansen said. "In 2019, we want to invite the world to Oslo -- to share and to learn together."

In 2019 and beyond, Oslo is expected to share and promote best practices that have been tried and tested in the Norwegian city to inspire others to make meaningful environment changes.

Oslo's European Green Capital 2019 program has brought together almost 200 partners to deliver more than 350 planned events, ranging from large, international conferences to small neighborhood events for locals, to engage the entire city.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 06:20:56|Editor: yan

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LOS ANGELES, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- A leading international environment advocacy group on Friday hailed Chinese government's law enforcement efforts against the smuggling of totoaba fish, an endangered species living in the Gulf of California in Mexico.

China Customs announced last week the results of its crackdown on a totoaba fish maw smuggling gang in 2018, which is "one of China's most successful cases in combating the smuggling of endangered species," according to an article published on the official website of the U.S.-based Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

Chinese customs offices carried out the operation named "SY608" across many cities in the country's southern regions of Guangdong and Guangxi, which led to the arrests of 16 individuals representing one of the main trafficking syndicates in totoaba swim bladders, confiscating over 444 kg of totoaba swim bladders, equivalent to an estimated 26.4 million U.S. dollars.

The case is still under investigation, but preliminary findings revealed that the criminal gang, which operated out of multiple Chinese provinces, illegally purchased the totoaba swim bladders in Mexico's Gulf of California, and smuggled them in luggage through several countries, before arriving in China.

"We desperately need international cooperation to eliminate trade in totoaba, which is driving the endangered vaquita porpoise, of which there are less than 15 left in the world, to extinction." Zak Smith, senior attorney for nature program at the NRDC, said in a statement.

"The Chinese government is stepping up to meet its commitment to eradicate the illegal totoaba trade in China. We hope the Mexican government will implement equally vigorous enforcement efforts to combat totoaba trafficking," the statement read.

Facing extinction, the totoaba is listed as an Appendix I species under CITES, meaning international commercial trade of the fish is prohibited. Endemic to the Gulf of California in Mexico, the totoaba is poached and smuggled under the false assumption that it could treat health problems or provide other benefits.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 06:15:55|Editor: yan

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WASHINGTON, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Five children were among the seven people who were killed in a fiery, multi-vehicle crash Thursday on a Florida highway, authorities said Friday.

The children were believed to range in age from eight to teens, an officer with the Florida Highway Patrol told a press conference. Two tractor-trailer truck drivers were also killed in the accident.

The officer said the young victims were on a church passenger van from the state of Louisiana and the crash happened at 3:40 p.m. Thursday south of Gainesville in Florida, an hour of drive north of Walt Disney World, a popular theme park in Orlando.

The deadly crash, also causing a massive fire, involved the church van, two semi-tractor trailers and one midsize vehicle, according to the officer.

At least eight other people, including a pregnant woman, were injured in the crash.
This blog has nothing to do with gorillas (though I love 'em)...fellow bloggers have inspired me to share vintage images of Disneyland from my personal collection. But don't be surprised if you see something from a World's Fair, Knott's Berry Farm, or someplace else that is cool!
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 06:10:54|Editor: Yurou

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CHICAGO, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) agricultural futures rose for the third consecutive day over massive buying, boosted by dry weather impacting Brazil and upcoming trade talks between China and the United States.

CBOT brokers estimated that funds on Friday bought 3,100 contracts of soybeans, 4,000 contracts of corn, and 1,800 contracts of wheat.

Adverse weather conditions in South America have uplifted CBOT futures, especially soybean and corn prices, as dryness is expected to hit more than a third of Brazil's crop areas this month.

Additional support came from official confirmation that China and the United States will hold vice ministerial level trade consultations next week.

China has been the world's top soybean buyer. Any positive development concerning the trade talks between the two sides will boost U.S. soybean prices.

At the end of the session, CBOT March corn was up 3.25 cents, or 0.86 percent to close at 3.83 dollars per bushel. March wheat was also up 3.25 cents, or 0.63 percent to settle at 5.17 dollars. March soybeans were up 8.75 cents, or 0.96 percent to close at 9.215 dollars per bushel.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 05:55:51|Editor: yan

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THE HAGUE, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Dutch Maritime Police, in collaboration with the Dutch Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate, on Friday launched a criminal investigation into overboard containers near the Wadden Sea Islands in the north of the Netherlands.

The research focuses on the question whether the damage caused is the result of criminal acts and whether someone can be held responsible for the pollution that has arisen.

During the night of Jan. 2, 2019, the cargo ship MSC Zoe lost about 270 containers during stormy weather near the German island of Borkum.

The containers were mainly filled with car parts, toys and furniture, but some also with organic peroxides. In total, approximately 35 containers have now been located, floating in the water or near the coast.

The Wadden Islands and the coast on the mainland have been polluted in the last few days by the washed up containers and their contents, turning the beaches into a mess.

On Friday, Rijkswaterstaat, part of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and responsible for the waterway network, already made the Swiss shipping company MSC Zoe liable for the damage caused by the overboard containers.

Rijkswaterstaat stated that a ship with special search equipment, such as sonar, is on its way to the Wadden Islands to search for containers at the bottom of the Wadden Sea.

Dozens of volunteers have already helped clean the beaches at the Wadden Islands. As of Friday, a hundred Dutch soldiers have been deployed to help with the clean-up action. The soldiers cleaned a total of 3 kilometers of beach on Friday already and continue cleaning on Saturday.

It is not yet clear how much time is needed to clean the beaches. For the time being, the military will be deployed for two days.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 05:50:51|Editor: yan

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CHICAGO, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- A study of the University of Illinois (UI) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service suggests that environmental greenness may not be associated with higher test scores in schoolchildren after all.

In the study that involved more than 400 public schools in Chicago, UI researchers examined the density of healthy foliage in the neighborhoods surrounding Chicago elementary schools and whether greenery was associated with higher math and reading scores over a six-year period.

They obtained math and reading scores for third-grade classes at the Chicago Public Schools and downloaded greenness data for those schools' neighborhoods from a NASA website.

Based upon the NASA data, they calculated the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) - the amount of visible and near-infrared light reflected by foliage within 250, 500, 1,000 and 2,000 meters of each school.

Regions with greater amounts of vigorously growing trees and plants have higher NDVI values because healthy vegetation absorbs most of the visible light that strikes it and reflects most of the near-infrared light, said UI recreation, sport and tourism professor Matthew Browning.

Using the same methodology of a 2014 study on third-grade students at 905 Massachusetts public schools that concluded that students performed significantly better on English and math tests if their schools were surrounded by greater amounts of green foliage in the spring, the researchers tried to predict the Chicago schools' math and reading scores based upon their neighborhoods' NDVI values for the months of March, July and October from 2006-2012.

They found that the methodology used in the Massachusetts study was not statistically sound, producing high intercorrelations among the predictor variables, which invalidated the findings.

After tweaking the equation to address this problem, "no matter how many ways we sliced and diced it, we were finding negative relationships between green space and academic achievement in all 24 of our models," Browning said.

Browning said they are finding similar methodological problems among those studies too, "and that the researchers' conclusions that green cover improves student test scores are not well-grounded on the actual findings. The evidence for this beneficial relationship between green space and academic performance is not that strong."

The study has been published in the journal Landscape and Urban Planning.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 05:45:48|Editor: yan

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GENEVA, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- People are fleeing deadly clashes that erupted at the end of last December between two communities in Yumbi, Mai-Ndombe Province of Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a UN official said Friday.

Andrej Mahecic, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), told a press briefing here Friday that the UN is supporting local authorities in the Republic of the Congo to provide humanitarian assistance to some 16,000 recently arrived refugees from the DRC.

According to the UN agency, an old rivalry between Banunus and Batende communities led to fresh inter-communal clashes, and the reignited dispute is reported to have killed dozens, with around 150 injured arriving in Congo-Brazzaville.

This is the largest influx of refugees from the DRC in Congo-Brazzaville in almost in a decade, since some 130,000 people were forced to seek shelter due to ethnic clashes in DRC's former Equator Province in 2009, Mahecic said.

He told reporters that refugees, mostly women and children of the Banunu tribe, continue to arrive in Makotipoko and Bouemba districts in the Republic of Congo where the Congolese authorities and UN agencies, including UNHCR, are providing medical treatment, food and non-food items.

Those fleeing DRC talked of attacks that left homes burned and people killed, some feared an escalation in the conflict.

In DRC, Mahecic said, a recent humanitarian assessment mission to Yumbi found more than 450 houses destroyed following the clashes and found people in dire need of basic assistance including food, health services and shelter.

"Authorities in the Republic of the Congo formally requested the assistance of UNHCR and other humanitarian organizations. We are coordinating relief efforts to support the government in assisting refugees," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 05:30:46|Editor: yan

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WARSAW, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Five teenage girls were killed and one man was seriously injured in Poland in a fire during an escape game on Friday, local media reported.

The five girls, aged around 15, were locked in the room and all were killed in the fire, reports said.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 05:20:43|Editor: yan

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DAMASCUS, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- At least 11 people were killed on Friday by a fresh U.S.-led airstrike on a town held by the Islamic State (IS) militants in eastern Syria, state news agency SANA reported.

The U.S.-led airstrikes targeted the town of Shofeh in the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour, SANA said.

Huge property losses were caused as a result of the airstrikes, it added.

According to the official agency, it was the latest in a series of killings caused by the U.S.-led airstrikes in eastern Syria.

The United States has been supporting the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in its push to dislodge the IS militants from their last pocket in the eastern Euphrates River region.
Photo provided by the China National Space Administration on Jan. 4, 2019 shows image of Yutu-2, China's lunar rover, at preset location A on the surface of the far side of the moon.

MOSCOW, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- The head of the Russian state space corporation Roscosmos, Dmitry Rogozin, Thursday congratulated the Chinese colleagues on the successful landing of the Chang'e-4 probe.

"On behalf of Roscosmos State Corporation and on my own behalf, I want to congratulate you and the entire team of the China National Space Administration (CNSA) on the successful launch of the Chang'e-4 mission - the first soft landing on the far side of the moon in the history of mankind," Rogozin said in a letter of congratulation published at Roscosmos's website.

He noted that Russia and China cooperate fruitfully in the field of space activities.

"We are pleased that the power equipment of the Chang'e-4 mission is supplied by radioisotope sources of electricity produced in Russia," he said.

"I am confident that in the future we will have many more opportunities for effective cooperation for the benefit of our countries," Rogozin added.

At the end of the letter, Rogozin expressed his wishes that there would be more new creative successes and interesting projects in the field of space activities for peaceful purposes.

China's Chang'e-4 probe touched down on the far side of the moon Thursday, becoming the first spacecraft soft-landing on the moon's uncharted side never visible from Earth.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 03:45:28|Editor: yan

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YAOUNDE, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Cameroon's President Paul Biya on Friday appointed Joseph Dion Ngute as his new prime minister to replace Philemon Yang, who was in office since 2009, according to the national channel CRTV.

A new cabinet is also expected to be appointed soon by the president in consultation with the new prime minister.

According to the government's website, Dion Ngute served as minister delegate to the ministry of external relations in charge of cooperation with the Commonwealth between 1997 and early 2018. He was appointed as the minister in charge of special duties at the presidency on March 2, 2018.

Dion Ngute was born on March 12, 1954 in the Southwest, one of the two English-speaking regions of Cameroon, a predominantly French-speaking country wedged between central and west Africa.

For more than two years, a separatist movement has been active in the Northwest and Southwest, representing 20 percent of the national population, creating deadly violence. During his investiture ceremony in November last year, President Biya promised the return of "calm" and "serenity" in these parts of the country.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 03:45:27|Editor: yan

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TEHRAN, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- The deputy commander of Iran's Navy said an Iranian naval fleet will be sent to the Atlantic Ocean for a five-month mission in early 2019, official IRNA news agency reported Friday.

"The Atlantic Ocean is a long route, and it is likely that the mission would take five months to complete," Touraj Hassnai Moqaddam told IRNA.

"Iranian Sahand destroyer will accompany the fleet," he added, without providing more details.

On Dec. 1, 2018, the Iranian navy launched the domestically-built Sahand destroyer in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas.

With radar-evading stealth properties, the military vessel can embark on voyages for five months without re-supply.

It has a flight deck for helicopters, torpedo launchers, as well as anti-aircraft and anti-ship guns.

The destroyer also has surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles, capable of engaging in electronic warfare.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 03:45:25|Editor: Chengcheng

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BAGHDAD, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- For many people in Iraq's eastern province of Diyala, the incredible healing effect of the Chinese acupuncture treatment gave them hopes that it is a good solution to many intractable medical cases.

During the past months at the physical therapy department of the main government hospital of Diyala's provincial capital Baquba, medics have used the Chinese treatment for many of the ostensibly incurable diseases.

"Although it is not a popular treatment in Diyala, it has already achieved important results through the treatment of many cases," said Najat al-Taie, head of Health Committee in Diyala's Provincial Council.

"Many patients are interested in resorting to such therapy because it does not depend on surgical intervention or taking drugs," she noted.

Taie strongly supports the idea of opening an integrated Chinese acupuncture health center in Baquba considering its satisfactory results.

Meanwhile, Haider al-Magdami, head of Baquba Hospital, also confirmed that the Chinese acupuncture proved very successful in treating many patients during the past months.

Ahmed Jasim, a patient in his 40s who he had suffered from years of shoulder pain, told Xinhua that his pain disappeared gradually after he tried the Chinese acupuncture treatment.

"The Chinese acupuncture is a new treatment in Baquba Hospital, and it is part of seeking alternative treatments to drugs and surgical intervention," Faris al-Azzawi, head of media office of the provincial Health Department, told Xinhua.

The Health Department of the province "is supportive of this therapeutic method and will provide all ways to develop it in the future," he said.

Ahmed Subhi, head of the physiotherapists at the hospital in Baquba, also expressed support for the development of the Chinese acupuncture, which has no side effects and does not use any chemicals.

"The last case that they have been treated is a 34-year-old patient suffering from chronic pectoral pain because of an old fracture and significant results have been achieved," he said.

"We have many cases that had ... achieved important results and this is what drives us to continue to work and develop our performance," Subhi noted.


You may be wondering what any of this has to do with Ukraine. The answer is, Ukraine is in danger of experiencing disintegration similar to what Poland endured in the 18th century. In fact, Poland is one of a number of regional rivals that have claims to Ukrainian territory and may be waiting for an opportunity to take back what they see as rightfully theirs. Polands own dismemberment hasnt prevented the emergence of a nascent Polish revanchism, and the same can be said to varying degrees of Hungary, Romania and, most notably, Russia. Caught between these stronger powers , beset with acute internal political fractiousness, bereft of significant military force and governed by a corrupt and well-entrenched oligarchic class, Ukraine is a ticking time-bomb, and its becoming increasingly uncertain whether anyone is willing or able to defuse it. Underlying Problems Ukraines fragility has been widely overlooked. The narrative in the Western media narrative around Ukraine has been shaped mainly by a combination of understandable, if hysterical, fears in Ukraine about Russian domination and an intense anti-Russia bias. Just last week, the Institute for the Study of War, a resource weve occasionally cited in our own work, published a report predicting possible imminent Russian offensive operations against Ukraine from the Crimean Peninsula and the east. The evidence for a Russian offensive includes the movement of a few military convoys, a few Foreign Ministry statements, a planned naval drill in the Black Sea and the transfer of more than a dozen fighter jets to a base near Sevastopol. Taken together, these moves might well give the impression that Russia is preparing for an operation in eastern Ukraine. But the reality is more complicated. And the underlying problems in Ukraine are more serious than the threat of a limited Russian incursion.

Internally, Ukraine is facing a number of challenges. Its gross domestic product dropped by 17 percent in the two years following the 2014 revolution, Russias subsequent seizure of Crimea and insurgencies in Luhansk and Donetsk. Sensing an opportunity to pull Ukraine further into the Western camp, the International Monetary Fund in 2015 approved a $17.5 billion loan over four years to help boost Ukraines economy. It took roughly two years and a dispersal of about half the total amount for the IMF and its Western backers to become dissatisfied with how Ukraine was spending the money and suspend the loan. (The IMF agreed to a new $3.9 billion program with Ukraine just last week.) Then-U.S. Vice President Joe Biden even said the U.S. might have to abandon sanctions against Russia if Ukraine couldnt overcome its corruption problems . He might as well have asked the sky to stop being blue.

Ukraine has taken some small steps in recent months to satisfy its creditors. Fearful of what the IMF might do if Kiev didnt at least appear to be meeting the obligations of its loan program, it followed through on a promise to raise gas prices by almost 25 percent in October. Ukraine was in danger of a serious liquidity crisis  in July, it had to delay pension and public sector salary payments  and without more IMF funding, it might have been unable to meet its debt payments and finance its budget. This is the cost of keeping Ukraine in the pro-West camp and why Russia feels less urgency than most think it does to reverse the outcome of the 2014 revolution. Its happy enough to wait for Ukraine to revert to a more neutral position while the West grows tired of footing the bill for its recovery.

The situation will only get worse in the year ahead. In 2019, Russia will complete work on the TurkStream and Nordstream 2 pipelines, which will enable Russian natural gas exports destined for Europe to bypass Ukraine and slash Ukrainian revenue from delivery of these exports through its territory. (Last year, Ukraine earned roughly $3 billion in transit fees from Russian gas exports to Europe  no chump change for a country on the edge of a liquidity crisis.) In March, Ukraine will hold its first presidential election since the 2014 Maidan Revolution. Due to its struggling economy, social divisions and competition between political factions with conflicting business interests and personal allegiances, no single candidate has even 25 percent of the vote so far. Russias main concern, therefore, is not a pro-Western government in Kiev but that chaos following the election could cause volatility on the Russian border. External Issues Ukraine also has several external problems, chief among them being Russia. Russia doesnt want instability in Ukraine any more than the United States or any other Western country does  but its more affected by economic uncertainty and political competition in Ukraine than the other outside powers involved in the frozen conflict there. And while Russia isnt exactly a 21st-century incarnation of the Soviet Union  Moscow isnt peddling a global ideology and has no delusions that it can compete as an equal with Washington on the world stage  the Russian government has relied heavily on Russian nationalism to legitimize its rule. And its brand of nationalism requires Moscow to protect Russians wherever they live  including in eastern Ukraine. Vladimir Putins government cant abandon the ethnic Russian population there without looking weak.

Theres no doubt Russia has beefed up its military presence on its western border and is increasingly active in the Black Sea, but these are more signs of Moscow preparing for a meltdown in Ukraine than precursors to an invasion. Russia has wanted relief from U.S. and EU sanctions for years, and it behooves Russia not to antagonize the West but to find some kind of accommodation (especially with a potential global recession and possibly lower oil prices approaching). But to do so, it cant be seen as the aggressor in a conflict with Ukraine  and Ukraine knows it, which is why Kiev made such a big deal out of the Kerch Strait incident , a relatively minor affair, all things considered. There are some in the Russian establishment who want to make up for the embarrassment of losing Kiev in 2014, and perhaps even some who think a show of force in eastern Ukraine might distract Russians from their own financial woes. But its more likely that Russia is preparing for any eventuality, including a possible internal collapse in Ukraine  and, meanwhile, is biding its time.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 03:45:24|Editor: Chengcheng

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TASHKENT, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Uzbekistan will offer 30 days of visa-free regime for German citizens from Jan. 15, the State Tourism Committee said Friday.

More than 1,000 German citizens received e-visas last year, which ranked the 10th among the countries whose citizens used the e-visa system in Uzbekistan.

The number of tourists from Germany to Uzbekistan reached 4,889 in 2016. The number hit 7,207 in 2017, and skyrocketed 18,094 in 2018, an increase of almost 2.5 times.

According to the State Tourism Committee, in January-October 2018, the number of visitors to Uzbekistan almost doubled to reach 4.4 million, compared to the same period in 2017.

Uzbekistan now has a visa-free regime with 18 countries, including the bilateral visa free with the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), which consists of 10 post-Soviet republics.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 02:20:05|Editor: yan

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YANGON, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Restoration process is underway after four police outposts were raided by the Arakan Army (AA) on Friday morning in Buthidaung, Myanmar's Rakhine state, an official from Myanmar Military told Xinhua.

"The four police outposts were just to provide security for local ethnic villages and they were not well-defended as the border police stations," he said.

The AA armed group launched attacks on the four police outposts in ethnic Arakan villages of Nga Myin Baw, Kyaung Taung, Ka Htee Hla and Goke Pi in Buthidaung township at 06:45 a.m. local time on Friday.

With the use of two helicopters, the military returned fire and took control of the situation before 10:00 a.m. on Friday, according to the official.

A total of 13 police personnel were killed and nine others were injured in the attack with small arms and bullets reported missing from the outposts, according to the Information Ministry.

On Dec. 12 last year, the non-ceasefire signatory Northern Alliance Ethnic Forces, comprising three ethnic armed groups -- Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and Arakan Army (AA) released a joint statement, expressing their desire to settle military dispute and political matters through dialogue.

In response of the joint-statement, Myanmar military also announced suspension of all its military action against armed groups in operation areas in five military command regions for over four months starting from Dec. 21, 2018 to April 30, 2019.

During the military's non-operation period, ethnic armed groups in respective operation areas are to negotiate for ceasefire and peace with the National Reconciliation and Peace Center, said an announcement of the Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Services.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-05 01:29:54|Editor: yan

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ANKARA, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- A delegation of U.S. officials on Thursday attended the interrogation of key suspects and witnesses of the 2016 coup attempt for their preliminary inquiry on foundations linked to Gulen movement in the U.S.

The U.S. delegation, which is paying a two-day visit to Ankara, is the second delegation in Turkey having talks with the Turkish authorities, Anadolu Agency reported on Friday.

The visiting delegation included the Washington Prosecutor, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, a U.S. Justice Department official, a FBI official and an IT specialist, accompanied by embassy officials.

The interrogation request was made by Washington about one and a half month ago for the three people and the questions were sent by the U.S. authorities within the scope of their own investigations on Gulen movement.

The U.S. and Turkish officials held a meeting and the former presented some information on judicial inquiries on the coup attempt, and then the delegation headed to Ankara courthouse for hearing of the key suspect.

Kemal Batmaz, who is accused of being the "second-in-command" of the coup attempt, was brought to the hearing room for questioning, but he reportedly refused to provide any information.

Former colonel Hakan Biyik and the former rear admiral Halil Ibrahim Yildiz, who were secret witnesses, were also heard through video conference system.

A copy of the cellphone images belonging to Batmaz and another suspect Hakan Cicek are dispatched to the U.S. delegation, the agency reported.

The questions were asked by Turkish officials and additional supplementary questions by U.S. officials were also posed to the suspects.

The questions were about the U.S. inquiry and Turkey's investigation into Gulen movement, along with the extradition of Fethullah Gulen, according to the agency.

The U.S. prosecutors launched a preliminary inquiry into allegations of organized crimes, such as visa irregularities and money laundering by Gulen-linked foundations and individuals in the country.

In June, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that the FBI began to investigate the group's breaches of U.S. laws. Gulen movement is operating several charter schools in the U.S.

Gulen is accused by Ankara of orchestrating a failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016. The Turkish government declared a state of emergency and launched a massive crackdown on Gulen's supporters in the aftermath of the coup attempt.

Turkish Justice Ministry has sent several files to Washington to beef up its evidences in demanding the extradition of the Islamic cleric.

Gulen has lived in self-imposed exile in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania since 1999.

In December last year, Cavusoglu said that there is a serious investigation into the group launched by the FBI in 15 states and the U.S. probe "seemed to have started bearing fruit."

"Moreover, arrests started in some states, including New Jersey," he added.

Washington has been reluctant on extradition of Gulen on the argument that the evidences were not sufficient, causing strain in bilateral ties of the two NATO allies.

"Our demand (for Gulen's extradition) is not officially rejected. As we find new evidence, we send it to the U.S. Administrative and criminal investigations are ongoing," Turkish Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul said last week.

During the recent G20 summit in Argentina, U.S. President Donald Trump told Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that they are "working on extraditing Gulen and other people."

However, the White House clarified the U.S. position.

"The only thing he (Trump) said is that we would take a look at it," Sarah Sanders, the White House spokesperson, told reporters in December last year.

The visit of U.S. delegation came amid thawing in tensions between Ankara and Washington after U.S. pastor Andrew Brunson, who was on trial over terrorism-related charges in Turkey, was released in October 2018.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-04 23:44:33|Editor: Chengcheng

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PARIS, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Louvre Museum broke its attendance record in 2018 with a total of 10.2 million visitors, an increase of 25 percent in comparison with 2017, the museum said in its latest press release.

"No other museum in the world has ever equaled this figure. The Louvre's previous record of 9.7 million dates from 2012, the year that saw the inauguration of the Department of Islamic Art and the presentation of exhibitions on Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael," the museum said.

The recovery of tourism in France, especially in Paris, has boosted visitor attendance in 2018, as did the flagship exhibition "Delacroix (1798-1863)", which attracted nearly 540,000 visitors.

Elsewhere in the world, interest in the Louvre was bolstered by the Louvre Abu Dhabi, which recently celebrated its first anniversary, and by Beyonce and JAY-Z's "Apes**t" video, with its tribute to some of the museum's greatest artworks, according to the museum.

The year 2018 was marked by a sharp rise in the number of foreign visitors, which represent almost three quarters of total visitor numbers, mostly from the United States, China, the European countries especially Spain, Germany, Italy and the UK, and Brazil.

The Louvre also continues to be popular with the French public, drawing over 2.5 million French visitors in 2018, a sharp increase compared with 2017.

"I'm delighted that the Louvre is so popular," said the Louvre's president-director Jean-Luc Martinez in the press release. "Our goal is not so much to attract more visitors as to provide better visiting conditions ... the renovation of the infrastructures under the Pyramid and the introduction of time-slot tickets have helped us level out visitor numbers throughout the year and reduce ticket lines outside the museum."

In 2019, to allow everyone, especially local people, to visit the Louvre in the best possible conditions, the museum is launching free and festive new events called "Saturday Night Openings", to be held on the first Saturday of every month.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-04 23:39:31|Editor: yan

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LILONGWE, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- The UN in Malawi has condemned the continuing killings of people with albinism in the country, calling upon Malawi government and all stakeholders to redouble their efforts to stop the killings.

The call follows latest brutal attack and killing of a 54-year-old man with albinism on the eve of the New Year in his own house in the lakeshore district of Nkhata Bay in northern Malawi.

Malawi Police reports indicate that attackers broke into the victim's house during the night on the eve of New Year and killed him.

In a statement dated January 4, the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Malawi has described the killing as a great setback.

"This latest attack and other violations perpetrated against persons with albinism are a setback to the concerted efforts in the protection of people with albinism," reads the statement, signed by Benoit Thiry, Acting UN Resident Coordinator in Malawi.

The UN has further asked Malawi government to implement the National Action Plan on Persons with Albinism which addresses the root causes of the attacks on persons with albinism.

The Malawi Police have arrested four men aged between 19 and 37, all from the same lakeshore district, who are suspected to be behind the brutal killing.

Malawi President, Peter Mutharika, has also condemned the continuing attacks and he has since urged all security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.

Since 2013, when attacks on people with albinism became rife in Malawi, about 150 reported attacks have been recorded with about 22 killings as of April 2018.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-04 22:09:04|Editor: mmm

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KUNMING, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- A former senior official of southwest China's Yunnan Province is being prosecuted for bribery, the province's discipline authority said Friday.

Cao Jianfang is suspected of "taking advantage of his position to seek benefits for others and pocketing huge amounts of bribes," according to Yunnan's provincial commission for discipline inspection.

The commission said Cao's illegal gains would be confiscated and his retirement perks canceled.

Cao was demoted from the post of secretary general of the provincial party committee in 2015 for a serious disciplinary violation.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-04 21:59:01|Editor: Chengcheng

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Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng (R, front), also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, pays an inspection tour to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 4, 2019. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

BEIJING, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng Friday urged reform and innovation in developing the nation's forestry and grassland sectors in an effort to build a better ecological environment.

Han, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, paid an inspection tour to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration Friday, focusing on the afforestation, protection, restoration, and management of ecological forests and grasslands.

He called for reform and innovation in protecting forestry and grasslands for high-quality development. Protection and management of nature reserves must be strengthened, and efforts must be made to ensure the success of the pilot program of national parks, he said.

Protection and management of forestry and grasslands should be conducted based on law, he noted.

He also underlined the importance of cultivating professional and devoted human resources.
LAKE WORTH, Fla. (WTXL) - A Florida woman attacked her parents after they refused to take her to Outback Steakhouse.

According to WPBF, police said Deana Seltzer, 28, asked her mother to go to Outback and was told no. Seltzer then became angry and began punching her mother in the arms and chest.

WPLG said Seltzer's father suffered multiple scratches to his face and body when he tried to intervene. She also ran at her father with a knife, yelling, "I'm going to kill you."

Police found a knife on the kitchen counter when they went inside the home and a dining table that was flipped over.

Based on the evidence, Seltzer is being charged with simple domestic battery, battery of a person 65 years or older, and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - The Florida Housing Finance Corporation is providing $5 million worth of housing disaster funds for Floridians impacted by Hurricane Michael.

The money went to 10 locations, with Gadsden, Jackson, Wakulla, Franklin and Liberty counties receiving close to a $1 million combined.

The $5 million provided is 100 percent of the budget allocated for Florida Housing for disaster relief.

"It was the most significant disaster this year, and we aren't really anticipating another hurricane till hurricane season which would be next fiscal year," said Trey Price, executive Director of Florida Housing.

Panama City received the most money getting more than $1.6 million to help rebuild the city.
GRADY COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - Grady County residents came out on Friday to save lives by donating blood.

Each blood donor gives about 500 milliliters of blood which is about 10 percent of what you have in your body.

Only about 39 percent of people can donate blood at any given time but only ten percent do.

And platelets are always needed because they only last for five days.

Right now O-positive, A-negative and B-negative blood types are needed the most.

"You got to give blood if your healthy and have the opportunity last time I did was when the storm came through and I know there still a lot of people in need,"said blood donor, Julian Brown.

Blood from this drive goes to a processing lab in St. Petersburg to be separated, tested and stored.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - There will be no parade when Florida Republican Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis is sworn in next week as the 46th governor.

DeSantis will be sworn into office on Tuesday. The festivities begin with a prayer breakfast at Florida A&M University before the ceremony on the steps of the Historic Capitol Building and will continue with an address to legislators and Cabinet officials in the Capitol Rotunda. It concludes with a ball at the Donald Tucker Civic Center.

The 40-year-old governor decided to cancel the parade, opting to get to work quickly.

The head of his campaign and transition team Susie Wiles told the Miami Herald that DeSantis' swearing-in speech will emphasize prosperity in Florida, an enhanced choice for parents and their children's education and ways to improve Florida's environment.

(Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
Police: Doom Reloaded While Shooting Three Victims

By West Kentucky Star Staff

SMITHLAND - At Thursday's pre-trial hearing for murder suspect Jackie Clint Doom in Livingston County, testimony revealed details of the violence that erupted December 21, leaving three people dead.According to The Lake News, Kentucky State Police Detective David Dick testified that Doom was interviewed on the night that January Stone, Johnny Mallory and Robert Belt died of multiple gunshot wounds at a home on Stringtown Road. Dick told the court that Doom said he went to the home with an AR-15 equipped with a bump stock and several magazines of ammunition. He told police he went there to work out differences with the people who eventually died at the scene.Doom reportedly told police that during their conversation, one of the men in the home made a sudden move and Doom thought the man was armed, so he shot first. Dick said Doom reloaded his weapon during the gunfire, and Stone was shot 11 times, Mallory was shot 19 times and Belt was shot 24 times. The victims were later found to be unarmed.Doom's defense attorney, Don Thomas, cross-examined Dick and asked if he knew there was an ongoing feud between the defendant and the victims. He also asked if Dick knew that Doom had recently filed a complaint about the trio, saying they were selling drugs at the home, and had sold methamphetamine to his wife, who then lost the baby she was carrying. The Lake News reports that Dick said they were still gathering information in their investigation of the case.Thomas reportedly told the court that Stone, Mallory and Belt had attempted to burn Doom's house during the week before the incident, presumably in retaliation because he filed the complaint about them allegedly dealing drugs. Thomas also said Doom's wife was in a rehab facility at the time of the incident.Dick also testified about their response that night, saying the property manager of the cottage called 911 about an unresponsive person, and another 911 call was received a short time later, placed by Doom's relatives. Dick told the court that Doom was in custody by the time officers reached the scene of the shooting.In addition to the three counts of murder, Doom was also charged with alcohol intoxication on the night of December 21.The judge ruled that the case should be heard by a Livingston County grand jury, which will meet within the next 60 days.On the Net:
State Senator Honored by Heart Association

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - A Paducah state senator has been honored by the American Heart Association.On Thursday, December 16th, representatives from the American Heart Association presented Senator Danny Carroll with the American Heart Associations 2018 Youre the Cure Heart Hero Award. The award was given to Senator Carroll for championing Senate Bill 142, the telephone CPR bill.Senate Bill 142, which passed during the 2018 legislative session requires Kentucky 9-1-1 operators who provide emergency medical dispatch services be trained in providing high-quality telephone cardiopulmonary resuscitation (T-CPR) and be able to provide detailed instructions over the phone to someone assisting a victim during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.Supported by the American Heart Association, T-CPR means the dispatcher and the caller essentially work together as a team, creating a better chance of survival for the victim until rescuers arrive.It was an honor working with the American Heart Association to get SB 142 signed into law. Their commitment to the heart health and safety of our citizens is unwavering and I believe this legislation will lead to lives saved in our great Commonwealth, said Senator Carroll.Senator Carroll has been a great advocate and leader for this issue, said Shannon Smith, Government Relations Director with the American Heart Association. As a result, patients suffering cardiac arrest can receive lifesaving instructions from the 911 dispatcher.Cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in the U.S., and nearly 336,000 people experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital each year. Unfortunately, nearly 90% of cardiac arrest victims do not survive mostly because they dont receive timely CPR. When properly performed, CPR can double or triple a persons chance of survival.For more information, visit yourethecure.org.
Mayfield Man Arrested for Alleged Theft

By West Kentucky Star Staff

LONE OAK - A Mayfield man has been arrested for the alleged theft of tires from a Lone Oak business.According to the McCracken County Sheriff's Department, an investigation of the theft of multiple tires from Plaza Tire on Lone Oak Road, began on October 10, 2018. A man was at the business after hours, and removed several tires from a storage area.On November 13th, the McCracken County Sheriffs Department was notified of a second theft of several tires from the same storage area.Detectives were able to find evidence that 21-year-old Bryce Sharpe was the person responsible for the thefts. During this time, it was discovered that similar thefts had taken place in Graves County. Working in conjunction with detectives from the Graves County Sheriffs Department, warrants were secured for the arrest of Sharp for crimes committed in McCracken County.Sharp was taken into custody on Friday by the Graves County Sheriffs Department on the McCracken County warrants. He was charged with theft by unlawful taking over $500 (class D felony), and theft by unlawful taking under $500 (class A misdemeanor).
MEMORIAL DAY PARADE AND CEREMONY ONE TO REMEMBER: On a beautiful day, May 31, Our Town watched the parade along Washington and attended a meaningful ceremony at city hall that honored our fallen heroes. The gathering was among the largest in memory for this important day in Our Town. First, 
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Now Ive got this direct, personal relationship with this person, Prince said. I get to deposit something directly into their life because Im giving them the portrait  that person is more likely to come to the (Muscarelle.) But I also know the power of exponential is there too  I talked to that one individual theyre going to say hey I met this guy at the library, he works at the Muscarelle Museum, he made this portrait of me and he gave it to me for free. Im going to create those kinds of linkages.
But not all area stores that sell tobacco carry Juuls. Jacoby Shontz, the manager at Vape Zone at the Olde Towne Shopping Center on Longhill Road, said the store has never carried the product. He said there was no need for Juuls to have so much nicotine, which is why the store originally did not sell the product. After hearing about how Juul appealed to young people, Shontz said the store decided to continue not to stock the item.
The Marine Corps found Paul Whelan, the American citizen detained by Russia on espionage charges, guilty of attempting to steal more than $10,000 worth of currency from the U.S. government while deployed to Iraq in 2006 and bouncing nearly $6,000 worth of checks around the same time, according to records obtained by The Washington Post.

The details of the charges against Whelan from a special court-martial two years later, which resulted in his discharge for bad conduct, add to an increasingly complex picture of the 48-year-old former Marine, whom Russian officials have accused of spying. His case grew more perplexing on Friday after Ireland became the fourth nation to acknowledge him as a citizen and seek consular access.

Since his arrest last week in Moscow, Whelan has rocketed onto the public radar, drawing international attention to his complex journey from the Marine Corps Reserve to a detention cell in Moscow's notorious Lefortovo Prison. People who served alongside Whelan said he was learning Russian and traveled to Moscow and St. Petersburg on vacation during the same deployment in which the Marine Corps accused him of attempted larceny.

The Marines have not provided any additional information about the circumstances surrounding Whelan's crimes while serving in the armed forces. Russian authorities have not said what Whelan is accused of doing beyond the relatively broad charge of espionage which, if convicted, could land him between 10 and 20 years behind bars.

Whelan served as an administrative chief during in the Marines - a job akin to office management that would have given him access to certain sensitive systems, likely including those the service uses to issue orders and hand out awards.

In addition to convicting him for attempted larceny and bouncing checks, the Marine Corps also found Whelan guilty of falsely using another person's social security number to sign in the online training system Marines access to complete courses that can advance their rank and pay. The record of conviction says Whelan "proctored" an account on the system without permission.

The Marines charged him with fraudulently opening electronic proctor accounts on the system, completing multiple examinations and grading his own examinations, which could have resulted in advancements in rank and pay. The special court-martial, however, found him not guilty of that charge.

The special court-martial also found him guilty of willfully failing to report his leave on three occasions and going absent from his unit twice, in one case for two days.

The court knocked him down two pay grades, restricted him to places of lodging, eating and worship for 60 days and discharged him from the Marine Corps for bad conduct. He appealed the ruling but the service upheld the conviction. The bad conduct discharge resulted in his rank being reduced to private after some fourteen years in the Marine Corps Reserve.

Under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, bouncing checks is a violation of an article designed to uphold discipline and good order and prevent conduct that brings discredit to the service. Broadly speaking, the military seeks to prevent officers from having outstanding debts that could offer adversaries leverage in espionage or blackmail.

Whelan's brother David said he had no knowledge of the judicial proceedings or convictions in the Marine Corps. In a statement issued on behalf of the family on Friday, he urged Congress and the State Department to help secure his brother's release, and expressed gratitude to the U.S. ambassador to Russia, Jon Huntsman Jr., for his assistance.

"Our focus remains on ensuring that Paul is safe, well treated, has a good lawyer, and is coming home," the statement said.

Whelan's family has maintained he is innocent, and that the Michigan resident and former policeman was in Moscow for a friend's wedding when he was arrested by members of Russia's security services in an upscale hotel not far from the Kremlin.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said Washington would demand Whelan's release if his detention is not "appropriate." Whelan was visited by Huntsman inside his cell.

Whelan's financial problems potentially would have made him a prime target for Russian intelligence services.

Intelligence services routinely look for people in financial distress who they might recruit or blackmail. An active duty Marine traveling in Russia would have quickly caught the attention of Russian intelligence services, said Dan Hoffman, a former CIA officer who served as the chief of station in Moscow.

Hoffman emphasized that he had no knowledge of whether Whelan was recruited or approached. He said that from the moment Whelan set foot in Russia, he was likely monitored, and that the intelligence services would have developed a profile of his comings and goings, and potentially his communications. The Russian government would have known that Whelan was coming when he applied for a visa.

Whelan also had an active profile for years on the Russian social media platform VKontakte. That would have given the services a window into Whelan's contacts in Russia.

"The Russians have a saying: 'What makes a person breathe?' " Hoffman said.

The Russian government would have already known a lot about Whelan before his arrest in December, Hoffman added. "None of this was by chance. This was a chess game."

Hoffman, like other former U.S. officials, has speculated that the Russians may want to trade Whelan for Maria Butina, a Russian woman and gun-rights activist who has pleaded guilty to acting as an agent of Russia in the United States.

Whelan's Russian lawyer, who is a former Soviet government investigator, has indicated that he hopes his client might be traded for Butina, telling the Daily Beast that he wants to bring back "at least one Russian soul."

Whelan began traveling to Russia at least two years before his discharge from the Marines. Those who served with him in Iraq in 2006 recalled that he was learning Russian for fun during the deployment and took a vacation to Moscow and St. Petersburg during their weeks off, when many of the Marines went home to visit family.

A now-defunct website that Whelan maintained around that time is filled with musings about the Russians he befriended, Russian cultural icons such as the stuffed animal Cheburashka and places he visited in the nation. Together, the public pages form the sort of public profile someone engaging in espionage would be unlikely to keep.

"Having grown up during the Cold War, it was a dream of mine to visit Russia and meet some of the sneaky Russians who had kept the western world at bay for so long!!" Whelan wrote.

He met some of his Russian friends through tour agencies, online language sites and social media, according to those who spoke to The Washington Post. On his website, he posted photos of young Marines he served with in Iraq and recent graduates of the U.S. Naval Academy, as well as photos of Russians he counted as friends, some of whom he said were serving in the Russian military at the time.

Any attempt by Whelan to make inroads with Russian active-duty soldiers while an active-duty Marine could potentially have put him on the radar of Russia's security services. None of the content on his website at the time, however, suggests an awareness of such a risk.

On one page, he posted a photo of Lubyanka, the former KGB headquarters in central Moscow which is still the headquarters of the Federal Security Service, or the FSB.

"This is "Lubyanka" where the KGB has our spies locked in the basement!!" Whelan wrote.

Much of the website content is lighthearted, with photos of pets, stuffed animals and cartoons. He also details his political views, railing against American liberals.

The details of Whelan's convictions in the Marine Corps come as Moscow copes with the diplomatic fallout of detaining a man who appears to be a citizen of four countries.

In addition to demands by the Trump administration for greater details on Russia's claims against Whelan, three other nations are now in the mix.

Whelan also carried passports from Canada, where he was born, as well as from Britain and Ireland. Whelan obtained the two European passports through family lineage.

A person familiar with Whelan's case said he has a total of four passports. "He collected them as a game. There was an ongoing competition with his sister to see who could get the most," the person said, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity surrounding the situation.

Both Britain and Ireland are now seeking consular access to Whelan, who is being held in a detention facility on the outskirts of Moscow.

Britain and Russia's relationship sharply deteriorated last year after a former Russian double agent, Sergei Skripal, was poisoned in England with a nerve agent and spent months recovering. British authorities have blamed Russia for carrying out the attack - an assertion Moscow denies.

The minimal amount of information provided by Russia - where many offices are closed until after Orthodox Christmas on Monday - has added to the intrigue. There has been no word from the Kremlin on Whelan's arrest.

Questions have persisted about whether Whelan's arrest amounted to retaliation for the U.S. conviction of Butina.

In December, Butina pleaded guilty to conspiring with a senior Russian official to infiltrate U.S. conservative groups. Butina, 30, is the first Russian national to be convicted of seeking to influence U.S. policy in the run-up to the 2016 election by acting as a foreign agent.

Shortly before Butina pleaded guilty, Russian President Vladimir Putin said she was not known to any of his spy agencies. The Foreign Ministry has gone to great lengths to paint Butina as a political prisoner, notably by launching a wide-ranging social media campaign.

"We don't agree with individuals being used in diplomatic chess games," British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt told Sky News. "Because it is desperately worrying, not just for the individual but their families, and we are extremely worried about him and his family as we hear this news."

The Washington Post's Julie Tate contributed to this report. Ferris-Rotman reported from Moscow.
The raises appear to be an unintended consequence of the shutdown: When lawmakers failed to pass bills Dec. 21 to fund multiple federal agencies, they allowed an existing pay freeze to lapse. The pay freeze for top federal executives was enacted by Congress in 2013 and renewed each year since then. The raises will occur because that cap will expire on Saturday without legislative action, allowing raises to kick in that have accumulated over those years but never took effect. The raises start with paychecks to be issued next week.
Welcome Guest! You are here: Home  Hajj 2019

Haj Committee of India releases state-wise quota for Hajj 2019



Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Union Minister of Minorities, has requested the Saudi government to increase India's quota by 20,000

[Haj vintage and rare photos. Pilgrims arriving for Hajj by plane. (1953 Haj File Photo)

Mumbai: The Haj Committee of India on Friday released state-wise allocation of seats for Hajj 2019. The state-wise distribution of seats has been done based on the percentage of Muslim population in various state of the country.

The Haj Committee of India distributed its total quota of 175,025 seats to pilgrims going to Haj through it. Accordingly, a total of 125,025 pilgrims will go through the Haj Committee of India and the remaining 50,000 seats have been allotted to Private Tour Operators (PTOs).

"The quota allocated to various States and Union Territory Haj Committees for the pilgrims of Haj 1440 (H) - 2019 has been calculated as per the percentage of Muslim population of 2011 Census", the Haj Committee of India CEO Dr Maqsood Ahmed Khan said while releasing the 2019 Haj quota.

Jammu & Kashmir has been granted a Special Haj Quota of 2000 whereas States/Union Territories that received less than 500 Hajj Application Forms (HAF) have been alloteed a total quota of 887 seats. A total of 2,340 seats have been reserved for Ladies without Mehram. Of them 61 seata have been considered under quota States/Union Territories.

According to statewise Haj 2019 qouta, the Haj Committee of India has received a total of 267,261 Haj Application Forms (HAF) from 31 Indian states. The number of application received this year has drastically reduced due to various reasons. But, it is still more than the double of India's Haj Quota allotted by Saudi Government.

Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Union Minister of Minorities, has requested the Saudi government to increase India's quota by 20,000. However a final decision on this is yet to be taken.

Jammu & Kashmir with special quota of 2000 will have a total quota of 9,762 pilgrims. A total of 22,389 applications have been received by the J&K State Haj Committee for 6,163 seats.

Likewise, Lakshadeep with a special quota of 297 will have a total of 342 Hajj pilgrims. Number of applications in Lakshadeep is 342 but it has a quota of only 45..

Uttar Pradesh with Muslim population of 3,84,83,967 has been allocated a quota of 30,237 pilgrims. But, number of applications received by the Uttar Pradesh State Haj Committee is 34,397.

West Bengal, Bihar and Assam are next after Uttar Pradesh in terms of Muslim population. While West Bengal, with a Muslim population of 2,64,54,825, has been allocated a quota of 8,470 seats, Bihar having a Muslim population of 1,75,57,809, has been allocated a final quota of 4,950.

Assam, which has a Muslim population of 1,09,10,451, has been allocated a final quota of 3,588 Haj pilgrims. Assam also included Muslims of Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Sikkim and Mizoram.

The original quota of West Bengal, Bihar and Assam are 17,735, 12,630 and 7,848 respectively. But, since total applications received by these states are less than their allocated quota, their original quota is reduced and the surplus seats are allocated to other states.

Jharkhand, Punjab and Tripura are other three states where number of applications are less than their allocated quotas.

Maharashtra with a Muslim population of 1,29,71,152 have received a total of 35,658 applications, but it's final quota is just 11,907.

The maximum number of applications has been received by Kerala. The state has a Muslim population of 88,73,472 and has been allocated a quota of 11,472. But, the state has received a whopping 43,115 applications.

A total of 500 seats have already been allotted to Mehram. The final list of 1,23,400 haj pilgrims out of the total 267,261 applicants will be released after draw i.e. Hajj Qurrah which is held by respective Haj Committees.

The Haj 2019 Qurrah by different State Haj Committees was supposed to be held in the last week of December. It is however delayed due to extension of Hajj application last date.

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Welcome Guest! You are here: Home  Education & Career

Declared: CAT 2018 Score Card Available Online, Direct Link To Download



Along with CAT 2018 score card and result, the Indian Institute of Management (IIM Calcutta) has also released CAT 2018 Scoring and Equating Process

Mumbai: The results of CAT 2018 (Common Admission Test) held in November 2018 have been declared online on the official website iimcat.ac.in and they are now available for download from the official website.

"CAT 2018 Score Card is Live and available for download", the Indian Institute of Management (IIM Calcutta) said in a one line message posted on CAT 2018 official website.

The link of the CAT 2018 result is avaliable on the CAT website, the list of candidates shortlisted for the next level of selection have been made available on the website of the respective IIMs.

CAT 2018 score is valid only till December 31, 2018 and will accordingly be accessible on the website.

How to check CAT 2018 Result

Go to official website: CAT 2018 Result Direct Link. Enter userd ID Enter Password Click on Login button

Performance in CAT 2018 examination is an important component for consideration in the selection process. IIMs may also use previous academic performance of the candidates, relevant work experience and other similar inputs in shortlisting of candidates at various stages of the selection process.

The website addresses of all IIMs are given as under.

Over two lakh candidates had appeared for the CAT 2018 that was conducted on Sunday, November 25, 2018 at various centres across India. Those who clear CAT 2018 will be eligible for admission to management courses, including PGP, PGDM, PGPEM, EPGP, PGPBM, PGPEX at the IIMs and other management colleges across the country.

Along with CAT 2018 score card and result, the Indian Institute of Management (IIM Calcutta) has also released CAT 2018 Scoring and Equating Process. Candidates can download the same in PDF format.

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Helping rural men connect during Men's Health Week

On average, one in eight men will experience depression and one in five men will experience anxiety at some stage of their lives.